Mariposa, or, The butterfly effect

Shisui Uchiha is known for many things, the nicest of these things is his hugs, one of which Itachi was quite pleased to receive. Warm, cozy, like being wrapped in a freshly dried blanket, toasty and safe.

Itachi melted right into it, shutting his eyes happily. “Shisui…” he said fondly, immediately recognizing the man's voice, he was sobbing after all. Itachi had grown very good at identifying his guest's tears. He thought that was kind of sad, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to address how sad that was right now.

“You recognize me?” Shisui exclaimed, eyes shining with tears as he beamed down at his younger cousin who cracked a soft tired smile at him.

“Of course I do…I’m confused, but I’m not that confused” He said fondly looking at the curly-haired Uchiha who was such a strange sight to take in. He held more weight in his eyes than any other Uchiha he’d met thus far, an awareness that shone like he knew more than anyone should at his age.

Yet there was a light in his eyes too that he held that was unmatched by any other.

“You said ninjas don’t exist earlier from what I heard, don’t you start pretending nothing’s wrong with you now Itachi” Shisui huffed, flicking Itachi’s nose lightly he reeled back cupping his hands over his nose and pouting up at Shisui.

“Look In my defence…no, I can’t think of anything.” He sighed. “I don’t have an excuse”

“Dude you do too you got blown up by a bomb- That aside- I’m just glad to see you awake…fully now” Shisui sighed. “I’m…so glad.” He sighed deflating and plopping down beside him.

“I still can't believe everything went so smoothly after that…” he mumbled quietly “Do you remember what it was like before Itachi?….Do you even remember how amazing it is that we get to be alive right now and we have families to go home to? That Sasuke got to grow up happy and healthy?” Shisui asked quietly. “If you don’t…I won’t remind you but thank you. I don’t know if you did that on purpose, maybe you don’t even know- but…thank you.” Shisui said as he settled down beside Itachi.

Itachi blinked at him blearily before his eyes widened.

“…I may…need to discuss something with you if what you’re saying is true…” Itachi said.

“Anything, I put a seal on the room to keep things private for a reason…” Shisui cracked a smile always one step ahead, of course.

Itachi straightened up slightly, thinking heavily on his fuzzy memories, gazing up at the pale tiles on the ceiling lit warmly by the light from the window behind them that’s warmth had been the only indicator short of visitor hours that told Itachi how much time had passed while he was asleep. That is, If you could call it sleep.

“The Uchiha clan was supposed to be massacred, by order of Danzo because our clan was going to do a coup or something, right?” Itachi asked.

“Right,” Shisui smiled tilting his head.

“Then you were supposed to die, dying of poison and -then - on the cliff- so I didn't get caught too trying to drag you-“ Itachi couldn’t quite finish his words, his words catching in his throat as unfamiliar tears filled his eyes, he took a shaky breath.

“What…?” Shisui paused.

“And then the Uchiha clan's deaths would fall into my hands, I'd meet…that one who calls himself Madara…that one who visited my bedside sometimes-“ Itachi trailed off.

“What-?” Shisui’s eyes slowly widened further in more and more concern with every word that spilled past Itachi’s lips.

“Then I would…with his help- and Sasuke would be the only one who lived- I’d be blamed…sent to join the Akatsuki…” Itachi trailed off.

Shisui’s expression darkened with ever-increasing worry.

“He died without a partner…” Itachi’s eyes widened and guilt filled them as he clenched his fists. “

“Who?” Shisui questioned, frowning with increasing worry as he watched his cousin's eyes swirl with the crimson red of the sharingan, worried he might pass out if he didn't settle down but desperate to know just what on earth his cousin was talking about now-

“Juzo” Itachi frowned in despair “did anyone even bury him? Or did he die somewhere safely? Comfortably? Did he have anyone at all…?” He asked looking deflated and broken at the mere thought.

“…I-…He left the Akatsuki a few years ago after an argument with his partner Kisame…how do you even know about the Akatsuki?” Shisui asked “No one…said anything about them- most info about them is top secret-“ he began.

“Kisame…he’s a lovely man isn't he?” Itachi had a smile blossom on his face “It makes sense Juzo and he couldn’t get along…” his eyes shined with fond recognition.

“Itachi??? What?” Shisui asked.

“Okay, so that didn’t end up happening?” Itachi asked.

“Uh. No.” Shisui slowly ran a hand through his curly hair as he thought about what on earth Itachi had just said.

“What on earth do you know about…Hoshigaki Kisame?” Shisui asked, making a severe mistake. He raised a concerned eyebrow leaning back as something visibly shifted in Itachi’s gaze and a proud expression like an expert about to talk about their favorite field blossomed on his tired face.

“Oh, I know everything about him-“ Itachi began and he took a deep breath.

Shisui could only listen in baffled concern the entire time. He leaned back slightly as he listened to Itachi list details Shisui knew fully well were complete and utter secrets, things he could not verify, and things Shisui had only heard in rumors.

“You even know his blood type??? You know his deepest insecurities??? What?” Shisui blinked.

“Of course I do!” Itachi scoffed “How could I not!?” he asked crossing his arms indignantly.

“No I- WHY, why do you know these things, you’ve been in a coma for years-!?” Shisui flapped his arms about in an attempt to illustrate how weird it was.

“Well because of the -………..” Itachi trailed off eyes widening.

“……Because- doesnt it- it just-…”he mumbled losing his words.

“Ah..that’s not good. Oh dear.” He looked down pursing his lips.

“Itachi can you please tell me…what are the Akatsuki planning?” Shisui asked squinting, he just needed to verify some things.

“That's a more complicated question than I really know how to explain easily…. I'm kind of tired,, but, basically, the answer you’re going to know is that they want to collect the tailed beasts, right? “ He asked.

“Itachi, dude, what?” Shisui said.

“I think I might have seen another time…that’s the best I can tell you right now” Itachi explained. “A different world where I didn't get knocked out and where Danzo lived.” He sighed leaning back in his bed, his arms hurt. It was distracting.

“But in that time, I was forced to join the Akatsuki to act as a double agent. They’re all really interesting people…” he shut his eyes.

“Deidara is a really good artist, and he's more passionate than almost anyone, second only to Sasori. Kakuzu is a really sad case, he was abandoned by his village despite his loyalty and hard work because he failed on a mission and barely making it home alive, I think it's made him scared of connecting with others. He's teamed up with Hidan- maybe. I don't know if He’s found Hidan yet, but he’s a really religious guy known for being…a really loud violent mess, but shockingly normal compared to some of the other people in this group.  Then there's Kisame Hoshigaki…”
Itachi trailed off, a fondness shining in his eyes.

“He’s a very kind person, and he’s more aware of the truth than most, but even he’s being misled…he deserves more than this. They all do.” He sighed.

“…Then there's Konan and Pain…” Greif filled Itachi’s eyes.

“Jiraya was very close to them and their late friend….They’re really good people, you have to forgive them please, they're orphans from the war, all they want is to create a world of peace, they don’t know they’re being misled…” his voice fell a bit quieter.

“Then there's Zetsu. He’s the least human of them all, I wouldn’t trust him. But he just wants his mother back. It’s not a cruel goal, but he’s going to cause so many deaths trying to bring her back” he murmured.

“He’s a giant Venus fly trap…thing.” He pursed his lips.

“Then finally…but not last of all. There's Madara Uchiha…that’s who he’s pretending to be. Sometimes. Sometimes he pretends to be Tobi. Sometimes he's Tobi pretending to be Madara. But the truth is….he’s just a poor little kid playing pretend. He really needs help too…”Itachi trailed off.

“…I want to help them. Somehow.” He shut his eyes frowning.

“There's a lot of people who are in a lot of pain who need help. But I don’t know if that’s my place to do. There's this boy, he visits me sometimes, named Naruto Uzumaki…” he trailed off “You know him I’m sure, he’s Sasuke’s dearest friend.”

“It's that what we’re calling them-“ Shisui almost muttered under his breath but he decided to return his focus to him.

“Naruto, he’s going to save the world” Itachi smiled warmly. “Everyone's really confused about him, but that boy, in that dark world, he was even Sasuke’s light after all the horrible things I did” He explained.

“Itachi…..” Shisui trailed off blinking curiously at all his words.

“But he’s just a child… isn't he? That’s so much to put on his shoulders…” Itachi frowned his eyes darkening, those sharingan whirling ever faster in his eyes. Shisui didn’t like the look of them, the glimmer of an idea forming in Itachi’s mind.

“…We had so much put on our shoulders, ever since we were small, Shisui” Itachi sighed quietly, looking up at the ceiling. “I can’t even remember them clearly, all I remember is how much blood was shed and how many tears those poor kids shed, how much fear and pain could have been avoided, and how much was prevented by the simple act of Naruto holding out his hand to people everyone else thought couldn’t be saved.” Itachi shut his red eyes. He took a deep breath and let it out.

“I can’t even fully grasp their weight, Shisui. They’re just children, aren’t they? Do you think it’s right to deny Naruto the glory and recognition he craves, for the sake of saving him?” he asked looking over to Shisui who looked deeply troubled.

“I think you should probably….Find out if these are all weird false memories before you try to commit to doing something crazy and dangerous if I’m being honest” Shisui admitted placing a hand on his shoulder.

Itachi deflated.

“…But that doesn’t mean I’m not taking you seriously and it doesn't mean I don’t believe you. And I will help you, whatever you decide to do. I don’t know how much of that is true, but I know you said things that you can’t know unless they are. And that’s something.” Shisui’s warm reassuring smile reinflated Itachi’s hope, his eyes widening.

“Thank you” Itachi hugged Shisui tightly snuggling close.

Shisui tried not to think about how weak Itachi’s arms felt.

“You’re welcome…oh, also, I have some really bad news. Izumi found a new boyfriend while you were out” Shisui sighed “Sorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m glad she didn’t put her life on hold over me, I’m not angry” itachi smiled.

“Phhhhew good cause she’s been feeling SUPER guilty about it. “ Shisui smiled. “Maybe you should go after Kisame instead considering you know so much about him- hHAHAahah just kidding you're an absolute freak about him if everything you said is true, you are some sort of stalker and you should seek therapy” Shisui smiled warmly.

“Fight me Shisui I’m going to eat your arms” Itachi retorted squinting indignantly.

“You’re going to WHAT?” Shisui blinked in horror.

“Slowly and only every fortnight, one bite at a time, you will wake up with less and less arm” Itachi finished his threat huffing.

“What the heck dude-“ Shisui whined, justifiably.

“Don't tease me and I won't threaten you” itachi crossed his arms with a huff.

“Okay fine fine but enough of that can we PLEASE go on a vacation now” Shisui requested.

“Of course, where to?” Itachi asked.

“Land of waves, I’m tagging along with team seven we’re going on a weird mission and there's a shortage on ninja, it's a really low=level mission so I figure it's pretty safe “ Shisui smiled brightly “It should be a great place to get some good sea food, right?” he asked.

Itachi blinked and almost laughed.
ah yes, nice and calm sure. Sure.
Yeah. Sure...

“…Oh so we’re going to meet Zabuza and Haku?” He asked.

“We’re going to WHAT?” Shisui leaned back.

“Oh you’ll see”

“Itachi no you can’t just casually drop that kind of-“

“I'm not giving you any other information other than that unless you promise to take me with you” Itachi huffed.

“Okay fine, whatever…” Shisui sighed  “I promise, so WHAT is supposed to happen in the land of waves?”

“a lot, my dear cousin-“ Itachi began.