In a hotel room stood two people, one of them had dark hair and red eyes, he wore a black cloak with red clouds and looked at the other one in sympathy.
"Are you sure this is the only way?" Itachi asked.
The other one had blonde hair and blue eyes, the whisker-like marks in his cheeks easily identified him as the Kyuubi Jinchuriki.
"This world needs a hero Itachi, someone who can inspire people and show them that peace is the right way, I can't do that"
Itachi sighed, he understood where the blonde was coming from but he did the same once and he regretted it ever since.
"I know, I just wish there was another way"
"You and me both" Naruto said. "But sometimes we have to sacrifice ourselves for the greater good, you of all people should understand that"
Naruto got up from where he was sitting, he sealed the latter he wrote, his warning to the world, and handed it over to Itachi.
"Make sure they follow the instructions on that letter, the fate of the world is at stake"
"I knew about Madara but I never imagined it went that far" Itachi said.
"It does, and unfortunately this is all we can do, tell them the truth and hope they make the right choice"
"You're right, I wish I learned that sooner"
"Sasuke would learn the truth eventually" Naruto said with a sigh. "Give your brother guidance, don't let him make the same mistakes you did, and one day he might bring the peace you so crave" Naruto said.
"Do you really think so?"
"It is as I told you" Naruto said with a humorless chuckle. "We can only hope"
Itachi nodded, he looked towards the window and said.
"You're a hero, you know that?"
"No" Naruto said, shaking his head. "I'm not, I'm just a fool trying to do good"
"Aren't we all?" Itachi said, showing a rare smile.
Naruto smiled and took Itachi's hand, the two shared a handshake and Naruto said.
"It was an honor to work with you Itachi Uchiha"
"The honor was mine, Naruto Uzumaki"
The door burst open and Naruto had time to see his best friend's, Sasuke Uchiha's, sharingan transform from three tomoe to a starburst pattern before the dark overtook him.
Two Weeks Latter
A blonde man walked through the halls of the TI department, his cold blue eyes forcing everyone in his path to move away barely noticing the cracks all across his body.
He entered a cell, in it, Itachi stood chained to the wall, a table in front of him with a very familiar letter.
"I have questions, you will answer them, if you lie I will hurt you if I don't like your answers I will make you suffer the worst pain you ever imagined, is that clear?"
"Of course, Yoindaime-sama"
Minato glared at him for a moment longer, every part of his being screaming at him to kill Itachi, to break him, to hurt him just like he hurt Minato when he killed-
"Do you know what is in this letter?" Minato asked.
"Not specifically, though I have an idea"
Minato opened the letter, he had read it hundreds of times but it always hurt just as much as the first time, just as much as when he was brought back and learned this man, no, this monster killed his-
My name is not Naruto
"Do you know what he meant by that?" Minato asked.
"No," Itachi said, he would have shaken his head but they made sure even the slightest movements were agony. "He didn't explain and I figured it wasn't something he was willing to share so I didn't ask"
"What about your ideas?" Minato growled out.
"He said" Itachi paused and a second later Minato was next to him, kunai stabbing into his shoulder.
"Answer me!" Minato shouted.
Itachi grunted in pain when the kunai was removed and said.
"He said something about the Reaper Death Seal drawing souls towards it, he didn't elaborate or say anything else related to it"
Minato frowned but sat down and moved again towards the letter.
If you are reading this then I'm dead.
A flash of pain, guilt, anger, all hit Minato momentarily before he continued.
The day I was born the Kyuubi escaped from his previous jinchuriki, Kushina Uzumaki, with the help of a masked Uchiha, Minato Namikaze fought him off and believed he was Madara Uchiha, he was not.
The impersonal way that they were referred to in the letter hurt Minato but he forced himself to keep reading.
The masked man was Obito Uchiha, he was manipulated by a creature named Zetsu to form the Akatsuki, a terrorist group focused on gathering all the Biju to create a superweapon. Follow my instructions carefully, for if you fail at even one of them humanity will be extinguished.
"Did you know who he really was?" Minato asked.
"I believed he really was Madara, Naruto was the one who told me the truth"
"What about this Zetsu?"
"He is the Akatsuki's spymaster, I didn't know he was that much of a threat"
First, the Kyuubi died with me but he will reform eventually, when he does you have to get to him first at all costs, protect him, if the Akatsuki get him then all is lost.
Second, you must revive Minato and Kushina using the Edo Tensei, Minato has the other half of the Kyuubi, he is willing to work with Minato and might be the only hope should all else fail, in the worst-case scenario Kushina's chains will be critical to deal with what is to come.
"Did he tell you what the worst-case scenario is?"
"No, he told me the fewer people knew the full truth the better" Itachi said.
"Could it be this superweapon he mentioned?"
"Maybe, though from how he was when he told me I believe its something worse"
The Akatsuki's base is in Amegakure, in this letter I sealed files on each member, make sure to read them carefully, and do not give them any chances, all members are extremely dangerous and must be killed at all costs.
Do not let Jiraya take part in the battle unless he is in sage mode and is will to kill his former apprentices Nagato and Konan, the real pain is not amongst the 6 bodies but has to be nearby.
As for Obito send Kakashi, they share the Kamui and Kakashi is one of the few who can counter that jutsu.
Once you get your hands on Nagato's rinnegan, and I can't stress this enough, destroy them immediately! If even one of those eyes survive humanity is done for.
Zetsu must be a priority target, even if all other members are dealt with if Zetsu survives then the apocalypse will come eventually, the black half is the most dangerous but both halves must be killed.
Should you find the Gedo Mazo, you will know it when you see it, destroy it immediately, if destruction proves impossible seal it away in the darkest corner of the earth and kill anyone who knows its location.
Danzo is not to be trusted, he has to die and all the sharingan in his arms must be destroyed, there are several other files that only Minato should read sealed away in this letter, I trust that he will do what is necessary.
For my best friend Sasuke, tell him I am sorry and that I'm leaving my dream to him, fight for peace, make the world a better place, but above all, be happy.
Goodbye and please, make sure the world is in good hands.
Minato took a deep breath, looked at Itachi, and said.
"Is there anything that wasn't in this letter that he told you?"
Itachi was silent for a moment before he said.
"He said he was sorry, and that your son would have been proud of you"
Minato nodded, he got up and silently walked out of the room.