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 / 22

Naruto, Sasuke: 17

Shisui: 26

Kakashi: 31

"I just want us to be friends."

"So do I!" Shisui repeated. "I really, really do, and you have no idea how stupid and ashamed I am for what happened the other day."

"Did you get a lecture?"

"Itachi basically told me not to cause you troubles." I shot the branch beneath his feet a look. He was in the tree in front of my window. "I know that this situation is...not the best but well."

"Just go downstairs, the door isn't locked." He nodded and jumped down.

He was taken back by the whiteboard that was taking almost all the space in the study, Kakashi in front of it.

"Did you make improvement?"

"I went to the Hokage, told her the whole thing."

"And?"

"She broke her desk, called me crazy, nothing new. Then I asked her, because we're related and she's the best medic ever, to come and do some monitoring during the process." He opened his mouth, most probably to debate over some points, but nothing came out. "And I thought about asking Mom and Naru to come as well. It's…"

"Your hand's shaking like crazy," he noticed in awe.

"She's on her third black coffee."

"It's eleven and I thought you didn't like black coffee."

"I don't, it's bitter, but it keeps you awake."

"Have you tried slee...whatever. Do you know about the Kage Summit?"

"When?"

"July, in the Land of Iron. Hoshigaki Kisame tried to capture Killer Bee and failed, but the Raikage didn't like that, so he called in a meeting. We're just out of a war, so it's in two months." I plugged my ears.

"I don't need to hear about it, I'm focusing on my stuff!" Shisui just shook his head at my antics.

Well, I was trying to protect myself as much as possible. Obito declared the Fourth Shinobi War at the Five Kage Summit and…

"Do you know when you're gonna do it?"

"Not yet, but soon, hopefully. It would be for the best if it's done for Itachi's engagement," Kakashi explained idly.

"It would be so sad if I couldn't attend because I'm dead or comatose."

"Don't joke about these things." To stress his point, Shisui, slapped me behind the head.

They talked some more but all I wanted was to get to it. By now I could barely sleep. I mean, I'd fall asleep, then have a nightmare and wake up to start my day, even if it was one in the morning. I'd train and all and basically keep myself busy but…

Every time I had to do something for the Uchiha clan I had a stomachache. Two days ago, I had a fitting for my wedding dress, Mikoto-san was there and…

Well, she seemed done with it like most of us really. She asked how I was, I asked her how she was, and she told me she finally could spend time with her eldest son. I don't know, it was weird knowing his interests right now, but maybe his mother was helping him, who knows?

Anyway, Izumi was there too for her own outfit for her engagement party. It was awkward, I ignored her as much as possible but didn't miss the little disdain at my...more modern outfit than hers. What could I say, since the Bloody Mist ended Kiri was renewing a lot of things, including modernizing weddings.

But she seemed pretty passive otherwise, not even excited for her kimono like I thought she would be. If anything, she was humble about it I guess? Not that I cared about her, I just hoped Itachi knew what he was doing. I didn't like her, but she didn't deserve to have her feelings used like this.

"Hey Shisui, wanna have that race?" He nodded.

"Can you even with the caffeine?"

"If I lose, we'll have another one."

"Akane, you're supposed to have an eye appointment," Kakashi reminded me, standing up. I cursed.

"Forgot."

The race did not happen, instead I went to the hospital and left with a prescription for glasses and contact lenses. I knew I was seeing a lot less from my left eye, it was a miracle they could put it back in my socket honestly, but I lost two-thirds of my sight.

I went to the optician next, looking through the window as he went to get the models I picked from the catalog. I tilted my head when I saw Itachi in the street. I narrowed my eyes at him, wanting to know if he'd notice me. He did eventually, not showing any emotion when he saw me. I just gestured him to not move. He looked around at the flow of people coming both ways and decided to get closer.

It was not what I wanted but well.

"Here they are."

"Thank you." I tried the first pair and looked at Itachi, who shook his head with a disapproving frown. I tried the second one, where he seemed mixed. The third one, he gave me a look that said 'are you serious?'.

He nodded at the fourth pair and I took them. The branches were thin and silver. The frames were just as thin and rounded at the bottom, the top being more square-like but still pretty rounded.

I looked back outside to see Itachi was gone. I looked around to spot his back. I bit the inside of my cheek as my eyes roamed up and down his body. He did have a great butt and I just wanted to…

I sighed and leaned my forehead against the window.

"Miss, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"What's going on?" I quickly found myself sitting in front of the Elders, Itachi already there.

"You've seen each other. Alone." I furrowed my brows and pointed at Itachi.

"Him?" Hiroshi nodded. "When?"

"Three days ago."

"Three days...wait, when I was in a shop and he was outside?" They nodded. "Are you serious?"

"The conditions are clear, you cannot…"

"We were not in the same room, or alone together," Itachi deep, cold voice rang in the room. "We did not even exchange a word, I did not break your conditions."

"Interacting on a personal level…"

"Do you remember that time where a member of your clan kidnapped me, tortured me and gouged my eye out?" I interrupted them nonchalantly. They all looked at me, even Itachi. "You know, a member of your clan who wants nothing to do with you and could obliterate you if he wanted to because he does not have a great opinion of you or your doing. You remember that, right? It was before you asked him to break up with me. I mean if you want to play on words might as well speak frankly and say things as they are right. You also should remember I kept Orochimaru from getting his filthy hands on the Sharingan, and trained the second heir for three years, including teaching things from my clan. Sharing things among clans is not nothing, you might remember it as you know, you're not as young as I used to be."

"Do not disrespect us!" I raised a daring brow at Hiroshi.

"Then don't disrespect me. I might have made a mistake, but I know how clans work the same way you do, so don't try to come up with stupid little rules or add conditions like you want. If you want to take away the title of heir from someone, or they're completely disowned, or they failed some very precise and detailed conditions decided beforehand and signed by all parties involved." Itachi frowned at looked at them.

"You didn't make me sign anything." They glanced at each other. "Did my father sign anything?"

"You will sign them; it was delayed because of the post-war efforts the clan is giving." Yeah right.

I would not comment on that.

"Anyway, I need glasses because I may have my eye back but it's permanently damaged. The least any Uchiha can do is make sure I don't look like a clown with them on. Itachi happened to be there, we did not plan to run into each other." To prove my point, I pulled my glasses from my purse and put them on. "Here, happy now?" There was a deafening silence.

"You both may go."

"Thank you for wasting my time," I told them. I stopped an inch from the door. "One last thing. Do not make me your enemy." I left, Itachi behind.

Once outside, I turned around a corner and leaned my head on a wall, sighing. I heard Itachi's footsteps stopping next to me.

"Did I overdo it?"

"No, if anything you helped and reminded them you were not a naive girl who knew nothing about the world." I cracked my back.

"You didn't know you had to sign things?"

"It was not my main priority, it slipped out of my mind. My father must have known though but…"

"I'm sure he's a busy and stressed mess too, we all are." He just ran a hand on his forehead, and I leaned against the wall.

I raised a brow when I noticed Itachi staring at my face.

"What?" He shook his head.

"Nothing."

"Is it the hair? I'm going to the hair salon soon to get the black out, you don't have to…"

"Good to hear, but no. It's just...I was realizing it was pretty incredible to number of things you can do with genjutsu." I narrowed my eyes and gulped when I understood the message.

He wanted some alone time.

"But you know that already, you've experienced it and just pass out after," he finished in a quieter tone, his eyes falling on my lips for a second.

I licked them unconsciously and he cleared his throat. In that moment I just wanted to rip his clothes off, him doing the same with mine and...I wanted him to fuck me against the wall, after I licked his abs.

"Akane?" he called me, unsure of what I was doing as I slapped my cheeks.

"Sorry, just trying to remove some dirty thoughts from my min…" I shut my mouth when I realized what I was saying. I was fully aware of the police officer shooting us glances every few seconds. "I mean, I'm hor...hungry, I'm hungry, for food. I just want to stuff my face in a...in a pie or something and you know...it's dirty and…"

There was a microscopic smirk at the corner of his lips. He was enjoying this. I never knew I'd have so many slips of tongue when I'd be with him! I knew I could have some when I was nervous or embarrassed, but it was a lot!

"I get it, you're hungry." I nodded sheepishly.

"I gotta go."

"I mean, I'm starving so you know, I get it."

I knew he wasn't looking at me, but I still walked away briskly, my face a red as a tomato. God, I did not need to know that right now! Especially with how I was supposed to get ready to go to Uzushio, I did not need to think about banging Itachi!

"Alright, here is how it's going to happen." Team Seven was escorting us, and Shisui. "Team Kakashi/Yamato, except for Naruto and Sasuke, you're all staying outside to stand guard. The rest of us come with me." I looked at Tsunade-san, who was looking around. "If you will."

"I'm not here as the Hokage," she reminded me.

Mom was quiet, which I could understand. When I asked her to come, I didn't think about what it would do to her to come back after she fled the place for Kiri. Naru was standing pretty close to her.

"Okay so...let's go." We entered the shrine and Sasuke took care of the light immediately, going down before me. Once in the basement, I walked to the door with the Shinigami on it.

"Wow, it is real." I raised a curious brow at my cousin. "I mean, I know it's real, but seeing that makes it...like real real."

"I never knew this was here," Mom whispered before looking at Tsunade-san. "Did you?"

"I heard about a sacrificial room but…"

"Well, they probably went there in old times for everything Shinigami related. The inside is a little crazier." I gathered chakra in my left hand and put it on the door.

It opened in a grave, stony sound. I got in first with Sasuke.

"There is one thing you should know. Akane doesn't feel it because she's a Yuurei but the atmosphere is very oppressing."

"How oppressing?" the Hokage asked him.

"Like it's sucking your will to live."

My seal and the Claw were reacting, warming up slowly. I removed my shirt, leaving me in a sports bra and sat down at the middle of the seal. Tsunade-san walked over to me. She put her glowing hand on my heart and gently put me down.

"I'm going to slow your heart down slowly. You'll feel like you're falling asleep, so don't panic." I nodded. "After five minutes, I'll bring you back."

Indeed, I did feel like falling asleep. Unfortunately, when I woke up, I was glaring holes in the ceiling.

"Well, that was disappointing." I sat. "Very much so."

"What now?" Naru asked me.

"Well, there still one thing."

I took a deep breath and executed hand seals I had not done for a decade, still remembering them by heart. I took a deep breath once my hands were flat against each other.

"Shiki Fuujin!"

"Akane!" Mom yelled at me, but the Shinigami was already forming in front of me.

They were missing their left arm as the Claw appeared, ripping off the bandages. Their eyes were set on me. I still had no idea, ten years after, if they could speak. They understood me, that I was sure of, but or they could not talk, or they did not want to.

But they understood my language, and most probably already knew what I wanted.

In front of them was my soul. It was still there, still under the Shinigami's hold.

"You know what I want." Sasuke moved closer to the seal as the other three Uzumakis were exchanging quick looks.

"Nee-ch…" Tsunade-san put her hand on Naru's mouth.

I stretched out the Claw to them. They looked at it, then back at me and grinned if possible. In a swift move, they took my left hand and pulled.

I was falling the second after, knowing fully well that my body was left behind.

Much like the two first times, I fell in a scenery of gray. I jumped to my feet and ran to the pound. I reached it quickly and looked at it. In my memories, the water was clear, and you could see the bottom of it when the sun was shining. Here, while everything was in shades of gray, you could not see the bottom. It was an endless black pit.

"You came here for the ride of your life? Well, death?" I looked to my right, a smirk on my lips at Itachi's done expression.

"You're crazy." I shrugged with an innocent smile and he groaned. "Only you would make me do something like that in death."

"Come on, Naruto and Sasuke had the Rikudo Sennin, we have...well, Death? And anyway, you know how it is down there." He sighed deeply.

"I am aware indeed." He looked at me. "He doesn't live it well." I tilted my head. "Not being with you."

"You did."

"I had to. And I was away for the Akatsuki. He has to see you and has to be engaged to Izumi while you're engaged to Sasuke, but can't even talk to you properly." I pursed my lips.

"You know, sometimes I surprise myself to think it was easier to be with the criminal you than with the heir and Konoha shinobi you." He took a lock of my hair. "It should be the other way around."

"It was easier but limited and I couldn't provide you with the stability you needed and wanted."

"You didn't use me as much as he's doing right now," I replied bitterly. I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I'm aware that him doing that is…a part of his personality, your personality I guess, and that I played a part in it by accepting the engagement but…" I took the hand on my cheek and squeezed it.

"I know Akane, I hate how you became a mean to an end right now, like Sasuke. Dealing with this without using Shisui's Mangekyou is…a lot harder than anticipated." He took a deep breath. "But it is not the time to talk about this."

"Yeah I know." I looked at the pound. "You sure you want to follow?"

"Someone has to be the brain of the operation."

"Aouch. Also, well played."

On this note, I walked in the pound, Itachi's hand not letting go of mine, or the other way around, I could not say. I could only think of the vines growing on my legs. I was scared, of course I was, and unsure but...I didn't want Naru to carry the weight of everything on his shoulders. I already tried to get the nations at ease with each other, and tried to get Kurama to work with him earlier…

I had to succeed.

For the second time, I sank into the unknown, Itachi squeezing my hand tightly. It lasted for what seemed to be forever, numbness taking over my whole body before we touched solid ground.

I hit the ground with my foot. Solid.

"Akane." I looked at Itachi and then followed his gaze. I gaped a little and approached the edge of the cliff we were on.

There was a valley down there, a path going through it, with a humongous Tori at the end of the path. The sky was gray, everything was like a continuation of the limbo we were a few moments ago.

Then I saw the sun. Black as well, not moving, giving light but no warmth.

"Akane."

"Yes?" Itachi showed me our hands.

"Don't let go okay." I nodded. He took one quick glance around, gave my hand a squeeze and took the lead.

I was fine with Itachi leading. I knew he was doing that so I could focus on what I'd say, in the meantime he'd get me there. Everything was extremely silent though, nothing moved around us. It was almost as if we were in a painting, everything was frozen in time. I guess it made sense as it was the kingdom of the dead but…

Itachi pulled me in front of him, kicking the thing running at us.

"Wh…" I widened my eyes at the giant red being. "Is that a…"

"An oni? I think so." It got on its feet, his big, black, mad eyes not leaving me.

"It wants me."

"You're a living soul in a place filled with dead people and with the stain of what I would call is their boss, they probably think you're a profanity," Itachi explained calmly.

"Great." He closed his eyes for a second, then opened them. The bright red of the Mangekyou Sharingan was burning in our surroundings as Amaterasu burned the oni.

However, I never found his sharingan more beautiful than now.

I tried to use chakra when another one appeared, but nothing.

"I can't…" Itachi grabbed my hand and started running.

"You're a living being, your chakra links you and the Shinigami, but now I think it is what is linking you to the living world. You can't use it, but I'm dead, so I can."

"You seem to have thought a lot about this!"

"You really think I wouldn't after hearing you say you wanted to meet with the Shinigami?" he shot back flatly, shooting a look behind us. "I figured you'd need a bodyguard."

"You're a life saver, literally," I told him, looking behind us. There were five and more coming, jumping down from each side of the valley.

Itachi clenched my hand harder when I said that and I squeezed it hard, catching up to him to his level. We kept running, Itachi throwing jutsu when there'd be onis in front of us. As we reached the Tori, I widened my eyes at the large number of onis in front of it.

Itachi clicked his tongue.

"Akane, don't worry about me."

"Wh…" His Susanoo appeared. It grabbed me by the waist and lifted me up before throwing me like a ball.

I yelled, in fear and worry at seeing Itachi turning himself into a decoy.

I landed behind the Tori with a grunt. No oni looked at me anymore, almost as if they could no longer see me. I could see the red of Itachi's Susanoo.

He already died on me; he couldn't do it again while already dead.

I froze at the presence in my back. I slowly turned around to find the Shinigami, staring at me. They stretched out their arm, then hand and gestured me to get closer with their finger.

"You have reached me," they said in a deep and hollow voice.

"You've observed me for the past decade, I'm nothing but stubborn when I need to," I replied, gathering as much self-confidence I could muster.

"What do you want?" I took a deep, long breath.

"I want the same thing you've granted two of my ancestors. I want you to lend me more of your power." I looked straight into their yellow eyes. "Please, Izanami-sama."

They stared at me for long, long seconds, the sound of the battle in my mind ringing in my ears. Then, they started to cackle before lowering themselves toward the ground. When they touched it, the scenery around me changed. We were in a mountain with a single, traditional cabin, a lake in front of it. Everything around, it was filled with life and green. You could almost smell the trees.

My breath was caught in my lungs as the Shinigami started to change in front of me. They shrunk, their loosed white dress turning into a white kimono with some golden patterns. The horns were retracted in the head, the hair going from long, wild white to disciplined, shiny and straight ebony locks. The eyes went from yellow to a golden color, almond-shaped with long, thick and curly lashes. She had a straight nose, a small mouth but with full, defined lips and high cheekbones. Her whole body was harmonious, there was not one curve overpowering another.

"Wow," I whispered before I could think about it.

"I have not been called this...in a long, long time," she told me, setting her eyes on me. It felt like she was seeing right through me. "I had a feeling one day we would meet this way."

"Really?"

"You do not remember your first journey in Yomi," she informed me, walking gracefully toward the lake. Even her voice was...beautiful to the ear, sweet and sensual. "Every person calling upon my power face my judgment. You were not any different. But the land of the living has no business knowing what expect them once their soul leaves the terrestrial ground. You, when we first met, when you were told what could happen, immediately accepted to go back. There was not even a sliver of doubt, or fear, in your eyes."

Yet I was so freaked out when I was in front of Shisui.

"I knew, one day, you would come and find me once more. He warned me."

"Who?"

"Hagoromo." Wait, the Sage? "He knew, based on your life, on what was expecting you, that you would find me one day." She looked up, her lips slightly parted as she gazed at the beaming sun. "And there you are."

"By making a pact with you, I unknowingly unlocked senjutsu. Is there any way for me to actually use it to face what is to come? I don't mean necessarily as a Sage Mode but…" She knelt, diving her thin hand in the clear water of the lake.

"Life would not have a meaning if it was not for death," she stated suddenly. She pulled her hand out of the lake, watching the drops of water falling. "I was the Creation, but there is no point in creation if there is no end to them." She stood up and turned toward me. "You have been my arm, sending souls here to meet their final destinations. You have seen them."

"The onis following us...they were the people I stole souls from."

"You, and your five predecessors. Isn't this...enough?"

"I am aware you probably could not care less about what is going in the land of the living but...our connection has allowed me to do a lot of good things but also wounded me in ways I did not expect. But the people I got back and still have, I can't lose them again. I just can't without trying everything to protect them and the world I now live in. I do not know how Tensui convinced you, nor my other ancestor, but I am sure the way my clan has used your power is far from what it was first intended for. For that, I am deeply ashamed, and sorry. I am not going to pretend I am different, because maybe to you what I am doing is the same, but if there is a sliver of a chance for me to help them this time, to fight by their side then I have to take it."

She walked to me slowly, almost with a feline walk, and took my left arm. She grazed the marks on it and it shone purple. There was a thump in my back and I looked above my shoulder, like her, before running toward Itachi.

"Are you okay?" I asked him, on my knees as I helped him sit. His coat was gone and his shirt seemed a little bit ripped. Itachi blinked rapidly, his fingers closed around my wrist.

"I think they...they were trying to…" I raised a brow and put my hand on my mouth when he whispered the end of his sentence in my ear.

"Onis are lustful, they would not miss an opportunity to quench their thirst for the pleasure of the flesh." Itachi turned his head to look at Izanami, who smiled serenely at him.

"Itachi, meet the Goddess Izanami." He glanced at me with wide eyes and I helped him up. He bowed to her.

"I must say, I am...very much not fond of your people." Itachi pursed his lips.

"I must apologize on behalf of my clan if the names of our jutsus are not respectful to you." She hummed.

"It is quite infuriating, especially the one you called 'Izanami' and that you have used." He looked a little shameful. "But it is also quite fitting, to imprison someone in a loop while I, myself, am...stuck here." We shared a look with Itachi.

When you thought about it, it was kind of cruel even, but her story was a myth so...there was no way to know it actually happened.

"However, you have caught my eyes too. No one ever took another's place as a watching soul, yet you did. Why?" Without a word, Itachi took my hand in his.

"In the limited time we had together when I was alive, I did my best to take care of her as per my best friend's last wishes. I was not always good at it, but eventually I fell in love with her, and she took care of me at a time where I thought no one ever would again. I just wanted the opportunity to take care of her again and help if I could." I looked up at him, moved. I did not have the words.

"But she changed. She killed a lot of people." I bit my bottom lip. "She has another life now, will you still watch over her if she forgets you?"

"Of course."

"I'd never forget him," I told her when Itachi spoke.

"Akane may grow and change, it doesn't mean she's gone. And if she ever appeared as such, then I'd do everything I can to look for her myself to see if she really is gone." She smiled faintly.

"Even if she drastically changed physically?" Itachi looked down at me and smiled a little, his hand on my cheek.

"Her appearance is only a bonus to me. We see through each other, I never felt like I had a role to play around her and I could be myself, the feeling of home she gave me was more important than her beauty." I flushed hard, leaning my forehead against his arm.

"Isn't there anything that would make you flee from her?"

"Only if she was the one asking." I glanced at Izanami.

She was nibbling on her bottom lip, her hands clenched in tight fists. Those questions...her husband fled when he saw her. Was she looking for the same kind of reaction from Itachi?

"She was...so eager to save you from the fate you encountered, even if it costed her heart. She was so eager to let you have a happy, peaceful life and make sure it would happen in the shadow." Itachi's arm tensed.

"We don't have to talk about this…" I mumbled, embarrassed.

"I will forever be thankful to her for that. The only regret I have is that she doesn't get to live it for a long time with me."

"It's okay," I whispered to him. He exhaled slowly from his nose.

"Not to me. You hated seeing me sick, I hate knowing that…" He shook his head. "You were supposed to die of old age and join me." I hugged his arm.

"Yeah, I didn't keep that promise."

"You really do love each other."

"We do and always will," Itachi retorted confidently

"Even with annoying relatives." It made him crack a little smile. I took a deep breath and let go of him, turning around to face Izanami. "I am not really sure what you are looking for in our feelings for one another, but whatever it is, I hope it was in our favor." She raised a thin, sculpted brow.

"'Our'? You are the Yuurei."

"I know, but he's been tagging along since the beginning and I wouldn't have been able to get to where I am without him, him or the Itachi I love so dearly among the living."

"I see." She looked at Itachi. "If given, would you take the opportunity to actually be there for her?" Itachi was taken back.

"Yes."

"Maybe you should think about it twice before…" Itachi put his hand on my mouth.

"I have tried already, but I cannot leave Limbo." He tried?

"Of course not, you're part of two very different plans. But, I will grant you your wish, Yuurei." I widened my eyes and removed Itachi's hand. "Your will...is a noble one, and the feelings you share with that, the esteem and respect he has for you makes me believe you will use this power wisely."

"Really?" She nodded and looked at Itachi.

"The role of a watching soul is not to just watch. You are her guide and protector from the influence of Yomi when she happens to be in Limbo. You have been a good one so far. Your desire to help her is pure. If you wish to, I can send you in your living soul."

"Wait, what would happen to Itachi?" I asked her with worry. I loved old Itachi, but I was in love with Itachi and didn't want him to be erased like I did with myself…

"It would be the opposite," she told me, apparently knowing what I was thinking. "When you arrived, your mind was mixed with the one your body had at the time. It sometimes reacted the way it would have reacted in spite of your knowledge and skills. Here, it would be the opposite. You," she looked at Itachi, "would be a lingering trace of your first life."

"I wouldn't exist on my own," Itachi summed up. "But he would have feelings of deja-vu, maybe some memories in dreams, and my feelings and emotions regarding some things." She nodded.

"Wait, it would mean Itachi would have memories of the massacre and...and what he did to Sasuke? And he'd feel how you were feeling at that time? Itachi, I don't…" He cut me off by cupping my cheeks, staring deeply in my eyes.

Then he smiled lovingly at me.

"Akane, it is not your choice."

"But…"

"What would happen to Limbo then?"

"It would be destroyed, there would be no chance for you to escape me if you were to die." I gulped. "But, as it was created by your chakra and vitality when the seal was made, you would get them back."

"Really?" She nodded. I knew I had to say goodbye to some of my Uzumaki attributes but… "That's…"

"I love you." Itachi pressed his lips firmly against mine. "Don't think of it as goodbyes, I'll greet you soon enough." I pursed my lips and cupped his face, my forehead against his.

"Are you really sure?" He nodded. "I won't convince otherwise?" He shook his head and I sighed, beaten. "Alright, it is your call then." He poked my forehead before taking a step back.

"What will happen to Akane though?"

"The reason you can not use my power to fight is because of a lack of stability. Your chakra is not my power's equal, thus making it impossible for you to fully use it. It will make the two equals by destroying the Limbo plane, thus giving you back what you offered me the first time you called upon my power. It should stop my power from impacting your living biology and its basic functions." I furrowed my brows.

"She could carry a pregnancy full term?" Itachi asked behind me. His voice was...emotional. I shot him a quick look.

I felt a squeeze at my heart when I recognized the hopeful spark in his eyes.

"If she can get pregnant. The chances will remained reduced, but...it should be safe." She took my left arm, her hand stopping above my forearm, above my veins.

Her nails grew and dived in my flesh. I bit my bottom lip, purple energy escaping from my wound.

"Your mind will be disturbed like each time. It is...the impact Yomi has on a living soul that returns to the land of the living. But your life expectancy...should be longer now."

"Really?" I cleared my throat. My voice was failing me.

"However...once your seal is broken, so will you. Some effects of the Claw are removed and others are taking their place. At some point, the balance between your chakra and my power will break and I will overpower you once more. When this happens...it will be the signal that your time is running short." I swallowed. "It may be a mental like it can be a physical signal."

"So...yeah, like a sudden disease." I looked at her as the Claw was retracting itself in the wound. "Why have you accepted?"

"Your love...reminds me of one I knew a long time ago. Not all stories...end like mine."

"And it will be grandly useful." I widened my eyes at the person behind Izanami.

"You're Otsutsuki Hagoromo…" I muttered, seeing the rinnegan in his eyes.

"I am."

"You were right, they were worth listening to," Izanami conceded, letting go of my arm.

The claw was no more. Instead was a simple circle, made of the same curse marks as the claw, around my forearm, a thin line of symbols going to the back of my hand to go around the base of each of my finger.

It wasn't bad.

"Promise me one thing." I looked at her. "You are to be the last person to ask for my power. The Yuurei line will die with you." I pursed my lips and nodded firmly.

"I swear." She closed her eyes, a thin smile on her face.

"Well then, you will go back to where you belong."

I grabbed Itachi's hand and squeezed it tight as I felt I was leaving. His smile was the last thing I saw there.

"She's waking up!" I blinked several times, the smell of humidity thick in the air. I raised my left arm, the bandages ripped off.

It was bleeding, but the Claw was gone, leaving a much more discreet and simple mark behind.

"I did it," I whispered to myself.

I couldn't remember a thing though, so I had no idea of how I managed but...I did.

I felt Tsunade-san's soothing healing chakra over me. She frowned for a split of a second and looked at the new mark on my arm.

"You are going through some exams once we're back, I'll schedule them myself." On this note, she helped me sit. I rubbed my eyes, Mom kissing the crown of my head.

"It was so scary," Naru commented next to Sasuke.

"Meh, the other time was worst."

"Wait, what?" I reached them, my arm on Mom's shoulders. "Nee-chan, how do you feel?"

"Hum...good. Just tired and…" I looked at my arm. "Bleeding apparently."

"What happened?" I shrugged at Sasuke.

"I can't remember anything, but I must have done something right." I looked at Tsunade-san. "Is it okay if I borrow Sasuke and Shisui for something on the way back?"

"What for?"

"I'm not sure I can tell you explicitly, it's...an Uchiha clan secret." She sighed, running a hand in her blond hair.

"Fine, if you can handle it that is."

"Thanks."

We had to check that stone tablet thing.

Hey! Thanks for reading and leave a review to tell me what you thought of this chapter! Thanks to Amaterasu53, Mikan26 and Guest for the reviews! And yes, the situation is one messy, painful and drama-filled mess. It will end soon though!

Bye!