The Eye of the Beholder
I have no reviews for the last chapters. I know I'm remaking, but really. January 13, 2010
"Talking"
'Thinking'
Flashbacks
Demons and Higher Beings
Disclaimer: You know the deal, I don't own Naruto.
Chapter 2: Ramen, Training and Truth
The next morning...
Sasuke and Sakura had gotten up Kakashi while Kiba, Shino and Hinata carried the problem of getting the two newly acquainted relatives up.
"You'd think we could just pour water on them, like before," Kiba commented.
"I asked Kaiza-san about that, apparently he snapped at everyone who approached him, and those who attacked him were claimed to have been muttering about demons with blond hair and blue eyes," Shino told him.
"And yelling is no good, his students mentioned one of them tried that and he kept throwing punch after punch when he got up," Hinata said. "They said he was still asleep while he was fighting."
"He's Naruto's relative in that aspect as well as his looks, because Naruto is not a morning person either," Sakura commented.
'Naruto's relative,'Sasuke thought as he remembered something. Then an idea came to him.
"Do you four mind watching them for a bit?" Sasuke asked.
"Do I have any other choice?" Kakashi asked rhetorically.
"You don't, they do," Sasuke responded indicating the genin of team 8.
"Why not, it's not like he's going anywhere at the moment," Kiba commented.
Shino and Hinata just nodded.
Sasuke nodded as well as he took Sakura by the hand and went downstairs.
Sakura was blushing while Sasuke was doing this.
Tazuna and his family were up and about as Sasuke brought his teammate down.
Sasuke gathered everyone save for Inari together and explained his plan.
Everyone but Sasuke and Sakura were thinking the same thoughts, 'Why didn't I think of that?'
"You think thirty will be enough?" Sakura asked.
Meimi's stomach growled.
Everyone else just looked at her.
"Better make it forty," Sasuke answered.
Half an hour later Sasuke and Sakura walked up the steps, Sasuke with a pair of crutches in hand.
Kakashi was reading his book with a giggle and a perverted look in his eye, while Hinata was unconscious.
"Ecchi," Naruto and Kaitou both muttered in their sleep.
Sasuke, Sakura and Kiba sweat dropped at this.
"What happened?" Sakura asked.
"Kiba made a bad joke and Hinata fainted because of said joke," Shino answered.
"I figured it might work if we tried a 'Sleeping Beauty' scenario and since Shino and I have no liking to males I suggested Hinata, and that's when she fainted," Kiba explained with a chuckle.
"Baka," Kaitou muttered.
Sasuke and Sakura sweat dropped again.
"Kakashi-sensei," Sasuke said getting his attention. He handed the crutches to his sensei as he whispered what Kakashi should do.
"Good idea," Kakashi commented as he moved himself so he wasn't in between the two relatives and the door.
Sasuke, Sakura, Kiba and Shino, both holding Hinata, followed suit.
Kakashi spoke out, "You better wake up or your ramen will get cold."
All three of them felt a breeze and the images of Naruto and Kaitou on the futon faded as the blankets fell to the space that its support once occupied.
"It's a good thing, we had everything prepared," Sakura said to no one in particular.
Kakashi nodded, "I think we just found the safest method of waking those two."
His student could only mutter an agreement.
As the rest of Team 7 and Team 8 with a, conscious Hinata, entered the dining area they noticed that Naruto was on his fifth bowl while Kaitou was on his twelth. They also noticed a few used rice bowls and some other dishes for sides next to Kaitou's ramen as he kept engorging himself.
Kaitou placed another bowl in his pile as he swallowed and said to his nephew, "Naruto, you'll need to eat more than just ramen if you want your growth to improve."
"I'd eas nore variesy iths ny vudges were higher," Naruto said with his mouth full.
"Low budget or not, variety is necessary for proper health," Kaitou reprimanded. "And don't talk with your mouth full."
Most looked at Kaitou while the rest of team seven looked at Naruto.
"What?" Kaitou asked.
"You actually understood what Naruto said?" Tazuna asked.
"I'm actually more surprised that Naruto had a good reason for not eating anything but ramen," Kakashi commented.
"I concur," Sasuke nodded.
"You mean you understood what he said?" Kaiza asked.
"We're used to Naruto's manners," Sakura said simply.
"Hey, I resent that," Naruto complained before stuffing his mouth again.
This just got a chuckle from nearly everyone at the table.
In the woods...
"Alright teams," Kakashi spoke to his students as they stood in the area they would be training. "Time to train up on your chakra control."
"Tree climbing?" Kaitou asked."Hai," Kakashi said as he walked up to the tree.
"The basics are simple, you must be able to use your chakra to walk up the tree," Kaitou explained to the three. "You need to focus the exact amount at the soles of your feet to be able to do this properly. Now watch your sensei."
Kakashi held his hands in the ram symbol and just started walking up slowly with the help of his crutches. When he was finished he was hanging on one of the branches upside down by he feet.
"Before you six get started, I'm going to explain a few things," Kaitou said as he started walking up the tree himself. "The demonstration is simple, use too little," Kaitou let up a bit and started sliding down the side. He reset himself as he walked back up. "And if you use too much," Kaitou then blasted himself off of the tree, leaving a heavy indent where he was standing moments before as he landed right beside the genin. "Now before I give you six a proper training tip I want you three to trying your luck first."
"Best start off running," Kakashi said as he walked up beside his students.
Naruto made it about three steps before slipping and falling.
"No surprise," Kakashi commented about Naruto's performance.
Sasuke made five steps before repelling himself off of the tree, leaving a small indent as he jumped down.
"Even less there," Kaitou admitted as he looked at the progress of Sakura with mild surprise.
He then noticed Shino and Hinata also on one of the branches while Kiba had a few scratch marks before he fell.
"Wow, that was easier than I thought," Sakura said as she sat on the top branch.
"Also not a surprise, Shino and Hinata are both from prominent clans so chakra control are some of the main things that are drilled into into them when they start training as a shinobi, and Kiba is also no surprise, Tsume hasn't exactly been known for her patience, she probably figured Kiba would take a while," Kaitou commented.
"Get down here," Kaitou told the three as Naruto, Sasuke and Kiba stepped forward. Kaitou turned to Kakashi and said, "Don't try attacking their pride, it'll only cause problems in the long run." Kaitou then turned to Naruto, Sasuke and Kiba and told them, "Kakashi and I weren't surprised by you performances, so therefore we weren't disappointed either."
"Now you both have goals that require extensive training and serious growth," Kakashi explained to them as Sakura joined up. "All you genin need to bring your control to a whole new level."
Kaitou pulled out a piece of wire and walked up to a tree. He crouched down and moved his hand quick across the trunk. He then picked the tree up and walked to them as all seven of the other shinobi had a shocked look on their faces.
"Okay, my control isn't even up to that level," Kakashi said as he examined the area Kaitou cut to see it done perfectly. "Did you run your chakra through the wire?"
"With the right control, a piece of paper can slice through a battle axe," Kaitou said cryptically. "Now it's time to help with training. Kakashi, you go back to the house, they're safer when you're there. I'll be working on their training, and no arguments given your condition."
"What method are you going to use?" Kakashi asked before he left.
"Kage Bunshin, not the whole twenty years in a week, more toned down to ensure better progress without too much exhaustion," Kaitou answered. He placed the log down and sat on it.
Kakashi nodded as he headed toward Tazuna's house.
"Now before we jump the gun on anything, how about we welcome our guests," Kaitou said as he took his cloak off, folded it and placed it on the log. He did the same method with his trench coat, but put that on the ground. Finally, he pulled his pant legs up and took off the weights he was wearing and placed them on the ground as well.
Kaitou was wearing a short sleeved navy blue shirt with orange sleeves. Kaitou then ran out of the genins' view.
The three team mates heard a slam. A few seconds later Kaitou walked back with a man wearing a black cloak with red clouds on them and a Konoha hitai-ate with a slash through it.
What got their attention the most was his black hair and the sharingan in both eyes.
"Itachi," Sasuke muttered as Kaitou sat down and glared at Sasuke.
This got him to calm down a bit.
"Konnichiwa, otouto," Itachi said to Sasuke as he sat down as well. He looked at Naruto and said, "Naruto-sama."
Sasuke just gritted his teeth.
Naruto just gave him a shocked look. "TAKA-ANIKI!!!" he shouted.
Itachi just smirked at Naruto's recognition.
"Turn your sharingan off," Kaitou told him.
"Hai, sensei," Itachi said, surprising all three genin as his eyes turned from red to black.
"My apprentice," Kaitou told them. "Now how exactly did you come to be here?" he asked Itachi.
"Well, Otou-san and Okaa-san wanted an heir, so one night they..." Itachi said but was cut off.
"NOT THAT FAR BACK, SMART ASS!!!" Kaitou shouted.
Naruto, Sakura and Kiba snickered a bit while Sasuke couldn't help but snort, trying to hide his amusement and Hinata was smiling. Shino remained as stoic as usual.
"Got any pocky?" Itachi asked with a smirk.
"Oh Kami-sama," Kaitou said as he pulled one of his scrolls out and summoned a few snacks.
Naruto, Sakura and Kiba were trying to control themselves as Sasuke joined in the snickering while Hinata was just chuckling. Shino still kept a straight face.
"Would you like fries with that?" Kaitou asked sarcastically.
"No, I'm good," Itachi responded smartly.
This lead five of the genin to laugh heavily now at the interaction while Shino cracked a small smile.
"And the worst part is that I made him this way," Kaitou admitted as he handed the snacks to the genin and Itachi. "Now explain," Kaitou said, all business.
"It started with a plan to overthrow the Hokage and take over," Itachi started.
Flashback
"Shisui, what did you want to talk about?" Itachi asked his closest friend.
"Itachi, read this," Shisui said as he handed Itachi a set of documents.
"This is how to obtain the Mangekyou Sharingan," Itachi said as he finished reading said documents. "Why are you showing me this?"
"Because some outer force is trying to control the Uchiha, they want to overthrow the Hokage," Shisui admitted as tears started falling from his eyes. "They've already gotten me, they want you as well."
"With your abilities..." Itachi said as Shisui pulled his shirt to reveal a mark on his neck.
"What is that?" Itachi asked with alarm.
"It's what's controlling me," Shisui said as he started to cry full blown. "You're the only one I can't control, that makes you the strongest."
"What does that have to do with it?" Itachi asked as he started to fear the worst.
"Itachi-san, you must take my life," Shisui yelled with complete urgency. "You must destroy the one who is controlling me, or else the Uchiha have no future, it's already too late for me."
"Why must it be me?" Itachi asked.
"Because you want peace more than anything, you are the only one able to stop them," Shisui answered. "And, if all else fails, you're the only one capable of destroying and rebuilding the clan as it should be. Onegai," Shisui was on his knees at this point in time.
Tears started falling from Itachi's eyes as he grabbed Shisui by the collar.
Flashback End
"The same force that was controlling Shisui got to the Uchiha council," Itachi said as tears that he had been holding back since the slaughter of his family fell. "I found out how to remove the seal shortly after I fled Konoha, I'm only ninety percent sure about the who, but I can't act until I know for sure."
"Are we the only ones that know this much of the story?" Kaitou asked.
"Other than the one who tried to implement the takeover, yes," Itachi admitted.
"First question, who ordered the elimination of the clan?" Kaitou asked.
"Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, through the prodding of his advisors, Koharu, Homura and Danzo," Itachi answered with no hesitation.
"That asshole of a war hawk is still alive? You'd think someone who would use any means to gain a powerful position would have been executed by now," Kaitou thought aloud. "Second question, besides us, who are all that know of the Hokage's orders?"
"Him, his advisors and Uchiha Madara," Itachi answered.
"I take he's the one who helped you with the elimination?" Kaitou asked rhetorically. "That answers my third question. Fourth question, what did the mark on Shisui look like?"
Itachi just pulled out a slip of paper and calligraphy brush and ink and drew what the mark looked like.
Kaitou just looked at it, waiting for the ink to dry. "I honestly haven't see anything like this, that being said, it looks like a trio of sixes."
Itachi looked at it and commented, "It does."
"Well, I can't say I'm one hundred percent positive, but I can say that my conclusion is probably the same as yours," Kaitou said as he folded up the piece of paper and put it in his pocket. "It looks to me like a snake has slithered into the flames. Cold-blooded or not this snake is probably going to end up as ashes."
"My partner is probably coming to about now," Itachi said. "Best of luck to you."
"One thing, Itachi," Kaitou called out. He walked over and whispered into Itachi's ear.
Itachi just nodded.
"You can't fool me," Kaitou said as he held out his hand.
Itachi handed him a scroll. "This should have all you need."
Kaitou nodded.
"Nii-san," Sasuke muttered.
"You lived because you were innocent," Itachi told him. "Insignificant until the death of everyone else, but remember, otouto," Itachi told him. "Significance one sees in you is not the one you should be trying to achieve, it's significance in oneself, if people's belief in you is what you rely on, eventually you'll end up feeling empty when they praise another, search to ensure that you can find a purpose for yourself. Never abandon your friends, your family or your true loyalties, because if you do, you'll end up no better than the people who destroyed our family."
"Nii-san," Sasuke said, louder.
Itachi just smirked as he walked over to his younger brother and tapped him on the forehead. "Show everyone your true strength and not your hatred," Itachi said as he walked away.
And Sasuke cried, for the first time in four years, he cried.
End of Chapter...
Shorter than the last, but I just had to end it there. This is not a cliffhanger moment, and I like the concept myself. Ending a chapter this short on a cliffhanger is not my style.