Itachi and Kisame had successfully infiltrated the Water Daimyou's mansion with ease. Even though security was pretty high in the palace, with Itachi's Sharingan a few Genjutsu were enough to deceive them and just walk inside with little to no commotion. They found their victim deep asleep in his room, comfortable in his blue night robes and satin sheets. Kisame walked to his bed and looked at the sleeping Lord as he gripped Samehada's handle tightly. They had to kill him; as peaceful as he looked with his silk pajamas and harmless everything, they had to complete their mission without demanding explanations.

Itachi closed his eyes before turning away from the Daimyou, "Do it," he said to Kisame.

The swordsman grinned before raising his sword over the Feudal Lord. "Be my guest, Itachi-san."

* * *

Hanako looked at Orochimaru with serious eyes. He was standing in front of her on the tree branch, patiently waiting for her answer. He wanted her to help him destroy Konoha, but she didn't know what to do. She knew that Konoha had its dark secrets, and she knew that the Hokage didn't want her clan to be massacred, Danzou did. The Hokage would have agreed to a peace negotiation, but Danzou wanted a carnage. Danzou was the one who deserved to be killed.

"I'm not renegotiating our deal, if that's what you think," Hanako said, looking at Orochimaru with a serious expression. "'I will not help, yet I will not stop you,' wasn't that it?"

Orochimaru smirked. "I was hoping you would reconsider," he said. "Since I don't believe you should be wasting the little time you have--"

"Little time?" Hanako raised an eyebrow. "Before what? Before I go blind?" She scoffed. "I want all the truth before I make my decision, you only speak half-truths and that's not exactly trustworthy."

"Ask the Third, then, ask for the real story of the Uchiha. Make your research," he said. "But I warn you," Orochimaru smirked. "You might not like the answer."

Hanako gulped. Orochimaru moved his hand to his pouch. Hanako noticed this and took a kunai in her hand. The man pulled out a small plastic container and tossed it to the Uchiha. "Those are eye drops made with a special recipe from the Roukoku village," said the rogue. "They won't cure your blindness but they will alleviate your pain and slow down the deterioration. Don't say I didn't do anything for you," he turned his back to the girl. "Think about it, is Konoha worthy enough of your protection?"

Orochimaru disappeared in less than a second. Hanako looked at the small plastic flask in her hand, letting out a breath she didn't know she was still holding. 'What should I do now?' she asked herself, her mind drifting into her deep thoughts.

* * *

Anko collapsed in the middle of the Forest of Death, holding tightly onto her pained neck. She lay on top of a boulder as her curse mark pulsed hurtfully. The sudden growl of a tiger made her widen her eyes in awful surprise.

The feline roared again. Anko turned around looking for a weapon in her pouch. "Come on, I don't have time for this. I have to--" she gasped in pain, holding her mark with her free hand, "...warn...the Hokage..." Anko fell onto her knees at the same time the streak approached her. Each tiger was at least six feet tall.

Anko lay herself against the stone behind her, watching the tiger in front of her with dreadful eyes. It roared again, and attacked. The Jounin closed her eyes, but nothing happened. She opened them again, and all tigers lay down defeated.

"Need some help there? Anko-san?" an ANBU mocked with a low chuckle. He had his bear mask on, playing around his short blade.

"Got nothing better to do, Nerumi?" Anko hissed.

"Hey, hey, I'm on duty," he said, jumping down to help the Jounin up. "You're not supposed to call me by my name."

Anko sighed, "Either way, thank you..." she muttered.

"Is it true?" asked another ANBU, approaching them slowly. "Is Orochimaru in this forest?"

Anko supported herself wrapping her arm around Nerumi's shoulders. She looked up at the ANBU with narrowed eyes. "Yes, it's true."

"Oh? This is getting rather interesting, isn't?" Nerumi commented.

"I don't suppose the Hokage sent you to find out, did he?" Anko asked. They started to walk towards the forest, in the direction of the main tower.

"Of course he didn't," Nerumi said. "We came by ourselves, then Kaito caught your scent and here we are."

Anko felt her heart stop. "What did you just say?" her eyes were wide as plates. She looked at the other ANBU, he still had a mask on, but he seemed tense.

"Nerumi..." the ANBU warned.

"Come on, take off your mask," Nerumi chuckled. "Show her who you really are."

The ANBU walked closer to Anko, the woman stayed still watching him with wary eyes. The man took off the mask, and her eyes couldn't widen any more. "This can't be possible..."

* * *

"Found her!" Pakkun's voice alerted Hanako. She gripped the flask in her hand immediately hiding it in her weapon pouch. "Your scent is faint, but traceable," the small dog told her. Hanako looked up at him with narrowed eyes.

"I'm willing to bet Kakashi is here too?" she asked.

"If you want me to, that is." Kakashi walked out from behind a tree, looking at her with a skeptical eye. "Why are you here? Only ANBU is supposed to be let inside the Forest of Death during the Chuunin Exams, and as far as I know, you're not even close to being one."

"I was just checking out the woods, totally harmless..."

Kakashi approached Hanako, but he noticed that she seemed to be on extreme guard. "I know, and I trust you." The Uchiha looked up at him. "But I had a feeling that something was wrong, and here you are."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hanako frowned.

"I can't fail to notice that where there's trouble, you seem to always be there," Kakashi said. Hanako took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

"Do you believe in coincidences?" Hanako replied sarcastically, with a fake smile. "I had a feeling something was wrong too, that's why I came," she said slowly.

Kakashi looked at her before looking around, making sure they were alone. "There's a rumor running among the ANBU," he said lowly, looking back at the brunette. "That Orochimaru came back."

"He did," Kakashi's eye widened. "He was here, not long ago..." The Uchiha confessed.

"Are you--?"

"I'm fine," Hanako interrupted him before he got a chance to finish. "It wasn't me he was after," she looked at him with sad eyes. "It was Sasuke."

The Uchiha noticed that Kakashi's muscles tensed. "Did he attack them?" he asked.

Hanako let out a sigh. "My fault, I wasn't fast enough." The girl clenched her fists.

"Don't blame yourself," Kakashi hurried to say, placing his hands in her shoulders. "Did anyone get hurt?"

"Not yet but Sasuke got a Curse Mark." Hanako snapped with gritted teeth. "When that snake marks someone..."

"Nothing will happen to him, I promise..." Kakashi muttered slowly, pulling Hanako's chin to look at him. "I'm going to seal that mark once this stage is over."

Hanako scoffed. "Can you do that?"

Kakashi hugged her. The Uchiha felt uncomfortable at the sudden closeness and remained quietly still. "I'll find a way, but first we have to report to the Hokage."

"I guess that's my cue to leave." Hanako pulled away from Kakashi when she heard Pakkun speaking. She had forgotten they weren't alone.

"Yeah, thanks for your help, Pakkun." The dog bowed to the silver haired Jounin.

"No problem, see ya." Kakashi's summoning disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Hanako felt Anko's signature chakra very close to them. The Mitarashi was with two other people, one was too familiar but the Uchiha couldn't figure out from where and the other made a shiver run down her spine. She looked at Kakashi who was already looking at her. "Everything okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she replied. "Let's hurry up and get to the tower." Hanako started to walk in the direction of the center of the forest. "I don't feel like being late again."

* * *

The Third looked up from one of the monitor screens at the new arrivals. He was sitting in the tower, watching as the second stage of the Chuunin Exams developed. "Anko, are you all right?" he asked, his eyes travelling to the purple haired Jounin. The woman was being held by one of the ANBU the Hokage had sent to supervise the forest if necessary.

There were at least three more Jounin in the room, guarding the Hokage as he watched over the exam's security cameras. "Well if almost dead but not dead counts as okay, then I guess she is," Nerumi said, earning a hit on his head from his ANBU partner.

"Sandaime," Anko muttered in a serious tone, ignoring the low cursing Nerumi muttered under his breath. "Orochimaru is..."

"I know," the old man said, looking back at the monitor. There were secret cameras scattered all over the forest to be able to watch the Genin. Right now the camera was focused on a team from Kusagakure.

"Hokage-sama!" Hanako rushed into the room, making all the present Shinobi look at her. The Hokage was calmly staring at her, but the rest's looks ranged from surprise to anger or even displeasure.

"Uchiha, ka? What are you doing here?" one of the Jounin asked.

"Hanako, you shouldn't be here!" Anko hissed in her direction. The Jounin's eyes then drifted towards the ANBU who swore to be Kaito in the flesh, but he had his mask on to cover his identity. Anko wondered what would Hanako do if she were to see him. Weird enough, he looked exactly like he did before he died two years earlier. Why would he show up at this time, while looking exactly like he did before death? People change in two years, why didn't he?

"What happened to you?" When Hanako looked at Anko, she unconsciously raised an eyebrow. "You look decrepit." Her eyes scanned the Mitarashi's dirty clothes, she could sense the Jounin was low on chakra, and probably sore since she need help to keep standing. The Uchiha couldn't keep her lips from curling into a smirk. "Animal attack? Poisonous snake, maybe?"

"Hungry tiger, actually," Nerumi mocked back, earning a glare from Anko.

"Hai, hai," Kakashi showed up right beside the Hokage, interrupting everyone's thoughts. "Let's leave this happy meeting for later, right now we have much important matters at stake," he said.

Hanako looked over her shoulder at the present ANBU. They were looking at her too closely. 'What's the matter with them?'

"Orochimaru is back," Hiruzen said. "Anko can confirm it."

Hanako narrowed her eyes, looking at the purple haired Jounin. "You talked to him?" she asked.

"Does he want to destroy the village?" one of the Jounin asked. The Hokage looked at the female Jounin while calmly smoking from his pipe.

Anko looked down, clenching her hands into fists. "Yes... he told me to warn you not to stop the exam. That if you do, he would attack." The woman looked up at the Hokage. "We should halt these exams, Hokage-sama! It's too dangerous for the Genin!"

"Anko is right," Hanako butted in. "He already went after Kakashi's team, we don't know if--"

"Taichou's team?" The ANBU holding Anko asked. "The one with the Uchiha?"

"So, Orochimaru is after the Sharingan..." The Hokage sighed. "The Chuunin Exams will continue as normal." All the Jounin looked at the Hokage in disbelief.

"But this is just a game for him!" Hanako snapped, her eyes becoming red.

"If Orochimaru wants fun, let's give him that," Hiruzen looked at the Uchiha girl with analytical eyes. "In the meantime, we'll devise a plan to stop him. But if we stop the exams, he'll attack head on and we're not ready with all the Genin gathered in the forest. He might start with them." The Hokage stood up from his place. "I'm thinking straight for the Genin's sake, we will protect the village."

In part, the Hokage was right. If they stopped the exams, they would give Orochimaru the right signal to attack. He was spotted only because he wanted to, or else he might still be there without anyone knowing about it. Hanako bit her lip, the Hokage was suddenly standing right next to her. "I want to have a word with you, Hanako," he muttered slowly so no one else would hear him. "Follow me." The Uchiha nodded slightly. "Anko," the Jounin looked at him. "Stay here and observe the Genin through those monitors. Let me know if something out of the ordinary happens, the ANBU will stay with you. The rest of the Jounin, please leave this forest until further notice; and keep guard on the streets. I'm counting on you." The Hokage walked towards the exit but then he stopped. "If you come across Orochimaru, don't attack him. Come report to me immediately. He is one of the Sannin, and not to be taken lightly."

"Hai!" All Jounin disappeared from sight. Hanako stayed there, looking at the Hokage with narrowed eyes. Anko looked at the Uchiha with worry, the ANBU were also staring at her with caution.

"We should also go, Hanako," the Hokage commented, resuming his way towards the exit. Hanako tailed behind him, wary of the ANBU looking at her. 'They're still staring at me?' she narrowed her eyes at them.

When the Hokage and the Uchiha were finally out of sight, Anko let go of Nerumi's hold and walked towards the monitor. "Oi! Are you sure you okay?" Nerumi asked.

"I'm perfectly fine," Anko replied tiredly. "It's possible Orochimaru won't be making a move soon, but we have to watch the Sound Genin just to be sure."

"Cameras change randomly, we'll be able to watch them only if they happen to come across one of the lens." Kaito commented, taking off his mask.

"Mattaku..." Nerumi cursed in a long sigh. "These are going to be some boring five days..." Anko's sudden gasp made them both turn to look at her in worry. "What's wrong?"

"There are already Genin in the waiting room..." she commented. The ANBU rushed to the monitors only to watch three Genin from the Sand just lying there.

"That's impossible, it's been less than five hours!" Nerumi muttered.

"Last record was 5 hours and 33 minutes, set by Genin from Konoha," Kaito said.

"Hanako's team wasn't it?" Nerumi asked. "That Uchiha was a pain in the neck, but we have to admit she had her useful abilities."

"It was set by three teams that worked together to get to the tower," Anko corrected. "Kaito's team, Hiroshi's team and Masaru's."

"Itachi too, huh?" Nerumi cracked up while holding his laughter. "Well, it was to be expected."

"Rewind the tape," Kaito said, staring fixedly at the monitor. "Let's see for how much they broke the record." Anko pressed the reverse button and they watched the tape roll back until the Genin first appeared. "At four o'clock." Anko looked at the time on the superior left corner of the screen. "They finished the test in one hour and a half."

"Definitely broke the record," Nerumi chuckled. "Hanako's gonna be so pissed..."

"It's impossible for a Genin to have done that," Anko bit her lip. "Those Shinobi from Sunagakure...are really something..."

* * *

"With all due respect, Hokage-sama," Hanako's bright Sharingan could barely see through the dark shadows of the tunnel. "Where are you taking me?" She had followed the Third Hokage down the basement of the tower, and from there they had taken a weird turn through an open cavity.

"We are beneath the forest ground's," the Hokage said calmly. "There are countless underground tunnels all across the village, but you already know that." He suddenly stopped. "We are going towards Danzou's personal prison, I suspect he has a hidden entrance somewhere around."

Hanako looked at him. "A secret entrance?"

"I've kept an ANBU team watching him the 24 hours of the day, but they always report back that he never moves. Not even I could stand being in a room that long without getting out."

"You suggest he found a way through?"

Hiruzen nodded. "Danzou knows these tunnels very well, and I know you do too." Hanako frowned. "I'm not suggesting anything in particular, I just need you right now. It works as an advantage for us."

"You're not mad?" she raised an eyebrow.

"I never ceased to trust the Uchiha, and it was an Uchiha who designed these tunnels in case of an emergency. You would've found out about them sooner or later, it was just a matter of time. I just expect you to use them for what they were made for," the Hokage looked at her. "To protect the village."

Hanako looked forward. "Of course..." They started walking again.

"Lead the way," the Hokage smiled. Hanako sighed with a nod, focusing her chakra through the tunnels. She was looking for Danzou's chakra, but it was hidden. She clicked her tongue, heading for the route she already knew.

"There's an entrance that will take us directly to the ANBU's headquarters," Hanako said. "If he's been sneaking out, then he has probably been in his previous office. Maybe we could find something there."

"I see..." the Hokage sighed. "He was right after all..." Hanako halted in her steps. "You didn't even question his actions. Danzou was skeptical about letting you back into the village, and so were the rest of the elders." Hanako's face darkened as she looked down. "I convinced them to let you stay, but still they insisted on having an ANBU team watch you at all times. I couldn't say no to that. And you noticed, didn't you?"

Hanako looked back at the Hokage from over her shoulder. It was too dark, but she could still see him with her bright red eyes. The old man was speaking tranquilly with her. "This was just a test, Hanako and you failed." The Uchiha narrowed her eyes. "Danzou may have his flaws, but I accept that all he did was to protect Konoha." Hanako clenched her teeth. "You didn't come back to help me, or Kakashi, or Sasuke, or Naruto," he stated. "You came back for a darker purpose, you came back to finish what you couldn't before. You came back to kill Danzou. To kill me."

"So, what if I did?" Hanako scoffed. "What are you going to do, Sandaime?" The Uchiha turned to look at him. "As far as I remember, barely anyone knows about these passages so it should be easy to kill you and hide your body." Hanako's irises darkened. "I've already done it before."

"With Madara's body?"

Hanako's eyes widened at the Hokage's sudden revelation, then she chuckled. "Your chakra faltered, nice try Zetsu I believed it for a second."

"Kuzo..." Seeing Hiruzen cursing so childishly was hilarious for the Uchiha, but the game was over when his figure morphed into Shiro. "How did you notice?"

"You talked the exact same way like when you first brought me here. Besides, I don't think even the Hokage is aware of all these passages. Madara made most of these tunnels after he left Konoha, so they're not in any blueprint of the village." Hanako smirked at Shiro at the same she crossed her arms over her chest. "And you're an awful actor, if the Third were suspicious of me he wouldn't tell me, even less in a place like this."

"I was just preparing you for a conversation that will eventually happen," Shiro shrugged. "You know, there are ANBU all over the village, just watching. I know because I've been watching you too."

"I know," Hanako looked away from Zetsu. "But I don't think they are working under the Hokage..."

"What do you mean?"

"Danzou once had his own brand of emotionless ANBU, trained as killing machines that work only for the village. However, this special brand referred to as Root was banned after Danzou used it to annihilate the Uchiha." Hanako looked at Shiro. "I actually expected him to keep it, so I'm betting those ANBU work for Danzou, not the Third."

"That's a problem for you, isn't it?" Shiro commented. "After all, you came back only so you could get your revenge."

"I enjoy his fear," Hanako chuckled. "If he had ANBU watching then it only means that he knows I'm capable of killing him. That's satisfying enough, let him rot in his house while I am roaming freely without a care in the world." Shiro smiled. "Getting my way makes everything so sweet..."

"Let's just hope it doesn't end like it did with Madara-sama," Zetsu muttered. Hanako looked at him.

"Come again?" she asked sweetly.

"What?" Shiro seemed to realize what he had just said and tried to change the subject. "It's getting dark, isn't it?"

Hanako extended her palm and a single flame burned over her skin. "Don't change the subject. What did you just say about Gramps?" The fire was clearly illuminating her face, darkening her features to make her appear scarier.

Shiro laughed nervously. "N-nothing! I was just thinking of how nice it was of you to follow his dreams!"

Hanako's eyes narrowed. "His dreams?" the Uchiha chuckled. "Sorry, but you're wrong. I'm not planning on destroying Konoha."

"But... Orochimaru is--"

"Orochimaru has his own purposes, it has nothing to do with me." Hanako glanced at Zetsu. "Madara may have tried in his time to destroy the Leaf, but that doesn't mean I'm planning to do the same. But I do have another reason to come back, not only Danzou. And I do need Orochimaru for that."

"And that is?" Zetsu looked at her warily. Hanako smirked.

"I'm going to decipher the Uchiha stone. Madara-jii could only make out lines of it, and then he interpreted out the rest. I'm going to decipher the whole thing. Maybe a lot of questions of this messed up world are answered in there." Hanako's flame covered her entire body. Shiro retreated a couple of steps back, covering himself from the fire. "I want to know what moved Madara to build his own dream, so I can make up mine."