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: 22

Naruto, Sasuke: 17

Shisui: 26

Kakashi: 31

I was glaring at the wall from my one eye, white bandages over the empty eye socket. Obito sighed, his mask on the table he was leaning against.

"The silent treatment Akane, really?" I glared harder. "You didn't give me a choice you know." I just turned like a could toward the wall behind me.

I was sitting, tied up. I had been healed from any wound had and, against my will, had to change. I had black pants and a black short-sleeved shirt, my left arm and mark exposed against my will.

Obito took my eye and was a second away from changing me himself because I didn't want to. The good thing was he didn't seem to want me dead as he healed me to the minimum and gave me food, but still…

"It's ridiculous."

"You don't say," I replied bitterly.

Oh, and I was pretty sure I was drugged. I couldn't use my chakra for the life of me.

"She speaks."

"Shut up will you!? I'm missing a fucking eye!"

"Hey, I tried the nice way and you turned me down! Many times!"

"What did you expect!?" I turned back around, falling in the process. I grunted and rolled on the side, sitting once I could. "You turned me into a killing machine and killed...what's your deal?" I sighed. "I'm over playing chase with you Obito, just explain to me why...why can't you just let me be?"

"It's obvious." I blinked and shook my head. He sighed and sat down in front of me. "I promised you something."

"The...when Kannabi Bridge happened I was three."

"I know that, and I know ultimately the outcome is not what I promised but the same nonetheless."

"I'm listening. I guess."

"The shinobi world hurt you as well, like me." I frowned. "And often you were left to fend for yourself. The reason I put you in Kiri was so that you'd see that this world, as it is, is beyond any saving. I thought you'd join my cause easily after that but you ended up in Konoha...every plan have their surprises. But even after you saw the destruction in Kiri you kept being a stubborn brat and...it's very frustrating. You kept...don't you really see it?"

"Why does it matter whether or not I think the shinobi world is beyond saving? You don't need me for your little plan."

"I know that, you only would have made it quicker but I didn't need you. I promised you I'd make a world without war and I want you to be the first to see it, that's all." I stared at him, dumbfounded.

"And then what, I pat you on the back and tell you what a great job you've done?" He just stared at me.

Wait...was it my approval of his fucked up plan he was expecting from me? I knew I kind of idolized him as a toddler but...I mean, it's not...Was he expecting me to agree with him so that he was sure he was right to do all that?

"If I had retired from the shinobi life and stayed in my lane, not getting involved, would you have tried…"

"No. It would be you being done with the world as it is." Fuck me.

I stayed out of it before, and while I did feel him around when I was with Itachi...he left me alone after he killed Mom. But I didn't here, I got involved this time so he kept...maybe he was doubting his plan, even just a little and me not siding with him was maintaining this doubt.

"But, it was before. Now." He ran his finger on my left arm. "Now I'm curious about these." He stood up. "Zetsu explained briefly to me. The Uzumaki clan secret to their power? You...found a way to cheat death? That's not nothing." He crossed his arms on his chest. "But what was the event? You've been interfering for years, so clearly, you knew about me and my plan for a while, so what were you trying to stop?" He sighed at my lack of answer. "Alright." He pulled my head back with my hair and I was looking in his sharingan.

I saw myself, pregnant, at home, staring in horror at the branches coming through the window to grab me and wrap themselves around me before being sent in the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

"You had kids with him?" Obito asked me in disgust as I stared at the illusion Itachi trying to calm the babies down.

Then the dream stopped and I was on the branches, pieces of wood on me and confused as to what had happened.

I was suddenly back in the dark room with Obito.

"I do it then, I…" Not really. "You had what you wanted, don't you want that again?"

"It's not real."

"So what, you can have what you want and be happy."

"I want to be happy with the people I love, not a projection of them my mind created. I want them with their flaws and the arguments I can have with them."

"That's stupid."

"You can't decide what's good for everyone Obito, you're not a god! People die, it sucks but you can't avoid it! You can't lie to yourself and not face the truth, might as well spit on their graves!" He slapped me.

I looked up at him in shock. He seemed kind of surprised at well.

"Did you just slap me?"

"You're annoying."

"You're annoying!"

I could tell him Rin's fate had been orchestrated by Madara and Zetsu but...who knew what he would do after that. Not only that, but I had no idea if Zetsu was listening or not...I didn't want them to know I knew about them, or Madara, or Kaguya.

"What will happen to us if you succeed huh? We're stuck in dreams, great, but what about our bodies? What happens to us then?" He frowned. "Our consciousness is happy, but the rest?"

"Enough."

He knelt on one knee in front of me.

"I'm not going to hurt you physically, but I will know what you're all planning, one way or another."

I was back in his sharingan, falling, falling.

I kept falling in the dark.

It wasn't what he was expecting when he came back to Konoha. During their search, they found Fuu, her body still warm. Chomei no longer was inside of her, but Karin confirmed she was still alive. Her life was hanging by a thread, but the seal Akane made saved her.

They hurried back to Konoha, and straight to the hospital.

What was not his surprise to see his parents in the hospital as well.

"Shisui, go give our report," Itachi told the other Uchiha, who nodded. He walked to his parents. "What's going on?"

"Something happened." He frowned at his father and listened to them.

Now he was sitting next to his unconscious brother, he ran his hands on his face. Both him and Kakashi suddenly appeared in the Hyuuga Compound, Sasuke with a severe chakra exhaustion and Kakashi badly wounded. They were rushed to the hospital and in intensive care while Hiashi himself went to the Uchiha Compound to tell his parents.

They were both out of danger now.

The issue was, there were two instead of three. Akane was supposed to be with them, yet she was nowhere to be seen. From how wounded Kakashi was, and how Sasuke used his chakra with an Hiraishin marker…

She was taken.

She was taken. The day after he saw her, she was taken and who apart from Obito would…

Itachi really wanted to punch something or find a way to express his anger. Akane was smart, and strong, but she was alone and just out of a seven month-long war, even she had her limits and…

He looked at his brother when he made a sound.

"Sasuke?" The teen fluttered his eyes, which made Itachi press the call button for a nurse. He wasn't surprised when Sakura showed up in less than five minutes.

It was a miracle Naruto wasn't sleeping in the hospital hallway.

"Sasuke-kun, can you hear me?" she asked him, her hand in his. He squeezed it.

"...kura?" Sasuke asked in a barely audible whisper.

"Yes it's me," she said with a warm smile.

Itachi wondered when his brother would make his move.

"Here." She put her glowing hand on his chest. A few seconds later, he opened his eyes.

"Where…" She helped him sit up and Sasuke looked around. "Konoha?"

"How are you feeling?" Sasuke opened his mouth and noticed his brother. He gulped.

"Sakura...can you conserve an eyeball?" Sakura and Itachi exchanged a look.

"What...yes, I can get what I need but…"

"Go get it." She left quickly. "I'm sorry nii-san." Itachi sighed.

"I'm sure you did what you could."

"No, you don't, he...Obito he just appeared and pretended to go for my eyes just because he knew she'd protect me and he….he just...he gouged her eye out and I can still hear her screaming and…" Sasuke grabbed his head. Itachi just put his hand on it.

"It doesn't matter anyway Sasuke, the thing we need to do is find her now." He noticed his brother's lips quivering. "I'm not mad at you."

"I'm mad at myself. She doesn't have that seal that protects her from the sharingan and who knows what he's been wanting to do to her and…"

"We'll find her."

He was trying to stay calm. Sasuke was distraught because of what happened and resented himself. If he could do something to help him calm down, he would and not show how he was feeling. Even if his fist was shaking in his pocket, he had to stay calm, for Sasuke.

He left the moment Sasuke unsealed the eye and put it in a jar. He didn't want to see it. It was Akane's eye, it was supposed to be in its socket and…

His heart was heavy when he went back home. His mother had been cleaning the place and trying to keep it 'alive' while they were fighting, but still...it was cold. There was no one to welcome him back, he had no one to welcome home either. He slowly walked in the main room. The living and dining room part was illuminated only by the street light outside and the kitchen was empty, no one making dinner, not a sound.

Suddenly, his, their apartment felt too big, so big it was oppressing. He didn't even want to think about their bed because he knew the spot next to him would remain empty for now.

Itachi quietly went to his kitchen. He didn't want to cook, but he knew he had to eat something. He opened the cupboard, several ramen cups appearing.

"Why?"

"Look, Naru and Mom had a discount so…" She showed the cupboard, full of ramen. "You know, in case we don't want to cook or go grocery shopping!"

"Hn."

"I know it's not really healthy and it's not as if it's going to be a main part of my diet, but every once in a while it can't hurt. You can take some if you want."

"I like your cooking better." She shot him an unimpressed look.

"Didn't you spend the entire evening yesterday saying I messed up dinner?" He shrugged.

"You did." She pursed her lips and turned her head away from him. He slipped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him. "I still like your cooking better."

"Right."

"It's true, you're a good cook." She blushed a little and nuzzled against him without looking at him. "Even if you don't always know how to season your…"

"Shut up you jerk!" She slammed the cupboard shut and shot him a playful glare. "You cook tonight!"

"It's my turn anyway…" he whispered to himself, smiling as he watched her leave the room.

Annoying Akane had always been so much fun...she was so cute when she was annoyed, and her pointy teeth would just make her cuter.

And she was gone. She was with Obito and…

Itachi blinked and looked at his hand. The door of the cupboard was in his hand, unhinged.

He put the door on the counter and went to their room. He opened the closet and took one of her shirt before going on the bed. He laid the shirt on her pillow and hugged it close.

"I'll find you, I swear I'll find you," he whispered to himself.

He didn't have enough time as her boyfriend. His other self had three years, he didn't even get four whole months before they were all shipped off to war.

He wanted more time.

Just like that, a month flew by. Sasuke was released, Kakashi was awake, but still no sign of Akane. Itachi was spending less and less time at his place, not able to stand still in there. He had not even been sent to find her. The Mizukage had agreed to let Karin and Suigetsu in the village, Haku needing to go back.

The young man spent a lot of time with Naruto, sharing their worry over their sister figure and helping him train with Kurama. Sasuke was spending most of his time in reeducation as some of his muscles had been damaged when he used the Hiraishin.

When did Akane even come up with these?

Not only that, but his clan was more annoying than ever. They thought that considering the roles Sasuke, Shisui and himself played in the war, the clan should be awarded or something.

What was not his surprise to find the Hokage herself in his brother's room though, his brother closing his top.

"Hokage-sama," he greeted her, bowing slightly.

"Morning." She was visibly tired. She could still do her job and keep up with all of her responsibilities, but you'd have to be blind not to see the war, and especially the attack on Konoha, had taken a toll on her. She looked back at Sasuke. "Anyway, you're cleared. Are you sure though?"

Itachi raised a brow as his brother nodded firmly.

"Taka has been on multiple scooting missions during the war, we're good."

"Alright then, as a joint mission between Kiri and Konoha, I will send you look for Akane." Itachi widened his eyes a little and looked at his brother.

"Hokage-sama…"

"Let me guess, you want to join the mission." He nodded curtly. "You know how insistent your clan has been recently, don't you?" From Sasuke's raised brow, he didn't know.

"I know, it's…" She waved him off.

"Whatever, I'm sure you'd rather go look for her than dealing with them without knowing."

"We could use him if he shows up."

"True." She looked at Itachi. "Alright, you're on the team, but Sasuke is the leader. You better not have some sibling feud going during the mission."

"Yes," they replied in sync.

"Come in my office this afternoon, we'll talk about the details." She left promptly and Sasuke sat back down. Itachi just walked to the window.

Even from there, you could see the buildings being rebuilt in the entire south of Konoha, people actively working to get things back to how they used to be. He just couldn't find it in him to do the same without…

"You won't try to take the lead or go your own way nii-san, right?" Itachi looked at his brother from the corner of his eyes.

"You're the team leader."

"It's not the rank the issue."

"You can trust me Sasuke."

"Hn." There was a few seconds of silence, Itachi knowing his brother had something else to say. "Are you okay?"

"Hn."

"You look like you don't sleep very much." The oldest pursed his lips. "And Mother said she was worried about what you were eating."

"I know she's worried."

"…Nee-san wouldn't want you to neglect yourself." This hit a nerve.

"She's not here to tell me herself now, is she?" Itachi retorted bitterly. Sasuke glared at the floor and the long-haired Uchiha sighed. "I'm sorry Sasuke, I'll see you this afternoon."

"She's gone."

"She's a Yuurei, she already had a fragile mind to begin with, so being put in genjutsu one after the other because of the Sharingan was bound to…" Tobirama sighed in frustration.

Akane was on the ground, between them, sleeping. She endured it for a few days, Obito plunging her in illusions of her having a happy life and her loved ones asking her questions. When it was proved inefficient, he opted to make her relive her worst times.

Minato took her place when he judged it was too much at the sight of a red-haired boy. Ever since she had been sleeping, just recuperating.

"It's a chance we're here, otherwise she would be gone for good," Hiruzen said, kneeling next to the young woman.

"We need to get her out of this place without letting Obito know we're here."

"We don't even know where we are," Tobirama reminded his brother. "And even if we did, we would need to know exactly how to pretend to be Akane."

"You managed before."

"In a short amount of time during a fight and I wanted to give the Uchiha a message, it's different now. Obito trained her through the Mizukage, he'll notice if she...doesn't act like herself."

"I'll do it." They looked at Minato. Akane's body was sleeping now and the Yondaime knelt next to her in their space, his hand running through her locks. His blue eyes were conflicted, showing his own turmoil. "I can, Obito will just think she was more influenced by me than he originally thought." Minato lifted her upper body. "That being said…" Suddenly, he was covered in Kurama's orange chakra. He exhaled slowly as he put his forehead against Akane's. "I've been using Kyuubi's chakra to protect my mind from the Sharingan, hopefully it will…"

"You're too damn close…" Minato grinned and pulled back, Akane's eyes opened. She still had both of them here, unlike outside. "What happened?"

"Your mind almost completely broke under Obito's sharingan," Minato explained briefly, helping her to sit. She blinked hazily.

"I can't get back out."

"You can't?" Hashirama repeated with a frown.

"I don't have enough strength to go back out," she confirmed, rubbing her eyes. "I'm not even sure I can…" She got up and fell face first. She raised her face from the floor. "Yeah, I'm very weak. You need to…"

"We know already," Tobirama cut her off, on one knee in front of her. "Is there anything you know about this place?" She looked down for a second.

"I know of a hideout Obito has in the country between Oto and Taki...there are underground...tunnels...Obito...Kan...na...bi…" She was sleeping once more.

"I see, they must have used these tunnels to get Obito out of the cave twenty years ago," the Yondaime said firmly.

"We'd need to get to one," the Third stated.

"For that, we need to get out of Obito's sight, the moment we try to escape he'll catch us," Tobirama added.

"And Akane can't use chakra, so neither can we," Hashirama finished. "If we try to use chakra in her body, I don't think we'll be able to."

"He's probably putting something in the food, it's the only thing she ingested," Hiruzen pointed out. "There were some tasteless drugs created during the Third World by Suna. If Akasuna No Sasori is still in the Akatsuki, then it would not surprise me if he was supplying Obito with this kind of drug."

"Let's figure things out by steps," Minato stated firmly. "First thing first, we need to be able to use chakra. In the meantime," he looked down at his sleeping goddaughter, "she will take a well needed rest."

"Any way Kyuubi may help?"

"I can try, or Shodai-sama can also see if he can lend her body his regenerative abilities."

"Let's take a break." Itachi frowned at his brother. "Night is falling anyway."

He wanted to keep going, but he promised Sasuke to obey his orders. Continuing the search without any break would only do harm anyway, so ultimately, he settled for sitting against a tree.

Was Akane even fed? What if they found her only to realize she died of hunger or…

Itachi tilted his head back. He couldn't start thinking that. Akane was a fighter, he knew that much, she wouldn't go down without a fight, even against the Sharingan.

But if not physically, maybe Obito would cripple her mentally, make her believe things, forget others...What if when they'd get her back, she didn't remember the love they shared?

It made him want to puke.

He barely saw her before. He barely saw her for a few minutes after months of not seeing each other, he barely had the time to hug her. When he heard about Taki, then the plan for Iwa, he had been worried sick. He wasn't really surprised she'd come up with such a plan, but still...too much could go wrong. So when he saw her, when he hugged her, he just let go of some of his worry because she was alive, in his arms, breathing and warm against him.

But there was something. The only times she turned down his kisses were to tease him or if they were at risk to be seen, but here? There was something else, he knew there was something but he didn't have the time to ask her.

Maybe she just felt like she needed space and some time after the war, and if it was the case he'd gladly give it to her, as long as she told him and not use tricks and silly excuses to avoid him. They had been through so much together, they knew the importance of communication...they were a couple, and a team, and they were best friends before, so she'd tell him if there was something.

He took a deep breath.

It was useless to think about this right now. He'd think about it when Akane would be with him, safe and sound. He'd think about it when their apartment would feel like home once more and he'd be able to cuddle with her in the couch watching some dumb movie she loved to watch when she was feeling down.

He caught his brother's concerned gaze and just looked away.

He knew Sasuke and his parents were worried about him, but he just couldn't...rest for now.

The next morning, as they were nearing the Land of Hot Water, he put his feelings in the back of his head. He was on a mission and he'd succeed it.

"What the…" I muttered. Tobirama was in charge of my body.

"Did he look like that before?"

"No, he really did not."

Sasori was there. However, he...was missing an arm. Tobirama, in my body, tried to move away from him but he grabbed him, me, my body with his chakra threads.

"Stop moving Uzumaki." Even his voice was plain...exhausted. He shouldn't know exhaustion though, so why…

He stuck a syringe in my neck before removing my eye patch. He turned on a flashlight to look inside.

"It's healing well, no sign of infection or anything."

"What did you inject me with?" Sasori looked at me seriously. It was strange, he always looked bored more than anything.

"Something to help."

"You're an expert in poison."

"Who told you all about me?"

"Well, for all we know, he poisoned you and we're all dead!" Hashirama exclaimed, his hands on his hips.

"Can you not tell us that like that!?" I shrieked at him. "I want to go home!"

"I think he's on our side," oji-chan said.

"Or at least no longer on Obito's," the Third added. I looked down.

"I don't think he was one of those who knew Tobi was behind all this, so maybe now he knows…"

"Let's stay on our guards anyway," Hashirama told us. "And an expert in poison must have a good knowledge of the human body and what chemicals do to each other and to a human and how to mix them, so maybe he did something to help us." I stared at him, dumbfounded. He grinned, smug. "Impressed, huh?"

"Yeah, usually you say not so smart things and sulk when Tobirama points them out at you." He started sulking. "Come on Hashirama." He shot me a pointed look. "Hey, I'm calling the first Hokage by his first name, don't push your luck."

He wanted me to call him 'jiji' because officially, we were distant relatives but...I didn't even call Tsunade-san 'Aunty' or anything, and never knew my grandparents so it was...kind of weird.

And it was pretty funny to see Hashirama pouting when I'd call Minato 'oji-chan'.

I didn't really know how much time had passed since Obito captured me. All I knew was that I could stay awake for longer period of time and could think properly. However, it was hard for me to make a single movement in this space where the Kage were all of the time, so getting my body back was out of the question. So far, it was mainly Minato and Tobirama filling up for me when my body had enough energy.

While Obito was not hurting me physically, mentally it was something else. Even if I no longer was the one against his genjutsu and that Minato had Kyuubi backing him up and Tobirama was used to face the Sharingan, I could feel the strain psychological torture was taking on my body, who went through a few weeks of physical torture in Iwa anyway. I wasn't entirely over this yet.

Some more time went by. When Tobirama showed the first signs of exhaustion, like Minato because taking over the body of the Yuurei was not nothing, Hashirama decided to do it. The Third remained quiet for the most part.

Apparently, Minato had not appreciated the fact the Third had decided to hide Naruto's survival when Mom and I were told they were dead. I had no idea if it would have changed anything, Mom would have tried to take Naruto away from Konoha maybe but…

Anyway, Hashirama squeaked.

I did not squeak.

"I can use chakra," he told us in shock.

"Maybe this Sasori injected us with something that countered what was keeping us from…"

"Obito's not here," Hashirama continued, cutting Tobirama off, who glared at him. We all looked at each other.

"Go for it jiji!" I told him, jumping on my feet only to fall on my knees.

He did.

Hey! Thanks for reading and leave a review to tell me what you thought of this chapter! Thanks to mikan26 and Amaterasu53 for the review! As for Akane 'cheating', it's talked about in a few chapters, but it was just a couple of chapters ago.

Bye!