Konoha's Weasel Prince

Summary: Itachi never got to use his Susanoo in his fight with Sasuke. As soon as the Kirin hit, he was sent back through time to the founder's era and it was up to him to ensure a safer and surer future for Konoha and the world at large. KisaIta TobiMada HashiMito others mentioned

Tobirama was furious.

Hashirama was horrified.

Madara was raging mad.

Izuna was even angrier.

No fool could miss that as the brothers faced off one across the other on either side of the battlefield, standing tall, proud and rigid beside their fathers. Their clansmen were uneasy to be around them, you can imagine what their enemies were thinking and feeling. It was going to be a massacre on both sides. The numbers today were greater than ever before. Only the injured, the pregnant women and the too old or too young were not on the battlefield on this day. There were so many targets for all four strongest shinobi of their generation. Only a fool would be eager to do battle today.

And yet do battle they must, for young Kagami, for young Hiruzen and for the innocent Itachi. Both sides were furious and disgusted with each other, easily believing their enemies to be the ones behind these three disappearances. After all, it was so much easier to blame your existing enemy than to try finding a new one. Whoever the perpetrator was for these three kidnappings, neither the Senju nor the Uchiha were going to be merciful. But that didn't matter as long as they had each other to fight and kill.

"Return the Uchiha boy to us," Madara growled out before his father could say anything, surprising both Tajima and the Senju with the authority he emitted in that one sentence and Tajima wasn't happy that his son was usurping his own authority.

"Bull shit!" Tobirama growled right back before his own father could say anything or Hashirama could try to placate his friend. Now was not the time for his Anija to talk about peace. The Senju will never know peace again if they can't find and get back Itachi. He was the only one who knew what real peace was like. Hashirama and Madara had fantasized about it just as any other child but they were just the only ones who still dreamed about it, the only ones who could still make it a reality. But they were shinobi, bred for war and killing. Even the ever cheerful Hashirama would be lost in such a world as he, too, was a made killing machine. They can dream but they don't really know how to make those dreams a lasting reality. If those two ever decided to follow through with those dreams of theirs, they will need all the help they can get and Itachi would be their first helper as only he had known peace. Without Itachi, no one will come to know real peace because no one else knows it to lead them through it. And after the glimpse he got, Tobirama wasn't ready to give it up. "We aren't the ones kidnapping others' young! It is us who should be demanding a return of our children! Give us back Sarutobi Hiruzen and Dare no Ichozoku no Itachi!"

"Itachi?" Madara blinked, his rage fleeing him in his confusion. "The Itachi Hashirama talked about?"

"Yes, that Itachi," Hashirama finally jumped in before they could resume shouting at each other across the field. "I'm sorry, Madara, but he was reported kidnapped by a group of dark haired people. I don't want to believe it's your people but the possibility still stands until proven otherwise."

The Uchiha Heir's eyes narrowed once again, going as far as to activate his Sharingan. "Likewise, Senju. You say you don't have Kagami, but how do we know you are not lying and at this moment trying to activate his Sharingan and taking his eyes? How can we trust your word if you won't trust ours? I want peace for children as much as you do, bastard, or did you forget!?"

"Will you two shut up!" Tajima and Butsuma snapped at the same time at their sons, sounding extremely pissed that their sons were acting like this. And in front of their clans, their allies and their enemies! What a disgrace! Tajima flinched back from Madara when Mangekyo Sharingan eyes turned towards him in an angered glare as a growl escaped his son and Butsuma blenched at the red eyed glare his own younger son was sending his way. Izuna and Hashirama agreed with their brothers but were still trying to somehow keep them calm so things wouldn't escalate any further.

Still, one aught to compliment Butsuma on his balls as they had to be humongous if he dared say what he had said. Not even Hashirama would have dared say that to his younger brother and he at least knew he was actually stronger than Tobirama and that he could survive the attacks the albino genius would certainly send his way. Butsuma was either stupidly brave or bravely stupid. Or simply an idiot.

"Why should we care of that Itachi? If he's telling the truth, then he is worthless and weak. We should not care about someone so useless. And we should focus on finding Hiruzen-kun, who they have obviously taken. You need to forget about that little prick and focus on more important things. He's better off dead, anyways-" Butsuma cut himself off with a hitch in his breathing as the air suddenly became too thick for his lungs to handle. Totally unsurprisingly, it was stiff with killing intent radiating off of the three extremely close cousins, the youngest of which was giving off such a thick aura of murder that it would suffocate them all.

Completely understandable. Itachi was not only the first one to show the Senju Clan what peace would be like, but he was also Tobirama's very first friend. Years ago, when he had been ordered to spy on his brother and the boy he was always meeting, Tobirama had not understood the appeal of having a friend outside of the clan. It had seemed stupid and risky. He had not understood Hashirama's desperation to cling on to Madara no matter what happened. He had thought it foolish to get attached to someone so much that they can hurt you as much as each of Madara's rejections hurt his brother. He had not understood why Hashirama would cling to the Uchiha at all, despite it being obvious that they can't be friends anymore now that they knew which clan they were from. But he had never had a friend before that wasn't related to him by blood. Until Itachi had entered his hospital room, Tobirama had never had anyone to care about other than his family.

The time they had spent together, playing games, eating snacks and joking or prodding each other had been some of the happiest days of Tobirama's life. He had gained his first friend in a person to this day a part of him suspected to be an Uchiha, although that part was mostly disregarded now. All he really cared about was the person Itachi was. Itachi had had more than enough opportunities to betray the trust they had extended to him and the thought had never even occurred to the young man. Being around the raven was truly an experience that had changed quite a few of Tobirama's views.

He finally understood the clinginess Hashirama had for Madara, Uchiha or not. He understood what it meant to go to his limits for another person that understood you like no other. As a genius, Tobirama was most often just considered plain weird as rarely did he interact with people like they expected 'normal' people to. As a result of his introvert style of life, kids his age used to tease him nonstop and his albino-like appearance and red eyes certainly didn't help. The teasing would have continued had Tobirama not proven to be stronger than even some adults, second only to his older brother in chakra, power and skill. His sharp mind even helped him against stronger and much bigger opponents and rumors of his skill kept the almost-bullies away from him. However, with even the 'bullies' avoiding him, Tobirama's only friends were his brothers, his mother and Toka. Two of his brothers and his mother died at an Uchiha's hands, which left only Hashirama and Toka. And no matter how much they and, later, Mito tried, they could never understand some of his eccentricities and they just gave up as they all grew up - or got to know each other better, in Mito's case, after she was brought from Uzushio. People simply couldn't understand him and so they labeled him weird and strange. It was a very lonely existence but Tobirama was used to it. He had never known any different.

And then Itachi came and all of that changed. Tobirama wasn't sure, but he was pretty certain that Itachi is smarter than him. There wasn't really a way to check and he didn't even really care. Itachi was the first person who could keep up with his explanations of his numerous projects and jutsus that he was working on and even managed to ask good questions, point out weaknesses and understand all the ways they can be utilized. Itachi could even give quite a few good suggestions and recommendations for his projects and jutsus. Tobirama had been quite pleasantly surprised to finally have someone to bounce off his ideas with. Itachi was also very wise. The younger Senju always shuddered when he would begin wondering what he might have went through to gain such wisdom. The boy always had just the right words to say. The rumors of his talks of piece on the morning of that clash two weeks ago have quickly spread among those who liked Itachi. Everyone now talked about what the word peace meant. And not even those who were distrustful of Itachi could deny that they were enamored with the peaceful world he had talked about.

As Tobirama had expected, as soon as Itachi started talking about peace, the rest of the Senju were immediately taken in. Tobirama was taken in. Mito had told him word for word what Itachi had said and Tobirama had spent the night thinking it over and over again. He could almost see the vision Itachi had made and he knew everyone who heard about it, especially those who heard the boy himself talking about it, could, too. Butsuma and a few of his close accomplices can talk all they want about war but now that Itachi has spoken, peace was only a mater of time and just how willing the Uchiha were to make it. It was quite sad when you think about it. Butusma is the Head of their clan yet Itachi, a complete stranger, was closer to their kin than Butusma had ever bothered to become. Hashirama will be a far better leader for their people when he becomes Clan Head. It was only then that war can end and that they can enter an era of peace.

Butsuma, if he really cared about their clansmen as he said he did, would have ended this war a long time ago instead of selfishly pursuing its end as the destruction of the Uchiha. More people have died in fruitless attempts to avenge all of their fallen kin than in the very first skirmish that had started the whole mess.

What Tobirama really hated right now was that Butusma was using the disappearance of a young boy and Itachi to rekindle the flames and make a new campaign. And he hated that the Senju, himself and Hashirama included, were so willing to accept it as a possibility that it was indeed the Uchiha who have taken them. It was more out of convenience, for if it wasn't the Uchiha, then they had no idea where to start looking. It is easier to just blame the closest enemy and focus all of their energy there than to search without direction. If he wasn't the Uchiha's prisoner, then they really had no idea where to even begin looking and they might never find him or be far too late to help him.

Tobirama didn't want to think about that possibility.

When he had heard that Itachi was missing since noon just last night, he had feared the worst, that Itachi had changed his mind and had indeed left like he had said he would a month ago. But all of his belongings were still in the cabin Hashirama had made for him and he had not taken any provisions. Mito even said that he had simply went for a walk and that he hadn't looked like he was planning on running anytime soon. He still had the seal on, for Sage's sake! He'd be an easy target no matter how good at taijutsu he was if his chakra was sealed!

The messenger that carried the important news had burst into their meeting with the Sarutobi Clan as they planned tactics for the fight that they were supposed to enter the next morning, panting and panicked, saying that three dark haired people in battle armor have been spotted near the Naka River and that they had, apparently, been carrying a young boy and a pale, dark haired man that the messenger could have sworn his life on was Itachi. Hashirama had let out a loud gasp while Tobirama had felt his whole world falling around himself, the fear gripping him. His first ever friend ... in the hands of the Uchiha? He had grabbed the messenger by the collar and had demanded to know how the man was sure it was Itachi, but the messenger just broke down and cried that he knew the boy well enough by now because he talked with the man's daughter every day ever since she approached him and gave him that flower crown. The man was just as attached to Itachi as his little girl was and he was terrified for the boy. He had said that he was tied up and obviously unconscious while the little boy was trying to call out to him, the both of them carried away like sacks of sand.

Tobirama hadn't known what to think, what to do, and Hahsirama was in no better a state. However, Butusma had seen it as an opportunity and he used Itachi's kidnapping to rally the troops, knowing that his sons, for once, won't protest. Tobirma left the next morning first, faster than anyone in their entire Clan, using the new jutsu he was still developing and working out the kinks for to reach the battlefield first, only to find the enraged Madara already waiting for him. Hashirama and Izuna somehow caught up to them before they could start spilling each others' blood and then the rest of their clansmen stepped out of the trees on either side of the field, eying the other side with a new form of disgust and hatred. Their fathers had calmly walked up to stand by their sons and had just sized each other up like they always do, arching an eyebrow at the other side and then this whole useless conversation began.

The younger Senju brother had left the encampment ready to tear through the Uchihas until he reached their encampment and found Itachi. He was ready for battle, not bickering across the field with their enemies. But Madara's chakra when he said he wanted peace for children as much as Hashirama did, when he questioned Hashirama about Itachi's disappearance ... He was sincere. His chakra had a perfectly normal flow, other than the way it was coiling and trashing just underneath his skin with rage.

But if the Uchiha didn't have Itachi and the Sarutobi boy, then who did?

This is what Tobirama feared. A pointless battle while Itachi was somewhere else, in danger. And it wasn't even just Itachi that was in danger, but their only hope of building a society where peace can exist. The Senju had been ready to end this war but if they believe the Uchiha were hiding Itachi, then the war will never end, not until one or both clans were destroyed from the face of the earth.

''Is it at all possible that someone could have done this without your knowledge?'' He asked as politely as he can bring himself to talk to any Uchiha, even going as far as daring to look Madara in the eye. The one thing he knew that Madara respected, it was boldness and courage alongside strength and skill. Rare few dare look an Uchiha in the eyes. If Tobirama wanted a sincere answer from this man, then he needed to take the risk. Besides, he can't get caught in a genjutsu. He was a sensor type. He can sense it if someone tries to manipulate his chakra even before the illusion can settle in so he can easily dispel it.

Madara narrowed his eyes before he let them slide over to his father before shaking his head. It was still Izuna who answered instead of his older brother. ''It's not possible, because I know everything that goes on around in our encampment and in our clan in general, and I tell everything to Nii-san. Besides, one of our own children disappeared!''

''The Uchiha are masters of deception!'' Butusma cried, glaring at the black haired people on the other side of the clearing. ''They are simply trying to trick us into believing they are innocent and then trying to shame our name by accusing us of doing something as despicable as kidnapping a child! We must not stand for this disrespect!''

''Please! As if you really care for honor, Butsuma!'' Tajima cried right back, glaring daggers with his red eyes, the tomoe spinning in anger. ''You would kill children three times younger than you to win this war! Why would kidnapping a child to better understand the Sharingan be any different?''

Unlike Butsuma, Tobirama noted, Tajima was completely honest in his belief that the Senju have kidnapped the missing boy and wasn't just trying to rail his troops up. Then again, if he had wanted that, all he would have had to do was rail Madara up enough to attack the Senju and the Uchihas would follow him to the gates of hell and back. Tajima wasn't trying to build a new campaign. He just wanted the child back. Perhaps it would have been different if either of the missing were actually a Senju, but as it was, Butsuma didn't care. Not enough to be seriously angry about this.

''We shall not stand for this insult!'' The Senju Clan Head cried, drawing his sword. ''Men, to arms!''

''Let's show them the fear our Sharingan can instill in fools like them, my kin!'' Tajima cried not a second later and their clansmen followed their own leaders, drawing all sorts of weapons. Things were escalating and not for the better. It was all happening too fast for either Hashirama or Madara to tell their clansmen to stop as they lunged across the field towards each other, their fathers leading the charge. Izuna cursed and drew his own sword, ready to help his clansmen but Madara held him back, trying to below orders over the sound of the war cry both clans were shouting. But no matter the capacity his lungs had, not even Madara could outshout over three hundred voices on each side as they thundered their war cry and death threats.

It wouldn't have mattered.

The cawing of dozens upon dozens of crows was their only warning before what looking almost like a tornado of the black birds flew into the clearing, cutting off the bath of both clans. Both the Senju and the Uchiha came to a stop as the birds flew in circles around the clearing at a speed no normal crow can achieve, cawing and crowing in warning to whoever tried to either cut them down or walk through the barrier they made. Anyone stupid enough to try and attack the crows nearly had their eyes scratched out of their head. The only noise that filled the clearing for a long moment was the sound of flapping of black wings and the crowing noises that the birds made before murmurs of confusion and curses and threats and accusations flew around the field again. The crows didn't dissipate for an entire minute before their flight slowed down and less and less birds flew in circles around the clearing.

''Now, men! When the genjutsu is slipping!'' Butsuma called out and tried to run across the filed again, Tajima copying him more because of the Sharingan than anything else, only for their paths to be interrupted by crows yet again, this time centering into a single spot and somehow seemingly coming together to form a shape. Everyone's eyes widened as a tall, lithe young man with pale skin, black hair and black eyes appeared in the spot the crows had been just moments ago, three unexpected guests hanging all over him.

''That's enough.''