The next day, Ayame found a note on the kitchen counter. It was from Kabuto he said that he would meet her out in the woods, for he had to take care of some unfinished business. She shrugged her shoulders, threw her bag over her shoulders and met Jiraiya on the porch.
"Now no funny business in my house, and my room is locked so you will be sleeping in the basement." Ayame handed him over the keys to her house.
"What about the…um… you know." Jiraiya whispered.
"Don't worry, only I can access that." Ayame left Jiraiya and her beloved house. She bowed to the elders and Matoka as they gave their blessings before she left the village. It was morning and the mist was just rising once she stepped onto the road away from the village. That morning she tied her Konoha forehead protector on, for the first time since she left Konoha.
"I haven't seen you with that thing on in a long time," Kabuto appeared from behind a tree joining her.
"I know it feels weird, but it brings back old memories." Ayame nudged Kabuto but secretly she wish not to remember those memories. When she put the protector on her mind when back to the first time that she wore it. She was with Itachi, they both passed the academy exams. They both found out that they were on the same team. There friendship at that time was only just flourishing and Itachi challenged her to a race after they meet with their Sensi. Throughout their race they were neck and neck the whole time, running beside each other. But at the very end Itachi pulled through and beat her. They were laying on the grass breathing heavily when Itachi told her that he was glad that they were on the same team. The way he smiled was branded in her mind, even now as she walked with Kabuto towards Konoha. Back then it would have been Itachi beside her but time changes and people change.
"Let's speed things up a little bit, I'm getting bored." Ayame suggested and Kabuto nodded. They were off into the trees jumping from limb to limb. They didn't talk that much for with each jump towards Konoha Ayame grew more nervous. She wasn't nervous about meeting everyone and seeing Kakashi again, but she was nervous about beginning her mission. She thought that with this job that the Third gave her she wouldn't have to confront Itachi about what had happened. Now she can't run away anymore, she has to face her past. At least she won't have to do it alone; Kakashi will be there for her again. She couldn't wait to see him, especially since he thought she was dead. But her excitement was mixed with anger towards Kakashi for not telling her about Naruto.
Kabuto also had things on his mind and enjoyed the silence. Now he could concentrate on returning to his sadistic attitude towards everything. Yet Ayame was still besides him and he found it hard to concentrate on anything but her. 'Damn it, I have to get away from her and soon.' Kabuto focused on not looking over at her but he caught himself stealing a glance every now and then. Ayame noticed Kabuto's glances and felt his resistance at the same time. There was that same feeling she had when they were cuddling on the couch. She couldn't quiet get a grasp it or him for that matter. Before she left Konoha he was so easy to read but now it's almost impossible, just like Itachi. There he was again, in her thoughts. Ever since Kabuto came she couldn't get Itachi out of her mind, he appeared everywhere. So Ayame blocked out all thoughts and directed her attention towards Konoha, which was rapidly approaching.
"Ayame," Kabuto caught up with her. "I have to leave you know."
"What?" Ayame stopped on a branch behind Kabuto.
"I have to go to the east of Konoha, to continue my work." Kabuto jumped down onto the path and Ayame followed.
"Oh," Ayame looked down at the dirt. "I guess I'll see you in Konoha when you get finished."
"Something like that," Kabuto went towards her whispering in her ear. "I had fun." Then he was gone and Ayame was alone on the path. She decided to stay on the ground realizing that she wasn't in a huge rush. Besides it was a beautiful day, so she put a cloth covering her nose and mouth so that someone could only see her eyes. This was a precaution she took in case she meet others on her journey who believed her to be dead, she didn't want to cause someone to actually die from just seeing her. A little ways down the path her stomach started to grumble. She found a nice shady place to sit down and eat lunch. Within her pack she unwrapped some ramen noodles got out a small pot and started a fire. The smell of the noodles caused her stomach to grumble louder only did her stomach stop once the noodles touched her mouth. Once she was done eating she relaxed against the tree watching the clouds floating by. Then a disturbance reached her left ear. Quietly she slipped into the tree above and waited. Two cloaked figures appeared and checked out her gear. They both wore straw hats with black coats that had red clouds design and a chin high collar. She watched them intently, neither one of them spoke but the smaller one stooped down to look through her bag.
Ayame used Kage Bunshin no Jutsu in the trees creating only one copy. That copy gathered chakra in her hand, forming rasengan while the original Ayame also formed rasengan. Then they leaped out of the tree and attacked. The Clone attacked the bigger guy knocking him off his feet and throwing him through five trees before he stopped. Ayame attacked the one looking through her pack; he being more prepared dodged the attack only to suffer minor cuts on his arm from the attack. Ayame quickly turned around to find the guy throwing a punch at her. She swung her legs around trapping the guy, but not bringing him down. He used her intentions to stabilize her with his legs. Then he threw another punch at her but instead released shurikens, Ayame countered his attack and freed her self from his legs. She jumped back to create distance between them. She guessed her clone was taking care of the other guy for he didn't appear to be anywhere near. But Ayame wouldn't let her mind close to the possibility that he was hiding. Meanwhile the guy griped the tip of his hat pulling it off to reveal black hair pulled back into a low ponytail except for some layers that wouldn't stay; two sharingan eyes, and an ice cold stare.
'Itachi!' Ayame thought but refrained from saying anything for her identity was still hidden. He lunged forward throwing punches after punches. Ayame quickly deflected them. Then a force behind her knocked her to the ground and her mask fell off. 'Damn!' Ayame thought as she lay on the ground. 'I guess I'll have to get serious, now' She felt her self being turned over involuntarily. Her eyes meet those of Itachi and he stopped his eyes from changing to their worst state once he saw her face. Instead his eyes changed to normal and fear struck them eyes, although he didn't show it on his face. He backed off, letting her get up. She wiped the blood of her mouth still staring at Itachi.
"Ayame," Itachi said with no emotion showing except in his eyes. His eyes never could lie to her and now that they were black, it revealed too much. He was shocked.
"Itachi, It's been a while," Ayame replied. Just then his buddy appeared irritated that a clone kept him busy for so long.
"We're leaving, Kisame," Itachi told his partner.
"What!" Kisame shouted.
"We're leaving," Itachi's eyes went back to Sharingan as he stared down Kisame. Then they disappeared, Ayame breathed and fell to the ground.
"So it's true, Itachi, you're part of Akatsuki." Ayame muttered, "What happened?"
Ayame approached the gates to Konoha. Her wounds healed but she was still shaken up about seeing Itachi so suddenly. A young woman stood behind the gates with short black hair, she greeted Ayame shyly. "Hello I'm Shizune. Tsunade regrets that she can not meet you here but would like me to take you to her."
"Tsunade, why are you taking me to her?"
Shizune shocked at Ayame's response, paused for a while before responding. "Didn't Jiraiya inform you, that Tsunade is the Fifth Hokage?"
"Really, now." Ayame eyes opened wide. "Well that is a shock and I shall remind myself to ask Jiraiya why he left such important information out." Ayame winked at Shizune who didn't know how to respond just told her to follow her. The city hadn't changed as much as Ayame thought it would. They didn't seem to be that bad off either, from the attack over three years ago. They headed towards the inner city when something caught Ayame's eye. She looked over to find Kakashi heading her way. Ayame yelled for Shizune to wait a minute, while she ran towards Kakashi. Kakashi was in a discussion with Yamato when he pointed out a woman running towards them She had brown hair pulled back into a ponytail that swished from side to side as she ran. She didn't wear anything that Kakashi recognized in Konoha. She had black bermunda shorts with a blue tunic. Her wrists wore bandages as well as her right shin. As she came closer he could see a protector protruding underneath her bangs. Then he noticed that Shizune was waiting behind the girl.
"Ayame!" Kakashi yelled towards the girl.
"Kakashi!" Ayame replied as she jumped into Kakashi's arms. He swung her around before letting go.
"I didn't realize that you would be here this soon. I would have prepared something."
"It's all right, I just came and I saw you so I couldn't help but say hi. It's been so long, can you meet me for dinner around six." Ayame smiled.
"Um…am I paying?" Kakashi felt his money slipping through his fingers today.
"No, it's my treat, so where's the best ramen place around here." Ayame browsed the surrounding area.
"Ichiraku Ramen."
"Still, well I'll meet you there," Ayame pulled closer to Kakashi where her mouth reached his ear. Her voice became more seriously as she spoke, "Bring my brother, as well."
Kakashi swallowed hard and his face went pale. He couldn't utter any words but just nodded his head. Ayame gave him a smile and waved before taking off again. His palms were sweating; he definitely remembered her fits of anger and hoped that she learned to control that since it's been six years. Yamato noticed Kakashi's change, "Who was that you're girlfriend."
"Oh no… no… she's not my girlfriend," Kakashi nervously laughed but blushed at that thought. "Her name is Ayame and she's my daughter."
"Daughter!" Yamato tried to collect any memory of Kakashi every mentioning that he was married.
"Well my adoptive daughter. Her father was the Fourth." Kakashi explained as he started to walk again. Yamato didn't inquire into it anymore, since he noticed Kakashi's grave attitude.
Ayame entered Tsunade's office with Shizune formally introducing the two of them. She was surprised by Tsunade's appearance since she was about Jiraiya's age, but instead she looked in her twenties. However, Ayame was glad that a woman finally became Hokage, since she was offered the position but declined while the Third was alive. Tsunade seem to be exactly as Jiraiya described her and instantly liked Tsunade, especially since she gave Jiraiya a blow he would remember the rest of his life. She chuckled while she remembered him explaining the fateful tale.
"What is it?" Tsunade asked defensively.
"Oh, nothing. I was just remembering a tale that Jiraiya told me about you and him… and the aftermath."
"Oh," Tsunade chuckled too as she reviewed that memory in her mind. "I guess I didn't teach him a lesson he's still a pervert."
"I'm a little worried about leaving him alone in my village with all those innocent girls. But I'm pretty sure that the fact that he is one of the Sanin won't keep their fathers from giving him a piece of their mind." Ayame laughed louder as she imagined what the men would do if they caught Jiraiya peeking at their daughters. Then her laughter died after a while remembering why she was here. "I'm still not very clear on my mission. You want me to bring Sasuke back but also find Itachi and what kill him?"
"Sasuke won't come back and we've tried everything. He's become… vengeful and that's all that is in his heart right now." Tsunade explained. Ayame listened but her attention was diverted for she saw a small girl in the shadows.
"I'm sorry Fifth but who's in the shadows. I thought this was a secret mission?" Ayame pointed towards the shadows.
"Sakura come on out, I'm sorry Ayame this is my other apprentice, Sakura. She was on the same team as Sasuke and is personally involved in this mission. Now back to the mission," Tsunade explained while Sakura joined Tsunade's side. Ayame recognized her as the pink haired girl in the picture that Jiraiya gave her. "Now since you're the only one who knows Itachi we thought that you could use that to track Sasuke and lure him back here, by any means necessary."
"I don't know how well that will work, since Itachi has changed since we were kids." Ayame recalled the memories of earlier today when she fought him briefly, before he departed. She was still figuring out why he backed away.
"Well right now, it's the best plan we've got. But if your findings lead you to Itachi, kill him if you must. For it is one less Akatsuki member and since he tried to kidnap Naruto, to extract the nine tails."
"I see, oh that reminds me do you happen to have the Third's old notes around somewhere. There is something that I need to understand." Ayame said in a tone that told Tsunade that it was a private matter between them.
"There where some and I put them away in a separate room, Sakura will show you the way." Tsunade got up, announcing that the meeting was over. "Will you accept the mission?"
"You bet," Ayame left the room with Sakura guiding her. While they were walking another memory floated into Ayame's mind. She was with Itachi visiting his village after they became Chunin, since Kakashi was away on a mission Itachi invited her to visit. His parents welcomed her with smiles and they didn't mind having her around for a while. She distinctly remembers when they entered Itachi's house, a black spiked hair kid with blue undertones ran towards Itachi, congratulating him and asking for a piggy back ride. Itachi's mother told him to take Sasuke outside, while she prepared dinner. They walked outside with Ayame next to Itachi and Sasuke on Itachi's back, laughing. Itachi smiled as he held his brother and that was the moment that Ayame fell for Itachi. She always held that smile in her mind even after Itachi murdered his clan, for the two just never matched up. This would give her a chance to figure what happened to Itachi after he became ANBU.
"Here it is? Do you need some help?" Sakura asked and Ayame accepted her offer. They took two hours searching for the Third's reason for splitting her and Naruto up. When Ayame realized that it was a quarter til six, she quickly excused herself and thanked Sakura for her help.