Author's Note: Sorry for no updates. Life throws curve balls.

Also, this scene, this little scene I had to hunt down… Was it in that arc or that arc? No! It was in Shippuden Episode 114.

This really ties loose ends of the question of, "When did Orochimaru leave the village?" Because of this scene, after Itachi activated his sharigan.

Stop human trafficking.

Citations: Itachi's Story: [Daylight] pg. 94-99, Naruto Shippuden Episode #91, Naruto Shippuden Episode #114, Naruto Shippuden Episode #352

Chapter's Songs: "I Am One Of Them" by Aly & AJ

Chapter 21
Ulterior Motive


"I saw the lineup for this year's chunin exams," Danzo started abruptly, in front of Hiruzen, seated in the Hokage's chair. "It seems that Uchiha Itachi is not on the list once more."

Hiruzen lifted his eyes from the papers on his desk to look at Danzo curiously. "Now that you mention it, you went out of your way to speak to Itachi when he graduated, didn't you?"

"I felt I should lay eyes on the face of the academy's top graduate of all time."

"I had no idea you were so fixated on the members of the Uchiha Clan."

"It is a loss for the village to make someone with such a promising future waste several years."

Hiruzen frowned. "But he can't take the exams without the recommendation of his supervising jonin."

"Itachi's supervising jonin, Minazuki Yuki, is below average among the Jonin." The corners of Danzo's mouth abruptly shot up. "He's likely jealous of Itachi's abilities."

"Yuki's not that sort of—"

"He is that sort of man," Danzo asserted, as if to beat back Hiruzen's opinion. "Perhaps you are unaware, but that man has already sent several Genin more talented than himself back to the academy. He can't do that this time, because

Itachi so obviously excels. The boy's name is known throughout the village."

"That's ridiculous."

"He normally doesn't show it, but deep down, Minazuki has a dark nature."

A member of The Foundation had investigated him. The Foundation, the Anbu training division under Danzo's direct control, had a vast information network within The Village. The thinking, the philosophies of every ninja in The Village, what kind of tendencies they had— The Foundation looked into everything very diligently, all for the security of The Village.

If the Uchiha Clan's Konoha Military Police Force was a police organization to maintain public order on The Village's surface, then The Foundation was something like a secret police force that maintained public order from underground.

Inheriting an undiluted version of Danzo's ideal of protecting the peace with darkness, The Foundation leaned even more strongly in that direction than the Anbu, which was under the Hokage's control. In other words, the Military Police Force and The Foundation were two sides of the same coin.

Heaving a great sigh, Hiruzen slowly opened his mouth. "If Yuki won't recommend him, then we can simply promote Itachi to chunin through an official decision."

"It's better for The Village to have him take the exams."

"Hm?" Hiruzen brought his pipe to his lips.

"The chunin exams is a place where the officials from all the countries come together in the same room," Danzo continued. "Which is to say, it's an opportunity to display the future fighting potential of each land. If we demonstrate Itachi's abilities there, it will enhance the threat our village poses to other countries."

"Itachi is indeed a gifted ninja, but does he really have that kind of ability?" Hiruzen had only seen the surface evaluations of the mission results, which is why he could ask such a question.

"How could he demonstrate his true abilities on missions where he is forced to go along with a supervisor and teammates who are so clearly inferior to him? Keeping Itachi buried out in the fields any further will be a loss to the village, such that we may never recover."

"I'm surprised you value the Uchiha Clan so highly."

"The boy Itachi has precisely such value."

Hiruzen had no idea of Danzo's true intentions. He might have at least been aware that Danzo had ulterior motives, but even the astute Hiruzen would not realize just what those motives might have been.

Uchiha Itachi. Danzo believed the boy was the very person to fulfill his own dearest wish. Konoha and Uchiha. A trump card, that was Itachi, to sever the link that had continued since the establishment of The Village. How could he get him under his control? That was the issue.

"I'm home."

"Itachiiii! You're home!" Small hands hugged Itachi's back as he took his shoes off. "Is your mission today over?"

"Uh huh." Standing up in the hallway, he patted his four-year-old brother's head.

"You tired?" Now able to speak properly, Sasuke seemed overwhelmed by his desire to talk to Itachi. The smaller boy took great, swinging steps and followed him, as he walked down the hallway to the room they shared.

"From the minute you leave the house, Sasuke's waiting for his big brother to come home, you know," His mother had told him.

He had been embarrassed, but also delighted, and somehow self-conscious.

"I wanna go on missions too!" Sasuke enthusiastically grinned.

"Still too early for you," Itachi said, laughing as he walked. The sliding door before him was open, his father's room.

"You're home?"

"Yes."

His father came out with a sour look on his face, and stood in front of Itachi. "Lord Hokage called me in today to talk about you."

"About me?" Itachi asked blankly.

"On the recommendation of village officials, he wants you to take the Chunin Exams next year. The other examinees will be working in groups. Naturally, this will put you in a difficult situation. But…" His father closed his eyes and lowered his face for a moment, before lifting it again to look straight at Itachi. "I told Lord Hokage that you would take part."

"Th-Thank you…" Itachi breathed, his heart relieved. For so long now, he had endured a disappointment he couldn't completely push aside, no matter how he tried to make himself accept the situation. But those days were finally coming to an end. He had wondered how many more years he would have to continue as a Genin on that team. He could see the shroud of heavy clouds over his heart clearing away.

"The Village officials recommended you directly, instead of your supervising Jonin. So make sure you do it right."

"I will." Itachi nodded sternly in a promise to his father, and to himself.

"Hey, Daddy, what's happening with Ita?" Wanting to be a part of the conversation, Sasuke wedged himself between them, and looked up at their father.

"You hurry, and be a brave ninja like your brother, too," Fugaku said, reaching down to lift his younger son up into his arms.

Sasuke's smile wavered. "All right!"

"Good boy." Sasuke's innocent grin brought a smile to their father's face, as well. "Apparently, it was Shimura Danzo who pushed hard for you to take the Chunin Exams." In his father's voice was darkness, out of place with his sunny grin.

"Shimura Danzo?" Itachi recalled the shadowed face he had seen on the day of his graduation. Itachi's eyes shifted and narrowed in thought. "What do you think of the Anbu?" Itachi asked.

"Boys!" His mother's voice came from the opposite end of the hall. "It's almost suppertime!"

"First, the Chunin Exams. As long as you show off your true abilities, you'll get through them without any problem. We'll talk after that."

"Talk after that… Anbu…?" Itachi wondered to read between the lines of his Father's thoughts.

His father, still holding his little brother, disappeared toward the dining room where his mother was waiting, leaving his ominous words hanging in the air.

Itachi saw light and darkness on the path that stretched out into the future. Left alone in the hall, the vividness of both dazzled Itachi, toyed with his heart.


Itachi finished his dinner quickly. "Can I go train with Shisui?"

"You're taking the Chunin Exams next year, not this year." Mikoto scolded as she knelt at the table with her husband and sons.

"I know, but I still want to train…" Itachi argued. "Father, you said I'll be at a disadvantage."

Fugaku looked at his wife, who sighed, and replied. "Okay. Be home by bedtime."

"Thank you!" He smiled, bowing, to push his hands off the table and get up.

Knock-knock. Itachi stood outside Shisui's house, waiting for an answer.

"Itachi…" Shisui answered, mildly surprised, his cheeks having wet tear streaks.

"What's wrong?" Itachi asked with uncertainty and concern.

"My dad's not doing well…" His raspy voiced informed. "Why're you here?"

"It's not important…" Itachi shook his head.

"Akina will train with you…" Shisui said, seeing her come into the dining room behind him, she raised her head seeing Itachi at the door. She wore her nurse uniform. "Go be with Itachi for tonight, I'm going to spend this time with my family."

Akina's eyes lowered, her brows furrowed in her frustration. "…I'm sorry I'm useless here."

"Don't say that. You've prolonged his life." Shisui said, turning towards her.

"I'm still so sorry…"

Shisui placed his hand on her shoulder. "Thank you."

Her eyes shifted to Itachi. "Where do you want to train?"

"The Academy?" Itachi asked.

"Stay together," Shisui said as Akina left his home towards Itachi. "Kids have been going missing lately."

"I know," Itachi nodded, promising to stay with Akina in his words. "My condolences, Shisui."

As Akina and Itachi walked together through the Uchiha Compound, coming to leave it, she turned right to go towards the Mochizuki Compound.

"I'm going to go home and change. I'll meet you there."

"But…" Itachi began to argue.

"I'll be fine. I'm a Kunoichi." She waved.

The Academy

Orochimaru walked the dark hallways of The Academy, seeing a door cracked open, a light inside. He went to put his hand on the door handle, but stopped to peak one eye inside.

Itachi stood inside, looking up at dozens of wires, his Sharigan on. He closed his eyes and then threw two kunai to cut all the wires attached to a pedestal. Surprise rose in Orochimaru's expression as he stayed watching. It released a dozen kunai flying directly at Itachi.

"That fool!" Orochimaru thought as he began to barge in. "Training like that will get him killed."

Orochimaru halted, knowing he wouldn't make it in time. Itachi opened his crimson eyes right as the kunai were about to impale him, and he jumped to flip back. Upside down in the air, he threw two kunai to knock two kunai away. He gritted his teeth as he landed on the rail right as kunai landed there. He somersaulted in the air as he landed perfectly on the pedestal, squatting, to slowly stand.

Orochimaru's eyes shook in surprise, and then, settled as his brows furrowed in envy. Licking his lips with his long snake's tongue. "Beautiful."

Orochimaru stared at Itachi's back, thinking. "So this is the power of the Sharigan. No matter how hard a ninja trains, they could never surpass the Uchiha Clan."

Itachi glared over his shoulder to see Orochimaru.

Akina dashed down the hall of The Academy. "Whose aura is this?" Once she stood in the doorway, Orochimaru looked back. "Orochimaru-sama…"

"Well, if I attack Itachi now, she'll surely make an escape and easily since she's a Mochizuki she can use Pass Through Wall Technique."

"I seen a light on and decided to investigate."

Itachi turned, and hopped down. Akina spoke up, "This training room is given with permission to those training for the Chunin Exams. I'm taking the Exams next month."

"Ah… That's right…" Orochimaru smiled, playing ignorant. "I'll be going now. Train safe."

Itachi and Akina's eyes watched him carefully as he left. "Orochimaru-sama gives me the creeps…"

"Yet you have no inhibitions coming here by yourself." Itachi scolded.

"I'm a kunoichi…"

"That's no excuse…"

"I think we should follow him."

"What?" Itachi barked.

She giggled at his composure being broken.

Danzo walked through the halls of The Foundation. "Hiruzen himself is leading them? Damn that meddling old fool… He has gone too far. Kinoe, you here?"

A boy about the age of thirteen with brown hair appeared kneeling before Danzo, the boy's face hidden behind a cat mask with green and red markings.

"Even with that… No, actually because of it… Hiruzen simply won't be able to kill his student Orochimaru."

"For times just like this, we have another secret meeting place. Kinoe, go and wait there for Orochimaru."

The Third Hokage suited in his armor sternly and with disappointment stood before Orochimaru. Two Anbu stood in front of The Hokage.

Orochimaru stared back, and sinisterly smirked. "What are you planning to do? Kill me, Sensei?" Bloodlust filled his eyes despite his calm composure.

Hiruzen stayed silent, doing a quick sequence of hand signs, and placing his hand to the ground to summon a giant monkey.

"But can you go through with it, I do wonder… Sarutobi-sensei?" he maniacally laughed. Sternly doing a sequence of hand signs.

"Hm?!" Hiruzen exclaimed.

Wind shattered all the test tubes and light bulbs within the room, it hit the Anbu, Monkey King, and the Third Hokage to knock them over, Hiruzen falling to his butt. "Gah!" Orochimaru appearing behind him in an instant, he glanced, and Hiruzen was aware to glance back. Orochimaru took off running down the dark, damp hall. Hiruzen closed his eyes painfully.

"Sarutobi! Kill him!" Monkey King scolded growling.

Orochimaru fled from his underground hideout. Seeing Kakashi standing outside in the shadows of the trees and bushes.

Orochimaru's brows furrowed as Kakashi approached, readying his lightning blade. Kakashi stopped about twenty feet between him and Orochimaru. "Lightning Blade!" Kakashi charged.

Orochimaru ducked under Kakashi's arm wielding his lighting blade. A kunai flew upward in Orochimaru's hand, Kakashi jumping to get away. Orochimaru now behind Kakashi, the silver-haired boy turned— Orochimaru close face-to-face smirking, his kunai coming upward again to cut Kakashi's mask right up the middle for it to fall to the ground in two halves. Kakashi fell to his hands and knees, fear and shock flooding his body.

Orochimaru stood up straight, his kunai being held at his side, his back towards Kakashi on the ground behind him. Kakashi and Orochimaru glanced back at each other. "You…" Orochimaru's raspy calm voice stated. "I like the look in your eye." Orochimaru turned slightly towards Kakashi as his Sharigan stared in readiness. "However… I don't need a fake."

Orochimaru licked his kunai, a snake then appearing to come down from the tree above, and wrap upwards from Orochimaru's hip. "So cute…" Orochimaru smiled at the snake. "Do you want to see his blood, too?"

The snake hissed at the side of Orochimaru's face to show a paper bomb on the roof of its mouth. Shock filled Orochimaru's expression— BOOM!

Orochimaru knelt over, gripping his gut and looking at the blood on his palm. "Lord Third… So you set this up." Orochimaru said out loud, his lip quivering.

Kakashi lied out on his back from the blast, painfully lifting his head to see Orochimaru standing, holding his gut. Orochimaru approached Kakashi, Kakashi standing quickly to grab a kunai. "Don't move!"

Orochimaru slowly continued to walk towards Kakashi. The fearless look in Orochimaru's eye intimidating Kakashi for Orochimaru to by-pass the boy. Kakashi furrowed his brow to his back as Orochimaru kept walking. By the time Kakashi broke from his fear to turn around, Orochimaru had vanished.

"So that's Orochimaru…" Kakashi said, disappointed in himself to have froze in fear and allow Orochimaru to escape.

Kinoe flew through the trees, he hopped on a branch to knock three little birds out of their nest, as they fell, he caught them with his Wood Style Jutsu.

"That's Wood Style…" Akina noticed breathlessly as her and Itachi navigated through the forest.

"You kids!" Itachi turned around on guard to the sound of the man's voice.

"Jiraiya-sama…" Akina glanced stating.

"Akina-hime." Jiraiya wore full armor. He crossed his arms. "Orochimaru has betrayed The Village… I'm going after him…"

"I'll go with you." Akina volunteered.

"Akina, no… We've gone too far already." Itachi objected.

"Your Uchiha friend is right. Go home." He by-passed the children.

"Jiraiya-sama…" Akina said with worry as she watched his back, he then vanished into the trees.

"He's a Sanin… He'll be okay." Itachi reassured. "Let's get home."

Akina took a few steps ahead to freeze, looking up to The Third Hokage. "You're going forward to look for the missing children, aren't you, Akina-chan? No need. My Anbu are handling it."

"Lord Third…" Itachi looked up at The Third Hokage's words. "Thank you for your recommendation."

"Recommendation?" Akina asked, looking back to Itachi.

"I'm taking the Chunin Exams next year." Itachi informed.

"Ah…" She breathed and got excited, rushing to hug Itachi. "That's great! Finally!"

Itachi blushed at this unexpected hug, and The Lord Third smiled down on them. "These two… Darkness has tried to swallow their hearts from a young age, but I believe, they will be an example to overcome darkness."