This wicked fanart was made by Arneewenn on deviantART. Thank you!

When Kurama told me that the invasion was taken care of, I wasted little time in teleporting to Naruto. Kurama and Naruto had been staying in contact (which was both a good thing and a bad thing) throughout the training session and invasion. Naruto, it had seemed, had asked Kurama to keep me out of the invasion as a favor to him.

Kurama, it had seemed, had agreed.

I'll spare you the tongue-lashing I had given Kurama. I knew that he would probably try to keep me out of the invasion, regardless of Naruto's opinion. His reasoning being that I wasn't needed—seeing how no one would die anyway.

I still didn't like it, but it would do me no good to simmer about it.

I appeared at Naruto and Sasuke's side in a flash of red, after Konoha had already celebrated his return and begun the rebuilding of Konoha.

The moment Naruto realized I was back, he hurtled himself at me, picking me up and swinging me around with a happy cheer. "Miwako-chan!"

"Aniki," I responded, a cross between embarrassment and contentedness. When he was done, and had finally set me down, I rolled my eyes and gave him a tight hug. "I take it everyone is okay now?"

"Yeah. Did Kurama fill you in?"

"You could say that. How are you doing, Sasuke?"

Sasuke spared me a glance, his eyes lingering a moment or two longer than necessary on me. "Fine."

"He is not," Naruto returned, glaring at Sasuke. "Show her!"

Sasuke folded his arms across his chest.

"Show me what?"

Then Sasuke stubbornly looked away for several seconds. Silence fell between the three of us, as worry and suspicion began to claw at me. Naruto glared at Sasuke in the silence. "Quit being an ass. You know we can trust her."

"It's not that I don't trust her," Sasuke snapped. "It's just—"

He abruptly fell silent, anger flaring across his face before he forced his expression into indifference. He clenched his hands into fists and relaxed them soon after. Hesitantly, I reached out to him and placed a hesitant hand on top of his shoulder. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Sasuke sighed. "... I... I arrived back in Konoha earlier than Naruto. Naruto destroyed our food supply (and I was not eating theirs), so I asked for a re-summon. Naruto didn't arrive until after Pein had... destroyed most of Konoha. I, on the other hand, arrived just prior to his final attack. I found Kakashi-sensei, and I..."

He stopped, his brow furrowing and lips tugging down. "He died. I saw him die for me. He died so I could live, and he died just before Pein's final attack, and then Naruto showed up, and..."

A cold feeling had settled into the pit of my stomach at Sasuke's words. Unable to help myself, I reached out for him, grasping his hands—knowing he didn't care for physical contact, but knowing he needed it anyway. He needed a reminder that no, he was not alone, and yes, this is reality. I had a feeling that what was coming would be something horrible for him.

I had a feeling that level of pain he felt, that level of guilt, was enough...

... was enough to open a new world of pain for him.

Sasuke looked down at my hands, wrapped around his, and Naruto stepped closer to us. Naruto brushed his shoulder against Sasuke's, and that's when Sasuke looked back up at me.

His eyes were no longer obsidian.

Nor were they a three-tomoe Sharingan.

"Oh, Sasuke," I whispered quietly, feeling a surprisingly deep level of concern for my teammate. "Who else knows?"

"Kakashi," Sasuke said quietly. "I don't... I don't want these eyes. I don't want to know what these eyes mean, and why Itachi has them. He told me that if I killed my best friend, I would achieve these eyes. I didn't. I did not lay a hand on Kakashi, but yet, I still have these eyes. When I felt that... what I felt at that moment..."

"You felt such a deep level of guilt, of pain, that it transformed your eyes," I said quietly. "That's how you achieve the Mangekyo Sharingan. By Itachi reaching those eyes, means he felt the same way at one point."

Sasuke shook his head, his eyes returning to black. "That's just it. I thought... I thought to reach this power, I had to disconnect myself, and merely lose all feelings and regards for others. I thought I could only hate. I gave up wanting to feel like that a couple years ago. I didn't... don't... want to become like Itachi. I refuse to follow in his footsteps. I will achieve my own power, and I will surpass him in every way. So the fact that he had to feel what I felt..."

"It makes you wonder what kind of person he really is," Naruto lamented. "I thought he was supposed to be some sort of anti-feeling jackass. But, if he was in that much pain... doesn't that mean our first assumption is wrong?'

"And doesn't that mean that other assumptions could be wrong?" Sasuke questioned. "That's what's so unsettling about this. Why would Itachi want me to think he didn't care—that he had no feelings of regret or guilt? What purpose could that serve, other than to just further motivate me in his revenge?"

I bit my bottom lip, suddenly uncertain.

Did I broach the matter now? I had no proof, though. Nothing physical. And I couldn't rely on Kurama told me such and such, because even Kurama had no way of knowing about the massacre. He was sealed inside of me during it, and I was kept away from the Uchiha District.

That doesn't mean you can't begin to place the seeds of doubt, does it? After all... after you take care of that loose end, we can use that warmonger's scent to track down the ROOT hideouts and divulge all the information we need.

"What if he wanted to die?" I asked Sasuke quietly. "What if... just what if... he felt so horrible about his life, about what he was going to do to your family, he feels like you killing him would be the perfect justice?"

"If he felt so bad about it, then why did he do it?" Sasuke demanded.

"If Itachi lied about his apathetic nature, then doesn't that just leave his real nature left?" Naruto wondered. "You said he was a completely different person before that night, yeah? So then... then... I wonder if that was the real him, and this persona is fake. We already know he's not apathetic, so his current guise is a load of bullshit. Following that logic, then the big question is... what the hell happened to make a pacifist go crazy and kill everyone?"

"Not crazy," I corrected. "He has those eyes, so he feels remorse; regret; pain. Someone crazy wouldn't feel that—at least I don't think so. He was cornered. Pushed. He was in ANBU, wasn't he?"

Naruto suddenly stiffened, and Sasuke's eyes widened. Naruto whirled on me, his gaze dark. "Miwako, what are you implying?'

Immediately realizing that this was a very touchy subject with Naruto still pro-Konoha, I backed down, holding up my hands. "It was just a thought. Look, it doesn't do us much good to ponder this all day. Let's give it a rest, let our brains mull over what we've talked about, okay?"

Relaxing, Naruto gave me an easy smile. "Okay. Come on, Imouto! Let's grab something to eat. Teme, you coming along?"

"Hn. Might as well."

('･ω･')

I stood up from my matt, a plan and goal in my mind. The Kage Summit would commence, and Danzō would make his move for Hokage. It was time that I dealt with Itachi and him - no more procrastinating.

I couldn't let Danzō live. He was a threat to my family, and would continue to do so.

Itachi didn't deserve his fate in canon - he deserved something far better. Him and Sasuke (at least the Sasuke that I had come to know and care for). And after talking it over with Kurama last night, we finally settled on a plan. It may not have been the greatest of plans, but it was satisfactory.

I opened the window and leapt out of our apartment building.

('･ω･')

"Sasuke."

Sasuke looked up from his booth. It was around noon and he was taking a lunch break from his assistance in rebuilding Konoha. He raised a thin eyebrow at me and I sat down beside him.

We sat on a wooden bench that faced the streets, outside of a tea shop that was currently being rebuilt.

Squaring my shoulders, I looked him dead in the eye. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course," Sasuke said. "What's wrong?"

"Do you trust me more than other Konoha shinobi?" I pressed.

"... Yes," Sasuke answered, frowning. "What's wrong?"

"If I told you that I killed a fellow Konoha shinobi, what would you do?"

Sasuke stared blankly at me. "Did they deserve it?"

"I believe so."

"Did they hurt you?"

"Not me. Someone I care for, though."

"Naruto?"

"Does it matter?"

"Is it... Does it have something to do with our earlier conversation?"

I didn't respond.

Sasuke stared at me another moment before he shrugged and looked away. "... Do you need help hiding the body, or something?"
"No," I said. "I haven't killed them... yet."

"You plan on murdering a fellow Konoha shinobi," Sasuke stated, dropping his voice to a low whisper. I cocked my head, listening and smelling if there were any other shinobi or kunoichi near us. There weren't - there weren't any before, but considering the conversation, it would be best to remain cautious.

Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly. "Yes. I do."

Sasuke nodded his head and looked down at the black tea he held in his hands. "... Are you asking for my assistance?"
"Yes... and no," I said. "I don't want you to help me take them down. I'm not going to ask you to directly commit treason for me. I'm asking... I'm asking you to... to cover for me. You know how Naruto is with this sort of thing, and I know that lately I've been asking a lot of you two... I'm so sorry for all the secrecy, but it's too dangerous to really talk about it now."

Sasuke set his tea down and looked at me, his eyes locking with my own. His gaze and expression was completely unreadable, and I found myself fidgeting under it. My cheeks warmed and I squirmed, shifting nervously and anxiously.

Minutes ticked by in silence before Sasuke finally said, "Alright. I'll help you kill them."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Wait, what? No - just cover me. I don't want you to -"

Sasuke turned away from me, looking out at the bustling streets. "There are very few things that I like, Miwako. Konoha is not one of them. In all honesty, it makes no difference if I see this place burn or not. What matters to me are the few people I like."

He sounds like you, Kurama commented.

I stared at Sasuke for another moment or so, mixed emotions swirling inside of me.

Yeah... he does.

Finally, I looked down at the hands that rested in my lap. I scooted a bit closer to Sasuke, my shoulder bumping into his and I smiled down at my hands.

"... Thanks."

He didn't respond right away, but instead lightly bumped his shoulder against mine. "Don't mention it."

('･ω･')

"With Tsunade out of commission, you're just going to have to go the Kage Summit yourself, Jiraiya-sensei," I said bluntly. Jiraiya gave a small whine at that, continuing to stuff his mouth with sugary delights.

Once he had swallowed down the food, he glared at me. "Don't be ridiculous."

"It's just a substitution until she wakes up from her coma," I said, rolling my eyes. "You need to go before the Elders try to pull a political move and send one of their own."

Jiraiya grimaced. "... Why not send Kakashi? He - "

"Just. Go," I said firmly, grabbing his plate of sweets and holding it away from him. "Take Kakashi and someone else along with you and go. I'm fairly confident no one's going to object to you going, except Danzō."

Jiraiya frowned at that, his expression losing its humor. "Danzō..."

"... is an ass, yes, I know. Which is why you have to go."

"Where is he anyway?"
I shrugged, carefully not meeting his eyes. "... Doesn't matter. Why don't you take Naruto along with you, too? Give him a chance to see how it's done because you know he's going to become Hokage one day."

Jiraiya gave me a toothy grin. "Maybe I will. You want to tag along, Miwa?"

"Ah... no... Actually... Sasuke and I have plans."

Jiraiya's grin widened, but its humor was gone. He raised his eyebrows. "Plans? What kind of plans?"

"Just... uh..." I trailed off, fidgeting. His gaze was sharp and I felt nervous about lying to him. I knew I had to, at least to some extent, because I wasn't entirely certain he would be as accepting of what I was doing as Sasuke.

I had already lied to him before - or at least convinced Naruto and Sasuke to do so for me, so I reasoned that I could do so again. Yet, when I was actually before this man that cared for me dearly, I found it difficult. I had trust issues - no use denying that - and I trusted Jiraiya more than I trusted many others. It seemed... wrong... to somehow expect him to continue to trust me, when I would lie to him so baldly.

"We have a date."

I startled, my eyes widening as Sasuke entered the room, his face entirely blank.

Jiraiya looked between us, his expression morphing into something akin to horror. "What?"
"He's kidding," I said quickly. "Lighten up, Jiraiya-sensei. We just want to get some training done. I, uh, want to practice drawing on Kurama's chakra a bit more, and Sasuke wants to train more intensively. We figured sparring each other would do nicely. We'll go outside the village to do it, of course, so we don't startle anyone."

Jiraiya relaxed. "Oh, if that's all... Where outside the village?"

"Oh just a little ways," I answered vaguely. "Don't worry about it. We, uh, might try tracking you down afterwards. You know... keep my tracking skills on the mark and I can teach Sasuke a thing or two about it. I trust that won't be an issue?"

Jiraiya looked a little nervous. "It's not really my call... but seeing how Tsunade-hime's out of commission... I guess I would be one of the leading officers in charge anyway, huh? Just fill out your proper paperwork and I'll sign it."

"Thank you," I said, smiling. Hesitating a brief moment, I then leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Come on, Sasuke. Jiraiya-sensei, should I tell Naruto to start packing?"
Jiraiya's brow furrowed. "I never said I would go to the Summit -"

"You're going," I stated.

Jiraiya's shoulders fell. "Do I have to?"
"Yes."

He sighed. "Alright... fine... I'll take Kakashi and Naruto with me, I guess... Why can't the ANBU Commander go in my place?"
"Because then he would have to take off his mask, and that violates the ANBU code," I said dryly. "Just tell Kitsune to look after the village while you're gone, or something."

Jiraiya sighed again. "I really don't want to do this, though..."
"You're doing it."

"I know..."

('･ω･')

It's too dangerous for Sasuke to follow me, I told Kurama. I know, now, he'll cover for me, regardless. Danzō would have left for the Summit, leaving some of his ANBU operatives to relay his departure. He planned on having the other Kage acknowledge him as the Hokage, and thus force Konoha to then acknowledge him, as well.

He knew that the village would never acknowledge a new leader so soon after Tsunade entered her coma (especially with Jiraiya still alive). He would have already left by now, trusting in his ROOT members to ensure no one else would attempt to leave for the Summit.

What he did not count on, however, was Jiraiya actually willing to go to the Summit in the first place. It's well-known that Jiraiya despises taking direct leadership roles - he declined the offer of being the next Hokage before it was offered to Tsunade, after all! Danzō's biggest threats would be his fellow Elders, and so long as the ROOT operatives continued to monitor them, and Jiraiya left early enough...

Jiraiya, Naruto and Kakashi would not know Danzō was attempting to go to the Summit.

Especially if I can pull this favor off, I finished, fidgeting slightly.

Kitsune was squatting next to me while I sat on the rooftop.

If Jiraiya leaves early enough, and everyone spreads the news about his departure, and accepts him... Chances are, ROOTs will stop trying to spread the news about Danzō. It would paint Danzō in a more negative light—make him seem like he was trying to make a power play.

It's obvious for Jiraiya to go to the Summit, and not him. Even the civilians know about Jiraiya, while only a handful of shinobi know about Danzō. If it was learned that some nobody (even if he wasn't actually a nobody) was going to the Summit in place of the public-figure Jiraiya... there would be no positive way to paint that back. At least, nothing so easily. Perhaps he could cover for him and say he was merely on his way to advise Jiraiya, but that could come across as an insult (that he doesn't trust the well-known, well-liked, and experienced Sanin)...

No one else will know he was trying to become Hokage.

The best way out of a situation like that, though, for Danzō, is for his ANBU to not let anyone know where he was going the second they discover Jiraiya has left. Then they'll try to track him down before he reaches the summit and quietly bring him back, so it seems like he never left.

"So what you're saying is," Kitsune said softly, "you want me to keep all other ANBU members away from Jiraiya-sama, Naruto, and Kakashi?"
I nodded. "I... um..."

"Let me guess," Kitsune continued, "you can't really explain why either?"

I flushed, shaking my head quietly.

Kitsune did not respond, and his reaction was unreadable due to the mask. Instead, he turned his head away from me, overlooking the village. "Let me ask you this much, Miwako-chan: Is it to protect Naruto?"
I nodded again, shyly looking away.

"Alright."

I looked back up at him, sharply. "A-Are you sure?"

"Any other ANBU should not have reason to directly approach them anyway," Kitsune said casually. "They should have their entire attention focused on rebuilding and protecting the village. Seeing how Jiraiya-sama and the others will be leaving tomorrow morning for the Summit, anyway, it's not that big of a deal. I don't understand why you do not want any ANBU, aside from me, near them right now, but... I know you're a good kid, Miwako-chan. And I know you will do everything in your power to protect your brother. Frankly, I have a feeling if I didn't agree, you'd personally try to keep the ANBU away, even resorting to physical violence if necessary. It would cause less damage if I just agree to this."

I smiled sheepishly. "Thank you, Kitsune. I know I can rely on you, now."

Hesitating for a brief moment, I then stretched out my hand and placed it on top of his black spiky hair. I patted the top of his head.

Kitsune gave a small chuckle, though it sounded odd coming out from the voice-distorting mask. "Maa, if you don't need anything else, I better return to work, Miwako-chan."

"Mn. Thank you again, Kitsune."

"Aa."

('･ω･')

Danzō had already left for the Summit, I thought, hurrying away from Kitsune. I have a limited window to act. I'll need to leave now, so Sasuke doesn't join me. Hopefully he won't try tracking me.

I won't put him in any more of an incriminating position, than I absolutely have to. What I'm doing is treason of the highest charge—no exceptions. It doesn't matter if it's for the best. It doesn't matter if it has to be done.

I am breaking the law.

I am betraying Naruto's village.

I am going to murder this man.

If it makes you feel any better, you have my support in this a hundred-percent, Kurama commented.

My lips twitched and I gave a wry smile. Thank you, Kurama. You really are my best friend.

Would you stop being so damn emotional? By the Sage you're getting worse every day, I swear! It's really starting to creep me out.

I laughed out loud at that, sprinting across the roof tops. I bypassed the majority of the public as I ran for the exit of the village. Within seconds, I had leapt above the high wall and begun running through the forest. Not bothering to hold back, I ran for many minutes before deeming I was far out of the village enough.

I bit down on my thumb and summoned the Pack.

When the smoke cleared and the eight ninken were summoned, they all looked up at me expectantly. Pakkun, who was on top of Bull's head, was the first to speak, "What do you need, pup?"

I sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. "What I am about to ask of you, is something you do not have to do. I'm looking for someone. Someone I know is in this country, near the village, or at least approaching it. This is not an official mission. This is... something that could be considered... treasonous."

"Treasonous?" Bisuke barked, cocking his head. "What's going on?"

"I need to find Uchiha Itachi," I admitted.

Immediately, a tense atmosphere fell across the Pack; a sort of somber silence. I fidgeted nervously under their gazes, before Bull finally spoke. His voice was low and gravely, "Do you have anything of his we can use to track him?"

"Uh, yeah. His old pillow case," I said, feeling uncertain. Hesitantly, I pulled out the case from my pack. It was already sliced into thirty pieces. I gave one strand to Bull.

He sniffed it and gave a snort. Pakkun gave a thoughtful hum. "Alright, pup. We'll find this guy for you. I take it we'll split up with your clones?"

Surprise, and sheepish pleasure fluttered through me. I smiled warmly at the pack, feeling the tingly warmth of their acceptance wash through me—and loving it. "Three clones each. I'll send out some of my other clones to try and track him on my own. I don't intend to fight him, or anything. I just need to talk to him. The second any of you feel like you're in danger, please, don't hesitate to go. Each of my clones will carry an anchor for my Flying Thunder God technique, so I can—or they—can transport straight back to me when my task is complete."

Pakkun hopped off Bull, and I wordlessly handed him a piece of cloth. When each of the ninken had a piece, I summoned the appropriate amount of clones. Taking a deep breath, I then told them, "Thank you. Thank you all so very much."

Pakkun seemed to grin at me, but I couldn't very well tell, as the cloth was in his mouth. "What are ya thanking us for, pup? You're one of us. We're family. Family look out for one another—no questions asked. Now you just run behind us, lookin' pretty, and we'll find your man."

I let out a laugh at his words. Relief, gratitude, and just plain ol' love, for these ninken pumped through me. My clones and I all exchanged glances before I said, "Well, then, what are we waiting for? Let's go find my man."

('･ω･')

(Third Person POV – Clone!Miwako)

She tilted her head, sniffing the air delicately. Miwako knew that Itachi would be in the lands, near the village, because Pein was endangering his brother. She doubted he would risk compromising his position in the Akatsuki to outright fight Pein, and would instead be forced to rely on Jiraiya's spy network to send the appropriate warning. Or perhaps he warned Danzō.

Regardless, she knew Itachi wouldn't be so stupid as to blow his cover when there was no guarantee that Konoha couldn't handle Pein without him. She knew, also, though, that he wouldn't be able to resist gravitating towards Konoha. To ensure that Sasuke was fine.

That he was alive, at least.

So this clone of Miwako—three other clones trailing behind her—sprinted behind Pakkun. She was carrying the ninken, so they could move faster.

He had caught scent of the nuke-nin, and was deftly guiding the clone to him.

When they were close enough to Itachi, that even the clone could smell him, she created another clone and dispelled it—transferring the memory of their location to all other clones. Miwako set Pakkun down, and the ninken inhaled deeply. "There's one other with him."

"That would be Kisame," the clone sighed. "Okay, this is going to be risky, Pakkun. I'm going to have to ask you to dismiss yourself, so you don't need to chance a battle."

Pakkun shook his head. "I'm with you until the end, pup. You can count on me."

She smiled at that. Then she put on a more somber face, and leapt out onto the road below. Within the minute, the clone had approached Itachi and Kisame, Pakkun hot on her heels.

Kisame grinned at her. "Well, well, a clone of the jinchūriki we're hunting... I wonder... does that mean the real one is nearby?"

Itachi stared at the clone, his Sharingan still, and his expression blank.

The clone held up her hands. "I only wish to talk with Itachi-san. In private."

Kisame raised an eyebrow and looked at his partner. Itachi, for his part, did not outwardly respond for several seconds. Then, in a low, stoic voice, he inquired, "Why?"

"It pertains to a mutual enemy we share. A rotten root, prepared to bring down a foolish little sapling," the clone responded, being sure to word her proposal correctly. Naturally, she could not outright state her desire. By referencing to Danzō and ROOT to bringing down Sasuke (the 'foolish' little sapling), it undoubtedly drew Itachi's attention.

"I see," was all Itachi said.

Several tense minutes passed by, and then Itachi turned to Kisame. "I will leave to speak with Miwako-san. I do not like leaving loose ends."

Kisame shrugged, then grinned widely. "Sure, I get it. Can't have loose ends in our line of work, can you? Although, I expect you to explain how in the hell you share a common enemy with our mark, but..."

Itachi dipped his head in response. "I will. It will not take long to sort this out."

('･ω･')

(First Person POV – Miwako)

I was shaking.

Nervousness, I supposed, was the best reason to describe it. I was about to face, probably, the toughest battle I had ever encountered. I was alone, not counting Kurama of course, and if I lost, the consequences would be detrimental.

No. They would be catastrophic.

When I neared my target enough, and I could distinctively smell him, I summoned several clones. Each clone was given a slip of paper with a seal drawn on it. The seal was the same thing Kurama and I had finished shortly before our trip to those beautiful caverns.

The same seal that would guarantee no curious bystanders would interfere with us. The same seal that would assure no one could sense Kurama's chakra when I inevitably drew upon it.

The clones would set the seals around the perimeter, as I neared them.

I burst through the trees, my hands flying out and red lightning coming to life around them. The lightning took the shape of a fox, and raced towards the trio. Naturally, all three of the shinobi leapt away.

The attack connected to the ground, and it exploded.

I landed on the ground, squaring my shoulders and meeting Danzō's gaze head on. He glared at me distastefully. "I suppose I should have seen this coming. You always were an unruly brat."

"This unruly brat," I began, shifting stances in preparation of a heavy offense.

Red chakra erupted inside of me, just as the seals came to life around us. When the chakra settled down, I gave him a wicked grin, four tails waving about me.

"... is about to rip out your heart."