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

Characters age:

Akane: 10 (43)

Itachi: 10 (26)

Shisui: 13

Naruto / Sasuke: 4 - 5

Kakashi: 18

It was me.

The woman looking back at me, wavering as my finger touched her, almost as if the reflection was on water, was me. I recognized my thirty-eight-year-old self. Short brown hair, tired but somehow happy brown eyes, the scar on my hand and almost tomboyish clothing…

I widened my eyes. It was me! My fashion choices as an adult would sometimes get Sakura or Akiko try to take me shopping when I was dressing that way because I was a single working mom, and it was practical. I liked taking care of myself and wearing more girlish clothes but…They were not the most practical to wear.

But how?

I opened my mouth, only for long, crooked fingers to cover it. A slender yet strong, big hand wrapped itself around my abdomen. I reached out for the fingers on my hands but was unsuccessful in removing them. I started to sink, dragged to the bottom of wherever I was slowly. I started to struggle but to no avail as my reflection was getting further and further away from me.

I craned my neck like I could and saw what was trapping me. Sharp, jagged teeth and a serpentine tongue were immediately in front of my eyes. Bright, demonic yellow eyes were staring back at me. I completely froze in terror.

That was the Shinigami. I remembered seeing them when I summoned them and…how could I forget them?

The hand around me moved a little and the sharp nails, claws almost, were resting against my stomach. I widened my eyes and screamed in pain when they stabbed me with them, blood quickly pouring out of me and soaking my clothes. They were…retracing my seal and screamed myself hoarse, my voice going from a scream to a whimper. I felt something cold wrapped itself around me, trapping me against the Shinigami.

What…what had changed? What had happened for me to…

Cold swallowed me. It was…deeper than the cold I'd feel with my Hyouton. The latter was almost warm because it came from and from my chakra. This cold though, swallowing me whole and making me lose consciousness…

It was a cold I had experienced once before and didn't think I would experience again but…

"Mom!" I tried to widen my eyes at my son's voice, but my lips moved instead.

I knew the place.

Sasuke was there, not five but an adult missing an arm. Someone with a cloak and a mask was there, in front of us. My son was angry because my daughter had been wounded.

Oh no.

It was the fight I had died in.

I was about to relive it.

"Shock!" Itachi widened his eyes at that and jumped to his feet, facing the door.

Why would her heart stop?

Why?

Why!?

"Itachi don't." He looked back. His father was there, stern and his hand was on his shoulder. His mother was also there, Shisui panting next to her. He waved him off and sat down, or more like fell on one of those uncomfortable plastic chairs in the hallway.

"Kakashi-kun is with your brother and Naruto," his mother informed him. "Do you know anything?" He shook his head numbly.

"The…the Hokage and Kushina-san are…in there…" His father frowned slightly, narrowing his eyes at the door.

If he was worried about his student, he was hiding it well. Although, his hand was tensed on his shoulder.

It lasted for one more, agonizing, hour. He could see nurses and doctors moving around through the windows of the doors, the back of Minato's head not moving, like Kushina. Ultimately, the Hokage straightened up and exited the room. He stopped in front of them, Kushina behind him.

"How is she?" his mother asked worriedly. Minato merely left in an Hiraishin, Kushina sighing.

"She's…comatose, for now. Minato…he's going to have Jiraya-sensei collect Tsunade-sama."

"Do you know what happened?" his father asked sternly.

"We think we do but…for now we're going to deal with it as a family, we'll keep you updated but…"

"Of course, of course," Mikoto cut her off, walking toward her to rub the Uzumaki's arms as a gesture of comfort. "We can have Naruto have sleepovers at ours if you feel like you need it."

"Thank you Miko-chan," Kushina replied in a voice so quiet it almost didn't sound like her. She was so vivacious usually; it was strange to see her like this. "For now, I need to explain it to him and then…I'm not sure myself."

"Akane is a strong girl, she will get better. If you need anything…"

"I know, thank you." Kushina put her hand on his head when she walked past him to leave.

"Come on now, you all go home, and I will go with her to pick Sasuke up," the Uchiha matriarch stated firmly. Her firm yet gentle eyes fell on her son. "There's nothing else we can do here." He glanced at the floor and let his father take him away without a word.

The Hokage was upset, there was no denying that. Itachi went to his room without eating and found comfort in having Sasuke in his arms when his brother opened his door, tears in his eyes and asking what was going on with his nee-san.

In the evening, he left his room and snuck to his father's study, hoping him and his mother would be talking about it. He guessed right.

"I need to know what I can say to Kou and Yasuo tomorrow," his father stated, but his voice was tired.

"I don't…Kushina said she was at fault, she hid something from Minato apparently, a condition that runs in the Uzumaki clan and it…started messing up with her chakra pathway I think."

"Is her career as a kunoichi threatened Mikoto?"

"I don't know, that's why they want Tsunade but…it's like it froze at some part, mainly around her vital organs to stop something from spreading and…"

He didn't move when his father opened the door out of sudden, finding him easily.

"Itachi, you know better than to eavesdrop," his father scolded him with a disapproving frown.

"Let it go Fugaku, it is…a particular situation. You know how close they are." There was some brief annoyance in his father's gaze that disappeared as soon as it had appeared. "How much did you hear Itachi?"

"Enough," he replied quietly.

"Sasuke?"

"Sleeping in my bed, I'll take him to his later. Father…"

"They're bringing Tsunade-sama back, if there is someone who can do something it's her. For now, she is stable."

"But they don't know when she'll wake up, do they?"

"She is alive," his father repeated, not answering his question. "Now go to bed."

A week went by without Tsunade showing up. Each time he'd have some free time he'd visit Akane, now in a private room with an oxygen mask on her mouth. She had stopped breathing and still struggled to do it on her own. Shisui would be with him sometimes, but he preferred it when he was on his own. He could hold her hand and rest his head on the mattress or on her stomach without worrying about others looking. Izumi had tried to cheer him up, saying Akane was tougher than most people thought, and she'd wake up.

When he'd look at her sleeping face, a frown marring it, he truly hoped Izumi was right.

He didn't feel like doing anything else but stay in her hospital room in case she would wake up. Someone had to be there to explain everything, and he didn't want her to wake up alone.

Eight days after she was admitted to the hospital, he walked to her room with flowers in hands. He stopped in front of the opened door. Minato and Kushina were there, Kakashi as well and Tsunade had her glowing hand scanning Akane.

"Itachi-kun?" Kushina called him, Minato looking at him as well. The Uzumaki smiled, although it was nervous, and took the flowers from his hands. "Thank you, I'll take care of it. Now please leave the room for now." He didn't even have the time to say anything that she closed the door in his face.

He just stayed in front of it, sitting against the wall. None of the three adults paid him any attention when they left. They noticed him when he got closer to them as nurses were wheeling Akane in an operation room with Tsunade.

"What's happening?" They both jumped and turned around.

"Dear God Itachi-kun, how long have you been standing there!?"

"I stayed here," he replied flatly, pointing at the wall. "What's happening?"

"Well…Tsunade-sama is going to work her magic. Akane should wake up soon." He nodded.

He didn't have many details, but Akane was taken back to her room a few hours later, breathing on her own.

On the next day, he popped in before his mission. Kushina was hugging Akane, who was sitting, her eyes opened, sitting on the bed with her. There was something off though.

Minato's grim and worried face confirmed his doubts.

"The catatonia should be temporary," Tsunade told them softly. "The damage in the brain was minor, nothing permanent but…it was a lot." He watched, powerless, Kushina brushing Akane's hair with her fingers, whispering words in her ear as the young girl was unresponsive.

She just blinked.

"We need to be patient," Minato said, looking at him. "We'll tell your mother in the day, but in case you come with Sasuke…" Itachi nodded. "Tell Shisui-kun for me as well."

"Of course." He shot Akane one last look and left.

Catatonic? She was…catatonic?

When Shinko asked him how Akane was, they had taken a liking to each other since the mission with Kumo, he just said there was improvement but stayed vague.

He wasn't even sure of what was going on after all.

He visited her as soon as his mission was done. Naruto was there with Kushina.

"Here nee-chan, I'm giving you Kaeru-chan," Naruto said, putting his frog plushy in Akane's hand. She didn't move and the plushy fell to her lap, her eyes staring at the bottom of the bed. "Nee-chan?"

"Naruto, let's give her and Itachi-kun some privacy, okay?" Naruto nodded sadly and put his plushy under the bed sheets with her.

"Here, she'll keep you company like that!" They left and closed the door quietly behind them.

Itachi sat down in Kushina's chair and looked at Akane. Her lips were slightly parted, and her eyes were so, so empty. It was breaking his heart to see her like this and not even know what he could do to make her better.

After a few minutes, he climbed on her bed to hug her tightly, his cheek on her head.

"I don't know if you can hear me," he whispered in her ear. "But we all want to see you happy and healthy again Akane." She remained unresponsive, still in his arms. It was as if she was a puppet whose strings had been cut. "I want to talk to you again my love," he said in an even quieter tone.

He never had called her this out loud, it had always been in his mind. But, if it could get a reaction out of her then he would try, no matter how awkward or embarrassed he was by it.

I opened my eyes and looked on my right. I had been hearing a voice talking for the past few minutes. As it turned out, it was Shisui, talking about his last mission and complaining.

"So, I was scammed during the mission, and I'll never see that money back!"

"Sucks to be you." He nodded.

"Yeah, I know rig…" He stopped mid-sentence and slowly turned his face to me. I blinked and sat up which made him jump to his feet, the chair almost falling. "Oh God you're…you're talking!" I raised a brow. "You're awake and talking!"

"Your chatter could wake the dead." He pointed at me, already walking to the door.

"Don't move!"

"Where do you want me to go?"

"Just…" He closed his mouth and in the blink of an eye, I was in his arms. "You scared us really bad." He let go of me. "I'm going to get Tsunade-sama."

"Tsu…" He was gone. Tsunade-san? She was here?

I remembered being in the woods, then I was feeling sick and feverish, Itachi decided to take me to the hospital and…Nothing. I…remembered feeling like I was burning.

I touched my stomach and bit the inside of my cheek. The skin of my stomach was sore.

"See for yourself Tsunade-sama!" Tsunade-san appeared at the doorstep, with Shisui.

"She is back to herself indeed. Thank you for the information." She shut the door in his face.

She started by giving me a physical check first, which was totally normal. Then she asked me a lot of questions, although basic about myself, like my name, age, rank, where I lived, what were my friends' names, my team. Then she asked me basic questions related to me being a Yuurei, which I answered as well.

"You seem to be back to normal," she confirmed.

"You're here."

"I am. Minato sent Jiraya to get me." I raised a brow. "I think it's better for you to know that Minato knows you are a Yuurei. Kushina didn't have any other choice than to explain it to him when he asked why you had a seal that looked like his kid's on you." I clenched my fists on the sheet covering my legs.

"I see. What…"

"Your body collapsed under the weight of the Shinigami in a nutshell." I widened my eyes, demonic yellow eyes flashing in my mind. I put a hand on my stomach.

Did…I had seen them, the Shinigami and then they…

"And in more details?"

"You're ten. You arrived when your body was five. You're not a full Uzumaki. You have a kekkai genkai which, like I said before, makes your chakra system fragile for a longer period of time. It's a combination of many things that made whatever kind of energy there is in the Shinigami seal override your chakra and everything that make your body functioning normally."

"Hence the fever that suddenly appeared, it was to fight it off." She nodded.

"I have been going through the previous Yuureis' journals with Kushina. It seems there is always a point where the Shinigami seems to win over them, usually in the first five years. Some didn't make it out alive." Suddenly I was in a cave with Sasuke, and my son and…

"I see." I gulped. "And then?"

"This energy started to 'corrupt' your body in a way. It's when your kekkai genkai came into play." I looked at her in confusion. "There were…frozen plugs in your chakra system around your vital organs so they didn't suffer from it." I made a weird face and she frowned. "Don't be surprised, freezing the inside of your body to protect yourself is something I have seen many members of the Yuki clan do in the wars." I blinked.

"I can do that?" She opened her mouth, but seeing I was sincerely surprised, didn't say anything.

"When Minato saw the seal and what it was doing, he applied another seal to lock in the Shinigami's power. So far, it seems to be holding up. When I came, I unfroze the plugs one by one. However, when you woke up, you were catatonic."

"Didn't I just wake up?"

"You woke up a week ago. You have been here for two weeks." I widened my eyes. "There were some damages in the brain, but it was nothing that would cause permanent damage. My guess is that the weight of the Shinigami and your memories kept you back."

"I…"

"Do you remember anything that happened when you were unconscious?"

"I…I think I saw them, the Shinigami." She frowned. "And then I…"

"Relived your death?" I gulped and nodded. "It matches up with the diaries. Those who survived said it was kind of a test to see if they were worthy of remaining in the land of the livings and they all relived their deaths. It would explain the catatonia. The Shinigami wants a soul, you don't break your seal they get it, it is to be expected that you would be…"

"Depressed?" I finished for her. "It must have been weeks since I have started feeling sad and thinking a lot about my life before and what I left there and…there was this feeling of helplessness that started to settle." She looked through the window for a second.

"I'm sure you have had your fair share of trauma and issues with emotions and such, but I wouldn't be surprised if the Shinigami amplified all of those to get what they want." She pursed her lips. "I'm afraid as you grow older it will only get worse."

"My sanity is the price to pay to be here already, it's not that far-fetched," I added, taking a deep breath. "I'm reckless in missions, I have always been, it will probably get worst now." I lay back down. "Thank you for taking care of me."

"It's the clan's duty to protect the Yuurei," she replied, almost recited. "Although now it's really about helping the few Uzumakis there are left." I pursed my lips.

"Did they tell you? About Dad?"

"They have." Silence fell upon us. "Now he is officially an enemy of Konoha."

"Do you think he could come and look for you?" She scoffed.

"I fail to see what he would want from me." She crossed her legs. "Did he ever reappear before?"

"Never. It was the first time I had seen him in almost forty years and yet…I froze in terror when I recognized him."

"Age matters very little in those cases." She stood up. "You are clear to go for me, but I wouldn't be surprised if Minato makes you stay a little bit longer to double-check everything." I puffed my cheeks. "Cheer up, not every Yuureis survived as long as you have." She opened the door to find a panting Kushina.

"NEE-CHAN!" Naruto ran past Tsunade-san and jumped on my bed straight in my arms. His small arms were shaking around my neck as he was sobbing against me.

"Now now Naru, I'm here, I'm fine," I whispered to him, hugging him back. Kushina-san joined our hug as well.

"You really scared us 'ttebane." She was holding back her tears as well.

"I'm sorry." She kissed the top of my head.

"No need to apologize." We stayed like this for a few minutes before Kushina-san moved back. "I'm going to ask when I can take you home."

"Is Minato-san planning to talk to me?" She froze for a second.

"I'm not sure when but…yes. I'm sor…" I shook my head.

"Don't be, I'm here, it's all that matters."

"Yes, yes, it is," she agreed with a small smile. "But don't ever scare us like this again!"

"I'll try," I replied with a chuckle.

Minato-san came the very night as I was finishing my dinner. He arrived and saw me almost puke my yogurt back in the jar.

"Should I do a quality check of the hospital food?"

"Yes," I replied sternly.

"How are you feeling?"

"Quite good, Tsunade-san said I was good to go."

"Yes, I saw her and you're coming home tomorrow." An awkward silence took place. I opened my mouth, but he raised his hand. "We'll talk when you're out of the hospital, for now…let's not. I just have…two questions."

"Which are?"

"When you were about to leave Konoha with your mother…did it start here?" I nodded. "Hence the sudden fever that put you in bed." He pursed his lips. "How old are you?"

"Are you sure you want to know?" He nodded and I ran a hand in my tangled hair. "I'm Tsunade-san's age." To his credit, he didn't seem surprised, or he hid it very well.

"I see." He took a deep breath. "I'll see you tomorrow."

I left the hospital the next morning, falling on my bed with a sigh of relief. I also took a well-deserved bath and when I got out, drying my hair with a towel, Mikoto-san and Sasuke were there.

Sasuke ran straight to me and made me fall on my butt; his face buried in my shirt.

"Hey you," I greeted him, my hand in his hair.

"Don't do that again Nee-san!"

"I'll try." I was on my back when Naruto decided to join, now on top of Sasuke and I. "Boys!"

"Punishment dattebayo!" Kushina-san and Mikoto-san both chuckled at this.

"Thank you, good work Team Two. You may leave." Before he left, the Hokage called him. "Itachi-kun, stay for a minute, would you?" He closed the door behind his team.

"What is it?"

"Don't bother going to the hospital, Akane is back home." He furrowed his brows. "She's back to herself."

"Really?" he asked in a small voice, wanting to make sure he wasn't hearing wrong.

"Yes." He smiled to himself, even if it was small. Small, but relieved. "You can go."

"Thank you," he replied before leaving.

He ran on the rooftops and was panting by the time he was on the tree branch in front of her window. The curtains were closed, so he jumped on the windowsill and knocked.

"Itachi, is that you?" A huge weight was removed from his shoulders. The only time he had felt such relief was when he had come back after almost breaking up.

He didn't want to remember how depressed he had been back then, realizing how much Akane had made the crushing weight of his actions on his shoulders so much lighter, and just how much space she had taken in his heart, reminding him he was not dead yet.

She opened the window and raised a curious brow.

"Back from a mission?" He nodded and jumped in her room when she moved away a little. He took his sandals off then as she closed the window behind him. "What's u…" He hugged her tightly, sliding down the wall until Akane was sitting on the floor, Itachi hugging her on his knees. She gasped in his ear, but he didn't care.

He buried his face in the crook of her neck, aware his arms were shaking around her. She hugged him back hesitantly, but she must have noticed he wasn't calming down and she started to run her fingers through his hair.

"I'm still here, sorry for worrying you." He took a deep, shaky breath. "Damn, had I known you'd be in such as state…"

"I couldn't do anything," he whispered in her ear. "They wouldn't tell me anything either, it's…"

"Ha, not family no information?" He hated that. "It can't be helped right now."

"I hate it." She chuckled.

"I would too." She kissed the angle of his jaw. "Do you want to know what happened?"

"Later."

"Real…" She didn't finish her word as he tightened his hold on her.

"Don't go where I can't follow dummy," he muttered almost angrily against her skin. She was quiet for a few seconds.

"I'll try."

"You better."

"Is that a threat Uchiha?"

"A warning." Hell, if she left without him, he'd bring her back and make her explain why she would leave without telling him why.

He shuddered at the thought. She wouldn't do that. They were in love; she wouldn't keep him in the dark.

They stayed longer than intended in this position because it was his sore knees that brought him back to reality. He moved back, Akane moving with a hand on her coccyx.

"So now my age is catching up with my youthful body," she whined, which made him smile faintly. "It's not funny."

"Can I know what happened?" She nodded and started explaining. Whatever joy he had gotten back quickly vanished. "So your Hyouton and the seal do not cohabit peacefully."

"Yes but, it also saved my life back then so…I guess I'll just have to watch out for it in the future."

"The Yondaime locked in the power of the Shinigami so…" She pursed her lips.

"Yes, the same way he made Naruto's seal. With time, it will weaken. If anything, it may help my body get accustomed to it but…Well, it's a process I started, I can't run away from the consequences, can I?" He didn't like the sound of that.

"Maybe there are information you didn't notice in Uzushio."

"Maybe." He opened his mouth to suggest he could go with her next time, that he could help but no word came out from his lips.

Akane was protective of the Uzumaki clan in a way he didn't remember her to be before, and she clearly didn't want to say more about it now. He opted for poking her on the forehead fondly. She rubbed it with a small, annoyed frown, which instead of making her look upset made her cute.

He stayed in her room until the sun set outside, his hand holding hers as they were sitting on her bed, their backs against the wall and window.

"Akane, are you there?" Minato called outside of the door, knocking. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah!" Itachi jumped to his feet and grabbed his shoes. He had a leg outside when the Hokage called him.

"It's been hours since I told you she was back home, have you been here all this time?" the Hokage asked him with narrowed eyes.

"Minato-san…" Akane started, now up as well.

"I'd gladly rattle you out to your parents," the Yondaime continued.

"I'll see you later, rest," Itachi told Akane before jumping in the tree, then down. When he raised his head, Minato was looking down at him.

"We have a front door, use it!" Then he closed the window.

At this rhythm, he would have to ask him for Akane's hand in marriage. Although, he struggled to see his family, well his clan really, accept him marrying an Uzumaki, and a foreigner. He didn't care about that, and he doubted his mother and brother would. His father wouldn't miss the opportunity to remind him of his 'duty' as the heir though, including marital ones.

Well, it wasn't as if it was urgent matters. Nobody would talk about it before he turned eighteen.

"It is under my roof; it is my business." I rolled my eyes. "Anyway."

"What do you want to know then?" He took a deep breath and sit down next to me on my bed.

"Akiko and you were not supposed to be there when Naruto was born." I shook my head. "Did I…because using the Death Reaper Seal was…"

"You did, use it. How do you think I learned it?" I retorted. "It…it was both Kushina-san and you." He widened his eyes in horror. "Naruto…your son has the childhood the Naruto I knew would have dreamed of."

"…what was it like?"

"He didn't know who his parents were until he was sixteen and was a jinchuriki, how do you think he was treated?" He shook his head.

"The Sandaime would have…" I scoffed. "What?"

"I don't have the best opinion about the Sandaime, that's…gosh, Konoha went to shit after you died."

"I take it Akiko and you…"

"With Danzou wanting me and no protection? We stayed away and…" I looked down. "When we were told you and Kushina-san were gone, they also told us Naruto was dead. We didn't know he was alive until I was thirteen." He sighed and leaned his forehead in his hand. "But he…Naruto was strong and Naru will be too. He became the kind of man you'd be more than proud to call your son."

"It doesn't make it feel any better," he whispered under his breath. "Akane, were you a kunoichi before? Your skills…they're not new."

"I was, briefly," I confirmed quietly.

"Not in Konoha I presume, from what you told me."

"…in the Bloody Mist." He looked up, taking a deep breath. "When I was eleven, I was abducted and awoke my Hyouton there. I stayed there for two years until Konoha took me back during a mission, making me look KIA."

"Your rank?"

"Anbu, pretty much." He pursed his lips.

"In two years?"

"It's…the Fourth Mizukage is not kind to his apprentice." He glanced at me in horror. I tried to smile it off, but there was a lump in my throat. "And villagers loved to tell me I was the reason my father left, so that the village was like this so…not a time I remember fondly." I quickly glanced at my forehead protector on my desk. "It makes it weird to be kunoichi here and how different it is but…it feels wrong, almost."

"And after?"

"Well…Mom died when I was sixteen. Kakashi…before he told me he came and saw the grave, but I was already long gone. I didn't go back to Konoha until I was twenty-two with my…"

"With your child?" he inquired quietly. "You knew too much about babies compared to Kushina and I when we were the parents." I nodded.

"Twins," I corrected him. "I had a good life for sixteen years until I used the Death Reaper seal to protect them, and then when I woke up, Mom was there, and Kushina-san was there and pregnant." I sighed and looked at him, annoyed. "You left a big chunk of the kinjutsu out you know."

"Kushina told me yes." He stayed quiet for maybe a minute. "When did you become a Seal Master then?"

"Twenty-seven."

"It's late with your potential." I scratched the back of my neck.

"I…I gave up on Fuinjutsu when Mom died, I took to it again when the twins were born because their ey…" I closed my mouth.

"That's what I wanted, well needed, to ask you about." I raised a brow. "Is Itachi like you?" I widened my eyes. "Don't give me that look, I'm not a fool."

"I…I know that but…but how…"

"I never really saw him before you became friends with him and there has been something in his eyes, something…old. And when he looks at you, it's not like a child who's your friend." I blushed a little.

"It's…even to me, his case is a mystery," I admitted. "I've read through the diaries and such but…they never talked about anything like this."

"So you not being on your own would be a first?" I nodded. "I see."

"Please don't tell him." He looked down at me curiously. "It's not…I'm the Yuurei, I have the seal, but he doesn't, he's just…there, and it's his secret, not mine."

"I wasn't planning on bringing it up. However, it is something I need to know." I shuddered.

"Is it…is it because of his clan? The public opinion on them?" He frowned when he saw I was starting to be scared.

"What happened when I wasn't there?"

"They…it…" I looked down, my hands clenched on my pants. "They were killed."

"What?" he whispered in horror. "All of them?"

"All but Sasuke…and Itachi, because he was the one to…" He sighed deeply, but there was no surprise. "You're not…"

"I'm the Hokage, I have people talking in my ears all day long." He pursed his lips. "If it wasn't for me putting my foot down, Danzou would have gotten his hands on you the second you had stepped foot at the Academy." I was not surprised. "The same goes for Itachi." I gulped. "I have seen him with his family, it did not come from him, did it?" I shook my head, the lump in my throat getting more painful as more was coming out of me. "He was ordered to do it." I nodded sadly. "How bad did it become without me around?"

"Enough for the clan to start planning a coup," I confessed, sniffing. "Itachi…And Shisui, they both…they were double agents but then…Shisui, Danzou he…" Minato frowned deeply.

"Danzou did what to Shisui?"

"Shisui wanted to put the Uchihas under his genjutsu, to avoid useless bloodshed. It wasn't enough of a solution for Danzou and he…gouged Shisui's eye out for himself. I don't know all the details, but after that, he couldn't do his plan and he…he killed himself." I could see the color draining off his face. "After that, Itachi couldn't stop the coup on his own and he was offered a choice. Kill everyone himself and spare Sasuke, or he'd be killed with his clan, Sasuke as well." He closed his eyes and leaned on his knees.

"The worst in all of that is that I am not that surprised." I wiped the treacherous tear rolling down my cheek.

"Really?"

"You don't know half of what this man has done." If only…didn't Sasuke say Danzou had an arm full of sharingans? "Does he already have a sharingan in the eye that is hidden?"

"I…I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised. I would have a Byakugan user to look at what he is hiding under all the bandages."

"It's not something I can just ask, but I'll keep it in mind." He sighed. "After the Kyuubi attack, I asked Fugaku why he didn't come."

"And?"

"He knows how to keep a straight face, but I knew he was taken back by my question as the Police Forces were asked to take care of civilians, him included."

"How could you have given orders at the time?"

"That's not the question, in state of emergency logic is thrown out of the window often. I asked the Third, who told me it was Danzou's advice. Which makes sense in a way as it was an Uchiha I faced, but you already know that I'm sure. Still, keeping the whole clan out of such a critical moment is excluding them of the village as a whole and making them guilty of one individual's actions."

"I agree. From there it went downhill until…"

"It's a good thing I'm working with Fugaku already then." I was taken back. "The second he told me he was ordered to stay back, I knew the Uchiha I faced no longer was part of Konoha. I never really suspected them to begin with." He stood up and turned toward me. "Akane, answer me honestly."

"I've never been more honest in the last five years."

"The man, behind the Kyuubi attack…was it Obito?" I widened my eyes in shock. "When you and Kakashi brought back these goggles and told me about the tunnel, it's something that has been constantly in my mind, even if I don't want to believe it but…it would make sense, I guess. He knew about Kushina, he knew how to get in Konoha and I know Kakashi talks to Rin when he's on her grave and if there is one place he'd visit…and the way these Kiri Anbu were slaughtered too but Kakashi was safe…"

"You really are a smart man," I told him in a hoarse voice. I saw something break in his eyes. "I don't know the details exactly, but he was found by one of Madara's men or something and…"

"Madara?"

"Yeah, he faked his death and had some of the First's cells so he lived. Anyway, he saved him but manipulated him and when he released him, Obito saw Kakashi…" I trailed off. "Kakashi told me they also were the ones to hold you up." There was a brief flash of anger and straight-up bloodlust.

"They have taken Obito, saved his life and let him go just so he'd see Kakashi kill Rin?" he repeated in cold anger. I nodded.

"The Uchiha clan has something called the 'Curse of Hatred'. They love very deeply but when they lose the object of their affection, they fall to that curse and only see through a red ledger. Madara manipulated Obito to do his bidding after his death and asked him to bring him back with the Rinne…" I sighed and put my hands on my forehead. "Damn, there is the Akatsuki and Jiraya-san's students from the Rain too and…"

"What do they have to do with this?"

"Nagato has the Rinnegan, but it was Madara who awoke them, so when Yahi…I'll write it down, I'm confusing myself saying it like this. I…All of this, I got it from Kakashi, Naruto and Sasuke. Point is, Obito did this…I don't even know why he did it, if there was something bigger or just out of hatred." I stopped talking.

What Obito did after was taking control of Kiri. Could I tell him that? I mean, I wouldn't be betraying any secret because I wasn't part of Kiri in a way but…would he help? It was a lot.

But again, if it was revealed an Uchiha was pulling the strings behind a foreign tyranny, it could have heavy repercussions.

"Akane?"

"Is Yagura the Sanbi's jinchuriki already?" Minato blinked, taken back by the change of subject.

"From what I know, yes. It happened shortly before he became the Mizukage. Why?"

"Because the man responsible for the Bloody Mist is not in control of his actions," I informed him sternly. He immediately understood what I was implying. "Which means Obito was the one to turn me into a kunoichi and I still don't know why but…hell, I don't know if he did it out of revenge for Rin or something but…"

"It could be terrible if it was known an Uchiha was doing this," he whispered in horror.

"I know." I stood up. "I don't know how things are going to play out though, Dad never reappeared before and…well, I never was here, and you weren't alive so…"

"You're good in infiltration." I blinked.

"Well yeah, it was my specialty. I still can't use some of my moves because it would be weird coming from the Hidden Leaf but…"

"Kiri is organizing a Chuunin Exam in December." I blinked again.

"Huh?"

"I was surprised too when I received the invitation."

"That…did not happen, Kiri never hosted…" He knelt in front of me.

"With what you are telling me, at some point, I'll have to take action. Not just as the Hokage but…anyway, I don't want to put you through something that brings back bad memories but…I wanted to put you in the exam." I froze.

"In…in Kiri?" He nodded.

"Now I feel awful for asking this but, if you went, do you think you could get information?" I frowned and took my chin between two fingers.

"With the mist, it would be to be expected to get lost so I guess but…they would know, my name alone is…"

"I am aware, and I think it's a part of the reason why they're hosting it. If Obito is behind the Mizukage, then he knows you're here and must have heard what happened with the Raikage or something.

"It's a trap," I summed up. "You think it's a trap for me and you want to use me as bait for information." To his credit, he looked sheepish and ashamed.

"You make me sound like the bad guy Akane."

"We're always the bad guy for someone, and I'm just stating facts. You're speaking like a Kage, that's all. Although, you're also asking me to follow a stranger so…"

"Akane!"

"I'm kidding," I replied with a smirk. "Look, I can…do it. I went back years later under the Fifth, I can…do it. It will be weird to see people I know not know me but…"

"Itachi would be with you," he added, almost as if he thought I'd guess that.

"You didn't think about telling me that before?"

"I thought it would be obvious, I can't waste you as genins any longer or Danzou will be more and more on my back." I opened my mouth.

"Are you…thinking of regular Anbu?" He raised a brow.

"Not now. I made Kakashi join young, but he was a special case, why would I…right, his clan. I'll think about it." I was relieved to hear that though. "Itachi and you would go as a duo though, Yasuo and Kou are nowhere near ready, and I don't think Shikaku thinks his genin have the maturity to lead yet, apart from Itachi."

"Would they accept a duo?"

"Something tells me when they'll see your name they might." He had a point.

"I'll try then, and anyway…they were bound to know I was around. It's not as if I could avoid Kiri." Even if I desperately wanted to.

"I'll talk to Fugaku and Shikaku then."

"Can you reconsider me moving out?" He sighed.

"Why?"

"Because it's obvious I'm old enough to live on my own."

"Kushina also said it was the duty of the clan members to protect the Yuurei. You're living under my roof, isn't that safe?"

"Well…yes but…"

"Spit it out."

"You're alive and I feel like I'm keeping you from expanding." He made a weird face. "I mean your family. You had Naru at twenty-four, you probably want other children and I'm her…" He sighed deeply.

"Rest assured on that side; it won't happen."

"What?"

"Kushina doesn't want to go through that again. Neither do I."

"But…"

"She told me we already had two kids anyway, and I agree." I averted my eyes, suddenly uncomfortable. "You are part of our family Akane and will always have you place in our home…no matter what you may have seen me do or not do after Akiko passed away." I took a deep breath.

He never mentioned that before.

"At least…consider calling Kushina 'Aunty' again, I know she hates you using her first name." He looked like he wanted to add something but refrained himself from doing so. "Good night then."

"Good night." He left my room.

I fell on my bed, drained. It was…a lot.

I had refused to think about the number of things that could have happened, could still happen in the future. Settling in in this life and figuring out what I was had been a lot, getting back to my level and the war with Kumo, my job with the Hyuugas…I had been busy settling in in this life.

But I couldn't avoid what was ahead of us anymore.

I sat, leaning back on my hands. Kiri, then…the Uchihas. Fugaku was talking with Minato, it was good, and now I knew Minato could potentially ask me things behind everyone's back. I hoped it wouldn't escalate to a coup but…if it did, I wouldn't leave Itachi and Shisui to deal with this alone.

I glanced at the forehead protector on my desk, the metal gleaming under the artificial light of my room. Sometimes, often, I'd feel like a fraud wearing it. If it meant I could help the guys though…I would gladly keep feeling like a fraud.

As long as they both lived long, happy lives.

I pursed my lips. I wanted Itachi to have a long, happy life this time around. I wanted him to stay with his family. I knew I…most likely would die, or at least lose my mind before him this time but still…he deserved it. He deserved to live for himself this time around.

I would make sure he lived his life this time around.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have liked it, please do let me know in reviews! Thanks to Sheila92 and Amaterasu53 for the comments!

Bye!