Crisp flames die down from their burning haze. The land around it scorched from its continuous blaze before finally being put out. That's the sight that Mikoto and Kushina returned to see. A home that is nothing more than ash and blood.
Although, two female Uchiha bodies laid in rest from an obvious assassination. Their eyes were missing and that caused them to be on guard. Someone had murdered them, presumably after they started the fire. Mikoto didn't care at the moment, as her thoughts go towards Avarice. And where he would be at this very moment.
Kushina, however, dragged her friend back to her generous home. Making the woman sleep in their guest room for the night. Without energy searching for a shinobi no less would be a hassle that could wait until the morning.
Nightmares haunted her throughout the night. Terrified thoughts of having lost the man kept her from a good night's sleep. Faintly calling out for her lover, and would hope he responds. Sleeping alone was hell, so much so, that she has Kushina sleep with her.
"I'll find you Avarice. I know you aren't dead..."
"Mikoto, dattebane! You have a visitor."
"Give me more time to sleep... Tell them if it is not important, then I can discuss it later."
"She said she's sleepy Avarice, so you'll have to come back when Mikoto is awake."
Onyx eyes shot open at that name. "Avi... If Kushina is joking then Lord Third have mercy on her poor soul." Running out of-of of the room in a long t-shirt with the uttermost speed, Mikoto goes for the front door.
Avi is right in front of her with a scorched hand, signifying her earlier thoughts about his battle. His clothes are burnt and littered in cuts from an experienced sword user. And dry blood taints the color of his hair and clothing. His grey eyes all but tired, yet they rage with determination. Something the Third always speaks about in his free time.
"Someone is up after all?" Scratchy voice jokes rhetorically as he walks inside the house.
Mikoto could not contain herself and jumps on her Avi with pure happiness. Smothering him with kisses as she thought of the unbearable. "You're... Alive." Stroking his face and staring into his cloudy eyes. "Don't scare me anymore. I thought you were dead."
"I am alive as you can see. Your husband has earned his title after all, as the Wicked-Eye Uchiha. He nearly killed me with his final attack, but I managed to get away albeit with a lot of injuries." Avarice explains his hard-fought battle with Fugaku and the large amount of stalling he had to do for them to succeed.
Kushina listens intently at his description of the battle they took place last night. She had hoped for Mikoto's sake that he came out alive and he did. He is becoming a close friend to her as well, even though the time frame is incredibly short.
"You could have been killed Avarice. Just, try to stay alive for our sake."
Interjecting herself into the conversation, "We told gramps about the Uchiha's plan and he is working on a solution at the moment. So, all we can do now is kick back and relax for the time being."
"So, you both succeeded in your task. Good. Now I can rest for the time being, as my wounds slowly heal with the medicine I've gotten from the general store."
"We are going to wrap that wound and place ointment on it. But, you take it easy or I'm going hurt you." Mikoto goes to the bathroom to retrieve medical wrapping and healing ointment.
Kushina is jealous slightly at the fact that Mikoto managed to get a man to please all her desires. While Minato is great he isn't sexually active and left her desiring more. And Avarice was looking to be a small treat she could try out. If only...
Mikoto returns from the bathroom and treats the man's wound with basic medical techniques. Beginning the process for healing his scorched hand and minor wounds. "This may hurt a lot, Avi." Placing a few drops of antibacterial ointment onto the scarred tissue.
Avarice grunts in pain and tries to ignore the burning sensation. His arm will be scarred for quite a long time and the only thing plausible is to keep it bandaged.
"What did the Hokage decide to do about the Uchiha?" Taking his mind from the pain as he eases himself into the couch.
"We don't know yet, but Lord Third said that it will be taken care of and that he thanks us." Mikoto finishes the wrapping process and sits between him and Kushina.
"Where are you going to live now, Avarice?" Kushina curiously asks wondering about his potential living arrangements.
"A hotel. It will hold me over until I can build a new home."
"You and Mikoto are more than welcomed to stay with me, so your funds can be built up."
"I-Well, uh, sure."
"Then it's settled, dattebane!" Kushina shouts in excitement and hurriedly shows Avarice and Mikoto to their new room.
"Itachi.. are you prepared."
"Yes, Lord Third."
"Danzō have your root seal the Uchiha perimeter. Let no one escape."
It's already prepared, Hirzuen. They are waiting on Itachi to arrive and then it will be activated.
"Good. Let the Uchiha massacre begin."
Itachi opens his eyes as he recounts the final conversation. Taking the sacrifice to save the village from the Uchiha. The peaceful route has all but been extinguished, but if this means creating a better future for Sasuke then he will bear it. His little brother means everything to him and nothing will ever change that. It is time to end the Uchihas forsaken ways.
Clutching the Anbu Tanto and settling his final thoughts, Itachi strikes aiming for the shinobi sector first. Swiftly ending the lives of many, slash after slash, as dark fluids trace his blade. Gasps of life call out for help, while their bodies fall dim. Each murder he commits pains Itachi, but he continues not hesitating as this is for Konoha and his brother.
A child rubs their eyes waking up from a bad dream. "Daddy?" The child calls out only for the blade to end their innocent lives. Blood drips from the young boy, while his black eyes stare into Itachi's soul. Haunting him for the sins that he is committing.
"Just keep going Itachi." A small mento to stop his atrocities from overtaking his mental state. "I'm sorry, little one."
Closing the child's eyes for an eternity of dreaming. Itachi did not know why Madara let the child slip pass him. Nonetheless, he did not have time to evaluate the notorious Uchiha's decisions.
Blood plasters the walls as bodies go limp, faint traces of light reflect off the tanto. Symbolically revealing a pain-stricken face that has to endure the suffering for others. A true shinobi that will be remembered for his deeds or atrocities.
Uchiha after Uchiha, the clan is slaughtered. Few begin to wake, but all for naught as Itachi quickly kills them in hopes to make their suffering not too cruel. He hates killing, yet his life required it to be so. A life that problem found humor in his hypocrisy and pacifism.
"It will be over soon." Comforting himself, Itachi finishes the shinobi sector. Hallow cries echo the forsaken halls and death follows behind.
The Uchiha elders hide in their emergency room, in hopes that they would not be slaughtered. They had known that Fugaku's oldest has been acting strange, but to go this far is blasphemy. That damned village wanted them gone and they are doing it by an Uchiha no less.
The wooden door slides open and a blazing sharnigan is their final view. Their hearts being quickly punctured and throats slashed. Henceforth, ending the figureheads of the Uchiha and all their indulgence of sins.
Itachi finally arrives at his father. The man resting on his knees seemingly waiting for his death.
"Itachi. I have a request if you don't mind listening to your father one last time."
"Kill your mother. And I'm proud of you son." Fugaku's final words as his world go dark and he passes away from the puncture through his heart.
Itachi stares at his weapon, warm blood silently drips into the pool of blood underneath. Along with tears that flow from his pain-stricken face. He has murdered his friends, family, and clan for the sake of Konoha. To make sure that Sasuke could continue forward without any threats to his wellbeing.
It is over, almost. There is only one Uchiha left that he has to kill and that is his mother. Wiping his face of the previous tear fall and proceeds to leave his dead father.
Walking outside of the clan house and into the streets, he hears his brother's cries of agony. He would put him to sleep and help him grow in power in one go.
Shunshining to his younger brother Itachi activates his accursed Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Big brother?" Sasuke calls out in hopes that his brother will save him.
"I'm sorry Sasuke, but live to hate me and despise what I have done. Tsukuyomi." Blood flows from his left eye as the technique is cast and traps Sasuke in the illusionary world.
"For the next forty-eight hours, you will watch me massacre. Including our mother and father." Itachi blankly says as he forces his younger brother to suffer for what feels like an eternity.
Sasuke's cries of agony and suffering tear into Itachi's heart. He didn't want to hurt his younger brother, but it had to be done. One day, he would understand why.
The cries eventually stop and Sasuke falls to the ground unconscious. Choking sobs spill from Itachi and he cries once at having to leave the person he loves the most. "I'm... sorry Sasuke. Big brother will not be here to help."
Disappearing to meet up with Madara and tell him of the final Uchiha.
Itachi meets Madara at the outskirts of the compound. Deciding what their next plan of action will be regarding the situation.
"Uchiha Mikoto. The last Uchiha on the list and she is currently with a companion in the Uzumaki Household. Go kill her and him, so that we can be on our way Itachi."
"Understood." Nodding his head to the man's command and disappears. One last Uchiha, the woman that birthed him.
Avarice sits on the rooftop and takes in the nightly scene. Konoha is usually quite amongst this time and the skies are very clear creating an excellent time to stargaze. It is his passion after all and it gives him the ability to think.
"Do you mind company?" The red-headed woman peaks her head outside.
"I don't mind."
Kushina comes outside and sits beside the man. Wondering what made him do this activity so often. "Why do you like to come outside during the night?" She was never one for silence and that had to be broken.
" The Stars, Moon, and just the overwhelming visual is serene to me and there's nothing like it during the day. Hence, why every night I'm stargazing as a way to relax from the stresses of daily life."
"Do you ever think there is something more beautiful during the day?"
"Like what?"
"Whatever comes to mind. A clear blue sky and warm weather make an awesome day, in my opinion. But, that doesn't appear to be the case in yours. So, why is that exactly?"
"Simple. It just doesn't compare in my eyes and isn't as relaxing during the day as it's the night." Avarice doesn't bother to stop his gazing for the woman, while the conversation carries on.
"Makes sense." Kushina moves in closer to the man in hopes that he will take the hint. Closing her eyes as she relaxes against him.
"We have a visitor." Opening her eyes Kushina sees Mikoto's eldest, Itachi. Blood-covered tanto and sharnigan activated to to make his appearance veil, but before she could question him she is put into a genjustu effectively putting her sleep.
"And who might you be?" Avarice gently rests Kushina on the floor and stands up.
"That is none of your concern. Where is Mikoto Uchiha?" The Uchiha grips his weapon and moves closer.
"That is none of your concern. But, if you are going to kill her then I'm going to stop you right here." Avarice grabs his kunai in preparation for the battle. This boy appears to be well trained but doesn't have too much chakra, so he should be alright.
"I will kill you. Step aside or die are your options, Mr. Ōtsutsuki."
"I don't think so-"
"Tsukiyomi."
"Where am I?"
"You are in Tsukiyomi. A world that I control every aspect of Mr. Ōtsutsuki."
"And I'm just going to be snapping out of this." Charging his charka to displace the genjustu, but it's all for naught. "Interesting." Cutting his arm with the kunai which only harms him.
"Avarice, you shouldn't harm yourself. It makes me sad." Mikoto somberly says as she hugs him.
" I have already killed the Uchiha and my mother is the last one." Itachi grabs Kushina by her hair as she wiggles in pain. "Give me Mikoto Uchiha or her dies." The tanto rubs against the woman's neck drawing blood as tears go down her face.
"Please don't let me die, Avarice. I'm begging you, dattebane." Kushina pleads to the older shinobi in hopes that he will not let her die.
"I-I will not let you have Mikoto."
"Then, you will kill Kushina." Itachi forces Avarice's body to move forward with the kunai in his hand. The weapon slowly sweeps into her abdomen as she screams in pain.
"Stop... stop." Protesting weakly as he is the one that is killing Kushina. "This can't be real.. can it?"
"It's not too late to give her up, Avarice. Otherwise, Mrs. Uzumaki will be dying to your hands and it will be your fault. After all, the hand that is killing her is yours."
"I... won't." Protesting against the Uchiha as he will fight the boy is fading.
Avarice's hands maneuver the kunai into Kushina lungs.
Gasping for air she gasps for air to fill the missing oxygen, while pain overcomes her body and blood fills her esophagus. " I-I... love you Avarice." Bloody lips connect with his own as she falls from his arms. Kunai lodged into her vital organ and blood gathering around her.
Avarice hands shake as he just killed the woman. "Ku-s-shina. I am sorry."
"What is going on up here? Itachi?" Mikoto appears from the inside of the house. Stretching and yawning as she has just awoken from her slumber. Onyx eyes lay upon the dead Kushina, realization hits, and tears fall. "My best friend is dead... And you killed her."
"I didn't kill her. Your son made me do it."
"Mother." Itachi appears behind Mikoto and plunges the weapon through her heart silencing her completely.
"Mikoto! No..! No! No!" Regret boils inside Avarice as the two women he has come to care about are both dead. One from his own hesitance and the other because he was too slow. He would kill the man and bring about suffering for the bastard.
Grey eyes transform into red-ringed eyes that have six tomoe. Glowing with unrivaled sorrow as he charges at the murderer with a black rod that hums with chakra.
"What are those eyes?" Itachi questing himself, while dodging the attacks as he chains the man down. This battle, although illusionary, is taking far too long for his liking. And it is about time to wrap it up before Madara or the patrol shows up.
Forcing Avarice to repeatedly watch the gruesome murder of Kushina and Mikoto repeatedly. However, Itachi's Mangeko Sharingan is reaching its limit and subsequently genjustu before it can take its full effect.
The world around them reverts back to normal, but the genjustu has taken it to affect on Avarice. Draining him of his fighting spirit and charka from the activation of his own Dōjutsu.
Avarice breaths in and out sweating from the intensive genjustu. The physiological torture reminds him of his younger days during the war. He will continue fighting as long as needed. Fortunately, for him, another presence has been revealed.
"Itachi. Why are you still here?" Madara appears from his personal dimension annoyed at the Uchiha.
"I was just wrapping up. My mother is dead, but this man here has a unique dōjutsu. The village sensors are on there way as well, so we should hurry and go." Itachi explains to the elder Uchiha.
"You are right. Unique dōjutsu, hm." Madara places his hand on Itachi and they both vanish from the village.
"It is over." Avarice's body gives out from chakra exhaustion and his world goes black.
"The Uchiha have been dealt with, Hiruzen. What will we do about Mikoto and Sasuke?" Danzo inquires from his longtime friend. An opportunity is at his horizons if he plays his cards right.
"I want your underground shinobi to recover all the Uchiha eyes and bring them to be sealed. The risk of having such ocular prowess rotting or at the hands of Orochimaru is far from good." Hiruzen grimaces at his past mistakes. Orochimaru is one mistake that he will not leave again, no matter the cost.
"You have finally gained a backbone. Konoha needs it after all this turmoil that will soon to arise from the extinction of the Uchiha. And the Uchiha's eyes will be brought to you before the night is over, I assure you."
"Now for Sasuke, he will stay at the compound afterward or a new home with his clan fundings. But, Mikoto Uchiha must not be seen by Sasuke as she is officially declared dead. To avoid any more problems, we may decide to summon her tomorrow to discuss these arrangements." The Third Hokage knows that Sasuke may eventually find out the truth, but having his mother around would not help.
"Leaving the Uchiha woman alone should not tamper with any of our plans if she does cooperate. Otherwise, she will die before sunset."
Hiruzen tiredly nods to his companion the burden of old age is quickly catching up to him. A successor will be needed soon as he can't be the Hokage forever. Jiraiya is a pervert; Tsunade a drunk; Orochimaru is Orochimaru. Minato is out still young, but he may be the future Hokage. This village needs a younger flame to guide it and he will soon nominate the new Hokage.
The night is still young and the moon hangs high, and so much blood has been spilled in a short amount of time. Everything he has done is for the village and will always be for the village until he can't service it anymore.
"You are dismissed Danzo. If any further issues arrive, then alert me."
"Understood, Hiruzen." Danzo takes his bow and exits the room. Leaving his teammate to the work that waits before him.
Once the door clicks and Hirzuen are alone he pulls out Icha Icha Paradise, an erotica novel by his student, Jiraiya. Stress is a killer and the paperwork can wait until tomorrow. Laying back in his chair he takes a puff of his pipe and begins the book. Summoning Mikoto and dealing with Sasuke can wait until tomorrow.