Hey guys, this is the first part of a two part chapter, another long one. I hope you enjoy. As always, I appreciate any feedback I get and I love all of my reviews. If I don't reply to your reviews it's not because I don't like it, only because all I ever want to do is say "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" in my highest most squeeing voice. Enjoy.

THE FESTIVAL OF THE FISHES

I don't usually remember my dreams. The last time I'd one had been during my time as a prisoner in Ame. Anyway, not long after I learned my hand signs, I had another dream. In the dream I was running through Konoha as bombs, or what I thought were bombs, exploded in the distance shaking the ground and creating massive clouds of dust. I stood in the middle of a street as cool breeze blew around me and grey dust settled over everything. I could hear, see and touch but it felt unreal.

The sounds drew closer and with a sense of unreality I walked towards it. At the end of the street stood a gigantic beast that was methodically ripping a building apart, huge claws sinking into the concrete like it was Styrofoam. People fled screaming as ninja attacked the beast from all sides. Their shuriken and jutsu seemed to do little more than annoy the creature. Someone running past bumped into me and I fell. When I looked up, the scene had changed. I was standing behind one of Pein's clones as he held a terrified but defiant Konohamaru by the neck. I'd met him once and had been struck by how much he reminded me of my brother Rajiv, who had the same tendency towards melodrama. Pein made a gesture and a giant force rose out of my chest, through me and went straight for the boy. I felt the raw hunger of it and I tried to pull back. It latched onto something inside of him and tugged. With less effort than I had ever felt, it pulled something human-shaped from him. Konohamaru collapsed and I felt what could only be his soul collide with mine and melt into me. I gasped as I felt it flow out of me. I turned, shocked and saw…Death. I screamed and woke up.

I yawned my way through breakfast so it was a long time before I realised that this morning was different.

"Sakura, why aren't you dressed for work?" I asked as she poured herself some juice from the fridge

"I don't have any shifts today. It took a bit of wrangling but I haven't been to a festival in about 12 years." She said taking a sip "The Hokage finally understood how much I wanted to go." I shuddered as Sakura used her scary face. In a schizophrenic second she was smiling again. "So, are you looking forward to going?"

"Uh, I didn't even know there was a festival today. What are we celebrating?" I asked

"Fertility." She said with a smirk

"Seriously?" I asked

She smiled "The festival of the fishes celebrates the end of the last great ninja war. It memorialises those who died in the struggle but also celebrates those who made it through. It was meant to remind the survivors that there were still things to live for; things to protect." She said

"Uh huh?" I prompted

"Well after the end of the war, lots of people, civilians and ninja, celebrated and nine months later my generation was born. After that, the festival was associated with life, survival and fertility as well as remembrance."

"Right…."I said "You guys are such perves."

"So, is that a yes, you want to go?" She asked

"Sure," I said "but I think I need to go back to bed first. I didn't sleep so well last night." I yawned

She frowned, "Don't you have a session with the Hokage this morning?"

"Yeah… but the festival? Shouldn't I have the day off?"

She started laughing in a full throated way that suggested that I had made the cutest most idiotic statement she had ever heard.

"I take it that the Hokage doesn't usually give days off, then?"

"No." she said still laughing

"I'll go get dressed." I said and rushed upstairs. The Hokage was not a woman you wanted to keep waiting.

The Hokage had heard of my ability to extend my chakra and had wanted to run a few more tests. She'd also wanted to go over everything I knew about the Akatsuki one more time (so she said). After I finished recounting their appearance, abilities, origins (as far as I remembered) and their personalities she had me go over everything I remembered about Pein's attack on Konoha. After the dream I had last night, I didn't take this as a coincidence.

"Are the Akatsuki going to attack Konoha?" I asked after describing Pein's clones

For a moment she simply watched me "It is possible. Our spies have reported that several members of the Akatsuki have left Amegakure and simply disappeared. It may be that they are eluding our trackers to carry out their regular business but it is also possible that they intend to use the festival as an opening with which to attack."

"Like Orochimaru did with the chunin exams?"

"Yes. There will be many visitors coming from the neighbouring villages so I want you to be especially careful. You are not to leave the village under any circumstances, do you understand?" she said smacking a roll of papers against the desk like she was threatening a mischievous puppy.

"Sure. I really don't have anywhere else to go anyhow. Was that all?" I asked

"Yes, unless there was something you wanted?" she asked already moving to sit behind her desk

"Actually, yes. I was wondering if you could tell me what happened to Itachi? I've asked you every time we've met and you never answer me. Is he even still alive?" I asked

For a second she looked annoyed enough to hit me, then with a glance to Crow (who closed the window), she cleared her throat and replied.

"He's alive. We haven't harmed him, if that's what you're worried about and his health is greatly improved."

"Is his eyesight any better?"

"No, unfortunately not and it probably won't get any better. There's nothing we can do. I'm no expert but the damage caused by the mangekyo seems to be permanent."

"Where is he? Is he in the village?"

"Yes...he's being kept hidden till he's needed."

"Needed? Needed for what?" I asked

She hesitated. For a long moment, she seemed to be deciding whether to answer or not. With a sigh she leaned forward resting her immense cleavage on the edge of the desk "To fight and if necessary, kill Uchiha Sasuke, his brother."

I reacted without thinking "What? You can't ask him to do that! That's his brother, he sacrificed everything for him! If you kill him now, then all of that... all of that suffering will have been wasted! It's not fair!" I yelled

In the heat of my anger, I had gotten to my feet and was clenching and unclenching my hands at my sides. I took deep breaths and tried to remind myself that this woman could punch me through a wall as easily as I could suck the life from a plant.

She sighed and leaned back rubbing her eyes as though tired.

"I know, it's unfair for one brother to have to kill the other but sometimes there is no room for fairness and justice. Sasuke is going to come after his brother at some point. Who knows what will happen? He could see the error of his ways, in which case I'll do my best by him for Naruto's sake if no one else's. If he attacks the village, however, I will not hesitate to have him killed and I will use all resources to do it."

As she finished speaking, she collapsed back into her chair and gazed out of the window. I wasn't sure if she would continue but she said something almost to herself.

"The good of the village comes before the needs and wants of the few." She turned to look me in the eye and my anger withered. "I would kill my oldest friend and my closest relative if it meant keeping this village safe. You can go now, I'm sure that Sakura is waiting to help you get dressed for the festival." And with that I was dismissed

I took a last look at the most powerful woman in Konoha as she gazed sadly out of the window at the village. Her expression was both wistful and sad and I remembered what Sakura had said about finding things to live for and to protect. I closed the door as quietly as I could and hurried back to the house.

Since I haven't done this in a while: I don't own Naruto, Masashi Kishimoto does. If I produced Naruto, filler arcs would include Jiraiya and Naruto's, no doubt fun-filled travels and Sakura's training with Tsunade.