A/N: Sasuke's thoughts are italicized. This chapter is a flashback of the day that everything started.
Last Time: The same thing was flashing through both their minds: the day it all had begun.
Chapter 1:
I wonder if niisan is home. Thought a seven year old Sasuke walking down the hallway toward the central stairwell. As he walked closer to his father's study, he heard raised voices, though he couldn't understand what they were saying. What's going on? He stopped in front of the double doors and pressed an ear against one of them. What he heard shocked him to the core, almost to the point of being paralyzed.
"We all know that Sasuke is worthless!"
"He has the potential. He just doesn't have the ambition."
"Even so, he'll never become half of what Itachi is."
"If we give him the same opportunities tha-"
"No! We can't afford another prodigy; having two in the same generation is unheard of! We have to decide which to keep and which to... dispose of." There was silence for a few minutes, Sasuke was about to walk away when he heard, "All those who vote Itachi to stay." After a few seconds someone shouted, "Finally! Glad you all see it my way. Now we can stop wasting our time on the useless brat." He heard no conversation after that.
Do they really plan on killing me? Why would they kill one of their own? How can they even think about it? Sasuke slowly walked downstairs to the living room as if in a trance. "Hello, otouto." Itachi drawled without looking away from the television. He looked up alarmed when Sasuke didn't reply. "Sasuke?" He stood up and walked over to his little brother worried, especially when he saw the silent tears running freely down his cheeks. He wrapped his arms around Sasuke, who clung to him desperately. "What happened? Who did it?" Itachi growled out, holding Sasuke tightly to his chest. After a few minutes of waiting, he snapped out, "Answer me!"
Sasuke sniffled then sobbed out, "They w-want to kill m-me." Itachi stiffened his eyes a glowing, crimson storm of fury. "Who?" He spat out. "The people that father met with today... In his study." Sasuke mumbled quietly into his brother's chest. "The Elders?! Why...?" Itachi asked stunned. "I'm worthless and could never be half of what you are." Itachi growled at the monotone in which his brother spoke. "There can't be two prodigies in the same generation, so they've picked the better and are going to dispose of the other."
After telling his brother what he had overheard calmly and indifferently, he broke down sobbing. I don't want to die! "I won't let them take you away from me, little one. I'll kill them before they get anywhere near you." Itachi promised. That night they planned the death of their clan; even if the others disagreed with the Elders' decision, they wouldn't even attempt to stop it. They feared too much for their own lives.