A/N: Sorry for the delay between this chapter and the last one. I've been pretty busy, and had a bit of trouble with a couple scenes in the chapter; though, it is almost 35 pages long in MS Word, so hopefully that'll help me atone somewhat for the delay. ;-)

Thank you to all of my lovely reviewers: NaviTheGoddess, sasukeisthebest, Shippooliver, Lecs, LeeRocks, piratequeen11, honestly blunt and two anonymous reviewers.

Chapter Seven

Three's a Crowd

a.k.a "Training session, eh? So that's what they're calling it these days."

The crowd at Uchiha Teyaki and Uruchi's Senbei restaurant for lunch was slightly less than what Sasuke had seen the previous night for dinner. All the same, there wasn't a single table available inside. The excellent cuisine as well as Teyaki's close friendship with Sasuke had bolstered the two restaurant owners' client base immensely. The small rice cracker shop had blossomed into the most popular restaurant in the Uchiha compound; the fact that the Uchiha clan head lived in the apartment above the restaurant only seemed to make the place more popular.

It had rained last night, so the patio seating wasn't open. The soft drip-drop of water from the drenched umbrellas helped count the time as Sasuke waited for Hinata to arrive.

Leaning casually against the waist high metal fence, Sasuke inclined his head in greeting as two members of the military police passed him on their way into the restaurant. They were both members of the Uchiha clan. Sasuke sighed impatiently. Noon couldn't come soon enough. It had been ages since he and Hinata had trained together. He was really looking forward to it.

A strong gust of wind blew through the street. The awnings of the nearby stores flapped violently in the wind. Apparently the cold front from last night hadn't passed through yet. Sasuke brushed his bangs out of his eyes as they danced in the wind.

A violent thump from behind startled him badly. He whirled around, sword brandished as if to parry a blow. The commotion was only one of the large umbrellas that had been pushed over by the wind. He glanced around; glad that no one had noticed. Luckily, the street was still rather empty. Sheathing his sword and leaping over the ornate metal fence, Sasuke made a line for the fallen umbrella.

Teyaki rushed out of the store after hearing the commotion.

"Just one of the umbrellas, Teyaki," said Sasuke as he righted the umbrella with ease, waving away Teyaki's offer of help.

Teyaki looked embarrassed. "You didn't have to do that, Sasuke. This sort of work is -"

Sasuke shrugged. "Don't worry about it. It's already done anyway."

Teyaki smiled at Sasuke. "Thank you, I really appreciate it."

Sasuke nodded in response.

"I have your usual table ready. Hinata running late?"

His bangs fluttered as he let out a loud sigh. "Yeah. It's not like her."

Teyaki gave Sasuke a sly smile. "You should probably just bite the bullet and propose to the girl, Sasuke, before someone else snatches her up."

Sasuke laughed humorlessly. "I'll be sure to keep that in mind, Teyaki. You are a peddler of excellent senbei and sage advice. "

"This where we're having lunch?" a loud voice sneered nearby. "What a rough and tumble part of town! I'm surprised that the heiress of the Hyuga clan condescends to eat at such an establishment. Kami knows I appreciate the thought of philanthropy, but this seems a bit much."

Sasuke was surprised to hear Hinata's voice answer the pompous man's pronouncement. "I must contradict you there, Hato-san. I am not 'condescending to eat here 'as you say. This place is a quality establishment run by two very honorable members of the Uchiha clan. In no way can my presence here be considered an act of philanthropy."

Sasuke and Teyaki both turned in surprise. Hinata had finally arrived. Teyaki gave the newcomers a tense look while Hinata gave Sasuke an apologetic glance. Sasuke could tell from the tense line of her shoulders and the set of her mouth that she was extremely uncomfortable.

"Er, Hinata," began Teyaki. "It's a pleasure to see you. Would you do me the honor of introducing me to your friend?"

"Teyaki-san, it's always a pleasure. I'd like to introduce Hato Okami of Kenkaji. He is a close friend of my family and he is doing us the honor of visiting for the month. Hato-san, may I introduce to you to Uchiha Teyaki. He is the owner of this fine restaurant."

Hato Okami strutted through the entranceway and held out a hand to Teyaki. "It's always a pleasure to meet a friend of Hinata's."

Sasuke cleared his throat loudly. From behind Okami, Hinata sent him a look that was part exasperation and part apology. Continuing the introductions, Hinata said, "Hato-san, I would also like introduce my good friend Uchiha Sasuke. Sasuke, this is Hato Okami."

Okami turned his condescending gaze to Sasuke. He wiped his hand on his pant leg and held it out to Sasuke.

"A pleasure," said Sasuke. He didn't even attempt to stifle the small amount of killing intent that he was emitting. His grip was perhaps stronger than was polite.

"You have a strong grip," the other man chuckled.

Hinata cleared her throat. "I hope you don't mind that invited Okami to join us for lunch today."

"Yes," said Okami. "I was looking for things to do today and when Hinata mentioned that she planned to have lunch and then train with you, I thought it would be fun to tag along."

Sasuke's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Yes, very fun. So…nice of you to join us. It's always a pleasure to meet a friend of Hinata's."

Okami's eyes flashed at hearing his words reflected back at him. "It's nice to meet you, Sasuke." He turned to Teyaki and said, "A table for three then."

Teyaki smiled uneasily, clearly put off by the tense interaction between Okami and Sasuke. "Yes of course, Hato-san. I've prepared a table for two, but it would be no trouble at all to arrange a table for three."

Teyaki hurried inside the restaurant and waved his wife over. "Uruchi, do we have any open tables? I need a table for three for Sasuke's party."

Uruchi glanced at Okami before replying, "We don't have any open tables besides the one reserved for Sasuke and Hinata. The wait would be twenty minutes at least for an open table that seats four people."

"Oh," said Hinata quietly.

Huffing in annoyance, Okami said, "Twenty minutes? Can't you just… get rid of the people at one of the other tables?"

Sasuke didn't even attempt to hide his mocking chuckle. "You can't be serious."

Hinata blinked away tears of frustration. "Teyaki, would it be too much trouble to add a chair to the table that we already have set up?"

"Um, I…" began Teyaki.

"Yes, let's do that," interrupted Okami.

Teyaki looked at Sasuke who shrugged and rolled his eyes. The restaurant owner said, "That sounds like a wonderful idea, Okami."

"I'll go find an extra chair in the back," said Uruchi hurrying off.

Hinata followed Teyaki towards the table, chatting lightly as they went. Okami stood at her side, adding in his own opinions where appropriate. This afforded Sasuke a moment to view this Hato Okami. The man was dressed very formally. His hakama consisted of a white tunic and scarlet pants. His haori jacket fell to his hips and was the sewn from the same scarlet silk as his pants. The kanji for fire was emblazed on the shoulder of his jacket. It must have been extremely hot wearing such an outfit in mid-July. He had pale skin, dark brown hair, and small dark eyes. His hair was pin-straight and framed his face. Sasuke was no connoisseur of male beauty, but he had to grudgingly admit that the man was not hideous.

Hinata was dressed for training. Tight black pants reached her knees and the lavender tunic was tied at her thin waist with a black cloth. Okami looked too formal standing next to her. Sasuke too was dressed for training. He wore in his ANBU fatigues; though, he had chosen to leave the arm guards and metal breastplate at home. His ANBU tattoo was very visible on his shoulder.

Hinata glanced back at Sasuke. I'm so sorry about this. I didn't want to have to bring Okami today. Hinata seemed to say with her wide eyes and raised eyebrows.

It's alright. Don't worry about it. Sasuke seemed to say with the tilt of his eyebrows. It's no big deal. We can ditch him later when we go training.

It might not be that easy. He's threatened to follow me around all day. Hinata seemed to say with her pursed lips. The council of elders thought this would be a lovely outing.

Luckily, there can be horrible accidents while training, especially when high level ninjas like us are involved. Sasuke seemed to say with his slightly manic smile.

Please don't! The council will kill me if I don't bring him back in one piece. Hinata seemed to say with her horrified expression.

Fine, Sasuke seemed to say with his frown.

By the time they arrived at the table, Uruchi had already pulled a third chair up to the booth. Hinata slid into the booth against the wall as Okami did the same on the other side, leaving Sasuke the chair pulled up to the table. With a sigh, Sasuke sat down on the chair, feeling like an intruder on Hinata's lunch with this Okami person.

"So, Sasuke," began Okami. "Do you work at this restaurant?"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at Hinata who looked down at her hands and was trying hard not to laugh. Clearing his throat, Sasuke replied, "Not exactly. I'm just very close friends with the owners. I'm a shinobi like Hinata."

"I see," said Okami with a nod. "I've heard of the Uchiha clan before. They have a reputation for being a bit barbaric, but the clan head, Uchiha Itachi, is very well regarded by the daimyo."

"Yes, Itachi's a wonderful leader of our clan," answered Sasuke. Of course this man would have heard of Itachi and thought that Sasuke was a waiter at a restaurant. Life was too predictable sometimes.

"Are you familiar with him? I'm thinking about requesting an audience while I'm in Konoha. My father and my uncle, the daimyo, hold Uchiha Itachi in great esteem."

"Itachi is Sasuke's older brother," said Hinata.

"Older brother, eh?" said Okami with a raised eyebrow.

"Yep," said Sasuke, popping the 'p' between his lips.

"Hinata told me that you two were planning to train after lunch. I've seen our Kenkaji ninjas train before, but I've never seen Konoha ninjas training. It should be an entertaining afternoon for me."

"Indeed," Sasuke replied.

Lunch had been an extremely awkward affair. Hinata was pleased when it was over. She had been astounded by how rude Sasuke had been throughout; though, part of it was probably her own fault for bringing Okami along. He couldn't say a single thing without insulting Sasuke. It was almost impressive.

Hinata sorely regretted taking the front entrance out of the Hyuga compound where she was likely to bump into Hyuga Kaede on the way out. Hinata had a strange propensity to do whatever the council members asked of her. She attributed it to the sheer terror she felt whenever she bumped into one of the three men. Kaede must have noticed her on her way out because he grabbed her and forced her to take Okami with her for her lunch and training with Sasuke.

"The Hatos are our esteemed guests. You will do whatever Okami asks of you, no matter how inconvenient it might seem," Kaede commanded.

Hinata was forced to comply. Her father was usually around to intervene on her behalf where the council was concerned; however, Hiashi was elsewhere that day. So Hinata was helpless to the whims of the council; she hated herself for it. She had told Ino just the other day that she was going to try to stand up for herself with the council and here she was caving in to Kaede's commands without a fight.

Ino's words from yesterday echoed in her head as she walked towards the center of town with Okami in tow. "It wasn't easy. It was very difficult and stressful, but it was worth it in the end. Apparently part of the reason why the elders wanted to force my hand with this arranged marriage was because they thought I was soft and wouldn't be a strong leader for the clan. In confronting them about it, I forced them to finally recognize that I could be a strong leader of the Yamanaka clan. Present your intentions in front of the elders and convince them to see things your way. Nothing gained, nothing lost."

She was a coward, pure and simple. She couldn't speak up for herself like Ino could.

The awkward trio wandered through Konoha on their way to the training fields. Hinata led them through town along the street that passed by the flower shop owned by Ino's family. Okami caught sight of the sign over the door and commanded that they stop in. The Kenkaji nobleman opened the door for Hinata and let go of it quickly as the Uchiha heir moved to enter as well. Sasuke rolled his eyes and caught the door before it slammed in his face. The fresh smell of cut flowers did little to improve his mood.

The blonde head of their friend was bent over an Ikebana arrangement. A gently curving branch sprouting light pink flowers was arranged upright in the kenzen holders of the vase. Holding a thinner flowered branch in her nimble fingers, she delicately bent it at several points to complement the slope of the main branch. She held the second branch up against the first one to determine if the angle was correct. Gentling placing the branch down on the table she looked up at them with a smile. "Welcome to Yamanaka flowers. How may I assist you this afternoon? Hi Hinata. Hi, Sasuke."

"Hi, Ino," began Hinata. "This is Hato Okami. He's the man I mentioned who's visiting my clan."

Okami strolled up to the front desk and said, "I would like to buy a flower arrangement for this lovely woman with me."

Ino smiled kindly at him. "Yes of course. We just received some beautiful red camellia yesterday. Why don't I show them to you?"

"I am not well versed in the language flowers. What do red camellia's represent?" asked Okami. "I would very much prefer red roses. I know that they represent."

Ino led him to a small bunch of red flowers. "Red camellias mean the same thing, love."

"Those orange lilies with the brown dots are very beautiful. What are those?" asked Okami.

"You have a good eye, Hato-san," complemented Ino. "Those are tiger lilies. They represent wealth. It would be an interesting gesture presenting those to a woman that you are courting."

Okami chuckled a bit, enjoying the teasingly lilt of the girl's voice as well as the sway of her hips. Reaching into one of the deep vases, Ino took out a cluster of the orange flowers. Okami held his hand on hers for perhaps a moment longer than was polite as he accepted them.

"I suppose they wouldn't be as romantic as say red roses or red camellias," continued Ino. "But there is nothing wrong with a man wishing to offer financial stability and comfort to his lover."

"You are very shrewd, Ino-chan," said Okami. "What other flowers would you recommend adding to this bouquet?"

"I think those would look very fine with some calla lilies."

Hinata paused by the pair of gardenia vases. What did gardenias mean again? A secret love? A shadow fell over her. "What on earth is this all about, Hina?" Sasuke whispered in her ear.

Reaching into the vase, Hinata plucked out one of the flowers. "I told you earlier. Hyuga Kaede of the Main House Council commanded that I take Okami with me to meet you. Next time I leave the Hyuga compound, I won't do so from the main gate."

"I guessed that already," hissed Sasuke. "What I want to know is: who is this man?"

"His family does business with my clan."

"He seems a bit too friendly for this to be merely a business transaction. He's buying you a bouquet of flowers right now. You don't think that's a bit unusual?"

Hinata glanced towards the front of the store where Ino was showing him the different colored lilies. He was touching her arm lightly and whispering in her ear. Ino, a kunoichi with jounin level seduction talents, was blushing prettily and running a hand through her hair as she spoke with the nobleman. Seeing Ino at work like that was always awkward, but for once Hinata was glad that the Yamanaka girl was distracting Okami so that she could have a private conversation with Sasuke.

Hinata sighed heavily. "I have a feeling that he'll be bringing forth a marriage proposal soon."

Sasuke's grip on her arm was tight enough to leave a bruise. "What do you mean? You can't be serious."

Hinata put back the gardenia in her hand slowly. "I'm afraid so. The Main House Council is very much interested in such a union. It'll increase the Hyuga clan's wealth tremendously."

"But what do you want?" asked Sasuke.

Glancing back at the nobleman who was leaning against the front counter as he paid for the bouquet, Hinata sighed in defeat. "I don't want him."

Sasuke released his grip on her, apparently satisfied. Ino and Okami were walking over again. The Kenkaji nobleman kissed Ino's demurely raised hand with great flourish before handing the bouquet to Hinata.

"What a lovely woman your friend Ino is," remarked Okami as they left the store. "Running a store is perhaps a bit uncouth, but practicing the art of ikebana is a noble profession for a woman. None of this kunoichi stuff. I can understand training so that you can keep your figure, Hinata, but anything otherwise is unnecessary."

Hinata didn't deem it necessary to remark that Ino was a jounin and an even more formidable kunoichi than herself.

Closing the door behind him as he entered the room with Tsunade, Jiraiya looked at the group he had gathered before him. The meeting room was tucked away in one of the upper floors of the Hokage tower. Innumerable silencing seals had been placed throughout the room to ensure their privacy. There were no windows only one door and a large oak table in the center. This was the Hokage's war room.

Jiraiya sat at the head of the table and Tsunade took her place in the empty chair to his right. Shikaku, the chief strategist sat to the Hokage's left. Inoichi, head of the intelligence department, sat next to Shikaku with his head resting in his templed fingers. Kakashi and Itachi, the captains of Jiraiya's two strongest ANBU teams sat across from him.

Clearing his throat, Jiraiya said, "The Akatsuki have made two attempts to capture Naruto within the last week. In addition, the organization has been unusually active in the last several months. At present only the eight-tails and nine-tails remain uncaptured."

Kakashi interrupted him, "What of the three-tails, four-tails and six-tails? I was unaware that they had been captured. Do we have intel on this?"

Inoichi spoke up. He sat back and folded his hands on the table. "We received intel from a genin team on a mission in Rock Country last month that the four-tails was captured by two Akatsuki members a month before they arrived in Rock Country. Unfortunately, we didn't receive any information about the Akatsuki members from the Village Hidden in the Stone."

"I was able to gather intel about the three-tails and six-tails while on a mission last week," Itachi said. "Both tailed beasts were captured three months ago by to two members of the Akatsuki, Hoshigaki Kisame and Hozuki Mangetsu. Both of these men are rogue ninjas from Kiri."

"Our information came from one of my sources who had been unreachable for several months. This explains the delay in the communication," said Jiraiya. "Considering Kiri's history and isolation, it has been extremely difficult to extract intel from that village. My source put himself at great risk to deliver this information to us."

"We also received another very useful piece of information from this source," Itachi continued. "The Akatsuki have been very active of late collecting their tailed beats; however, we believe that their focus may shift in the short term towards financial considerations. On the main island of Crescent Moon Country there will be a high stake Poker game in one month's time. The buy-in is 100 Million Ryo and the winner is expected to receive at least 1 Billion Ryo."

Jiraiya said, "Now that all of the Hidden Villages are on their guard and the Akatsuki's remaining targets are the two most power jinchuriki, the Akatsuki is gearing up for war. Up to this point their focus has been mostly guerilla and special tactics, but that may not be sufficient to capture the eight-tails and the nine-tails. We cannot let the Akatsuki win this game. With 1 Billion Ryo, they could buy themselves an army."

"What can we do? We can't afford to enter this game and we can't afford not to," said Shikaku. "Have you spoken to the Daimyo? Would he be willing to pay our entrance fee?"

"The Fire and Lightening Diamyo's have agreed to pay for spots at the table. The Lightening Daimyo will be playing himself and bringing several ninja guards with him. The Fire Diamyo has asked that we select a Leaf shinobi to play for him. Ideally I would like to have two Konoha teams at the table, but the Diamyo can only afford one. He suggested that we speak to his brother-in-law Hato Kaba, who is currently a guest of the Hyuga clan. Kaba may be willing to sponsor a second Konoha team."

"Are the other villages aware of the Akatsuki's intentions at this Poker tournament?" wondered Inoichi.

"We didn't think it wise to involve them," said Jiraiya. "Our alliances with Iwa and Kiri are fragile enough as it is without making them aware of this situation."

"I see," said Inoichi.

"Do you believe that this is a trap? Can we trust your contact, Jiraiya? I don't even know his or her name," Inoichi said. "Is it some machination schemed up by the Akatsuki so that we'll leave Naruto unprotected? If our team loses at the table, we will be giving the Akatsuki 100 million ryo. I believe that this is too great a risk. We should not send any teams to Crescent Moon Country."

"I believe that we can trust this man," said Jiraiya.

Inoichi was unconvinced. "Who is this man, Jiraiya?"

Jiraiya shook his head. "I can't betray his confidence."

Shikaku looked at Itachi. "You've met with him, Itachi. Do you have any insights?"

Itachi looked down at his hands. "I never saw his face. But if I had to hazard a guess, I would say that the man is Hozuki Mangetsu." Jiraiya frowned. Itachi was too perceptive sometimes.

Inoichi's chair fell back against the floor as he jumped up. Slamming his hands down on the table, he hollered, "Hozuki Mangetsu of the Hidden Mist? Hozuki Mangetsu of the Akatsuki? Jiraiya have you lost your mind? We can't trust this man! He has no allegiance to Konoha! What could we possibly have to offer him that Kiri or the Akatsuki can't? Why would he agree to work for you?"

Jiraiya looked at the agitated Head of the Intelligence Department. "Two years ago, his brother, Hozuki Suigetsu, was captured by Orochimaru. He was taken by members of the Sound Village. The Hozuki brothers are descendants of the second Mizukage and possess a kekkei genkai, which is of great interest to Orochimaru. Mangetsu went to search for him without the permission of the Mizukage, Yagura. Mangetsu was declared a missing nin."

"So he doesn't have much allegiance to Kiri, if he was just there capturing the three and the six tails," said Shikaku. "He would have had to kill Yagura to get the three tails."

"Who's the new Mizukage?" asked Inoichi. "He would have been appointed before their feudal lord was assassinated by the Akatsuki. Perhaps the Akatsuki weren't pleased with his selection."

"A woman named Mei Terumi was appointed," said Tsunade. "She's a formidable kunoichi in possession of two kekkei genkai."

"So why would Mangetsu agree to infiltrate the Akatsuki and pass information to you, Jiraiya?" asked Inoichi.

Jiraiya buffed his nails on his red haori. "He approached me looking for information about Orochimaru. We agreed to team up to try to take Orochimaru down. Mangetsu infiltrated the Akatsuki to get closer to the Snake Sannin."

"All that for his brother," Itachi murmured. "It's very noble. I probably would have done the same in his place."

Shikaku chuckled. "You and your nobility, Itachi. Just promise me that you'll never become a missing nin. I don't think Konoha could survive having you as an enemy."

Itachi laughed in return. "That's not much danger of that."

"So when are you going to team up against Orochimaru? It's been two years already that his brother's been captured. I assume that you're delaying to get as much information about the Akatsuki. Are you sure he's not a double agent?" asked Inoichi.

"No, I'm not sure," said Jiraiya. "But all of the information that he's passed us so far has been legitimate. We've had a delay because of the difficulty in tracking down Suigetsu's current location and the fact that Mangetsu has been off the radar."

"I don't like this one bit," said Inoichi. "It's too risky."

Tsunade spoke up, "Up to this point, we have only taken defensive movements against the Akatsuki. Right now, the Akatsuki are spread thin and are down two members. We should attack while they are still reeling from that loss. Here we have a chance to destroy more members of the Akatsuki and take out their financial support. At the very least, we'll gain more intel about the organization. This is an opportunity that we can't forego, regardless of the risk."

"Shikaku?" Jiraiya asked.

"This is an ideal opportunity to strike; however, we should do so cautiously. Naruto is a strong shinoibi in his own right, but we must leave him in Konoha for this mission. The remainder of Kakashi's team should stay behind as defense for him. We should send one or two of our stronger teams. I would recommend ninjas with ANBU training. An attack team and an intelligence gathering team would be best suited for this mission."

"That," said Kakashi, "And a shinobi who can play poker well."

Jiraiya nodded. "I agree with your assessment, Shikaku. The daimyo wishes for Uchiha Itachi to be on the team sent to Crescent Moon Country."

Itachi's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Did he hear about our encounter with Orochimaru and Sasori? Or is he thinking about all the money he lost to me while I was stationed with my ANBU team there two years back?"

"Probably a mixture of both," replied Jiraiya.

Kakashi looked put out. "I guess he wasn't impressed by my team taking out a member of the Akatsuki."

Shikaku snorted. "Technically that Akatsuki was taken out by his own partner."

Kakashi pouted. "My team took out Kakuzu like… four times."

"And yet, he's still running around causing trouble," countered Inoichi.

"You two are so hard to please," Kakashi muttered to himself.

"Do we know which team the Akatsuki plans to send?" asked Itachi. "At this point the known members of the Akatsuki are Orochimaru, Deidara, Kakazu, Hidan, Hoshigaki Kisame, and Hozuki Mangetsu."

"We can't say for certain," Jiraiya said. "However, because this mission requires infiltration, I wouldn't expect Kisame to be part of the team."

"Deidera's got those weird mouths on his hands and Kakuzu's stitched together like Frankenstein's monster. I doubt they would go either," commented Inoichi.

"Itachi and I will discuss the team arrangements," said Jiraiya.

Hampered by the presence of Hato Okami, Sasuke and Hinata decided to spar at one of the smaller practice fields nearer to the village as opposed to one of the larger and more remote practice fields. Ninjutsu and intense taijutsu were not forbidden at the fields nearer to the village; however, collateral damage to nearby homes and villages was taken very seriously.

About a year ago, Kiba and Naruto had a spar at one of the smaller practice fields that was near to artisan row. With those two practicing jutsu, several buildings and civilians didn't escape unscathed. After a particularly violent scolding from Jiraiya – "but we weren't using ninjusu! It was just a casual taijutsu spar, we didn't expect there to be so much damage!" – and a particularly large fine from the artisan community, Kiba and Naruto learned to take their intense taijutsu spars to one of the more remote and more spacious training fields. It was an expensive way to discover that a 'casual spar' with Naruto usually resulted in changes to the landscape.

Hinata and Sasuke on the other hand would have to tone down their spar because of the presence of Hato Okami. Though Sasuke probably won't have cared one way or the other, Hinata couldn't allow the Hyuga clan's honored guest to be horribly maimed by a badly aimed Fireball jutsu. Although taking Sasuke's present mood into account, it probably would have been an intentionally, badly aimed Fireball jutsu.

Sasuke and Okami were getting along like oil and water. It had only gotten worse as the day went on. Hinata was never so happy to have the evening her shift at the hospital because it would be an excuse that she would be able to use later to escape from the pair.

The nobleman had set out a blanket that he was reclined on under the pleasant shade of a verdant elm tree. Hinata had dropped her medi-kit that she would need at the hospital on the blanket near to the man. Untying his sword from the cord around his lean hips, Sasuke rested it against the tree next to Hinata's medi-kit.

"So straight taijutsu," Sasuke repeated as he walked out into the middle of the training ground. It was an open field in the middle of the forest. A small lake glittered nearby in the afternoon sun. He stretched his right arm over his head.

Hinata looked around the training field with her hands on her hips. She was gnawing on her lip discontentedly. "I suppose we could do some ninjutsu as long as it's not too destructive. And ninja tools should be fine too as long as we're careful not to aim near Okami."

"So not straight taijustu," Sasuke corrected. Now pulling his left arm over his head to stretch out his upper arm, he walked over to her. Stopping directly in front of her, he wondered, "I thought you said there would be too much damage if we did otherwise."

Hinata glanced sideways at their audience sitting under the tree. She whispered, "What's the point in just doing taijutsu? I came here to practice, not amuse Hato Okami. Straight taijutsu is always fun, but I need more ninjutsu work. I would train with Rock Lee or Neji if I wanted to do straight taijutsu. It would be a waste to not get to practice my ninjutsu with you. Out of everyone I know you're the best at ninjutsu."

Sasuke smirked and took a step closer. "Why the change of heart, Hina?"

Hinata raised her right arm over her head as well, clutching her elbow in her left hand. She winked at him. "I'm sick of being a doormat for my clan. I'm going to do what's right for me, not what's right for Hyuga Kaede. He's inconvenienced me long enough. The Hyuga Council may have invited Okami to my training session this afternoon, but that doesn't mean it needs to be an exhibition for the Kenkaji nobleman. This training session is for me."

"So is it alright if I fry 'im with a fireball jutsu?" wondered Sasuke.

Hinata sighed. "Unfortunately, that might be taking things a little too far."

Sasuke stalked back towards the nobleman, calling over his shoulder to Hinata, "Well if you plan to use ninjutsu, I'll use my sword. Can't make it too easy for you."

To say that Sasuke was surprised to find that Hato Okami had unsheathed his sword and was now studying it on his lap, would have been a vast understatement. The Uchiha heir's expression was not friendly when he demanded, "What the hell are you doing? Give me that."

Okami sheathed it smoothly and tossed it hard at Sasuke. Snatching it out of the air easily and tying it around his hips, Sasuke looked at the other man coldly and said, "Explain."

Okami leaned back against the tree and folded his arms over his chest. Looking up at Sasuke with a condescending smile, the nobleman said, "I've had considerable training with a sword. My father paid for the best tutors: fencers, samurai… shinobi. I was curious about the quality of your sword."

Sasuke sighed and rolled his eyes. "My sword? You wanted to look at my sword? Well, are you satisfied?"

"I was surprised at how light it was. I've never encountered a sword made from that material. It felt very brittle, like one strong blow would break it to pieces," Okami taunted. "In Kenkaji, we use the finest iron for our swords."

Sasuke said with equal condescension, "I'm not surprised that you would not recognize the material. It's from a special copper alloy called aluminum bronze that conducts lightening style chakra extremely well. The metal gives the sword its golden color. There's little danger of it breaking to pieces, it's much more likely to slice through my opponent's sword like butter than break apart at the first blow."

Okami smirked, "Must be an expensive sword then, Sasuke. I noticed that the blade looks at least twenty years older than the hilt; the leather on the grip's newly wrapped. Though considering that you work at that diner, it's not surprising that you couldn't afford much more than a second hand ninja sword."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. Okami had really dug his teeth into the fact that Sasuke was helping Teyaki with the umbrella at the restaurant when he arrived with Hinata for lunch. The nobleman refused to believe that Sasuke was not in fact an employee of Uchiha Senbei. "It was my mothers," said Sasuke testily, "and I'm honored that she allows me to wield it."

"You mean you couldn't afford to buy your own sword," corrected Okami, "how far the once mighty Uchiha clan has fallen."

Sasuke was about to send an equally nasty retort back at the other man when he felt a light hand on his arm. Hinata was looking at Okami, her face mysteriously blank. When she glanced at Sasuke, the expression in her eyes was softer. "I thought we came here to spar, Sasuke."

"Yes, Sasuke," sneered Okami. "I'm looking forward to seeing this."

Hinata had convinced Sasuke to put up an Earth Wall in front of Okami so that he would be protected from stray kunai and other jutsu. Sasuke stalked over there with an eerie smile before putting up a wall of earth on each side of the man, effectively boxing him in front of the tree.

"Doton: Doryūheki!"

Unlike Hatake Kakashi who liked to decorate his earthern walls with sculptures of bulldogs, Sasuke's wall had a very large Uchiha fan in the center. Hinata didn't have the heart to tell her friend that it looked a little tacky. Standing a couple yards away, Hinata held her fists clenched at her sides as she gathered chakra into them. Large clouds of chakra burst from her hands to form lion shaped boxing gloves.

"Ready, Sasuke?" asked Hinata

Unsheathing his swords from his scabbard, Sasuke chuckled. "Bring it on, Hina."

Flying at the Uchiha, she bobbed and twisted around him hurling punches and kicks, trying to land one of her chakra infused blows on him.

Hinata was a petite girl and as such had a much smaller muscle mass than her opponent. Like his ANBU partner Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke was known for his speed. Hinata couldn't match his speed but she was much more flexible than the ANBU ninja. As such, she was able to get close to her opponent and bend into her attacks and twist away from his attacks.

With his sword thrumming with lightening chakra, Sasuke was able to block one of the devastating blows from her lion fisted hands. Her momentum carried her through to a roundhouse kick which he was unable to block. He went flying backward into a nearby tree. Sheathing his sword in a smooth motion and pulling out a set of shuriken at the same time, he wove quick hand signs and kicked off the tree and back at Hinata.

"Katon: Hōsenka Tsumabeni!"

His flame infused shuriken came at the Hyuga girl like a flash of wildfire. Concentrating her chakra, she whirled around and expelled chakra from every point on her body. The shuriken bounced off harmlessly. Hinata was just ending the jutsu as Sasuke took a deep breath and exhaled a huge fire ball at her.

"Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!"

"Damn it," Hinata muttered to herself as she tried to get out of the path of the large searing ball of flame. The shimmering lake was right up ahead. She dove in just before the fireball rolled over the surface of the lake. She surfaced again as Sasuke ran up to check on her. "You do love breathing fire, don't you, Sasuke," teased Hinata.

"Well Naruto does say that I am full of hot air," he retorted.

"I'm just grateful that you didn't burn Hato Okami to a crisp."

"Don't remind me," grumbled Sasuke. "I hate playing nice. Want to continue the spar? I didn't expect you to jump in the lake like that."

"Yeah," muttered Hinata as she lifted herself onto the surface of the lake. Her lavender tunic stuck to her like a second skin; her hair clung wetly to her neck and chest, leaving rivulets of lake water running down her front.

Sasuke folded his arms over his chest, watching her closely and wondering what her next move was. "Need me to dry you off with another fireball, Hina?" he teased.

Wringing out the bottom of her tunic with a sigh, she said. "I think I'm going to just go without the tunic for the rest of the spar. It'll probably impede my movement." Slipping off the tunic, she tossed her shirt at a stunned Sasuke before weaving signs for a water based jutsu. She was still modest beneath her tunic, of course. She guessed from Sasuke's shocked expression that he hadn't been sure if she was. She wore a short sleeve mess shirt over a tight black tube top.

"Suiton: Suigadan!"

Whirling torpedoes of water came twisting out of the lake at her feet to speed at Sasuke like bullets. Sasuke dropped Hinata's shirt and slammed his hands against the ground, pulling up another Earth Wall.

"Doton: Doryūheki!"

This one was less ornate than the last one he had been. It was able to protect Sasuke from the Water Bullets. What he didn't expect was for Hinata to come leaping over the wall, her hands glowing with chakra. Was she going to use her gentle fist technique or her chakra scalpels?

Sasuke guessed that it was the chakra scalpels that she had decided to use. She probably got plenty of practice with the Jyuken by sparing with her cousin and sister. Dodging and parrying her kicks and punches with his sword, Sasuke was led by Hinata back towards the field where they had started their spar.

Eventually the two ninjas ended up on the ground close to where they started. Sasuke held one of her arms pinned above her head while the other grasped his blade over her throat. Chakra faded from her hands as she realized that she had been bested. He was sprawled on top of her, reared up over her with his face very close to hers. One of his legs was wedged uncomfortably between hers so that his knee pressed into her inner thigh. Her heart was beating madly in her chest. If someone came up on them now, they would get entirely the wrong impression.

"Looks like I win," said Sasuke huskily, his warm breath ghosting over her lips. Hinata was shaken by the darkly penetrating look in his eyes. It was almost predatory. For a moment, she thought that he would kiss her. She looked up at him half in panic and half in anticipation.

"S-Sasuke?" she whispered.

At the sound of footsteps behind them and a loud cough, the two ninjas turned to see Hato Okami standing before them with his arms crossed over his chest. "Well, I think I've seen enough," the nobleman said.

The moonlight danced over the koi pond. The desolate expanse of the zen garden was a lunar landscape in the darkness. The figure of Hyuga Hiashi seemed a phantom where he sat by the pond reading a book by the light of a lantern. Pausing for a moment in the darkness of the hallway, Hinata watched her father wander back towards the house. His shoulders were bowed and he seemed tired. She wondered what was bothering him.

"Father," Hinata called to him as he neared the house.

Turning, he glanced forward at her. "There you are Hinata. Is something wrong?"

Putting her hand into his bent elbow, she whispered, "I've been hearing so many rumors about a marriage contact with Hato Okami of Kenkaji. I wanted to speak with you to determine if there is any truth to them."

Hinata did not fail to notice his sharp intake of breath. "Yes, they are true."

"When we spoke that morning in the garden and you said that I could be a use to the clan in other ways, was this what you meant?"

"Yes," he whispered.

Hinata wrenched her hand out from under his arm. "So when you told me that I would have to fight Hanabi for my position of heiress, was that all a lie? Why would you try to trick me like that?"

"I proposed the battle to the council of elders and they agreed to it. That was before the Hato noblemen arrived in Konoha and Okami revealed his intentions to have you as his wife. The council has been pushing this marriage; it's very advantageous for our clan. I was hoping that we could brush it off if you could prove yourself to them by battling Hanabi. It seems that they were just playing with me too."

Tears of frustration glittered in her eyes. "So there's nothing I can do?"

"It will be extremely difficult to get out of the engagement without shaming yourself or the clan."

"So the council is behind this, not you?"

Hiashi sighed. "Yes. I don't want this for you either. I don't think Okami would be a good match for you. He may be the next daimyo, but you deserve a better man – a man with a noble heart, not noble blood."

"Father, I would like to go with you to the next council meeting to discuss this with the council of elders. Would that be alright?"

Hiashi looked at her with a very serious expression. "Hinata, Hyuga Kaede got wind of your behavior this afternoon with Uchiha Sasuke. He would like to speak to you at the next council meeting."

While walking back to the Hyuga compound after the spar, Hato Okami held a furious silence the entire way. She knew how things must have looked to him. It didn't help matters that she made no attempt to apologize. Even though there was nothing romantic going on between her and Sasuke, she didn't want to give the nobleman the satisfaction. There would inevitably be hell to pay, but the adrenaline from the spar and the rush of excitement from the almost kiss made her giddy with foolishness.

It was strange; Sasuke had never been that aggressive with her during one of their spars. Perhaps the presence of Okami was making them both do crazy things. In that moment when Sasuke was on top of her, his legs entangled with hers, she felt a rush of desire. It would have impossible not to, with a man like him sprawled across her so provocatively.

They had known each other for years and she had always thought that he was handsome. But to desire him? It had never really occurred to her and now she wasn't sure why. What she would say to him the next time they saw each other? She couldn't put a name to the feelings she was feeling towards him. She didn't even know whether or not she was upset that he had taken their friendship, breathed a fireball at it and then watched as it burned and folded into something fundamentally different.

Hinata felt an icy chill of foreboding. The council would be livid if she endangered their chances of securing a nuptial alliance with the Hato family. "It was Hyuga Kaede who invited Hato Okami along on my outing yesterday. I had already promised Sasuke that I would meet him for training. I acted as I saw fit."

"The Council will wish to speak with you nonetheless."

"This is probably not the most exciting thing that we could be doing," Itachi said, "but all of the Uchiha Clan Head annals are in that spare room that I use as an office."

Sasuke had asked his mother and brother if the Uchiha Clan Heads recorded significant events during their time as clan head. Sasuke could remember his father writing in a thin leather bound notebook from time to time, but they'd never spoken of it.

Mikoto explained that each Uchiha Clan Head kept a record of significant events affecting the clan. There was a separate anthology for all members of the clan to participate in. That mostly kept track of births, weddings, and deaths. When Itachi became clan head at thirteen, Mikoto took over the task of writing significant events in Itachi's annal. When he turned eighteen, Itachi received the book back from Mikoto, who had written in it sporadically over the last five years. Itachi was the twentieth clan head, so Sasuke imagined that there must have been a stash of twenty or so similar books somewhere. The older and more delicate records were kept in a room on an upper floor of the Konoha Military Police Department. When the new building was constructed after Uchiha Fugaku's death, a room was constructed to hold the Hokage's or Konoha clans' documents fragile from age.

"I'm not sure that I understand this sudden and seemingly out of character interest in our clan's history, but I suppose I'll humor you," said Itachi.

At some point, Mikoto had moved several of the more recent leather bound volumes into Itachi's apartment where they gathered dust on one of the uppermost shelves of the large bookcase that spanned the length of the room. Scrolls containing new ninjutsu techniques, histories of the shinobi world, theories of yin chakra genjutsu, and scrolls on all manner of subjects exploded from the shelves of the bookcase. It was a small wonder that Itachi didn't pay too much attention to the annals of the other Clan Heads on the tall shelf.

Itachi began pulling out the annals and pilling them in Sasuke's arms. Itachi had six in his possession. Loading a particularly thick book into Sasuke's arms, Itachi commented, "Here's the annal of Madara Uchiha; it's quite long. It was during his time as clan head that Konoha was founded and many secrets of the Sharingan were discovered."

"Wasn't he exiled from Konoha? Banished from the clan?" wondered Sasuke. "It's amazing that he was able to write so much."

Putting a second smaller book on top of Madara's account, Itachi nodded. "His last couple entries are quite amusing. After Madara was exiled, his younger brother Izuna took over leadership of the clan. His annal was transcribed by one of his friends. Madara stole his brother's eyes, so Izuna was unable to write his annal by himself."

"Where's father's annal?" wondered Sasuke.

"It's this one here," said Itachi placing it on top. "Not as long as some of the other ones, but pretty interesting. He was the clan head from the end of the Third Shinobi War through his death. Our grandfather, Izuna's son, was the clan head during the second great shinobi war. That one is worth reading as well."

"I think I'll start with father's," said Sasuke. He handed the pile of books back to Itachi who accepted them with a raised eyebrow.

"Looking for confirmation about the coup d'etat?"

"Perhaps," Sasuke quipped.

Wandering back to the living room, Sasuke sprawled on Itachi's couch and opened up the leather bound notebook. The letters from the noblewomen and several empty bottles of sake were still piled on Itachi's coffee table. The title was seared into the leather of the cover.

Annals of the Uchiha Clan

As Recorded by Uchiha Fugaku,

Nineteenth Head of the Uchiha Clan,

Concerning the Third Shinobi War, the Election of the Fourth Hokage,

the Kyuubi Attack, the Hyuga Incident, and the Uchiha Coup D'Etat.

He called to his brother who was still rearranging the leather tomes that Sasuke had thrust back into his arms, "He mentions the Coup d'etat in the title of his annal."

There came a crash and then Itachi's deep voice calling back, "Are you done reading then?"

"Nah," Sasuke called back.

Flipping open to the first page, Sasuke began to skim the contents. He didn't mention to his brother what he was actually searching for in his father's annal. He hoped to find mention of the Hyuga-Uchiha treaty. He hadn't decided yet if he wished to bring it to the attention of his brother and mother, but it would be beneficial to have further evidence of the Treaty if the Uchiha clan decided to come forward with it. The Hyuga clan could easily deny its existence. There had to be someone besides Hyuga Hiashi, Hyuga Kaede, Hyuga Kioshi and Hyuga Mitsui aware of its existence, right?

Although that moment at the end of their spar was cut short, the memory of it was burned forever in his brain. He might have felt a sliver of regret for showing his previously hidden intentions so clearly, if not for the memory of Hinata's lithe body beneath him and the image of her pearlescent eyes looking up at him in a tantalizing mixture of desire and confusion. If only Hato Okami hadn't been there to interrupt them.

Since making chunin, he had been so obsessed with becoming more powerful and discovering the truth of his father's death that he had almost let her slip through his fingers. Sasuke had always thought that he would have plenty of time to pursue her romantically; they were both barely eighteen! Because a possible union would be between the heirs of two noble clans, there would be a certain amount of politics involved. So when he was a little older and more impressive, he had planned to ask Hiashi and the Hyuga clan elders for her hand in marriage – that is, after he secured her affections.

He glanced up as Itachi wandered into the room with Uchiha Madara's annal and sat down on the armchair next to the couch. Kicking his feet up on the ottoman, he settled in. "You should read this one when you're done with father's. Listen to this: 'I was approached by Senju Hashirama today who wished to end the animosity between our two clans and found a village together in the middle of Fire Country. He said that he would like for my clan to join his in bringing about an end to this eternal war. I said that I would like for him to go fuck himself.'"

Sasuke let out a snicker of amusement before returning to his father's annal and his own ruminations. The Uchiha clan elders hadn't applied any pressure on him to find a wife – most of that attention was focused on Itachi. It was foolish of him to think that the Hyuga clan elders would act the same way with Hinata. Her case was more like Itachi's; she was the older sibling. He should have known that the Hyuga clan wouldn't wait long before pressuring her with a marriage alliance.

His intermediate goal on that front had been a position as an ANBU captain. As an ANBU captain, he would have enough money and prestige to convince the Hyuga clan elders that it would be an advantageous match. At first the goal had been a promotion to jonin. After he achieved that, he realized that it wouldn't be enough.

The shocking revelation of Hinata's imminent engagement to Hato Okami and the knowledge of the secret engagement to his own brother – an engagement so secret than no one except the Hyuga clan elders seem to have any knowledge of it – had stirred him into action. He had been so focused on becoming powerful that he had disregarded one of the most important relationships in his life.

His search for power… He couldn't say for certain whether it had been motivated out of a desire to be worthy of Hinata or whether it was out of a desire to be more impressive than Itachi – a goal that always seemed impossible to achieve.

It was ironic that the one thing that would dissolve Hinata's engagement to Hato Okami would also block any relationship that he could enter into with her – she would be promised instead to his brother. That was much too permanent a solution for his liking. He would only sacrifice his queen if he could force a checkmate during the next move.

"Madara's account of the founding of Konoha is quite good as well," Itachi drawled. "'My campaign for the Hokage-ship didn't go well. Apparently the other clans didn't respond as well to my platform as they did to Hashirama's. I don't understand why people are uncomfortable with the phrase 'world domination.' If we're founding a ninja village, what else are we supposed to be doing? Hashirama's smear campaign didn't help matters. Those pictures of me eating babies were obviously doctored and Izuna gave me his eyes; I didn't steal them from him!"

Sasuke chuckled as he skimmed the pages of Fugaku's annal. The coup and the Treaty would no doubt be mentioned in the last several entries, but there was no harm in being thorough. Sasuke didn't want to miss anything of importance. Sasuke skimmed the entries about Fugaku's early years as the clan head during the third great shinobi war.

When he came to the entry for October 10th, Sasuke read his father's description of the Kyuubi attack very carefully. Sasuke knew that his mother and father had been away and left Itachi to babysit. It seemed that father had been staying late at the Military Police Department that night on a case concerning the break-in and theft of several shinobi weapons at a town nearby to Konoha. The passages about the aftermath of the attack were a bit of a surprise for the Uchiha heir.

"After the tragic death of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina sealing away the Kyuubi into their newborn son, the Uchiha clan came under intense scrutiny from the ANBU black ops. Sarutobi Hiruzen remembered his sensei, Senju Tobirama, mentioning to him many years after Uchiha Madara's assault on Konoha that the Uchiha clan had power over the Nine Tailed Fox because of their Sharingan. The fact that Mikoto and myself were away that evening on Police business made any circumstantial evidence all the more damning.

Mikoto and I were both brought into the Department of Torture and Interrogation in the weeks following the attack and had our minds probed by our classmate Yamanaka Inoichi and his apprentice Morino Ibiki. After humiliating hours of having my innermost thoughts and memories invaded by the Yamanaka clan head, I was distressed to come home to a squad of ANBU escorting my young son Itachi to the Hokage. They hadn't discovered anything untoward in our minds, but they were not satisfied. They wanted to interrogate my five year old son. When they found nothing sinister within the minds of my family, they moved on to the Uchiha counsel and then all ninjas of chunin rank or higher within the Uchiha clan."

Itachi had not volunteered that particular piece of information. Why would the Torture and Interrogation Department or the ANBU Black Ops want with a five year old academy student? They hoped that he would betray his own parents?

"Oi, Itachi," said Sasuke. "Father's annal says that you were taken in for questioning after the Nine Tails attack. What was that all about?"

Itachi looked up from Madara's annal with a raised eyebrow. "I wasn't behind the Kyuubi attack if that's what you're asking." Itachi gave his younger brother a look of feigned offense before drawling, "I hope that you don't think that I did it. I was only five years old at the time."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "What happened though? Did you have your mind probed? I'm surprised that the Third Hokage allowed something like that to be done to a five year old boy."

"Morality in the shinobi world is never so black and white," Itachi said with a haunted look. "Often terrible deeds must be done to prevent even more terrible things from coming to pass. The shinobi world is steeped in lies, deception, and betrayal."

Sasuke blinked in surprise at his brother's words. "What are you trying to tell me, Itachi?"

"Look underneath the underneath," was his older brother's cryptic reply.

"Do you think the coup that father was planning was justified?" wondered Sasuke. "The village interrogated every member of the Uchiha clan chunin rank or higher about the events surrounding the Kyuubi attack after probing the mind of the five year old heir to the Uchiha clan. That would have undoubtedly caused a backlash within the clan. It would have been considered a gross insult."

Itachi sighed heavily and rubbed his eyes. "That was the start of things to the best of my knowledge, the fuel that stoked the fires of rebellion. Father made a bigger deal out of my interrogation than was necessary."

"What do you mean?"

"The ANBU took me to the Hokage's office, yes. When I was there the Third Hokage gave me tea and cookies and asked me how I liked the academy and if everything was alright at home after the Kyuubi attack. It wasn't as sinister as father makes it out to be."

"Our family does have a tendency for melodrama," Sasuke admitted.

"Speak for yourself, Sasuke," Itachi teased.

Sasuke drawled back, "Says the man who specializes in genjutsu illusions. You're ten times more dramatic than I am."

"I hadn't thought of it that way. But now I'm self-conscious," Itachi quipped.

"I'm sure you'll get over it," Sasuke retorted as he went back to reading the annal.

It was strange to think that the seeds of rebellion were planted almost eighteen years ago, but only came to flower ten years ago. Why did it take so long? The next entry of note was his father's chilling account of Hyuga Hinata's abduction some three years after the Kyuubi attack.

Looking up at his brother again, Sasuke asked, "Did things change for the Uchiha after they helped to thwart the Hyuga kidnapping? I find it strange that the coup d'etat happened so many years after the Kyuubi attack. If things were as bad as everyone claimed, why would they have waited eight years to overthrow the Konoha government? Konoha was weakest after the attack. That would have been the best time to stroke."

Itachi blinked in surprise. "That's true. It would have been the best time. It would have also been the worst time. If Konoha had been embroiled in a civil war so soon after the Kyuubi attack, it would have been an ideal time for another village to conquer us."

"I suppose you're right," said Sasuke. "Was the clan waiting for things to calm down before taking over Konoha?"

Itachi set his book down and turned to face his brother. "I can't say for certain. The conspirators' motivations aren't clear to me." He nodded to the book in Sasuke's hands. "What does father say in his annal about the coup d'etat?"

Sasuke turned back to the book open in his hands. "I'm just about to get to that part. Have you read it?"

Itachi glanced back down at Madara's annal which lay forgotten on the side table. "I read it once, right after father's death."

After years of seething anger and careful preparation, we have come close to bringing about a new era for the Uchiha clan. Last month my son Itachi was given a captainship in Sarutobi's ANBU. He joined the secret organization a year ago and has since been a vital resource for the Uchiha clan to the village's nerve center.

Shimura Danzo is insufferable as always. He fought tooth and nail to keep my son out of ANBU. He is quick to dismiss my son's talents and condemn his heritage. Itachi is the first Uchiha to be appointed to ANBU captain since the Kyuubi attack.

However, it's truly a blessing in disguise that the Uchiha clan is so isolated from the Konoha hierarchy. Many of the best and brightest of the Uchiha clan are members of the Konoha Military Police. Several members of the clan have menial jobs in the village doing paperwork and monitoring the gates. The Uchiha clan is ready to rise to a position of prominence in the village again.

The other masterminds behind the new order are high ranking officers in the Kohoha Military Police. Uchiha Inabi, Uchiha Tekka, Uchiha Yakumi, Uchiha Yashiro, and I have carefully engineered our plans. Uchiha Inabi serves on the police force as a criminal profiler. He is easily able to see the darkness in men's souls. Inabi has been working to determine the allies of the Uchiha clan. Although the Uchiha clan has been greatly wronged by the village of Konoha, we have little desire to persecute the innocent as we were persecuted. Uchiha Yashiro has been assisting Inabi in this regard. Yashiro is older than his comrade in the Criminal Profiling Division and as such has many contacts within the village. Inabi and Yashiro have identified those who can and cannot be trusted.

Uchiha Tekka and Uchiha Takumi work at the Military Police Division as liaisons to other towns in the Fire Country. The Police Department is often called in to consult on cases in other cities. Tekka and Takumi have formed an alliance with the village Sora-ku. It is there that we have been compiling our arsenal. They have also been working to buy kunai, shuriken, paper bombs, and other supplies. They have been doing so under aliases and only buy small amounts from suppliers so as not to raise suspicion.

My son Itachi has been central to the preparations as well. He has the most access to the Hokage and village elders. When the time comes, it will be his responsibility to assassinate Sarutobi, Shimura, Koharu and Homura. I know that I can trust my son's loyalty in this regard.

Sasuke looked up at Itachi. His brother was sitting silently in his chair staring bleakly at the blank wall across from him. His shoulders were tense, almost as if he were waiting for a blade to fall. Sasuke cleared his throat and said, "Father mentions that you had a job to fulfill in the coup."

Itachi turned to look at his brother. His brother's eyes were inscrutable. "That's right."

"You were… you were supposed to assassinate the Hokage?"

Itachi didn't even blink. His lips were pressed in a thin line. "That's right," he repeated.

Sasuke blinked in surprise. "Why you? Why not an older member of the clan? Surely Shisui would have been a better…"

"As the only ANBU captain from the Uchiha clan, I had the most opportunity." Itachi said with little emotion. "Who guards the guards," he mumbled to himself.

Sasuke turned to look his brother straight in the eye. "So what did you do?"

"What I thought was right," said Itachi.

"For who?"

"For Konoha, for our survival."

Glancing back at the annal, Sasuke said quietly. "So you betrayed father."

Itachi let out a sigh. "I chose a side."

Itachi picked Madara's annal back up and flipped to a page at random and began to read. His eyes didn't move over the page very quickly. His mind seemed miles away. Sasuke turned back to the words written in his father's tidy script.

We have been compromised. I have my suspicions, but I won't reveal them until they have been confirmed beyond a doubt. The thought of that betrayal is especially painful. It has come from within my inner circle – from the few people I believed I could trust above all others.

Sarutobi Hiruzen is handling the affair with his typical aplomb. Danzo has been extremely condescending and pigheaded. Even though he salivates at the thought of possessing the Sharingan, he treats the continuation of our clan's prized kekkei genkai rather cavalierly. Sarutobi and I have been in talks late into the night, trying to find a resolution. I am confident that there is little he and the village can do to appease me. Hyuga Hiashi is a shrewd man. The Hyuga clan and the Uchiha clan rarely see eye to eye on many issues; however, our clans possess the two most powerful bloodlines in Konoha, so that demands a certain amount of respect.

I had thought that our clan's troubles had not yet circulated through the village, but Sarutobi decided to embroil the Hyuga clan in our troubles. Although the Hyuga elders are not pleased with the arrangement, they tolerated the idea well enough. It's insulting, but the delay on the arrangement is long enough to ensure our clan's good behavior until we receive our payoff. I'm not sure why they are in such a hurry to sell the girl off, but it's no skin off my nose.

Copies of the Treaty have been left in the care of the Hyuga, Uchiha, and Sarutobi clans. Hiruzen plans to make another copy, but I'm not sure what his intentions are with it.

The remaining pages were blank. Sasuke felt a chill. His father had mentioned the treaty; thought he had not spelled out the details explicitly. It would be difficult for someone without knowledge of the affair to work out the specifics, but everything was mentioned there: the Hyuga clan, the Uchiha clan, the "girl," the dowry. It was too vague to be any evidence; however. The Hyuga clan could still deny the existence of the Treaty if they chose. None of the particulars were spelled out and no names were mentioned.

A conversation from days ago, teased the edge of his memory. Turning to his brother, Sasuke asked, "When I was talking with Uchiha Kagami the other day, he said something strange. At first he thought that I was mother from my chakra signature."

"I'm not surprised. Your chakra and mother's chakra have a similar resonance." Itachi nodded.

"I never noticed."

"You're mother and son and have the same chakra affinities, so it's not surprising. A skilled sensor would be able to tell the difference, but the resemblance is close enough to make it difficult for a ninja not trained as a sensor to tell the difference."

"Do you know if father's chakra resembled anyone else's chakra?"

"Yes," said Itachi. "Father and I had similar chakra – not as similar as you and mother, but similar nonetheless."

Sasuke looked at the date of the entry again. It was strange that the Treaty had been signed two months before Fugaku's death. Glancing up at Itachi, he asked, "So did these measures to appease the Uchiha clan help? They prevented the coup d'etat. But why were father and the other conspirators still meeting late at night months after this power struggle was supposed to have been resolved?"

Itachi sighed and sat back, closing Madara's annal. "The measures helped somewhat, but it wasn't enough. It was like trying to stop the river raging over its banks with a single sandbag. It wasn't a permanent solution."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow at his brother's answer. "Then what was the permanent solution? You were promoted to captain in ANBU around this time. Was that one of your first missions? Was father your target?"

Itachi hesitated. Finally, he broke the charged silence by whispering softly, "Yes."

Sasuke threw the annal on the ground and started pacing. "Why didn't you tell me? Did you think I won't figure it out?"

Itachi looked pained as he said, "You were … you were so young when it happened and you idolized father. I didn't want to -"

"Didn't want to what?" Sasuke demanded. "Didn't want me to understand anything about my clan's history? Didn't think I would be smart enough to understand the circumstances?"

Itachi smiled wryly at him. "I didn't want to taint your memory of him with the truth. When you started looking into his death after your chunin exams, I figured I would tell you when you got close."

"When I got close?"

Itachi nodded.

Sasuke considered his brother. "You always said you didn't like me looking at the files, but you never prevented me from going. I guess I should be grateful for that. It would have been easier to brush it under the rug."

"It didn't seem right to prevent you from looking into it. You had a right to know," said Itachi.

"I did," said Sasuke coldly. "And you took your precious time telling me, brother."

"I'm sorry." Itachi's eyes were haunted as he explained his motivations. "The Uchiha clan was on the verge of a revolt. We couldn't afford a civil war. I wanted to prevent against that. Father was not against using his children as pawns. He tried his best with me but I'm stubborn wouldn't go along with any of his schemes. When he began to direct his attention toward you, I became frightened and agreed to do what the counsel bid me."

"The counsel?" wondered Sasuke. "They were involved?"

"Yes. The counsel and the Hokage gave me the mission."

"Was Uchiha Kagami involved?"

Itachi nodded. "Yes, he was."

"What about Shimura Danzo?" asked Sasuke.

Itachi furrowed his brows in thought. "I don't know about Danzo's involvement. He was a member of the counsel, so he was aware of the order. However, he wasn't supposed to be there that night. Uchiha Kagami would know more of the particulars."

Uchiha Itachi had asked her to meet him in one of the smaller training grounds outside the city of Konoha proper. At first, he had suggested training field six, which was a small field wedged in between several other small fields. However Hinata wanted a more private field so that the Hyuga clan elders and the Hato family wouldn't be able to either prevent or interfere with her training session.

The path itself afforded a particularly beautiful ambiance for her musings. Itachi had recommended that she follow a small meandering stream that flowed near the village from the north. The water danced over mossy stones as it rushed along. Dainty ferns and slender trees framed the banks from both sides.

In the back of her mind, she wondered if wandering off alone to a remote training ground to meet a man that she didn't know particularly well was a very good decision. She herself had suggested it, but it was a risky move, especially considering how conservative the Hyuga clan was on some matters.

After the training session that she had with Sasuke, she was glad for a chance to train away from the lecherous gaze of Hato Okami. The spar itself had ended very strangely. She couldn't deny that the thought of her training session with Itachi ending in a similar manner had crossed her mind. Her heart beat a touch faster in excitement and anticipation. Of course, she also planned to learn a great deal from Itachi this afternoon – genjutsu specifically. The fact they were alone in a remote training ground was just an added bonus.

Hanabi had looked at her funny when her sister came in to borrow some of Hinata's shuriken for practice with her teammates. Hinata was staring at her reflection in the mirror and agonizing over which lipstick to use. Or was lipstick too presumptuous? Would lip gloss be better? Where was Ino when you needed her?

Hanabi looked her up and down appraisingly. "I'm surprised that you're fussing so much over what you look like for a date with Hato Okami. I thought you hated him. Are you sure you want to wear that? He knows that you're a kunoichi and all, but I'm not sure he'll appreciate that kunoichi chic look you're going for. I only wear that much mesh when I'm training. Don't want to give the bastard the wrong impression."

"Er," stuttered Hinata, "I'm not going to meet Okami."

Hanabi's eyebrows climbed up her forehead. "Really?"

"I'm just meeting a friend for a training session, it's nothing serious."

"Training session, eh?" teased Hanabi. "So that's what they're calling it these days." Hinata blushed crimson but did nothing to contract her sister. Hanabi squealed with excitement, "You're going to meet a boy! Who is it? Do you need my help sneaking out? I can run interference as long as you promise to tell me all about this guy."

Hinata looked guarded for a moment before whispering in her sister's ear, "Uchiha Itachi."

"An older man, Hina, I'm impressed."

The fact that she had to sneak out of the Hyuga compound made the whole experience all the more forbidden and therefore all the more exciting. Apparently Hato Okami had been furious about the almost kiss with Sasuke during yesterday's spar, so Hyuga Kaede was keeping an eagle's eye on her. If Kaede knew that Hinata was going to train with Uchiha Itachi, he would have forbidden her from leaving the compound, or worse – sent Hato Okami with her. Hinata couldn't be certain what sort of diversion Hanabi concocted for her to make good her escape, but she was glad to have her younger sister on her side.

The birds in the verdant canopy trilled above the steady murmur of the brook. Dusty rays of sunlight streamed in from above to illuminate the forest floor. She had been walking for some time, enjoying the scenery when she noticed a tree identical to one that she had passed ten minutes ago. Was she walking in circles? Was he making her walk in circles?

"He must have cast Kori Shinchuu no Jutsu on me," Hinata muttered to herself, annoyed that she hadn't noticed it earlier. Focusing her chakra to break the genjutsu, she muttered, "Kai!"

"I see that you've caught onto my trick," came Itachi's voice from somewhere up ahead. She began walking towards it. Hinata was startled to hear his voice now coming from behind her too. "Learning how to recognize and dispel a genjutsu is just as important as learning to cast one."

"So you're using Suro-boisu no Jutsu this time to throw your voice," Hinata called. She disrupted her chakra again and called out "Kai!"

She could sense him in the clearing with her. The white noise of the rushing water did little to distract her. It was strange, almost as if her perception was off. Had he used another genjutsu on her? Its affects were similar to a technique that Kurenai had used on her during her genin examination.

She had learned the technique herself. It was called Magen: Kokoni Arazu no Jutsu. It altered the appearance of something, so you wouldn't recognize it unless you came into contact with it. It could be very effective in battle. Foes didn't realize that the genjutsu had been cast until it was too late. The spell could be broken with a simple genjutsu release like she had done with his previous two genjutsu. It could also be broken if the victim came into contact with the thing being hidden within the genjutsu.

A Hyuga's Byakugan eyes could see through almost anything, including visual genjutsu. After all her research on the Byakugan and Sharingan, she had theorized at one point that it had to do with the optical nerve redundancies in Hyuga and Uchiha brains. The redundancy was to allow additional chakra flow to the eyes, but it also make it more difficult for a genjutsu caster to cast visual jutsu on a Hyuga or Uchiha because of the unique construction of their optical nerve pathways.

Even without their kekkei genkai activated, Hyugas had superior eyesight. Though she didn't have her Byakugan activated, she could see a glimpse of him. Putting a hand out in front of her, she walked in his direction and stopped right in front of him. Sliding her palm up his chest in a light caress, she said, "Found you."

The genjutsu broke at the contact and he appeared before her. The expression in his eyes was piercing as he whispered huskily, "So you did."

He was wearing his black ANBU fatigues without the metal breastplate just as his younger brother had the previous day. He rested his hand over hers. They were standing so close together that she could almost feel the warmth radiating from his body. After a beat, he lifted her hand off his chest.

Itachi cleared his throat after a beat and said, "So which genjutsu techniques did you want to work on?" His voice was steady, but she had been able to pick up on the slight increase in his heartbeat during her light contact only moments before.

Hinata only allowed herself a moment to be amazed at her own daring. She answered, "I've learned a variety of low level genjutsu from Kurenai; I wanted to improve on my higher level genjutsu."

Itachi nodded in approval. "So which genjutsu techniques are you proficient with? Can you show me?" His dark eyes ran red and started to spin as he activated his Sharingan.

Hinata stepped back and rubbed her hands together. "I have two D-rank genjutsu and one C-rank genjutsu." She focused her chakra to manipulate the chakra in her companion's brain. "Kanashibari no Jutsu!"

Itachi only allowed himself to be paralyzed for a second from her genjutsu before he broke it and nodded at her in approval. "Very good. Next one?"

Hinata blinked at the quickness that he dismissed the genjutsu's effects. She didn't see him utter the genjutsu release or disrupt his chakra. How had he done it? Trying to avoid the feeling of impotence she felt at witnessing some of his power, she prepared her second genjutsu and said, "Fusenmei Genzō!"

Itachi's eyebrows rose for a second before he muttered, "Hm." He had dispelled that one almost instantaneously as well. Apparently her vision blurring genjutsu had no effect on him either. "That one can be very useful in battle. I'm glad that you can perform it so well. What's the last one?"

Hinata took a deep breath. She knew that Uchiha Itachi was a talented shinobi. He had been an ANBU captain for nearly ten years; she knew that he would be good. But she hadn't expected to be so far out of his league. It was disheartening. She gathered her chakra for a third time and focused on the chakra in his mind again. "Botsuraku Gozō no Jutsu!"

"Kai!" Itachi used a genjutsu release for her third attempt and then nodded in approval. "Another excellent genjutsu to use in battle. Having their air supply cut off can really disrupt a shinobi's jutsu and concentration."

Hinata pursed her lips at him unhappily. "You dismissed all my genjutsu so easily. How did you do that?"

Itachi tapped one of his long fingers below his red Sharingan eyes. "One of the powers available to me with the Sharingan is the ability to see through genjutsu. I needed to train my eyes to do it, but genjutsu doesn't have an effect on me. Don't feel bad about it. Those three genjutsu techniques that you performed on me were flawless. Your vision blurring genjutsu was one of the best I've ever seen."

"You think so?"

"Absolutely."

"Oh," Hinata said with a smile. "Thanks!"

Itachi smiled back at her before saying, "I want to show you a new genjutsu technique that I taught Shikamaru. Considering your current repertoire, this one should complement it nicely. It's called Senbō no Tsumi. It causes the other ninja to become jealous of your techniques and try to imitate them to amusing effect. Shikamaru's particularly fond of this one. Most of his ninjutsu techniques require him to stand around and capture people with his shadow, watching enemy ninja trying to do the same is a sight to be seen."

"What If I used this technique on a ninja who can use some of my same jutsu?" wondered Hinata. "If I tried to use this while sparing with Neji, it wouldn't be as effective, right? Because he has the Byakugan and use many similar jutsu."

Itachi nodded approvingly. "Exactly. It would be of decreasing effectiveness against a foe with similar jutsu. However, it would still cause Neji to become distracted. He would attempt to imitate your attacks rather than thinking of his own. That way you would be able to predict what jutsu he plans to use against you."

Hinata blinked. "I hadn't thought of it that way."

"This is considered an A-rank genjutsu. It's very difficult, so don't be discouraged if it takes some time to learn," Itachi began. "I'm going to first perform the technique on you and then you can attempt to do the same on me."

"Okay."

The walk back to Konoha seemed to pass must faster than the walk out of the training ground. The anticipation of seeing Itachi and the excitement of slipping out of Konoha under Hyuga Kaede and Hato Okami's noses made the journey to the training ground an adventure in itself. If the Hyuga councilmember and the Daimyo's nephew found out that she had gone off alone with a young man from the Uchiha clan… she didn't even want to imagine what would happen.

Itachi was a wonderful teacher. With his Sharingan activated, he was able to see through any mistakes that she made with the jutsu whether it was gathering chakra, dispersing chakra, or weaving handsigns and then direct her appropriately. Her other teachers had never been so specific. He was so patient and complementary too.

"You seem to be deep in thought," said his voice from beside her.

Looking up at him sheepishly, she replied, "I'm sorry about that. A lot on my mind, I suppose."

His dark eyes searched hers. "If you want to talk about anything, I'm happy to listen. This place is very remote. It's unlikely that someone might overhear."

"Right," Hinata murmured.

Gazing ahead at the deserted path up ahead, Itachi mused, "I'll admit that I was a bit surprised that you wanted to train in such a remote field. I assumed that you wanted the privacy to discuss something that's been preying on your mind."

Hinata blinked in surprise. That was a logical assumption; though, it wasn't the true reason why she had recommended it. She didn't want to risk the interference of the Hyuga elders and the Hato family; though, that wasn't the only reason.

In the back of her mind, Hinata had hoped that Itachi would kiss her again. But the ANBU captain had been the very epitome of decorum throughout their training session. No doubt, he was catering to her request from their last training session. There had been several moments where she thought something might happen, but he always pulled back at the last second.

Itachi must have mistaken her silence for something else. "Though if you're uncomfortable speaking about…"

"Oh, you don't need to worry about that," Hinata interrupted. "I'm just not sure where to begin."

"I suppose the beginning's just as good a place as any."

Her thoughts tumbled out in a rush. "That's just the thing. I don't know where this began. I've only been involved as it's coming to its conclusion – the final stages of great changes in my life that I didn't even know had been set into motion. I'm finding out more and more every day that the things I thought I knew were in fact deceptions to keep me from the actual truth." Looking down at her feet, she said, "I'm not making much sense, I'm sorry."

He stopped walking for a moment and cupped her cheek, forcing her gaze up to his. "You're making perfect sense. Our shinobi world is built on a rocky foundation of deceptions and lies. I myself am guilty of contributing to them. It's horrible that you have been deceived so."

It was hard to tear her gaze away from his. "I have no talent for lies or deception," she whispered. "Maybe that's why I'm such a poor kunoichi. I'm in completely over my head, Itachi. I've been trying to match wits with adversaries far more powerful and cunning than I am. They've been scheming with my life for years and I've only just noticed."

He studied her slowly before answering, "This has to do with the Hato family, am I correct? The Hyuga clan is pressing a union between you and Hato Okami. The wealth and prestige would be too tempting a prize for them to pass up."

Hinata blinked in surprise. "How did you…"

He stepped back and released her, folding his hands behind his back, trying to create some distance between them. "You've… captured my interest," he said slowly. "I've been paying closer attentions to the affairs of the Hyuga clan recently."

Hinata grabbed his arm and stepped closer to him. "Itachi, I…"

He looked down at her intently. "Tell me what I can do. Please, if there's anything. I want to help."

Hinata took a step closer, continuing to be amazed by her own daring. "I know that I have no right to ask this of you and I know that I shouldn't – but… could you kiss me again?"

Itachi blinked in surprise. "I thought…"

Hinata stood up on her tiptoes, stretching towards him like a flower to the sun. "I've been inconsistent, I'm sorry. But I've decided that I'm going to pursue what I think's best for me instead of the whims of the Hyuga council."

Itachi unfolded him arms from behind his back. Leaning down slightly, he kissed her lightly on the lips. Their first kiss had been all fire and passion, but this one was tender and slow. She sighed at his tongue's slow exploration of her mouth as his hands lightly glided over the mesh on her back. She pulled him closer to her, enjoying the warmth of his body against hers.

Hinata had never been to a Hyuga Council meeting before. She had been surprised that the council members would have asked her to attend the meeting even before she had spoken with her father. That made her extremely apprehensive. Instead of putting herself on the offensive, she would most likely find herself on the defensive. The reason why the council wanted her there had not escaped her mind.

Striding along beside her, her cousin said, "Try not to be nervous, Hina. Just present your case like you did to me."

Fighting the compulsion to press her fingers together, she wrung her hands instead. "I know."

Neji opened the rice paper door and stepped back to let her enter before him. Her father and the three council members were already sitting on the tatami mats. Hinata was fearful of the calculating look in Kaede's white eyes.

As soon as she sat down across from the councilmembers and her father, she was surprised when the rice paper doors opened again. Hato Kaba and his son were dressed impeccably in their family's richest silks. They breezed into the room and sat across from Hinata and Neji.

"Now that everyone is gathered, let us begin," said Kaede. Turning his bland eyes on inataHiHHk 00HH

Hinata, he continued, "Your father said that you had a concern that you wished to discuss with the council, girl?"

"I…" began Hinata. Glancing at the Kaba and Okami, she said awkwardly, "I wasn't aware that this was an open meeting. I was under the impression that I would only be discussing my concerns with the Hyuga council."

Hyuga Mitsui replied, "Kaba and Okami had an issue that they wanted to discuss with all of us, so we thought it appropriate to invite them to this meeting as well."

Hinata noted the annoyance flashing in her father's eyes as he added, "I wasn't aware of this change. I wish you would inform me in advance if you are inviting non clan members to these meetings. Hinata has a personal matter to discuss; therefore, I wouldn't have approved of their presence for this part of the meeting had I known that they intended to join us."

Kaede seemed unapologetic as he responded, "We will be sure to inform you next time, Hiashi." Turning his gaze to Hinata, he said, "What was it you wished to discuss with us, girl?"

"I.." began Hinata. She was so thrown off by the presence of Hato Okami and his father that her entire train of thought was derailed. She wanted to speak with the council about having this marriage treaty torn up. How was she supposed to do that with the man they wanted her to marry right in the room? How had Ino done it?

"Well spit it out, girl!" demanded Kaede.

Neji tensed beside her. Hinata took a deep breath and said, "I have been receiving conflicting reports about my candidacy as the next leader of the clan. I…"

Hyuga Kioshi snorted. "This isn't that rubbish about letting you and Hanabi battle to determine who is the stronger kunoichi?"

Kaede sneered. "We decided nearly ten years ago that you would not be the next leader of our clan."

Hinata gaped at them. "T…Ten years?"

Hiashi crossed his arms over his chest defensively. Hinata took a breath, ready to discuss some of the issues that she and Neji had gone through. Before she was able to get a word in, Kaede spoke again, "But we are not here today to discuss your ineligibility for the position of Hyuga clan head. We have heard some disturbing report about your conduct with the Uchiha boy. We are sorely disappointed to hear that you did not conduct yourself in a manner appropriate for a kunoichi of the Hyuga clan."

Hinata blinked in surprise. "I …"

Kaede interrupted again, "We will give you a probationary period and if you do anything to compromise your reputation or bring shame upon the clan, we'll have to take drastic measures. "

A/N: Please review!

Here's a list of the jutsus used:

Doton: Doryūheki – Earth Style: Earth Wall.

Katon: Hōsenka Tsumabeni - Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Shuriken Jutsu

Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu - Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu

Suiton: Suigadan - Water Style: Water Fang Bullet

Jūho Sōshiken - Gentle Step: Twin Lion Fists

Kori Shinchuu no Jutsu - Sly Mind Affect Technique

Suro-boisu no Jutsu - Voice Throwing Technique

Magen: Kokoni Arazu no Jutsu - Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings

Kanashibari no Jutsu - Paralysis Technique

Fusenmei Genzō - Vision Blur

Hibiki no Jutsu - Phantom Voice Technique

Botsuraku Gozō no Jutsu - Diminishing Air Technique

Senbō no Tsumi - Jealousy Control