Now might be a good time to mention this. I did not put any pairings in my summary. This is because I don't want to let out who gets paired up with whom. If you're the type of person who absolutely is disgusted by certain pairings, and CANNOT read fics with X/Y because X so should be paired with Z (et cetera), proceed with caution.

I won't go into graphic detail anyways.

The Other Thing I Wanted

The sound of two pairs of footsteps echoed down the hallway. The soft noise of flickering candles could be heard from behind the closed doors, each branching off into its own different room. The building was very spacious and lavishly decorated, with expensive-looking pottery spread around. The Village Hidden in Mist, Sasuke noticed, was one to put on appearances.

Slowly the woman led him farther into the complex, with a demeanor that was so calm it was almost suspicious. She was a ninja, he could tell from her movements, though she was disguised so as to not appear to be. Every step of the way he fought down the recurring doubts about his decision. Just because it was better than all the other alternatives didn't mean he liked it.

She finally turned to a door, sliding it open. Beyond lay a misty garden, partially obscure beneath the haze. Without a word she stepped forward, beckoning Sasuke to follow her. The male complied, walking out into the fog. Instantly he noticed the presences of at least four other people. All of them seemed like they were doing their best to hide themselves. "Here...?" he mumbled, stopping and looking at the flowers around him.

His guide turned around, a look of confusion on her face. "Is something wrong?"

"I have a question." Sasuke reached to his holster, lazily tossing up and catching a kunai in his hand. "Is this a test... or a trap?"

She chuckled softly, the faintest traces of a smirk creeping in to her smile. "Did you think we grant instant hospitality to everyone who claims they have a Bloodline Limit?"

*****

Naruto sighed, looking down—or rather, up—at his feet. The branch from which he hung showed no signs of strain under the pressure of his chakra, a testament to his training. He turned, walking along the underside of the limb, down the trunk, to the ground. He was about to turn around and walk back up when he caught a flash of pink through the trees. "Sakura-chan!"

"Naruto-kun!" She ran over to him, panting softly. "Did you get to see Tsunade-sama?"

"Yeah, I saw her." Naruto put on a pout, folding his arms. "She wasn't any help at all. She can't even send anyone looking for Sasuke!"

With that he spun, heading back up the tree. Sakura watched him for a few moments, a small look of disappointment on her face. "I see... Well, she is the Hokage, so she knows what she's doing... Naruto-kun, are you training?"

"Hardly!" He folded his hands behind his head, taking one foot off the branch and hanging from the other. "It's just all practice now. I don't have much to do."

"If you have so much free time, why don't you take on a mission?" There was an edge to Sakura's voice, and she was frowning now. Naruto chuckled uneasily, knowing that she was trying to pull him into working again.

"Even if I did, almost all of you are Chuunin now! I have to wait half a year to take the test; Tsunade-no-baa-chan would never put me in a group with any of you!"

"It can't hurt to ask!" Sakura reached up, giving Naruto a hard yank and dislodging him from the underside of the tree limb. "Come on, we're marching right back there and getting you a mission, whether you like it or not!"

*****

Sasuke stepped forward, raising his kunai threateningly. Before him stood the woman, also with a kunai at the ready. Fear was clear in her eyes, but she stayed strong in front of him. Around their feet were the dead bodies of four Mist ninja, red blood splattered all over. He took a step forward and she moved backwards, keeping the distance between them. With a small "tch" he crouched, ready to spring forward for the attack.

"That's enough."

A door to the side slid open and Sasuke turned, glaring with the blood-red Sharingan at the man who stood framed within. He wore the robes of the Mizukage. "In response to your question, this was a test. We do not ally ourselves with Konoha in respect to their missing ninja, and through your display of skill you have convinced me of your legitimacy." He paused before continuing, and Sasuke left his crouch, standing upright. "Uchiha Sasuke, we will grant you shelter and hospitality. In return, you offered us the chance to house the clan possessing the legendary Sharingan. Is this our deal?"

Sasuke returned his weapon to its holster, Sharingan still active. "Yes."

"Consider it sealed."

*****

Sakura knocked on the door, casting one final glare at Naruto. The male ninja stifled a whimper, feeling her death grip on his wrist finally let up. After a moment she turned back, knocking again. "Tsunade-sama!"

"Oh, Sakura! Come in!" The kunoichi pushed opening the door, pulling Naruto in behind her. At the sight of the boy, the Hokage's face fell slightly.

"I'm here to request a mission on Naruto's behalf!"

Tsunade felt an eyebrow lift as she glanced the two over. "Couldn't Naruto just...?" she trailed off, noticing the stubborn pout on the boy's face. Of course he wouldn't ask for a mission himself. Not with the Sasuke issue still floating around. Right...

"About that..." she sighed, folding her hands. "I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you. We found Uchiha Itachi..."

"YOU FOUND-?!"

"... dead."

Naruto's mouth snapped shut, cutting off the rest of his sentence. For a few moments, all he did was stare at Tsunade, eyes widened in shock. Sakura's expression was similar.

"Uchiha Itachi... Sasuke-kun's older brother?!"

"Yes."

"But... Itachi..." Sakura turned to the boy, realizing he was shaking. "Last time I saw him... he was... so strong... How could he...?"

His shaking slowed. "Who... who killed him...?"

"All we have is circumstantial evidence, but nothing says otherwise. There's a very decent chance it was Sasuke."

Upon hearing the name, both Sakura and Naruto jumped. A deafening silence overtook the room. Tsunade glanced back and forth between the two teens, letting the words sink in. When she felt there was ample time for them to have done so, she continued. "I don't mean to get your hopes up. We really have no proof it was anyone. Also, this is classified information, so you two should keep it to yourselves."

"If Sasuke..." Now only Naruto's fists shook. "If Sasuke was strong enough to kill Itachi... then I still have a long way to go..."

"Naruto-kun..."

A grin spread across his face. "Yosh! Tsunade-no-baa-chan! Requesting a mission!"

*****

"I don't trust him."

"Do you need to?"

"No, I mean, I really don't trust him."

"I agree with him. I don't trust that boy at all."

"Me either, yeah."

"They're right. He just has ties that are too close to-"

"Exactly why we'd want him."

"You'd risk a betrayal like that?"

"He won't betray us. He's one of mine."

"Oh, yeah; there's a vote of confidence for you, yeah?"

"I cannot agree with this."

"Well, I agree with it, so shut up."

"In nicer terms, yes, please do be quiet. His ties are what could make him so useful to us. Who knows what we can access through him. If he does try to betray us, well..."

"We'll kill him, you mean? You forgetting what happened last time?"

"We won't make the same mistake with him. This meeting is over. I do not care how the rest of you feel about the matter. We have nothing to lose. If he can recover it for himself, he's in."

"... I still can't see him replacing Itachi-san..."