Dying would make things better. Wouldn't it? After all, his grave would be a source of delight to many Uchihas and it would prevent them from harming Sasuke or Mikoto. But he had to do it, he had to stay alive for them, Shisui and the few people who backed him up. He had to protect. He had to remove the word "war" from existence.
Another snowy day in Konohagakure has begun. The long-haired Uchiha ran the water filling his folded palms then scrubbed his face gently. Nothing was better than cold water embracing his skin; so humidifying and freshing. He shifted afterwards to his ponytail unhooking it then tying it back to tuck his loosened hairs. Finally the last step; glaring into the mirror in order to check if everything was perfect. That step had another importance for Itachi wich was self-recognition. Lately, that process was piecemeal easing; he became able to set a path for his life, an old path that he once shared with his deceased bestie.
He stepped out of the W.C sliding the door closed behind him. In his way back to his room he heard some familiar voice chatting trivially with two teenage voices that he has never heard before. If his memory didn't betray him the identifiable one should belong to his Former ANBU captain; Kakashi.
He trotted towards the room door moving his right hand out of his pocket then gently knocked on the door. He needed to introduce himself so he just uttered affectionately:
'Kakashi-san, this is me, Itachi.'
The Genin Sensei showed no reaction for seconds in which a flow of questions quaked his mind before humming for him to enter;
Itachi? Was he even alive? He didn't show up for years. More importantly, what is he doing here...Well there's no alternative way to know but to ask him directly
A girl with glamorous rosy hair and light green eyes -So light that it seemed like she cried too much causing the green to whiten- was holding a portfolio close to her chest and standing at the head of Kakashi's bed. There was also some blond boy squatting near his Sensei's legs. His facial expression and features were kind of funny. All eyes glanced at him when he entered as if they were waiting for someone else and fate deceived them. Kakashi spoke first:
'Yo!'
His former captain casted him the usual smile however the pink-haired girl kept staring at him with sadness locked in her glare. Judging from the description Sasuke made to him, she should be Haruno Sakura, his brother's most loyal fangirl and the grinning boy should be Minato's son, the kyuubi's Jinchūriki; Uzumaki Naruto.
Once Itachi finished with recognizing everyone in the room he greeted them then asked, delivering his gaze to the Genin Sensei:
'Kakashi-san...What are you doing here?'
Kakashi closed his Icha Icha book and giggled nervously but before even intending to talk naruto rushed to answer:
'Kakashi Sensei ends up in the hospital after each mission...Mattaku'
Kakashi, trying to regain his scattered pride in front of Itachi he whimpered:
'That Sharingan is not mine, overuse drags me always here...See see I can move but Sakura is nagging that I should remain in bed for a whole week'
Itachi could guess that he was pouting beneath his mask. For reassurance, he warmly wished for him to be fine as soon as possible.
Sakura clenched tighter on the portfolio as she glared at Itachi; Tsunade has already talked to her about the surgery and honestly things weren't hopeful at all. She felt the twitching of something in her heart while wondering why shall death take those who are characterized by angelic features; beauty, charm and cheerfulness. She didn't know Itachi that much but she noticed how he waited for his brother at the Academy, how much he cared about him, how he would come to his assistance although the life of an ANBU captain was supposed to be hell itself.
Sakura set her feet in this world again when the exigency of a medical report knocked in her head; she needed Izumi to report the surgery she was leading but -like every time- she was nowhere to be found. Sakura tried her chance and asked Itachi:
'Itachi-san, did you see Izumi senpai? She is an uchiha I guess you might know her, she's brown-haired with this height'
Sakura raised her hand few centimeters above her scalp showing Itachi how tall her senpai was.
On the spot, he recognized her. How come he has forgotten her! But it wasn't his fault, after all, she has changed a lot. His mind rained questions, too many questions that couldn't be answered. There was Sakura, he had to reply her. So, he nodded in response and shared with her the few information he knew.
Itachi -still under the shock of izumi's sudden reappearance in his life- interrogated if anyone has seen Sasuke. They all answered with a 'No'.
He was about to take his leave when Naruto leaped in front of him, hands playing in his Htai-ate.
'Ano sa Ano sa! Itachi Sensei!'
Sensei?
'I've heard that you can use a strong Genjutsu. Please! Teach me!'
_
AN: Sakura was asked to learn medical ninjutsu by Tsunade for her high level of Chakra control to fill the lack of doctors in the hospital after orochimaru's attack. Itachi was back then on a mission and the Uchiha clan was able to reduce the damage.
Things will be clarified within the next chapters. Izumi Uchiha became a doctor for another reason that will be mentioned in the next chapter.
