Chapter Text
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Itachi
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He centered his balance with his legs spread in a wide stance. His Susanoo should provide enough protection until he could process the situation. The teleportation technique of Obito’s Mangekyou Sharingan wouldn’t be able to penetrate the Yata Mirror — it was the ultimate defensive structure.
The situation at hand involved him not being dead. He spent the last decade carefully planning everything, down to every meticulous detail. He would serve the village, gather intel on the Akatsuki, and live long enough to remove all traces of Orochimaru’s taint from his precious brother. Finally, before Itachi drew his last breath, he would traumatize Sasuke once more — just enough to awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan.
Itachi intended to keep his true feelings secret until death, but he couldn’t help but admit his love in the end. As his vision darkened and consciousness faded, he’d been so relieved that Sasuke was purged of Orochimaru’s taint and had gained the ultimate Sharingan power. Itachi had wasted his whole life serving as a tool for the Leaf, and he didn’t dare to assume he’d find peace in the Pure Lands. Not after he couldn’t save Shisui, he killed his parents and Izumi, and so many others.
And now here he was, not dead. Itachi was very much alive, with his lungs less constricted than they’d been in years. His vision was significantly improved. He’d been reduced to shadows in the last two years, and he’d been forced to use his Sharingan to compensate. He kept it active most of the time, which overwhelmed his chakra network, which worsened his optic nerves. It was a vicious cycle. Yet now, he could see a spectrum of colors with clear definition.
His estranged brother was now a cat, cuddling up to the Godaime’s apprentice and the true leader of the Akatsuki was just on the other side of his Susanoo.
“Where did you get these scrolls, Sakura-san?” Itachi asked. He held his breath for a moment, almost certain he could hear Shisui and —-Sasori? Laughing hysterically. His near-death experience must have triggered auditory hallucinations. He’d deal with that later.
“The Uchiha district ruins,” Sakura answered, the cringe apparent in her tone.
They were ruins because Itachi and Obito killed everyone that terrible night nearly ten years ago. Naturally, the Uchiha district would have fallen to ruins from neglect. He hadn’t expected Sasuke to try to maintain everything. The Sandaime had promised to secure Sasuke an apartment in town as part of the deal Itachi made. He wouldn’t have his brother live amongst bloodstains and ghosts.
Itachi had hidden these forbidden scrolls deep within the vaults of the Naka Shrine. Only he and Shisui knew their exact location. How could she possibly have found them? “How many scrolls did you find?”
“Three,” Sakura answered. “They had black, silver and red rings.”
Itachi had been given the scrolls by the Ninneko clan as a child as a reward for a solo mission he’d completed as a genin. He graduated from the Academy after six months, but his jealous jonin sensei Yuki Minazuki wouldn’t nominate him for the chunin exams. He spent years languishing as a genin, often hired by the Granny Cat of the Ninja Cats that favored the Uchiha to bide the time. That was before Councilman Shimura manipulated the situation, and the result of that sorry scenario was the destruction of the Uchiha clan.
“Is this conversation going to take long?” Obito vanished from their dimension, only to re-emerge a moment later at a different angle, inspecting the Susanoo for weaknesses. “I’m a little jealous. Since I gave Bakashi one of my eyes, I can’t create a Susanoo.” He pointed at the empty eye socket on his left. “It takes two Mangekyou Sharingan to create one.”
Itachi’s knee wobbled from fatigue. He’d only read what the black scroll did, — turned the recipient into a cat. He’d never read the red or silver scrolls. Would they also do the same? He couldn’t risk the unknown with Sasuke, but he wouldn’t be able to hold the Susanoo for much longer. Granny Cat had said the scrolls would come in handy one day.
He shouldn’t make any assumptions. Just because she found three scrolls didn’t mean she took them all. “Do you have all three scrolls?” Itachi asked quietly, not daring to take his eyes off Obito, who was trying to poke at the Susanoo’s protective barrier.
“Yes,” Sakura answered. “I didn’t expect it to turn Sasuke-kun into a cat. Do you know what the others do?”
Cat-Sasuke meowed irritably.
Itachi couldn’t resist and glanced at the feline form of Sasuke in Sakura’s arms. He reached over and brushed his fingers down the raven, silk fur on Sasuke’s back. “So soft,” he murmured.
Sasuke hissed at him and Itachi pulled his hand back.
“Set Sasuke on the floor,” Itachi ordered. “The Cat Ninja clan gave the scrolls to me after a mission many years ago.” He screwed his eyes shut for a moment, feeling a wash of dizziness sweep over him. Strong hands were suddenly on his shoulders, steadying him. He blinked wearily to see Sakura was manhandling him with ease, not even the slightest concern with his reputation.
Sasuke on the other hand watched with narrowed eyes and an arched back.
“I was just barely able to drag you back from death’s door, don’t you dare destroy all my hard work,” Sakura warned. “So should we use one of the other scrolls then? I don’t think you can keep this barrier up for much longer.”
Itachi focused his gaze on Obito’s exposed face. This was the same man that murdered Itachi’s genin teammate Tenma Izumo, helped him slay his clan, and recruited him into the Akatsuki. And yet, while on Team Ro, Captain Kakashi had spoken about this self-same friend. Would tossing the red scroll at him be the best choice or should it be the silver one?
Obito cocked his head to the side. “Bakashi’s brat is right. You can’t keep that Susanoo up forever, ‘Tachi.”
“I don’t need to,” Itachi answered, keeping his tone calm. “Sakura-san, you’re going to need to use the scroll with the red stripes.” A bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face. The effect of the black scroll used on Sasuke wasn’t permanent, but would only last two weeks. He wasn’t sure about the other two, but given the circumstances, he wasn’t too worried about Obito.
Sakura released Itachi’s shoulders and crouched down close with Sasuke on the floor. She smoothed her hand down his flank and Sasuke nudged her foot with his nose insistently. “Will it make him into a cat too?”
“A cat?” Obito asked, blinking at them, furrowing his brow. He started to cackle and pointed at Sasuke. “Wait! Is that little Sasuke!? Oh! Did you get your hands on some of those Ninja Cat scrolls? My granny used to tell me stories about those!”
Sasuke’s raven fur stood on end, and he hissed at Obito. His claws scraped at the floor, gouging a gash into the stone.
“Don’t worry Sasuke-kun,” Sakura murmured. She scratched him behind the ears, earning a purr. “I’ll take care of this.”
Obito stopped laughing and stared hard at Sakura. “You’re mucking up my plans, girly. I’ll tell you what, when Itachi collapses and his little barrier disintegrates, I’ll kill you real quick. A blade to the heart.” He tilted his head to the side. “Or maybe I’ll gut you, pierce you right through that scar Sasori left you. It was a real inconvenience when you killed my spymaster, I’ll have you know.”
Itachi’s heart skipped a beat at the threat. He honestly didn’t care that much if he lived or died, but he wasn’t about to let Sasuke or his friend die. He knew just how terrifying Obito could be. The man was nothing short of insane.
There was an ominous cracking sound, like bones snapping, and Sasuke’s dark eyes began to glow with a crimson light. His body began to shift again as he grew larger in size, no longer a house cat but a massive panther! He growled, the sound sent chills down Itachi’s spine. He did mind the possibility of being mauled to death!
“Now, Sakura-san!” Itachi shouted, the moment his Susanoo collapsed. He struggled to maintain his consciousness, and could already feel his vision fading.
The scroll was thrown in Obito’s direction. A collar much like the one on Sasuke’s neck, snapped around Obito’s neck. The power of the scroll held him in place so that he couldn’t teleport.
And a split second after the scroll was launched, Sasuke in his panther form sprang into action and tackled the tall man to the hard, stone floor. Sasuke growled, his massive paws pinned Obito to the earth as a red glow encompassed Obito’s form.
Then Itachi collapsed, praying that he remembered correctly and didn’t make things worse. Strong arms banded around him, keeping him from smashing his face onto the cold, hard, unforgiving stone.
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Sakura
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“This is the best day of my afterlife!” Sasori cackled, bent over, hands on his knees, hair tossed. He managed to raise one hand, shaking in his laughter. “Itachi’s little mini-me is a cat! And what the hell did you do to Tobi?”
Sakura carried Itachi back to the bedroll she’d had him in earlier. Thankfully, it was simple chakra exhaustion. Hopefully, he wouldn’t sleep too much, because it looked like he would have the answers she’d need.
“Sasuke-kun, you keep him pinned down, okay?” Sakura called out.
Panther-Sasuke growled in agreement, keeping his massive paws on Obito’s chest. The red-striped scroll had transformed Obito also into an orange tabby cat.
Sakura smoothed down Itachi’s hair and tucked him into the bedroll before she returned to Sasuke’s side. She ran her hand down his muscular back. “Wow, you’re gorgeous Sasuke-kun.” She could feel him purr at the compliment but then he snarled at Obito’s smaller form under his paws.
“Okay, so Shisui, these scrolls turned Sasuke-kun and Obito into cats,” Sakura said glancing towards the ghostly Uchiha. Sasuke’s attention also pivoted in that direction and he glared at Shisui with narrowed eyes. “What does the silver one do?”
“I think it might be best if we not find out,” Shisui admitted, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish expression. “Itachi is the one the Ninja Cat Clan gave the scrolls too. Granny Cat said they would come in handy one day.” He gestured towards Obito. “Maybe you can make a cage out of earth and lock him up?”
“I mean, he’s a cat. What real harm can he do? Especially with Sasuke so much bigger,” Sakura argued.
Sasori leaned against the wall nearby staring down at the scene. “Well, I’m sure his mouth is filthy. If he bites you there’s that Pasteurella multocida bacteria.” He gestured towards the pile of clothing on the floor as well as a ring. “That’s my old ring. You should take off Itachi’s too. You’ll have to kill him temporarily, but best to do that if you don’t want Lord Pain visiting or sending Zetsu to investigate.”
Sasuke growled at Sasori’s ghost. He looked torn about releasing Obito and pouncing on Sasori.
“Well at least I know you can see them too,” Sakura said, pressing her forehead against Sasuke’s flank. Because she was touching him, she felt when he was ready to pounce and leaned back.
Panther-Sasuke sprang towards ghost Sasori and naturally went right through him. He landed on his four paws and snapped his jaws disrupting the ghost, but otherwise no harm.
Shisui’s ghostly figure immediately moved to stand between Sakura and cat-Obito. The latter seemed too stunned at his new form and at the sight of Shisui.
Sakura backed away cautiously, pulled out a pair of senbon from her thigh pouch. She could temporarily paralyze him if she had to.
“Oh! Are those laced with poison?” Sasori asked curiously, side stepping an angry Sasuke.
“Why do I need to kill Itachi to take off his ring?” Sakura asked, ignoring the question.
“It cannot be removed unless the wearer is dead,” Sasori explained. “It’s how Lord Pain keeps track of us all. Trust me, you do not want Zetsu showing up here. I don’t know his objective, but I can say it isn’t compatible with survival for the masses.” He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. “Which you seem to care about the masses even though you’re no one to them.”
Sakura shook her head, not quite understanding the puppet master. She gestured towards Obito. “How is he alive? What happened to him? Kakashi-sensei is under the impression that his entire original team died.”
Sasuke strode back to Sakura’s side, his large body bumping against her hip. His ears were flattened against his head as he glared aggressively between Itachi and Obito, having determined the ghosts weren’t threats.
“I wish I knew,” Shisui said, leaning down and petting Obito with his incorporeal hand. “There’s definitely something weird about the right side of his body.”
“It’s the same type of cells as Zetsu,” Sasori said, laying on his back and stretching out. He hovered about a meter off the ground, as if he were floating in a pool of water. “Zetsu isn’t human. He’s sort of a sentient plant. You should store Tobi in a box. He’s pretty angry.” He gestured vaguely towards Itachi. “You should take care of his ring soon.”
Sakura laid her head against Sasuke’s neck and he angled his face up towards her, eyes intelligent. He couldn’t speak, but it was clear he understood what was going on. Though, he’d always been a person of few words, so that was nothing new.
“What do you think about Itachi? I could stop his heart for a moment, which would technically make him dead. Then I could pull off the ring,” Sakura explained.
Sasuke sniffed and then jerked his head in the direction of Obito.
“You’re right, secure threats first,” Sakura agreed. “Remember how we would catch that cat Tora?”
Sasuke grunted and then stalked back towards Obito. When the smaller cat tried to run, he trapped him within his paws. Then like they learned with Tora, caught the cat by the scruff on the back of his neck, like a mama cat would carry her kittens. One couldn’t carry a grown cat in this manner, as it wouldn’t safely support their weight, but it was great for holding them in place.
“Over here, Sakura-chan!” Shisui disappeared into wardrobe cabinet in the corner of the room. Then stepped out of the closed door. “Take out the clothes and you can secure him in here.”
While Sasuke held tabby-cat Obito in place, Sakura opened the cabinet. There were a few boots inside and some traditional style clothing in blue and white. She gathered them up and set them on top of the chest of drawers next to the cabinet. Then she returned to Sasuke and steeling her resolve, scooped Obito up into her arms, securing the tabby’s claws away from her and then tossed him inside the cabinet.
Sasuke shoved his shoulder against the cabinet door shutting it and Sakura secured the latch. Obito could be heard angrily scratching at the door from the inside.
“We still make a good team, Sasuke-kun,” Sakura said ruffling the back of Sasuke’s head.
He ducked out of her grasp and then stalked towards Itachi. Sasuke’s ears perked up. He laid on the floor next to Itachi’s bedroll, with his front legs tucked under his raised head, alert yet resting.
“Okay,” Sakura said, rolling back her shoulders and crossing the room. She sat on Itachi’s other side. She looked over his prone form to see that Sasuke was watching her.
Sasuke snorted and then nudged Itachi’s right hand with his nose. The ring was on the fourth finger.
“Got it.” Sakura took a deep breath, pulled aside Itachi’s shirt to look at his chest and then focused on her mystical palm. She laid her hand over Itachi’s chest, feeling his steady heartbeat. She met Sasuke’s gaze. “You know, this would be easier if I could use lightning chakra.”
Sasuke held his paw out and it crackled with blue lightning chakra.
“The Ninja Cat Clan can use chakra,” Shisui said. “It makes sense Sasuke can still do it!”
“Okay, we’ll have to do this together. I’ll stop his heart, pull off the ring and then you’ll shock his heart.” Sakura worried her bottom lip. Sasuke had decent chakra control, but would he be able to do this in his current form? “Don’t use too much chakra though. Maybe just a light zap?”
Sasuke made a chuffing sound of agreement.
“I’ll count to three. On three, you place your paw over his chest and zap his heart,” Sakura explained.
She applied chakra directly to Itachi’s heart, stilling the muscle. “One, two,” she slipped off the ring. Sasuke placed his paw over Itachi’s chest. “Three!”
Sakura did a scan of Itachi’s cardiopulmonary system and worked to regulate his heart’s beating again. Sasuke crouched and laid his head back on his paws.
“I estimate you’ve bought yourself about a week and a half,” Sasori mused. “Zetsu and Pain will investigate.”
Sakura gestured towards the unconscious Itachi and panther form Sasuke and the cabinet where Obito was scratching at the walls. “What am I supposed to do?”
“Focus on helping Itachi recover,” Shisui suggested.
“I suppose if you want our help,” Sasori added, gesturing between himself and Shisui. “I could tell you about my hidden laboratory. It’s where my original body and Shisui’s are stored.”
“Why do you have my body?” Shisui asked.
“Orochimaru fished you out of the Naka River. We were partners in the Akatsuki in those days. I stole you away from him,” Sasori explained.
“To make a puppet?” Sakura asked.
Sasuke growled at Sasori’s ghost.
Sasori shrugged. “Out of spite. Orochimaru had defected from the organization by then.” He gestured towards the diamond on Sakura’s forehead. “I suspect it wouldn’t be beyond the realm of possibilities for you to revive us. I have the bodies cryogenically stored. I created an antidote for that curly-haired sunbeam’s poison.” He then waved his hand vaguely towards Sasuke. “If you can get that one to use his lighting, — once he’s human again. You should be able to bring us both back.”
Sakura laid her hand upon Sasuke’s flank. “Before I agree to anything, I want to hear what Sasuke-kun and Itachi-san have to say.” She then looked Sasuke in the eyes. “Please, just give your brother a chance. Let Shisui explain. He can tell you the truth of what really happened.”
Sasuke chuffed against her palm and she interpreted that as his agreement.
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Sasuke
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The transformation into a house cat had been undignified. However, now that he was a slick, powerful panther, — it was pretty cool. Sasuke stretched his back, his claws popping out of and scrapping against the stone floor. He positioned himself near the feet of both Sakura and Itachi asleep in their bedrolls. He would guard them both. Sakura, — because he cared about her in spite of his attempts not to. Itachi, — because he had too many questions and now without Orochimaru’s cursed seal coursing through his blood, he could think clearly.
When Sakura had started to use the threadbare, ratty bedding he recognized from their genin camping trips, he’d pushed the one he’d used earlier at her. He was a panther, he hardly needed a bedroll now.
He kept most of his attention on the wardrobe closet on the other side of the room. Inside was the mysterious Obito Uchiha, whom was also transformed into a cat. He was fairly harmless in his current form, but would Obito also be able to transform into a more fearsome predator?
“Sooo, Sasuke-chan, how are you?” Shisui crouched in front of Sasuke in his ghostly form.
Sasuke growled and swiped his paw half-heartedly through his cousin’s intangible form.
“Let’s think of this as an unique opportunity,” Shisui continued with a smug smirk. “You have to listen without talking back.”
Then the red-head stood next to Shisui, bent at the waist and peered directly into Sasuke’s eyes with a bored amber gaze. “I offered that impressive girl one boon when she defeated me in battle. As a spymaster I had nearly unlimited knowledge, but all she wanted to to know was where you were, boy.” He shook his head and then started to walk away. “Call me unimpressed.”
Sasuke snarled at the retreating ghost. If he wasn’t already dead, he’d have happily ripped him open.
Shisui patted Sasuke on the top of his head and while he shouldn’t have been able to feel anything, it gave him a warm, tingling sensation. “Don’t mind him. He’s a sociopath.” Shisui rocked on his heels. “So, let’s talk about Itachi and why he killed everyone. Itachi and I were trying to stop our clan from an insurrection. When the Sandaime learned of this, instead of holding a conference and coming to a peaceful resolution, he did nothing to stop the council from ordering Itachi to assassinate the clan. He was really stuck between a rock and a hard place. We had planned to use my Mangekyou Sharingan to influence Chief Fugaku, call off the coup. Councilman Shimura attacked me, poisoned me, stole one of my eyes. I made it back to Itachi in time to warn him and entrust him with my second eye before I fell into the Naka River. I felt drowning would be a more peaceful end than Aburame poison.”
Sasuke stared at Shisui in disbelief. He never believed his happy-go-lucky cousin committed suicide. The village leaders of Konoha killed Shisui after he dedicated so much of his life to the Leaf?
“So, without me, Itachi had no choice, but to obey Danzo’s orders. The councilman leveraged you. If Itachi killed everyone else, you would be allowed to live on.” Shisui cradled his head in his hands. “You know what it’s like to be thirteen and being in an impossible situation. You left the village to spare your team, didn’t you?”
Sasuke snorted. He glanced over his shoulder at Sakura and then Itachi. He left to grow strong to stop Itachi. He left because he was too weak. His only hope to understand Orochimaru’s power was to learn from the source. He couldn’t risk the possibility that he’d lose his mind and hurt his own comrades. He left, because he didn’t think he’d defeat Itachi and live, and didn’t want his team to suffer after his inevitable demise.
“Anyways, just try to give him a chance, okay? Itachi needs you and you need him.” Shisui gestured towards Sakura. “And we all need her, okay? So let her help.”
Sasuke laid his paw over Sakura’s foot. He wanted to ask if she defected from the village to find him. How to get his question across?
Shisui scratched under his chin. “Hm, what sort of questions would you have?”
Sasori strolled back over. “You’re so simple-minded Uchiha.” He sat on the ground, lotus-style, hands over his knees. “The girl is here with permission from the Godaime. This hokage bends over backwards to protect her people, unlike that coward Sandaime. She officially adopted Sakura as the Senju heir so that she’d be able to leave the village. She has two allies in the next village over.” He glanced over at Shisui. “I suspect we have three days at best before those two come looking for her.”
Sasuke glared at Shisui, hoping he’d explain.
“Sakura’s friend Yamanaka Ino and a boy by the name of Sai. He was part of Root, — Danzo’s brainwashed forces.” He rubbed his hand over his chest. “The Aburame that poisoned me was an agent of Root. Orphans that Danzo manipulates.”
Sasuke felt his eyes growing heavy and the irresistible need to sleep. He yawned, revealing his sharp fangs.
“Go ahead and sleep, Sasuke.” Shisui reached over and patting his head again. “I don’t need to rest. I’ll keep watch and rouse you if there’s a problem.”
Against his better judgement, Sasuke laid flat on the ground with his belly on Sakura’s bedroll and his chin on Itachi’s. Shisui had never lied to him in the past, so he didn’t think he’d do so now.
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