Displaced
Act I— A Complicated Truth
I'm not a fan of puppeteers,
But I've a nagging fear,
Someone else is pulling at the strings.
Something terrible is going down,
Through the entire town,
Wreaking anarchy and all that it brings!
Always in pursuit of answers, of that elusive thing called truth.
How is this my life?
...I chose this.
I must remember that I chose this.
"Good morning, Sasuke-senpai!" A youthful voice pierces the early morning quiet. My second most favorite Aburame is standing next to a small bookstore across the street, waving enthusiastically in an attempt to catch my attention. She's become much more outgoing and energetic since I introduced her to my summons— particularly Kuroi-chan. In retrospect, I'm not certain it was such a great idea... Ah well. What's done is done.
Since I have some time before I plan to meet Sensei— Obligingly, I hop down from the rooftop paths, falling into step beside her when she starts walking. "Morning, chibi. How's everything at the Academy? Speaking of school; shouldn't you be heading that direction right now?"
She blushes slightly at the teasing, "I wanted some advice, but when I stopped by last week, you were gone, so... I'm going to take the graduation exam." Ah, that's right. It's that time of year. "It's review week right now, so attendance isn't really mandatory. And you're way cooler than Iruka-sensei."
Chuckling softly, "Don't write him off completely just because he's so fond of lectures." Iruka-sensei is a very kind person and dedicated to his job. He has to be, to put up with snotty brats for so many years. "So, what sort of advice are you after? It's been a few years since I graduated, but I doubt much changed in the curriculum." Revamping it is just not a priority right now. Although if the conflict with Oto spills into open war, the Academy will refocus towards practical work.
"Ah... Is the rumor I heard true? That there's a secret exam?"
I tilt my head slightly to the side as I smile, "Hn. I wonder?" It's an informal rule, but we're not supposed to discuss the true genin exam.
Hotaru-chan is bright enough to understand. "E-eh! I didn't really believe it... Another test after the standard academy exam?" She frowns, kikaichuu humming her worry, "Do you have any advice for it?"
"Hmm, nothing beyond the advice I gave you when we started actually practicing genjutsu. Do you remember?"
"Un, I remember!" Hotaru practically beams with pride, parroting my words back at me, "One of the most powerful tools a ninja has is his or her mind. If you can't overpower your opponent, outthink them. Being tricky is its own strength."
I nod, flashing my student a small, genuine smile. "That's right. I'm glad you haven't forgotten. Everything else you need, you should have learned in class. I know you'll make us proud." Reaching over, I ruffle her hair, chuckling when she slaps my hand away with an annoyed huff.
"I have the morning free. How about we grab breakfast, and you tell me about your current projects?"
"Sure!" She chirps, "Actually, I also I wanted your opinion on a jutsu I've been working on, I was thinking that lacing the air with a hallucinogen—"
The noonday sun is warm, but not overwhelmingly so. The rays spray over the stone of the memorial, abyssal black but the light reveals a glimmer— tiny sparks, like stars in the void.
His eye lingers on the usual names.
Uchiha Obito.
Ne, Obito-kun, are you proud of who Sasuke has become? He's your cousin, after all. I think you'd be a little annoyed, he's more similar to me than you in terms of personality. You'd like Naruto-kun, though.
Nohara Rin.
Hmm... I bet you would be working directly under Tsunade-sama by now, Rin-chan. You'd be happy that she's back in the village and insisting on better medical training for our shinobi.
And, finally, Namikaze Minato.
Sensei, I'm sorry. I never did get to train your son, despite my efforts. By the time I had a chance, Jiraiya snapped him up... typical, right? I always— He cuts that line of thought off and continues with a more optimistic one. By all accounts, he is growing up to be a fantastic shinobi. And he has good friends looking out for him, just like you and Kushina-nee would have wanted.
There are other familiar names etched on the stone, of course. Many, many names— he has been in the game long enough to outlive many colleagues. Today, he feels... relatively content. It's been a relaxing morning. He's described the latest of Jiraiya's novels to Obito, told Rin a little village gossip about a new civilian flower shop struggling to compete with the Yamanaka, and updated Minato-sensei on the status of his son, as well as bragging a little about his cute little students.
His solitude is disturbed by the arrival of his favorite student— not that anyone will ever know that, let alone Sasuke. He glances at the younger man, but Sasuke doesn't speak, merely nodding a polite hello and settling into a meditative position, cross-legged, with hands on his knees.
For a while, there is silence, disturbed only by their breathing, and the unobtrusive sounds of the local fauna, going about their daily lives in the surrounding woods.
Kakashi spends the time trying to determine the exact moment when Team Seven changed from being students, green soldiers to torment and teach, to friends and, finally... family. Because that is what his cute little no-longer-genin are— his younger siblings, his children. Even if it has been several years since they were officially his. Well, all but Sasuke. As always, he wonders at his luck and then, remembering another Team Seven that had been a family, wonders when the other shoe will drop.
Because Hatake Kakashi is not allowed to have a family.
Still, his cute little protégé is obviously stalling.
Sasuke-kun, I am almost ninety percent certain you didn't decide to seek me out on one of your very, very rare days off to share a quiet moment.
Hmm, on second thought, at least seventy-five percent certain.
He is only somewhat surprised Sasuke senses his growing curiosity, and speaks, "Kakashi-sensei... I need something of a favor. There's something I'm curious about."
"Oho? Well, alright."
Despite his relaxed manner, Kakashi can tell his student is anxious. "How much can you tell me about Elder Danzou?" But the question is more about Danzou's organization than the man himself.
"Hmm." And what inspired this dangerous line of questioning, I wonder? "That depends." Mostly on what you intend to do with said information. Why are you asking, Sasuke? Did he approach you again?
"No; it's not that. It's more personal than last time."
Personal? The only things you consider personal are family and friends. An unsettling line of thought. Regardless, the easiest way to receive an answer is to ask; so Kakashi asks. "What brought this on?"
"I read a very interesting book. You know the one."
You read it? Of course you read it, had to know if the information was worth risking your life. Curious to a fault, so long as you don't break any rules overtly. Well, I suppose that's rue for most shinobi. Still, we're treading a dangerous line, discussing something like that out in the open. But... if neither of us sense a spy listening in, one is highly unlikely.
"Hmm, maybe. What was it about?" Considering what we saw on that mission; I can guess. Do you really believe that Danzou is associated with those experiments somehow? True, the man is ruthless, and there have been suspicions of association with Ororchimaru in the past. But Orochimaru is the one obsessed with kekkei-genkai.
"Lost children. It reminded me a little of my family. I want to see if I can find a sequel."
...Damn it, Sasuke. Kakashi remembers now, belatedly, the other reason he never wanted a genin team.
Turning towards his student, taking care to convey seriousness instead of his usual relaxed nature through body language, he asks a pointed question. "You are going to pursue this regardless of what I say, aren't you?"
"I enjoy reading." Sasuke flashes an unrepentant smile, and it is entirely fake. His eyes remain somber.
The taller man sighs, but eventually nods his acceptance. "Alright." I trust you. Be careful. "I'll tell you as much as I know. It's been quite a long time since... well, you know I prefer other kinds of literature." He adds the latter with a perverse giggle, amused when Sasuke rolls his eyes.
I spend two months combing through paperwork, cross-checking birth and death records starting from seven years leading up to the Uchiha massacre—while civilians begin to forget their early childhood memories around age seven, ninja often recall episodic memories as far back as age three or four even as adults, and untrained children of ninja tend to fall somewhere in between— with the public records listing the dead from that night. Eventually, I come to the inevitable conclusion: if anyone kidnapped Uchiha children that night, or stole the eyes of the dead, I will need access to documents from either Danzou's organization or Orochimaru's research to prove it.
Unfortunately, that notebook we risked life and limb for is long gone, buried somewhere in ANBU records or perhaps being analyzed by the research department. For that matter, I probably shouldn't know too many details about its contents anyway.
Both opponents are likely out of my league. But since Orochimaru is definitely out of my reach... Danzou it will have to be. But I'll need more help than just Kakashi-sensei's grudging advice and hazy, decade-old memories.
Another month of fruitless searching passes before I can arrange a discreet meeting.
This time, Itachi comes to me.
For once, I am not camping out in the wilderness. Instead, I am spending the night in a mid-sized, relatively upscale hotel in Tanzaku Gai. My temporary chuunin teammates and I will journey back to Konoha tomorrow. The room is even free of charge, courtesy of our client, who owns the hotel in question. My partners for this mission will likely spend the evening carousing in the red light district. Per their request, none of us are sharing a hotel room; our rooms are across the hall from each other.
In short, this is as ideal a situation as I can hope for; requesting solo missions too often or on a noticeable schedule would be suspicious. Not to mention the risk involved; while I'm certain I could either successfully kill or escape most of the idiots on Orochimaru's payroll, I'd rather avoid testing the theory. And avoid confronting Orochimaru in general.
I return to my room to find a familiar figure closing a window—a window that had not been open when I departed in search of dinner.
There is a moment of silence, as I lock the door behind myself and pause, gazing at Itachi from across the room— "Thank you. For agreeing to meet." Your trust means a lot to me.
"Silly little brother," comes the reply in an even, emotionless tone. Is that the way it is? Not the healthiest approach, perhaps, but I am far from the paragon of mental stability either.
I tilt my head towards the tray resting on my left palm— a lightly steaming pot of tea with two cups beside it. "...Tea?"
"Hn." A slight nod, barely perceptible, as he sits.
I pour us both a cup, and join him on the couch, sipping the hot beverage quietly. Soon enough, my cup is half-empty, and I've yet to say anything. I set it aside on the nearest flat surface— a small side table— with an internal sigh.
Even after several years of contact and the occasional meeting, this is really fucking awkward. Not that I'm surprised but, more disappointed, maybe. What makes it worse is that, by nature, I am a tactile person.I was always the most tactile in our immediate family, with Mother being a close second; Father and Itachi were far more reserved. I'd always been ready to pounce on, hug, and cuddle with Itachi-nii... And while I still am demonstrative like that, especially with Naruto, Shino, and Ino, circumstances have, understandably, stripped me of the easy trust I once held for Itachi.
I want to remedy that. But overcoming over half a decade of fearing him? Years of nightmares that caused anxiety, terror, paranoia and everything in between? It's more surprising I can be in the same room as him than my— issues.
Itachi nudges me gently with his shoulder, shaking me from my morose thoughts. His eyes are warm, and corner of his mouth twitches upwards as he reaches over with his right hand and ruffles my hair— oh, and now he's laughing at me. Great. Now this is awkward and embarrassing.
A few minutes of contented silence, I decide that if I don't ask now, I never will. And candor is probably the best approach.
"Nii-san. I have a request."
"Hn?"
"Listen to my logic first, before pointing out the obvious flaws?"
The older Uchiha arches a brow at that, but nods.
I take a deep, steadying breath, gathering my thoughts. "...A man like Danzou. Do you really think he didn't spirit anything away that night? Children young enough to forget their origins? Sharingan eyes plucked from their owners' heads? Yes, ANBU were responsible for securing the bodies, but—" Not all shinobi are solely loyal to the Hokage. You know that more than most. And how much of the mission was sanctioned by other factions in village? Do I really want to know who turned a blind eye? Not really.
"Neither of us could oversee the funerals, for... obvious reasons." I was comatose, and you were fleeing from said ANBU. "If nothing else, clan records and jutsu. I am loath to let him gain anything from the tragedy he helped orchestrate."
"There is little point in chasing ghosts, Sasuke-kun. Paperwork isn't worth risking your life."
"I— some of the things I've seen of Orochimaru's research has made me suspicious. Far more suspicious than I was before." Meeting you here is already flirting with treason, so I suppose I could explain in detail, but I'd rather not.
This is more than paranoia.
Please believe me.
A vision of the eyeless boy-child, old scars on his face, as if his eyes had been transplanted repeatedly— stop. This is not the time to be distracted. So I continue, expression stubborn, despite the fact I can sense more than see Itachi growing tense. "I've made some discreet inquiries to people I trust implicitly, but information is limited. Is there anything you can tell me about Danzou's organization?"
"Sasuke-kun."
"Yes, pursuing this is dangerous. More than dangerous. I know. Being a little reckless is necessary." If nothing else, Naruto has taught me that. Ha! Learning to do the impossible from the most impossible person in the world. "Reckless, I can do. Learning the truth of things would be worth it, for me." I've certainly proven that before. Reaching up, I comb fingers through my bangs— fidgeting, a nervous habit I usually suppress. I suppose that means I am becoming used to his presence again, despite everything.
As much as I want that, it may be dangerous if we need to fight seriously in the future. Sparring last time was unwise; I shouldn't have asked. Even if it gave me more information on Itachi's physical health than he would have betrayed otherwise.
We should probably limit further contact. Face-to-face contact at least.
"While I would dearly love to see the people that arranged that night dead, this isn't about revenge. I said it before: I don't care about revenge. I just want to be certain they're not still profiting from what was done."
Itachi closes his eyes in—frustration, perhaps? Or resignation? "You want to infiltrate his organization?"
"Not exactly. While he tried to recruit me— I did turn him down, and both you and I know that Danzou is not foolish enough to believe in a sudden change of heart. He might approach me again in the future, but there is no guarantee."
A slight nod, with an accompanying "Hn" of agreement.
"But with enough information, it should be possible to appropriate copies of that organization's records. All organizations, no matter how secret, create a paper trail. Admittedly, this would have to be planned and executed carefully. But if he's been doing what I suspect? Well, accurate record keeping is key for experimentation." For any kind of research, really.
Shino and Ino, would probably... no, they definitely would help, if I asked. I won't ask. I don't want them to risk their careers on a suspicion, however. Naruto— he'd follow me to the ends of the earth if I asked. That's Naruto. But he's far away, and he's better off not getting involved, anyway. Kakashi-sensei, as much as I trust him— he won't say anything about my investigation, but he would put the village first. Involving him any further is too risky. The rest of my friends..? No, we're not close enough.
"If I can find anything genuinely incriminating, Tsunade-sama would back me, especially if I ask Naruto to help convince her. Perhaps Sandaime-sama would as well, retired or no." This is partly his mess, after all. Still, I'm not actually certain either would support me, not without me trying to back them into a corner with blackmail. Which would be a phenomenally stupid idea. "Even if neither agrees, I'll still be in the right, politically speaking, in the eyes of the other clans." Internal politics might pressure them enough to offer up at least lip service publicly. Shrugging, I admit, "I've already started looking through records. It will take time, but despite the current political situation, I have time at the moment."
"You've reviewed Uchiha clan records before."
"With a different focus in mind," comes the quick retort. It's the closest I've come to admitting I may have been a bit too single-minded in the beginning. I sure as hell won't admit my current search has yielded nothing definite. "And you're avoiding it, the fact that a man like Shimura Danzou would take any and every advantage."
A tense pause— finally, a resigned sigh, followed by a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth. "Very well. I can see you will not be dissuaded from this path." That he might as well improve my chances of success is strongly implied with his body language.
I feel a wave of relief, though I try to limit any visible signs of it. "Thank you."
Turning, Itachi taps gently at my forehead, "You did not need to worry so, little bird. Ask, and I will support you." That he will do so even if he disagrees with my decision is strongly implied by his tone.
"Nii-san." I know that. And I love you for it, Itachi-nii. "I'm not a child anymore." I can make my own decisions, good or bad. Trust me, or at least trust in my abilities.
"You will always be my otouto." It is the duty of an older brother to watch over and protect the younger, huh?
"Hn. A younger brother can protect his older brother, too, so don't expect me to always step aside."
You have given up so much already. How could I ask more of you and still be able to look myself in the eye?
He doesn't really know what to think of Sasuke.
Recollections of the bright, kind-hearted little boy that idolized him war with the current reality. Each letter, each fleeting meeting reinforces the idea that Sasuke is different, no longer the child he once was. He recognizes that some of those changes were forged by his own hand— through blood, loneliness, and pain. Through his own attempts to shape Sasuke into someone that would not hesitate to end his existence.
Another childhood broken by the shinobi system. But more so by my failure, by my short-sightedness.
No matter his intelligence or experience as a shinobi, at thirteen Itachi had been... somewhat limited in his world view.
Still, some things in this older Sasuke are familiar. He clings to the idea of family as strongly as he did as a child. And yet, how he defines family has changed. Further still, this Sasuke is old enough, strong enough, bullheaded enough to fight what a sane man would consider impossible odds— for his sensei, for his teammates, for his friends. And miraculously, despite everything he has done, this list of precious people apparently includes one Uchiha Itachi.
Sasuke remains a genuinely kind and forgiving person at heart, despite his efforts to hide it. Masks behind masks, behind masks... that is as aspect of shinobi life familiar to Itachi, but not something he expected from his overemotional little brother.
Sasuke is a medic-nin, and for the first time in years, Itachi can breathe easily. The disease he thought would either kill him or inevitably lead to a moment of weakness, a mistake in the field that would result in his death, is gone. And while his vision still fades, slowly but steadily with use of the sharingan... No one said an Uchiha must kill his or her sibling to exchange eyes. And Sasuke, too, is cursed with the mangekyou.
Silly, stubborn little bird.
Each time they meet face to face, Itachi half-fears that Sasuke will ask to come with him. Because Sasuke's loyalty is to people, not to Konoha itself, or to an ideal like the Will of Fire. Were he the sort to believe in Kami, Itachi would pray that question never comes.
I do not know what I would say. I know what I should say: no. Because he is the last hope of a future for the Uchiha, for our family. Is it fair, that I ask him to be such? No. But the life of a missing-nin is not one he would wish on anyone, especially not his little brother. And yet... Itachi knows his own faults. Sasuke is a weakness, his greatest weakness.
If asked, he does not know if he would say no.
Itachi regrets.
He regrets much in his decade-long shinobi career, but most of all that he could not watch Sasuke mature into the willful young man he is now.
His musings are interrupted by the arrival of a chakra signature at the front door to the suite. It's Sasuke-kun, of course. He drops the genjutsu cloaking him from view as the door opens and reaches back to shut the window he'd entered through.
The hotel room fills with the scent of a blend of tea he recognizes, one favored by— Otou-sama. He ignores the familiar pang in his heart, idly wondering if that blend was chosen on purpose. Unlikely. Odds are this is something Sasuke-kun does not consciously remember.
They share the tea in silence after a brief exchange of greetings.
Itachi wavers between amusement and sadness at Sasuke's attempts to grow more comfortable with his presence. He should discourage it. This can only end in tears. They both know better— but he allows himself an ounce of selfishness. Just this once.
A nudge, to distract Sasuke from his thoughts. He reaches over and ruffles his younger brother's hair, so similar to his own, fighting back a smile at the disgruntlement that flickers momentarily on Sasuke's face.
"Nii-san. I have a request."
At least his actions seem to have prompted Sasuke to explain why he'd asked for a meeting. He listens with growing trepidation to Sasuke's new obsession. More secrets. Another truth to search out. Another self-imposed mission, no less dangerous than the last. Investigating Danzou's organization is far more dangerous than looking into the past misdeeds of the Uchiha.
He argues back, trying to convince his otouto to see sense, playing devil's advocate at every turn. Inwardly, he is not so convinced Sasuke's assumptions are wrong.
You're planning what could easily become a suicide mission. An unauthorized one that can have you censured by the village. But— I would not put it beyond Danzou. If there are Uchiha children that have been disappeared into that organization...
What would I do in your place?
It is that last thought is what gives him pause, keeps him from arguing harder. Uchiha Itachi learns from his mistakes. All that is left for him is to decide if he will help or not. And, in the end, was there any doubt?
Of course, I will support you, little bird.
Separated by distance and— to most of the world, at least— allegiances, the Uchiha brothers nevertheless stand together.
And that is simply how things are.
Sasuke is a stubborn, suspicious little ninja with an obsessive personality. Itachi's issues have issues. (Neither should come as a surprise.) Trouble is brewing. Thoughts?
Thanks for the review, Joebob323. Regarding your question- yes, we will eventually see ANBU Sasuke kick some ass. (Though not necessarily in uniform.) Any significant Sasuke/Temari interaction will take longer because of [redacted spoiler]. I hope to finally update Tempestuous before then, too. Because surely the muses are not so cruel as to give me writer's block there forever?
Oh who am I kidding, they totally are.
* Lyrics from "Discord" by The Living Tombstone.