Hey ya'll! I adopted this fic from a good pal, RamenLoverNaruto. They told me they killed the fic, and I stepped in. Vola~ My new fic. Hopefully this chapter explains stuff that some have brought up in comments: why exactly Itachi was captured, why Naruto took Jiraya's death so.. calmly... and other things.

Pairing:
NaruHina
SasuSaku
Hints of ShikaIno
Hints of KibaMisaki [[These two will get a side-story, don't worry~]]
Hints of ItaTema

Chapter Eighteen: One Who Walks in Darkness

Sakura and Hinata slowly noticed a change in Lee, something that worried them. Usually Lee was up to training or even sparring with Misaki and Naruto, sometimes at the same time. But recently, he's been just not into any training, even with Team Guy. Sakura was the one to point it out when the group was eating at a diner in town. "I'm worried about Lee. It's not like him to be reserved."

Naruto nodded, swallowing the food he had in his mouth. "Yeah. When Misaki and I sparred with him and won, he flipped out and walked off. Usually Bushy Brows would say he'd try harder next time. Bushier Brow-sensei even wondered what is wrong with him." He turned when Misaki joined them. "Hey, imouto... What's up?"

Misaki frowned and sighed. About three days after she was released, she was finally able to talk for a longer time than the small replies. "I sparred against Lee-kun again and this time, he completely took off from the match. I tried to find him, but he seems to have vanished." She said before tilting her head at something. "Sakura-chan mentioned that your teacher Jiraya knew the Nine-Tail's name... How?" She pondered.

Naruto blinked and rubbed his head. "I honestly have no idea. Pervy Sage could've been pulling my leg or something, but my mother mentioned it in my mind when I was training to get control of it." At the mention of his mentor, Naruto looked at his food sadly.

Seeing that, Misaki gulped. "Sorry, nii-san... I.. I shouldn't have brought it up..."

Sasuke was about to comment when he saw a familiar figure heading towards the entrance. "Speaking..." He stated, getting up and heading to go talk to his own brother, having Sakura follow, in case it came to fists between the two.

Naruto shook off the thought before grinning. "It's alright. I need to have time to remember Pervy Sage. But, he'd never want me to be depressed and I have inherited his will and won't let his death go to waste." He put a fist to his heart before moving to adjust his headband.

Hinata smiled before Kiba left. "Kiba, you just got here.. What's up?"

Kiba looked out the window. "Hana has a few things for me to do and I forgot about it until now. See ya around." He explained, leaving the room.

Naruto got angry at the fact that Kiba, one of his best friends, was avoiding his sister now. "I am really starting to hate how Kiba's been acting towards Misaki."

Ino frowned. "Same here. Just because she's on the same team doesn't mean you shut them out when not on a mission." She took a bite of her food violently.

"I must admit Kiba's actions are strange." Shino commented.

"Maybe it's because I'm still technically an outsider in his mind?" Misaki questioned.

"One never knows with Kiba." Shikamaru stated. "But, if it's any meaning to ya, we all think you're one of us, and not just because Naruto took ya as his sister."

Misaki smiled sadly. "Yeah. Thanks, guys. I still wonder what's up with Lee-kun..."

"That's the strange thing." Tenten commented before placing a familiar headband on the table. "This is Lee's. Guy-sensei found this where Team Guy started."

"No way! He quit?" Naruto blinked, looking at Hinata.

"Perhaps he forgot it?" Hinata questioned before they went about trying to figure out why Lee was acting so differently.

"Itachi! Would you just stop?!" Sasuke demanded before his brother got to the gates, stopping only at the last moment. "You clearly are planning something. Why would you let yourself get captured in the first place?"

"Little brother, isn't it obvious that I still consider myself a Leaf shinobi, despite being a S-ranked criminal? I am working undercover from orders of the Third Hokage to keep tabs on the Akatsuki from within. To fight giving up the information wouldn't be wise." Itachi pointed out before holding a hand to the side just as a flash of blonde nearly got out. "Deidara. Relax. We'll leave at our own pace."

"Oi! Let me go! You do realize Leader will be sending not only Kisame but Sasori, un!" Deidara argued before seeing Sakura catch up and swore she wasn't as scary as before. "Who's the lovely lady? A real work of art, un."

Itachi sent a glare at him. "That girl's my little brother's.."

"WE ARE NOT!" Both replied, clearly enraged at the accusation.

"Hmm. So, you won't mind..." Itachi stated, walking to cup Sakura's chin and raising an eyebrow at the wave of anger rising from his brother. "I see how it is.. Deidara, despite what they say, she's clearly his. Now, Sasuke... I believe it is time for me to resume my mission. I'll be in contact with both the current Hokage and you. Farewell." He and Deidara left, leaving a fuming Sasuke and a confused Sakura.

"What just happened?" She asked, clearly lost.

"Hn. Apparently Itachi is undercover for the Third Hokage."

"Not that... There was something about him that was... off... It was like his mind was somewhere else." Sakura mentioned. "Clearly your brother is changing, too. Though.. That look.." She trailed off, thinking of the softness in the normally hard eyes of Sasuke's brother's eyes. Surely that was Itachi, but not at the same time.

"What look? I didn't see anything different about him. He's still the same jerk as he's always been." Sasuke pointed out.

"I'm serious, Sasuke-kun... I know what I saw. Itachi's eyes weren't as cold as you told me they'd be. In fact, they are starting to soften if anything." Sakura said, crossing her arms and looking at the younger Uchiha.

"Hn. I did see that when Temari left earlier, when we were planning where to go to eat. She usually is indifferent and cold to us. But, she actually glanced my way and blushed." Sasuke huffed slightly as they walked back. "That's not the only thing that annoys me. Why the entire village, including your parents, think we're dating, is beyond me."

"It's like they expect the fact that Naruto and Hinata are together and Ino-pig and Shikamaru have been going out for months to mean we're going to be dating next." Sakura sighed. "Just because we like to hang out without having to worry about missions or something. It really rubs on me when my mom keeps asking 'When's the next date? Are you safe?' or 'Remember to be home at such and such.' Oops.. Sorry.. Got sidetracked." She apologized, knowing full well the last time she complained about her parents, Sasuke chewed her out.

"It's fine. I'd complain too if mine were around." He stated, actually grinning slightly.

Meanwhile, Miyu was livid at the fact that Misaki was still alive and even getting control over the Jibakugan. "This is not how it's supposed to be! Kabuto! You said there was something you and Tobi or whoever were planning... Is it ready?"

The tactician pushed his glasses up. "Indeed. I suggested to Lord Orochimaru the idea of the whole 'reanimation' thing. After all, what would be better to bring that girl to you than her own parents? And the past Hokages to get the Nine-Tails... Ahh, Uchiha Itachi has returned..." He said, turning to the side as said Uchiha walked in.

"Yo, Itachi... Never thought you'd be caught." Kisame stated, clearly impressed and glad his partner was back. "You're just in time."

"Deidara, you know I hate waiting and that's what you made me do the past few months!" Sasori said, moving a strand of his red hair out of his face by tilting his head back.

"Un, it went off without a problem, though, my man!" Deidara stated, glaring at his partner.

"What did?" Itachi questioned.

"You see, Sasori and I had the most amazing plan, though I hated the fact I had to get caught to do it. I left a few gifts back in the Leaf, hidden in the shadows, so to speak. All I need is for- Where's Leader?" He paused to ask, noticing even Konan was missing.

"Apparently the Nine-Tails defeated him... Therefore, I'm resuming the leader role." Orochimaru informed, looking to the shadows. "Karin, Suigetsu and Juugo are also members now, to kind of help us."

Karin turned to see Uchiha Itachi and instantly felt that the chakra level was a little stronger than Sasuke's, not by much, but very impressive. She sighed and blushed before fluttering over to the Uchiha. "I'm Karin... I must say... Your chakra levels.. are impressive.." She took her own glasses off and nibbled on the end of one side, meaning to look sexy. Not known nor seen by her, since she was busy staring at Itachi, was Suigetsu frowning and looking away.

"So, Kabuto and Orochimaru... It's something to see you again." Itachi stated, clearly ignoring Karin's flattery and attempts of being sexy.

"Now, now." Orochimaru said, smiling sickly at the Uchiha. "Aren't you happy your little brother fell into darkness and gained power just for you? He would've made a great vessel, if not for that pink-haired wench. That and the Nine-Tails being his 'friend' hasn't made it easier... Hmmm... You must be the one.." He looked over to show a bowl-cut haired boy standing there. "You want to get even stronger to get the pink-haired wench's attention away from my dear Sasuke, hmm?"

"Yes." He replied.

"How long exactly have you... liked... the wench?" Kabuto questioned next, shuddering in between.

"From the moment I saw her, I fell in love with her! Ever since Sasuke's return, she has completely ignored me and instead been fixing him up after a match! If I get stronger, Sakura-chan will fall head-over-heels in love with me and I'll die happily." Lee commented, his imagination getting the better of him.

Itachi, however, made a mental note to warn his brother and his girl of the boy in the next letter, or the next time he sees the two, which, by how he was feeling, was going to have to be sooner than either planned.

Well, due to me reading so much in the actual manga, and since I want to avoid copy-write, I'll just mention the whole part where I'm at as memories... Again. I will NOT be actually following the manga from this point on! If you want to see what happens, I've been writing on my deviantArt account.
~~Skittles~~