Chapter 13
“Minato-san….?”
Minato blinks, looking around before glancing down to find Itachi looking up at him. The young boy was so silent, he had almost not noticed him at all, let alone in the crowded streets. He smiles softly at him, warmly.
“What can I do for you, Itachi?”
“Could I speak to you privately?”
“Is something wrong?” He can’t help the worry in his voice, only alleviated when Itachi shakes his head.
“Not quite wrong, I would say. Just private. Or—- better private, I suppose.”
Minato didn’t understand, but he wasn’t going to question the boy’s reasoning. He was sure it would make sense soon enough. He shepherds the boy away from the crowd, somewhere the two of them can talk, before crouching down to his level.
“Now, what did you wish to talk about?”
“You see, I met someone at the hospital when I was staying there not too long ago, and I wished to speak to him again, but I am not sure how. I was hoping— I was hoping you would know.”
“Oh?” Minato’s head tilts to the side a bit, curious. Itachi had always been a boy that tended to keep to himself. Though, if Minato remembered correctly, he had been hanging out with another boy somewhere around his age the past couple of months. Even still, him seeking someone out himself was a new one, as far as Minato was aware. “And who would that be?”
“Well—- you see—-” Itachi can’t help but fidget a bit, and Minato can’t help but remember that the boy is still so young. And he couldn’t help but wonder what had him so worried. That wasn’t like him. “He had told me, that I wasn’t to tell anyone I saw him, so—- I do not think….I was supposed to see him….But—-” There’s determination in his eyes now. “I want to know him.”
“I see.” Minato gives a nod. He didn’t quite understand, at least, not yet, but he could tell Itachi meant what he was saying. He wasn’t one to let curiosity so outwardly affect him, so the fact that he was coming to Minato and speaking to him, meant that this was important to him. And Minato wanted to help him. “So, who would that be….?” He was feeling a bit curious himself, now.
“Well….” His hands are pressed together in front of him. “You see, that conversation we had a week or so ago, there was a reason I was asking….” Yeah, Minato remembered. Itachi had apparently overheard some people talking….about….
Ah, Minato had a good idea where this was headed.
“I ran into Obito-san in the hospital, while I was staying there. He made me promise to tell anyone I found him, but, after you and I spoke….”
“You wanted to properly meet him.”
Itachi nods, and Minato couldn’t say he didn’t understand why. Itachi was like any of the Uchiha– someone who cared deeply for his family. Though, perhaps there was something more to it. Minato remembers how Itachi was with Sasuke—- he loved his brother very much. Perhaps that was part of the reason. To learn that his father had a brother of his own, but Itachi hadn’t even heard of him. Surely, if Itachi had been in Fugaku’s shoes, it would be quite the opposite.
Minato hums in thought, head tilted to the side a bit as he mulls over his options. This might actually work in his favor. Obito needed someone who cared about him. Minato could show that all he wanted, but Obito wasn’t going to believe him. He felt Minato was biased. Which, okay—- a little, yeah. But that was just it. Minato had known Obito since he was young. He was his student– almost like a son to him, like Naruto was.
But that was exactly why Obito had such troubles accepting him, surely. However, Obito was still Obito, Minato was sure of that. He was a boy who cared a lot about people. And maybe, if he got to know Itachi, and he came to care about him, too, then perhaps Obito could come to his senses. Perhaps he would finally let someone help him. There was one problem—-
The Third would most likely be completely against it. After what Obito had done—- Minato didn’t blame the man. He was just trying to think about the village, and its safety. But because of that, he probably wouldn’t want Itachi anywhere near Obito. There was a reason why only a few people even knew Obito was here.
But still—-
After what feels like eternity, Minato gives Itachi a nod. But then he holds up a finger.
“I will have to talk to Lord Third, because there are certain issues that may make it so you cannot, but I will do my best. I am sure Obito would not mind meeting you as well.”
Itachi blinks up at Minato, not saying anything for a moment, before he agrees. He wasn’t completely sure what was going on, but Minato had told Itachi that Obito was dead. But he wasn’t, hunh? Itachi had to admit, he found it a bit interesting, but that wasn’t quite what he was curious about. He remembers how nonchalant Obito had been. How relaxed and informal.
Itachi had found himself quite curious about that. And to be called ‘kiddo.’ It was strange.
Perhaps, maybe a little, Itachi wouldn’t mind being regarded as a child.