Hello! I hope you'll like this chapter!

Disclaimer: I own the OCs in this fic, the rest is Masashi Kishomoto's. Sorry for any spelling mistakes or any OCCness.

Character age:

Akane, Itachi: 23

Naruto, Sasuke: 18

Shisui: 27

Kakashi: 32

"It's heavy but I can walk with it," Mom assured me as we were going home.

"It's the point of a prosthesis." She had a crutch and long, loose pants to hide the fake leg, but she was standing.

"The hospital is very boring," she commented idly.

"Don't I know that already?" She looked at me up and down suspiciously.

"You seem to be dressed nicely."

"Can't I do an effort when I feel like it?" She didn't buy it.

She was happy to see people waiting for her to come home though, Naru in front of everyone. He hugged her quickly as I removed my coat.

Fine, I was wearing black tights and a beige dress in wool. There were long sleeves with naked shoulders.

I stood against the wall as people were talking. Mom was smiling happily, even if she sat down quickly. She couldn't stay up for too long yet, but she would.

I accepted the glass of orange juice Itachi handed me before leaning against the wall by my side.

"You're quiet."

"I'm just happy she's out of the hospital, that's all."

"She wasn't going to stay long in it anyway." I nodded and raised a brow at his staring. There was an appreciative glim in his eyes.

"You're seeing something you like maybe?"

"You have no idea." I hid my smirk behind my glass.

"Wow, flirting with me with this many people around? Scandalous."

"I…"

"Nee-chan I was wondering!" Suddenly, Naruto was between us. He flashed Itachi a quick grin and took me away.

I glanced above my shoulder and smiled apologetically at my boyfriend, who was annoyed by Naruto's intervention. After maybe an hour, Tsunade-san had to leave so she cleared her throat.

"As you all know, we have the Sixth Mizukage in the room." They all looked at me and I raised my glass awkwardly, munching on a mochi. "I have eleven invitations to the ceremony on January 1st."

"There is a ceremony? You just got the hat," Naruto replied.

"There is…more formal ceremony, in a sacred place. It has not been used since the Sandaime," I told him idly. "Yagura and sensei both got the hat in special circumstances." I blinked. "Right, the ceremony is not in Kiri by the way, but Kiribukai, the capital."

"Do I have to go?" Sasuke groaned. I shrugged.

"That's right, the daimyo is more important than here to choose the Mizukage," Mom suddenly remembered.

"Yeah, and you can't all come, it's private. There is that, and then sensei gives me the hat once we're back. That everyone can come to."

"Here are the ten other invitations. I have to go now." She left with a wave above her shoulder.

"Wait, Mom, Naru, technically you don't even need an invitation because we're from the same clan."

The party ended by the end of the afternoon. Itachi and I stayed after everyone. He helped cleaning up everything while I helped Mom in her room. I helped her sit on her bed and went to her closet.

"I need to go shopping." I raised a brow at her, a pair of pajamas in my hands. "Pants are going to be harder to put on now." I gulped and sat down next to her.

"Are you really okay Mom?" She stared at her opened closet for a couple of seconds and sighed.

"No. Of course I'm not, I lost a leg." I clenched my hands on my fists. "Reeducation is hard and painful, I know I will have phantom pain for the rest of my life, Tsunade-san warned me and gave me painkillers. The prosthesis is…" She removed it and put it on the ground. "Incredible uncomfortable right now, but apparently, I need to get used to. If it still hurts in one or two weeks, I'll need a new one. And I'm not talking about the esthetic aspect of things." She touched the fabric of her long skirt. "I thought I'd wear a beautiful dress if you and Itachi ever get married, or when Naruto gets married."

"Why do I get an 'if'?"

"I know you honey, Itachi has work to do for a 'yes'." Well, she was not wrong.

"Yeah, I kind of turned him down twice already." She widened her eyes. "In my defense, he chooses the worst times to propose."

"At least you got a man who can project himself in your future." I smiled softly. "But no matter how hard it is right now, I know that on the long term, I'll be more than happy to have survived. I don't want to miss Naruto having children of his own, at least one person from my generation must be there for it this time. And I get to see you becoming the Mizukage, it is not something I ever thought would happen one day." I smiled as she ran her hand in my hair. "You have no idea how proud I am of the woman you became honey."

"Thank you, Mom," I replied with a faint blush.

We left shortly after, Naruto giving me a tight hug.

"How is she holding up?" Itachi asked me, his mouth hidden by his red scarf.

"She admitted it was hard, and painful, but she also said she was glad because she'd get to see Naru and I continue our lives. It's worth the pain." I looked at my hand. Itachi was holding it. "We're holding hands now?"

"Why not?" He squeezed it, silently telling me he would not let go. "We're not doing anything wrong."

"Su…" I blinked and looked up immediately. "It's snowing."

"Are you sure?" he asked me, looking up too.

"Are you doubting my snow radar?" He glanced blankly at me.

A few seconds later, the first snowflakes came into view.

"See? Told you s…" He dragged me in an empty street on our right.

He pinned me against the wall, his hand holding mine, his free hand on my hip and kissed me. I was taken back by being kissed in the middle of the street. Itachi was not one for PDA after all, neither was I. Yet he was very much into kissing me right now, and I was returning it.

I was blushing when he broke the kiss.

"That was unexpected," I stated weakly.

"I know, but you were just too cute." I blushed harder.

"How…How am I…and with these stupid tee…"

"They make you even cuter when they stick out of your mouth." I was bright red. "Say whatever you want, I'll keep saying you're adorable." I leaned my forehead against his shoulder with a quiet whine.

"You're an awful, mean man with me." He chuckled.

"An awful, mean man you'd be willing to see for Christmas?" I tilted my head on the side. He pecked my lips. "I was thinking about it earlier. You get the hat on January 1st, but I don't necessarily need to be there for that date, I could be there earlier."

"Sure, I'd be happy to spend a real Christmas with you, it never happened since we got together after all but…can you?"

"I have so many vacation days to use," he confessed against my lips. "And if I get the hat too, then I think it's a compelling argument to give to Tsunade-sama. Neither of us will be able to move freely after that."

"We'll see each other for work mainly." I pecked his lips. "It's not nearly enough."

"I agree." He leaned his forehead against mine. "I could use the time away too."

"Kiri is very pretty during Christmas time. The main island of the Land of Water is festive. Even during Yagura's rule, there'd be a few decorations in town. It's snowing too, and…oh, have you ever seen the northern lights?" He shook his head. "It's so beautiful and December is the best time of the year to see them! And Doronko is awesome too, the spa is wonderful! And…" He chuckled at seeing me so excited. I averted my eyes. "Sorry, I get excited over showing how beautiful the Land of Water actually is."

"I want to see it." He slipped his arms around my waist. "It's where you're from, I want to see as much of it as possible."

"Stop being so romantic in the middle of street 'tachi…" I mumbled, my blush not leaving my face.

"I'm just saying the truth." I grabbed the collar of his coat to lower him to my level.

"Wanna tell me the truth in the bedroom?" He widened his eyes and blushed at the suggestion. I kissed him on the nose. "Well, aren't you just adorable?" He groaned, took my hand back and we left toward our place.

"There's no taking back," he warned me.

The next day, we woke up with a white blanket all over Konoha. I went to my usual session with Tsunade-san. She assured me the worst was over and now my wrist and hand would heal on their own and she'd just give me a little boost until I left.

"Akane, I have a question."

"Yeah?"

"Who do you support between Itachi and Kakashi as the Sixth Hokage? I'm sure you've known for a while, and Itachi must have told you."

"He did. Sensei implied before the war you were looking to retire too. Well, I know Kakashi would be a great Hokage, but it's not his dream or even his calling. I'll support Itachi, and it's not even because I'm his girlfriend. I honestly think it's the first step in the right direction."

"I think so too. Gaara seems to support Kakashi more because he has had more occasions to see him in action."

"And Shikaku-san?" She gazed harshly at my arm.

"Since he lost his arm, he is retired." They couldn't save his arm either. "Whoever becomes the Hokage, the other will be the new Jounin Commander."

"Well, I'd say Itachi Hokage and Kakashi Jounin Commander even more then. Kakashi is better in strategy and shinobi-related things, not the whole village or clan business."

"You are right about this."

I left Konoha with a better mindset. Things…looked to go in the right direction.

"Five years." Dai looked up from his sushi plate. "I think I'm going to do five years; find one major project I want to do and then I'll resign."

"So, I get you as a Mizukage for five years? That's doable." I raised a brow. "Aneki said you had a job for me."

"She's ruining the surprise!" I grumbled with a pout. "But I already have a few things in mind."

"Such as?"

"I want to do something with the old clan district. I'm part Yuki, I must do something, like sensei put a stop to the caste system you know?"

"Huh, that's true." He swallowed his last sushi. "What else?"

"We need better and quick connections to the continent. Schools need some modernizing, and we need proper schooling for civilian kids, as well as them being better followed toward adulthood."

"We need money for that."

"I'm aware. Sensei has ideas for that, I will gladly let her handle it." He frowned. "Do you know the potential Kiri has if you remove the mist?"

"Huh…what?" I raised my finger at him.

"A lot. Now the harbor is done and no longer just a fishing harbor, and that fishing is more efficient then ever, there will be more trades and then, money."

"…why am I not surprised that you're too comfortable with the topic of finances?" I sniffed with a smirk.

"Dai, money rules the world, you have to learn how to ride the wave."

"Ride the…did you make this up?"

"No, but all phrases were made up at some point, like words." He sighed. "What?"

"Nothing. Who are you going to take as your advisor?"

"Haku," I replied immediately. "He was Zabuza-san's apprentice first and foremost, I think he's reached a point where, be it shinobi skills or skills in general, he can take more responsibility in the village's development." I looked up for a second. "I need to have my close team ready when I'm appointed Mizukage. I think I'll let Karin work in the hospital with you. Suigetsu will keep going on missions, although I can't make him an anbu because his fighting style is too flashy. Choujurou…I do see him at the Academy, but more as an instructor than a teacher."

"Make him the boss of the fighting instructor, he is a Swordsman after all." I put a sushi in my mouth.

"I'll finish it in the next few days, after Christmas."

"That's right, your boyfriend is coming." I grinned and nodded happily. "Seriously, you in love is still so weird to see."

"Wait until you have to call me Mizukage-sama."

"In your wildest dreams Uzu," he straight-up refused. "But if you want to stay five years, then make the best and most solid team possible."

"I know, why do you think you're in it?" He smirked. "But…there's the case of my father."

"Didn't he go back to jail?"

"Yeah but…it's a waste." He frowned. "I know, I know but…let's be honest, the shit he pulled at the Eien Hansen was after he left the village, and not against it. People were pissed because he left and Yagura became the Mizukage, it's the main reason he's been known as one of Kiri's worst criminals for years. Then, in the Akatsuki, he fought against Jiraya-san during the coup and was after Naruto, not Haku or senpai. Then he helped during the war, especially with healing the Kages…I'll see what he can do but leaving him to rot behind bars is a waste."

"Hum…When is Itachi coming?"

"The 24th from what his letter said."

"So you're going to have a Christmas for couple?" I nodded. "You planned something?"

"He told me that if I did, not to do anything too much. But I'm taking him at the ryokan in the mountains near Kiribukai on the 25th for the Northern Lights, then in Doronko. We'll be back for the 30th."

"And are you going to put a bow on your head for the present?" I rolled my eyes. "Hey, he's a man, I'm sure he'd enjoy it, and instead of wrapping paper to remove, it's your clothes."

"Yeah, trust me he would love that, but he doesn't wait for Christmas or his birthday to do that, trust me." He snickered. "I did something personal regarding his dad and then I was thinking of, like, a traditional tea set because he loves traditional cafés."

"You know, he's a walking paradox." I raised a brow. "I mean, he's had a very traditional upbringing, right?" I nodded. "Yet he's dating you, which is against everything he was taught as a kid and teen. You also have a very modern point of view on some things, I thought it would clash at some point."

"You know, he had a strict upbringing and was pressured from all sides, it did not leave a lot of space for personal development." He frowned. "It's always been obvious since I've met him that he was suppressing his own self to please others, but being friends with me kind of…did the opposite? Even when we were just friends ten years ago, he wasn't the same as he was with Shisui, or Izumi, or his parents and even Sasuke."

"Are you sure it's not just because he was in love with you already?" I felt the tips of my ears turning red.

"Maybe. Point is, Itachi, without the Konoha and Uchiha background, is quite different from the prodigy everyone knows. You've seen it when you came, and we drank."

"That's true, he seemed more at ease than usual."

On the 24th, as I was leaving for a few days, the Elders and sensei didn't let me go home until nine in the evening. I was tired, had a headache and wanted a hot bath. They had been extra annoying today, probably because they didn't like the fact I was leaving for a few days. The Elders, that is, not sensei, if anything she was encouraging me to have the best work life balance possible. I was starving too.

When I opened the front door, I spotted Itachi's shoes immediately and voices in the kitchen.

"I'm home!" Itachi was quick to appear in the hallway. I hugged him tightly, leaning on him a little too much as he stepped back. "I'm so tired."

"Welcome home," he said with a chuckle. I moved back and looked at Haku.

"Were they annoying today?" I made a face and nodded, sitting down at the table.

"Sorry it took so long for me to come home, I thought it would be shorter, but they were nagging me on details," I explained briefly before taking a big bite of my fish. I leaned back in my chair and swallowed. "I haven't eaten anything since lunch." I looked at Itachi, on my right. "When did you arrive?"

"In the afternoon." I furrowed my brows. "It's okay, Haku was there. We talked a lot." I shot Haku a pointed look, who ignored me and drank his miso soup.

"Why do you immediately assume I badmouthed you Uzu-nee? Unless you did something?" he replied, smiling sweetly at me.

"For no reason at all." I ate my dinner quickly and patted my stomach as they resumed their conversation. "Did you have a nice trip by the way?"

"Yes, the sea was a little agitated, but it was okay."

Once my bath taken, I joined Itachi in bed, who was reading. I fell asleep almost instantly. The next morning, I hugged Haku tightly.

"There is a bag on my bed, it's Christmas presents for everyone."

"I'll give them out today, don't worry about it." He broke the hug. "Merry Christmas, have a nice break."

"You're really not mad I'm not spending Christmas with you, right?" He rolled his eyes fondly.

"No, I'm not. We're going to have you for a while, go." He pursed his lips. "But you'll have to spend some holidays with us too once in Konoha."

"Of course!" I shot Itachi a look, which made him nod. "We'll be back on the 30th."

"Got it." On this note, we left.

I took the lead, my hands on both straps of my bag.

"You didn't plan anything too extravagant, did you?" he asked me in a warry tone.

"No, of course not! But, I want to show you the Land of Water in a short amount of time though." He shook his head. "What?"

"It's just that I would have been fine staying home too, but thanks for planning things for us sweetheart." He leaned down and kissed me.

We arrived at the ryokan around six. We had a private onsen, so we went there directly before ordering food. It was delicious. Then it was time to give each other gifts. I hurried to give mine.

"I'm guessing I open them first?" he asked me rhetorically. I nodded and he shook his head at my antics. He opened the biggest one and was surprised by the tea set. "Wh…" He got rid of the rest of the paper and moved the box closer to his face. Without a word, he opened it and took a cup, inspecting it.

"Itachi?"

"It's old, they don't have them in tea houses anymore. They were too fragile, and they stopped using for sturdier ones to wash them more easily." Heh? "My grandparents had some before the Kyuubi attack. They're at least from the First Shinobi War…" He stopped himself and looked at me. I blinked.

"I thought they were pretty?" He blushed a little and put the cup back in the box. "If I had known you liked that that much, I would have taken you shopping a long time ago."

"My grandmother used to take me of traditional tea houses when I was a child and tell me about her youth," he confessed softly, looking fondly at the box. "She loved those things." I smiled happily.

"Bullseye then?" He chuckled and nodded. I rubbed the back of my head. It might be more emotional than intended. He started to go for the smaller box, but I gave him the envelop before. "It's a lighter gift." He looked at me suspiciously but opened the envelop. He stared at it for a good minute before turning it to me.

"A coupon to do something from my list, preferably anal sex in parentheses?" I nodded. "To use between the 27th and the 30th?" I nodded again. "Well, I can't refuse a coupon, can I?"

"It would be so rude." He put the coupon back in the envelop and on the first present. He took the last one and carefully opened it, only to freeze when he saw it.

Before I left Konoha, before the war, there was a small gathering at Mom's and I took a lot of picture. Before I left, I went through them, knowing some had Itachi and Fugaku-san on it. I found two. On one of them, him, Fugaku-san, Mikoto-san and Sasuke were in an, apparently, crucial game of mahjong. There was another where him and Fugaku-san were talking, his father having his hand on his shoulder. They were in the same black picture frame as it was for two pictures.

"I didn't notice you took pictures of us," he whispered.

"I took pictures of everybody. I got Kakashi without his mask on."

"Hard to believe."

"Well, he noticed and stole the photograph." He smirked at that, still staring at the pictures. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's just…it reminded me that apart from family pictures, there aren't many of them with all of us, especially acting like a normal family." He gestured me to come to him.

He poked me on the forehead. Then, he put the picture down and wrapped me in a tight hug, kissing me on the head.

"Thank you Akane."

"Merry Christmas my love." I sighed happily in his arms. "Don't you dare propose to me though."

"Sometimes it just slips out of my mouth."

"Which is concerning." I moved back and gestured at him I wanted my gifts. "My turn."

"You're so greedy sometimes."

"Have you met any Uzumaki?" I retorted, accepting the present. I opened it and widened my eyes at the thin, delicate kanzashi. It was golden with small, white flowers dangling from the top, where there was what seemed to be a small ruby. "It's…beautiful."

"If there is an official, formal ceremony…I thought you could wear it." I blushed weakly and nodded. "What do you think of the flowers?"

"They're pretty." He chuckled behind his fist. "What? What did I say?"

"You don't know what they are?" I shook my head. "They're dyer's madder. In other words, they're akane flowers." I blushed ever harder.

"Wh…wh…reall…" I put my present down and cupped my burning face instead. "Oh God, don't kill me with kindness Itachi."

"Here my ultimate goal has been unveiled," he said in the blandest tone ever, his face completely blank. I laughed at that.

"You're funny Itachi, don't ever think the opposite!" He smiled at me.

The other present was a blank diary. It was a hardcover in what appeared to be leather, my name and "Rokudaime Mizukage" written on the right bottom corner. I raised a quizzical gaze to Itachi, who shrugged.

"You used to journal when you got here, and now you're the Mizukage, I thought you might go back to it to document it. You said Yagura wrote one too, didn't you?"

"Oh…that's right." I smiled fondly at the diary. "Thanks." Then he handed me a red envelop.

I opened it and blushed a bright red at what was inside. It was a picture, of Itachi, leaning toward the camera, shirtless with pants on, hair untied, a flirty smile on his lips, his dark eyes staring straight in the lens.

"It was weird to do it," he admitted, embarrassed, "but I thought you'd be sur…" I fell back, holding the picture with both hands. "Akane?"

"I'm fine…" I said, my nose bleeding. "I'm perfectly fine…"

He poured some water on my face to calm me down. I accepted his hand, and he pulled me in a sitting position.

"I didn't think you would react like that."

"You're fucking hot Itachi, how was I supposed to react?" He blushed a little. "Picture me doing the same in a bra and pants." He blushed harder.

"…I wouldn't say no." His finger ran on the collar of my kimono. I slapped his hand away weakly.

"No, we have somewhere to go!"

"It's the middle of the night."

"And?" I jumped on my feet, putting the gifts on the table we had. "Come on, get dressed!" He waited, watching me get dressed before he did the same. We left the ryokan and went up the mountain, lanterns in the tree to illuminate the way.

"We're not hiking tonight," Itachi told me firmly. "Akane, it's Christmas."

"Would you trust me?" I grabbed his hand and dragged him behind me.

Soon, there was a path on our right, which I took. We walked a few more minutes until we reached a frozen lake, snow covering the area. I dropped Itachi's hand and ran around it to the cliff side of this mountain plateau. Between the high rocks, we could see the northern lights. There was no cloud in the sky, the moon casting a light where we were.

I pointed at the sky when Itachi joined me.

"Northern lights! See, it was worth it!" I glanced at him.

He was staring at the sky in awe, the lights reflecting in his eyes. Seeing he was absorbed by the show, I stepped back and got my camera. I took a picture of him from behind, the northern lights bright above him, then went back to his side and took his picture.

"I can hear you," he stated, glancing at me from the corner of his eyes.

"There's more of them coming, I never got one picture of you before except for the Bingo Book."

"…it was not a bad picture."

"It was your picture from Konoha's files when you were thirteen, so when you got promoted Captain." He rolled his eyes. "I can't trust your opinion on what is pleasing to the eye, you think that something that does the job is enough."

"It is."

"But it can be better. Did you know that when your mom saw Sasuke out of these ugly high collars, she asked me to try to change your clothes?" He frowned and turned his head to me.

"It's customary in the clan."

"It's ugly, that's what it is, and having the fan on your back is enough to identify you guys." I ran on the other side of the frozen lake to have Itachi and the sky in one photograph. I put them in my camera bag once they were good as Itachi was walking around the lake, looking around.

"How did you find this place?"

"Randomly with your brother. I said I was fine in cold temperatures; he took that personally and wanted to train in the mountains in the winter. We stayed at the ryokan for a week." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Hey, at least he got what he wanted and realized how important the weather is regarding your elemental jutsus."

"I'm sure." He pointed at something with his thumb behind him. "Is that an ice-skating booth?"

"Yeah. The ryokan opened once sensei became the Mizukage, civilians were more at ease regarding moving around the country. In the wintertime, it's always covered in snow, so during the day the ryokan manages the ice-skating for its clients or people who come here just for the day. The only time it's opened at night is for the Snow Festival in January and on New Year's Eve." He pursed his lips and stared at the booth. "Do you want to ice-skate?"

"Unless you have an autho…" he trailed off, stopping himself at the keys dangling from my finger and my toothy grin.

"I'm the Hero of Kiri darling." I kissed his cheek and headed there. "Have you ever ice-skated before?"

"I think, a long time ago," he replied, following me, his hands in his pockets.

"I'll hold your hand." He almost snatched the skates from my hands.

"I think I'll be fine on my own."

"But I saw couples holding hands and…spinning." He scoffed as he tried the ice skates on.

"I don't want to hurt your feelings sweetheart, but it does not sound fun." I pouted my lips, putting my own ice skates on.

"Can we at least try? Maybe it's the kind of things that is obvious when you do it."

"If you want to."

Of course, I was way more comfortable on the ice than he was. He was so focused at first that he didn't realize me taking another picture of me. However, he needed only a few minutes to get on my level.

We did this couple thing. Holding hands and spinning. We stopped quickly.

"It's boring," I muttered, disappointed.

"Told you." I mimicked him and he poked my forehead. "I have an idea."

"What is it?"

"Racing." I raised a brow at him.

"But I'm going to win." He deadpanned at me, and I could see it sparked his competitive spirit. "I have so much more experi…" He took my hand and dragged me to one side of the lake.

We raced around it.

Itachi was way too close for comfort; my ego wouldn't take it. We raced three times around the lake, Itachi asking for another round when I'd win. He ended up grabbing my hand at the last round and pulled me back so he could win.

It was cheating. He said it was a strategic move.

"Strategic move my ass," I hissed under my breath, closing the booth. "It's cheating, straight-up cheating and…"

"Again, I can hear you." I glared at him above my shoulder and turned my head away from him. "Very mature."

"You couldn't handle three losses and cheated, who's the immature one?" He scoffed.

"I didn't cheat, you never said I couldn't do that."

"It's like the first time we had a kenjutsu spar, just because it's not orally stated doesn't mean it's not obvious!" He threw me on his shoulder.

"Yes, yes, I hear you," he droned flatly.

"Put me down!"

"If I carry you back to our room, are you still going to be mad you lost?" I was about to argue this but stopped.

"No." He put me down and I jumped on his back. "I still won."

"You won't next time."

We left for Doronko the next day; Itachi stunned at the different climate. Doronko was always warm after all. We did some visiting, and the spa, and Itachi didn't waste time to use his coupon.

I giggled thinking back on it on our way back.

"Something funny?" He smirked at the expression on my face. "Or not, it's something naughty."

"I was just…thinking about the…" I giggled again.

"I see. I'll gladly do it again."

"You've enjoyed it then?"

"I thought it was obvious, and…it's even more intimate." I hugged his arm with a smile. "Do I have to wait for another coupon though?"

"No, not at all." I looked up at him. "Thank you for coming Itachi, it means a lot to me." He kissed my forehead.

"I love you." It would never fail to make me feel all warm inside.

"I love you too."

Everyone got here on the 31st, Mom and Naru staying at my place. Haku was more than happy to see Naruto and vice-versa. However, the ceremony in Kiribukai was in the night of the 31st and the 1st, so I left after having just seen them.

Mom told me she couldn't come, that she was sad and sorry about it, but that she couldn't walk a long distance like this. I told her it was okay.

Naru and Haku would come, as they were my relatives. Sasuke too, due to his fame now. Then, I picked Itachi to come with us. I wanted Dai to come, but he told me someone I knew and trusted had to stay in Kiri to make sure the Elders didn't try anything funny, and to welcome the Sand Siblings.

Ultimately, the five of us left for Kiribukai with sensei, her Mizukage hat on. I felt as if my heart was bumping directly against the bones of my ribcage.

I…was about to be the Mizukage.

Shit, that really was not planned, but here we were.

Hey! Thanks for reading and please leave a review to tell me what you thought of this chapter! Thanks for the review!

By the way, does anyone else have their stats broken? It's been more than a week, so if you know when it's going to fixed, please tell me!

Bye!