When the Uchiha entered the chunin exams, they met the faces of genin from many shinobi villages. Many were Shisui and Itachi's age, which made Sasuke feel like a fish out of water.

Sasuke steeled himself, trying his best to remain calm at the menacing folk in the room. Father believes I'm qualified enough to be here. Otherwise, he wouldn't have allowed me to participate.

Itachi placed a hand on Sasuke's head, ruffling his dark hair. He said nothing and did not even provide him a look. His gaze was elsewhere, distant, and his brow appeared tensed in worry.

Perhaps he is just as worried about this as me.

"Let's stay close and not cause a scene," Shisui said. "We don't want to attract too much attention early on."

Sasuke crossed his arms. "Why are you looking at me?"

Shisui sighed. "I'm looking at you and Itachi on this one, okay? I just happen to only have one pair of eyes."

Itachi had been paying neither of them that much attention. He did not even respond to Shisui's jab like he usually would have. What Shisui had told him, about their new critical objective… He measured the possibilities against each other. Abandon the exams now and draw suspicion and fatal consequences or they could play it out and watch everything burn. There were no good options. And part of him wondered if he could truly trust Shisui when it came down to the wire.

Shisui had been holding something back from him. It was written all in the way he had dodged eye contact during his briefing. There was something that he wanted to tell Itachi, but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. The consequences were probably too uncertain to even mention. Unjust worry was what Shisui hated the most. He would shoulder it all until he knew the full scope, and even then, he wouldn't share what he did not already have a plan to address.

All that uncertainty now stemmed from the ninetails jinchuuriki. The same boy who had riled Sasuke up from what Itachi heard. That evening when Sasuke returned to the inn, he could only talk about how ridiculous the Konoha shinobi he met were. They were of bright colors with obnoxious attitudes.

Something about them brought a whole new level of life to Sasuke's world. He was eager, excited, and for the first time, he had not even mentioned impressing father with his performance.

It was refreshing. Perhaps the exams were a good thing for Sasuke, even if Itachi wanted to leave now and plan for the inevitable. He wanted no part of the unfolding scheme.

Speaking of the ninetail's jinchuuriki, there he was, entering the doors to the first exam room. Orange filled Itachi's vision. Sasuke was right about the Konoha genin. They were rather colorful.

When his baby brother locked eyes with Naruto, the energy in the room shifted. Naruto marched right up to Sasuke, without a care in the world, and got up in his face.

"Sasuke," he said. "Guess you really were entering the exams."

"Loser," Sasuke spat.

"What'd you say, bastard?"

The atmosphere around them grew darker by the minute. With tension mounting, it would only take one more push, a push Sasuke would delight in, to bring the two into a brawl.

It was best to end it there.

"Excuse me," Itachi said. He forced a smile, albeit his lips jerked with irritation. "Save the fighting for the actual exam unless you would like to die right now."

At this, Naruto jerked back. He met the Sharingan of Uchiha Itachi, whose menacing red glare made Naruto feel like a puddle. He could only stand there, transfixed, paralyzed by such a visible killing intent.

"Itachi…" Sasuke watched Itachi curiously. He was overdoing it as usual.

Shisui sighed. Of course, his warnings were for naught.

Sakura, and her teammate, a pale boy with dark brown hair and an unnerving smile on his face, approached the group. Sakura was fuming, her face red with embarrassment.

"You idiot!" Sakura chastised. She punched Naruto in the head. "What did we tell you?"

"Ow! Sakura! I was just—"

"Forgive him," Sakura laughed sheepishly. "He's just excited. H-He just goes and says things without warning."

Itachi's Sharingan bled back into black. He did not designate a response and merely turned back to tilt his head at Shisui's exasperated face.

Sasuke let out a frustrated groan. It was over now, and Naruto was receiving a rather hefty lecture from his teammate. How much longer would it be before the first exam began?

"You're Uchiha Itachi. The full-moon killer. You're awfully pretty to be known for murdering a thousand men in a single night without a sound."

Itachi narrowed his eyes. The dark-haired boy with Naruto and Sakura had been the one to speak. To Sasuke, this name was a new one. Itachi had been called many things by the clan, but never anything so malignant. Itachi had always been known as a hero.

"Full-moon killer?" Naruto said, his teeth chattering.

"I suppose the rumors have traveled far enough," Itachi said.

"It's only a proper shinobi's duty to be well informed. I'm Sai, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

Itachi walked away from him, to which Shisui, his eyes wide with panic, began his lecture. "What were you thinking!?"

Sasuke's froze. He knew his brother had killed people—enemies, but to have killed that many, and to have such a reputation… Sasuke wondered how true that really was. It was a side of Itachi he never saw—a side he chose not to share too deeply.

The full-moon killer, huh? He walked away from the Konoha genin to keep track with Shisui and Itachi. His elder brother could only mutter a few insincere apologies that barely satisfied Shisui.

The rest of the Konoha genin gathered around once the Uchiha moved further into the room. Team eight and ten stood around and none were very pleased.

"Way to go, Naruto. You just had to aggravate them."

"And you too, Sai," Ino said, a blush on her cheeks. "You should really learn to watch what you say."

"Okay, beautiful," Sai said, causing her to redden even further. Sakura, in response, slugged Sai in the cheek. He turned to miss the move of course, and continued to smile. "Sorry, I know, I know."

"Stop teasing Ino like that, will you?" Her expression became grave. "That guy from earlier… He's a genin. And he's killed a thousand people?"

Sai nodded.

Naruto scratched his nose. "Surely that's just talk, right?"

"It's certainly true," said a man with gray hair. "And he didn't just murder thousands in one night. He did it over and over again in the span of five days."

"Who are you?" Shikamaru asked, "Wait, never mind. It's too much of a bother."

"Name's Kabuto Yakushi." He adjusted his round glasses. "If you're wanting to know more about the candidates from Uchihagakure, I can give you some intel… with my Ninja info cards, of course."

"What are those?" Sakura asked.

"Who cares?!" Naruto blurted out. "Tell us whatever you know, y'know?"

Sai shook his head. "You two are so interesting, you know that?"

Kabuto faced Naruto. "Ah, so they have intrigued you."

"Yeah," Naruto said. "I'm gonna beat one of 'em up, and now that I think about it, maybe the other one too!"

"Naruto!" Sakura chided. "Keep your excitement down! We're trying not to make enemies."
"Too late! He's already enemy number one!" Naruto pointed his finger into the crowd.

All the shinobi stared at him as if feeling as though he was making them their enemy. They scowled deeply; the unrest in the crowd growing minute by minute.

"Easy now, Naruto," Kabuto said. "This year's candidates are rather strong compared to previous years. I'd really listen to your teammates on this one."

Naruto, for the first time, actually listened. "So uh, tell me about who all's here."

"I've done my best to catalog all the information." Kabuto pulled out his cards. He sat a few on the floor and formed a seal. "My information is not perfect, but I try to be as diligent as I can. How about we start with the eldest in their squad, hm?"

Kabuto imbued chakra into the card, allowing it to glow with a soft blue before information appeared on the blank card. The Konoha genin surrounded him, some impressed, and others bored.

"First up, Uchiha Shisui. Also known as Shisui of the Body Flicker. Notorious in the great nations for his espionage and deductive skills. Since Uchihagakure is not an officially recognized shinobi village, the full extent of missions he has carried out is unknown, but I have estimated based on reports. From what I have researched, he is not one to take lightly no matter how easygoing he seems before a fight. He's marked as a flee-on-sight shinobi."

"Well, that doesn't really tell us a whole lot…" Sakura said. "Except that he's dangerous…"

"Unfortunately, while he has a reputation, not many people make it back to tell the tale, it seems."

"So he's killed like the other guy. Say, what's that one's name?"

Kabuto readied another card. "Alright, let's see. Uchiha Itachi. The full-moon killer. The firstborn son of the Uchiha clan chief, Fugaku. There's actually not a lot about him outside of that. He has a flee-on-sight order like Shisui."

"These cards are turning out to be totally useless!" Naruto huffed, crossing his arms.

Kabuto chucked. "Sorry about that. Uchihagakure's filled with secrecy. I promise you, after this, I can get you better intel on some other candidates."

"Fine. What do you have on Sasuke?"

"You already have his name? That makes it easier." Kabuto smirked as the card appeared. "Uchiha Sasuke. To be expected, there's really not much to say about him. He's the youngest son of the Uchiha clan chief, Fugaku."

"Ah! So that guy was his brother."

"And you probably made him very angry going after Sasuke like that," Sakura said.

Naruto snickered. "A weakness I see. That's perfect."

Sai chuckled. "Sure, if you were more capable it would be a great weakness to potentially exploit, but knowing you, you'd only end up dead."

"Now, now, everyone." Kabuto waved his hand to get their attention. "Get this, he's never taken a formally recorded mission."

"How can that be right," Sakura asked. "Don't you have to meet the recommended missions to even qualify?"

"Very observant. I've heard Uchihagakure is in a unique situation this year. A few rules have been bent by the Fire Daimyo."

"That's cheating," Shikamaru said. "Not that I care, damn it."

"Originally a candidate had been submitted by the name of Uchiha Izumi. I'm guessing something happened that put Sasuke as the next selection, likely because he was the only choice."

"So he's not even good enough to be first choice. I have nothing to worry about then!" Naruto belted out laughing.

"I wouldn't say that," Kabuto said. He pushed his glasses up. "Each member of the Uchiha clan is not to be taken lightly. Their numbers are small, but they still held their own against Konoha when they annexed themselves."

"Right," Kiba said. Akamaru yipped. "I have heard they start training children to kill by age eight."

"That early?!" Ino exclaimed.

Kabuto let out an incredulous laugh. "Well, if you were Shisui or Itachi's age, then perhaps, yes. But that information is dated. All the Uchiha children are five and under with the next one closest in age is Sasuke, who's twelve like you all."

"They just didn't have kids?" Kiba asked.

"More like, they all died."

Hinata lowered her gaze to the floor. All the Konoha genin grew quiet except for Choji who continued to munch on his chips without a care.

"Like I said, when the Uchiha left Konoha, many were picked off. Those that made it then fell to illness, famine, settlement assaults, and likely internal revolts. It couldn't have been pretty."

Naruto's gaze pierced through the crowd to Sasuke. While he felt a great deal of frustration, he wondered what Sasuke had seen. But even so, something deep down made Naruto feel like Sasuke wasn't anything like the other Uchiha, not in the same way Itachi appeared battle-hardened and menacing.

He seemed just like them. A rookie genin candidate. Perhaps—

Smoke then filled the room as a summoning began. Once it cleared, there, at the front of the room, stood the proctors of the exam. Front and center was the interrogation unit's chief officer, Ibiki Morino. He was clearly a man who could nurture fear into even the most fearless of shinobi.

"Alright, you brats! The first chunin exam will begin!"

Ibiki gestured the participants to sit at desks. Shisui sat in the far back. He could see Sasuke in the middle left of the room. Itachi sat on the far left side, enough in the back where he, too, could see Sasuke.

The exam was simple, from what Yashiro managed to inform them about. The exam either taught team skills, information gathering, or stealth. Based on the point system and penalties Ibiki outlined, they would have to cheat in order to pass. That is, Shisui and Sasuke would have to cheat to be successful.

Shisui knew Itachi would have no problem answering the questions. He had the sharpest mind in the bunch from all the books he read and his ever so wise-beyond-his-years way of viewing the world. Now that Shisui thought about it, Itachi and Sasuke read the same books—

Shisui sighed, deflated. So he would be the only one having to cheat to pass. Go figure.

"The exam starts now! Begin!"

Tekka and Inabi remained posted in front of Fugaku's quarters. They had just dispatched a letter from Konohagakure addressed to Lord Fugaku himself from the Third Hokage. It had been carried in haste with a carrier hawk.

Fugaku hated messenger birds. He hated hawks most of all. Come to think of it, his sons both had an affinity for the winged beasts. Itachi forged a bond with crows back in Konoha. He had been proud of his son's accomplishment to form a pact and to later summon them, but now, he only had regret.

They should have left sooner. Konoha had taken so much from the Uchiha, and they somehow had managed to seize his firstborn's beliefs in such a short period of time.

Fugaku read the letter filled with Hiruzen's promise. A smug sort of expression filled his face. This was just what he needed. "You may enter now."

Tekka and Inabi entered the room, having allowed Fugaku the privacy to read and to possibly respond to the matters set forth in the letter.

"Lord Fugaku," Tekka said. "Is it the news you have been waiting for?"

"It assures our intentions are clear with Konohagakure. The matter has been addressed. Have we noticed any new spies within or outside our territory?"

"Aside from a few shinobi crossing a bit too close, it has been quiet. I think the wild boar are posing more of a problem now," Inabi said.

"And they shall be a temporary problem. Send a party to hunt one down. Have you received a report from Yashiro?" Fugaku asked. He crossed his fingers, interlacing them with expectant poise.

"Yes. The supplies have arrived with his letter. Uchiha Shisui responded well to the first half of the plan and the test. Yashiro intends to divulge the remainder upon the announcement of the final, but he has informed Shisui of Otogakure's intentions."

"Good." Fugaku lowered his gaze to one of the many folders before him. An Otogakure symbol was etched into one. He released a sigh. "For the rest to work, we must know we can trust Shisui."

"I believe we can. He has not let us down in the past."

Fugaku nodded. The next step was crucial. A part of his heart, having been torn to pieces over the years was still raw and tender with care for his sons. Even if Itachi were to become the threat the entire clan suspected he would in their plans, enough for his own subordinates to recommend Itachi in negotiation with Otogakure, Fugaku could not bring himself to make that decision.

He told them that Itachi would come around once this was all over. Itachi was confused; indoctrinated since he was a small child to only see a village like Konoha as good. Once this was over, Fugaku assured everyone that Itachi would come around. He would not cry out in defiance.

Besides, Itachi was an asset. Fugaku had stressed that point to them. In a conflict with Sasuke's life on the line, Itachi would ensure Sasuke was safe, and his best outcome was to align with the Uchiha.

Now Fugaku just hoped all the cards would continue to play in his favor. The wager he made, the exchange and price it would cost him, might just very well destroy Itachi's faith in the clan if he were to ever find out. That, and if anything were to go horribly wrong from his intentions during the bargain, Itachi might label the entire clan as public enemy number one.

"See to it that Yashiro watches over Shisui closely for any sign of weakness. It would be better to devise a new plan than to thwart it with a compromised agent."

Tekka nodded.

"You are dismissed."

The two Uchiha exited the room, leaving Fugaku to take a deep breath. If he told Mikoto, she might grow to resent him, but he knew she would never stray away. Her loyalty was ultimately to the clan, and if the clan decided on this action, then she would have to abide by it.

A silence settled into the room. A silence that threatened to weave stories of the war, of both his son's births, of marrying MIkoto, of the carnage, bloodshed, the sacrifice, the bodies, more bodies, the children, dead at their parent's feet, sickly bodies, roaring, angry flames glinting in his eye. His eyes, oh they sting with blood, they burn with rage. His children, where are they—what is happening to his clan—the screams of agony, the clanking of swords, his wife's shrill scream in the distance as her mother is sliced to bits. His sons. Where are his—

"Father!" Fugaku's eyes widened. He snapped his head to the door, expecting to see the source of such a cheerful voice calling his name. He hadn't heard it in years. The only child to ever be happy that had lived that day.

He imagined him there. Smiling and eager for his approval, for him to acknowledge him, to be happy for him for doing well. He wanted to be a shinobi like his big brother. He wanted to help build the clan—

And Fugaku denied him everything. Everything because his eldest son couldn't bear the thought of Sasuke throwing his life away. He would never say he was proud of Sasuke's ambition, he couldn't, because the moment he did, Itachi would turn away, forever, taking himself and Sasuke with him, and Sasuke would never understand.

He would never question Itachi's decision. Even after Sasuke's disappointed crying at how he was not going to be a shinobi at ten like he wanted. Even when Itachi coaxed him and told him it was for his own good.

He had crushed Sasuke's dreams in that instant, but to Itachi, it was worth the necessary sacrifice.

Still. Sasuke did not hate him. He was not even angry. It unnerved Fugaku, for, if Sasuke had protested and fought, Fugaku might have given in.

Instead, Sasuke made Itachi promise to train him every chance he had. With no promises of next time and forehead pokes.

Itachi had held Sasuke close that night, agreeing to the deal. Fugaku could see his oldest son's face. The bags under his eyes. The people he murdered, their families, their children, their siblings—all on a shaky promise to ensure Sasuke had two more good years.

Fugaku blamed himself. He named his price and Itachi paid for it in earnest. And at the same time, Fugaku was thankful to Itachi as much as he hated how much his ideology warped him away from his kin. Itachi knew what the loss of his children meant. He could read Fugaku as easily as his smuggled-in books.

Itachi was the only obstacle protecting Sasuke from Fugaku. From the way of the Uchiha he subjected everyone's will to abide by. Itachi, alone, was the only one who would defy him, not for Konoha, not for anyone else, but for his baby brother who he treasured more than any one thing or being in the whole world.

Fugaku lowered his head, allowing himself one moment to be real with himself. He traced over the Otogakure symbol on the file. A deep and intense grief hid in his eyes, never to threaten to rain, but to reveal what festered within. "I'm sorry, son. This is the price that must be paid."

Sasuke had no difficulty in answering most of the questions. The answers were fairly self-explanatory or involved a bit of calculated foresight. Taking a test was not Sasuke's favorite task. He'd much rather it had been a motor skills test. He had improved greatly with his shuriken jutsu, enough that, while Itachi could disarm him strategically, if he had the upper hand for one moment he might give Itachi a run for his money.

During the exam, a kunai flew past him and landed on the desk behind him. Another student had been caught cheating and no longer had enough points to pass. He and his squad left the room, sulking in defeat.

Sasuke had nothing to worry about with his teammates. Itachi and Shisui were masters of secrecy, and besides, if these answers were so easy to him, they likely wouldn't have to cheat at all.

Itachi finished his exam in record timing. With his pencil down, he surveyed the room. Sasuke was still writing away on his paper, likely calculating out trajectories with equations. A small smirk filled Itachi's face. The exam had been simple enough, and at least for now, he did not have to worry about his baby brother.

Instead, his thoughts drifted to Shisui. For all the prowess his cousin had, taking a test was his worst nightmare.

Shisui tugged at his hair. Biting his lip, he read through each question for the third time again. He had not even begun to put his pencil to the page. The first question seemed easy enough. The second made no sense whatsoever, and the third, well, the third was a trick question, he was sure of it!

"Damn it…" He let out a chuckle. "I think I'm done for… and if I don't pass here, then it definitely looks like I sabotaged our plans."

Worst of all, Sasuke and Itachi couldn't see him, so he couldn't cue them in on assistance. Sure, he could use his Sharingan to copy the movement of someone who was writing, but what if they had all the wrong answers?

"This is so unfair…"

Shisui looked over at Itachi, hoping and pleading he might sense Shisui's misery. He would have to get his attention somehow to cue him in. "I'll lose points if I do this, but I just need to not get caught again..."

Shisui picked up his pencil and drug the graphite across the edge in a strong stroke. The sharp end snapped; the pencil being rendered useless.

Shisui held his hand up. "Proctor! It appears my pencil has broken."

"Broken pencil, huh? Maybe that should be grounds for disqualification," one of the administrators muttered.

Ibiki merely walked down the aisle. "Surely, you could be capable of sharpening it yourself, no?" He glared at Shisui and deposited a pencil on the table.

Shisui gave a sheepish laugh. "I wouldn't want to cause alarm by reaching for a weapon."

Ibiki narrowed his eyes. "Try not to break it again."

Itachi turned ever so slightly to meet Shisui's gaze, to see the unfolding scene. From there, Shisui's Sharingan pulled him into a genjutsu.

"Shisui," Itachi admonished. "What did you say about not wanting to cause a scene?"

Shisui threw his arms around Itachi. "Thank. You. Thank. You. I was about to lose it here. I have no idea what any of these answers are."

"Figured as much."

Shisui scowled and tugged Itachi's ponytail. "Itachi. Help me."

"The answer to question one is 37.896 centimeters."

Shisui continued to scowl. "The first question is on shinobi history."

Itachi pushed Shisui off of him, clearly amused.

"Itachi! We don't have a lot of time! If I don't pass this exam, we don't go any further."

"Maybe it should be that way."

"What? This soon and they'll know something is up."

Itachi crossed his arms. He glared at Shisui. "Or we can end it right here."

"Do that and we'll all be killed."

"You're not telling me everything."

"I don't know what you're talking about Itachi. C'mon now, help me out."

"What haven't you told me? Depending on if you answer truthfully, I'll show you my answers."

Within only a few moments, Shisui grabbed the new pencil on his desk from the exam room. He met Ibiki's eye and nodded. "Thank you, sir. It won't happen again."

He took to writing the answers down in haste, trying his best to look like he was struggling and had not received the answers. He spared a glance at Itachi, whose shoulders shook ever so slightly. Shisui could not tell if it were anger or sadness that afflicted his friend. His friend that could no longer trust him.

Danzo approached the Hokage's office. He took his time, using his cane to ease the burden of his joints. He had no reason to hurry. Making Hiruzen wait had become a great pleasure in recent years. Getting a rise out of his old rival was enough to satisfy him.

He did not entertain himself with knocking on the door. He announced himself with its opening.

There, fingers interlaced was Hiruzen, a calculated, frustrated glare fixed upon his worn face. The creases around his lips were even more pronounced than normal.

"Hiruzen, to what do I owe—"

"How long have you been spying on the Uchiha?"

Danzou's visible eye became a slit. "Excuse me?"

"You know exactly what I am referring to."

Danzo sat down at the sofa in front of the Hokage's desk. He steadied his hands on top of his cane. Exhaling for a moment, a soft chuckle escaped. "I presume their infiltration failed then."

"Uchiha Kagen. Two shinobi identical to him have been identified and disposed of for treachery. How long have they been undercover?"

Danzo sighed. "Shortly after the ninetails attack. Their role became critical the moment the Uchiha abandoned Konoha."

"I never authorized this use of espionage. Time and time again you continue to undermine me."

"If it helps, they never had much to report aside from the occasional execution of a dissenter, famine, and general instability."

"That is beside the point, Danzo!" Hiruzen stood, slamming his hands against the desk. "The Land of Fire and Konoha are at a fragile point with the Uchiha. Their bid to be recognized as independent means these matters are war-provoking. Do I need to remind you that if the Land of Fire is in disarray then the other nations—"

Danzo waved his hand. "I am well aware of the consequences. My subordinates should have been more careful." He then closed his eye. "I will agree with you on this one, Hiruzen, perhaps spying on the Uchiha proved to result in more damage than good. So how do you propose to handle it?"

"Fugaku's proposal is rather clear," Hiruzen said as he thumbed through the papers. "He wishes for Uchiha Itachi, his eldest son, to be named chunin regardless of the events in the final round."

"That's against the very nature of the exams," Danzou hissed. "He intends to meet his conditions with the Fire Daimyo one way or another, hm?"

"My hands are tied with this one thanks to you. I have no choice but to agree. The exams are supposed to be fair. It is the very spirit of shinobi."

Danzo did not like this news at all. So Fugaku wanted to dabble in the shadows, hm? "These candidates Fugaku has selected. Who all did he send?"

"Originally Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Izumi. He has amended his attendees to replace Izumi with Uchiha Sasuke."

Danzo pauses for a moment. His eye, glinting from the partial sunlight emitting from the pulled blinds. "That name. That's your father's."

Hiruzen closed his heavy eyes. He knew that boy. Back when Fugaku had asked if he could name his son after Hiruzen's father. Fugaku had admired the village, had seen hope for it. Even if he harbored a resentment that he had not been named Hokage after the war.

Hiruzen even had the opportunity to hold young Sasuke. He remembered Uchiha Itachi's wide eyes, watching the both of them, his big brother instincts ready to have his baby brother back in his arms, back where he was safest.

Hiruzen could only imagine they were cold-hearted ruthless killers like the rest of the clan. He had heard the rumors, the way the Uchiha had learned to survive. They sounded like thieves, but perhaps legitimizing them may prevent the future generation from their wickedness.

"I will grant Fugaku his request in exchange for both our lands saving face from your lapse in judgment."

With that, Danzou and Hiruzen parted ways. The Hokage's heart felt heavy. If only they had found a way to speak with the Uchiha, but even then, Hiruzen wondered if it would have even mattered. Sometimes a leaf was a leaf.