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
When Senju Tobirama next opened his eyes, it was once again in the world of the living, as an Edo Tensei, standing in between his Anija and Saru with one more man on his former student's other side and four shinobi in front of them, one who he was already familiar with and not at all fond of anymore. Tsunade's old friend had become a twisted, sick man who sought out revenge against the village that had raised him and longer after immortality, achieving it in the worst, sickest way possible. That he would dare use the very jutsu Tobirama invented as a last line of defense of Konoha against Konoha and summon back two of its founders to destroy it ... Well, Tobirama would have very gladly tore him to pieces if only the man hand't been ready for that and had placed restraining seals on their movements form the start. His personality wasn't being suppressed but his movements were.
Tobirama was surprised to find out that it was actually not for his own protection that Orochimaru had done it for - he was confident enough to survive the attack of one Hokage, even if he were to get out with quite the few injuries - but rather for the safety of the three children he had with him. One Tobirama could feel was an Uzumaki, a though her red hair wasn't enough proof of her heritage. She was the only one who was seemingly clam in the face of four reanimated Hokage standing in front of her. Tobirama could tell she was still preparing to use the Adamantine Chains if she were to be attacked. One of the boys was from a Kirigakure clan that Tobirama had been fascinated with,since they could turn their bodies to liquid to avoid damage being done to them. He looked scared shitless for a moment there, before forcibly composing himself but staying behind his larger friend all the same. Said friend felt to be overfilled with natural energy yet Tobirama could not sense any form of Sage Mode on him or any contracts that would provide him with a Sage Mode.
''Well, it's that shinobi again, Orochimaru.'' Tobirama grunted unhappily, glaring softly at the man. He was resigned to this nonsense once again and only hoped there will be someone to stop them this time as well like Hiruzen had last time. How much time had passed since then? Was Konoha even still standing?
''What do you mean?'' Hashirama turned towards him and asked but Tobirama didn't take his eyes off of Orochimaru for longer than a second. You never know what to expect from that snake.
''I suspect he undid the Reaper Deal that has been keeping us sealed away.'' Sarutobi answered from his other side, looking at Hashirama as he explained. ''And then preformed the Edo Tensei.''
''That's not possible.'' A blond man who stood last in their strange little line said in a bit of awe. Tobirama had no idea who he was but he looked and felt like a Namikaze. A small clan they might be but their predisposition towards sealing and speed rivaled an Uzumaki's and Tobirama's respectively. ''You found a way to undo the Shiki Fūjin, Orochimaru-san?''
''You underestimate me, Minato.'' Oh, so the man's name was Minato. Nice to know who his fellow Edo Tensei reanimated companion was. He didn't listen to Orochimaru explain the sealing jutsu, as he knew about it from Mito already, instead spreading his senses enough to establish that they were in Konoha, in what appeared to be the Uchiha Compound but it wasn't where he remembered it being. Why was it at the edge of the village?
Minato must have seen that Hashirama was as confused as ever when someone is talking about the mechanics of some jutsu because he turned to look at him. ''Shodaime-sama, it appears that we have been recalled into the world of the living.'' Hashirama slumped over and blinked stupidly at the blond while Tobirama crossed his arms over his chest and refrained from sighing in tired exasperation.
There was a confused frown on his face as he studied the youngest in their line, maybe actually just a few years older than Itachi had been when they had first found him. ''Who the hell are you?''
Sarutobi and Minato exchanged a confused glance before it seemed to occur to Minato that he was the only stranger among the three. ''Oh, uh ...'' He turned around and pointed to his back with both hands' thumbs. ''Yondaime Hokage, sir.'' That peeked Tobirama's interest. So he was the fourth face he had only glimpsed up on the Mountain?
Hashirama perked up, an excited smile appearing on his face. ''Oh? The Yondaime Hokage, you say? I see! So the village has remained stable!''
''Well, I'm not actually sure if it has, since I was sealed away before Sandaime-sama.'' The blond replied and Tobirama frowned. Well, that would explain the chakra he felt inside of Minato beside his own. It was only a half but Tobirama had instantly recognized the Kyuubi's chakra in this man. Where was the other half?
''So who's the Godaime Hokage then?'' Hashirama asked, stepping over to Minato, curious. Neither of the other two Hokage could deny that they were interested as well.
''Your granddaughter, Tsunade-hime.'' Orochimaru replied this time and Hashirama slumped over in an over-dramatic fashion that had been the bane of Tobirama's existence for as long as his brother had been alive. He was also getting tired of the tomfoolery his brother was getting up to with laughing about Tsunade's bad gambling habits. Worst of all, she picked up his bad luck, too.
''The Edo Tensei again. I can't believe the jutsu I devised would be used so casually when it was meant for desperate moments.'' He said, studying his hand, trying to steer the conversation back on track.
''It's not a complex jutsu.'' Orochimaru had the gall to respond and Tobirama leveled him with an unimpressed red eyed glare.
''If it's not so complex, why hasn't anyone made it before me?'' Orochimaru couldn't respond to that one so Tobirama was mollified that he still had the means with which to shut up idiots even after such a long time spent in death.
''However, you should not have created it in the first place.'' That got his attention and he lowered his hand, focusing on Orochimaru. ''Nidaime-sama,'' it was strange to hear such respect from Orochimaru but, then again, Tobirama was his inspiration and idol as a scientist and a jutsu creator. ''Many of your policies and the jutsu that you developed ended up causing problems later on down the line. Even now ...'' Was this whelp blaming him for the stupid use of his jutsus and ideas? It wasn't his fault people were idiots!
''Why you!'' He really wasn't in the mood for this. ''Are you planning on attacking Konoha again?!''
Sarutobi turned to glare at his student at that. ''I took away your jutsu at the cost of my own life. Yet you still-!'' He didn't seem to have the words to express his anger and disappointment. ''And this time you have revived me, your former master, to pit me against Konoha!''
Hashirama sighed tiredly and face-palmed. ''Conflict, no matter what era. It certainly cannot be called that great of a jutsu.'' Okay, Tobirama took offense to that! It was a great jutsu! Although not the most moral one, but they were shinobi. Since when have morals been on the top of their priority lists? Hashirama turned to him, righteous and disappointed and scolding. ''Tobirama, that's why I told you that time-''
The white haired Senju cut him off before he could go on one of his rants. He'd had enough of those while his idiot of an older brother needed to stop and breathe. Now, without the need for air, he was bound to go on for hours and hours without stop and Tobirama was not in the mood for this bullshit. He had died. He was supposed to be dead right now, resting his wary soul and trying to figure out why he hadn't seen his lover at all in all the years since his death when he had seen Izuna plenty of times.
''Will you be quiet, Anija?'' He said sharply, sternly. ''I am trying to talk to this stripling right now.'' The glare that accompanied his words was one he had learned from Madara, the one that told Hashirama he better shut up and do his paperwork while the adults were talking or else.
''But, I-''
''Shut up!'' And there went Hashirama, slumping over in one of his depressive moods again but he listened, like always. The miracles behind the glares Madara had developed ...
''Please do not misunderstand.'' The snake Sannin said, drawing their attention again. ''I have no more leaning in that direction.'' Strangely enough, Tobirama could sense from his chakra that he was telling the truth. ''Haven't you noticed that I am not suppressing your personalities? There are certain circumstances at play this time, ones that may require your aid.''
''Orochimaru, asking for help?'' The oldest of the Hokage asked in wonder. ''What have you done this time, oh student of mine?''
''It is not what I have done, but rather what two Uchiha have done. A Fourth War has started, Konoha's Hokages.'' The snake like man answered, studying their expressions and seeing that none of them reacted all that spectacularly to the news.
''The Uchiha?'' Tobirama and Hashirama asked in confusion while Hiruzen winced.
''So Sasuke learned of what had happened?'' He ignored the way his two mentors turned to look at him in suspicion or the confused look Minato was directing his way. ''He knows the truth?''
''Wait, isn't Sasuke Fu's younger son? Wasn't he, like, only four months old when I died? He should be around sixteen now, right?'' The blond asked, recalculating what he knew of the passage of time from that little failsafe he had left with Naruto. It worked sort of like a Kage Bunshin. Once it had been used up and the chakra that had been stored in it was extinguished, the experiences from it came back to Minato, if only now that he was free of the Shinigami. ''What could a teenager do that is so bad?''
''How about providing an enemy with passage into the Uchiha burial grounds and allowing him to revive every Uchiha since Konoha's founding to fight against Konoha, including Uchiha Madara himself?'' Orochimaru threw back, stunning Minato into silence and gaining the full attention of the two founders present. ''There are others, of course, but none as dangerous as Uchiha Madara I imagine. Konoha knew no greater threat than him.''
''I know you are not an imbecile, Orochimaru, so stop talking as if Madara had ever attacked Konoha.'' Tobirama snapped, his heart still fluttering with the knowledge that his lover was once again within arms reach, more or less alive. Maybe creating the Edo Tense hadn't been so bad after all. Now if only people would stop abusing it. ''You have met him and for all of his temper, he has never shown any intentions of betraying the village he helped create.''
''That doesn't mean he wouldn't be Konoha's greatest enemy if he turned sides,'' the other reasonably countered but let the topic go. ''The one who cast the Edo Tensei was a student of mine just like Sasuke-kun, but they never got along. However, a man who had been introducing himself as both Tobi and Uchiha Madara for the past ten years at the very least has managed to unite them as a single front and now they have used the Edo Tensei to bring back an army that would leave the Five Nations helpless at their feet. As far as I can see, none of those three have a real reason why they would take out Konoha, but he way you reacted, Sarutobi-sensei, well, at least you can tell us about Sasuke-kun's potential reasoning.''
''How did Sasuke find out the truth?'' The Professor demanded first and Oorchimaru sighed.
''After he killed Itachi-kun-''
''What?!'' All four Hokage yelled for very different reasons. A thick killing intent soon filled up the room, both Tobirama's and Hashirama's chakra becoming visible as their chakras reacted to their rage. Minato winced as his senses were assaulted by that much rage, Orochimaru prepared himself to restrain the first two Hokage while Sarutobi looked faint. The three teens Orochimaru had with him were prepared for an attack but had no idea what to expect.
''What,'' Tobirama hissed in a deadly whisper that sent shivers down even his own brother's back. ''Do you mean, after he killed Itachi?''
''Um, well, there was kind of a big death match between them and Sasuke finally got to kill his older brother, like he had been wanting to for the past eight years?'' The albino answered shakily with an unsteady grin that quickly disappeared with an ''Eep!'' as he hid behind the Sannin when red eyes turned to look at him. A look of deep but misleadingly calm rage settled over Hashirama's usually cheerful face.
''So it is that Sasuke you are speaking of, Itachi's ungrateful little brother.'' His tone was cold, his words sharp and his killing intent was staggering. ''He dared commit such a crime and he goes on to the next so soon? How dare he do that? How dare he take one friend from us and then turn another against us?''
''Shodaime-sama, I assure you, it has been a very long time since the founding of the village. Uchiha Itachi is not Konoha no ... Itachi ... '' Orochimaru trailed off, wide eyes sliding over to his sensei as realization struck him hard like a wall of bricks. Sarutobi tried not to look anyone in the eyes. ''You knew!'' The Sannin breathed in disbelief. ''Oh my Kami, I tried to take over Dare no Ichozoku no Itachi's body. I am so ashamed right now.''
''What?'' That startled the two founders out of their rage and they looked between master and student uncomprehendingly.
''Oh, I have this jutsu I developed where I take over a person's body so I can stay alive longer. I don't age and the only draw back is that the body can last me for only three years and I can't repeat the jutsu for three years, so I have to be careful. Not a real immortality, but I only want to learn every jutsu ever developed. It's not like I want world domination.'' The long haired on answered of the newer generations, completely missing the point behind the confusion of the Hokage. ''I tried it last on Sasuke-kun, since I wanted the Sharingan and only he and Itachi-ku- Itachi-sama were left of the Uchiha Clan and I had already tried it once with him. Sasuke-kun had proven to be an easier target, but he had managed to overpower me after I had grown too weak.''
''An interesting jutsu, but I really wouldn't recommend it being attempted on an Uchiha.'' The scientist in Tobirama pipped up before he could stop himself. ''Their will is stronger than any normal human's, civilian or shinobi. It's bound not to work.''
''Yes, I already know that.'' The Sannin groused. ''Anyway, instead of me taking over Sasuke-kun's mind in his own body, he sucked me in and trapped me there, using my power to fight against Itachi-sama. After he used Kirin - a lighting jutsu of great proportions,'' he explained briefly at the interested faces of the four Hokage. ''That Tobi man took him away and explained to him about the massacre being ordered by the village and that Itachi-sama had readily agreed, turning Sasuke-kun's anger on Konoha. He has been helping Tobi - supposedly Madara, as far as anyone knew until just today when he was reanimated with the Edo Tensei - and Kabuto - my former student - collect the DNA for their army. I just recently managed to free myself from him with the help of my dear apprentice Karin.'' The Uzumaki humphed when they all turned to look at her, daring them to comment. ''I gathered this small team and captured a few Zetsu clones to free and reanimate you myself so that you might help stop the disaster that is happening out on the battlefield as we speak.''
''He's telling the truth.'' Tobirama grunted, spreading his senses and feeling Madara's burning chakra a few miles away. He also felt all the other reanimated people and grew stiff when he recognized the chakra of Kinkaku and Ginkaku, as well as his father and Uchiha Tajima along with many other dangerous nin form their time. ''About the army, about Madara, but what about Itachi? I can't sense him anywhere.'' Not that that meant much. Itachi had demonstrated a couple of times after that first time in the forest that he can hide his chakra anywhere, from anyone, even from a sensor as powerful as Tobirama.
''If we're talking about Uchiha Itachi, then that won't really mean much.'' Minato said, as if reading his thoughts. ''Even when he was four or five years old, he could hide from me, a sensor, to the point that not even when I fully concentrated could I find him. We used to play hide and seek like that whenever I could get away from the paperwork in the Tower.''
''You're Itachi's godfather?'' Hashirama asked in surprise and Mianto looked at him just as shocked.
''Yes, but how would you know that?''
''And you said he was an Uchiha?'' Tobirama probed, wanting to confirm that before he could tackle any scientific means through which Itachi could have lived both now and when Konoha was founded. When everyone but Hashirama and Sarutobi (he looked suspiciously close to hysterics by that point) nodded, Tobirama crossed his arms and leveled a look at his Anija. ''I told you. But no, you never listen, do you.''
The God of Shinobi grunted at his younger brother. ''I don't remember you complaining about Itachi in the years following that argument.''
''Not the point. I was right and you were all wrong.'' So what if he sounded like a smug kid while he said that? He had every right. He had indeed been telling everyone that Itachi was an Uchiha, if a strange one, from day one. That he soon grew not to care didn't matter. Just because Itachi had become his best friend didn't stop the fact that he was indeed of the Uchiha bloodline. ''And I agree with the Yondaime over there. I doubt that little student of yours could kill Itachi.''
''But how could you know Itachi when I saw him being born? Well, not being born but just hours after he was.'' Said blond asked, confused and everyone turned to Sarutobi when he cleared his throat to get their attention.
''Itachi ... traveled through time at some point in his life. Believe me, I was just as shocked to realize this when I got to hold him the first time when he was but a few hours old. I even got to name him!''
''If you knew that was Itachi-sama,'' Oorchimaru growled, glaring accusingly at his sensei. ''Then why did you allow for him to be ordered to kill his own clan!? What, did you think he deserved the irony of ending up like Vermilion? Just because he introduced it to Konoha's people?''
''What?!'' The Shodaime, Nidaime and Yondaime screeched, rounding on the Sandaime with looks of betrayal and anger. Sarutobi shrunk under their anger but still held his ground.
''It wans't me who ordered it. Danzo blackmailed Itachi by threatening Sasuke's life and I wasn't even informed of what was going on until the clan was dead, save for Sasuke and Itachi. I would have thought what everyone else did, that the strain of being an ANBU captain at thirteen-''
''What?!'' Everyone but Orochimaru shrieked this time. People seemed to have been forgetting that over the years. It was the reason he was secretly classed SS-class and not just S-class. He was dangerous, carried many of the village's secrets and the feat which had earned him the name of criminal was nothing small.
''Or the stress that his clan was putting on him had Danzo not told me something along the lines of 'it was for the best this way'. The most I could offer Itachi was not to change the code for the protection wards around the village so he can sneak in whenever he ants to check in on his brother and let him leave without being actually pursued.''
A moment of silence before Tobirama growled like a caged beast. ''I am going to kill Danzo.'' He was never so glad as he was now that he hadn't left the Hokage position in Danzo's hands. Konoha would have lost all meaning under him, it would seem. He shook his head, returning to the topic of hand. ''I still don't believe that the little whelp could have defeated Itachi. I saw him fight. Sick he might have been at some point but Itachi is too good of a ninja to be defeated by someone who cannot even pursue their own power but steal it from others.''
''So Itachi is ... from the future and he traveled to our time?'' Hashirama ssked cautiously, too see if he got it. ''But why?''
''How is the more interesting question.'' Both the Sannin and the younger Senju brother intoned, throwing startled glances at each other. Minto just sighed in relief.
''I would also like to believe that my godson is alright.'' The blond said with a small smile. ''However, I do believe that a battle awaits us, yes?'' He could sense Kushina's and Naruto's chakras all the way over here and he was anxious to see them both once again. It has been sixteen years, on this day. He also wanted to see Fugaku and Mikoto, who he could sense were also present on Kushina's side, which he now knew was unfortunately the enemy side until they can take down that Kabuto fellow and make him release the Edo Tensei. Hopefully, after all of this was over, they could all make up for lost time in the afterlife.
Hashirama nodded, looking towards Oorchimaru. The Sannin returned the nod. ''I reanimated you four so we can even out the odds a little. All of the biju except the Kyuubi and Hachibi have been captured and it would seem that the Akatsuki's Demonic Statue of the Outer Path is being used already. We need some heavy hitters to balance out the battlefield with Uchiha Madara and that thing on their side.''
''Are you sure there is no sign of Itachi?'' Hahsirama asked of his younger brother even as Sarutobi went over to thank his student for returning to his senses and for letting them out of the Shinigami's belly, even if it was to release them into another war. ''You don't think he's really dead, do you?''
''He most certainly is not.'' Hiruzen interrupted his sensei before he could say anything. ''Don't you already know how surprising the Uchiha can be?'' He asked mischievously, hinting at something that the brothers could not yet understand. Hiruzen wasn't worried. It would all eventually come out.
''What about his sickness?'' Hashirama whispered this time to Tobirama, wanting his brother's honest opinion. Said younger Senju paused to think.
''If my theory is correct, something happened during that jutsu that should have supposedly killed Itachi and he ended up in our time as he was. We cured him and he hasn't had a relapse in six years.'' The white haired man answered just as quietly. ''Let's hope that the return trip won't have the negative effect of returning his illness, too.''
Hope is all they could do now, as they headed out to the battlefield, about to fight a long lost friend along with the rest of their family.
It was to be their toughest battle yet and neither was looking forward to it.
