Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I am not making any money off this. This is simply my take on the large blanks Kishimoto-san left for us in the Uchiha's history.

Warnings: This story spans from war to massacre to abuse of various forms. Topics in this may be unpleasant for the reader so reader discretion is advised.

Spoilers: This contains spoilers for Kakashi Gaiden. All other information referenced in the story should only involve episodes that have been shown on Cartoon network and Chapters that have been published in volume format in English.

Thank you to Chibinecco for the Beta, and Beachlass and Mija for reading this as it was posted in rough draft to my LJ

Notes: This was completed for National Novel Writing Month and is complete, it will be posted chapter by chapter as they receive their final edit.

The Uchiha Massacre

-Prologue -

As the sun rose on the ninth of June, Uchiha Itachi saw his first sunrise. Black eyes held no malice at that tender age. No thoughts more pressing than the emptiness in his tummy or the warmth against his cheek entered the baby boy's head. Summertime in Konohagakure met the young heir with bird song and flowers. The sun and gentle breeze did not seem to foretell anything evil coming into this world. While history would remake the day into one of storms and ill omens, the reality was just a beautiful June day when a little boy was brought into this world, seven pounds and three ounces after a long labor of nineteen hours.

Uchiha Mikoto lay in her bed in the Konoha Hospital. It had been a complicated labor so she had been moved to better medical facilities instead of remaining at the Uchiha compound. She was still tired although the delivery had been three days ago. The future leader of the Uchiha clan lay in her arms, the pale skin of his cheek against the pale skin of her shoulder. Little baby snuffles came from the sleeping boy as she brushed his wispy black hair with her slender fingers.

The little boy looked a lot like her; then again, the little boy looked like a Uchiha -- dark hair, dark eyes, pale skin. She softly kissed the top of the sleeping boy's head. It had taken four years of trying before this little boy was born. This boy would end the rumors in the clan that her husband was going to divorce her. The little boy would end the rumors that she was barren and would not be able to provide an heir to her husband. As Mikoto leaned back in bed, she looked down at the little boy. Life was looking better. Her husband would have to be happy with this child. He was healthy, he was strong, and he was male -- as perfect as any heir could be at the tender age of three days.

She had been alone in the hospital room since the child's birth aside from when a nurse or doctor stopped by. No one from the clan would come, even her own parents, until the child's father saw the boy. Mikoto did not know how long she would have to wait. She was sure her husband would be pleased with the boy. Traditionally, the strength of the Sharingan could be determined by how soon after birth a baby's eyes changed from blue to black. Itachi had been born with his eyes pitch black. She held her unnamed little boy. The child's naming would wait until his father came to see him. Names flitted through Mikoto's head. Handsome names. Strong names. Sasuke would be a good name. Takahiro, Tatsuya, Daichi …. All strong and good names.

Finally, as the sun was setting on the third day, her husband walked in. Uchiha Fugaku was an imposing figure. His black hair was sun-bleached to brown from long hours in the sun. His uniform was dirty from a long day of work. He was destined to take over the Konoha Military Police Corp in a few short years. It would be when he took over the clan as the head officially. Everyone already knew Fugaku's father had given over control to his son. Fugaku may have been an only child, but he had inherited the Sharingan strongly. The entire clan was anticipating his line being mixed with Mikoto's.

Fugaku stood taller than many others in the village. More imposing than his height though was the coldness in his eyes. He, like every other Uchiha, trained from the time he could walk in order to be the best Shinobi possible and to increase the strength of the Uchiha clan. When his eyes rested on the small pale child in Mikota's arms, he did not see a child – he saw an heir. He saw his heir. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the helpless infant. The little bundle of flesh could not yet raise its own head. It could not focus on objects more than a few inches from its face. It was completely helpless. However, Fugaku's frown turned to a smile when the little boy looked up at him. Black Uchiha eyes looked back into black Uchiha eyes.

Fugaku took the infant into his arms, looking at the youngest of the Uchiha clan. Older Uchiha than this child still had their blue eyes. This three-day-old child had eyes that were already black. His first words to his wife showed no concern for her well being, or even the child. They were simply needed information to calculate the child's power. "When did his eyes change?"

Mikoto sat up in the bed, keeping an eye on her young infant in his father's arms. "When he was born. The doctor was surprised. They checked with lights to make sure." Hopefully, that answer would please the man. She did not see how anyone could not be pleased with that answer.

He looked at the child. "He will be fast, like the wind." Yes, Fugaku was pleased. This had been the first Uchiha to be born with black eyes in at least four decades, possibly longer. His child would be strong and fast and a truly good heir to the clan when that time came. His mind thought of what to name the child. He would be as strong as the wind. He would be deadly. He would be able to strike his enemies with a speed making him as invisible as the wind. Fugaku nodded, he knew this child's name. He would be like the mythical weasel riding the harsh wind to draw blood unseen. "Itachi. His name will be Itachi. Uchiha Itachi."

If Fugaku had known then how many times he would have to explain why he named his eldest child after a weasel, he probably would have chosen a different name. The next day, Itachi and his mother returned home to the clan compound. Everyone was talking about the young male heir born with already black eyes. Fugaku had been two months old when his eyes changed, and his father had been three months old. Often Uchiha eyes did not change until six or seven months. The reason Mikoto had been chosen as a wife by the clan for Fugaku was that hers had changed when she was only six weeks. No one had expected Itachi to be born with the black Uchiha eyes.

Once the child was home, his father almost instantly forgot him though. Itachi's grandmother and the old woman's sisters were often at the house though, helping Mikoto take care of the young infant. For the first six months of his life, Itachi rarely saw his father. Relations with Rock country were rapidly deteriorating so the police force was extremely busy making sure that there were not any spies for Rock country within the walls of Konoha. Fugaku would often not get home until near midnight, long after the child was asleep, and then would leave again early in the morning.

Everyone in the clan was busy. The impending war would involve many of the Uchiha clan. As one of the most important clans in the village, they would be called upon to defend her. As Itachi was learning to walk and the new year was welcomed, war loomed ,and the young heir was taking his first steps -- early as he had done everything else.

By the time Itachi was one, his father had given him his first Kunai, no matter what the child's mother thought of that. Instead of stuffed animals like other children his age, Itachi had little practice dummies with the vitals marked in clear red. His birthday was not seen as a time to celebrate the previous year, but as a mark to begin Itachi's formal training. Little pudgy toddler legs were soon being taught ancient moves from Kata handed down through generations. Clumsy fingers learned to grip deadly weapons. While Itachi's body was that of a young toddler and his movements were awkward as he learned to move his body how his father wanted, his eyes took in everything. The eyes were those of a Uchiha – ever observant and calculating.

Soon the young heir was on the level of three year olds, even though he was not even halfway to his next birthday. By the time he saw his second year, the war with Rock was well underway. The village was subdued that summer. Many shinobi had gone to battle and many of them would never return. The third Hokage was preparing to step aside so that the forth could take his place, but the war was delaying that. One of Itachi's cousins was being trained directly by the forth. When Obito obtained his chuunin rank, Itachi was three and had lost most of his clumsiness. There was talk of Itachi and his cousin Shisui entering the academy when they were four.

There was a celebration thrown for Obito and Itachi, and Mikoto attended with Itachi dressed formally. A black Kimono with Hakama and Haori, miniature versions of what he would have to wear as a clan leader. The only difference was that Itachi was not yet old enough to have the Uchiha fan symbol on his garments. Obito's sensei, the future forth, was in attendance, as were the rest of Obito's team. The female medic nin was ignored by Itachi, but his eyes could not stop watching either Obito's male teammate or his sensei. The man was brash and loud and so bright. In a sea of pale skin, black clothes, black eyes and black hair, the bright blue eyes and blond hair stood out. In contrast to the loud and outgoing nature of the sensei, the quiet silver haired boy next to Obito seemed even more out of place.

Itachi could tell that child was dangerous. The silver haired one was eight years older than he was, and Itachi knew he was outclassed. It was that night, at Obito's chuunin party, that Itachi decided he needed to train even harder. His father had told him many times how all other clans were threats to the Uchiha and nothing was more important than protecting the Uchiha clan. At all costs, the Uchiha must be the strongest. That Hatake child was strong. Itachi decided he would do everything possible to surpass the silver haired child. He would work even harder and get into the academy next year. If he was strong, the clan was strong. The clan had to be strong.