.13

"That's just the way it is. Change is inevitable. Instead of resisting it, you're better served simple going with the flow." ~Bleach

….

I blinked.

That's what it feels at least. I blinked and all this time just passed. The truth was that I hadn't been paying attention, and I hadn't realized how short of a time I actually had. I would have prepared better if I had.

They had come. They were here for my brother. Or me. I couldn't be too certain of either.

But could I face them like this?

Not yet fully recovered. Weak.

No, now was not the time. I knew better. At least I told myself I did.

So I wondered how I had ended up in the middle of it anyway. Maybe it was bad luck. Or karma, or both. Now that I think about it, it was most defiantly both. I should have just stayed home or gone to get dango later.

Much later.

I should have known.

So you can't blame me when my eyes locked with the Uchiha and I sort of just stared blankly at him. He wasn't really that much different than how I had remembered him from the series or my actual memories. I will not be blamed for the accidental slip of his name, I will forever blame it on shock at seeing them being so casual in the tea house and that is that.

And maybe the fact that I was still recovering from chakra exhaustion. My brain had not wanted to be up to fully functioning yet. So it seemed.

"Itachi?" His eyes narrowed at me, and maybe I should have been afraid but I really wasn't. This was the boy who had stopped villagers from attacking me, who had taken time to talk to me when he waited for his little brother at the academy. He had been kind to me.

And of course I also knew his truth. I knew that he had never wanted it to be like this. He had never wanted to be hated for a crime he was ordered to commit. We were kindred spirits in the fact we both only wanted what was best for our brothers and that we would both do whatever that entailed. Even if it made us the bad guy.

I just hadn't reached that extreme. Yet.

Maybe I would be luckier than my kindred spirit.

Or perhaps I wouldn't.

Who knows?

He shakes his head, like he wishes I hadn't said anything. I wish I hadn't either. His hand in on my shoulder suddenly and I know I need to comply with what is about to happen. "Who's this?" The other man questions when he approaches us.

I guess the elder Uchiha hadn't deemed it important to answer. But he leads us out of the tea house, just as I see Sasuke approach Kakashi who has been standing outside this whole time. I wonder if the silver haired jonin even realized I was here.

Probably not, I had entered the building before he had arrived but after those two had entered apparently.

When we are far enough away from the tea house, and coincidently civilians the dark hair man releases my shoulder and squats down to my level. There is a searching look in his cold obsidian eyes. "To think you are a chunin now." I cannot help the desire to smirk at this, I don't. It had been a good choice to where the old chunin vest this morning instead of my newer vest from my promotion.

I think I give the man a bitter smile instead though.

His look tells me that he understands. A sigh escapes his lips as he stands, he turns to look over his shoulder. "It's been a long time Asuma, Kurenai." I look follow his gaze as well looking at the two other sensei of the rookie teams. He has me shielded from their view, so I'm very aware of the fact that neither see me.

"What are you doing here!?"

"That is not really your concern." I sigh rather obnoxiously, man I could be home right now, or training, or something other than having to watch this pissing match.

Well the pissing match it would turn into.

The Uchiha gave me a look, I folded my arms across my chest and ignored him. I was so over this now. My brother was leaving today and I didn't know if I was going to be able to see him before he goes.

Which was irritating.

I was pushed behind fishface as he made a lunge for the Sarutobi heir. They were both distracted I defiantly could run away if I wanted. But there was some part of me that wanted to see how all this played out.

Besides I still hadn't figured out if they knew about me or not. Itachi did not count.

So I had made my choice.

I was still an observer through and through.

Before Itachi lured the genjutsu mistress out on the water he grabbed me. By the back of my vest nonetheless, so there really wasn't any getting away at this point.

How annoying.

"Let her go." Oh, how nice of you to finally join us Kakashi. I thought rather sarcastically giving him a blank look.

If ask later I could just say he placed me under a powerful genjutsu, or some bullshit like that.

It was a convenient lie.

Though I will be honest, I wasn't particularly fond of being manhandled like this. But I needed answers. Also I think wanted to do something dangerous.

That sounded about right to me.

I had been on a roll lately.

Of doing dangerous or stupid things, I mean.

The fight went exactly as scripted. Everything down to the silver haired jonin getting trapped by sharringan bullshit and the green beast showing up. The only thing that was different was the fact that I was there.

And when they made their escape, I was thrown over the blue skinned ex Kiri-nin's shoulder. I think I surprised the tailless tailed beast by not flailing or resisting being taken. But I really didn't see a point in doing that.

It wasn't until they were far enough away from the village was I put down, rather roughly mind you. I grunted my protest at being dropped on my ass and rubbed my sore shoulder. Remember I was still technically recovering from my injuries, I had fought a sannin and lived.

Which is another good excuse as to why I didn't try to do anything, I know my own limitations. Thank you very much.

"Tell me Itachi, why did we take this girl? She's not the one we are looking for." So he hadn't told them. Or had just picked one of us for them to target. I didn't know if I should be grateful or irritated.

Naruto was my brother, I didn't want anyone to hurt him.

"That is not your concern." I watch the exchange, how interesting.

The blue skinned man shrugs his shoulders in response before swinging the huge sword over his shoulder and walks away. Probably off to hunt, or something. I can't say that I really cared.

Because finally, I was alone with Itachi and I had something I wanted to say to him. Something I had been thinking about for a very long time.

I had weighed the pros and cons, and I knew that I had to do this.

It needed to be done.

He takes a seat on a nearby log to watch me, and we sit in silence for a long time. In my case it's to insure big blue isn't close enough to overhear and I will not claim to know the motivations of the older teen. I wasn't that narcissistic.

He watches me through obsidian eyes for several moments before he decided to grace me with words. "You've changed." And I nod, it's a correct assumption.

"So have you." I stand, he knows I have no intentions to run. Not now, not before I can weave my web, and plant my lies and doubt.

"What are you planning?" There is no doubt he can see it in my eyes. I give him a sad look and for once speak the truth.

"Everything." I am distracting him now, getting a feel for how far away we are from a flying thunder god seal and wondering if I could teleport that distance. It would be worth a shot.

"I see." I'm sure he does. But I don't respond, my eyes drift towards the almost cloudless sky.

And then with manipulative intentions and honest words I speak just as I pick a target. "Uchiha Madara is a lie." My words are clear and crisp, so I know he understands them. However I do not wait to gauge his reaction, I did not want to.

With one half glance, I am gone. I do not miss the quick effort to conceal shock but it doesn't matter now. "Goodbye."

My body makes impact to a branch of a tree that has to be a part of the Nara forest, and I groan. That was certainly a broken rib. Or at least it felt like one. I jump down to the floor of the woods and it is with that impact that I have apparently sprained my ankle.

Being in this forest did raise the question of why the Yondaime thought it necessary to put a seal all the way out here though.

Joy.

I wonder around for a while before I manage to actually run into one of the deer. When Naruto and I were younger, I used to come out here to escape the villagers during the early days before I had decided not to care. So I had become familiar with the forest and the deer.

The creature nudged my arm with its head and I made a move to pet its neck. Deer didn't need words. I think that was why I liked it out here. To think that this beautiful forest would one day hold prison to a foul mouthed immortal.

What a depressing thought.

I shook my head, and allowed the deer to lead me back to most likely the Nara compound. Or somewhere, it really didn't matter as long as I was far away from those two.

I had gotten my answers.

And now I had no desire to be anywhere near them.

The deer takes me to an open field behind the compound where I find none other than the clan's heir laying out watching the clouds. "Nice weather we are having." He looks startled by my appearance, I probably don't look too great. So I don't blame him.

That look bleeds into confusion and his brow raises at him as I throw myself into the grass next to him. Man was I tired, I guess I had used more chakra than I thought with that jutsu. "What happened to you?" I give him a boneless kind of shrug and wince.

"Fun stuff." My voice is dry, because it really wasn't that fun. I should probably let someone know I was safe. But kami was I so tired, all I wanted to do was sleep.

So now I'm sure I hadn't actually gotten over my chakra exhaustion from before.

"I think you need to see a medic." I nod my head in response, he was probably right.

I can feel his exasperation at the situation before he lets out a long suffering sigh and stands. "I'll take you back to the compound, someone there will be able to help." He informs me in a bored tone while helping me stand.

I didn't really understand this act of familiarity because I hadn't made friends with any of them. But I know he knew that I was Naruto's sister so that was probably why he was helping me. So I didn't really question it.

I think I ended up leaning heavily on the barely older boy, but I really couldn't help it.

His dad had been home, took one look at me and I swear to god he let out a relieved sigh. "You look like you had fun." He draws out in a sarcastic manor but I know there is more to it that than. I nod my head in lieu of answering and fall quite elegantly into one of their kitchen chairs.

Too think I really hadn't done that much either.

Shikamaru leaves to probably go fetch a medic and I watch with half open eyes as the man who had probably been friends my father disappears into the kitchen. Perhaps to get coffee, he kind of looked worn. I would be too if I had his work load right now.

I felt for the Jonin Commander.

Which was really unexpected, but today hadn't really gone according my expectations.

I really needed some sleep. My hands are crossed on the wooden table already, so it doesn't take much for my head to follow. It only the voice of a medic nin that keeps me from falling into a deep sleep.

"Try to stay awake."

I did try. Can't say it worked though.

I had the distant feeling that I would be spending the night in the hospital.

Today really hadn't gone as expected.

It's what I get for setting them in the first place.

I should have known better.

Really I should have.

Expectation always let you down and disappointed you. Or bit you in the ass.

Either option was likely in this situation.

XOXOX

WOAH! This chapter! I am super happy with this! So I hope you all like it too!

Also hurray for character development, but deep down Mitomi is still Mitomi.

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Sincerely, La'Rae