Interlude #1

At this point in the story, the young Uchiha survivor had left the Ninja Academy. Sasuke had begun to absentmindedly stroll around the village. Unexpectedly, he crossed the abandoned Uchiha mansion. It was as he had expected it to be: ominous; untouched; and never to be approached, for the building towered menacingly over all other buildings in the village. Sasuke stood at the base of the house, staring up at the building, which was his rightful inheritance. After gazing upon the dark beauty of the house, he decided to go inside.

Sasuke opened the door.

He entered the threatening threshold and wandered its halls. All the time he recalled the days he had spent with his family in the family room. He remembered spending time with his older brother Itachi. He had looked up to him until that dreadful day when the very person would slaughter his entire family. Sasuke despised Itachi from that day forward, and vowed to kill him.

Sasuke's cool authority seemed to have died away by the time he reached the bedrooms. He felt the strong desire to cry as he remembered the family he once had. Automatically, he reached his own room. It was dark and plain. The Uchiha symbol was on the wall behind his bed. An empty picture frame was found on his night table. It had once held a miniaturized portrait of his family. Someone must've taken it.

He ventured out of his room, tired of reminiscing. He found himself in his brother's room afterward.

"Great," he said to not only himself, but also the walls of the room. "Just what I need. I desire to not remember Itachi. He is my enemy. My rival. A traitor." Before he stalked away, he had to have one peek of his brother's room, for he was never allowed inside. He was willing himself against it, but found himself in Itachi's doorway. He stood stunned.

The room was similar to his, with the exception of many more pictures. The pictures were not only of his whole family, however. Most were of Itachi himself and his younger brother. On his night table, he had a picture of Sasuke when he was about six. The glass of the picture frame was broken.

Sasuke couldn't look anymore. His brother's room even smelled as Itachi did. Itachi's aroma filled his nostrils and he could not take anymore. He broke free of the spell entrancing him with his brother's scent. The young Shinobi bolted and ran straight out of the house with tears brimming in his eyes.