Chuunin
Itachi huddles up as far as he can into the branches of the tree he’s nestled in, trying to find a spot where he won’t be soaked through by the storm that suddenly decided to roll in. he grumbles to himself, questioning every choice in his life that’s lead him to this moment. His stomach growls acutely, but he doesn't have anything with him to eat. He’s wet, cold, and utterly miserable, cursing all his rotten luck.
He might cry, if he thought it would do any good.
“You look like you’re having a bad day.”
Itachi nearly jumps out of his skin, yelping.
“Hey, I told ya I don’t bite. Chill.”
“M-Mangetsu?”
“That’s my name. Glad you remember.”
The boy bares his teeth in that same toothy grin. He does a little pirouette on a tree branch, arms outstretched toward the sky.
“We don’t get rain like this in Kiri,” he remarks. “Our rain’s cold and shitty and I hate it. Your rain’s warm.”
“I’m glad one of us does,” Itachi mumbles.
“Oh? Here, you can have this, then.”
A squeak of protest escapes Itachi when the other boy drapes a canvas poncho over him.
“My teammates brought a few of these along, but I don’t really need ‘em, so you can have one.”
“...Won’t they notice it’s gone?” Itachi asks, pulling the hood of the poncho up over his head. Mangetsu only shrugs.
“Eh. Hard to miss stuff when yer dead.”
“Huh?! What happened?!”
“Nothing worth fretting over. They were dumb fucks who got themselves killed, that’s all.”
Itachi frowns.
“And...you’re not gonna try to attack me, even though we’re enemies right now?”
“Nah. I’ve already got both scrolls- wouldn’t be much of a point to taking yours. Besides-”
Mangetsu parks himself on a branch beside Itachi, pulling out a water bottle.
“It’s weird, cause we just met, but I’d rather you not die, y’know?”
Brow furrowed, Itachi ponders his words for a bit before nodding.
“I...don’t want you to die, either.”
Mangetsu’s smile falls. He takes a long drink from his water bottle before he speaks again.
“You shouldn’t be here.”
“Huh? I live here!”
“Not that, dumbass. I mean you shouldn’t he here. In the exams.”
Itachi straightens out, feeling quite offended.
“I can handle myself!” he insists. “I’m stronger than I look, you know!”
“I didn’t say you weren’t.”
Mangetsu sounds so utterly serious. Worried, almost.
“You seem like a good guy. Good guys like you don’t last long in a world like this. It’s like tossing a guppy in with a buncha sharks- you’ll get eaten alive.”
“Not like I have a choice,” Itachi retorts. “If I don’t- if I can’t- I won’t be able to protect Sasuke.”
Mangetsu blinks.
“Wait. Who’s Sasuke?”
“My brother,” Itachi answers. “He’s only five.”
It’s Mangetsu’s turn to furrow his brow. Then, he laughs.
“What’s so funny?!”
“Well what’re the odds?” Mangetsu giggles. “I’ve got a kid brother too, right about the same age as yours.”
“Eh?”
“Yeah. His name’s Suigetsu. Hold up, I think I got a picture somewhere.”
He rummages around in the zippered pouch on his hip, emerging with a folded up photograph. He opens it up to reveal a picture of Mangetsu standing alongside what Itachi can only describe as a miniature version of him, right down to the razor-toothed smile. With them is an auburn-haired girl, slightly older than Mangetsu, holding an enormous fish aloft, grinning in triumph.
“That’s Suigetsu, and that girl there’s Ringo. She’s lookin’ after him while I’m away.”
“How come your parents can’t take care of him?”
The moment Itachi finishes answering the question, he realizes how stupid it was.
“It’s just the two of us,” Mangetsu answers. “Been that way since Sui was born- mom didn’t make it, and my asshole dad decided to skip town. Nobody knows where he went, and I don’t give enough of a fuck to try to find him.”
“...Oh. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Ringo ‘n her dad make sure we never go hungry, so it’s not like it’s hopeless, y’know? Hell-”
Mangetsu is smiling once again.
“-Have you been to Kiri? Compared to most of the village Sui n’ I have it pretty good. Your boyfriend was right when he called it a shithole.”
“He’s not my-!”
Itachi hides his humiliation in his borrowed rain poncho.
“Hey hey, I’m just fuckin’ with ya. I’m just sayin’- if I knew a guy that cute, I’d stick around too.”
Itachi very much wishes he could sink into the tree and away from this conversation.
“You don’t really see guys like that where I’m from. Half the dudes in Kiri must be allergic to showers or some shit. Konoha though- you have some cute guys walking around.”
Mangetsu lets his head loll to the side with a put-upon sigh. Itachi wants very much to talk about anything else.
“...What do you wanna do once you make Chuunin?” he asks.
“Eh? Well that’s easy!”
Curling his hand around an imaginary blade, Mangetsu makes a slashing motion.
“I’m gonna be one of Kiri’s Seven Swordsmen. The best the village has ever seen!”
“Oh?” Itachi frowns. “But to be one of those, don’t you have to-”
“-You gotta defeat the person whose place you’re taking,” Mangetsu affirms, with a nod.
“And if you don’t win…?”
“You usually get killed. It’s only fair.”
Itachi squirms in discomfort. Mangetsu is unperturbed.
“I know exactly which one I’m gonna try for, too!”
He’s got a manic gleam in his lavender eyes when he speaks.
“I’m goin’ after Samehada!”
“Huh?”
“It’s fuckin’ legendary in my village,” Mangetsu elaborates, his movements becoming ever more animated. “It only lets the strongest people wield it! It just got a new master, but I’m gonna take it one day!”
He pantomimes holding what Itachi can only imagine is a massive sword.
“I can’t wait to see the look on Kisame’s face when I take it from him! I’ll pry it outta his stupid blue hands and bring it home to show off to Suigetsu!”
He sounds possessed, utterly consumed by his fantasy of his. Itachi wonders what it’s like to be that sure of oneself.
“I’m sure you will,” Itachi says, forcing himself to smile so the other boy will know he’s sincere.
For a minute or so, the only sound to break the silence is the pouring rain, and the distant roll of thunder.
Mangetsu tucks his knees up under his chin and hugs his legs close.
“Y’know, it’s funny. You’ve actually got me hopin’ another war doesn't start.”
“I do?”
“Yeah. I actually don’t hate you- it’d really suck if I had to kill you.”
Itachi blinks.
“I...don’t want to kill you either,” he answers, his tone betraying his puzzlement.
“Well then, let’s hope we don’t end up being each other’s last opponents, yeah?”
Itachi nods.
“That would be nice.”
The sky grows dark as day gives way to night. Neither of them much wants to move from their perch. The rain finally dies off, the clouds parting to reveal a lovely full moon that casts its milky light through the treetops.
“You got both scrolls already, right?” Mangetsu asks, after awhile.
“Yeah.”
“Good. Let’s just hide out for tonight, and head out of the forest tomorrow. Then you can find that cute friend of yours.”
Itachi hums his agreement.
“I’ll stay up if you want to get some sleep,” he offers.
“Nah, I don’t need a lot of sleep,” Mangetsu says. “I just- got a lot on my mind, ya know? Too much stuff bouncing around in there at once.”
Itachi nearly smiles.
“Ha. Me too.”
They tuck themselves safely out of sight, tracing the constellations in the sky above them. They don’t say much, but they don’t really need to.
It’s a bit strange, Itachi thinks to himself, to be so friendly with someone from a village so hostile.
Strange, but not entirely unpleasant.
“Alright,” Mangetsu says, as they approach the point in the forest where the trees begin to thin. “There’s gonna be cameras soon, and I don’t wanna have you be seen with me- it won’t be good for you.”
Itachi frowns.
“...Please be careful,” Itachi says, hesitant to part with his new friend.
“Don’t get sappy on me,” Mangetsu implores. “I’m a big boy- I’ll be fine.”
He pauses when he starts to walk away, looking over his shoulder and offering his friendliest smile.
“You should hold your head up more,” he says. “You’re already short- it’s not doing you any favors always slouching like that.”
Before Itachi can figure out i he should be offended or not, he’s alone again.
Well then.
Pulling a face, Itachi spends a few seconds fiddling with his posture, pulling his shoulders back and his head up higher.
Well. It doesn't feel bad, anyway.
“‘Tachi, you made it!”
Shisui sprints over to capture Itachi in a crushing hug.
Itachi hugs him back hesitantly.
“Hi.yeah- I made it.”
“I mean- not that I thought you wouldn’t- but I heard like five people died so far, so I couldn’t help worrying just a little bit-”
“Nononono, I’m fine! I didn’t- I mean, I spent most of the time just hiding, anyway! You didn’t have to worry!”
“But I worried anyway, ‘Tachi. It’s what you and I do, right?”
Itachi smiles.
“Well, the worst part is over now. The rest shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I feel sorry for whatever suckers end up fighting you,” Shisui laughs. “They’re in for a shock, for sure.”
Itachi shrugs dismissively.
“We’ll see. I suppose.”
Shisui’s teammates hang back a short distance, almost like they don’t want to be around the two of them. But Shisui doesn't pay much attention to that- he seems to be used to them avoiding him.
“Alright, everyone-”
A tall jounin walks into the room, and everyone falls silent.
“-The next portion of the exams is about to begin.”
A mixture of anxiety and pride wells up in Itachi’s chest as he watches Shisui fight. He moves with quick, fluid motions, without a hint of hesitation. His strikes are precise and efficient, and so fast that Itachi can barely keep up with them.
The unfortunate Iwa genin lasts about five minutes before he’s sprawled on the floor, out cold.
“Uchiha Shisui wins the match!” the officiant declares, holding the boy’s arm aloft. Shisui, for his part, looks quite bored. Like he’d expected more from the match.
Itachi zones out a bit after that, until his own name is called.
The boy he’s going up against scoffs.
“You’re just a puppy. How’s this fair at all?”
Itachi bristles up in annoyance, but tries not to let it show. He takes a deep breath, and lets his body take over from his mind the moment the match starts. Just like he's done on countless missions before- don't think. Don't feel. Just do what needs to be done.
Next thing he registers, he’s standing on the older boy’s chest, while he groans and thrashes about.
“I give, I give!” he whines. “I forfeit already! Fuck-”
Itachi startles when the officiant grabs his wrist and pulls his arm upward.
“Uchiha Itachi wins the match!” he declares.
Itachi looks up at the sea of eyes staring at him, the low hum of the chattering onlookers ringing in his ears. Looking around, his own eyes go wide when he spots his mother and father in the crowd.
(he’d known Mom would come to the match, but he figured Dad would be far too busy.)
He’s never seen his father look so happy. Beaming with pride, Fugaku elbows the man standing next to him; Itachi can see him mouth the words “That’s my boy!”.
Itachi can’t help himself. He grins from ear to ear, and it feels so strange on his face, but he doesn't care. How could he care, when his mom and dad are in the audience, looking so proud of him? When his precious little brother is leaping for joy, absolutely glowing in adoration, screaming “Niisan!” at the top of his lungs?
When he makes his way up toward his family, he passes by Mangestu. They exchange quick smiles, before Mangetsu’s name is called for his first fight.
“Good luck,” Itachi says.
“I don’t need it,” Mangetsu replies.
Itachi keeps his eyes fixed on the other boy as he walks away-
-and runs straight into his father.
Fugaku chuckles at him, ruffling his hair when he lights up red from embarrassment.
“Something on your mind, kiddo?”
“Huh? I- uh-”
“-Itachi-kun, that was amazing!”
Izumi practically tackles him in her haste to hug him.
“Yeah, yeah! That other guy didn’t even know what hit him!” Sasuke gushes, punching the air and hopping from one foot to the other in excitement. “You and Shisui are the best out there!”
Itachi tugs at the back of his neck, the praise making him squirm internally.
“Hey, it was just the first match,” he mumbles. “You don’t know that yet…”
“Sure we do!” Izumi insists. “You cleaned the floor with that guy- nobody else stands a chance!”
No sooner has Izumi released him from the hug than he’s embraced yet again- by his mother this time.
“You did wonderful, sweetheart,” she encourages. “It’s alright to be proud of yourself.”
“I-”
A collective gasp rushes through the crowd, pulling their attention away.
Down in the arena, Mangetsu has gone stiff, his opponent’s kunai buried in the dead center of his chest.
Itachi’s blood turns to ice for a few paralyzing seconds, until that wide, toothy grin spreads across Mangetsu’s face again.
“That’s really rude,” he says.
His opponent blinks at him, confusion furrowing her brow.
Mangetsu cocks her head to the side. His torso goes clear, and he pulls away effortlessly, leaving the girl clutching a wet kunai and looking terrified.
“What’s up with that guy?” Sasuke wonders aloud.
Mangetsu’s eyes are wide and wild, his grin warped and inhuman.
His entire body goes transparent, falling into a puddle of water on the floor.
“W-what?!”
The puddle leaps up into the air, wrapping around his opponent’s head.
The unfortunate girl grasps helplessly at the water, mouth open wide in terror. Within about thirty seconds, she’s waving a hand at the officiant, her intent quite clear.
“Alright, that’s enough!” the man obliges. “The match goes to Hozuki Mangetsu!”
The water falls away, leaving the poor Kumo girl gasping for breath. Mangetsu re-emerges from the puddle, emanating an overwhelming smugness.
He says something that might be “did you even try?” but Itachi can’t hear him over the muttering of everyone around him.
“Niisan, what did that guy do?” Sasuke asks, tugging on Itachi’s shirt. “He turned to water.”
Itachi frowns.
“...I’m not sure,” he answers. Brow knitted, he watches Mangetsu sashay back into the stands.
“They said he was a Hozuki, right?” Mikoto chimes in. “That’s their kekkai genkai. No different than our Sharingan.”
“Oh!”
Sasuke beams with this newfound bit of knowledge.
“That’s so cool!”
A kekkai genkai…
Itachi remembers what Mangetsu had told him- that his little brother was the only family he had left. Thinking there’d once been an entire clan of people like him- and that all those people were gone-
It makes Itachi a little sad to think about.
Itachi stands in like with all the other new Chuunin, eyes trained on the Hokage while he speaks.
“-It’s my sincere hope that you, our new generation, can help maintain this new era of peace within all our villages,” he concludes, his tone somber, but hopeful. “Please do your best in your new role as Chuunin.”
Danzo stands silently beside the Sandaime, looking bored. His one eye locks with Itachi’s briefly; the old man nods at him, and Itachi is quick to look away.
There’s an uneasy feeling in the pit of his stomach. He just wishes he knew why.