There are only 3, 4 or 5 chapters left of this series, I'd like to thank everyone whose been reading thus far. I'm glad to say that I've come a very far way from Waiting until now, and with that, my style of writing has changed greatly; so thank you to everyone and their supportive reviews on both stories.
PS. I have the appropriate title and female lead name for my Madara fic. Thanks so much everyone for your suggestions! I plan to upload the story on the first of December; Madara's birthmonth! :D Look forward to it, my buddies!
With a few short stops taken in various small villages, the three were successfully on their way. Though, both Itachi and Sasuke seemed somewhat skeptic at returning to the Leaf. Would they simply invite the two Uchiha brothers into their village after all the trouble they had caused? After all the trouble that the Uchiha had caused?
"Perhaps we shouldn't do this, Kitten.." Itachi murmured; his hand weaved with hers since the moment they began walking.
Stopping abruptly, she faced the two brothers who held wary expressions, "Oh... You two.." she whispered.
Sasuke shrugged as he glared at the forest floor, "I just... doubt that Konoha will accept Itachi and I."
"Technically, I am still an S Ranked criminal, dearest." The older brother explained dismally. He wanted to return to Konoha so desperately, but due to the tragic massacre that dealt by his hand, they may shun the Uchiha brothers' very existence.
Koneko clasped onto both of their hands, sincerity in her green orbs, "Believe me; both of you. They will allow you into the village. Be assertive,"
Even with slight reluctance on her word, they nodded nevertheless. The group began to walk again, as Sasuke scoffed, "I'm not looking forward to dealing with that moron Naruto, if we are able to return."
"Naruto-san may be your key to enter the village, little brother. You should respect him. After all, he is a close friend and comrade, hm?" Itachi smiled at his younger sibling. The elder brother had met the Uzumaki boy once or twice, and came to realize that he was indeed a perfect friend for Sasuke and therefore approved of him.
Sasuke scoffed, eyeing his brother, "You obviously don't know the idiot very well, Niisan."
"But I do," He said; his blind gaze focused on the road ahead of them, "he is fiercely headstrong and convincing. Before our meeting at the stronghold, Naruto managed to convince me that he could bring you back to Konoha while keeping it safe."
The raven-haired male decided to leave it at that, contemplating silently. Koneko glanced at her husband with one of her signature heart-warming smile and kissed his temple, proud of his accomplishment of making Sasuke reconsider his thoughts of the blonde boy.
Smiling in return, Itachi grasped her hand tighter and pulled her close as they traveled.
Koneko had told him that she wanted to cure his sight, to give him light again. Having begun this reparation days ago with the help of various medications, topical remedies and surgical procedures, he would be able to see clearly soon; she swore it to him.
.
After two days of travel, they were faced with what remained of Konoha..
"I suppose that your father eventually fulfilled his objective of destroying the village.." Itachi murmured, desolately looking over the ruin of the once bustling, proud village.
Koneko gripped onto his hand, knowing just how much Konoha meant to him, "I'm sorry.."
The ebony haired shinobi shook his head before kissing the side of her lip, "Don't be, kitten.. You aren't responsible fo-"
"Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke! Stop where you are!" Several Konoha shinobi came running up to them. Sasuke took a cautious step back, grumbling, "That plan of yours would come in handy now, Koneko."
She didn't reply back as the jonin stopped before them, standing defensively in preparation for possible battle, "Koneko-san, you're alright," One shinobi, Genma, exclaimed upon realizing who she was, "we thought you were kidnapped by Akatsuki? Is that why Uchiha Itachi is here?"
"No, I was not kidnapped. I went with Akatsuki willingly.." The brunette provided. A majority of the ninja seemed surprised, yet skeptic.
Aoba, another in the group, frowned, "Willingly? Wha-"
"Perhaps I should explain elsewhere.." Koneko interrupted, "Please, take me to Tsunade-sama."
After a few shared glances, Genma responded, "Alright, but these two are criminals; and will stay at the Konoha Strict Correctional Facility."
Koneko hastily spoke, "No, if I am to explain anything, I will need both Uchiha brothers with me during my meeting with the Hokage."
"...Very well. But they will be retrained with maximum security." Aoba said before clasping chains onto Sasuke's wrists; while a handful of shinobi were required to confine the older brother, due to the capability and prowess he possessed with having the highest rank of criminal status.
She gazed at Itachi as the ninja cautiously slapped shackles onto his wrists; his eyes holding hers the entire time. The eyes that could follow her, even without sight; the eyes that she would cure of blindness, and take knowledge in the fact that she was what he saw when looking back at him.
They were carted off to the Hokage's recently built office, though not much was stored inside. Upon opening the doors, Tsunade grumbled irritably, "What's with the disruptions? I was told tha-"
Her honey brown eyes locked with the restrained Uchiha brothers, before trailing her eyes to Koneko.
"You're alive?" She exclaimed, rather astonished, "I thought Akatsuki would have killed you."
The brunette shook her head, "No, and I'm here to explain why."
"Ah, good. And you brought both Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke as well. Excellent work,"
"I'm afraid that I didn't bring here to be imprisoned and killed, Tsunade-sama" Koneko murmured, her voice lowering in the slightest.
Tsunade leaned forward on the desk, interested, "Oh?" Shizune on her right seemed shocked.
The fair skinned woman glanced at her husband and brother-in-law before returning her gaze to the Hokage, "I will spare you the beginning, but I was rescued by the Akatsuki three years ago."
"Akatsuki assigning rescue missions? I rather doubt it," Tsunade scoffed, "but go on. I am listening."
"To be more precise, Uchiha Itachi rescued me. The Akatsuki merely decided to shelter me. I wasn't sure why they would do such a thing, until they bestowed the knowledge to me that I was, in fact, Pein's daughter."
Tsunade was at a loss for words, as Shizune gasped. Even the shinobi holding the two brothers were stunned; Sasuke seemed rather bewildered too.
"From here on, you all must vow that anything said inside this room must stay in it." She ordered. Tsunade nodded, agreeing and glanced to the ninja by the doors to keep their mouths shut.
At the Hokage's confirmation, Koneko went on, "Because I was the leader of Akatsuki's daughter, I was immediately given a space to live in. I was given the choice to do simple assignments for the organization such as healing and aiding the inflicted members, and the task to watch over Naruto on my brief stay here."
"Akatsuki was indirectly in contact with Naruto-kun right under our noses..." Shizune whispered in disbelief while Tonton simply oinked quietly in response.
Koneko quickly added, "Yes, but I never laid a ill intended finger on Naruto. I was only meant to discover his daily activities and things of that sort."
Tsunade began, "You hadn't remained in the village for too long after that befriending him, I heard. After Orochimaru's invasion, you were supposedly kidnapped, but you're telling us that since your job was done, you returned to the Akatsuki?"
"Yes and from that moment on, things went downhill.. Members kept dying off, so the completion rate decreased."
Shizune piped, "We heard that you killed Deidara from Iwagakure, Sasuke-kun. Is this true?"
"Yeah. What of it?" Sasuke said, a little harsher than Itachi or Koneko would have liked.
With a clenching fist, the blonde headed Kage growled, "This isn't the time for such things, Shizune! Koneko, you still haven't explained why the two Uchiha brothers are here! According to the reports that Hatake Kakashi sent us, Itachi killed in the battle at the old Uchiha fort; so why is here alive now?"
The entire room fell silent. The expectant woman gazed at her lover, who nodded in understanding.
Koneko turned her sight back to the Hokage, "... I healed him to the best of my abilities afterward. I injected medication into him to prolong his life."
"Why on Earth would you do that?" Tsunade rose a brow.
The brunette didn't hesitate, "Because... I loved him, and he loved me."
TROLOLOL, PLEASE REVIEW! And has anyone seen/liked/hated Paranormal Activity? VOTE on my profile, please. (Planning a story)