People often said that truth was powerful, and indeed it was. But sometimes a lie could have even greater power. That was what Sarutobi thought as he took his place at the head of the table. The meeting had already been in session when he arrived, a heated debate had come to a sudden and abrupt halt the second they saw him. He saw some of these men were genuinely angry. Given what they believed he could hardly blame them. Even if I told them the truth would any of them believe me? More likely they would believe it to be nothing but a self serving fiction. The real tragedy was that the lie was still needed. The truth would tear the village apart. Itachi had understood that and had not asked for Sarutobi to reveal what had really happened that night. He did not ask to be vindicated. For the sake of his clan's honor he would go to his grave as a traitor and murderer of his own blood kin. How can I even pretend to have any sort of honor when I inflict such a thing upon him? But he knew that doing what was best for the village sometimes meant sacrificing good men. Sadly this would be one of those times.
"I can guess what you were arguing about," Sarutobi said calmly as he lit his pipe. "Please feel free to tell me your honest opinion."
The Council members who had been shouting so vehemently only moments ago shared an embarrassed look. It wasn't that any of them were afraid to speak their minds, but it was rather that they all respected and admired the Third. It was not easy to criticize a man you revered.
Then again…
"Hokage-sama, with respect, have you lost your mind?" Nara Shikaku told him.
"You cannot speak to the Hokage so," Danzo said.
"Funny," Shikaku smirked. "It seems I just did."
"What my friend and teammate means," Inoichi said. "Is that you cannot expect us to accept this."
"Except for Orochimaru he was the greatest traitor this village has ever known," Inuzuka Tsume barked furiously. "He should be executed not welcomed back with open arms!"
"While I agree with all of you that this is distasteful," Hiashi spoke in that cool superior tone of his. "The fact remains he is now the last Uchiha. What the Hokage has done was necessary to preserve not only the Uchiha clan but the sharingan."
"You seem to forget that the only reason he is the last Uchiha is because he massacred all the rest of them." Shikaku reminded them.
"I have not forgotten," Hiashi said coolly. "But the fact remains he is the last. If this village intends to keep the power of the sharingan we must come to an accommodation."
"And what about justice?" Akimichi Choza spoke with passion. "Do we simply forget about all the murders and other crimes he has committed?"
"Certainly not," Koharu said primly. "He will not be allowed to leave the village and will be held to a strict parole…"
"Parole?!" Tsume said angrily. To the Inuzuka family and blood counted above all else. To them Itachi's crimes had been literally unforgivable. "That is sad joke. Is it true that he is to be given the Uchiha compound as well as the clan fortune?"
Koharu at least had the decency to look uncomfortable as she answered. "That is only proper as he is the only remaining member of his clan."
"Because he killed all the others!" Tsume declared.
The thought of Itachi living in comfort in the vast Uchiha compound sparked fresh argument. Sarutobi sat there and patiently listened, taking no active part in the lively debate. The lines seemed clearly drawn. Danzo, Koharu, Homura, and Hiashi supported his decision. Shikaku, Inoichi, Choza, and Tsume were firmly opposed. Aburame Shibi seemed to be neutral and alone took no hard stance on the subject. Sarutobi had hoped that some sort of consensus might be reached among the Council members. But the longer things dragged on the more obvious it became that no one was likely to change their minds.
Sarutobi coughed and got everyone's undivided attention. "I thank you all for your sincere input, however my decision stands. As is my right I have granted Uchiha Itachi a full pardon and recognized him as clan head. Nevertheless he will be placed on parole and denied certain privileges. He will not be permitted to leave the village. He will not be permitted to wear the hitai-ite or bear the title ninja. He will not be granted a seat upon this Council, though the Uchiha clan seat shall be kept available for a future candidate. This is my final decision on the matter as Hokage. Whatever your personal feelings I expect all of you to honor my choice."
Those who had argued against it all looked bitterly disappointed, but they nodded. This was their way, when a command was given by a superior it was to be obeyed. But Shikaku came to his feet and spoke what the other others were thinking.
"I will obey your command Hokage-sama, but you are in the wrong."
XXXXXXXXXX
Uchiha Itachi waited calmly in a room in ANBU headquarters. There were guards on the door and he was not permitted to leave, but Sarutobi had made it clear he was not a prisoner. This was for his own protection. Until the Hokage could make it known not only that Itachi was back in the village but that he was now pardoned it would be best for him to remain hidden. Upon his return he'd had a long talk with Sarutobi where he'd revealed all he knew about Akatsuki. They now had a full list of all the remaining members of Akatsuki and their abilities. Sarutobi had been shocked to learn of the existence of Uchiha Madara. It seemed unbelievable that the rival and contemporary of the Shodai Hokage could be alive and well and as powerful as Itachi described. He had been almost as interested to learn of Pein, the figurehead of the organization and secret ruler of Rain country.
All that was very useful and important information, but Itachi had not been able to tell the Hokage what he needed to know most. He had no idea what the future plans for Akatsuki were beyond a simple code phrase: Operation Legacy. Whatever it involved was a carefully guarded secret known only to Madara, Pein, and possibly Konan. Before leaving though he had done what he could to help his village deal with Akatsuki.
XXXXXXXXXX
Itachi was looking at a newspaper. Every Wednesday he made certain to acquire a copy of the same paper. He would read it in private and then discard it. In the personals section there was a short message for Uzake Inoto. It read,
Come home, all is forgiven.
It was a black letter from his home village. And it contained a message he had never expected to receive. Though he understood why the message was being sent to him now. He carefully folded up the paper and prepared to throw it away.
"If you're done with it can I have it?" Kisame asked. "I want to read the comics."
Itachi handed the paper to him without comment. Kisame accepted it and eyed his partner with interest.
"Is it my imagination or do you seem a bit more sullen than usual? Has your little brother's death actually affected you?"
"Do not be ridiculous," Itachi replied calmly.
"I don't know," Kisame said. "It's hard to tell with you, but somehow I suspect there's just a little bit of sadness hidden behind that stoic front of yours." Disguised with henges they were calmly traveling through a small town somewhere in River country. "You know there's something I always wondered about, why did you spare him? You wiped out your entire clan including your parents. Why did you let your little brother live."
Itachi eyed him calmly. "If you truly wish to know I will tell you, but not here. When we are on the road."
XXXXXXXXXX
They had a light lunch and picked up a few supplies and were soon alone traveling together.
"So let's hear it," Kisame said.
"Very well," Itachi spoke in a resigned voice. He shut his eyes momentarily, when he opened them again the mangekyo sharingan was active.
"Wha…" Kisame had no more time to react before he felt himself being drawn away. Everything seemed to disappear for an instant and then he found himself in a colorless realm beneath a full moon. "What is this?!"
"This place is the Tsukuyomi, the nightmare realm. Here I completely control time, space, and even all substance." He heard Itachi's calm voice come from every direction. "Pease know Kisame that I take no pleasure in this. I have enjoyed our partnership, and even consider you a friend."
"Itachi, just what is going on here? Why the hell have you brought me to this place?"
"You wanted to know why I spared my brother. It was because he was the only one who was innocent of my clan's foul crime. The entire clan was on the verge of launching a coup attempt against my Hokage. For their own ambitions my clansmen would have plunged Konoha into a bloody civil war. To prevent this I was assigned the mission of exterminating the traitors."
"Wait a second! You're saying you killed your entire clan on orders?"
"That is correct."
"But if you were ordered to do it why did you go rogue?"
"The order was to kill the entire clan. It was the intention that I be the only remaining Uchiha. However I was certain my brother Sasuke knew nothing of the clan's treason. When the time came I found I could not kill him. So instead I convinced him I had gone mad and fled the village as a missing nin. Everything I have done since that time has been done for the sake of my little brother and my village. But now it is done. Sasuke is gone and I have been recalled to Konoha."
Kisame was looking in all directions nervously but there was nothing there. "You mean to betray Akatsuki?"
"I do not view it as a betrayal as I was never truly loyal. The entire time I acted as deep cover agent gathering information."
Kisame slowly nodded. Though he knew it was pointless he drew Samehada from his back. "You wouldn't be telling me all this if you were planning to let me live would you?"
"If I spared you, you would remain a dangerous enemy not only to me but to my fellow leaf nins. I am therefore obliged to deal with you now. I am sorry Kisame; I will make your death clean and quick."
"Gee appreciate that." Holding Samehada at the ready he kept glancing about.
Directly behind him a figure of Itachi instantly appeared holding a sword of his own.
XXXXXXXXXX
In the real world only seconds after being attacked Kisame gasped and collapsed.
Itachi tranquilly approached him and knelt down to confirm he was dead. Satisfied he departed and began the long trip back to Konoha.
XXXXXXXXXX
Sarutobi was not surprised when he heard loud shouts coming from outside the office door. He was even less surprised to see a certain silver haired ninja come bursting in. "That's all right," Sarutobi said calling off the Chunin who guarded his door. "I will speak to Kakashi." He glanced at the irate Jonin. "I can guess why you are here."
"Is it true?" Kakashi demanded.
"That Itachi has returned to the village and been granted a full pardon? Yes it is." Sarutobi remained seated and outwardly relaxed.
"How can you do this? This is a betrayal of the memory not only of Sasuke but of Obito and every Uchiha that Itachi murdered! This is unforgivable! I will not stand by and allow this to happen."
"You will," Sarutobi said with a voice heavy with authority. "I understand well how you must feel Kakashi, given your ties to both Obito and Sasuke. But it is not your decision to make, it is mine. And I expect you to obey my order like every other ninja in this village."
"I can't promise I will be able to do that," Kakashi replied.
"Please think of your remaining students before you take an action that will lead to either you death or your becoming a missing nin." Sarutobi told him. "He is the last Uchiha, for the sake of future clan members please do not recklessly."
Beneath his mask Kakashi frowned. "I understand the reasons for your decision Hokage-sama, but I believe you to be wrong."
Sarutobi sighed. "You are far from the only one to think that Kakashi. But whether right or wrong the responsibility is mine Kakashi not yours. You will not attack or seek revenge against Itachi in any way; I want your word Kakashi, right now. Or if you feel you cannot obey my orders then surrender your hitai-ite and leave this village."
Kakashi stared at him not believing it. "You would do that to protect him?"
"I would do that to make certain my orders are obeyed. If you are a leaf nin you must obey all my orders Kakashi, not only the ones you agree with."
Looking angry Kakashi gave his supreme leader a grudging nod. "You have my word, but I think you will come to regret this decision." Kakashi stormed out just as he had stormed in.
Seeing Kakashi's righteous fury only saddened him. There was nothing at all he could do about it; he was trapped by the lie. I regret many of the decisions I have made. He sighed. But not this one.
XXXXXXXXXX
When the door to his room opened Itachi rose to his feet. "Greetings Hokage-sama, will I now be allowed to go?"
Sarutobi nodded. "Yes, though I will assign you an ANBU guard. I realize you likely do not need one but there is a great deal of anger at my decision and I think it best to be wary."
"As you wish Hokage-sama, if you feel my return will cause the village trouble…"
Sarutobi shook his head. "No, even if I am one of the very few who know it your return here is an act of justice. Even if no one else believes it, I am very glad to have you back Itachi."
Itachi had a bare grin touch his lips. "I am happy to be home Hokage-sama."