Hello! I hope you'll like this chapter!

Disclaimer: I own the OCs in this fic, the rest is Masashi Kishomoto's. Sorry for any spelling mistakes or any OCCness.

Character age:

Akane, Itachi: 21

Naruto, Sasuke: 15 / 16

Shisui: 24

Kakashi: 30

"Huh...so...it's low," I commented, looking at my paper tag. Itachi scowled in frustration. "I mean...it's high genin stamina you have?"

"Can we start the training instead of commenting on my stamina?"

"No need to be grumpy…"

"I'm not."

"Of course, how silly of me to think your pride's hurt by my comment." I gave him a scroll. "You can read, so time to train."

Fugaku-san had asked me to help Itachi get back into shape controlling the seal he had. Breaking it in one go could have bad consequences, so I was there to make sure it would come off nicely.

"What will you do?" I waved him off.

"Hiashi-san was generous enough to give me work yesterday."

I sat down against a tree while he was starting his training. It was a throw back for him, but I needed to see what needed to be done.

As for the Hyuugas...I had to find a way to replace their Bird Seal. Permanently. Apparently, Ao-san's Byakugan had been discovered and the Hyuga Clan didn't like that, so there was a whole political debacle. In the end, as it was during the war and not...stolen from the village, it wasn't seen as a theft but...the Hyuugas were not happy, so Hiashi negotiated for me to take care of the Bird Seal in priority against Ao-san's life and the assurance he would have the seal I would come up with as well.

I looked up when I felt a flare of chakra in the air. Itachi did not have much stamina, lost some of it in the past two years and still had his chakra sealed pretty good. It was supposed to be unlocked progressively.

"Itachi." He shot me a look, sitting crossed-legs and his hands in a mudra. "You kept doing some light training right?" He nodded and I put down my scrolls to crouch in front of him. "Sorry, would you mind lifting your shirt for a second?" He deadpanned at me. "I'm not being a perv, I want to check something!" He sighed and obeyed. I raised two fingers of my right hands and covered the tips with chakra.

I touched his stomach and the seal appeared. I touched several points in it and took my chin between two fingers once I was done.

I was aware Tsunade-san must have taken care of slowly weakening the seal but...it was almost as if it was leaking somewhere.

"Akane, what's wrong?" Itachi asked me, putting his shirt back in place.

"Taijutsu fight, now," I decided, standing up. "I need to check something." I could see the unspoken question in his onyx eyes but he obeyed.

In spite of everything, Itachi was still a tough opponent. His brain didn't suffer and he could think of ways to compensate his lack of physical skills for now in the blink of an eye.

Basically, he was still a pain in the ass.

I could keep up with him though.

He feigned falling backward after a kick to kick my ankles. I fell backward and he pounced on me, pinning me to the ground, on all four on top of me.

He was panting heavily though.

"Or I'm that strong, or it required more energy that it should have to have that little spar."

"The second one," he muttered, smirking when I puffed my cheeks.

I managed to knee him in the stomach. He frowned when I swapped our position, now on top of him, and knew from the chakra in the air he tried to fight me. I lifted his shirt without asking and placed two fingers near his heart.

"That's where it's coming from!" I jumped on my feet and grabbed his hand to pull him on his feet. "You're leaking!" He raised a brow.

"What?"

"Your seal, it's releasing the amount of chakra it's supposed to at the moment and there's some leaking near your heart. I sensed something was wrong earlier but I could pinpoint what just now. We're going to the hospital."

"Can't you fix it here?" I frowned at him.

"I'm not fixing it without being sure I'm not messing up anything inside. I'm not a doctor." He averted his eyes with a displeased frown.

Tsunade-san managed to come herself. She found that weird as well and said she would double-check Itachi's medication. On this note, we left the hospital, Itachi upset that he had to take things even slower. I shot him a quick look and sighed, changing trajectory. He didn't seem to notice and followed me.

"Hey, stop pouting you idiot," I told him, handing dangos at him. He blinked sheepishly and looked up.

"The tea house?"

"You should be more aware of where you're going, who knows when a fan girl might kidnap you." He almost snatched the tray with a roll of his eyes and I snickered. "I get being told you have to take it slow is annoying, but is there anything else?" He sat down on the bench outside and sighed. I sat down next to him. "Itachi?"

"I can't take it anymore." I raised my brows. "I can't stand the way my mother keeps looking after me like a kid. I can't stand how I can't go on missions. I can't stand the stupid tasks my father gives me. I can't stand being seen as someone that needs protection. I can't...The Akatsuki started to move and you will all go fight them and I'm stuck here." He bit angrily on the dango stick and ate the three of them in one go. I stared, dumbfounded. He noticed and shot me an annoyed look. "What?"

"Nothing, I just didn't think you'd actually tell me what was wrong." He seemed taken back for a second and sighed.

"Sorry, it..." I moved my hands in front of me.

"Don't be sorry, I'm surprised that's all! If you need to talk I'm here! Only God knows how much I listened to Sasuke, I can handle the big brother as well." He smiled faintly.

"I'm honored," he told me sarcastically.

"That being said, I'm aware being on the side lines sucks. I've never been in your condition in particular, but I had to lay low when I arrived in Konoha. I guess the best you can do, apart from working on yourself, is keeping a close eye on Sasuke's development."

"Naruto as well." I pursed my lips. "I am aware my brother and you ran into them several times and you are their targets, but Naruto is the main one."

"...he is."

"You're worried."

"Of course I am, he's my brother. It's not just him though, it's Haku as well. It's even worst for him because I'm the one who..." I didn't finish my sentence.

"I know." There was a heavy silence for a few seconds, but I decided to break it.

"Hey, you said you couldn't handle Mikoto-san anymore?" He nodded. "Why don't you move?"

"You think I haven't thought about it? She keeps finding arguments."

"Well don't move alone then. Get a place near the hospital for Izumi and you and it should do the tri..."

"Why would I live with Izumi?" I blinked in confusion.

"Haven't you guys been dating for years?" He blinked in confusion as well and pressed his hand against his eyes, smirking in irony. "What?"

"I forgot I never told you. I broke up with her before going to Kiri." I gaped.

"Wait what!? I thought...I thought…that's why Sasuke kept looking so superior when I'd mention you two!" I facepalmed with a whine as Itachi snickered at my misery. "It's not funny! Why did you even break up with her?"

"I wasn't in love with her, there was no point continuing with the relationship."

"I guess but..." I shrugged, looking at the cloudy sky. "I don't know, I thought it'd be for the long run."

"Hn."

"But it means it will be hard to move out of your house."

"Hn." He raised his head out of sudden and turned it toward me. "Or maybe it won't. Is your room still occupied?"

"Yeah wh..." I started, turning my eyes to him. There was an interested spark in his dark eyes. "I...Itachi?"

"Why don't we move in together Akane?" I blinked at him sheepishly.

"Heh?"

"You don't really have a room anymore and I need more peace. My parents won't have a word to say as you're the one who put the seal on me, you're the best person to 'look after me'." I opened my mouth. "Unless you have another idea or actually like sleeping in that messy study."

"Okay, it's an organized mess," I corrected him with a raised finger. "And I was planning on crashing at Kakashi's anyway, at least half of the time." He frowned. "But...yeah, he would kick me out at some point. I don't know, it's kind of something big Itachi."

"We wouldn't share a bedroom you know." I flushed against my will.

"I know that, but still! For all we know we might just kill each other after a week of living together! Or...or..." He narrowed his eyes as I was at a loss of words.

I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to be that close to each other. Old Itachi ended up kissing me and then bedding me so here…

But I was an adult, I could turn him down if it came to it. It would ruin the friendship but...and it would be good for him and for me. I needed some peace and quiet to work and Mom's was far from it with Naruto and Fu.

I pursed my lips in thoughts and hated myself for the satisfaction in Itachi's eyes. I looked away and he leaned forward to keep looking at my face.

"You know I'm right," he told me confidently.

"Shut up," I muttered. "Is Mikoto-san really that bad?"

"I had more freedom when I was five." I sighed and shot him a quick look, defeated.

"You better respect my boundaries." He grinned, closing his eyes and nodded.

He seemed...just his age right now. Old Itachi...always had that look, that way of being that made him seem so much older he actually was. Although this Itachi had this as well...his life counterbalanced it.

"I need space for my shit, and find it close to the hospital, just in case, got it?" I stood up, my hands on my hips. "You better find a good apartment."

"I already have found a few." I pinched the bridge of my nose.

"Why am I not surprised?"

"You'll pay for that teme!" I looked up, like Itachi. Sasuke jumped from a roof to another, followed by an angry Naruto.

Later that day, at dinner, I told them of my plans. Naruto choked on his piece of steak.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Fū asked me. I shook my head.

"No, he's a friend and probably future roommate." Mom had a knowing look in her eyes as she rubbed Naruto's back, who drank his glass of water in one go.

"You can't live with Itachi-nii! He's a guy, and you're a girl! It's...it's..."

"Now Naruto, I doubt Itachi-kun is that kind of man." She eyed him suspiciously. "After all, he did not spend two years and a half with a notorious pervert." He blushed hard.

"I said he dragged me into peeping!"

"Anyway Naruto, how is it going with Sasuke? He usually trains with you when he's not with Kakashi and I, right?" He nodded, still wary of Mom, who was eating innocently.

"Yeah, it's weird with Sai because he was there to replace him, and it's Yamato-taicho and not Kakashi-sensei but...the teme is still the teme." He frowned. "Stronger than before, but nothing I won't beat soon enough!"

"I should stop by, I haven't seen how much stronger you are after training with Jiraya-san." He grinned.

"I'll show you nee-chan!" I grinned back at him and looked at Fū next to me.

"What about you? How is it with Team Gai?"

"I love it! Lee-san and Gai-san are both very enthusiastic!" That was one way to put it.

I scratched Ganbaru between his ears. He was a good dog and a good partner for Mom, even if he was defensive at first. Naruto had biting marks to prove it.

Two boys in this house seemed to be too much.

"I have a feeling we didn't really think this through," I told Itachi as we were in the living area of our place. He grunted, staring at Naruto and Sasuke acting as if they owned the place. "Mikoto-san has been busy with Sasuke since we came back, don't be surprised he appears out of nowhere here now." He sighed, defeated.

"It's what I get for using him as a distraction." I snickered at him and Naruto was in front of us, pointing a finger at Itachi. Itachi didn't even bat an eyelid. "Yes?"

"I saw locks on the doors, don't even think about creeping on my sister Itachi-nii or I'll gut you alive!" Wow, I never realized Naruto was that protective of me.

"You really think a lock would stop me?" Itachi replied, a brow raised. Naruto saw red.

"What's that supposed to mean!?" I slapped my hand on his face.

"Naru, I'm more than able to handle him." Itachi frowned and shot me a dubious look. I ignored him.

"What's with you treating my brother like a pervert anyway?" Sasuke pipped up with a frown.

"I just find that weird he'd ask nee-chan to be his roommate!"

"Weird or not, do you really think if I had something in mind you would see it coming?" Itachi was playing along and I sighed.

"Don't you have a mission dobe?" Naruto froze and looked at his backpack near the front door.

"Shit I'm gonna be late!" He ran away.

"We're gonna be late for training too."

"What training?"

"Kakashi told us to meet him today."

"When did he say that?"

"Two days ago. I didn't tell you."

"Sasuke!" I exclaimed with wide eyes. "You're unbelievable sometimes." He shrugged.

"Team Kakashi is going on a mission regarding Orochimaru, right?" Itachi asked me, folding his arms. I nodded.

"That's all I know. Anyway, I need to get ready now."

"Kakashi will be late anyway," Sasuke said idly.

"Nuh uh, I'll go get him."

There was no surprise in finding him in front of the memorial stone. I stopped next to him.

"Found ya, you can't be late."

"Hum...the road of life has turns and you can't always follow me." I chuckled.

"Oh I know, trust me, but I told Sasuke you'd be on time so follow me." He stared at the stone for a few more seconds and nodded. "By the way, Naruto told me about his mission in the Land of Demons or something..."

"Ha, Moryo? Yes, it was quite something, but I wasn't there." I pursed my lips. Moryo? It was in my book.

Training with Kakashi and Sasuke was mainly finding a good way to work together. Kakashi was used to working with Sasuke, Sasuke was used to working with me and I worked well with Kakashi, but putting the three together was something else.

I hiccuped.

"Akane, don't you think that's enough for tonight?" Kakashi asked me as I raised my hand to get another drink.

"I'm finnnnne! I ca...I can handle my liquor!" I grinned at the waiter who put the bottle of wine on the table. "And I can enjoy myself once in a while!"

"Sure but...I would be killed if your mother knew..." The angry growl in my mind told me Mom wasn't the only one who'd kill him.

"Relax Kakashi, I'm twenty-one! I'm a grown up woman and can drink if I want!" Kakashi sighed. As there were no eyes on us, he casually lowered his mask to eat. I narrowed my eyes at him.

Kakashi was an attractive asshole, no doubt about that.

"So Sasuke really matured in the past few years huh..." I nodded, swallowing my beef.

"Yeah, he grew up well!" I pointed my chopsticks at him and he caught them between his chopsticks. "Skills, mental, he grew up well!"

"Don't point your chopsticks at people!"

"Ha shush, it's not because you're jealous of Yamato being in charge of your team that you need to be an ass!"

"I am not jealous," he denied with a glare.

"Until your cute little students realize he's much cooler than you are~." He drank his sake in one go.

"Sasuke won't!"

"Sasuke doesn't even call you 'sensei'." He lowered his head comically and put his mask back on when two people stopped next to us.

"Yo Kakashi, what a surprise to see you there!" I looked up. Asuma and Kurenai. "Don't tell me it's a date!"

"I'm way out of her league," he replied as I had opened my mouth. I glared his way as he eye-smiled at them. "And shouldn't I be the one to say that to you guys?" They both blushed.

"Asuma told me he had a special discount because he comes here so often and wanted to enjoy a yakiniku for once," Kurenai said. I stared at her knowingly, distractedly putting a piece of beef in my mouth. She noticed and blushed, averting her eyes. "A...anyway Asuma, let's go to our table."

"Sure," he replied casually. They said goodbye and left.

"How long have they been pretending there's nothing?"

"Since we were kids really," Kakashi replied. "I remember how Rin and Obi..." He didn't finish his sentence, a grim look overtaking his features.

He needed to know about Obito before the war, I couldn't have him freeze in the middle of the fight.

"Somehow, I can imagine Obito trying but failing to flirt with Rin while talking about these two." Kakashi chuckled sadly as I poured myself another glass, my cheeks hot by now.

"He never flirted with her with success." There was a pregnant pause and he snickered.

"What?"

"Nothing, I just think that if Obito was here today, he would have thrown a fit at seeing you living with a man, especially a relative of his." I looked at the drink in my hand.

Would he?

"I guess I have to do it for him then," he sighed dramatically and I raised my head in a flash. "Akane, listen to me, if Itachi ever..."

Kakashi took me home, basically carrying my drunk ass because I drank to drown his lecture. Itachi frowned at my state and took me from Kakashi's arms.

"And don't forget drunk consent is not really consenting!" I had the strengths to shut the door with a kick, an arm on Itachi's shoulders.

"Do I want to know?"

"Just...just Kashi-nii...replacing Obito-nii..." I hiccuped and looked up at him. "You...sober sex is better you...you know..." He stared down at me and slowly, raised a brow.

"I know." I nodded, happy with that answer and tried to walk by myself.

I tripped and fell face flat against the wall. Itachi watched and walked next to me, staring down at me.

"Do you want my help or will you crawl your way into bed?" I raised a weak hand to him and he sighed, scooping me up in his arms.

"Wow so strong!" I giggled in his ear and he sighed again.

"Just how much did you drink tonight?"

"Maybe a...a B-rank mission pay-worth of alcohol?" He dropped me on my bed and opened it for me.

"Don't make it a habit Akane," he scolded me in a stern voice. I waved him off.

"Don...don't worry...next time wi...will be with you 'tachi!"

I fell asleep right after that.

"It sure is impressive," Kakashi admitted, reading the file Kiri sent about Sasuke.

"Although we don't have much details about that S-rank mission Sasuke was sent on with Akane, they came back successful. With Orochimaru still lurking around, Sasuke's experience these past three years will be useful."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning," Tsunade continued, "that I'd like to make him an ANBU operative. He was trained almost exclusively by people who are or were part of it at some point and he seems like a good fit."

"With all due respect, his brother joined the ANBU but now he's no longer a part of it he seems way better mentally speaking."

"Itachi joined the ANBU when he was young and between him and Sasuke, I think Sasuke is more suited. Eventually I'll make Itachi a jounin sensei." Kakashi looked back at Sasuke's file.

"I can't deny out of his promotion, he'd be the most suited for the ANBU, but officially he is still a genin and this might create tensions with Naruto."

"Well, it's a good thing ANBU operatives' identities are secret. He'd be forbidden to tell anyone."

"Hum...is there another reason Tsunade-sama?" She sighed.

"There is. Truth be told, I doubt your team will handle Orochimaru in their mission. Jiraya told me the time for him to change body will be soon and he might try to abduct Sasuke again."

"I see, so making Sasuke an ANBU would mean he'd be sent to deal with Orochimaru?" Tsunade nodded.

"I am not particularly fond of this method, but Orochimaru's interest in him might be the key to deal with him once and for all. Sasuke would also directly be under my orders and I'd be able to test his loyalty. He did good with the Kiri Resistance and then in Kiri and on the road, but he has to work to get the trust he lost when he defected."

"I see."

It was normal for Sasuke not to be trusted immediately. He had not worked in the village in years after all, and even if Kakashi believed his student no longer had such intents, the Hokage was in her right to test him.

It didn't mean he had to like it though. He had had his fair share of secrets and darkness in the ANBU and saw how it almost swallowed Itachi to the point of no return.

Getting rid of Shimura Danzou was the best thing the Sandaime had done since Minato passed away.

"Is that why you said I'd team up with Sasuke and Akane? You want us to handle Orochimaru?"

"When the time comes, yes. Jiraya agrees as well."

"Very well then. Sasuke has the skills for ANBU anyway." Tsunade nodded.

"I might ask you to go back to your ANBU days when that mission comes and have Akane be a part of it also, do you think she'll handle it?"

Kakashi remembered how drunk she had been just two days before.

"If it's only one mission and I'm here it should be okay, I can handle her."

"Alright. Please find Sasuke and tell him to come to my office tomorrow at eight o'clock sharp. Dismissed."

"What's the deal with your shoulder Sasuke?" I asked him with a frown as we were walking in Konoha. He had been scratching it since I met up with him.

"Nothing, just a training accident." I didn't believe it but let it slide. "You have to go to the Hyuugas then?"

"Yes, I have work to do. Depending on how it goes, I might ask for your help. Well, depends if Hiashi-san agrees or not because of the whole..." I showed him from head to toe with my hand. "Uchiha situation." He scoffed. "It's hard to overlook it now the symbol is on your back."

"All clans wear the symbol on their back."

"I know, it's a Konoha thing."

"Did you give the picture to your mom by the way?"

"Yes, she almost cried because she couldn't get anything when she fled. Now the picture is on the wall of the living-room next to Fubuki's." I raised a brow when I spotted a blond kunoichi walking in front of us. "Hey Temari!" She stopped in her tracks and turned her head to us. I jogged to her. "It's starting?"

"Yes, but that guy has been walking behind me ever since I arrived!" I looked behind her. Shikamaru was taking his sweet time.

"Your mood is not pleasant at all troublesome woman." Temari's brow twitch and from the way her fingers moved, I knew she was dying to take her fan. He nodded toward us as a greeting and walked past Temari. "And now you're falling behind. The Hokage wanted to see you right when you got here."

"I know that," she growled at Shikamaru.

"Wanna hang out together later?" I asked her and she nodded, pointing a disdainful thumb at Shikamaru.

"I'm not staying non-stop with that guy." She ran up to him. "See you later Akane!"

"See ya!" I smirked at the two becoming smaller and smaller in the distance.

Those two were cute already.

Hey! Thanks for reading and leave a review to tell me what you thought of this chapter! Thanks to garneauyoann for the review!

Bye!