Okami

I was surprised to see Tsunade in the hotel courtyard as I finished my morning stretches. Shikadai had gone back to bed after helping me to apply lotion to my cuts, and Kakashi-sensei was communicating with the other team.

She took a seat on a nearby bench and asked, "Who's usually the third on your team?"

"Hyuuga Tsuki," I offered without intonation, beginning a kata just to keep from having to stand in front of her as if I was reporting. She wasn't Hokage anymore, and I had no reason to answer her questions if I didn't want to.

"She must be your medic then," Tsunade concluded, "I've never heard of an Uchiha learning to heal."

I remarked, "When sober, you appear capable of identifying the fact that I take after my father in most things. If you're trying to provoke me, I'll warn you that facts about my clan won't do much to me. I've had more of a third-party view on them most of my life." This kata was one all shinobi were taught. We weren't supposed to do those only taught to the clan outside the clan grounds. Perhaps I lacked loyalty for the Uchiha, but I had still learned their way of doing things, and it would be difficult for me to ignore some of the things they had taught me, just as it would be nigh on impossible for me to ignore my ANBU and Root training now.

"You weren't frowning like an Uchiha last night," Tsunade offered by way of explanation, and I wondered for a moment why she was trying to antagonize me. Perhaps, like a couple of adult Uchiha had done when I was younger, she was trying to make me lash out, so it would be easier for her to hate me.

"Your talk with Kakashi-sensei must have gone well if you're looking for an excuse not to come with us," I remarked, "I doubt you'll get one from me, and Shikadai is both still asleep and too lazy to antagonize anyone, even if he's more willing to try than the average Nara. I'd suggest Kakashi-sensei, but he's harder to antagonize than I am if you're not willing to cause harm." I was having trouble aligning this woman with the one I'd heard stories about as a kid, and it was simpler to think of them as separate entities. People changed with time, and it was more than likely that she was a completely different person than she had been then.

Tsunade was frowning when I bothered to get a glance at her face, and I carefully hid my grin from the woman, proud that I'd managed to guess her reason for antagonizing me.

Tsunade complained, "You are certainly harder to rile than Obito."

I paused, one leg in the air, confused by that statement. I'd never considered Obito-senpai to be quick to anger. I normally thought he was the most laid back Uchiha I'd ever met. He was protective of those he cared about, but beyond that, he normally diffused any situation with a joke.

"Would you explain your reasoning?" I requested, resuming the kata more slowly, making certain that each move was done with precision.

"Well, perhaps not adult Obito," Tsunade acquiesced, "but I'll always remember him as the little gennin with orange goggles that would do anything to prove himself and would do absolutely anything to protect his team."

I concluded, "While the second part remains true, he has no need to prove himself to anyone now."

"Do you remember a medic-nin named Shizune?" Tsunade inquired.

"No," I replied, pausing again so I could look her in the eye, "but most of my treatments by medics in recent years only occurred when I became unconscious. Those treatments I received while conscious came from the healer on the team. If it is my fault she died, I'm very sorry."

Tsunade considered me carefully, and I wondered if she understood how much I meant that. I should have activated a genjutsu when I was about to pass out to hide my scars or done something to make the ones on my arms look less like fingers and the ones on my back look less like lashes. It was my fault a good Konoha nin had died, and I had to live with that.

Flashback

Okami is a Baby

Itachi

(I know I've basically given this backstory, but I kind of felt like writing it out, so you're all going to get it anyway. It'll happen in several parts through several perspectives over a period of time.)

It was late, but I was only just getting back from a long mission. We were due to have a few days off before our next one, so I was planning on getting some much-needed rest. The guards seemed to sense my exhaustion, so they let me by without a word as I walked into the grounds of the main household.

I removed my shoes at the entrance and began the walk to my own room. I was passing one of the courtyards when I heard a strange noise, which sounded like a child's muffled crying. Sasuke was too old for tears by that point, which is likely what drove me to investigate. I found a small crate, that seemed to have something struggling inside, but the form of the 'thing' was covered by a blanket. I pulled it back as best I could, then stared in shock for a moment. It was a baby.

It promptly howled its anger and confusion, prompting me to scoop it up and make some attempt to coax it into quieting down before it woke the other members of my household. Of course, normally when I was made to hold one of my young cousins and they began crying, the mother removed them from my grasp, so I was forced to guess at how to cause the wailing to cease.

My mother came into the courtyard, bleary-eyed, and asked, "Itachi, why do you have a baby?"

"I found him here as I was going to my room," I explained.

Mother took him from my arms, and it almost seemed she had the magic touch. Of course, having had two sons, it was likely a matter of experience that allowed her to calm the child.

"You had a long mission," my mother said, "I'll take him to the hospital. They can find his parents, if he has any. Was there any note with his name or anything?"

I poked through the basket and found a card with what I had to assume was his name written on it. I told her, "It's Okami."

"I suppose I'll need to bring it along. It's evidence," mother concluded.

I yawned a little, but helped her rearrange, so that she could carry the crate and the baby.

Present

Shikadai

I wandered down the stairs, planning on seeing if Okami had gotten breakfast yet. I found him doing katas in a courtyard, while Tsunade seemed to watch him or something.

Okami was moving slowly, probably trying to make sure each movement was perfect or something like that. He stopped, and he looked sad. I walked into the courtyard, which seemed to snap him out of whatever he'd been thinking about, and he offered me a smile.

Tsunade looked tired, but I didn't have a chance to ask about that.

Sensei walked into the courtyard and said, "We're going to head back. Jiraya is on his way with the other team. Hopefully, he'll be able to help."

"I guess I can come along," Tsunade remarked with a sigh, "Can't let myself be one upped by that idiot."

If sensei was surprised by that, he didn't show it.

It didn't take us that long to get back to the village, but waiting for us at the front gate was an ANBU in a snake mask.

Hooray! Something resembling a plot! Feel free to leave a review.