This chapter is dedicated to: joshaya4everstydia, King_Yoonie, rxsalinee, JacqueGallup, CielisBae0919, Mihnea_Kitsune, Gdjkdufu, x_personthatexists_x, Alessandra4672, Speedy0106, ittyskskj...etc
Kakashi Hatake, Shisui Uchiha, and Itachi Uchiha.
Those were the names proposed to be tasked with the upcoming S-rank mission to the Hidden Rain Village.
"We'll send a message to Hanzo of The Salamander, requesting they partake in the upcoming Chūnin Exams here in the Hidden Leaf village. The messengers of course being the three names I mentioned. The whole point of this mission is to get an inside scoop on the Hidden Rain village. If the rumors surrounding the Akatsuki are true then we must act fast. The Chūnin Exams are upcoming as well and Orochimaru is posing as a threat".
"We must not falter, for trouble might be knocking on our doors from here on out. The assigned names are to be dispatched discreetly when I see the time fit", Lord Third declares, rendering everyone at meeting silent before everyone nodded unanimously.
As much as I wanted to tell them the information I know about the Akatsuki, there was no way I'd do that. For obvious reasons of course.
Once again, I had to bite back my tongue.
***
There was a feeling in my gut that told me he'll pick me for such mission. Even though he did tell me that the final decision is up to me whether I wanted to partake in any mission. But from the looks of it, this mission seems gravely serious. Under the pressure of my father's stern face and the looks everyone at the meeting were sending me, I had no choice but to comply and accept the mission.
When the meeting was declared over, I caught sight of Danzo's stern expression. He'd narrowed his exposed eye at me. The contact lens looking almost too real. Father and Shisui were right on either side of me. So I had to proceed with caution. From the corner of my eye, I glared at him at the perfect opportunity, before heading out with the rest of my clan members.
The night was dark and cold, the sky was pitch black as we exited the meeting building. I shove my hands in my pockets and keep the frown cemented on my face. Just how much more I can take of him? He's perfectly unscathed, getting away with crime after crime.
My blood boils as I lower my head and clench my jaw. I just wish there was a way I could give him back a taste of his own medicine. He killed an entire family of three and all I did after learning of this information is bite back my tongue.
The pack of Uchiha clan members were chattering along the way as we headed to the Uchiha District. Eventually, everything crossed my mind again. Despite the fact that I hold the title of an elite Anbu. Or at least used to. I can't shake off this emotional baggage even after four years.
And now, I've managed to push away Izumi with my altering personality. I regret what I've done so bad, but at the same time I lack the courage to go up to her and apologize after what I did.
Is this the price for saving the village?
Sacrificing your own self and scar yourself with the emotional trauma? Lose sight of who you were?
I admit that Madara Uchiha played a big role in maintaining this peace. His confession that night saved our necks. But even Hanabi played a crucial role as well. For the past four years, the Leaf tried to track down any trace of Madara.
It's kind of suspicious that all of a sudden we got a tiny thread that points back to him and the Akatsuki organization. Knowing Madara, he might've purposely let himself get discovered. But the question circulates.
Why?
Why would Madara let himself get discovered when no one could find a trace of him for the past four years? Unless...he has something in mind...
After all, he did say that he had a change of heart...
But what made him alter his decision? We had so perfectly planned the Uchiha's demise.
These questions have haunted me for the past couple of years.
My head whips in Shisui's direction when I hear him say, "Itachi, we need to talk"
"About?"
He keeps an eye on me as he walks up to my father. My brows crease as I observe them closely.
"Lord Fugaku, I'd like to get permission from you to take Itachi with me", he informs, making my father stop in his tracks. Everyone else stops as well, awaiting Shisui's reply.
"To where?", father questions as a howling wind sends a chill throughout my body.
What is Shisui planning at?
"Itachi hasn't been himself as you know, so I've been thinking that maybe if we could spend more time together I can help him", Shisui elaborated, rendering me more confused.
Therapy?
Father darted glances between the two of us before directing his gaze back to Shisui and saying, "Fine, do what's necessary", he darts his eyes to me and mutters, "he's way past to deal with anyways".
My eyes widen at what he'd just remarked.
He's way past to deal with?
My brows creased as I stared back at him. The Uchiha clan members witnessed this as well as I involuntary snapped and retorted, "Am I just an experiment to you?!", my voice elevates as I tread closer, gritting my teeth, "is that why you're suddenly so invested in Sasuke? Because I failed you? Because I decided to grieve instead of concealing?".
"That's the way of the Shinobi, Itachi!", he yelled back at me, his voice elevating, "I thought you of all people would know that by heart. I get it, you lost a precious friend, but that was four years ago and life has to go on. You honestly think that grieving like this will bring her back?", he yells at me, making me wince at how deep his words cut.
"You have no idea", I hiss, gritting my teeth as I lower my head to conceal the tears forming in my eyes, "you don't have any goddamn idea..."
"What is he talking about?", someone from the Police Force inquires.
Everyone, including Shisui gasped in shock when I whipped up my head, flashing them my Sharingan. Members of the Police Force inched towards father instinctively, as a few carefully came up from behind me.
"You have no idea", I growled, feeling my chest burn as I keep this secret suppressed. Even Shisui was taken a back by my reaction. His lips parted and he observed me closely.
"What are you talking about?", father inquired, his brows creasing.
"We'll arrest him on your orders", a cop assured him, but I disregard him completely.
"Itachi,", my eyes darted to Shisui who had a frown cemented upon his face as he stressed on my name.
"Stop", he growled, his face was serious and cemented.
At this point, tears welled up in my eyes as I stared back at Shisui. Shisui gazed more into my eyes before his expression softened and he was left puzzled.
I lowered my head again, shedding one tear, I forced the words out of my mouth, "...I'm sorry..."
Father remained silent as I bit down my quivering lower lip.
"Whatever", he muttered before gesturing for everyone else to walk.
The wind blew back my hair and I balled my fists in order to prevent any shrieks from escaping.
Once everyone else was gone, the only shadow left was Shisui's. He walked up to me with steady steps. The chill in the air was cold and impacting.
What Shisui said next made my stomach sink.
"I guess there is something you're hiding after all, even from me".
My head jerks up as I look back at him with my tearful eyes. My tongue was knotted in knots.
"Shisui...I-"
"Listen, now you can talk to me about what's doing this to you. I promise you I'll listen through it all. You don't have to tell me everything right away, but Itachi, if you keep sucking it up like this, it'll only exhaust you more. So why do this to yourself when we're all by your side?"
I fixate my gaze elsewhere, not wanting to meet his gaze.
"You're hurting those around you as well. Do you think it's easy for your own father to see you fall apart like this? When you were at the top as always?".
"And now that I'm a mess, no one wants anything to do with me", I reply in an unsteady voice.
"Not true", Shisui assured and walked up to me.
"Let's go Itachi, this is the first step to your recovery"
"Recovery?"
"Uh-ha, now come on follow me"
***
He was leading me somewhere I recognized, but I didn't give it much thought.
"So tell me", Shisui starts off as we walk side by side, "Are you still hung up on Hanabi's death?".
"You don't understand...", I say and slump my shoulders in an attempt to shrug it off.
"Then make me", Shisui proposes, making the two of us halt in our tracks.
I chin up to look at him directly in the eyes and my mouth divulges he next words on its own.
"The only reason I have the Mangekyō Sharingan is because of you, Shisui".
He remains silent and listens instead of questioning me like the rest.
"That day, when Danzo was targeting you, I'd actually thought you might be dead. Even though I dragged Hanabi along to help me...at some point my mind believed that you're dead, that Danzo got to you and killed you. But my body kept moving, even though my mind had already established that you were dead".
His mouth falls agape a little as he listens to what I have to say.
"I didn't know what happened with me, but considering you are my best friend...and the idea of you dying and leaving me alone in this...it was just too much. Nevertheless, my brain succeeded in tricking me into thinking that by the time we arrive, you'd be long gone".
The wind blew away at our faces, making the current situation even more intense.
"Itachi...", he whispered.
"My own mind betrayed me, and made me think that my best friend was dead and that by the time I arrive, I'd only be holding his cold corpse...but then I arrived, and saw you fighting for your life. The Mangekyō Sharingan doesn't only awaken when you witness someone dear to you die. It awakens when your mind has already been through enough".
"Itachi...you-"
He was at loss of words, which was understandable. The silence which followed was broken by him when he declared, "Before we end the night, you still have to take your first step in recovering".
"Recovering?", I repeated, my brows creasing.
He faintly grinned and motioned, "follow me"
Confused, I followed Shisui and remained silent. My mind attempted to guess what he had in mind, but without progress. It took me a moment to realize what he was actually planning to do.
We were at the base of the bridge, which leads up to the gazebo. Where Izumi was leaning against one of the pillars, waiting...
"Shisui-", I stared back at him in total shock, "you-".
Shisui simply furrowed his brows and said, "you are going to make this right".
I darted my eyes back at the far end of the bridge, where Izumi's eyes contacted with mine as Shisui said, "I'll be waiting here while you atone for what you've done".
"B-but-"
"No excuses Itachi, apologize and do whatever is necessary, even she knows you wouldn't hurt her like that", he smirks and says, "you're more dear to us than you think, Itachi so don't you dare and think that we'll let you suffer on your own".
I stare at Shisui in awe. Why would he do this for me? I've proved time and again that I am way past to deal with, so why? My eyes dart back to Izumi, where she attempts to give me a small smile.
Why?
After all that I've done. Why would they think that I need another chance? It's been four years. I've been this mess for four goddamn years.
Is there still hope for me left?
Or maybe I've been wrong. Maybe when Hanabi died I forgot the most important lesson she'd taught me.
Shouldering the weight of your problems is better done when you have a trusted comrade.
If I don't abide by what I've learned from Hanabi, then her death might've just been...in vain...
I sigh and give in. Maybe I lacked the courage, maybe I needed a little push.
"Understood", I sat in a steady voice and witness how Shisui's cheeks caved in, making his dimples pop.
And with that, I part with Shisui and tread towards the gazebo where my first step to recovery is.
I have to make it right, or I'll never be able to rise up on my feet again...
____________________________________
A/N:- Almost nothing was happening, so I'm sorry for the lack of action, but you've learned the sequence of how I do things haven't you? This was to let you in on Itachi's mind before I plan out what's next. I've got a pretty solid idea, so don't fret. As always, thank you, Red Butterfly is number one in #itachiuchiha again!!
~A