Ages : Uchiha Itachi : 23

Team Seven et al : 17

Location: Training Grounds 4

The field was silent, aside from the occasional rustling of the trees made by the swift wind. There was a lone girl amidst the wooden training dummies, the figure jumped high in the air creating a silhouette in the setting sun; simultaneously she released three kunai each finding their mark just a few inches short of the target. Landing she sighed and walked towards the practice dummy only to collapse on the floor by the third step.

Location: Konaha Hokage Office

'So that's decided then, I hope you enjoy normal ninja life for a month!, spoke an excited Tsuande. 'I do not see the tactical purpose of my removal from active duty, but I trust your judgement Hokage sama' said the ANBU clad in all black and wearing a white raven mask, the three lines across the eyes symbolising that this operative was beyond the captain rank ANBU. 'Listen here, you haven't taken a day off since you were first enlisted, don't you want to relax or I don't know take some time off to spend time with your family and friends?' sighed the Fifth Hokage squeezing her forehead. 'I have no wish to do any of the aforementioned things, I live only for the protection of this village, your removal of me from active duty is counter productive to my purpose' came the reply emotionlessly. 'Well your mother would have me killed if I had not allowed this so for all intents and purposes you are hereby placed in reserves for a month starting tomorrow, unless there is a need that you will be summoned again' sighed Tsunade clearly not having the best of days. Before he could reply he waved her hand dismissively. The ANBU simply nodded and proceeded to move towards the window. 'Oh before you leave, I wish you to be in normal clothing during this inactive period so no ANBU uniform or mask, and say hello to your mother and ask her to visit me sometime' said Tsuande not looking up from her pile of paperwork. 'As you wish Hokage sama, I will not wear the ANBU standard uniform nor mask and I shall relay your message to my mother, good afternoon Hokage sama' was the reply, with that the ANBU disappeared running down the Hokage tower. 'Kami that kid needs to lighten up, though I wish I had ten more of him sometimes' Tsunade mumbled as she started to go through the rims of paper infront of her.

Arriving at the barracks the raven masked ANBU walked through the gates, the guards on eitherside bowed their heads showing respect to the arrival, the ANBU simply nodded and walked in to the changing areas. Not a soul was in sight, made sense since the raven masked ANBU was only placed on solo S+ rank missions it made sense no other team was here at this time. Opening his locked he sighed as he saw his clan clothes infornt of him, it had been nearly a year since he last wore these. He proceeded to remove his mask; he had to admit he felt a bit alien as he donned the ordinary clothes, he took his sheathed sword and slung it on his back. Lastly he removed the mask revealing his crimson eyes with three tomoe spinning around the iris. He got one last look at himself and walked out of the barracks nodding to the guards in farewell.

As he walked on to the main road he was greeting by the sudden hustle and bustle that was Konoha. He was after all on one of the main roads, life was teeming from every corner, the street vendors hawking their wares, shops open and filled with buyers searching for bargains, animals of all forms co inhabiting with locals. Walking past a fruit stall he was halted by the sudden female voice squealing his name. 'Uchiha sama !, Uchiha sama ! here ! look here ! its me Yumi do you remember me ?. He turned to see a young girl no older than twelve with rosy cheeks, black hair tied up in pigtails, running at him. He lowered himself as to greet her on her eye level 'Hello Yumi chan ofcourse I remember you' as she hugged him tightly. 'Its been so long! Where have you been?' she spoke into his chest. 'Just busy with work Yumi chan' he replied patting her head, standing up he smirked 'You've grown since I last spoke to you'. 'Ofcourse I have! A whole two millimetres! Look! Look!' she pouted childishly as she started jumping as if to show her increase in stature, smiling he said 'I see that your almost as tall as me, and your growing up beautifully' Yumi suddenly turned bright red 'O..o…ofcourse Yumi is she is even going to the academy now' she spoke whilst turning her back towards him. 'YUMI! YUMI! Get back we have work to DO!' screamed an older man from the fruit stall. 'COMING otousan! Sorry Uchiha sama I have to go' screamed Yumi as he turned heel and ran back to her father. Itachi looked emotionless as he watched her run however at these times he felt glad he was protecting this village. Looking up at the sky, he calculated he could get in atleast an hours training before he went to the main house. He started jogging rapidly picking up the pace as he ran towards training ground four.

Location Training Grounds 4

Arriving at the training grounds he felt that chakara again, he has felt it a few miles back faintly usually he was very sensitive to charakas but this one felt very weak and drained so he assumed it was merely an injured animal. The training ground had been used, being the cautious person he was he took out his sword still in its sheath and walked towards the chakara source, eyes slowly turning bright crimson as he walked. What greeted him wasn't an injured animal but a konochi, she was completely exhausted. Inspecting her further he looked at her strange hair, an indigo- purplish colour, as his eyes inspected her face further he saw many scratches, sweat still present on her cheeks, her headband was around her neck like a scarf. He placed his sword back on his back and placed his hands on her stomach her tattered clothing was a bit damp from training he couldn't tell her rank from her clothing but that didn't stophim helping his fellow villagers before. Green light started glowing from his hands as he transferred some of his chakara to her so she could stand; she started coughing and spat some blood which promptly hit his cheek. Eyes snapped opened and looked straight at him; crimson eyes met colourless white ones. 'A Hyuuga?' he thought as he continued displacing his chakara despite the blood dripping down his face.

Hinata immediately got up and looked at the nameless person, her face suddenly flushed bright red. 'Who is he…whats he doing, why do I taste blood…' she thought as she looked at her current state and remembered she had fallen and well her mind was really a blank after that. 'I found you here unconscious, I suggest next time you bring some sustenance for after your training' he spoke coldly as he got up. 'O…o…oh I'm sorry, she apologised as she looked facedown in shame. 'It is no problem, be more cautious next time' came the reply in the same stoic tone as he had first spoke to her. Looking up towards his face was tried to reply as she noticed blood on his face, immediately connecting the taste of iron in her mouth to his face she suddenly closed the distance between them, stood on her toes and slowly wiped the blood off his face with the sleeve of her jacket. Hinata suddenly looked at his face, at what she was currently doing. Her face resembled that of a freshly picked cherry tomato as she stuttered 'I'm so so so s…s…s s sorry, I shouldn't have touched your face…P..p…p…p…please forgive my m…m…m…mistake!' and turned facing downwards hands falling at her side.

Itachi merely looked at her, 'Is she a shinobi?' he thought as he started to analyse her. She was of a petite frame, looked extremely delicate, pure white skin that nearly matched her white eyes. He also noticed how delicate her fingers seemed when she wiped his face, and seemed to have hair similar to that of an eggplant. 'How weak' he thought, although he dismissed those thoughts immediately as he knew better than to judge a person on apperance. 'It is fine…Hyuuga san, now if you are well enough I have to train' he said flatly as he turned. 'Ye…ye...yees I'm rea...a...a...lly so…so…rry I wi...' she said abruptly collapsing. Itachi sensed this and quickly caught her before she hit the grassy field. She was still sweating heavily; her breathing was becoming slower and fluctuated. He knew he had to get her to her house, thus eliminating any chance he had of training. Slowly he picked her up in his arms, she was opening and shutting her eyes 'I will now get you to your residence Hyuuga san please bear with it until we reach' he said turning towards the forest and began walking. 'N..n…no p…p…please not there I cant go there today p…p…p…p…please I beg you n…no…not home' she spoke silently as tears flowed down her red cheeks as she slipped in to unconsciousness. Sighing Itachi placed her back on the floor, pulled out a scroll, bit his thumb drawing blood. 'Summoning jitsu!' he said loudly but not as loud as to disturb her. A large pearl white snake appeared out of the smoke, the snake looked at Itachi with its red eyes and slowly made its way to his legs as it coiled its way around his waist and to Itachi 'shoulders , looking at him straight in the eyes. 'Massssster' it spoke hissing and looking at Itachi in admiration, and hungrily at the kunochi's body. 'Himi I require your assistance will you accept my request?' Itachi spoke as he stared in to her scaled eyes. Itachi had known before he evoked the blood of contract with the Snake family, not only were they notorious for their monstrous strength but mainly for their betrayal towards their contractors, the Snake family would also require live sacrifices if they deemed the contractor unworthy, luckily Itachi had gotten rid of this problem by subduing Manda a while ago using the Sharingan. His choice of summon had caused a rift between him and his clan since they had traditionally evoked a contract with the Hawk he choose the Snake on a whim. It was said the traitor Orochimaru was the first to contract the snakes and well that didn't fit right with the elders, 'Like I care, I need the best tools to protect the village' he thought. 'Yesssss I shall, you are Himi's masssster our blood is linked to masssster, and how may Himi be of service' the female snake hissed. 'Thank you' he answered 'Please go to Okaasan and inform her that I shall be bringing an injured shinobi to the main house, request that she prepare for her arrival and stay by my Okaasan until I have return Himi' he ordered the snake. 'As you wisssssh' Himi said uncoiling herself from Itachi and disappearing in a cloud of smoke. Itachi turned around looked at the Hyuuga lying unconscious on the grassy plain, sighing he picked her up as he walked towards the Uchiha main house.