（ edo tensei. the words are a spark along synapse. not too many months ago now, he had expressed to wei wuxian that the possibility of such a thing had stood before him even in death. he had sealed orochimaru, but his cursed nursemaid... he would not have put it past kabuto to make the attempt in service to the man's memory. given naruto's age, there is a reasonably narrow window of time for it to have occurred after his death.

but more importantly than that revelation, perhaps, is the fact that naruto does not attack him. there is concern rather than hostility in his voice, and the easy way he speaks of sasuke when their last conversation had been so fraught —

the nara boy had known. it was why he had insisted on hearing the story in itachi's own words. he was verifying some information he already possessed against itachi's own experience.

(he would have done the same, but there's a moment of fleeting irritation at having been beaten at his own game.)

naruto steps towards him, and he does not move save to drop a knife into his concealed palm with the twist of one wrist. the movement is subtle and quick, and even as he does it he is not certain what it is for. perhaps it is only that he does not like the gaps in his knowledge and the reality of the thing. his mouth parts faintly, and in the moment that follows is the only time in his life he has ever not quite known what he would say until he is speaking. ）

This is not the afterlife, nor an Edo Tensei. No one else from our world is present. I am here for the same reason everyone — including yourself — and that is to settle a matter of regret.

（ he says nothing of sasuke. he already knows the boy survives to nineteen. it was the only answer he would not have permitted nara shikamaru to withhold. ）

You are speaking of events that occurred after my death. What happened?

（ ... it's more an order than a question. as one does. ）