Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Chapter 27: Weighed Down

When I die do not put me in the ground

Make me one with fire.

Return me to the sea,

Where I will be carried away by the wind

So that one day I may carcass your face once again.

Flashback

He looked up at the night sky, there was not a star to be found. The dark overcast obscured even the brightest of lights from up above. He looked down at the opaque white paper in his hands. He began to open it up gently. The paper crinkled in the still night. He could not make out the black ink markings of the charm that was drawn by hand on the face of the lantern.

Peace.

It was the same every year. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded-up sheet of paper. He hesitated as he held the letter that articulated his thoughts and the things he wanted to communicate. He put it back in his pocket after regarding it for some minutes.

"Okaasan," his voice was barely above a whisper. "A lot has happened this past year," he cleared his throat as the emotion began to well up in him. "You have a grandson now," he could hear the smile in his voice. "He looks a lot like me, especially how I did at that age. We're beginning to see streaks of personality come through. He has a lot of it."

"He's incredible. He's fearless which makes him a handful." Minato chuckled. "He's already mastered crawling. He can't sit still for more than a minute. He's so curious. He wants to be in the middle of everything. We can't take our eyes off of him for more than a second. He's fast. He's loud. He's so full of life and joy. He's everything I could have hoped for and so much more."

He paused to gather himself. His eyes were dry despite his throat feeling heavy. "Sakura is doing really well. Last time, I mentioned that she was nervous about what kind of mom she would be. She blows me away every day. She is giving it her all every day. I'm falling more and more in love with her every day." His tone was colored with pride. "She's the best thing that ever happened to me." He added softly. "She wanted to be here today but Naruto's not feeling well. He's going to be fine. Nothing to worry about."

"She sends her love." He reached into his left breast pocket and pulled out a piece of paper folded three times. It was sealed. "I'll send Sakura's letter up with the lantern." He attached it to the inside. "She insists on using biodegradable paper. I hope you don't mind."

He took in a deep breath. "They're my everything." He smiled softly. "I'm so lucky I have time with them. I won't let anything happen to them."

His blue eyes looked back up at the gray clouds. "Watch over them for me from up there too." He held out the lantern with his left hand as flames danced on the index finger of his right. He watched as it took to the sky. He kept his eyes trained on the singular orange sphere of light until it was enveloped by the clouds.

He closed his eyelids over his cobalt eyes when a gust of wind dried the tears from his face.

"Thank you, Okaasan." He could not help but spare a small smile as he brought his hand to his heart.

End of Flashback

Her hair hung over her face wildly. Her pristine clothes were marred with black spots. She felt herself getting weaker and weaker with each passing second. There was nothing she could do about it. She was cut off from her, at least she knew it. The other was completely none the wiser. She was too busy being overwhelmed with life to notice. She was taking a beating from all directions; she did not feel the catastrophe that was happening inside of her.

She gathered her strength, what she had left. It pulled at her fingertips. She propelled it forward with a feral scream. She roared as the light chakra attacked the black ink. She poured everything she had. Maybe just maybe she would notice. Maybe she would remember.

She fell onto her knees. Her white robes became covered in filth from the residue of her attack. The seal hung strong. It did not relent. She panted. Her white hair fell around her. Her gold eyes narrowed. The three green seals on her forehead flashed; the vibrancy of their color dimmed.

She let out another scream. It was one of pure frustration. She pounded the ground. There was nothing she could do. She was helpless. Time was ticking.

If she did not realize soon she would die. If Sakura did not realize what was happening to her, inside of her, she would die. Her chakra sustained Sakura. She needed it. And she was going to be completely without it soon. There was nothing she could do for her.

Akemi pushed herself up to her feet. She reached for the bars. They burned her. She stumbled backward. The seal, the seal that the ANBU had placed on her, completely overwhelmed her. At first, she did not even notice when the poison entered the seals, the seals that bound Sakura and Akemi together. By the time she did notice it was too late. The poison was working at overwhelming the seal, her seal, severing the connection.

She could not warn Sakura of the ANBU's motives. But how could she? She did not recognize her life force was impacted until it was too late. She was already done. She could only wait and watch. She could only hope that Sakura figured it out. She had to. She was on her own. She could not help her this time.

The sounds of the chair being scrapped across the floor momentarily filled the air. Naruto had already run off to get dressed. Minato had followed after him. Sakura called out to Itachi just as he was returning his plate to the sink.

"Help me dry the dishes?" She asked him with a smile.

Itachi nodded. He grabbed the white towel that hung from the cabinets. He began to dry as Sakura placed the dishes on the rack.

They managed to hold off on this conversation long enough. Both knew it would only be a matter of time before it had to be had.

"Do you want to tell me what the other day was about?" She asked him without looking up from the pan that she was scrubbing. He could see the bags under her eyes from where he stood.

He fixed his eyes on the plate that he was currently drying. He placed it on the counter to start the stack. "I can't." He kept his voice devoid of emotion. The corner of his lips tugged downwards slightly. He added another dry plate.

"Are you spending a lot of time with him?" She grunted as she worked to lift particularly stubborn food residue. It did not want to cooperate with her. The pan needed more time to soak but she did not have the time for it.

"I am." He said flatly. He wiped the glass in his hand clean. He set it down without a sound.

"Can you tell me why?" She asked him in a light tone. She put the pan on the drying rack.

He set his jaw. "I can't." He said tightly. His expression did not change.

Sakura let out a small sound of frustration. "I'm starting to get worried about you, Itachi-kun. I'm running short on patience." She admitted as she looked at him. Her jade eyes were stern.

"Just a little longer." He held her gaze. He felt guilty for piling more on.

Sakura sighed. She dried her hands. "Okay. Only because I don't think you've lost your way. You're more than capable of reading people and their intentions." She pinned him with a solemn expression. "That being said I won't put up with much more." She grabbed a glass in each hand and placed them back in the cabinets.

He nodded. It sounded fair enough to him. "You won't regret it." He vowed. He placed the plates in their spot. She finished transferring the rest of the glasses to their home.

She nodded. "Good." She really did not need another reason to doubt herself. "Thank you for your help, Itachi-kun."

They finished organizing the utensils together in silence.

He looked around the space. It had great bones. Even with the sparse shelves and rusty display, he could see the potential. He got a glimpse of what it was and what it could be. It was by no means large. There was hardly enough room for seven people to be in the store at once. It would take work and some elbow grease but it was a start.

He let himself relish the excitement that was growing in him. He had not felt like this in some time. The grin on his face was a culmination of it all. He could not help but think of everything that led him to this moment.

He looked over at the old man. He was bald. He was missing most of his top teeth. He has a wispy white beard. He was not frail by any means. He had been a formidable warrior at one point. The armor that was displayed in the middle of the store was a testament to that face.

"You were a samurai?" He asked him in a loud voice, gesturing to the ceremonial armor. He made sure to talk slowly so that the man could read his lips.

The old man grinned his gapped smile. "A long time ago. When I lived in the Land of Iron." He answered loudly back.

He raised his brows. "You're from there too?"

The old man chuckled. "Why do you think I put up with you for this long?"

Joben smiled his dimpled smile. He rested his arms on the counter. "I thought you liked me for my personality."

The old man rolled his eyes heavenward. "You're not that interesting, Pretty Boy." The man turned around. He grabbed the long blade that was on display behind his head. He threw it at Joben. "It is a done deal if you can tell me how old this katana is and its value."

He studied the intricate designs on the leather sheath. He checked the hilt, he recognized the design. It was from back where they both hailed. He pulled it out of its casing. He held the sword. He moved in a half circle as he maneuvered the weapon, getting a feel for it.

He frowned. He put it back in the sheath. "It's old. I'd say around fifty years give or take a couple of years." The man's eyes gleamed. His lips were pressed into a hard line. Joben did not waver under his scrutiny.

"As for its value, it's not worth the cost of the leather that houses it." He set it back on the glass counter.

"Right, you are, son. Never put the expensive stuff out on display. It will do you good to remember that. Don't want to give anyone any ideas." The man grinned. He looked satisfied. "This place is in good hands with you. Now I can retire in peace."

Joben hesitated. "Are you sure, Buno-san? What I am offering is well below market rate." Even he knew that and he knew nothing of Konoha's real estate market.

The man brushed off his concerns with a wave of his hand and a loud exclamation. "You are a warrior, son. Warriors cannot afford to be indecisive. Tell me you accept the terms."

Joben nodded. A grin broke out on his face. "I accept." He bowed. Shopkeeper Buno bowed back.

"Done deal." He grinned. His face turned contemplative. "Honor the way in which you were raised. I worked hard for my name and reputation. I expect the same from you."

"I will," he stated without hesitation. He had every intention of upholding the good name of the weapon shop.

"Just don't tell my daughter and her entitled little shit of a husband about our agreement. They'll have a cow!" He laughed maniacally.

"Buno-san?" Joben asked uneasily as his smile faltered. He had remembered Choza telling him the man was deaf and going blind. He did not mention if he was in possession of his faculties. He seemed fine but he had no baseline to measure it off on.

"Don't worry young man!" Buno assured him. "It is mine to do with what I like." He pulled out papers folded two times vertically. "It's all yours." He handed him the paperwork.

Joben took it. He could not believe it was happening.

"Don't be late on the rent for the room upstairs." He warned.

Joben nodded his head. "I won't. I'll be moving in a couple of weeks." He assured him.

The man shrugged. "I don't care if you don't move in for a year. I expect my rent at the first of the month." His expression became reflective. "I hope to see this place back to her former glory one last time before it's my time."

Joben brought the paperwork to his chest. "It would be my great honor to help realize that. Thank you, Buno-san."

The man waved his arm. "Yeah-yeah. So dramatic and sappy this new generation." He looked back. "Catch."

Joben caught the keys.

"I'm out of here, sucker." The old man left him standing there. Joben could not help but wonder just what he had signed up for.

He studied the serious lines of the Kurama clan's head's face. It was a hot day. The even hotter tea that sat between them was untouched. His curled hands rested on his thighs. They were both sitting back on their heels. The warm breeze reminded them that the day had yet to reach its peak heat.

It was peaceful, the atmosphere in the compound. The large trees provided relief for both wildlife and humans. The bird chirped overhead. It was a symphony of sound. Each group was different but worked together in harmony.

The compound was vast. The wooden houses with shoji doors were spread out throughout the place. He supposed it was once full and bustling but the current state of things was far more distressing. Only one house was occupied. There were more birds living on a single branch of a tree than people. There was only one family surviving of the once large and prominent clan.

Maybe that was why they held on so fiercely to the hope that their daughter would flourish and live a normal-ish life. Normal was relative. Humans are resilient. They made do with what they had and what they were dealt with. Normal was not a stagnant concept. It transformed and evolved as life does.

Murakumo's face was set in a contemplative mask as he brushed the hairs of his mustache from his lips.

"I'm sure you're aware by now that I have been summoned as one of the three."

Itachi nodded. "That is why I am here. If the current developments with my clan make you uncomfortable with my presence here, I understand."

Murakumo rubbed the side of his face. His honey-colored eyes studied Itachi closely. "Do you have ulterior motives that do not line up with helping my daughter overcome her demons?"

Itachi held his gaze. "No. What I do is not a reflection on what my clan does."

Murakumo sighed. "So I suppose what your clan does is not a reflection on you"

Itachi sat in silence. Murakumo's eyes were focused on the snake of steam that was traveling from the tea.

"I have no qualms with you continuing with your training." He said firmly. His eyes flickered to Itachi's.

"Neither do I," Itachi responded.

Murakumo picked up the clay cup that was painted olive green. It had a tree with dark black bark and delicate yellow flowers. Itachi followed his lead. He brought the hot liquid to his mouth. They both finished their tea in silence as they stared at the birds.

His dark eyes wandered over the studio. The light that filtered in through the window, filled the room with the glow of daylight. He studied the paintings with his hands clasped behind his back. His eyes kept coming back to one piece in particular. It had been off to the corner, not a part of the pack. Bold, angry strokes of red paint had been brushed over the artwork. He could just make out enough of it. The fangs, the horns, the claws. It was a ferocious beast in the body of a little girl. No one could have guessed it. He relaxed his posture.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" The voice called out in false bravado.

He turned around slowly. He smiled at her. "My name is Shunsuke." He said calmly.

"You're a police officer," Yakumo said in surprise, noting his uniform. Her whole demeanor changed. She seemed to relax instantly. Her guard was down. He could not blame her. She was just a child. A child that did not receive the basic training of the academy.

He felt her honey-colored eyes study him. "You look a little like Itachi-sensei. Are you related?" The curiosity in her voice only seemed to grow.

"I am. I was actually looking for him. The front gate was open so I wandered in. I got distracted by all the art. Did you paint these?" He sounded almost embarrassed.

She nodded. "I did." She came to stand next to him. "Itachi-sensei is having tea with my Otosan. I can take you to them." She offered helpfully.

He smiled. "Thank you for offering but I think they are on their way to us." He had spiked his chakra. He could sense them approaching. He looked at the girl. "I didn't catch your name."

She blinked. She chuckled nervously. "Sorry. I forgot my manners. I'm Yakumo. Nice to meet you, Uchiha-san."

He chuckled. "Nice to meet you too, Yakumo-chan." They both turned to see the stern face of Murakumo and the blank one of Itachi.

"Cousin, you found me." Shun smiled easily as if he did not understand that his presence was problematic and unwelcome.

"Oniisan," Itachi said evenly. Yakumo looked between the two Uchiha with a great deal of curiosity.

"Yakumo, can you go check the bird feeder?" Murakumo smiled kindly at his daughter, his eyes held a tightness in them.

"Sure, Otosan." She spared them one last curious glance before leaving the studio.

Murakumo took a step. "Uchiha-san, what can I do for you?"

Itachi's eyes never left Shun's face. "I was looking for Itachi. I remembered he told me he would be here today." It was a lie but Shun knew Itachi would not call him out on it.

Murakumo's eyes briefly gazed at Itachi. The teen's frame had stiffened slightly. "You found him. Please take your leave. I don't mean to be rude but it is best we keep our interactions to a minimum until after the hearing is over."

Shun's face fell. "Oh! Of course. My deepest apologies, Kurama-san. It completely slipped my mind." He looked completely apologetic. It was convincing.

"No problem." Murakumo turned to Itachi. "I trust that you can see yourselves out?"

Itachi nodded before he bowed to the Kurama. The man dipped his head in response. The walk back to the gate was a quiet one. Itachi was stewing in his thoughts.

It was not until they entered the open air of the streets of Konoha that Itachi addressed Shun. "What was that back there?" He asked.

Shun shrugged in a bored manner. "I was looking for you."

"There are better ways to find me than to defy a direct order from the Hokage." Itachi struggled to keep his voice level. He could not afford to give Shun the upper hand.

"Nothing was defied. Stop worrying so much." He grinned at him. It was true. Shun excelled at toeing the line.

"Why push for all of this? For the girl? What is so special about her?" Itachi asked the questions that were plaguing his mind.

"She is one of our own," Shun stated. "We can't abandon her."

"How does the hearing reconcile with your One Konoha goal? " Itachi furrowed his brow. He did not understand why Shun was fighting so hard to get custody of an Uchiha while he claimed clans were the root of all of Konoha's problems.

"She's the key," he looked at Itachi with a haughty expression. "She's the archetype."

"What?" It was not often that he was caught off guard. The question slipped out before he could refine it some more.

Shun's expression changed. It was replaced by his fake easy-going demeanor. It was like a switch. Itachi knew he would not get anywhere further.

"Shun is a problem," Fugaku stated the obvious. They were deep inside the alcoves in Hokage Monument. Right behind the Firsts' face.

Minato nodded in agreement. "Did the dinner reveal anything?"

Fugaku pressed his face in a firm line. "It was a waste of time. Wakato kept the focus on his son. He was not forthcoming with anything." The memory of the evening made him visibly frustrated.

Shisui's face became stony. "So beyond his crazy goal, we know nothing. Not how he plans on making it a reality. Why he wanted the kunai? Why he's interested in the Kurama heir? Nothing."

Itachi found himself mirroring Shisui's frustration. They had the goal. They had some pieces. They had names. But it was not enough. None of it was even actionable. If they arrested Shun now there would not be enough to hold him and it would only make him more popular. It would feed into the notion that the system is rigged against the Uchiha.

In fact, he had seen new faces trickle in. The numbers were up to 17 now. A fact that was known by all in the space.

"We know more than we did just a few weeks ago." It was starting to wear on Minato, being the one to keep morale up. The investigation was slow going. Even more, than he had initially predicted. If Shun was planning a coup he had to have been planning it for years. Maybe the plan was in action even before he was born. They were so far behind.

"What's with this hearing business? I know for a fact he doesn't care about the girls." Shisui's face was a mask of disgust. "Is it just another attempt to destabilize the seat?"

Fugaku frowned. The thought had crossed his mind. Fugaku had been forced to act. There would be no good outcome. Either they would be separated or an Uchiha would be raised by an outsider. He would be blamed regardless.

"He has plans for her, Tukiko." Itachi's voice was frigid. "I just don't know what." He looked over at Minato."Wolf is still at his post?"

Minato nodded. "He watches them." Every night he was out there. He ran his investigation in the early mornings. He was probably running on fumes. He would look into having Ox or Owl relieve him.

Itachi nodded. He had given all his updates and from the looks of the faces around him, they had done the same.

Minato sighed. "I'm sorry to keep giving you more Itachi but keep an eye on Yakumo as well. Until we learn what Shun is up to."

"Of course, Hokage-sama." He would have done it even if the Fourth had not officially asked him.

"Let's get through this hearing." He ran a hand through his blond locks. His jaw clenched. "What are the odds that Shun keeps his word if the verdict does not go his way?"

Fugaku sighed. "Shun is a lot of things but he is not a liar."

Itachi held his tongue to keep from contradicting his father. He did not think anyone truly knew the real Shun.

She stared at the summon in her hand. The date had been set. The hearing would start in four days. She had read and reread the scroll several times. The words on it did not waver once. The message was clear. She looked out the window. She brought her hands into the tiger seal. She felt the release of chakra just as she came face to face with herself. The clone nodded at her. Kushina saw her slip through the window. Her red hair flowed behind her.

She gently opened the door to the girls' room. She leaned her head against the doorframe. Tears pricked at her eyes as she watched them sleep. They were curled towards each other. Karin had an army of stuffed animals watching her back. Kushina's eyes landed on their held hands. They were together. They would stay that way.

He stared at the determined eyes of the clone. He knew it was a clone based solely on the fact that its eyes were not as expressive as Kushina's. It was not even close. A frown tugged at his lips.

"Is she sure?" He asked the clone carefully.

The clone nodded. "It's what she wants."

Minato closed his eyes briefly. "Okay. I'll arrange a meeting with Fugaku for tomorrow. Tell her to come at 10 and not to be late."

The clone nodded. He looked at it with apprehension when it did not vanish out of existence. It had more to say. He could see it on its face.

"Yes?" He asked evenly.

"Why aren't you at home?" The clone asked him with accusation. Maybe it was not too far off from the real one after all.

"I have a lot of work to do." He answered.

The clone frowned. It crossed its arms. "That's never stopped you before in all these years." She narrowed her eyes. "Sakura is probably waiting up for you."

He rubbed his face. He did not need a clone of all things to lecture him. It was not even real. "Sakura is fine. She can manage."

The clone's frown deepened. It looked very disappointed in him. "If you don't pay enough attention things have a tendency to boil over."

His lips tugged upwards. "It's not like her to be so indirect."

The clone's eyes hardened. "She is not the only one not acting like herself."

"Thank you for the advice, clone." Minato watched as the clone vanished.

His blue eyes focused on the two empty food containers at the edge of his desk. He let out a long sigh.

A crimson eye opened up lazily. A substance slowly was spreading towards him. He watched as the puddle grew with each drop. It was a dense substance. It sank to the bottom of the water that was all around him. It was tacky, it stuck together. The beast raised his head.

He watched with interest as it gathered together. The purple puddle moved ominously under the water. It reached the bars. He stood at full height. The substance started to move upwards. It coated the metal, it collected in one spot.

"Interesting." He said to himself. He lowered back down onto his stomach. He rested his massive head on his front legs. He closed his eyes. His white, toothy grin stood out in the darkness.

His yellow eyes snapped open. The fine hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. His brow furrowed. It was the wrong time for his usual visitors. It was too late for Sakura, she should be sleeping. And it was too early for Wolf, he should be at his post. He turned around. The chains rattled loudly.

"S-Spider?" He looked up at her. He pushed onto his elbows. "What are you doing here? D-d-id some-mm-thing h-happen?" He asked nervously. His stutter worsened as his concern grew.

"I'm sorry, Bat," her voice was remorseful.

His stomach dropped. His mind raced with all the possibilities. It could only mean one thing if she was here. His panicked eyes asked her the silent question that he could not bring himself to verbalize.

"I need more time," Spider said as she shook her head. She brought her hand to his shoulder. A black seal appeared. A searing pain raced through him. It was so overwhelming that he did not even have a chance to let out a scream. His eyes rolled to the back of his head. His whole body went slack.

The black lines woven into intricate shapes and symbols dissolved. The ink evaporated into the air without a trace. She turned him back on his side, she was careful to rustle his chains.

"I really am sorry." She whispered soothingly as she brought the blanket to cover him. She brushed the hair from his forehead. She closed his open eyelids over his wide eyes.

Minato and Kushina turned to watch Fugaku enter the room. The Uchiha did not look pleased in the slightest to be the last one in the room. His eyes clocked the faces in the room. He dipped his head in greeting the Hokage.

"Apologies for being late." He must have gotten the time wrong.

Minato shook his head. "You're not late. Uzumaki-san was just very early.

She frowned. "I just want to get this over with." She looked at Fugaku. "I'm prepared to withdraw my petition for custody on condition."

The men in the room stared at her in varying degrees of surprise. Minato was the first to recover. "Are you sure?"

Kushina nodded. "I slept on it." Her violet eyes never left Fugaku's face.

The Uchiha furrowed his brow. "Why?"

Pain flashed across her eyes. "I want to be their guardian. More than anything. But it may not be what is best for them. I can't deny them the opportunity to have a community where they belong. They need stability and a family. And I think the clan offers them their best chance." Sakura would not be happy but she would have to get in line. It was not about them. It was what was best for the girls.

Minato blinked at the display of maturity and awareness displayed by Kushina. It caught him off guard and judging by the stunned look on Shikaku's face, he was not the only one. His blue eyes settled on Fugaku. The man was an emotionless mask.

"What is your condition?" Fugaku asked her.

"You take them both. They stay together." She said firmly. Her hands hung loosely at her sides. She was at peace with her decision.

Minato looked at Fugaku. He was deep in thought. "What do you say, Uchiha-san?" He asked evenly. It seemed more than reasonable to him.

Fugaku looked up at Kushina first before turning to Minato. "I appreciate the offer but I cannot accept it."

Kushina's hands curled into fists. "Why not?" She asked through clenched teeth. She was giving him what he wanted without a fight.

"I am only interested in the eldest," Fugaku stated matter-of-factly. "The clan will not accept an outsider as one of their own."

"Tukiko. Her name is Tukiko." Kushina grounded out. "She's lost her mother, her grandmother, her home, and her village. She cannot lose her sister too. It's too much."

"She's old enough to decide for herself," Shikaku spoke up.

Kushina shook her head. "I am not putting her through the hearing. There is no need to traumatize them both further."

"I agree. They will not speak at the hearing." Minato declared with finality. "Since Uchiha-san does not accept the terms, does that mean your petition stays in place, Uzumaki-san?"

She set her face in a hard line. "Yes. I will see you all at the hearing." She looked at Fugaku with an upturned lip. "I will not lose."

"Then it is decided." Minato dismissed them.

Itachi watched the village from his vantage point. The people milling about looked no bigger than ants. He could barely make out the tops of their heads. His leg swung from his perch. His thoughts were filled with a certain face with dark hair and dark eyes. His heart panged. He missed her. This was by far the longest he had gone without hearing her voice, eating her food.

He was a prodigy. But he was still a thirteen-year-old boy. He missed his mother. He missed his home. Seeing his father had been difficult. He had almost followed Fugaku home. The man had to remind him that he rested his head elsewhere. It had been jarring. He had forgotten.

He spoke with his father more often now that he was no longer being followed. He saw Sasuke every night. Fugaku was aware of that fact unbeknownst to both his wife and youngest son. His mother had been the only one he had not spoken to since the beginning when she brought over the bento and begged him to come home.

The food eventually stopped coming. He tried not to read too much into it. She did not know. Sasuke was too young to understand most of it. Fugaku was the only member who had the full purview of the situation. He knew just how fragile and volatile it was. He trusted her but he did not trust her ability to stay away if she knew the truth. In order for it to be convincing she needed to be kept in the dark. And it broke his heart because he knew that her heart was already broken.

He knew his father loved him. Fugaku was a stern and disciplined man. He showed his love through his actions. He was not one to verbalize it or communicate it through touch. He had never uttered the words 'I love you,' to him. He doubted if he even said them to his mother.

He felt like an imposture. This mission had spiraled out of control. He had managed to disappoint all the people he cared about the most at one time or the other. It had not been his intention but it was his reality. Everywhere he looked he only saw his failures staring back at him.

His gaze was fixed on the rooftop of Hokage Tower. He had set out to save the village and his clan - the parts that could be salvaged. He was doing it for his brother. He was doing it for himself. He did not want to live to see another war. Especially between his home and his clan.

He wanted peace. He wanted everyone to prosper. He wanted them all to have their best chance. This was the only way he saw it happening. So he chose to sacrifice time with his family, peace of mind, and his mental health. He kept sacrificing his today for a chance at a better tomorrow.

Some part of him realized that only the moment he was currently in was guaranteed. Everything else was either long gone or just a vague notion. A person only had a moment and those moments were strung together like beads of a necklace. Life was made up of moments of time. He did not know how many more he had left. Even if the disease did not get him something else or someone else could. He could only hope that he did not come to regret how he chose to spend his time.

He closed his eyes as he registered a familiar presence. It was risky. But he did not have to tell him. He knew that.

"You shouldn't be here." He said blandly. His eyes watched as a hawk took to the air and plucked a songbird out of the sky. The small yellow bird was limp in the raptor's talons.

"I can say the same to you." Shisui sighed. "I wasn't followed." He had been careful even more so than usual.

They were hidden from the world. The only way they could be spotted was from behind. It was nearly impossible to sneak up on someone. He assumed that was why Itachi picked it as his favorite spot. It was also quiet. One could hear their own thoughts.

"Shun is a wall. I'm not getting anywhere with him." Itachi said more to himself than Shisui. He did not bother to hide his frustration with himself. Shisui would have picked up on it either way.

The older Uchiha came to sit next to Itachi. They watched the village together. "I know you want to go home. We all want you back home." Shisui folded a knee, he rested his forearm on it. "But you need to be patient."

"What good is my patience doing?" Itachi scoffed.

Shisu leaned back on his hands. He looked at the sky. "We'll figure it out. We're figuring it out. It may not seem like it but you're not alone, Itachi. We are with you. I'm with you."

Itachi spared him a glance from the corner of his eye. Shisui seemed sure about his words. He rarely participated in false placations. He was straightforward. That was what Itachi appreciated the most about him.

"I don't know how Tukiko and Yakumo fit in." He voiced out loud.

Shisui nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."

It took her fifteen minutes to climb the steps. She had timed it. She put her hands on her hip as she struggled to catch her breath. This would have to be her last visit with Bat in a while. She was not sure her body could make the trek again especially given how hot it was getting. He would understand. He was reasonable like that.

She looked at the basket that sat on a rock. She had been unable to bake anything from scratch so she did the next best thing, she had stopped by a local bakery and picked up some baked goods for him. She hoped the quantity made up for the fact that it was not homemade. She even picked up a couple of slices of cake for herself. She felt she more than deserved it. She just had to be sure to hide it behind vegetables so that Naruto would not find them.

Her breathing was starting to even out. She bent her knees slightly as she maneuvered to pick up the basket without having to bend over. That was something she could no longer do. It would not be long before she could not see her toes anymore. She grunted as she reached. Her fingers curled around the handle. She lifted it up triumphantly.

She was still grinning when she walked - with a slight waddle - up to Parrot. He opened the gate for her wordlessly. She nodded in thanks. She had come to appreciate how simple and consistent their relationship was. There were no misunderstandings. No conflict. It was beautiful. She was already turning the corner when the gate fully closed.

"Good morning, Ban!" She called out in a sing-song voice. She slipped through the door that opened. "Oh, don't be like that." She was unfazed by his back. "I know it's been a while but I brought a whole bunch of things. You're going to want to take a look. I even brought a slice of mango cake! Doesn't that sound perfect for summer?"

Her green eyes stared at his unmoving frame. A frown pulled at her lips. "Ban?" She called out louder. She set the basket down at the foot of the bed. Something was wrong. She tapped his shoulder. "Ban!" She called his name in distress.

She brought two fingers to his neck. "Help!" She shouted over her shoulder. There was a pulse. She looked back at Ban's unconscious face. Her stomach twisted into knots.

Tsunade pressed her lips into a firm line. She looked torn between wanting to break the clipboard in her hands in half and punching a new window into the wall. She could not look at the two pairs of eyes that were staring at her, for two very distinct reasons. She felt guilty for letting down the green ones. She felt like a fool for letting the blue ones talk her into standing down.

"He's comatose. There was a sudden influx of poison. It completely overwhelmed his brain." She said tightly. Anger danced in her eyes. The clipboard that she was leaning against her stomach, rattled in her hands.

"Can he be brought out? Can you cure him? Minato's cobalt eyes bore into Tsunade's. She could see guilt swimming in them. He had moved Bat upstairs so that he could be examined but had also done it so that Sakura did not have to risk breaking her neck navigating the levels. It also made Bat more exposed.

Tsunade avoided their gaze. Her stomach churned in anger. She could not believe this had happened.

"Is he?" Sakura asked tentatively. The look on her face broke Tsunade's heart.

"It's too soon to tell." She admitted in a clipped tone.

Sakura covered her mouth. She held her forehead. She looked unsteady on her feet. Tsunade watched her closely. She would order her into a seat if it came down to it. The guilt was all-consuming. Sakura did not even register anything else. Tears were pricking at her eyes.

"Can his memories be checked?" He hated to ask but someone had to.

Both Sakura and Tsunade looked at him outraged. "He could be brain dead, Minato!" Sakura snapped at him. "Absolutely not, no one is poking around."

It took everything not to wince at the way she was looking at him. It made bile rise in his throat. He had said the wrong thing again. He had done the wrong thing again. At this rate, it might be easier for him to keep track of what he did right.

Tsunade nodded. "No Yamanakas. No other doctors. No visitors. I extracted most of the poison. I had to stop to give his body a rest. The last thing he needs is swelling in his brain. Only once the poison is fully extracted can we even begin preliminary assessments." Tsunade sighed. "If there is any chance to recover anything," she paused. "We have to proceed with caution. It's a very delicate situation."

Minato nodded. "I'll place some of the vetted ANBU on guard. No one in or out that is not approved by you, Tsunade-sama."

The blonde nodded. Her eyes darted to Sakura. She was unusually quiet, her outburst notwithstanding. She looked between the Hokage and the head medic.

"I'll be in my office if you need me. I won't be able to continue the extraction for a couple of days at the earliest."

"Thank you, Tsunade-sama." Minato's voice hinted at gratitude. Tsunade nodded. She took her leave.

"How?" Sakura asked him softly. He turned to look at her carefully. "How?" She asked again with more firmness in her voice.

"How, what?" He asked her fully knowing where she was going.

"How did we get here?" She rubbed her Yin seal.

"I made the call to wait." He admitted.

"Why? What could possibly be more important than finding who is trying to kill you?" Her voice cracked with emotion. From her perspective, they had spent too much time waiting. It had been five months and they still did not have any answers.

He swallowed. "We could not risk the ANBU finding out that we knew about the seal." It sounded flimsy even to his own ears.

"The ANBU who's been at least three steps ahead at any given time? That ANBU?" She asked him incredulously. The shock was starting to turn into something else. "We're scrambling. We've been scrambling. Time is of the essence. It has been!" She was getting worked up.

"We needed to invest that time in learning more about the potential suspects and the seal." He insisted.

She searched his face. She did not understand his thought process. "The seal should have been the first place to start." There was more than one way to study a seal. She did not have to tell him that. He was more literate in that area than her. "Detection does not mean disruption. You could have found a way."

"Easier said than done." His eyes hardened to steel. "Approaching the seal without any plan could have been catastrophic. The strategy was to be conservative."

Sakura snorted. "Right. Everything worked out so well for us, especially for Ban." Her words were dripping with sarcasm. Her tone could freeze over an active volcano.

They were without a seal or answers and Bat was fighting for his life, if there was even enough of him left.

"I made a call, Sakura."

"The wrong one." She spat out each word. Each one was a kick to the chest.

"Sakura," he began. An apology was ready to find its way through his throat.

Everything about the situation was causing her blood pressure to rise. She reminded herself to calm down for the baby's sake. She had no interest in hearing any more words right now. They would not help anyone. She walked past him into Ban's room and closed the door. The tears she was holding back fell at the sight of him.

He had an oxygen mask over his nose and mouth. Tsunade was worried that the extraction could cause him to lose what little function he still had left. He truly could get much worse before getting better, if there was such a thing. She pulled the stool over and sat down.

"I'm so sorry, Ban. Please forgive me." She apologized in a heartbroken tone. It was her fault. She had made him a promise and she had abandoned him. And he was the one paying for it. He may never open his eyes again because she deemed saving her marriage as more important. She might have just failed at saving either.

She had left him standing there. He let out a ragged breath. She looked absolutely disgusted with him. He somehow managed to stay on his feet as another wave of anxiety washed over him. He took a deep breath. He closed his eyes and focused on the spot that brought him peace.

He fell to his knees. The gravel scratched the skin of his palms. The wind moved through his hair. It was like a comforting caress. He looked at the village just in front of him. He sat back on his heels. He willed himself to calm down. He could hear her voice in his head, telling him to breathe. So he did. In. Hold. Out. He repeated until he could not hear the walls crumbling around him.