Another reincarnation story
03.
For the following months, Shisui was the only topic that really occupied him. It didn't surprise Itachi that Shisui departed for a long mission the day after, without saying goodbye.
For the first week, Itachi was worried out of his mind. For the second, he was angry because Shisui left without speaking to him. In the third week, Itachi cursed himself for his stupidity because nothing happened in this world without him knowing. And after he had found out that Shisui went on a simple mission of escorting a princess back to her father in a land far far away, he envied his cousin for the chance of leaving the village.
As a chunin barely ten years old, Itachi mostly did missions he considered a little more dangerous than babysitting his brother and much less amusing. He endured it like any good and skillful shinobi would, with whining about the mission being too easy. But still, even his big eyes couldn't get him any mission that led him away from the lands surrounding outside of Konoha.
"We are aware of your skills, Itachi-kun," the Sandaime only said. "But you are too young. Sending you on any serious mission alone would not be good for the image of our village. Maybe in a few years."
Itachi only accepted the Hokage's lecture with a pout and went back to brooding on the Hokage mountain alone. He wondered how any shinobi could live a whole life doing little else. The days as a chunin were boring. It was mind-numbingly monotone. He got up every morning at sunrise and finished his kata in the courtyard. Then he ate breakfast with his family, while Sasuke chatted happily about what he was going to do for the day. Itachi mostly ignored his father without showing disrespect. He then went up to the mission bureau asking for missions, mostly having the other chunins and jonins there telling him to take it easy. He then finished his chores without really breaking a sweat and went home for dinner. There, he continued what he did at the breakfast and went into his room. After only a few months, Itachi feared his own wit growing dim.
Sometimes, he would be summoned to his father for a lecture of an Uchiha's duty. While his father spoke and his mother listened, Itachi always wondered how he couldn't see what a narrow-minded fool his father was. He tried to remember when exactly he had lost respect for the Uchiha clan-leader but couldn't recall. He sometimes glanced at his mother from under his bangs and wondered what she was thinking. What mother would allow her son to endure what Itachi had endured? What mother would just stand by, while her own child was driven towards a cliff? What mother would be proud of a son who had become a murderer at the age of four?
Perhaps she was just like Fugaku. Or, she just didn't have a choice.
Itachi added a talk with her also to his list of things he wanted to change. But not now, not when he was only ten years old. His words would not reach her. Right now, what he had to say would only be marked down as the impudent rant of an arrogant genius.
Strange, his comrades in the Akatsuki never had a problem with his age.
When he was back in his room, Itachi would mostly open the window and gaze at the moon. With everything around him being so different, only the sky remained. He sometimes thought about his comrades in the Akatsuki and smiled to himself. After all that had happened, he never thought he would miss them.
But it wasn't only the people he missed. He missed the travel, the danger and the excitement. He missed the feeling of having a purpose, of being on guard and facing opponents who could give him a good fight. He missed the spars with the best of the world, knowing that any blow could kill him. He missed having people around him that were neither boring nor narrow-minded.
He sighed.
It was in that night, Itachi startled from his sleep, not knowing where he was or who he was. It was then, he searched the darkness for Kisame's familiar form and his well-known chakra signature. When he couldn't find anything but his own weapons next to his futon, Itachi allowed himself to fall back. He pulled the blanket over his head to smother the sound as he cried into his pillow.
How curious that he who wandered in darkness was afraid of solitude.
Nothing really exciting happened until Shisui's return. He showed up at Itachi's home the moment he was released. Itachi tried to be angry with him, but was too overwhelmed that his friend was finally back. Shisui acted as if nothing happened between then and Itachi was only too happy to comply.
But his temper was quickly challenged when Shisui presented him with his gift. Of all things Itachi would like, Shisui chose a necklace. Were it not the one Itachi had worn until his death, he would have killed Shisui for it. He couldn't really recall what he did the first time he was given that. This time, he simply said thanks and bound it around his neck.
Things went back to normal for Itachi. He was still bored out of his mind, whenever he wasn't spending time with Shisui. He accomplished missions, went back home, spent some time with Sasuke, sneaked into hidden libraries of Konoha, dodged some fan-girls and then ate a lot of sweets. In this routine, Itachi sometimes forgot he was 21 years old and still waiting for the disaster to start.
He noticed the tension between his clan and the village a month after his eleventh birthday. He knew that he should be enrolling into the ANBU soon and did everything he could to prepare for it. This time, he wouldn't need weeks to settle in. This time, he would not listen to Shisui and stay idle.
When the day came, Itachi picked up his equipment at the office and marched into the locker room with more confidence than a chunin should have. He almost cried seeing Tenzou's friendly face and Kakashi's hidden one. Standing between warriors much bigger than himself and not threatening at all, Itachi felt as if he had finally come home. He felt, as if all the ten years of hell he had endured was only a long mission, and he could finally finish it now. He felt, as if he was born to be an agent of the night.
In ANBU, Itachi lived. He cherished the thought that every enemy he killed made Konoha a little more safer. He loved the freedom of hiding his face behind a mask and flying through the darkness. Doing what should not be done by an eleven year old, Itachi became the silent protector he always strived to be.
Contrary to what many people believed, Itachi loved the ANBU. Here, hiding among the best of Konoha, Itachi was allowed to be powerful again. It was even expected of him. He received no praise for killing an opponent with one single strike. He received no suspicion when he returned with the vital information without a drop of blood on him. Only once did his comrade voice their admiration when Itachi disabled a whole team of Kiri-nin without killing any of them. The information they received from the prisoners were more than useful.
Before he knew it, months had passed again. Itachi also attended the clan meetings as a dutiful son. He sat back, in the last roll where no one could see him. He only spoke when he was asked and chose his words carefully. This time, he would not help fan the fire against Konoha. This time, he would be the water that doused their flame.
His reservation wasn't missed by those behind the scene. Within the month, Itachi was summoned by the leader of root, a fated meeting he had been preparing for. It was the first time his face slipped. Were it not for the mask he wore, Danzou might have noticed the grimace he was hiding. As much as Itachi wanted to, he could not forgive Danzou for manipulating him. For a second or so, Itachi considered simply killing him.
The meeting went on exactly like Itachi remembered until the genius chose to change it. Just like in his memory, Itachi knelt before the Elder and listened to his lecture of peace and the strength of the village. The prediction of the future Danzou decided to share was a lie the younger Itachi had believed. But this time, he had to bite his tongue to control himself. His fingers itched for his blade. One simple slash and all could be ended. But that was not the way Itachi dealt with things. He preferred the more subtle approach, one that would give him more power.
So, Itachi bit his tongue harder and waited until the elder came to the end of his lecture.
With a motion, smooth as water, the genius rose without permission. He took off his ANBU mask, revealing his young face to the old man. For a moment, Itachi saw a flash of fear in the Elder's eyes. No wonder, after all, not everyone remained calm while facing the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"What's the meaning of this?" Danzou barked.
"I am giving you my answer, Danzou-sama," Itachi said. He eyes glowed, wrapping Danzou in an illusion only he controlled. For any other, Itachi was still kneeling before the elder while Danzou talked.
The elder looked around, noticing the genjutsu but not having any means to stop it. Itachi knew of the Sharingan hiding under Danzou's bandages, and he didn't consider it a threat. Nothing this old man was capable of could endanger him.
"And what should it be?"
"Peace," Itachi replied. "I want peace more than anything else."
"Then why do you attack me. I only do what is best for the village."
"What is best for you, Danzou-sama." Itachi corrected. "This genjutsu will not harm you, for now. I just want a talk without anyone listening in."
"I have nothing to discuss with you, child."
"It will be foolish to underestimate me. I'm not a child and never was." Itachi took a breath. He really had to stop himself from wanting to hurt Danzou. "Our goals are the same. We want stability for the village. My father's aggressive politics is a problem for both of us. This is what I'm here to discuss."
"Then you should do as I ask," Danzou leaned back in his chair. "Report to me about his dealings and I will give you further instructions. It's not my wish to hurt your clan, I only have the best of the village in mind."
"You mistake me for one of your agents, Danzou-Sama. I do not answer to you and am resistant to your manipulation." Itachi said. "I know that you will stop at nothing to destroy my clan if need be. You don't trust us, and you fear us. It was because of you, we Uchihas are so distrusted in the village."
"Wild accusations!"
"Do not lie to me, you will regret it."
"What do you want to do, boy? Kill me?"
"Don't tempt me, nothing would be easier than that." In this genjutsu, a sword appeared in Itachi's hand. "Just like you, I will stop at nothing to preserve the peace we have. And if killing you is the only solution, I will not hesitate. But I'd rather not. Killing you will only aggravate the council. Too many people saw me come in here today and the blame would be with my clan. Even I cannot dodge all the accusation. This is why I am talking to you, instead of simply killing you."
"That would be treason!" Danzou snapped.
"I told you, I will stop at nothing." Itachi reminded him. "But I prefer not to leave the village branded a Nuke-nin. You see, I have many people I hold dear. I don't want to betray them."
"Instead, you choose to betray your village."
"You alone are not Konoha." Itachi wanted to stab Danzou in his face. "For now, we have wasted enough time. Let me tell you what I want. You can then decide."
"Let's hear it."
"You will take no further aggressive action against my clan," Itachi said. "Stop the constant surveillance of all Uchihas. The Kyuubi attack six years ago has nothing to do with us. You will stop keeping the Uchihas off the higher ranks among the shinobi. That will appease the Uchiha and force them to seek the village's trust."
"So you are a dog of your father, sent here to bring me this message." Danzou snorted with contemned. "I was a fool to think you were loyal to our cause."
"My cause is my own," Itachi hissed. "My father has no knowledge of my dealings here."
"So what if I do as you suggested?"
"I will urge my father to do the same." Itachi nodded. "His hostility towards the village is well-grounded. It will take time for both sides to trust each other. But if the village doesn't start, neither will the Uchiha. One party has to make the first step."
"And you chose me?"
"No, rather you chose me."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I am too young to join ANBU, yet I was promoted. You wanted me as your spy from the beginning, didn't you? You wanted a spy inside the Uchiha, thus you picked out one you thought you could control. You wanted to appeal to my sense of loyalty, my devotion to peace and my skill as a shinobi. You wanted to use my love for my brother to manipulate me. You were wrong, Danzou-sama. I am not who you think I am. I am much stronger than you think. And despite your imagination, I will not be your tool at the destruction of the Uchiha clan."
"You misunderstood me, Itachi."
"Stop lying, Shimura Danzou." Itachi lifted his sword. "I have had enough of your schemes. Do as I say, or I will destroy you."
"You are bluffing!" Danzou spat. "You won't kill me! You are a gentle boy, you are weak!"
"Am I?" Itachi's eyes burned. "Should I give you a demonstration of my resolve?"
Before Itachi's words faded, the sky turned red. Time stopped and space changed. Itachi felt the surge of power and enjoyed the brutality of his revenge. Danzou winced as Itachi's chakra overpowered him easily. The one visible eye of the elder widened, as his hand moved under his bandage. Itachi severed that hand with a clean cut of his blade. He didn't need to remind the elder that this kind of attempt was useless in his realm. He let Danzou feel that pain, as understanding slowly reached inside the old man.
Danzou's screams sounded like joyful chorus in his ears. He poured ten years of suppressed hatred and anger into his eyes and let that collective power wash over Danzou. The torture machines here were not only for effect. The thousands of figures in his image weren't only bystanders. They slashed with their swords, pierced with their kunais and shouted words of insults. They showed Danzou visions of his worst fears and took his most cherished pleasure from him.
Itachi wanted Danzou to fear him. He wanted the elder to share the pain he had endured, his despair, his humiliation. He wanted Danzou to understand the state of his mind, that he, the eleven year old boy carried the soul of a much older man. That he was the only demon Shimura Danzou needed to fear.
"So," Itachi said as Danzou sunk to his knees before him, his body battered and bleeding. He took the elder's chin into his hand and stabbed him through his bandaged eye. The elder cried out in pain. "For the next 72 hours, I shall whip you into submission!"
I just love badass Itachi!