The last thing Itachi remembered was fighting Kakashi. He barely managed to evade Kakashi's Electromagnetic Pulse, and then he saw Sasuke come in. The next he knew, Kakashi's hand was in his shoulder, and he then removed that arm, leaving a giant hole where his shoulder bone should have been. His clavicle was broken. He lost feeling in his left arm. Blood pouring out of the hole in his arm. The electromagnetic pulse had already put him out of his mind, got him dizzy, and now the blood loss was getting to him. He looked at Kakashi throwing a kunai at Sasuke, saying something. He couldn't make it out.
He screamed, "Run, Sasuke!" Unfortunately, it came out as a desperate whisper. He could only see as Kakashi kicked Sasuke away, Sasuke's eyes widening in fear and anger as Kakashi told him something.
His vision blurred... Soon he drifted away.
When he woke up, it wasn't in the afterlife as he expected.
He woke up in a hospital room. It took a few seconds for his vision to adjust to the light.
He had a splitting headache. He couldn't think straight.
His eyes were burning.
He'd gathered that the Mangekyou's after-effects were intense. But nothing could have prepared him for the actual thing.
Kakashi's jutsu most likely made it worse, he supposes.
He tries to sit up. Only to figure out that his sense of balance is shot. He feels like he's missing something. He then turns to his left and sees that he's been amputated where he was stabbed by Kakashi.
He was now a cripple. Not that it made him any weaker. After all, all he needed to win was make eye contact.
He sat up after a short while with the help of some doctors.
He asked, "Could you please send someone to the Hokage's office? It is my request to meet him."
One of the doctors said, "The Hokage is already on his way, Itachi-sama. We were ordered to inform him the moment you woke up. He wishes to speak to you himself."
Itachi nodded. He had assumed that he was a prisoner of Konoha. The way the doctor addressed him told him otherwise. He didn't know why this was happening, but it meant that he could protect Sasuke. So he'd take it at face value for now.
While he was pondering, the doctor came to his side and said, "Itachi sama, you must rest for a few days... Whatever Jutsu that traitor Kakashi used on you, it did a number on your nervous system. If not for the stasis seal the ANBU put on you, you wouldn't have survived."
That didn't make sense to Itachi. He was supposed to be the traitor, not Kakashi. Kakashi had been sent there to kill him so he wouldn't be a liability. Right?
The doctor continued, "You may have known this already. But in case you didn't, you have a disease, congenital... You have at most, ten years left, Itachi sama."
"We also checked your brother. Fortunately, your brother didn't inherit the disease."
He had known about his disease. What he hadn't known was that he had such little time left. Luckily, Sasuke would never be bound by this disease. Itachi nodded and asked, "Leave me alone until the Hokage arrives."
The Hokage arrived in around 15 minutes. When inside, he ordered, "Leave us alone!"
He walked up to Itachi's bed and sat on a chair beside Itachi. He put up privacy seals around them.
He said, "The official story we're going with is that Kakashi hated the Uchiha from the very beginning. Since they did not accept his friend's sacrifice and labeled him a killer.
"So he waited. For seven years, he spread rumors about them. That they were the cause of the Kyubi attack. Then he let the village do his work for him. Separating themselves from the Uchiha clan members to the point where villagers would flinch if an Uchiha showed up.
Then when he knew that no one would be able to save the Uchiha, he struck and killed all of them.
Fortunately, you and Team Ro managed to save all children. You intercepted Kakashi and fought with him. But he managed to put you down. Your team arrived in the nick of time, applied that stasis seal on you, and managed to save your life."
The unofficial story went unsaid.
So Kakashi had taken the fall for him. An innocent man was now on the run because of him.
They both sat in silence.
Itachi asked, "Hokage-sama, what would your answer be if the Hyuuga had asked to be moved closer to the village center? If they had asked for more missions with shinobi from the rest of the village?"
Hiruzen was speechless. He had not expected that question at all. Hiruzen knew that he'd have answered yes in a heartbeat. But because the same demands were made by Fugaku, head of the Uchiha clan, he hadn't agreed to it. He'd have agreed to it had it been any other clan other than the Uchiha.
And Itachi knew that too. He said, "That's all I needed to hear Hokage-sama."
He continued, "I wish for a private funeral for my clan, without any outsiders. This is the funeral for my dead clansmen. Not a function for the villagers to blame Kakashi for their faults. I say that in my full capacity as Head of the Uchiha Clan."
"Itachi, the rest of the clans will not like this."
"They did nothing but ostracize us anyway, and not because of the machinations of one man, and not just for the past seven years. It's been happening since the founding of the village.
"Members of the clan have been forced to choose between their kin and Konoha from the beginning. We chose Konoha over a clan member when we disowned Madara.
"Me, Shisui, and many others chose the village over the clan. I am sure that if a coup were to happen, most of us would side with Konoha.
"Madara, one of the two shinobi who worked the hardest for this village, was ostracized for being an Uchiha.
"He realized that the village feared us. That they would push us as far away as possible because of that.
"He realized that clan would eventually be brought to our current position. He tried warning us. But we chose Konoha over him.
"In the wars, we always took the most damage. We took the biggest hit during the Kyuubi attack.
"What did we get in return? We were forced to move to the village outskirts on an unfounded accusation.
"We were practically forced outside the village!
"Yet, we stayed silent. We protected the village from itself, did its dirty work, kept its prisoners away from them, and what did we get in return- fear, contempt, hatred.
"Our demands were just to be moved closer to the village. To take more missions with non-clan members. To get more non-Uchiha members in the police force. But you and your advisors didn't budge. Always looking for an ulterior motive that was never there!
The village drove us to become so desperate to use a coup as a bargaining chip!
"We never wanted to coup! We love the village! Why would we willingly kill our comrades? Our friends?
"My father requested these things for five years before a coup was even on the table as a bargaining chip. And until three months ago, we weren't even planning to go ahead with it.
But even after threatening a coup, we weren't given what we wanted. So we were forced there. Now, my clansmen are dead. By my hand because I chose the village instead of my clan just like my ancestors did.
"We now have a clean slate. I am no longer the heir to the clan of monsters.
"The clan is now filled with the last survivors of Kakashi's massacre. I am the hero who fought him off.
"The clan will finally receive the respect that it deserves.
"However unfortunate it may be that this respect came at the cost of our parents.
"And I will not have the rest of the village comfort the young children of my clan by telling them that Kakashi is responsible for everything just to feel better about themselves"
Hiruzen sighed and asked, "Why didn't you tell me before that a coup was never on the table. Why didn't you tell me, for two years?"
"Because, if I did, your advisors would have also known through you and would never take us seriously enough, just like they didn't, for the first five years. And the Uchiha would continue to be ostracized for even more time, and the coup would've happened even earlier if I told you that it was never on the table."
Hiruzen just sat there in shock. He asked, "So what do you intend to do now? Will you stay there or move out?"
"Now, staying in the clan grounds shows strength, so no, we will not be moving out. Besides, the part about the clansmen taking missions with others is out of the question anyway. The police force will need to be restaffed. I request that the new police force has members from all the clans.
"I want all the Uchiha eyes to be burnt. I also don't want any Uchiha shinobi's DNA to remain intact. I wish for everything to be incinerated.
"While the funeral will be private, tomorrow, until noon, the rest of the village will be allowed to pay their respects to the dead Uchiha at the gate of the compound.
"These are my only requests Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen nodded. This was the least he could do for the clan. They had been there for Konoha, and Konoha had let them down.
Itachi stood up and told, "By your leave, Hokage-sama, I need to see how my brother is doing."
Hiruzen nodded as Itachi walked out.
Itachi walked out of the hospital room. The doctors were shocked to see him out already. They came running to him.
"Itachi-sama, you need to rest. You are in no condition to be roaming around." said one of the doctors.
"My brother is more important to me than my health, so if you would please, lead me to where he is."
The doctors said, "Itachi-sama, fortunately, your brother suffered only a minor bruise. Hokage sama told us to keep him in the hospital. It wouldn't be good for him to be in such an environment. We can call him to your room, Itachi sama. He is mostly healed and is probably going through schoolwork at this time... You, on the other hand, are still recovering."
"No need to call him. I'll go myself. I'm trained to fight and use my body to its best. Even if I were still bleeding in my arm." Said Itachi pointing at his now amputated left arm, "I think I can handle walking to my brother's room after having been healed."
The doctors relented under his stern gaze, and they took him to the room Sasuke was in.
Itachi saw Sasuke studying solemnly. He was most likely being forced to keep up with his schoolwork. He hated that Kakashi had taken the fall for him. But he still felt that it was somehow better this way, now that he could spend time with Sasuke. He hated that he felt that way. What had Kakashi senpai sacrificed for him?
But just looking at Sasuke's face brought happiness to his heart.
He said, "Sasuke,"
Sasuke looked at his brother, and the gloom left his face. It brightened again when he saw Itachi. Itachi was the only ray of sunshine in Sasuke's now dark world without his mother. Sasuke dropped whatever he was doing and ran instantly to Itachi and hugged him.
Sasuke cried, "Nii-san! I thought you were dead! The doctors wouldn't let me near you!
"Your body wasn't moving! Please don't leave me like that again!
Even mama and papa are gone! I was afraid you were dead too! I was so frightened!"
Sasuke broke down into tears.
Itachi just stood, hugging Sasuke. What was he supposed to say? He held him tightly. He crouched and said, "Sasuke, you needn't worry about me. I will always be there for you. And I promise I will never leave you alone."
That seemed to calm him down a little. He asked, "Promise?"
Itachi said, "Yes, Sasuke. I promise"
Sasuke just hugged him again. They stayed like that for a while.
Sasuke then pulled away and said, "Nii-san, I now have the Sharingan. So you can train me. We can then take down that man!"
Itachi looked at Sasuke's solemn face with the Sharingan.
He wanted to make sure that Sasuke's eyes never evolved further.
He said, "Sure, I will train you. We can take that man down together."
He wasn't sure if he could actually beat Kakashi. Kakashi knew about Amaterasu, and he was smart enough to not make eye contact. There is no way Kakashi doesn't come up with a counter for Amaterasu.
He knew that Kakashi put himself through hell in training. How else would the man improve month after month?
In his time in Kakashi's team, Kakashi would do team training monthly. And every month, he'd have improved so much. Itachi was honestly jealous of Kakashi's improvement curve.
"You'll have to go through hell if you want to beat Kakashi," he said to both himself and Sasuke.
Sasuke looked at him and said, "I will go through the depths of hell and back, again and again, and again, if it means I can beat that man!"
He had the conviction that was needed for it.
"Then be prepared for it. From tomorrow, we'll train together."
Sasuke nodded in acceptance.
"I need to meet the other survivors as well. So rest now, brother mine. You'll need it," said Itachi as he left Sasuke to meet the others.
Itachi then remembered that all children were alive. Izumi was still technically a child. He didn't hold much hope knowing she had been a genin. He asked, "Is Izumi Uchiha alive?"
"Yes, Itachi sama, would you like me to lead you to her?"
"Yes." Said Itachi
"Follow me, Itachi sama," said the doctor as he directed him to Izumi's room.
He said, "Izumi-san had it much worse than you. She had a large gash in her gut. She had lost a lot of blood before being brought here. More blood than even you had lost. It was hard keeping her alive. But she'll live. Her consciousness comes and goes."
"Lead me to her as fast as you can," said Itachi.
"Of course, Itachi-sama."
Soon they reached Izumi's ward. Upon reaching the room, Itachi took a seat next to Izumi. He took her hand in his.
He said, "Izumi chan, I'm here. The bad times, they're all gone. It's just us now. Please wake up, Izumi chan." He'd spent seventy years with her in Tsukiyomi last time he was awake. He'd rather not spend a single day without her if he could.
"We can live the life I showed you. We can do everything again. Please, Izumi-chan, wake up.
"I'll buy you your favorite Dango from granny's shop every day. I'll make you your favorite katsudon every day. Please wake up. Please!"
He just lay there holding his hand in hers. He said, "I'll do everything you ask for, Izumi-chan. Please get up."
"I'm at least making it to your ANBU team this time around, Itachi-kun," Izumi whispered.
"Of course, Izumi chan. You'll make it into my ANBU team." Itachi chuckled while wiping away his tears.
"I'm not retiring from shinobi-work either. Like hell, I'm going to stay at home while you are off doing missions."
Itachi chuckled in response. He was happy.
He thought he only had Sasuke. He has Izumi as well now.
The both of them just talked for a few minutes about what they would do differently this time around.
It was already past sunset. The doctor came in and said, "Itachi sama, I request you to rest. You need sleep. Neither of you is leaving the hospital tonight."
He nodded. He looked at Izumi and said, "I'll bring Sasuke as well tomorrow. We can meet all the others as well. Good night, Izumi-chan."
Izumi smiled at him and bid him a good night.
Before going to sleep, he went to the memorial stone. The place Kakashi visited the most. There, he promised himself, that he'd make sure that Kakashi's sacrifice wouldn't be in vain. Kakashi's name may not have been on the stone, but he knew that Kakashi deserved as much respect as the many shinobi whose names were engraved here.
As he turned to leave, he heard a voice from behind, "Itachi Uchiha, have you forgotten our deal?"
Itachi turned to face the masked man who called himself Madara. Itachi knew Madara was dead. But this man in front of him had the Sharingan and the Mangekyou Sharingan. He had also been willing to help Itachi. So Itachi just took it at face value and planned to figure out who he was later on in his time with the Akatsuki.
He said, "Madara, the circumstances have changed. Besides, I'm an amputee now. I also have a disease that will render me weak in a decade or so. Kakashi, on the other hand, isn't an amputee. He has the mangekyou too and is just as well versed with the Sharingan as me. He is someone who could have become Hokage if he wished to. So you can instead seek Kakashi."
Madara just stared at Itachi and asked, "And where oh where am I to find him? For all my prowess, Kakashi won't be found if he wants to stay hidden."
Itachi nodded. Kakashi was the best tracker in Konoha. That also meant he was the best at covering his own tracks. He said, "Then wait until he wants to be seen. Kakashi throws himself into life and death situations pretty often. You'll find him if you look close enough. I am not going to join the Akatsuki. At this point, short of kidnapping me and pulling me to the Akatsuki, you don't have any means of forcing me to join your group."
"If you don't join, your brother's life will be in danger," said Madara.
Itachi said, "Whatever makes you think that threatening my brother will make me want to join you?"
Madara said, "You will pay for this, Uchiha Itachi, with everything dear to your life," as he vanished into the darkness. Itachi had just made a terrible enemy. For the first time, he was afraid, afraid that he'd put Sasuke's life in danger. Doubts seeped into his mind. But he knew one thing, he would always keep Sasuke within his sights.