Crossover Fan Fiction / Crossover With Non-anime Series Fan Fiction / Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ NAvatarUTO ❯ Itachi and Iroh ( Chapter 26 )
[ P - Pre-Teen ]
An: This chapter is based off of episode 81 and 82 of
naruto
“Dango please.” Itachi murmured to the waiter.
“You know, sugar isn't good for the immune system
Itachi.” Iroh warned. “You should have some nice hot
herbal tea. It might help that insufferable cough of
yours.”
Itachi ignored him. “What will you have, Iroh?”
“Hmm.” The older man said thoughtfully. “I think
a jasmine tea would be nice.” The waiter nodded politely and
left.
“So, Itachi, when do we make our next move?” Iroh
asked.
Itachi fixed him with a cool stare. “Here is not the time to
speak of such things.”
“Of course.” There was an awkward pause. “Have
you consulted a doctor recently? Your condition seems to be
worsening.”
“Do not concern yourself with my health. There should be much
more productive things occupying your mind.” Itachi
replied.
Iroh began to twiddle his thumbs. “It's a nice day
out.” He commented.
“Hn”
He was bored, and his partner wasn't much of a conversationalist.
It was obvious Itachi wanted silence as he had closed his eyes and
rested his head against the back of the booth. Iroh considered
taking a pair of chopsticks and sticking them in his beard, and
wondered what the stoic boy would do when he opened his eyes. Iroh
chuckled at the thought. He had done such a thing once to embarrass
Zuko, but he wasn't sure Itachi wouldn't react in a more violent
way his nephew had.
The tea and dango arrived and Iroh brought his cup to his lips. He
sighed. The sweet aroma of the delicate flowers hung in the steam
the tea emitted and brought subtle sweetness to the bitter taste of
the tea. With such a cup of tea, Iroh could finnaly relax. Mmm.
Tea… He needn't make small talk with his uncommunicative
partner, no more did Iroh's brow crease from the stress of
protecting Zuko, and the frown lines at Iroh's eyes that marked his
ire at his unconsensual servitude to the Akatsuki melted off his
face. It was just tea. All tea.
Itachi put down his dango. Iroh tensed. It seemed his tea reverie
would have to be short lived. A man with white hair leaned casually
outside of the teahouse. The famous copy nin pulled out his
favorite book but it he made it clear that the Akatsuki's presence
was known. Iroh continued to sip the rest of his tea, and listened
to Kakashi's overly relaxed banter with two other ninja. He
recognized Asuma, the son of the third hokage. He had once ben a
part of the guardian twelve; the most trusted guards of his late
father, fire lord Azulon. The other one seemed to be a woman, and
Iroh couldn't remember having ever met her or heard of her.
“I'm just waiting on Sasuke.” Kakashi said off
handedly. Itachi remained inscrutable as ever, but Iroh noticed
that one of his fingers twitched. It was the one wearing the
Akatsuki ring. That was enough of a signal. They headed towards the
canal and waited for their confronters. It wasn't long before the
two jonin showed up.
“You guys aren't from around here are you? What are you doing
in this village?” Asuma asked.
Itachi ignored his question. “It's been a long time, Asuma,
Kurenai.”
Asuma frowned. “The fact that you know our names means that
you must be a shinobi formerly of this village.” Itachi
lifted the rim of his hat that obscured his face. The jonin
swallowed. Itachi.
“I'm warning you. You two don't want to interfere with me.
It's not my desire to kill you.” Itachi said.
“You know that's pretty hilarious coming from a guy who
murdered his own people. Now come on, out with it. I know you
didn't come skulking in here dressed like that for no good reason.
What are you after?” Asuma demanded.
Iroh knew of Itachi's past, but it was still hard to believe a boy
so young, just two years older than Zuko, could have done so much
evil. It was easy to believe the boy had skill, Iroh knew from
training Azula what talent can come to young savants. But Iroh held
firm in his assertion of youthful innocence. He could not hate a
boy so young. Sure, eighteen was hardly a child, but it had been
decades since Iroh himself was that age, and since then he had
changed in so many ways.
Itachi ignored Asuma's question. “Well I guess we're not
going anywhere without a fight. Take them out Iroh; just try not to
overdo it. Your moves tend to stand out.”
Iroh nodded, relieved. He knew Itachi enough to understood what he
was trying to tell him. Don't kill them.
Asuma moved his gaze to the other cloaked figure. “So that's
Iroh huh? Azulon's first son born to a concubine of the land of
lightning. Never thought you'd be the type to join the
Akatsuki.”
Iroh frowned. He did not like his membership to the organization to
become well known. “I'm not. I'm doing this against my will.
I still consider you an ally for your survice to my father. I mean
you no harm. Please stand down or I will have to paralyze
you.”
Asuma snorted. “I work for the village now. I will protect my
home. What do you want here?”
“Asuma Sarutobi… I'm sorry for the death of your
father, we had nothing to do with-”
“Enough talking Iroh. Take care of them.” Itachi cut
in.
Iroh nodded tiredly, then before the jonin could react, ran at them
with incredible speed. He could easily have taken them out from
afar, but it took precission to paralyze without killing. Asuma
blocked his attacks, keeping the old man's crackling fingers from
hitting any of his vital organs. He realized too late however, that
that was not where Iroh was aiming. Asuma felt a jab of pain in his
shoulder and found that he couldn't move that arm! Just then, Iroh
froze, caught in a genjutsu cast by Kurenai.
Itachi sighed. It seemed he would have to get involved as well.
With a quick look at Iroh, he released the man from the illusion.
Then, with a powerful side kick, Itachi launched Kurenai onto the
water and leaped after her. Just then he froze as Kakashi appeared
behind the two of them.
“Not that I'm unhappy to see ya, but what are you doing
here?” Asuma asked.
“Well you know, I told you to take care of those two earlier,
but I guess I got a little worried.” Kakashi admitted. Then
to the Akatsuki members he said, “Okay, talk. What's a rogue
ninja like you doing in this village?”
“Kakashi Hatake.” Itachi said in greeting.
“You can imagine my surprise.” Kakashi continued.
“I go to check out a couple of low life vagabonds in a
teahouse and I find none other than Itachi Uchiha, and Iroh,
thunder dragon of the west. What is your goal exactly?”
“We're looking for something and we know it's
here.”
“And what would that be?” Kakashi probed. “This
thing you've come for, is it Sasuke?”
“No. Come Iroh,” Itachi said. “We're pulling out.
There's no need to fight a full-scale battle.”