Hi friends!

Well, here it is- the long awaited next chapter! Before you read, I just want to clear something up that I had forgotten about: in chapter 28, it kind of looks like Sasuke has fallen in love with Hinata. I just want to tell you that he did not fall in love with her- he just wants Itachi back for his own sake, and for her sake :)

Okay! I hope you enjoy :)

First it was dark. Then, without knowing exactly when it had happened, there was light, and Itachi gained awareness of his surroundings.

He didn't know where he was, or what had happened. All he knew was that he felt peace. Peace. A feeling that was somehow so foreign to him. But why? Why did he have this feeling that this was the first time he had felt peace?

My name is Itachi, he slowly remembered. That was the only thing that came into his mind. His name. Itachi.

Suddenly, he felt ground beneath his feet. When he looked down, he saw lush green grass. He wasn't wearing any shoes, and the grass felt soft and almost pillow-like on his soles. He could clearly see every blade. Why did he now have the feeling that this was the first time he could see so clearly.

At this thought, a familiar, female face flashed across his mind, along with her name. Hinata. There was a strange stab in his heart at the sound of her name in his head.

Raising his head, Itachi looked at his surroundings. He was in a forest. Trees towered overhead, and green leaves rustled in the wind. This was a beautiful place.

Slowly, Itachi walked forward, feeling drawn, compelled to move in the direction he was facing. His feet dragged across the grass, and he enjoyed the tickling sensation as the blades grazed his soles. I feel peace. I feel joy. Such unfamiliar sensations to him.

Soon, the young man found that the trees were growing sparser- he was nearly out of the forest. Where was he going?

It didn't take long for his question to be answered. He was coming upon a village, small, but cozy-looking. There was no gate surrounding it- it was simply out in the open, trusting of the world around it. It looked strange, like an artifact left behind, for Itachi to discover.

As Itachi moved into the village, he found himself standing in front of a small house. A house that looked very familiar to him. I lived here as a child, he suddenly remembered. This was my village.

Just then, the door slid open. A beautiful young woman with long, black hair was beaming at him. "Son," she breathed upon seeing Itachi.

"Mom?" Itachi sighed, remembering the beautiful face. This was the woman who had raised him. How could he possibly forget her?

Now, the woman was embracing Itachi, so suddenly that he almost didn't notice it had happened. "Oh, Itachi. My boy," she breathed, squeezing him. Itachi was squeezing her back, almost enough to crush her petite figure. She didn't seem to mind.

"Mom," he said again, unable to believe it. "Mom... Is this real?"

Mikoto pulled away, just enough to look at her son's face. "Of course," she giggled. "I'm right in front of you, aren't I?"

Itachi reached out and touched her face. "I... can't believe it. It's been so long..." he trailed off.

Mikoto touched her hand over his. "You sure have grown," she said, her eyes filling with tears. "You're so handsome."

"And you're beautiful," Itachi said with a warm smile.

"Oh, you," Mikoto waved her hand and laughed heartily. "Sit with me, Itachi. Let's talk."

She sat down on the porch, and Itachi joined her, sitting closely beside her. Like a young child, he rested his head on her shoulder.

"I would have liked to ask you so many questions," Mikoto said, "but... I'm afraid your life wasn't as carefree as I wish it could have been."

"I'm dead, aren't I?" Itachi said this, but the idea didn't freak him out at all. He still felt peaceful.

"Well, when you put it that way, it does sound unpleasant," Mikoto remarked. "Let's just say that you're in a much better place now." She began to stroke his hair. "I'm happy that you're here."

Itachi smiled. "Mom, what did you want to ask me?" he inquired.

"Oh, I'm not sure any of my questions would have applied to you, unfortunately..." she said.

"Maybe I can answer a few," the young man said.

"Well... okay." Mikoto sat up straighter. "Well, did you have a favorite television show?"

Itachi couldn't help the laugh that escaped. "Of all the things to ask... that's what you want to know?"

"Oh, shush!" Mikoto delicately whacked him on the shoulder. "I'm your mother! I want to know these things! I have to know them!"

Itachi sighed. "I... I don't remember everything clearly... but something rings a bell about a show called... Naruto...?"

Mikoto raised her eyebrow quizzically at her son. "You mean the Uzumaki kid? They made a TV show about him?"

Suddenly, Itachi remembered. "Oh, yeah. Naruto's a ninja... Although, I remember that he was quite the character... they probably could make a TV show about him..."

"Maybe someday," Mikoto mused. "Another question... what do you like to eat?"

Itachi thought for a moment. "I don't think I really liked to eat," he said thoughtfully. "I guess I just did it to survive."

"WHAT?! You didn't like to EAT?" Mikoto said, jumping to her feet. "Itachi, EVERYONE loves to eat! How long has it been this way? Didn't you like my homemade meals?!"

"I'm sure I did," Itachi said thoughtfully, ignoring his mother's outburst. "But I think that after you were gone, I just didn't care anymore about that kind of thing. Although, something rings a bell about cabbage and rice balls..."

Mikoto clicked her tongue. "You sure are a strange one, my boy, she said, seating herself again. "But I sure do love you."

Itachi sighed. "I'm sorry, mom," he said quietly. "I mean, I still can't remember everything, but I-"

"Shh, Itachi," Mikoto crooned. "Don't think too much about it now." Mikoto went back to stroking her son's long, black hair. "I knew that you didn't have a normal life after we were gone, and that you probably never would. I would have taken your place in a heartbeat." When she said this, Itachi could tell that she meant it. "If things weren't so complicated then, you could have had a normal life. You could have gotten married, have been a father..." she trailed off.

Suddenly, Hinata flashed through his mind again. "I'm going to be a father," he remembered with clarity.

"WHAAAAAT?!" Mikoto exclaimed.

"By the way," Itachi said, once again ignoring her. "where's dad?"

"I thought you'd never ask," said a familiar, deep voice from behind. Itachi stood and turned around, watching his father slide the door shut behind him. He smiled at his son. "It's good to see you again, Itachi."

Itachi smiled back. "Dad," he said. "It's good to see you too, sir." He respectfully bowed to his father.

Fugaku clapped his hand onto Itachi's shoulder. "I sure am proud of you, son," he said. "Tell me- how is Sasuke? Did you look out for him?"

Sasuke. The name vividly put a picture in his head. His little brother, who he had let down. "Not in the way you must have wanted me to." He tore his eyes away from his dad.

"You've done good, son," his father said, reassuringly. "Now, you can rest in peace, in the place you belong."

"Okay, now I have to butt in," Mikoto said. "I want to hear all about how my Sasuke is doing in a second. But, you're a FATHER?!" she shrieked.

"Well, I would have been," Itachi said, a little too casually for his mother.

"Why didn't you TELL us you were MARRIED?!"

"Mikoto, how could he? We're dead!" Fugaku argued.

"Oh... right..." Mikoto muttered. "But still! I'm going to have a grandchild! I only wish I could be there. And I would absolutely have loved to have met your wife-"

"Um, mom?" Itachi said, almost feeling uneasy. "Please don't be mad, but... we were never married."

Silence.

Nothing but silence.

Itachi nervously scratched the back of his head, waiting for one of his parents to blow up first.

"ITACHI UCHIHA!" Mikoto scolded. "You mean to tell me that you're having a child with a woman who isn't your wife?!"

"I would have married her," Itachi said, deep, wonderful feelings surging throughout him at the thought. "But..." memories flashed back. "But I wanted Sasuke to avenge you. All of you. By... by killing me."

Now he remembered everything. Clear as day. But somehow, he felt no agony at the memories. He was here, with both of his parents, and he felt nothing but calm. Even though his old-fashioned mother was yelling at him. In fact, he enjoyed having a mother to yell at him over things like this. It was something he hadn't had much of for a long time.

Itachi simply smiled at his mom. "I'm sorry, mother," he said sincerely. "But just know that there was nothing superficial between the two of us. The love I had for Hinata was real. And... and it still is." He looked up into the blue sky. [Forgive me, Hinata. I have abandoned and betrayed you, just like I did Sasuke, and everyone else I ever loved.]

"So it was Sasuke, hm?" Fugaku said thoughtfully. "He must have grown into one amazing ninja. I always knew he would." He looked at his son. "Things must have been pretty rough with you guys," he said.

"They were," Itachi confirmed. "But I wish you guys could see him now. He's quite the shinobi. I just hope that after killing me, he's been able to turn back to the light." One could only hope.

Mikoto sighed. "I really do hate to think about my two boys fighting," she said in a motherly tone.

Itachi felt slightly ashamed when his mother said this. "I know," he said, his eyes downcast.

"Don't worry, my boy, she said, putting a hand on his shoulder. "Everything is fine now. The ninja world is a cruel place, but you're with us, now."

Itachi was grateful that he never had to leave this place or his parents again.

So, what do you think? Was it worth it? :) I know it probably didn't end the way you expected it to, with Itachi being okay with being away from Hinata, and all. But, that's why there will be more chapters ;) So just let me know what you think! Stay awesome :)