"The Plague" and "Allure of Darkness" were finally completed in time for the New Year. If I'm lucky, I MAY finish this story by next week. Hope everyone had a happy holidays! :3

Chapter Fifteen

The Bravehearts

Four days and no good news at all.

Nothing that would help him, at least. But what he received back from his summons was enough to send him into a calm rampage that involved knocking over everything on his desk in a single swipe. "Damn you, you insignificant brat! I never should have thought to include you in this. I should have had you executed when I had the chance."

But no matter: if he saw that boy's face with the others, then he would get what they all would.

The message stated that Sasuke Uchiha had double-crossed him and joined forces with the Akatsuki AND Naru Uzumaki who was clearly siding with them, though this was not confirmed concretely. There was nothing about their locations at the present. He had never been more ready to kill someone himself. It just went to show how much of a traitor that Nine-Tails brat was as much as her former teammate was.

Just goes to show all these brats are loyal to each other no matter what we place them against.

The Chuunin Exams were coming in less than two weeks now; time was running out. If Itachi, Naru, Sasuke and the Akatsuki were not exterminated by then, he was more vulnerable than he was now. He fought long and hard to get this seat, only to learn that these people would never accept someone like him.

Sai and his lover were still imprisoned, but he was certain the Jinchuuriki was still coming for them. That meant Fuu and Torune still had their work cut out for them until the Exams would come, and after the execution of one of his former subordinates and that girl of Inoichi's; speaking of which, her father came to him, on his knees, and pleaded with him to release his daughter, but Danzo was stern in his decision. These had been his exact words:

"She no doubtedly knows where Naru Uzumaki is, as does Sai, but neither will divulge, so according to protocol, they will be held until they speak, and if not, then perhaps I can have you make a most difficult decision which is extracting the information from both their minds."

Inoichi's eyes widened with horror and protested using the method he conjoined with Ibiki Morino on his own child and her lover, to which Danzo scrutinized him. "Don't pretend I don't know your clan's opposition, but imagine what I could do with you and your people that you could never comprehend if you don't do what you must for the sake of the village we both love," the Hokage said coldly, and that was it.

A couple days later, he got what he wanted - or some of it.

Ino had no idea where Naru was, for Sai told her nothing; as for the boy, his mind was a powerful network that betrayed nothing except the fact that Naru and the Akatsuki were heading to the base, wherever it was. That left what Torune and Fuu would have to bring in to him.

Unfortunately, they lost the group and did not find them yet, though they did uncover something peculiar and interesting: the trail, caught by Torune's clan insects, was left and depicted the remnants of strong presences, as well as the intel gathered that Tsunade had been there and died recently, that assistant of hers present, and everything tied into Danzo's mind in a heartbeat.

Ah, so Itachi and Naru, you were with the soft-hearted Tsunade until the end. But no body left behind for burial, so you have it with. What have you done now, given her proper services rather than bring her back here?

If the two found nothing, he had no choice but to pull them out and back to this village since there were more important matters.

~o~

He awoke into her arms after a night of bottled up, unleashed fervor that made him wonder why they hadn't done this before - with each other or anyone else, and he refused to think about Shinobi duty this time.

The sun hadn't yet risen since they fell asleep where they had lain after consummating their love. Love...

To have that word repeat in his subconscious was surreal and yet so fulfilling. He looked upon the sky which was slowly lighting to dark gray, to silver and faintly light blue. His skin felt so warm despite the cool temperatures of pre-dawn. It was kept at lukewarm because of the body spooned into him, her head on his strong chest and one arm wrapped around his waist.

And so the kitsune girl in the arms of the clan killer.

But she made it clear he was no monster, and last night proved it as the final nail to the coffin. Otherwise, they would not be here right now. He could still feel the drying sensation of her essence between his legs from however many times they did this during the night. Eventually, as the hours grew late and the temperatures dropped, he had to pull his cloak over them so that neither of them froze to death. And she didn't even feel like going back, which would no doubt increase questions amid the others - especially Shizune. It was like Naru to not care. Or should he say that she, for once, didn't care about anything but what she wanted for herself...such as the embrace with him after having a real taste that life offered that didn't involve glory and recognition.

Itachi continued to gaze up at the skies as he relished this newfound part of himself. They said that you were considered a full man or woman afterwards, but that wasn't it. Now that he and her were something akin to soul mates - that was a strong word and large step to take - he wondered about what would happen after they retook their home. If his name wasn't cleared, it meant that they had to endure a long-distance relationship with no hopes of putting down roots, or it would just be a much longer time in the making to find a way without letting Konoha descend as he feared.

She would just say to not worry about right now, to just enjoy right now, and that was what he was doing. So he settled on caressing her soft cheeks, tracing the whiskers and smiling as she did. I've never felt so content...only she does this to me.

But then he noticed that someone was coming, and it was no one unwanted except someone who finally returned days later. That meant he had to leave her where she was and kept his cloak over her to keep her warm. She moaned in her sleep at the loss of contact, then buried herself deeper into the fabric of red clouds. Itachi continued to watch her, still smiling, as he went to gather his clothes and redress so that he would go to meet with Zetsu. He left hers folded neatly by her side in case she awoke to find she was alone. His hair was loose from the night before, not that he cared for a change; the ghost of her fingers woving through the strands lingered in the memory of his nerves.

"Zetsu, about time." He stood before the Venus flytrap which materialized from the earth and then opened to show right side black and left white, representing yin and yang.

"Hey, you know better than that!" "To cut to the chase, those two underdogs of Danzo have been taken care of."

Itachi nodded. So those two he was spared eliminating himself, he asked of their current states, and the answer was typical Zetsu on both sides: "Yeah, after we got what we had from the Sound Village, we decided to keep tabs on anyone following you; we found them and took care of them," Black Zetsu answered proudly, only for White Zetsu to hoot, "And all the good chakra to take in from two of the greatest clans!"

"And who exactly were they?"

"One Aburame and the other Yamanaka. Neither saw us coming. They were no doubt too close to finding out you were all with the Kazekage." "And one hell of a double-course meal it was afterwards!" But the Uchiha wasn't fazed by the cannibalistic act that ended with no trace after the job was done.

I remember them. Danzo, look at who else you've lost. What will you do now? "And what of Sasuke's residence and his followers?" Itachi asked, and what he was given stunned him and proved his fears unfounded.

What Zetsu discovered was sensational in itself: unlike Orochimaru, his brother chose to have the research purposes for simply amending any issues with families and their bloodlines, others who suffered from the Snake Sannin's grotesque sessions were being treated - some died unfortunately, and others survived to be released and return to their lives - and in the end, Sasuke had a small army of those who wanted a second chance; he let them do whatever they wanted as long as they did not dare to go behind his back as well as completed what tasks he gave them. No different than us.

He would just say that these people the snake experimented on were dangerous, but if Juugo, Suigetsu and especially Karin were anything to go by, he'd have to say that his little brother was relatable to them in some ways. The problem was, in Konoha, he was a dangerous criminal that was on the death wish list as far as Danzo was concerned.

"Thank you, Zetsu. You can go inside and retire if you wish."

He should have known that the plant hybrid wouldn't spare him a notice of the sleeping girl not too far away who hadn't yet roused from her stupor. And of course it was like White Zetsu to open his wagging tongue. "Ah, woo-hoo, you finally hit it, Itachi!" He was scolded by Black Zetsu. "Hold your damned tongue, will you?!"

"Precisely what I was thinking," Itachi hissed, turning his eyes onto red, "or you'll get what's coming."

"Well, I say congrats, you lucky weasel!" And with that, the flytrap closed onto the pair and sank into the earth to go inside, not before he was threatened with Amaterasu if he so much as loosened that tongue of his to the others about his and Naru's relationship.

At the same time, he heard her yawn, which told him she was finally waking up, and he had to get her back into the cave so that he could tell her - and before anyone else noticed they were missing.

~o~

I NEVER thought I would hurt a little down there. But damn, I was bleeding!

Only a little, runt. Not like you'll die from it. At least I was here to heal that for you.

And she awoke before dawn broke, so that she could see that she was still in Itachi's arms, but when she came to, there he was beside her, but he was completely dressed up. Despite his tender gaze and caresses, she wanted to know why he left her in his cloak and her folded up garments near her, then sat beside her and waited for her to wake up.

"I didn't want to disturb you. You look so sweet and peaceful."

Naru laughed, sitting up and pulling the cloak close to herself, scooting up to lean into him, and one arm wrapped around her waist; they stayed that way for a few moments. His body was so warm that she didn't pay attention to the pre-dawn temperatures that caused the gooseflesh to rise. Itachi's warm skin and strong arms were all she needed, and she would have fallen back to sleep, face buried into his long, ravishing hair, if he hadn't told her they had to get back inside because Shizune would likely know she was missing if she hadn't already.

Damn it - shit, Shizune. Her stream of obscenity made Kurama chortle. Oh, shut up.

But by the time she was dressed up and walking back towards one of the smaller, unnoticeable entrances - unnoticeable and unquestionable to passerbys' eyes, those who weren't ninja - she had to ask him about the future for them.

"I've been asking myself the same. I thought that it could just be put on the shelf because I never imagined that it would come to this. But it's never something to control anymore than the wildflowers can flourish. Naru, I wish we could completely say it will work out in the long-term run."

She knew why and didn't have to repeat it, though she wanted it as much as he did. And if they couldn't prove he was innocent, what else was there? Naru, I think you know that answer without even gaining physical proof.

Who -? Then she stopped herself. Oh, Ibiki Morino.

And that meant everything in Itachi's memories will be uncovered for the world. The only way for that to happen was once things were settled down in Konoha again. And that way she and her new man could be together, too. "I know how we might, in case we can't get anything solid from the ANBU records or anywhere else," she said quietly, in case they could be heard. He looked at her inquisitively, and when she said the name, he only nodded as if he wasn't surprised. "Oh, Itachi!"

She put her arms around his shoulders, leaning up to kiss him on the lips again. How could she have gotten a man without being like Sakura and the other girls, after all she suffered - and how had he gotten her of all people after all he suffered, too?

"You don't regret last night?" She shook her head vigorously. As far as she was concerned, there was nothing to regret. He smiled. "Let's go inside," he breathed, and they went separately. When she arrived at where she and Shizune shared a space, the raven and the pig together were still sound asleep, and she could use a little bit more until the other woke...and when she did, some time later, her body was renewed again with energy, and she was taken aback by the song.

The world is grey, the mountains old

The forge's fire is ashen-cold

No harp is wrung, no drum falls

The darkness dwells in these halls

The shadow lies upon her tomb

In Kawa, in Konoha

But still the sunken stars recur

In the dark and windless shelter

There lies her ash in hand-held art

Til reawakens the braveheart

I've never heard Shizune sing before, Kurama.

Just as you never heard Temari, but that's because there is still enough you don't know about them.

What is she singing about? I know it's a lament, but is it for Granny?

Precisely.

It's so beautiful. Naru felt a corner prick with a tear. She had been laying on her side, listening and pretending to be asleep, and when it was over, Shizune spoke to her. "You can stop pretending to sleep, Naru." And she was laughing a little, too.

Grunting, Naru rolled over onto her back and sat up to stretch. "Singing for Grandma Tsunade?"

"It was originally a lament for all Hokage who passed on, starting with her grandfather," Shizune answered. "This time it's her turn, so I put 'her' instead of 'his', and takes place here in River, then back to Leaf. That is, if the past Hokage's monuments don't get reduced to rubble," she finished bitterly, and then came the question Naru expected but also felt embarrassed and nervous to discuss.

"What about you? When did you get back from being with...Itachi? Doesn't surprise me that you spent the night with him, but I'm wondering about after business is settled."

Knew she would figure it out, runt. Hope you know how to respond.

"Well...yeah, I was with him last night," Naru answered, feeling her cheeks heat a little. "I have no idea how to describe it, but it was the most amazing thing I ever had...and with him, too. He even said so. He was so gentle and loving. It was all as you said it was."

All of this brought an awkward smile to the older girl's face, before it was onward to the serious part. "If things are going to work out, then I hope you know what you're in for. Might be more sorrow than happiness, so you have to make the best of it." Really, we talk about it yesterday and I don't even feel the support I wanted!

"It wasn't like either of us ever planned this," Naru countered, suddenly agitated. "And it wasn't even easy to get him to lower his guard after everything he's been through. It wasn't even easy for me to do the same with him, either."

Shizune slid back a little, face on the defensive. "Okay, okay, I was just making sure. You know I look out for you," she said, before slipping back to a smile. "Though I am happy it finally happened. If you two marry at all, I'm gonna be by your side, and Tonton will carry the ring!" She held up two fingers with one hand and then ran along the still-sleeping pig's back with the other.

Marriage? Her and Itachi? That she would spend her time thinking about, but only after her goals were accomplished. "Did he ever say he loved you back?" Naru felt her face fall, and she lowered her eyes.

"He didn't even say the words back," she answered.

"He's probably just not used to it, and neither are you," Shizune pointed out, and she was right. "But what do you plan to do when you two go separate ways after this - if it comes to that?"

Naru lifted her gaze back to meet the other's. "Stay single because I'm his and no other's, and I won't be alone because I have all my friends - and that includes you and Sasuke, if he does finally come back."

But what if he doesn't? Because he runs a village now which had once been Orochimaru's - and he is creating a place where people have a second chance.

~o~

Here they were right here: Naru, Sasuke, Shizune and himself. Best Konoha Shinobi - or rather, two of them still full-fledged and the other two rogues in the Bingo Book. They were not many miles away from the border of Fire Country, but not enough for ANBU Root to detect for their Hokage, and it was here they were going to meet with the man himself and the day before their first strike which had finally arrived.

When Kakashi Hatake sent his own coded message to Itachi, the Uchiha could hardly believe it when the Copy Ninja told him inside that he'd suspected there had been more about him all along, that their own would never resort to genocide unless it was on orders - and how could a thirteen-year-old child, no matter how brilliant he was, do it all by himself?

And there the man was, standing before them after jumping down from overhead. "All on time - Naru!" His single eye, the other covered by cloth, lit up when he saw her, and she rushed over without a care to throw her arms around him, so ecstatic and happy without boundaries. It made Itachi allow a small smile to form, because her happiness gave him pleasure, too. "Well, well, good to know one of my best students hasn't given up yet."

"Not on my own life, Kakashi-sensei!" she answered, looking up at him and lifting her chin. "I'm here to keep all my promises with all your help!"

He chuckled and reached to ruffle her hair, and that made her wince and swat his hands away. The touching moment reached someplace in Itachi's core, lasting for a few moments before he had to clear his throat. It wasn't long before the attention was back to him, and Hatake - the man he tortured with Tsukuyomi for three days in its time - acknowledged him respectfully. "Everything is all ready, Itachi. We have many ANBU and Jounin to arrange the evacuation of the civilians once the bomb is dropped," the man explained, keeping the details as minimalistic as possible, and he would eventually learn why, for Kakashi called for his two companions to come out - and when Naru and Shizune saw them, they rushed over.

Neji Hyuuga, no doubt - and Sakura Haruno.

And now leaving the three men to each other and lay out the known plans. "Sasuke. What's your part in this?" Kakashi asked of his old student who abandoned them and tried to kill his own teammates, clearly wary of him now. Sasuke lifted his nose.

"I couldn't care less, but I'm doing this for Naru. Then I'll help her and Itachi finish off Danzo, because not only did he lock her up, not only did he have my brother backed into a corner, he also branded ME."

~o~

So the men were discussing the works, and that left her and Shizune, Tonton beside her and on the ground, as they were reunited with two people near and dear. Two people Naru had not seen since her imprisonment.

"SAKURA! NEJI!"

By the looks of Neji, he was part of the Black Ops now, but he wasn't in the mask or his uniform she remembered being typical of ANBU. Long chocolate hair remained tied, though lower than Itachi's. He looked the same as she remembered, though there seemed to be a harsher air about him despite his much kinder face, totally unlike the emo kid from the Chuunin Exams years ago. He really had grown into a man. And has so much to tell us.

Sakura definitely had more noticeable changes. Her garb was the same as the Hyuuga's: navy blue with a dark green flak jacket. Her rosy hair grew long enough to reach the middle of her back, in a low ponytail, bangs framing her face. But here was what made the major difference, besides the darker shade in her emerald eyes from seeing so much change: the violet-colored marking that Granny Tsunade once had, except the old lady's was blue.

The Strength of a Hundred Seal - so the miniature sucker has finally done it, eh?

"My God, Sakura, you really did it!" Naru exclaimed, also in response to Kurama. "Both of you!"

"Oh, yeah, we did," the pinkette answered. "It was filled up four months ago, but I haven't used it." She was referring to those reserves which were in order for the seal to work. And if her memory was right, you could only regenerate yourself with new cells only a FEW number of times in your life, otherwise you were gone before your time.

Sakura's attention shifted past the blonde's shoulder, face taut. "What does Sasuke get out of this?" That bite made Naru twinge a little; it sounded unlike Sakura, but on second thought, it seemed like she had done what the Uzumaki never thought she'd do: she's over him. But does she HATE him?

Kurama grunted. Not sure, but yeah, you are right on target when she is finished with his sorry self.

That meant Sakura Haruno wasn't the silly girl with equally silly dreams all based on a boy who didn't even care for her anymore; she was a woman who no longer relied on men or even the other girl whom she once thought competition for the one they both tried to bring back home. She wasn't the one who only cried and trembled in shock; she had fixed herself when Naru wasn't looking.

"The Akatsuki didn't hurt you, I see," Neji noted. "I would have went head on with both Uchiha if they did." He scowled viciously at Sasuke, who met his gaze once before calmly returning it back to his brother and Kakashi. "Just so you know - and Shikamaru would agree if he were here - I don't trust Sasuke in the slightest, except his brother."

Naru nodded, having expected that. And hinted was that he somehow found out about the Uchiha massacre's real facts, but did that mean the archives had it, or did Kakashi confide in him? "Well, I'm glad you're both here," Naru told them both, putting a hand on Sakura's right shoulder, the other on Neji's left, and then brought them both in for a group hug. It was so nice to hear Neji laugh a little as he was not used to this kind of thing, while Sakura voiced her joy that they got this again.

"However -" Now Neji was grim. "- there have been more terrible things happening than you know. Which of us are divided -"

She interrupted him. "I know: everyone against that old creep, except your clan. Except he's kept them all from rebelling on pain of death," she spat, and what he added could have caused all the trees around them to fall like an earthquake.

"Yes, but you haven't heard what is among the worst," he said, sour now. "It's Lady Hinata...she's dead."

So, the second verse of "Song of Durin" is what Shizune's song really is, though where you see changes from the original is what I tweaked. :'D

Now we get down to the real business, but ending here with yet another major shocker: Hinata added to the list of Naru's dead friends. :'( Another major dilemma I had when brainstorming Konohamaru's. What happened to her will be revealed in the next chapter.

Reviews appreciated as always. Lots o detail, too!