Itachi's Promise: Chapter Sixteen

Madara looked down at the small body curled at his feet; he tilted his head and then looked up at Kisame and Pein with a half confused look. Madara didn't dare move his leg as he pointed down towards Itachi, Kisame shrugged and Pein tried his hardest to hide a smile from his face.

"What do I do?" Madara asked, Kisame rolled his eyes and jumped from the branch he was on and landed next to Madara.

"I will take him home," Kisame said, Madara shook his head.

"Let's take him to the Akatsuki base," Madara said, Kisame nodded and knelt down to pull Itachi into his arms.

"Stop," Madara ordered, leaning down from his waist and wrapping an arm around Itachi's chest and under his knees before pulling him up into his arms.

Itachi turned round in Madara's hold, turning towards Madara's chest for the warmth and cuddling close.

"Let's go," Madara ordered, moving his open cloak to hide Itachi mostly inside.

Running through the forest late at night were Madara, Pein and Kisame; some of the most feared men in the five hidden villages. Madara stayed up front as he guided the way back to the base, Kisame stayed in the middle and Pein at the back to make sure they weren't followed. Itachi remained quiet against Madara's chest; dreaming of Sakura as he usually did.

"Madara, who else is at the base?" Kisame asked.

"Kakuzu, Zetsu, Sasori and Konan," Madara answered, Kisame nodded everyone but Orochimaru was home.

Entering the Akatsuki base, everything seemed really, really quiet. As Madara entered the main living room of the Akatsuki base, he pulled back and jumped out the way of a puppet flying through the air. Madara ducked as a pack of butterflies zoomed towards the puppet and then jumped to the left as Kakuzu threw a kunai at ground level towards Konan somewhere behind him. Madara jumped clear of the madness and Pein and Kisame watched from the doorway as Madara walked quietly to the sleeping quarters. Setting Itachi gently down into the bed, Madara looked upon the small boy so like himself when he was his age. Closing the door behind him as he left, Madara walked back towards the madness.

"Everyone stop," Madara shouted, as he entered the living room.

Immediately everything stoped and everyone looked towards Madara.

"Itachi Uchiha, is resting in one of the sleeping quarters do not go near him," Madara ordered.

"A new member?" Konan asked; Madara nodded.

Konan squealed with joy and ran into the kitchen, Madara watched her with a bored look as she began to gather ingredients around the kitchen.

"He isn't staying," Madara said, Konan looked up at Madara.

"What do you mean?" Konan asked.

"He means Itachi isn't staying yet, in a few years' time he will join us fully," Madara told Konan.

"It's that boy, isn't it?" Konan asked; without answering Madara turned and looked towards Kisame.

"Go watch, him," Madara ordered Kisame, Kisame walked off into the room and sat down against the wall opposite the bed.

"Where are we?" Itachi asked, rolling over on the bed to see Kisame.

"Akatsuki base," Kisame answered.

"I need to go home," Itachi whispered.

"Why?" Kisame asked.

"Sakura," Itachi answered; Kisame had to think of something before he could answer Itachi.

"One day, you won't be able to return to the village," Kisame said.

"Like you and your village?" Itachi asked Kisame.

"Yes, I can never return and neither will you be able to after you have killed your clan," Kisame replied.

"I know," Itachi replied, pulling his legs off the bed and then standing up.

"Show me your room," Itachi said, Kisame raised an eye brow and nodded anyway.

Walking out into the hall, Itachi stayed close by Kisame until they reached a door with a yellow symbol on it. Itachi looked at Kisame's ring and then back at the door, they were the same. Opening the door, Kisame leant against the door frame and Itachi took a few steps inside.

"Wow," Itachi whispered, walking over to a wall covered in different swords and knifes that had been mounted on the wall.

Kisame smiled and walked over behind Itachi, scanning the wall for something he knew he had, he shook his head, walked to his bed knelt down and reached under his bed to grab a small metal case. Kisame crushed the lock in his hand and pulled the box open before pulling a small sword and its case from the box.

"Itachi, take this," Kisame ordered, holding the cased sword up to Itachi.

"Can I look?" Itachi asked, looking down at the sword.

"Go on, put it out. Have a good look and see if it works for you," Kisame said, Itachi shook his head.

"No, Kisame. I can't take one of your swords," Itachi replied, trying to hand the sword back to Kisame.

"Itachi, it is no use to me, so just take it," Kisame said, pushing the metal box under the bed and standing once again to his full height.

"Thank," Itachi mumbled, bowing his head.

"No, need to bow," Kisame said; Itachi smiled and rolled his eyes.

"Kisame, where is…" Sasori began popping his head into Kisame's room.

"Hello, Sasori," Itachi greeted.

"Hello, Itachi, what is he doing here?" Sasori asked.

"I'm here because I got kidnaped," Itachi answered, Sasori laughed and stepped into the doorway leaning against it.

"Kidnaped, by who?" Sasori asked.

"I don't know, all I know is Orochimaru arranged it," Itachi replied, Kisame turned to Itachi with wide eyes.

"What?" Kisame asked.

"The ninjas told me, they were taking me to Orochimaru as ordered," Itachi replied.

"Orochimaru is on his way home," Sasori told Kisame.

"Itachi, come on," Kisame said, ushering Itachi from the room and into the hallway.

"Madara, Itachi and I need to leave," Kisame called.

"Why?" Madara asked stepping out of his office.

"Orochimaru," Itachi said.

"Yeah, Orochimaru is trying to get Itachi," Kisame said.

"No, Kisame. Orochimaru," Itachi said, pointing down the hallway to Orochimaru standing at the end of the hallway.

To Be Continued...Please Comment

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