Sanctus:

You just did what you had to do

They ran into the village, since they had to solve immediately the problem of the demons.
The Kyuubi was keeping them quiet and still, saying them that there would soon be a place to fit them in.
The place as kind of found: the Sand village posited the construction of a Hall of Demons in their country.
The Leaf Village agreed, and Kurama told the demons to be prepared to it – it wouldn't be easy to be brought out of their place, inside there, without Jinchuurikis.
They had to be good, since – no one would control them.
Meanwhile, Itachi had to make up for Sasuke's funeral.
It was all completely gone, it was impossible now.
The last chance had been used – and moreover, the something Orochimaru did on his body was fading: the decomposition began.
They had to bury him, and stop.
Someone suggested cremation – but Itachi burst out saying that "almost his body must be here-" he thought 'with me', he said "At home".
He managed to make it ready that same day.
In the evening, under a full moon waxing lyrically over the poetry of Requiem (he called upon the orphanage's nuns to help him), a procession flowed through Konoha.
From the Hokage's palace, counting some fifteen people – Naruto, Kakashi, Itachi, Tsunade, Jiraya, Sakura, Shikamaru, Ino, Chouji, Hinata,
Tenten, Lee, Guy, Yamato and Sai – the procession went on growing in number.
When it reached the graveyard, almost the entire village was following the coffin – someone singing "Requiem Aeternam Dona Eis" and, passing under the graveyard's gates, "Kyrie Eleison".
Itachi was silent.
He didn't say a word for the whole ceremony; nor did Naruto, Sakura and Kakashi.
All the others were talking in low voice, instead; they were all wondering about a number of things.
"Who was the masked man?"
"What will happen to Itachi now?"
"What about – poor Naruto".
'What really happened with Neji?'
This was a question that no one dared to state – Shikamaru had understood that something had gone wrong.
Neji's funeral had been held some days before – and he noticed that Kakashi, Itachi and Naruto weren't there.
Their justification, of course, was that they weren't in Konoha – but none of them asked about it, showed any interest in it, and – none of them went to visit Neji's tomb.
What had happened – Neji was different in the last weeks.
Yes, but – to reach this point.
And thinking of it, Naruto was there when Neji died – actually he threw out a bomb of chakra and Neji died.
Orochimaru had really killed him?
Or Naruto did?
We all know that Shikamaru wasn't stupid at all.
He understood that something went wrong – but he couldn't absolutely picture what.
Naruto wasn't so talkative, either – in fact he was talking with the Kyuubi.
He was telling him to prepare to speak to the demons – Tsunade wanted to thank them, and the Kyuubi had to translate.
After the prayers and the burial, the Hokage began her speech.
She said:
"We must thank Uchiha Itachi and his peer" (Deidara, who was still in prison) "for having killed Orochimaru.
An endless nightmare has expired with his death.
We must thank Uchiha Itachi and our Jinchuuriki" she smiled "for having killed an unknown man who threatened our country and
everyone's life.
A man who already, sixteen years ago, provoked many deaths in Konoha – liberating the Kyuubi".
She paused.
"And we must thank the Kyuubi.
He has killed this man – the Demon, the Nine-Tails Fox, Kurama the Kyuubi.
He has freed us from a certain menace – and he has freed us from his own menace.
Kurama has brought the demons to goodness.
We mustn't fear them anymore.
The demons helped him solving this matter.
We must thank all the demons for having granted us peace, for having chosen to help us and be our fellows.
We must thank the demons, for having had the courage to think and understand – a courage that many humans, we know, still miss.
We must thank the demons".
Kurama translated to his 'brothers' and gave the Hokage their answer, in Naruto's voice.
"We eventually did what we had to do.
We eventually had the chance to stop and leave hating – and killing.
We are eventually treated like thinking beings – not things.
You respected us – you humans told us what we are.
You revealed us ourselves.
We must thank you, humans – and propose, eventually, not collaboration – but an alliance.
In your hands we can be safe, you won't use us like weapons".
End of discussion. Kurama was a demon of few words.
The Hokage stated her agreeing and declared the end of the ceremony.

They all went home – Itachi went to visit Deidara.
He was kept in prison, waiting for trial – the Sand Country still had to be told of his presence there.
When he saw Itachi he laughed and said:
"Well, well, what's going on there?
I saw the procession – so it's really gone? Your brother I mean.
Yes, yes. And – Tobi?"
"We killed him.
Now the demons have all joined the Kyuubi. The Akatsuki is officially dead.
How are you?"
"Oh, alright.
I still have some clay, you know – but I thought it was better if I stayed quiet. Thus I wouldn't create you problems.
Okay, and? Now, what do we do?
They want to send me to the Sand Country…you have-"
"I still have an ace up my sleeve. I'll help you, don't worry.
But you'll have to follow me when we go out.
I'll tell them that I'll watch over you, that you won't be a danger for them anymore. Can I leave you here for now?
Is it all right?"
"Yes, yes, it is.
I'm never alone. I found a guy here who draws things – and now we still have to finish a discussion about my art and his – things".
Itachi smiled.
"Yeah. I go to talk with the Anbus and the Hokage. Then I'll give farewell to – someone.
When I know anything new I come back. Deidara…"
"Huh?"
"DON'T USE clay to show that guy your art, please…you can make a theoretical discussion. Okay?"
He laughed.
He went to the Hokage's palace.
Tsunade was there, sitting at her desk doing nothing – and reflecting.
"Oh, hello.
I thought you would come here. You're asking me what you have to do now?"
"Yes, Hokage.
I want to continue serving in Anbus. I can be an external informer.
I think there are things on the Akatsuki that we must find out about – I mean, I think that masked man wasn't the chief.
There must be someone else.
I ask you to let Deidara come with me. I assure you that I'll watch over him.
He will be my fellow, and I'll be his commander.
I … should … I'd like to leave the soonest possible. …" he lowered his eyes "… Everything hurts me here, now".
"Mh mh. Okay.
You want me to ask the Anbus or you want to do it yourself?
I mean, Danzou's 'whatever-it-is' faction or normal Anbus?"
Itachi smiled.
"Danzou will never let the other ones get me. I'm his weapon. I will ask him".
"Okay, okay for Deidara, okay for the Anbus.
I'm only asking you – try not to get killed, alright? And – show up here, sometimes.
Just to know how do you do. Okay?"
"Yes. I go. Thank you, Yondaime Hokage."
He went to the Ne, and Danzou wanted to talk with him personally.
Itachi told him what he knew, and what he thought.
Danzou replied giving him this orders:
"Go to the XX country.
Find the true holders of the Akatsuki. Tell me everything, but tell it only to ME.
You know how to do what. You say this masked man was the one who helped you that time, yes.
Do you remember anything else?"
"No, I don't".
"And, this time, Uchiha Itachi, follow thoroughly my orders and don't add nothing of yours.
I don't want you to end up screwing up everything like you did last time.
What about the one coming with you?"
"Deidara.
He follows me and my orders. He's under my control".
"Go".
And Itachi went.
I'd rather be trained by Sergeant Hartman from Full Metal Jacket than serve in Anbus constabulary.
Moreover, their uniform is SO GAY.
However Itachi didn't want to do what he said.
Itachi wanted to do what he thought to be right, this time – from this moment on.
He decided to keep the Hokage informed, and to rely on Deidara for more than simple orders.
He could be clever and able enough to walk by himself and help him.
He had to go the prison to take him.
But he decided to delay the departure to the next day. He had to do something first.

He went to find Kakashi.
He was – not puzzled, he knew Itachi had to go in the end – but, quite nervous.
"Yeah, like – listen to me. You're going tomorrow, yep?
We'll see again, since you're coming back here sometimes, right?
Okay, and.
And, would you mind – okay, say it, can – WHY THE FUCK IS IT ALWAYS SO DIFFICULT?"
"OH. WELL.
I…I don't know…Or well. Well. Ehm…o-okay. We'll see…this – evening?"
Kakashi smiled like an idiot. 'FUCK YEAH!'
"Yesss. Huh. Okay. Then. Are you going to get your peer?"
"No, I'm going to" he couldn't help laughing "give my farewell to someone else, if you don't mind…"
Kakashi's face became stone-like.
"Mh. Key. You'll pay. I can't stop you. Why do you have to do…?"
"Okay, I go, yeah? See you later!"
And Itachi ran away, laughing out loud to the twofold jealousy of Kakashi.
This was awkward, yeah, it had always been – so, awkward for awkward, at least ENJOY it.
Itachi went to Naruto's house and found there him and Jiraya, talking of the Kyuubi thing and the masked man.
They were discussing about – "Who this man was?" – and "What to do with the Kyuubi now?"
"But listen to me, Jiraya, it's only six years.
Only six years…it's not – and the Kyuubi! Please…let's think of it at least.
We still have some time to wait…it's not only about – you know – him – oh, hi, you!"
Naruto jumped off the bed – Jiraya was sitting on the ground – ran to Itachi and hugged him, kissing his cheek.
"Naru – oh, Jesus – excuse me"
"What excuse?" said Jiraya "It's human…" smiling.
Itachi nodded, but didn't smile.
He was thinking of his going away.
Leaving Naruto here – with his own ghost.
But he had only one ghost.
Instead, in Itachi's life, everyone was a ghost – but Kakashi and Naruto.
Tenth of ghosts.
His clan, Sasuke, the Akatsuki, and more, more.
Sasuke would be more a presence than a ghost.
A beautiful and good presence, the only one thing left of him.
It was better that Naruto took it – yeah, better to leave it to him.
The strange thing was that Sasuke was the only one thing left for the two of them – Naruto and Itachi.
But, still, Naruto never had anything else.
Itachi at least had had a family – known his parents. And he had had a brother.
He joined their argument about the Kyuubi and the man.
He followed Jiraya in telling Naruto to rewind time.
"You have to remember that people over 80 years are always right.
He told you to rewind back, and you have to do it.
No question, it's like it…"
"But why?" asked Naruto.
"Because." answered Jiraya.
Itachi intervened:
"Yeah, Jiraya, I have to plead you – something Tsunade told me and I tell you.
Don't get killed. You must be with him."
"Yeah, but, Naruto, could you leave us alone for a moment?"
"You two want to talk about the Anbu thing? I know it!" answered Naruto.
Jiraya replied:
"No, I have to warn HIM about – something.
Nothing – okay, leave us and stop, yeah?"

Osanna in excelsis