Sasuke collapsed on his hands and knees panted hard, exhausted from his training. But he wasn't complaining. He got to spend time with his father and hear compliments from him too. That made it all worthwhile.
Right now Fugaku was gone, allowing Sasuke to relax. A shadow approached from behind, making him turn around. "Hi Sasuke. You don't look so well."
"Hi Itachi. I'm just... a little worn out."
The older Uchiha shook his head. "You look like you're starting to sunburn. You know that's dangerous for you. And why were you practicing near the lake? You know that's even more dangerous for you."
"Father says I need to overcome my weaknesses by not being afraid to be exposed to the things that can hurt me."
"And he's the expert on vampires?" Itachi asked.
"Not compared to Miss Kushina, but he's got to know what he's talking about. He's the head of the clan after all." Sasuke replied.
"But is he a vampire expert?" Itachi repeated.
Sasuke groaned as his muscles ached when he stood up. "No. Why?"
"Come, let's get you inside before you burn up." Itachi said as he picked his little brother onto his back and carried him inside the house. "Why didn't Father bring you inside if you were like this?" He asked.
Sasuke opened his mouth to answer, but no sound came out once he realized he didn't actually have an idea why. Up until that moment, he didn't even think about it, but he was certain his father had a good reason.
Itachi took Sasuke to his room and placed him down gently in his satin-lined coffin, made specifically to let him be comfortable yet not suffocate him. Sasuke felt relieved to be out of the sun and on something soft. Itachi gave him a small bag of donor blood they got from the hospital, and Sasuke drank from it like it was water. "Thanks Onii-chan."
"No problem Sasuke. But I really want to know why you put yourself in such a bad situation just because Father told you to." Itachi inquired.
"Because he said I'd get stronger this way." Sasuke replied, taking a brief break from his drink.
"I know you want to be stronger and make Father proud Sasuke, but you must not forget your limitations."
"But if I can get over my limitations, then I can be stronger." Sasuke countered.
Itachi just kept looking at him plainly and then flicked him on the head.
"Owww." Sasuke said as he rubbed the flicked spot on his forehead. "Why did you do that?"
"To remind you, never become arrogant or foolish in a quest to become stronger." Itachi said with a small smile as he patted his younger brother on the head. "Power doesn't come from ignoring your weaknesses Sasuke, it comes from compensating for them."
It was then that Mikoto came into the room. She smiled fondly at her two sons before she spoke. "Itachi, your father wants to speak to you."
Sasuke noticed for a brief moment, a moment of irritation or maybe even repressed rage in his brother's face, but it soon vanished as Itachi stood up and faced his mother with a smile. "Of course." He then left the room, moving in complete silence.
The younger Uchiha sat up in his coffin and looked at his parent. "Mom, is everything ok between Dad and Onii-chan?"
For the past several weeks, a rift had formed between Fugaku and Itachi, and not so long ago Fugaku had considered Itachi 'The very Future of the Uchiha'. But for reasons Sasuke couldn't begin to imagine, Itachi didn't like that acknowledgement.
Mikoto looked at her son, and shook her head. "No Sasuke, your father and brother, they just have... different viewpoints."
"Like what?"
Mikoto wasn't sure how to explain that. Her youngest son looked up to both his father and older brother quite a bit and she didn't want to ruin his hero-worship of them both. "Your father just thinks Itachi should do things a bit more to his liking, and your brother wants to remain his own person. I'm sure they'll find a compromise soon enough."
Fugaku sat in his private study, tapping his fingers on his desk while Itachi stood in front of him, a blank emotionless look on his face.
Fugaku stopped tapping his fingers and finally spoke. "They fished Shisui's body out of the Naka River, and they found a suicide note taped to his body." The clan head said.
Shisui Uchiha was noted to be one of the most talented members of the Uchiha clan. He had great mastery of the Body Flicker technique among others, and he was hailed as one of the most powerful genjutsu users of the Uchiha clan, Thanks to the fact he possessed a modified version of the Mangekyō Sharingan, which had a very unique and powerful ability that could only be used once a decade. It made him one of the most feared and powerful members of the Uchiha clan.
He had also been Itachi's best friend. The two of them had been very close growing up, and Itachi had always looked up to Shisui as an older brother.
Itachi stood there silently for a moment, staring at his father. When he finally spoke he said one simple word. "And?"
Fugaku nearly exploded with rage. He stood up from his chair and slammed his fists down on his desk, looking like he was ready to activate his Sharingan. "AND? IS THAT ALL YOU CAN SAY" He shouted and Itachi remained perfectly still, unafraid of his father.
Fugaku glared at his son for a bit longer and then dropped back into his seat. "His eye was stolen, along with his right arm. So someone now has possession of the Mangekyō, and we have lost a valuable asset to our clan."
Itachi raised a brow. "This implies that he was murdered and did not commit suicide. Mere suicide should not leave such uncharacteristic wounds."
Fugaku glared at his son. "Indeed, and there is already a suspect. You Itachi."
Itachi did not even look shocked when he heard this. "Is there a reason for such suspicion?"
"Yes. You have been acting strange lately so I and several other members of the clan had Shisui assigned to watch you."
"What have I done to warrant this?" Itachi asked.
"Because you have not been acting like yourself Itachi." Fugaku answered. He wanted to say more, but his son cut him off.
"Not acting like myself, or not acting like you Father?"
Fugaku silently fumed and struggled to resist exploding at the defiant boy. To keep himself from doing so, he continued what he had intended to say before. "You're passing up missions that would allow you to establish yourself as an ANBU. You've stopped attending clan meetings. And worst of all, you are growing far too attached to… it."
That statement struck a nerve in Itachi better than anything else said here had. He clenched his fists and his face became cold towards his father. He knew without a doubt that 'it' meant a person, and even though he didn't know who exactly that was, the fact that Fugaku considered them a thing more than a person is what enraged Itachi.
"Your brother and all the turned children of the clan are meant to be our tools, necessary in solidifying our eventual control over this village. Frankly son I am starting to question where your loyalties lie." Fugaku said and with that he returned to his work, and motioned for Itachi to leave.
The Prodigal Son stood there rigidly, and then he turned around and left the study, a dark look on his face as walked away. 'What is your angle here Father? You called Shisui an asset to the clan, not a member. You mention I'm accused of murder yet do not ask me if I'm guilty or show hope that I am innocent. And you regard my concern for my brother as misplaced. Are you hiding something, or are you simply pompous and expect me to be your clone, which I am not?'
"I EXPECT you to remember that you are an Uchiha, and that you have a duty to your clan and family. The time for our clans return to power is fast approaching Itachi, and when it comes I need to know you stand with us." Fugaku said
Itachi stared at his father for a moment, a eerie silence in the room and then without a single word or even permission to leave, he turned and left the room.
It was night and a full moon, its light shone brightly on Konoha while the citizens slept peacefully, save the Youkai children who were now nocturnal.
And on top of the Hokage Monument, Itachi stared down at the village below.
"Amazing isn't it, when I first stood on top of this mountain, none of this was here." Said a voice from out of nowhere.
Itachi spun around, his Sharingan activated and saw sitting on the ledge of the mountain, right on top of the First Hokage was a man, dressed in black and wearing an orange mask, and with a long mess of black hair. Itachi was completely shocked, his senses were very acute and yet he had not heard or even sensed this man coming.
The masked man continued to stare down at the village. "Ninja villages, they are like cockroaches, no matter how many times you try to crush them, they always somehow survive and thrive."
The young Uchiha reached for his weapons pouch but before he did the masked man spoke again. "Try to draw any kunai and I will send you over the edge. Of course I could always make it look like you killed yourself."
Itachi's eyes widened, this man knew the truth. "Who are you?"
The clocked figure rose from his sitting position. "Ahh yes, I suppose that a more formal introduction is required, I am Madara Uchiha, Master of the Mangekyō Sharingan, Co-founder of Konohagakure, and once Leader of the Uchiha clan." He said as he took a small bow.
"And?"
The masked man jolted back slightly in surprise. "And? And what?"
"What's the point of telling me this? You had one moment when you could have killed me and no one, not even I, could have known until it was too late. The fact that you're talking to me instead and you're letting me talk back to you like this means there's something you want to say to me."
Madara smiled under his mask. "Smart boy, I like that." Itachi's frown easily told him to just get to the point. "Okay, I came to you because I have some knowledge I think you might be interested in having and sharing."
Itachi still didn't trust this guy any further than he could throw him, but didn't object. "I'm listening."
"You have noticed things about the Uchiha, things that make you uncomfortable. Things that don't make sense and border on the terrible. Things... the clan should be without, am I right?" Madara inquired.
'I don't like the way he's saying this, but I can't fault his accuracy in his statement.' Itachi told himself. "And so what if I have?"
"Do you not wish to change things? You are the strongest one in your generation, and yet you choose to do nothing. Those that have the ability to take action, have the responsibility to take action. And yet you choose not to. That will prove to be a bad choice."
Itachi resisted a scoff. "And am I to believe you know what the best choice is then?"
"I have no love for my fellow Uchiha anymore. I brought them to an era of power and prosperity, and they cast me aside without a single thought. Needless to say I am still pissed off."
Itachi said nothing in regards to that so Madara just kept talking.
"And when I learned that the Uchiha were stirring up some trouble, I figured I would stick around to see what it was. I was literally shocked when I learned they were talking about a Coup. Took them a hundred years to accept my idea, but I can't really let them take over this village… that's my job." Madara said, sounding rather ridiculous and hard to believe.
"I am losing interest in this conversation." Itachi said.
"Alright, my point is this. If one had it in their power to remove a threat without any backlash consequences, would it not be logical to do so?" Madara stated with a shrug.
"Are you suggestion that I remove those who are responsible for creating this problem?" Itachi asked.
"Oh, far be it for me to know what must be done." Madara answered, showing false modesty. "But since you're not entirely convinced that this action must be taken, let me ask you this, what do you think your clan will do if they succeed with their little plan?"
Itachi did not answer, and his eyes lowered to the ground.
"Maybe you do understand, but simply hate the hate you must be in a position to make the decision. Oh and by the way, what did you do with Shisui's other eye?"
Itachi looked up at the masked man and when he spoke it was short and crisp. "I destroyed it."
It was then that Madara simply vanished. Not by a shushin or even a substitution. It was more like he simply was never there in the first place. "If you need me again, go to the Valley of the End on the day after tomorrow. Come alone, or you will receive nothing, Itachi." His voice rang in the gifted Uchiha's ears a moment later.
Even though Madara vanished, Itachi refused to relax, he was withdrew a kunai and kept his Sharingan activated. He did not know if this person was really Madara Uchiha, which Itachi doubted. If Madara was still alive, he would be well over a hundred years old. However, this person might indeed be an Uchiha, judging from the abilities he exhibited and the knowledge he possessed.
Knowledge that Itachi had to agree with. If his father did manage to gain control over this village, then it would become little more then a police state, and all of its people living in fear of the Uchiha.
Something that he just would not allow.
It was then that Itachi made a decision, one that would affect him and his clan for a long, long time.
"What?" Hiruzen Sarutobi said as he rose up from his chair.
Itachi knelt before the Hokage and Danzo as he spoke. "My father, and most if not all of the adult males of the Uchiha clan are planning to lead a Coup against you Lord Hokage. They intend to overthrow the council and make my father the new leader of the village with only other Uchiha having any position of authority in this village."
"Can you prove this?" Danzo curiously and professionally asked.
Itachi opened his jacket, revealing an internal pocket which held a folder, he pulled it out and placed it on the Hokage's desk. Danzo made a move for it, but Sarutobi slapped his hand away. "I am Hokage, Danzo. How many times do I have to remind you of that?"
"I never forget that." Danzo said, hiding his bitterness. 'I just don't like it.'
The old man looked thru the folder's contents and saw several records from clan meetings showing that the Uchiha were indeed preparing for a complete and total takeover of Konoha. "And what do you want in return for telling us this information?" Sarutobi asked.
Itachi was silent for a moment, but he soon rose up from the floor and stared at both the Hokage and Danzo as he told them. "I wish that the children and women, who are innocent and have no part this treason be spared. And in return I will personally deal with my father and all who support him."
"You would kill your own father and most of your clan?" Danzo asked.
"To preserve peace, I would. I'll be honest, I do not like this, but I do not agree with my father's ideas about what's good for the village. Or should I say, what's best for him. I fight and shed my blood to keep my family safe and honorable, not to fulfill the whims of an egomaniac."
"How exactly is arranging for them to die keeping them safe and honorable?" Sarutobi asked.
"If they fight the entire village, they all will suffer and despite their confidence, they are not Yondaime's equal and cannot take on half an army by themselves. And after the conflict, no one would look at an Uchiha with anything but disgust ever again. If we eliminate the problem before it becomes too large to handle, and keep it out of the public's eyes, the innocent can stay safe and they will maintain at least some honor." Itachi explained.
Sarutobi thought it over. "I can only hope you're right Itachi. In that case, begin the process tonight and finish it tonight as quickly as possible. The ANBU will be stationed around the area to keep anyone else from finding out, and will also go after the rest of the clansmen listed here as the conspirators. We will leave Fugaku to you. Oh, and would you mind if Kushina got involved to keep the children safe or under control if they somehow get involved."
Itachi nodded. "That is acceptable Lord Hokage."
"Good. Now get ready. End this before sunrise."
Itachi nodded and then left.
"This will cause quite a mess if it gets out, you know that." Danzo commented.
"I know. But we already have plans set in place, case a situation like this did ever occur, although I had hoped never to use them." The Hokage said as he took a long draw from his pipe and exhaled through his nostrils.
That evening Fugaku had his last meal without knowing it. It had been fresh baked fish and jasmine tea for himself and his wife, while Sasuke had only drunken his fill on blood, and once again Itachi had neglected to attended dinner, as he had done for the past few weeks now, staying out late and coming back early in the morning.
He did not know what was going on with that boy, but he knew that Itachi would have to change his attitude soon, otherwise there were going to be consequences.
Fugaku walked outside onto the porch and smiled, he enjoyed the night air and gazing at the moon. "Such a peaceful night."
However that peace was quickly destroyed.
An explosion suddenly went off in the distance, but still clearly within the Uchiha district, and screams could be heard.
Fugaku sighed. "I spoke too soon." He then got up and rushed towards the damaged scene.
Sasuke came out of the house. "What happened?"
"Nothing. Go back to bed."
"But Fath-"
"I said go back to bed Sasuke!" Fugaku yelled before running off.
Sasuke just stood there, staring at his running father. "But... I don't sleep well at night." He saw a large pillar of smoke coming up from the ground in the distance. "Oh no, someone's hurt." He then ran off to see if he could help.
Itachi jumped onto a roof, cleaning his sword of blood of the seven Uchiha who had been with his Uncle. "Damn. I didn't think there was fuel in those containers Uncle Nobu had behind him. Now the element of surprise is ruined for me. The Anbu better hurry up and cover the other areas fast."
Itachi then ran towards the house of his next target, but stopped when someone else got on the roof in front of him.
Fugaku stared at Itachi, his Sharingan activated, who stared at his father with a cold merciless look. "Itachi? What are you doing?"
"Ending this madness of yours, Father. Eight are dead already, and the ANBU are finishing off the others."
Fugaku's eyes widened. "You betrayed us! You're killing your clan!" He sounded more shocked then angry.
"No Father, I am only executing the guilty. Mother, Sasuke, and those who you did not taint with your thoughts of rebellion will be spared. But everyone else who believes the world cannot owe them enough will be eliminated for the good of Konoha."
Fugaku practically snared and performed a set of hand signs. "Fire Style Blazing Hell Descension Jutsu!" He exhaled a wave of flame that took root on the roof before him and covered the entire thing with red fire. From it multiple hands of flame rose up in an effort to grab anyone nearby and pull them into the fire pit.
Itachi avoided it and appeared behind his father to strike his neck from behind. "Did you forget my skills Father?"
His attack misses and Fugaku himself appeared behind his talented son. "Did you forget who taught you those skills, Son?"
Fugaku tried attacking his son from behind and snapping his neck. Unfortunately his own comment gave him away so Itachi was able to duck and kick from behind. Fugaku took the hit and fell off the roof but he recovered quickly and landed safely on the ground beneath him.
Itachi came down and both father and son stared each other down, Sharingan blazing but ineffective against each other. This stare-down lasted only an instant, because Fugaku, the more hot-tempered of the two, charged forward making thirty fast hand signs. "Fire Style Fire Dragon Jutsu." He exhaled a stream of white-yellow fire that took the shape of a dragon and flew at Itachi.
Itachi substituted with a training log which burnt to a crisp and ran at his father, sword out and ready to pierce. He was stopped by a large collapsible shuriken flew in front of him and came very close to cutting his head off. Itachi turned to see the thrower, who turned out to be his uncle Nobu, covered in burns and bleeding badly
"You didn't kill me you fool." Nobu declared angrily.
Itachi didn't look phased. "Then I correct that mistake."
Fugaku took this opportunity to try and cut Itachi with a hidden kunai. Itachi was able to see this coming and grabbed his father's arm with his own, moving quickly enough to snap it. Nobu tried to come up from behind the talented young Uchiha but Itachi released Fugaku and turned around, using the kunai he took from Fugaku to stabbed his own brother in the neck.
Nobu fell to his knees clutching his throat. He knew pulling it out would only kill him quicker, so he decided to leave it in and see if he could get one last strike in before he died. He made two hand signs and tried to perform a Fireball Jutsu. Unfortunately for Nobu, the kunai in his throat interfered with that and made the metal grow incredibly hot as well as affect his concentration, resulting in himself spontaneously combusting.
While Itachi was momentarily distracted by the sudden unintentional suicide, Fugaku pinned Itachi down to the ground, one hand gripping Itachi's hair while the other held a second hidden kunai. The Clan Head dug his nails into his sons scalp as he slammed Itachi's head onto the ground. Once, twice, three times.
Itachi's nose was broken and blood dribbled from it, and then Fugaku pressed the kunai against his throat.
"I loved you Itachi, you were the very future of our clan and you betrayed us. You never take sides against your family."
It was then that Itachi spoke weakly. "You yourself took sides against Sasuke and the other children. You were willing to use them as simple means to an end."
"THAT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE! AND THE MOMENT THEY HAVE SERVED THEIR PURPOSE I WILL TOSS THEM ASIDE LIKE THE FREAKS THEY ARE!" He shouted.
"Freaks? They're your nieces and nephews and more, and even your own son."
"They are inhuman filth that serve one purpose and that's to be my tools. They were the perfect way for us to ensure we get what we deserve if they just trained hard enough. But I guess mere monsters aren't as strong as the legends claim. I had hopes for Sasuke, but he's no different or stronger than the rest of the trash. So he will share their fate too, as will you"
And then as if waiting for him to say that, out of the shadows came Sasuke, attacking his father from behind, sinking his fangs into Fugaku's neck.
The Leader of the Uchiha let out a cry of pain as he released his grip from Itachi, and stood up from the ground, trying to throw the child off him. But Sasuke held on tightly, refusing to let go.
Finally Fugaku reached behind his neck and grabbed his youngest child and using all of his strength he pulled Sasuke from him. He held the boy in front of him, Sasuke's mouth was dripping with blood and tears rolled down his cheeks as he cried. "Stop it Dad. Stop hurting Onii-chan."
Fugaku snarled in rage as he threw Sasuke aside. The crying child landed on the ground and looked up at his father, whose face was a mask of fury.
"TRAITORS, BOTH MY SONS ARE NOTHING BUT TRAITORS!" Fugaku swore as he advanced on Sasuke with his kunai in hand.
But he did not get to even take two steps because Itachi appeared behind him and drawing his own kunai he slit his father's throat in a near fluid motion.
And then Itachi whispered into his fathers ear "Never. Touch. Him."
Fugaku stood there for moment, his Sharingan began to fade as blood flowed from the wound on his neck. He then dropped to knees and then fell over, dead.
Itachi stood above his now deceased father, and dropped his kunai to the ground as he deactivated his Sharingan.
It was then that he turned and looked at his younger brother, Sasuke was sobbing in the ground, and his eyes were wide with terror at what he just witnessed.
Itachi felt as if his heart was being wrenched from his body. He had wanted to spare Sasuke this; he did not want his sibling to see him like this.
The elder Uchiha, walked over to Sasuke who cringed and hid his face as Itachi approached him. But then Sasuke felt a gentle hand placed on his head, he looked to see Itachi kneeling down and smiling weakly at him.
"Thank you for saving me Sasuke." He said.
His eyes still filled with tears, Sasuke leapt up and hugged Itachi tightly, and under the light of the full moon, Itachi, his clothing stained with the blood of his father and fellow Uchiha, hugged Sasuke back.
The sun had just begun to rise when the mission to put down the Uchiha Rebellion ended in complete success. The ANBU combined with Itachi had combed through every inch of the Uchiha compound, they located and killed every member who had been a part of the Coup.
In total one hundred and twenty-nine Uchiha had been killed. A few of them had been accidental victims, caught in the crossfires.
At the moment the entire compound was on lock-down from the inside while one the outside it did not look any different.
And in the Uchiha Main House, Sasuke was asleep, and Mikoto, after learning about the death of her husband, and the knowledge of what her clan had been planning to do, it had left her empty and oblivious to all. She had been placed in her room under guard.
While in another room, a meeting was being held.
"So what do we do about this now?" Sarutobi asked when they had a free moment. Currently he, Danzo, Kushina, Kakashi the head of ANBU, and Itachi were together.
"There's one more thing I must do Hokage-sama." Itachi said. "Not too long ago, I ran into a masked man who called himself Madara Uchiha."
"Madara?" Kushina repeated, alarmed, and immediately went right into Itachi's face. "You saw Madara?"
"I can't say for absolute certainty it was him, or even the same Madara you know, Miss Namikaze. He simply addressed himself by that name."
"Kushina, calm down. Let Itachi finish." Danzo told the redhead, who reluctantly agreed.
Itachi cleared his throat. "Anyway, this man confused me. He appeared to be much more powerful than he let on and well-informed. He was the one who suggested I make a stand against my own clan rather than turn a blind eye to their selfishness. He obviously knew what they were doing, and I can't help but wonder just how he had such information, and why he himself did nothing with it. It was like he was testing my reaction to it."
"Do you think you passed his test or failed it?" Danzo asked.
"I don't know. But he did tell me if I wanted to see him again, I was to meet with him at a specific place on a specific day."
Kushian growled. "Tell me where-"
"I'm sorry Miss Namikaze, but you cannot go." Itachi calmly countered. "He clearly stated that if anyone but me went there, he would not make any appearance at all."
"You're not seriously considering this are you?" Kakashi asked.
"I don't think I have much of a choice." Itachi claimed. "This man obviously knew a lot of things he shouldn't have had access to. Also, if Kushina is right, he was the one who slanders young Naruto within hours of his birth. If I do not comply, there's a strong chance he will slander tonight's actions to cause a civil war within Konoha. If I go to him, I may be able to stop that."
"Speaking of slander, how do we handle this mess? People are going to ask questions." Danzo stated.
"Why not tell everyone the truth?" Itachi suggested. "The Uchiha head got powerhungry and tried to rally his clan together to get what he wanted but some disagreed and fought back. A fight started and the Anbu were forced to intervene."
"It's not the complete truth, but it does work and allows the innocent Uchiha to save face with the public." Kakashi commented.
"What about you Itachi?" Kushina asked. "How do you fit into this cover? And if you're going out to see Madara, by yourself, how do we explain your absence?" She sounded a bit resentful when she said 'by yourself'.
"How about we say that Itachi found someone from outside the village supporting the Uchihas and volunteered for a long term mission to track them down and find them?" Sarutobi suggested.
"That could work." Danzo said. "It gives him a reason to be away but doesn't give him a fixed timeline to return to avoid suspicion."
Itachi nodded. "Very well, I will do so, but if I am to make it where I need to be, I must leave before the sun rises."
"You may go Itachi. Just remember to send back reports on what you find regarding Madara whenever you get the chance to."
"Will do Lord Hokage." The Uchiha prodigy said before leaving the room. After that, the meeting came to a close.
Itachi entered Sasuke's room and closed the door behind him. He walked over to the coffin/bed and looked down at his brother. The lid was open so he could see Sasuke sleeping soundly. From the look on his pale face, he was dreaming good dreams, as it should be.
Itachi reached out his hand as if to stroke Sasuke's hair, but he stopped himself midway, not wanting to awaken the boy.
'Sasuke, please understand why I do this, I do it to protect you, just as I did the night the Kyuubi attacked'
Itachi remembered the night of the Fox's attack, how he had cradled his brother in his arms while the rest of the clan went off to fight. He had been requested to fight, but he turned it down, saying his brother and mother needed to be watched over as well.
'You may hate me for leaving without saying goodbye, but I promise that I will come back one day. It may be a few years, but I will come back. And when I do, I'll give you that spar you always wanted.'
On the verge of shedding a couple of tears, Itachi placed a white envelop inside the coffin so Sasuke would see it when he awoke. He already left one for his mother on the kitchen table.
With nothing more to say, even to himself, Itachi turned around and left his house, not knowing when he'd return.
The Valley of the End was located close to the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Rice. Getting there from Konoha at ninja speed took aprroximately two to three days depending on skill level. It was an important landmark because shortly after the foundation of Konoha, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha fought for control of the village in that very spot. Hashirama emerged victorious and Madara was believed to have died.
But Madara Uchiha had survived his battle with his mortal enemy and now stood on top the statue of himself, staring at the recently arrived Itachi, who stood on the statue of Hashirama.
"I knew you would come." The masked man said as he jumped and landed right in front of Itachi, staring at the prodigy, and through the single eyehole, Itachi saw it, the Sharingan.
"You really are him, Uchiha Madara."
"The one and only." The man said as he proudly spread his arms out.
"How were you able to survive this long?" Itachi asked
"Oh more on that later, right now you and I must get going. There are several people I need you to meet."
"What people?"
Although Itachi could not see it, he was very sure Madara was smiling beneath his mask as he spoke. "The Akatsuki."
Beneath Konoha, in the underground Headquarters for ROOT, and in his office, which resembled the Hokages, only with a darker tone, Danzo sat in his chair and stared at a kneeling ROOT agent.
"They did what?" Danzo asked.
"All bodies of the slain Uchiha were burned sir. It was the Itachi boy's final request in private before he left. I suspect he may even have been the one to do the job." The agent said.
"Damn, all of those sharingans, gone. We lost a golden opportunity." Danzo said as he gripped his cane.
"On the positive side sir we have recruited fifty transformed children that were reported missing or KIA. And based off what we have read in myths and legends, they should prove to be very powerful agents for ROOT."
Danzo was silent as he thought the information. Fifty children hardly compared to the power he could have received if he had been able to retrieve the sharingans from the dead bodies. However based on the circumstances, it did make up some of the loss.
"Very well, begin their training at once."
"Yes sir." The ROOT said before disappearing.
'I may not have gotten all I wanted out of this, but I at least didn't come out empty-handed.' The war hawk thought, glancing at his right shoulder, although he couldn't really glance at his right eye. 'And with several demons waiting to be molded in my image, my ascension to power may happen even sooner than I anticipated despite my other loses. It's fortunate that foolish Kushina woman doesn't suspect me of ulterior motives, so I can manage to get information on demons directly from the source should I ever need to.'
Danzo got up and walked out of his office. 'But first, I'm going to test what I did acquire out. I'm a bit rusty and need to get back in form.'