Sorry this is a few hours late and a little shorter than usual. Too much going on this week. I considered skipping this week's chapter, but a short chapter is better than nothing and I'm afraid if I start skipping I'll make a habit of it. I'm a procrastinator at heart, really.

Thanks for all the reviews! They're great.

Disclaimer: Naruto is owned by Kishimoto

Chapter 42 – The Way Back

A cold wind had started up as the small group made their way slowly south though Water country. The ox pulling the small wagon down the muddy road was in no hurry to get anywhere and it would have been pointless to try to convince him otherwise. To him, time was nothing more than whatever was happing right now.

The humans he travelled with, however, were tense and impatient. Somewhere up ahead, on their current path, an enemy lay in wait. An enemy that had already wiped out three villages along the same road.

Walking behind the wagon, Itachi could see Sheeta reading a story to the twins and Nagi. Nui was walking up front with Sasuke. As a medic-nin she had combat training and had gone on several missions, but was usually required to stand back and stay out of the way when the fighting started. Today, that order was put to the side. She would be fighting if – or rather, when – they were attacked.

Tama, oddly enough, had decided that riding on the broad back of the ox was more desirable than the wagon. But then again, having three toddlers petting your fur backwards, pulling your tail and poking your ears had probably driven him to escape to the one place they were sure not to follow. Somehow, the lazy cat managed to fall asleep anyway.

"So…" Sasuke had dropped back to speak with his brother, "Three days to the port, then we catch a ship the northwest port we arrived at, catch another ship to Fire country and then walk back to Konoha."

"That's about the gist of it." Itachi silently agreed that it was a rather long journey. Especially when you really wanted nothing more than to sleep in your own bed and eat at your own table. It didn't help any, either, that Water country had never heard of the concept of "straight lines" and every road seemed to be competing for the "most curves" award. That was why a journey that should have taken a day-and-a-half was, in reality, stretched to three. It was really quite an accomplishment for such a small country.

"There are such things as trains you know." Sasuke added with a sour face.

"Your point being?"

"Oh… nothing… except that I haven't a clue why there is no train service from the Fire country port to the interior. We have a line going south, but not west. Why is that?"

Itachi took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Tell ya what, little brother, when all this nonsense is over and we're living in Konoha happily ever after I'll give you some money out of the Uchiha clan account to invest in your railroad. How's that?"

Sasuke gave him a dirty look, "Too little, too late. I might take you up on that though."

"It would be a nice wedding present for your bride." Itachi tried to tease his brother, but Sasuke took him seriously.

"Yeah… it would… she could go home to visit easier. And I could build a railroad here in Water country too!" He trotted off to rejoin Nui, leaving Itachi to wonder whether his brother had an aversion to travelling, or was just impatient. He finally decided it probably both. On the other hand, he himself enjoyed being on the road. No clan, no Konoha, no one looking over his shoulder every half hour to see what he was doing. With just a mission to think about and Kisame at his side, it was easy to relax.

"Wanna go out!" The high pitched screech of a little girl's voice broke his concentration, causing him to cringe, however that turned to laughter when he saw Nui pretending to pull her hair out in frustration.

Wails soon followed the screeching when Sheeta refused her niece's request. "Nagi, you can play when we get to the hotel later."

Of course "later" to a two-year-old held little to no meaning and the child continued to cry until she fell asleep fifteen minutes later. The twins completely tuned it out and continued to play with their wooden horses, but Sheeta leaned back against the edge of the wagon and put her hands over her ears and closed her eyes. Nagi wasn't the type of kid who liked to be cuddled when she cried. Instead, she had a habit of kicking and hitting if you even attempted to negate her right to break everyone's eardrums.

"Some kids are like that. Just let her get it out of her system and she'll fall asleep soon enough. She should grow out of it in about forty or fifty years." Nui had told everyone when the trip started two weeks earlier. It was certainly a very different philosophy than the one Itachi was raised with.

The twins were now sitting at the back of the wagon looking longingly down at the ground. It was too dangerous to get out of the wagon. If an ambush came they could be separated and possibly killed.

However, Itachi couldn't help but think of his own trip, twelve years earlier to the Uchiha hideout. He had also been four-years-old and stuck in a wagon most of the day. However, he and Shisui were allowed to get out occasionally and run around. That trip was one of the few happy memories he had of his childhood. And it was also the first time he met Rumiko. The talkative, happy teenager who had befriended the two young boys, playing with them, giving them snacks, and being cheerful.

"She would have made a great mother." Itachi whispered.

"Who?" Nui was now walking next to him, having looked in momentarily to make sure her daughter was asleep.

"Rumiko. I was just… thinking of the first time I met her. I was their age." He nodded at the boys who were beginning to look rather sleepy and were now resting their heads on the edge of the wagon.

"She would have. She did wonders for Aya and Sheeta as their sensei. But that's all gone now."

"So… you are going to be their sensei?" Itachi nodded once again towards the twins.

"I have to talk to their grandparents first, but Madara's suggestion to supervise their developing ninjutsu skills is definitely worth taking seriously. It would only be for thirty minutes a day. Just until they start school. But… I could never forgive myself if anything happened to either one of them. No matter who was responsible."

"Yeah, me too." Itachi sighed.

The three burned out villages weren't as decimated as Madara had implied. While thousands had certainly died, there were survivors and they were rebuilding. It was both sorrowful and uplifting. On the other hand, they were also very suspicious of strangers and not pleased in the slightest when the small group passed through. But while there were a few rude comments and the occasional empty threat, nothing impeded their progress and as their second day of travel began to come to a close and they started to discuss which of the two upcoming towns to stop in for the night all hell broke loose.

The sun had come out and while it wasn't warm, it was still welcomed. The morning fog was gone by noon and big puffy white clouds drifted lazily across the sky. The pinks and purples that painted the sky as the sun began its descent over the horizon was very beautiful and, as luck would have it, the group was crossing a large pasture and decided to watch. The wagon was situated so the kids could see from inside, but they were less than impressed with the brilliant spectacle and gave up after a couple minutes, deciding that their toys were much more important than "grown-up stuff", as they put it.

As the pinks began to fade into purple and dark blue and the first stars appeared Itachi suddenly tensed up and squeezed Sheeta's hand. "Get in the wagon."

The demanding tone of his voice shocked her and she subconsciously pulled her hand out of his and stepped back before running to the wagon. Quickly, she pulled down the flaps and tied them shut. The children were understandably upset at the turn of events, but Sheeta quieted them down by using a jutsu to put them to sleep. The three dropped off quickly, their quiet breaths and slowly rising chests the only indication that they were still alive.

Clenching her teeth in frustration as she listened to Itachi giving Nui and Sasuke orders she crawled over to the long box the driver would sit on and used another jutsu to open it. The side facing in towards the wagon was hinged at the top and she pulled it up, using a stick to hold it up. The inside was about five feet long, three feet wide. Not very big, but good enough for their purposes.

The three children were quickly moved to the hidden compartment. The twins were laid end to end and Nagi… Sheeta closed her eyes and groaned with anger as she laid next to the twins and placed her sleeping niece on top of her. Hiding was not what she wanted to do. She was a ninja and should be fighting, but Itachi and Nui would have none of that.

Closing the door, Sheeta used a jutsu to lock it in place. If they lost this battle, only the most advanced ninjas would be able to detect their presence. They were safe. And if the worst happened, and Sheeta died, the three children would remain asleep until they died as well. It wasn't a happy thought and she stroked Nagi's hair subconsciously as she used her Sharingan to verify that the ventilation holes were free of obstruction. It wouldn't do if they suffocated, after all.

While Sheeta was getting herself and the kids situated, Itachi was scanning the horizon as he spoke to his brother and Nui. "There are twenty-four shinobi making their here. Twelve coming up in front and twelve behind. The road is narrow, but we also have the field to spread out to. They'll be here in a couple minutes."

Sasuke and Nui nodded their understanding and all three spread out. Nui and Sasuke took the front of the wagon and Itachi the back. As the sun disappeared over the horizon the enemy showed themselves. Fully armed and out for blood.

"What are you doing here? If you want to stay alive, then leave." Itachi yelled out a challenge.

"We're here to kill you." A woman dressed in what appeared to be a shirt comprised entirely of fishnet with a dark purple sports bra, and tight shorts with high-heeled boots.

'Why do women dress like that – it's so impractical.' Itachi wondered to himself. Of course, he completely ignored the fact that all of the other women were dressed in long-sleeved shirts and pants, and that about half the men were bare-chested in the chilly winter air.

Shaking his head, Itachi pressed on, "Your Daimyou is dead. You don't have to follow his orders anymore."

The enemy shinobi laughed, then a tall man, build suspiciously like Kisame but without the blue skin spoke up, "What makes you think we're following his orders?"

"Oh great." Nui mumbled behind him. Itachi glanced back and sighed. Danzou had his arms shoulder deep in this mess. He had, for all intents and purposes, completely taken over governance of Fire and Water countries. Which probably meant he was involved, somehow, in the affairs of the other countries as well. That was definitely worth checking into when he got back.

But right now, there was a battle to win.

"So be it." Itachi lifted his hands and cast a Genjutsu. It caught about a quarter of the twelve in front of him in an imagined graveyard swamp full of ghosts, zombies, and ravens picking off their flesh. It was his favorite – having won him his Chuunin status many years earlier.

The rest formed a circle around him and ignored the pitiful cries of terror emanating from their comrades. Itachi's Sharingan was blazing red as the attacks began. He copied their jutsus instantly, matching their jutsus move for move. They were no match for him, however, and he quickly dropped them, one by one.

Turning around, Itachi jumped over to where Sasuke and Nui were dealing with their group. It was hard, but he successfully resisted the urge to help. Instead, he closely watched his brother's fighting style and made mental notes about what needed to be improved. Nui, on the other hand, was using medical ninjutsu to take down her group. It was a technique that was frowned upon, but it worked very well for her and was quick.

In the end, all twenty-four shinobi lay on the ground, unconscious or so severely chakra depleted that they couldn't fight anymore. They watched the three Uchihas warily, wondering why they were still alive. Finally, Itachi faced them and spoke in a loud, clear voice.

"Time is passing quickly and you are numbers, Danzou the hour hand, and the Uchiha the minute hand. Danzou passes over your number twice a day, but the Uchiha… we pass over your number once and hour. Therefore, pissing us off is infinitely worse than pissing off Danzou. Now, if I leave you alive, what will happen?"

"What will happen?" The woman who had spoken up earlier spat the words out with the same expression as one who had just eaten the foulest of meals. "Danzou comes after us! We die anyway! What did you think would happen? And what's with that stupid analogy?"

Itachi was slightly insulted. He had thought the analogy was pretty good. "You should return to the capital and support your new Daimyou and protect your country from Danzou's influence."

"New Daimyou?" Someone else, another woman, asked sarcastically. "And who is that supposed to be?"

"Lord Mitzukage has selected her and will be handling things for the near future."

A man, laying on the ground and clutching a broken arm gasped, "That Kekkei Genkai loving asshole? Why would I work for him again? Did you hear what he did yesterday? He revealed that his village has a branch of the Uchiha clan!"

"Wow he really did it." Sasuke voice was full of awe, "I thought he was just telling stories to get us to like him, or something."

"Yeah, really." Itachi agreed. While Madara rarely went back on his word, such a revelation seemed too good to be true. He wondered, though, what the repercussions would be when Konoha found out. Would they react favorably or be upset at the deception? He found he couldn't even guess.

"I might actually start liking the guy." Nui stated with amusement. Of course, Itachi knew that the women's only gripe with Madara was that he was keeping her little sister from returning the Konoha. But that was enough to cause a small division between the two.

"The farmers are coming." Sasuke said quietly, "Should we high-tail it before they yell at us for messing up their road and pasture?"

Itachi looked over his shoulder and saw about fifteen men, armed with scythes, pitchforks and torches making their way across the field. He gave a short laugh, "It looks like one of those horror movies where the villagers go after the monster."

"And we're the monster." Nui also laughed, "I also vote we get out here."

"Right. Let's go!" Itachi slapped the ox on the rump and the cart jerked forward once before the wheels began rolling. He realized that Tama had been sitting on the back of the big animal the entire time, watching everything. He locked eye with the cat and mumbled, "Lazy animal. The least you could have done was earn your keep a little by helping."

Tama blinked his eyes once, very slowly. If it was possible, Itachi was sure the cat was laughing at him.

They were able to catch a ferry north to the port town although before leaving the captain had warned the passengers that pirates were seen nearby a few days earlier. The children were happy to be able to run about again although Tama was imprisoned in a kennel for the duration of the trip as the ferry didn't allow animals to be loose. The ox and cart were dropped off with an agent of Madara's before they departed, as they belonged to him.

Once the ferry was under way Sasuke, who was sharing a room with Itachi (Sheeta and Nui were rooming together with the kids), started to get anxious. He looked like he had something on his mind and had even gotten up and started pacing. Quite a feat in a room that was only ten square feet with a set of bunk beds attached to one wall and a table with two chairs taking up the rest of the space.

"Sasuke, sit down. That's annoying. Or got up on deck." Itachi was laying on the bottom bunk and reading a travel brochure he had grabbed from ticket booth.

"I wonder where Tama is?" The boy finally said after he plopped down on the stiff wooden chair.

"In a kennel. You put him there, remember?"

"Yeah, but I didn't expect him to stay."

"He knows a good thing when he sees it. The cushion in that steel box is probably more comfortable than these mattresses anyway. You can go see him if you miss him that much." Itachi had a feeling Tama wasn't what was bothering his brother and he looked carefully at the boy, wondering if he should pry. Feelings weren't something he really liked to talk about.

"The girls… they said sometimes people with Mangekyou Sharingan hear voices." Sasuke's voice was so quiet Itachi had trouble hearing him.

"Your girl friends back in Mist?" Itachi teased. This was also something he didn't really want to talk about.

"Um… yeah… But…"

"Just say it, Sasuke." He put down the brochure and sat up.

"I heard him." Itachi wasn't sure he heard his brother, his voice was nothing more than a small whisper.

"You…"

His voice got a little louder, "He's not an Uchiha though and they said the link could only be made with an Uchiha. Madara said…"

Itachi was instantly alert, "Madara said the boy's mother had a child out of wedlock and came to Mist when her family exiled her. Of course! Why would she choose Mist instead of a civilian village? The father had to have been an Uchiha. Probably already dead by the sounds of it. It's so bloody obvious it's pathetic." He took a deep breath and let it out. "So you heard his voice."

"Yeah…"

"Well?"

"He said he doesn't know where he is and wants me to help him go back home. I told him what the girls said, that it was just his chakra and not his soul that's trapped. He doesn't believe me."

"It is rather absurd at that." Itachi had to agree with the boy. If he wasn't experiencing it himself he would never have believed it either.

"I know. But he was so scared. And I heard you can talk to Shisui so I was wondering…"

"If Shisui can help? The next time he can connect with me I'll ask. I don't really know how all this works though. Disembodied chakra isn't something I've studied much about. But, don't go around telling people what you're experiencing though."

"I wasn't planning on it. The last thing I need is to be locked up in a padded cell because I hear voices in my head."

That made Itachi laugh and he dropped back down onto the bed, noticing that the ferry was rocking a little more than it had been when they had left the small village port, indicating they were now in the ocean. Closing his eyes, he soon drifted off to sleep, and pretty much slept the entire trip as the soldier pills he had been living on since his mission a few days earlier worked their way out of his system.

No pirates attacked and they arrived at the port and immediately booked passage on a ship to Fire country. Luckily, there was one leaving in a few hours, so by dinner time they were sitting in the dining room of a medium-sized cargo steamer heading across the ocean. The twins were excited about their panda-shaped rice balls and Nagi had somehow managed to fall asleep in her chair after eating only a few bites of her own panda rice ball.

Itachi realized Fugaku was probably in fire country now, making his way toward Konoha. By now, word of the Daimyou's death and the Uchiha in Mist would have reached the village. For the first time he was glad he had left a few days late. However, it did put one chink his plans.

Originally, Sasuke was supposed to pick a fight with the elder council and Fugaku during the meeting on the first night back. That was no longer possible. He would have to see to it that a council meeting was held their first night back. Of course he did have good reason to call one. His suspicions about the Daimyous of the three remaining big five countries would be best investigated by the Uchiha clan, although he suspected Pein was already moving along that route. Well, the subject was unimportant. Just so long as their was a meeting.

The second problem lay in the methods their father would use to retrieve his wayward son. Unlike the elder Uchiha's original plan where Sasuke would willingly go with Orochimaru to collect information, Itachi's modified plan had Sasuke running away and breaking connections with Konoha to help Orochimaru. In all likelihood Fugaku would not sit back and let that scenario play out. He would send shinobi after Sasuke and bring him back.

Itachi couldn't let that happen.

There were two ways he could stop the pursuers. Let them in on the ruse and ask them to pretend to look and go back empty handed, or confront them and fight them off. Neither was a good idea as not everyone would be that willing to let Itachi's plan play out. Toshiro certainly wouldn't allow it and he was one of the clan's best trackers. If Fugaku sent him, Sasuke wouldn't stand a chance. He cared too much about the boy to let him do anything that dangerous.

Tama wandered over to the table and meowed a request for table scraps. Without even thinking, Sasuke dropped a piece of pork to the floor.

"Did you see Tama come in here?" Itachi glanced at the closed doors – one set let to the hall and the other to kitchen.

"Nah, he teleports!" Arata gave him a toothy grin before stuffing more rice in his mouth.

'That's how Sasuke can get away.' Itachi thought to himself. The cat, who was really a ninja familiar, could easily transport Sasuke. However, he would have to make a contract with the animal first. Noticing his brother's empty plate he glanced back at the front door and stood up.

"Let's go out on deck for a while, Sasuke, while the girls finish with the kids." He paused, "And bring Tama."

Sasuke scooped the big cat into his arms as he stood up, "You aren't going to throw him over the rail, are you?"

"What?" That was a surprise.

"I've seen the way you look at him sometimes, is all."

"I… he…" The thought was very tempting.

"Well?"

"No, I promise I won't hurt him."

Itachi wasn't sure his brother believed him, but he did follow him onto the deck and listened without interruption as he explained the modified plan. It was quiet for a few minutes as both brothers digested the information. Or as quiet as it could get on the deck of ship in the middle of an ocean churning with waves and wind.

"I don't know how to make a contract with Tama." Sasuke finally broke the silence.

"Tama, you need to take the initiative." Itachi addressed the orange cat who promptly jumped to the ground and scratched his paws on the ground, as if trying to dig something up. After a few second he stopped, sat back on his haunches and lifted his paws, putting them together, as if clapping.

"Sign you name on the scroll using your own blood." The cat had a dry, scratchy voice, somehow reminiscent of Sasori's, yet also very distinct.

"Oh my god he talks!" Sasuke backed away surprised.

"Of course he talks." Itachi muttered, then louder, "Sign the scroll. Then work out an escape plan with him."

Sasuke blushed slightly, "Sorry, I should have expected it. Dad's cat summons talk after all." He bit his finger as the scroll unrolled. As he signed, Itachi made a note of the other ninjas who had previously signed the scroll. All of whom he recognized and one of whom he had killed many years earlier. Was that why the cat loved to torment him? Well, that man wasn't exactly a pillar of society so he kind of doubted the cat held much of bond with him at the time.

The cat spoke again once the scroll was signed and transported back to its inter-dimensional bookcase. "You are now my servant, so do as your told and this relationship will work out."

Sasuke's face scrunched in thought, "Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?"

"Have fun, you two. I'm going to see how the others are doing." He snickered as he left the boy and cat alone. For some reason, it didn't surprise him that the arrogant cat would push his way to the top. Well, he seemed to like Sasuke so he had to admit he did trust the animal after all. And his plan could only work if Tama helped.

"To be rid of Orochimaru and Danzou, after all this time." Itachi looked up at the dark sky. The stars were nowhere to be seen, but a bright patch revealed pieces of the moon. "It just doesn't seem real."

"What?" Sheeta was standing a few feet from him, tightly wrapped in a jacket with the hat pulled over her head.

"Nothing, just talking to myself. What are you doing out here?"

"The kids are back in the room so I came to find you."

"Why?"

Sheeta huffed with annoyance, "Do I need a reason?"

"Yeah… I mean no… Um…"

The girl moved closer and planted her lips directly over his. He immediately grabbed her shoulders and pulled her against him as he tilted his head to deepen the kiss. She was warm and for some reason he felt a strange calmness settle over him as she molder her body against his. It was where he was meant to be. Wherever Sheeta was.

"We're getting married next." Itachi finally commented.

"You haven't even proposed yet." Sheeta pretended to give him a dirty look.

"Oh. I still need to do that? I mean, we're already legally married anyway…" He had actually thought the whole thing was implied.

"Itachi Uchiha, you will get me an engagement ring and you will propose properly." Sheeta pulled away and put her hands on her hips, glaring menacingly at Itachi.

"What do I get out of it?" He knew what he wanted.

"Whatever you want." She knew what he wanted too.

"I think I'll like proposing." He pulled her closer for another kiss, but she pushed him away.

"Not until I get the ring, sweetie." She teased.

"Bribery. And its working." Itachi laughed as he grabbed Sheeta's hand and pulled her back to the interior deck. "Then I'll have to do some shopping when we get back."

Next week, there is a surprise waiting for them at the Fire country port. Will it affect Itachi's plans?

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