Blood Moon

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Subject: Naruto Shippuden FF, post war, personal AU where Itachi (my favourite character from the series) doesn't die.

Characters: Itachi Uchiha, Amaya Kiohime, Jiraiya, Kakashi Hatake, (oc) Ren Tanaka, (oc) Pebble, (oc) Mamba, (oc) Sparrow, (oc) Demon

Trigger warning ⚠️: mention of violence, blood, physical abuse (?), mention of death, unrequited love, love confession, love rivals, , mildly suggestive theme towards this ending (?), kissing scene, mention of human sacrifices/pawns and that's all I think?? Mention if u think there should be something else added to this list. Aww yeah 'ducks' too maybe ?? That's all I guess.

Word count: a little over 9k.

And now on to the actual story without further ado, hope u enjoy!

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Ok so, I was thinking about Itachi......let's be honest when am I not thinking about him..... anyway while I was daydreaming about braiding his hair in intricate, delicate braids so when he wakes up and needs to take them off it'll take him a hot minute I just was struck by an idea. A jealousy au.......tell me what do u think about it because I'm practically dying, over it, just losing it over this au.

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So this starts with a rough ninja group that starts to target several households. All quite reputable and big households and they burn the houses with the people in it. Consider it after the war era so Kakashi is the hokage. Jiraiya decides to visit him on the issue over at his office while he was trying to go through the files to understand the situation better.

So long ago, like really long ago, there was a great prophet that saw a dream, and wrote about it in a scroll. The entirety of shinobies all together, afraid of what might be in that scroll decided to divide it in 5 parts and hid it under the wings of 5 families who generation after generation choose their successors and hand the scroll over. Now it's not known where the scroll is, if it is real or what might be in it.

This really made Kakashi and Jiraiya concerned. 3 out of 5 houses have been attached and destroyed by now, and they don't even know where these ninjas r or their next target. So Jiraiya suggests they wait for them to attack again so then they will have a clear idea where they will attack next. For that of course they had to talk with the few half dead survivors from 2 of the families. They gave away one location but couldn't give any information about the other.

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Amaya was the one nursing the sick people back to health so they could live on. She heard about the scroll situation but didn’t know if it was her place to say anything because if it is as old and well known as they r saying then Madara knew about it surely, but he still didn’t go after it, so it must be something that’s not supported to be messed with. She was not sure but was uneasy stressing about if there will be another war at the door again.

Then she was called in the hokage’s office. Jiraya was the one who called. The rough ninjas were not to be messed with, they slipped through the fingers of quite some other groups of jonins of cloud and stone. Having a skilled medic in their team would be a great help, especially when she is also a sensory double. It’ll be a 4 person team, Jiraiya, her, Itachi and another guy who’s also a sensory and communicative expert in case they need more back up from the village later.

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That day she was tagging along with Jiraiya the entire day for preparation and when around early evening they gathered all together for the sake of introduction and a plan and then setting off on journey, Amaya upon seeing Itachi called out as usual (screaming a very high pitched TACHI~~) and Itachi was about to yell a response back of his own, “shut up” that is, but kept to himself mumbling “how obnoxiously loud” holding his ears.

This piece of commotion brought out the former anbu and current officer in the sensory and communicative section. However the moment he saw Amaya his confusion evaporated and the empty space was full with a curiosity about what this woman was.

Needless to say the introduction period went on a little longer than initially planned. Ren Tanaka, the new man joining the team with auburn hair and grayish blue eyes, surprisingly started getting along with Amaya off the bat, while maintaining a professional relationship with Jiraiya and a cold shoulder to Itachi. They had so many interests in common, most of them were absurd and meant a total waste of time according to Itachi. That didn’t stop him from wondering if they actually shared such interests or he was just faking it, after all he can't really imagine anyone else being as obsessed with wanting to be a duck like Amaya, despite not knowing anything about them.

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The formation was simple and direct, Jiraiya, the team leader will be behind tailing the rest in case of any abrupt ambush, Ren will be in the middle maintaining a sensory field with Amaya, while Itachi will lead with his sharingans. The basic plan after reaching the place was to wait hiding.

They weren’t sure if the rough ninjas will be attacking the place they have chosen tonight, especially not when they have emptied the place before hand to avoid casualties at least in one family. They however were not certain about what to do with the scroll. Something they didn’t even know where it was or what it was.

Amaya and Ren fooling around didn’t help Itachi’s thoughts. What were they laughing so much about?? They r supposed to be silent and stealthy, sneaky, not slowing the rest down with failed attempts at muffling their wheezing giggles. He wasn’t interested in the slightest bit in what they were talking about, it was just some old book, a ridiculous romance story that he has heard Amaya obsess over countless times. He didn’t even like the story at the very least bit, he only read it to analyze the characters and the theme and the plot(holes) and the setting, and the symbolism so that he can understand Amaya when she figures something new out and tells him but definitely it was a horrendous piece of literature, insult to art. There was no need for her to explain all the details he has heard a million times to this new guy with so much enthusiasm, and so loudly…….He has a headache.

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He sure was startled when Jiraiya pulled him back. Apparently he was going too fast and went too far ahead of the team and wouldn’t hear them out. Amaya tried to call him so many times. What a joke, as if she called for him once after having met this gray eyed fish gasping for water with every breath……..no wonder it was so peaceful. Of course, he didn’t say those out loud, only said his mind was loud with what might be already going on there.

It wasn't all wrong. His mind was definitely loud, counting countless possible scenarios playing out in his head. However he didn’t like the excuse that the road they chose as short cut being hard to navigate was the reason why they were not as fast as his natural speed not because gossiping, why was he not having much trouble? Couldn’t possibly be his piercing eyes, sharp, swift reflexes, and natural ability to blend with his surroundings.

The good thing that came out of this was they were able to reach the place sooner than expected. The place was eerily quiet. Perhaps the evacuation was the reason, maybe it wasn’t a great idea and the thieves will be warned now, probably they should’ve just tried mixing in with the rest of the people here and catch the thieves red handed in action when they do come. But then again, what if they r out numbered and someone gets wounded. But even so they have Amaya, she can handle a household of people. What if the thieves think that the people here left the place and just took the scroll so they leave as well before even coming here. That being said……how r they even finding the scrolls to begin with if no one knows where they r…….

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The train of his thoughts had to be stopped abruptly when Amaya screamed at the top of her lungs. Itachi sprinted towards where he heard her scream. What happened?...... Did someone come in? Was there a trap? Did she get in trouble? His mind was racing under seconds, not that he was worried about her, it’s her healing abilities r unmatched and so is her cooking, she also owes him 3 favors, what about the ducks she has made friends with or Mr. chick ken? She still hasn’t been able to win against the bird. Her herbs garden needs her back, he was forced into promising that he’ll go with her to the summer festival, not that it matters but he can’t break a promise or she’ll never let him live it down how he’s a liar. The scream sounded really serious and she stopped suddenly too what if-. OF COURSE. HE HAD NO REASON TO WORRY. Girl had everyone in a fit of panic over 2 cockroaches. Even master Jiraiya is frozen. Yeah yeah this kinda job is perfect for Ren. He seems eager as well. Yeah……he doesn’t need to worry too much about everything, he can share the burden with his fellow team-mates. Yeah he might not understand their work ethics completely, like he doesn’t understand why is there any need for him to be clasping Amaya’s hands on his crabby claws but it looks like it fits well. He might as well assign Ren the duty of being her personal big roach defender and free himself of the baggage of having to keep an extra eye out. He has only 2 anyway.

They were having fun, a little too much for being out to grab deadly criminals who could be here any minute. Itachi already talked with master Jiraiya about where they should set traps and where will be the best place for trapping a large number of people and/or ambushing them. He’s done with his jobs for now, all that’s left is to wait. Wait till his eyes melt off that is. Jiraiya went to get drinking water and Amaya and Ren are playing, like kids. Just unlike kids there’s absolutely no reason for him to be lifting her up and around so much. Hell kids can’t even lift themselves up forget lifting each other up. She seems to enjoy it too much too. Ughh……it’s loud. Too loud. She’s laughing too much, he’s not even funny at all. What is she laughing at anyway. He doesn’t think she has told him about it before. Wait it’s the movie about valentine’s day? It was so cliché Amaya is a normal girl so he understands but as a shinobi Ren definitely has bad taste. Yeah he too has seen it……with Amaya…….ugh it was so bad he had to sit through it and tolerate her whining the entire time and deal with it even while having dinner. But she doesn’t have to start talking about it with anyone he meets. He can’t possibly like everything can he.

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Jiraiya has great stories to tell. He’s a legendary sannin, traveled the world and is experienced. He is a wise man, a pervert too but he’s responsible too…….sort of that is……..so it makes sense that when he speaks there’s a magnetic aura around him that draws in others to listen to him, especially when he’s seriously speaking. But right now, he understands Amaya but Ren….again….what is so enchanting about getting lost in a ghost city and finding his way back out through decoding a riddle given by an old woman (who might be a witch) and ending up falling from a waterfall but finally escaping. And she didn’t have to lie down on him. Look how he's patting her heads. She'll fall asleep no doubt. Itachi doesn’t know all the nightmares she might have, but he knows how to soothe them every single time. He has spent long nights stroking her head, against his will that is. All Ren has to do now is to make her a bowl of warm soup the next morning. A little bit more saltier than normal but nothing crazy. Things he might as well start teaching early.

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Volunteering to be staying awake was a mistake. What’s up with her anyway. Usually she nags so that she too can stay up with him and talk his ears off. Tonight…….does she not understand that it isn’t appropriate for a grown woman to be clinging so much to a man, let alone sleep in his arms. What’s up with the night also anyway? Isn’t it deafening? Why is master Jiraiya looking at him and smiling so much? He’s not even trying to hide it. What did he mean by “one can’t hide everything behind a poker face”. As if Itachi needs to hide anything. He’s open. He says what he means, he means what he says……..for the most part that is. Sometimes he has to deal with his true feelings. Because a shinobi must always know what is truly important. A legendary sannin, an impeccable communication and sensory officer, village’s finest genjutsu user and a normal doctor that has learned how to run over time. A team where everyone must know their position. Itachi would try to distract himself from these thoughts. But the glint from the red beads on her wrist is interrupting it. Red beads that match the purple ones on his own wrist. He wish he left it home. Or didn't accept it. Now someone makes him wear it because so does she why does it matter. He wonders if it's finally time he would have to get rid of them. The purple hue keeps him up too many nights when his wrist isn’t drowning in ink of silk strands.

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The morning was torturing. Everyone was feeding everyone. Master Jiraiya even tried to feed him a piece of mushroom, Ren would keep trying to pass him all the carrots, but doesn’t seem to mind being fed by Amaya. If he could he would shove every single bell pepper down her throat. But nop, he is the normal one out here that understands that they r not here for a picnic. They’re here to catch robbers that commit part-time murder. At least Amaya seems to think, she has fed Ren more than she has eaten herself. Well what’s his he'll finish his meal and go for a walk, and see things around. the air feels Heavy. Something may happen.

And happen it did. The house had a secret door. Somehow while entering the bathroom Amaya slipped and triggered the sensor in the bathroom mirror. How? Her slippers went flying and hit the glass on a 45° angle and the door opened leading to a staircase going down. That’s his girl, ahem, he means that’s the trouble he knows of, causing chaos while doing absolutely nothing. Of course she’s the one to find the path leading to the scroll. Right before lunch as well.

And then it went off. Ren and Amaya’s radars that is. There were people outside. 5, 7, 9, 13, 17, 25 no….30 in total. Yeah. 30 people , surrounded on all sides. They r entering the house. Near the entrance. Some of them are also sensory shinobi. Bad idea. It was a bad idea, to be underestimating Itachi’s calculation and Jiraiya’s traps. Simple but so effective. Perfect ambush, unsuspecting, silent and deadly. Just like how he likes them. What they did not like was having to face an explosion right at their face. Whatever it was Deidara would’ve thrown a fit over it being a piece of art……having ripped a whole in earth leading to outside where 3 of the leaders stood. Or they were underlings of the leader(s). Whoever they were, they were powerful, being able to use shadow clones to catch them all off-guard was impressive. They have a sensory one amongst them, who is also blind in both eyes, a real pain for Itachi for he seems to be staring at him constantly, visual paralysis doesn’t work on those without vision. No worries, he has plenty of other ways tho. But he isn’t the only one to be dealt with. There’s another man extremely fast on his feet and adeptly using both earth type and water type. Lastly the other girl who was also a user of genjutsu and a summoning user (birds).

How did he figure out her summoning? Well that’d be a nice question if there weren’t monstrous birds attacking from the sky while Amaya is screaming about what kind of Jurassic world game is going on. It’d be nice if Ren wasn’t playing along as if it was all a game, at least master Jiraiya is serious. Who is he kidding he’s definitely fighting seriously but because he is in middle of an argument over “front” or “back” with the earth-water user.

“Childish, aren’t they…..”

“-well they seems to be getting along so doesn’t matter”

“U r far calmer than I expected u to be”

“There’s not really any reason for me or us to be stressing over people like u.”

“Confident r we-“

He couldn’t finish his sentence when Jiraiya and his toads made their presence very much known. After all, he’d not be tolerating any mistreatment of his ideology. Ren too was able to get a grip on the girl. He seemed to be struggling a bit for someone who Itachi thought was pretty good on handling ladies. It was time for the final blow, just one more to take down and they’d leave for home, and get over with the drama. But for a mission ranked s class, it looks like everything went too smoothly.

“……..Pebble! Sparrow! We got the one we needed! Now’s the time to retreat!”

“Aww Mamba, we’re not done toying around yet”

“ Yeah, Pebble is right, let’s show these freak shows what we, right hands of-“

“ That’s enough! We r facing members of Uchiha clan and sannin trio here, let’s not joke around. Until next time, brats”

So that was their names, quite ironically fitting. Of course it was a mud clone…. Amaya! Wait did she….? Well it was indeed too easy. Is it now his cue to get involved in the game…….getting physical would be a pain.

“Direct taijutsu against me would be a pain no?!”

“ True, but creating preconceptions regarding appearance and assumptions can prove to be foolish for oneself, for I am not someone to be involved in direct battle with just about anyone. Neither have I gotten much patience.”

“ Careful now, u’d not want to hurt ur team mate would u”

“Amaya isn’t an important part of this group, unfortunately u went for the wrong one, a mistake u shall pay for now”

 Itachi took one look at the unconscious body of a very familiar girl, then within a second his iris focused on the view in front of him releasing a familiar swirl of black flames started to swallow everything on sight, now under more control and faster, Amaterasu, flames that can even bring fire. Then suddenly as if someone grabbed him from behind and pulled him, for better or for worse took him a minute to figure it out. The ground below him blew up and the roof collapsed, allowing the thieves to escape. He looked at Ren, and was about to say something but then Jiraiya pulled out something from his jacket.

“Well she’s not that important part of this group, and we already got the scroll with us, we also might as well run now ourselves, to deliver this scroll and take more people with us to hunt them down, until the whole scroll is together it’s not that much of any use, maybe we can even figure something out with this one piece-“

“ And exactly how will u face Naruto? What will u answer to lord 6th and lady 5th? What about the rule of never leaving a comrade behind as a leaf shinobi? –“

“ Itachi calm down we already have a clue on how to tail them!! I can track Amaya, through her bracelet, there’s a chip inside of it, without being captured by that eyeless guy they call Mamba. Also did you really think I’d let them get away with her? Know some difference between us man”

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For a moment Itachi thought he imagined that looks in his eyes, but Jiraiya’s smile told him otherwise. Surely people don’t truly trust him, not yet-

“ And it’s not like I don’t trust u with the mission, I do, I know u r one of the best to have on this mission. What I don’t trust u with is Amaya. Man u really have to be a certain level of heartless to be this cold to someone so enthusiastic as her, she won’t even stop talking about ur endless patience and tolerance when all I could see was ur sheer disgust of her, if u will excuse me I’ll be taking a moment to actually start tracking her”.

She was actually talking about him? She’d rather talk about him than talk to him? That girl was crazier than he thought, maybe he himself should ask her about this. Just he hopes that she’ll be ok alone, it’s typical for her to volunteer, but for no one to tell him-

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell u anything, the way u were behaving already made us think u knew the plan. Don’t worry though, not that u look like u’re worried, but we’ll definitely find her faster than even  one of them can hurt her.”

Well a lot of people seemed to be seeing through him today, he didn’t know if it was good or bad. Didn’t have the energy to be thinking about it either.

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Being splashed with water straight to the face was a rude way of being awakened. Maybe that’s the reason the man in front of her was called Demon. Well he looked nothing like a Demon, long green hair reaching his tailbone looked well taken care of, and matching jade eyes looking at her, cold, still, and so so dull…….as if dead. He had a pretty smile, if only it reached his eyes.

The man came closer and cupped her face, sighing deeply rubbing his thumb over her lower lips slowly,

“How beautiful, it’s a shame u r so stubborn. I like it however, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy feisty beauties to the depth of my heart”

“ My! U have one?!!”

“ Of course darling! Shall I dig it out for u to see myself or untying ur hands will do? Tsk tsk tsk tsk! How forgetful of me, no can do the later ma’am, will gladly do it myself only if u ask me to urself, just add a please!”

His hands clutched at his own chest, nails digging in his flesh deeper than she could tolerate.

“Stop!”

“Hmn?!”

“I said stop…….”

“My!! It’d be an interesting interrogation with u, I’d rather call it a pre-date planning. If u r a good little goddess I will marry u so fast”

Yeah…… This one was a definite creep, so much he made his underlings look normal, not that they were much disturbing anyway, she has seen Orochimaru. How hard will this be, his friends will be here soon, Ren knows what to do and master Jiraiya will definitely be on her tail and…… And maybe Itachi won’t be killing her when he sees her. Yeah, she should prepare for what would happen when he sees her next, no one will stand a chance against the amount of anger she’ll have to face.

“Careful now darling, I don’t like my woman to be distracted thinking about other men……”

Or maybe she should still be a little more careful. Just in case……

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⚠️ WARNING ⚠️ violence

A broken arm, both brown ankles and a beaten up face. It was just merely some make up being put on her, oh how pretty she looked like this. Lips busted, eyes swollen, jaw fractured and rope marks around her throat, a true beauty. The 4 together couldn’t figure out how she was still alive, let alone keep her composer and such a tight lipped woman. Demon’s expressions were unreadable, was he in love with her, annoyed with her, either way both would end in her death. Impressive was how she could stall it. They have never seen anyone capable of healing the injuries caused by their leader, let alone so fast. The minor cuts were already healed, the more deeper wounds would heal too without any external help within a few weeks. This woman they took here was excellent at the one thing she did, if only her teammates could value her as an asset.

Mamba had suggested her to join in, leave behind people who don’t care about her no matter her worth and join them where they’d treasure her priceless talent. But feisty as she was she refused to open her mouth unless forced open.

“Shall we cut off her tongue? Not like she’s talking much for us anyway”

“Maybe we should double our efforts so I can put her under my genjutsu, knocking her out may work too”

“ Isn’t that too much work”

“ Not when it comes to the-“

“ Now now”, Demon spun around in a dramatic way, “ it’s a rude way to be talking in front of our guest, we should prepare for her special treatment in secrecy, so we can surprise her! How wonderful it will be!”

Even Itachi himself can’t put her in a genjutsu, as if they will be able to use any sort of visual paralysis on her. Just fooling Mamba was a bit too harder than expected. He’s gotten an iron grip on her. And much like his name a filthy black mouth, teeth and tongue. For someone to have such high tolerance for poison, he was surely the least tolerant in the group. Pebble was a man of monstrous size, he himself could pass as a mountain, and Sparrow looked like an old witch trying to feed a poison apple to snow white.

Honestly, she made a hasty decision, they way the hide out is so deep in the woods so close yet so hidden, all the traps around and triggers, she doubts Ren will be able to find her here anytime soon. It’d be better if Itachi just takes the scroll and leaves, handling what is in something so important is of a bigger priority. Also if only she could get at least somewhere near the room where the scrolls r. They’d not need to worry about anyone here fleeing with the thing that matters the most.

“Aww darling, u seem worried, don’t worry though, I’d love u all the same even if u r a limbless puppet running on fuel and no longer alive, you’ll be my most beautiful bride”

Heh, he really thinks someone like him can get her to do what he wants, something no one else has been able to do. As if!!

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He didn’t wanna admit it, but Ren appeared to be a way better tracker than they expected! He as in they that is. It’s been only 1 and a half hours and they have already found the base. It looked like a normal abandoned place where no one has lived for centuries. If not for the precautions they took about the triggers and traps. To add cherry on top the weather seems to be getting heavy as well. It will be hard for Ren to be doing his job if the sky is drowning with rain.

Suddenly a kunai passed right by Itachi’s left ear alerting everyone showing they have been trapped.

Sparrow revealed herself from the shadows and used her summonings to surround her victims. She might not be as potent at genjutsu as Itachi but her summonings r powerful. She laughed at them and asked what were they doing triggering every single sensor near the hide out instead of sneaking in. Ren laughed a little and replied if nothing they got at least some traps figured out, only they weren’t capable of using shadow clones. It’s a tough technique, but so was the shinobis on their tail. The last thing she expected was to be trapped inside toad stomach with Itachi himself, her summonings getting more and more stuck inside. Oh how he hated people who were only capable of living by their own assumptions, prejudices r a deadly killer.

At least the good part was that they had a sense of team, helping each other out when they needed help was a great trait to have. But Pebble wasn’t the most patient man there. Thankfully neither was master Jiraiya. Directly messing with him after he felt u have insulted his taste is always a rough ending.

“The mountain toad’s stomach is a hard place to escape from, there’s no point in dragging on and trying to free her, we might as well have a negotiation over materials we both want back now all right gentlemen?”

Ok so they didn’t have any sense of team. Neither did they have any sense of respect for women. To be dragging a woman, who’s injured with broken ankles, by her feet was not something Itachi was expecting to see. Her body twisted in ways which could not be normal, forcefully dragged across the surface, all beaten and broken. He thought she had more fight in her than this, he thought she would be able to carry herself for longer than this, HE THOUGHT MASTER JIRAIYA WOULD SHOW MORE EMOTIONS THAN THIS!! Especially when even Ren froze up.

“Oww and u want us to believe u r here for a deal because…?”

“Simple really, no one really knows what is in the scroll but we all can agree that it’s a powerful secret, so u may take ur remarkable medic and we take our scroll.”

“ And ur teammate?”

“ Mehh, we can always replace her. There’s nothing really good about her other than some pet birds u see. So might as well get her replaced. I’ll miss my beautiful to be wife though, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.”

Wife………wife? To be wife? Who behaves like this with their to be wife, who trades her for a piece of rolled up paper, who the hell just casually dragged their so called to be wife by her ankle that seems to be broken anyway.

“u sure are bold”

“Well what can I say, big fan of the clan killer of konoha u can say”

“ What makes u think that we even have the scroll”

“ Simple really, Mamba can sense it.”

“ I see how it is then, does he also sense the danger he is in now”

“ Enough talking, I think it’s time to get down to business seriously.”

Itachi wasn’t sure how being so eager to attack was good, when they had Amaya’s half-conscious body tied up with them.

“……..tachi…….”

He knew this voice, what he didn’t know was it could be so quiet.

“Look at this! Wifie woke up and chose to call for another man before me, I’m heartbroken. Particularly when I care about her more than they do”

 “ It shows exactly how much u care about her u hypocrite! Dragging her around like a corpse when she’s still alive, u sure do love her so much!!”

“ Wow why is brick head blowing up suddenly……. No way! U don’t say huhh!!-“

He didn’t get to finish his rant or realization when Jiraiya’s fist landed square on his jaw. Well he did say he wants to get down to serious business. The Pebble guy seemed stunned as well at his speed. Maybe this was time for Itachi to start playing big, it’ll be over soon.

A faint red aura surrounded him, slowly growing brighter and as if almost taking in a form, his eyes glowing scarlet and droplets of crimson starting to pool in his eyes. Eyes that embodies his past, his relation with the woman in front and who he is at core.

 “Tachi……Move now!”

The voice was faint but he heard it clearly. In a fraction of a second he moved the ground beneath him shattered. He underestimated the 2 other people to deal with. Ren was keeping Mamba and his poison busy, but they left Pebble unattended. Or so they thought, everything was now exactly where he hoped would be, right in the line of his sight all aligned.

“ clever move, but u forgot that we r still holding her here with us”

“ And that’ll be an issue exactly because? “

“ Spoken like a true clan killer”

The retort came with a kick to the ribs Itachi barely dodged thanks to his susano. The damage this man deals seems to be unrecoverable, he has to be more cautious. Or not. Like always, even in the state she was in she already has connected her chakra with the 3 there, no one has to worry about healing while she’s there ever. A miracle medic as always.

“DAMN U WOMAN, MY TO BE BRIDE GOING AROUND HELPING OTHERS LIKE IT IS SOME KIND OF JOKE!! Ohh I know, I’ll show them joke. Pebble!! We need to do what we need to do. Mamba, deal with them.“

And as if they were waiting for this opportunity, pebble set off the earth bomb and mamba released his poison smoke. The difference was that when it blew up it was more violent than they expected. If master Jiraiya didn’t pull Itachi back he’d been blown to bits.

But the question was, where are the other bits, other than broken shards of red that is.

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Itachi would’ve charged into the poison mist is Jiraiya didn’t hold him back, Ren seemed to have frozen up even forgetting to inhale. Faint screams of the sannin couldn’t bring them back to their senses that the enemies were escaping. As if to add to injury already so deep his last words drowned much around when the sky started to as well. Jiraiya had no choice he had to choose between attending to the unconscious member or facing a raging storm he had no hand over, not now at least, and as the wise man he was he chose the former.

3, 7, 15 he found every bead of red but he didn’t find any hint of the wrist they were attached to. The rubble mixed with the roof and the earth around, he never thought his mind would ever be capable of being so perfectly portrayed by nature around him. There had to be at least smudges of blood or did the rain already wash them away. He saw it. He knows what he saw, the moment Demon charged towards the opposite direction his minions executed his orders, his hands were empty, Itachi knows the hands were empty because he was reaching out to hold them himself. He knows what he saw, he saw the smile, he saw the very same smile that always told him it’ll be fine, they’ll work till it’s not, he saw it. Yeah sure the eyes and lips were a little busted, the face was a little swollen, but it was the same familiar picture just a bit dusty. He won't be giving up. He might need a bit of help, he doesn’t have to do everything by himself right, he’ll just go ask Ren. He’ll go ask for help just after he’s done rummaging through this portion of the ruin. He’s not lying at all. Definitely not. Why would he……..

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He did not appreciate being dragged into the cave by Jiraiya. He didn’t care about the interrogation going on there. As if Sparrow will be about to spill all the details. He doubts she even knows any. Being played by the leader like a pawn and sacrificed when she was trying to help. She tried her best. She didn’t ask anything so she’d know nothing. She was keeping an eye out for everyone constantly. He doesn’t know this girl. He truly doesn’t.

He trusted when she said she knew nothing, he already looked through her mind, almost, and he trusted her. So the best thing to do was to release her. The flames were inescapable and they’d finish the job faster.

“Why’d u do that!!”

“Mind explaining the meaning behind attacking ur teammate?”

Itachi had a poker face on. He had a promise to keep, he will always keep his cool and not let his unstable emotions take over his rationality. Ren did punch him but he’s not looking for a fight, he’s shaken. It’s alright, they did lose a teammate and there’ll be hell to explain. He’ll keep his cool.

“Excellent control over ur face Itachi boy, but those hands balled in a fist turning those knuckles white shaking shows ur fury enough maybe hide them to be more convincing. “

“ Tell him to hide his face too. I don’t ever want to see it after we return to the village. Let’s not being him back as back-up, he won’t be doing much anyway “

He didn’t mean to let the snort out and definitely not so loudly. Ren is kind of heart and naïve of soul. He has a long way to understand his new teammate perfectly. Not something he’ll be able to do unless he calms down first.

“There’ll be no need for a back-up”

“The arrogance level is through the roof ehh Uchiha? U will stop at nothing no? Nothing else matters in front of the mission”

“It’s the mission that no longer matters. The mission was to capture them alive. So we can get the information behind their intentions and if more r involved in this mess. Now it’s no longer what it was supposed to be like in the papers. We’ve gotten one scroll, u take that back to konoha and figure out whatever possible from it. I’ll bring the rest. We’ll see if others r involved in this or not depending on who tries to stop me or not. And-“

“ What exactly makes u think we’ll just agree and follow by what u say. Who allowed u to think u can make decisions for us too.”

“ I’m not making any decisions for u, I’m explaining what I’ll do. It should be a guideline for things to avoid so u don’t end up against me”

“ And let’s say we do in fact follow ur words. What exactly will it end in. U chasing vengeance because u r stronger. Or everything going back to how it was because now u finally understand that some plans don’t follow through so u should know when to back out of one such situation.”

He knew Jiraiya spoke what he meant. But obviously he didn’t know the whole truth. Neither does Itachi have the energy to explain now.

“Ren, I know it’s unfair to u but can I talk to Itachi a bit. It’ll only take us a moment. If u will wait it out I’m sure u can see there’s more common in between the two of u than u r willing to believe. There there child, just a few minutes.”

Itachi didn’t like how calm he was, he didn’t like how he was treating him like a kid, as if he was some stupid child. He didn’t like feeling like everything he spoke was a joke when he spoke his mind on a firm ground. Jiraya should know better than to be thinking that he was talking empty. He-

“I know I know, u don’t like being cut off, or people reading u too much and many more……..things but I’m not here to go through the list. I just wanted to say, I know that the whole reason u wanted to avoid her was because u didn’t want her to be in trouble because of u. Itachi Uchiha, a name that’s followed by some sort of another negative attachment no matter where u go, to not associate with it is probably the best way to not be involved with it. But did u ever think how deeply she already was involved? The entire impression that u gave was that u didn’t care about her not that she wasn’t involved. Something u kept trying to maintain even in this mission”

“…….. “

“ C’mon now, staying silent won’t be helpful at all. Ahh ok let me say it like this. U wanted her to be safe right? Not following u around or worse someone else hunting her to get back at u. Now not saying u didn’t have faith in her or u didn’t trust her because it’s something u did 100% and I can’t deny something so blatantly obvious. But Itachi, she followed u around maybe for a reason?”

“ What could be the reason. Can u name one single thing that I can ever give to her? What did I not do to make it clear that there’s nothing I can provide her with. A home, a family, love, safety nothing at all. Can u tell me what didn’t I explain to her? “

“ Now now let’s not get so ahead so fast. Maybe all she wanted was a friend with a listening ear. That u did give her, tirelessly. Ur poker face does nothing to hide how intently u listen to her rambling away even when what she says makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. U gave her what she wanted, a friend a companion and someone who listens. Why r u judging her based on how u think she should feel or be like instead of how she really felt or was”

“ Was……I think whatever needs to be proved is already proved. Was, she was, she felt, she did it’s all in the past. There’s no point in dwelling on the last anymore not when I can’t bring it back, or change it. Least  apologize or to make it right. When-“

“She ran after u because she wasn’t sure if u will return to her”

“ I never said anything about it because I don’t know it myself.”

“If u didn’t succeed in pretending she’s not involved then u should’ve accepted the fact that she’s important. Ur name doesn’t only bring trouble to the people u care about, it also keeps them safe. Not many r insane enough to mess with someone u hold dear to ur heart because they won’t be able to pay the price. Think about now, they went after nobody u thought was important but the one u ignored. Instead of making it appear that she’s the least informed member u made it appear she was a sacrificial pawn; and they went for her.”

“ Telling me these will do exactly what if I may enquire?! “

“Avoid future casualties that results in negligence of the situation at hand assuming everything is going accordingly. Human psychology is unpredictable. Adaptation and fluidity is crucial.”

The toad sage walked away, but he sat there. Unpredictable. Human psychology is unpredictable. For everyone? U mean to tell him that Jiraya didn’t know the consequences of his words on Itachi? Maybe he didn’t. Because if he wasn’t going for vengeance before he is now.

**********************************************

Muffled coughing couldn’t reach any ears even if there was one out there searching for it. Thank goodness she asked Yamato for a carry on wooden clone of herself as her temporary summoning. She surely did exchange places with it at the nick of time but sigh she lost the friendship bracelet. Well it isn’t friendship much anyway, he seems to not really think of her as a friend. Even now she’s still thinking about it when trying to swim against the flow of the river handling 4 scrolls and freshly healed from broken bones. She’s not even that good of a swimmer. WHY did she even think it was a good idea. Well it’s a different thing that it’s Itachi who’s the brain of the missions, and executioner, and planner, and tracker, and…….well she’s not a shinobi to begin with. Dang she really needs to stop having inner monologues about Itachi and focus on surviving the river.

**********************************************

“Are u fucking crazy?”

At this point Itachi is sure Ren isn’t even trying to hide his hatred for him. Not that he cares but yes, someone else seems to care. However it’s no longer something he bothers with. He cannot just go back home and face Naruto. He can’t just return to the same places where he’ll never see her again. He can’t just admit he didn’t even acknowledge someone that cared for him so much she forgot to care for herself. Who does this brick head thinks he is anyway, he came in her life first, he was the one to be hearing her ramble away first.

Who was he kidding, he wasn't her first in anything, he wasn’t even the best one at that. The again of all he was to her is a failure, then doesn’t it mean that he has the most right to be seeking justice for her death. After all it is him to bear the responsibility-

“What do u think of urself huh!! U think I wanna see them dead any less? U think I-“

“I don’t even want them to ever achieve any memorial grave, because realistically speaking there’s not going to be a body to bury, either. Do not compare ur childish crush-at-first-sight on a girl u saw merely a few hours ago with the relation we shared or emotions we felt together. Nothing was one-sided as u assumed. Yes I know there’s no point in confessing them now. But there’s also no point in denying them now either. I refused to entertain all irrelevant curiosity u may harbor any further. If u will this shall be our parting now”

Jiraiya didn’t have the chance to call out to him either. His usual genjutsu tricks, he didn’t even realise until the boy in front of him flew away turning into a flock of crows. He half expected the shock on Ren’s face, but was half not ready to believe that someone like Itachi will be losing his cool. Learning is growth however, learning humans r not machines running on pure logistics and sometimes emotions taking over is normal, letting the emotional side out is healthy, lessons Itachi will be needing.

“We’re gonna chase after him.”

“What good will it bring?”

“ I wanna see if he really means what he said. I don’t believe him”

“………so long u don’t regret it.”

**********************************************

Did he know where he was going? No. Yes. Sort of……? There could be many potential answers. He’s Itachi Uchiha of the sharinagan, if he can’t even track a few murderers that killed someone who actually may have mattered to him what good is he for. And besides-

.............

Is there a waterfall nearby? The loudness of water is getting louder and louder. Waterfalls……. Someone seemed to be mesmerized when Jiraiya was talking about them when he was telling the stories about his travels. She loved water, hot springs, ocean, rivers, ponds and even long showers, water made her happy. He didn’t think clearly when he was already near the hidden waterfall. How will he be keeping his composer if every little thing now reminds him of her. Well if u can call a whole waterfall small.

Then his ears perked up, his muscles tensed. He heard it, clear shuffling behind the bushes. He doesn’t think whoever it is has noticed him yet. He doesn’t sense any chakra from the person but he’s certain it’s a person.

Itachi was swift and light on his feet, he moved fluidly and dived in the bushes. They’re female, long hair, fair limbs and bright eyes and a hard as hell head that just head-butted his nose and started screaming about how he, Itachi, scared her shitless and she was just trying to pass by unnoticed and then the sound got hazy. Maybe it was the impact of her head in his nose that stun him, but to see someone alive after……no no no. He won’t fall for this, it’s clearly a trap.

She was explaining herself. She was very lively and animated by nature so waving her hands and arms excitedly when she was agitated was natural to her. She was not expecting him to grab her both arms and pin then behind her, turn her on her stomach, press her against the ground and keep her there with one knee to her tailbone threatening with a kunai against her throat almost cutting the skin.

“Who are u?........what do u want?”

Simple questions, except the person asking those questions was Itachi. What did he mean? He knows her right?? Of course he does. Why is he so violent though……..

“UCHIHA LAD YOU HAVE ONE CHANCE TO GET OFF ME OR OR…….Or………or no more dango for u I’ll feed them to Mr. chick ken, for……for a whole week!!”

Amaya……..Threatening someone to not let them have sweets when they r about to kill her, bringing chicken into a pursuit of life in death’s face, that high pitch voice, the warmth of her hands, the same eyes confused as ever never knowing anything about anything……..It’s Amaya

“You’re alive…….”

“Damn straight I AM!! I-”

**********************************************

Feel free to skip this part.

She has just sat up and faced him then he decides to come a little too close. His hand supporting the back of her neck, lips against her own. His nose pressed against her cheek and eyes as if forcefully squeezed shut. For a few seconds she didn’t even process what just happened until he slowly started to move against her mouth softly sucking it in, using another arm to support her waist. She got one chance to exhale the breath she didn’t know she was holding and as if her body gave up against his. Thank goodness his eyes r shut or he'll see how red her face was glowing. Pretty sure he can feel the heat but it’s still better than seeing her right. His hands moved from her neck to her hair and as if his eyelids fluttered scaring her to close her own eyes. Is he looking, she doesn’t know what to do, how to respond but she doesn’t mind him either. Her hands balled on the materialbon his chest resting beside where her body was pressed against his. It’s almost as if he let go of her too soon if she wasn’t so out of breath gasping loudly for air. For a fraction of a second though, then his lips found her again and this time it wasn’t so much of a soft and gentle kiss. There were hints of underlying aggression, slight pulls and bites, teeth scraping against the lip and the tip her tongue, his hands were tense against her. She had to shove him apart to breath as if he didn’t want to let go at all, still breathing as heavily as her, voice horse.

Continue.

**********************************************

 “U r alive……..please tell me it isn’t a lie and u r alive…….”

What was he talking about, of course she is alive and well…….she’s right in his arms and awww-

“Of course! Tachi!! It was just a clone!! I don’t know what u saw, but it was just a clone. Aww I wonder what poor Yamato san must be feeling I’ve got to apologize to him-”

“It was a wood clone?”

“Oh My God yes I had it as my temporary summoning!!”

Human psychology was unpredictable. Yet it was something so common for her how could he miss it. He can’t believe himself, it’s the same trick over and over again and she manages to keep it up. Brother and sister are much alike here……..

**********************************************

Ren could sense Itachi’s chakra nearby. So when he just took the lead and went a bit ahead thinking to himself what a hypocrite this man was leaving Jiraiya a little behind, what he was least expecting was to tumble upon him sharing a moment intimately with Amaya. And she seemed to be holding on to him too.

Jiraiya was half shocked to see him return with his head down.

“Let’s wait for him here”

But he didn’t pursue the issue further. Ren has gotten the answer he was seeking. But still maybe he should clarify.

“I’ve tried to tell u both, but I wasn’t given a chance to. She brought a wood clone as a temporary summoning for this mission. She wasn’t as helpless and useless as she made herself appear-“

“She has the rest of the scrolls, if I’m not too wrong Mamba will be chasing us soon.”

“…….. Give them a minute, he also needs to collect himself”

**********************************************

He was half expecting Ren to be all over Amaya the moment he saw her but surprisingly he was so friendly yet formal. Perhaps that’s for the best. Ren already understands the whole situation. He knows that they’re just coworkers and maybe acquaintances at best. He still didn’t like the way Jiraiya knew everything yet said nothing. He was grateful, still so annoyed.

 “ Tachii!! What do u mean I can’t handle them?? I’ve been carrying these and I-“

“ I’m not saying that u r useless, all I’m saying is when Mamba comes chasing us I’d rather deal with him myself instead see u get hurt again”

“ It feels kinda weird hearing u talk like this”

“ Get used to this then, I don’t wanna regret the same thing twice in my life.”

“Looks like a touching reunion was taking place, tsk tsk, too bad I’m disappointed and thorough with my dear  cheating wifie to be partaking in the get-together”

“ If u don’t drop it wifie game I’ll make sure u never speak again”

“ U r underestimating my speed to be thinking u can match with me and I’m not the only one alone here”

It’s true, mamba was a great sensory shinobi. Too bad he isn’t a teammate against whom Itachi could afford to be kind with.

Pebble and Jiraiya had an old dispute to settle, Ren and Amaya were against Mamba and Itachi decided to even the score against Demon and the “wife” issue needed to end.

Not good at directing fighting scenes so I’ll be gently glossing over them here.

Pebble thought the toad stomach would be easy to escape from…….until he got stuck there. Mamba underestimated Amaya and her own knowledge over poison thinking nothing could ever have any effect on him and got sealed paralyzed temporarily after getting anesthesia. Demon wasn’t the only one to be dealing irreparable damage and Amaterasu was definitely harder to deal with.

**********************************************

Well they were supposed to catch them all alive but getting 2 of 4 would prove to be a lot of explanations. Half way though the return journey while everyone was thinking of best words to face the least damage and by everyone it means Ren and Amaya the rest of the 2 were silently going after them. Until they had to stop for a little break and lunch. It wasn’t much chaotic like the last time they ate together, just this time Itachi managed to shove those bell peppers down her throat as a small revenge, one of many small revenge. Amaya was getting a little curious though, she kept quiet the entire way, she gets to ask what was in the scroll right.

Master Jiraiya was the one to open them at first. Everyone was at least a bit curious to begin with. Ancient scriptures on the scroll, who knows what kind of prophecy was in there. More or less anything at all could prove to be of huge help.

If not to everyone then at least to master Jiraiya. It was a thorough research done on his interest. Let’s just say the 106th point said the worthy one shall be in the possession of this invaluable information. Though cursed through and through the ‘wife’ issue was definitely resolved without any regrets. Least to say that the people involved r not likely to know anything in it. Most likely the reason shinobies decided to divide the scroll and hide it was to save faces after the prophet’s death. Later on as time went by the secret was glorified and reached this point. Well, if nothing at least now Itachi can forever tease Amaya for being serious the one time she was serious……… according to him. No she’s not allowed to talk back to him about it, he knows how to keep things quiet. Grounding her from seeing her ducks was the best way to do it as usual.

********************************************************************************************

It's my first ever work posting here, Amaya is my self indulgent OC,

Black hair, purple eyes and fair skin. It's not coloured but it's my own art ✨

She's a medic, but she's not a kunoichi. I do have a backstory for her and I also have another au where Itachi doesn't die (neither does Jiraiya or Neji). She's 2 years younger than Itachi, and is like an older sister to Naruto (he saved her a few years back during the og Naruto timeline). Maybe I'll be posting about her au later sometime.