Chapter Text
Shisui felt like he was floating. He was aware that he should be doing something but for some reason he couldn’t remember what and he did not care.
The world wouldn’t fall apart without him, so he let himself sink into the feeling.
He vaguely heard a beeping sound and voices, but they were distant, Shisui figured it didn’t matter. This is the most relaxed he felt since..
Since?
Since what?
Shisui felt his chest tighten with the knowledge that he couldn’t remember a thing.
Nothing was coming to mind.
His mind felt hollow, like it was filled with nothing but air. The only thing he knew was that his name was Shisui.
Did he have a last name? A family? Friends?
He heard the beeping sounds get faster and forced himself to open his eyes.
HELP
HELP ME
WHY CAN’T I OPEN MY EYES?
He heard the voices get louder around him. He was aware that he was panicking and maybe they were too?
HELP
He felt his mind get foggy and slowly getting pulled under. He was being put to sleep. Shisui fought to stay lucid, but the fog won. He slipped under.
——————————
Itachi sighed as he watched the man he idolized drift into forced sleep. Shisui was the strongest person he knows and to see him so broken down sent fear to Itachi’s heart. He didn’t know what to do, what to think. Most of his clan was gone and the one person who might know the truth wouldn’t wake up.
He turned to look at the fourth who watched the doctors care for Shisui with a contemplative look on his face.
“What do you think happened?” Itachi asked to keep himself from looking at Shisui again. He couldn’t bear it for another second.
Minato tilted his head at the scene for another moment before turning to face Itachi.
“Do you want my thoughts as the Fourth… or as Minato?”
Itachi found it interesting that Minato separated the two. They were one and the same to him.
“What’s the difference?”
Minato smiled sadly, “As Minato, I can spare a bit of my personal feelings into this since I know Shisui outside of the uniform. As Minato, I can tell you that I don’t think he did it and if anything I think he tried to defend the clan and got hurt because of it”
He paused before continuing, “As Hokage, I have to consider the other possibilities. I can’t argue in favor of Shisui. I have to see the what is in front of me and remove any personal feelings when I approach the situation. I have to consider that Shisui might’ve done this. I have to consider that he got hurt when the clan members defended themselves from him. I have to consider that Shisui is one of the strongest Uchiha members and that was even before you all were almost wiped out.”
“So… which side wins when you make a decision?”
“Unfortunately, the only thing that comes before the title of hokage for me is the title dad. No matter how much it hurts, my personal feelings cannot be a factor in any decisions I make”
Itachi understood him more than he knew but still.
“I don’t think he did it.”
“I don’t think so either”
“You or the Fourth?”
Minato chuckled, “Both.”
Itachi felt the tightness in his chest uncoil. If Minato believed something, he would go to bat for it and usually he won. Itachi felt like he can breathe a little and maybe Shisui will be just fine.
If only he would wake up.