This story is going to be yaoi ... meaning I'm pairing Itachi and Naruto together in a romantic relationship. It's not going to happen right away ... but it will happen ... If that's not your thing then feel free to hit the back button. Please don't flame my story because you didn't read my warning.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto in any way shape or form ... unfortunately ...

Prologue:

I awoke to find myself laying on the forest floor with nothing but the trees and stars above me. The wind blew and I shivered as I sat up and looked around in confusion.

Where was I? How did I get here? And most importantly ... how was I alive?

"Uchiha Itachi ... you are being given another chance at life ... don't waste it ..." a voice echoed in my head.

I stood up and scanned the area, searching for the source of the voice. Yet I saw nothing.

I had no real concept of time since I'd died. Nor did I have any notion as to how much time had passed since I'd been raised during the war. For all I knew, a hundred or even a thousand years could have gone by and everyone I knew and cared about could have already left this world.

But somehow I didn't think so.

I glanced down at myself and noticed that I was garbed in Konoha Anbu gear ... somehow familiar, and yet completely foreign. I took note of the kitsune mask on the ground, next to where I'd woken up.

I bent down and picked the mask up. I smiled as I turned it over in my hand and examined it. The mask reminded me of my brothers friend Naruto.

My smile disappeared as I began to think about the situation in which I found myself. I was alive ... and yet I was supposed to be dead. I was considered a rogue ninja ... and yet I was fiercely loyal to my village. I had once left Konoha to protect my little brother ... but now he knew the truth.

I had been running from the truth and hiding behind lies for so long to protect my brother but I didn't have to do that anymore. If this was truly a second chance then I wanted to return to my village. If need be, I would hide my identity behind another. But I didn't want to run anymore. I wanted to go home.

With this in my mind, I donned the mask and set off on my long journey home.