Play To Win [Rewrite] || Naruto Fanfic

Weasel

It was like any other day.

With Jiraiya traveling with the Kyuubi Host, Uzumaki Naruto, Itachi's assigned Bijuu collection would have to be on hold. With Roshi, the former Yonbi Host already been collected by Kisame, the duo had been traveling the Elemental Countries and doing commissions at the order of Pein.

Easy work, nothing he would have to strain his body for.

In particular, he found himself in Hot Water to rest at the hundreds of hot springs the country had to offer. He'll do just about anything to keep this body running until Sasuke is ready.

Anything.

While resting, he felt the sudden shift of chakra penetrating his mind. Only one person could emit such power.

Pein.

Immediately, he shot out his Sharingan to stare at the void and found familiar purple-rings staring back. "Itachi." Pein's deep voice rang out. "I have a mission for you."

"Where is Kisame?" He asks, confused. If it was a mission, then his partner should be here as well, in this Astral Projection.

"I won't repeat it again. I have a mission for you."

Itachi frowns and Pein continues. "I need you to capture a girl. Recent defective of Suna. C-Rank. Alive."

"Drop off location?"

"Rain."

At those words, Itachi's brows furrow even more. Rain? Alive? Who was this girl to warrant such a capture? The only people the Akatsuki capture alive are Jinchūriki. Whoever she was, he will silently mourn her. Nothing good comes from gaining the interest of the Akatsuki.

Yet it was the start of everything he had thrown away. A start of hope.

At first, he paid no mind to her.

It was awfully easy to spot her. Her flimsy seal had exposed his presence but nothing would stop him from capturing her. A potent Genjutsu easily knocked her out and he carried her with his own two arms. The area around them was absolutely decimated from her unique jutsu. He could see potential in her, but she was far too young for Pein to be truly interested in her, unless she had much more to bring to the table.

She looked young. Three or four years younger than him, about the same age as his brother. From his small debrief, he understood that this girl was close to the Kyuubi Host and his brother. In some way shape or form, but that didn't matter.

She was a Nuke-nin and he was sent to capture her.

Nothing more, nothing less.

Then next month, she approaches him, surprising him. She was alive.

The girl introduces herself as Tamako of the Sand as they stood at the heart of Rain. Quite contradictory.

He humored the young girl and she dissected him live. He knew so deeply that there were truths and lies sprinkled in her words. The way she framed her words that made him feel awful, so confused, almost angry enough to end her life and lies.

But with all those emotions swelling with him, he felt and identified one he hadn't felt in many years.

Hope.

He turns to her, anger, confusion, awe and hope in his eyes. The girl, Tamako, reads it and follows up easily with words he clings to. "Shall we continue?"

They concoct a plan so crazy, far more crazy than the one he initially planned that he accepts it. He reasons to himself that if things go south, he could always just go through with his original plan since they had intertwined his own with hers. But was it so bad for him to die? Either way, Sasuke would live. Yet he can't help but cling to her words. He begins to look forward to the future, not fear it nor loathe it. Every act of violence done under Pein's orders no longer bathes him in a feeling of hatred of himself. It blankets him softly where he mourns yet prays. Promising he will make it right.