Ashes (A Naruto Fanfic Book 6)

Chapter 9

Sakura put a hand on her cheek and sighed.  "That didn't take long..."

Konan and Aya both smiled as they watched their men walk away.  Konan turned to me.  "They weren't too far away."

I nodded.  "We knew that."

Aya sighed.  "They'll be coming back to check on us."

I smirked.  "I'm counting on it."

Mikoto giggled.  "He didn't seem upset at all."

I sighed.  "With me? No, but those peeping toms?  They better keep their distance."

I looked around.  "Speaking of, the pervert hasn't appeared... I hope he doesn't cross paths with them."

Tsunade looked at each of us.  "So, you're all okay that they just come, put cloaks on you and leave."

I thought a moment.  "It's not a possession thing... for us, at least.  He knows I rarely, if ever, show much skin.  He knows I did this because he left without a word."

She studied me.  "That tattoo... you track each other through it."

I looked down at it and nodded.  "My chain as well when I had it... I really do need to get that back..."

She looked at Konan.  "You and Pein?"  She formed a paper angel and let it fly in the wind.  It went in the direction the men went, and then she turned to Aya.

She shook her head.  "We don't have such a thing, but we aren't hard to find either."

She was lost in thought, and Konan turned to me.  "Did you do that because you noticed we did?"

I shook my head.  "Any jewelry I have was gifted to me by Itachi, I would never take the time to go looking for such things, but I do like them."

Her mouth formed an 'o' and Sakura eyed my wrist.  "That's a tattoo, not jewelry."

I smirked.  "I could show you, but then they'll return."

She scoffed.  "Yeah, right."

I sighed and ran a finger up my wrist, revealing the chain where the tattoo once was.  As expected, I felt Itachi near.  I'm just showing that it's not a tattoo...  He was gone as fast as he appeared.

Chihiro giggled.  "Does it bother him that much?"

I tilted my head.  "Yes and no.  If I get mad and he gets especially annoying, I'll remove it, that doesn't bother him.  Now, if I'm in danger or am about to do something reckless, per my personality, he would get upset."

Hinata thought a momemt.  "I remember when you had a huge fight, you threw your chain at him..."

I chuckled.  "Yeah, this was among that.  He was not pleased at all, but our chakra has been intertwined so long... I could sense him even after."

Chihiro's eyes grew wide.  "You fought?"

I shrugged.  "All the time."

She lowered her gaze.  "But that sounded bad..."

Aya nodded.  "We thought they were gonna break up."

I laughed.  "Why does everyone keep saying that?  Naruto mentioned it yesterday."

Hinata looked at the table.  "This was different. You two were literally at each other's throats. Then you left for a few days."

Chihiro looked at me seriously.  "Have you ever considered it?  Breaking up?"

I thought a moment.  "No... I mean... I can't even remember what that whole argument was about."  There were collective sighs.  "What?"

Tsunade narrowed her eyes.  "That big of a fight, and you don't remember?"

I shrugged as I ran my finger back over the chain, imprinting it into my skin once more.  Sakura spoke in a low tone.  "Must be nice to live like that... in the present."

I rolled my eyes.  "If this is about Sasuke, I'm really gonna need you and Naruto to move on."

She glared at me.  "How can you say that?  He's your brother!  We don't even know if..."

I rested my cheek in my hand.  "He's alive and well and living his life."

She looked up at me, surprised.  "You..."

I nodded.  "I've seen him... he's exactly where he wants to be right now, when he's ready, if he's ever ready.  He'll come back."

Her emotions were in turmoil.  "How do you know?"

I smiled softly.  "I'm here... and I hated this village for a long time... Itachi's here, and they labeled him a criminal... Tsunade's here, and they kicked her out.  Nothing is stopping Sasuke from coming home, except him and his ambitions."

She clenched her fists.  "We'll bring him back, I swear it."

I sighed.  "You love him?  My little, stupid Uchiha brother?"  She met my gaze, and I knew the answer.  "Then, I pose the same question to you that my father posed to Itachi when we were younger... would you confine him in this village or let him be free?"

She paused.  "I..."

I looked at the spread in front of us, disinterested in it.  "You may want to consider that before you two go dragging him back.  I'm hungry, where shall we dine?"

She looked at me in dismay.  "What was Itachi's answer?"

I smirked.  "That you would have to ask him and his reasoning behind it."  We began to gather up all the stuff, and I felt a pull that was not Itachi's.  "I'll be back..."

I teleported to my chain and smiled at Sasuke.  "Thought you were gone, eavesdropping, are we?"

He sighed.  "Just tell me the answer, Chichi."

I giggled.  "I give you the same answer, but really, we need to discuss this whole holding that hostage."

I eyed my chain wrapped around his torso, and he smirked.  "It's convenient and cool."

I frowned at him.  "It's mine."

He held his expression. "How will you be able to find me?"

I crossed my arms.  "I'll need to discuss this with Itachi, but you really shouldn't be here."

He shrugged.  "Nothing better to do."

I rolled my eyes.  "Then we'll see you tonight if you're around, but be safe, Little Brother."

He nodded and disappeared, but I heard his voice in the wind.  "Congratulations, Chichi."

When I returned, Itachi looked at me curiously while the girls were gone.  "Did you scare them away, Uchiha?"

He smirked.  "Maybe..." He looked off into the distance, I knew why.

I nudged him as I passed.  "Hey, cancel whatever you have planned for tonight... we have a date."