A/N: Another chapter!! Just so you know, the name of this one is from a song :P "A Dangerous Mind" by Within Temptation is the PERFECT theme for Itachi. Yes, I've seen that AMV "The Prodigy, Itachi" by soulcalibur1234 (Yay, free advertising). If you haven't watched it, you really are missing out on something good. It's on Youtube under the name "The Itachi Project", but you can also download it from animemusicvideos dot org.

... Thought I should say this, so nobody (primarily me, and my empty wallet) gets their feelings hurt-- I do not own nor am being paid to mention Within Temptation, Youtube, or anything else in this Author's Note.

Anyways, this chapter is a look into Itachi's mind. Hopefully it'll clear up some of the shtuff that he does and says. It'll probably be pretty un-Itachilike. I DID say this is an AU, so the characters are relatively different from in the actual series.... sorry, just thought I should explain ^-^ Oh, and don't get me wrong, Itachi's my absolute favorite character. I just can't help making him totally evil and ruthless.. The bad boys were always my favorites :P

Hope you like it!!

Disclaimer: I do not, in any shape or form, own or associate with the author of, the publishers of, or anything else to do with the series Naruto. If I did.. well, I probably wouldn't be stuck writing fanfics now, would I?

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Itachi's POV:

I'm not certain when it started, but for as long as I can remember, I've had this-- need, I guess you could call it-- for power. To conquer, to destroy. I am never happier than that split-second when I know I've won, and only I control what happens next.

That feeling was quite a common accurance when I was younger, before my parents' death, evem before my little brother was born. Back when I was still a cute, "innocent" child. Big, shiny eyes and a mouth ready to pout, tremble, or smile, depending on the situation. Those were my "tools", so to speak, to achieve success. I knew perfectly well how to use an adult's motherly or fatherly instincts to my advantage.

But, just as my cuteness started wearing off, my mother got pregnant again. As soon as Sasuke was born, I was forced out of the role of "baby of the family", right into "big brother" mode. To say I resented it would be the understatement of the century. Multiple times I found myself, for all that I was only 4 or 5 years old at the time, contemplating ways of getting rid of the "intruder."

What can I say? In no way did I like the little brat following me around as soon as he could walk, getting into trouble that I somehow ended up getting in trouble over. It was always, "Aniki, look at me!! Aniki, teach me! Aniki, look what I can do!" How dare he? was all I could think. Didn't he see that I was there first? I was smarter, stronger, and all-around better than him. I was the perfect son, and yet this little pest continuously stole the spotlight. That was MY job.

Sadly, it took me several years to formulate the plan to return things to the way they were supposed to be; me, being admired, and him, practically nonexistant. So on the night after Sasuke's 5th birthday, while all our familial guests were sleeping, I did the one thing nobody ever expected from the "perfect older brother", the "ideal eldest son", the "prodigy"-- I got rid of the little fool's source of attention and love.

I killed my parents, my grandparents. My aunts and uncles. My cousins and, even, my godparents. I destroyed everything my "dear Otouto" Sasuke had ever held dear. And then, while he laid there in my parents poolng blood, snivelling like the disgraceful little worm he was, I laughed. I dropped the bloody heirloom sword, and fell to the ground, laughing at my stupid little brother's tears.

But I couldn't gloat for long. One of the neighbors had called the police some time during my secret slaughter, so I had to leave. I took Sasuke with me. After all, there was no way in hell I was going to let him get any sympathy. I wasn't done torturing the brat by a long shot.

We moved as far away as I could manage on the small fortune I'd brought from home. We stayed in several different cities, having to move fairly frequently because people tended to "disappear" if they angered me. The cops started watching me a little too closely for comfort, so we'd move. Sasuke couldn't remember a thing about the massacre (probably Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder at work) which was a shame, but at least he couldn't tell anyone what he couldn't remember. He still tended to avoid me, which was perfectly okay by me. As long as he stayed out of my way, I could probably refrain from killing the idiot.

About a decade later, we ended up in a city called Konoha. I got a relatively good job in a law office (ironic, seeing what my past was like), so I was careful not to cause any trouble. That is, until Sasuke was about to start at the high school. He was at that rebellious phase I hear so many teens go through. Everything had to become an arguement, usually with me the victor and Sasuke locking himself in his room and blasting music from that stereo system I never should have let him get.

So, when I found him up past 2:00 in the morning when I came back from a work meeting, I decided to teach him a lesson in "submission" and "obeying your Aniki" that he'd never forget. Several lessons, actually, when I found that tragic look on his face as I simultaneously reminded him of our family's murder and thrust deep-- so deep!!-- into him so delicious, almost addictive, I had to do it again. And again.

But I found a new layer to add to my precious Otouto's suffering. I could tell, as I watched him, that he had developed a crush on that annoying kid, Uzumaki Naruto. My assumptions were only proved right when I watched them ride away on the blonde's motorcycle. So I will crush their blossoming romance. I'll destroy it, so Otouto will give me that look I love so much. As soon as they think they finally found happiness, I'll break them both..

Starting with Naruto...