Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

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Chapter One

Hinata's eyes widened as someone covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming. It was dark and instinctively, she tried to use her Byakugan in order for her to see and defend herself.

But when she activated it, she cried in dismay when two red eyes glowed in front of her, tomoe spinning and slowly putting her in a mind trance.

She was on her way back from guard duty when two dark figures attacked her. They caught her unaware because their chakra signatures were controlled and well hidden. As a jounin, Hinata stood her ground and fought back like any brave Hyuga heiress would do. She knew that she has to warn the village of at all cost.

But when she saw the cloud symbol on her attackers' cloaks, that's when she began to panic.

They were members of the Akatsuki.

When the knowledge sank in, Hinata knew that she stood no chance. No matter how she tried to land her gentle fist on one of them, they were just too fast and too strong for her.

Especially the one with the red eyes.

Hinata's knees buckled underneath her and she collapsed on the dark forest ground, her eyes staring into nothingness as her mind was trapped in the sharingan's power. In a small corner of her mind, Hinata knew that they were going to kill her—Akatsuki members were very well known because of their evil nature and unmerciful ways—she didn't expect to get out alive from this one.

"Itachi…" Kisame smiled slyly as he looked at his partner in crime. They had been assigned to abduct the Hyuga heiress and he was not expecting that destiny would bring her to them wrapped in a lovely red bow. They were still spying around, planning on how to infiltrate the powerful Hyuga clan when they found out that she was actually on guard duty tonight.

And that meant she would be making rounds around the forest…and that's all that they need to do what they came here to do.

Uchiha Itachi hoisted the crumpled form, her lilac scent bathing his nostrils as he placed her on his shoulder, carrying her like a sack of rice… but much easier for she was surprisingly light. "You need to create a diversion so that I can leave with the Hyuga." He told the shark-like person who was staring at the girl with an evil smile. "The whole Hyuga clan will be after us the moment they realized the girl is missing."

"Unfair…why do you get to carry the girl?" Kisame asked, his hand tight around his chakra-stealing sword.

"Because I don't trust you enough to leave the heiress in your possession." The Uchiha answered coldly, his voice smooth like satin yet cold as ice. Even in trance, the voice pierced Hinata's mind. "We need her alive."

"I'm not gonna kill her."

"But you might do something that is worse than kill."

Kisame grimaced. "Damn Itachi…I can never understand how you can play so honourable, but when in truth…you're one of the most blood thirsty among us…killing your clan and all."

"Just do it." With one last warning glare, Itachi took off, Hinata dangling from his arms like a rag doll.

-o-

Naruto grinned sheepishly at Sasuke as he emptied his pockets. "Oh…I forgot my money Teme."

The Uzumaki has dragged his teammates, Haruno Sakura and Uchiha Sasuke, to have some late night dinner at Ichiraku's ramen house. The three had their fill of the delicious cuisine with an extra serving—on the house—by the kind owner who ran the food booth.

But when it was the time to pay, Naruto's pocket was empty…and the blonde had finished up four bowls of extra large noodles.

"Baka Naruto." A vein popped on Sakura's forehead.

"Come on Sakura-chan… It's not like I left my money behind on purpose."

Sasuke was too tired to stop his two loud teammates from bickering, so he pulled out his own money from his pocket and dropped it on the counter. He did not bother to count, for he knew that he had pulled out more than enough of the amount that he was going to pay for everything that they have eaten.

Pushing his empty bowl away from him, Sasuke pocketed his hands and stood up. Eyeing his two teammates who were still bickering with each other, he silently walked away without them noticing. Sometimes, the loudness that accompanied the two was nerve wrecking and he could not help but be irritated.

Following the dirt road that leads to his house—a house that was in the middle of the Uchiha district where nobody else lives—he decided to take a shortcut and pass by the forest. It was faster that way, and he knew that the first thing that Naruto and Sakura would do was to look for him and follow the dirt road.

A shortcut would be a second option… but the moment that they would realize it, he would already be inside his house.

Walking pensively as the sound of night insects and animals filled his ears, Sasuke wondered why he was suddenly feeling uneasy. He didn't know why but he was suddenly on his guard.

Then he stopped in his tracks and his eyes widened. Looking around, his jaw clenched and sharingan activated in a haste as he felt the unmistakable electric type chakra that only the ones with the Uchiha bloodline possessed.

In his case, only two Uchihas still existed: him and his traitor of a brother.

His tomoe spinning, Sasuke's breath blocked in his throat at what he saw a few meters away. A black figure was bounding through the trees, wearing a black cloak that matched the dark night. However, no matter how dark it was—for the tall trees blocked whatever light the moon was giving—he could still see the glowing red eyes that matched his.

It was Itachi.

The older version of him stopped, also aware of his presence. Now that he was not on the move anymore, Sasuke could make out a figure slung over his older brother's shoulder.

"Itachi…", Sasuke growled, "What are you doing here you traitor?"

Itachi eyed his younger brother, the one most precious thing in the world to him, and saw the hate and anger etched on his face. Giving the younger Uchiha a sinister smile, he tilted his chin up and looked down on Sasuke. "Weakling."