So I am on vacation! WHOO! That means I can take a break from reality and write Fanfiction! Plus I had a sudden inspiration to write this story! I rewote and edited some of the chapters which is why there are four more than normal but 28 & 29 are actually new material! so enjoy! Please review! I love to read them- well most of them anyways!

TWENTY NINE

War: Part XII

"Let me get this straight," Tsunade rubbed her temples, "You knew Naruto was alive and that he was working for the Akatsuki for a year! And you failed to inform me?"

"Hime," Jiraiya protested.

"No! I'm not only your Hokage, but I am also your friend!" Tsunade yelled, "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because, he asked me not to," Jiraiya explained, "he wanted to work against the Akatsuki from the inside and to do that, he needed everyone to continue to believe he was dead."

"He didn't want you tell anyone?" Tsunade repeated a little dumbstruck.

Jiraiya just shook his head.

"Ok, so that's why you are more confused that I am," Tsunade thought for a moment.

"Exactly," Jiraiya nodded and crossed his arms over his chest, "I thought I know what Naruto was doing, but after I heard what he did to Kakashi, I didn't understand anymore."

"Tsunade-sama?" Shizune poked her head around the door.

"What is it?"

"You wanted to be informed when Kakashi was awake?"

"He is awake?"

"Yes, Tsunade-sama," Shizune nodded.

"Thank you," Tsunade nodded and waved her away, then turned to Jiraiya, "lets go ask Kakashi what happened shall we?"

Jiraiya nodded and followed his Hokage out the door and towards the Hospital.

000

After examining the silver hair shinobi, Tsunade determined that he needed to remain on the breathing tube for at least another week. But with a pen and some paper, he was able to answer a few questions that Tsunade and Jiraiya had for them. A few of the other shinobi close to Kakashi had joined them, including Sakura, Shikamaru, Asuma and Gai.

"Kakashi, did Naruto say what he wanted when he came?" Tsunade asked.

"The sword" Kakashi wrote.

"I see," Tsunade nodded, "did he say anything else?"

Kakashi shook his head.

"Do you know if he used any new jutsus that we weren't aware that he had?" Jiraiya asked.

Kakashi nodded then wrote, "Deva."

"Deva?" Jiriaya sighed.

"Another modified Rinnegan power?" Asuma confirmed when Tsunade nodded in answer.

"Did Naruto truly meant to kill you?" Shikamaru asked causing Jiraiya and Tsunade to turn to him surprised that he asked the question they were going to ask next. Shikamaru knew Naruto better than they had thought.

Kakashi looked at Shikamaru in surprise as well but shook his head.

"How do you know?" Shikamaru asked again.

Tsunade and Jiraiya turned back to the bed awaiting Kakashi's answers.

"He apologized."

"He apologized?"

Kakashi nodded then wrote, "He looked sad and unsure."

"Interesting," Tsunade thought for a moment.

"He could have killed me."

"I know," Tsunade nodded.

"But he didn't. Why?"

"I don't know," Jiraiya shook his head, "I really don't know."

000

Minato's body fell to ground after the sealing was complete, but Naruto knew that his father wasn't dead. Edo Tensei bodies couldn't die, since they were already dead. They could only be sealed or the jutsu undone. Naruto stared at the body for a moment before Pein's voice called him back to reality.

"We will be heading out in an hour," Pein's voice boomed, especially since Pein was present in his physical body rather than his usual hologram. In fact all the members of the Akatsuki were present. Pein was serious; they were all heading out to battle. "Naruto, take care of the body."

"Yes, sir," Naruto nodded. He jumped down from his place with Itachi following him.

"Then come and see me, before we leave."

"Of course, Pein-sama."

Naruto kneeled down beside the body of his crumpled up father, and Itachi did the same.

"Take him back to our chambers," Naruto whispered to his raven.

Itachi nodded but otherwise didn't say a word. Itachi scooped up the previous Hokage and threw him over his shoulder like he was sack of potatoes. Naruto shook his head. He knew it was only for show. If they were alone and not in front of the rest of the organization, Itachi probably would have been much more gentle. Itachi moved off towards the chambers and Naruto turned to move towards the large room in which he normally met with Pein to either train or to speak with him.

"Pein-sama?" Naruto called once he reached the room.

"Ah Naruto," Pein turned towards him, "Shut the door. We need to talk."

Naruto did as he asked, but those words made him get a sickening feeling in his stomach.

000

Itachi took Minato's body or rather his temporary body back to the room that he and Naruto shared. Once he was out of sight from the rest of the organization, he was much more gentle with the body. With one hand he removed the seals on the door and sealed it once he entered. He gently placed the previous Hokage on the bed in a position that looked comfortable, then he situated himself in the chair across the room. Itachi leaned back in the chair and pulled one are through his cloak lacing his fingers together. He crossed his legs and closed his eyes as he waited for Naruto to return or for Minato to wake. He wasn't sure which one would come first.

Itachi opened his eyes after a few minutes and studied the man on the bed. It struck him odd that Naruto bore that much resemblance to his father. Other than the hair and eyes, Itachi had noticed when Naruto first brought him in to the base that they even walked similarly. He knew that Naruto had grown up without parents so to have a mannerism similar to his father was a little odd to Itachi. Itachi's eyes focused on Minato's face as he compared his face to Naruto's. Removing Naruto's facial markings would basically give you his fathers face. Itachi remember how beautiful his mother was as well, the few times he met her. It was no wonder to the raven why Naruto turned out beautiful as well.

Suddenly Itachi felt the man's chakra spike slightly signaling that he was waking up. Itachi noted how fast the Edo Tensei bodies regenerate. It couldn't have been more than ten minutes since they had finished the sealing. Minato's eyes started to flutter open, and after a moment, he turned his head to face the younger man in the room.

"Uchiha Itachi," Minato spoke.

"At your service," Itachi nodded.

"Where am I?" the Hokage asked as he shifted positions to be seating on the bed rather than lying down.

"Our chambers," Itachi replied simply.

"Our…?" Minato started but cut himself off.

"Mine…" Itachi spoke slowly, as he wasn't aware how much Naruto's father knew about said blonde's sexuality, "and Naruto's."

"Oh," Minato nodded seeming to accept that answer.

It was quiet for a moment before either one of the spoke.

Minato seemed to have gathered enough strength to speak again, "so you are the man that Naruto loves?"

Itachi nodded.

"Do you love him?"

"Very much."

Minato smiled at him warmly and it reminded him of Naruto once more.

"You seem rather accepting of the relationship between your son and I," Itachi commented.

"After everything I've heard that my son has done in the past twenty years, your relationship with him is the least of my concerns," Minato shot back, "besides your love for him seems genuine, so as long as you make each other happy, I have no problems."

"Fair enough," Itachi nodded.

"Speaking of which, where is my son?"

"Pein-sama has requested an audience with him."

"And Pein is?"

"The leader and founder of the Akatsuki."

"I see," Minato nodded.

"He should be back momentarily."

After a moment, it seemed Minato could not stand the silence, "You have a little brother?"

"Yes, Sasuke."

"I met him just before Naruto brought me here," Minato stated, "You two look a lot a like."

Minato could have sworn a look a shock flashed a cross Itachi's face but it was so quick that he wasn't sure if it was even there.

"You met my younger brother?" Itachi asked, his voice a little deeper than it was earlier.

"Yes, he was with Naruto."

"I see," Itachi nodded in reply, but didn't say anything more. He felt Naruto's chakra approaching.

The seal on the lock vanished and the younger of the two blondes walked in.

"Oh good, you are awake," Naruto glanced up at his father, "I was little worried that we would have to carry you."

"What did Pein-sama need?" Itachi asked catching Naruto's attention.

"He was informing me that he was sending Kakuzu and Hidan to retrieve the seven-tails. Also, he gave me the estimated location for the eight-tails; you and I are going to find him. He shouldn't to far from the main battle for the war," Naruto explained.

Itachi looked at Naruto, who gave him a look he was familiar with and suddenly they were both in a familiar black/white world.

"What is it?" Itachi asked.

"You and I aren't going to find the eight-tails. I have something else we need to do," Naruto explained.

"Which is?"

"We are going to deliver my Father to the current Hokage," Naruto smiled.

"So we are going to completely disobey a direct order from Pein then turn around and personally deliver aid to the Allied Shinobi forces?" Itachi confirmed.

"Yes," Naruto nodded, "is that a problem?"

"Of course not," Itachi gave him a rare smile.

"Of course we will need to make sure it looks like we are going after the eight-tails until we get far enough away from the rest," Naruto thought out loud.

"Are you going to seal your father so it will be easier to travel?" Itachi asked, but it was more of a suggestion incase Naruto hadn't thought of it.

"Of course," Naruto replied in a tone that told Itachi he had not thought of it, "besides I think the eight-tails will come to us."

"How do you know that?"

"Lets just say he's not the type to stay away from a battle his brother is involved in."

"His brother?"

"The Raikage."

"Ah," Itachi nodded.

"Shall we go?"

"I have one last question," Itachi stated.

"Ok?" Naruto looked at him funny.

"What role does my younger brother play in all of this?" Itachi asked.

"Sasuke?" Naruto asked.

"I only have one brother, Naruto," Itachi replied with an edge to his voice.

"I needed his help with the Edo Tensei jutsu. What he is doing now is his own problem," Naruto replied noticing the edge to his voice.

"I wanted him to stay in Konoha," Itachi breathed out hard.

"I know, but its impossible for him to kill you if he remains locked in a cell in the village," Naruto retorted.

"So, you let him out so that he could kill me?" Itachi asked.

"Of course not!" Naruto threw up his hands, "Do you really think that I want him to kill you? If you die, then I die, Itachi. I can't… I can't live without you."

"Naruto…"

"No, I did what I had to do to make this plan work," Naruto said in frustration, "I'm sorry I didn't leave Sasuke in that prison cell. I needed his help to obtain information that only an Uchiha and a student of Orochimaru could get. But I will be damned if I ever let Sasuke try to kill you. I'm not done with you Uchiha Itachi. You will be mine until the day I die, and not a day before."

"Naruto," Itachi whispered as he stepped closer to his blonde. Itachi cupped the younger's face and pulled it to his to a deep passionate kiss.

"I love you," Naruto whispered when they parted.

"I love you more," Itachi replied kissing Naruto on the head.

"I am yours," Naruto whispered, "Always."

"I know," Itachi said as he held his lover in his arms. If only they could stay like this forever.