Chapter 17

Akari and Mizuko held a plank against the wall of a small house. Riko stood in between them, hammer and nail in hand. They were helping rebuild the village along with many others. It was coming along great and everyone was chipping in where they could. As she worked Akari glanced at the many faces of the Hokage.

"Hey. You ok?" Mizuko asked.

"Yeah. Just wondering who they'll chose to replace the third."

"Oh. Will you tell them the truth about you?" She said.

"Depends on who it is."

"By the way. Have you talked to Itachi about what happened?" Riko muttered.

"No. I haven't heard from him since before the final exam."

He only nodded. They fell silent and continued their work. It wasn't long before she felt a change. Something was off. She looked around her uneasily. Her sibling must have felt it too for they exchanged nervous glances.

"Feels as if a fight has broken out." Mizuko whispered.

"Should we look into it?" Riko asked.

"No. Whoever they are seem to be very strong. The Jonin will handle it." She told him.

"It's Itachi." Akari muttered.

Her siblings stared at her.

"I don't know what he's doing here, but let's not interfere. I'm sure he'll explain it to me later."

They nodded and went back to work. Akari tried to concentrate but her mind was elsewhere. A few times she let the plank slip causing Riko to hurt his finger. She apologized but he never complained. He knew his sister was uneasy. She couldn't help it. What was he doing here? Shouldn't he stay hidden instead of being out in the open? She could also tell he wasn't alone. Someone else was with him.

Akari always wondered what Itachi did outside of the village. He never really explained. She never really asked. Now she wished she had. She wanted to know who this other person was. She needed to know what caused Itachi to just waltz into the village and show himself.

"Alright were done for the day. Let's head home." Mizuko announced.

They walked through town together picking up a few things along the way. Their mother had given them an extensive list. Akari stood outside the dumpling shop waiting for the others. She then heard a noise that caught her attention. It was familiar. She peaked into the shop and signaled to her siblings.

"I'll meet you guys at the house."

She then turned and went in the direction of the noise. It grew louder the closer she got. It was coming from some trees a bit away from the village. Casually she strolled into the small wooded area until she reached him. She leaned against a tree and watched as he destroyed the boulders and trees around him. Something was bothering him.

"What do you want?" Sasuke muttered.

"Nothing. Just wanted to see what you were doing." She told him.

Akari lowered herself down and sat legs crossed. She stretched and yawned lightly. Seeing as how she wasn't bothering him Sasuke went back to what he was doing. Akari leaned back against the tree and continued to watch. His chidori impressed her each time he used it. Slowly she noticed him calming down. Finally he stopped and stood with his back to her.

"He's getting stronger."

Akari tilted her head in confusion.

"Naruto. He was able to beat the guy from the sand and I wasn't able to do anything. He saved Sakura when I couldn't."

Akari was shocked. She thought back to how badly Gaara was hurt. She hadn't even questioned who had been the cause.

"Naruto did that to him?" She said under her breath.

"You saw him?" Sasuke turned to face her.

Akari looked up in surprise. She hadn't meant to speak aloud. Sasuke stared at her curiously.

"Briefly." She told him.

"Then you see how strong Naruto has gotten. At this rate he has a better chance of killing him than I do."

"And by him you mean…"

She let the sentence drop. They both knew who he meant. Her eyes fell and she stared at the ground. This was a subject she didn't wish to speak of.

"Why? Why do I feel like you don't want him dead?" He glared at her.

She bit her lip but didn't look up. It hurt her knowing she couldn't tell him the truth. Instead she lied.

"Because, I don't care whether he lives or dies. He's in the past!"

"He killed my family Akari! He's the reason I'm alone! So even if it was in the past it effects my present every day! Doesn't that matter to you? If you truly cared you'd want him dead just as much as I do!" He yelled.

Akari rose quickly. She had had enough. She closed the distance between them and brought her arm up. Without thinking she slapped him. She slapped him hard. His cheek instantly turned red. He stared at her in shock.

"How dare you! You think I don't care! I care so much that I rather he live then have you go after him halfcocked and get your ass killed! And where do you come off saying you're alone? You have Naruto! You have Kakashi and Sakura! You have friends! You have me damn it! I'm your friend! So you can't say you're alone! Aren't we enough for you to forget your revenge!"

She shook with anger. Her fists were clenched at her sides and she could feel her nails digging into her palm. Sasuke didn't say anything. He just watched her until she finally calmed down. When she did he grabbed her and held her close.

Now it was Akari's turn to be shocked. Sasuke was hugging her! It was sweet yet weird at the same time. She could feel herself blushing and wasn't sure whether she should hug him back. Biting her lip she mustered the courage to wrap her arms around him.

"Thank you. Your right. I'm not alone, but I don't think I can forget. He's taken up so much of my life I don't think I can quit now. But I promise I won't die. I'll get stronger. I will kill him." He told her.

She held him closer. Akari knew he believed he was comforting her but it only made her more uneasy. She didn't want him to kill Itachi. She wanted him to drop it so that maybe one day he can forgive. She needed this more than she needed life! She knew Itachi would let Sasuke win. She wasn't ready to lose him.

"We should head back." She mumbled.

Sasuke nodded and let her go. Together they left the trees behind. They didn't say anything. They just walked side by side in comfortable silence. Once they got into the village they parted ways. He said goodbye and went on his way. She watched him go before heading home. She passed the front gate on the way and waved at Izumo and Kotestu.

"Seriously kid. You should've packed lighter."

Akari turned to Jiraiya. He walked alongside Naruto who was wearing a rather big traveling pack. They noticed her and waved.

"You guys heading out?" She asked.

"Yep! Pervy sage is doing pervy research and I'm gonna learn a new jutsu!" He grinned at her.

"Will you quit calling me that? And it's not pervy research it's important I find this woman!" Jiraiya huffed.

Akari chuckled nervously. Jiraiya was certainly a strange character. She turned to Naruto who was still smiling. He still looked like his same goofy self. But she now knew better. He beat Gaara, and if he really was going to learn a new jutsu he'll come back even stronger. Sasuke wouldn't take this very well.

"Well good luck then. I hope you come find me and show me that new move when you get back." She said.

"Will do! Then you'll see I'm just as good as Sasuke!" He told her.

"I never said you weren't." She winked at him.

She stood at the gate and saw them off. Naruto waved bye until she could no longer see him. Akari then continued on her way. She had almost made it before she saw Sasuke. He was leaping from roof to roof in quite a hurry. He seemed to be heading towards the front gate. She watched him go curiously. Not thinking anything of it she went home.

"About time! There's been word about the fight!" Riko told her the moment she arrived.

"Really?"

"Yeah! Turns out it was Itachi and some fish guy from the Hidden Mist! They beat 3 jonin and the fourth had to get everyone out of there!" He continued.

"It was Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai. Gai Sensei got them out. Itachi left Kakashi in pretty bad shape." Mizuko told her.

Akari didn't know how to respond. She needed to see for herself. They told her where he was and she headed out again. She didn't slow down until she made it to his room. The other jonin were still with him and looked up at her startled. She didn't say anything. She went straight to Kakashi.

He really was in bad shape. Without hesitation she placed a hand on his forehead. She pulled back immediately. His physical body wasn't all that injured but his mind…that was different. Itachi had used his sharingan. It looked as if he hadn't held back.

"What are you doing here Akari?" Asuma asked.

She just stared at him. Then she remembered Sasuke. Fear coursed through her.

"Did Sasuke see him?" Her voice trembled.

"Um. Yeah, he was here earlier." Asuma seemed uncomfortable.

"So he knows. He knows who did this." Akari felt sick.

"Do you?" Kurenai looked at her.

Akari bit her lip. Then she nodded.

"Did he go after him?" She asked the jonin.

They glanced at each other. Then Kurenai positioned herself in front of the door and Asuma approached the window. They nodded.

"You can't go after him. We've already sent Gai." Kurenai told her.

Every part of her wanted to leave the room. She wanted to catch up to Sasuke. To stop him! She knew better though. The jonin seemed to know what she was thinking and were on their guard. She couldn't get past Kurenai and Asuma. She had to have faith in Gai sensei.

"Ok. I won't. I'd like to know when he's back though." She told them.

They agreed and let her leave. She didn't go home. She went to Hokage Mountain and stood on the head of the Third. She sat down with her knees pulled in. There she sat twirling her kunai and waiting for Sasuke to return.