Disclaimer: I own the OCs in this fic, the rest is Masashi Kishomoto's. Sorry for any spelling mistakes.
Character age:
Akane, Itachi: 18
Naruto, Sasuke: 12/13
Shisui: 21
Kakashi: 26
"I see, so that's why you're both here," I muttered, rubbing my hand on my forehead as we were following a member of T&I down to the cells, where the Sand Siblings still were. A month in that hell hole, even if Suna capitulated and all that politic bullshit. The reason why they were still here was because the Mizukage, when he told Konoha he'd send two jounin after Mangetsu gave his report about Hoshigaki-san and my dad, asked Konoha to keep them here as he was dealing with Suna too. Why? Because Suna, or Orochimaru, hired two members of the Akatsuki and I ended badly injured.
Obito was good at taking advantage of the situation, I'll give him that. Let's just say apparently we were in a tensed relationship with Suna and that, barely awake, I was given another A-rank mission. Oh, joy.
"They told us everything they knew, I don't see what else you could make them spill," Ibiki Morino grumbled, looking down on us. Sensei smiled sweetly, a discreet wave of burning chakra around us as I added the freezing feeling of mine, Naoto in front of us with his cold, emotionless face on. The Konoha shinobi tensed, even Morino, and we were allowed to talk to them.
"So, I heard Suna was trying hard to get you back in your village but Kiri has been blocking the thing, sorry about that," I told them with a cold polite smile. "So, was it Oto or Suna who hired the Akatsuki? The black coats with red clouds gang."
"We were told that with the Police Force and an Uzumaki in Konoha, we had to get outside help," Kankuro replied, clearly pissed for still being here, his bare face looking a lot like his father. "That snake..."
"So Suna then." Temari nodded grudgingly at Naoto.
"Akane, you should tell them what you told us," sensei said and I pursed my lips.
"What do you know of my condition for the past month?"
"Naruto said you were in the hospital," Gaara answered, his turquoise eyes staring at me since I entered the room.
"I was, because during the fight, not long after I told Temari to go to Kankuro because she realized Suna had been manipulated by Orochimaru, I faced a member of the Akatsuki. I think you know him, he was and still is in Kiri's Bingo Book. Red hair, brown eyes, uses puppet a lot and goes by the name of Sasori?" Temari and Kankuro gaped at me.
"You're...you're sure of what you're saying?" the puppeteer asked me quietly.
"Apparently, he didn't deny it when Akane called him that, or when she mentioned his grandmother," Naoto snorted, leaning his back against the wall, pink eyes piercing through the three genin.
"There is no doubt Orochimaru played his cards well by making Suna hire one of their own missing-nin." I had a wry smile at sensei implying they really fucked up.
"He had a puppet which could produce very hard black forms, maybe you'll know what to do of that," I continued, ignoring the oldest two glancing at each other with worry. "However, two of our own missing-nin are a part of the Akatsuki as well, and they went to Naruto." My eyes found Gaara's, who narrowed his as he was seeing where I was going with that. "Sasori tried to kill my student and I ran after him to leave you at your fight, but he was watching you in particular Gaara. I trust you three to make good use of that information, Konoha might have told you this sooner or later, but see this as...not a peace offend, but like a debt we might come and collect sooner or later."
"In the state the village is right now, and our failed attempt at destroying Konoha, we don't have any other choice. We can't risk a fight to break out between Suna and Kiri."
"I think that's it, we should go back to the hospital now," Naoto pipped up, placing a hand in my back to push me out of the room. "Once your village has regained its stability, you will probably hear about us. Until then, our sincere condolences about your loss." And we were out. I quirked a brow at Naoto, who shrugged. 'Our sincere condolences'? Their situation...had nothing to do with ours, so he shouldn't really empathize with them, especially with his great reputation and resemblance to Yagura.
"Thank you for letting us speak with them, I hope you manage to get some information as well," Mei-sensei said to Morino-san, who scoffed but nodded anyway. "Now, hospital, you're still recovering. You're only fine since this morning after all." I rolled my eyes and dragged my feet to follow them. We were in the street leading to the hospital when I realized something.
"Where is Dai by the way?"
"Apparently, someone who helped them during the attack is seriously sick so he stayed back," Naoto explained with exhaustion. "Man, I hate that kind of mission. That's your thing, being silver tongue and diplomatic missions Akane. Not that we get a lot of these but..."
"Just because I always end up at the Daimyo's one way or another doesn't mean I like them Karatachi! And why are you and sensei walking so close to me? You're not my bodyguards!"
"You never know what's coming," Mei-sensei reminded me and Naoto nodded, his finger pointed at his nose. I facepalmed and used Naoto as a meat shield as blond hair appeared outside the hospital, followed by black curls.
"You said nee-chan was around Shisui-nii!" Naruto whined and I could picture him flailing his arms around.
"She is, she's hiding behind him!" Shisui replied with exasperation. "I see the top of your head above his shoulder!" Nope, nope, not talking to me. I wasn't there. "You shouldn't be out of...you've got to be kidding me..." I heard him mutter through clenched teeth and he body flickered in front of me. So I body flickered in front of Naoto. Shisui blinked and I ducked when he was about to look at me. "Now you're just being childish." I knew that but...
"Nee-chan..." Naruto trailed off behind me. I stood up and turned around, frowning at the guilt and confusion in his eyes. "Your...your dad he..." I grasped his shoulder and ignored the slight pain on his face when my nails almost dug in his skin. "He said I killed Kushina?" Everything froze around me. "I...did I kill her? She's my mom, Aunty told me she was my mom and..."
"Be sure to go back to your room and listen to Dai and the nurses Akane," sensei ordered me, grabbing Naoto by his flack jacket, "we'll go back to the hotel."
"Heh...what but...Mei!" Naoto sent me one last warning look about overdoing it and they left.
"Naruto, go to my hospital room, I need to have a word with Shisui." My cousin glanced behind me and Shisui must have looked or scary or miserable because Naruto ran in the building.
I barely moved my feet that Shisui had me in his arms and body flickered us on the hospital roof, hidden from everyone. I shivered when I remembered the yellow eyes of last night, and the man, but Shisui pressing me tightly against his chest cut off my thoughts. His arms were crushing me in a bear hug and I closed my eyes, letting him have that moment. His face was buried in the crook of my neck and one of his left hand ended up in my hair.
Okay, maybe it was...
The oxygen was knocked out of my lungs and I squeaked in surprise when he took many steps back to be against the wall and slide along it, taking me down with him. He crossed his legs around me and blocked me at the same time.
"Shisui...can't breath..." I stressed and his hold on me loosened, but I still could smell the faint scent of sweat covered by soap. "You were training?"
"Letting some steam off," he finally said, moving his head back to look at me. The lump of guilt came back full force in my throat. I hurt him, I knew I had been hurting him but...I hurt Shisui, I hurt his feelings. How awful was I? "Akane..."
"Sorry for attacking you," I apologized weakly, looking down to the ground of the roof. "I...went back through some painful memories."
"I though you wouldn't remember me," he mumbled and I could feel his hurt gaze on me, "or anything that happened these past five years. Did you...did you relive your..."
"Death?" I finished for him and I heard him gulping. I glanced coldly at him and he scowled, knowing the moment was over. "You can say it, that's what happened. If that's all I'll go." He took my wrist in his hand, his features taking an even harsher scowl. "What now? I apologized."
"I'm worried about you, can't you at least talk to me!?" he snapped and I flinched. He...raised his voice pretty loud. He ran his free hand on his face. "Why do you keep pushing me away Akane? I'm worried about you."
I sighed. "Appreciated, but not necessary." Ignore how he's looking at you with disbelief, how you're hurting him again, how he's showing way too much emotions to an enemy. "I'm not from Konoha, you shouldn't worry about me and you know it. I'm still alive, I'm fine."
"Fine?" he repeated in an angry growl. "Well you know what, I'm not! I thought you were dead, then I find out you were back on active duty in Kiri! You can't be fine mentally, I know it and no matter how much you deny it I won't buy it!" Curse you Shisui, you're too observant for your own good. Don't break my act now! "You can't be fine with doing something you hate, you...just tell me if they force you, I'll find something to..."
"As I said, appreciated but not necessary."
"I just want to help you!"
"I don't want your help, can you understand that? Last time you died on me." I opened my eyes wide and I could feel him do the same. Last time he promised to help me he killed himself.
"The circumstances are different," he whispered softly. "I'm different."
"So am I. Can't you just...stop caring?"
"Are you kidding me?" he asked me quietly, too quietly. I just wanted him to leave me alone, stay in Konoha and stay alive. "How do you want me to do that?"
"I don't know, protect Konoha, take care of your girlfriend, deal with your clan. I survived without your help once, I can do it a second time." That was low, I knew it was from how he clenched his fists and jaw, yet I said it and didn't regret it. I knew he was worried, but I also knew I was more than able to survive.
"It doesn't change that when I found you on that mission, your eyes were showing only disgust for yourself and it's the same today," he spat at me. "Blame me, if one of my friends saves my life I'll try to help them, even if they don't want me to." I blinked and pinched the bridge of my nose in annoyance. He could such a pain in the ass when he wanted to! Fucking Uchihas!
"If you keep trying, you'll end up dead. Stay away from me Shisui, that's the last warning I'll give you, leave me the fuck alone I don't need you!" He glared daggers at me and sent me a provoking smirk. I teleported in my hospital room and punched my pillow. "He's so frustrating that moron! Why can't he just take care of his own business and-ARGH!"
"Nee...nee-chan?" I turned my glare to Naruto and saw him stiffened and sweat drop at me. My eyes softened.
"Yeah, your mom? What did mine say?"
"That her name was Uzumaki Kushina and she died when I was born?" I sat in my bed and motioned him to come closer when I noticed his eyes being wet. I couldn't say too much and it was awful but...
"She died not long after you were born, but it wasn't because of you. It was Kyuubi. She was a strong a brave kunoichi and she died for the village, to protect it, and to protect you." I smiled with nostalgia. "You know, I was there when she was told she was pregnant with you. Your dad and her...they were so happy..." I trailed off and I hugged my cousin as he sobbed in my laps.
Yagura, go to hell, I wasn't going to be 'Bloody Mist' right now.
As it was an exhausting day, emotionally speaking, I fell asleep early in the evening. Now my sleep was back to being a restful one, I was happy in my hospital bed. At least until someone pocking my cheek woke me up. I slapped the thing away but it came back even harder.
"Who...oh come on!" I groaned in my pillow after seeing curls of black hair. "Shisui, it's the middle of the night!"
"You're mean," he stated blandly and I moved my face away from the pillow to squint at him. "You're very nasty when you want to protect people. You do that so that I don't like you anymore, but I'm an Uchiha, it has the opposite effect Aka-chan." Oh man...was it alcohol I was smelling? "When...when I'm worried, like a lot lottt, and that the other person doesn't want my help that...I feel powerless and I haaaaaate it! You've been making me feel like that since I confessed!"
"Shisui...how much have you drunk tonight?" His mouth formed a 'o' and he seemed to be thinking really hard about it from the concentration on his face.
Then, in all seriousness he told me. "Do you care about it? Really?"
"Geez, it's not the time for that discussion," I whined, sitting up. His eyes followed me and he sent me a toothy grin.
"Do you think I'm pretty Aka-chan?" I blinked at the question. What the...shouldn't I be the one asking him that question? Wasn't that like...something girls were worried about?
"You're Uchiha pretty?" He scowled and puffed his cheeks. "I mean...you all have crazy genetics that make you attractive so..." He was in my face in a second and I finally took note of his reddened cheeks, thanks to the alcohol I could smell in his breath. It stank so much.
"You think I'm attractive? You'd get in bed with me?" I gaped at him and narrowly escaped him when he tried to hug me. His upper-half was now on my bed and...he wasn't moving anymore?
"Shi...sui?" I called him, carefully poking him. I sweat dropped when I heard snoring. I guess it was better than him asking me if I'd have sex with him?
"There he is," a new voice hissed from the window, making me jump slightly. I turned around and met the annoyed face of Itachi, who was looking at his cousin with despair and annoyance.
"What the fuck Itachi? I was sleeping!"
"Apparently, the talk you had today frustrated him a lot and he decided sake would be the answer. I've been running after him for an hour and he stole a bottle from the bar." Indeed, there was a bottle of sake on the nightstand. "Has he done anything I need to apologize for on his behalf?"
"Well...he asked me if I found him attractive enough to sleep with him." Even in the dark I could picture colors leaving of his face as he pinched his nose.
"I apologize on his behalf," he muttered and I smirked in amusement.
"That's okay, let's keep this between us. I feel like he won't remember anyway." As if to agree, his snoring was extra loud for a second. "Take him home and put some pills and water on his nightstand." I raised my brows when I felt him staring at me. "What? I'm not that heartless yet."
"I know that, Shisui seemed to think the opposite though. You don't push me away half as much as him."
"You're different," I whispered and got up to go closer to him as if Shisui was going to wake up any second. "I feel like you understand more my position and realize it's real, and you probably do since you've been watching us from the beginning. It's just...I feel like even if you care, you know my affiliation with Kiri put a very thick wall between us? You stay behind and wait for it to crumble on its own whereas he...he's trying to blow it up and blow himself up at the same time. You know what I mean?"
"I do," he responded quietly and I sighed in relief, almost missing the small smile on his lips. "And he does too, to a certain extent. His feelings mix everything."
"I know, that's also why I've been so cold to him but he just keeps coming back for more that masochist. Oh and...sorry for creeping you out with my episodes, I'm good now, something clicked when I saw Sasuke."
"He told me the same thing, he also said we should have let him see you earlier." I muffled a giggle behind my hand. "So you're fine now? Really?"
"Yeah, sorry for the...disturbing things you saw me do." He slowly shook his head, silently telling me it was nothing. That guy was an angel, and it made my heart ache even more when I thought about old Itachi. Just for him, going through Kiri a second time was worth it.
"I have a question though."
"Ah?"
"Your loyalty...does the current Mizukage have it?" I blinked slowly and a malicious smile spread onto my lips, my forefinger on them to tell him it was a secret. It was...we were almost there and Itachi always gave me that feeling I could just talk. "I see." It explains a lot was left unsaid, but I got it anyway. "You're...still in there then," he added so quietly I almost didn't hear him. Still in there? Did he really think I had a complete change of personality? "I'll take care of-" Shisui fell on the floor in a big thump. Man, he was drooling. "I'll take care of him."
"He's alright huh? Even with the fall?" Itachi sighed and picked him up like a sack of potatoes on his shoulder.
"He has a thick skull, you can't imagine the number of things that were thrown at it." And he disappeared.
Huh...Shisui's head was a target practice after all.
This situation was the peak of the cringe. I was sitting in front of Fugaku-san, between Jiraya-san and Tsunade-san, who turned out to be a relative barely more remote than Naruto. I gave up on keeping tracks of families within clans anyway, especially on Dad's side which is pretty complicated. Anyway, we were in Fugaku-san's study, seals all around the place to keep what was going to be said among us.
I was supposed to leave this afternoon. I had my sanity back for three days only and I kinda wanted to leave Konoha as soon as I could. I was worried Mei-sensei being absent for too long would end up having bad consequences.
"Sasuke's mark is made of senjutsu, Orochimaru can control him to a certain extent," Jiraya-san started to explain. "From what Akane wrote down about what she knows, Orochimaru uses Sasuke's negative emotions to bring him to him, to manipulate him. Even if it seems like it gives a lot of advantages..."
"Senjutsu is difficult to control, and from what I've observed, the mark is spreading through Sasuke's chakra network." I frowned at what Tsunade-san was implying. "I'm afraid the mark will slowly poison Sasuke. Jiraya's Evil Sealing Method can slow it down, but it's up to Sasuke to have the determination to fight Orochimaru's influence in his head."
"In other words, Sasuke has to go to Orochimaru to stay alive," Fugaku-san stated sternly, his eyes on Tsunade-san. I slowly raised my hand and all eyes were on me. I fought the embarrassed blush from spreading on my cheeks. I was with two Sannin and the head of the Uchihas for fuck sake.
"His mark is on the first level, Orochimaru will offer something to Sasuke at some point, it's inevitable. Right now, the only thing to do is not giving Sasuke any reason to think leaving Konoha would be the best for him. If Orochimaru approaches him and he goes to Konoha for help, then it can be good to potentially use him as a bet if I may. If he doesn't go to anyone..."
"What happened before?" Fugaku-san asked me.
"Hum...well, with the state of Konoha after the attack, I'm pretty sure the team that was sent was mainly composed of genin. It failed. However, now that the Uchiha clan is still existent, maybe Orochimaru will put more effort into luring Sasuke." Pregnant pause, let them imagine what he could do.
"Don't give Sasuke any reason to leave then," the Uchiha patriach muttered for himself.
"I would have some anbu watching him to spot any unusual behavior, but with the situation of the village I can't. Even if I could, I'm afraid it may break the little stability there is between Konoha and the Uchihas if some were to discover Sasuke was under surveillance."
"I agree indeed, but we can take care of Sasuke. Thank you Hokage-sama and Jiraya-sama for the time you've given to my son." I got a nod in my direction. Yeah...I had not been extremely useful, I put in an appearance instead.
Needless to say, when I found myself in Tsunade-san's office with Mei-sensei, I was a little bit lost.
Especially when they told me what they wanted me to do for Sasuke in case Konoha failed at bringing him back.
"I'm sorry but...what?"
"You've heard me. In case Sasuke defects to Orochimaru and Konoha fails to bring him back, Kiri's Resistance will take him in until the coup happen," the Hokage said firmly, her hands crossed in front of her mouth. "If you were in the area at the moment it would be a plus." Poor Sasuke, he was...he was being reduced to an Orochimaru bet, an object almost.
"Understood. I guess he'll be kept in the dark?" The tint of irritation in my voice made Tsunade-san raised a brow at me. Sensei elbowed me in the ribs and I ducked my head. "Forgive my..."
"It's fine, knowing your case and your attachment to Sasuke, I understand you find this situation frustrating."
Before leaving Konoha, I went to see Sasuke. Unknown to him, when I ruffled his hair, I put an Hiraishin marker on his scalp. I didn't like putting markers on people I knew and cared about, but if I was needed, then I would need to be fast.
Man, I really wanted to tease Utakata-senpai right now.
So even if Naruto was sad to see me leaving again, like Mom or Sasuke, this time when I walked through the gates of Konoha, I didn't look back. I had my priorities.
Unfortunately, it wasn't Konoha or people I cared about living in it for now.
Hey! Thanks for reading! Please review so that I know you liked it :)
nevvy: Thanks for the reviews. Also, I can't say anything about how Itachi feels as the relationship aspect of the fic will be more explored in the Shippuden era. Even for old Itachi :)
Ederisu: Thanks for the review :)
Bye