Three Hundred and Nine.
Jiraiya walks right on into the Hokage's office. Itachi explained her situation to him, and Jiraiya is determined to help her because he can never resist a damsel in distress. Fugaku is issuing a mission to a shinobi when Jiraiya arrives.
"But Lord Hokage," the man is saying. "I can't go on this mission and leave my son alone for so long!"
Lord Fugaku hands the shinobi a pamphlet and says, "My wife and her friends opened a babysitting centre for this exact purpose: so shinobi like yourself have somewhere safe to leave your kids while I order you about. Now go read the pamphlet while I deal with Jiraiya."
The shinobi takes the pamphlet and leaves the office.
"Welcome back, Jiraiya," says Fugaku. "What did you learn?"
"I learned that poor Itachi absolutely LOVES being in Akatsuki," says Jiraiya dramatically. The damsel needs his help! "But the Uchiha Clan and the Village elders will not approve her joining!"
"And let me guess," says Fugaku, leaning on one hand with a sly grin. "You couldn't resist helping a young woman in need of your assistance?"
"Exactly!" says Jiraiya. "You approve her joining, don't you?"
"Of course," says Fugaku. "I think Itachi will do well in Akatsuki - especially as they have the same philosophy as her."
"Right then, call a meeting of everyone who doesn't approve of Itachi joining Akatsuki so I can have words with them," says Jiraiya, crossing his arms.
"Give me a minute, I'd better deal with this shinobi," says Fugaku. "You can come back in now!" he calls.
The shinobi comes back in. "The village could've used something like this a long time ago!" says the shinobi, waving the pamphlet about.
"So you'll go on the mission?" says Fugaku.
"Yes, Lord Hokage!" says the shinobi.
Fugaku hands him the mission scroll and the shinobi heads out.
"Right," says Fugaku, standing. "ANBU!" he calls. Several ANBU appear. "Get me the Village elders, the Council of Clan heads and the Uchiha Clan elders."
"Yes Lord Hokage!" say the ANBU, and vanish again.
"I love doing that," says Fugaku, grinning.
Half an hour later, the people who don't want Itachi in Akatsuki are assembled in the Hokage's office.
"So what's this about?" demands one of the Uchiha elders, looking rather grumpy.
"It's about Itachi joining Akatsuki," says Jiraiya sternly. "Itachi wants to be in Akatsuki, she likes being in Akatsuki and the Hokage approves of her being in Akatsuki. So why do none of you want her in Akatsuki?"
"It is dangerous for such a powerful Leaf shinobi to work for an organization from another village," says Shikaku evenly. "Not to mention that Itachi is the Uchiha heir, and should really stay in the Leaf to help her father. Also, she is the Hokage's daughter. Our enemies may take advantage of Itachi being out in the open to kidnap or harm her in order to get at Lord Fugaku. Besides, she only just had a baby, so even if Itachi were to join Akatsuki it is far too soon." Shikaku pauses for a second and then continues. "We should not give up such a powerful shinobi so easily. She has the potential to awaken eyes as powerful as her father's, so we need to keep her safe so that other villages do not go after her."
"Those are good points," says Jiraiya, nodding. He has counter points for every single one, though. "You are right about it being dangerous to have such a powerful Leaf shinobi work for an organization from another village. However, you are forgetting that the leaders of that organization were my pupils, and two of their members were Minato's pupils. Akatsuki is an organization with other Leaf Shinobi already in it. One of those shinobi, Obito, will be able to train Itachi to use her eyes better, and if she awakens eyes like her father's, Nagato will be able to train her to use them. In Akatsuki, Itachi will grow more powerful and learn to take the lead. Itachi's partner in Akatsuki already defers to her wishes. And before you ask, Itachi was paired up with Kisame Hoshigaki, the Tailless Tailed Beast. He is currently one of the most powerful shinobi in the world. Itachi will be safe with him to watch her back. Even so, if other villages did go after Itachi, she is as powerful as I am, with the potential to become as powerful as Madara. I truly believe that she will gain that power if she works and trains alongside Akatsuki."
All is quiet while everyone processes this information.
Then Jiraiya delivers his final point. "Besides, The Hokage Approves, and his word overrides yours."
Fugaku laughs. "That's right, I am Hokage," he says. "And I say Itachi is to be assigned to work for Akatsuki until such a time as she is needed to take over from me as Uchiha Clan Head. That is all. You are dismissed."
Jiraiya grins. His work here is done. Without further ado, he climbs out the window and heads for the hotsprings to do some research.
When he arrives, Jiraiya is instantly aware that there is someone else lurking in the trees. Someone is nearby, in a spot that would give them a perfect view of the men's hot springs. Jiraiya hears a stifled giggle that sounds like it came from someone very young. Curious, Jiraiya sneaks over to see who is spying on the men's hot springs.
Jiriaya recognizes the wild, black pig tails and purple outfit right away. He also recognizes the binoculars Naruto got Kimiko for her birthday. Kimiko is sitting on her tree branch with her legs dangling and a tinge of pink in her cheeks.
Jiriaya feels a stab of fatherly pride. Then he feels a stab of parental responsibility. She shouldn't be peeping like this! She's way too exposed. If the wrong person comes by, they will find her right away. Jiraiya sneaks down to Kimiko's branch. "Psst!" he hisses.
Kimiko jumps but, to her credit, she stays quiet. "D-d-daddy?" she whispers, her eyes wide.
"You're doing well," says Jiriaya, hugging her. "But you're too exposed here. Let me teach you the sacred art of Researching."
Kimiko's eyes go even wider and she nods firmly several times.
Jiraiya was gone for six weeks, and now he is back. Naruto is to go with him to train when he leaves again. So of course, Naruto is off to tell Sasuke. And also rub it in that she still doesn't have a shishio.
When Naruto finds Sasuke, Sasuke is at her family training grounds throwing shuriken around blindfolded.
"Hey Naruto," says Sasuke, throwing a shuriken over her shoulder into a target. "What's up?"
"I'm leaving the village for a while," says Naruto.
"Mission?"
"Nope," says Naruto. "I'm going with Pervy Sage. He's going to train me while he does his spy stuff."
"That's cool too," shrugs Sasuke, balancing a kunai on her finger.
"It's a pity you don't have a master to train with," says Naruto, grinning because he finally got one up on Sasuke.
Sasuke turns her most withering blind-fold-gaze upon Naruto. "Didn't you hear? Madara is my shishio now."
Naruto's grin freezes on his face. "...Well...I hate your face!" he snaps, hurling the first insult he can think of.
"Oh yeah?" says Sasuke, throwing the kunai past Naruto's head. A few strands of hair fall to the ground. "Don't forget, we have a fight planned."
Naruto frowns, and then he remembers. "That's right, we agreed to fight in the Valley of End once we've both turned 18 and settle who is stronger once and for all."
"You better get strong under Jiraiya," smirks Sasuke. "Because I want a decent fight."
Naruto grins. "You better get strong too." Then Naruto sees something. "Did you hurt your leg?" he asks.
"I don't think so," says Sasuke, lifting up her blindfold and looking down at the blood running down her leg and soaking into her tights. "Oh."
"What?" Naruto asks.
Sasuke sighs. "Help me sneak home," she says. "Apparently I get my period now. Mum's going to be so happy."
Naruto nods seriously. "Just do a transformation jutsu and I'll fly you home."
"That works," says Sasuke, and gathers up her kunai. Then she transforms so that it looks like no blood is anywhere on her clothing, and they set off.