Chapter Text
Naruto tenses, taking a step back on reflex. His hand grips the kunai till it bruises his skin but his eyes remain fixated on the man before him, who looks a curious mix between confused and horrified.
“N-Naruto?” Itachi repeats, blinking rapidly as if his eyes aren’t functioning quite as they should.
Naruto purses his lips and doesn’t reply, wariness dictating his every move.
The next moment, Itachi sighs, rubbing his eyes and only then does Naruto notice the Uchiha’s exhaustion weighing on his shoulders, highlighted in the black below his eyes.
“Forgive me... I thought you were... nevermind,” Itachi says quietly, still looking dazed. He swallows, turning around and maybe that is what reassures Naruto. That is what tells him that this Itachi isn’t his enemy.
Can’t be. A shinobi doesn’t turn his back on the enemy after all.
“Wait,” he says before he can think things through. Itachi stops easily and looks back at him, but his eyes wander towards the gravestone, as if pulled by an invisible force.
“I am Naruto,” he says slowly, cautiously. “Naruto Uzumaki.”
The confusion is back on Itachi’s face but despite the kunai still in Naruto’s hand, he doesn’t see the blond as a threat. So he freely walks towards the grave and stops a step from it, pulling out a coloured rock and placing it on the ground. There are a few more of those littering the space in a vague circle.
Naruto frowns but stays silent because now he can see it. The grief that’s clinging to Itachi’s stiff form as he stares are Naruto Namikaze etched on the cool grey surface.
“Are you related to Hokage-sama?”
The question is so sudden that Naruto takes a moment just repeating it in his head and discerning its meaning. When he does, he bites his lip, debating whether to say something or not.
“You can say that,” he says finally, going for a casual shrug.
Itachi hums, eyes still on the grave but at least he’s not crying so that’s a plus. Naruto doesn’t know what he’d do except gawk if his best friend’s very evil brother started shedding tears in front of him.
“Did you know him–Naruto–er...?”
Despite himself, Naruto laughs, the sound ripped from his throat owing to the bewildering situations he keeps finding himself in.
“You mean Naruto The Martyr?” he doesn’t wait for Itachi’s response. “No, I didn’t. But I am learning a lot about him.”
“You look a lot like him,” Itachi says dully.
“So I’ve been told.”
Itachi hums again, sitting comfortably on the dirt. “How old are you?”
“I dunno,” Naruto says, lowering himself against the bark of a tree. He has to marvel at this conversation–it is surprisingly civil. This Itachi clearly isn’t the one from his world but he still won’t be dropping the kunai anytime soon.
Itachi chuckles lowly. When he speaks, his voice is oddly fragile, “Are you my imagination, Naruto?”
Naruto observes him closely for a moment before shaking his head, “I am very much real, I assure you Itachi.”
Itachi’s head snaps towards him, all sorrow gone now only to be replaced with suspicion. His eyes rove over his form, taking in the kunai and the guarded eyes.
“I did not tell you my name,” Itachi says and his world’s or not, this man can kill Naruto if he so wishes.
“You did not,” Naruto agrees because he needs time to get out of this mess. Time to think.
“Who are you?” Itachi repeats, on his feet now. He slowly walks towards Naruto–more like stalks towards him from the blond’s perspective and he’ll be crowded against the trunk if he doesn’t move soon.
“I told you,” he speaks through gritted teeth, annoyed by having to confirm his identity repeatedly. “I am Naruto. Now back off!”
Itachi doesn’t acknowledge his protest, hand shooting out to twist Naruto’s arm. With a yelp, the blond lets go of the kunai but that does it. His anger is back. Anger against his Itachi Uchiha but this one’s just as big of an asshole and he won’t sit here and bear anyone’s doubts and suspicions any longer.
He slams his elbow into Itachi’s side viciously, wrenching his hand free and running away. He knows it’s only a momentary delay and Itachi will be onto him soon. He turns his head, spotting the stony look on the Uchiha’s face–so different than the upset that had painted the man’s face moments ago.
“I am going to the Kage Tower!” he shouts behind him. “If you want to be a paranoid, violent jerk, be so in front of the Hokage!”
With that he sprints with all his might, praying that Itachi simply follows him instead of using sunshin to catch upto him.
It doesn’t take him long to reach his destination. What surprises him is that Itachi follows after him to Minato’s office unprotested. Perhaps the man’s rationality is still intact.
Naruto still maintains a good distance between them and knocks at the door. Minato’s permission comes instantly and he opens it up to meet widened blue eyes just like his.
“Oh,” is all he says when he spots Itachi.
“Hokage-sama,” Itachi greets with a short bow. Minato waves him off, beckoning both of them to take a seat. He can sense the tension between them and wants to cut through it as soon as he can.
“I see you’ve met Naruto,” he says, amused to see the ‘I told you so’ look Naruto throws at Itachi.
“You know him then,” Itachi states, questions clear in his eyes.
Where did he come from? Who is he? Why does he look like a friend I lost on the field?
“I will explain everything to you later,” Minato says, “but please try not to murder him in the meanwhile.”
Itachi ducks, a little embarrassed to have acted so aggressively. But the thought of an an enemy wearing his friend’s face was too repulsive... too aggravating.
“How does he know my name?” he asks.
“The explanation will cover that, too,” Minato assures, knowing what exactly went down between the two now. It’s all too obvious in their expressions.
Naruto huffs, “bloody aggressive do-gooders,” he mutters and Minato cracks a smile at his son’s annoyance. It’s good that he’s being a good sport about this. It can’t be easy to constantly field questions and escape prying eyes of people who think they see someone else in him.
“Oh,” Itachi utters, remembering something. His hand disappears into a pouch but before he takes it out, he glances at Naruto. He aborts the motion, “I came across something peculiar,” he says to Minato. “Once we have more privacy, I’d like to show it to you.”
Minato raises a brow but doesn’t ask for it right now. Instead, he turns towards Naruto, catching the burning curiosity in his eyes.
“Naruto, why don’t you head back home? Kushina’s preparing something special tonight. She might like a hand.”
Itachi frowns again, not understanding why this strange kid would help Kushina-san make dinner but holds his tongue.
Naruto nods, bouncing to his feet.
“Later, then,” he says, “and you–” he jabs a finger on Itachi’s chest, “control yourself!”
With one last heated look, Naruto walks out the door, shutting it close behind him.
Minato’s warm and fond chuckle reinforces the notion that he’s missed too much on his time way on a mission. For that kid to have formed an almost... parental relationship with the Kage in such a short time is unbelievable. Then again, the kid looks remarkably like Minato’s son...
Shaking his head, he waits for the man to initiate the conversation. And he does.
“So, what did you find on your mission?”
He feels a little disappointed that Minato didn’t address Naruto’s mystery first but professionalism settles on him in a cool mask. He pulls out the thing from inside his pouch and places it on the table,
“This. I found this. A scroll. Well... found is a relative term. The scroll kind of fell on me.”
Minato’s surprised face would be almost comical if not for the very real sadness radiating from the man.