Chapter 11

After leaving the forest, the four travelers saw the Land of Rice, and the village that would soon become the Land of Sound, and the protagonist realized that in a couple of years Orochimaru would call it that, but for now it seemed like an interesting village, almost like Konoha.... There were some big buildings in the main center, but mostly there were small villages, after leaving the forest there were kind of free fields of several hectares, where the workers naturally planted rice grains, it was a peaceful village, and according to rumors even criminals and thugs, seeing this village, passed by, because they knew that if they robbed or ruined this village, there would be a crisis by feeding the supply of rice and other dishes of goods and vegetables that grow here.... and so they knew that they had to eat too, and they weren't that stupid, and even when they passed by this village and stopped at the canteen, they paid for everything, thus even helping the village, if they believed Kisame's story, Itachi mentally admitted with a smile, and when he finished thinking about it, he noticed that the whole team had already passed through the hectare fields and were in the village, They were looking for a hotel, as it was starting to get dark, of course they could have continued on their way and still reached Konoha, but they were in no hurry, and were walking a little way across the leaf village, which was on the way to the village to the fog, if they had taken the direct route to Konoha, they could have gotten there in 6 hours, like Gai-maito did when he was on the mission to save the Kazekage, it would have been more accurate.... Itachi thought, the whole team started to walk towards the highest hotel, which had a terrace, but before they did, Itachi looked to the left side of the clothing store and noticed that there were two black cloaks hanging there, they were exactly like Akatsuki cloaks, literally an exact copy, the same size and the same pure black silk, but there were no red clouds, and instead of a red zipper lock, there was a dark blue one, and the collar covered the underside of his face well, if you buttoned it all the way up, the inside of the cloak was dark blue, Itachi could tell by the collar of the cloak, it was the same as the dark blue zipper lock, and as soon as Itachi saw that, he thought, "Maybe it's a sign?" and the second coat was exactly the same as the first one, only a little bigger in size, Itachi approached the store and the team took notice of him, Kisame decided to come too, and gave Hana and Ao money to reserve a nice hotel room, they continued on their way, and Kisame walked towards Itachi, and stopped a meter away and started:

-Well, Itachi-san, I didn't know you'd be interested in anything at all,‖ Kisame said, smiling in his usual manner.

-I'm only interested in these cloaks," Itachi looked at Kisame, then looked at the salesman and began, "I want to buy this cloak.

-We only sell both cloaks, we can't sell them separately- said a white-haired salesman with a beige shirt and pants, and white spiky hair like Jirai's.

-Well then, I'll take both- Itachi said without question, and paid the salesman with his own money.

-You're lucky," said the salesman smiling, folding his arms across his chest, "these cloaks are very useful and also rare, because they are made not only of silk but also of aluminum, which makes them fireproof and they glow with blue stars in the dark, I would wear them myself, but the boss will take it out of my salary," he said smiling, closing his eyes and scratching the back of his head with his right hand.

-Thank you for such important information, I didn't even know they were that special- Itachi said smiling in return, leaving the store the salesman waved him off with a smile he sold the expensive cloaks.

Itachi walked away from the store with Kisame and walked towards the hotel to Ao and Hana, and Kisame started a conversation to kill time.

-Itachi-san, what are you going to do with the second cloak? - Kisame asked, starting a conversation with his friend.

-The first one, I will naturally wear, even often, and the second one I realized in the store what I will do with them - putting his cloak on his right shoulder, Itachi left the second long cloak on his arm, and handed it to Kisama - this is for you, consider it a gift.

-How nice, Itachi-san-" he said, trying to be sentimental, but he wasn't very good at it, and in response Itachi smiled and Kisame tried on the cloak while walking along with Itachi- "Huh, it's just my size and the color is pretty good, pure black helps to hide well, thanks for such an interesting gift, Itachi-san-" he said smiling while keeping his right hand on the back of his head and looking towards Itachi.

Itachi seemed to notice for a moment the exact copy of Naruto's smile, and the Uzumaki was always open and sincere, and Itachi could now tell if it was a real smile or a fake one, and the protagonist smiled back, then as he walked he took the cape that was hanging on his shoulder, and tried it on, he felt himself again in the cloak, which is similar to Akatsuki's cloak, only it's pure black with a dark blue zipper, like the inside of the cloak, and the fact that it's blue is even better, because it's his favorite color, and from his thoughts he added the word "Heh..."."

Kisame's POV

We kept walking until we got to the highest hotel in the village, and once inside we saw a list of people who were staying in the hotel, and we used it to determine which room our friends were in, and once we got there we walked through the door, both of us wearing black cloaks, which I felt like I was wearing something similar, and they greeted us by saying "welcome," in a funny way and with a smile, which made me smile, and Itachi, who was standing next to me, was happy too, though he didn't show it, and I looked around and noticed that they had gotten a pretty nice room, on the highest floor, it even had a really nice terrace, but it was a shame there was only one shower room, and I like to get wet heheheh, there were three rooms, I'm sure at night they'll all be in different ones, and I'll stay in the living room, because unlike them I don't care where I sleep.

-You have good taste Hana, but it's a shame there's only one shower room," I said with a smile, and everyone laughed a light laugh in response, and Itachi just smiled lightly, as if he'd heard the joke many times before.

-What, one shower isn't enough for you? - Ao said, and after a laugh, he continued, "The shower room is big enough.

-But the fact that it's the highest floor, in the whole village, I think makes up for it," Hana added with a smile.

-I think this place will suit us well,‖ Itachi said in a calm voice, and turned his attention toward the terrace, through the glass windows.

-It's getting dark and the sunset is ending, I think it's time for us to make dinner- Ao added- -but all we have so far is the rice that Hana and I bought on the way here.

-Heheh, and this, I have already provided for - I said with a smile, taking a scroll out of my pocket, and printing the scroll, and folding the seals, and two rabbits come out of it - add them to our dinner along with rice - I say smiling, and Hana and Ao look at me with surprise, and then a smile appears, and I begin to explain - I managed to catch them when we were still in the forest, and we stopped to refill our water supplies near the river, and when we took a break for five minutes, I stepped back and created a lot of water clones that went hunting and managed to catch two juicy rabbits, and back at camp my clones brought me the catch and I sealed them in this scroll, and then we went out into this rice country.

***

Three hours after dinner at the four-seater table, everyone had gone to their rooms to get a good night's sleep, at about 11pm they went to bed so that they could leave for Konoha earlier and then Ao and I could continue on our way to our fog village, only Itachi and I were awake, I stayed behind, I stayed behind to clean up after dinner, since I had nothing else to do, while trying not to get my cloak, given to me by Itachi, we had not taken off our cloaks since we arrived at the inn, and we were still wearing them, I finished my cleaning, I thought it would make me sleepy, but it didn't... I'm even more energized, and by the way, where's Itachi? I looked through the glass window towards the terrace and found him, he was also wearing a black cloak, and standing on the edge of the terrace, he grabbed the bars with both hands, and looked at the village, although I understand him, we are now in the highest building in the village, and also on the highest floor, from which the village seems small, that even on the palm of your hand can fit, how not to look here, I smiled, thinking about all this, through the mirror looking at Itachi, and then I thought, what if he is thinking about something else? maybe about his goal, his dream? or maybe about a girl, heheh, I walked towards the terrace, and he was looking from the village to the stars, which were like multiple lights, and they were twinkling on a dark blue background, and I walked up to him and was two meters behind him, he kept looking at the stars, and I started:

-Itachi-san, do you think it was a good idea to buy these cloaks?, after all, they cost us a lot, even though they're fireproof-" smiling, I began.

-Really - he began, while continuing to admire the beauty of the universe- -but it's worth it, because in them I feel like myself, and also they motivate me well to go to my goal.

-And what is your goal? - I decided to ask, hmm... usually I was annoyed by such manners, which I considered arrogance, but Itachi-san even gives me respect, otherwise I wouldn't call him that, and his behavior is not like other uchiha, and he is not arrogant, but rather honest and flexible, and even philosophical....

-He finished his interesting speech, though I didn't understand much, but at least I learned the main thing that he wants the world to be better, because it seems to me that the world of shinobi is destroying itself from inside, because of that even technology is developing slowly, I'm sure that now in paradise, many people don't even want to reincarnate as people on this earth.

-The world is falling apart from the inside, very perceptive, Itachi-san, but even though I've come to terms with the shinobi world, I don't even know if I'm doing the right thing in my job at the anbu, because sometimes I think I can't see what color is good or evil, I'm still waiting for the day when some strong shinobi will come to me and hold out his hand and tell me that he will improve this world, and even if he will be masked and trust me, then I will follow him," Itachi looked down at me as if he had heard it before.

-You know, people understand the world differently when they are in the shadows, because not everyone appreciates the purity, many mix red, the color of blood looking for easy ways, which gives people only illusions - then he, letting go of the bars of the terrace, turns his gaze to me, and adjusting his cloak for the collar, continues - everyone reaps what he sowed, violence begets only violence, and death is paid for by death, and those who do not feel doubt and do not know remorse, they will not escape from this vicious circle, I also do not recommend you to wait for answers from someone, look for them yourself, because our history is written by our hands - when he said that, he lowered his eyes and thought about something, probably about his goal in this world or something like that.

-Heh, you're really a philosopher, I see, I used to know it only by hearsay from Hana - I said smiling, and he nodded with a slight smile and continued to look at the stars, and I continued -you know, as soon as I put on these cloaks today, I had a feeling of de-ja-vision, as if I were wearing something similar, and strangely enough, my intuition doesn't fail me, sometimes it seems that we've already met, because your behavior and manner is as if you know me well in the past.... - Having said that, I noticed that he was thinking about something, and I added smiling - and as if we were meeting again now in the future.

-I wouldn't say in the past, but rather in a previous life," he corrected me and smiled slightly, "and it's not the future, but rather the next life, and we don't seem to be bad partners here, especially in black cloaks.

-You know, it's really epic, two black cloaks standing on the tallest building in the land of rice, talking about the world and lives- and Itachi kind of smiled after saying that, and I added- I think it should be called, "Starry night and two black cloaks"- and later we both looked up at the stars, and after two minutes, I went to bed and he stayed there.

End of Kisame's POV

As soon as it was exactly 6:00 the whole squad woke up and also the first one to shower was Hana, and Kisame frowned that he would have to wait because he would be the second one and he didn't like that, that's why he wanted a room with two showers, then when everyone had showered they started to eat breakfast together, and Itachi decided not to wear the anbu uniform, and sealed it in a scroll for now, then he put on a black cape over a black t-shirt, Then everyone else paid the hotel owner, Ao paid with his own money, he wanted to be useful, "he thought," Kisame also wore the cloak Itachi had given him instead of the ANBU uniform, and then the travelers left the village and entered the forest that led to Konoha.

***

After about an hour and a half, they could see the border of Konoha, and stopping near a vacant field surrounded by grass, they decided to say goodbye.

-It was a pleasure working with you, thank you for your help," Itachi began with a smile as he looked at Ao and Kisame, and they smiled back, and the protagonist added on his own behalf, "Take care of yourself as well.

-Heheh, I'll even miss our work together, thanks for covering me all the way, Itachi-san, with your sleep, no one will get past you -Said Hoshigaki with a grin through his teeth, turned his gaze to Hana and added -And a special thanks to you, Hana laughed a little at the suffix he applied to the Suna leader, then she looked at Ao, and nodded with a smile.

-You are a very worthy shinobi Itachi-Uchiha- Ao said, shifting his gaze to Itachi- and if you see Shisui, give him my best wishes, thanks to you I realized that since he's like a brother to you, he's like you- he further smiled, which Itachi did in response, and further he shook his hand to him, adding- and I also noticed that you were brooding the whole way, so it's not good luck with that.

-Thank you- Itachi said honestly, removing his smile, and thought again.

-Well, I guess we should go now-" Kisame finished and added, "-And I'm sure we'll meet again, heh.

-Obviously, Heh... -Itachi added at the end, with a light laugh, folding his arms across his chest in his black cloak, which was exactly the size of an Akatsuki cloak, but even better, because there were no red clouds, or red at all, and the silk glistened even in the dark with blue sparks, and the lightning was dark blue, like the whole inside of the cloak, pure black on the outside and dark blue on the inside.

They then headed towards their mist village and Itachi and Hana were on their way back to Konoha and after 15 minutes they reached the main gate and Izumo and Kotetsu greeted them with a smile and everyone was also playing poker, Itachi smiled again with his sharingan, they then headed towards the hokage's residence and found themselves near his office door, Itachi decided to take off his black cloak and put it in a scroll for now and he entered with Hana.

-Mission successfully accomplished- Itachi reported, looking at the seated Hokage.

-I didn't doubt you Itachi, great job," said the Third with a smile as he continued to smoke his tobacco, "So how did it go in the sunagakure with the Kazekage?

Hana and Itachi began their report, from beginning to end, and the third only nodded with a smile, and Hana noticed her younger brother Kiba through the window and how he was chasing a cheerful white dog that he couldn't catch, and smiling she asked permission to go out and help her brother catch his dog named Akamaru, the Hokage only laughed lightly and nodded, and Hana looked towards Itachi before leaving and addressed him one last time:

-What a bunch of little brothers," Hana said with a slight smile.

-How I know what you mean," Itachi added, folding his arms across his chest in his black t-shirt and smiled with the right corner of his mouth.

-Good luck Itachi, I'll see you around," Hana said.

-Itachi said confidently, lowering his arms, and Hana walked out of the office to her favorite brother's aid, while Itachi looked to the third and turned to him, "Hokage-sama, I have a favor to ask of you.

-What was it? - replied the third with interest.

-Let me leave the anbu- Itachi said, the third hokage was surprised, then remembered that if Itachi says something, it means it's for a reason.

-So what's the reason, if it's not a secret? - The hokage asked, raising his eyebrows and placing his elbows on the table with his fingers folded.

-I can't tell you all the changes in the future timeline, but I can tell you the current changes in the second timeline - the Hokage listened intently - Kakashi-Hatake was injured in that mission, back when I first started creating the second timeline, near the river, and when he was wounded you appointed me as the leader of the Anbu, and now, since he is still the leader, he will perform the missions that I have already performed in the first timeline, which means that I can be free for half a year, but what will happen in half a year, I can't say.

-I see... Itachi, if you want, I'll fulfill that, and you're sure you won't change the line of history? - Having said that, he inhaled the tobacco again.

-I'm sure I've got it all figured out, I spent all night last night thinking about it, and I didn't even sleep, planning ahead because I couldn't sleep, it even helped me to think, this starry terrace, to give me strength and confidence in the truth of my decisions -I finished, lowering my gaze to the floor, and thought, maybe I did the right thing in giving Kisame a thought, so he could see good and evil in colors, and if Obito came to him, he'd see him as he is now.

-Okay, from this day on I'm giving you back the rank of Konoha jonin, and if you want, you can choose the green Konoha jonin uniform, it's quite comfortable, though not fireproof-" Itachi even smiled at the last words as the third finished and replied.

-Thanks for the offer Hokage-sama, but I prefer to wear something that symbolizes the real me instead of the green vest- -and the protagonist pulls out a black cloak with a dark blue lock and puts it on from a scroll- -and it's fireproof, consisting of aluminum silk.

-And it fits you perfectly," the third said, and suddenly remembered something and decided to say it while looking at Itachi,

-The Fourth Hokage once wore something like this, but it was a pure white cloak, although he was fast, his body wasn't perfect, as he spent a lot of time studying and learning different techniques, and even consulted with his wife Kushina to learn how to control the seals of the Uzumaki clan, Itachi listened to the rest of the information about the Fourth and Second Hokage, and the Hokage added, "But he didn't spend much time learning taijutsu, and his body wasn't fast, even though it's a fast technique, and he had a yellow glow, the Second Hokage was even slower than the Fourth Hokage, but his lead armor hid it, and he didn't flash, you said so yourself, If he was faster, he would have blue lightning, and I thought about it for a couple of days, I thought about what you said, and I realized that if you mastered his techniques, you could surpass him in speed, and who knows, you might be called "the blue lightning of Konoha". - finished the third with a slight chuckle.

-I doubt I'll surpass the fourth in speed, but I might try to learn his techniques to be of some use in Konoha- Itachi said dubiously.

-I don't doubt that you will surpass him, or have you? You're still 13 now, but who knows what kind of warrior you were in your time... -said he, putting his tobacco aside, and added -Well, I think I asked a ridiculous question, of course only you know what kind of warrior you were- -he said, finishing with a light laugh, and Itachi smiled too, that confused the Third.

-Thank you for your support, Third, and I have one more request for you-" and the hokage, having finished laughing, asked: "What is it?" And Itachi started...

Itachi left the Hokage's office and went to the Uchiha quarter to pack his things and move into his house, which the third promised to provide him with tomorrow, Well although Itachi had done a lot of good for Konoha over the years, and he had been offered a lot of things, he was even saving money, and no wonder, It's not surprising that he bought the cloaks without any problems, because money is not a problem for him, and now for the first time he wanted something for himself, and the third was happy to give him a house, and even decided not to ask, because he thought he might break some time line, and Itachi just didn't want to live in a house where he would see Sasuke every day, He didn't want to see that damned clan every morning, when he got home, there was no one there, Sasuke was at the academy, and the others were probably at the first uchiha meetings, because the coup would be in 6 months, Itachi quickly packed his things and left a note about it, when he got to his house, he was even happy when he found out that it was next door to Kakashi's house, he laid out his things and went to sleep....