Disclaimer: My name is not Masashi Kishimoto, therefore I do not own the 'Naruto' franchise. I do however own two games, one movie and have most of the original episodes though…
The massacre is fast approaching now…
"-chi. ITACHI!" Akina yelled, waving her hand in front of her partner's face. Itachi blinked and looked up from his brooding. It was almost midnight, and they had hardly said a word.
"Hn?"
Akina's eyes were squinting at him in suspicion. "Something's up with you today. Is…" she sighed deeply, "Is it about Shisui?"
"No…" Itachi told her honestly. "Fugaku finally told me his plans tonight."
Akina blinked in surprise. "Well? What is he trying to do?" she asked, feeling a sense of foreboding.
"It's not just him…it's the majority of the Uchiha clan. They…are planning to overthrow Sandaime-sama and take control of the village." Itachi said, glancing away.
Akina was shocked. She knew Fugaku was power hungry but…this? "What are we going to do?"
"…He ordered me to assassinate the Hokage. I think it is time to report his activities to the Sandaime...it has gone too far already."
Akina knew that this was hard on Itachi; he was essentially betraying his clan, his own family by reporting their activities.
"…'Tachi, are you…ok with this? They are your f-" Akina started.
"I am a Shinobi Akina. Emotions come second to loyalty. I am loyal to Konoha and the Sandaime, not my father. I will do what a Ninja must do."
Akina sighed. "Ok. Let's go to the Tower."
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Sarutobi Hiruzen was staring mournfully at his high piled paperwork. Why did I agree to take this job again? He asked himself.
Two shadows jumped through his open window, landing in front of his desk. Why can't Ninjas ever use the door? He wondered, and quickly sound proofed the room.
"Akina-chan and Itachi-san, what brings you here tonight? Surely you did not come to save me from my paperwork."
"Sorry Sandaime-jiji, not tonight. We have some information you will want to know about…'Tachi?" Akina said, looking at her partner.
Itachi nodded. "Fugaku has gone too far this time Hokage-sama. He and the Uchiha clan have been planning a coup d'état to take rein over Konoha. I was ordered to be the one to dispose of you."
The Sandaime sighed. "I see. I was afraid that something like this would happen. The Uchiha clan have been isolating themselves since the Kyuubi's attack."
Akina was confused. "Since Kyuubi attacked? Why?"
"It is not widely known, but the Sharingan has the ability to control the fox, or at least influence it. Those who were aware of this suspected someone in the Uchiha clan had brought the demon upon us, and as a result the clan has been distancing itself from the village." He told them, looking out the window as if seeing the past.
The Sandaime sighed and turned his gaze back to the thirteen year olds.
"Uchiha Itachi, as a loyal Shinobi of Konohagakure, I give you the mission of gathering any possible information on the Uchiha clan's treasonous actions. What you uncover will be presented to the Shinobi Council and myself, minus the Uchiha representative. The Civilian Council will not be involved in this, as it is strictly Ninja business. Do you accept this mission?"
"Hai Hokage-sama. I accept your mission." He answered, bowing.
"Very well Itachi." The Hokage nodded. But he had one last order for them.
"Uchiha Itachi and Namikaze Akina, you are not to speak of this to anybody outside of myself and each other. It is vital that this stays secret. Is this clear to you both?"
"Hai Hokage-sama." The two said immediately, in unison.
"Good. You are dismissed." He told them. They both nodded and leapt out the window.
The Sandaime sighed. I'm far too old for this.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Konoha's Council Meeting Room
The Shinobi Council was in an uproar. Uchiha Itachi had just finished giving his report, and was now waiting outside of the chambers with his ANBU partner. The Hokages Advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, were voicing their thoughts above all others.
"This is an outrage!" Screamed Koharu, slamming her hands down on the table, with her dangling earrings shaking, a clear indication of her rage. "We must act now before it is too late! Call for the ANBU!"
Homura nodded in agreement with his former teammate. "Koharu is correct, we must deal with the threat immediately!"
"Now hold on there Advisors, surely the Hokage has the final say." Shikaku, head of the Nara clan, drawled in a bored fashion, although his eyes were serious. His friends and fellow clan heads, Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Chouza, nodded their support with their old teammate. Shikaku was rarely wrong about anything, so it was always best to take him seriously.
"What about the Sharingan?" Inoichi asked suddenly, drawing attention. "It is a coveted Kekkei Genkai of Konoha, are you suggesting we wipe it out?"
Inuzuka Tsume was growling her unhappiness, her canine companion Kuromaru snarling along with her, flattening his single ear against his skull. "Fuck the Sharingan!" she roared, "That Kekkei Genkai cannot be used to excuse them from everything! They already control the police force! Besides, Hatake Kakashi still has a precious Sharingan if it is ever desperately needed."
Hyuuga Hiashi spoke up. "I agree with the Advisors Hokage-sama. The Uchiha clan must be taken care of, for the safety of the village. It is your duty to make these decisions." Hiashi said coldly, his pearl white eyes piercing.
"This would not have anything to do with the rivalry between the Hyuuga and the Uchiha would it Hiashi-san? I would hate to think you biased." Inoichi glared, these were people they were talking about! Guilty and innocent. Chouza was too distressed to comment.
"You dare-" Hiashi hissed, but was interrupted by Danzou's cane hitting the ground with enough force to crack it. The old war monger stood and looked each and every Councilman in the eye, before turning to the Hokage.
"Hiruzen, you know what must be done. If you refuse, you put the whole of Konoha at risk. But as long as we have the numbers, we have power to outvote even you. Do not think for a moment that we will hesitate. The Uchiha clan must be eliminated."
Aburame Shibi gave his opinion for the first time since the meeting had been called. "There are as many innocent as guilty within the Uchiha clan. Do you plan on sparing them?" he asked Danzou and the Advisors, mentally debating which side to vote on. Tsume snorted.
"The collateral damage would be many. However, not nearly as high in number as it would be if that damned Fugaku fulfilled his ambitions." She hesitated briefly, before hardening her eyes. "I vote yes for the elimination of the Uchiha clan."
The Sandaime had remained silent throughout the meeting, simply listening and thinking, looking for a solution.
"…The Uchiha clan will not listen to any attempts at peacemaking. I have no choice but to vote yes to the Uchiha clan beings taken care of…I will not have my clan or my village harmed due to one clan's greed." Chouza sighed heavily, his voice thick with regret.
Inoichi grimaced as eyes turned to him. "I also vote yes. There as too many innocent people at risk. To decimate the Uchihas is the lesser of two evils."
The Nara clan head ignored the rest of the Council, turning his gaze to the Hokage alone.
"Hokage-sama, you have sought my advice on many situations in the past. It is my personal and political opinion that there is no other viable solution. I vote yes." He said, showing full attention, which just shows how serious the usually last man was.
The Sandaime felt as if his chest was made of lead. This was not looking like a bright near future.
Shibi pushed his dark glasses further up his nose, before speaking. "It is illogical to risk a whole village for the sake of one clan. I vote yes Hokage-sama."
The Advisors looked at the Sandaime stonily. "We vote yes Hiruzen. It is for the best." Homura stated, and Koharu nodded.
Hiashi felt all eyes upon him, but kept his expression blank. "I vote yes. The Uchiha clan must be eliminated as soon as possible."
Danzou, who had not yet sat down and was leaning against a wall, met the eyes of the Advisors, before turning his gaze to the Council. "Yes. For the good of Konoha, the Uchiha clan must die."
The Sandaime sighed, the guilty weight pressing on his heart. "Very well," he said with remorse, "The Uchiha clan…will be executed."
Nara Shikaku stood, apparently having one last issue to bring up. "If the order becomes known, the village will be in a panic Hokage-sama. Paranoia will rise and trust will drop, we may even lose some of our loyal Shinobi. This must be an unwritten mission."
Danzou pushed off the wall, smirking. "It will have to be performed by a single Ninja, who will take the fall as a Missing-nin. One with motive, means, opportunity and the capability to kill a whole clan in one night."
The Sandaime's heart sank deeper. "Who do you suggest for this…underhanded order Danzou-san?"
The bandaged man's visible eye glinted, "Why, Uchiha Itachi of course."
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
"You can't be serious 'Kina." Itachi said, deadpanned. His Black Raven mask sat beside him on the bench of the Hokage's waiting room.
"And why the hell not? It makes sense!" Akina glared, her mask hanging around her neck and red hair slung over her shoulder.
"Throwing Fugaku into a boiling pool of ramen is the furthest thing from an effective punishment I have ever heard. How did you make it into ANBU again?" her partner asked, raising a single eyebrow.
"But ramen is the best thing ever! And since he's evil it will be like holy water! BURN!" Akina insisted. Itachi rolled his eyes in disbelief.
They were currently keeping away the tension with happy images of punishing Fugaku. It worked surprisingly well, until they had run out of things to suggest after death-by-ramen. Itachi had wanted Watarigarasu-sama's children to eat Fugaku…slowly.
"…Ne, 'Tachi?" Akina asked, "What…what do you think is gonna happen?" she asked unsurely.
Itachi didn't even blink. "What is best. They will decide what is best for the village…all we can do is wait."
Akina grumbled. "Waiting is boring." She told him with an unknowing pout. Itachi shrugged.
"So do something that's not boring while you wait."
Akina looked at the smirking Uchiha. Why…why did I have to fall for the evil, annoying and smug type…?
"Like what exactly?" she muttered.
Itachi's smirk widened. "Like this." He whispered, diving in for a kiss. Akina tried to resist out of principle, but quickly crumbled under Itachi's lips. Stupid, sinful, delicious lips…Gah! She was becoming a she-pervert!
They pulled apart all too soon, hearing footsteps approaching. Both speedily replaced their masks securely and sat quietly. The Hokage's receptionist stuck her mousey face around the corner, her glasses nearly falling off her nose.
"Hokage-sama has finished his meeting. He will see you both now, ANBU-san and ANBU-chan."
Akina twitched. ANBU-chan? Please.
Itachi held back a snicker, sensing his partner's displeasure at the odd suffix…most women in ANBU could hardly be called 'chan'. Take Snake for example. The purple haired ANBU woman was feisty, and would kill you as soon as steal your dango. Not somebody even remotely able to be named as 'chan'. Akina often felt underestimated when people called her that.
The large doors to the Hokage's office swung open, and the pair of ravens stepped inside, automatically scanning for hidden threats.
Itachi was given a nod from the Sandaime, so he proceeded to place the privacy jutsu over the room. Damn, Akina thought in envy, I have GOT to learn how to do that. She was about to remark on this, when she took notice of the Sandaime's grave face. She felt rather than saw Itachi stiffen, as he was standing directly next to her.
"You may remove your masks, and your Henge Akina." He stated blandly, not meeting their eyes. This was not good…
They pulled down their masks and Akina made the single hand sign needed to release her Henge, as she no longer had to say 'Kai'. Effortless Henges were second nature to the now blonde girl.
"Hokage-sama…what happened during the meeting?" Akina asked, inwardly fearing his reply.
Itachi was still silent. She couldn't even hear him breathing.
The Sandaime sighed deeply, for once showing just how tired he really was underneath. He then straightened up and put on his 'Hokage-face."
"Uchiha Itachi." He said firmly, as he would in war situations. "You have been given the mission to eliminate the Uchiha clan. You have the right not to accept, and if so another will be chosen in your place."
Akina gasped. "Jiji you can't do that! There are innocent people, children! How can you-"
"I accept."
"Itachi…" Akina whispered. No…don't make him do this…
"Very well. You will receive your mission scroll from the head of ANBU, containing the details of this mission." The Sandaime said, still refusing to meet eyes with the two.
"Hai Hokage-sama." Itachi bowed, emotionless.
"There…is one other thing Itachi, Akina. After this mission is carried out…you, Itachi will have to become a Missing-nin." He said, with regret beginning to slip past his guard.
Now, that shocked Akina as well as Itachi, who stiffened further. Akina grabbed his cold hand.
"WHAT! JIJI YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS!" Akina yelled, disregarding any thoughts saying she should not show such disrespect for the Hokage.
"It…it is the only way Akina. If the villagers knew the truth…you can imagine what would happen. Pure chaos would consume Konoha…" Itachi reasoned shallowly.
"Let somebody else do it then! Don't do this to yourself 'Tachi! It is not your responsibility!"
"It is. My clan, my father…it has to be me." Itachi said coldly, already planning how to get his Kaa-san and Otouto to safety first…yes, it was horribly selfish, but he didn't care anymore. Akina knew he could never hurt his Otouto, she understood that…and he would not orphan Sasuke. That was too cruel.
Akina was near tears. "May we be dismissed Hokage-sama?" Akina asked icily, knowing the unnecessary lack of familiarity would sting the old man. She pulled up her mask, doing the same to Itachi's when he did not move.
The Sandaime openly flinched, but nodded. Akina disappeared via the window, Itachi shortly after. The aging Hokage allowed his head to droop.
"I'm sorry…" he whispered to the empty air, knowing full well that his apology would not reach their hearts.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Itachi did not show up for training that night. Akina decided to go search for him…she knew that being alone right now was not what he needed, despite what he may think.
She landed silently on the Uchiha main house's roof, and used chakra to stick to the wall as she walked down. She stopped at Itachi's window and pulled it up, slipping inside.
The room was engulfed in darkness. Itachi was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. He held a mission scroll by his side with limp fingers, and was staring at something she could not see. He didn't react as Akina crouched next to him and lifted her mask.
"…'Tachi?" she whispered, as he were a frightened child.
"…"
"…Itachi, snap out of it. Hey, talk to me."
"…Am I doing the right thing Akina?" he asked almost silently, lifting his eyes to meet hers. Akina had to stop herself from flinching at the desperation and pain she found in his eyes.
"…Who knows what the right thing is anymore. We just have to try our best and pray to Kami that we are forgiven someday."
"Hai…you are right…'Kina?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm…sorry."
"Why?"
"…For leaving you."
"WHAT?" Oh shit, too loud. Akina thought, before placing a security jutsu around them. It was not as strong as the one used in the Hokage's office, but enough to remain undetected. She looked at her partner in confusion. "Uchiha Itachi, what are you on about now?"
"I am becoming a…Missing-nin…we shall be enemies should we ever meet…so, I'm sorry…"
Akina glared at him now. Was he really this stupid? "Tch, and they call you a genius? There is no possible way for us to be enemies 'Tachi. Even if you are marked as a criminal, even if we have to act like enemies when we meet in front of others, we never will be…you got that?" she demanded.
"But-" Itachi started.
"NO BUTS!" Akina ordered, before kissing him forcefully. Itachi soon gave in and began to passionately kiss her back, until both were breathing hard and resting their foreheads against one another's. Akina licked her lips nervously and met his eyes again.
"I can come with you…" Akina trailed off.
"No…Konoha is your home."
"Not without you it isn't." she told him, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Maybe it was.
"I'll be a Missing-nin Akina! Hunted! It is not safe." Itachi insisted.
Akina snorted and rolled her eyes. "I'm in ANBU Itachi. Safety is hardly a priority."
Itachi lifted his mission scroll. "This states that after becoming a Missing-nin I must join a criminal organisation known as the Akatsuki. It is a relatively new group, but it has the Hokage concerned. All members are S-class Missing-nin. You…you can't come with me. At least, not yet…maybe someday."
"You swear?" Akina questioned intently. Itachi knew how much promises meant to her.
"I swear."
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Today was the day. The day…his mission was to be carried out. Sasuke was at the Academy, so he had to act now. Itachi activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and drew his kantana.
He did not see their faces, and he had blocked out the screams and pleas. He didn't feel his blade slashing at them, nor did he register the blood soaking his dark clothes, enough to stain the skin underneath.
Finally he reached his house. Kaa-san was in their room, and Fugaku was just about to enter. Itachi moved quickly. He didn't want his Kaa-san to have to see her husband die…it was going to be hard enough on her, raising Sasuke alone, knowing her oldest son had killed their clan.
He Shunshined in front of his father, who stepped back in shock, before scowling.
"Itachi! What are you doing, y-is that blood?"
Itachi said nothing, instead raising his katana and staring at Fugaku emotionlessly.
"Itachi! WHAT DID YOU DO? Drop that sword this instant!" Fugaku ordered, with no effect.
"No Tou-san…I do not answer to you. For your crimes, –primarily treason- you are sentenced to death."
Itachi swept his katana at Fugaku, who had just enough time to make a hand sign. And Itachi found himself staring into his mother's dark eyes in horror.
His sword had slashed her upper half deeply, and blood was pouring out at an alarming rate. Her mouth was open in shock and her eyes full of pain and incomprehension, before they became blank and she fell lifelessly to the floor.
Itachi stood frozen above his mother's body, his mind unable to process what had just happened…until it clicked. Fugaku had used Kawarimi no Jutsu…and had made his own wife, Itachi's Kaa-san take his place.
Fury overtook the young Uchiha. Oh, the bastard was going to die painfully.
Fugaku leapt at Itachi from the shadows, aiming for his son's unprotected back. Itachi spun around and caught the hand holding the Kunai, using his other hand to reach up to his father's neck and shove him against the wall. Fugaku struggled violently, but all those hours of forced training had paid off for Itachi. Fugaku was already a dead man. Only problem was he was still breathing.
"You will pay for betraying Konoha and the Hokage. You will die for the fate you have forced upon our clan…but you will suffer for what you did to Kaa-san."
Fugaku just glared, not remorseful in the least. Itachi's Mangekyo spun.
"Tsukuyomi."
Fugaku screamed in terror…but there was nobody close enough to hear. Well, nobody alive anyway. It seemed to be many hours of torture before Itachi blessed him with death.
The blood soaked Uchiha heard footsteps running towards the house…Sasuke was home.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
Itachi appeared in Akina's bedroom, and he sat down shakily on her bed. Akina had been pacing so much she had almost worn a path in the carpet. She jumped when she noticed him, but quickly ran over and sat beside him. She didn't know what to do, or what she could say.
"It…is done. Kaa-san…is also dead. Sasuke is alive."
Akina gasped. No, not Mikoto! She felt tears spring to her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She needed to be the strong one right now.
"Sasuke is a good kid…I'm sure he can get through this…and he won't be alone."
"The whole clan is gone Akina. Who will he have? Sure the Hokage promised to look after him, but that isn't enough! What will keep him going? I told him to get stronger to kill me because I was scared that without a goal he'd just kill himself! Kami, what have I done?"
"Itachi." Akina said sharply.
"Hai?" He raised his head and met her sapphire eyes.
"Calm down." She ordered blandly.
"…Hai." He complied with a small sigh.
"I will keep him safe for you 'Tachi. I promise." She said with the utmost of seriousness.
"I know you will…but still, an ANBU in the shadows won't save him from isolation."
"So I won't be in the shadows." Akina shrugged.
"What do you mean?...'Kina, what are you planning?" Itachi asked, narrowing his eyes suspiciously.
"…A new Henge." She told him lightly.
"Another one?" Itachi rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"This one is different." Akina tried to convince him.
"How so?" Itachi raised an eyebrow, easily and unknowingly falling back into their everyday routine, as if he had not just massacred his clan and needed to 'escape' the village.
Akina closed her eyes and let her body shrink and her hair shorten into wild blonde spikes. Her figure became childlike and six whisker marks adorned her cheeks. Most surprising of all, she was a boy.
"…'Tachi," 'he' said in a young voice, "meet Uzumaki Naruto."
Done! So, did anybody see that coming? Next chapter, 'Naruto' enters the Academy!
Anyway, the reason I say the ANBU animal mask names in English is because I like them being 'ravens' more than 'karasus'. It just suits better to me…
-TITM