If
„Have you ever wondered, Itachi-san, what your life could have been like?"
This was one of Kisame's unnecessary questions and comments he usually made, more rarely when on a mission and more often when they had nothing particular to do. He usually did not mean them seriously, like, probably, this one.
Itachi wondered, although not interested too much.
If he had remained in Konoha after he killed his parents, he would have ended in prison. He would sit there now motionless, probably wondering about what ifs just like now.
If he had not killed his parents, he would now stand in the middle of a clearing, wearing green, watching his pupils train, wondering about what ifs.
"It's like this. No other way." he mumbled under the collar of his dark coat.
They stood in silence for a while, watching the outlines of the town lying below the rock they stood on, their senses feeling the streets after the Ninetail's chakra.
Kisame stirred.
"Y'know, if I remained in Mist village, the shinobis could have gathered again secretly. I had never have to hide and seek some other organization to work for."
"So why does that option sound so nice for you?"
"It doesn't; I was just wondering." Kisame apologized while they started to walk down the road leading to the village. "It's just interesting how you'd be somewhere else, work with different people, had you made one of your tiniest decisions otherwise."
"I wouldn't have decided otherwise." Itachi pointed out.
Well if you had done so… I would work with someone else today. Then, I might fight against you today and think of strategies how to defeat you. My partner would not comment unnecessarily because no one is as familiar with fear as you, so I was able to scare them to death if they talked too much. I would wonder if there is anyone who is not busy with licking their own wounds only. I would never believe that there is someone who has no such needs and is occupied with my personal pride, laughing at it inside.
I know if your eyes wouldn't be so stiff, they would laugh at my silent stubbornness when you bend to it and pretend you take me seriously. They would betray you and I had a reason to take revenge for it. Maybe I would not have the courage to do so, though, because that would only damage my own pride, too. Yours is untouchable. Your merry calmness remains forever. Even if you'll be slowly torn to peaces, you'll die with a grin on your face. I know.
This might be why you became my partner. Everyone is averse from your looks, and in exchange, you can endure more than everyone. You have a brutal power I don't; and I carry the world's strongest magic in my eyes. Together, and only together are we undefeatable.
It would be a waste if we had to fight against each other. Maybe I would be glad that I can measure my powers again, but I would think of the what if; that we could do good together, because our powers match well.
And I would not know just how well our characters match.
"You seem lost in your thoughts."
This was one of Kisame's unnecessary comments he made more often when they had nothing particular to do.
Broad hats pulled into their eyes, they walked into the crowd bustling in the main street. Itachi was still wondering what would have happened if the previous train of his thoughts were said out loud, or if Kisame could read them.
He would probably grin and be clever enough not to comment.
"Shall we go look for the boy before he escapes the village?" Kisame asked.
"No. I'm hungry."
After all, decisions often benefit the most if done wrong.