Itachi's mission
Timeline: The story takes place a couple of years after the Uchiwa clan has been slaughtered. Itachi Uchiwa has joined the Akatsuki and makes a team with Orochimaru so he can keep an eye on him.
Chapter 1: Itachi and Orochimaru in the country of wind
Itachi Uchiwa is jumping across the last trees he has in front of him condensing his chakra in his feet in order to empower his jumps. He is followed by followed by a man with an androgen aspect who is wearing the same long black coat with red clouds Itachi has, this is his teammate Orochimaru. They have now reached the last trees and a large area of sands and dunes lies in front of their eyes. In addition to their ample coats, both of the colleagues wear a large straw hat with stripes that fall on their shoulder, under their hat they have a headband supporting a tiny metallic plate, on this plate a distinctive sign with the shape of a spiral is crossed. They can't use anymore tree to move faster and they will have to walk across this long part of desert. It is not such an issue, Pain gave them a mission and they intend to satisfy their boss will. « Itachi, is there any reason why you are always so quiet ? » asks Orochimaru. Itachi makes like he has not heard anything. He is preoccupied, not necessarily by the mission but by his partner. Orochimaru is a legendary ninja as dangerous as unpredictable and he has already tried to test him with some demonstrative threat in the past. Moreover questions can't stop bothering his mind : « Why such a skilled ninja would accept to work for another one ? What does Pain possess that Orochimaru lust for ? ». Anyway, this is a not a time for such questions and they are getting closer to their aim, the hidden-village of the sand: Suna. Suna is the village of the country of the wind dedicated to the ninja of this countries. This is where military decision are taken and where the most precious weapons of the country are hidden. In this world the war is made by ninjas who take their power from their ability to use their chakra, they can use weapons like kunaï or shuriken but this crafts are not that lethal as such. The only other thing a village can use, that is not the strength of his own ninjas, to fight an enemy, is a tailed-demon. There are nine of them and five villages have succeeded in capturing one, Suna is one of this village. Itachi and Orochimaru are now a kilometer away from the village of Suna, far enough to not alert the guards. They are here to get some information about the tailed demon hold by the head of the village the Kazekage. A skinny purple snake with evil eyes is emerging from the right sleeve of Orochimaru's coat. « There is no need to use such methods » says Itachi to his comrade, « We just to infiltrate Suna's headquarter to figure out how and were they keep their demon. Let me do ». After a suit of fast hand signs, from Itachi, a raven with one black and one red eye appears in a cloud of smoke and flies in the direction of the village.
Chapter 2: Sasuke's routine
The sun rises again above the hidden-village of the leaf. This village which is located in the country of the fire, shelters the ninjas who dedicate their lives to the protection of this country, it name is Konoha. Konoha had given birth to several legendary and world-wide respected ninjas, this make the village feared but also but also coveted by the other powers of the ninja world.
This new day, is nothing more than a restart of his routine for Sasuke Uchiwa. He wakes up mechanically and start cooking some eggs for his breakfast. In spite of his 10 years old, he is quite accustomed to this lonely life in this flat that used to belong to the police department of the village. he adds some salt in the stove, and turns his back. Sasuke takes a short look at the huge pattern, representing a red and white fan, printed on the wall overhanging his bed. While staring at the fan, he reminds himself the oath he has sworn to accomplish : « to avenge his family and his clan », the fan is nothing else than the emblem of his clan the Uchiwa. But for now this young children has to swallow his eggs and go to school.
In the classroom, Sasuke is sat at the back, the teacher Iruka Sensei give them a theoretical lesson about the handling of the shuriken. he does not really pay attention to what the Sensei is explaining. Thanks to his education he is far more agile in the fight than his classmates. As he is not a very talkative boy he fills his time in class by observing the others and their behaviour. Most of the children do not interest him at all, he finds them too childish. They have parents and a family to take care of them when they are back, regarding what he has been trough, the peaceful life oh his classmates prevent him from any kind of empathy toward them. Still, among ten years olds kid one intrigues him. He has blond hair, big blue eyes and he always wears goggles on his forehead. This blond boy, named Naruto, is not the most mature of the class, on contrary he is always involved in the most stupid foolery. In fact they are the opposite each other, where Sasuke is brilliant Naruto is a dunce, every girl of the class is attracted by Sasuke and Naruto disgust them. Sasuke should be irritated by Naruto but he does not understand why he feels some sympathy toward him. Maybe because, he sees that any parent or big brother has ever come to school to pick up Naruto, he sees that the other kid's parents impede them from playing with Naruto. Sasuke sees, even does not want to accept it, that Naruto is as lonely as him, his fooleries are just his way to put some attention on him. Sasuke sees that Naruto also hides painful wounds from the past.
The school day is over and everyone goes back home. There is no way Sasuke does the same, he has not learned anything today, and he can't afford to waste a day, he needs to improve his skills if he wants to revenge his clan. He decides that the daily session will be dedicated to ninjutsu, he wants to be more efficient in the handling of his chakra. Sasuke goes at the edge of the lake of the village, and practice a Kâton technique that his father's learned. His goal is to execute in the best way the mudras of this technique: the hands signs that enable him to concentrate the biggest amount of chakra in his mouth in order to spit a huge fireball. The repetition of this technique is exhausted, but Sasuke refuses to give up as long as his Supreme fireball does not reach the middle of the lake. He won't accept any failure, he has to become stronger if he wants to honour his clan. He has to become stronger if wants to face the one who exterminated his family, his own brother Itachi Uchiwa.
Chapter 3: Suna's plans
Itachi's raven is now flying above the village of Suna, the guards should have detected the foreign chakra of Itachi in the raven, but he has hypnotized them with the red eye of the raven. This red eye is in fact the sharingan of Itachi transplanted in the raven. The Sharingan is a very powerful hereditary technique of the Uchiwa clan. It enables on a first hand it holder to have an accurate vision of the chakra so he can copy his enemy's techniques. To another hand someone who possess the Sharing can masters genjutsu techniques that enable to immerse someone in a more or less deep illusion.
Naturally, Itachi leads his raven to the center of the village where the Kazekage seats, this is most likely the place where he could find information about the demon he is looking for. In the mean time he also looks for any special for chakra. Indeed a demon possess a huge amount of chakra, normally Itachi would already have detected this chakra but the Kazekage has certainly sealed the demon in order to prevent any attack of the village from his side. Suddenly, a young red hair boy attracts his attention. He sees a special form chakra through him, which is clearly uncommon for a kid. There is no doubt for Itachi, the demon with one tail « Shukaku » is sealed in this young boy. This is a cruel practice that steal the destiny of a child by making of him a massive destruction weapon, however this is one of the only way to get a control on a tailed-demon. Itachi is aware of that kind of problematics, he has seen a similar case in his native village. « You take your time Itachi, does you Sharing weakens ? » says maliciously Orochimaru, who is insightful, Itachi has enough information to make his report for Pain. In fact he is wondering about the number of accomplished ninjas in the village. They are too much, usually Hal of them should be abroad in mission, it is like the village of Suna is preparing something. « It appears they know how to hide a demon » calmly answers Itachi in order to win some time. He wants to dispel his doubts about what the village of Suna is preparing. With his raven he creates a clone of one of the guard he hypnotized, he takes care to imitate the chakra signature of the guard with his Sharing in order to not be compromised. Then he goes to to building where the Kazekage seats and claims he has to see him. Once he is in front of him, Itachi under the appearance of a Suna guard, engage the talk :
-Sir, do you have any last instruction for the attack? asks Itachi.
-No we do as agreed, in two days we will lead the attack against Konoha, our spies have figured out how Konoha keep their demon, the nine tail one Kyubi. Answers the Kazekage. You can go back to your post Izuku.
It was a risky move from Itachi, but his bluff is success. Now he knows the plans of Suna, « It is over Orochimaru, we can go back to the general quarter » indicates Itachi to his teammate.
Chapter 4: Itachi back in Konoha
It is still a peaceful time in Konoha, the Hokage serenely can contemplate the village from his office. Hiruzen Sarutobi is the third Hokage of the hidden-village of the leaf, old and respected ha had to renounce to his retirement after the death of the fourth Hokage. He runs the village in order to keep the population and to always minimize the sacrifices of his ninjas. But he also keeps weighty secret concerning the past of village. Suddenly someone appears just next to him. Someone whois is one of this secret.
-Always that discreet Itachi, says Hiruzen. If you're here, you must have something for me.
-Indeed, answers Itachi. I come from the country of the Wind. I had business to do in Suna.
-Oh, interesting. And to what extend should I be concerned by our neighbours from the desert ? Asks the third Hokage, with his legendary calm.
They prepare something, an attack against the village or an intrusion. They are after Kyubi, they want to make of it one of their weapon. They will probably take action in the next few days.
-Thank you Itachi, you definitely are a precious asset for the village of Konoha. Nothing to signal about Orochimaru?
-No, I think he is not focused on Konoha for the moment, I have the feeling that he is more interested by my Sharingan.
-Hmm… So he will never change. When I was his sensei he could not restrained his thirst of new techniques.
-How is Sasuke ? asks Itachi.
-Always as uncommunicative as ever. He goes to school, lives his lonely life. He often trains after school, it seems your little brother has a clear purpose. Naturally, interrupts Itachi, he wants to beat me and revenge our clan. Have you ever thought about how all of this could end ? Sasuke will never forget that he saw you annihilating your parents and your whole clan. His hard feelings will grow with the time and he will get stronger. Your confrontation is ineluctable.
-Don't worry Hokage, I am prepared to that.
Itachi quits the building, it is not midday yet Sasuke should still be at school. So Itachi decides to go to his little brother's apartment. Once he is in, he checks that everything is ok. He is reassured, the Hokage hols his promise makes sure that Sasuke does not lack of anything. It is time for Itachi to leave the village, but he can't keep from making a short detour and going to the ninja school in order to observe for short time his brother.
Chapter 5: The landmark of the Akatsuki
The ambience is weighty and almost macabre. All the members of the Akatsuki are gathered in a dark cave, somewhere one the Country of the Rain, a small land stuck up between the Country of the Fire, the country of the Wind and the Country of Ground. The administration of this country is very opaque, and the stronghold of the country the village of Ame is well known for being a transit place for thief and smugglers of all kind. That makes this spot a perfect head quarters for an elite criminal organization like the Akatsuki. The different members of the organization are facing their boss who is in height. The criminals forms an arc, two by two, respectively to their team. They all wear the long black coat with red clouds that represents the organization and affrays so much people all over the ninja world. Pain the Head of the organization, is a very discreet and quiet man, he is half-hidden in the shadow and we can only distinguish his ginger hair and the metal cylinder that cross his nose, he is not only one in the assembly to have a barely human shape. The goal of this meeting is simple, Itachi brought precious information about Shukaku the demon with one tail, now it time to take action. « We have identified where and how Shukaku is kept, I'll meet all of you in two days next to the village of Suna in order to capture him ». It is rare Pain mobilize the whole organization for a mission, usually a pair is enough. Itachi had the good precaution, with the squad complete there is no doubt Pain would have taken the control of Shukaku. Fortunately, Itachi omitted to tell the plans of Suna to go to Konoha in order to capture Kyubi. This setback could be fatal for the success of the Akatsuki's mission.
Chapter 6: Another success
Several dozens of ninja are posted in the forest, a few miles away from the village of Konoha. They are dressed in black and they all wear a khaki green sleeveless jacket with big pockets that can contain, shurikens, kunaïs or smokes. Wether they have a hat or a headband they all have on their forehead a metallic plate with a distinctive in shape of a spiral. This distinctive sign is not crossed, they all are Chûnin the elite ninjas from the village of Konoha. They wait in ambush the coming of the troops from the village of Suna. In the meantime the Akatsuki, gathered on the outskirts of Suna, ascertains that most of the forces of the village and their target are missing. As Itachi forecast, the Kazekage took the kid who is receptacle of Shukaku with him, in case Konoha decides to free their own demon Kyubi to defend themselves. It didn't take time for Pain, who is a gifted ninja, to infiltrate Suna and figure out that leadership of the village is involved in a commando mission to capture Kyubi. Pain is now in front of a dillema, if he sends his all squad to Konoha he could have the opportunity to capture two tailed-demons from two great ninja village. But this a risky move and in case of failure the whole organization would be compromised. « Itachi, Orochimaru I want you to go to your native village, to take advantage from the attack of Suna in order to capture Kyubi. Shukaku is not our goal anymore ». So the decision of Pain is taken, and Itachi is again involved with the business of the Akatsuki in relation with Konoha.
Itachi and Orochimaru move towards konoha, on the path they can see kunaïs and shurikens scattered on the ground. Confrontations took place. When they arrive near the village, Itachi sends a raven clone to get some information. Apparently the commando from Suna has been surprised by the presence of Chunin from Konoha on their way. Caught off guard they had to back up to their back up who were waiting behind. As he could not benefit from a surprise effect anymore, the Kazega decided to renounce to the operation. He knows he has more to loose than to win if he starts an open war against Konoha.
As Konoha forces are fold back in their village, Orochimaru and Itachi's mission can't be carried out. So Itachi convinces his teammates that the best thing to do is to go back to the rest of group and to let Pain elaborate a new Plan for a next time. Once again Itachi succeeded in the only mission he really cares about: preserve peace and protect his native village.
