Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or anything prominent that will be placed here.... just the story.
AN: I reread Book One and was utterly displeased. I could not believe how crappy the chapters were, particularly 1 and 2. And so, I've decided to make rewrites. Their longer, more detailed, and hopefully... much, much better than the original. Don't worry, the changes were minor and I stuck to the plot.
Note: The quote Itachi used was by W. Somerst Maugham.
Give it a go and read! Enjoy....
"Temari..." he whispered.
All he could was stare. Stare at the sand kunoichi that was once his. There was nothing he could do. He had a mission to do and he would see to its accomplishment. His desires were insignificant at this point. They held no meaning in his line of work or his now blackened heart. As far as he was concerned, she was nothing more than another ninja.
"Is that her?" his partner asked, pointing to the blonde with four ponytails. Kisame looked on with the Uchiha beside him.
"Yes. But it doesn't matter now, does it?"
"Why don't you make her remember you then?"
"I can only guess that it will make the world she'll go back to…strangely without meaning. Though she lived in it, though she even enjoyed it, it will be utterly remote. I think it will lose sense for her. In her heart will be the reflection of a lovely dream that she could never quite recall..."
'That's deep' the shark man thought. The man never ceased to amaze him with his insights. He could learn a lot from him.
"Mind telling me your story?"
"Very well..." Itachi sighed. He then recalled his past recollections, his life, hers, and their memoirs of love and innocence.
Book One: Memoirs of Love and Innocence
Chapter One: The Prodigy
"Pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes"
- John Ruskin-
"A young Uchiha, a prodigy, will bring forth the clan's future…"
Sharingan eyes gazed intently on the newborn baby boy. In turn, the infant stared back, his black orbs ever observant.
"Yes, just as I suspected..." the elder mumbled. The child before him was undoubtedly the one. Young Itachi carried the hopes of many, their destiny. The clan will be overjoyed with the news, he was sure.
"Well?" asked a young man. The clan head was certainly taking his time with his son.
"This boy here is the prodigy..."
"The prodigy you say?" Was it not just an old legend? He could not believe his ears. But the older man would not lie about such things.
"Yes... he will bring forth the clan's future. Such is the prophecy"
The wise elder clapped his hands together in such glee. "We, the elders of the Uchiha clan, have waited so long for the prophecy to come true. I hope I live long enough to see this youngling fulfill it…" he continued, his eyes now refilled with such big hopes. He looked like he was about to cry.
Fugaku, the boy's father, was more than pleased. His son, a genius…he could not ask for a better blessing. His son will be the clan's pride and joy. He carried the bundle in his arms, "Itachi, you are my son…" Itachi stared, oblivious to everything that had just happened.
Meanwhile, Mikoto, the boy's mother, was extremely tired from giving birth. She had heard every word before she collapsed into a deep slumber. She, too, could not be any happier. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she smiled.
xxXxx
With each passing day, Fugaku, Mikoto and the denizens of Konoha had witnessed the growth of the little genius. The wise elder spoke of the truth – Itachi was indeed a prodigy. The people had already predicted what their clan's tomorrow will be like with Itachi in charge. The Uchiha clan hoped and prayed fervently for the prophecy to come true.
"It is time…" claimed Fugaku. For the clan's dream of having the foretelling recognized, he had to come into picture. He would train Itachi himself. He would push him to his limits and make him an excellent ninja. And so, at the young age of three, Itachi was enrolled in the academy.
xxXxx
About a year later...
Itachi's life went on like a broken record player. Every day was the same. On weekdays he would go to school, study, and train… and on weekends he would resume his studies and training at home, supervised by his father. It was a routine never broken.
Today was no exception.
They were at the riverbank, the view nothing short of beautiful. Time and again Itachi wished he was there for reasons other than training. It would be nice to have a picnic of some sort. He remembered suggesting the idea once, but his father laughed it off as a joke. He could not fathom the humour, if any, in his words. He did not recall saying anything funny.
With two kunais in each hand, he aimed them at a dummy several yards away. It had a bull's eye mark on its chest. With a somersault, the young Uchiha hit the target midair with ease, using the Fire Release: Phoenix Immortal Fire Technique he had learned recently as an added effect. If the knives were not enough to kill a person, the fire should do the trick.
"Well done Itachi" praised Fugaku. He had continually advanced his son's training greatly, and was glad to receive outstanding results each time. He then knew the boy was more than ready to learn his next lesson: the Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.
"Watch carefully" Fugaku demonstrated the said technique, careful to slow down a bit so his son could follow. Itachi looked at the beaming fire released, unfazed. The boy knew he could master the jutsu easily. "Now you do it, Itachi" the older man said.
Preparing himself, Itachi took his stance. Remembering the words of his uncle and aunt, learning the Great Fireball Technique makes one considered as an adult. If such was the case, 'Why is oto-san teaching me this?' the boy thought. He knew he could it, but he wondered why it was this soon. Why were they in such a rush? He did not understand much of what was really going on, but he knew something was up, and he would find out what sooner or later…he was sure of it. Reciting the hand seals in his head, 'Snake, Tiger, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger ', Itachi breathed in and blew out hard.
'Astonishing…' Fugaku thought. His son had almost perfected the technique on his first try. He looked proudly on his son who continued the jutsu. The boy held endless potential.
"How was that oto-san?" he heard him ask.
"Itachi, you are my son…" was all he could say.
xxXxx
A few hours later, Itachi found himself in the kitchen. Munching on his cookies, he pondered what his life would be like in the future. Everyone seemed to hold great expectations from him. He was not sure if he could live up to them. Then again, why him of all people? Were the elders becoming incompetent? What can he do that his father cannot? These questions and more plagued him to no end. Compared to the great ninjas of Konoha, he was nothing. At least, that was what he thought.
Stress. The word did not even fit a child his age. But given his situation, the word was befitting. Nothing else seemed suitable to describe what he was feeling. The pressure was clawing at him. He could not deny it any longer.
Kids were playing outside on the streets. He could see them. He could see himself playing with them. He should be playing with them. Is that not what children were supposed to do on a sunny weekend like this? In his case, he guessed not. Instead, he was indoors. Playing? No. Taking a break? Not quite. He just ate lunch and was about to return in his room to do his homework. It was not a task, really. His homework was easy and could be done in a matter of minutes. What baffled him was why he had an extra load – advanced subjects. He did not even think that it was possible to do such a thing. It was evident that his parents were rushing him to grow up. He felt like an old man. Perhaps he should wear glasses to complete the look...
"You're father told me everything, Itachi. We're very proud of you…" his train of thoughts came to an abrupt stop as his mother spoke. "You truly are this clan's pride and joy" she smiled, washing the dishes.
"Arigatou kaa-san" he replied softly. The kids outside never left his sight and he looked at them with much longing.
Every day he heard them. "Itachi, we're so proud of you", "You're the clan's pride" or, "Itachi, you hold our tomorrow". Every day he saw them. Those eyes that sparkled with hope and hands clasped in faith. Every day he felt them. The heavy pats on his shoulders or their hands ruffling his hair. Nothing surprised him anymore. It was all the same each day.
Turning the faucet off, Mikoto glanced to where Itachi was looking. It was rare for something or someone to catch the boy's attention. And she quickly understood what it was and why. She would have allowed her son to play with them, really she would. But Itachi had things to do, all of which were crucial in his becoming. At least that was what Fugaku told her.
"I'm sure your friends look up to you..." she was not sure if that would cheer him up or not, but she had to try. Some people liked being admired, right?
Hidden from his mother's view, he frowned. No, most definitely not Itachi. He did not approve the idea of him being superior to kids his age. And friends? What was his mother talking about? Itachi had no friends, he had classmates. He tried to change that. But that proved to be rather difficult. There was no... "connection". Their interests vary and Itachi seriously needed to get a hobby. The cause of failure at his attempts of having a social life was himself, or better put, his lifestyle. There was nothing he can do about that now, can he? What was more was the fact that most were intimidated by him...
There was another matter. Something he tried to ignore at first but the feeling never shook off. .. He felt used. There were children in particular who wanted to be friends with him, in a way that seemed odd to him. He had a good sense of judgement – who and not to trust. These youngsters wanted to take advantage of the power that awaited him, and he knew it. It was undeniably their parents' doing. If he had his way, he would give all that to them willingly, happily. He did not want power. He cared not for wealth. He wanted none of that. The young Uchiha just wished to live a simple life.
Itachi kept silent. He did not want to argue with his mother. It was a losing battle even if he had all the points. Sure she would discuss things with his father, but everything said will fall on deaf ears. Fugaku's word was law, and neither he nor she could change that. Any affairs in their household were not an open forum. Fugaku talked, and Mikoto only listened. There was no changing that.
Crumbs still on his mouth, he got up and turned to leave with his jar of cookies when...
"Itachi, sweetie, can we talk for a minute?"
He stopped in tracks and looked at her, thinking what the matter could be.
AN: How was it? Better? I hope you liked it. Errors, comments, suggestions and whatever... put 'em in your reviews! Thanks for reading! Onto the rewritten chapter two...