Contrition [Itachi Uchiha x Reader]

#30: Convergence

The silver Ford Figo came to a halt in front of the theatre building just as the sun went down. The driver was met at the door by a very angry looking Obito Uchiha. "Well? Where is he?"

"Sir, I have some bad news."

A short while later, Obito sauntered into the old projectionist's room and directed the two guards to wait outside. [Name] could sense the sudden change in his demeanour and could only wonder what had transpired since the last time they conversed.

Something's wrong.

He paced the room, seemingly unsure about how to word his next sentence so that it may cause maximum impact. "So it turns out, Itachi has gone to the police."

[Name]'s heart dropped. She had considered the possibility of such a thing happening and yet she was entirely unprepared. The façade she had put up earlier slowly began to crumble, much to her captor's amusement.

"Quite unfortunate, really. For him and for you. I was just beginning to enjoy this." He pulled out a revolver from his jacket pocket. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to speed things up. I no longer have time on my side. In about ten minutes this place will be swarming with cops because someone just left an anonymous tip about your location. But sadly, they would have arrived ten minutes too late to save you." He cocked the revolver and pointed it at her. "My apologies, Doctor [Surname]. It seems like you've outlived your usefulne-"

The door slammed open and one of Obito's men went flying across the threshold and landed at his feet. Obito took a step back and pointed his handgun at the silhouette at the entrance. Orochimaru emerged into the room carrying a pistol of his own.

"What th-" Orochimaru's gun fired at a moment's notice. Another burst of sound came from somewhere below them and the sound of footsteps permeated the whole building. Obito cussed out loud as he leaned against the wall nursing his bleeding arm. In just a few minutes, half a dozen of Yūgakure's finest policemen filled into the room, inexplicably ahead of schedule.

"I thought I told you not to fire, Major."

Orochimaru simply ignored the remark as he watched Obito being handcuffed and escorted out of the room. "Are you alright, [Name]?" He asked as he attempted to free her from her confinements. When she didn't answer he added, "You're shaking."

"Is he- Where is he?"

Orochimaru studied the woman before placing an arm around her shoulder. "They've taken him into custody. I'm sure they'll want to question you too."

She buried her face in her arms. "I'm going to be sick."

"Let's get you to a hospital then."

At that moment, Officer Tamaki sprinted into the room with two other policemen at his side. "I'm relieved that we found you, Ms. [Name]. It's a good thing that we followed that car. Can you imagine if we...?" [Name]'s head was spinning. She desperately held on to every last shred of consciousness, trying to make sense of all the information she had received.

Itachi...Obito...Danzō..."What I'm trying to say, Ms. [Name], is that...we would like to ask you a few questions about Itachi Uchiha."

Orochimaru cut in before she could speak. "Officer Tamaki, the poor woman has just been through something traumatic. She's cold, hurt and hungry. We should take her to a hospital first."

Tamaki nodded, albeit reluctantly. "Fine. The questions can wait."

Before the police car could take her away, she managed to mouth the words "Thank you," to her saviour.

Orochimaru waved her goodbye.

*
When [Name] woke up the next morning, she found herself handcuffed to the bed.

"Welcome to the Red Room of Pain" came a voice from beside her. She turned around to find TenTen sitting crosslegged with a book propped open in front of her. "Just kidding."

"What are you doing here?" [Name] asked, noticing that her companion's usually tidy hair and clothes were in disarray.

"I flew in this morning," TenTen replied. "Excuse my appearance. I was in a hurry."

"Did Orochimaru call you?"

"That cop wouldn't let anyone uncuff you," she said, ignoring her question. "What did you do to piss him off?"

"He suspects me of aiding and abetting a fugitive. Do you know where they're holding him? Have they transferred him to Konoha already?"

"My sources tell me that they're moving him tomorrow. The Parole Board sits on Monday. Wait, don't tell me you're still thinking of helping him! Don't you realize how much trouble you're in already?"

"What do you expect me to do, just sit here and do nothing? He turned himself in because of me!"

"No. He turned himself in because it was the right thing to do. Can't you see [Name], the guy is a loose cannon. He's bound to blow up and take everyone else down with him. Look at what he's done to you!"

[Name] clenched her fists. "Take me back to Konoha, please. I might be able to prove his innocence."

There was a sharp knock on the door and a voice called out, "Ms. [Name], could I please come in?"

"It's the cop," TenTen explained.

[Name] nodded. "Come in."

"How are you feeling?" Officer Tamaki asked as he pulled up a chair.

"Much better. I'm ready to answer any questions that you may have for me."

He smiled. "Good." He removed her handcuffs and turned towards the other woman. "Would you mind waiting outside?"

"Of course." TenTen rose to her feet and left the room, but not before casting one last glance at the [h/c]-haired woman.

"Alright Ms. [Name], I want you to answer these questions truthfully."

*
It was afternoon by the time Officer Tamaki finished questioning [Name]. When TenTen returned to the room, she found [Name] furiously scribbling on a piece of paper.

"You're not in handcuffs, so that's a good sign," TenTen remarked. "What did he ask you?"

"Everything. The nature of my relationship with Itachi, if I helped him escape, if I agreed to run away with him...everything."

"And what did you tell him?"

"What we agreed. I told him I was kidnapped and held against my will, and that he threatened to kill me if I tried to escape or warn somebody. I told him that he confessed to shooting me at the festival and that he's been after me from the very beginning. I played the victim card. I hated every minute of it, but I did it."

"And he believed you?"

"He didn't have a choice. If he had any evidence tying me to what he was accusing me of, he would have arrested me. But he didn't, because he's got nothing. He's got nothing, thanks to you. Plus, I reminded him that the handcuffing was a violation of my rights. He backed off."

TenTen smiled. "So what now?"

"I painted him a pretty picture and he ate it all up. Now they think that Itachi's a dangerous criminal with a history of escape. And dangerous criminals get put under maximum security. He will be under the watchful eye of the ANBU until he's produced before the Board on Monday. Even Danzō, with all his reach, wouldn't be able to get to him if he's being guarded by Konohagakure's Black Ops. Besides, I can't really help him if I'm sitting next to him in a six by eight cell. This is the best thing I can do for him from where I stand. At least now I can be sure that he will make it to his parole hearing alive."

TenTen sighed. "Alright, I can see that I'm not going to be able to talk you out of it. My job was to simply take you back home. Talk this through with Neji. I'll respect his decision."

[Name] handed her the slip of paper. "I had a feeling you might say that, so I've explained everything in this note. Give this to Hinata when you see her. There's someone else I need to talk to first."

"I'm beginning to think you actually enjoy life-threatening situations."

"You're one to talk, you're yakuza!" [Name] declared, exasperated.

"Say it a little louder so that the cops downstairs can hear you."