GRADUATION

For the next three weeks, I continued to stay at the Uchiha household after school, studying and training with Sasuke. Sometimes, Itachi would be there to show off his epic shuriken skills and guide us. Sasuke and I both gradually became top students at the academy.

I also began to have greater control of my enhanced hearing, strength and speed by private training sessions with Itachi. However, during the afternoon one day before our genin graduation examination, something dreadful happened.

Sasuke and I were studying in the living room when someone banged violently at the door, shouting, "Itachi, come out!"

Itachi strolled out of his room to open the door. There were three ninjas from the Uchiha clan at the door glaring at him.

One of them began, "Itachi, where have you been during all these clan meetings?" There was no reply. Sasuke hid behind the door to peek at what was going on.

The other ninja shouted angrily, "Itachi, where were you last week?"

He stayed silent. "Did you know Uchiha Shisui died last week when you were absent?"

He continued, "Shisui's body was found in a river and a suicide note with his handwriting was found, but we all know with Sharingan, that can be easily forged."

Itachi asked calmly, "So are you saying that I killed him?" Sasuke's eyes widened in shock.

The ninja who accused him stated, "You are the prime suspect of his murder. You haven't been fulfilling your duties as a ninja of Uchiha clan." Itachi threw a shuriken at the Uchiha emblem on the wall, narrowly missing the man's face. His eyes turned into the sharingan and began to transform further.

Suddenly, his father ran towards them and shouted, "Itachi, what are you doing?"

Itachi didn't move for a while and went on his knees, bowing to the Uchiha clan officials, apologising, "I am sorry for my behaviour. I have been too stressed with Anbu duties. I will come to the Uchiha Shisui's trial to prove my innocence."

The officials seemed taken aback by this drastic change and walked away. Itachi stood up, eyeing the cracked emblem on the wall and turning back to the house. Sasuke and I shared worried glances as he walked past us without a word. We stayed silent, trying to figure out what just happened. I knew that Itachi was falling out with his father from Sasuke who told me that his father surprisingly taught him the Great Fire Technique and advised him not to follow in his brother's footsteps.

As Itachi walked me back to my home, I kept glancing nervously at him and looking for words to say.

Finally, he opened his mouth to speak, "Tomorrow's your graduation exam." I nodded. "I'll attend Sasuke and your graduation." His voice sounded normal, but I knew that he was extremely troubled.

I stopped in my tracks and pulled at his sleeve, looking deeply into his eyes and saying, "Itachi-san, Sasuke and I are really worried about you." He said nothing, but stared coldly at me.

I continued hesitantly, "If there is anything bothering you, I know I may not be of much help, but both Sasuke and I really want to help you." He looked away sorrowfully and said softly, "It'll soon be over." Then he took my hand and led me home in silence.

The day of the exam came and I hadn't slept much. It was not because I was anxious about the exam, but I couldn't stop thinking about what happened the day before. Sasuke and I didn't speak much as we both had things on our minds. The exams flew past. There was only a test of the shadow clone jutsu which everyone passed except Naruto. The ceremony passed quickly and I had the genin forehead protector with a leaf on it in my hands. I had always imagined I would be bouncing about when I received it, but all I was focusing on was Itachi standing in the crowd of family members and faking a strained smile.

As Sasuke and I walked towards the crowd of awaiting parents, his mother embraced us excitedly and praised, "Well done! You are now genins! You should go out to celebrate and come back home later for a huge celebration dinner, alright? Don't come back before 6:30!"

We nodded and set out for the village centre. We spent the day walking around the village and in the library until the sun set. We looked at the clock and walked slowly out of the library to the Uchiha village. The moon was already out as we reached the gates of the Uchiha village. It was dead quiet as we walked past the weirdly deserted houses.

I asked Sasuke, "Where are all the people?" He frowned and suggested, "Maybe they are at the celebration." Out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone perched on top of the lamppost staring at us. However, when I turned, he was gone.