Legend of Tenten Volume II:
Chapter One: Four Years Later
Itachi Uchiha landed on the telephone pole near the Hokage's Office. He down at so many people who took no notice of him. Not one looked up as he landed at the top of the steps and slipped past the ANBU into the office. How simple it was to go unseen, even by the most effective of ninja.
He was known as a prodigy by many.
Yet Itachi knew better as he came to the office. As he opened the door, Sarutobi was waiting for him, just as if he had been expected. "Ah, Itachi, please come in.
"I trust all is going well at the Uchiha Compound?"
Itachi lowered his passive genjutsu and took a seat before the Hokage. It was a mark of respect, more than a reveal. Sarutobi was one Itachi had never once gotten the better of yet. "As well as can be expected.
"Tensions have quieted down a bit since the Uchiha were allowed to move to other areas. There is still some resentment over not having an Uchiha as Hokage. However, they represent a minority."
"Then it seems our plans worked just as we hoped," said Sarutobi. "These three years have been very productive in stabilizing events.
"In regards to your request to transfer out of the ANBU, I'll gladly approve it. As well as your desire to become a Jonin-sensei. Even so, it will be unfortunate to miss one of my best subordinates.
"Tell me, why was it you decided to change divisions?"
Itachi thought about his reasons, the endlessly concerned glances by Mother. Then he thought of Fugaku insisting he stay within it to remain as the Uchiha Clan's pipeline to the village. Why had he decided to leave the ANBU? Was it because he had grown dissatisfied, or because Mother desired he leave?
Was it because Sasuke had not been asking to go with him as much, and they hardly talked. Many possible reasons came to him, but in the end, Itachi chose to believe it was a desire to move into the future. "I've found that my time as an ANBU has been productive. However, I am becoming detached from those close to me. I rarely have time, and... well..."
"Yes?" asked Sarutobi, who no doubt guessed his reluctance was feigned.
"Mother is pressing me to leave the ANBU," said Itachi. "Father wishes me to remain. However, in truth, Sasuke is my deciding factor."
"What do you mean?" asked Sarutobi.
"My brother," said Itachi. "He used to always chase after me and want me to do things with him. However, now he no longer does so. I have also heard that he is doing badly at school."
"His grades are by all accounts top notch," said Sarutobi.
"I did not mean in terms of raw power," said Itachi. "Sasuke has had his relationship with the other students deteriorate. Father asks a great deal of him and uses bestows all his favor on me. Sasuke envies this, and it has driven a rift between us.
"That rift has left both of us without emotional connections within our own family. The more radical elements among the clan are displeased by my actions. They feel that the compromise we arranged undercut an opportunity. Some of them hoped to take full control.
"Of course, since the coup has been averted, no one says it openly. But I have found myself somewhat unwelcome. Sasuke, meanwhile, has received far more attention from those who once looked to me. He is now under even more pressure to be my equal.
"It has led to him becoming aggressive and antisocial at school."
"What is your point?" asked Sarutobi.
"I believe that my mental state is becoming, or has been, somewhat unbalanced," said Itachi. "I am told that taking on a genin team is a common way of coping with such events. That was what my mentor, Kakashi, did in a similar situation. I'm told his mental health has improved."
"A leave of absence might be better than a transfer in your case," said Sarutobi.
"Work is fun for me, Hokage," said Itachi. "The last time I took a week off, I did not know what to do with myself. I spent the entire time polishing my weapons and armor and making potential plans.
"For me, being a ninja has always been my life. And being Itachi Uchiha has always been what I do in periods of rest. Too much rest leads to my edge deteriorating."
"Well, I will accept your request," said Sarutobi. "And I'll arrange for a squad of genin to be given to you."
"Actually, Hokage," said Itachi. "I have a particular team in mind. May I make a request?"
"Of course," said Sarutobi.
Itachi focused on the buildings behind him. The memory came to him of the operation some time ago of watching his chosen agents performing mundane chores. They'd had a work ethic that he appreciated, and it had not been his genjutsu. They'd performed their tasks perfectly.
They'd been none the wiser to what was going on at first. But over time, they'd become suspicious. Itachi had told them nothing, but they'd guessed a great deal. "There are two particular Shinobi-in-training I want to train. Neji Hyuga and Tenten." Guy had wanted to train Lee.
"I see," said Sarutobi. "Well, that may be a bit of a problem."
"What do you mean?" asked Itachi.
"Neji Hyuga and Tenten are completely inseparable, it is true," said Sarutobi. "However, they are also completely inseparable from Rock Lee. It has already been determined they will be on a team together. And Might Guy has a personal interest in him."
"I see," mused Itachi, remembering the reports he'd memorized. "Rock Lee is only capable of Taijutsu, isn't he?" The question was meant to make him relateable. "I'm not certain I would be an ideal fit for training him. Guy seems more suited to that role."
"Yes, thus you see my dilemma," said Sarutobi. "What is your interest in these two?"
Rock Lee also had Itachi's interest, but he'd judged that Guy was the ideal trainer for him. Taijutsu was his only skill, so a taijutsu specialist was the only logical choice. "Neji and Tenten both acted as my subordinates in defusing the Uchiha Affair. They performed exceptionally well through it, as did Rock Lee. Although they were not aware of their mission, they above and beyond expectations."
"Some of my advisors believe that they performed a bit too well," mused Sarutobi. "The chaos in the aftermath with the Root Foundation was extremely regrettable. It lost me the services of Danzo."
"Perhaps, but Danzo is still operating underground. By all accounts, remains loyal," said Itachi. "This despite no longer on the council. I believe the losses we sustained during it outweighed those we might have had during a civil war. Or, in a worst-case scenario, a purge." Itachi had contemplated the prospect of murdering his entire family. It might have been a preferable option if things got far enough. For some reason, he'd found the idea of killing Father somewhat appealing.
He'd known that was not something a person ought to feel but had kept silent about it till now. However, the desire to murder his own flesh and blood had disturbed him enough to lead him here.
"I take your point," said Sarutobi. "They have the potential to be splendid Shinobi. And you have a desire to train those two?"
"I do," said Itachi. "I've already familiarized myself with their psychological profile and personal history. As well as that of Rock Lee, of course. I'm confident that if I am given a position as their Jonin, I can have them make Chunin before the end of the year."
Sarutobi blinked. "...And how do you intend to do that?"
"People generally operate best when they have a goal to make progress toward," said Itachi. "And they do their best work when they are fueled by rage but able to control it. Properly channeled, rage becomes an asset. One that allows you to perform above normal expectations.
"Hatred is a true asset when utilized."
"I do not see how this relates to training twelve-year-olds," noted Sarutobi.
"I'd already killed hundreds of people when I was their age, and I became an excellent Shinobi," said Itachi. "My plan is to use similar methods to Father. First, I will present them with an apparent injustice to right. Then, I will teach them to hate that injustice. My training can then be offered as a means to that end."
"And what injustice do you have in mind?" asked Sarutobi.
Was that important? Itachi supposed he ought to answer. "Motivation can be anything from a desire for money to avenging a fallen comrade. Or even reclaiming what is rightfully theirs. Neji is a perfectionist, so ideally, I'd motivate him with the prospect of advancement. Rock Lee desires to go above and beyond his normal parameters, so convincing him to go the extra mile is easy. Tenten desires recognition for her efforts.
"Once they have been motivated, I will draw them out to where they are most vulnerable. From there, I will break them, as Father broke me. I will strip away those qualities that are undesirable in a ninja. Then replace them with what qualities they need to achieve their dreams.
"I will turn them into true Shinobi. Ones capable of performing all the same tasks I did at their age, but far better."
And capable of killing Itachi if he ever went rogue. By nature, they would know his techniques better than anyone. Best to have a fallback plan in case his mental state got away from him.
"Is that not... overambitious?" asked Sarutobi.
"The purpose of being a Jonin-sensei is to create powerful and loyal ninja of the Leaf. One who will perform whatever duty is asked of them," said Itachi. "And it must be done e=without question. People call me an unprecedented prodigy, but they exaggerate. While I am naturally talented, I am certain my own success can be replicated. I would have been nothing without my upbringing.
"If the training regime I have prepared succeeds, I believe that all three of them will reach my level of power. And, if my power can be replicated, future ninja teams can be trained in a similar fashion.
"Imagine an army of ninja on the level of Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha. All trained from low-power bloodlines. If the Leaf possessed such an army, peace would be attainable.
Sarutobi paused. "...Have you considered the effect this training regime might have on your students?"
"Hokage, they joined the academy because they want to be ninja," said Itachi. "I am helping them with that goal.
"Rock Lee desires to be a splendid ninja. Tenten desires to be comparable to Tsunade. Neji's grade point average speaks for itself, and he is a clear perfectionist. Their goals, however, are actually one and the same. Take away the details, and they have a single desire; To be the best.
"I will make them the best.
"It will take discipline, and they won't be the same afterward. But the rewards for taking the more difficult path are great. Tenten already understands this, and the others are close.
"And if they don't want to accept my training...
"Well, they can give up on getting a bell and go back to the academy for a year."
Saruobit paused and clasped his hands together. For a moment, he stared at Itachi as if wondering what he meant. "Let me see if I have this quite clear.
"You plan to completely break your students. From there, you will build them back up into elite ninja comparable to yourself. And you want to do it before they've even finished the bell test?"
"I did say I wanted a time extension," said Itachi, who had always been a perfectionist.
Sarutobi drummed his fingers along the table. "...Alright, Itachi. Why don't you tell me your plan."
And Itachi did just that. It wasn't fully formed; he'd left some places vague so as to not over plan. When you detailed a plan too much, you became blind to unforeseen elements. However, Itachi was fairly certain his strategy would make all three of them what they wanted to be.
Sarutobi took a draft of his pipe for a moment. "...I see.
"Before I give you my answer, let me ask you this Itachi;
"Does what you are doing has anything to do with an event four years ago. I speak of the arrival of a piece of Uchiha Clan property? Iruka got these results from a blood test, and, well, they speak for themselves."
"I assure you, Hokage, I am interested in them for their personality," said Itachi, quite honestly. "What they were destined for from birth is not any of my concern. Only teaching them to attain ultimate power."
Sarutobi nodded. "...Then do as you like."
Excellent.
Itachi was going to break his students emotionally, physically, and mentally. He'd transform them into young killing machines before the age of thirteen. Then they'd carve a bloody swath through the enemies of the Leaf in the name of peace. And everyone who heard the names Tenten, Lee, and Neji would be terrified out of their minds.
Then they'd go out and get ramen together and have a great time. And if ever one of them was taken hostage, they'd happily cut their comrade lose for the sake of the Leaf.
He'd be the best Jonin Sensei ever.