Ahoy! All the reviews/follows/favourites have been so heart warming to me, I mean that. So thank you so much, :3 My apology for the lateness is at the bottom, so if you were expecting one, it's definitely there xD.

"Kira. They're after you."

"Me? You're kidding, right? What do they want with me?" I asked, raising my eyebrow slightly. I didn't have any extraordinary power or anything, I was just your usual badass shinobi.

"We're not too sure ourselves, but the word is spreading quickly that the Akatsuki are after a red-haired Konoha shinobi. You're our only red-haired shinobi in the village, so we're quite positive that it's you.*"Jiraiya responded, crossing his arms.

Ugh, don't I get a break or something? This was just too much. All I want is my apartment, dango, and a comfy bed. Is that too much to ask? Apparently so.

"So what's Kakashi doing here?" I hastily changed the subject, trying not to think about the idea of the Akatsuki being after me.

"Well Kakashi's going to be 'protecting you' per-say. It will be him, also other ANBU members, which will be following you at all times." Tsunade explained.

Uh, what. No thanks. I mean, Kakashi I can handle. Creepy ANBU members stalking me all day? Yeah, this is where I'm going to have to disagree. And for about the millionth time in my 18 years of existence, I spoke without thinking.

"There's no way I'd agree to that! And from what I heard, last time the Akatsuki were here, Kakashi got his ass handed to him on a silver platter! And having ANBU tail me wherever I go? I'd rather them not. I mean what are they going to do when I need to pee? Are they going to watch me or something? I just can't agree to that Hokage-sama." I vented my feelings out in one large breath.

I could feel Kakashi's glare burning through my skull behind me. I internally winced. I didn't mean to say that. It just came out. Word vomit, basically. I do that a lot. It's a bad habit which I just can't get out of. I swear it's going to get me killed one day.

"Kira this is for your own safety! I don't care if you agree with this or not! You're a respected shinobi of the Leaf village, and I'd be damned to let the Akatsuki get their own way!" Tsunade raised her voice, losing her temper a little.

"Aw, I didn't know you cared so much, Tsunade" I grinned, despite the busty woman's temper. Yeah, I'm so going to get myself killed one day.

Tsunade sighed, ignoring my last comment. I don't know whether to be thankful or not that she did. The blonde just sat back down in her chair, holding her head up with both hands, eyes closed.

"Kira. This is serious. If the Akatsuki get their hands on you, Konoha could be in serious trouble. There are members of the Akatsuki that we don't know about, meaning we don't know what they're capable of. And they would use any means necessary to get hold of Konoha's information. That could include death." Tsunade spoke lowly, her hazel coloured eyes boring into mine.

I bit my lip nervously. Oh for the love of Kami, I'm not going to get my way, am I?

"Argh, fine. Do what you like. But does that mean that I can't go on any missions or anything?" I asked grumpily.

"It would be best if you remained in the village for now. Stay with Kakashi and don't wander off on your own. Got it?" Tsunade asked me. Did I not just say 'Do what you like?' Anyway, I'm not a complete idiot. I wasn't about to let the Akatsuki recruit me into their evil little club. They can get their own sexy, red haired shinobi. I belonged to Konoha, for now.

"Yeah yeah, got it. But, I don't understand. The Akatsuki are after the tailed beasts, right?" I questioned, furrowing my eyebrows. This just didn't make sense, really. I'm going to give myself a headache from all this thinking. Oh wow, I'm such a pathetic excuse as a ninja, it's almost laughable.

After saying that, Jiraiya's eyes widened a little. What? I thought everyone knew that. It wasn't that secret, was it?

"How do you know that?" Jiraiya asked suddenly, making me raise my eyebrows.

"I didn't know it was such a massive secret. I just hear things, ya know, people at bars and stuff." I commented, shrugging. I picked up a strand of my hair and begun twirling it around my finger. I have a feeling I know where this conversation is heading, and I'd rather not be here when it happens.

Jiraiya just smiled slightly and nodded his head at me, ass if to say 'Good job'.

"Yes, they are. But you're not a tailed beast, so I guess they have a different reason to try to recruit you. Just stay inside the village. After the first break in, security has been tightened. A single person won't be able to get inside the walls of this village without us knowing about it." Tsunade stated, clenching her fist tightly.

I sighed loudly, bringing my hands up towards my temples, massaging them gently to calm down my now throbbing headache.

"So you don't have any idea on why they want me?" I asked for the second time. Before Tsunade could say anything Jiraiya interrupted her.

"Wait. Kira, how many people knew about that jutsu?" Jiraiya inquired, his hand resting on his chin, as if he was in thought.

I responded immediately. That justu was extremely important, extremely deadly, and extremely secret. I kept record on every single person who knew about. I thought for a second, momentarily stopping my massaging and counting the people off my fingers.

"Only a handful of people. You, the Third, Tsunade-sama briefly, Kakashi and-" I stopped.

Oh.

OH.

"Oh Kami." I whispered, burying my head in my hands.

"I am so STUPID!" I yelled to myself, bashing the palm of my hand onto my forehead with extreme force. I felt like such an idiot. Not only that, but that 'betrayed' feeling I had long forgotten, had slowly crept back into my emotions, leaving me incredibly angry and frustrated with myself.

Kakashi seemed to have just caught on. He coughed slightly and moved into my eyesight and looked angrily at me.

"Kira. Please tell me you didn't-" Kakashi started to say, but I cut him off with a long groan and a nod.

Kakashi sighed, anger and annoyance clearly evident in his eyes. Oh don't give me that look Kakashi. Of course I told him. I wasn't aware on what was going to happen. Plus it was a long time ago now, anyway.

Jiraiya was almost amused. He chuckled without any humour and muttered a low "Oh boy." Apparently Tsunade had no idea what we were talking about, because she was looking between me, Kakashi and Jiraiya in silence.

"What is it, Kira. Who else did you tell." Tsunade asked- no, demanded from me.

I pressed my lips together tightly and lowered my eyes. If I didn't tell her, Kakashi or Jiraiya would. I adjusted my posture and looked into Tsunade's questioning eyes. I forgot that she didn't know much about it except the basics.

I gritted my teeth together, before opening them to speak, only to close my mouth again. I'm so going to lose my job for this.

"No wait. I don't even want to know. Kakashi, get her out of my sight. And remember to stick with her at all times." Tsunade growled, which honestly scared the hell out of me.

"Yes Hokage-sama" Kakashi grabbed me by the wrist and pulled me out of Tsunade's office.

I have a feeling Tsunade already knew who I was talking about, she just didn't have the control not to punch me to kingdom come and back. Plus, even if she didn't know Jiraiya would probably tell her.

The thing is, without his help, I would have never completed the technique in the first place. It wasn't my fault that I didn't know what was going to happen back then. Oh well. Life just sucks sometimes, doesn't it? And for me, it really sucks.

As Kakashi still dragged me, this time down the stairs, I forcefully snatched my wrist back. I didn't really want to put up with Kakashi and ANBU following me everywhere, no offence to them. Oh, talking of Kakashi...

"Hey Kakashi." I said quietly. Oh boy, time to suck in my pride. This is going to suck. I thought cringing slightly.

"Hm?" Kakashi turned his head to look at me, as we were still walking down the stairs. How long do these stairs even go on for anyway?

"I'm sorry about what I said back in the Hokage's office." I bit my lip nervously. Kakashi really was my friend, and it would suck if he wasn't to forgive me. I never really had many friends to begin with because of my crappy personality, so Kakashi must have a lot of tolerance for someone like me. It would be almost understandable if he just left me for the Akatsuki to take.

"Oh, it's fine, really." Kakashi replied. He gave that one-eyed-smile thing and looked forwards, opening the double doors and leaving the building, me following not far behind him.

"Really?" I asked, almost surprised. I didn't think that he would forgive me so easily.

"Of course, Kira. I've been your friend for so long now that I know you don't think before you speak. Now stop worrying over it. Okay?" Kakashi told me lightly.

"Ah, okay then. I guess you're- hang on a minute! What do you mean I don't think before I speak?!" I asked angrily at Kakashi.

Kakashi just laughed, this time ruffling my hair affectionately. I just grumbled under my breath. Damn Kakashi, why would I think that he wouldn't want to put up with me anymore? I'm awesome, everyone puts up with me, whether they like it or not!

I swatted Kakashi's hand away from my hair and grinned.

"Hey Kakashi~" I sung annoyingly. I could almost hear him sigh before answering me.

"Yes, Kira?" He asked politely.

I took a moment before jumping onto Kakashi's back, hanging to him like a koala. His surprise was so funny, I burst out laughing at the look on his face. Well when I mean face, I mean what's visible of his face. Like, his eye. Yeah. And some of his cheek, maybe.

"Carry me?" I smirked, tightening my grip on his back, refusing to take no as an answer.

Kakashi just sighed openly and contines to walk down the street, ignoring the stares of the civilians as the super-strong-awesome Kakashi Hatake - White Fang of the Leaf be controlled by an annoying, red haired nobody. Yeah, I think I could take Kakashi's presence for granted. And if you thought of that dirtily, shame on you.

The day was mostly wasted with me and Kakashi battling it out in the training fields. I mean, I wanted to train, and Kakashi had to keep a constant watch on me, so we decided to spar with each other. And when I mean spar, I mean an all-out battle between the two of us. It was hectic. Kakashi was fast, strong, and had the Sharingan to predict all my movements. I just had to rely on unpredictably attacking him from random areas. It wasn't going so well for me. I took my weapon from off my back, pointing it at Kakashi, grinning happily.

"I have a giant-ass kunai sword, and I'm not afraid to use it!" I yelled, charging at Kakashi with speed I didn't know I possessed. He narrowly avoided my swipe, but I took the change to give him a good kick in the chest.

Kakashi flew back a few feet and I smirked in triumph. Take that Kakashi.

"Kira, I think we should stop for the day." Kakashi wheezed out, massaging his slightly damaged chest. I tilted my head slightly, confused.

"Why? Afraid that I'll beat you, old man?" I taunted, swinging my kunai-sword carelessly around my fingers.

"No. We've trained so much the sun has gone down." What. I looked up into the sky, where there was no traces of sunlight, but instead a deep blue blanket of darkness, stars twinkling faintly. My eyes widened slightly, we didn't spend that much time training, surely?

I strapped the kunai-sword back onto my back (I've got to stop laughing at stupid things, but ahaha xD) and looked at Kakashi. He was still massaging his chest.

"Sorry about that. I do take pride in my kicks though, you're lucky I didn't kick you with all my strength." I commented, grinning arrogantly at Kakashi.

"I guess so. Who knew that you've become this strong, eh?" Kakashi spoke, raising his eyebrow at me. I just shrugged. Well I was an ANBU member, Kakashi. Remember?

We walked out of the training grounds, heading towards Kakashi's house. Even though night had fallen, the streets were still quite busy with civilians and shinobi alike. Shops were still open, providing the town with light. We walked passed the dango shop. I stopped outside it, grinning and pointing to it to Kakashi.

"Dango, can we please?" I begged, pouting my lip a little. He can't resist it. Hah, I couldn't blame him. Nobody could.

Kakashi just sighed, nodding sadly. Yes! I ran into the little shop, sitting at a booth by a window. As Kakashi followed slowly behind me, he took the seat opposite me, preparing to take his wallet out.

The shop was completely empty, save for Kakashi and I. If we couldn't hear the rustling around of the people behind the counter, I would have thought it was abandoned.

A small, old woman tumbled towards us. She smiled sweetly at us, taking out a notepad and pen.

"What would you like?" her scratchy voice asked. Is that what happens to everyone's voice when they get older? Because if it did, I'd like to stay this age forever please.

"All the dango you have left please, old lady!" I yelled, completely forgetting my manners around dango. I can't help it. I love dango so much. If all I could eat was dango, I would eat it. But that was unhealthy.

The old woman just smiled, before walking off to prepare the dango.

"Kira that was rude." Kakashi commented, looking embarrassed. I just waved him off with my hand, too caught up in my own dango fantasies to pay any attention to Kakashi.

"Here you go. If you want anymore, just ask." The old woman smiled at us, putting 2 plates of dango onto our table.

"Thank you!" I grinned at her, before picking up a dango.

Just before I inhaled my dango, I realized that Kakashi hasn't touched his yet. I smirked devilishly.

"What's wrong Kakashi? Afraid of me seeing what's under your mask?" I raised an eyebrow, still smirking. Just as I blinked, Kakashi had already taken a stick of dango, inhaled it, and put the stick back on his plate, all without me seeing what was under his mask.

I blinked once, then again, taking in what had just happened. Holy shit that was awesome. Kakashi so has to teach me how to do that.

"I'm sorry, did you-" Kakashi started, before stopping, his visible eye widening before slumping onto the table unconscious. My own eyes widened, before bashing Kakashi on the arm roughly.

"Oi, Kakashi. Wake up, this isn't funny. You know how the 'you know what' are after me. Wake up. Come on now."

Kakashi stayed unconscious. I stood up out of the booth, getting into a defensive position, one of my hands grasping the kunai-sword on my back. Man, I really should name that thing.

My heart started to pump faster, as a nervous feeling settled into my stomach.

"Oh hey, it worked. Finally! I swear, it was so fucking boring trailing you all day. Oi, Kakuzu! Get your lazy ass out here! She's finally alone!" A loud, obnoxious voice yelled from the other side of the shop.

I quickly turned around, finding someone sitting at a booth. My eyes widened. He wasn't there before, I would have seen him, or at least felt his chakra presence. His hair was white and slicked back, and a giant, red, 3 bladed scythe sat on the table. And worst of all - his cloak was black with red clouds on it.

"Akatsuki." I growled, taking my weapon off my back and holding it in front of me.

A maniacal laughter was my only response.

Flashback: Kira (aged 13)

I was walking through the busy streets of Konoha, my team flanked both sides of me. Kenji-sensei had gone on a mission, leaving us to 'bond' with each other. I don't really see the point though. We've been a team for about 10 months already. I even took the Chunin Exams, promoting myself to Chunin, making Jirou-baka the only one in our team who is still a Genin. Haha, sucker. Actually, I can now see why Kenji-sensei made us have bonding sessions with each other. Because I wasn't a 'teamwork' person. I like to get things done by myself, at my own pace. All the others do is bitch and moan about it.

"Eh, it's hot. Can we go indoors? And by indoors I mean into a dango shop, maybe?" I asked, fanning myself with my hands. Damn the middle of the summer, I curse you for having such hot weather. This blistering heat reminds me of the time when my team went to Suna on a mission and I got heatstroke really badly. I hate the sun, the end.

"I don't mind." And that was Itachi's voice. You could say after the months we had become sort of what they call 'friends'. Since our 'bonding session' ie. the time where he had almost killed me with shurikens and corrected my stance, it became almost a daily routine that we met there and practised training. I'm not sure how it happened, but sometimes he'd just show up, then it just became more frequent until it was just an everyday thing to do. The annoying thing is, that I had learned more from Itachi than I had from Kenji-sensei, so it was thanks to him that I had actually become Chunin in the first place.

"Whatever." grumbled Jirou. Dickface.

We came towards the dango shop, and entered it, finding a place to sit amongst the billions of other people here. When we all sat down, we ordered, ate, and within half an hour, we were back on our feet, trailing our way through the village again.

For a while nobody said anything, just concentrating on not bumping into people. This got really boring, and I felt like I was going to collapse thanks to my 0% tolerance to the heat. Finally, Jirou spoke up.

"I'm going home. This is stupid. If Kenji-sensei asks, just tell him we were together all day. I have better things to be doing than hanging out with you losers." Jirou spat angrily. He directed his path towards his house and left, leaving Itachi and I stood in the streets of Konoha by ourselves.

"That complete asshole! If Kenji-sensei finds out about this then it'll be my fault, I guarantee it!" I fumed angrily. Then came the sun with its amazing (stupid) energy absorbing powers and made me feel completely exhausted. I stumbled slightly, flailing my arms around to balance myself. Ugh, stupid sun.

"Are you alright?" Itachi asked me, looking at me weirdly. Wow, for someone who's supposed to be a prodigy, he sure doesn't catch on quickly.

"Fucking fantastic." I mumbled, straightening myself up and wiping the sweat away from my forehead.

"Shall we go indoors? The sun is obviously affecting your physical health." Yeah no shit, hasn't it always? I mean, I even had a heatstroke once. Does that not tell you anything Itachi?

"Good idea." I agreed. Before I could take another step my vision became blurry and the sweltering heat became too much as I collapsed to the pavements of Konoha. I could faintly hear my name being called as everything went dark.

"Is she going to be okay, brother?" I heard a childish voice speak.

"I believe so, Sasuke. It was just a mild case of heatstroke." A deeper voice replied. I frowned, opening my eyes slowly, letting them adjust to the light. As my eyes focused, I could see two figures standing beside me. One Itachi, and the other a mini Itachi look alike. I was awkwardly sprawled across a nice couch, and despite my weird position, it was extremely comfy.

"She's awake!" Mini Itachi yelled, leaning over me, examining my face.

"Are you okay? My brother just brought you in and you weren't awake." I blinked and looked at him. He really did look like Itachi. Realizing that I haven't said anything yet, I quickly nodded and sat myself up.

My head pounded and I pressed my palm to my forehead to ease the pain. Now sat up I could see where I was. I was obviously in a house, and a nice one too. It was wooden, and I could tell it was very spacious.

Confused, I looked over to Itachi.

"Where am I?"

"The Uchiha Compound. My house, to be specific." Itachi's house? Wow, he really did live the luxury of having a nice house. I looked over at mini Itachi, who was awkwardly shifting his weight from one foot to another, studying me. Okay, weird.

"Who are you?" I asked softly, not wanting to upset a younger child. Normally I don't do anything to them, I just make little children cry for no reason. My face isn't that scary.

Instead of crying, mini Itachi's eyes brightened as he grinned excitedly.

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke!" he yelled happily. Ugh. No wonder children give me headaches.

"He's your brother?" I asked Itachi, looking from him to Sasuke and seeing such a big resemblance. Itachi nodded at me.

"Yes, he's my younger brother. Sasuke don't yell too loudly, she has just woken up." Huh? That sounded almost like concern. Aw, is Itachi concerned for me? Haha, probably not.

Sasuke pouted and begun to walk away from me, but I called him back.

"Hey, wait a minute. You're Itachi's brother right?" Sasuke nodded at me, smiling.

"Then does that mean you know all his secrets?" I smirked evilly at Sasuke. He thought this was hilarious because he laughed before answering me.

"Haha yeah! Ooh there was this one time when-" Sasuke began to speak.

"Sasuke. Don't you have homework to do?" Itachi interrupted. Sasuke looked at Itachi's face, noticing the dangerous glint in his eye before gulping and turning back to me.

"You're no fun Itachi. You always spoil it. Well it was nice meeting you... Wait what's your name?" Ah children. They can be awfully rude sometimes, yet they're so innocent you just can't be mad at them.

"Kitamura Kira. Nice meeting you too Sasuke." I told him, smiling. He just grinned and put his hand out for me to shake it. I shook his hand and he laughed happily at me. Bless him. He's so innocent.

"Sasuke." Itachi's warning voice spoke lowly. Sasuke just pouted again before walking away, but not before mumbling an annoyed, "Alright Itachi. You have fun with your girlfriend then."

One thing, Sasuke is terrible at mumbling to himself. When he says something, he lets the whole world know about it. Me and Itachi clearly heard what Sasuke said, and both out eyes widened. The difference was, I started laughing. A lot. And pretty loudly too. Itachi just shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips.

After my small laughing fit, I then became to wonder why I was actually here in the first place. Confused, I looked up at Itachi.

"Hey Itachi, what happened?" I bit my lip. I probably passed out due to the heat, nothing serious I hope.

"You had a mild heatstroke, so I brought you back to my house as it was relatively close. I hope you don't mind." Why would I mind? I'm indoors, and Sasuke is adorable! I never really liked little kids, but he had me at 'I know all of Itachi's secrets'. I grinned at him.

"Of course I don't mind. Thank you Itachi. Anyway, your little brother is quite adorable." Itachi gave a small chuckle at that. I tried to stand myself up. I pushed off of the settee and tried to balance myself upright. Dizziness overcame me and I swayed to the right. However, before I could fall Itachi placed his hands onto my shoulders, preventing me from the fall.

Grinning up at him, I gave a grateful thank you, and took a step. I was mostly fine, except for the random dizzy spells.

"Hey Itachi, does this mean that we're not going to be training tonight?" I asked him, tilting my head. (Which just caused another dizzy spell so it wasn't a very smart thing to do)

Itachi shook his head at me, with that polite smile on his face. Damn, I hate that smile. It made me not hate him. He could tell me he slaughtered a bunch of innocent kittens with that smile and I still wouldn't hate him.

"You should rest. Even if you weren't out for long, the sun is going down. I'll escort you back to your house." I gave a small nod of agreement and made my way towards the door slowly.

"Hey Itachi, where are your parents?" Itachi stopped in his tracks and looked up to me with an almost worried look on his face.

They're at our monthly clan meeting. It's a shame you didn't get to meet my mother, she would like you. Maybe another time though, okay?" Itachi's worried look turned polite again as he gave that gentle smile of his.

Instead of cursing to myself how much I hated his smile because I loved it, I just smiled back and nodded gently.

We walked out of the house and the compound, making our way back into the busy streets of Konoha. We walked slowly, so I wouldn't feel dizzy again, but I was positive I would be fine now that the sun was setting.

Itachi was being nice. And it was annoying. Because if he's nice to me, that means I have to be nice to him. And I just don't do 'nice'. I am many things, but I just don't think nice is one of them. Yet he was so patient around me. Most of our training sessions were used for talking about things that got on our nerves anyway. Such as Jirou, or Kenji-sensei who I recently found out is also disliked by Itachi. Although I can't believe he never brought up the fact that he has a younger brother. Thinking of it, Itachi never talks about his family. I wonder why.

Even though there are many things that Itachi never spoke of, I can't believe I of all people have made him open up, even just a little. I smiled unwillingly at the thought.

Bidding Itachi goodnight, I entered my appartment, doing the usual greeting into silence, before locking my house up, taking my red hair out of its annoying pony-tail and laying into bed, still fully clothed in my shinobi attire. Ah well, who cares anyway?

Even though I was feeling dizzy, I still didn't like the idea of going to sleep without training the hour before, nor venting my feelings of hatred to Itachi. It had become such a regular occurrence that it was strange not to.

At that moment I realized something. As much as I didn't want to admit it, I liked spending time with Itachi. Unlike anybody else I knew, he listened to me and voiced his own opinion in a way I just couldn't get angry at, no matter how hard I tried.

Damn it, I thought. When have my own emotions ever betrayed me before?

* - I don't know if Kira's the only red-haired shinobi in Konoha, I mean I haven't seen any since Kushina. But let's just pretend, shall we?:3

SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG, LIKE 26 DAYS LONG. I don't know what came over me. So I did make this longer than any of my previous chapters, like 600 words longer so... idk. I hope you do enjoy it though!

I'll update quicker next time, I promise! I always find it easier to write about when Kira was younger than how she is now, so it takes longer to write one than the other. That also might be the reason why the flashbacks are longer than the actual storyline -_-.

It's also my birthday in 3 days time! Yay for me. So I'll either update it before then, or not long after. I'm even at school on my birthday. Life sucks. xD

Review and tell me what was good, what you think can be improved, etc. You know, the usual. ;D

Ciao~