Into the fray
prodigyitachi:
It was pure chance that Naruto heard the voice–the cacophony of panicked thoughts in his mind having diminished to a steady background buzz as he focused on slowing his breathing. His heart seemed intent on beating its way out of his chest and his lungs felt too small, too tight, yet they were racing a mile a minute to keep up. He knew this feeling, recognised the signs for what they foretold. His hand clutched at his chest.
In and out. In. And. Out.
His children were counting on him and he couldn’t afford to fall apart now. His eyes scanned his surroundings in order to distract himself, trying to put a face to the familiar voice that had called out his name. It was dark, the moon high in the sky, but Naruto found Itachi quite easily in the dispersing crowd.
Still focused on steadying his breathing, Naruto met the other halfway. No longer was he weary of the man who’d once threatened his life, not since he’d seen the latter at the wedding, both with Ino and Sasuke. He’d seen the way Itachi looked at Ino–completely and utterly smitten (though how he’d managed to look that way without appearing dopey was beyond Naruto)–and while Naruto had been told that he could be quite dense when it came to matters of the heart, he knew there was no way someone could fake that look. And then there was how happy Sasuke seemed to have his brother back. Clearly, there was more to Itachi than his past.
“Do you know where we are ‘ttebayo?” He asked Itachi by way of greeting, unable to summon his trademark smile in the current situation. In and out; he blew a steady breath past his lips. His heartbeat was starting to return to normal. “Have you seen Sasuke and Ino?”
Itachi’s focus on Naruto turned into one of concern, one where he drew his eyebrows together as he studied the boy. He had not noticed it before through all of the discord that was interwoven in the crowd, but now that his attention was effectively latched on the former Hokage’s son…
Was he… alright?
Perhaps it was because Itachi wasn’t able to get as clear a view from here, but was the younger hyperventilating?
Without his immediately realising it, Uchiha Itachi had begun to move, his act of closing the distance between himself and Naruto being one that was motivated by worry.
The pair had not exchanged a great deal of words between one another during their time at Iwakiri, or even before that, but now– now they were the only tie the other had to their past lives. It was strange to say, but it was almost as though there existed a silent understanding for peace between them- at least, for now. This odd limbo of trust and distrust would remain so long as there was no word or action to tip the scales.
“–Slow down, Naruto-kun,” was what he found himself advising after meeting Naruto halfway. Instinct. Natural instinct from caring for so many after all this time. It was only fortunate that the boy had calmed some since just a moment ago. “We’re at Pendulum. Pendulum City. It’s located at a world called Atlas.” Surely the boy ought to know?
Quietly, it was then that his heart sank the slightest inch.
Naruto wouldn’t have asked him about Sasuke and Ino if he was aware of their whereabouts.
“Truth to be told… I was hoping you’d know where they are.”
“Pendulum?” Naruto echoed, eyebrows pulling together in confusion. The word was entire foreign to him. Around them, the crowd was dispersing, unfamiliar faces reflecting the confusion he felt. The surrounding noise sounded dull as though his ears were filled with cotton. He wiped his palms, slick with sweat, on his pants.
At Itachi’s reply, he felt his already leaden heart grow heavier, and wasn’t able to stop the sigh of frustration that pushed its way past his lips. His index finger tapped out an agitated rhythm against his thigh. First Boruto and Himawari, now his friends too... He felt like he was losing everyone he cared about. He had to find them.
“Did the headmaster do this ‘ttebayo?” He asked. His frustration was magnified by the sense of helplessness weighing down on him; he was angry–no one messed with the people he cared about–but he had no one to direct his anger at. "Is this one of his crazy events? He even took my abilities–I can’t do any jutsu, I can’t go into sage mode. How can he do that ‘ttebayo?”
