Author's Note Begins Here

All right, I'm not evil enough to leave the nice people who review with a cliffie so I'm updating quickly. This is where the plot gets started. Anyone who was expecting some quick SasuNaru ought to go find some oneshots because the plot's about to kick in!

Author's Note Ends Here

Oraday: Goten, come in with the disclaimer and give'em the flashback

Goten: Oraday does not own Naruto®, K. Masashi does. The kittens of Oraday's cat, i.e. her minions, attempted a caper to steal Naruto® from K. Masashi but they can't walk yet so they didn't even get to Japan. (announcer voice) In the last chapter of Statement of Intent

A loud "Tsunade-baachan!" and a "Itai! What'd you hit me for teme"—to which Sasuke responded, "Hn, dobe."—announced the arrival of the most unpredictable shinobi in Konoha and the Uchiha tensai. Tsunade had been expecting them and put on her non-existent poker face that looked more like a case of constipation. Certainly, with the news and mission she was going to give the two unsuspecting jounin, she was going to have verbal constipation, it wasn't an easy thing to say.

Reading directions:

Italics:Thoughts

Bold: Kyuubi in Naruto's head

Chapter 4: Of Utsuwa and Still Waters

As the two jounin sat, Tsunade mulled over her first words for the fortieth time that day. She decided not to give them a hard time for being late since she had used that time to further compose herself. Now, however, it seemed that time and effort was wasted because she felt as rattled as she had this morning. At Naruto's "Baachan! What'd you call us over here for," Tsunade could feel her resolve slipping. She gained her confidence once again when she remembered that she needed to be supportive at this time and not be a mess herself. She was, after all, the Hokage.

"Naruto, Sasuke. The details concerning this mission are...troubling, to say the least. I need you both to reign in your emotions when I tell you what you are about to hear. I want no interruptions; that means no outbursts from you, Naruto." Tsunade said with a blank face, the best she could muster.

Naruto had been about to complain but noted the detached tone Tsunade was using and decided against it. Tsunade gave the two a moment to let her warning sink in and then proceeded to tell them what she wanted to avoid having them hear.

"I have received news that Orochimaru is not dead and has rejoined the Akatsuki. Orochimaru was revived through a sealing jutsu and subsequently has become the jinchuriki for the demon Orochi. Why the Akatsuki would want to revive Orochimaru will be explained shortly. The Akatsuki plans to come to Konoha and abduct Naruto. You will be joined by a team of ANBU and jounin as well as the Kazekage. You will be the mission leaders along with two others. Your mission is to, first and foremost, kill Orochimaru. He is the biggest threat as of now. Naruto, you will need to use Kyuubi's aid to defeat him. Sasuke, you know Orochimaru and his abilities quite well since you trained with him. Thus, you will work closely with Naruto and Kyuubi to defeat Orochimaru. Shikamaru will help you work on a loose strategy on your way to Akatsuki headquaters. "

Tsunade pause for a moment, giving Naruto time to process the new information. Naruto and Sasuke had both tightened their jaws and Sasuke's eyes showed a resolve to dissipate Orochimaru for good this time. Regardless of Sasuke's resolve, he could not help but think about what the Hokage meant when she said Naruto would work with Kyuubi to defeat Orochimaru. She made it sound as if the demon was going to be fighting. The raven tentsai could was also perplexed as to how the location of Akatsuki's headquaters had been found. He didn't even consider that they'd have headquaters. Sasuke did not have any time to really ponder this as Tsunade had began speaking again, to him, apparently.

"Sasuke, what I am about to show you will unsettle you. Naruto, I expect you to restrain him if he tries to attack."

Neither Sasuke nor Naruto could figure out why Tsunade expected him to attack, but their perplexity disappeared as Tsunade made a slight gesture with her hand and a figure stepped forward. Sasuke lunged at the man the moment he could make out who it was. Naruto did not want to, but he did manage to restrain Sasuke as Tsunade had ordered.

"Let me go Naruto. I have to kill him," Sasuke growled

Naruto seemed to be considering releasing Sasuke but decide against it at Tsunade's words

"SASUKE, you will sit down! Everything will be explained shortly but you must be calm first."

Naruto thought it best to aid Tsunade in calming Sasuke down so he put himself between Sasuke and the man, wrapping Sasuke into a hug that served to restrain him as well as comfort him.

"I have to kill him Naruto."

"Calm down Sasuke. Tsunade would not let him in here if he was a threat."

"How do you know she isn't a henge. How do you know he isn't going to kill us. HE'S ITACHI! For Kami's sake!"

"I am not here to kill you otouto, I'm here to help," Itachi calmly told his brother

"How the fuck am I supposed to believe you!"

"Sasuke, calm down. He would not be here if he wasn't telling the truth. He is the source for the information I have just told you. It clearly indicates he isn't lying," Tsunade said.

"It's a trap, he wouldn't just volunteer information. Dammit let me go Naruto!"

"It isn't a trap otouto, I already explained to Tsunade. Let me explain it to you. If you decide you still want to kill me afterwards I will fight you."

"Sasuke," Naruto cooed, "just sit down and let him explain; he can't harm you. I can tell, you're stronger than him. We're stronger than him Sasuke.

Sasuke looked into Naruto's eyes and decided that if Naruto was going to be calm about this than it was unreasonable for him not to be the same. He sat and crossed his arms, murderous intent flowing from his eyes in waves that crashed onto Itachi.

"Arigatou Naruto-san. I am here because I cannot defeat Orochimaru on my own and a surprise attack on Naruto; the kind the Akatsuki has planned, would succeed. I cannot allow the Akatsuki to obtain the Kyuubi, they will be unstoppable if that happens."

"What the hell do you care! You murdered our family, everyone Itachi. Surely you would enjoy seeing the Akatsuki reign in evil."

"No otouto. I had a reason for killing the clan and it was not for enjoyment. I will not enjoy a domination of evil and suffering in the world."

Sasuke scoffed at this and sarcastically said, "Hn, you wouldn't enjoy others' suffering. You had a reason for killing the clan? How stupid do you think I am Itachi?"

Naruto and Tsunade watched warily as they expected Sasuke to attempt an attack again. Tsunade decided it would be best if Itachi continued with his explanation.

"Itachi, you should tell Sasuke the story you told me. Sasuke, you will listen to him, whether or not you choose to accept what he tells you will be your own choice. Understand this, however. Itachi has been helping Konoha for the past two years. He has proven himself to be trustworthy and I believe him."

"Fine, tell your lie and do it quickly so I can kill you already."

"Hai otouto. I would like to begin that I do not regret killing some of the clan though I do regret killing mother and having left you alone..."

Flashback!Flashback!Flashback!Flashback!Flashback!Flashback!Flashback!Flashback!

He was only 13 and he was 17. Itachi and Shisui, the two revered Uchiha clan tentsai, best friends, were on the river bank; Itachi had sat with his head on his knees looking down at Shisui who had a slight smile on his face as he carefully brushed nail polish on Itachi's pinky toe.

"All done. Now your toes match your nails; all purple." Shisui righted himself from his position; bent over Itachi's feet, but not before giving the pinky one last puff of air to dry the nail polish.

"Arigatou Shisui."

"Do you have to be so gloomy?" Shisui wondered with that smile on his face, "You're always so proper, even in good company. You don't have to pretend with me Itachi."

"I'm tired, not gloomy. I had a mission this morning. It was annoying."

"You think everything's annoying."

"No, I don't think you're annoying," Itachi countered with a smirk.

"Heh, good to actually hear that once in a while. Sometimes I think otherwise."

"That's because sometimes you are annoying."

Shisui laughed at this but his laughter was abruptly cut short as he sensed a familiar chakra coming towards him.

"You ought to head home now, don't ya think, Itachi?"

"What for, expectations?"

"Well, yes."

"You said I didn't have to pretend around you, I think I'll stay here until the sun goes down. It's nice watching the sunset with you. It makes me feel...normal."

"You wouldn't want to be normal. If you were, you'd even someone like yourself," Shisui said in an almost desolate tone

"Seems like the better position."

"Hm, I think I know a better position," Shisui responded with a playful smirk and matching tenor.

"Do share your thoughts, Shisui," Itachi said in a playful tone as well.

"Tomorrow, I promise, but only if you go home."

Having sensed the chakra as well, Itachi thought his friend's sudden interest in being away from him probably stemmed from the appearance of the unknown, at least to him, chakra.

"Fine, since you insist. I'll see you tomorrow then." And with a quick kiss to Shisui's lips, Itachi fled towards the direction of his home.

Itachi, however, had not intended to go home. He masked his chakra as if he was on an S-rank mission and hid in a tree near the river bank he had just departed from. Shisui remained and the chakra seemed to approach more quickly. Whoever the person was, their arrival was imminent.

"Hn, you got rid of the brat a bit too slowly. You two didn't go to the meeting. You'll have to be punished for that," Uchiha Inabi gruffly stated as he reached the 17 year old Uchiha.

"Yes, sir," meekly responded Shisui.

Itachi couldn't believe what he was hearing and seeing. Did Shisui just allow someone to call him a brat? And this punishment thing; punishment implied an incorrect action or behavior. Accepting punishment was the same as accepting one to have been erroneous and Shisui never did that. Why did Inabi want Shisui to get rid of him? All these questions befell Itachi and what happened next answered them all.

The resounding slap that traveled to Itachi's ears, the subsequent kick from Inabi and Shisui's well-suppressed groan explained it all. But none of it explained why Shisui was allowing a two-bit shinobi like Inabi beat him. Itachi could feel the blood pumping through his veins; his blood-pressure had gone up in his anger. He maintained a detached-enough attitude, however, to maintain hidden and continue his cryptic vigil over Shisui. He mustered his will-power, upon seeing Inabi drop his pants and demand Shisui kneel before him and do something the two tentsai friends had only done to each other, he was going to need it.

He did not miss the disgusted look that scrawled Shisui's face. He did not miss the approaching chakra which he now recognized to be that of his father's partner: Uchiha Tekka. Itachi further braced himself for what he hoped would not happen. He saw Tekka arrive just as Inabi came in Shisui's mouth, Shisui grimacing as he swallowed. Itachi stood by, horrified but did not know what he could do. He knew Shisui could defeat the two men, Shisui was nearly on par with Itachi and Itachi was certain he could defeat the two members of the Konoha Keimu Butai (Konoha Military Police). Itachi watched as Tekka grabbed Shisui from behind and allowed Inabi to punch him just below his temple. He heard the comments that lingered through the air, weighted yet vapid from stupidity.

"So, your little prodigy was just here? Did you suck him off like you did Inabi," Tekka growled.

Inabi replied, "Of course it's not the same when he does it to me. You actually like it when it's with me don't you."

Tekka interjected, "Well we should give him more of what he likes. You can take him from behind, I think I should give our little whore some nourishment."

Itachi watched as the two men tore off Shisui's clothing and had his way with him. He turned away and could not help the regurgitation that came from hearing the two men raping his best and only friend. The two men were too caught up in their reverie to hear Itachi; but Shisui had opened himself up to the surrounding world, anything that wasn't the moment he was in, anything to escape, and he managed to hear the sounds of Itachi's vomiting.

Itachi had unwittingly let his chakra cloke slip and Shisui had sensed it. He knew Itachi was there and the horrified, broken-hearted emotions that marred his visage confirmed it to Itachi. Shisui knew he had no hope now. As the two men raped him, he could only think of how unfit he was to even be included in the same sentence as Itachi. An orphan like him, completely alienated by his clan, revered only as a facade by the Uchiha's...he was disgusting and could never be enough for Itachi. He realized he was broken; the pain compiled after seven years of abuse had been forestalled by Itachi's presence, but now that Itachi knew the truth of his uncleanliness, he would surely be disgusted and leave him. With this despair, Shisui resolved to kill himself and he allowed himself one last look at the boy he loved before he committed the final acts of his life.

Shisui pulled his head and body away from the two men, promptly knocked them unconscious and placed them in a humorous, compromising position. Itachi came down from the branches but he was not fast enough. By the time Itachi reached Shisui, Shisui had taken a kunai to his throat and slit through his aorta. Shisui's final words lingered in the air.

"I love you Itachi. Remember me before this and forgive me."

Itachi's hand grabbed at Shisui before he could hit the river. The Uchiha stood there, a tear making it's way down his face, holding his departed friend. After and hour of standing in the same position, only watching his friend, he heard rustling behind him. He leaned his lips unto his friend's cold ones for one last kiss and gently place the lifeless body of the boy into the river. Inabi and Tekka saw Itachi put the dead boy into the river before he departed. The two men pulled on their pants, knowing that Itachi had seen them and left, contemplating the actions they would take to make sure the Uchiha prodigy kept his mouth shut."

End Flashback!End Flashback!End Flashback!End Flashback!End Flashback!

"They were lucky I shut down after that. It wasn't hard into fooling everyone into thinking nothing had happened. I was already silently and broody, I didn't change much after Shisui's death. I only became more cold and aloof. I didn't break until later..."

Flashback!Flashback!Flashback!Flashback!Flashback!Flashback!Flashback! (Again)

It had only been a few days after Shisui's death and Itachi continued to pretend nothing happened. There had been little acknowledgment of Shisui's disappearance and Itachi couldn't help but think this strange. One of the Uchiha's most promising tentsai was missing and no one had seemed to notice. Itachi had yet to decide what he was going to do. The urge to avenge his friend's rape was overwhelming, but that feeling was overpowered by the feeling of guilt he felt for not having done anything to stop the rape or the subsequent suicide.

Itachi was also coping with the new ability he seemed to have acquired as a result of his friends death. After he had left Shisui, Itachi had gone to his target training ground and upon activating his sharingan, he noticed that it felt more powerful. The day after, he went to the clan's secret meeting place, where scrolls detailing the sharingan's power and forms could be found.

Itachi searched through the scrolls that night and came upon a scroll that depicted the Mangekyō Sharingan and the details of it's origin and powers. When he came across the kanji reading the methods of obtaining the Mangekyo Sharingan, he dropped the scroll and felt the horror and guilt of the past days crash down upon him. He knew now that he had killed his best friend; not by his own hand but it was his responsibility regardless. When he got home, he ignored his parent's inquiries as to where he had been, he ignored his little brother's futile attempts at small talk; he ignored everything except his memories of Shisui.

The next morning when Itachi awoke, he suited himself into his ANBU garb, placed his mask on, and left towards the hokage tower for his next mission. He executed the mission he received flawlessly, lacking all emotion.

When Itachi came home, his father was there waiting for him. Sasuke was still in school and so his father had used this time to corner him so they could discuss whatever it was he needed to in private.

"How was the mission?"

"Successful," responded Itachi.

"Hn, what do you know about Shisui's missing state."

At the sound of Shisui's name, Itachi froze. It was not only the mention of Shisui that unsettled him, but the contempt with which it was said. Looking back on all the time he'd heard someone speak of Shisui, Itachi recalled that his best-friend's name was always pronounced with reverence undelined with disdain. He remembered the slight whispers he could make out when he walked around the Uchiha manor with Shisui, they were more like slight hisses of disbelief. Itachi now realized the incredulity was due to the fact the rest of the clan could not belief Itachi, the Uchiha's prized prodigy, would befriend the clan's orphan. Itachi had never concerned himself with what the rest of his clan thought. He lived for his "utsuwa" and his ambition to surpass his friend, to have Shisui be enraptured by him.

As Itachi was enthralled in his realizations, his father had been waiting for his response. His father got restless at the lack of Itachi's reply and decided to remind the boy he had been asked a question.

In a cold, clipped tone, Uchiha Fugake asked his son, "What do you know about Shisui's missing state?"

This time, Itachi could clearly discern the scorn lacing Shisui's name. Itachi answered in a detached timber, "I know nothing. I know absolutely nothing."

His father, dissatisfied with this answer prodded on, "I know you know something, if you won't tell me, I suppose I will have to make sure you realize where your loyalties must lie."

Unable to control himself any longer, Itachi allowed the hint of despair and disgust he felt to leak into his voice as he inquired, "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means you place the clan before an useless reject! It means you do not ignore your duties because you befriended some worthless orphan."

"Worthless!" Itachi could no longer maintain his composure. He did not yell but the exclamation that he voice was just as startling. "How can you say that about one of the most talented shinobi to come from the Uchiha clan. He is regarded as a tentsai by all of Konoha, yet the clan seems to disregard that and continue to treat him like some outcast. Do you want to know what I know? He killed himself! He killed himself after they raped him and I did nothing to stop it!"

Itachi's countenance belied the emotion in his voice. He had maintained himself seated and made no hand gestures during his harangue. The only indication of his loss of control was the emotion that impressed his voice. He did not flinch when his father slapped him and only raged internally at his father's next words.

"No son of mine will be known to defend a whore. You will speak to no one of what you saw and you will resume as the tentsai everyone expects you to be."

As he felt the fury run through him, Itachi remembered his friends words.

You don't have to pretend with me, Itachi.

And Itachi couldn't help thinking that now that the expectations of the only person that mattered were no longer there, he didn't have to pretend with anyone anymore. Itachi stood up at this thought and walked to his room. He had completed his mission quota for the week an had the next few days off. Walking to his room, Itachi ran into his mother. Upon seeing him, sorrow marred her face and she held him. Itachi had not been held by his mother since he had learned to crawl at the age of two. He had not been held by anyone since then except Shisui. Upon feeling the human contact, Itachi revolted against it, remembering the countless times Shisui had held him and the fact that it would never happen again. He turned to his room, his understanding mother was not surprised at his abrupt action, she had known Itachi was beyond comforting now.

End Flashback!End Flashback!End Flashback!End Flashback!End Flashback!

"You remember the next day, don't you otouto? We had been talking about your academy marks and Tekka, Inabi, and Yashiro came to question me about Shisui's suicide. They had been lying when they said it was a mere drowning, and the suicide note was a fake. I knew they were trying to blame the death on me, acting as if I were the one who needed to be investigated. Had they really been investigating, they would have noticed the apparent signs of rape. When they taunted me by indirectly throwing the futility of an ANBU investigation in my face, I just broke then. The suicide note, the complete farce they shoved in my face, I couldn't stand for it. The day I murdered the clan, they had confronted me again; Tekka and Inabi, telling me that they had raped Shisui countless of times and that many others of the Uchiha clan had. I killed them first and then I just let the Mangekyō Sharingan take hold of me. I hadn't learned to control it yet so when I let it reign, my murderous intent only multiplied and I killed everyone. It wasn't until I saw you that I regressed to myself and by then it was too late. I decided that if you had to live, you were going to have to hate me and have a purpose. By telling you to avenge the clan and defeat me, I gave you a purpose. I figured it would only serve to motivate you to get stronger and live. I expected you to find another reason to live; one that would become more important than avenging the clan. It seems you have otouto."

Sasuke, Naruto, and Tsunade had all remained silent through Itachi's narrative. It wasn't until a few minutes after Itachi finished that the silence was broken by...unsurprisingly, Naruto.

"Eeeh, THE HELL. You're gay!"

Tsunade tried to restrain herself, but at Naruto's idiotic outburst, anyone would have done what she did. In fact, Sasuke beat her to it and the resonating smack was followed by a "Itai, not again TEME!"

"Shut up, dobe. How do we even know you're telling the truth?" Sasuke asked Itachi after admonishing Naruto.

"I wouldn't lie about Shisui, otouto. I'd never use his memory to manipulate you. The Akatsuki wouldn't trick you. They may be nukenin, but they're too proud to do something so inane.

"Fine, let's say I do believe you. What now?

Tsunade interjected, "Before we get further into this, we need to get Kyuubi out here."

End Chapter 4

This is important, so make sure you read this. Shisui is the actual name of Itachi's best friend in the anime/manga and he was seventeen when he died. I only made up the part about his past up (it's totally plausible though). As for the rapists, they were two of the guys who went to Itachi's house confronting him about Shisui's suicide. That really did happen in the anime/manga. -pertinence ends- So really, the whole thing with Shisui was totally canon, with a little elaboration on my part. If you have any questions, just ask me. Maou, I'm real depressed now that I wrote that whole rape scene and all.

Goten: If you review, she'll be happy again.

Oraday: Meh, the nice people who already review without having to be asked make me happy enough.

Itachi: You killed off my boyfriend. That's not plausible, I would of killed anyone who dared to touch something that's mine.

Oraday: Then you would have been acting like a thirteen year old seme and that's weird, even if you are an Uchiha.

Goten: (with announcer voice) More Kyuubi, in human form and the details of the Akatsuki and Orochimaru stuff are revealed. Plus pervert! Tsunade. MAYBE some pervert! Itachi or Sasuke if you guys are good and review and make my owner happy, cake isn't fixin' it this time.

I have one final comment. As I was researching for the flashbacks and all (kinda forgot the details of Itachi and the best friend/clan killing) I watched an old episode of the anime (130) and I kept hearing this noise in the background whenever the scene was at Sasuke's house. The noise sounded like a ping-pong ball bouncing and I now speculate that this funny vid I've seen could be canon. Here's the site. I suggest you watch it after reading this chapter if you feel depressed like I did after writing it, it's hilarious. http / www. deviantart. com/ deviation / 30094205/