Disclaimer: If only Naruto was mine, but alas, it is not.

Warning: .Akatsuki.

Beta: Kalafina94

Beta: silverseed

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The invasion was over and the funeral was ready.

The three of us, dressed in all black, walked quietly through the dark streets of the Leaf. Naruto and Sasuke still sported bruises and scratches from their tag battle against Gaara, but both of them bore their wounds proudly. To them, it was like coming home with a war trophy (I was simply thankful there was a home to come back to).

My hands were tucked in theirs and somehow, they felt so small. As the small family we were, we moved through the streets silently, arriving at the funeral.

My other family was all in black and stood next to Chōji's and Shikamaru's. Other shinobi and kunoichi of all sorts were lined up in rows. Quietly, the three of us joined in a single row, staring blankly towards the front as some old man read off memorized lines.

I paid him no heed, staring down at our hands.

It was at a moment like this that I remembered how small I was compared to my friends. I was so used to being on equal grounds with them, but really, I was only a small child to them. My right hand was wrapped in gauze with special ointment applied to it. The nurse was a little confused as to how I got frostbite from lightning, but I didn't feel the need to explain and she didn't feel the need to ask further.

I looked up at the dark sky, the clouds looming above us. I looked back down at the pictures, the many rows of them that had lined up so neatly on the covered tables.

Many more lives were lost. Another stone would have to be made.

I closed my eyes and thought of Naomi; the girl who had saved my mother, who not once had I met, but indirectly allowed me to live. I thought of her and how all these other people would be like her. I thought of how all these shinobi and kunoichi sacrificed themselves to save their own loved ones and, in the process, might have allowed a new life to bloom.

I felt a strong sense of gratitude for them, along with a mixture of sadness.

I wondered when the time came, would I be joining them in such a way? Would I be able to sacrifice my own life for the safety of others?

It seemed like a very worthy death.

(But shouldn't I be with them already? Did I not deserve to rest? Was my failure. was my failure too much?)

As rain began to drizzle down from the sky, falling over us, I felt a small frown tug at my lips.

I looked at Sasuke and Naruto, my friends and, in some way, family.

I paused. No. Not quite. We were missing someone.

My eyes scanned the area, not finding that someone. I felt my frown deepen.

When it came time for us to go home, I told them I would return shortly and to not wait up.

I headed away from home, my destination set in my mind.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

As I thought.

He stood in front of the memorial stone, not minding the pouring rain that pelted down on him or the freezing wind that blew it. He stared at it, lost in his own thoughts and no hint of light in his eye. Dressed in all black, his clothes clung to his skin, showing how soaked he was.

I moved quietly before I reached out and took his freezing hand.

He looked up at me, away from the stone. Flat black eyes met with warm pale blue ones.

I smiled at him and tugged him lightly.

"Come on, Kakashi-sensei," I said. "Let's go home."

He stared at me another moment as life slowly returned to his eye. He squeezed my hand.

"Maa. Alright."

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

"So Naruto already left with Jiraiya," Kakashi murmured. Not even a day after the funeral was Naruto whisked away by the seal master, off on some quest. I remembered how he came barreling into our home, excited about learning a new jutsu. I remembered Sasuke commenting it was about time he learned something. Naruto waved him off, too excited for his journey. All of that transpired that very morning.

Now, Kakashi and I were wandering the streets of the Leaf, intent on finding lunch for ourselves before we tracked down Sasuke and Kakashi trained the two of us.

Along the path, Kakashi paused in front of a tea shop, his eye narrowing slightly as he scanned the people inside. My eyes followed his gaze, stopping short at one very strange figure and one very familiar one.

Black cloaks with red clouds.

I'd seen that before.

I'd seen it before, hadn't I?

No. that couldn't be right.

"Here?" I asked softly, almost absently, my brow furrowed in concentration as I tried to recall where I had seen the cloaks before.

"Mn," Kakashi hummed. "I'm not sure. You still have a bit of a sweet tooth, though, don't you, Nao?"

"A-Ah, yes," I answered distractedly, a frown tugging on my lips.

Where had I seen those cloaks before?

Kakashi eyed me a heartbeat before his gaze swung away from me, towards something out of my peripheral vision. "Well. You two certainly seem to be getting along well."

I tore my gaze away from the curious cloaks and looked to find Asuma and Kurenai heading towards us. At his words, Kurenai blushed lightly and looked away. "Idiot. Anko asked me to pick up some rice dumplings for her."

"What are you doing here?" Asuma asked curiously, his eyes falling on me.

"Nao and I decided to grab some lunch before Sasuke joined us," Kakashi explained easily, his eye fell towards the cloaked strangers, narrowing.

Slightly alarmed at the subtle signal he had given, I followed Asuma's and Kurenai's intent gazes back towards the cloaked figures, though the Jōnin carried on the conversation as if everything was perfectly normal.

"Well, it's not like you to be waiting for someone," Asuma said smoothly.

Before Kakashi could reply though, Sasuke appeared next to us. His arm brushed across my own and I looked up, startled.

"Nao managed to drag you away from your sulking for lunch so soon?" Sasuke asked, a single eyebrow quirking up.

"I was not sulking," Kakashi muttered. "Mourning and sulking are two entirely different things."

Sasuke's lips quirked into a smirk. I would have laughed at Kakashi's indignation, but I found myself too distracted by the cloaks. They were on the tip of my tongue—

I blinked as my gaze swung back to them and away from Sasuke, but I found them gone.

What?

Sasuke followed my gaze and frowned. "You know I don't have a sweet tooth, Nao."

"But I do," I murmured. "And you said I could choose."

Sasuke sighed.

"You don't?" Kakashi inquired, his eyes locking with Asuma and Kurenai. He gave a small nod and the two of them flickered away. I frowned at this, exchanging curious looks with Sasuke. "Actually. why don't you two go ahead and order something? I'll be back."

As Kakashi flickered away, my brow furrowed. "Sasuke-kun. I, um. I have to go check something. Order me some sweet tea with sweet dumplings, please and thank you?"

"Sure, but—"

I turned on my heel and chased after Kakashi.

Somehow, I got the nagging feeling if I followed him, I would find those cloaks again.

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

I perched on a single tree branch, staring down in horror at Itachi and a strange yet so darn familiar shark man as they battled Asuma and Kurenai. I had masked my chakra to the best of my ability, I would assume so long as no one was looking for me specifically, I would be alright.

The blue man grinned anxiously at Asuma, a massive peculiar sword in his grasp. Itachi stared down dispassionately at Kurenai, who kneeled before him in the water, glaring at him hatefully.

"You live up to your reputation," Itachi said softly, "but."

"But this is it for you," Kakashi said as he landed behind Itachi.

The shark man lurched forward, swinging his blade dangerously quickly at Asuma. Asuma leapt back, making a few attacks of his own, but they were both moving too fast for me to really tell. The shark man leaped away from Asuma, a slight glare on his face and his hands moved quickly —faster than what I would have considered possible.

The water from the canal shifted and bubbled and two serpents dove out of it as Kakashi mimicked and copied the man's move.

It was all so, so... (familiar)

I'd seen this.

I knew I had!

The serpents collided and my face screwed up in concentration, momentarily forgetting the battle.

I had seen this.

Where had I seen this?!

"Hatake. Kakashi."

Itachi's voice pulled me back from my growing frantic thoughts as he almost glared at Kakashi. Almost, of course, because Itachi seemed adamant about remaining indifferent and apathetic to everything.

I had seen this before. I had seen this before. How, how, how?

Past life, perhaps?

How could I have possibly known about something that was happening now —in the present— before it was going to happen? That was not possible. That was illogical and irrational, yet. yet.

My gut seemed to demand of me to admit the very unlikely possibility. That somehow I had known the future and forgotten it.

But that wasn't quite it. I was merely saying I was familiar with this. That doesn't mean—I don't know—I just—

"You two! Don't look into his eyes!"

My head jerked up at Kakashi's frantic order and locked onto the eyes of Itachi.

And it all rushed back.

Susano'oAmaterasuSharinganRinnegan.

Heart in throat, I lurched away from my tree branch, dive bombing towards the three of them. Kurenai and Asuma immediately closed their eyes and Kakashi continued his order. "Don't open your eyes. If you see his eyes right now, you're dead."

I landed behind Kakashi and he immediately tensed, but did not turn at my familiar chakra presence. Itachi's eyes slid over, but I was already in motion. I raised my leg and jammed my foot into Kakashi's knees.

He gave a strangled shout and fell backwards.

I pushed my chakra, already molding it into that stupid jutsu that wouldn't work for me. I threw it up in the air and it exploded with a loud, and bright, spark.

I looked at Itachi's forehead, not daring to meet his eyes. "An explosion that big will have the ANBU here in minutes. Leave. Please. Itachi-san."

His gaze fell on me and sure enough, I could already feel the sharp rise of chakra levels, mostly Jōnin, curious for the explosion. A few were heading towards us.

"An entire squad of ANBU would be more troublesome to face than this mission is worth," Itachi said quietly. "Kisame, I believe it is best to move on."

"Pity. But alright, Itachi-san."

My eyes trailed down and I stared into the regular Sharingan eyes of Itachi.

"He doesn't hate you," I whispered quietly.

Itachi's eyes flashed, but he did not make any other sign that he heard me. Faster than my eyes could follow —he was gone.

I looked down at the furious gaze of Kakashi.

"What. Did. You. Think. You. Were. Doing?" Kakashi hissed as he stood up. Kurenai and Asuma opened their eyes, deciding that the threat was gone, and stared at me in mild shock and curiosity.

"No time," I whispered, slightly frantic. Panic was already bubbling in my chest and I grabbed Kakashi's hand, pulling him roughly away. "Naru. We have to find Naru! Please, please, Kakashi! Yell at me later, but Naru needs me now!"

JūbiKuramaNarutoAkatsukiAkatsukiAkatsuki

Perhaps it was the panic in my eyes, the frantic tone in my voice, or the pleading look on my face. Perhaps it was all three; I didn't know and didn't care. At that moment, Kakashi gave me a slow nod and I shot him the most grateful look I could muster before I turned tail and sprinted full speed towards Naruto.

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I ran down the hallway, ducking around the corner and stopping short of the door the lady at the front desk had given me. I pounded frantically on it, but Kakashi stopped me, placing a firm hand on my shoulder.

I was shaking. Not much, but enough to be noticeable. I was terrified. What if it was different this time? What if they got Naruto this time around because I had interfered and the battle wasn't as long? What if they already had him? What if?

The door opened, revealing a very disgruntled Naruto and relief crashed on me. I lurched away from Kakashi's grasp, threw my arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Naruto, clearly caught off guard, looked up at Kakashi with a questioning gaze.

Kakashi didn't bother answering his unspoken question, but even he seemed a bit relieved as well. Naruto frowned, but returned my hug slightly.

I pulled back. "We have to go. Now."

"What?" Naruto blinked.

"Questions later, Naruto," Kakashi said brusquely.

"Out the window," I said, tugging Naruto away from the door. "We have to find Jiraiya. I can't believe he left you here alone!"

My voice had raised to a near shriek of annoyance. Kakashi didn't bother to tell me to lower my voice. I could tell he was a little annoyed by it as well.

"Would someone please explain to me what is going on?" Naruto asked as I pulled him to the window. I still didn't answer, focused on opening the stupid jammed window. In the end, I growled with frustration and kicked it open. I then hopped out of it, onto the roof right below it.

Naruto gave me an odd look, but followed me down, with Kakashi right behind us.

"Where's Jiraiya?" I asked immediately.

"I don't know—with some lady—"

"Kakashi-sensei," I interrupted. "Can you find him?"

"My nose might not be as sharp as Pakkun's, but I know enough," Kakashi said, already scanning the crowd. "I found him. Let's go."

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The moment Naruto was back with Jiraiya, I felt such an insane amount of relief, I literally dropped to the ground, not really caring how odd it must have looked. The sheer relief of knowing he was safe again was enough.

This lasted about a minute before I felt a frown tug down at my lips.

Why was I relieved again?

Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

"So," Kakashi drawled as we slowly headed back to town. "I must say, I wasn't expecting this afternoon to be so busy."

"I wasn't either," I admitted. "I—"

"Kakashi, my Eternal Rival!" Gai —a man in all green spandex, like a grown up version of. Lee— landed before us and gave us a very odd pose. "I finally found you! But alas, I have the most unyouthful news."

"What is it, Gai?" Kakashi asked dryly, clearly not really in the mood for him.

"It's your student, the Uchiha—"

"Sasuke-kun?" I interrupted, panic bubbling inside me once again.

Gai nodded. "It seems Itachi attacked him almost an hour ago. We have him in the hospital, but it looks rough. He's been placed in a difficult genjutsu."

"Why?" I demanded immediately. "They wanted Naruto—not—not—"

"Witnesses say Itachi told him he didn't have enough hate."

My entire body froze.

"He doesn't hate you."

He doesn't hate you.

He doesn't hate you.

My hands flew up to my mouth and my face twisted in horror. Kakashi's eyes flew to mine as realization dawned on his face. My knees seemed to turn to mush and my stomach heaved dangerously. Heart constricting, I fell down to my knees.

Gai appeared horrified by my action, and most surprised. Kakashi fell down beside me, arms immediately wrapping around me to keep me from falling flat on my face.

Could I?

He doesn't hate you...

Could I have, perhaps?

He doesn't hate you.

Did I. Did I sentence (my) Sasuke to this fate?

He doesn't hate you.

Was I the one to blame?

He doesn't hate you.

But

He

Might

Hate

Me.

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Question: How many of you are caught up in the latest manga chapters? What are your thoughts? If you don't read the manga. what are your thoughts about the latest anime episode(s)?