"How deep does this wall go?" Sasuke asked frustrated at how long they've been drilling through the glacier but have yet to see a sign that they are reaching towards the other end. It had been about 12 hours since they started, and they had to take several breaks in between to rest and replenish their chakra. "It won't be much longer now. I'm picking up a lot more chakra signatures, I think there's people living inside this thing!" Naruto exclaimed as he was about to create another Rasenshuriken, but stopped when Sakura asked, "Wait, you're saying you think there's like a hidden village trapped in this giant ice glacier or something?" baffled by the possibility of such a place existing in these extreme conditions. "Yeah, or something alright" Naruto reaffirmed.

"Are you sure?" Kakashi asked, and Naruto confirmed, "Yeah, I sense hundreds of them. There's definitely people living beyond this wall"

The notion is too insane to even consider; they had a difficult time reaching to where they were, and they were currently the most powerful shinobi to exist! This was the thought that worried Kakashi and Sasuke, because if what Naruto was saying is true, and they had no reason to doubt him as his sensory abilities had never been wrong before, then this means they possibly might be facing tough adversaries. The numbers Naruto was reporting was disconcerting.

"Naruto, do you sense any malice from these chakras? And can you tell how strong they might be?" Kakashi inquired, and Sakura reached to hold his hand to ease his worry. Not that his tone indicated that he had been worried, or that he would show it, but Sakura knew all Kakashi Hatake's telltale signs by now.

"I don't sense any malice, or something like that, but there are definitely some very strong chakras in there" Naruto informed them, and Sasuke supposed, "Judging by how long we've been drilling through this thing, I don't think it's a coincidence that Naruto is sensing life in there" Naruto and Sakura were looking confused by Sasuke's statement, but Kakashi understood what he had been suggesting and reiterated, "You think they've been placed here by design" and Sasuke nodded to confirm as he elaborated, "I think we should stop and head back to Konoha to report what we found. We don't know what lies behind these walls, and if I am correct, that whoever is inside this thing had been trapped here on purpose, then it might be because they were a threat, and we shouldn't interfere until we can understand this situation better" However, there was more that troubled the Uchiha.

Something about this place felt oddly familiar to him, like he had somehow been here before. Nevertheless, he decided against expressing this feeling to the others. Sasuke wasn't like his idiot best friend who would often chase after a gut feeling. Nor was he one to talk about gut feelings. So, he cast the thought aside for now, and he would try to understand later why this place felt familiar to him. The priority was to get the others to leave this place.

That would be the wise thing to do, and Kakashi agreed with Sasuke, however, Naruto chimed in with "We can't just leave and go back! If what you're saying is true, and Shisui is actually in there, then he might be in danger as well!" always thinking with his heart. No matter the risk, Naruto would always tread ahead.

"If Shisui was somehow in there, and survived for five years, then a little more time won't make much of a difference" Sasuke remarked, "The hell they won't!" Naruto barked back, "If he's been trying to reach out, then maybe he is in danger!" but anger began to take over the Uchiha, "You think I don't want to rescue him as much as you?! He's my family!" he bellowed. Naruto felt a tinge of guilt take over him.

He knew that Sasuke suffered too when Shisui disappeared; he had been there through it all with him. He knew how powerless Sasuke felt when he watched his brother wasting away, and his parents' despair intensify when they believed they would lose Itachi too. How Sasuke couldn't process his own grief because he felt he needed to be their anchor.

"No, I didn't mean to imply that. I'm sorry, Sasuke…" He said remorsefully, "…but… how do we just walk away when we are this close to possibly finding him?" Naruto pleaded with his eyes. He said he would bring him back, and well… everyone knows his ninja way.

Sakura thought they both had valid arguments, but the repercussions might be too great if they choose to continue ahead, "Naruto, I understand what you are saying, and I know it's unlike you to just walk away. However, if Sasuke is right, and this is a threat that we end up setting free then we might be putting everyone else at risk" she said considerately to him, and the scrunch forming in his brows along with his clenching fists told them he agreed with them as well.

"Naruto, I share your sentiments; we don't leave a comrade behind. However, let's look at the facts; we aren't even sure if Shisui is in there, for all we know he could have escaped somehow, if he even is alive and was indeed sighted, and who knows where he might be right now if all these "Ifs" were true. But you see, these "what ifs" aren't reason enough to be reckless. We need to be more prepared first." Kakashi resolved then added, "If you do end up becoming Hokage one day, these are the kinds of decisions you might end up facing. Is the life of one worth sacrificing the many?"

Naruto's eyes widened as Kakashi's last words had struck him. Had he not learned that lesson already? How many times had he tried to save the lives of all his comrades during the fourth war and failed? He had almost succumbed to hopelessness because of his failure to save everyone as well. If he was to risk the lives of others to save Shisui, would he be able to bear this burden?

Naruto acquiesced, he sighed, "I know you're right, fine, let's head back quickly then. Sasuke, did you mark this place already?" to which the Uchiha nodded, then opened up a portal that led to just outside the main gate of Konoha.

(… less than 3 years ago)

Itachi's grief does not speak; he silences his heart's lament with an impassive countenance and soft-spoken words. His grief belonged to him alone, and he would not burden it onto anyone else. This was how he always dealt with his sorrows, and those who had known him were none the wiser. Except for one who saw through all his pretences; Shisui…

Sitting upon a tree, hidden in the shadows, Itachi waited for the rogue shinobi who had deserted the allied forces in the war to cross his path.

He had been feeling overwhelmed with recent events, ones that threatened to hinder the steely control he had over his emotions. He had recently learned the truth about Shisui's disappearance, and it had confirmed to him that he was dead. The seal placed upon him prevents him from disclosing this information, and it had burdened him further with guilt because he could not relay this to Ino, nor his family who deserved to learn the truth as well.

Then there was the second burden placed upon him by the clan elders. It was required of him to marry. The legacy of his clan depended on him securing heirs. The urgency behind this did not escape him; he knew that his bloodline was one freed from the curse that claimed many of his clansmen. Itachi, as well as Shisui and Obito were direct descendants of Kagami Uchiha, who became the clan leader when Madara defected and ensured his malice did not obstruct the hearts of the Uchiha. Therefore, it was crucial that this bloodline continued.

Finally, there was the revelation he learned when he sought Ino on the night he returned from his mission to escort Obito to the Kage Summit. He couldn't contemplate this thought, without thinking of his best friend as well. It filled him with an agonizing pain that had now been renewed. A pain that was etching at his chest, and incumbering his mind. Only two had been able to remedy his heart. One was gone, and the other…

Itachi's grief does not speak, and suppressing it caused it to augment tenfold.

Ever since he turned three years of age and he had been encumbered with expectations by all those around him; his parents, the clan elders, his village, and the village higher ups. However, the most cumbersome expectations came from himself.

When he was three, his father had taken him on a walk around the Uchiha compound and grounds one day, as he often had to bond with his son, but on this particular walk, Itachi had learned of his clan's history, and the significance of his bloodline.

He learned of their ancestor, leader, and one of Konoha's founding members, Madara Uchiha, who had eventually betrayed the village. About the great power their Dojutsu wields and the consequences that come with it. How the responsibility will eventually become his to ensure his clansmen do not fall victim to the curse that possessed their clan, a curse that for some unknown reason, his bloodline was not affected by.

When Itachi was four, the Third Great Ninja War took place, and his father had already placed upon him the burden of leading the clan in his absence. The possibility that Fugaku might perish in the war made this necessary. It was madness to bestow such responsibility on a child, however, Itachi was no mere child. He was heir to the most powerful clan in Konoha, and a clan that needed to remain cautiously observed.

He learned it was because they loved so deeply that they easily became victims to hate when that love was lost. So, he committed to steel his emotions and command great control over them. The knowledge that his bloodline was safe from this, did not sit easy with him, and soon he had come to learn why.

He tested his control by asking his father to allow him to accompany him when he returned to the front, when he had returned to the village after winning his company's latest battle. Fugaku knew his son was wiser beyond his years, and a true prodigy, therefore he agreed to his request and went against Mikoto's wishes. That was when Itachi learned what one of the consequences of hatred had led to. This deepened his resolve to ensure his clan would never succumb to hatred.

The war had eventually come to an end, a feat singlehandedly achieved by a shinobi whom Itachi greatly idolized, Minato Namikaze. Many had perished, many were mourned, and many had gone into mourning for a long time. Itachi felt a discomfort at seeing the sadness and feared what it might lead to. He overheard conversations in which promises were being made to avenge a loved one. Conversations about how the war ended too soon before they could kill more enemies.

They were surrounded by so much death which had been a consequence of the same emotions they were currently feeling, yet grief had blinded people, and hatred had narrowed their perceptions. Such emotions were cunning. He often wondered why they couldn't see that it was these feelings that allowed for more grief and loss to follow. His clan was cursed, so he understood why his people could fall to despair and seek revenge from hatred. However, his village was not, and yet they still fell by giving in to the cunningness of this emotion.

His bloodline was not cursed, but he was not safe either if he was not careful to keep his own emotions in check.

In his pursuit to finding a way to ensure peace, Itachi had found the answer was to follow in his idol's footsteps; he trained to become stronger, and studied to become brighter, so he too may be able to end any sorrow as swiftly as possible, and to prevent another war from breaking out. He took to the forest in his clan's grounds and trained rigorously. Itachi was brutal when it came to training, but he had been the most severe upon himself.

He avoided playgrounds and children around his age, as he found them to be a waste of time; he did not benefit from their knowledge, nor did he learn any skills from them. Instead, he would seek out elite shinobi, as well as his father, to observe and even request of them to teach him a jutsu that was useful. They had found him to be quite peculiar, but nevertheless, they were thoroughly impressed by the promise he had showed. Many even believed him to be more capable than several adult shinobi.

Still, some had questioned why he was too eager to learn when he would be entering the Academy soon enough. To this, Itachi smiled misleadingly and said, "I just want to get a head start, and you're really good with this jutsu. But I can go to someone else if you prefer, although, no one is better at performing it than you" which wasn't exactly a lie, because he did seek out the most capable shinobi at performing a certain jutsu. However, his real intensions were his alone to know.

He believed this was his duty, his burden, and shouldering this had made him feel drained. A sense of foreboding hovered over his mind when he would recount what could happen if he failed to succeed. He had to succeed. There was no room for failure. He was the heir; therefore, this was his task and his alone. Itachi was desolate. Yet, he did not understand that what he had truly been feeling was loneliness, until a certain someone had entered his life.

Itachi wasn't the only curious mind amongst his brethren seeking answers to maintaining peace. Watching his development from a distance with keen interest, was Shisui Uchiha.

Shisui had turned up one day when Itachi had been training in the forest. The latter hadn't mingled very often with his cousins, Shisui and Obito, before then for several reasons. First there was the age difference between them; Shisui was 3 years older than Itachi, and Obito was 10 years older. Secondly, Obito and Shisui were prodigious shinobi who had often been away on missions. Lastly, they had fought in the Third War and had been away from the village for its duration. Conversely, it was the last reason that had also been a cause to bring the cousins together.

Both of Itachi's uncles and their spouses, Obito and Shisui's parents, have died in the war. Therefore, Fugaku and Mikoto had offered their home to them. Obito respectfully declined the offer, as he preferred to live with and take care of his grandmother as his parents had, which Fugaku considered to be noble of him, but Shisui had accepted the offer believing that Obito was enough of a burden on their grandmother.

Although Shisui had been living with Itachi in the same home, they rarely saw each other outside of dinner which had also been on rare occasions. Shisui was a Jonin, even though he was only 8 years old, and Itachi was often away training, learning a new jutsu, or reading from sunrise to sunset.

However, Shisui had often followed Itachi and observed him closely. At first, he thought Itachi's behaviour was strange with all the training and the jutsu he would learn as if he had been preparing for a threat of great scale. It piqued his interest in his little cousin, so Shisui made it his mission to understand what the youngest brat of his clan was up to, and it didn't take long for him to discern what worries have been plaguing Itachi's mind.

Shisui had returned from a mission and was glad he would make it in time to join his family for dinner. He missed his Aunt Mikoto's home cooked meals and was grateful he'd be having something more substantial than just food pills. "Fam, I'm back! What's cooking for tonight?!" Shisui chimed excitedly and was met by Fugaku calling him to join them in the main room, "Shisui, we are over here. Please join us as well, this conversation concerns you too". Shisui made his way over and slid open the shoji door, only to find three grave faces staring back at him. He arched an eyebrow and remarked, "Had I known tension was cooking for tonight, I would have kept my blade" followed by a sheepish grin.

Fugaku ignored his remark and said, "Have a seat" to which Shisui obliged and then inquired, "What's going on?" and Fugaku answered him, "No doubt my late brother had informed you about our clan's curse as well as our responsibility towards it" Shisui nodded in confirmation. "Very good…" Fugaku began his speech which was mainly directed towards Itachi and his duty as heir. 'No wonder this kid is training like his life depended on it' Shisui thought.

His observations that followed since that day have revealed to him just how burdened and alone his cousin must have felt. Obito and Shisui carried this responsibility to some extent, but his uncle Fugaku was really laying it on heavy for Itachi. Shisui found himself grateful that his father wasn't Kagami's first-born son. This also explained why he and Obito had a cheerful disposition, whereas their youngest cousin was detached. 'Alright, guess I have a new mission now' Shisui resolved, he was to befriend Itachi and help him carry his burden.

He followed him to the forest where Itachi often trained and watched him display his kunai throwing skills. 'Wow, not bad for a brooding brat' he thought, then emerged from behind the shrubs praising his cousin, "Well done, Itachi. I guess you really are a genius" that was what other shinobi would inform him when they went out on missions. Obito would hear the same thing as well. Shinobi often remarked about how skilled he and Obito were, and they would say Itachi shows potential to be even better than they were. After all he had observed, he believed it too.

"I'm still no match for Shunshin no Shisui" Itachi said smiling. Shisui could tell it wasn't a genuine smile, but his eyes… his eyes told no lies, and Shisui discerned his little cousin did hold admiration for him.

"So, that was some real heavy stuff that your dad laid on us the other night" He wasted no time getting to it, "I guess that's why you're trying to murder every tree and rock out here". Itachi made no indication that he had been fazed by his cousin's perception. "I could tell, you know…" Shisui attempted again, "What this is doing to you, and I want you to know, you're not alone with this. I'm your family, and you can always count on me to help you carry the burden of your duty"

'How could he know all this?' Itachi mused with astonishment, and this time his wide eyes betrayed him. Itachi's expression changed from astonished to forlorn. His shoulders slumped and he was disappointed to learn his efforts in controlling his emotions weren't what he expected them to be, as he responded in a melancholy drone "So… you could easily tell then"

Shisui caught on again, "It wasn't obvious to me at first, I thought you were just a weird kid, but living with you and what Uncle said that night, made me put things together. I can be a genius sometimes too, you know" he smirked.

From that day, Shisui and Itachi were often together. Itachi never had to say a word, but Shisui could always tell what was wrong with Itachi. His grief did not need to speak, because Shisui heard his heart regardless.

Then he disappeared.

Itachi's emotions threatened to crush him on two instances in his lifetime. The first was the day Sasuke was born, his heart was filled with a love so strong he was sure it would burst out of his chest to engulf his brother so it may personally keep him safe, happy, and warm. Itachi did not fear that feeling. He would happily give his life for Sasuke. However, the second time was when Shisui went missing and a year of searching amounted to nothing, and he had been declared KIA. That grief tormented him immensely, as if a deadly snake had coiled itself around his heart, constricting and threatening to end his very existence, and he would wish that it would just crush him and be done with it already.

But his grief still did not speak. His countenance remained indifferent and his words still soft-spoken. The suffering would have overcome him had it not been for her…

Ino Yamanaka.

She had placed her arms around him, overwhelming him with her comforting embrace. He had only been embraced by his doting little brother before then, while that had filled him with warmth as well, her embrace was much different. Her warmth remedied his heart.

Just as Shisui's warmth had…

Ino understood his pain, shared his sorrow, helped him keep Shisui alive, and slowly but surely, they had healed. The pain became bearable, and the tugging in his heart had seized. Nonetheless, the coils have wrapped around him once more, but so many other emotions that he once had command over, were threatening his peace of mind as well.

He had joined the Anbu once more to find a way to ease his pain, that was caused by the confirmation of Shisui's death, on his own. Itachi was always fully focused on a mission, so he thought it to be a plausible solution. The distraction was helpful at first, but his mind often drifted to that night he stood outside her window.

She had called to him and had done it once more after she had sensed his presence. What did this mean? Her sweet and sensual moans echoed in his mind, filling him with elation and guilt all at once. That guilt reminded him of his despair, a guilt he feels towards his late best friend, a friend whom he knew loved Ino with fervour. A love he finds himself identifying with as well…

"I sense someone approaching" emerging from his thoughts, Itachi called to his Anbu partner, Ko.

"It's our guy" Ko confirmed with his Byakugan.

Itachi nodded, then placed his mask on, and Ko mimicked his action.

(Moments later)

Itachi wiped the blood stains off his blade and prepared to seal the body, and Ko stated "That marks number 23, we have half as much to go. I have to say though, working with you is making this more efficient. It feels a lot like working with Senpai again, although, he could never shut up on a mission", sealing was now complete.

Ko, another who deserved to know the truth about Shisui, who would never find out.

"Let's move out" Itachi ordered, and they flickered out of the area.

(… Present day)

Itachi was walking down the halls of the Administration building to answer a summons by the Hokage, when he found Team Kakashi walking towards him. "You're back" he exclaimed, and Sasuke responded, "Obito will fill you in, I'll meet you back at our parents' afterwards".

Itachi nodded, he could not discern what this meant about their mission, but he would find out soon enough from Obito. He quickened his pace to the Hokage's office, and knocked once before Obito called, "Come in, Itachi". He was alone.

"You probably ran into Kakashi's team just now, and no doubt you're anxious to learn about their mission, so I won't keep you waiting…." Obito recounted the details of what Team Kakashi found in the Land of Eternal Snow.

"I don't know what this means, but I think we need to visit the Raikage" Obito claimed, and Itachi raised an eyebrow, so he elaborated, "I already sent him news about Shisui's sighting, since a Kunoichi of theirs was involved in that incident as well. We need to get him to agree to remove this cursed seal that's on us. I want Team Kakashi to learn of this as well, now that Sasuke has the Rinnegan, he might be able to decipher the rest of the inscription that you couldn't."

Itachi considered and contemplated over these new revelations. "Sasuke suspects the glacier was placed there by design to keep something locked… and you think…" Obito interjected to finish his thought, "That Shisui and that Kumo Kunoichi were sealed there by the Harae, and that his sighting there was an attempt to alert us of his whereabouts" but that would mean… all this time, he might actually be alive? Itachi mused in disbelief.

"What you deciphered from the inscription told us of a place named 'The Land of Eternal Purity' what if that refers to the Eternal Snow and not the pure lands? This is just a theory, but if we can get the Raikage to agree, Sasuke can give us more answers by deciphering the rest of the inscription. Perhaps there's a way for us to release Shisui without unleashing whomever else lives there."

Itachi's mind was spinning. This was a plausible theory, and if it meant Shisui was alive, then… "Alright, will you include Fu as well?" he asked, and Obito nodded. "What will you tell the others?" He inquired with another question, "In my letter, I requested that the Raikage invites us over for a festivity of some sort. If he agrees, which I have no doubt he would, then we leave as soon as we receive his response" Itachi nodded.

The feeling of being hopeful was creeping up on him, and he willed it to stop. He did not want to be shattered once more if this theory turned out to be unfounded. However, if the Raikage does agree to remove the seals that prevented them from speaking about this matter with anyone else, then he could finally disclose the truth to Ino. The truth that had tormented him these past two years, that could possibly not even be true at all.