What would you do if everything you learned to hate had been the very thing you were fighting for? What if everything you thought was true turned out to be lies? In this twisted version of the popular manga Naruto not everything is as it seems.

In this story, some of the villains turn out to be not quite as evil as everyone believed and some of the heroes have more to hide than at first glance. This fan fiction tells the tale of the thin line between good and evil and what some people would do to get on either side.

Naruto

The Uchiha Conspiracy

Prologue. A Mid-Summer's Eve

Late summer's eve in Kawa no Kuni was always on the verge of being pitch black. It rained constantly and it was always unusually cool, making it seem as though there never was such a season as summer. The rivers were swollen, flooding into the small villages and towns that scattered the countryside. There was hardly an inch of the small country that was not green or overcrowded with vegetation. Its borders were peaceful, uninhabited by any Hidden Villages or ninja academies. It was a farmer's country and was expected to remain that way for years to come.

That was why it was such an ideal location for the Akatsuki's base. No one ever would have guessed that an organization containing mostly S-ranked criminals would dwell in such a nation. It was the perfect place. Their location had remained undisturbed for so many years and none of them could have possibly suspected that they would ever be discovered.

Yet they had found it. Of all the Hidden Villages, it was Konohagakure that revealed their location. Most of the hideaway had been destroyed by the shinobi from Leaf and the Akatsuki had no choice but to search for a new place to call home. They had again chosen Kawa no Kuni to be their host with the hopes that the other villages would not predict it. They settled, this time, on an underground cave in the side of a small hill. It was hidden with shrubbery, mostly, and the mouth of the cave faced a river that was only a few feet away. It was practically in the middle of nowhere, with the closest town being over fifteen kilometers away. The chance of anyone finding it was even less likely than before and they did not even need any seals to conceal it. It was far more ideal that the cliff side cave they had chosen before.

"It's when you let your guard down that they swarm in," Itachi muttered quietly. He sat on the hill just above the hideout and allowed the rain to soak into his clothes. The rain never bothered him much. He would rather spend time out there than inside the headquarters with the others. They were so unlike him he found it difficult to tolerate any of them for a long while – he even distanced himself from Kisame on occasions.

Perhaps it was not them at all. Perhaps it was him. They all seemed to get along well enough, even Hidan and Kakuzu; and those two were always plotting ways to kill each other.

"Do you always prefer to revel in your own company?"

The Uchiha glanced over his shoulder casually, catching sight of Zetsu's familiar form. If anyone in the Akatsuki was strange and unusual, Zetsu was the one. It was not the fact that he shared the appearance of a six-foot Venus Fly-trap, Itachi was all too used to exotic looks, but it was his personality. He was always quiet and obedient, watching every member's movements at all hours of the day and night. Whether he was assigned this task or he took pleasure in it was anyone's guess. He was good at it too. There were times when even Itachi was unaware he was stalking about.

"I prefer my own than yours." A slight smirk surfaced on the Uchiha's lips. They both knew he disliked the company of others. He much preferred to be alone when he was not partnered with Kisame for an assignment.

Zetsu nodded. Even on such a dark night as that one the yellow orbs of his eyes were almost plain in view. "I haven't come to make conversation, Itachi-san. Although I must say, I would have much preferred it on this occasion."

His eyes immediately fixed on Zetsu's. Whatever it was, it must have been serious.

"Ah," the Grass nin turned his gaze away for a moment, searching about the hilled plain. When his attention returned, his expression was completely blank of emotion as it always had been. "I received word from Otogakure not a day ago. Orochimaru plans to make a stand against Konohagakure." His voice abruptly dulled to a whisper, "Itachi-san, I believe he intends to make war."

It was almost as if it were planned. A lightning bolt crashed into the ground a mile or so away, setting off flames that were quickly put out by the heavy rain. Itachi would have believed it were part of Zetsu's speech, if only he were capable of such a feat.

"That is quite unfortunate." Itachi turned his focus back to the view ahead, his back facing the fellow Akatsuki member. He could hardly see a few feet in front of him with such a storm as the one they had that night, but he could make out enough vague shadows and silhouettes of the distant trees to be seemingly preoccupied with them.

"I should have figured coming to you would be no help. Deidara-san was right for once."

Itachi cocked an eyebrow at this and suddenly his dull black eyes were veered toward Zetsu again. He pushed back the soaked strands of hair that had fallen over his eyes. "Oh? And what did you expect me to do about it? If Orochimaru strikes at Konohagakure, a war is more likely to start. That is what the Akatsuki wants, is it not? He would be doing half the work for us."

"You and I both know that, at heart, our allegiances lie outside the Akatsuki. The Organization might want this, but we do not."

"And what do you care whether or not Konoha is attacked, Zetsu-san?"

Zetsu gestured in Konoha's general direction. "Konoha is allied with Kusagakure, my home village. They lose their protection if the nation of Fire is destroyed."

"Are we getting sentimental?" The smile returned to the Uchiha. He stood from his position on the ground and proceeded to walk past. "I don't care if you still cling to ancient memories, my place is no longer with Konoha." He was not sure where he was headed, just anywhere away from Zetsu. He made it half-way down the hill when Zetsu called out to him.

"Then where is your place, Itachi-san? It certainly isn't with Akatsuki."

The Uchiha lifted his gaze upward to Zetsu's shrouded features. His eyes wavered slightly, uncertainty one of the key features within them. He always hated that about Zetsu – his ability to read anybody with a simple glance. He made it that much harder to walk away from things, especially when Itachi knew he was right.

And this was one of those times when he was most certainly right.

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Kusagakure The Village Hidden in the Grass

Konohagakure The Village Hidden in the Leaves

Otogakure The Village Hidden in the Sound

Kawa no Kuni The Country of River

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A story written entirely out of boredom to the song Watch the Sky for Me by Powerman 5000. I had been playing around with this idea in multiple Naruto role-plays for about a year or so but I never really bothered to write it out. I'm afraid it's only the first draft so I haven't really edited it yet. I hope to continue this little fan-fic over the course of Summer Break.

Also, if you haven't figured it out already, the main characters' dialog is in bold. I just thought it always made it easier to figure out who was talking. Oh, and before you start asking, no, this is not one of those teenage angst fan fictions.

Anywho, I hope you enjoyed the prologue! Reviews are always appreciated and I hope to get the first chapter up within the next few days.

Iminir