one crow (朱) action

[yourhatred]

[This particular new feather is walking slowly through town, glancing around with a curious but detached sort of gaze. More than anything else, he looks lost.

Itachi could have snuck around for a while, done reconnaissance in the proper ninja fashion, but he was so thrown off by the mere matter of his continued existence that he hadn't even bothered.

He's silent, taking in everything without appearing to be doing so, journal held loosely in one hand.]

Comments

[Action]

[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Hopefully Itachi wouldn't mind the sight of Naruto walking by. With a bag of groceries that he so desperately needs.

He's too busy absorbed in the idea of what he's going to eat when he gets home to even notice a familiar presence nearby.]

[Action]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[Stop. Blink. Turn.

That was... more than a little surreal. He attempts to get the boy's attention before he gets too far away.]

Uzumaki Naruto?

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[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Naruto hears his name being called and stops his stride, turning his head.] Yeah--

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[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[What does he see? A face he didn't expect to see anytime soon.]

... Itachi?

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[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[Itachi nods, watching the boy carefully.]

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[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[He continues to stare for a moment. He's not scared, just... surprised.]

Did you just get here?

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[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

As far as I know, yes.

[If this IS some sort of afterlife, then someone's in trouble. Naruto had things to do.]

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[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

Well, uh... [This is so awkward for him. Especially since it's Itachi.] It's been awhile, huh?

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[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[That was an oddly friendly reply. But then, Naruto is an odd person.

He says nothing in response to that, just stares at the boy as if he expects answers to spill out of him at any moment.]

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[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[... Awkwaaard. Naruto kind of shifts his feet around in place.] Uh, I guess you're confused about this place, right?

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[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[Itachi is unperturbed. He stands patiently.] Yes. That's right.

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[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Naruto begins to rummage in his mighty bag of groceries and food. Somewhere, inside of that mighty bag, was his journal.]

There's this guide thing someone wrote, and it'd probably be a huge help to you if you read it!

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[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[Itachi is already aware of this, but he lets the boy have his say.

He nods, then tilts his head, expression unreadable.]

...Naruto-kun. You are being rather informal with me.

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[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Journal get!

... Now he has to find the page. Dammit.]

Yeah! You were here before, and plus, you trusted me with something, right?

[Action]

[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[You're the second person to tell him that now, Naruto, and it's a little bothersome.

He stares at the teen a moment longer, not answering the question.]

The me that was here before... What was he like?

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[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[That's an awfully unsettling question, Itachi.]

Well, uh... I guess a little nicer than you used to be back home. The few times I saw you, I mean.

[... What else.] You told me about the whole reason you did what you did too. With your clan.

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[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[It was a bit unsettling to ask, really.

If possible, Itachi's expression turns colder. If, through some impossible means, the one that had been there before really WAS some version of himself, why would he have told Naruto a secret he intended to take to his grave?]

Did I.

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[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Looking at Itachi, Naruto knew something was up. On the other hand, however, Itachi's expression started to make Naruto freak out a little inwardly.

Kind of like, "oh crap, did I do something wrong, will he try to beat the knowledge of it out of my head".] Y-Yeah...

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[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

Whatever "I" may have said, put it out of your mind.

[He pauses.] But I did trust you with something. Have you carried it out?

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[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Naruto nods to Itachi. Obviously, this was something Itachi didn't mean to tell Naruto.

However, with the mention of... that, Naruto's expression falters.] No.

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[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

'No' as in you failed to accomplish it, or 'no' in that you haven't been able to return to do so?

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[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

... I haven't been home in over a year and a half. [...] And even while he was here, it was tough trying to even talk to him.

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[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

[Sharply:] Sasuke was here?

[Was. As in he wasn't anymore.]

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[nextgen-hokage.livejournal.com]

[Why so intimidating.]

Yeah, he was.

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[yourhatred.livejournal.com]

And what became of him?