AN: There's a chapter before this that I posted at the same time as this, so look at it if you missed it.

Note: Still don't own Naruto or its related contents.

With the closest ROOT agents killed, the three Uchiha boys were able to safely escape through the forest, and eventually they snuck their way until they reached a cliff next to the Naka River.

Itachi had removed his mask by this point and the look of concern on his face was evident, whilst Akakiryu was stoic, showing no emotion.

"What happened, Shisui?" Itachi spoke.

"I was on my way to meet someone that was to help me. We were going to stop the revolt. I was going to use Kotoamatsukami on your father, Fugaku, to steer the clan away from revolt. It was the only way I could think of." Shisui spoke with a self-deprecating grin on his bloodied face. "I'm guessing that the person I was going to meet was you, Itachi?"

Itachi shook his head as Akakiryu spoke up, "It was me."

Shisui and Itachi were slightly surprised by this, but not much so. "So it was Ryu, huh? How long have you been acting as a spy for Lord Hokage?"

"Not long. Certainly not long enough to change or prevent anything. That must be why the Hokage wanted to go with your plan."

"I suppose so, but it didn't matter in the end. I can no longer use Kotoamatsukami. The eye I have left has already used it, and it will be years until it can be used again, whilst my other eye was taken by Danzo."

"Why did he take it?" Itachi spoke.

"He didn't believe that simply manipulating Fugaku would be enough, that my eye would be better used someway else and that the only way to protect the village was to kill the Uchiha." Shisui stared up into the night sky, and the full moon. "Maybe he is right. It does seem too naïve to hope that changing Fugaku could change the Uchiha as a whole. Too many of us have become at odds with the village."

Shisui paced towards the cliff edge, and stared down at the rushing waters of the Naka River. "The clan or the village?" He mumbled. He turned back to Itachi and Akakiryu. "It seems like you two will have a hard decision to make, but either way I hope that you two can protect the village and the Uchiha name." He reached up to his remaining eye and pulled it out without so much as a flinch.

He held his closed fist towards them. "Take my eye."

"Shisui, this-"

"It's my decision, Ryu." He turned his blinded head towards Akakiryu. "It's all I can do now."

"What do you mean, Shisui?" Itachi inched forward.

"Just take my eye Itachi." Shisui spoke solemnly.

Itachi closed his eyes and collected himself. With a gentle sigh, a crow descended from the skies, landed on Shisui's outstretched arm and disappeared with a flutter of feathers.

"It's too late to stop the coup d'état by the Uchiha. If civil war breaks out in Konoha, other nations are sure to attack… which means a full-scale war. I had intended to stop the revolt with Kotoamatsukami, but Danzo took my right eye…"

Shisui turned to the two of them. "He doesn't trust me. He intends to protect the village his own way, no matter what it takes or how it looks. I suspect he will come for my left eye as well, which is why I'm entrusting it to you both."

Shisui smiled. "You're the only two people I can count on. My best friend and my dear cousin."

"Please protect this village, and the honor of the Uchiha name."

Itachi looked at Akakiryu, and he looked back. They turned back to Shisui. "We accept." Akakiryu spoke.

"What do you intend to do now, Shisui?"

Shisui tossed a folded note to Akakiryu. Akakiryu didn't get a chance to read it before Shisui spoke, "If I die, several circumstances will change. That note will explain things."

"Wait, Shisui!" Itachi showed a burst of emotion and began to reach out towards him.

"Don't stop me, Itachi." He smiled. "If you're my friend…" He fell backwards off the cliff.

Itachi did a futile grab forwards but caught nothing and could only watch as his best friend fell down into the rushing waters of Naka River. "Shisui!"

In an instant, it was over. Shisui Uchiha, best friend of Itachi Uchiha and beloved cousin of Akakiryu Uchiha was dead.

Itachi felt his chakra burst in his head, and his eyes flared with a new pattern as blood teared down his cheeks.

And not far from him, was Akakiryu. He had been silent, stoic even, as Shisui shared his last moments with the two of them. But after Shisui fell from the cliff, a similar phenomenon as what Itachi experienced was felt by him. The magatama of his Sharingan morphed and connected to become diamonds surrounding his pupils, and the rush of power was…

'Euphoric.' Akakiryu thought, as his trademark smile appeared on his face as stared at the back of a distraught Itachi.

It should not be said that Akakiryu Uchiha did not love his cousin Shisui. No, they were truly close and truly felt familial love for one another. That is why Shisui's death brought up enough pain and sadness in Akakiryu that he awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan.

But upon receiving the Mangekyo Sharingan, there was a twisted part of Akakiryu's mind, the part that lusted for power and immortality, that relished in the moment. Akakiryu was not happy that Shisui died, no, but he was most certainly happy to have received one of the greatest powers in the Elemental Nations.

However…

'I miscalculated.' Akakiryu pushed away the pain, sorrow, and disturbing joy from his mind as he thought upon recent events.

It had been a couple of days since Shisui's death, and Akakiryu had been at home almost all these days, having called off from his duties with the hospital. After the events on the cliff, Itachi had left to continue his duties with a promise that they would talk later, and Akakiryu had returned home after placing Shisui's note at his home.

Shisui's absence was noticed within a day of his actual passing, as he was a key member of the Uchiha, and his note was found in his home shortly after. Rumors have already begun circulating amongst the clan, and many people have already visited Akairyu and Kuro. But the most troubling thing was his conversation with his father.

"Where were you last night?" Kuro spoke up standing in the doorway of Akakiryu's room. His face was blank and expressed nothing. Akakiryu had just gotten back from the hospital after working. He continued working since Shisui had only died the night before and no one had found his note yet.

"After I got home from the hospital, I came home. Why do you ask?" Akakiryu put on a confused face.

"You're lying." Kuro spoke objectively. "What came home last night was a shadow clone. I saw you swap out with it last night."

Akakiryu was shocked, but outwardly he sighed and acted as if the jig was up. "Alright, I was doing some secret training last night for a jutsu I have been developing. I don't want anyone-"

"Shisui is dead, Ryu." Kuro interrupted. "They found a suicide note in his home."

"What?" Akakiryu had a shocked expression. "Shisui, dead? Suicide note? Shisui would never commit suicide. What did the note say?"

"It said some nonsense about killing himself because he couldn't believe in the direction the clan was going. That he hoped his death would wake the clan up to change." Kuro stared up at the ceiling for a moment, a blank look on his face.

"Tell me, Ryu. Did you kill Shisui?"

"Dad?" Akakiryu was genuinely shocked now. "You think I killed Shisui?"

"Was it not you?" Kuro had a cold expression now. He did not have the face of a father staring at his son. "Was it Itachi then?"

"Why do you believe Shisui was killed, and why would you accuse me or Itachi?" Akakiryu was baffled.

"Shisui would never kill himself, and especially not over the nonsense his note said!" Kuro let some anger slip into his voice. "Shisui loved the clan! So was it you or was it Itachi?! Who killed Shisui?!"

"Dad, Itachi and I were the closest to Shisui, why would we kill him?!" Akakiryu raised his voice, frustratedly.

"That's exactly why!" Kuro shouted and stared down angrily at Akakiryu.

"You… You think one of us killed Shisui for the Mangekyo Sharingan?" Akakiryu realized what Kuro was accusing him of. "That we would kill Shisui for that?"

"I know you disagree with the clan rebelling." Kuro's tone was icy, and his anger was held under. "And Itachi has been getting into disagreements with Fugaku. You are the two most likely candidates. No one else could have killed Shisui."

Akakiryu's expression became frosty as well. "I didn't kill Shisui. And I don't believe that Itachi would have killed him either. Shisui was practically a brother to the both of us."

"Very well." Kuro spat. "Then get out of my house. You don't need to come to any future clan meetings either."

"What?" Akakiryu was shocked. "Are you kicking me out of the clan?"

"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Kuro hissed. "No, you're still my son so you are still in the clan. But since you dislike the clan's choices then you don't need to be apart of them anymore. Get out."

Akakiryu stared absently at his father for a second, before his expression hardened and he disappeared. He didn't take anything from his room and just left with what he had on his body and scrolls. He'd get new stuff if he needed it. He didn't want to stay a moment longer in that house.

Kuro stared angrily at the door that Ryu left through for a couple minutes, before he left through the same door. It was an important time for the clan, and he still needed to do things.

Akakiryu stared up at the ceiling of his new apartment. Between the conversation he had with his father, and the almost just as angry visits from other Uchiha members, he felt a bit worn out. Despite being an Uchiha and Uzumaki hybrid with seemingly endless stamina, he couldn't help but feel a little tired from recent events.

Akakiryu held his chin with his hand and tilted his head. 'What to do now?'

Then a knock sounded on his door.

Akakiryu momentarily thought it could be another Uchiha coming to harass him, but when he checked the chakra signature out of habit he found it familiar. Briefly surprised, he went to open the door.

The door opened up and revealed- "Itachi." Akakiryu gave off his gentle smile. "Glad to see you."

"Instead of the other Uchiha, hm?" Itachi noted, before walking in.

Soon they were seated on opposite sides of a tea table. They each had a cup filled with tea, with a pot prepared in the middle of the table courtesy of Akakiryu.

"So why the visit?" Akakiryu asked, looking straight at Itachi.

"I spoke with the Hokage, Danzo, and the Elders." Itachi stared back at Akakiryu and spoke. Akakiryu was surprised by this information, as not even he had been in contact with the Hokage since the incident. He was likely having to do damage control from Danzo's stunt, as the Uchiha finding out about him leading to Shisui's death would mean instant war between the Uchiha and the village.

"I thought about it, Ryu." Itachi had his usual blank faced stare. "And I can't see a way to protect the village or the Uchiha name any other way. Not at this point."

Akakiryu knew what he was talking about. "But how could it be done? Are you strong enough at this point? I'm certainly not."

"I am." Itachi said, with an almost chilling certainty. "Our fathers will be difficult, but I am confident and only I have the strength to do it."

"I will be the one to kill our clan." Itachi's Sharingan appeared, and his new Mangekyo spun into form.

"But what about your mom, Sasuke, or even Izumi? What of me?"

"I made an agreement with the village leaders. Sasuke and you can live on and they promised to protect you." Itachi said directly. "In exchange I will kill the entire clan and be labeled as a rogue shinobi, wanted by the village for the crime of killing my own clan."

"That's not fair for you." Akakiryu spoke matter-of-factly, staring straight into Itachi's eyes.

"My mom is too deep into the clan's affairs, being married to the clan leader. Izumi is too old to be exempted. Only Sasuke who is too young and you, who has proven his loyalty to the village, can be spared." Itachi also said matter-of-factly. "It is what has been decided and agreed upon. I have already started planning and watching for this."

"When, how?"

"The clan won't make any big movements for a while. I will prepare in the coming months. You have essentially been kicked out, so you don't need to worry about being involved."

"Itachi, I-" Akakiryu tried to speak up.

"Ryu." Itachi interrupted.

"You have been a good friend to me." He gave a small smile. "Shisui, you and Izumi were my only friends." The tiniest hint of sadness appeared in his eyes. "Can you promise me that you will take care of Sasuke?"

Akakiryu and Itachi sat in silence for a couple of moments before Akakiryu spoke up.

"I promise."

Months came and went. Itachi had become 13, Sasuke 7, and Akakiryu 8. Akakiryu had returned to working in the hospital, still not having received any new missions since his time as a Tokubetsu Jonin and he didn't request for a change either. Shikaku was content having him improve his medical skills. Thus, Akakiryu had been sticking to a routine since. Go to the training fields early in the morning, go back to his apartment to change, go to the hospital, go home after work, go train some more, go back home and fall asleep.

At some point no more Uchiha came to harass Akakiryu regarding Shisui, seemingly having decided to settle for shunning him, and his dad still has yet to contact him. The Hokage hasn't contacted him either, likely ashamed for Danzo's actions and aware that Itachi has kept him informed. Itachi hadn't met him since the last meeting either.

Tonight, Akakiryu decided to change up the routine he kept for months, for no reason other than a whim given by his gut.

"Ryu! What a surprise seeing you again!" Teuchi called out from behind the bar with a broad grin upon seeing him, his eyes almost shut from the smile on his face.

Akakiryu shared a smile, one a bit bigger than the usual one ever-present on his face, "It's good to see you too, Uncle Teuchi."

"Ryu is here?!" A small, startled shout came from the kitchen and Ayame quickly appeared behind the bar. "It is Ryu!" Ayame smiled deeply.

"You know she would still mention you every now and then, wondering about you." Teuchi laughed. "Somehow you got a real hold on my daughter's mind, Ryu."

Ayame blushed and smack her father's arm. "Dad!" Akakiryu could only smile awkwardly. Ayame was still just a kid, after all.

Teuchi laughed and ignored his daughter "So what'll it be?"

"I'll have a bowl of Tonkotsu ramen and some water, please." Teuchi nodded and replied, "That'll be right up. Ayame will get your water." He headed into the kitchen.

Ayame quickly brought him his water and just stood in front of him behind the counter for a bit. He sipped at his water as she thought furiously about what to say. She didn't have to think long before something popped up.

"I need some ramen please!" A blonde kid with an orange shirt popped up and sat two seats from the crimson hair kid.

"Sure, Naruto. And what kind of ramen?" Ayame chuckled at the boy's appearance.

"Miso ramen of course!" He smiled brightly. "Sure thing, Naruto." Ayame gave a smile to Akakiryu before she headed back into the kitchen to help her dad with the orders.

Akakiryu just continued sipping his water after glancing at the blonde haired, whiskered boy that appeared next to him. Naruto, on the other hand, couldn't help but grab his chin and cross his arms staring at Akakiryu, wondering where he saw him before.

"Ah!" Naruto jumped in remembrance. "You were here that one time I ate with the old man!"

Akakiryu turned and gave a smile, "Yeah, that's right. And you were the boy eating with Lord Hokage and calling him 'gramps' so casually."

Naruto gave a sheepish grin and rubbed the back of his head, "He really doesn't feel like the Hokage to me, just my gramps."

Naruto glanced at Akakiryu's clothes. He was in black pants, black shinobi sandals, and a short-sleeve dark-blue popped collared shirt with the Uchiha crest on the back. He continued to wear clothes with the crest despite his alienation from the clan. And it was that crest that caught the blonde's attention.

"Right! You're an Uchiha just like that brat Sasuke!" He declared.

"That's correct." Akakiryu smiled. "Are you friends with Sasuke?"

"Friends?" Naruto's face twisted in a show of disgust. "Sasuke's too stuck up to be friends with anyone. I don't get why Sakura likes him." Naruto said in childish exasperation. "Sure, he's strong, and smart, and kind of good looking. But!" He threw his hands up. "He's soooo full of himself!"

Naruto crossed his arms and closed his eyes, nodding his head to himself. "One of these days I'll show him what's what."

Akakiryu couldn't help but chuckle a bit. "What, you don't believe me? Let alone beat Sasuke, I'm going to be the Hokage one day!" Naruto doubled down on his claims.

Akakiryu fully turned to the boy. He couldn't help but think about what he had seen this boy do all those years ago on a screen, the true potential of the boy in front of him. "Your name is Naruto Uzumaki, correct?"

Naruto nodded, "That's right, believe it!" He tossed a thumbs up at Akakiryu.

The crimson-haired boy gave a broad smile to the blonde boy. "Well, Naruto Uzumaki, I hope you work hard so that you one day become Hokage, and maybe even beat Sasuke along the way."

Naruto was a bit stunned. He was so used to being dismissed or more typically, disdained, that he was taken aback by this sudden affirmation of his dreams.

He wasn't left to think long, as soon their food arrived and they both dug in. Naruto didn't get a chance to talk more with Akakiryu before the crimson-haired tall boy left after he ate and paid.

Meanwhile, the boy mentioned before, Sasuke, was headed home in a run, as happy as could be after doing some extra training after school at the academy.

He had gotten through the Uchiha district gates, but still hadn't heard or seen anyone yet. But soon he saw one in the streets. He only caught a glimpse, 'Brother?' but assumed he was mistaken. Sasuke soon was worried and began sprinting towards his house.

Along the way, he started to see bodies and blood splashed across the streets and walls. Kunai and shuriken embedded in the walls and bodies. Tears and slashes in the screens of houses. Sasuke was terrified.

'Mom, dad, brother!' He ran and ran as fast as he could home. Past the bodies and blood, past the quiet homes of his dead clansmen. Sasuke ran.

He eventually arrived home, but it was as quiet as every home he passed by. He walked quietly through the house, peeking into each room through carefully cracked open doors. Eventually, he found the room with silhouettes within and saw his brother. He excitedly opened the door.

"Brother!" He shouted and was running towards him, but stopped when he saw what lay at Itachi's feet. "Mother?" Her body couldn't respond. "Father?" His body laid dead and bloodied. He looked up towards his brother. "Brother, what… what is this?" Itachi stared at Sasuke and flung a shuriken that made a shallow cut into the boy's arm. "Ouch!" Sasuke winced. He turned to look back at his brother in bewilderment. "Itachi?" Itachi's eyes spun into their Mangekyo form and Sasuke lost consciousness upon meeting eyes.

AN: Yup, I'm alive. Shocker, I know. Many of my readers probably won't even remember me with them having followed a year or two ago. I had the prior chapter written months ago but didn't publish it since it left a cliff. So I wrote this one and it also has a cliff.

I intend to write more soon and hopefully I actually will. Glad to be back.

Till next time,

~ Seeker