Konoha's Weasel Prince
Summary: Itachi never got to use his Susanoo in his fight with Sasuke. As soon as the Kirin hit, he was sent back through time to the founder's era and it was up to him to ensure a safer and surer future for Konoha and the world at large. KisaIta TobiMada HashiMito others mentioned
The meeting room was bigger than the meeting room placed in the Nakano Shrine back in Konoha in his time, was the first thought that struck Itachi when he was lead by Madara, Izuna and their first cousin Hikaku into it, located in a shrine similar to the one Itachi was used to, but somehow bigger without being noticeable over the treetops. It was also more elaborate, made in many different styles that must have changed with time over the past nine hundred years that the Uchiha have been living on these lands. It was a beautiful building with interesting interlocking patterns and styles and Itachi was utterly fascinated by the history locked in this place that will not see the dawn of his time. Not in this condition, anyway. It is unrecognizable in his time and he doubts anything of it was left by the time his fight with Sasuke was over. Such a pity, really. He hated such a treasure was destroyed. Hashirama-san had obviously never managed to rebuild it after the move into Konoha and the Uchiha themselves probably didn't bother after the Kyuubi Attack sixteen years ago, in Itachi's time. A pity, really, but there was nothing Itachi could do to save this structure. Everything that was important here was taken with the Uchiha themselves in the move, so it's not as though anything else other than the building itself was lost.
The second thing that struck Itachi when he entered the decorated stone room was just how many more Elders there were now than in his own time - while the Clan was still alive, mind you - despite this being a warring era. They were older, too, maybe wiser and more patient if they could just be bothered to see beyond their own loses and slights. And there were both men and women in this room, unlike back home, where only a man could become an Elder of the Uchiha Clan. Itachi attributed it all down to skill and competence. While his clansmen have lived in peaceful times with only the Third War as a possible source of greater loss, they have started slacking in training as they lost sight of what is truly important to all shinobi, Uchiha or not. They have started to rely too much on the Sharingan, believing their eyes will be enough to help them deal with everything, forgetting that their eyes needed first their bodies to become stronger so they can properly use them. The Sharingan was a powerful weapon and his clansmen have forgotten that like with any other weapon, one must to first learn how to use it properly and to its fullest. It was for this reason that Itachi was sure that there were more older members of the Uchiha Clan. They have survived to live to the age of fifty and above and they now carried their age with grace born of countless battles, both won and lost but survived.
If only they had come out wiser out of them.
It didn't take Itachi long to realize that very few of the thirty Elders actually looked upon him with indifference or any other emotion other than suspicion and downright hate. He couldn't help but get angry at them for judging him already, just because he was here to speak against them and their plans to continue this fruitless war. More than half of them were studying him with their Sharingan, just waiting for him to make a wrong move so they could have a reason to strike him down. As if they could. It was obvious these individuals were stronger than his own Elders had been and there were a lot more Uchiha just outside of this structure who would definitely bring him down if he turned out to be a traitor, but Itachi knew the only ones who would be a problem to him would be Madara and Izuna, one of the two most powerful Uchiha ever born. The rest would be child's play, really, as they shared most of the arrogance of his own clansmen. And Itachi had had time to become stronger since the Uchiha Massacre so a repeat really wouldn't be all that hard. Especially not with some of his more refined Mangekyo Sharingan jutsus.
But that was not why he was here. The Massacre was behind him, having happened at all only because his clan had been planning on endangering the entirety of Konoha, and as such the Fire Country and all of its people, by trying to get more power in a coup d'tat that would have no doubt ended with releasing the Kyuubi to kill them all. Despite what his father had liked to think, he was not some second coming of Uchiha Madara. He didn't have the required skill, control or sheer level of power to do that and Madara had had his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan when he had controlled the Kyuubi. They had been needed to be stopped. This was a different time, a different place, with different people and circumstances. Another massacre was out of the question.
But Itachi already knew how this meeting was going to go and he had a perfect plan with how to deal with these people. He will use the Uchiha Massacre – without telling them it had happened to the future generations of their very clan, of course – as a reference of sorts. These old coots were trying to suppress the new, younger generations because they believed their experience has allowed them to suck up all the knowledge of the world and in their grief, they forgot what it was like to be young and hopeful and with the power to act and make a difference. They called it foolish and they tried to ignore them all, as they will try to disregard and ignore Itachi and his words today. They will make the same mistake his clansmen always made, presuming him patient and timid because of hi soft-spoken and kind manner and while yes, Itachi did have a lot of patience, even he had his limits and these people will no doubt put them to their limits.
They better pray they don't actually push him to those limits, as Tsukuyomi is not the best diplomatic weapon he has in his arsenal and that would reveal his identity, which would lead to even more questions he knows he can't answer – for more reasons than one. He'd rather not deal with that hassle.
''So this is the slip of a boy who you have spoken of before, Madara-sama.'' One of the elders, an old man in his early fifties, said with a sneer directed at the secret Uchiha, disgust plain in his eyes and visible for all to see. ''He doesn't look much to me. Why are you wasting our time with bringing him here? We have much more important things to discuss than such a silly notion as peace with the very people who have killed our Clan Head!''
''I'd like to remind you, Takami, that your Clan Head is right before you, living and breathing and perfectly alright.'' Izuna said with a fake smile, his Sharingan flashing to life as well, glaring at his Elder. ''Not to mention that it is rude to speak before the Clan Head opens the meeting. Show some proper etiquette and we might consider hearing what you wish to say.''
The man, Takami, grit his teeth but stayed quiet, either because he realized his mistake and was too prideful to admit it or because he wished desperately that Izuna was not right and stronger than him as he was. As it was, Izuna was in the right and any more protests or comments on his side would only drive that point across further and maybe even get him excluded from this meeting altogether, if the customs of meetings were the same in this time as they were in Itachi's. Nevertheless, the man stayed quiet and Madara calmly opened the meeting with the same opening words Itachi had heard Fugaku utter thousands of times in his youth.
''I am aware a lot of you have questions and … objections on the matter we have actually gathered to discuss, and I will now allow you to ask Itachi any … proper questions that you wish to get answers to before we let Itachi speak. Are there any who object to this course of action?'' Madara asked after his little formal speech was finished, eying his clansmen and simply daring them to make trouble.
Unsurprisingly, Takami was the first to speak up. ''Madara-sama, with all due respect, this is madness! How many of our kin have died at the hands of those bastard Senjus and you now want peace with them?! What would such actions do for our clan, have you though?! We will be ruined! They will try to destroy us the first chance they get! The Senju cannot be trusted!'' He pointed in a rather childish manner an accusing finger at the calmly seated Itachi, rage on his face. ''He is here only to make us lower our guard so that they may have a better chance to strike! Or he is here to find out hideout and give the Senju the information how to find us so they can ambush us! Or he is here to gather intel and deliver it to the Senju! He is a traitor that is not even a traitor, a spy! Madara-sama, we have to get rid of him, as soon as possible!'' A few of the Elders around him murmured in consent and agreement, six pairs of Sharingan eyes glaring at Itachi with hate for things he had never done.
''I have heard nothing but accusations from you, Takami, while I asked for questions that Itachi may answer.'' The Clan Head said reprovingly before utterly ignoring the spluttering and protesting man before turning to speak to an elderly old woman, looking to be in her late seventies. ''Natsumi-baa-sama, you wish to speak?''
''I have a question for Itachi-kun.'' The old woman, somehow still retaining her black hair, only a few shades lighter than it had been in her youth, asked with a small, diplomatic smile that Itachi considered a vast improvement from Takami. Itachi nodded and Madara waved at her to continue, both waiting to hear what she will ask. Natsumi-baa-sama waited until Takami finally fell silent with one last glare at Itachi before addressing the young man himself. ''Itachi-kun, I would like first to ask you which clan you come from. Rumors have been circling that you have no family, but surely you can tell us which clan you are from.''
Itachi fought down a snort at her attempt to discredit him before he had even spoken. Really, she wasn't nearly as subtle as she'd like to think. Not to him, anyway, and not to Madara or Izuna or Hikaki it would seem. ''My clan has been whipped off of the face of the earth thirteen years ago save for myself and my brother.'' 'And Tobi, who I suspect to be a lost cousin of mine, but you don't need to know that.' ''My brother still carries the name and has forbidden, no cursed me to never bear it myself, so I am Itachi of no clan. I love him too much to go against his wishes, even if he does not know about it, so you must forgive me if I cannot tell you.'' Itachi was fairly sure both Shisui and Kakashi-san would have been proud of the bullshitting he had just made, if they were ever to find out about it.
Natsumi nodded although it was obvious the old woman was displeased not to get an answer. Still, she let it go and instead focused on the important details. ''Other rumors say you have known peace and that you wish to spread it. If you know peace, then what makes you think you can spread such beliefs among people who have known only war when you do not understand us?''
''Simple, really, Natsumi-baa-sama.'' The smile that crept onto his face must have been sharper than any futon enhanced blade because she blanched when she saw it, inching back from him despite being on the other side of the room, her and a few others. ''I have seen war before I have known peace. That is the only way one can know the difference between the two. Without light, there is no shadows, without good, there is no evil, without chaos, there is no serenity and without war, there is no peace. Just like without life, there is no death. But there is a balance that must be maintained. War is nothing but an excuse for people to shroud themselves in darkness, to kill and take lives, to commit cruelty and forget mercy, to make ideals they don't really stand by just so they can do horrible, terrible deeds, like hunting down and killing children when you are three times their age, for example.''
He paused long enough to see the entire room flinch as they recalled all of their young killed by the Senju and all of the Senju children killed by their hand. Madara was glaring at everything and everyone, hands clenched, jaw tight, back rigid, posture tense. Izuna looked sad and murderous while Hikaku was just uncomfortable, still too young to have seen anything of the sort with his own eyes. He was younger than Itachi but must have been at least two years older than Sasuke, just now entering adulthood.
''I have seen war at the age of four and have learned what peace was by the age of six. I have kept that peace until I turned thirteen, when I lost my family and more conflicts arouse.'' 'Mostly silent ones between myself and Danzo or Tobi,' he thought briefly. ''All in all, I have known both, perhaps far longer life-wise, than you. You may have more experience, but I have known longer of both. I understand both those who have known peace and those who haven't but long for it. Does that answer your question, Natsumi-baa-sama?''
The old woman grunted but nodded, looking contemplative already. Itachi had some hope for her.
''What would you suggest for this peace, boy?'' A kinder looking old man, somewhere around sixty years old, asked, no disdain in his voice whatsoever. ''The Senju and the Uchiha have been at war far too long that we don't even remember how the war started. What do you suggest we do to stop it now? Why now? What do you believe changed for there to be a possibility of peace now that hadn't been there before?''
'The interference of one noise Rikudo Sennin who sends innocent dead people to do his dirty work for him.' Itachi wanted to say that, but he knew he'd just get looks as though he were crazy. ''What changed, I believe, is within this generation itself.'' 'And I'm not even talking about the reincarnations of Indra and Ashura of the Otsutsuki Clan.' ''Perhaps this time is the first time in a very long while that someone actually dared think outside of the propaganda and prejudice you teach your young ones and those who think differently have allowed themselves to dream. Perhaps it is because two children of different worlds have come together and became friends, shared a dream of peace and decided to train to one day make that dream a reality. No one dared do so before, see beyond the clan name and the prejudice. They didn't even get much of a chance to, either. No one was strong enough to reach it. No one was quite brave enough to show each other their guts.''
Itachi saw it when Madara stiffened to the reference of his words, words Hashirama had carried in his heart for ears and never forgot, hoping to one day hear them come from Madara yet again. It would seem the legendary Uchiha had not been expecting that one.
''As for what you should do, I suggest both clans meet and you all discus terms first of a ceasefire and then, possibly, of that 'pipe dram' two 'foolish kids' have made and maybe reconsider it? It sounds like a wonderful idea. It would certainly keep your families and people safe. The children would live longer. You all would actually be happier and healthier. No more needless deaths.''
''So there would still be deaths?'' Another Elder challenged and Itachi sighed.
''We are shinobi. Death is a constant companion in our lives. It is actually a constant companion of all human beings, just it prefers to stick closer to shinobi than civilians. I doubt any of either clan members would give up their careers and would no doubt still take missions. Missions that can end in death any time they leave your compounds. Peace or no peace, we are still shinobi.'' The Elder nodded, seemingly satisfied with Itachi's answer. So far so good.
''But what would be the benefits of such a peace, and with our worst enemies, too? What would we gain? If we continue fighting the Senju, we will at least one day get rid of them, take their lands and gain their influence. We'd be the most powerful clan in Fire Country!'' A younger in the Council of Elders protested, challenging Itachi as well.
There, the opening he had been waiting for, hoping for. He had honestly thought that it would come later into the meeting or that he would have to bring it up completely by himself. But this could work. This was the perfect opening, actually.
''I could sit here all day and night, trying to list all the benefits and counter what you see as loses to your clan, but instead, I think I will tell you a story.'' He was grateful to Madara-san for quieting any protests the Elders tried to make as he gathered his thoughts. He just had to be careful, to make the story seen as impersonal as possibly, maybe even make it sound like some legend. Yes, that might be best. Legends and myths are meant to exist to teach future generations not to make the mistakes of the past. Itachi played with his Akatsuki ring as he started his tale.
''Once upon a time, long ago, in a far land, there existed a town where shinobi and civilians shared their land. It was a peaceful place and they all lived in harmony, the civilians providing food and materials and other necessities while shinobi provided protection to this town. The town had a good and just, but old leader. Many smaller clans lived in this village and one big Clan of proud shinobi lived there as well, one of the founding forces of the town itself. They kept peace in the town, among both civilians and shinobi and were very close with the old leader. One day, the old man stepped down from his position and named a worthy heir that the Clan very much respected. Everyone lived happily for a couple of years before tragedy stuck the town, a horrible attack that ended in many deaths, including the new, young leader's. Leaderless as they were, the old man took up the position again but he was old and tired and he now relied more on his Council of Advisors. A Council that feared the big Clan, that didn't trust them and that convinced the civilians that they were behind the attack. The Clan slowly started to lose trust and favor of the townsfolk, more and more people, both shinobi and civilian sure they were traitors until they really did turn traitor when they realized all of their previous power and influence within the town was being stripped each and ever day. And so, they began planning a coup d'tat.''
Itachi paused to take a deep breath and subtly study the room, seeing he had everyone's attention. His fingers never left his red ring, seeming lost in thought as he twisted it around and told the story.
''While the friction between the town and the Clan exponentially grew, an excellent warrior was born into the Clan, the very hair of the founders. He was a genius shinobi of great talent and exceptional skill, kind and just, one of a kind, loyal, empathic, smart and wise, gentle yet possessing the cruelty necessary to do his missions. He seemingly had no weaknesses. He was brave. Everyone knew him and they loved him, despite the distrust they felt towards his birth Clan. The old leader saw this and knew that this was perhaps their saving grace, this boy, a connection between the townspeople and the Clan that had slowly started alienating itself from them all. So he placed the young shinobi into a position of power in hopes that it would settle things. Unfortunately, the situation did not calm and instead became even worse off. Both the Council of Advisors and the Clan saw this as an opportunity to have a spy amongst the enemy and so the young shinobi became a double agent, never knowing for sure on whose side he was truly on. He was torn between two places. He loved his family, his clan, they were his and he was theirs. But he was also loyal and so he could not turn his back to the townspeople who would suffer if the coup were to happen. He was stuck in this ambivalent state for two years before he was finally forced to make a decision. It all came down to two deciding factors: which course of action will cost more lives and which course of action will keep his only brother safe."
The secret Uchiha had to pause to gather himself, letting everyone else fill in the silence with startled or horrified gasps and hitches in breathing. He felt both Madara-san and Izuna-san tense where they sat near him but he tried to ignore it all. Now came the critical part and his wording must be cautious. The Uchiha were a clan that loved like no other. Call them selfish for putting their own before everyone else, but would anyone else really do otherwise? Would anyone else truly give up family for a perfect stranger? Thy who hath not sinned, throw the first stone.
"One of the Advisors knew this, knew of his unconditional love for his younger brother, and he shamelessly used it. He confronted the young shinobi about it after the shinobi confirmed the Clan was indeed planning a coup and that it would take place soon. The Advisor threatened the shinobi's brother if the shinobi did not execute his entire Clan in three days by midnight, threatened to send someone else to kill them all and to let their name be shamed for all of time. The young shinobi tried to think of an alternative, desperately pondering their precarious situation, but he knew even before he agreed that night that it was impossible. There was no other way. He wanted to save his family but if he let them do as they wish, hundreds more would die in the coup. If he let someone else do it, they would do so cruelly and mercilessly, maybe torturing his kin or hunting them down like animals. And he knew he would never be able to protect his brother in such a skirmish. He was backed into a corner, left with no choice. All he could do was make it as swift and painless as possible, give them the mercy no one else would if they were to take this task. So he made himself the villain, doing a deed that marked him as a kin-slayer, the worst of their kind, a Clan Killer. In the span of one night, a powerful Clan was all but whipped off of the face of the earth, only the brothers remaining. Since the order did not come from the old leader, going through with this mission was treason and he was forced to run from his home like a common criminal. His brother grew to hate him, thinking of only his death. His people hunted and detested him. His family was gone, perhaps cursing him from the Other Side. But his family name, their honor and their pride, remained intact, the truth about the coup never reaching the light of day. With years, his brother - now a young man, well loved and respected, stronger and grown - hunted him until they fought and the so called kin-slayer was slayed by his own last and most precious kin. He took all of his secrets to the grave with him, their Clan once again becoming as respected as it had been. The brother rebuilt it, slowly but surely; it flourished. The old leader died, another part of this story dying with him. The Council of Advisors remained to rule alongside a new leader, who was oblivious to their true nature, subtly sabotaging the growth of the reborn Clan as much as they could. But they are old and not even they can live forever. New generations will come. The Clan would survive on the sacrifice made by this young shinobi. He had died a criminal, a villain, when he was the hero, a savior hidden in the shadows and the illusions he had weaved around them all. His Clan lived. He could finally rest."
There was a moment of silence as everyone absorbed the words, the story, any possible hidden meaning or message it may convey but if there was a message, then the Uchiha were having quite a bit of trouble finding it. Finally, the Elder whose question brought about this story spoke up. "But what does this have to do with us? How does this connect to our situation?"
"Think about it." Itachi implored. "The Clan wanted more power. They did not listen to the younger generation, personified in the young shinobi, and theie thoughts or views. They selfishly moved onwards, careless of how many of their kin might die in the coup." The Elders could not say anything as they realized it was a slight directed at them. "The ruling class of the town could easily turn out to be the Fire Daimyo and his advisors when they finally get sick of your constant conflicts with the Senju. Large your clans might be and no matter the number of allies you could gather under your banner against each other, rare few clans will pass up on the opportunity to fight for the Daimyo and not get a reward for every Uchiha or Senju they kill. When one does not want to consider peace, only war can come their way. The Clan in the story was lucky to have survived and with their honor intact, too. Your two clans might not be so lucky, no matter how big or strong."
"Is that a threat?" Takami finally spoke again, glowering at the twenty one year old. The ex ANBU captain arched an eyebrow
"Why would I possibly threaten you? How could little ol' me threaten all of you?" And he wondered if anyone heard the sardonic tone to his voice as he said that. Really, he should not have let his control slip like that. "You need to focus on the message of this story. The older generations have suppressed and used the younger generations in their pursuit of power and it has ended tragically. In this case, some of the younger have survived and the clan was saved. War was avoided, but at what a cost! You now have the golden opportunity, a unique chance to stop war without a cost. Why would you throw that away?"
The others couldn't say anything, knowing that if they denied what Itachi said, it would only be denying sound logic and make Itachi's point for him. The story they have been told was laden with all sorts of messages and they would be idiots to ignore any of them. And no Uchiha liked to look like an idiot. Itachi knew he had them trapped.
"Any more questions?" Madara asked after a full two minutes of silence passed, everyone deep in thought and Itachi looked up from where his gaze had fallen to his hands, still playing and twisting his ring.
"What is the name of that young shinobi?" Another elderly woman asked, sounding truly curious as she gazed at Itachi. Her seat-mates, though, didn't appear so genuine in their interest and the weasel could see that they were searching for faults and trying to find something that would discredit Itachi and all he had said. Under such scrutiny, Itachi allowed just the barest hint of a smirk to appear on his lips as he finally replaced his ring and pulled away his other hand so that the red jewel could be seen, the single black Kanji character standing out as perfectly as the tomoe do in the Sharingan.
"His name was Vermilion."