Sacrifices for Peace

Part One: The End of Everything

They had done it.

The relief that coursed through Itachi's veins as the Sage of Six Paths, the reanimated Hokage, and the recalled shinobi spirits summoned his brother and teammates back from the time-space dimension that Kaguya had abducted them into.

Like his brother, Itachi had used his Susanoo to shield himself and Shisui from the effects of the Infinite Tsukuyomi. Together they had waited with the reanimated Hokage, horrified, impatient and frustrated with their own inability to do something, anything, to help defeat the greatest enemy their world had ever known. But when the Sage of Six Paths revealed his own plans and hopes for the success of his son's reincarnations, Itachi had calmed himself.

The Sage of Six Paths had congratulated them on their success. Hashirama Senju had sat beside Madara as he finally died. The spirits the Sage had recalled faded away. Everything seemed to be going perfectly.

But now, something was wrong.

"Are you seeing this, Itachi?" Shisui breathed.

Itachi could only nod.

From the bodies of the reanimated First Hokage and Naruto Uzumaki, masses of identical orange chakra were leaking. Itachi felt his throat catch when he glanced at his little brother and saw that from Sasuke and Madara the same phenomenon was occurring, but the chakra was coloured a deep, dark purple.

"It's theirs, but not theirs," Shisui said with a furrowed brow. 

Their Sharingan saw it all clearly. Itachi could only conclude the chakra leaking from them had something to do with them being reincarnations of the same person.

"Sasuke? Naruto?" Sakura glanced between them, and her eyes followed the flow of the chakra. "What's going on?" Her voice shook with nerves.

"Naruto!"

Itachi saw the worried Fourth Hokage hurry to his son.

Naruto looked helplessly around himself, then at his father, and at the Nine-tails. "What's happening?" He asked them. "Kurama?"

The tailed-beasts seemed restless around them, Itachi looked at them curiously. From the glances they gave each other and the look of concentration and concern of the Nine-Tails, the tailed-beasts also seemed to have no knowledge of what was happening.

Itachi looked back at his brother. Sasuke stared at the chakra, between himself and Madara, and Itachi could see the wheels in Sasuke's mind turning. From the narrowing of his eyes, Itachi thought his brother might have had an idea, but before he could call out to Sasuke, both he and Naruto clutched at their chests, gasping for breath. Itachi and Shisui both tensed at the sight, and Sakura rushed over to them, her hands glowing green. She put one hand on both of their chests, but it didn't do anything.

Itachi saw that the chakra had stopped flowing from them. He glanced at Hashirama and Madara; the same thing had happened to them both as well.

The Sage of Six Paths spoke, causing everyone to turn to him.

"Asura, Indra."

Itachi recognised the names from the earlier discussion with the Sage. They were the names of his sons.

Itachi's eyes flickered between the watchful Sage and the chakra. The two distinctly coloured chakra's combined together and formed two almost human-shaped masses, one a vibrant orange and the other a dramatic purple. The power from the masses pulsed in Itachi's bones, and he understood that everyone felt it, the way they sucked in a breath and took an involuntary step back.

"What is this?" Minato breathed, standing beside his son protectively. His eyes were narrowed and watchful of what he saw.

The Sage of Six Paths frowned and gave a small sigh.

"This is not the path you should take," he said, seeming to talk to the chakra. "It is cruel."

The Sage of Six Paths sounded disapproving, and Itachi didn't like what he heard. What did he think would happen? The chakra that had been within Sasuke and Naruto was the spirit of the father of Shinobi's sons, reincarnated in a battle between brothers, of peace and war. None of what was happening felt good to Itachi.

He took a hesitant step forward, wanting to go to Sasuke who still looked like he was in pain. Sakura seemed frustrated her healing didn't seem to have any effect; both Sasuke and Naruto still looked drained and their breath was short and uneven. Itachi suddenly felt the purple masses attention on himself; nothing had changed visibly to the chakra, but there was a feeling inside of him, like eyes peering into his very soul. He paused.

"Super Gramps, what are you talking about?" Naruto's voice held an unusual tremor of anxiety in it.

Indra, Itachi thought, staring at the purple chakra. The first Uchiha.

Sasuke had turned to look at the Sage as well, expecting some kind of response, but the old man had closed his eyes and tilted his head down as if in thought. Itachi narrowed his eyes. It was not thought he saw in the Sage's face, it was something closer to sadness, regret, and resignation. A flinch from Sakura caught his eye, and he saw she was staring at the orange chakra.

"Hey, Super Gramps? You in there?" Naruto asked again, more impatiently.

"Itachi." Shisui spoke quietly. "I don't like this."

Again, Naruto was ignored, and Itachi felt a pit open in his stomach. He needed to get to Sasuke, but the second he went to raise his foot from the ground, the Sage of Six Path opened his eyes, set his mouth with disapproval and slowly, his chakra form began to fade away. His eyes shifted between Itachi and Sakura, and he looked gravely at each of them for a moment.

"I have no time left in this world," he said. "I am sorry."

Itachi felt like he was speaking directly to him, and clenched his jaw. Despite the protests from Naruto, the Sage of Six Paths said nothing more, and the small group stared at his fading form, their concern growing with each second. Kakashi put a hand on Naruto's shoulder. The moment his form faded, if Itachi's Sharingan had not been activated, he may have missed what happened.

The orange ball of chakra, Asura, darted toward and enveloped Sakura Haruno before she had a chance to blink. She gasped as it touched her, blending into her and she staggered backward. Indra came for Itachi. He tried to dodge, but it was impossible. A gasp like Sakura's escaped his lips, and his eyes flashed to the girl, who stared at him in shock and fear. Understanding flowed between them as the realised they were feeling the same thing: immense sorrow, regret, determination, hope, and power.

Itachi felt a shift inside him; a pull, a tug of something he'd never felt before.

"Sasuke," Itachi choked out.

"Tachi!" Sasuke cried out, calling his brother by the affectionate childhood nickname he hadn't uttered in years.

He ran over to him, but it was too late. Itachi gave Sasuke what he knew- somehow he just knew - to be his last smile, before he closed his eyes and the world went dark.