Copyright Disclaimer: I do not own any of the character/s used here or anywhere else. This is written purely for enjoyment only. That said, enjoy.
Uchiha Itachi: Part 1
At first, it was because he was heir. It was his birthright.
Then they realized their heir was a genius. It became his responsibility. To uphold the clan's reputation, to be their shining beacon of hope and lead the clan to higher heights.
"For the Uchiha clan," they said.
"You should be honored," they chanted.
"So talented, Fugaku, and so young! He will bring us glory," they praised.
So he trained. And worked hard. Genjutsu. Ninjutsu. Taijutsu. More.
Mastered the Sharingan before anyone his age could. Graduated early. Chunin. And then, ANBU.
Secretly, he was relieved when he was put on Kakashi's team. He knew he'd be safer there, not under the power of Danzo, despite what his father hoped.
Piece by piece, his naiveté was slaughtered. Piece by piece, innocence sloughed off like dead skin – unwanted, unneeded. He grew quieter. Colder. Emotionless. And the very people who once worshipped him started to fear him.
"He's too powerful," they whispered behind his back.
"You need to control him better," they told his father.
But he heard them. He heard them all. All the whispered fears, the doubtful glances, as though he'd snap at any moment; as though the weapon they had crafted would turn on them without warning. Mothers would pull their young closer to them, even as they smiled in greeting. The men would scrutinize his every move, even as they praised his father for raising such an upstanding young man.
Secretly, he doubted. Secretly, he despaired. He might be dangerous. He might snap at any moment. There were so many (too many) ninja who went berserk from the bloodlust. He didn't lust blood. He didn't enjoy the kill. But still.
So he pulled away. From his clan, his family; from Sasuke. And it hurt. For once, it hurt. He had nowhere to turn. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide.
Then, Madara came.