"All of life seems like that. Once we settle into some phase or other, and become attached to it, some unknown force makes us move on, only death obviously relieving us from these exhausting cycles."

- Jill Johnston

<>

"If the Uchiha clan massacre isn't going to happen in three years, I'll be damned if something else doesn't happen instead."

Everything had been going perfectly smoothly during Sakura's 9th year of life. It was currently May, two weeks before school ended again for break, and Sasuke and Naruto awaited their birthdays anxiously.

Sakura had recently been focusing on maintaining her 'smartest girl in her grade' reputation. Naruto, although smarter than most of the kids in his grade (Shikamaru was in that class... and no one is as smart as Shikamaru). Sasuke lived up to his family's expectations, getting the highest scores in the boy's section. If things went this smoothly for a few more years, they'd be all set to be on the same genin team. They'd gotten Kakashi to agree to be their genin sensei when the time came. It would work out great. Kakashi would be an excellent choice.

The Uchiha clan would want nothing but the best for their own, and Sasuke was borderline prodigal in their eyes. Kakashi would make him into a machine, and they'd want that. Not quite there yet, but above average still. Pity they didn't know the real power he wielded. Kakashi was also the ideal choice for Naruto, because not only was Kakashi the student of the fourth, but he was the only sensei of his time capable of taking care of the Nine Tails, protecting Naruto so he didn't lose control.

Jokes on them, the Kyūbi from the first timeline was sent back as well after a conversation with the Sage, he was their protection. Naruto and Kurama were still extremely close friends, and Naruto had released the seal a few years ago. Kurama was expected to act the way he did in the normal timeline so as not to change too much, but he didn't expect Old Man Third to die in the place of Minato and Kushina.

The only problem for him was, he was sent back so far in time that he woke up when he worked for Uchiha Madara. Against the First. Of course, he was more agreeable, and even attempted to change Madara as much as he could (Naruto was a bit... contagious). He got along well with Kushina and Mito, although he did make it very clear that he despised being trapped inside them. He did help them whenever they were in a bind.

But although he didn't appreciate being bound, being back with Naruto was the best thing about this whole ordeal. His predecessors were okay, as long as he behaved, but Naruto was more than okay. He was one of the only people Kurama would dare to call a 'friend'. If Naruto had died, Kurama wasn't sure he'd find another jinchuriki like him. And he sure would miss the little brat. It was nice to be back with his favorite jinchuriki again.

<>

"Are you okay?" Sakura asked, leaning forward to examine Kakashi, Naruto and Sasuke more thoroughly. If they'd done what they said they did, at least SOME bones must've been broken.

"We're alive, for now..." Kakashi exhaled, gripping his stomach. He stopped and rested his hands on his knees, breathing heavily. Naruto and Sasuke both collapsed on the floor outside.

Sakura nodded and unzipped the zipper for them. All three of them walked inside the tent, Naruto and Sasuke having to support each other. "Where does it hurt?" She asked, sitting down in one corner.

"Everywhere." Naruto gasped out, laying down on his sleeping bag. "I wasn't sure we'd make it out."

"Yeah. Aunt Kushina really was out for blood this time," Sasuke coughed, wiping the sweat off his brow. Then a cocky smile appeared on his face, and he held up the bag. "But we got the package."

"Awesome!" Sakura smiled. The four of them formed a circle in the giant tent, and Sakura gave all of them some flashlights.

"Kushina said she was going to come out with more refreshments later." Kakashi reported, picking up his flashlight and arranging his own sleeping bag. "If she doesn't hate us... I'll go out and start the bonfire."

Kakashi did so. Using the flaming hand technique Sasuke taught him. They all went outside and passed around the bags of popcorn the boys had stolen while Sakura got the tent ready.

True to her word, Kushina did come out with more food later. She didn't seem too mad anymore, and she told them they could've just asked for the popcorn. To which Naruto replied with, "but this way was more fun." That earned him another headache from Kushina's punch. They made basic campfire food, like s'mores, and when they were certain Kushina went to bed, they actually got down to business.

Sitting around the fire, they waited a few minutes until they were sure Kushina and Minato were asleep, then Sakura stood up. She closed her eyes and channeled her chakra. She had never done this before in this new body, purely because she had never needed to.

Doing the hand signs, she murmured, "Summoning jutsu." A poof of air, and there she was- Tsukinoyo's queen, Tōketsu. Sakura put her pointer finger to her lips, gesturing to the house. Tōketsu nodded in understanding, then her blue eyes scanned her surroundings. "Uchiha, Sasuke, I believe," she said quietly. Sasuke dipped his head in greeting. "Kakashi Hatake." She then looked at the blonde boy, whose eyes were widened excitedly, and her voice took on a playful tone. "Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto, right? I've heard plenty about you." Naruto grinned. "And of course, our darling Sakura. What is it I can do for you, kit?"

"We have some freetime right now, and we were wondering if you could help us with some things," Sakura replied. Tōketsu nodded, then sat down on the floor, crossing her front paws over each other and laying her great head down upon them.

"You mentioned earlier having a... greater knowledge of the happenings of the world." Kakashi said for the first time. He had been muting the chakra of the great cat, which was becoming strenuous because of her superior strength. He didn't want to call any unwanted attention to them. The goddamned Hokage of Konoha was sleeping in the house behind them, for Kami's sake.

Tōketsu noticed this, and hummed playfully. "Would you like me to conceal my chakra so you don't have to?"

"I can manage just fine, thanks." Kakashi said. Besides, even if some of the chakra leaked out, Sakura, Naruto or Sasuke could immediately reach out and hide it.

"Yes. I'm sure you can manage just fine. You just don't have to." Tōketsu said with laughing eyes. An amused purr rumbled in her chest. Then Kakashi felt the burden disappear, and he could suddenly breath easier. "Now, dear ones, what would you like to ask me?"

"How did you know we were from the future?" Sasuke spoke up. Naruto looked at Sasuke incredulously, then turned his head to Tōketsu. "Wait, what!?"

Tōketsu frowned, ignoring Naruto. "It was a basic deduction. You, Sasuke, Sakura, gave it away. You were -what, five?- when you came to see me. I've seen five year old kits before. I've even seen five year old human kits. All of them acted much, much differently than you did. You pronounced your words perfectly, you understood emotions and the process of time. You know your history dating back all the way to the Otsutsuki. You came with a Jinchuriki, for Kami's sake. You didn't even look fazed when I tackled her. You had a grave understanding of life, something that is rare among human children." Tōketsu's accent was entertaining as she spoke, Naruto noticed. "You, Kakashi," she nodded her head at him, "took care of them like they were your own children. But they aren't even related to you. In fact, all four of you are so tight knit, you could break off from your families and live together. How does one become so close to someone else if they haven't been through things -horrible, terrible things- together?"

No one said anything, so Tōketsu continued.

"Of course, that wouldn't be possible... the children were only five, after all. So I looked into your lives and found signs of mental illness." Her tail flicked towards Kakashi. "Your ANBU file has you down for clinical depression, PTSD, the works. You handle it better than the kids." Kakashi's eyes widened. Her tail moved towards Sasuke. "I suppose they've diagnosed your anxiety, but you haven't told your parents. Your anxiousness is affecting your sleep, but I'm assuming someone (probably Sakura) is helping you with it. Sleep paralysis sometimes? I think so. Your sleeping habits are extremely unhealthy and will be detrimental to you someday." Her eyes moved to Sakura. "Sakura, darling, you're not doing so well either, are you? Just from looking at you I can tell that you have issues with eating and sleeping. You're worrying your parents, dear." She turned to Naruto. "Looking at you now, I can see you have restless leg syndrome, (which sometimes effects your sleeping habits) and anxiety. You're also suffering from ADHD, although something tells me you've learned how to control it. A five year old who can control his ADHD? Absolutely unheard of, even for an adult."

Still, none of the humans said anything.

"The one thing you all have in common is PTSD. You're a group of broken people who stick together. Why? Because you've been through something together. But the question us, what? All of you are different. Different families, different experiences. While the Third Shinobi World War happened, you kids weren't even born, so it couldn't have been that. But based on the way you hold yourselves, it had to have been war. But Konoha hasn't been in a war in a long time. Sure, you could all just be prodigies, but unlikely. Know why it's unlikely?"

"Why?" Naruto asked, finally speaking up. His eyebrows furrowed.

"Your chakra." Tōketsu said, flicking at all of them with her tail. "Perhaps it's been millenia, but all Queens have been trained to recognize Sage of the Six Paths chakra ever since Hitojichi worked with Indra. Now we get to the kicker- why do you have Sage chakra?" Naruto opened his mouth to answer, but was cut off.

"You could've been born with it, I suppose, the Sage can be generous sometimes, but again- unlikely. Why would four different people be born with Sage of the Six Paths chakra? So you four are special. Due to the fact that his chakra is split evenly among you, my guess is you've met him before. When could you have met him? How? And then it came to me. You died. And since you're here again and trying to get stronger... well, you must be working towards something. The future. That means you've done this before. And don't think I don't know what you did, Kakashi, choosing to save Kushina and Minato instead of Lord Third. Fate was written, and you changed it. Meaning you knew what was going to happen. Conclusion- you four are time travelers."

"You remind me of my brother." That was the first thing Sasuke said. "He thinks a lot like you do."

Naruto wolf whistled. "You're good, panther lady. You got all that just from seeing Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke once?"

"Yes." Then her eyes sparkled in amusement. "Of course, Sasuke, Kakashi and Sakura GETTING to Tsukinoyo was courtesy of the Sage, but everything else I discovered on my own."

Kakashi couldn't remember a time his team had been so quiet. Sakura was staring at Tōketsu with an absolutely awed look on her face. Kakashi knew that her coming finding Tōketsu was definitely something that was useful for the team, and was secretly extremely thankful to Sakura for pushing him into that long, strenuous journey to Kumo. It was more than worth it. Sasuke looked skeptical, as he was last time, but otherwise extremely shocked. Naruto looked at Tōketsu like she was an incarnation of a goddess. Kakashi himself was a little bit awestruck, but he recovered quickly.

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked, raising an eyebrow.

Tōketsu did something that was as close to a laugh as anything she could do. "Who do you think told me to come find you? I came to find you because I had a dream from the Sage. He told me that I was going to get some visitors. He didn't mention anything else about you, but the next day, I wandered around waiting for you. It was a godsend, too, because if any of the members of my group had found you... you'd probably be food. Since you showed up with me, you were safe. And now you always will be."

Sakura sighed, quiet. She didn't know what to think, so she turned her face to look at the fire for a few moments. She wished she could do that- get guidance from the Sage of the Six Paths whenever she needed it. That would be invaluable. Then she looked at the panther seated nicely in between her and Sasuke. Maybe I have all the guidance I need right here. Thank you, Lord Hagoromo. If anything, maybe it was his chakra that guided her to those books about Tsukinoyo that Lord Second had written. "We do have other questions. before you leave, my Lady, if you please."

"Yes, yes, ask away." Tōketsu said, flicking her ears in Sakura's direction.

"We have some questions about this enemy we'll be fighting." Naruto said, face getting all scrunched up in concentration. "Have we fought them before?"

"Certainly." Tōketsu shivered. "He is everywhere, and everything, he corrupts nature, and good humans. He takes and takes and takes, for himself. I don't know what he calls himself, but even the birds in the trees fear him. He is not natural, the manifestation of evil itself. But he pretends to be of nature, and it sickens us. He's a danger to all living things. I believe it is your duty is to destroy him, and to make right what he twisted up."

Team 7 looked at each other.

Sounds like...

Yeah it does.

Damn it, I hate him...

You think he's still in the Akatsuki? That is who you're talking about, right?

If he is, we'll find him.

What age, approximately?

Twelve or thirteen, probably, Naruto.

Ugh.

Actually... that reminds me. There's something I think I have to do.

Sasuke?

Will this affect the team in any way?

Probably not, just remain calm when it happens

Do something drastic, and I'll kill you.

Shut up, Naruto, if this works you probably won't have to. It'll be drastic enough for my own family to kill me, to be honest.

Be careful.

Yeah, Sasuke, for Kami's sake, don't blow our cover.

I would never.

Tōketsu looked at the four of them with interest. "Was it something I said?"

"It's nothing." Sasuke said deviously, bringing a handful of popcorn to his mouth. A plan was forming in his mind for how he'd be able to pull this off.

This was not going to be fun, or good in any way, but it was necessary.

<>

Sasuke had no plans to tell anyone what he was planning, but he did speak with Kakashi. Kakashi looked at him like he was insane, and advised strongly against it. He said it was cruel, and absolutely unfair. Sasuke argued that it was necessary. Sasuke didn't like that word... necessary. That didn't stop him from using it when he needed to. Kakashi told Sasuke that he would take no part in this, and said that if he didn't return after two days, he would tell his family.

So Sasuke commenced his not-evil-but-probably-felt-like-it plan. The game was set up. When everything was ready, all he needed was his player.

Itachi.

<>

Itachi Uchiha never understood the concept of slow motion in real life. It was interesting- the idea of something happening that you cannot control, and your mind slowing down enough for you to truly think about it. Regret it. Wonder what could've been done differently. He'd never personally experienced it, and this caused him to wonder whether or not it was actually real. He'd been fourteen for three weeks when he finally understood.

The Itachi of then didn't know anything- he especially didn't know why Sasuke asked him to come train so late in the day. They'd already eaten dinner, but it was summer, so the sun was still up. Still, it was late. Six o'clock in the afternoon. But he humored the little kid, since it was nearly his birthday, and allowed Sasuke to take him to his and Shisui's favorite training spot. Up by the waterfall over the river.

Mistake, but it wasn't like the Itachi of then knew that. Of course, there was always that dread in the pit of his stomach, but he never acted on it. Not once. Not when Sasuke looked at him with those eyes.

It started off normally Sasuke asking for techniques to throwing the kunai, and working on enhancing his fire jutsu. The sun was going down, and they were still out there sparring, Sasuke showing off his admittedly excellent taijutsu skills. They were good for an almost nine year old boy.

Then he jumped back too far. Too far from Itachi. Too close to the edge of the cliff. Itachi's eyes widened and he dove over, trying to catch his brother's arm, hair, shirt, anything. He went over, landing on the grass and sliding halfway over the edge to catch Sasuke. But he was too late.

Sasuke was falling before Itachi could help him.

There was something terrible about seeing his brother fall- something final. Sasuke looked him in the eyes as he fell, tears filling them. Sasuke was scared of death. The mere idea of his brother having to meet death today made him want to curl into a ball, because he failed. What is it about death that is so scary to him? He wasn't afraid for his own death, no; but Sasuke's... Sasuke's...

No, Itachi never did understand the concept of something happening in slow motion. It had interested him before, but now that he was actually experiencing it, he never wanted to again.

But that isn't how life works. You get what you get and you don't throw a fit. It was a concept he had drilled into the stubborn, rebellious, headstrong child Sasuke used to be. He'd finally humbled Sasuke enough for the boy to understand, but... now Itachi was sinking into that. He was going to throw a fit.

But not right now.

In one second, Itachi's mind was on autopilot. He stood up quickly, removed his shirt so he could dry Sasuke off later, and dove in after him. He was falling off the cliff at full speed, preparing to dive into the water.

But Sasuke was already so far down... how did he get so close to the water without Itachi noticing?

He and Shisui used to swim in that river to train their bodies. The current was strong- especially for an eight year old boy- and the fall was crippling if it wasn't done the right way. Sasuke wasn't falling the right way. Itachi's heart was beating a million miles per hour in that moment, and he knew that if he didn't find Sasuke before the current took him, he'd be lost forever.

Sasuke landed, and before he was submerged, there was a split second where he looked at Itachi with complete trust. He'd be okay. Big Brother would find him. The dread in Itachi's heart was too much, and when he dived, his eyes weren't ready. He had to blink them repeatedly underwater to get used to the sudden pressure.

But he got to work immediately, using his Sharingan and summoning as many shadow clones as he could (and even a few crows) to help him find the boy.

Why wasn't Sasuke there?

Itachi searched the entire river up and down twice. He searched the banks, in case Sasuke had gotten out, and he even covered the forest. He spent hours, shouting Sasuke's name, looking in every nook and cranny before he ran out of air. But he wasn't there.

Why wasn't he there?

Itachi knew the logical explanation for that. He'd drowned. His body had been carried away. But he still hoped... he still wished... he still searched.

It was midnight when finally he accepted that Sasuke was gone, and Sasuke wasn't coming back.

And it broke him.

He sat in the sand by the river bank, and he stared at the river. He spent a few moments in silence. Then he screamed in anguish. He yelled at the moon, he screamed at whatever deity that was out there. He screamed at Sasuke, for disappearing, and at the river for taking him away from Itachi.

His only little brother... the person Itachi loved most in this entire world. He was gone, and Itachi couldn't do anything about it. That was when the tears came. He lay down on the floor, his chest heaving as the warm tears slid down his face. He cried so much, he wondered whether or not he'd be okay in the end. He was almost sure he wouldn't be.

What was this pain in his chest? Was it guilt? He was sorry that he hadn't gotten to Sasuke fast enough. He was sorry he hadn't gone to train somewhere else. This whole thing... it was his fault, wasn't it?

God, how would he tell Mother her baby wasn't coming home? And Naruto? And Sakura and Kakashi, and Father? How would he handle it? Not saying goodbye to his little brother before he left for a mission, not getting a hug from him when he returned?

How would he ever get over this?

Itachi kept a silent vigil for Sasuke by the water until dawn. No words were spoken, many tears were shed.

Itachi stood up, and he walked over to the water to say one last goodbye to Sasuke before going to get a search team.

"No matter where you are, brother, I hope you know that I will love you always. I'll never forget you."

That was when Itachi noticed his eyes.

<>

Sasuke watched the whole thing from the woods, red eyes gleaming so they could work in the dark. He silently listened to his brother scream, and he listened to him cry, and he listened to him apologize to him.

Why didn't he go out there and help him? Why didn't he go tell Itachi he was alive?

Simple. He wanted Itachi to think he was dead.

It was unfair. It was cruel. It was the worst thing that Sasuke had ever done, and he found himself crying with Itachi in guilt. But deep inside, behind all the shame, and all the guilt, and his human nature, he knew it was necessary.

Necessary... what an ugly word. Disgusting. Especially in Sasuke's line of work. In Sasuke's line of work, necessary meant sacrifice. It meant rebellion. It meant death, and heartbreak, and pain. It meant the slaughter of entire clans- entire nations. It meant merciless, heartless, carrying out of orders or expectations. It meant securing the greater good.

Sacrifice is necessary for the future. Rebellion is necessary for change. Death is necessary for life. Heartbreak is necessary for happiness. And pain is necessary for gain.

Sasuke wished it wasn't that way, but it was. And Itachi needed to be safe when things went down between them and the Akatsuki. Itachi needed to be safe when Konoha goes to war. Itachi needed to be safe when Sasuke, Sakura, Naruto and Kakashi single handedly wiped the floor with all of the villains they could find.

Itachi's safety was necessary. He needed the Mangekyo Sharingan

Or else this would all just be a neverending cycle.