Rating: Eventual NC-17 most likely.

Pairing: Itachi x Naruto

Warnings: Sequel to Shadows of Leaves, won't be updated too regularly (wydk will be my priority, though I do have this fic all planned out), violence, bombing-scenarios (and aftermath/destruction of whole nations), character death (minor, mainly random people) and I think that's it for now.

Summary: Five years, Oblivion wrought havoc on the world and Naruto left Konoha with everyone believing him to be dead. Now, a new threat has raised its head with the power to destroy entire nations in one swoop. The remaining nations are crumbling, but there is a sliver of hope in the mysterious village, Taiyōgakure, the village of the sun. Not everything is as it seems here though and there are far more secrets than anyone could have imagined lying in wait. ItaNaru.

Shadows of the Sun

There is a village, legends say, that exists in gold, is draped with silver and is shadowed with bronze. The ruler has a hundred ears, a thousand eyes and a million hearts. Fear not the Village of the Sun, but be wary of the situation it presents to you. For, if you should stumble across the village on your travels, you are in desperate need of the kindness of its ruler and the sanctity of its walls.

- Ōgama Sennin, Myōbokuzan, Central Reserve

Chapter One

.

Hatake Kakashi ignored the sound of paper being flicked through as he dozed lightly in a patch of sun. It wasn't recommended to sleep in the Hokage's office, but Kakashi was never one to follow official rules aside from when they were vital. He'd come to Tsunade's office for some peace, the village too loud for him today. While he was only a forerunner for the Rokudaime title, many people were beginning to turn to Kakashi for trivial matters they didn't want to take to Tsunade, not wanting to bother her, but having no problem burdening Kakashi.

And while he cared for the village and its people, he didn't appreciate being involved in a brawl between two families over a potted plant. Such matters were best left for the people themselves to sort out, as long as no serious amount of blood was shed.

"I'm sorry I'm such a bore to your mastery, Kakashi, but you could at least pay a small attention to me?"

Kakashi opened his eye slowly, smiling a Tsunade's thunderous look. It was understandable, but Kakashi was surprised she'd broken away from paperwork so soon. Shizune had tightened Tsunade's access to sake and she'd buried herself in paperwork ever since that fight. A backlog had been cleared and now Tsunade kept up to date and predicted what needed to be done with stunning accuracy.

Of course it did nothing to dispel the rumours that she was preparing to step down and hand the title of Hokage to someone else.

While no one had said anything outright, everyone knew Tsunade had been affected heavily with Naruto's loss. They all had, Kakashi included, and while they all knew the pain of losing someone, it had been worse with Naruto. Along the line, they had all assumed he was there to stay, undefeatable, but those thoughts had been crushed in their last fight with Oblivion.

The village had been remorseful, bowing their heads first in surprise and then genuine apology to their Hikage. Many had paid their respects to Naruto and his site still carried marks of respect that were from outside of his closest circle. He was remembered by many, even though he had never fully been loved by them in life.

As Tsunade flipped another page, Kakashi turned to the door as it opened and Shizune rushed in. She was panting heavily, leaning on the door with a pale face.

"Tsunade-sama!" she called, voice desperate. "The scouts trailing Mizugakure have reported in. There's nothing left," she said, voice shaking as she pulled a scroll from her pocket and entered the room.

"Just as with Iwagakure, the village has been annihilated. There's nothing left; the landscape is ruined as if it's been burnt. Nothing could have survived that." Shizune bit her lip as Tsunade began to scan the un-coded message.

"There have been reports of survivors from Iwa trying to find the legendary Taiyōgakure. Perhaps those who survived the attack on Mizu will also be able to find salvation?" It was a risk, they all knew, but many people would take a fable with earnest if there was hope.

Kakashi noticed Tsunade sit upright in her chair, the scroll open on her desk. He looked through it quickly, noticing that it didn't reveal anything other than what Shizune had already spoke of.

The threat hd been looming over them for a few weeks now, though everyone had prayed it was a fluke. Something, and no one could discern what it was, had destroyed Iwagakue in a few seconds flat. Instantly aid had gone out to the village, but there had been nothing to salvage, save for people who had managed to escape or been saved.

Instantly, the remaining shinobi nations had turned to each other, tracking what the others were doing and monitoring every small detail, hoping to find the perpetrator. Instead, what they had found was another attack, only this time on Mizu.

Whatever it was, it was impossible to track, impossible to predict and was striking the Five Great Nations one by one.

Kakashi remembered that Sakura had been one of those sent to inspect Iwa. She'd been part of a medical team and helped to heal those who had escaped, though they were few and far between compared to what Iwa had once been. She'd returned exhausted, both mentally and physically, almost unable to form her report from the tears that had stuck in her throat.

It had been carnage. They hadn't stood a chance.

And neither had Mizu. No matter how much they had put stock in defence and been on high alert, they still hadn't stood a chance against an invisible enemy.

There was a new war creeping upon them, Kakashi could feel it in his bones. Yet, this wars was unlike any before. The enemy was invisible and so powerful. It wanted the destruction of Nations, picking them off easily one by one.

That wasn't the only ramification though. Trust had been lost, with trade between villages closed down entirely. Villagers, shinobi and civilian alike, were afraid to deal with outsiders, were afraid to even step outside the village walls. Everything the villages had done to seek peace in the past few years – from treaties to promises – had crumbled in few weeks, everyone pointing their finger in as many directions as they could.

Before, it could have been passed off as a grudge against Iwa and died down in the months to come. A tragedy, but nothing more. It was the news that Mizu had gone exactly the same way that cemented their future from now on. It wasn't a random attack. Those behind it were out for blood.

There was one organisation that Kakashi had thought of who could be behind the attacks. They surely had enough power, especially if they had added the Kyūbi to their ranks, but they were lacking a motive. After five years, what did the Akatsuki have to gain from suddenly destroying Iwa and Mizu?

The alliance had shown Konoha that the Akatsuki weren't completely alien and heartless. They had never seemed the type to do something like this, but Kakashi knew better than not to discount ideas. The Akatsuki, though they had entered a shaky alliance with Konoha, were still powerful, spontaneous and quiet.

After the fight with Oblivion, the Akatsuki had vanished, covering their tracks and storing themselves away. It had been five years and no one had been able to pick up on a hint of a trail, though not from lack of trying. So many scouting teams had been sent out, trying to answer questions that had remained after the battle had cleared, so many of which related to Naruto.

It was no lie that Konoha had been tested after they'd lost their Hikage. It was a testament to his strength and determination that a whole ANBU team was needed to fill his place, but that wasn't the only way they'd been tested. It had been the people who had loved him that had been tested, left behind when someone so young had been taken.

"Nothing but a charred remain. Exactly the same as Iwa, even down to the smell of burnt cloves." Tsunade's voice was grim at the mention of cloves and it was understandable. Cloves were there for no other reason but to mark the site as a ritual. They were used as incense in temples and family homes, but now, now they had been burn across wastelands in a mocking tribute.

Yet, it was the only hint of a clue they had. It wasn't much to go on – and many of Konoha's council had objected at first that it could be a sick ritual, but Kakashi had reminded them of Hidan of the Akatsuki and his own, twisted rituals. Twisted to the outside population, yet they made perfect sense to the one carrying out the task.

"What do we do?" Tsunade asked to the room, voice low and tired.

Kakashi looked away, unsure how to answer. For all her vices and tendency to lash out, Tsunade had remained Hokage for an amazing amount of time. Even the Sandaime, after being re-instated, hadn't been through the length of time Tsunade had. Kakashi respected all kages, but Tsunade won that extra respect from her perseverance and determination. To see her so lost now was a blow to the gut, but it couldn't be helped, not in this situation.

"Is it possible there are survivors? I know some accounts tell of people walking across the land, only to vanish again, but are they just hopeful accounts?" Shizune bit her lip. "Or do they actually relate to true survivors. If they do-"

"We need to speak to them," Tsunade finished with a nod. "But the risks are too high. It would take three days to get to Mizu and even then, how do we go about finding people? They're likely to have scattered if they're even still alive."

Kakashi shook his head, unable to contribute. Was it worth trying to find survivors when none had appeared yet? Was it worth giving up on them?

"A hawk," Kakashi said. "We need an aerial view and the quickest way is to send out a hawk."

Tsunade understood what he was trying to say at once. "Inoichi can take control of the bird to scout for us," she said and nodded to Shizune, who left in a hurry and without another word.

It was simply a ticking bomb now, everyone wondering whether it would be Suna, Kumo or Konoha who would be targeted next. There was no doubt that it would be one of the three – whoever was behind the attacks was out for the five nations. It was understandable that people were scared, and they were looking for safety and salvation in myths and legends.

Kakashi watched as Tsunade sighed heavily. He felt a heavy weight descend on his shoulders and wondered if they would ever be able to be free of the load. It had been hanging around ever since Naruto had vanished (not dead, because they had never found a body and there was the smallest, slightest chance he could still be out there in the world) and Kakashi doubted it would ever leave them.

They couldn't dwell on personal matters though. Scouts had been sent out and while nothing could really be done before they had more information, Tsunade needed to start drawing up ideas on what their next steps would be. That was why Kakashi was here. He had to help and support his Hokage in every way possible.

Kakashi thought about the myths and legends that were being spoken of in hushed tones. There was a village, separate from the great nations and any hidden village that existed. It was the village of the sun – Taiyōgakure – a beacon of hope and prosperity that lived in secrecy… and yet they weren't callous or prejudiced. Tales spoke of this village extending its hand to those who needed its help, opening their wide gates and allowing starving men and pained women into its golden village.

Many people snorted at the idea of a village of gold hidden away, but Kakashi wanted to place stock in it. He wanted a place of hope and dreams to exist, even though he knew such a village shouldn't (couldn't?) exist in the shinobi world. Still, Kakashi wanted the safe haven to be real, for if these attacks on the villages continued, he had no idea what they would all do.

It was also a village that Naruto would have been proud of. A village that would open its doors to those in need and a village so bright and bold in this dark world. Kakashi had shared these thoughts with Tsunade and knew that she agreed with them.

Hope was a strange thing, Kakashi reckoned. They had no idea that this village existed aside from stories told by patient parents to petrified children, but they could all wish, couldn't they?

"Inoichi-san is here, Tsunade-sama," Shizune called from outside and the door opened. Inoichi was grim faced (weren't they all these days?) and nodded his head respectfully before coming to stand next to Kakashi.

"A hawk has been sent already. We're ready to do the mind-transfer when it reaches the air space we want." Inoichi looked as though he was going to be sick and Kakashi couldn't blame the man. He'd seen bad things in his time, but what he was going to look at now was going to be a crushing blow, something that had wiped out entire nations.

"The hawk's being tracked. It was summoned near the site and should only be a few minutes before I'm able to use my technique." Inoichi sat down in the chair provided and began weaving hand signals. They were early, but it was understandable he'd want to get this over and done with as soon as he could.

Waiting was the killer in these situations. Waiting and feeling hopeless were two horrible emotions and Kakashi knew that if he could have done something other than sitting here thinking about fabled villages then he would grasp it with both hands. As it was, though, all he could do was sit and wait, like almost everyone else.

"I'm going to bring you into the visual transmission. It will feel uncomfortable, but please bear with it." Inoichi's voice was calm and Kakashi felt something begin to weave around him, a seal no doubt. He wasn't afraid of discomfort – they were shinobi after all and he'd certainly been in worse situations than this.

As if a bucket of cold water had been tipped over his head, Kakashi's body jolted and his vision clouded. It cleared a split second later, but it was no longer frontal human vision he could see, but the sharp eyes of a scouting hawk. His line of vision changed as the bird flapped its wings and then Inoichi guided its sight towards the ground, looking over the destruction that had once been Mizu.

Buildings lay in crumbled heaps, smoke rising from fires that still raged. No one was around to put them out and they would burn themselves out soon. The technique used to decimate Mizu had probably affected the climate and Kakashi wondered how long it would take for rain to fall and mist to descend.

It was clear that no one could have survived at the heart of the blast. Craters were left and everything was charred, a trail of destruction and devastation that had claimed a village.

A gust of wind caught the hawk's wings and they flew faster, moving over the land. Nothing remained of human civilisation except for ruins and bodies. The earth split away in places too, as if a doton technique had been used, creating a misshapen landscape that looked entirely wrong.

It was the human bodies that rang true what had been done. No one had had any time to evacuate and so many people had perished. Not even the great villages were safe and Kakashi had to look away from the human remains after a while.

Figures darted through the wasteland though, scouts from other nations trying to find out what had happened and look for any information on how or why. Kakashi remembered that Hyūga Neji had been dispatched along with his fourth genin team and scanned the figures he could see, wondering if he'd made it yet.

It took a moment, but the head of the Hyūga house stool amongst the chaos, scanning around. He was alone, thankfully, no doubt realising the obvious. Twelve year olds may be strong and ready to be shinobi, but taking them into this wasteland was another matter entirely.

Neji seemed to notice them and signalled, a quick message that he would be reporting as soon as he could. He returned to his job after that and Kakashi watched him for a little while longer, noting how stiff he held himself and how he picked his way carefully through the mess. It looked awful from up here and Kakashi couldn't fathom what it must be like down there.

They circled once more before Inoichi began to pull them back. Kakashi's vision faded again and then he was back in the Hokage's office, beside Inoichi and opposite a grim Tsunade, far away from the destruction and death that lay over Mizu.

"No doubt Neji will be able to confirm that the smell of the herbs was present. Mizu looks exactly as Iwa did." Tsunade's voice was shaky and Kakashi couldn't blame her. She was a medical nin and she would have been shaken at the condition of the deceased, knowing that not even her medical prowess could have saved them.

"I want every ninja who is jōnin level and above to come to a council meeting. We need more information and we need it soon. The new missions I'll be setting will be S-classed and will have priority. It means the chūnin and genin levels will be taxed, but I'd rather that than see our village fall blindly into this." Tsunade stood, a heavy frown on her face.

"After the meeting, Inoichi, I want you to head to Mizu and gather everything that might help. Take samples; I'll send a forensic team with you too." Her frown deepened for a moment before Tsunade turned to Kakashi.

"Ambassadors. Name two good ones," she ordered and Kakashi ran through a list of people in his mind, knowing there were only two people who would be up to the job Tsunade wanted them for.

"Sarutobi Konohamaru and Uchiha Sasuke," Kakashi replied and Tsunade nodded slowly.

"Considering the timing, a kage meeting is impractical. Who knows if it's even possible… I doubt the Raikage and Kazekage trust us well at the moment, just as us with them. Konohamaru will be a good choice for Suna, as is Sasuke going to Kumo." Her voice was steady and she called Shizune in, setting her off to get the two nominated men.

The choices were good, Kakashi thought. Though Konohamaru was young for an ambassador, he held a place on the council and was well respected by peers and subordinates alike, no easy feat for a twenty-two year old. He was a handy conversationalist and quick thinking, a skill that had been put to use more than once in sticky situations.

Sasuke was a trickier choice, though Kakashi couldn't think of anyone better for the job. He was head of ANBU, maintaining the position for three years and not looking to back down anytime soon, so there was no doubt he could take on some of the best in a fight. He had a silver tongue too and inspired people from afar. They respected him and loved him with fear, the opposite to Konohamaru's love. He would be perfect to take on the Raikage.

"I'll see you in an hour's time at the council meeting," Tsunade said and both Kakashi and Inoichi stood. "Things are about to become even more difficult around here and I'm sorry for that," she said, sounding regretful.

"We'll do everything we can to protect our home," Inoichi said and Kakashi nodded firmly.

"We'll stop them," Kakashi added and he mirrored the sad smiles he received.

It wasn't whether they would stop them, but whether they'd stop them in time.

.

Two figures sat atop a large hill, eyes tracking the sun as it began to descend. The evening threw up blues, pinks and oranges in equal measure, but as magnificent a sunset as it was, it didn't hold their attention for long.

Like everyone now, they were aware of the destruction of Mizu. It wasn't why they were on the hill and you'd have to be deaf not to have heard of the tragedy.

"There," a low voice said and the figures both looked to a group of ragged people who had drawn close to the hill. This was why they were on this hill, under this sunset; for these people.

"Help," one voice said, weak with fatigue.

"Can you help us?" another called as the group neared them, pausing at the base of the hill. Someone fell to the ground and another wailed in despair, the day's events beginning to sink in and take effect on bodies that had been running purely on adrenaline.

These were the ones who had survived.

"You've had a tough journey from Mizu," the blonde haired man said, beginning his trek down the hill. He smiled kindly at the people, waiting for his partner before speaking again.

"You came here on rumours and tales, didn't you?" he said softly, looking to a woman who stood ahead of the others. She was covered in dirt and had seen many years, but she was strong, a proud matriarch leading her family to safety.

"Taiyōgakure may be a legend to those without need of it, but we are desperate. It is our only hope," she said, voice unwavering and eyes holding his own. Someone shifted a child higher on their back and his partner spoke.

"It isn't far now. We're here to guide you."

As soon as the words were said, the atmosphere changed. The group picked itself up, smiling that their hopes and dreams had been answered. They were about to be safe, protected and cared for after everything had been ripped away from the.

"I'll take them," the blonde haired man said, nodding to his partner. "You keep on lookout for more."

His companion left with a nod and he looked at the group, counting how many he was to escort and looking on their path ahead. He was in charge of them now, the one who would protect them until they reached Taiyōgakure's gates.

"My name is Deidara," he said, shrugging the cloak he wore higher about himself. Night was beginning to trespass and the temperature was lowering. "I am one of the councillors of Taiyōgakure and part of the team looking for those from Iwa and Mizu."

The group followed him, thankful at last to have somewhere to truly go.

"We have a processing system at the moment," Deidara said as he began on a familiar route, deep into the mountains that surrounded them. "You'll spend the night in the emergency camps before we can get our personal details tomorrow."

Deidara looked over his shoulder, unsurprised that only the matriarch-woman was listening. Their system wasn't perfect, but they needed to know who was coming into their village so that relatives could be notified and the council could track who might be here for the wrong reasons.

Even Taiyōgakure wanted to prevent this tragedy occurring again, after all.

"It'll be explained properly when you wake up," Deidara said and the matriarch nodded.

They walked for thirty minutes. It wasn't a comfortable walk, but they all managed it, Deidara not needing to carry anyone with his clay birds. It was better that way – less noticeable for the hundreds of scouting birds that were about in the current climate.

They came to a large jut of rock situated between two huge mountains. It looked odd and unnatural, though no one who was no allowed entry would be able to get inside. These were the gates to Taiyōgakure, the passage that would protect so many people, an impenetrable stronghold.

Small lines were scratched into the surface of the rock and Deidara ran his hands over the lines, not needing to ask the guards for entry. Only those on the council were granted such permissions and the stones began to move aside, revealing the golden village that many had only dreamt about.

The camp for the survivors of the disaster was set out and bustling. Deidara led his group there, handing them over to a genin who was taking names and assigning tents. He took over their care and called for a medic nin, taking them to their tent immediately. They would be fed, given medical care and then allowed to rest for as long as they needed. Further questions could wait until they had been cared for.

Deidara left to return to Sasori. He hadn't moved an inch, not that Deidara had been expecting him to have moved position – their little area was one of the best in their designated range.

"Konoha have made the first move. Two scouts were sent to Kumo and Suna," Sasori said quietly and Deidara raised an eyebrow.

"It'll be hard to get them to work together," he said. "I'm not too surprised that Konoha made the first move."

Sasori hummed in reply and they maintained watch as the night thickened around them. Stars were shining in the sky and the moon was a small sliver, but they kept to their posts, scanning for any more survivors who had come this way.

"How long will it be?" Sasori asked and Deidara bowed his head slightly, not bothering to answer.

"We should head back now. Taiyōkage is holding the meeting soon." Sasori simply nodded and they began the walk back to their village.

They entered quietly, greeting the ninja on guard with curt nods and scanning over the camp. Everything was under control and they moved onwards, Deidara taking a moment to look at the array of small houses being built for their newcomers. They wouldn't be finished for a few more weeks, but they were being built and that was what mattered. The survivors would have homes soon.

Despite night having fallen, it was still easy to see how Taiyōgakure achieved its name. It lay in a valley and, by day, was a perfect sun trap. While the buildings were made from beige or grey stone and the roofs were topped with slate tiles, the corners of the tiled roofs were topped with golden plating, gleaming even in the moonlight. Golden-winged hoses topped official and state buildings, the Pegasus horses looking down on the village and protecting it. While it wasn't gaudy, it showcased the wealth and the prosperity of the village, becoming a literal beacon of light.

Sasori and Deidara walked towards an iron grey tower, the only one of its kind. It was the tallest and held the most golden and elaborate decoration, full bodied horses guarding the roof and marking it as the kage's building.

The council room lay on the top floor, next to the kage's office, and Deidara didn't find it surprising that everyone but the kage was waiting already. They were greeted amicably by the group as they took their seats, waiting for their leader.

"At least it's a nice night this time," a voice called and the door to the room shut behind the Taiyōkage as he entered, taking his seat and sighing. "Mizu was destroyed in the same way as Iwa, there's no doubt about it."

The group murmured its consensus and the Taiyokage shrugged his cloak off. Like the rest of his councillors and top officials, he wore a black cloak with gold trim, but his was stamped with a winged horse, making it clear what his position was.

"How is the emergency camp dealing?" he asked, looking to a man on his left.

"Pretty fucking well," the man muttered. "I've been keeping an eye on things and they're like fucking machines down there, running on highest output possible. I'd say promote them all – nothing is left undone."

"Thank you Hidan," the Taiyōkage said, not bothering to comment on the language. They were all used to his expletives by now. "I think a promotion would be good for them… I had a look at the situation myself and I agree that they're running everything perfectly."

Deidara raised his hand suddenly, taking advantage of the pause in conversation. While he didn't want to interrupt, what Sasori had picked up upon earlier was important information.

"Konoha has finally made their move. Two scouts were sent to Kumo and Suna," he finished and the Taiyōkage nodded thoughtfully.

"As expected. Finally something that we predicted has happened, first thing in a while." He smiled widely, laughing pathetically at their situation.

They all fell silent for a moment before their leader spoke once again.

"We have to think about who has the power to do this. We're useless if all we can do is shelter those affected by this. We have to do something to prevent it." Their leader's voice was firm and the man across from the Taiyōkage raised a hand, indicating he wanted to speak.

"Is it possible Orochimaru isn't as dead as we have all assumed? Many have commented that the decimation seems ritualistic, at least from what Nagato has told us." Deidara looked at Itachi and nodded thoughtfully. Nagato, or rather Pein, had been an eyewitness to Iwa's destruction and had commented on the odd way it had happened; carefully planned and staged.

"Orochimaru eh?" the Taiyōkage said, breaking into a grin. "If it's him then we just have to flush him out and find out what the fuck he's been plotting all these years. If it's Orochimaru then at least we have something to do."

Deidara nodded. They could at least plan something now, with an idea in mind. If it came to pass that they'd judged it wrong… they could deal with that later.

"What about the remaining nations?" a low voice said and the council turned to Madara. Though it was posed as a question, there was only one way it could be answered and their kage was the one to speak.

"We cannot remain hidden anymore. It's too soon now though, we will need to wait and plan before we reveal ourselves fully." He paused. "I won't have this village crumbling because we made a wrong choice. We're here to protect people, not throw them to the wolves."

There was no disagreement and they were each given tasks for the morning. They would have a brief meeting, but their main purpose would be to find out more about what had happened and look for more survivors.

Deidara bid goodnight to their leader and received a tired smile in reply. Seeing him look so tired and so worried pained Deidara, but there was nothing that could be done yet to help. Timing was crucial and they had to be meticulous if Orochimaru was their enemy.

"Goodnight," Deidara said as he reached his room and Sasori nodded, taking to the room beside his. Deidara fell asleep as soon as his head hit his pillow.

.

Days were long when one was a kage. Days were even longer when the world was on the brink of collapse, but Naruto had a good team of people he trusted at his side and he thanked them for everything they did for him. Even so, sometimes it was still overwhelming and sometimes Naruto just wanted to be coddled for a while.

"I can't lose our village Itachi," Naruto said softly as he slid his cloak back on and walked over to the lone window in the council room. It was huge, spanning almost the entire length of the wall, and he looked out at the winged horses that also marked his back.

"If I lost her and the people she protects, I don't know what I'd do."

Naruto felt arms encircle him and he gripped back tightly, turning and burrowing against Itachi. Itachi was the only one he could depend on this much and he knew the situation was the same reversed. Just as Naruto needed Taiyōgakure and her people, he needed Itachi and Itachi needed him. They were the pillars upholding the village, supported by the now-council-former-Akatsuki and the people who made Taiyōgakure who she was.

"We won't lose anyone," Itachi said, voice firm and convincing. "We'll stop whoever is behind this and take back what we've lost. They won't win," he said and Naruto smiled, kissing Itachi gently.

"I knew there was a reason I married you," Naruto muttered, pulling away and heading for the door. "We have a day of planning tomorrow," he added and Itachi nodded, dark shadows under his eyes.

"We'll begin our counter attack tomorrow," Naruto said, leaving the council room and entwining his fingers with Itachi's as they moved towards their floor. What was coming would be hard for everyone, but Taiyōgakure would not fall and they would stop this new threat, even if it meant meeting with demons from the past that Naruto had hoped to keep running from.

.

Notes:

Rewritten from when it was originally posted, here's the sequel to Shadows of Leaves! Finally. Thank you to everyone who has reminded me of this and I'm so sorry for the delay in taking it down and reposting. I hope you've enjoyed it, reviews are always appreciated!