Chapter 26

Jinrou POV

We were all just standing there trying to decide what to do. The ninjas from the leaf village were still pinned by the Akatsuki while Itachi and I just stood in the middle.

"Lets go somewhere private to talk. If anyone saw us, there'd be hell to pay." I said reasonably. They nodded and we went into the middle of the forest. I fidgeted nervously.

"What do we do with them?" Pain asked.

"If they let you go, do you all promise not to run away?" I asked. They thought about it for a bit before nodding. They were let go and Sasuke was giving Itachi death glares. I shifted uncomfortably. "First of all, we need to be civil and mature about this." I said. They all sighed but nodded except Sasuke who was too busy glaring at Itachi. "Please Sasuke?" I asked quietly.

"Fine, but I'm not promising anything." He growled not taking his eyes off his brother.

Okay." I said as I looked at everyone. "I need to go back, but I'm not supposed to leave." I said.

"Then you won't leave." Naruto said crossing him arms.

"But I have to." I said begging him to understand.

"No you don't!" He yelled and ran forward. He took my hands and looked at me seriously. "You could stay here, with us." He said. I shook my head before he was even done speaking.

"No I can't. I need to be with them. Please understand." I begged him and I was now the one holding his hands in my own as I looked up to to his eyes. He had a small blush on his cheeks.

"Jinrou." He whispered.

"I have to Naruto. They're my family now. I love them." I said.

"Aw, we love you too." Konan said smiling. I rolled my eyes.

"I don't belong in Konoha. I never have." I said and he was shaking his head.

"Jinrou, you can stay with us. We all missed you so much. We've been looking for you non stop these past few years, please don't throw that all away. We just got you back." He said.

"I really appreciate your concern, but just because that misunderstanding was explained, doesn't mean it'll bring back all those years. What's done is done, so I ask you all to please respect my decision." I said and looked at all of them. I sighed when I saw Sasuke hadn't stopped glaring. I sighed. "I'm going with them, and nothing's going to stop me. There's nothing you can do or say to make me stay." I said. The ninjas from Konoha immediately began to argue and the Akatsuki argued back. They started taking steps toward each other and I saw they were about to fight. "Stop it!" I screamed. My chakra lashed out and wrapped around all of them. It kept them apart and I could move them how I wanted.

'Guess you're recharged.' Ookami said.

'Yup, and in control.' I added.

"Now, because you'll all start fighting like a bunch of children if I let you go, I'll just keep you here." I said and sat on the floor cross legged. They were hung in mid air including Itachi. "So, are you going to help me leave, or not?" I asked the leaf village ninjas.

"Jinrou, I'll help you. It's your life. You should get to live it the way you want to." Lee said smiling. I smiled softly at him .

"Thank you Lee, that means a lot." I said.

"I'll help." Gaara added. I smiled at him.

"If you want to leave, go for it, but promise to keep in contact." Sakura said with a smile. I grinned and looked at Sasuke and Naruto who both looked mad.

"Will you two also help?" I asked as I pulled them closer by my chakra. Naruto sighed.

"Are you absolutely positively sure there's no way you'll stay?" He asked one last time. I shook my head.

"I'm sorry Naruto, but no." I said with a sad smile. He looked kind of sad.

"Fine, but you'd better visit me soon and often." He said going back to his loud self. I giggled.

"Of course." I turned to Sasuke who was looking away from me and was visibly upset. "Sasuke, please?" I said quietly.

"I don't want you to leave." He said stubbornly. I gently cradled his face in my hands and made him look at me in the eyes.

"I have to. I need them." I whispered. He looked at me with tortured eyes and looked down.

"Okay." He grumbled. I smiled and kissed his cheek.

"Thank you." I said. I put them on their feet and my chakra vanished from them.

"You all get out of here, we'll explain it all to Granny Tsunade." Naruto said. I smiled and hugged him. I was passed around and hugged everyone. When I let go of Sasuke, Itachi approached him. He lifted two fingers and poked his forehead.

"I wish the best for you, little brother." He said and Sasuke's eyes widened slightly. My eyes widened and I snapped my fingers as a thought occurred to me.

"But my uniform is still in the Hokage's office!" I yelled before poofing into blue smoke. I appeared in the Hokage's office and lady Tsunade was passed out on her desk with lots of sake bottles around her. I grabbed my uniform that was on the couch and poofed back to the forest. "The Hokage was passed out drunk." I said as I pulled on my dress.

"Typical." Sakura said rolling her eyes. There was a silence and I smiled at them all.

"Well, I guess I'll be leaving now." I said. They nodded. I wrapped my chakra securely around the Akatsuki. I smiled at them one last time before I concentrated and poofed myself to the house in the woods. The Akatsuki was dragged along with me by my chakra. "Home sweet home." I said as I let them go and went inside.

~a few hours later~

I was pulling back the sheets from my bed as my door opened. I turned around and saw Itachi. I smiled at him and he did the same. He closed the door behind him and walked to me. He was just wearing some black cotton pajama pants and a black wife beater. He hugged me and I returned the gesture.

"I'm glad you back. My Jinrou." He said in a slightly possessive tone and I blushed.

'Don't mind me~' Ookami hummed. I looked up at Itachi. He slowly leaned his head down and I closed my eyes. His lips pressed against my own and I was reminded if my first kiss. He took my first kiss when I was in my old village. At the time I couldn't appreciate how soft his lips were or how his body felt just right when pressed against my own. After a bit I pulled away for air and he did the same. He leaned his forehead against mine and I stared into his eyes.

"I love you." I said. There, I said it. I'm not exactly sure when I realized it, but I know I love him.

"As do I. I love you, my Jinrou." He said and kissed me again. I smiled into the kiss and knotted my fingers in his silky smooth hair. Things seemed to be finally falling in place for me. I felt like I belonged, I had someone to share love with and an amazing family. Even the leaf village ninjas are like extended family. I was so happy and knew my life would be like this from now on.

DON'T WORRY, THE EPILOGUE IS STILL TO COME. :)