I wanted to try this story out and see how it did. It's an idea I've been playing with for a while now. Since I have nothing better to do (summer break and all that), I figured why not. By the way, I don't know how old Itachi was when he showed up in the anime, but for the purposes of this story, he was 17 the first time we saw him in the show. Just in case he wasn't in the show.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto...if I did, Sasuke wouldn't have become the bad guy...I mean come on he's a real jerk now...anyway, on with the story.

Ch. 1: Stuck in Konoha

Kana walked up to the gates of Konoha. The village was no worse for wear from the attack it had suffered. That was good. Now to find the boy. That wouldn't be easy. Given the circumstances of what she'd heard, he would be watched carefully. Something moved above her. She looked up to see sound nin running out of the village. What in the world? That's right, Orochimaru was after Sasuke.

The baby in her arms wiggled a little in sleep. Kana looked down with a soft smile. Her son. She didn't regret having him, despite only being sixteen and his father being a missing nin. Kana couldn't say she planned on having a child, but anything would be worth having Haru.

Determination lit her eyes up. She had to find the boy. Hopefully he didn't intend to leave with those sound nin. If he did, no where would be safe for any Uchiha. She looked down at Haru, even innocent ones. She had to hurry or he'd leave. Then it'd be too late. Maybe this would stop him. Having another life depend on you tended to change everything. She had proof of that bundled in the blanket in her arms.

Kana stepped through the gates and looked around. She knew shinobi saw her and dismissed her. She was a woman with no headband and a baby. Not a threat. Her eyes scanned the streets. This was her first time here. Where should she go? Where would he be? Maybe if she just waited here. He had to come through these gates to join the sound nin. That sounded like a plan to her. Manami leaned against the wall and waited.

She'd been right. Moments later, he walked up to the gate. He was about to just ignore her but she stepped in his way. Kana gave a small smile as she said, "Hello, Sasuke. Can I talk to you before you make up your mind about joining Orochimaru?"

He was immediately suspicious. "Do I know you?"

Kana shook her head. "No, but I've heard quite a bit about you." She rocked Haru a little when he moved again. "Please. I don't know how much time I have before he wakes up. I promise, if you still want to leave when I'm finished, I'll let you go and won't tell a soul."

Sasuke considered the woman in front of him. She seemed ordinary enough. Her dark hair was kept braided and bangs fell over her forehead. She had eyes the color of melted chocolate and just as warm. An air of peace and calm seemed to surround her and reach out to others. He was willing to bet she never reacted emotionally unless that was what was necessary for the situation. She spoke in a slow drawl that would fool people into thinking she thought slow as well. But Sasuke saw the intelligence in her eyes as well as the steel. This was a girl who not only knew what she wanted but how to get it.

"Why not," he said with a sigh. He was curious now. If he'd know the results of their conversation, he would have ignored her.

"First, my name is Kana and I'm from the Land of Rain." Kana took a deep breath to settle her nerves. So much depended on this. Her eyes moved to Haru again then back to Sasuke. "I've come here looking for safety and hoping you could provide it."

Sasuke tilted his head. "Why me?"

"Because Haru," she motioned to the baby, "is your nephew."

Sasuke stood there for a beat then glared. "You lie."

"No I don't." She reached up with one hand and pulled at a silver chain on her neck. Hanging from it was the Uchiha clan symbol. The necklace was only give to those that were married to an Uchiha.

Sasuke had his in the bag on his back. That left only one other. The only one who could have given it to this girl was... "Itachi."

Kana nodded as she tucked the necklace into her shirt. "Yes, Itachi gave it to me." She grinned. "No we're not married. I don't think he intended for that to happen." Kana shrugged indifferently. "That didn't really matter to me. As long as he was there, that's what I wanted."

"Then why come here?" His mind was reeling with the information. Itachi had a child...a son. What was he supposed to think and feel?

"Having a baby changed everything," Kana said as she gave Haru a soft smile. "You see, being with Itachi is a risk because the Akatsuki don't want their members having outside ties. It gives them a weakness." She met Sasuke's eyes. "If they had found out about me, they'd have killed me. Not to mention the Akatsuki's enemies, such as Orochimaru, would have loved to get their hands on me if they found out. I was willing to take that risk, but when Haru came, I couldn't risk his life."

"That doesn't explain why you're here," Sasuke said. Questions still ran through his mind as he tried to sort his confused emotions and thoughts. Should he blame her for Itachi's crimes? What about the boy? Should be blame Haru too? Sasuke looked at the bundle in Kana's arms.

"Because the only safe place for Haru to grow up would be in a village filled with shinobi that would protect him. The only village like that is the one where an Uchiha lives. This village." Kana looked around them then back at him. "Of course, this place will no longer be safe for an Uchiha if you leave."

"Why not?" That couldn't be true. Anywhere could be safe. No. That wasn't right. The other villages would have wanted to use Haru as a weapon because of of the Uchiha kekkei genkai. Konoha could still be safe though. She didn't need him here for that. Kana quickly shot that down.

"Well, one," she began, "you wouldn't be here to insist they protect you family. Which was part of what I was hoping for. Two, you would be the second Uchiha to defect. Do you honestly think they won't watch my son like he's traitor. Both his father and his uncle were. Why not him too?" Kana gave a bitter smile. "That's what they'll think and you know it. People are such shallow and simple creatures at heart."

He stood there, trying to digest what she was telling him. Kana seemed to know he was struggling because she fell silent and just watched him. Sasuke stared at the ground. What did he do? Did he leave anyway? He looked at Haru. What would happen to the kid if he did? She was right about what would happen. The village would make them leave, but it would no longer be a place for an Uchiha to grow up. They'd treat Haru much like they had Naruto. Could he live with himself if he condemned Haru to that? He couldn't take them with him. Orochimaru wasn't a good guy. The snake may decide to imprison them or force Haru into his army. Sasuke couldn't allow that.

Kana walked to him and handed him the baby. He was too busy trying to think to argue with her. The Uchiha looked down at the baby and couldn't help but feel a little warm inside. His family. This boy was his family. They shared blood. He wasn't alone after all. Sasuke's eyes hardened. He'd lost his entire family once. Could he let it happen again by abandoning them? The baby in his arms shifted and slowly opened his eyes. Sasuke found himself looking into dark eyes that held an innocence only a child could possess. Haru blinked up at his uncle then smiled. Sasuke closed his eyes and knew what he would do. Kana was right. It was different when someone depended on you to survive.

His eyes snapped open and he looked at Kana. "Fine." He sighed and wished things could be different. They weren't so he'd just have to live with it. He looked at Haru and didn't know his eyes softened. He couldn't abandon them. Not like Itachi had left him. They needed protection only he could provide and he would provide it. "You can stay with me."

Kana let out a relieved breath. "You have no idea how relieved I am. I thought we'd have to run and just keep running for the rest of our lives." She smiled. "I didn't even what to think about what would happen when he developed the sharingan because then everyone would know."

With one last look out the gate, Sasuke turned is back on the path of an avenger and walked back the way he'd come. He'd still avenge his clan but it would have to happen the slow way rather than quickly as he'd hoped. Sasuke knew the rage would come as soon as the reality hit him. The chance for power had been missed, and he couldn't get it back. All because he couldn't turn his back on a little boy that just happened to be his nephew. He should hate Haru and Kana. They were Itachi's family...but that made them his family too. Sasuke glanced up at her. "You knew this would happen."

"No. I hoped. I hoped with all my heart that losing your clan the way you had would make you reluctant to doom us to our fate." Kana gave him a really large smile. "I'm glad I was right even if you're not."

Sasuke looked away, still growling mentally. His eyes landed on the park. Damn it. He handed Kana the baby and told her to wait right there. When he came back, he was carrying Sakura. Well, since he was staying there was no point in her waking up on a bench. She'd wake up and panic. Kana just followed him to his house, saying nothing. Sasuke was glad for her silence. He wasn't sure he could handle a conversation just yet. A part of him was already starting to seethe about the situation.

He walked into the Uchiha compound. He'd had it all to himself for years. It would be strange to know that two others would be living here with him. Sasuke glared. He'd just have to get used to it. His mind was made up and he couldn't change it – even though he wanted to. He settled Sakura into a guest room and showed Kana to the room she'd use.

"This used to be Itachi's room," he told her. "Before he left."

Kana smiled at him. "Thank you."

He looked at Haru, who had fallen asleep again. "We'll fix a room for him tomorrow." As he started to leave, Kana called his name. He looked at her over his shoulder.

"Thank you. I'll owe you for life." She looked at Haru. "He's my world and I want to make sure he grows up safe and happy. I want him to have the life you and Itachi were both denied for various reasons." She met his gaze again. "I think, you'll be good for him and he'll be good for you."

He looked down a little. "I don't feel that way right now."

"Neither did I when I first found out I was pregnant. To be honest, I was scared to death." Kana chuckled a little at herself. "Imagine, I was willing to face down a group of S-class shinobi for the chance to stay with Itachi, and this little boy terrified me." She shook her head. "Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you for giving me the chance to give Haru that life."

Sasuke nodded and shut the door. Once in his own room, he stood in the center silently for a moment. Then he began throwing things. How could this happen? He'd been so close to what he needed to avenge his clan. The chance to gain that power was with in his grasp and it had still slipped through his fingers. And yet...he began to calm down. Sasuke stood there, panting. His eyes staring at nothing. And yet, he didn't regret it. He sat on the edge of his bed and admitted that to himself. He didn't regret it because Haru was family, and Sasuke had thought he'd lost all blood tied to the world – Itachi didn't count.

"Well, Sasuke, you've done it now," he said to himself. "Abandoned everything for strangers because one of them happens to be an Uchiha like you." He fell back onto the bed and stared at the ceiling. "Fine. It's done. Get over it and move on."

Sasuke didn't sleep for several hours. The next morning, he walked into the kitchen to find Kana was already up. She was making breakfast. When she saw him, she smiled. "Good morning, Sasuke."

He paused in the doorway and glared. Sasuke had almost convinced himself it had all been a dream. He looked away from her and whispered, "Damn it."

Kana proved she had excellent hearing when she said, "Now that's no way to be, Sasuke." She smiled at him. "You would have regretted leaving anyway."

"How can you be sure?" he demanded.

"Because one day, you'd get your revenge and realize you have no where to go." She looked back at the stove and flipped an egg. "What good is accomplishing your goals if there's no one there for you in the end?"

"And I thought you were logical," he grumbled.

"I am. Logic says we are pack creatures by nature." Kana placed two eggs on a plate and handed it to him with a smile. "We all need other people, Sasuke. It's a fact of life that I noticed shinobi try to ignore."

He thought of Zabuza and Haku. The demon who'd managed to forget he was human until the death of his only companion. Kana's words seemed to echo Zabuza's comment that even shinobi were human. Or maybe her words finished it. Even shinobi were human, so they needed other humans. Sasuke sighed and sat at the table with his plate. It was then that he noticed Haru wasn't here.

"Were's the kid?"

"Haru is still sleeping. Babies don't keep normal hours." Kana sat across from him and considered him. "This is a good time to get to know each other."

"I don't share stories or feelings."

"Fine, I will." Kana sat back and simply said, "I'm an orphan. My parents died of a plague that hit our village when I was eight years old. I had no other family so I learned to steal. Somewhere along the way, I discovered chakra and that it made stealing, or rather, getting away when caught easier." She smiled. "And now we get to the part you want to know about. I'd gotten caught. Wasn't fast enough. The man was about to kill me for my crimes." The tilted her head. "A punishment that didn't match the crime in my opinion. A life for a loaf of bread just seemed unfair to me. Then again, it was my life and not my bread." She considered that for maybe two seconds then shrugged. "Oh well. Where was I? Oh yes. I was saves from death by a man wearing a black cloak with red clouds on it. He didn't think the punishment was fair either."

Sasuke knew who the man was instantly. "Itachi."

She nodded. "You're quick. Yes, the man was Itachi. I was surprised to be saved." Kana's eyes took a on a distant look. She was no longer in the kitchen with Sasuke. What she saw, was the past. A young girl who'd lost all hope and a man who'd never had it to lose. She brought herself back to the present. "The first thing I noticed was that he was cute." She smiled when Sasuke gave her an surprised look. "I was only thirteen, Sasuke, and you Uchiha men are enough to make any girl's heart stop."

He couldn't help the smirk. It might be arrogant to think so, but she was right.

"Now, he saved me and that's how I met him, and the rest is history." She stood and walked back to the stove.

Sasuke frowned. "Wait, how did you end up with his necklace?"

Kana looked at him. "Tell me a story and I'll tell you that part. Fair trade, Sasuke." She tilted her head a little as if hearing something. "You're friend is awake and scared. You should probably go tell her you're still here."

Sasuke cursed and stood quickly. He caught Sakura as she was running down the hall. For a moment, she seemed shocked to see him. Then relieved. Without hesitation or thought, she threw her arms around him and kept saying thank you. To say Sasuke was shocked would have been an understatement. He didn't notice Kana behind him until she spoke.

"It's those who love you that are most effected by your choices," she whispered. He glanced over his shoulder. Kana stood at the end of the hallway. Her eyes held a sad look in them and so much pain. "You should be more careful with those choices. There's an old saying in my village. You don't know what you have until it's gone, but then it's too late to know."

Sasuke didn't know what Kana meant and he didn't care. He looked at Sakura. She had noticed Kana as well and looked confused. He sighed. How did he get in these messes? Well, he better explain, since he was stuck here in Konoha.

That's it. I hope you guys enjoyed it. If not just let me know. Don't want to waste my time on a story no one wants to read. If you do like it, I'll keep it going.