A/N:Hmm another chapter. So, what should Naruto call Sasuke?

Dada? *giggles* I'm still thinking what Naruto's first word will be. Hmm.

I'm kinda writing and updating fast since after this week I can kiss vacation goodbye *sniffs*

Anyway adios.

Chapter 8: A Discovery

Tsunade spent part of the morning reading the reports concerning Sasuke Uchiha. She asked Shizune to not let anyone disturb her and to let Sakura know that as soon as she found the time she would begin her training officially.

Sasuke's psychological state after the massacre was normal to an extent. However, Sasuke did show signs of an emotional disturbance. The kid showed signs of the depression. However, when he was sent for another check up a few days later his attitude seemed more stable. The kid wasn't depressed at all anymore, but he had a dramatic change in behavior. Sasuke went from a sweet and respectful child to a stoic loner in a brief period of time.`

Sarutobi had kept Anbu on Sasuke's tail for a few months to see if he was coping well enough or needed more help. Eventually, the Third declared Sasuke mentally healthy and discharged the Anbu watching him. Nonetheless, the old man observed the boy from time to time. Sasuke though, remained living alone.

'Sarutobi-sensei, if you were here I would punch you.' Thought the Senju with a sigh.

Tsunade went on to read the reports on the Uchiha Clan Massacre. Now, Tsunade was prepared to see a lot of things. But never in a million years did she fathom anything, like what was written in these papers. Tsunade's eyes trailed each word carefully. Her hands gripped the paper in a vice hold. Now, she really had the urge to learn that dammed kinjutsu-edo tensei- and bring back her old sensei so she could kill him again. Tsunade knew the Third did all he could but still…

She also wanted to murder Koharu, Homura, and Danzo. Specially Danzo. However, she knew it would do her no good. She also understood Danzo's reasoning. If the Uchiha did rebel, a civil war would have broken out. Enemy villages would have taken the opportunity to attack Konohagakure when it was down.

After reading through the documents multiple times, to make sure it wasn't an illusion she yelled, "SHIZUNE!"

Her assistant stumbled into the room after a few minutes, "H-hai Tsunade-same?"

"Get me Kakashi and Gai. NOW!" Tsunade punched the desk, effectively splitting it in two.

Shizune jumped slightly and quickly darted out of the room.

Kakashi was enjoying his walk in the busy streets of the Leaf. His nose was glued to the master piece in his grip. Icha Icha Paradise. Some of the civilians were giving him dirty looks. He couldn't understand why some people hated it…maybe they had no taste. No matter, to each his own. He briefly wondered how his former students were. Sakura included. He flipped the page of the book, giggling as the two main characters beat around the bush and kept teasing each other.

After a few more lazy steps, Kakashi heard someone calling his name. He turned around to find Shizune running toward him, looking frantic.

"What's going on?" he asked calmly, slowly closing the book.

"Tsunade-sama wishes to see you," the woman panted as she came to a stop, "she requested Gai as well. Let's hurry!"

'Before she goes insane from the wait!'

Sasuke was in the middle of training. To say that he was pleased to see Maito Gai soon after Gaara had left was a stretch of the truth. Sasuke gave the man the icy shoulder, still holding a grudge for the man's comment on his doujutsu. That didn't make Gai shy away. No. If anything it made him more annoying.

Sasuke panted. He was currently running his 90th lap around the training grounds with weights that his current sensei had provided. Lee accompanied him. Green junior didn't have to stick around, Lee could have very well ran much faster but he really wanted to keep Sasuke company.

"You shouldn't be so harsh with Gai-sensei," Lee told the raven, "He was only trying to encourage you to do better. He didn't mean offend you I know it!" Lee nodded.

"Hn," replied Sasuke, his face blank. The Uchiha contemplated this already on the way to training. However, the moron man-child still said it. So Sasuke felt he was justified in being angry.

"Gai-sensei is a very good person," said bushy-brows, "his desire is for the flames of youth to burn bright in his students. What he said may have hurt but he had your best interest in heart!"

"…" Sasuke didn't reply. But, he did wonder why Lee wasn't leaving him in the dust. Their conversation-mostly Lee's-was interrupted by Gai running after them. The man caught up to them in no time.

"Lee I need you to spar with Uchiha today," grinned Gai, "I have a meeting with Tsunade-sama so I can't continue but I'm sure you can take my place. I put my trust in you!"

"Gai-sensei," Said Lee tearing up, "I won't let you down!"

"Yes I know!" Gai replied just as passionately, "I will see you later," with that the man was gone.

Sasuke blinked, completely disgusted by the teacher-student moment. However, a tiny bit of amusement rose up within him. Sasuke kept running.

"Tsunade-sama, I've brought Kakashi and Gai," Shizune announced.

"Good," Tsunade grunted. She was standing up staring outside the window.

"What's on your mind," Kakashi inquired, raising a brow.

"This must be important if I was interrupted during training," stated Gai.

"It is," Tsunade said turning to them, "it's about Uchiha Sasuke."

The atmosphere was heavy. The tension palpable. Shizune gripped her clip board tightly, wanting Tsunade to break the suffocating aura in the room.

Tsunade made sure that there was no presences near by. Then she told Kakashi to cast a genjutsu in order to fool people who might try to eavesdrop. Shizune locked the door and looked back at the Senju.

"The Uchiha Masscre isn't what it seems," she began.

"What do you mean?" asked Gai intrigued.

Kakashi remained quiet.

"I'm saying that Itachi Uchiha isn't really a criminal," Tsunade could feel both of the Jounin narrow their eyes. Shizune just gave a soundless gasp, wondering why Tsunade would say that.

"Before you jump to conclusions," Tsunade said, "let's start from the gist of the issue. Itachi Uchiha was ordered to eliminate his own clan in order to prevent the Uchiha from revolting against the village." The Hokage grabbed the documents in her hand.

At that Kakashi and Gai's eyes widened slightly.

"This is a well-guarded secret which only few know," Tsunade stated, "the Uchiha Clan, according to these papers, were planning a coup out of resentment toward the village from cloaking them in suspicion."

Gai looked solemn as the Hokage continued.

Tsunade sighed rubbing her temple. "the only reason for the suspicion," stated the woman, "was because of the Kyuubi."

Kakashi's eyes glinted slightly as he ran through the data in his head from the history books he read as well as experience. "I knew that it wasn't a natural occurrence. I knew Minato-sensei's abilities-so I trust he was capable of preventing Kyuubi from getting out- so something or someone one most have intervened that day…but it isn't possible is it? It's been over a century. That man can't be alive…" mused Kakashi.

Gai stared at Kakashi slightly confused. He looked at the Hokage the back at his eternal rival. "Who do you mean?"

"Uchiha Madara…" Kakashi replied quietly.

"That is correct," said Tsunade, clenching her fists, "it was suspected that an Uchiha was behind the Fox's attack. Since Madara was able to control the Bijuu with his Sharingan. As a result the council and Sarutobi-sensei kept an eye on the Clan more closely. The Uchiha weren't too happy as you can imagine."

One of the scrolls was written by her Sensei. The old man really went into detail. "The Third Hokage tried to persuade the Uchiha clan and explain the situation from his side. He tried to negotiate, but the Uchiha wouldn't relent. Finally, the council acted against Sensei's wishes and ordered Uchiha Itachi to kill his entire clan to ensure peace. But Itachi left Sasuke alive. Itachi went on to ask the Third to keep this secret from Sasuke before leaving."

Shizune was staring somberly at Tsunade. This was a serious thing. This could set up a bomb. A bomb named Sasuke Uchiha. If they told the boy, there was no telling what he would do. Would he hate the village? Or would he not? Would he keep his sanity? Sasuke was a loose cannon. The room was dead silent. For a long moment none of the people in the room dared to speak.

"Are you planning on telling him?" asked Gai.

Tsunade snorts. "Yes, but not now. If I told him now it would be too risky,"

"But the Third," Shizune interjected, "was asked not to reveal this."

Tsunade took a deep breath. "I'm not the Third now am I?" she smirked, "Itachi didn't ask me to keep this a secret. And besides…his little brat brother should know this. For now let's keep it between us."

"Hm," Kakashi grunted. "I suggest you don't wait too long either. Sasuke needs to know he can trust us. However, I do agree it would be too soon to let him know right now." 'Maybe a year or two. Hopefully by then he could grow some fondness for the village. But I have a feeling Sasuke will still be a risk factor even at the supposed right time.'

Gai nodded agreeing with Kakashi.

"Well this meeting is adjourned," Tsunade concluded.

Sakura was a little disappointed when Shizune informed her she had to wait a little longer to train. But, the pink-haired ninja understood that Tsunade was the Hokage and… that meant dealing with various issues.

The girl walked in silence. She missed being part of a team. Sakura felt like they had been torn apart. It was funny, she thought, that when Sasuke came back everything would fall back into place. It didn't. At least not the way she wanted. Things changed. She no longer pinned over Sasuke, though, there were some residual longing to see the raven and she saw him with the lenses of reality.

'He has too many issues,' Sakura concluded, 'I can't really handle that.'

Sakura ambled for a few more minutes before she heard an all too familiar voice.

"Hey forehead!"

Sakura groaned and turned to the source. Ino was walking toward her. She was with Hinata and Chouji who was eating a bag of chips.

"Ino-pig," Salura growled.

"Forehead," replied Ino rolling her eyes, "So what's up? You look a little down. And how's Sasuke-kun? And Naruto? I heard from Hinata that it's actually true. I honestly didn't believe Tsunade-sama at first but…"

"They're fine. Naruto and Sasuke are fine," Sakura answered hoping Ino would drop the subject. But the blond didn't. Chouji also looked at her curiously.

"I would have stopped over like Kiba and Hinata did. But I got stuck doing missions during that time. I just got back." Ino said, "so why the long face forehead?"

Sakura sighed, figuring she might as well tell her. "I've decided to give up on Sasuke-san."

Ino did a double take and then grabbed Sakura's hands. "Does that mean he's mine?"

"You can try," Sakura told her, "but Ino, you shouldn't waste your time."

Ino scoffed and told her she would do what Sakura couldn't. Sakura shook her head at her friend's antics. Hinata suggested that they should go somewhere and hang out.

"Preferably a restaurant!" exclaimed Chouji.

Sakura giggled and followed her friends to the nearest BBQ place. Maybe things would be okay. Maybe.

The sun was just past the middle of the heavens. It was around 1:00 PM. Sasuke was on the ground. His muscles ached all over. In the morning, Gai had told him-before he left in the beginning of the training- to increase from a hundred laps to a hundred and fifty. Add to that his spars with Lee and Sasuke was dog tired. The weights didn't help his situation either. Currently Sasuke and Lee were resting. Well, the raven was resting while Lee did a few more push-ups a few yards away.

"Hey Uchiha-san!" Tenten shouted.

Sasuke groaned as he sat up and turned to Tenten. He looked at the weapon's specialist in irritation for a minute before he noticed something. Naruto was standing up. Tenten had hold of the infant's hand.

Naruto took a shaky step forward. Sasuke's eyes were fixed on him. Tenten kept her hold on Naruto's hand until she thought he wouldn't fall. Naruto stumbled over to Sasuke the rest of the way. Neji watched silently from a distance.

Naruto had learned to Walk.