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: 17

Shisui: 26

Kakashi: 31

"You ran away your tail between your legs." It was pretty much what we came upon with Itachi and sensei as we reached the top of the Kage mountain. ANBUs were posted around, including Sasuke who nodded at us when he saw us.

Still...hearing Dad say that to Fugaku-san of all people.

"I don't remember you being in top shape," the Uchiha patriarch replied with a narrowed gaze on my father. Dad scoffed.

"Please, I would have won this easily if you had not run away."

"So you two know each other already," I said loud enough for them to stop their banter. Dad immediately turned his attention to me. Somehow, his gaze found my hand in Itachi's hand quickly and disgust took over his features.

"God no, you can do way better than him!" I was taken back. Itachi squeezed my hand tighter, clearly getting possessive.

Fugaku-san did not like the implication.

"What is wrong with my son exactly?"

"Everything, there's no way he can keep up with my daughter." The Uchiha crossed his arms with a smug smirk.

"He already is keeping up with her, if anything I should worry of the opposite." Dad started glaring.

"Please, it was already a miracle Minato could keep up with Kushina, it's not as if…" He stopped and narrowed his eyes at us. "Oh hell no, not the second coming of Minato and Kushina's couple!"

I elbowed Itachi in the ribs when he was starting to be too smug to my taste.

"We're nothing like them." That...somehow, it seemed like Fugaku-san did not entirely agree with this. "It's true!"

"There are some similitudes." I pursed my lips and looked back, Mom slowly coming into view with Naruto. Dad tensed and then, Tsunade-san appeared out of nowhere as well.

Dad just paled drastically when he saw her. I looked at sensei, who had a serious face.

"Hey, what is going on?" She sighed.

"A divorce. Itachi-kun, Uchiha-san, I think we should leave them deal with their issues as a family." Fugaku-san nodded.

Itachi seemed torn, so I smiled at him.

"It's okay." He nodded quietly and I let go of his hand.

"I don't like knowing he's around you," he whispered back to me.

"I know, but it's going to be fine. I'll see you at home."

He left. Then, there was a loud punch in my back. I turned around to find Naru holding Mom back, my dad on the ground, a hand on his stomach. He had the decency to stay on the ground at least. Without a word, Mom pointed her finger at me and I paled.

"I didn't do anything!" She rolled her eyes.

"Get Minato out. I know you can." I bit the inside of my cheek. "And an Ice Clone, not a shadow one."

I obeyed, oji-chan clearly not wanting to be here. In a second, he was next to Dad, on the ground as well.

Naru and I had the same idea and Tsunade-san sighed as we were both behind her, using her as a shield from Mom's anger.

"Why did I get punched Akiko?" Minato asked weakly.

"Because you can't use a jutsu you know nothing of Minato! And even less leave it in your legacy so that some idiot decides to use it!" I put a hand on my heart.

"I'm glad you were an idiot nee-chan," Naru whispered to me.

"I like to think I made up for that by keeping a close eye on her…" oji-chan tried to defend himself.

"I didn't say you could talk." Dad was oddly quiet next to him.

"For what it's worth...thank you for taking care of Naruto." Naru blinked and gulped.

Mom merely looked away.

"Well I wasn't going to leave him alone when I could change it."

"Now this has been discussed, let's get to what we're here for. You wanted a divorce, I have the papers."

"Huh, they're still married I guess," I muttered to myself. I really didn't want a step-dad though.

"Why are we doing this outside?" Naru asked the Hokage.

"In case we need to deal with Ushio." Dad turned his head toward her.

"There's no need, you were scary enough when you were flat as an iron board, I won't provoke you now you're the Hokage." Yet, a vein bulged on her forehead and Dad quickly had a black eye, now in a rock.

"Akane." I looked at her, who was dusting her hands. "If Minato is here, then does it mean ojii-sama and Tobirama-ji-sama are there as well?"

"Oh yes, I thought you knew. Yes. Hashirama wants me to call him jiji and Tobirama has been...very helpful for the past couple of years." She looked down.

"I see. Sarutobi-sensei is…" I nodded. "I see."

"Damn, Grandpa always said you got your temper from Mito-oba-chan…" Tsunade-san shot my dad a glare from the corner of her eyes. "Never mind."

"How are you related again?" Naru asked, lost.

"She's to me what I would be to your kids," I replied flatly. "A distant cousin."

"Huh."

"Ushio, for now I needed you to sign these papers. Then, we'll talk about what you're going to do here with the Mizukage."

"Helping with the war effort, right?" he replied, standing up on shaky legs.

"It depends if we can count on you for real."

Dad and Tsunade-san exchanged a long, meaningful look. I knew they knew each other, were related and all that, but Tsunade-san never really talked about him in depths. Maybe with Mom when they'd go out together, but never to me, in spite of knowing she was there when Fubuki died.

Seeing them interacting with each other was...so strange, yet it felt so familiar. No matter what happened or how long they didn't see each other for, you could spot the familiarity between them there was only between relatives who grew up around each other.

Uzushio had a clan policy back then. Even if an Uzumaki no longer was part of the village, they were still an Uzumaki, a part of the family, and could go back when they wanted to. No village went against it until it was destroyed.

They spent time together in Uzushio, where he spent time with Mom too, where he'd annoy Aunty Kushina.

I took Naru's hand without a word and he squeezed it hard. He probably felt the same weird feeling too. Two redheads were missing.

"We've got to smile for them nee-chan." I looked at Naru as Tsunade-san walked over Dad. "Mom and Fubuki-nii-chan, they can't be with us and smile with us, so we have to smile for them too dattebayo." I smiled softly.

"You're right." Minato was smiling, looking at us and gestured me to call him back.

"I don't think you need me anymore. We already decided to help on our side when we'd see it necessary, but other than that, we'll observe," he told Tsunade-san. She nodded.

"It is the matter of the living anyway." He nodded and started melting. His soul crawled back in my arm as there was now a puddle of water on the ground. "Akane, we'll most likely assign you some duties regarding Ushio." I made a face.

"Is that why we're here?"

"No, you're both here in case she," Tsunade-san said, pointing her thumb at Mom, "decided to kill him for good."

"I said I wouldn't, I can control myself!"

"So if they leave, you won't jump on him to beat him up?" Dad shot Mom a quick look as she sighed, annoyed.

"I will not. Promise."

"Alright. You both can go then." We did.

We both breathed out deeply once back in the heart of the village. I shot a look at the Kage mountain behind me.

"Do you think they'll be okay?"

"Granny Tsunade's there." He put his hands in his pockets. "Hey nee-chan, I need to know something."

"Yes?"

"If you and Itachi-nii have kids." I blinked. He had not called Itachi like this in a while. "Sasuke's the uncle, right?"

"Yes."

"But I'm too, right?"

"Well, technically no. I mean, Mom adopted you so I guess on official terms we are siblings, but you are her cousin's child, so to her you are her first cousin once removed, which makes us...wait, I looked it up many times before. You're my second cousin. So...you're not really an uncle, but a second cousin once removed." I puffed my chest in pride. "All this time trying to understand clan genealogy paid off!"

"So if I had kids…"

"Third cousins to mine."

"So Sasuke is closer." I blinked.

"I thought it was obvious." He pouted. "Did you talk about this with him?"

"He kept bragging if you guys had kids he'd be 'Uncle Sasuke' and I'd be the weirdo calling you 'nee-chan' without any reason." I rolled my eyes and patted his shoulder. "But I was a cool uncle, I had to be!"

"Oh yes, you were Naru-oji." He blinked and smiled at the nickname, moved. "And Mom raised you this time around, so even if she wouldn't be your kids' grandmother, she'd still be considered as such. So...how much blood we share doesn't really make a big difference. I always called your mom Aunty, because that's what she was to me."

"So I'll be an uncle."

"Of course."

"Haku too?"

"Yes, sure. Him and I are more distantly related than us but yes."

"How so?"

"We have common ancestors five generations ago. So it means parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, great-great-grandparents and great-great-great-grandparents. You and I have the same great-grandparents. My grandpa and yours were brothers."

"...you know, sometimes I want to ask Aunty about it but…"

"You should, if anything I'm sure she'll be happy to share this with you. That being said, her dad was the principal of the shinobi Academy in Uzushio." He widened his eyes.

"There's a teacher in the family?" I nodded.

"My reaction, precisely!"

"Huh...weird...so, on your dad's side…"

"His grandfather was Mito's brother, the Shodai's wife, hence why Itachi said I was his great-grandniece at the wedding. By alliance...that's what I am."

"Wow, you have too many Kages or almost Kages in your family tree nee-chan." I sighed.

"I know, and your dad's the worst. Technically he is not much to me but I'm pretty sure if he had my family tree in front of him he'd just make a new box for him." There was a scoff in my head.

Naru snickered.

"He would. I asked him if he knew for Itachi and you at Mount Myouboku and he just...got really depressed."

"Yes, I know. I used to say I'd marry him when I'd grow up or something like this and well...obviously I moved on." Naru laughed.

"Poor Dad!"

Naru followed me home and we were both facing an unusual scene.

"Look what you did." Sushi meowed at Itachi, who was pointing at the scratched side of the couch. "You have a scratching post, don't do it on the furniture." He had a meow in response. "I know you understand what I'm saying."

"He's gotten used to the whole 'cat dad' thing quickly," Naruto whispered to me. I nodded.

"Yet he usually let me do the scolding, so he gets the cuddles," I replied with a frown. This caught Itachi's attention as he turned a sharp gaze at us, especially at me. "Don't try to deny it." He chose to ignore me and looked at Naru, so I went to the kitchen to get some snacks.

"What was it then?"

"Aunty and Ushio are getting a divorce."

"I thought they already did."

"Same," I agreed with him, cookies now on a plate. I brought it to the coffee table. "But...with my dad's actions, while it was not said out loud, it was pretty obvious they were done...there never was an official divorce though." Once tea was ready, Naru and Itachi sat on the couch while I sat in the armchair.

Sushi jumped on Naru's lap, who started to pet her, making her purr.

"And nee-chan will have to work with him apparently." Itachi looked at me and I shrugged.

"I mean, it's not worse than Tsunade-san getting Naru and I there to make sure Mom wouldn't kill him." I sighed and took my cup of tea, enjoying the warmth from it. "Sensei and Tsunade-san need to talk more about it but…"

"We're really going back to war?" We looked at Naru, who sported a conflicted look on his face. "I mean, the other was...not that long ago and…"

"We can't not fight back when Obito waged war on the Five Nations though," 'tachi told him gently, yet firmly. "And we're not going to let him get you and Killer Bee without doing anything." I nodded firmly.

"Yeah, I know but…" He clenched his fist. "It's just so frustrating to think so many people are going to risk their lives and…"

"What have you been told?" He shrugged.

"Not much, just I won't fight. I tried to tell Granny to let me but…"

"They don't want you on the battlefield." He nodded at Itachi. "If Obito gets you both, it's game over, it's better this way." He sighed.

"Is it?"

"Well, if things go the right way, you'll get a hold on Kurama's power." They both looked at me. I smiled gently at Naru. "So play along for now, okay?" He puffed his cheeks but nodded anyway. "Thank you."

I quickly grabbed my camera and snapped a picture of him. Itachi sighed, a small smile dancing on his lips.

"What the…"

"It's my fault, I got it for her," Itachi confessed. "Just...play along that too."

"I just want pictures of everyone! Kakashi keeps slipping through my fingers!"

"Right, Kakashi-sensei!" I blinked. "Is it true when you were attacked, you pulled his mask off when the teme was there!?"

"...yeah, to make him bite me it was eas…" He hit the floor with his feet.

"I can't believe it dattebayo!"

"I don't think it's a win knowing the situation," Itachi reminded him sternly.

"Sure but...Sasuke just brags about it!" It made the Uchiha sigh at his brother's antics.

"Don't listen to him."

What mattered was Killer B teaching Naru how to control Bijuu Mode, then...he'd join the war, there was no question about it.

"Talking about Sasuke, I'd be as much as an uncle than him, right?" I rolled my eyes as Itachi seemed slightly taken back. "Like, you guys have baby, I'm an uncle like Sasuke, right?"

"Well…" Naru narrowed his eyes at him. "You wouldn't be as close as Sasuke in terms of blood tie but of course."

"Great!" Itachi shot me a look; I waved him off.

"He asked me too and I ended up going back to what we actually are family wise."

"Oh. It's a real headache in clans." I raised a brow. "Shisui wanted to know how close we were as cousins when we were younger." Naru and I stared at him.

"And?" my cousin said.

"Not that close. I didn't listen to the rest."

Huh...I wonder how close him and Sasuke were to Obito.

"So a punch really made you…" I pointed at them.

"I gave him a little brother talk." I furrowed my brows. "I pretty much said what I think Dad and Fubuki would have said and finished by saying I'd make Sasuke's life miserable if he hurt you again."

"It's not really an efficient argument," Itachi whispered. "He's old enough to deal with his friends on his own."

"And...that's it?" They shared a look and nodded. "I really don't understand guys…"

"Don't try to, it works, it's all that matters," Itachi said, taking a cookie.

"I guess…" Still, before two particular idiots lost an arm each.

Naru left after an hour. I stretched out my arms above my head before Itachi put an envelope in front of my eyes.

"What?" I mumbled, recognizing my name and address on it. "Who's that?"

"It's a publishing house in the capital." I blinked at him. In a second, he had one of my Icha Icha and showed me the name of the publisher on the back. "Is it about your manuscript I know nothing about?"

"How would the...how do you know about this?"

"I found it when you were in the hospital and read it." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "I'm sorry, I didn't think you'd mind."

"Well it's...kind of embarrassing to have someone close to you read it you know...especially you, you have quite strict tastes in literature." He tilted his head a little.

"I liked it. I didn't know you could write." I blinked, taken back.

"You really think so?" He nodded. "Oh, thank you Itachi. It...It was Jiraya-san's idea actually, when I left with Sasuke he put a note in his book for me. It said writing could be a great way to...express my feelings freely."

"I noticed." I smiled a little and he put his hand in my hair. "Did it do you some good?" I nodded.

"I just didn't really have the time once I came in Konoha, with you and your seal and missions and all that." I opened the envelope and read the letter quickly. I opened my eyes wide and jumped on my feet, re-reading it.

"Akane?"

"That...that…" He read the letter above my shoulder. "Jiraya-san submitted an extract of my story and they want to meet me!?" Itachi smiled proudly at me.

"Isn't that great?"

"I don't know Itachi, is it? The timing's not right at all...and I'm gonna have responsibilities shortly too it's…"

"It's just a meeting," he said gently, rubbing my arm.

"In the Capital city, I don't have time for that. Yeah, I'll just...I'll write them, tell them I'm flattered but the shinobi life is keeping me extra-busy." I put the letter back in the envelope.

"Think about it for a second before…"

"I've thought about it, I made a decision, bam." I took a deep breath. "I mean it. I don't have time to even think about it."

"...alright."

Itachi was back to work. He was still working through some things, but he assured me he could handle working again. I did ask him maybe a dozen of times as he was going to the front door, me following him. He ended up sighing, poking me in the forehead and took my reply to the publisher with him, saying he'd post it on the way. Tonight we had our session with Inoichi-san.

I...was nervous. If Itachi felt we could benefit from it, why not but...I was nervous to hear what he had to say.

I had a stomachache all day. When the hour of the appointment came, I was waiting for Itachi outside, but no sign of him. Inoichi-san ended up telling me we'd start without him.

It was weird, Itachi was usually punctual.

"I know I'm not...over everything, and I'm scared that with the coming war the wound that barely started to close just gets re-opened and gets bigger." I played with my thumbs. "I'm gonna have big responsibilities toward my village in a few months, and I know sensei will be with me at first to show me all the ropes but...I don't want to fail."

"Fear of failure is good in a way." I blinked. "It shows you care. It is still progress in your tumultuous relationship with your birth village and everything that happened."

"...yes, I guess." He looked above me, at the door.

"He's here." He checked his watch. "Right at the forty-five-minute mark too. Come in!"

Itachi came in, his face a little red and panting a little. His hair seemed disheveled a little too.

"Did you run?" I asked him with a frown. He nodded as he sat down next to me. "Where were you?"

"Just...running errands." I narrowed my eyes at him but he ignored me.

"Well, if you're ready. Unless if you wanted to add something Akane." I shook my head. "Okay then, I will...start by asking a few questions we talked about before." Itachi nodded. "I...understand you've talked about the future of your relationship in spite the particular conditions you both have, right?" I shot Itachi a quick look as he nodded. "Good. Now...Shisui." Oh.

Here we go.

"He stated he had romantic feelings for you, didn't he?" I nodded curtly. "And you did not return them." I nodded again.

If Itachi took me to therapy for that then…

"You are still friends with him, aren't you?"

"To be honest he's had feelings for me for most of our friendship."

"True," Itachi agreed quietly.

"And how does that make you feel?" I looked at Itachi, waiting for an answer. He gulped quietly, his hands crossed between his legs.

"I don't like it." I was only half taken back. I mean...I knew he could be possessive if he felt threatened but… "I know you won't...cheat on me or anything, and even if…" It looked like just saying the words was physically hurting him. "Even if something like this were to happen, you'd tell me immediately." I bit the inside of my cheek.

"Why don't you like it?"

"When we were younger, they were...close, and shared things and I was not part of it. I was always on the side. Now Shisui's no longer involved with anyone I just worry that…"

"I didn't start a relationship with you because he wasn't available," I whispered under my breath. I crossed my arms when I saw his hand getting closer to mine.

"I don't think it is the root of the issue here." The Yamanaka looked at Itachi with sharp green eyes. "You felt excluded." He nodded slowly. "But then your relationship evolved. Now Shisui is more available, it seems an inferiority complex was brought to the surface."

What the hell? Itachi? An inferiority complex?

"I guess."

"But why?" I asked him weakly.

"You were immediately friends and you...just laughed a lot with him, and relied on him. I'...I'm worried you're going to get that back and then...we won't have that anymore." I furrowed my brows. "I know he's funnier than I am and more outgoing, and more available but…"

"I don't have feelings for him."

"You used to."

"Not anymore."

"And what if they come back?" he asked me coldly, raising his head to look at me. "What if your feelings for him come back and…"

"They were nothing compared to those I have for you, it's...it's not comparable. I'm not going to run off with him Itachi."

"What if you suddenly realize he can take care of you better than I can though?"

"I won't…"

"I trust you Akane, it's him I don't trust around you anymore," he ended up admitting. "I'm not sure I trust him anymore for many things."

Oh, here was the core of the issue then.

"It's not just me then?"

"It never was you, just...the way he views you in spite of knowing we're a couple. It's...infuriating." I looked down.

"Akane, is there anything you'd like to say?"

"...the first Uchiha I ever met was Obito," I started, making Itachi tense. "He was sweet and wanted to be the Hokage. Then he died. When I came in Konoha, I walked around and found myself in the woods. I saw Shisui sparing there, on his own. I saw the Uchiha crest, then his hitai-ate. He saw me, I yelled at him and stole his hitai-ate. He caught me quickly. I was persuaded it would kill him though." And I was right. "They're not the same, but I always saw Obito in Shisui, that's why I care about him so much, and he saved me from the Bloody Mist. If he had not, I'm not sure if I would have survived it for long. He...saved my life, and then I couldn't do the same for him. When I moved here, we got closer, even I was surprised how easy it was to reconnect with him but...even if I had feelings for him, even if…" I sighed. "Even if I told him I loved him…" Itachi widened his eyes a little.

I never told him that. I never thought it was relevant but…

"It is nothing, nothing, like what I have with you Itachi. Even if you don't trust him around me, then at least trust me to reject him. I don't want to lose you again, especially if you're still alive. If you want me to keep my distances until you can face him, then just tell me."

"...I'd appreciate that."

Well...I didn't think he'd accept this quickly, but if he did then it really bothered him...I was the one pushing him to be more selfish, so even if I was on the 'receiving' end of it...then so be it.

"Okay. I'll...tell him we won't see each other for a while." I looked at Inoichi-san. "How long do we have left?"

"Twenty-five minutes."

Well, it was an uncomfortable one.

Once I was done and it was time for Itachi's session, I left and found Shisui. He was at his place. At first, he grinned when he saw me, but it disappeared quickly at my face.

"Oh I don't like this."

"Until Itachi and you deal with your issues...it's better if we don't see each other." He pursed his lips. "He's...not comfortable with us being friends knowing you made a move on me."

"Huh, I figured that much." He put his hand on my shoulder with a smile. "Hey, it's fine Akane, I get it. You're his girlfriend, not mine. You don't have to worry about me, I'll be fine."

"Really?" He nodded.

"I mean, I don't know what's going on with Itachi right now, he seems to need you more than I do. It's...perfectly fine, I get it."

"Thank you."

I left awkwardly and went home. I just went to lie on the bed, the kitten following me and settling on my chest. I was petting her, staring at the ceiling when I heard the front door being opened. Itachi didn't come immediately, he stayed in the living-room for a while.

An hour passed before he opened the door to our bedroom. He didn't move for a few seconds before carefully making his way to the bed, probably not knowing if I'd accept him or kick him out.

"I told Shisui it was best if we didn't see each other until you guys finally talk," I informed him flatly.

"Thank you." Still, I could feel his awkwardness.

"You don't have to feel bad about whatever you're feeling Itachi. It wasn't nice to hear, but...it's alright."

"I'm sorry though." I turned my eyes at him. "Sometimes I forget...I died on you and you had to mourn me and our relationship. I'm sorry for leaving you like that." I shot his hands, clenched in tight fists, a quick look.

"You can't change the past." I looked back at him. "But do remember it when you think lowly of yourself."

"Hn."

Before he could touch my arm, I turned on my side, my back facing him.

"Please leave me alone tonight."

"...can I do anything?"

"No, I don't need you to 'fix' me Itachi, I just need to be alone. Not as in don't sleep here but...yeah, alone."

"Okay," he whispered so quietly I almost didn't catch it. "Don't you want dinner?"

"Not hungry."

Later, when Itachi came in bed, my back was still facing him. I felt his eyes on me and eventually, he turned on his side too. It was cold, but I...didn't want to touch him or anything right now.

I couldn't find sleep though, and I knew it was the same for him.

"Itachi?"

"Yes?" he replied without missing a beat.

"I'm not mad at you," I stated, gazing at the piece of the carpet illuminated by the moon. Sushi was sleeping there. "I'm frustrated at myself for not noticing anything, that's all." I heard him turning around. "I know you're feeling bad about it, so please…"

"Saying I shouldn't feel bad won't make me not feel bad about how I feel hurting you Akane," he interrupted softly. Didn't I know that already?

"Itachi…"

"Yes?"

"Spoon me." He did immediately, his arms pressing me possessively against him, his nose buried in the crook of my neck. "You know, it will happen. I won't want to talk or anything, and the same goes to you, and it may be because of something the other did."

"I know Akane." He sighed. "I just don't ever want us to go to bed without talking to each other." He tightened his hold on me. "Never again."

"...you remembered a fight?" He nodded. "Where I thought you'd just leave?" He nodded again.

"I always was so scared you'd tell me not to come back at some point."

"I didn't, so...you told me to have faith in us, do the same? Please?"

"Of course." He kissed my cheek tenderly. "Good night."

"Good night my love." He relaxed at that.

They were supposed to talk. Just...talk.

They started by this. When Shisui realized Itachi was struggling, he suggested a training session. I followed them at a training ground on the Uchiha Compound property. It started mild. Then Shisui must have thought Itachi needed some...help expressing himself, so came the provocations. At first it was about his skills, stuff like this and when it didn't work, Shisui shot my position a quick glance.

"She should have been with me." That made Itachi froze.

"Repeat that?"

"Akane, she should have been with me. If I had not died before, she would have been with me, not you. You guys are in a relationship because of me in a way. If I had come back to Konoha single, she would have been with me and not yo…" The punch sent him in a tree.

Itachi's face reflected pure fury.

Shisui stood back up, put his broken nose back in place and wiped the blood from it.

"There you are."

"I don't want to hear a word from you regarding my relationship," Itachi's voice ran coldly between them.

"Why not, sore subject?" Itachi just frowned deeper, gritting his teeth.

"Don't push me Shisui."

"Maybe deep down you know it's true." Itachi launched himself at Shisui, who fought back.

I knew they were both good, but I could see it from the way they were aiming that it no longer was a friendly spar. They were not going for the kill, thank God, but they, well Itachi, wanted to hurt each other. For Itachi to want to hurt one of his friends…

He was deeply hurt too.

I tensed when I saw the green of Shisui's Susanoo appearing. Itachi's followed. I used the trunk of the tree I was on to stay where I was, but the blows they were trading, the hits they received were getting more and more violent.

"Katon: Fireball Jutsu!" they said at the same time. I put an arm in front of my face, the heat of their attacks clashing. Leaves starting to catch on fire just by the heat and I almost fell from my branch too.

By then I was getting worried and scared. I knew they could handle a lot but…

They were exhausted after maybe ten minutes, the whole area damaged. There were a lot of fires, and Susanoo and just...power involved so…You'd think they'd use genjutsu, but no.

Clearly, it was more to get things out in the open, nothing more.

I bit my bottom lip when I saw both their legs shaking. They ran to each other, ready to punch each other. I jumped down, ready to intervene but Sasuke beat me to it, appearing out of nowhere and catching their fists.

"Sasuke, where did you…"

"I naively told my teammates we had some plants that grew on the property only. We heard the commotion." I felt Sakura and Naruto running toward us.

Sasuke looked at his cousin, then his brother and frowned.

"You're done now?" he asked them harshly.

"I...I think so…" Shisui replied, blood and saliva running down his chin. He'd have a black eye too. Itachi had a split lip and a cut in his brow. He'd probably have a bad bruise on his cheekbone too.

They both were panting. Sasuke carefully let go of them, glancing at each of them warily. Shisui took a few steps back. Sasuke too. I thought it was over too.

In the blink of an eye, Itachi was on Shisui, punching him. I stared at him, in shock and horror as he punched him, again and again, blood slowly covering his fists. I shared a look with Sasuke.

He was as shocked and horrified at seeing his brother like this.

And Shisui was not even trying to fight back.

"Get Shisui away, I got your brother," I heard myself saying quickly and he nodded.

I slipped behind Itachi and grabbed his wrist, putting my arm around his chest. Sasuke took this opportunity to drag Shisui away.

"You lied!" Shisui blinked in spite of his left eye now purple and swollen. "You said you'd never betray me and you lied! You left when I needed you! Liar!" Itachi yelled in pure anger and anguish, all his resentment finally out. He was shaking and panting. He tried to get rid of me but I tightened my hold on him.

"Itachi, please calm down, I'm begging you," I whispered frantically. He tensed and shot me a look above his shoulder.

His eyes...they were not the kind, warm and loving ones I loved to dive in. Still, it seemed realizing it was me tamed his anger a little.

"Nii-san, you're going to kill him," Sasuke added, carefully standing between Shisui and Itachi. He was ready to intercept his brother if he needed to.

Sasuke talking and getting ready to fight him finished to calm him down, at least to fully realize what he had just done. When I felt him lax enough in my hold, I let go of him. He looked at his bloody fists, opening them slowly.

"Oh my God, what happened here!?" Sakura yelled, seeing us. She rushed to Shisui's side. "What…"

"Wow, you can talk about Sasuke and I," Naruto commented, strangely calm as he looked between Shisui and Itachi.

"Naruto!" I hissed at him angrily.

"It's true!" Itachi suddenly stood up and left.

I cursed under my breath and followed him. He ran, fast, until the cliff overlooking the Naka River. I ignored the uncomfortable feeling sinking in the pit of my stomach at the sight of the place and carefully walked up to him, who was leaning on his knees, panting. I gave him a minute and when he sat down, I took it as my cue to sit down on my knees next to him.

I examined his face and summoned my first aid kit. I cleaned and took care of his wounds quietly as he was staring straight in front of him. Once it was done, he leaned against me without a word. I hugged him, keeping a hand on his head.

"Sorry we left you alone Itachi," I whispered to him. He just buried his face more in my chest. "Can I do anything or do we just stay like this?"

"Just...stay…" I kissed him on the crown of his head.

"Alright."

We stayed until the sun set. It was beautiful. I never thought you'd have such a beautiful sunset, yet here we were.

I just wished Itachi watched it too instead of staying still in my arms.

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

Bye!