Summary: Explanations about kekkai genkais and youkais from a miko.

AN: Disclaimer in chapter 1

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...ooO Explanations: The Uchiha Massacre Ooo...

Itachi glanced around the long oval table. He still couldn't believe he was here, in the Hokages residence, eating at her table. Carefully he reviewed his dining companions, shinobi of various ranks who Tsunade trusted: Uzumaki Naruto, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanacha Inoshi, Hyuuga Neji, Morino Ibiki, Hatake Kakashi, Yuuhi Kurenai, Miharishi Anko, Jiraiya, Shizune. Shinobi who could be trusted to be honest in the expert advice they gave. Shinobi who had experience and flexibility to handle and adapt to new situations on the fly.

Carefully he placed his chopsticks down and took a sip of water. They wouldn't poison him, at least not before he gave his report and left Konoha; to do otherwise would be a fatal political error. It would indicate Konoha shinobi could not be trusted to complete their mission.

A faintly callused hand squeezed his reassuringly. He made no response other than squeezing that warm hand back.

Kagome had taken him out of the hollow hell of blood and absence. Kagome had healed his heart and soul. Kagome gave him purpose, a reason and way to excel. He would follow her to the ends of time and space.

There was a tense pause while dessert was served. Once the genin maid left and the room secured Tsunade put on a more formidable façade.

"We are waiting Itachi. Give us your report."

Itachi smiled, an expression tinged with bitterness. "Which report Tsunade-sama?"

"Start with the Uchiha Massacre. Why did you do it Itachi?"

The perpetrator and survivor tensed and struggled to gather his thoughts. After an uncomfortable silence he glanced at his companion who nodded understandingly and answered for him.

"It is a difficult tale. To understand it you need some background information on bloodline limits."

"What information?" Kakashi asked sharply.

"How bloodlines were created in the first place." Kagome explained simply. "They didn't just evolve out of human genes. They came from a youkai ancestor. Shadows for Nara, Insect for Aburame, Moles for Hyuuga, Ice and Water for Mist-nin, Fire and Eagle for Uchiha. I don't know how the first unions came about - a maiden sacrificed to sate a youkais lust, a child sold to appease a more powerful foe, an attraction that held true or faded - I do not care to speculate.

"The children born of such unions are called hanyou, half-breeds. They possess powers of the youkai parent to a lesser degree, are generally stronger faster and quick healers." The shinobis stared. That was true of the traditional shinobi clans, a reason how and why the families prospered and survived while others died out. "Generally it isn't too much of an issue because after eight or so generations the youkai blood is diluted so the descendant isn't too remarkable. The problem started when your shinobi clans started breeding for the traits, to strengthen the bloodline.

"Dominant traits concentrated over generations result in descendants exhibiting more youkai like traits - disdain to those perceived as weaker or lesser beings; hatred towards perceived competition; desire for power and acknowledgement; need to be challenged, to be stronger, better, faster. I'm not saying humans don't have those traits, it's just that it becomes excessive in those with youkai blood.

"When the hanyou is pressured, forced to excel by circumstance or family, it awakens the youkai blood, the dormant traits. I knew a hanyou who I trusted with my life but when his youkai blood awoke it was terrifying. In that state they don't recognize friend, foe, allies, or enemies. Everyone is an obstacle on the path to power. Later I spoke to his half-brother who explained exactly why hanyou children were usually killed in youkai society: They are so unstable. Full blooded youkai children are trained from childhood to control and channel the bloodlust. If it doesn't work there are blood spells and seals to limit the damage they can cause. Those spells don't work on hanyou because they are weaker and cannot tolerate the stresses caused by the seals."

Kagome took a sip of water and paused to gather her thoughts before continuing.

"Uchiha Fugate was a bastard of the first order. He married his second cousin Uchiha Mikoto because he believed their children would be exceptional. He was right. Uchiha Itachi had an almost full compliment of youkai genes that practically guaranteed he would excel in whatever he tried. The bastard immediately pushed his eldest into ninjutsu training without any of the basic mental training a youkai child would have received. It was essentially putting heat on a pressure cooker. And then he did an extremely stupid thing that set the massacre in motion: He tried to kill Itachi."

Everyone stiffened at that accusation. The older shinobi could not deny Uchiha Fugate was ruthless enough to do just that. Naruto hissed at that bit of information. Itachi remained expressionless. Kagome smiled sadly before continuing.

"Itachi was straining for freedom very much like an eagle-youkai would. He knew he wanted more, something that didn't exist in Konoha. He talked to Sandaime Hokage and began making plans to leave Konoha, very much like Tsunade-sama did. When Fugate found out you can imagine what happened. He sent several Uchiha jounin including Uchiha Shisui to eliminate the blood traitor.

"Spilling blood is potent, spilling kin blood is sacrifice in youkai culture, an indication you are willing to excel, to give up everything for ancestral knowledge. Some youkai become stronger with each generation because they absorb the power of the previous one. Itachi had excelled with his current state, he had mastered the traditional Sharingen; spilling kin blood indicated he was willing to move to the next level. Both youkai bloodlines awoke and it drove him mad."

"The reason why so many bloodline genius go insane." Jiraiya murmured.

Everyone looked at the Uchiha. He was focused on a traditional water painting of mountains and a bridge over a winding stream. Kagome took another sip before continuing.

"In his rage he slaughtered those he perceived as betrayers and weaklings. It is possible to stop hanyous in the Chikoshun state but it is very difficult: the person has to be absolutely passive with no killing intent; they have to want to help the afflicted without hurting them. When Sasuke was a child he was enough to break the initial killing rage - he loved his elder brother and only wanted to know why he'd done such a terrible thing, he didn't want to kill Itachi or avenge his clan. Itachi became slightly saner but he did not have any defense for what he'd done so he left Konoha. He didn't know what he was looking for, what he wanted, what was happening, so he kept moving.

"InuYasha once tried to explain what the change was like. He said Chikoshun was like a fire in his blood, a building demand to destroy weakness and obstacles. It changes and pushes the body to the limits and in the process damages it. It creates an empty rage that cannot be quelled or exhausted. It is a nearly bottomless well of potential."

"Ultimate Lotus. Opening all eight gates." Tsunade murmured.

"Hai hai. Some people revel in the rage and enjoy spilling blood, they allow their youkai heritage to control their actions. Others control themselves as best they can, they use minimal force to reach the goals they set, they conserve their energy and efforts, they retain their humanity as best they can manage."

"Then why did he join Akatsuki?" Naruto wanted to know.

"He will answer that." Itachi interrupted with a hint of acid. He refused to let their expectant expressions affect him. "I was looking for answers so I went to people who were like me. I didn't realize it when I was approached but Akatsuki members were hanyou with awakened youkai blood. They didn't have answers, just a better idea of what I could do, what I was capable of. I wanted to be strong so I stayed and became hollower. I didn't understand until I met Kagome and she explained what happened, why I was so angry and empty all the time. Some like Kisame enjoyed killing, others were just intent on accumulating power and skill, to quell that urge."

"Where did they come from?" Jiraiya wanted to know.

"All of them have shinobi ancestry and bloodlimits. Some were the products of breeding programs conducted by Kages and more isolated clans. They killed everyone who knew about them when their blood awoke. They drifted until one learned the emptiness could only be quenched by power. He formed Akatsuki and started looking for the nine bijuu, one for each member."

"It wouldn't have worked." Kagome added with a sad smile. "The power is too incompatible; it would tear the would-be host. I know hanyou that assimilated lesser youkai into his own body to become stronger but it only works with lesser beings. A bijuu would rip a hanyou apart."

"Was that how they died?" Naruto asked. "They found a bijuu and tried to transfer it?"

Itachi shook his head. "Iie. Sasori found a scroll describing the location of the Shikon no Tama."

Jiraiya hissed. "You actually found it? And you're alive?!"

Kagome glanced at Itachi. "It is your story. Why don't you tell it?"

Itachi took a sip of water before speaking. "Aa."

...ooOoo...

TBC…

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AN:

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