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: 22

Naruto, Sasuke: 16

Shisui: 25

Kakashi: 30

"Are you sleeping?" It was dark in my room. Itachi was on his back and I was on my side, facing him but I couldn't sleep.

I felt him move and an arm was wrapped around my waist.

"Bothered by what he said?" Itachi whispered sleepily.

"I think he implied something just before I left his cell, it…" I sighed and put my hands on his chest. "Say, what's your dream?"

"My dream?" he repeated, and although I couldn't see his face in the dark, I knew he was surprised. "What's bringing that up?"

"Dad...talked about peace in the world and it reminded me of…" I trailed off and sighed. "It's just…"

"Reminded you of me before?" he finished for me. I hummed. "I really wish there would finally be peace one day, I really do."

"How do you think you'll achieve that?" He put his chin on my head in silence.

"I've secretly wanted to be Hokage since I was a child," he whispered almost as if he was ashamed of it. "But from how my clan was treated, I figured it wouldn't happen."

"You'll be a great Hokage Itachi," I murmured to him. "Hell, I'm sure Kakashi would let you have this hat without putting up a fight."

"Probably yes." His warm hand slipped under my shirt to rest on my lower back.

"But then wouldn't you just make peace in Konoha only? Wouldn't that be the priority over…"

"What did your father say?"

"He said the peace of one village is the despair of another, and that the despair of one population will create conflicts. That the absence of conflicts was not necessarily peace and I agree. The Akatsuki was founded by war orphans who wanted to better the world following Jiraya-san's teachings, yet look what happened. Even before...the villages were at peace with each other but there were still minor conflicts sparking issues between countries, and daimyos are…" I sighed and leaned my forehead against his chest. "Sorry for waking you up for this."

"It's okay, it's better to talk about these things than keeping them to yourself." He was talking from experience huh. "You're making valid points anyway. Even if shinobi villages came to make peace among themselves, there is no telling countries won't have issues and it's up to us to deal with those."

"And ultimately sacrifices will have to be made." I pursed my lips. "I hate to admit it, but I guess people being sacrificed is unavoidable." He kissed the top of my head.

"Since when have you had these thoughts?"

"Since I was a kid really."

"Really?"

"Don't sound so surprised, just because I'm not running away from my village since I'm Yuurei doesn't mean I haven't deeply thought about stuff like that before. Between the age of eleven and thirteen I was thrown in gruesome missions and training, sure, but the resentment people had against my dad for leaving was directed at me, just like Yagura's bloody reign. Ironically, because I had a kekkai genkai some people thought I would...I don't know, show we were not all bad? That and being an Uzumaki meant I would somehow obviously be well-versed with jinchuriki, but at the time apart from running away from Yagura…"

"It's a lot of pressure for someone who didn't even want to be a kunoichi."

"Yeah. I bet you can relate to that."

"I can," he agreed quietly. "You've been thinking about the unfairness of the world for a long time."

"Hum...when it keeps taking away the people you love, it's hard not to think about it."

"So you want to change it."

"Well, first time around I couldn't care less and enjoyed the results of people's sacrifices, so I'm contributing you know? And I can't let Naru and Sasuke have all the credit." He chuckled.

"They'd never let you live it down." I raised my head to him.

"The same goes for you, don't let them get all the credit future Hokage."

"You really think I could?" I frowned. He was...unsure.

"Of course, you've got the fighting skills down. You know your village, the history of the world well enough to not repeat the mistakes of the past and as the Uchiha heir you're more than aware of how Konoha works. You've also spent time in the ANBU, so what's happening behind the scenes wouldn't be a surprise when you take the hat. Really, the only thing Kakashi has on you is that he's a war veteran and well, you were on leave for a while but it's not as if you were a regular shinobi. The most important is that you want to solve issues by talking first, that's a quality every leader needs. I've dealt with enough Kage in my life to recognize a potential one. The only issue would be your responsibilities to your clan as well, it would make you hella busy, but you'd be able to brag to Naruto." He hugged me close against his chest and I closed my eyes, listening to his heartbeat.

"If I can brag then I definitely should try harder." I chuckled as he nuzzled against me. "Then what would you do?"

"Hum...I've never really thought about post-Akatsuki but...I'd contribute as I could I guess? I don't know, maybe I'd travel again, try to discover more about the Uzumakis?" I pursed my lips. "But...traveling really allows you to discover about other cultures, their stories and their way of living and it widens your own way of viewing things. It's what happened to Sasuke when he was here and then when we were on the road. I'm sure there are people like me, like us, in other nations as well." I grinned. "How cool would it be if I created a secret society based on the philosophy of the shinobi and how where we're from doesn't matter in the end? Then bam, we appear like magic when we're needed." He chuckled against my head.

"I can picture you doing that."

"And I'd be like 'don't talk to me like that I know the Hokage, I've seen him naked'."

"You're the worst."

"Well, if I wasn't you wouldn't have stuck around to tell me all of the time." He pinched my hip. "Aouch?" Silence engulfed us. I could only hear his heart beating and his soft breathing.

"I have hope," he whispered. "For the future, I have hope. You saw it once, I'm sure we can make an even better one."

"That's the plan." I yawned. "Now I'm sleepy. Thanks for the talk."

"Whenever you want."

I woke up first the next morning, surrounded by Itachi's warmth. He had not let go of me. His arms were around my waist, his cheek on my head and one of his leg was even wrapped around mine. I muffled a laugh at how cute he was. He was a big cuddle-lover, especially in bed. I was not used to that, it used to be a rare, post-sex occurrence.

However, it could, would, quickly be overwhelming. Especially in the summer in Konoha. Itachi was hot, temperature-wise hot, I get hot easily, in summer I'd suffocate quickly. But after what...it'd been a week since I was released from the hospital? Well, the overflow of affection and need of constantly be with and touch the other was slowly calming down. At least on my side.

I kissed his collarbone and left a trail of kisses up until his jaw, my hand slipping under his shirt to fondle his chest. After a few seconds, his hand was on my butt and it was all I needed to know he was awake.

Itachi was an ass-man, it was certain.

"Morning," he said, his voice muffled by my hair.

"Morning you." He turned to be on his back, pulling me on top of him. I kissed him immediately. "Enjoying your morning so far?"

"I like you more than an alarm-clock," he replied with a small smile, eyes still sleepy. "Slept well?"

"Yes, that talk really was efficient."

"Good to know," he whispered against my lips before I kissed him again.

He removed my shirt quickly, warm hands fondling my breasts. I bit back a moan against his mouth, opting to lower a hand to his crotch. I didn't bother teasing over his pants and underwear, enjoying a lot more feeling him gasping against me when I took his cock in my hand, determined to give him a hand job. He bucked his hips and tried to pin me to the bed, but I resisted.

"Oh no, I know you love giving but you're gonna learn to receive that you want it or not," I whispered to him with a teasing smile. His cheeks were red already.

"Bossy," he mumbled quietly. I chuckled when he grabbed my hips, his nails digging in my flesh.

Before we could finish, someone rang the bell. Itachi looked away from me and I pouted.

"It's nothing," I told him, kissing his neck. "Ignore it…" He gasped when my thumb rubbed his tip.

"It's...it's insistent…" he whispered when the bell wouldn't stop. He threw his head back in the pillow when my hand moved faster.

I grinned when he came. Except for actual sex, he was not very loud.

Annoying.

"I'll make you louder," I promised him with a satisfied gaze, kissing his nose. He was panting.

I got up, put my shirt back on and washed my hands in the kitchen.

"UZU!" I frowned, drying my hands. It was Dai. I looked down at myself.

I was decent. I went to the door and opened it.

"Dai, wha…" He was panting and sweating. "You ran here?"

"He's awake!" I blinked. "Haku, he's…" I widened my eyes. "He woke up in the night, he's…"

"Let me get dressed." He nodded hastily. "Get some water."

"Thanks." I ran back in my room.

I threw my clothes on the floor, already getting new ones in my closet. Itachi watched me without a word. Once I was ready, I tied my hair, too lazy to brush it.

"I'm going to the hospital." He frowned. "Haku's awake." He blinked in surprise.

"That's great." I nodded hastily.

"Well well well, how scandalous," a voice taunted at the door. Dai looked at Itachi, then me, and clapped slowly. "Who would have thou…"

"Oh come on, I'm sure Sasuke told you already!"

"Of course he did, we both had money on the li…" He shut his mouth when Itachi looked at him with a frown. I was gaping.

"You're a part of the bet as well!?" He nodded sheepishly. "Who else is on it?"

"Nob…"

"Dai, I know you."

"Utakata and Aneki bet on Itachi too. Karin bet on Shisui. Mangetsu had bet on you being too indecisive to choose one so…" He gave my ceiling the finger. "He lost. Suigetsu and Chōjurō didn't have enough intel to make a choice. Haku bet on whoever would pass his test. Naoto bet on the most patient one." I was torn between anger, shock or just awe at them hiding it from me for so long. "Of course, Kimou never was a part of the bet for obvious reason, Zabuza-san used to say that he doubted an Uchiha would see you like that."

"Screw him," I hissed. "Then basically, what Sasuke was doing at the hideout when I was spying on Yagura was taking bets on my love life!?" Dai nodded. "Oh my God, the little shit! I keep him from running straight to a pedophile and that's how he thanks me!?" I looked down at Itachi. "Your brother's dead meat."

"When he came for eighteen months he told me you bet too Uzu," Dai said with a frown. I froze. "You bet you wouldn't be with anyone or something." Itachi narrowed his eyes at me and I looked away.

"We should go," I told my teammate. Itachi grabbed my wrist.

"Who else placed bets?"

"Original Team Seven. Maybe it expanded to Yamato-senpai and Sai now. Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if our mothers had placed bets too," I replied quickly. He released me and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Naruto and Kakashi bet on Shisui. I'm pretty sure it's a big reason why Naruto didn't like us living together."

"Unbelievable," he muttered.

"Hey man, you've got a lot of votes for you!" Dai reminded him. "I mean, sure three years ago you got sick, but when you went after Uzu to save her? Damn, we were already planing on what to do with the money!" Dai pursed his lips at the look he received. "Anyway Uzu, we should go."

"Yeah, we should." Dai grinned at us and showed us with his finger.

"No goodbye kiss? Just pretend I'm not here." I rolled my eyes and grabbed his arm when I walked past him. "Come on!"

"It's not a show."

I ran all the way to Haku's door. I took a deep breath once in front of it and knocked.

"Come in." I gulped at the voice and opened the door

"Hey Hak…" He looked at me tiredly. He had dark circles under his eyes, he had put his long black hair in a low bun and was pale but…

"Uzu-nee…" I bit my bottom lip with my jagged teeth, tears gathering at the corners of my eyes. His eyes softened. "Sorry for worrying you." I used my sleeve to wipe my eyes and stomped to him. I sat down next to his legs on his bed and hugged him.

"I'm sorry for being too late. I'm sorry for putting you through this. Sor…" He hugged me back.

"Utakata-senpai told me you blamed yourself. It's okay."

"No it's not!" I screamed, pulling him back. "You could have died and…"

"But I didn't. The one manipulating the Fourth, he wanted to kill me to 'teach you a lesson' but I used the Ice Release to save myself." He smiled sheepishly. "I...kind of did the same thing you did in Konoha and didn't manage to stop myself." He furrowed his brows. "But...I think that man has a weird obsession with you."

"Yeah, I figured that much."

"I mean, it's deeper than just your skills." I sighed.

"I know. Do...do you know how long you've been…" He clenched his jaw.

"Six, almost seven months, right?" I nodded. "Did I miss a lot?"

"I was out of action for months because I...went through a rough phase." He frowned and I waved him off. "But I'm better now. Everyone in Konoha really helped. Huh...I'm engaged to Sasuke, so that's weird."

"You what?"

"Arranged marriage, we're still looking for a way to break it off but it's pretty official. I worked at the Konoha Police Force for a while, it was...kind of nice and kind of boring. Oh, and my dad is locked up in the ANBU HQ because with Naruto we dealt with him, even if I had that seal on my brain that made me fight against Konoha and stab Itachi in the chest." He just...stared. I pursed my lips. "Sensei told me Fubuki was driving her nuts because he climbs on everything and anything." He soured.

"I missed a lot."

"I'm sure Karin will be glad to fill you in on what you missed." He grimaced. "What?"

"She's going to kill me for what I did."

"Yeah, probably, especially knowing Suigetsu got poisoned when he spotted the Akatsuki dragging you." He widened his eyes. "He's okay, I was sent as back-up with Naruto, Shisui, Sakura, Sasuke and Juugo."

"Juugo?"

"You'll meet him one day." I cupped his face. "Do you need anything? Water or food? How are you feeling?"

"Alone," he whispered with a guilty gaze. "Isobu's gone." I put my hand in his hair. "I promised him that I'd save him if I survived."

"And you will. So will I." I hugged him again. "The Akatsuki won't win, I can promise you that." I felt him nodding.

"He really...is invested in you for some reasons."

"I know, I realized when he decided to tell me I would die facing Dad." Haku moved back and I sighed. "He...we had a talk before we went to the Eien Hansen. He...he even removed his mask."

"That's an important detail." I jumped and looked above my shoulder. Itachi was staring sternly at me. "One you should have mentioned." Huh, I wrote down it was Obito in the diaries, so he knew.

"I did, in my reports." He was still not happy.

Because I didn't tell him in particular.

"Forgot?" I whispered with a nervous smile. He glared briefly before focusing on Haku.

They respected each other. They never really spent much time together, but they got along.

"It's good to see you awake Haku."

"Thank you Itachi-san." He raised a brow. "If I may, why are you here?"

"Akane was in the hospital not so long ago and I stayed back." Haku shot me a quick look.

I knew he was finding that weird, that Sasuke would have been a more logical choice.

I looked away, pretending not to see him.

"Are you okay Uzu-nee?"

"Oh yeah, just a broken arm, broken leg...a few holes in the chest...concussion…" Actually...it was nice oji-chan had half the Kyuubi and I blew off Mom's seal keeping its chakra at bay when I broke Dad's seal on my mind.

I would have died otherwise.

"You died again, didn't you?" he asked me with a deadpan. I sweat dropped.

"Just...just a little you know?" He stared. "It wasn't that bad, I mean Dai and Sakura were there and Itachi did CPR before I could drown and…" He just stared. "I never really stay dead anyway you know so…"

"So because you 'never stay dead' you should keep dying for a few minutes?" I gulped.

I had forgotten how...stern he could be about people's well-being.

"It is ironic from the person who kept telling me I should care more about my life," he continued. I glared at Itachi when he smirked, clearly enjoying me being scolding like a five-year-old.

"It's not the sa…" He raised a brow, silently daring me to finish my sentence. "I know, I'm reckless and don't think about what my actions can do to my loved ones, I'm inconsiderate that way and I'm ashamed of the way I think of my own value."

Itachi blinked, clearly stunned and Haku smiled softly, patting me on the head. I melted and hugged him around the neck, rubbing my cheek against him.

"You're so cute~!"

"I'm nineteen."

"Still!" Yep, Itachi was at a loss. Haku sighed, just enduring.

The door was brutally opened and a red-faced Karin was there, followed by Suigetsu and Chōjūrō. I let go of Haku and stood up just before Karin was choking him to death.

"You're not allowed to do that ever again!" she yelled at him.

"Yes Ma'am," he replied like he could.

I ruffled Suigetsu's and Chōjūrō's hair on my way out.

I was grinning like an idiot in the hallway.

"When I tell you you're reckless you get mad but when Haku does it you just admit your behavior is wrong?" he asked me, bemused.

"Well yes, why?" I replied casually. He pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Unless it's Haku, nobody can get through to you?"

"Not true. Kakashi can." He sighed.

"So you talked to him?"

"Let's talk about this more in private, okay?"

"Hn." I raised a brow at the kid walking our way. A toddler, with spiky black hair and emerald eyes. I crouched and smiled at him. Itachi looked at me strangely. "Akane?" The toddler perked up at that and started running, flailing his clenched fists by his side.

I caught them easily with a laugh when he launched himself at me and lifted him up easily.

"Aunty!" the toddler greeted me.

"Hello Fubu-chan!" He puffed his cheeks and struggled in my grasp but I just kept him against my hip.

Itachi was so confused.

"Ah Itachi, meet Sasuke's worst nightmare: Terumi Fubuki." He blinked and frowned.

"I was not aware the Mizukage had a son."

"Yeah, it's kind of secret." I nuzzled my nose against Fubuki's. "Come on, say hello to Uncle Itachi." Itachi furrowed his brows.

"That's not…" He stopped himself from talking when Fubuki looked at him with big, curious eyes.

"Hello Uncle Itachi!" Fubuki was adorable, anyone would melt in front of him. "You strong too?"

"Incredibly so," I whispered in his ear. He gaped at Itachi.

"Woowww!" Itachi smiled softly.

"I'm sure you'll be strong too one day." Fubuki nodded enthusiastically.

"Yes, like Mommy!"

"There you are." I looked at sensei, who sighed in relief. "Don't run off when I'm talking to someone." Fubuki looked at me with a frown.

"Too long," he mumbled. I snickered and put him down.

A knife fell from under his shirt.

"What did I say about knives?" sensei asked him sternly, fists on her hips. He puffed his cheeks.

"No touchin'."

"Yes." She sighed and looked at us. "I received a message from Konoha, come to my office around five." We nodded and she left with her son.

I was surprised he recognized me.

Itachi looked thoughtful.

"What?"

"Nothing, it's just weird to see you with a toddler."

"What do you mean?" I asked, slightly concerned. He shook his head.

"No, not about about that, just you and your personality interacting with a toddler. It's cute." I blushed.

"Well kids are cute at that age, then they grow up. I mean, look at Naruto and Sasuke. They were adorable and then they grew up."

"Time doesn't stop."

"I beg to differ, my dad didn't age in years." He rolled his eyes and I grinned.

"You know what I mean."

"I'm right and you're wrong?" He slapped the back of my head.

"Let's go home, you have things to explain." I lowered my head and followed him.

I slouched in the couch when we were there.

"I really forgot, and it's entirely your fault if I did."

"I'll accept that," he said with a little smugness. He pushed my legs from the couch so he could sit. I put them on his legs. His hands landed on my calves, distractedly massaging them. "Kakashi-san doesn't know his identity, does he?"

"I told him everything when he kept me from defecting, it...wasn't my main priority and then…" I sighed. "It scarred him, I don't know how to bring that up. I can't exactly tell him 'Oh hey Kakashi, remember Obito? Yeah well he didn't die, saw Rin die and went batshit crazy. He caused the Nine-Tails attack and oh wait, he also controlled Yagura so basically, I turned into a murdered because of him!'". I sighed, burying my face in a cushion. "It's not that easy."

"I never said it was, but he deserves to know. If you have proofs then you have to tell him." I whined and he clenched my calf harder. "I'm serious Akane, Kakashi-san's sharingan is the key to counter Obito's, they're still connected. Time-space techniques, how do they work?"

"Basically like summoning techniques, you leave this dimension and travel through another one to reappear in this one."

"So we've had the solution to fight his Mangekyou from the beginning." I was so glad for the seals around my place. I didn't want anyone listening on this conversation.

Dad said Zetsu...I couldn't let that one know. He was old, he must know what Yuureis were. Maybe he suspected I was one as well.

"We have proofs as well…"

"How so?" I pulled my face from the cushion.

"Yagura...my seal can go through a jinchuriki's, right?" He hummed in agreement. "Well, it...made cracks in Yagura's and it was enough for him to...write things in a diary. Just words but...they're enough. Obito chose Kiri to have his revenge and made sure Yagura, as the Mizukage and Sanbi jinchuriki, would pay dearly. Point is, Yagura caught a few things, wrote them down then left his diary at Naoto's when he felt...it was enough. That and his last mission order." I sighed and turned around, now on my back. "Anyway, Tsunade-san made copies of it."

"What kind of words are we talking about?"

"Kyuubi, Konoha, Madara, Akatsuki, Rin…" He pursed his lips.

"It's more than enough."

"That and how Yagura knew exactly how to train me. I left Kiri when I was one, even if he knew my parents there was no way he would have known my affinities for chakra related seals."

"The Yondaime may have told him long ago."

"Yep, he told me the same." Itachi gulped. "I told you already I can open or close the connection when I want. They didn't spy on us having sex."

"It still is disturbing?" I propped myself on my elbows.

"Then what, celibacy?"

"No," he refused immediately and I chuckled. "Back to our topic, what did Obito tell you?"

"Just...just that I was going to die. He grabbed my wrist too before I left to make sure I knew." Itachi frowned. I shrugged. "Yeah, I know, weird, but ultimately, he let me go because Dad was a thorn in his side and I would get rid of him." I fell back in the couch, my hands crossed on my stomach. "He's wary of Dad, that much was obvious. Dad…"

"Did he tell you something?"

"He told me to look into the Uchihas' history." Itachi blinked. "The Senjus' is out of question and the Uzumakis' library is in the water, seals keeping anyone from getting too curious." I took a deep breath. "He knows about Kaguya though, and the legend about Rikudo Sennin on some levels. A few things were wrong or slightly different from what happened but...The Eien Hansen. It would have absorbed all chakra and sent it in space in a powerful blast. It must have been aimed at the moon, where Juubi's body was sealed and if the chakra had touched it…" Itachi had a stern, serious face.

"I see. You think Zetsu could have manipulated your clan to create such weapon?" I nodded.

"Maybe like a back-up plan?"

"But then the weapons ended up being destroyed then forgotten with the destruction of Uzushio." He tapped his fingers against my leg. "Maybe it wasn't Obito's idea to free your dad, maybe it was his."

"How would he have known Dad could…"

"Maybe he spied on what happened that day. You said that...Rin was a bait for Obito, right?" I nodded. "The Sanbi's been in Kiri's possession for a long time."

"Yeah, Madara wa…" I paled when I realized where he was going. "Then maybe Dad had been spotted for a long time."

"A failed plan," Itachi finished for me. I exhaled slowly.

"That's...that's fucked up, it…" He grabbed my hands and pulled me in a sitting position.

"Hey, look at me." I did, with a defeated expression but I did. "You've been making small move after small move since you're here, right?" I nodded and he kissed my knuckles. "Then we'll keep doing that. Obito and Pain are both the next targets, and your Pupil Seal with be useful. Kakashi-san needs to know and once it's done, we'll figure how to counter Obito's Mangekyou." I nodded. "If we defeat them soon enough, then there won't be any war or...resurrected ancestor."

"There's this stone tablet thing too to check…"

"Right. But one thing at a time, okay?" I nodded with a small smile. He smiled back. "Good." He kissed me.

"I love your brain as much as it pisses me off 'tachi," I whispered against his lips and he laughed.

It was good he knew now. Less weight on my shoulders.

Hey! Thanks for reading and leave a review to tell me what you thought of this chapter! Thanks to Masaya Daiji, reptoholic and Gaia N. Terra for the reviews!

Bye!