"Please, Lord Orochimaru, let us settle this once and for all, before it's too late." She bowed to him.
"I wasn't expecting you so soon, Saori. As for your request, what will you do for me in return. If Sasuke were to learn the truth, he would no longer fight for me."
"I... what is it that you would want from me?"
"You could always take his place?" He grinned. "Besides, we both know that you are much stronger than he is, he's driven by hate whereas you, my dear, you're driven by love."
"You know I'm loyal to you already."
"Yes but when it comes down to it, you'll choose Sasuke over me."
"You'd expect any different, my Lord?"
"Not at all, in fact I was counting on your loyalty to him. I've had a thought, you see. You and I have a common goal. To stop the Akatsuki."
"You were one of them, why is it you want to stop them?"
"My goal is to become the most powerful ninja in existence, if they fulfil their plans then I'm afraid that won't be possible for me. You do know what their plans are, don't you?"
"Of course. And I already have a plan to stop them."
"Oh, and what's that?"
"I'm going to give them what they want."
"Haha, and you are aware of the result of doing so?"
"Yes, I've already accepted it."
"And that's why you want Sasuke to know the truth about Itachi and the Uchiha massacre?"
"I just want... for him to know the truth. They both deserve at least that much. I want to see them be brothers one last time."
"Should you fail, my plan will go ahead accordingly. Should you succeed, your body will be mine."
"My Lord." She bowed and left.
"Lord Orochimaru, what was all that about? It didn't make any sense to me."
"Of course not Kabuto. All in good time. I know exactly what she's planning, and it works more in my favour than the plan I originally had."
"So we're handing Sasuke over?"
"Yes. If she succeeds then there will be no need to use him." They went to his room, he had been sleeping after his training again. "Hello Sasuke. We have a surprise for you."
"It better be worth waking me up for."
"It is. We're going back to the Hidden Leaf." Orochimaru smiled menacingly.
"What for."
"It's time for a reunion."
She was back in time for Naruto's new training. Kakashi had asked her to lend a hand.
"So he still doesn't get it?"
"Not yet."
"Want me too take over? I have an idea that I think will work for him."
"Go ahead."
"Alright Naruto, listen up. Kakashi had already explained that once you release the clone jutsu then all the individual memories go into you. Knowing how impatient you are, let's speed this up a lot. Make as many clones as you can, and I'll match them."
"Alright, you're speaking my language." He summoned about a hundred clones. She matched his hundred.
"Okay, the original Naruto stays with me, the rest of you pair off but make sure you can't see each other." They all departed as instructed. "The idea is that each set of clones will practice a different element of this training."
"Saori, don't you think this will be a bit much for him?"
"He's impatient, you know that. This will help teach him another lesson as well as help him out." She laughed. "It's not like he won't achieve anything. This way I can also see which elements of this jutsu he's capable of and which ones we need to focus on." They finished their first session of training and when they released their clones Naruto collapsed.
"Cough It up boys, you owe me." She held her hand out to Saito and Senji.
"Aw man." They moaned as they paid her.
"You bet that Naruto would collapse?"
"I bet that he wouldn't be able to handle it the first time. They bet that he would." Naruto woke up.
"Hey that's not fair."
"You're the one who wanted to speed things up. Collective practice brings collective fatigue. You gain the knowledge of each of the clones, but also their tiredness. Do you understand how this training is going to work now?"
"I guess so."
"Perfect. Kakashi, you can take it from here, right?"
"Sure, thank you."
"Wait, Saori."
"Yeah, what's up?"
"What's your chakra nature?" He was curious. She took a piece of paper from Kakashi. As she focused her chakra into it, it burst into flames.
"Fire."
"So cool!"
"Right. I have to go. I'll catch you later."
Back at her house, Itachi had made himself at home. He was sat watching Princess Gale and eating a bag of crisps.
"I hope you're going to clean this up."
"Yeah, after the movie."
"Never took you for a Princess Gale fan."
"It... just happened to be on."
"Suuuuuurrrreeee..." she wasn't convinced. "Anyway the plan is in motion. They'll be here within the next two days. Will you come with me to speak with the Hokage directly?"
"If I must."
Once there the explained everything to Lady Tsunade.
"Well then, I thought you'd lost your mind bringing him back to the village, but I can see now, it all makes sense. So what's your next move?"
"Sasuke and Orochimaru are already on their way. We're going to go back, to where it all began. And just to make sure there's no interruptions, I request that all chunin and Naruto stand by. I know they'd want to be there for Sasuke anyway. I also request that the Kazekage be present."
"By interruptions you mean the Akatsuki? They already killed Gaara once, are you sure that's a good idea?"
"It's not for that reason... it's just, you know..."
"Yes I'm aware they helped us out with the initial rescue attempt. So you just want him there when you face Sasuke?"
"Yes."
"Hm. I thought he wasn't your boyfriend, Saori?."
"He's not." She blushed.
"And the Kazekage no less. I'm impressed." He pretended to ignore her just to annoy her but she wouldn't fall for it.
"You were there when he died. You were partly to blame, Itachi." She quickly changed the subject.
"I know, and I'm sorry. But I had to keep my cover with the Akatsuki."
"Bit late for that now, isn't it? Won't they wonder where you are?"
"Not necessarily."
"But that shark looking guy is always with you."
"Kisame. Yes, that's true. Currently he's with a clone."
"I still feel they suspected me from the beginning. Deidara also kept a sharp eye on me, as did Sasori." She referred to the times she visited Itachi with the full knowledge of the Akatsuki.
"They did. But it doesn't matter right now, what does matter is Sasuke."
"You're right. Let's go."
They gathered where it had all started. The Uchiha clan's head household. The building sat in ruins. Scorch marks could be seen in various parts.
"This place is huge!" Naruto gasped in awe.
"Well, what would you expect for the head of the Uchiha clan?" Itachi appeared from the shadows.
"Itachi!"
"Don't, Naruto." Saori appeared beside Itachi. "Please let me explain."
"Then start explaining, and fast!" He gritted his teeth.
"We have to wait..."
"For what?!"
"Sasuke."
"And he's right on time." Itachi dodged right, Sasuke's attack missed.
"Sasuke, hold on!"
"It's finally time to get my revenge!" He went in for another punch but still missed.
"You're still not ready."
"Will you two stop it!" Saori shouted from the sidelines.
"Maybe it's best to let them fight it out a bit?" Sakura suggested.
"Didn't think you of all people would want them to fight."
"I don't, but they don't seem to want to listen."
"Perhaps if they fight they will get some of this lent up rage out and then listen?" Gaara suggested.
"Fine, for now we allow them to fight. But if I have to stop them, I will." And thats exactly what happened, Sasuke was so intent on killing Itachi that the fight seemed to have no end. Despite still not being strong enough to defeat him, Sasuke kept throwing attacks at Itachi. Itachi coughed up blood and at that moment Sasuke was coming at him with his full body chidori. Saori intercepted, blocking both Sasuke's Chidori and Itachi's fist. Both blows broke her wrists.
"Saori." Itachi sighed and relaxed his body.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"I told you I'd tell you the truth when the time was right."
"Get out of my way! This is a family matter!"
"Do you still not remember who I am?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Look at me." She stared intently and as he looked at her and looked at Itachi something felt familiar.
"He won't remember. My memory jutsu is still affecting him."
"Memory jutsu?" Sasuke finally lowered his arm. "What are you talking about?!" His tone was angry.
"Would it be any assurance to you if I used that special jutsu again?"
"As a matter of fact it would. That way I know you're not lying." He didn't know what he was in for.
"Very well." She performed her truth sphere jutsu and it surrounded all of them.
"First, tell me, who are you, really?"
"You still haven't caught on?"
"Humour me."
"My name... is Saori Uchiha."
"What!" Everyone was shocked apart from Gaara. He had known all along.
"Prove it!"
"Sharingan!" She activated her sharingan.
"What kind of sharingan is that?"
"A unique one." Itachi butted in.
"How is it you have one normal red one and one blue one?"
"That is not what we're here for."
"That still proves nothing, Kakashi has a sharingan too but he's not Uchiha."
"That's because it was given to him by one of us. By his teammate, Obito. But that's a whole other business. Remember when Hinata called Neji 'brother' even though they're cousins? Well it's not like that. I am your sister, Sasuke."
"I don't have a sister."
"Yes you do. Itachi, release the memory justsu please."
"It's not that simple. It can't just be released. He has to remember on his own."
"Then time to take a trip down memory lane. All the way to the beginning. I may as well tell you about my sharingan after all. I was four years old at the time, you were five, Sasuke."