An Itachi Fanfiction [EDITING]

Pain's Assault

The next morning, I found myself standing in Aunty Tsunade's office once again.

She stood by the window while Shizune organized paperwork nearby. Shikamaru was leaning against the wall, looking more exhausted than usual.

Tsunade handed me a photograph.

"Jiraiya left us a message before he died."

I studied the strange sequence of numbers written on the back.

"It's a code."

Shikamaru nodded.

"Any ideas?"

I stared at it for several moments before reluctantly shaking my head.

"No."

I handed it back.

"If he left it for someone, it wasn't me."

Tsunade frowned slightly.

"What do you mean?"

I smiled sadly.

"Before my mission, I hadn't seen him since I was three years old. We worked together during the last few years, but we never really got the chance to just sit down and talk."

My fingers tightened slightly.

"Uncle Jiraiya had people he was closer to."

I looked toward Shikamaru.

"If you need my help, I'll give it. But I don't think this message was meant for me."

After that, I left.

Life settled into an uneasy routine.

Weeks passed.

The village rebuilt.

People healed.

The wounds left by Pain's organization, by Sasuke's betrayal, by Itachi's death, by Jiraiya's death—they all lingered beneath the surface.

Naruto left for Mount Myōboku.

Sakura returned to hospital duties.

I resumed my medical training under Tsunade.

And every day, I waited.

Because I knew peace like this never lasted.

Not anymore.

Not after everything I'd seen.

Not after the Akatsuki.

Not after Pain.

Every morning I trained.

Every afternoon I worked in the hospital.

Every night I lay awake wondering where Sasuke was.

Wondering whether Itachi would be disappointed in me.

Wondering if I was truly capable of carrying on the legacy he left behind.

Then the sky exploded.

I was halfway through gathering supplies for another training session when the blast shook the entire village.

The window shattered.

The ground trembled.

My instincts immediately took over.

I rushed onto my balcony.

And froze.

Smoke.

Fire.

Screaming.

Several massive summons rampaging through the village.

Most terrifying of all—