Disclaimer: Quite obviously, I don't own Naruto.
This story just randomly popped in my head somehow. This is just a short prologue, so the next chapters will be longer. Sorry if you see any spelling or grammer mistakes. The internet was down earlier, so my spell-check wasn't working. Enjoy!
Brother. Son. Friend.
prologue...
Uchiha Itachi.
Brother.
Son.
Friend.
All until he gave them up for his own power.
He used to be thought of as the caring brother, the loyal son, and the trustworthy friend. He was the pride and joy of not only the Uchiha clan, but Konoha itself. Everyone wanted to be just like him. When he vanquished his clan and severed his ties with Konoha, it was thought that he had given up those bonds for something else.
Or had he?
It was thought that he sacrificed his feelings along with his family, and was now a ruthless killer who destroyed without mercy. Hate was his sole feeling now, not ones of dread and kindness. Murderers didn't have feelings.
Right?
His younger brother Sasuke once asked Itachi why he killed their clan, and Itachi responded with the first answer he could think of. The truth was, even Itachi didn't realize why he needed to kill them. He didn't even know what he was thinking after his many massacres, after he cleansed the crimson blood from his skin.
The Akatsuki didn't care much for their fellow member's mental health. They were all slightly insane in their own way. Very few of them even wanted world domination. They were forced into being members, one way or the other. Itachi was no different, so they left him alone. They all had their own lives, and their own problems to deal with.
No one had ever asked Itachi how he felt about the deaths surrounding his past, present, and future. No one had ever bothered to ask Itachi if he ever had nightmares of his clan's death, or if felt any guilt. They assumed he felt nothing, and were afraid to ask him in the first place. Besides, feelings weren't their business, only murder and deceit mattered to them.
When Itachi first joined Akatsuki, they were told of his murderous past. They didn't really care. They had all seen such behavior before. Most of them were like that anyway, but at least had some remnant of emotion left. Never the less, no one was concerned. They were in a serious organization with no time for child's play. Things were far too serious too be meddling in others business. Besides, Itachi may not even want help, and would kill them if they asked him about anything. Only Kisame brought up Sasuke, but rarely. Itachi avoided that subject the best that he could.
He was capable of killing anyone that stood in his way. That was all they needed and all they wanted to know.
However, not every Akatsuki member was smart or stoic enough to stay out of Itachi's way. This orange loving member in particular was probably the only hyperactive, goofy, pleasant, knuckled-headed ninja in Akatsuki. He was also dumb enough to pry into the others' personal lives, especially Itachi.
In other words, Tobi was doomed if Itachi got mad enough at him.
As fate would have it, Itachi and Kisame's team was meeting with Deidara and Tobi's team in Konoha's forest of death. Deidara was telling the two of his recent fight with Sasuke. Fortunately, both had escaped, but each was still heavily injured. Deidara needed to report on Sasuke's skill level and any other news relating to his new team, 'Hebi.'
For the most part, Tobi had remained silent (under punishment of death from Deidara) and listened to Deidara recount their battle, but he couldn't help but speak up. Just this once, he reasoned.
"Yeah, Sasuke was a really good fighter. Deidara almost blew up. Twice!"
"Tobi, shut up, un!"
"It's true! You know, Sasuke really looks like you, and he's scary, too."
This earned a blank stare from Itachi, Kisame trying to hold back laughter, and Deidara with a murderous look on his face.
"He said he wanted to kill you too, but we wouldn't give him any information about you at all. Nope, 'cause Tobi's a good boy!"
Tobi was apparently oblivious to Deidara shaking Tobi's shoulders, trying to get him to shut up before something drastic happened.
"I think he's still mad that you killed everyone else in your clan. I mean why'd you have to do that? It'd give us one less enemy, and your brother wouldn't be completely crazy. Besides, they were your family! Geez, are you really that uncaring or were you just drunk?"
Everyone froze.
Deidara quit trying to strangle Tobi, and backed up as far as possible away from the poor, doomed kid.
Kisame quit choking back laughter and just stared at Tobi like he had suddenly sprouted wings and an extra head.
Tobi, well Tobi just kept talking on and on, unaware that he'd most likely die a painful death in the next ten seconds.
Surprisingly, instead of strangling Tobi with his own innards, Itachi looked Tobi in the eyes.
"Hn?" was his reply.
"..."
No one had ever asked Itachi how he felt about the deaths surrounding his past, present, and future. No one had ever bothered to ask Itachi if he ever had nightmares of his clan's death, or if felt any guilt. They assumed he felt nothing, and were afraid to ask him in the first place. Besides, feelings weren't their business, only murder and deceit mattered to them.
And likely, no one ever would.
At least, not until now.
I feel bad for Tobi. I just tried to make him as talkative and hyper as possible. Just so he'd be the kind of person to say the wrong thing accidently. Basically, he's just an older Naruto. Poor Deidara. At least Itachi won't kill Tobi. Actually, I probaly won't head back to the present until the last chapter. Most of the fic will take place in the past, showing Itachi's thoughts on everything from pre-massacre to present day. There will be at least seven more chapters, all twice as long as this once is. I'll try to update as frequently as I can. I'd appreciate if you could drop off a review with comments, concerns, critisism, or anything else, really. Flames are accepted as well, but I probably won't even read them. Thanks for reading. Ja ne!