Unbroken Bonds

19: Why.

Why would the Akatsuki want someone like me? I have wood style, but if they wanted that, they could always go after Tenzo. They already have Itachi's sharingan. There's no need for mine. My medical ninjutsu? What sets me apart from the thousands of shinobi? Why is that man so interested in me? Why is everything a secret?

Guilt, my entire life has been one full of fucking shame. Guilty about the Uchiha, the death of Shisui, Itachi's will of fire, my eye, Sasuke's life, and the despicable acts that Danzo Shimura was able to get away with. My chest always feels heavy whenever I think about it. I want revenge on Danzo; I want to save Itachi and Sasuke.

Approaching the village gates, Yuna felt the scroll Itachi had given her, almost burning into her skin. The secrets it held felt like a hot-clad iron placed against her bones. So many secrets, Yuna questioned how Itachi had not lost any sense of sensibility at this point, having to burden such secrets.

Attempting to maintain composure, the Senju Princess greeted Kotetsu and Izumo before turning her gaze to Kakashi. He was one of Yuna's most trusted comrades, but at the moment, he was looking at her with anything but trust. The mistrust was evident in his glare toward the young woman, and Yuna felt her stomach plummet. While she had told him some of her secrets, he did not know the entire story. Only her mother knew the whole story; her mother knew her darker secrets.

"I need to see my mother immediately," Yuna whispered before turning her dark eyes back to the road ahead and sprinting again towards the Hokage tower.

Yuna immediately barged into her mother's office. The blonde mother lifted her head from her paperwork, and the unmistakable look of panic crossed her face as she took in her child's appearance. The relief of seeing her mother's honey-brown eyes was enough to cause tears to well up in Yuna's eyes. The scroll, seemingly burning a hole into her sleeve, was torn out and handed to her mother.

The door opened again, and Kakashi stepped inside, but Yuna didn't dare look at him. How could she face him? He already knew so much about her, yet he also knew nothing. He didn't realize Yuna was seeing Itachi regularly or that Itachi was a spy; he didn't know about the whole Akatsuki just yet, which made him feel on edge.

"Yuna, what the hell happened back there? Are you okay?" He whispered as he gently placed his hand on my back. Yuna felt her knees go weak, and her nails dig deep into her fists. She didn't answer. Instead, she gave her mother a grateful look as Hokage began to speak.

"Kakashi, Sasuke has left the village to seek out Orochimaru. I sent Shikamaru and a team out to find him a couple days ago. They should be back soon. I do need to speak with my daughter alone for a moment, please."

Finally, the young woman gave in and looked at Kakashi; he looked like he had seen a ghost. His gaze soon traveled back to meet her own, and Yuna felt the immense guilt she had been harboring start to spill over. A single tear ran down her cheek as his shocked expression became frustrated and agitated.

"Very well. " Kakashi's gaze lingered on Yuna as he spoke; she nodded her head towards him as a gesture of understanding. His hand slowly made its way off her back as he turned and reached for the door handle before opening it and walking out the door.

After hearing the click, Yuna turned to her mother again and collapsed as the tears fell hard and fast. A sob worked its way out of her chest. As she took in her child's crying form, Tsunade sat still with a stern expression. Shizune, who had re-entered the room with tea, immediately ran to Yuna's side to comfort the young woman.

"I'm in danger, mama," Yuna whispered and held her head as the tears spilled.

"I assume you saw Itachi again?" The Hokage replied, and her child nodded; Tsunade knew that Itachi was her daughter's best friend, but he was also her child's biggest roadblock. While Tsunade harbors no hatred towards him, she understands her role as the village leader. In the eyes of the Leaf Village, Itachi had committed a heinous crime.

"Any important information other than what will be in this scroll?" Tsunade questioned again as her child wiped the tears away. Tsunade felt her motherly instincts kick in. The overwhelming urge to simply protect Yuna encaptured all of her senses.

Yuna began to shake as her following words came out in a whisper. "Mama, the Akatsuki is after me." Tsunade dropped the scroll and stood up almost frantically before running over to her child and kneeling down to hold Yuna, her scared child.

Yuna felt nothing but terror at the moment;. At the same time, she may have ruined a relationship with a precious person, destroyed the Daimyo's trust in the village, and now is a target. Yuna found herself more worried about what might happen to Itachi now that the damned mask man knew of their meetings. Is that why he wants me?

"My child, tell me everything now. Shizune! Summon Jiraiya and Shikaku Nara immediately." fear laced Tsunade's voice as she spoke again. Yuna told her everything, down to the littlest detail. Shizune had already left to hunt down the two influential men in the small Senju's life.

A strained knock was heard at the door, and Yuna straightened herself out before hearing her mother utter the words for the person to come in. A familiar figure of her sensei came into view as the young Senju stood emotionlessly. Shikaku looked disappointed.

"Tsunade-sama, Kakashi went to retrieve Naruto. Both of you are needed at the hospital. There are several injuries." Yuna fidgeted at the thought of the young shinobi being injured. She followed her sensei out of the office, not missing the grave look of sheer worry he gave his student as his eyes flickered over her appearance. Yuna's robes were dirty, and she had finally noticed how messy her medium-length hair had become. Her makeup was smudged in odd places due to the constant wiping of tears from her eyes.

"Yuna, maybe you should," the disciple cut him off before he could finish his sentence.

"I'm going to the hospital. Afterward, I'll seek out Kakashi and Naruto." Yuna watched as he hummed in agreement before turning his gaze forward once more as she shunshinned herself to the hospital. Hushes fell over the staff as the Senju Princess entered before asking where to find the genin. She was met with eager nurses and doctors urging the young woman to follow.

After healing many of the genin alongside her mother, Yuna exited their rooms and saw Kakashi carrying an unconscious Naruto. Immediately she was by their side as a nurse urged them towards a room; upon a proper examination, Yuna noticed that Naruto was healing by himself? Breathing a sigh of relief, Yuna silently thanked the nine tails for protecting the boy as the green chakra made its way around her slim hands. Then, silently, she started to heal his more severe injuries.

"Papa?" Jiraiya had pulled his daughter's hands off his student as her green glow had dimmed into a barely functioning light. Yuna felt her body drift into a haze as the tears spilled again. Sobs escaped her throat as she fell into her father's chest, wordlessly sobbing.

What if I could have stopped Sasuke? What if I didn't have a target placed on my back? What can I do if I can't protect my precious people? How does one protect these bonds?

AN

this chapter was pretty damn good in my opinion, I was INSPIRED!