Author's Note: I can't wait until we're out of this timeline. So much citation. x_x

Citations: Itachi's Story: [Midnight] pg. 62-100
Naruto Episode #129, Naruto Shippuden Episode #358

Chapter's Song: "Bed of Black Roses" by I Hate Kate

Chapter 40
Suspicions

Itachi made his way with Team Ro to the Anbu locker rooms. Kakashi glanced back at the bandaged wound on Itachi's abdomen. "You should get to the hospital, Itachi."

"I'm fine." Itachi insisted nonchalantly.

Akina inside the woman's locker room heard what Kakashi had said. She stood and swiftly made her way across the hall into the men's locker room. "Whoa! It's a chick!"

"Roses are red!"

"Girl alert!"

"What happened?" Her velvety voice passed through his ears, his eyes slightly widening, knowing her voice all too well behind him.

Kakashi just watched as the young kunoichi inspected Itachi's wound, placing a healing hand on the kunai slice. "I didn't realize you were a medical ninja…" Kakashi voiced.

Akina glanced. "Because I'm known as a harbinger of death…"

Kakashi had a sweat-drop roll down his forehead, and as did Itachi when he seen Kakashi scurry away, the other men watching her heal the cut.

"Hey! I'm wounded, too!"

Itachi was annoyed by whoever shouted that, the giddiness over Itachi's girlfriend, he watched her as she was so focused and un-wavered by the cat calls.

"Don't hide things from me. Promise?" She broke her focus to say that, looking up dead serious into his eyes.

"I… I can't promise you that."

"Why not?" Her brows furrowed together, standing straight, his wound had been completely healed and non-existent now.

"If it means keeping you safe." He explained without really explaining.

Akina stared into his eyes gentle eyes, her complexity lost in the pool of black irises. "Okay." Choosing to trust him.


"Make a list of the number of expected participants at the time of action, invasion routes, attack targets, and assassination targets. I'd like to decide on the crucial day of action at the next meeting. Put together your opinions before then. If you have any ideas, you can speak them at any time. Simply make sure to be careful of the eyes of the people of the village." Everyone relaxed as the meeting was coming to a close at the end of Fugaku's speaking.

"Is Itachi here?" The disgust in Yashiro's voice was evident to return the tenseness to the room. When Itachi didn't answer, the voiced called his name again in irritation. "Itachi!"

"I'm here." Itachi raised a heavy arm.

Yashiro stared at him with cold eyes. "You were there at the breakdown of negotiations with the Land of Frost the other day, yes?"

Silence.

"Answer me."

"Anbu missions are not to be spoken of to outsiders."

"Are you seriously saying that to me?" A deep groove grew between Yashiro's eyebrows.

Silence. Itachi just stared at everyone's narrow eyes.

"For what purpose did you join the Anbu?"

Silence.

"To obtain a variety of information from a place to the center of the village, and report to us," Yashiro answered himself.

"Yashiro." As if to toss his silent son a lifeline, his father said the name of his trusted retainer.

"What have you brought to us since joining the Anbu?" Yashiro continued not wavered. "Not once have we heard secrets of the village from your mouth."

"I just don't know any, so I can't talk about them."

"Is it really only that?"

Rebellion flickered in Itachi's eyes. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Yashiro took this with a daring smile crawling across his face, while a man with long hair stood up beside him, Uchiha Inabi. He, too, was also Itachi's father's trusted confidant. "You're turning on us, aren—"

"Enough!" Fugaku roared.

Both Yashiro and Inabi were forced into silence at this rare display of anger from Fugaku. "You both understand exactly what this time means for the clan. We cannot follow through on these serious matters when we are at each other's throats."

Yashiro sat down, disgruntled, and Inabi followed suit.

"You sit, too, Itachi." His father glared at him when he remained standing. "Itachi."

"Father's voice has become weak, almost begging me… Is the framework of the clan really that important? You're being toyed with by the passion of these radical clansmen. I don't understand." The pain in Itachi's chest naturally turned into words. "Excuse me."

"At any rate, the next meeting will decide our path. It will be an important meeting. Be aware that absences will not be tolerated." Fugaku warned. The meeting ended with a turmoil still in the air.

Itachi walked home alone. He didn't even see Shisui or Izumi; he headed towards Shisui's home.

"Her light is on… If I stand here long enough—" The curtain then slid back, Akina looking down onto the street. She stared at him for a moment before opening her window.

"You sensed my chakra so quickly…"

"Are you okay?"

"Just taking the long way home..."

"I'll be down in a minute!"

"Oh, but, uh—" She had already closed the window. Itachi paced slowly to the stairs, waiting, as Akina came out in her casual attire, black leggings, a maroon cold-shoulder kimono, a black obi, and boots she pulled on before jotting down the stairs.

"Okay. I'm ready."

Itachi smiled softly at her willingness to be with him. "I forgot what you looked like in anything but uniform."

"Hm." She voiced, staring at him. "Are you going to tell me anything?"

"Where's Shisui?"

"On a mission. Mist Ninja have been provocative."

"…I killed a boy in Land of Frost. I can't stop thinking about his dead eyes."

"Itachi…" Her hand went to his cheek.

"After I did it…" He stopped talking.

"What?"

"Am I actually getting closer to my dreams, Akina?" No tears came out of his eyes, but the sad vibe made her want to. "If this is how it is, I want to just walk away from the village, the clan, the Anbu, and be free…"

"These meetings your clan has… They put a lot of stress on you, too."

His eyes widened slightly, but settled. Silence.

"You don't have to tell me." She then hugged him, he hesitated, but he hugged her back.

One Month Later

The Third Hokage looked out over the village, Shisui knelt behind him on one knee, closing his eyes. "I've been very troubled by all the suspicions cast upon the Uchiha Clan."

The Hokage shamefully closed his eyes and nodded. "Mm. I feel the same."

Shisui raised his head in hope, his crimson eyes glowing. "But I'm hopeful that the clan and the village will find a way to be able to trust each other again soon. I'd like to ask you to assign this mission to me."

The Hokage turned around, worryingly looking down on the young man. "And do you want to be released from your regular duties?"

"Yes." Shisui answered straightly. "And I'd like to be given a certain amount of autonomy, as well."

"All right." Lord Third agreed, and began walking towards Shisui to pass him. "We shall say that I ordered you to go on a top secret investigative mission. And if anyone should raise any objections, give them my name and I will take full responsibility."

Shisui turned while kneeling to watch the Hokage walk away. "Thank you, Lord Third."

The Hokage smiled, "You know, Shisui. You remind me a great deal of my dear old friend Uchiha Kagami."

Shisui bowed his head and eyes closed in both thanks and humility. "I'm not near his equal."

"Shisui," Yashiro called out, seeing said man headed home.

Shisui's eyes shifted to see Yashiro, Inabi, and Tekka.

"You're home from your mission."

"Finally chased those Mist Shinobi." Shisui crossed his arms. "How're you guys?"

"You've made a good name for the clan. Be a shame for that pride to be in vain."

"What are you talking about?" Shisui's shoulders dropped in concern.

"The Village has cut the Police Force's budget by thirty percent."

Shisui gave a frustrated sigh. "Anything else?"

"Itachi…" Inabi voiced.

"What about him?"

"He's been acting strange. If you had heard him at the last meeting while you were gone… You'd be ashamed…"

"Really now?" Shisui asked to listen further.

"He's a village sympathizer and it's getting worse."

"I see." Shisui acknowledged. "The son of the head of the clan…? Really, guys?"

"He said out of his own mouth, 'Anbu missions are not to be spoken of to outsiders'."

"You want me to keep an eye on him? Considering that I'm close with him."

"We cannot be too cautious."

"You don't have to tell me that. The sake of the Uchiha name depends on it. Itachi's still just a kid."

"Exactly…" Yashiro nodded.

"I'll let you know if I can confirm our suspicions." Shisui nodded and waved to the men. "Don't worry."

Shisui went up his stairs and opened the door of his home, seeing his mother and Akina forming rice balls in their hands. "Shisui," the mother smiled, wiping her hands on her apron to approach and embrace him in a hug. "I didn't expect you home."

Akina noticed the stress on Shisui's face as his head rested near his mom's shoulder as they hugged. "Are you okay, Nii-san?" Akina asked.

"Oh, yeah. I'm fine." Shisui shot his friendly smile at her knowing it was fake. "How's Itachi?"

"…Good." Akina answered, knowing there was more to Shisui's question. "We're working opposite shifts right now. I was just making my bento."

"I see," Shisui nodded. "Don't work too hard, Akina."

Her green eyes stared at Shisui, though she was suspicious, she felt her trust for Shisui comfort her.

"Just as you have one Uchiha Clan member under your control, I should like one arranged for me." Danzo requested before The Third Hokage's desk.

Hiruzen made an obviously disgusted face the instant the word 'control' left Danzo's mouth. Once he had finished listening, the corners of his mouth turned up slightly as he looked at Danzo. "You're saying give Itachi to the Foundation?"

"The thought never even entered my head."

"Don't play dumb."

"I am not playing dumb," Danzo asserted.

"What are you thinking, then?"

"Why not promote Itachi to team leader?"

"He's still only eleven."

"And Anbu team leaders are to be thirteen or older," Danzo said with a light smile. "You do have that rule there somewhere, hm?"

Hiruzen became uncomfortable. "The Anbu are a division supporting the central pillars of the village. The team leaders who rule over them must have sufficient judgment. Thus, the requirement that they must be at least thirteen."

"Sufficient judgment. Itachi already has that."

"That's not the issue."

"Age and the like are meaningless before actual ability."

Silence.

"Are the rules that important, Hiruzen? The dissatisfaction of the Uchiha Clan is already a nearly untenable situation. In order to break through this status quo, we need someone in a position to make effective use of the will of the Foundation, and someone connected with you. A mere Anbu ninja won't be able to avoid the orders of his team leader. Promoting Itachi makes it easier for him to move."

"You're saying put him between you and I, without having him belong to the Foundation?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying. No one in the Uchiha Clan can match the abilities of Itachi and Shisui. If we can win those two over, it likely won't be difficult to prevent the explosion of their clan. Just as you gave Shisui special privileges, it is necessary to give a certain amount of the same to Itachi."

"But eleven is simply too young to lead a team." Hiruzen was wavering.

"Then, what if he were twelve?"

Silence. "Let me think about it a little more."

"Understood." Danzo was certain. Hiruzen would definitely consent.

The sunset over the Uchiha compound, Itachi approaching the entrance to see Shisui leaning on the post. "Big Brother!" Sasuke cried out for Itachi to turn. "Are you done with your mission? If you are, you can come and help me train!"

"Sorry, Sasuke. I've been summoned." Itachi's sympathetic eyes looked down.

Sasuke pouted in a snarl.

"Huh?" Akina noticed.

"Did you see something?"

"Just a weasel." Akina smiled, but then felt a tinge of worry. "I don't know what's going on, but be careful, you two."

The sky became a dark purplish hue, the sound of the waterfall over the cliff filling Itachi's ears as he approached Shisui's back, stopping to stand in the woods behind him.

"We played here a lot, remember?"

"I didn't know you were back."

"That's right. Now that we finally chased The Hidden Mist away." Shisui smiled.

Itachi stepped beside Shisui on the cliffside, looking straight ahead with him. "What is it?"

Shisui's expression turned seriously stern. "I want to get your honest opinion. How serious do you think Fugaku is?"

Itachi's eyes peered out towards Shisui. "What do you mean?"

Shisui's Sharigan looked into Itachi's onyx eyes. "The coup d'état."

Itachi looked straight ahead again. "The Uchiha are growing dissatisfied with the village. If the village doesn't change, the Uchiha won't stand for it."

Shisui looked away from Itachi. "If the village changes, so will the Uchiha."

"But if the Uchiha don't change, neither will the village. As long as two sides distrust each other, things will only get worse."

"I want to clear up this uncertainty." Shisui declared.

"Can you?"

"Honestly, I don't know, but I have to try. If the Uchiha attempt a coup d'état, it will end badly for both sides."

The wind picked up passed both the boys looking over the river. "I am against a coup d'état, as well." Itachi sternly made known, looking at Shisui once again. "But trying to stop it, will take something big."

Shisui's caring eyes met Itachi's. "I'm well aware, but I don't want you to do anything

"Why's that?"

Shisui became stern. "Some members of the Police Force are suspicious of you. I've actually been ordered to spy on you."

Shock slapped Itachi's heart, his eyes widening at the information, his brows furrowed, knowing that trust was broken.

"What did you say?!" Fugaku shouted to growled out the peaceful night. "What do you mean you can't participate in the assembly tomorrow?! You don't understand your own position!"

"I'm setting out on a mission tomorrow." Itachi calmly stated.

"What mission?" Fugaku demanded.

"I can't say… It's a top secret mission."

Mikoto stared at Fugaku next to her, as he furrowed his brows and clenched his eyes closed. "Itachi… You also have the role of the pipe, which connects the clan with the keystone of The Village. You know that, don't you?" He opened his eyes.

"Yeah…" He stated numbly.

"Keep that well in mind! And come to tomorrow's assembly!"

Itachi's eyes were closed, they opened, glancing back to the door with a smile. "Sasuke…" He addressed gently. Fugaku and Mikoto were shocked, they had not noticed him. "Get to bed after you've gone to the bathroom."

Sasuke shamefully cracked open the sliding door. "Right…"

Fugaku stood and scolded, "What're you doing hanging around this late at night?! Get to bed!"

"Okay." Sasuke hung his head.