A Perception of Reality

by knightchaser

There is a belief that states for every action taken, the alternative action is played out in another dimension. In one reality Itachi succeeded in killing his clan, in another, he failed. This is the story of what happened when he failed.

58. Chapter 58 The New Village

You know… I knew it would happen. Madara busted Sasuke for being out after curfew and hauled him back home! When will teenagers learn? Always have an alibi. Geeze… hanging out with that Konoha gang… good thing Zetsu was there. Who knows what bad habits Sasuke could have picked up from those kids? Poisoned knives, white twirly balls of chakra and that Kakashi guy is definitely a bad influence. Madara sure has his work cut out for him with that kid, but that's what he gets for taking in wayward relatives. xD

Thanks for all the reviews and favs!

Disclaimer: Naruto is owned by Kishimoto

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Chapter 58 – The New Village

"You sure are pensive for an eleven-year-old."

Sasuke glanced over at the clan leader, who was standing about ten feet away and leaning against the side of the tea house. The building was empty at the moment, as it was still early, but eating out wasn't what brought Sasuke to the Uchiha district.

"You sure are good at finding me, Lord Sora." Sasuke exclaimed. He was sitting on the edge of the wooden porch with his legs hanging over the side and leaning back on his hands. "Afraid I'll run away?"

"Perhaps." Without asking, the clan lord sat down next the boy and stared out at the garden. "The cherry trees are finally in bloom, are you meeting up with your friends later for the festival?"

"Yeah." It had been two months since Sasuke had arrived in Mist and while the time had passed quickly, it also seemed to widen the distance in his heart between himself and Konoha. "In a couple hours."

"So why are you here?"

Sasuke sighed, "I heard there was another 'ceremony' last night. Aina's brother had to fight."

Sora smiled, "He won, so what's the problem? Your girlfriend should be proud of her brother."

"It's sick that you don't see a problem." Sasuke fumed, "And if you hadn't heard yet, the boy who lost… his mother killed herself. He was all she had, no other children, and her husband died last year in an accident. How could you do that to her?"

"It strengthens the clan. We have no choice. You'll understand…"

"The only thing I understand is how hard I'll have to work to set you guys straight."

That made the clan chief laugh, "I'm sorry, but you are definitely your own person. You are so much like Madara at times that it surprises me. At other times, you are so different I wonder if he is mistaken about you being his son."

"I don't believe in throwing away lives."

"Neither do I, Sasuke." Sora sighed and gazed across at the enclosed tea garden. The immaculately tended grounds contained a couple blossoming cherry trees that were blowing gracefully in the breeze, blanketing the ground in a layer of pink.

"Humph." Predictably, the boy didn't believe his words. He had seen Aina the previous evening by the training grounds. Her tears were real enough to reaffirm the conviction he had made several months earlier to stop the ceremony and save his Mist kin.

"The clan will be needed in the coming battle. That battle will bring peace to the world, Saskue, and after that there will be no more need for ninjas. All we have to do is follow along, do our part, and in the end the rewards will all be worth it."

"Itachi said that peace at any cost isn't worth it because it kills too many people. It was the reason Danzou was forcing him to kill all of us. And he would have done it too. But you guys… just what do you want me to do? You're always checking up on me and keeping me busy training and seeing if I'm happy or not. Are you guys wanting me to kill someone?"

"Lots of people, actually. You play a very important part in the future of the clan and the world."

"I'll pass." Sasuke responded grumpily. Silence fell over the pair for a while and they both watched as the fog grew brighter and began dispersing. Bright yellow streams of sunlight broke threw the overcast skies and shone on the small garden, like a spotlight on a stage illuminating the star. Sounds began to come from inside the tea house as the employees began setting things up.

"It bothers you that much." Sora finally replied. His only answer was a glare as the boy stood up and walked away.

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The letter was long, and by now, well read. Mikoto had, memorized its contents, but she couldn't overcome the desire to hold something in her hands that came from her son, albeit indirectly. About a month after Sasuke's arrival in Mist Aya had written a letter containing information and anecdotes about the boy's new life. She had tried to sound upbeat, even going so far as to include a few photographs of the young boy. Everything seemed fine, but Mikoto knew that whatever the younger woman wrote would ultimately be screened by Madara. The "truth" was probably in there somewhere, but Mikoto distrusted the man too much to take his words for granted.

Setting the letter down she looked at her self in the mirror above her dresser. Fine lines were beginning to form under her eyes and her hair definitely needed trimmed. A long time ago she had been quite vain about things like that. Her hair, while certainly not fashionable was always perfectly cut and she took better care of her skin.

"What are you looking at?" Fugaku mumbled sleepily from the bed as he pulled himself up and spotted his wife at the other end of the room.

Mikoto sighed, "I'm getting old."

"Yeah, me too." The clan lord groaned as he climbed out of bed. "I guess we should be happy about that. A lot of shinobi don't make it this far, but my body is rather stiff in the mornings these days."

Laughing, Mikoto made her way to husband and kissed gently him on the cheek, "Time to let the youngsters take over, huh?"

"Not on your life!" Fugaku snickered, "I'm still having fun! Besides, I'm only forty-three. That still young, right?"

Mikoto flashed him a big smile, "To an eighty-year-old, sure. Whatever you say, dear."

"Well, I've got to the office. Inoichi kept bugging me about wanting to go after his foster kids so I finally told him the truth about their mission. Now he's bugging me to send them backup."

"He cares a lot about Sakura and Sai."

"Yeah. I underestimated him in that. I thought for sure he had just taken in the kids because his wife and daughter talked him into it. Obviously there was more to it than that."

Mikoto gave him a lop-sided grin, "Like you and Naruto? You grew up an orphan, Fugaku, just like he was. I know you promised Minato to watch over his son, but it's just as plain to me that you didn't like the idea of him being by himself. And he certainly means a lot to you now."

"Hmm…" Fugaku made his way to bathroom and disappeared behind the closed door.

Mikoto gave a short laugh as she started shoving hangers around in the closet, looking for something to wear. "Maybe I should go shopping… get a new dress, new hair cut, eat lunch…"

"Itachi! Naruto! Get up here right now so I can kill you!" The voice was loud, very distinct, and very angry. Sheeta, who was now five months pregnant and very prone to mood-swings was using a jutsu to project her voice throughout the house.

"What in the world is going on up there?" Fugaku muttered as he stepped out of the bathroom, wet from the shower.

"We probably don't want to know. Just pretend you don't hear anything." Mikoto laughed.

"You put what in her closet?" This time it was Itachi's voice, coming from down the hall.

Naruto responded nervously, "That maid uniform. You remember… when we went to get Sasuke you and me made a bet that I could get Sheeta to wear one. You said she wouldn't but that you'd like to see her in one. Don't tell me you forgot?"

Fugaku and Mikoto stared at each other wide-eyed for a moment before Fugaku grabbed a robe from the end of the bed and threw it on. Making his way to the door he was stopped when his wife grabbed his arm.

"Are you going out there to ogle your daughter-in-law in a maid outfit?"

"Y…yeah…" Fugaku stuttered, then smiled mischievously at the glare Mikoto gave him, "It's not like you would ever wear one. It's my only chance to… Hey! No hitting!"

Mikoto shoved him back towards the middle of the room. "Behave yourself!"

"I was just going to look…" Fugaku wandered back to the bathroom.

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"She's going to kill both of us." Itachi stated plainly. He was leaning up against the smooth wooden wall and staring up the stairs. Sheeta, dressed in her dark blue robe was standing at the top with her arms crossed over her swollen belly and a look on her face that was definitely intimidating. He pushed Naruto towards the staircase. "You go first."

"Me?"

"Women and children first. No women down here, so that means the children go next. Besides it was your idea."

"So? I thought it would be cute."

"You're too young to think things like that."

"Am not!"

"I'm not discussing this with you."

"You are too!" Naruto shouted. "We're standing here talking now!"

Itachi blinked in surprise, then looked up the stairs. Sheeta had been ordered to remain at home for the rest of her pregnancy with close supervision of her condition and whatever food or beverages she consumed or came into contact with. Not only that, but the exam for the Cryptology squad was coming up in a couple days and she had been putting in extra hours studying. Not only was it something she had been looking forward to for months, but it was the only exception from the "stay home" rule Tsunade had been willing to consider.

"This was a really bad time to play a joke on her, Naruto."

"Huh? You really think she's mad at us?"

"I…" He looked closer at the robe. It only went to her knees, but he noticed her nightgown, which should have brushed against the floor, was gone. Her legs were bare. Creasing his brow he wondered what exactly she was up to. "Sheeta… what are you up to?"

"Always so suspicious. Now both of you! Get up here!"

"Fine." Itachi led the way as the pair climbed the stairs to the second floor. Sheeta backed away from them as they entered the hallway.

"Now, I know this was probably Naruto's idea because Itachi would never be that… well… this just isn't something he would pull. However, we have a bigger problem. Obviously whatever was going on involved a maid outfit. However…" She opened her robe and Itachi saw why she had been holding her arms over her midsection. She was holding up a long skirt.

"That… Naruto?" Itachi was speechless. The "maid outfit" was actually the type an old scullery maid from the West would have worn a couple hundred years earlier. A long blue skirt, long sleeved matching shirt, full white apron with ruffles and large pockets, and as they watched the teen pulled out a fabric hat and fitted it over her head.

"It is apparent to me," Sheeta continued, "That Naruto is far too young to understand what, exactly, a maid outfit is supposed to entail. Itachi, as the one in this household responsible for his training, I find this oversight reprehensible."

"I'm… sorry?" He had been told once, by someone, that apologizing to a mad wife was a good idea, but he wasn't sure what, exactly he had done wrong. Sheeta turned on her heal and returned to her room, slamming the door in the process.

"Whew!" Naruto wipe his brow with the back of his hand, "We're still alive. And you owe me money!"

Itachi couldn't get over the feeling that the whole thing had somehow been a setup as he fished around in his pocket for some change. "I'll give it to you later. I don't have much money on me right now."

The blond boy gave him a big grin and raised one thumb in the air, "Okay!"

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The deathly calm that existed in the deserted forest disappeared quickly when one entered one of the giant trees. The sounds of people talking, children playing, Shinobi training pervaded the senses and when Kabuto closed his eyes he would swear he was back in Konoha.

When he had arrived, Kabuto had fully expected Danzou's hideout to be similar to Orochimaru's. Dark, cold, full of prisoners, torture and above all, fighting and anger. The reality, though, was a ninja village full of Shinobi, civilians, men, women and children. He saw babies being pushed in strollers, children running to school, old men playing shogi in the park, and off-duty Ninjas making passes at Kunoichi.

The militant stronghold he had expected didn't seem to exist. Or at least, not in the way he had expected it to. He saw ninja guards everywhere, and there were rumors of spies who mingled with open ears gather information about possible traitors, but Kabuto knew form experience that ANBU had often served that purpose inside Konoha as well.

The artificial lights that illuminated the inside of the tree were bright and powered with chakra. A group of Shinobi maintained a jutsu that somehow case a soft glow from the tree itself. It didn't hurt the eyes to look at it, but at the same time was as bright as the inside of a house.

The food that was grown at the top of the tree was tasty, and Kabuto was very happy to be able to eat fresh vegetables and fruit again. Orochimaru had lived almost entirely on canned food and soldier pills. Water came from an underground aquifer and was plentiful.

Kabuto shook his head in resignation as he moved over to the window of his lab and stared down at the lower levels. Naturally formed terraces, perhaps a hundred or more, formed livable areas for the many residents. He could see the closest level beneath him. It was offset instead of being underneath and contained a large park. The grass was artificially grown, but still real and the swings and slides were full of school children taking advantage of a day off. They were happy, laughing and playing as if they had no cares in the world.

But he knew they did. The children of this tree city were very worried. Danzou preached frequently about the horrors of war and many of them had already lived through it. There was a growing fear that Konoha would attack, and should Danzou be killed, they would soon follow.

"Are you adjusting?"

'Speak of the devil.' Kabuto said to himself before answering, "Getting there, anyway. It's quite a place you have here. After hiding underground for so long with Orochimaru, this is quite an adjustment. It's almost luxurious."

"It's the life a Shinobi deserves. We work hard to maintain the peace of this world, and we deserve the right to keep our families safe and happy." Danzou moved slowly to a chair and sat down, keeping his cane in front of him.

"You're using the Senju symbol for your village, but the name…"

"You don't like it?"

"It's too close to Konoha's name."

"Ki was one of the names the First considered when founding the village." Danzou explained patiently, "We are the embodiment of his intentions, and as such have taken his symbol and name."

"Village hidden in the Trees and Village hidden in the Leaves is rather confusing." Kabuto scratched the back of his head nervously and laughed.

"True. But when we wipe out Konoha, there will be no more confusion."

"Good point." The teen reluctantly admitted. He also knew it worked the other way around as well and he glanced back at the distant playground.

"Well, I got work to do. If you need anything, send me a message. Oh, and the vitamin supplements you asked to be added to the children's daily diet has been passed into law. We didn't realize not having any sunshine was such a problem, good thing you noticed the vitamin D deficiency before it got out of hand."

"Yeah, rickets isn't fun, but those kids will recover." By the third day in Ki Kabuto had had easily identified several young children with bowed legs and diagnosed their condition. The medics Danzou had recruited knew little of childhood diseases and had focused mainly on treating battle injuries. It was unfortunate and he had spent the intervening weeks trying to bridge the gap between ninja and civilian in their treatment practices. So far it had been an uphill battle. But he had won at least one fight.

Danzou left the room, silent as ever, and closed the door behind him. The lab was something Kabuto had only dreamed of. It was very modern, with several computers, diagnostics machines, books and all the chemicals and beakers a researcher could ever wish for. It was set up for Orochimaru, with the hope that he would one day join them here, but of course that had never happened.

"Are you alone?" The door opened again and Sai and Sakura wandered in.

"No, we're having a party. See all the people?" Kabuto grinned. He had been getting along will with the two kids and enjoyed their company, much to his surprise. Sakura had expressed an interest in learning medical jutsu and he had agreed to spend an hour with her everyday before judging whether she should ask to transfer to the medic division. Sai, of course, got along with everyone. Or so it seemed. The boy was rather repressed and seemed, often, to not know what he should do or feel.

"Ha ha!" Sai laughed, "Can we join in?"

"We have to talk." Sakura got to the point as she grabbed one of the lab stools and sat down. Kabuto and Sai joined her. "Sai got a message a few minutes ago."

"Oh?" Kabuto still wasn't thrilled about working for Konoha, and had considered the possibility of joining Danzou body and soul after arriving in Ki. The concept sounded simple, but he knew that if he did so he would be nothing more than a walking dead man. Fugaku did not take kindly to betrayal, and neither did Itachi, for that matter.

"We are to find any and all weaknesses the village has and report them back to the Hokage."

Kabuto laughed, "I would love to have seen their faces when they learned about this place."

"Not me." Sakura responded softly, "This situation is scary. I wish I wasn't here."

"Me too, kid." Kabuto admitted. "Really, It's all just too much to deal with. Sometimes I…" he suddenly stopped talked and began scratching the back of his head again, "Nevermind, just rambling."

Sai smiled back, "You're good at that. I tried it, but everyone looked at me like I had lost my head."

"I would have liked to have seen that." Kabuto mumbled, suddenly envisioning the stoic boy in a failed attempt at acting befuddled. He imagined it would look something like a constipated cow and a hysterical chicken.

"So where do we start?" Sakura got them back on track.

"The underground, of course." Sai smiled, "It connects all the inhabited trees and has the engineering rooms, prisons, and government offices."

Kabuto sighed in resignation, "I'm spending my life underground again, huh? Well, let's get this started."

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The rain fell steadily, as always, over Pein's city, but while the dreary weather matched his mood, it did little to ease his heart. Once the industrial capital of the old world, the worn, ruined city as it was now was barely functional enough to support the impoverished residents who had taken refuge within her walls. Pein had promised to one day restore his countries grandeur, but that day seemed a long ways off, and drifting further with every passing hour.

He pushed his chakra into the falling drops and sensed nothing in range that shouldn't be there. Of course, there was one person he was unable to detect.

"Pein? He's here…" Konan's voice trailed off as she called out to her friend, who was perched precariously on the figurehead of one of the gods that decorated his headquarters.

He was silent for a couple minutes. He didn't feel like conversing with Madara. The man had a way of talking him into doing things that weren't exactly within his own plans. However, it was pointless to send him away.

"Pein?" A strong voice called out to him and he turned his head, seeing the elder Uchiha standing behind Konan. The blue-haired woman stepped back and folded her hands inside her sleeves to keep them warm.

Pein let out a small grunt as he stood up and made his way through the rain to the covered entryway. His orange hair was dripping water into his face, but he made no move to wipe it away, nor did he speak as he stood eye to eye with black and red cloaked man.

"I am rather concerned with your actions of late." Madara continued, sensing there would be no pleasantries forthcoming from the pair in front of him. "I know you spoke with Fugaku and agreed to support him." He paused, waiting for a reaction, but neither Pein nor Konan responded. "Silent as always."

"What would you have me say?" Pein finally asked. His deep voice lacked emotion, and his Rinnegan eyes were locked onto Madara's Sharingan.

"Good question. I have supported you and your merry band of rebels for years and asked only that you support me as the leader of Akatsuki. Yet the first chance you get you betray me."

"How?"

"What? How?" Madara hadn't expected to hear what sounded like a denial.

"How exactly have I betrayed you?" Pein clarified. He saw that Madara was still confused and continued, "You have put off gathering the Jinchuurikis for years. We could have gotten them all by now and been done with this. Yet instead to seem to be waiting around for Sasuke to grow into something, or do something. And you are not clarifying your intentions to me. Akatsuki was meant to be a means to an end, an end that would bring a new beginning and spread peace. Yet you are using it for your own purposes. If that is the case, then you are the one betraying me."

"Humph. Semantics. It does not change the fact that you have agreed to support Fugaku against me."

"And what do you plan to do about it?" Pein asked matter-of-factly. He glanced down at Konan and saw that she was staring diligently at the floor. A smart move when in the presence of a Sharingan.

"Nothing. I have come here for one reason. To tell you that I have found a replacement. Sasuke has come to me and I can use him just as easily as I could have used you for my final plan. And you might pass this along to your new partner: if you should attack Mist, we have a power you cannot contend with."

Konan spoke up, "Mangekyou Sharingan."

"Yes. Only Shinobi with the Mangekyou are worthy of the Uchiha name and that is who you would face off against."

Pein closed his eyes and sighed, "Very well. You have said your piece. We can now consider this the end of our partnership. Out of gratitude, I will thank you for supporting us in the past, but now, we will stand on our own two feet."

Madara nodded once and disappeared, leaving the man and woman alone on the rooftop.

"Is he really gone?" Konan asked quietly.

"Probably not for good. It was hard. We would have died a dozen times over if he hadn't been there for us."

"I know." Konan slipped her hand into Pein's and looked up into his eyes, "But it's time, as you said, for us to do things on our own. But will we really have to attack Mist?"

"It seems inevitable, but hopefully it won't come to that. If we can somehow go up against Madara… I would think that myself and Itachi would be enough to bring him down, but even I have no idea of the depth of his power. He used a forbidden jutsu to survive his battle with the First Hokage and there are multiples of me, but Itachi… he is a wildcard in all this. He is different now from the boy we recruited back then. The boy he is now does not like violence and may refuse to fight."

"Do you really think so? Itachi seems very protective of his family, if you ask me. He would attack anyone who threatened them."

"But would he kill them? Konan, this will be a battle to the death. A battle to save the world. It will be unlike anything we, Itachi, or Madara have ever experienced."

Konan hung her head again, "It always boils down to more fighting." She glanced out at the gray city. "If that's the way it is… then we are no better off than the frightened children we once were, hiding and stealing food."

"You may be right about that."

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Next week, Kabuto & co. descend into the roots to search for stuff, and Sasuke runs into trouble in Mist.

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