[Author Notes: From this chapter, whenever I am saying “Itachi”, I am talking about the new Itachi which is Julian.
And for the itachi in his mind, I will call him the “Real or Original Itachi.”.
Confusing yes but bear with me for a few chapters.] Itachi appeared in the Uchiha compound after taking off his Anbu uniform.
The real Itachi had been on an Anbu mission that involved surveying the borders of Konoha when a sudden bad feeling had pulled him away from his assigned path.
That feeling had led him straight to the place where Shisui was fighting against Root shinobi.
Now he walked toward his home.
The familiar streets of the compound felt both known and strange at the same time because the memories of twelve years belonged to someone else yet they guided every movement he made.
As he entered his house, a small child rushed at him with open arms.
The boy wrapped his arms tightly around his older brothers leg and called out in a clear happy voice.
“Nii-san!!” Itachi did not know how to feel about the warm greeting.
He had always considered Justin his only brother.
Yet the memories that now lived inside his mind made him consider Sasuke a brother too.
The little boy looking up at him carried the same pure trust that Justin had once shown and the feeling stirred something deep and complicated in his chest.
He sighed quietly and spoke to the real Itachi inside his mind.
‘What do I have to do to keep you happy and not make you change your decision of taking the body back.’ The real Itachi did not say anything in reply.
Itachi gave the little Sasuke a gentle hair rub the same way he used to ruffle Justins hair when they were younger.
Then he flicked his fingers lightly against Sasukes forehead exactly the way Itachi had done in the memories.
“Hey Sasuke,” he said in a warm voice that matched the body he wore.
Sasuke looked up with concern written across his young face and asked a rapid pair of questions.
“How was your mission big brother?
Are you hurt anywhere?
Did any enemy manage to touch you?” Julian answered with a soft chuckle, “Not at all Sasuke.
There are not many things that can hurt your big brother.
The mission was quiet and I returned without a single scratch.
You do not need to worry about me.” Sasuke looked surprised because he had rarely seen his older brother laugh and boast about himself so openly.
He shifted from concern to hope and asked the next question with clear excitement in his voice.
“Are you free tomorrow since you do not have a mission?
I want to show you how much I have gotten better at throwing shuriken.
I have been practicing every day and I think you will be proud of the progress.” If it had been the real Itachi he would have made a polite excuse because his schedule was always filled with duties and secret tasks.
The new Itachi did not carry those same worries so he answered without hesitation.
“Sure.
I also have to train tomorrow a little.
We can practice together and I will watch every throw you make.” Sasuke bounced on his feet and hugged the leg even tighter.
His voice rose with pure joy.
“Wow.
You will let me see you train big brother.
And we will train together?
That is so cool.
I cannot wait until the morning comes.” At that moment Mikoto walked into the entrance hall and spoke in a gentle but firm voice.
“Sasuke, let your big brother freshen up now.
He must be tired from his mission and he needs a little time to rest before dinner.” Sasuke nodded at once and ran off to do whatever a four year old wanted to do with the remaining energy of the evening.
Itachi watched the small figure disappear down the hallway and then turned his attention to the woman who stood in front of him.
He did not know how to feel about her.
His own mother had died when she gave birth to Justin and he had never been given the chance to spend much time with her.
The real Itachis memories of Mikoto showed a caring and loving mother who had decided to retire from active shinobi life so that she could take care of her family.
If she had not chosen retirement she might have been one of the strongest jonin in the village.
She even carried the nickname of the Genjutsu Mistress of Konoha because her skill with illusions had once been unmatched among her peers.
Itachi could not help but chuckle when he remembered that the same title would be given to Kurenai in the future.
In the anime he had watched Kurenai had tried to use genjutsu against Itachi of the Sharingan only to be caught inside her own technique.
Mikoto noticed the soft laugh and looked at him with mild surprise.
“Is something funny Itachi?
You rarely smile so openly after a mission.” Itachi answered in a calm and honest voice.
“No mother.
I just think we should spend some more time together as a family.
” Mikoto looked even more surprised by the words.
She studied his face for a second and then replied with a gentle teasing tone.
“Well I would like that very much.
But someone seems to be too busy with missions and training to sit down for long conversations.
The village keeps calling you away and the clan keeps asking for your time.” Itachi met her eyes and spoke with clear promise.
“I promise to spare some time mother.
You and Sasuke deserve more than quick greetings at the door.” This was also a jab towards the real Itachi.
Mikoto smiled at the answer and walked into the kitchen to continue preparing the evening meal.
Inside the shared mind, the real Itachi finally spoke with open confusion.
‘Why are you acting so happy?
I know that you are not this happy about meeting my family.’ Julian answered in a cold voice that stayed only inside the mind.
‘Because if I do not act this way and if I instead follow the emotions of your memories after Shisuis death and become all gloomy the others would suspect something when Shisuis death is revealed.
A sudden change would draw questions now.
Especially your mother.
She is quite perceptive.’ He walked into his own room and closed the door behind him.
Once he was alone he allowed a real smile to settle on his face.
He began to form quick hand signs without putting any chakra into them.
The fingers moved with surprising speed.
He even formed the seals for a fire style technique using only one hand while the other rested at his side.
The muscle memory of the body responded as if it had practiced the motions a thousand times.
He spoke aloud knowing that the real Itachi who waited inside the mindscape could hear every word.
“Oh Itachi you truly are a prodigy to have trained your body with such muscle memories.” ——-Author Notes——– Would appreciate power stones if you can spare any!