Chapter 16: Danzo's Offer

Itachi had returned to the village. In his week long absence, no matter what he looked at it, he always reached the same conclusion. In order to save his clan and keep it honorable, he'd have to get through Danzo. He knew that if he killed him, he'd be forced to flee afterwards.

So far the best plan Itachi had was to use Kotoamatsukami on Danzo to stop his meddling with the Uchiha and to reclaim Shisui's other eye to use on the elders. He just had to wait for Danzo to be mostly alone. It wouldn't be pleasant, but at least this wouldn't put blood on his hands.

Before that though, he had some paperwork to file. It was an annoyance more than anything at this point. He'd unintentionally raised his Paperwork skill to a fairly high level compared to some of his other stats. He was grateful no one had discovered just how good he was at it yet.

"Danzo would like to speak with you," the receptionist told Itachi, "he's been waiting since the day you left suddenly."

"I will as soon as I finish preparing these reports," Itachi said, taking a few forms from the desk. He found an empty space at a table and began working. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the receptionist pass along his reply to a masked ANBU.

On account of the many others in the room, Itachi took his time with the paperwork. He was more focused on a new question he had: Why did Danzo want to talk to him? Itachi didn't have a good feeling about it. He was almost positive it wouldn't be a good thing.

He resumed filling out the paperwork. He almost didn't want to talk to Danzo. His writing pace slowed for a moment. No, this was good. He could enact his plan. He'd already convinced himself he could do it. He picked up the pace. The sooner this was over with, the better.

Slowly, the building began to empty. Itachi could see the sun sinking lower and lower using the shadows. He wasn't done quite yet, but he would be in a moment. Danzo passed by him.

"Come, walk with me," he said. Itachi obliged. He couldn't imagine Danzo was overly happy with the time it'd taken him to complete the paperwork.

"You wanted to talk to me, sir?" He asked. No sense in immediately rushing in. He'd wait for an opening. He pulled up his inventory and selected Shisui's eye in preparation.

"First, I want to offer my condolences on Shisui's death, I know you two were close," Danzo said. He'd placed his hand on Itachi's shoulder, his thumb pressed into Itachi's neck. Almost immediately Itachi pushed it away. Something was not right here. This wasn't like Danzo at all. Still, he played it off.

"Sorry, sir, but I am wary of contact, especially due to my position," he explained. Danzo nodded in approval.

"As you should. Caution is one of the most important things to have. Preparation is another," he said. There was something about that last bit that cranked up Itachi's suspicion. "Secondly, I wanted to talk to you about the Uchiha," he added.

"What about them?" Itachi asked. Better to play dumb. He had to wait until Danzo least expected it.

"They are beginning to warrant more concern. Their coup draws near. I have come up with an offer for you. A way to save something dear to you, and it falls in line with my solution to the problem, a compromise," he explained. My solution. Itachi did not like that phrase.

"And what would that be, sir?" he asked. He sensed his opportunity was drawing near. Danzo was letting his guard down bit by bit.

"Simple. Eliminate all the Uchiha, and I'll allow you to save your brother. Refusal will mean I take matters into my own hands. I will personally ensure there are no survivors," he said. Itachi took several deep breaths. Suddenly a lot of things made sense to him.

"Let me think about it," he said.

Use

Kotoamatsukami

"I require a decision soon. I'll be moving in tonight," Danzo warned.

Target

Danzo Shimura

"I've got my own solution," Itachi said, "I'll go through with Shisui's plan, the one you thwarted." A flock of crows gathered.

Activate!

Failure. The target you selected has immunity to this skill.

The crows immediately dispersed.

Itachi's mind was nearly lost in panic. Another deep breath. It had to be Shisui's other eye. Looks like he'd have to use an alternate method. He'd just beat him down to reclaim the eye. His vision began to shift, only to be cut off midway through.

"I thought you'd try this," Danzo said. He wasn't lying either, his voice was flat, calm.

You've been paralyzed for 30 seconds.

Danzo made some handsigns and a member of ROOT appeared. He took one look at the scene and nodded in understanding.

"You were foolish, Itachi," Danzo said. He was walking towards him, a kunai in hand. "You thought you could keep me out of things. I have ears everywhere." Itachi glanced at the timer for his paralysis.

0:22

"I gave you a chance, and you threw it away," Danzo continued. He was now just a few steps from him.

0:15

"I hate to do this, though." Danzo leaned closer to Itachi. It was a sickening act of intimacy. "As I told you when we met, I'd hate to see your talent go to waste." The kunai plunged into Itachi's chest.

0:05

Itachi's stiff body fell to the ground. It was odd though. He felt his HP drain by some amount, but after the shock wore off, he was completely fine. At least, he felt fine.

The paralysis has worn off.

Fortunately for Itachi, he'd fallen on top of the kunai. While it drained a bit more HP, it meant that he might be able to fake death long enough for Danzo to leave. He laid completely still.

A skill has been created through a special act.

Through laying completely still on the ground, the "Fake Death" skill has been created.

This was not good. A fresh skill was essentially useless, especially in the face of a shinobi such as Danzo. All Itachi could really do was lie in wait.

Danzo bent down over Itachi's "corpse" and his plan went out the window. He'd been stupid, so very stupid. Danzo wouldn't just leave his body or his eyes out in the open. In one fluid moment, Itachi rolled over, took the kunai from his chest, and jabbed at Danzo.

He caught it despite the shock on his face. Itachi's vision shifted.

Almost immediately, some text scrolled along the bottom of Itachi's vision.

You survived. No matter, I shall dispose of you.

Itachi took it to be something Danzo had said. A group of ROOT members joined in to offer Danzo some backup.

There were too many. This was ROOT, an organization that harbored Level 30 plus shinobi. Even with his advantages, he couldn't win. He took a moment to think. Danzo couldn't hit him with Kotoamatsukami, which was the only good thing.

He made his choice. He scrolled through his menus.

Skills

Special

Tsukiyomi

ROOT Agent

The world shifted to black and white. In what the others perceived to be the blink of an eye, one of the ROOT members was reduced to a heap on the ground. Instantly Itachi felt the strain on his eyes.

Then the counterattack hit. Itachi was strong, but the barrage of hits knocked out a third of his health. He wouldn't last long. There had to be something he was missing, something that could help him.

The realization smashed into Itachi. He had a plethora of skill points. He might be able to turn it around.

Options

Skill points

Assignment

The power rushed into Itachi like a wave. He was no longer helpless. The ROOT members were all a joke now.

Skills

Flurry of Kunai

All

With satisfaction, he watched as their HP rapidly drained. Itachi saw some text slide across his vision.

He's a monster!

Hold your ground.

Their attacks were nothing. His HP remained comfortably above half. He unleashed another Flurry of Kunai upon the group, which put the rest of the ROOT agents out of action. Itachi's vision shifted back to normal. Victory was his.

A group of ANBU made their appearance.

"Cease and Desist," the one in the front said. Itachi recognized the voice. "You are under arrest for the assault of a member of the Hokage's Council."

The world stopped for Itachi. He had just realized what that ROOT member had done. These ANBU were just a distraction. Sasuke…

Itachi turned and ran. They weren't worth his time. The scenery around him blurred. The sounds of a battle raged on behind him. He'd have to find some way to thank Kakashi later. He risked the chakra and made several jumps ahead with Shunshins.

The compound was silent. Itachi didn't care that there was so much wrong here. Pools of blood and corpses flitted about the edges of his vision. But his eyes remained solely ahead. His destination was close. His own house. He rammed through the building and into the living room.

The sight before him stopped him dead.

His parents laid dead around Sasuke.

He took some grim satisfaction in the handful of masked corpses that surrounded his family. He gently brushed his parents aside to get to Sasuke's corpse. A look of utter terror was engraved onto his face.

Itachi cradled Sasuke. He didn't want it to be. It made sense though, Danzo probably gave orders to target them god what about Izumi? Danzo probably targeted her first too. He rocked gently back and forth.

He had to move. No, his family's corpses couldn't be left to be desecrated by streamed from his eyes. He had to pull himself together. What if there were others, some on missions? Surely there were some in the village even that fought back like his parents had.

He laid Sasuke down. He did his best to fix his face. In the end Sasuke was left with a gentle smile and a look of peace. Itachi gave his mother the same treatment, but left his Fugaku with a more stern expression. He left the house. He'd done what he'd allowed himself to. Now-

A scream rang out in the compound.

Itachi abandoned his previous train of thought. He strode towards it, a furious desire for vengeance burning his insides.