Thanks for the reviews! More are always welcome,

Have you seen this week's manga! OMG! I knew Danzou had a secret, but that's just… I guess "sick" would be a good word to use. Poor Itachi, its looking more and more like he was just a pawn of Danzou's to gain more power and not protect the village like he thought. And if Madara needs Sasuke's help to defeat him… just how powerful is Danzou? This is starting to get very interesting. It would be cool if Kakashi showed up to help, but that's probably asking too much.

Oh, and thanks to the person who suggested "Ghost Hunt". That's a great anime! Too bad they only did one season. Luckily Netflix had the whole thing.

Disclaimer: Naruto is owned by the guy who owns him.

Chapter 45 – An Unexpected Visitor

"No Itachi this morning?" Mikoto placed a small bowl of pickles in the middle of the table before sitting down across from Sheeta, who was trying desperately to keep from yawning.

"He's sleeping like a log. He didn't even stir when I got up."

"It'll be a couple days before he's completely recovered. Tsunade said all he needs now is rest." Mikoto leaned across the table until she was only a foot away from the girl's face and grinned conspiratorially, "So why are you so sleepy this morning?"

Sheeta blushed bright red, "It's not what you think! I just… kept waking up and it is six in the morning, you know."

"And what was I thinking?" Mikoto asked innocently, sitting back down and picking up her tea cup.

"Oh. Umm. Nevermind." That embarrassed her even more and she quickly started spooning rice into mouth to hide her discomfort. That made the older woman laugh.

"You're so cute when you get embarrassed! Don't worry about it so much. You're already pregnant; there isn't much you can hide after that."

'That may be true,' Sheeta thought to herself, 'but that doesn't mean we have to talk about it at the breakfast table. At least Fugaku isn't here.' Looking around she listened carefully and couldn't even hear anyone else moving around.

Mikoto picked up on what she was doing and answered before she could ask, "Fugaku was called to his office a couple hours ago. Some sort of emergency. I don't know what it was, though." She changed the subject, "So where are you off to so early?"

"My study group decided to meet early from now on because Yuka, one of the girls in the group, had her work hour's change and that's the only time she can come."

"Are you feeling any morning sickness?"

"Not right now. It's sporadic. I have an appointment with Tsunade at ten this morning but… I'm a little nervous…" Sheeta set her rice bowl down and frowned. "She called me yesterday and asked that I come in because she wanted to check something. But… she didn't say what."

"Nothing at all? You didn't miss any appointments or anything did you?" Mikoto was suddenly concerned.

"No. I've only had three so far, all with my sister. I don't know why Tsunade would want to see me. I'm not having any problems. I called Nui and she said she was busy and would call me back later, but she never did. I called back before I went to bed and her husband brushed me off."

"I'm going with you." Mikoto replied matter-of-factly.

"I… You don't have to! I know you're busy…"

"Doing what? I'm running damage control for what Itachi did to you and that means not letting you go through this alone. This time next year, I want all of us together. Fugaku, Itachi, Sasuke, you, me, and the baby. And Naruto if he's not living full time with his 'pervy sage', of course. It has to be all of us, or else…" The room grew silent. The early morning darkness seemed to close in around the pair as they considered the implication of Mikoto's unspoken words.

The thought that one of them could possibly die within the next twelve months suddenly seemed more of a reality than it had ever been in the past, despite everything they had gone through. Perhaps it was the events of the last couple months had eaten away at their nerves, leaving them raw and unprotected, or maybe the reality of a new life possibly leaving them too soon. Whatever it was, neither could speak again until they had finished their breakfast and Sheeta had risen to her feet to leave.

"I'll be back around nine." She couldn't bring herself to look back as she silently left the room. The dark hallway seemed to swallow her up, leaving Mikoto alone in the empty kitchen.

"Is this true?" Fugaku looked up at the woman sitting on the couch across from him. The sun was just coming up, bathing the sky in muted shades of red and orange as large clouds drifted quickly across the sky, driven on by a strong northerly wind that had started just a couple hours earlier.

"Nui was quite thorough in her water sample collection. My technicians spent all night going over them. The results are incontrovertible. What I need now is to get blood samples from everyone in your clan. Nui can handle that so no one feels picked on. I've asked Sheeta to come in at ten, and several other women from your clan and the village who have had children in the last two years or are currently pregnant are also scheduled for appointments this morning." Tsunade leaned back against the couch and closed her eyes as she rubbed her temples, trying to dispel her headache.

"This has been one hell of a morning." Fugaku interrupted the silence that had suddenly fallen between the two. "First Neji, then you."

"Neji? Who is…"

"Hinata's cousin. The son of Hiashi's twin brother. Apparently Danzou's people had been in contact with him and tried to recruit him. He had accepted, but when they actually came to get him last night it seems he had a change of heart and tried setting a trap outside the village for them instead. It failed, of course. One thirteen-year-old against four 'A' rank ninjas – no matter how over-inflated his ego was, he wasn't good enough."

Tsunade sat straight up in alarm, "He's okay isn't he? I was busy all night…"

"He will be. Luckily the fight woke up a couple shinobi sleeping in the woods and they were able to apprehend the four and get Neji to the hospital. If they hadn't been there…" Fugaku's voice trailed off.

The sun finally rose over the horizon, only to be hidden just as quickly by clouds. Darkness returned to the earth as rain began falling and the windows rattled as a gust slammed hard against the building, causing the pair to jump despite their shinobi instincts.

"This storm came up a little too quick." Tsunade added, a little embarrassed at being startled by something as mundane as wind.

Fugaku gave a short laugh, "Hopefully it doesn't turn into snow."

Tsunade leaned back against the back of the couch and relaxed a little bit, "So who were the shinobi that found Neji?"

"Kurenai and Asuma."

"I… why… they both have their own apartments. Why sleep in the woods?" Tsunade laughed, "Unless, of course, they weren't sleeping."

"Yeah, they probably were doing other things." Fugaku agreed. "Neji's still on suspension, but I instructed Gai to look after him anyway. His mother is useless, obviously, so he'll be moving into his sensei's apartment. She didn't even seem upset by the news."

"Sad. I remember that woman when she was teenager. She must have changed quite a bit to have become that cold. Maybe I'll go pay her a visit."

Fugaku was quiet for a moment. He wondered why the woman in front of him would be concerned about such a useless person, but decided it wasn't any of his business. "Do what you want. But don't let it interfere with your investigation."

"Definitely not. If I am one thing, Fugaku, it's professional. I'm on to something and I'm not going to rest until I put all the pieces together."

Naruto was the only one at home when Itachi dragged himself out of bed and down the stairs to the kitchen. The boy was sitting at the table eating ramen and staring out the window at the pouring rain with a pensive look on his face. He was still in his pajamas and hadn't even bothered to brush his hair.

Itachi, on the other hand, despite feeling sleepy, and a little "out-of-it" had still managed a shower and was dressed in a simple pair of black pants and a blue t-shirt with a clan symbol embroidered on the right sleeve. He found it amusing that the most alert person in the house looked about ready to fall asleep, and the sleepiest looked ready to go on a twelve-hour patrol.

"Mother sees you eating that for breakfast she'll hit you over the head." Itachi smirked.

Naruto pulled his eyes away from the window, "That's why I waited until she left before I got out of bed. I can't go without my ramen after all. You feeling better?"

"Yeah, a lot better, actually. I have several errands to run today though. We'll leave the day after tomorrow."

"Why not now!" Naruto practically yelled, "I want to get Sasuke back…"

"Naruto, calm down. Are you bipolar or something?" Itachi laughed, "You go from cheerful to yelling in zero seconds flat. Calm down. Sasuke is safe for the time being. Orochimaru won't let anything happen to him."

"But he's the one who hurt him! He stuck that cursed seal on him, you know that. How can you sit there and say something like that?"

"I can see your point." Itachi was silent for a couple of minutes. "He was badly injured, of course, but… and I know this sounds hard to believe… but that is the only thing Orochimaru is planning to do to him until…"

"Until he takes over his body with that jutsu." Naruto sat the empty ramen cup down on the table and sighed, "Pervy sage told me it would be a few years before that would happen. I guess… I guess I can see your point. I don't like waiting, but if it's only a couple days… I can live with that."

"That's my boy." Itachi teased as he rubbed the top of Naruto's head, messing up his hair.

"Stop it!" He laughed, "If it looks too messy Mikoto will make me brush it."

"So where did everyone go? Fugaku's at work, I take it."

"Yeah, I got an ink jutsu message from Sai this morning saying Neji tried to get himself killed last night, but he'll live. So that's probably where Fugaku is. Mikoto and Sheeta went to the hospital. Sheeta had an appointment."

"Oh. Just normal stuff, then."

"Are you going to check on Neji?"

"No. Let Fugaku sort that mess out." He turned around and looked out the window. The rain was pounding the ground, forming puddles in the garden. "Mother's pond is going to flood at this rate. That's a lot of water to come down at once. Anyway, I better get going."

"Wait! What do I do if it floods?" Naruto's expression was one of panic and he quickly ran to the kitchen window and stood on his toes to see the pond.

Itachi laughed at him, "The house is raised up off the ground. Don't worry about it. At the most it will get into the garden and make everything muddy. I just said that to get you worked up."

"You're mean." Naruto gave him a dirty look, but that quickly changed into a wide grin.

Itachi stuck a kasa hat on his head before stepping out of the house. It wasn't much of a protection again the wind and rain, but he knew if he didn't wear it his family and fellow clansmen would lecture him about his health.

The lake was bathed in whitecaps as the wind picked up the waves, practically throwing them towards the shore. Itachi was reminded of a similar day, long ago, right before the Kyuubi had been unleashed on the village. Fugaku had taken him out to the end of the pier and taught him how to do the clan fire jutsu. It had been easy for him to learn and his father had been very pleased with the results. As he stood staring out over the empty lake a sudden sense of nostalgia washed over him and a desire to return to that day, to a time when all those people who had died over the years were still alive, gripped his heart.

He could almost see the elderly Kentaro lecturing Fugaku about some point of fact concerning governing the clan, or his wife handing out sweets to Shisui and himself. Itachi suddenly turned to look at the bench next to the shore and stepped back when a boy turned around and looked at him before disappearing. Placing a hand over his forehead and taking a deep breath Itachi decided it was just a trick of the light and his own intense desire to visit the past. Or perhaps the poison was still working its way out of his body and he was having side-effects. Or even the layers of water that were running off his glasses and distorting his vision.

Because while chakra could live on after a person died, ghosts certainly did not exist.

"Itachi."

The teen stood stock still, showing no indication of having been startled by the voice. "What are you doing here, Leader?"

"Visiting."

"I doubt that." Itachi turned around to view the tall, red-haired main standing three feet away from him. He was dressed in the usual red and black cloak. Standing behind him, as always, was his companion Konan. Her expression was one of concern as she gazed intently at Itachi.

"Nevertheless, I am here to speak with the Hokage, not you."

That seemed a little odd and Itachi looked up at the sky, "I suppose this rain is yours, then? The Hokage isn't home yet. He keeps his own schedule."

"Then we will wait for him. Please conduct us to your home."

Itachi fought hard to keep his chakra in check and his emotions hidden. If he took those two into the house now, while Naruto was still inside, all hell would break loose.

Pein continued, "Unless there is some reason you don't think we should wait there."

"I can't leave you standing out here with those cloaks on." Itachi stated plainly. "Follow me." He turned around and led them back down the path toward the house. Luckily no one else was around, but given the weather, that was probably more a factor of no one wanting to get cold and wet rather than any kind of luck.

Entering the house he glanced up at the clock and saw that it was a little after noon. He figured his mother and Sheeta should be home soon, and he was late with the list of new elders he had promised his father. He led the pair down the hall and into the living room and, as expected, a pajama-clad Naruto was planted firmly in front of the TV watching a movie about ninjas.

"Naruto, please leave the house and don't come back until I come get you."

The boy was about to disagree, preferring to stay home all day and watch TV, but something about the strangers was sending chills up and down his spine. Silently, Naruto stood up and exited the room.

"Please sit down." Itachi turned off the TV, "I'll make you some tea."

Returning a few minutes later with a tea thermos and two cups he set it on the coffee table in front of his guests. Konan helped herself to a cup as she looked around the modestly decorated room. It had several couches and easy chairs, and was used occasionally for meetings of various committees or informal tea parties his mother would throw. Family portraits decorated one wall and for a moment they caught her inquisitive eye.

Pein sighed and leaned back, placing his hands on his knees. "Your prey has left the house."

Itachi resisted the urge to respond to that and nodded once to confirm the news. Naruto had changed his clothes and Itachi could tell from his chakra that he was heading over to visit with Hinata.

"Two people are approaching." Pein added a minute later.

"Oh, that must be…" He stood up and went to back door the family always entered through.

Mikoto spoke as she removed her hat and coat, "Itachi, the pond is flooding, could you please remind Naruto to stay away from it? I could just see him getting covered in mud and tracking it all over the house."

"I sent him away for a few hours." His tone was serious and it made Mikoto and Sheeta look at him worriedly. He glanced up, sensing the approach of another person and quickly held his hand up to stop him. Toshiro, no doubt alarmed when Naruto showed up with news of the two strangers and Itachi's order to evacuate, was on his way over to check things out. The older man stood still and gazed pensively at the teen.

"What's going on?" Mikoto whispered as she glanced back at her friend. "Who's in the house?"

"Pein and Konan. They are here to speak with father."

"Oh." There wasn't much more Mikoto could think to say.

"Why don't you call him?" Sheeta glanced at the phone hanging from the wall near the entryway.

Mikoto answered before Itachi could, "No, we don't want to draw attention to our unexpected guests. The phones aren't secure and even suggesting he break his schedule… he would worry that someone would see that as suspicious. He's very cautious that way."

Itachi nodded to confirm Mikoto's words, "You two entertain them while I go to his office. I'll return immediately with more information about when he'll be available." He grabbed his jacket and hat and ran out into the rain.

Toshiro was a little angry at being denied entry to a situation he was sure was dangerous, "What's this about, Itachi?"

"A couple people Fugaku met at the wedding are here to see him. I'm going to his office now to inform him. There's no need for you to intervene."

"If you have to order Naruto out of the house…"

"I know, Toshiro. Please, just take my word for it. I know they won't hurt mother or Sheeta. Naruto… he's different, you know?" Itachi hoped the hint about his Jinchuuriki status would get through to the man, and apparently it did.

Nodding his understanding, Toshiro pressed on, "Then, if you don't mind, I'll just wait here until Fugaku arrives."

"That is acceptable." Itachi used a teleportation jutsu to disappear.

"Good afternoon, Pein and Konan." Mikoto greeted the pair and sat down on the couch across from them. "Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think you've met Sheeta, Itachi's wife."

Pein nodded once to acknowledge the girl's presence, while Konan gave her a warm smile. "We haven't met, but Aya was quite complementary in her description of you. It's nice to finally meet you, Sheeta."

"I'm pleased to meet you too." Sheeta bowed forward a few inches.

"How is your baby doing?" Konan asked politely.

"Very well, thank-you. Although it's still strange to think of something alive and growing inside of me. I can't quite get used to it." She gave a short laugh and hoped that the older woman didn't think that was too weird.

Konan smiled, "I can certainly see that. But, I detect you aren't a kunoichi. I find that odd."

Sheeta wasn't sure if that was an insult or not even though the woman's words were friendly and polite. "No, I'm not. I had a lot of training, and I used to help my brother and sisters with missions before we came to Konoha. Right now I'm studying so I can become a cryptologist."

"So you weren't born in Konoha?"

Mikoto interrupted, "You didn't know?"

"No. I had just assumed."

"Hmm. It's probably not a big deal after all." Mikoto gave a short laugh, "But their mother and father left the village and set up house in Earth country. Their mother left her husband, taking the kids with her. She was afraid if she returned to Konoha her husband would come back and… harm her family so instead she wandered around taking independent missions and trying to support her kids herself."

That broke the woman's façade and her face immediately changed to an expression of pity, "That must have been hard."

"Yeah," Sheeta agreed, embarrassed at the attention, "we didn't always get to eat and when mother died and big brother got sick… there wasn't anything we could do about it. Healers cost money, after all."

"So you understand what it's like. To go without."

"Y…yeah." Sheeta stuttered, not knowing where the conversation was going, "But I want to forget it. Everything is fine now…"

Pein interrupted, his strong voice cutting into her words like a knife "Don't ever forget."

"W…why?" Again Sheeta stuttered. She glanced at Mikoto, who was looking pensively at the ground.

"Suffering, poverty, fear, war, sickness, ignorance… the list is long and once experienced should never be forgotten."

She had to admit that the big man scared her, but she pressed on, "It was a terrible time. I was really young. I don't want to go through that again. Not knowing from day to day what was going to happen, or if we would get to eat or if big brother would get sick again. No one wanted to hire kids and sometimes… sometimes…" her voice disappeared.

Konan spoke up, "Sometimes you had to steal. It's okay to admit it, Sheeta. I went through the same thing as a child. Hunger makes you do things you would never do in better circumstances. On the other hand… the merchants and villagers knew we were hungry and refused to give us food or a job. I refuse to feel guilty because of their ignorance."

"I never thought of it that way." Sheeta admitted in a small voice. "Why didn't they help us? I just… I was born after mother left father so it was literally all I knew. To me it was normal to live that way. Maybe my sisters and brother thought of that though. They're all older than me, of course."

"Understandable." Konan admitted, "But you mustn't forget any of what you experience. One day you will be in a position to help guide your clan, and your suffering will help you to understand their suffering, in good times and in bad."

Sheeta nodded and glanced at Mikoto again. The older woman smiled at her, "Wise words, Sheeta, we should both try to live by them."

Entering the Hokage's office he saw his father sitting at the desk reading mission reports. An empty plate had been pushed off to the side, and the chopsticks were neatly placed at an angle to indicate he had finished his meal. Otherwise, the desk was spotless.

"What is it, Itachi? Do you have that list for me?" Fugaku didn't even bother looking up as he spoke.

"No. I… got up too late to work on it."

"Well, just have it by eight o'clock tonight. That's when I'll be making the announcement."

"No problem. Father, you have guests at the house waiting to speak with you."

"Bring them here."

"That would be unwise."

The made Fugaku set the report down and look up at his son. "Who are they?"

"Pein and Konan."

That was definitely the last thing he wanted to here. Given his son's behavior he had expected it be a member of Akatsuki, but Kisame or Deidara or even Madara would have been reasonable guesses. Not Pein and Konan.

"Mother and Sheeta are at home with them now. I sent Naruto away and he went to Hinata's, causing Toshiro to come over to see what was going on. I stopped him, and he is waiting outside the house, keeping watch. He didn't see them go in. I told him a couple people from the wedding stopped by to visit."

"Then I'll leave right now. Have you visited the temple yet?"

"I was on my way there when those two showed up."

"I suggest you go straight there and read those scrolls I told you about. It will tell you more about what Pein is and his relationship to the Sharingan." He stood up and exited the office, followed closely by Itachi. "My aide is around here somewhere…. Oh there he is. Ai, Itachi and I are going to go follow up on a lead he found with regard to that attack outside the village. I'll be back in a few hours."

The tall man bowed respectfully, "Yes, Lord Hokage. By the way, I was just on my way to inform you that Zabuza has accepted a position as Jounin. I'll place his paperwork on your desk."

"Thank-you."

The temple was empty when Itachi entered it a few minutes later. The bright light of the large meeting room was a strong contrast to the stormy darkness outside and he found himself squinting as sharp pains radiated up from his eyes, across his forehead and into his brain. Rubbing his head he was reminded once again of the penalty he was paying for the use of his Mangekyou Sharingan.

Looking up again he made his way to the altar at the far end of the room. It was a simple black table, about three feet high and five feet long. A small statue of Buddha sat in the center with several other smaller statues of various gods surrounding it. Pots filled with sand were evenly spaced along the table and several had incense sticks stuck in them, their smoke rising lazily to the heavens to deliver the prayers of mortals to the immortal.

The teen removed a fresh stick of incense from a box on the floor near the altar and used a candle to light it. He stuck it in a sand pot and clapped his hands together a couple times before uttering his prayer for the safety of his family and his unborn child. It felt strange to him. He had never considered himself particularly religious, but this time, his prayer rose up from the depths of his soul with an intensity that would only be muted should a god actually answer it and make it come to pass.

Sighing, he stood up after a couple minutes and made his way to a certain tatami mat at the edge of the room. Pulling it back he lifted the trap door and pulled out a flashlight. The stairs were new and not as steep as they had been in the old temple. They were much easier on the older people who needed to navigate them, and he suspected the children also would have an easier time as well. His memories drifted back again to his first descent into the clan's "chamber of secrets".

On that day, an old man had looked into his eyes and predicted his future. It had been creepy and the man had died the next day. He had never bothered to find out who he had been and no one had been very eager to tell him. But he was obviously very important and well-respected.

Reaching the location of the secret scrolls he knelt down and placed his hands over the cold stone floor. The layout of the new temple was exactly same as the old one in order to accommodate the chamber, so the scrolls had lain undamaged and undiscovered by those who did not need to know of their presence.

Sending chakra through his hands he quickly formed a series of hand signs and slammed on hand on the floor. A four foot square section glowed bright red before disappearing, revealing a small compartment with three aged scrolls bound with red string tied into bows. The small cavity was surprisingly dust free, meaning the jutsu was not only hiding the scrolls, but protecting them as well.

Lifting them out one by one he read the writing on the ends to determine the order in which they should be read. Opening the first one he began to read, and as time passed slowly in the underground chamber, a mixture of horror and fascination gripped at his heart.

"I can handle it from here." Fugaku dismissed Toshiro as he walked passed him.

"Call me if you need help." Toshiro turned around to leave, pleased that Fugaku had returned so quickly.

"Of course."

Entering the house he could hear Mikoto, Sheeta and Konan making polite conversation. Pein was silent, as expected.

"So why are you here?" By the time he had reached the living room Pein was standing up and facing him.

"We need to talk."

"I gathered that much. But about what?" Fugaku's tone was impatient and he realized the only way to get this over with was to humor his "guest". "Follow me. My meeting room is at the other end of the house."

Pein followed him silently, with Konan remaining in the living room. Of course, she probably already knew what was going to happen and Pein would likely fill her in on anything else else.

"Have a seat." Fugaku pointed to one of three cushions placed before the small dais where he, as clan lord, always sat. Pein respectfully waited for Fugaku to sit first before taking his seat. The small courtesy was unexpected and he found himself relaxing slightly. The man wasn't malicious, and certainly wasn't as deceptive as Madara. On the contrary, he had always been very up front and matter-of-fact.

Fugaku prompted Pein, "So. What's going on?"

"I would request your cooperation in a certain matter."

The labyrinth of corridors that made of Orochimaru's lair was, somehow, fascinating the boy and he spent the time he wasn't training with his new sensei investigating them. It was somehow calming to walk alone through the eternal dusk that lit the maze. He was reminded of a sermon he had attended at the temple a few months earlier, in which the monk had explained the significance of certain caves – how passing through the opening could signify the passage through the birth canal and signify resurrection.

Could that be why Orochimaru lived underground? He had assumed it was because he was fond of snakes and mazes were a good way to confound invaders. However, the older man's obsession with immortality could also be somehow represented here as well. The maze could also be viewed as a lost soul unable to find its way to resurrection. Unable to exit the cave it would be doomed to continually wander, forced to eat other souls to gain their experience in an eternal attempt to find an exit. To find a way to be resurrected into an immortal body.

The boy reached up and hit himself over the head once with his fist, "Geeze Sasuke. You're thinking a little too deep today."

A door showed itself at the end of the corridor and he opened it cautiously. Peering inside he saw a laboratory with a series of wide, ten-foot tall tanks arranged in a circle around a console. Long pipes were connected to the tanks and fed into the console. As Sasuke entered the room he figured it was to re-circulate the water, like a fish tank.

He saw something move in one of the tanks and moved closer to it, but stepped back a couple paces when an obviously human eye with a purple pupil stared back at him.

"Ha! Did I scare you?" The good-natured voice of a boy laughed at Sasuke.

"No, just startled me a little. I didn't expect to see a human in the tank. And certainly not a live one. What are you doing in there? How can you breath?"

The boy's voice turned sarcastic, "Orochimaru lured me here with promises of power and glory. I guess we can both see how far that went. Now he's just studying me to learn my Kekkei Genkai so he can steal it. He'll kill me as soon as he figures it out, I'm sure."

That was rather disturbing and Sasuke stepped closer to the tank, "What's your name? I'm Sasuke Uchiha."

"Ah! Orochimaru's pet. I'm Suigetsu Hoozuki." The liquid formed itself temporarily into a boy about Sasuke's age with shoulder length white hair, purple eyes and very naked. Just as quickly the boy returned to his liquid state. "I can't stay in human form and breathe underwater at the same time, so I'm forced to stay like this."

"Okay." Sasuke was a little put-out being called Orochimaru's "pet", but found it difficult to hate the boy for his slur considering his current predicament.

"How about you let me out of here? Just break the glass."

Sasuke lifted one hand reflexively, but stopped himself, "I…" If he did that, he would break his cover. "I will, but not right now. Please wait."

Suigetsu's next words sounded rather depressed, "For how long? Every day I spend in here weakens me and if I die I'll never be one of the seven swordsmen. Of course, you wouldn't know what they are, being from Konoha and all, but its very important to me."

"I know what they are. I've met Kisame and Zabuza"

"That's right!" The boy perked up, "You were the one who defeated Zabuza."

"I? Me? What?" That was a shock and Sasuke stuck his hands in his pockets to hide his discomfort and embarrassment.

"Yeah! Everyone is talking about it! Zabuza is famous after all. The son of the Uchiha clan, Sasuke Uchiha, defeated Zabuza."

"It was my sensei who did it, not me." Sasuke corrected him half-heartedly. He wondered if that was one of the reasons so many of Orochimaru's minions were shying away from him. He had thought the snake man had told them to leave him alone, but if they were actually afraid of him that certainly cast things in a different light.

"Your sensei? Who's he?"

"Kakashi Hatake."

"Never heard of him."

Sasuke's voice rose in surprise, "But he's famous! Why would my name be attached to a battle he fought? It makes no sense!"

"Since when did rumors ever make sense? Seriously, you're what – twelve, thirteen-years old?"

"Twelve."

"You should be old enough to know what a rumor is. And how many of the ones you've heard have actually been true? Really, just go with the flow and accept the notoriety. You won't be able to change it, you know. After a while it'll go away. This Kakashi probably already knows about it if he's as great as you say he is, it probably doesn't even bug him."

"It wouldn't, would it? He's pretty level headed." Sasuke laughed, "He'd probably even thinks it was funny and would tease me about it."

"Besides, having a reputation around here goes a long way. There have been some pretty bloody fights between Orochimaru's followers and most end up with someone dying."

Sasuke sighed, "I guess you're right." He spied a chair at the edge of the room and moved it closer to the tank before sitting down.

"You're going to stay for a while?" The surprise in the boy's voice was obvious and made Sasuke smile.

"Sure. Why not?"

Suigetsu laughed, "You're not such a bad guy after all, are you?"

"Well it's either talk to you or go looking for Kabuto."

That made Suigetsu laugh even harder, "Point taken!"

Next week, what did Itachi discover in the scrolls and why is Pein so eager to speak with Fugaku. And what is Tsunade investigating?

I had to get Suigetsu in there somehow. I'll also work the others in as well.

Please review! Updates on Fridays.