An Itachi Fanfiction

Meeting

I arrived just as Nagato was about to tell his story. I decided to stay out of sight while I listened.

He told Naruto his story, how his parents were killed, how he met Konan and a boy named Yahiko, how they met my parents and their team, how they became Uncle Jiraiya's students, how the Akatsuki was formed with the dream of world peace, and lastly, how Nagato was forced to kill Yahiko to save Konan's life and the Akatsuki was reformed into something darker.

I didn't know what to think. I had no idea he was carrying so much pain. He was stronger than I gave him credit for. "Did you come here to kill me?" I heard Nagato ask, interrupting me from my thoughts.

I could tell he was talking to me. Knowing there was no point in hiding anymore, I stepped out from my hiding place and started walking towards them. I nodded. "I did. I thought I could avenge Uncle Jiraiya, but after listening to your story, I don't think I can do it. I can't help but feel pity for you, having to live a life that hard".

"I don't need your pity," he said.

I shook my head. "That's not why. Someone once told me something. Everyone experiences pain, it's normal. It's what you do with that pain that matters. You can either let it break you or you can let it make you stronger".

He turned to Naruto, ignoring me. "I've told you my story just as you asked. Now let's hear your response".

Naruto pulled out a familiar book. I clenched my fists to stop myself from crying at the thought of the man who wrote that book. He thought for a moment before answering truthfully. "You may be right. The truth is I think the same way you do. But even if I understand you now, that doesn't change how I feel. There's no way I can forgive you. I still hate you".

"Then you want to settle things with me?" Nagato asked.

"I do," Naruto confirmed. "But Pervy Sage believed in me, and wanted me to continue his quest. For those reasons, I choose to believe in him, and to follow what he taught me. So that's it, that's my answer". Nagato's eyes widened. He was clearly not expecting that answer. "That's why I'm not gonna kill you guys".

"After everything that's happened, you still believe in Jiraiya Sensei's teachings?" Nagato asked. "Very well then, you've given your answer. And you expect us to wait until you somehow magically transform this world into a peaceful place?" He seemed to get angrier. "No, never! How can I believe in Jiraiya's words after all of this? There will never be such a thing as true peace, not as long as we're forced to live in this accursed world! Peace is impossible!" I tried not to flinch at the anger in those words.

Naruto looked at him with determination. "Well then, I'm going to break that curse one day". I couldn't help but smile. "If there's truly such a thing as peace in this world, then somehow, I'll find it. I'll never stop looking". Both Nagato and I looked at him in shock. I recognised those words from Uncle Jiraiya's book 'The Tale of a Gutsy Ninja'. "Those words are taken right out of this book. The very first book that Pervy Sage ever wrote. He was seriously trying to change the world with this message. In the back of it, he wrote about a student who helped provide him with inspiration. It was you, Nagato". Nagato was at a loss for words. "The name of the hero in this novel, his name's Naruto.

"My name is a precious heirloom that has been handed down by my master. There's no way I'm just gonna give up and dishonour my master's gift. I will become Hokage, and I will bring peace to the Hidden Rain".

I stepped forward. "And I'll help him, whatever it takes".

"I'm asking you to believe in me, all of you," Naruto practically begged us. I gave him a nod and a soft smile, showing him that I already did.

"Why should I?" Nagato was obviously just being stubborn at this point. "How can you stand there and tell me that you will never change your mind? Do you really think that you will never stray from that ideal, no matter how much pain befalls you? Do you think you will always believe in yourself? Can you guarantee it? How can you possibly have that much faith that life won't change you?"

Naruto looked down sadly. "I've felt pain too, you're not the only one". It was my turn to look down sadly as I thought of not only my family, but my godfather and my husband too, and even my best friend. "There is still pain buried deep inside me, and there's no telling what kind of pain I may face down the road. But if I stop believing just because things get difficult, if the hero in this book were to change who he is, then it would become a whole different story. It sure wouldn't be the story our master left behind, and it wouldn't be about Naruto.

"The thing is I can't write books as our master did. So, any sequel has to come from the life I live. That's why no matter how much pain my whole life brings, I'll keep walking because that's who Naruto is".

Nagato's eyes widened, and it made me wonder what his response would be. "'If the hero ever changes, it'll be a different story'. 'We are sibling-students, sharing the same sensei. We ought to be able to understand each other'. When I said that to you earlier, I meant it as a joke. You really are a curious fellow. You remind me of myself when I was much younger. I wasn't able to continue believing in Jiraiya's ideals, nor could I keep believing in myself. But you gave me a vision of a future that shows a different path from the one I've walked". He then put his hands in a hand sign to use Rinne Rebirth to bring the ones that had died during the assault back to life.

Right before he died, I whispered a "thank you" to him as we watched him fade away.

Later, Naruto and I watched as Konan sealed both Nagato's and Yahiko's bodies with her paper Jutsu. "What are you gonna do now?" Naruto asked once she was finished.

"I'm leaving the Akatsuki," she told us, and I couldn't help but feel happy for her. "Nagato chose to put his faith in you, so I will do the same". She created a bouquet of roses and handed it to him as a form of truce.

Right before she left, I called out to her. "Wait, let me help you". And so, we took the bodies back to the Hidden Rain together.

After we had laid the bodies to rest in a safe and secure place where Madara couldn't get his hands on them, I turned to her. "I have one last favour to ask of you.  Uncle Jiraiya's body, do you think you can look for it?"

"I can try, but that water is fairly deep," she answered.

I let out a sigh of relief and smiled at her. "Thank you".

With that, I left. Before returning to the village, I needed to make one small detour. I took out the jar with the familiar Sharingan and looked at it for a moment before putting it back in my bag and teleporting away.

Apparently, I overestimated the Teleportation Jutsu because I landed right in the middle of Taka. They all got in their defensive stances until Sasuke called out to them. "That's enough. Leave us".

Hesitantly, they lowered their guards and left the room. "They're a lovely bunch, aren't they?" I muttered as I turned to face Sasuke.

"What do you want?" he asked, as grumpy as ever.

I rolled my eyes. "Hello to you too, Sasuke". I took out the jar and proceeded to chuck it at him. "Here, catch".

He caught it with one hand and looked at it, his eyes widening momentarily. "Are these-?" I nodded. He narrowed his eyes. "I'm surprised you didn't use them yourself".

I shrugged my shoulders. "I thought about it, but then I realised that the only person worthy enough to use Itachi's eyes is you, it's what he would want. Besides, I haven't activated my Mangekyō Sharingan since I visited the Nakano Shrine, so I'm not going blind just yet". We both stood in silence before I waved to him. "I should get going now. Goodbye, Sasuke". ThenI teleported back to the village before he had the chance to say anything.