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

''That's enough.'' The so called Daro no Ichozoku no Itachi commanded and the two grown men froze at the ice in his tone of voice, staring as wide eyed as everyone else in the clearing at the suddenly appeared young man. ''There will be no fighting today. Not in front of these innocent children.''

''Itachi!'' Hahirama cried in relief and joy, looking ready to run over to the younger man but the tilt of Itachi's head in hi direction somehow conveyed the message for the Senju not to come any closer. Hashirama stayed in place with a confused and worried expression on his face before he looked at the two passengers on Itachi's back and the one held in his arms. Dark brown eyes widened further and he stared at the kids safely snuggled up to Itachi. ''Are those the missing children?''

Tobirama immediately focused in on the three boys instead of the raven haired man and saw that there, were, indeed three children around the age of six or seven years old hanging off of Itachi like monkeys.

''Hiruzen!'' A woman from the Sarutobi Clan with a white bandage around her head, the boy's aunt, yelled, pushing her clansmen and a few Senju out of the way. ''Hiruzen! Are you okay?! Hiruzen! Oh, I was so worried. I am so sorry I couldn't help you!'' The woman was near hysterics by the time she was in the front lines, tears streaming down her face. She didn't run up to where Itachi was only because the boy's own father was holding her back, no matter how much he himself wanted to run over to his son.

''I'm okay, auntie!'' The brunet of the trio of children called, waving with one hand while never letting go of Itachi with the other. He looked completely comfortable and at ease where he was. ''Itachi-kun saved us! He's so awesome!''

''Kagami!'' Another woman, this time from the Uchiha side, called, running up to where Izuna held her back while Madara studied this Dare no Ichozoku no Itachi. He could have sworn the boy was from his own clan had he not known that there was no one named Itachi in the Uchiha Clan. ''My little Kagami! Please, Izuna-sama! Let me go to my son!''

''I'm okay, Kaa-san! Itachi-nii saved us and Danzo-kun helped!'' The far too cheerful for a normal Uchiha Uchiha waved before snuggling up to the secret Uchiha with a content sigh. ''Itachi-nii is the best!''

''So you kidnapped these children?'' Butsuma snorted, glaring at the younger man that was blocking his way to his long time enemy. ''I should have expected nothing less from someone like you.''

''You leave Itachi-san alone!'' Danzo snapped, glaring boldly at the adult. ''He was kidnapped, too! Otou-sama wanted to get more lands and so he-''

''Offered his help in our escape so he would gain your favor.'' Itachi cut the boy off, getting a confused frown from all three of his companions. What was Itachi talking about? Danzo's dad had been the one to kidnap them, not save them! ''It wasn't the best motivation to help someone, but he still offered us his help and his son as insurance that we can leave his clan's lands without problems. He would like better political relations with the bigger clans so he took the opportunity to get them by helping us. The rogue ninjas that had taken us are all dead, thanks to the help of the Shimura-clan.''

''And why would they kidnap you?'' Tajima asked, looking Kagami over with a critical eye. ''You belong to no clan, if rumors about you are true. Why kidnap these kids at all?''

''Ransom, for them. Me, I was just in the way. I came across them attacking Kagami-kun and I tried helping him. The suppression seal hindered my efforts and we got taken away, anyway.'' Itachi smoothly answered, placing the kids down gently and letting them stick close to him as much and as long as they wanted. He never took his eyes off of the two older men. He looked almost as though he had just walked through a storm, not as though he had ran away from rogue ninjas that would have loved to roughen him up for interfering with their plans. ''When I recovered, we escaped and the Shimura Clan's patrol unit found us. The Shimura Clan wanted to offer us to stay and to escort us tomorrow, but I knew we had to return as soon as possible. The nukenin have already made the Senju and the Sarutobi believe that the Uchiha were behind Hiruzen-kun's kidnapping and I knew that the same would be done with the Uchiha and Kagami's kidnapping, so I hurried to return us here. Danzo-kun offered to help and his father agreed. On our way back, I heard your shouting and sensed your chakra and killing intent, so I came to see what was going on, only to see you all acting like brats, taking offense to what no smart man would. You are terrible examples to the future generations.''

And while the two Clan Heads and most of the Uchiha - the Senju were already used to Itachi's honesty and bluntness - Itachi pet the three boys heads and whispered to them to return to their families, or, in Danzo's case, to the Senju to wait for Itachi to finish things here before he can escort the boy back home. By the time that the boys' families (in the case of Kagami and Hiruzen) engulfed them in hugs, however, the Clan Heads have recovered from the shock and were glaring at Itachi with murder on their faces. They were obviously not happy about the insult he had just delivered to them both. They were very vocal in expressing this.

''How dare you, you little piece of trash?!'' Tajima demanded, shouting as though to be heard over a thousand voices that were all mute now. ''I am Uchiha Tajima, the leader of the proud Uchiha Clan and you will show me the respect I deserve! I will have your head on a spike and your heart in the oven for this offense!''

''You have defied me for the last time, boy! This is my clan and I will run it how I see fit! Some useless outsider won't dictate my moves and actions!'' Butsuma yelled just as loudly, both of them picking up their blades and rushing at Itachi before anyone else could react. The cry of Itachi's name rang out from the Senju side and from young Kagami in panic as they watched Tajima stab Itachi through the gut while Butsuma pierced his neck. Not a second later, the body they had so mercilessly stabbed burst into ravens once again, the birds flying three meters away and everyone watched, stunned, as they reformed back into the unhurt and perfectly fine Itachi. ''What?''

''What kind of genjutus is this?'' The even more shocked Uchiha leader demanded, not believing his eyes had been tricked so.

''This is my Karasu Bunshin. Only someone with a pact with crows can master this jutsu.'' Itachi calmly replied. ''And your reactions have proven my words ring true. You both claim that these are your clans and that you are their leaders, so why aren't you acting like it? A true leader think of their people's safety and happiness first and doesn't sacrifice them for selfish reasons like seeking revenge or defending an offended pride. You are both obviously immature and unfit to lead clans as big and as influential as these. You will only cause grief.''

''And what would someone whose mouth still stinks of his mother's milk know of good leadership?'' Butusma mocked, knowing all about the death of Itachi's family eight years ago and using it to goad the boy. The jibe at his age didn't have any better effect than the jibe against his family. Itachi had had a lifetime to get used to the remarks against his age and eight years to get used to the fact that his family is gone. It hurt and it always will, but Itachi had moved on as best as he could.

''I was once the Heir or my own clan. I would technically be its Head right now, had it still existed. I have had the same training as you two ought to have had in leading your families and what I have observed so far has done nothing but convince me that you are lacking in good leadership skills.'' The ponytail wearing boy replied blandly, earning himself more ire from both men.

''You lack experience and only know theory. You do not truly understand what it means to care for the lives of others!'' Tajima argued this time, setting aside his sword and putting his hands together to weave a series of hand seals and letting a giant fireball sail towards Itachi. Without flinching, Itachi put his own hands together and at a speed that not even Madara or Izuna could see through, he weaved the necessary seals for the Suiton: Suidan no Jutsu, easily putting out the fire. Tobirama and Hashirama looked startled, knowing that Itachi had an affinity towards fire because of how much Tobirama had insisted on it as a feature among the Uchiha. It was rare that someone could use more than one nature and it was even rarer that it was the exact opposite of their own chakra nature. Itachi was proving to be an even greater enigma now that his chakra was free than when his abilities were a secret.

'Wait, how is his chakra even unsealed!?' The baffled Tobirama wondered in his own head as he still couldn't take his eyes off of the spectacle going on in front of him.

''I was the leader of my own team, when I was thirteen. Before that, I lead another few teams from the age of ten to the age of eleven. And I am an elder brother, so I know how to care for people.'' The raven easily said in return to Tajima's words even as he sidestepped Butsuma's incoming charge, taking out a kunai and blocking Tajima's attack with one hand. ''I have seen war since the age of four. In all technicality, I know more about it than you two put together, as more of my life has been spent on the battlefield. You two have never seen the horrors I have so you can naively believe you can end this war with only one clan dying out. If you believe you can control the flow and direction of war, then you are even more foolish than I thought.''

"War is war. It is a man-made thing and it is controlled by men!" No one was sure which of the two older men had said it as they were now weaving around Itachi, their blades occasionally clashing with his two kunai, sometimes even at the same time, yet Itachi had no trouble when he repelled their attacks. "It is not a beast with its own consciousness that can do as it pleases and cannot be controlled!"

"No, it's much worse than that." The former Akatsuki member retorted, jumping over Tajima's head, grabbing hold of his shirt beneath the armor and flinging him in the same manner he had flung Sasuke away in their fight. As Tajima fought to regain his ground, Itachi crossed his kunai to meet Butsuma's chakra lanced sword before it could cut into him, using substitution with his crows when the chakra extended and made to cut him. He reappeared behind the Senju and hit his knee cap from behind, crumbling Butsuma like a sand castle under the force of a wave. "War is nothing more than a mindless monster that brings chaos and suffering as its shadows. It cannot be controlled unless both warring sides decide against feeding it with more lives and hate. Your war has been going on for centuries and it will continue on for centuries more if you don't stop it. You and those like you are people who invite this monster to your doorsteps, you feed it with the lives of your men and then you think you control it. That is your first and biggest mistake. Your second mistake is turning away from peace that would gladly follow you anywhere like a loyal dog even without the need of you feeding it pike you must war. You don't realize that or you don't want to realize it and as such, you feed more and more lives to war. If you would just stop, the war would die out as no more lives would be fed to it. If you don't, the war will die out, one day, when there is no more men to feed it with. That means the death of both of your clans and if you are willing to go so far for your pride, then you are indeed not good leaders."

"How old is that kid again?" Madara, stunned and awed, asked of his old friend across the field but at a much shorter distance (as he had had to run forwards to catch Kagami's mother when she ran towards her son) and Hashirama beamed at him through his emotional tears, the idiot. Madara could still not take his eyes away from the three fighting men.

"Twenty one," he replied with pride, as though Itachi were his student, brother or even son. Yes, Hashirama really was an overly emotional idiot, Madara was sure of that when the said idiot sniffed rather pathetically. Still, it was clear that the friendship between the Senju brothers and Itachi ran deep and strong despite how little time they actually knew each other. They were obviously proud and protective of him, maybe even a bit possessive. Like of a younger brother, almost.

"He must have a really old soul to speak this wisely." Kagami's mother muttered in worry, watching the show with mixed emotions. On one hand, that older man was her Clan Head. On the other hand, Itachi was her son's savior. She didn't know for whose survival to hope for. She was so conflicted! Her son at least knew who to cheer for, never having felt comfortable or safe around Tajima. It is a sad day when your own young don't trust or like your clan's leader.

"He's damaged, is what he is," Izuna observed. He was perhaps the one with the best insight in the entire Uchiha Clan, or at least of the younger generations. And he could see it in Itachi's eyes that this boy, maybe two or three years younger than him, has had it rough.

"He's had a difficult life." Tobirama confirmed, answering as he had overheard the observation and crossing his arms but never taking his red non-Sharingan eyes off of the secret Uchiha. "His family is dead, his only younger brother and surviving relative hates him, his friends are dead and his partner surely thinks he's dead, too. He can't return home and he's all alone now. He's seen things no man should see and yet he still wishes for peace. He is a jewel and if I need to crack open father's skull to insure he stays safe and undamaged, then so be it."

The three Uchiha adults turned startled Sharingan eyes upon him but Tobirama paid them no heed. Itachi had just sent a barrage of shuriken that bent and traveled at curious and should-be-impossible angles and he was trying to figure out how he had done it while Tajima and Butsuma struggled to avoid them all.

Not even he sensed that the Itachi out there was now nothing more than a clone as it danced around the Uchiha and the Senju.

The real Itach appeared as if out of thin air in front of Madara and the older Uchiha brother saw him only because he was so close. "Madara-san, I have a question for you."

Said Uchiha gaped at the raven haired younger man that had appeared in front of him so easily. He had not sensed him coming at all. No rise in chakra, no sound of approach, no stirring of air, nothing. It was just like what those ninja from the Water Country can do! He had met a few of them in battle and he knew that they were capable of sneaking up on people by hiding a thick curtain of mist and then using the infamous Silent Killing technique to sneak up on them and slitting their throats. But Itachi had not used a mist. He had appeared out of the blue, right in front of him, without using a mist or a genjutsu - he would have seen right through that with his Sharingan - to get so close to him without being noticed. And now, instead of attacking him, like any normal ninja would, he wanted to ask him a question? This Itachi was even stranger than he had thought him to be.

"And what might that question be?" The Uchiha Heir of the past asked the Uchiha Heir of the future, eying the younger man cautiously. He was a cautious and distrustful man by nature and seeing this boy make a fool out of his father and Senju Butsuma simply by using one of these ... Karasu Bunshin had him wary of him. He had snuk up on them all without any of the sensors, not even Tobirama, noticing him nearing the clearing and he had appeared in front of Madara without rising suspicion or drawing attention to himself until he wanted it there. That spoke of immense skill and Madara was not foolish enough to disregard that. People called him arrogant and, to an extent, he was, but he was not stupid. He didn't survive this long if he didn't have a good head on his shoulder.

"At this moment in time, would you be able to say that you have your clansmen's loyalty?" Itachi asked without beating around the bush, drawing the attention of the younger Uchiha brother and of Kagami and his mother. The boy smiled at Itachi while the woman was more interested in the question he had asked.

"I beg your pardon?"

"If you were to become the Head of your clan right now, at this very moment, would your clan accept you? Would the Uchiha as a whole follow you?" Itachi elaborated, his voice never losing its edge and seriousness. "Could you say that they would retreat at your command? Would those not here still follow you? Would your Elders support you? Do they have your trust? Do you have their's? Their loyalty? Their love?"

"Why are you asking this?" Madara asked right back instead of replying to Itachi's questions. He had a good idea but he was never one to presume. He would rather like to hear it from Itachi's mouth than think one thing while a whole other was the truth.

''Hashirama talked about you a lot and he said you would stop this war if you had the power to decide on such things. He said you were as sick of the 'too small coffins' and that you wanted to build a settlement in which you can watch your brother grow up.'' The Uchiha from the future told his ancestor, never averting his gaze. Itachi had no fear of another pair of Mangekyo Sharingan eyes; his own wouldn't even be needed for him to see through a genjutsu if the other tried it and he was good enough in predicting movements even without using his Kekkei Genkai. Madara can't catch him off guard and even if he does attack when Itachi least expects it, Itachi was possibly the fastest person in weaving hand seals that there is. He can still defend himself, even if Madara tries something. ''Does that still hold true?''

''I would do anything to rid my clan of the grief and suffering that has been shrouding us since long before I was born. And I would do twice as much to keep Izuna safe.'' The younger Uchiha probably knew just how much his older brother loved him but he still appeared surprised by this declaration. So much so that he was left gawking at the wild haired Uchiha. Said man narrowed his eyes on Itachi. ''Hashirama says you have brought peace to the Senju unlike any 'peace' they have felt before and he is under the impression that you could introduce such peace to my clan, and others, too. What say you to this claim?''

Itachi frowned as well, but it had more a thoughtful feeling to it than Madara's challenging air. ''I have been told that by more than one person as of late. I do not know if it's true or not, but if I can, I would gladly very much like to help bring about peace. I hate conflict.''

Madara studied his conversation companion, carefully examining each line in Itachi's face and every flash of emotion that might cross his eyes, searching for any trace of deception or of lies. Itachi doubted Madara would be able to find any even if he had been lying, as he had spent too much time pretending for anyone to be able to see through his act by now, but he was serious now. He really wanted to end all wars, if he could and was given the chance to try. And while Izuna, Kagami and his mother watched from the sidelines, Madara saw this sincerity as well and he nodded his head, letting his shoulders relax fractionally.

''Yes, I would say the Uchiha would follow me and my orders. I have practically been their leader for a few years now. They will not have any objections to my leadership. The Elders, though, will need convincing if we want this peace to happen.''

They all watched in amazement as Itachi's whole face lit up with a smile that was one part relieved, one part happy and one part ... dangerous. That was the only word for it. There was no other way to describe the glint that entered Itachi's eyes at that moment. Izuna, though, didn't stay quit for long after that shock wore off.

''I won't let you kill our father.'' He hissed at Itachi and the shorter haired man arched an eyebrow at him.

''I am perfectly aware what my killing either of your fathers would do to this budding possibility of peace, so I will not lay a single hand on either of them. It would only stoke the flames just as they were dying down. I do not plan on rekindling this fire now.''

''But they need to die if we want peace.'' Madara said coldly. He loved his father, yes, but he loved his baby brother more and at this rate, any chance of making peace with the Senju might disappear. Sooner or later, Tobirama - Izuna's usual opponent - will get in a too lucky shot and Izuna might be taken from him as well. Madara wasn't sure if he'd stay sane if he lost Izuna.

''If an Uchiha kills Butsuma, the Senju will want revenge. If a Seju kills father, the same will go for our clan. That will only result in more fighting. And I refuse to use poison. That's a coward's weapon.'' The younger Uchiha brother huffed and crossed his arms.

''Then it's a good thing accidents happen on the battlefield.'' Itachi replied before suddenly disappearing from in front of them again and reappearing in front of the two tiring clan leaders. ''I will give you one last chance to stop this nonsense and instead let your clans make peace. No one here wants to continue fighting. At least no one of the new generation and it is them that should decide the future they would like to live in. The generations of the old have been dragging the young ones down long enough. Step down and let this mindless killing end or face the consequences of your own greed for power and lust for blood. You will not like it.''

''Go to hell!'' Both men yelled and charged at Itachi, only to yelp when the clone he had substituted himself with suddenly exploded. It wasn't a strong explosion but it was enough to push the two men back and everyone watched as Tajima and Butsuma stumbled on the rocky ground. As it was still morning, the rocks were still moist and slippery from the condensation the dawn brings and before anyone cold react or even blink, the two men were falling back. Now, it wouldn't have been an overly bad fall had they bothered to clear up their battlefields after they finish doing battle, but neither clan had ever even thought about it. As a result, all sorts of weapons were lying around and when Tajima fell backwards, he let out a cut off grunt of pain when his back was pierced by a broken spear that had been directly behind him. He was stabbed right through the spinal cord and his stomach, snapping his intestines and his spine. He was dead within the second. Butusma made it all the way to the ground before his head was stabbed from the back by a stray shuriken protruding form the groundi, so his death was swift and painless as well.

No one could say anything. They couldn't move or look away. An eerie silence fell over them all as the two clan leaders bled out. It was unbelievable, unthinkable. They had always thought Tajima and Butsuma would die at each other's hand, not by bad footing. Not by the weapons of the fallen comrades they had so wanted to avenge. It was ironic and everyone realized how right Itachi was. The past was dragging them down towards death just like these two have died. It left them all unsettled and they looked upon Itachi with a dosage of fear that he had not inspired earlier. They didn't know what to do. Nothing made sense anymore. The world had just tilted and they didn't know what to do with the new view presented to them.

''Retreat!'' Both Madara's and Hashirama's order finally startled everyone back to reality and they all scrambled to follow the order. In a matter of seconds, the clearing was left empty, for once with only two bodies and two puddles of blood as the afterimage. Rare few dared look back. The Uchiha left, Kagami waving at Itachi as his mother carried him away. Madara and Izuna left only after one last glance at this Dare no Ichozoku no Itachi, a new sort of respect and weariness in their eyes. Danzo left with Itachi and the Senju Clan.

Senju Butsuma and Uchiha Tajima were left in the last battlefield on which the Uchiha and the Senju will ever meet in battle, no one ever coming back for their bodies. It was their resting place and the graveyard of the past, of this war that they had only now realized how ugly it truly was and how serious the consequences of it were going to be if they had continued it.

They have left the past behind.

It was time to start building a new future.

The war was abandoned on that field. They will not feed that monster any longer.

It was time for peace.

And, for once, both clans were hopeful of its success.

A new era was starting.