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

Madara decided he definitely liked Itachi. The boy had been around the Uchiha for maybe a total of twenty eight hours and there was already a different feel around his clansmen and in the atmosphere around the compound at large. It almost didn't feel like they were still very much officially at war and could be attacked at any point in time by their enemy. The Uchiha Clan Head attributed it to the laughter of their children as they played with the kind stranger.

To be honest, he had had his doubts when he had first left his family lands to go and meet Hashirama at the river and to take this Dare no Ichozoku no Itachi back for the meeting with the Clan Elders. The boy - and wasn't it strange to refer like that to someone only a handful of years younger than himself, a mere two to three years younger than Izuna - had looked perfectly comfortable in the battlefield, like a true shinobi, yet Hashirama's words rang in his head that the boy knew peace and that his mere presence felt like it. Itachi's words to their fathers, to Madara and Izuna themselves, had also liked to rear their heads all the time whenever he even began contemplating leaving before his old friend and the clanless young man could arrive, making him stay in his place out of curiosity, if nothing else. If nothing else, he wanted to see what had brought upon such wisdom into such a young person.

He had had his doubts doubled when Hashirama and Itachi didn't come alone, but he guessed it was to be expected. That younger Senju brother had been more aggressive than he had ever seen him before while he demanded the return of the missing weasel that day, three days ago, losing his cool on a battlefield for the first time since Madara knew of his existence. As Izuna had pointed out about his rival, Tobirama didn't get attached to people nor was he ever that protective of them. It was obvious he cared deeply for Itachi. They were friends and no one could deny that. It made sense that Tobirama demand to come along to see if Itachi will be safe. And knowing how good of a sensor that bastard was, Madara didn't doubt that if he had felt even the slightest amount of killing intent towards Itachi, Tobirama would have known and would have attacked him without second thought to peace.

Hashirama had also warned him not to let anything happen to the younger man, going as far as to tell him to treasure him like a pearl or a jewel or some other treasure. He had kind of tuned him out by habit when he started rambling like that. He had never known that he had kept that childish habit from their budding, brief friendship from all those years ago, but it would seem that he had and he was a bit startled by that fact. It was a dangerous one that he will have to watch out for. It is never good to not keep his focus out of his clan's compound as anyone could be an enemy, even the always foolish and childish Hashirama. Or that bastard brother of his that tails him like a shadow.

All in all, that meeting had gone rather well. He had nearly had his ribs cracked by Hashirama's hug but he had retaliated by actually breaking the buffoon's nose for such indignant behavior, not that Hashirama had complained much about it since he could heal himself. Tobirama had snorted in disgust at their behavior while Itachi had seemed to sport a bastard expression of amusement and befuddlement for which Madara didn't blame him. Tales of his and Hashirama's prowess in battle have traveled far and swiftly, their ferocity all but legendary and the rumors of the Uchiha Caln's stoic behavior were well known for centuries. To see them acting like two overgrown brats must have been surprising.

(In truth, Itachi was wondering how such marvelous friends had ever become enemies. Not that anyone knew that.)

After their little chitchat, Itachi had bid his hosts goodbye and had went with Madara back towards the Uchiha Compound, his easy grace and speed as they moved through the foliage allowing Madara to travel at his normal preferred speed without worrying about Itachi falling behind. In fact, if Madara remembered correctly, Itachi was quite the bit faster than himself but Madara also learned in their race back to the compound that Itachi seemed to have a lot less stamina. And while Madara might not be a real sensor, he could tell that Itachi's chakra seemed to be a little below average. Maybe, if things work out well and there is peace - and even that village he and Hashirama used to dream about - he could help Itachi out with some stamina and endurance training. As it was, the boy was only keeping up with sheer chakra control alone, a rather impressive chakra control, but the smallness of his reserves was worrying none the less.

When they arrived at the compound, Madara had easily noticed that Itachi was as fascinated by the Uchiha as they were by him. After all, the Uchiha were usually viewed as monsters without emotion because of how the Senju propaganda painted them to their allies. Rare few people ever walked into this compound if they were not prisoners and so rare few people walked into this compound so calm and collected. Even their allies had lines of weariness strikingly on display on their faces. Itachi was as cool as an ice cube. His interactions with young Kagami have immediately set the Uchihas at ease and they had been just waiting for Madara to leave him alone so they could talk with this newcomer that their new Clan Head himself had led into the hideout, not in shackles to boot.

Itachi was indeed a soothing and peaceful presence, just like Hashirama had said. It didn't take that long for him to win over the Uchiha. It may have taken the Senju some two weeks to see that he was sincere and not a threat, but then again, Madara had no doubt they had initially thought him an Uchiha or a spy for them. It was understandable. Had Madara not known all of his clansmen by name and face, he would have thought Itachi an Uchiha, too. But Itachi didn't act like an Uchiha and he didn't even feel properly like one, so he guessed even Tobirama must have had his doubts. Itachi was too calm to be a fiery Uchiha. His temperament was perhaps the exact opposite. And it was exactly for this reason that he could have such a great affect on the Uchiha. They had gathered around him like moths around a fire and were soaking up his calmness like the moths did a fire's light and heat.

The kids liked him, too. He was gentle and had a soothing voice. He answered all of their questions, some truthfully and others with fantastical stories that entertained them. He seemed to know which answer to give when, knowing when to tell the truth and when to deflect with stories so he never lost favor with any child. He let the kids clamber all over him like some climbing post or a tree and he just stood there, making sure not to let them fall or hurt themselves or others. Although it was obvious he was especially close to Kagami and paid him some extra attention, he never made a difference between the kids. Boys and girls, toddlers and young teens, he welcomed them all and he played with them all equally. And the kids seemed to understand that he and Kagami were already friends since before Itachi had come here so they didn't mind the few personal jokes the two shared every now and then. Although they were awed by the stories Kagami told about Itachi's rescue of him and that Sarutobi boy and always asked for more. Madara had never seen Kagami so accepted as then, talking about his new friend who was too modest to speak of his accomplishments and just said that he had done everything he cold to get them out of there.

The adults could see that Itachi was honest and genuine when he talked with them. There was no hidden motive and he didn't hide much about his life other than maybe names and places. After hearing that Itachi had lost his entire clan when he was thirteen bar the younger brother that hated and blamed him for the lost, no one blamed him for wanting to spare himself the pain of naming people and places and so they didn't push. They all, of course, immediately noticed that no matter how young Itachi's body was, his mind and soul were almost three or four times older. His wisdom and patience were not attributes usually reserved for someone so young but that just endeared everyone to him. In a matter of hours, people were asking him about this and that, just to hear his views.

Really, the Uchiha had no problem seeing Itachi as one of their own. Madara wondered how the Senju could have been so weary of someone so kind. Well, then again, they didn't have the ability to glimpse into a person's heart with the Sharingan like the Uchiha could.

All in all, Itachi was easily accepted by the Uchiha in general.

The Elders, though ... They might be a different story. They were old war veterans, fifty years and older. They knew of nothing but war and suffering and loss their entire lives, so someone like Itachi was probably a new phenomenon to them. Madara couldn't help but worry how they will take to Itachi talking to them of peace and prosperity without the loss and suffering in their lives. a world of no pain seemed impossible and Madara knew Itachi was not offering that. But he was talking about an alliance with the Uchiha's greatest enemy and the ones who have taken the most Uchiha lives in the past nine centuries at the very least. They will also probably think his biased since he had first lived with the Senju. The younger generations will follow Madara into this peace and some of the middle generation will, too, out of respect for his skill and his loyalty to his clansmen that he had showed in the battlefield throughout his whole life but those who have not entered the battlefield in years or were too set in their ways, like the Elders and some of their accomplices ... They will try to diminish and undermine his accomplishments and his authority. Hell, they might even dare to go as far as to try and assassinate Itachi! Like hell was Madara going to let that happen!

He happened to like Itachi, and not just because he was good for the clan and for this peace. It was on a personal level, too. Izuna and Itachi had hit it off pretty well almost instantly. As soon as they stopped talking about serious matters yesterday and have managed to draw the younger man into casual conversation, Itachi had slowly opened up to them and had started telling them about his life, before and with the Senju. Seeming to know what will entertain them the best, Itachi had immediately told them about Hashirama's antics, his many victories in various games against Tobirama and the last thing they all did together before Itachi ended up smack in the middle of those kidnappings. Izuna had gleefully listened to all the silly things his rival did and said and wove that if they were ever to build that village from Hashirama's and Madara's pipe dreams, he was going to tease Tobirama to death. Madara found his behavior amusing and Itachi's exasperation even more hilarious and he was startled to find that he could laugh again in the presence of someone other than his brother or his last remaining cousin of direct relation. And the more they talked with Itachi, the more the two brothers had to agree with the statements of the Senju and of young Kagami, who told them all about his interactions with Itachi so far. Itachi really did bring about this ... peace with him and both Izuna and Madara would be lying if they said they didn't want to selfishly keep him all to themselves. They have not known peace since their third brother died and only they were left with their cold and distant father.

Itachi will indeed be the on to bring about this peace, Madara was sure of that, if for no other reason than because people will want to spend more time with him and the Senju will be too overprotective of him to let their enemies come near him. Besides, now that the Uchiha have had this taste of peace, Madara doubted they'd even want to fight again. The image Itachi had told them when asked what peace was like (the very same image he had implanted into the heads of the Senju on the day Tobirama got injured) was too appealing for anyone to want to go to war ever again. Madara had even seen one of the Elders listening in, no doubt there to see what the big fuss was about this boy that Madara-sama had brought. If Itachi can convince the Elders to reconsider, it would truly be a road to peace, opened and obstacle-free.

It wasn't going to be easy, Madara knew from his experience of having shouting matches with a roomful of angry old coots. They won't listen to Itachi's soft words and gentle stories. He feels he should warn Itachi but at times he wonders if Itachi already knows. The meeting was going to be tonight and Itachi didn't seem the least bit nervous or anxious. He hoped that wasn't a front because those old geezers can practically smell fear. There was nothing Madara could do to really help Itachi but hope that he was ready for what the meeting was going to bring. It was all up to Itachi and the Uchiha leader kind of felt bad for him. He must have known just how much was on the line yet he never showed signs of distress or anxiousness. Like a true shinobi, he hid his emotions successfully. It made Madara wonder what had happened - in detail - to make him so resilient to all these stressors. His life was hard, that much Madara had gathered, but just how much was the real question now. What had he gone through to get such patience? What had he lost to gain such wisdom? And what had he seen that neither fear nor nervousness could touch his features? His skill, Madara feared to wonder about. He had seen only a glimpse and he already knew that the twenty one year old would be quite the opponent, especially if they helped him work on his stamina.

Itachi was a mystery better left unraveled until peace was finally here, Madara decided. Some secrets that people carried were better left alone because the horrors they hid could cause more turmoil than they were worth. If Itachi, who wanted peace as much as Madara and Hashurama did, than perhaps it is best for them all not to dig around until Itachi deigned to share. There were even secrets that were better kept just that, secrets, for the rest of time. Only those who knew the secrets themselves could say if the secrets were best left alone or if the world was ready to hear them.

So Madara will leave it alone. For now. Because, now, he had a meeting to take a certain clanless young man to.

"Itachi," he called to the boy and the ponytail wearing Uchiha looked up from where he was helping a boy brush out some leaves and dust, drawing both his and the kids' attention. "The meeting will start soon." The young man stood, meeting his eyes boldly and Madara held back a smirk. The elders probably had no idea what was in store for them. Itachi wasn't your typical type of person that they usually deal with.

'Oh, this is going to be fun!' He thought both gleefully and excitedly. Yes, there was some nervousness and anxiety there but he was more curious about how all of this was going to end. That, and he wanted to see the Elders finally put into their place.

''Come. It's time.''