Tag: [hokage]

The name rings no bells in his mind. Not a flicker of recognition passes over his face. A tilt of the head, a small shake, and the grip on the blankets tighten. “I’m sorry.” He doesn’t know what he’s apologizing for. “I wish I could be of more help, but I don’t remember anything at all.”

“Ah. Hm. …Alright.” The word unfortunate crosses his mind, but never makes it past his lips. It would simply put pressure on him, and if Minato really remembers nothing, it’s best to not burden him with unknown expectations.

He could tell him his name, probably. No…

“I’m this village’s leader. Who you’ll ask for if you need anything. Let’s simply work on getting you healed up. Then, if you’d like, we can work on accommodations.” Perhaps it was best to just let him live as a civilian. 

It did mean quite a bit of work to protect his true identity, though. Almost anyone in the street would recognize him as Minato. 

“-Who are you?” Blue eyes peer up from the hospital bed, hands clutching the blankets so hard that his knuckles were white. This man didn’t know that he was suppose to be dead. He didn’t know he’d been buried the past seven years. He didn’t even know his own damned name, and oh, ignorance was truly bliss for this man didn’t hold the same haunted eyes he once had so many years ago – “Do you know me?” He looks to the man before him without a single clue as to anything. At all.

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A complete and total memory wipe was not something any of them had expected. Despite the situation, the expression on Itachi’s face is that of mild surprise, brows raised high, blinks sharp.

The medic a few feet behind him furiously scribbles onto a notebook nestled into her other arm, and two more heads cautiously peek into the room. 

“I’m…Itachi Uchiha.” Name first, title and other things like that last. 

“You truly remember nothing?” This was not going to go well.  

The deadpan look the seven year old gives Itachi answers that question. He latches on when he’s picked up, whiskered cheek pressing into Itachi’s hair when Naruto’s comfortable. “Not really. I mean – you’re not there, Papa!” Who would have lunch with Itachi if Naruto was in school?

“You’ll have to go to the Academy sooner or later.” All this about catching up to Sasuke, and his Father… Naruto would need other tutors for that. Itachi simply didn’t have the time to train him extensively. 

The other arm loops down under Naruto, giving him a stable seat as Itachi begins up the stairs into the main tower. 

A yellow blur tackles the Hokage, the seven year old attaching himself to Itachi’s waist. “Papa!” It doesn’t matter how old he is, Naruto always had – always would – adore Itachi. “Can I go to work with you?”

“You wouldn’t rather train before you go to the Academy?” Wasn’t he excited to start what Sasuke had done?

Either way, he won’t give Naruto a solid no. As long as he can behave himself in the office. Itachi slips his hand under Naruto’s arms, lifting the boy onto his shoulders. He still gets glances now and then, but no one dared speak against the adult Hokage, and the Kyuubi was still tightly secure inside of him. 

He’s managed to move out of his parents house, recently. To a small, quaint place near enough to the Hokage Tower. Sasuke would be there more often, but sadly, Itachi still can’t cook. 

amaryllis-drifts:

If she were to activate her byakugan, Hinata swears that her chakra would be ablaze, dancing around the room bathed in this rich new-found hope. Her only anchor is that firm voice in the back of her mind keeping her grounded. Everything about this situation could easily create imbalance among the various authority within Konoha. Once a few cracks formed across the big looming walls, it would leave them vulnerable to the greed of this nation.
Naturally turning into unnecessary bloodshed and chaos– war.

– But only the hitch of breath.

Yet in the same
it felt good to be, acknowledged.
To not be cast aside.

Reaching forward, the Hyuuga’s hand slips into his larger. An embrace of equally marred skin and warmth. Rose-tinted cheeks round as she smiles, looking up at him. “I am grateful, Hokage-sama.” Adding, “I do not take this lightly, I will do my best to both accommodate and comply under your guidance.”

This was not a celebration.
But her determination shining through.

It hits him, as her hand is in his; as the Hokage makes an agreement with a sole clan member to fix something within the clan– how much this situation in ways mirrors the one with his own clan. More than ten years ago. Except that Itachi does not seek to repress the Hyuuga. Sequestering them or restricting their positions by surname was not a part of the plan. 

The Hyuuga were harming their own people. Their traditions had gone too long without being looked into, and those harmed by it had long wanted their way out.

No doubt the main branch would feel persecuted once this began, however. Not until now had anyone dared to take any real action. 

Being possessive of one’s kekke genkai and secret techniques… that was a common practice in this village, which housed many different types of specialties. Itachi cannot truly fault them for it, but he can draw the line at enslaving half or more of a clan to use them as fodder. Then it was no longer about protection of a dojutsu. 

He hums thoughtfully as he thinks, having held onto the young woman’s hand a little too long. Releasing it finally, he returns to his desk, to gather the sparse documents littering the space. 

“I will assign you plain clothes ANBU guards. To escort and monitor you safely. Not that you can’t make it here on your own. They won’t always be in plain sight.” Just a measure of precaution. 

He held full trust in his ANBU regimen. The entire foundation had to be reworked since Danzo’s death and his succession as Hokage. Even now, Hiruzen was deceased. Those annoying little vines present in the old system; two men trying to outwit and better each other without coming to a real fight, was gone. 

“I must contact seals masters, swear them into secrecy.” A temporary seal, more for their protection against other Hyuuga. 

“Although I would like to honor your father with the respect of a personal audience, I trust your judgement that it’s best to wait until your younger sister succeeds as head of the clan.” Hinata was the one who grew up in that environment, not him. And he would take her word that the man was unshakable. He had some experience with that, at least. Elders in a generation with no flexibility…

Back to spying. At least he was good at it.

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“Hokage-sama,” Voice soft, the former Kage himself nodded once to Itachi, and there was just a hint of respect in those eyes. Just barely there. Even now, when they were on opposing sides, Minato held a respect for this man. Even now, when he’s beaten and bloody, sealed up with their best seals, he’s also just as confident.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” He speaks casually, as if he hadn’t killed Konoha shinobi during the capture of him. As if he hadn’t carelessly spilled blood. As if he currently weren’t dripping said blood onto the floor.

He knew Itachi had likely never thought him capable of doing such things. Then again, Minato never let what he use to do in ANBU get out. Had sealed those records with his own blood, made sure they were to never see the light of day. He’d always felt it, that itch to see what would happen if he simply gave up on this village. And yet he had also willingly died that night, given his life, and –

“You don’t know, do you?” He stared into those Sharingan eyes, unafraid, “I was left for dead that night. The Kyuubi was too stubborn to die and I was shoved into a coffin and just-” He’d spent days there with barely any chakra left inside of him and yet no one had noticed. Or heard his screams or-

“I was alive. And no one looked. Except for one person. They saved me, when this village abandoned me. They gave me a purpose again.” And there was a faraway look in his eyes when he spoke, recalling those first few months with Obito. All the escape attempts, the realization that no one was coming. The denial. Rage, until it just. Broke him to realize no one was coming.

He….

Itachi doesn’t think he’s ever felt more disappointed than he is, now.

In his mind he’s already excused the people who didn’t look for Minato. How were they to know? If he’d willingly sacrificed himself, then by all means he should be dead. 

“You sacrifice yourself yet claim we abandoned you.” Minato could’ve strolled back in. He’d have been readily welcomed back, treated with honor, and respect, and yet… 

“And I suppose your purpose is to threaten the security of my village?” His now, Minato. You gave it to him. To the boy who wasn’t going to let something like sentimentality for a senpai get in the way of his coal of obtaining peace with all nations, and finding some way to end this senseless fighting.

“Since when were you bent on revenge.” Asked before Minato has a chance to answer the last question. Maybe he didn’t know him as well as he thought.

What a shame. Minato’s son would be disgusted. 

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goldenyondaime:

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@uchihasavior

“Hokage-sama,” Voice soft, the former Kage himself nodded once to Itachi, and there was just a hint of respect in those eyes. Just barely there. Even now, when they were on opposing sides, Minato held a respect for this man. Even now, when he’s beaten and bloody, sealed up with their best seals, he’s also just as confident.

“To what do I owe the pleasure of this visit?” He speaks casually, as if he hadn’t killed Konoha shinobi during the capture of him. As if he hadn’t carelessly spilled blood. As if he currently weren’t dripping said blood onto the floor.

You know. 

Itachi doesn’t like those words being directed at him.

Not by this particular person. Not by this particular person, wearing these particular robes, having done a set of particular actions that landed him here, in front of Itachi. 

Infront of the person he handed his title to when he supposedly died. What was it then, an escape? He didn’t want to deal with it anymore, so he just shoved it off on Itachi and ran off to be a mercenary elsewhere? 

And his son…

Itachi takes a deep breath. Levels Minato with a Sharingan. Does not draw him into any genjutsu. It’s merely a warning. He can take him on even without those seals.

“You’ve taken some of my best ANBU.” Along with all the trust and respect Itachi had built up for the man as he scrambled to piece a village in shambles back together, and get the blame lifted off of his clan, to raise Minato’s son as his own.

“I suppose I should ask why.” Itachi is merciful when he shouldn’t be. The desire to have an explanation overrides the logical desire to simply kill Minato and be done with it. He’s a threat, to his village. To the peace. 

amaryllis-drifts:

Thinking this over, “Neji and I have discussed this at length. He will remain doing as he does without much disturbance. Not raise further attention beyond what he brings on himself.” Being Hinata’s guardian, he has always accompanied her during training, meals, the like. It would not be strange that he walk her to the tower from time to time. “Neji is the prodigy of our generation; Many tolerate his.. negative temperament and pity his situation, overlooking the rest.” For Neji to be involved in anything with Hinata beyond that would only put a target on his back, regardless of his use. –-Personally, she wanted to keep him uninvolved. He knew everything and would be updated. Regardless of his tendency to be stubborn, he respected her plea.

A nod, “I can assist you in any way.” Ideal where her father was concerned, he would like this. It would keep her close for any suitors he continued to bring by the compound. Now that she was sealed and Hanabi was clan head. Her purpose changed from potential leader to main house breeding and political leverage.

After hearing Itachi speak her expression and posture improve greatly, he understood. "Yes. Removing the seal is what I wish to see beyond anything else. has done nothing but suppress countless members of our clan–  I.. I do not think it is possible physically or politically speaking.“ But to find a way to alter and change it, is far more powerful. Shifting her weight from one foot to the other. “If we can find a way to take the method of manipulation out of this seal. Have it corrected and only be used as a measure to secure our byakugan, it’s true written purpose. It would have a positive use to our clan. Not reflect poorly on our history so much, no one will be shunned.” Her eyes brighten, “and as you pointed out, it would also be used to help secure any other clan and their history and or dojutsu. The Hyuuga name being viewed in a noble light would certainly appeal to many." 

There certainly is a side to Hinata that wished to see those who support and use the nasty aspect to her clan’s system punished. To see them publicly told how horrible they are for doing so. To rip that very power out of their hands and watch them drown in humiliation.. –That lot sadly included her father.

But that would never bring the right type of change. It will fuel whatever future challenge comes up next, and there will be many. Tainting it with something far more foul. – Once those who feel threat realize there is nothing to be threatened by, on a large scale anyway.. There was something there to work with.

Itachi greatly disliked conflict. Hated it, even. Would do almost anything to stave off people fighting each other. It was he who negotiated the peace treaty with Suna, after their short-term alliance with Orochimaru went awry and caused the Third’s death.

That had been his first order as Godaime Hokage. As the first Uchiha. 

Even the debacle of his clan’s living quarters was settled silently, as more and more Uchiha began to move out of the district, and the cameras were taken out one by one. That didn’t sit too well with some of his newly appointed ANBU, a lot of which served Hiruzen during that time. Their jobs were moved elsewhere, where Itachi thought them more useful.

But that was several years ago– now the biggest threats were the Akatsuki force slowly gathering Bijuu, to which Itachi had taken measures and given Naruto extra guard. 

He listens to Hinata. Absorbs her every word. Understands that a person should not be chained to the practices of their clan, should not have their fate determined for them by others. and should have a freedom to live as they wish. 

But most of the older clans, including her own, were finicky creatures. Bound by tradition or refusing to look at the outside world, and how it changed, and they staggered in turn. Itachi could not simply issue an order to dissolve the practice of the seal or rework it and call it a day. The clan would inevitably fight back, and he already knew a dispute between the Hokage and a clan had the possibility of going horribly wrong. 

Her eagerness and bright expression fuel him– tell him he’s going in the right direction. 

“Very well then. Our immediate goals are tied between removal of the controlling aspect of the seal, and a reformed seal that only protects the dojutsu upon the bearer’s death.” He stands, smoothing out his robes, and offers Hinata his hand to shake.