Chapter 9: A Life for a Life

Flashback:

"Hinata" Itachi began as they lay in bed.

"hmm?" she hummed as she traced patterns on his bare chest. It was her favorite thing to do.

"you asked to have my body returned to you when I die. However, I failed to mention that that may be difficult. You see there are other people other than Sasuke waiting on me to die. They will be coming for my body. So if you want it. You will have to be quick."

End flashback

Hinata couldn't waste her time or energy on tears. She needed to gather her husband's body.

He had been right, someone was watching him.

With her byakugan, she saw a strange-looking man, he had been watching the whole fight appearing in and out at times.

The man was gone for now, but she knew he would be back soon.

She had her kunai ready and the cloak with a hood that Itachi forced her to wear. It was endowed with the Uchiha symbol on every crevice.

However, the bravado weakened she made to her husband's body. Dry blood on his face and hands.

Sasuke lay next to him, the downpour of rain masking his heavy breathing.

Hinata crumbled. With cold and trembling hands she held her husband's head in her lap.

"Itachi…I love you…"

"Hinata!" a voice screamed.

Hinata turned to see Koharu and Homura running towards her in the rain.

"l-lady Koharu?" she questioned.

"Hinata give me your hand I'll need some of your chakra! And Hinata please know that I am so proud of you. You will make the Uchiha and the village proud."

"lady Koharu? What? what are doing ?" Hinata asked.

Lady Koharu smiled.

"The right thing. Now follow me. We don't have much time."

It was then Lady Koharu placed her hands on Hinata's. A green glow emits from their hands and into Itachi.

Hinata's eyes widened.

No. she can't be using that jutsu can she?

"Hinata." Lady Koharu called gently. "it will be ok. I promise. I have lived my life. And I have made some really big mistakes. I feel like I was able to make up for them these past few months. Meeting you, and being able to train you was one of my best accomplishments. And right now, I want to give one last thing. I ruined so many lives…the least I could do was give mine to someone who deserves it. Now, I want you to take care of those precious babies of yours ok. have a bright future! And have fun in life! Not everything is as serious as we try to make it. Live a good life Hinata. Smile at the sun and dance in the rain. If I had had a daughter, I wish she could have been like you."

Aruptly, lady Koharu went silent. Her body suddenly slumped over.

"l-lady Koharu?! Lady Koharu!" Hinata exclaimed, as she reached over and tried to shake the elder.

"there no time for that child." Homura stated as he laid a heavy hand on Hinata's shoulder. "we must hurry away from here. As of now, Sasuke Uchiha is still an enemy of kohona and he has many allies. Neither of us is a match for them right now. I will carry Itachi and Koharu. I may be old but I still have my strength. Let us take our leave."

….

Itachi smiled as his mother's arms wrapped around him.

They were in a grassy field, the sun shining down upon them.

"Mother…" he greeted, tears pouring down burying his face in her shoulder.

"Oh, my boy. My handsome boy." She greeted.

Itachi pulled back so he could look into her eyes.

"Mikoto, we have to let him go. It's…not time." a deep voice spoke from the side of him.

Itachi turned to see his father staring at him eyes dark and yet an unexplained emotion in his eyes.

"Father?" he questioned.

His father shook his head and gently pushed Itachi back.

"We don't have much time Itachi." He spoke cryptically.

"what your father means to say is that… it's not your time Itachi. You've been given a second chance." His mother tried to explain.

"a second chance? What? N-no? That can't be right." Itachi tried to argue.

His parents smiled at him sadly.

"it is son. Live this new life for the better. It came at a high cost." His father spoke.

Immediately the ground began to shake, the sun darkening and the ground falling beneath him.

As his parents faded away, their voices still spoke.

"We're proud of you Itachi."

"look out for Sasuke, you are his older brother after all."

"We forgive you, son, we were never angry at you."

"and take care of that wife and those precious children.."

"Be happy Itachi. We love you.

…..

Red eyes opened as Itachi sat up.

No

No

I can't be alive? It's not possible.

He breathed heavily as he looked at his hands. They were washed clean, with no remanence of blood anywhere.

The ring on his left hand glinted in the low light.

Where am I? This… is this.. reality? A dream? A genjutusu?

He clasped his hand to his heart, it was beating faster than he ever felt before.

What happened? He had given his last breath to save Sasuke. So why was he alive?

Was what his parents said true?

Had he truly been given a second chance?

This time, he tried to sit up and when he did, he gasped.

The pain was gone and he could breathe.

There was a point in his life where it hurt just to breathe but now, he could breathe pain-free. His lungs didn't feel like they were on fire and itachi dared to realize he might be hungry.

He examined the room he was in and realized it did not look familiar.

A small snore shattered the crisis he was having.

He turned towards the sound and Itachi felt a movie play in his head.

The reason he was here.

The reason he was still breathing.

Hinata, his wife. She was sound asleep, curled up on the floor next to the futon he was on.

He made an effort to touch her however, he froze when the door slid open. Elder Homura appeared.

" I wouldn't touch her if I were you. She stayed up many nights waiting for you to wake up. If you can stand, I want you to join me in the kitchen. You have been given a new lease on life Itachi. I hope things will go right for you this time."