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
Watching Uchiha Madara - his own ancestor, one of the strongest shinobi his clan had ever produced and the man he was often compared to and urged to surpass - shake hands with Senju Hashirama - the Shodaime Hokage, the one who had made the Will of Fire by which he lived and (would have) died, the one shinobi he knew he would probably never even come close to, let alone surpass like his clan would have wanted him to - was almost as surreal to Itachi as when he had met little Uchiha Kagami, his best friend's ancestor. It was more surreal than meeting the Sage of Six Paths, as unbelievable as that might sound.
And why shouldn't it be? He would have eventually met the Sage, anyway, when he entered the land of the dead. It was logical that anyone from his clan would meet the man who was the father of the patriarch of their clan, or at least that's what Itachi told himself to lessen the impact of everything that he had seen so far. He knew he would have never met the Senju brothers in the afterlife, as Sandaime-sama had sealed them away during his fight against Orochimaru three years ago when the Snake Sannin attacked Konoha, so meeting them was rightfully unbelievable. Madara, he might have met eventually. Kagami, also. They were his ancestors. He would like to think that the same applied to his great-ancestor, if only to keep himself sane.
It still felt a lot more surreal to watch the building of the village he had been ready to give his life for, a century before he was even born, a century before his existence was even thought about. Because he was watching it, watching the process of the village he knew by heart being built one handful of buildings at a time, hearing the founders bickering about this or that. He watched his own first home being erected from the ground by Hashirama-san, carefully supervised by Madara-san so the Uchiha design would be perfectly executed. He watched both Madara-san and Tobirama-san yelling instructions at Hahsirama-san as the man built the Academy he studied (very briefly, but still) in. He watched as the walls of Konoha (but still not) slowly rose from the earth to surround the village, temporary until they can make the wall of stone and concrete that Itachi knew. And he watched as the Hokage Tower (still not) rose over the houses.
When the first week of building was finished, it looked like a wooden, colorless version of the village he had loved and protected his entire life and Itachi had had to find a crook where he can hide until the tears stopped trailing down his face, his ever fateful Kuro Onyx his only companion as he fought to gather himself. It had been too overwhelming and Itachi feared for the future, as clan by clan trucked into Konoha like history said they would, and soon. He wasn't sure he could hold out before he finds a little escape like this little crook or any other so he can just wallow in sorrow and happiness in equal measures as he saw his home being built but still not being his. Hopefully, he will get used to it and it will stop being an issue.
It wasn't the first time he cursed his Uchiha genes, but he had never cursed them before because of his emotions, as he usually had a tight reign on them. Still, he honestly thought it was justified so he jut let it be, figuring he will learn to deal with it. He had learned to deal with the lack of his family and friends in his life years ago, this shouldn't be much different. He just needed time.
And it did become better as his fascination with this just born and not yet named Konoha grew. Madara-san and Hashirama-san both insisted that he attend all meetings regarding the decisions about the village. Tobirama-san, Izuna-san, Toka-san and Hikaku-san all agreeing that he had as much say int his as any of them. He had thought about saying no, before he remembered that there were some things he could fix in the internal structure of Konoha. And there were things he had to make sure stayed the same, or else history might take a dangerous turn. After all, Konoha was built a year or two ahead of schedule and Izuna-san was here this time around, as opposed to being dead. That would surely make some changes that Itachi has to keep in check, lest the Konoha as he knows it does not come to be. The focus of his task and watching Konoha slowly become what he remembered it being soon won over the grief of watching what was but still wasn't and he slowly fell in love with his home village all over again.
And his help was indeed needed, mostly as a buffer between Madara-san and Tobirama-san, or, even more mindbogglingly, between the two of them against anyone else. He had thought about it before, how similar Tobirama-san was to Madara-san, but it had never been quite as obvious as when both the albino and the older Uchiha brother smacked Hashirama-san over the head when he made a very stupid suggestion regarding the Academy that Tobirama-san and Madara-san were put in charge of for the time being. Their arguments against Hahsirama-san's were almost the same, only worded differently and with differing levels of sarcasm, but still the same. From what history had taught him, Itachi had thought those two would be enemies but then he wanted to kick himself. Izuna-san was still alive and that was what originally made Madara-san hate the younger Senju brother. It was to be expected their current relationship would be different.
Still, their too similar personalities clashed more often than not and Hashirama and Itachi both had to clam down their respective best friend. Izuna-san and Toka-san were of no help and their presence and comments seemed to only spur their respective clan member on. Mito-san and Hikaku-san could only sigh or face-palm in despair. At times, as the two argued over the locations of training grounds, the positioning of this and that house, the amount of guards needed at the gates and so on, Itachi wondered if it would be too bad if he simply put an end to their and everyone else's misery before shaking those thoughts off. It probably wouldn't help any, as Izuna-san and Toka-san would pick up right where they left off and might just end up making more problems. It really wasn't worth it.
But when those two took each other's side, no one could find flaws in their reasoning and they effortlessly filled the blanks in each other's arguments or plans. By the time the village was a month old, Hahsirama-san looked ready to tear his hair out when they started dissecting his ideas just so they could explain to him why they had to turn it down. The brunet man had turned to Itachi as though he were his savior and had asked him to deal with the two. More often than not, it was only made worse for the older Senju, as Itachi agreed with his fellow geniuses. If Madara-san and Tobirama-san were smug at those times, well, Itachi decided to ignore it. If they pouted like children when he disagreed with some idea - No, Tobirama-san, we cannot put a restriction to which clans can and cannot join the village just because the Inuzuka are too feral and the Yamanaka once tried to kidnap and brainwash you. We must give them a chance if we don't want to be hailed as hypocrites - and gave a sufficient enough reasoning behind it that they couldn't fight it unless they wanted to look foolish. Itachi didn't feel at all guilty that he already knew all the facts about what Konoha was and what it was supposed to represent and he felt no remorse when he used that against its founders. He was here on a mission and he wanted Konoha to come to be once again as glorious and beautiful as it was, even with its nasty underbelly and the secrets he still carried.
He found an ally in Mito-san for quite a few things, especially when he had to argue with Hashirama-san alone. If Madara-san and Tobirama-san were too busy with other matters or didn't want to get involved, he always knew he could fall back on the man's own wife to help him beat some reason into the Senju. If the Uzumaki got a kick out of it, well, Itachi wasn't going to call her out on it. And Hikaku-san was his ally in calming Toka-san and Izuna-san when they got into an argument of their own, although both he and the eighteen year old cousin of the Main Family suspected their arguments came more from some sort of suppressed sexual tension they could not find the origin of between the two. And Toka-san helped him deal with the argument between the two Senju brothers. Usually, her presence was all that stopped him from getting Kuro Onyx to use Shisui's eye on them just to shut them up. It would be such a waste of the Kotoamatsukami, so it was a good thing she was usually present when the urge overcame him.
And then there was Tobirama-san, the only person in the village who could help him deal with a teamed up Hashirama-san and Madara-san. It had taken the two of them three whole hours to convince the two Clan Heads and founders that merchants and the such must pay some taxes if they wished to deal withing Konoha's walls and boarders. The two daydreamers were convinced that in a peaceful hidden village, there is no need for taxes since they won't need the money for war, but Itachi knew otherwise and Senju Tobirama was the physical manifestation of practicality and good sense. It took a while and Tobirama and Madara got into a few yelling matches that Hashirama and Itachi had to stop before things got physical, but they managed it. Although, people kind of avoided them all, having overheard the ruckus three streets down from the Tower.
All in all, the building was going great and the village was all but finished. Well, Uchiha Compound and Senju Compound wise, at least. Civilians are yet to move into the village and the first clan that will join the Uchiha and the Senju in this new village was going to be the Sarutobi Clan. Although, strangely enough, the Shimura Caln was already reaching out to this new village as well. Itachi knew his history rather well and he wondered how much time they had before Konoha truly started flourishing. It will get loud and some tensions will rise as old allies of both ex-warring clans came.
But the peace would hold, of that Itachi was sure as he walked down the streets and watched kids playing. Uchiha children with Senju children. Seeing their smiling faces was enough of a reward for all the hard work everyone has been putting into the construction of the village, even though Hashirama-san had done most of the house-building work. The streets still had to be built by people and wells had to be dug up. Thankfully, Tobirama-san was there to make sure there was water there to begin with, both as a sensor and as a suiton user. There was plenty of work, from making concrete and brick houses to arranging everything in the village, distributing tasks and taking care of them once the right people got them.
This place, not yet named, was truly becoming Konoha and Itachi could finally breathe in the familiar air and allow himself to think home. The mixture of voices - all familiar but none from his own time but rather from his misadventures with both clans - gave ease to his heart and the secret Uchiha allowed himself to close his eyes, take it all in and allow himself to be embraced by what they were building. He had never seen Hashirama-san as happy as he was while walking down the streets of his dream with his best friend by his side. He had never seen Madara-san so relaxed and proud as when he was instructing those who worked on the protective walls of the village, preening as that first line of defense - of the village, of his clan, of his little brother - rose over his head. Tobirama-san never looked as content as he did when he watched the children playing a laughing, finally carefree in the innocence they were almost robbed of. Mito-san and Toka-san finally allowed themselves to smile more and Izuna-san and Hikaku-san allowed themselves to relax.
Kagami-kun was excited to finally have some friends, especially if they all managed to drag Itachi to play with them. The ex ANBU usually let them do it since he rarely could play with them these days and they didn't ask often, knowing he was busy and respecting his need to be responsible. Kagami-kun had went ahead and told every single one of the kids that Itachi was the reason peace had finally come and the kids had this habit of gawking at him in awe whenever they saw him doing some of his duties. Thankfully, the founders of the village didn't seem to kind giving Itachi all of the credit, especially since they enjoyed making him all flushed and flustered from barely hidden embarrassment. Itachi never did get over his shy and humble nature, it would seem, and he had gotten so used to not getting any more recognition as an ANBU and in the Akatsuki that he had forgotten all about how awkward it made him. Hashkrama and Madara enjoyed teasing him and the others were just as bad at times.
Sometimes he really wished he could Tsukuyomi them all.
"Itachi!" He looked up when he heared the future Shodaime yell his name from almost the other side of the village. He saw the man himself running towards him with an excited skip in his step, Madara walking a little behind him at a far more sedated and dignified pace but looking just as excited even if he tried to hide it. Itachi sent a silent thanks to whatever good was listening for allowing his eyesight to remain as sharp as it used to be before he started going blind - and he made sure not to think about who else might have had a hand in it as it would have been beneficial to the mission they have saddled him with - so he can be as observant and perceptive as ever before refocusing on the two overgrown overpowered children making their way towards him. "Itachi!"
"Hashirama-san. Madara-san." He greeted each man with a respectful nod of his head, ignoring when both tried to reprimand him for being so formal. It was a conversation they have been having a lot since Konoha's building started. They never did manage to beat the polite out of him, something that vicious stubborn little Uchiha part of him was very proud of. "What's got you both so excited?"
"We finally heard from the Daimyo and he gave us his blessing to name the village and a village leader!" The brunet told him excitedly and the weasel felt his heart skip a beat before it started thundering against his ribcage. "I decided that the position should be called Hokage, or Fire Shadow to honor him for being so kind and Madara named our village!"
"Oh? That's wonderful news." Itachi said, still waiting with bathed breath. He was sure he will faint any moment now. It's unhealthy for one not to breathe when their heart was working in overdrive. "What is going to be the name of the village then?"
"Konohagakure." Madara proudly said, holding up a green leaf with a round hole in the middle and looking through it at Itachi before giving it to the youngest. Itachi took it with shaking fingers and allowed the older Uchiha to guide his hand up so that the hole in the leaf lined up with the houses and the people and the endless forests still in sight. "Or Konoha for short. I thought up the name right on the spot, but this leaf, it sort of reminded me of that design on your forehead. I thought it fitting, seeing where it was built."
"Konohagakure ... Village Hidden in the Leaves." Itachi breathed the name like a prayer and couldn't stop the almost besotted smile that spread on his lips. He was faintly aware of people stopping to stare at the sight of him and he knew his friends were staring, too. He had been told many times his smile was a heart-disease hazard but he didn't care. Konoha was finally born. He could relax a little now. "Poetic. I think it is very fitting."
"Quite," Tobirama's voice said behind them and all three turned around to face the albino. "Still, the village leader-"
"Hokage," all three corrected, ignoring Tobirama's scowl for being interrupted.
"Should be chosen democratically. You can't just say you want Madara for the leader-"
"Hokage"
"Without consulting the rest of the villagers." The younger Senju continued on like they haven't said anything. His words registered and he looked in confusion towards the two childhood friends in a silent question that needn't be in the first place, as Madara gladly cleared it all up.
"Oh no! You are not saddling me with the entire village on top of my current duties!" The elder Uchiha snapped with a glare at both Senju. "Being Clan Head is hard enough! I don't need to babysit the entirety of Konoha, too! And besides, if being Hokage means having my face engraved into the mountain, then I certainly don't want the position! I have some pride, damn it!"
"But it's such a great idea!" Hashirama protested. "Just think about it! Your face is so stern and scary that no one would dare come attack us! You're our protector, Madara! The position suits you perfectly!"
"I don't think the village needs Madara's scowling face scaring their children all day long for the rest of their lives, Anija."
"At least my face isn't such a sorry sight!" Madara retorted as though Tobirama never spoke and the white haired man glared at him for it. Itachi began to wonder how these three ever built the original Konoha if this was how they acted with him around.
"It's not really that bad, is it?" The depressed Hashirama asked, sounding sorry for himself and his younger brother could just rub the bridge of his nose in an attempt to relieve himself of the upcoming headache. The move was one he had seen preformed by Nagato-kun enough times to know it by heart and Itachi chuckled at the thought of how alike Senju are to their sister clan's members.
"I think a monument is a wonderful idea." He finally cut in before the shenanigans could continue, drawing attention to himself. "And voting for a leader is also great. Very modern. It will assure that the leader picked is loved by the people and there will be no accusations of favoritism and the such." The one who suggested it looked smugly at the two older men. They will no doubt deny it to their graves that they were pouting at that moment. "However, don't you even think about putting my name on the candidate list." All three men went to protest but Itachi just shook his head. "The leader of the village must also be its main protector, its very first and last line of defense. The Hokage must be the strongest ninja of his or her generation as well as kind and just. A good ruling head means next to nothing if his body is not fit. And I dare say rare few shinobi would follow a leader that is weaker than them."
"You are hardly weak, Itachi." Madara argued and the other two nodded in agreement. Itachi just smiled at them but there was determination in his gaze. The Shodaime will be Senju Hashirama, the Nidaime Senju Tobirama and the Sandaime Sarutobi Hiruzen or Itachi will gauge his own eyes out. With a blunt teaspoon. Without the application of any pain killers. This he swears. And if those three make it Hokage, then so will Minato-sama and Tsunade-sama later on be Yondaime and Godaime respectfully. History will keep its course. Hopefully, some of the bad things will iron themselves out and make a better future.
"Perhaps, but you three are far stronger than me. You can't deny it and you know that." Now all three men were pouting and the image was enough to cause Itachi to erupt into laughter, free and cheerful. The pouting stopped at the melodious sound and three of the greatest shinobi in history just stared dumbly at a man who should not even be there to begin with. "But I promise to be an advisor for as long as you would have me."
"Always," Tobirama was the first to swear and Itachi was touched by the sincerity in his words, echoed by the two friends not a second later. A sort of warmth spread through his chest and Itachi allowed it to travel across his body and spill further, outwards in the form of the biggest smile he could remember ever smiling in his life.
It took traveling to the past after a death match with his baby brother, but it would seem, finally, Itachi has found peace.
