Kakashi and his Raven

Over a week of living underground made their eyes sensitive when Kakashi and Itachi finally came out into the late afternoon light. They had lost all sense of time and tolerance for light. They took their time as they walked silently to the other side of the village so Kakashi could enter through the main gates and Itachi could sneak in the same way he had three years ago with Kisame. They stopped near the entrance where Itachi transformed into a nondescript woman with long black hair. They separated and would meet near Kakashi’s home, the same house he’s lived in with his father and where he and Itachi spent some time ten years ago.

The pair had decided that Itachi should stay with Kakashi for a few weeks at least, maybe until he died. At least that was what Kakashi hoped.

They both made it without being stopped all the way to Kakashi’s home. He left Itachi alone while he went out to restock his larder.

Kakashi reminisced. Itachi always came to Kakashi’s home; Kakashi never went to the Uchiha compound. The first time Itachi came to his home, the second time they made love, Itachi had practically run away from home, lying to his parents saying he had a mission, but he went to Kakashi. He felt the pressure of being the Uchiha golden boy and complained that his family, his father especially, was asking too much of him. But he didn’t want to do anything that would transfer that pressure to his younger brother.

“He’ll surpass me. The only reason I hit all these landmarks sooner than he is is because I grew up during a war; I had, or felt I had, to develop my skills. He doesn’t. No more than to catch up to my shadow. I wish there was some other path for him. But not for an Uchiha.”

At least Kakashi didn’t expect anything of Itachi. He’d stayed for three days during which time they must have had sex half a dozen times. Kakashi smiled at the memory. He’d flirted with the idea that they could eventually bring their relationship out into the open. But Itachi confessed that he was betrothed to a second or third cousin and they were already lovers. But he assured Kakashi that he was in love with him. And Kakashi believed him. He never doubted that. Itachi killed her when he killed the rest of his clan.

The second time they tried to make it more like a date, going out for dinner. They looked like friends, not lovers. They had fun most of the night, but every once in a while Itachi’s face took on a hunter look. Kakashi realized that some people looked at the young Uchiha prodigy with more than jealousy . . . Distain? And one Uchiha walked by looking at Itachi as if he wasn’t allowed off the Uchiha compound. Kakashi knew the Uchiha were insular, but . . . They never went out together again.

And the third time had been their last time together.

Kakashi shopped distractedly. How much trouble would he be in if anyone found out about him harboring Itachi? And what if Sasuke suddenly appeared? No matter what, he would not turn Itachi over, nor would he turn him out out of fear for himself. But if Sasuke came home . . . Itachi would come out to meet him, to fight him.

Kakashi managed not to meet anyone who would stop him to chat. He just wanted to get home to his raven.

Itachi had resigned himself to being shut up. After living underground for more than a week, living above ground in Kakashi’s modest size house was a luxury. It was also nice not to be traveling unceasingly, sleeping under rocks, or sleeping under a tree in the rain. And Kakashi was most decidedly much better company than Kisame.

They spent a few days readjusting to their new lives together, completely in secret, before Kakashi had to report in and resume taking missions. At least Kakashi had a reason to be late, though he couldn’t use it as justification. It was amazing how the Uchiha were the constant reason he was late.

Sakura eyed him, but said nothing in Sai and Naruto’s presence. Kakashi somehow looked tired and refreshed at the same time. Naruto saw no change and it was hard to read Sai, but he probably didn’t care.

Their first night sleeping outside, Sakura waited until Naruto and Sai were asleep to ask how Itachi was.

“Healed. Thank you. He’ll stay with me a little longer.”

“He came back to you, I hope Sasuke will come back to us.”

“I’m sure he will. Whatever fates lead us to cross paths again will bring Sasuke back to us as well.”

“Hai.”

Team Kakashi arrived at their destination the next day to escort a gold convoy. This was a particularly large shipment and even with visible ninja guarding it, there would be thieves daring enough to try and taking it.

A third of the way to their destination and they were attacked. The attackers included missing-nins from the Rock Village. The four of them defeated six attackers and believed that all all of them. Kakashi began scanning the area with his Sharingan, but before he finished, several kunai flew toward them, but they were all deflected by kunai thrown from another direction, none of them thrown by Team Kakashi. They heard a fight going on from the direction of the original kunai and another attacker, one of the missing-nins, jumped out, aiming for Kakashi, but he was hit with four kunai in the back, dropping him just feet from Kakashi. A figure jumped to nearby branch. He was wearing an animal mask.

“What the hell?” Naruto said.

“ANBU,” Sai said.

The figure nodded to Kakashi and disappeared.

“Is ANBU following us?” Sakura asked.

“I would have noticed if they were,” Kakashi said. “Maybe he just happened to be passing through this area and saw or heard the fight and came to help.”

“Lucky,” Naruto said.

Kakashi hesitated a moment: that looked like his ANBU mask. Itachi?

Kakashi rushed home after his debriefing. Itachi was in the walled off back yard in his female disguise hurling kunai at a rapid clip at various targets he’d set up.

“Still impressive,” Kakashi said.

Itachi turned with a smile. “I was always told I was the best with kunai in the village.”

“You still are.”

Itachi retrieved his kunai and followed Kakashi back into the house, Itachi dropping his disguise and Kakashi pulled down his mask. Itachi kissed him quickly. “Glad you’re okay.”

“Thanks to you.”

“I was worried. If anything were to happen to you . . . Quite frankly I’d go after Sasuke and either let him kill me or fight until I drop dead. That’s my plan anyway, but I didn’t plan on it this soon.”

“You want Sasuke to kill you?”

“Sasuke will be welcomed back to Konoha as a hero despite the fact he abandoned the village to go to Orochimaru. And it will give Sasuke peace.”

“Itachi. Why? Why did you kill them? Even your parents and . . . Why?” Itachi didn’t answer. “I can’t imagine why.”

“It’s Sasuke’s life if I tell you.”

“What? How can that be?”

Itachi thought for a moment and gave in. “I was supposed to kill Sasuke too. But I couldn’t kill him.”

“Supposed to? You were ordered to kill them?”

“ANBU.”

“The Third ordered their murder?”

“No, he tried to avoid it, but the elders insisted. I agreed because I was the only person who could do it and I could save Sasuke.”
“But why?”

“My father was the leader of the Uchiha. The entire clan was involved with a plot to revolt and take control of the village from the Third. They wanted a war. I did it to stop a war from happening. I was sent to become a member of ANBU as a spy, but I became a spy for ANBU and the Hokage. The real reason I came back three years ago was to remind the elders I was still out there. If they did anything to harm Sasuke, I would reveal that it was they who ordered the destruction of the Uchiha. The Third made the deal, so when he died, I came to hold the others to the deal.”

“I can’t believe it.”

“Then don’t; it’s safer that way.”

“You sacrificed everything for the village.”

Itachi nodded. “Everything but Sasuke.”

“You are more deserving of the title Hokage than any other.”

“I have too much blood on my hands. I even killed members of my clan who knew nothing of the plot. But they had to die. They wanted me to kill Sasuke, but I threatened to fight with my clan if they would not let Sasuke live. They knew they probably could not stop me and I’d tell the clan what they planed and we would have won. They knew the Uchiha would win. This was the only recourse.”

“Would you have really sided with your clan?”

“To save Sasuke. I’d sacrifice the entire village for Sasuke.”

“Itachi . . .”

“But you can never tell Sasuke. If Sasuke knew, he’d come for revenge against the village. I know it.”

“I think you’re right. But . . .”

“The truth can never be known.”

Kakashi nodded. “So there is no other way.”

“I’m dying anyway. I’m ready to give my life for Sasuke. Once I’m dead, please do everything in your power to bring him home.”

“I will.”

-----

Four months later Kakashi came home from another mission. Itachi had stopped shadowing him on missions due to his vision and health, but he was always there to welcome Kakashi home. But not today.

Kakashi found a note on the table. It appeared blank, but Kakashi knew that the Uchiha had ways of writing that could only be seen with the Sharingan. He raised his headband and read.

Sempai,
I’m sorry to leave you like this, but I feel my health deteriorating faster than I predicted. I wanted to wait until you came home, but I can’t wait any longer. I must confess my vision is worse than I led on, but I probably wasn’t fooling you. Thank you for everything. I’ll seek out Sasuke and fight him. I’ll either die at his hands or drop dead during the fight from this cursed illness. Don’t try to stop me, don’t come after me. I know Pakkun and the rest of your pack could easily follow me if you come home soon enough. Please don’t. You asked Sakura to let me die on my own terms, I beg you to do the same. I love you. Please don’t tell Sasuke anything. Goodbye.
Your Raven

Kakashi lost strength in his legs and collapsed on the floor. He knew Itachi was nearly blind, but he’d hoped Itachi would change his mind and die here where Kakashi would care for him. As far as he knew Itachi was already dead. He’d lost him again.

Damn you, Itachi. Kakashi couldn’t remember the last time he wept; perhaps when Obito died. He wept now.

When Kakashi finally picked himself up, he saw a lock of hair on the table where the note had lain. He picked it up and smelled it. Ash and the forest wind. Kakashi wanted to go after him, but he knew it was probably too late and he decided to respect his wishes and let Itachi choose the way he would die. But it was killing him.

-----

Kakashi was shadow of his former self. He completed his missions, but he didn’t speak much. Naruto tried to ask, but Sakura always hushed him, knowing what it must be. Sai didn’t care. Everyone had noticed Kakashi’s depression, but Kakashi refused to speak to anyone about it. It seemed he pulled his mask up higher and his headband lower. But Tsunade allowed Kakashi to continue on missions since his performance was probably even better than it’d ever been; he was focused to the exclusion of everything else. He didn’t even read his beloved Icha Icha books.

Three weeks later as Kakashi’s team was on its way to another mission, a large raven landed on a branch ahead of them and cawed loudly. Kakashi stopped. He recognized him, as did Sakura.

Sakura started looking in her pack. “Naruto, Sai, I think I might have dropped one of my medicines.”

“So?” Sai said.

“You’re going to help me look for it!” Sai never failed to irritate her.

“I’ll help you, Sakura!”

The three of them went back.

“He’s dead, isn’t he?” Kakashi asked when the trio were out of earshot. The raven dipped his head. “Sasuke?”

“Sasuke nearly lost, but Itachi died as he pretended to get in close enough to finish Sasuke off. Sasuke’s alive. Itachi told me to come tell you.”

“Where is Sasuke?”

“There is an Uchiha hideout to the west. If you head that way you’ll see the smoke.”

“Thank you.”

The raven flew off. Kakashi wondered if it was worth living anymore. But then he remembered how much Itachi had loved Sasuke. The best thing to do was go after Sasuke and, for Itachi’s sake, protect him. It was all he could do for him now. He fished a bottle of whatever from his pocket to prove Sakura truthful and went back to them. They would have to send a message to the village to tell them they were abandoning their current missing and going after Sasuke.

~fin~

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I have been urged to continue the story . . . maybe. I’ve got three other stories to finish first (yes, I’m still working on the RuKen and Naru/Sasu and I’ve got a challenge fic a third of the way finished), but it’s fin for now.