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

Characters age:

Akane: 18 (51)

Itachi: 18 (35)

Shisui: 21

Naruto / Sasuke: 13

Kakashi: 26

"Is that all there is to it?" Itachi asked me suspiciously as we could see the whole island once we reached the harbor.

"Yeah, it's the smallest island of the country." The island was small, but high with a cliff. There were a few buildings around the harbor and on the right side of it, then on the higher plateau. On the left, there was a hole in the rocks of the cliff when boat could go through or stopped to be repaired.

It also was where the prison of the country was for shinobi, deep under the island. Itachi did not need to know that.

Itachi attached the boat to a mooring post. It was not a big boat, just a fishing boat with a small cabin you could sleep in and store food. The island was close to the border between our waters and the Land of Lightning's.

I looked around once we were on solid ground. Itachi and I both had cloaks on, the hoods on our head. I closed my eyes to sense who was around, but I couldn't feel anyone. There was no boat in the harbor either. On the surface, it felt as if we were alone, yet I couldn't shake the feeling I was being watched.

"Do you feel watched as well?" I asked Itachi, looking around discreetly. He nodded. "I can't sense anyone; we need to be careful."

"Hn." He walked behind me. I could almost sense the tension pouring out of him.

As we neared the inn, Itachi quickly got a kunai in his hand, pinned someone to a wall and put his blade on their throat. I blinked and put my hand on his wrist when I recognized Kimou.

"Hey, I know her." Itachi's sharingans were spinning in his eyes.

"So do I," he replied coldly. Kimou glanced at me with pleading purple eyes, showing me the palm of her hand. I put my finger on it and activated the seal.

"She's the real one, it's my seal." I had put seals, well Harusame-san and I, on members of the Resistance to recognize each other. I could feel my chakra in it.

Itachi let her go and she massaged her throat. With a dark glare for him, she reached for my hand and went behind me. Itachi narrowed his eyes at her, and I sighed.

"Houzuki, lead the way." She nodded. Itachi seemed surprised and he raised a brow at me. "She's a distant cousin of the boys I believe."

"I was told she was a genjutsu user."

"…yeah, why?"

"Their clan doesn't strike me as using genjutsu." It took me a few seconds before remembering Kiri was secretive. Apart from Yagura, nothing was really known about our Mizukages, even to our villagers. It was only because we were in a more modern era Yagura was more known on the continent, the others were still stuck in the Warring States Era in a way.

"Well, you know very little about Kiri." I wasn't sure if I even could tell him about Gengetsu, our dear old browless Nidaime Mizukage.

We entered the inn and I frowned. There were things broken down in the lobby, which was weird. There were not many people here, but workers from the prison lived here, and some travelers stayed here as well. Why did it look so…abandoned?

"Kiri ordered the release of the prisoners against their services, so they rioted here a little before going back to Kiri. The employees fled for their lives or died, then thrown to the sea." I spun around to find Mangetsu. I felt relief wash over me as I hugged him around the neck, on my tiptoes. He hugged me back tightly. "You seem a lot better." I moved back and flexed my arms. He grinned awkwardly. "It's a good thing you have other skills than muscle work."

"Hey!" He looked at Itachi and nodded at him.

"Thanks Uchiha." Itachi nodded back quietly.

"I'm here too." I looked down at Suigetsu. He sniffed when I gazed at him, his arms crossed, and he puffed his chest. "And I'm a fucking hero now Uzu!"

"Huh…sure?"

"He kind of is, but we'll explain later," Mangetsu told me, side-glancing at his brother.

"Well, I'm just glad you're okay," I told Suigetsu with a small smile. He scratched the side of his nose.

"I wasn't going to bite the dust so easily." Sure, he was as smug as ever.

"Are there others?" Mangetsu nodded.

"Dai and sensei are here, Zabuza-senpai and Haku as well. Utakata should not be long, like Harusame-san. Naoto and Ao-san shouldn't be long either." He looked around. "Kimou got here first and tried to make it good enough for us to use, it's pretty much abandoned now."

"Where's Hiramekerai?"

"Choujurou's training with it outside." Right. I licked my lips.

"And Yagura?"

"He's hilarious," Suigetsu stated before his brother could say anything. I raised a brow at him. It was not an adjective I'd use to describe him but… "No seriously, he's fucking hilarious!"

"I…what?"

"We'll explain later, but he's here, and he's resting. He's…good now. Still confused but…good." Mangetsu himself seemed weirded out by this. "Anyway, you guys should rest and all of that. Uz…" I pointed my thumb at Itachi.

"I'm sharing a room with him." Mangetsu raised a brow. "I know what you're about to say, I'm not sharing a room with her Mangetsu." He rubbed his head, embarrassed.

"I can't blame you. I couldn't care less anyway; I'll just take you the…"

"Uzu, we're sharing a room!" Kimou yelled excitedly, sliding between Mangetsu and I. She took my hands in hers and kissed them, stars in her eyes. "I tried to get only one bed, but they wouldn't…" Mangetsu pushed her away.

"Uzu's not sharing a room with you, she still needs some care and Uchiha knows how to do it." Bless Mangetsu, it was a believable lie.

"What? But he's a guy!" Suigetsu snickered and she glared at him. "Hey, shut up!"

"I guess you're stuck with me cou-sin." Kimou pouted and shot me a pleading glance. I shrugged.

"Uzu knows him the best anyway, it's better than if he were with one of us." She rolled her eyes and left. "I really can't deal with her sometimes. Follow me." Once in our room, Mangetsu told us there was food, but we'd need to cook ourselves when we'd be hungry.

I fell on my bed with a sigh, Itachi quietly sitting down on his.

"What's her issue?" he asked me firmly.

"Kimou? She's crushing on me hard; you could call her a fangirl." I sighed, staring at the ceiling. "She couldn't stand me at first, but I saved her on a mission and somehow…I don't know, she said I looked cool and like a knight in shining armor or something." I sat up, my legs crossed on the bed. "It was fine at first, now it's…" He frowned. "Well, she made a few very explicit suggestions to me and how she could 'please me better than any ma…'" I stopped myself. Itachi didn't let anything show on his face, but I knew from his gaze he did not enjoy what was implied.

Well, why would he. He was the only man to ever touch me and Kimou was saying he was not doing a job at it. He was more than perfect at this job though.

"Do you want me to tell her off?" I shook my head. "She needs to understand and leave you alone Akane."

"Yeah yeah, I know. It was fun at first but now it's weirder and weirder." Itachi frowned deeper. "But I am going to tell her to back off, or tell Mangetsu, she listens to him." There was a knock on the door.

"Uzu, mandatory check-up!" I rolled my eyes.

"It's not locked!"

…

He entered the room once Dai was done with Akane, who was putting her shirt back on. The medic nodded in his direction.

"You've done a good job, I'll give you that."

"Tsunade-sama helped a lot." Dai stared at him without moving.

"The Tsunade, legendary medic-nin?" Itachi nodded. "Oh shit, no wonder you're good as new Uzu."

"Itachi did help a lot; he followed the instructions she left very carefully."

Itachi sat down without a word. Since their discussion, they had gone back to talking like teammates. He was not trying anything and kept his hands to himself. Akane was doing the same. Of course, he wanted more, and he wanted to be closer, but it was not the right time, and he would not be the reason Akane's focus was broken.

Now they were on the island, it was painfully clear how Akane had been integrated to Kiri like a fish in water. Kiri was known to be bloodthirsty and violent, yet the comradery was warm and strong here.

He was finding it hard to not react to her complimenting him like this or having to witness this Kimou girl flirting shamelessly with Akane in front of him and not do anything.

"Alright Uchiha, your turn."

"I don't need i…"

"Ha, if you think I care. Anyone who gets here has a check-up, it's the rule I made up."

"Don't fight it," Akane advised him with a pleading look. He pursed his lips and sighed.

Dai barely had chakra on his hand that his attitude changed suddenly. He moved back, lifted Akane by her collar, dropped her in the hallway and shut the door in her face before locking it.

"Hey!"

"Go see my sister, she was worried about you!" Itachi couldn't understand what she said from the hallway, but he heard her leave. Dai sighed and turned back to him. "Shirt off and lay down." He did and Dai worked quietly, only asking him questions when he needed to. "If I follow, the seal is to make the virus develop faster so they can remove it." He nodded and Dai crossed his arms. "I can't say anything for sure, but you should get a full-on cat scan when you're home." Itachi sat, leaning on his hands.

"You think it's time." He nodded.

"The bigger it gets, the more pressure it puts on your chakra pathway and the longer recovery will be. I don't know you very much, but I doubt you want to be stuck on the sidelines for years." It was the last thing he wanted. "Of course, take what I say with a grain of salt, but I'd say it's been a couple of months since it's good to go, but with the situation you couldn't have it checked. What I'd strongly advise you is to refrain yourself from using too much chakra. If you can avoid it, avoid it." Without a word, Itachi put his shirt back on.

"Don't tell Akane." Dai raised a brow.

"I know I'm from the Bloody Mist and all, but even us have medical secrecy. Although, Mangetsu and I did catch Uzu stealing files for you and now with those damned pictures of you two, you shou…"

"Pictures?" What pictures?

"The pictures of you two getting hot and steamy that got her locked up?" Itachi just stared at him. "She was told she was taken into custody because she was accused of horizontal colla…" Itachi widened his eyes a little.

"What?" he asked him coldly. He saw the realization hitting the medic and he paled.

"Oh shit, she didn't tell you." Itachi slowly shook his head and Dai jumped to his feet. "Of fuck, she's gonna have my head on a stick now!"

"What do you know?" Dai was torn, he could see that. "You've said too much or not enough, in any case, keep going."

"It's…fuck. Naoto got those pictures and sent them to the Hokage, there were many. Uzu was under strict surveillance from whoever was controlling Yagura and they followed her on that mission with you on the Isle of the Lost, then after and…Naoto said you were in an inn together and there as a picture of you two doing explicit stuff in a cave." He wasn't showing it, but Itachi was livid and furious.

What the hell was the meaning of this? He was beyond angry, what was Obito trying to do by getting pictures like these? Why was he stooping so low? This…these situations, they were for Akane and him only, no one else. It was not a show, and it certainly…

If the Hokage knew, then it was…was it what his father had told her?

Her reaction was more logical now, Akane was torn between her village and him and…she probably felt guilty for everything that had happened, how they had to rescue her and change their plans because they were horny and couldn't control themselves. As if she needed more things to make her doubt…

"Don't tell her I know that either." Dai pursed his lips. "I've put you under a genjutsu once, I'll do it again."

"Dude!"

"She doesn't need to worry about these things." The medic was not comfortable with this, but nodded, nonetheless. "Please."

"Fine, fine, but when she finds out I'm blaming it all on you!" There was a knock on the door.

"Can I come in now? Your sister almost choked me in her boobs." Dai opened the door for her. "Thank you." Akane glanced at him, then Dai. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes," Itachi replied immediately.

"I'm going to…see myself out." Akane's eyes followed Dai as he left.

"Okay…I checked the kitchen, and I can make fish soup, do you want some?" He nodded. "Alright." He followed her to the kitchen.

Horizontal collaboration…as she was cooking, he couldn't get this out of his mind. He knew Akane worried she would be bad for him regarding Konoha and his clan but…he never thought he would be bad for her regarding Kiri. It was her reputation at stake, and he would never let her be known as a whore if he could help it. She was not one, he knew that better than anybody. Their relationship had nothing to do with any village anyway, it was born when they were both out of them and no longer tied to them.

He hated seeing this issue and understanding Akane's point of view. He understood it before, but now he was the one who could potentially ruin her life when she finally seemed to find peace with Kiri and…He couldn't bear the thought of ruining this for her.

"It's good," he complimented her as they were eating her fish soup.

"Hey, if we can't have good fish and cook it, we couldn't call ourselves the Land of Water." He smiled faintly. "Thinking of it, isn't it weird for Konoha to be called Konoha?"

"How so?"

"Well, water and mist make sense together. Lightning and cloud as well, stone and earth too, sand and wind start to be kind of a stretch but sandstorms I guess, but leaf and fire? Fire burns leaf, it's contradictory, isn't it?"

"I've never really thought about this."

"Huh, I guess it's just me wondering silly stuff when I can't find sleep at night."

He was the one unable to find sleep that night. He glanced at Akane, who was asleep and hugging her pillow, her face half buried in it, and got up. He got dressed and went outside.

He sat against the lighthouse, the calm sea softly hitting the rock it was built on. The sky was clear, filled with stars and the full moon illuminating the night sky. Itachi took a deep breath of the salty sea air and put his hand on his heart. He had started feeling like a weight on it, like he used to, but pushed it at the back of his mind to take care of Akane. She needed him, he didn't want to be the sick man she had to take care of again.

In all honesty, he was tired of Akane seeing him with a poor health and having to make sure he was okay all the time.

Itachi leaned his head back against the lighthouse.

He missed the starry sky and forests of Konoha, and his bed. He was no stranger to being far from home, but this mission was particularly draining.

"He doesn't look like a tyrant like this, does he?" I asked Itachi as we were looking at the sleeping Yagura.

"He looks like a child if you don't look too closely."

"Are you saying he looks old from up close?"

"Not old, just adult compared to his height." It was true. "I'm going to see if they're in sight." Itachi left and I sat down next to Yagura.

Mangetsu explained to me what had happened. While we were in Kiri, Yagura woke up at the hideout. Only Suigetsu and a medic were there. Yagura somehow freed himself from my seals, got Suigetsu and the medic and decided to work together. They fled the hideout and hid while Suigetsu explained the situation to him. In the meantime, a few people were made prisoners in Kiri: Mei-sensei, Dai, Mangetsu and Naoto. The others had managed to leave. With Yagura's help, they got them out of there but not before Naoto stole those bloody pictures of mine. Then they split up. Dai wanted to stay in the country to help as a medic, so sensei decided to stay as well. Mangetsu left with Suigetsu because he was still weakened from the poison. Naoto wanted to stay close to Kiri to spy and Yagura stayed as well, until they were attacked. Mei and Dai got to them and took Yagura with them to the island, Naoto staying behind for who-know-what.

He could be very secretive when he wanted to, it was annoying.

Yagura opened his eyes out of sudden. I blinked, taken back and thought about getting up from my chair when he sat up in his bed, his hand on his face, pain written all over it.

"Water," he asked me. I poured him a glass and gave it to him, curious as to…how he was. I did not know Yagura after all.

He drank the glass in one go and stared at nothing for a few seconds. Honestly…if I didn't know better, I'd say he was irritated by the sheet on his lap.

He looked like anyone who were not morning people but had to get up early, it was the best way to describe it.

Finally, he turned his head to me, peering at me through his hair. He pursed his lips, straightened up and cleared his throat. He pushed his hair back and nodded at me.

"Thank you." I just…stared.

It was so strange to hear him say 'thank you'.

"I am sure you know who I am already, but I am the real Karatachi Yagura. If you are here, then I suppose it is because you are part of the movement trying to free the village from the masked man. Thank you for your devotion to Kiri, it is more than I have been able to do for years sadly." Wow, it was fucking weird.

He sounded so much like his grandson Kagura though; it was so weird.

"Yeah…sure…"

"I am afraid that I do not know you however, my memory is more than foggy from the genjutsu." Huh? Mangetsu had said to be ready to face him but…

"You don't…remember?"

"I have snippets of things, but no, I don't. The way the genjutsu was broken cut me off from the reality of these years sadly. Or fortunately, I am still debating on that." I stood up and gulped.

"You don't know who I am?" He raised a brow.

"Obviously not. However, the people here seem to be important shinobi and kunoichi of the village, so sorry. The Houzuki siblings were children just a few days ago to me."

"…do you know about the Kyuubi attacking Konoha?" He furrowed his brows. "When was it?"

"Six months ago. At least to me." I slapped my forehead.

"Thirteen years wiped out completely?" He shrugged. "Fuck." I turned the chair around, sat on it and leaned of the back of it, a frown on my face. "Look at me very carefully. Don't I remind you of anyone?" He squinted his magenta eyes at me.

"Vaguely," he admitted. "Should I think you're familiar?"

"My name is Uzumaki Akane." He froze at that and slowly widened his eyes.

"No, you're not." I raised a brow and blew cold air mixed with ice crystals on his face. He wiped his face off furiously. "No you're not! Ushio…Akiko wouldn't have allowed you to come back! Did she come back as well?" I was…stunned.

Right, even if the Kyuubi was six months ago for him, Mom dying was not public knowledge, even to random Konoha citizens.

"In her letter she said she was picking you up from Kon…" He stopped mid-sentence, the pieces clicking together in his mind. I could see it in his eyes. "She died that night." I nodded gloomily. "Then why are you here? Shouldn't you…"

"I left Konoha to join Kiri." He shook his head. "Obviously, you don't remember, but the man controlling you talked to me through you when I was in Kiri for the Chuunin Exams and…"

"I threatened the Hokage of war," he finished for me. "I…he…what's his deal!?" I was taken back at the anger on his face. "He manipulates me for some mysterious schemes and uses me to get close to a fucking child!? How much of a creep is he!?"

"Huh…yeah..." He ruffled his hair furiously.

"The second I have him in front of me I'm gonna shove my club so far up his ass he's gonna taste it for years!" A chuckle escaped me, and I covered my mouth immediately.

"I also was your apprentice for four years but…let's not focus on that."

"It doesn't make sense!" He took a deep breath and shook his head. "My apprentice?"

"Yeah, your water mirror jutsu rocks."

"Of course, it's a Karatachi Yagura's original," he retorted immediately. I would say it was smugly if it was not for his speech just a second before. He lay back down, his hands on his face. "As if seeing my son taller than me was not enough, now you're an adult when you were one year old the last time, I saw you."

"Saw me?" He glanced at me.

"Well yes, why the surprise?"

"…you were friend with my parents or something?" He sat back up, leaning on his hands.

"Akiko never told you?" I shook my head. "I…your father and I were childhood friends, we fought side by side a lot during the Second Shinobi War." I looked at him in shock.

"I just know you were both considered for the Fourth Mizukage job." He sighed.

"I can't blame Akiko after…Ushio's doing. Hasn't Naoto been involved in your life in Kiri?"

"Well…well yes but I thought it was because I was under 'your' wing, not because…"

"When you were born, your parents wanted me to be your godfather. I think officially I still am." Oh…oh…it was awkward now.

"Huh…yeah, about that…" He raised a brow, and I rubbed the back of my head. "It's kind of the Fourth Hokage?"

"The Yellow Flash, right?" I nodded and he wrinkled his nose, clearly hurt in his pride. "He's not half bad I guess, but water beats fire." I almost sweat-dropped. "I was told Konoha was involved in all of this."

"Yes."

"How?" I pursed my lips.

"The man who controlled you caused the Kyuubi attack." He was serious out of sudden.

"I see, then we have a common goal. It could solidify an alliance." He was quick-witted. That had never changed. "What a mess this situation is, the more I learn about it, the more knots there are to untangle." Not wrong.

"It's…nice to meet you, Yagura-sama." He waved me off.

"Don't bother using '-sama', I lost that right thirteen years ago." He sighed. "So, why would your father help me?"

"I beg your pardon?" He raised a curious brow at me.

"Ushio, he was the one to break me free. He told me he couldn't do more and that I couldn't fail a second time, that I had people to free in Kiri." I jumped to my feet; my wide eyes stuck on him.

"Are…are you serious? Dad freed you?" He nodded. "He didn't try anything?"

"No, he…looked normal." What the hell was happening here?

Clearly, my father had been busy and was playing many different games? How involved was Shisui in all of them?

"My dad…knows the guy who…fuck, what the hell is going on here?"

"Get in line, I want to understand too. Why was I used like this?" I pursed my lips. "And why the hell can't I reach Isobu? He went to sleep when I escaped, but I couldn't transform or anything."

"Oh, well to get you out of the village I cut off the connection between you two. The only chakra you get from him is what is mixed with your own chakra system to keep it intact and keep you alive." He frowned at me. "We couldn't take the risk of you turning into Isobu and kill us all."

"Of course. Can you remove your seal then?"

"I'd need to ask Dai if it is safe for you both. From what both him and Itachi told me, the genjutsu was running on its own through your chakra and his but Isobu took the blunt of it because he had a lot more of it, he must be depleted." He pursed his lips in thoughts. "Could he go on a rampage or something?"

"What? No, he won't." He was rubbing his stomach distractedly. Yagura looked through the window, the sea in view. "I just worry about him and how he lived these years." I licked my dry lips.

"I'll ask Dai." He nodded.

"Who's Itachi by the way? I don't recall anyone with that name."

"Oh, he's from Konoha. He…" I sighed. "He's a member of the Uchiha clan and the one who broke your genjutsu." His face turned cold.

"You trust an Uchiha?" I nodded.

"As I said, the one who controlled you caused the Kyuubi attack. The Hokage fought him and said it was an Uchiha, or at least the Sharingan. He does not think it is someone from Konoha however."

"So, a rogue Uchiha? I get they would be pissed at Konoha, but why Kiri?" I sighed. "You know why."

"I do. I'm not sure how much I can say right now, or if it would be relevant. Kiri is the priority." He didn't like what I was saying but didn't pry either.

There were many things I wanted to ask Isobu. When Naruto told me about his brief meeting with the other jinchurikis, I struggled to believe the Yagura he depicted me was real; yet now I could see it was.

There was a knock on the door. Dai came inside and was surprised to see Yagura awake. I took this as my cue to leave. As I was walking in the hallway, I caught a glimpse of Itachi outside. He was with Haku and they were talking, Haku going from having senbon in his hand to none.

He was a strange kid. Upon hearing Itachi was Sasuke's brother, he apologized to him for hurting him. Itachi was taken back and said I had hurt Sasuke more than him. I ignored him when he said that, of course. Itachi went on to say he was more impressed than anything by his technique because he knew his brother's skills more than anyone.

Cut to Haku showing his shurikenjutsu skills and revealing he was making ice mirrors for just a few seconds in his blind spots to reach his targets. I knew Itachi was impressed and I knew they were…quite similar on some points. Itachi saw that as well, glanced at me curiously, I nodded and suddenly, they were training together in the morning.

Sasuke would not like that.

Haku raised his head and waved at me with a smile. I waved back and walked away. It was strange to know I had a relative on the Yuki side of the family, but I did not hate it. He would come and find me, ask me things on our clan and Ice Release. Zabuza-san came up to me one night and told me Haku never was proud of his legacy and finally felt like he could appreciate a part of himself for himself and not just because it was useful to Zabuza-san.

Three days later, I heard a familiar voice coming from Yagura's room. The Mizukage was fine, he could walk around freely and all of that, but preferred to keep to himself in his room. I couldn't blame him, even with the manipulation, most people were still wary of him. He was taking it in though, not even wanting to be known as the Mizukage for now because he didn't feel like he had any right to it.

"Naoto?" I called him through the door. The voice stopped and he opened the door.

Naoto looked exhausted, but relieved. He sighed when he saw me and embraced me, putting a little bit too much weight on my in the process. I stepped back to support him.

"Sorry, I'm very tired," he mumbled against my shoulder.

"Huh, so much you can't deny the fact you knew me as a baby?" He tensed in my arms.

"…you never asked?" I pinched his ribs, and he jumped back. "Aouch!" I stuck my tongue at him. "Fine, sorry." I shook my head.

"Where were you?"

"In Kiri." I widened my eyes. "Well, around, then inside, then around, then inside, then here. It's a shitshow and nobody agrees with anyone but…" He yawned. "I wrote everything down on the way here and gave it to Mei. Now I'm just…" He lay down on his father's bed and fell asleep immediately.

"I have rarely seen him this tired," I noted, slightly surprised.

"When he cares about something deeply, his own well-being is the least of his worries," Yagura said simply, putting a blanket over him. He even removed his shoes and made him more comfortable.

It was…surreal, if felt like I had no right to see that.

"He didn't come back alone," Yagura stated. "He forgot to say he had to find the Konoha delegation on the sea."

"Heh?" Konoha?

"I need to greet them myself." He smirked at me a little. "Kage to Kage." I widened my eyes.

So…Minato-san was here? In the flesh?

"Come," he said, and I followed him, closing the door quietly behind me.

I hid behind the corner of a wall when I sensed Minato's chakra. He had been greeted by sensei and Zabuza-san, but it was tense. The second Yagura entered the room, it became tenser.

"Mizukage-sama."

"Hokage-sama," Yagura replied firmly. I felt a weight on top of me, then another.

"Dude, I never thought I'd see that," Dai commented, leaning on me. Mangetsu was leaning on Dai.

"We've seen that already at the Chuunin Exams, but we can't compare," he corrected the medic.

"Still, the Yellow Flash is even more impressive in person!" I raised my eyes at Dai like I could, my body shaking under both their weight. "I mean, he's super strong and doesn't look like it!"

"…is that a compliment?" I asked him quietly.

"You know how he is, Dai and his weird compliments."

"Well at least I compliment people, you tend to say people are not 'as bad as you thought'!" I could almost feel Mangetsu frowning. He leaned more on Dai, meaning on me.

"That's when we were genin dumbass."

"Who're you calling a dumbass? You wave a few swords around and suddenly you're a prodigy, that's bullshit!"

"Guys…" I muttered, my arms shaking as they were literally bickering on my back.

Me. The smallest, shortest, scrawniest of the team. I blinked at Itachi when I spotted him walking toward us from the other side. He raised a brow at us, and I mouthed him a 'please', thinking he'd help me. He deadpanned at the scene and leaned against the wall, arms and legs crossed.

"What the…" I started but my arms and legs gave out beneath our collective weights the second Suigetsu jumped on his brother. I was on all four after all. I had my head pressed against the floor by Dai's chest, who was saying that whoever was touching his butt should stop now. I had my arms stretched out in front of me, so it was not me.

Someone grabbed my hands and pulled me out of the doggy pile I found myself at the bottom of. I took a deep breath and thanked Itachi quietly.

"Why did you just watch?" I muttered under my breath.

"You don't break a team dynamic for nothing." I glared at him through my bangs, and he ignored me.

"Brats." I looked on my right. They were all looking at me and Ao-san just looked…so done with our antics.

Itachi and I bowed to them, and I grabbed the boys before fleeing. I sighed deeply when we were in Mangetsu's room.

"So…no family reunion?" I hit Suigetsu on the head with the side of my hand. He turned his head into water.

"She doesn't want to see me," Minato sighed when they were alone. Kakashi and Shikaku were there with him.

"Don't be dramatic Minato, maybe it's a lot at once," Shikaku commented before glancing at Itachi.

"The Mizukage no longer is manipulated, it has been a lot," he confirmed.

When he saw Akane after her first talk with Yagura, she looked shocked and stayed quiet on her bed for an hour, just staring at the wall in front of her.

"Sensei, she's eighteen, drop it," Kakashi told him sternly. "She stopped putting you on a pedestal years ago, she's not going to start now."

"I have things to show he…"

"And she will comment on the ridiculously long name." Minato pursed his lips.

"You're mean Kakashi." Kakashi sighed.

"And you're here as the Hokage."

"He's not wrong," Shikaku pipped in with a smirk.

"There are a lot of things to discuss," Itachi added. Minato rolled his eyes, annoyed before sighing in defeat.

"You're right, I know."

The next day, Itachi did help Minato find Akane in their shared room. She was taken back by the presence of the Hokage and he slipped out of the room to give them some privacy. He saw Minato and Akane embracing each other tightly before he closed the door, his stomach aching at sight of Akane shaking in her godfather's arms.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have liked it, please do let me know in reviews! Thanks to the Guests and Amaterasu53 for the reviews! And yeah, I kind of laugh when I read the reviews because I didn't kill Danzo off because I need him later on, and that in the other fic I killed him off-screen in chapter 5 so keeping him alive is a different turn of events to me. I just don't understand the anger when I am pretty sure I can write what I want, "ruin" my fanfic like they said like I want and that I've never put a gun against their temple to force them to read. Don't like it, leave. Freedom of speech doesn't mean freedom to be an asshole for free, and freedom of speech in my opinion comes with the responsibility of knowing when to keep your mouth shut, but only a minority of people see things this way I guess. Anyway, I have more important things to do than to be hurt by comments like this and I know I'm far from being stupid. Or I'm smart and stupid because I'm being stupid in a language that is not mine? Whatever. Sorry for the rant, I just don't understand the logic behind hate comments.

Bye!