Age 7
"Congratulations, Itachi."
"That's my boy"
Itachi stood outside the ninja academy with his father, along with all the other graduates. He was the only seven-year-old there, however, and everyone else was twelve. He had excelled so much in academy classes that he was able to graduate after his first year. People were acknowledging him as a child prodigy nowadays.
The third Hokage approached him where he was standing, talking to his father and teacher. The Third knelt down and ruffled his long hair, "congratulations, Itachi, well done." He looked up at Fugaku and said, "I'd like to make an offer to your son, Fugaku, of which I think you'll approve."
"What is it Hokage-sama?" Fugaku had always kept a reserved air around the Hokage ever since he had received the moving notice.
"Well if Itachi approves, I would like him to start studying to join the ANBU this fall." The Hokage smiled, warmly at the graduate, "Would you like that?"
Itachi smiled broadly, "Yes I would, Hokage-sama! Thank you for the honor." He looked up at Fugaku, "father, may I?"
"Of course, Itachi, you'd be silly not to, this is a wonderful opportunity for you."Fugaku said, jovially. Not only that, but it will be great for the clan if you get accepted in to the black ops after your studies, he thought, darkly.
Age 8 (reference Shippuden episode 114)
I walked down the darkened academy hallways; I know where I'm going. Though I know I'm being followed, I don't stop or turn to drive them off. I need to confirm something, I need to see how far my powers have increased, I need to test the limits of my sharingan.
I activated my kekei genkai three days ago, though I kept to myself and started training in secret. I became so much stronger upon the activation, now was the time to really push myself, see how far I could really go.
I open the door marked "Advanced Training" and ignore the warning "Only for use by Instructors". The room was a sort of teachers' lounge, but instead of relaxing, it was for training. I walk in a see a solitary pedestal in the middle of the room, bound to it are thin cords that, if cut or disturbed in any way, would imbed me with the dozens of kunai stored in the projectile canons above.
I take a step back, I know that the one who followed me is watching, I don't care. I activate the sharingan and take two kunai out of my pocket. I launch them at the cords, severing them and initiating the traps. Though dozens of kunai were hurling toward me, I didn't move, I wouldn't until the time was right.
I had obviously startled the man who was watching, for he had burst into the room. However, as he did so, I jumped. I thought that I evaded most of the kunai, but then I suddenly became aware that more were coming from behind. I twisted, midair, and launched my own kunai to deflect the others. I landed for a split second on the rail lining the room's upper platform, then rebounded back as I detected more kunai heading my way. I launched myself above them and landed lightly on the pedestal, thus ending the exercise.
Though my back was to him, I knew who the man was. Orochimaru was stunned to see that I had survived. But then his shock turned into that cruel, greedy, smile that I never liked. I walked out the room, keeping my eyes forward and ignoring him. I wasn't afraid; I just never liked the man. I walked out of the room and back to my house, where my mother was making dinner. When I walked in Sasuke gave me his usual welcome, a hug around my legs (that's all he could reach). After dinner I went into the living room, where my father was waiting for me.
I sat in front of him on my knees, "Father?"
"What is it, Itachi?"
I opened my eyes and my father just stared. Then suddenly he picked me up and swung me around the room, laughing. My father hadn't laughed in a while, so it was a little shocking to hear him laugh now. "That's my boy!" he cried, hugging me to his chest, "My boy, the child-prodigy, activating the sharingan at only eight years!" he stuck his head out of the door-frame and called, "Mokoto, come see this!"
My mother entered the room and saw my face. She too smiled broadly and kissed me on the cheek, saying, "good job, Itachi."
My father sent me to bed after that, promising to start giving me formal training in the morning.
Age 13 (part 1)
Itachi entered his father's room, "you wanted to see me?"
Fugaku looked up, his face more serious than usual. "I have told you before, Itachi, about our clan's unfortunate history have I not?"
"Yes, sir, I do." Itachi knew the history of the clan all too well, for it was the source of his family's current situation. He thought that Madara, the Uchiha's first leader, had been rash and greedy. However, he would not share this with his father; he knew he would be severely punished for uttering any dissent against their sacred founder.
"I've decided to echo Madara's actions when he realized our clan was losing power to the Senju. However, unlike him, I plan to succeed."
"How do you intend to do that?" Itachi was utterly shocked, though he didn't let it show, he had trained to hide his emotions and he was a master of doing so. His father must be crazy! A military coup? Had he lost his mind, or had history gone to his head? No, of course his father was angry, the eviction notice, it must have sparked this. Itachi looked at his father, he would listen to what he had to say first, then he would decide what to do.
"It won't be too difficult," Fugaku said, waving his hand around, "We may have fewer numbers, but we far outrank the village in skills. Plus," Fugaku fixed his gaze on his son, folding his hands in front of him, "we have you."
"Me?" Itachi said, a little dumbfounded.
"Yes," Fugaku said, seriously, "You possess the most talent out of the entire clan and that will be a great asset once everything is prepared.
"What do you plan to do?" Itachi asked, still pretending that he supported this plan even though he was dead set against it.
Fugaku laughed, a cruel smile stretching across his face, "they'll never know what hit them. The villagers will go to sleep that night, and when they wake up… their precious Hokage and elders will be dead and they will be at our mercy."
Itachi was horrified, had his father even considered the inevitable outcome? Even if everything went smoothly and the clan gained control of Konoha, the villagers would still rebel against them. The inner turmoil would also give other countries the prime opportunity to attack as well. In short, not only would civil war ensue, but this action would lead to the thing Itachi feared most, a fourth Ninja War. After his previous experience, that was the last thing Itachi wanted to see. Suddenly another matter came into his mind.
"What about Sasuke? Does he know anything about this?"
Fugaku's smile faded, "No, that boy has a ton of potential and talent hidden within him, but he's not ready, he's too young. In time, after everything is settled, I'll explain to him the necessity of our actions. He'll come to accept it, just like you have."
"Right," Itachi lied.
"Itachi, you do realize that now it is imperative that you enter the ANBU Black Ops now. Through this you will become the pipeline to the village nerve center, you'll be able to get all kinds of information that will assist us."
"Yes, sir, I understand." After that Itachi left the room.
