Okay guys, so here is my continuation of Avenger Hawk's Minato x Itachi fic, Acquiescence. Bear with me here! My writing style is different, but the point of view is consistent with the original work (meaning the OOC-ness too), and the smut abides to the way Avenger Hawk prefers it (see Author's Note on Acquiescence Chapter Seven). All of the warnings associated with the original are entirely relevant and applicable here as well. But I personally imagined Itachi to be several years older as I wrote this, so take it as you will. Anyway, enjoy and review! Reviews are writers' fodder!

Naruto is the property of Kishimoto Masashi, to whom all rights to the franchise belong.

Meadie out.

{Accord}

{Chapter One: Intrigue}

The Hokage struggled to determine why the return of his young Uchiha guard to his post irritated him so immensely, but eventually the blond came to the conclusion that the feeling stemmed from one of two equally unpleasant emotions: guilt or genuine concern. While neither was particularly dreadful when placed in comparison to the usual spectrum of human expression, he was displeased by the fact that they were surfacing under his current circumstances. It was inappropriate for a leader to portray weakness before his subordinates; but when feelings such as these were aroused by a subordinate, the blatant impropriety of the notion made Minato Namikaze highly uneasy.

"Itachi," the blond began, feigning composure as he addressed the slender, stoic figure standing at attention on the opposite side of his large desk fully outfitted for his duties, save for the porcelain Anbu mask that he clutched in his slender fingers. "I told you that you could have some time to recover from the Land of Rivers skirmish. I might have healed you some in the field, but that injury was significant." The youth's stoic countenance remained entirely unaltered at his words, and Minato could feel the desire to force one of the deliciously miniscule moans of pain and pleasure from between the Uchiha prodigy's lips rising in his gut. Shoving the arousal into the shadowy corners of his mind, into the pit where his own personal darkness lie, the Hokage swallowed dryly, regaining his frayed poise. "You have my permission to refrain from your duties and rest. Temporarily, of course," he added awkwardly, absently toying with a scroll on his desk like a bashful child.

"I respectfully decline, Hokage-sama," the raven-haired shinobi replied flatly, not a scrap of emotion tinting his voice. "It is the duty of a guard to protect his lord unconditionally, and it is especially ill-mannered to refrain from doing so after his master has salvaged his disposable life so graciously."

"I'm… what?" the elder shinobi stammered before quickly recollecting and repairing the shards of his professional façade.

Shit, he thought bitterly, what is this kid's deal? Usually, all I have to do to get what I want is to say it or pin him to… damn! No, Minato!

Sighing dramatically, he removed his Hokage's hat and dropped it unceremoniously on the desk, glaring death at the ridiculous article of clothing as if it was the source of all of his misfortune, irritation, and despair. He ruffled his hair and groaned, his odd behavior causing mild, nearly imperceptible confusion to glint in the depthless black of Itachi's inky eyes. "Very well," Minato resentfully conceded, assessing the younger man with a narrow cerulean glare, "You may return to your post. Dismissed."

"Hai, Hokage-sama. Osoreirimasu."

The blond leaned back in his tufted chair and rubbed the heels of his palms into his tired eyes, grumbling with frustration and exhaustion. It'll be fine this way. We'll just pretend that everything is normal. It'll be fine. I'll be fine. Though he chanted the mantra to himself for several minutes, his mind began to wander – wandering to the very thing that had been haunting him at night and denying him peace. His loneliness was suffocating, and though it was shameful and inappropriate, there was something oddly comforting in having a slight diversion from thoughts that drew nothing but pain and churned the vile depths of his long suppressed depravity. Something to draw his mind away from Kushina; from her sacrifice, her bravery, his pathetic inability to save her life. The people of Konoha treated him as a savior, a hero of the people, the infamous Yellow Flash of the Leaf, a man without weakness or flaw. But they were all dearly mistaken. How powerful is a man who was unable to protect that which lied so close to his heart? A heart that was once unsoiled by resentment and self-pity.

It was likely horridly disrespectful of his late wife – this distraction of his – but he willed her to understand, to grant him some sort of forgiveness from where ever she lie in wait for him beyond the grave. Convincing himself that she would exonerate him gave Minato the ability to quell his resentment towards her for leaving him behind. Maybe it was all a lie, a clever genjutsu cast against his own mind, preventing him from acknowledging that this illicit relationship which he had cultivated was in fact retribution directed specifically towards Kushina. Punishment for her selfish selflessness. Either way, the Fourth Hokage would not admit to one or the other. Though he would likely be inclined to offer contrition to the woman he loved, it was doubtful that he would ever apologize to Itachi, despite his gnawing guilt. It was a guard's duty to appease his master, after all. The Uchiha prodigy's loyalty was and would remain absolute, as he had far too much to protect and far too much to lose… Sasuke.

Again his mind drifted away, like a helpless leaf in a river, unable – or perhaps disinclined – to change its own destiny or assert free will. He was caught in the rapids of his own bitterness, and a waterfall loomed around a bend in the near distance, ready to cast him with careless violence into the darkest recesses of his heart, where the respectable man that he once was would be lost forever.

Itachi.

Thoughts of the guard's body beneath his own, compliant and cooperative, his every demand catered to with a lithe tongue and slender fingers and sweet whisperings of "Hai, Hokage-sama." Porcelain flesh that flushed deliciously with the slightest dusting of pink as he took the younger at his own remorseless discretion, the beautifully pure pallor laid in contrast to his own lightly tanned skin. Onyx hair sprawled across the rich mahogany floors of his office and lidded ebony eyes staring past him with distant softness, a well-practiced deception that served to fuel his desire exceptionally well.

Minato hummed contentedly as arousal heated his lap and his head fell back against his chair with a sigh. This is insane, he scolded himself, think of what he said about Sasuke. He… doesn't deserve this. He doesn't deserve to endure my selfishness just so that he can do what I was unable to. I can't drag him any further down with me. But….

The Hokage ground his hips lightly against his open palm, shuddering pleasantly before wading into the darkness of his own thoughts, his building resentment towards his own actions causing all of his anger and bitterness to tug at him teasingly. "Dammit!" he cursed loudly, slamming his fists on his desk and resting his forehead atop them, ignoring the papers that scattered and skittered across the floor.

Naturally, Itachi came barging into the room, an action that would be unforgivably rude under any other circumstances. "Hokage-sama? Is all well?"

This again. We've done this before, the elder shinobi recalled, the memory of their first physical interaction causing his annoyance and desire to surge forth more persistently.

"No! It is not!"

"Hokage… sama?"

"Itachi… come here," Minato commanded lowly, noticing as the Anbu lowered his gaze before complying obediently, taking even steps until he stood silently before his lord. The blond placed a strong hand on the back of the Uchiha's thigh, tugging him nearer and urging him to climb into his lap, knees on either side of the elder man's hips. "I said come here."

"Hai, Hokage-sama," he replied in a breathy, seductive voice, removing his mask and pressing his lips to Minato's gently. Though the Hokage pulled away to latch his teeth aggressively onto the guard's throat, Itachi never gave the slightest flinch, but the blond could feel him swallow dryly.

Why would I even bother to notice? Minato questioned himself bitterly. He's following orders, doing as I tell him exactly like we agreed. Did he think that something would be different this time? No, he's Anbu. He'd never be so presumptuous. Curious, he moved his mouth upwards along the younger man's jugular, feeling the throbbing of Itachi's artery beneath his lips. His pulse is pounding?

"No matter," the blond mumbled to himself.

"Hokage-sama?"

Dragging himself back to the present with a growl, Minato sprawled the Uchiha across his desk, staring down at him with a predatory smirk. He would take exactly what he wanted just as he had before, remorselessly savoring each miniscule moan and arch of his back as he tensed in pleasure and pain. The younger man was beautiful; his face symmetrical and blessed with an earthiness that countered the slightly feminine refinement of his features, his body thin and lithe with sinewy muscle, his entire being woven from the colors of the night. It was no wonder that he was so tempting – he stood with feigned humility on the threshold of perfection. And the Hokage wanted him. Wanted to take him, to smugly gaze down with pride at the bruised and bitten figure as he lay open and willing beneath him, the ultimate exhibition of his own superiority and the product of his sadistic satisfaction.

Itachi would endure his ministrations and deceptively reciprocate his lord's desire with well-practiced effectiveness, though his pleasure was likely no more than farce. Minato knew that the young Anbu was performing exactly as he had been trained so rigorously to, just as he knew that such training did not likely require him to prepare for scenarios like this one. Situations where he would be forced to comply with the vile wishes of his own master under the threat of expulsion from his post and humiliation as the next leader of such a proud clan. Still, the Uchiha prodigy was, in the most basic terms, nothing more than a glorified assassin; and as such his skills in deception and adaptability were finely honed and flawlessly executed.

As the blond's hand clutched the hem of Itachi's shirt in preparation of tearing it mercilessly from his slender body, he felt his grasp hesitate inexplicably, his grip loosening slightly. Though Minato had convinced himself that all was well and that nothing had changed after their fairly intimate discussion after the confrontation in the Land of Rivers, something managed to still his actions; a glittering fragment of truth that he had dulled and willed to the back of his mind. Now he knew. Knew why – or rather, for whom – the Uchiha had agreed to his wished so obediently.

Sasuke. He's trying to protect his brother at the price of his pride and body. He's doing what I was too weak to do. He's… a better man than me. Selfless.

The blond sighed and released the ebony-haired man beneath him, who merely stared at him with dark, emotionless eyes that betrayed nothing. Flustered, Minato trailed his thumb over Itachi's lips before turning away and moving to the window so as to glare at nothing in particular, rubbing his temples and ruffling his own hair. "You are dismissed."

"Hokage-sama? Have I not performed to your expectations?"

"Performed", the elder shinobi thought bitterly, struggling to keep his back to the other man as he listened to him climbing from the desk with uncertainty and straightening his uniform.

"No. You performed… perfectly," he replied to Itachi's inquiry, the final word feeling awkward and strained as it hovered on his tongue.

"Lord Fourth, may I satisfy you in another way?"

"No, just go. You are dismissed."

"Hokage-sama…."

"Get out!" Minato shouted angrily as he glared over his shoulder, witnessing perhaps the first flicker of genuine emotion to cross the guard's features while in his presence – a nearly imperceptible furrowing of his brows in shock and confusion that was promptly erased.

Itachi gave a shallow bow of respect and apology before slipping silently out of the office. "Hai, Hokage-sama. Moushiwake arimasen."

The door clicked quietly closed, and the blond sighed heavily with a groan, his proud, formal posture wilting as he slumped back into his chair. Still, a small but satisfied grin tugged at his lips as he recalled the momentary surprise that flashed over the raven-haired man's features, the minor mistake delicious and tempting in its unfamiliarity.

The porcelain doll cracked, hmm? Interesting.

Okay, quick note, guys. I'm not sure how long this is going to be, so I'm just going to roll with it for the time being. Also, I know this chapter is a bit short in comparison to my other stuff, but ya know, whatever. Thanks for the read, and please review!

Meadie out. (again)