INTRODUCTION
Welcome back to the End of Innocence. As always I like to begin by stating that I do not own Naruto.
THANK YOU
A special thanks to those who reviewed my previous chapter: NarutoBigFreak; SenninClaudio; InARealPickle; airnaruto45; tdwtfan1899; hideki411; Kushina's Truth of Hell; MyHikari; ZeroTail29; perfect beauty; charles cdv; Konoha's Crimson Fox; Mudcake; musguian; Diamond Man; Elena Cullen Blye Winchester; xXbeautifullyshatteredXx & Ben Vilhaven.
RESPONCES
NarutoBigFreak - Thanx. Glad I was able to take you by surprise.
SenninClaudio - Glad you liked it. Thnk you.
InARealPickle - I gave Sasuke the Rinnegan waaaay back in Chapter 8 of Book III. Did you forget? Don't be so quick to judge my friend. Read this chapter and then tell me what you think. :)
airnaruto45 - You know me, I love to take my time. You tend to complain about that remember. Lol!
tdwtfan1899 - Thanks. Let's hope she doesn't.
hideki411 - Thanks.
Kushina's - Ah, yes it was, but that forces you to remember facts from previous chapters doesn't it. Lol! Itachi was always someone who needed to be used IMO. I hope you like how I use him in this chapter.
MyHikari - What, can't you picture Naruto with Mangekyo Sharingan? That would be awesome no? Glad you liked the chapter and I hope you find the pairing I introduce interesting.
ZeroTail29 - Thanks.
Perfect Beauty - I think everyone seemed to forget Itachi's role in the canon. Which is why I thought this was an excellent time to introduce it in my story. Glad you're enjoying things so much.
charles cdv - Thanx.
Mudcake - Glad you enjoyed things. Nah, i wasn't gonna go that far out there with introducing the Sage. That would have just been impossible.
Konoha's Crimson Fox - Thanx.
musguian - Flawless? Nope I don't think so but thank you for the complement. You should do what i did and just put your work out there. It helps you work on your work and gives you perspective on what areas you need to improve upon. Glad you are enjoying the story.
Diamond Man - Gald you're enjoying things and it seems my introduction of Itachi has gone over as a great success. Sakura's tough, don't count her out yet.
Elena Cullen - Lol! So I surprised you too huh? I can't believe how much people love bringing Itachi into the story. I'm so happy right now. Lol!
xXbeautifullyshatteredXx - Lol! So you passed up my story but finnaly gave it a chance? Well, I'm glad you did. And apparently so are you. ;) I'm glad my story has hooked you in and I hope to keep things interesting for you as I begin to bring this little story to the finish line.
I'm a fan of the cliffhangers. It's what keeps you guys coming back for more. I know it can be torturous. It was tough for me to kill Lee off but in the end i felt it was a necessay move considering the path of the story. That said I wanted his death to have not just a profound affect on the others but to have a great affect on changing the tide of this war.
Adding romance was something I wanted to do but I also wanted the level of romance to be true to the characters and I felt that over doing things wouldn't make it realistic especially when, as you say, they are in the middle of war. I'm glad I was able to make NejiIno come across as believable. i wanted to make this pairing as normal as possible.
- Kurenai's and Asuma's child is with the other civilians hiding in the shelter
- I plan to go over the entire story once finished and fix any mistakes
- This was war my dear. The death of the child was necessary to convey how great the stakes was. As a result there had to be TONS OF BLOOD!
Glad you enjoyed the chapter. It really took a bunch of research to come up wwith abilities and tactics that both characters would use. i had to also make it seem fresh and exciting for the readers. not easy. Lol! Oh, and actually update bi-weekly now. Though I may be able to get one or two chapters in weekly.
Ben Vilhaven - Glad you liked the chapter. And I'm happy you gave my other story, Blade of the Shinigami a chance. But you're right, that story is definitely a MATURE TITLE. It's not for everyone I'm afraid but when I think of Bleach I just think it should be a DARK story. I plan to continue with that story once I'm done with this one and I'll understand if it's not something you want to follow. ;)
MESSAGE FROM THE AUTHOR
Well, here is chapter 35 of my story. This chapter is a bit longer than my usual chapters and I had a ton of fun writing this one. Safe to say this is one of my favorite chapters so far and I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I hope you will. Please remember to send a little review my way once your done.
Naruto: Chronicles of the Seventh
Book III: End of Innocence
Chapter XXXV: Itachi's Legacy
******Konoha Hospital – Mid-Afternoon******
Hinata's eyes opened slowly as she groaned in pain. Her vision was blurred and her hearing muffled as she slowly came to. Bright sunlight streamed in and she could feel its comforting warmth on her face.
She could feel the soft pillow and bed underneath her and the warm blanket that covered her. As she took a deep sigh of relief all of the memories of the day suddenly flooded back. She remembered marching out towards the battlefield; having to watch her comrades fight an die. She remembered the last moments with her father and the wounds she'd suffered in her fight.
Suddenly Hinata shot up, sitting straight up in the bed. The sudden movement caused a massive spasm of pain in her chest, arm and stomach and it took her a moment to catch her breath. Where am I, she wondered as she looked around the white, sterile room.
It only took her a moment to recognize the place as one of the medical rooms in Konoha's hospital. Oh that's right, Hinata thought as the last memories she had before losing consciousness returned to her. She remembered arriving at the triage station in the field with the rest of her unit. The place was in chaos as apparently the Biju had been unleashed and was wreaking havoc.
Her wounds were severe and Sakura had recommended that she be sedated while they worked on her. The last thing she remembered before the medicines put her to sleep was hearing someone scream that Naruto-kun was coming. She could hear the happiness and relief in their voices.
Hinata took a deep sigh and looked at her body. She was wearing no shirt and instead was wrapped in bandages from her upper stomach up to her shoulders. Her left arm was heavily bandaged as well. Her vision was still blurry, no doubt a side affect from using that jutsu, but she could see well enough.
Hinata then heard a man's voice. "You really should lie down," the person said. Hinata quickly turned to see Sai, sitting up in a bed next to her. "You don't want to re-open your wounds do you," he said with a smile.
"My wounds," Hinata asked as she looked at herself. Hinata suddenly realized how little she was wearing in the presence of a man. She yelled and fumbled for the blanket and covered herself. "W…What are you doing here Sai-kun," she asked as she turned beet red.
Sai stared at her with a confused look on his face. "Oh," he said. "I get it. I read in a book that women get embarrassed if they are caught by a man while they are under dressed."
Hinata turned even redder and quickly dropped back into the bed. "I….I'm not nervous," she said. "Y-You just startled me, that's all!"
"Oh," Sai said with a smile. "That's good. I wouldn't want to embarrass you."
"Is this the Konoha Hospital," Hinata asked as she looked out of the window at the clear blue sky. "How did we get here?"
Sai took a deep sigh and looked at the large sketch pad laying open on his lap. "Sakura-san had the entire medical unit move out of the battlefield once things settled down. Unfortunately they don't have enough beds to handle the amount of wounded. The medic who placed me hear told me that usually they prefer to let women and men remain in separate rooms but they don't have that luxury right now."
"Oh, I see," Hinata asked. "So it's true that Madara had released the Biju? What happened?"
Sai smiled and said, "Naruto-kun beat them."
Hinata's eyes widened in astonishment. "Naruto-kun beat them," she asked. "On his own?"
Sai nodded happily. "Once he beat them, Sakura-san had everyone moved back to the village for safety. The Biju had caused so much damage that we couldn't be properly protected out in the field."
Naruto, Hinata thought as she looked out the window. You're amazing. Just incredible.
"But that wasn't the only problem," Sai said. This caused Hinata to look at him once again. Sai had a concerned look on his face. "When we got back to the village it was being over run by the enemy. Somehow they had snuck in."
"What," Hinata said as she leaned up on her elbows. "But then how…?"
"Neji-kun, Kiba-kun, Ino-chan and Lady Tsunade led our forces on a counter offensive," Sai said. "They, along with some Toads Naruto had summoned, defeated the enemy and secured the village."
Hinata laid down in the bed and sighed in relief. "So where is Naruto-kun now," she asked.
"No one….knows exactly," Sai said as he nervously rolled a pencil back and forth between his fingers.
"What," Hinata asked. "What do you mean?"
"Last I heard Naruto-kun was on the battlefield alone," Sai said. "Sakura-san stayed too. No one has heard from either of them. Though, knowing Sakura-san, she probably went to find him."
"So isn't anyone going to look for them," Hinata asked excitedly.
"Moegi-chan told me that there are trying to fortify their defenses and get all the wounded out of the way in case of another attack first," Sai said. "Once they do that they plan to send as many as they can for backup."
Hinata looked up at the ceiling as the ceiling fan whirled around slowly. She could feel a lump in her stomach as she got more and more anxious. Naruto-kun, she thought.
Hinata looked at Sai and could see he was as worried as she was. It was at that moment she realized how little she actually knew Sai. He was always quiet. He would laugh and talk at times but he could usually be seen simply observing and drawing. Often times he didn't seem like someone who was a part of the world but rather a person who simply observed the intricacies of it.
There were times she would sneak peaks at his work and she marveled at the beauty with which he saw things. But there was also something else. There was sadness in all of his paintings and drawings. No matter how happy the people in them seemed, it always felt as if there was some emotional disconnection in his work.
She always just assumed it was her own imagination or perhaps that because Sai couldn't as yet fully understand such happiness and that he found it hard to convey it in his work.
But, looking at him now, a new and more likely theory came to her. It wasn't that he couldn't understand happiness. It was him. It was his own sadness and fears that he could not show to others. Anyone can laugh with people. It's not difficult to show happiness to others. But sadness, fear, inadequacies, these emotions were difficult for most people, let alone someone like him. For Sai it could only reflect in his work. It was the only true expression of him. It was a part of him and a part of his work and it was something he couldn't separate even if he tried.
"Why are you staring at me," Sai said blankly.
Hinata gasped lightly and blushed as she looked away. A moment later she looked to see Sai was drawing once again. Hinata remained lost in her thoughts for a while with only the sound of Sai's pencil along his pad to keep her company. Unable to bear the silence any longer, Hinata looked at Sai who seemed lost in his work. "What are you drawing," she asked.
Sai smiled and said, "Nothing really. I just needed something to draw."
Hmmm, Hinata thought. I was right. You're nervous Sai-kun. So to help deal with it you draw. "May I see it," Hinata asked.
"Ahhh, perhaps not," Sai said nervously. "I don't have all my tools here. It's really not that good."
Hinata smiled at Sai. At this point she realized she had a choice, she could either accept his answer and let it alone and return to that unbearable silence and her worries over Naruto. Or she could push a bit to see Sai's work. At this point it really wasn't much of a choice at all. And she had to admit, his refusal to let her see made her curious. "Nonsense," Hinata said. "I don't mind it if its unfinished. Let me see."
"I'd rather not," Sai said.
Hinata sighed and looked about. She saw a robe hanging next to her bed and reached out for it. She quickly put it on, making sure Sai didn't get a peak and got to her feet. Her legs felt heavy and her breathing was labored but she slowly made her way around her bed towards Sai.
"You really shouldn't be up," Sai said. "That's a bit reckless."
"Then you should have let me see the picture," Hinata said with a smile as she walked next to Sai and looked at his pad. Hinata gasped and put her hand by her mouth. "Th-This is."
Hinata took the pad and walked backwards until she was able to sit down in her bed as she stared at the picture of her sleeping in her bed. Though the picture was incomplete it was still a perfect replication of her sleeping with the window open and the light illuminating her face.
"I read that it is impolite to draw someone without their permission," Sai said. "But I just found that you….inspired me. I'm sorry."
"No," Hinata said. "It's….beautiful. It's really beautiful. I look…..happy in this picture. I don't look sad at all."
Sai had a strange, confused look and asked, "Why would you look sad?"
Hinata wiped a tear from her eye and handed the pad back to him. "No," she said. "It's nothing. Please, can you finish it for me? Do you mind if I keep it when you're done?"
Sai smiled and said, "Sure. Please lay down."
Hinata got back under her blanket and removed her robe. She looked at Sai who smiled before he began to draw again. She smiled as she closed her eyes. Maybe he's not as bad as I thought, Hinata thought.
******Meanwhile******
"Hello Sasuke," Itachi said. "We need to talk."
Sasuke gritted his teeth as he tried in vain to pull himself free from the cross he was strapped on to. "What is this," he yelled as he looked about frantically. "Naruto! Naruto you bastard! Come on out! I don't know…..I don't know how you received the Sharingan, but I will make you pay for it! The Sharingan is a symbol of the Noble Uchiha Clan! A lowlife outsider like you has no right to have it! Come on out! Don't think you can affect me with some vision of Itachi! Come out and I'll rip those eyes from your skull!"
"Yo," Itachi said calmly. "You really shouldn't yell and scream like that little brother. It's not very becoming of a shinobi." Itachi then smiled and said, "Acting like that…..really isn't like you Sasuke."
Sasuke paused and stared at Itachi. After a moment he said, "You…..you are not real. My brother is dead."
"Yes," Itachi said. "I am dead. If you're seeing me now it means you defeated me. But not all of me is dead."
Suddenly the landscape began to change and turned into a wooded area. "I think the best way to explain how I've come to be here is to just show you Sasuke," Itachi said. "Now look. What you are witnessing is something that took place just before our final meeting."
Standing in the middle of a small clearing was Itachi. "Show yourself, Uzumaki Naruto," he said.
Naruto then came out from behind a nearby tree. "You've finally come to capture me," he asked.
"No," Itachi responded. "I merely want to talk to you." While Itachi spoke with Naruto, two of Naruto's clones closed in on him from behind. Itachi quickly pulled two kunai from his sleeves and threw them at the clones without even looking back and easily dispatched them.
"Like I'm going to fall for that," Naruto yelled.
Itachi moved his hands and Naruto quickly looked away and tried to focus on Itachi's feet. "I see you've learned a little about fighting the Sharingan. You must know what to do when you're alone. Why aren't you running?"
"Pfft," Naruto scoffed. "Because with me my numbers can be anywhere from one to one thousand! And I can't afford to run this time. I have to capture you so I can find Sasuke."
"What is it about my brother that makes you care about him so much," Itachi asked. "He is a rogue ninja who abandoned you."
"Because he's like a brother to me," Naruto responded. "I've been a better brother to him than you ever were."
Hearing this made Sasuke look away. "No Sasuke," Itachi said as he stood next to him. "I want you to watch this." Sasuke turned and faced the scene that played out before him. As he saw the vision of Naruto and Itachi face each other he saw a small smile on Itachi's face.
Naruto suddenly sprinted at Itachi, prepared to fight. Itachi opened his cloak and dozens of crows flew out and surrounded Naruto. "You are already trapped in my illusion," Itachi said.
"Fuck," Naruto said in frustration. It was then, Sasuke was able to see what Itachi had done. The crows he had sent to attack Naruto were made of Itachi's pure chakra and each had a special seal. When the crows entered Naruto, Sasuke could see Itachi's chakra meld with Naruto's and then be sealed away.
"I'll say it only once more," Itachi said. "I only came here to talk with you." Itachi ended his genjutsu causing Naruto to drop to the ground gasping for air.
"W-why," Naruto asked. "You're after me aren't you? So fight me now!"
Itachi stared at Naruto for a moment as if he was considering whether or not to answer the question. "I have a very important matter to deal with," he finally said. "Farewell Naruto-kun."
The vision of Naruto and Sasuke faded away as well as the landscape leaving Sasuke and Itachi alone once more. "So," Sasuke said. "That's how you did it. Why would you do something like that?"
"Think of it as an insurance policy," Itachi said.
"Insurance," Sasuke asked. "Against Madara?"
"Against you," Itachi responded. "In case my plan had failed. Which it seems it has. Somewhere along the line I miscalculated how much hate would blind you and how truly manipulative Madara could be."
Sasuke looked away when suddenly the cross he was strapped to vanished and he fell to his knees. "I take it you're calm now," Itachi asked. "Sorry about that but my chakra is limited. I couldn't waste it having to fight you."
Sasuke got to his feet and stared at Itachi for a moment. Cautiously, he raised his hand and touched his shoulder. Sasuke squeezed his shoulder as if he was testing the solidity of the man before him. And then, in one fluid motion, Sasuke hugged Itachi.
For a moment Itachi remained motionless as he seemed surprised by the gesture. Slowly, a smile crept on his face and he hugged Sasuke back. The two brothers separated and Itachi said, "It's good to see you smile at me again, Sasuke. I've missed that. But now isn't the time for this. Sasuke, I want to tell you that….I'm sorry."
Sasuke stared at him sadly as Itachi continued to speak. "I'm sorry for not being the older brother you needed," Itachi said. "Everything I've done, all the mistakes I've made, they were for you. But in the end, I see now how wrong I've been."
"Brother," Sasuke said. "There is no need to apologize. None at all. I-I understand now why you did what you did. I understand. I do. And I promise, that I will make Konoha pay for forcing you into such a situation! I'll make them all pay for the sacrifice they forced you to make!"
"Forced," Itachi said as he looked up into the blood red sky. "No, that's not quite it is it? No Sasuke, I wasn't forced at all. I was the one, who chose to do it."
Sasuke's yes grew wide as he looked at Itachi. He then said, "W-what?"
Again the landscape around them began to change and Sasuke suddenly found himself in the secret Uchiha meeting Hall. There were several dozen familiar faces sitting around a large oak table. Sasuke could recognize some of them from his youth. They were all elders and leaders of the Uchiha Clan. His father, Fugaku, was also there sitting at the head of the table. Sitting to his right, was Itachi.
"All of our pleas and requests have fallen on deaf ears," one gray haired man yelled as he slammed his fist on the table. "The Hokage and his advisors refuse to give us greater stature in Konoha no matter what we do!"
"Settle down Yojiro," Fugaku said as he tried to maintain order. "I have been in constant negotiations with the Hokage and…"
"Negotiation," another man said. "What good has negotiation gotten us? While we negotiate we remain oppressed while other inferior clans like the Hyuga and Nara are elevated in stature. The Uchiha clan is the most powerful clan in the ninja world and we are reduced to glorified crossing guards! We should be running Konoha, not subservient to it!"
"This was the risk we took after the Nine Tails Incident," another man yelled. "If only he had succeeded…!"
"Quiet," Fugaku yelled at the man prompting his silence. Fugaku then looked to Itachi who stared at the man confused. "For now we need to bide our time until we can move."
"We are tired of waiting," Yojiro said, "The time has come for action. If we will not be given the respect we are owed then we should take it. That and more."
"What do you suggest," Fugaku asked.
"Rebellion," Yojiro responded with a smile. "Together, the Uchiha can take control of Konohagakure by force. It is time for the Uchiha to take back the honor we lost!"
Itachi gasped and stared at the man in horror at what he had heard. He then looked to his father whose eyes were closed and arms crossed in deep thought. After a few moments Fugaku opened his eyes and said, "How would we go about doing such a thing?"
Sasuke watched as the scene before him faded away and once again he and Itachi was alone. "I wasn't sure at the time what horrified me more," Itachi said. "Was it the suggestion of civil war? Or was it that Father was actually considering it? Perhaps I was too young to understand the oppression the elders talked about. Maybe I was too idealistic. But all I knew was that this did not feel right. In my gut I knew this was wrong. But I was too wrapped up in working to receive our fathers' approval to go against him. So I kept quiet. I think in retrospect it was because I didn't want to believe they were serious. I wanted to believe that this was just the ramblings of old men with too much time on their hands. But I knew. Deep down I knew things were changing."
"So," Sasuke said spitefully. "You did what you thought was right! But it was Konoha who chose to destroy the Uchiha!"
"Be quiet Sasuke," Itachi yelled. It was an uncharacteristic burst of emotion from his brother that silenced him immediately. "Do not speak on things you don't understand. Just be silent and listen."
Itachi was quiet for a moment as he seemed to be gathering his thoughts. Finally he spoke. "For a long time afterwards there were many meetings. Plans were being proposed and finalized. For my part, father had come to me and informed me that I would be tested for eligibility to join ANBU. And that if I passed I would be in a position to pass along sensitive information to him."
Again the scene changed and Sasuke found himself standing in his living room. His heart ached as he saw the steam coming from the kitchen. He could almost smell the soup his mother would prepare. Sitting in the middle of the room was his father and brother. His father was sipping on some tea as Itachi sat with a confused look on his face.
"But father," Itachi said. "Everyone knows Uchiha clan members are not allowed to join the ANBU. In fact all we are only allowed to join is the Police Force. How could I even get so far as to be tested for ANBU?"
Fugaku sipped his tea and said, "One day that will change Itachi. But for now this will have to do. Do not concern yourself with how. Just know that I know someone who is….sensitive…..to our plight. He will get you in, but only if you succeed in the upcoming mission. Itachi, you will be the backbone that connects our clan to Konohagakure. I expect nothing less from you but complete success."
Itachi stared at his father in silence as he knew just what he meant. "Yes father," he said as he bowed.
Again the scene reverted back to the red sky as Itachi and Sasuke was again alone. "And that's how it started for me," Itachi said. "A few weeks later I went on and completed that mission and joined the ranks of the ANBU. Almost immediately I was tasked by the clan to relay any and all classified information to them and I did so without fail. But as time went on, the uncomfortable feeling I had grew."
"With every Clan meeting I attended and every piece on information I gave them, the more uneasy I became" Itachi said. And as he spoke Sasuke saw the scene change over and over. Sasuke saw Itachi sitting in on different meetings, receiving orders from his father and relaying information to the elders. Sasuke even saw familiar scenes of times when he pestered Itachi to train him only for Itachi to refuse.
All the while Sasuke could see the change in his brothers' expressions. It was a look that he, as a child, mistook for annoyance towards him but was in fact sadness. It was the look of someone carrying a burden that was too much to bear.
"Finally I'd had enough," Itachi said. "And I'd decided to speak to my father about my concerns, no matter the outcome." Again the scene changed and Sasuke found himself back in his old home. Itachi opened the door and entered the room and looked about.
"I'm home," Itachi said as his mother came from the kitchen.
"Mother," Sasuke whispered as he looked at her smiling face. He felt a pang of regret and sorrow in his heart as he looked at her.
"Oh, Hello Itachi," She said. "How was you're day?"
"Just fine mother," Itachi said with a half-hearted smile. "Have you seen…?"
Just then Fugaku stepped out of a back room and entered the living room. "Hello father," Itachi said.
"Hello Itachi," Fugaku said. "How did your mission go?"
"Just fine," Itachi said. "But we need to talk father. It's about the other work you've been having me do. As well as the plans you've been working on. I have concerns."
"Concerns," Fugaku asked. "What concerns?"
Itachi took a deep breath and said, "Father, I am not sure a coup d'etat is the best path taken. I know that the Uchiha clan was unjustly suspected in the Kyubi incident but I just can't believe that revolution is the only way to resolve this problem."
Fugaku folded his arms and closed his eyes as was his custom when in deep thought. "Itachi," he said. "You are too young to fully grasp the plight of the Clan. Despite your ability you do not know what was taken from us. This is not just about securing the best future for our clan but about righting a great injustice of the past."
"Maybe so," Itachi said. "And you can call me young or naïve but there is one thing I know, the path we are taking only leads to war! A war that will cost many lives."
"No change comes without sacrifice," Fugaku said. "No war can be won without loss. It is one of the unbreakable truths of this world. And believe me when I say, that none of them, from the Hokage down to the youngest child…NONE OF THEM…..are innocent!"
Fugaku slowly opened his eyes as he spoke those words and his Sharingan was activated. Instinctively, as he was trained to do when confronted by a threat, Itachi immediately activated his Sharingan as well. It was then Itachi noticed the malice in his fathers' words. For what seemed like an eternity the two stared at each other in a silent tug of war that only can be done by two masters of the Sharingan.
After a moment Fugaku de-activated his Sharingan and walked past Itachi towards the door. "Father," Itachi said as he turned to face him.
"Enough," Fugaku said. "Itachi, what has been put into motion can not…will not….be stopped. As a member of the Uchiha you are expected to honor the clan appropriately. I will hear no more of this from you."
"But father," Itachi said.
"Enough," Fugaku yelled as he glared at Itachi. Itachi then felt his mothers' hand on his shoulder. When he looked at her she simply shook her head.
"As you wish father," Itachi said as Fugaku prepared to leave. "Where are you going?"
"Since when have I had to answer to you," Itachi said. "Where I go and what I do is none of your concern." Fugaku slammed the door behind him and left. Again the scene faded away and Sasuke and Itachi was once again alone.
"And that is how it began," Itachi said to Sasuke. "From that day a divide was placed between us. For me this was something I could not let alone. I hounded him, pleaded and begged him to reconsider many times after that. And every time he would refuse and we would argue. It was then I learned another truth about our father. Weakness wasn't the only thing he could not abide. He would not stand to be questioned. He refused to be challenged especially by his own son. But I would not relent because I think I didn't at the time fully understand the depths of the hatred my father and the rest of the clan felt. I didn't understand how far that hatred has taken them. But I would, very soon."
Again the scene in front of Sasuke began to change and he found himself in a deep wooded area. Standing in a small clearing was his father Fugaku. He was looking about as if scanning to ensure he was not being spied upon. Itachi then pointed to a darkened area and Sasuke noticed that Itachi was hidden there behind a tree.
Then Sasuke heard a familiar voice coming from another area. "I trust you were not followed Fugaku," the man said as he stepped into the clearing. Thanks to the light of the moon Sasuke could see his face and he gasped.
"That's Shimura Danzo," Sasuke said as Danzo stepped forward and removed the hood covering his head. He was flanked by two masked ANBU ninja who seemed at the ready for any assault.
"You should know me better than to think I'd allow that to happen Danzo," Fugaku said impatiently. "The real question is why you had these two come with you. We are supposed to come alone."
"Oh," Danzo said. "Well, I'm not one to take unnecessary risks like that. And neither are you it seems." Danzo then seemed to look in the direction where Itachi was hidden and Sasuke could see the fear etched on Itachi's face. But just then, the leaves rustled in the trees above Itachi and a female ninja dropped from the trees, landing beside Fugaku. "Hello Mikoto," Danzo said with a forced smile. "It's a pleasure to see you again. You look lovely as always"
"Mother," Sasuke wondered. "What's going on here?" Sasuke looked at Itachi who remained silent. Itachi then looked at the vision of Itachi still hiding and he could see the same surprise on Itachi's face as his own. Brother, Sasuke thought. You followed father without his knowledge?
Mikoto was dressed in a standard ANBU ninja outfit sans the mask and her hair was pinned back into a ponytail. Her hand was grasping the sword strapped to her back. Mikoto bowed at Danzo slightly but remained silent and instead kept her eyes on the two of his guards.
"Alright Danzo," Fugaku said. "Now that all of our cards on the table, let's get down to it. Itachi will get suspicious if we're gone for too long."
"Have you not told him the full scope of your plans yet Fugaku," Danzo asked.
Fugaku shook his head. "He's too idealistic to be trusted with that information. He still believes peace can be obtained through pacifistic ways."
Danzo shook his head. "It seems the flawed beliefs of Hiruzen has tainted your son Fugaku," Danoz said. "Are you sure he can still be trusted?"
"My son may be wayward but he knows his importance to the Uchiha," Fugaku responded.
"If you say so," Danzo said as he removed an envelope from his large sleeve and handed it to Fugaku. "Here is the itinerary for Hiruzen's movements as well as some of the villages future security plans," Danzo said as he handed it to Fugaku. "This should make your movements much easier when the time comes."
Fugaku took the envelope and opened it and read a bit of it before closing it back up. "You seem too eager to give this to me Danzo," Fugaku said. "If these plans are false it could be disastrous for my people. Whose to say this isn't a setup."
Mikoto instantly drew her sword just as Danzo's two guards drew kunai and leapt in front of him. For a brief moment everyone squared off until another voice came from the shadows. "Now now," the man said. "Every one needs to settle down. What good is an alliance if everyone is trying to kill each other?"
Sasuke gasped as the figure stepped out into the moon light. He instantly recognized the voice of the man and though the mask was different, with distinctive flame patterns, and his hair was longer, Sasuke still knew the man standing in the clearing. "Madara Uchiha," Sasuke whispered. "What was he doing there?"
"So you're here too Madara," Fugaku said.
"Of course," Madara said. "The time almost draws near. It's a chance for the Uchiha to finally right the wrongs of the past and repay the debt of betrayal against me."
"Hmpf," Fugaku said defiantly as he crossed his arms. "Betrayal? The Uchiha owe you nothing. We just only realize the wisdom of what you were trying to say all those years ago. But we wouldn't have to go so far if you hadn't failed with the Kyubi. Now the Uchiha are treated like a pariah for a perceived betrayal."
"Perceived," Madara asked and then laughed. "You seem to conveniently forget your role in the incident Fugaku. Don't forget that it was through your efforts that I was able to infiltrate so deeply into Konoha in the first place. And it was you're precious Mikoto who was able to keep tabs on when Kushina was going to have birth. So don't go thinking you're exactly without blame here."
"No," Sasuke whispered as he gritted his teeth. "No! There's no way my mother and father would be caught up in anything like this! There is no way!"
Sasuke continued to look on as the three men continued their conversation. He then looked to the vision of Itachi that remained hidden. Itachi was gripping the tree he hid behind so tightly that blood dripped from his fingertips. He gritted his teeth and Sasuke saw something that he had only seen once before in his life. He saw tears in the eyes of his brother.
"I will give you one warning Fugaku," Madara said as he seemed to look over Fugaku's shoulder towards the area where Itachi hid. "Do not be over confident with your son. Danzo is right about that. You never know where a man's heart truly lies, whether he be Uchiha or not."
Itachi gasped slightly as he realized that there was no mistaking the fact that this man was looking directly at him. Madara then turned and faced Fugaku and said. "Overconfidence is an unfortunate trait of the Uchiha. It has led to our downfall on too many an occasion."
Itachi swallowed hard and turned to leave. He wasn't sure why Madara chose not to say anything but he knew he had pressed his luck enough. Itachi leapt through the trees as quickly as he could for a long time before needing to rest and stopping on the large branch of an oak tree to catch his breath. Itachi gritted his teeth and punched the tree. "Damn it," he said. "Damn it father! Why!"
"Because of pride," a man answered behind him. Itachi quickly drew a kunai and turned to face him and gasped when he saw Madara standing before him. "That too is an unfortunate trait of those born with these eyes, the Uchiha Clan. We can not live being subservient to anyone. We have to be acknowledged as the best and the strongest, no matter the consequences. But you….Itachi Uchiha….despite your power…..you are not like that at all are you?"
Itachi quickly scanned the area to confirm no others where nearby. "Don't worry," Madara said. "We are alone. Your parents know nothing about your activities."
Itachi regarded the man for a moment and said, "Why would you say nothing?"
"Why should I say anything," Madara said. "It's not like you're an enemy are you? I mean you are helping your father in this aren't you?" Itachi looked to the ground as if in deep thought before looking again to Madara.
"I wonder," Madara said. "You are quite strong. I'd say there hasn't been an Uchiha as strong as you in quite some time. I wonder if you could do it."
"Do what," Itachi asked.
"Gain Mangekyo Sharingan," Madara asked.
"Mangekyo…Sharingan," Itachi asked.
"Yes," Madara responded. "I'm sure you've heard of it. You could do it if you tried. Do you know how to gain it?"
"Yes," Itachi said. "You have to kill someone very close to you. Like a best friend. But I would never….!"
"Yes I suppose you're right," Madara said. "It's not in your personality to be that cold is it? But then how do you plan to stop your father without that power?"
"What," Itachi asked.
"That is what you struggling with right," Madara asked. "You plan to stop him. And it bothers you. Am I right?" Again Itachi gritted his teeth.
"You'll never do it without that power," Madara said. "So what will you do?"
"I….." Itachi paused as he realized he wasn't sure.
"You could go to the Hokage with what you know," Madara said. "But then you couldn't tell him about me or Danzo. Not if you want him to take you seriously that is. So what will you do I wonder?" Madara suddenly began to disappear in a swirl of energy.
"Wait," Itachi yelled. "If you think I will betray your plans why are you letting me go!"
Before Madara faded he said, "Because my goals will be accomplished no matter what you do. It's too late for you to stop that. But I am curious to see how things play out. But remember one thing Itachi Uchiha, the strong will inevitably seek to gain more power while the weak will unknowingly give it away. It is one of the basic laws of nature."
Again the scene faded leaving Itachi and Sasuke alone. "And so it was that I learned the truth about that incident with the Kyubi so many years ago as well as the truth about my parents, my clan and Uchiha Madara," Itachi said.
"But I don't understand," Sasuke said. "Why did Madara let you live? It would have been easier to kill you no?"
"That's what I thought at that time myself," Itachi said. "But it wasn't until it was too late that I realized he was right. Nothing I did changed what was to come. Plus, Madara was right. He could see it in my eyes that I was going to betray my father. It was as inevitable as his own plans."
"But why," Sasuke said. "After what Konoha had done….!"
"But that's just it Sasuke," Itachi said. "Konoha had done nothing. I knew now that their suspicions of the Uchiha were not baseless. I knew now that the Uchiha was in fact guilty. It was just as Madara said. Our people, in spite of…no….that's not right….because of our own power, we are slaves to our own avarice."
"So what did you do next," Sasuke asked.
"The only thing I could think to do," Itachi said as the scene again began to change and Sasuke found himself in the office of the Hokage. Sitting at a large table was Sarutobi Hiruzen and he was joined in the room by the other elders: Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu and Shimura Danzo. Danzo, for his part, remained completely calm and gave no hint of fear or nervousness.
"They are what," The Third Hokage said, "Are you sure about this?"
Itachi nodded. "Unfortunately I am," he said. "I have personally been relaying top secret information to them since I became ANBU. For this I sincerely apologize."
"If this is true then how can you be trusted," Danzo asked as he glared at Itachi. "Someone who betrays their comrades are considered scum. You seem surprisingly easy with doing such things."
Itachi, for his part, glared right back and said, "Doing this is not easy. But….recent events…..have made it clear that this is wrong. My people need to be stopped. And I will do anything to stop them."
Again the scene faded and went dark, leaving Itachi and Sasuke alone. "Why didn't you tell them about Danzo and Madara," Sasuke asked.
"Because Madara was right," Itachi said. "Danzo was at highly regarded elder of the village and Madara was believed to have been killed decades ago. If I would have mentioned them without proof I would have been regarded as insane, and all of the other information, no matter what, would have been disregarded."
"I had to bide my time in order to find information about them," Itachi said. "But in the meantime I did confront Danzo and I agreed not to mention him to the other elders if he agreed not to mention my betrayal to my father. It would do neither of us any good at this point. And from that point forward I spied on the Uchiha. I would relay all information to the Elders and with their help we delayed the coup, while the Hokage insisted on stronger negotiation."
"For the next few weeks I believed things were progressing," Itachi said. "Though my father remained adamant that the Uchiha were not getting a fair deal, through my efforts we kept the coup from happening. But, I miscalculated my father. It seems the words said to him that night planted the seed of doubt in me and he indeed decided to have a spy follow me.
"And the person he gave the task to was someone I never would have expected and thus wasn't prepared for," Itachi said. "And it was that failure that led to everything unraveling. For you see it was on that day after a meeting with the elders of Konoha that I was confronted by my spy."
Again the scene changed and Sasuke saw that it was a bright sunny day. Sasuke instantly recognized the area as a secluded spot near the Naka River. Sasuke saw Itachi leaping through the trees when two kunai came flying at him from behind. Itachi quickly used a kunai to block the attack and quickly landed on the ground. His clothes were ripped and torn and he had a haggard appearance.
Itachi turned to face the person who landed on the ground behind him and Sasuke's eyes widened as he saw the man. "I remember him," Sasuke said. "That's Uchiha Shisui."
"Shisui," Itachi said through gasping breathes. "I'm begging you to stop this. You don't understand! Please just….just allow me to explain!"
"The time for explanation is past Itachi," Shisui said. Shisui also looked worn down and his clothes tattered. "When I was tasked to watch over you I truly believed this was a mistake! That you would never do anything to betray the clan! Now, I am ashamed to ever consider someone like you a friend!"
"Shisui," Itachi said. "You know me! You know I would never do anything like this if I didn't have good reason! Please….!"
"Enough," Shisui yelled. "I know what I saw Itachi! I saw you give over vital information to the elders! You place the entire operation in jeopardy! You put the lives of the clan in jeopardy!"
"The clan's duty is to protect Konoha first Shisui," Itachi yelled. "They're the ones who turned their backs on their comrades, not me! Why can't you see that? You don't have to blindly follow orders Shisui! Sometimes a ninja must question things!"
"Foolishness," Shisui said as he activated his Sharingan. "A ninja's job to complete his mission. It's not our job to question things! Itachi, it seems you have made your choice on who you will side with!"
Itachi took a deep breath and activated his Sharingan. "And it seems you have chosen yours as well," he said. Again the scene went dark and changed and Sasuke found himself still by the river. Itachi was badly wounded and knelt over the fallen body of Shisui.
"Shisui," Itachi said. "Please hold on! I can still save you!"
Shisui opened his eyes and spat blood into Itachi's face. "Go to hell you bastard," he said as his eyes closed for the last time.
Itachi's body seemed to shake as though he was suddenly cold all over. "Shisui," he yelled before screaming into the sky for anyone and no one to hear. Suddenly Itachi felt a sharp pain in his eyes and they began to bleed. It was then Sasuke saw the moment Itachi received the Mangekyo Sharingan. It was the first time Sasuke had seen such a display from his usually even keeled brother.
Just then Danzo appeared out of the shadows, flanked by two ANBU. "Hmmm," he said. "It seems things have taken a turn for the worse."
"You," Itachi said as he turned to face Danzo. Suddenly he was surrounded by a large skeletal figure that caused Danzo and his guards to step back in surprise. Itachi paused and looked about at the large creature that surrounded him. "T-This is Susanoo," he stuttered. "Then that means…."
"You have unlocked Mangekyo Sharingan," Danzo said. "Incredible. I was told that you had the potential but I'd never dreamed it could happen."
Itachi then glared at Danzo and said, "You, I warned you not to betray me Danzo!"
"I did no such thing," Danzo said. "You betrayed yourself. All of the protesting to your father finally convinced him to have you watched. What happened this day was your fault. Besides, did you really think you could do something like this without having to fight? Were you really so naïve to think no blood would be spilled to stop a coup?"
Slowly Susanoo faded away and Itachi stood silent for a while and then looked to Shisui. Damn you Shisui, he thought.
Danzo walked passed Itachi and looked at Shisui. "Leave," he said. "Leave now before you're discovered. Leave the disposal of this one to me."
"Why would you help me now," Itachi asked.
"I could spend the time to explain," Danzo said. "Or you could spend that time to get the hell out of here and establish an alibi for yourself. Which would you prefer?"
Itachi glared at Danzo before looking at Shisui again. "Tch," he said before he turned and left. Again, everything went dark and Sasuke and Itachi were alone.
"What happened after you already know," Itachi said. "I returned home until those Uchiha came to question me. And as for Shisui….what I learned later was the reason why Danzo let me go. He wanted to be alone with Shisui's corpse so he could retrieve his Sharingan. He then dumped the body in the river and forged a suicide note."
"Several days later Danzo summoned me to his home," Itachi said as the scene changed yet again.
"What," Itachi asked. "What did you say?"
"The Elders of the village have decided that the Uchiha must be exterminated for the sake of the village," Danzo said calmly.
"You can't be serious," Itachi said.
"Very," Danzo said. "Negotiations with the Uchiha is going no where as you would expect. And thanks to your intel we know for a fact they plan their coup within the next week. Time has run out. The other elders and I feel that this is best way to avoid a bloody war that could cripple the village and leave us open to attack from our enemies. The Uchiha must be put down. And, what's more, we think you should be the one to do it."
"Me," Itachi said. "Why me?"
"You know why," Danzo said. "To defeat Sharingan one must have Sharingan. And none have stronger eyes than you Itachi."
"You are asking me to kill my own family," Itachi said angrily.
"I am asking you to protect your home," Danzo said. "This was your decision to go against the will of your family. You knew this could happen. You chose your side. Now you must fulfill your commitment."
"But I don't understand," Itachi said. "Why would you want this? You were in league with them. What changed?"
Danzo took a deep breath and folded his arms. "My reasons are my own," Danzo said. "The Uchiha were not supposed to go as far as they are planning to go. At this rate if they go forward with their plans, win or lose I will be Hokage over a pile of rubble."
Itachi stared at the man for brief moment. He knew there was more to Danzo's change of heart than he was letting on. "Take a day to think it over," Danzo said. "It's all that we can spare."
Again the scene went dark and began to change as Itachi said to Sasuke, "But I didn't have a day as Danzo claimed. I was soon to learn than things were progressing far quicker than I assumed."
Sasuke looked about as he found himself in the streets of Konoha. Specifically it was the area of the village where the Uchiha clan lived. It was night and there was not a cloud in the sky under a full moon. Sasuke, in his heart, knew what night this was.
He saw Itachi walking down the desolate street. He was wearing his ANBU uniform. "I had just returned from a small insignificant mission that took only a half day to accomplish," Itachi said. "I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice how desolate the streets seemed."
There was a woman's scream that came from a nearby home and Itachi ran and leapt over the gate and into the yard. He knocked on the door and it creaked opened. As he cautiously walked in he gasped as he saw the fallen bodies of a woman and two men. Itachi knew them to be of the Uchiha clan. It was Daisuke Uchiha, his wife and fifteen year old son. They were murdered in cold blood.
"What," Itachi said as he cautiously approached the bodies. Before he could inspect them he heard another scream from the house next door. Itachi ran, leaping through an open window and slammed his shoulder into the front door, breaking it down. As Itachi sprinted into the living room he arrived just in time to see another man's bloodied body crumple to the ground. Standing above him was the masked man he saw that night, Madara Uchiha.
"You," Itachi said as he drew a kunai. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I think you already know," Madara said. "The time has come Itachi. The Uchiha have failed as a people. To protect Konoha they need to be erased.
"To protect Konoha," Itachi screamed. "You don't give a damn about Konoha!"
Madara laughed. "True," he said. "My reasons are more…..personal. For me this is punishment. Punishment for abandoning me all those years ago. This is divine judgment."
Itachi suddenly activated his Mangekyo Sharingan and said, "Well it ends here."
"You have yet to master those eyes," Madara said. "The best you could hope for with me is a tie. Besides, in your heart you know this is right. The Uchiha can't be reasoned with. It is not in our nature to remain second to anyone for long. You know this to be true. Don't you?"
"I may not be able to beat you," Itachi said. "But I know you can't beat me either. I can hold you off until…."
"Until what," Madara asked. "Until you're comrades can capture me? Fugaku can't do anything against me and all this will do is push him to retaliate. War is now inevitable. Unless…..you aid me now."
"Aid you," Itachi said. "I get it now. Danzo and the elders sent you. This is to force my hand."
Madara chuckled and said, "Indeed. I made a point for several members of your clan to see me dressed like this. Soon word will spread to every member of the clan of Konoha's "betrayal." You know what will happen then right? But you can stop it. Tonight, we can put an end to it. What will you do?"
Itachi paused and looked around as he desperately looked for a way out of this. Suddenly three Uchiha ninja stormed into the room and landed by Itachi. "Itachi what's going on," one of them yelled. "And who is this guy?"
"Is he the one that attacked us," another of the men asked.
The third man looked at the dead bodies on the floor and saw the blood dripping from Madara's fan. "This guy," he said. "We received reports that the attacker was Konoha ANBU. Now we know for sure!" Itachi eyes widened as he heard the man's words and gritted his teeth as he looked at the ground in deep thought.
"Damn them," the first man said. "It's just like Fugaku said. Konoha won't settle for anything less than open war between us!"
"Well, they are going to know the full wrath of the Uchiha soon enough," one of them said as Itachi slowly drew his kitana.
"Itachi," one of them said. "What can you tell us about his abilities." But Itachi remained motionless as he stared at the ground. His eyes seemed devoid of any life and his skin looked paler than usual. "Itachi?"
Suddenly Itachi turned and swung his blade slicing the man across his chest, killing him instantly. "What," the second man yelled in surprise.
"What's going on Itachi," the third man yelled.
Itachi looked at them and they gasped as they saw his Mangekyo Sharingan. "Shin, Takashi," Itachi said as his voice cracked. "Please forgive me." Madara smiled as he watched Itachi kill both men.
Itachi remained silent as he stood among the bodies of his fallen comrades. The only sound he could hear was the slow drip of blood from his sword landing in the pool of blood at his feet. "So you've decided," Madara said. Itachi remained silent as if he hadn't heard him. "Well, we can't remain here any longer. I'll make my way to the center of the district and take out all the Uchiha. I'll take care of Fugaku as well. You should…."
"No," Itachi said as he finally looked at him. Sasuke looked into his brother's eyes and saw the same dead look that haunted his nightmares for so many years. "I'll go in that direction. I will deal with my family. You deal with the other elders."
Itachi turned to leave when Madara said, "How can I trust that you will do what is needed?"
"You can't," Itachi said before he vanished.
Sasuke watched as Itachi made his way towards the center of the district. While on his way, Itachi went from house to house killing every man, woman and child. Sasuke looked away in horror and disgust when Itachi entered the home of the girl Itachi had been seeing and killed her parents before entering her room. She cried and begged as Itachi coldly raised his sword and stabbed her through the chest. "Damn it," Sasuke said as he gritted his teeth.
With every swing of his sword and with every ounce of blood spilled Itachi's eyes grew colder, his face paler and more and more he began to look like the man Sasuke remembered that night. It was then Sasuke realized that the man Sasuke saw that night was not his brother. Somewhere along the line, Itachi died that night. What remained was a ghost.
Itachi glared at his home as he stood out in the middle of the street. All along the street the bodies of his former comrades, people he used to smile and talk with littered the ground. Their blood soaked the earth. A cold, wind blew that the creature that was once Itachi ignored.
Slowly Itachi approached the door and opened it. The house was dark except for a low light emanating from the living room. Slowly Itachi walked in and saw his father standing over the fireplace staring at the crackling fire. "So you've saved me for last, eh Itachi," he asked. "How big of you."
"This was bought onto yourself father," Itachi said. "You're pride brought down the Uchiha."
"I disagree," Fugaku said. "What brought down the Uchiha was me choosing to impregnate your whore of a mother with a traitorous demon seed such as yourself. I should have killed you before they cut the umbilical cord."
Itachi winced at his fathers' words but after a moment he composed himself. Despite his fathers words he felt as though they were right. Now more than ever he wished he had never been born. "Run," Itachi said. Fugaku raised his head and looked at him. "Take mother and Sasuke and run. I'll say that you defeated me. Or that I couldn't find you. But please father, just go."
"Brother," Sasuke whispered as he watched.
Fugaku stared at him and smiled. ""Don't call me that," he said. "Don't call me father. I could never be the father of someone like you."
"Damn you," Itachi said. "Why must you be so prideful? You led the Uchiha Clan to destruction and shame because of your pride! We had a good life! We had a peaceful life!"
"That peace was a lie," Fugaku yelled. "It was built by the blood of the Uchiha yet the Uchiha, the most powerful clan in the most powerful village had no say in the village's future! We were slaves! Hated, feared and yet relied upon for our power! What kind of life is that?"
"And that was worth all of this," Itachi asked. "It was worth killing your own comrades?"
"The strong will inevitably seek to gain more power while the weak will unknowingly give it away," Fugaku said. "Why should the Uchiha be any different?"
Those words, Itachi thought as he gritted his teeth. It was then he knew that talk was pointless. It was not his words that his father listened to now. Itachi looked at his father and saw that he had activated his Sharingan and had reached for a nearby sword. "Will you not leave Fugaku," Itachi asked one last time.
"It's too late to run," Fugaku said. "For myself and your mother." Fugaku motioned to the center of the living room and Itachi gasped as he saw the bloody body of his mother lying on her back in the center of the floor.
"Mother," he yelled as he ran to her. Itachi lifted her head and checked but quickly knew she was gone. "What have you done?"
"I did what you were planning to do," Fugaku said. "But I refused to give you the satisfaction. She wanted this. She said she would not die by her own son's hand. She chose a more, honorable death."
"Where is Sasuke," Itachi asked.
"He should be home soon," Fugaku said. "Just in time to see the death of his traitorous brother. Sasuke….I will put my all into him. He will become what you could never be."
Fugaku moved with incredible speed and was right behind Itachi with his sword raised. "Yes," Itachi said just loud enough for his father to hear. Fugaku swung the sword down only for it to strike what he could only describe as a large glowing rib cage that surrounded Itachi, acting as a shield.
"W-What is this," Fugaku said in shock. He quickly took a few steps back as Itachi gently put his mother down and turned to face him.
"My brother will be more than I could ever be," Itachi said as the ribs began to grow into a large skeletal upper body. "He will be more than you could ever be as well father. I will make sure he transcends the Uchiha and washes the stain of our hate from history. This is what I can give him. This he will attain through me."
"Your eyes," Fugaku said in shock. "Where did you get those eyes!"
"You want to know," Itachi said. Fugaku's vision suddenly changed and he found himself in a dark world with crimson skies. He was now bound to a cross with his son looking up at him. "Let me show you. Let me show you my power and the pain I endured in order to achieve it."
Fugaku screamed as his torture began and his body slumped to the ground dead a moment later. Itachi stared at his father's body for what seemed like forever before he finally walked over to it and lifted it up and threw it atop his mother. He then left the house and leapt up to the roof and ran across he roof tops until he reached the district border and then leapt up to the nearest light pole. Just then he looked down to see Sasuke coming home. Sasuke's nightmare, his path, his cross, was about to begin.
Once again Sasuke and his brother were alone in the darkness. Sasuke was slumped over as he cried in silence. "So now you know the truth of it Sasuke," Itachi said. "Now you know the true nature of the hate and pain that you bear."
"But why," Sasuke said as he wiped his eyes and got to his feet. "Why go so far to show me this now?"
Itachi looked up as if he was carefully contemplating the question. "To be honest," Itachi said. "This wasn't something I wanted to ever do. I was hoping that through me, you could focus your hate away from Konoha. But I miscalculated Madara's deviousness. But perhaps now, at the end, I can put things to right."
Sasuke stared at Itachi and then said, "I'm sorry Itachi. I know that you want me to fight for Konoha. But I can't. Not after everything. Not after…."
Itachi walked up and placed his hand on Sasuke's arm. "Sasuke, if you can seek revenge for the sake of one brother, why can't you seek peace for the sake of another?"
Sasuke looked at Itachi with a confused expression and asked, "Another…brother?"
Suddenly a vision of Naruto, back when he was twelve, was standing next to Itachi. He had a big smile on his face and his hands were behind his head. And then he began to hear Naruto's voice as if it emanated from all around him. "When I'm with you, I wonder if this is what it feels like to have a brother. For me, you're one of the first bonds I've ever had."
Naruto's words echoed around Sasuke as he saw Naruto seem to age until he looked as he did when he was fourteen. Still he continued to smile at Sasuke. And again he heard Naruto's voice echoing. "Someone who can't save one friend has no right to Hokage. Don't you think, Sasuke?"
Then Sasuke heard Itachi's voice echoing. "What is it about my brother that makes you care about him so much? He's a rogue ninja who abandoned you."
"Because he is like a brother to me," Naruto andswered. "And I'm a better brother than you ever were."
Sasuke stared as the vision of Naruto grow up once more until he looked as he did now. "You want to know why I have done all that I've done," Itachi asked. "Because I knew you had the strength to go beyond all those who have come before. You could break the cycle of hatred in the Uchiha."
Sasuke stared at his brother and back at the smiling vision of Naruto. Suddenly he felt a tear roll down his cheek. "I-I can't," Sasuke said. "I've gone too far. There is nothing but darkness I see all around me."
The vision of Naruto stopped smiling and walked up to Sasuke while Itachi walked up to him. Sasuke found himself in between them both. Naruto placed his hand on his right shoulder while Itachi placed his hand on Itachi's left shoulder. "When I was very young someone once told me that a good man learns from the mistakes of the past," Itachi said. "But a great man never allows the past to rule his future. I have faith in you little brother. We both do."
Sasuke merely looked down at the ground as he felt both Naruto and Itachi smiling at him. After what felt like an eternity, Itachi removed his hand and the vision of Naruto faded away. Itachi looked at his hand and saw it was beginning to fade away. "Hmmm," Itachi said. "It seems my time is up."
"Itachi," Sasuke said.
"I'd best get on with it then," Itachi said. "I never expected Madara would give you the Rinnegan. And I don't have the ability to take it away all at once. But I can make it so it will fade in time. No matter what future you make for yourself you will do so with the Uchiha's eyes. Not those abominations."
Itachi suddenly stabbed two fingers into Sasuke's eyes causing him to scream out in pain. "I'm glad we got to talk one last time Sasuke," Itachi said as he smiled. "See you around, little brother."
Naruto and Sasuke both screamed as they tumbled backwards to the ground. As soon as Naruto hit the ground the incredible pain he felt in his eyes almost instantly disappeared as if it had never happened.
Naruto's vision was blurry as he slowly opened his eyes and looked at his hand. His vision quickly began to clear as he saw Sasuke slowly sitting up. What happened, Naruto thought as he fought to gain his bearings. The last thing I remember was hearing a voice. For a second I swore I saw Sasuke's brother and then…..I….I don't remember.
Naruto looked over towards Sasuke who remained seated on the ground staring into the sky. Sasuke then looked over to Sasuke and Naruto was surprised to see streaks of fresh blood leading from his eyes like tears. The Rinnegan was also gone and Sasuke only had the Sharingan. Sasuke's face had a solen look on it as he looked into Naruto's blue eyes. So, he thought. He no longer has the Sharingan.
Both men slowly go to their feet as they continued to stare each other down. Sasuke then felt something hit his foot. He looked down and saw Naruto's tool kit. It must have fallen off during our fight, he thought. The kit was open and as he glanced inside he saw some blue cloth. Sasuke reached in and pulled it out and was surprised to see that it was his old headband. Naruto, you….
Sasuke gripped it tight as he dropped the kit. "Hey…..loser," Sasuke said. "You ever wonder what life would have been like if I'd never left?"
Naruto stared at Sasuke for a moment and some of the tension seemed to fade. What happened, he thought. Something is different with him. "All the time," Naruto finally said. "Bringing you home was what fueled me all these years. I would think about how different things would be if you had just…listened to me."
Sasuke bit his lip as he stared at his head band. He shook his head slightly as he played with the cloth in his fingers. Then, to Naruto's amazement, Sasuke smiled. It was a small smile, but a smile nonetheless. "I've never once thought about it," he said. "Not once in all these years have I given my decision to leave a second momentary thought. Until now."
"And you know what I realize," Sasuke said. "That even if I'd never left, some things wouldn't have changed."
Naruto's eyes grew wide and his mouth hung open as he saw something he thought he'd never see again. Sasuke put on his headband. "S-Sasuke," he said.
"Whether I had left or not we'd still be right here," he said. "You and me. We would still need to settle this once and for all. So….no more games. No more threats, no more cheating. Right here, right now…let's find out which of us is stronger."
Naruto and Sasuke glared at each other and then took off in a sprint. They each yelled as they threw a punch. Their fists cracked into each other with such force it sent shock waves all around. Both men leapt back and Sasuke said, "Naruto, you'd better come at me like you want to kill me. Because if you don't…..you will die."
End of Chapter 34
Next Time: Sasuke's Decision