**Authors Note:
So looks like the War will be kicking off the fourth Instalment!
Also just a heads up, there is a filler arc after this and in the Anime it has to do with 6 tails jinchurki and in the Manga, the arc that follows is Peins Attack on the village. So I am choosing not to do the 6 tails arc.
Instead! There will still be a filler arc but it will be more focused on Rin's return to the village. Then following that will be Pein's attack arc. So I hope everyone is okay with that! :)
And before anyone comments on it, I know that in the series Kisame doesn't know about Madara till after Sasuke joins the Akatsuki. I figure since he has been helping Itachi keep him away from Rin they would have mentioned it.
Now please vote, comment and enjoy! :D
**
Madara
Her anger never ceased to amaze me, but I was hoping it was enough that she would remain with the Akatsuki. I already knew what was in Sasuke's heart, his anger now placed on the village. Now I only hoped that she would willingly join Sasuke's team, but since when has she been that predictable.
"Where will you go?" Sasuke questioned and the Princess released a slow breath.
"Where Itachi would have wanted us to go" She replied.
"Home" She said firmly.
"Home?" Sasuke questioned and she nodded.
"To the Leaf"
"After what they did you'd return to them?" He demanded and Rin sighed.
"What else would I do Sasuke?" She asked.
"Join my team" He offered and she turned slightly.
"Team Hebi? You do realize that means snake right? No thanks" She objected.
"No, we're no longer Hebi" He replied.
"We are now Taka, and Taka has but one goal. Our mission is to destroy the hidden Leaf" It was silent then as the two stared at each other. Rin pressed her lips together in a tight line then sighed, cursing under her breath.
"Are you kidding me?" Rin replied.
"You're doing exactly what this psycho wants! Sasuke, this is the man that kidnapped and let Orochimaru experiment on me for months when I was a child!" She argued.
"They forced Itachi to do this, they made him suffer. They ruined our lives Rin! Why can't you just agree with me for once?" He demanded.
"Because Itachi sacrificed everything to keep the village in peace you idiot! And now, now you want to spit on his legacy!"
"I've made my decision Rin" He replied firmly.
"You can join me or you can leave" Rin stared at him and shook her head.
"I can't believe that after all this you're going to side with our deranged Uncle or grandpa or whatever the hell his relationship is to us over me." She shot back.
"You hate me, what do you care?" He replied coldly and Rin's fist clenched.
"Screw you Sasuke" She turned from him and I stepped in her path forcing her stop.
"My apologies Princess but you won't be..." Her strike to my cheek caught me off guard. I could feel the burn of dark chakra on my face as I stumbled to the side. She slammed her foot into my ribs and I nearly fell over. I looked up meeting her mangekyo.
"Oh I will be leaving and if you try and stop me I will release every ounce of dark chakra in my body. None of you will survive" She threatened. I stared at her. She had managed to side with Itachi after all these years, but what Sasuke did she couldn't forgive. She would not stand by him, even if she was just as angry at the Leaf as he was. She would continue Itachi's legacy. She would set aside her emotions and protect the Leaf.
"Yours and Itachi's bond runs deep. It is something unique, and the similarities you share are not mere coincidence" I started but she didn't waver.
"I can tell you more Princess, the source of your dark chakra. Why you're the light in the dark. You and Itachi shared far more than blood" I tempted. I thought I had her, I thought I had spiked her curiosity when she stepped towards me. She offered her hand and I took it expecting a shake, but stumbled when she pulled me forward and slammed her knee into my gut. I gasped this time dropping on my knees; the wind having been knocked out of me. I cringed when she turned slamming her heel into the side of my face.
"I'm not an idiot, I'm not Sasuke." She spat and I managed to look up at her. The whites in her eyes were still darker than they should be. Her rage was tempting his power.
"I've only told you the truth" I objected and she nodded.
"I know, but I don't need the rest of your truth. I can uncover it on my own" She said firmly, stepping back as I got to my feet.
"So you can keep my idiot brother, but you can't keep me. Leave me alone." I could hear the threat in her voice and decided it was my best interest not to pressure her further. She started hand signs then and the others stepped back as their shadows pulled towards her.
"Rin" Sasuke called and she glanced at him.
"Please" He tried, and I knew he wanted her stay but her glare held as the darkness became dense around her.
"Have a great life"
Rin
I was still exhausted. I hadn't nearly rested long enough for a full recovery but I had to get out of there. Everything, everything I had ever thought and believed in about Itachi proved to be true. The pain was overwhelming and each time I let my thoughts drift it was always to Itachi, laying on the ground and his last words echoing in my head. All this time, every I love you I still told him he had to withhold the answer. All until this moment when he could finally say it without consequence. I wiped my eyes before the tears messed up my writing. There were already smudges on parts of the scroll. I was sick of this crying, but I had no idea how to make it stop.
"I got your clones message" I glanced up when the door opened. It had felt good, briefly, to hit Madara. It even felt good to hit Sasuke but now I needed a plan and I knew just as well they did that I couldn't just waltz back into the Leaf village with no backlash.
"Thank you for coming so quickly" I replied as I wrote faster on the scroll.
"You look like hell" He replied and I attempted a small smile but instead had to wipe my eyes again.
"You're one to talk Kisame" I tried to joke but my voice cracked mid-sentence and so he fell silent. After using my transportation jutsu to get away from Sasuke and Madara I returned to the hideout, to one of the buildings on the outskirts of where the battle took place. I had sent a clone to find Kisame and was glad that he traveled fast.
"What are you writing?" He asked as he glanced over my shoulder.
"It's not a suicide note is it?" I rolled my eyes.
"No, Itachi's death has been a struggle but that is not the outcome he would have wanted" I replied.
"You're not wrong" He agreed.
"So what's your plan?"
"I'm returning to the leaf, Madara already knows. I gave him a nice dark chakra fuelled punch and kick as my resignation" I explained and heard him chuckle. I flinched when his hand slapped my back.
"You finally stood up to him" He congratulated.
"Itachi would be..."
"Please don't" I interrupted.
"I can barely hold myself together and I don't have time to break down, I just..." I paused and swallowed the lump in my throat.
"I just need to keep moving" I said softly and closed my eyes when I felt his hand on my shoulder. I felt the tears building again and turned my head from the scroll.
"It'll be okay kid" He said and I glanced over my shoulder at him.
"Why do you care?" I asked and he smirked slightly.
"Itachi was my partner, and I like to think that we were somewhat friends." He explained and I nodded slightly. I closed the scroll then and sealed it as I stood.
"I'm returning to Leaf, and I would like to return with my crimes pardoned" I started and handed him the scroll.
"This holds a secret that could cause the chaos and destruction of the Leaf. If they do choose to execute me, then you're to spread this information to every village you can. Understood?" I asked and he nodded. I tried to smile in response, but it felt more like a grimace so instead, I offered my hand. He glanced at it before returning the gesture, giving me a firm handshake.
"I'll do what I can to keep them off your trail" He offered and I nodded slightly.
"Thank you Kisame." I said softly as he put the scroll in his cloak. I watched him turn from me, pausing at the open door.
"I'll try to bring you Itachi's body" He said suddenly and I stared at his back.
"I know you'd want to bury him with the others" He finished with a shrug and I nodded even though he couldn't see it.
"Good luck Rin" I watched him leave and waited till he disappeared before I stepped out into the open. Now only one more stop.
Kakashi
I wanted to give Naruto some hope that all this wasn't a waste, that we weren't going to give up. Kiba said there was a scent but he couldn't be certain that it would give us a lead.
"We can't give up after coming this far" Naruto said suddenly and the others seemed to agree.
"We'll just keep searching until there's no trace left to follow" I ordered. The others looked ready to go until Hinata raised her hand.
"There's someone else here" She warned and I lifted my headband, ready for anything. I pulled Naruto back as the wall he stood by started to warp. I thought it would be the man with the orange mask but I noticed instead our shadows pulling towards it.
"Dark ninjutsu" I breathed. The darkness became thick and dense, then finally she stepped out of it. We were all silent and she looked up, glancing at each of us as the jutsu faded. Her eyes were red, swollen, and tired, bruises covered her neck and she was gripping her torso.
"R-Rin" Naruto stammered and she glanced at her feet.
"Sasuke's with the Akatsuki. Y-you won't be able to find him" She said slowly, her voice weak.
"And the body?" Yamato asked. I noticed her swallow, wincing when she did.
"I don't know" She replied her voice cracking. I knew she was crying but the rain hid it well. The others tensed when she tried to take a step forward but she couldn't manage anymore. I reached out catching her before she hit the ground.
"Lay her down!" Sakura ordered as she rushed over and I followed her instruction.
"Kakashi, she has intel. We have to take her in" Yamato stated as Sakura unzipped Rin's shirt. I held her hand and noticed the bend in her fingers, broken as well.
"We're not about to arrest her in this condition" I objected and heard him sigh. Sakura was listening to Rin's heart and continued checking her vitals.
"Heart steady but fast. Major burns on her left arm and leg, two fingers are broken as well as three ribs so keep her still or they will puncture her lung" She ordered and moved to her neck.
"Major damage to neck muscles" She continued as she pulled a small flashlight from within her cloak.
"Rin, look at me." Rin glanced towards her and Sakura shone the light in her eyes.
"Pupils are different sizes, she could have sustained brain damage from lack of oxygen or it might be an overuse of her Sharingan" Sakura diagnosed and her hands faded to green as she placed them over Rin's ribs.
"This way you'll be able to carry her without risk of further injury, but she will need a hospital sooner rather than later" Sakura advised and I nodded.
"We can take her to one of the smaller villages near...."
"No" Rin managed to object and I glanced down at her.
"Rin you need rest and recovery, if we leave you here you could die" Sakura warned but Rin shook her head, flinching as Sakura moved over her torso. I sighed as I pushed aside her bangs.
"Then what do you suggest?" I asked and Rin's eyes glanced at me.
"Take me home" She replied and the others seemed just as confused.
"What?" I asked. She released a slow breath and held my hand a little tighter.
"Take me home' She repeated and I looked at Sakura who was just as unsure.
"Rin, if..."
"She wants to go back to the Leaf" Naruto interrupted, and I could hear the relief in his voice. We had lost Sasuke but Rin was right here willing to come back with us, and for him, that was a win.
"She's still a criminal Naruto, she'll be put on trial, and for the crimes she's committed..." I stopped. I couldn't bring myself to say it. We all knew the penalty. I looked at Rin but she had already given in to her exhaustion. Her eyes were closed, her breathing evened out as Sakura continued to heal her. Naruto stepped forward and pulled off his cloak.
"Rin always has a plan" He reminded as he knelt down. Sakura pulled back her hands allowing him to wrap Rin in his cloak.
"We just need to believe in her and do as she's asked. Let's take her home" Naruto said confidently. I stared at him for a moment before nodding in agreement. Sakura helped me lift Rin into my arms before I looked at the team.
"We tell no one until Rin has recovered and has her audience with the Hokage, understood?" I ordered and they all nodded.
"Good, now let's move"