So, my aunt arrived today, and I am scared more than ever. If things really change and I am going to be stunted for a good while, then I'll have no choice but to put this story (around 7 chapters left at least) on hiatus along with the other couple fics that are still in progress until further notice. :'(

Just see what happens for now.

Composition by Adrian von Ziegler.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Curse Upon the Living

He was haunted ever since that kiss, which she initiated against his wishes. He had no idea what to do now. Soon they were all going to meet with the Prime Minister and his aides, the setting taking place at Konoha's local Buddhist temple. Tsunade, the Prime Minister himself, both of them having their best hands - as well as Naruto and Gaara both being trained - at their sides, but also having Hanaru and her group present.

That left a recent crisis that also happened to them before today. Yesterday was supposed to be the meeting, but it was moved to today as a result of what transpired in the early morning: at some time, an explosion was heard, and it was traced back to Higeki-tekina ai.

The studio, built by close friends based on personal stories and connections, had been mostly destroyed after a bomb went off, and very few things survived miraculously.

Such as both of Hanaru's paintings: the Man in Red and the Moonlit Dust. How they made it through the fire was a wonder with a few singes, avoiding the best parts in its creator's eyes. They would be taken in with care at Senju Headquarters...and in Itachi's possession, nonetheless.

There was no way to determine who had done it, but particles of C2 were found at the scene, as well as plastic scattered everywhere amongst the debris. Someone had used composition C2, which was manufactured and used during WWII, to destroy much of a place for the heart and shatter fear throughout the town...and the people who gave it life.

That meant records, music and all art but a couple, were gone, and the insurance the group and their manager had couldn't cover all of it.

The day had come for them, but to witness Hanaru's devastation was even worse. To see her broken down, knowing she expected it either way but it still crushed her, Itachi chose to kneel down and hold her close, watching as Temari somberly picked up both intact paintings before joining the boys to care for the wreckage and decide the future of this place for the public.

"I'm sorry, Hanaru." Even so, he was still never good with words. She continued to cry until she was dried out.

So, in the end, Asuma told them all to just leave everything to him, that he would say until this was resolved, Higeki-tekina ai would "take a break until further notice", but in the end, someone would have to take over from here while the original owners went elsewhere.

Final answer while Hanaru was wiping her new tears with Kleenex - Itachi got the majority on his cloak, but it didn't faze him - was taking Asuma's suggestion, but that also meant what Shikamaru and Choji had to tell their families in regards to their absences in the meantime, but neither lived with their parents anymore.

That also meant more time at Senju and having to move in as well, but Choji would also have to do something about his new relationship with Karui, or he should just end it in order to protect her.

Itachi knew not which one for now.

Everything personal was put on hold until after this meeting.

The temple had a long conference table, one end having Prime Minister Sabaku and his people to his right which extended down to Tsunade Senju's left, whilst on her right were her people who extended to the man's left.

Commander Hatake, Sub Commander Yamato, Captain Uzuki and their men in smaller numbers were standing at attention.

Jiraiya happened to be there today, as well, for against his former lover and oldest friend's wishes, he was still an unofficial member of the organization.

That left Itachi himself coming in with Sasuke and Sakura, and Hanaru and her friends. But Naruto was still up in the south mountains under the guidance of the Hyuuga until further notice, but it was likely his mastery would be done before the month was over, from the preliminary reports submitted. And that meant Gaara was here, beside his sister, except while father and daughter - Rasa and Temari - greeted each other cordially, the tension between the man and his son was evident.

"Itachi, you have finally decided to join us," his mistress said with a slight smile. "Prime Minister, Itachi Uchiha."

"I know who you are, vampire," Rasa answered, without being hostile. "It's a pleasure. And to see your family -" He glanced at the stoic Sasuke and beaming Sakura. "- and my daughter as well as her friends who finally join us. And I'm not ashamed to say this, but I'm proud of all of you." Now a small smile pulled both corners of his mouth.

Gaara said nothing of this, wishing that his own father could say the same to him.

Jiraiya's eyes twinkled in agreement despite his somber expression. The same could be said for Tsunade.

Impression could now be seen in Sasuke's eyes and Sakura just couldn't stop smiling - before it was gone as it was soon back to being serious, and he had to give his report. Itachi stood before all of them, beside Tsunade, his brother and sister-in-law on the other side.

"As you all know, Madara Uchiha attempted to breed a vampire army, but no such luck, not even during the last world war. Because I was the one to lay waste to the operation which was in progress. They've returned, replenishing their numbers, and this time the army consists of hybrids of bloodsuckers and zombies in one, with rational thinking but with the appearance of a rotting cadaver coupled with the teeth and thirst of my kind. The Akatsuki is here for one last time, and it's either they overcome us and the rest of the world, starting here in Konoha - or we send our battalions back to them."

"Well, Lord Madara really has slipped up - oops, I shouldn't have said that!"

Sharp gasps could be heard from all over; they had been found out! And there stood before them all, others turning around to the south end of the room, not too far away from Hanaru and her group who stayed together - but they whipped out their arms, Choji shaking a little, and that prompted the ANBU unit to do the same. But the strange male wearing the orange mask and dressed in black, voice high-pitched, raised both hands and declared he was just here as messenger from Madara Uchiha.

"Explain this," Tsunade said coldly, then looked up at Shizune from the corner of her eye.

"I'm sorry, ma'am, but I have NO idea how he got past security," the girl insisted just as the masked man walked in and placed a small television before all of them. It looked like it was wireless.

"Ahem, to the representatives of both Konoha and Suna, my commanding officer - the lord of the undead himself! - has a message for all of you. Attend carefully!" He then pulled out a remote and put on quite the slightly humorous if irritating show of struggling with the picture power, but there was the VOICE over the speakers who barked at the one everyone learned was named "Tobi" that the screen wasn't working -

- until the picture showed up at last, being static at first only to show just the mouth and upper torso. "Ah, finally. Now we can get down to business."

But what showed next was a horrendous, abominable carnage, witnessed with spite and disgust by all. Sakura's green eyes bled a little red with revenge. And the casual manner in which Madara stated things were going well despite his hands full! All those people who were eaten and torn apart by freaks...!

"Madara, it's you, you worthless bastard!" Sasuke snarled viciously, but Itachi held a hand up to him to handle this.

"Yes, Madara," the elder brother said frostily.

A smile turned upwards on the face which returned on the screen. "Itachi, Sasuke, yes, it's indeed good to see you both present."

Tsunade decided to speak up and spit, "Cut to the chase and tell us what you want. You were scarce save for the fact why you wanted to make demonic hosts when you've got both hands full with all the freaks you need!"

"Finally, face to face with you, Tsunade - and Jiraiya," Madara said with a twisted smile as the camera zoomed out to show his face entirely. "You want to know the purpose when it's in front of you, but as for what you say about 'demonic hosts' - well, you must need all the help you can get if one fails, so backup is required. The old tales of nine tailed demons which were once one monster before they were divided separately. Although it's impossible scientifically to do such a thing as bring them together, granted that there has been no finding of the husk of the legendary Ten-Tails. Thus separate human hosts make it logical."

"Oh, if I could get my hands on you," Temari growled only to be held back by her brother who was seething inside despite his calm exterior. If Naruto were here now, he would fly into a rage...just like his sister looks like she wants to.

Then again, Itachi sometimes fantasized doing everything for them.

"You're...insane," Rasa spat. "All of you."

"Using innocent humans for your sick schemes," Jiraiya agreed hotly. "No way you're going to get the last two from us."

"...I was hoping someone would say that. In fact, I had been planning a second motive if I couldn't just go all-out. I propose calling off the war itself unless you give me the final two hosts."

Madara switched tactics. He'd kidnapped nine people - including Naruto and Gaara - and summoned demonic tailed beasts of enormous power to seal them inside for additional firepower. But Hanaru's and Temari's brothers were recovered while the others were difficult to track down. And no doubt Madara wanted them back, but he hadn't been in a hurry to get them before. But he would never keep that word of peace once they gave both young men over...

Hanaru looked like she wanted to burst and speak, but held back because no one noticed her, and she would be in the line of fire for her reckless tongue. "What a drag," Shikamaru muttered that no one heard save for the vampires' sensitive ears - and that did include Madara's despite being far away and only on the television screen.

"I see no one agrees," he stated, now sounding bored. But then Tsunade stood up in a figurative manner of speaking.

"Itachi, Sasuke...kill the messenger."

~o~

So that was Madara Uchiha on the television screen. He saw everything and everyone - which meant he noticed HER, too, but he didn't acknowledge Hanaru Uzumaki just yet.

He was declaring war on them, then suddenly proposed a peaceful truce unless they gave over her brother and Temari's, and that was a whiplash of plot hole in her mind; at the end of the day, everyone knew he would never agree to such a thing. He would come back to the attack either way, if the battalion numbers were as great as they were.

And just as no one agreed, her grandmother ordered the messenger killed. At the command, the Uchiha brothers both drew their guns forth and were about to fire when the master himself commented on shooting the messenger since that was what it came to.

That bastard...that monster who butchered many lives...he was still on his way here as planned, and their refusal to give over her brother and Gaara solidified everything. "Until that day comes...oh, and I almost forgot," Madara said with one hand held up, and then his eyes switched over to...ME.

"It's lovely to finally see your face, Hanaru Uzumaki, and your little band. It's a shame what happened to your precious establishment that you finally chose to take your family's side in my game. Hopefully we get to meet face to face."

An enraged shriek tore from her throat, not a real scream, but her friends simply held back by gasping and then gritting their teeth as they all learned who had been behind the destruction of the place they built together, where all of their hard work save for a couple of Hanaru's most precious pieces didn't survive.

Before she could scream for sure, the screen blinked off after the ancient vampire swore they would go to war on the eve of spring as promised. And just before the cherry blossoms would be in bloom...which might never be if they ended up obliterated.

"Well, we all know what to do," Tsunade said bitterly, looking at each and every one of the grim faces.

Hanaru felt like she was having an out of body experience, when she and her grandfather who was there for her and the rest of them walked out, and Itachi was right behind them.

"Man, one last all-out. I never thought I would live to see the day," Jiraiya grumbled, then turned to look down at her. "Kiddo, if I don't say it enough, I'm sorry I got you and your brother into this. Actually, all of us got you both into this."

"No," she insisted, "we always keep saying it was bound to happen, and it did. But we're all going to fight together - right?" She looked up at Itachi, their protector who was never a slave to them even though the title "servant" was given. He was so much more, and here he was with them.

Quietly, he agreed with her, before tearing his eyes away from her. He barely so much as looked at her that night she kissed him after learning his story, and that bothered her immensely. She wanted to know where they stood, and as soon as they were away from here, she would talk to him. Because she knew she got to him with the kiss and saying she didn't care about everything that happened - hated the first mate and sympathized for the second - and they were going to get through everything if she had anything to say about it.

Jiraiya smiled down at her and took her into an embrace. "Yeah, that's my girl there. You know, your brother said the same thing when I went to see him. I'm gonna tell you myself that I am proud of you both." He pressed a kiss to her forehead, and a tear burned at each corner for her.

She got the terrible feeling she might lose him when that night came, or before that. Never mind that he was at the age, but he was the man who raised her and Naruto after their parents died. Don't even think about that now.

When that bloody night came, many of their people and friends would be lost. She'd seen enough of those grisly photographs taken of war, so that she would know what to expect.

But this won't even be CLOSE to World War record...it would exceed.

But right now, so that it could give them a reason to live, she had something to focus on - and he was right in front of her. Looking into his eyes, she knew he was thinking the same thing.

I'd finally finished this chapter after my aunt was in, but my father barely acknowledged her. That doesn't mean it's over, so let's just see what happens.

Thank you so much for the recent review I got recently, so please continue to do so. :')