Finally got my ass into gear and wrote another promptfic. I seem to be taking a morbid turn on all of these - prompt for this one was Don’t Dream It, Be It.

xXx

“This is a joke,” Itachi said flatly, staring down at the mission outline in his hand. “It is not particularly amusing.”

The Hokage sighed, sounding every one of his many years. “Were it my choice, Itachi--”

“Sarutobi.” Danzo’s voice was like the rasp of steel being drawn from a sheath. Chilling and empty.

The Hokage did not turn. “I am already condoning the murder of Konoha’s citizens, Danzo. Do not ask me to pretend to agree with it.”

“I had assumed you would arrest them.” He couldn’t identify the tone in his own voice. “Had I known your intentions were to order their deaths…” I would have never told you they were planning a coup d’etat

“Careful, Uchiha,” Danzo warned. “You’re coming very close to the treachery of your parents.”

Itachi’s jaw tightened. “Forgive me for being so outspoken, but had you not relegated the Uchiha family to the place in society they now hold--”

“As respected policemen.”

“As chattels,” he hissed. As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he wished he could take them back.

It wasn’t a new feeling. Itachi wished he could take many things back.

“You would have the Uchiha clean up your messes,” he said softly. “And now you would have me clean up theirs. Why me?”

“It is not a shinobi’s place to ask why.”

“Then I am not asking as a shinobi.” The blank mask his family so favoured was melting away under the onslaught of his rage.

“Itachi. You can’t know how this pains me,” the Hokage began.

“You are asking me to slaughter my family,” Itachi interrupted flatly. “And you would have me believe I cannot know how it pains you?”

“We are not asking, Uchiha,” Danzo informed him. “We are ordering you.”

More than anything, Itachi loved his Village. More than his family, even. He had simply never considered the fact that he would be required to prove it in such a way.

“What are my orders?” he asked tonelessly.

Danzo told him. By the end of it, Itachi was shaking with rage.

“I…will take the fall for this?” He spat the question. “I will be your - your scapegoat?”

“Itachi.” The Hokage’s voice was full of an endless sorrow that Itachi did not want to hear. “ You know how odd it would look, if all of them died bar you. But you will be a hero, if an unsung one.”

“With all due respect, Hokage-sama, I don’t care.”

Itachi had never dreamt of being a hero.

xXx

:Sigh: Poor Itachi. I never liked him until he became a cliché, unfortunately.