When I had gone to get Itachi, I had fully expected Kisame to come with us. Probably because it's not often the two go their separate ways. Instead, Kisame chuckled about brother trouble and decided that he would go get his quota. Probably so that Pein wouldn't get unreasonable. He really doesn't like it when the members do anything but their job. The entire way to the Uchiha hideout Itachi was silent. Lost in his own thoughts. I knew that he has already accepted his fate, whichever outcome that may happen. Just like I can figure right then, he was reliving that night all over again. Letting it play out in his mind repeatedly as he killed people he had seen as family. There was nothing I could say that would help so I had remained silent. Only speaking when I figured we needed to rest so that if things go south Itachi will be ready physically. Well, as ready as he could be.

When we arrived at the hideout I was almost taken aback, it looked exactly like I had remembered. My chakra blanket flitted out around the area more out of habit. I could already feel eight people hidden throughout the trees and one was sitting at the top of the building itself as if they were looking through a window. Their lips moving told me they were saying something quietly over a radio. Within the walls, however, there were four people, one standing just to the left of the door and another approximately three feet behind the two that were hugging. "They are already here, and so is the leaf." I spoke up quietly without even looking to Itachi. I could feel him nod a single time to my words before moving forward towards the hideout. I could feel their eyes on us as they duck further out of view. Watching as we passed by them, a couple of their lips moving briefly probably relaying our position to the ones ahead. I had expected the glare I received as we walk into the room, even if his claim that he wouldn't hate me, had given me a sliver of hope. "Why didn't you ever tell me!" With his yell, I could see his hate swallowing his gaze. I nearly found myself hesitating but the warm hand that brushed against my back helped me move forward. It was a fleeting touch, barely pressing against my skin enough to remind me that he is here.

Once the door closes behind us I feel Itachi's hand move to my shoulder as if silently reassuring me about today. I couldn't miss Sasuke's eyes as they lingered on his brother's hand. The longer I was silent I could see the anger overtaking Sasuke's hatred. At this rate, he will forget himself and react. I silently told myself. "We had to make you believe they were dead." I spoke as I feel Itachi going to explain for me. "Why?!" Sasuke yells as he moves away from Mikoto to walk halfway across the room towards us. His left hand already moving to the hilt of his sword as if out of habit. Though Itachi lets go of my shoulder and moves himself between us forcing his little brother to stop. "Itachi." I spoke up feeling the emotions slipping from me again. He turns his head and looks to me from the corner of his crimson eyes. "For the moment, this is still mine. Don't interfere." I inform him watching as he lingers where he is standing for a few moments. As if he himself was debating about listening to me. I was beginning to think I would have to repeat myself when he finally moves, positioning himself behind me again. Leaving the seething Sasuke in full view. His eyes shifting from his brother to me, then back again. "Why?" He hisses as his knuckles grip his sword tight enough his arm quivers the slightest bit. However, it seems like he is trying to calm his anger.

"That would be easier to explain if you would allow Itachi to use genjutsu on you to show you his memories." I openly sigh lightly turning my head as I raise my right hand to my forehead. Touching my temples with the tips of my fingers for a moment as I watch Sasuke from the corner of my eye. "But, you would probably see that as an attack against you. So listen closely, Emo boy." With the use of my name for him, I had hoped to alleviate some of the tension however his eyes narrow upon me. His own murderous intent seeping out of his pores but he said nothing. As if he was waiting for me to continue. To show him I wasn't afraid I walk forward. Only stopping when I was about a foot from him, deliberately putting myself within striking distance. By doing so I watch his muscles twitch as if it was his turn to debate about stepping back from me. At least he didn't automatically swing. I thought as I look into the depths of his onyx eyes. "You were too young to truly know everything that was going on within the clan and the village. The pieces you did pick up you probably overlooked with very little thought." I began and when he went to speak I simply raise my right hand drawing his eyes to it a moment before he sighs and meets my gaze again. Probably making sure I didn't have my whip ignited or my energy blade cast. "If at any time you do not believe me you can ask Fugaku to clarify or simply decide to let Itachi show you. I do not expect you to take my words at face value."

Putting my hand on my hip I watch the thoughts pass his gaze waiting for him to do his usual nod telling me he was ready to listen. "After the nine tails attacked the village apprehension for the Uchiha grew. With it, the Uchiha understandably pushed back. They were growing ever tired of the way they were being treated even before you turned seven. All those meetings the adults use to have?" I ask even though I was mostly just pointing it out to him. "They were discussing a coup d'etat. Even peace negotiations with the leaf to try and prevent a coup. Remember Shisui?" I ask him and watch as his eyes widen a moment as the name clicks into his mind. "Yeah, so what?" He retorts nearly making me sigh. "He believed in peace with the village so he was using his rare ability that his eyes gave him to control the negotiations. But Itachi's superior Danzo didn't like him interfering. Danzo wanted the Uchiha to rebel against the village. So he attacked Shisui stealing one of his eyes before the Uchiha escaped him." This made Sasuke's eyes narrow again. "Itachi killed him." He hisses and I very nearly shrug in return. "Yes, but that was because Itachi found him dying. Shisui didn't want his death to be in vain and asked Itachi to kill him so he could stop the coup. Itachi honored his only friend by killing him before death could take him. In return, he got the Mangekyo." I look over my shoulder towards Itachi seeing his bright red hues staring at my back. I can only imagine how he feels hearing this spoken aloud. "You expect me to.." Sasuke begins to snap at me and I raise my hand again closing my eyes a moment before looking back to him.

"Just shut up for once and listen." I inform him blankly and this time his right foot does step back, but it seems like he catches himself. "With Shisui gone the peace talks were failing. The third Hokage still had hope for a peaceful resolution but Danzo... He wanted it over with. He told Itachi that the Third Hokage had given him a top-secret mission. A mission if he completes Itachi would have to leave the village and be labeled as a criminal. Danzo's mission." I pause watching his eyes. "To eradicate the Uchiha clan." Sasuke's eyes flick from me to Itachi still standing near the door and back. As if he was trying to come to a decision if what I am saying is true so I continued. "This left Itachi with a choice. Do nothing and let the coup happen causing an all-out war in the streets of Konoha where innocent bystanders would be caught in the crossfire. Or complete his mission and stop the coup from happening by staining his hands with the blood of his family." Finally crossing my arms just beneath my breasts I move forward. Stopping just at Sasuke's side. My shoulder brushes against his arm that still had ahold of his sword. "The decision ate at him. He wanted to see his clan moving away from their anger, away from the hate they built up for the village. Away from the decision to take control of the leaf. But it didn't happen. The anger only continued to build. So he felt he had no choice. With the help of an Akatsuki member who calls himself Madara Uchiha, his plans were put into action. Itachi knew that even with how powerful he was he still couldn't kill his clan quick enough on his own without being surrounded and the sounds of battle drawing leaf shinobi. To complete his mission he needed to make it fast and silent. To leave the village before anyone figured out what happened. While he left -Madara- to finish the stragglers Itachi went into his home. Found his parents in their room and talked to them."

Sasuke's breath catches as I see his onyx eyes move to their corners as if he was trying to meet my gaze. To see if I was lying. I just stared ahead of me unblinking as I think about the images flowing into my mind. "Itachi had everything set up ready for you to come into the room. His plan for you. Was to make you hate him enough you would become more powerful than he could ever be. He wanted you to kill him for the blood on his hands and make you a hero to the village." I pause again hearing him swallow his next retort as his eyes move to stare at his older brother. "What he didn't expect was a raven-haired girl he recognized as a child from his little brother's class. She came in and turned his plans upside down. Explaining to him things she couldn't have possibly known. Telling him that she could get his parents out of the village unseen and he could use corpses in their place. That he could still make his little brother hate him if that is what he wanted and still save his parents. That way over the years Itachi could visit them and Sasuke would still gain the power Itachi desired for his little brother's benefit. Then once Itachi died by his brother's hands Sasuke could be reunited with his parents so maybe after living in a life of darkness he could finally see the light. So she did, the seven-year-old got his parents out of the village without being seen. After waiting long enough she had even slipped back into the compound and gathered things to get them started. Meanwhile, Itachi reported to the Third Hokage and found out that the mission was never actually given. Danzo had used Itachi to kill his clan. The Third Hokage promised to look after Itachi's little brother and keep him out of Danzo's grasp. After the Third's promise, Itachi left the village, as a criminal and joined the Akatsuki." I pause looking down as my hands grip onto my sides. "What no one knew beyond the seven-year-old girl. Danzo had his own reasons for having Itachi kill his clan and it certainly wasn't for the good of the village. Danzo went through and stole the eyes of the dead Uchiha."

After saying this I look past Sasuke towards his father already feeling Itachi's sudden catch of his breath matching Sasuke's. "He put Shisui's eye in his right eye socket and used a few others. Placing them over his body. Covering them with bandages and sealing them with chakra dampening cuffs. Initially, he wanted to use Shisui's special power to capture the Hokage's seat but it didn't work out like that. He couldn't use it on such a large scale but he was able to use the forbidden Izanagi jutsu. And since the effect of the jutsu causes the loss of the Sharingan ability one eye at a time he had plenty of eyes to replace them with." Stopping there I turn slightly and look back towards Itachi's wide gaze. I've never told him this so I knew it would come as a shock to him. That he was used for such a thing. "What?!" Fugaku's deep voice rings out as he takes a couple of steps forward. His eyes were wide with his own shock as anger began to fill them.

"You knew... all of this.." Sasuke breathes as I move away from him. Raising my head I look towards the window I could feel our onlooker at. "Kakashi." I speak up loud enough he could hear, drawing their stunned gazes back to me just as Kakashi appears next to me in a puff of smoke. "Did Tsunade finish it?" I ask him quietly even as he slips a hand into his pocket. Giving off his usual bored stance. "Yes." I nod to his word and turn in a way I can look at the four Uchiha in the building. "I was sent to the Leaf village by the leader of the Akatsuki six months ago. He wanted me to watch Naruto for when the time came they would collect him." I speak out meeting Sasuke's gaze. "But I had my own objectives I wanted to complete while I was there. I went to the fifth Hokage since I already knew that she shares the Third's belief for peace but also has the fiery rage barely bridled by her own willpower. I told her the gist of what I told you now. She had Danzo killed for his crimes against both the Uchiha and the village."

Walking back up to Sasuke I stop in front of him. Looking into his stricken gaze. The thoughts running through his mind were almost as clear as if I was thinking them myself. I found myself reaching up and hooking his chin with my finger raising his gaze to meet mine. "I didn't tell you about your parents because Danzo needed to believe they were dead. Being seven years old I knew you wouldn't have been able to lie well enough to deceive him. Again when we were team seven, you were so caught up in your revenge if you were to suddenly change and abandon the notion it would have raised flags. I did it to keep them safe. So that when you were ready, the four of you could return to the village and be a family." This time as I spoke I allowed my voice to flow gently. The boy before me looked like he was about to break and I found myself afraid of that happening. "As I said, it's okay if you hate me, I've betrayed your trust and your friendship. I knowingly left you in the darkness when I could have easily pulled you from it. Just don't hate your family. Your brother was used by a sick bastard but his thoughts have always been for you, your family, and the village."

Silence rings in the throne room as I turn my back to Sasuke. A part of me thought he would strike me down for what I put him through but he made no move. "The Fifth Hokage has said you are all welcome back to the village. And if Itachi chooses to return as well all of his crimes will be forgotten. The two of you can take your places where you left them with no questions asked. She also gathered all of the eyes Danzo had left and is keeping them for you to decide for yourselves what you want done with them. In her words, this could never make up for what Danzo has done but she hopes you accept and return to where you all belong. To live a happy life and make up for the lost time." Kakashi speaks up as his gaze moves over each Uchiha in the room. "We will go wherever our boys choose." Mikoto speaks up. "I refuse to lose them again." Her soft voice rings in the silent room until I go to move away from Sasuke.

His hand suddenly catches mine as his gaze falls to his right at nothing in particular. Looking over my shoulder at him I take in the emotions once again swirling in the depths of his eyes. "I don't hate you. You did all of this for us. I just need time." He breathes out and I finally give him a smile. Reaching up I place my left hand over his. "I can live with that." I then look to Itachi. "You can return home, Itachi. We don't need you to watch the Akatsuki any longer." I tell him drawing his bright red hues back to me. "I know you don't feel like you deserve it but maybe you can use a pair of eyes left behind by your fallen brothers so you can see again." With that, I slip away from Sasuke's grip and walk towards Kakashi. "We should let the family have some time." His gaze softens upon me as I try to smile before suddenly turning and looking to Sasuke. "Cheer up, you're a big brother set an example." As his eyes widen I stick my tongue out before transporting to the roof of the building with Kakashi.