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

''I'm sorry for your loss.'' Both Hashirama and Tobirama nearly jumped out of their skin at the first words to leave Itachi's mouth since they returned from that battlefield, two whole days ago. Both brothers turned their heads to look at the sullen and solemn Itachi, head hanging low and black eyes not lifting to meet their gaze in what could only be shame and remorse. ''I am mostly responsible for your father's death and I will understand if you cannot forgive me. I will not begrudge you for it. Just know that I wish it had not been so. If you wish, I will leave.''

Hashirama and Tobirama exchanged looks that Itachi was unaware of before walking over to Itachi. Before the secret Uchiha could react, Hashirama drew the youngest man into a tight hug and Tobirama lifted a hand to ruffle his hair. The raven obviously hadn't been expecting that and he looked up at them with wide eyes, shock clear on his face. Neither Senju moved away.

''Our father died a long time go, with our mother. All that was left was Senju Butsuma, the leader of the clan who had no qualms about sending his seven year old sons out into the battlefield to be hunted down and killed by enemies three and more times their age, a ruthless and merciless man that cared only for his slighted pride. And while we do love him still,'' Hashirama swallowed hard but never let go of the startled twenty one year old in his grasp. ''There is very little left to mourn. He was acting selfishly and not for the sake of the clan. We would have followed him to extinction and he wouldn't have cared. Our loyalty meant nothing to him so his death means nothing. Only that an era has ended. It is time for a new era, one lead by the new generations.''

''We do not blame you for his death, Itachi.'' Tobirama picked up where his brother left off. ''His death was of his own doing. He died on the battlefield he has made and he belongs there. You gave both him and Uchiha Tajima one last chance to repent by letting go of old, meaningless grudges and they had thrown it back into your face. They would have killed you and that would have been a far greater loss, a tragedy. We do not know peace, Itachi. You do. We need you to guide us if we want this to work.''

''And I think it actually will, finally.'' The eldest continued again, his cheery disposition returning and he lifted Itachi right off of the ground in a no longer comforting but rather a bear hug. Tobirama chuckled at the squeak that left the usually dignified younger man. ''And all thanks to you! I saw you talking with Madara! Oh, how joyous I am! Do you know he actually sent a hawk to me?''

''He WHAT?!'' Both of the younger men yelled in the same voice, glaring at Hashirama when he adopted an innocently sheepish disposition. ''When were you planning on telling me this, Anija?''

''What did Madara-san want?'' Itachi questioned, a curious and weary look on his face. His worries were misplaced, thankfully, as Hashirama was beaming like a loon. Tobirama, though, only looked even more weary than before.

''He wants us to meet at our old place where we used to skip stones by the river!'' The brunet exclaimed in excitement, still not letting go of Itachi and all but spinning him around the room as he danced. The Uchiha did not appreciate it. Hashirama didn't seem to notice. Tobirama at least found some amusement in Itachi's discomfort, like any good best friend would. Itachi briefly wondered why all of his closest friends were secretly dicks and why no one would believe him when he tells them so. Then he was once again distracted by the over emotional brunet that still held him in a tight grip. ''He said he wants to draw up a peace treaty!''

''And?'' Tobirama asked, crossing his arms and arching one fine, white eyebrow. ''There's got to be something more to it all.''

The future Shodaime Hokage stopped dancing and actually looked a bit worried as he lowered Itachi to the ground. He still didn't let go of him, though. ''He said he was having trouble convincing the Elders of his clan to finally let go of the past and instead focus on the future for the children's sake. He said he could use some assistance.''

Red eyes narrowed immediately and Tobirama all but wrenched Itachi out of Hahsirama's hold. ''No. Absolutely not!'' The older genius said, putting himself in front of his friend and shielding him from his brother's view as though that would somehow save him from Hahsirama's insane idea. ''There is no way we are letting Itachi go to the Uchiha Compound without someone watching his back. We might not blame Itachi for what happened but they will. We are not handing him over to people who will kill him the first chance they get!''

''Madara insured me that Itachi would have his, Izuna's and a few other Uchiha's full protection at all times. In fact, Madara had, and I quote, said that he will tie Itachi to his hip to insure his safety if need be.''

''His own standing with his clan might not be so stable, either.'' The albino pointed out logically. Even the Senju were having trouble with the transfer of power and they all loved Hashirama but Butsuma's old accomplices and the Clan Elders were raging against Hashirama's refusal to go to war against the new Clan Head of the Uchiha to avenge Butusma and to execute Itachi himself. Tobirama and Hashirama have been literally cowing them by letting their chakra trash around so they would back off but even the show of strength didn't help with everyone. The Senju were at least mostly reasonable with their emotions. The Uchiha were not. Madara was quite possibly, and even more probably, having more problems than they were. After all, they had the saving grace that even a few Elders were very fond of Itachi and have been taken in by his talks of peace. Few as those members of the Council of Elders were, they still had their power of vote and that was still something. It counted.

''Actually, he says that most Uchihas are eager to meet this Itachi who speaks of peace and ending the war.'' The tanned of the trio replied. ''Even better, the rumors of Itachi's words have spread not only through our clan, but further and to other clans, too. Hiruzen-kun had been telling his father how just amazing Itachi really was and that he lived up to the rumors circulating about him.'' Hahsirama beamed at the suddenly very uncomfortable and shy looking younger man. ''It would seem half of the Fire Country has already heard of Dare no Ichozoku no Itachi. Most of them are curious about meeting him, too, if I understood correctly what Danzo-kun and Sasuke-sama has been saying.''

''What about the minority that doesn't want Itachi there?''

''It's mostly just the Elders, Madara wrote. He even said that we can escort Itachi halfway back to the Uchiha encampment and wait for him at the Naka River in three days time.''

''Perhaps it is best that you don't.'' Itachi finally spoke up again, looking from one brother to the other. ''You must show trust to your allies and what greater show of trust than not to doubt that their leader will protect me?''

''It's still far too risky, Itachi!'' The albino Senju snapped. ''There are so many things that could go wrong even if most of the Uchiha are ready to sign that peace treaty and get this war over and done with! The Elders could order one of the lesser clan members to kill you behind Madara's back and no one would be the wiser until you're lying in a pool of your own blood!''

''When I talked to them, Izuna-san assured me that nothing went on behind his or his brother's back because Izuna-san himself made sure of it. If I have the direct protection of not only the new Clan Head but also Clan Heir, then no one would dare follow such an order. Besides, Madara-san said that his men were willing to follow his orders and they had, when he had called a retreat.'' Itachi explained calmly, stepping out from behind Tobirama's body. ''I have never met Madara-san in person before two days ago, yes, but he does not strike me as a liar or an idiot. He knows he can promise my safety and stand by his word. I don't think I will be in danger as long as we have Madara-san's word on it."

"I still think it's too big of a risk." But Tobirama knew he was losing this argument. Itachi's logic was sound. Having the support and protection of the two strongest figures in a clan meant no one else would dare mess with Itachi. Not to mention that all those who would be suspicious of his presence would still be halted by the knowledge that Itachi had risked his life in saving and returning young Uchiha Kagami to his clan. A gesture like that might have won him some people over and he will have quite a bit of support among the lesser clan members. But the Elders have the final say in a lot of things and they are apparently against everything Itachi stood for. They don't want to make peace with the Senju. They wanted the war to continue until their enemies were all buried into the ground or die trying to make it so. Very much like the Senju Elders, too, except they at least had a few supporters for peace due to them having taken a liking to Itachi already. The Uchiha Elders were supposedly all against it and that will pose quite a bit of trouble.

But if Itachi could do it, if he can somehow convince them to sign a peace treaty and possibly follow Madara through with his and Hashirama's pipe dream about a joined settlement ...

The risk would be worth it.

"You cannot win something precious without risking." Itachi replied and Tobirama sighed, knowing he had lost this round. There was just no winning against Itachi, it would seem. Hopefully, the same will happen with the Uchiha Clan Elders, too.

00000

''Danzo-kun, how are you doing?'' Said boy quickly looked up from where he was inspecting a small cut on his arm only for his face to light up subtly upon seeing Itachi. The secret Uchiha cast a glance at Danzo's small injury and a part of him became cold and dark. So he had not been careful enough and one of the stray weapons had grazed the boy while they were escaping from the Shimura encampment. It was no dangerous injury and the weapons hadn't even been poisoned - that was more the Nara's style, maybe - but Itachi was angry at himself for letting a child get hurt under his care. Even if that child will grow up to be the man that will hunt him after make him kill his own family.

''I am doing fine, Itachi-san. Were you injured?'' It was almost surreal to see the change that Danzo had went through to the day Itachi had first met him. He wondered what had happened to change him so much from this kind, if a bit snappish and blunt boy to the cruel, cold man who cared not who he used and what measures he resorted to if they helped him meet his goals. He lamented the loss of such kindness to be replaced with such cruelty. At least his own transformation was as fake as his illusions, but Danzo's transformation had been a true metamorphosis. They both loved Konoha and they both had protected it from the shadows, but even if he was an S-ranked criminal, Itachi had still somehow retained his moral code. Danzo had lost his. Perhaps even long before he founded ROOT.

''I rarely get injured and we were lucky that this was one of those times. I am sorry, however, that I have not noticed your injury until now.'' Briefly, he wondered again if he should have just left Danzo to his fate against his clansmen for letting such important political prisoners escape, but Itachi knew that wold be wrong. Yes, many problems would be solved or prevented if Danzo were to be removed from the picture, but a lot more problems could come from it, too. Danzo used to run ANBU alongside the Hokage and if it hadn't been for him, a lot of crucial information would have slipped into the hands of the enemy. As good of a Hokage Sandaime-sama was, Itachi knew the old man was a little on the naive side. He needed someone who can advise him sternly and his old teammates simply were not enough.

Danzo was truly the shadow of the village but that was not always a good thing. Still, he was necessary and besides, it wasn't up to Itachi to decide who was allowed to live and who should be removed from the world of the living. That's not the type of behavior that one would consider responsible and the Sage of Six Paths had specifically chosen him to do this 'mission' because he had known Itachi would be able to resist the temptation to make his life easier. Really, he had such a martyr complex. Or was it a hero complex? Maybe a little bit of both?

Itachi sighed at his internal debate and watched as Danzo blinked up at him. ''Oh, this?'' The black haired child lifted a hand to the small cut, cleaned and bandaged just in case it was something more serious than they thought, tracing the white wrapping. ''It's nothing. I've had worse. My mission was more important.''

''Mission?'' The Uchiha warily questioned, not sure what he was going to hear. Was his previous behavior an act? Was he sent on a mission by his clan to find out where the Senju Compound was? Was he here to assassinate someone? Itachi felt his chakra involuntarily rise to the surface, just beneath his skin, an instinct that came from living in the Akatsuki base for as long as he had. You never knew when one of the members was going to snap and try to kill you. Or when one of Deidara's bombs was going to go off. You were in constant danger and you learned how to keep your chakra accessible even if you didn't call upon it all the time. You also learned how to mold it within a fraction of a blink. The constant high alert would have driven anyone else insane but the Akatsuki members have learned to live with it, so much so that it was their normal state most of the time. It saved their lives more than once.

Danzo nodded, unaware of the turn Itachi's thoughts have made. ''Yes, as soon as I heard you were in our dungeons, I knew I couldn't hold it off any longer, freeing that Sarutobi boy. I've heard plenty of rumors about you for the past month or so and I knew I couldn't let you die. You're going to bring about peace! You can't die until you do. Letting you die would be a crime against humanity.'' Itachi had to refrain from letting snort escape him. Somehow, unknown to this Danzo, those words one day would change and become that it would be a crime against humanity to let him live. Thousands would agree on it, his little brother and this boy-who-will-grown-into-a-bitter-old-man more than anyone else. ''So I hurriedly made a plan, one that I should have considered more, and came down to try and help. Besides, I wanted to meet you before you freed yourself and were gone.''

The older raven haired male arched an eyebrow as he took a seat next to Danzo on ht bed in the guest room the Senju had provided the Shimura with. ''You seem to have a lot of faith in my abilities without even knowing me?'' It was poised as a question and a statement all in one and Danzo just snorted.

''Like I said, there were rumors about you. And I did see for myself that they seemed to be quite well founded.''

'Only they aren't,' Itachi wants to point out but refrains form doing so. Up until the moment he fought against both Senju Butsuma and Uchiha Tajima, no one had seen his skills beyond him being able to jump onto a pillar across form his hospital room when he first woke up, despite the chakra seals. Well, that and escaping said chakra seals in the first place. These rumors about his skills were actually only rumors. There was nothing to back them up. Until two days ago, that is.

''I need to go to the Uchiha tomorrow for some talks so I have to escort you home tonight. Are you ready for a journey or should we wait a little while longer?''

The boy shook his head and hopped off of the bed. ''No, I am ready.'' He looked up at Itachi through the fringe of his messy hair and Itachi arched an eyebrow to encourage him to speak. ''Do you really think peace is possible?''

''It is. We just need to work hard to make it and make an effort to keep it.'' Itachi told him resolutely and the boy took his answer immediately, nodding his head before extending a hand towards him, as though expecting a handshake.

''Then I hope we will meet one day again, when there is peace.''

The Uchiha had to smile at the hopeful expression on the child Danzo's face and he nodded, taking the smaller hand and shaking it carefully. ''We should get going, though.'' Danzo just nodded and Itachi crouched down with his back facing the Shimure. He felt Danzo climb carefully onto is back and wrap his arms around Itachi's neck and his legs around the weasel's waist. Itachi stood effortlessly and exited the room through the window since it was faster. Luckily, he had not problem leaving the encampment since Toka was on guard duty and she just waved them off. He set off to a run as soon as he was out of the gates, easily gaining the same speed that baffled his opponents no matter hos skilled they are. Not weighted down by three kids but only one, Itachi moved with the same grace he always did and they traveled quickly. The trip that had taken them four to five hours the first time around now only took an hour and a half, with Danzo clinging on for dear life in fear of falling off of Itachi's back. He dropped off Danzo within three hundred meters to his clan's compound before taking off and running back to the Senju Compound, now without burden the trip taking less than an hour. Toka greeted him back as well and Itachi went back to his cabin for a little sleep near midnight. He just collapsed on his bed and burrowed under the covers, ready to rest.

After all, he had a big day ahead of him tomorrow. He had to go and make peace with his own Clan.

He briefly wondered what the Uchiha were like in this time before falling asleep.