The Truth Unravels


TWO YEARS AGO (FLASHBACK)

Naruto groaned as he pressed his hands over his eyes. He had been so damn close! He didn't tell Sakura that Sasuke had been there when they fought Dr. Shannon. There were always the possibilities that Hinata had told her, but he didn't want to hear how he let him get away. He wouldn't have changed it if he could. Sasuke had helped him and saved the lives of many villagers. Sasuke had HELPED him, when nothing called for it. And then there was that look in his eye when he set Sasuke free. And he knew Sasuke hadn't been surprised- annoyed maybe, but, when is Sasuke never annoyed.

He wanted so badly to reach out to him and talk to him, but there was bound to be a next time. The only problem with that was that Sasuke supposedly killed Orochimaru and has now disappeared. It's been months and there haven't been any sightings of him. Even Jirayia hasn't heard anything about the lone Uchiha. Sasuke was MIA, and Naruto was worried and Sakura was worried, but they couldn't do anything because they had no idea where Sasuke was.

He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or bad thing. Sasuke hadn't gone on a killing rampage, not that he thought he would. But so many people loved to point out the bad in Sasuke when no one had experienced what Sasuke had.

And he got it. Sasuke treated them like shit- he had. But also Sasuke was the caretaker of the team. He didn't do it in an obvious way but he always made sure they were good; always protecting them. Sasuke had been trying. And while Naruto knew he couldn't put the blame on himself, it was easy for Naruto to see how he pushed Sasuke down the wrong path. He hadn't been a great teammate, he hadn't been a bad teammate but his and Sasuke's rivalry hadn't been healthy. It was borderline obsessional. But Naruto hadn't had anything to lose when he started Team 7. In the end he lost a lot when Sasuke left. But he couldn't blame him.

They were kids and Sasuke had been the strongest and then out of nowhere Naruto began getting stronger. And it seemed like for no reason but Sasuke hadn't known the only reason Naruto had been "strong" was because of the fox. But Naruto was a kid trying to figure it all out too. They were kids. They were fucking kids. And Naruto could admit the village failed them. It had failed a lot of them- emphasis on team 7, but nonetheless Naruto swore he'd make Konoha a better place for everyone.

And doing so, he'd make it a place Sasuke could call home again. He hadn't understood, Konoha was home- it was all he ever knew but for Sasuke, home was his parents (something he desperately wished he understood but didn't) home was his family- the same family that was mascaraed before his eyes. And he could never replace them but Naruto swore he'd be Sasuke's family- he was Sasuke's family. And Sasuke would return to him, Naruto would make sure of it.

"Dickless, we're heading out. Would you like help getting ready?" He all but screamed at Sai to fuck off before he realized that Sai wasn't intentionally being weird. The nicknames were annoying but Sai was creating his own personality and Naruto couldn't force him to change when Sai was finally able to start being himself. And Sai wasn't all that bad, annoying yes- but bad, no. Sai had most issues members of team seven had; childhood trauma and PTSD… also lack of affection, abandonment issues, eating disorders and now he was rambling. The point of the matter is, Sai fit in perfectly with team seven.

"No, no." He grumbled out, pulling himself into a seated position on the bed. "Just give me a moment and I'll meet ya in the lobby."

"Hag will be in here in two minutes to make sure you are not-

"Self-isolating, yeah yeah I know dattebayo!" He groaned, throwing himself back into the pillow.

"Well maybe we can-

"You don't understand Sai, you didn't know him." Naruto sighed as the bed dipped. He slowly brought himself back into an upright position.

"You're right. I didn't know him, but I know you; or I'd like to say I now know you so as your friend, Sasuke is now mine. And if you're upset then so am I." Naruto glared at the sheets, that didn't make any sense! Sai was, he was so- argh! "You're my friend Dickless, and your feelings matter to me." Sai slowly brought his hand to Naruto's thigh and Naruto jerked his head to him.

"GAH ARE YOU READING ICHA ICHA?" Naruto shoved Sai away from him before grabbing Sai's shoulder. "I uh, I- thank you Sai. Really."

"I'll meet you in the lobby." Sai said with a smile as he patted Naruto's hair. Naruto had dealt his fair share of fake smiles so he knew when he saw one.

"Yeah, I'll see you down there." Naruto stared at the door before he slowly rolled off the bed. He could do this, yeah. He was going to bring Sasuke back.

….

"When we get back, you owe me ramen." He rounded the corner and came face to face with Sakura.

"Yeah yeah, you'll get three bowls off me, nothing more." She waved him off but the smile of her face and the light in her eyes had Naruto grinning ear to ear.

"Oi just admit it, you loveeeee me~" he drawled out and she rolled her eyes before playfully shoving his shoulder.

"I love the fact that I can abuse you and you call it love."

"Love is a fickle emotion." Sai spoke almost startling Naruto, "Love comes in different stages. Some love is toxic, as it seems Sakura's love for Naruto is. While some love comes in fear- yet however I think both your loves come from a place- not quite understanding, or acknowledgment, but from shared experience."

"Which book did you read for that one?" Naruto mumbled and Sakura elbowed him in his rib cage.

"Love Has No Bounds, Yamato-senpai gave it to me."

"That's great Sai! And I think for me, the shared experience definitely had an impact on how I viewed Naruto. Getting placed on Team 7 has been one of the greatest things that has happened to me. And I'm very glad you get to experience that too." Offering Sai a smile, Sakura skipped down the hall to save Kakashi, who was shamelessly getting hitted on by a woman.

"Oi give me a moment Sai!" Naruto turned and ran down the hall past his room.

Their mission was more of a diplomatic mission for Naruto. He and a few other jinchuriki's got together to discuss their concerns about the Akatsuki.

He threw the door open to where they had talked last night and in his hindsight, they should have picked a better place than an inn with one exit but hey the meeting was over and no one has caught sight of the Akatsuki.

Gaara quirked an eyebrow at him as he picked up a few papers from the night before.

"Oh hey, I didn't think anyone would be here…"

Fuu laughed as she threw a paper ball at his head, "You know we can tell when you're lying right?" Naruto smiled as he shook his head. He had met her two days ago and already it felt like a lifetime.

"Did Utakata leave?" Fuu laughed and nodded,

"Said we were too crazy for him! But he'll be at our meeting next month!" Naruto grinned.

"Thank you, umm for coming to this meeting, especially you Gaara, I know you have a lot going on with being Kazakage, so thanks for your time dattebayo! And I know it was short notice and a short meeting but we can't discount the Akatsuki or any other threat that might come our way-

"You said all this yesterday." Gaara stood and passed Naruto a scroll. "This is everything your Hokage should know about the meeting," he turned to Fuu, "This is yours. I gave Utakata the proper papers this morning. As I said yesterday, I believe these meetings will be a good thing for both us and the village. We should continue our work to find the remaining jinchuriki's." Naruto nodded. "If that's all, Temari and Kankuro are waiting." Gaara lifted his fist and Naruto bumped it with his own.

"See ya later, Gaara."

"Ooo I want some action too!" Fuu bumped their fist and grinned. "We need a cool name, like the Akatsuki but better!"

"I was thinking Jin10!"

"I love it! But there's only nine of us."

"Oi, what about Akatsuki Taker Downers, dattebayo!"

"That will never work."

"I agree! It has to be something fun to say!"

"Team Jin!"

….

Tsunade looked unimpressed at the team in front of her. Naruto had always had the wildest ideas and yet this topped the cake. So many times had the boy run head first into a situation without thinking about it, but as she looked at the paperwork in front of her, that showed her all the grits of this idea the boy had, she could see his growth. She could see his father and mother.

"I was surprised when you brought this up. And I still think it was a dumb idea! But seeing as the Akatsuki didn't interfere I will grant you a pass. I think monthly meetings are still too risky, but I'll condone your bimonthly meetings."

Naruto narrowed his eyes as he reached forward and flipped a few pages over. "We have precautions set into place if the Akatsuki were to catch on or find us. Oi, we can't hide in fear of the Akatsuki, granny. We can't keep putting others at risk, the Akatsuki are after us, and we are the only ones strong enough to handle it dattebayo'!" Tsunade sighed, staring at the team in front of her.

"You have to think this through, Naruto. Who will be in charge of these meetings? What will these meetings entitle? What is your plan for this?" It was honestly a good idea, yet, even the best ideas can turn into trash if the wrong person does it. And yet, the way Naruto's eyes lit up as he took a step forward, let her know the village was in good hands.

"I'll be in charge of Team Jin, but for the time being I'll be shadowing Gaara to gain more leadership skills. Team 7 will be my guards, and our first order of business is finding the rest of the jinchurikis."

Tsunade smirked as she looked over the team in front of her. They were young and lacked experience but they saw a problem and were working like hell to fix it.


The Truth Unravels


PRESENT

Sakura was his best friend, and he was so mad he was ignoring all the signs that pointed to Itachi being an innocent man. Ignored what Tsunade said about him being ordered because he hurt Sasuke.

But all rational thought left him the longer he stared at the man, who may or may not have something to do with Pervy Sage's death.

But there was no way he could have been responsible if he were locked in a cell, right?

Why do you want him to be responsible brat?

'It would make it so much easier! If Itachi was a monster, if Konoha were the good guys.' Naruto sighed before dragging his eyes back to Itachi.

Even if the Uchiha was responsible, Konoha isn't innocent either.

'Oi what gives, I thought you hated Uchihas?' Naruto asked irritably as he fumbled with his hands. Itachi's eyes were on him, and Naruto might be a little intimidated.

I hate all humans. Kurama said evenly.

Naruto rolled his eyes as he straightened up. It was now or later.

"Did you have Jiraiya killed?" Naruto stood outside the bars while Itachi sat criss-crossed on the concrete floor.

"Sasuke was here earlier, yet he never bothered to come in." Naruto blinked in surprise, but he wasn't going to let Itachi lead the conversation.

"You work for the Akatsuki, so I assume that's where your loyalties lie," Tsuande mentioned Itachi's strongest and weakest spots were his eyes, and he barely missed the flash of annoyance in them. "My only question is how did you know Jirayia would go to Ame? Who tipped you off?"

He was met with nothing.

"But you probably know Konoha better than anyone. Worked in ANBU at 11, I wouldn't be surprised if you still remember all the protocols. Like the seal to get into Konoha."

He hadn't trained under Tsunade for nothing. And while he was known for being dumb, he knew how to be serious when need be.

"Ya know, thinking back, there was this one time four months ago, I returned from a mission and Sakura-chan had a man over. You never believe I couldn't get an ounce of chakra off him."

Naruto drly chuckled as he watched Itachi. Nothing about the man changed.

"So you either snuck in, or Sakura-chan gave you the seal. And you came back and gathered intel on the Akatsuki and set Jiraiya up. Why?"

Again he was met with nothing.

Damn it, Sakura-chan I'm trying, I really am. But Itachi did not want to be saved, and Naruto was tired and if Itachi was guilty it would be so much easier. So easy to watch him die, and continue living like nothing happened.

And then he remembered, that's what they already did. When the Uchiha massacre happened they moved on like nothing happened. It was whispered in the streets but the only one who suffered then, who would suffer now, was his teammate. His stomach tightened and he felt sick.

He stared at the man longer before reaching into his pouch and pulling out a journal.

"This was Sakua-chan's, I never read it but," he shrugged his shoulders while tossing the book into the cell. "I'm sure you can find something to do with it."

Just as the book collided into the ground the cell rocked. Naruto narrowed his eyes as the cell rocked one more time.

"What did you do?" Damn it! "If you had anything to do with this, I will personally kill you." Naruto turned and quickly hirisan out the room. He collided into the Hokages head- he still had to work the kinks out- and looked over the village.

Multiple buildings were on fire and civilians were running wild.

….

Kakashi lazed around the memorial stone, half a bottle of sake in hand and two empty ones scattered on the ground. His head was cloggy and he felt all his sins lift from him. The sun was shining on him and he felt warm.

He let his head take him back to his genin days, when Minato-sensei would sit them down and try to get them to talk about their feelings. He said it was good to talk about things they could all relate to. Rin would volunteer to go first to help sensei out, while Obito would cross his arms and glare at him. But once it was Obito's turn to go, the boy wouldn't stop until he said everything he had to say. And when Kakashi said the same thing he always did "I'm glad to be here." Minato-sensei would frown but wouldn't push him to talk deeper than that. And then Minato-sensei would go on and on about his own problems, before they all went around and gave each other advice.

Kakashi thought back to those days and smiled, it was bitter sweet but he would give anything to go back.

"How the mighty have fallen." Kakashi slowly dragged his eye over to the masked man. The man walked over to him before taking the bottle and lifting his mask to reveal his lips, he took a sip. "Looking at the stone won't bring your friends back."

"Maa, dead is dead." Kakashi said while snatching his bottle back and drowning the rest.

"If you had a chance to go back, would you?"

"In a heartbeat." He whispered. The man walked forward and traced the outline of Obito's name. His Akatsuki cloak flowed in the wind.

"I could give that, without the hassle of being a hero. How simple would life be, if everything you wanted, you got."

An explosion went off in the distance and Kakashi remained relaxed in the presence of Madara Uchiha.

"I'd say, a little boring. What ninja doesn't like challenges?"

"Ninja shouldn't have to face challenges as a child. If you want a complicated life, it should be when you're old enough to risk your life for the sake of the village. Not based on skill." Madara turned, leaning on the memorial stand to fully face Kakashi.

"I like your philosophy. It'll be different for the next generation." This current generation was on the right track. He'd give his all to make sure that his predecessor's wrongs weren't repeated.

"It'll always be the same unless I do something about it."

"Maa, one person can't change the entire elemental nations." Madara cocked his head just as another explosion went off and pushed himself from the stone to stand face to face with Kakashi.

"I can. But you won't be around to see it." Sharingan met sharingan and Madara's balde clashed with his own.

Sasuke pushed the door open to the inn and grabbed Suigetsu roughly by his shirt.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Oi I was watching TV, then the fucking power cut out." Karin nodded from her seat on the couch and brought her cup to her lips.

"It was getting pretty good. We've been watching marathons since we got here. You'd never believe the "powers'' they make ninjas have in these shows! It's fucking ridicolus." She said as she took careful drinks from her cup, acting like what they were doing was normal. Juugo on the other hand had the audacity to actually look a little nervous for their current situation.

Sasuke's grip tightened on Suiguetsu's shirt until the man held up both hands. "Ok! Ok, the village is under attack, did you really think we'd help?"

"You like fighting." Sasuke said while narrowing his eyes a fraction at his three teammates.

"Well," Suiguetsu pulled back from him and made his way back beside Karin. "When you listen to what that old lady was saying, it makes no sense for us to offer this village aid, when this village caused you to have a horrible childhood." Karin and Juugo both nodded their heads while Juugo turned and headed into the kitchen.

"It isn't safe to stay here."

"Please Sasuke-kun, we like our odds staying here then going outside and facing an Akatsuki member." Karin went back to drinking her tea as another bomb went off in the distance.

"And when this building gets blown up? If you don't want to fight, fine. But don't become collateral damage trying to prove a point." He was sick of losing people close to him, and these idiots were proving to him why he shouldn't have formed another team.

He thought of Naruto, who was out there fighting for a village that only recently started fighting for him. And maybe if Sasuke decided to fight the Akatsuki, he wouldn't fight for Konoha but he could fight for Naruto. He could fight for the last bit of family he had left anyway.

"Naruto's out there, so I'm going to join him. Do what you please, but you better not die."


The Truth Unravels


1 YEARS AGO (FLASHBACK)

"You'd be a great medic." Sakura observed as she went back to reading the charts, trying to figure out where the poison originated from. It wasn't a new poison by far and that only excited her more. There were three toxin components which she traced back 40 years prior during the Second Great Ninja War. This specific mix of strain was deadly, it was meant for war and while Tsunade had been able to find a treatment for it, she hadn't found a cure. Sakura was sent to Yumikagure to find a better treatment plan, to help the ninjas who were affected.

"There isn't a cure" Tsunade had stressed that to her before she left the village, and Sakura took it as a challenge. Tsunade hadn't been able to find a cure and she didn't want her staying out past the village for over a week looking for a cure that didn't exist. Yet as she stared at the charts she swore there was a cure. She had the previous antidote from her mentors and was sent to make a more effective one. She could make a cure, she had six days left and that was plenty of time. She really liked her odds.

"I know." She was pulled from her thoughts as she glanced back to Itachi, smiling sweetly at him as she flipped him off. Itachi taught himself the basics of medical ninjutsu and she taught him more in depth procedures and mentioned to him how if he decided to pursue a different career, being a doctor would be a great starting point.

To which Iachi mentioned with his skill set, he was more useful on the battlefield. And while that wasn't a lie, Itachi was a prodigy. Any field he could have gone to, he would have dominated as he did as a ninja. But of course, Itachi would rather serve Konoha- but today was a good day and she promised to not go down that path.

Bringing herself back to the task at hand, Sakura returned to the charts in front of her and began analyzing them. First things first she had to come up with is a better treatment plan, and then she could focus on finding a cure.

"Dr. Haruno, we're ready for you." The head nurse called into the room, nodding, Sakura stood and guested for Itachi to follow her. "The patient is a 38 year old woman, who was diagnosed and treated 10 years ago. Unfortunately she has been showing recent negative side effects associated with long term effects of having this particular strain of poison."

"All of the patients had been living with the poison for 10 years, before the side effects started?" If that was the case, Tsunade's treatment worked- but it had a time limit no one could have foreseen. Being as that was, Tsuande's had created this treatment during the Second Great Ninja War, and the patients from then hadn't experienced side effects, so what changed within the 10 year?

They rounded the corner before they were brought into a sealed off room. The head nurse began putting on PPE, and guestered to them to do the same. Sakura narrowed her eyes, "I was under the impression this wasn't spreadable."

"I'd rather not have me nor my staff take the risk." Sakura sighed before stepping into the room without the equipment- they would need it more than her.

There were three patients laying on cots in the room. She hadn't had a chance to see the patients since she got there a few hours prior. Finding a cure was not only testament to her own skill set, as Tsunade's apprentice she had a reputation to uphold. And with the countless people second guessing her authority at the hospital because she was young, she had to prove herself. Especially with Tsunade giving her more authority at the hospital when the past year Sakura had been spending more time on mission than the hospitals, the doctors saw it as Tsunade giving her special treatment.

She pulled her hair into a tight ponytail before grabbing the first patient file. "Ok. Let's see what we got here."

….

It took Sakura three days to find a sensible treatment plan that would work better than the last. It was an excellent plan yet Itachi should have known Sakura wouldn't stop there.

Sakura left the clinic first while Itachi volunteered to stay and monitor the patients who took the treatment. They had all been doing well. No longer were they sweating bullets but their skins had livened up and their temperatures had returned to normal. No lives were lost. He monitored them for five hours before he deemed them ready to leave.

It was a good day for the medics. Itachi had become Sakura's apprentice for this mission, yet she left him unsupervised and he was able to learn things first handedly, as well as gain more experience with dealing with poisoned people and their side effects.

While Itachi could deal with adults he preferred children. He'd always had a soft spot for them and found their problems needed more focus than adults. He believed if people got the proper help as children they'd be better ninjas.

Standing from his chair he made his way to the inn he shared with Sakura. It hadn't been long since things…. progressed with Sakura.

He knew what he was doing was wrong. Sakura deserves someone better than him, someone who wasn't a rogue ninja yet…

He was happy. Maybe content was a better word to describe what he was feeling. While Itachi had always been content with how things were, he had despised a part of himself for longer than he could remember. It started before the massacre.

He'd always been happy, with Sasuke, and then Shisui and Izumi and then he wasn't. He was content to live until Sasuke killed him yet he opened up a door four years ago that he hasn't been able to close. A door that forced him to realize a few things. Itachi could be happy.

It was hard and everytime he grew happy something in the back of his mind told him how he didn't deserve to feel this emotion. The emotion had been foreign to him for years and to try to enjoy said emotion was draining. He had been constantly fighting a battle that still showed its ugly face in moments like this, but Itachi had never been one to lose a fight.

He had hobbies. And while he had always loved reading, he had associated that escape to dissociation's. So he gained new hobbies, he liked to cook, mediating was another one, and he found himself often volunteering at orphanages. And these were just a few things he realized he loved. He couldn't solely put his happiness on Sakura or Sasuke. It was unfair to them (especially with his brother not being completely happy), and it was unfair to him, he realized.

His life could have a purpose other than fulfilling Sasuke's goal.

The voice in his head that longed for death was gone. And with it came gratitude. Sasuke had people who wished him nothing but success. People who were determined to help him fulfil his goal even after he abandoned the village. Sasuke had a family. And so had Itachi. Finding it hadn't been easy nor something he looked for but yet… he had a family and he could only hope Sasuke would accept him.

Walking into the inn he knew something was wrong. With a polite nod to the innkeeper he made his way to his shared room.

Sakura wasn't sleeping in the bed or sitting at the desk like he expected her to. He made his way to the bathroom door just to find it locked.

"Sometimes I can't find a cure but my body can…" Sakura dragged her hand through her hair. "Does that make sense? Like I know what the problem is, I just can't see it and my body can." She threw a jar filled with poison at him. He caught it with ease. "It's like how you can't find a solution until you've got a problem. This way, I can't prevent countless deaths. My body's conditioned to know and I know what my body needs."

He wrenched the door open and found her unconscious in the tub.

Forcing his nerves to calm down he walked to the tub before checking her pulse. Low but steady. He took a deep breath, she was ok, he repeated in his head. While his chakra ache to heal her he wasn't due home until later which meant she thought she had time to poison herself and find a cure.

Narrowing his slender eyes at her form, he stood and grabbed a washcloth before wetting it and placed it on her forehead. He'd give her an hour before he'd interfere. He closed the lid on the toilet before taking a seat and placed his left leg over the right.

He didn't wait long as her eyes opened. Haruno Sakura, the woman with the Strength of a Hundred Seal. She grinned at him.

"I know how to make the cure."


The Truth Unravels


PRESENT

Itachi sat completely still, listening for anything. There was no window in the cell he was in but every few minutes he could feel the building shake. Konoha was under attack. He closed his eyes and breathed. Multiple guards had run out in aid of the village.

"What's going on out there?" A prisoner asked.

"They can't just leave us here right?!" Another shouted.

"This is insane! We can die, what the fuck!"

Itachi closed his eyes as he tuned out the sounds of chaos. He was waiting, and she never let him wait too long. Soft footsteps filled his ears as Konan stood before his cell. "We were surprised when we heard you got caught."

"Is that an Akatsuki member?"

"Hey lady get us out of here and we'll join you, no question!"

"They put up a good fight." He found himself saying and Konan smiled.

"Good, let's get you out of here. Your partner is missing, so you'll be assigned to Tobi for the time being."

"Missing?"

"Hmm it appears after you got caught, he disappeared from our tracks." The cell opened as Konan walked in and undid his seals. "I half thought you both turned on us." Once he was free, he coursed his chakra throughout his body and breathed. It felt good to have it back.

"What's our goal?" He asked, while pulling himself to a stand and stretching his aching muscles.

"We want the nine tails, nothing else matters." Konan disappeared in a flash of paper as Itachi made his way out of the cell.

….

"Damn it." Shikamaru hissed as he tried to finish the clue Jirayia left on the Toad Sages back. They were stuck, and the piece of metal Shizune was decoding was taking longer than intended. On top of the village getting destroyed, they were out of time.

"We aren't getting anywhere with this," Shiho told him while scanning through Jiraiya's books. "You should go where you're needed and I'll stay and figure this out." Shikamaru nodded his head. It was the best situation they could come up with.

"Troublesome," He said while heading to the window. "Send for me the moment you find something." He made his way out and quickly began his search for Asuma-sensei. He needed to make sure Kurani-sensei and Mirai-imouto were safe.

Once he made his way out the window the sirens of alarms were louder to hear while Inochi's voice made its way to his head.

"There are an unknown number of Akatsuki members present. Luckily for us we know their abilities. Genin- focus on getting civilians and yourself to the safe zone. Chunin- get the injured to the hospital and Jounin and ANBU protect the village. As of now I'll go over the attackers abilities. Stay Safe Konoha."

"Rotation!" Neji called, jumping in front of a child and an elderly woman as a giant centipede came crashing into it. Once the centipede backed up Lee came crashing down on its head.

"Yosh! The Akatsuki better think twice before attacking our home! I shall beat more creatures and attackers than even you, Neji!"

"Lee I really don't think this-

"Nonsense! Neji, I challenge you to a duel!"

"What's in it for me?" Neji asked while Tenten made her way to the civilians and told them to hurry to safety.

"If you shall beat me, I'll let you battle me in five gates!" Neji smirked

"Make it six."

"WHAT! Neji don't be-

"Six! Of course Neji! Do we have a deal?" Lee said while spitting in his hand.

"Neji, Lee please for the love-

Neji spit in his hand before connecting it with Lee's.

"Yosh! Let's begin now!"

Teneten sighed, trust in the middle of an attack Lee and Neji would turn it into a competition. Honestly she didn't know who was worse, those two or Gai-sensei and Kakashi-sensei.

Kiba's back collided against Hinata's as they defended themselves from one of the attackers.

Trying to get to their parents had seemed almost impossible. Whatever move they threw at it, it just threw it back. Even as Shino's bugs burst through the man's arms, shattering them to 100 pieces, the man just laughed like that was a minor inconvenience before grabbing the blade with his other hand.

"Fuck," Kiba muttered as the mans blade came crashing down next to him.

"Is that all you Leaf ninjas got?" The man laughed, his silver hair blowing in the wind. "The fuck is this?" He said laughing.

"Don't let his blade hit you! It has some weird chakra coming from it."

"Oi why would we want his blade to hit us?" Kiba shouted at her, and the glare she sent him had him double back.

Honestly he was glad Hinata was being more outgoing but damn, that look of hers could kill!

"Kiba-kun, please pay attention!" Of course he was trying to pay attention but this man was literally taking on three of them at the same time and still wiping their asses.

"Come on, if you're not going to challenge me, take me to a damn team that fucking will!" The man called before coming to an abrupt stop. "Jashin tell me which direction to go in?"

Oh hell no, Kiba thought before charging in before the man could do anything else.

"FANG OVER FANG" The man dodged his attack, side stepping him just as Hinata drove her palm into his stomach.

"Gentle Step, TWIN LION FIST" Shino's bug came out to create a wall forcing the man to take the hits.

Kiba narrowed his eyes when the man collapsed to the ground and began laughing. Blood poured out the man's mouth as he stood.

"This is what I'm talking about. Fucking birds got balls!"

.

He felt guilty, like he had to continue fighting for his team. But he was so tired. Tired of always being the one living. He pressed his hand to his abdomen in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding. Maybe this time he could join his team in the afterlife.

But Naruto needed him, and he couldn't let him down, not after everything. He hadn't been a good guardian, and honestly he had no right to call himself that. But even though he didn't deserve forgiveness, his team forgave him. Naruto had all but begged Kakashi to move into the Uzumaki-Namikaze residence, which he turned down on several occasions.

It wasn't all bad despite his desire to let go. He wasn't looking for a family yet he found one in Team Seven. Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura and Sai- and honestly there were too many S's in one team- and he couldn't bring himself to regret being their sensei. The many nights they spent training and even more spent making dinners as they revolved around each other's houses. It was nice. And for the past few years a sense of peace had washed over him- one that couldn't be complete without Sasuke- but he felt content. Naruto and Sakura didn't speak like Sasuke was gone but with certainty that he was coming back to them. That he was coming back home.

And wasn't it funny that Sasuke had come home. Kakashi smiled as his eyes fluttered shut. Sasuke was home and he wasn't leaving. And he knew without a second doubt that Naruto and Sasuke could handle- rather they should, was a question for another day- whatever was to come.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

He knew he shouldn't stop fighting, but he felt so calm. Like he no longer had the worries of the future in his hand, and he didn't feel like he gave up. More like he was passing down the torch to the next best. He was handing over his armor to his team.

"Kakashi-sensei, stay with me!"

He felt warm, and his thoughts slowly ceased. He pulled his eyes open and stared into the endless abyss of green. "S'kura?" The light faded and he was engulfed in darkness.

Tsuande started out through the window, clenching her fist. Her village was under attack, yet it didn't make sense for the Akatsuki to come after Naruto if they didn't have the other tailed beast. A kunai striked the window and Tsunade narrowed her eyes yet again. The alarm had been sound, and all her ninjas were on the front line. It was time for her to end this.

"M'lady! An Akatsuki member with silver hair has been sighted, team Kurinei are fighting him now! His abilities seem to be immortal."

"Hokage-sama, Deidara of Iwa is one of the attackers."

"The academy is on fire, Lady Fifth!"

"Hokage-sama, the evacuation room has been compromised."

The window shattered as Tsunade spun around.

"Report all abilities to Inochi Yamanka, he is to inform everyone of the Akatsukis abilities. The academy being on fire is not my top concern, make sure there are no children stuck inside. And for the love of all things good, if plan A doesn't work, restore to plan B. Dismissed." Sucking in a deep breath, Tsunade put her cloak on. The room was empty but the breeze she felt let her know she wasn't alone.

"Tsunade-sama," She raised an eyebrow at Itachi who stood in the shadows of the corner.

"Why are you here?"

"Your village is in need of aid."

"And you're here to offer it? Is it not your organization who did this? Am I supposed to believe you knew nothing of this?"

"You're not in a position to turn down aid." She gripped her hands before walking around her desk and throwing the drawer open. She grabbed and threw Itachi the mask which he caught with ease.

"No one is to know you aided and I want you back in the cell when this is over." With that Itachi Uchiha was gone. Taking another deep breath, she refused to think of the part she was playing in this and left the tower to aid her village.

….

"My lord, should we aid Konoha in her time of need?" Danzo cast his head down as he looked at his subordinate.

"Konoha will realize it's mistakes for allowing the Uchiha's access to her. For now we wait until the time is right, before we assist." Continuing walking down the corridor, Danzo smirked. This wasn't how he pictured it, yet after all these years he would finally become hokage. This game that irritated him to no end, was finally coming to a close. Once he was made hokage he'd have the rest of the Uchihas killed for treason, and he'd be unstoppable. He'd make the jinchuuriki know it's place and turn him into a soldier. He trained his eye enough, he could use it just as efficiently as an Uchiha, if not better.

The girl was a hindrance to his plans. Her half-breed child was no longer needed in the grand scheme of things. He wanted every Uchiha gone and that included Kakashi and his eye. Sakumo's child should have never been given a chance in the first place, and when he was done with that man he'd go for whoever else the jinchuriki put it's claws in. Team 7 made Sai weak, and Yamato weak. It was time it was officially over.

He paused as a rush of his men ran past him to the one room that was heavily guarded, before his cane was heard clunking into the ground as he rushed forward to the scene. Pushing his men out the way he quickly entered the room that once held Haruno Sakura.

"What happened?!" He hissed as he scanned the room and looked at the two bodies laying on the floor.

"She is gone, Danzo-sama."

Danzo turned and threw his cane at his subordinate. "Tell me something I do not know!" Taking a deep breath, Danzo extended his hand, and his cane was placed back in it. "Find the girl and get rid of her."

"Yes, hokage-sama!" He should have gotten rid of that Uchiha whore a long time ago. Quite frankly the entirety of Team 7 were Uchiha whores, and Danzo couldn't wait for them to be out of the picture.


AN:

Firstly I just have to say, I wish I could write fight scenes and I really tried but it did not turn out how I wanted so I deleted it... Second of all, I really thought I'd be able to write and post more now that its summer, but I got stuck in summer school doing 6 credits and working so the updates will probably be the same length apart.

Also, whatever happened to Sakura, It'll be a while before we see her again. But fear not, she will be around! I really enjoyed writing that Sasuke scene lol, I was like it's been awhile sense we seen team taka, lets throw them in here. I feel like Neji and Lee never really got that chance to have a DEEP friendship in the series so I want to change that, and make their relationship more competitive, seeing as Lee is Gai's copycat. And I love Team Gai, and I notice I gave Tenten like 3 seconds of screen time in this chapter, so hopefully last chapter made up for it.

With the Akatsuki, only Sasori is dead, and Kisame is missing so the rest of them are attacking the village along with Pain. Chapter 11 will wrap up the "Pain Arc" lol and chapter 12 should bring us into what kisames been up too. I'm so excited to finish writing the next few chapters!

Also thank you to everybody who reviewed and read so far, I love yall so much!