For all of Itachi's misgivings, the first-year student party had actually been a rather relaxing affair. By the time he and Jiraiya had arrived food and drinks had already been set out and people were digging in. It had taken a few moments for everyone to realize that the two top candidates of the entrance exams had arrived, but once the word was out Itachi and Jiraiya had been pulled into the center of the festivities. Itachi had felt more than a little awkward at first; life on the run as a rogue ninja and member of the Akatsuki hadn't exactly improved his social skills, after all. However, his fellow students seemed to be a friendly and pleasant group overall, and they appeared to catch on rather quickly to the fact that he wasn't exactly a party person.
It hadn't taken Jiraiya long at all to establish himself as the jokester and overall life of the party. From what Itachi could see it appeared to be a role that the sage had slipped into quite easily. While the Sannin held court with lewd jests and tales of a rather seedy nature, Itachi was able to quietly settle in a little off to the side and field questions from the mainly female students that wished to chat with him. He remained guarded and refrained from telling them anything regarding his past life, but he was still able to politely engage his fellow students in small-talk and openly ponder with them just what exactly lay in store for them come orientation and the first day of class.
I don't think I ever experienced anything quite like this back when I was alive, he mused, I graduated from the Shinobi Academy so quickly due to my advanced abilities that student life passed as a blur. My talents set me apart and got me noticed, but I wound up nearly isolated. Were it not for Shisui and Izumi… I could very well have not made any real friends at all.
As fun as the party wound up being, Itachi was keenly aware of Jiraiya subtly studying him the whole time. After what he deemed an appropriate amount of time had passed, Itachi excused himself and went to his room. A few minutes later there was a knock at the door, and Itachi knew who it was.
"Go ahead," he said.
Jiraiya opened the door. "So, are we having it out here?"
Itachi shook his head as he grabbed several sheets of paper and a writing board. "No. We'll go to the courtyard; at this hour, there shouldn't be many people there."
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "All right, but what's with the paper? This isn't exactly a study session."
"Trust me," said Itachi as he stood up, "You'll thank me for bringing it soon enough."
It wasn't hard for the two former Shinobi to slip out of the dorms undetected. After they found a quiet corner of the courtyard and sat down, Itachi pulled a familiar object from his pocket and passed it to Jiraiya. The Sannin's eyes widened as he saw what it was.
"One of the pens from the first phase of the exams…" he said softly as he studied it before giving Itachi a smirk, "Well, well… you know how to plan ahead."
Itachi nodded as Jiraiya returned the pen. "Once I was able to comprehend the true nature of the writing utensils we had been given for the test, I realized that they might be able to serve a purpose beyond the entrance exams. If Yoruichi is right, once we learn to properly control our spiritual pressure these special pens will become useful only for writing, but since we have yet to reach that point I can apply them as an enforcement mechanism for my testimony."
Jiraiya folded his arms. "So, do you intend to write an essay with me watching your every move, then?"
"I'd call it more of a pop quiz, but some of the answers I'll provide may well be lengthy enough to be considered essays," said Itachi, "Ask me whatever you wish. If we run out of paper, I'll simply have to grab more. We both already know what will happen if I try to lie. Is this arrangement acceptable to you?"
Jiraiya nodded. "Sounds good to me. Let's get started."
….
I'll be damned, thought Jiraiya as he read all of Itachi's answers, I was sure at least one of my questions would get him, but there wasn't so much as a spark. So…
…it's all here, then.
He would give credit where it was due; Itachi had been quite thorough with his answers. Several of them really had turned into essays, and in fact the young man had needed two breaks to grab more paper to write on. Jiraiya was sure that it was well past midnight now, but he wasn't the least bit tired. Quite the opposite, in fact; with all that he had learned tonight, he knew it would be quite some time before sleep found him again.
His brow furrowed as he contemplated the testimony before him. The Uchiha Clan's downfall, Itachi's role in the Akatsuki, the real reason behind his reappearance in the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and all the information he had gathered regarding the organization and its hunt for the Tailed Beasts… all that and more was staring him right in the face.
It was hard for him to find words for it all, or even just for a starting point, but he took a shot at it just the same. "So… Danzō, huh?"
Itachi nodded. "Yes… although that does not excuse the part I played."
"It was all sanctioned, then," said Jiraiya as he scanned the written answers, "Danzō, the village elders… and even the Third Hokage."
Itachi shook his head. "Not quite. The Third Hokage only became aware of the true nature of my actions after the clan was murdered. He had still been pursuing a policy of negotiation and reconciliation, a course that Shisui and I had desired as well. Danzō's ultimatum came without the Third Hokage's consent or knowledge, although Lord Sarutobi gave retroactive approval after I reported to him."
Jiraiya sighed. After all that Itachi had told him, he had a good understanding of the position his late master had been forced into. It did not diminish his faith and pride in his teacher, but that did not change the fact that Jiraiya wished his old mentor could've found another way to handle the situation.
At least Danzō was formally stripped of his authority afterwards, he mused, although given how cagey the bastard was, I doubt that was too much of an obstacle for him. I hope Tsunade can keep him in check.
"So, you made your report and struck your pact with him," said Jiraiya, "and then threatened Danzō for good measure. After that… well, it's all here, but I suppose I'll need a little more time to go over it all… and let it sink in."
"I would expect nothing less," Itachi replied, "and while I would not presume to rush you… I do need an answer."
Jiraiya gave him a hard stare. "You mean a judgment. My judgment."
Itachi nodded. "Yes. I chose death in battle against Sasuke because I felt he was the only one worthy of avenging our family and punishing me for the sins I committed. Suffice to say that when I pictured the afterlife I was in for, the Soul Society was not what I had in mind. For reasons beyond my comprehension, I've been spared the flames of Hell."
"So, since the afterlife has not seen fit to punish you, I'm supposed to mete out a sentence instead?" asked Jiraiya.
"You yourself stated that you wanted to judge whether or not I was a threat to the other students at this school before I took my place in class with them," said Itachi, "You know quite well what I was capable of in life, and while in death I have lost a great deal of my former powers, the abilities that I have kept are still enough to make me dangerous. The same goes for you. In fact, if you and I were to fight right here and now… I believe you would win."
Jiraiya folded his arms. "And is that what you want? You already met your death in battle against your younger brother. Are you so eager to end your afterlife at my hands?"
Itachi sighed. "No. Although I do not believe that I deserve redemption, I would nonetheless like to join the ranks of the Soul Reapers and do what I can to protect those who have already passed beyond death's door. I will not pretend that this may grant me absolution; what I have done is beyond atonement. However, if I do have the power in the afterlife to defend others and act in a manner that would truly be appropriate for a Shinobi of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, then I would like the chance to do so. That being said, your mistrust in me is more than warranted given my past actions. If you believe that I would be a threat rather than a protector, then let's have it out here and now."
After a good, long moment of consideration, Jiraiya shook his head. "No. I will not fight you. As for the judgment you seek, I don't think it's mine to give quite yet."
"What do you mean?" asked Itachi.
"What I mean is that the situation is far more complex than I had originally realized," Jiraiya answered, "I don't necessarily condone your actions, but with all that's been revealed I would be wrong to simply condemn them out of hand either. I think it's clear that you got caught up in events that were beyond your control. You were handed some nasty choices, and the situation was far from black-and-white. Even taking your testimony in its entirety does not mean that I can come to a final verdict right away. It'll take some time for me to come to an appropriate conclusion. I'll have to give it a great deal of thought before I get back to you on it."
Itachi nodded. "I understand.
"I'm not finished yet," said Jiraiya, "Regarding the other students, at this point I am confident in that you don't pose a threat to them. Whether or not that will continue to be the case as your powers develop remains to be seen. That's why I'm going to continue to monitor you as we go through our training together."
"I would expect nothing less," Itachi replied.
Jiraiya smiled as he stood up. "In that case, I think we'd better head back inside. I'm all for staying up late and partying, but we do have orientation tomorrow. It'd be a shame to sleep through it, don't you think?"
He was surprised to see Itachi smirk as he rose to join him. "I suppose you're right. To think that we'll be students again after gaining such mastery of our crafts when we were still alive… is it strange that I'm actually looking forward to it?"
Jiraiya laughed. "Not at all. To tell you the truth, so am I. Don't get me wrong; I'll hit the books, but there's no rule saying I can't do that and cause a little trouble at the same time! It'll also be a great opportunity to start research for my new novel series, especially since the student dorms are co-ed!"
Itachi shook his head. "You're fortunate that none of our fellow students seem to be aware of the reputation you had when you were alive. Then again, I suppose there's no reason why the legendary Pervert Sage can't rise again in the Soul Society."
Jiraiya chuckled. "Now you sound like Naruto. 'Pervy Sage' was his version of the title. That kid just didn't understand the true nature of my research!"
"Keep telling yourself that," said Itachi.
As the two of them headed back inside, Jiraiya could not help but reflect on the strange new circumstances he found himself in. It was one thing to become a student again in order to learn how to harness his new powers; he truly was looking forward to that. It would be another thing entirely to be attending class alongside a man who had been known as one of the most notorious mass murderers in the history of the Hidden Leaf Village. At any other time Jiraiya would've dismissed such a possibility as completely outrageous, but after learning what he had tonight his thoughts on the matter were now much more complex.
Whether or not atonement for what he did in life is possible at this point is a question that I can't answer, he thought, but if he truly is determined to seize the second chance that the Soul Society has given him, then it's not my place to deny it to him. It would seem that he truly wants to take this opportunity to reform himself, or at least serve in a manner that was denied to him while he was alive. That's more than I ever got out of Orochimaru. For now, all I can do is watch and wait. And so, starting tomorrow…
…my watch begins.