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

To the surprise of no one, the Shogi game lasted for hours on end. The players seemed evenly matched and people have gathered to watch with bathed breath as the game progressed. The Konohians, so to call them, were shocked that their champion was struggling so. The Nara were floored that one of their own was struggling just as much if not more.

And Tobirama knew Itachi was just playing with them all, just like he was playing Shogi.

Of course he realized very early on that Itachi wasn't nearly as serious about this game as he was every time they played in the past. He could easily see that the clanless young man was focusing on something entirely different but he hadn't figured out what it was quite yet. What he did know, though, was that Itachi's opponent, one Nara Shikasai - the younger of the males that had come to represent the Nara during the treaty talks - was way out of his league and he didn't even seem to notice. He very obviously thought Itachi was on his A-game while they played, seeing the poker face Itachi sported at the moment. He didn't have Tobirama's experience with Itachi and strategy games to understand that Itachi's mind was possibly miles away as he responded and matched the Nara move for move. Tobirama will admit that the Nara boy would be a more formidable opponent than himself, if Itachi would only pay attention to him and challenge him with only his eyes to do better. As it was, the Nara was arrogant and lazy and didn't feel the need to prove himself to Itachi, thinking he was the one playing around with the ash haired man instead of the other way around.

The entire village had gathered right in front of the Hokage Tower - that was still waiting for the elections of its very first Hokage - to watch, children in the front rows, teens sitting beside them and adults standing behind them or hanging off of the Tower itself to see what was going on. Kagami, Hiruzen and Danzo were standing right behind Itachi and cheering for every piece he took and pouting for every peace that was taken from him, although Danzo looked more like glaring when that happened. Tobirama stood right behind them, watching Itachi's match with the same intensity he usually reserved for his jutsu development. He didn't know why but he didn't trust the Nara and his eye twitched every third or fourth turn the pineapple hairdo man took. He could tell Mito and Madara didn't like him, either, and he guessed it had to be a sensor thing. They were standing right there, beside him, along with Hashirama - who was chewing on his hair - Izuna - who was glaring death at Shikasai - Toka - who was whirling around a kunai in worry- and Hikaku - who couldn't take his hand off of the handle of his sword.

On the opposite side of the board stood Shikama and the two women, as well as quite the number of other Nara, half of them having fallen asleep by the time the third move was made only to be startled awake when Itachi penetrated their clansman's defense and nearly took his King. They hadn't been able to return to their 'lazy, sleepy' state since as they, along with everyone else, watched as pieces were eaten and returned to the field, upgraded or left the same, move after move, two different pale hands moving about the board with a speed that most normal chess players would call insane and possibly impossible. Each strategy was thought out within a few seconds and it was now only a matter of who had planned better. The battlefield looked equal so far ...

Except Tobirama couldn't help but notice how, on those moves that made him and his fellow sensors quite twitchy, that Shikasai looked very smug. Tobirama wasn't sure what it was about that man that had him glaring every time he made those moves, every time he looked so smug and every time he looked at his best friend in the way that he did. Had it not been completely controversial to what they were trying to convey by building Konoha in the first place, Tobirama was sure he would have been racing Madara and Toka about who had the rights to snap the man's neck. And there was a possibility that Mito and Izuna would be in that race as well.

Itachi looked oblivious to the strange behavior that happened every third or fourth turn and just continued on as usual. He even looked away from the board to speak with the three boys he seemed especially close with, smiling that gentle and calm smile of his. The Nara either glared or stared at him and he paid them no heed, chuckling at the antics of his three young friends. He even took some time to tickle them, an action Shikasai took as a show of lack of respect and hissed insults at Itachi for. Itachi had responded with taking one of his stronger pieces and coming dangerously close to his King. Shikasai focused back on the game and let Itachi be.

''How long will this take?'' Toka asked of the albino, looking and sounding incredulous. ''Is this even normal?''

''Shogi matches can last for hours on end.'' He said in way of exploitation, remembering how progressively longer his own games against Itachi got. Both of them were obviously stubborn people and they were quite competitive, although Itachi didn't show that side of him often. The more he knew of Itachi's style of playing, the easier it got to even out the scores and lengthen their games. ''Itachi is a spectacular player and the Nara were always renowned for their intellect and love of Shogi since it was so challenging. It was bound to last this long.''

''You seem rather knowledgeable of Itachi's style of play.'' Izuna pointed out with a frown, demanding an explanation. Tobirama snorted at the younger Uchiha.

''After that lovely wound you gave me all those months ago and I was stuck two weeks int eh hospital, Itachi used to come by every day and play all sorts of games with me. I think I have every right to say I know Itachi's style pretty well.''

Madara turned to him, a serious and calculating look in his eyes. ''Do you believe him able to win?''

The younger Senju frowned, crossing his arms and staring down at the board. There it was again. That feeling that something wasn't quite right. He still couldn't place it but it was definitely coming from Nara Shikasai. A glance at Madara and then Mito told him that they have, once again, felt it, too. It was like a spike in the man's chakra, like he grew maliciously amused and smug. Taking his opponents pawn shouldn't bring about such a reaction.

''I know Itachi's skill fairly well and while the Nara is a tougher opponent than I am, Itachi should have had less difficulty. I know Itachi's playing with him, but something is still not right.'' He whispered and moved his lips just the barest amount so that if there were those who could red lips, they wouldn't understand what he was saying and et suspicious.

''Good, then it's not just me. I thought I was becoming paranoid.'' The Uchiha grunted, glaring death at the older of the players, causing Shikasai to fidget despite his best efforts to repress the need.

''I felt it as well.'' The redhead kunoichi said as well, focusing hard on the Nara to try and figure out what wasn't right about him.

''Is there a problem?'' Hahsirama asked nervously, now bitting both his fingernails and his hair, sweating buckets as though it was him and not Itachi playing the game.

''Not at all, Hahsirama-san.'' They all jumped as Itachi spoke, craning his neck to look at them with a winning smile even as he placed the final piece needed to utterly corner Shikasai's King. The man had nowhere to go and no matter which of the pieces he took, there were always two more that can finish the job. Itachi had played him into a corner, backed him up to the point that any other move the other could make would be suicidal. Shogi was meant to represent war, a battlefield; if this were a battle, the only move Shikasai could make was to surrender and beg for his life.

The Nara in question stared for only a moment before he snarled and lunged across the low table they had carried out in front of the Hokage Tower to place the board on, taking a handful of Itachi's clothes and dangling him over the game, disturbing the pieces. He growled in the younger man's face, their noses inches apart and not caring at all how the three highest ranking Senju and Uchiha flared their chakra dangerously, three pairs of Sharingan eyes flaring their deadly red and Madara even going as far to manifest his Susanoo's ribcage. Within seconds, dozens upon dozens of other chakra signatures also flared, lead by Mito as they all rose to arms to protect Itachi.

Said man remained as serene as he had always been.

Shikasai snarled. ''You cheat!'' He ignored how much slower his own clansmen were in response to the hostility around them, unused to the quick response that war-worn soldiers have after centuries of battle like the Uchiha and Senju do. ''You cheating bastard! You must have set up the game! A Nara cannot lose at Shogi unless it is to another Nara!''

Itachi's whole continence changed as that serene smile turned into razor sharp smirk that had Shikasai faltering and flinching back. Itachi easily brushed aside his now slack hold. ''You must not accuse others of your own actions, Nara Shikasai. I have not been blind to your actions throughout the game.''

''Are you accusing me of cheating? It's impossible to cheat at chess.'' The older male growled dangerously but Itachi just chuckled.

''You just contradicted your own accusation of me, but we both know that you can cheat at chess.'' The foreigner leaned across the board and shadows fell over his eyes, making them glint dangerously, like they contained a deadly secret that will take your life if you hear it. ''I am neither blind nor is my memory lacking. If anything, my memory is eidetic. Do not think that you can move my pieces during your turns so that their positions serve you better without me noticing. Do not think that you can take my captured pieces and think I will not see that their numbers don't add up. Do not think that I do not recall every move you have made during this game.'' The ponytailed man tilted his head to one side, the smirk becoming even sharper than the sharpest blade reported in history. ''You should be well aware that I actually planned for you to act so lowly. It is why I issued the challenge as I have. I knew you would cheat. And I already knew when you will cheat long before you made the move to do so during out game.''

''Are you implying that you actually are an Uchiha with their cursed eyes that see the future or read unsuspecting people's minds?'' Shikasai questioned mockingly, moving to challenge Itachi with false confidence, their faces once again inches from each other. ''It would seem you are a cheater. A liar.''

''I have eyes and I use them.'' Itachi replied, not at all deterred. ''We are close enough sitting across from each other for me to see every twitch of your throat.''

''What does that have to do with anything?'' The incredulous Nara asked and Itachi leaned away, looking smug for some reason that Tobirama was all too eager to find out. Itachi and smugness was not a combination he saw more than a handful of times in the eight months he'd known him. It always promised to be interesting.

''Since the moment a human being learns to speak properly, the speaking mechanism never stops working, as humans begin thinking.'' The twenty one year old explained. ''When reading or thinking, unconsciously, the speaking mechanism traces the words and sounds without air going to the vocal cords or the mouth opening to speak the words, but the words are shaped and can be read. All one needs is to have a sharp and quick eye, be perceptive enough about the smallest of twitches a throat makes and keep track of those subtle movements and, of course, know how to read them, something most people can teach themselves just by practicing in the mirror. It is a trick I've learned and practiced to near perfection before I turned eight.'' Shikama and Shikasai paled as they realized the implications behind Itachi's words while Madara looked ready to ask whether Itachi would teach him how to read these movements. It must have been at least a ten thousand times easier feat for someone with the Sharingan. ''Basically, I have been reading your mind. You do not need any special powers to be able to do it. You only need sharp eyes.''

''You tricked us!'' Shikama hissed at Itachi, making as though to lung for the raven but Hashirama reacted more quickly and erected a wooden dome around their seated friend.

''Your agreement to let him cheat should it be required speaks much of your lack of honor. Me tricking you into exposing that lack of honor, Nara Shikama, is hardly dishonorable on my own part.'' The weasel replied casually from within the dome. Seeing as it was very silly, Hashirama let Itachi out but dragged him to stand in between himself and Madara. Tobirama, followed by Izuna, moved to flank his brother. ''However, your resourcefulness is something one should congratulate you on. Cheating in chess, either the western variation, the Chinese or our own Shogi is, indeed, near impossible and it shows a great deal of skill on your part to be able to cheat so subtly. It is a skill set I would be rather honored to have added to our already established skills in Konoha. Your clan will be quite an asset and a formidable ally.''

''How were you even able to see him cheat, Itachi-kun?'' The younger female that had been in the initial group for the negotiations asked curiously, blushing when the younger man looked at her.

''It has a lot to do with who taught me to play in the first place.'' The foreigner replied with a small smile. ''Had he not been a Nara himself, I probably never would have known what to look out for. I would have noticed an irregularity on the board, but would not have realized how it was being done and that meant I wouldn't know how to prove it. It would make my points and arguments null.''

''None of us know you.'' A Nara called out and Itachi chuckled.

''I was pretty young when the person taught me to play and it was indeed none of you. I fear he might have passed away.'' The young man looked - and felt - rightfully remorseful, Tobirama noted, so he was sure Itachi was truthful. Well, at least Itachi's strange skill with Shogi made sense. His very first opponent was a Nara. He was bound to be good. And Tobirama more often than not lacked a good challenge from his own clansmen when it came to the game. He guessed he can understand now why it was so hard for him to win against Itachi. ''And no, I am not going to tell you his name. I have very little doubt you will blame him for your loss and might ridicule both his life and death, if it had happened, for it.''

Shikama sighed and ran a hand tiredly over his face. ''How troublesome.'' Madara twitched at the habitual catchphrase the geniuses tended to use for everything but Tobirama was glad to see that he made no move to skin the man. ''Oh, well. A deal is a deal.'' He shrugged casually and Hashirama's jaw dropped at the easy acceptance. Tobirama figured that the Nara were just too lazy to fight it all. ''Besides, it would be quite interesting to work with people like you.'' Shikama said with a look at Itachi before turning to the two founders and extending his hand towards them for whoever wanted to the two to shake. ''The Nara will gladly join Konohagakure and offer all of our services to this village. No matter how troublesome.''

Hashirama beamed while Madara's only reaction was to deactivate his eyes while the brunet shook hands with the Nara Clan head. The rest finally relaxed and the Nara went back to their lazy ways, only Shikasai still grumbling about his loss. People started dispersing, returning to their everyday peaceful lives while commenting on what they have just seen.

And as the negotiation groups made their way back towards the council room inside the Tower, as Kuro Onyx gawked from a branch nearby before taking off back towards Itachi's home - Tobirama was quite curious as to why the bird hadn't been closer to its master during the game - the white haired Senju noticed a small, pleased and content smile slip onto Itachi's lips.

He briefly wondered what that was about before focusing on the matter at hand.