Okay, I'm thankful for the postitive feedback, and I'm glad so many people are interested in this story. I seriously thought this was going to set off a bunch of flamers, but eh, I'm still waiting for one. I know for a fact my writting is horrible, and I have to swallow a lump in my throat everytime I get that email saying that someone has reviewed. It's extremely stressful for me, sigh.

THANK YOU REVIEWERS:

Arcade, schnookums, EDelta88, Pepe, tora17, Tachi Kagahara, Imperial Mint, devil4y, tsnade2, Blue Kitsune, Snush, Stargazer, Beserkerofhell, shadowzerover5 Thank you!

Here's Chapter 3.

The crisp, clean morning wind swirled around the trees of Konohagakure, rustling the lightly painted leaves of autumn. It was still early in the season, the air just beginning to chill and the leaves starting to fall. The soft sunlight of the early hours bathed the peaceful city, streaming into homes and buildings that allowed it.

This was what Itachi Uchiha awoke to, as he did every morning. Sitting up against the dark wood headboard of his bed, he gazed out the window pointlessly, taking in the scenery he's seen a thousand times before. It was slightly monotonous to him, while most would find it breath-taking or charming even, he only saw the same thing each day, the village having painted itself grey in his eyes.

He stifled a yawn, for proper Uchiha's do not yawn, and stretched out an arm and felt around his nightstand... only to find something was missing. He snapped his head around, and just as he thought, something WAS missing. His eyes sharply scanned the stand and the ground around it, searching for a glimmer or an outline of a cord, but spotted nothing. He narrowed his eyes dangerously, his Sharingan flaring to life.

The teen threw his sheets carelessly aside, stepping out of bed heavily. Itachi stormed over to the door of his room and yanked it open, nearly soundlessly but with enough force to make it look like it was going to fall off at the hinge. He managed to keep a somewhat cool head as he marched through the halls of the estate, his feet stomping against the textured floor with a satisfying thump. He kept his chin up and back straight in a composed manor, his face set in the emotionless stone we all know, but his fists were curled at his side, his nails digging into his palms.

Sasuke was surprised that he had actually woken up before his brother, but considering the state he was in the night before, it didn't take a genius to realize Itachi was completely exhausted. Sure Sasuke might have been quite tired himself, but he could tell his brother a nearly falling off at the seams. He took another bite out of his rice ball, clearing his mind for a moment before said brother came, practically stomping into the kitchen where Sasuke was enjoying his breakfast.

The former was certainly surprised at his brother's disheveled state, still in his sleepwear which consisted of his boxers and a large plain shirt, hair still down and obviously unbrushed, and he had one of the coldest glares direacted at him. Sasuke shuddered at the glare he was being given, slowly finishing chewing what was left of the rice ball in his mouth. His surprise increase only when the latter said-no-all but growled out in a very un-Itachi way,

"Where is my necklace?"

.

Naruto on the other hand was basking in the glory of the sun, stretched out in a clearing while leaning on a smooth rock. She enjoyed the warmth the sun gave her, and since the weather was getting colder it was good that she enjoy it while she could. Her fluffy crimson foxtail wrapped around her torso comfortably, also trying to get in so some of the heat.

She sighed contently before reaching up a hand to her neck, fingering the necklace she stole last night. It was a nice necklace, and the fox girl didn't want to ruin it so she placed it safely around her neck, where her long golden hair framed it nicely. She idly wondered if she had chosen to steal the right thing. Was he looking for it? Did he even know it was gone? Well, he was bound to notice something was missing, but would her figure out it was her who took it?

Last night Naruto had assumed that he would figure it out... but now thinking about it, how would he? She had heard that the last to Uchiha's were geniuses, but she wasn't so sure, considering she had heard most of her information from civilians and ninja who tended to gossip around the boarders. And then, the worst case-scenario popped into her head.

Did he even care?

.

Contrary to Naruto's paranoia towards Itachi's necklace, the latter was indeed raising hell about it in the Uchiha household. After Sasuke stated he wasn't sure where it was, Itachi had stormed off back to his room, practically tearing it apart in search of the necklace's whereabouts. Sasuke followed after him, blinking at his brother's strange behavior. Even though he seemed calm in appearance, anyone who knew Itachi could tell the man was fuming. His hands were balled up into fists, his Sharingan was active, his arms were slightly shaking and his posture a little too perfect and upright, and because of him still being in his sleepwear, you could tell all his muscles were tensed up. Sasuke knew it was probably best not be around him, lest something set him off and cause him to strangle the nearest person, so he kept his distance but he was still close enough to follow his brother around.

Itachi gripped the edge of his nightstand dangerously, so hard in fact the wood began to splint and bend under the force. The man turned to his younger brother, seemingly emotionless yet Sasuke flinched. Itachi made his way somewhat calmly to the kitchen, Sasuke following him in wonder. He then placed himself in a chair and leaned his elbows onto the table top and rested his eyes in the palms of his hands. He let out a strangled sigh, causing Sasuke to raise an eyebrow at him. The boy plopped into the chair across from him and picked up the half-eaten rice ball he had left in pursuit of the elder Uchiha. While he was eating he took the chance to study and man before him, growing worried when he didn't move a muscle in a long time. Clearing his throat, Sasuke decided it was best for him to distract his older brother from his plight.

"So, did you dream of anything last night?" Sasuke asked off-handedly, munching on his rice ball. Itachi shifted his left hand so that his eye was visible, and glared at Sasuke, clearly telling him to shut up. Sasuke noticed that his Sharingan was no longer active, so that must be a good sign. "I had a strange dream last night myself." he continued.

Itachi only grunted.

"I dreamt of this girl." Itachi, despite his efforts to remain angry, couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at his brother's dream.

"Is that so?" He said in an uncaring voice, but Sasuke smirked all the same. If Itachi asked questions, he was interested, regardless of his tone. He just didn't humor people; he found it a waste of time.

"Yes. She was beautiful too. Though it was dark, so I couldn't really make out exactly what she looked like."

"Hn."

"Long hair, piercing blue eyes, pointed ears" He ignored Itachi's surprised look, "and she was hovering over me..."

"Is my otouto turning into a pervert?"

"Please," Sasuke scoffed, "it wasn't like that. And besides she was holding up her hand in front of my face and the fingers were strangely shaped. I couldn't tell because it was dark, but they were more... pointed at the fingertips."

Itachi furrowed his brow slightly, thinking about his little brother's dream. He may not show it often, but he loved his little brother immensely. Pointed finger tips, he thought, maybe long finger nails? No. Pointed ears? Maybe, claws? An image suddenly flashed in his head, a week ago exactly when he retrieved his kunai from the tree and examined the bark, where it had been scratched up. His eyes shot open quickly as Sasuke started in surprise.

The teen got up from the table and dashed over too his brother's room, surveying the room for any damage. He saw none, except for the jumbled mess of sheets he always left in the morning. Everything was basically intact, clean, just like it always was. He got closer to the bed and scanned the sheets closely, when he noticed something peculiar on the white pillows. He picked up the offending object, and in an off tone said to Sasuke,

"You wouldn't happen to be keeping any pets now would you?" Sasuke jumped a bit from his position at the door. He wasn't expecting Itachi to even know he was there, so preoccupied with searching his bed. Sasuke blinked a few times that walked up to his brother, leaning over the taller man's shoulder to look at a medium-sized piece of red fur.

Itachi turned quickly and shrugged his brother off, moving to the window and sliding his hands across the sill. There was still dust on it, so they couldn't have come from the window, the dust would have blown away some. A sharp knocking brought him out of his stupor. He glared in the direction of the sound, coming from the front door of the house hold, before turning around once more and having his eyes widen slightly in shock. Sasuke looked at his older brother in question, following his eyes to the door of his room, and gasping a bit at what he saw.

Along the doors edge were five small scratch marks, each one varying in size and depth. The wood was broken and splint, if only slightly, it looked as if someone had gripped it tightly. Itachi growled. He didn't want to deal with this right now; he just wanted his necklace back. There was the sharp knocking again, and he growled even louder, storming off to the front door. Sasuke stayed behind and ran his fingers along the scratches; how the hell had he missed that? Was he that blind when he was sleepy?

Itachi on the other hand, had just thrown open the door, nearly smacking the knocker on their face. "What?!" He snarled, not in the mood. The knocker was frozen in mid knock, hand balled up in a fist halfway to the door. She blinked once. Twice, before glaring back up at the elder Uchiha.

"Itachi what was that for?" she asked, placing her hands on her hips. Her dark eyes narrowed dangerously, expecting an explanation. She was quite a sight, puffed up red cheeks and all with two fang-like tattoos on either side. Itachi sighed heatedly.

"Hana now is not the best time." The female Inuzuka just shrugged and pushed past the man and enter the house, plopping herself down on the couch.

"Oh why ever not, mighty Uchiha?" She mocked, rolling her wrists towards him and bowing as best one could while draped over a couch. Itachi grew a small tick mark on his head, but shrugged it off. There was no way he was going to kill his best friends today, even though he sure was in a shitty mood. Hana suddenly perked up, smelling the air. "Did you get a pet? Or pests? It smells weird in here." Itachi could've face palmed. Of course! He should have just asked Hana in the first place.

"Actually, I lost my necklace." Hana's eyes grew wide at this. "I think someone may have stolen it." He crossed his arms and looked angry but otherwise indifferent, but Hana knew better. He was hurting.

"I could take a look around for you." She offered softly, only to be rewarded with a glare. He didn't need her sympathy. Instead of answering all he did was shuffle towards Sasuke's room, where Sasuke was still studying the marks. If he wasn't a somewhat level-headed Uchiha he would be bashing his head against the wall for his stupidity.

He instantly brightened when he was Hana. "Hi Hana! Where are your dogs?"

"Oh, they're with mother today, taking the day off. Poor lads have been worked to the bone with all the missions we've had this week." Hana smiled softly and ruffled the boy's hair, then turning back to the door. She furrowed her brows at the scratch marks, running he fingers along them like they have been doing all morning. She sniffed the small amount of sawdust that stuck to her fingers, and immediately pulled away. She shook her head violently, sneezing a few times. Once she straightened out she continued in a somewhat throaty voice,

"That smells strongly of animal. Fox to be specific." Itachi and Sasuke both raised a questioning eyebrow at this, trying to fathom what a fox would be doing in their house.

"How did a fox get in here?" Sasuke, always the curious one asked disbelievingly.

"Well, she could have gotten in through an open window, or door..."

"She?" Itachi had a growing suspicion and he wasn't liking it one bit.

"She reeks of pheromones. And besides..." Itachi cut her off again, not wanting to hear the rest of it. He had come to a conclusion, and he needed to act now.

"Hana, why did you come here today?" The she-wolf blinked a few times before finally remembering.

"Oh yeah, Hokage-sama wanted me to get you, he had a mission for you. But Itachi I think that this is more important I mean..."

"Then I'll get ready now." Itachi snaked off, leaving without any room for argument. Hana sighed stubbornly, running a hand through her long brown hair. She turned to Sasuke and muttered,

"Your brother is so bipolar."

He just laughed.

.

At the Hokage's office, a one Hiruzen Sarutobi was confused. Just as he was about to give Itachi Uchiha his next mission, he interrupted the old Hokage. Most of the other ANBU were shocked, the raven-haired teen was not one to question the Hokage's orders, much less speak out of term. The weasel-masked ANBU stood there for a moment, before taking a folded napkin out of his pocket and dropping it softly on the large mahogany desk and stepping back. Sarutobi opened the white napkin carfully, while Itachi's emotionless voice rang out in the quiet room, startling the occupants.

"What can you tell me about foxes and Konoha's forest inhabitants?"

Okay, ugh, that was the 3rd chapter, I'm not really happy with it, and I was going to make it longer, but I decided against it. Short Chapters are okay, because I update often. Now Let me know what you think with a review please, I'm too tired to beg.