I deeply apologize for the total lack of action/excitement in this chapter, especially since I've been super busy to upload! D: Basically, this is just starting to tie together other chapters in the future. Also, I have an announcement at the end. Anyways, try to at least PARTIALLY enjoy this chapter! XD

There was a knock at the door of Tsunade's office.

"What do you want?" she answered, which for her meant, "Come in."

The door opened, only to reveal two elders of Konoha: Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado.

"Lady Tsunade," said Koharu. "We would like to speak to the Hyuuga girl."

Tsunade blinked at their sudden request. "Hinata? Why do you want to talk to her?"

"Let's just say that it's important," Homura said.

"Hey!" Tsunade suddenly yelled, slamming her hand on her desk. "I think I have a right to know! I'm the Hokage!"

"So, you haven't heard yet, I see," Koharu commented.

Tsunade stared at her ancient, serious face. "What? What haven't I heard?"

"Well, we've known all along, but now that Itachi is dead, the word is spreading fast. Now nearly everyone knows." Homura pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

"Tell me what you're talking about," Tsunade commanded.

The two elders glanced at one another before Koharu said, "Hinata is innocent, Tsunade."

It was silent as the Hokage tried to process what she had just been told.

"Yes, and Itachi was innocent, too," Homura said.

So the two elders told Tsunade the whole story of what had really happened all those years ago.

"Why haven't I been told before?" Tsunade asked bitterly when the story was over.

"Because it had to be kept top secret. The story was never supposed to get out, especially to Sasuke."

"And he knows, too?"

Homura nodded his head. "Yes, he knows. He was told right after the death of Itachi."

Tsunade frowned. "That's... that's terrible," she breathed.

"It is, isn't it?" Koharu agreed. "Tsunade, we'll speak to the Hyuuga now."

"Okay."

xXx

"So, Naruto, let me get this straight: Itachi is innocent!" Kiba looked at the Jinchuuriki in bewilderment, having heard this story for the first time.

Naruto nodded. "Yes, Kiba! Gosh, do I really have to tell you this story again?"

"So where's Sasuke?" Ino asked, looking as curious as ever.

Sakura and Naruto both frowned. "Madara said that he WAS going to attempt to destroy Konoha, but he decided not to. He's trying to work on a resurrection jutsu to bring Itachi back."

There was silence.

"So are you still going to try and find him, then?" Chouji asked.

Naruto made a series of "psh" and "chh" noises before saying "Uh, yeah! Do you really think I'd let my best friend do this alone! Resurrection jutsus are very advanced, and he doesn't want just a regular resurrection jutsu... he wants Itachi alive again, for real! And I will support him!"

"That's impossible," Shikamaru lazily said. "A normal resurrection jutsu takes up a lot of chakra. And that's only temporary. Resurrection jutsus don't last forever." Shikamaru shrugged. "If he want's Itachi alive and walking, first of all, he'd have to have a lot more chakra than he has now, second, he'd have to figure out how to do it, which could take forever, and third..." Shikamaru paused before saying in a more serious tone, "he'd probably have to give his life up to do that, if he's really that determined."

Naruto looked around at all his friends before standing up. "Well, if it's really that hard, then Sasuke's going to need all our help and chakra."

Sakura stood up as well. "Naruto, what would Tsunade say-"

"I don't care what Granny says!" Naruto said indignantly. "No matter what Sasuke does to try to make me hate him, he will always be my friend. And I'm not going to let him suffer alone. He's from Konoha, and he will always be my comrade, no matter what!"

Sakura stared at Naruto in amazement. "Naruto..." she breathed. Then, she set about a determined look and said, "I'll help too."

Slowly, but surely, the others all agreed to pitch in, until that left only Kiba.

Kiba stared at his friends for a while, and they stared determinedly back. Finally, he reluctantly agreed. "Only for Sasuke, because he's my friend too."

"Yay!" Naruto exclaimed.

And him and all of their friends set off on a great adventure in search of Sasuke.

xXx

What is he doing...? Sasori peered from behind a tall headstone in the graveyard. "Is he...? No way..."

Sasuke Uchiha was a distance away at the grave of Itachi. Sasori could see Sasuke's profile. His eyes were closed and he was kneeling down solemnly in front of the headstone, his features hardened in concentration. Suddenly, a blue chakra sprang from his hands and shot into the ground like ropes. It was as though Sasuke was trying to pull Itachi out of the ground with all his might, but he failed and fell over in exhaustion.

Sasuke slowly dragged himself up. He was so worn out, he wasn't even aware of Sasori's chakra presence. He was too focused on bringing his brother back to life. "I... won't... give... up!" he growled in a determined voice.

xXx

The door opened, revealing a pool of light into the dark room, and the figure of Tsunade. "Hinata," Tsunade said softly, walking further into the house.

Hinata sighed and stepped out of the room. "What... what is it?"

Tsunade looked at Hinata. "I know about what happened."

Hinata just looked blankly at the Hokage.

"About Itachi being innocent?" Tsunade clarified.

Hinata's mouth fell open. "How... did the elders tell you?"

Tsunade nodded. "Everyone knows the truth now. Even Sasuke does apparently." She walked closer to Hinata and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

Hinata gulped. "I was just trying to respect him by not saying anything."

Tsunade sighed. "You really did love him, didn't you?"

Before Hinata could stop herself, she could feel tears stinging at her eyes. She couldn't say anything. Her voice had shut down.

Tsunade sighed. "Look, I wanted to set you completely free, but those... doofus elders will only let me take you off of house arrest. They say you still can't be trusted or you'll leave the village again." She rolled her brown eyes in exasperation. "Don't tell anyone I told you this, but... I really hate them and I cannot even stand to look at them... and I can say so much more about them, but I probably shouldn't."

Hinata couldn't stop the giggle that escaped her lips. She covered her mouth. "I'm sorry," she said.

"Me too... I have to deal with them every day!" She patted Hinata's shoulder again with a warm smile. "So, I don't mind if you want to stay here since you have nowhere else to go, but you're free to roam Konoha all you want."

Hinata frowned. "I don't know if I want to face anyone really..."

"They're your friends, Hinata. They don't hate you. They know what happened."

"But... there's something else that I haven't told you..." Hinata nervously wrung her fingers, biting her lip and looking away.

Tsunade placed a hand on her hip. "What is it?" she said in a strict, motherly tone.

xXx

"WHAT!"

Sakura and Ino just happened to be walking by the small house Hinata lived in, that looked rather like a dollhouse, when they heard Tsunade scream from inside.

Ino raised an eyebrow. "Do you think we should check and see if anything is wrong?" she asked.

Sakura took a small, tentative step forward. "Well... are we allowed in there?"

But before the two could even think about it any longer, Tsunade came rushing out the door, bounding down the porch steps. The girls noticed her frazzled expression, and one of Hinata's large, shy eyes peering out from behind the door.

The Hokage caught Sakura's eye and speed walked toward them, her expression almost angry. "You two," she jabbed her two fingers at the girls, "I need to speak with you."

Ino and Sakura glanced at each other nervously, unsure of what to do.

"NOW!" Tsunade suddenly yelled.

"Yes, ma'am!" they immediately said, straightening up quickly.

The Hokage grabbed Sakura's shirt collar and Ino's ponytail and began to forcefully lead them away from Hinata's house.

"Ouch! Ouch, Tsunade, that hurts!" Ino whimpered. But neither Sakura nor Tsunade payed her any attention. Sakura was noticing that her sensei was mostly wearing an expression of shock instead of anger.

"Lady Tsunade, what's the matter?" Sakura asked softly.

Tsunade shook her head. "It's just..."

Ino continued to complain behind them until they were up in the Hokage's office.

Ino looked at Tsunade, her eyes looking a bit watery as she rubbed the back of her head. "What's going on? Are you alright, sensei?"

Tsunade turned to look at the two of them seriously. "Girls, this is between the three of us for now. Understand? Don't. Tell. Anyone. Not yet."

They both nodded their heads.

"Right. Okay, let me tell you something..."

xXx

"WHAT!"

"Girls, quiet down!" Tsunade snapped.

"But... that's impossible! Hinata? Are you positive?" Sakura cocked her head to the side, curiously staring at Tsunade.

"It's true," Tsunade said solemnly.

"Eek!" Ino jumped up. "I can't wait! She's going to have a baby! Oh, I hope it's a girl! I'm going to take her shopping and fix her hair-"

"It's a boy," Tsunade said curtly. Ino's face fell. "Guys, we have to keep this to ourselves for now. Got it?"

"G-got it," said Sakura, still utterly shocked.

Tsunade nodded. "Great. Now I'm telling you this, because you're going to help me look after Hinata and make sure that nothing goes wrong."

"Right," they girls said at the same time.

"Thank you. You're dismissed."

Okay! So how many of you have read my fanfic "It's A Wonderful Life, Sasuke"? I'm making another NON YAOI fanfic featuring Itachi, the Akatsuki, and all your favorite Konoha characters! But this one is gonna be more of an intense, action packed story :D It's pretty awesome! If y'all want me to upload a few sample chapters, I will do so, then you can tell me if you want me to continue or not ;) I'm also gonna put some ItaHina in there, just so you know

But I'm not going to upload the rest of the chapters until I'm through with this fanfiction, which is, unfortunately, drawing to an end... but I just want you all to know that even though I SUCK at updating, I haven't forgotten about all my online besties ;)

Thank you for all your support! ^^