Howdy y'all!

It's been a long ass time since I updated this fic
it's because damn, I started the trend of long ass chapters
I felt it would be a little harsh to have left y'all for so long
only to be rewarded with a 4-6k word chapter!

Again, I'm so sorry that it took so long to update!
I promise it won't be so long between this and the next update!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or League of Legends

Chapter 12: The Weight of Our Struggles

"It's beautiful…" Ahri whispered.

A man sat beside her, long black hair falling to the ground. His eyes watched aimlessly as the moon rose against the tree line, glimmering upon the surface of the great lake. Ahri the adorable fox spirit sat beside him, blood red eyes gazing upon his figure with pride and amorous adoration.

"I knew you would like it, Ahri." The man wrapped his arm over her shoulder. "You've done well lately. Chakra has been maintained and there hasn't been any sign of resurgence of the nine-tails rage. I'm proud of you."

"Thank you." The woman blushed in his embrace. Large bushy tails wrapped around him and herself, hiding their bodies from the cold, freezing winds. "I honestly couldn't have done it without you, Master."

"What do you mean?" He stifled a soft laugh, hands sliding against her thick white tails. "You're amazing in your own right – everything you did was with your own strength."

"No…" She rose to meet him eye to eye. "What I meant…you…you gave me everything that I've always wanted, Master…a friend, a teacher…a lover…"

Even in shadowy cloak of night, the fox spirit could see perfectly well within the darkness. The man did everything he could to hide his ever-deepening blush. "I mean…y-you're not wrong…"

Ahri burst into laughter, sounding angelic to the dark-haired man. "How do you find that embarrassing? It's cute."

"Oh, shut up…" He turned to face her. Half his face shrouded in darkness with the other glowing underneath the light of the moon. Raising a hand, her soft fingers trailed against his smooth skin, drawing a smile upon his hardened features. "You don't know what you do to me, Ahri…I don't know how…but…"

"Shut up and kiss me already…"

The two closed the distance, lips locked in a soft embrace. Her lips were thick and plump against his thin line. Despite it, rampant explosions of volatile electricity and euphoric heat rushed through her body. It was exceptional, incredible, and life-changing. A searing hot blush grew on her whiskered cheeks; he pressed back against her, relishing the feel of her lips against his.

"Master…" Ahri whispered.

"Say my name, Ahri." He pressed his forehead against hers, eyes locking with hers. "Just this once…please…"

Ma –

Ahri looked up, blood red irides beaming with a simmering heat. Tears formed at the corners of her eyes, filling her with a ravaging disappointment. Hands fell loose to the Hanbok hem, fingers tightening around it, clenching the silk fabric in her palms. Memories were coming back full force, every emotion and sensation fluttered into her mind, forcing a soft twitch from her fox ears. Ahri's blush was bright and warm, heating her body from face to fists.

Rising from her seat, she watched the world around her in great detail. Naruto was vicious and quick to take down Kabuto. It brought a beaming, face-splitting smile to her face. The Orb of Deception was perfected and now, there was absolutely nothing left for her to teach him. The size of the orb was magnificent, the usage of it was sublime. How he managed to call it back to him, Ahri had no idea.

"Noona!" Naruto's voice echoed in the mindscape. "I fucking did it!"

"That you did, Dong-saeng!" Ahri cheered within. "But don't wait up now! You need to save Sasuke and Sakura from those Shin clones!"

"Will do!"

In the physical realm, Tsunade was awestruck at how insanely quick the Uzumaki healed up. His cuts, malnourishment and emaciated limbs had healed and gained thickness. Without even thinking, he channeled his chakra into an incredibly thin line, latching onto his dropped blade. Like a fishing rod, the chakra string reeled back into his tenketsu and chakra coils, pulling the blade to his hands. With everything else he'd done so far, he left all who were present to witness in awe.

"Baa-chan, stay back…I got this."

There were times that Naruto knew he'd messed up and accepted his distant failures. He just never knew failure of this kind would be coming so soon. Of course, failure was nothing new to him; a heavy weight would descend on his shoulders like a ton. Upon the terror and embarrassment, he was certain of what would follow. Eyes would fall to the floors or dirt beneath his sandaled feet. His body would speak when his own words would flee. This, was that horrifying moment.

Smoke rose into the air around him, climbing from the dancing fires. Standing with sweat pouring down his brows, he dropped his sword. Arm bloodied and blade slicked, the Uzumaki couldn't continue like this. Pain unlike any other shredded from the soles of his feet like a rampant disease, ripping through his muscles and tendons. Collapsing to the drenched dirt, his knees splashed in a soft pool of blood. Once glowing sapphire blues; his eyes had washed dull, lacking the once wondrous glimmer. He couldn't face what he'd done; littering what remained of the battlefield around him, Shin clones and a few nameless shinobi laid; faces contorted in fear and terror.

Breath grew short, racing within his heaving chest. Air rushed from his lungs as his blood sped within his veins. His bloodied drenched phalanges had somehow found themselves upon his scalp, grabbing at the follicles greased in sweat. What little chakra he had, dissipated into the wind. His mind pounded within his skull, screeching at a numbing high pitch, drilling into his bones like a wailing spirit. Naruto clenched his teeth, struggling against the twitching trauma as it resurfaced. Slowly but surely, his forearm began to shake uncontrollably. The blood barely dry painted the blond boy's face, showing the severity of his actions.

"A-Ahri…" Naruto whispered, unable to gather his wits. "I c-couldn't stop…"

The fox was silent, once more. She stood within the mindscape, soft-spoken and worried. He did what he had to do, but this was more than self-defense – this was a massacre. Ahri clenched her fists, tails swishing through the air, seething with rage at the Curse Seal glowing, emanating its poisonous energy throughout the area. Her blood-red eyes watched as its chakra seeped into the metal floors and walls, absorbed into the internal pipes, probably leading to his chakra coils.

But as silence had fallen, a soul-ripping cry rocked the mindscape, sending Ahri to her knees as well. Terror flooded the mindscape, followed by something that she could only describe as sorrow. He cried, shouting, begging for forgiveness to whatever deity was listening. His right arm had fallen to his chest, fist balled against his speeding heart. The Gumiho could hear him beat his chest, grab at the clenching pain within and there was nothing she could do but watch. Her chakra would do nothing but enrage or worse; depress him further.

He roared once more, this time cocking his right arm back, channeling energy into the knuckles and forearm. What resulted sent shivers up and down Ahri's spine. His fist connected with the bloodied mud, shattering his knuckles, bones and spraining his wrist to near beyond repair. But he didn't cry, didn't shout or groan in pain. He stayed like that, fist lodged into the ground, bleeding, shedding his agony in the only way he knew how.

His eyes, for the first time, squinted open, bloodshot and beating within his half-lidded glare. Looking upon the bloodbath, Shin clones, ranging from preteen to young adult littered the field. A moment had passed before the Curse Mark once again vibrated against his abdomen, searing upon his stomach. It had latched upon his emotions, feeding every chemical spilling into his brain. These clones were bred for the sole purpose of dying. A boy was created for the sole purpose of dying – Naruto wouldn't stand for this.

Slowly, flame markings spread around his body, covering him head to toe. Instead of black or purple; the markings were a dark blood red, disappearing with his own open wounds and cuts. His eyes darkened, sclera turning black and pupils bleeding crimson. Hair ruffled with black streaks forming within the blond, but after a few moments, overtook his once sunshine colored hair. Naruto roared out, shaking the rubble, grass and craters. Black chakra shot from his body, cutting great holes within the land itself.

"Damn you, Orochimaru!" Naruto's voice was demonic, delirious, and horrific. Sasuke, Sakura and Tsunade looked upon his figure, terrorized by what the Curse Mark had done to him. "Damn you and all the filth like you! I will rid the world your scum! I will rid the world of YOU –!"

Before the Uzumaki could continue his tirade; a great gauntleted hand slammed against his forehead. The effects were immediate. Seals and fuinjutsu spread from the small calligraphy and covered his entire body. The blood red flame tattoos fled to the Curse Mark on his stomach. His eyes cooled back to their beautiful sapphire and his hair had gained its radiance. Once the sealing was complete, Naruto collapsed into the man's arms.

"Jeez kid…" Jiraiya held the shirtless blond like a caring father. "You and your dad have a lot in common…Orochimaru escaped, let's get going alright?"

"Tanzaku Gai was destroyed?" Kurotsuchi asked with a raised brow. "What the hell? How? Why? There're no shinobi there…"

"Apparently, Namikaze Minato's son was there with his team and a fight broke out between him and Orochimaru of the Sannin." An Iwa jōnin looked up from her scrolls. "The entire city was leveled in the battle. Almost all the civilians had died in the confrontation and Orochimaru apparently revealed one of his secret weapons."

"What kind of weapon?" Kuro was intrigued. "And what was the son of the Yondaime doing in Tanzaku Gai?"

"We don't know what he was doing there but it obviously has something to do with the Sannin." The jōnin responded with a frown. "One can assume that Konoha is trying to regain the Legendary Three after the Konoha Crush. And with the Professor dead, the Konoha Tree huggers are going to need all the help they can get. Now onto the secret weapon; Orochimaru somehow found someone with a Kekkei Genkai that allows them to multiply themselves into solid clones; or something else far more sinister."

"Solid clones?" Kurotsuchi looked almost unimpressed. "We already have ninjutsu for that."

"No, no, no." The jōnin blushed at her lack of foresight. "What I meant; these clones are solid; blood vessels, internal organs, brains, chakra coils. Each one was a clone of some master template being. Either it's a Kekkei Genkai or…"

"Or what?" Kurotsuchi asked.

"Or they're actual clones." The woman responded with a dead stare. "Orochimaru is one of the most feared missing ninja in history, almost up there with the likes of Uchiha Madara. If anyone among our Five Great Elemental Nations would manage to find the secrets to cloning – it would be that evil bastard."

"So, add genetic modification to the list alongside unethical experimentation, desertion and grave desecration." Kurotsuchi groaned as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Konoha just gets more fun and interesting, doesn't it?"

"Also, news on Konoha, my lady." The jōnin nodded her head. "The new Hokage, the Godaime, has begun to repair the village's infrastructure. So far, very little news or reports are returning to us or any of our neighboring countries. Everything I'm about to tell you is just from my own observations of the situation. Konoha isn't the village we knew or remembered before the Crush. Something happened; the Godaime or whatever – with their Jinchuriki so far away from home and complete confidentiality of information – something is terribly wrong."

"Why do you care so much about the Konoha Tree huggers so much?" Kurotsuchi crossed her arms over her chest.

"I don't want to go to war." The jōnin answered. "None of my friends want to go to war; I don't want my sister or brother to die in the field. If the Son of the Yondaime is as incredible as the rumors are painting – I'd rather not have those I love cast down."

A hot glare grew on Kurotsuchi's face. Turning on her heels, the kunoichi huffed and left the information bureau of the Tsuchikage tower. Heeled sandals clapped against the stone flooring and stair steps. Chakra riddled her core, spiraling within her coils and tenketsu. She needed to relieve herself with training – anger was always the best fuel to work out with. How could she even say that?! Damn the Yondaime and his legacy – damn him and his legend!

The woman trudged along, practically stomping her feet into the stone steps. Her sandals clacked through the stone halls. Iwa jōnin and fellow chunin backed away, parting to let the granddaughter of the Tsuchikage to pass. They themselves heard of the news, the great battles and the so far, near impossible feats the son of the Yondaime Hokage had managed. Sympathy and even glares that seemed to mirror her own plastered upon the appearance. They agreed with her, but that nagging feeling whispered into their minds, telling them otherwise.

She was going to start a war if she had her way but what could they say? Her father and grandfather are curious, daresay interested in a war with the Village Hidden in the Leaves. They were humiliated in the last Great War, thousands cut like wheat to scythe, covering the battlefields with their blood, unavenged. They wanted war but they couldn't bring themselves to put their friends and family in that position. Consciousness flooded the ranks and neighborhoods, revanchist movements sprung up, remembering the war, remembering how defeated they were at the end, and Kurotsuchi was a ticking time bomb to open the barely stitched festering wounds.

"Damn them." She whispered to herself. "Damn them all…we need to bring the Konoha scum to their knees, we need to bring them to see the pain and suffering they have brought onto us. We can't stay like this, decadent and waiting like fools for slaughter. Damn what happened in the last war – we won't make the same mistakes we did, we learned from them."

"Kurotsuchi." A gruff voice sounded in her ears. "Come with me. We need to talk."

"Alright…" A man sighed, leaning into his chair. "You've brought her here more or less unscathed. But the three of you look like you have seen better days. Jiraiya-sama told me most of the story but I want to hear it from the three of you."

"Itachi–!" Tsunade began.

The Uchiha frowned. "Tsunade-sama, please. I want to know what happened from them. My brother was in trouble, his closest friends were in grave danger. Both Naruto and Sasuke have curse marks – a Fuin technique created by Orochimaru – your teammate who just so happened to want to find you at the same time as Danzo. Jiraiya-sama left things out, I can tell so I want to hear everything – every detail, uncensored."

"We got our asses kicked, Itachi." Naruto spoke. "They came at us so viciously, beating us and even nearly killed us."

"Danzo had a presence there." Sasuke added. "He sent a small team of chunin and jōnin along with a pair of Foundation Agents that met with Orochimaru. From what we heard, they apparently had a deal set with the damn snake."

"A deal…?" Itachi paced. The other Clan Heads gathered gasped in despair, sighing and looking away. "This complicates many things…but go on."

"Naruto and I activated our curse marks to fight the Foundation." Sasuke spoke. "They were different from the regular shinobi we fought. We ended up killing them before they could lay a hand on Tsunade-sama. It was tough but we managed the first bout."

"T-Then…" Sakura piped slowly. "Then Kabuto summoned a giant purple snake that destroyed Tanzaku-Gai and the great castle that stood over it. We fought in the shade of smoke and rubble for a while but there was little we – I could do. I stayed with Tsunade-sama while Naruto and Sasuke fought the snake. Before we knew it, Shin clones arrived."

"Yes." Itachi frowned. "Jiraiya-sama told me about them. He also told me how Naruto killed Kabuto. I think we've heard enough. Don't all of you agree?"

A collection of affirmatives and huffs were heard from the gathered Clan Heads. With a nod, Itachi turned to face his brother. "Team Seven deserves rest after all they went through in Tanzaku-Gai. Go, enjoy the rest of today and tomorrow. We need to get Tsunade-sama caught up and let her know our situation."

The three teens nodded their heads and moved along, waltzing through the great room. They passed shinobi and ANBU, ignoring their sympathetic looks and nods of respect. What they did didn't resonate like heroism. More so, Naruto. His arm started to shake again but nowhere close to the way it felt during the Chunin Exams. He continued walking, mind wandering, thinking of what happened in Tanzaku. He'd let himself go too far, and lost himself in the fight.

Those boys, clones or not, were sentient, had a mind of their own. But in the end, Naruto took their lives before they could even start one free of Orochimaru's ilk. He could see their faces, contorted, twisted and wrought. The pain he dealt to them, was unnecessary and he swore he could have done it a different way. Killing Kabuto, brought an end to the fight so quickly – in hindsight, one would thinking killing him first would be paramount. But no – he concentrated too much, releasing his rage and the power in his core, he struck them down as cruel as he did Kabuto.

Scowling at himself, trying to stop the shaking arm with his vice-like clutch, he hissed, breaking away from Sasuke and Sakura. Much to their displeasure, he ignored their inquiries and worried looks. To his surprise, Sakura understood what he needed better than the Uchiha he saw as a brother. It was the pinkette that dragged the boy away to give Naruto the needed time away to think. He couldn't bring himself to smile, he couldn't bring himself to feel even thankful for anything thus far. Taking lives in droves – there was nothing to feel proud of.

Is this what my father had to go through after creating and using the Hiraishin? The blond thought.

"If you want to know?" Ahri asked within. "Yeah. Almost to a tee. The both of you are so similar it's almost like I'm living déjà vu every waking second with you."

I'm glad that you're getting a kick out of my suffering. Naruto chided.

"I think you Uzumaki are too dramatic for your own good." Ahri shook her head. "You're hardly suffering in ways that you can't control."

What do you mean by that, Noona?

"I mean what I damn well said." Ahri smiled softly. "You are as dramatic as your mother, damn it. You're living, breathing and better yet; still fighting. That isn't suffering."

I guess you're right…but still. What I did…

"What you did was to survive, Dong-saeng." Ahri shook her head. "Don't be so childish. Shin would have killed you and your friends. Tell me this – would Shin feel the remorse you're feeling for him if the tables were turned?"

I can't say for sure.

"Uh, no. Don't bullshit me."

No. They wouldn't.

"You're goddamn right they wouldn't." Ahri sighed. "There's no point getting your panties in such a twist, thinking about fools you killed."

But I don't want to desensitize myself to killing. I don't want to be another cog in the war machine. Naruto hissed. Ignoring the humanity of the people I killed…what does that make me?

"A survivor." Ahri finished. "It would make you a survivor. And they were hardly human – they were more likely than not, grown in a glass tube. That doesn't sound like a loving mother's womb to me."

That's subjective. Naruto glared. What about you, huh? Spirits aren't born from a mother's womb.

"Well…" Ahri laughed. "I am not human. You tend to forget, Dong-saeng. You've been forgetting that recently."

I'm sorry. Naruto blushed. I…

"Don't sweat it." Ahri nodded. "You're angry – you're suffering as you put it. Now's the best time to get some training in. You down?"

You know me too well. Naruto huffed, moving along.

One month later…

Night had fallen at the Uchiha Hideout. Banners waved in the whipping winds, cold for the autumn began to slip in. Around the base, men and women hobbled about from the barracks to their hovels and beyond. The palisades were completed, with makeshift defenses constructed out of wood and stone. Food wasn't in a bad position just yet, thankfully, but it could be better. Clothing, warmth and all the other necessities weren't as good as they could be. What they were lacking though – morale. It had been dropping lately.

News of what Team Seven faced while out there, searching for Tsunade didn't sit well with many of the novice shinobi and the shell-shocked civilians. There was an energy in the air, one that hovered with great uncertainty, curious of when and where Danzo would strike next. If he'd already managed to brainwash the shinobi forces that remained loyal so quickly, it was almost unanimous among the shinobi, they were already making it to their last legs.

But even worse, news of Iwagakure building their forces to the north-west, sent shivers up and down the spines of the rebel commanders – more so, Itachi. He slaughtered his family to avoid this kind of troop movement. He did everything he could to deny the enemy villages the pleasure of seeing Konoha weak. Thanks to Danzo, everything he'd done was for nothing. Iwagakure, the most hated enemy among the plethora of Konoha's rivals, had caught wind of their weakness – and if they were smart, they'd wait for the last moment in the war and strike at both him and his rebels and strike down Danzo in one single stroke.

Itachi sighed, staring at the sky, eyeing the moon with a frown. Black eyes found nothing in the dark expanse. No shooting stars, not even the twinkling gemstones hidden away. No omens, no sign from the heavens. For a moment, the boy felt there was nothing left for them to do – to accomplish. All he wanted was a sign from the gods, a sign from anyone. There were times he felt that the weight of the world was inherently his to carry, being an Uchiha was the proverbial badge of honor after all. Now, that sentiment increased tenfold, looking upon the dark heavens and the lack of stars in the night.

Looking down, his people, his rebels, were sleeping in makeshift tents, barracks and they were already dangerously close to running out of supplies. What they needed were allies, better yet, a miracle. Huffing to himself, he crossed his arms over his chest, eyes closing. A miracle would definitely bring up the dwindling morale of the men. Eyes hovered over towards the higher levels of the Hideout, finding a boy wearing a black jumpsuit with long coattails that waved in the growing winds. The blond hair gave away just who exactly this person was.

His thoughts danced around in his mind, thinking of the blond. Naruto had been through several levels of shit and somehow, found the strength to keep standing on his two feet. As wobbly and unsteady he seemed to be, the boy was persistent – something Itachi was glad about. His persistence saved the rebellion and his own little brother. Smirking to himself, Naruto was definitely the Son of the Fourth. But, his sadness, struggle and suffering – as much as the boy tried to hide it, it was beginning to show. This wasn't the first night that he saw Naruto sitting on the railing of his balcony, staring endlessly towards Konoha.

Shaking his head, he took off into the air, landing beside the Uzumaki rife with contemplation. Landing beside the Uzumaki, Itachi made sure to stay silent. Conversation wasn't his best strength, but there was an inkling of suspicion that what Naruto really needed was a welcoming ear. The boy in black and orange didn't make any movements to show that he noticed him appearing beside him, only simply keeping his blue eyes pointed towards the tree infested horizon, glowing in the light of the great moon hovering above them.

"You know…when I woke up, I was hoping to find a white ceiling and the same large windows beating the beams of sunlight through the barely shut blinds. Big vocabulary, I know. I just remember what the hospital looked like with such vivid clarity. After all, I'd wake up there a lot when I was a child." Naruto spoke. He kept his gaze steady, not once turning to face Itachi. "However, this time, when I woke up, I found trees and falling leaves. I thought I was dead."

The Uchiha was about to speak, but Naruto's sniffle sounded in his ears. "When I was stuck in my coma, I was attacked by my fears. They took a physical form and I…I lost the will to keep fighting back. I was attacked by my closest friends and they said things that I prayed endlessly to never hear; especially from Sasuke. He's like the brother I never had…the closest friend I've ever had. So, I'm certain you can understand my surprise when he hugs me and called me his brother when I wake up. When we arrived here, everyone welcomed me as a hero, the exact opposite of what my mind told me and continues to tell me…I don't know if it's my anxiety or…this goddamned curse mark on my stomach…"

"I hear things when I'm not paying attention. The Kyuubi inside me…she does her best to soothe the pain, but nothing, I fear, will make the voices stop until I remove this stupid seal. What makes it worse, the voices aren't just those of the people close to me and in my life, there are voices that I don't even know. I can only assume they are the voices of the lives that I've let die during my battles. That kind of guilt…it's agonizing…I can't fight the voices and what they're saying, Itachi-niisan."

"They're so demeaning, so harsh and belittling. There are voices of men and women in this very camp that sound in the back, wishing nothing more than pain and failure for me. Every night, my dreams are haunted by their hatred and their rage, it's too much. I don't know how to fight it anymore and the Kyuubi's ability to hold back my anxiety is waning with each night I lose sleep."

"You're not sleeping well?" Itachi asked worriedly.

Naruto nodded hastily. "I try to sleep but the voices take that as an invitation to attack me. When I'm wide awake, they can't hurt me. When I'm able to see my body and my mind is my own, they can't control me…but as soon as I close my eyes to sleep, the Curse Mark starts vibrating against my stomach, twisting me and pulling me against my will. It's…it's overwhelming."

Itachi watched the horizon with the boy, one knee up, letting him rest his elbow against his kneecap. "Naruto. If you were having this problem and if it's as severe as it is, you should have told me, or at least spoke to Tsunade-sama about it – she is the greatest medic ninja in all the Elemental Nations. Surely, she can spare time to help the boy who saved her life."

"She could, but she's already too busy helping the sick civilians and the wounded shinobi who return from missions. I can't take up a space that someone could be waiting for." Naruto quickly spilled. His eyes seemed dull all of a sudden, revealing to Itachi just how exhausted the blond was. "It wouldn't be fair to the families who risked everything to come with us…it wouldn't be fair to the shinobi who lost everything…"

"Honor is one thing, Naruto. Neglecting your health for the sake of others is also a different thing, though it's understandable if you mix the two up." Itachi spoke wisely. "You shouldn't put your health at risk for the sake of the well-being of others, especially when you yourself needs the healing as much as they do."

"But I don't…"

"But you do. Anxiety, depression, the mental trauma – those are all real problems, Naruto. That shaking your arm experiences isn't a sign of proper health either. These are real problems with real consequences that if not rectified, will have real effects on those close to you, not just you. Do you understand what I'm saying, Naruto? If you passed out on a mission and your teammates had to catch you, putting themselves in danger, whose fault would it be?"

"I know…" Naruto moaned with a rolling eye. "I've heard this from the Kyuubi and from Sasuke and Sakura, so many times, but in the end, Itachi…I can't stop myself from doing this. I can't just shut off and let things be, swinging about on a hammock. I've tried absolutely everything, but when it comes to the endangerment of other people and mission effectiveness, there's no point in pursuing it."

"Naruto…I know a thing or two about emotions…" Itachi's eyes trailed to the direction of Konoha. Having done the same thing as Naruto was doing so many times since he was on the run, the location of his beloved village was a place burned in his memory. "Depression…anxiety…it…it's too much sometimes, isn't it? Like you just want to lay down and let everything roll over you. I know. The pain I felt from murdering my clan still echoes in my heart, reminding me of my faults and shortcomings. But I owed it to myself and the only family I had left – I had to keep fighting no matter what. I won't say my problems are gone, but I found reason to keep going."

"Telling you my pain is worse or less, is counter-productive, Naruto. I won't tell you what you want to hear and I refuse to guilt-trip you. I will say this – you say you see Sasuke as a brother you never had and Sakura as the sister you never had – Shikamaru, Ino, the rest of your fellow genin as the closest thing to family you've ever had – even the fox in your stomach, she seems like something else entirely, yes?"

A man after my own heart. Ahri giggled softly, blowing at her nails. My kind of man.

"They are why you live – so you've told me." Itachi bore a rare smile. "Remind yourself who you are and why you fight. Be the voice in the mirror that points you in the right direction. You may think you don't need it, but believe me, Naruto-kun, you need it. Sometimes an army of fans isn't what you need – the only fan you need is yourself. Life hit you, my brother, your sister, and your comrades hard, harder than anyone expected. Regardless of what happened, I know you can bounce back from this and get back on your feet. Most importantly of all, I know you know, deep down inside, that your fire isn't doused yet."

Rising to his feet, the Uchiha rested a calm hand on the boy's head, ruffling his blond hair. "Naruto, you might not be certain, but I truly see you as another dear little brother – I won't let anyone turn me against my family again, nor will I ever let anyone hurt you or Sasuke. I swear it to you."

"Itachi…" Naruto looked at the man with tears streaming down his whiskered face. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore…being Hokage seems so unimportant, while at the same time, I don't know what I'll do or become if I let go of that dream. It was all I had growing up…it was the only anchor I had to the village. It wasn't until recently that I found real reason and found friendships worth cherishing. I'm learning that there are so many things happening in the shadows and becoming Hokage doesn't seem like a viable solution anymore."

"I…I can train all day if I want, I can go out on more missions looking for people like Baa-chan, it won't do a damn thing. I feel lost and it's the most terrifying feeling I've ever known. When I first met the Kyuubi feels like a Sunday picnic compared to how I feel right now. I just want direction, some help, a sign…"

"Sometimes, Naruto, you don't need a goal in life. What you need is to fix yourself before you decide to take on the world. A castle with bad foundation will fall under the weight of its first siege – a castle rooted into the ground, steady and firm can withstand even the longest of sieges." Itachi smiled softly. "Regardless of your decisions, regardless of whether or not you want to hold on to that wonderful dream you have – you'll have the Uchiha Clan beside you, now and forever."

He disappeared into the night, like the truly badass he was, leaving the blond to his own devices. Watching the trees rustle beneath the moonlight was more than enough to shake his soul within his chest. Shutting his eyes for the first time in a while, he let his mind wander, latching onto the mindscape before reappearing before Ahri, the beautiful Gumiho whimpering and crying.

"Ahri?" Naruto ran up to her, holding her shoulders with a caring hand. "W-What's wrong?!"

She looked to him with giant tears falling from her eyes. Her whiskered cheeks stained deeply, streaking across her smooth skin and dripping to the water covered floor below. Her Hanbok ruffled and seemed stressed with her shaking pale body. Her thick lips curled but contracted and continued the indecisiveness, switching between emotions as she continued to weep.

"What Itachi said…" She said through sobs. "That was so beautiful! So poetic…aigo, my face, it's so hot and I haven't stopped crying!"

Naruto was silent, almost too silent. His coarse hands contrasted her smooth shoulders, forcing her to look at him truly. "Are…are you fucking serious right now?"

He snickered. It came out like a stifled cough, but the snickering continued, shaking his shoulders and rolling his clothes against his body. Soon, it grew into laughter, rumbling and gliding across the mindscape like a masterpiece of musical genius. Warm, bushy white tails stretched about, clasping the Uzumaki as he laughed his frustrations away. His joy rumbled against the bones within, rupturing within her soul, singing a new beat and song for the spirit, holding him closer to her body.

He laughed, holding onto the tails with a grip that seemed to be a cry for help. A silent one that Ahri was going to make sure to not ignore. Holding him to her chest, his laughter devolved to tears. His arms wrapped around her as tightly as he could hold her, daring not to loosen his grip. She was his anchor, his last hint of sanity holding him together. Her arms stuck to him, unable to release him. Surrounding the both of them, her thick white tails danced around them, holding them together in a white lotus of fur. Her love, her care and honest, genuine emotion was bared for the boy, reminding him he wasn't alone anymore.

He didn't need to be afraid anymore – he had all the reasons he could ask for holding him like a yarn ball. Any tighter, she was afraid she'd shatter his bones, but with the tightening pressure of her arms, he returned the favor, pressing his body against hers, staining her skin with his tears. While nothing new, he had never held her before, sharing their warmth between their bodies and appendages, even their limbs tangled together as a mash of bone and flesh, muscle and tendons. Now, she didn't want to let go, even under the steaming gaze of the demons within the mindscape, the fears he has taking physical form, she would not let him go.

As his cries turned silent and to soft snores, her tails gathered around the two of them, protecting the sweet boy asleep against her buxom chest. Amidst the shouts and the voices crying for his death, even with the clashing of blades against her tails and the flesh beneath her thick and marvelous fur, she took the pain for the boy she held. His snores, his bliss and sleep drowning the howls and the curses spat by the demons beyond her barrier. A stray tear fell from the corner of her eyes, feeling his racing heartbeat calm, slowing to something manageable, something that a sleeping boy should have.

Repositioning their bodies and her tails, she too laid back into her tails, ignoring the punches, the blades and the kicks against her tails. Leaning Naruto into her chest, the boy took to the new position, stretching and moving about, leaning into the pillows completely unaware of what was happening. He snored, louder with each passing second and with it, she could hear the ghostly whipping of wind and the vanishing of smoke. Smiling to herself, the fears he had were disappearing in her embrace, the demons that crawled about the shadows vanished, to the dark recesses that they came.

Sighing in relief as the last spectre disappeared into the distant void of the mindscape, the Curse Mark and all of its malevolent ire, would not claim her container tonight. Resting a hand against the back of her head and another resting on Naruto's sleeping form, running fingers through his blond hair, she glared at the vicious thing floating against where the seal of her cage used to be. The three black magatama glowing and fleeting as the seconds passed, but it no longer felt as if a weight rested on their shoulders – now, it felt like it was nothing more than a symbol there.

"Naruto…" She sighed, letting her crimson eyes trail to the teen snoring away without a care in the world, gripping her Hanbok as he did. "Sleep well, Jagiya."

Naruto woke up, a bellowing roar of a yawn escaping his mouth. His muscles were sore, but felt at ease. Even his legs, lounged against footrests that sat in front of his balcony chair, he realized he fell asleep on his balcony after talking to Itachi. Rising to his feet, he stretched once more, feeling energy rush through his body. It wasn't chakra, or else he felt the furniture around him would be whipping and dancing about the area. He couldn't describe it, the feeling, the emotion, and the heat running through his body, it felt foreign but familiar. Was it something that he lost?

Staring off into the distance, the bridges that connected the Uchiha Hideout to the rest of the forest, crossing over the valley gorge, barriers were constructed and shinobi of their little rebellion were fixing their defenses and traps across the length of the Hideout's perimeter. Against the base of the leveled terraces, the tents were no longer a sprawl of hovels, replaced with clean tarps and even great earthen constructs towering above the levels and even few tents, encasing them completely. There was a movement, a joyous step in the people below – as if their morale had risen within the night.

Naruto couldn't believe himself – he was actually awake. His arm hung beside him, not a shake to be felt. His heart no longer pounded against his chest, threatening to burst through his bones and skin at any moment. The fears he had in the back of his mind, extinguished like the black inferno they were. Even the voices, the cruel, menacing words, the curses and the hateful words he had become so ready to receive, were silent. Not a syllable, not even a whistling ghost ready to pounce on him from the corner of his sight. It took no longer than a moment for him to realize it – he slept!

Noona! C-Can you believe it?! I actually slept last night!

"Of course I can." Ahri's voice came as a soothing song. Something he didn't think he'd feel so early in the morning. "I held you while you slept last night, who knew someone snoring would look so adorable."

A blush roared across his whiskered face. Y-You held me?

"As if I haven't done that before. Naruto…how are you feeling?" Ahri asked as she paced the mindscape, crimson eyes jumping to the Curse Mark looming above. "No pain? Fatigue?"

Nothing at all! I feel amazing! Naruto beamed so brightly, she could feel the rays of sunlight reflecting off his pearly whites. I feel like I can take on the world today!

"Slow down, Dong-saeng." Ahri chuckled. "You've been in a slump for almost a month – you need some time to take it slow and get back into the swing of training and fighting. Got it?"

Mah, mah, Noona. I got this! I'm going to get some training in, maybe that'll inspire my friends to get off their butts.

"You are insufferable." Ahri laughed, holding her hand against her face. "I trust you won't overdo it?"

Overdoing it is my middle name, Ahri. Naruto walked from the balcony, throwing off his jumpsuit revealing his toned torso in his mirror. Remembering Itachi's words from the night before, he gazed at his reflection, the arm that shook and the hand that still took lives no matter the issue. He gazed at his legs, the very appendages that took him places, both life-threatening and the mess hall to have a kind bowl of ramen. Then his eyes glanced at the sapphire blues that watched patiently, glimmering with a soft curiosity and excitement merged into one.

Root yourself. A fortress with a strong foundation can– Naruto froze. The joy he felt forgotten for just a few moments only to return twice as strong. The emotions he hadn't felt in a month had returned, blaring like an orchestral fanfare, welcoming his arrival. Foundation, huh?

Washing himself quickly, he glanced at the scars he had from the countless fights he suffered through. Soap and bubbles dipped into the creases and the damages done to his flesh, though nothing more than a soft near-nonexistent pressure against his body. Running the cool, yet warm, water against his muscles, the tense moment he felt, rolled away, kneaded by the sharp beats of the shower water, smashing against his skin.

Throwing a clean jumpsuit on and slipping into his chunin vest, the boy left his room and practically hopped through the rounded halls of the great Uchiha Hideout. His sandals clapped and beat tremendously through the stone halls, echoing to the floors below and the men and women lucky enough to have him on their floor. He skipped down the stairwells, feeling the rush of cool winds and beating sunlight – even the scent of garlic rice, steamed rice, even the healthy alternative, brown rice. All kinds of foods were cooked and steamed and even fried as the chunin burst through the varying levels of the structure.

Coming to a halt, a man was talking with a busty blonde woman about something. A rather peaceful conversation the man sighed in what sounded like relief. The woman rested a hand on his shoulder and even embraced him in a hug, something that he returned without a moment lost. They parted, beaming smiles on their faces and even a few kind compliments shared between them. Whatever it was, Naruto was intrigued. He never knew Itachi and Tsunade were so buddy-buddy. As the boy walked closer, all he managed to discern was Tsunade whispering the words tell them the good news.

Itachi turned on his heels, and smiled warmly at the boy. "Naruto…your face…did you…?"

The smile started as a crack across his whiskered face before spreading into a wide toothy grin. "I actually slept, Itachi-niisan! After you left, I talked to the Kyuubi for a while before the next thing I know, everything's black and I'm dreaming of beautiful scenes, beautiful people, just…perfection. Once the dream ended, I woke up to find that it was already morning and…and…Itachi? What were you and Tsunade-baa-chan talking about?"

There was a flash of fear that dashed across Naruto's body. He had to make sure the old hag was nowhere to be found. Before he could act further, Itachi placed a caring hand on the boy's shoulder, calming him immediately. "Naruto. Please…there's no need to be so tense. When Sasuke awakes, I'll tell the both of you."

"Fine." Naruto nodded. "Say, Itachi-niisan, what's in store for us today? I'm ready to do anything you might need me to do!"

"The shinobi on the bridge need help fortifying it and the villagers below need help building proper housing and of course, shinobi need help with piping for plumbing and proper waste management." Itachi thought for a moment. "Afterwards, if you manage to help some of them, I can teach you some shurikenjutsu techniques? And then, I'll have news to share with you and the rest of the shinobi forces with Tsunade."

"Something big huh?" Naruto wiggled his eyebrow.

Itachi shook his head, fighting the chuckle. "Whoa, Naruto. Nothing of that sort."

"Right, she's like forty years older than you." The boy laughed, walking away from the Uchiha. "I look forward to training later!"

It took no more than a few minutes but he found himself digging holes and trenches against the various levels of the hideout, with an army of clones helping hoist and set pipes. In the villager's district, another army of clones could be seen hammering away at wooden walls and beam supports, even piling mud for the hovel walls that the people were desperate to create. On the great bridge, sandbags were filled, tightened and stacked properly, while Naruto learned from experienced jōnin how to set proper fuinjutsu traps. Many were surprised by how well he took to the teachings.

In the highest floor of the terraced hideout, Sasuke woke up, rubbing his tired eyes. Running through his regular morning routine, he splashed water on his face and glared at his reflection. A heat unlike any other burned into his shoulder, emanating from the Curse Mark. The epicenter of his maladies recently, but remembering Naruto's struggle and his fight, he forced himself to ignore the seal. Activating his Sharingan, the three tomoe spun about the black pupil. The crimson of his eyes surprisingly glowed cool, instead of warm like his eyes usually would.

Taking a quick shower, he lathered and soaped, shampooed and even used conditioner, making him laugh. He doubted any of his male compatriots used conditioner as religiously as he did. Uchiha took hair care as seriously as their training. Looking good required the utmost dedication after all. Shutting his shower off, he stepped out, dried and quickly threw on a black shinobi onesie, listening to the soft jingle of the chainmail mesh sewn into the fabrics. He could hear from within his bathroom, an orchestra of hammers beating against wood, the harsh flat tone a near crack rather than a song.

Walking from his room, he yawned once more, knowing full well his brother must be somewhere talking and planning their next move with the new Hokage, Tsunade. Walking down the steps, he was greeted by the knowing nod from a near zombie-like Shikamaru, the slightly caked up Ino and of course, Choji was already snacking on a family-sized bag of potato chips. His crunching and munching sounding more pleasant than the synchronized hammering below.

"Good morning, guys." Sasuke nodded. "How're you today?"

"I heard Itachi was going to announce something to the shinobi forces later. So, I was told I had to look my best." Ino stopped walking and looked over her appearance. "I don't look my best."

"It's troublesome." Shikamaru groaned. "I was in the middle of a nap, but my mother woke me up and told me to get dressed in my shinobi uniform, chunin vest and all. It's just an announcement, they can tell me what I miss after I wake up."

Nom, nom, nom. If Choji said something, Sasuke couldn't discern what it was. His round cheeks were already covered in an endless shower of shards of potato chips, sticking firmly against his skin. The swirls drawn upon his face, unrecognizable by the wash of junk food he was practically inhaling like the madman he was. Nom, nom, nom.

"Any idea what he's going to say?" Sasuke asked. "He never said anything about that to me."

"I heard it from my dad who heard it from Tsunade herself while she was working on healing some of the sick in the hospital." Ino answered. "He didn't say much aside from the Nara, Yamanaka and Akimichi have to look our best. Even the Sarutobi are rummaging like crazy trying to get prepared. I wonder if it's some kind of ceremony."

"Who knows?" Sasuke shrugged. "Any plans for today, aside from some announcement?"

"Nope." Ino shook her head. Both boys on either side of her did the same. Choji didn't – he opened another bag, just as large as the previous one causing Sasuke to deadpan.

Where the hell do the Akimichi put these stashes of junk food?! It's unnerving. The Uchiha shuddered, watching the plump boy inhale yet another family-sized bag. I…I just hope whomever he ends up with, can cook enough to feed an army.

"I'm going to talk with my brother for a moment, see what's happening." Sasuke said. "Maybe look for Sakura, and maybe we could have a friendly training match, Team Seven vs Team Ten? Sound fun?"

"After the ceremony please, I didn't put on this make up only to have it smeared and ruined." Ino reminded with a huff. "Waiting can't be too difficult?"

"Not at all." The Uchiha smirked and walked off, leaving the three to their devices.

His sandals clapped against the stairwells, quieter and far more nimble than his blond counterpart. Stopping just a floor below, he knocked on a wooden door and waited a few moments in complete silence. A shuffle was heard and a few complaints and curses before the door swung open. Greeting him with a beaming pearly smile, accentuating her bubblegum pink hair, Sakura's emerald eyes went from fearful to joyous in only a few seconds. They curled with her lips as a smile broke across her pale face. Neither said a word, just smiling like mute morons, onyx eyes locked so tightly with emerald.

"Sakura…"

"Sasuke…"

"You look good." The boy managed to choke. "I…uh…"

"Thank you…Sasuke…" Her voice trailed as she fiddled with the laces of her outfit. "I…"

"Want to go for a walk before the announcement?" The boy said with a single breath. "I-I mean…"

"I'd love to. Give me a few seconds to get my sandals on…" Shutting the door, another clashing and a shuffling of feet against wooden floors caught his attention. A bellowing clash nearly put him on edge, it sounded like falling pans and a bothered cat screeching! Without warning, the door burst open to reveal Sakura sliding her feet through her sandals and hopping forward, trying to balance herself.

Not a thought processed in the Uchiha's mind as he reached forward, catching her shoulders before she could fall forward. It was the first time he had ever held someone so innocently, nor as intimately. Sakura felt her breath hitch at the proximity as her sandal finally slipped into place. The heat they ignored for so long feeling so strong, almost as if hiding it away only served to strengthen what they felt. She backed away, creating a respectable pocket of space between their torsos, really hitting the nail on the head. His hands hadn't left her shoulders, nor had he broken his gaze from her eyes.

"Ahem! Well, well, what do we have here?" A loud, obnoxious voice sounded. "A little too early for that, love-birds."

"Urgh, Ino-pig." Sakura mumbled. The blush on her cheeks flashing through different shades of varying crimson.

"R-Right…so about that walk?"

Outside in the beaming warmth, Naruto hammered away, laughing with the adults and villagers that told jokes and funny stories trying to enjoy the heat they found themselves under. The boy fell to take a seat, sipping away at the water bottle a worker tossed him, he relished in the cool liquid running through his body, soothing his muscles and his arms. The men talked about their wives, their girlfriends and even their future prospects – all had a story to tell, bringing laughter from all around, even the clones who took their own breaks to listen to the valuable lessons to learn from more experienced men.

"…and that's why you never try to convince a woman otherwise." A villager cackled.

Naruto fell back, holding his stomach and bellowing his own guffaw. I thought you were crazy at first, but now I know that's just how women are!

"Har, har, har. Laugh it up, Naru-tard. I'm gonna kick your ass when we train tonight!" Ahri's threat was received by deaf ears.

Oh come on, Ahri! It was funny as fuck!

"Oh right, because somehow connecting spontaneous combustion of insulted water buffalo butts to the raging hormonal throes of a woman unknowing of what she wants is so funny." Ahri scowled.

Noona…don't be like that!

"I'm gonna be like that!" She hissed. "I'm a woman too, you know!"

And are you trying to tell me you aren't like a flaming water buffalo ass?

"I can kill you, you know that right?"

But you won't. I love you too, y'know? Naruto snickered.

Suddenly, a flicker of clothing and a flapping of crow wings, silenced the laughter. From the crows, Itachi stood wearing his old ANBU armor, shined and in near pristine condition. The villagers rose from their seats, bowing with both adoration and respect. "Naruto, come with me, Sasuke is awake, so I have something to share with the both of you."

The blond didn't even need another word. He reached forward holding onto the Uchiha and disappeared, almost similar to the replacement technique. The world he saw whirled and whipped in an endless slew of cloudlike colors billowing and contracting against the cerulean canvas that was the sky. Before he could get lost in the colors and the amazing beauty and grandeur of it all, everything beautiful disappeared and was replaced by Itachi's personal office, which was interestingly right next to Tsunade's office and personal operation room.

Sasuke was sitting in a seat with Sakura right next to him, the two of them talking about various things. The two of them went silent and rose to their feet only to be stopped by the open hand of Itachi. "No need for greetings. You can stay seated."

Naruto nodded and beamed a smile at his two teammates and in turn, received the same treatment. Itachi watched the three interact, somehow overcome with nostalgia. Sakura and Sasuke greeted Naruto as a close friend, surely they regarded each other as such. It made his heart swell seeing Sasuke so happy and genuine, especially now with no one to hold him back or whisper murderous sweet-nothings into his head.

"Naruto, Sasuke." Itachi said, bringing their attention to him. "And Sakura. I have something important to tell the three of you. While I was more than certain that letting you know individually was a good plan, albeit highly impulsive, I would rather deal with both of you at once."

"What do you mean, niisan?" Sasuke asked.

"I…" The man struggled to find the right words. "I'm dying. This may seem like a weight falling on your shoulders, but know that it isn't as bad as it seems. At least anymore. Sasuke, Naruto, before either of you say something, let me finish. I don't know what I have, but it's a disease that has no medical research so that would mean no known cure. A doctor I visited before I returned to Konoha, gave me a maximum three and a half years to live."

"W-What?" Sasuke shook in his chair. Naruto did the same, feeling tears well in their eyes.

"Lady Tsunade though…" Itachi shut his eyes, letting a rare great toothy smile open across his face. "She isn't known as the greatest medical ninja in the history of the Shinobi world for nothing. After spending the last month researching my blood and my disease up close and personal with Shizune-san working around the clock, they found that there is a chance to save me and heal my wounded body – along with your friend Rock Lee. While our debilitations are different, if she succeeds in healing the two of us, entire new fields of medical research would be opened – our bodies would be healed and we could continue living up to our potentials."

"But…?" Sasuke gripped his friends. "Why is there always a but?!"

"But…there is a fifty-fifty chance of survival for both of us. My disease is too proactive and–" Itachi groaned as a pair of arms wrapped around him. Soon enough, two more pairs did the same, holding him tightly.

The three kids held onto him, hugging him as if he were going to disappear. "Brother…I believe you'll survive…truly."

"I've lost enough people close to me…I don't intend to lose you too, Itachi-niisan." Naruto smiled.

"What do you say, Itachi?" Tsunade smiled. "You think you're ready to go through with the operation?"

Kurotsuchi punched a wooden dummy with all her might. Splinters danced about, rocking and tumbling against the stone training ground. Whipping around, she snapped her arm forward, sending a flurry of kunai and shuriken in wide arcs, snapping at perfect bullseyes and majority green zone hits close to the center. Sighing at her handiwork, not too bad, she told herself constantly, keeping her self-esteem and trust in her abilities strong.

There were many among her peers plotting and whispering behind her back, even those among her grandfather's most trusted circle. She couldn't blame them – what her grandfather and father was planning, was absolutely insane – maddening even. Clenching her fists, earth chakra solidified, covering her forearms with stone. Jabbing forward, her powerful gauntlets of earth ruptured the last of the training dummies, completely shattering the hanging targets.

She sighed to herself, letting her eyes wander across the training ground. There were shinobi of all ages and rank wandering the fields, either running laps, burning through calisthenics and even few who sparred with one another in the distant clearings between rock formations. The village was awake with life, with many already at work or training for their missions that they would have to take later in the day. Not her business though – what they did with their free time was up to them.

Cutting off her chakra, the rocks that formed over her arms disappeared, shattering and nearly expelled from her flesh. As the stones tumbled over one another, clicking and clacking in a giant heap. "Damn it…"

Clapping her hands together, dust and powder popped off, wafting about the field and disappearing completely. She ignored the inquisitive looks and statements from her shinobi and kunoichi peers, and she even ignored the kiss-asses, their kind words and the praise. Their faces annoyed her, smothering her with things she didn't want to be feeling.

She pushed through the crowd, practically marching through the crowds. There was an unspoken ire in the face she witnessed and the eyes slanting her way. News of her fathers and grandfathers plot must have reached the ears of the regular people. Ignoring even the whispers from those crass enough to even scowl in her presence, she walked along, her feet clapping against stone steps and natural trenches against the mountainous layout of the village.

There were men and women within the markets haggling prices, while there were shinobi, chunin and jōnin patrolling rooftops as if the village were on edge and preparing for an invasion. Now, she was definitely confused. Taking to the air, her clothing whipped through the air, waving and dancing about, flowing through her short cropped hair and the maroon lapel covering her right leg. She landed on a rooftop, taking in the sights, sounds and scents hovering about.

"I wonder what's happening over there." Her pink eyes narrowed with her brows furrowing tight. "That doesn't look good…"

Jumping through the air, flipping and landing smoothly as before, she took in the sight. A small army of men and women gathered at the gates, holding weapons and shouting warnings. Platoons of shinobi gathered at the gates, gathering chakra as they flew across the village skies. "What the hell is going on?!"

There were genin, from the look of their uniforms, waving their arms trying to warn people to stay away. Before she could move, sirens blared violently, ringing and screaming across the village. Shinobi were massing to the gates of the village, preparing their weapons and their ninjutsu. Bursting into action, she zoomed over rooftops, past residential districts and businesses. Practically dancing through the air, she landed in the middle of the street, cleaving through the growing crowd of terrified, but interested civilians.

"Genin, what the hell is happening?!" Kurotsuchi shouted, pushing through the burly villagers. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Lady Kurotsuchi! Uh…a small army showed up in front of the village gates!" A genin managed to choke. "But they're different!"

"Different how?" Kurotsuchi sped through hand seals and walked past the child in front of her. "Let me handle this!"

"Stay back!" She could hear a jōnin roaring. "I won't hesitate! Stay back, damn it!"

A shinobi threw a kunai, letting it whistle through the air. Once it hit its target, the girl had never felt so terrified in her life.

Itachi stood beside the blonde haired Hokage, ignoring the giggling whispers of female shinobi and the blushes and cries of praise. With his arms behind his back and his shoulders held strong and bold, the boy stared off into the field of men and women dressed in blues and greens. Their red swirls and hitai-ate visible in the late afternoon orange glow. With a hand raised, the shinobi whispering and talking with one another went quiet.

Naruto sitting beside Shikamaru and the rest of the chunin crossed his arms over his chest, fully prepared for the coming speech. The Nara beside him was great and figuring out situations and how they would progress, several hundred steps worth of information, but this, he couldn't figure out it out. Either he was playing hooky or his mind truly couldn't get it. Their conversation and constant jokes to their genin friends sitting in the back cut short, blue and brown were locked with the greatest of the Konoha shinobi standing on the stage.

Behind them, the Clan Heads stood proudly, their hands behind their backs as well in parade dress. Not a word from their lips, nor a hint of sadness. They in fact, looked proud and even excited for what was to come. Nevertheless, ANBU sat in the front of the congregation, jōnin behind them, chunin in the center, genin behind and civilians in the rear, all awaited the coming speech.

"Thank you, for gathering here today." Tsunade said. "We have fought hard in the last month. We've lost friends and family, comrades and teachers – gained all the same. We have given our blood, our sweat, and our tears for the dream that we'll take our home back from the clutches of a madman. I cannot express how proud I am to have returned to this great village – to her great and resilient people. We are men and women hidden in the leaves, we are the descendants of the sacrifices made by the Shodaime, the Niidaime, the Sandaime and the Yondaime. Their dreams and their hopes for the future lie with us. And I swear it to you, as your Godaime Hokage – I will continue their hopes and strive for the future they always wanted."

"But I won't ignore the obstacles that have fallen in our place. We are in a precarious situation, an awkward place to be between nations and lacking allies completely. This is a time of transition and the power vacuum that would form any accident, should something happen to me, will leave our rebellion without proper leadership. So, with a heavy heart, I have already decided my successor, should something happen to me or my jōnin commander, Nara Shikaku."

"He has worked with me since I arrived, he has worked with each and every one of you as well, leading the rebellion when it needed a leader. He is skilled beyond comprehension and is more than qualified for this seat. As the Godaime Hokage of Konohagakure no Sato, I am proud to name Uchiha Itachi as my official successor and future Rokudaime Hokage." Tsunade smiled brightly.

The massed crowd burst into action, screaming and cheering at the top of their lungs. They stamped their feet and clapped their hands. The joyous celebration was so instantaneous, Itachi's stoic expression had faulted, replaced with confusion and genuine surprise – something he rarely felt. Suddenly, the people rushed forward starting with the jōnin, wishing Tsunade and Itachi good health and success in their careers. Many shook their hands, praising and almost crying at the news.

As the jōnin rushed by, still singing songs of victory and thanking the gods for their turn of fortune. Chunin followed next, doing the same thing, just far less professional. Kotetsu and Izumo nodded at the Uchiha, happily taking his hands into theirs. They bowed deeply, beaming smiles at their Hokage before turning with the rest of their comrades before them, cheering and singing their bellowing songs. Soon enough, Naruto and Shikamaru arrived, both of them huffing and puffing from how hot their faces were, trying to fight through the larger chunin clamoring over each other and crushing them in their pressure.

"Itachi-niisan!" Naruto shouted over the beats and the bellowing shinobi. "Itachi-niisan! I can't believe it! You're going to be Hokage!"

"Hopefully not for a while, Naruto." Itachi winked. "Tsunade-sama is more than willing to take the brunt of it first."

"Baa-chan." Naruto smirked. "I look forward to aggravating you more."

"Naruto." Tsunade chuckled, ruffling his blond hair. "I look forward to it, doofus."

"Our luck is turning around!" A jōnin shouted, garnering a well-earned wave of screams and hollers of approval. "The Senju and Uchiha are back!"

As the chunin filed away, the genin rushed in, gawking at the two on stage, proclaiming their hopes and plans to meet their greatness with a few girls unable to even speak, giggling and practically worshiping Itachi and Tsunade and the ground they walked. They were shooed away by an angry Uchiha practically marching forward. Stopping just at the edge of the stage, Sasuke looked to his brother with innocent eyes that Itachi hadn't seen in years. Tears welled at the corners of his little brother's eyes so strongly, he did the only thing he thought of doing.

He jumped from the stage and embraced Sasuke as tightly as he could. "Everything is going to change for us, little brother. The Sun will shine on our clan again. I swear it."

"You're going to be healed – you're bringing honor back to our clan…Itachi…" Sasuke smiled as he hugged the boy back. "We…we've been avenged, niisan."

Releasing him, Itachi nodded, fighting his own tears. "We have. The Uchiha Clan is free from the bonds that held us – we are free from the past. From the moment Tsunade-sama declared me her successor – the threads of destiny shifted and changed. We make our own futures now, little brother, we decide for ourselves what kind of Clan we become. Never again, will I let the past dictate our future."

"Never again." Sasuke nodded. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade."

"Don't thank me, Sasuke." Tsunade smiled softly. "Your brother is a true fighter – he knows what it takes to be a shinobi."

At those words, Naruto disappeared into his mindscape, staring at the image of Uchiha Itachi standing amongst comrades and friends. "You know…I thought I'd be mad at the announcement of a Rokudaime, after all, I accepted Tsunade's appointment, but I can't think of anyone better than Itachi. He's everything I wish I could be."

"I don't think he'd like that." Ahri noted.

"Why not?" Naruto gaped. "Itachi is so…incredible…"

"He wouldn't want you to become like him – I feel he'd want you to be better than him." The Gumiho continued. "I don't mean skills and abilities, I mean mentally, philosophically, metaphorically. He carried such trauma and pain for years, knowing full well the dishonor and pain he would bring to his name and image, but he did so anyway because it was the right thing to do. One day, Naruto, you'll be just as deserving of the title of Nanadaime Hokage!"

Naruto blushed, letting warmth dance across his features. "Being named his successor in front of hundreds of people…?"

His heart raced, beating at his rib cage. Ahri somehow appeared behind him, her breasts squishing against his back through her Hanbok. He shivered feeling her breath dance against his ear, even her lithe fingers, soft and smooth, tickled against his hands lacing between his own phalanges. She leaned in, her lips nearly dancing against his ears.

"You're going to be strong…stronger than any shinobi before you." Ahri whispered. Naruto seemed to melt like putty as her hands held him tighter. "But not before I whip you into shape!"

Flipping him around, he rolled through the watery floor of the mindscape, completely sober and eyes widening with each step the Gumiho took. "O-Okay! Training just started!"

"You compared me to a flaming water buffalo's ass! You're gonna pay for that, Dong-saeng!"

Smoke fell from the sky with great streams of fire eating away at the banners that jumped and waved in the warming winds. Rubble decorated the village streets and crumbling structures creaked before snapping completely. Explosions shook the village, sending rubble into the air, shaking the buildings down to their foundations.

In the chaos of it all, there was a young girl, trapped underneath a boulder. Doing what she can, she tried to fight back against the weight of it all, unable to do anything substantial. Releasing a powerful roar, she channeled chakra to her back and through her arms crushing the rubble beneath her awaking the children she protected.

"L-Lady Kurotsuchi?" A genin managed to croak. A large gash on the child's forehead poured blood at a dangerous rate. "W-What happened?"

"I…I don't know!" Kurotsuchi screamed as she forced the boulder off of her back. Releasing a sigh that ripped through her body, the genin trapped and the civilians she managed to save, began to crawl from the underwork, tumbling over the destruction.

"W-What do we do?" A genin asked, her voice cracking as she did.

Kurotsuchi struggled to gain some sense of balance. "…Father…Grandfather…"

Leaving the children, she began to shuffle forward. "Genin, get the civilians to a safe house, a bunker…just get them out of the streets. Once you're done, go and look for more of our comrades trapped under the debris."

"What do we do if we can't move the debris?" A genin asked, on the verge of hyperventilating.

The woman turned on her heels, a fire burning in her pink eyes. "You will do everything you can for your people, genin! Do you understand me?! Save our families and find our comrades!"

Hearing their little feet beat through the destruction, she turned her attention to the battle at hand. Sensing hundreds of chakra signatures battling it out through the ruins, she knew she had to go. Stumbling forward, barely able to see straight, she fell to a knee, coughing and writhing with pain. Bones shattered no doubt, a few joints dislocated, her head pounded with unbelievable pain – it would be hard to get to her father and grandfather now.

Hissing and groaning like a cripple, she tried to rise to her feet, but a strong and powerful hand rested on her bare shoulder, causing her to relax all of a sudden. Turning her head just enough, she was bombarded by the natural colors of browns, greys, yellows, reds and all the colors of a flamboyant man. On his back a great scroll was tied and strapped, almost covered by his long whipping spikey white hair. What really made the man stand out, was the pair of red lines leading from his thin black eyes.

"I…I can't believe it…"

The man smiled softly, kneeling beside her. "I am Jiraiya the Gallant! Don't worry – I'm here to help!"

So, Iwagakure is under attack by an unknown force!
Itachi is named Tsunade's successor!

I'm telling y'all, we're getting close to the super fun part of this story!

But as Thanos said; Perfectly Balanced, as all things should be
Take that statement however you want ;)

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Ja ne!

gottahavekyuubi