For the first few week, the remainder of Team 4 kept a constant vigil of one or more of the members around the boys' bedside.

After eight days, the group had gone stir crazy, and began accepting quick ANBU missions that kept them close to the village and Naruto, but got them out and cleared their head. Expending energy could only help them here.

After each mission, the group would return and remain in and around Naruto's room, hovering until the Hokage would offer up another mission.

After two weeks, Anko had demanded permanent residence in ANBU HQ to be closer to the boy. Her request was granted, although there were clashes between the stern medic-nin and the loud purple haired woman at first. Anko was already irritable and snapish, and although self-imposed, the confinement to such a small section was making her much crankier.

With the help of Genma and some fed-up medic-nin, a room was created just outside the hospital ward, close to the ANBU underground training grounds, which allowed Anko the ability to exercise her release physically rather than on undeserving medical personnel.

After five weeks, Itachi couldn't take it anymore.

One day he stood silently to his feet, staring down at the closed eyes of the boy in front of him. His hand hovered gently over his face, brushing his cheek delicately.

And then he turned and walked out the damned hospital room door, and didn't come back.

He continued to participate in missions with his remaining teammates, but his off-days were spent ghosting around the Uchiha complex, his face as closed and stony as any adult in his clan. His return brought an approving head-nod from his father, and a happy smile from his mother as she offered to fix his favourite food.

His good friend Shisui shared not only a childhood history with him, but also the secret struggle to protect Konoha from their own clan. He was indeed pleased to see him. However, Itachi saw almost the same haunting in his own eyes reflected back in Shisui's. Itachi may be the one that the council were hounding about this 'permanent' solution to the Uchiha problem, but Shisui was the one working from the shadows, uncovering and informing on every deed and plan that the clan came up with. Torn between two loyalties like that, Itachi didn't envy him in the slightest.

As a result of their duties and personal demons, Itachi spent little time with Shisui despite their strong bond.

Sasuke was perhaps the only Uchiha who could be said to be delighted about his return. He perked up and bounced around, talking at light speed. He was like a ray of sunshine in the otherwise stagnant air of the compound.

But even his bright younger brother could barely bring a smile to his face. He knew Sasuke recognized something was wrong, but his young mind simply couldn't understand what it was. So he did the only thing he knew, and kept on being himself, talking to the older boy and asking to be trained, hoping that Itachi would eventually change back.

And so Itachi threw himself into mission after mission, willing each neck that he cut to clear his head. He worked each assignment with a relentless fervour not seen since the grieving Hatake Kakashi after the death of his remaining teammate. The Hokage worried for the young Uchiha, but understood his need to keep his mind occupied.

Every time he blinked, Naruto's pale face sprung to his mind as he laid on the medic bay cot not breathing.

Anko and Genma had followed the Uchiha's departure from their Captains' bedside, but they were much more discrete in their grief. The two, to their credit, lost none of their usual performance on missions, but they tended to withdraw rather than throw themselves into conflict. During these missions they barely spoke, getting in, out and the job done with deadly precision.

Their mission records had never been better.

He didn't physically react when he noticed the small gestures between Anko and Genma that signified a strengthening bond. Anko began accepting Genma's hand up as they stood to continue their journey. Shoulders brushed as they seated around the fire.

Before, he would have shared a side-long glance with his tiny companion, eyes sparkling with recognition. He'd watch the younger boy poke his tongue out in mock disgust, small nose crinkled at the 'ickiness' that relationships were to small children.

But now it only made him feel the hole in his heart more keenly.

He refused anything but solo missions from then on.

The remaining two, already feeling the loss of one team member, were neither surprised nor regretful when they were informed they would be split up and re-assigned.

In fact, they seemed to have already considered the possibility, and instead countered with requests of their own.

Genma decided to stay in ANBU, working as a free-lance filler to teams missing a member or requiring an extra melee for an assignment. He seemed to revel in the freedom that not having a permanent team or assignment afforded him, and while he still routinely frequented the beside of Uzumaki Naruto, he seemed the most at peace of the three.

The Hokage was relieved when Anko requested to be taken from ANBU. Despite her superb skills, the woman was far more emotional than the others on her team. He had been critically assessing the mission reports from all the teams' assignments to ensure she wasn't behaving recklessly or in a self-sacrificial way, and despite sound reports from the ANBU psychiatrists, he was glad to get her away from such routine killing.

She was officially given the rank Tokubetsu Jonin. Her mental stability was not up to scratch to become one of the foundation pieces of Konoha that regular Jonin represented, but the Hokage hoped that would change as she aged and calmed.

Despite Anko and Genma's new duties, they both spent every waking moment within the village in or around the ANBU base, constantly keeping an eye on the young boy. Sometimes their schedules allowed for both ninja to be present, but at all times, at least one of them could be found hovering around down near or in Narutos' room.

As unhealthy as this may be, the Hokage did at least notice the closeness the two teammates had gained on one visit to the young Uzumaki, witnessing a hand slide from Anko's lap back to Genma's discretely as he entered the room.

… … … … … … … … … …

Itachi approached the towering walls of Konoha once again, his latest mission complete and successful. He wordlessly cleared the checkpoint into the village, not that ANBU guards were much for talking anyway.

After a quick debriefing to the ANBU commander, he left the hidden base and slipped into an alley just off the main street of Konoha. The base had many entrances which were used randomly by all ANBU so as not to draw attention to one area of the village.

He began walking towards the Uchiha compound at a sedate pace. He felt no interest in heading to the main merchant quarter to browse, and no longer held a fancy for any particular special foods. His leisure activities had dwindled in to non-existence, and as unhealthy as it probably was, preferred the quiet and closed Uchiha compound to the brighter streets of Konoha. Perhaps he should try and do something different to break him from this funk, he mused. Perhaps he'd allow Sasuke to drag him off the the training compounds to show him how to throw Shuriken.

A flash of purple distracted him as it disappeared down the main street, pushing all other thoughts from his mind.

Anko wandered down the main road with a scowl, leering at anyone who was unobservant or stupid enough to remain in her path.

Suddenly, she was tugged sideways into an alley, out of view of the rest of the street.

Spinning to face her attacker, she felt her hand stopped by a cold grip. She recognized his dark eyes immediately and sprung backwards, scowl taking over from the shock of the encounter.

"Idiot, what did you do that for." She groused.

"What happened." Itachi hissed, voice deadly.

Every time he had been back to the village between missions, if Anko had also been in the village she would either stubbornly seated by the boys' bedside, or passed out in the room made up for her in HQ. For her to be out and about, moving around without a very important purpose…

Anko didn't even bother trying to play coy. Her shoulders slumped, dropping her eyes to the ground.

Itachi's heart clenched.

"Is he… did he…" He couldn't bring himself to say it.

"No! No… it's not… like that." She seemed to struggle with her words, fidgeting under his gaze.

The Uchiha wasn't interested in waiting for an answer.

"It's like what, then?"

Anko brought her eyes up to meet his slowly.

"Look… the Hokage… ask him. He can tell you. I can't…"

The purple haired nin all but bolted from the alley.

Itachi let her go, barely even noting the sparkle of tears in her eyes as she left. His heart was pounding painfully.

What could be worse than death that Anko couldn't bring herself to say?

He spun on his heel and raced towards the Hokage Tower.

… … … … … … … … … … … …

He ignored the disgruntled reprimand from the secretary as he brushed past her, turning the handle to the Hokage's office without so much as a knock.

Itachi entered, and his heart stopped.

Bright blue eyes.

Soft, sunshine yellow hair.

His chest constricted painfully and time froze, his eyes soaking up every last detail of the living, breathing, alive boy.

Nobody in the room moved as the two boys stared at each other.

And then, finally, Naruto spoke.

"Ne, Jiji, this guy looks more funnier than the one with the silly hair!" He said loudly, bursting into laughter.

That laugh was brash. It was crude.

It was nowhere near the tinkling bell chimes of his regular giggle.

His eyes were wide, fixed on Itachi's face as he smiled with a wide grin. Not carefully observing the room around him, flicking to the side occasionally to check for threats as any ANBU worth his salt would be.

Hunched shoulders, feet turned inwards, back facing a very large window and possible entry point for an attacker. There was no posture or strength to suggest that this boy had been trained from almost the day he could walk to be a powerful and successful Ninja.

Itachi remained frozen, blinking, not comprehending what he was seeing.

"Oi, he even has a pony tail. Wait is he a boy or a girl?" Blue eyes hidden behind a confused squint, his lips pouting.

The Hokage's lip twiched.

"This is Itachi, Naruto-chan. I just need to speak to him about something important, could you head over to Ichiraku and I will meet you there very soon."

The Hokage hadn't called Naruto 'chan' since he joined Anbu, dropping it for 'Naruto-kun' as befitted a trained and mature ninja.

The boy was moving as soon as the word 'Ichiraku' came from the Hokage's mouth.

"Yay Ramen!" He brushed past the frozen ninja, not noticing how he flinched. "Cya soon Jiji. Bye Itachi-funny-face!"

The door slammed behind him, and Itachi still did not move.

The Hokage sighed, reaching for his tea set.

"Please sit down, Itachi-kun." He asked mildly, pouring two cups.

Itachi jerked to life, stiffly making his way to the chair as directed and perching himself right on the edge, like a bird ready to take flight.

The Hokage finished pouring tea and served Itachi and himself a cup, and the Uchiha could still not bring himself to speak.

Sarutobi took a sip of his tea and then sighed again, placing the cup and saucer down and lacing his fingers below his chin.

"A little over a week ago, the ANBU medic-nin reported Naruto had woken." He began. Itachi hung off his every word.

"He responded well to all medical tests they put him through. At least physically." He bowed his old head slightly.

"Naruto has shown no recollection of anyone or anything, from his other teammates to which end of a Kunai is dangerous. We had Inoichi inspect his mind and found it blank, completely empty. No blockage or cracks that would indicate damage. Simply erased."

The Hokage took a long sip of his tea.

"All he knows is he is six years old, he lives in Konoha, and he loves Ramen. I even had to re-introduce myself to him." There was a flash of sadness in his wizened eyes.

Itachi still didn't move.

There was a long, tense pause.

"I am very sorry, Itachi-kun. Unfortunately, having explored every avenue, it appears all we can do is get to know him again."

Without a word, Itachi stood swiftly and left the room.

… … … … … … … … … …

Itachi could not bring himself to approach the boy.

He knew Anko had. She orchestrated a situation where she bumped into the boy, dropping her dango to the ground. After an impressive performance, she demanded the young boy come with her to purchase some more. The two had shared an impressive amount of food between the two, arguing over the best dish; Ramen or Dango. In the end, Anko didn't regret the fleeting contact she had made, but from then on she kept her distance. The blonde was an alien person to her now, as much as it hurt.

The Uchiha had kept his distance, watching from afar as the boy shouted at shopkeepers and swung enthusiastically on the swing set. Normal things that Naruto would have done when he was pretending to be a regular little boy.

But now that was all that he was. A normal child. He stumbled, bumped into things and dropped food on himself. He got lost, tripped down stairs and whined to the Hokage. There was no trace of the disciplined, trained Shinobi.

The final straw was when he watched Naruto pass a tense Genma in the street and didn't even blink in acknowledgement. Not a flash of recognition for the ninja who he had only months ago entrusted his life to.

Later that night, he approached the council. He had made his decision.

… … … … … … … …

After many hours of discussion, Itachi left the Hokage tower for what would be the last time. Tension within the Uchiha clan was at boiling point, and he had been ordered to act on it tonight.

The Uchiha walked towards his Clan compound with the air of one who was marching to his death, although it wouldn't be his funeral.

He never looked back at the tower behind him.

He never saw the pair of bright, blue eyes shining with grief as they watched his retreating back.

And he never heard the whispered apology that was blown by the wind into nothingness.

Instead, his heart died in his chest, and he felt... Nothing.

Begin canon.

… … … … … … … …