Inevitable
Prologue

"Itachi!"

The dark haired ANBU member, Itachi Uchiha, looked aroundthrough the crowded streets of Konohagakure, instantly spotting the owner ofthe familiar voice and walking over to her. "Ah, Amejisuto! A pleasantsurprise. Are you looking for my brother?"

The brunette shook her head. "After all this time, pleasejust call me Ameji. And why would I be looking for Sasuke?"

Itachi smiled in amusement. "Maybe because he's one ofyour best friends and your teammate?"

"No, he's probably training with Naruto. They're sopredictable and inseparable so I know how to replace them both easily. It’s you I would like to talk to." She nervouslylooked around after getting bumped into, feeling a bit uncomfortable with thecrowds, even though the sea of people was explainable due to them being on oneof the busiest streets on a Saturday. "Can we go somewhere quieter?"

The Uchiha nodded and signaled Amejisuto to follow him,leading them both to disappear quickly from the streets and reappear at theUchiha clan compound. "Would this be suitable?" he asked. The femalenodded, looking around and smiling at the familiar charm of that part of town.The houses were all old fashioned, left in white and brown painted wood. Thehomes had a fancy, traditional style and a proud feeling to them, fitting theclan perfectly.

The police department was near the front gate; the Uchihaswere known to be the main police force. Everyone had different theories on why,but no one ever openly questioned it. Next was a bakery, a few small storesthat specialised in items for the clan, and the rest was pretty much the fancyhouses.

They walked through the streets and reached the clanleader's house, which also happened to be inhabited by Itachi and Sasuke, theleader's sons. It was the biggest in the compound. From the outside, it lookedlike there were several houses that were connected, and halls and paths todifferent parts of the house were visible from the outside. The overall lookwas still traditional but more modern than the other district homes. Itachi ledher around the structure to the back garden.

Amejisuto sat on the back porch, facing the pretty garden filledwith herbs, flowers, a few trees and berry bushes, while Itachi got some teaand brought it out. "It's been a while since we've had a long conversation.So, what is it that you need?" He asked while pouring two cups and handingone to his guest.

"Well, as you probably know, I've been a member of TeamSeven for a year since Sai was assigned to help with the ANBU ROOT catastrophe,"she paused and took a sip of tea, noting on how it tasted so fresh. 'Probably from the garden,' she thought.

"Sasuke doesn't say much about your team, but Narutohas told me a few times of your situation," Itachi nodded, listeningintently.

"It's not like I hate being on Kakashi's team, it'sjust that... Well, Sakura and Naruto have been trained by the legendary sannin,Sasuke is powerful with great abilities and Kakashi has been nominated forHokage twice, and-"

"And you're feeling useless and weak compared tothem?" Itachi finished for her. She nodded and looked out to the peacefulgarden.

"I'm part of the Ishi clan, the ultimate masters ofnature. I'm a Jonin already, yet I'm the weakest link in my team," shemumbled sadly.

"So what do you need?" Itachi already had ageneral idea of what she was going to ask.

A few moments of silence passed between them as the girlthought about the best way to ask something so time consuming and personal ofItachi. "I would like to be your student."

He smiled warmly. “Are you sure? There are a lot of rulesand conditions since I would be training with confidential Uchiha knowledge.”

“Does that mean you would be willing to be my sensei?” herviolet eyes gleamed with hope.

Itachi shrugged, looking out into the garden. “I wasthinking of taking a leave from ANBU until the chaos was over, and I wouldn’tmind taking a longer time off than intended to train you. You are, after all,an old friend.”

“Yes, but you disappeared for quite a while,” the teenagersaid with a teasing tone. “I thought it was to avoid me.”

“It was because I was allowed into ANBU, and you know how myfather and the Uchiha council are,” he sipped his tea, relishing in the warmthand comfort.

Amejisuto’s eyes opened with realisation. “I completelyforgot about the council! You have to ask them first, don’t you?”

“I’ll do that later. I actually replace the idea of trainingyou appealing; it would be good practise for me if I ever wanted to dosomething like be a genin squad leader,” he grinned. “But again, there are alot of terms and conditions. One of them would be to live with us.”

“I’m willing to do anything,” determination roared like afire in the Ishi’s eyes.

Itachi poured more tea in their small cups. “Then we shouldtalk to the Hokage tomorrow. You should go home and spend some time with yourfamily soon.”

They sat in silence, enjoying the peace and quiet.Amejisuto’s stomach started twisting with excitement. In the near future, shewouldn’t be the weakest link in any team, thanks to her friend and soon-to-besensei.

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Ten beings gathered in a dimly lit cave, not all of whichwere human, though they all wore a black cloak with red clouds, a straw hatwith white ribbons and a dangling bell, and each wore an individually colouredring on different fingers.

An odd ‘man’ came out of the ground, surrounded by whatlooked like a huge Venus fly trap's mouth. He was split in half diagonally; onehalf being white, the other black. He was the first of the group to speak.

"It took you long enough, Leader," the black halfsaid in a deep creepy voice.

The leader glared with ringed, purple eyes, not amused withthe creature. The spiky orange hair and the piercings added on to hisintimidating look. "What did you learn while you were spying, Zetsu?"

"It will be harder to get to him now. He’s retiringfrom ANBU," the white half sounded almost teasing.

"Ugh, Zetsu still creeps me out with his splitpersonalities, yeah," whispered a man with blue eyes and long blonde hair,which was half pulled into a ponytail, to a man with shaggy red hair and hazeleyes that was standing next to him.

"Shut up and listen to the report, Deidara. My patienceis thin enough already from your ridiculous outbursts," the redheadgrowled.

"Sasori, time is money and wasting money is a sin thatwould be paid for with your life," a tall scary looking man with onlycat-like eyes showing lectured darkly.

"Stop scaring the kids, Kakuzu," a blue shark-likeman with short blue hair, beady black eyes, and a large wrapped sword smirked,showing off razor-sharp teeth.

"Speak for yourself, Kisame. You scare the hell out ofpeople," a man with a scythe, slicked back white hair and blood-red eyesscoffed.

"Shut up or I will set off the paper bombs that I plantedin you," the only woman threatened. She had blue hair with an origamiflower on it, gold eyes, and a lip piercing. She was second in command.

"You know I can't die, Konan," the man spat back.

"Tobi's being a good boy, right Orochimaru?" achildish man with black hair and an orange lollipop mask tugged on another man,who had long black hair, gold eyes, pale skin, and somewhat resembled a snake.

Everyone fell silent as they noticed the look their leaderwas giving them; a death glare that meant business. His intense gaze turned tothe plant creature. “Get on with your report,” he sighed, willing everyone tolisten. It was about one of the most important targets they ever had to jointhe Akatsuki: Itachi Uchiha.