The moment Itachi was told about Sasuke and Shisui's death would forever haunt him. He had been at the river, filling buckets with water when he heard the gallop of horses approach. Itachi set down his bucket and looked up as the first horse crested over the hill. A silver haired man sat upon it and when he spotted Itachi he halted the horse and the men behind him did the same.
"OI!" The man called out. "You! Are you Itachi!" He shouted, leaping from his horse and walking towards the Uchiha who brushed sweaty bangs from his face.
"Yes?" Itachi questioned. The silver haired man pulled an envelope from his sleeve and held it out.
"This came for you." Itachi reached forward and took the note from the loud man. Once Itachi had it, the man turned on his heel to address his men.
"Come asses. We ride!"
Itachi did not spare them a glance as he opened the letter in excitement. It had to be another letter from Shisui…but the hand writing was different…perhaps Sasuke had finally written to him! He tore the envelope away and opened the note, lips curving into a small hopeful smile.
The note slipped from numb fingers and tumbled through the air, gracefully drifting side to side before coming to a stop on the rocks at Itachi's feet. The words hastily written across the paper stared back accusingly. He should not have let them go. He should have stopped them...
Dead.
His brother...his little brother was dead...and Shisui...his sweet love was gone. There was no pain like it. Itachi's heart died that day.
"Five years later, the main square of Florin City was filled as never before to hear the announcement of the great Prince's bride-to-be."
"Isn't it husband?" Naruto suddenly spoke up and Grandpa Sarutobi started.
"What?"
"Husband. Itachi ain't a chick." Naruto quickly prompted. Sarutobi sighed softly.
"Now don't be throwing around such judgement." He said sadly and Naruto stared.
"I didn't-" The boy began desperately.
"Didn't your father always teach you to be accepting of people?" Grandpa Sarutobi cut the blonde off and Naruto gaped.
"Yes, but-"
"Shame on you. Now hush." Grandpa Sarutobi looked back at the book.
"But-"
"Hush."
"...Fine."
Murmured voices were heard through the square. Above them stood a severe looking man wearing a lavish overcoat. He silently watched the bustling crowd, dark eyes moving around from person to person. Finally, he stepped forward and cleared his throat.
"My people," The prince's voice cut easily through the noise and the crowd quickly quieted down. The prince slowly smiled. "A month from now, our country will have its 500th anniversary. On that sundown, I shall marry a man who was once a commoner like yourselves. But perhaps you will not find him common now. Would you like to meet him?
"Yes!" The crowd shouted back.
"My people, I would like to introduce you to the Prince Itachi." The Prince held out his hand and heads turned as the large palace doors opened and a silhouette stepped from the shadows. A young man stepped out. He was dressed in an intricate long white cloak that flowed behind him. Long dark hair spilled down the man's back and a crown rested upon his head.
"Itachi's emptiness consumed him. Although the law of the land gave the Prince the right to choose his bride, she did not love him."
Itachi looked at the crowd, noting the stares he was receiving. He looked around silently, face showing no hint of emotion. His eyes traveled up past the crowd and to the balcony where his fiancé stood. Their eyes met and the crown Prince smiled at Itachi. The smile did not reach his eyes, which remained disconnected and cold.
Itachi's fiancé was an avid hunter. He lived for the thrill of the chase. Nothing pleased the Prince more than an afternoon tracking down a pray. There was no other hunter in all the land...and perhaps in the world that could hunt like the Prince could. When he set his sights upon a target, there was no hope for escape. His eyes had eventually set on Itachi. The Prince knew he could have no heirs after a hunting accident years before, but that did not mean he could not marry. The Prince wanted to marry someone beautiful. Someone who would turn heads and make people impressed with his ability to get someone so flawless. So one day, he set out his right hand man to find that particular someone. Male or female, it did not matter. Then Itachi was found. He was not approached straight away. Instead the Prince was alerted of the beautiful man's existence and of course the Prince had to see for himself.
The young man had been on his farm, tending to his horse when the Prince and his entourage approached. Itachi's hair was ragged and his hands dirty, but the Prince was instantly mesmerized by Itachi's beauty. All that he needed was a good cleaning. The conversation had not gone over too well. The prince had stated his intention without preamble and Itachi had stared at him in detached bewilderment.
"But I do not love you." Were his first words and the Prince nearly scoffed at this.
"Who said anything about love." He replied and Itachi shook his head.
"I do not want to."
"Your Prince commands it." The Prince retorted coldly and at this the first sparks of emotion entered Itachi's dark eyes.
"You can't simply force yourself upon people." Itachi argued and the Prince barked out a cruel laugh before lazily glancing around the farm. His lip curled in disgust.
"You will find, my dear that I very much can. Now come. You have no means on income, your farm is in a state of decay and your precious animals are surely suffering in this condition." The Prince was quick to argue and Itachi looked around his farm. With only him there, it left him with a heavy workload and his income had drastically reduced. He knew he could not live like this and honestly, he didn't even care. Let whatever happens happen. Even if that meant his death. But the livestock...his horses...surely they need not suffer starvation. All the work that Shisui and Sasuke had put into raising them would all be for nothing. There was noting for Itachi here anymore. He wanted nothing from life.
But it did not matter. Nothing really mattered to Itachi anymore. He closed his eyes, feeling the Prince staring at him. Could he do this? Marry someone when his heart belonged to another? Finally, Itachi opened his eyes and looked to the Prince who was still watching him expectantly.
"I will never love you." He warned the elder who looked unconcerned with this.
"That's fine." The Prince shrugged, holding out his hand to Itachi. Itachi slowly...reluctantly reached forward and rested his hand upon the Prince's. The Prince smiled. The Prince had spotted Itachi as his newest prey and he hunted him down.
Itachi's heart did not matter.
Not anymore.
The Prince Danzo always got what he wanted.