Author's Note: I'm sorry, lovelies. I've been distracted by life.

Citations: Itachi's Story: [Midnight] pg. 55-62,
Naruto Storm Revolution - The Two Uchiha

Chapter's Song: "Absolutely (Story of a girl)" by Nine Days

Chapter 39
Pretty Face

2 Months Later

"Get down!" Towa, a fit man behind a bird mask pulled Komachi, a blonde woman behind a barrel in a courtyard, she adjusted her cat mask.

"Pathetic…" Their Anbu Captain Kagura stated in her sultry voice behind her cat mask.

"Intrud—" Yugao threw kunai to hit the guards, and ducked back down behind the barrel with the others.

"I sent Akina ahead. Let's just handle things here." Kagura stated.

"How did she get in?" Towa breathed.

"She's a Mochizuki, so they've kept the Kunoichi Arts close to them. If you think the classes at The Academy were enough, it's just a crash course… I hear they have a cyanide tooth they bite down on in extreme circumstances." Komachi explained.

"That's not true." Yugao scolded, annoyed.

"I could careless who dies. I don't have favoritism for any of you four." Kagura numbly informed, readying her tanto, to charge— Taking out two guards in a downward swipe and an upward swipe. "Come on!"

"Guards! Guards!"

Brown eyes and blonde hair pulled back in a headband, Akina looked around the aristocratic party in her disguise. "Which one of you is going to make a move?" She thought.

"I can't believe we're going to be married tomorrow, Minabe-chan."

"Mm," Akina looked numbly at the boy with short black hair, blue eyes, wearing traditional kimonos, but then reminded herself to act the part, smiling audibly. "Yes, Shu-kun."

An young man and woman, about sixteen approached, they looked like twins with their black hair and eyes, they bowed. "Congratulations, Shu-kun." The man said.

Shu bowed his head, sternly.

"May I dance with your bride?" The man asked Shu.

"And I you, Shu-kun?" The woman smiled coyly.

Shu looked at Akina, and she grinned, sick in her stomach, but hiding it.

As Akina stepped down from the platform, and took the arm of the man, she glanced behind her seeing the woman place her hand on Shu's shoulder—

Akina pulled away from the man and then swiftly put double bladed knives into her hand, and threw them at the back of the woman, her not even dodging, but falling down with the knives in her back.

Shu and the man shocked, as Akina then had a flytrap come out of the ground, spitting out two katana that she unsheathed and crisscrossed them in front of her to dodge the man leaning on her with his own katana.

"You're not Minabe-hime." The man growled, pressing on her.

"Sorry to disappoint you…" Akina dispersed into petals, her swords dropping, the man stumbling forward into his weight he was pressing into on Akina's swords.

She re-appeared behind the man, him glancing as she seen her kneel, a series of hand signs and blood on her thumb. "Summoning Jutsu!" Countless flytraps grew throughout the room, swallowing the guests, crushing some of them as blood trickled out the flytraps mouth. Akina's heart numb.

"Wow…" The young lord muttered.

Akina still disguised as Minabe, stood up, slowly turning to Shu, in fear and shock.

"You poor boy…" She empathized out loud. "I'm a Hidden Leaf Anbu, your fiancé hired me, knowing that her father had a plot to kill you." POOF! She then appeared as herself, Shu seeing her face for a moment before she placed on her bird mask. "The real Minabe is waiting for you. My team will escort you."

"T-Thank you." He bowed.

Team Ri walked down into the Anbu barracks, them taking their masks off as they entered. "I think that daimyo liked you, Akina." Komachi giggled.

"Huh?" Akina broke from her daydream.

"Akina's already got a boyfriend." Yugao informed.

"You have a boyfriend, too. Right, Yugao?"

Silence.

"How do our youngest members have relationships?" Komachi asked, catching up with Kagura. "It's the short one on Team Ro, isn't it?"

"He's not short; he's just a kid. Uchiha Itachi." Towa informed.

"What's he look like?"

"An Uchiha." Towa answered.

"So he's pretty handsome."

"He's going to be Hokage one day." Akina spoke up.

Kagura then turned sharply, walking into the women's locker room.

"The Captain's been weird lately." Komachi whispered.

"She's always snooty…" Towa shrugged.

"Hey, guys, you want to join us?" Tenzo asked the group, standing with some other members of Team Ro, Akina not seeing Itachi or Kakashi, stepping towards the women's locker room.

"Are you coming, Akina?" Yugao asked.

"Another time." Her calm voice answered, walking away into the women's locker room. "Captain."

"Akina. What do you want?" Kagura looked up.

"Did you want me to file the report?"

"Sure." Kagura handed the scroll to Akina, her taking it, receiving no thanks as Kagura put her gear into her locker. She then eyed Akina with her icy eyes. "What?"

Silence. "I'm sorry. You want to become Hokage, as well."

"Not anymore…" Kagura hissed, closing her locker. "Do you really believe your Uchiha boy toy will become Hokage?"

"…Yes, I do." Akina nodded.

"Your father was the student of Jiraiya, correct?"

"That's correct."

"He's using you..."

"It's not like he's my apprentice. If ever, he's stronger than me." It stung in Kagura's heart, apprentice, Akina's eyes softened as she watched her Captain swiftly walk out, Akina dissipated into petals, reforming in front of Kagura walking down the hall. Her Captain surprised how Akina didn't waver, seeing the empathy in Akina's eyes.

Kagura then continued on, passing Akina by. "I'm done here."

"You're going after Tsunade-sama?" Akina asked.

Kagura stopped, surprised how intuitive Akina was, but then kept walking.

"She seeks revenge for Tsunade not making her an apprentice." Akina sighed. "Itachi focuses on himself becoming stronger, pinning blame on no one, that's why I believe in him."

Itachi made his way home from work, lost in his thoughts. "The village is at peace…" But his heart drowned in the turmoil of knowing that peace was secretly being threatened.

"Wah, ha, ha, ha!" An earsplitting loud voice pierced Itachi's ears to alert him out of thoughts, unconsciously stopping, and looked ahead to the park. It was already evening; children should be home already as the sun had already slid off to set in the west.

A blonde boy stood with his feet on a swing, three other children running off. "I'm telling you, you guys don't have a chance against the great Uzumaki Naruto here!" The boy on the swing shouted.

The three others didn't acknowledge the boy who identified himself as Naruto, they kept chatting amongst themselves as they left the area. "His words were just a show of courage." Itachi realized. "Uzumaki Naruto." Everyone old enough and in the know knew who Uzumaki Naruto was, not that he was The Jinchuriki, but that he was the son of the Fourth Hokage and Uzumaki Naruto.

Itachi's heart filled with empathy for Naruto's situation. His feet turned toward the park. He advanced quietly toward the swing with the boy, moving weakly back and forth. He sat down beside Naruto, whose face was turned to the ground.

"Whoa!" Noticing Itachi's sudden appearance, Naruto nearly fell off his swing in surprise. He flapped his arms and legs more than absolutely necessary, and managed to stop the swing before turning suspicious eyes on Itachi. "Don't go scarin' me like that!"

"Sorry." Itachi offered blankly.

"So, like, who are you?" Naruto stared at him with wide eyes.

Pumping the swing, Itachi turned his gaze forward. "It doesn't matter who I am, does it?"

"My mom says I'm not s'posed to talk to strangers."

"She's gone, though?" Itachi asked, knowing the answer.

A bashful smile spread across Naruto's face as he threw his right hand up to the back of his head. "So, you know that?"

"Uzumaki Naruto is famed prankster."

"Am I that famous?"

"In a certain sense."

Heh, heh, heh!" Naruto laughed happily, unable to understand Itachi's sarcasm.

"Your friends ran off."

"If they don't get my pranks, then they're not my pals." Naruto's voice was excessively bright, like he was trying desperately to act cheerful so that his loneliness wouldn't be seen.

Itachi understood this weight of slander Naruto was under for being a Jinchuriki— Just as Itachi had been for being an Uchiha. "His parents died… Who in their right mind would seal the Nine Tails in a baby? For this child to be persecuted for life." Itachi contemplated not knowing exact details. "Deliberately producing a darkness to hide their own darkness…" And now Itachi, too, was one part of the darkness in the village, because the Anbu itself was the true darkness of the village.

"Bro!"

"Hm?" Itachi looked to Naruto, breaking from his thoughts.

Naruto widened his eyes next to him. "You just got real quiet all of a sudden. You all right?"

"I'm fine."

"All right, good." Naruto looked up at him with worry in his eyes.

"It's probably time for you to be getting home."

"I can go home, but it's not like there's anyone there." Naruto's mouth twisting downward, he put on a show of being tough.

"Then I'll go home."

"What?!" Naruto cried in exaggerated surprise when Itachi stood up from the swing.

"Keep fighting." Itachi said, words he thought offered no real peace of mind.

But Naruto seemed happy, and chuckled to himself as he rubbed his nose with a finger. And then he leapt forcefully off the swing, stood tall, and pointed his index finger at Itachi. "My name's Uzumaki Naruto! I'm gonna be Hokage someday!"

"You are? Hokage, huh?" A flame blazed up in Itachi's heart. Even as he carried the burden of the village's darkness, this boy was not giving up on his own destiny. Not resenting the village, not hating the people, he believed in his own dream, honestly and wholeheartedly. "I hope you are."

"I'm totally going to be Hokage. Remember me 'til then, Bro!"

Smiling in response, Itachi turned his back to Naruto, and started walking. The heavens above glittered with stars. His heart worried about Akina as he walked down the street stargazing.

Frrsh— Was the sound of rustling leaves in the woods, Itachi alertly froze, and then sensing an aura beside him on his other side. Akina in full Anbu gear, her face hidden by her bird mask. "Hi, stranger."

"Akina…" He breathed, surprised, and smiled. "Did you just get home?"

"Mm-hmm." She nodded, taking off her mask to hang it on her pack.

"A pretty face you hide from the world." He offered his arm, and she took it, his bicep resting near her cleavage as she held it, making him blush at the feeling of her breasts being bigger. He snapped himself out of his thoughts to walk with her.

"How was the mission?"

"The mission went off without a hitch. It's my Captain I'm worried about."

"Why is that?"

Silence.

"Tell me."

"I don't know… Just one of my feelings…" Akina contemplated. "Your Captain actually cares about his team."

"…Do you think Kakashi is handsome?"

"What makes you ask that?" She grinned suspiciously.

"Towa says all the girls fond over him in the women's locker room."

"Komachi blabs to Towa and Towa tells you guys."

"So…"

"I'm only attracted to someone if I know them."

"Oh?"

"I need an emotional connection to be attracted…"

She released his arm, walking ahead to hold the rail to Shisui's home, and looked back at Itachi when she heard him continue, "Is that why you didn't fond over me like the other girls?"

"What you did for Naruto was very… Sexy."

"Oh…" His heart skipped a beat.

"Goodnight, handsome."

"Have a good night."

Shisui opened the door as Akina came to it, her passing him, as she heard him order, "Itachi… Meet me tomorrow at the training ground."

Itachi stared up at Shisui. Nodding before turning away down the road to head to his home. Akina waited as Shisui came inside, seeing his smile, "Mission go good?"

"So much wrong on multiple fronts." She thought, and turned away. "Yeah…"

"I've started to hear Black Rose of Konoha." Shisui pointed up.

"Is that a good thing?" Green eyes glanced back.

"Good or bad… Attention is still attention."

"Goodnight, Nii-san." Akina turned away into the hall, Shisui smiling at the sound of her calling him older brother. His expression saddened thinking about her getting caught in the crossfire of the fight between the Uchiha and The Village.

"I understand." Itachi answered Danzo.

"Given that you hate fighting more than anyone, I thought you might say that," Danzo did not reveal his emotions.

Itachi hated it, but it was just as Danzo said. He still hadn't been able to come up with a concrete plan to stop the coup d'état. Danzo's request to report what is said at the Uchiha's meetings coming at such a time, had an irresistible appeal.

They had been able to gain the cooperation of the Third Hokage, thanks to Shisui. And Itachi's decisions here might turn into an opportunity to use Danzo's power. He would prevent his clan's implosion by connecting it with the center of the village.

"I don't want to do anything to rob your clan of dignity. I leave the selection of information you bring to me to you."

"Thank you."

"I'm counting on you, Itachi. The fate of your clan rests on your decisions." Danzo's voice weighed heavily on Itachi.

But Itachi's resolve was not so weak that it could not withstand that weight. He took a deep breath, deep enough to reach the pit of his stomach, as if realizing the heavy responsibility he had been saddled with.

"It smells like blood somehow…" Itachi thought sadly, before sensing a familiar aura behind him behind the screen.

"Enter." Danzo spoke up.

"Danzo-sama… Reporting in from Lord Third's." Akina stood straight, opening the door.

"Oh?"

"Kagura, Captain of Team Ri, has defected."

"Akina…" Itachi sadly held her name in from saying it audibly.

"Not surprising." Danzo sighed. "You two are dismissed. Itachi. Think about what I've said."

Itachi bowed his head, Akina bowing, and turning away. Itachi followed her, when he caught up to her side, she seen her emerald eyes glance up into his. "I'm going to be busy."

"I understand." He nodded.

She stopped with him outside, her smiling at him being understanding and accepting. He could see the sadness and stress she hid, so he stepped closer, and gently kissed her.

"What was that?" Akina asked.

"Did it stop you from stressing out?"

"Yeah…"

"Then that's it." Itachi smiled. "I have to meet Shisui."

"Tell him I'll be working late."

Itachi knelt down on one knee, Shisui hunched over with both hands on his knees, both of them panting. Shisui picked his head up enthusiastically, pointing his thumb at himself. "How's that?! I've got more wins than you now!"

Itachi caught his breath, crimson eyes looking up at his friend. "You're right. Guess I lose." Itachi then stopped using his Sharigan, seeing this, Shisui smiled audibly, also having his eyes turn from crimson to onyx.

Shisui friendly gestured his arms open. "Well, if you hadn't been so lost in thought, then this may have ended differently.

Shisui extended two fingers to Itachi, showing camaraderie, Itachi took his two fingers with two of his own, and nodded. "You noticed that, huh?"

They released each other's fingers, and Shisui offered Itachi his hand to help him up off the ground.

Shisui smiled at Itachi, and closed his eyes in an arrogantly friendly scolding tone. "Come on, Itachi, how long have I known you?" Shisui then became stern. "I know what this is about."

The sound of the waterfall into Nakano river roared as Shisui sat down on a rock at the familiar cliffside, Itachi remaining standing, the sunset of the orange and pink sky surrounding him. "So I take it didn't go well." Shisui's voice was slightly frustrated.

"I'm sorry…" Itachi began shamefully. "I did everything I could, but… The only thing I could accomplish was to delay the plan."

"This is a coup by our entire clan. We always knew it wouldn't be easy to dissuade them." Shisui tried to make Itachi not go as hard on himself. "Their will to make this happen is much stronger than we anticipated. That said, delaying the plan is still a great result."

Itachi picked up his head. "And how about you? You said you were going to try and find some allies."

Shisui now turned his head disappointingly down. "I'm afraid it's not going well." He looked up to the sky away from Itachi. "For better or for worse they're part of the Uchiha Clan, so their bond is strong."

Itachi acknowledged this in a sad, low growl, worried about what to do next.

Shisui laughed lightly. "Oh come on, don't give me that look."

Itachi's eyes widened, shocked at Shisui noticing his worry. Shisui stood to approach Itachi. "Remember, this is you and me that we're talking about, Itachi." Shisui lovingly placed his hand on Itachi's left shoulder, reassuring, "So don't worry. It'll be fine."

Itachi smiled at his gentle friend. Shisui taking his hand away to cross his arms. "In any case, you keep an eye out and work from the inside. I'll work on finding another way."

"Big brotheerrr!" A familiar boy's voice cried out from the woods.

"Hm?" Both Shisui and Itachi looked in the direction of Sasuke waving as he came running.

"Big brother! Heeey!" As Sasuke came to Itachi's side, looking at each other. "There you are! I've been looking practically everywhere for you!" Sasuke then realized and turned to notice the man his brother was talking to. "…Oh, sorry."

Shisui placed his hand on his hip, his other an open hand to friendly gesture, "Yo!"

"Shisui-san!" Sasuke smiled.

"Sasuke, what are you doing out here?" Itachi breathed in a mild scold.

Sasuke blatantly ignored his brother, to approach Shisui. "Hey, what were you two talking about, anyway?" Sasuke then begged Itachi. "C'mon, tell me, tell me, tell me!"

Itachi was taken aback, not wanting to tell his brother the horror of the political mess that they were in. Itachi quickly calmed himself and smiled. "You're still too young to know about that."

Sasuke puffed his cheeks to pout, and bark at Itachi, "Awww, what's that about? What, I'm not part of the group now—"

Itachi probed him in the forehead with two fingers, Sasuke wincing slightly. "I'm sorry, Sasuke. Maybe next time."

Sasuke held his forehead, looking up sadly at Itachi. "You're always saying that, big brother. Awww."

Shisui grinned and laughed slightly. "Heh… It's just not fair!" He exclaimed, grudgingly closing his eyes as he approached Sasuke. "What a horrible brother to leave Sasuke out of everything like that." He placed his hand on Sasuke's shoulder, smiling his friendly smile, with an added wink. "All right, Sasuke. Why don't I tell you, then."

"Really?!" Sasuke lit up in joy. "You're the best, Shisui-san."

Itachi just watched in mild surprise at what Shisui was doing. Shisui knelt down to Sasuke level, wrapping his arm around Sasuke's neck to draw him in closer, their backs to Itachi to exclude him. "You see… We were just talking about which of us is stronger, me or your brother."

"Huh?" Sasuke wondered.

Shisui glanced over his shoulder at a still mildly surprised Itachi. "I mean, I know I'm a lot stronger than he is, but he just won't accept the truth." He faked a dramatic sigh, and sincerely looked at Sasuke. "Well, tell me, Sasuke. You know the truth, don't you? That I'm a lot stronger than your brother—"

"No, you're not!" Sasuke refuted passionately.

Awkwardly surprising Shisui. "Oh?"

"I mean, sure, you're strong, but come on!" Sasuke glared. "My brother is still way stronger than you!"

Shisui let go of Sasuke, smirking to argue, "Oh, really? But I am older than he is, so I only think it's natural to assume that I'm—"

"Age has nothing to do with being a ninja!" Sasuke spoke up.

Shisui remained smiling, pointing to his eyes. "But, you know, don't forget I do have the Sharigan."

"My brother has the Sharigan, too." Sasuke said with a tight fist. "So my brother won't lose to you, Shisui!" Sasuke looked swiftly back to Itachi. "Isn't that right, Nii-san."

"Uh," Itachi exclaimed under his breath in his mild surprise rising again, and then uncertainty crossing his face as he knew Shisui had just beat him sparring earlier today. Itachi looked away from Sasuke's determined face, to Shisui who grinned and chuckled.

Itachi's brows knit together, Shisui not making that point known. "Shisui… You…"

"Right, big brother?" Sasuke stepped up closer to Itachi. "Go on, tell him! You're stronger than Shisui, right?"

Shisui stood, smiling gently, as Itachi stuttered, "Well, that's…"

"It's great to be a family." Shisui reflected on the two brothers. "I can't help but feel that every time I see those two. I won't allow the clan's schemes to destroy things like this…" Shisui placed his hand over his right eye, knowing the power his Mangekyo possessed. "No matter what I have to resort to."

"Shisui…" Itachi's voice addressed.

Breaking Shisui from his thoughts to put his hand down. "Hm?"

"I think we're gonna head back now." Itachi smiled, and then looked down on Sasuke. "It's almost time for dinner, and we don't want to be late. And I have to prepare for tomorrow, too."

"Oh, that's right. You have a mission, don't you?"

"Yeah, I don't think it'll take too long. I should be back in a couple days."

"Do your best, Itachi." Shisui encouraged. ""I'll do what I can on my side."

Itachi nodded, understanding, and he turned away straightly. Sasuke following, but as he walked he looked back to Shisui to wave, "Shisui-san, see ya later!"

Shisui raised a firm hand, smiling, "Yup." As he lowered his hand to watch the two brothers head into the woods, he went back into his protective thoughts, "No matter what I have to resort to… I'll put a stop to it."