Itachi was gazing at the high walls that encircled the village, he was making a careful consideration about the way he would enter Konoha. If he goes through the gates, he was sure to be stopped and many shinobi will appear to apprehend him. This makes sense for several reasons, the first is that he was still an S-rank rogue shinobi and if Sasuke and Naruto haven't disclosed the truth to the village, then his status would have remained the same. Another reason was that people know him to be dead, and so they might not believe that he was there; they would think it to be a jutsu of some sorts which means he was still a threat. Therefore, even if the truth had been disclosed to the village, his arrival would still be viewed as a dangerous scheme from an enemy. He doesn't want to threaten the current peace he was told the village was enjoying now.
If the barrier code remained the same, he could easily sneak inside and try to find Sasuke, or Naruto. They would help in explaining his predicament, well… if he succeeded in convincing them it was really him, back from the dead. How does one do that exactly? Still, that would be the better option than alerting the entire village. Itachi weaved the signs that would allow him to access the barrier, however, it turned out the code had been changed since the time of the Third Hokage, of course… It was surprising it remained the same even long after the Sandaime had passed, he mused.
Itachi sat down to think of other ways to enter the village. He could wait outside the gates and cloak himself in a transformation jutsu. He could use his genjutsu to allow him access without causing an alarm and head to the administration office to meet the Hokage. Who was the Hokage now anyway? Was it still Princess Tsunade or was it his old Senpai now… Itachi did not receive much information beyond his brother's mortal status and the village's current situation. How many years had passed already?
Soon all Itachi's scheming became futile as he sensed a chakra present that he was conversant with and located in a very familiar part of the village. This is Sasuke! Without sparing another thought to his actions, Itachi leapt over the village's border walls and headed towards his old family compound.
Naruto woke up panting from a sudden restless feeling. He looked to his right to find his wife sleeping soundly, and took his reality in. My wife, it was still unbelievable to him. Hinata Hyuuga was now Hinata Uzumaki and all his. He leaned over to tuck the strands of her hair that fell to her face behind her ear and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead. Hinata shifted lightly in her sleep, "Naruto…" she grumbled in her slumbering manner, "Are you alright?" she asked. "Nothing to worry about. You know me… I think I'll go take a walk around the village." Hinata smiled with her eyes still closed, "It's been two years, the village is well, yet you still worry" she remarked, "Well there's no harm in making sure it stays that way" he retorted behind the smile he was now returning. Hinata gave him a slight nod and said, "Don't be gone too long" and Naruto chuckled, "Will you miss me?" Hinata raised her head up to receive a kiss from her husband and he obliged, "Alright, I won't be long" he whispered behind an exasperated breath.
Naruto put his sandals on and stepped out of his apartment. He took a right turn as he often did to start his nightly patrol. He would often wake up with a restless feeling that wouldn't settle until he's made sure that the village was safe. His feelings weren't always right, but when they were it had been catastrophic, such as the night Hanabi had been kidnapped, and Hinata as well. Toneri was just the first of the Otsutsuki threats to happen since Kaguya, however, the Rabbit goddess had been preparing for a larger threat and Naruto is confident that Toneri wasn't it.
[why don't you just use the tailed-beast and sage mode to sense the village… then we can go back to sleep again]
Kurama was annoyed by all those nightly patrols because Naruto would make him feel just as restless as he was. 'You already spend all your time sleeping, you sure have gotten much lazier since the war' Naruto remarked.
[I have not! It's not like you let me get any sleep with all this patrolling anyway!] Kurama roared back at his Jinchuriki.
Naruto chuckled and said, 'Alright, settle down. I just need to make sure everything is well and then we can go back'
[Just get into tailed-beast mode and get it done with. You leave Hinata alone much too often at night, and if you keep this up you won't be keeping the Hyuuga for much longer]
'Okay, fine! We'll do it your way' Naruto put his hands together and entered into tailed-beast mode. He expanded his senses to cover the village and he sensed a very strong chakra over by the old Uchiha compound. Naruto recognised this chakra straight away and became quickly excited. Sasuke! He rushed over towards the compound still in tailed-beast mode and he could hear Kurama chuckling inside him at his Jinchuriki's bliss.
Naruto leapt over the roofs and over the wreckage of the Uchiha compound to get to Sasuke in a manner of seconds, but as he approached closer towards his best friend's chakra, he sensed another presence that had him halt suddenly in place… What? How can this even be?!
[Naruto, this chakra belongs to…] 'Yeah! I know, but how?' [Perhaps it's another reanimation jutsu… Orochimaru might be up to his old tricks] 'I don't know Kurama; I don't exactly sense him anywhere nearby. Let's go see what's going on'
"Sasuke…" Itachi called out to his brother smiling. Sasuke was staring at him wide-eyed and confused. "I didn't expect to find you here of all places." Itachi remarked but Sasuke just gawked at him with his mouth agape. "It's really me, I'm alive again" Itachi didn't know why he said this when he also knew saying he was alive was pointless. Why would Sasuke simply take his word for it, but the look of incredulousness on Sasuke's face is making Itachi believe that his little brother was actually considering the possibility.
While the possibility of the presence's words appears to be the most probable based on his initial assessment, Sasuke was still sifting through other possibilities as to why he was currently seeing his long-deceased brother before him and coming up empty. There was just no way that somehow his deepest desire had come true. It's not real! He was persistent to ignore the possibility, "who the hell are you?! There is no way that you are Itachi! He is dead!" that was a truth he had been certain of. He had seen it, moreover, he had his brother's eyes. This imposter before him couldn't possibly be Itachi. How was it possible that this person was a perfect existence of his brother?
That was when another possibility occurred to him. White Zetsu! They have the power to absorb and replicate any chakra. They must have somehow gained a supply of Itachi's chakra and were now making their move after all these years. Sasuke was certain this was the most likely explanation. "You are an imposter" he said annoyed, and he turned his Sharingan on to wield his Chidori. He was going to put an end to this cruel affront.
Before Sasuke could attack the imposter before him, another familiar chakra had landed next to him, "Itachi! How is this possible?! You aren't even a reanimation… You're really alive!" Naruto stated marvelled at seeing the Uchiha before him. Sasuke remarked in a nonchalant tone, "This is not my brother. This is an imposter and probably a trick by a White Zetsu" but Naruto interjected quickly and said, "No, Sasuke! This is not a trick… I can sense White Zetsu, remember? This guy is really Itachi! I know it!" Sasuke turned suddenly to face his best friend with wide eyes, This is really Itachi?! He mused and Naruto understood the look Sasuke was giving him. "Sasuke, it's really him" and then turned to walk towards Itachi. "Itachi, how is it that you are here? How is it that you are alive?" Naruto asked, and Sasuke was looking incredulously at his brother once more and waiting for an answer. He still needed a believable explanation. Naruto appeared to be so certain, and Sasuke found himself scared to believe it was real just to have the possibility of it all ripped away from him.
Itachi was grateful that Naruto arrived when he had, to confirm the reality of it all. He did not want his first meeting with his brother to be a physical confrontation, and so he obliged with an explanation straight away, "It was the Sage of Six Paths. He had given me another chance."
Naruto and Sasuke are both all too familiar with the Sage's ability to manipulate life and death. The truth was now hitting Sasuke hard, and he dared to accept that this was indeed Itachi standing before him. Sasuke did not voluntarily move his legs towards his brother, but he was drawing closer towards him rapidly and soon reached him with his arms now seeking to clutch his brother into them. "Itachi" was all he mustered in a whisper and Sasuke released a tear that was once too difficult for him to produce before this moment. However, the joyous reunion had been quickly interrupted by the arrival of Anbu shinobi and the Hokage himself.
"Naruto, Sasuke, you arrived already. The barrier corps sensed an intruder around here…" Kakashi was now staring at Itachi incredulously, and then quickly scowled and ordered, "Apprehend this imposter" but Naruto jumped in ahead of Itachi and said, "Rokudaime, I know what this looks like, but this is really Itachi. It's not an imposter" Kakashi was quick to believe Naruto's certainty and understood it to be truer at the state he had seen Sasuke in. "What? How is that even possible?" their old sensei inquired, and Naruto explained what Itachi had informed them. "It's true, I can sense this in tailed-beast mode. There's no lie to it, Kakashi Sensei. This is really Itachi."
Kakashi had seen his own teammate come back from the dead, but that was because he hadn't really succumbed to that fate. Itachi, however, really was dead. Still, he had witnessed much more during the Fourth Shinobi War, and this wasn't too farfetched to believe. Nevertheless, he had to perform his duty as Hokage and conduct all the possible tests they could until all other possibilities have been refuted. "Naruto, Sasuke, I believe you both that this is really Itachi standing here before us, but…" Itachi interjected and said, "Senpai, so you have become the Hokage. I understand what is required of me, and I will come willingly. I have no secrets to hide, and you may probe my mind as much as you wish"
"I need to do what now?" Sakura couldn't believe what Kakashi was asking of her. Itachi was alive somehow again and she needed to conduct a full body analysis on him? How is that even possible. "Rokudaime, I don't understand… what do you mean Itachi is alive" but Sakura's mind was now turning its concern towards another, "Sasuke!" she chimed after stating her question, "Where is he? Does he know about Itachi's reappearance?" and Kakashi placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down, "Sasuke is at the Torture and Intel division going over the data we had already collected, he is aware of the situation. As a matter of fact, it was Sasuke who found Itachi first" he informed her, and Sakura was marvelled to learn that Sasuke was back at the village already, "He's back?" she asked in a whisper and Kakashi nodded his head in confirmation.
"Alright, where is …" She couldn't believe what she was actually asking, but apparently this was the truth if Kakashi is confirming it, "… Itachi now?" she finished her question. "Right this way" Kakashi said and led her to the room that Itachi had been occupying. They arrived at one of the hospital rooms on the far western end of the third floor. It was heavily guarded by Anbu shinobi and only those with exclusive access were allowed inside. "Sakura, I don't have to tell you that this is all classified until we discern what needs to be done. Once your analysis has been completed you can deliver the report directly to me. I'll be in my office." Sakura nodded at Kakashi's instructions and motioned towards the door. One of the Anbu shinobi slid the door open to allow them in.
Sakura had never met Itachi, and she did not know what she would expect to find, or what would someone coming back from the dead would look like. What she found was a man who appeared to be twenty-one years of age looking lively and healthy. Itachi Uchiha did not look like the Uchiha brother she had been familiar with. His hair was softer and of a lighter shade of black compared to Sasuke which he had tied loosely in a ponytail. His eyes were onyx coloured just as it had been affiliated with the extinct clan members, but they projected a certain kindness as his gaze met her own. The supposedly resurrected Uchiha appears to be in proper condition upon first glance, yet Sakura was quick to start her duty in determining any possible afflictions as well as discern any abnormalities that might exist. "I am Sakura Haruno, Sasuke's and Naruto's teammate" she introduced herself, "I will be conducting a full medical analysis on you" she informed him and then instructed, "could you please lay back and I will begin." Itachi did as was instructed and said, "You are the third member then, it is nice to finally meet you." Sakura was taken aback at the politeness he had displayed and smiled in return.
"This must seem surprising to you" he said as she placed her hand onto his bodice to inspect him with her medical chakra. "It is unheard of, but I have seen so many impossibilities happen in the war. Madara Uchiha had managed to return to the world of the living as well, and not just as a reanimation, so it isn't that difficult to comprehend" She expressed, and Itachi smiled at her and said, "Naruto was quick to believe it as well, but Sasuke was a little sceptical at first" and she retorted, "It must be overwhelming for him. Sasuke he… suffered so much loss already, and I suspect it was hard for him to believe something kind was happening to him." She assumed, and Itachi nodded at her and said, "You seem to know him quite well. He's lucky to have been blessed with teammates such as you and Naruto". Sakura never thought she would be finding herself feeling pleased at receiving Itachi's approval. This was certainly a mysterious world that they had lived in.
She completed her tests and was on her way to Kakashi's office to deliver the report. She had found nothing out of the ordinary, and it seems Itachi was definitely here in person. The DNA test results appear to confirm his relationship to Sasuke as well. She knocked at the Hokage's office door and heard Kakashi speak from inside, "Come in" Sakura twisted the knob to enter and found all her teammates present alongside Ino and Shikamaru as well. "Ah, Sakura. Have you completed the medical analysis report already?" Kakashi asked, and she nodded. Her eyes met Sasuke's and she gave him a comforting look and said "The tests conclude that this is Itachi Uchiha, alive and well. No abnormalities were detected." She saw Sasuke's eyes light up as if they needed to hear this final confirmation, and Naruto was quick to say, "That's what I've been saying. Kakashi, we need to tell the village about the truth of what happened back then." Sakura turned her gaze to Kakashi who responded, "Naruto, it's not that easy. Itachi himself needs to be involved in this conversation as well. It was his wish to keep this all secretive." Kakashi turned his gaze to Sasuke, "I am all for informing the village of the truth, and their reaction towards the higher ups is the least of my concerns, however, Itachi has a right to decide on this matter as well." Sasuke appeared to be accepting of Kakashi's conclusion as he nodded his head in return.
Shikamaru spoke next, "If it is decided that Itachi will be living in the village again-" and Naruto quickly jumped in saying "Of course he will live here, no one deserves to be here more than he does" but Shikamaru cut his speech by saying, "He can't exactly be hailed as a hero if he decides to keep the truth hidden, we need to think of every alternative here. Besides, what I wanted to say was we will need to convince him to reveal the truth" and Naruto started again, "Even if he doesn't want it to be revealed, we need to do right by him and reveal it anyway!"
Sasuke's head was spinning at everything that was happening around him. All he wanted to do is go see his brother. Hadn't enough time been wasted already on keeping them apart. "Kakashi, where is Itachi now?" he asked, and Kakashi said, "Well, he remains at the hospital, but I think we will need to move him to someplace more comfortable and away from prying eyes." Sasuke cut him off and said, "We will return to my family estate. Naruto you will come as well" he said decidedly and Kakashi agreed with him. "Very well, that is what I was going to suggest as well." Sasuke left Kakashi's office to assist in transporting Itachi to their family estate. He was to use the Rinnegan as it was the most effective way to travel undetected.
Author's note:
I guess you've noticed a major theme here was "How's this even possible?!"
I hope you liked chap 2. If you did, I ask that you kindly leave a review to help support my story. Thank you!
Chapter 3 teaser:
Sasuke and Itachi talk...