Kakashi sighed as he stared at the house from the trees, his head tilted to the side. If only their honeymoon had lasted a little bit longer…
He turned to Tsume, grabbing her hand and walking forward. His wife was clearly distracted, about what he didn't know, but he figured it wasn't that important. Besides, they were home, so they had other things to worry about.
Like getting the boys to clean their room.
Hana smiled as her parents trudged to the door, and stepped aside as they walked past her. "The kids are in the living room," she informed them, and they sighed.
Kakashi pulled Tsume over to the living room, where the kids sat in various positions with their dogs, talking about something. Kakashi couldn't figure it out.
Naruto sprang up from his position on the floor, pointing at Sasuke and Kiba angrily.
"Mom!" he shouted. "Dad! Do you know the abuse I went through while you two were gone?"
He stumbled over to them, gripping Kakashi's arm desperately. "They tried to drown me in mud, Daddy," the blonde whimpered. Kakashi raised his gaze from his son to stare at Sasuke and Kiba, who grinned at each other with mischievous eyes.
"Is this true, Sasuke, Kiba?" the older shinobi asked, his sole eye narrowed. The raven smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. Kiba pulled Akamaru into his lap, stroking the dog's fur thoughtfully. Sakura snorted.
"Kiba, you look like one of those people who are always turning in swivel chairs and stroking their cats," she laughed. Kiba shot a glare at her, before turning back to Kakashi.
"No," he said very seriously, but Kakashi could tell that he was lying. There was way too much happy in his eyes for him not to be lying.
Tsume gazed at Hana, raising a hand to her head. "God, I already have a headache," she muttered. Kiba smiled in her direction, but his eyes never left his father.
"Hana," Kakashi said. "What happened?"
"Kiba and Sasuke tried to drown in mud." Hana smirked at her brothers as they turned to her with shock plastered on their faces.
"Nee-san," Sasuke whined. "You promised you wouldn't say anything!"
"I promised no such thing," Hana stated, frowning. Sasuke shivered, gaze distant.
"Oh, yeah," he murmured. "That was a dream I had."
Hana stared at the raven for a long time, then shook her head. She didn't want to know.
Kakashi scowled as he finally dropped the bag slung over his shoulder. This is what he comes home to after one week with his new wife? He vowed never to leave his kids home alone again.
"Sasuke, Kiba, you're both grounded for a month."
"DAD!"
/\/\
Sakura whistled to Coco as her dog barked and sniffed at a trash can. The chocolate lab bounded over to her side, nuzzling her hand. She smiled.
Asuma smirked as his students wandered over to their meeting place. Kiba was bone-tired, having been unable to sleep as Naruto woke up with nightmares, screaming his lungs out – twelve times in one night.
Kiba didn't even know that was possible.
He yawned and dragged himself over to his sister, dropping his head onto her shoulder. She pushed him off and he fell to the ground with a whine, before promptly falling into a light doze. Sakura rolled her eyes.
"So, Asuma-sensei," the pinkette said. "Why were we called over here? We don't have a mission."
Shikamaru plopped down next to Kiba, curling up next to the brunette. Sakura snorted, rolling her eyes again. No matter how much the two would deny it, her brother and Shikamaru were best friends. With Choji, of course.
"I signed you three up for the Chuunin exams."
/\/\
"Really, Dad?" Naruto jumped to his feet, waving his arms in the air. "You signed us up for the Chuunin exams?"
Sasuke raised his arm to smack it into his brother's head, but a glare from Ino stopped him. That look clearly said that if he hit the blonde, Ino would not be happy, especially since he was still grounded.
"Yes, Naruto, I signed you three up."
"Kakashi-sensei," Ino said. "Are you sure we're ready?"
"Of course! But first," Kakashi pulled out a mission scroll from his pocket. "Who's ready for your first C-rank mission?"
/\/\
Itachi bowed to Danzo one last time, before biting back a whimper as he straightened. He could do this. He didn't know any of the Uchiha's personally. His parents were dead, so what did it matter?
Besides, if he didn't do it, they would send someone far more ruthless than him.
He left the room, his hand sliding back to grip the hilt of his blade. He could do this.
He repeated that phrase to himself as he walked to the Uchiha district.
/\/\
Hana was immediately suspicious when Itachi came home covered in blood. She was worried that he had done what she thought he had.
"You did it, didn't you?" she asked quietly as he moved to his room, and she followed him.
"Yes."
"Oh, Itachi," she sighed. She took a deep breath then opened her eyes. "No."
"No, what?" Itachi looked at her with Sharingan red eyes as he packed.
"You can't leave. I won't let you."
"You can't stop me, Hana."
He finished his packing, and he stood up. He strode over to her with a soft sigh, dried blood caked on his face and hands.
"You might never see me again."
"Don't go," she pleaded. Her voice was desperate, but she knew that it would do no good. He wouldn't listen to her.
"I have to." His eyes faded to black, and his voice was soft. He gripped her arm, warm hands leaving red on her tan skin. She stared down at where their skin met, then lifted her eyes to his.
She shook her head and threw herself into his embrace, not caring about the blood on him. Her shoulder shook, and she trembled as he stroked her back, holding her close.
"Please," she whispered one last time. He sighed softly, tightening his hold on her briefly before pulling away.
"I can't, Hana."
She sat down on the bed as he picked up his bag. She stared up at him with teary eyes, and he crossed the room to kiss her softly.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, before he was gone, leaving only the window open as he left.
She buried her head in her hands and sobbed as her best friend became the rogue ninja she had always feared he would become.
A/N: DO NOT WORRY! This is not the last of Itachi. There will be more. Anyways, there are probably only going to be two more chapters for this story. Then you'll have to wait for the sequel, which I promise to have up ASAP. I PROMISE!
Please review?
