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
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure, the Professor, the second God of Shinobi, Senju Tobirama's most promising student, too often felt that he had failed his teachers throughout his Hokage career.
When he first became Hokage, the last battle to be classified as the First War had been raging on and not a decade later, the Second Shinobi War started. Despite his best efforts to avoid it, it turned out to be quite literally unavoidable and he was forced to send young men and women out to fight to protect those they loved once again. Some of those young men and women were his students, which made it even worse.
Senju Tsunade was one of those students and Hiruzen felt he had failed both his mentors greatly when she developed a fear of blood, had nightmares almost every night, began drinking and gambling to waste away her sorrows and started pulling away from her teammates.
He had trained her, Orochimaru and Jiraiya since they were but children, only old enough to be let out of the Academy and barely so since they were but six years old if not for their immense talent and amazing abilities. He had watched them grow up and he had felt as though they were his own children long before Asuma was born. He had felt pride for all of their achievements and he had felt dread for every hurt they ever received. However, upon Itachi's departure Tsunade had lost some bounce of Hashirama-sama's and had instead took on the Uzumaki's more violent approach to some matters, which Jiraiya felt the most by far. The death of her family members one by one in the following years certainly left her a lot more jaded than someone so young should have been. Her uncle's death had had her reaching out to Orochimaru and Jiraiya only for the death of her little brother and lover years later to have her drawing back.
Orochimaru often reminded Hiruzen of Tobirama-sensei, what with his thirst for knowledge and his willingness to forget common sense or morals in his experiments, something he had for a while after becoming Hokage found comforting but had come back in the end to bite him in the ass. Orochimaru was brilliant and definitely rivaled his sensei in intelligence, but Orochimaru grew crazed in his search for immortality and Hiruzen had not noticed it until the obsession was far too set in for him to do anything about it anymore.
Jiraiya he had the most hopes for. He was a lot like Hiruzen had been at his age, jovial, a bit on the lazy side and an open pervert with a unique talent for writing that had Hiruzen hot and bothered for years to come. He had a different sort of genius in comparison to Orochimaru or even Tsunade, but Jiraiya had the guts to never give up, he trained more than they ever would and his sneaking and peeking into women's bath houses had definitely given him some very important skills that he will use later in life as both a shinobi and a pervert. Out of the whole Team Sarutobi, he was the only one who came almost completely undamaged out of the whole ordeal. In fact, Sarutobi would think years later, in his dying moments, Jiraiya had become the most powerful of his three students, even if neither of the other two would admit it.
The Second War had named his students the Legendary Sannin, heroes in their own right. Hiruzen had been both proud and grieving, for he knew what happened to heroes eventually. Tobirama-sensei's death never left him. Madara-sama's never left Tobirama-sensei.
As a Hokage, Sarutobi was aware he could have done things a lot better, could have done a lot more. The Chuunin Exams became bloodier and bloodier each year, most of the genin form other countries instructed to kill as many of the opposing village's children as they can. Even after the Second War ended, the Third was close in following. Children were sent out so often and so often were they buried or their bodies didn't ever return that Hiruzen knew he had failed his teacher. One of the greatest tragedies of the War had been Hatake Sakumo's failed mission and suicide that followed it. He should have been there for the man. The mission had been important, yes, but he had returned his squad alive and those very same people scorned him for it. His death had made Kakashi cold and following rules almost fanatically until Uchiha Obito's death.
Konoha seemed to forget, later on, that one third of the Uchiha Clan had been lost to them in this war while they fought for Konoha. Led by Uchiha 'Kyogan' Fukgaku, the Uchiha never left one of their own behind and the shinobi world was reminded of this, once again, when fire rained down on the battlefields. Namikaze Minato earned his name as Konoha's Yellow Flash fighting alongside the Uchiha Clan Head and Uchiha Mikoto and Uzumaki Kushina became friends as they took down enemy after enemy together. These friendships were cooled somewhat, later when Fugaku was not even considered for the title of Yondaime Hokage but Minato was, but they were still close and still talked often.
It was during the last few years of the War when something miraculous happened. One day, Fugaku had summoned Sarutobi to the hospital, saying it was important and the Sandaime had went, curious about what had the Uchiha so excited. His world nearly fell out under his feet when he came into the hospital room Mikioto was in, a small child cradled in her arms, quiet, content, peaceful with a strange intelligence in his black eyes that had sent Sarutobi back through time to the first time he had seen them. It was impossible because there, in his arms, looking at him with eyes that should not seem so perceptive for a babe that was supposed to be able to see only a few inches in front of his face until much later, was who he had learned to be Senju-Uzumaki-Uchiha Itachi or simply Konoha no Itachi, the Dare no Ichozoku no Itachi who had saved him from the Shimura Clan's cells when he was but a boy.
And some things finally made sense.
Hiruzen, Danzo and Kagami had never shared the truth of Itachi's power, the truth behind his origin to anyone. They had never told anyone that he possessed not only the Sharingan but also the infamous Mangekyo Sharingan and that he could form a fully body Susanoo. They never uttered it to anyone that Itachi was actually an Uchiha through and through, despite not acting like them at all. They never told. They kept it secret. They didn't understand how no one of the Uchiha Clan knew him but they let it go until that day when he disappeared right in front of their eyes.
Hiruzen wanted to laugh and cry in relief at the same time, for in his arms was one of Konoha's founders, a baby without a name yet. Here was the one person who had been for years associated with peace like no other, he was born on the 9th of June and he looked like the infant version of one of Konoha's most prominent figures from the founding of the village.
Suddenly, the old man had hope.
"He looks like a fine young shinobi." He told the proud lucky parents even as he still stared at the little miracle in his arms. He was not fussy like babies usually are and Hiruzen chuckled breathlessly that even as a newborn, Itachi remained peace incarnate. He could still not believe that it had been his crazy theory from that night before the wars, so many years ago, that had ended up being correct. Danzo had said Itachi was from another dimension while Kagami had insisted he was the blessing of the Sage and some long forgotten gods. Hiruzen had listened to their crazy and impossible theories, told them solemnly that they were dead wrong and then gave his own theory, equally as crazy and as impossible, saying Itachi was sent from the future to stop some great tragedy.
To the day of Kagami's death, none of them dared consider what sort of tragedy that might be.
Now, Hiruzen believed it was the Third War.
"What have you named him?" He asked, not at all caring about the obvious awe in his own voice. He had extended a finger for the child to hold and little Itachi's grip was strong. He was making cooing noises, as though he could sense Hiruzen's unease with the whole situation and he wanted to comfort him. The Hokage wanted to take him, hide him away from the cruelty of their world and wait for him to become the man that had brought peace into a warring era that had had no end. He was a treasure this war did not deserve to have.
''Actually, we haven't been able to decide, yet.'' Mikoto answered with a small smile, watching him like a hawk while he held her son. Sarutobi throughly approved. Itachi must be watched and well protected until he becomes powerful enough to become the protector that he remembers him being by nature.
''We were hoping you would have some good suggestions, Hokage-sama.'' Fugaku added, smiling besottedly at the youngest Uchiha in his clan. Those little black eyes were moving left and right, up and down, seemingly wanting to take in everything with a curiosity Hiruzen remembered seeing on Itachi only in the presence of Tobirama-sensei's experiments and books. Many of which, of the both of those subjects, had been burned in some of the wars that had been waged after Itachi disappeared from their lives and the village.
Hiruzen just stared down at the baby, noting that Itachi's features didn't match either his mother or his father or any of their immediate family. It was odd. The only Uchiha the Sarutobi could ever remember with these features was actually Itachi himself. His hair was the color of ash and his eyes had a sharper shape to them than most Uchiha. He had Fugaku's nose and Mikoto's head shape, but that was it. The rest of his features were his own despite having the general Uchiha features of dark hair and fair skin with black eyes. His observation must have been taken as a contemplative silence because neither parent said anything until he hummed.
''How about ... Uchiha Itachi?'' He finally looked away from the miracle baby in his arms to meet the two startled gazes of the proud parents. Fugaku used to have so much trust in him then, when later he would not trust a single word Hiruzen said without carefully picking it apart first. It was a lost trust that Hiruzen mourned as much as the death that came later.
''Sandaime-sama ... '' The overwhelmed father breathed. Mikoto had put a hand over her mouth in shock, a few tears sparkling in her eyes. ''After Konoha no Itachi-ōji-sama ... Are you sure?'' Very few remained alive that still remembered the Tale of Vermilion in its most original form and even rarer few remembered the man that had introduced it to Konoha's newly developing culture. Rare few were still alive to remember the man who had brought them peace. Rare few knew of Konoha no Itachi-ōji-sama's origin in the man loved by the founders and the village as a brother. Still, like the Tale of Vermilion, Konoha no Itachi-ōji-sama became a legend everyone knew by heart. This baby is the first and will probably be the only child to be named so boldly after one of Konoha's legends.
''I see a great spirit in him, Fugaku.'' He told the brunet man seriously, meaning every word. ''He will grow strong and become a protector. I think he deserves such a powerful name.''
''Thank you,'' Mikoto choked out, tears streaming down her face. ''Thank you, Hokage-sama.''
Not sure how to respond except to hand back the child to his father, Hiruzen just stood there, looking at the new little family. He remembered Itachi's story that only he and his brother remained alive out of their entire clan and he worried what will happen to these people. Itachi grieved them since he was thirteen. Thirteen years is definitely not long enough to have parents. He feared a force strong enough to take on the entire Uchiha Clan and he wondered what he could do to stop it.
(It would be later on, when he sees Uchiha Shisui, Kagami's grandson, playing with Itachi that he will realize there was nothing he could do to stop it. It had been in motion far longer than he had been aware of it. Perhaps Kagami had believed in his theory more than Hiruzen had, despite being the one to make it, since Kagami had named his son after the cousin Itachi had loved so much. He would never get the chance to ask, as Kagami was dead by then.)
He was broken out of his contemplation when Minato burst into the room, panting and looking exhausted enough to have ran across the entirety of the Fire Country just to make it here. Remembering that Fugaku had asked him to be his first born's godfather had the Hokage that he had indeed been running like a maniac to make it within the four hour mark since birth.
''Where is he?'' The elated blond asked, eyes alight with joy and pride, smiling at his best friend and his wife's best friend. ''Where is my little godson?''
Fugaku chuckled at his friend's strangeness although he didn't look all that surprised that Minato had ran all the way here. He walked over with Itachi in his arms and presented the baby to his honorary uncle. Minato teared up as soon as he cradled the baby close to his chest, Itachi cooing at the nice man. He was a strangely silent baby. He had even entered the world silently, worrying his parents until they saw he was perfectly fin and breathing. The doctors had been baffled but said it was normal, if rare. It's more the shock of leaving the womb that has babies crying than anything else, but Itachi had been perfectly composed.
''He's so beautiful, Mikoto-chan, Fu.'' Minato smiled at his friends, cradling Itachi just a bit closer and nuzzling the child. It got him a few more coos and a little hand grabbing at his blond strands of hair. The blue eyed man laughed, enjoying holding his godson in his arms. ''What's his name? Did you decide on one yet? I know you had problems on deciding?'' Minato never stopped looking at Itachi, enraptured by the little baby, completely smitten. Hiruzen remembered Itachi once or twice mentioning a rather close relationship with his godfather until the man's death.
Knowing three people close to this innocent child will die before he becomes a proper teen has Hiruzen's throat tightening in grief for what is yet to happen. Knowing Itachi will be blamed and hated for the deaths of his family and leave under the oppression has his chest hurting in pain of losing him, too.
''Sandaime-sama named him. His name is Uchiha Itachi.'' Fugaku spoke proudly, if still a bit disbelievingly, either from the fact that he was a father now or from the name, Hiruzen could not tell. The Namikaze hummed in agreement.
''It suits him. Little Itachi.''
The Hokage left them just as Kushina arrived as well, only just receiving news that her best friend had given birth to a healthy son and wanted her to meet him. He left them to it and instead sent word with one of his ANBU guards for Danzo to meet him at the monument, saying Danzo will know which one. He, of course, arrived first and waited, gazing up at the strangest statue anyone from outside of Leaf had ever seen. He remembered Jiraiya once asking why it looked like it did and Tsunade answering that it was dedicated to one of her favorite uncles. Hiruzen now understood why Itachi didn't want his likeliness on anything in the village or his name ever mentioned in history.
It's like this that Danzo found him, contemplating old memories and trying to piece together Itachi's life before the little boy lives it so he can maybe make it better. The ROOT founder came to stand beside him, also studying the statue, a strange look appearing on his face as he did. Danzo had once loved Itachi as much as Kagami and Hiruzen did, but then he became a bit standoffish and everyone, even Itachi were on the receiving end of more than a few suspicious glances. Danzo had been rather cold with Itachi on the night he had left. Hiruzen knew he regretted it with the years to come but the fact still remained.
It was perhaps also that time when he had developed a distaste for the Uchiha save Kagami, since Madara-sama had known Itachi was leaving and hadn't bothered to tell anyone. Tobirama-sensei had refused to speak with him for a month afterwards before the grief of losing a friend could not be soothed just by his family and he had sought out Madara-sama's warmth. Danzo never forgave the legendary Uchiha Clan Head for the lost look that had been present on Tobirama-sensei's face that month as he tried, desperately, to feel for Itachi's chakra signature. He never forgave him what his death did to sensei, either. He had even been suspicious of Kagami for a while but the Uchiha ahd stuck close to Tobirama-sensei and offered him protection and comfort as best as a child could.
''Why have you called me here, Hiruzen?'' Danzo finally asked, looking at Sarutobi with his one remaining healthy eye, suspicion sparking in the dark depths. Said man sighed tiredly, but he was used to his friend's strange behavior either way, so he wasn't as offended as most would be. Besides, he was still a bit high on the knowledge that Itachi was back to get upset. Over anything.
''It would seem my theory had been correct, Danzo.'' The Shimura took a moment to contemplate his words before he grew rigid, his eye widening in shock as soon as he realized what theory Sarutobi might be talking about. Hiruzen smirked, looking up at the white statue of a weasel dressed in traditional princely clothing of Japan, a fan in it's mouth, a tree on it's left and spiraling waves of water on his right, the three clans of Konoha claiming him as their own symbolically. ''Uchiha Itachi was born today to Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto. The dice has been cast, Danzo. Perhaps we can make Itachi's life better this time around.''
