Old Blood

King Touya Koyou, The Mejin, kept his eyes closed as his Shadows reported the destruction of Uchiha Village. He built the scene in his head, piece by piece, as slowly and deliberately as he would place stones on a board. The pattern that emerged was heartbreaking.



“You know who did this.” It wasn’t a question.



Genma started, but Kakashi just looked sad.



“I didn’t at first.” He said gravely. “Something seemed wrong, though, and the more I thought about it the more it seemed there was only one conclusion to draw.”



“The perpetrator of this atrocity was Uchiha Itachi.”



Genma’s eyes widened. “Good God.”



“When you think about it, it’s the only logical choice.” Kakashi went on. “Uchiha was a shinobi village. Yet the scouts all seemed to have died inside the town. The Uchiha himself and his wife were both killed inside their own home. The people were dressed for the celebration and the greatest number of dead were in the middle of town - and there were almost no survivors.”



“Any outsider would have been challenged before reaching the village. The scouts would have sent word back and died outside the village. And even if they’d been killed, the fighters in the village would have formed a line to hold the attackers back while the civilians rushed to the Clan safe houses. The Uchiha and his wife – Itachi himself – would have been part of that line.”



“An outside attack would leave dead in a wave pattern, first scouts, then warriors, and lastly, civilians. This was like a flower, rising from the center of town. Most of these people didn’t comprehend the danger they were in until it was far, far too late.”



Genma looked sick. “Why? Why would he do such a thing? And why two days ago?”



“Because,” King Touya said, “two days ago Uchiha Itachi was to become a Shadow for a seven-year-old prince.” He opened his eyes and stared at his Shadows. “Shadows live for others. To take on an entire ninja village? And to win, leaving no survivors? This is not the action of a man prepared to live out the next nine years of his youth picking up stray go stones and fading into the background in Court session and balls.”



“No.” Genma said slowly, “It isn’t. But he did leave a survivor, did he? He left Sasuke.”



“Sasuke’s no threat.” Kakashi pointed out.



“Maybe he could be, though. Given time.”



King Touya’s eyes sharpened. “Explain.”



“’Being no threat’ wasn’t enough to keep him from killing civilian women and other children – hell, he even killed the dogs! And as you’ve pointed out, Touya-sama, he’s killed them all in a way that leaves no doubt as to who is ultimately responsible. By performing this deed on the very day when Royal Kage would be arriving...”



“It is a rather rude way of declining a job.” Kakashi murmured dryly; the corner of Genma’s mouth curled up.



“You’re right, Touya-sama. This man wants to be recognized. He wants his strength to be known. But whom does he have to measure that strength against? What would someone who could take on a entire shinobi village on his own crave more than anything?”



“A worthy opponent.” Kakashi said immediately, his eye gleaming hard in the firelight.



“Exactly.” Genma nodded.



“Interesting. And you think that Uchiha Sasuke has the potential to become as formidable a shinobi as his brother?”



Genma answered decisively. “Yes.”



Kakashi was cagier. “It’s possible.” He turned a flat, almost meditative eye outward. Both of the other men waited; Kakashi was often able to see deeper into the heart of matters than most. But all he said after a moment was, “Anything is possible.”



The Mejin raised an eyebrow at his Shadow. As usual, Kakashi’s next move was crystal-clear; equally as familiar, everything beyond that was murky, opaque.



“You want me to tie him to Akira-kun.”



Kakashi nodded once. “Yes.”



After a moment’s silence, the King asked, “What guarantee do I have that he won’t take after his brother and murder us all in our sleep?” His voice was merely curious.



Kakashi’s eye curved up as he smiled under his mask. “None whatsoever.”



King Touya shook his head. “You don’t ask for much, do you, Kakashi-kun?” He rubbed his face, looking weary and strained, and rose to his feet.



“I think I’d like to see the boy now.”