A.N. Sorry this chapter is so late! I sprained my wrist, which makes typing a real pain. But this chapter is out and we're heading into a fun section of the story!

NOW:

Jiraiya glared, arms crossed while his nose bled through the piece of cloth he'd shoved up his nostril.

Masuko was smirking, trying (and failing) to cover up her satisfaction as the old man bled and Bowl-Cut squirmed under his harsh gaze. Naruto had a similarly gleeful expression.

Tsukiko still held Sasuke, her eyes narrowed as she waited for Guy to explain himself. There were very few ways Sasuke could've known to come here, and she was very eager to know how that had come about.

The younger male rubbed the back of his head ruefully. "I guess I was a little over-enthusiastic." He laughed awkwardly. "You see, I—I was trying to hurry, and I couldn't see very clearly."

He held up a finger, doing his best to explain. "Using my headband to peer into the opening, all I could see were three sinister figures. I saw a chance to put an end to it and took it!"

Masuko snorted. "You thought a kick would end everything? Idiot."

Jiraiya's glare intensified. "You know what?!" He shouted, gesturing to his nose. "If this is your way of saying sorry, it stinks!"

"I'm sorry!" Guy exclaimed, holding up his hands. "But it was just a simple misunderstanding!"

"Simple-minded's more like it," the older man grumbled. "But never mind that now." He gestured to an almost too calm Tsukiko. "We've got to get Sasuke to the medical corps at once."

"Right." Guy turned to her, expression darkening. "Is be alright?"

"He's badly beaten up, his wrist is broken, and probably one of his ribs," Tsukiko answered evenly. "I managed to get to him before Itachi could use Tsukuyomi on him, but it was close."

Naruto tugged on her sleeve worriedly. "Tsukiko-Sensei, Sasuke is going to be alright though, isn't he?"

She hesitated, facade melting away in the face of Naruto's earnest expression. "Physically, yes." Sighing, she met Naruto's gaze with worried eyes. "But I'm worried about the effect all this will have on his mind. Things have been tough enough on him as it is…"

The genin clenched his jaw, eyes alight with anger. His frame shook, voice tight. "What the hell...what did Sasuke ever do to deserve this?" He turned to his teacher. "Okay, Pervy Sage. It's time for a new game plan, starting right now." He lowered his head. "I admit, I let those goons scare me a little. But that's over! No more running!"

He scowled at the four adults. "After all, it's me they're after, right? Well, okay! It's time I give 'em what they want!"

Tsukiko sighed. "It's not that easy, Naruto."

Jiraiya nodded. "Nice speech, kid. But I'm afraid you wouldn't stand a chance against them. You're not in the same league."

He continued as Naruto glowered, fists vibrating with the urge to punch something. "What would've happened if I hadn't shown up just now, huh? Or if Tsukiko hadn't made it in time? It took all my concentration just to get them away from you, and I still couldn't protect Sasuke."

"Is that right?!" Naruto held up his fist. "So what do you suggest? That we just do nothing?! Sitting here, waiting for them to hit us again? What kind of strategy is that?!"

"Just be quiet!" The Toad Sage roared, making his student freeze.

Naruto paused, then looked away.

"You haven't earned the right." Jiraiya leveled Naruto with a hard look, then turned to Tsukiko. "And I haven't either. I'm sorry, Tsukiko. I wanted to let Sasuke fight his own fight, and I thought they were trying to get me to protect him in place of Naruto. I should have intervened sooner."

"Yes," she agreed wearily, too emotionally and physically drained to be angry any longer. "You should've. If I weren't so tired, Jiraiya, I'd hit you much harder that Guy. Sasuke may be talented, but you clearly underestimated his drive, and Itachi's efficiency. If he'd been seriously injured…" A fleeting despair crossed her features. "I might've snapped for good."

Turning to Guy, the white-haired jounin cocked her head. "I'm not going to ask how he knew to come here. I've just decided for my own sanity that I don't want to know. But I need you to take him back to the Leaf. It's more important than ever that I get that Curse Mark removed. Before Orochimaru shows up again and dangles power over Sasuke's head."

She seemed to age several years as she spoke, raw with unvoiced emotions. "Why did this have to happen, now of all times?" Running her fingers through Sasuke's hair, she prayed that he would be alright until she returned.

Masuko studied the floor, her bitterness fading in the face of her friend's pain. 'She's had a really rough few days.' Her own feelings could wait.

Guy frowned, guilt eating at him for not catching the young Uchiha the moment he took off. "There's nothing worse than seeing your students fall in battle," he said finally. "It's like losing little pieces of your soul." He sighed heavily. "Kakashi isn't showing any signs of waking up, and now this…"

"What?!" Naruto broke his silence. "Kakashi-Sensei too?!"

The dark-haired jounin continued as if he hadn't heard, nearly lost in thought. "What we need is a supreme medical specialist. A master of healing arts, and soon."

Jiraiya nodded in agreement. "You're right. And the woman you're talking about is the one we've come to find."

Guy looked up, surprised. "Huh? The woman?"

Masuko tilted her head, purple bangs falling across her forehead. "What woman?"

"That's right…" Tsukiko looked up, feeling a flicker of hope. "Tsunade-Sensei! Maybe she could remove the Curse Mark!"

"Tsunade-Sensei?" Masuko shook her head. "How many senseis do you have, again?"

"She's another of the Legendary Sannin, like Orochimaru and I," Jiraiya explained, smirking at Guy's flabbergasted expression. "The Queen of Slugs and Elixirs. The Gambling Fool and Mistress of the Healing Arts—Lady Tsunade!"

There was a long pause, Jiraiya's announcement leaving the other shinobi in various stages of thought. Guy, amazed; Naruto, curious; Tsukiko, thoughtful; and Masuko, unimpressed.

She was the first to break the silence. "Hopefully this Tsunade can help Kakashi and Sasuke. I don't care about the other stuff."

The old man smiled. "Trust me, there's not much she can't fix. If anyone can help Kakashi, it's her."

Mollified, Masuko looked back at Tsukiko. "We'd better head out. Go ahead and give Sasuke to Bowl-Cut. He'll get him home."

Guy looked around, confused. "Wait, are you talking about me?"

Tsukiko nodded, carefully handing her charge over to the older man. "Please take care of him, Guy. Don't let anyone near him until Masuko gets back."

The purple-haired fighter nodded. "I'll make sure he stays in the hospital and rests. But until I get there, you're in charge."

Giving them a thumbs-up and his signature sparkling smile, he projected confidence. "Don't worry about me! Tsukiko, go with ease knowing that Sasuke will be safe. Lady Tsunade will have him good as new!"

Tsukiko smiled half-heartedly. 'I can only hope.'

THEN:

"Fugaku already told you, then."

Itachi listened expressionlessly as Danzo spoke, taking sidelong glances at the children kneeling before him. They were in the living room of the man, the leader of an organization separate from the Hokage's Anbu.

'The Foundation.'

The organization Danzo ruled over was, at least in name, affiliated with the Anbu, but it had a different command structure. The Foundation was an elite squad that recruited the finest in the village when they were still children, and faithfully carried out its work in the shadows, to maintain the peace from the darkness in the village.

Itachi himself had only learned all this after Danzo summoned him here. The majority of people in the village weren't even aware of the existence of The Foundation. Danzo had been Hiruzen's right-hand man since they were young, and most people thought of him as something like an administrative official, who managed the surface Anbu.

Tsukiko, who'd been a little wary about this meeting, was watching their host with interest. Getting invited to the man's house was unexpected, and she'd taken a moment before kneeling to observe their surroundings, already idly planning escape routes while noting the Anbu hidden in the ceiling.

Danzo's rooms were in the depths of the building at the foot of the mountain with the Hokage Monument—the faces of previous Hokage—carved into it, located due north of the village. On the surface, the building was for the storage of documents and materials related to administration. Most people normally never went anywhere near it. The back gates, where the members of the Anbu slipped out of the village on missions, were nearby.

It was a shadowed place, no light hitting it, even at midday. And this particular room was in the center of this dark place, so dark that although it was past noon, large candles burned in the four corners. In the flickering flames, Danzo appeared bewitchingly otherworldly, a statue of the Buddha in the middle of the night. A more cowardly person would no doubt cry and cower at just standing here like this.

So it was with equal interest that Danzo observed the two children, especially the girl. While Itachi strove to keep his face impassive, she was easier to read. He could perceive excitement and curiosity, but no trace of foolish ignorance. She knew exactly where she was and had some inking of whom she was dealing with, but was unafraid. Danzo smiled to himself. Tsukiko was the easier of the two to manipulate on first appearance, which would factor well into his plans.

But...his eyes noted the distance between him and the children, the subtle placing of Itachi closer to him an additional source of interest. The boy was either unconsciously protecting the girl, or they were so used to their attack strategy that they had simply fallen in line. That link could prove irritating in his attempts to cut the Gensogan from Uchiha control. He would have to proceed very carefully.

"So I assume you two have also agreed to join the Anbu." His voice broke the long silence like shattered glass.

"Yes," Itachi replied, briefly.

"Yes, sir," Tsukiko parroted.

The corners of Danzo's mouth turned up the slightest bit. His eye, so narrow it was nothing more than a line in his face, was focused intently on Itachi, then Tsukiko. His gaze seemed to catch every breath, every tremor of every hair; it was so sharp, it filled Itachi with horror. The boy almost felt like he was on the battlefield with an enemy.

But it was worse when that gaze switched over to Tsukiko, and he could feel the muscles in her body tense, though there was no outward sign. She was hiding her fear and discomfort well behind a mask of simple interest and desire to please, but he knew the truth. She was terrified to be here, scared that Danzo would turn her away while accepting him.

As if he'd agree to that. But if he had the choice, he would rather her not be near this man or this organization. The darkness around them seemed alive, grasping at him, already tainted, and Tsukiko, whose white hair reflected the dim candlelight and seemed the only source of good in the room.

"There's resistance from above at having an Uchiha in the Anbu."

Danzo's statement seemed to startle Tsukiko, the opposite of what she'd expected. The anger against the Uchiha had died down, on the surface at least, while she dealt with prejudice daily. Of course, she hadn't forgotten about it, but it had so faded from her world, more and more people making her distinct from the Uchiha, that it hadn't occurred to her that Itachi would be the one in question.

Itachi felt his heart clench painfully. Even here, that black darkness twisted up around him. The enmity of his father and the others at the clan meeting. The prejudice and discrimination of the village ninja toward the Uchihas. As long as he stayed in Konoha, he would be shrouded in darkness.

Which was exactly why...

It had to be the Anbu. Not because of his father's order. This was what Itachi himself wanted.

The Anbu was an elite squad that only accepted select ninja from the village. If he distinguished himself there, the idea of building an unshakeable position for himself as a pillar of the village moved out of the realm of dreams, and into reality.

To change this village, he would have to become important. If he became Hokage, he would be able to change everything. The first Hokage of the Uchiha clan…

It was a dream only Tsukiko knew of, and one he intended to share and include both her and Shisui in. Tsukiko was his link to the Village, Shisui to the Uchiha. He needed them both.

Bit by bit, he was starting to see clear signposts on the path he must walk in order to remove war from this world. First, he would join the Anbu. He would distinguish himself there, and establish himself as a central figure in the village.

After that, Hokage. He would become Hokage, and get rid of the village's prejudice toward the Uchihas.

And Itachi's dreams didn't stop there. Once he was Hokage, he would be able to meet regularly with people of influence from other places. If he worked together with Shinobi from other villages, he should be able to eliminate ninja rivalry. Ninja would disappear from the world. Once there were no more ninja, the daimyos would lose their means of making war. What lay beyond that was a world without war or fighting.

For Itachi's dreams, the Anbu, and becoming Hokage were nothing more than checkpoints. At least on the surface. He held no desire for personal honor or glory. But if he could elevate his Clan, bring Tsukiko firmly into the fold, and make sure no one else had to see another battlefield, then those steps were to be treasured and treated as overwhelmingly important.

First, step number one: join the Anbu. He had no time for the opposition of the village officials or members of the Anbu. He intended to overcome all resistance. Especially if giving in meant that Tsukiko would be separated from him. Itachi had no desire to leave her alone in the gnawing darkness.

"An achievement is required to show us whether or not you are suitable for the Anbu."

There. The opening he was waiting for.

"Do you mean a mission?"

Tsukiko watched intently, her eyes narrowing slightly. She would never agree to joining the Anbu without Itachi, never mind what others thought.

"Precisely." Danzo didn't move a muscle, frozen like a strange doll. "The both of you will participate in this test, to prove your readiness for the Anbu."

Itachi had also not moved. He felt like if he so much as twitched, Danzo would see right through to his true intentions. Tsukiko's expression relaxed slightly, but she met the older man's gaze unblinkingly, waiting for the next sentence.

A silent battle was unfolding between them.

"I have been put in charge of giving you that mission." Danzo's being in charge meant that it would be a dark mission, where the light of the sun did not reach.

Itachi and Tsukiko had long been long prepared for just such an eventuality, and simply stared resolutely at Danzo. She had no illusions about what joining this group would lead to. Death. And a lot of it. But if it meant that the world would eventually know peace, that Itachi's dreams came true, then she would follow orders and take out any enemy.

Danzo cut to the heart of the matter. "There is a man in the Anbu, age thirty-four. From your perspective, he is already an old ninja, I suppose," he said, in a monotone voice, perhaps sarcastic or joking.

Itachi didn't bother to react, but Tsukiko's lips twitched upward, her bright nature unable to match the stoicism of the two males.

After a period of flowing silence, Danzo started speaking once more. "Although not as great as your own, many have seen great talent in him, from the time he was a child. This man came up the ranks through genin and chunin without incident, and joined the Anbu at the same time as he was promoted to jounin. But —" he cut himself off, and the flames in the four corners flickered together. "Recently, we learned he has been colluding with Kirigakure."

'A traitor…' The general framework of the mission coalesced in Tsukiko's mind.

"Only a very few people in the village know of the man's collusion."

Itachi spoke up. "So the one to take care of him is me—"

"I'm not finished." The cold voice shot through him, and Tsukiko jaw tensed. "Those who belong to the Anbu do their utmost to keep the people of the village from learning of their affiliation. On the surface, this man lives an average life as a jounin. He has a wife and two children, ages three and one."

'What is Danzo trying to plant inside me?' Itachi asked in his heart. Was he trying to test the two somehow, by telling him that he had to kill someone with a family? If this speech was motivated by a suspicion that Itachi would be carried away by emotion, and hesitate to fulfill his mission, Danzo was seriously mistaken.

Tsukiko, for her part, felt sad at the idea. But she'd already killed enemies, and some of them presumably had families. The real anger in her heart came for the man, who despite knowing the consequences of betraying the Village, did so in spite of a family here. A family that would soon be without the father.

"Other than the fact that he was linked to Kirigakure, this man is capable, a great ninja, trusted by the Hokage himself." Danzo spat out the words "great ninja" too theatrically; they had no truth to them. Itachi knew that Danzo was being sarcastic. He had had several times more experience that the average eleven-year-old child, and understood these subtleties of emotion, even from someone so well guarded.

"But if we permit a traitor, the village will never be strong," Danzo continued.

"I understand," Itachi said, with a hint of irritation at Danzo's circuitous way of speaking. And then, as soon as the words were out, he regretted his own imprudence. Danzo had probably noticed that Itachi was annoyed, and also that he regretted it. Tsukiko certainly had, her effort not to look at him far more telling than if she had.

Despite knowing the man had seen through him like this, Itachi didn't let it show on his face. He felt, to an unpleasant degree, the unfathomable darkness of this man who walked in the shadows of Konoha.

"For someone as insightful as you, this tale is quite roundabout. Forgive me."

"Not at all."

"But it is all for the singular purpose of having you know this man."

Itachi swallowed the question of why he had to know the man.

Tsukiko waited patiently for the final order, already planning to be the one to land the killing blow. Itachi was clearly bothered by all the extra details, and she thought she could see what Danzo was doing. Itachi was too used to separating himself from people, too used to seeing them as an outsider looking in. But what about when he was confronted with someone he knew or cared about? Danzo was trying to make Itachi see this man, and end his life while knowing that it was another human who died.

She looked down, pondering what was better. On one hand, Itachi did always distance himself from others, subconsciously placing people either above him or as obstacles below him. But he did see those that he had hurt, every night. He might act like he didn't care, but Tsukiko was there for the nightmares. She knew what hurting these people did to him.

And it bothered her as well, but to a far lesser extent. She had felt pure malice and bloodlust before, and that made the difference.

"Kill this man," Danzo instructed.

"Understood," Itachi replied, immediately. Family or no, gifted ninja or not, a traitor was a traitor. This was his mission. Whether he wanted it or not.

"Yes, sir." Tsukiko spoke at the same time, wanting the dark man's attention back on her and away from Itachi.

Danzo stood up. "It is likely obvious at this point, but I am convinced that the place you both belong is the Anbu. You are permitted one additional comrade on this mission. I leave the selection of that person to you. Take whoever you trust the most." He went around the desk in front of him, and leisurely approached the children.

"Peace is actually a troublesome beast," he remarked, looking down at the boy's adult face and holding Itachi's gaze. "It is hard to produce, but maintaining it is next to impossible."

Itachi felt like Danzo was a tiny bit pleased with himself. Tsukiko's lips twitched again, as if she could read his mind.

"People eat food. While one person is finishing that day's supper, another is suffering somewhere, with nothing to eat. When one person gets something, someone somewhere loses something. Bit by bit, these trivial inequalities warp the days of rest."

The faces of the Uchiha clan gathered at Nakano Shrine popped up in the back of Itachi's mind. He clenched his teeth behind closed lips, unwilling to have the slightest change in his heart be noticed.

"There are always people suffering in the shadows of this fiction called peace. People burdened with darkness. Don't you think we should actually hold in contempt those who forget this fact, and simply gorge themselves on peace?"

Now it was Tsukiko's turn to hold back a biting remark. Those who only knew peace should be protected and admired. It was the ideal she wanted for the world, not a treat to be gorged on like a spoiled child.

A smell that made her want to vomit penetrated his nostrils. When she realized that it was Danzo's breath, Tsukiko silently endured it. Next to her Itachi's inhalations had lessened to slightly shallower breaths.

"Unless there is someone, someone totally free of emotion, to cut away the fraying bits on the edges of peace, this world will not see even a moment of tranquility." In other words, in this village, the "someone" shouldering this responsibility were the Anbu and The Foundation. "Previously, I said you were the bearer of bad luck."

Itachi remembered. The day of his graduation from the academy.

"Your life will be ever shadowed by chaos. That's why you need to become strong enough to cut out the root of that chaos yourself." His dark gaze moved to the girl. "And you seek a redemption that is not available in the light. Not when your past is so bloodied and murky with chaos and hatred. You too must cultivate strength."

"And you're saying the place where we can obtain that strength is the Anbu?" At that moment, Itachi hated the short distance between himself and Tsukiko, hated that someone so openly dark was so close to her.

The face covered in bandages on the right side nodded firmly. "They say a wise man only needs a word, but you only need half a word—no, the first letter. But that cleverness will make you both suffer."

"I'll suffer..." He repeated the words with a distinct emphasis. Tsukiko would not suffer in his plans. Of that, he would make sure.

"Stop trying to hide yourself in front of me," Danzo said, placing a hand on Itachi's shoulder. "The desire for true peace, wanting a world without war, is making you suffer."

The young boy's eyes widened slightly, and the physical discipline he had to issue to his limbs was staggering. Every part of him suddenly felt dirty, and he wanted nothing more than to snatch up his friend and run. "How did you—"

"I know everything about you two." Danzo opened his eye wide, revealing a darkness so deep it threatened to suck the children in. "The ones who can bring about true peace is one who has the deepest darkness inside them. I believe you can become those people." His wicked lips stretched out in a smile. "Come to me, Itachi Uchiha; Tsukiko Amaya."

Tsukiko felt terror take hold of her, her instincts screaming at her to run. The man was looking not at her, but through her, scanning through her abilities and weaknesses with greed.

Before Itachi had the time to even think, his instincts were turning his face away, as if trying to whisk him away from the darkness and its mysterious appeal.

But both children knew, as did the man before him, that they had no choice but to accept if they wanted to keep that grand, overachieving, perhaps naive dream alive.

And won't children do whatever they can to follow their dreams?

NOW:

Silently, the two women made their way out of the outpost town, taking the side road that would circle Tsukiko back towards her destination, in the heart of the Land of Fire. A fitting place.

It was a pleasant day, and the slight breeze refreshed the exhausted younger jounin. Her chakra was all but gone, and she was walking on sheer willpower alone. The thought of rest or relaxing felt physically painful, the knowledge that Sasuke could be taken from her at any moment far more pressing than her health.

She still felt numb, her heart heavy and shattered. It wasn't easy for her to conclusively say how she felt anymore. A few hours ago, she had felt love and hope. Now it was a mixture of sadness, betrayal, anger...but still not hate. As much as she'd wanted to feel that way earlier, it was like her heart hadn't caught up. There was no question about Itachi now, so why—?

Tsukiko turned to Masuko. "Can I ask you something?" Her hands tightened on the straps of her travel bag as she spoke. Even to herself, her voice sounded old and weary.

The purple-haired jounin's eyes softened as she watched the younger woman gather her thoughts. Her own chest still felt like someone had ripped a hole through it, so she could only imagine what Tsukiko was feeling. "Of course." The first words she'd spoken since they'd left Jiraiya and Naruto, too caught up in her own thoughts.

Kisame had changed. To say she was surprised was...an understatement. Even when following orders, he had always stayed true to certain principles. He'd never enjoyed the death of kids. But he'd seemed so excited to hurt Naruto, far more eager than the man she once knew.

It hurt. A lot. Like the universe was using her as a punching bag. Every good thing had to be balanced by something bad. Still, that was nothing compared to how Tsukiko was probably feeling.

The white-haired woman opened her mouth, and no words came out. She tried again, seemingly changing her mind. "Never mind. It's not important."

Before Masuko could protest the change of subject, she had already moved on.

"I think I'm fine from this point on." She turned away, trembling slightly. "Please, watch over Sasuke for me. I understand if you have a mission, or have to train the girls, but please, until Lady Tsunade or I get back, please take care of him."

Tsukiko would never beg, but there was a pleading tone that shot through the older woman's heart. Her friend, one of the few she'd ever had, was placing what was most important to her in Masuko's care. She was asking for help.

A strong hand landed on Tsukiko's shoulder, squeezing her reassuringly. "As long as I'm there, I swear on my life that Sasuke will be safe."

The white-haired jounin looked back, tears in her dark eyes. "Thank you, Masuko," she managed. "I'm not myself right now. I—I can't think straight. So I have to find the person I need to become. When I come back, things will be different."

Masuko grinned, fang flashing. "Of course. Go figure out your spooky eyes, and how to get that gross thing off Sasuke. I'll handle the rest." As she spoke, chakra poured out of her and into Tsukiko.

Black eyes widened as a blue eye winked mischievously. "You're not going to stop to sleep, right? At least for tonight, I imagine. So take my chakra to get you started. Don't want to find out that some random bandits finished you off because you were stupid." Her grin faded to a look of seriousness, and she watched Tsukiko with concerned eyes. "Take care of yourself, for all our sakes." The threat of an Anbu attack was still viable, and it would be suicide for Tsukiko to be completely unguarded.

Tsukiko nodded, taking a deep breath to calm herself. "I will. Thank you."

Not one for overly long goodbyes, Masuko left it at that. Nodding firmly at the determination she saw in the younger woman, she turned away. Heading back the way they came, she didn't look back. Masuko knew her job and how to do it, trusting Tsukiko to do the same.

Dark eyes watched the purple-haired woman until she disappeared into the trees.

'This is it. This is when I break my ties to the past, and focus on the future.'

THEN:

"Assassination, huh," Shisui murmured, as if to confirm the story Tsukiko and Itachi had just told him.

They were facing each other on top of the cliff that only they knew about, but Shisui made no move to look either of his friends in the eye. He kept his gaze focused on the ground to one side, as he quietly thought the situation over.

'This is not good.' The thought rose unbidden to his mind. Neither of them were ready for this, ready to kill someone who wore the same headband as they did. Someone who was their comrade.

Not that they didn't have the skills to do it. But they shouldn't have to.

Itachi seemed to think he was someone who lived in darkness, but Shisui knew better. Up to this point, he had fought against the evil thoughts of the clan, and believed in a world of peace. But this was an actual step into the lair of everything truly vile with their world, something Itachi knew. But he was going to sacrifice himself, and Tsukiko would dive in along with him.

Even now, she was subdued, as if her energy had been sucked away. Still, she smiled up at him, the admiration in her gaze both flattering and embarrassing. She and Itachi put him and his abilities on a level higher than he deserved.

"When he told us to take someone we trusted, we thought of you," Tsukiko said, as if it was an obvious decision.

"Mukai Kohinata, he's a pretty decent ninja," Shisui noted, having himself grown up into a leading ninja in Konoha, before falling into thought again.

'And a relatively trusted member of the village.' It brought a physical pain to his head to imagine one of his colleagues a traitor, and part of him wanted to doubt Danzo. But the man surely wanted Tsukiko and Itachi in his grasp, and wouldn't risk them on bad information. No, this information could be as trusted as much as Danzo's greed could be. In that way, it was almost ironclad.

Shisui almost laughed to himself. Eri had been rubbing off on him.

The slightly younger kunoichi was a member of the Anbu, but a member of the Hokage's personal intelligence-gathering unit. He'd met her when she'd supplied the surveillance for one of his missions, her no-nonsense attitude and strict air of command a stark contrast to her blunt attitude on missions and about certain high-ranking officials. It was a refreshing change from the strict and overly formal malice of his clan, and he found himself seeking her out more and more lately.

"We don't have any right to ask this of you, given that you're not connected with the Anbu in any way," Itachi said. "But we don't know anyone in the Anbu, and there's no one else we can trust with a mission like this."

"That's 'cause you're bad with people," Shisui said with a grin. Tsukiko puffed up her cheeks and Itachi shot him an unamused glare. But neither could refute the statement.

The older boy gathered his thoughts one last time before he explained what he knew. Mukai Kohinata was the name of the man Danzo had ordered assassinated. His family was distantly related to the Hyuga clan, but they had branched off several generations earlier, so they didn't have the Byakugan kekkei genkai.

"I can't believe he's secretly connected with Kirigakure," he muttered, moving to sit on the grass at the cliff's edge.

"What's he like?" Itachi asked, taking a seat as well. Tsukiko followed suit, flopping gracelessly between the two boys.

"He might be Anbu, but he's also a sharp jounin," Shisui answered with a long sigh. "He does regular missions, and the Hokage really trusts him. He was definitely following his orders as an Anbu when you were guarding the Daimyo."

So that meant Mukai had been there when they were attacked by the man in the mask. Tsukiko exchanged a glance with the younger Uchiha male. They both knew that other than Hatake Kakashi, the Anbu had been caught in the masked man's Genjutsu. And Mukai had been one of them.

"Do you know anything about him being susceptible to Genjutsu?" Itachi asked, leaning forward with interest.

"It's not like we go around telling each other our weaknesses, you know." Shisui's grin was teasing, but the younger male's face burned.

Naturally. Itachi regretted asking such a stupid question.

"But I do know what he's good at." Shisui lifted his face and looked at Itachi.

The light in his friend's eyes dispelled the shadow of unrest. From long years of opening up to each other, Itachi knew that this was proof of his friend's resolve. Shisui would help them.

"Mukai's good at physical techniques, Taijutsu."

Tsukiko nodded, feeling like that basically made sense. If you followed Mukai's bloodline back, you reached the Hyuga clan, one of the most distinguished families in Konohagakure. If you traced the origins of the Hyuga, you arrived at the founder of the ninja, the Sage of the Six Paths. And the Byakugan kekkei genkai was a visual jutsu on par with the Uchiha Sharingan and Amaya Gensogan.

The Hyuga could see the path of chakra circulating in the body and seal chakra by severing the pathway in someone who had become an enemy. Their vision was also said to reach out in all directions, with no blind spots.

Once the pathway was sealed, the Hyuga clan used physical techniques. Their Taijutsu, known as Gentle Fist, aligned the flow of the user's chakra with the chakra extant in all living creatures, allowing the user to deliver a series of blows based on circular defensive movements, destroying anything inside their opponent's body, such as internal organs. Gentle Fist was a secret of the Hyuga clan, but given that they were a branch family, it was no stretch to imagine that at least some knowledge of it had been passed down to the Kohinatas.

"He uses Gentle Fist?" Itachi asked.

Shisui nodded.

"So as long as we don't get close, we have the advantage." Tsukiko perked up. Her mid-range style was better suited for this, distracting the enemy until Itachi could catch him in a Genjutsu.

"Mukai's pretty skilled. I can't imagine he'd let you fight him from a distance."

It seemed that the hypothetical battle with Mukai was already happening inside Shisui's head.

"Will you come with us?" Itachi's question lingered in the air for hardly a second before the older male answered.

"Of course." Shisui bumped his fist up against Itachi's chest. "You got no one else you can trust, right?"

"Yeah." Tsukiko shrugged, accepting her plight. Talking to those outside the clan would seem suspicious, and it wasn't like anyone else wanted to be her friend.

She nearly leaned back against Itachi's shoulder, something she naturally did when seeking comfort, but stopped herself. The last talk she had with Shisui had made her feel embarrassed to be around Itachi, knowing that Izumi really liked him. But he was just a friend to her, practically a brother. So Tsukiko's heart shouldn't be beating faster around him, right?

"You join the Anbu, and you'll be closer to the center of the village," Shisui told Itachi. "And if you do that, you'll be invaluable for our clan."

Itachi thought about just what those words meant, even as Tsukiko cocked her head.

He and Shisui were driven by the same thing, and they didn't begrudge their own lives if it meant the peace of the clan. With each of the secret monthly meetings at Nakano Shrine, the atmosphere grew progressively worse. Both boys believed that resentment toward the village was already approaching the limit. They had to avoid an explosion, no matter what. This was their shared understanding.

If the clan rose up, the village would be dragged into battle. The last Great War, the attack of the Nine-Tails; the village had overcome both crises, and was finally starting to build a real peace. If the Uchiha clan were to start something now, the village would once more be shrouded in sadness and death.

And Tsukiko's past was filled with enough of that. Itachi would do anything to spare her from those nightmares that kept her awake. Hunted for her eyes, her family had been killed. And the threat of Orochimaru had never been dealt with, so he featured heavily in her subconscious.

Sasuke was another concern. He hadn't experienced any darkness, any real tragedy that he could remember. And he never would, as long as Itachi had anything to say about it.

The lone Anbu among the Uchiha clan ... It was just as Shisui said: Itachi would become invaluable to the clan.

"You becoming Anbu's actually a dream for me, too." Shisui smiled as black and onyx eyes watched him with confusion.

"A dream?"

"That the Uchihas and the village would become brethren in the true sense. And for that, I think we need a ninja in the clan who has a deep connection with the central figures of the village. Someone who can tell it like it is, talk about the clan's suffering and hopes. And then someone on the inside who can be the link to the village. And outsider accepted and raised with harmony in mind. If you join the Anbu, you'll be able to do that. And since you want peace for the clan more than anyone, I know you'll actually do it for us."

Itachi lifted his chin up and down slightly, hearing the hidden message and subtle invocation of the meetings of late and their ugly proposals.

Shisui brightened abruptly. "I'll be a jounin of the village, you'll be Anbu, none of us'll be in the Military Police. We'll be able to look at the clan and village objectively."

The white-haired girl frowned. That was easier said than done. All she'd tried to be was loyal and she'd been hated. Being objective might not work all that well.

"My father and the others are closed up in their own shell," Itachi said slowly, carefully. "They can't see the world outside anymore." He wanted Tsukiko away from this topic, wanted her firmly out of Uchiha affairs so that they couldn't hurt her anymore.

"Itachi," Shisui said his friend's name like he was spitting out the suffering in his own heart. "The people in our clan are locked away in their own little world. They don't even try to take a look outside. They say it's the village's fault that our fate doesn't change, and their grudge just grows. They just blame everything on the Leaf, the Hokage, the Senju clan. They never look at their weak spots. But..." He opened his eyes and looked at Itachi. "You're different."

Itachi held his breath, heart hammering.

The older boy gestured to Tsukiko. "You both are. You've always opened up your own road with your own power. You graduated from the academy in a year, you made it through the Chunin Exams with just the two of you, and now you're poised to join the Anbu. You've never blamed your fate on your clan, and given up."

Was that really how it was? Itachi didn't know. He felt like he had simply been racing intently down the path he should be on. And that feeling wasn't going to change.

Tsukiko still felt removed from the conversation, sensing that Shisui was referring to far more than she could see. But she understood the importance of joining the Anbu, of relinking the Leaf to the clan. And her own desire, to be accepted, weighed her down heavily.

Perhaps sensing this, Shisui placed his hand on her head, ruffling her white locks. "The Uchiha clan is connected by both ability and spirit. Tsukiko, don't think you aren't worthy of being in the clan. To me, you're as much an Uchiha as Itachi is." His voice was incredibly gentle. "But don't give up your Amaya roots. Those are as much a part of you as the Gensogan."

She lowered her head, trying to fight back tears. "Okay," she whispered, shoulders shaking. It wasn't as if she hadn't known that Shisui accepted her, but his verbal confirmation of that fact made the weight in her chest lighten ever so slightly.

Itachi smiled, relieved that someone Tsukiko admired was telling her what he'd been trying to say. She was loved here.

Shisui watched the two, Tsukiko's head lowered as her shoulders shook, and Itachi with the gentlest expression he'd ever seen on the boy's face. They shouldn't have to be doing any of this. They should be able to grow up and fall in love, do normal kid stuff.

'Well,' he admitted to himself, his previous thoughts resurfacing. 'They are anything but normal. The Anbu is the first step for them. After that…'

"I mean, Itachi could even be the Hokage." Shisui said aloud. He wasn't an idiot. Itachi's goal, hidden deep within his core, wasn't hard to guess at. "I believe that you'll be the one to break through the hostilities between the village and the clan, as the first Uchiha Hokage."

Itachi's heart beat faster, eyes widening. Twice. That was the number of times his dream had been exposed, and by the two people who knew him best.

The dream of being Hokage...

He had never told anyone. It was a dream he hadn't even spoken aloud, for fear that it would vanish in a cloud of smoke if he confirmed it.

That dream became words in Shisui's mouth, and reached his own ears. And then…

"Of course he'll be Hokage!" Tears gone in the wake of her excitement, Tsukiko was quick to grab Itachi's hand. "He's going to be the best shinobi in the village, and protect everyone!"

Surprise and joy surged through him. Itachi tightened his hand around hers, the warmth in his heart growing at a frightening pace. They both believed in him, had said aloud what he'd been too afraid to.

"I'll always be your best friend," Shisui promised, turning to place his hands on both of the younger ninjas' shoulders. "Whatever you two do, I'll support you till the end."

"Shisui..."

"I can hardly wait to see how big you get from now on."

Itachi desperately tried to hold back the hot thing that welled up from the depths of his heart. He had never once cried in public before in his life, and only a handful of times in total. He believed a ninja should never expose their own negative emotions.

No...

He had cried in front of someone, outside, just once. When he was four. That time when his father brought him to the battlefield, once the fighting was finished.

When he saw the mountains of abandoned bodies in the heavy rain, his tears had flowed freely. He still remembered desperately trying to keep himself from shaking so his father wouldn't notice.

Itachi hadn't changed since then. Fighting was something to be avoided at all costs. War must never happen again. That moment when he was four, he had decided this in his heart, as he cried in the pounding rain.

To that end, the Anbu.

To that end, Hokage.

"Let's do it, Itachi." His faithful friend grinned.

"Together!" Tsukiko smiled so brightly that he almost had to look away.

Itachi nodded firmly, full of gratitude. "Together," he agreed.

NOW:

The trip took less time than she'd thought, Jiraiya's map giving her the most direct route.

Along the way, she'd wandered into towns twice, asking about the archeologists who'd found the Shrine. Her plan was to meet up with them and firmly set them on their way before opening the doors.

It was strange to be on a solo mission, to be able to interact with people as a ninja. Civilians had always treated her with a level of respect, but this was different. They treated her like someone very important, offering her lodging and supplies. Tsukiko had turned this all down, as the last thing she needed was to be in debt to someone, but she appreciated the gesture.

The only real thing of note that occurred was finding one of Jiraiya's books in an old store. And not one of his stupid pervy ones that Kakashi seemed to enjoy so much. This book was plain, the title written in simple lettering. She'd bought it on a whim and put it in her bag for later.

But now, she was very near the shrine.

Sitting next to her small fire, Tsukiko drank her jasmine tea and watched the moon. By mid-morning she'd be in the right spot, and there was still no sign of the team of archaeologists.

Closing her eyes, Tsukiko summoned her chakra dome. There was nothing but animals in the surrounding mile, and even then, nothing large. The forest was relatively peaceful, if a bit confusing. But there was a sense of calm in her mind the closer she got to the Shrine, and she couldn't say for sure that it was just her imagination.

Ever since she was small, she'd been curious. About anything and everything. She and Itachi had spent hours reading in Lord Fugaku's library, the Academy library, Anbu records, anything she could get her hands on. Knowing the truth about something calmed her like nothing else. She knew why she was fighting, how it all worked, and what she needed to do.

Lately, she hadn't had that luxury. So finding answers, any answers, brought back her sense of purpose and self.

But that might only be part of what she was feeling. The forest itself seemed to want her to keep going, and she could almost feel the Shrine pulling her towards it. This was where she needed to go.

Dozing in the leaves of her tree, Tsukiko allowed her mind to drift off, staying in a state of semi-consciousness. If anything got too close to her campsite, she'd know in an instant.

So it was perhaps lucky that the man watching was just outside her radius of alert. He'd been there for a long while, waiting for the one his client had directed him to capture.

'A ninja from Konoha, huh? Bastard didn't mention that. This is going to be difficult.'

THEN:

In the silent woods, his heart pounded hard enough that it nearly leapt out of his chest. Feeling the lively aura of his growing baby brother on his skin, Itachi hid in the shadow of a large tree, and grinned to himself.

Hide and seek...

For Itachi, it was a game, but for Sasuke, it was a serious contest.

Tsukiko was the best at this game, her Gensogan giving her an advantage. She could easily hide underground or meld herself into a wall of rock, something she used quite often when she and Itachi played their training version of this game. But not with Sasuke. She always went easy on him.

"Where did you go, Itachi?" Sasuke muttered to himself, and his older brother watched, charmed. Tsukiko was probably nearby, watching with a similar adoration.

Itachi knew it was childish, but he pushed his ninjutsu to the limits to completely kill his aura. For a child who had only just turned six, there would have been no way to find him.

His little brother would be entering the Academy in a few days, and he was full of enthusiasm. He insisted that he wanted to get even the tiniest bit stronger as a ninja before he started school. Itachi and Tsukiko hadn't even been given the chance to take their shoes off after their mission was over before Sasuke was dragging them into the grove surrounding Nakano Shrine.

The younger Uchiha boy was so adorably full of hope, Itachi could hardly stand it. It surprised him how much he cared for Sasuke, as Itachi had always been different from other children. The age of five, the age he had been when Sasuke was born, was a time to be coddled by mother and father.

But that was when Itachi had become aware of walking forward down his own path. He would become a powerful ninja, in order to create a world without fighting. Every day, he had thought about what was needed to do that, and put it into practice. So when his brother was born, Itachi hadn't felt in any way that his parents were being stolen away from him. He had simply been delighted that there was now someone who shared his blood. And that feeling gradually grew greater as Sasuke grew up.

And Tsukiko loved Sasuke just as much, if not more. Unlike the other Uchiha in her life, there was never a time where she wasn't there for Sasuke. No "before," a time when she hadn't been part of the village. To Sasuke, it was completely natural to include Tsukiko as part of his family, and for that, she would do anything for the boy.

When Itachi looked at his brother, at the way the younger boy openly adored and trusted him, he felt like he had to live up to Sasuke's expectations. He felt like he wanted to be the self who would not shame Sasuke. These feelings became the power to propel himself forward. Sasuke gave him a motivation that he certainly couldn't have managed alone. He had nothing but gratitude for his brother.

"Itachi!" Sasuke called out, irritation in his voice. He couldn't find any trace of his big brother, so he was starting to get mad.

"No choice, I guess," Itachi muttered to himself and released just a little chakra.

"Ngh!" Sasuke, who had been whirling around in all directions, froze, and a single large shudder ran through his body. He had felt his brother's aura.

The faint smile on Itachi's lips grew more distinct.

It had been a minute flicker of chakra, the sort that an ordinary child definitely wouldn't have caught. But Sasuke had clearly sensed it. His talent as a ninja was unquestionable.

"I'm here, Sasuke," he said aloud to himself once more.

Footfalls came straight at him. As they got closer, the pace changed to something more like bouncing. His brother's small feet stepped on the dry leaves as he advanced, and yet, his feet didn't make a sound. He could join the Academy at that moment, and he could probably beat the older students.

"Found you!" Sasuke cried, shooting a finger out at the crouching Itachi. His little brother looked down at him, eyes glittering brightly with dreams and hope.

"Not quite," Itachi said, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Shadow clone.

The real Itachi was above Sasuke's head.

"Aah! No fair!" his brother cried out naively, and abruptly lifted his face, instinctively checking his surroundings.

"Ah!" Sasuke caught sight of his brother, looking down on him from a thick branch. The younger boy's eyes widened, and his mouth gaped like a fish.

Itachi unconsciously erupted in laughter upon seeing the wild look on Sasuke's face as he stared up at the sky, tilting his head so far back, it seemed like his neck would break. Although Itachi rarely let his feelings show in front of other people, he was able to naturally express what was in his heart with his brother. It was strange. He'd once thought only Tsukiko could bring out these kind of emotions.

Meanwhile, at the sound of Itachi's laughter, Tsukiko smiled from her position under a bush. That was her favorite sound in the world, a bright and happy noise that she clung to fiercely. A close second was Sasuke's laughter, something thankfully less rare.

"Itachi," Sasuke murmured, dumbfounded, the energetic tone from earlier vanishing into the ether.

"So you found me, huh?" Still smiling, Itachi nimbly dropped down from the branch to stand in front of his brother, whose mouth still hung open.

Sasuke was supposed to find his brother through a deliberate act, but he had unintentionally stumbled upon his goal, and he passed through a certain regret to stand in a state of stupefaction. "N-no fair using shadow clones," he reproached Itachi with pursed lips, coming back to himself to a certain degree.

Smiling from ear to ear, Itachi looked down at his little brother. He noted fondly how big Sasuke had gotten. Until very recently, he had only reached up to Itachi's knees, but now his head soared up past Itachi's waist. "Nice work noticing my chakra."

"Well, I am starting at the Academy soon," the boy shrugged. "Only natural I can do that much, at least." Sasuke didn't realize that the chakra he had sensed was so faint that the average six-year-old wouldn't have been able to feel it.

"So it's only natural, huh?" The older Uchiha's smile widened.

"Yeah."

Itachi deliberately didn't praise him. Because it wasn't a bad thing to think that being able to do that was only natural.

When people thought they were special, they got lazy. Thinking that what you could do was only natural meant knowing your own insufficiencies. You still couldn't do everything, so you weren't particularly admiring of what you could already do. So you didn't think you were special. People who thought like this would always keep pushing ahead. He didn't want to stop Sasuke's uncompromising path forward by praising him too much.

Abruptly, he remembered what Shisui had said: "You've never blamed your fate on your clan, and given up." He didn't want Sasuke to give up either. He didn't want Sasuke to be the kind of man who is held prisoner by the obligations toward the dark feelings of their clan, the kind who refuses to march forward toward his own fate.

He was sure Sasuke would be all right. His little brother had an innocence that he didn't. He didn't have the bad luck Danzo spoke of, either. Itachi believed that Sasuke would surpass him. And he didn't mind being overtaken by his little brother.

Though didn't let it show on his face, Itachi was more of a sore loser than most. This was a trait that Tsukiko loved to tease him over, especially when she beat him. He couldn't have become the sort of ninja that ends up joining the Anbu at age eleven if he wasn't. But sore loser that he was, he still thought it would be all right to lose, if it was to his brother. He himself didn't understand the nature of this feeling. He didn't know why he thought like that. But there was no doubt, at least, of the fact that he hoped for this in his heart of hearts.

"Now we just have to find Tsukiko," he said, redirecting Sasuke's attention. She had hidden well, but he knew she'd be close by. Her chakra was leaking out ever so faintly, a gentle signal to the younger boy. It was getting late, and his mom wanted them home before dinner.

Still, he realized with amusement, she hadn't made it easy. Her chakra was coming from multiple sources, likely shadow clones. An invitation for Itachi to play as well.

"First one to find her wins!" Sasuke shouted, racing off and leaving behind a still-smiling brother.

"We should do this more often."

Itachi glanced up at the shadow clone sitting on the branch he'd recently vacated. "Do what?"

Tsukiko's expression was warm and gentle. "Play with Sasuke. It calms us both down, and I love your smile. You barely do it anymore."

He blinked, face immediately feeling warm. Of course he didn't smile often. A true ninja showed no emotions at all. That's what he'd been taught.

"You don't have to be a perfect ninja around me all the time," she reminded, jumping off the branch. Landing lightly, she continued to seemingly read his mind. "It makes me feel kinda lonely. You know you can tell me anything, right?"

The Uchiha boy thought he understood what was going on. When Tsukiko was thinking really hard about something, and had a lot of conflicting emotions, her shadow clones reflected that. This one was being blunt with him and not acting shy about asking him questions like the original.

Briefly, Itachi remembered his discussion with Shisui. He should include her more.

"I—"

"Found you!" The triumphant shout was the signal for the clone to vanish.

A red-faced Tsukiko followed Sasuke, the younger male dragging her. "Big brother! Look, I win!"

Itachi smiled at the cute antics of his little brother, placing his hand on his head. "Good job," he praised, heart lightening at the wide grin that met his statement.

Looking up at the sky, Itachi checked the time. "We should be getting back."

"What?" The young boy's smile fell. "Come on, hide one more time," he begged. But when Itachi beckoned him, he shuffled forward.

"Forgive me, Sasuke." Itachi poked his brother in the forehead.

"Ow!"

This whole thing, from the beckoning hand to the poke in the forehead, was something they'd done any number of times before. But each time, Sasuke obediently approached, and took the finger to the forehead. This naivete in his brother soothed his own heart.

Itachi could see a glimpse of Sasuke's growth in his reaction to being poked in the forehead. The first time he had done it, Sasuke was about three years old. He hadn't been speaking in sentences yet, but he kept bugging Itachi for "up, up," so Itachi poked him in the forehead, and made him give it up.

At that time, Sasuke clutched his forehead and started wailing. Itachi hadn't intended to put much force in the prodding finger, but it had hurt his three-year-old brother immensely. Tsukiko had been grumpy with him all day after that. But now he endured it with a little scowl. It was only natural, of course, but Itachi felt reassured at this growth, Sasuke getting used to stimulus from the outside world.

Tsukiko stood by silently, still not meeting his eyes. "Sorry about that," she murmured, embarrassed. "That clone was too pushy." Her heart was thudding loudly in her chest, her face burning. Ever since her talk with Shisui, she'd been unable to stop thinking about what he'd said. That and her own confused feelings made her a lot more shy around Itachi.

The boy in question said nothing, but reached out and grabbed her hand.

She looked up then, her eyes meeting his. That smile she loved so much graced his features, and an unspoken understanding seemed to pass between them.

Squeezing Itachi's hand gratefully, she took Sasuke's hand in her other. "Let's go, Sasuke."

Their shadows stood side by side in the evening sun, Sasuke's never leaving Tsukiko's side as if trying to catch up with the taller children.

NOW:

Tsukiko awoke with a start, her hand flying to her pouch to remove and throw a shuriken before her eyes had fully opened. The pleasant dream of the past had been completely erased by the threat before her.

"Holy crap!"

The man who'd wandered too close fell back, shuriken sticking out of the tree next to his hand. Half a foot over and it would've killed him instantly.

"That was a warning," Tsukiko opened her eyes, red glow unnerving in the early morning light. The sun had just risen above the horizon, casting a pink glow on the forest.

"W—Whoa there! There's no need to be so hostile!" He raised his arms non-threateningly. His dark hair was cropped short and he wore civilian robes over sturdy boots. On his back was a basket, wood sticking out of it.

Tsukiko took in all of this in an instant, relaxing fractionally. The man was not what he appeared to be, but not dangerous to her. She could see the outline of a weapon, possibly a short sword, under his shirt. And that basket was doing a poor job of concealing the weapons under the sticks, the metal glinting through the holes in the weave.

Bandits, then. Not very skilled, in this one's case.

Red eyes flicked to gold, and the man's eyes widened, stepping back. "Wh—What are you doing?"

Her dome surged out, a mile in every direction. Twenty or so men were hiding in the immediate forest, but there was someone else watching from about half a mile away. His chakra was a bright light in the forest, her only real concern.

"I'll give you to the count of ten to come out quietly and surrender," Tsukiko said quietly. "I'm a shinobi of Konoha, and I'll show no mercy to bandits who attack innocent travelers. Give up now and you will be unharmed. Resist, and I won't promise you all live through it."

Silently, she willed the bandits to surrender without a fight. She had no desire to tarnish the calm of her surroundings with blood and screams. But she could see dried blood on the civilian clothes, a sad reminder of the poor soul they'd been stolen from. That was enough for her to take them down.

The expression on the man's face transformed instantaneously. A sneer stretched across the formerly frightened features, and he chuckled. "Konoha, then? I didn't see your headband when you were sleeping. Damn my luck, huh?"

His eyes darkened as he pulled the sword from under his shirt. "But can a freak from all the way over in Konoha really take on all of us?"

The bright chakra moved closer, approaching at a fast rate. He was either going to attack, or…

Tsukiko gave him no time to put a plan into action. As the bandits emerged, nearly all of them carrying bows, she took a deep breath of the calming morning air, the slight chill burning her lungs. Then, she stood and fell backwards off the branch.

Kunai appeared in her hands, eight total. And on this nostalgic morning, she allowed her years of training to take over.

Eight men silently fell before the first could draw back an arrow.

"What the—?!"

They didn't get to finish. Swiftly, Tsukiko pulled out and threw more kunai, twelve more leaving her hands before her feet even touched the ground. The final one hit the sneering leader, sending his body tumbling into the ground with a dull thud.

Turning her attention to the chakra that had stopped just outside her camp, Tsukiko dusted off her hands. "I suggest you come out as well."

"Looks like you didn't need any assistance." A man's voice came from the trees, before the person attached to it dropped down.

The man was tall, and extremely muscular. Shoulder-length black hair, brown eyes, and purple clothing. He was handsome, and regarded her with intelligence.

But he wasn't a shinobi. That much was obvious. At the same time, he seemed to have some level of control over his chakra, enough to at least be a slight nuisance if he got in her way.

Tsukiko waited, stance loose, for him to introduce himself and his intentions.

"My name is Taishiro," he offered after a long pause. "I'm working as a bodyguard out here, and I've been watching those bandits for a while. Sorry, I didn't know you were here, or I would've come help." He glanced around, scratching the back of his head. "Not that you needed it."

"Bodyguard," she repeated, expression unchanging. He was trying to gain her trust, not realizing that she had sensed his presence some time ago. If she had to guess, he was probably the one who pointed the bandits in her direction.

"Yes," he nodded. "My employers are set up around here, and they heard rumors that criminals used this area as a base of command."

Tsukiko nodded, walking over to the supposed leader of the bandits. As expected, he had several lengths of rope in his basket. Watching Taishiro out of the corner of her eye, she pulled it out and tossed it to him. "Well, since this group was your problem, you can tie them up. I'm busy."

The older man blinked, catching the rope with one hand. "Kinda pointless to tie up a bunch of corpses, isn't it?"

"They aren't dead." Tsukiko walked over to each bandit, collecting her kunai. "I threw the kunai backwards, knocking them out."

Taishiro's eyes widened, and he quickly revised his plans. In order to have done that, this woman would've had to have complete control over the balance of the weapon. Backwards, the weight was completely different. And Dr. Sojirou wanted him to kill her and take her eyes? Not likely. This was above his paygrade.

Wordlessly, he tied the bandits together. They were a wanted group, and he could at least collect the bounty as his payment before he left. Screw this job.

Tsukiko watched contentedly as the man finished securing the bandits. 'Looks like he gets the picture.' If these bandits were a test, she'd passed with flying colors.

"So, you wouldn't happen to be working for a group of archaeologists, would you?" Her casual question was met with tightening shoulders and a false sense of ease.

"I am, as a matter of fact." Taishiro scratched the back of his head. "You, uh, you wouldn't be on your way to attack them, would you? Because that would be a problem that I doubt I could handle."

The white-haired jounin carefully put her weapons away and smiled. "Not at all. I am looking for them. They found my family shrine, you see. I would be extremely grateful if you led me to them. I need to speak to the lead archaeologist about their find."

A long silence fell across the clearing as Taishiro imagined the consequences of leading Dr. Sojirou's biggest nuisance back to the camp. He nearly winced. Not a pretty sight. But on the other hand…

"Alright," he agreed heavily, mentally tallying up the bounty for the criminals against the loss of a job. "Dr. Sojirou probably won't be too happy about it, but what the hell. Let's go."

As the young woman smiled, her eyes turned red, and Taishiro felt a shiver of fear down his spine.

"Great." Her voice was too calm. "Let's go.

A.N. There we go! Heavy on flashback since it's been a while. Hope you guys liked it!