A/N: Hello all! I am back. Hope you didn't miss me too much. I got for you all a nice little interlude Itachi!
To Change Fate
Interlude: Itachi
Since Itachi was young, he knew the world needed to change. At four years old, his father, Fugaku, took him to the aftermath of a major battle. There were countless corpses in the rocky terrain, and it reeked of iron. Itachi would never forget when an enemy survivor begged for water. When Itachi attempted to give him some, the survivor tried to attack him. Itachi had to kill him.
As Itachi grew older, more blood was on his hands. It came with being a ninja of Konoha. In his heart, he did not want to fight nor kill, but he long accepted that he had to sacrifice those feelings. Killing became all he knew. Itachi realized that the only way to change the world and end conflict was to become stronger. He needed to climb the ninja ranks as fast as possible. At 11, Itachi became a part of ANBU. He was one step closer to changing the ninja world for the better.
Itachi was sharpening his kunai in his bedroom when a messenger hawk appeared on his windowsill. Itachi immediately stopped what he was doing and took the scroll the hawk was carrying. He read the message. It was from the Hokage. He wanted Itachi to meet him in his office as soon as possible.
Itachi was intrigued. He wondered if it was another mission with Team Ro. Their first few missions were a resounding success, and he wanted to learn more from Hound.
Itachi briskly put on his ANBU gear. As he put on his sandals, he noted his missing big toe and pointer toe on his right leg. Because of those injuries, he walked with a limp. For some ninjas, it would have been a career ending injury, but Itachi found his balance.
He sighed. His missing toes were a reminder of one of his many failures. A reminder of what he had lost.
Itachi left his house and shunshin through the village to the Hokage Tower. The village flew by in a blur as he hopped from trees to rooftops. Eventually, he made it to the top of the Hokage Tower where the hokage's office was. He entered through the window.
Itachi knelt before the Third Hokage who was sitting behind his desk.
Sarutobi slouched in his chair, inhaling his pipe. He wore his official garb with his signature hat. As he exhaled, there was no relief. He hunched as if he had the whole world on his shoulders.
"Weasel, you have made great contributions to the village," Lord Third began, carefully considering his words. "After much consideration, you are relieved of your duties in ANBU,"
Itachi knelt there, frozen like a statue. He had done everything right. At least, he thought he did. He did everything that the Third Hokage and Danzo wanted. He wanted to know why this was happening, but he knew better than to question the Third Hokage. He gritted his teeth and waited for Sarutobi to continue.
The Third Hokage stood up and turned toward the window. It was a beautifully bright morning. The birds were singing, and the village was active below them. The Hokage Monument was in full view, each past Hokage watching over the people.
"Know that this is not a punishment. It is peacetime. We as a village don't need children fighting its worst battles. I should never have listened to Danzo. I see that now. You are dismissed,"
Itachi bowed his head and said, "Sir," before he shunshin out of the hokage's office, leaving leaves in his wake.
Itachi walked home in a daze. He returned his ANBU gear and cleared out his locker. He did not see Hound on his way out. He must have been on a mission.
Itachi looked at nothing in particular as he walked, deep in thought. He was no longer in ANBU, and it was all because of his age. He thought the village had gotten over that. With successful mission after successful mission, he thought he had proved himself. Even when he succeeds, he fails.
Itachi found himself in a park at the heart of the village. He watched as a group of children playing ninja ran past him. All smiling and giggling as they tried tackling each other. Other kids were playing at the playground, squealing with joy as they swung on the swing set. Some parents sat on benches as they watched their kids, protecting them from the harshness of the world.
Itachi sat on an empty bench, his mind drifting like a cloud.
He wondered if this would be Sasuke and Humiya's favorite spot if they were alive. Sasuke would be 6 and Humiya 9. He imagined Humiya swinging on the swing and Sasuke playing ninja with the group of kids. Would they ask him to join? If Humiya asked, Itachi would definitely swing on the swing with her. If Sasuke asked, he would join in a game of ninja. He might be too old to play these games and people might stare, but he wouldn't care. He would give anything for them to be happy.
But there was nothing he could give to them because they died far too young. He wasn't strong enough. Even now, he is still weak.
"I'm sorry," Itachi whispered into the wind. "I'm so sorry,"
It was midday by the time he came home. Itachi expected he would return to an empty house, but the lights were on.
He hoped that it was his mother who was there. He entered the house and took off his shoes.
Itachi was greeted by his father.
Ever since Itachi's siblings died, Fugaku never looked at him the same. Gone was the pride in his eyes. Nothing that Itachi accomplished seemed to please him anymore.
Fugaku had bags under his eyes with slouched shoulders. His kimono wrinkled. There was an exhausted frown on his face.
"Why are you home?" Fugaku demanded.
Itachi mentally prepared himself for what was to come.
"I am…no longer in ANBU, Father,"
Itachi winced as he watched Fugaku's face contorted with rage.
"You were what?!"
"I am no longer—"
"You don't need to repeat yourself,"
Fugaku pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath.
"You have ruined everything. You were supposed to be the link between the village and the clan,"
"The Hokage told me that it was because of my age. I have no control over that," Itachi explained.
"Nonsense! There has to be something more,"
Fugaku turned away from Itachi.
"You failed me like you failed Sasuke and Humiya,"
Itachi felt a lump in his throat, his body trembling. It was one thing to know about his failures, but another to have them smacked in his face.
"Get out of my sight," Fugaku spat with disgust.
Itachi ran out of the house, not caring where he went. He just wanted out of that dreadful house.
Itachi found himself in the Uchiha graveyard. His body was still trembling. He walked through the many rows of headstones. There were so many, too many. After the Nine Tails attack, more than half the clan perished.
There were a few other people there, paying their respects to the dead. A shrine maiden was also there, cleaning the graveyard with delicate hands. One silhouette caught his eye.
As Itachi walked closer, he realized that it was his mother kneeling before Sasuke and Humiya's graves. He could hear her soft muttering. She was talking as if they were alive in front of her.
"Mother," Itachi called out.
Mikoto stopped in surprise and slowly turned to give Itachi a sad smile. Gone was her previous radiance. Mikoto cut her hair short and wore all black. Her cheeks were sunken in, and her skin was ashen.
Itachi watched as she withered away year after year. He would hear her cry in private, her soft sniffles echoing throughout the house. There were no more tears now, just dull bloodshot eyes.
"Itachi, come sit," his mother said, motioning to the spot beside her.
Itachi sat beside her. Incense was lit on the graves with a plate of dango in front of it. Stuffed animals were placed on Sasuke's grave and hair ornaments were placed on Humiya's. All the things Mikoto knew that they liked.
"I was just talking about you, Itachi, about how much you have grown," Mikoto said.
"I see," Itachi replied.
Mikoto put her hand lovingly on the ground.
"They are safe, Itachi. Safe in Naka's arms,"
Itachi said nothing. He no longer believed in Naka. If she existed, she would have protected the Uchiha Clan from the Nine Tails Attack. His siblings would be alive. He would not have to kneel before empty graves. His siblings' bodies most likely washed ashore far away, ravaged by the elements.
Itachi balled his hands into fists and looked away from the graves. He knew he should not direct his anger on an entity that doesn't exist. It was his fault that his arms gave out when the bridge collapsed. He was useless as they all fell into the river, his siblings engulfed by the rapids.
Mikoto put a hand on Itachi's back.
"Don't worry, Itachi. Everything is going to be alright now that you are no longer a part of the ANBU,"
Itachi looked at Mikoto in shock. He never told her that he was no longer a part of the ANBU. It should be impossible for her to know, unless.
"You were the one who got me out of ANBU,"
Mikoto nodded.
Questions exploded in Itachi's head. Mikoto has no political standing. The Uchiha don't have any powerful allies in the village either. How could she manage to convince the Third Hokage to get him out of ANBU?
"I am good friends with the Hokage's wife, Biwako,"
Itachi furrowed his brows, feeling his stomach boil in rage.
"How could you? I could have accomplished so much in ANBU. Do you understand how much planning you ruined?"
"I know you are angry, but being in ANBU is too much of a burden for you."
Mikoto caressed his face.
"I did it to protect you, Itachi. You are all I have left. I couldn't let the village and Fugaku take you away from me. I couldn't bear it."
Itachi did not understand. He never needed protection. He was a prodigy. Everyone in the village talked his ear off about it. Some people said it in awe and others in jealousy. Even with his disability, he succeeded. He didn't need protection when he was bullied in the Academy. He didn't need protection when he passed the Chunin exams. Why did he need protection now?
"You have navigated the ninja world well, but you need to understand that people will take advantage of your brilliance," Mikoto explained.
Itachi shook his head.
"No one is taking advantage of me. I am not some vulnerable civilian child, Mother,"
"Yes, there were. Your father for one," Mikoto said.
"You are going directly against Father. He is going to find out what you did one way or the other,"
Mikoto brushed Itachi's bangs out of his face.
"You don't need to worry yourself about that now,"
Mikoto pulled Itachi into a hug.
"You have too much on your shoulders. I should have advocated for you more,"
Itachi might be angry with his mother, but he could not bring himself to hate her. He felt more weary than angry. He leaned into his mother's arms; his arms glued to his sides. Itachi did not remember the last time he was hugged.
"It's getting late," Mikoto said, grabbing Itachi's hand. "I should get dinner ready,"
Mikoto got up and so did Itachi.
"Bye Sasuke. Bye Humiya. I will see you tomorrow," she said with a wave.
Itachi stared down at the graves.
"Goodbye," Itachi said.
Mikoto and Itachi left the graveyard, hand in hand.
