Hello, hello! Another fanfic idea that's been invading my brain! Even…though…I promise I wouldn't start…another…till I finish…I will go down with this ship…heh…

THOUGH I SHALL WARN YEE!

This won't be a consistently updated story, just when I find the time, but I will finish it. Hopefully. Though this story hasn't been crazily planned out like most of my stories are, so yup. Let's see how this goes!

Though here we go!

Itachi was quiet. There wasn't much that he could say. There was something kind about the silence at that moment. A peace that he knew he wouldn't get to sit in anymore. Though perhaps that made that silence cruel; taunting him, berating him. Perhaps he deserved it. He'd been preparing for the screams to come for some time now, so the pain coursing through him would hopefully be numbed. Nightmares of such sights plagued him, though alternatively, maybe they served as dreams that readied his mind for the future destruction. In whatever way, Itachi had to accept the fate dealt to the others. Though Itachi wondered who was truly at fault. It'd be too easy to blame the hokage, even easier would be the council. For those reasons alone, maybe he should bare that burden. He had already gone this far, why not more?

"Itachi" A stern voice voiced, a ruthlessly cold, but familiar tone Itachi had become acquainted with.

"Father" Itachi responded, his emotions stricken away in natural defence. He stood in his anbu uniform, the immaculate armour soon be stained.

"Come with me, we've much to discuss" Fugaku stated, turning and walking away, obvious expectation for Itachi to follow. Itachi watched him for a few moments. A part of him wanted to start his mission. He didn't want Sasuke here for this. The sooner, the better. Though in his awaiting moments of insanity, who knows what he may expose Sasuke to. His control had greatly weakened since Shisui's eyes had closed on him. Itachi soundlessly sighed; it would only be polite, he supposed, to humour his father for one last lecture.

So Itachi followed his father; his eyes going over every crack of the house, every slither of life, every small mark of his childhood. Coincidently, he passed the ledge that he measured Sasuke against. Memories passed before his eyes of Sasuke's pinkened expression when begging Itachi to measure him once more. Desperate to grow, to be more. Every inch marked would bring a light to Sasuke's face. Such a sweet memory now tainted with a heavy heart.

"Sit" Fugaku calmly instructed, kneeling in his usual position as Itachi faced him, replicating the position. The consistent unease remained. Fugaku's embedded frown served deeper than usual. "I'm disappointed" Fugaku stated without emotion. It was words that were new to Itachi's ears, but it affected him very little. "For my own son to commit treason against the Uchiha" Fugaku continued.

Ah…Itachi realised, So, he's figured it out...? Itachi thought, his expression unchanging. Itachi wasn't curious on how Fugaku found out, it was pointless to care. Itachi struggled to care now. His heart remaining the same tempo. There was no fear nor relief. Fugaku was akin to him, no ire or fury consumed him.

"I'd ask for the reason, but there isn't one" Fugaku spoke uninterestingly, "I'm unaware of what you hoped to achieve by betraying us, but that's irrelevant now" Fugaku ignored, but Itachi's internal numbing acted for him. "Though your loyalties lie elsewhere, the love you have for your brother will act as your decision" Fugaku informed, causing Itachi to react. What had Sasuke to do with this? He was to be spared, he knew Fugaku was aware of this. Anyone could see that Itachi was prepared to sacrifice everything for his beloved brother. "That is, if you wish for him to live" Fugaku trailed over, Itachi's eyes narrowed.

"What have you done?" Itachi questioned, his father was a tactician. A man that took pride in his preparation. So what had he prepared for Sasuke?

"Put in place an insurance for this clan" Fugaku answered, but Itachi's hands gripped his clothing tighter.

"What?" Itachi grinded out, his emotion running wild with violent thuds. Fugaku seemed unthreatened, with good reason Itachi knew.

"It's been confirmed that if the coup d'état fails, then a chain link of assassins is to be activated under a series of villages" Fugaku began, looking Itachi in the eyes as he spoke the next sentence, "All on Sasuke's life" Fugaku revealed, Itachi's body was noticeably stiff to the point of shaking. "You can proceed with your plan, though I should inform you of the consequences" Fugaku offered rhetorically, the mock was clear in that empty voice. "The assassins will be activated, one will go after Sasuke until he dies, if the assassin fails then another shall go, then another, then another, it'll be an endless supply that'll cause Sasuke to live in a constant fear, even if his big brother is protecting him" Fugaku listed, Itachi's head lowered once he understood his father's intentions, "Alternatively, you could take Sasuke away from this place, but be hunted by every village as missing nin, and with those assassins it'll be difficult to cope" Fugaku finished.

"What do you want?" Itachi pushed out, swearing he heard an amused scoff.

"You've gone down a foolish path, Itachi, but you can work out what I require of you" Fugaku responded, his insulting tone making Itachi tremble with strong emotion. "The movement is tonight, you know your objective" Fugaku stated, as if speaking of the recent weather. Itachi stood. He turned and walked towards the door, sliding it open before stopping.

"Where will Sasuke be during this?" Itachi questioned, not wanting his little brother to experience the massacre of tonight. The blood that would paint the village crimson should not stain his brother's face. His eyes too young, too innocence.

"By my side as he watched the leaf ninja perish" Fugaku informed, Itachi turning his head with narrowed eyes. Though Fugaku had already a war scroll in front of him and was occupied with that. "You're lucky he isn't fighting"

"He's eight"

"He's ready" Fugaku retorted, lifting his eyes to meet Itachi's incensed ones, "He'll be there when history is being made" Fugaku professed, his tone dropping into even colder territory, "He's no longer your little brother, but now the son of the Uchiha clan leader" Fugaku declared.

Itachi though that while he may have saved Sasuke's life, he had also lost it.

x/x

The tormented screeches kept Itachi's ears ringing ran riot through the village. Each echoing and embedding themselves within Itachi's memory. He didn't need his sharingan to forever remember this. The sky was blackened with a thick, thunderous cloak of darkness. Tinged with a bloody red, though the sky may just be reflecting the village itself. Bloodshed was the only sight for miles as Itachi stood atop the mountain. The innocents running in fear against the ominous thumping of the Uchiha army. Proud and strong in their march. Like fire burning paper, the leaf had no chance against the Uchiha. Overwhelmed, overpowered. They had no flicker of hope.

Though the worst aspect of this horror show was Sasuke by his side. Itachi glanced down at his little brother. Eyes wides, eyes terrified. His sweet eight-year old brother, trembling at the massacre before him. Splatters of blood sprayed across the walls, bodies hitting the floor, the glint of stained weapons. All of which Itachi had hoped to spare Sasuke from, though no amount of brotherly consoling would remove this from Sasuke's remembrances. Though even now Itachi couldn't utter a word of explanation to Sasuke, their father stood between them. Something Itachi was sure to become a regularity.

"Sasuke" Fugaku began, but Sasuke's eyes locked onto the bloody scene before him. "Witness the pure power of the Uchiha, we've been underestimated and disrespected for generations" Fugaku continued while Itachi watched Sasuke hold his tears back, "Son, one day this army shall be under your control as well as the village" Fugaku stated, sparing Itachi a look to convey that he had disowned him. That Sasuke was now his new heir. Itachi wasn't sure how to feel. Sasuke gazed up at his brother, a scared look in his eyes. Though Fugaku intervened, "No, Sasuke, look to me now" Fugaku ordered, confusing Sasuke as he did what he was told, "I am now the one you turn to, rely on me" Fugaku insisted with a small smile. Itachi twitched, but Sasuke's eyes lit up. Kind words and even a smile from his father was rare.

"Y-Yes, father" Sasuke nodded, all attention now on Fugaku. Who relished in Itachi's pained expression.

"Now" Fugaku began, his eyes flashing into those bloodthirsty powers of his. "Let's go visit the Hokage" Fugaku practically rumbled. Sasuke hadn't picked up on the meaning, but Itachi was fully aware of the implications.

He just hoped that the mercy within his veins were from his father's side.

Do not chop my head off.

I know I shouldn't start a new story, but I feel like it'll give me a bit more excitement when writing. This one isn't going to be very long, like…20 chapters maybe? That's the plan, it should definitely be finished before the year ends. So there's that, also, I will go down with this ship is coming along and will be posted in a few weeks, but until then! Moshi Mosh!

(Oh, and tell me what you guys think of this story? Interesting, neh?)