Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or any of its characters.
Of Guilt and Birthday Cake
"Happy birthday, Itachi-san!" Kisame said with a grin, slapping Itachi on the back.
"You're eighteen, yeah! Now you can buy porn!"
"And you can vote!" added Tobi enthusiastically.
Hidan smacked Tobi across the back of the head. "You idiot, Rain doesn't have a democracy! Do you think if they did, anyone would actually choose that dumbass Pain as their leader?"
"Actually, I think quite a lot of people would," said a quiet voice from the doorway. Everyone looked up to see Konan giving Hidan a rather dangerous look. Wisely, they all scurried out of the room--except for Itachi, who remained seated.
Konan calmly walked over to the table and sat down across from Itachi. She pointed to the sodden, disgusting-looking lump that sat on the table before him. "I take it this used to be a cake?"
Itachi nodded. He was staring morosely at the destroyed confection, not even looking up at Konan.
"And I'm also guessing that Tobi-san's the one who baked it?"
Another nod.
"Let me see if I can figure out what happened here. Tobi-san tried to light the candles with a fire jutsu, which of course set the whole cake on fire, and Kisame had to extinguish it with a water jutsu."
"That's about right."
"You seem rather...subdued...for a young man celebrating such an important day. Something tells me it isn't just the disaster with the cake making you brood like this."
For a few moments, Itachi gave no response. Then, in a quiet monotone, he said, "In my clan, the eighteenth birthday of the clan heir was particularly special. It was the day he became fully qualified to lead the clan should anything happen to the current head. It was also often the day he married, having been betrothed to a cousin several years before." As he spoke, Itachi brushed his fingers over the necklace he always wore.
Konan sighed, then began gathering up the remains of the cake. "You shouldn't blame Tobi-san too much for this. He was only trying to make you happy. I believe that the old saying, 'It's the thought that counts,' is often true. Noble intentions should be taken into account when judging a person. Even if something is destroyed, others should be aware that you were trying to come to their aid, and not judge you too harshly." She glanced at Itachi, looking him fully in the eyes as so few dared to do. "Nor should you judge yourself so."
Konan turned away then, unceremoniously depositing Tobi's cake in the trash bin. As a result, she didn't see Itachi's small, tentative smile.
A/N: Why is it that I never got any inspiration for Itachi-centric stories when he was alive, and now that he's dead I can't stop writing about him?