Kaito ran through all his options like they were pages in a book laid open before him. Itachi had such a wide array of jutsu at his disposal, yet he hardly so much as scratched the surface of his talent. The thought of all the suffering he could induce sent a savage rush racing through his blood. With all the raw poser coursing through his veins, Kaito wondered why Itachi never tapped his true potential. Then he remembered who Itachi was and why he did what he did every day of his life. Kaito knew after tonight nothing could be allowed to stand in his way.

Kisame watched Itachi prepare for the raid with a keen eye. He fumbled around when packing his shoulder bag and for some reason he left extra space inside. He remembered Itachi saying he needed something, but from the amount of space in the bag it looked like he was going to steal many somethings.

Mizuumi stared into the darkness. She listened to Dante's movements and judged that he was distracted. Slowly, she crept into the shadows. Every inch ran the risk of being discovered, but she couldn't stop. Mizuumi had to save her brother.

Itachi listened to Mizuumi as she snuck off towards the village. He found it sad that she thought he couldn't hear her.

Kaito crouched down in front of the lake that concealed the Waterfall Village's secret entrance. About then he realized why they were called hidden villages. The entrance was deep below the water's surface. Adrenaline flooded white hot through his blood. Kisame gave a signal and they dove in together. The water was cold and crystal clear, and Kaito could see the exit ahead of him. The water was illuminated dimly by minute blue crystals the riddled the walls and floor of the cavern. Kaito saw Kisame swimming through the rocks like a fish and made to follow him when he realized his mistake. He didn't know how to swim.

Kaito kicked at the water frantically. Heart pounding, he spun in circle after hopeless circle as he watched precious oxygen float away to the surface. Spots started to from in front of his eyes and he slowly sank to the bottom of the pond.

Mizuumi heard two splashes and knew she was too late. With a heavy heart, she dove into the pool that would take her home. The boy who'd killed her squad was flailing about below her like a fish out of water. With a jolt she realized his partner had left him for dead. She was holding his life in her hands. Revenge was so close, yet could she really bring herself to let someone of her own age die, even someone as sick as him? The boys misting eyes locked wit hers. Gold met green and instantly Mizuumi knew she couldn't leave him.

Itachi stretched and headed towards the village. He'd given Mizuumi more than enough time to sneak into the village. As he approached the pool, a strange sensation tugged his feet faster forward. Mizuumi's head broke the surface and was followed by another.

His hair was tinted cobalt blue and almost longer than Itachi's. He was light skinned but not pale and had the appearance of a sixteen year old.

"Who's this?" Itachi knew the answer even as the question left his lips.

"Your target."

Kaito's pulse was weak but present, and Itachi felt stronger being this close to his body. His eyes were closed. Mizuumi watched him like a mother with her child, and Itachi felt a stab of annoyance. Had she forgotten what had happened already?

"Stand aside girl, "a voice boomed from behind them. Itachi turned. Kisame stood on the water's surface mere feet from them. They were within full view of each other, but Kisame had only addressed Mizuumi, why?

"Kisame!" Itachi shouted, "Don't destroy him yet!" Mizuumi's head snapped towards him.

"Yet?" You can't just kill him!" Kisame raised an eyebrow.

"Who're you talkin' to? Who's over there?"

"Kisame, this isn't the time for games."

"You know each other?" Mizuumi growled.

"Who are you talking to?" Kisame demanded. Mizuumi looked back and forth between the two spastically.

"Wait…can't you see him?"

"See who?" Kisame looked around uncertainly. Mizuumi grabbed Itachi's arm in a vice-grip.

"Dante! Hi's right here!" Mizuumi waved his arm wildly. Kisame continued to stare at the phenomena. Mizuumi's knuckles were turning white from gripping his arm, but to Kisame it would look like she was gripping empty air.

Itachi's little girlfriend was crazy. She was waving her arm madly and claiming to be talking to someone named Dante. There was something he couldn't write off as insanity though. Her knuckles were turning white, and she wasn't making a fist. She was grabbing something, what he didn't know. Wait, did she say Dante? That's Itachi's other cover!

"I don't know how you know him, but he's not there," Kisame felt the tension thicken.

"Show him the I.D.?" Mizuumi blinked, "What'll that prove?"

Kaito erupted into a violent coughing fit. His eyes flickered open slowly.

"I'm…alive?" He asked himself. His body felt like lead. His vision was foggy, and when it finally cleared he saw two very familiar faces looking down on him. Mizuumi's gaze was soft, yet he didn't doubt she was still furious. Itachi himself was glaring daggers at him, and Kaito felt a slight sting of guilt. What was he thinking? He knew what he'd been thinking; he'd been thinking he could save them both. He still had a chance, they hadn't caught him yet.

"Who are you?' Itachi was emotionless, yet Kaito could feel the anger projecting off of him.

"Itachi Uchiha of the Hidden Leaf."

"Liar."

"Prove it."

"You act nothing like Itachi; you don't even look like him. Also, Itachi Uchiha never gave his real name," Kaito's heart sank.

"Itachi," he thought, "why are you acting so cruel? You were never this way to him."

"You know nothing!" Itachi snapped. Kaito closed his eyes and willed the burning to begin.

Itachi watched the imposter close his eyes and instinctively leapt back. No sooner had he reached safety did the black tendrils of Amaterasu begin licking towards him. He saw Kisame dive into the water and almost wanted to laugh. Kisame had forgotten Amaterasu's range. Mizuumi was within the attack zone. She didn't have time to escape. The jutsu spontaneously released and both Mizuumi and the imposter were gone. Itachi sat down in the grass.

"What now?"

Their target had grabbed her from behind the moment the black flames erupted from nowhere. He placed a kunai to her throat.

"Swim," he hissed. He dragged them both down into the water. Mizuumi obeyed, hoping to buy some time for Dante to find her. Deep inside, she regretted saving this ungrateful, manipulative waste of skin that was forcing her to help destroy her village. She swam down the tunnel that would place them as far away from the houses as possible. She navigated the honeycomb of tunnels as easily as she had her whole life. They emerged in a small cave with a runnel leading to the surface. Kaito drug them both onto land. He kept her in a chokehold. He was close, so close she could feel his breathing on the back of her neck.

"I'll tell your brother how good of a helper you were," he whispered. She felt a stab of pain before she hit the ground.

Kaito felt a swell of pride. He'd done it, he'd escaped Itachi! The village was mere meters away, and his prize was so close it was painful. It was about time he claimed it.

The tunnel was dark and difficult to navigate. With all the twists and turns and dead ends, it was almost expected to see dead bodies littering the passageway. The floor was cracked and uneven underfoot, and the cave was so dark that the only way to tell the way was by touch. Somewhere along the way, the tunnel got bright enough to see faint outlines of the boulders scattered around him. The air smelled dryer up here, and Kaito finally had the feeling he was going the right way.

The moon was full that night. Kisame had waited for him at the gate.

"You ready?" Kisame asked.

"Always."

Mizuumi waited three minutes before she rose to her feet. Some genius Itachi turned out to be, he couldn't even properly disable her! She ran down the tunnel and took the shortcut to the west side library. She'd gather the villagers there and hopefully make a stand. Mizuumi sprinted to her house. Arashi was nowhere inside; maybe he'd gone on a mission. Their kitchen light was on; Arashi never left the lights on when he wasn't there. Something was wrong.

Mizuumi smelled smoke outside. The sky was a crimson ball of fire, and the houses were its kindling. Her village became alight in flames, and as she watched it burn, Mizuumi knew she had failed.

Kaito crouched in the shadows while he waited for Mizuumi to leave. She took off towards the houses, and Kaito smiled to himself. She was in for a surprise.

The library was covered in a fine layer of dust. Kaito walked to the center of the domed building and tilted his head back. There were six circular floors, counting his current one, which had a tunnel like opening through the upper five. A white column like railing surrounded the upper floors. A spiraling staircase spanned the circumference of the room. The towering bookcases were made of polished redwood. He ascended the marble stairwell to the second floor, the third, fourth, fifth, and finally to the sixth.

The entrance was blocked by an iron lock. Kaito scoffed.

"Do they truly believe this'll stop anyone?" he wrapped an explosive tag delicately around the lock. Calmly, he shed his Akatsuki cloak as he climbed onto the railing. He spread his arms wide, closed his eyes, and jumped.