Author's memorandum

I was inspired to write this because, well Itachi went through a lot of crap throughout his entire life and I've always wondered what if someone else (besides the ones who already know) witnessed his ordeals (accidently of course) …so here goes nothing.

The story begins at the very start of the Kyuubi attack. Note: Things will happen differently than the canon Kyuubi since I wrote this months before more details about it was released in the manga to all manga-readers reading this. Though I was glad to finally get additional details on it, yay for that!

Anyway, it will eventually be ItachixOC (with others of course). By that I mean not for a long time because I'm focusing on Itachi's life. Lastly, it will follow the canon plot, but will change and go on a tangent as the story progresses along with things from my, how shall I put it, creative mind.

Disclaimer: I own my kawaii Itachi plushy! XD But not Naruto…that's Masashi Kishimoto's property…X(

Prologue: Unparalleled Terror

The luminous moon hung like a voluptuous, milky white pearl in the midnight sky, a sky devoid of twinkling celestial stars that resided in the darkest, innermost depths of cosmic space—piercing screams of pure terror filled that dark night sky as a blood chilling roar ripped through Konoha as petrified civilians were running and scrambling to get to safety; their ninja guardians moved forward to launch a reprisal assault on the horrid creature—known as the Kyuubi no Yoko—that kept roaring terribly.

In a twisted paradox, the night had been completely calm before hand, identical to the calm before a storm hits. And hit it did; colossal, powerful tails pounded and scattered building structures in its angry wake, reducing them to debris and rubble instantly. The vile destruction was almost unbelievable. But it was happening.

Several shinobi swiftly rushed in on the immense creature and lobbed a prodigious amount of kunai and shuriken aimed with deadly intent. However, the projectiles were easily shrugged off by the omnipotent kitsune; a menacing cloak of reddish bubbly chakra surrounded its bulk in imperious protection. The insidious Kyuubi emitted a deafening, earsplitting howl, pitiless scarlet eyes flashing, before one of its mammoth nine tails swiped the offending cadre of shinobi easily away as if brushing off an annoying insect. They were killed almost instantly, brief yet excruciating pain crossing their countenance prior to the light fading from their eyes with not even enough time to scream or grunt.

And the vicious annihilation of Konoha continued unremittingly, their deaths not hindering the malicious, demonic kitsune. More unnamed shinobi and kunoichi continued to fall in large quantities as the fierce assail brutally pressed on.

Uchiha Itachi, at the tender age of four, had been slumbering peaceably, but was now forced to awaken as he was being ushered out of his bed by his shaken mother, Uchiha Mikoto.

"Itachi, Itachi, dear, you have to get up!" she cried anxiously.

On his feet and still drowsy and dazed with sleep, he gave her a bleary stare, confused by his mother's penitent expression. He was still very tired and wanted nothing more than to lie back down like he had been just seconds ago. It was way too early to be up, he had decided, after catching sight of the round clock hanging on the side wall; it was almost three o'clock in the morning. What was his mother thinking?

"…Okaa-san, w-what's going on…?" he asked groggily, covering his mouth as he tried to stifle an exhausted yawn. "Can't I go back to sleep…?"

"No dear, we've got to leave at once," she stated hastily as she scooped him up in her arms, dashing out his room.

Itachi went silent with definite shock. His mother hadn't picked him up since he turned three due to his stern father demanding that he not be treated as a mere child even though he was just that. His father had said it had something to do with not wanting him to become soft, or something like that; Itachi hadn't really paid attention at the time.

Something was wrong, he now understood. Terribly wrong. But exactly what was wrong, he had no clue whatsoever. The young Uchiha also took note that his mother was clothed in her shinobi attire, ready for combat. Itachi's young, but highly intellectual mind processed this until it all shortly boiled down to one simple conclusion: an attack must be happening within the village.

Obsidian eyes widened incredulously at the ghastly thought and he took a furtive glance at his mother; she was completely focused on getting him out of the house, her ebony eyes hard and firm, set straight ahead; she only had that look when problems were unconditionally grave, like during the Third Great Shinobi War—his eyes snapped closed as the mere thought flashed through his mind, producing vile phantasmagorias.

Like a fleeting ghost, Mikoto noiselessly ran through their large manor home, fixated on getting her young son out of harm's way; she glanced down yo check on him and saw that he was staring at her with those dark, almost black orbs of his through his thick, naturally curled lashes. And she saw, swirling in those inky depths, a sort of quiet understanding. The Uchiha mother swallowed and returned her gaze ahead. Honestly her son was much too bright for his own good…especially at his young age.

Perhaps her husband, Fugaku, had been right in predicting Itachi to be the forthcoming prodigy of their prominent clan. She had somewhat hoped he wasn't, for she knew of the difficult, strenuous work that would befall her sweet, kind-hearted son…but it was inevitable. Itachi would want to become more immersed in the learnings and teachings of the way of the shinobi as he grew older and he would want to follow the path to test his self, to further his self. She knew that and she could not stop it—it was his fate. Mikoto only wished that her son would still remain the same boy he was now. But even that was likened to change, if not certain.

"Okaa-san…" Her thoughts halted as his gentle voice called to her…a voice that would almost certainly disappear as his childlike innocence (still faintly preserved, though he'd endured that horrid war) was stripped away when it came the time for him to fulfill her husband's stern goals and expectations. She looked back down at him. "…Yes dear?"

"Mm…" He paused, lips tightening in lack of conception. "…Why is Konoha being attacked?"

'So he does know…' she thought unhappily. "…I'm sorry but I don't know…Itachi."

As she said that, Mikoto finally reached the door leading outside and rushed out, now trekking down the path through the emptied and abstemiously demolished Uchiha compound. Automatically, she shielded her son's eyes, wanting to protect his innocence as long as she could, but that could not stop the intense, agonizing screams echoing in the village from reaching his ears. She could not see his complete facial expression, but his mouth had fallen open in shock, his lips trembling as more cries of anguish penetrated the cold night air.

"O-okaa-san, wh-what, what is happening?" he stammered fearfully, appalled by the dreadful screams laced with trepidation. "Why are people screaming like that? Okaa-san?"

"Never mind that Itachi dear, listen to me," she expressed critically, "whatever happens, do not depart the place where I'm about to leave you at. It's for your safety. Please understand this and promise me you will."

"But okaa-san, I—"

"Please Itachi, promise me!"

Mikoto stopped in her tracks and buried her face into his silken, dark locks that just brushed the nape of his neck. Sadden filled sobs broke from her lips as she could no longer hold in her uncertainties and fears. No longer could she keep her emotions locked up as all Uchiha were expected, virtually required to do. She could not stop the flood of cold anxiety at the thought of possibly losing him—she was a mother concerned for her child.

"I-I…I couldn't bear it if you got h-hurt…" she admitted softly, soft voice threaded with trembling angst, squeezing her precious son tightly against her. "You're still a baby…my baby…no matter what your father says…"

Silent tears ran down her pale cheeks and into his basalt tresses. Itachi again was nonplussed, at a complete loss for words; his mother had never been this excessively solicitous to him before. What in the world could be happening to make her like this?

Author's memorandum

Yeah, somewhat short I know, but it was a prologue, ne? :) More things will happen in the next chapter. Check it out and see if you will like to continue! Thanks very much for reading and a review will be greatly appreciated! Constructive criticism welcomed here!