A week had passed, they had sent word to Tsunade that they would be returning soon.

"Don't worry, we'll be back." She smiled at Gaara.

"Thank you, for staying. You're always welcome here."

"Lord Kazekage." She bowed. Gaara scoffed.

"You don't need to be so formal."

"I know, I'm just so proud of you. You've come a long way."

"So have you. I wouldn't be surprised if you were to become the next Hokage."

"Then I can keep that promise I made when we were eleven."

"What promise? Kankurō asked.

"I promised that once he became Kazekage and I became Hokage, then we would have a fight, to see who is stronger."

"And I look forward to that day."

"I think that's a fight everyone would want to see." Temari added.

"Lord Kazekage, Lady Saori!" One of the Anbu appeared.

"Don't you know how to knock?" Gaara said in an irritated tone.

"My apologies, Lord Gaara, but it's important. It's a message from the Hokage, for Lady Saori." He was out of breath.

"Well, what is it?" She asked.

"Naruto, Sakura and a new member called Sai have been sent on a mission to find the information that Sasori had passed on, during which they ran into Orochimaru and pursued him to a hideout. We've received word from their team leader that they have found Sasuke there."

"Sasuke?!" She thought for a moment. "Well then, looks like we'd better go."

"You think you can bring him back? We've tried before, and Naruto has tried many times, yet all attempts have failed."

"We have to try. He may be an asshole, but he's our asshole." They left Suna and rushed to where they believed Naruto's team to be. There was evidence of a fight, and a path of destruction led them to Orochimaru's hideout. There they found what they were looking for. Sasuke was drawing his sword.

"Sasuke, stop!" She shouted as he was about to plunge it into Naruto's back. Sai intercepted. He used his chidori to get Naruto and Sai off him. His sharingan was in use.

"Sasuke, please listen to me. All this is pointless!"

"It's not pointless, I have to become stronger in order to defeat my brother."

"You don't know what you're talking about. You don't know a damn thing, and you never will because you never listen. You're such a selfish brat!" She was crying. She knew there would be a fight, but she didn't know if she'd have it in her to defeat him. He stabbed Yamato.

"You speak as if you know about my family, when you know nothing at all!"

"You're the one that knows nothing. It's so frustrating! I wish... I wish I could tell you but I can't... not yet."

"Tell me what? Do I have to force it out of you, Saori?" He talked so coldly towards her. "I barely even know you. Why should I listen to you."

"You do know me... more than you think. One day you'll learn the truth about me and the Uchiha." She prepared a jutsu.

"Whatever you're planning, it won't work."

"It will." She formed a sphere around her and Sasuke. "Within this sphere, only the truth can be told. Meaning you can ask me any questions you want and I have to tell the truth."

"And if you don't?"

"Then I die."

"Hm, we'll then, this should be entertaining. First question; why do you want me to return to the village so badly?"

"Because I care about you and so do many others. You're a part of our village, it's where you belong."

"How can you care about me when you hardly know me?"

"I know you a lot more than you think."

"Why are you trying to stop me from destroying Itachi?"

"Because you have it all wrong!"

"He killed my parents!"

"No he didn't!" She shut her eyes.

"You're not dead... so you're telling the truth." He lowered his sword. "If it wasn't him, then who?"

"I... I can't tell you that!" Saori stood firm.

"Then you're no use to me."

"I promise, when the time is right, I will tell you."

"Hm. Still not dead. If that's the case then I'll spare you for now. But you better tell me, when the time comes. Or I'll kill you as well as Itachi. He still killed the entire clan."

"Not all of them. He spared you, at least."

"That may be so, but he did so in order for me to be an avenger, to one day kill him. But even Orochimaru or myself are not strong enough to defeat him alone."

"If only you knew..."

"We need to bring him back to the leaf no matter what it takes." Yamato said. As Sasuke was about to attack, Orochimaru stopped him. They had a little quarrel but then disappeared. They returned to the village.

"Naruto, I understand this is difficult for you, so... there's something I have to do. I need you to give this to Lady Tsunade, but under no circumstances are you to open it."

"What is it?"

"Nothing you need to worry about." She turned to leave. "Saito, Senji, I need you two to stay here. Do not follow me under any circumstances. If she feels it's right, Lady Tsunade will explain it to you after she's read that scroll." She left them confused but they trusted her.

She arrived at her destination.

"Back so soon?"

"I didn't want it to have to come to this, but we need you."

"That's a lie, this is how you'd prefer it."

"Not really, because I know this means your plan is screwed up."

"You must have good reason then."

"It's... Sasuke. He's getting to a point of no return. He even said he'd give Orochimaru his body a thousand times over, just to take you down. It's time he learned the truth."

"Fine. But whatever happens, it's on you. When he learns the truth, he may try to kill you as well."

"You may be right...but it's a risk I have to take. Please trust me."

Back in the village Lady Tsunade was reading the scroll.

"So what is it Lady Tsunade? What is Saori planning to do to get Sasuke back?" Naruto was trying to peak at the scroll.

"She isn't serious? How could she even think of doing such a thing?!"

"What? Just tell us already!"

"It says here... that she's bringing him back. Doesn't she know he'll be arrested on sight? He's not allowed back in the village!"

"Who?"

"Itachi Uchiha."

"Itachi?" Sakura and Naruto felt a coldness run down their entire bodies.

"Why him? How does she know him?"

"No way!" Tsunade gasped.

"There's more?"

"Yes, but... she's requested that I keep this part to myself specifically, and she's asked that no one attack him upon his arrival at the Leaf, she says she wants time to explain to everyone, especially Sasuke, about the Uchiha Clan massacre."

"Wait, what could she possibly know about that? She wasn't even there?"

"Wait for her to tell you. There's no evidence to back up what's she's said here, but knowing her as I do, it all makes sense, and she would have no reason to lie about this. It's a huge ask but... I trust her."

"So we trust her to bring a mass murderer and deserter back to the village?"

"Yes, apparently so. We should let the guards know. I can't imagine they'll be long." Tsunade burned the scroll to prevent anyone else from reading its contents.

Later that afternoon they arrived.

"So, Itachi, how does it feel to walk back into the village like this?"

"I already came back to the village that time."

"I mean without sneaking in."

"Strange. I was expecting to see Anbu trying to stop me."

"I asked Tsunade to inform the guards to allow you entry."

"And you trusted her to do so?"

"Yes, because that would mean her putting a great deal of trust in me too."

"How do you know this plan of yours will work?"

"It's an open invitation for him to kill you. Of course it will work."

"He may think it's a trap. If it comes to it, I won't hold back."

"Neither will I." He stopped in his tracks.

"So, if the time comes, you'll fight both me and Sasuke?"

"If I have to, yes."

"I won't kill you, but there's no guarantee he won't. He's driven by the hatred for the one responsible for our clan's end."

"Give me some credit."

"Hm, there's that confidence I know and love." His expression remained unchanged but she smiled at him. They went straight to her house.

"Well, this is me, and I guess for now, us."

"This is quite a big place you have here, all by yourself."

"Yeah, well the third gave it to me, after I returned to the village. Then I wasn't always alone. There was the time they brought Saito and Senji to be my teammates. They've moved out now, thankfully."

"So it was just you living here with two guys?"

"Hey don't make it sound like something it's not!"

"You're still so easy to annoy." He patted her on the head.

"Whatever. You want some food?"

"You buying?"

"I'm cooking."

"Then no thanks."

"What! I'll have you know my cooking is great! Saito and Senji still come round just to eat my food."

"I suppose living like this, you would have had to learn."

"Better than your cooking." She muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing!" She laughed and so he flicked her forehead "Jeez, with that again."

"Just for old times sake."

"Not gonna punch me, like you did Sasuke?"

"He came at me." He knew she meant it as a joke dig at him.

"Yeah I know..." She looked away. She started cooking his favourite meal; cabbage and onigiri with seaweed in it.

"Thank you. It makes me happy that you remembered."

"It's one of my favourites too." They day and are, and reminisced.

"So how did you come to be teamed with tweedle Dee and tweedle dumb?"

"They're not that bad... once you get used to them... I think. It was half a year after I returned to the village, which reminds me about something, I need to ask you but I'll tell the story first. Then you'll know what I want to ask you."

"Very well." He look a sip of his green tea.

"Okay so I'd been working solo since I came back. Then all of a sudden, the third says to me that I need to be in a team if I want to be a true shinobi. There was me thinking not a chance!"

"Sharuka, do something! I don't want to be in a team." A young Saori protested.

"Sorry Saori, but all ninja are in teams of three." He ushered over the two boys. "Please be nice to them, Saori, their parents were killed a long time ago and they've been living in the orphanage since."

"So is this some kind of sick joke? And you think just because none of us have parents that were the perfect match?"

"There's more to it than that. You see, their parents were killed... by Matatabi." She looked over at them and saw a look of complete sorrow and mourning on their faces. Something inside her tightened.

"This really is a sick joke then." She thought she was going to be throw up.

"So please, take extra care with them. I promise they'll be great partners for you. They're twins so you may struggle to tell them apart at first, but Saito here usually wears something red and Senji here usually wears something yellow." He leaned in. "But between you and me, I think they switch colours just to mess with people." She didn't find it amusing in the slightest."I'll leave you guys to get acquainted while I go fill in some paperwork. Remember, Saori, be nice." He left the twins there on her doorstep. The three just stared at each other for a minute.

Without saying a word she turned and slid her door shut on them. She went inside to read a book. Some time passed and she could hear them talking outside. She took a peak and saw them attempting to practice hand signs. She slid the door open.

"What are you two doing?"

"Playing ninja."

"You look like a couple of dead kids having an argument. Most of those weren't proper hand signs."

"Can you teach us?"

No!" She slid the door closed on them again. Then she heard a rumbling. She opened the door slowly.

"What.. was that?"

"Uhh..." Senji started.

"It was his stomach." Saito saved him.

"Get in." She said coldly.

"Huh?" They were confused at her change of attitude.

"Don't make me say it again!" She pointed inside. They got up and went inside. It was big, and plain. There weren't many items in there, as they would have expected.

"Why is it so empty?" Senji asked her, looking around at the lack of furniture.

"It's not empty. There's a sofa, table and tv. Through there is the bedroom, there's the bathroom and then the kitchen. That's all I need. Oh and the bookshelf in my bedroom."

"So what do you do all day?"

"Missions."

"What about when you're not on a mission?"

"Training?"

"And when you're not training?"

"Sleeping." She grew irritated by their nosey questions. She went to the kitchen and began preparing them a meal. "I've not done the shopping yet so all I've got is some instant ramen. I can jazz up a little."

"We're grateful for anything." Saito assured her. She turned around and looked at him expectantly. "Oh, Thank you, Saori." The twins looked at each other. It didn't take long to make, she had made them bowls of instant ramen with some added vegetables and boiled eggs.

"So you see, I didn't actually like them at all when I first met them." She laughed.

"And now you can't imagine life without them?"

"Now I just mildly dislike them, sometimes. They can both be annoying at times, with their jokes and pranks. But ultimately, I trust them with my life. It wasn't until exactly one year after that when they really surprised me."

There was a knock at her door. She opened it to find Saito, Senji and Sharuka Sensei stood there with huge smiles.

"Can we come in, please?" Sharuka asked.

"What's this all about?" She was confused but let them in anyway.

"Well, Happy birthday, Saori!" They all held out gifts for her, Sharuka's was neatly wrapped and so was Saito's, whereas Senji's looked like it had been wrapped by a dog.

"What? I don't understand. It's not my birthday."

"No, but it was one year ago today that you returned to the village, so since we don't know your birthday we decided to celebrate it today!" Sharuka held out her gift for her. They all sat down as she opened them. Sharuka had gifted her a scroll and a book with new jutsu techniques in it, Saito had gifted her a game console.

"Is this really for me? Or is it for you two as well?" She smirked.

"Tomato, potato, mine is to go with his!" Senji held out his gift and was jumping with excitement. She opened it up to find a few games; one was a racing game, one was a fantasy game and the other was a horror game.

"You guys... you really didn't have to do this. Thank you!" That was the first time they saw her smile, and for the first time since Suna, she had a genuine smile.

After their meal she prepared herself to leave.

"You're going already?"

"I have to. It could take days to track them down again, you know how Orochimaru is."

"Indeed, then I wish you luck. But would you mind filling me in on where this is all supposed to commence?"

"You know where. Just don't move until I get back. There's food in." She left.

"Saori... always with the theatricals.