One Week Later…
"How is it this hard to find one person?" Kaien said as they looked at the remains of there former safe house.
"It was a long shot anyway." Karan said. "We never went back to the same place."
"You know what we have to do." He said.
"Kaien that's the last place he'd be." She said.
"He's from Konoha." Kaien said.
"He's a rogue ninja from Konoha, big difference." Karan said. "You know what they do to ninjas who abandon their village."
"So you think it's true?" He asked. "That he…"
"I don't know. There's a lot we don't know about him." She said. "We don't know what happened what I do know is that we was the first person who actually cared what happened to us and we still need to find him."
"He had a brother didn't he?" Kaien said.
"We're not going to Konoha." Karan said. "Let's keep looking. There's a bar around here somewhere, heard there's a ninja shop around here somewhere. We can ask around."
"They've been looking for him for ages, we can ask." He said.
"Yes because ninjas are so eager to share their secrets with complete strangers." She said sarcastically.
"Like anyone can keep their mouth shut when you use…" He started.
"Not going." She said as they walked to the ninja shop.
"I'm just saying we could save ourselves a lot of time…" Kaien said.
"Okay and when they ask you why you want to find Itachi what are you going to say? He trained us?" She said. "A rogue ninja training two kids? That doesn't make you want to ask about a thousand more questions."
"Then make them forget you asked after they tell you everything?" He said as they walked into the shop bumping into a tall orange haired man walking behind a moody dark haired teen.
"Sorry." Kaien said stepping out of the way.
"Sorry." Steph seconded pulling her brother out of the way. When a red haired girl passed by them she froze for a second.
"Karin hurry up!" The moody teen from before said.
"Coming Sasuke." She said running off.
"Weird girl." Kaien said.
"Will you focus?" Karan said as they walked to the counter and a young brunette girl with cat ears smiled at them.
"Hello is there something I can help you with?" Tamaki greeted.
"Hi uh we just wanted to know if you've seen this man before?" Kaien asked pulling out a bingo book they had swiped of a drunk ninja a few days ago and flipping to Itachi's page.
The girl immediately paled.
"Uh no I don't think so." Tamaki said sounding very nervous
"You're lying." Karan said.
"No Really I…" Tamaki started and Karan activated her sharingan.
"What do you know about this man?" Karan asked her again.
"B-ba Chan!" She screamed.
"What the…" Kaien started.
"Tamaki? Why are you screaming?" An elderly lady came out. She had a black nose and cat ears. "What is… ah!"
"We're looking for someone and we're sure you can point us in the right direction." Karan said.
"Those eyes… that's the sharingan." Nekobaa said and her eyes saw Karan's necklace. "You're Uchiha."
"Yes now tell us where is Uchiha Itachi." Kaien said.
"I don't know. I haven't seen him in years." Nekobaa said.
"But you know something." Karan said.
"Why don't you come on back." Nekobaa said. "We have much to talk about. And turn off those eyes, we don't bite."
The twins exchanged looks but did as she asked.
They went back and there were cats everywhere. Jumping on boxes and just lounging about.
"Crazy cat lady." Kaien mumbled and his sister shot him a look to shut it.
"Mhmm." Karan groaned as one of the cats started rubbing itself against her leg.
"You don't like cats do you?" Nekobaa teased.
"I'm more of a dog person." Karan said side stepping the cats as they got to the back chair.
"Tamaki go make us some tea." She ordered the girl.
"Hai ba-chan." She said before scurrying off.
"What do you want with Uchiha Itachi?" Nekobaa asked.
"We need his help." Kaien said.
"How well do you know Itachi?" She asked.
"Well enough." Karan said.
"He murdered your entire clan and you think he'll help you?" Nekobaa said.
The twins exchanged looks not giving away anything.
"We're still here." Kaien said.
"You're not the only one looking for him." She said. "Konoha, every single one of their allies… his brother Sasuke."
"That moody teenager is Itachi's brother?" Karan said surprised.
"They used to be so close. He doted on him." Nekobaa said as Tamaki returned and poured them each a cup of tea. "Who could have known things would turn out the way they did."
"What did you tell him?" Kaien said.
"Nothing, I haven't seen Itachi in years. Sasuke was here to get supplies." Nekobaa said.
"So you don't know where Itachi is?" Kaien said. "Great."
"He's a rogue ninja and he works with the Akatsuki he's not supposed to be easy to find." Nekobaa said.
"Do you have any ideas on where he could be?" Karan asked.
"Hmm… " Nekobaa hummed deep in thought. "I'm not sure you two should be getting in between those two brothers."
"We can handle ourselves." Kaien said.
"We don't want a fight." Karan said. "We're looking for something that was stolen from us and we think Itachi might know where we could find it."
"And how do you two know him?" Nekobaa asked.
"He trained us." Kaien said.
"Trained you?" She said chuckling. "You're a bit too old for him to be teaching you don't you think?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Karan said.
"Well Itachi must be… 21 by now and you're all obviously older… I'd guess around thirty." Nekobaa said.
"Itachi's 21? That's not possible…" Kaien said.
"We were late bloomers." Karan said before Kaien could reveal too much.
"Siblings I take it?" She said.
"Twins." Kaien said.
"That explains it." Nekobaa said before getting up and opening a drawer to rummage through some things. "I don't know where Itachi could be but there are a few remaining Uchiha hideouts scattered throughout the Land of Fire. I know of at least three in the area. Ah here it is."
She walked back and took out a scroll revealing a map with all of the hideouts marked on the map.
"There are a few along the border but I'd check these first." She said pointing to some close by.
"Does Sasuke know about these?" Karan asked.
"He doesn't but that won't slow him down for long." She said. "If you find Itachi before him, let him know."
"Why are you helping us?" Kaien said.
"Your clan was once helped me, I'm returning the favor. And something about what happened that night just never sat right with me. For such a kind boy to do something like that…" Nekoba said.
"Thank you." Karan said as she and Kaien stood up.
"You should keep that necklace hidden." Nekobaa said. "Your clan may be gone but your reputation hasn't."
"Right." Karan said fixing her dark red scarf around her neck to cover it as they walked out. Once they were outside.
"Itachi's 21?" Kaien said. "Last time we saw him he was 14 almost 15."
"It's been 20 years for us in Kandrakar but only seven here." Karan said. "We're older than Itachi now."
"So one year is almost three there." Kaien said.
"One day here is three there." She said.
"We need to hurry." Kaien said.
"Yeah." Karan said looking at the map. "Closest safe house is 4 km south of here."
"If we hurry we can make it before it gets dark." He said.
"Let's move." She said grabbing Kaien's hand and teleporting them outside of town.
They moved until they got to the safehouse.
"Think this is the place?" Kaien asked.
"It's the only thing around here." Karan said just as Karan was about to walk in Karan stopped him.
"Wait… there are probably traps." She said.
"Aren't there always?" He said with a smirk before he activated his Sharingan.
"Ninja traps, with trick wire… seals… paperbombs." Karan reminded him.
"I know." He said annoyed as they walked in. It was all okay until Kaien tripped on a wire and kunai launched at him but Karan quickly pulled him back.
"Thanks." Kaien said.
"Shit." Karan said noticing the tags on them and quickly teleported them out just as the house exploded.
"Ah!" Kaien groaned. "Hate it when you do that."
"Better than being blown up." Karan said standing up. "Well he's not in there. Time to go to the next one."
"This is going to take forever." He said. "Think we should summon some help."
"You really think it's a good idea? Dragons flying around in broad daylight are hard to miss." She said.
"That and no one here has ever seen. Dragon." Kaien said with a sigh as a crow started cawing out loudly.
"We should go." Karan said about to put a hand on Kaien's shoulder.
"No. Karan don't." He said.
"It'll be faster Kaien. You're the one that's in a rush." She said.
"And you aren't?" he said.
"You know what I mean." Karan said. "Let's find a place to set up camp, we can figure out where to go next in the morning."
"Fine." He said before they ran off not noticing the red eyed crow watching them.
The Following Morning…
"Caw Caw Caw…" a bird kept cawing.
"Uh shut up…" Kaien groaned.
"Caw Caw Caw…" It went again.
"Mhmm." Karan said sitting up and rubbing her eyes. "You were supposed to be keeping watch."
"No one's going to ambush us." Kaien said as the bird flew down and landed between the twins. Karan looked at it and noticed something different in its eye.
"Kai… look at the crow." Karan said.
"Stupid bird." He grumbled.
"Caw Caw." It started again.
Karan looked at its eyes and swore it was a Sharingan. She activated hers and the crow started cawing louder. Suddenly everything around them changed it was quiet.
"Kaien." Karan said not noticing him.
"Karan." Itachi said.
"Sensei?" She said standing up.
"I didn't think it was possible." He said.
"Yeah… looks like it's true then. It's been twenty years for us." She said.
"Seven since you and Kaien vanished." Itachi said. "He's with you."
"He is and we've been looking for you." Karan said. "We need your help."
"I'm afraid I don't have a lot of time left." He said.
"Sasuke?" Karan asked.
"There's a lot you and Kaien don't know." Itachi said. "Things you need to know."
"Tell us." Karan said.
"Not here. Come find me. There's a fort about 20km south of where you are. It's a former Uchiha stronghold from the warring clans era." Itachi said. "You should hurry."
With that the genjutsu dissipated and Karan was back sitting up on the ground and the crow disappeared.
"Karan are you even listening to me?" Kaien said.
"We have to go." Karan said getting up and packing everything.
"What?" He said confused.
"I know where sensei is." She said. "He's waiting for us."
"How?" He asked still not getting it.
"I'll explain on the way." She said as it started sprinkling. "Might want to wear a jacket."
They took off running. Karan was faster than her brother and started using shunshin after shunshin to get there leaving her brother behind.
"Karan wait up!" Kaien whined.
"We can't waste time catch up when you can." She said.
"Uh!" He groaned in annoyance putting more chakra in his feet to speed up.
Before they knew it they had made it.
"Sure this is the place?" Kaien said as Karan looked at the markings on the wall and found a very familiar emblem.
"Pretty sure." She said as they walked down the hall.
"Wait." Kaien said and he heard voices. The two of them suppressed their chakra as much as they could.
"He's on his way." Madara said.
"Good. It's time." Itachi said.
"Kisame, Zetsu and I will keep the perimeter so you won't be interrupted." He said.
"Actually I have that taken care of." Itachi said.
"The Kyubi is going after your brother." Madara said.
"I'm well aware." Itachi said. "I have that taken care of."
"Of course you do. Good luck." Madara said before he disappeared.
"You can come out now." Itachi said after a moment.
The twins relaxed and walked into the room. Itachi was sitting on the stone seat looking straight ahead.
"Sensei?" Kaien said cautiously.
"It's been a long time." Itachi said with a small smile.
"It really has." Karan said.
"There's a lot I have need to tell you both but I don't have much time." Itachi said.
"Sensei we can help, if it's Sasuke…" Kaien said.
"It's not him. It'll be easier if I show you." Itachi said activating his Sharingan and showing the twins everything they needed to know.
About the Akatsuki and what they were trying to do…
About his village and they way he grew up…
His brother…
His best friend…
Danzo…
The coup the clan was planning…
What he was forced to do to his clan…
And the reason he did it…
"Ah!" The twins hasped as they were released from the jutsu.
"That's…" Kaien started just as Itachi started coughing harshly.
"Sensei." Karan said walking to his side and started healing him with medical ninjutsu. She activated her Sharingan to watch the flow of his chakra and see if what she was doing was working but it was having no effect.
"It's alright Karan… There's nothing you can do." Itachi said and she stopped what she was doing.
"You want Sasuke to be the one to end it." She said.
"What are you talking about?" Kaien said.
"You were always too perceptive for your own good." Itachi said. "I've been sick for a long time now and I'm at the end."
"No…" Kaien said.
"Why Sasuke?" Karan said. "You can just tell him the truth. He deserves to know."
"He can't know." Itachi insisted. "I lied to him, made him hate me for years so he could grow stronger, so that after I was gone he'd be strong enough to stay safe after I was gone. He needs to do this. It's the last thing I'll be able to do for him. I can't make things right but I can give him closure."
"You're going to die… And you're okay with it!" Kaien said angrily.
"Kai." Karan said.
"No, he's just giving up after everything we gave up to get here…" Kaien said.
"Kaien!" Karan snapped and shook her head.
"I'm sorry there wasn't more I could do for you both." Itachi said.
"You did everything you could sensei. You taught us a lot and that saved us more times than we can count." Karan said giving him a kind smile he couldn't see.
"There is one things we need to know." Kaien said. "The stone that made us disappear did any of the Akatsuki ever figure out how to use it?"
"The only ones that knew about the stone were Pein, Konan and Madara." Itachi said.
"Did they ever say where they got it from?" Karan asked.
"They didn't. Why do you ask?" he said.
"We're looking for something. A stone, similar to the one from before. It was stolen from the world we were in and we came here to get it back." Kaien said.
"Do you know who took it?" Itachi asked.
"We were about to get it back. An exchange of prisoners but at the last minute one of the guards betrayed and killed everyone and came to this world." Karan said. "The only thing we got from one of the guards before they died was that it was a white man with yellow eyes."
"That's not a lot to go on." Itachi said.
"It doesn't matter. We need to get it back." Kaien said.
"If I were you I'd start with trying to find out more about the stones. Where they came from? Who Madara took it from? Not many people would know about them or could use them." He said.
"We did." Kaien said.
"By accident." Karan said.
"I need to ask one last favor of you two." Itachi said. "Sasuke is going to be here soon and I don't want anyone interfering. A team from Konoha is trying to find him and they're close. The Jinchuriki, is among them."
"Uzumaki Naruto." Karan said remembering the name from Itachi's memories.
"Hai. I'd like to ask if you two could please keep them busy while Sasuke and I fight." He said.
"You don't want to risk Madara getting to him." Karan said.
"Where's Madara?" Kaien said.
"We're not picking a fight with him." Karan said.
"He knows about the stones lets stop wasting time and go straight to the source." Kaien said. "He'll be near this jinchuriki guy right?"
"Kai." Karan said.
"Right?" Kaien said ignoring her.
"Possibly." Itachi said.
"Great." Kaien said before running off.
"Uh." Karan sighed.
"He's exactly as I remembered." Itachi said.
"I'm sorry Sensei he just has a lot on his mind." Karan said apologetically.
"It matters to him a lot." Itachi said. "It's more than a mission."
"It's personal." Karan said. "To both of us. I should go before he does something… reckless or anything Kai normally does."
"Be careful." Itachi said.
"Good Luck Sensei." She said before teleporting outside and following Kaien's path. It didn't take long for her to find him and he wasn't alone.
"Karan." Madara said.
"Shit." She said.
"My my you've both grown up." He said.
"What do you want?" Karan said activating her Sharingan.
"Someone told me you're looking for something… a certain stone you lost." Madara said.
"Do you have it?" Kaien said activating his Sharingan.
"No but I could help you. If you help me." He said.
"Not happening." Karan said.
"You should let your brother speak for himself." Madara said.
"Go fuck yourself." Kaien said.
"Alright then, how about a deal. If you prove yourselves and keep the Konoha Shinobi busy long enough and I'll tell you everything about the stone you stole." Madara said.
"The heart of Kandrakar." Karan said. "It's an ascendant, a key to another dimension and it collects chakra from nature to power itself."
"Do you know where it came from? How it came to be here, where I got it from. Why it worked for you?" Madara said and Karan stayed quiet. "Thought as much. Do as Itachi asked and I'll repay the favor in kind."
With that he teleported away.
"Hate that guy." Karan said.
"He can help us." Kaien said.
"Kai you know what he's like, you saw what Sensei showed us…" Karan said.
"I don't care!" he insisted rushing off again.
"Kaien!" Karan called out before rushing off after him yet again.
He didn't go very far before he stopped in front of a group of eight Konoha Shinobi.
"Eight against two… I like these odds." Kaien said.
"Can you stop for a minute and think things through." Karan said stopping on the branch next to him.
"Rin?" Kakashi said freezing next to Yamato.
"Senpai, everything all right?" Yamato asked noticing Kakashi's strange behavior.
"Yeah… just saw a ghost." Kakashi said staring at Karan.
"Karan we need to get it back. You know what's at stake." Kaien said.
"I know brother I haven't forgotten." Karan answered.
"Then we have to…" Kaien started.
"Kaien we're not going there." Karan said giving him a stern look.
"I don't care who you are or what's going on, but get the hell out of our way!" Screamed Naruto jumping towards the sibling.
Both of the twins activated their Sharingan. Karan quickly put a hand on Kaien's shoulder and pushed him out of the way before he attacked the loud blonde Jinchuriki and moved to stand in front of Naruto casting a genjutsu.
"Calm down and take a seat." Karan said. Naruto froze for a second but did as she said.
"Really now you decide to use it?" Kaien said.
"Don't tempt me." Karan said.
"Naruto!" A pink haired girl screamed out about to jump but one of the others stopped her.
"He's fine." Karan told them before turning back to Kaien. "We're not playing his game."
"You made a promise." Kaien said.
"I know but that doesn't mean that this is the only way." She said.
"Fang over Fang!" one of them called out before two of them jumped forward about to attack them. Karan teleported out of the way while Kaien jumped above and started forming handsigns.
"So much for talking things through." Karan said before jumping and teleported her brother out of the way of a chakra enhanced punch from the pink haired girl.