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
Itachi could not have been prepared for how much nostalgia seeing a single symbol would overtake him. As soon as the gates of the Uchiha Hideout came within view and as soon as he saw proud twin fans on the double doors with two very Uchiha-like people guarding them, he was nearly sent to his knees as a feeling of home overtook him. It was not the Uchiha Compound in Konoha, but the appearance and the style was near identical and tears threatened to come to his eyes as Uchiha Madara walked him through the gates.
Seeing all the Uchiha walking around in the streets so similar to his home's wasn't helping and he knew he stared at them as much as they stared at him. They didn't really have all that much reason to stare, as handsome, black haired, pale skinned men were not an unusual sight among the Uchiha Clan, yet they still stared. Itachi guessed it was either from how different his chakra felt in comparison to a normal Uchiha - not that they knew he was one of them - and it was disconcerting that someone who resembled their genetic features so much was so clam, or it was because Madara himself was acting as his guide. And he at least had an excuse to stare t them all. Or so he thought to himself.
It has been eight years since he had seen any Uchiha other than his own reflection in the mirror or his precious little brother. He didn't count Tobi who claimed to be Uchiha Madara since he could never see his face and after meeting Madara here, even if for only one short conversation and now, Itachi was sure that the man in his time was most definitely not the real Madara. However, he knew that the other was most definitely an Uchiha because he could keep his Sharingan active for days on end. Itachi honestly had some suspicions about who was behind that swirly orange mask but he couldn't say anything for sure until he looked under said mask and confirmed it by himself. Anyway, after eight years of never seeing anyone with features similar to his own, Itachi had forgotten just how exceptional his own appearance actually was in the Uchiha Clan. His hair was a unique shade of black that really resembled ash more than the coal black or night-sky black hair one usually saw in his clansmen or the occasional dark brown head here and there. The lines under his eyes were also uniquely long and he had gotten them extremely young, younger than anyone else. He was also one of the rare Uchiha who had never in their life had a spiky hairstyle. His eyelashes were only rivaled by Shisui's and his skin was somewhere between a light tan and the usual Uchiha paleness, although he attributed that to all the time he spent outside training.
It was fascinating how reassured he was among all of these fire natured charka signatures. True, Itachi was no sensor but his godfather had taught him how to distinguish each nature type if he were close enough to the owner of said chakra nature. He had always been interested in how the Uchiha all share the same chakra affinity. Sure, you could have another chakra affinity, a secondary nature as people called it, but the primary was always fire and the only other chakra natures consistent within the clan as secondary natures were earth, wind and lightning, in Sasuke's case only. Water had never been an affinity within their clan and yet it was Itachi's secondary affinity, if you didn't count Yin Release that came with the genjutsu affinity the Uchiha also shared. It's what made him also stand out quite spectacularly against the other Uchiha chakra signatures and he wondered if any of them could feel it, his fire and his water balancing each other out inside of him.
He briefly wondered if he should ask Tobirama-san to train him in using some other powerful suiton jutsus after all of this is over and Konoha's founding was finished. It was quite tempting, to learn from the greatest suiton user in history. Yes, Kisame might actually be the one who would profit from it far more than Itachi, due to the massive chakra reserves difference and water being Kisame's primary nature, anyway, but Itachi was never one to pass up an opportunity to learn. Besides, he could always teach Kisame what Tobirama-san taught him.
That is, if he ever sees his partner again, a valid concern and doubt on his end. He may very well die here, either of old age or of a lucky kunai or shuriken. He might just end up going to the afterlife as soon as Konoha's stability was ensured, for all he knows! He might never see Kisame alive again. And that's not mentioning the fact that even if he returns to his own time just when he would return and if Kisame would still be alive then. His partner might have just continued on without him, doing missions for the Akatsuki and risking his life some new partner that could not live up to Itachi's standards, or, worse yet, alone. He could have died and he would have been alone. At least with his last two friends, Itachi had been there in their last moments. Shisui had left the world with a smile for his younger cousin while Juzo had died protecting Itachi from the Yondaime Mizukage in his chakra cloak when they ran into him during a mission in Kirigakure's territory. Itachi didn't want to think about Kisame, his partner of nearly eight years, dying all alone somewhere and his body being destroyed by natural elements of decease and time. It physically hurt, such thoughts.
Thankfully, a familiar young voice distracted him from them.
''Itachi-nii!'' Kagami yelled as he ran at full speed towards the young man being lead around by his Clan Head. Said secret Uchiha turned his head towards the sound of the noise and twisted around just in time to catch the lunging boy into his arms before he could topple them both to the ground. ''Itachi-nii!'' Kagami all but squealed in joy as he nuzzled into the crook of Itachi's neck and said man smiled gently down at the messy head of curly hair.
''Kagami-kun, I am glad to see that you are fine after what has happened.''
The young Uchiha looked up and nodded with a smile. ''I am fine and it's all thanks to you, Itachi-nii! How are you? Were you hurt? Are Hiruzen-kun and Danzo-kun okay?'' The boy was obviously worried for the other two children that had gotten involved into all of this and Itachi smiled again to reassure his young friend.
''They are fine. Hiruzen-kun returned to his family's compound the very next day and I escorted Danzo-kun home myself just last night. They were fine and their families were happy to have them both back safely.'' Kagami sagged with relief before narrowing his eyes as he realized Itachi hadn't answered one of his questions.
''And you, Itachi-nii? Were you injured?''
The secret Uchiha blinked down at the child in his arms before his smile returned, just a little bigger and gentler than before. He had totally forgotten that there were others around them so he was unaware of the staring having increased as he displayed his gentler side that he usually reserved only for kids and those he considered extremely close to himself. ''I am well and no, I was not injured. However, even if I was, what is important was that you three weren't. Children should not have to go through what you and Hiruzen-kun have went through.''
''But you'll make sure no one has to go through any of that ever again, right?'' Madara stared at his little clansmen as he looked up trustingly and adoringly at the, to him, still a complete stranger. Did the boy really believe peace was possible if Itachi was involved? Will they actually succeed in this crazy scheme? ''You're here to stop the war and bring peace, right? Right?''
''Yes, I guess you could say that that is the purpose of my visit.'' Kagami cheered and hugged Itachi tight, earning a chuckle from the ponytail wearing raven haired man. After a moment of still hugging, however, Itachi knelt down so he can lower Kagami on to the ground and ruffle his messy hair. ''Now, off you go. I need to speak with Madara-san about a few things. Run along.'' Kagami nodded with another beaming smile before bowing in respect to his Clan Head and running off in a seemingly random direction.
Madara couldn't help but chuckle himself at the boy's enthusiasm. ''I see that you are quite close to him for someone who had only met him when he was in trouble.'' It was actually both a statement and a question and Itachi nodded as he stood up straight. He understood and he had no qualms about answering.
''I met Kagami-kun some two weeks ago by the Naka River while he was practicing the Katon: Gokakyo no Jutsu. We talked for a while and then he had to leave. This is actually only my third time seeing him.''
''You must have made quite an impression on him if he immediately grouped you as 'friend'. And don't think you can get out of it now.'' Madara told him with a smirk as he turned to continue walking, perfectly aware of the stunned looks still being directed at Itachi after such a soft display. He knew Itachi was handsome enough that such expressions would leave the Uchihas quite a bit dazed, despite being surrounded constantly by extremely handsome people all the time. ''Uchihas don't do things halfway. You're now his friend for life.''
''I have no objections to that.'' The younger man replied with easy humor but true sincerity in his words and Madara decided he liked him already. However, he noticed that not a second later, Itachi suddenly grew serious. "Speaking of objections, tell me about the elders of your clan."
Madara grunted in displeasure at the thought of the old coots but complied none the less, knowing Itachi needed this sort of information for the meeting that was going to take place tomorrow night. "What do you wish to know first?" He asked as he lead them straight towards the biggest house in the Compound, a house that nearly had Itachi paling when he saw it. Everything in this hideout was almost identical to both the old and the new Uchiha Compounds built in Konoha. The compound built after the Kyuubi Attacks was almost identical to the one that had been theirs before the attack and that one was made to resemble their ancestral home. This home. The last place where Itachi had been before he fell into the past. Seeing a house that resembled the one in which he killed his own parents so much left a bad feeling in his gut. He would rather not walk into that house but Madara had already opened the doors for them and was waiting for Itachi to step through. Steeling himself with all of his experience as an ANBU, Itachi stepped through the open doors and respectfully took off his sandals, waiting for Madara to do the same so he could follow him into the tea room.
"Why are they so against ending this war? If you could tell me both the reason they feed your clansmen and their real reason, that would be well appreciated." Itachi was proud of how steady his voice was despite how disturbed he was with the continued resemblances of this house to the one he had watched his little brother grow up in.
''Pride, is what I would like to say but we both know that pride alone can't keep so many people against peace for so long.'' Itachi nodded and Madara continued as he took a seat on one of the cushions and gestured for Itachi to sit in the other. ''But while pride does have a big impact on why they still want to fight, I think it is my clan's Curse of Hatred that has an even bigger impact on their stupid objections of peace.''
Madara watched with interest as Itachi went as stiff as a board as soon as his words left his mouth, looking as though his eyes will widen any second now. For a moment, Madara wondered if Itachi will jump up and start running or if he would maybe look around in a scared and panicked manner as many people before have as soon as an Uchiha told them about a 'curse' on their clan. But no, Madara decided as he watched the stranger's eyes darken and narrow, Itachi wouldn't run away. He looked ... angry. At himself, if Madara was reading him right. Why would he be angry at himself?
And, for the record, Itachi was angry at himself. He had been trying to think up a reason why the Uchiha would insist so much on continuing these stupid fights in which they lost more and more of their brethren and he had tried thinking in a way that his ancestors were thinking. He had thought up reasons like influence, power over the lands, territory, even wealth and fame or some petty grudge. And while he had tried thinking in the terms of the past, he had forgotten to think in the terms of the Uchiha. For what reason would the Uchiha Elders insist to continue fighting?
Simple. They have seen too many of their brethren die and most of them have become consumed by the Curse of Hatred and could no longer make sound decisions for the good of the clan and could only think of avenging their lost loved ones. The younger clan members were still free of it but if the fighting continued, they, too, will become consumed by it. The entire clan could go crazy and the other clans, even their allies, might come together just to take them out. It would mean that Konoha would never be built and he himself would never have been born. Sasuke would have never been born and Itachi would never allow anything to happen to neither his precious foolish little brother nor to Konoha.
'This had to be stopped.' Itachi knew this. But the question was how. The Curse of Hatred came in many forms, often time never even recognized until it was too late. Itachi had not realized his entire clan had been consumed by it until it was too late and he had no other choice but to report their doings to the Hokage and the Council of Advisors. The Curse had only been uprooted by the Uchiha Massacre and yet he was still pretty sure Sasuke had been consumed by it, too, but because of him and his actions. However, Sasuke ought to be cured of it by now, since all of his hatred came from wanting to kill Itachi so he should be okay now. Maybe a little directionless and lost for a while, but he should be fine.
Still, Itachi refused to resort to such drastic measures as to massacre another group of Uchihas. Never again will he raise a hand against his family if he can help it. He won't allow another Uchiha Massacre to happen. But maybe he could use the first Massacre as an inspiration, a ground to work on?
Meanwhile, Madara only sat and watched as Itachi went from stiff to completely relaxed, sitting there, in foreign territory as though he were a king sitting in his own throne and contemplating what to eat for dinner yet he knew Itachi's thoughts ran much deeper than that. Madara was not Izuna, who had more perception into a person's mind and soul, but he wasn't oblivious to these things, either. Itachi had an idea about how to deal with his Clan Elders and he seemed to be thinking it over. The Uchiha Clan Head wondered if Itachi will share his thoughts or if he will simply surprise them all tomorrow at the meeting. What interested him more, though, was if his suspicions were right and Itachi actually already knew what the Curse of Hatred was.
''The Uchiha are people greatly devoted to love and friendship, yet they tend to conceal their more affectionate traits. When the object of their affection is lost, an Uchiha's love can instantaneously turn into hatred, leaving them more inclined to do anything and everything in their power to achieve their goals and show their own superiority, regardless of the consequences and repercussions of their actions.'' Madara still found himself explaining, breaking Itachi's train of thought and bringing him back to earth. ''This is the Uchiha Caln's Curse of Hatred. It is how even the Sharingan is created. The despair of these experiences cause a manifestation of unique chakra within an Uchiha's brain, impacting the optic nerves and creating the Sharingan. The Sharingan's advanced form also requires extremely painful experiences, which cause the user to delve into darkness that utterly consumes them. The Elders have all been warriors once upon a time and they must have seen too many of their precious people die to become like they are now. They absolutely refuse to see reason and stop this nonsense so that at least no more Uchiha have to die or to come to see their suffering like they have.''
''I think I can bring it to light to them that more people will suffer if they don't get their heads together.'' The younger man said seriously and Madara studied him again before nodding his head.
''Alright, I'll leave it to you, then. Now,'' he said just as the sliding doors across the room opened and in came Izuna followed by two lesser clan members, the later two carrying a tray with tea and some snacks which consisted of, to Itachi's delight, some dango. They also had some inarizushi there and a plate of berries, as well as some other sweet and salty foods. ''We wanted to get to know you.''
Itachi watched as Madara took up the plate with the most inarizushi on it and wondered how anyone could say the Uchiha had no sweet tooth in his time when both Madara and Izuna liked sweets, evident in Izuna taking the bowl of berries for himself. Itachi happily took up five dango sticks and immediately ate the first ball. ''I am not anything special.''
Izuna snorted before popping another berry into hi mouth. ''Right. Because that Tobirama-teme is always protective of random strangers.'' He said sarcastically while rolling his eyes and eating his treat. ''You're obviously different. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you guys were friends.''
''And Hashirama never brings up anyone else when he tries to convince me of peace during our battles.'' Madara gave his two cents and ate one of his own sweets. ''He usually tries to guilt-trip me by bringing up our old friendship and our dream and how we used to skip stones as kids, but he never brings up anyone else's names. So, start talking, Dare no Ichozoku no Itachi.'' Both Uchiha brothers settled their gazes on Itachi and waited for the weasel named man to begin his story.
Itachi just sighed and thanked Kami he at least had some dango.
