Title: Kokai Saki Ni Tatazu
Author: Akane Arihyoshi
Disclaimer: I so wish I owned Naruto. That would seriously make me the happiest person alive. But I don't, so I'm not, so you should read my fanfiction now.
A/N: Alright, I got one review. I know I said I wouldn't continue without five, but still, if there's even one person who'll read this, I guess it's worth it.
It was a soft spring day, without the heat of the upcoming summer. A beautiful day for a walk, but that was not Itachi's objective. His footsteps were muffled by the earthen ground he walked on. It was just as well, he did not wish to be heard or followed. His plans for today were precise, any small flaw would ruin them.
Itachi stopped, gazing with cold eyes at the landscape around him. It wasn't usually a practice of the young Uchiha to follow the directions of strange notes, but this was a special case. The note had described an area quite similar to the one in which Itachi was now standing, and there was slight evidence of someone having been there recently. This had to be the place.
A twig snapped. Itachi jumped quickly and silently into the leaves of a nearby tree, watching the terrian below with his sharingan.
A figure stepped into the clearing. Most of his body was covered by a large cloak, black in color with red clouds randomly placed in the material. A straw hat obscured Itachi's view of the man's face.
The man paused and looked around. He chuckled lightly, and looked up into the tree where Itachi crouched, hidden from view. "They say you're head of ANBU, and you can't find a better hiding place? You didn't even think to mask your chakra. Not a smart move. Had I been an enemy, your life would have ended." he scoffed.
The boy hopped down from the tree, dignity bruised at the man's words. "I suppose you're the one I was to meet?" he asked calmly, "Something about a group of ninja?"
The man's face was still hidden by the hat he wore, but something in his voice suggested he was smiling. he said softly, "Yes, a group of some of the greatest ninja our world has ever seen. Sadly, our number is terribly small, and we must recruit in order to remain alive."
"You've come here to recruit me for your group?"
"Yes, I would like to recruit you as our eighth member."
The young Uchiha nodded, thinking carefully about this man. If the stranger's words were true, there was a group out there that was stronger than anything before them, stronger even than the ANBU in Konoha. 'Some of the greatest ninja our world has ever seen,' the man had said. But what evidence was there that he could trust this man?
"Trust..." the man spoke once more, as if sensing Itachi's thoughts, "I suppose you have absolutely no reason to trust us. But what other choice do you have?" The man lifted his hat so that his eyes were visible to the boy, and stared him straight in the eye. "I know what you did to Shisui Uchiha, and I know that that's only the beginning."
Itachi barely contained his surprise at the man's words. He had covered his tracks so well, no one could have posssibly known about it. The Uchiha fought to keep his face emotionless, and forced himself to look the man straight in the eye.
"So you see, what choice do you have?" the man asked.
"Very well. I see your point."
"Would this mean you have considered my offer, and decided to join?"
The younger man paused, as if thinking the matter through again. "Yes."
The Akatsuki had gained a new member.
The funeral was held on a rainy day.
Shisui Uchiha had been found dead earlier that week. The cause of death had appeared to be suicide, but already people were talking against the best friend of the deceased, suspecting that the boy's death was not as it had seemed.
Itachi had been questioned numerous times. Over and over again he told them he had not killed his best friend, and over and over they questioned him, wanting to get answers from the wrong source. They were so sure it had been Itachi, though there was no evidence to support their claims.
They were so right, and yet they had no idea. No idea that this was only the beginning, only the start of something bigger, something much more horrible than anything they could have imagined. How could they have known? Shisui's death was not the last.
Not even close.
Muria: Thanks for the review! It makes me feel so happy to get even one! I was really hoping that I made Itachi in character, so I'm glad that you think he is. I've been researching him on the internet like crazy, trying to figure out what age he went into the Akatsuki, and what his personality was, that sort of this. Oh, and I promise I won't make a slash pairing. That might kill me to write.
And all the rest of you, I need reviews! I live off reviews, they are my air, so get typing! Down in the left-hand corner of the screen, right over in the bottom, click the button that says 'submit review'. Thanks!
Akane