Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Closer ❯ Chapter 44

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

AN: Warning! Manga spoilers…

Kabuto liked this place. It was so daunting and scary looking and it was hidden. Here among these massive bones of some unknown creature, he got a better understanding of all that Lord Orochimaru told him. The masked man, Tobi was seriously going to make the waters of the ninja world choppy. And Kabuto had to stay afloat it all and wait for the waters to calm to see what was left. In Sage mode, he felt the environment shift and he opened his eyes to look below him.

The masked man’s body betrayed shock at Kabuto’s rather laid back expression. This man was dangerous no doubt, but so was he. But he knew he couldn’t show him that. Surprise was the best weapon.

“Let’s start with the greeting shall we, Tobi?” The Masked man adjusted into a relaxed stance at Kabuto’s pleasant tone.  Kabuto’s smile turned a little cold. “No,” He paused. “You call yourself Madara now.”

“You did well to find this place.” Tobi commented, though Kabuto read no real admiration in his tone.

He shrugged. “I roamed from country to country as a spy and I once belonged to the Akatsuki. Don’t underestimate my intel network.”

“You were once one of Sasori’s spies. You are a traitor of the Akatsuki.” Tobi said darkly before leaping after him. My my, someone is in a bad mood, Kabuto thought, jumping back off the rack of brittle bones and landed on the ground. Tobi slid in front of him and Kabuto smirked before bringing his hands together in a loud slap. The ground rumbled beneath their feet and one by one, the coffins he had prepared beforehand rose from the dry earth. And one by one, the lids of the upright coffins fell to the ground, revealing Kabuto’s bargaining pieces. He was rather proud of them.

“Reanimation jutsu.” He heard Tobi marvel in shock.

Kabuto adjusted his hood on his head before moving beside the Itachi coffin. “The Forbidden jutsu know only to the Second Hokage and Lord Orochimaru. Now, I’m the third one.” His confidence was bubbling over. “And I have surpassed the previous two.” He wasn’t bragging, he was just stating the truth. He touched the Itachi coffin. “This performance is dedicated to you so that you would believe in my power and trust in me. Rest assured, I did not come here to fight.” He made sure he kept his tone light as to not arouse any more suspicion.

“What do you want?” Tobi asked warily.

Kabuto smiled. “I want to join forces.” He said letting one of his snakes nudge his chin.

“How will that benefit me?” Tobi asked evenly. Kabuto indulged his idiotic question. He was here to make friends after all.

“I understand you intend to start a war soon. I’m offering to provide more military might. With these here.” He tapped the Itachi coffin. “They each have formidable strength and I have even more up my sleeve.” He offered. But Tobi wasn’t Akatsuki leader for nothing. He was a shrewd, suspicious man.

“And in exchange?”

Ahh, he read him too easily. “Two things. Nothing too big. I’m not greedy.”

“Which are?”

Kabuto kept his nice smile pasted to his face. “Sasuke Uchiha and another person. A girl.”

“Girl?” Tobi prodded in interest.

“She’s my cute little apprentice and she means a lot to me.” He said simply, not inclined to give any more information out on her.

“As you can see, I don’t have Sasuke any longer.” Tobi moved his head. “And your reanimation jutsu has a flaw. Itachi Uchiha is alive.”

Now that surprised him. He looked at the Itachi coffin. He shouldn’t be alive. He was so careful when he harvested Itachi’s flesh and blood from the place Tobi had kept him. “You saw him then?” He was confused now. How could that be possible?

“I saw him and talked with him. He’s the reason Sasuke isn’t with me any longer. I was surprised as well. I took Itachi’s corpse from the last battle he and Sasuke fought.”

Kabuto was thoughtful as he looked at the Itachi body. If Itachi was alive right now then…then did she really use it? Dark giddiness bubbled inside of him. Did she really use it? “I see.” He said softly, hiding what he was truly feeling. “Regardless of that, this Itachi will perform in the same way as the original Itachi would have.”

Tobi was interested, but unsure still. “What are you plotting?”

Kabuto blinked innocently. “Nothing really.” He assured him with a small shrug of defense. “I’m only interested in the pure truth behind ninjutsu. And I need Sasuke and that girl to pursue this. I need a young, live, sensitive Uchiha. You can get him back, of that I have no doubt.”

“And if I refuse?”

Of course. Kabuto brought his hands together and pulled out his ultimate trump card. Another coffin emerged from the ground. When the lid fell away he soaked in Tobi’s shock. He walked to the new coffin with sure steps knowing that he had sealed the deal with this last body. “Surely you didn’t think that I would have come unprepared?” He caught Tobi’s Sharingan eye, wide with disbelief. ”Yes, you can’t refuse.” He practically purred.

“Wh—where did you get that?”

Kabuto smiled. “I have my means. Don’t worry. I haven’t told anyone about this.” He saw the greed in Tobi’s one eye. Then, the masked man started laughing.

Kabuto raised a brow. “What’s so funny?”

“Kabuto Yakushi, never did I imagine that you would come this far. Arguing with you now will only weaken our side. You came here waiting for the perfect opportunity. You are very careful indeed. So be it. We will join forces. And you are right, I will get Sasuke back. You can have him after the victory, when this war is assured. ”

Control freak, Kabuto thought. “I expected no less from Madara Uchiha.” He looked at the body in the coffin that made this union possible. “Your vessel is unique.”

“And you are insolent.” Tobi said in a clipped tone. “I’ll reformulate my strategy after I confirm your battle strength. Follow me.” So he did, he left into the dark Akatsuki base with a smug smile on his face. “So tell me about this girl you want. Do you know where she is?”

“No, not particularly.” He withdrew a stack of cards from his robes and took one out. ”Last time I saw her she was in Lightning Country.” He spun it on his finger, channeling his chakra into it until the image and text appeared. He handed it to Tobi who stopped dead in his tracks when he looked at it.

“Ino Yamanaka.” When Kabuto saw his fingers tighten around the small data card and he raised a brow.

“Have you seen her before?”

Tobi let out a mirthless chuckle. “I had her in my grasps but Itachi came for her. Sasuke was quite upset with me for taking her.”

Kabuto took the card back, looking at her so-serious cute expression in the picture box. “I can imagine. But if they are together, then getting Sasuke back will be even easier. If you have her, he will come.”

“She will be hard to capture again. With Sasuke and Itachi by her, it will be a challenge.”

Kabuto continued walking. “I’m a patient man.”

“There is someone coming.” Karin supplied for them and the group halted their quiet trek through the forest. It had been a tense trip with neither Sasuke nor Itachi talking to one another. Truthfully, it was making her nervous. She wanted to say something, anything to break them out of this strained bubble they were all in.

So when Karin finally said something, Ino was immensely relived. Both Uchiha brothers stopped in their tracks, red eyes flashing dangerously. Ino reached out too and felt who Karin was talking about. Her wary curiosity turned into instant joy when she felt their strong pulse of their life chakra.

She turned on her heel and ran to them, sailing head first into the startled group of men. “Guys!” She flung her arms out, encompassing Shikamaru and Choji in a simultaneous hug. Between their shoulders, she smiled warmly up at Asuma. “You made it.”

“Yeah. It seemed we missed a lot.” Asuma smiled down at her and tucked her bangs behind her ear so that she could see him with both eyes. She felt both Shikamaru and Choji’s hand on her back, returning her hug awkwardly.

“Guys!” Reiko wasn’t far behind and she let the boys go so that they could greet him. He did a knuckle bump with Shikamaru and Choji picked him up with his strong arms, tossing him in the air effortlessly before perching him on his shoulder.

“Oof, you’re getting heavy.” Choji said looking at Reiko with a big cheesy smile.

“Choji don’t do that! You’ll make him sick!” Asuma said, taking big steps away just in case. Ino lost some of her happy glow when she saw Sasuke scowling. Karin was looking annoyed but Itachi acknowledged Shikamaru and Choji with a nod before sparing Asuma a look. She could feel her sensei’s uncomfortable vibe reach her. For a second, she had forgotten that when they were younger and Itachi had come to the village, both he and Asuma fought a little. Asuma was generally spared from Itachi’s power, but Kakashi had taken a full blown hit of Itachi’s Tsukuyomi. If Asuma-sensei came then they guys must have told him the whole story, Ino thought.

“Why are you here?” Sasuke demanded and her team exchanged glances.

“I asked them to come so don’t be so suspicious.” Itachi spoke up before she could say anything.

“Again, why?” Sasuke asked Itachi looking very peeved.

“Let’s not discuss it here. There is a place we can go if we travel through the night. After, I’ll tell you everything you want to know. Okay Sasuke?” Itachi offered a slight upturn of his lips to ease Sasuke’s annoyance. Ino just wanted to snort. Let him be annoyed, she thought. He was acting like a spoiled child and Itachi was indulging his temper. But then her own temper softened. He must still be in pain and she could tell his eyes were still bothering him.

“What about Suigetsu and Juugo?” Reiko asked with a cute frown.

“I told you they will find a way out.” Sasuke said, looking at the speck that was the ‘Three Wolves Mountain’ in the distance. Ino followed his gaze. Sasuke was right and she had faith in their skills. She hoped it wouldn’t be long until they came back. She was already missing Suigetsu’s easy going attitude.

“I guess. I just miss them that’s all.” Reiko said softly, lowing his eyes.

“They’ll be fine.” Sasuke said firmly closing his eyes and turning away as to not give away that gentleness she spied in his eyes.

“Come, we’re wasting time.” Itachi instructed them.

They rested a little, to resupply their water reserves and have a bite to eat from their supplies. Ino was sitting by Sasuke, healing him with one hand while she chewed on some instant rice with chicken broth and turkey jerky. She was glad Choji was with them, he always made their meals pleasing to her palate. They were relatively secluded from the rest of the group.

“Do it right!” Sasuke barked at her and Ino frowned, swallowing her food.

“I’m hungry! I can’t heal you properly if I don’t have any strength you know. I could just go and get Karin—“

“No.” Sasuke stopped her quickly. “Give me your bowl.” He said, and yanked it from her hands without waiting for her to move. “Here” He shoved the chopsticks full of rice into her face. Ino blinked and Sasuke gave her a look that said ‘well?’. She slowly opened her mouth, still a little stunned and Sasuke shoveled rice past her lips. “Now use both hands.”

Ino rolled her eyes before she put both of her hands over his eyes while she chewed. She healed him for a few minutes before he fed her again, even holding the jerky while she tugged some of the tough meat with her teeth. “You almost bit me.” Sasuke mused when she finished her last piece.

“Mmm, you would have liked it.” She flirted in a dismissive tone, getting to her knees since she was finished healing him for now. Sasuke just snorted and followed suit, standing and stretching.

“There you are! Where were you? I looked everywhere for you.” Reiko cried out when he saw them emerge from the forest.

“If you looked everywhere, you would have found us.” Sasuke drawled. “Are we leaving?”

“Yeah, Itachi is over there. Come on, I don’t want to camp out here.” He said, beckoning them to follow. By morning, they had arrived at a large metropolitan city.

“What is this place?” Reiko asked in amazement, his green eyes wide, trying to soak in everything he was seeing. Even at such early hours, this city was already alive with people and the skies were filled with smoke.

“This is the third largest city in Earth Country. It’s easy to get lost here.” Karin whispered to Reiko. The inn they decided to rest in was modern and clean and smack in the middle of the city. They managed to get a spacious room where they could all stay together. Sasuke, Itachi , Karin and Reiko left to the public bath and Ino turned to her team.

“Did you bring them?” She asked, settling on her knees and leaning into them.

Shikamaru dug in his bag and brought out a three lock storage scroll. Ino took it, her heart thumping hard in her chest when she thought of the potential power that Sasuke would gain when he transplanted Itachi eyes and vice versa.

“You know I was thinking on the way here, but I still can’t wrap my mind around it. The whole Uchiha coup and then Itachi killing his clan…its all so…” Asuma shook his head.

“Every village has its secrets, even dark ones.” Choji mumbled. “Whatever happens from here on, it’s out of our hands.”

“We just have to trust Itachi is still loyal to Leaf and that he will help Naruto and Ino persuade Sasuke to step back and rethink his plans.” Shikamaru said, the surprising optimist in this whole ordeal.

“You think he’ll stop?” Asuma asked Ino.

She sighed. “I think he still has a lot of anger. He and Itachi haven’t really talked since they reunited. At this point, Sasuke is weighing all his decisions so I don’t know what he’ll do.”

“But you think he’ll stop. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have asked us to bring Itachi’s eyes.” Shikamaru offered.

Ino smiled. “I have hope.”

“You want us to burn our clothes?” Reiko asked Itachi, looking at the armful of fabric he had taken off earlier.

“Why?” Sasuke asked, throwing his on the ground. They were in a porcelain tiled public bath, in a private bathroom covered only with white towels around their waists.

“Zetsu. He probably attached a spore on your clothes and has been listening to us since we left Tobi.”

Sasuke’s eyes widened. ”So that’s why…”

“I wasn’t purposely ignoring you to be mean. I’m sorry you felt that was the case.” Itachi said, throwing his clothes in a pile on top of Sasuke’s.

“Then Ino…?”

“I think she’s okay. Tobi didn’t know that he would be seeing her again so he probably didn’t put one on her.” Itachi motioned Reiko to drop his clothes and he did reluctantly. He liked those pants. Itachi performed a controlled fire jutsu and they went up into flames. There was a small pop and a blackened pod the size of a bean rolled from the smoking pile. Fear stole up his spine and he looked at Itachi and Sasuke with alarm clearly etched on his youthful face.

“He heard me call you and Ino mom and dad.” He said despairingly. He had wanted others to know about him, but he didn’t think about what would happen if the enemy found out who his parents were.

“Don’t worry Reiko. He won’t touch you.” Sasuke assured him, his eyes dropping to Reiko’s neck. Reiko knew what he was looking at and he fingered the silver cedar leaf, finding some comfort in it.

“Listen to your dad. We won’t let anything happen to you alright?” Itachi touched his head with a gentle hand. “Alright?” After he nodded, Itachi told him to go back to the inn. “Sasuke and I need to talk.”

All three of them went back to the locker room and dressed. Sasuke gave Itachi some of his clothes to dress in. With a lingering look on the Uchiha clan symbol on both their shirts, Reiko pulled a particular garment from his bag. He stared down at the dark blue shirt in his hands before making up his mind and slipping it on over his back ninja mesh undershirt. This is definitely making a statement, Reiko thought. Besides, people were going to find out sooner or later. Even if his last name was Yamanaka, he was also an Uchiha. Like Sasuke and Itachi. When Sasuke and Itachi saw it, they both stared at it unblinking.

“Where did you—” Sasuke asked, touching the high collar of his old shirt. “That day.” He realized a kind of softness in his eye. “She kept it all this time? I told her to give it back to me.” He muttered, but his quirking lips undermined his exasperated sentence.

Reiko looked down at it. “It fits.” He chuckled. “Now we all match. See you guys later then!”

Sasuke watched Reiko leave in amusement. She kept that shirt this whole time? He looked to his bag and opened it while Itachi finished dressing. Buried at the very bottom of his bag, he pulled out a headband. She had left it behind in that overhead and he meant to give it back as well. He ran his thumb over Leaf’s Village symbol.

“Yours?” Itachi asked looking pointedly at the headband.

Sasuke studied it a moment longer before shoving it back in his bag. “No. You said you wanted to talk. Let’s get out of here.”

They settled in a quiet tea shop that only had old people in it.

“Sasuke, I’m sorry.” Itachi began. Sasuke tensed his fingers tightening around his tea cup. “You’ve suffered a lot because of me.”

Sasuke raised his head to meet Itachi’s gaze. “Just tell me why? With everything that happened, how can you say you’re still loyal to Leaf?”

Itachi gave one of those maddening secret smiles. “I used to blindly believe that I had obtained everything and that nothing was impossible to me. To deceive myself, I stopped trusting other people’s strength.”

Itachi doubted himself? “You were perfect.” Sasuke insisted, not willing to believe that.

Itachi shook his head. “I treated you like a child more than anyone else. I only saw you as someone to protect and I didn’t trust your strength. I actually don’t think something like perfection exists. We are born to absorb things and by comparing ourselves with something else, we can finally head in a good direction. Look at me. I want you to find what I didn’t have. Don’t say I’m perfect.”

But he was, Sasuke thought. All his life he strived to be like him, to perfect his skills as a ninja so that he could be like Itachi.

“I have no regrets.” Itachi continued in a soft baritone.

Sasuke’s temper flared. “Why? After what Leaf did to you why do you still go so far for them? I can forgive you, but I can never forgive Leaf! And you have no regrets!? I turned out this way only because of you!”

Itachi looked mournful. “Sasuke, you can’t say that. Even now, I can feel your will crumbling. Even if you don’t want to admit it, you’re changing. Ino, Reiko and Naruto have shaken you. And my loyalty has shaken you as well.”

Sasuke looked heatedly into his cup, at the smooth surface of his tea. Damn it he was right. “When I’m with you I remember the past. The feelings I had when I was a child and adored you. That’s why the closer we get to the old us who had such a good relationship the more I understand you. But I can’t help but feel anger at Leaf.” Yes his resentment still held strong in him.

“Sasuke, Ino showed you right? That night and Danzo. But there is more. Look at me.” Sasuke raised his eyes and was instantly caught in his brother’s Sharingan. “I will show you the truth.”

Sasuke blinked, finding his fall into his brother’s memories different than falling into Ino’s memories. He blinked a few times before an image appeared. It was twilight and the moon’s bright glow contrasted the darkness of the starlit sky. He saw Itachi and Shisui looking across a wide gorge. Across, there was a slender stream of water falling from the sharp edge of a perpendicular cliff.

“There is no way to stop the Uchiha’s coup d’état anymore. A civil war will happen in the Leaf and the other counties will take advantage of it to attack. It will turn into war.” Shisui was the one speaking. He turned to Itachi and Sasuke saw blood run from his eye. “When I tried to stop the coup d’état by using Kotoamatsuki, Danzo stole my right eye. He doesn’t trust me. I decided to protect the village my own way.” Then Shisui dug his fingers into his other eye and extracted it. He grasped his left eye in his hands and held it out to Itachi.

“You’re my best friend. The only one I can ask this. Please protect the village…and the Uchiha’s name.” The memory faded when Itachi took the eye.

Now, he was looking at a panel of Leaf elders that included the Third Hokage, Danzo Shimura, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado. Itachi was in his ANBU uniform, kneeling in front of them.

“We can’t allow it anymore!” The old lady Koharu yelled. “They call it revolution, but if their real intention is to take back political power, we’ll have to treat them as rebels.”

“Koharu, wait! Don’t jump to conclusions!” The Third tried to reason.

“However Hiruzen, the Uchiha aren’t going to stop.” Danzo said addressing the Third. “We must make our move right away to avoid confusion. Including the unknowing children.”

“Don’t say this in front of Itachi! Besides if a civil war starts it will be hard to fight against the Uchiha. We must think of a strategy.” The Third hissed at Danzo’s crass words.

Danzo shook his head. “It’s a race against time. We must act before they do anything. If we and our ANBU team up together we can make a surprise attack on them and end it right away.”

The Third looked like he was just tired. “The Uchiha used to be our comrades in arms. I want to use words and not power against them. I’ll think of a strategy.” He said stubbornly and turned to his brother. “Itachi, try and gain us some time.”

There was another scene change. In a place where Itachi and Danzo met in Ino’s memories. “Whether the war happens or not once they’ve tried to make the coup d’état the Uchiha will necessarily be annihilated. Your unknowing little brother included. But by acting before it happens, he can still be saved.” Danzo was persuading Itachi behind the Third Hokage’s back. “He will see everything, he will see his whole can be destroyed by the ninja of Leaf and will unmistakably want to get revenge on the village. And in that case, he will have to be killed too.”

Sasuke’s jaw tightened. He was glad he was able to kill Danzo.

“Are you threatening?” Itachi asked coldly, eyes narrowing dangerously.

“No…I want you to choose. You can either stand on the Uchiha’s side, participate in the takeover and be destroyed together with your clan or stand on Leaf’s side, save your brother before the coup happens and help destroy the Uchiha clan.” He paused. “It will be a hard mission for you but in exchange for that, I can let your younger brother live…”

Another scene change, this time they were in the dark forest and he was meeting with a man with an orange and black painted flame mask. Tobi.

“How did you know about me?” Tobi asked dressed in a dark robe with a white belt.

“You were able to slip through the Uchiha’s defense and even look at the secret stone inside Nakano Shrine.” Itachi said in his ever impassive, but knowledgeable voice. “Only the Uchiha know that place. After that I examined your actions and tried to understand who you are and what your goal is.”

“Then it will be easy.” Tobi mused. “You probably know that I’m an Uchiha and I hold a grudge toward the clan and the village.”

Itachi leveled his gaze. “You must follow my conditions. I’ll help you get revenge on the Uchiha but you must not lay a hand on the village. And on Sasuke Uchiha.”

I should have told you before all this happened, but it’s too late now…Sasuke heard Itachi’s voice in his head. Sasuke braced himself for he knew what was coming next when the memory changed again and he saw the familiar decorations of his home living room back at the Uchiha Compound.

“I see…so you joined their side.” He heard his father say. He was kneeling beside his mother who looked to be in a Sharingan genjutsu hold because she didn’t say anything. Itachi was behind them, his face only slightly illuminated by the moonlight filtering through the open door.

“Father…” Itachi’s voice was heavy.

“We know Itachi. Promise me that you will take care of Sasuke.” His father said making thick emotion choke Sasuke’s throat. He felt his tears slipping down his cheek and saw that there were tears glimmering from Itachi’s eyes.

“I know.” Itachi’s voice cracked and he flicked his wrist to unsheathe his sword.

“Don’t hesitate.” His father said in a commanding tone, though it was soft. “It’s the path you chose. Our pain will only last an instant, unlike yours. The way we think is different but I’m still proud of you.” Itachi’s blade already slid into their father’s back. “You really are gentle.” Was his father’s last words before he joined his mother’s body on the floor. Itachi was trembling, tears coursing from his eyes and that’s when he walked through. Sasuke stared at the shock at what he had witness on his younger face and almost doubled over from the pain Itachi felt staring at him. Then he was ripped from the memories.

Itachi waited for him to gather his bearings before talking. “I always lied to you, telling you to forgive me. I always kept you far away with my own hands. I didn’t want to involve you. But now I think that maybe you would have been able to change our father and Mother…the Uchiha. If I had faced you from the start, tried to see things from your point of view and talked with you about the truth then maybe you wouldn’t be thinking about hurting the people close you like I did. So I’m going to tell you what I really think. You don’t have to forgive me…no matter what I will love you forever.”

Tobi summoned him to one of the various gaping caverns of this Akatsuki base. It had been only two days since he was allowed access to the various rooms in this base and he had memorized the entire floor plan just in case and found some semi interesting things. But he never allowed himself to linger long in a room. This room space was a normal one with a table and chairs. From the smooth stone floor, emerged…something. A thing that looked like a large carnivorous plant. He was reminded of Ino and her blasted Cobra Lilies. Those things creeped him out big time.

“This is white Zetsu. He is a member of Akatsuki and has been attached to Sasuke since before the Kage Summit.” Tobi introduced. “He tells me that he had some interesting news about Sasuke and Ino.”

Kabuto’s mood instantly brightened. “Please. Do tell.” He asked, knowing that he was smiling wide in anticipation.

“They are in Earth Country, but I lost them shortly after their arrival. But, what is interesting is what had happed before that. When we were in that place where Danzo was defeated there was a child that Itachi brought.” He had a jovial voice.

“A child?” Kabuto frowned. “And?”

His green eyes brightened and his smeared face creased into an ominous grin. “From what I gather, apparently Sasuke and Ino are his parents. His name is Reiko Yamanaka.”

Kabuto’s whole mind froze. A cold feeling crept into his gut. “What does he look like? Like her?”

White Zetsu nodded. Then that child he saw with her that time…he had dismissed him as just her clan member. But how? That child was easily ten years old and Sasuke and Ino were only sixteen, almost seventeen. There was no way that could be true! He knew that they had begun that kind of relationship back in West Base, but even then if she had gotten pregnant then their child would only be a year old. An infant.

“Before I captured her, she told Naruto Uzumaki to protect someone named Reiko. But, how is that possible?” Tobi demanded. “I saw him as well. It is not possible to have a child that age when they are only sixteen.”

White Zetus’s expression didn’t change. In fact, his knowing grin only grew bigger. “Nothing is impossible. You asked me to investigate her and I did. It took me to a surprising place. The girl, Ino Yamanaka is clan head of the Yamanaka Clan, an honored and blessed clan. A clan branded by Earth.

“Branded clans have a close relationship with the affinity they are branded with. The spirits of that affinity protected the family and they can perform affinity jutsus with far better results than those who are not branded. If they are favored, then the clan is claimed by the Earth spirits and protected from other clans who are blessed and branded by the other affinities.

“When the child was born, she took him to Earth Temple and left him with the Earth Spirits. He was raised there and returned later.”

“And time moves faster in a summons realm.” Kabuto pieced together this complex tale. “So he returned to them as a ten year old boy.”

“A boy that has awakened his Sharingan.” Tobi said with a trace of approval. Kabuto didn’t ask him how he knew that.

“I felt his great potential. He is powerful.” Kabuto said. Maybe he didn’t need Sasuke after all. If he could get his hands on that child, then he would be able to chain Ino to his side. Where her son was, Ino would go.

“Itachi will know that we know this. That child will be hid and protected more than ever. Getting the girl will be easier than getting the boy. She is a much better route to go. If we have her, they will both come. Sasuke and Reiko. Itachi will as well.” Tobi said, his hands disappearing into the sleeves of his red and black cloak.

“But we will have to face three enraged Uchiha. That will be a difficult battle.” Kabuto pointed out.

He felt Tobi’s amusement. “But we have that person. They will be nothing compared to that person.”

Kabuto smirked, hiding his doubts. That person might be his ultimate trump card, but he feared that they would not be easy to control. But if he had Ino and her light chakra power maybe…just maybe he would be able to succeed in his goals. She was still the best person to have.

It was very late at night when Sasuke and Itachi returned. She, Reiko and her team had gone to bed, but she was jolted awake when she felt his cool body slide next to hers under the blankets. He didn’t touch her, just sighed and closed his eyes, turning on his side to that their backs touched. Just like the night they were first reunited. Itachi settled next to Reiko. She met his gaze over the soft rise and fall of her son’s chest. The light in his eyes told her that he had settled things with Sasuke. How? She didn’t know, but she would trust him. No one else in the world would love Sasuke more than Itachi did so she knew in her heart that Itachi would do everything he could to help Sasuke. She smiled and closed her eyes. In the morning, they had a lot to discuss.

When the rays of sunshine finally entered the room the next day, Ino and her team went to shower and dress for the day. Itachi had gone off to get breakfast and Reiko and Sasuke were left with Karin.

“That girl has a bigger mouth then you sometimes. I get a headache every time she screeches something.” Shikamaru commented on Karin. Ino ignored the hidden insult Shikamaru gave her concerning her decibel level because she agreed with him. Karin was really starting to grate on her nerves. She had to find a way to get rid of her and wondered if Sasuke would mind her diabolical planning. She thought about it the whole morning and then an idea popped in her head. One that could actually work!

So after breakfast, with her team awkwardly talking with Sasuke and Itachi, she called Karin out to talk.

“What is it?” Karin snapped moodily and folded her arms.

Ino smiled patiently. “So I’m sure you know what going to happen right? I’m going to transplant Sasuke and Itachi’s eyes.”

Karin arched a brow. “So? What? You want my help doing the procedure?”

“No.” At Karin astounded expression Ino smirked. “I can do it on my own. You seem to forget that Kabuto taught me many things.”

Karin sneered. “Right, who could forget how much he doted on his ‘cute little apprentice’? So why did you call me out here then?”

“I want you to go to Leaf and tell them everything you know about Orochimaru.” Ino said bluntly. Karin blinked a couple of times before laughing loudly in her face.

“What? Why the hell would I do that? Why would I want to leave Sasuke’s side? Because of you? Because you think you’ve won? I don’t care! I’ll trade my life a million times over just to make you miserable just so you can feel a slight sliver of what I’m feeling! Forget it!”

Ino narrowed her eyes. “That petty of you. We’re at war! Orochimaru was part of Akatsuki. Your knowledge concerning him could help the Allied Ninja forces! You were with Sasuke when Tobi took him too.”

Karin snorted. “So? I won’t do it!”

Ino pulled something from her pouch. “Not even for him?” She asked, holding the picture out. Karin gave it a passive glance before her eyes widened and she snatched the small photo from her fingers.

“Is this…”

“Yes. It’s Mamoru. He’s gotten big hasn’t he?”

Karin stared at the picture hard as if memorizing every detail of little Mamoru’s face. Then she did something that made Ino take a step back in astonishment. She started crying!

“You’re so horrible! They took him away from me! He’s the only thing I had left of him!” She said, clutching the picture to her chest with a wild look behind her black rimmed glasses. “I told Kabuto sensei not to let him go! He was so sick and in pain but it didn’t matter to him. And then he was killed! He was killed by that Sand jinchuriki and one of you leaf ninjas!”

“Kimimaro? Don’t tell me you loved him?” Now this was a shocker. She read up on Kimimaro a long time ago when she was in West Base and Kabuto told her that Orochimaru had wanted Kimimaro to be his first vessel.

“Is that so outrageous to you?” Karin wiped her eyes with the edge of her hand, glaring steadily at her. “He was the only person who made it tolerable for me when I was training with Kabuto-sensei and Lord Orochimaru. He had such a soft heart and when he smiled, it made me forget about everything horrible I was going through. You know how it was. You trained with Kabuto-sensei so you know how awful it was. But I was with them for seven years!”

Ino shook her head. “But you were Orochimaru’s follower!” She protested, confused.

“So? He was the one who saved me when my village and family were destroyed. He took me in and fed me, cared for me. I owed him a lot. Even if it was horrible to be there, I endured it because he saved me.” She looked down at the picture, cupped in her hand. “And he introduced me to Kimimaro. When you work for Lord Orochimaru, you’re not supposed to get attached, but I couldn’t help it. When he died, I was devastated! And then Kabuto-sensei told me about Project Kimimaro and I was so happy to know that I would be able to see him again. We tried and failed so many times, but then one of the clones actually survived! And when he was born, Kabuto-sensei placed him in your arms! I know he did it to hurt me, the sadistic prick! But…but…” She looked up at Ino with a shocking little smile. “But you let me care for him.”

Ino shifted her eyes away. “I only let you have Mamoru because I didn’t want to deal with him. Babies were a mystery to me and I only did it to get back at Kabuto to. To rebel against him.” She said guiltily.

“I didn’t matter to me.” Karin said. “I didn’t hate you so much afterwards. And when I heard that you took him away from Kabuto-sensei….I was happy. He was away from them, from Lord Orochimaru. If they raised him, who knows how he would end up.”

“I gave him to a clan member, a cousin and his wife. They love him a lot.” Ino said softly. “If you go back, you can’t have him.”

Karin looked remorseful. “Are they good people? He looks happy.” She said, stroking the picture. It reminded her of the times she would stare eternally at Reiko’s pictures when he was apart from her.

“They are. I wouldn’t give him to just anyone.” Keita was a good man and his wife was the same. “Mamoru will grow up happily with them.”

Karin sniffed, and wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. “If I go, will they let me see him? Will they let me see him anytime I want?”

Ino felt her heart melt a little at Karin’s hopeful voice. Ino wondered how she would have grown up without Orochimaru or Kabuto’s influence in her life. “Well, you can’t just show up in the middle of the night to see him and stuff.” Ino mused. Karin cracked a little smile. “But if you go to Leaf and tell them everything you know and cooperate, then I’ll make sure you can be a part of his life.”

Karin sighed, wiping her eyes with her fingers before replacing her glasses. “You’re really horrible you know. Using little Mamoru to get your way.” She huffed with the same attitude that Ino was more accustomed to and for that, Ino was eerily comforted. “You really are a conniving bitch.”

Ino shrugged, a smirk securely in place. “You’ll go then?”

“Yes, I’ll go. After the transplant.”

Ino’s smirked faltered. “But I said—”

“I don’t want you messing up Sasuke’s beautiful eyes! I’ll help to make sure you do it right!” Karin said dismissively, shoving Mamoru’s picture in her pocket and leaving back into the inn.

Ino ‘tched’, trying to feel insulted. But she couldn’t. Karin….she was one surprising psycho chick. When she went back in, she could tell all of the guys were wondering what they talked about. But Ino just smiled sweetly and grabbed the royal blue three lock scroll from the bag.

“So, when do you want to do this?” She asked, placing the scroll in front of her.

Sasuke and Itachi exchanged looks. “It would be better to wait until Sasuke is fully healed.” Itachi said. “As to avoid any complications.”

“I feel fine. We should do it as soon as possible.” Sasuke said, touching his eyes. “I’m getting a headache from my deteriorating sight.”

“That’s what happens when you use Susano’o carelessly.” Itachi lectured coolly.

“Tch, are we going to get into that again?” Sasuke brooded, a slight flush on his cheeks from being chastised in front of the others. Shikamaru was lounging against the wall, his arms folded. Asuma was reclined in a chair and Choji was sitting on the ground, leaning back on his hands with his legs outstretched in front of him. Sasuke and Reiko were standing next to one another with Itachi on another chair bracing his arms on his thighs.

“How longer until he’s completely healed?” Choji asked Itachi, ignoring Sasuke’s heated glare at being ignored.

“If Karin and I tag off, he’ll be in tip top shape in three or four days.” Ino said brightly.

“Or, you can just use your Sutra Healing jusu and be done with it.” Karin said dryly. Ino’s faced flamed and her mouth dropped open with a gasp.

“Sutra healing jutsu? What kind of jutsu is that? If it will help move things along then do it!” Reiko piped in. Ohh Reiko, if only you knew the irony of your words! It wasn’t only her who was feeling the rising flame of awkward embarrassment. Everyone except Karin and Reiko didn’t know where to look or what to say. Ino resisted the urge to bury her face in her hands. A pit of quicksand would be gods send right about now, she thought in mortification.

“What? Is it a hard jutsu?” Reiko asked innocently, looking at everyone in childlike confusion. Karin was smirking big time.

“Ahhh, what to do.” She rocked on her heels. “Do you want to go to a movie with me Reiko? I suddenly can’t breathe in here with all this…tension.”

Reiko jumped and beamed. “Can we get some ice cream later?” Reiko latched onto Karin’s hand as she pulled him out of the room.

“I hate her.” Ino seethed, watching the door close.

“Should we follow then? Give you some time alone?” Itachi teased, raising his brows.

This time Ino did bury her face in her hands. “Oh gods.” She moaned. “I hate her so much.” And they did leave. All of them without another word.

“I wish Danzo’s reverse tetragram seal swallowed her too.” Sasuke muttered darkly, leaning down and swiping the royal blue scroll from the floor.

Ino watched him. “You can’t open it. It has a tri-chakra lock on it.”

“So only you and your team can open it?” He asked, running his thumb over the blood red three part triangle. “How did you find out about the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan?”

“From the place you found out about it. Don’t worry, no one else besides my team knows where that place is and they promised not to say anything.” She stood and started unbuttoning her shirt. Sasuke stared wide eyed at her. “What? You don’t want to?” She asked, letting her purple shirt fall from her shoulders before shrugging and pulling it back up.

Sasuke stopped her from refastening it. “If it’s the best way…”

Ino grinned and rolled her eyes and then her hands were attacking his clothes, pulling them from his body as she hungrily and eagerly kissed him. Even when they tumbled into the blankets spread into the floor, they didn’t break apart once. Her blood was roaring in her veins and it made her dizzy with unchecked desire. They rolled until Sasuke won and pinned her wrists to the floor as he settled between her thighs. She rose her hips and took him inside with one move making them both moan loudly with pleasure. She clenched around him, urging him to move and when he did, she arched her back and let her hard nipples brush against his chest making her body tingle delightfully.

Their pent up desire finally burst forward every time she lifted her hips to meet every merciless thrust. The weight of him, the smell and taste of him made her desperate for release. But Sasuke wasn’t one to give her what she wanted without getting what he wanted first. She wanted something quick and powerful, he wanted something prolonged and rough.

He removed himself from her and made her turn around, on her hands and knees. But he grabbed her waist before her hands touched the floor, keeping her body in an upright position and forced her legs to widen with his hands before he snaked his left arm, under her left arm and then his fingers were around her neck in a truly possessive way. The other was around her waist, holding her in place as she felt his shaft wet with her feminine juices touch her back side. The hand around her waist moved and guided his hardness back to her throbbing core. She widened her knees more and gasped out loud when he entered her with a sharp thrust. All she could do was moan in maddening pleasure as he held her firmly against him, breathing heavily in her ear. It sent shivers down her spine and goosebumps emerged all over her body making her nerves so sensitive, everywhere he touched was on fire. One arm was bent behind her, clutching his hair and the other was holding onto his arm that was around her waist. If Sasuke hadn’t been holding her so tightly, she would have fallen to the ground when her earsplitting orgasm hit her. Sasuke stilled when her inner muscles clamped tightly around him in a hard spasm as the pleasure rolled through her and he groaned behind her, biting her neck sending another jolt of pleasure through her before spilling himself deep inside. His hot seed coated her insides and ran down soft inner thighs.

Ino was breathing hard and she pried his arm from her waist and neck before turning to him. “Greedy.” She teased, pushing at his chest before kissing him. He grabbed a fistful of her hair and kissed her back with renewed hunger before reclining on his back. Ino kneeled at his feet, crawling up between his knees. She took his soft shaft in her hands and gave it a soft jerk and then under his watchful dark eyes, she took him in her mouth to get him hard again. She tasted herself on him and tasted the bitterness of his semen. With her mouth and hands, she brought him back up, finishing with a kiss on his tip before impaling herself on him once again. She let him set the pace, letting him grip her hips with strong fingers. It went fast from there and like last time, his Mangekyo Sharingan became active and sent both of them spinning into mindless bliss. With a loud cry, Sasuke arched under her when her Sutra Healing jutsu blossomed over them, sealing her lips onto his with a bruising kiss. Limply, she let him roll her on her side and detach his sated member from her hot core. With a few small kisses on her forehead and eyes, he stroked her bangs, damp from sweat from her face and told her to sleep.

The others didn’t come back for some time and he was relieved. He studied her peaceful face for a moment longer before dressing. He was feeling better now. There were no more pains and even his eyes no longer burned from his reckless overuse of his Mangekyo Sharingan. She would be out for a while since her Sutra Healing jutsu took a lot of chakra. Considering how bad he was hurting, it took more chakra than usual. Staring at her, his early worries came back to him.

After talking with Itachi, he knew this war was going to be more dangerous than the previous wars. After some thought (a lot of thought), he decided he would fight against Tobi and his war. His Moon’s Eye plan was just ludicrous and it would never work. And Tobi was going to pay for thinking that he would ever use him. He was right not to trust that man and he couldn’t just sit by and let Itachi and Ino charge into danger.

I have no regrets. Itachi’s words still haunted him. I’ll love you forever…

Sasuke looked at the blonde and touched her lips. She never said those words to him and for the first time in his life, for the first time since they were together, he wanted to hear them from her. But he knew Ino well and knew that if she said them, she expected the same from him. Sasuke was never one to express that kind of feeling to any girl. Only his parents and Itachi ever heard him say he loved them. Not even Reiko had the pleasure of hearing those words. But he did, he did care for them, he did love them.

And this war can take them away from him, he thought with cold trepidation. The war could take away his family again. But he couldn’t just forbid Ino from participating in it. He could keep Reiko safe, but he couldn’t control what Ino would do. But how could he stop her? What could he do? She had to be the one to step back from the danger and he couldn’t force her no matter how much he wanted to do it.

Suddenly a thought came to him and rapidly formed in his mind. He kneeled beside her and put a hand to her head, making her long sooty eyelashes flutter. Instantly, he caught her in a Sharingan hold, hypnotizing her.

“Get dressed.” He ordered softly and she obeyed him. When she was finished, he asked her to follow him. The place he took her was quiet and he left her in a room, sitting stoically in a chair before going and looking for someone. He scanned the names on the hospital chalk board until he found who he was looking for. The nurse told him where to find him and when Sasuke saw the male doctor the unsuspecting man also fell into the Sharingan genjutsu hold. Now with both the doctor and Ino in the room, he released the doctor who gasped when he saw Sasuke’s menacing sword pointed at his face.

“W-what do you want?” He man asked, giving fugitive looks at Ino.

“I need you to do something for me. Succeed and I won’t kill you.” He said evenly, letting off some of his killer intent to intimidate him into doing what he was going to ask. The doctor swallowed hard, a small trickle of sweat rolling down his temple. “This girl has an IUD. Remove it.”