Prologue
Disclaimer: Naruto is the creation of Kishimoto-san! I'm too dumb to make it! (Sob)
"You know what's hard?"
"What?" a younger Itachi looked up at a complete replica of himself. His innocent black eyes shone with curiosity and cuteness. The baby fat of the young two year old didn't help his already cute appearance. "Sairuchi..." he whined adorably.
"...Life..." His other version answered softly. However unlike Itachi's innocent look, his eyes were dark with mystery and secrets untold. Sairuchi turned to look at his older replica, but he was the one that looked much older. Older with experience and, though they were the same age with only a few minutes difference, and life. "Itachi... I think I'm crazy..."
"E-eh...?" the older boy frowned. "Cra...zy?"
"Yes, it's like there is a voice in my head that is telling me things I don't know – I don't even want to know," his lip trembled as he spoke. "It's teaching me things... scary things... things that I don't want to learn, but it's still talking... teaching... Itachi..." He looped up with pleading black eyes. "It's impatient with me... it's trying to force things into my head..."
"Wow..." the older boy mumbled.
"Itachi..." the youngest pleaded.
"Cool!"
"It's not cool!" Sairuchi protested weakly. "It's scary! It's-!"
"What does it say? What does it teach you?" Itachi interrupted. "Show me, Sairuchi!"
"But-"
"Show me!" he insisted.
"Ah... hai..." Sairuchi sighed and got up. "Just... follow me."
Itachi easily complied, happily toddling after his younger twin. They walked through the large gardens of their Uchiha mansion and towards a more secluded area of the forest. Soon, the older twin was unnerved and wary as he trod through sharp bramble bushes and upturned roots of the deeper parts of the forest. Sairuchi didn't seem to mind, he walked around the obstacles easily and suddenly stopped.
"Itachi..." the younger Uchiha turned to face him. "Don't... tell Kaa-san or Tou-san about this. Please?"
"...okay!" he answered after a short moment of thought. "I won't tell anyone!"
Finally, Sairuchi smiled as if all the pressure of his head vanished. And they walked through a wall of bushes and reached a small, but cozy clearing where there were weapons of all sorts. Itachi gasped to see a real kunai and stared at his brother who picked eight up and fastened four of them into his pocket, while holding the other two. The older twin watched in awe at the sight. His younger brother moved as if he knew what he was doing... just like... just like...
'...Tou-san...' he thought with a small frown.
"Okay. Just stand a bit back... this is one of the things it taught me," Sairuchi warned.
Itachi heeded his words and stepped back to the bushes. Though the leaves tickled him, the powerfully tense atmosphere Sairuchi created, made him even stop moving or even breathing. He held his breath, looking at his different brother as he held the four deadly kunais. Sairuchi seemed different here, dangerous. Itachi looked around the place, finally noticing several burnt marks here and there as well as upturned ground. He also saw sixteen targets, and by the many holes on them, he knew that Sairuchi was going to hit them all.
"Ha!" The younger Uchiha leapt several feet into the air, a feat for all two year olds, and threw four kunais to different directions. The kunais flew, but none of them seemed to be heading towards any of the targets. But that was when he suddenly pulled out the four other kunais in his pocket, twisted and flung them at the kunais in the air.
Clang!
The four kunais hit one another in perfect synchrony and they all headed towards different directions now, moving faster and sharper towards the directions they were sent to.
THWACK!
The kunais hit the targets and Itachi gasped in awe to see that they had all hit bulls-eye on eight targets, but Sairuchi was still in mid-air, in a very weird position. Itachi felt sweat break in his hands and was ready to shout his warning, but his younger twin landed a foot above the ground and on his two feet as well. He then finally saw two invisible pieces of string cross-crossing the area. He didn't know when Sairuchi had done it, but Sairuchi had landed on them perfectly. The two year old's eyes were closed and he slowly let out a breath of air.
"There," he announced with a smile. "That's one of the things, nii-san."
"Wh-whoa...!" Itachi gasped. "That was amazing, Sairuchi!" He leapt forwards.
"Heh... it was nothing..." he scratched the back of his head modestly. "You didn't get hit, did you?"
"No!" he shouted. "They all hit the targets! Bulls-eye! Hey, can you teach me that too? That was cool!"
"S-sure..." the younger sibling laughed nervously. "But don't tell anyone..."
"Okay!"
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
THUMP!
"OUCH! DAMN!"
A five year old Itachi shouted in pain as he once again missed the thin strands of string and fell onto the ground. He then glowered at the two kunais that hadn't reached the target. After three years of vigorous training with Sairuchi, he still didn't get it! He scowled, remembering the time when his younger twin had shown it to him. Then, he was two, and even after three years, he still couldn't reach his level! He was so lost in thought that he never noticed Sairuchi enter the clearing. Even after three years they still looked exactly the same, long black hairs at the same length, eyes, face, height... but a grin came to his face when he saw young Sasuke in Sairuchi's arms.
"Sasuke-chan!" he grinned, pouncing on the two.
"Ooof!" Sairuchi gasped as he fell, but he quickly cushioned Sasuke with his body. "Itachi, you're going to hurt Sasuke-kun!"
"Heh, but he's so cute!" Itachi snickered. "Did you hear? Tou-san's thinking about sending us into the Academy! Yes! We're one of the youngest to attend the academy after the Kyuubi Attack!"
"Chi!" Sasuke squeaked. "Itachi!"
"Hai, hai, Sasuke-chan!" the oldest chuckled.
Sairuchi smiled grimly. Everyone had tried to get Sasuke into calling his name, but he saw both of them as Itachi. The older twin smiled in apology and took Sasuke into his arms.
"Dinner?" he asked.
"Lunch," Sairuchi rolled his eyes. "Read the sun, dimwit."
"Hahaha...!" Itachi laughed and rocked Sasuke in his arms. "I still didn't get it! But I will! I swear I will get it and become better than you!"
Sairuchi smiled weakly and nodded. They walked in silence for a moment, and just as they saw the roof of the mansion through the trees, the middle Uchiha stopped.
"Eh? Sairuchi?" the older twin stared at him. "What's wrong?"
"The voice... it's getting stronger..." he whispered.
"What?"
"The voice... you know..." Sairuchi looked at him pleadingly.
"Oh... the voice..." Itachi mumbled.
"Itachi... you don't believe me..." the younger twin's voice was subdued, quiet.
"Course I believe you! I tell you, Sairuchi, it'll pass!"
"But-"
"If it doesn't, I'll get rid of it. Don't worry! I'm your older brother anyways!" He grinned widely. "Right, Sasuke-chan?"
"Itachi!"
"But... what if..."
"Itachi! Sairuchi! Come for lunch!" their mother's call interrupted them again.
"Come on! Let's go and each lunch! Food will help you feel better!" Itachi tugged his younger sibling's arm.
"Ah... okay..."
They walked out of the bushes, dirty and ruffled as usual, making their mother fuss over them.
"What do you do in the garden? I swear, you just do this to make me worry!" she sighed, taking Sasuke from Itachi's arms. "Sairuchi, if you don't hurry up, your food's going to grow cold. Let's go!"
"Hai, Kaa-san."
Itachi turned and gave his brother a worried look. He wanted to tell him something, but... lunch was calling!
"Let's go! Sairuchi!"
The younger twin slowly looked up and stared at the backs of his mother and older brother. The only person that was looking at him was his younger brother, Sasuke. It was a pity Sasuke couldn't say anything because Sairuchi was looking up at him with blood-red eyes with three commas circling the pupil.
'What if... the voice is now mine...?'
"Ohayo, minna!"
"Ohayo, Suzu-sensei!" a bunch of five to twelve year olds answered in one voice. They were all excited after their first test, wondering how well they had done. The two Uchiha twins sat on their corner, giving one another grins and back to the teacher.
"Well, I have something amazing to say!" Suzu grinned widely, his brown eyes glowing with pride. The first month he had taught these students, they were progressing well for not being trained for a long period of time. Also, there were several people within this class that could grow to become powerful ninjas. The Uchihas, if course, were most of them. But there was a single student that outstood everyone else in the class.
"All of you did a great job! And like I said, there will be a prize for the top-ranking student in the class! The highest mark was: 110!" he announced.
A buzz of silence followed. A boy up front raised his hand. "Sensei, how can anyone get over 100?"
"By giving us answers that are way better than we expected, Yasu-kun," Suzu answered happily. He was proud that of all the classes, his had done spectacularly well, making the Hokage all the most proud of him too! Maybe he'll get a raise! "The top ranking student is...
"...Uchiha Sairuchi!"
Another buzz of silence followed and everyone turned to gape at the small five-year old who was shifting nervously on his seat. Even Itachi was staring at him with wide eyes and Suzu-sensei's clapping broke them from their reverie. They blinked and stared at the five year old who had apparently gotten a mark higher than the highest mark that could be given.
"Sairuchi-kun! Please come down here to accept your prize!" Suzu called.
"..."
Sairuchi slowly got up and walked down the stairs of the silent classroom. He received a well-cared for box and Suzu-sensei opened it for him to show him what was inside.
"These are twelve of the best kunais made from the Fujita Clan! Wonderful job, Sairuchi-kun!" Suzu clapped and soon the students followed his actions.
The tests were given out and Itachi looked over at his twin's test. Truly, there was the number '110' written in red marker on the top with a bunch of other compliments written around it. He looked at his, a 100, he should've felt proud, but he felt cheated, betrayed. Folding his test he looked away from Sairuchi's pleading eyes and to the front where Suzu-sensei was now explaining about how to hold a kunai. He knew this, but he needed to become better. After all, he couldn't lose to his younger brother... couldn't he?
Sairuchi looked at his older sibling, who was at the moment studing on the porch. Sasuke was playing with his large blocks by the Uchiha's side and he felt a sense of emptiness when he watched the two. Itachi laughed and ruffled Sasuke's hair when the little boy had presented him with a sturdy tower made out of blocks. The younger twin stared. Sasuke still couldn't tell the difference between them. He always that that he was Itachi, whenever he tried playing with him, Sasuke would try to do things he would do with Itachi... but he didn't know they did... they had a sort of... connection that he didn't have with any one of them. And as their lives in the academy continued, Itachi drowned himself with his studying and training, while he did nothing...
"Nii-san."
Itachi turned and waved for Sairuchi to come over. The younger sibling looked at the book in his hands and saw the title of a new chapter: 'Intonjutsu'.
'Intonjutsu is the art ofescaping and concealing yourself from the emeny. Techniques suchas theGontonpo (hiding using the five elements), and Shinobi-Aruki(Silent movement) are used...' Sairuchi's mind flooded with answers to the one word and he quickly shook his head. He was no longer surprised by his strange knowledge. It happened so frequently, especially during the tests that the Ninja Academy would give out. All these words he was reading and hearing were new to him, but his mind always popped up with an answer...
"Sairuchi."
His eyes raised to meet Itachi's own black ones. "G-gomen..."(sorry)
"You were zoning out there," Itachi smirked. "A ninja can't zone out, Sairuchi-chan! You're going to get yourself killed if you become one!"
The younger Uchiha laughed weakly and scratched the back of his head. "What's that book you're reading?"
"Oh this...?" Itachi flushed with pride when he showed the cover to him. "Tou-san bought it for me when we were out. It's called 'TheShinobi Arts'. I was just reading aboutIntonjutsu. Want to hear about it?"
"Know it." The words came out of hiw mouth. "I-I mean..."
"I knew that would happen," Itachi grinned, but it was slightly strained. "Did you study for the test tomorrow?"
"Yeah, I studied a lot!" Sairuchi lied with a smile. "I-"
"You didn't."
"What?"
"You didn't study, Sairuchi..." Itachi was looking down at the book. "I always see you. You never study... you never look at a book or train. But still..." His voice trailed off. "...how are you so much better than me?"
"... N-nii-san... I..."
"I always study! I try my best, but you make it seem as if I'm not doing anything! I'm always lower than you!"
CRASH!
They both stared at the reading table that was smashed into two pieces by Sairuchi's fist. Tehyounger Uchiha stared at it in horror and back at his brother. Sasuke jumped at the loud noise and started bawling. Itachi looked at the desk then at Sairuchi before rising to lift the crying boy from the floor.
"It's okay... it's okay... Sasuke..."
While Itachi crooned and tried to stop the little boy from crying, Sairuchi looked at the slightly ruined book on the table.
"Itachi... I... I'm sorry..." he gasped, lifting the book. "I'm so sorry... I'll buy you a new one..."
"No... you can't," Itachi growled and snatched the book from his hands. "This one was... special..."
"Ah..."
"It's okay Sasuke... It's okay..." Sasuke gradually stopped crying.
"Itachi... the voice... it's-"
"Is that voice the only excuse you can always give me?" the oldest interrupted sharply. "Well then, hear this! I'm sick of it! You're just crazy Sairuchi! Crazy! I don't know what that 'voice' is, but get a grip! No one is going tofall for that so many times! Go talk to someone else about that damn voice!"
And he whirled around, stomping away with Sasuke in his arms.
Sairuchi stared at their backs and slowly allowed the tears to come.
"But... you're the only one... the only one... I can trust..."
The report cards were handed around and everyone was already crowded around Sairuchi, who didn't even get his yet. Suzu walked over with a wide grin as he presented the young Uchiha with his neatly packed up report card. Sairuchi took it and quickly stuffed it in his bag.
"Aww, Sairuchi-kun... you're not showing it to us?" Okoyu, a girl two years older than him, asked. "What do you think he got?"
"I dunno? A 200?" Shisui answered with a grin. As Itachi and Sairuchi were growing more and more apart, Shisui, an Uchiha who was a year older than them, had appeared and helped him out on whatever he could. "You're so smart! My mom's been bugging me about my mark all throughout the semester! But you are the clan leader's son!"
Sairuchi smiled weakly and looked over at the opposite side of the room where Itachi was opening his. He looked down when he saw a scowl on his older twin's face and sighed. Shisui looked at Itachi and back at Sairuchi and back at Itachi to see the older twin glaring at him.
"Sairuchi! You are top-student of the entire school! Congratulations!" Suzu beamed at him. "Come and collect your prize! A Raiton scroll!" The class cheered happily and watched as the small boy walked down to get his prize. "Also, class," their teacher gently took Sairuchi's shoulder and turned him around. "We are not going to be able to see Sairuchi-kun next semester because he's moving up! We all have to study hard, don't we? Like Sairuchi-kun!"
The dark-haired boy flushed lightly, looking away, but the girls cooed and cheered him happily, while the boys happily applauded his achievement. However, there was one person that wasn't joining in the happiness of the class. Uchiha Itachi looked down at his younger twin forlornly.
'So... you're moving up while I'm down here...?'
Sairuchi walked up the stairs and to his desk, looking at his older brother, but jumped to see him staring straight at himself, a dark look covering his eyes.
'I-Itachi...'
"Sairuchi! We're so proud of you!" their mother kissed him on the cheek.
"As expected of my child, Sairuchi... you do your father proud..." their father smiled warmly, which he never had done before.
And it was Sairuchi who was getting all of this.
Sairuchi... Sairuchi... Sairuchi...
After the long dinner was over, the family went to their rooms to sleep. Sairuchi and Itachi shared a room. However, the younger twin frowned to see the bed spread out, but void of any body. He walked outside and saw Itachi sitting on the low balcony, looking down at a sheet of paper.
Report Card
"Itachi..." Sairuchi smiled. "What are you doing out of bed?" He pretended to look at the mark and grinned. "A 96? Wow! That's awesome! You did awesome too! They should've raised you with me and-"
Shut up...
"...You know, you're awesome, nii-san! You're going to be a great shinobi and..."
Shut up...
"...I knew that you can get a mark like that! You're amazing!"
"Shut up..."
"...and... eh? What did you say, Itachi-nii..."
"Shut up!" Itachi bellowed, jumping to his feet. "Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
"I-Itachi-nii-" Sairuchi looked at him helplessly. "I didn't mean to-"
"I told you to shut up, you... you traitor!"
The string snapped and Itachi leapt forwards. A kunai, that appeared out of nowhere, in his hands. Sairuchi let out a yelp as it cut through his cheek and a fist slammed to his stomach. He choked and crumbled down.
"Not so good now, are you?" the older twin sneered, raising his kunai above his head. "What did you do, Sairuchi? How did you cheat? You traitor! You could've told me too! We could've gone up together! I'm your brother! You could've helped me!"
He swung his arm down, but a larger hand caught it before it could reach the soft, white skin of his brother.
"What's going on here!" Their father had come. "Itachi, explain this!"
"I... I..." He stared at his hand, where there was a drop of blood from Sairuchi's cut, and at Sairuchi, who was doubled over and crying. "I don't know... tou-san... I..."
"Sairuchi!" their mother's scream broke his reverie and they turned to the younger twin who was sprinting away from them. "Sairuchi!"
Sasuke was crying, and Itachi moved to follow his brother, but his father reacted first. In seconds, Sairuchi was caught, and pulled down. The small boy struggled against his father harshly, and suddenly, blood red eyes gleamed and a fist knocked the older man's elbow, cocking it so that his grip would loosen and he was free.
"The Sharingan..." Itachi heard his father breathe.
'Sharingan!'
"I didn't want this... I didn't want this...! Tou-san...! I didn't want this...!" Sairuchi sobbed, falling to his knees. "Tou-san...!"
"Sairuchi..." His father seemed to be in pity Sairuchi and in awe of what he had seen. Of course, who wouldn't be? Their son had the Sharingan at the young age of six! But by the look of the three commas, it would've been before that age too. "Don't worry... I'm here..." he gently pulled him to his arms.
"Tou-san! I didn't want this to happen!" the younger twin bawled, burying his face into his father's chest. "I didn't want this to happen!"
From that day on, they always slept in two separate rooms.
"Come, Itachi!"
"Hai!"
Itachi leapt forwards, a kunai in hand, but as he ran, his hands went through a series of seals.
"Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!" he shouted
"You're revealing yourself!"
"Ah-!"
"Katon: Housenka no Jutsu."
Itachi quickly avoided the fireballs and dodged the kunai that was thrown towards him. Leaping out of the way, he quickly pulled out several shurikens and threw them at his father. His aim was perfect, but Hiko's speed was much faster. He caught them with his fingers and frowned down at his son.
"Is that the best you can do?"
"I can do better!" Itachi growled and leapt into the air.
He pulled out six shurikens and threw them at a weird angle. Tossing another six, they clashed with one another and they were soon heading towards Hiko's unprotected body.
'Heh! I practiced a lot to get that right!' he thought proudly.
However, Hiko quickly disabled to kunais with a quick flick of his wrist and watched as Itachi landed on the ground lightly.
"How's that?" he smirked.
"..."
Hiko scowled and turned away. "Your younger brother is more of a match."
'...what...?'
"He taught you that move, didn't he?"
'...what...?'
"I am disappointed in you Itachi..."
"...what?" Itachi gasped, staring at his father in shock.
"Grow stronger, like Sairuchi, Itachi," Hiko said before walking away.
"..." Itachi stared down at his trembling fists and let out a yell of anger. After hearing a small noise, he looked to his house and saw Sairuchi entering through the doorway with a hitai-ate wrapped around his left arm. His mother was fawning over him while his father patted his head with a wide smile on his face.
And he could read the words coming out of his lips.
As expected of my son...
I am proud of you...
Itachi looked around in his room. It seemed larger than usual. Emptier. Sleep wouldn't come, and he could hear the soft breathing of Sasuke, who was now two years old, on the opposite side of the room. He sighed and rose to his feet, padding slowly towards his younger brother's room and slid inside. He came in noiselessly, but Sasuke's eyes were open and a bright smile lit up his face.
"Itachi!" he giggled.
"Hey there, sport," Itachi grinned and lifted him from his cot. "Wanna play with me with a moment?"
"Yeah!" Sasuke cheered, his tiny hands groping for him.
Itachi laughed quietly and pulled out the little blocks that Sasuke loved to play with. His youngest brother giggled as he put several blocks together and clapped his hands happily at the accomplishment. Itachi chuckled; enjoying the cuteness that is brother displayed at the innocent actions and wondered if he were ever like this in his life. Though he was only six, he was still pushed forwards, his parents wanted more. They needed more from him. Just because of...
...Sairuchi.
'Why wasn't I the younger one?' he thought angrily. 'Then I wouldn't be as humiliated like this...'
"Itachi...?"
"Hai, Sasuke-chan?" Itachi quickly threw away his thoughts and looked at Sasuke. But the little boy wasn't looking at him, but at the doorway.
He turned and immediately recognized the person standing on the doorway.
'Sairuchi...?'
The younger sibling was holding the Konohagakure hitai-ate tightly in his hand. Sairuchi's eyes were red – the Sharingan. He was staring at Sasuke and the little boy was looking at Sairuchi as well, transfixed by the beautiful scarlet eyes that seemed to glow in the moonlight. Seeing the Sharingan unnerved him and also another thing caused him to freeze on his spot.
'Blood...'
Sairuchi's clothes were covered in blood as well as parts of his skin. After observing him, it seemed like his younger twin wasn't injured... but the blood...?
"Itachi!" Sasuke clapped.
"Itachi..." Sairuchi mumbled, turning to his older twin. "Nii-san..."
Itachi froze at the sight of the Sharingan and stared at Sairuchi with wide eyes.
"Gomen... gomen..." he continued to repeat the word, his voice nothing but a whisper. "Gomen..."
Tears fell down his eyes, causing the Sharingan to shimmer prettily and he turned around to leave.
"Sairuchi."
There stood their father. Itachi never knew when he came, but he stood in front of the door, as imposing as ever. But his eyes held no sorrow or passion when he saw his second son covered in blood. Sairuchi bit his lips and the grip on the hitai-ate failed.
"I can't do this..." he whispered pleadingly. "Otou-sama..."
"Sairuchi," his father growled sternly. "This is not the first time you killed. Show your brother some of your strengths. You will have to become an idol for Sasuke in the future as well. And... this mission was the only way to make you a chuunin at this age."
"Otou-sama..." Sairuchi closed his eyes. "I killed..."
"I know who you killed."
"My head... hurts..."
When he opened his eyes, Hiko quickly activated his own Sharingan and smirked down at him.
"The Mangekyou..."
Mangekyou...
Itachi looked at his seven year old brother, Sasuke and let out a small sigh.
'He doesn't even know that he has another brother... Sairuchi and I look so alike that even in pictures, he sees us both as me... and we never had a picture taken together... so...'
"Nii-san! You're so cool! You're awesome!" Sasuke grinned after seeing him do the kunai trick. "You're a genius to do that!"
'...Am I...?'
Hello! Thanks for reading this weirdo fanfiction!
KYAA I'd really like it if you would review and tell me whether you like it or not! (Just no swearing...)
MemeriaQ-Chan