Contrition [Itachi Uchiha x Reader]

#2: Commission

"Professor, you have a call."

The [h/c]-haired woman looked up at the speaker over her glasses. "Is it them?"

"Yes, it is."

With a sharp nod of acknowledgement, the woman got to her feet and walked over to the telephone. "Hello, Nagato? I've been expecting your call."

"Dr. [Surname]-" the voice on the other end began.

"No need for formalities. Please call me [Name]."

"Ah. [Name], we require your assistance."

"Is it about Itachi Uchiha?"

There was a pregnant pause.

"How did you know?"

"How did I know? It's all over the news! To be honest, I was hoping to get a call from you regarding the matter. Tell me, when would you like me to come in? I would like to read his files before I meet him in person."

"So, you'll do it?"

The bespectacled woman smiled to herself. "Nagato, have you ever known me to back down from a challenge?"

"Thanks, [Name]. We owe you."

*

"I trust you'll take care of things here while I'm gone. Right, Hinata?"

In response, the woman gave her a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I've rescheduled your next class for tomorrow so technically, your schedule is free. And if anyone decides to drop in without notice, I'll handle them."

"You really are the best assistant ever. Thank you."

[Name] [Surname] was one of Konoha's greatest assets as a criminal psychologist. Credited with a doctoral degree in Psychology and Criminology, she worked at the University of Konohagakure as a professor of criminology; discounting the time she spent helping the police in assessing criminal behaviour in suspects, evaluating the mental health of inmates and rehabilitating offenders and convicts back into society.

"I know. Now go!"

[Name] thanked her once again before leaving the campus. Ever since the news of Itachi Uchiha's release got out, the frenzy was impalpable: albeit not unexpected. Sceptics strongly believed that criminals shouldn't be allowed to rejoin society at any cost. It was only natural, even [Name] knew that the possibility of a complete reformation was slim to none.

Her task, simply put, was to assess the man's behaviour and to ascertain if he was a threat to society. As a private consultant to the police, she had done it countless times and her word was one of value.

"Thank you for coming in on such short notice!" Nagato greeted her at the entrance.

"Hello, Nagato. You look well."

The man gave her a warm smile. "He's inside talking with his parole officer. Again, I can't thank you enough for doing this! The Board has its doubts about this one but he somehow managed to get them on his side. But we couldn't honestly send him out there without being absolutely certain that he wouldn't cause any trouble."

"I heard about the terms. One-on-one counselling? What were they thinking? By now they should know that it's not for everyone. Who is he going to? Yamato?"

"We're not sure yet, but probably Yamato."

"Well then, good luck to him."

The two entered a well-lit room. Nagato took his seat behind the desk and gestured to folders lying before him. "Here are the files you requested. It contains everything he's ever said and done in the last ten years. There isn't much, though. The guy's really weird. He keeps to himself, doesn't talk much... would seem completely harmless to anyone who doesn't know what he has done."

[Name] nodded absentmindedly as she opened the folder marked Uchiha, Itachi.

"That may be true, but it's the seemingly harmless ones you really need to watch out for."
​​​​​​