Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Copyright to Kishimoto Masashi. If I do... Wait! I wouldn't be writing this fanfic in the first place.

Full summary:

A character we don't know much about, apart from the fact that he has great influence on Itachi. This is the life story of Uchiha Shisui in his first person's point of view. It is about a light-hearted boy turns into the man who sacrifices his life, not for his clan, not only just for Konoha, but in the name of peace.

This work is a sequel to Like A Dream. It can be read without the foreknowledge of the main fic.

A/N: Enjoy reading and review please!

Chapter 1 - Life's Too Short

"I won't kill you."

"Yes, you will."

I'm probably too optimistic for my own good.

I thought I could stop Danzō and the Uchiha clan, but I failed. I even got poisoned and am now dying fast. To make things even worse, my right eye was stolen. I should have seen that coming. Danzō was waiting for me to put him under Kotoamatsukami and once I did, he revealed he already had a pair of Sharingan and was strong enough to fight back against my illusion. Those eyes... they must have belonged to him. Poor boy... I thought I was able to come to a conclusion when I negotiated with Sandaime and Fugaku, one that would be beneficial for both parties, but I failed there too. I thought that Yondaime's and Sensei's deaths were for the best. I thought the Third War was to be the last war. I thought we could finally live in peace…

In the end, what I did was not enough.

The Aburame boy who poisoned me had no choice in the matter. And I don't blame him. He must have been forced to join Root, like Toshiro was forced to, just because they are 'special' - just as all Danzō's followers are. Danzō only keeps those who are of use to him, who are young and talent. Anyone else is an obstacle... And he will do whatever it takes in order to reach his goal.

Those children who joined Root may live a stable life with no worries of survival needs, but I pity them. To me, they have no freedom and they have no life. Why? They abandon their emotions. For all I know, emotions are what makes us human. When Danzō stripped those poor children of their ability to feel, they abandoned their right to be human. Yes, they have no choice. I've almost forgotten about that. Pardon me. Should I be glad that I was too old to join them and all of their lab rat mindless lab rat glory? Ha! – I would have hated myself so badly – that's all I know.

I push past my pain and blurry vision to glare up at Itachi. "Kill me."

"There must be some other way." Itachi adamantly shakes his head.

I knew that he couldn't do the deed. He is too gentle.

The poison is starting to spread again. I hastily slap another seal on myself, I should be able to last a couple more minutes, just enough time for him to get this over and done with.

I double over in pain as I start to cough up blood. Good, the seal is doing its job. With those unique venomous bugs within my body, it is only a matter of time before they wake up from my seal and kill me. All I'm doing now is delaying the inevitable. It's thanks to you, Kushina-sensei, that I can do so. I am so pleased to know that my preparation for the Jōnin Exam did me a world of good. They weren't just petrifying horrible memories of training from the depths of Hell.

Itachi, you must hurry. I don't know how much longer I have left. You have to do this. Just put the job ahead of your personal feelings and do it!

"I have to admit. That boy is good." I'm amused by my own failure and congratulate the boy who succeeded. I laugh at myself bitterly. "It's my own fault for being a bit too careless." I can't remember the last time I laughed. I would hate to die in misery. It's good that I have just enough chakra to last an hour longer than I was supposed to after fighting Danzō. I knew I was surrounded and the fact I'm still alive is surprising. I've never been so grateful to live more than I am now, because I was sure that I was going to die right there and then. A meaningless death.

Itachi is glaring at the seals, desperately trying to memorise every line that is keeping me alive. "If you run out of chakra to hold the seal, I'll do it. We should last long enough to find Yuna."

It's no use. He must have known it as well. Even if Itachi is the one to perform the seals to keep me alive, which I have no doubt he could, it will take far too long to find her. Even if she is here right now, it would take quite some time for her to perform the operation on me. By that time, someone else will have already carried out the massacre. That only entails we will have no chance to save the innocent children from the catastrophe brought upon by our clan's selfish ambition.

Yuna just left the village on a trip to the Land of Water. Good. Because after this, Namikaze Yuna will most definitely be his next target. In a week's time, Itachi will have to carry out the massacre if his father does not yield to the Hokage's demands. It's tragic that he doesn't. The Uchiha clan will not go down without a fight. He knows the outcome better anyone else, and that's why Yuna is going back to her homeland. It's dangerous there too, but it should be safer for her there than it would be here, in Konoha. They both must have agreed to this.

"You know it wouldn't work," I reply. Despite my growing pain, I really appreciate his effort in stalling. We are like brothers, and honestly, is there anyone out there who can willingly kill his own kin? I understand, but you must, Itachi.

Looking at me pleadingly, he tries to persuade me again. "No. Yuna can save you. We both know it."

I knew he wouldn't give up. With only one eye, I stare back at him. Even as my impaired vision is growing dimmer, I can still make out the anxiety and determination to save me written all over his face. I let out a small growl in frustration. I despise myself for being so powerless, so useless, so weak! I thought all those years of training would have given me the strength needed to protect the people and the land I love. No. It wasn't enough.

Still, I can do what I can. I am stubborn like that. I will stay being the optimistic guy until my death. Which, hopefully, will come very soon.

"What about the village? What about the country? We both know that this is the only solution that we have." He can't answer me, because he, too, knows that there is no other way.

"Sometimes, sacrifice is necessary. Self-sacrifice…"

I can't help but to bring up a self-mocking sneer. "I was once saved by a nameless shinobi who protects peace from within its shadow. I should have been dead a long time ago." Itachi knows the story. After all, he was also there at his funeral.

"It's my turn." That's right. It's my time to repay my debt to Konohagakure, the land that I can proudly call home.

Grasping my remaining eye protectively, I hand it to him. "You're my best friend and the only I can count on. Please, do what is necessary to protect the village and the Uchiha name." I won't last much longer now, flinching as a wave of fresh pain hit me - the nano-insects were waking up from their slumber. "But pr-promise me," I stutter desperately, rapidly losing my breath, hearing my heart beat hastily against my chest. "Wha-whatever y-you do…"—I grit my teeth, struggling to finish my last words—"… do n-not sa-sacrifice her, do n-not make the same mi-mistake I d-did…"—I grimace, trying to smile through the pain, as I wish them a better ending than my own disaster—"y-you'll ne-never be a-able to jus-tify wha-what you do."

Don't you dare, Itachi. She deserves better than that. Live my dream for me: live the life I could never have.

I can't see him anymore, but I know he realises that there is no escape because he stops protesting. "You have my word." Itachi squeezed my wrist, trying to offer some comfort or promise, before he takes my left eye.

With that, I hear him draw his tanto and I can't help but hiss as the cool steal plunges into my heart. He immediately withdraws it, and I collapse to my knees before falling into the Naka River. Blood is washed away by the river's ebb and flow, leaving no trace of murder. I hopelessly cough and choke as the icy water floods my lungs. I suppose it's a blessing I no longer have any eyes – I'd rather face the darkness than see distorted visions of the night sky. All I can hear is the ruthless pounding of the water beating against my ears.

I bet he's crying now, sniveling silently as he pretends he is a good, tough shinobi.

It's okay, Itachi. You'll find a way somehow. You have to continue your journey without me… I'm proud to have been your teammate, your best friend and your brotherly figure cousin. Well, we're second cousins. Meh… same thing.… I laughed – I am still the optimist I ever was. My fingers are numbing and the pain is easing. Good. I can see the light now. That's good, too.

I'm sorry, my love. My time is up, but I'm coming to you now.