A/N: Alright.. I'm now into unplanned territory here. I have future events planned but they're most likely going to be in the sequel. Hope you can bear with me and my on-the-spot-ness. :D

The song is Sanctuary by Utada Hikaru.


Shinobu POV

Wind passed through the desolate streets of Konoha, whistling past open windows and empty houses with a desperate cry. People began to gather towards the largest building in sight cloaked in black, their attire and expressions draining from the bright colour of the surrounding buildings.

The weather seemed to mimic the thoughts and feelings of the people, rain pouring down and thunder crashing as a small boy let out a heart wrenching sob.

"Konohamaru.." A man with a horizontal scar across his nose knelt down to comfort the boy.

"Ojii-san.." Shinobu whispered, frowning as her she felt a warmer liquid than the rain run down her cheeks.


"Hokage-sama.. may I have a word?" Shinobu asked as she bowed.

"My.. you don't have to bow." He said with a chuckle and Shinobu looked up in shock. "Take a seat, I was finding this paperwork rather hard on the old hands anyway." He smiled at her. He reminds me of Ojii-san.. he's so nice.. his eyes even sparkle! She thought, refraining from letting her emotions show on her face.

"Thank you.." She nodded before taking a seat.

"So what is it you want young one?" He asked, his tone holding a love she rarely heard from strangers.

"W-well.. I.." She stuttered, she hadn't expected to be able to see him so she didn't really prepare past the whole getting in stage. "I was i-informed that to register at the academy I would have to speak with you." She stammered.

"You wish to join now? It's a little later than most." He mused.

"I learn quick! I could still do it!" She almost shouted with wide eyes, thinking he was refusing her. She quickly realised she had shouted at one of the great Kages and stuttered an apology.

"It's alright. I was just surprised, you haven't come with parents either. Are they at work?" He asked with a chuckle.

"N-no.. they're dead.." She whispered.

"Oh.. I'm sorry." His eyes showed true concern. "What is your name? May I ask?"

"Shinobu..." She responded, contemplating letting him know, she had decided against it earlier. But he seemed so trust worthy.

"And your last name?" He asked, his eyes glinted with knowledge.

"I um.. do I need to tell you?" She asked, unsure of his reactions.

"Well.. no.. but it would be nice to know." He chuckled.

"Shinobu Uchiha.." She muttered looking away. He looked dumbstruck for a moment before responding.

"How is it that I don't know of you then? Sasuke was the only survivor.." He muttered more to himself.

"I'm the daughter of Mikoto and Fugaku.. I believe they told you I died at birth.." She whispered, willing herself not to cry.

"Hmm.. well I am sorry that I didn't meet you.. so you are Sasuke's twin sister? Younger in age if I recall correctly." He asked.

"Yes sir. That's true, but he doesn't know that. Nobody knows except you sir." She replied, attempting to shake the tears out of her eyes.

"Well, I apologize on behalf of the village.. that must have been terrible." He looked at her before coming around to give her a hug. She could feel warmth and love and shock. She hadn't expected this.

"Thank you.. Ojii.. uh.. Hokage-sama." She stopped herself, she had almost called him grandpa.

"You can call me Ojii-san if you'd like Shinobu. I don't mind, you wouldn't be the first." He replied with a heart warming smile.


"Shinobu.. are you alright?" A voice asked, startling Shinobu from her curled up position on the bed. She was in the Uchiha compound, in her brother's old bedroom to be more specific. The stuffed animals adorning his bed still smelled like him.

"Ya.. I.." She sighed, no, she wasn't ok.

"I may be an old man but I'm not losing my mind or hearing quite yet. Would you like to talk about it?" He asked, waiting for her to nod before gently taking a seat beside her.

"I.." She couldn't think of a single word to explain, instead, she burst into tears clinging to the man's robes. He didn't seem startled though, instead he sat there calmly pulling her into a small hug.

"It's alright.. You know there's a person right here to embrace you.. But, it's not only me doing so.. Konoha's ninjas, they all have the will of fire. All the people in this village have a strong sense of protection, and all of us have this spirit, all of us are part of the same family. Shinobu.. you too have the same spirit. That's why you're never truly alone here. We are your family."

She sniffed looking up before letting out a small hiccup and smiling. "Right!"


"Iruka-sensei.." Naruto spoke quietly at first, shaking Shinobu from her thoughts. "What are humans..? Is life just that simple?"

"When a person dies.. doesn't matter if it's the past, present or future- they will lose everything. He died fighting in a mission- death caught him unaware because life was that simple. It's like a dream, it's all the same even if you haven't reached your goal.. but everyone knows that the most important thing is to die for a cause." Iruka spoke, quickly drawing the attention of other ninja nearby who watched in silence.

"Family, friends, lovers, and all the other villagers- to me, those are the most important people... We trust each other, help each other.. from the day we are born to the day we die, we start to feel that love is the most important. That kind of relationship takes time to develop and trust. Anyone with a headband on knows.. because it's very important."

"Yeah.. I know that very well, but death is still painful." Naruto muttered.

"The Hokage wouldn't think it's painful," Kakashi interjected. "because we both agree that people should not be hurt for no reason.. but, it's no use, even if you do understand."

"Right..! But.. not knowing is better than knowing." Naruto said with a small grin.

"...he died for us. Right? It's sad.. but he died to protect the people he cared about.. so I don't think he'd be very happy if we wasted that.. We have to do our bests too, to make use of what he gave us. To rebuild Konoha and continue on the will of fire.. protecting our precious people." Shinobu spoke softly, looking at his picture before bowing slightly with a grin and running off.

I will protect my precious people.


"It's been a long time since your homecoming.. What do you think? Let's stop by before we do our search."

"Yea.. That sounds good."


The funeral was over but still Shinobu was on her feet next to her team as they worked alongside construction workers to help rebuild Konoha, or more specifically the academy right now. It was nostalgic, Shinobu had found some orange dyed wood near the collapsed entrance. She paused for just a moment as a voice filled the clearing.

"I'll find Tsunade."

"Then we are sending you with anbu."

"Don't worry, I won't run away.. but I would like to take someone with me."

"And who would that be?"

"An interesting little seed I found.. Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto? What do they want with him? They're going to get Tsunade? Will she be the next Hokage?


"I heard this is where you go to all the time.. it's really true, you always come here to eat ramen." Jiraiya snorted, catching Naruto off guard and almost causing him to choke on the half swallowed ramen in his mouth.

"Haa! It's the pervert Sannin!


"It's been a while.. Asuma-san, Kurenai-san."

"You already know of us.. you were originally from our village weren't you? What did you come back for?" Asuma asked with narrowed eyes, warily watching as the man pulled off his hat.

"Wait.. you are!" Kurenai whispered in astonishment.

"There's no doubt about it.. Uchiha Itachi."

"So you're already acquainted with Itachi huh.. Then I also need to introduce myself. Kisame Hoshigaki. There, we're all acquainted."


Shinobu watched in shock as Kakashi fought her brother. Only she or Sasuke could beat him? Not only was he here, in their village, but he was after the fourth hokage's successor? Who would that be?

"You're target is the Kyuubi inside of him isn't it?" Kakashi asked between pants, whatever genjutsu Itachi used, it had done a number on him.

"Naruto.. shit." Shinobu growled, taking one last look at her brother before darting away to find her only current family.


"EHHH! WHY! WHY! WHY! Why do I have to go on a work trip with a pervert sannin? Why should I go? And what for?" Naruto shouted.

"Because it's a paid-for work trip. We're supposed to find a certain girl. It's also a "special" trip. We'll stop by the red-light district in Hima. You'll learn much more than what Kakashi-sensei has to teach you." Jiraiya tried to bribe.

"I don't want to, I want Kakashi-sensei to teach me Chidori. Nope." Naruto rolled his eyes.

"And this woman is really hot! She wants to meet you!" Jiraiya grinned.

"You're trying to fool me you perverted sannin! Whatever you say! I DON'T WANT TO!" Naruto shouted.

"Ha.. I know a technique even more amazing than Chidori. But you're not coming- I guess I'll have Sasuke accompany me instead." Jiraiya said with a small frown, looking at Naruto from the corner of his eye.

"ALL RIGHT! Let's go!" Naruto shouted, pumping his fist.

"I'm going- I'm going to my house to pack my things up! Pervert sannin, don't leave without me!" Naruto yelled, running away as fast as he could to get to his house.

"Kuku.. really.. he is such a cute brat." Jiraiya chuckled.

"Let's focus a little less on how cute he is and a little more on the person standing right in front of you, hm?" Shinobu growled, finally having caught up with the two.

"Hmm, aah, you're the girl who was playing medic during the invasion under Ibiki." Jiraiya responded after taking a moment to think.

"I have a name, Jiraiya. It's Uchiha Shinobu, and I'm going with you on this mission." Shinobu glared.

"and I should let you why..?"

"Because.." Shinobu paused before remembering how Naruto had originally gotten the fool to train him, sexy-no-jutsu. "because Jiraiya-sama. You're one of the three great sannin, a young, innocent kunoichi like me could learn so much from a great, strong man like you! Pleeease?" She asked, putting on her best pout- learned from Naruto, and batting her eyelashes.

"Hehehe.. alright. The great Jiraiya-sama will train you too!" Jiraiya grinned.

"Bleh.. Is it true we're going to find Tsunade-sama?" Shinobu asked after Jiraiya finished his trance.

"Yup. Though you should go pack or we're leaving without you." Jiraiya nodded, trying to appear responsible.

"Already done." She smirked, gesturing to the small back pack on her shoulders.

"Now if only Naruto would act a little more like that." Jiraiya grumbled.

"Eh? Shinobu-chan! You gonna wish me a safe trip?" Naruto grinned once he caught up, missing Jiraiya's statement.

"Nope, I'm coming with you." Shinobu grinned.

"Awesome! Are you going to learnt he new jutsu too?" Naruto asked.

"No, she won't be. We're going to start her on something a little different." Jiraiya chuckled.

"If it involves bathing suits, you're dead." Shinobu warned causing Jiraiya to let out a sheepish laugh.

"I-it doesn't, swear." Jiraiya sweat dropped.

"Good. Now let's get moving.." Shinobu sighed. We need to get away from the village, before Itachi finds us.


"You can fight how and where you want, but I don't know... The time is wrong." Kisame looked at Itachi.

"Ah. To meet those two and kill them. It's a good place to fight. So they can't increase the number of people they have." Itachi muttered.

"It was good that we found him at the ramen shop. But he's protected by one of the three legendary ninjas. That guy might be a match for the number one of the leaf and one of the Mist's seven strongest."

"Ah, but.. it is said that every strong man has a weak point." Itachi replied.


"That guy still hasn't found Naruto." Gay frowned.

"But it's not funny that he enters a crowded village. In this village, finding Naruto is pretty simple. Itachi knows Naruto's face." Asuma replied, none too happy with the idea.

"Shhh!" Gai warned.

"Kakashi..? ...!" Sasuke stared in shock when he entered the room, Kakashi unconscious on the bed. "Why is Kakashi sleeping? Why are the Jonin all gathered here where he's resting?" Sasuke asked, eyes narrowed.

"Umm.. no it's not really that.. it's" Gai started before the door slammed open, a new ninja entering the room.

"Is the story that Itachi has returned really true? And he's chasing after Naruto?" The ninja shouted before noticing Sasuke. "Ah!"

"Argh.. idiot.." Gai groaned, face-palming as Sasuke darted out of the room.

Itachi has returned!


A/N: So close to being done. 6 chapters. O.o. Hope you guys are enjoying this. :D


TnTKitten: Well thank you for reviewing :D I'm glad you like it! :D


yyh-ygo-fma: Well holy reviews batman :D I'm definitely considering SasukeXShinobu, your point was really good, but we'll have to see where the story takes us, neh? Thanks for all of the reviews and input, I really appreciate it :D


Yami Mizuna: I didn't skip it lmfao :D and I'm not skipping it. There will be lots more Itachi, promise. :D Thanks for the input :D

GaaraMyBoyzz: Well actually, neither of those places are where they meet. But you'll be seeing very VERY soon. :D She actually does like Dango, though I believe she got that taste from spending so much time with Anko :P thanks for the input :D P.S Fangirlyness can be a good thing :P


chibichibi98: Well I'm glad that you caught my foreshadow :P Tsunade actually teaches Ino AND Hinata as well in canon, though not to the degree in which she taught Sakura. I'm still wavering on whether or not Shinobu should train with the girls on this one. But we'll see :D I also agree with you in that Hinata would have done great given more attention training under Tsunade, so I may have that in my story :P Thanks for the input! :D


Alpenwolf: Well some of these things are being answered sooner than later :P As in above with Shinobu and Naruto. I actually wanted Hiruzen to live but something told me that even with the knowledge of the invasion he would simply make sure the village is safe without scaring anyone. I couldn't come up with a way to let him live and have it be realistic still. I looked up the song and I'll probably be using it sometime in the near future :D Thanks for the song and review :D