NARUTO SI: A Burdened Soul (Elder Brother to Itachi SI)

Chapter 22

MINATO NAMIKAZE

His arrival at the Northern camp was met with much cheer and elation as the Konoha nin both celebrated and honored him for his feats against Iwa nin. The stories and rumors about the battle had already spread far and wide, oftentimes with much embellishment and creative liberties.

But the truth was that he had slaughtered more than a thousand Iwa-nin singlehandedly and that Iwa had now placed an S-ranked bounty on his head.

Though he was not the only shinobi at camp with such a bounty, even though the others may not have his 'Flee on Sight' order.

Fugaku Uchiha had one as well, and much to his surprise and worry, so did his son—Izuna, much to their surprise. And was it because of his own deeds and accomplishments, or the potential danger he posed to the Kumo-nin for the future, or perhaps for the blood that he shared with the 'Wicked Eyed Devil'? No one knew, nor did it matter much.

Izuna Uchiha now had an S-ranked bounty on his head. And despite his prowess the boy was young, and the days ahead while easier were still filled with danger.

"Izuna is relieved from your duties and are to head back to the village," Minato announced as he passed on the commands to Fugaku Uchiha, as the man nodded.

"I am to lead the handover of the Third Raikage's body. You shall remain behind and remain on alert until the entire thing is done. Lord Hokage suspects that Kumo would use this chance to attack us, that is why they have added an hour to the time of the handoff and until the truce ceasefire officially begins," and that meant it was their intention to attack in that hour, and exact revenge.

And now, with the daimyos involved already and the treatise for a truce signed. The noble daimyos would both be more tempted to enforce this treaty despite any bloodshed or mishap from either side.

And so as to not let the village's morale be affected. It was upto them to parry this strike. To avoid bloodshed, and this was precisely why he had been chosen for this task.

"Do we have any idea who will be receiving the Third Raikage's body from the Kumo's side?" the Uchiha clan head asked, and they did. It was one of the reasons that he had been chosen.

"We are not certain of the entire team's composition, but it is believed that his son will be leading the team," he replied and saw Fugaku nod, for they all knew of the young jounin and his prowess.

"That is troubling. I can see why the Hokage-sama would choose you for this mission," and indeed, it was a bit unorthodox to have him come all the way here to the Northern border when it had been Fugaku and his unit who had led the battle on this side for nearly the entirety of the war.

One could even think of it as an insult, but the Uchiha clan head was of a sounder and saner mind than that. He saw the reason behind the Hokage-sama's actions, and from his expression, he did not seem to mind it.

And Minato hoped that he would be just as amenable to his own request and plea.

"It is good that they are sending Izuna home," he added as Fugaku motioned for him to sit, and he did so as the man did the same.

"Indeed," the man added with a small, proud smile.

"Your own team has been sent back as well," Fugaku asked and he nodded, and his fist balled up as he thought of the boy now missing in the journey back.

"But not all of them," he added painfully as the Uchiha clan head's eyes narrowed.

"Yes, I heard that one of your students died during the mission. I am sorry for your loss," the man's words were animated, but none had ever blamed the Uchiha clan had of being a good orator. He was a hard and traditional man, who came from a long line of shinobi.

The Uchiha were a clan as old as Senju or the Uzumaki, and being the leader of that clan came with a certain set of responsibilities, even in this day and age. The greatest of which was protecting your clan's secrets, especially your Kekkei Genkai.

"Speaking of that there was something I wished to talk to you about?" Minato decided to breach the topic then and there, knowing that the longer he waited the more people would get involved and make this matter more complicated.

"Yes?" the man asked.

"It's about my students, the one who died, and his friend Kakashi Hatake. You see before his death Obito Uchiha awakened his Sharingan," and the man seemed a bit surprised by that.

"It is impressive, especially for someone like him, a shame that we lost him so quickly. He could have grown up to be quite an asset for the village and the clan," the man added.

"Indeed, but you see, he may not be as gone as one may think," and as the man frowned, he continued.

"For you see before his death, Obito Uchiha made a request. And as half his body lay crushed under a massive boulder, he asked his other teammate Rin Nohara to take out his eye and implant it in the empty eye socket of Hatake Kakashi...."

00000

ITACHI UCHIHA

The academy was far less interesting than Itachi had thought or hoped. Most of his peers failed to understand the cruel and dangerous world that lay ahead and chose to waste their time in jokes and pranks, other idle activities.

It surprised him quite a bit. This behavior of ignorance.

Did they not know of the war? Or did they not care? And if so, were they right to not care? Or were they wrong and ignorant?

He had so many questions, and there was no one to answer them. He had once thought to write to Izuna, his brother, to try and ask him but had chosen not to in the end. He did not wish to disturb his brother with his own worries while he was away at war.

No. The best he could do was keep on with his training. Improving, himself so that he was ready so that he could change the world.

And as the days passed, and he entered his third month in the academy, the little urgency and impatience that their teachers and the students had vanished as well, as word of Konoha's great victories spread all over the village.

And the mood of the village turned around in an instant. Gone were the somber, sad, and worried faces. Replaced by joy and elation as the whispers of peace began to spread. Peace, that was coming after a troublesome decade of war and conflict.

The students in his class spoke of their aspirations, of their dreams to one day replicate the feats of the likes of Yellow Flash, who had killed more than a thousand Iwa nin singlehandedly. They even spoke of his father and his visual prowess in how he had outwitted the Kumogakure ninja. They spoke of the Sanin, of the Toad Sage, and the Snake Sanin and so many others.

And in all that noise, there were few who also spoke of his brother, of Izuna Uchiha, who had helped change the tides of war.

But he knew for a fact that none of them could replicate their feats, not if they remained as they currently were. And most importantly, did they not realize the tragedy and suffering of the people they looked upto? Of what they had suffered? Of what they had done? How many they had killed?

And how they had sacrificed themselves?

It was much troubling for him, but in a way, he was a bot eased as well but all this chatter of peace, as he realised that he would not have to fight in a war as soon as he had thought. This war was over, and yet, in the back of his mind, he knew that there would be another one in the future.

And he would need to fight in that one. All of them would need to fight in that one.

"Is that the new bingo book?" a shrill and familiar voice cut in from behind, making Itachi turn around. He saw Izumi looking down at the small booklet in his hand. He had saved up his pocket money to buy the thing from the market, all for one purpose.

"Yes," he did not lie and saw the young girl's eyes light up. Izumi Uchiha was her senior by two years, and yet Itachi knew that he was stronger than her.

"I have heard that Izuna-sama has an entry in it," she asked with shining eyes, and that was also the reason for him buying the thing.

"Yes, I have heard the same," he added, and she smiled.

"Let's find it together," and she plopped down beside him under the tree as they began to rummage through the bingo book. And it did not take them much time to find him.

There he was. His brother. Izuna Uchiha-the Devourer with an S-ranked bounty on his head.

"So, it is true," Izumi gasped as she saw the page and read the details.

"Hmm, there is not a single mention of his iryoninjutsu," and she seemed a bit saddened by that, and as Itachi did the same, he realised that she was right.

"Perhaps they deemed it insignificant," and her expression was dull as she nodded.

"Maybe, but they are wrong. Iryoninjutsu is awesome, especially when Izuna-sama uses it; he can heal wounds in an instant. It is like a miracle," she whispered, and she ahd always been fascinated by iryoninjutsu for some reason, more his brother's.

"Have you seen him use it?" he asked, and she seemed a bit taken aback by his question.

"Ahhh...." but as she stammered, Itachi perked up as he felt another presence infront of them, one that had appeared in an instant, and then before he could react, he felt a small sharp pain on his forehead.

"Ouch," and as he looked up, the tension eased as he recognized the familiar face.

"Sloppy as always, younger brother," Izuna-nii was here. His brother was back.

And Izumi was awestruck at his sight, unable to utter a single word as she watched him with her mouth wide open, while his brother turned towards the opened Bingo book.

"Ohh, that's my entry page," he commented as he shook his head.

"They couldn't have used a more unflattering image," he commented, and it was a rarity to see him joke like this. At least, it had been ever since his first mission.

"You are back," he asked, and he nodded.

"Yes, I just came back from my debrief. Come, you are getting an early off today," he said. Itachi nodded as he picked up the book, and his brother turned towards his friend.

"And how have you been, Izumi-chan?" he asked as the brown-haired girl nodded quickly.

"I am fine Izuna-sama. It is good to see that you are back," she greeted him formally as his brother nodded at her.

"Tell your sister to meet me tonight at the usual place," and with that message and a small talk with his sensei, the two brothers began their journey back home.

"Is the war really ending?" Itachi found himself asking his brother.

"Yes, I believe it is," his brother answered before he turned towards him.

"Only this one," he added, and that was said with a bit of anger and frustration as they came upon their House in the clan compounds, and as they entered the home Izuna-nii greeted loudly.

"I am home," and at his words, their mother emerged from one of the rooms.

"Izuna, is that you?" and as she did, he saw his brother still as his eyes landed on their mother, who had changed quite a bit since he had been away, for her belly had begun to swell up, and by now was rather visible as she was pregnant with his brother.

"Ye..." his brother became tongue-tied as he looked at her before adding in a surprised tone.

"You are pregnant...."

0000

Late into the night, Izuna Uchiha stood infront of the grave of one Obito Uchiha. The grave had been cleaned up, and fresh incense and flowers were placed around it as the young boy stood there with his fists balled up much to the surprise of the young Saiko Uchiha.

"What happened Izuna?" she asked, surprised at seeing her friend in such a state. SH had thought that he would be happy that he had avenged Shisui. That he had killed so many Kumo-nin, even costing the village their Raikage.

And yet he was more angry than she had ever seen him.

"Nothing," he lied obviously as he turned to face her.

"I just called you here because I need you to do me a favor," and she nodded.

"I need you and Izumi to move back to the clan compounds," that was a strange request, one she tried to deny.

"I would, but you know the elders. They will not accept me or my sis..."

"Leave the elders to me. I will arrange a proper house for your family. You will be safe here," he added, and the choice of words was not lost on her.

"Safe from who?" she asked, but he did not elaborate as his eyes turned towards their friend's grave. They spoke no more until she nodded helplessly.

"Fine, we will move...."

0000

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