Standing, his expression softens as Itachi explains the situation. And once more, Minato is hit with how their roles have reversed. “I believe I recall a certain ANBU who insisted on referring to me with my proper title when I was Hokage.” He commented, a small smile tugging at his lips.
“I’ll call you ‘Itachi’ if you just call me ‘Minato’.”
It does make him flush slightly, glancing away. Yes, Minato is right. It was very difficult for him to refer to him as anything but Lord Fourth back when the other was alive previously.
“..Itachi then.” Even now, Minato’s bias towards this man hasn’t faded. Seeing the concern, a frown tugged at his lips. “Is everything alright?” Had he unintentionally upset the other already?
“Most everything.” A soft chuckle from him. “It just worries me when you refer to me like that.” But it’s not something he’s going to be stuck thinking about deeply all day. It will pass. He stands, pulling Minato up with him.
“We need to get you out of here at least.” Come now.
Does he want to refuse the offer? Not really. Does he want to stay in this cell? Again, no The choice was clearly already made before Minato knew it.
Gently taking Itachi’s hands, he gave them a gentle squeeze, “..Alright. Thank you, Hokage-sama.”
“Itachi.” His smile fades, worry clear in his features. Was he just accepting it because Itachi wanted it…? He doesn’t like that title when it comes to people he’s fond of. It was too informal.
The insinuation rings loud and clear. Head shaking in denial, however, concern flickers across his face, “I couldn’t possibly burden you in such a way-”
No, Minato had done far too much of that already, hadn’t he? “There’s no need to go so far for me. Wouldn’t it be easier to keep me in here?” Logically, it would. Logically, this option would keep Minato out of sight of the village, even if it means removing what freedoms he had. “You’ve been far too kind with me as it is. I couldn’t ask for more.”
“You’re not asking.” That was clear enough. “I’m offering. This village has prospered, you deserve to see it. Even if we have to be a bit…careful.”
He holds his breath, for a moment. How he’s missed him.
“I’m a shinobi. I’ve endured worse.” He hadn’t exactly been forthcoming with the fact that he could remember what being inside of the Shinigami had felt like. Isolation was nothing compared to that experience.
Although Minato was still human. Teeth digging into his bottom lip, blue hues flicker back up to Itachi. “I’ll essentially be trading one cell for another, won’t I?”
“No, no…” His hands reach out, layering themselves gently over Minato’s.
“I have a place.” The insinuation is there. He currently lives alone. Even Naruto only ever visits, safer in the hands of his parents and Sasuke, who are able to be in the home more often than Itachi himself.
“But I can’t just go free.” No, he was a jinchuuriki on top of being a former Hokage. Whatever peace the village had with Kumo or Iwa.. Minato wasn’t sure either village would be happy with his return.
The smile he offers back is rather weak, hands clenching in his lap after he sets the book aside. “What options does that leave us?”
“I know.” Sadly, yes. It would confuse their shinobi, and the information might reach their enemies via hearsay. People might ask how the Leaf pulled it off. If they were planning on bringing back more.
“Not many.” Itachi admits. “But we’ll find something. It isn’t fair for you to sit here on your own.” Especially when he’d been long cleared as a threat.
If he had to have company, Minato would admit that he was rather biased to Itachi. Although he felt guilty as well, as he knew the other was the Hokage, and thus was rather busy himself with other things. Things more important than Minato.
Lips tugging into a frown, he swallows down the disapproval when Itachi steps into the cell, rather than staying behind the safety of the bars. Despite being cleared, Minato knew better to be wary about himself. And if he’s stomping down the urge to reach out for the first bit of human contact he’s had outside of the people who bring his food. Well.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” He murmured, head tilting a bit. The collar is still on, still under Itachi’s control, and oddly, it’s almost a relief to Minato. “Have you decided what to do with me yet?”
“There’s nothing wrong with you. It’s fine.” Of course– it’s a general statement. He’s cleared of everything Ibiki and the other interrogators worried about.
“You can’t stay in here forever.” That much was clear, as he sits himself down infront of Minato. But he also knows he can’t just release him to the public completely…which saddens his smile some.
The days begin to bleed together at some point. Breakfast, rest. Lunch, then shower. Rest and dinner. More rest. It’s irritating in the sense that he’s a shinobi. Inactivity is something he’s not used to in the least.
So it’s almost a breath of fresh air when he hears that too familiar voice, gaze flickering up from the book he’d been reading for perhaps the tenth time that week. Truth be told, Minato had begun to think that Itachi would never come to see him.
“Hokage-sama.” He returns the greeting, blue eyes flickering briefly to that key before glancing back up at that familiar yet not so familiar face. “To what do I owe this visit?”
“It’s Itachi.” No formalities here– besides his own, just now. He’s often a hypocrite in these cases. For the first time in months, short of being able to train Sasuke, he’s giddy. Minato was someone he’d missed dearly, unfairly taken from the night the Nine-Tails attack, and now that he was cleared of being a danger, of course he’s going to see him.
“Nothing, nothing.” To answer the second. “I just wanted to see you.” Opening the door to the cell, sliding the key back into his pocket. And making his way in.
UchihaSavior 