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Chapter Eight – Making Contact
They'd been tracking all night, it was now lunch time, and all of them – except maybe Naruto – wanted to take a break and eat. Kiba decided to put his foot down. "Akamaru and I are hungry and refuse to go any further without a little snack break and some explanations. We've been out here for damn near twelve hours now and we don't even know why. I'm pretty sure we deserve an explanation for the mission even if the Hokage did order it."
"Kiba's right, Naruto. It wouldn't hurt us to rest a bit. You should tell us why we're here," Sakura agreed quietly. Naruto sighed but sat on a boulder and motioned for them to get comfy too. When they had all eaten he spoke up. Kiba listened eagerly.
"During our rescue mission for the Kazekage, Kakashi and I caught an Akatsuki member, as I'm sure you'll remember Sakura. However, he did not survive and with his dying breaths told the two of us of the circumstances surrounding Itachi's slaughter of the Uchiha clan. According to his story, Itachi was ordered by Danzo to do it, and as I know Danzo personally and know the extent of his evil deeds I find I am inclined to believe it. One might wonder why Itachi would agree to such a thing given that it was his friends and family he was ordered to kill, but it seems that the explanation for that is that he was protecting Sasuke. I'm willing to bet that Itachi is hoping for Sasuke to kill him and thereby avenge the clan for his sake as well as Sasuke's. If I am correct and committing such an atrocity has caused him unbelievable pain and regret, and the story is indeed true, I will inform him that the Hokage is going to give him a full pardon and hope that he will return to the village with us. This will benefit the village in many ways. Firstly, the Akatsuki will have one less highly skillful member. Conversely, he'll be on our side. Also, Sasuke, whom I told of Itachi's innocence shortly after sundown last night, will not go running off in search of his brother at a time when his help will be needed to bring down both Danzo and The Foundation. That last bit is my last reason, by the way."
"The Foundation? What is that? Who is Danzo?" Kiba asked feeling thoroughly confused, though he admitted the logic was sound.
"Danzo is the perpetrator of The Foundation, which is an entity that's sole purpose is to create super soldiers. They're attempting world domination one baby step at a time. They are also responsible for the existence of the Akatsuki, which was originally a group Orochimaru put together to hunt down good candidates for the brainwashing and experimenting programs. He was the one in charge of the research as well." Sakura gasped and Kiba looked at her interestedly.
"Orochimaru?! The one who curse-marked Sasuke in the Chunin exams?"
"Yes. I think Sasuke was a side project for Orochimaru alone, but it is possible he's changed his recruiting methods since I first met him. Either way, I was able to find a way, with a doctor friend's help that is, to get rid of it and Sasuke has been fine ever since."
"How do you know all of this Naruto?" Sakura demanded and Kiba found himself wondering why he hadn't asked that himself.
"Because I was one of their research subjects at a point in my earlier life. Now, I think we should probably be moving." Kiba stood up, reeling slightly from what he'd just learned, and nodded accommodatingly.
"You know, it's weird, but Itachi's scent is all over this place. Like he visits the area frequently. It was pretty strong near the village too."
"I wonder if he's checking up on Sasuke," Naruto mused and Kiba thought it a good possibility if the speculation was true.
"If he got that close that often and didn't try anything that might prove he's innocent," Kiba suggested thoughtfully.
"That is true. All that's left is to see if he'll admit to it."
Hours passed in comfortable silence as they made slow progress due to the fact that Itachi seemed to have run through the forest in circles. Kiba knew he hadn't, but the crisscrossing smells were driving him nuts. When he finally untangled a fresh scent leading away from the jumbled mass he followed it with a sigh of relief. "I think we've got him." Another couple of hours and Kiba stopped. "Since you promised I'd hang back when we found him this is as far as I go."
"Really? That was easy," Naruto said, sounding slightly suspicious. "It could be a trap. Sakura, stay with Kiba. Kiba, which way?"
Kiba motioned with his pointer finger. "Good luck."
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He saw the man sleeping lightly under a tree on the opposite side of the clearing, watched as the man sprang to his feet when he noticed Naruto's presence. The man had taken a defensive stance, but straightened up when he saw that Naruto wasn't approaching and raised an eyebrow. "What are you doing out here? Why would you leave your teammates so far away from you when you had to have sensed my presence? Are you so sure of yourself?"
"I'm fairly certain that you won't hurt me, but not positive, no," he answered nonchalantly.
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Danzo." Naruto watched the other man's expression carefully and saw his pupils dilate slightly as he breathed in sharply. "That's what I thought. Deidara was telling the truth wasn't he? That Danzo forced your hand?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," the other man said cautiously, looking at Naruto as though sizing him up.
"Well, Sasuke knows. That you were only keeping him safe that is. I told him right before I left. And if you don't come back with me, he'll come looking for you. I'd prefer he not leave the village right now." Itachi flinched at his brother's name.
"That was a cruel thing to do. What if it wasn't true?"
"But it is, isn't it?"
"Suppose I admit that I massacred the people I loved purely to protect my brother? What would happen then? I would hardly be welcomed back into the village with open arms."
"I think you already admitted it when you said 'the people I loved' instead of 'my clan'," Naruto pointed out. Itachi froze and studied him carefully.
"I know you. You were at the foundation when I joined the Akatsuki," he accused, his voice betraying his surprise.
"Yes, I was. I know just what Danzo is capable of. I was rescued a few years later and have been monitoring his movements for the better part of a decade now, waiting for the right moment to take him down. I was hoping you might want to help with that."
"You still haven't answered my question. What will happen if I go back with you?"
"We'll keep your presence secret from the majority until Danzo's been taken care of. Then we'll reinstate you as a shinobi."
"What makes you think the Hokage will agree to that? I hear she's pretty strict."
"I have it on good authority that the Hokage has already decided to pardon you completely. Now the only question is whether or not you want to see your brother again, and I don't mean from a tree branch just outside the village." Naruto watched the other man's eyes widen and saw the slight flaring of his nostrils. "Yes, I know you've been checking up on him all these years. So what do you say?"
Itachi took a deep, shaky breath. "I want to see my brother again. And you're right, not just from a tree in the distance. I want to really see him, hug him even, if he'll let me."
"I need to hear you admit your story for it to be official." He made his voice louder so that Sakura and Kiba could hear him if they couldn't already. "Hey guys, come bear witness to Itachi's testimony please." Immediately they stepped into the clearing and made their way over.
"Wow. You look just like him," Sakura whispered to Itachi. The raven gave her a look that was both pained and happy before turning to Naruto.
"When I was thirteen years old, a man named Danzo, along with the two elders that were advisors to the Hokage, decided that my clan needed to be taken care of. The Third opposed this greatly, but Danzo found a way around him. He came to me and threatened my brother. I knew that no matter what I couldn't keep my clan safe, but I could protect my brother. So, I agreed with his terms and assassinated my clan. Everyone but Sasuke. I was also ordered to become a rogue ninja, but I was worried about Sasuke's safety even though I had done what Danzo asked, so I begged the Third to watch over him before I left. He swore he would protect him with his life. In the end it seems he ended up protecting a lot of people with his life. I left and joined the Akatsuki, but as you guessed, I returned frequently to see how my brother seemed to be fairing. I admit I felt better when he was there each and every time I looked. I've taken to only looking in on him a couple times a year in the past two or three years. He appears to have become a fine young man, and I hear he's being considered for Jounin already. He has such the nicest smile."
"That's a good enough confession for me. Sakura?"
"Absolutely," said a teary eyed Sakura.
"Kiba?"
"Works for me."
"Good. Then it's settled. Itachi, we're taking you home." Naruto felt really good when the other man gave him a beautiful smile that he'd recognize anywhere. They really did look very alike.
As they traveled Itachi questioned him about the plans for taking down Danzo and everything attached. Glad to be a part of the evil man's downfall, the raven seemed especially energetic throughout their conversation and didn't complain when Naruto told everyone they wouldn't be making camp in favor of arriving under the cover of night. The look on his face when they passed through the gates was one that Naruto would remember until the day he died.