"Destroying the coup without bloodshed? And how exactly did this plan go?" Minato spoke, crystal blue eyes focused forward with a hand on his chin. Itachi could see the gears turning in his head, trying to create some sort of plan that would both work but warrant Danzo's disapproval.
Itachi kept his voice steady as he spoke, keeping his guard up even as the situation seemed to stabilize before him. They didn't seem hostile, at least not yet. This was good. He needed to keep them on this path. "He planned to use his mangekyō ability, the kotoamatsukami, to trap the entire clan within a special genjutsu. One that crosses between the lines of the victim's mind and reality. With this, Shisui could have manipulated the clan members into giving up on the coup, then released them once there was no sign of danger."
"It sounds like a good temporary plan." Tobirama mused, Itachi watching the man carefully as he spoke. "However, once again, it is not a permanent solution. If the clan has grown to be upset with the village or yearns to take power, it would only be a matter of time before they try to take over again."
Despite his frown, Itachi nodded in agreement with the elder man. "Lord
Danzo mentioned as much during our last meeting. He made his disapproval known, but Lord Third overruled him and gave us permission to go ahead with it. If nothing else, it would give us all more time to think of a long-term solution."
If they just had a few more years, maybe they'd be able to think of a better solution. One that didn't involve nearly as much blood as the ones Danzo or Inabi had suggested thus far.
"Lord Third? So Hiruzen reclaimed the role of Hokage after he died, then?" The silver-haired man asked, tilting his head towards Minato. Upon receiving a nod of confirmation from Itachi, the man closed his eyes momentarily, disappointment lining his words. "Though I can't claim to have known Danzo well enough to comment on whether or not his actions are expected, I will say that I am far from satisfied to hear of Sarutobi's involvement in all this."
That was...putting it mildly, if the irate look on Tobirama's face was anything to go off of. Part of Itachi wanted to agree with the man. After all, he'd spent so long spectating and never calling to action. He seemed to follow Danzo as though the cane-wielding man was the one in charge, rarely stepping in when his advisors got out of line.
Perhaps he was speaking above his station, but it was hard for pain to not fester in his stomach when he thought of the man. The closest the third had ever come to calling off his advisor's frankly brutal suggestions was to scold them for saying such things in front of the young Uchiha. Not for saying them, just for saying them in front of him.
For all the love Itachi felt for the village, he couldn't say the man didn't leave a bad taste in his mouth at times.
Even so. He was Itachi's hokage. Even if the man seemed incompetent at best and two-faced at worst, it wasn't his place to speak down on him. There were surely hundreds of issues the man had to deal with on a daily basis that Itachi couldn't even begin to comprehend. Yet. Maybe one day, if he lived long enough, but not yet.
"He gave us the permission we needed to increase our thinking time." he settled on commenting, not so much as flinching as Tobirama quirked a brow in his direction. "Well, I suppose I should say time we would have had if Lord Danzo had allowed it. Considering his actions now, though, it doesn't seem like time is something he wants to give."
Hashirama made a noise of interest, obviously just as displeased as his brother as he spoke. "If he's not interested in short-term solutions, then that must mean he wants a solution that won't have the issue coming up again. Has this conflict been going on for a long time?"
Well, that was difficult to explain without pointing a finger toward at least one of the three men sitting across from him. Itachi glanced at Minato as he tried to figure out how to word this, the blond grimacing as he saw his godson's dark eyes turn to him.
"A long time, then?" Tobirama gathered, a frown lacing his lips. If it was long enough that Minato knew about the issue, that was at least four or five years.
Minato glanced upwards, the blond letting out a low sigh. "Yes, and no. The seeds were planted there long ago, but from what I can gather, they're just now sprouting." turning his head to look at the pre-teen. "This is because of what happened between me and your father, isn't it?"
"No." Itachi was quick to shut this line of thought down. To blame decades of issues on one election would be unfair. "It's not because of that. It's as you said, decades of grudges and slights have built up."
Clearing his throat, Tobirama gave the two a pointed look, Itachi shaking his own head in annoyance. Ah, there was so much to fill them all in on. "Lord Fourth and my father were the two main candidates to become the Fourth Hokage due to their work during the Third Great Ninja War. My father was not chosen. Certain members of the clan took offence to this, seeing it as a slight against us."
"I presume they took offence to this because your father was superior on the battlefield?" The silver-haired man asked, words clear-cut despite the blond's deadpan. "If this is the case, it takes more than that to lead."
It was strange, to see the man elbowed in the side by the brunet beside him, a scolding tone coming from the elder. "Tobirama, that is exactly the kind of thing the Uchiha would take offence to hearing. I'm sure they're more than aware it takes more than brute strength."
Itachi was momentarily reminded that the first and second were brothers. Something he's known, but seeing it up close was another thing entirely. "It was nothing against Lord Fourth personally." he eventually cut in, clarifying, "The clan was well aware that either of them could realistically be a good leader. As a whole, I'd even go so far as to say they liked Minato. It was just...frustrating, I believe, for them to see the hat handed off to yet another disciple of the Senju."
"The seat has gone from the founding Senju to his brother and onto his brother's student. Then from there, it was passed onto his student's student. It was frustrating for them to see this line continue, whether it was for the best or not." Itachi spoke, recalling the days when his father had merely shook his head at the quickly-spreading results. A slightly bitter smile made its way to the ravenet's lips as he mused, "Even on a broader scale, the idea of becoming the hokage without being the student or relative of one seems further and further away with each passing."
A sharp tone cut through his thoughts, Hashirama clearly less than happy with this news. "That is not how the seat is supposed to be passed on. It's for those with the will of fire burning in their heart- for those who would do anything to protect the village."
Leaning forward, Itachi eyed the man. That sounded nice in theory, but it was hardly applicable. "For those with the will of fire, a powerful reputation, the villager's vote, the elder's approval, and the daimyo's approval, you mean."
Brows coming together in confliction, Hashirama looked as though he were going to say something, but found no words in his mouth. His younger brother merely sighed at the brunet, agreeing, "Yes, the person that meets all of those requirements is supposed to be the one who becomes the hokage. The fact that it has remained so uniform is strange, however."
"Each time the hat was passed on it was rushed. First when Lord First died, then when Lord Second died, then finally when Lord Third was attempting to boost morale." Minato considered, "A shinobi's students will of course be at the forefront of their mind during their final moments. Perhaps what we need is a bit more preparation and consideration so that these nominations aren't made so hastily. This was more difficult during times of war, but when it becomes less prevalent, it would definitely be manageable. Have any wars occurred since the Third's end?"
Itachi shook his head as he heard the blond's words, shifting in his seat as he spoke. "No major wars have occurred since the end of the Third. There have of course been small squabbles with Suna and Kumo, but we've not seen much open conflict beyond that for the last five or six years."
"So all in all." Tobirama seemed to mull over the information presented, less than pleased as he spoke. "Hiruzen lead Konoha for a few years before passing it on to Minato, whose rise upset the Uchiha clan and triggered a coup after years of subtle distress. This has somehow left you and that boy, Shisui, in the middle as mediators?"
"Yes, more or less. Though I wouldn't say Lord Fourth's rise was the trigger. It would be more fitting to say that the ninetails attack was." Itachi corrected lightly, knowing the Hokage situation wasn't really the driving force.
Crossing his arms, Hashirama asked, "The ninetails attack? Was there an issue in its sealing or transfer?" the man's mind undoubtedly wondering back to his late wife.
Minato shook his head, "The seal was weakened due to childbirth." a sharpness Itachi had rarely seen in the older shinobi shining through. "A masked man showed up after my son was born. He managed to manoeuvre me away from my wife, tying her up while I was with Naruto. He used the weakened seal to release it upon the village, causing catastrophic damage in the process."
The sternness on the man was softened only by the sadness of his words, lips pursed in displeasure. "I was able to seal half of the beast within me and the other half within Naruto before I died, but I can only imagine the damage caused in the time between its release and its resealing."
"It took a lot of time to rebuild." the pre-teen admitted, mind wandering back. It was hard to believe it had only been a few years since the incident. "A new memorial site was added, the village was rerouted, and the orphanage was expanded quite a bit." frown lining his lips as he paused.
He met Minato's eyes, forcing himself to deliver the information he knew the man deserved to know. "There originally wasn't enough space for everyone, so some children ended up living in apartments and with monthly allowances. They were slowly moved into the orphanage as room cleared up, the exception being Naruto since Lord Third claimed responsibility for him personally."
The dark-haired boy felt his mood somehow dip further as he saw the relieved look on Minato's face, continuing and trying his best to give the information clearly and quickly as to not cause more hurt than was necessary.
"Naruto lives in the housing district by himself and has done so for as long as I've known him. I'm not sure who took care of him when he was smaller or if he has anyone with him now. He goes to the academy, though I've never seen anyone lingering by him." the words were sour on his tongue, but he refused to sugar-coat them. "The ninetails attack has left the older villagers wary of both him and our clan. Their feelings have extended onto their children despite Lord Third's gag order surrounding it, leaving Naruto without many friends as far as I can tell."
Itachi's chest felt tight as he bowed his head, apologizing, "Mother tried to take Naruto in after your passing but the village wouldn't allow it. Her request seemed to make the council even more suspicious of us, so father told us we needed to keep our distance from him. I'm sorry."
A heavy quiet filled the air for what felt like an eternity despite it more than likely only lasting twenty or so seconds. Minato's tone was riddled with pain as he cleared his throat, Itachi lifting his head to see the man's crossed arms. Brows pinched together in upset, the man only shook his head. "I'm glad he's alive, if nothing else. There's still time for things to get better for him so long as he has that." seeming reluctant as he asked, "Speaking of being alive, do you happen to know if Kakashi Hatake is..."
The ravenet nodded, assuring him, "He's alive - currently working as an ANBU agent as well." the pain in his chest easing just a bit as Minato's shoulders lost just an inch of their stiffness. "He's my captain, actually. So you'll more than likely be able to see him soon, if you choose to stay around long enough."
Tobirama ran a hand through his hair, the man somehow seeming in even worse of a mood than when he thought Itachi had murdered Shisui. "I'm sure he'll get a chance. It doesn't look like we're going anywhere anytime soon."
"That really isn't necessary." the dark-eyed boy shook his head, "I have it under control."
The man only lifted a brow, somehow managing to send a wave of doubt through the pre-teen. "...I do. I'll just have to make some adjustments to how we've been handling things."
"Adjustments we'll be helping with." the silver-haired man scowled, stepping forward. Itachi stood as he saw the action, resisting the urge to grab his sword from beside his desk. These were ghosts, he reminded himself. If it got to the point where they became hostile, he'd have to either try to put enough distance between them and himself that they'd disperse or remove his eyes. Considering who they were, the latter seemed more likely unless they'd lost quite a bit of their prowess in death.
For now he settled on standing and matching the man's eyes, prepared to remove his own if Tobirama took a step forward. He still wasn't completely sure they would be able to help, even if they did seem upset with what they'd heard. His body had moved on its own as the man had gotten closer, Hashirama and Minato frowning at the two.
"We're not here to stick my hand in the pot." Tobirama frowned deeply at his stance, pausing as he stayed where he was with no sign of moving towards the boy. "We're here because your eyes brought us here. Clearly, it was for a reason." distaste in his tone, "This village is an embarrassment. Hiruzen clearly lost his backbone, Danzo abuses his power, the children are suffering, and the relationships between the clans are a disaster if what I've heard here today is anything to go by."
Itachi watched the man carefully, remembering in the back of his mind that Tobirama had at one point been responsible for much of the cooperation between villages and clans. The man did not stop, however, instead adding, "This village was made in an effort to limit the casualties of war, specifically those of children." waving a hand towards Itachi, "If an eleven-year-old boy and his fifteen-year-old friend are its only lines of defence against a civil war, things clearly need to change."
Tobirama took a careful step forward, Itachi allowing him to with sharp eyes. The man got closer and closer until, eventually, he stood in front of the suspicious teen. "We are the hokage. Allow us to do as Hiruzen should be doing and end this conflict with as little violence as necessary."
Minato nodded, slowly moving to join Tobirama with a reassuring look. "You don't have to listen to us, but at least let us try to help."
"This isn't a burden that should lay on your shoulders at all, but it does. We can at least lift it a bit - even if it isn't much." Hashirama agreed, standing side by side with his younger brother and watching Itachi with a look he couldn't quite place.
The pre-teen's heart accelerated at their proximity, though he nodded with a small frown of uncertainty. He supposed if Shisui wasn't there anymore, a bit of extra council couldn't hurt.
He blinked, mildly startled as Tobirama sat on the floor cross-legged. "Sit. Let's negotiate. If you're willing to listen to our advice, we owe you the decency of limitations."
Hashirama was quick to follow, seeming pleased with the idea while Minato sat down quickly thereafter.
Itachi supposed that made sense. If they were going to be around each other for a long time, it was best they figure out what would and wouldn't fly first.
He settled himself across from them on the ground, listening as Tobirama spoke first. "First and foremost, the flow of advice. We will ask if you want it first, then you may reject or accept it." eyeing the other two as he spoke for confirmation. As he received it, he added, "In turn, you may ask for our opinion on anything at any time, but we may refuse to answer if we don't have confidence in our response."
That sounded reasonable. Itachi nodded in agreement, "Alright, but there should be a two-time limit for the same request. Beyond that, neither of us can repetitively ask to give or receive."
Hashirama and Minato gave their own nods alongside Tobirama, the blond in the batch adding, "We'll also need a way for you to confirm or deny our suggestions non-verbally, in case we have something to say while you're in public."
"You can adjust your hair for yes and blink twice for no." Hashirama suggested, Itachi considering it for a moment. Yes, he was sure he could do both of those without alarming anyone nearby.
"That would work." he agreed, watching as Tobirama seemed to glance him over.
The red-eyed man mused, "As for non-advice related arrangements...are there any specific times you'd prefer for us to not be around?"
Considering this for a moment, Itachi asked, "Earlier, around dinner, it was mentioned that you all begin to have trouble functioning when you're away from me. How does that seem to work?"
He didn't want to make them stay away if it was unpleasant, but at the same time the idea of having them lingering near him constantly seemed uncomfortable.
Hashirama seemed hesitant to answer, as did Minato. Tobirama, on the other hand, explained bluntly. "As I said, based on my research, some mangekyō sharingan take time to fully develop. We still don't know the final limitations of yours, but so far this is what I can say. It feels like the further I am from you, the closer I am to limbo."
The ravenet opened his mouth, but snapped it shut as the man cut through, "No, we will not be telling you what limbo is like. You'll find out when it's your time, and our comfort level is not relevant here. So I'll ask again: When do we need to disperse?"
Itachi's lips dipped into a light frown as he considered this. They didn't seem like they'd blame him if he told them to be nearby as little as possible, and yet, it felt wrong to stand in their way of being able to enjoy the world of the living when the path was so clearly in front of them. It was better to be as open as he was comfortable with so that all of them could be satisfied. Particularly if this was going to be a prolonged relationship.
"...My ANBU team sometimes goes to the hot springs after work and I have monthly meetings to discuss my training with my father. I would prefer you all not be around during these times as well as when I sleep. Beyond that, I don't mind you all being around."
Nodding, Tobirama questioned, "As for specific times we'd like to be around, it would be best if we were present for any meetings you have with your clan or village representatives so we can stay up to date on the situation. Does that sound fine?"
"It does." he agreed, watching the older shinobi as he traced the red lines on his face. He seemed to be considering something for a moment before he spoke.
Tobirama noted, "We'll be sure not to touch you, at least in the beginning. Does the mangekyō work similarly to the typical sharingan in that it can be improved with training?"
Upon receiving an affirmative, the Senju offered, "We can work with your eyes to find their limits and expand on them whenever you'd like, though it would probably be best to not rush into it. Give them a few days to develop so you don't pass out like earlier."
"That would be for the best." Hashirama agreed, Itachi nodding along. The brunet sent his brother a brief look before turning back to Itachi, the boy watching him carefully. "So, if that's all, we should be settled overall."
Tobirama nodded, deciding, "We've been caught up and found our footing tonight. That's enough for now. You should rest up for the night - it's been a long day - and tomorrow we can figure out your next steps. Does that sound alright?"
"That should work for now. We can always make changes if this doesn't work and I do have the next few days off." Itachi noted, slowly rising as the night's events began to weigh on him. With the adrenaline out of his veins, the pre-teen felt a lot heavier than he had before.
He waited for them to stand and make their way towards the door, ready to pass through the closed doorway despite the fact they could more than likely drift through the walls if they wanted to. Itachi stood by his bed, waiting for them to leave.
They did, one by one. Tobirama left with a mere nod, Hashirama right behind him as smiled in goodbye. Minato was the last to leave, lingering only a second longer to promise, "We'll get this sorted out, Itachi. All four of us."
The dark-haired boy gave a thin smile of his own at this, allowing a faint "Thank you." to leave his lips before Minato left.
Upon being left alone once more, he lowered himself into his bed with a light sigh. His body ached from the long day, though the discomfort eased as he covered himself with his large blanket.
Eyes clenched for a mere moment, he rolled on his stomach. A pressure built behind his eyes as time went on, the boy hoping it was just his eyes shifting with the changes that had come to them over the course of the day.
