((Description: Itachi chose to hide his part in the Massacre and stay in Konoha. He couldn't abandon Sasuke after everything that happened. But Itachi still has enemies, and truth is often revealed in the worst of ways.
Hello everyone! This is the beginning of a very long and detailed fanfiction project that explores what might have happened if Itachi didn't join the Akatsuki. This story is an AU in other ways as well, however, and as such there will be several other deviations from canon. Now and then, some characters might be a little OOC, since the story will explore how they would behave under different circumstances than in the anime.
With any luck, this story will also have two sequels. As a side note, future chapters will generally be much longer than this prologue.
I do not own Naruto and its characters.
Enjoy!))
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Prologue:
Light bled harshly from the fluorescent ceiling lights, making the Hokage office sickeningly bright. Silence descended as Itachi concluded his report of the night's events. Hiruzen took a long, thoughtful draw from his pipe as he observed the boy. A carefully blank expression masked the child's face as he waited in the placid manner he was taught, ever the picture of perfect professionalism.
Inwardly, Hiruzen sighed wearily. Itachi found a way to stay. That was a good thing, considering the boy's ability, and as Hokage, Hiruzen couldn't help but feel the sorrowful weight of Itachi's future as if it was his own, but -
Homura and Koharu erupted into a fit of angry, barely restrained whispers.
Hiruzen hid his sigh by exhaling a long plume of smoke as he waited for his two councilors and former teammates to calm down. Apparently, one dereliction from the normally compliant Uchiha Itachi was all it took to send these 'elite' ninja into a tailspin. If it weren't for the dark nature of this meeting, they would probably yell loud enough for the rest of the Hokage Tower to hear.
Under less tragic circumstances, Hiruzen would have been amused, or at least spared his former teammates a disappointed headshake. Getting so riled up showed desperation and undermined their power, especially since they were agitated by a teen that didn't seem even remotely shaken by their accusations.
A quick glance to the right showed that Danzo wasn't so enraged. In fact, his lips quirked slightly upward, smirking like a smug cat ready to pounce. That was...good and bad. If this turn of events pleased Danzo, he wouldn't halt Itachi's new plan, but that wouldn't keep him from inadvertently mutilating Itachi's life in favor of his own goals. Reading Danzo's mood was easy, but unraveling his machinations was not.
Koharu and Homura were a little simpler. At the very least it was obvious that Itachi's report practically threw an exploding tag at their plans. Otherwise, they wouldn't be going off the rails right now. Normally, they were far more reserved.
Itachi didn't even flinch when their ire erupted. Occasionally, his focus strayed distractedly about the room before resettling on the angry elders. Hiruzen knew Itachi well enough to pick up on this slight inattentiveness, but that only showed how calm the boy was. He clearly expected the elders' reaction and was already resigned to the fallout.
By now, he likely knew what needed to be done and was determined to get it over with no matter how soul shattering it might be. That was probably what allowed the child to shut down his emotions and slaughter his family hours ago.
In either case, Homura and Koharu's verbal flailing lasted long enough. Their anger was an attempt to regain control, but nothing could reverse tonight's course. The Inuzukas were already told the version of the Massacre that would allow Itachi to remain, and the boy already burned his bridges with the Akatsuki. The only recourse was to ensure the situation unfolded in the most constructive way possible.
Besides, up 'til now the boy deviated very little from the Council's orders and lost everything in the process. Itachi deserved to have something go his way, so long as it didn't harm the village.
There was a lull in his Councilors' tirade as they paused for breath, and Hiruzen took that moment to clear his throat and reclaim order.
Koharu and Homura closed their mouths before they could continue their rant, reluctantly staying silent.
Hiruzen calmly leaned back, his chair creaking lightly. "Itachi kun, please explain your reasoning."
The teen glanced up and nodded, staying silent for a brief moment before opening his mouth. "When I first received your orders, there was no one to pin the Massacre on but myself. In the next couple days, however, I noticed a strange presence lurking around the Uchiha Compound. It came from a strange sharingan wielder that claimed to be Madara, leader of Akatsuki and one of Konoha's founders. He agreed to help me commit the Massacre so long as I joined Akatsuki afterward." Itachi took a small, quiet breath.
Homura tensed, and the scowl lines on Koharu's face deepened. They were still livid, waiting for a way to drag Itachi down.
Hopefully the boy's next words would prevent that. "During the Massacre, I realized it would be best to stay here and place the blame on this rogue ninja for two reasons. Firstly, after losing the majority of a key clan like the Uchiha, Konoha would benefit from keeping the survivors in the village as a display of strength. Secondly, the original plan would have caused more fear and unrest within the village. The civilians in particular would've panicked at the idea of a ninja with my rank slaughtering so many without provocation. The unrest would've been difficult to stabilize. If, however, I am labeled a survivor instead of a clan killer, the villagers' energies can be united and directed completely toward the outside threat this 'Madara' poses."
A contemplative hum escaped Hiruzen's lips. Dealing with a random rogue would certainly be less political than handling a Konoha born clan killer, though it may be imprudent to reveal the rogue's claimed identity to the public.
"If you took responsibility for the Massacre and left, you would have then become the outside threat needed to unite the villagers' energy," Koharu replied reproachfully.
That comment deserved a frown. A lifetime of knowing her clarified her intentions on this matter far too easily. Koharu apparently thought it easier to have Itachi gone labeled a missing nin and unable to directly interfere in Uchiha matters. If the Council found the boy too problematic, he could be hunted down and killed under the guise of due process.
Continuing his Konoha citizenship would make disposing of him far harder. Even worse for the elders, Itachi knew secrets that could be used as blackmail, though that would stand regardless of where he lived. He was only thirteen, but still skilled enough to influence his future. He wasn't a naive, malleable pawn like Sasuke would be, and apparently, that's what mattered to Koharu.
Thankfully, Itachi found a chance to remain close and shield Sasuke from the Council's worst wiles.
"That would still sow mistrust among the civilians. How can they trust us to protect them if they know the heir of one of our most powerful shinobi clans killed his own family?" Hiruzen asked.
Homura scoffed at that. "Don't forget that following Itachi kun's plan means admitting to fatal security holes. That'll lead to doubt from the civilian sector and invite enemies to sniff around our borders for weaknesses."
Itachi met his gaze, and Hiruzen let his expression shift into a tiny smile that said 'Don't worry, I'll handle this from here.'
"The other nations know that ninja villages patch security holes quickly. If we appear united, they'll see that we're ready to counter any threat. Itachi kun is right to think showing internal unrest is far more dangerous, and regardless, do you have any better ideas?" Hiruzen countered firmly.
Narrowed eyes and silence was the only reply.
A small chuckle escaped Hiruzen's mouth. "Besides, wouldn't it be wise to have the best remaining sharingan user in the village to train Sasuke kun?"
"Hm."
That amused sound came from Danzo. Evidence that this situation did cater to his wretched plans.
Homura didn't bother responding, and Koharu narrowed her eyes and glowered at Itachi. "We still expect you to hunt down the Uchiha that are out on missions."
The boy dipped his head slightly. "Of course."
Not much else could be sorted out tonight. "Is there anything left to discuss?"
No response. "Then this meeting is adjourned. Itachi kun, you're dismissed."
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((Thanks for reading! Please leave a review to tell me what you think. Reviews motivate me and give me an idea of how to improve.))