Amidst the tranquil ambiance of Konoha's garden forest, where leaves whispered secrets to the wind, two contrasting figures found themselves perched on a sturdy tree branch.
The dappled sunlight filtered through the foliage, casting playful patterns on the ground below. In this serene setting, two teenagers indulged in a simple pleasure – dango sticks held delicately in their hands.
Enkai, his youthful face scrunched in distaste, dared to voice his opinion on the sweetness of the dango balls. "Blegh. How do you even eat these? They are so sweet..." he grimaced, as if the taste offended his very senses.
Beside him, Itachi, an enigma in the tranquil surroundings, remained silent as the rustle of leaves serenaded their quiet feast.
"I don't like this. Should I just force feed it to the fish?" Enkai mused aloud, his eyes shifting towards the unconscious Kisame, hanging limply on a tree branch, his usual intimidating demeanour replaced by vulnerability.
Yet, Itachi's lips stayed sealed, his focus seemingly fixated on the distant horizon, unyielding to Enkai's attempts to provoke a reaction.
"Hey, are you going to say something? Anything? You a kuudere or what?" Enkai's frustration mounted, his gaze meeting Itachi's profile, where an unexpected sight unfolded – Itachi, the stoic prodigy, was savouring the dango balls with a subtle delight, his attention steadfastly fixed ahead, as if in a world of his own.
Enkai, caught between exasperation and curiosity, realised that this was getting nowhere. He drew in a deep breath, dispelling his earlier jesting demeanour.
The jovial mask faded, revealing a serious and contemplative expression. Like a sudden gust of wind through the calm forest, he posed a question laden with gravity.
"Was it you?" Enkai's words seemed to hang in the air, weaving through the rustling leaves like an ancient incantation. The playful lilt that once coloured his voice had faded, replaced by a sombre inquiry.
"Hmm?" Itachi's response was a mere murmur, but he responded, urging Enkai to share the burdens that weighed on his mind.
"Was it you who suppressed Akatsuki from attacking Hanzo's base all these years?" Enkai's words drifted like fragile petals, imbued with a blend of curiosity and genuine affection, seeking answers from his enigmatic brother beside him.
"Saying I suppressed them would be an exaggeration; I merely diverted their attention and bought you some time," Itachi replied with a calmness that contrasted the urgency of their circumstances.
His voice, like the soft breeze caressing the leaves, carried the weight of years spent in strategic concealment. As he spoke, he delicately nibbled a dango ball, savouring its fleeting sweetness, a gesture that mirrored the ephemeral nature of their current peace.
"I see," Enkai nodded in silent gratitude, his eyes reflecting the dappled sunlight filtering through the foliage, a dance of light and shadow mirroring the complexities of his emotions.
Their gaze lingered in the glade, nature's masterpiece unfolding around them. The canopy above, a mosaic of verdant hues, played host to birdsong and the whispering of leaves. Each moment seemed to stretch, as if time itself had bowed before their conversation, granting them a sanctuary amidst the chaos.
Yet, in the midst of this serene tableau, a sudden, ominous realization gripped Enkai's soul. His eyes, once serene, now held a depth of fear and inquiry as he turned to Itachi.
"You said you bought me some time; does that mean Hanzo will…?" Enkai's voice trembled, his words hanging heavy in the air like storm clouds; holding with unspoken truths.
"It's not a will, it's a had. Hanzo has passed away," Itachi replied, his words falling like ancient prophecies. His face, etched with stoic resolve, masked the melancholy that lingered beneath the surface, a reflection of the pain he felt for his brother.
Enkai drew in a breath, a sigh that bore more than just the weight of a mere lost alliance and shattered loyalties. "A pity. He was a good man, at least to me," he murmured, his breath dissipating like wisps of smoke, carrying his heavy words away into the forest, where they hung like echoes.
In the hushed serenity of the forest, a symphony of whispers caressed the air, and then silence settled like a fragile veil. The rustle of leaves became a lullaby, and the distant calls of birds painted a tranquil backdrop to the tableau of quiet contemplation.
Itachi's eyes, pools of obsidian depth, spoke volumes without uttering a word. Enkai, too, found solace in the unspoken language between them, where shared histories and unspoken promises resonated.
Breaking the quietude, Itachi's voice emerged, a soft timbre that cut through the silence like a gentle breeze rustling the leaves. His words, while seemingly casual, bore the weight of unspoken concerns, a subtle attempt to shift the conversation away from the sombre depths they had delved into moments before.
"Do you drink now?" Itachi's inquiry hung in the air, laden with a hint of disapproval.
His eyes, pools of calm intensity, studied Enkai, seeking answers beyond the mere act of indulgence. The presence of the sake bottle, a symbol of moments shared and memories drowned,
Enkai met Itachi's gaze, his eyes reflecting the spotted sunlight filtering through the leaves. His response was measured, carrying the weight of unspoken truths. "Sometimes," he replied, his voice a mere whisper, a fragile admission of vulnerabilities masked by a facade of nonchalance.
"This isn't how it was supposed to be," Itachi's voice, barely a whisper, resonated through the woods, as if echoing the sentiments of the very trees around them. "You're not supposed to be like this."
With a slow, defeated shake of his head, Itachi's gaze fell upon his brother, Enkai. Itachi's disappointment went far beyond the alcohol; it reached into the very core of his being. He longed for Enkai to grow in a sanctuary of safety and growth—In Konoha.
It was a twisted hope, intertwined with the desire for revenge, a chance for Itachi to be freed from the shackles of guilt that bound him, guilt that he had extinguished their entire family by the hands of his brother.
In the natural order of things, they should have been locked in combat, a fierce battle between kin, but instead, they sat on a tree branch, sharing a humble meal of dangos. The incongruity of the moment was staggering, contrasting sharply with the dark undercurrents of their relationship.
A determination, cold as steel, flickered in Itachi's eyes. He steeled himself again, accepting the role he had to play—the villain in his brother's life.
With a chilling resolve in his eyes, Itachi turned to Enkai, his expression contorted into a menacing sneer. "Your eyes have matured enough. Why don't you give them to me?" His hand reached out, inches away from Enkai's eyes, a gesture that was meant to evoke fear, to stoke the flames of hatred.
Yet, to Itachi's astonishment, Enkai remained eerily calm, his gaze meeting Itachi's with a startling indifference. Itachi's hand froze in mid-air, suspended between them like a specter of their shared destiny. Enkai's response was laced with a quiet defiance that sent shivers down Itachi's spine. "What's up, pathetic brother? Change of heart?" he taunted, his words cutting through the tense atmosphere like a sharp blade, leaving a bitter taste of realization in Itachi's mouth.
In the hushed light of the forest, a profound transformation swept over the brothers, encapsulated in the charged silence that enveloped them. Enkai's calm demeanor persisted, his eyes reflecting a wisdom far beyond his years. Itachi's hand, once menacingly suspended, now trembled with a vulnerability he hadn't allowed himself to feel before.
"Do you...not resent me for killing our clan? Our family? Mother and Father?" The question Itachi dared to ask hung in the air, heavy with the weight of a shared history, tainted by bloodshed.
Enkai's response cut through the tension like a beacon of clarity, his words imbued with a serene acceptance that Itachi found both bewildering and liberating. "Did our parents resent you for killing them? What were their lasts moments like?" The question lingered, its impact sinking deep into Itachi's soul. Enkai's inquiry peeled back layers of guilt, revealing a truth Itachi had long buried beneath the facade of duty.
Memories, once locked away, flooded Itachi's mind. His voice, laden with emotion, quivered as he recounted his parents' final moments, the love and pride they had expressed for their sons.
Itachi's gaze ascended toward the rustling canopy, his eyes becoming pools of reflection, unearthing memories long buried in the recesses of his mind.
Nostalgia washed over him, casting a bittersweet glow upon his features. "T-They said they were proud of me, and to take care of you... " his voice quivered with the weight of the past, each word heavy with the echo of a distant conversation.
"They loved their children till the very end." His words hung in the air, carried away by the soft sighs of the wind, as if the forest itself mourned the loss of those tender moments.
Contrary to Itachi's expectations, Enkai's response wasn't one of condemnation but of understanding—a silent acknowledgment of the complexity of their shared past.
"See? It's alright. You did what you had to, and nobody hates you for it, nobody but you," Enkai said, his voice a gentle reassurance, echoing the sentiment of forgiveness.
In a moment that defied expectations, Enkai shifted closer, his hand finding its way to Itachi's shoulder, offering shoulder pats of solace. No grand gestures were made, no overt displays of affection.
Instead, a quiet connection forged itself, binding the brothers in a bond unspoken yet profound.
"It's time to let go and move on," Enkai whispered, his words carrying a sense of finality and acceptance, as if giving Itachi permission to release the burden he had carried for so long.
The weight lifted, leaving behind a strange mix of vulnerability and relief, a newfound freedom to embrace the future unencumbered by the shackles of the past.
______
Time seemed to stretch, and for the first time in years, Itachi's gaze had softened, his eyes reflecting a mix of relief and regret. "You have grown up, Sasuto," he said, his voice carrying a blend of admiration and remorse.
With a subtle movement, he lowered his gaze before speaking, "I go by 'Enkai' now," his voice was steady, each word a testament to the transformation he had undergone—a bridge between their shared past and the unpredictable horizon that lay ahead.
"Why?" Itachi inquired, his curiosity tinged with a hint of concern. The idea of discarding the name given by their parents seemed to tug at the threads of his emotions.
Enkai's eyes flickered with a distant recollection, a momentary struggle visible within him. He let out a sigh of disappointment, his voice laced with regret, "Sasuto is gone. The kid who fled Konoha and walked into Amegakure that day wasn't me." His words resonated with a deep sense of identity and self-discovery.
"One fateful day, under the searching eyes of Konoha's hounds, Sasuto died, and I replaced him," Enkai continued, his voice carrying the weight of a profound realization. "I do not have memories of the first seven years of my life, and I truly believe that Sasuto had died. I didn't want to carry the name of a dead man, so I changed it to Enkai."
Itachi listened in silence, absorbing the depth of his brother's transformation. His next question lingered in the air, heavy with the weight of their shared history. "Then how did you know I was your brother?" he asked, his voice a mere whisper in the gathering dusk.
Enkai met Itachi's eyes for a moment before a small smile tugged at his lips. "As expected, the youngest ANBU member in Konoha's history," he replied cryptically, producing a thick file that seemed to materialize in his hands, which he handed over to Itachi.
Itachi scanned through the contents, his eyes narrowing in recognition. "This is something only Root would have," he murmured, his thoughts aligning with the sinister reputation of the covert organization.
"Bingo," Enkai nodded in confirmation, his smile holding a touch of mischief. "Before coming here, I was sightseeing in the Root headquarters."
The mention of Danzo, the enigmatic leader of Root, drew a grave expression on Itachi's face. "You fought Danzo?" he inquired, his voice tinged with concern and curiosity.
Enkai shook his head, a sense of missed opportunity evident in his eyes. "Unfortunately, no. I couldn't fight him because, well, he wasn't in his headquarters when I was... strolling there," he replied, his tone laced with a hint of frustration.
Amidst the shifting shadows of the forest, Itachi's piercing gaze bore into Enkai, his eyes reflecting a mix of concern and anger.
Enkai, sensing his brother's growing unease, deftly changed the subject. "Enough about me," he began, his voice carrying a somber tone. "What happened to you? I heard you were doing some pretty dangerous stuff out there."
He met Enkai's gaze before answering, his voice steady, "Not as dangerous as fighting against the Raikage and Mizukage. Are you here for the Hokage?" His words hung in the air, laden with the implication of Enkai's ambitions.
"It's not that simple... The organization you work for, Akatsuki, do you know what it's truly after?" Enkai responded, his question veiled in mystery.
"They are after the Bijuu, that's all I know," Itachi replied, his voice a calm facade masking the depth of his knowledge.
"That's not all. There is a much bigger picture here, and old legends like Madara Uchiha are in the game as well," Enkai said, his tone carrying a sense of foreboding.
"I know, he is hiding in the shadows of Akatsuki," Itachi said, revealing his awareness of the infamous figure.
"No. That is not Madara Uchiha," Enkai stated firmly, his eyes locking onto Itachi's with unwavering intensity.
Itachi's brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.
"The third Uchiha that is alive is not Madara Uchiha, but his student, Obito Uchiha," Enkai explained, pulling out a file from his gloves and passing it to Itachi. "Obito Uchiha was an untalented Uchiha, and Kakashi Hatake's former teammate. He 'supposedly' died during a mission, but really what happened was that Madara took him in, healed him, and manipulated him to become Madara's student and carry on his will."
"What?" Itachi's voice was laced with disbelief as he scanned the records. "That makes no sense, the dates don't match. He helped me massacre the Uchiha clan. If he was anyone but Madara himself, he wouldn't have enough hatred to kill his own clan."
Enkai met his brother's gaze steadily. "You have no idea how much hate Obito has," he said, his voice tinged with melancholy. "Obito's best friend killed his lover, and he's doing what he is doing to bring his lover back to life. You've read the Uchiha Tablet, right? Then you would know the curse of the Uchiha—the curse bound by Love and Hate."
Itachi's skepticism lingered, and he couldn't help but ask, "How do you even know these things?"
"This is what I have been doing for the past five years. In an attempt to help Hanzo, I started digging into Akatsuki, and that led me down the rabbit hole of things I wish I didn't know," Enkai confessed, his eyes carrying the weight of the knowledge he bore. "I wish I could tell you all the details, but time isn't on our side."
Before Itachi could respond, Enkai continued with resolve in his voice, "You asked if I came here for the third Hokage? No, I came here to gather necessary documents and the final pieces of the puzzle. Now, I have a clear picture of what is truly happening and what I must do."
"What are you going to do?" Itachi inquired, his eyes fixed on his brother.
"I am going to prevent this world from destroying itself," Enkai declared, raising his hand as if grasping at an intangible truth. "Because only I have the strength to do so."
Enkai's determination shone through as he declared his mission to prevent the world's destruction. Itachi, watching his brother with a mix of concern and pride, inquired, "I suppose you will need help with that?"
"I sure as hell need as much help as possible, but I don't think some sick teen can help me in that," Enkai teased, playfully jabbing at Itachi's condition.
Itachi's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you know?" he questioned, certain he had hidden his weakening state well.
"Anyone with a Sharingan can tell that you're physically weakening, and even struggling with basic movements," Enkai remarked, his expression turning concerned. "It's not something serious, right?"
Itachi fell silent for a moment before admitting, "...I don't have much time. Maybe three years, five at most."
Enkai's concern deepened, and he swiftly offered a solution. "Brother, give me a bit of your blood sample, and take these." He conjured a dozen capsules along with an empty one the size of a finger.
Although hesitant, Itachi complied, handing over his blood for testing and accepting the capsules. He examined one of them, puzzled. "What are these?"
Enkai explained, "These are Hashirama cells, a souvenir I acquired from the Root base." He wore a proud smile as he continued, "Remember I told you Obito supposedly died and then Madara rescued him? Half of Obito's body was crushed under a rock. Do you know how he recovered from that? Hashirama Cells."
Itachi, still processing the information, listened as Enkai elaborated, "Although, those were a refined version, I believe if you get these transplanted, you might be able to slow down your disease enough for me to find a cure."
"I see," Itachi nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation and the potential solution Enkai was proposing.
Then, as the time came for them to part ways, Enkai turned to Itachi one last time. "Then for now, farewell, brother. May the next time we meet, it will be filled with smiles and hugs," he said, a small smile gracing his lips.
Both of them knew they had spent a significant amount of time discussing crucial matters, and the impending climax of the Konoha crush demanded their attention. It was time to move forward.
Enkai was about to jump down from the tree branch when he heard Itachi's voice, "Sasu—Enkai,"
"Yes?" Enkai turned towards Itachi, only to see Itachi's fingers pointing at his forehead. In the next moment, Itachi tapped his forehead with the gentlest of smiles, his touch filled with warmth and acceptance.
"Off you go," Itachi said, his words carrying a silent blessing as Enkai embarked on his path, armed with newfound knowledge and resolve. With that, Enkai leaped gracefully from the branch, and disappeared into the depths of the forest.
As Enkai left, Itachi muttered to himself, "Even if you're not my blood brother, I will protect you like how my-our parents wanted," before jumping down.