Prologue

"Nii-san! Are you sure I'm holding this right?" Sasuke asked his older brother, his wide eyes looking up in frustration.

Itachi laughed lightly at his young brother and walked towards him, "Let me show you Sasuke."

The older brother took the weapon and held it properly and showed his little brother the proper way to hold the kunai. The blade glistened in the sun light, managing to reflect both males in its cool metal. If it were Itachi's choice it would be melted down and destroyed, he'd always hated things of war, things that were made to hurt others. He knew it would get him into trouble someday.

"Nii-san that can't be right!" Sasuke huffed, blowing his bangs away from his eyes. "That's the same way I held it last time and when I threw it-"

"Your aim is poor brother," Itachi explained to the pouting six year old. "But don't worry, you'll get better."

Sasuke grumbled softly before taking the weapon from his brother, "Just you wait Nii-san, I'll be amazing someday! Then my name will be everywhere!"

Itachi laughed lightly and shook his head, he had no doubt that his brother would truly amazing. There was a cracking sound off in the distance that caused Sasuke to drop his kunai. The child pouted angrily and kicked the weapon, insisting that someone had done that on purpose. Itachi tried to comfort his little brother by showing him the small girl who looked to be about three who had been watching them. She looked at Sasuke with bright eyes and giggled, attempting to take the dagger from him with her small hands.

Sasuke jumped back suddenly and held it away, "NO! This is mine! My Nii-san gave it to ME! I don't want your girl germs on it!"

The small girl began to cry causing the older brother to pat her head reassuringly and somehow convince Sasuke to let her see the kunai. Deep inside he didn't want the child to be stained so early with the will to fight. He'd seen enough die at his young age, he would roll over in his grave before he watched his little brother die…

Itachi allowed a loud sigh to escape his lips as he sipped at his tea. The village was rather up beat and noisy for a Monday. It would have been a great thing for the young protégé if it weren't for the fact that his mind and heart were torn. He knew what he had to do, but he knew what he wanted to do. With all of his heart he wished that he hadn't been the one to have to murder his family, he wished he could go back in time and still be a child.

He shook his head and stood to his feet; he placed his bill down on the table and walked down the street. It was a blind walk, one that would lead him to no place in general. Itachi didn't care where it took him, he had such a short time to decide on what he would do. Would he kill them? Or would he spare them?

The handle of the blade protruded from the wall where the Uchiha crest was painted, a crack now winding its way through it. Itachi found himself knelling on his knees, his mind tormented, his heart conflicted. He had his village, he had his family. He growled loudly and punched his fists into the dirt. He had everything set up into the right place, but he was still undecided, he didn't know what to do. His little brother meant the world to him. He was the reason Itachi kept going, to make sure Sasuke's life was better than his, to protect the boy. If he could lock Sasuke away from the evils of the world, he would, he would give his own life.

Itachi cursed to himself loudly and stood to his feet, a hard set glare on his features as he walked down the street.

"Nii-san! Will you help me practice my shuriken throwing?"

Itachi glanced back at his little brother, his collar hiding his trembling lips, he forced a smile to his face and he motioned Sasuke forward. The boy rushed towards him, hiding his excitement the best he could as he came to his brother's side.

The eldest put his hand out and poked his brother's forehead, his smile welcoming and familiar to his face, "Not now Sasuke, another time."

Sasuke pouted and rubbed his forehead lightly, "Why do you always do that? Poke me and say another time?"

Itachi smiled warmly, "I'm busy Sasuke, so another time, I promise."

Sasuke pouted for a little bit longer then ran off at the call of supper from their mother. Itachi's smile faded as he looked out at the crack on the Uchiha crest.

"Have you made your choice Itachi?" The Hokage asked, huffing on his pipe, his hands folded in front of his face.

Itachi ran his fingers through his hair and stared off, his stress and lack of sleep showing from the accents on his cheeks and the dark shadows under his eyes. He clenched his fists and looked away from the man. His tongue bleed as he bit down on it and his mouth filled with his blood as he held back all of the emotions he wished to express. He looked down then back to the Hokage.

Itachi glared, "You can't hurt Sasuke."

"Do you mean that YOU can't hurt Sasuke, Itachi?" The Hokage released smoke.

"…"

"Don't worry Itachi, I won't allow your brother to get hurt, you have my word…"

The Uchiha nodded and turned to leave the tower, his hands clenched at his sides, as his body threatened to give in and his throat began to burn.

Itachi covered his mouth as he hacked into his hand and his body shook the bed. Mikoto watched her son with a worried expression and pressed her hand to his forehead. The boy had no temperature it seemed but he was coughing up a storm. She sat down next to him on the edge of his bed and pressed the cup of honey milk to his lips and smiled.

"You probably just need a day of rest Itachi, you work yourself to hard, and you're still a child you know, not a man yet. So don't push yourself, you can always just take a few days off and stay home with me and Sasuke."

Itachi nodded and looked away from his mother; his eyes seemingly lost and his heart breaking more and more. Mikoto brushed his bangs away from his face and smiled softly and him; her face soft and warm.

"Oh baby, it'll be okay, you'll be okay," she comforted him, unaware of what he was being set up to do.

The night moon shined brightly and reflected off of the windows of the Uchiha compound. Itachi stared down at the buildings trying to calm his nerves, trying to pretend that what he was doing was one hundred percent the right thing to do, his body was stiff and his limps were sore from over exhaustion. His body bagged for him to simply lie down and forget about the damn mission, for him to not make a life changing decision. He however knew that there was nothing he could do that would help him. He'd never have his life back, forever he'd be trapped in a life he never wanted, all of his old dreams forever forgotten, things he'd never have.

His little brother would never a normal life, his little brother would also forever be punished for things that were beyond his control. The child would be looked down upon no matter what his older brother chose, but there was always the possibility that Itachi could change his baby brother's chances, that he could spare one life, make his brother a hero.

Itachi stared straight ahead, his body no longer as sore, but his heart twice as pained, regret rushed through his veins and blood of others forever stained his hands, his soul. He would never reach happiness, he would never feel that familiar warmth of the village. It was going to kill him, he was aware of that, it would eat him alive. Itachi smiled coldly and turned away, his fingers twitching with an ache to get some form of comfort. His feet forced him to walk away, his body cried to be given a brake, a rest from his stress.

"Nii-san!"

Itachi's head snapped up as he noticed his little brother running towards him, a smile on the child's face.

Sasuke came to a stop in front of him and smiled brightly, "Nii-san, supper's ready. Dango's are for dessert, Tou-san had Kaa-san make it just for you!"

Of course his father would try to reward the Uchiha. Itachi had made his choice, one he would forever regret. He had stupidly chosen his family, saved them, helped destroy the leaders of the village, and made the Uchiha the reining clan, and head Konoha. His eyes wondered away from the boy and he tilted his head back, staring up at the stars silently. Yes, things would be different, and if he could, he would change his choice. He had made it his new mission, to somehow, take down the Uchiha clan, and end the rein he had started, for he knew, it would be harsh towards the village that had forced them to be powerless…

A rather long prologue, but I felt like I need to have all of that, so the first chapter is yet to come…if you like it that is. If you guys don't like it and don't review I simply won't ever update and forget the story. But if you do, please say so, cause other whys I'll feel like it's not liked and it'd just be a waste of my time writing. Anyways I hope you liked it, and I hope that if I do get to update it, that you'll be equally pleased if not more so. So, please review, tell me what you think :) And thank you for reading, and those of you that do review, I'd personally send you a cookie or whatever you like but, we all know those don't work out to well…