“And I, you.” Itachi responds in kind. This is still the man he looked up to, and sought advice from. The man who kept his dream of being Hokage alive. And look at him now. In the very position he wanted, making great strides towards peace within the village and outside of it.
“You will stay in the cells.” For now. He doesn’t intend to keep him there forever.
“I will have Interrogation come to you and perform a series of tests to ensure you’re in control of yourself. I’d like you to submit to them. We will see where to move you after that.”
This meeting was a good sign, however. The Hokage, the most important person in the village, more or less alone with a potential killer. He had ANBU stationed outside his office, of course.
“I-” He understood the need, of course. If their positions were reversed, Minato would have likely not been so kind as Itachi. The thought of being in the cells isn’t as bad as being asked to bow down to whatever tests he will have to endure.
Sleeper nins were handled with certain care, and Minato never thought that he would be put under such treatment.
It’s for the best, he knows that, but the mere thought still has him tensing up just a bit. Just barely enough to be noticed. “I understand.” At the least.. he could ask, surely?
“May I have ink? I would require you to imbue the seals I normally wear on my arms with chakra. I would just.. feel less on edge with them on.”
“You may.” He’ll trust him on this one. There’s a small pot of ink resting on the corner of his desk, and Itachi stands to fetch it now.
His time in ANBU taught him that threats can come from anywhere. His first mission was stopping a Leaf shinobi because he was letting intel out to other villages. Information can make or break their strength.
Minato on his own he doesn’t fear. But Minato’s strength, speed, and infamy in the hands of someone able to pull the strings? Many of them would die.
He wants to say something else badly. Anything that isn’t this heavy topic. Talk about his son…or what Hatake-san was doing these days.
Instead Itachi remains mum, offering the small glass pot.


