Hi! Yeah, uh... I didn't manage to wrap up the bit I wanted to in this chapter. I'm sorry. :( But I have my reasons. I don't really want my chapter length to go too far beyond this. Large enough to contain a decent amount of plot, short enough to not be a huge pain in the ass. I like it. It's a nice length, you know? It's good. I'm keeping it.

Also, it was a good place to finish. I didn't want this chapter to feel like I shoved everything in in like, 2 seconds. So I thought this well-sized slice of conflict and character development would suit you all fine. I want a decent amount of space for the next chapter.

Review if you can! Constructive criticism only helps my storytelling. If I know I'm satiating the masses, I might feel a bit more content with my work too.

It was almost midday. Almost half time up, but Naruto was so exhausted. His muscles were fatigued, his body fat wasting away. He felt so useless, but he thanked his large chakra reserves that he had even made it through the first part of the day.

Naruto was slumped against a tree. It was a rather distant training ground, and Sasuke had put them both under a henge once again. He had told Naruto to wait, and that he would go get some food. The Uzumaki had sensed his need to be alone. Witnessing the death of your father was one thing- but to watch it twice was just pure cruelty. Possibly partaking in it as well – Naruto shook his head, but knew he could never really understand; with no father, no fatherly bond, he could never truly understand.

So he was waiting. Naruto knew it would be his only rest of the day; the moment Itachi met them, they would be off.

It was cherry blossom season, and Naruto suddenly missed Sakura. The swarm of pink petals that littered his shoulders, the field – he just missed her. He couldn't help but feel a heavy, drowning guilt that they had come back in time, not only without her, but he had had no opportunity to ask Sakura what she wanted. What she wanted to change. He didn't feel it was fair at all.

"Forehead!"

It was a quiet utterance to Naruto, but sounded like it had been screamed at a distance. Abruptly, out of the corner of his eye, Sakura emerged from underneath a distant cherry blossom tree; he was reminded of the rosette's noble civilian roots as he saw her clumsy run. She fell over halfway, collapsing onto the grass. He saw Ino making fun of her light heartedly, and they began picking flowers.

Ino. He remembered the two so well; constantly competing, about everything. Naruto even sometimes thought she'd liked Sasuke just to compete with the blonde. It seemed so different now. Everything seemed so far away. They're just kids. So small, so young. They can barely throw kunai, and what? They're supposed to be fighting for our village in just a couple years.

No, no. This is all wrong.

Abruptly, the two children began to approach Naruto – they'd actually began sprinting, but Naruto hadn't really been able to tell at such a distance. The two came up to him, heaving with heavy breaths and holding out daisy chains.

"Ne! Ne! We made some daisy chains for you mister!" Sakura was struggling for breath, but hearing her young prepubescent voice made Naruto feel so... strange. Like – that Sakura had been a kid to some people at one point was... hard to comprehend. They'd been the same age...

"Yeah! But, mine's better, so..." Ino shrugged, smiling, as if the statement wasn't even questionable.

"Ino-pig, mine is so better than yours!"

"Don't think so, Forehead!"

Naruto realised that as a child he did not quite comprehend the full force of how annoying these two girls were.

He took the two daisy chains, hanging them around his neck and smiling. "I like them both. Thank you."

The two blushed, the bickering immediately coming to a halt.

"We just thought you looked a bit... sad," Sakura said, fiddling with her hands.

"And! And! We thought we should ask, since you're a boy-"

"Ino!"

"-do you know who Sasuke-kun is?"

Why, yes. His future self is headed here right now. Naruto paused. "I know of him. Why?"

Ino put her hands behind her back, grinning. "Sakura likes him! And Sasuke-kun likes girls with long hair. So don't you think, if she grows her hair long, he'll like her?"

Naruto looked at Sakura, and knotted his eyebrows. Her hair hadn't grown all too long yet. "I'm sure if Sasuke-kun likes a girl, it's not because of her hair. It's because she's a strong, reliable kunoichi. Wouldn't long hair just get in the way, if you're not going to have it tied up?" He didn't mention that he thought that the world would probably collapse around them before Sasuke would show any kind of romantic attraction to anyone, ever. Which wasn't strictly true; the world had collapsed around them, and he still hadn't.

"See, Ino-pig! He doesn't care about hair!"

Ino huffed, folding her arms.

Naruto found himself laughing, The girls bowed, saying polite goodbyes, and running off arguing before they'd even had the mind to ask his name, something he was grateful for.

He felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Argh!"

Sasuke nearly dropped the food he'd brought from the loud yell. He gritted his teeth. "If you weren't too busy trying to blow our cover, you'd have noticed me."

"Hmph. I'm just trying to improve Sakura's quality of life by not having her go after an asshole like you."

"So you can have her."

Naruto thought for a second. "No. What do you think Sakura-chan would want us to fix?"

The raven looked thoughtful for a moment, before shaking his head. "I don't know. She was always weak."

"At least until Tsunade-obaa-chan came along."

"The Godaime?"

Naruto nodded. "Sakura-chan packs a punch now." He shuddered.

Sasuke exhaled deeply, having finished off his last onigiri. "She has civilian parents, right?"

"Yeah. She didn't have any training as a kid." Naruto folded his arms and pouted. "Why?"

The Uchiha frowned for a moment, before closing his eyes and sighing.

"If you really want to help her, get her a sensei."

The blond's eyebrows knotted, and then opened suddenly. "A sensei! Aa, Sasuke, you're a genius!" He gave Sasuke a wide grin. The boy didn't turn to look, and Naruto began thinking hard. "What sensei? What sensei..."

"Stop thinking so hard. You might hurt yourself, usuratonkachi."

Naruto pulled his tongue at the boy, before folding his arms. "Bastard." He tried to grab the bag from Sasuke, who held it just out of reach. "What did you buy?"

"Food."

Naruto's eyebrow twitched.

Sasuke brought out a set of onigiri, and two packaged tubs.

"What, no ramen?"

"No. I brought some onigiri and soup."

Naruto pouted, taking a packaged tub and two of the onigiri. He bit into them, and found them to be odd... yet somewhat delicious. He looked at Sasuke. "These are your favourite, aren't they?"

"Hn. I don't remember telling you that."

Naruto stuck out his tongue, devouring the onigiri in seconds. They were cooked with tomato, and it gave it a juicy taste. Sasuke raised an eyebrow at his speedy eating, but said nothing, eating quietly.

"Where's Itachi?" Naruto asked, licking stray grains of rice off his fingers.

Sasuke stopped eating for a moment. "With mother." You know, since my father is dead. Since I had to kill him.

Naruto stopped, and bowed his head in respect. He'd dare not say sorry, for Sasuke's unpredictable reaction, but Naruto knew Sasuke would hear it anyway. The blond reached for the soup, unclipping the lid. The aroma hit him, and he smiled. "Red bean! My favourite – when did I tell you that, bastard?"

"Hn."

Naruto smiled. "Thanks, Sasuke."

"Whatever. It's getting cold." It's fine.

The two ate in comfortable silence, before Naruto burst it with a loud exclamation with a mouth full of food.

"Aa! Her! She can teach her!"

"You've spat soup all over me, you moron!"

Sasuke was not the sentimental type.

Or maybe he was, to such an extent that all that really mattered to him was his parents. His family. Focused. Obsessed – leaving no room for anything else, no other feeling at all.

So for the life of him, why he was walking around looking for some tokubetsu jounin that had been a little less than sane the last time he'd encountered her – was truly beyond him. Especially when it was for someone else's benefit. Wasting the time Sasuke knew he should be using to benefit his potential future, to benefit someone else?

It was irritating to know that Naruto's influence lead to stupid, "selfless" incidents like this. It wouldn't have happened at all, if not for the fact that Sasuke maybe felt he might perhaps owe the dying imbecile something for bringing him here without throwing a fit.

And Sasuke knew that he had a limited amount of time to find her and sort this. They'd be meeting Itachi at 2, and then... of course, there was no telling how long a fight like that would take. Hours... hopefully, they'd finish it soon enough so that they wouldn't have to leave Itachi alone to deal with them.

So, frankly, the Uchiha wasn't really going to permit this woman to take any longer than necessary, much less refuse. Even dead or at least no longer existent, he'd make that woman feel his wrath should she decide otherwise, whether he disappeared or not.

"Where is she?" Naruto whined. Whining. Like Sasuke remembered Naruto doing in the academy. That long, irritating whining. It had irritated him to no end, but the raven found himself pushing down an odd sense of nostalgia. Reminiscence. Ugh. Like I have time for that shit.

"I don't know, moron. If she's not here, then we don't have time to go on a manhunt."

Naruto looked irked by that prospect. "Sasuke, we can't just leave Sakura-chan out. It's just... wrong!"

"She was weak anyway."

"So was I! And Sakura-chan was so clever, even now!"

"What, in death?"

Naruto was silent, clenching his fists. "No, in this timeline, asshole." He stormed ahead, and Sasuke felt almost like laughing. He couldn't help the feeling.

The blond's indignation showed when he stormed into the shop, almost slamming the sliding doors aside as he walked in. The woman at the counter glanced up, surprised, and Sasuke followed Naruto in quietly, closing the door behind them and walking up to an occupied table. He opened his mouth to speak, but the Uchiha quickly intercepted.

"Mitarashi Anko, we need to talk."

The woman raised an eyebrow, swiping off another dango stick as she did. The bite was as dangerously huge and fast as that of a thin snake consuming a large rat. "I don't know who you are, kid, but I'm kinda tired today. Don't piss me off."

Sasuke didn't bother asking before he sat down opposite the woman, Naruto less uncaring in his action and slightly hesitant as he sat beside him. The blond found it perplexing that even in his henge, Sasuke was just as terrifying when he gave you that cold look of his.

"I'm sure you remember Orochimaru," Sasuke drawled.

Anko gritted her teeth, her eyes narrowing. "Be careful what you say, kid."

Sasuke closed his eyes, bringing his hands in front of him and resting his chin on the bridge of interlocking fingers. "It's a long story that you'd be skeptical of. In short, we require your help."

The woman's glare was scathing, and Sasuke was honestly unsure whether it was actually directed at him.

"In the chuunin exams hosted in Konoha in 6 years, after laying low, Orochimaru will strike Konoha. He will give the curse seal to a potential vessel – most likely an Uchiha – and instigate an invasion on the village." Sasuke stared straight at Anko. "I'm sure you know the pains of the curse seal well, Anko."

The tokubetsu jounin bit her lip, her expression furious. "Who are you, and why should I believe this supposed intel?"

"You don't have to." Sasuke stood up. "If things go the way they likely should, Orochimaru will curse Uchiha Sasuke. His infiltration into the exams is inevitable. If you want to have any hopes of preventing it, then train Haruno Sakura, his teammate. Even if they are prevented from entering the exams, Orochimaru will seek them out. That girl is the weakest link."

"Why should I believe you? Give me one good reason I shouldn't kill you now. You could be a spy, implanting false information." The civilian cashier eeped in the background.

Sasuke snorted. "Fine."

Naruto went to protest as Sasuke activated his Mangekyou Sharingan, and found himself wordless as Anko was immediately captured by the dojutsu.

"Tsukuyomi," Anko spat. "What a surprise."

The Uchiha said nothing, walking slowly towards her, his hooded black coat shuffling around his body. He closed his eyes, his approach slow but looming. Anko found herself stepping back warily, even as she knew that if this man so wished she'd be in a world of suffering right now; whether she tried to fight or not.

"I need you to help me."

His voice was low and cold, but Anko heard his voice clearly.

Anko felt her face contort with anger. How dare this stranger ask her for help, after threatening her like this-

The Uchiha smirked slightly. "Here, your thoughts are my thoughts. I am not threatening you."

She bit her lips, settling for a fierce scowl.

The dark-haired man turned around, walking across the vast landscape. "Mitarashi Anko. Born October 24th. 18 years old as of now. You received the cursed seal under the tutelage of Orochimaru not too long ago. You learned several techniques from the man, and you summon snakes. He abandoned you. You're a bloodthirsty, sadistic and unsympathetic person, but care greatly for your comrades. You're immune to most poisons, and have dedicated your life to killing Orochimaru."

She felt her heart drop- what – how could this man know so much, she'd never seen him in her life-

"I too, am an ex-student of Orochimaru." The man's face held an expression of contempt, but one that resembled the face one would have at seeing a cockroach beneath his foot; disgust and mild annoyance, but mostly indifference. "What a pathetic man. His desire to live forever killed him."

Anko choked. "He's- he's dead?"

"Not now."

"What?! What are you talking about?!"

"The future. I am a time traveller."

Anko raised an eyebrow, laughing. "Stop bullshitting me. Time travel... hah. You Uchihas are fucking lunatics."

"I am Uchiha Sasuke." Anko's face was blank. "Brother of Uchiha Itachi."

Her face glinted with recognition, and as she looked at Sasuke, her breath caught in her throat. "You're- you're that runt! His whiny little brother- you! But-"

And the similarities struck her. It was him. The little spikes in his hair, his smirk- but he was a different person, now. The child she'd seen had been tugging on Itachi's leg when he'd be heading off for jounin duties, thin and small with chubby cheeks. Now he was a cold, callous man, with dead eyes and a cut jaw, muscled with a low voice that faintly resembled that squeaky child's voice. Though Anko really did want to cast aside the similarities, they were there, and she couldn't.

"In my world, the Uchihas were slaughtered tonight. I was left alone, by Itachi. The village was attacked during my chuunin examinations, the Third Hokage killed, and I was cursed by Orochimaru. Tsunade was recruited as the Godaime Hokage. I left to Orochimaru, to attain power to kill my brother. I killed Orochimaru, then my brother – only to discover his total innocence. The leader of the Akatsuki destroyed the whole of Konoha. Worst of all, Uzumaki Naruto, the village pariah, was the hero."

Anko blinked. "Could you say that again?"

For hours, Sasuke played the events in front of them. It ended with Anko's promise of utmost secrecy, and promises to help Sakura – all of them, if she could.

In an instant, Anko reeled back, quiet, unprotesting. She sighed, bringing her hand to her temples.

"You Uchiha and your goddamn eyes."

Coughing up blood was becoming more routine as the day went on. Sasuke had actually gone to the liberty of purchasing a couple packets of tissues, for the sake of Naruto not spraying blood over random passers-by by accident. Despite his sickness, the Uchiha was oddly sure that the blond wouldn't be a deadweight in the battle, and instead an asset.

For some reason, he and Naruto worked together flawlessly. Even their elemental affinities annoyed Sasuke; they made it seem like Naruto was designed to help him, to 'rekindle' him or 'save him from the darkness'. Such phrases served not to impress Sasuke, but only to make him feel irritated. Darkness. Sasuke had been totally happy there, until he'd decided to do something as stupid as this.

He refused to care about Naruto, to give a shit about him whatsoever – yet Sasuke couldn't help but feel slightly (only slightly) concerned when he'd hear Naruto's hacking cough next to him, the light specks of blood that managed to seep through the thin layer of tissue. The reason being that Naruto would obviously be a pain in battle if he got any more ill. It would be a complete inconvenience to Sasuke.

Sasuke managed to convince himself that the concern he had for Naruto's health was directly linked with his ability in battle, and that was all. Nothing more.

Even Naruto was awfully quiet. Coughing, occasionally, but nothing more. They were both tense. Though Sasuke was pretty sure that his time would be better spent discussing techniques, methods of killing Danzo, they both knew it was futile. They knew nothing of Danzo's techniques – his methods, in any way, shape or form. It was Itachi they needed- Itachi was the key to the whole fight.

"Sasuke."

His older brother nodded at him, expression gentle but hardened all at once.

Sasuke realised how annoying it actually was that Itachi was smaller than him. It made him feel strange. And stupid, too; Itachi was so much older than his years, than Sasuke himself- knowing that he was taller, broader, older and yet just so much younger really pissed him off. No matter what, the raven knew he'd never really shake that "foolish little brother" feeling.

And he followed Itachi. Neither he nor Naruto had any idea where the ROOT headquarters were located, though Itachi did. That was to be expected; even now, Sasuke felt like Itachi knew everything, knew everything before Sasuke even said it. It was a peculiar feeling.

Itachi walked slowly, and yet he was so fast. His strides were purposeful and long, and the lack of tension and urgency in his movement deceived you into believing he was simply strolling, until he was several metres ahead of you. Ah, he's just a kid. Sasuke's heart clenched. When he'd been 13, he'd been... in Team 7. Just... screwing around. He'd left at 13, too – but he'd... Sasuke knew he'd been such a child. So attached, to the point where Sasuke had thought that maybe, just maybe – he'd be content in Team 7. Just staying there.

Things had changed. But Sasuke felt so stupid, as he saw Itachi at that age. Nearly an adult. Strong. Clever – a pacifist. Sure of himself, and his destination.

Though, even Sasuke knew he was seeing through the rose-tinted glasses of idolisation. Itachi was far from perfect; otherwise, Sasuke would not have ended up as he was.

The Uchiha drew his mind to the matter at hand. They had arrived.

Infiltration began.

Pressing themselves against the wall, Naruto and Sasuke waited.

They had masked their chakra as Itachi had requested. He'd told the two that he'd requested an audience with Danzo today, previously, in preparation for the massacre that night. As a conference with Danzo on the day of the massacre would later be damning evidence, the village elder had naturally asked Itachi to make it of the utmost secrecy and infiltrate the headquarters. Itachi turning up now would be expected – the perfect opportunity for him to exploit Danzo's naivety and kill him.

Granted Naruto and Sasuke did not let their presence become known.

Sasuke felt a little, no – very apprehensive about letting Itachi in there alone. Even if Danzo was old and weak, Sasuke had his suspicions – and if he himself was not strong, the Uchiha knew that Danzo had an entire army behind him. Incredibly strong, emotionless soldiers who were wholely and completely loyal.

"Sasuke-"

Sasuke clamped his hand over Naruto's mouth.

He'd heard a noise. A bang? No, a-

Naruto grabbed his shoulders and pulled them both down.

Shuriken hit the wall where Sasuke's head had been.

Danzo snorted, parrying a strong swing of Itachi's sword with two crossed kunai. "Lackeys, Itachi?" The older man struggled under the push of Itachi's sword. "I'd expected better."

Itachi took the opportunity to swipe his legs beneath the man, causing Danzo to lose his balance. The man caught himself on his hands, powering himself backwards and out of Itachi's path. Itachi sent a flurry of shuriken at the elder, forcing him to dive out the way.

Danzo heard the distinctive whirring of metal wire.

Shit- he's going to cut me in half!

The elder poised two kunai at his sides, holding the metal blades against the wires at either side of him to stop him being cleanly sliced in two. The pose was odd, unbalanced, and Danzo felt his wrists trembling at the pressure.

Sasuke took this opportunity to launch shuriken at Danzo, only to find the man smirking as he hooked the metal wires up using the handles of his kunai, using the thin wire as a make shift defence – and his smirking expression briefly turned into a frown as Naruto assaulted him with a strong kick. It wasn't as refined and clean as the fighting of the Uchiha's, but it was strong and it was fast. Danzo knew that he was going to struggle, especially with all three at once-

Danzo let the wires down for a moment, Itachi's eyes widening as he let go so as not to cut Naruto apart- and Danzo struck, lunging forward with speed and nicking Itachi's fore arm with his kunai as the man jumped backwards and out of his range.

Itachi ran forward, kunai in hand and Danzo readied himself for a close-combat struggle, only to find Itachi pressing quickly and carefully on a certain joint on his hand with the precision of a Hyuuga, and abruptly his hand was limp, weak, kunai clattering to the ground-

Naruto took the opportunity to run forward, beneath Itachi's arm and knock Danzo to the ground, placing his foot on Danzo's chest, hard – only to see the man using his working hand to ready a handful of shuriken-

There was a shrill, horrendous cry as Sasuke broke the man's hand.

Heavy breathing.

"Well, then. I'd better start taking you Uchiha on as equals..."

The genjutsu broke.

Danzo began unravelling the bandages around his right eye, revealing a single Sharingan. The eye belonging to one of their most renowned members, Uchiha Shisui, resided there, the wound still slightly sore – and as Danzo looked around, he felt his heart racing. It was like no ordinary vision, filled with seeing and chakra and movement so beautiful that Danzo felt so indignant that the Uchihas had such an unfair advantage.

Itachi attacked first.

Danzo felt near dizzy at all the extra movement, and yet he thought, was this the magnificence of the Sharingan, or of Uchiha Shisui alone? He did not know, and he did not care, and he retaliated, clumsier than he should have but he could see! He could see, divine movement, he could see indeed-

"The eye of my best friend, Shisui Uchiha-"

Itachi swung forward with his sword, arcing downwards, Danzo's dazedness stunning him and he moved yet not quick enough-

"-is nothing when wielded by a coward!"

Danzo's little finger fell to the ground, blood flowing freely from the open wound. The man looked at it, shocked, before narrowing his eyes and jumping back. He pressed the stump where his finger had been tightly.

"A coward I may be, but only for Konoha." He struck quickly, powering chakra to the edge of his kunai and aiming for Itachi's leg – only to be flung back by the turning moment force of Itachi's sword.

"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

And now he was amongst many, Danzo skillfully withdrawing his sword and slicing through the enemy. Kenjutsu was ideal against Naruto; but against Itachi, it was useless. The man was on par with him, if not more skillful. Danzo was well aware this young blond boy was not of this... anything. He was unnatural. Danzo could sense his chakra level- it seemed neverending, ominous and strange, and it unsettled him.

"Find another way." Sasuke struck from the back, Itachi from the front, Danzo parrying Itachi at the front and dodging Sasuke's lunge from the back. He winced; a second later, and he would have been skewered on that chokuto.

"What do you mean, 'another way?'"

Danzo made the rookie mistake of looking into Itachi's eyes.

It was cold, empty, the world was blank and empty and Itachi was torturing, stabbing him again and again as he hung on the cross but instead of him just dying, going into shock it was going on and on and there was blood all over him, seeping down his pants filling his shoes, hours and hours of bloodshed until his shoes became so heavy they slipped off his feet blood blood blood-

"Without needless murder."

Danzo threw up, bile, vomit and blood as one as they hacked up his throat, and Sasuke stood before him, his chokuto unsheathed and shimmering in the warm lantern glow of the room. He looked up, eyes angry and sharp. "Then what is this, Uchiha?"

Sasuke shrugged. "A lesser evil."

And with that, Sasuke brought down his sword than Naruto could see, the blade sharp and unrelenting as it swiped in a low, forceful arc through flesh, muscle, vertebrae- decapitated completely.

Sasuke heard Naruto choke.

His eyes widened, the body in front of him spurting out fresh blood over his face like a fountain of red. The ferrous liquid spilled down the corpse, seeping through the shirt and onto the floor, the crimson puddle below the still-standing body growing every second- the head falling, rolling, hair stained by red-

It was a child.

The body was yet to stumble, still standing, wavering on the feet before it tumbled to the sides, knees collapsing first and then landing on the left arm on an awkward angle. The right foot still twitched, toes randomly jerking with the remnants of electrical signal. The decapitated head blinked, mouth poised open as if to say something – anything, perhaps-

The room was quiet, and then there was noise.

Footsteps. Light footsteps, quiet against the varnished floor. Sasuke looked at the child; he was somewhat younger than the one that lay in pieces now. He was walking slowly, painfully, as though his legs were refusing to walk. As the child stepped into the blood, the wet noise of his feet pressing against the thick blood made Sasuke wince internally. The fresh blood seeped through the gaps in the child's toes like the blood that rushed to a fresh flesh wound. The child did not look down, didn't stop or even flinch.

The young kid stumbled and slipped on the blood, feet giving out from beneath him as he fell into the blood onto his left side. The left side of his face, his arms, clothes and legs became stained with red, blood dripping down off his eyelashes as the child slowly pushed himself upright. No one reached to help him up, for fear the child would snap, or die, fragile beneath the callous touch of a shinobi who had seen a thousand deaths before.

For a moment, the child's palm slipped as he laid his weight on his two arms, but he caught himself. The splash of the blood beneath him left a droplet on his chin. Sasuke watched carefully as the child got himself upright. He stood for a moment, before doing the same dreary walk for a couple, heavy steps. The child collapsed to his knees, and looked torn.

Naruto felt his heart crack as he watched Sai wonder which part of his brother to go to first.

"Kotoamatsukami," Danzo grinned, wiping Shin's blood off his face. "I always did admire that jutsu. Shisui certainly had the advantage. The ability to twist one's thoughts without their knowledge – amazing! Only to be expected of Shunshin no Shisui."

Itachi gritted his teeth. "You killed a child. Someone who placed their absolute faith in you."

Danzo shrugged, looking completely nonchalant as he posed his body in a fluid fighting stance. "A lesser evil."

"Naruto, get the kid out of here." Sasuke's voice was cold.

Danzo laughed, his chuckles eerie and echoing in the empty room. "Uchiha Sasuke! You've killed thoughtlessly, meaninglessly! What is it to you, the death of a no-one, an orphaned child?"

In a moment, Sasuke infused his sword with chakra, cutting off Danzo's whole hand.

"Che. Like I'm going to explain myself to trash like you."

Naruto felt himself smile, as he rushed out of the hideout with Sai in arms.

Ero-sennin, Sasuke's there. The bastard's there... and he's fine.

Itachi and Sasuke shared a look, nodding before rushing forward. "Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu!"

Danzo's mind raced. What!? They're going to use that here? The entire hideout will go up in flames and collapse!

With one hand positioned to direct the flames, Sasuke reached behind himself and brought out a large shuriken, twisting his body to throw it with colossal force. Though stunned, Danzo dodged it, smirking. Did he really think something that simple would catch me off guard-

Itachi threw a shuriken above Danzo's head, missing completely much to Danzo's bewilderment – until he heard the slight metal cling of the small shuriken deflecting off the other, and the acute, debilitating pain of it hitting Danzo's Achilles heel. The connection cut into Danzo with such force that Itachi almost winced when he heard the thick, strong tendon snap.

Danzo cried out, blood trickling down his chin as he bit through his lip. He buried his sword in the ground besides him, Sasuke watching on with mild amusement as the man struggled to his feet.

"You Uchiha," Danzo seethed, "always wanting control!" He was limping harshly.

Itachi looked at him with a look akin to the look one would give a man suffering from a flailing madness before death. He walked over to Danzo slowly, the man lunging to strike but gasping the moment he put weight on his foot and collapsing. The stump where his hand had been was bleeding sluggishly.

The man crawled, pushing himself away from Itachi desperately, mumbling incoherently as he desperately tried to pull himself away with his functional hand and foot. He reached the wall soon, and his angry yells got louder. "Death," he spat. "Death should have taken those Uchiha bastards! Miserable- selfish! Breeders of hatred- no one'd miss them, not a soul!"

Itachi shook his head, his Sharingan deactivated as he leaned down to look the man in the eyes. His expression was gentle.

"Death is always sad, Danzo. Even yours."

Itachi didn't stop until the sword had embedded itself in the wall as well.

Naruto wasn't all too good at anything that really required chakra control, so escaping from the headquarters without anyone noticing the blood stained kid in his arms was easier said than done. It wasn't like he could use any kind of genjutsu to hide it. Once again, Naruto missed Sakura – luckily, the blond had managed to escape into the surrounding forestry. In another time, Naruto might have pouted that he wasn't in the midst of the fray.

But he knew that Sai was more important than anything as stupid as his pride. More than that, the Uzumaki knew that he was weak, that he would just be a burden if he started coughing up blood or being stricken by horrendous pain during the battle.

Naruto stopped at a slight clearing in the trees, setting down the bloodstained child, looking at his cold, dead eyes. The blond was heaving for breath, and he leaned to the side as he coughed up blood onto the wet grass.

He couldn't describe the immense, hollow emptiness Naruto felt. They had come early enough to save Sai's brother, but instead, they had inadvertedly killed him. Sai was part of Team Kakashi, and it was a horrible, cruel truth that they had failed to help Sai. They'd been so wrapped up in the solution of their own problems that they hadn't thought for a moment to help Sai. It wasn't even they; why would Sasuke have suggested it? It was Naruto's fault. It was all his fault.

"Are you okay?"

Naruto winced. He'd hated hearing Sai's voice back then. It was grating; Sai wasn't really concerned at all about him. About anything. He nodded nonetheless. Breathing heavily, he looked the young, pale boy in the eyes. "Sai."

"Sai?"

Naruto's heart dropped, and then he remembered; Sai had been given that name for him. For the mission, for the extermination of Uchiha Sasuke. Nothing else. He'd been nameless to everyone around him, an empty husk of an orphan, until he'd met Naruto.

"What a nice name." The boy put on one of those fake smiles that used to make Naruto want to kick him in the jaw. "I'll keep it."

What a hefty chapter. I'm sorry for the horrendously mean scene between Sai and his brother. I feel like the scene was slightly confusing so I'll explain:

Danzo, due to him having Shisui's eye, used Shisui's strongest jutsu, Kotoamatsukami. This jutsu is a very powerful jutsu with twists the memories and thoughts of someone, in order to make them do the action you want them to do whilst also thinking that it is the most rational thing to do. They are completely unaware. He did this with Sai's brother - who was eavesdropping though I don't think I mentioned that - causing him to put himself in the line of Sasuke's sword. Sai then walks in to see his brother's corpse. It's pretty horrendous. Also, Kotoamatsukami can only really be used once every decade or so. Obviously, cause it's crazy powerful. This is why, later on, you see Danzo with Hashirama's regenerative cells; he was attempting to reduce this time so he could use it more often.

Also, just a quick explanation; I figured, since the massacre hasn't occurred yet, and though Danzo does not say that they are from the massacre they probably are - I basically didn't give Danzo that creepy fucking arm of eyes. I figured he'd have no way of having it, or even Hashirama's cells.

Review if you can! It helps me. Thanks so much for reading! :)