When some people think of Witchcraft, they think of wandering a beautiful emerald-green forest speaking to spirits or collecting twigs and rocks. For others, they think it's writing runes in a cute hand-sewn notebook or speaking mantras that rhyme.
But not here.
Not in this world.
We have been tainted by the seventh shard of darkness. It pulses through our blood influencing our actions and turning us into feral savages. While the Senju bloodline lives in Konohagakure showered with light and love, we Uchiha's live in the mountains inside caves that are hardly lit by waning torches. Our bed chambers are crawling with bugs, our mess-hall is nothing but a stone chamber filled with empty tables and bloodsoaked tiles.
The Uchiha's are going mad, and I am forced to live with it every single day.
At first, I didn't notice the effects my family was having on me.
Afterall, you can't notice the storm if you are in the center of it.
But I've watched many ritual sacrifices. Some of my companions have turned to cannibalism. Others simply go insane, writhing in the joy of using dark magic to dismantle any living thing around them.
No wonder the Senju Bloodline wants us dead…
Still. I feel like I've managed to keep at least a sliver of my sanity. Because, being the strongest Uchiha in the clan, I am often kept on the sidelines. I'm pampered, compared to the other members of my clan. So I've strayed away from the truly traumatizing things my twisted family has to offer.
But, I suppose. Today will be different.
My father, Fugaku Uchiha, and leader of the Uchiha clan has called a meeting. Outside the mountainous caverns the hundreds of Uchiha soldiers are lining the jagged topography. Everybody is dressed in black rags. The outfits are accessories with necklaces made from body parts or otherwise macabre material.
I'm standing next to my father along with my elder brother and mother. Fugaku is wearing full armor made from bones. He raises his arms addressing the crowd as they cheer and holler.
"My beloved Uchiha clan! As you are well aware, the Konohagakure army has forced us back into the mountains. Today, they will launch their final assault. Killing us all."
The crowd howls and jests like wild animals.
"But do not fret! Our sacrifices will not be in vain. I have a plan. One, where we will be resurrected. We will ravage the landscapes as immortals!"
I furrow my brows.
That can't be true. No dark-magic alive can bring back the dead. Sounds like big-words for a dying-clan.
He continues.
"One of us will not join in the final war. They will embark across the land, searching for the seven shards of the Crystal Of Life! It will be the perfect diversion. While the entire Uzuamki family is celebrating, the chosen one we leave behind will collect the shard of life. By unifying all the shards, the Crystal Of Life will be reborn! With its power. The chosen one will revive us!"
A random Uchiha shouts from the crowd.
"Who is this chosen one!? Why should we put trust in some stranger?!"
"Oh...he is not a stranger."
Fugaku turns to me.
"My son, Sasuke Uchiha. Will be the one to carry the future of the Uchiha clan on his back! He will unify the shards, and resurrect us once the Crystal has been reformed!"
My heart is hammering in my chest. I backpedal slightly...but showing weakness is not the Uchiha way. I need to collect myself. Especially since everybody just learnt that their future depends on me.
"Now! Let us meet those disgusting, Senju worms head-on! Let us bath in the blood of our fallen kin and awake once again in the land of the living!"
Everybody roars in delight. Raising their hands in the air they wave their swords to-and-fro'. I am the only one to remain silent.
Father leads me back into the caverns as the rest of my kin gets ready for war. It is strange, having the entire mountain empty aside from Father and I.
"Father-"
I clear my throat as I aimlessly follow him deeper into the mountain.
"-you did not tell me you wanted me to collect the seven shards."
"Is that an issue for you?"
He growls. I stammer my response.
"N- no. Of course not. I just...don't know if I'm powerful enough to find all those shards…"
I've already said too much. Although, I have a sinking suspicion even if I said nothing he would retaliate. Along with being abusive and wicked, my father also has a short temper, and he loves letting out his frustrations on me.
He strikes me across the face and I fumble into the cold cavern wall. He grabs me by the hem of my shirt and pushes me into a nearby room. Before I can protest he hits me again, sending me on my ass. I keep my eyes closed and don't fight back.
It's better to just let this happen.
But instead of beating me senseless, father helps me to my feet and points to the other side of the room. It looks like this is where he was leading me all along.
"You will be strong enough, son, because I am going to give my power to you."
"What?"
"I'll willingly give you all my magic. I'll transfer it to you. With it, along with my bloodlust for Uzumaki flesh. See, I know that you are weak…"
He pushes me against the wall and I begin to crumble with anxiety.
"I- I don't know what you are talking about."
"Do you really think I would forget that night? When you were a child, you refused to kill the King and Queen, along with that annoying Prince Naruto Uzumaki. This entire ordeal could have been avoided if you weren't so weak."
My lips are trembling and my skin has gone cold.
"I was a child."
"You are an Uchiha. Meaning, you can kill at any age. But you haven't yet, have you? I think I've kept you far too sheltered. For now it's time you earn your keep."
He takes a step back and weaves a binding incantation. Five ropes formed by dark-magic encapsulate my entire body and pin me to the wall. The impact bruises my back and I gasp for breath as one of the ropes wraps around my neck.
He faces his palm towards me and a string of energy slithers towards me. It hooks into my chest and wiggles into my heart. It feels like acid burning my skin and I writhe in discomfort.
"The ropes are to keep you still, this energy-line is to feed my magic to you. Afterall, this will hurt like hell, my son."
Dark red magic begins traveling down the line. The moment it pierces my heart I shriek in agony. It feels like hundreds of tiny knives are stabbing my heart. At the same time, underneath that agony is the sensation of my bones grinding against one another. The final layer of sensation is that of power. It is thick like grease pumping through my veins fueling my muscles.
Fugaku falls to his knees as his magic is steadily drained from him. Slowly but surely, my mind is consumed by the want to kill the Uzumaki's.
I hate it.
It's unsettling.
I can hear my fathers will in my head. He's telling me to do terrible things. My own spirit is fading and being replaced with his own wants and needs.
And the father of the year award goes to…
Finally, everything stops. The ropes around my body loosen and I fall into a heap on the floor. I'm panting and wheezing.
Who am I? What am I? What do I want?
I clench my heart. It feels like a hammer beating against my ribcage. I turn onto my back staring up at the cavern roof.
That's when Dad lunges at me. He grabs me by the throat and begins to squeeze. I wriggle and gag desperately trying to suck in air.
I should kill him.
What?!
The thought is intrusive. Clearly fueled by my fathers dark magic and evil thoughts.
Do it. Bathe in his blood. Tear him limb from limb. Kill Fugaku Uchiha.
The lights begin to dance turning into blurry, distant messes. My legs go limp and my mouth hangs open as I fall into unconsciousness.
He'll be your first kill.
Do it.
Do it.
Kill him.
My eyes re-open. In the reflection of my fathers own mad gaze I can see my eyes are red like wildfire. I raise my hand and fire a blast of dark energy into his face. He flies through the air, landing with a heavy- CRASH!
When he looks back at me. His face is burnt like charcoal, twisted, and many years older. That's when he smiles ear to ear.
"Good boy…"
He soothes.
"Do it. It's your right of passage."
Now rising to my feet, all I see is red. My fathers voice won't stop whispering in my head!
Kill him. Kill him. Blood. Bones. Death.
I can fight back no longer.
With a burst of energy I grab my father by the throat and pin him to the wall. Between my fingers I let magical waves pierce my fathers skin and suck the life from him. He gasps, clearly in agony. But I have no empathy left within me. Father took that all away from me.
And I hate him for it.
His skin is deteriorating. He lets loose one last gasp before the last of his life force is drained from him. I can hear his pulse stop underneath the harsh grip of my hands.
But I'm not done left.
I keep draining the life from him, watching as his skin turns to sandpaper. Until, even that fades away into muscle-tissue...still. I won't stop. His entire body fades into a skeleton, and I hold it in my hands waiting for the bloodlust to leave me.
Please. I don't want to be this person!
But I can't help it. With one quick- snap! I dislocate his skull from his body. A wicked grin crosses my face as I hold my fathers skull up to the light.
I will drain this entire world of it's lifeforce. I will become a god that lurks in the shadows! I will do as you wished, father, and kill the Uzumaki family once and for all!
Yet behind these twisted thoughts. A part of my soul is weeping.