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: 16

Shisui: 25

Kakashi: 30

I stared, unfazed, at the explosions against my ice. Of course, it wasn't broken and the group of civilians behind me was terrified but safe. I lowered my arms, the ice disappearing in the air, and looked on my right.

"Hey, you guys are genin?" I asked them. They were still stunned by the sudden attack but the boy in the middle suddenly pointed his finger at me.

"You're Naruto-nii's sister!" I blinked at him, a man's face I used to know now turning into that kid.

"You're Konohamaru," I whispered. He nodded. "Then Moegi, and Udon, right?" They nodded. "Good, guys, what are the procedures to follow during an attack here? I don't know them."

"The Police Force is supposed to be escorting civilians to safety. Genin like use are supposed to help them so that some police officers can go and help the main shinobi unit." I nodded. Those three went on becoming jounin.

I was more familiar with Konohamaru, but I had no real idea of what any of them could do.

"Where's your sensei?"

"Ebisu-sensei is helping in the main street," Udon told me.

I looked up. Those shinobi, whoever they were, were flying and shooting kunai, regular one or with explosive tags. Basically, apart from defense there was not much we could do. Even if Sasuke and Sai were to take the fights to them in the sky, they wouldn't be able to fight to their full potential with so many civilians down there. Unfortunately, the absence of the defensive barrier was probably for the same reason. If they were to use it, separating the opponents' forces, it would mean more risk for civilians here as shinobi might engage in real fights.

Now, we still could make them fly away.

"Take them with you," I told the genin, showing the civilians with a movement of my head. "Focus your efforts on gathering civilians, I'll act as a shield."

"Okay!" Moegi agreed whereas Konohamaru was about to say something. I followed their group, using ice to block incoming attacks.

We stopped when a building had a part of the upper levels blown up.

"They're falling!" a little girl screamed. I put an Hiraishin marker on the ground with my foot and threw a kunai between the two people falling.

I teleported to them, grabbed them and back to the ground we were.

"Sorry for the landing," I told them, not really sorry.

"There are still people inside!" Konohamaru yelled. He made a familiar hand seal. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Around ten Konohamarus ran in the building.

"Konohamaru!" I kept his teammates from following and made a clone myself. She ran in the building as well and I looked at the two genin.

"Come on."

"But Konohamaru..."

"It's fine, I sent a clone. She'll keep the building from collapsing until your friend is done playing hero on his own."

I followed them until we reached a street. There were two police officers, their back to us, controlling the flow of civilians going to the shelters. One of them turned around. An Uchiha. However, from the hairstyle of the one next to him, his colleague was a Nara.

There was recognition in the Uchiha's eyes when he saw me.

"Please join the civilians!" he yelled at us. They did and I stopped next to them. "Uzumaki-san, there is a situation in the southern district. Fugaku-taicho is having troubles there, go and see if you can help." I nodded.

When I was halfway there, I received my clone's memories. Good, Konohamaru handled the situation and was back with the others.

"Fugaku-san," I greeted him when I saw him. He looked at me briefly, arms folded, before looking back to the situation in front of him.

"Did someone tell you to come here?"

"Yes, an Uchiha officer handling civilians with a Nara officer near the Academy." He nodded wordlessly.

"Good, your Hiraishin is perfect for the situation at hands." I looked in front of him. An Inuzuka and an Akimichi were in front of the collapsed building. "The building collapsed before we could get there. Eisen confirmed there were around seven people who survived, Choki is keeping the building from falling entirely on them, but they're trapped. Hayato is there for the wounded. See if you can get inside." I nodded and joined the Akimichi.

"Is there an opening, even a small one?" He nodded, his expanded hands holding heavy pieces of concrete. There were a lot more piled on what he was holding.

"Below this big chunk of wood." I nodded and laid flat on my stomach when I spotted the opening. I tried to see something but couldn't.

"Hey, can anybody hear me!?" I yelled in the hole.

"Yes kunoichi-san!"

"Is there enough space for me to get in without endangering any of you?"

"Yes!" the same voice said. I made a clone, who went to Hayato, while I grabbed a piece of concrete. I put a marker on it and slipped it in the opening before teleporting to it.

It was basically a basement, half of it blocked by rubble. There were two unconscious people and I was greeted with a little boy with dirt on his face.

"Alright, you're good," I told the kid, touching his shoulder. I teleported him outside. "You're good, you're good," I continued until there was only once conscious person left. "Miss?"

"My fiance he..." she sobbed quietly. I touched her shoulder.

"I will take him outside too, but you first." She looked at me with tears in her blue eyes but nodded. I teleported her away.

I looked down at the two man. An old one and the girl's fiance. Both had blood on their body, the young man having his arm stuck in rubble. I sighed and put these two in stasis with a seal in order to move me safely.

I blinked when I received my clone's memory. She left a marker near the medic but she popped after a few words exchanged with the Inuzuka. He said his ninken and him had smelled a strong humidity and that the smell was getting stronger and stronger, hinting at a water leakage. I looked up. Above me was a lot of wood. A drop of water fell on my nose.

"Shit," I muttered going through hand seals. "Hyoton: Freezing Technique." I froze what I could of the water and made two ice pillars to support what was above us.

I slipped an arm from each guy on my shoulders, my arms around their waist, and teleported outside. I carefully put them in front of the medic, frowning at the young man's arm.

I would not describe it, but I briefly wondered if Obito's arm looked like that when he was crushed by that boulder. The poor guy would probably be amputated.

I tried to sense anyone left in the building, but nothing. A nod from the Inuzuka confirmed they were all out, so I stopped my Ice Released.

The rest of the building collapsed, Choki jumping back before being taken as well.

"They're leaving," Fugaku-san stated with a frown. I looked up, seeing small black dots disappearing in the sky.

I had just gone out with Kakashi for some yakiniku.

He ditched me in the middle of the street and left me to deal with civilians that douche.

This whole case was over in a matter of days as Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke and Hinata all went to deal with the heart of the problem while others handled the sea side.

Well, I never heard of the Land of the Sky before.

Unfortunately for me, I told that to Itachi and he decided to give me a long, detailed History lesson about them and what happened during the Second Shinobi War.

I stopped listening at some point.

I sighed.

"Akane-chan, stop sighing while I am putting makeup on your face," Mikoto-san scolded me, making sure my brows were perfect and wouldn't budge.

"Mikoto, I think your stress is stressing her out," Mom commented idly, a cup of tea in her hands.

"How do you want me to not stress? Everybody is going to be here but we all know Sasuke's and Akane's engagement is a..."

"A joke? A nightmare?" She pulled on a lock of loose curl.

"A loveless marriage that hopefully will not happen. Sasuke is not getting married before his brother."

"Mom, slow down on the tea or you'll spend the entire evening in the bathroom." She smiled sweetly at me and raised her cup.

"It's not tea honey." I blinked as she took another sip.

Huh…

The top half of my long hair was pulled in a bun, the other half resting down my back in loose auburn curls. Mikoto-san had lent me a pair of small diamond earrings. My whole face was covered in makeup, although it still looked natural. My lashes were long and curled now, and my lips painted in a deep red.

They matched my nails at least.

I was wearing a traditional kimono. It was a deep night blue but was rather...simple...even if it was heavy. I had the Uchiha fan on my back.

I would be dressed almost the same on my wedding day, just with something more to say 'newly wed' or something like that. And the kimono would be white as I would then 'take my husband's family's colors' or something like that.

"Hey Mikoto-san, can I make a request for the actual wedding?"

"What is it?"

"Instead of having three cups of sake to drink from, make them bottles."

"No."

"But..."

"You won't drown your despair in alcohol in public an hour after becoming 'Uchiha Akane'." I whined like a brat. "Akane..." she trailed off dangerously.

"Wow, where's the '-chan'?"

"If you have to call her 'Mother', you can say goodbye to that."

"Will I?"

"In public settings I guess," Mikoto-san replied casually. She stood up. "Come on, it's time."

A hall had been ranted. As it was not just an Uchiha event, but a...village event, it had been more publicized and all of that, so a hall had been ranted. While Mom and Mikoto-san were accompanying me, Fugaku-san and Itachi were with Sasuke.

"Jiraya-san is here," I noted quietly. We followed Mikoto-san behind the building to avoid the...guests.

When I met Sasuke's eyes, I knew it was real.

We...were actually doing this.

"Right on time," Fugaku-san greeted us. Him, Mom and Mikoto-san shared a few words and I walked up to the pair of siblings watching me.

"You look like a woman," Sasuke noted with fake surprise. I didn't bother reacting.

"She's dead inside," Itachi stated in a matter-of-fact tone. I nodded.

"I knew we were engaged, I just..."

"Didn't think we would go through with it?" I nodded and Sasuke grunted. "Tell me about it, I've had a nightmare of you cooking nothing but ramen." I rolled my eyes.

"I'll choke you to death with tomatoes."

"I wouldn't dream of a better death," he replied with a smug smirk.

I sighed and noticed Itachi staring at me in silence. I raised a brow at him and he shook his head.

"I know, I'm not the kind of woman you expected Sasuke to marry," I told him with a small smirk.

"You could say that yes." I gestured him to move closer to me with my finger. I raised my hand once my mouth was in front of his ear so that Sasuke couldn't hear us.

"My hair is not...pink enough?" Itachi chuckled and Sasuke frowned.

"What?"

"Nothing little brother." He poked him in the forehead. I automatically protected mine when he turned to me. "Scared?"

"I have makeup on. Don't ruin it." He smirked at little.

"Fine." We heard noise inside. "I'm afraid this freak show is about to start." He looked at Sasuke and I in sympathy. "Just...keep a blank face as long as you're in public."

He disappeared in the hall. Shortly after, we were in front of everyone, Fugaku-san and Mom in front of of us. Mikoto-san was by her husband's side.

"This night is a celebration for the new year that is to come, and there was no better time than to officially introduce my youngest son's, Sasuke, fiancee, Uzumaki Akane." Naruto shook his head next to Sakura as if he was praying to any God that existed to stop this.

Sakura...she was in love with Sasuke, but was fully aware it was an arranged, political marriage so…

"As part of the tradition, my son will gift his fiancee with a kanzashi before putting the engagement ring on her finger," Fugaku-san continued, but I was sure he hated being the center of attention, like us.

Sasuke accepted the black box his mother gave him and opened it. Inside was a beautiful kanzashi. The pin was heavy and probably in real gold. The flowers were purple fuji flowers made in some soft and luxurious fabric.

I tended to forget the Uchiha clan was one of the four noble clan in Konoha and was rich.

I titled my head toward Sasuke so that he could place the ornament in my hair. The little brat was now my height. Then, he accepted the ring his mother handed to him and took my left hand in his. I met his gaze.

I almost smirked at the deadpan, drowning the noise from the others in the hall. None of us could escape this.

The ring was beautiful. There was a diamond at the center, surrounded by smaller rubies, the band being in a beautiful silver.

Then the party, well 'party', truly started and I was stuck by Sasuke's sides to receive congratulations from clan heads. The whole thing was all for the show and I...kept smiling falsely and nodding, thanking them. Mikoto-san gave me a speech about the clan elders and from the five old geezers watching us like hawks, I knew who they were now.

"That's a surprise, really." I turned around and nodded in greeting at Temari.

"I wasn't aware you were invited as well."

"I'm the Kazekage's sister, so they thought inviting me would do some good for the relationship between Suna and Konoha."

"Makes sense." Sasuke pinched me on the rib area, but I didn't feel anything because of the thickness of my clothes. "What?"

"It's the that the Elders are looking at you two and they don't look please." Indeed, they sported your typical Uchiha arrogance with a dash of disdain.

"It's probably the fact two women are talking," Temari told him. "I have the same at home but Gaara put them back in their place." I rolled my eyes.

"Tell me about it, a woman head of the Resistance and Mizukage made a lot of old, conservative men talk." Sasuke looked at us.

"I had forgotten you were friends," he told me more than Temari, but the blond snickered.

"Well it's not as if we were out shopping every day."

...I wouldn't say no to spending money on useless stuff though right now…

"Anyway, congratulations on your engagement. I just thought you'd be more into guys your age." Oh Temari, don't speak too fast.

She walked away back to the Naras. How ironic was it knowing in a few years…

Huh?

My eyes caught Nara Shikaku's eyes for a moment and he nodded at me before looking at his wife. Was it...was it pity in his eyes?

I swallowed with difficulty, suddenly a lot more aware of everybody's whispers. I was used to having people talking about me but…

I was objectified and...I heard a few not so nice things from some Uchihas.

I knew very well some would call me 'whore' or things like that, but I didn't need to hear that. Some time passed where I just kept a blank face. It made me realize how...just plain weird the atmosphere was. Even Naruto noticed and whispered to me how weird it was when he came with Mom.

Sasuke elbowed me at some point.

"Go get some fresh air," he told me with a knowing look, showing me the door leading to the balcony. I smiled faintly at him.

"Thank you," I whispered to him. He grunted with a shrug and I left him.

I took a deep breath once outside. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed someone on the roof. I looked back and met Itachi's gaze.

"Do you mind some company?" I asked him, walking closer to the roof.

"I'm not responsible for your outfit." I still joined him, but I almost fell backward because of my clothes. Itachi was quick to react and grabbed my hand, pulling me safely next to him. "Don't die the night of your engagement."

"Heh, I should have thought of that before coming." He smiled faintly and went back to looking at the stars.

The moon was illuminating his face. Fair skin, long lashes, deep onyx eyes, so hard to read yet filled with warmth, a straight nose, thin lips, a chiseled jawline and long, raven hair that would put anyone to shame...Itachi really was a handsome man. Sasuke was handsome too, of course, but Itachi was just…maybe it was the tear-troughs...

"Something the matter?" he asked me without shooting me a glance.

"I think it's pretty obvious." I leaned on my hands, my knees against my chest and looked up at the sky.

"Your training won't be as strict as if you were engaged to me, you're lucky in a sense."

"I feel sorry for your future wife." He scoffed quietly.

"The prospect of putting someone in this situation doesn't make me want to marry anyone." I blinked at him and he shook his head. "It's just...I don't want anyone to erase who they are because of who I am."

"...then you could elope in secret."

"My mother would kill me," he said, shooting that idea down. "So, what was it?"

"What?"

"That made you go outside. There was something, wasn't there?" I sighed.

"You knew?"

"I know you."

"Right..." I swallowed. "You know, I'm used to people talking shit about me behind my back, I was used to it in Kiri, but I could...handle these issues physically if needed." I didn't miss how his nails grated against the tiles of the roof. "But here...I just met the Nara clan's Head's eyes and I...he looked at me with pity and I suddenly was way too aware of everyone talking. I knew some people would call me a whore or stuff like that but...I guess I didn't anticipate the pity some people who show me." I sighed again, but with exhaustion this time. "I can't go back to change this decision though."

"I'll fix it." I looked at him, surprised to find him staring back at me in determination. "I'll find a way to break that engagement. Neither you or Sasuke should be used like political pawns to satisfy old people's wishes and greed."

"I wish it was that easy."

"Hn." There was a comfortable silence. "Akane, can I...know something?"

"What?"

"Was I ever considered?" I tilted my head on my shoulder.

"I think you already know the answer Itachi." He looked down. "You're the heir, you...have the god-sent duty to have little Uchihas running around."

"'God-sent duty'?" I shrugged. "It's actually quite fitting."

"They're already bugging you?"

"Apparently, being twenty-one and single is a bad thing." I rolled my eyes. "They even suggested I got back with Izumi."

"Isn't she only half Uchiha?" He nodded. "Then does it mean they're okay with that?"

"They weren't, now they are. I think they want to secure an heir from me while the fights against the Akatsuki are still relatively mild. The moment we'll be faced against that Uchiha..." I shivered.

Ten months.

The Fourth Shinobi War was...before, it would have been ten months from now, Naruto turning seventeen on the battlefield with his dad. It was upon us.

"By the way," he said, pulling a small box from his traditional black kimono. "Here. Merry Christmas." I accepted the gift.

"But I didn't get you anything." He smiled warmly at me.

"I could move and finally be independent thanks to you, it's more than I could ask for." I pursed my lips.

It didn't seem like much though.

"Alright." I opened the box and widened my eyes.

It was a ruby pendant on a silver chain. It was nothing too noticeable but utterly beautiful and distinguished.

The thing was, the reason why my heart was pounding painfully in my chest was that I knew that necklace. I knew it very well.

I had worn it for more than a decade before gifting it to my daughter.

"You don't like it?" he asked me, failing to hide his disappointment.

"I love it," I denied immediately, closing the box before looking at him with furrowed brows. "But I...I don't know when to wear it, it's very...shit, it must have been expensive too..."

"Don't worry about that, if you like it it's all I care about," he said with a beautiful smile, his eyes sparkling almost.

I looked away when I felt a blush coming. Ever since we talked in his room, I…

I couldn't...feel this way toward him…I knew it wouldn't lead anywhere.

"Thank you Itachi." I took a deep breath and looked up at him. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Me?"

"Yes, well more your brain but..." I took a deep breath. "Would you help me train my Ice Release?" He blinked in confusion.

"Sure, but I'm not sure what I could help you with. It's not really usual in Konoha."

"I know, but you're smart, so maybe you can think of a way to use it I haven't thought of yet." He frowned a little.

"Well, I have been wondering if you could possibly do a few things with it but..." He nodded. "Sure, I'll help you. Let's just integrate that in our training."

"Thanks."

"We should go back inside before gossips start imagine us a secret affair." I shook my head at that. "And one last thing."

"Hum?"

"If they're talking this much it's because you're the prettiest woman tonight." I blinked and watched him almost ran back inside.

Well he didn't run but you'd have to be blind not to notice he was hurrying back inside.

I slowly put my cold hands on my cheeks.

They were burning in embarrassment.

I was a blushing mess because of Itachi.

He...he just said I was pretty. I…

I couldn't have a crush...no, feelings, for Itachi. He was out of my reach this time around and it would end up the same way as before, except I'd be the one going straight to my death. I was engaged to his brother too, I couldn't…

No, I couldn't. There was Shisui too, it would be too...awkward!

God damn it, Uchihas kept screwing with my head.

"Are you sure you want to be the first one?" Kou nodded.

"I can't let Hinata-sama do it because her Byakugan is needed to break the Bird Seal." Still, Hinata was concerned. He flashed her a smile. "There is no need to worry Hinata-sama."

"Yes..."

"You're aware of all the risks, right?" He nodded. "Well then, Urara-san, Sasuke, you can activate your dojutsu." They both did

Sasuke's Sharingan was there to back me up and make sure the seal's chakra and the Hyuuga's chakra worked well together. Urara-san, a Hyuuga medic, would guide me.

The seal was a variation of the Pupil Seal with some elements of the Bird Seal. Basically, I would draw it near Kou's eyes then...push it to the chakra pathway between his brain and his eyes. It was a complex seal, Minato had helped me a lot with it. We had to implant an indication for the seal to activate the moment the Byakugan was no longer fed its natural host's chakra, so if they were to die or if the Byakugan was stolen. We had to make sure the seal would automatically adapt to the person.

It was a necessity for the Branch Members as their brains would already be more or less damaged from the Bird Seal.

I had never so glad to have specialized in seals concerning the chakra network before, I doubted I would have succeeded otherwise. I had studied the Sharingan, Byakugan and Rinnegan so much as well to make sure my seal was safe…

I grabbed my brush and painted a seal on each side of Kou's eyes. Once this was done, I added a seal in the one I had just drawn, in order for his chakra to naturally filter the chakra in the seal so that it didn't hurt his optic nerves.

Once upon a time I would have relied on medical chakra but...well, Hashirama knew his stuff when it came to healing, and Tobirama knew his stuff about Fuinjutsu.

I put my brush down and made the tiger seal with my hands. The black ink shined blue. I could feel the chakra in the ink connecting with Kou's.

"Sasuke?" I called him, focusing on sensing the chakra.

"Kou-san's chakra is overwhelming the seal," he told me. I gritted my teeth and lowered the intensity.

Sasuke's voice interrupted my thoughts just when I felt the two chakra mixing together.

"Stabilized."

"Alright, next step. Kou, close your eyes. It may tickle a little." I made a few hand seals before putting the tip of two fingers between his brow.

Then, I pushed. The black ink melted in his skin and I felt it going deeper and deeper, flowing through his chakra pathways. I was going slowly of course, not wanting to mess up, but Kou's arms started to shake from the unpleasant feeling.

"A little bit more," Urara-san told me. "And stop." I did, quickly activating the seal for good.

There was not a sound for a few seconds and I removed my fingers. Kou was still sitting still.

"Kou?" I called him. He breathed out.

"I'm not dead."

"That's good." I put a blindfold around his eyes. "My job is done, now you will be taken care of by Urara-san for the next two weeks. If there is anything wrong, I'll come, but otherwise I will come in two weeks to see how the seal has adapted."

"You will keep the blindfold for the next two weeks Kou-kun, no exception. You will not use your eyes."

"I know," Kou replied, although I could hear the annoyance in his voice.

"Hinata, feel free to scold him if he does," I told the previous heiress, who nodded with a small, determined frown.

"In two weeks we'll know if there is any side effects?" Neji asked me. I nodded.

"I designed the seal so that the person and their chakra pathway had enough time to grow used to each other and mix, but I guess it is also 'aggressive' enough for any side effects to appear quickly." He nodded, not commenting on my use of the word 'aggressive'.

I had to if I wanted it to be done fast. I could have make it gentler but then who knew when potential side effects would have appeared. I didn't want it to slowly destroy its host.

"Our work today is done. I will report to Hiashi-san and then we're off." Hinata and Neji nodded.

"I'll take you to him," Neji told me.

Well, it was improvement.

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

Bye!