Birth

Twenty-one years ago, a joyous event occurred. A nervous, yet still excited, ninja dashed though the streets of Konoha, aiming for the hospital. He burst through the doors and approached the reception desk, panting he told the nurse his name and who he was looking for.

"Can…you…tell…me…what…room…?"He gasped.

"Room 137, sir" the nurse replied.

The man was off again, speeding his way toward the designated room. He threw open the door and saw the slightly shocked face of his beautiful wife. When he noticed her shock turn into a proud smile, he looked down and saw what, or rather who, she was holding in her arms. He grinned broadly.

"Mokoto," Fugaku kissed his wife softly on the cheek, resting his hand gently on the head of his new-born son.

The door opened again and the room became flooded with people, all of them members of the Uchiha clan's military police. Fugaku grinned at them and held up his son.

"Guess what everyone, I'M A FATHER!!"He boomed proudly.

All the guests began congratulating him at once, until one burst out "boy or girl, captain?"

"Boy."

"What's his name" another cried.

Mokoto's soft voice rose above the noise.

"Itachi."

Age 4

I was training in an isolated patch of forest when night fell and I became painfully aware that I was alone. I had been practicing my taijutsu so that one day I could grow up to be a great ninja, like my father, and defend my village from our enemies. Even at so young an age, I knew we were in the middle of a war and that it was dangerous to be out alone. I had started running back home through the main street when I heard screaming in the distance, enemies.

I retraced my steps and took a short cut through the forest instead. Ran on and on, without stopping until I came to the park where father and I spent our, actually it was more like his, free time together.

I froze.

The park was scattered with bodies, some newly dead, others already beginning to decay. Unfortunately, the enemies in the park had already seen me. I stood, unable to move, and watched as the killed their last victims right before my eyes. Tears holding my fear, anger, hatred, and sadness began raining down my face as they approached me. I tried to move, but my legs had gone numb. They looked at me closely, I could see their forehead protectors glinting in the moonlight, they were from Iwagakure. The two of them stared at me, noticing that I was shaking. Cruel smiles crossed their faces.

"Hey, kid, why're you out here so late at night?"The taller one said.

"Yeah, you're all alone aren't you?"Said the other.

I swallowed hard, I was terrified, I had no idea had to get out of this situation.

Two sharp thuds, the men fell, kunai lodged in both their backs. The next thing I knew I being carried home by my father.

The rest of the night was a blur of my mother's tears and hugs, my father's lectures on why it was dangerous to be out alone at night and how it was a miracle I was alive, and my quiet acceptance of it all. After I went to my room, I lay awake pondering the events in the park, my first war experience. I arrived at two conclusions: war is hell, and I never want to see it again.

Age 6

Fugaku was dashing toward the hospital once again, but he wasn't alone. Itachi was jogging alongside him, keeping up with ease. The six-year was already being acknowledged as an extraordinary child. Because of this, Fugaku had started training his son, honing his skills in taijutsu and ninjutsu; he would wait on genjutsu until the boy had activated the sharingan. However, now was not the time to think of such things, Fugaku had more pressing things to worry about.

They entered Mokoto's hospital room to see her familiar proud smile. Itachi ran over to the bed and saw his baby brother's sleeping face. He smiled, warmly.

"What's his name?"

"Sasuke."

He's so small, Itachi thought. He smiled again and thought of all the ways he'd help his little brother and teach him. He was going to be the ideal older brother. He would do anything to protect the small boy in his mother's arms.

A knock at the door brought in the same throng of clan members that came to congratulate the parents when Itachi was born. The all exclaimed at how Sasuke would grow up to be just like his brother. They reveled in their happiness, thinking it would never end.

-3 months later-

Itachi was helping his mother feed Sasuke when a rumble shook their house to the foundations.

"What the…?" Mokoto exclaimed, looking around nervously.

Fugaku ran into the kitchen, a wild look on his face. "The Kyuubi, it's attacking the village," he said, breathlessly. He saw the shock on Makoto and Itachi's faces and said, "You'd better hide in the basement, they've called the fourth, but in case he fails…" he trailed off and began to run out of the room when Mokoto called him back.

"Fugaku, where are you going?" she said, nervously.

Fugaku paused, his hand resting on the door-frame. He turned back and kissed Mokoto, hugged Itachi, and ruffled Sasuke's minimal amount of hair. "I'm going to help the others, be back in bit, I promise."

Mokoto watched her husband leave the room. After he was gone she turned to her eldest son and said, "Let's go, then," then she picked up Sasuke, grabbed Itachi's hand, and left the room.

-The next day-

Itachi watched nervously as his father furiously paced the room while his mother packed their belongings. They had gotten the notice to move into a newly-created Uchiha "district" this morning, and Fugaku had flared up immediately after reading it. "I can't believe that Danzo bastard," he had shouted, "blaming US for the Kyuubi attack!" It took everything Mokoto had to calm her husband down and even after Fugaku had gone into a furious pacing of their living room. Despite his current quiet, Itachi didn't think his father would remain so for long.