Teuchi placed the bowl of Miso Ramen before Sasuke, who in turn reached to grab a pair of chopsticks from a nearby pot. Kakashi had his nose buried in a book to keep himself busy as he waited for the Uchiha to finish his meal. Sasuke was still irritated by his prying, so being somewhat petty, he begrudgingly took his time with consuming the steamy broth. However, it soon became apparent that prolonging the consumption of his meal had no effect on the silver-haired man, who had been too immersed in his novel.

Sasuke considered himself to be an incredibly patient man, matter of fact, his attitude towards his former team, Takka/Hebi, is testament to that claim. If Sasuke could tolerate Suigetsu's incessant bickering, nagging, and taunting, as well as Karin's never-ending attempts to seduce him, then surely, he should be able to handle Kakashi's nuisance. Except he couldn't tolerate any of it. What was it about this Hatake that drove Sasuke to the edge of his own sanity. Why was it so easy for Kakashi to rile him up?

He couldn't find the answer, but the man next to him was still getting on his nerves, So, Sasuke changed his tactics to humiliating the Hokage instead, "Kakashi, honestly you should be ashamed. You are the Hokage, how could you openly be reading such filth" but the Hokage wasn't fazed by this chastisement, "Filth? This literary masterpiece is a guidebook to life. Have you forgotten that lesson? It was a decent while back, but now that things have evolved between you and Sakura, I could give you a refresher course" Kakashi suggested, causing the Uchiha to get flustered by the recollection.

Kakashi caught the reaction and jeered, "Or perhaps you prefer a more practical approach. I could always ask Sakura to join the lesson too" This did it for the Uchiha, who had turned his Sharingan on. "Oh, come on now, can't a sensei mess around with his former student without being burned to a crisp" Kakashi said amused, and a frustrated Sasuke let out an irritated tsk. He downed the remainder of his bowl's contents and left money on the counter before he walked out of the shop. If he stays any longer, he would no doubt commit treason.

"We're actually headed down this way" Kakashi remarked to him. Sasuke stopped in his place, reconsidering if he should join him on this little mission of his. He would definitely strangle the broom-haired man if he continues with his nuisance. "Find someone else to help you" he said emphatically, but Kakashi rebutted, "I would, but there's no one else but you who could take on this mission. You'll understand more once we get there" Kakashi said more seriously. "Then figure it out yourself" Sasuke threw back, and Kakashi let out a sigh, "Alright, I'm sorry. Still so temperamental I see; I promise to behave. There, satisfied?"

Sasuke was still considering leaving Kakashi to deal with whatever it is on his own, but he did promise to do whatever it takes to atone, and if Kakashi is saying only Sasuke could take on this mission, then he hated to think what consequences his childish stance could bring. He turned and walked towards the Hokage, until he eventually passed him and signifying that he agreed to tag along.

After several minutes of walking, Sasuke wondered when Kakashi was going to disclose this supposed mission's details. His ego was beckoning him not to ask, but his impatience was equally persuading him to inquire. Eventually, the latter won, and Sasuke asked, "So, what's this mission about?" but Kakashi's response had him wishing he listened to his ego instead, "You'll find out soon enough" still, Sasuke retorted, "You said you would disclose the details on the road" but Kakashi's response was still infuriating, "Right, so when we get on that road, I'll disclose the details to you"

Sasuke glared at Kakashi, and the Rokudaime could sense the Uchiha's intent to kill rise within him once more, so he hastily added, "Relax we're almost there" and sure enough, after rounding a corner and walking two more blocks, Kakashi halted in place and announced, "Here we are".

Sasuke stared at the site before him. His expression remained stoic, however, his mind raced with possibilities. This is what he meant when he said only Sasuke could take on this mission?! Well, Sasuke would be fooling himself if he didn't admit that he had a similar thought to what Kakashi had presented to him as well. Still, was Kakashi actually implying what Sasuke believed he was?

"Explain" he asserted.

"Well, I was going to do this earlier, but Itachi's sudden appearance derailed this for a while. I gave Naruto his heirloom, and this is yours. Itachi suggested that this be your test as well, and I agree with him that this is a good idea." Kakashi informed him.

"Explain better" Sasuke asserted again, he knew what Kakashi was asking him to do, but he still needed to hear it in words.

Kakashi rubbed his fingers through his broom-like hair and stated plainly to the Uchiha before him, "Sasuke Uchiha, as Hokage I hereby task you with the mission to restore the Leaf Village Police Force. On behalf of Jonin Commander Itachi, you are to present a detailed report, proposing a system that could be implemented to fend off crime and protect shinobi and citizens alike from any threat. This will be the deciding factor that would grant you the rank of Jonin. Itachi, Shikamaru, and I would be the judges who will take the decision to grant you said rank. Do you accept this mission?"

Ino followed Itachi as he led them towards their intended destination. He had informed her that the abandoned city they were headed to was situated nearby Konoha, but she hadn't expected to find further destruction of monuments, monasteries, shrines, and other buildings that were also abandoned along the way.

"Long ago, prior to the start of the Second Shinobi War, there existed a village named Uzushiogakure, have you heard of it?" Itachi asked in response to Ino's wondering about the destruction around them. The blonde shook her head, and Itachi continued, "Uzushio was an ally village to Konoha, and its inhabitants were the Uzumaki clan who were known to wield a great power and were feared by the other villages because of their potential. During the Second Shinobi War, those villages united to put an end to the clan, and so the village was no more. The Uzumaki clan were nearly extinct as a result, and the only survivors were those who had been outside of the village at the time of the attack".

Ino quickened her stride to meet Itachi's gaze. She was astonished by what she had just heard, 'The Uzumaki clan belonged to another village?' she mused, "Wait, what? Naruto's clan came from another village… Why didn't any of us learn of this if Uzushio were our allies? Why weren't we there to protect them" she asked in disbelief, and Itachi answered, "I believe the history of the village had been removed from the Academy's curriculum by the order of Lord Third to prevent Naruto from seeking justice for his clan. The Kyuubi was known to manipulate hatred and he probably didn't want to add fuel to that fire."

'So, it was a safety precaution' she mused. A well-founded safety precaution as well. There came a time in which Naruto would be covered in a menacing chakra cloak when overcome with anger. However, knowing who Naruto was, she doubts he would have ever resorted to seeking vengeance over his lost clan that he never knew. He never indicated that he had been too concerned over what happened in the past. No, Naruto never cared for what went down, only what could happen and how best to bring peace; to stop the hatred. And he never gave up until he got what he wanted. "It was unnecessary to keep that a secret. Naruto would have never sought vengeance." She proclaimed. "No, I don't think he would have" he agreed with her smiling.

Itachi knew Naruto's heart too well. Meeting the blond had presented him with an option he wish he had before he had borne the burden of being a traitor to his village, the option to rely on someone other than himself to see things through. Itachi trusted Naruto with Sasuke, and the blond did not let him down one bit. He had reflected long enough during his time in Limbo about the endless possibilities of how his life could have turned out had he been honest with Sasuke, and many others as well, and had already reached the conclusion to that thought…

"So, what about Konoha, why didn't we protect them?" She repeated her question once more. "Konoha hadn't made it in time to save the village, however, they had managed to bring an end to the war but at a very great cost as well. Many of the Senju clan perished during that war. The destruction you see around you was the result of the attack on the Uzumaki. The united villages took extra care by destroying the closest cities and buildings in case any escapees sought refuge in them."

"That's terrible" Ino gasped, "Terrible things are often done out of fear, and justified using that reasoning. The Uzumaki were incredibly powerful, and skilled fuinjutsu users. They were rivalled only by the Senju clan who were their allies and distant blood relatives. If they had decided to put an end to any of those villages, they would have succeeded in doing so quite easily." Itachi explained, and Ino followed up with a question, "Would they have done so?"

"The potential to act on our fears exists within every one of us simply because we can love. Nagato was an Uzumaki and without a doubt he had been powerful. His love for his best friend and parents who perished as well as his village that had been destroyed, all incidents that were caused by Konoha, made him seek retribution and he achieved it by destroying our village with a single jutsu. One could then assume that if the Uzumaki clan had learned of the threat prior to their destruction, they could have possibly prevented it by attacking their enemies first."

"So, you believe the attack on Uzushio was justified." Ino stated conclusively. Itachi did put an end to his clan before they rebelled against the village, after all. However, Itachi had more to say on the subject, "Naruto, in contrast, is also an Uzumaki and more powerful today than Nagato had been back then, he had known love and lost that love, yet he had somehow managed to see beyond his pain and anger and succeeded in bringing peace to our world by uniting all Shinobi countries. So, it's equally possible that the Uzumaki would have sought out a truce instead."

"So, you don't believe the attack was justified." Ino amended her earlier conclusion. "It is not that easy." Itachi retorted, "We cannot view things from a black and white perspective. The situation is usually far more nuanced than that, and many variables must be considered. We are limited by our perceptions, and often cannot see the options presented before us. I faced such a conundrum as you very well know, and many variables were unknown to me. Had I known then what I know today, I would have sought an option that saved both my clan and my village. Shisui wouldn't have needed to sacrifice himself either."

Shisui Uchiha.

Ino recalled from Itachi's memories how close those two had been. His death had been unfortunate, and one of Danzo's most heinous crimes as a result of his hate and mistrust towards the Uchiha. Sasuke had done Konoha a great service when he put an end to this ambitious machiavellian's life, who would have become the village's Hokage. What world would they be living in today if that had happened?

Itachi's expression remained indifferent, however, Ino could tell from his eyes that he was taken by a sadness, no doubt over his deceased best friend. Perhaps if she encouraged him to speak about Shisui, it could ease some of that pain for him. "What was he like?" she asked, and the subtle curl on the corner of his lips that would have otherwise been undetectable had she not been able to tell because of the memories she had seen, informed her that asking him about Shisui was indeed helpful.

"He was incredibly kind and selfless. He loved his village and his clan equally, and the village as well as our clan highly respected him. He was a proficient Sharingan user and his skill with the Mangekyo was unrivalled until this day. Other shinobi would flee immediately upon encountering him or sensing his presence. To some he was viewed as a great threat, and because of that proficiency, Danzo had gone after his eyes and his life. Which is why Shisui had chosen to end his life. He saw it was a way to protect the peace. He died for the good of his village and people. He was a brother to me, and the best person I had ever known. Shisui was truly good, and he deserves to be here more than I do" he ended despairingly.

Ino frowned at his confession. Did Itachi believe he didn't deserve his second chance at life? "It sounds like he was someone I would have liked to know, but Itachi, from what little I know about you, there is no doubt in my mind that you deserve to be here" she stated with a comforting smile that made Itachi feel more at ease, as he returned a smile of his own then he announced "We're here" as they descended from upon the trees and onto an open pasture just before the entrance to an abandoned city gate.

A sign that read 'Sky Ward' was placed upon the entrance in Kanji letters, "The name of this city was lost with time, but some refer to it as 'Skyward City' because of the sign on this gate, and others call it the Abandoned City." Itachi informed her.

The city itself was a haunting and eerie sight. She followed Itachi's lead to the supplies shop, and along the way they had passed many buildings and structures that had been weathered and worn by time, with their windows broken, crumbling facades, and overgrown vegetation coming out of and seeping into the cracks in what was left of the walls. The streets and the sidewalks were also cracked and uneven with weeds and grass growing out of the pavement. Nature was reclaiming the land on which this ghost town stood.

She wondered if the inside of some of these buildings were just as eerie and was soon going to find out as Itachi had stopped just before an entrance to one of the few structures that had remained somewhat intact. "This is the place. The supplies shop lies inside this building" He proclaimed, and Ino asked, "Why would anyone set up shop in a wasteland like this one?" to which Itachi remarked, "I hear the rent is quite reasonable".

"…" Ino deadpanned. Then her face morphed into an expression of disbelief. Itachi had a sense of humour?! "Was that a… joke?" she probed.

"Not a very good one I take it, if you have to ask" he said.

Spending time with this Uchiha was making it more clear to Ino that Itachi was very different to Sasuke, and she knew which brother she liked better. She shuddered at the thought of Sasuke even attempting to make a joke. That was a scary thought indeed! And no doubt a sign that it was the end of times. "No, I just didn't think you were the type of person who made jokes." She explained. "I wasn't" he confessed, "but my partner, during my time at the Akatsuki, was. I guess he must have rubbed off on me".

Ah, Kisame Hoshigake… or as Ino likes to call him, Shark Breath…

"Shall we?" he asked, and Ino nodded as she followed him into the creepy building and down the dingy hallway that smelled of decay. The air was stifling and each passageway they had taken looked similar to the one before it. "How can you tell where we are going? All these walls look the same, this place is a depressing labyrinth!" she chimed. "The Sharingan helps me commit anything to memory. I had memorised these passageways a long time ago" he informed her. Ino, realised the question she asked had been stupid, since she was the one to guide Itachi all over the village so he may do exactly that, commit everything to memory with his Sharingan. "Right, sorry. It slipped my mind that you could do that" she sheepishly admitted.

"Can it truly be, meow?!" a whiny and pinched male voice called from somewhere beyond the shadows behind them. "Unless our eyes are cheating us, it is him indeed. Meow." a more low-pitched and husky female voice responded.

Ino spun to locate where the voices were coming from, and Itachi, who had noticed she had been agitated, stepped beside her, and held her hand to reassure her that there is no danger.

"Denka, Hina" Itachi called out to them, "It's good to see you again" he took out a bottle of catnip and presented it to them.

"It is Itachi! Meow!" Denka chirped.

"Nekobaa will be ecstatic! Meow! To learn that you aren't dead after all! Meow!" Hina trilled.

Itachi had been happy to hear that Nekobaa had still been around. The felines were now eyeing Ino, who had found them both to be completely adorable. She leaned in to pet them and they questioned threateningly with a hiss and a growl, "And who's this little girl?" which made her jump back to Itachi's side grasping his arm.

"This is Ino Yamanaka. She's a close friend of mine" he said as he slipped some more catnip into her hand to give to the ninja cats so she would gain their favour. Ino stared at the bottle of treats he had given her then bent back down and handed the cats the catnip, to which they responded with a delighted purr. "A friend of Itachi's is a friend of ours" they trilled in sync. 'Yeah right! more like anyone who feeds your greedy stomach!' the blonde mused.

"We'll be on our way to see Nekobaa now. Try to stay out of trouble you two" Itachi advised them as he scratched their ears, and they purred as they rubbed their bodies against his to show their gratitude.

Itachi and Ino continued their way through the passageways and towards Nekobaa's den.

Author's Note:

The next chapter is in the works, and it might be another week until I post.

Next Chapter:

Nekobaa gives Itachi some info...