RE: The Way of Shadows, The Way of Shinobi

A.N. - Slight changes. Mostly near the end at the Uchiha Compound

"Talking"

'Thinking'

Chapter Seven: Massacre

The day seemed to be crawling for Sasuke who was forced to sit through another dull day at the academy. He couldn't help feeling resentful that he could be learning so much more with Shiro-sensei! He spent most of the day glancing at the clock and glaring at it, willing it to go faster. He wanted to know what Shiro-sensei was planning on teaching him and 'Ruto. Maybe it was the next step after the tree leaf floating exercise. Maybe he was going to teach them how to climb trees? After that was the water walking, and Sasuke couldn't wait for that after seeing it in action! It was useful and cool!

The last five minutes of class was excruciating. The clock if it was possible seemed to be going even slower! Backwards even! It was mocking him, Sasuke just knew it. As soon as class ended, the Uchiha was the first out of his seat and out the door. He ran all the way to 'Ruto's house. He knew his parents believed him to be staying after at the academy to practice, so they wouldn't question his lateness or the condition of his clothes. It wasn't like his father or Itachi picked him up like the other parents did.

Just like all the times that Sasuke came over, Shiro-sensei opened the door before Sasuke could even knock. His sensei smiled and told him Naruto was in the back finishing his cool down exercises. Sasuke put his bag inside, took off his sandals, and sliding his feet into a pair of slippers walked to the back deck where his blond friend was gulping water down.

Blue eyes lit up seeing him. "Emo-kun!" Turning to their sensei, Naruto practically bounced up and down. "He's here now, so can you please tell us what you're going to teach us?"

"Alright, come inside then."

The boys quickly followed him to the dojo where they respectfully took off their slippers. Shiro-sensei couldn't be teaching them a jutsu since they were inside. Nor were they to learn tree walking yet, Sasuke realized disappointed. Maybe they were to be shown advanced katas? As the Uchiha gazed at the walls, he wondered if perhaps they were to learn how to use one of the many weapons.

Shiro faced them directly in the middle of the floor and said, "Today's lesson you'll be learning how to become each other's shadow, essentially."

"Huh?" Naruto cocked his head confused.

"Watch," Shiro instructed.

The boys watched as Shiro made one seal and produced a clone directly in front of himself. Sasuke frowned because he knew that that wasn't what they had been taught in the academy. To make a bunshin one had to make three seals: ram, snake, tiger. Not only had their sensei made only one seal, it wasn't even any that they were taught.

Shiro's clone moved about, and Shiro flawlessly moved in time with it. While the clone moved, Shiro stayed behind it without it seeing that he was there even though it could feel it. Dispelling the clone, Shiro told them, "This is what you're learning today. There will be missions where you'll have to be able to get close to your target without being seen by anyone else and without casualties."

He saw their disappointed looks knowing they thought he would be teaching them how to make a kage bunshin. "You'll learn the bunshin part later. For now, I want you to focus on shadowing each other."

Naruto's disappointment disappeared hearing that Shiro-sensei said that they would learn to make the clones.

"I want your movements to be slow at first. You'll gain the speed and make less noise with practice. Now, Naruto-kun stand here. Good, Sasuke-kun come stand in front of him."

Sasuke was still taller than Naruto, but only by an inch. Naruto was naturally smaller but at least his growth wasn't stunted this time around. Shiro made sure the boy got the nutrition he needed. Since they were almost the same height, Shiro thought now would be the perfect time to teach them this. He also knew that the boys would view it as just another useful skill or a game at the moment. They had no idea it was used for silent killing, for assassinations.

The boys moved about the dojo slowly with Shiro correcting when needed. "Naruto, Sasuke has longer legs; you need to keep that in mind." When it was Sasuke's turn, he commented, "Watch Naruto's back, Sasuke. You can tell which way he'll move."

Naruto was better at anticipating the movements than Sasuke was. That was mostly due to the fact that reading body language had been important to his wellbeing when he lived in the orphanage. He was also used to having to hide and hide well. Sasuke was better at reading people's expressions. Living with the Uchiha it became second nature to look beyond the stoic faces to see what they were really feeling. The Uchiha was a quick learner though and was getting the hang of it by the time Shiro called practice to a halt.

"You both did very well. We'll continue it tomorrow, but for now it's late."

Over the month or so Naruto had noticed his sensei acting oddly. He watched the man out of the corner of his eye as they ate dinner. Shiro-sensei seemed anxious and was more silent than usual. There was an odd expression that the boy couldn't name on his sensei's face as he gazed out the window at night. Following his gaze, Naruto saw he was once again staring at the waxing moon.

"Naruto," Shiro spoke suddenly causing the blond to startle. The man's voice was serious as he stated, "Tomorrow I have something I have to take care of. You'll be on your own, but I expect you to continue your studies without slacking off."

Naruto frowned and let out a sigh. He got that speech whenever his sensei was to go on a mission. He hadn't been on a mission in a week or so though even if he had been disappearing lately during the mornings. Usually it was while Naruto was doing his exercises or was running his laps around the village.

"Where are you going sensei?"

Shiro shook his head and the boy knew better than to ask further. It would be pointless to try and follow too. Naruto had tired that once only to have lost him between one eye blink and the next. His sensei was fast!

"If I'm not back by the time Sasuke-kun comes, you two continue with your lessons. I want you both to stay inside or on our property until I return." Looking into confused blue eyes he stressed, "It's important you do as I say. Do you understand?"

Even though he didn't, Naruto knew better than to question his sensei at the moment. "Yes, sensei."

Nodding, Shiro stood and collected their plates to wash. In bed, Naruto tossed and turned unable to go to sleep right away. He was too worried about what was wrong with his sensei. He'd never given him an order to stay home before. Was something going to happen? He didn't want anything to happen to his sensei because he was his family now. Along with Sasuke and the friends he made at the park. Even though he knew he'd have them, he was still afraid. If Shiro-sensei left would they leave him too?

When he finally did fall asleep it was a restless one. When he got up in the morning, unsurprisingly Shiro-sensei was already gone. Breakfast was set out and still warm so he couldn't have been gone long. Even though he wasn't there, Naruto made sure to eat everything knowing somehow his sensei would know if he didn't.

Falling into his daily routine, Naruto ate, cleaned up, and began his warm up exercises. Like always he ended his run around Konoha at the park. He went and talked to a couple girls until their parents saw and quickly dragged their daughters away. They made sure to glare at him as they left. This happened more often than not when he tried to talk or play with the other children, but Naruto tried to not let it get to him. He did find his friends Choji and Shikamaru talking to another boy. They played until Choji and Shikamaru had to leave for the academy. Naruto got to play a bit longer with the boy he learned was Inuzuka Kiba until both boys had to go. Kiba went back home to the kennels while Naruto continued his daily routine.

Going to the training area, Naruto practiced his aim and accuracy then moved on to his katas as a warming down exercise. Briefly the boy wondered if he should work on his tracking skills, but he usually did that with his sensei. Since his sensei wasn't there, and he didn't know exactly what he should try and track, he went home for lunch. There still wasn't any sign that Shiro-sensei had come back while he'd been out.

Naruto worried his lip wondering what could be keeping his sensei. It couldn't be a mission. Shiro-sensei always told him when it was and he didn't know any missions that took a day. Well, there were courier missions to the border or to the villages...but those took more than a day.

Sensei still wasn't back when Sasuke came for training. The boys went to the dojo after the Uchiha asked where the man was. He'd been surprised he actually had to knock and even more surprised when his friend answered the door. He'd assumed that their sensei was on a mission. Shiro was ANBU and they took more missions then all the others. At least, that's what Sasuke believed since Itachi was constantly on missions. So he'd asked where their sensei was and learned that it wasn't a mission, but Naruto didn't know where he was. The blond repeated the instructions he'd received causing Sasuke to frown, but to follow through. Like his friend knew Shiro would somehow know if he didn't eat his breakfast, Sasuke knew the man would somehow know if they'd skipped out on training.

They had shadowed each other the rest of the day and could do it pretty well if the other didn't make a move too quickly or try to trick the other. Taking a break as they ate a snack, Sasuke stated, "Sensei isn't the only one acting strange."

"Whaddaya mean?" Naruto had filled in his friend about how odd their sensei had been acting.

"'Tachi-nii. He's been ignoring me, but this morning...This morning after I asked Nii-san to help me with my shuriken training, he was like the old Itachi."

Sasuke had felt relieved, but it was short lived as he saw the crack in the wall. It made him remember that day his brother and father became estranged. The day his brother's sharingan changed into that strange one. He'd asked his father just this morning if there were different sharingans. He'd learned that it was called the mangekyo, but that was all. Thinking about his brother as he talked with 'Ruto, Sasuke suddenly realized, "He seemed sad."


Knowing Naruto would be up soon, Shiro made breakfast and left it on the table for the boy. He then went and perched himself where he'd have a clear view of the Uchiha District. He mostly watched the main house. Staying absolutely still he monitored the Uchiha's movements. It didn't seem at all different than it had all week when he'd come to spy while Naruto was running laps. Yet today, it felt different.

The man had learned to listen to his instincts. They saved his life more times than he could count. Whenever he'd ignored the warnings his instincts screamed at him, he almost always regretted it later. Right now they were screaming at him that he was right. The Uchiha massacre would be tonight. He had known it would fall around this date on a full moon, but hadn't known which day.

Shiro had debated and struggled with himself all week. Should he or shouldn't he do something about the massacre? What would be the repercussions if he intervened? Would it be for better or worse? Who knew how far the conspiracy ran which was probably why the order was for everyone in the compound to die. Even the civilian non-shinobi Uchiha. They were taking the route it would be best to eliminate threats and anyone who could and likely would try again. If they left any Uchiha alive, it was more than probable they would try for another coup. And the next one would cost more lives than those of just one clan.

If he harbored any doubts they were wiped away upon catching sight of Itachi leaving the compound. The teen had a distinct air one was used to associating with shinobi preparing for a mission. The boy also had a look of one condemned, which clinched it for Shiro. Itachi was to kill the clan tonight with Madara's help and to infiltrate Akatsuki.

Waiting until he was sure he could move freely without being spotted by the Konoha Police Force or anyone else, and that he wouldn't run into Itachi, Shiro went to put his own plans into motion. Attired in his ANBU gear and mask, he made his way to the Hokage Tower. Entering though the window as all ANBU did, Shiro knelt before the Hokage. The man behind the desk tried not to show his surprise. Yet the man had had a feeling this ANBU would show up either today or tomorrow. "Kitsune, this is unexpected."

"Forgive me for the intrusion, Hokage-sama, but we must talk."

From the tone of his voice and the younger man's posture, Sarutobi knew it was a matter that needed no audience. The Hokage dismissed his guards and the ANBU that was always on guard in his office, Shiro didn't move until the office's security seals were activated. Moving the fox mask to rest on the side of his head, he looked at the old man with a grave expression. The two stared at each other until the younger broke the silence. "The Uchiha massacre is tonight, isn't it?"

Sarutobi knew he shouldn't be surprised. Fox came from a different timeline afterall, where the massacre had already taken place. However he was not prepared for what the man said next.

"I know Itachi will spare his younger brother out of love, but if he truly loves his brother he will kill Sasuke as well." Shiro's voice was emotionless as he continued. "In my timeline, Itachi spares Sasuke, and I'm aware of the reasons behind it. It was not the best way to go about to ensure that his brother would absolve him of his crimes."

"You want your student to die?" Sarutobi wasn't sure if that was what the man in front of him was implying. If that were the case why had he even taken the Uchiha on as a student? Shiro had informed him when he'd begun to teach Sasuke. Knowing that the ANBU that were watching Shiro and Naruto would report it to the Hokage, Shiro had gone and told the old man himself so it wouldn't look like he was trying to hide it.

Shiro was quiet for so long that Sarutobi believed that that was what the man wanted. Voice devoid of emotion the Hokage recognized the inflection in the tone when Shiro began to speak. It was what all veteran shinobi did in order to give a report without their emotions or views taking over.

"Let me tell you of the fate of Uchiha Sasuke in my timeline. Tonight he'll come home to bodies littering the Uchiha District. Shinobi and civilian alike. He'll race to his home to find his brother, the person he idolizes, loves, and resents standing over the corpses of his mother and father, bloodied sword in hand. Itachi had waited for him to get home before killing his parents. He'll use the mangekyo sharingan on Sasuke trapping him in a genjutsu. Making him witness the deaths of his family over and over. Do you have any idea what that would do to a child's psyche? Let alone the damage genjutsu does to a child's brain?"

The man took a deep breath and let it out to regain control and stamp down on his emotions. "No one even tries to console the boy let alone have Yamanaka-san help him get through his issues. Almost everyone in this village will pander to him and feel pity because he's the 'last' Uchiha. Everyone will forget that before the massacre what they said about the Uchiha. They'll only see him as a symbol of what his family used to be. They'll only see him as their hope of restoring the name of Konoha that Itachi put a stain on. No one will come to know the boy as himself.

"Itachi's plan does work to a certain degree. Sasuke's soul will be filled with rage and hatred towards his brother. His thoughts will be consumed with revenge. People won't matter to him, and he'll hold them all in disdain. People are only a means to get what he wants which is power. Everyone else are nobodies and are in his way. He'll be assigned a sensei who can teach him about the sharingan, but just like everyone else, doesn't see the boy for who he is but as a reminder. Sasuke will see his teammates as useless until something happens. When it does, he'll begin to use the other boy on his team as a measuring stick. To judge if he's close enough to take on Itachi.

"Soon he'll feel as if this place isn't giving him what he wants and needs in order to kill Itachi. Sasuke will leave the village becoming a nukenin(1). He was offered power, and he took it. He'll get his revenge and kill his brother, but learns the truth about the real reason for the massacre. He'll remember the image he'd buried when he awoke his sharingan. The image of his brother crying as he fulfilled his duty to his Hokage."

Serious amethyst eyes bored into Hiruzen's black ones. "Sasuke will hate this village. He'll attack the summit of the Kages to try and kill Shimura, Mitokadu, and Utatane before bringing his wrath down on Konoha."

Looking out the window to gaze at the Hokage Monument at the faces carved into it, he softly stated, "Just as the Senju and Uchiha created Konoha, it is their descendants who hold the fate of the village in their hands."

Shiro didn't bother bringing up the many fights or the end results of many of the Uchiha/Uzumaki stand offs. Nor about the Sandaime's mistake of not killing Orochimaru when he had the chance also played a part in the coming war. While the man was lost in thought, the Hokage frowned as he himself though over what was said. Is this why his successor had sent Shiro into the past? If what he was saying came to pass then it would be best if Sasuke was killed as well. Unfortunately he promised Itachi already that the boy would be left unharmed. In exchange Itachi wouldn't sell out any of Konoha's secrets and he would take the fall for the massacre.

"Let me have guardianship of the boy." Shiro's eyes locked onto the Hokage's. "It'll do him more harm than good to continue to live in the Uchiha Compound."

Hiruzen frowned as he gazed at his shinobi. Hadn't the man just been petitioning for the boy's death? As it is… "I know the council will not approve it. You already have custody of Naruto-kun. They will not relinquish the last Uchiha to someone they don't know."

Shiro's expression darkened briefly, but his voice stayed calm albeit a bit cold. "I'm aware of that. As well as the fact that people will constantly remind him of the fact that his family is gone. He does not need that, but time to grieve properly for his family. Sasuke should also be told the truth about why his family was killed."

"That I cannot do. The Uchiha massacre is an S-class secret."

Shiro knew he would have to try and get through the man and not let his emotions get in the way. That was why shinobi were taught that emotionally investing yourself is not good. The academy does a poor job of teaching the students what shinobi life is really like or how to compartmentalize so they can complete the mission.

"I know you're trying to preserve the Uchiha name so there's no mark of shame upon it, but the boy must be told. Please, Hokage-sama." Shiro bowed, forehead touching the floor. "Let me have guardianship and allow me to explain why tonight had to happen."

"You've stated Uchiha Sasuke will turn his hatred towards the village." Hiruzen stared at the prostrate man on the floor. He knew that for any shinobi to lower their pride to beg that is was important to them. But Hiruzen was Hokage and had to think about his village as a whole and not the few. "How is telling him at a younger age to change his mind?"

Shiro didn't allow himself to feel even the tiniest flare of hope that he'd gotten the man's attention and might actually get what he wanted. Since he knew how Sasuke's mind worked he knew that if told correctly the boy's vengeance would be directed at the right people and wouldn't hate the village as a whole since he didn't know everyone. Instead he'd hate the correct people and would more than likely form a way to exact revenge on them.

"It'll be someone who actually cares for him rather than someone wanting to use him that is telling him what he has wanted to hear ever since this night. If Itachi's reasons are explained and why it could not be averted." Sitting in seiza(2), he continued as he kept his gaze on the Sandaime. "His mind is still young, innocent of the burdens a shinobi is placed under."

It was also uncorrupted and undamaged from being placed under the mangekyo twice while his mind was still developing. There was also no curse seal with tainted chakra to deal with. Now to give the man an opening. "With your permission I would like to take the boys outside the village. Let them see what they are fighting to protect. Let them see that the world is rough all over and not just in their lives."

"That I know the council will not approve of. They will not want the sharingan nor the Kyuubi to fall into enemy hands."

"They won't while I'm here. I will kill for those boys to keep them safe. And I know for a fact the civilian council has no say in shinobi affairs. As for the shinobi council, it's the clan head who can only advise you about the clans. They have no authority to veto your commands. Also I am guardian to Uzumaki Naruto, I can vote for him in council as acting head of the Uzumaki clan." As for the elders that's all they were: advisers.

Sarutobi sighed because what he said was true in regards to the Uzumaki. With it, if he wanted, Shiro could press his claim and sit in on the council. "I still don't see how that works to our advantage?"

Something flashed quickly in the eyes for the Sandaime to catch, but he did see the cunning and smug smile before it vanished as if it'd never been. "That would be the easy part. All you have to tell them is the sharingan can control the Kyuubi. They know this. So if they want to view it like that, Sasuke-kun can be Naruto-kun's guard."

Sarutobi stared before he allowed himself a small laugh before sobering. "Even if you're granted that, they would never permit Naruto to leave the village. Not until he's a Genin."

"And in order to make Genin he'd have to attend the academy for at least a year," Shiro mused thoughtfully. A cunning smile spread across the man's face. One that was very familiar to the Sandaime.

"What are you thinking?"

"Simply this. Give me guardianship of Sasuke. He'll have his own apartment so no one will know he is living with Naruto. The boys will go to the academy. When it's time for the Genin test, let them take it secretly. When they pass, I will take them on a mission that might prove to take a while. While we complete the mission, they'll get to be exposed to the outside world."

"And what, pray tell, is this mission?"

Shiro was openly grinning. "To find your students, Tsunade-sama and Jiraiya-sama. To bring them back here for you to choose your successor."

Sarutobi felt a bit offended even though he was old he didn't think he could be written off just yet. "I know I am old, but I still -"

"Begging your pardon, Hokage-sama, but it is time to choose a Godaime. A Godaime is needed to keep Konoha strong. If not, you'll be letting the Yondaime's sacrifice be in vain." Not to mention Shiro's mission would be for naught.

When the man tried to argue against either of his students becoming his successor, Shiro didn't know if he wanted to laugh, be annoyed, or a bit of both. He did say that Sarutobi must have thought there were no worthy contenders for the Hokage mantle as none in the village had been chosen as candidates. The old man had sat in the seat for seven years without even considering a replacement. Shiro told him that he should look forward to retirement; hardly anyone ever lived to be as old as the Sandaime who was a shinobi. The man could spend more time with his grandson Konohamaru. And there would be no paperwork!

When Sarutobi sighed again then asked why the boys taking the test to be Genin secret, Shiro stared. To him it was saying that the Hokage had conceded and now they were just haggling over and ironing out details. But to not know why the Genin test had to be taken with the fewest witnesses possible and not marked down...

"You don't realize, do you?" Shaking his head, it was Shiro's turn to give a tired sigh. He knew that in wartime the graduation age lowered and the most promising students placed through an accelerated training program. Promotions were often given on the field. During peace time the graduating age raised and the curriculum more evenly spread out. Shiro wasn't sure which was better truthfully.

"The older shinobi, they realize that Naruto and the Kyuubi are not one and the same. The younger generation is clueless thanks to your decrees. Those in the middle, those that were young and lost people to the Kyuubi...They believe that the boy is the Kyuubi sealed in human form. Do you really think that those people will like seeing the jinchuuriki advance so early ahead of their own children? Never mind that those that want to be a shinobi in the first place are already cracked in some way. They won't take into account his hard work got him there. They will think it's the fox's influence."

For Naruto it will always be an uphill battle. Most would think his large chakra reserve was from the kyuubi which was only partially true. As for Sasuke...It would be the same trying to live up to an impossible ideal he held in his mind.

"As for Sasuke, that is all the village needs is to think that he is another Itachi. The boy will continue to have to fight to free himself of his brother's shadow."

The Hokage and Shiro came to an agreement. While Shiro taught the boys preparing them for the Genin test, the Sandaime would look for a successor. If Sarutobi found none worthy, Shiro and the boys would be assigned the mission to bring the two sennin still loyal to Konoha back. Of course the two men would have to think of something to explain away their absence. Naruto and Shiro's presence wouldn't be missed as much as Sasuke's would. At least they had the year to think of one.

It took a while to get the paperwork drawn up. They would have to wait until tomorrow for it to be officially stamped by the Hokage. Taking his leave, Shiro went to the Hokage Monument and sat in the niche between the Sandaime and Yondaime. Everything that could be done had been. It was up to the Sandaime and the boys now.

Having seen to everything he could, Shiro headed home and was glad he returned when he did. The boys were debating over whether or not Sasuke should go home or not. The Uchiha was saying he should go home but looked to be swaying in the direction of staying. Naruto had almost convinced him to stay for dinner when Shiro made his presence known. "And what is for dinner, Naruto-kun?"

Shiro smiled at how both boys jumped. It was interesting to watch the relief in the blue eyes turn to annoyed anger. "Shouldn't you be telling us that?"

Sasuke's curiosity however could not be contained. "Where were you sensei?"

"I had something that needed to be seen to...Paperwork and so on."

Naruto made a face. He hated paperwork! It always made his hand cramp and his head hurt. Laughing at the boy's expression, Shiro ruffled the blond's hair on his way to the kitchen. "And you already know that it is important for a shinobi to know how to at least passably cook for yourself, Naruto-kun."

While they ate, Shiro couldn't help watching the two boys as they animatedly talked and gestured. They were both telling him about their day and when it got to the point of them training together they sometimes overlapped and even argued about a certain point in the story.

"Sensei," Naruto broke through Shiro's silent musings. "When are you going to teach us tree climbing?"

"Soon."

"How soon is soon?" Sasuke pressed. Both boys were excited at the prospect of learning a new technique. They were happy that Shiro-sensei thought they'd be ready for it. Naruto know and Sasuke had learned that if Shiro mentioned something it meant he thought they were or would be ready soon. If he didn't, he would have told them so. Instead of saying 'soon', he would have said, 'later'.

"For now, why don't you two show me how you've progressed."

Both pouted, but they eagerly went to demonstrate how they could move like second nature as the others shadow. Looking at the time Sasuke stated, "Sensei, I should head home. It's really late."

Shiro looked outside and made a decision. Technically he wasn't lying since he did have the Hokage's permission. Just it wasn't known to anyone else. "It's alright Sasuke-kun. You have permission to be here tonight."

Naruto's face lit up, one hand fisting and punching the air. "Sleepover! Come on, Emo-kun, help me with the extra futon!"

Sasuke nodded and followed behind his blond friend. Had sensei changed his mind about telling his parents about 'Ruto and his training?

Shiro winced as the boys went to Naruto's room. They trusted him and had no reason to doubt him, and he had just abused that trust whether they knew it or not. 'It's better this way,' Shiro tried to convince himself. The boys were oblivious and happy. Itachi wouldn't mentally torture his younger brother into hating him and poisoning the boy's mind from that point onward.

Gazing out the window and wondering how in the world you tell a child that their entire family had just been killed, Shiro frowned. Coming back to before the Uchiha Massacre hadn't been planned. When he'd come close to the village after he'd regained his strength, Shiro had stared disbelievingly at the four heads on the mountain. Sure, they knew it was a possibility and they had planned on him coming back before Tsunade took the seat as Godaime. He supposed he should just be grateful he wasn't flung back further.

He blinked when he realized that he hadn't heard any noise coming from the boys for some time. That was highly unusual. Quickly getting to his feet, he searched the house but didn't find them. Growling, he made a few shadow clones and had them search the village while he headed for the Uchiha District hoping that he was wrong. The nasty feeling roiling in his gut told him that he wasn't.

Pumping chakra into his legs to move faster and leap further, his heart nearly leaped out of his mouth seeing Naruto and Sasuke at the main house. Naruto was tugging on the other boy's arm pleading with him. His words just reached Shiro. "Come on, Sasuke. We can go get sensei he'll help. You heard your dad not to go in."

Sasuke was fighting and trying to push the blond away. Shiro leapt down just as Naruto fell and Sasuke reached to open the door. Shiro grabbed the Uchiha around the waist pulling holding him close as he turned away from the door kicking it closed before the boy could see Itachi standing over the bodies of Fugaku and Mikoto. Sasuke looked up at him with tears in his fear and horror filled eyes. "Why? What's going on?"

"Not here." Having a shadow clone pick Naruto up he knocked both boys out apologizing in his mind to them as he handed Sasuke off to another clone. With his clones streaking back towards his house he turned and quickly made a few altered hand signs as he took a deep breath and let the katon jutsu out. The fire was hotter and more controlled but was still able to blister his lips as he incinerated the bodies of the dead.

That of course drew attention as he ran among the bodies aiming for the heads to make sure they were destroyed. Ducking under Itachi's swipe with the tanto, he continued his momentum and kicked his foot in a sweeper kick. The Uchiha jumped to avoid it and brought up his knee to try and connect with Shiro's face. The man leaned his head away to avoid most of the damage and only sustained a grazed cheek. Rolling away as Itachi lept back, Shiro did another katon this one aimed at the teenager knowing he'd miss, but he wasn't directly aiming at the Uchiha but at the main house behind him.

Smirking when Itachi moved away from the fire, Shiro cut the jutsu and dodged as a swipe was aimed for him again, but this time he twisted and shoved both hands out hard as he did so connecting with the younger's chest. "Shouldn't you be making your escape before the ANBU come Itachi-san?"

There was puzzlement on the teen's face as he as he stood in a ready position. "You're that man from before."

"I am. And as I stated then. I do not wish for Danzou to get an eye from the Uchiha clan."

Shiro had originally thought that Danzou had harvested from the dead Uchiha. It never crossed his mind until he started to incinerate the bodies that Madara could just as well have collected them as Root to have given to Shimura as a token.

"The fire will draw attention Itachi-san. You wanted a witness; I shall be your witness that you slew the clan."

Sure enough they could feel chakra presences coming their way. Itachi looked indecisive for a moment before giving a long look at the man then nodding. While the Uchiha ran off, Shiro went back to running around destroying the thing the clan had prided themselves on. The ANBU was hoping that Madara didn't want attention draw to him just yet since he had a plan going in motion now. He did not want to face off against him at the moment.

When he was sure he got those that had held the sharingan, Shiro suppressed his chakra and made his way home. Once there he waited for the boys to wake up. Naruto was the first awake and flinched under his sensei's cold hard stare. "Just why were you two in the Uchiha Compound?"

"We just went to get some of Sasuke-kun's clothes," the blond replied downtrodden. He'd never been subjected to this side of his sensei before.

"And that couldn't have waited until morning?" Shiro's tone was sharper than he intended it to come out. Naruto hung his head.

"My clothes are too small..."

Shiro sighed and tried to repress his frustration and looked to the Uchiha when he began to stir. Hopefully since the boy hadn't been put through the mangekyo, and he hadn't activated his sharingan, nor seen his brother, it wouldn't be as bad as from his time.

"Naruto please go out and sit on the couch. Do not move until I come out and tell you that you can."

"Yes, sensei." Naruto dejectedly walked out of the room only hesitating to look at his friend and sensei. Sasuke was just sitting up on the spare futon while Shiro stood with his arms crossed. Swallowing, the boy left the room and went to go sit on the couch as instructed.

There was no easy way to say this so Shiro looked sorrowfully yet stern into his student's eyes. "Sasuke, you must promise me that you will hear me out and listen to everything I say, understand?"

Sasuke swallowed and nodded. "I promise."

Shiro took a deep breath. "For you to understand what has happened tonight, you need to know all of it. What do you know about your clan and the founding of Konoha?"

"Nii-san said the Uchiha have always been Konoha's protectors and kept the peace."

"The Police Force," Shiro nodded. "Do you know when or why the Konoha Police Force was created?"

Sasuke shook his head. Shiro sat down in front of him so they could be more at eye level.

"Two major clans created Konoha: the Senju and the Uchiha. Both were really strong and amazing shinobi. It was them that had inspired the other nations into making their own hidden villages by making peace with the clans they fought. You know that each of the five elemental countries has a Kage? The people chose Senju Hashirama as their Kage the Shodaime. More than likely it was because with his Mokuton(3) he was able to literally create parts of the village.

"Uchiha Madara who was head of the Uchiha clan at the time did not approve. He thought an Uchiha should be Hokage. He tried to convince the Uchiha clan of his way of thinking. The clan didn't agree with him, wanting this peace not another war. So, Madara left and when he returned to challenge the Shodaime, it was with Kyuubi's help. The Shodaime beat Madara. Hashirama's brother Tobirama became the Nidame."

Shiro looked at Sasuke who was listening very attentively. "You have to remember that the hidden villages aren't that old really, Sasuke-kun. And it was still in the fledgling stages when this was happening. They were creating the academy and the laws for the village. After the fight with Madara and Tobirama becoming Nidaime, I believe that he just wanted to show the Uchiha that he didn't blame all of their clan for the action of one member. So he gave the Uchiha the Police Force.

"Some of the Uchiha didn't see it that way and began to grow resentful. By the time the Sadaime became Hokage, that negativity had festered. They helped create and protect Konoha. Why shouldn't an Uchiha become Hokage instead of the Senju? Sarutobi Hiruzen was a student of the Nidaime so he was basically a Senju in their eyes. I think it was the last straw when the Yondaime became Hokage. It might have been okay though since he was an orphan and was a genius when it came to fighting as well as planning."

"Why?" Sasuke's brow was wrinkled in his confusion. From what he'd learned at the academy they were all really strong. There were many clans now but Sasuke had been taught that the Uchiha were the elite.

Shiro gazed at the boy, wondering if he should really reveal this secret. The truth would come out at some point. Sighing, he replied, "The Uchiha's sharingan is the only thing that can 'control' the Kyuubi. There was much distrust between the Uchiha and the other shinobi of the village. Then the Kyuubi attacked the village and the village's beloved leader died to protect them. Some believed it to be the work of Uchiha. Soon, the clan decided that they'd had enough. They planned a coup to take over the village. Your father was the leader."

Sasuke shook his head in denial. "You're wrong! Father wouldn't -"

"Sasuke!" The boy shut his mouth. "You promised to hear everything first, did you not?"

Sasuke gulped and nodded. He sat petulantly with a slight frown on his young face and Shiro again thought maybe this was a mistake, but believed that it was for the best to get it out now. This time, the boy would be getting answers instead of being left to hear all the rumors and having no one talk to him directly. It wasn't given time to stew and build within him.

"Your father used your older brother to spy on Konoha." Sasuke gasped, looking at his sensei. "Except Itachi had already given his loyalty to the village. He'd seen the tail end of the Third Shinobi World War. He did not wish to see it again. If the Uchiha turned on Konoha and caused a civil war, it would lead to another Shinobi War. It would weaken Konoha and while we were weak, the other nations would take advantage and strike at us. Itachi-san wanted to avoid that so he became a double agent. He spied on the Uchiha for Konoha. Sandaime-sama tried to talk peace with the Uchiha, but they refused. So, the motion was passed to eliminate the threat to Konoha."

Eyes large and body shaking Sasuke stuttered already fearing the answer. He might not have been a genius like his brother, but he was smart. "Wh-who?"

"Itachi-san." Shiro spoke softly. Sasuke shook his head again, tears spilling down his cheeks. "Your brother wouldn't allow anyone else to massacre the clan. That burden belonged to him alone. It was his clan, his responsibility. He only had one request. That you be spared. You are innocent and too young to have known of the coup. You believed Uchiha was a proud clan, uncorrupted. Itachi-san wanted you to continue to think along those lines. He didn't want you to know about it. He was prepared to make you hate him so you could keep your ideals. So you would avenge the Uchiha and cleanse him of the crime. He killed the clan. It would be your job to kill him. To finish it."

Sasuke just sat there, his mind in a whirl. Memories of the night he heard his father telling Nii-san he was the connection to the village. The things his Nii-san said were now making sense, but...Sasuke shook his head and cried. He didn't even hear his sensei leave or Naruto enter. He clung to his friend though when the boy hugged him.

Shiro didn't sleep and was sure that if Sasuke got any sleep it would only be because he'd cried himself to sleep. He was awake when an ANBU appeared with a missive from the Hokage. Inside the scroll were the guardianship papers for Uchiha Sasuke. There was a note telling him to keep the Uchiha home since the village could talk of nothing but the massacre. He would also have to go to the Hokage and report his doings at the compound. He was sure that having the clan barbequed hadn't been in the agenda, and he'd have to answer for that.

The man was sitting at the table when the boys woke up. He looked them over and could see that they both looked exhausted. Sasuke more so than Naruto. Breakfast was a quiet affair, and Naruto had to nudge his friend to eat. Shiro had the blond to go fold up the futons, and he was to shower first. Naruto nodded and left without saying a word.

"What do you plan on doing, Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke stared at the table. He'd been thinking about everything and Shiro didn't pressure him. He just waited in the silence until the boy looked up with determined eyes. "I'll do what Nii-san wants. I'll avenge the Uchiha and...and make it better."


Meanings -

1 – Nukenin = Missing Nin, rogue ninja

2 – Seiza = formal sitting position where the legs are under you, back straight, hands on thighs.

3 – Mokuton = Wood Release.

Hope the fight thing came out okay. I like this one better than the original but feel free to tell me if you don't.

Updated March 17 , 2012