[ When the Hitomi begins to broadcast, the background displays two faces. They they are related is obvious. That one of them is Uchiha Itachi is obvious to anyone who happens to know him
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[ Oh, Itachi is using the talking-box. It is talking at him, and Madara peers at him curiously. Itachi is looking for assistance! Madara brightens at the thought of maybe being able to assist Itachi, because maybe that will make Itachi like him more. He is worried that Itachi dislikes him, like all the other adults. ]
Itachi-nii-san, is there something I can do to help?
[ His voice is small and a little nervous, and he looks a little apprehensive as he offers. ]
[ Itachi seems to remember that Madara had said something similar -- only in a far different tone -- some years before.
But there is no point in giving him harm when he has been reduced in size and stripped of his mental faculties. Enmity at this time would be wasted, and violence would be merely cruelty; nothing more.
Madara is useless to him in this condition. His powers, his size, and his mind have been reduced in quality. Itachi is uncertain of how to deal with this version of the man. In his average condition, he would at least be able to effectively communicate with Madara, even if the other man spoke words which filled him with venonmous thought, which poured forth his rage and sorrow like a turned faucet handle. Such had been Madara's subtle strength.
And now this.
This. ]
I require the assistance of an adult.
Perhaps you could find such an individual on my behalf.
[VIDEO | Private ]ura_no_uraApril 10 2010, 07:08:56 UTC
[ Itachi is here.
Itachi is back.
A warm feeling sweeps through Kakashi then, a feeling of calm he has not felt in days since Obito's arrival. This day has been filled with surprises -- waking up and remembering himself, as a child, so foolishly making demands of everyone that he spoke to. Bullying Sasuke (oh god, hopefully the kid will forgive him for it), and Iruka too. And now this -- Itachi. Itachi, who Kakashi has missed. Who Sasuke has as well.
He wonders if Itachi remembers anything of the past year.
Well, only one way to find out.
Kakashi responds, his expression and voice soft. ]
[VIDEO | Private ]behindhiseyesApril 10 2010, 07:22:14 UTC
[ Shinobi of Konohagakure. Itachi remembers working with this man years ago. Remembers fighting him. Torturing him, as well -- though this had not arisen out of any personal malice.
The symbol of the Leaf stares at Itachi through the screen of the device. He has seen his own skin -- his own face and muddied features -- reflected on that cut surface. Himself, bathed in silver. Metal poured over his nose and eyes as if he were a stone martyr, one of the hallowed ones (which he shall never be), and in the silver, the maddening curl of the Leaf, he had seen his own marked: scratched through, a notch of infamy, recognition of that ancient catastrophe.
[VIDEO | Private ]behindhiseyesApril 10 2010, 07:56:24 UTC
[ The words are asked with gentleness, but Itachi wonders . . .
He does wonder if they are meant to taunt. You don't remember, do you? He thinks: I remember every day; I feel the sun stretch out its shadow and drop into the evening, and I count the minutes, the hours. Slipping towards death like the disappearance of the shadow in the middle of the day; Sasuke's eyes shall burn him from existence like another light, Amaterasu, but Itachi remembers. Remembers everything. And could tell you why he did it, too.
Yes, he did it. Yes, he is guilty. Is that what you wish to hear? Do you wish to hear the reasons, Hatake Kakashi? Even as you stare him with those probing, sympathizing eyes; that one eye, the eye like Itachi's own, an eye of darkness, and he could tell you, yes, he remembers. He wakes in the night to the feel of the memories on his skin like a film, like an accumulated shell of rust, like so many needles. Yes, he cut through them. Mother and Father, both
( ... )
[The video flicks onto Ukitake's face, warm and friendly and smiling. He doesn't recognize this man, but he must be someone newer--someone he hasn't yet spoken to.
He chuckles a little bit at the child hanging off of the man's shoulder. From the man's posture, he can guess that the man is not quite comfortable around the child, so when he speaks, his voice is kind, with just a trace of amusement.]
[video | private ]behindhiseyesApril 10 2010, 20:02:03 UTC
It would be best if someone else were to see over him so long as he remains in this condition.
I apologize. I cannot speak further on the reason for this.
[ Because how does one tell a stranger that his brother -- were his brother using an adult's reasoning -- likely would not wish for Itachi to be anywhere near him, let alone over-seeing him? Itachi, who stole his first childhood. Who poisoned him to the roots.
[Obito's camera skills aren't really improving even if he's constantly trying to use video. Now, the side of his straight nose and lips are obscured by the camera's angle, and only part of his eye appears]
Hey, you're another cousin, right? I'd seen you before.
[ Itachi cannot get a good look at the boy addressing him, but there seems to be no shortage of children in this place. It is likely that this one is yet another who has confused Itachi with someone else. ]
[Obito is confused. He's seen all the other Uchiha talk to this one, and he does sort of look like an Uchiha... Maybe...]
Forgive me, I'm Uchiha Obito, I'd just seen so many Uchiha speaking to you that I thought maybe you were one... and the child in this post is someone who called me a cousin, as well.
... Yes, Itachi recalls having encountered that name before. The childhood friend of Hatake Kakashi. Another one who has died.
So many have died.
But this one died in a different manner -- not at the hands of those within the clan. And perhaps, Itachi thinks, perhaps it is better for this boy's sake that he died as a hero, escaping the infamy of exile, escaping the meaningless life of an immortal, escaping the fate of becoming an avenger, an inhuman vessel of hatred.
A tool. ]
. . .
Your eyes are without guile. You look as if you are someone who still lives life fully, who eats food and finds that it still has flavour.
I hope this stays with you when you grow into an adult. There are few enough whom I have known for which this remains a truth.
[ He is quiet for a moment, watching this boy and wondering what else it would be proper or prudent to say. ]
Uchiha. Ah.
Uchiha is a complicated word, and one to which I have forsaken my birth right
( ... )
Comments 51
Itachi-nii-san, is there something I can do to help?
[ His voice is small and a little nervous, and he looks a little apprehensive as he offers. ]
Reply
[ Itachi seems to remember that Madara had said something similar -- only in a far different tone -- some years before.
But there is no point in giving him harm when he has been reduced in size and stripped of his mental faculties. Enmity at this time would be wasted, and violence would be merely cruelty; nothing more.
Madara is useless to him in this condition. His powers, his size, and his mind have been reduced in quality. Itachi is uncertain of how to deal with this version of the man. In his average condition, he would at least be able to effectively communicate with Madara, even if the other man spoke words which filled him with venonmous thought, which poured forth his rage and sorrow like a turned faucet handle. Such had been Madara's subtle strength.
And now this.
This. ]
I require the assistance of an adult.
Perhaps you could find such an individual on my behalf.
Reply
I saw another adult, but he was a Senju.
[ Madara's voice quavers a little. ]
Reply
A Senju? Hashirama is in this place?
Reply
Itachi is back.
A warm feeling sweeps through Kakashi then, a feeling of calm he has not felt in days since Obito's arrival. This day has been filled with surprises -- waking up and remembering himself, as a child, so foolishly making demands of everyone that he spoke to. Bullying Sasuke (oh god, hopefully the kid will forgive him for it), and Iruka too. And now this -- Itachi. Itachi, who Kakashi has missed. Who Sasuke has as well.
He wonders if Itachi remembers anything of the past year.
Well, only one way to find out.
Kakashi responds, his expression and voice soft. ]
Ah, Itachi. It's good to see that you're back.
Reply
[ Shinobi of Konohagakure. Itachi remembers working with this man years ago. Remembers fighting him. Torturing him, as well -- though this had not arisen out of any personal malice.
The symbol of the Leaf stares at Itachi through the screen of the device. He has seen his own skin -- his own face and muddied features -- reflected on that cut surface. Himself, bathed in silver. Metal poured over his nose and eyes as if he were a stone martyr, one of the hallowed ones (which he shall never be), and in the silver, the maddening curl of the Leaf, he had seen his own marked: scratched through, a notch of infamy, recognition of that ancient catastrophe.
That ancient catastrophe.
What this man must see.
Itachi drags in a lungful of air. ]
Hatake Kakashi.
Reply
Reply
[ The words are asked with gentleness, but Itachi wonders . . .
He does wonder if they are meant to taunt. You don't remember, do you? He thinks: I remember every day; I feel the sun stretch out its shadow and drop into the evening, and I count the minutes, the hours. Slipping towards death like the disappearance of the shadow in the middle of the day; Sasuke's eyes shall burn him from existence like another light, Amaterasu, but Itachi remembers. Remembers everything. And could tell you why he did it, too.
Yes, he did it. Yes, he is guilty. Is that what you wish to hear? Do you wish to hear the reasons, Hatake Kakashi? Even as you stare him with those probing, sympathizing eyes; that one eye, the eye like Itachi's own, an eye of darkness, and he could tell you, yes, he remembers. He wakes in the night to the feel of the memories on his skin like a film, like an accumulated shell of rust, like so many needles. Yes, he cut through them. Mother and Father, both ( ... )
Reply
He chuckles a little bit at the child hanging off of the man's shoulder. From the man's posture, he can guess that the man is not quite comfortable around the child, so when he speaks, his voice is kind, with just a trace of amusement.]
Assistance?
Reply
. . .
Assistance with my brother.
I cannot --
[ The video shifts. Flickers, for a moment, as if the person to whom it belongs is having a moment of unsteady movement. ]
[ Private ]
He would not wish for this.
Reply
I would be happy to help.
[Private]
...Is something the matter?
Reply
It would be best if someone else were to see over him so long as he remains in this condition.
I apologize. I cannot speak further on the reason for this.
[ Because how does one tell a stranger that his brother -- were his brother using an adult's reasoning -- likely would not wish for Itachi to be anywhere near him, let alone over-seeing him? Itachi, who stole his first childhood. Who poisoned him to the roots.
He refuses to do so again. ]
Reply
Hey, you're another cousin, right? I'd seen you before.
[No tact, never, not for Uchiha Obito...]
Reply
[ Itachi cannot get a good look at the boy addressing him, but there seems to be no shortage of children in this place. It is likely that this one is yet another who has confused Itachi with someone else. ]
Both points are doubtful.
Reply
[Obito is confused. He's seen all the other Uchiha talk to this one, and he does sort of look like an Uchiha... Maybe...]
Forgive me, I'm Uchiha Obito, I'd just seen so many Uchiha speaking to you that I thought maybe you were one... and the child in this post is someone who called me a cousin, as well.
Reply
[ Uchiha Obito?
... Yes, Itachi recalls having encountered that name before. The childhood friend of Hatake Kakashi. Another one who has died.
So many have died.
But this one died in a different manner -- not at the hands of those within the clan. And perhaps, Itachi thinks, perhaps it is better for this boy's sake that he died as a hero, escaping the infamy of exile, escaping the meaningless life of an immortal, escaping the fate of becoming an avenger, an inhuman vessel of hatred.
A tool. ]
. . .
Your eyes are without guile. You look as if you are someone who still lives life fully, who eats food and finds that it still has flavour.
I hope this stays with you when you grow into an adult. There are few enough whom I have known for which this remains a truth.
[ He is quiet for a moment, watching this boy and wondering what else it would be proper or prudent to say. ]
Uchiha. Ah.
Uchiha is a complicated word, and one to which I have forsaken my birth right ( ... )
Reply
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