Where We Belong

Chapter X

Konoha Hospital, one month later...

Tsunade looked away from the files she had been reading when she heard two soft knocks on her office's door. Believing that to be Shizune or Sakura, she announced that they could get in since the door was open. To her shock, a tall, slender man wearing standard ANBU uniform with even the mandatory mask walked in and, bowing at her respectfully, he announced that he was there for his monthly check-up. The blonde-haired and brown-eyed woman nodded as she searched for the man's medical record among the files on her table and then asked him to take the seat across from hers. He nodded, finally removing his mask as he did so. The Sannin's eyes opened wide as she noticed the tired expression on Itachi's own onyx gaze and asked if he had already resumed active duty. Uchiha nodded, pointing out without a faintest hint of sarcasm in his voice that he wouldn't be wearing the mask otherwise. He knew it wasn't necessary to wear them within the limits of the village; however, he had been asked to run an errand in Kumogakure, at the Raikage's personal behest with Inojin Yamanaka. Senju once again nodded. She recalled Darui having required assistance in solving a small conflict with some shinobi of unknown origin. Eventually, Konoha and Suna answered his call, sending Temari in the latter's case and, it appeared, Itachi and Inojin in the former. She shook her head and stood from her seat, asking the man to remove his vest and lay on the sole stretcher there in the office. The ponytailed man obeyed without further questioning.

Tsunade began to slowly scan the man's body with her medical ninjutsu to later on proceed to examine his eyes, instructing him to activate his Mangekyō Sharingan. It didn't escape her attention when Itachi hissed between clenched teeth as he did so. Thus, she asked the Uchiha if he had been having trouble either with his dōjutsu or with his sight lately. He swallowed hard at the question. In all truth, he wasn't sure how to describe what he had been experiencing those last few days. The visions he had had from the moment he was brought back along with Konan had at some point stopped and that situation had remained that way for a good whole year by now. However, since at least a week ago, the visions hadn't only returned but they had done so with full force. And the scenes he saw in them were terrifying, to say the least. For starters, while formerly he had mostly recalled scenes that had actually taken place in the past, now he appeared to be somehow projecting future –and in some cases, morbid- events.

- I see... -the woman said taking a hand to her chin as if in thought. She scanned him quickly one last time and spoke again –As far as your condition is concerned, there's nothing to worry about. However, if you happen to experience one of those visions again, please come to me right away...

- Of course, Tsunade-sama; I appreciate your concern, really...

He stood up intending on leaving the office when the Sannin stopped him, explaining to him that Sakura had scheduled Konan's first ultrasound for Wednesday next week. And, to be honest, all three of them were sincerely hoping that he'd be able to be present that day. Otherwise, she'd personally ask Naruto not to assign him to any missions until after that day. The ebony-haired man nodded with a smile, assuring him that he would do anything in his hands not to miss that day. He wasn't sure if he would be able to forgive himself if he did.

A few hours later...

Itachi was walking back to the apartment he had just recently moved in with Konan. He passed a sweet shop and saw his niece Sarada in the company of who, if he wasn't mistaken, was her best friend. Even though, to be absolutely honest with himself, he had forgotten her name. A mischievous smile that was very unusual in him formed on the black-haired man's lips as he slowly approached the two young women, precisely from behind the amber-eyed Jōnin. Attitudes like hat were absolutely unusual in him but, thinking twice, was there anything normal in his life nowadays? Considering the fact that both he and Konan should be long-dead in the first place.