Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
"How come he's got the same name as me?" Itachi repeated. Suigetsu looked uncomfortable.
"You were named after him," he said simply.
Chapter 2 - Confrontation
Itachi stared at his sensei; for the first time ever, shock was evident on his face.
"I... was named after... an S-Classed criminal? What were my parents thinking? Why? Who is he anyway?" His voice rose in volume until he was nearly shouting. His teammates just stared. Suigetsu sighed.
"You'll understand when you see him, I hope," he said. Hotaru walked up to Itachi and put her arms around him. For once, he didn't shrug her off. He was still too shocked by what his sensei had said.
"We're leaving in one hour. Meet by the gates before then. Itachi, you will understand," Suigetsu said. Itachi glared at his sensei. "Oh, and Itachi," Suigetsu called as Itachi turned to go, shrugging Hotaru off. "Don't tell your father who it is that we're pursuing." Itachi merely nodded and walked off.
It took him longer than normal to walk home. He ignored the girls as he approached his house. He walked in the door to be greeted by Tani.
"What's wrong? Itachi?" his little sister asked. He forced a smile.
"Nothing's wrong, little sis," he said. "It's just that I'm going away on a mission and I don't know when I'll be back, that's all." Tani wasn't stupid – sometimes she wished that they wouldn't treat her like a little kid anymore now that she'd graduated from the academy. But she could see that her brother needed to reassure himself about something, but he needed her help to do so – namely she had to be the one that he talked down to.
Itachi sighed again and went to his room to pack some supplies. Spare clothes, a medic kit – he wasn't denying Hotaru's ability, he just felt more comfortable when he had his own stuff as well – a multitude of weapons and finally a little present from Mikoto that he'd told nobody about – a hand-sewn pair of armguards. No-one knew that they were from her – and they'd saved his arms more than once on dangerous missions. There was a knock on his bedroom door.
"It's me," Mikoto called. "Can I come in?" Itachi got up and opened the door to admit his older sister.
"Tani told me that you were going away on a mission," she said. "What's wrong? You look like something that a cat would drag in." Itachi managed a small smile at his sister's comparison.
"Do I really look that bad?" he asked. She nodded.
"You're a total mess," she said gently. "Out with it – what's wrong?"
"Have you heard of an Uchiha Itachi?" her brother asked. She stared at him.
"Yes – that's your name, remember?"
He shook his head.
"Not me – a different one."
Mikoto shook her head.
"Apparently I was named after someone. And he's an S-Classed criminal," he whispered, so quietly that his sister had to lean in to hear him.
"I'm sure Mum and Dad had their reasons for doing that," she whispered back, putting her arms around him. He leaned into her embrace, needing the comfort that only his sister could give.
"My team's mission is to retrieve an S-Classed criminal formerly of this village called Uchiha Itachi who was supposedly killed by Uchiha Sasuke years ago," he whispered to his sister. Her breath caught as she heard their father's name. "And I'm not allowed to tell Dad," he added. His sister pulled him close and kissed the top of his head – something that only she was allowed to do."
"Don't worry about it," she told Itachi. "And I won't tell Dad either." Her brother smiled and embraced his sister back. She was the only person who could dispel his fears and insecurity like that.
"I'm meant to be meeting my team in a few minutes," he said. Mikoto let go and stood with him.
"I'll walk with you," she said. Itachi looked at her gratefully.
"Thanks, sis," he said. Together they made their way to the gates of Konoha where the rest of his team were already waiting.
"Ready?" Suigetsu asked. Itachi nodded and the squad walked out the village. They bumped into Sasuke and Sakura, who were returning from a mission. Itachi looked at his parents, and they didn't miss the look in his eyes – the... hurt? They couldn't tell.
"Hi, Sasuke," Suigetsu said. "Hello, Sakura. We're going on a mission for an unknown amount of time, OK?" Itachi's parents nodded and watched as their only son walked past them. To their surprise, Itachi didn't say anything, only nodded in acknowledgement of their presence.
"What's up with him?" Sakura asked her husband as they entered the village. Sasuke shrugged.
"Perhaps he's not too thrilled with the mission," he said. They saw Mikoto standing in the gateway.
"Mikoto, what are you doing here?" Sakura asked her eldest daughter.
"I came to see Itachi off – he wasn't feeling too good – I think the pressure of the upcoming exam is taking its toll on him," she said in response. Her parents accepted her reasoning for Itachi's strange behaviour. It made sense after all – they could tell that he was nervous about the Jounin exam next week.
"Well let's go back home, okay," Sakura said but Mikoto shook her head.
"I'm going to meet Isas," she said. Her parents watched as she walked away.
"She seems to know more about Itachi than we do," Sasuke commented.
Mikoto walked towards the Hokage tower at a fast pace. On arriving there she knocked on the door. Hard.
"Come in," the Hokage called. She entered the room and shut the door behind her. "What is it, Mikoto?" he asked. She glared at him.
"Why did you send Itachi on that mission?" she demanded. The blonde man looked at her in surprise.
"It was logical."
Mikoto coughed and glared at him some more.
"Explain logical. Because to me, logical does not cover undermining my brother's faith in our parents – or his self-esteem!" she snapped.
"Listen, Miss Hothead. In the entire world there are only four Uchihas who possess a fully developed Sharingan; your father, your brother, Itachi the criminal and one other, who is also a criminal. There was no way in hell that I could send your father on this mission – as good a ninja as he is, he'd have let his actions be ruled by his heart, not his head. While it would have, naturally, been a shock for your brother, I felt that I could trust him more on this mission."
"Are you saying that you trust Itachi more than your best friend?" Mikoto demanded.
"On this mission, yes," Naruto said. "You stand there accusing me of sending your brother on that mission, but I doubt that you know who this Uchiha Itachi is – am I right?" Mikoto said nothing. "Uchiha Itachi is five years older than your father. He is, in fact, your uncle." Mikoto stared at her adopted uncle in shock.
"My uncle... is an S-Classed criminal?" she demanded. "And my father tried to kill him? What are you talking about?" Naruto sighed.
"Perhaps it would be easier if I started at the beginning – but you must promise not to tell anyone – not even your family or closest friends."
"I promise," she said with no hesitation. Naruto chortled.
"It's a sad story, I warn you. Well, until Sasuke was seven he had everything anyone could want; a loving family (father, mother and older brother) as well as being top of the class at the academy. But, shortly before he turned eight, something terrible happened. His entire world was turned upside down. His older brother, Itachi, turned on the Uchiha Clan and killed every member, except Sasuke. Of course, Itachi was thrown out of the village for that and his motive still remains a mystery. Sasuke swore to avenge his clan, and he did when he was your brother's age – or so we thought. Something you have to understand here is how talented your uncle is. He was constantly referred to as 'The Pride of the Uchiha Clan'; a highly gifted individual. I've met him a few times, and he's scarily good at genjutsu – and far from shabby with ninjustu and taijutsu. Until your brother brings him back, you must not mention any of this to your father as he'll go crazy. I'm trusting you here, Mikoto, don't let me down." The female Uchiha nodded.
"Naruto..." she asked hesitantly.
"Yes?"
"I was wondering – are Tani or I named after anyone?"
Naruto sighed.
"I never met her – but I've heard nothing but praise about Uchiha Mikoto. She was Sasuke's mother and he adored her. Her death hit him particularly hard. As far as I'm aware, Tani wasn't named after anyone," he replied. Mikoto treated him to a rare Uchiha smile before leaving the office to spend some quality time with her boyfriend.
Meanwhile, a certain, moody, Uchiha was glaring at the ground that he was walking on, ignoring his teammates' attempts to make him talk.
"Cheer up," Suigetsu said, getting exasperated with disciple's silence. He was 'hnned' at. "It's not the end of the world, you know. Your parents had their reasons." Itachi's head jerked up with his Sharingan blazing.
"Not the end of the world? How would you feel if you had lived the first sixteen years of your life thinking that you were unique – and then discover that you were named after an S-Classed criminal? How would you feel?" he snapped, Sharingan glaring at his sensei.
"Itachi..." Suigetsu started.
"Are you talking to me or is the missing-nin I'm named after listening?" the young Uchiha snapped viciously. Suigetsu's violet eyes widened slightly in shock. Even in his foulest moods, Itachi had never snapped at him like that.
"Ita-kun," Hotaru whimpered, embracing the furious teen. He calmed down slightly. That was his nickname. Suigetsu watched in relief as the Sharingan faded and Itachi's eyes became emerald again. Only Hotaru could do that. Itachi's reaction showed just how shaken up he was by the mission. He didn't know how he'd take it if he knew that the only reason their team was doing the mission was because his Sharingan was fully developed. Otherwise, it would've been Mikoto's ANBU squad. He decided not to tell him.
"Sensei?" Hisuke asked. "Is the target accompanied by anyone?" Suigetsu nodded.
"Yes. When I travelled with Sasuke, he was accompanied by a missing-nin from Kiri – Hoshigaki Kisame. I don't know if they still travel together, though," he told him. Hisuke didn't respond. There was a grunt from them and they spun around, Itachi activating his kekkei genkai.
"Another Sharingan user," a tall (very tall), well-built man said. His skin was pale blue, and his teeth were pointed like Suigetsu and Hotaru's. "Were you talking about me?"
Suigetsu glared.
"What do you want, Kisame?" he demanded, gripping the hilt of his sword.
"Come on out, I know you're there!" Itachi called. "You can't hide from my eyes." A tall, lean man stepped out. He had long, almost black, hair which was pulled into a low ponytail, and deep onyx eyes. Hotaru and Hisuke looked from him to Itachi.
"Ita-kun," Hotaru said hesitantly. "He looks like you." The stranger gazed at Itachi, taking in the Sharingan, his blue-black hair which fell to his shoulders.
"You're Sasuke's son, aren't you." It wasn't a question. "Who's your mother?" The voice was smooth, compelling.
"Why should I tell you?" Itachi challenged, fighting the genjutsu – courtesy of his mother's genes. The stranger blinked and Itachi found himself looking into a Sharingan – identical to his own. Sharingan clashed with Sharingan in a clash of wills as the others watched. Kisame chuckled.
"This reminds me of when I saw him fight Sasuke that time – the clash of the two Sharingans," he commented.
"Who are you?" Hisuke demanded.
"Me? I'm Hoshigaki Kisame," was the response.
"And him?" Hotaru demanded, crimson eyes flashing, gesturing towards the stranger.
"Him? That's Uchiha Itachi. Who's the squirt?" Kisame replied.
"Uchiha Itachi," Suigetsu said. Kisame looked confused. "Sasuke named him after Itachi," he explained.
Meanwhile, the two Itachis were glaring at each other, neither backing down. The younger one stumbled and his opponent took advantage of that, only to get punched for falling for the teen's trick. Using the strength inherited from his mother, Itachi sent the criminal he was named after flying. The man sailed backwards and connected solidly with a tree.
"Well done, Ita-kun!" Hotaru said, but Itachi shook his head.
"He's not beaten yet – Kami, he's powerful!" Hotaru looked surprised.
"But you knocked him out..." she trailed off as Itachi shook his head again.
"He's faking it – he's suppressing his Chakra, but he's perfectly fine. Who is he, anyway?"
"That's the target," his sensei said.
"I was named after him?" Itachi said, looking at his namesake. Suigetsu nodded.
"So your name's Itachi, huh?" the older Uchiha said, standing up. "Like me."
"What are you to my father?" the teenager demanded.
"Sasuke? He's my younger brother." It was said so calmly.
"Impossible! That would make you my uncle!" Itachi snapped. His uncle shrugged.
"It's true," Suigetsu said. "That's your father's older brother." The sixteen-year-old glared at his sensei.
"You knew." It wasn't a question. "Why didn't you tell me?" he shouted. Hotaru grabbed him before he could attack her father.
"Two reasons," Suigetsu said, keeping an eye on the older Uchiha. "One - It wasn't my place to tell you. Two – I knew you'd react like this." The two Uchihas glared at each other, Sharingans blazing.
"You referred to me as 'the target'," the elder said. "What do you want?"
"Our mission is to find Uchiha Itachi and bring him back to Konohagakure," Hotaru said calmly, releasing her teammate.
"What if I don't want to come quietly?" the former Leaf shinobi asked.
"You don't have a choice," the younger Uchiha told him. The oldest living member of the clan gazed at him calmly.
"Mangekyo Sharingan!" he said suddenly. Both his Akatsuki partner and Suigetsu gasped.
"Itachi!" they both shouted, although they meant different people.
Thanks for reading!
Tsari