Somewhere in a forest of trees, not far from Naruto's residence, Haruko was sitting in a branch, playing with her kunai while occasionally checking at the genin's home. She asked Kakashi to keep an eye on the Uchiha while she checked the other two. Though the Hatake wasn't pleased, He didn't argue much, knowing her hatred for the clan after the death of her teammate, Itachi Uchiha.
"I suppose you took care of our unwanted guests." She said to no one in particular. After a while, a cloathed figure appeared on a branch not far from her. "All the ROOT members were taken care of." He answered before squatting beside her. "It seems she gotten a lot of attention. I haven't encountered that much since the tension on the Uchiha clan." He continued. "Even I can agree she isn't anyone ordinary." She replied before they look at the window.
"Danzo will do everything to make sure you don't get involved. You know that right?" The mystery man asked, breaking the silence. "I don't want to." She admitted before looking at him with a sadistic face "I made a promise to the boys parents that he won't meet the same fate as they did. And the girl remind me so much of myself. So innocent. Why is he so hell-bent on turning kids like them into his own personal weapons?"
"Because that's what he is. People like him don't care about anything but power. It doesn't matter if their interest is a new born. As soon as there's a chance to turn it into a weapon, they'll take it. Regardless of the consequences. That is why they need to be stopped."
"Then what are we still doing here? Let's go and take care of him and problem solved."
"It doesn't work that way. Danzo probably have a lot of connections and power that makes him untouchable, even against the hokage himself. And even if we managed to kill him, we will be considered traitors and rogue nins with an order to be hunted down. And I'm not thinking of going through that shit again." He mumbled the last sentence.
She looked back at the place where the two genins were staying with pain in her heart. Pain that she couldn't keep her promise, and that those kids have to live the life of murderers. "Is there anything we can do?" She desperately asked.
"Actually, there is." His response was unexpected because she looked at him in surprise, wondering what hope is there for them.
Noticing her curiousity, he explained "Danzo will try to get rid of you through a long term mission. This will give him enough time to get team seven to his units. And I won't be surprised if your mission is a setup to permanently take you out. But I believe we can use that to our advantage.". She nodded. Signaling him to continue, which he did.
"We will begin project checkmate. Finish the 'mission' as quickly as you can. Then when you are done, take out each and every Root basses. I will take care of the higher-ups aiding him. Once he's vulnerable, we will expose all his crimes. That way even if we couldn't kill him, we have at least crippled him enough to make sure he is no more a threat."
"What about the children?"
"We will help them from time to time if we ever get a chance. That is the least we can do."
"And Sasuke Uchiha?"
"It will be decided after the chunin exam."
Haruko nodded. Even though she didn't want anything to do with that boy, she has to be there for the Uchiha should he needs her.
The man got up, preparing to leave. "You just be careful.". "Wait! Itachi!" She called him and he stopped on his track. "Now that you're back. Will we ever be together?" She asked him. Her face filled with determination. The stranger turned to look at her before removing his hood, showing his face.
"I'm afraid we can't be together. Even if we could, I will never be able to love you like you me. So please, for our sakes, forget about me and move on. Itachi Uchiha is a rogue nin. Everyone accepted that. You should too." He told her, sadness in his voice. He knew that she loves him with all her heart, and his death was something she couldn't handle.
"I really wish we could be together." She admitted.
"Me too. But my actions comes at a price. I am only here to fulfill the objective, bring peace." He got nearer to her, bended down to her level, and planted a kiss on her forehead. "But I'm glad to do it with you." He told her before dispersing in a group of crows.
Haruko looked at where Itachi was recently. She placed her fingers at where he just kissed her, then closed her eyes while smiling, before responding "Me too."
( An: Sorry for the short chapter guys. I promise the next one will be longer.)