Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Closer ❯ Chapter 40

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Sasuke still held him by the front of his cloak staring at him with such disbelief and vulnerability, Reiko began to feel his temper recede just a bit. His back ached, but other than that, he wasn't really hurt. Even when they were fighting he suspected that his hits had hurt Sasuke more. When they had their Sharingan battle, it was more of Sasuke trying to overpower him than hurt him. And he had succeeded. Sasuke broke them from Reiko's well crafted genjutsu and brought them back to the real world and powered his fireball to counteract his to cause the most minimal damage. Truly, Sasuke was very skilled.

"Reiko…what are you saying?" Sasuke asked, eyes narrowing and his grip on the front of his cloak loosened. Slowly, he was sliding down the tree until his feet touched the ground. Reiko brushed Sasuke's hands off of him and gave Ino an accusing glare. She was just standing there like a statue, pale and frightened.

"Itachi is alive. He's alive. Ino used her Body Soul Exchange jutsu the day you guys fought." He told him bluntly, annoyed that Ino had failed to tell him earlier. Sasuke peered back at Ino, his face taunt and his eyes searching. Ino let out a shaky breath and nodded in conformation. Reiko could feel so much turbulent emotion roll off of Sasuke, more than he ever felt in any person. He wondered how much more was brewing inside of his father. He looked like his whole world was coming apart and he didn't look like that impassive strong willed and uncaring personality he usually exuded. He looked so lost and confused, hopeful and surprised. Reiko could see it and feel it. It reminded him of the time when he was with them and he had to subdue Juugo's killing intent. He had been wounded and tired, but Reiko knew that even though Sasuke was extremely powerful and skilled, he was still human. He was still a person who had weaknesses. Apparently, Itachi was his weakness.

He had heard them talking to one another before Sasuke pushed his mother into a tree and was confused. He had wondered what the heck Sasuke was thinking when Karin said they would try and destroy the village. Like Ino, he thought that they were joking but after witnessing his parent's reactions to each other he grew extremely concerned and confused. Why would Sasuke want to do such a thing? What did he mean when he said that the village was living off of Itachi's death? He wanted to cry he was so frustrated. Ino never told him about why Sasuke wanted to kill Itachi in the first place and now that Sasuke knew Itachi was alive he was relived?

Itachi himself had worried over Sasuke too. When he and Ino would talk, Reiko would listen carefully to everything they had to say. But without the back story on his father and uncle, he didn't know what a lot of it meant. He even tried to ask Naruto and the others, but they were as closed lipped about the whole think like Ino.

Sasuke brushed past him and stood in front of Ino. "Show me." It wasn't a command, but a soft plea. Ino held up her hands and Sasuke intertwined their fingers. Reiko ran when he saw the chakra build up between them. He smacked his palm over their hands, determined not to be left out of anything this time. His two tomoe swirled in anticipation of being able to see inside his mom's mind. The world faded around him, swirling and caving in until he was in some kind of dream. It was only he and Sasuke, Ino was nowhere to be seen. The place was a dark and secretive part of the Kage Tower. He recognized the decorations. They walked down the corridor and then walked through a wall where a group of old people sat. He felt Sasuke stand motionless next to him.

"It's for the safety of the village. Who knows what kind of lies the others are willing to believe now." One of them said, a woman with too many wrinkles to count.

"Isn't that a little extreme? Sectioning them off from the other villagers will only cause more unrest. The Uchiha are intelligent. They will know that they are being ostracized for the sake of one mad man." It was the previous Hokage talking. Ino told him that he had died protecting the village and he had been her Sensei Asuma's father. "That one madman is the reason this is happening in the first place. His hatred for the village and his clan has no end. We should be focusing on him."

Reiko frowned. "Sasuke, who are they talking about?"

He matched Reiko's frown and Reiko noticed for the first time that he had the same mouth as Sasuke. "I'm not sure." He moved the scene along until they came to another change in environment.

"It is a difficult decision to make. But you know what the right choice is. No one wants to go through another war. We are still recovering from the last. The Uchiha can bring Leaf to its knees if this coup d'etat takes place. I know you want this peace, as do we all. Being a double agent is killing you and only you can end it. Only you can do this mission. The Uchiha Clan must be stopped." It was the bandage old man at the beginning of the memory. Coup d'etate…was a secret take over right? So the Uchiha Clan was planning to take over the village? Reiko could see how that could cause some major problems. But how was Itachi going to stop them?

"Understood." Itachi, who was kneeled in front of Bandage Man bowed his head and poofed away. Even though he was seeing these things, he was so confused. He looked to Sasuke and saw that his expression was hard and panicked looking. The memory was so vivid, Reiko felt like he and Sasuke were intruding. It changed again. They were dropping from the trees, by the river in a night so black it seemed like he was blind. But the moon passed through the dark clouds and lit the river bed where a man was standing with his back turned to Itachi.

"Shisui…" Sasuke breathed.

"Shisui what's wrong? What happened?" The man Itachi was talking to was about the same age with curly black hair. He turned to Itachi's worried voice. His hand that had been covering his eye fell away and Reiko gasped out loud. It was missing! His stomach rolled in protest of the sight.

"Do you know who that is Sasuke?" He asked weakly. Sasuke's expression softened a little when he saw how pale and disturbed Reiko looked.

"Ino didn't tell you any of this did she?" Reiko shook his head. Sasuke sighed, looking like he was gathering his thoughts. "I don't even know if she knows the whole story. Shisui was Itachi's best friend. He drowned."

"I need you to do something for me Itachi…you have to protect the last one. Too much power…they have served me well but my eyes are coveted." Shisui pleaded with him. Itachi stepped forward.

"What do you want me to do? Tell me…just tell me…"

"You even lied about him too Brother." Sasuke murmured mournfully, shaking his head slowly as the scene changed. The following few memories felt like a knife in the chest. There was this guy in a wooden mask who had met up with Itachi. Itachi told them that he would let him have his revenge against the Uchiha, but he could never return to Leaf Village after. And then Itachi…Itachi and that man slaughtered everyone in the compound. Everyone, even his mother and father. Reiko watched it all through his tears and became numb to all the blood and screams in the end. This was worse, way worse that the attack of Akatsuki. No wonder Sasuke had wanted to kill him! How…why…could Itachi do all this? He knew Itachi had been a part of Akatsuki from the very beginning, but this murdering Itachi was completely different that the kind, warm Itachi who spent countless hours teaching him so many things. It just didn't go together at all!

Sasuke's warm hand slid over his wet eyes halfway through the massacre, but Reiko had seen enough. Even with Sasuke trying to protect him from the grizzly sight, he couldn't block out the sounds. He couldn't wipe the memory of little Sasuke's horrid, anguished cry when his parents were killed right in front of him. Itachi told his younger brother to hate him and to grow strong. Reiko understood that Itachi was supposed to kill all Uchiha, but he cared for his little brother too much to kill him. Finally, finally it all stopped and Reiko gently pulled Sasuke's hand down, slowly, cautiously. They were in the Kage Tower again, Itachi was dressed in clean clothes looking like he aged ten years overnight.

"I only ask one thing in return Hokage. Please, protect Sasuke from Danzo and those who will try and use him. Never tell him the reason behind this. Let him become strong and let the Uchiha name have its honor." Reiko felt Sasuke tighten his hold on his shoulders. Reiko could feel his fingers tremble.

"I never wanted this." The Hokage's voice was just a whisper, full of raw emotion. "If there had been more time, we could have worked things out the right way. I am ashamed in front of you Itachi."

Reiko's heart left painfully to his throat when he saw a flicker of pain in the otherwise, blank eyes of his uncle. "There was no time. I have chosen not to regret this. You should do the same. Right now, I care only for Sasuke's safety. Hokage…please." His pleaded.

"It is not what I wish to do but I will honor your request Itachi. Sasuke will never know…"

He knows now, Reiko thought feeling Sasuke's grip in his shoulders harden a bit.

Ino's memory then shifted to the place where Danzo had talked to Itachi previously. "I came here to warn you Danzo. If anything happens to my brother by you or anyone else under your command I will not sit still. I know Leaf's weakness; I'm privy to many secrets. Do not think I will hold my tongue to our neighbors if something happens to Sasuke. Do you understand?"

Danzo…Reiko couldn't help the immense hatred for that shady man. Ino had told him not to say anything about how vulnerable Leaf was right now and after all of this, he knew why she had wanted him to keep that secret. He now knew the story behind Sasuke and Itachi as well. But it still left him torn up inside. Itachi killed his clan and parents and only left Sasuke alive. But that Itachi was different than the one he grew to know. No wonder Sasuke was struggling with all of this. All his hatred and anger was over a lie, and then finding out about this after he thought he killed Itachi would leave anyone in disarray.

The following memory caught them off guard by the sudden change. The ground rumbled under their feet. Reiko recognized the place where he and Ino were finally reunited. When Shikamaru found him and he realized that Sasuke was his father when he saw Ino kissing him.

Sasuke was backed against a crumbling wall with Itachi advancing on him. Blood dripped from his mouth and eyes and the tips of his fingers were stained red as well. In Ino's mind, she felt worried about something…about Itachi wanting to take Sasuke's eyes but then she became surprised when Itachi tapped Sasuke's forehead with a kind smile, full of love and regret. The memory blurred with her tears and Itachi fell to the ground, unmoving and then Sasuke did the same. Both of them were lying side by side in the rain.

"Ino. Ino!" It was Shikamaru and Ino collected her thoughts and grabbed a red scroll from behind her back. Reiko watched through her eyes as she kneeled between the two and checked on Sasuke first. It was Ino's memory so they both felt her relief and tender emotion swirl deep inside when she felt Sasuke's pulse beat against her fingers. She kissed him on the forehead, running her fingers down his cheek in a purely affectionate way. Reiko sneaked a look up, finding this memory a bit awkward for his tastes. Sasuke's expression was soft, like he remembered this too. But when he felt Reiko watching, he schooled his expression back to his failsafe impassive one.

After sending Shikamaru off after Reiko, Ino and Choji were left with them. She unrolled her red scroll and started performing her Body and Soul Exchange jutsu. Reiko as well as Sasuke watched in fascination the Death God's could feel his recognition on her and feel the way he stroked her soul making goosebumps emerge on his arms from the pleasurable caress.

Accepted. Both bodies, Giro and Itachi's jerked upwards, both taking their last breaths before Giro's body shimmered and morphed into Itachi's.

"Who's coming?" Sasuke asked when he felt what Ino felt. A large group of ninja rapidly approaching.

"Naruto and the others. They were so close and Ino didn't want them to see what she did with Itachi. That's why we left you because Naruto and the others were supposed to find you and bring you back." Reiko shook his head. "But someone got to you before they did."

Sasuke didn't say anything after that. Only watched in silence as they quickly went through the memories of Itachi waking up back in Haru Inn and Ino forcing him to eat telling the brooding Uchiha that he's more valuable in Sasuke's life alive rather than dead. Reiko couldn't help but smirk at the memory of him suckering Itachi into staying in the safe house when they returned to Leaf. Then the memories passed until it was the day of the attack by Pein. Itachi was telling them that he was leaving. Ino made him promise to contact her if he found Sasuke before she did and said she would do the same. That's where the memories ended and the image of Itachi's face so close to hers spiraled away until they were back in the present. Ino was standing still, her eyes closed. Reiko removed his hand from theirs to wipe the lingering wetness from his eyes and lashes.

"Was this what you've wanted to keep from me? That night? The one where Itachi…"

Ino stared down at him with troubled blue eyes. "I couldn't tell you." She said sadly with a shake of her head. "Not when things were the way they were. Besides, it wasn't my place to tell you." She tried to pull her hands from Sasuke but he held tight.

"Itachi is alive? Where is he? Where is he right now?" He demanded with a trace of anxiety. "He's alive right?"

Ino gave a nod. "He's alive but I don't know where he is right now. He left and didn't tell me where he was going the last time we talked."

Sasuke let out a shaky loud breath and finally let her go. He took a little time to compose himself before turning to her with a little scowl. "I saw that. I felt…"

Ino blushed and gave a jerky shrug. "Can you blame a girl? I was feeling a bit lonely and you can't deny the fact that your brother is…rather good-looking."

Reiko's mouth dropped open in astonishment. "Mom!" So that was the reason why she got so close to him that time, before he left. He thought it was strange, the way they were looking at one another and speaking with a type of hesitant intimacy that he never heard them use before.

"It doesn't matter if it's Itachi, or Suigetsu, or your best friend Shikamaru," Sasuke said with glittering dark eyes. "I will make them all regret touching you, got it?"

Ino's mouth dropped open at the unveiled threat that hung in the air. "Sasuke! How could you say something like that? It was a moment of weakness, I swear. You don't need to go hurting people because of that!"

Reiko folded his arms. "Possessive much?" He muttered, not liking the uncomfortable tension that made Sasuke hover close to Ino in a domineering way.

"You knew it would be like this from the beginning." He said dismissively. "I'm just reminding you."

Ino slid her eyes away with a pout. "Most girls would be turned off by that thought."

Sasuke's lips lifted into a smirk. "But you're not most girls are you?"

Reiko had enough and cleared his throat loudly to stop them from this strange kind of psychotic flirting. He could feel…ugh…that heat build between them and didn't want a repeat of last night to happen so soon. Stupid hormonal teenagers!

"I sent a message to Itachi last night since you didn't have the time to." He shot at Ino curtly. Both of his parents had enough conscious to look a bit uncomfortable when he skewered them with a hot, accusing glare. "We just have to wait for him to respond. In the mean time, we should head out of Chi Waters. It's not good to stay in Lightning long, considering our village ties. And now a lot of people know where you are," He pointed to Sasuke. "More will come after you now."

Both Ino and Sasuke stared at him in shocked silence and he raised a brow. "What? I'm right aren't I?" He was defensive. "Do you guys have another plan?"

They exchanged looks. "I don't at this point. Sasuke?" Ino recovered first. "Are you still going to destroy Leaf?" She asked with blistering sarcasm.

He threw her a contemptuous look. "I'm still thinking about it. So Itachi is alive, it still doesn't change how I feel. Not really."

"But Itachi—"

"It doesn't change anything!" Sasuke barked at Reiko. "You saw it all. You saw what they made him do to our clansmen." His eyes narrowed. "To our parents."

Reiko blinked back his sudden onslaught of tears when little Sasuke's cries vibrated in his memories. "I saw. But you can't say they made him do it. Even you know no one can make Itachi do anything." He pressed.

"Everything he suffered, everything he sacrificed. Destroying Leaf is like tossing that all back in his face and saying that it didn't matter!" Ino cried out. "Sasuke, I know you don't want to hear this, but I'm going to say it again. Leaf is our home. Not just mine and Reiko's, but Itachi's too!"

They started arguing heatedly with one another and Reiko rolled his eyes, his tears drying. They always forget about me…Something weakly caught his sensors and he grew cautious, reaching out with his chakra. There was movement just beyond the trees. If Ino hadn't been so caught up in her argument with Sasuke, she would have felt it too.

"Guys…" He called out, becoming alarmed by the numbers he was feeling. "Ino…Sasuke…" He looked around, his eyes flashing red. He was feeling caged and he didn't do well in that kind of confinement. "Guys!" He cried in alarm when he withdrew some kunai and intercepted the ones sailing right at Sasuke and Ino.

He didn't know if he was angry that his argument was interrupted, or if he was angry at Ino but Sasuke's fury eclipsed the whole forest. The numbers surrounding them, hidden in the trees were greater than the ones they faced last night. He could see swirls of chakra through the trees, allowing him to pinpoint some of the enemy. The winds whistled, but Reiko was fast enough to block and bash away the rain of kunai and shuriken that descended upon him. Now, he knew where the majority of them were and he squatted low to the ground in attack stance, summoning chakra to his feet and legs to increase his speed.

Go. Ino's softly deadly thoughts entered his mind and he bolted forward, the trees blurring from his sight as he locked onto the first man with a red bandana around his head. He worked his way through six of them, zigzagging between them with well place hits that stunned or disabled them while Ino came behind him to finish them off. She always wanted to make the final kill, unwilling to let him experience it just yet. He was grateful for that. He knew that someday he was going to have to kill, but for now, he couldn't stomach the thought. He couldn't be like Ino or Sasuke, running through men without a hint of remorse. With all of them up to their necks in enemies, Reiko felt a keen sense of relief when a familiar cry filtered through the clash of metal and flesh.

"Having all the fun without us? I'm beginning to feel neglected here!" Suigetsu bashed two men away from Reiko with a wide sweep of his sword. From there, with Sasuke's team, the rest were dispatched rather quickly. After, Reiko frantically looked around the bloody forest to see where Ino had gone. He saw her in the distance with a man's sweaty head under her palm in a deep jutsu. Reiko wiped the blood from his kunai on his pants leg before replacing it in his pouch and going to her.

"What's she doing?" It was a curious Juugo.

"She's reading his mind." He answered back. Then her eyes opened and she removed her hand letting the man fall to his side with a groan. "What is it? Are there more coming?"

She shook her head, blond hair delicately sashaying on her back. "No, this is the last of them. For now. But…" She looked down at him for a moment before looking at the others. "Something bad happened to Yasuo. I need to find him."

"You know where he is?" Reiko was right beside her as they left from the forest. Ino nodded.

"You guys go and get our things from the inn. Karin will know where to find us." Sasuke order his team. They didn't look too happy about it, but eventually left with a few choice words. They followed Ino away from Chi Waters to a lone, abandoned outpost cuddled close to a slow moving creek. They took out the four unsuspecting guards and slipped into a cold room where Reiko saw Yasuo laying in a pool of his own blood, his hands tied behind his back. His face was bruised and swollen and his hair was matted to the side of his head. Ino knelt behind him and cut his hands free before turning him over on his back. Her hands glowed dark green with a soothing pulse of healing chakra.

"How is he?" Reiko asked.

"He's pretty beat up but he'll be alright after a while." She murmured. "Go and start a fire and get me some water." She said and he bolted away, brushing past Sasuke in a hurry.

Tired, she was so tired. Healing Yasuo was a slow process and dragging him to another village outside of Lightning Country and into the safer, Frost Country made it a slow trek. Here, no one looked twice at them when they dragged a broken and unconscious Yasuo into the least shady looking inn there was. This particular village they were in was an international hub for rouge ninja and mercenaries of all kinds. Suigetsu sure knew where they would blend in but to be safe, Sasuke had pulled up the hood of his cloak to hide his recognizable face. She kept a curious Reiko close to her.

They booked two rooms that were linked by a sturdy door. She and Karin worked silently together that night to heal Yasuo. His shallow wounds had been dressed but the blow to his head was pretty serious.

Sasuke, Suigetsu, Juugo and Reiko were gone to gather some supplies and food so she and Karin had to tolerate each other. Karin was just as moody as she remembered, but Ino had to admit, she was a proficient healer. Sasuke was wise to choose her.

"I don't know why we just didn't leave him back in Chi Waters. This is a waste of time." She muttered, as they finished.

"Yasuo may be a pain in the ass, but he's a big softy deep deep deep down." Ino said dismissively, getting to her feet and stretching.

Karin frowned heavily down at the man in question. "He should have just died."

They separated with Ino going into the room she was sharing with Sasuke and Reiko and took a long shower. When she was done, the guys were back and they all settled on the floor to eat. Suigetsu did most of the talking, annoying Karin and making Reiko laugh. Juugo fell asleep before them and it wasn't long before Reiko had nodded off, his head in her lap as she stroked his hair from his peaceful face. Sasuke leaned back on his hands, next to her.

"We should get him to bed." Ino nodded in agreement, hiding a yawn behind her wrist. She was going to shake him awake because there was noooo way she would be able to carry him but Sasuke squatted in front of her and gathered Reiko's limp body in his arms and stood up without so much as a shake in his knees making the ten year old look like he weighed nothing. Truthfully, she still found it weird to think that Reiko was ten and they were only sixteen, almost seventeen. Over and over, she would daydream and wonder what would have happened if they had been given the opportunity to raise him as a baby. Wistfully, she watched Sasuke place Reiko on the bed like he had done it a million times.

"You know, if he keeps up with all this fatherly-ness I'm going to ask him to adopt me." Suigetsu whispered to her jokingly. Ino tossed him a smile and the Mist nin quickly kissed her nose before standing up. "I'm going to hit the town for the night. Do some whoring and gambling. Definitely gonna drink. Maybe get into a fight or two. Wanna come Karin?"

Karin narrowed her eyes behind her black rimmed glasses and stood up. "Go to hell. You better wake up in the morning or I'm going to do something unpleasant to wake you up." She paused at the door that linked the room. "Seriously."

Suigetsu gave Ino a wink before leaving. "I've already seen her without her make-up on. How much more horrible can that be?"

Ino giggled behind her hand ignoring Sasuke's heated glare as he watching his teammate disappear with a frown of disapproval.

Inoichi was fuming. He was beyond angry, beyond any attempts to calm him. Even his flower workers were staying away from him as his new shop was being rebuilt. Far away. The only ones who dared to talk to him was Choza and Shikaku and they were just as upset. Like Inoichi was upset with Ino, both Choji and Shikamaru were subjugated to their father's wrath. It took him two days to find out that she and Reiko had gone off to find Sasuke alone. She totally took advantage of the chaos of the rebuilding of Leaf and his busy Jonin meetings.

It didn't take much to suspect that Shikamaru and Choji were involved with her disappearance. He took his concerns to his longtime friends and before he knew it, both boys broke down and told them what was going on.

"Maybe I took your genius too literally Shikamaru because no one would ever commend you on your common sense." Shikaku said when they all gathered at Inoichi's house to discuss what was going to happen now.

Shikamaru and Choji were stubborn boys though. "You are underestimating her. She has a better chance of bring Sasuke back than Naruto. You can't deny that. You make it sound like she doesn't know what she's doing, but she does. After hearing what Sasuke had gotten himself into, did you really expect her to just stay put and not do anything about it?" Shikamaru shot back at the blustering adults.

"You should trust in Ino and trust in her strength. That's what friends and family are supposed to do." Choji stood side by side next to Shikamaru, not letting his eyes wander far from the three adults. Not breaking eye contact.

Inoichi studied them before swearing and beginning to pace the floor. Damn it, they were right. He wanted to keep both she and Reiko under his watchful eye knowing that they had such a strong relationship with the Uchiha. He never cared for the boy his daughter had to fall in love with. He was beside himself when he found out she was pregnant with Reiko knowing the danger that information entailed if others found out about him. Like the Council, like Danzo, like Orochimaru and Kabuto. Like Itachi and Sasuke. His grandson had so much in his life and he wasn't even born yet. He was even more concerned to the point of panic when Ino had come back with the ten year old in tow. He was over joyed to have him back in their lives, but that same joy was tainted with worry. He couldn't always be around them, couldn't always protect them like he desperately wanted too.

He remembered Shikaku telling him something when he tried to stop Naruto from facing Pein alone. He had been upset that Naruto had wanted to talk with him. Really, what would talking do? But then Shikaku said that they had to entrust Naruto with their confidence like Shikamaru had done. They had to let the kids grow up and be ninja. To grow up and be adults and trust that all of their teachings they grew up with, that he and Shikaku and Choza instilled with in them was ingrained on their minds and behind their choices. Ino was a parent now (he still kinda cringed at the thought now and then) and despite hating the fact, Sasuke was Reiko's father.

"Is she okay? Do you know where she is right now?" Inoichi finally asked the boys.

"The last correspondence we received was yesterday. Reiko wrote to us and said that they were in Lightning Country and that they had found Sasuke. We should be receiving another one tomorrow." Shikamaru said, shoving his hands deep in his pockets.

"Does Asuma know about this?" He asked.

The boys exchanged guilty looks. "No. We didn't want to tell him or he would have gone after her." Choji admitted a flush on his full cheeks.

Inoichi sighed and rubbed the top of his head irritably. "I want to be the first person so see the message pigeon got it? Don't even open it when it gets here understand?"

Under their father's heated glares the boys grudgingly agreed.

Sasuke took advantage to what little time they had alone when he could. Since they were stuck in this rough village properly named Dirty Snow, here in Frost Country until Yasuo woke up they had free time. There was a lot to do here and Reiko had easily convinced Karin to take him to a movie because being stuck in their room was boring and suffocating. Suigetsu was out and about whoring, gambling and drinking like he promised. He didn't knew what Juugo did, but he often came back looking a little older and bringing in strange objects that Sasuke didn't care to ask about.

It was early in the night and after giving her one last, long kiss, he rolled off of her to catch his breath while she gave a soft contented sigh, looking beautiful all flushed with swollen lips and dark, desire glazed eyes. But the moment was lost soon. She gasped and pulled the blanket to her chest, looking past him with big startled blue eyes behind some strands of tousled blonde hair.

"Hey Sasuke." His body suddenly grew cold and stiff when he turned to see the familiar orange masked man standing in their room with his arms folded in front of him. Sasuke didn't hide his frown as he grabbed his shorts from the floor and slipped them on, under the tangle of blankets around his waist.

"How do you know where to find me?"

"Don't underestimate me. I have considerable powers." He said, not in a bragging kind of way, but in a you-know-better-to-doubt-me kind of way.

Sasuke locked eyes with Tobi's one eye peeking through the hole of his mask. "So what do you want with me now? Hawk left the Akatsuki. We're done with you."

Tobi unfolded his arms. "As it stands, you reneged on you promise to me." He said seriously.

Sasuke was easily irritated and insulted. "What are you talking about?" He did what the guy had wanted and fulfilled his so called promise.

"I'm talking about hunting the Tailed Beast."

So far, Tobi didn't seem concerned that he was talking about this stuff in front of Ino. He probably thinks she's some kind of no name girl who he picked up in some bar. Tch, like he would ever lower himself to do that kind of thing. Still, he had to be careful and he hoped Ino didn't do or say anything for Tobi to think otherwise. And he was fervently hoping that Reiko was keeping Karin busy. He was careful not to let those troubling thoughts mar his expression or chakra. One had to be calm and blank in front of a man like Tobi.

"We already caught the Eight-tails and delivered it to you."

He shook his head, an air of exasperation surrounding him. "That was a substitution. In other words, you failed. The Eight-tails pulled a fast one on you."

Failed. That word made angry bitterness sting the back of his mouth. He never failed. That word was never used on him. Ever. I saw it all with my Sharingan. He thought back to that battle, a true battle that really tested his strengths and talents. There's no way he had an opportunity to make a clone. He went over it piece by piece in his mind, trying to see where something like that could have happened. The only time he could think of was when he had saved Karin from being crushed by the Eight-tail's massive tentacle. He had cut through it with a compressed Chidori beam. Was it that then? The part of his body I cut off?

"Frankly, I'm disappointed in you. You and your team."

The bed shifted. "Maybe I should go?" Ino murmured uncomfortably. She was probably worried about Reiko. But Tobi created a clone and it stood over her to stop her from leaving. Sasuke scowled at the real Tobi.

"Don't move." Sasuke barked at her giving her a look over his shoulder before turning back to Tobi. The clone poofed away when Ino did as she was told. "So what are you going to do about it? It's none of my business now."

"You will finish whatever work you started as members of Akatsuki. Having said that, you can forget about the Eight-tails I've decided to give you a different task. One you should get right on after finishing with your…" His one eye slid to Ino. "Fun."

Sasuke's temper flared. "And if I refuse?"

"We'll fight it out right here and you won't be able to go to the Hidden Leaf Village." Tobi said easily enough, some of his intent vibrating off of him to make his point and try and intimidate him.

He stood from the bed. "Then I'll force my way through!" He bit out, charging a Chidori and attacking. But just like before, he phased through him. So this was one of his powers huh? Interesting. Ino, for her credit, screamed and covered her ears like she had never seen or heard a ninja jutsu before. He had to hand it to her, she was good at acting.

Tobi stood, unfazed in the same spot which only made him more angry. He took a moment to compose himself. He had to keep a cool head when dealing with Tobi. And Ino was in the room, he had to protect her from the secretive Akatsuki leader. "It's a little too late to go to Leaf anyways. Your purpose is fruitless. Too bad."

"What do you mean?" He demanded and forced himself not to toss Ino a questioning look.

"The Village Hidden in the Leaves is no more."

This time, Sasuke didn't hide his shock. "What are you saying?"

There was another chakra that crawled from the wooden floor. He didn't know what the hell it was, only that it was alive. It looked like a Venus fly trap with eyes. "I'll explain it to you." It rasped.

"Who is he?" Sasuke asked suspiciously, narrowing his eyes.

Tobi held up his hand. "Relax. He's my partner." He looked down at the…whatever it was. "So, who is the new Hokage?"

"Someone named Danzo." It supplied in a voice different than that which it first used. "It's pretty much what we expected."

Just more and more surprises! "Danzo…is the Hokage?" And when was Ino going to tell him about this? How the hell could that happen?

"Yes, one of the high-ranking elders of the Hidden Leaf who drove your elder brother into a corner. He is the new Hokage."

Sasuke's jaw clenched. Tobi was using his hatred to keep him and his team in Akatsuki. Perhaps it would have worked if he didn't know that Itachi was alive. But he knew and that…changed things.

"What the hell happened in the Hidden Leaf Village?" He demanded furiously. Since Ino or Reiko didn't tell him anything about it.

"My subordinate, Pein destroyed it. And because both you and Pein were a bit too overbearing, it seems the five Kages are going to take action."

Sasuke paused in his thoughts on what he was going to yell at Ino about this time. "The five Kages?"

"There will be a Five Kage Summit Conference. Zetsu, fill him in on what happened." Tobi instructed and folded his arms again.

"What you would expect. Pein went to capture the Nine-tails and in the process, obliterated Leaf. But in the end, he was defeated by the jinchuriki, Naruto Uzumaki. Pein was one of our most powerful members, but even he succumbed to death. Naruto Uzumaki has become extremely strong. I think he's even stronger than you are Sasuke."

To that, Sasuke had to smirk in amusement. They knew nothing. "I don't care about that. My main concern is the Five Kage Summit. If Danzo is there, then I will go."

He felt Tobi was pleased with that answer, like he had been expecting it. "Sounds like a plan. Zetsu."

"I'll send one of my clones with you when you decide to leave." Sasuke watched in disgust as Zetsu emerged from his pod like shell. One side of him was black, the other white. He split himself into two making the room fill with the strong scent of pollen and pine. "I know the way."

"Don't take too long here Sasuke." Tobi warned. "When you're done with her, make sure you kill her."

He heard Ino's sharp intake of breath. "Don't worry about it." Sasuke assured him and looked at the white Zetsu. "But I'm not done, so leave."

Tobi's chilling chuckle made his skin crawl and White Zetsu gave a lopsided smile before disappearing back underground. He waited a tense three minutes until Ino spoke.

"They're gone." She said softly, scooting off the bed and gathering her clothes to dress. "Don't give me that look. You said you were going to destroy Leaf so of course I wasn't going to tell you about what happened with Pein." She defended with a scowl.

He eyed her warily. "Danzo is the Hokage?"

She bit her lip and gave a single nod. "Shikamaru said that they were originally going to nominate Kakashi, but Danzo opposed it and forced his nomination."

He didn't know what would be worse, having a perverted, late and lazy Hokage like Kakashi, or Danzo. "Tsunade died then?"

Ino's eyes hardened. "She's not dead. But…she's not in a position to lead right now. The attack made her use to much chakra, she's comatose right now. This is the first time I'm hearing of the Kage Summit though. What are you going to do?"
Sasuke stared down at her. "I told you before, nothing has changed. I'm going to that Summit and killing that man. Don't try and stop me."

To his surprise and bewilderment, she smiled. "I'm not going to stop you. When a deep root comes to the surface, the tree begins to die."