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

As soon as Itachi turned towards the battlefield, Zetsu sent out his clones to stop him from getting anywhere near the Edo Tensei army. If anyone could seal them all up and away, it was the Uchiha prodigy with his Totsuka blade, a weapon he had hid from everyone so well not even Zetsu, who had been spying on the young man for as long as he had been in the Akatsuki, had known of. However, the freedom of the first two Hokage and the involvement of the two Sannin bolstered the Alliance's spirits and they met his Zetsu army with new vigor even as Orochimaru engaged Sasuke, switching up with Tsunade and Naruto. Tobirama and Minato were on standby, Minato placing his own Hiraishin mark on Itachi so he can come to the younger man's side when the time was right before helping out with the Zetsu.

As for Itachi, it was the first time anyone saw the Uchiha prodigy moving so fast. He had been incredibly fast when he had cut down his clansmen during the Massacre, but this was a whole new level of speed as he charged into the Uchiha's midst. He had trained and he had gained experience. They had not stood a chance when he was but a humble ANBU captain. Now, a snowball stood better chances in hell than they did against him. The rest of the Edo Tensei army was soon engaged as well by the Shinobi Alliance, Kisame or Itachi himself at times, but the Uchiha were Itachi's to deal with, everyone was clear on that.

And Itachi dealt with them well.

When he finally clashed with the first Uchiha, it was Uchiha Inabi, one of the three men Itachi had beat up when they accused him of being the one to kill Shisui and Itachi cut him in two with a kunai before the long haired brunet could do anything. He then drew his sword and cut through one of his older cousins who had liked to sneer at him for being so strange in comparison to other Uchiha, his nose always stuck in a book or scroll. On his left, he threw an exploding tag at one of his nasty uncles that was grouchy around everyone and used to glare at Sasuke before turning 180 degrees to deliver a crushing punch to an ancient Uchiha's nose. It looked like one of those Elders he had told the Vermilion story to and the punch felt all the more satisfying.

He ducked just in time to avoid a barrage of kunai thrown his way and then had to roll to the side as a giant fireball flew towards him. Seeing three more Uchiha making familiar hand seals, Itachi let his Susanoo ribcage form just in time to protect him from the attack before letting it dissolve, not wanting to waste precious energy and chakra maintaining it when he had no idea how long he will be fighting. Instead, he used Amaterasu to cut a path through the Uchiha and around a big group, making it like a cage and letting the fires soar overhead until it looked like a dome of black flames. He repeated the process twice more before he was forced to focus on none other than Shisui and Izumi themselves. With Izumi, it was easy. He snuk past her guard when she went to attack him and trapped her in the Tsukuyomi. Even as a reanimation, she was helpless against it and she fainted on the spot, spending 72 hours in his torture chamber untouched but still under the influence of the Tsukuyomi's incredible powers.

Shisui he met head on, both of their Mangekyo Sharingan spinning in lazy circles in anticipation of their use. Neither of them quite met each other's eyes but that didn't matter. This was a dance they were very familiar with, exchanging blows with their katanas, kunai, jumping apart to throw shuriken or kunai at each other only for them to collide and neutralize each other. With his slightly larger chakra reserves than they had ever been before, Itachi even more easily matching Shisui's Katon: Gokakyo no Jutsu than he used to when they were kids. The stamina training he had been having for the past six years helped, too. He'll have to thank his friends later, when this whole mess was resolved.

Shisui tried using the Kotoamatsukami on him only once, using the Shunshin he was so famous for to appear in Itachi's personal space, well within his guard and grabbing hold of his head so he can't look away. What he hadn't anticipated was that that was a Karasu Bunshin and he had just waisted one of his eyes' ability on a humble clone. He didn't get the chance to do anything else as Itachi reappeared behind him, grabbed his head in such a way that his fingers framed his eyes and forced them open before sending a message for Kuro Onyx. His fateful crow came to the call and he ordered it to use Shisui's own jutsu against him. He had to let go of his best friend when Izuna nearly cut him into two, though, but it was clear it had worked when Shisui blocked the slice of Toka's naginata from the left that would have sunk into Itachi had it not been for his cousin.

Izuna's face lit up when he saw who it was, exactly, he was fighting. ''Itachi!'' He grinned at the younger man, several years older than the last time Itachi saw him but still as exorbitant as ever. ''Hey, welcome to the family!'' He added when he registered red eyes with three spiraling curves around the pupil design that was the Mangekyo Sharingan. ''Always knew you were right fit to be an Uchiha!''

Toka looked over as well when she heard Itachi's name, naginata still locked with Shisui's tanto. Her eyes widened before a smile curled her red painted lips. ''I still say he's not an Uchiha in personality. Not enough smugness or arrogance in him for that, too damn humble.''

Confused he might be, Shisui still never missed a chance to brag about his little cousin and so he chuckled good-naturally at the comment. ''You can say that again. He'd never acknowledge that he could do things most geniuses couldn't, let alone ordinary shinobi." He grunted when Toka managed to knee him in the gut but then he grabbed the back of Itachi's robe before using Shunshin no Jutsu to place them behind Izuna, the cousin's quickly forming the hand seals for Hosenka and Gokakyo no Jutsu respectively while Izuna spun around to breathe the Katon: Goka Messhitsu at them and with their united efforts, they managed to hold out. Then Itachi used his special weapon as the only Uchiha known to have somewhat of a dual affinity and quickly made the right sequence of seals, drew his breathe in and let it rip.

"Suiton: Suiryudan no Jutsu!" Shisui's eyes widened as he saw the pretty impressive in size water dragon forming from the moisture in the air attack the stream of flames Izuna was sending their way, never having lived long enough to see Itachi learn this technique from Juzo. Izuna spluttered as some of the water still made it to him, only the hide of the dragon being used as a water shield while the head moved around the flames and nipped at the younger of the two legendary Uchiha brothers. Then both cousins dodged at the last minute when Toka charged through the rising steam to lunge at them with her naginata. Itachi crouched and got under her mid launch and Shisui appeared behind her with the Shunshin and they both delivered a strong kick to the nearest open spot, sending her tumbling over.

"Okay, that was awesome," the should be older cousin said with an elated grin at the younger genius even as Izuna recovered and charged at them both. Itachi went right and Shisui went left, the short haired Uchiha hurling projectiles at the ancient Uchiha while the ex Akatsuki hurled shuriken with ninja wire and sealing tags attached to said shuriken. While Izuna was busy fending off Shisui's obvious attacks, Itachi wound the shuriken around until they all arched just right before bending them with other shuriken or kunai. He then had to jump out of the way when the Senju kunoichi came back ready for a fight.

"Itachi!" He heard Tobirama call from halfway across the battlefield and he spared a glance in that direction to see the white haired Senju pointing to Madara, who had descended down to fight Hashirama again and the elder Senju brother was struggling against him while protecting the injured from the Zetsu still swarming the place. Knowing they had lost one chance to use Hiraishin to get closer to Kabuto did not change his plans with Tobirama. With Madara on their side, half their problems would be taken care of. He nodded to the Nidaime before turning back around to block a vicious slice from Toka. Discretely making a Kage Bunshin, Itachi engaged her in a series of attacks and parries while his clone worked through a long series of hand seals Mito herself had taught him. When he felt the clone was ready, Itachi jumped away, startling the woman. Toka watched him warily and curiously before her eyes widened when she felt black chakra chains wrapping around her, pinning her in place. She looked down and craned her neck behind her just in time to see the Kage Bunshin popping out of existence. She turned back around to face Itachi, an impressed grin on her face.

"Nice." She complimented fondly and Itachi felt himself relax. That was as much as he needed to know she forgave him for leaving. "Now off you go." She shooed him away with a nod of his head in the direction of her cousin. "Better not keep Tobes waiting."

Itachi inclined his head to her. "This should keep you here for a while. I'll release it once I get to Kabuto."

"The Edo Tensei caster?" Shisui asked as he looked warily between the two warriors. "What's the plan?"

"I'll be going with Tobirama to hopefully free Madara and then with either Minato-sama or Tobirama I will go for Kabuto. The plan is to force him to release the jutsu. Hopefully, Tsukuyomi will be enough."

"I can still use one Kotoamatsukami." The Shunshin user said in offer but Itachi shook his head.

"Do me a favor and use it on Sasuke after we end the fight. I'd rather not have to lock up my own brother as a traitor and a threat to the village."

Shisui looked doubtful - then again, he must have learned by now that Sasuke had tried killing him and Shisui was nothing if not overprotective of his best friend and cousin - but didn't argue. "Right. Can I do anything else until then?"

Itachi looked out at the battlefield and zeroed in on Mito giving trouble to a group of shinobi with her Adamantine Chains. "You can help either them or Kisame," he said pointing to the blue man who was fighting some of the Akatsuki members. He was holding up pretty well against Sasori, Deidara and Juzo with some other Kiri nin fighting not far away against Momochi Zabuza. He wasn't sure where the rest of the Seven Swordsman of the Mist were but they were bound to have been reanimated and fighting. ''He's used to having Uchiha backup. Be warned, though. He's fought with me at his side for many years. You might need to get a feel of the kind of help he might need.''

Shisui huffed amusedly. ''It would seem I have high standards to live up to.'' He bowed to the ancient couple and quickly as lightning took hold of Itachi's ponytail to play with it how he used to while he was alive and they would train together before using Shunshin to move over to Kisame's side, quickly introducing himself and swiftly helping the blue man. Fire and water were soon enough making steam thick enough to be mistaken for the Kirigakure no Jutsu and Sasori and Deidara started struggling to see and fight. Itachi couldn't help but question the wisdom of their chosen approach when Deidara started hurling bombs all over the place.

''I need to go,'' he told his friends when he looked over to them. He contemplated whether he should place them in the Tsukuyomi as well but before he could do anything, Tobirama appeared by his side. The albino gave a brisk nod to his cousin and cousin-and-almost-brother-in-law before taking hold of Itachi's shoulder and using Hiraishin to whisk him away. Itachi had but half a second to prepare himself before they found themselves inside the blue Susanoo, both of them pushing Madara down to the ground. Understanding how this was going to go, Itachi quickly sat on his struggling ancestor as the Senju swiftly preformed a few hand seals before his hand dived into Madara's head. He watched in fascination how it went right through what should have been solid and then pulled out a kunai with a talisman with the control seal attached to it like a explosive tag. Madara ceased struggling as soon as the thing was out, going utterly still, his Susanoo stilling mid swing in an attacked that would have been rather devastating should it have landed. Hashirama still played it safe by enveloping the Susanoo with his Mokuton until it was confirmed that it had worked.

Itachi tensed on his perch when Madara moved next, only to relax when grumbling reached his ears. He shared a relieved look with Tobirama before getting up and watching the ancient Uchiha sit up and rub at his head. ''Thank the venerable sage and whoever else that that is over. I'm sick of being controlled!''

''It's good to have you back, Madara-san.''

''Ah, ah ah!'' The wild haired Uchiha immediately whirled around a shook a finger in Itachi's face as though he were a misbehaving dog. ''We beat the 'san' out of you once. Don't make us do it again!'' Then he surged forward and cuddled Itachi like he used to have the secret habit of doing. Itachi chuckled but didn't protest. He figured Madara deserved it. The older man pulled away, grinning at the Mangekyo Sharingan still active in the younger Uchiha's eyes. ''Oh, so it was you who used Susanoo? Knew you were special.''

''How come you haven't used the Susanoo before I came?'' The confused Uchiha asked, figuring that would have been the first technique their enemies would use to devastate the forces. A Susanoo was on par with the biju, after all.

Madara looked sickened as he answered. ''Neither that Kabuto brat nor Obito had known about it and that Zetsu thing hadn't realized that they didn't know, thought they were only messing with you all. Apparently, Zetsu only now told them that I can do this.''

Itachi frowned, unimpressed. His generation was so stupid. No one bothered to read about the past, about some of the strongest shinobi the world has ever seen. Seriously, Uchiha Madara was feared all over the shinobi world for the Susanoo. How could they not know that he can use the Sharingan's deadliest, most perfect doujutsu?

Tobirama seemed to agree with him, for he snorted and crossed his arms. ''Itachi, I pity you. You were born in an era of idiots.''

''And don't I know it,'' he muttered to himself, reaching up to massage his forehead. Madara let out a bark of laughter before dragging Itachi up into a standing position. The Alliance shinobi tensed, waiting for the next attack and even Hashirama had a pinched look on his face but they all relaxed when the Uchiha turned around so his back was to them. Every single shinobi from Konoha's founder's era cheered despite being controlled, knowing that at least everything they had fought for will be a dozen times safer ow that Madara was free. The opposing side, though, gulped and Zetsu cursed his bad luck that he had lost the vessel for his mother.

Madara's eyes zeroed in on one part of the battlefield and both his companions frowned in confusion when he tensed for battle. It was the tenseness that followed one of his more raging battle modes rather than the profaned smoothness of movement he brought in when he was calm. Tobirama and Itachi exchanged a look before following his line of sight. Itachi understood the second his eyes landed on the Gold and Silver brothers and he stepped a little to the side to leave Madara's path to them open. Tobirama only got it when the Susanoo's arm snapped out and snatched the two brothers up, crushing them as though they were nothing but butter in the blue chakra limb. He stared dumbfounded when Madara let them go and watched as they reformed, only for Madara to crush them over and over again, with firsts, swords or feet. He looked ready to go on like this forever, killing those who had dared touch a hair on his lover's head over and over again until eternity ended. Such was the rage of a grieving and pissed off Uchiha. And since all three were already dead and reanimations, it really could go on until everything ended. Seeing as that wasn't why he had insisted on first freeing Madara before freeing everyone else from Kabuto's control, Itachi stepped in before they lost him to his grief.

Jumping out of the confines of the blue Susanoo, Itachi developed his own, drawing the Totsuka blade. He used the Yata Mirror to stop the next killing blow from Madara's Susanoo before thrusting the Totsuka Blade towards the two brothers who were just reforming again. The celestial blade hit true and he watched as the two Kumo ninja were sucked in with ease into his blade. However, he soon found himself flung away by an invisible force that he only knew from years of seeing it in action before that it had been Shinra Tensei.

True enough, when he regained his footing, he found himself face to face with Nagato, hair for once as red as an Uzumaki's should be, Konan and a ginger haired young man Itachi reasoned must be Yahiko since he looked exactly like Pein's most used body did, minus the piercings and the purple Rinnegan eyes. Adding insult to injury, even their very sensei was there, Jiraiya with his giant toad summons that he had watched grow and so were loyal to him despite everything. Nagato's arm was extended and pointing towards him, ready to use the Shinra Tensei against him again when Tobirama and Madara appeared in front of him, Madara beating the Akatsuki Leader to the punch and sending all four of them away with one almighty push.

''Incoming!'' Tobirama called when Jiraiya tried using Katon: Endan, making a barrier of water rise around them. The hiss of fire hitting water was a familiar one and the mist that rose from it was only to the trio's advantage, two being able to see through the fog due to their doujutsu and one being a sensor of epic proportions. However, Nagato was both and he was able to use the Asura Path by firing an Kaiwan no Hiya at them. Knowing it will have little difficulty to penetrate the wall of water, Itachi quickly threw up the Yata Mirror, blocking its path while Madara made the horse hand seal.

''Katon: Gōka Mekkyaku!'' With no suiton users at the ready to absorb the attack, half of the battlefield would have been burnt to a crisp had Nagato not activated the Preta Path's ability to absorb chakra. Had this been anyone else but Madara, reanimation or not, Nagato's absorption would have been successful. As it was, Madara took it as a challenge and channeled more chakra into his fire, the flames slipping past the barrier around Nagato's body and taking down his companions.

''Itachi!'' It was Namikaze Minato who called out this time and the Uchiha looked up, seeing to where the blond man was pointing. Obito looked ready to jump into the fray to fight Kakashi and that meant the only sneaky approach they had left for Kabuto would soon be unavailable.

''Itachi!'' He looked over to the other Hiraishin user, only to see that Tobirama was now fighting Konan and Hashirama had joined his friend and brother, taking on Kakuzu and - was that Hidan? He wans't even dead! He was probably there just to cause mayhem. He found it fascinating how Tobirama and Konan were fighting each other mostly using explosive tags and shook his head. ''Go! We can handle things here!'' Well, at least some of the stronger members of Akatsuki were being taken care of by Edo Tensei shinobi and not living people. As it was, Hidan was at a severe disadvantage. Edo Tensei had no blood. As long as he was confined to here, the Shinobi Alliance's ninja were a lot more safer since he can't use his Jujutsu: Shiji Hyōketsu.

Itachi nodded at them before looking towards Minato, who nodded and appeared by his side in an instant. Dissolving his Susanoo to allow for stealth, Itachi focused, already forming his Tsukuyomi and relying on his godfather to transport them to where they needed to be. He heard a startled yelp like grunt and he opened his eyes, springing into action even as Minato attacked Zetsu and Obito. He was too fast for Kabuto to evade, especially caught unawares as he was, so he easily wrapped shinobi wire around him, but the Snake Sage had done some body modifications so he was able to liquefy his body like one of the Kiri clan's could to escape. Still, he couldn't move away like that and Itachi seized the opportunity presented to him. Invading Kabuto's personal space to grab his head and make his startled eyes meet Itachi,s the Uchiha let his Sharingan spin once before the Tsukuyomi captured Kabuto into its grasp. Leaving him to his torture, Itachi asked for the release combination and then made Kabuto form them. As one, almost every shinobi in the Edo Tesnsei army froze in place, their controlling talismans falling out of their heads. They all looked at each other than down at their hands in amazement and shock before a cheer broke out due to the fact that they were free.

Then most of those same shinobi turned right around with glowers on their faces, glaring at what was left of the Zetsu army, Obito, Sasuke and Zetsu himself. Shisui had just enough time to Shunshin to Sasuke's side, knock his youngest cousin out before using Shunshin to get them out of the way as a war cry broke out and thundered throughout all the countries. The Shinobi Alliance watched in horrified awe as they tore apart the Zetsu army. Itachi gestured to Minto to finish up with Obito before looking at the fuming fly-plant. Itachi didn't even smirk or glare. He gave his former Akatsuki member a flat look before letting his eyes spin, his Susanoo forming in a second. Before the schizophrenic could try and escape, Itachi stabbed him through with his Totsuka Blade, sealing the gross creature away to be later disposed of through Amaterasu. When he looked back over to his godfather and cousin, he was relieved to see that Kakashi had come to help and the two men had knocked the older Uchiha out. By now, Kabuto was but a drooling, shivering mess on the floor, the Tsukuyomi too much even for a so called perfect sage. The three men exchanged nods and Minato transported them all back down to ground level.

''Well,'' an Inuzuka boy said when they arrived on the Alliance's side of the battlefield, the living staring at the carnage taking place. ''That was surprisingly easy.'' Itachi ignored him, looking around, counting heads. He was relieved when he saw the sprawled form of his brother in his mother's arms, Kisame casually talking with Gai, who looked a lot better than when Itachi had first arrived, Tsunade examining people and healing them and many, many others all safe.

He nearly startled when a hand landed on top of his head from his left. He looked over with wide eyes when he heard his father's voice, shocked. ''I am proud of you, my son. You did good.''

''Anyone feel like explaining, though?'' Minato asked from where he had yet to let go of Itachi's shoulder. He had many years to make up for with this young man who he had last seen as a five year old boy.

''Itachi-san's little time traveling adventure is all the fault of that creepy old dude.'' Kisame offered immediately and Itachi refrained from facepalming when everyone turned to look at him expectantly. Well, might as well drop the bomb.

''Kisame, I hope you know that 'creepy old due' was Otsutsuki Hagoromo.'' At the blank faces he got from that, Itachi smirked and deadpanned. ''Rikudo Sennin.''

Needless to say, more than a few jaws dropped.