A/N: Hey everyone! Here is chapter six. As you have all noticed, a plot has began to form. To such a degree that I haven't yet worked out the ending, but everything in between has more or less been done. At the end of this chapter, there will be a timeline of events as they are at the present moment.

I have also had a number of reviewers questioning whether or not I am making the trio too powerful, and I thought to put it into perspective by creating my own leafninja ability charts. However, these one measures twelve different skills, out of five per skill. The highest ranked person I have currently done is Uchiha Madara, who has a number of 54. I will upload these character diagrams onto photobucket, and the link shall be on my profile.

Summary: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley died at the age of eighteen. Six years later, they meet at a Ninja Academy, and they trio is reborn as first class ninja for Konohagakure no Sato. However, darkness is on the horizon as enemies approach. Enter: ANBU. NarutoHP

Rebirth of Ninja

Chapter VI: Underneath the Underneath

By The Morrigu

'This is what I brought you this you can keep,
This is what I brought you may forget me.
I promise you my heart just promise to sing,
Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.

Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.

This is what I thought,
I thought you need me,
This is what I thought so think me naïve,
I promise you a heart you'd promise to keep,
Kiss my eyes and lay me to sleep.'

- 'Prelude 12/21' by AFI

Time began to speed past. The trio went on mission after mission, yet for the majority of the time, at least one of them remained behind to keep Sasuke and Naruto when he came round, company. Life had become monotonous, as they all settled into the life of being both a shinobi, and carers to a child. A child who had seen more before his tenth birthday, than some shinobi see in their lifetime. Sasuke's tenth birthday came and went, with it went the child from before. The child of the Uchiha Clan whose role in his life was minimal at best. A child who was overshadowed by his elder brother, which prevented him from ever being his own person. A child born from a clan of hypocrites and liars, who cared little about those they deemed unworthy of their time. But Sasuke was someone else now. He was Uchiha Sasuke, the ward of Uchiha Haru and his comrades, Saito Hidemi and Inuzuka Rai. He was the top student in his class, and was praised for such a thing at home. He was intelligent and extremely observant. He had the makings of becoming a good ninja.

But not just that, but on a personal level, the young ninja had changed drastically. He wasn't as arrogant as he had once been, and was more conservative. He was no longer shy, but more outspoken and opinionated. This could be pinned down to the amount of time he spent around Naruto. He was a lot more caring, and willing to appreciate others, rather than relying upon just himself. He had also reached camaraderie with his carers, one which he had never had with the clan itself. In fact, he was a lot closer to the trio, than he had ever been to anyone else. Sans Uchiha Mikoto and Itachi.

Overall, changes to Uchiha Sasuke's psyche were appreciated by everyone who noticed. His teachers preferred this more open child, stating it was a drastic improvement to the shy child which had first entered the academy, and then the morose and solemn child after the massacre. The fan-girls, naturally, didn't notice. They didn't notice anything new, besides the fact that Sasuke seemed to notice their presence more so, which was a good thing in their books. But it was one such fan-girl who would notice more than the others, who would get an insight into her Sasuke-kun that would shock her comrades.

Hidemi was the only one home, Rai and Hino out on a mission to scout Hidden Rain, while Haru was on a chuunin mission to the Demon Country. She was humming a tune to herself, a tune which none but Haru would notice. It was an old muggle tune, which she had been taught in nursery. She was cleaning up the house, and was currently washing the dishes in the sink. Of course, it was getting done almost unnaturally quickly, as they almost seemed to be cleaning themselves, as she dried them once they were clean.

Her eyes flicked to the clock on the stand, showing that the Academy had finished a few minutes before, and she knew that she would be invaded by an arguing pair of students. A small smile appeared on her face, at the thought of the pair. They reminded her of Rai and herself, as they constantly argued over every little thing, or even of Rai and Haru, considering how competitive they were with each other. But, like the three of them, they were still very good friends. Not that they would admit it until they were under pain of death.

In an almost predictable way, she could hear them before she saw them. If what she was hearing was correct, they were arguing over the right way to throw a kunai. Rolling her eyes slightly, she dried her hands, and then walked out into the entrance corridor, where the two were removing their shoes, still arguing.

"Shut up teme." Hissed Naruto angrily. "You know I am right."

"When you cut your finger before? Of course you are." Replied Sasuke sarcastically, causing Hidemi to snigger to herself. He was picking up Rai and Haru's sarcastic humour. Whether it was a good thing or not, she wasn't so sure.

"Have you two finished this little spat, or should I leave you alone, so you can fight it out however you want to." Announced Hidemi, waggling her eyebrow at them. This caused them both to pale at the implication, before jumping as far away from one another as possible. This just added to her amusement.

"Don't say such a thing, Hidemi-nee-chan." Murmured Naruto with seriousness. "It could damage my reputation."

"What reputation?" questioned Sasuke curiously. "Besides the fact that you follow Sakura around like a lost puppy?"

"I do not!" yelled Naruto, as Hidemi entered the sitting area, and both boys followed her almost unconsciously. They sat down at the stools, and Hidemi watched them with amusement. "Sakura-chan likes me. She just hasn't accepted that fact yet."

"She punches you at least three times a day." Drawled Sasuke.

"At least I don't have stalkers."

"What, you annoyed that Sakura is one of them?"

"Shut up."

Hidemi leant back in her chair, amused once more. That was until she heard a twig snap out in the garden. Someone was trying to listen in on the conversation they were having, and they had reacted to it as well. Thus causing the twig to snap. Hidemi frowned to herself, before entering the conversation.

"Who is Sakura?"

The two boys went silent; they had obviously forgotten that she was there. She gave them both a look, and Sasuke was the first to speak.

"She is a person in my class, and Naruto has been following her around ever since we joined the academy." Stated Sasuke. "He just doesn't get that she isn't interested though."

"Really?" murmured Hidemi, listening out for any reaction. "Why, Sasuke-kun, are you interested?"

Sasuke sputtered, while Naruto roared with laughter. However, if Hidemi wasn't mistaken, the person outside had froze, as though they were waiting for the answer. They had even stopped breathing. Hidemi rose, and quicker than both boys could follow, she was leaning out of the window and held a girl up to her face by the front of her clothes. The girl had paled significantly at being caught, and her eyes were wide in terror. Back in the room, two boys were on their feet, watching Hidemi carefully.

"Sakura-chan." Called Naruto. "What are you doing here?"

Hidemi could hear Sasuke muttering about something, most likely how stupid the girl was. Hidemi agreed with him. What kind of person eavesdrops on another person's house, where they know paranoid shinobi live. It is just asking for trouble. Hidemi hauled the pink haired girl into the room, and set her down on a stool across from Naruto.

"Would you mind telling me why you thought it important to follow these two home, and listen in on their conversation?" questioned Hidemi, her face expressionless. Sure, the girl could be harmless. But the safety of the two was priority, over everything.

"I d-didn't -," stuttered Sakura, her head down. Both Sasuke and Naruto shared a look, before giving Hidemi a look full of annoyance. They obviously didn't think it was fair that she questioned Sakura like this. While Hidemi did agree with them, they couldn't see the bigger picture.

"What, so you just follow guys home from school and spy on them all the time?" asked Hidemi, raising an eyebrow. The girls face flushed red, and, if Hidemi wasn't mistaken, so did Sasuke's.

"Iie. There are rumours. I just wanted…" She trailed off, shooting the boys a glance.

"Rumours about what?" pressed Hidemi.

"About those two. People think that there is something going on." Her face turned a darker colour. "They think they are…involved."

Hidemi had to bite her lip to stop herself from laughing. Naruto's face had drained of all colour, while Sasuke remained stoic, but there was a bit of redness about his neck.

"What are you, ten? Eleven? You brats are thinking about stuff that you really shouldn't." She rolled her eyes, leaning back, making Sakura breath easier. She was obviously nervous about being in such close proximity to her. "If I were you two, I would be getting worried." She directed this at the pair. "That's twice today that such an idea has been brought up. I mean, I would be okay with it but…Haru and Rai? I don't know…"

"I. Like. Girls." Hissed Naruto between clenched teeth. While Sasuke nodded his head with him. Hidemi chuckled to herself.

"You three are so easy to tease, it is almost unbelievable." She turned to Sakura. "So am I correct in assuming that you are one of those squealing girls that scream 'Sasuke-kun' when I pick him up from the Academy?"

Sakura lowered her head, but nodded it at the same time.

"You do realise that you trespassed on private property, and I could get you in trouble for this?"

Her eyes widened, and she began to speak. Her voice was steady for the first time.

"Please don't!" she begged. "I will do anything…but please!"

Hidemi frowned at the girl, while her mind suddenly began to go through various items of information. Her eyes flicked over to the pair, and then back to Sakura, before moving over her body. She smirked to herself.

"You are Haruno Sakura? You have the highest marks in theory, but you have one of the lowest marks in terms of physical ability. Correct?" questioned Hidemi, ignoring the confused looks the boys sent her way.

"Hai." Whispered Sakura.

"Good. You think you can continue these grades into you graduation year, and graduate with such a standing?" asked Hidemi, while Naruto and Sasuke were staring at Hidemi with wide eyes. Good, they had caught on.

"Maybe…why would this matter?" asked Sakura.

"The rookie of the year, the dead last is always paired together. Then, the person who is in the exact middle of the class in terms of rank is placed with them. So a person, who is excellent at theory, but rubbish in practical, and vice versa, would be put in the middle. This team is always formed, as it is the type of team that has had the highest level of success out of every other team. It is a ready-for-anything type of team, rather than a tracker, or a heavy artillery kind of team." She smirked slightly. "If you were to graduate with such a position, you will most likely be on the same team as Sasuke here."

Sakura's mind was racing, and then she spoke.

"Me, Sasuke and Shikamaru?" questioned Sakura.

"No." Here, Hidemi grinned. "Naruto is in the year above you, and he has failed the exam twice already. He is to do it a third time at the end of this year, and then will be in the graduating class with you lot. His marks will be worse than Nara Shikamaru's, won't they Naruto?"

"Yes." Said Naruto quietly, while he gulped at the stare he received.

"Thus, when Naruto miraculously graduates, the three of you should be on the same team."

"You are fixing the teams." Stated Sakura. "That isn't fair."

"Under the Hokage's orders." Shot Hidemi, revealing something which neither Sasuke nor Naruto were aware of. "The most successful teams are those which are made of the dead last, rookie and middle combo. In fact, the Sannin were of such a thing, as was the Yondaime, the great Copy-Nin himself, and of course, myself and my comrades."

"Haru never told me that." Said Sasuke.

"No. He doesn't want to make you feel as though you have something to live up to." Replied Hidemi, with a gentle smile. She then turned to Sakura. "You don't have any aspirations as a ninja. I can tell that from you impractical hair and style of dress. Your lack of muscle amount and how skinny you are." Sakura moved to interrupt, but Hidemi silenced her. "You are to come here, every Friday once the Academy finishes, with these two here. You will train with them. Then, on a Monday and Wednesday night, you will come here as well, and I shall train you personally. This team needs balance, and from what your scores state, you have amazing chakra control, just not a lot of it. I will help you in both areas. These abilities you have would automatically put you in the area of a medic-nin or a genjutsu specialist. This will balance the team perfectly."

"Don't I have a choice in this?" cried Sakura indignantly.

"Unless you want me to press charges for trespassing. No."

Her days when the other two were out on missions were spent filling out paperwork within her office, speaking to her subordinates and socialising with Ichiro Moriko, otherwise known as Commander Nezumi. Moriko was probably as close to a best friend Hidemi had outside of their trio.

The two of them were of equal class and clearance, and knew precisely what they each got up to. There were no secrets, not like there was between Hidemi and Kurenai. Usually the brunette sat in her office, her white vest on the floor beside her, her mask on the table in front of her and the raven-haired woman was sat across from her chatting. Moriko was an extremely petite woman, her brown eyes were warm and inviting, while her black hair was long and in a plait going down her back.

She came across as having a rather teasing innocence, having the ability to fit right into any situation, and had an outgoing and friendly nature. But, beneath all of this the woman could be quite vicious. She excelled in psychologically outsmarting enemies, playing upon their fears and the like. She was a stealth expert, and was as 'quiet as a mouse'. This was where her mouse mask had come from.

"Ne, Hidemi-chan." Called Moriko in a sing-song voice, causing the brunette to come out of her thoughts. "Haven't you got that appointment with Anko-chan?"

"Kuso." Cursed Hidemi under her breath, as she stood up and grabbed a normal zip up jacket to wear, which covered her ANBU tattoo which was on her right bicep. "You want to come, or are you going to try and make a mess of my office?"

"You do a good enough job on your own." Replied Moriko, giving the woman a sly grin. "I might as well wander back over to my own mound. I can't wait for the guys to get back. Honestly, leaving us poor damsels with all the work. It is most unbecoming of them."

Hidemi laughed to herself, before watching the now mouse-masked ANBU Commander leave the office. Hidemi then walked over to the wall, and put her hand on the wall. A sharp prick on each of her fingers drew some blood. A series of seals lit up, which went around a seemingly invisible doorframe. Immediately, the wall within the seals disappeared, leaving a secret passageway for Hidemi to go through. She stepped through into the passageway, whose wall reappeared as soon as she entered, leaving her to walk in the darkness. Her eyes adjusted to the tunnel, as she made her way along it at a hurried pace. She eventually reached the end of it, and then slipped through another opening.

She appeared in a lab, which had scrolls along the walls, with cupboards full to the brim of paper, ink and chakra-infused blood. Beyond the lab was a window, which led into an experimentation room. Tables that were dotted around the lab were clear of everything, and scrubbed clean. Reflecting the lack of Fuinjutsu work that she had been commissioned for recently.

It was the Sealing Lab that Saito Hidemi occupied. There were similar ones down the corridor, which had once been occupied by the likes of Namikaze Minato, and the two Sannin, Jiraiya and Orochimaru. But at the moment, she was the only Seal Mistress currently within the village, meaning she had access to all the supplies she needed. Stepping towards a mirror, she pinned her hair up, while putting on a pair of gloves an apron to prevent the ink from getting on her clothes. She then walked across to a door, and opened it. Peeking her head out to the well-lit corridor, which was apart of the Hospital, she looked to the bench, which was outside her door.

"Come on in Anko."

The purple haired special jounin entered the room behind the seal mistress, and Hidemi smiled warmly at the woman, who was rejected by so many.

"So how long is it gonna take this time?" questioned Anko grimly, as she removed her coat, setting it on a table, and then undid the fastenings on the top half of her outfit, which opened her back up to the other kunoichi.

"Hopefully not as long as last time. You had agitated the seal, which is why it took longer to reseal it so it didn't interfere with your mind." Replied Hidemi, gesturing to the table as Anko lay on her front, giving Hidemi complete access to the cursed seal on the back of her neck.

Hidemi grabbed some ink, blood and some paper as she looked at the seal closely. She channelled chakra into the palm of her hand, before placing it over the cursed seal. The seal glowed purple, causing Anko to hiss in pain.

"It is still causing you pain when chakra is near it?" asked Hidemi, as she stopped channelling chakra to her hand, making the seal stop glowing.

"Only in the last few months." Replied Anko hesitantly.

"The caging seal I placed on it obviously wore out. I shall have to re-graft that then, and it should last for the coming months. When it starts to hurt again, go straight to the Hokage, and he shall arrange another appointment as soon as possible. There is no point in waiting for our annual appointment if it is just causing you unnecessary pain. You understand me?"

"Hai, Hidemi-san." Murmured Anko into the table, as Hidemi brought out a brush began to mix the ink and blood together. She then began to draw a series of symbols stretching around the seal. She paused, and channelled some chakra, causing the symbols to be absorbed by the cursed seal. She repeated this process over and over. Each time she did it, the pain it caused Anko lessened.

"You have never activated the cursed seal, correct?" questioned Hidemi, striking up conversation with her silent patient.

"Never. Apparently, I was just a tester for it." Hissed Anko bitterly.

"That was most likely a good thing then. The seal was designed to mess with your mind, making you desire to have power above all else, and to make you do anything to get it. If you had activated it, I would hate to see what you would have done."

"Where did the bastard get such an idea though?" Whispered Anko. "No one normal would be able to design such a thing."

"The seal was to give you power, and then increases your thirst for it. In reality, it is a rather simple seal, but it also ties you forever with Orochimaru." Stated Hidemi, her mind began to imagine what remained of the patients Orochimaru had experimented on. Some experiments had occurred not even two doors down from where they were at the moment. "Orochimaru was never normal. He considered humans to be sub-par to himself, and experimented with patients to his hearts content. As to where he got the idea…" She trailed off, continuing to draw seals on Anko's neck.

"Where?" murmured Anko

"There are said to be some top ANBU who have something not dissimilar to the Cursed Seal." Replied Hidemi, as she began to finish the barrier seal.

"What?" whispered Anko, lifting her head slightly to give Hidemi a curious look. "Why didn't the Sandaime tell me when I came back? That there were others like me."

"You misunderstand." Replied Hidemi, shaking her head. "The Cursed Seal is designed to release a built up amount of chakra in one go, but what makes it cursed is the fact that is messes with the heads of the individual. The seals that these ANBU have release a large amount of built up power, powering them significantly, while altering the mind-set to a more…careless attitude. These seals were grafted to be used as a last defence, altering the mind's perceptions so it operates on a fight or flight option. As secondary option, their chakra is blocked from their use to it prevents the mindset to develop permanence, while the shinobi are unable to access their chakra like they normally can. The Cursed Seal doesn't have the secondary measure, which is what allows for the negative thoughts to develop."

"Did you graft those seals?" questioned Anko curiously.

"The Yondaime helped graft them. It was a few years before he became Hokage. Whether or not those ANBU that we did it on are still alive, I don't know."

It was a Friday afternoon, and the Academy had just finished. One Haruno Sakura slowly made her way through the doors, ignoring the inquiring looks that her friend and sometime rival, Ino, sent her way. Her friend just didn't understand what Sakura was going through at the moment. She didn't understand what Sakura was becoming, and if Sakura took time to notice, she would have realised that over the course of the past few weeks, she had changed. Ever since she had met one of the enigmatic guardians of Uchiha Sasuke, Saito Hidemi. Ever since the woman became her sensei.

The training that she did was something else entirely. It didn't matter how pretty she was, how intelligent she was, whether her teachers thought she was the best. All that mattered was whether she would be able to block the neck kick. Whether she would be able to carry the log for the next mile, whether she could walk on the water on the deepest part of the lake while weighted down. It was as though a wool had been removed from her eyes, and she began to see things clearly. She began to concentrate more in class, and began to see the petty behaviour that her and the other girls had been practising, not knowing what it was like to truly train. To be a true ninja. An insight which she was only just receiving. She began to notice more around the village too. Birds carrying black scrolls into homes, which had once been ignored, she now understood their meaning. Understood that the life of a ninja wasn't just who got with Sasuke-kun first, but to work and improve the village to the best of their ability.

She had also began to understand Sasuke more than she did before. She also began to understand Naruto-baka more too. The people they were within school were different to those they were around the home of Sasuke's guardians. At the house, while training they were rivals and friends. They shared something which even Sakura couldn't understand, and the three adults seemed to know precisely what it was. While within the Academy, they were bitter rivals, and enemies. The twist to such a relationship was that they had been seen leaving the Academy together, and thus the rumours had started.

In fact, it was on such an afternoon as this the three of them were to go back to the house for more training. She left the Academy and made her way down the familiar streets to the house, hearing Naruto chattering to himself a few yards behind her.

As they got closer to the house, the boys caught up with her, Sasuke entering the house first, and removing his shoes delicately, while Naruto kicked them off and skipped into the house. Sakura followed at a more sedate pace, and found herself straightening their shoes at the door, before entering herself.

"Hello? Anyone home?" called Naruto loudly, as he poked his head into the living area, which as empty. Sasuke frowned at the silence within the house. Sakura found herself copying this as well. Anytime she had gone to the house, it had always been lively. At least one of the adults were in there, either in the kitchen making food, out the back practicing katas, or even smoking some of the strange-smelling herbs that she had seen them do a few times.

"Maybe they are not here?" Sakura found herself whispering, as she couldn't bring herself to speak any louder in the absolute silence. It was much too strong for a weak person like her to break, at least that is what she thought.

Sasuke made a noise of agreement, before turning around, and halting in his steps. Sakura turned around as well, and then paused too, seeing Sasuke face to face with an ANBU. Sakura's muscles tensed, preparing for anything. She distantly saw Naruto relaxing at the presence of the ANBU.

"I am leaving." Came a female voice from behind the cat-masked ANBU. "I should be back within the week with the others. One of my recruits shall be watching you all on orders of the Hokage. As the ninjas that protect you are on missions. Understand?"

"Hai. Hidemi-chan." Murmured Sasuke, nodding his head in agreement. The ANBU then disappeared in thin air, leaving no trace that she had ever been there in the first place.

"T-That was Hidemi-sensei." Said Sakura, stuttering in shock. She hadn't known that they were ANBU. In fact, she would have never guessed. ANBU were meant to be faceless, emotionless warriors, who were the best of the best. ANBU would never lower themselves to being a sensei to her. They would never. Especially to Naruto-baka, though to Sasuke it was understandable. He was the best. He was an Uchiha.

"Hai." Called Naruto in a sing-song voice, as he walked to the kitchen. "They are all ANBU. That why they come and go so often. But we gotta keep it hush-hush. The rookie they will send over has no idea."

"ANBU don't know about other ANBU?" asked Sakura curiously, as her mind got over the shock and went back into its recovery mode: find more information.

"Depends. Some broadcast their new status, some tell just the family. Other tell no one at all, even their teammates, they identities. It has been shown that those who keep their identities a secret survive the longest." Answered Sasuke, as he began to look through the cupboards for some food. "Haru told me about it once. It was why they decided to keep it quiet that they were in ANBU. It allows everyone to underestimate there normal selves, and it keeps everyone safe. Although, the clan ostracised him because they saw that he wasn't worthy of the Uchiha name, because he never informed them about it." Sasuke settled his dark eyes on Sakura, causing her to stop in her tracks. She felt her heart beat quicken.

She had been spending more time with him lately, and her crush on him hadn't changed. She had gotten to see the more human side to the younger Uchiha, and had learned to appreciate it rather than the visage he presented to the public at the Academy. She had accepted the camaraderie between Naruto and Sasuke, although she didn't understand it. Her crush had matured, having moved from the façade to the real person underneath. So to have the Real-Sasuke giving her such a look, cause a natural response from her.

"You must never tell anyone about this though." Said Sasuke, his tone serious and quiet. To his side, Naruto had frozen, watching the proceedings with interest, his eyes also serious. But his head was cocked to the side, as though he was listening for something. For a moment, he reminded Sakura of a fox. "If anyone hears this, we will be in danger. The village will be in greater danger. From what I have been able to understand, the three of them are not just any mere ANBU, but report directly to the Hokage. Do you understand?"

Sakura nodded her head, the puzzle that surrounded her sensei and her comrades began to become that bit more complete. They were the people that shinobi could only dream of being. Close confidants of the Hokage, and taking on missions that were the dreams of Academy students everywhere. It suddenly hit her in that second, just what they were trying to do with the three students.

"They are trying to make another trio." She whispered, her eyes widened. "That is what the Hokage asked of them. To create another team of ninja. Why? Hasn't he got them to use in battle? Why would he need another one? Another team just like the Sannin?"

Naruto and Sasuke shared significantly looks, ones which Sakura couldn't decipher.

"We will tell you. Just not now. The rookie has arrived." Said Naruto in a low tone, as his eyes flicked to the roof. Sakura's lips sealed themselves, and nodded at Naruto, not understanding how he could know that, but trusting him.

She was a far cry from the girl she was a month before, and it was only then that she was beginning to realise it.

A cold wind crept along the dark alleyways of the once prosperous district, as three individuals made their way down the main street, towards the main house. Winter was coming, and with it, brought the time at which Haru had decided that it was time to begin his own enquiries. So here he was, walking through the district which he had swore to never step foot into again, accompanied by his two comrades, Rai and Genji.

The Hyuuga was observing his surroundings with interest, as never before had a Hyuuga stepped foot onto Uchiha ground, and the Branch-Member was most likely trying to make the most of it.

"The place hasn't been cleared up." murmured Rai, frowning at the weapons that were pinned to buildings, as well as blood splatters that were permanently stained into the wooden buildings. No amount of rain would ever wash it away.

"The Hokage asked for it not to be. The scene is too large to be recorded, so it needed to remain as uncontaminated as possible while it was all recorded." Replied Haru. "The investigation teams have only recently finished cataloguing everything. This is why we are here."

"Two years though?" murmured Rai with a raised eyebrow. "I guess the village is a lot more run-down than we thought."

"Those qualified to do the job quicker were part of the police force, of which the majority perished in this massacre." Announced Genji solemnly, his Byakugan activated as he glanced around the area. "What precisely are we looking for?"

"The Investigation found something of interest." Said Haru. "All deaths were instantaneous."

"Right…" encouraged Rai, rolling his eyes slightly at his friend.

"They found that more than one individual had died at the exact same time." Announced Haru, causing both Rai and Genji to frown.

"So Itachi didn't do it as cleanly as possible." Replied Rai, shrugging his shoulders.

"Itachi wouldn't make a mistake like that." Said Genji calmly. "He was trained to be the best, and he became that." Genji paused to think, while his eyes began to comb the area once more. "Were the causes of death significantly different."

Haru nodded his head to Genji.

"There were roughly eight different causes. Blow to the head, decapitation, slitting the throat, piercing the heart, piercing the skull, breaking the neck, explosion and some were even 'scared' to death."

"Eight different methods." Said Rai, frowning. "Eight different people?"

"The investigation team ruled that out." Replied Haru. "No one was seen entering Konoha that evening. No one. All citizens of Konoha were accounted for that night, aside from those out on missions, and Uchiha Itachi."

"I sense a but coming." Replied Rai, shooting Haru an intrigued glance.

"The Blood Clone." Said Haru, causing Rai to raise his eyebrows, while Genji nodded his head.

"Possibly." The Hyuuga looked towards Rai, who was deep in thought. "You created it. Could the Blood Clone work?"

"It could." Murmured Rai. "I created it just for the purpose of creating a fake-death. But it takes months to create one, and surely someone would notice a group of ninja, Uchiha's, who disappeared for long periods of time. To create a complete clone of themselves would take a large amount of concentration and a complete knowledge of the human anatomy so that they could create an accurate clone."

Haru's blood ran cold for a moment.

"Itachi wasn't attending Clan Meetings." He said. "Shisui came to me once, accompanied by a few others a few days before we left. Shisui told me that Itachi wasn't going anymore, and they were starting to clamp down on the others, as they weren't attending either. They wanted me to go and speak to the other Uchiha, as I was old enough to not be considered a child." Haru's mind began to go through the possibilities. "The Blood Clone is taught to all ANBU operatives. At least twelve Uchiha were ANBU, though the clan didn't know about them all."

"So what, eight Uchiha killed the clan, seven of them faking their deaths, with Itachi taking sole responsibility for it?" murmured Rai, deep in thought. "Anyway we can get access to the remains?"

Haru shook his head.

"The Council won't allow it. They wish for them to be left in peace. Never mind the fact that they were planning a coup. Fools." Hissed Haru.

"We can access the burial sight though?" questioned Genji, a plan in his mind.

"We can. Though it is disguised as a civilian graveyard, so no foreign ninja will think to examine the graves looking for secrets." Replied Haru. "Why, you wish to take a look?"

"I should be able to see the difference between a blood-clone and a regular person. A person's remains shall have no chakra remaining, but the blood-clone will still have some." Replied Genji, as the three ninja rushed across town.

Haru stood in full Commander Regalia; his mask was firmly on his face, as he gazed down towards the lines of ANBU Captains who stood before him. The other four Commanders were also spaced about he room, all were watching their comrade, waiting for the meeting to begin. A board was behind Haru, on it was the general outline written in ink. Ink which would become visible once chakra was passed through it. His eyes looked through the slits on his raven mask, eyes which the ANBU members couldn't see, apart from the slight sliver of glowing green. His eyes flicked around the room, making sure that all Captains who were currently within the village had turned up. Reaching the correct number, he began to speak.

"You are all trusted ninja of Konoha. The highest of any ninja." Said Haru. "This is why you are all here today. What I am about to tell you, must not leave this room. If the likes of Danzo, and the ROOT, get any knowledge of this, I will know who told them. But, I know that this will not happen. You are ANBU Captains of Konohagakure, and therefore you are loyal to the Village, and the Hokage."

A variety of heads nodded around the room in response to his words, and Haru smiled beneath his mask. This sort of loyalty was a rarity. Haru nodded his head as a sign of respect, and touched the board with his fingers, creating a pulse of chakra that made the writing become visible.

"The Hokage has authorised an investigation, one that shall require the attention of those that are within the room." Stated Haru. "We have uncovered evidence which had unveiled new facts about the past. Due to this, we have been given permission to uncover the truth by any means." Here, Nezumi stepped up from where she was on the front row, and faced the gather group. Moriko was a spy mistress, so naturally she wanted to be the one to reveal one of the best kept secrets that the five Commanders had uncovered.

"There is a group of S-Class nuke nin by the name of Akatsuki." She said. "I know that several of you in this room have come across them, but haven't intercepted on our orders. This group is one of our targets. We want to find out everything we can about this group, from its members, both past and present, their whereabouts and their goals. Right now, we have reason to believe that they are collecting bijuu. Anyone doing such a thing is too dangerous to go unchecked, especially considering that Konoha harbours one of their targets. We also have reason to believe that one Uchiha Itachi is a current member."

This caused a few mutterings from the group, more specifically from some of Hidemi's Captains, who had been in a unit with the young ANBU.

"We also have reason to believe that Orochimaru was a former member." Said Genji, his bird mask on his face. "This is what the investigation shall be about. It shall probably be the most important investigation the ANBU have ever done. The targets are simple. Look into Orochimaru's whereabouts, what he has been up to, what his goals are. We think he has been trying to gain an alliance between Kumo and Iwa against Konoha, but that was broken apart. Iwa ANBU attacked Uchiha Haru a few weeks ago, on what we presume was his orders. We want to know why. He has also left Akatsuki, and we need to know what happened there."

"When investigating the Akatsuki, pay particular attention on its Leader." Announced Haru. "Itachi would never have left our ranks, unless there was something better for him to have. Therefore, we need to know what the bait was."

"Finally." said Rai. "Investigate the Uchiha Massacre. Evidence has come up, proving that not all the Uchiha died. In fact, after analysing the remains of the Uchiha recently, we think that all of those Uchiha of the current generation survived the massacre, and that it was several Uchiha, ANBU members at that, who massacred the clan. Seven of them faked their own deaths, and then Itachi took the blame for it, for reasons we don't know. Uchiha Itachi is a high priority target, to be captured on sight for questioning, he must not be killed. The whereabouts of the surviving Uchiha, numbering in the twenties, needs to be known. The estimated reasoning of the massacre was that the younger generation revolted against the older ones, who were planning a coup d'état on the Hokage and the Council."

"By whatever means necessary, this is what we must find out. The fate of many of the villagers depends on it. We wish you will."

In sync, the ANBU Captains left, their targets been given.

"Let's wonder what the future will bring, eh?" murmured Rai, running a hand through his red hair.

The days past quicker now. Those within the highest echelons of the ninja knew that there was something going on. The sudden restless behaviour of ANBU, as well as their coming and going quicker than usual allowed for those who knew the signs to begin preparing themselves. They all knew that war would be coming soon, as the subtle signs had begun.

It was on one such day that Uchiha Haru sat within one of the trees overlooking the Academy, watching the students within their lessons. It was Sasuke's first day in the graduating class, and he wanted to make sure that both of his students knew their roles. A light smile was on his face, as he watched Hidemi's apprentice belittle Naruto in a convincing manner. Good, they knew their roles perfectly.

He could sense a chakra signature coming closer, and he ignored it, recognising the signature immediately. The individual came to rest on the branch above Haru, and Haru smirked inwardly. Hatake Kakashi had fallen for their bait, hook, line and sinker.

"Haru-san." Murmured Kakashi, causing Haru to look up at the jounin. "There are many rumours going around about you."

Haru made his muscles tense for a moment, giving Kakashi the inkling that he had caught the chuunin off guard. 'That should calm any suspicions he has.'

"What can I help you with, Hatake-san?" asked Haru to the superior ranked ninja. He flicked his eyes up, seeing the masked jounin in the trees. The man's one visible black eye was focused lazily at the academy. Haru let his focus drift to the other eye, which he knew had once belonged to his cousin, Uchiha Obito. The jounin then spoke.

"The rumours state that you were attacked by Iwa ANBU on our territory."

"Are you here to seek confirmation of these rumours?" questioned Haru, relaxing his muscles and leaning back with a sense of calm about him that he knew would be confusing the younger ninja.

"Confirmation."

"Then they are true." Replied Haru, nodding his head at the other ninja. "The attack was prevented by a bird masked ANBU. The type of bird eludes me though. Sharp beak and slits for eyes."

"Commander Karasu." Answered Kakashi, causing Haru to widen his eyes in response. He had to make sure that everything seemed natural.

"I came back to the village, and reported it to the Hokage. I am guessing that the rumours have leaked due to the ANBU's current activities. I was informed that they would be doing the investigation."

"Nothing else?" asked Kakashi.

"The Hokage told me that it had something to do with the Uchiha, and Orochimaru. Nothing more."

Kakashi nodded his head, before disappearing, leaving Haru alone on the branch. The Uchiha smirked to himself. Their plans were going rather well. By making Kakashi initially suspicious, he had begun his own enquiries. Enquiries that was loud enough for any who knew the answers to them to become uneasy. So when the ANBU began their investigations, it was the matter of spotting the odd one out in a crowd, taking them in for interrogation. Haru had just made sure that Kakashi still had reason to continue his investigations, as well as making sure that he knew to protect Sasuke when the time came for Kakashi to be his sensei. Not that the jounin knew that. Not yet anyway.

The green eyed man looked up at the sun which shone brightly in the sky, and calculated the time of day from that. Today was Mid-Summer's Day, and as usual, it was market day. As Haru vacated the tree he was in, and walked towards the shopping district. It was at times like this when he wished that he were just an ordinary civilian. With nothing more to worry about than the price of vegetables, and if the house was clean. He walked down the busy streets, his hands in the pockets of his chuunin vest, as he allowed the suns glow to wash over him.

The differences between Harry Potter and Uchiha Haru were rather vast. At least, in his opinion. Ninja training had calmed down his 'saving people thing'. Being raised in the Uchiha clan had abated his need for a family, as his mind had recognised that not all families were like the Weasley's, or the Inuzuka's. But his sense of right and wrong, the morals which he had learnt in a previous life were still with him. His curious nature and his natural intuitiveness had remained with him after his death.

He still carried a particular lack of respect of authority figures, although he kept it more to himself than anyone else. He still carried a fear of small spaces, and complete, icy cold darkness. Due to a combination of his pervious childhood, and the Dementor's. Yet, according to Hidemi, he had taken on some of Dumbledore's characteristics. Talking in riddles, caring more for the welfare of a child than it's abilities and holding the strings to everything, behind the scenes so that no one knew who held them.

At first, he had tried to disagree with the latter, but with time he realised how true her words were. There were many things that they hadn't informed anyone of. How deep their information net went. What their true intentions were. Hidden some allies of Konoha, making them the trios only. Such was an individual who Haru was going to meet now.

One of his oldest friends, second only to Hidemi and Rai. The woman had an information net of her own, but the method in which it was created was something completely different entirely. While people had informants from friends, or shared goals. She had got hers by being under the guise of a fortune teller, and travelling from village to village, allowed her to see the 'fortunes' of anyone. A lot of her customers were ninja, and she gleaned a lot of information from their minds, while she made up a fortune for them.

An amused smile appeared on Haru's face, at the thought of the blond haired woman, whom Haru knew he could trust with anything. He entered the market place, before walking over to a particular stall. He entered it without even asking permission, and went through a curtain into a smaller, dark room. Inside, a table was covered in beads and a small crystal ball, which was there for show. A slight smell of incense was present in the room, as well as calming music of a kind. The room was completely cut off from the loud market outside, allowed any individuals who entered the room to feel calm immediately.

Haru's green eyes drifted to the petite woman who appeared to be in her early twenties, who was sat on a mat, her eyes closed. She appeared to be asleep, but the opening of her eyes disagreed with that notion. The woman had pale skin, pale blue eyes, and long, dirty blond hair. She smiled at him, her gaze focused on him, while giving him the impression that she wasn't really looking at him.

"Haru-kun. I have been expecting you." She said, her voice having a soothing quality about it. She stood up gracefully and walked towards the completely relaxed ninja before her. Haru smiled at her, a true smile, not an amused smirk or anything.

The woman reached beneath the table, and put a bowl onto the table before them. The bowl had runes engraved all around of, none of which Haru could understand. She casually waved her hand over it, and a mans voice echoed from it.

"The Otokage has been seen conversing with the Kazekage on the border. Rumoured a possible alliance. Iwa-nin have also been welcomed into the Rice Field Country, so whatever is going on in the Otokage's head is amazing, as both Iwa and Suna are enemies of one another, almost as much as Konoha and Iwa."

"This is accurate?" questioned Haru, his eyes focused on the bowl. The Penseive.

"You are questioning whether or not the 'Great Tsuki – Fortune Teller Extraordinaire' is accurate?" asked Tsuki airily.

"I shall take that as a yes." Answered Haru, his thoughts pondering the meaning of the information. Otokage, rumoured to be Orochimaru, was playing a dangerous game with two of the Great Hidden Villages. A game, that if when wrong would mean the destruction of Otogakure by either of the villages. Haru frowned, as his mind began to try and make sense of the information it had just gotten. The trouble was in trying to put himself into the mind of Orochimaru. Someone had once told him that the 'reading' a mind was far more complicated than what the statement alluded to, and in this sense Haru had to agree with the man. Orochimaru was a prime example of how deviant humanity could ever go. To such an extent that fellow humans couldn't understand his thought process. Although he would bet that he Sandaime could make a more accurate guess than anyone else.

"Has the Sandaime been made aware of the knowledge which you and the others hold? Of what I told you last time." Murmured Tsuki, her eyes cold, as she stared at him unblinkingly. Haru was instantly reminded of the unease he felt around her the first time he had seen her. The same girl who had pronounced him sane to the rest of the world, and supported him throughout, no matter her quirky behaviour.

He was also reminded of the mere shadow of the girl she had once been. An age old relic of a time long past, whose only method of earning a living was by using her divining powers on others. Every time he saw this shadow, the guilt in his heart grew. At the time of their deaths, there had been but two other individuals, Hermione and Ron, who were aware of the Hallows. Xenophilius and Luna Lovegood.

They had first met here almost ten years before, when Hidemi had run into a young woman who looked just like Luna, acted a lot like her and went under the alias of 'Tsuki'. At first the kunoichi had thought nothing off it, coincidental maybe? No one could have survived the time that passed between their two lives. But they stood corrected. Tsuki and Luna Lovegood were one and the same. One was the persona of a school girl who's live changed with the death of her mother, and did everything in her power to please her power, even if it meant becoming just like him. Becoming the school outcast, and never revealing what precisely she knew to other. What she was now was something else entirely. An age old relic of a time long past, who became what she was due to the desire to survive long enough in a world which became overrun with the darkness. The Dark Lord died through old age, he had never found out that all of his Horcrux's had been destroyed, and had died before he could create another.

The world then became overrun with the Dark Lord's followers, as they tried to create something even though their master had perished. Throughout all of this confusion, as families turned on one another to survive in times where rules no longer existed, and it was every one for themselves, little Luna Lovegood who had been overlooked by everyone, began to carry on with the work that her friends had given her. She had known that the True Master of Death had perished, all because he didn't have the Hallows on him at the time. Therefore, she sought to collect them for herself, and survive the times.

Survive, and prevail into a time when she would be needed again. Where she could hand the Hallows over to their rightful owner, and aid them in their battles. She had survived the world, and had waited until they were to be reborn. Then, here she was. Tsuki the Fortune Teller, a spy into the outside world, a spy with connections greater than that of Jiraiya, and one of the biggest secrets that the trio had kept from the Sandaime.

"The Sandaime doesn't know. He won't be made aware until he must. Right now, Orochimaru has reached a standstill in his work to be Immortal. There is only so much taking over a body can do. His spirit is aging, and that will be what kills him one day. There are only a few ways to halt such aging, and we are privy to such information." He shot Tsuki a significant look, as she nodded her head in response.

"There will be a time in the near future that you shall have to speak to the Hokage about this. There is more going on than what you think there is. As much as I have tried to hide all knowledge of the Horcrux's from him, there is a leak which I have come across. One that I didn't think would have survived then times. I am sure that you recall Bella?"

Haru's breath hitched, as he stared at Tsuki with wide eyes.

"She is alive?" hissed Haru, his eyes turning into slits, as his blood boiled.

"She is." Replied Tsuki. "She followed her master's path. She created several Horcrux's, some of which I have destroyed once I have realised what they were. However, she still retains two of them. Two wands. Brother Wands. Phoenix feather cores. They have survived time, and although are no longer able to be used, they are trophies to her."

Haru's fists clenched and unclenched as his thoughts drifted to that woman. Although time had passed, and he had died, and come back to life in an entirely different time. He would always hate her. He may have hated and loathed murderers and killers, hunted rapists and enemy ninja who massacred whole villages so as to gain a place on a chess board, but there would always be a special place in his heart for Bellatrix Lestrange nee Black. No matter how far he ran from her, it appeared as though he would never escape her.

"Is Orochimaru aware of her?" asked Haru, as he began to ponder everything. At the moment, Orochimaru appeared to have put his quest for the Sharingan on the back burner, as he concentrated on staying alive long enough to accomplish all that he wanted to do. Therefore, his desire to become immortal was paramount.

"I have spent many years destroying any record of our society's existence." Murmured Tsuki, her blue eyes were shadowed as she spoke. "But apparently I didn't do so well. He found out about us, and desires any surviving blood relative as a host to his body. Our body's natural magic will prolong the life of his spirit, thus making us desirable. Equal to that of the Uchiha. You however…"

"I am his most desirable host then." Murmured Haru, feeling a cold anger in his veins. No matter which life he was in, it appeared that someone was out to get him. To possess him. "He doesn't know about me though, does he? He knows of me being an Uchiha, but not of being a magic-user. But Bellatrix knows. In fact, I do not doubt that if she came across me she would recognise me immediately. We are forever bound, Bellatrix and I, and I guess these coming years shall decide the victor of our fight."

"Orochimaru seeks her. He knows that she is alive, but that is all." Whispered Tsuki. "I fear that the mortal shall do something foolish. Out of all the Death Eaters, Bellatrix was the most fear. For her sheer madness and skill. If the two of them ever combined forces, then I fear for this world. I fear for us all."

"Don't worry, Luna." Said Haru in a comforting voice, as he knelt before the smaller woman, and rested a beneath her chin, making her look at him. "It will not come to that. We won't let it. This time round we are prepared. Neither Bellatrix, Orochimaru or Akatsuki can be prepared for us. Everything will work out, you will see."

"Then it is past time that I return these to you." Announced Tsuki boldly, as she stood up, and made her way through the room, and moving boxes, and mystical looking objects out of her way. Eventually she held a palm sized box, which she brought to Haru. "This is the Hallow which I know you of all desired the most."

Haru took the box, knowing what lay within its depths. An item which he hadn't seen for many years, and item which had given him the thing that he desired most of all. To see his parents again. To feel the acceptance that he had never gotten from them. Even the parents of this life, he had not got their acceptance, having been seen as too rebellious for the clan to handle. Therefore, he was rejected by them. Even though he had always sought acceptance from an adult of some kind. This object, this ring. This stone, would always let him to do. The Resurrection Stone. The item which had chosen him as its Master in a previous life. One could only hope that Tsuki was right, and it would accept him again in this life.

He opened the box, his hands not shaking due to the ninja training he had undergone. Inside lay the Peverell ring, with the cracked Resurrection Stone firmly in its centre. He vaguely remembered the time when they were discussing the Hallows. Rai has wanted the Elder Wand, Hidemi the cloak and he the Stone.

"Arigato Tsuki."

"May this stone bring you good tidings, hm?"

Sorry for the long wait. College and university have taken up a lot of my time. The other stories are being done, just at a slower pace than this chapter was being done. Half of the next Uchiha Haru has been done, a quarter of Noir et Blanc, half of Random Plots has been completed. The first five chapter of Noir, Blanc et Rouge has been completed.

A shout to all my UK readers. Where you all from? Just seeing if I am gonna be near any of ya next year. Applied to five universities, got accepted into three. Got an interview at the fourth, and I haven't heard back from the fifth. So where are you all from?

Anyhow. Timeline. Shall be on the ages of Sasuke at the time, so you can follow it.

Age 8 and 2 months: Trio leave and go on mission

Age 8 and 3 months: Uchiha Massacre

Age 8 and 5 months: Trio return, and take Sasuke in

Age 8 and 11 month: Train Naruto and Sasuke

Age 9 and 2 months: Kakashi quits ANBU

Age 9 and 7 months: Naruto is told the truth

Age 10 and 4 months: Sakura joins them

Age 10 and 9 months: Enter Tsuki

As you can see, four/five years have passed. Next chapter is the trio graduating, and then we meet Naruto-canon. I shall try to keep it as fast paced as possible, until we start to hit where I have changed things. Believe me – a lot of things have been changed. As you can see from this chapter.

In terms of abilities, here are a list of characters so you can compare, out of 60. The higher the number, the more powerful they are.

Madara: 54

Minato: 52.5

Sandaime: 50

Kakashi: 47.5

Itachi: 49

Gai: 45

Sannin: 50.5

Hidemi: 49.25

Haru: 50.75

Rai: 49.5

Anyhow. I hope you have enjoyed this chapter. Please review :)

Love

Morrigu-chan x