Author's Note: Hello, dear reader. I apologize for this late update. It was because of writer's block and inability to come up with ideas on how to make things more interesting. After procrastinating for quite a while, I decided to follow the canon for the time being, but if you have noticed, you may see a few differences here compared to what happened in the game. I hope you'll like this chapter, and until the next update, see you guys later.
Summary: Itachi Uchiha should be dead at this point, but somehow, he found himself not only alive, but also in a completely different world where shinobi never existed. After fighting a group of undead, unintentionally seducing a red-haired merchant girl, he stumbled upon Chrom and his Shepherds, where he came to know a certain enigmatic tactician.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Fire Emblem Awakening. Don't be silly.
Enjoy, and if you have time, give me your opinions. May subject to improvement soon.
From what Itachi could see, he learned that the Exalt, Emmeryn, the current leader of Ylisse, was a peace-loving woman. Even after learning that one of the nobles had apparently been kidnapped, she decided to go for diplomatic approach instead of taking up arms. The leader of Shepherd, Prince Chrom decided to prepare for any sorts of hostility by bringing along the Shepherd to escort the Exalt. After all, they were going to deal with the Mad King of Plegia, King Gangrel himself.
Itachi was brought along with them and was properly equipped. Robin had given him a Killing Edge, a sword that the tactician had purchased when they were at Regna Ferox. It was a slightly-curved, single-edged sword with its hilt wrapped in leather. In the hands of a capable warrior, a single stroke of the blade would be enough to end a battle, and it happened that Itachi had proven himself to be quite a capable warrior at that time when he protected the caravan from the Risens.
"…?"
Was it his imagination or did the gruff-looking, dark-haired man with a Killing Edge sheathed on his hip keep glancing at him with discerning look? Earlier, Robin had told him that the man is named Lon'qu, a swordsman from Regna Ferox. From the way the man presented himself, he could tell that he was more than just capable.
Itachi was thinking to himself before he realized that they had arrived at the destination. They would be meeting the Mad King. Ever a cautious person, the Shinobi looked at his surroundings, noticing the terrain of the area seemed to be quite advantageous for the Plegians to hide their forces. It was already expected that the chance for a negotiation seemed to be slim. Despite the Exalt's insistence for a diplomatic approach, almost everyone in the group knew that bloodshed would be unavoidable.
Keeping his Killing Edge under his cloak, Itachi observed as the leaders of Ylisse and Plegia started talking. He noticed that there was a white-haired, olive-skinned woman standing beside the Mad King. An attractive one and quite scantily-clad, yes, but her attractiveness didn't hide the fact that her very own being radiated maliciousness. Robin also noticed the same thing as she tightened her grip on the tome in her hands.
The royal siblings, Emmeryn, Chrom and Lissa, stepped forward while the rest of the Shepherd, including Itachi, waited behind. The blue-haired prince seemed tense and his hand was put restlessly on the hilt of Falchion. On the other hand, Emmeryn, unlike her brother, seemed calm and collected. The youngest of the royal siblings seemed anxious as she hid herself behind her brother, clutching her staff tightly as she looked around, searching for any sign of her best friend, Maribelle.
The moment King Gangrel opened his mouth, Itachi learned that the Mad King was not a pleasant person to be around. "What's this, then? The Exalt herself, in all her radiance?" he spoke in such an unpleasant and mocking tone and Chrom seemed to be struggling to keep Falchion sheathed. "I fear I must shield my eyes, bwahaha!" the king of Plegia laughed, and Lissa had to clutch on her brother's cape to keep him from charging forward to attack the king.
"King Gangrel," Emmeryn spoke, addressing the Mad King in firm yet polite tone. Unlike her brother, she still kept her calm and composure. "I've come for the truth of this unfortunate incident between us…" she gazed up, looking at the king and his aide.
Instead of King Gangrel, the one who responded to the Exalt was the woman who accompanied the king. "The truth?" the woman brought one finger to the edge of her lips. "I can give you the truth." The woman then let out devilish giggle.
Still keeping up her calmness, the Exalt looked at the aide to address her. "Perhaps milady might first share her name?" she spoke to the white-haired woman.
The white-haired woman frowned for a while before she smiled at the Exalt, and from what the rest of the Shepherd could tell, it wasn't a pleasant smile. With a mock curtsy, the woman introduced herself. "You may call me Aversa…"
Nodding, Emmeryn asked Aversa another question. "Very well, Aversa. Is Maribelle unharmed?"
This time, the Mad King himself responded to the question. "Who? Oh yes, the little blond brat…" he nodded at Aversa and Aversa nodded back before the woman snapped her fingers. Then, they heard the sound of someone struggling before they saw a young woman, restrained and battered being forcefully brought out by a barbaric-looking man.
The young woman, Maribelle, seemed to be relatively unharmed save for a few scrapes and bruises on her face. Despite being restrained, she was still struggling to free herself from her restraint and the man who was restraining her. "Unhand me, you gutter-born troglodyte!" she spat out insult to the man who was restraining her, and the man responded by pushing her ahead, almost causing her to stumble down.
"Maribelle!" Lissa cried as she saw her best friend. Maribelle noticed Lissa's presence as she heard her voice.
"Lissa? Darling, is that you?" Maribelle spoke. She spotted Lissa who was standing near Chrom, still clutching on her staff tightly.
"This girl crossed the Plegian border without our consent. And what's more…" Aversa's tone became more dangerous as she chuckled. "She wounded the brave Plegian soldiers who sought only to escort her safely home."
Hearing such accusation, Maribelle shouted. "Lies! You speak nothing but lies, hag!" she glared at Aversa. "Did they not teach the meaning of the word 'truth' in wretched-crone school?!" she seemed to be visibly pained by the restraint that was put on her, and judging from her look, it was apparent that she was exhausted. But one could admire such ferocity she displayed, despite being subjected to things that could simply break ordinary people. There was no sign of a helpless young girl being traumatized by the event happening to her, but instead a fearless young woman who fought bravely against her oppressors despite the overwhelming odds.
But it didn't look like Aversa was appreciating what Maribelle had displayed to them. "…You see? No manners at all." She gestured at the captured young noblewoman. "Such a nasty little bird simply has to be caged."
Righteous fury filled the eyes of the prince as he took a step forward, his hand already prepared to pull out his ancestral weapon. It seemed that the simple tug from Lissa on Chrom's cape was no longer enough to stop the prince from unleashing his fury. But Emmeryn stopped him from going even further. Despite everything that the Mad King and his aide had expressed to them, the Exalt still wanted to pursue negotiation and diplomatic approach. She held out her hand to prevent her brother from going ahead as she looked at King Gangrel, asking him to continue.
Placing his hand on his chest while grinning smugly, the Mad King of Plegia spoke. "Such a violent temper speaks to her guilt. This will call for a weighty punishment." He smirked as he glanced at Maribelle who seemed to be overpowered by the savage-looking man. Then his face scrunched up into a maddening scowl. "And if she were to later confess to being an Ylissean spy? My goodness!" then he made an expression of mock worry. "It would take an act of CONSIDERABLE good faith to repair our relations"
Earing what King Gangrel had said, Maribelle seemed to start to worry. "I have done nothing wrong! It is they who should confess!" she retorted, her eyes looking at Emmeryn pleadingly. "They are the ones who invade Ylisse! They razed an entire village!"
"An entire village?!"
Itachi, who was just listening to the exchange, jerked his head when he heard what the young noblewoman said. These people, they razed an entire village?! They wanted their war, and were willing to destroy the lives of innocents to do so?
"How despicable…" Itachi muttered, his dark eyes started shifting to blood red. Robin who was standing beside him glanced at him in concern, noticing that his eyes had turned to Sharingan once again.
"When I attempted to intervene, they took me and dragged me across the border!" Maribelle continued. "Let the plundered shops and charred homes of that village serve as my proof!"
King Gangrel glanced at the young noblewoman, seemingly unimpressed. "That would only prove Ylisse has a bandit problem – something I hear oft of late…" he gave a mocking smile to the Exalt and Chrom. "But indeed, tonight I shall weep salty tears into my pillow for your dead villagers."
Now sounding desperate, Maribelle looked at Emmeryn, addressing her. "Your Grace, please!"
Despite the situation they were currently in, Emmeryn smiled at the young noblewoman, as if comforting her. "Peace, Maribelle. I believe you…" she said soothingly to Maribelle. Then, with a determined expression, she looked up at King Gangrel. "King Gangrel, I request that you release this woman at once. Surely you and I can sort out these affairs without the need for hostages."
Despite Emmeryn's attempt in diplomacy, King Gangrel responded to the Exalt's words with rude dismissal. "Without so much as an apology? Why should I even bother with parley?" he scoffed. "I'm within my rights to have her head this instant and be home in time for supper."
This time, Chrom did not attempt to hide any signs of restraint as he unsheathed Falchion. "You black-hearted devil!" he shouted.
The Mad King rolled his eyes, not showing any signs of being terrified by the sight of the blade that supposedly vanquished their god many years ago. "Control your dog, my dear, before he gets someone hurt."
"Calm down, Chrom…" Emmeryn spoke to her brother.
"Ngh…" the blue-haired prince didn't sheathe back his sword, but he lowered Falchion as he glared at the Mad King before them.
Clearing his throat, King Gangrel spoke again. "Now then, Your Graceliness. Perhaps we can arrange a trade?" the king suggested. "You give me the Fire Emblem, and I return Mari Contrary here in one piece."
"Fire Emblem?"
Itachi considered asking Robin about it later as he continued listening to the exchanges. While they were talking, Robin had already opened her tome, her expression grim.
"Itachi…" the tactician spoke. "I suggest you to prepare yourself."
Itachi nodded before he continued listening to what they said.
"Ugh…" then, they heard King Gangrel groaning. "Taaaaaalk talk-talk-talk-talk. It's time to speak louder than words!" the Mad King chuckled madly. "This negotiation is over, Your Luminosity! I shall have the Emblem if I have to pry it from your shiny dead hands!"
As if on cue, a few Plegian soldiers emerged from their hiding, brandishing their weapons. Immediately, Chrom stepped forward, standing protectively in front of his older sister, wielding Falchion in one hand. Then, he charged forward, swinging down his ancestral weapon upon one of the enemies, cutting him down with absolute ease, killing him instantly. Itachi saw it, and was impressed. There had to be a reason why a royalty like Chrom was in charge of being the leader of the Shepherds. "Stay back!" Chrom roared. "Or you'll all suffer the same fate!" he brandished the sword, bloodstained by the enemy slain by him earlier.
Grinning madly, King Gangrel spoke with glee. "Now that's a declaration of war if I've ever heard one…" he said. "A big, messy war that will bleed you Ylisseans dry. Bwahahaha!" he laughed.
As for Maribelle, she was shocked to hear about the declaration of war, which might probably be caused by her. Aversa approached her, standing before her and grabbed her on her chin rather forcefully before she giggled. "Poor, stupid girl…" she spoke in mock sympathy. "Are you really worth fighting a war over?" she smiled mockingly as she saw the young noblewoman's devastated look. "Years from now, you'll be remembered only as she who destroyed House Ylisse…" she giggled again.
Apparently, her words were enough to break Maribelle's resolve. Any sign of bravery and confidence started crumbling down, and Aversa seemed to be savoring the moment as she looked at the young noblewoman's despairing look. "No… t-that's not…" she choked out. Then, she looked at Lissa, who also had that despairing look on her face. "Oh Lissa… p-please no…"
Smiling cruelly, Aversa looked at the soldier who was restraining Maribelle. He nodded before he raised his axe. Chrom saw it and went to charge forward in order to save the noblewoman, but he was too far from her to reach her in time. Itachi also unsheathed his Killing Edge while making a hand seal with one hand. The soldier was about to swing down the axe onto Maribelle before something happened.
"Elwind…"
A gust of wind buffeted the soldier who was restraining Maribelle, and the invisible wind blades cut through the soldier. All those invisible wind blades deliberately missed her, somehow. The soldier screamed in pain as he released his hold, freeing Maribelle. This allowed Chrom to finally reach them, grabbing the noblewoman in one hand and cut down the soldier with the other. The soldier rasped out his last breath before he fell down, dead.
"Are you okay?" Chrom asked Maribelle as he cut down the rope that tied her hands.
"Y-yes!" Maribelle squeaked out an answer, her cheeks turned red.
"Thank the gods…" Chrom showed the noblewoman a relieved smile before he looked at the soldier he slew. "But who-"
He heard the sounds of footsteps before a boy emerged from his hiding, holding an Elwind tome in his hands, clad in mage clothing and wearing an oversized hat. "Chrom!" he exclaimed. His appearance caused Aversa to take a few step back.
"Ricken?!" Chrom couldn't hide his surprise as he saw the youngest of the Shepherd showing up in this place. "What are you doing here?!"
"Milord," regaining her composure, Maribelle spoke to the prince. "We can talk about this later. Let us fight," she said as she started regaining her confidence as well.
"Right," Chrom nodded. "Ricken, can you protect Maribelle?"
The young mage grinned. "You can count on me, Chrom!"
Smiling, Chrom turned around and brandished his sword before he charged through the enemy and shouted, "Robin, now!"
Hearing the order, Robin relayed her orders to the rest of the Shepherds. "Stahl and Vaike, go and protect the Exalt! The rest follow me and fight the enemies!"
And so, the Shepherds charged forward, engaging the enemies. Aversa, who came back to her senses, tried to attack Maribelle, but Ricken intercepted her by launching another Elwind attack.
"Khh!" the invisible wind blades managed to injure the woman, and she could feel her arms bleeding. "D-damn you…" she growled. "Kill them!"
A few axe-wielding soldiers showed up to attack both Maribelle and Ricken, but before they could even get any closer to them, arrows pierced through the chinks of their armors, and some of them fell down, dead while the others were grievously injured. From a distance, a fabulous-looking man who was holding a bow dramatically brushed his hair.
"Hah! As expected from the archest of archers!" the man, Virion dramatically exclaimed. A cavalier in red, Sully rolled her eyes while looking at the fabulous-looking archer as she stabbed a spearman in the head with her lance.
"This is it…" Robin spoke, fire dancing around her fingers, holding an Elfire tome in one hand. "Itachi, are you ready?"
"Yes," Itachi replied. He saw a few soldiers approaching them, and he figured out that they needed to be eliminated as soon as possible. And so, he closed his eyes before he reopened them.
"Amaterasu…"
TO BE CONTINUED