Chapter 18

The Key to Hope

Ibiki woke to a warm sensation spreading through his right shoulder. In that same moment he recognized his arms and legs were in thick chains, and he'd been stripped of all his various weapons. He frowned and pried his eyes open to take in the sight of a rather bedraggled Iruka Umino staring down at him. The chunin's face was set into such an intense look of concentration that it became obvious to Ibiki that his shoulder injury had been more than just a superficial cut.

He took a deep breath and spoke to the younger man. "Iruka, that's enough. Save your chakra."

A look of relief crossed the Academy Sensei's face, followed almost immediately by a frown and a glare. "What the hell were you thinking, Ibiki Morino?"

Ibiki raised his eyebrows at the younger man's angry tone. He was about to comment when another tired voice rang out. "Iruka, leave Ibiki alone. He did want needed to be done."

The teacher turned his head to look back over his shoulder and Ibiki watched some of that anger disappear. "I know Kakashi. It's just..." Iruka sighed and slouched his shoulders. "It's just I was hoping we'd be home by now."

Ibiki pushed himself into a sitting position. "There's no point wasting your energy on something that didn't happen, Umino. Now help me up so I can get a look at the kid's seals."

Iruka turned back toward him with wide eyes. "But you're still not fully healed!"

Ibiki rolled his recently injured shoulder, noting it was still quite sore. "Don't worry about that right now. Besides, you've gotten rid of the worst of the damage."

Ibiki took a moment to familiarize himself with his surroundings. The three of them were in the same room...correction...cave. Kakashi was resting against the far wall on a pile of blankets, and he looked one step away from death's door. Ibiki frowned and realized that if he removed the kid's seals right now that Kakashi's current state probably wouldn't be able to support the sudden influx of chakra.

Iruka slipped one arm around his waist and helped Ibiki stand up. His body ached in a way that only occurred after being hit with a sharingan attack, but he'd experienced that before, so it came as no surprise now. He leaned a bit more than he wanted to on Iruka while they crossed over to Kakashi, but was pleased to note that he was otherwise more or less healthy.

They settled onto the floor in front of the Copy-ninja and Ibiki met the young jonin's eyes. "So why would these idiots put the two of us in the same room with you Kakashi?"

The silver-haired man looked as though breathing was an exhausting task, but he still managed to respond. "This is just a stop over until we can be relocated to a safer lair. The Akatsuki want to make sure we aren't being followed before they make that final move. Besides, Ibiki...have you looked at us lately? I doubt we'd get far even if we could escape."

Ibiki grunted at that observation. "True enough, Kid. But my larger worry is that they might know your loyalties have shifted again."

Kakashi closed his eyes and sighed. "I don't think they've figured it out yet, Ibiki."

"What makes you say that, Kakashi?"

Iruka entered the conversation. "Because if they knew, Ibiki, we'd all be dead already. Right, Kakashi?"

Kakashi nodded in agreement. "Still...we need to continue playing the role of enemies for now, Ibiki. So, put on a good show when they ask you to take the seals off."

"Right." Ibiki glanced over to where the entrance of the cave was. "How long until they come to check on us?"

Kakashi sighed. "They were just here about twenty minutes ago...so I'd say we have about another twenty before the next visit."

"Good. Iruka, see if you can get Kakashi in better shape."

The chunin nodded once and shifted closer to Kakashi...his ankle chains making the task less than graceful. Ibiki watched the man skillfully start to ease his chakra into the worst of Kakashi's wounds and had to admit the man was rather good at chakra manipulation. Maybe he'd see about testing the kid once they returned to Konoha. He could always use another man with multiple specialties in ANBU...and the mask might help Umino from broadcasting his emotions to the enemy while they were at it.

A loud hiss from behind Kakashi's teeth brought Ibiki's focus back to the pair, just as Kakashi was slapping Iruka's hand away. "Dammit, Sensei! I told you not to try that again!"

Iruka sat back with a loud sigh. "Fine! But if I don't draw the infection out now there's a chance it'll spread down there...and there's no way in Hell I'll treat it then!"

Ibiki rolled his eyes. Why couldn't he ever get matched up with grownups? He moved over to get a better view of what the issue was and nearly laughed. Iruka was trying to treat a puncture wound that was very close to Kakashi's groin. Ibiki settled down next to the men and waited for them to notice he was there.

"What's wrong Kakashi? I thought you liked Iruka? I've never known you to be so shy before."

The silver-haired jonin thrust his bottom lip out in the perfect pout...even more evident without his trademark mask...and once again Ibiki needed to hold back a laugh. Kakashi glared at him as he answered. "His hands are too cold."

Iruka shook his head and proceeded to rub his palms together to warm them up. "Why didn't you just say so, you stupid jonin?"

Ibiki quietly chuckled as he watched the chunin continue his work. His mind was already on the current problems and he hoped, that between the three of them, they'd find some way out of this mess. He also hoped that the fact his captors were worrying about being followed was because Genma and the others had actually managed to survive their encounter with the Akatsuki and ROOT.

Itachi watched the trio in the cave from the shadows just outside the door. It was evident to him that Kakashi Hatake had managed to see through his elaborate attempt to rewrite his past, and now he needed to decide what to do about it.

He frowned at that line of thought. Rightfully he shouldn't need to decide anything. He should report this fact directly to Pein and let the Akatsuki Leader choose the appropriate action against the Copy-nin and his fellow Leaf shinobi. But something un-nameable kept him from doing so. Itachi couldn't explain it...not even to himself. It started when Genma had convinced him to bring Kakashi to Konoha when he was injured by Orochimaru, and then had been reinforced when Iruka worked with him to target the ROOT operative who was torturing Kakashi. Both times he felt the tug of something greater than the Akatsuki, and it left him feeling confused.

How could he possibly feel anything close to allegiance to the very village that forced him to do half of what he'd done in the name of the Hokage? But then again, was it actually allegiance to the Leaf he was experiencing? Or did it have more to do with these select few shinobi from that village?

"If you're going to brood, Itachi, you'd likely be more comfortable in here with us."

Kakashi's voice floated out toward him and Itachi cursed his carelessness. He contemplated leaving, but that unfamiliar yearning overruled the more logical side of his brain once more. Leaving the comfort of the shadows, Itachi slowly walked into the small cave to see three faces turned toward him. Two held the edge of surprise and wariness, while one showed no sign of anything but the boredom Itachi had come to expect from the man.

He walked over to stand in front of the Copy-nin. "I do not brood, Kakashi."

A small smile pulled at the corner of Kakashi's mouth. "Ah...that's right...Uchiha never brood. How forgetful of me."

An uneasy silence filled the room. Kakashi's half-lidded gaze remained locked on Itachi, while the other two moved to either side of the Copy-nin...as though they were getting ready to protect the man. Itachi tipped his head slightly toward his left shoulder before speaking in a voice that was barely above a whisper.

"How long have you known, Kakashi?"

"That you're an Uchiha? Since you were born."

Itachi frowned. "You know very well what I am speaking of."

Kakashi shrugged. "Do I?"

Itachi closed his eyes and let loose a small sigh. "Sempai...must we do this every time we speak?"

A soft chuckle came from the direction of the reclining jonin. "I thought you enjoyed our bonding time, Itachi?"

He opened his eyes and glared at the man before sinking down into a sitting position in front of him. Itachi noted the other two in the cave tensed noticeably at his movement, but he kept the majority of his focus on Kakashi. "I did not lie to you."

"I know." The Copy-nin ran one hand across his forehead and through his hair before meeting Itachi's eyes and continuing. "But you didn't tell me the whole truth either."

Itachi frowned. He felt as though he were being scolded by his father all over again, and he couldn't help but wish Kakashi had taken up wearing his mask again. "So then, I will ask you again, Sempai...how long have you known?"

"You can thank Orochimaru for that one, Itachi. My time in his care was extremely...enlightening."

Itachi narrowed his gaze. "You did not know before then?"

"Itachi, why does it matter?"

He shifted his gaze to the ground. "Why did you not fight back against my little brother?"

Kakashi sighed and drew Itachi's attention back to his face. "I knew something was off with the Akatsuki. The way the Leader and the others were keeping things from me set doubts into my mind long before Sasuke and Kabuto showed up." The jonin rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. "Honestly, if the kid had shown up on any other day, I probably would have put up more of a fight...but on that day the Leader brushed me off and the rest of the group weren't much better."

A small smirk crept onto Itachi's lips. "You willingly went with them because you felt left out?"

Kakashi scowled at him and crossed his arms in front of his body. "I wouldn't say willingly...but I do admit I could have tried harder."

Itachi closed his eyes. "Do you regret your choice now, Sempai?"

Kakashi's chuckle made Itachi open his eyes once more. "My choice? No, I don't regret that. I regret that it took time with Orochimaru to open my eyes, but in a way, I can't regret that either."

"How so?"

Kakashi shrugged. "If I hadn't been brought there, Genma very likely would have perished. And if you hadn't listened to Genma's logic...I wouldn't have lived either."

An uneasy silence settled between them as Itachi had no idea how to respond to Kakashi's comment. Iruka cleared his throat and drew Itachi's attention away from Kakashi.

"I wanted to thank you, Itachi."

That caught Itachi by surprise and caused him to scratch at his head. "I am holding you captive, Iruka-sensei. Why would you thank me?"

A lop-sided grin stretched across the Academy teacher's face. "You helped me release Kakashi from that horrible jutsu. You could have chosen to ignore me, but you helped without question. So...thank you."

That unfamiliar tug within him caused Itachi to shiver slightly. "I did it to help a member of the Akatsuki."

Even as the words left his lips, Itachi knew that was not why he'd done it. And it was obvious by the look on the faces of the three Konoha shinobi sitting in front of him that they knew it as well. Itachi frowned again when he realized he'd referred to Kakashi as a Konoha shinobi in his mind. This definitely was not what he expected.

Kakashi placed a hand on Itachi's knee. "Don't try to over think any of this, Itachi. I know what it feels like to have your beliefs challenged. All I ask is that you keep an open mind to the possibility that you belong with us more than with the Akatsuki."

Itachi tensed and met Kakashi's mismatched gaze. "You know that I cannot return to Konoha. Not after what I have done there."

Kakashi's smile was like a soothing balm to Itachi's confused mind. "I know that, Itachi. But that does not mean that you should stay with these people. We can find somewhere else for you to go...somewhere that you can start to heal too."

Itachi gripped Kakashi's hands and slowly pushed them off his knees. He then balled his hands into fists and closed his eyes. "Stop it, Kakashi. You cannot save me from the choices I have made." He opened his eyes and pushed himself to standing. "This conversation did not occur. Beyond that...I cannot help you. Please do not ask me to."

He watched his former mentor narrow his eyes in contemplation, and Itachi found his heart was beating quite fast in anticipation of the man's response. He didn't have to wait long.

"You need to find a reason to be elsewhere when we move to the next location. Can you at least do that, Itachi?"

He bowed his head to his former ANBU Captain. "Yes, Sempai. I can do that."

Itachi turned on his heel and started toward the entrance to the cave. He was stopped when he heard Ibiki Morino's distinctive voice. "If you change your mind about starting over, Uchiha...know that Kakashi will not be the only one willing to help you."

Itachi did not respond, but a small smile made its way to his lips as he headed out to rejoin the rest of the Akatsuki. His mind felt more at peace than it had in many years, and he was determined to at least do as Kakashi had requested. He was certain he could convince Pein that it would be a wise move for him to scout ahead...and then it would be up to Kakashi. Perhaps he'd ask to have Kisame go along with him to make his request seem more plausible. The sooner he was away from this place, the less likely his reactions would give him away. Itachi schooled his expression back to its normal blank slate and walked with purpose to find the Leader of the Akatsuki.

Iruka stared after Itachi as the man left the cave. "Is it just me, or did Itachi just agree to help us...even though he plainly stated he wasn't going to?"

Kakashi sighed. "What did you expect from an Uchiha? I've never known them to speak plainly in all the years I've had to deal with them."

Iruka turned back toward the Copy-nin and scratched at the scar across the bridge of his nose. "But that still doesn't explain why Itachi would act like this."

"No. I suppose it doesn't." Kakashi ran his palm over his bared chin. "Okay, how about this? Over the time I've spent with the Akatsuki, something about me has caused the kid to think about his past ties."

Iruka rolled his eyes at Kakashi's idea of an answer. "If you didn't know the reason you could have just said so."

Kakashi smirked at him. "And ruin my reputation as a genius?"

Iruka chuckled and hit Kakashi on his leg. "I'm afraid you managed that on your own quite a while ago."

The pout on Kakashi's face brought another round of laughter to Iruka. Ibiki, meanwhile, was not amused.

"Alright kids...do you think we can get back to trying to figure out a way to get back home in one piece?"

Iruka sighed and furrowed his brow while shifting his attention to the heavy chains circling Ibiki's wrists. "I think the first step would be to get those things off you. Then we can work on the ankle chains."

Ibiki lifted his wrists up until the chain was dangling between Iruka and Kakashi. "And how would you suggest we do that, Sensei?"

A pale hand holding a small key stretched up into Iruka's line of sight. "Would this help?"

Both Iruka and Ibiki turned their gaze to stare down at Kakashi. Iruka grabbed the key and quickly used it to free Ibiki's wrists before turning back toward the Copy-nin. "Why the hell didn't you give that to us before?"

Kakashi smiled, causing the heat to rise in Iruka's cheeks. "Because Itachi only just gave it to me."

Iruka felt the first kernel of hope he'd had in days. He returned Kakashi's smile and squatted down to place the key in the cuffs around Ibiki's ankles. At least now they had a fighting chance to escape this madness and find their way home. As he listened to Ibiki and Kakashi discuss their options, Iruka placed the key into his own ankle cuffs and readied himself for whatever was to come.