Danzō sat in his hideout, in the Anbu Black Ops. headquarters.

Rakūn stared at his leader as he contemplated. The older man had his bandaged hand resting under his chin, legs crossed, and his eyes shut. Danzō breathed, and Rakūn noticed as his leader's eyes opened, he could see, feel the heaviness. The heaviness that the man had so graciously gifted his Anbu with once his presence entered the room.

"Are you regretting your decision?" Rakūn questioned, staring up at Danzō.

"No. Not at all. I've seen this coming." Danzō responded. His hand detached from his chin and moving to rest on the arm of his chair, or for a better understanding throne.

Rakūn was immensely confused, since when did Danzō take the Uchiha's lack of power into consideration?

"It's a test, child." Danzō smirked at the Anbu's confusion.

"I'm don't understand." Rakūn confessed.

"I didn't think you would." Danzō snorted.

Danzō sighed and waved his hand in a gesture to come closer, "Let me explain, I need to see Sasuke's determination." Danzō wrapped his hand around the Anbu's throat.

"If Sasuke…breaks," Danzō's grip tightened and Rakūn could feel his oxygen being cut off, his hands hung limply at his sides as he choked and gasped for his life source," It will feel like this. Everything will die and collapse, nothing will have motion. Sasuke will go through many things, losing his innocence, losing his family, losing his freedom, losing his humanity, the list goes on. And even if it comes down to the child losing his sanity, I won't give a fuck. And do you know why, Rakūn?," Danzō slammed Rakūn's head against the floor. Blood dribbled down Rakun's mouth to his chin, "It's because the Uchiha's are my air, and as long as they don't shatter, my plans will live and thrive. We don't need a weak link in our anatomy, do we?" Danzō's hand returned to its original spot and Rakūn fell to the floor. Wheezing.

"My only goal is the safety and prosperity of Konoha. It doesn't matter if there's some collateral damage in the process of peace. Do you think Hashirama got to where he was without a little loss and sacrifice? Only a coward who's friends with a fool would wish for a world without war, I simply wish for the success of our village."

Danzō continued.

"Anyways, if Sasuke has the audacity to come crawling back to me for a second chance, then I will know for sure to keep him in my plans."

"Danzō-sama?" Rakūn has finally caught his breath and slowly stood up from his position on the cold ground.

"Yes?"

"Why did you not go with your original plan? Why not choose Itachi Uchiha instead of Sasuke?"

"Sasuke shows tremendous potential. While his brother is a close second, I know he would break, and which I explained to you earlier, that is something we cannot have. Itachi is mentally weaker than his brother, I know his betrayal would eventually happen."

"So, you've changed everything?"

"Yes."

"What will happen?"

"All in due time, Rakūn. All in due time."


Fugaku stood in front of the Police Force, staring them all in the eye. They needed to discuss the recent development between Konoha's citizens and the Uchiha. And the plan to overthrow the Third Hokage and his administration.

"Fugaku-sama…?" An Uchiha hesitated to direct the attention of his leader to himself.

"Do you- do you really think it's a good idea to overthrow the elders?" Fugaku narrowed his eyes at the question.

"I mean, maybe we can rise in power in a different way. Like, gaining the trust of the citizens or-"

"Don't be stupid. There is no, 'gaining trust'. If we want to be treated with respect, we have to take it for ourselves." Fugaku cut the Uchiha off.

Fugaku looked the man in the eye. "Do you not trust me, Atsuya?"

The man, Atsuya, forced his face to stay stone and it took every ounce of his willpower to not look away from Fugaku's gaze. "I would put my life in your hands, Fugaku-sama."

Fugaku's expression didn't change as he seemingly searched Atsuya's soul. The other Uchihas standing behind Atsuya didn't move a muscle, but they were all watching intently.

Fugaku crossed his arms as he spoke. "Come forward."

Atsuya stood just inches away from the clan head, staring him down.

One second passed.

Then two.

Three.

Four.

Fugaku scoffed.

"Bull."

Atsuya's eyes widened.

"Leave, immediately."

Atsuya went to protest but thought against it, deciding to simply stay put.

"I will not repeat myself; unless you wish for punishment?" Fugaku asked mockingly.

Atsuya dipped his head and swiftly turned, walking out of the room, leaving a thick silence.

Fugaku started to stride towards the remaining men. "I do hope that was a lesson for you all. I will absolutely have no weak links in our system, as one faulty move could lead to our damnation."

Fugaku clasped his hands together. "Now."

"Some of you will go undercover as Anbu, specifically my best."

Itachi and Shisui tensed.

"We need Konoha's plans, so we can counteract them when the time is right, you all know who you are. For those who were not chosen to work in Black Ops, you provide back up, or rather, enforcement for when my spies' strike."

The Uchiha's nodded, and Fugaku planned, there was nothing different about this than any other meeting between Fugaku and his chess pieces.

Except that no one noticed onyx eyes peering in from outside the cracked door.


Sasuke sat next to Naruto, he had taken up his friend's offer on being a living diary. "It just feels like he's hiding something from me. I don't know what it is, but I know I'm not going to get it out of him by just talking to him."

Naruto nodded seriously, or, as serious as he could be.

The blonde had been hearing Sasuke rant and go on about his older brother and his secrets. He was happy to help, but all he wanted at the moment was for the stoic Uchiha to shut up. He didn't want to be offensive, but Sasuke's home life was a whole other level of depressing. So, Naruto went with giving the raven-haired male advice, advice he hoped the said male would take instantly.

"And I know it has something to do with the meeting earlier, he's home always late, and dad is never here except in the mornings, and I can tell mom has been crying because she knows something she doesn't want to know and—"

"I have an idea!" Naruto seals Sasuke's mouth shut with his hand.

"Ask him something you're not supposed to."

Sasuke ripped Naruto's hand off his face and glared at him.

"Don't be ignorant, dobe. What is that going to do?"

Naruto grinned impishly and gestured Sasuke to come closer, so he could hear him as he whispered. "Wanna know how I learned about sex?"

Sasuke was about to jump away when Naruto grabbed him by the front of his shirt.

"I asked Iruka sensei where do babies come from and told him I knew they didn't just come from love, because if that was the case, Sakura and I would have been had a kid."

"What are you getting at, Naruto?" Sasuke was exasperated.

"I asked a question adults' never want to be asked. Just do that to Itachi. Ask him about something he's been avoiding telling you."

Sasuke never knew retards gave genius advice.


Itachi sat next to Shisui. No had spoken yet, as the silence was the only thing prolonging the mentioning of the elephant in the room.

Shisui seemed to be distraught, and being his best friend, Itachi was worried about the boy. He would have reached out to comfort the other male, but wasn't in the right mind to do so, how was he going to help Shisui when he couldn't even convince himself everything would be okay?

Itachi didn't agree with his father's way of doing things. He was against it, actually. The stunt the man was about to pull could potentially, most likely, cause the start of a world war. Konoha needed anything but that after just recovering from the Third Great Shinobi War, and the Kyuubi attack. Sure, the leaders of Konoha weren't making the best decisions, and yes, everything was already screwed up, but trying to kill everyone in power would just send everything straight to hell.

"Itachi."

Itachi looked up from the crack in the cement and stared Shisui in the eye.

Shisui smiled. "It'll be alright. I'll handle it."

Itachi furrowed his eyebrows. What?

Itachi was about to question Shisui when they were interrupted.

"Shisui, brother!" Itachi could see his little brother approaching from the distance.

Shisui jumped up and gathered the younger Uchiha in his arms.

"Sasuke! Hey Grumpy man!" Sasuke squirmed in his arms.

"Stop calling me that!" Shisui rearranged Sasuke so that they were piggybacking.

Itachi smiled slightly. "Shisui, I don't believe Sasuke enjoys being thrown around, he looks like he came here for a reason."

Itachi attempted to assist Sasuke. He failed, of course.

"Oh, be quiet Grumpy man 1.0, you're worse than this munchkin here." Shisui pointed towards the child on his back.

"Shisui! Itachi's right, I have something important to ask so put me down!" Sasuke complained.

"Sir yes, sir!" Shisui gently placed Sasuke on his feet and Sasuke crossed his arms.

"Your Sharingan." Shisui and Itachi's eyes widened.

"What?"

Sasuke rolled his eyes and averted his gaze to Shisui. "I need the Sharingan and I need you two to help me gain it."


This is going somewhere, I promise. Don't get mad at me, just wait for the next chapter.

Thanks for reading, if you don't mind, R&R.

Love, R.A.