Hello everyone,
This is definitely a different approach to what I normally write trust me.
There is gender bending, crazy antics, not love right away, major character death in the beginning and possibly during the story, this story is after the war literally. NO Mpreg.. BUT there will be gender change multiple times in the story. Just to let my readers know what they are getting themselves into. Naruto also knows a lot more than just shadow clones of all of Tobirama's jutsu's just to let you all know.
The pairing is Itachi and Naruto.
Itachi is 21 years old.
Naruto is 17 years old.
Everything happens so fast in the motions of war but this was so unexpected and happened so fast no one could even prevent it. Not only did Neji sacrifice himself for Naruto but Sasuke did too.
"SASUKE!" Naruto screamed his chakra whipping wildly.
Yes, the finishing move killed their enemy but it came at a price, Sasuke's life. That was something Naruto just couldn't take. He screamed so loud it could be heard across the field.
"Sasuke, you didn't even succeed in your goals bastard. Don't leave me." Naruto cried.
"It was worth it. You look... st-upid cr-ying." Sasuke said as he panted and coughed up blood.
"I can heal you." Naruto said tears streaming down his face like no tomorrow he didn't care who was around.
"No," Sasuke whispered grabbing Naruto's hand. "Take care of Ita...chi. Promise me," Sasuke gasped out tears starting to come out his own eyes.
"No... you can't leave me. You're my first friend. I love you." Naruto cried.
Sasuke gave him a half smile as tears flowed freely between the two.
"Love you too..." Sasuke said his arm going limp.
"No no no no don't do this no. SASUKE NO!" Naruto screamed freaking out picking Sasuke up in his arms.
"No way," Sakura stood there only a few meters away tears falling freely.
"What are you waiting for? Help him heal him." Naruto turned to her screaming.
"He's gone Naruto." Shikamaru said softly as his friend screamed.
Ino reached over to Sakura pulling her into a hug letting the tears run freely on her shirt. No one even knew how to get Naruto off of Sasuke as they started picking up their comrade's dead bodies. Everyone felt the chakra on the field but didn't know what to expect from it considering all the Akatsuki members were all known to be dead.
"Naruto?" Itachi said softly approaching with caution.
Naruto turned around so quick to make eye contact with the last Uchiha in existence and tears welled up even more. Itachi got a good view of who was in Naruto's arms and felt his heart and body go limp. He didn't make it here on time. He didn't protect his baby brother or Naruto like he said he would.
"I'm sorry Itachi he jumped in front of me to save me last minute he saved me." Naruto cried and the moment Itachi moved everyone thought Naruto was going to be the next person dead but all Itachi did was pull the blonde into a hug that made the blonde cry louder.
"He saved me." Naruto kept repeating and hitting Itachi's back out of pain.
"I know I know Naruto." Was all Itachi said to Naruto as he took the hits.
Everyone in the area was confused they were sure Itachi was an enemy ninja why were he here and not only that why was he consoling a distraught Naruto and why was Naruto letting him? The tears and crying were too much for everyone close to Naruto they never seen the teen so heartbroken but no one knew what to do to comfort him. Shikamaru comforted Naruto when Jiraiya died because he had an understanding of losing a teacher but this was different because he was Naruto's teammate and best friend that he strived to save since he left. It was different in so many ways that no one could understand how Naruto felt.
When Naruto finally fell asleep no one was sure what to do considering Itachi was holding Naruto close to him. It was sweet if he wasn't a missing ninja that threatened harm to Naruto himself.
"I heard that Konoha was destroyed by a jutsu Pain did does anyone know if the Uchiha compound was saved?" Itachi asked.
"Actually, it was out of the blast zone." Sakura was the one to answer not really sure why she answered to begin with.
"Good, I am going to take Naruto there so can someone pick up my little brother and bring him there also so he can get a proper burial?" Itachi asked not taking his eyes off of Naruto.
"I will," Shikamaru said shocking everyone as he approached the dead Uchiha.
"Thank you," Itachi said quietly.
Shikamaru got close to Itachi to the point where he actually saw tears coming down the last Uchiha's face.
'Could he be crying?' Shikamaru thought to himself.
Itachi entered his old home and was instantly depressed. Not only did he kill his family and clan but he lost the one person he was meant to protect and promised to protect. His one and only baby brother. Why didn't he make it on time? Itachi sat on the couch with Naruto still on top of him as tears streamed down his face. He just hoped he could fall asleep crying like Naruto did.
All he could think about was how he was now stuck with his little brother's best friend who he loved and cared for dearly. Why couldn't he just leave the blonde alone? Because his brother didn't and wouldn't want him to. Yeah that was one reason but he just could never leave the blonde alone. He always watched over the blonde before he left with the Akatsuki then he grew to protect the blonde outside when he was on missions with his own team. He always had his eyes on the blonde. He knew how close his mother was to Naruto's mother and he knew how close his little brother grown to Naruto. It was always connected so when he first talked to Naruto he wasn't really shocked that Naruto believed him when he said he did what he had to do. He shockingly listened to Naruto too when he told him to tell Sasuke. Sasuke didn't take it well but when Sasuke found out that Naruto was on the front line of the war he ran out the camp they set up straight to him.
Sasuke knew Naruto was the reason Itachi told him what really happened in the first place. If he was going to protect anyone it was going to be him not the damn village. Itachi didn't hate the village by no means he loved the village but his love for his baby brother outweighed everything in him.
Shikamaru came into the house walking slowly not really sure what to do because he was never allowed on the Uchiha grounds. The only person to come here after Sasuke left and even before Sasuke left was Naruto. Naruto was the only person in the Uchiha's heart.
"Where should I put him?" Shikamaru whispered as he stared at the older man with tears rolling down his face as he clung to Naruto like he was his only life line.
"Put him on the couch. He needs to be buried with my parents." Itachi said pulling Naruto closer to him as he got up so Shikamaru could set him down.
"You cared a lot for your brother, huh?" Shikamaru asked softly as he set Sasuke down.
"More than anything in the world." Itachi responded instantly without any hesitation but not making any type of eye contact.
Itachi just watched his brother like he was going to wake up despite having a hole where the wound was. Itachi knelt down next to the couch ignoring Shikamaru's existence as he just held Naruto and looked at his younger brother with a distraught look. Shikamaru could have sworn he heard an 'I'm sorry' somewhere within the mumbles as Itachi put his head down on his brother's chest.
Shikamaru left the house unsure on how to process all the information he just learned in the matter of ten minutes. That proved Shikamaru's theory to be right. He knew the Uchiha was ordered to do what he did with his clan some way or another. He just didn't really understand how Naruto fell into all this.
Itachi fell asleep crying. The only reason he woke was because he felt Anbu surrounding his house and he knew that was the Hokage's way of saying to get your ass there now or it was his execution because one way or another he was a missing nin in Konoha village that wasn't meant to be here to begin with.
Itachi set Naruto down in his room that was still the way he left it. Kissing Naruto gently on the forehead he walked out the room and straight out the front door. He didn't know if he was going to be able to see Naruto again but he could only hope he did. He could say one thing Naruto wouldn't be okay if he died too. That worried him to the highest extent more than anything. Hoping Tsunade has a soft spot for him Itachi let the Anbu take him to the Hokage.
"Why are you here? What do you hope to gain?" Were the first questions he heard from the council as he walked in the room.
"I am only here to make sure Naruto is okay. He just lost my brother and no one on the field could calm him down. I just want him to be okay. I also want to bury my little brother next to my parents." Itachi said not looking at anyone but the Hokage.
The Hokage wasn't sure why she could see pain in Itachi's eyes and didn't quite understand why she felt sorry for him after all he is the reason his family isn't around today. He was the reason his brother became a missing nin too so why did all this matter so much to him.
"Who do you think you're talking to? I hope you don't expect us to believe you care about the boy." Koharu said glaring at Itachi.
"It's not like you care if he is mentally or emotionally stable so why do you question my feelings about him?" Itachi asked glaring at the council members. "You never once even acknowledged the poor boy's existence leaving the entire problem to Hokage Sarutobi. You didn't even care that he was tortured by villagers mind you he is the Fourth Hokage's son you didn't give a damn." Itachi growled out his chakra spiking making everyone around him back up because they noticed his eyes flash red.
It was Tsunade who stepped forward to diffuse the tension in the room. She didn't know what was going on but she did intend to find out. What did Naruto know that made the last Uchiha cling to him so much? Or the last Uchiha to cling or care for Naruto so much?
"Itachi calm down. To be frank I am wondering the same thing about you. I care about the brat and would never let anything happen to him but what I don't understand is why you do?" Tsunade said making Itachi look at her and diffuse his eyes.
"I care about him. He was my favorite Hokage's son. It is more than that though. I just can't help wanting to be there for him." Itachi whispered no one could hear him aside from Tsunade.
"Minato," Tsunade said shocked slightly shocking everyone in the room from hearing the name.
"Do you think he would like people treating his son the way the villagers and the higher ups do after he sacrificed his life and the life of his one and only son to save the village?" Itachi asked higher so everyone in the room could hear him which made his chakra spike up again.
"Itachi," Naruto whispered as he looked around the room.
He didn't bother to register where he was just jumped out the window to where he knew Itachi was. He could sense the chakra anywhere now. It was warm to him just like Sasuke's.
'Sasuke, I promise. I will protect your brother.' Naruto thought in his head as he blinked tears from his eyes as the Hokage tower came to his sight.
Naruto didn't care what was being said or who was in the room he just jumped through the window right to Itachi.
"ITACHI!" Naruto screamed shocking everyone as the blonde landed right in front of Itachi pulling him into a hug.
Itachi froze from the contact but couldn't help melting into the warmth that he hasn't felt in so long. He didn't know what else to do aside from hug Naruto back. Everyone in the room was shocked that they didn't feel Naruto's chakra before he got into the room.
"Naruto?" Tsunade said deciding to break the tender moment.
Naruto turned to Tsunade but didn't break contact with Itachi even if that meant them holding hands with each other.
"Granny Tsunade, you have to reinstate Itachi as a Konoha ninja." Naruto said in a tone that demanded attention making sure everyone in the room was alert.
"Are you out of your mind? He was a criminal ninja since he was fourteen years old. He murdered his own clan for personal progress for himself." Homura said attempting to get Naruto away from the other ninja only to back away when he saw the Sharingan activated.
"He isn't a criminal granny. I heard his story out and not only that but there is a note in the Hokage chamber where the forbidden scrolls are and it will show you that gramps wanted Itachi to be back in the village one day and that he was going to grant it to whoever was Hokage if he wasn't alive anymore to say it. Go and look and you will see it." Naruto urged ignoring the council.
Itachi couldn't say anything because he never thought that the third Hokage planned it out like that. But at this moment he was grateful that he did because now he could be with Naruto.
"Wait right here I will go look." Tsunade said gently.
"What? You can't believe what he says. Don't you think Sarutobi would have said something to one of us?" Koharu said defensively.
"With all due respect why do you think he would tell you when you were on Danzou's side more than his own?" Naruto said finally turning to the council for the first time since coming into the office.
"How dare you? Everything we did was for the village." Homaru said.
"Treating one of your ninjas like a monster or a demon is best for the village. I see, you realize that if I did become bad it would have been all your fault seeing as you and no one in this village saw me as a human being. If it wasn't for Sasuke and me trying to prove you wrong I would have been bad." Naruto said shaking his head.
Tsunade came outside the Hokage chambers before anymore words could be exchanged.
"I reinstate Itachi Uchiha as a Konoha ninja and citizen of the village." Tsunade declared shocking everyone. "Brat, how did you know it was there?" Tsunade asked.
"Gramps told me." Naruto said softly. "He said anything I want to find about the Uchiha massacre would be in there in that spot with a special seal only a Hokage could see preventing anyone else from seeing it." Naruto said.
"I don't want to be a ninja." Itachi said.
"What?" Homaru asked.
"You don't have to be." Naruto said patting his shoulder. "Can we go now? We have to do some things." Naruto said his head going down.
"Yes, you may go." Tsunade said.
The two jumped out the window not bothering to wait for the chaos that was sure to follow. They had something more important to do. They walked into the Uchiha house and both stopped at the doorway not wanting to go in.
They both held their breath as they walked into the living room where they knew his body was. They didn't want to be there no matter how strong the two were as ninja they were NOT strong emotionally. When they looked on the couch Sasuke wasn't there and they both freaked out until they felt Shikamaru in the Uchiha in the back by the Uchiha graveyard.
"Shikamaru," Naruto said softly.
"I just thought it would be easier if he was ready to go when you two got back." Shikamaru said as he made a pointed look to the coffin next to him.
"Thanks man," Naruto said softly tears coming to his eyes.
"I may not know what is going on between you two or understand how you feel about losing a teammate but you're my friend and this was the least I could do for you." Shikamaru said.
"Thank you," Naruto said going toward Shikamaru giving him a hug.
Shikamaru was shocked but didn't pull away. He cared for Naruto and knew if Choji died a part of him would too. Best friends in the ninja world meant a lot despite everything that could possibly happen on a mission. They were who you relied on the most to understand all your hardships. There was no need for therapy when you could talk to your friends about it.
Itachi couldn't keep watching the two hugging so he picked up the shovel for his brother's grave. He never once since the age of fourteen did he thinks he would have to bury his brother. Not once. It tore something in his heart and tears went down his face freely as he shoveled. He made sure not to make a noise as Naruto cried on Shikamaru who had tears in his eyes for Naruto. Not for his brother who was dead but for his friend that cried for a comrade and a friend. Honestly Itachi could understand why seeing as he knew his brother was an antisocial kid in general then ran away from the village. Of course he wouldn't have friends aside from the oddball Naruto.
"I'm done," Itachi whispered about the grave.
Naruto turned to Itachi seeing all the tears approaching Itachi and wiping the tears away from his face gently. Itachi didn't realize he leaned into the touch until Naruto initiated more contact by pulling him into a hug.
An hour later and they got Sasuke into the hole. The three ninja decided it would be best to use Naruto's shadow clones to put Sasuke down in the hole since they could disappear and no one had to be in the hole.
"I will give you two times alone. But before I go I wanted to say to Sasuke that I'm happy in the end that no matter where you were you cared enough for Naruto to protect him. I may not have been your friend or even understood you at all but I understand why you did what you did. May you rest in peace." Shikamaru said putting a rose in the hole and walking away leaving them two alone to say there piece.
"You're a bastard for leaving me behind. You left me behind when we were kids and you left me behind again. All I wanted was for us to be ninja together and we couldn't even do that." Naruto said tearing up. "As much as you think I didn't understand you I wanted you to know I did. I couldn't just leave you behind like everyone else. I needed you as much as you needed my reassurance to know when you came back I would be there. You were selfish... just leaving... the way you did. How could you... think I could live without you? Why? Why would you leave me behind? You bastard, I love you." Naruto crumbled crying and broken.
Itachi was by his side but Naruto pushed him away putting his rose in the hole and walking away so he could give Itachi some space to talk to his brother.
"I don't know why you did this. I don't even understand why you forgave me. A part of me wants to be selfish and be happy that you left Naruto with me but the other part of me wants to understand why you just left the little idiot with me. I feel like I failed everyone. I was meant to protect you and now I am burying you. The odd twist of fate in that one, isn't it?" Itachi said as tears welled up in his eyes. "Why is it that you felt it was necessary to die and leave me behind to pick up the pieces of me and your best friend? Why did you leave? Why did you choose to die instead of letting me protect you like the big brother should? I just don't want you to be gone and now you are." Itachi said crying putting his rose in the hole.
It was silent for awhile before he felt someone on his shoulder. He turned around to see Naruto and a few clones that started putting dirt in the hole for them because Naruto knew both wouldn't be able to handle it.
"You don't have to be strong for me. We can be strong for each other. If you need to lean on me then lean on me." Naruto said leaning on Itachi as they sat in front of the grave.
"I don't know what to do or where to start." Itachi whispered.
"I say I am in the same position because honestly my whole life was surrounded in bringing Sasuke back home and now he's gone. But I am sure Sasuke wants us to help each other." Naruto said.
"How can you be so sure?" Itachi asked looking toward Naruto.
"Because we both knew him enough to know that's why he made us make sure we promised to look after one another." Naruto said sadly.
Itachi nodded his head and leaned on Naruto. This was going to be hard and they both knew it but they were both sure of only one thing that they would be with each other through it all.
Reviews...
This is heartbreaking I never killed Sasuke off before because he is really one of my favorite characters along with Neji and I killed them both. But I know I will enjoy the story.
Next Chapter: Naruto's Gone