Chapter 15 – Discussing Threats

"Talk"

'Think'

Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Kishimoto sensei. So…yeah.

At the Hokage Mountain

"Why do you ask about that?" asked Jiraiya.

Itachi stared at the view in front him "I wonder if we can have peace" He said softly, thinking of Sasuke "I've seen what's war is likes, and I don't wish for my little brother to see it…or anyone either" he added.

Jiraiya glanced at Itachi's solemn face. He remembered the prophesy from Ōgama Sennin. He thought Nagato was the Child of the Prophesy. Then he heard Nagato had died. After that, he thought Minato was the Child of the Prophesy before his student sacrificed himself to seal the Kyūbi.

"Honestly, I don't know. I've spent my entire time searching for it, and I still haven't found it" Jiraiya said "But like the character in my book, I will not give up until I found the answer"

Itachi smiled "I heard you travelled around, protecting Konoha from afar. I wish I could be like you. If I cannot prevent war from happening, the least I can do is to protect Konoha" said Itachi 'and Sasuke' he thought.

Jiraiya blushed. He was not accustomed to praise or admiration. Those were normally reserved for his wayward friend. Thinking of his friend, Jiraiya became sober "I don't deserve that"

Looking at Itachi, Jiraiya asked "Aren't you the clan heir?"

Itachi responded with a faraway look "I'm only holding the title until Sasuke is ready". Unlike him, Sasuke's ambition is to become the head of Konoha Keimu Butai, like their father.

Thinking of his father brought Itachi to his clan. He knew the clan was not happy a few years back. He had sensed anger and hostility back then.

But then, Shisui proposed something outlandish which over time, changing the atmosphere within the clan (except for a few, or one).

One of Itachi's dreams was to preserve, and foster the current atmosphere within the Uchiha clan into a better one, while the other-

"I heard that the Kyūbi attack was triggered by a masked man with a sharingan" Itachi broke the silence between them. Jiraiya was surprised as the information was available to a few only.

"I think the masked man might be a trouble for Konoha" said Itachi.

"What makes you think that?" asked Jiraiya sharply.

"Because he killed my teammate which triggered this" Itachi turned to Jiraiya, his sharingan in full blaze "After seeing this, he disappeared"

Jiraiya listened carefully. The description of sudden appeared and disappearance fit with Shizuka's account.

"I may sound crazy, but I think I sensed him several times in Uchiha district" Itachi continued "But every time I got there, the chakra disappeared"

Jiraiya thought for a moment "Have you talked to Shisui about it?"

Itachi turned away for a moment "No, not yet. I don't want to burden him with something based on a feeling. That's why I thought of you-" Itachi trailed off.

Jiraiya looked at the teen boy in admiration. Whether he is or is not the Child of Prophesy, Itachi's determination to protect Konoha was shown in his eyes, and the way he gripped his knees.

Carelessly Jiraiya said "Well, I am no spring chicken myself. It would be nice to cut back and have more time to do my research-" at that, Jiraiya had a shameless look on his face while Itachi had a mixed of hopeful and bemused.

"But I think you still got some business to settle here first. Like inside threat-" Jiraiya glanced to the forest "and you clan business" Jiraiya added nonchalantly.

Itachi understood.

Two root agents were listening to the conversation between Jiraiya and Itachi. Previous to that, one agent was ordered to tail Itachi (by Danzō-sama who was interested in Itachi's potential and sharingan) while the other was ordered to tail Jiraiya.

At the sentence "Like inside threat…" one of the agent's instincts was telling him to run but he squashed it down.

Looking at the two ANBU agents trapped in genjutsu, Jiraiya said "Know anything about them?"

"No, but I think this one-" Itachi pointed at one agent "has been following me for a while". He looked troubled 'Why Shisui appointed ANBU to trail him?'

"I don't think they are Hokage's ANBU" said Jiraiya, examining the agents. He opened their mouth and checked "None of his ANBU would have a seal. They are from Root" explained Jiraiya.

"Root?" asked Itachi.

"A branch of ANBU that reported to Shimura Danzō" Jiraiya explained with a distaste at Danzō's name.

"Why are they spying on us?" asked Itachi.

"I don't know. This seal prohibited them from talking about Root or Danzō" said Jiraiya "I've tried"

"How about if I look inside their mind?" suggested Itachi.

"That might work" mused Jiraiya. He performed hand seals and shouted "Kuchiyose: Gamaguchi Shibari"

Immediately, they were surrounded what looks like an inside of an organ.

"Don't worry" Jiraiya said "We are inside the stomach of one of my summoning toads. We will not be disturbed here while you look inside their mind"

Itachi nodded and started to probe the mind of one Root member to look for answer.

End Chapter 15

Konoha Keimu Butai – Konoha Military Police Force

Kuchiyose: Gamaguchi Shibari – Ninja Art: Toad Mouth Trap

Ōgama Sennin – Great Toad Sage