Notes: *THIS CHAPTER HAS BEEN UPDATED. Please reread for the extended ending.* Hey everyone! It's been a while, but I'm back. Itachi and Naruto's points of view will be split into separate chapters here because chapter 2 got obscenely long. So here is Itachi's second part. Also, the hash lines here separate reality from flashback - I have no desire to hurt your eyes with so much italicized text. The asterisks indicate elapsed time within the flashback. Naruto's part 2 is almost ready, so that should be posted within a day or so.
Disclaimer: All rights to plot, referenced quotes, and characters belong to Masashi Kishimoto.
This was not reality. Itachi floundered for an answer, for oxygen in this new dimension that was compressing him where he stood. Why was he this disoriented? It was as if someone had blasted a hole in his memory. For the better part of an hour, he racked his brain for the events of the black hours before. But nothing surfaced. He swallowed a pang of anxiety. At that moment it occurred to him that he was drifting closer to an abyss of mortal despair. In his mind's eye, he stood on a sheer cliff, steps away from a ravine. The top of a staircase faced him three feet away. It was calling him, beckoning him to descend its steps. And the option was looking more attractive by the minute. What compels me to see the fate of Konoha through? I've carried this burden long enough. What's wrong with succumbing to the weight of this sin?
He reached for the rail. Recognizing danger, his body moved to put distance between Itachi and the poisonous trench in his mind. A twitch of his hand made his outward senses return, and he was once again in tune with the present. Ashamed of his own self-pity, he pressed one hand into his forehead. Just look at you, trying to grow a pair of wings and fly away. Abandoning life is the coward's choice. Besides, your work isn't finished yet. How he hated when that voice was right. Thanks to that nagging sensation, Itachi now found himself treading through his clan's quarters, unsure what form his unfinished 'work' would take.
As he made his way through the noiseless houses, he noticed a pattern. An unusual amount of the deceased lay with eyes wide open, as if their watch extended beyond the grave. Somehow this detail was comforting. I'd expect nothing less from masters of the Sharingan. What a shame that so many budding shinobi had had to be eliminated. The problem with those eyes was they'd always learned too much, and the weight of life's truths would give their owner no peace. Even now, those eyes pierced a man with their enlightenment. As if following their cue, Itachi wandered to the central path and crouched, leaning his weight against a wooden post. Here he was in the spotlight again - for all the Uchiha to see.
'Did you hear? Uchiha Itachi just passed the Chūnin Exams.'
'Not surprised – that boy's a prodigy. The pride of the clan, really, and he's only ten. Imagine what he'll accomplish next.'
Now was as good a time as any to make an entrance. Itachi rounded the corner of the academy hall. Right at that moment, the fathers took an eager interest in their next mission.
He sighed.
Just once, a direct, sincere compliment would fill his heart up and he wouldn't ask for more. All the villagers ever did was toss praise out of his reach, expecting him to perform like a caged spectacle. Look at that. Amazing! They would never understand how much their oohs and ahs chafed. Every comment scraped away at his humanity. But then that's all he would ever be to them: an exotic beast, mesmerizing but best not to get too close. Why had he expected these men to be any different?
Today had been Demonstration Day for parents at the Ninja Academy. Though he had recently become a Chūnin, the teachers had requested that Itachi come to inspire the students. Otou-san and Okaa-san had come fifteen minutes early, of course, for the opportunity to boost key Konoha connections. Apparently it was worth dodging the glares of Foundation members this time. He had bested his opponent, as always, with style. Now he found himself trapped in the game of avoiding another mindless handshake. Ordinarily he would turn to his best friend at a time like this, but a chest cold meant no Shisui to the rescue today. What he wouldn't give to blend in with his classmates. Well, even he was guilty of wishful thinking sometimes. Their smiles were placid enough, but Itachi could take a hint: it was best not to shine too bright in their sky.
So he split the difference and hovered close to the punch bowl.
...
When his parents made their way toward the door, Itachi was already there holding it. They made the trip home as Otou-san launched into a tirade about their precarious position in the clan.
"As the head of the clan's son, you have its hopes for the future riding on your shoulders. This includes everything from completing missions to continuing our clan line. Your duty is to protect the Uchiha, you understand? At the end of the day, family takes priority over anything the village may need. They pinned this clan under their foot long ago; make a wrong move now and we will descend to a place beyond recovery. Do not disappoint me."
"Of course not, Otou-san."
...
Sasuke leaped from the doorway the moment he caught a glimpse of them.
"Nii-san, let's train!"
Sasuke. This tiny boy was why he endured.
"Sorry, Sasuke. There's a technique I need to master by tomorrow."
"No fair," his little brother pouted. "Stingy."
Itachi was seized with a roguish grin in spite of himself.
His assignment could wait.
"You want to train? Lucky you, I happen to have a super powerful jutsu we can try."
"Reall-?"
Itachi clapped a hand over Sasuke's mouth, keenly aware of their mother's proximity in the kitchen.
"Shh, Mama can't know. You're too little for learning jutsu – she'd have my head if she found out. Just be quiet and follow me."
Recognition gleamed in those innocent eyes. After all, he was an Uchiha child.
" 'kay."
In an instant Itachi scooped him up piggyback and his squeals pierced the air. The pair made for the back door.
"And just where are you two heading?"
Their mother appeared and shot a pointed look Itachi's way.
"I just figured I'd take Sasuke to skip stones by the river. Why do you ask?"
Of course she saw through that garbage – he was still a sub-par liar then – but she decided to play along for some reason.
"Remember to be gentle with Sasuke. He's not as strong as you are."
Not yet. But fate had a sense of humor: perhaps Sasuke would surpass him.
"I understand, Okaa-san."
...
The brothers made excellent time down to the river. As they reached the bank he let down his little brother, who was struggling to mask his glee. It was an adorable reaction.
Once he was certain he had Sasuke's attention, he began.
"All right, little brother, this is an Uchiha clan specialty: Katon. Stay back and watch me."
Itachi drew a crisp breath, concentrating on bringing the heat in his gut to a precise temperature. Almost there – now the rest was muscle memory. With a hand sign and controlled burst of flame, he executed his technique.
"Uwah," Sasuke ogled for a minute before he sprang into action.
"Now me!"
Fudging the hand sign, the younger boy reared back his head and began grunting.
"Not so fast, Sasuke! Please let me expl-"
An obnoxious belch interrupted.
Where did that come from? It couldn't possibly have been…
Oh, but it was. The blush blooming from Sasuke's ears betrayed him.
Itachi choked back the laughter that threatened to erupt. No, the poor kid was embarrassed enough. He couldn't rub it in.
Too late. It was out of his hands and Itachi was in stitches. Sasuke tried to turn an indignant scowl on him but soon caved in to giggles of his own. Before they knew it the two were flopped on their backs, gasping for air.
"We look like bloated carp right now!" Sasuke cried.
"Some shinobi," Itachi muttered.
That was enough training for one day.
Ah, Sasuke. Itachi knew it couldn't be easy taking a walk in his shoes. As son of the head of the clan and little brother of the Uchiha prodigy, the poor kid had a double burden. He was rather gifted already, that much Itachi could tell. But to their father, Sasuke's potential always seemed to shrink under the microscope. The kid wasn't even attending the Academy yet and already everyone was holding him up to Itachi's ridiculous standards. Itachi nursed a smoldering indignation at this treatment. What was remarkable was that Sasuke idolized him anyway. The little boy followed in his tracks everywhere - to an annoying extent at times. Little Brother could be a real pest. But turning to the left to absorb Sasuke's grin, Itachi admitted he could never be replaced.
I swear to you, Sasuke, as long as there's life in my bones, that smile will never fade.
Now those memories pelted him with irony. Every minute put more distance between Sasuke and that smile, and now he was reduced to broken sounds no boy of seven should make. And it was all because of precious Nii-san. Itachi dimly realized that Sasuke's anguish would live forever between himself and the forest. Well, a secret could hardly find better keepers.
All at once his senses extended outward and Itachi realized what he'd done. The clan had placed their world in his hands. One by one, he had lopped off the curves of this world that had been pregnant with warmth and life. Now he walked a cube planet, a cousin of Pandora's box that coaxed men over its edges. The verdict was in. He unconsciously knelt down to close each pair of eyes, their judgment complete. One by one, the Uchiha were put to rest.
Itachi was jarred from his thoughts by footsteps. He dashed into a thicket just in time to spot the Third Hokage passing through the heart of the Uchiha district. Itachi tailed him until he reached the main house. There they found Sasuke, plastered on the ground outside the door. The boy was sobbing so violently – it seemed any minute, he would choke. The entire time Lord Third said nothing, just leaned against the house and took the occasional drag on his pipe. When Sasuke fell unconscious after an hour, Lord Third came forward to drape his cloak around the boy's shoulders. He turned to leave and suddenly made eye contact. Itachi held his gaze and tried to mirror that resolve, but a string of tears betrayed him. The Third Hokage only inclined his head and took up the path once more. Itachi turned to face his house and bowed at the waist. Like a flag at half-mast, he paid respects to the life that they had each lived. Who could say how much time passed? All that registered when he straightened up was an aching back and cheeks sticky from tears.
The same questions continually rattled around in his mind. Just what was this Will of Fire that destroyed lives? Who were these villagers that he had murdered his family to protect?
For once, his capable hands trembled as the one puzzle he could not solve threatened to break him.
Is the safety of Konoha worth this sacrifice?
