Itachi's POV
Kisame was wrong. These feelings are a weakness. I don't even know why I confided in him. From now on everything is strictly business..
Akane's POV
I wake up feeling refreshed and ready for everything. I sit up, stretch, and notice that there is the most delicious looking breakfast on the small table next to my bed. Smiling,I greedily eat the food and drink the water that is with it. I go into the bathroom and get ready for the day ahead.
Today we are going after the nine tails, Naruto. This shall be interesting, I think,
remembering the time I met Naruto at the Silver Stream village. I wonder if he will
recognize me. I giggle to myself as I put on my cloak, grab my hat, and step out the door.
Seeing no one in the hallway, I head down to the lounge and sit comfortably in the
most comfortable chair in the room, waiting for whatever is supposed to happen. After about ten minutes of counting the fibers of cotton in the rug, feet move into my vision. Startled, I look up to see Itachi. "Oh, hello," I calmly speak.
He says nothing as he moves over to sit in the chair next to mine. He looks at me for a moment before finally speaking, "As you know, we will be going after the nine-tails. We intercepted a message from Konoha to Suna requesting ninjas to help protect Naruto from the Akatsuki. I want you to go in instead of the Suna nin, since you are the only one of us who wouldn't be recognized by anyone in the village-"
"Um, wait. I didn't feel the need to tell you before.. I encountered Naruto on the road to the Silver Stream village. We travelled together, he would definently recognize me." I tell Itachi about what Naruto and I talked about while travelling. "Also, I had to fight him in order to get to the village leader. He didn't know me then, it was dark and I said nothing.."
Itachi pauses a moment to think. "Hmm, no matter. Since you handled the situation well, just tell him you were on a mission that required you pass through the village. Anyways, your mission will be to gain the nine-tails' trust and convince him to leave the country with you using whatever excuse you can come up with. You must get him out of the reach of Konoha and his friends before we can effectively capture him without killing him. Questions?"
"Um, yes. How long do I have to complete this mission, and what happens if they find me out?"
"I can give you two months at the most. He must see you as one he can trust with his life. You will meet me outside the village once a week when you can get away to check on your progress and to make plans for the capture. And if you get caught.. I can't guarantee we will be able to save you. And if you are about to be interrogated and you cannot be saved, either you or I must kill you. You now have vital information that could greatly harm us."
Hmm, risky. But it's not like I have anything to lose. "Well then, I just won't get captured. Do you have the papers to get me into the village?"
"Yes, among other things. Here." He hands me a simple tan, weather-beaten bag that one would easily assume came from Suna. I look inside and pull out some documents saying that I'm a citizen of Suna, and I was assigned an A-rank mission in Konoha to assist in the protection of Naruto. Everything looks legitimate, Itachi even changed the names on the papers to Tsubaki Shimane. Satisfied, I look deeper into the bag and see a Suna forehead protector nestled among some clothes. I pull out a simple black shirt with mesh sleeves, loose black pants, a Flak jacket, and knee-high sandals the same color as the jacket. I nod to myself, satisfied with the contents of the bag. I look to Itachi, whose face I still can't read "Yes, this will do just fine."
"Good, then. I will leave you now to get ready for the journey. Travel to Konoha as soon as possible. Do not fail." With that, he vanished. I calmly walk to my room to change and pack the essentials. I put my normal clothes and sword and other various things that are noticeably mine into a scroll and put it into my kunai pouch. Finished packing, I walk out of my room and head for the exit of the mansion. I see no one the whole way out. Not even him.
Itachi's POV
Why do I feel guilty, putting her at risk like that? I wouldn't hesitate at all if it were someone else. Why her? All of my ability to love died with the clan.. Didn't it?