Title: Leaves of Konoha; Itachi Uchiha

Fandom: Naruto

Rating: PG for now, M later, I am sure.

Warnings: Violence, angst

Note: I know I should be updating other things, but I wrote this a while ago, and it's preying on me. What do you think?

Summary: The shinobi of Konoha are like the leaves of a tree, and this is a glimpse of one falling leaf.

Leaves of Konoha

Itachi Uchiha

Sasuke's return to Konoha was something out of a fantastic dream. Instead of being hailed at the returning prodigal son, one of his few deep dark secret dreams, he was labeled as little better than a traitor of the rankest sort. Not that Sasuke had ever expected to return to the birthplace at all, seeing as he had not expected to survive the last battle with his brother.

But life had a funny way of not turning out at all like he expected.

First and foremost, he certainly did not expect to return with his brother beside him, nor did he expect to find said brother was not the boogeyman of his wildest nightmares either.

Unlike Sasuke, Itachi Uchiha returned to Konoha in triumph, the true prodigal son. Returning that day, seeming as if invading Konoha was paramount on his mind, Sasuke had already been in contact with his estranged brother, and had learned the truth behind that terrible day so long ago. Itachi, unlike himself, had been a hero, pretending to murder his clan, when it really had been an execution, ordered by the corrupt council, of an even more corrupt bloodline. Itachi himself had done the mission, and that day had seen the last of warmth in the young man.

But now, deep laid and years old plots had been rent asunder, the council had been replaced by more honest folk, and Itachi had been allowed to return to his homeland. The older, or rather, now oldest Uchiha had always been quiet and reserved, but now it was as if Itachi was barely alive. He'd done what he'd been ordered to do. And while inside he'd agreed with the necessity of said mission, it had almost killed him. Knowing your father and his kinsmen were corrupt, and executing them, were fathoms apart.

The slaying of his mother had been the last straw. He'd not meant to kill her. She wasn't supposed to die at all. She was supposed to go with the others; the lesser clansfolk, innocent of wrongdoing and treachery, and all the children; to other lands, far away from Konoha. But at the last moment, she'd stepped in the way, and took the blow meant for her husband. An Uchiha to the core, from one of the lesser clansmembers, Mikoto became the epitome of what, in the Uchiha clan, was a main member. She'd known what was going on, and had been helpless to stop it. Like the Hyuuga's they were distantly related to, the Uchiha clan was still locked in the dark ages; women were basically chattel, and had no power, no sway within the family.

Mikoto was the reason that Itachi had not been subverted so long ago, when his father had deemed him old enough and had let him in on the plans that had been generations in the making; the overthrow of the Konohan council, and the wresting control of all Fire Country from the Daimyo. Horrified, he'd gone to the council, and had received his fateful mission; destroy the Uchiha Clan.

Though Mikoto had been unable to save Itachi, she'd learned her lessons well. Sasuke never knew that the reason the youngest Uchiha had never seemed good enough for Fugaku; Mikoto's ceaseless whisperings in her husband's ears, both awake and asleep. Mikoto was not going to stand by and watch the Clan turn yet another innocent soul into a mindless, treacherous killing machine.

Despite everything, Mikoto had been burned to her very core by the machinations of her family. Having been warned by Itachi, she was supposed to have taken Sasuke away and boarded the river boats for lesser Fire towns. But she hadn't. Deeming Sasuke to be kept away, a mistake that would cost both Sasuke and Itachi much, she had stayed.

Born, bred and wed an Uchiha, Mikoto had her share of family pride. And knowing her own father, though a lesser clansman, was deep in Fugaku and Madara's machinations, caused her to decide that the shame of what she knew would eventually come out was too much to live with. She'd stepped in front of Itachi's blade, meant for Fugaku, at the last moment, and had received a mortal wound. In turn, she'd struck down her own husband, her nemesis, and had smiled coldly, even as she stood dying, at the surprise and betrayal in her husband's cold and severe eyes.

Next she knew, she was lying in Itachi's arms, and her son was weeping silently, cradling his mother tenderly.

"Why?"

"I am an Uchiha," was her simple and faint response. "I knew… and did nothing. I… am guilty too."

"No, Mama-san," Itachi had moaned brokenly.

Mikoto had smiled weakly, her vision darkening. Itachi hadn't called her that in years.

"Protect… your brother…" Mikoto had whispered hoarsely. The end was very close for her. "He… He will not… understand. Protect him…"

She coughed, blood staining her lips. "Forgive me, my son…" she went on feebly, her words growing farther and farther apart as she weakened. "I… love…"

And Mikoto Uchiha was dead.

The door two her bedroom flew open, and young Sasuke looked on with uncomprehending eyes.

And Itachi, cold and cool Itachi, had panicked. Sasuke wasn't supposed to be a part of this final Uchihan ugliness. He was supposed to be far away. But he was here, now, and Itachi couldn't let things go any father.

Tomoes began to spin in blood red eyes, and he activated the Mangekan Sharingan. And the rest was history.

Contrary to popular belief, Itachi did not gain the ultimate sharingan by the murder of his best friend. Shuishui had been slain by Fugaku. Too emotional, too high strung, Fugaku had deemed the boy a liability, and had taken him out. No. Itachi had received the skill only moments before; when he killed his mother, his most cherished, most precious person.

Itachi had meant to make his brother forget what he'd seen. But Sasuke's mind was too strong. He fought his brother, not understanding what was going on. Thus, it couldn't be helped. Part of Itachi's mission was to let everyone believe he'd gone mad with the lust for power, slain his family, and left to find even more power. He was supposed to find Madara, join the organization, and kill his ancestor.

Sasuke had seen; so Itachi furthered his mission; made his brother think he'd killed their family simply on a whim; made him believe he'd gotten his Mangekou by killing his best friend and cousin. And left in his brother the only thing he could; the determination to be strong, and good, to follow the right path. To avenge. Later, hopefully, he would be able to explain, to put things right.

And he had.

But, despite Sasuke's strength of mind, the boy was willful. And had completely undone all that Itachi had sought to do. He'd chosen the darker path. He'd become what he thought his brother was thought to be; a missing nin.

When they finally crossed paths again, not more than a year after Sasuke's defection, Itachi had almost killed him outright. Sasuke had become corrupt, by the lust for power, by darkness, caught up in a web of deceit, drugs and sex. After all, the stupid boy had allied himself with Orochimaru of all people. Sasuke, in Itachi's eyes, had almost become all that their father and ancestor had been. For different reasons, of course, but still…

However, he'd stayed his hand long enough to explain, and to receive Sasuke's explanation in return.

The reunion of the Uchiha brothers was sadly not what Itachi had hoped for. His beloved little brother; whom in childhood had such warm and earnest eyes; was little more than the Snake Sannin's whore. Sasuke had thrown away everything Itachi had ever held dear to kill his own brother.

There was a difference between avenging and taking vengeance. Sasuke had chosen the darker path, the darker emotion. And had become all that Itachi abhorred.

Upon learning everything his brother had to reveal, Sasuke was understandably appalled. And filled with shame.

Itachi, the supposed betrayer of Konoha and the murderer of his entire clan, had held true to his ideals. Despite all he went through, and put up with in the Akatsuki, Itachi stayed true. Stained beyond redemption, yet still good.

And Sasuke; in the name of his family, had strayed far down evil's path. He'd lied, stolen, whored himself out, imbibed in dubious substances to find inner strength, almost killed his best friend on numerous occasions, and had betrayed that which Itachi had left reluctantly; home and hearth.

To say that Itachi was disappointed in his brother was a gross understatement.

But life goes on, despite shame, despite grief, despite what ifs and whyfores. The sun still rises and sets, children are born, people die, and the cycle continues endlessly, with little regard to tender emotions.

and fixed up a small abode at the edge of the Uchiha district.

The Uchiha district had been left to rot, and tumble down in the ensuing years since the 'massacre' and even more so since Sasuke's defection. The very first thing Itachi did upon returning to Konoha and receiving his unconditional pardon and commendation for meritorious service, was to retire, returning his headband, scarred from his missions, to Lady Tsunade, the Hokage. After salvaging what was locked away in the vaults, Itachi burned the main house to smoking embers, and then he'd found this snug little cottage, one of the lesser clansmember's houses, and taken up residence. Sasuke had a similar one on the other side of the district. The main house was left filled with burnt timbers, cracked stone, and muddy ashes.

Itachi resigned himself to a very quite life, puttering in the garden, playing the small piano his mother had loved so much, and try his hand at painting. Scarred deep in his soul by his long term secret mission, Itachi asked no more of life than he now held.

And in an obscure way, he was content.

AN: I have no clue where this is going… forgive me?