flypaw | Year of the Tiger: Apposite

Word Count: 1086
Summary: Everything makes sense when it's looked at from far away.
World Status: Ninja-ish
Pairing: Itachi x Naruto

Apposite.

(Of Striking Appropriateness and Relevance)

17/01/10

It was a given fact that Naruto was an orphan. He was born one, almost born one, with both parents dying within hours of each other. He was a war orphan, of sorts, yet feared while he was growing because of the burden he carried.

Sasuke wasn't born an orphan. He was made one on the cusp of childhood. When a child is learning to grow, learning to become older, cooler, one of the cool kids. He had that snatched away from him with the death of his parents. He was loved, a tragic survivor of circumstance.

What people tended to forget, however, was that there was another orphan of circumstance and of war. Itachi was considered a murderer, a disgusting human, and yet he too was an orphan. Born into a war, he survived. His parents survived. Their morals, however, did not. They were changed, warped into revenge.

What use is revenge? All it got them was an unhonourary death at the hands of their eldest son. Itachi was a self-made orphan.

Naruto watched in fascination as eyelashes closed slowly. He couldn't take his eyes away, and even though they weren't directed at him, Naruto knew he had the man's attention. His body tilted to the side, offset from his opponent, and the blond has the full attention.

Sasuke was there. When wasn't he? He always had to be there. It wasn't so bad, though, Naruto had gotten used to Sasuke commanding his attention. He was a friend and so there was no harm. Naruto loved him. It didn't matter that he was an attention-seeking little shit.

A pair of eyes snapped open and Naruto saw for the first time what the Sharingan really looked like. It wasn't a red, or a black, blue, green or brown. It was fire, pure and simple. Purple hazes ebbed away to be replaced with orange and maroon. It was a constant swirl of colour that Naruto had never seen anywhere else. Not even on Sasuke.

Itachi could feel Naruto watching. He always knew when he was. Naruto knew he knew. Itachi reckoned that there was too much knowing and not enough contact, but he was happy with te situation. Naruto had a fascination, Itachi had a gift and Sasuke... well he was there. The pole to attract the magnets, north and south.

Naruto noticed Itachi's glance slide his way and knew it would cost him in the confrontation. Sasuke wasn't here to kill, he'd grown too loving of his revenge for that, but he was all talk and he'd put up a brave face and fight back until Itachi seemed determined to put an end to the childish games.

A kunai was in his arm by the time Itachi looked back, and Sasuke's metacarpal bones broke under the splintering pressure Itachi's grip offered. Naruto wouldn't have been surprised if the carpal bones had broken either, crushed against each other. Sasuke's hand was useless and it hung at his side, fingers curling in on one another.

Itachi was unaffected by the subsequent roar of hatred and moved so he could face Naruto. Naruto could easily read the look.

Whatever the reason, Itachi didn't want him dead. Naruto could deal with that.

Naruto was a great ninja. He had control, stealth and the mind of an individual genius. He worked with what he had and not with what he couldn't get. He thought of perseverence and courage, something people respected him for. It was what made him strong.

Sasuke was similar in some respects. He had the makings of a fine Shinobi, better than ANBU, Kage level perhaps. Sure he lacked the refined manner and desire to rule a village, but he was strong enough to rule it. Often being strong was enough to rule. Of course there was the unsanitary desire for revenge, but everyone had their faults. As unsavoury as it was, Sasuke could command respect regardless.

Itachi was a powerhouse. He ploughed onwards, never straying. He had a course set when he had become a double agent. He was a betrayer, yes, but feared for it. People had whispered when he walked past with Kisame and he had enjoyed it. They feared him for something he had done, a terrible thing, yet couldn't bring themselves to hate him.

Egotistical slightly, maybe, but it was the truth. They loved having a young, handsom villain. But he wasn't really a villain. He'd done terrible things, horrible and nightmarish things, but people were living. Children had grown up without ever knowing that a war was brewing in Konoha.

Naruto was one of these kids. Gutsy, stupid, yet a genius.

Itachi knew he realised it. Months ago even. He knew he wasn't wanted dead. He wasn't wanted alive, not by Itachi at least, and that was what made him a genius.

Not even Sasuke knew that.

Naruto was sitting at the tea shop when Itachi met with him. Itachi sat beside him at the counter and was the first to speak.

"You know I don't want to kill you."

Naruto took a sip of the tea he had. "Mm. I know that. I just haven't figured out why yet. I'll get there."

Itachi's green tea was set on the table and he nodded in thanks to the person behind the counter. Her eyes darted between his cloak and Naruto's cheek marks, obviously knowing of who they were. Her hand clenched around the dishcloth she held and Itachi knew she was expecting some full scale war. She'd be disappointed.

"I have no doubts that you will."

Naruto glanced at him at out the corner of his eye. "Really." It wasn't a question, just a blunt reminder that he thought Itachi's words were bullshit.

"Really. You're clever. Why else would you be here?"

Naruto had finished his tea and the blond placed the cup down. "Who knows," he said, patting Itachi on the shoulder. "Because I sure as hell don't."

Naruto was funny.

Sasuke was angsty.

Itachi was untouchable.

They met the next week, same time, at the same tea house. It happened again three more times, neither staying for longer than five minutes, but it was there.

This time, when Itachi went to leave, Naruto left too. He looked at Itachi and shrugged. "Makes sense doesn't it?"

Itachi supposed it did really.

Naruto was a genius. A hiddent talent, but he was. He had worked things out for himself after a handful of minutes.

Sasuke was an idiot. He always would be. People would still love him, though.

Itachi was a master of secrets. No one knew him. No one was smart enough.

Until one little genius figured it all out.

And it made sense. It really, really did.