Late at night the following week, Kakashi opened his window as a crow flew in with a note he quickly read.
Kakashi read the note, then vanished from his room in a body flicker, leaving a Flying Raijin kunai behind for his return.
- Miles out of Konoha -
He landed on the tree overlooking the two S-Rank missing-nin and waved.
"Yo, about time, Itachi. I figured you'd never respond." Kakashi leaned forward and locked eyes with him.
So, what's it going to be?"
Itachi turned, his Sharingan active, the only reliable way for him to see at this point.
"I agree, but how will you heal me? The Fifth Hokage is unlikely to agree with this."
"You say that like you know her. Lady Tsunade isn't Hiruzen or Danzo, Itachi. She's not passive, and she doesn't carry animosity toward you or your last name. She knows everything."
Kakashi retorted before nodding to Kisame.
"Hello Kisame."
Kisame gave a sharp grin, his hand twitching as if he wanted to fight, and Kakashi's eyes shone with amusement as his own hand twitched toward his blade.
"Maybe some other time."
"We can't be missing for more than a week."
Itachi spoke up, breaking the fighting intent sparking between the two, while also looking for a reaction to the small time frame given.
"Not much time, but I believe with Lady Tsunade's help, we can solve this illness of yours. But there's something I need you to do, Itachi—meet Sasuke."
"It's not the time."
Itachi immediately denied it, not wanting to meet Sasuke.
Kakashi dropped to the grass in front of Itachi, staring him in the eyes with a neutral expression.
"When will it be the time then? You're ashamed, scared, and anxious. Good."
Kakashi retorted sharply.
"You'll spend the rest of your life making it up to him; that's your punishment, Itachi. You don't get to run away from this. Innocent men, women, and children, as old as young as newborn babies. What made you take that order from Danzo of all people? You really thought that taking the order from the man who killed your best friend was the best option?"
Itachi's eyes morphed into the Mangekyō, and Kakashi did the same, as if daring him to do something, surprising Itachi and Kisame upon seeing both of his eyes morph.
"Hit a nerve, did I? Good. Keep that edge, Itachi. I'm not here to comfort you."
"There would have been war, you don't under-"
"Don't give me that shit!"
Kakashi interrupted.
"So, because you fear war so much, you'd sacrifice the lives of everyone in your clan? I understand the radicals, or even the adults that have knowledge of it, but to snuff out the lives of them all? You don't get to stand here and tell ME THAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND. I've been in war, you brat."
Kakashi breathed out, the anger softening into disappointment.
"After the nine-tails attack, instead of looking into the culprit, the village higher-ups, elders, and Danzo allowed the flames of resentment for the Uchiha to spread, using that to relocate you. With Hiruzen too spineless to do anything, he allowed it, and the clan head, your father, who didn't want conflict, agreed. This was a turbulent time; Uchiha were kicked out of their homes and belittled every day, so they naturally started policing the populace much more strictly. Did you assume that the other clans were blind to this treatment, Itachi? This could have happened to any clan; so why not theirs?"
Itachi's eyes widened, thinking of the implications of this.
"So you're saying the Uchiha wouldn't have caused Civil War?"
Kakashi shook his head.
"That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that you're irrational and let your emotions cloud your judgment. Think, Itachi. What happened with the Hyuga incident? Who was in the wrong, and who was ultimately sacrificed? Don't you think that bred resentment towards the Hokage and the higher-ups?"
"They did the correct thing, Kakashi; they prevented war."
Itachi replied
"You… You're a coward. Fugaku, Shisui, You. Three S-Rank ninja, and not a one of you put your foot down. This pacifism is what killed your clan, Itachi, and it's the reason your brother is growing up bitter and resentful. The fact that you stand here after everything and truly think that was your only option is astounding to me."
Itachi's teeth grit behind the high collar of his Akatsuki cloak.
"And what would you have done?"
"I'd have gotten rid of Danzo, which I already did; you're welcome; he was harvesting your clan's bodies like a creep. Then I'd have taken care of the radicals, used the kotoamatsukami on Fugaku and given him a pair of balls."
Kakashi scoffed
"Such a proud clan, but when asked to lick the ground, you ask 'how much?' You're truly scum, but you'll stay alive, not because you deserve it, but because Sasuke deserves to hear it all, from your mouth. You OWE that to him."
Itachi didn't react to the insults much, but his gaze did soften as he detected something in Kakashi's voice.
"You care for him."
"Of course, I've done nothing but try to reverse the damage you've done to him since he was assigned to me. And I've made progress, but It's nearly impossible to do so when said child was tortured with a genjutsu and forced to watch death over and over again. You nearly broke him, Itachi. What would you have done if he killed himself? Stronger men like my father have done it, so why couldn't an emotional child who just lost everything do the same?"
"Lord Hokage promised me he'd watch over him."
Itachi retorted, weakly, even to his own ears, Kisame apparently thinking so as well as he cast Itachi a side eye.
"So you take the word of the man that didn't step in when your clan was relocated? When your clan was being treated like garbage? That was really the man you entrusted the brother you love more than the village itself?
Kakashi could feel his haki thrumming inside him, holding it back just enough to make sure it doesn't explode outwards in full force.
"The Third isn't a man like Danzo, but he's not innocent, only just recently changing his mind, perhaps seeing all the harm his 'dear' friend had caused; how convenient, when everyone's already dead he wakes up. That's the man, right? Right. The Aburame, Ino-Shika-Cho, and Inzukuka clan was neutral to yours in that period, and would have been willing to back you if your clan had backed theirs. You think the Uchiha were the only ones being poked and prodded at? No, all the clans were. Each clan had to give away truly talented individuals to Danzo's Root. The clan with the most freedom to act was yours. Your clan could have produced the next Hokage with the support of the other clans. But who allowed all this to happen?
"The Hokage."
Kisame chimed in with an amused smile, answering the rhetorical question and looking away when Itachi glanced at him.
"Right, the Hokage."
Kakashi had to hide his own amusement as Kakashi's teammate joined in.
"Enough about your past as a failure; I want to talk about your future as one. You'll follow me, and you'll sleep inside a secured area I've recently had help making. I bring Sasuke to you in the morning, and you'll come clean with everything, no matter how much it hurts or how it paints the village and brother that failed him.
Kakashi grabbed their shoulders and vanished in a flash, appearing in his room inside his house before all but tossing two S-ranked ninjas into his new invention lab before he went back to bed.
'Fucking brat.'
- Chapter End -
I was a bit rough on Itachi this chapter. I understand the position he was in, but I truly don't think that emotionally skewed teen made good decisions. He in fact probably made some of the worst.