~ The Black Leaf ~ Chapter 2: The Time Has Come...!

A/N: Hi guys! This is my second chapter of "The Black Leaf" story. I'm still very nervous about what people's reactions will be… and I'm amazed that someone already marked this story and me as her favorite (which is Kiyomi99, btw thanks for ur support!) Anyway, like I said last time, until I get better at writing, no flames plz! Oh, and feel free to review and tell me what you like to happen next. Sorry, but I can't write a longer chapter unless I have free time…

Disclaimer: I absolutely do not own Naruto!

~Time Skip~

Finally, after a long day of running through trees, they come to a stop.

"Let's camp out here.", Kakashi ordered, "But don't sleep yet. I still have to discuss our plan.", he added.

"Yes.", they said warily.

~They finished setting out their camps and they formed a circle around the campfire.~

"Alright, here's our plan. First, we'll travel in the morning. We are going to go to the first Akatsuki hideout. As you may all know, they have two bases, but, there is one base for Akatsuki members who go on missions to rest in. According to the reports, Itachi alone, goes there every 3pm or so, and no one else seems to come to the base around that time, so we don't have to worry about other Akatsuki members to suddenly jump in. So, we have to move as fast as we can to the base before afternoon, so we have time to rest. We rest for one hour, then, we use our remaining two hours to wait for Itachi, in case he arrives early. Then when he comes, go out of your hiding places when you all only get the signal. We don't attack, unless if he's trying really hard to keep his true identity. We'll talk him over somehow to return to the village.", Kakashi said a bit warily.

"But, sensei, what if he doesn't come?", Sakura asks.

"If he doesn't come, we'll prolong here for a day more.", Sakura nods.

"Any more questions?", they shook their heads.

"Okay, all of you, sleep tight."

"Father only talks about you.", Sasuke said sadly.

"Do you hate me for that?"

Sasuke suddenly fell silent to that question. He didn't know what to answer.

"It's okay. I'm always going to be there for you, even if it's only an obstacle you must overcome. Even if you hate me. That's what big brothers are for."

Sasuke suddenly opens his eyes.. That... was just a dream. He lets out a sigh of relief quietly so he doesn't wake the others.

He suddenly feels something wet on his cheek, but appears to be drying already. It appears that the source of it was his eye.

... Was he crying? In his sleep?

He didn't knew what Itachi meant by that when he was little, but now he did. More tears leak out from his eyes. He swiped his tears away furiously.

This was not time for crying. Tomorrow, or maybe in a few hours, it would be time for them to set off to the Akatsuki base. He has to be strong, strong for Itachi, for his Nii-san.

Kakashi clapped his hands two times loudly, "Rise and shine."

Sasuke and Sakura got up. But one appears to be stubborn.

"Five minutes.", Naruto whined.

In a flash, Sakura punched Naruto, hard. Naruto was sent flying to the tree nearby, with a big 'Thud!'

"Idiot.", Sakura said quietly. Naruto, that's what you get for being a whiny little kid.

"Ouch...", Naruto rubs the back of his head gently.

"Awake now?", Sasuke almost laughed but stopped it from escaping his mouth.

"Yeah...", Naruto said with a nervous laugh.

"It's time to set off. Let's go."

"Right!", they all said in unison.

~They got there before afternoon and they were all now taking a rest.~

"Finally...", Naruto said warily. They all sat down at the cool green grass.

"Okay, all of you still remember our plan?", Kakashi asks. They nodded.

"Good. Now, you all rest, while I keep watch for enemies. Oh, and one more thing, don't sleep. You never know when enemies might just come.", he said without waiting for an answer and hid in the trees so he could see any enemy who might be coming towards them.

~One hour later...~

Kakashi signals his team to now stop resting. 'Itachi will be coming here any moment now', it appears he said secretly.

They all understood their sensei's secret message, and all of them hid somewhere. Sakura and Sasuke were hiding in the bushes while Naruto was in the next tree to their sensei.

~A few minutes later...~

A black shadow appears to be coming near the base. All of them noticed this. Kakashi activates his Sharingan to see if it really is him.

Before Kakashi could even tell his team, he is now seen clearly. It was a long- haired man with an Akatsuki cloak. He almost looks like Sasuke. No doubt and no turning back now.

'Nii-san... it really is you...'

'It's really Sasuke's older brother, Uchiha Itachi...'

'Finally...'

'The time has come.'

~End of second chapter~

A/N: Mwahahaha! The time has come indeed! Time for me to start brainstorming, and almost time for me to get grounded (June 14, school time for me) NOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Anyways... how was that? Hmmmm... how many words is this... One, two, three-... HOLY COW! 1,000+ WORDS! At least it's longer by like 350 or 400 words than the first one, right? :) Please review and tell me how it turned out! :)