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
Six months since Konoha's official birth and naming found the village growing and expanding at a startlingly rapid pace, more and more clans - civilian and shinobi alike - hearing of the strange alliance between the two most powerful clans in the Fire Country and desiring their protection. Lead by the Sarutobi and Shimura Clans, the Hatake, the Hyuuga and Kurama Clans all joined the banner of Konohagakure, proudly wearing the symbol of the leaf that Hashirama shamelessly took off of Itachi's forehead protector to represent their village. When asked by anyone else, he would claim that the leaf symbol was for the forests that surrounded them and that the little curve in the center was for fire, to represent their homeland. Everyone else, especially the Senju, knew that to be a load of hull and that the symbol was meant more as a tribute to Itachi, the one who helped them bring about peace, more than anything else. Since he had no idea what had inspired the symbol the first time around, Itachi made no attempt to change the reasoning and just let it be. He was just glad that the leaf symbol once again represented Konoha, as it should, and that they hadn't added the slash that went across the middle. They had understood from the start that it was damage and not intentional to the original design. They tried to talk him into getting a new one for himself but Itachi will not take a new hitai-ate even if it meant Madara trying to steal this one and burn it with Izuna's help.
It was now eight months since he first arrived here and Itachi had throughly gotten used to life in the past. He was used to playing with Kagami-kun, used to working alongside the Senju and Uchiha brothers and he very much enjoyed the afternoon teas he had with Mito or the occasional patrol he shared with Hikaku or Toka. He was never one to watch TV or play video games to begin with, so he didn't miss the more modern forms of entertainment, like most ninja in his time except the younger ones and he greatly enjoyed playing games with Tobirama-san still. The Senju was slowly catching up to Itachi's winning streak now that he was used to Itachi's style of playing. The secret Uchiha was impressed with the speed he had adapted to him, as even rare few Naras were able to and he greatly enjoyed the new difficulty in their games. When others watched, Tobirama always grew annoyed because people always cheered for Itachi, sans Hahsirama who cheered for them both and simply so he can cheer. He usually snapped at them all to leave them be, which always ended in an argument between him and one of the Uchiha brothers, most often Madara. Some of their verbal brawls turned into actually physical brawls, which usually ended their matches more swiftly than one would anticipate.
Izuna would usually cheer his brother on for three seconds before snatching Itachi away before anyone else could attempt the same. The others would soon realize what had happened and try to hunt them down, but Izuna was always sneaky enough to escape them all for a few hours, in which he and Itachi either explored the woods together or trained somewhere. They both needed stamina training so they figured why not train together. If Tobirama or Madara were trying to find them, well, they barely had half an hour before the sensor and as close to a sensor as an Uchiha can get pinpointed their locations and that was if they were moving. After Tobirama started placing secret markers on everyone so he can use Hiraishin to find them faster, it lessened to ten minutes, and that was usually because he was still fighting with Madara. It became quite tiresome after a while, all of them always arguing who will spend Itachi's day off with him.
And, speaking of tiresome, Itachi frowned as he adjusted the folds of his kimono shirt for the upcoming meeting, the Nara have finally decided to join the village. That promised to be more troublesome than Itachi could deal with. The Nara, along with every other smaller clan, have been somewhat oppressed by the two warring clans for years and they would no doubt try to somehow manipulate some greater rights for their clan. Usually, there would be no worry as he, Tobirama, Hashirama, Madara, Izuna and Mito were more than enough to catch and hidden loopholes a clan might try to present to the village council, but these were the Nara they were talking about. More so than even the Hatake, the Hyuuga or the Uchiha, they were a clan of geniuses, intellectually first as opposed to ninja skill as was with the three above mentioned clans. If a clan-full of geniuses has made the proposal that they will have to look over, a handful of geniuses might not be enough. Itachi had implored for a few Hatake and a Hyuuga or two to be present when the proposal was presented but he wasn't sure if it will be enough. That proposal will have to be looked over again and again.
He had never before wished more to be able to use his Sharingan as he did right now, just thinking of the headache that will come from all that glaring at small and big print alike for hours on end. He'd take the aftershock pain of that stupid suppression seal after using Amaterasu rather than that. Still, as he was an official advisor, he was required to come, just like Hashirama and Madara as the founders and Izuna and Tobirama as their main supporters. None of them were happy campers on this fine day and Itachi briefly wondered if someone is going to die. It was a very likely possibility and he wasn't even sure who would commit the murder, which was probably the scariest part.
''I swear those Nara are doing it on purpose,'' he muttered to himself as he left the house Hashirama had built for him in the village, only a street away from the Hokage Tower for the exact purpose of Itachi being quick to make it there should his presence be needed, mostly to stop disputes. He recalled how infuriating that one Nara had been when he got to lead Team Ro on a mission and wondered if he could save himself, Kakashi-san and Tenzou a future headache if he found the man's ancestor here and got rid of him. He usually didn't mind following orders but that man, unlike the rest of his clan, had been so arrogant that Itachi and Tenzou had taken turns in stopping random Chidori from striking him. Because the guy was a dick that hated that Kakashi had better scores on the written test of the Chuunin Exams than him and wasn't below using Kakashi-san's father to get at the Copy Nin. Half the time, Itachi and Tenzou wondered why they were even protecting him. Thankfully, they never had to work with him again, more so because he died in a mission two months later than because the Hokage had taken pity on them.
Itachi really was suspicious about the cause of death being falling off of a cliff and into the speeding Naka River, but never tried to discriminate his fellow ANBU who had been lead by him that day. ANBU stick together, especially when the rare few arrogant Nara lead them.
'I better get going,' he thought to himself as he looked at the clock on his wall. The meeting was meant to start in twenty minutes, but Itachi liked to come first to make sure everything was ready and to check the council room to make sure people aren't trying to do anything suspicious. A part of his ANBU training from when he used to guard Sandaime, a job each ANBU had to do at least once every three months so they could recover from the other dark things they had to do for Konoha's safety. He or his partner for that week would go in and secure the room,making sure there were no bugs, traps or the like before letting the Hokage and whoever he was meeting with enter. It was a dull job that had its exciting moments, like when a young Naruto-kun would try to prank the Hokage. Itachi never fell for those traps but quite a few other ANBU did and the Uchiha had to make sure he didn't outright laugh in their face when seeing the result.
It caused him to chuckle now, remembering that one time Tenzou didn't dare show his face in front of Team Ro for three weeks because he couldn't remove the pink paint from his skin, mask and hair. Ah, good times.
'I've been more nostalgic as of late than in my entire Akatsuki career.' The genius mused as he started the walk towards the Hokage Tower, absently returning greetings as he went. And it was the truth. As an Akatsuki, he was forced to not think about his loyalties, about the friends that were now hunting for him and instead focus on keeping his spy status a secret.
And ever since Konoha was named, Itachi, despite how busy he was, had been thinking of his friends a lot more lately. It started with Shisui, of course. Just watching little Kagami, the age Shisui had been when Itachi first met him, was like watching his friend, running around and having fun, making friends and just enjoying himself how neither he nor Shisui ever really got to. Kagami, as skilled a shinobi as he was one day sure to become, wasn't a genius like they were and so he got to be a kid for a while longer. And with no war going on, h's going to stay a kid a lot longer than even Sasuke had. He wanted to envy him for keeping his innocence so much, if only to prove that he is still human - as what kind of human wouldn't be envious of someone having th peace they longed for but knew they would never have - but it was no use. Itachi had never been envious of anyone or anything in his life and he couldn't be of Kagami now. Not when he was the one to ensure such a thing was possible, for him and all the other kids. Not when he looked so much like Shisui and all that Itachi had ever wanted for his loved ones was to know peace and content and happiness.
Seeing so many Hatakes walking around made him think of Kakashi-san, especially when he saw a person that must have been in some sort of direct relation to him and his father. She even had the same mole as Kakashi-san did, the same smile, the same spiky hair style, although her's was longer. If Itachi had to take a guess, that might be Kakashi-san's grandmother. Seeing so many silver haired people definitely brought back memories, especially if he saw a teen Hatake training with a teen Uchiha. It reminded him of the good old days when he was Kakashi-san's kohai and was dragged along everywhere the Copy Nin went since he hadn't had much friends outside of Shisui, Kakashi and Tenzou. And speaking of Tenzou, every time Hashirama-san used his Mokuton, Itachi still half expected Tenzou to throw some dry remark at him or Kakashi-san. At times, just seeing Hashirama-san and Tobirama-san pouring over some scroll with only the tops of their heads visible had him staring, hoping silently that when they look up, one face will be covered by a black cloth mask and the other's hair will be shorter. He usually had to make a hasty escape at those times, as he feared his heart will show in his eyes if he stayed long enough after the brothers looked up and saw him staring at them with a heartbroken expression on his face.
It was difficult at times being around Mito-san, too, as he expected either of the Uzumakis he's known to look up at him. The urge to wait for the redhead to turn into Nagato-kun died pretty easily and quickly, as Mito-san's hair was longer, shinier and softer, but the thought that it might be Kushina-hime never did. Especially if the woman left her hair down. Kushina-san had been like a second mother to him. For all that he knew her for only two years that he remembered, she had treated him more like a child than his own mother ever did. She was his godmother and honorary aunt and he had loved her a great deal, but she was now gone and her own ancestor mocked him from time to time, unwittingly and unknowingly as it might be.
And seeing Izuna-san ... sometimes it was too much. Uchiha Izuna looked so much like Sasuke that Itachi wanted to tear his own hair out. There were differences, of course, like Izuna having slightly sharper and more mature features than his otouto did and his hair didn't resemble a duck's butt quite like Sasuke's did, but the resemblance was still uncanny. Even their voices were somewhat similar and hearing that voice call out Nii-san tore Itachi's heart to shreds. But their eyes were different, their mannerisms were pole opposites and their overall tempers were odd in comparison to each other. Itachi learned to deal with the similarities and lived with the constant reminder that he had saved Madara from failing his little brother like he had Sasuke.
But perhaps what tortured him the most was Kisame's absence from his side. Longer than he'd been friends with Shisui, certainly longer than he'd worked with Kakashi-san and Tenzou, he had lived with Kisame constantly just a few steps away. For eight years, Kisame was the only one he could lean on, the only one he could trust and turn to. Kisame knew things about him that no one did sans his crow and Itachi missed him terribly. Especially since his character was everywhere. Hashirama-san had his loud, obnoxious jokes. Tobirama-san had his suiton jutsus. Mito-san had his quiet when Itachi needed to just talk about something without anyone saying anything. Madara-san had his obsession with fighting. Izuna-san had his understanding of when Itachi wanted to went and would take him away from everyone so he could. Toka-san had his tolerance for Itachi's quirks, like his sweet tooth. And Hikaku-san had his tendency to ask questions that would lead them into deep, philosophical debates and keeping score of how many he managed to win.
It hurt, finding a part of Kisame everywhere he went but not finding the man himself. Itachi spent some nights awake, staring at his ceiling and wondering what had happened to his partner. There was no doubt Kisame thought him dead. Who wouldn't, after the way he disappeared? Itachi wasn't sure what Kisame would do if he died. For Itachi, it had always been clear. He had to keep his brother safe, so he would stay with the Akatsuki and continue keeping him safe from afar. Kisame ... He had some sort of connection to Tobi, that much Itachi knew for sure. The orange masked man had promised something to the shark and Itachi had some doubts about how his death might impact Kisame's loyalty to that promise. Tobi might be manipulating Kisame without the Kiri nin knowing. Who knows what that kreep might have tried to make Kisame do had he not been Itachi's partner?
Although, for a while, Itachi had considered the fact that Kisame might have been placed ad his partner for the sole reason to spy on him and report anything he might find to Tobi. Zetsu couldn't successfully spy on him, since Itachi had learned how to detect him. It was easy. All shinobi should be able to feel eyes on them. Itachi had simply used his crows to find Zetsu's location, too, so he always knew where the plant man might be. But Kisame wouldn't be an obvious spy. As his partner, Kisame would stick with him no matter where he went as a rule the Akatsuki have established. And seeing how hostile their first meeting had been, it wouldn't be at all suspicious that Kisame was keeping a sharp eye on him even in sleep. If that had been the case, then Tobi had chosen the wrong shark to send after Itachi, as Itachi had, apparently, weaseled his way right into Kisame's loyalty, friendship circle and heart. By the point the rest of Akatsuki became aware of just how close they had gotten, it would have been useless to try and separate them. Itachi might be a pacifist and against pointless killing, but Kisame was just like Kakuzu, going through countless partners until he found the one he could not kill.
That's why Itachi wasn't sure how his partner might react. On one hand, Kisame had a promise with Tobi, but on the other, he was loyal to Itachi. He might mourn for a few minutes, as was the maximum a Kiri nin allowed himself to, before becoming fully loyal to Tobi and the Akatsuki. However, Itach sometimes got the impression that Kisame stayed in the Akatsuki only because he was there. And to kill things. Kami, but Kisame liked to kill things. Itachi sometimes wondered how they even got along enough to be partners let alone lo-
"Itachi-san." Said man broke out of his train of thought and looked towards his left, from where he was called. A curious expression settled over his features when his eyes were met with a solemn Danzo, not quite daring to meet his eye. Which was quite strange. The last time he saw the boy, two weeks ago, Danzo had boldly been meeting his gaze, comfortable and not at all shy or ... Was he anxious, now? He sure looked like it, which was quite strange when Itachi remembered this was the man that lead a big part of ANBU in his time. The only time he'd ever seen Danzo looking uncomfortable in the time he had known him, it had been when Itachi infiltrated his circle of bodyguards and threatened to sell out all of Konoha's secrets. He had been afraid back then, uncomfortable with the ease Itachi had reached him even with dozens of other ANBU and ROOT around. But this boy ... he was doing his best to hide it from him, but Itachi could see he was quite anxious, uncomfortable in his own skin and afraid.
"Danzo-kun." The secret Uchiha greeted back with a nod, coming to a stop. He had a bad feeling he won't be going to that meeting and that might annoy Tobirama-san and Madara-san. They didn't want to deal with the Nara without him. Hashirama-san might be panicking already, as Itachi should have already been in the meeting room.
"Itachi-san, Chichiue wants to speak with you." The younger raven said just as solemnly as his face was set. "Please come with me."
"I have a meeting to attend, Danzo-kun. It is important." Itachi said but he was already turning so his entire body faced the boy. He was both curious and cautious about this meeting. The Shimura Clan have joined Konoha a month after its naming, a week later than the Sarutobi Clan. Danzo's father, Sanzo, could have requested to speak with him at any point in time after that. Why choose now? Was he, perhaps, in cahoots with the Nara and wanted to distract Konoha's leaders by keeping Itachi away and thus making it easier for the Nara to potentially trick them? But what would he gain from that?
"Please, come. Chichiue says it's important, too." Danzo all but begged and Itachi couldn't stop the surprise from appearing on his face. ''He says it might be of help and he wants to tell it to you, Itachi-san. Please follow me?''
''I wonder if I will regret this?'' Itachi mused to himself even as he walked over to Danzo and let the child take him by his hand. He hoped Madara-san and Tobirama-san don't kill anyone until he makes it.
