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
The time for his departure came on a sunny day, exactly six years after he arrived in the past, woken to the sound of Kuro Onyx squawking in protest as the Godudama shifted, trying to get the bird to fly in a direction it wanted and for Itachi to follow. Itachi was awake with a kunai in hand almost instantly, only to calm when he saw no threat. The calm didn't last long as it dawned on him, just like the newly rising day, that it was time. His time in the past was up and he will have to leave on this day. After six years, Itachi was finally going either home or into the afterlife and he didn't know which he would rather go to.
How much time had gone by since he had arrived here back in his own time? Was Sasuke even alive still? Was Kisame? Naruto-kun? Kakashi-san and Tenzou? Was the fake Madara, Tobi, still around? Had the war Itachi had been fearing broken out? Was Danzo still Hokage? Was Senju Tsunade even alright? Would there be anyone who would welcome Itachi back? So many questions ... It made Itachi anxious and he couldn't fall back to sleep. Not that he would, now that he knew he had only one day left to finish everything up. He quickly got dressed and made his way to the Hokage Tower by rooftops. There was a pile of paperwork that needed his signature before it can be brought to the Hokage's attention and he'll never get the chance to do that later, as he had thought to. He had to do it now.
Still, he couldn't help but stop for a moment to look at the rising sun on the horizon, over the tall treetops of the forests surrounding Konoha and just ... enjoy the moment. He had found peace here, more so then in his old life, ever. He will definitely miss the simplicity of this place. The Konoha he had lived in wasn't exactly as straightforward as this Konoha was. Even when they were on the brink of a war breaking out, the diplomacy of the village was simple, honest and straight to the point, a result of having Tobirama and Madara as main diplomats, perhaps. Mito and Toka weren't exactly known to play games, either, blunt as they were. And Izuna was the only one to charm his way around while Hashirama had learned not to give in too all demands that are presented to him in hopes of maintaining peace.
There was some hope in them yet.
Shaking off his thoughts, Itachi made the rest of the way to the Tower without stopping, not even bothering to get something to eat. Someone will come by his personal office at some point and drag him out to lunch, as his friends were wont to, so he had no worries there. Or Tsunade-hime will come by with snacks and that will do until he finishes the pile. Thankfully, he had never been one to mind paperwork, so he had never fallen behind, unlike Hashirama-san and occasionally Madara-san or even Tobirama-san when he goes on a lengthy mission, so the pile was consisted of maybe thirty scrolls, a manageable amount for someone like Itahci. If he uses his Sharingan before anyone else makes it to the tower, half of the work - or more, if it is an easier matter to handle - will be done before nine o'clock. He can do things the normal way after that and he should still be able to finish by lunchtime.
Besides, he didn't want to spend his entire last day in the office. He wanted to spend most of it with his friends, relaxing and enjoying the results of his labor in the past six years. This Konoha was still not the one he had last seen, but it was so much closer to it that Itachi's heart sang home whenever he saw it. It had taken three years of building for it to reach that stage and the work was well worth it. The people here were far happier, Itachi imagined, than they had been when war had been ravaging the country. Maybe they were even happier now than in the past where Madara had left, grief and anger and isolation driving him to madness and to revenge against the very village he had fought for. There had been doubt back then, whether Konoha would be protected enough. Madara was almost as powerful as Hashirama and Uchiha techniques were still nothing but a mystery to the rest of the world. Itachi doubted they had known that Madara could have used Izanagi or even Izanami to defeat Hashirama.
He wondered why he didn't.
He wondered if he actually did.
So little was known about that fight that had created the Vally of the Ends. Hopefully, no such battle will happen this time around. Or at least not between the two friends for the same reason.
Thinking of friends finally drove home the question of what his departure might mean for them. What would they think? Six years ago, after spending just a month at the Senju Compound had had people dreading and mourning the day he finally leaves and they had barely known each other back then. Now, they were such a closely knit group of friends that his departure will definitely leave a mark. Should he tell them? What should he tell them if he decides to tell them anything at all?
More often than not, Itachi has learned in his hard life, saying goodbye is harder than not. Yes, not saying anything leaves you feeling like something is not done, like a chapter of your life cannot close, but saying goodbye can be so much worse. If you don't say goodbye, it still feels like there is a chance of something being done to change reality, like that something terrible that is sitting in your chest is not true. Saying goodbye to Shisui, discretely to Sasuke, to Juzo and to Kisame had all taught Itachi this. Maybe his friends will never forgive him for leaving, but it is ultimately for their own good. If he doesn't say goodbye, they can keep hoping that he will return, that they will find him and they can all sit in the sun, braiding each other's hair like they still do, from time to time, with the Uchiha and the kids in Tobirama-san's team, Tsunade and now Nawaki in tow. They can pretend that he is simply on a long mission and he will come back any day now. It would give them hope. A false one, but Itachi had never been one to burst other people's illusions like he did his own.
He was left to his own devices, as he had expected, until lunchtime, when Hashirama-san ran into his office with a raging Madar-san in tow and a paperwork-laden Tobirama-san, both scowling at the slacking off Hokage. Seeing as this was probably the last time he can do this, Itachi laughingly invited them all out to lunch, for old times sake and Hashirama-san jumped at the offer, snatching Itachi by the shoulders and all but pushing him out of the room before Tobirama or Madara could protest. Hearing Itachi's stomach growl in protest for being left hungry since lat night's light dinner had them following readily, Tobirama's newly invented Kage Bunshin going off to invite the rest of their group.
Itachi just smiled and enjoyed the dynamics of these three titans of Konoha's history, his friends. Friends he will never see living again, after this day. Even if he doesn't die after today ends, they will die before he is born so they won't even get to watch him grow up. He briefly wonders if Sandaime-sama or Tsunade-sama ever recognized him or if his face had become a blurred memory to them. He'd rather not contemplate about Danzo. Already, Itachi can see in this young boy the ruthless man he will become and there is nothing he can do to prevent that. But perhaps the variety of people in the Police Force will prevent the isolation of the Uchiha from the rest of the village and they will never be put under suspicion so the coup d'tat and the massacre will never be needed?
Itachi can only hope. He had done for Konoha as much as he could. The rest was up to these people and all those who were born and have lived in between this time and Itachi's. Perhaps it is finally Itachi's time to rest.
And rest and relax he did, enjoying the melodious noise of his friends laughing while they all ate lunch together. Toka had Tobirama in a headlock and was laughing merrily while trying to keep him there and Izuna was cheering her on. Madara was too busy arm wrestling with Hashirama to help his lover and Hikaku was helping Mito keep Nawaki entertained. Which left Tsunade in his lap, preening at getting the 'best seat in the house', eating dango with him and telling him all about the two new boys she had met and thought were very silly. They were from some smaller clans and were very strange, one loud and obnoxious - a word she heard Tobirama using when talking about Madara a lot - and the other quiet, smart and creepy. She insisted on introducing them to Itachi but the secret Uchiha would rather not be given the temptation to kill Orochimaru now to end half of his problems in the future. Not killing Danzo was hard enough. He didn't need a second temptation. Especially since he had spilled Orochimaru's blood once before already and would have done it again had he ever gotten his hands on the Snake Sannin again. The easy atmosphere had him laughing and smiling more than he ever remembered doing in his life, which brought forth the realisation that his family had never bothered with his happiness. Yet here, in a time not his own, in a Konoha he was not supposed to see, with people he was never meant to meet, let alone befriend, his happiness meant the world to a group of strangers.
It made his throat tight with pent up emotion. He at times wondered if his happiness had meant this much to even Shisui or Kisame and would then berate himself for doubting them, the only two people in his life that saw Itachi as more than just a genius. He decided just to not think about it and instead enjoy himself for a while longer. Today might actually be his last day of life and it was already a thousand times better than the last day he had thought to be the same back in the future. For one, he wasn't dying of an illness that he had never bothered to find a treatment or a cure for. And not to mention that he wasn't preparing for the last fight of his life, against his precious little brother no less, nor was he forced to say goodbye to the only lover he had ever had.
Perhaps it was not the best topic to think about when surrounded by happiness and the warmth of friendship but Itachi couldn't push those thoughts away. Tsunade didn't mind when he hugged her tighter to his chest and buried half his face in her blond hair - something she got from her great grandmother; apparently, Butsuma's father married some noble lady to strengthen the treaty they had with her father regarding some trading route or something - making the girl giggle and squirm happily in her 'future husband's' arms, delighting in what should have simply been a show of affection. Itachi was careful to not let his chakra give away his melancholy but from the way Madara's eyes snapped to him for a second suggested he might not have been as successful as he had hoped.
He was proven right when Madara found him later during their afternoon together, when Itachi had stepped away from their group, a bit overwhelmed as he realized just how much he was going to miss them, no matter what happened after he left. He had been leaning against a thick tree, a hand pressed to his chest, blinking back the tears that had gathered and were threatening to spill. It was almost a task to breathe and an ache was pressing down on his heart and in his head. Itachi had just wanted a moment alone, thinking it would help him reign himself in, but the solitude wasn't helping at all. It was as though his old habits and instincts for dealing with distress have been rewritten since he arrived in the past. Then again, he wasn't used to being alone anymore. Yes, while it was true he hadn't been alone even once in the eight years he had had an Akatsuki partner, Kisame had known when to give him some time to just his thoughts. Here, for six years, he had only had that sort of luxury on Shisui's and his parents' birthdays and death anniversaries or Sasuke's birthday. And even that was from dawn to dusk and not a minute longer. It would seem he could no longer deal with solitude as he had whenever he needed to calm down. He and solitude no longer agreed with each other. He needed the presence of his friends like he had never thought he would.
'So much for my plan to go live somewhere alone, far, far away from anyone I know.' The secret Uchiha thought wryly to himself even as he sank into the comfort of the hand ruffling his hair like a socially awkward older brother trying to comfort someone. His ancestor had really become as much to him, hadn't he? Or maybe not quite. Itachi wasn't sure anymore. He had always thought of only Shisui as his Aniki, but he got quite a few surrogate older siblings here for him to be sure anymore of what title was right for whom. All he knew was that, right now, Madara was trying to comfort him and Itachi had grown just that bit selfish in the six years he had been here to indulge in it instead of trying to play strong in front of him or the others. "Thank you, Madara. I needed that, I believe." The silent support had almost always been more effective than any words anyone could have said to him. Even from his cousin and Akatsuki partner, the silence was for the best.
There was a pause in the gently ruffling hand as Madara stilled his movements and a curious Itachi turned around to face him, looking up the couple of centimeters the legendary Uchiha had on him. Madara was watching him with calculating eyes, brows just the tiniest bit drawn together, but not in a scowl. It was more if a contemplative frown, really, which served to confuse Itachi even more. Had he done something to deserve such an expression?
"Madara?" He asked tentatively, wanting to break that stare and snap his companion out of whatever thoughts had put that look in his eyes. It was a bit unnerving. Was this how people felt when faced with his own overly perceptive eyes?
"You're leaving, aren't you." The response he got nearly floored Itachi, especially as it wasn't even phrased as a question. His eyes grew just a tad bit wider and that was all the reaction Madara needed. He sighed heavily and brought his hand down to the back of Itachi's neck, just holding it there. The leather of his gloves had once been a foreign feeling but it was now as familiar as the rough texture of Kisame's blue skin was. The heat of him still radiated through the gloves as though his bare skin was touching Itachi's. The heat of the Uchiha Clan Head had always baffled Itachi. His chakra was possible greater than even Kisame's. Itachi wasn't a sensor, so he couldn't really tell. "I knew it. It was written all over your face, in your words."
That snapped the secret Uchiha out of his musings and he blinked in shock again at his ancestor. "Madara-"
"For the Sage's sake, Itachi." The older raven haired man said with a sad chuckle. "We've been trying to get you to drop the 'san' at the end of our names for six years. How no one noticed you've not uttered that honorific once to us today is still a mystery to me."
The younger man's eyes widened as he realized Madara was telling the truth. It was as though some part of him had just wanted to finally give in to their demands and break that last wall that separated them, even if only for s few hours. A last indulgence, to both them and himself.
Madara's smile was bittersweet as he saw his reaction. "I know I can't make you stay - you stayed long enough on your own as it is. And I know you probably don't want a tearful goodbye, either. But can you at least tell me if there is even the smallest of chances we will ever see you again?"
It would seem he had made the same mistake people too often made concerning this man. Madara's hot temper and the ease with which he was provoked often blinded people to the fact that he was a genius to rival Tobirama, Itachi and the Naras. He was also far more perceptive than people gave him credit for, due to his standoffish mannerisms. Even Itachi had forgotten that fact as he had relaxed around the first Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan wielder in recorded history. How very foolish of him.
Madara's question brought up the many questions swarming inside his own mind. Not even he knew what was waiting for him at the end of this strange journey. He had been brought here to make things better in his time after he had almost died, but will he actually die now? And if he does, where will he go? Will he be accepted into the afterlife with the blood of his kin on his hands? Will he even get a chance to see his friends in the afterlife again if he does end up there? Sandaime-sama had sealed himself and his two mentors into the Shinigami's stomach to prevent Orochimaru from using jutsus, after all. And there had been strange rumors of sightings of Uchiha Madara in Iwa, according to Deidara. The Tsuchikage himself claims to have fought Madara when he was younger.
"I honestly don't know." Itachi finally replied, meeting Madara's now Sharingan red eyes and resisting the urge to let his own eyes mirror his in instinctual Uchiha greeting. That ought to be interesting. The fallout might not be worth it to hear Tobirama crowing an "I knew it!" from the top of the Hokage Mountain. Although it would be interesting to see. 'Aaand I have officially been spending far too much time with Senju Toka.'
The response was expected, it would seem, because Madara just sighed and pressed their foreheads together in a true brotherly manner that had Itachi's breathing hitching at the intimacy behind the action. Not even Shisui had done that. "We will find you, then. One day, we will find you, even if only for a second. But until then, know you will always have a place here, Konoha no Itachi." Itachi actually felt his jaw drop as Madara pulled away with a smirk, tossing his wild mane back over his shoulder. "What? Did you think we wouldn't claim you as ours one more time? Shame on you. Bad Itachi."
Itachi felt utterly justified in bitting the wagging finger in front of his face.
00000
The darkness of night came rapidly after his talk with his ancestor. Now knowing what will happen at the end of the day, Madara invited everyone to his home and insisted that they make one big feast together, a silent and secret goodbye party for Itachi that nearly had the ex ANBU tearing Madara's head off for actually making him tempted to never leave. There was lots and lots of food, specialties and secret recipes of the Uchiha, Senju and Uzumaki and even the few secret recipes Itachi had learned from Sasori that made pheasant meat just the right side of too crispy on the outside and all juicy and soft on the inside. There were games and music and stories were shared, funny and serious, of battles and losses and fallen comrades. And then they broke out the alcohol and before half to midnight, most of the occupants of the Uchiha Main House were more than slightly drunk. Madara offered Itachi one last hand of mercy by dragging Tobirama off to bed so the sensor will be otherwise occupied when Itachi's chakra signature finally leaves the village. Mito was too busy dealing with her two tired children and her piss drunk husband to notice when Itachi finally slipped out of her range.
Having already packed up everything he will not let the others find or keep, Itachi took one last look towards the noisy house, towards the marry village still far too small and underdeveloped to be his Konoha but still becoming his Konoha in the time he had been here, left a single note pinned to the big gates of the village before slipping past the guards' notice and into the woods. Kuro Onyx, able to see due to Shisui's Sharingan eye in his eye socket, easily flew through the forest with him, leading him with the Godudama's guidance away from the village and to where his return ticket was awaiting. When he was two miles away from the last guard post, Itachi finally let his own eyes bleed red and the forest came into sharp focus, the moon big and bright in the background of the all too clear sky. The trip was uneventful, silent and swift. The only noise was the rustling of leaves, the occasional call of some night animal and the almost noiseless flutter of his fateful crows's wings.
However, just as they were reaching the clearing in which Itachi had first met Otsutsuki Hagoromo, Itachi became aware of three presences behind him and he came to a stop before the waiting Sage could come into view. If his pursuers were to just move past this last tuft of bushes, the legend of the Rikudo Sennin will be a lot more than just a mere legend.
"Kagami-kun, Hiruzen-kun, Danzo-kun." He greeted the young teens when they finally caught up, seeing their confused and curious expressions and ignoring the silent questions in their gazes. "What are you doing out here in the middle of the night?"
"We're on patrol duty tonight." The Sarutobi boy answered, tilting his head when Kuro Onyx let out a protesting gawk when the Godudama tried to make him fly further into the clearing but the crow protested, staying at his master's shoulder.
"But we should be asking that question of you, instead." Already obsessed with helping Konoha how he thought was the best, Danzo no longer put his trust in anyone, not even the man who had spared him quite the punishment almost six years ago. In his eyes, anyone acting suspicious was a potential traitor. Danzo had given into paranoia because of the looming war long before Itachi, Hashirama, Madara, Tobirama, Izuna, Toka and Hikaku could return some semblance of peace to the village. "What are you doing out here, Itachi?"
Itachi's gaze grew cold at the equally cool tone Danzo used with him. If the voice was just a bit deeper and weathered down by old age, he would have sounded just like Danzo did the night he had ordered the massacre. The rebellious part of him that had survived that night, that had urged him to take out one of Danzo's personal guards and threaten the man in the middle of the whole Team Ro and seven other ANBU squads - they had needed to be quick with the investigation and the cleanup before some civilian saw all that blood, and there had been over two hundred Uchiha dead - just to drive his point across and into the bastard's head, made him clamp his mouth shut and his eyes were itching to narrow in a glare at the Shimura. The boy who had seemed to almost idealize Itachi was gone now and he was growing up to be that same cold bastard.
As if sensing his bad mood, Kagami - so similar to Shisui even now, especially now, in the darkness, despite the sharp relief Itachi's Sharingan allowed him - stepped forward, his own Sharingan meeting Itachi's. There was no point in hiding his eyes from these three boys since they had seen him use his Kekkei Genkai when he decimated the Shimura Compound almost exactly six years ago while they were escaping. He had had no choice and he had sworn all three boys to secrecy. They have never babbled, to anyone.
''Itachi-nii?'' The younger Uchiha asked and Itachi allowed himself a small smile for his best friend's grandfather.
''It is time for me to go, Kagami-kun.'' The boy's eyes widened at the news and he opened his mouth to protest but Itachi just shook his head and took a step back. ''I am needed elsewhere and I must go.''
''But what about Konoha!?'' Both Kagami and Hiruzen protested, eyes wide with grief and panic yet Itachi could see acceptance in them as well. ''You can't leave now!''
''You are Konoha's future.'' He told them, all three of them. ''It will be up to you to protect and guide Konoha, so learn well from your teachers and mentors and never forget your dreams.'' He graced them with one last smile before he turned his back to them. ''Please don't drive your sensei crazy and never, ever forget what Konoha stood for in the first place.'' He didn't need to look back to know Kagami had tears trailing down his cheeks or that Hiruzen was bravely trying to wipe his away. Danzo stood there silently with his friends, eyes trained on Itachi, still and broody. Itachi didn't want to read too much into his stoicism or his study of himself, for the peace of his mind. ''Now please go. Don't follow me further. You are already far away from Konoha as it is.''
''Farewell, Itachi-san.'' Hiruzen called after him as he walked away, Kagami repeating a gurgled version of his own goodbye and Danzo grunting his. He waited until they jumped into the trees and left some distance away before he pushed aside that one last bush and came to stand in front of Hagoromo. The Sage of Six Paths was studying him as well, as if making sure Itachi had indeed not aged a day since he arrived here. Twenty eight he should be, yet he looked as young as he had been when he had arrived here.
''Rikudo Sennin,'' he greeted, this time throwing in the bow that he had never gotten around to giving the old man the first time they met. He ignored for the moment Kuro Onyx gawking in relief when the Godudama left his crow's body and returned to its place floating around the Sage.
''Uchiha Itachi,'' the old man greeted back, smiling gently at his great descendant. ''It would seem your journey has ended.''
''So it would.''
''You did well, Uchiha Itachi.'' Hagoromo said before rising his hand and guiding all of his Godudama to spin in a circle, the balls bleeding together right before Itachi's eyes, forming a black mirror that lead back into that strange tunnel through which Itachi had traveled before he arrived here. ''Please step through.''
''Was it enough?'' Itachi asked even as he complied, topping just short of the mirror to look Hagoromo in the eyes. ''Will it be enough? Will Konoha stand stronger?''
The Otsutsuki only smiled and Itachi sighed, knowing he won't be getting much of an answer. So he just turned back to the portal and stepped through, almost not hearing the response when it finally came before the tunnel swept him away.
''It is time for you to see for yourself, Konoha no Itachi.''
