Thanks for all the reviews and favs!
You know, I am quite impressed that in the manga, Naruto knows the difference between a squid and an octopus. Not only that, but he's dumb enough to stop and count the legs in middle of a dangerous squid attack, lol. I guess that's why we all like him, huh?
I really haven't explained Madara's motives very well. Or rather, the reasons behind his motives. I've actually been playing around with a story about Madara's childhood (I wrote three or four chapters to see if I could get a handle on it and some of it has already shown up in this story) and I'm not really sure why he would want a peaceful world. Either it's the way to display ultimate domination of the world by an Uchiha, or he truly wants to see a peaceful world.
It's easy to say it's the first reason, but that's not really how manga's work (or so I've noticed.) There's always some deeply tragic reason for bad guys to do the things they do, so I think I have to go with the second reason. Then again, Kishimoto has a way of turning things around on us and second guessing him is nearly impossible. Or I could just make something up since it's fanfiction anyway. As far as this story is concerned, I wasn't really going to explain it too deeply. His followers all think he wants peace, but his real motives stay slightly ambiguous in order to add more mystery.
The problem is that if I write Madara's childhood story I'll have to come up with an answer to why he wants world peace. Of course, it could just be left open ended until I got to that section of the story (hoping Kishimoto revealed some secrets by then.) I just have to think about it some more.
Disclaimer: Naruto is owned by Kishimoto
X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Chapter 63 – Leaves, Trees and Roots
As expected, Sasori's antidote worked its way through the bodies of the many victims, curing them in a matter of days. However, while they rose from their sick-beds triumphant over their recovery and grateful for Tsunade's impressive medical skills (it was deemed unnecessary to reveal the true source of the antidote) Itachi dreaded the moment Sheeta learned of the price he had paid to get it.
The young woman was able to return home within three days of treatment, but was relegated to bed rest and Fugaku had forbidden her from leaving the house. Not that she wanted to leave. After the traumatic events of the last couple of weeks she was more than happy to lay low until the baby was born. Even the news that she had received the highest score on the cryptography exam and was promised a mid-level spot in the department wasn't enough to make her feel like celebrating.
The health of the infant was now in question and it was impossible to know the full effects the poisons had on the poor fetus until birth. Oddly enough, that was probably the one thing that brought a smile to Sheeta's lips.
"No matter what, our baby is proof that Danzou doesn't have any control over us. He wants her to die, but I won't give up on her that easy."
Her attitude made Itachi feel slightly better as the couple fell back into their old argument, "You mean him."
"Got any names picked out?" Mikoto interrupted, laughing. She had brought some tea up to the second floor living room and was admiring the black lacquered furniture that Sheeta had picked out when the room was redecorated. Surprisingly, the teen had been rather traditional in her selection of furnishings and the room fit perfectly with the overall design of the house.
"'Hey you'." Itachi replied quickly.
"'Hey you'…" Sheeta repeated thoughtfully, "It has the benefit of simplicity and can be used for both girls and boys. I approve."
"Well that's settled. Now for the wedding…" Itachi dropped four sugar cubes in his tea and sipped it appreciatively.
Sheeta smirked, "We can just pretend it happened and if anyone asks, we can say 'you got so drunk at the reception I'm not surprised you don't remember any of it.'"
"Sounds good." Itachi laughed.
Mikoto shook her head, amazed at how well the couple got along together. "You do need to set a date, though."
"Next year." Sheeta sighed. "We're already legally married, so we don't have to worry about the baby. And…" She gave Itachi a worried look.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, "There's too much going on now. And we really want Aya and Sasuke to attend and if we can at least kill Danzou by then it'll feel more like a celebration. Right now… I guess…"
Sheeta shook her head and looked morosely at her mother-in-law, "It would feel like a funeral. Like we were doing something because we were supposed to instead of because we wanted to."
"I think that's probably wise." Mikoto replied kindly, "The events of the last few months… or years… have weighed heavily on the clan. And it would be nice if you two could go on a honeymoon. A nice tropical island with palm trees and sand and lots of room service."
Itachi shook his head in disbelief over his mother's plans as he stood up, "I have to attend a meeting. Sheeta, please don't stay up too late watching TV again. You need to rest."
"Yes sir!" Sheeta raised her hand to her head and saluted her husband, earning a smirk from the bemused teen. Exiting the house a few moments later he saw Rumiko's twins chasing each around a bench their grandmother's were sitting on. The beach was otherwise deserted as the sun began to set over the distant hills.
Remembering what Sheeta had said only a few minutes ago he stopped to watch the young boys laughing joyfully as they played a game that only they understood. Happy, loved, and free from the strife that would one day infect their lives. Gravel shot into the air as the boys skidded to a stop suddenly and, as if some unspoken command had been given began running around a different, empty bench.
"Sheeta is right," Itachi muttered to himself, "As long as our children continue to exist we will overcome Danzou, and others like him."
X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
"Don't tell me you got here before everyone else?" Zabuza laughed heartily at Kakashi who was sitting on a chair in Fugaku's office looking rather miserable and disgruntled.
Fugaku smirked, "He was in a meeting I attended an hour ago. I grabbed him before he could run away and made him sit here until this meeting started."
"Smart!" Zabuza observed, "Gotta remember that one."
"I don't even have my book with me." Kakashi complained. "And the only things to read in here are mission reports."
"Well, the council thinks that keeping pornography in the Hokage's office would look bad." Fugaku defended his choice of reading material as he continued to peruse a report he had open on his desk. Reaching for a large stamp he punched his mark on the paper and moved it to a large pile to his left. Turning around, he quickly glanced out of the window, noting that the sun had finally disappeared over the horizon and a single bright star was twinkling overhead. A sudden memory of himself as a young man entered his thoughts, followed swiftly by the words of an elder who had commented on how the days seemed to get shorter the older he got.
'How true that is.' Fugaku thought to himself.
"I'm here." Haku smiled at everyone as he entered the office, followed momentarily by Itachi who strode silently into the office and stood motionless behind the others. He seemed pre-occupied, as if his thoughts were a million miles away.
Tsunade and Jiraiya were the last to enter and Kakashi vacated his chair, insisting that the female Sannin sit down. Smirking, she did just that, crossing her legs and resting one hand on her knee. Jiraiya moved over to the window and leaned against the spotless glass.
Fugaku slide the pile of file folders in front of him to the side and leaned back in his chair, "It looks like everyone is here."
"Yeah, but why are we here?" Zabuza interrupted impatiently.
"He was getting to that." Haku smiled warmly at his friend.
Fugaku ignored them, "We have found Danzou. He has taken up residence in a hidden village he founded and named 'Ki'. It is here in Fire country in the old forest."
"How did you find it?" Kakashi asked curiously.
"Sakura and Sai assisted in Kabuto's escape a few weeks ago, as you already know. However, what I did not tell you was that Kabuto is working for us as a spy, as are the two kids. The three of them were able to infiltrate Danzou's village under the guise of turning Kabuto over to him."
Kakashi stepped forward a couple paces and stared straight at the Hokage, "So they're safe?"
"Probably not. We have reason to believe that they were discovered while sending us information. While its possible Danzou will keep Kabuto alive in the hopes of turning him to his side, I can't help but think Sakura and Sai may already be dead."
"I can't believe it." Haku muttered.
"Which is why you are coming." Fugaku looked straight at the teen, "Tsunade tells me you have excelled at your medical jutsu studies, and of course we already knew about your high level ninja skills. You're task in all this is to aid Sakura, Sai and Kabuto in returning to Konoha. If they are alive its possible they are injured or otherwise incapacitated. You three…" He pointed at Kakashi, Zabuza and Itachi, "Are to perform a surgical strike and assassinate Danzou."
The four ninjas nodded to show their understanding and acceptance of the mission.
"Also, should Kabuto be any trouble to you, you are to kill him." Fugaku noted the look of surprise on Itachi's face, but ignored it, "I realize I promised him a pardon if he cooperated, but that was against my better judgment and will not be honored if he betrays us." He looked closely at his son, seeing the conflict that momentarily crossed his face before he nodded his acceptance.
"There is one last thing." Fugaku had been debating all day whether or not to reveal this last bit of information, but considering Danzou's decades long theft of Sharingan eyes, it seemed likely that the team would run into it. "This is something that has been kept close to the breast of the Uchiha clan and at the moment only a few of us even know about. Itachi, you are not one of them."
"What?" The teen finally spoke, glancing sharply at his father who had suddenly risen from his chair and was now facing the window, his back turned to the assembly.
"It is a forbidden jutsu, so dangerous that it was completely expunged from any documentation, never mentioned in the clan journals, and only passed down by word of mouth. Therefore, once revealed, you must never tell anyone about it."
"And if we do?" Zabuza grinned broadly.
"You will die. I will see to that personally."
"Ha, ha ha!" The big man laughed, "Must be some jutsu then. Get on with it, I'd like to hear about this."
Jiraiya spoke up, "Be careful what you wish for, Zabuza."
"So you already know about it?" Fugaku wasn't surprised, and he even expected it.
"Let's just say its something I suspected was possible."
"Hn." Fugaku leaned back against the window and crossed his arms, "It is the ability to turn reality into nothing more than a dream. A deadly blow that should kill you passes through as if it never existed. And in that same instant you can reflect that dream and turn it into reality to attack your opponent. The ultimate attack of the Uchiha meant to be used on oneself. Izanagi. However, it does come with a price. Complete blindness."
Jiraiya gave the Hokage a bitter smile, "I have been reviewing the records of the battle between Madara and the First. Anything I could find, no matter how anecdotal was read. And the only conclusion I could come up with for his survival was that a jutsu of that sort existed. Although I certainly didn't know it's exact function or the cost."
Tsunade shook her head, clearly upset by the news, "And now we do. With all the Sharingan's he supposedly stole over the years he could have easily mastered the jutsu with no ill effects. He will be difficult to take down."
"It certainly won't be any normal assassination." Kakashi stuck his hands in his pockets and looked over at Itachi, "As good as you are, kid, I don't think you're that good."
Itachi's expressionless face turned into one deep with worry as he contemplated a fight with a man who literally couldn't die. However, his thoughts were interrupted by Fugaku, "Which is why I will also be going on this mission."
"Two Uchiha's fighting the ultimate battle. This will be worth seeing." Zabuza commented, his eyes were practically glowing with bloodlust and his smile was hard and bitter.
"Are you sure?" Jiraiya sounded worried. "If you don't…"
"I have already made arrangements for Tsunade to take over as Hokage. If the mission fails, I will be dead. If it succeeds, Danzou will be dead and I, as an Uchiha, feel confident in handing the fate of this village back into the hands of the man who founded it. Or, in this case, his granddaughter. As you know, our entire argument was against Danzou."
Jiraiya nodded his head in understanding, "Then I should go too…"
"Out of the question." Fugaku interrupted. "There is still one more battle after this one. And that is what you must save yourself for. Besides…" he turned to look at the assembled ninja, "if the worst comes to pass and all of us fail to return, Konoha will find itself in dire straights. Everyone in this room is a high level 'S' class ninja. Loosing that manpower would guarantee Madara's success. Plus, Jiraiya, you have already been working on another plan that you must continue to put into motion. Tsunade and Konoha need you here."
Jiraiya dropped his head and closed his eyes, "You make a good point. I guess I'll spend some time with Naruto, then."
"There is someone I would like to ask to join the team." Itachi spoke up.
"Ah, him." Fugaku smiled, "I expect he will be most pleased with your offer."
"Kisame Hoshigake?" Zabuza smirked.
Itachi nodded once, "Yeah. He seems to have some sort of personal vendetta against Danzou."
"That he does." Zabuza agreed, "And even the gods won't save the prey that shark demon sets his sights on."
X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
"Have you figured out how to get me home yet?" The boy's pleading was heartbreaking and all Sasuke could do was kneel down next to him and place one hand on his back in an effort to comfort him.
"You are just chakra. Your soul has already gone to wherever souls go. Heaven I guess. Or maybe reincarnated."
"I know you keep telling me that but it… I feel like myself. I can see what you do sometimes. I can see the outside world. I don't feel like chakra. There must be a way to escape."
"My brother is going to ask his friend. He… is like you." Sasuke sat down on the floor and looked around. He was dreaming again, but this dream wasn't a product of his subconscious. It was a side effect of the Mangekyou Sharingan, and the boy with the long read hair he was talking to was the sacrifice he had killed to obtain it, now residing in his body as chakra. Killian Uchiha.
They pair were sitting under a spotlight in a large dark room. Or at least it looked and felt like a room. There was no breeze, it was a little stuffy, and even though neither of them could see any walls due to the darkness they could "feel" or perhaps "sense" their existence.
"Then there is a way…"
"Quit asking that!" Sasuke finally snapped, "I can't promise anything and where do you think you'll go if you find a way out? Your body is long buried. You can't return to it. Your soul is gone, maybe even reincarnated by now. All you can do is cease to exist."
"I hadn't thought of that." Killian muttered despondently. "I'm not really the smartest person you'll ever meet, you know."
"That's okay." Sasuke was feeling a little guilty about his outburst. After all, it was neither of their faults things had turned out like this. "I mean… if I got rid of you perhaps this Mangekyou Sharingan would go away."
"I doubt it. Somehow… I seem to know that it won't. That me being here is a fluke."
"That would explain why most people with Mangekyou don't dream of the people they killed to get it."
"But I believe it does give you more power, Sasuke. My being here, that is."
"Oh. So… like I do a jutsu and you do the same jutsu and it doubles it?"
"Perhaps. I'm not sure. But you shouldn't try it. I saw what happened when you fought that snake dude. I was afraid you would die afterwards. You have no idea how sick you were and the others wouldn't tell you. They didn't want to worry you."
"Figures. Well, I don't want to use it again but Madara…"
"Is a manipulative bastard."
"Yes. But… he wants peace…"
"Does he want peace or has he just found a way to use 'peace' as a way to place himself in a position of ultimate power?"
Sasuke was quiet for a couple minutes. The valley he had visited with Madara was real. The bones were real, and the deaths that occurred there were real. And Madara had promised a way to stop that from ever happening again.
"In the end, does it really matter? As long as no one else has to die anymore. Those people… all of them… I saw them die in Konoha and my classmates were dead. Just dead. Lying in the street bleeding. And those people in that valley, what they went through. And after Madara does whatever it is he's going to do there will be no more ninja… no more Mangekyou Sharingan. No more friends fighting friends."
"If that is your decision, then I will try to help you."
The scene faded and Sasuke slowly opened his eyes, disoriented slightly as his mind tried to digest both the dream and the fact that after two weeks of travelling to different locations in Water country he was finally back in his own bed.
"Thank-you Killian." He muttered to himself.
X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Kisame cursed as he stood up from his meditation spot under the trees near his small house. The early morning fog was already burning away as the sun pushed its way through the flowered branches of the budding trees. Striding angrily back into the clearing he slammed open the front door and cursed again when he saw one of the hinges pull away from the wall.
"Deidara! Suigetsu! Get your asses out of bed! Now!" His loud voice echoed through building, sending the pair scrambling into the main living area grasping exploding clay and weapons fully expecting a fight of some kind.
Deidara's blue eyes were opened wide in bleary-eye shock as he looked around at the couches and dining area for someone or something to blow up, "Who is it? Who's attacking us?"
"Time to hack up some people!" Suigetsu grinning happily.
Kisame blinked several times in surprise as he stared at the pair standing before him. Both were dressed only in their shorts and barefoot. "Do you feel any enemy chakra?" He finally said.
"N..no…" Suigetsu answered slowly.
Deidara growled under his breath, "Then why did you wake us up? It's not even noon yet!"
"Kids." Kisame felt like cursing some more, but the desire quickly faded as the reality of their next mission re-surfaced. "Anyway, I was just having a conversation with Madara. It seems Konoha has found Danzou and Itachi thought I would like to accompany his team on an assassination mission."
Deidara was confused, "Why would he think that? It's a Konoha mission… I mean… even though Akatsuki has also been looking for him… it seems… strange."
"I have a pretty big grudge against that man. Itachi knows that, although he doesn't know what it is. Anyway, I volunteered you two to go along."
"Gee, thanks. You're very kind." Deidara replied sarcastically.
"Get dressed. We're leaving in one hour. We have to hurry to meet up with Itachi." Kisame was in no mood for Deidara's smart mouth or Suigetsu's moody arguments and luckily both of them picked up on that rather quickly and rushed off to make their own preparations.
X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
"Master Kisame?" Suigetsu moved closer to the blue man as they jumped through the trees at full speed, intent on reaching the rendezvous point on schedule.
"Less talk, more running." Kisame responded. He had barely spoken one work since they had left the house and the mood that had settled around him was decidedly dark, even for an "S" class missing nin.
"I know. I am running, but something is wrong with you. Why do you want Danzou so badly? If it affects you this much… maybe you should tell us?" Suigetsu dropped back somewhat when Kisame turned his head and glared at the boy, baring his teeth in the process.
"My life is my business, as I have already explained to you, boy."
Despite the dark chakra swirling around his master, Suigetsu pressed on, "Does this have anything to do with Yoshino? I couldn't help but notice she's no where…"
"I said to shut up!" Kisame turned around and grabbed the boy by the front of his jacket, but he quickly melted into water and reappeared several feet away.
"Who is Yoshino?" Itachi landed on a branch next to Suigetsu, who jumped away, startled by the sudden arrival of not only Itachi, but Fugaku, Haku, Kakashi, and Zabuza.
"No one." Kisame answered quickly.
"His girl friend." Suigetsu frowned and looked at Zabuza who was scowling just a fiercely as Kisame.
Kisame shook his head slightly glanced up at the sky, "Didn't expect to see you, Itachi, for another hour."
Itachi adjusted his glasses and glared at the blond bomber who now seemed perfectly healthy and virus free,"I knew you would have Suigetsu with you and I suspected Deidara was still hanging around and would tag along as well."
"I'm not a tag-along." Deidara pouted.
"This is how it will work." Itachi ignored the comment and continued speaking, "Deidara and Suigetsu will assist Haku with the rescue of Sakura Haruno, Sai, and Kabuto. Kisame will come with Fugaku, Zabuza and myself to confront Danzou. We aren't going in to defeat the entire village so try not make too much of a scene."
"Acceptable." Kisame sneered. He looked down at the teen who had been his partner for so many years that he was almost like a brother. His expression softened and he glanced around at the others who were standing around looking at him or the open forest.
"What?" Itachi asked curiously.
"How's… Sheeta?"
"Better."
"Keep her safe, Itachi. I…" He turned and looked up at the sky, "wasn't able to protect my girl. While I was on a mission, she visited her home village. Danzou knew who she was… what she was to me… and because I was in the bingo book he personally took a trip to Water country and wiped out an entire village of civilians." Kisame clenched his fists and yelled, "Just to get to me!"
"At least you didn't fall for it." Fugaku spoke up.
Zabuza answered, "He did. I had to stop him from taking off and ripping Konoha apart piece by piece."
"When I calmed down somewhat I realized that attacking Konoha wouldn't get me any closer Danzou than I already was. The rat would just scurry away, leaving his people to die instead. I've waited years to see him die."
"You seem more adamant about it now than a few years ago when we were looking for him in the underground." Itachi added.
"Probably meeting up with Suigetsu did that. Yoshino was rather fond of the annoying brat."
"She thought I was cute!" Suigetsu gave everyone a toothy grin.
Deidara groaned, "That image is going to give me nightmares, water-boy." He looked around and asked, "Didn't Naruto come?"
Haku took advantage of the change in subject and continued in an attempt to lighten the heavy feeling that was beginning to settle over the group, "He your new friend?"
"He's fun to play with." Deidara smirked, "You can talk him into doing almost anything."
Kakashi had to laugh at that, "He's pretty famous for that. But we had to leave him behind this time. Far too dangerous."
"Humph. Good point."
X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
As evening settled over Fire country the group entered the outer boundaries of the old forest. Ancient trees, wider than city blocks and stronger than metal blocked their view as they moved silently; closing in on their target. There were no patrols or electronic surveillance devices and the group was getting more and more suspicious as they approached Ki.
Fugaku raised his right hand, stopping the group outside of a tall tree that looked pretty much like all the others. There was nothing really to tell them that this was their target, except for the detailed directions Sai had passed on to them before his capture, but there was no doubt that they had arrived.
He motioned for the recovery team to split up and Haku, Deidara and Suigetsu quickly disappeared. His eyes bled into their Sharingan form as he glanced around at the remaining men. Kakashi had lifted up his forehead protector, revealing his own Sharingan and Itachi was pulling a pair of prescription goggles out of his pocket and fitting them over his face. Unlike his glasses, the goggles wouldn't get knocked off during a fight.
Zabuza pulled out a roll of white bandages and began wrapping them around his lower face and neck while Kisame pulled Samehada off his back and flung it once to unwrap it. A slight crunching sound could be heard as the hundreds of individual blades, all shaped like sharks' teeth ground against each other for a few seconds before settling down and becoming quiet again.
One by one Fugaku caught everyone's eyes, earning a slight nod from each. The confirmation that everyone was ready was given and after taking a deep breath and letting it out he pointed to the tree. Wordlessly they move forward, silently they brushed the dirt off the underground entrance and it was with a grim solemnity that they descended into the lair of their target.
The ninja moved expertly through the underground tunnels, never pausing, using only hand signs to speak and with the full cooperation of their comrades. Differences in village politics and personal beliefs were put aside as the mission took over replacing all emotion with the cold, brutal truth of the murder they were about to commit.
It was not just professionalism, but a way to close off any feelings of empathy one might feel for the target. Of course, in this case, the problem wasn't empathy but something quite different. Revenge was probably foremost in their thoughts, and as they moved quickly through the tunnels each one of them reconsidered the reasons why they were there. The relentless barrage of memories threatened to overwhelm them and one by one they shut them out. Closing their minds to the past and focusing only on the present.
After thirty-odd minutes of following Sai's map through poorly lit, earthen tunnels they finally came to a dark wooden door that had a letter taped to it. Everyone stopped at stared wide-eyed at the kanji that had been expertly inked across the folded parchment.
"So much for sneaking in." Zabuza muttered bitterly.
Itachi read the writing out loud, "Fugaku, Itachi, Kakashi, Zabuza, Kisame."
Pulling it off the door Fugaku unfolded the paper and continued to read, "Please be so kind as to direct yourselves to the location indicated on the map below. I shall kill you there. Danzou."
Kakashi leaned against the wall and sighed, "Well, this isn't completely unforeseen. We knew there was a possibility that Sai's information had been compromised."
"True enough." Fugaku agreed. Having memorized the small map he passed it around for the others to view before sticking it in his pocket. Without any further discussion the five ninja changed direction, moving towards Danzou's preferred battle venue.
"At least we don't have to wander around looking for him." Kisame muttered a few minutes later.
Itachi nodded, "That is certainly a benefit as far as I'm concerned." He glanced at his father who was walking several feet in front of him. The man's ulterior motive in coming was probably death. Not only Danzou's, but his own. Itachi had seen the way his parents had kissed before they had left. He had rarely seen them display any affection toward each other, and what he did remember was one-sided. His mother doting over his father. Never the other way around. Yet it was clear that Fugaku had feelings for his wife. And it was also clear he fully expected he wouldn't be returning to her when the mission was over.
'This is going to be sticky.' Itachi thought to himself. If Fugaku died, Mikoto would be heartbroken. As would several other clansmen. Including Toshiro and Kisa. Naruto, who saw the man as a godsend after he invited him to live with his family would be devastated. And if he died before making up with Sasuke, he knew his little brother would one day regret it.
The clan leadership would also pass to Itachi and his freedom to come and go would be gone. He would have to finally take his place as chief of the Konoha Police force, a position that was currently be held by a clansman under the condition that he would step down when the heir was ready to take over.
'Too much is going on.' Itachi continued to review Fugaku's ulterior motives, but he could see no benefit to be gained in his death. Even using his father's corpse to pay off his debt to Sasori was now unacceptable. He would much rather see Madara or even Sora pay the price than his father. And of course Tsunade was working on a way to disable the jutsu placed in Sasori's antidote. It was possible she would find it.
Itachi suddenly creased his brow as a rather interesting thought crossed his mind, 'He has to know she'll try to neutralize his antidote. She's one of the best remaining poison masters. I wonder… is it possible… he doesn't actually want a corpse? Could he just be stringing me along? Or…' The teen suddenly stopped in his tracks and called out to his father.
"What, Itachi? We don't have time for…"
"Father, listen. I think Sasori and Madara have played a rather intricate joke on us."
Kakashi interrupted, "What? Itachi, can't this wait?"
"No!" Itachi responded firmly, then went on to explain his line of reasoning.
"It sounds like…" Fugaku was flabbergasted over his son's line of reasoning, "it sounds like you're saying that Sasori's assassination mission was a setup… Madara ordered Sasori to poison the people taking that test, using a formula that only he could create an antidote for. This lured you to his lab, where he made a show of creating that antidote then ordered you to pay him with an Uchiha body, knowing full well that I, as the weakest person on his list, would volunteer to be said body."
"Yeah, that's it." Itachi agreed.
"I don't know whether to laugh or hit you upside the head."
Kisame frowned, "It would explain why he pushed Deidara out of the mission. And Sasori has always enjoyed playing mind games with people. Also, it fits perfectly with the way Madara operates. Have someone else do the dirty work and no one can trace it back to him."
"He's a god damned expert at it." Zabuza sneered, "I know that from personal experience. Don't dismiss Itachi's claims out of hand Fugaku, and don't die. I couldn't stand the thought of that man getting one over on anyone." Of course, Zabuza's hatred of Madara was quite well known by now.
Fugaku sighed, "Mikoto's right, Itachi, you need to go on a long vacation with lots of room service."
"An insane asylum?" Kakashi offered.
"That works." Itachi agreed, "I think I'll be needing one when this is all over."
"I'll join you." Kisame offered, rolling his eyes.
Fugaku turned around and continued walking through the tunnel, "Well, let's get going. All I can say at this point is 'whatever will be, will be'."
"In the end, that's all any of us can say." Zabuza muttered quietly.
X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
X x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
Next week, Danzou makes an appearance.
Please review
Updates on Fridays