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

Characters age:

Akane: 19 (52)

Itachi: 19 (36)

Shisui: 22

Naruto / Sasuke: 13 - 14

Kakashi: 27

"It's still hard the believe he really is gone," Naoto stated quietly as we were both gazing at his father's grave.

"It is."

The second Yagura had told sensei what Tsunade-san had told him; his health went down quickly. He had clearly stopped fighting now he knew there was no way out. He died in his bed during one humid night of July, with Naoto and I around him. He had apologized for not being stronger and was glad he had some time with his son as an adult, and to know me now I was grown. I had not even bothered to keep my tears from running down my cheeks.

I liked Yagura now he was himself. He was a good man who had had a very unfortunate encounter, and he was gone too soon.

"Are you good to leave tomorrow?" I nodded at Naoto.

"Yes, I settled a few things with Haku and as we have to watch out for where Isobu is going to come back and when, I have more business to attend to on the continent."

"Well, it can't be helped." I blinked and he shrugged. "I don't want to live alone again, that's all."

"I can stay i…" He shushed me with a movement of his hand.

"Don't be silly, you have a life and a boyfriend waiting for your return in Konoha, I'm aware of it. I'll be fine."

"Don't stay on your own," I muttered under my breath. "I mean it Naoto."

"I know." He flicked me on the forehead. "I have a few things to give you Dad left to you."

"That were not in his will?" He nodded.

What was not my shock when he handed Yagura's club to me. I stared at it and shook my head weakly.

"I don't think that…"

"You were his apprentice Akane, during his mind control and after." His magenta eyes gazed sadly at the green flower on the big hook of the club. "Ultimately, the shinobi my father was left his inheritance to you when it comes to ninjutsu." I gulped as quietly as I could.

"But…it was his…"

"Yes, I know. And now it is yours, whether you take it with you or not."

I bit on my bottom lip. This club had so much meaning…Maybe people in Konoha wouldn't know immediately but…

I took in a sharp, deep breath. No matter what, Naoto was right, and Yagura wanted me to have it apparently. The free version of Yagura wanted me to have it, probably so that his original intentions lived on. After all, his club was so…involved in his fighting…

I accepted the club with shaking hands.

"Thank you," I told him quietly. "I'll take care of it." Naoto smiled faintly.

"I know you will."

I was heavy-hearted when the ship left Kiri's harbor. I knew the guys and sensei were worried about how I would be in Konoha, Mangetsu gave me a long speech about how I was allowed to rely on my family, to which Dai added that of course him and Mangetsu were on another level, but I had to do with who I had. It did make me chuckle a little.

I was on my guards the second I left Kiri of course. Who knew what Obito, or my screw-up of a dad, had in store for me after all. Honestly, I just wanted to go home and cuddle with Itachi in my bed, even if it was too small and it was getting annoying.

I had not seen him in three months now…I missed him so damn much. I wanted to be in his arms, inhaled in comforting scent and feel his hands on me…

God, I was grieving but also horny and the sooner I was getting my hands on my dear Uchiha heir, the better for us both. He had no idea what was…

…anyway, Itachi was nowhere in sight so my dirty mind should calm down, because it would not happen anytime soon.

I touched the ground of the Land of Fire a week after leaving. Sensei had told me I could take a break to…mourn Yagura and go back to my duties later, but I needed something to keep my mind occupied. I had not done much in Konoha to begin with and the honeymoon phase with Itachi had come to an end. Even if staying in bed with Itachi with nothing but sheets covering us was more than tempting, I would get tired of it quickly.

I would arrange for some shinobi to accompany me to Suna with Oji-chan when I'd come back.

As I was nearing a village between Konoha and the harbor, I frowned. The village was nothing special, it was a farming village with some cattle. Yet, I could sense some…powerful chakra. Powerful yet controlled enough to go under the radar.

They were highly trained. It was not good.

I hid my chakra signature and carefully made my way to the presences only to stop in my steps when I saw an unconscious shinobi with a mask on his face. However, the mask and the attire…

He was Root.

What the…

"Oh it's you." I raised my head immediately and grabbed a kunai.

My father raised his hands when my blade was on his throat. Gone was the Akatsuki cloak and his slashed forehead protector, he still had shinobi clothes but…well, I guess he was a mercenary now.

"Daughter, it is always a pleasure to see…" I kneed him in the stomach, but he caught my knee in is hand. "I am going to put that on Kushina's bad influence."

"More like your shitty parenting," I spat at him. "The fuck is going on here?"

"I have no idea." I glared daggers at him and he sighed. "Just…follow me, you're going to want to see this."

"Last time I followed you you beat me up."

"It taught you not to follow strangers."

"Fuck you."

"Well, you definitely have gotten Kiri's potty mouth huh?" When I didn't laugh and just kept glaring, he cleared his throat. "Your little Uchiha was attacked." I dropped my glare and my ire turned to confusion. My father pointed behind him and I went.

Sasuke was lying on the ground, unconscious and a seal on his left eye. I could see some blood smudged on the edges. I immediately knelt next to him and looked under the paper.

"His eye is fine; he had the reflex to start moving back. The skin was not that lucky, so I think there is going to be a scar, but like sensei like student I guess." If his eye was fine…I was going to take him to a doctor the second he was awake.

"What happened?"

"I don't have a clue." I frowned at him. "I mean it, I ran into him by accident! I was on my way when I recognized his chakra followed by others who seemed to be from Konoha, so I let my curiosity guide me. The kid tried to run off to that snake anyway, who knew what these anbus wanted so I dealt with them, he passed out and I put a healing on him." He rolled his eyes at my clear suspicion. "I was keeping an eye on Iwa Akane, I don't care about the brat."

"Iwa? Fuck, are they…"

"In the country? Yeah. Anyway, I've kindly disposed of the other anbus, there were only four, it would be enough to deal with the kid. I've kept one alive, for interrogation purposes of course." I put Sasuke on my shoulder. He was heavy now, but I'd manage. "Not that you need to do that though."

"Of course I do, but Sasuke is more important right now."

"Yes but…it's not what I meant. What methods of interrogation do you have apart torture?" I merely looked away. "Thought so."

"What, you have a better ide…why do I even bother talking to you?"

"Because you've realized that right now, I'm not after any of you but something bigger and more pressing. And, when I say you don't have to deal with that, I mean that I'm not on my own."

"Wha…"

"Ushio-san, what's going on?" Out of some bushes came out Shisui. He widened his eyes at me and I did the same. "A…Akane? What…"

"Itachi didn't punch you hard enough," I spat with a glare. "Why are you here!? With him!?"

"Daughter, you're being too loud," my dad said idly. I pointed a finger at him.

"Shut the fuck up!" I then pointed my finger at Shisui, but he caught it.

"I didn't run away, Mifune let me come when he heard of the situation from the Hokage." I blinked. "He doesn't know about Ushio-san being here, we ran into each other by accident."

"Right."

"What happened to Sasuke?"

"Attacked by Root for some reason. Just…interrogate the guy please, I'll find an inn or something. I'm sure you can find us later." I left them.

Seriously, what the hell was going on? Why was Sasuke targeted and why was he on his own?

"Sasuke isn't back yet?" Itachi asked his father with a frown.

"Not yet." Itachi didn't miss the worry in his mother's eyes. "But I am sure he is fine."

"Orochimaru tried to get his hands on him less than a year ago Father," Itachi reminded Fugaku harshly. Fugaku frowned deeply.

"There's not need to remind me, I remember these days perfectly well." Fugaku stood up. "Your brother is resourceful Itachi, give him some credit." His father left.

Itachi immediately looked at his mother, who sighed.

"Your father is worried Itachi, so am I. Do not doubt that."

"Then maybe he should think about sending people or tell the Hokage."

"Hum…" Itachi frowned at his mother and crossed his arms on his chest. "Look, yesterday I had the worst feeling ever about your brother, and I have no doubt that something happened to him."

"Then…" He was stopped by his mother who raised her hand.

"But then that feeling subdued, so I think somehow, he got out of it and is not alone." His mother stood up. "I will ask Kushina if she has heard anything and ask her to keep her ears and eyes open, but we can't act recklessly Itachi. Your brother still has to suffer the consequences of his actions, and if the word is spread that he is taking too long on a mission he was sent on his own, I do not want to think about the consequences. We have enough as it is with your relationship with Akane."

"I thought you were for it." Mikoto smiled faintly, her eyes tired from worrying.

"I am, but it does not mean it makes things easy. It is, however, worth fighting for." He was left alone in the dining-room.

With nothing more to do at his childhood home and frustrated by the situation, he went back to Akane's place. He sighed deeply once the door was closed and leaned against, his eyes on the ceiling.

Where could his brother be?

"Itachi!" Itachi looked down to see Uma, one of Akane's wolf summons. She would call him to be a messenger as he was a small one.

"What is it?"

"Left pouch." He picked a letter from the pouch. "And she wants a reply immediately, so I'm staying until then."

"Make yourself comfortable Uma," Itachi replied, scratching him behind his ears.

He sat down and opened the letter, his fingers creasing the paper the more he was reading. From Akane's own words, Sasuke was with her but had been attacked by Root members on his way back from his mission. He had almost lost an eye, but his eye was fine, and he would get a scar only. She had taken him to a doctor but was not sure if she should bring him back to Konoha immediately, but he was alright. Then, she was asking him to be careful of who he was interacting, especially regarding his recovery because if they had tried something against Sasuke, they could do that to him as well.

Of course, she was asking him to tell Minato all of this as well, but also that Iwa was present in the country and that it was time to get serious about them and the Isle of the Lost.

Itachi did not waste time to write his reply, thanking her for taking care of Sasuke and assuring her he would be careful, and that she ought to be vigilant as well and that he would take care of things on his side. If possible, she should keep Sasuke from Konoha for a little bit.

Once Uma gone with his reply, he rubbed the bridge of his nose between two fingers. Danzou had remained in the dark for a long time and started to come back when Minato was away in Kiri. If he was going for Sasuke's life though…

What could his plan possibly be?

"I'm fine."

"I know you are," I told the moody teen in front of me as I was reading his brother's response.

"Then why can't I leave the room Nee-san?"

"You make it sound as if I was keeping you hostage Sasuke." He muttered something under his breath, and I sighed. I put Itachi's letter away. "Alright, I've been paranoid, I'm sorry okay? But you have to see it from my point of view Sasuke. I'm coming back from Kiri just to see you unconscious and almost missing an eye with…" He had the decency to look down.

"He's an ass but he saved my life on this one." I raised a finger at him. I knew that, I knew my dad saved his life but I was not about to say it out loud. "But Shisui?"

"Look, I took you and left. I said they'd find us later but maybe they just left." Sasuke stood up. "Where are you going?" He sighed and glanced at me above his shoulder.

"I need to empty my bladder Nee-san." I blinked and chuckled awkwardly.

"Sure, I just…I'm going to calm down, promise." He nodded and opened the door, only for Shisui to be behind it, his fist raised to knock. He grinned at Sasuke.

"Wow Sasuke, you've gro…" Sasuke shut the door in his face. "Sasuke!"

"Heh…why?"

"How did Nii-san react to him?" he asked me in a growl.

"Punched him in the nose but kissed me like his life depended on it." He scoffed.

"Sounds about right." He opened the door. "You left."

"Well yeah but…so did she!"

"He didn't react well to seeing me again," I informed him. "You're better than I was." Sasuke scoffed and crossed his arms, looking at his cousin from head to toe.

"You look dumb with the eyepatch." And he left for the bathroom, leaving Shisui with his mouth opened.

"What a little asshole!"

"Meh, puberty. So, news?"

"Your dad left for god-knows-where, but he said he doesn't like Iwa being in the Land of Fire so he'll keep an eye on that." I pursed my lips. "The Akatsuki has had some business on the Isle of the Lost, it could escalate quickly."

"I'm pretty sure it will," I muttered under my breath.

"As for that guy, once I had the information Ushio-san killed him." I raised a brow. "He said he couldn't care less if he had Konoha on his hands. However, he did tell me very seriously that the only way to deal with Danzou is if he is dead, and even then, his followers would still try to follow his ideas. Basically, at some point the Hokage will have to do something…permanent." I sighed. I hated my father but I agreed with him.

Had Danzou been killed years ago, we wouldn't be there but…fucking politics. It wouldn't change as Naruto had many ideas but had to go through so much to put them in place, when he could of course.

"He was sent by Danzou to kill Sasuke to 'sow discord' between the Uchihas and Konoha. Sasuke's recent behavior did not make him very popular so…it could go any way really."

"And if they can get a fresh pair of red eyes, I'm sure they'd be delighted." He raised a hand to his empty eye socket. "Does it hurt?"

"Sometimes, it's phantom pain there's nothing to do. Some subjects trigger them." He cleared his throat and sat down. "Did you tell Itachi?" I nodded.

"He's reporting it to Minato and said if possible, I should keep Sasuke with me." He nodded.

"It would be for the best. If Sasuke comes back with you, Danzou would know and would try something else."

"…is it really okay for you to be there?"

"Hum? Yeah, Mifune-san does not want war to spread to the Land of Iron so when Minato told him, he agreed to dispatch me. I'm still considered a criminal/prisoner of the Land of Iron, but it is a serious situation."

"So you're in the Land of Iron now?" We both looked at Sasuke, who was standing at the door. He closed it behind him. "They're samurais, aren't they?"

"Huh yeah…"

"Hn." Sasuke sat back down in his futon. "So, what now?"

"Huh…are you okay with not going back to Konoha?" Sasuke raised an unimpressed brow at me.

"They tried to kill me."

"Sure but…it really was Danzou!"

"I know, I recognized the anbus from the night you guys left." I felt the accusation still in his voice, and Shisui's body language became nervous. "Why don't we just kill him?"

"Well, it may happen soon honestly," Shisui said idly. "Itachi should try to come himself or deal with Danzou or something."

"Yeah…I doubt it." Shisui raised a brow. "Well, he just had his surgery so he's in rehabilitation." Shisui blinked his visible eye.

"Surgery? What for?"

"The disease I told you about years ago," I retorted. "It's a nasty virus that Kiri created to kill kids with kekkai genkai. It was deadly and Tsunade-san removed it a few weeks ago, it was an open-heart surgery." He widened his eye comically.

"He's out of shinobi business for at least a year," Sasuke added.

"For a year?" the older Uchiha repeated, stunned. "Damned, that's…" He sat down with his legs crossed and leaned his arms on his knees. "That's a lot. I bet he's hating it."

"Don't get me started on it," I almost groaned. "Point is, in his letter he told me he'd report it to Minato and I'm sure he's going to investigate on his side, but he won't be able to do much more. For now, Sasuke, you're staying with me. I have some stuff to do on the continent on behalf of Kiri anyway, so you'll tag along."

"Yeah, sure, train me too." I rolled my eyes and Shisui smirked.

"Well, you're not going anywhere until the Hokage is sending you a message. So Sasuke, do you have a girlfriend?" Sasuke blushed and glared at his older cousin. "What, your brother has had the hots for our dear friend over here since he was four, so may…"

"I don't!" Sasuke almost roared. "Keep talking and I'll gouge your last eye out!" I sighed.

"Or a boyf…" Sasuke jumped to his feet, his pillow in his hands, ready to use it as a weapon. I stood up and forced him to sit back down.

"You know better than to let him rile you up," I told the teen. He scoffed and crossed his arms, glaring at Shisui snickering.

"Oh come on, I haven't teased you in years!" He glanced at me. "What about Itachi and you by the way?" I shrugged. "What does that mean?"

"That they're dating and disgusting," Sasuke almost spat.

"Congratulations!" Sasuke shook his head.

"Nee-san is spending way too much time with him." Shisui raised a brow.

"He got in his head to become my apprentice or something. I spend a lot of time with you too Sasuke." He merely shrugged. "You're an impossible brat sometimes, you know that?"

"Still your favorite Uchiha." I just shook my head, Shisui watching us. Then, he pointed at himself.

"I'm not your favorite Uchiha? We've been on the run together!"

"Not you too!"

"Your son is too stubborn for his own good," Minato told his parents as he was at their doorstep. Both Fugaku and Mikoto glanced at their eldest son, who fought the urge to roll his eyes at them.

He would look like a petulant child, and he would not give his father the satisfaction.

"I mean Sasuke," Minato added. "We've located him. He's fine." Mikoto sighed in relief.

"Where is he then?"

"He ran into Akane when she was coming back from Kiri and decided to tag along on her missions for Kiri on the continent." Fugaku frowned, obviously suspicious.

"Is Kiri aware?"

"Yes, as long as he does not learn any confidential information the Mizukage doesn't mind him. Akane did tell me Sasuke had asked her multiple times to take him as her apprentice."

"Has he?" His mother asked the Hokage, who nodded.

"He didn't tell you? Kushina says he's trying to escape from her fuinjutsu classes."

"It's understandable," Fugaku muttered under his breath, which made Minato chuckle awkwardly.

"Anyway, I just came to tell you the mission he had to do for your clan was a success and that the village knows his whereabouts."

"Do you really think it is okay?" his father asked the Hokage seriously.

"I do. Sasuke has had a rough couple of months and now his team is split up because Naruto and Sakura are both training with sannins. As both the Hokage and a sensei, I think he needs to get some fresh air away from the village for a little while. Kakashi agreed with me and we were thinking of something anyway."

"You didn't tell us Minato," Mikoto said with a frown. Minato smiled apologetically at her.

"Well, we didn't find anything so there was not much to tell you." He nodded at them. "I shall take my leave now."

Once he was gone, his father sighed deeply.

"I told you Sasuke was alright," Mikoto told both her son and husband.

"You also told me you thought Sasuke ran in troubles," Fugaku reminded her. "And while I don't mind Sasuke asking Akane to train him, she would have come back to Konoha before." Then, Fugaku looked at Itachi, who had been quiet so far. "Wouldn't she?" He shrugged.

"She doesn't disclose Kiri's business to me Father, maybe there was something urgent that came up with the Fourth's passing." His father was not buying it, but even if he had wanted to, Itachi could hardly say anything about Akane's whereabouts.

She was not telling him anything about what the Mizukage was asking of her on the continent, it was the honest truth. He knew she would play the diplomat, most likely to change Kiri's bad reputation but apart from that…

He had no issue trusting Akane with his brother though. She cared about him like her own little brother, and no matter how annoying it could be when the three of them were together, he knew it meant she had his back if he was not around for Sasuke, like he hoped she knew he had hers with Naruto.

"The Hokage has made his decision anyway," Itachi said before leaving his parents alone.

"We need to take Danzou out once and for all," I stated firmly. Sasuke nodded.

"Yeah, and how exactly?" Shisui asked us, almost with sass.

"That is still a mystery, but Danzou needs to be taken out."

"High treason, wouldn't it work?" Sasuke asked us.

"Well, for an Elder to be found guilty of high treason, you need to have some solid proofs," Shisui reminded him. "And from different sources. Even years ago, when we had to flee, Danzou's actions about potentially killing our clan to avoid the coup was not found as high treason."

"You did try to control the clan Shisui, and Nee-san killed his minions and went after him." I pursed my lips.

"Sure, so you see how tricky the frontier is between actual treason and being shady for Konoha's good." I leaned back on my hands and glanced at the ceiling.

"Well, if Danzou becomes an internationally wanted criminal, maybe…" They both looked at me and I sighed, scratching my neck. "Look guys, I've worked for him and then in Kiri. Danzou does not shy away from 'manipulating' events if it means 'strengthening' Konoha," I explained to them. "If all the other villages want his head openly, Minato will happily hand him over because he has done shady things in Konoha as well. Well, I think."

"Okay…and how can we find proofs he manipulated some events like you say?" Sasuke inquired curiously.

"Oh you're going for Orochimaru," Shisui figured out quickly. I nodded.

"Orochimaru got in troubles with at least Kiri and Suna, and if it was not for Danzou and Root, he wouldn't have escaped Konoha. I should know, I helped him escape." Sasuke was taken back. "Hey, being a double agent means you've got to play on both fields. And…he's not popular with the Akatsuki either."

"You want to take me to hunt Orochimaru down," Sasuke summed up flatly.

"Are you still interested in his offer?"

"No but…"

"It could work," Shisui mumbled. "We'd need to be care…"

"Who's 'we' Mister I'm-a-wanted-criminal?" He did not look amused.

"If it's in the Land of Fire, I can do it. I'm not letting you go to Orochimaru on your own anyway." I smiled faintly.

"Well then, I guess it's settled. Sasuke, how's the eye?" He had an eyepatch for now, but it was healing.

"Itchy."

"Yeah, I'd say it's normal with the healing wound."

Let's hunt down the snake then.

Well, if the higher-ups agreed, of course.

Thanks for reading. I hope you have liked it, please do let me know in reviews! Thanks to Guest and Amaterasu53 for the reviews! And come on, Sasuke does not always have bad ideas! And yeah, Minato is not very happy about their relationship but he is in protective mode let's say.

Bye!

PS: The new profile picture of the story is what I'd picture Akane to look like, just with shorter hair and brown eyes (AI does not understand everything in the description I guess and would make some pretty revealing pictures which do not fit her vibe)