I just realized. Itachi's medicine (Kotaro) from the novels was originally created by "Tenma Kodon".
Tenma. The same first name as the teammate Itachi watched die in front of him as a genin.
Meaningful? Probably not. Interesting? To me.
You think Itachi ever missed his genjutsu life.
Like. Obviously he missed Izumi but. You think a small part of him ever missed his kids. Even knowing they were a figment of his own mind. Since they were still, in a way, the embodiment of his and Izumi's love for each other. Visual representations of the future they had ripped away from them.
#Itachi#Izumi#Itaizu#Itachi x izumi#itachi shinden#itachi daylight#itachi midnight#Not a chance in hell they werent little Izumi copies BTW#Like he RAISED kids with her#He was a DAD#At the ripe age of 12#Which BTW the whole genjutsu thing is so. Something a 12 year old would think up. It's so.#Full heartedly cheesy but definitely the embodiment of pure young teen love /pos#Like obviously it's horrific#But creating a new reality where they can live their stolen lives together in an instant is so something a twelve year old would think up#If that makes sense
I'd do anything to see Itachi's chuunin exams animated, especially the 1v1 with the genjutsu fuckery and him in the forest being like. Guys. I'm 10 with no back up and they let me loose in a forest where dozens of others are actively trying to murder me. Pls consider why they would do that. Pls. Just hand me the damn scroll.
Hc that the reason Itachi is so immediately ready to verbally bite back @ Kisame + Deidara (the akatsuki in general tbh) is bc he got there and for the first time was allowed to express his opinions without immediately having someone on his ass for it /hj
He gets through his little Bickering Over Philosophy moment with Kisame by the docks, no one comes to yell at him Fugaku, Inabi, or Danzo style and just just like "Okay maybe this place isn't absolute shit actually"
The first taste of mild independence (His resume of child soldiering or babysitting himself and sasuke does not count) he gets and it's bc his asshole coworkers treat him with more respect as an entity capable of making his own choices than 99% of the people in his life
So in the Itachi Daylight / Midnight novels it talks about how he put Izumi in a genjutsu and had the two of them live out their lives together in an instant (Getting married, having children, growing old, retiring, etc), right? Well every few months I become just. Shattered at the thought for both of them. They were both ~12 to ~14ish. Being used as pawns by the village + clan. While all they wanted was to get to live their lives alongside each other.
Their relationship might have been barely baked. But by the gods if that isn't one of the most tragic things I've ever read. She lived that life out and was happy to have it, even knowing it was an imitation of something she'd never have. He put so much care into it, to have crafted a world and time where they could be together happily for decades. He made every second of every minute of every hour of every day of every month of every year for her. He made them a world were they got to plan their wedding. Where they got to see their children's first steps and words. Where she got to fulfil her dream and become an accomplished shinobi. Knowing she would never experience the real thing. He also had to live through this life alongside her. He was there, marrying her. He was there, watching the children he created grow for years. Raising those children beside her. Working alongside her for years in the field. Then. In one final moment her consciousness snapped and he was suddenly back in the body of a child again, holding his girlfriend who died before getting to experience any of it in the real world. In the body of a solider, who would likewise never get to experience it himself. He lost his wife, his children, his home, his perfect reality. And then had to go sever his ties with his real reality too. Both of them just. Hurt so much to think about.
As I’m writing a new chapter, it has occurred to me just how often Itachi gets told to sit down and shut up throughout his life. Specifically by the village elders and Fugaku’s advisors.
#Itachi#Itachi Shinden#Itachi Midnight#Itachi Daylight#Naruto#He gets shut down so often for asking questions#Or bringing up his point of view#I think it honestly explains a lot about his character and how he acts tho#No wonder he's all#'I have to do everything alone!'#A single thought goes through his prodigy body and everyone acts like he just spit on their shoes
In the Itachi Shinden novels Itachi mentions that his official documents were changed so that he was legally 13 when he was actually 12 (For ANBU Captain purposes) and like. How.
I understand the reasoning behind it but how would they keep that lie up? Especially with Sasuke or the people not familiar with Konoha’s underbelly. Was he just like ah yeah I know it seems like my birthday just passed but I swear it’s that time a year again. Wack. Anyway.