A/N: Apologies for the late update :) Been a busy time for us. We will try to start posting new chapters on a more frequent basis from here on out. Please enjoy the next chapter and don't forget to read Lehrain's as well.


Illusions of Serenity

Chapter XIX

"Riddle"

Itachi lifted his eyes from the pebbled shore he had stepped onto and out across the awaiting sea ahead. Bogford had offered to take both he and Sakura as far as Kanashimi by water, as it would be a great deal faster than if they were to venture the countryside on foot. The courtesy would hardly put the man out of his way, as he needed to return to his city of origin, which was in the vicinity.

It was a strange thing to contemplate that their time in Yokusei was already coming to an end. The weeks they had spent within the enchanting and deranged land had been some of the best he had ever known and, now that he was about to part from the place, it inflicted a subtle, yet altogether prominent decrease in complacency.

He was going to miss it; it was really as simple as that. However, the night before had afforded him with a wonderful and unforgettable parting memory, and he was entirely prepared to face the next task and accept the continuation of their purpose in even residing within the strange world.

Looking to Sakura then, he smiled as he watched her toss a few stones into the water. The girl laughed then and his smile widened before she looked to him and returned the gesture.

"Want to throw some?" she asked, eyes filled with eagerness as she winked. "It's fun."

The Uchiha looked to the pebbles she held within her hand, and then glanced briefly out at the water as he considered the little Shinobi's proposal. It would certainly be impulsive of him to entertain such an activity. However…as a particular image of his past entered his mind, one of he and Shisui performing the same act, he returned his attention to Sakura and nodded before holding out a hand.

"Why not?"

A smirk crossed the girl's face in response before she proceeded to place the stones in his hand. "There are probably a few reasons, but I'm glad you chose to have fun instead."

Itachi merely nodded and returned the smirk before turning and staring out over the bay. He grasped one of the pebbles, held it still a moment, and then lifted his hand in preparation.

'You may be good at some things, but I've always been better at tossing stones,' Shisui proclaimed proudly, a satisfied expression in place.

The Uchiha's smirk widened then before he instantly released the object and watched as it skipped smoothly across the glassy surface of the water. He shook his head and then lifted his eyes briefly to the sky. He could just picture his friend's words of protest in reaction to the flawless display of precise stone-tossing.

He looked to Sakura then and tilted his head slightly, his smirk transitioning into a soft smile. Leaving Yokusei was not so bad, as the best part of his time spent in the land was going to accompany him into the next one. The girl reached up and gave him a pat on his shoulder before asking, "Wasn't that fun?"

He nodded, "Aa, it was."

"Good," she grinned.

There was a brief silence before Bogford suddenly stepped away from the boat and approached the pair, "everything is set. Set and ready."

Itachi looked to the man and nodded, "thank you, Bogford-san." He then turned to look back at the small gathering behind him, namely: Gregor, Tinderwood, Fu Blood, and Snake-skin.

He observed each one of them and simultaneously understood that they would each hold an engraved place in his memory. He acknowledged the fact that he would most likely never see any of them again and was entirely prepared to accept that truth.

Fu Blood was the first to step forward, his demeanor composed but his eyes every now and again darting to the Uchiha's hair. When he stopped, he merely regarded the pair in silence before looking to his left.

"Oh stop it, Manister," he stated with a shake of his head. "You're always so sentimental."

Itachi raised an amused brow before extending a hand to the man and nodding, "so long."

A slight glistening suddenly shone in the man's eyes then before he shoved them aside and took the offered hand, shaking it vigorously. "When you come back through my village, Manister sincerely hopes that you will stop by. I don't typically oblige him, but…I'll make an exception in this case."

"And I appreciate that," Itachi again nodded. "Tell Manister…that I look forward to seeing him again."

"I will," the man grinned, before abruptly releasing the Uchiha's hand and turning away, marching up the hill without so much as a glance back at the pair behind.

"So rude," Itachi suddenly heard a familiar voice state from beside him. Glancing down, he saw Sakura with her arms crossed and her head turned in the opposite direction.

'She's always so easily aggravated,' He mused with a small smile before returning his focus to the three remaining individuals.

Tinderwood cast Itachi a wide grin and an enthusiastic wave, "I will eagerly await your return, oh sovereign one!"

The Uchiha merely nodded and returned the wave before looking to Snake-skin, who was absently holding his axe out and rotating it in several different directions. He sighed before stepping towards the man and, when the latter looked to him, he tilted his head slightly before lifting three fingers and permitting a small smirk. Snake-skin instantly smirked in return before shaking his head and lifting his own hand to form a 'zero'.

They were out of time.

Itachi's smirk faltered slightly and he nodded before lowering his fingers to form the same number. Snake-skin was entirely correct, and seemed to be one of the few who understood that this was, indeed, farewell. The man then returned his attention to his weapon, eyes decidedly focused on anything but the Uchiha before him.

Reasoning that any further lingering would only make matters worse, Itachi inhaled slightly before looking to an already sobbing Gregor, though the man seemed to be desperately trying to hide that fact. He extended a hand towards him, but Gregor only shook his head before pulling him into a tight hug.

Stiffening slightly, Itachi looked down at the tear-stricken individual before smiling slightly and patting him on the shoulder, though the act was admittedly a tad bit…awkward. When he felt the man release him, the Uchiha looked back at the little Shinobi by the shore.

"Sakura," he began softly. "Come and say good bye to Gregor."

The man's breath audibly hitched at hearing these words, but Itachi merely allowed his focus to remain on the girl until she complied. Her eyes lowered briefly and then returned to him, where she held them a moment before they shifted to Gregor.

Sakura smiled before walking over and proceeding to pull the man into an embrace. "Good bye, Gregor."

Itachi smiled as he looked down at her; witnessing a farewell from an onlooker's perspective was somehow a little more difficult than actually experiencing it himself.

"Good bye, miss Sakura," Gregor replied, holding her tight. "I'll miss both of you a great deal."

The girl tightened her embrace before nodding and then pulling away to give him a kiss on the cheek. "We'll miss you, too."

When Gregor briefly sent a glance his way, Itachi nodded to confirm the Shinobi's statement. The former then sighed before obviously portraying his reluctance and releasing the girl. He held her at arm's length another moment, before stepping back.

He looked between the pair, "good luck to both of you, and in returning home. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me."

"We appreciate everything you've done for us," Itachi stated.

Gregor only smiled, and it was evident that he could not say anything more.

"Hell yeah," Sakura suddenly stated in consensus with what the Uchiha had said.

Another moment passed before Itachi slowly turned and approached Bogford. 'So long, Gregor,' he thought as he glanced back to see if Sakura was following. The fish-beater promptly headed towards his boat before lifting the oar and settling himself at the stern. After confirming that the girl was heading his way, The Uchiha paused on the shore and patiently waited for her to seat herself first.

"Come on, snail," she ordered with a smile as she reached him and grabbed his hand.

"Aa," he replied with an answering smile before allowing her to lead him onto the boat.

As they each sat in turn, Bogford lowered the oar into the water and began to steadily row them away from the shore. Itachi attempted to withhold his gaze from the shore but could not help but allow it to briefly drift towards the small group a final time. He again smiled, though it contained a hint of regret. Parting, no matter how inconsequential, was always an unwelcome occurrence. However, it was also an inescapable part of life.

He breathed in slowly before removing his gaze and willing himself against allowing it to wander again. Looking instead across the passing scenery and expanse of water, he permitted his mind to rest within the continuous wonder the land granted him. As spectacular as it was though, it still did not compare to Konoha. Thinking then of his home, he pictured the tree in the yard, the way the porch would always creak as he walked across it, the taste of his mother's cooking and the scent of the early morning air.

It had all been completely wonderful and he would never wish any of it altered. The simplicity, but strong will that Konoha was known for, complimented his own outlook and perception of the world. The 'will of fire' was what the third Hokage had referred to it as, and accurately so. The way the entire place was united, in fact, was considerably different than any of the other hidden villages. True, some of the citizens could often prove themselves to be close-minded and biased, but the Shinobi of Konoha were always protective of their own.

There was nothing about that place he did not miss.

A gradual thought then entered his contemplations as his eyes lowered to Sakura, who was staring down at the water and allowing her hand to rest over it. Would he…if he decided on another path and permitted himself to stay beside the little Shinobi, get to return to Konoha?

But, what of Sasuke?

His gaze fell to where his hand still rested within Sakura's and he fought to keep his smile in place. No matter what he determined in regard to his own happiness, he could not seem to discard that image of his younger brother on the night he had lost everything. He deserved to have at least a semblance of the contentment he had once known restored to him.

The scarlet ribbon on the girl's wrist caught his eye however, and he was reminded of the resolve he had determined the previous evening. His eyes lifted further and he saw that Sakura had turned to look over at him, a somewhat concerned expression on her face. It was a considerably…difficult situation. He no longer unquestionably knew what course of action he should take. He had been working towards a single goal ever since leaving his home and he had never before wavered upon that path.

"Itachi…" she called out to him softly. "Are you alright?"

He slightly tightened his hold over her hand and firmly held his eyes within hers before slowly nodding. Nothing had changed as far as his wanting to save Sasuke from the darkness he had fallen into. However, he could still at least consider another way of reaching the same outcome. It seemed…improbable but he was willing to try and at least try to figure out a plan that would permit him to remain with Sakura.

"Aa," he offered her a smile.

"I don't completely believe that," she raised a brow.

He sighed softly before shaking his head, "I was merely thinking."

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bogford smile slightly in response, though he continued to keep his attention averted. It seemed that neither he, nor the girl, entirely regarded his response as the truth.

Sakura's eyes narrowed before she lowered it to the water. She held it in place for a few moments before returning her gaze to his and nodding with a small smile. "Alright, if you say so."

One of the aspects the Uchiha appreciated most about the little Shinobi was the fact that she never pressured or persisted that he reveal the certain thoughts or contemplations he was not yet ready to disclose. Someday perhaps, he would be offered an opportunity to let her know how grateful he was to her for that.

He surmised that he might, at the very least, he might need to explain everything to her. It would mean denying the unspoken oath of Konoha's ANBU to reveal top-secret information, but in a way, she had earned the right to know. And, as already previously determined, he wanted at least Sakura to know the truth about his past.

"Hey, Snail, I have a question for you."

His eyes widened slightly as he reasoned that her question would undoubtedly fall into one of two categories. One, that this was one of those moments in which she inadvertently seemed to perceive exactly what he was thinking. Or two, that she would merely ask a random, completely uncalled for inquiry that would serve to amuse him greatly.

"…what is it, Sakura?"

The girl shrugged before lowering her arm into the bay, "I'm just curious if you like water."

Perhaps the particular question was not as completely random as a great many of the others she had voiced, but it had still been rather…off-topic. She was attempting to change the subject and he determined then to entirely accommodate her initiative.

"Aa, I do," he nodded as he looked out over the gulf. "It is a very pleasant element."

"Steady, filled with my precious creatures, the most effective means of travel, refreshing, mysterious, the best vision at any of the day's times, and a necessary means of hydration," the fish-beater nodded, though his eyes remained locked on the same location it had been since they left.

"I could not have said it better myself," Itachi agreed with a widening smile.

"Well, it's good that you like it," Sakura stated with a nod.

"Like it?" Bogford appeared to consider this as he tilted his head. "Like it, eh? That is certainly a curious aspect. An aspect that instills curiosity."

The Uchiha withheld a chuckle in response to what the man had said and instead resumed his previous occupation of simply looking out over the water. Time moved slowly as they progressed along in the fish-beater's boat, but it was a rather peaceful venture all the same. It afforded him the opportunity to clear his head and allow it to reside within a state of tranquility.

Rising to its peak, the sun shone brightly overhead and caused the bay below to glisten even more remarkably. This was followed with its gradual setting, and the deeper colors of dusk painted everything surrounding within a similar glow. The site of a familiar forest came into view a short time later, as the first signs of nightfall ensued. The Uchiha recalled the day in which he had first woken up beside the little Shinobi and the first conversation they had endeavored.

'Well, great prodigy, this receiver thinks it's very irritating and it only makes me dislike you even more.'

That had been, without a doubt, one of the most amusing things he had ever heard. He smiled widely in response to the memory. Glancing over at Sakura, he furrowed his brows slightly and then looked to the fish-beater before resting his gaze once more on the former. They were just….glaring at one another.

He raised a brow before addressing Sakura, "Are you currently engaged in a staring contest, by chance?"

"Hell no!" she immediately responded as she looked to him. "I wouldn't be so mad if it was just a staring contest."

Itachi blinked, before tilting his head slightly and looking to the fish-beater, who had turned his head to look out over the water once more. "Bogford-san," he began, hiding his tone of amusement. "Have you been provoking Sakura?"

He did not offer a response, but the little Shinobi was hasty to offer an explanation of her own.

"Hell yeah!" she shouted. "He sure did! Yep!"

"Row, row, row along," Bogford began to sing in an easy tone, as if he had not heard anything at all. "Along the ever-drifting rivers and changing tides; the tides that guide us to our destiny and bring us face-to-face with the thing we all must face. Row, row, row along."

"You fish bastard!" Sakura hollered angrily. "You totally started it and now you're lying!"

"Lying she says," Bogford proclaimed as he shook his head. "How can one lie without having said anything at all? Does she understand what it means to be a liar? I think not. Certainly not."

Itachi had simply relented to witness the exchange between the pair as it proved to be an immense form of entertainment. He could honestly say that he had no idea as to the outcome of the interesting discussion.

"I know what it means. I'm not dumb!" she continued, progressively growing more hostile. "You're lying because you're not telling the truth. You're just pretending you didn't do anything."

"Pretending now, is it?" he stated to himself. "Did I ever say such a thing? Do such a thing? Think such a thing? I think not. Certainly not."

Sakura was openly stooping to the level of a verifiably insane individual. The Uchiha shook his head before solely regarding her with a fond gleam in his eyes. 'Then again, it is quite possible that she is every bit as crazy as he is.'

"You just lied! Just now," the girl continued. "You're totally pretending and you lied about it."

The fish-beater was silent then, apparently resolute against offering her a further response. Itachi smiled and then determined it to be an appropriate time to intervene.

"Fish bastard, eh?" he asked with slight smirk. "I certainly miss the times when that was all you would address me as."

"Keep it up and I'll go back to calling you that," she responded with a glare.

Itachi tilted his head, "is that meant to be a threat?" He lifted his free hand and proceeded to tap her forehead. "Because I do believe that I just stated how partial I am to that particular term of endearment."

Sakura's face instantly reddened before she abruptly looked away, prompting him to lower his hand. "It wasn't meant as a compliment. It was supposed to be insulting."

"Was it?" The Uchiha asked then. "All this time, I've never realized that. I suppose that can be simply attributed to the fact that no one has ever really addressed me that way on a regular basis."

"Well, that was your mistake," the Shinobi stated before hastily adding, "bastard."

"Hm…somehow, I still enjoy the sound of that."

Bogford started to openly laugh at this latest statement and Itachi looked to him before finding that he could no longer withhold the urge to chuckle as well. Sometimes, the man just proved himself to be so much more aware than he led others to believe.

"You bastards are totally making fun of me."

The Uchiha returned his gaze to Sakura, though he still held his smile in place. He began to consider what the most appropriate response would be in the hope that she would not be further provoked. Inspiration came and he had to ignore the slight discomfort it instilled in apprehension of actually voicing it aloud.

"You're always…so very amusing, Sakura."

'And I think it's what I love most about you,' he thought as he continued to smile down at her.

"Is that supposed to be an insult?" she asked.

He shook his head before answering in complete sincerity. "No, it most certainly isn't."

The Uchiha watched as a smile formed across her face then before she leaned forward and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "It seems I can never stay mad at you, Itachi."

She pulled away and his posture relaxed before his smile widened and he winked. "That's a good thing."

"And I've suddenly noticed something," the fish-beater announced then.

The Uchiha quickly looked to Bogford, his eyes slightly widening as he wondered what the man was about to say. He certainly did not underestimate his ability to perceive other people's actions.

"…what is it you've noticed?"

The fish beater smiled slyly, his eyes crinkling as he did so. "It is something…interesting. Definitely interesting. Care to venture a guess?"

When Itachi remained silent, the man instead looked to Sakura. "How about you? Care to guess the interesting thing I have noticed? You'll want to know what it is. Need a hint? Alright, I'll give you a hint. It has been right in front of you for quite some time and yet you don't seem to see it."

The Uchiha felt a curious plummeting feeling within his chest that he had never before been acquainted with. He felt...dread and…anxiety. What was Bogford going to say? He had a suspicion and yet he could not imagine why the man would suddenly decide to reveal such a thing to Sakura.

If worst came to worst, he supposed he could always just…throw Bogford overboard or something of equivalent effect. Anything at all to keep him from revealing the fact that was not meant to be revealed. He could also…threaten the man. However, this might only inspire the girl to question why it mattered so much that it remain secret.

"Are you serious?" Sakura asked the man and Itachi looked to her. "You noticed it, too?"

The Uchiha blinked. Had she…already figured it out? Had she known…all this time? How long ago had she seen through him? He had never known her to hide such a monumental occurrence.

"What is your guess? I long to hear the guess. I certainly do." Bogford announced.

"Can I ask you one question first?" Sakura asked, holding up a single finger.

"Yes, yes. Ask away. Ask now."

Itachi resisted the urge to allow his eyes to widen further when Sakura suddenly cast him a smirk.

"It has something to do with Itachi, doesn't it?"

Bogford chuckled, "it has everything to do with him and also, everything to do with you."

"That's what I thought," the girl nodded.

"Now, now, no more stalling. Stalling must be gone. What is the guess?"

"Alright, sorry," Sakura apologized before clearing her throat. "Actually, I did notice. I'm not completely sure what you mean, but something is definitely different about Itachi. Not only the way he looks, but sometimes how he acts. Do you mean…it's my fault he's like that?"

Bogford said nothing, merely looked to the Uchiha with a pointed smile. She was close, Itachi knew, so very close in simply noticing those aspects he had inadvertently displayed. Was…the man really about to enlighten her?

The fish-beater looked to Sakura before setting the oar down in the boat and indicating the shore behind him. "Land. We have reached land. That is the answer. You can both reach the cold place from here."

Itachi sighed softly and felt an immense sensation of relief in response to what the man had just said. It was evident that he had merely intended to jest with him the entire time. However, that entire conversation had been laced with a double-meaning. Bogford knew. He knew of his feelings for the girl and had decided to have a bit of fun with that knowledge in the form of a clever riddle.

The Uchiha stood then and tightened his hold on Sakura's hand before gently prompting her to do the same.

Still, as frustrated as he had been during that situation, he could not help but acknowledge that Bogford had executed the entire ordeal in a considerably intricate fashion. It was…commendable, in a sense. He could hardly hold it against him as he, likewise, often found it within himself to find entertainment within similar scenarios with Sakura.

He guided the girl out of the boat and onto the shore, His eyes briefly scanning the forestry ahead before he looked back to see Bogford lifting the oar once more as he simply stared at the two of them in silence. Itachi lifted his hand and slowly waved. The fish-beater received this action with a nod and neither a smile nor a frown crossed his face. His demeanor was entirely passive and lacking in any true insight as to what he was actually thinking.

As the strange man then turned to row away, not even so much as looking back a final time or offering any parting words, Itachi smiled sadly and inhaled slightly. It was both easier and…more difficult to part with Bogford than it had been with any of the others. He was someone who had helped them a great deal during their trial and had never asked for anything in return. He had also been the very first person he had come across when entering Yokusei and likewise…the last.

'Good bye…my friend.'

Turning then, he looked to Sakura and saw that she had just put on her ivory cloak and was now readjusting her bag around her shoulders. He tilted his head slightly before looking to the forest. He supposed she was merely preparing herself for the chill of the other realm, despite the fact that they had yet to reach it.

"Ready?" he asked simply.

"I am now," she replied with a nod.

The Uchiha returned the nod before walking towards the enclosure of trees and nearly shaking his head at the nostalgia that entered his mind as soon as he stepped into the forest. It was almost….surreal. There was just something about the place that made it seem so entirely…separate from the surrounding land. It almost seemed as if it was in a completely separate dimension; a section of earth that stood entirely on its own, outside of time and reality.

But that wasn't possible, was it?

The leaves crinkles almost pleasantly beneath his steps and the wind wisped through the trees as the evening sky turned into that same, fixed shade of gray that it had been when they first arrived. It was not long until he stepped into the familiar clearing, his eyes simultaneously lifting to the overhang of trees above.

It had been some time since he had marveled at his clarity of vision, as it had become an aspect that he had grown accustomed to once more. He paused and looked to Sakura with a smile as they reached the center of the clearing. "We're half-way there. It won't be much longer," he lowered his eyes slightly. "Until we can return to where we came from."

"You're right," she responded after a brief interlude of silence. "We'll leave this place soon."

Itachi hesitated a moment before gently grasping her hand, "no matter what happens after we go back…I won't forget."

He wanted to say more, but both the need for discretion and his own discomfort compelled him to withhold anything other than what he had just announced.

"Neither will I."

A smile crossed her face before she stepped forward and embraced him, her arms held familiarly around his waist. He returned her action in the same he always did, lifting both arms about her shoulders. He smiled as well and contented within the silence that followed.

He knew that the girl somewhat dreaded their venture into Kanashimi and, in recollection of the way both she and Bogford had described the place, he reasoned that they were entirely justified in their wariness. Releasing her then and stepping back, he looked to the opposite path and sighed softly.

"Do you have an idea of where you want to start?" he began, glancing to her. "Once we arrive in Kanashimi."

"Well," she replied. "The first place I was at will be a good start."

He blinked before smirking slightly as he recalled something else she had said to him the first time they had been in the clearing. "Is it impossible for you to give me a straight answer?"

It seemed to take the girl a moment to catch on before she replied with what he had originally responded with, a smirk of her own forming. "Impossible? Hardly. I merely word things in such a way as to allow the receiver to interpret them in any way they choose."

"Well, little Shinobi, this receiver thinks it's very amusing and it only makes me li…" he trailed off then and looked away, eyes only widening once he was sure she could no longer see them. Impulsively caught up in the amusement of the exchange, he had nearly revealed the very thing he had been adamant to conceal only a short time earlier.

"What?" she predictably asked.

After taking another moment to collect himself, the Uchiha returned his attention to Sakura with a forced smile. "It is no matter," he shook his head before continuing towards the path. "We should go."

The girl followed and did not press the matter again. Never mind Bogford, at this rate, he was apt to disclose the confession himself, inadvertently at that. He really needed to work on his impulsiveness. Casting the ordeal aside for the time being however, he instead focused on the changing setting. Unlike his approach to Yokusei, the air was growing notably colder and the atmosphere…darker. The leaves were no longer a present factor as the path progressed and the trees were all but entirely bare.

In almost the next instant, the Uchiha began to see his breath forming in a visible cloud before him and a curious red-hue descended upon the shades and shadows of their surroundings. It was also then that he felt something considerably colder hit his skin and he saw the few stray particles of snow that were being blown from beyond the fringe ahead.

There was a strange feeling that began to settle through him then and its nature was somehow…indescribable. He supposed that it was almost as if he…knew the place, despite never having entered it before.

Stopping in front of the thin wall of branches that separated them from the land beyond, Itachi hesitated before slowly lifting his hand and sweeping them aside, taking a step forward and gazing out over the scene that was presented to him. Snow covered the ground; deep, unrelenting snow that continued to rain down from the sky in a torrent of white.

'The sky…'his eyes lifted and beheld the crimson expanse above him, the moon full and glowing in the same scarlet shade. The sight of it struck him instantly and he found himself incapable of looking away as his gaze widened.

'…Tsukuyomi,' he thought then, mesmerized by the perfect replication of the haunted world only he was capable of creating. Unlike what Yokusei presented him with, the place definitely seemed…off somehow. It unnerved him to a great extent, especially the fact that the morbid setting was so similar in likeness to the technique that even he was wary of.

The nature of the realm as a whole, both sides considered, was progressively becoming clearer to the Uchiha. There was more to it than simply another plane or rift in time. He and Sakura…were directly connected to the strange world. How such a thing had occurred was entirely beyond his present ability to understand. However, he was determined to remain devoted in his resolve to unravel the mysteries behind it.

Removing his gaze from the sky, he looked to Sakura, resolving to dwell on the new developments another time. "Which direction is it?"

"Well," she began. "When I first arrived I wasn't conscious, but Nobu told me there were markers that could safely lead us to the town. He said they started from the point you leave the trees and continue along a path."

"I see," Itachi's looked to the several inches of snow beneath them before shaking his head. "Whatever they were have most likely been buried already."

He recalled Bogford having mentioned something about the frost arriving earlier than usual in Kanashimi and surmised then that his earlier assessment might have been wrong. The people who lived in the realm were undoubtedly prepared for such a scenario, early arrival or not.

He scanned the area then for any sign of an indicator of sorts. After his second surveillance, a piece of cloth caught his eye. It was securely tied to one of the trees that stood on the edge of the open expanse they were standing in.

"Over here," he looked to her with a small smile before trudging through the snow towards the forest edge. The trees, despite having no leaves, were made up of several overlaying branches, which somewhat sheltered the make-shift path below from being completely covered by the snow.

"Good," the girl stated when she stopped beside him. "You found it."

"Aa," he nodded before starting across the path, the journey considerably easier as the snow was not nearly as deep.

They walked in silence for a while and Itachi slowly grew more used to the atmosphere of Kanashimi, though it still left him with a slightly unsettled feeling. Despite the disconcerting setting, it was actually…rather pleasant and…beautiful in a strange and different sort of way. The snow masked any sound and so an agreeable silence lingered, affording him with a reprieve from the activity of the previous realm.

The contrast of the white snow, scarlet sky and ebony silhouettes of the trees, were all incredibly striking when observed together. They were horrific and compelling at the exact same time.

"So…" Sakura abruptly broke the silence. "Have you ever been in a snowball fight before?"

Itachi looked over at her and a compulsory smile spread across his face as he recalled the many he had and Sasuke had been in against Shisui. "Aa, during almost every winter I spent in Konoha." He tilted his head then as he recalled one other event since leaving the village. "And once with…the Akatsuki."

The girl laughed in response to this, "that's hilarious, Snail."

"Aa," he softly chuckled. "I suppose it is."

However, that had been quite different from the average snowball fight. It had been, essentially, an all-out sparring match between the teams. He and Kisame had emerged victorious which, to this day, continued to leave him with a prominent feeling of satisfaction.

"I've been in a few with my daddy," she stated. "He always lets me win, though."

"I see," he glanced down at her. "Perhaps I will challenge you to one while we are here. However," he winked, "I may not be as easy going as your father."

"And I'm harder to beat than I look," the Shinobi punched her fist against her palm.

Itachi nodded, "I am well aware of that."

"Hell yeah!" she shouted. "It'd be crazy if you weren't, but anyway, regular snowball fights are different from training. They're so much easier."

The Uchiha raised a brow at that, "not the way I play."

"I doubt that, "she smirked. "In comparison to Tsunade-sama's training it's going to be easier, no matter who it is."

He shrugged, "the training for ANBU initiation is considerably difficult and strenuous as well."

"Well, we'll just have to test that when we have our match, "she proclaimed confidently.

"Aa, so we will," he nodded before looking towards the path once more. "In any case, what sort of people are your informants?"

"Hm…" she began. "Well, Nobu, the father is a very smart man. I think you'll get along with him really well. Koyori is really nice and she is a wonderful cook. She made some delicious cookies the first night I was there. And Yorito is just adorable. He's their son."

"Sounds pleasant," he smiled down at her. "I really look forward to meeting them. It seems as if you are all rather fond of one another."

It was certainly going to be an adjustment, having to deal with people who were not absent of their wits.

She nodded, "yeah. They're really close and Yorito mistook me for his sister while I was there."

"His sister, eh?" Itachi inquired. "Well, I suppose that must have been nice. How old is he?"

Sakura shook her head. "He's four, but…It was fun, but the situation was nice at all."

"Oh?"

He wondered if she was referring to the creatures of the land or possibly the suicide victims who were supposedly commonplace in Kanashimi.

"His sister," she explained. "Committed suicide few months ago."

"I see," the Uchiha replied, eyes lowering once more. He reasoned that it must have been considerably difficult for the family to cope with such a loss, most particularly for the son. It was true that children did not respond the same way to grief as most adults did.

"But they didn't tell him," she continued.

"Where does he think his sister is, then?" Itachi returned his attention to the girl.

The girl shrugged, "I don't know. They only told him she wasn't coming back, but he didn't believe them. I guess my appearance made it easier for him to still think that."

The Uchiha merely nodded before falling silent. It was always best not to reveal to children the entire truth of certain situations, as it would undoubtedly prove difficult for Yorito, if he knew, to overcome the confusion and dreadful realization that his sister had taken her own life.

A small amount of time passed in which neither broke the silence. All that could be heard was their breathing and the soft thudding of their steps as they drew nearer to where the trees began to thicken. When they rounded a bend, the girl announced that it wasn't much further. They had traveled about a mile or so since leaving the middle-ground between realms and the scenery had only changed slightly in that time. There were just no signs of…life.

However, as they continued further, Itachi noticed the sudden ashen scent that was carried by the wind towards him. It was a fragrance he was quite familiar with as it had greeted him on many an occasion. Something was burning, of that he was certain. He glanced about for any further signs to support his observation but did not immediately find anything.

Keeping his eyes open for further developments, the Uchiha slightly hastened his steps, a strange foreboding settling in as the trek continued. He could not readily explain why he had begun to feel so uneasy, but he nonetheless acknowledged the presence of the uncomfortable feeling.

As they rounded another bend, he saw it, clearly defined against the crimson backdrop of the sky. It was smoke, billowing ominously above the treetops as the golden embers rose along with it. Itachi's steps slowed and he looked to the scene ahead with great hesitance; it did not seem wise to venture forward.

"Itachi," Sakura suddenly called out to him anxiously. "That's the town. There's a fire in the town."

The girl had confirmed what he had suspecting, but he was inclined to believe, depending on the actual size of the town, that the fire was of a more devastating scale. However, it was also recent and there would probably be enough time to aid those involved.

"Sa-" he began before the little Shinobi suddenly broke into a run. The Uchiha sighed before hastening his own steps and running after her. His first inclination would normally be to hastily offer his help to those who needed it but, as he neared the burn sight, he could not seem to dispel the continued, creeping sensation of dread that was growing more prominent with each step that drew him closer.

His eyes fell to Sakura, and that dread deepened. Something was not right and he was wary to discover what it was or how it might affect the girl before him. He only hoped that, for the first time, his instincts would be proven wrong.