Akatsuki
This is bad.
Really bad.
Like, if I mess this up I am going to be hanged in the middle of town bad.
Itachi knows this. It’s been a rat gnawing at the corners of his mind since he’s come up with his plan, his constant companion for weeks now. He knows full well that if he gets caught lying to Danzo, he’ll be in the hottest of hot water.
He knows.
So how come he isn’t afraid?
No, Itachi is far from scared at the prospect. If anything, it feels...exciting?
How odd. The prospect of breaking the rules, of tricking his superiors, has never appealed to him in the least. But he feels almost euphoric now that he’s got his ideas fully in place. Maybe even giddy- the emotions are so foreign to him that it’s hard for him to tell for sure.
At any rate. He’s spent endless hours talking and listening, of waiting and searching to figure out what he needs. No turning back now.
He pulls his hair back to tie it up, glancing at the white serpent curled up on the bathroom countertop out of the corner of his eye.
“Anything else you think I should tell him?”
“Mm, I think that about covers everything I want him to know at the moment,” Orochimaru says.
(he sounds tired. Maybe he didn’t sleep well?)
“Just be careful.”
“I know that,” Itachi huffs.
“I don’t quite think you do.”
“Enlighten me then,” Itachi snipes, feeling annoyed.
A moment of quiet.
“...I’m not sure I can do a good enough job explaining it. But Shimura is- well, he’s not a good man. I don't like you being near him.”
Itachi is less annoyed now than he is confused.
“Dangerous? But Sandaime-sama-”
“The Sandaime is blinded. He can only see Shimura as a friend, so he doesn't pay any mind to the hurt he causes.”
Itachi shakes his head in bafflement.
“But he’s the Hokage. Aren’t they supposed to be able to put those feelings aside and do what’s best for the village?”
Orochimaru laughs, but there’s no humor in it.
“The difference between what ought to be done and what ends up being done aren’t always the same.”
“Well how are you so sure?”
“Because I’ve been the person who hasn’t done what I ought to have. More times than I can count, actually. It takes one to know one, I suppose.”
Itachi takes a moment to mull the words over.
“...Am I doing what I ought to?” he asks, hesitantly.
“Well, what do you think, Itachi-kun?”
More hesitation.
“I think I’ve lost my mind,” Itachi finally responds, staring himself down in the mirror like that would hold the answer he needs.
With a deep breath to gather his nerves, Itachi stows the white serpent away in his pocket. He opens the door, and jumps out of his skin when Sasuke is standing outside the bathroom door, with a raised eyebrow.
“Who were you talking to, Niisan?”
“Oh- uh, just myself. Sorry.”
Sasuke cocks his head in skepticism.
“You sure talk to yourself a lot.”
Itachi bends over to be closer to Sasuke’s eye level, putting on his best attempt at a sly grin.
“That’s because I’m crazy.”
“Eh?! You, Niisan?!”
“Yep. I’ve got nutty. Totally ‘round the bend. Lost my mind.”
He laughs at the complete bafflement on Sasuke’s face. He gives his little brother a playful jab on the forehead to wipe that worried expression away.
“Owwww-”
“I’m just teasing, Sasuke.”
Straightening back up, Itachi gives him a pat on the head.
“I have to go to work now. I’ll see you later.”
“I’ll go with you!” Sasuke chirps, following after him. “School’s on the way!”
“Alright, whatever you say.”
Sasuke doubles his pace for sheer joy, only stopping to get his kiss and bento from their mother.
“Sasuke, where’s your jacket?”
“It’s not that cold out!” Sasuke whines. “I’ll be fine!”
“None of that,” Mikoto scolds. “You’ll catch your death of cold out there.”
“Ugh, fine!”
“Honestly, it’s just a jacket,” she sighs, shaking her head at Sasuke as he sulks back down the hall to grab his jacket.
Itachi shrugs, accepting his mother’s hug and a kiss on the cheek. Mikoto looks surprised that he hugs her back, rather than accept it passively as he usually does.
“You’re in a good mood,” she remarks.
Another shrug.
“I’ve got some stuff planned today that I think is going to help us out.”
“Hm?”
Itachi drops his voice lower, so Sasuke can’t overhear while rifling around for his jacket.
He hears the somber words his father spoke echoing through his mind.
“You’re the pipeline that connects the clan to the village. You understand what that means, right?”
“I think I’ve made a connection that can help our clan get some leverage. If I do this right, I-”
He shakes his head.
“-Well, I have to do it right, don’t I?”
Mikoto squints an eye at him, even as she smiles.
“What’re you up to, Itachi?”
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you quite yet.”
“-I got my jacket, can we go now?”
Mikoto nods approvingly.
“There we go- you two have a good day!”
She waves them off, retaining her smile even though Itachi can see the worry furrowing her brow.
Itachi is okay with that. As a matter of fact, he’s almost happy that someone is worried, since he can’t seem to summon any for himself. he catches a fallen leaf as it flutters past, turning it over in his hand before releasing it back to the wind.
“Hey Niisan?”
“Hm?”
“After dinner tonight, can you help me with shuriken practice?”
Itachi scratches his cheek, brow furrowed.
“I don’t know. I might be working late tonight. Don’t you think Mom or Dad could help you?”
“They’re not as good as you,” Sasuke whines. “Everyone knows that!”
“Oh come on, that’s not true. Both of them have more experience than me anyway-”
“-But they’re still not as good! Come on, you’re never around to help me!”
Itachi rolls his eyes.
“I’ve told you, Sasuke. We’re not always gonna have as much time to spend together as we like. That’s just the sort of life we’ve got as shinobi.”
Sasuke looks hurt. He turns wide, dark eyes up at him, and Itachi has to look away to avoid falling for that trap.
Fortunately, he sees the school building up ahead, so he hurriedly waves Sasuke off.
“Some other time, okay?” he promises, promptly heading his own way before he can think too hard about the disappointment he’s sure Sasuke is feeling.
He ducks into an empty side alley so he can get away from any prying eyes.
“...I’m really not that great,” he grumbles. He meant that more for himself, but Orochimaru chimes in anyway.
“That boy thinks the world of you.”
“I still don’t know why.”
“Hm.”
Whatever’s on Orochimaru’s mind, he doesn't say it.
Itachi doesn't inquire after it, to save himself the frustration. He picks up his pace to make his way to the ANBU office.
He brushes past the men standing at the front, knowing that if he stops to indulge their confused looks and “hey what are you doing-” he’ll lose his nerve. So he keeps his eyes set forward, forcing one foot in front of the other, rehearsing what he wants to say in his mind so he can be sure he won’t muck it up.
And this is where he truly puts things into motion. Right now as he bows before Danzo, he knows that this is the first step toward figuring out who’s really taking him for a fool.
He feels like an actor in some great period drama, with a spotlight burning into the back of his head. And much like one of those actors, Itachi doesn't let his act fall.
(at any rate, he’s got an audience of one, right? Two, if the serpent Orochimaru is listening through cares as well.)
“I’ve learned some things from Orochimaru that I thought would be important.”
Danzo leans back in his chair, eyebrow raised.
“Let’s hear it, then.”
Folding his hands demurely in front of him, Itachi takes a breath to steady himself before he speaks.
“There’s an organization called Akatsuki that Orochimaru is a part of. Their ultimate goal is to gain control of all the Bijuu, by any means necessary. For the moment though, he’s told me they’re mostly laying low and doing odd jobs for hire.”
The old man is leaning forward now, a deep line cutting its way across his brow.
“Did he say where they’re operating out of?”
Itachi shakes his head (a lie).
“No, sir. But he has told me that their leader possesses Rinnegan.”
For a moment, there’s a flash of something in Danzo’s eye. Whether it’s anger or fear, Itachi doesn't look long enough to find out.
“...That makes him very dangerous, then.”
Ah. the answer is angry, if the tone of his voice is any indication.
“You’re absolutely right, Danzo-sama.”
The ticking of the clock on the far wall and Danzo drumming his fingers against his desk fills the quiet for a while.
“I suppose I’m glad he told one of us.”
Itachi lowers his head. He knows what he’s about to say won’t make Danzo happy either.
“He says he doesn't trust you. I would guess that’s why he never told you.”
“He did, did he?”
“...He says he thinks you’re a has-been, and he doesn't want you interfering. But if I can be so bold-”
Itachi bows again, as low as he can manage.
“If Akatsuki is truly after the Bijuu, we’ll need to take care that Naruto doesn't fall into their hands, right?”
“I would say you’re right.”
Itachi turns his head, looking at the bookshelf against the opposite wall. Danzo is obviously deep in thought.
“You need to find out who the other members of that organization are. We need to know exactly what we’re dealing with, and who Orochimaru has been cavorting with. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how devastating it would be for us or our allies lost our Jinchuriki to an organization like this.”
“Of course. I’ll do what I can.”
Itachi balls his hands up into fists.
“Eventually, we’ll have to kill these people, right?”
“That’s right.” Danzo leans back again, waving Itachi off. Glancing at him, Itachi thinks the man looks quite annoyed that Orochimaru has been hiding things from him. Itachi can’t help but wonder how he didn’t anticipate that already.
“That will be all for now. Make sure you’ve documented everything we’ve spoken about, and I’ll expect you to let me know the instant you find anything important.”
“I understand. And if I could make a request as well-”
Looking upward again, Itachi makes his request before he loses his nerve.
“- If I could also confide this information with Shisui as well, I think he could be a good help.”
“We’ll discuss that later. For now keep it strictly in confidence.”
“...Of course.”
“...Did I do that right?”
Itachi pulls the snake out of his pocket, letting it unwind and rest on his shoulder once he’s out in the woods again, with nobody but the birds for company.
“You did well. Don’t overthink it too much.”
Itachi perches up in a high tree branch, watching a cacophonous flock of crows go about their business. The autumn air nips at his ears and the tip of his nose, but the sun filtering through the trees makes the cold bearable.
“I overthink most things.”
“I’d be lying if I said I weren’t on the same boat. But try not to let it bother you too much.”
Itachi still feels wary. No matter how badly he wants to trust Orochimaru, he can’t shake the uneasiness he feels each time he speaks.
“...Is Akatsuki really after Jinchuriki?” he asks.
“I told you, Itachi-kun. I’m not going to lie to you.”
Itachi shuts his eyes, allowing the cawing of the crows flying around him to fill his head.
“What for?”
“I’m not entirely sure yet. Once I am however, it would be best to keep that from Shimura for now.”
A nod. A sigh.
“You’re probably right.”