Disclaimer: I. not. own. NARUTO.
Warning: Spoilers & wild theories abound…


- CHAPTER 9 - Itachi's Endgame -

.

"Wha…?"

Naruto was still disoriented when he stumbled into Tsukuyomi's color-inverted world. Great, just what was with him and Tsukuyomi? He seemed to be caught by this doujutsu all the time. It was getting real old, real fast. And who could've used this technique on him? From what Madara implied, Naruto had thought it was unique to Itachi!

He soon had his answer when a soft voice drew his attention from the back, "Greetings, Uzumaki Naruto."

Whirling around in alarm, Naruto saw that he was standing at the foot of a short staircase leading up to one wide-spanning platform. The chipped platform itself held a side table and another dilapidated throne, with two tomoe marks carved on either side of its back. A very familiar figure was sitting snugly on the throne, against a backdrop of seven tomoe marks carved around the kanji for 'fox'.

It was a person with pinwheel-patterned eyes.

"Uchiha Itachi," Naruto practically breathed out the name.

And yet, this Itachi didn't really have the same appearance as what Naruto saw in the mirror earlier. No, this person was noticeably taller and sharper in facial features. But biological differences aside, the young man was also wearing a cloak embroidered with cloud motifs and buttoned at the middle. An Akatsuki cloak.

Right! This was just as Itachi appeared to him during their last encounter in the forest!

As if in affirmation, Itachi nodded as he spoke quietly, "And so we meet again, Naruto-kun. I imagine you have questions."

"Questions?" Naruto felt his body starting to shake uncontrollably. "You bet I have questions! Was it you who threw me into this goddam situation of yours? Why aren't you fucking dealing with it yourself?"

Itachi's expression never changed as Naruto vented all the frustration he had built up during this trying day. The Akatsuki member even waited for a moment after he finished before speaking again, "Done? Then perhaps we can talk."

Watching that ever-composed face staying, well, composed… Naruto almost wanted to start another rant again. However, perhaps role-playing Itachi for a day had left some mark on him after all—because Naruto actually found himself calmly replying with: "Fine, talk."

Naruto thought he saw a faint smile crossing Itachi's lips, but it passed too quickly for him to be sure. "After my death, I assume Sasuke had fallen completely under Madara's sway?"

The question sounded rather awkward in his ears, considering that it implied Naruto was somehow talking with a dead man. "Yeah, how did you guess?"

Itachi closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they had gone completely black—or, in Tsukuyomi's world, white. "I had suspected Madara's plans for Sasuke since he discovered my debilitating sickness, but I had also hoped my foolish little brother would have known how to see past illusions wove by words."

"Sickness?" Naruto immediately latched onto this new information.

Leaning back into the throne, Itachi sighed. "Yes, sickness. For years, to maintain my various covers, I have suppressed my… emotional displays with the assistance of a substance I acquired and adapted from Sasori-san. In trace amounts and over short periods of time, it is a convenient tool; in large amounts and over extended periods of time, it is a deadly poison."

"You laced your kunai with the same formula," Naruto realized as he recalled his inability to properly form facial expressions throughout the day.

Itachi chuckled lightly. "Yes. I had to ensure that you did not blow your cover right away. It worked, did it not?"

"How did you even know that I'd use your kunai?" Naruto asked uncertainly, although he had some strong suspicions…

"I knew you would check to see if you were in a genjutsu when thrust into the past without warning." Itachi's perceptive eyes seemed to bore into his very soul. "It is common ninja practice. Furthermore, my past self would have ensured you picked the right weapon."

Naruto massaged his eyes in an attempt to distract himself from a growing apprehension. "Wait. Hold on. You're saying that I cohabited with your past self in your body? How come I was not kicked out right away?"

"That would defeat the purpose." Itachi sounded a little annoyed. "You deduced this already, Naruto-kun. Do not give me that act."

Biting his lips, Naruto tried to ask again, "So you planned for me to take your place on the day of Uchiha Clan Massacre? This is that 'power' you hoped I'd never have to use?"

"Yes, in a way," Itachi's eyes took on a distant look. "If no Uchiha could solve this ill-fated deadlock, then perhaps someone who cared enough for one could. All he required would be my knowledge and my position in the clan."

"But you didn't even ask me!" Naruto felt his anger reemerging. "I had people back in the future. People that I had to protect! You just pulled me here without ever getting my consent!"

"Yet, you must have realized it too," Itachi was unfazed. "You and Konoha were heading for certain destruction, no? Madara must have begun to attack the village openly. He must have attempted to control the Kyuubi sealed in you… Otherwise, I would have never been reawakened."

"Reawakened?" Naruto was not sure if he wanted to hear what Itachi had to say next.

"Reawakened," the Akatsuki member repeated in confirmation. "During our last encounter, I had given you myself, one of Uchiha Itachi's shadow clones under the guise of a Karasu Bunshin no Jutsu. I would have remained dormant until your death—unless Madara succeeded in reactivating his contract with Kyuubi."

"But…" Naruto shuddered at the thought of having contained another person's clone for so long. "How did you pull me into the past? I didn't even know it could be done!"

Itachi laughed quietly; Naruto was a little bothered at how similar the sound was to what he gave to Sasuke just that afternoon. "Forgive me, Naruto-kun, but it is amusing to hear that I have outdone even you in terms of thinking outside the accepted conventions."

"Well, I'm still waiting for an answer!" Naruto was not going to admit how childish he sounded with that retort.

Still with the barest hint of a smile on his face, Itachi asked patiently, "I believe you have felt the connection that existed between an Uchiha with Mangekyou Sharingan and a unique space-time pocket?"

Thinking back to the weird way that he sensed Madara's escape from his Amaterasu, Naruto nodded. "Yeah, so?"

"Like it or not, that pocket is shared by all of us." Itachi's lips thinned. "It is the basis for Madara's Takamahara and Yomi—as well as Kakashi-san's Mangekyou Sharingan technique, if Deidara's description were to be trusted. I have incorporated it as part of my Tsukuyomi, if only for illusionary effects; nonetheless, its time-independent property is sufficient for me to carry out my covert operation. When Madara attempted to trap you with Yomi in the future, I was able to enter the pocket and execute Tsukuyomi with chakra leached off his original illusion…"

"That was why he seemed capable of executing Tsukuyomi!" Naruto felt his eyes widening in realization. "And why he tired so easily! I was wondering why one technique can drain him like that!"

"Yes, he would have certainly suspected something amiss by the time he recovered." Itachi conceded. "However, he would not have another clone in the past to smooth over a jump across such long stretches of time. Even if Madara discovered my approach and attempted it, he would have died in the process. For all intents and purposes, the future you had known died the moment I came back with your captured mind."

Naruto could only gape. "Um… okay. But you had another clone in the past?"

"I never trusted Madara." Itachi lifted his right hand casually as if to examine the ring worn on its third finger. "I planted a clone in his Yomi as soon as he showed me that technique twice. Being one of lesser experience, my clone merged with me immediately after we made contact in the space-time pocket. By taking his place, I gained an anchor in this time."

Naruto did not know what to say about Itachi's level of paranoia.

The other ninja obviously did not expect a response either, for he continued his reminiscence without a pause, "When Madara approached me after I joined ANBU, I knew he had an ulterior purpose other than showing me how to reach the 'height of my capacity'. He had other candidates in the clan—better candidates. Shisui clearly had been his first choice, but Madara tossed him aside just like another piece of trash after…"

Naruto watched in silence as Itachi's emotionless mask cracked for just a minute—but it was enough for him to see how much pain the man was carrying around underneath. "Madara even forced me to watch the whole thing. To awaken my Mangekyou Sharingan, he said. Could you imagine how much of a mockery that was? I only gained the power needed to protect Shisui against Madara after he died… Even then, Madara did not trust me… Even then, I was under his constant surveillance…"

He did not even notice when he did it, but Naruto eventually found himself next to Itachi and putting a hand on the other ninja's imperceptibly shaking shoulders. "I… understand too. Madara had conned me into pushing Sakura-chan to her death and… Heh, I bet he never thought I'd get a pair of Mangekyou Sharingan out of it! I'll make him regret playing with everyone's lives, just you wait and see!"

Itachi's grip on the edge of his cloak relaxed, and his face also smoothed back to its original composure. "Yes, that is the issue I drew you in here to warn you about."

"?" Naruto blinked.

"The Mangekyou Sharingan," Itachi stood up suddenly from his throne, "has a very unique characteristic. From the day you awaken it, your eyes begin a slow descent into darkness. The more you use them, the quicker the process moves."

Naruto knew he had been mimicking Itachi for too long when he discovered he actually understood what the other ninja was hinting at. "So these eyes would go blind if I use them too much? Well, I'll just keep them as a last resort then!"

"But can you resist the temptation, Naruto-kun?" Even without activating his Sharingan, Itachi's eyes seemed to have gained a fierce intensity. "You are very talented to have acquired two techniques so quickly after gaining those eyes… Can you truly give them up this easily? What if I tell you that your blindness can be avoided by taking Sasuke's eyes?"

"Pfft, what do you take me for? Orochimaru or Madara?" Naruto was disgusted by the mere suggestion of that idea. "I've fought long enough without any doujutsu, and I definitely don't need to use a power based on someone else's pain!"

"If anyone could say 'no' to such an accursed power, it would have to be you… wouldn't it?" Itachi seemed to study Naruto's eyes for a moment, before quirking his lips ever so slightly. "In some ways, you are just as admirable as your father."

Seeing Naruto's blank look, Itachi chuckled again. "Ah, don't tell me you haven't suspected? You have had more than a decade to figure out who sired you."

"The hair and eye kinda give it away," Naruto muttered grudgingly. "Yeah, you're talking about the Fourth Hokage, aren't you?"

"Yes. Quite a hero, he was." Itachi looked somewhat wistful. "He could have sealed the Kyuubi away much more permanently… but he chose you to carry some of its powers."

That got Naruto's attention, "You know why he made me a jinchuuriki?"

"I believe I have some excellent ideas." Itachi slowly released his hold on the cloak. "Anyone with Uchiha blood has the potential to control a Tailed Beast—and with enough power, even one as powerful as the Kyuubi no Youko. Had Yondaime-sama not sealed away the demon's yin chakra with the Death God and designed your seal to leach away at its yang chakra, Madara could have easily summoned the Kyuubi back at full power as soon as he recovered from his exhaustion. Konoha would forever be plagued with the demonic threat, and your generation would have never known peace."

"Oh," Naruto subconsciously looked at his belly—and found that he was still 'wearing' Itachi's younger form. "Hey! How come I've still got your… well, you know…?"

At this point, Itachi's expression turned solemn and he bowed deeply without warning. "My sincerest apologies, Naruto-kun. I realize I never gave you the choice, but I must ask you to carry on my role from this moment onwards."

Unsettled by Itachi's submissive display, Naruto almost did not comprehend what was being said to him. "What? You mean I'm stuck in your body like this? But… but what about your past self?"

"He is currently residing in the shadow clone you created earlier." Itachi's head remained bowed. "In fact, it was he who warned the clan before Fukurou intercepted Sasuke—and used the Tsukuyomi on you. So when he disperses later, he will simply become an additional part of your knowledge and experience."

Struggling to think back to his fight with Madara, Naruto had to comb through his memories for a good minute before realizing which part Itachi was talking about. "Oh! That was why I felt compelled to use Kage Bushin no Jutsu then? You… you were forcing me to activate your Mangekyou Sharingan and learn the techniques on my own, weren't you? You planned out everything!"

"It is a necessary skill for an ANBU captain," Itachi replied gravely. "And an essential one if you wish to become the Hokage, Naruto-kun."

Decidedly uncomfortable with this whole bowing non-sense, Naruto quickly capitulated, "Alright, alright, apologies accepted. I'll do this! It's all for Sasuke, right?"

Straightening up, Itachi shook his head slightly. "I've attempted to help my brother in the future, but it seemed to have done more harm than good. I still hope you would watch over him, but I would appreciate it if you could also focus some of your attention on protecting my clan and Konoha—just as you have declared to my father."

Naruto fidgeted. "Um, sure… How did you know what I said to your father?"

Itachi smiled gently, and Naruto was surprised that he was not intimidated by the Akatsuki member's unusual expression. "Because, when you were caught in Madara's Yomi earlier, my past self informed me of your actions. It had been his mission to determine whether or not you are worthy of my sacrifice."

"Your sacrifice?" Naruto had a bad feeling about where this was going.

"You have already assimilated some of my memories." Itachi turned to walk down from the platform. "Some of my personality will inevitably influence you… but not enough to distort your dominant character. However, it has created a unique bond between us—not unlike one born of brotherhood."

Naruto felt the chakra around him shifting. Knowing from Itachi's own experience that the illusion was about to be ended, he hurriedly asked, "Wait, what are you trying to say? What is your sacrifice?"

"I will break the curse on the Uchiha clan," Itachi replied enigmatically without turning back. As the Akatsuki member reached the end of those stairs, the blood-red sky began to melt into its natural darkness. The Tsukuyomi world had collapsed.

Naruto barely heard Itachi's last whispers before the illusion faded away completely…

"Be a good Hokage, and let Uchiha Itachi be the last person to achieve the Eien no Mangekyou Sharingan."


A/N: Here are the answers everyone's been waiting for! XD Well, at least some. 'Eien no Mangekyou Sharingan' = Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan… So any guesses on what Itachi's endgame is truly all about? ;)

I think I've found a compromise for the two sides of opinion on Fukurou—I'll leave you to guess what I mean. :D