Dreamcatcher
By Airyo
Secrets in a Memory - 5
Sandaime rolled the mouth of the pipe between his teeth as he watched his youngest ANBU captain in his glass viewing ball. Weasel was acting strangely.
After the young captain spoke briefly with a distraught Hyuuga Hinata, he disappeared for a half hour, and then returned to the Academy in time to watch over the dismissal of the classes. Weasel didn't approach his little brother, but only watched from afar as the younger Uchiha dashed for the training fields.
Then Weasel disappeared from sight again. Moments later, Sarutobi found himself staring at the inside of his office.
"Sandaime-sama, I have need of your time."
The Third looked up with a quizzical expression. It also wasn't everyday that one of the most talented young shinobi of the village entered his office through the window without any respect for the doors so thoughtfully installed for that very purpose.
Even more worrying was his appearance. It had been difficult to see in the crystal ball, but Weasel looked less than pristine with his uniform a tattered mess of rips and burns. The scent of singed hair and flesh lingered. A splatter of bright red stained his cloak. Through the holes of the ANBU mask, Sarutobi could see the wild look in the dark eyes. The Hokage laid down his pen and folded his hands together.
Weasel should be off rotation. He had no missions. He shouldn't even be in uniform.
"Weasel-san, what is the matter?"
Itachi's entire body thrummed with tension. He kneeled stiffly in a show of respect and allegiance, head bowed, one hand over his heart.
"Above all, I serve Konoha," he said. The Hokage nodded with a frown. "And Konoha is the culmination of its people."
"Of course, but what is the meaning of this sudden declaration?"
The young ANBU captain hesitated, and a cold hand reached into the Sandaime's chest. He had never seen Weasel act like this.
"Hokage-sama, I have committed a great crime, and I submit myself to you."
"Young man, an over-enthusiastic spar is far from illegal. Our medics are very capable, no matter how badly you hurt your opponent," Sarutobi chuckled nervously. Weasel tilted his head slightly.
"I am flattered by your trust in me, Hokage-sama," the boy told him sincerely. "But my actions can not be acquitted so easily."
"What do you mean?"
"I have taken the task of eliminating Danzo-sama. It is a matter between him and I, so please do not blame my clan."
Sarutobi paled.
"What have you-"
"With all due respect, Hokage-sama, please allow me to finish before you call the ANBU. I received an order from Danzo earlier today to eliminate the Uchiha. Destroying an integral part of Konoha will not save the peace of the village." Itachi laid a scroll on the Hokage's desk. "Please present this evidence to the council and the Uchiha. You will find Danzo-sama's body, and the eleven Sharingan he has stolen from various Uchiha, including Uchiha Shisui's."
Shakily, Sarutobi formed a seal that summoned the ANBU on duty.
"Hokage-sama," Dog and Cat greeted in unison.
"Call a meeting of all the clan heads - this is a Code Red." Cat bowed and left to pass on the order. Dog remained. "And please take Weasel into temporary custody," he muttered. The Hokage put his head in his hands, unable to watch one of the village's best and brightest be arrested, nor look at the damning evidence before him.