AN: Sorry for the long gaps in time. I honestly have a ton more of this story written than has been posted, but I haven't had the time to transfer it to typed form. I won't make promises this time, but my hope is to work on it over my christmas break that starts in a couple of weeks. If anyone is even still reading my story, please comment your feedback. That can help move me along faster because I don't feel like I'm writing without an audience anymore. I apologize again for the wait. I still love you my reviewers!

AN #2: I'm sorry if this came up as another updated story, but I had to change a small important oversight on my part. Naomi is thirteen in this chapter, not sixteen... my bad guys :/

Chapter Six: Crumbling Legacy

The moment that the team came through the Konoha gates, the third Hokage, Kakashi and another ANBU ninja appeared in front of them. The Hokage blinked, taking in the absence of one of their comrades, but he said nothing of it.

"Asuma, you and your squad will go with Kenshin for your mission debrief," the Hokage ordered.

Just as Naomi was about to follow everyone else, the Hokage put a hand up to stop her. "Not you, Naomi."

His voice was sad and a shiver ran down Naomi's spine.

"You will be coming with Kakashi and myself."

Naomi was worried. Why was she being singled out? Something was very wrong. For the first time, since stepping through the gates of Konoha, she realized just how silent the village was- extremely out of character for the middle of the afternoon. It was eerie and, somehow, scary.

Silently, she nodded and followed her Hokage and her friend in the opposite direction of her squad- in the direction of the Hokage's office. A glance back showed her a flashing sad look from Asuma. He knew something and hadn't told her. As she turned forward again, she looked up at the mountain said where the former Hokages were etched into the stone. Their eyes looked down on the village with sadness. Another chill ran through Naomi's body.

Kakashi remained standing by the door as they entered the office. The Hokage went around to his side of the desk and sat.

"Please," he said, gesturing for Naomi to take a seat. She did as was requested.

The air around her was icy it seemed. Naomi sat with her back stalk straight as she waited for the Hokage to speak. It seemed like an eternity before he said anything.

"Naomi, I have some devastating news for you," he finally began, sadness saturating every word. Naomi's blood ran cold. Her brother was dead. That had to be it. Itachi had been found dead somewhere outside the village. Dread flooded her as she awaited the words.

"The night that your mission began- the first night that you were gone- the entire Uchiha clan was massacred."

Naomi's head snapped up from where it had dipped for her to stare at her lap. Her mouth fell open and her eyes widened. Every part of her body was frozen in place and all of the blood in her face drained away. Immediately her mind began screaming its denials.

How could that be? The Hokage's words rang brokenly in her ears "Entire Uchiha clan…massacred."

"What?" she whispered, dumbly.

"Your brother, Itachi, returned the night you left and murdered your entire clan."

Air couldn't get to Naomi's lunges and she felt dizzy.

Itachi- her brother- had killed her whole clan. By himself? He was strong, but Naomi, never would have imagined that he could take on the entire Uchiha clan- not with so many talented ninja in it. Nor had she ever imagined that he would even try to take them out.

Bile was rising in her throat and her world began to spin. Nausea was quickly coming over her. Just as she lost control, Kakashi was next to her with a trash can. Naomi vomited violently as Kakashi rubbed her back softly. After one real vomit, she heaved dryly for a few minutes. Tears began to escape her eyes.

Everyone. Her mother and father were dead. Her friends, her comrades- dead. And Itachi was responsible for it. Fighting for control over her own body, Naomi got her heaving to cease. Wiping her mouth, mildly embarrassed, with her sleeve, she allowed the tears to still flow.

More tears formed as she realized that she'd seen another Uchiha killed that morning. Finally she urged herself to ask the question she dreaded the answer to most of all.

"Sasuke?" she choked, "What about Sasuke?"

Each breath was ragged and shook her body. Her heart was racing violently against her chest. Through blurry eyes, she saw Kakashi retreating with the trash bin and the Hokage fold his wrinkled hands.

"Your younger brother is alive and well. However, he is going to be unstable for some time. Sasuke was the one to discover the massacre. He was unconscious when the other ninja discovered what had happened."

At the word "alive," Naomi had given off a shuddering sob of relief. Sasuke was still alive. Her baby brother had been allowed to live. She and Sasuke were allowed to live their lives. They were also burdened with being the only survivors of a clan's destruction.

"And," she began hesitantly, "Itachi?"

The Hokage sighed again. "He has disappeared. Nobody has seen or heard from him. Sasuke rambled something about seeing him before passing out; but, nothing other than that."

Itachi was gone then. He'd slaughtered their entire clan and then slipped away into the night. He had been in an even darker place than she had ever thought to believe. What could have possibly gone so wrong in his life that he would be brought to such a thing?

In order to control herself, Naomi was determined to focus on the fact that Sasuke was at least still alive.

Shakily she asked, "Where's Sasuke?"

"He's in the hospital while they decide who in town will be granted guardianship over him," the Hokage answered.

Naomi's hand came down with a slap on the Hokage's desk.

"No!" she exclaimed defiantly. "I'm taking custody of my brother!"

"Naomi," the Hokage said, trying to sound reasonable, "You're thirteen years old. You're an Anbu operative. Sasuke needs stability right now."

"With all due respect Lord Hokage, you're wrong. I am the only family he has left. No-one knows him like I do. Sasuke will be better off with someone who will be sympathetic but won't let him live in his misery forever. Anyone else will look at him and see poor, sad little boy, and, at his age, he'll fade right out of existence with that."

The Hokage looked over at Kakashi and Naomi turned a begging look at her friend. "Please," she mouthed.

Kakashi sighed. He hated seeing his friend this distraught. Never in their years as friends had he seen her cry, let alone look so utterly broken. It was heart breaking to see such a strong young woman so hurt. Taking her brother away from her now, after what she'd been put through, would be cruel. Plus, she was right. Living with Naomi was the Sasuke's best chance at a normal life now. He knew Naomi would never allow him to sulk forever, no matter how much she would want to sulk as well.

"I think that Naomi has a point. Sasuke should stay with her."

The Hokage rolled his eyes slightly. Of course he had already known the Jonin would side with his longtime friend.

"Very well; Sasuke will live with Naomi. I hope you know what you are doing. Your mother gave up being a Kunochi when she had you and Itachi. Are you ready for that possibility, Naomi?"

Naomi looked at her Hokage evenly and said, "My mother," she choked on that one word, "was never as ambitious as I am to a leaf ninja. She was perfectly content being a stay-at-home mother. I am willing to stay in the village for a year. I'll teach at the academy or something. Once Sasuke and I get back on our feet, I can go back into the field."

Steadily she was gaining control over herself again. Her breathing was evening out and her tears weren't coming in waves. Nausea wasn't overpowering her. Her focus was coming into view with her brother's face in her mind. But she was still trembling from head to foot.

Nodding, the Hokage rose.

"I believe that is an idea we may accommodate. I shall have the paperwork sent to you by the end of the week to get you transferred into the Academy staff."

Naomi rose and bowed, "Thank you Lord Hokage."

"I am deeply sorry for your loss."

Tears welled in her eyes once again and she turned to leave the office. Kakashi followed quickly behind.

"Naomi…" that was the last thing she heard. The moment the office door closed behind her, the dizziness Naomi had succeeded in suppressing rose again and consumed her. She could feel her legs give out beneath her and her world went black.