Ok, here's the rest of it. I have no plans at all for doing anything else to this part. I'll write the prequel last because hardly anyone seems to want to read it. I will get around to it eventually for those who do.
So look for Alternate History 2. Should be up in a week or two. (Remember, the easiest way to find it is to scroll to the bottom of my profile. XD)
Chapter 21- Old Comrade
I couldn't sleep.
My mind was too busy wrestling with a new spurt of paranoia. I still hadn't made my mind up. Could I trust Tasha?
The continuous pit-pat of rain on the roof wasn't helping my sleeping patterns much either. There was nowhere near this much rain in Konoha. It could rain for twenty-four hours straight?
I rolled onto my side and watched my brother as he slept, cherishing these soon to be rare moments.
There was a content smile on his lips, which was partially hidden by an ever-growing bang of dark hair. His hair was getting quite long, but so was my own.
He was hugging his pillow and had a blanket draped across his lower back.
I reached out and ran my fingers through his hair, uncovering his face.
I sighed and dropped my hand, pulling his blanket back up to his shoulders. I didn't want him getting sick now.
I shifted again, trying to get comfortable.
"Here." I said, tucking a scroll into the holster on my brother's hip. "You have to get used to carrying things in this way."
"Okay." He replied, pulling his shirt down to cover it up.
"If we want to deal with this today, we'd better get moving." Kisame said, leaning in the doorway to our room. "Actually, we'd better travel across the rooftops of the town. It'll take days to get to the outskirts otherwise."
"Alright, we're ready to go." I said getting to my feet. I decided to piggyback Sasuke over populated areas. There wouldn't be so many hassles.
We leapt from one rooftop to another, trying to attract the least amount of attention possible. These hats were really quite bothersome. They blocked my view, yet they blocked other people's view of me.
It was only when we'd reached the edge of Amegakure that I deemed it safe enough to let Sasuke walk by himself.
We halted when we reached the bare and empty plane which surrounded all of Amegakure. "Now what?" I asked.
'There are two of them situated about five hundred meters North-West of your current position.' Leader supplied. 'Kill them if need be.'
Now more alert than before, I continued moving in a northwesterly direction. I had my Sharingan activated, so I was the first to notice a chakra signature coming from underground.
It wasn't Orochimaru's, but it still seemed to be very familiar… When I halted suddenly, Kisame and Sasuke followed suit.
I could feel their questioning gazes upon me. Whoever it was, was directly underneath us and coming ever closer… Evidently they were travelling upwards.
"Move!" I warned, dragging Sasuke out of the way.
Kisame heeded my words and moved. I saw a man wearing an ANBU mask exit the ground where we had been standing moments earlier.
That mask, that chakra… that hair. It could only be the copy ninja Hatake Kakashi, a former comrade of mine.
Now, on closer inspection, I could see the hauntingly familiar pattern of chakra, which circulated through the eyes. The pattern, which indicated a Sharingan eye.
Kisame swung the Samehada to attack, but the replacement jutsu was used as a counter measure.
I saw him reappear behind Kisame, so I threw a shuriken over his shoulder. At the same time I saw Kisame throw a kunai over my shoulder.
I heard two thunks as the weapons landed in wood. The replacement jutsu had obviously been used again. I now assumed both of them were fighting us.
I crouched over Sasuke. He was in far too much danger for my liking. "What are your motives?" I demanded. Both of our opponents paused a fair distance away when they heard me speak.
"What are your motives, Uchiha Itachi?" Kakashi responded.
My face was covered so he'd either guessed my identity from the presence of my brother or from the presence of chakra in my eyes.
"The Sandaime wouldn't have let the Elders send ANBU after me. Why are you really here?" I stood again, slowly.
"Sandaime had heard rumours…" he replied evasively.
I could guess he had nothing to do with the Elders from this response. He was just following orders, whatever they may have been. Probably something to do with rogue shinobi.
"Leave or I will kill you both." I intoned. If they weren't involved, there was no point in killing them. But if they didn't go, I would be forced to.
"Why did you do it?" Kakashi asked, now standing in a more relaxed pose. His partner however was still warily eyeing Kisame.
"Remember this." I said. I knew I had his full attention now. He thought I was actually going to tell him… But I wasn't because I didn't want to get anyone else involved. I didn't think Sasuke was ready to hear it either.
"It wasn't Sasuke who killed them."
Kakashi nodded, but I wondered if he got my intended message. Sasuke should be able to return to Konoha if he chose to in the future. He had committed no crime and he did not know anything about our family's planned betrayal.
Both Kakashi and his partner backed off slowly to a safe distance before they turned and retreated.
Relieved, I turned back to the village once their chakra signatures were gone.
I felt Sasuke gripping my pant leg. I bent down once more and put my hands on Sasuke's shoulders. "It's ok." I assured.
He leant in, hugging my torso. I put my arms around him, encasing him in the Akatsuki coat. "Why did they try to attack me?" he asked.
"What?" I frowned, putting a hand on his chin and turning his head to face me properly.
"The other man was trying to attack me, not you." He whispered, a tear trickling down his cheek.
Why had he? Were they trying to finish what I had started? I didn't even recognize the man, or rather, his mask. "Maybe he thought it was a trick. That I was henged as you, and you I." I replied, standing.
'Konoha ANBU? That was quite unexpected. I apologize Itachi san.' Leader's thoughts disrupted my own. He did seem rather grave by the results of his actions.
'We're all still breathing.' I replied. But for how long?