Disclaimer: The characters are Masashi Kishimoto's property, I own the OCs.

Characters age:

Akane: 9 (42)

Itachi: 9 (25)

Shisui: 12

Naruto / Sasuke: 3 - 4

Kakashi: 17

"What happened?" I asked Kakashi, who was in the hospital.

"I had a rough mission?" I glanced at his Icha Icha book, signed by Jiraya-san. "I am fine."

"You don't look fine." He had a black eye, but over than that, it was exhaustion.

"He's not fine." I looked at the door. Minato-san was there, with Gai-san. "Gai told me what happened." Kakashi rolled his eyes, like the seventeen-year-old teenager he was.

"What did you do?"

"He tried to be a hero and used the Raikiri too much!" Gai-san replied. I glared at Kakashi.

"I'm gonna lose my partner before I even go on missions with him?" He put his hand on my face and pushed me off the bed.

"It was a dire situation." There was something off in Minato-san's eyes.

"Akane." I looked up at him and accepted the coins he gave me. "I'd like a coffee please and get yourself something too."

"Snack and drink?" He nodded. I knew he wanted me out. I could get the truth out of Kakashi later. "On it."

It was April. The Academy had started, but I was now a full-on genin. The war had been announced two weeks ago and I had been kept in the village with Shisui so far. I wasn't worried about getting the title of Seal Master as I had it before, so Shisui was focusing on that during training, saying it could be very efficient to stop attacks and such without too many casualties. He was right.

He was a lot harsher now too. Goodbye Shisui my childhood friend, now I had Shisui the prodigy, jounin since age eight or something training me.

I raised a brow when I spotted Genma in the distance. He was part of the Hokage Guard Platoon with Raido and Iwashi. I knew them because I had seen them a few times with Minato-san. Did it mean they were about to leave?

So far, the war was calm. There were skirmishes at the border. Shisui have given me a summary of what had happened. Inoichi-san had looked into the Kumo jounin's mind, seeing that he was ordered by the Raikage to take the Byakugan. Of course, Hiashi-san wanted retribution. The Raikage denied it and said he wanted his shinobi back, but Minato-san refused unless the Raikage provided him with something showing he would not try to harm or steal from Konoha. He didn't want to, it created tension and the Raikage said he would get his shinobi back one way or another, and he'd use force if necessary. Minato-san stood his ground, saying Konoha would not leave Kumo without consequences.

And then the war.

I greeted Genma and got my snack and drinks. I went back to Kakashi's room, my pack of crackers between my teeth and opened the door.

"Understood?" Kakashi sighed.

"Yes sensei."

"Good." I gave Minato-san his coffee, then dropped the crackers on Kakashi's lap before sitting down in the chair next to him. "Akane, are you staying here?" I nodded. "Alright. Once Kakashi is out of the hospital, Shisui will go on missions, and you'll be with Kakashi." I nodded again and he left, Gai-san already gone.

"You want your present?" I grinned and he sighed. "It's at my place, you won't get it just yet."

"Not fair."

"Life isn't fair."

He left the hospital a week and a half later. He gave me my present when we were on the training ground we usually used now, with the river nearby and the three wooden pillars. It was a big rectangular box.

"You wrapped it yourself?" I asked him. It was neatly done.

"Obviously, why?" he replied, narrowing his eyes at me. I shook my head and unwrapped it.

I widened my eyes in shock and glanced at him. He looked very smug of himself due to my reaction. I gently pulled out the katana from the box. The handle was black with thin red lines crossing each other in the leather. The sheath was a matte black. I pulled the weapon out of its sheath, observing how the sun was being reflected in the sharp, silver blade. It was the right weight too, not too light but not too heavy, I had a good grip.

I twirled it in my hand, forgetting Kakashi was there. When I did, I froze and looked up at him. He had his one visible brow raised; his arms crossed.

"It's…intuitive?"

"Right." I put the katana back in its sheath. "I'm not an idiot." I pursed my lips.

"Do you want to know?" He looked more serious for a second, then looked up at the clear sky of May. I was officially nine now.

"Is it dangerous for you or us?"

"No."

"Then no. I know you've never stopped being the annoying brat I've known for too long." I put the katana back in the box and launched myself in his arms, making him fall. "Akane!"

"I love you!" I whined in his chest. He patted my back awkwardly.

"Yeah, thanks, can you please let go now?" I stood back up. "Show me what you have been working on with Shisui now." I did.

I started to go on missions outside the village two weeks later, once Kakashi was fully ready to go back on missions. I had been practicing seals in the meantime, and how to use them in battles. Apart from improving my chakra control, there was little I could do regarding Fuinjutsu in battles. However, since I had a katana now, I was getting to the Wind nature chakra I had. I had gotten to it after a week.

Shaping it around my blade was something else. Even before, I had never been too focused on that. It was not easy, but I'd get there. Chakra control was the one thing I had never stopped training for, and I'd be damned if I didn't manage that.

"You didn't have to come you know." Kushina-san crouched, her hands on my shoulders.

"It's your first time outside of the village, it's normal!" I glanced at Minato-san, holding Naru's hand.

"Favoritism." He smiled sheepishly. "Come on, we're just escorting someone from point A to point B and Kakashi's there, it's fine!"

"Sure. I'm worried for them, not you." I deadpanned and she hugged me. "Be careful kitten."

"I will." I kissed Naru on the head and tapped Minato-san on the stomach. "Your student will hate you once we're back."

"Don't traumatize him." I shrugged and turned around.

"Let's go Kakashi!"

The mission was simple on paper. We had to escort a merchant from a village to Kikou, the capital city. The guy was bringing some minerals to sell them to a jeweler or something. It was important enough to be a C-rank mission. The real danger was that was in the south of the Land of Fire, and the village in the north-east, close to the border with the Land of Hot Water.

Kumo and Konoha would fight there. There were at least five outposts along the border. In theory, we shouldn't run into big issues, but you never knew.

"Remember, Hyouton is a last resort only."

"I know," I replied idly, looking around. It was so different from the Land of Water. It was dryer, but with the heavy foliage in the trees, we were protected from the summer sun. I needed to use my gloves a little, get used to the feeling once more to then work on making seals out of my bare hands. Feet would come later.

We reached the village by the end of the day. We went to the inn, where the merchant was expecting us. There even was a room booked for us.

"Ito-san, we are the shinobi you have hired from Konoha."

"Right. Hatake Kakashi and…" He raised his brows when he saw me. "A little lady I see." Kakashi put his hand on my head.

"Uzumaki Akane. I can assure you she's more than able to protect you."

"Well, you are the shinobis, not me. I'll trust you." We both bowed to him. After dinner, where we talked about the itinerary, we went to our room.

"He's nice."

"Yes, sometimes we do have nice clients. Now, Akane." I looked at him from my futon. "I need to know if I have to worry about you freezing during the mission in a real fight. We'll encounter at least bandits on the way and I'm going to let you handle them as much as possible." I gave him a thumbs-up.

"I freeze stuff, stuff don't freeze me." He rolled his eyes at my bad joke. "But more seriously, I'm good Kakashi."

"Alright."

We didn't run into any Kumo shinobi along the border. Bandits had to know about the war because there was none of them either. They knew they'd be at risk to be caught in the crossfire, so they were keeping their distance.

I was sitting at the back of the carriage; in front of the goods. Kakashi was at the front with Ito-san, talking quietly. I was gulping down my water to quench my thirst, wondering if Kakashi would be kind enough to give me some of his if I finished when the horse neighed. Kakashi would not give me his water anyway.

I jumped on top of the goods, covered by a brown sheet, and I looked around. The horse had stopped, Kakashi now next to it.

"Akane, do you sense anything?" I wasn't very good at sensing if I didn't have a body of water to help me. However, I did and nodded at Kakashi. Low-leveled bandits would not hide their presence very well.

I jumped down, my katana clashing with the sword of one of the bandits. As I was still in the air, he grabbed my top and threw me above him. I grabbed a kunai and dug it in his shoulder, making him moan in pain. I leaned on it, making the wound worst to kick him in the side of the head. He fell to the ground, and I removed the kunai once my feet touched the ground.

I looked at the next one and put my weapon back in the sheath. I ran at him and used my height to easily dodge his sloppy fist, using my sheathed katana to hit the side of his knee. It broke and he fell on one knee a second before I put an Immobility Seal on him.

The three remaining guys were staring at me with wide eyes. I cracked my neck and made two shadow clones. All of the bandits were quickly stopped and solidly tied up by Kakashi.

"That was both scary and impressive little lady." I puffed my chest, my arms crossed on it. Kakashi checked if they really were unconscious and turned to us.

"We'll stop for the night near the town of Omachi," he suddenly stated. I raised a brow. We had just been attacked and he was staring this just like that?

It took me a second before realizing he was doing it on purpose. I could sense chakra, but Kakashi's nose was better. There had to be someone spying on us and he was setting a trap.

When we were back on the road, Kakashi sat next to me.

"Have you sensed him?"

"No, your behavior told me there was someone," I replied. "Shinobi you think?"

"They knew how to erase their presence." He briefly glanced behind. "Which means, maybe there is something bigger Ito-san's carrying."

"Consciously?"

"Who knows. We need to stop them. Tonight, you're going to swap the goods with rocks, we'll find something to make it look the same. Then, you'll leave a clone with us and stay hidden in the carriage." I nodded.

"Pakkun will guide you to me?"

"Yes."

We did just that. I sealed the goods in a scroll, that I gave Ito-san because he had no idea of what was going on, then with Kakashi's help I got enough things to replace them. I hid in there, leaving a shadow clone with the guys.

I fell asleep for real and woke up when I heard the horse neighing. There were some noises outside and we started moving. I could sense one chakra stronger than the others before it diminished suddenly.

Whoever that was, they had shinobi training. We spent some time moving, the road getting rockier and rockier. We came to a stop. Someone left a little bit further and someone else stopped at the end of the carriage. They removed the sheet, only finding rocks and wood.

"Wha…You little!" Spotted. The man grabbed me by my kimono and lifted me in the air. He was bulky, and tall. He was very imposing. "Where's the rest!?"

"With her partner, most probably," the other man replied. He came out of the shadow. He was skinnier than the first man, I would even say refined in the way he was standing. His features looked almost like one would expect royalty to look like, slander blue eyes staring at me.

His long black hair was tied in a low ponytail, and he was dressed like a basic shinobi. However, the hitai-ate loosely strapped to his belt didn't escape my eyes.

Iwa. He wasn't wearing it proudly though.

"Did the war with Kumo make Konoha send children on the battlefield once more?" He looked close to Minato-san in age.

"What do I do?"

"Kill her." I put my hand on his wrist. He snickered as he felt me clench my hand on it.

"What do you think is going to hap…" I blew his wrist up thanks to my glove. Blood splattered on my chin and neck, as well as my top as I was back on the ground. The man stepped back, holding his arm, and staring in horror at his missing hand and bleeding limb. I glanced at what was left of the hand on the ground and kicked it in his direction.

"It's yours."

"You…"

"Now now, don't get all worked up because a kid beat you." He put his hand on his shoulder and under my unfazed eyes, he turned the other one to stone.

Then he clenched his fist and destroyed his head. I watched what used to be a man crumble into pieces on the ground before raising my eyes to the shinobi.

"But this is personal." I raised a brow. "You're good kid. Where did you learn the Bakuton?" I blinked. Right, from Iwa's perspective, it would look like one of their kekkai genkais when it was not.

As a genin, I just thought it would be more efficient to blow something up after punching them because punching hurt, and I didn't want to have the hurt go to waste. I really came up with it by sheer…comfort in a way. Why bother plant explosive tags on the ground if it can come out of your hands?

"Not a talkative one I see." Now, I could use the Hidden in the Mist Technique, and the Silent Killing ones. They were dead giveaways I wasn't entirely from Konoha though.

I would figure it out on the go then. I quickly went through hand seals.

"Suiton: Wild Water Wave Technique!" I spat water from my mouth. He knelt and put his fist on the ground.

"Doton: Earth Fist Style." The soil went up his arm and turned to a rock fist. He punched through my water easily and was quickly in front of me. I dodged his fist by crouching. I thought about using seals, but I wouldn't have the time to get them, he would notice it before.

Water.

I needed water.

He kicked me in the guts, sending me in the wheel of the carriage. I gritted my teeth. This guy was at-least jounin level. Even if I knew how to beat him, I couldn't yet.

It was…so frustrating.

I used the Wild Water Wave Technique a few more times. The ground was dry, so the water stayed on it instead of being soaked up. It took me a little while to get there, and he managed to punch me in the face, most certainly giving me a black eye.

He slipped when I started to freeze the ground. Not much, just enough to make it slippery.

"Wh…" He didn't finish that a Raikiri was in his chest. He fell dead in front of me, the light of Kakashi's Raikiri disappearing.

"I was getting there," I told him, standing up.

"There's no last resort if I'm here," he replied simply, lifting my chin up to look at my face. "He hit you good."

"It's the only thing I have."

The next day, we reached Kikou. I was looking around. The city was so different from Konoha. It really was making me feel like someone from deep in the country. You'd just need to look at people's clothing to see the difference. It was more modern, and there was technology.

I missed my laptop. Kakashi had to make me move when I stopped in front of a shop, a game console in display behind the window. Once the goods were safely delivered in a…very luxurious looking jeweler, I was given a carnelian stone in the form of a lucky charm. When I asked why, the owner just said I could make him a reputation in Konoha.

As Kakashi was talking, I looked around the store. The jewels were very pretty, well-made, and expensive. I was going toward the ruby when I stopped in front of a piece of jewelry.

A long time ago, out of the blue, Itachi had gifted me a necklace. It was a simple silver chain with a ruby pendant in the shape of a tear drop, the ruby in a silver surrounding.

It was this very necklace I had in front of me. I gulped and then looked down at the price. I gasped. It was…not as expensive as other pieces in the store, but still expensive, as in 80,000 ryos. I blushed, thinking that Itachi really splurged this much money when he was criminal for me…

Akane, stop. Maybe he got it at a hockshop or something, for cheaper. Still…it was a lot. I knew it was a real ruby, it felt real but…to see it here…

I was happy on the whole way back.

"You have a blackeye," he stated immediately.

"Hello to you too," she replied, sitting down next to him. "It's nothing, the mission went well. It went from C to A-rank though."

"How?"

"We ran into a nukenin from Iwa, an ex-jounin apparently. Kakashi killed him before I could."

"I haven't had A-rank yet," he muttered under his breath.

"Well, I think it's Kakashi when he's with genin really." Itachi raised a brow. "Team Seven's first mission, it went from C to A-rank. Kakashi became a jounin at twelve, maybe he attracts high-ranking missions." Akane turned to him and hugged him tightly, kissing him on the cheek.

"Did I do something?" She chuckled in his ear.

"I love you, that's all." His heart missed a beat, and he hugged her back. When she moved back, he looked at her blackeye once more. She pressed on it. "It doesn't even hurt anymore."

"Hn." He hated seeing her being hurt. "Did he leave you alone?"

"Oh yeah, I was sent with the decoy." He widened his eyes. "It's fine, I'm specialized in infiltration anyway." Would it be rude to ask her to fully explain what she did in Kiri?

He felt it would be, but she was saying things here and there but never went into details. It was extremely frustrating.

"The mission went well, and I got this in the capital." She showed him a gemstone. "They said I was cute but deadly." Accurate. "And you?"

"Nothing exciting. Sasuke has been practicing the seal you made him draw though."

"Really? Wow." She pursed her lips. "Have you been outside the village?"

"Yes. It's…" he trailed off, not finding his words.

"Weird. In Kikou…people were almost avoiding us when they'd see we were from Konoha. There were no bandits near the border but once we were getting far from it it…did Shisui tell you anything?" He shook his head.

"He usually gets this distant look in his eyes and then talks about something else. Minato-sama?" She shook her head.

"He doesn't want to bring this home and I can't blame him." She lay back on the ground. "I don't think I'm going to get outside anytime soon; I have to train for the exam."

"What is the exam?"

"Knowledge, then use seals then use fuinjutsu in a fighting simulation. I need to work on the last one, having gloves is embarrassing." He raised a dubious brow at her. Deidara would have wanted to fight her just because of those gloves.

"Isn't it hard to do what you did?" She shrugged.

"Yeah, kind of, I finalized them when I was a chuunin, so twelve. But making seals with my bare hands and my feet are next."

"Is it even possible?" She glanced at him with a deadpan.

"I'm merely saying I want to get back to my level, I'm not talking about improving yet." He blinked.

She could do that before?

"Did you unlock your Sharingan?" He frowned. "I'll take that as a 'no' then."

"I feel like you're running whereas I'm stuck," he admitted under his breath.

"Nah, it should come. With the war and stuff…I doubt you can escape the situation that will unlock your Sharingan." He lay back as well.

Akane's hand touched his shyly. He took it without a word, slipping his fingers through hers before raising their joined hands to the sky.

"Itachi?" she called him gently. He took a deep breath in return. Akane gently squeezed his hand. "It's going to be fine." He brought their hands down, kissing hers.

Akane snuggled against him in response, kissing his jaw chastely.

He truly hoped everything would be okay.

A month later, in the heat of July, his teammates ended up in a bad situation when he was dealing with the main threat with their sensei. When he rushed to them and saw Tenma in a bad situation, flashes of him dying in front of his eyes, his blood boiled in his veins. Then, everything was red. He got rid of the threats and looked at his hands.

Yes, this was the Sharingan but…fully matured.

"Itachi-kun, your eyes!" Shinko exclaimed, Tenma staring at him in shock.

"Yes, it seems like I have awakened my sharingans."

However, the fact they had three tomoes already would bring unwanted attention. It did not seem like he could avoid it though.

I had heard from Sasuke Itachi had gotten the Sharingan during his last mission.

"What do you mean I can't get in?" I asked the Uchiha keeping me from entering the Compound.

"Foreigners are not allowed in the Compound until the end of the week," he repeated sternly.

"But…" His eyes twitched and for a second, I thought he would physically remove me from the front gate. At least, until a voice interrupted us.

"What's up Akane?" I blinked at Shisui. I couldn't reply that he put his arm on my shoulders and walked away with me. "Let's go for a walk!"

"Shi…"

"Please, drop it," he cut me off in a harsh whisper.

He didn't say a word until we were in the woods.

"Sorry, if it was up to me, I'd let you in," he apologized, turning around to look at me.

"Is Itachi okay? Is it the Sharingan?" He raised a brow. "Sasuke told me he has them now."

"Well yes. However, three tomoes at once has never been seen or heard of before." I widened my eyes. Three? "The Elders of the clan are on his back and closed the Compound for a week to 'celebrate' and 'understand' Itachi's eyes."

"It sounds like they're going to dissect him."

"I know, but their words, I swear. They got into their heads Itachi was going to change the clan and its position in the village for a more powerful spot." Huh, ironic knowing how he put an end to them all before.

"Aren't you guys powerful already?" He deadpanned at me.

"I know you've heard what villagers say about us." I shrugged.

"Like you've heard them talking about me and my status, I'm sure." He smiled faintly.

"Yeah, I guess it's easier not to talk about upsetting subjects." I had to agree.

"Do you know if someone died?"

"No, his teammates are both fine. They were in a bad situation, but Itachi arrived on time." So, his teammates were both fine. It was…good. I still wanted to see him though.

When the week was over, I went over the Compound to see him. The guard glared at me, but I walked past him, my hand tight on the strap of my bag. I was heading to Itachi's house when I heard his voice. I immediately hid behind a wall when I heard Izumi being with him. They were laughing.

I bit the inside of my cheek and stole a quick glance at them. They were sitting outside of a tea house, drinking tea and eating. I felt a wave of jealousy running through my whole body before I leaned against the wall.

He seemed to be fine, and she was making him laugh and smile so…I guess I could just go home. I didn't feel very comfortable in the Uchiha Compound anyway so…

"What are you doing?" I blinked and looked up. Yasuo was on the balcony in front of me.

"What are you doing here?" He raised a brow, any shyness he felt at first gone.

"It's my house." He lived above a restaurant then? "Come." I jumped to his balcony easily and removed my shoes.

I had not seen him or Kou a lot since I graduated. If anything, when I spotted Kou in town, he quickly left saying he had to train.

"Why are you here?" I shrugged. He shook his head and went to the door. "Come." I followed him and found myself in front of him in the restaurant, eating excellent onigiris in the middle of the afternoon.

"How's the Academy?" He made a face.

"Kou's crazy because of you." I raised a brow. "He became a training-freak because he wants to catch up to you and drags me down with him."

"You're still friends, that's good." He looked down.

"He got into his head to graduate in March." I wasn't surprised. "How is it really outside Akane?" I looked at him more seriously.

"It's tense. Even if you're far from the border, it's just…war is in the air. People in Kikou are not our biggest fans either at the moment." He sighed.

"I'm not surprised. It's…Itachi-sama?" I jumped and looked behind me. Itachi was indeed there, his eyes darting from me to Yasuo. "We're closed right now."

"He's with me!" Izumi stated, behind Itachi. "Oji-san said he didn't mind."

"Sure, I didn't know you were there." Izumi glanced at me, then Yasuo and grinned, her hand in front of her mouth. "Izumi!" She sat down next to him, in front of me as Itachi quietly sat down next to me.

"Don't be embarrassed Yasu!" I looked at them both. Now I was seeing them so close to each other without anything else going on…

"They're cousins," Itachi informed.

"My mom is his dad's younger sister," Izumi added. Huh.

"I never realized you looked more alike than everyone else here before." They stared at me. I could see something in Izumi turning defensive, but Yasuo nodded.

"I can't deny we all look alike, but it's nothing next to the Hyuugas."

"True. I've seen that too much." I would spend some time at the Hyuuga Compound too.

They started talking, mainly about stuff regarding their clan and I didn't know anything about it. It made me feel…excluded, even if Itachi was the quietest of the three. I finished my onigiris and stood up.

"Thanks for the meal, Yasuo, I'll try to stop by the Academy every once in a while." He smiled at me.

"I'd like that." Itachi had his blank face on.

"See ya!" I left the restaurant, secured the strap of my bag across my shoulders once outside and jumped from roof to roof straight to Minato-san's rock head.

Once there, I plopped down with a big sigh. I had just ran away from two nine-year-old and Itachi, what a joke I was. How could a nine-year-old girl make me feel insecure in my relationship? I was a grown woman; Itachi was a grown man and he wouldn't…she was a kid after all.

A childhood friend of his though. I knew for a fact if I suddenly found myself with Mangetsu or Dai, no matter my age, or theirs, they would just be my teammates like before.

I looked in my bag. After the Kyuubi attack, Itachi had brought me a lucky cat in chocolate, so I had bought him one too to cheer him up if he…wasn't okay. He seemed fine, and maybe he'd find this stu…

"Boo." I jumped at the voice whispering this in my ear. Two arms, skinny yet strong, were around my chest to keep me from falling, pressing me against a chest. "You can't run away now." I relaxed in Itachi's arms.

"I wasn't."

"Try with someone who will believe your lie." I looked away, the Uchiha putting his chin on my shoulder. "Why were you in the Compound?"

"Just…walking." He kissed my neck. "And I wanted to check up on you too."

"Thank you, that's what I was hoping to hear." I craned my neck to look at him. "Shisui said you were denied entrance last week."

"Oh, yeah." Itachi let go of me to sit next to me. "I'm sure they must have asked you a lot, but are you okay?"

"I am." He looked up at the sky. "But you are the only one with Shisui and Izumi to ask me if I am."

"Kekkai genkai are awakened in dire emotional situations, it's…"

"The Sharingan is more important than whatever situation caused its awakening. I already have three tomoe as well, so they're ecstatic."

"So Shisui told me." He glanced at my bag. "Oh huh…" I pulled the chocolate cat out of my bag and handed it to him. "Here, I didn't know how you'd be so I thought chocolate would cheer you up if needed." He smiled warmly at the cat, taking it in his hands.

"Thank you Akane." He opened it and broke a piece of it. He put it at my lips and not his though. "Here." I accepted it and blushed under his stare. "Akane."

"Yes?" He poked my forehead. I rubbed it with a small frown.

"Izumi is just a friend." I froze at that and looked down. "Whatever is going on in your mind regarding her, it's not true. She is a close friend, that's all." I pursed my lips and nodded.

Without a word, he gently pulled me against him. I just closed my eyes and enjoyed his warmth. If he said it, then it meant it was true.

The little voice in the back of my mind telling me it was not true could shut up.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have liked it, please do let me know in reviews!

Bye!