Kept my promise!~ Don't act so surprised.

Sorry this chapter is so sucky, as I said before, I hate beginnings, and this time skip was a bitch, as nothing non-canonical (is that a word?) happened. I swear it will get better once the introductions are done!


To See With Eyes Untainted

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.Vision 1.

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We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.
Joseph Campbell


Naruto had it all planned out.

He would go back in time, kick Madara's ass when he was still exponentially weaker, defeat Akatsuki, and guide his village to happiness. Before the Battle, he had spent many an hour daydreaming his eventual inauguration to the Hokage position. Unfortunately…

He watched helplessly behind the eyes of the Kyuubi, as it ripped out of his mothers' stomach. He could hear its' thoughts, grinding against his own, screaming for blood and revenge. Then the Sharingan took away the Kyuubi's thoughts, and to him, it was almost a relief as the noise stopped.

He tried not to look as one by one, people fought and died before him. He wept silently as his beautiful village was once again torn apart before him, helpless. "Let me out!" he screamed, "Let me out of here!" But to no avail.

And then, the Yondaime came. His father, his wonderful, unselfish, loving father, who took him away from the horror and destruction the Kyuubi had caused.

But even then, horror awaited him, as he watched his parents sacrifice everything for Konoha… For him. His tears blurred his vision as they shared proud smiles at their baby, even impaled by a great chakra claw.

He felt the seal then, tightening around his soul, and knew that soon, it would be over. Briefly, he wondered how he would manage trapped inside the cage alongside the Kyuubi, but at that moment he did not care.

"Thank you…" He whispered, and he fancied he saw the Yondaime react to his words, a look of confusion flashing across his face. But then Naruto was gone, and he knew no more.

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Itachi was scared.

He did not show it, instead acting as the responsible older brother he strove to be, rocking little Sasuke back and forth in his arms. Evil chakra rippled over him in waves, and he suppressed the need to shake in fear. He clutched Sasuke a little tighter, and prayed to the creator he never believed in that his parents would be home soon.

And then, he saw it-a flashing light, coming from where the Kyuubi was, miles away. It zoomed towards Konoha, and he found himself squinting to identify it. Sharingan whirling, he caught a glimpse of a golden-haired man.

But then, it was coming towards him, and he stumbled back, trying to get away.

It was too late though, and it smashed into his forehead.

He knew no more.

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The medic nin proclaimed that nothing was wrong; that, perhaps, Itachi had been mistaken.

But Itachi knew he was right, that there was something…. Lurking in his mind, growing stronger every passing day.

He researched what he could, when he could, but found nothing. Slowly, he grew to ignore the pulsing behind his forehead. He redirected his energies more positively, helping in the restoration of his beloved village and the raising of his new brother.

Time flew by, and it was now exactly year since the attack, and Itachi no longer thought much of the foreign presence. The festival of the Kyuubi was in full swing, but he was never one to celebrate and socialize.

He lay of the head of the Fourth throughout the night, and it was there when the being inside his head woke up.

"Where... am I?"

Immediately, he stood up, looking for the source of the noise. "Show yourself." He commanded, though he supposed his high-pitched voice did not sound very commanding.

"… You have GOT to be kidding me."

It was then Itachi realized that the voice came from inside his head. Eyes widening, he whispered, "You're the light…"

The voice didn't reply to Itachi's words, instead releasing a string of explicatives that would make the most hardened of anbu blush.

Itachi sat back down into a meditative position. He knew what he had to do. Previous trips into his mindscape had not been fruitful, but he had a feeling that now the being was awake, he would find the answers to his questions.

He closed his eyes, and fell into his mindscape.