twenty-four crows (朱) video

[yourhatred]

[Itachi focuses the view on himself, sitting in the living room of the house he shares with Law. As usual, he's in a plain blue silk shirt with his black clothes beneath. At his feet, a gray cat rubs against the leg of his chair.]

It has come to my attention that several others from the world I originate from have arrived in Luceti. To them, if they are aware of who I am, I simply state my presence and assure that there is no need to consider me an adversary at this point in time. This is in the hopes of avoiding any unfortunate altercations in the future should we happen to run across each other.

[Things are chaotic enough as is.]

I am under close scrutiny [This is mostly true to a point.] and have been here for some time, so there is no cause for alarm.

Comments

[redhotmama]

[Kushina stares at the little picture of Itachi and blinks. There were a lot of people from Konoha, but this... this is probably one of the weirdest moments.]

Are you...

[She rubs her chin speculatively.]

You can't be... you're all grown up. Little Itachi?

[yourhatred]

Ah...

[He'd seen her intro, of course, but saying anything at that point in time would have felt like tossing more confusion upon things when what she needed most was just to meet up with her son.

Now he's not entirely sure what to say.]

Uzumaki-san. Yes. It is a pleasure to see you again.

[redhotmama]

[Wow. Of course he would be a grown man by now, but she still remembered Itachi as an adorable young boy. Could still see that young boy in him, though it seemed somewhat buried by the opening remark of his entry.]

We're probably around the same age now, huh? [She breaks into a smile, though it's also a little chiding.] You don't have to be so formal.

[yourhatred]

...It is a hard habit to break, I am afraid.

Age notwithstanding, it is difficult not to consider you my elder.

[redhotmama]

Suppose you're right about that.

[Though sorry, Itachi... it has to be done. Kushina's genuinely curious. Mikoto was a good friend of hers...]

How is your family doing? I bet your parents are proud of you both. You did grow into great shinobi, right?

[yourhatred]

[That's painful. Itachi's gut clenches up at this, and any attempts at looking pleasant fade back into something hard and stoic.

His eyes fall to his lap.]

...They have been dead for some time.

[redhotmama]

[The smile is wiped from her face, astonishment in it's place. Kushina brings the book closer to herself, peering down at it almost urgently. This news is shocking, but incredibly disheartening. She'd always imagined that Mikoto and Fugaku would live long enough to see grandchildren and great grandchildren.]

Wh-what happened?!

[yourhatred]

[His mouth opens and closes just a bit one time, but nothing comes out. What he wants to say is the same thing he's said for years - that he killed them. He murdered them and the rest of their clan.

But there are so many that know now. (A handful is more than enough.) And to make himself out as the villain he is after the post he just made... Well.

He finds himself unable to say anything, simply staring back at Kushina. At the very least, he won't keep his eyes lowered.]

[redhotmama]

[The difficulty Itachi has just saying anything doesn't get past her and she feels suddenly horrible for prying. This is his family, it must be hard to talk about. She shouldn't be so... almost casual about asking.

She lowers her eyes away from the book.]

I'm sorry... I didn't mean to- It's just a shock is all.

[yourhatred]

...No need to apologize. You've done nothing wrong.

[Does that mean he's willing to discuss it? No.]

I assume you've spoken with your son.

[redhotmama]

[Her smile's a bit tentative now, given the previous topic, but it's there tugging at the edges of her lips like the sun poking through clouds.]

Of course. [But Kushina won't go into details about that. She'd feel awful for rubbing it in Itachi's face.] I've talked to a few of his friends too, and they seem like a nice bunch. It's surprising how many people from our village are here.

[yourhatred]

He chooses them well.

[No point in denying that.]

And it's true. The Malnosso do seem to have an odd attachment of some sort to our world.