Itachi almost fainted from shock. "K-Kill them?" he whispered, almost falling out of his seat with shock. "A-All of them?"
Madara nodded, calm as if he was ordering dinner. "That is correct, Itachi. I want you to stop the Uchiha clan from taking over Konoha by killing your entire family. Think carefully about this decision, Itachi, as I will not allow you to turn back once you give me your answer."
Itachi slowly bowed his head, biting his lower lip in anxiety. Why him? Why did he have to be the one…? Couldn't Madara have picked someone else? Someone, anyone-! Why Itachi? But deep down, Itachi knew he was the perfect choice. He was probably the most powerful in the clan, and he was in a good position to kill them all. No one would suspect him of being the one…
Itachi could hear the sounds of Madara getting to his feet, but still did not raise his head. He couldn't bear to look Madara in the eye right now. Madara walked over to him, stopping barely a hair's breadth from Itachi's bowed head. One hand gently came to rest under Itachi's chin, and Madara tipped Itachi's face up to his. "Think about it," he whispered, "And give me your answer next time we meet."
Itachi's teeth grit in concentration, and his eyes squeezed shut. He yanked his head away from Madara, looking down and away as he made his decision. Deep down, he knew he had to do it. It was the only way to stop a world-wide shinobi war…he just couldn't believe it had come to this. Itachi could hear Madara's footsteps tracking away from him, and knew that it was now or never.
"Wait."
Madara paused at the entryway to the cave, and half-turned to listen to Itachi. "Have you made your decision already?" he asked, trying to sound mildly surprised. But he knew he shouldn't be: Itachi was easy to read, and his desire to serve his village was his both strongest point, and his weakest point.
"I'll do it."
OOOOOOOOOO
Three days later, Madara stood on the wall of the village's border, watching the near-by Uchiha clan complex. He could see and hear the commotion: Itachi was raising quite a fuss. But, soon enough, it was still again, and Madara could see Itachi leaving the complex. He smirked, and withdrew into the shadows again. Itachi was so easy to manipulate: so innocent, so disgustingly sweet, especially towards his brother…Madara hoped Itachi had killed him, as well. While the little whelp showed great promise, he would probably never be able to tap that promise. Madara walked back along the wall, jumping down just before the gates and slipping into the forest to meet up with Itachi. He had instructed Itachi simply to flee the village as quickly as possible, walk for five minutes, and then wait for him. Madara had promised he would find him. And find him, he did! Madara found Itachi easily; the teen hadn't bothered to hide himself. He had simply collapsed on the ground, arms wrapped around his middle, looking sick. He was covered in blood, his hair matted with it and his skin covered in it. His ANBU uniform was soaked in blood, and his Sharingan was still spinning wildly. Madara approached with caution: Itachi looked crazy, and he didn't want to be on the receiving end of the teen's misplaced fear, aggression, and confusion. "Itachi?" Madara whispered. Itachi was on his knees, doubled over, seemingly in pain. All of a sudden, the teen leaned over even further, and a horrible retching noise issued from his throat. Madara held back for a moment as Itachi vomited horribly onto the grass, waiting until he was done to try to approach Itachi again. Madara knelt down next to Itachi, producing a towel from inside his long, thick cloak and beginning to wipe the blood off Itachi's face. Red tears fell to the ground, colored by the blood splattered on Itachi's face. Madara wrapped his other arm around Itachi's shoulders, and caught, in the ear that was turned, the smallest of whimpers from Itachi's throat. Madara hushed him gently, wiping the blood off of Itachi where he could. "Come on," he said gently, "Let's go. We need to get you cleaned up…"
Itachi nodded, and tried to wipe the tears off his face with the back of his hand. "I'm sorry," he whispered, but Madara hushed him again, this time by gently placing his hand over Itachi's mouth.
"Stop," he said firmly. "You were wonderful, my dear. You did everything I asked you to do, and did it perfectly. Now, hush. Come with me, and I'll get you cleaned up." Madara took Itachi to their waterfall sanctuary, guiding him deep into the room and showing him to a small bathroom. "Take a shower," he instructed. "I'll get you some clean clothes." Itachi only nodded, silent at this point, and walked into the bathroom, softly closing the door behind him. Madara then set about searching for something for Itachi to wear. He kept extra clothes around, but he wasn't sure if he had anything that would fit Itachi. The boy was so slender, and so small! Especially compared to Madara…sighing, Madara dug down into the closet, finally coming up with a small kimono. It would be a little big for Itachi, but it would work. And just in the nick of time; Madara heard the water shut off, and walked over to the bathroom, softly knocking on the door. "Itachi, I'm coming in," he warned, and slowly opened the door. Itachi had wrapped a towel around his waist and was now standing in front of the mirror, absently combing his hair. Madara handed him the kimono, and also a pair of boxers he had found that would fit Itachi. The teen accepted them without a word, and Madara decided to simply leave him alone at that point. Itachi would come to him when he was ready, and when he wanted to. Madara knew that crowding Itachi wouldn't help anybody. Madara, instead, lay down on the couch, picked up a book, and started to read. It was a novel he had been trying to finish for ages.
"Madara-sama?"
And, apparently, the end wasn't any closer in sight. After only three pages, Itachi came out of the bathroom, looking perfect, as always. His hair was back, neatly combed and tied into its usual ponytail. His skin was clean again, and now, the pale white Itachi normally appeared in was once again displayed. Damn, he was so pale…! He seemed to reflect a bit of the sparse light within the cave. Madara found himself experiencing a feeling he hadn't experienced in ages: lust. He wanted Itachi all of a sudden, and wanted him badly! Still, the Uchiha fisted down his desire. It wasn't right…Itachi was too young, and blood related to him. Well, maybe not…Madara wasn't sure if Itachi was directly related, or not, but if he was only related because of marriage, then Madara had no problems-
"Madara-sama!"
Itachi looked ready to break down. Madara stood up quickly, hurrying over to Itachi and taking the teen in his arms. Itachi wrapped his arms around his neck, leaning into his master and burying his face in Madara's shoulder. "Don't hate me," Itachi whispered. His voice was so soft, so broken, that Madara barely heard it. But it was there, and it almost pained Madara to hear the child in such distress. Yes, Itachi was still a child…innocence at heart, really, and child-like in his trust of Madara. Madara put his arm around Itachi's shoulders, and the other reached up to stroke the younger Uchiha's hair.
"Darling, how could I ever hate you?" Madara whispered, placing a soft, comforting kiss on the top of Itachi's head. "You have never wronged me, nor have you disobeyed me. Why would I ever hate you?"
Itachi let out a choked sob, but brought up the courage to say, "Because everyone else will."
Madara gave a soft, gentle sigh and pulled Itachi closer. "It's alright," he murmured. "Don't worry about it. I could never hate you, no matter what you did. You have nothing to be afraid of."
Itachi shuddered, but clung to Madara all the same. The elder Uchiha couldn't help but smirk over the child's head: he had Itachi right where he wanted him. Upset, confused, lost, betrayed, whimpering with fear and terror…Madara could now manipulate Itachi any which way he wanted, because all Itachi wanted was someone to cling to. Someone to comfort him, someone just to be there as a shoulder to cry on…and Madara loved it. Right now, Itachi was so utterly vulnerable…he wanted only for Madara to hold him, and nothing else.
Madara gently guided Itachi over to the couch, carefully lowering both of them together so they could sit. Itachi still clung to Madara, shifting his position so that he was lying against Madara's shoulder, legs bent off to the side, arms still around Madara's shoulders. Silent tears poured down Itachi's face, but they were slowly coming to an end. Madara sat quietly with Itachi for what must have been hours, just trying to calm Itachi down enough that he could string together a coherent sentence. And when the teen finally calmed down, Madara could swear he was mute.
Itachi sat with Madara, curled up in a ball against his side, while Madara stroked his hair. He had stopped clinging to Madara so desperately, but Madara knew Itachi wouldn't do well by himself for a good, long time. And, in Itachi's time, a good long while translated to a few days. Itachi was surprisingly resilient, and usually recovered quickly from just about anything. Hence why he was in ANBU so young and not having too, too many problems: he could handle the mental stress of being an ANBU officer. Madara himself had been surprised at first at Itachi's ability to bounce back from virtually everything, but began to exploit it soon enough.
"Madara-sama?"
Madara glanced down at Itachi, secretly delighted to hear the teen's voice. Itachi had his phases: first phase, he was numb. He acted normally. Second phase, he waited until he was completely alone, and then broke down. Itachi skipped this phase half the time, and it usually didn't involve breaking down as most people would: tears, wailing, beating their heads against the wall, and so on and so forth. Itachi usually channeled his fear and sorrow into aggression, and went to beat the crap out of something. Third phase, he went silent. Itachi rarely spoke when he was in his third phase, and only made a sound when it was completely and utterly necessary. Fourth phase, he was depressed. Itachi tried to act normally, but the smallest changes in his behavior suggested that he was in withdrawal, really. He spoke little, but it was not uncommon for him to do so. And finally, fifth phase: he got over it. Usually, Itachi would pass through each one of these phases in either a matter of hours, or even days. But it never lasted more than a week. Madara was surprised: this might just take an entire week for Itachi to get over!
"What, child?" Madara asked smoothly, acknowledging Itachi's question. Itachi picked his head up off Madara's shoulder, and then set it back down again, seemingly in a more comfortable position.
"What am I going to do now?"
Madara glanced down at Itachi, his hand pausing for a moment in Itachi's impossibly soft hair. "What do you mean?" he asked, resuming his gentle stroking. Itachi sighed, but leaned into the motions.
"I mean, I can't go back to the village now! I'm an outlaw!" Itachi sat up, and ended up on his knees a few feet away from Madara on the couch. "Where am I going to stay, what am I going to do for a living, who am I going to live with, how am I going to stay sane?! Madara-sama, you must have something planned out for me-otherwise you wouldn't have asked me to do this…! Right…?"
Madara nodded slowly, easing Itachi's fears. "I have a place for you to go to," Madara promised. "It's an organization called the Akatsuki. They have already accepted you, if wish to accept them."
Itachi sighed, letting his head hang. "What other choice do I have, then?" he whispered. "Tell them…tell them I'll join them."
Madara couldn't help but smirk, even the smallest bit, at this. Itachi was so easily manipulated! He did whatever Madara said! The elder Uchiha scooted over to Itachi, taking the younger Uchiha into his arms again. "Calm down, my love," he whispered, "I would never leave you without anything you might possibly need."
A/N: Whee. Chapter. Review, please? It makes me happy…
How do you guys feel about MadaIta...?