A Simple Glance

by GBAboy313

It is said that one lost nail can lead to a kingdom falling. The same principle applies to a lot of things. A Simple Glance at the answer on a paper on the day of an academy assignment asking the students to decide who they would spend the last day on earth with leads to massive change. Naruto and Hinata will change the world. Fate's design has already been thrown aside. M for safe

3. Five Hearts and a Weasel

A Simple Glance

Any notes?

Sorry for the wait. Life's been a pain for a while. Been an absolute pain in the ass.

I find it funny that I made that Metroid reference in the previous chapter and then not too long after we got the announcement for Metroid Dread, which is the first game to actually continue the franchise's story from where Fusion left off. Dread is something we have known was in the works for about 15 or 20 years, first announced about the same time as one of the Metroid Prime games, can't remember which one. So needless to say, I'm looking forward to it heavily.

I have a few projects waiting in the wings that I can't wait for them to be ready to be shared with you all.

I don't remember when I started this chapter, and I kinda don't care but I also upgraded to a new laptop and version of Microsoft Word so I don't know if I could even find it. I finished this yesterday (9/5/2021) and am writing these last notes on 9/6/2021 at 9:27 am before going to sleep on my first of two days off after working all weekend.

It was rough but I made it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Now, without further ado: ON WITH THE SHOW! AHHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHA!

Chapter 3

Five Hearts and a Weasel

"Demon Eyes Itachi. Five Heart Kakuzu. Surrender." The call issued out among the horde of ANBU and Konoha Jonin.

"Do you believe we can win this one, Kakuzu-san?" Itachi asked.

Kakuzu didn't answer as his Lightning Heart and Water Heart left his body and took form from a mass of threads surrounding each.

Itachi was slightly amused by Kakuzu's confidence in the face of this threat. "I take it as a yes." 'I hope we don't have to kill too many today. With a group this big, there will be plenty to counter us should we attempt to kill.'

"Get that damned bird of yours to look for the target…" Kakuzu ground out as Earth Spear took effect.

Itachi nodded as he scanned the crowd: "I was expecting some old friends. But all we got was a Dog, no large cats or birds of prey."

The faint movement among the crowd pointed towards a nerve being struck by Itachi's seeming dismissal of the assembled Konoha Nin. Dog's glare intensified as he motioned the horde to attack.

Kakuzu chuckled: "Time to earn my payday…"

Itachi rushed towards Kakashi, knowing that out of the entire force confronting the Akatsukis, Kakashi was the only one present who stood a chance of defeating the Uchiha 'Traitor.'

Kakashi may lack a known Mangekyo, but Itachi was confident that Kakashi could at least hold him until an excuse to retreat was presented.

Itachi's developing illness gave Kakashi a chance if it flares at the right moment and Kakashi took it.

The two ANBU captains rushed each other while Itachi began forming hand signs.

Kakashi braced for a jutsu but nothing came and Itachi instead simply punched at him.

Kakashi made to block and found what Itachi had done.

The fist was almost metallic in color.

"Earth Release: Earth Spear. Impressive, isn't it, Kakashi-sempai? I had only learned it mere minutes before the explosion." Itachi stated in his emotionless and monotone voice. In that voice it could have been a smug taunt.

Kakashi growled through gritted teeth: "Maybe…But not enough to save you." Kakashi pulled back before quickly rushing back in while flashing through hand signs at absurd speeds that left Itachi mentally sputtering 'He wove the sequence so fast that I couldn't even read it…the Copy Nin is not to be underestimated in the slightest.'

Itachi didn't consciously know what to expect but he was raising the metal covered fist to parry the incoming strike.

Itachi probably expected many things, but sparks from their two arms colliding was extremely low on that list.

He was willing to admit that he should have seen this coming: "You copied me and was able to perform it perfectly within seconds of the copy? You do indeed live up to the title you hold. No wonder no Uchiha could claim it while you could."

Itachi's arm flashed out and some shuriken flew behind him from his hand and intercepted a handful of kunai, shuriken, and senbon. Itachi never even gave it a bit more thought than a slight scoff: "Amateurs." Before resuming the clash with Dog.

Kakuzu had to give the Leaf Nin fighting him some credit, they were making sure to always keep moving to never give him an ideal target for his Elemental Ninjutsu and always made sure to keep close to him when the Lightning Heart Mask appeared to be going on the attack.

Seems someone had done their homework on him and not only done it well, but also managed to pick up on some details that many had missed. 'Annoying, but refreshing in a way.'

The Heart he kept in his chest, the Earth Heart, was his natural heart and contained his strongest affinity. Earth Release was a school filled with powerful defensive techniques, best to keep that one to protect himself.

Plus, the Five Hearted bounty hunter did not want to find out how much it would affect him to have his natural heart destroyed. He felt it when his other hearts were destroyed and it hurt like a bitch. But those weren't his actual true heart.

The affinity of each heart carried its strengths and weaknesses, Kakuzu couldn't afford to let himself be caught in any of his Lightning Heart's attacks if the attack had a radius.

'At least the humbly smug little bastard is keeping Hatake off me.'

"Fire Release: Searing Migraine!" Kakuzu yelled as the Fire Heart Mask extended off his back and fired a large and explosive fire ball at the crowd.

It broke up the group and spread them out for a nice easy kill.

Kakuzu smiled cruelly under his mask as he found two separated from the group and he blurred into motion, throwing his extendable arms out at a tired and honestly unhealthy-looking swordsman and some other forgettable Konoha Nin.

His arms grabbed both. The forgettable one tried to pry Kakuzu's fingers off his throat and Kakuzu could feel his grip being almost ripped off, so he decided to just squeeze. The man's neck snapped and he fell over.

He wasn't dead yet but he would be eventually from blood loss.

The swordsman felt the grip on his throat before he saw the forearm and hand connected by a large almost muscle like mass of threads leading to the matching upper arm and Kakuzu as he saw the other arm similar extended and snapping one of his comrades' throat.

The swordsman quickly tried to slash at the threads only for the muscle like thread mass to turn metallic in a heartbeat and his sword only severed a few which quickly reattached.

The swordsman scanned around saw the avian Air Heart Mask swoop in and fire a Pressurized Wind Bomb at the assembled Konoha trying to keep them from grouping back up.

'One shot, won't get another. I'm dead either way. I'd rather go down giving my comrades a chance! He's only using jutsu from one element through each of those masks: Fire for the one still in him, Lightning for that weird biped thing, Water for that bird faced freak, and Wind for the flying one with only Kakuzu using Earth techniques and he has used some of the other four on his own separate from the masked creatures. If the weakness applies then this should work. Sorry Yugao. Live your life past me. Great Fireball Jutsu!' The swordsman thought with sorrow as he spat out a fireball at the Wind Heart Creature which happen to be angled just right so Kakuzu might think this was a last-ditch effort.

All Kakuzu did to protect himself was use Earth Spear and snorted in amusement after the fireball barely even glazed him.

"Badly aimed last attack? Not the first one I have seen and certainly won't be the last one. It happens more than you think. Now-HRK!" Kakuzu gasped out his freehand instinctively went to his heart. "No…" Kakuzu turned around to see the burning remains of his Wind Heart Mask falling to the ground. "You…YOU BASTARD! Now I have to find a new Wind Heart…Do you have any idea how long it will take to find one and integrate it into myself? Never mind get the heart where it can be deployed as a Mask."

Kakuzu pulled the body of the dying Konoha whose neck he snapped close and pulled the man's heart out before pulling it into his body with threads "Damn, Fire for Primary. Hope you are Wind…"

Before Kakuzu could break Hayate's neck, the threads connecting Kakuzu's upper and lower arm were severed and Kakuzu's hand went slack as Hayate pulled it off. "Need a hand, Hayate?"

Hayate coughed as he got up and spoke to his rescuer, a purple haired woman wearing ANBU armor and the Cat Mask: "Hell of a time for puns, Cat. Thanks for the save."

Kakuzu eyed Cat curiously, "Your sword never touched my arm, not truly… That was the air pressure from your slash, wasn't it? Either you learned to slash so swiftly and powerfully that it creates wind that can slice for you like Samurai learn to, or you are talented with Wind Release and bastardized it with Wind Release. Perhaps you can replace my Wind Heart."

Before the two Swordsman could attack, Itachi landed in a crouch by Kakuzu and Itachi briefly made eye contact before the two nodded and Itachi stood while Kakashi landed by the two swordsmen.

"Dammit Gai, why are always late when we need you?" Kakashi growled out. "You two okay?" "Yessir" "*COUGH* Fine."

The battleground had moved to by the town aqueduct. Kakashi ran through a sequence: "Water Release: Water Dragon Missile!" and formed a water dragon construct from the water supply and hurled it at the Akatsukis.

Kakuzu signed quickly before slamming his hand on the ground: "Earth Release: Earth Wall" and blocked the dragon which dispersed against the stone of the wall before the wall cracked and collapsed as a lightning charged kunai ripped through and embedded itself in Itachi's heart.

The Dog masked ANBU just stated calmly: "One down, one to g-" before 'Itachi' disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Kakashi could only sputter: "Shadow Clone? When did he have time to make one?" before realization came to him "SON OF A BITCH! He escaped only a moment ago. We need to make sure Kakuzu is dealt with or we are going to lose a lot of people. Owl can handle Itachi till I get there."

Kakuzu chuckled: "I thought Itachi would have longer before the clone was discovered, but sometimes life is just a bitch. What makes you think the three of you and whoever can survive my Hearts will be enough to take me? What makes you soft children think you can stand before a tried and tested old warrior like me? Tell-"

"DYNAMIC ENTRY!" was all the warning Kakuzu got before a foot planted in his gut and threw him back.

"Bout time you showed up Gai." Kakashi drawled out.

Gai just flashed his smile: "Apologies my Eternal Rival, but I was busy fanning the flames of a youth who desperately needed it. It was a shame that everyone told him to quit despite his unyielding spirit, just because he couldn't use Ninjutsu or Taijutsu."

Yugao cut in: "Now's not the time. We're fighting Five Heart Kakuzu and Itachi. The Itachi Kakashi was fighting just got revealed as a clone."

Kakashi nodded: "I'm going after him, he's heading for the Hyuga compound. He's after Naruto."

Gai nodded: "Worry not, Kakashi, I will deal with this most unyouthful opponent so you can protect Naruto-san."

Kakashi jumped off and Kakuzu tried to pursue only to be punched by Gai. Kakuzu examined the spot and found the effects of Earth Spear almost unnoticeable on his arm: "Strong enough to strip off my Earth Spear armor almost entirely? You're the most dangerous opponent here."

Kakuzu watched as his Water Heart fired a Water Slicer at Kakashi's turned back only for Kakashi to vanish in a puff of smoke and reappear nearby and impale the Water Heart with a Chidori and destroy it.

Kakuzu cringed as he felt the Heart Mask die but the first one had already numbed him to the pain.

'Me staying in Konoha will do nothing to raise our chances. I'm better off drawing them away so if I die or make my escape, they have a distance to go before they can help gang up on Itachi. I'll need my Hearts to be able to keep most of the heat on me and to properly fight back' Kakuzu thought as he decided on what to do. His remaining Hearts began retreating to him and re-entered his body.

"Lightning Release: Overdrive!" Kakuzu screamed as lightning began pulsing through him from his Lightning Heart and speeding himself up.

Gai attempted to punch once more but Kakuzu reacted and shielded his hand with Earth Spear and caught the punch: "You'll have to do better than that…"

"Very Well. First Gate, Gate of Opening, OPEN!"

Itachi ran across Konoha, it would take a moment for the Shadow Clone he left to be discovered as a distraction.

Itachi winced as the memories hit him.

'Scratch that, it's already been discovered. Too many things are happening out of control.'

A slight twist of Fate had Itachi land in front of one person he had set his path on a collision course with.

His little brother, Sasuke. "Itachi…" Sasuke breathed out with warring rage, disgust, and fear in his voice.

Itachi almost spoke before an ANBU rushed at him from behind Sasuke before Itachi could take a moment to reinforce Sasuke's hate.

An arm flashed out and a kunai was buried into the ANBU which Sasuke stared at after he opened his eyes and looked at the source of the 'body slumping onto ground' sound.

When he looked back at Itachi, he did so with wide eyes and onyx eyes that changed into black and red with a single tomoe each. The Sharingan.

"You're too young, too raw to know the fullness of all eclipsing hate, even with the Sharingan opened by death and pain around you. When you have found it, truly found it in you, then you will be ready to face me." Itachi spoke before he continued on while Sasuke fell on the ground.

Itachi found himself at the gates of the Hyuga compound and was attacked by the guards.

The 'Rogue' Uchiha quickly disabled them and left them alive, with his official reason for slaughtering his clan being to test himself, it fit with the reasoning of seeking to quickly and efficiently yet non-lethally dealing with his opponents as a means of testing his strength. Strong enough to be able to have such room for those luxuries as it were.

The many spars with Hyuga Kyoshi in their youth taught him quite a bit of useful Taijutsu moves for enabling such practices.

Itachi glided through the halls of the Hyuga Compound with ease.

Any who attempted to stop him were quickly and efficiently disabled.

Both cats had already been accounted for, a few of the birds of prey as well.

The only ANBU missing from this entire fight was Owl.

She was most likely protecting the Jinchuriki as a last line of defense until help could arrive if one or both of the Akatsuki managed to get to the compound.

"Hello, Itachi-kun." An old voice called out that made the false traitor's skin crawl.

Itachi looked at the source and found four of the Hyuga elders, 3 old men and an old woman, standing with the traditional Hyuga flat expression with just a hint of smugness and victory about them.

Itachi raised an eyebrow and spoke: "An odd way to refer to someone you never knew that well, and a traitor at that who is storming your compound."

The lead of the four, one of the old men, scoffed: "You haven't been killing. You're not a traitor."

Itachi's eyes didn't widen: "I slaughtered my clan to test my power. Perhaps I decided trying to defeat and disable my opponents, especially among a large group of adversaries, was a better way to do so…"

The man didn't budge: "Whatever you wish to say to justify yourself. We know about Akatsuki's goal, and we know where the Jinchuriki is being hosted currently. Agree to do us a job and we will tell you his location."

Itachi braced himself, he knew the Hyuga Elders' lust for power. Kyoshi griped about it much among their little group, especially her father's own power lust and how many times he tried to force her to abandon any dream of being a ninja and marry off to satisfy it until the Hokage made a law change following the day that haunted their group and made them se fiercely loyal to Konoha: "What would this job be?"

"Make Hiashi's elder whelp disappear. How doesn't matter, kill her, kidnap her and sell her, or take her for yourself. Whatever it is, we do not care. Make her vanish and be removed entirely from any possibility of inheriting the clan."

Itachi almost sputtered: "Why would you be so willing to make a little girl disappear to a fate far worse than death possibly and what makes you so certain I would do it?"

The Hyuga elder almost smiled: "Itachi-kun, we know you have been on the side of the Hyuga's rise for a long time. Your slaughter of your clan helped us tremendously. You slaughtered the last obstacle to the Hyuga's place as the greatest clan in Konoha and gave us the prime opportunity to try to breed the Sharingan and Byakugan together once more and failing that put the last of the Uchiha's assets and legacy under our control like it should have been when we joined this village. Do this and we will remain quiet on the truth of the massacre. Help the Hyuga achieve their rightful destiny as the masters of this village!"

Itachi only stared at the self-delusion of grandeur before him. And the look in the eyes of the other three made it clear that this was a shared opinion. But the elder made a mistake. The implied threat against Sasuke and the exposure of his loyalty which could lead to more damage.

But worse for them still:

"It is our destiny to rule this village as its true masters now that the Senju, the only who could oppose the Uchiha's greatness, are gone!"

They reminded Itachi of the words of the Uchiha elders. Old men who lusted after power and couldn't move on with the world. Needing it to stay the same and forcing it and at the same time desiring to be the true masters of it.

So, for the first time in years, Itachi allowed his real self to shine through.

"I didn't do a damn thing for the Hyuga." Itachi whispered though it was loud and clear to elders. "I did it for the village and my brother. The Uchiha clan was planning a coup and didn't care about the consequences a civil war would bring. And neither do you I assume."

The lead of this group sneered: "Why would we care about such things? Our destiny is far more important. Besides, the lives lost will be none from the Hyuga Main House. Little reason to care."

Itachi let out a sigh: "I see." And his hand flashed out and the air sung as metal cut through the open space.

The lead flinched only to find himself unharmed. Perhaps Itachi wasn't the prodigy he was proclaimed as.

Then he heard bodies fall over and found his followers on the ground with kunai buried in their foreheads, ironically at the exact point where the Caged Bird Seal's completed matrix formed into the Manji symbol.

A crow cawed and Itachi appeared next to the soon to be corpse and whispered: "Those willing to kill the innocent and loyal allies for power and gain have no place to call their own but the graves they gain at the end. Soon you shall be put in a grave, when you get to hell, tell them to make room for Shimura Danzo if they haven't already, cause I can assure you he will be joining you soon enough." Before a kunai flashed out and stabbed the old man through.

Itachi took a moment to wipe the kunai clean of gore before he used it again, a badly aimed throw with blood on the blade could cause terrible infection in accidental cuts or the transmission of bloodborne diseases. He was already suffering from someone else's negligence.

Itachi threw the kunai soon after at a boy who was running away from the massacre.

Itachi was sure he didn't hear anything damaging but he needed to be sure. Though his instincts were telling him otherwise. Good thing Itachi had learned one of Shisui's mind manipulation techniques. A particularly useful one.

The kunai caught the boy's shirt and pinned him to a wall. He tried to get away but Itachi was in front of him before he could even move.

"Tell me, boy" Itachi said with little inflection as his eyes glared into the boy's Byakugan, "You know who I am, yes?" the boy nodded, his head was bandaged and covered. Branch House, but he looked similar to Hiashi.

"How much did you hear?" the boy looked shocked but answered, "I heard them tell you where your target was and demanding you do something else. I couldn't hear after that until you killed the last elder and told him about what awaits those who lust for power."

Itachi could tell the boy was lying. But he played along "Do you know what they asked of me?" the boy shook his head but his eyes hardened. "They asked me to remove someone from the picture that they considered a threat to their megalomania. Curious as to why you would wish her gone as well."

The boy paled and screamed: "She doesn't deserve to have such opportunity! She is weak and a disgrace! Fate mocks the Branch House by giving us superior skill in the Gentle Fist and yet the one who is to lead us by birthright is a pathetic failure. She's in the main hall dojo with the dog who you're after!-"

The boy would have continued but his mind blanked as burning pain engulfed his hand as Itachi pulled just right and broke the wrist, nothing that wouldn't heal with time or competent medical treatment. "I killed those men because they chose to betray their own to advance themselves and destroy those they viewed as threats. Just as you do in a way. My crow saw everything Neji. And everything my crow sees it can show me or anyone I choose. You want Hinata-san gone or broken because you view her as a threat to your cause, that one day the world will break her and leave a shell that knows only cruelty and would activate that seal for even minor slights like so many already do. You wish to be free yet ironically it is yourself who chains you down by blaming her and fate for so much of your misfortune when you should accept that not everything is Hinata-san or the Main House's fault or that there is no 'Fate,' just a cruel world that doesn't give a damn about you and won't hesitate to treat you like you treat Hinata-san, like shit."

Itachi forced the boy to face him in the eye and whispered: "Genjutsu Sharingan: Memory Repression" and Neji passed out as the Genjutsu did its work and targeted the memories Itachi wanted forgotten by the boy for now. Perhaps he would remember one day, but for now not even a Yamanaka could find them unless they risked diving too deep into the boy's sub-consciousness.

Shame he would forget that talk but maybe he might hold recollections of it.

A shame he also revealed where the Jinchuriki was being hidden.

Itachi continued his march and found the dojo, large and spacey, with multiple levels. It felt like a stage to break someone on more than a training room.

Itachi scanned carefully. No signs of the boy. None overt.

A small Hyuga girl peeked out before quickly hiding again, not fast enough to avoid Itachi's perception sadly.

Itachi never saw her eyes but he definitely perceived her signature due to his Sharingan, she was a Hyuga, though uniquely her chakra appeared to be a dark color between Purple and Lavender.

Itachi almost called out when a body dropped from the celling onto the floor of the dojo arena in a crouch before standing.

A woman wearing ANBU armor and a porcelain Owl mask.

Itachi smiled slightly, "Well, looks like I finally get a true challenge. Hello, Kyoshi." 'She favored Water and Lightning as those were her strongest Affinities. She uses all five base elements competently.'

Itachi couldn't see her face though the tensing of her neck and visible facial muscles and overall posture suggested that while she was calm, she was barely repressing a snarl. "Itachi." She said coldly.

Itachi smirked: "I see you have improved dramatically. Have you finally made the breakthrough with your technique?"

Kyoshi's voice never left a calm volume but her response came quick and sharp: "That is none of your concern. Why did you kill her during your massacre? Why did you kill our friend?"

Itachi raised an eyebrow slightly: "Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down? I had quite a few friends among those I killed that night and a handful of them were women so you will have to try harder than that."

"Why did you kill Izumi?" Kyoshi asked coldly.

Itachi barely maintained his composure and mask when he answered: "Love is a weakness, one I refuse to have. Her death was necessary."

"I had hoped that there was good in you, that something we didn't know would finally make everything clear and tell me you were still my friend. But it seems I deluded myself." Kyoshi exhaled before settling into a proper stance.

Itachi took up his unarmed stance: "It would seem so. Though a fight is unnecessary. Hand over the Jinchuriki."

Kyoshi chuckled: "They aren't here. Even if they were I wouldn't hand them over to you, traitor."

Itachi smiled slightly: "I'm after Uzumaki Naruto. I know he's here. My crow saw him in the training yard for the Hyuga only a short while ago and his apartment's empty state before it was blown to bits trying to kill me and Five Heart Kakuzu shows that he never left and Konoha knew we were coming and who we were after and attempted a trap while keeping him here while sending off a decoy."

Itachi could hear the slight rustling and intake of breath at the reveal of his target, presumably from the Jinchuriki and the Hyuga Heiress.

Owl rushed the traitor and lashed out with a palm strike that Itachi barely parried but he handled its follow-up much better before locking himself and the Hyuga ANBU into a stalemate.

Itachi spoke in the same flat conversational tone: "Does he even know what he is? The reason behind the hate? The reason behind the glares. Why parents isolated him? Why few ever truly saw him as a person and more saw him as a bomb waiting to go off?"

Naruto peeked out from behind cover with Hinata, both having widened eyes desiring answers.

Kyoshi shouted: "Don't you-HRK!" as Itachi applied just enough pressure to his grip on her deadlocked arms to silence her: "It's because he's what is called a Jinchuriki, a human host for a Biju. And he hosts the most feared of them all for its intelligence, brutality, power, and cunning: the Kyubi no Yoko. The Fourth Hokage was unable to destroy it so he instead sealed it inside a host, a child born of the Uzumaki clan which as a whole had unique chakra traits suited well for sealing and being Jinchuriki. Many fools believe Jinchuriki and their Biju are one and the same, that Jinchuriki are merely their Biju reduced to human form as though reincarnated with no memory of what they truly are but that could not be farther from the truth. Though people tend to pick and choose which truths they believe to fit their worldview or absolve themselves of things such as guilt. And some fools tried to kill him during his earliest years. One of my most distinguished memories was 8 years ago, It was similar for both Izumi and Kyoshi as well, a mob attempted to murder him in self-righteous vengeance only to be caught and detained. Once the truth and reasons had been learned and ascertained, the Hokage had made a decision. He gathered the entire population of Konoha and had the foolish mob executed in front of everyone. He reminded them that beneath the grandfatherly Professor was the Second Shinobi no Kami, the God of Shinobi and successor to Senju Hashirama to the title, and he may have been tired of violence and bloodshed but he was more than capable of showing his steel and punishing degenerates who would stoop to lynching an innocent child. The manner of the mob's death was brutal, placed upon spikes which impaled through them from their lower region and exited out the mouth. The punished lasted for days but the populace and the families of the punished were forbidden from providing any form of assistance, be it easing their suffering or ending it, with Hiruzen-sama stating that if they wished to be animals then they could be slaughtered like animals as well and just as cruelly as they intended to harm Naruto. The shock at the severity reduced how openly the hate may be shown but did little resolve the disease rather than the symptoms. Many would wish to bring you to their side as a weapon and others would see you destroyed so that you cannot be used against them, but the organization whose cloak I wear, Akatsuki, wishes to gather all Nine Biju and use them to revive the Jyubi, the Primordial Biju."

Naruto looked on with absolute horror while Hinata paled, both remembering the stories of the Sage of Six Paths and the horrors of the Jyubi. To know someone was seeking to revive the creature was like hearing your worst nightmare could in fact come true and was lurking over the horizon.

Kyoshi paled but scoffed: "There's…There's no way that's true! The Sage is a myth, who knows what really happened or what the Jyubi really was."

Itachi's gaze stared into her soul: "I know it to be true. The leader of Akatsuki holds the Rinnegan and through those eyes he can summon the corpse of Jyubi and seeks to reunite the Biju and become the Demon's new host, like his ancestor before him."

The silence was almost tangible as the ANBU struggled to find words and the children began grasping the implications.

Kyoshi quickly began trying to break free, she had one option that could guarantee some damage on Itachi and ensure she could continue protecting the kids, but it required providing Itachi an answer to a question he asked.

'I have no other option, let's go!' The Owl masked ANBU thought in determined resignation as she began pushing her chakra into the air after molding it over to Water Nature.

Itachi's Sharingan saw the water chakra being pushed into the air: 'Molding her chakra's nature without Hand Signs? Interesting. Though she's pushing Water chakra into the air, why would she do that? Her Water affinity is nowhere near the level of Senju Tobirama, she can't take the water particles in the air to form water needed for Water Release.' Then Itachi began noticing the second chakra nature in the air and his instincts began putting him on edge, "What are you planning…"

"Storm Release: Cumulus Shield!" and the two chakra began catalyzing into a single nature, creating an almost storm cloud around the Hyuga ANBU and zapping Itachi before he got away.

He wasn't down but he was hurt. Though Itachi began clapping, the neutral expression on his face making it impossible to tell if the sentiment was genuine congratulations or sarcasm, perhaps both at the same time. "Nicely done Kyoshi. I didn't think you would manage it. Learning how to create the learned version of Storm Release without instruction from a successful undertaker of such an endeavor or the support of someone who truly possesses the Bloodline Limit. Impressive, most impressive indeed. Truly a challenge for me indeed, as well as a glimpse of what I'm up against, and a means of improving myself perhaps with Boil Release; all in one: Storm Owl." (MegaMan X4 anyone? STOOOORRRMM OOOOWWWWWLLLLLL! I have been waiting to do that joke for a while)

But Itachi continued: "You might have figured out the basic method for molding Storm Release, but it's new, raw, and untested nor has it been refined."

Owl settled into a Gentle Fist Stance: "Perhaps, but I don't need it to defeat you."

Unknown to all, the fight had an observer.

A phantom, wearing a black cloak with a yellow and black mask possessing a single eye hole.

'What is Itachi doing? Is he trying to sound like's boasting when he's really pulling his whole fake traitor info pass off or what?' Obito questioned from behind the guise he wore so long ago, the one he wore on the day of the Kyubi Attack.

He felt something in his missing eye's socket and recognized it almost immediately: 'Kakashi…He's getting close…better hurry up, Itachi…time's running out.'

But Obito's eye gazed at the two children hiding from the battle unfolding: 'It would be merciful…Grab the kid, throw him in the Kamui world…then snap the girl's neck and kill her so the cycle that made me doesn't have a chance to restart…possibly even preferable…So why am I NOT DOING just that?'

'Maybe I am getting Sentimental…I'll see how this plays out before I make a decision…' Obito thought to himself as he settled into a relaxed yet ready reclining position. (Best decision you made in a while, Obito)

The battle between Itachi and Kyoshi was seemingly even. Neither could gain a clear advantage.

But the careful observer would notice the ANBU kunoichi growing stiff and sluggish, clumsy in an almost numb sort of way.

'Damn it. What's happening? Is this a Genjutsu or something else…' Owl/Kyoshi thought with dread before noticing Itachi's attack pattern.

Itachi smirked as he saw recognition ignite in the Hyuga's eyes. "I see you figured out the truth. It will not help you win. Not against one who scavenges from the not yet made battlefields for sacrifices to be used to extinguish war and feed peace's flame."

Owl's eyes went wide at the statement: "No…Th-That's impossible…"

Itachi spoke calmly: "I assure you it is true."

Owl glared and snarled: "I don't believe you…"

Itachi exhaled slightly: "Very well, if you need proof: look no further than a fountain from which hope flows even when dormant."

Owl's snarling grew worse as she tried to fight back against Itachi's damage on her, trying and failing: "What the hell are you ranting about?" "All will be revealed in time."

On Konoha's outskirts, farthest from the Hyuga compound, an almost last stand sort of bout had begun.

"I hated this village already, today has not improved my opinion-HRK" Kakuzu grunted as one of Gai's punches made contact and sent him flying.

Kakuzu hadn't lost anymore hearts yet, but there had been so many close calls. "Bastard…Even Hashirama didn't punch this hard…"

Just after Kakuzu said that, trees began growing and moving and lashed out at him and restrained him.

For a moment, Kakuzu's mind went back to his 'fight' with Hashirama. Unfortunately, he was able to hold on to rationality rather than get lost in panic: 'No…Hashirama's dead. With him, Wood Release died out. This is a Genjutsu, most likely Tree Binding Death or some variant. KAI!'

With the Release performed, only half of the trees binding Kakuzu vanished with a woman with black hair and crimson red eyes (Oh hey Kurenai) who scowled noticing that her illusion had been detected and dispelled. The other trees meant that someone among this lot truly did have Wood Release.

Kakuzu took the time to gloat: "I lived in the time of Senju Tobirama and the Uchiha Brothers, true masters of Genjutsu, and in my extended life fought master of Yin Release like Hozuki Gengetsu and the Myoboku Toad Sages, woman. What made you think that someone like you who lacks their talent or experience with the art could hold me?" Kakuzu taunted while looking around trying to figure out who exactly had Wood Release.

Kakuzu could feel his instincts scream and knew that if he didn't move in the next three seconds, things were going to be horrible for him. 'Wood Release has no known weaknesses. Need to find another way to get out.' Kakuzu ran down potential options before he smirked.

An ANBU wearing a Tiger mask became visible in Kakuzu's peripheral as Kakuzu began channeling Wind Release along threads in the limbs being restrained before using them to slice off the bound limbs.

The action shocked the ANBU and he released his hands from the Snake sign, releasing Kakuzu's restrained limbs.

Threads began reattaching the limbs just as the threat he was on edge about became clear: "Third Gate, Gate of Life, OPEN!" and a green blur shot out and punched Kakuzu.

"I'm getting sick of you and your 'youth,' beast." Kakuzu groaned as his limbs were reattached fully.

"Then try this!" a voice spoke from behind Kakuzu and he just barely caught both of the swords attempting to slice him. Kakuzu just spoke evenly: "A word of wisdom, don't give away a sneak attack's element of surprise until it's too late." Before tossing both swordsmen away.

Kakuzu started panting: 'Damn, I've taken too much damage and I'm starting to reach empty. Itachi hasn't sent a signal so the mission could still succeed unless it means that he has been defeated and captured or killed and that loudmouth FUCKING IDIOT IS PISSING ME OFF!'

Gai rushed again but Kakuzu caught it and punched back: "Your heart and bounty will make all of this worth it." "Sorry to disappoint then, my opponent, but my Youth will sear anything in my way!" Gai replied before kicking Kakuzu into the air and grabbing the old ninja in a full body hold: "FRONT LOTUS!"

Kakuzu tried to break out but was unable to due to fatigue. The impact was dulled by Earth Spear but Kakuzu was still hurt bad.

'I'm going to die to the single most annoying ninja in the Elemental Nations, Hidan included in that contest and still coming short compared to this fucking asshole.' Kakuzu grumbled.

Though hope came with a certain half White/ half Black plant man coming out of the ground and whispering: "Retreat, Konoha was not as vulnerable as we thought. We still have 6 years to accomplish the collection. Figure out a way to escape."

Kakuzu nodded: "Understood." And then began formulating a retreat strategy: 'With this many opponents, I have no chance of simple escaping. The only option is to fake my death. I haven't lost my natural heart before so I should eject and hide it while making it look like my Earth Heart was destroyed. Fight until my other hearts are destroyed and then hopefully they will forget about me and go after Itachi.'

Kakuzu detached his Earth Heart and ejected into the ground beneath him as a mask and hid it with Earthworm Digging just as the Cat masked ANBU stabbed into his chest in the spot where the heart previously inhabited, but failed to destroy a heart. Kakuzu instinctively clutched at the injury: "Dammit! I'll make you all pay!"

Kakuzu punched the woman off of him before tearing her sword out of his chest and destroying it as threads sewed him shut. "If I going to die here, THEN I'M TAKING AS MANY OF YOU AS I CAN DOWN WITH ME!"

Yugao just uttered: "You will try but you will fail."

An ANBU rushed at Kakuzu only to be vaporized by a quick fire blast from the enraged bounty hunter.

Another rushed only to be electrocuted with Lightning Release: False Darkness. A charred corpse being the only remnant of the ninja.

Yugao ran through a sequence seeing that the Fire Mask was exposed from firing another explosive fireball at Konoha Nins, "Water Release: Water Wave!" and spat out a water mass that formed into a wave and rushed at Kakuzu.

Kakuzu ran through a sequence and slammed his hands on the ground as the Fire Mask aimed at someone else: "Fire Release: Searing Migraine! Earth Release: Earth Wall!" and a stone wall rose up and broke the wave rushing at Kakuzu.

Yugao cursed: "We missed his Earth Heart. He can still use Earth Release."

Kakuzu groaned: "Oh I can assure you that you didn't miss it. Do you honestly believe that my elemental manipulation is tied to the Hearts? I can use elements just fine naturally, the masks help deal with troubling situations. Now let me show you a real water technique, Water Release: Great Water Wave!" and spat out a massive wave that rushed at Yugao and the group.

"MORNING PEACOCK!" their savior screamed as Gai began punching with the power of six gates and creating fireballs from the friction of his speed.

The Wave wasn't completely dispelled and it took quite a few nins down, some permanently one way or another, but the majority survived.

Kakuzu breathing grew ragged as his Fire Mask took aim only to be struck from behind: "GAAH!" "Wood Release: Wood Hammer." Revealing Tiger with his hand shaped as a literal mallet through wood release.

Kakuzu smirked internally as he prepared one final 'last gasp' attack: "SEE YOU ALL IN HELL! LIGHTNING RELEASE: GIGAVOLT DISCHARGE!" and his body began glowing as voltage current began arcing all around him.

A few of the arcs managed to connect with some of the Konoha Nins, creating more injured, crippling some with shock while others got electrocuted, adding to Kakuzu's body count.

Tenzo quickly ran through a sequence: "Wood Release: Rack Restraint!" and wood rose out of the earth in the shape of a wooden torture rack before roots grabbed Kakuzu and bound him to the rack.

Tiger began speaking: "I hadn't tested that one. One of my personal creations. Thankfully it worked and better than I expected. Its grounding out that suicide attack of yours. I would just leave you in it, but it's costing my chakra to keep you restrained and you have made it clear that you are too dangerous to take in and contain via conventual means."

Tenzo nodded to Hayate who stabbed into Kakuzu, destroying the Lightning Heart. Kakuzu went still as his restraints were removed and his body was dropped onto the ground.

Tenzo began issuing orders: "Everyone back to Konoha. You two, stay behind and dispose of him."

The horde acknowledged and began returning to Konoha while the two tasked with disposing of Kakuzu taunting the corpse. "Not so tough without your masks, are you?"

The other left behind frowned: "We should just destroy him and get out of here." While the Earth Heart Mask surfaced and reentered Kakuzu and began reactivating his body.

"You worry too much, this geezer's dead. I say we take our pound of flesh from him for all the people he killed and then take his body back to Konoha. Think of what we could learn. We might even get the Earth Grudge Fear as a reward." The fool said as Kakuzu began breathing silently and planning his escape.

"And you worry too little, plus why would they give that if they learn it to two grunts who disobeyed orders? We might get our pay dock-ACK!" the cautious one said before threads exploded from Kakuzu and bound both Konoha Nins up and gagged them.

"You should have destroyed my body while I was down." Kakuzu spoke as he began getting up. "Though your pay is the least of your concerns now." As the threads ripped out their hearts and merged them into Kakuzu.

Kakuzu grinned as he looked around: "So many hearts and bounties to collect and no Konoha nins to get in my way." As he went about his ghoulish work.

Back in the Hyuga compound, the fight between Owl and Itachi had reached its climax.

Both were tired and damaged, but Owl was barely even able to move and sporting a broken leg which she refused to let put her out of the fight, stubbornly continuing to stand despite the pain.

Owl cursed under her breath: "How did you steal the Gentle Fist?"

Itachi smirked: "I watched you. I may not be able to perform the more complex usages like actively blocking the Tenketsu, but the paralysis and numbing parts of it are easy enough to replicate."

Itachi formed a sequence and drew in a breath to breath out a fireball, it wouldn't kill her but it would definitely put her out of the fight.

Itachi knew that Hiashi and any other Hyuga he hadn't disabled completely would be here soon. So he would just have to hope they would arrive before he could complete his objective.

But as Itachi breathed out, the ground beneath him began shaking: "Earth Tremor!" Kakashi called out.

The fireball flew towards where the children were hidden and Itachi internally cursed as Owl did so aloud.

The fireball exploded against the wall and Itachi heard a girl scream as a jacket was discarded from the flame that had managed to get on it.

Itachi knew things were about to explode, Kyoshi cared about her cousin and Kakashi was attached to Naruto.

Kyoshi was likely to ignore her injuries and try one last attack.

She didn't have the strength or stamina left for another parry then attack.

Itachi wove a sequence together as both Kyoshi and Kakashi charged, though all three internally shuddered as an oppressive chakra burst into existence.

Naruto was furious, it felt like the blood in his veins had turned molten.

The fireball that almost burned Hinata looked like it had been aimed at her almost.

Hinata liked that jacket but tore it off of her in a life or limb decision. She was shaking and scared and it was pissing him off to see her like that while the bastard who did it kept on with that infuriating flat expression, like what he did wasn't even worth stopping and considering.

Hinata seemed to pick up on him being angry and tried to reassure him: "N-Naruto-kun…I'm fine…I didn't get burned."

It was already too late for such words to reassure him. Naruto could begin sensing the Negative emotions of those around him.

The pain and final regrets of those dying or dead…

Frustrations of the living…

The pain of the man in the Dog mask…

One man's ghoulish joy at being able to carry out his collecting work…

The woman in the Owl mask's sorrow and regret and her furious anger over one she loved being hurt and the almost burning desire to get retribution on the one who was responsible for her woes…

An unseen phantom's ever-shifting conflict and pain…

And even Itachi's own regret for hurting someone he hadn't intended to…

But what registered the most was Hinata's fear…

'She's afraid of me…no she's afraid for me.' Naruto realized though it just served to fan the flames.

Itachi was on the move, hands weaving a sequence and stepping towards the kids.

Naruto moved on instinct, his body just knew what to do. While 9 red tails waved in Naruto's mindscape: 'Let's see what you are capable of, Uzumaki Naruto…'

Itachi was attacking the kids trying to force Kakashi to refocus on them and hopefully place a suppressing seal on Naruto.

But the moment he stepped forward, Naruto responded and the Killing Intent oozing off of him focused entirely on Itachi.

Naruto stepped out into the open and a just barely visible aura of orange surrounded him with his blue eyes replaced with red hateful orbs with a cat like slit in them.

Itachi felt fear but he noticed that the air in the room lacked the suffocating hatred that was present 10 years ago when he last saw those eyes.

Itachi went to breath out the fireball only to be met with a patchy smoke leaving his mouth. 'What…' he thought dumbly before noticing the glowing chains binding him. Orange Chains with a slight blue and yellow glow.

Kakashi and Obito both had their eyes bulge out in response to seeing this again after so long while Kakashi choked out: "Chakra Chains!"

Itachi started panicking while Obito started having a mild panic attack.

'Uzumaki clan secret technique, relies on a bloodline trait that makes their chakra far more suitable for Fuinjutsu, feared alongside Wood Release for having binding capabilities capable of trapping Biju though Chakra Chains merely restrict flow of chakra while Wood Release actively absorbs chakra…' Itachi began going down what he knew, '…wait, I was able to exhale a smoke even after being bound. With how surprised Kakashi-sempai was, it must be Naruto's first use. Its flawed and the containment has holes.' Itachi reasoned as he began speedily yet methodically began going through a sequence to exploit the weakness, all while chirping birds began filling the air.

Itachi finished his sequence just in time and breathed out fireball, focused almost into a laser, from his mouth at Kakashi and forced him to abandon his attack and shattered the chains binding Itachi.

Itachi exerted himself too hard in that move and thus left himself wide open to an attack from Owl.

Owl thrusted her palm towards Itachi's heart, an almost certain kill blow.

Itachi just barely moved to mitigate the damage of the attack. But it still hit and made his lungs feel as though they were literally on fire as he began coughing violently: 'no…she aggravated my condition…I thought it was more stable than this…' Itachi thought in despair as he began closing his eyes to await the end. He was screwed and he accepted that. He had regrets but at this moment they were of little more concern than the blood he was hacking into his hand.

Naruto watched enraptured as the two masked ninja approached Itachi with murder in their hearts.

He wished he could contribute, help kill this bastard, but then he began sensing Itachi's sad acceptance.

"Now that's quite enough I do believe…" a new voice echoed that shocked everyone and left Itachi wide eyed.

Everyone only stared as a swirling hole opened in the world in front of Itachi and out came a cloaked man wearing a black and yellow mask with a single eye hole out of which a Sharingan glared out.

Owl and Dog both lashed out, Owl's palms phased right through the phantom while the masked man actually blocked Kakashi.

"Tsk, tsk. I thought this would be a simple job Itachi, and yet you failed." The masked man spoke ominously.

Owl snarled: "You admit to launching this mission!"

Tobi nodded: "I do, this is my third attempt to grab the Kyubi."

Tobi chuckled: "The last one was only a few weeks ago and its failure was responsible for all your good fortune, Naruto. How much did you gain from me losing my nerve? A friend who wants to help and a mentor who wants to see you grow."

Hinata paled in horror while Naruto roared: "Stop talking like you know me!"

Tobi tilted his quizzically: "But we do know each other. From my first attempt. The village remembers it quite well, the Kyubi attack. The fox was dancing on my strings for the most part."

Everyone went deathly quiet. Though Naruto could sense the regret coming from the masked bastard.

"They haven't told you the truth yet, have they? Your mother was the previous Jinchuriki to the beast you hold. And then she had you, and for a female Jinchuriki, it's a risk to have children. I became aware and planned my attack accordingly. Me and you became acquainted after you had been in the world for merely minutes. Your father was there as well, working desperately to repair the seal, and he let his guard down which meant he failed to sense me killing the guards and taking you from the mid wife before slicing her throat, I think she was a Sarutobi woman, Hiruzen's wife. I made my presence known and made my target known simply. I remember exactly what I said to him: 'Fourth Hokage, Hand over the Jinchuriki or your son dies at the ripe old age of 2 minutes.'…"

He paused and let everything sink in: "… I tossed you up making him think I was going to impale you which made him fail to notice the explosive on your blanket which I meant to kill both of you with. But he got you two away and left me with your mother. I extracted Kyubi and placed it under my control and sent it to wipe out the village, your father saved your mother from being my pet's first victim and then confronted me until he placed a contract severance seal on me which shattered my hold on the Kyubi. The rest is known to the village. His dying wish was for you to be seen as a hero but the idiots are always idiots, and their stupidity must be Disciplined."

Naruto could barely stand but he could definitely see that Tobi was off balance, his emotions were all over the place. Like he couldn't decide if he really should have done what he did or not.

Kakashi growled out: "Who are you?"

Tobi chuckled: "I am merely a shell of what I once was. I am Tobi. And we shall meet again. Let's go, Itachi."

Itachi exhaled, forcefully, "Of course, Madara."

The shock had managed to top what had already been reaped, allowing the two Uchihas to escape.

Though Naruto got in one final comment after Itachi had been sucked up, "Why are you doing this?"

Tobi narrowed his eye: "To change the world and make it better."

Naruto bit out: "Why are you trying to convince yourself of that?"

Tobi went wide eyed and gave no response as he vanished into the distortion

Most would have said today was a victory for Konoha, but for the Forces of Konoha, today wasn't a victory.

Today felt like they didn't even break even.

End Chapter

Thoughts? Leave a review.

I don't really have much to say. I'm just glad to have this chapter done. Well back to work on Seals 16 now.

We'll be seeing the fallout and some other things next chapter.

Obito during his whole confession was not only trying to convince himself he had no choice but to continue down his current path, he was trying to convince Kakashi and Naruto, his best friend and the one he sees a lot of himself in, that he had gone too far even if he hasn't unmasked himself yet.

I'm just realizing with the writing of my final notes before posting that I went real reference heavy with Itachi: Demon Eyes Itachi (Demon Eyes Kyo from Samurai Deeper Kyo), that whole line about a vague line not narrowing things down (Blight's response to Batman's "You killed my Father" answer to Blight Asking him who he was: "…Do you have any idea how little that narrows it down?" all from Batman Beyond), Wish to be animals than they could be slaughtered like animals (I somehow resisted the urge to add, 'and not just the men, but the women, AND THE CHILDREN TOO!' all of that from Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones), Storm Owl, and the method the mob was executed via was a historical reference to the favored execution method of Real world Vlad III Tepes, AKA Vlad the Impaler and Dracula (many people don't know that Tepes was not a family name but merely the Romanian equivalent of Vlad's title: the Impaler).

Kyoshi was definitely inspired by Avatar Kyoshi in some ways. Maybe we'll see more as time goes on but for now that's all we'll see. I was trying to drive it in with her being stated to be a competent user of the base 5 elements. I would definitely think that Jennifer Hale's signature badass contralto coming from Hyuga Kyoshi would fit perfectly like it does coming from Avatar Kyoshi and Samus Aran when it isn't the worst Metroid game ever made(Metroid: Other M).

Special thanks to RaNK and as well as another reader who I spoke with, they asked not to be mentioned by name but they helped dramatically in the overall formulation of A Simple Glance's narrative and overall roadmap for the plot. They know who they are. No amount of money will convince me to reveal them…though Shantae merchandise on the other hand…I'm kidding!

That's all I got. Again, leave a review and share your thoughts.

Welp I'm ending this here cause I'm tired and just got off work a few hours ago.

Until Next Time:

Stay Safe and Stay Healthy!

SEE YA LATER!