"Lady Tsunade," a messenger of the village dressed in a white cloak with spiky brown hair came rushing into the office looking a bit exasperated but nonetheless excited. The Hokage looked up through the stacks of paperwork that lay in heaps and piles all over her desk. Her face, youthful as always, seemed a bit haggard this morning. The Lady Hokage had been up for the past eighteen hours trying to finish this massive amount of paperwork. But, it seemed that no matter how many signatures she scrawled at the bottom of the pages, there was always ten more for her one done. She sighed, straightened her back that could use a good chakra induced massage, and looked at the messenger. He was anxious, she noticed, he was practically dancing with the news. She waved him to go on and get it off his chest.
Just another problem in the village. Always problems these days. Can't there ever just be a struck of fortune? Good luck?
"Uzumaki Naruto ran into a member of the Akatsuki just outside the village."
"A member of the Akatsuki? But why? It's too soon to launch an attack on the village…who do we have on stand-by, Shizune?" She addressed her long-term advisor and friend to her right.
"N-no, your ladyship. That's not necessary. Uzumaki Naruto and-"the messenger had to look at his scroll to remember," Nara Shikamaru have captured him. He's in the holding cell right now. They are waiting for you."
Lady Tsunade was surprised but didn't show it. How could only two ninja capture an Akatsuki member all by themselves? And without alerting the rest of the village at that. She stood, knocking off some papers and sending them swaying to the floor. She didn't have time to worry about paperwork.
"Which member is it?" She asked the messenger as he was about to leave. He turned back toward her, glanced at his scroll and said, "Uchiha Itachi, your ladyship."
It was now that Tsunade expressed her shock. "Uchiha Itachi? But-how?" This wasn't making any sense. There was no way this could be anything other than a hoax of some sort. She had Shizune send for the Anbu and her highest ranking ninja to be placed on guard around the village.
"I was told that he didn't even put up a fight, Lady Hokage. He went quietly."
Tsunade was out the door and on her way to the holding cell before the messenger could even finish his sentence. This was not normal, not normal at all.
The Uchiha sat against the wall on the thin mattress of his cell. His hands tied at the wrists sat heavily in his lap. No movement was made, none was needed.
Itachi felt stupid. It was the first time he let his guard down. It wasn't usual for him to be taken by surprise. Much less taken as a prisoner. How often was it for him to want to start a new life? Not often, either. There's a first for everything, Itachi knew.
It wasn't long until Itachi heard the clicking of the Hokage's heels headed in his direction. He made no move to greet her or even to show sympathy. While he felt no emotion, there was a tug at his heart that she would let him go upon seeing he had no intention of harming anyone. It was quite ironic, really. Itachi was in a cell for the assumption of causing damage, but really all he was here for was to find his own peace. Funny how life can fuck you sometimes.
Itachi glanced up and saw Lady Tsunade with a surprised look on her face. Her mouth was open in awe and her body rigid. She was confused, he noted.
"I never expected to see you in a cell." She said.
Itachi didn't respond.
"Why did you come to the Leaf Village?" Tsunade began. No better place to start then right at the point.
Itachi shrugged, not wanting to give her any information she didn't need. Itachi shouldn't be in here and he blamed himself for it. All he wanted was to be free of the titles that he gave himself. Free of the words criminal and murderer. But he fucked up and let himself be taken. How long would they keep him here? Itachi couldn't see them releasing him in the world. Not when they've tried so hard to capture him. No, he was done for. And the odds of him seeing Hinata again were slim to none.
Hinata. She had been on his mind all day. It was her he was thinking about when he went under the shadow possession jutsu. She was probably wondering where he was. He hoped she wasn't upset at his disappearance. If Hinata thought he ran away on her after their night together it would kill him. He had to see her. But he was trapped in this damn cell for who knew how long.
"The sooner you get to talking, the easier this will be."
"What would you like me to tell you, Lady Tsunade?" Itachi sat upright, meeting the woman's unwavering stare.
"What your intentions were by coming here. Who was with you?"
"Nobody."
"That's rare for a member of the Akatsuki to be alone. Where is your partner?"
"I don't have a partner anymore."
"Hoshikagi is dead? This news wasn't reported to me."
"Kisame is still alive and well."
"Then he should still be out there. And don't think we can't hold off the Akatsuki from trying to save you because we can and we will."
Itachi sighed. "I am no longer associated with the Akatsuki."
Tsunade scoffed, "Bullshit."
"I swear my life on it."
Tsunade looked at him, really looked at him for the first time since coming down here. She hadn't noticed his missing cloak, his Leaf headband that was crossed through was also missing. But both could have been misplaced or destroyed in battle. Peering at his hand his ring was missing as well. She knew very well that each Akatsuki member wore a ring on a different finger; his was his right ring finger. All that was there was the tan area left behind after wearing it for many years. His ebony hair was loose of its ponytail and hung across his shoulders in a mess. Normally, when a criminal was taken prisoner their posture was stiff and ready to battle. But Itachi remained lax unconcerned about what was going on.
Suddenly Tsunade felt like she needed a drink. Her confusion created a crease on her forehead and she felt momentarily light headed.
"First, I'm going to get a drink," she told him, "and then you're going to tell me what the fuck is going on."
The day was growing darker and still there was no sign of Itachi anywhere. Hinata was beginning to worry about everything that had transpired between them since the moment they met. When they met she was a stranger but also he was trouble. It wasn't her intention for them to meet or for her to begin to like him. She gave him a chance and this is what happened. After last night, Hinata thought things increased to the next level. Whatever that meant. But something shifted. Something in the atmosphere converted to a higher presence and Hinata felt its strong power. When she thought of the night before she got giggly and excited the way she used to when Naruto gave her his attention.
Last night had been…
Hinata had tried to describe the actions of last night in her head countless of times throughout the day. But none had even come close to describing it perfectly. It was perfectly perfect. They were together for what felt like hours, hands and lips and tongues intertwining and mingling in a heated frenzy. Hinata had never felt so vulnerable and special in her entire life.
But when she woke up his side of the bed was cold and empty and she hadn't seen him since. She expected to wake up in his arms and they'd spend the day together, pretending like they lived a casual life. When she saw that he wasn't in the house this morning, Hinata realized that they could never pretend to live a normal life. He would always be on the run from his past, and if she went with him, she'd never stop running either. Everyone knew who Itachi was and they all wanted him away from them and their families. What good could come out of being together?
Despair filled Hinata's heart. She collapsed on her bed with a frustrated sigh. The sun was getting lower and lower. Hinata hoped Itachi was okay. Even with the possibility in her mind that Itachi had used her and left she still hoped he was okay. What if he did use her? Inside her stomach it felt like a weight being dropped to the bottom of the ocean. Tears stung her eyes and she hugged her pillow, the scent of him still fresh. It made the pain of the possibility hurt even more. Hinata had given herself to him, exposing herself, leaving herself vulnerable. She had trusted him. She remembered the way he touched her, how he looked at her with such gentleness as if he cherished her. He couldn't have used her, no way. She saw it in his eyes last night. He cared about her. Hinata wiped her tears from her face and refused to believe that chance.
Itachi must have gone out somewhere, which was dangerous. If anyone from the village had seen him there would be trouble.
It hit Hinata like a kunai-bomb to the face. She jumped out of bed and ran out the door within seconds and straight toward Naruto's apartment. She didn't know why she picked Naruto to go to but she didn't stop to think about it. Her heart pounding, Hinata pumped her legs across the gravelly road, common villagers glancing her way as she passed.
Out of breath, Hinata knocked on his door. When nobody answered she knocked again. She pounded on the door, thinking he was sleeping or in the shower.
"Hinata? Is that you?"
Hinata looked to her left and saw her teammate Kiba with Akamaru at his side. Kiba had his hood down and his hands in his sweater pockets. "Are you okay? You look out of breath."
Hinata attempted to keep a casual façade, as if nothing was wrong. Something is wrong. I know it. As soon as Hinata realized why Itachi never came back her heart acted like a jackhammer. She prayed she was wrong and that unfortunately, Itachi did use her. Because that, at least, would mean he was still alive and safe somewhere.
"Do you know where Naruto is?" She asked, forcing a sweet smile.
"Last I heard he was with Shikamaru in Lady Tsunade's office."
"Oh, okay! Thanks, Kiba!" Hinata walked briskly passed him, heading toward her office. Maybe the Hokage knew something also.
"I heard him and Shikamaru took down an Akatsuki member outside the village." Hinata's heart went cold. Her feet glued to the ground.
"An Akatsuki member?" It was a subconscious echo more than an inquiry.
"Yeah. Itachi Uchiha."