A/N: Hello everyone,

Before we get to the story, me and GBAboy313 would like to wish the goddess of anime world, the best girl Uzumaki Hinata-sama a very very happy birthday. This story itself is kind of a tribute to her. Honestly, Hinata is a character that has touched me personally, since her personality matches that of my mom's quite a lot. Again, her insecurities, self loathing and all other struggles have always been personally relatable to me, having faced many of them myself. Honestly saying ladies and gentlemen, I pray that someday a Hinata appeared in my life and blessed it. I mean, one is already there in the form of my mother but I want one more in the form of...well...(*Blushes*).

Also, me and GBA are planning to release a new story on the occasion of Hinata's birthday, soon enough the story would be released from GBA's account, I kindly request you all to take a look at that one as well.

Now then, onto the chapter, many might have already guessed what it's going to be about, since the title itself makes it very clear, but even with that, you will come across some butterfly effects, some quite clear, some may not be that clear, but they are there. Alright then, without further let's get on with the story...

CHAPTER 20: THE SECRET OF THE UCHIHA MASSACRE REVEALED

*A day after Itachi and Kisame's infiltration into Konoha*

At the Hyuuga compound, in the office of the clan head sat two members of the prestigious clan in contemplation.

Hiashi, head of the clan, and Kyoko, the widow of Hizashi and the sister of Hiashi's deceased wife Hitomi.

Most within the clan were aware of the two's companionship, as they had suffered from the same tragedies in different yet similar ways. Both lost a sibling and a lover and had to watch as their children were twisted into something that wasn't them.

Hiashi had to watch as Hanabi was made into the Elders' ideal clan head, a hollow image of the Hyuuga that was little more than a puppet for their rule. Had to watch as they tried to crush Hinata while he tried desperately to buy her time to escape the fate that had been forced onto her.

Kyoko had to watch as Neji became twisted and hateful of his own blood, people who had nothing to do with their suffering.

So: the two, quite understandably, held an understanding of one another that few ever achieved. Especially after losing someone so dear.

Both were drinking tea as Hiashi waged war on the bane of all leaders (paperwork) while Kyoko reclined in a rather comfortable chair Hiashi had in there for her visits.

Both had a rather pleasant expression, though both knew that the pleasant mood would have to end so they could move on with the day, though both were reluctant to make any attempts to end it.

Fortunately, someone else could do it for them.

A knock on the door came and Hiashi called out: "Yes?"

"Hiashi-sama, Kyoko-sama. May I enter?" a young woman's voice called out.

"You may." Hiashi affirmed and a moment later, a young Hyuuga woman with dark green hair that was jaw length at its longest and wearing a maid's uniform entered the room.

This was Natsu Hyuuga. An example of a failing of the Branch house system. Only those who were shown to be exceptional were allowed to remain as active ninja, while those who didn't meet that were pulled and made into the clan's serving staff. Natsu was indeed skilled but her skills had begun developing towards exceptional too late, and the young woman became bitter over having such opportunity ripped from her. Kyoko had watched as the young girl's eyes dulled from once joyful optimism into jaded cynicism and her heart rot with bitterness, especially towards those who could be ninja without such stipulations in play. But ever since the Chunin Exams, the light had returned to her eyes. The playful and optimistic spirit that stood Natsu out from many Hyuuga had returned, tempered by age and the hopeless years.

Hyuuga often had direct family and then their family of choice, Kyoko had Natsu as part of her family of choice which played into recommending her to be Hanabi's nanny and later retainer following Hitomi's passing.

Her eyes scanned around before centering on something about Kyoko and then reaching into her uniform. Kyoko was confused but before she could ask, Natsu had handed the former Branch House Matriarch a handkerchief. Kyoko was still somewhat confused until Natsu made a vague motion on her face as if wiping something off and Kyoko mimicked it and found fluid had been wiped up by the cloth.

Kyoko would have blushed or paled upon realizing what the fluid was but instead she just nodded: "Thank you for this, Natsu-chan."

Natsu nodded with a small smile: "of course, Kyoko-sama. I should also inform you that I had your sheets changed. I figured they would need it with how…messy…they looked." She added with a knowing hint to her smile.

Kyoko and Hiashi shared a glance but said nothing.

Kyoko spoke: "My thanks for your initiative, Natsu-chan, though if you wouldn't mind, I think Hiashi and myself would like to know your thoughts on Naruto Uzumaki."

Natsu's smile fell and her stance became a tad bit uncomfortable: "I'm not sure I'm the best person to ask that to. I let my bitterness over being pulled away from my dream cloud my judgement and encouraged both Hanabi-sama and Hinata-sama to stay away from him. I see now that was a mistake and possibly a costly one. The only thing I can say for certain is that I believe his commitment to Hinata-sama is genuine and he is willing to stand up to anything to ensure her happiness, and I believe our clan's traditions and systems are no exception."

Hiashi watched and listened before nodding silently. Kyoko nodded as well: "I wanted the truth and you gave it. You may go if you have nothing else for us."

Natsu lost some of the discomfort: "I see. I suppose I should give my report on Hanabi-sama."

Neither of her superiors made a move to stop her and thus Natsu took it as confirmation: "I'm still not entirely sure of what all Hanabi has decided on since her episode yesterday at the academy but I can hazard a guess and say she has completely striped away the Elders' teachings of how a Hyuuga should act and is trying to build a new foundation for herself. She seems a lot happier now that she has integrated into Konohamaru-san's friend group. I believe she might end up moving up a year so as to allow herself both the opportunity to spend more time with her friends and to be able to graduate with them. I know it's not much but I believe Hanabi is starting to desire more from her life than just being a pampered princess or a clan head and Konohamaru-san and his friends are giving her the childhood she craved."

Both superiors nodded and Natsu bowed: "That's all I have to report. Now I will take my leave."

Hiashi spoke at last: "Thank you, keep your watch over Hanabi."

Natsu smiled: "It would be my pleasure to do so, Hiashi-sama."

The two Hyuuga sat in silence for a moment after Natsu left before Kyoko spoke up: "Are you still going to sit in indecision and hope that Hinata will be able to escape tradition before she turns 16? Once the elders realize that Hanabi has been removed from their sway, they will start making bold and desperate moves."

Hiashi said nothing.

Kyoko sighed: "I know its ultimately rhetorical but I would like an answer from you."

Hiashi sighed: "No I don't. Any real optimism I had died when Hizashi sacrificed himself. Just the barest hints of it have been reignited in me with Neji and a little more with both Hanabi and Hinata. I honestly don't believe that she can escape it."

Kyoko's face took on a stern look. "You don't? You would condemn her to the same thing as both your brother and Neji?"

Hiashi scowled at that mention: "You know I'd rather have her be free to choose her fate…"

"Then why haven't you fought for her?"

Hiashi somberly responded: "You know why."

Kyoko lost her stern look as she rubbed the bandages around her forehead as the Caged Bird Seal there burned.

Hiashi continued: "With the loss we've suffered; it makes us realize what we have left…and reluctant to do anything that may compromise that little bit of still standing foundation."

Kyoko muttered morosely: "I wish you would forget about me and deal with them. A few broken wrists and some sliced tendons would take care of the problem well enough."

Hiashi shook his head: "the elders wouldn't be dealt with so easily. I know it, and whoever rises to take their place would be vicious in ensuring to preserve that power enclave they had created decades ago and fortified with my despair over Hizashi and later Hitomi. I couldn't afford to lose anyone I have left: not Hinata, not Hanabi, not Neji, and most certainly not you."

Kyoko let a small smile come to her lips: "Though maybe with Naruto and the change he seems to inspire, maybe this hopeless situation can be turned around."

Hiashi said nothing while Kyoko's smile turned large and coy: "Oh, is the great Hiashi Hyuuga starting to feel a mite bit overprotective of his dearest elder child? That this lowly orphan would defile her honor and use her."

Hiashi's face turned dark and scowling while Kyoko locked the office door before taking a seat next to Hiashi, placing her hand over his: "Relax, Naruto-san is nothing like others who have approached you looking to claim Hinata's hand. Everything I have heard and we have gathered suggests he has a fierce loyalty to anyone he considers precious. And Hinata would be the most precious to him."

Hiashi muttered "I know. But my instincts want to be suspicious. I have failed Hinata in too many ways. I can afford to fail her here and let her be deceived."

Hiashi gripped Kyoko's hand tightly which she reciprocated. "I understand. I would be as suspicious for my own daughter if I had one. Hinata and Hanabi are the closest I have. I was suspicious of Naruto-san like you are. But I believe he is genuine. You wouldn't have even had that message passed around to him if it hadn't been for me."

Hiashi lost his scowl and smiled somewhat: "I know. For as much as you and Hitomi resemble each other, you two are so different"

Kyoko giggled slightly, slightly fiddling with one of her black locks, one of the few traits that separated her from her deceased sister who had the same Midnight Blue hair color as Hinata: "I am aware. We may be twins but we have our differences just like you and Hizashi did. Hitomi could play the part of a 'Yamato Nadeshiko' perfectly but if something deeply offended her, she would not hesitate to make it known or even avenge herself of it. I just silently scheme in response."

Hiashi laughed slightly, "I suppose so. I wish we could have had our little gathering to assess Naruto-san tonight but yesterday's events have seen to have it delayed."

Kyoko smile took on an additional quality: "We can use that for ourselves for a while. I just wish Hinata could have stayed for breakfast rather than go immediately. It makes conversations with her so much better now that she's not afraid to speak to me."

Hiashi looked downwards and morosely.

Kyoko took notice and used her free hand to make Hiashi look her in the eye: "Nothing will change if you do not try to change it. When she gets back, reconcile with her. Be her father, like you were supposed to be."

Hiashi grunted: "Easy enough to say, not quite as much to make reality. Some things never seem to get better, only change for the worse."

Kyoko shifted her free hand to Hiashi shoulder opposite of her. "The world is a cruel place, but the only way to make it better is to believe and change it yourself."

The two Hyuuga's hands kept their grip but swapped to have their fingers interlocked.

"…I believe it can get better."

*ROOT compound*

Sogeki's eye fluttered open groggily as she awoke from her surgery.

Panic almost overtook her as she realized her right eye couldn't see, until she reached up and felt the eye patch bandage.

Danzo-sama had seen fit to reward her with a new asset to her arsenal. An asset harvested from one of the dead of the Konoha Crush.

What happened to her original eye, Sogeki didn't know, probably had been disposed of, she had been losing sight in that eye. Overstraining it before she obtained her special lenses for her mask for her most powerful technique, the one that earned her the name 'Sogeki' (sniper).

Sogeki felt beneath her left eye and found the cheek to be wet.

'Moisture in the room…no, this room is dry, then what is on my cheek?' The drone thought.

She wiped it off and took a taste and recognized the unique taste of it. 'Tears, why was I crying?'

The ROOT thought about it for a moment and found an answer, her dreams.

Occasionally over the years, the woman had found her lost memories to seep into her dreams, and she would always wake up to find that she cried.

ROOT didn't tolerate emotional outbursts and crying even involuntarily was considered such an outburst, she did get caught and was punished, but she hadn't been caught since the first time.

The vague recollection that managed to survive between the realm of dreams and the waking world was usually nothing more than images, and just the barest grasping of what triggered those memories.

'This one was brought on by my surgery…and I know why.'

The memories of performing a similar surgery on someone else in the middle of a battle, transferring an eye from a dying body to a healthy one, and the pain and sadness that came with it were the cause.

It was like having a flashback triggered.

Sogeki wiped up the tears and rinsed her face before donning her mask.

"Ah, you're awake." Came a cold and clinical tone.

Sogeki responded just as clinically: "Ari."

Sogeki could just see the barely perceptible nod even if she wasn't looking at him. "Your initial implants are greatly aiding the adaptation process. Danzo-Sama had seals engraved onto the coils that you may control to turn the eye on and off somewhat once you are able to. It should aid somewhat, perhaps with time you could actually alter it between an actual active and inactive state."

Sogeki just tilted her head quizzically but said nothing else. Waiting for the ROOT doctor to just get to the point.

"I am a medic as well, Ari. I can tell. What are you here over?" Sogeki said somewhat curtly.

"You are to re-take your post observing the Kyuubi Jinchuriki. He is to be going on a mission."

Sogeki nodded, this was the lot of a ROOT ninja: the moment you were able you were put back to work, "Understood."

Ari left before Sogeki took one last look in the mirror, staring at her custom mask which had the design of some creature known as a Lion Turtle, before utilizing the Body Flicker/shunshin to leave.

There was work to be done.

*Konoha Gates*

At the gates, Naruto, Hinata, Shino and Kiba stood in attention as Kakashi laid down the mission objectives before them. Surprisingly for the first time since Naruto had come to know him, Kakashi had arrived on time to start the mission.

The three genin and the new chunin were each given a photo of Konoha's top medic.

"Our mission is simple, track down Senju Tsunade and convince her to return to Konoha by any means as quickly as possible. Earlier it was just Lee that needed to be treated by her but due to an unfortunate event yesterday, Asuma, Kurenai and Sasuke have sustained serious injuries and she is the only one who can treat them, which makes bringing her back to the village more important than ever.

Each of you has a photo of the target. Considering her hobbies, the most likely places to find her are casinos and bars. Among the gambling community, she is well known as the Legendary Sucker. If spotted, you are not to approach the target or engage her under any circumstances, only send word to me and keep following closely.

Intelligence reports suggest that the target is very likely to take part in the gambling tournament, to be held in Tanzaku-Gai 10 days from now, which makes the town our current destination. Also, this mission is going to be a test to assess Team-8's tracking skills, so Kiba, Shino and Hinata I want you to be at your absolute best throughout the mission. Questions or concerns?"

"Sensei, I only have one question. During the recent chunin exams, our skills as a team were assessed during the second part of the exam, in the Forest of Death. Considering that the second exams have concluded only a month ago and after that our team or any team for that matter hasn't gotten any opportunity to undertake missions and improve their skills as a group, so it can be concluded that the skills of our team would be pretty much the same as it was during the test in the Forest of Death. Therefore, if the Hokage wishes to assess our skills, I believe it should have been carried out after allowing two or three more missions to us. Which leads to the question of whether this assessment is just an assessment of our improvement or there are any other purposes of this test?" Shino asked in an ever-stoical manner, while Kiba, Naruto and even Hinata struggled a bit to simplify the Aburame heir's question in their brains.

"So, you want to know whether there is any other purpose to test your team other than just improvement assessment since for the latter, we can just refer to your performance during the 2nd part of the Chunin exams, is that right Shino?" Kakashi asked with his thumb under his chin.

"Yes sensei." Shino's classmates mentally relaxed having understood the question.

"It's very observant of you to notice this Shino, this is what I call 'looking underneath the underneath'. Coming to your question, yes this not just a simple assessment of your skills as a team, but a test to determine your roles after this mission.

The members of Team-8 raised their eye-brows at that.

"Kakashi-sensei, none of us made chunin in these exams, so isn't it obvious that we will be staying as genin of Team-8, at least until the next Chunin exams?" asked Kiba while Akamaru barked in approval.

"Under normal circumstances yes, but I am afraid that the circumstances have changed for your team in particular. After much brainstorming, our new Hokage has decided to reorganize the genin teams, and the most significant change of this reorganization is the disbandment of Team-8 as a tracking squad."

"WHAT?" Kiba exclaimed in surprise, while Hinata thought if she was in some way responsible for her team underperforming and hence being disbanded. Shino for the time being held off jumping to conclusions and decided to hear Kakashi's explanation.

"Now, now, don't think for a minute that this is due to any of you not being good enough or something like that." Hinata mentally relaxed at that. "The thing is that, Kurenai is a genjutsu specialist and therefore it has been decided that she will command a genjutsu specialist squad once she recovers. Since our village is currently suffering from a severe lack of dedicated genjutsu users, at least ever since the Uchiha massacre, it has been decided to boost our forces with as many genjutsu specialists as possible. While the three of you have proved yourselves to be quite good at using the techniques of your clan, it has come to our understanding that genjutsu is not a forte for any of you, due to which apart from basic shinobi, teamwork, genjutsu recognition and dispelling, etc. there is nothing much you can learn from Kurenai. It doesn't mean that the Hokage doubts her worth as a teacher, it's just that her area of expertise and your area of expertise are different. However, her assessment that you three, due to your clan techniques and bloodlines, could make very good trackers is absolutely correct. But it has been decided that Hinata has more potential as a taijutsu-ninjutsu specialist than merely a tracker, she can be the absolute defense of any team and can also carry out heavy assault whenever required. Also, it has come to light that lightning is her primary affinity, something I specialize in, so she is being pulled into Team-7 after this mission. Her teamwork with Naruto during the invasion has also been recognized as phenomenal." The former Hyuuga heiress blushed heavily at that. "So, this mission is merely her assimilation mission with Team-7. As for you Kiba and Shino, being a tracker myself, I will be assessing your skills as trackers to determine whether you should continue training as trackers or pursue some other specialization. Now, is everything clear to you?" Kakashi explained.

"I understand completely and unfortunate as it is, I agree with the assessment that we can't learn much from Kurenai-sensei and that it makes more sense for her to command a genjutsu specialist squad." Shino stated.

"Man, it really sucks but it seems that I just have to do my best as a tracker, since I think that's my forte and because my sister has already established herself as quite a capable tracker." Kiba said with a frown.

While Hinata was a bit sad for being removed from Team-8, her sadness vanished when she saw the smile on Naruto's face at the news of her becoming a part of Team-7. Now she allowed herself to smile as well.

"Now that we have discussed all the doubts and questions, we should make haste, we have a mission to complete." Kakashi ordered with a laidback face, but everyone knew he was dead serious.

"Yes sir" the 3 genin and the chunin exclaimed.

Over the next two days, the Tsunade retrieval squad quickly made their way towards Tanzaku town. However, they did inquire about the Slug Sannin in any bar or casino they came across.

Now the team was heading towards another town, almost halfway between Konoha and Tanzaku.

As they traveled, the road had proven to be considerably safer than the group was expecting.

Most would have expected an increase in Bandit activity after the attempted invasion of a Hidden Village.

So, the group had to deal with some boredom. Which led to Naruto deciding to converse with his family.

"Hey dad, will it be okay if I taught Hinata-chan the Rasengan? I mean, I know she is already awesome with her Byakugan, Jyuken and all that, but she doesn't know much about ninjutsu and Kakashi-sensei said that she can be a good taijutsu-ninjutsu specialist, so I think she can really use a powerful ninjutsu like the Rasengan." Naruto pleaded to his father in his mindscape. What he didn't expect was for Kushina to begin giggling.

"Such a considerate boyfriend you are, Naru-chan. Why don't you just say that you want to share your special jutsu with her?" the redheaded woman teased her son, making the blonde boy blush.

"Mom!" Naruto shouted in embarrassment.

"Son, your reasoning has merits in it, even if it is just an excuse, which shows that you are starting to pay attention and use logic. That makes me really happy. As for sharing your jutsu with my future daughter in-law, you are free to do that anytime you want. Although there are some techniques such as some forbidden Uzumaki sealing jutsu and the techniques you will learn from Kurama are things she won't be able to use, just like you can't use Jyuken, you can teach her the rest of it and I will be glad if you did." Minato said with a smile, making Naruto excited.

"Really Dad! You're so cool, thanks a lot!" The blonde said with a grin before exiting his mindscape. As soon as they made it to the next town, he could go and buy those balloons and rubber balls to get his lavender eyed girlfriend started on the Rasengan.

In the next town, the squad settled themselves in a hotel, it was already late in the evening, so the team decided to have dinner and call it a night. And just to have some fun, Kakashi decided to let Naruto and Hinata have a room to their absolute delight for getting to sleep together after their time in the hospital. Our blonde protagonist took almost no time to snuggle himself close to his girlfriend's heart.

"Ne Hinata-chan, are you okay with joining Team-7?"

"I am. I have to admit, I was bit sad about it initially, since Kurenai-sensei has been like a big sister to me and I have known her even before I graduated so yeah, that was a bit saddening but if I get to be with you more, you have no complaints from me." Hinata replied as she caressed Naruto's spiky hair thinking that she could never have enough of Naruto using her chest as a pillow. Earlier she found herself embarrassed as her body started to grow earlier than the normal age for it, but now she was actually wishing for large breasts so that her Naruto-kun would never need to buy a pillow in the future.

In the morning, the two lovebirds woke up early, Hinata decided to do some basic Jyuken katas while Naruto meditated to enhance his negative emotion sensing further. Suddenly he felt someone's negative emotions and the source was approaching towards them.

"Hime, be alert someone is approaching us and they smell like trouble." Naruto cautioned. Hinata activated her dojutsu to scan for threats and soon they got into her range.

"You are right Naruto-kun, I can see two figures with Jonin level chakra approaching us, which is unusual considering this is not a shinobi village. One of them even has the chakra levels of a jinchuuriki."

"Really, can you see Biju chakra in him?" Hinata shook her head to Naruto's question.

"No, I don't see any secondary chakra within him, he has jinchuuriki level chakra by himself."

"Really?"

'Hoshigaki Kisame.' Minato and Kushina thought to themselves in the mindscape, but it also meant that Uchiha Itachi was with them as well. This was a golden opportunity.

"Son, Hoshigaki Kisame is one such person who has the chakra levels of a jinchuuriki by himself. Also, ninjutsu is useless against him as his sword Samehada can absorb chakra from the jutsu and feed it to Kisame in return. Samehada can absorb any type of jutsu, it might have some trouble in devouring fire-natured chakra but that is not enough to stop him, the only reliable option against him is taijutsu, but I am afraid you have to be as good as Gai to be able to take on him, so avoid combat with him at all costs." Minato cautioned from the mindscape.

But that didn't mean Naruto and Hinata couldn't prepare a fitting welcome for their uninvited guests.

Soon enough, there was knock on the door.

"Yeah, yeah coming. I'm coming." Naruto said in a lazy voice as he opened the door.

On opening the door, he found a man with black hair and a pair of Sharingan glaring at him, at his back stood a tall man with a blue shark like face, that man had a grin on his face.

'This guy looks a bit like Sasuke…I wonder if he is Uchiha Itachi, the man that massacred the Uchiha clan and the man Sasuke wants to kill?'

"Uzumaki Naruto, I need you to come with us." The Uchiha stated in a monotone voice making the blonde boy roll his eyes.

"Umm, my girlfriend might take offense if I left her here and I went with two guys without giving an explanation, so…umm… How about no? Ok bye!" Naruto said with a deadpan expression on his face. Then he proceeded to slam the door shut on the face of his uninvited guests.

Itachi's expressions didn't change while Kisame in a rather foolish way tried to process what just happened.

"Hey Itachi, did that brat just shut the door on our face?"

"Yes" the Uchiha replied with an expressionless face.

The two stood silently before Kisame broke it again trying to process the boy's audacity.

"And what was that about his girlfriend?"

"Kisame"

By that time, our cute lovebirds had jumped out of the window.

"And anytime now…"

*KABOOOOOMMMMMMM!*

The explosion startled everyone,

"I hope they liked the little gift we left them Hinata-chan." Naruto commented as the two tried running as far away from the inn as they could. Only to stop when Itachi appeared before them, with his eyes twitching, clothes badly burnt and scorched. There were several burn marks and scratches due to the flying shrapnel.

"That's end of the line for you Naruto." The Uchiha stated in his usual monotone voice although he couldn't hide his irritation from having been forced to take an explosion head on by a brat who should be years below him in experience and skills. Not even Sasuke was that good.

"We need to have a talk with him Naru-chan." Kushina said from the mindscape.

"But mom, he is the one that slaughtered Sasuke's clan, are you sure about this?"

"Son, at least you of all people shouldn't jump to conclusions, the Uchiha massacre is a complicated affair and he is a victim of it himself, now just try to get into physical contact with him in some way, with his Sharingan activated already, he would inevitably end up in the mindscape."

"Alright if you say so…"

"Says the one who badly needs a change of clothes." Naruto taunted the Uchiha as if testing his patience. Unfortunately for him, Itachi was not the short-tempered type like Sasuke. First move it is then.

"Shadow clone jutsu!" Naruto made 20 shadow clones and made them attack the Uchiha all at once. Itachi dispelled them all with as much ease as though he was reading the morning newspaper. But that's exactly what Naruto wanted.

"Wind Style: Gale Palm!" yelled two clones, launching the original who already had the first two inner gates opened towards Itachi. Flying at binding speeds, Naruto tried delivering a roundhouse kick on the Uchiha's face but Itachi simply caught his leg.

"Somehow you are faster than Sasuke but still that's not enough to take me in a fight." The Uchiha stated. At this point, Hinata rushed to her boyfriend's aid, focused on getting him out of the Uchiha's grip.

"Let him go!" She screamed as she somehow got a hold of Naruto. Just at the same time, Kakashi somehow found himself at that site as he tried to push Naruto away and kick Itachi at the same time. What neither of them expected was to feel a sudden mental pull. Hinata immediately recognized the sensation and soon enough her intuitions were confirmed when the four of them found themselves in the lawn of two-story house, looking at two people who should have long been dead and a giant nine tailed fox, who couldn't help but to give a nasty look towards the Uchiha present there.

Well, Hinata and Naruto were not shocked in the least but for Kakashi and Itachi well…

They found themselves unable to utter a word.

Finally, Kakashi managed to utter one word.

"S-s-sens-sei…" with a lot of difficulty.

"Yondaime-sama, aunt Kushina" Itachi finally managed to get out of his mouth.

"Hello Kakashi, Itachi…its sure has been a while, hasn't it?" Minato stated with a smile.

"W-What? H-How? W-Why?" the copy ninja stuttered out making Naruto laugh out loud seeing his sensei dumbfounded like that for the first time.

Now Kakashi understood that Naruto already knew all the secrets about his birth and heritage. Also seeing the Kyuubi out of any kind of restraint didn't leave a good feeling in his gut. And seeing the lack of shock on Hinata's face, the Hadaka and the Uchiha clearly understood that she was also in the know of Naruto's secrets.

"Is it really you? Sensei? Kushina-sama?" Kakashi asked in total disbelief.

"Of course, it's us Dattebane! Do we look like imposters to you?!" Kushina said out loud.

'There is no way that's not the real deal. Too loud not to be' Kakashi and Itachi thought simultaneously.

"As for why we are here, it's simple. Our chakra was sealed into the seal Minato-kun made to seal the Fuzzball over here. We were to appear if somehow the seal got close to breaking or open completely when Naru-chan decided to access all of Fuzzball's power. So, we appeared after Naru-chan opened the seal and released the seal on the Foxy. In return, Foxy strengthened the limited chakra we had and we stayed instead of vanishing. So here we are. Also, if you have any doubt, I am sure your Sharingan can recognize our chakra signatures." Kushina explained.

Kakashi immediately confirmed the fact and nodded.

"Hey! I take offence at being called Fuzzball! And Foxy!" Kurama groaned. (…why do you take offence to that second one? You are a literal fox and tend to be a smartass)

"SHUT UP!" Kushina and Naruto shouted at the same time, making him sweat-drop while Hinata and Minato couldn't help themselves giggle at the antics of their better halves. As for Kakashi and Itachi, they found themselves utterly dumbfounded at the quick revelations and the antics of the Uzumaki/Namikaze family.

"So…sensei…I take it that the seal is now open and Naruto knows that he is your son." Kakashi finally asked after gathering back all his wits.

"That's correct Kakashi, though I was the one who opened the seal completely after coming to understand that Kurama…that's his name by the way, can be fully trusted." Minato explained pointing towards the huge fox sitting behind him.

Although it sounded absurd, Kakashi had complete trust over his sensei's judgement so he just nodded. As for the Uchiha in the room, he was still confused as to why he was there.

"Now, we don't have too much time, so I will be getting straight to the point. We actually wanted to have a talk with Itachi here, but you and Hinata-chan also came here, so you might have to listen to some rather dark secrets of Konoha."

Itachi raised an eyebrow as he began guessing where this conversation was heading.

'Does he know? But how, he died long before the massacre, just how could he know about this?' the Uchiha prodigy thought to himself.

"First of all, I would like to know what you are doing here Itachi since your intel has already gotten through to the Hokage." Minato stated making Itachi raise an eyebrow.

'So, he does know. At least part of it.'

"What intel sensei? He is a part of a rogue shinobi group called the Akatsuki and they want to capture Naruto for the Kyuubi...I mean Kurama." Kakashi almost shouted.

Minato then looked at Itachi again.

"See, the message has gotten across."

"Yes, I see that now. I thought that since I had knocked Kurenai and Asuma out, it would take time for the message to get across, that's why I decided to act again so that the message got across more quickly." Itachi explained.

"Also, you couldn't suppress Kisame's enthusiasm to complete the mission and defy Pain's orders to carry out another attempt at capturing my son outside the village, without blowing your cover isn't that correct Itachi?"

"Wait cover?" now Minato had everybody's attention and Itachi looked like he would rather be anywhere but there.

"Kakashi, it might be a surprise but Itachi has always been loyal to Konoha, as a spy he is infiltrating the Akatsuki to learn of their goals and the risk they pose to Konoha." Minato explained.

"Is that so? But then what about the…" Kakashi left the massacre part unsaid but everybody understood.

"Kakashi, as far as the massacre is concerned, it is…"

"Yondaime-sama, I think-" Itachi tried to cut off the Fourth from revealing the truth of the massacre as he was now certain, the yellow flash knew everything.

"Shut up Itachi-kun. Don't you see that keeping it all to yourself, carrying the burden of Sasuke, the Akatsuki and all that is leading you to failure? You want Sasuke to deliver justice to you so that you can atone for what you have done? But have you for a moment considered that you are driving him insane by pushing him into darkness and hatred? Is that how you got strong? Or any one of us that made it to be considered elites, except for Uchiha Madara perhaps?" Kushina stated in a serious face as she admonished her best friend's son.

"But aunt Kushina…"

"Do you know that Sasuke has received a curse mark from Orochimaru, which is already driving him insane and without thinking about anything, you used the Tsukuyomi on him again, do you have any idea what effect that could have on that young boy's mind? He is now a disaster waiting to happen. Kakashi, once you get Tsunade to heal Sasuke-kun, keep a close watch on him or he will defect to Orochimaru at the first chance he gets, to get more power to kill this guy here." Kushina cautioned in an irritated voice. Itachi's eyes widened, he didn't know about the curse mark that along with the Tsukuyomi would drive his brother crazy. Kakashi nodded.

Naruto and Hinata in the meantime could only look at the adults in the room with confusion.

"Umm…Dad, Mom, Sensei…can you please tell us what is going on here…what was that about Sasuke defecting to Orochimaru and what about Itachi spying for Konoha? We are kinda out of the loop here." Naruto stated as he rubbed his hair.

"Sorry son, this topic just became a bit complicated for you two to understand. No worries, I will start from the beginning of it so that you will understand. Okay? And Itachi, you need to learn that you have to share your burdens with your comrades, since you won't be able to succeed when you try to do everything by yourself. I was afraid that young Hinata-chan was also developing such a mindset, thankfully she has opened up fully to my son, so I am really glad about that."

Hinata did act a bit embarrassed for being called out like that, but at least she had corrected herself in time. That was good.

"Kakashi, I believe you know how the distrust towards the Uchiha clan increased manyfold after the Kyuubi attack and my death?"

"Yes sensei, I have been on patrolling missions to keep an eye on them and report suspicious activities, there were almost certain intel that the clan was preparing for a coup just before he killed them all, apparently to test his strength." Kakashi stated looking at his former ANBU subordinate and spitting at the last part.

"Correct. The truth is that the Uchiha were actually planning a coup. The thing is that it could have been avoided and the distrust would have easily calmed down had Danzo not aggravated the situation to the point of no return. He saw the Uchiha as a threat to his power, since during my tenure as Hokage, I completely stopped funding towards his Foundation, strengthened the Uchiha police force and started working towards integrating the clan completely into the village. Things were looking up until my own untimely passing. After that Danzo struck back at the Uchiha. He was the one who prevented the Uchiha from participating in any kind of rescue activities during the attack, he also had Fugaku and Mikoto sent away on a mission on that very day, so I am quite certain that he had prior knowledge about the attack, I am also certain that the man that attacked us during Naruto's birth had inside support, otherwise he would have never known the location of the top-secret safe house where Naruto was being delivered."

"Anyways, after the attack, Danzo spread rumors in the village that the Uchiha were behind the attack. Unfortunately, the rumors were partially true as the man was indeed an Uchiha but he was in no way related to the clan, at least not anymore."

"Madara" Naruto spat in disgust, making Itachi look at him in surprise.

"So, he was behind the Kyuubi attack as well." The Uchiha said as he tried to understand everything that had been hidden from him as well.

"Yes, he was. However, Danzo took advantage of the situation and began building mistrust between the village and the Uchiha. Things came to the point of no return 5 years ago, when Fugaku finally relented to the demands of the Uchiha elders to go ahead with the coup. I am certain that they intended to capture my son, rip the Kyuubi out and take over the village using Kurama's power."

Itachi nodded at that. Hinata instinctively positioned herself protectively before Naruto.

"However, the village administration had prior knowledge about the situation, thanks to you, no less, as you acted as the Hokage's agent in the Uchiha and passed on intel to the village higher-ups."

"Hai, Yondaime-sama"

"Now then, when it was certain that the Uchiha were going ahead with the coup, the Sandaime decided to still try dialogue with Fugaku one last time. But Danzo definitely didn't see it that way."

Itachi nodded again.

"He told you that the Sandaime's talks were not going to succeed. Because, he had effectively sabotaged any chances of reconciliation by that time. So, he offered you to eliminate the Uchiha yourself in exchange for Sasuke's life or join the Uchiha and perish along with them, since he was going to murder everyone: kids, senior citizens, shinobi, civilians, every single one of them, Sasuke included. And effectively you had only one choice."

"Kill them all and save Sasuke." Naruto uttered quietly in realization.

"Yes, my son, that's exactly what happened. Also, it has to be mentioned that the same man that ripped Kurama out of Kushina also helped you kill them all, isn't that correct?"

"Hai. Just days before the massacre, I spotted him entering into the Uchiha district. He had some sort of teleportation jutsu and he could get in and out of the village without triggering any alarms. If it was him that was involved in the Kyuubi attack, I believe it makes sense that he took even you by surprise." Itachi reasoned.

Minato nodded.

"And judging that he would be perhaps the greatest threat to Konoha, you joined him to keep tabs on his intentions. Is that correct?"

"Yes. Though he never trusted me fully and kept me out of the loop most of the time, I finally understood that he intends to capture all the Biju. For what purpose, I don't know. Also, I am really curious as to how you came to know about all of this as you had died long before any of this happened."

"Part of it is because of the fact that a portion of mine and my wife's chakra remained in the seal, so we knew everything from his perspective."

"But Naruto-kun could have never known such in any way, so there has to be something more into it, Yondaime-sama."

Now Naruto had his curiosity piqued again, he then remembered that his Dad had mentioned something interesting happening, when he was six, but never explained what this interesting thing was.

"Yes, Itachi there is a lot more into this. However, I can't really explain all of it, at least not right now. Since my son and Hinata are not ready to learn it yet.

"DAD!" Naruto exclaimed in annoyance.

"Sorry, Naru-chan but we had to think for a long time to come to this decision. Let me explain it to you in a simple way. Do you learn everything there is to learn from a school, on your very first day there? No. That's impossible, learning is a step-by-step process, with each class you pass, and you learn something more. This is the same when it comes to knowing secrets. Also, you two are not even ready to learn the truth of the Uchiha massacre, but we needed to have this talk with Itachi-kun as soon as possible and we didn't know when the next opportunity would present itself. Anyways it goes without saying that you two are not to discuss anything you have learnt right now with anyone, not the Hokage even. You can only discuss it with those who are present here right now Minato-kun gives you the permission. Is that understood?" Kushina asked with a very serious expression.

The young lovers nodded in understanding, also they knew well not to upset the red headed woman in any way, if they wanted to stay healthy and no one wanted to test Minato's temper.

"But Kushina kaa-san. Sasuke-san…he deserves to know." Hinata finally spoke for the first time since being involved in all this S-class secret conversation. Now Itachi looked extremely uncomfortable.

"She is absolutely right Itachi, just as I would expect from my future daughter-in-law. (Naruto and Hinata blushed at that) However, I believe you have to be the one to tell him and explain it all to him, if he learns it from any other, he will redirect his vengeance from you to Konoha." Minato explained.

"That's why I wanted him to focus his hatred on me. If he someday kills me, he will be recognized as a hero in Konoha and the tainted reputation of our clan will be restored." Itachi reasoned.

"Which is stupid because in your attempts at directing his hatred at you, you have created someone who would abandon his comrades without hesitation, even go against them if needed, if that somehow helps him become stronger and take on you in battle. He is right now very far away from what a good shinobi of Konoha should be. That's why the Hokage has decided to suspend him from active duty until his mental state is assessed. I am afraid, when he wakes up, Sasuke will not take this news with patience, it will only increase his chances of defection just as sensei and Kushina-sama have predicted." Kakashi explained, making the Uchiha sigh in defeat.

"Considering the curse mark and the second Tsukuyomi, Sasuke is now a disaster waiting to happen." Kushina warned.

"It seems… I messed up." Itachi finally admitted.

"YES, YOU DID!" Naruto, Kushina and Kurama shouted simultaneously. Although Minato, Hinata and Kakashi didn't voice their opinion out loud, it was clear from their faces that they agreed with the loudmouthed people of the room.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Itachi finally asked having found that he really needed some guidance at this point.

"You have to return to Konoha, admit everything to Sasuke and apologize to him. You might think what you have done is unforgivable, quite rightly so but you have to admit it to him and explain everything. Also, you can't just let yourself get killed, there is still a lot you have to do for the village and for Sasuke, if you want to atone for your sins, atone by taking care of those who have been left behind, since the ones that are gone are gone, but the ones that are here can use all the care and love they get. I am sure Sasuke really needs his loving elder brother back. I know it will be difficult, but shinobi are those that endure, isn't it?" Minato explained this time allowing his features to relax.

"I understand Hokage-sama. But it won't be possible for me to return right now. I still have to keep tabs on the Akatsuki."

"That's correct, you have to return once you figure out when and how all the jinchuuriki are going to be hit. Then you are going to allow yourself to be healed. And that's an order. Am I clear to you?"

"Hai, Hokage-sama."

"Good."

"As for you Naruto, Hinata. I know it is frustrating to learn that there are things that you need to know but you're not ready for them yet. Don't lose heart and work hard. Here's the deal. Once the both of you master the Flying Thunder God jutsu, you'll be told about everything." Minato explained to the kids in the room, they nodded with determination, then Hinata realized something.

"Tou-san…you want me to learn the Flying Thunder God. But that's…that should belong to your clan, I have no right to learn it." She said humbly.

"First of all, the Flying Thunder God was created by the Nidaime, Tobirama Senju, who never classified it as a clan technique. Second, I decide who I want to pass it to along with any other jutsu I have and you are the one I want to pass it to, apart from Naruto. Thirdly, we already consider you our family so you don't ever have to worry about that."

Hinata was clearly moved to tears for being accepted as part of the family.

"You do call us Kaa-san and Tou-san, have you forgotten that sweetie?" Kushina said as she ruffled the Hyuuga's hair.

"Now then, I believe we have to get moving since Itachi has to create some excuse to take himself and Kisame away from here. Perhaps the same excuse that a large number of Konoha's ANBU approaching can be used again, considering Kisame is not a sensor type." Minato laid out, making the Uchiha prodigy nod.

"You can use this to convince Kisame to retreat." Then Kakashi revealed his Mangekyou Sharingan…and everyone watched as Itachi's composure shattered.

Itachi became hostile and his face showed signs of deep anger, worry, and panic: "Where did you get that Sharingan?!"

Kushina, Minato, and Kurama shared a line, the same line, of mental dialogue: 'Itachi will be on to Obito now.'

Kakashi was confused by the shattering of Itachi's calm: "I…I got it from my best friend Obito. Right as he was dying from half his body being crushed by a boulder. It was the eye on his side not crushed."

Itachi's eyes went wide and he closed them as he began regaining composure. "I…I see. My apologies."

"I guess its fine…anyways, you can also use the fact that I have this." The copy ninja said somewhat uneasily as he was still unnerved by Itachi's outburst and calming. "Also, I am sorry for considering you a traitor for all these years." He added extending his hand to his former comrade, who took it with a small bit of hesitation, having mentally accepted that he'd always be considered an enemy by his former comrades.

"That's exactly how I and Sandaime-sama wanted the people of the village to think of me. Now I guess we have to part ways here, for now."

"Take care Itachi, I'd rather you stayed alive, otherwise I won't be able to face Mikoto when I pass on and don't think that she will ever be angry on you for protecting Sasuke, I was very close to her for years, trust me." Kushina stated.

"Hai."

Finally, Itachi decided to let the people there know about the one secret, he was sure they didn't know about.

"Now that you have revealed all my secrets to everyone present here, I guess there will no harm done in revealing an additional one." The Uchiha stated making his listeners raise their eyebrows. "Apart from Sasuke, I left one more Uchiha alive. One more that I couldn't bring myself to kill." Now even Minato, Kushina and Kurama were fully interested. This was new.

"I thought I would be able to kill her using a genjutsu that would make her live a full and happy life in an illusory world and then when she dies there, she would die in the real world as well, but I…couldn't go through with it. Instead, my genjutsu put her in a coma. The Sandaime promised that he would protect her from Danzo and ensure that she wakes up one day. As far as I know, she is still in life-support. If you are going to fetch Tsunade-sama back to the village, then please let the Slug princess have a look at her, maybe she can treat her and bring her back to health." Itachi said with a bow.

"Alright, I am sure that can be arranged, what do you think Kakashi?" Minato asked his student.

"I am sure we can do something sensei." The white haired jonin replied.

Then the adults noticed Itachi's eyes widen a hair and he quietly muttered: "Oh no…"

"Itachi…"

Itachi shook his head "My mistake with Sasuke may have been more damaging than we realized."

Minato spoke this time: "How?"

"Sasori's information gathering revealed that Orochimaru's Juinjutsu, his Curse Seal technique known as the Curse Mark, is based on the Bloodline of Juugo of the Scales."

Kakashi started catching on here and explained: "Juugo's bloodline usually works passively by storing up energy and then releasing that accumulated energy either when it becomes too much for him to handle or when he's caught in highly stressful situations, causing increase in power by transforming but usually at the cost of any ability to reason or sanity. With further large amounts of stress during the release triggering greater power and more intense transformations but even more degradation of his sanity and reasoning. That would match up with what I saw of both Sasuke during the one-month training and his match in the prelims and the Curse Marks I fought during the invasion. I fought Juugo once and my instincts from that fight were kicking in but something felt different."

Minato cut in: "It would be safe to assume that Juugo has turned to Orochimaru in the hopes that he can get his transformations and his ability under control while Orochimaru harvests what he needs to create the Curse Mark and figure out how to synthesize it, produce it via artificial means rather than natural means. The differences must be the result of whatever is done to make it useable by other individuals as the Curse Mark and to make these marked individuals more susceptible to Orochimaru's influence, possibly merging in his chakra or something of that nature within the Curse Mark. But that would still leave Juugo's further mutation under increased stress as a possible factor that is passed on to the Curse Mark."

Kushina chose now to pipe in: "Itachi, why did you just now realize this?" Itachi's expression plus recalling the last little bit of the conversation made Kushina pale: "Tsukuyomi was the genjutsu you tried to kill the other Uchiha you spared with!"

Everyone paled at Kushina's observation while Itachi nodded: "And was the one I forced her into a coma with. If my genjutsu pulled the right strings in Sasuke's mind then even if it wasn't my intention, he would die. And in his body's attempt to survive, trigger the evolution of the Curse Mark."

Naruto screamed: "We need to get back to Konoha! Now!"

Minato shook his head: "No, we need to get Tsunade while we have a lead. She can help if we get her in time, there's no way Sasuke could wake up in time to flee even with the Curse Mark possibly beginning to evolve. And there's more people who need her help then just Sasuke. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, no matter how painful it may be. That's what it means to truly be Hokage."

Naruto nodded after a moment of wanting to protest and backed off somewhat downcast while Hinata grabbed his hand to reassure him.

Minato turned to Itachi and spoke: "We will get Sasuke handled, as best we can, you have my promise."

Itachi acknowledged and gave thanks but Kakashi spoke up: "Why were you so alarmed by my Mangekyou?"

Itachi sighed: "When a Mangekyou Sharingan only carries a single technique apart from Susanoo, that technique is represented by the same symbol on both eyes of the holder even if the usage maybe different between the right and left Sharingan being used. What do you call the technique? It is usually instinctive."

Kakashi responded with a mouth that seemed to have lost all moisture: "Kamui."

Itachi closed his eyes and continued: "Kamui…Let me postulate on its nature. I presume that it is a Space-Time technique that allows you to generate small spatial holes that suck in nearby objects and appears to send them to some alternate place even if you don't quite know where it is."

Kakashi thought for a moment and then responded: "More or less. I can make the holes appear along my eye's line of sight but sucking in larger or denser objects and humans tend to have bigger feedback as a result."

Itachi nodded: "I see. I have encountered an eye with the matching symbol…it belongs to the one calling himself Madara."

Kakashi felt his world begin to lose some stability as Itachi carried on: "I'm must admit that with so few Mangekyou encountered that I haven't truly seen any that share techniques, be it one from a Mangekyou that has a separate technique between the two eyes or one shared by both eyes. I truly don't know if it is possible for similar but different techniques to share a symbol when used. The matching Kamui is a space-time technique with two distinct applications, first is the teleportation aspect which is utilized by generating the spatial hole directly out of the eye and either sucking up nearby object or people or the user himself and depositing them into a pocket dimension. A second usage is required to leave and that use can be how Tobi, or Madara or whatever his real name is, can teleport to a new location. I'm unaware of any limitations on the technique. The second application is mostly assumed as I have no means of truly proving if it is the same technique but he is capable of phasing through matter and attacks, Tobi partially teleporting himself into the Kamui World, as it were, would be a logical explanation for how it works. I have never seen him go immediately from phasing through something into opening a hole to the pocket dimension, usually there is a slight delay which he usually fills with a jab which would be an excellent cover for hiding the delay as mere sadism or taunting. It is likely that Tobi's Mangekyou came from Obito."

Kakashi felt his world collapse as he came to the most chilling conclusion, Obito was alive and was this Tobi. "He…Obito can't…can't be. He wouldn't do all these things."

Itachi cut in: "Do not assume that this means that Obito-san is Tobi. It opens a set of possibilities. Tobi is either truly Madara or someone else claiming to be Madara and either stole Obito's remaining Sharingan and somehow evolved it into the Mangekyou or it had already evolved due to either Obito-san's final moments or actions or your actions seeing as a pair of Sharingan are linked even if they are removed from the original holder. The next possibility keeps the starting premise but instead the Kamui possessing Mangekyou is actually Tobi's own natural Sharingan or merely came from another Uchiha and the ability and symbol matching that of Obito's Mangekyou is merely coincidence of a freakish nature. The last possibility is that Obito is alive and is Tobi. However, we do not know what led to him walking the path he is on. For all we know, he may be playing out a long plan and still be on our side. Assume nothing. Now anything else?"

No one raised any other issue and Minto spoke for the group: "No, I believe that this is all there was to discuss."

"Thank you. Now you must allow me to leave. Although it was awkward, I am really happy to have had this conversation." The Uchiha prodigy said with another bow and soon Naruto, Hinata, Kakashi and Itachi were back in the real world.

A/N: So how did you like this different take on the revelation of the Uchiha massacre? Also many of you might have already correctly guessed all the butterfly effects at play here. No prizes for guessing who is the second Uchiha that Itachi has left alive, since that is made quite clear already. Anyways, I sincerely hope that you all had a good read. We'll soon meet again as the Tsunade search continues. And lastly but most importantly, A big thank you to all of you for your continued appreciation of this story. I am truly humbled with the positive response, your constructive reviews, Me and GBA will try our best to implement your suggestions. And that's all for today folks. I wish you all a belated Merry Christmas and happy holidays. Hopefully, the next year will be better, safer and healthier for us.

SEE YA'LL IN THE NEXT CHAPTER. RaNK001 signing off.