It had been 3 months since Naruto had moved in and the whole clan seemed to be a livelier place. Itachi loved having another little brother that he and Sasuke could play with. Today, Itachi was returning from his test to get into the Anbu squad. It was a gruelling experience but it was over quickly. He opened the door and walked into the threshold, making sure to take his shoes off at the door. "I'm home!" He took off his bag and placed it next to the entrance table. In perfect sync, his two brothers' came barrelling out of the kitchen, calling out his name as they hugged his waist. "NII-SAN!" Itachi chuckled and placed his hands on both boys' heads. "Morning." "Morning!" The three smiled at each other as they made their way back to the kitchen.

Itachi walked by the boys' sides as they rambled on about the spar they had yesterday. Sasuke was bragging about mastering the Fireball Jutsu while Naruto mentioned that he discovered his element. "Yeah, only 'cause you had help." Naruto pouted at Sasuke. "Just 'cause Otou-San helped me learn I was a wind style user doesn't mean it wasn't a major thing teme!" Itachi looked at Naruto in shock, "Where did you hear that?!" Naruto looked at him confused, "Wind style? School why?" Itachi shook his head. "No, where did you hear 'teme?'" Naruto grinned devilishly as he replied, "I heard it from that pervy sensei with the sunglasses." "Ebisu?" Naruto's eyes widened and another smile grew on his face, "Yeah, yeah! That's him!" Itachi internally growled at the thought of why Ebisu would use that word in front of Naruto. "I'll have to talk to him later." The boys tugged on Itachi's arms as he snapped back to reality realising he had stopped moving. "Cooome oon Nii-Saan! Let's play a bit." Sasuke was whining at him, bearing similar puppy eyes to Naruto. Itachi sighed and moved his foot slightly, thinking of an evil plan. "You want to play?" "YEAH!" The boys whined in sync. Itachi smirked, forcing Naruto and Sasuke to get slightly worried. Before the boys could react, Itachi had turned around and collapsed to the floor. Dragging the two boys with him. They crashed on the floor and looked at each other for a moment before cracking up in fits of laughter. Fugaku got to his feet and bounded to the door. However, all he got when he opened the door was the three boys on the floor in hysterics. Itachi opened one eye and barely contained his laughter as he apologised to his father.

The boys were now in school and Itachi had time to talk to his father, informing him of his success in his exam. "So you passed? That's my boy." Fugaku smiled and bowed to his son, who repeated the gesture. "I have to go get my equipment in an hour." Fugaku nodded and rose to his feet. "On a slightly bitter note." Itachi looked at his father confused, what could he say that would feel bitter? "The village has sent a death threat to Naruto." Itachi's eyes widened as he stood up, ready to find whoever sent it and make them pay. "WHAT?!" Fugaku sighed, "They didn't even send it here. They left it in his locker at the academy." Itachi was getting angrier as the conversation progressed, Fugaku was as well but, he was more composed than Itachi. "He and Sasuke came home, and instead of going to train in the back yard, Naruto ran to his room clutching a piece of paper. Me and your mother saw this and decided to let her handle it." Fugaku looked at the floor, anger and frustration becoming more apparent. "She came out of his room half an hour later crying. She handed me the paper that had the words 'Should the monster die?' and a tick for about every villager saying yes." Fugaku pulled the paper out of his pocket and handed it to Itachi. Reluctantly, Itachi took the paper and was shocked to see his father spoke the truth. "Why? What has he done to deserve this?" Itachi looked at his father, wishing for an answer. Fugaku clenched his fists as he grunted, "I don't know. But I'll be DAMNED if anyone gets away with this." He turned back to Itachi and practically pleaded for his help. "Please take this to the Hokage when you get your gear and explain the situation." Itachi nodded, anger and determination in his eyes.

Itachi made his case in the Hokage's office and pleaded for action. The third nodded as he examined the piece of paper. "Indeed this is cause for concern. Especially due to the sheer amount of yes's on here." The Hokage sighed and motioned for Itachi to sit down. "We will get a team on to it but because of the amount of people who signed, there isn't really anything we can do." He sighed again as Itachi looked to ground, face riddled with anger, disgust and sadness. "And, you say he saw this?" Itachi nodded, not knowing what he could say without shouting at the Hokage. The third stood up and opened his door, calling for an Anbu to enter. "Yes Hokage-Sama?" The ninja kneeled before the Hokage, waiting for his orders. "Please follow Naruto Uzumaki, he has been threatened and might need someone to defend him. Do not clearly follow him though, stick to the shadows. I presume you know the rest." The Anbu nodded. With that the ninja vanished. Itachi looked at the Hokage. "Why not send me Hokage-Sama? I am his brother after all." The Hokage shook his head, "That is why you cannot. He will get suspicious and stop trusting you. During the night times and early mornings you may defend him but, if you appeared at his school he would catch on." He smiled to himself, "He may not seem it but, he is a genius in his own right." Itachi looked away before smiling and nodding. "Anyway, how about we give you your equipment so you can go show off to your little brothers, eh?" A wide smile spread across the two's faces. Maybe this was for the best after all.

Itachi was making his way home when he saw someone mysterious lingering by the wall of his clan's compound. The figure saw him and bolted for the woodland edge of the village. Itachi dashed after him and activated his sharingan to make sure he would tail him effectively. They stopped a far way into the village and exchanged fighting glances. Then the other person raised a hand to hold Itachi off for a moment. "How much do you love Naruto Uzumaki?" The voice was deep and unnerving. Itachi narrowed his eyes into a glare. The man laughed and continued, "I'm sorry. Let me rephrase that. How much do you love Naruto Uchiha?" Itachi was bearing his teeth now and growling slightly. The voice laughed again, clearly amused by the response he got. "What does Naruto have to do with anything?" The man sighed before chuckling. "Would you…kill the rest of your clan for him?" Itachi's eyes widened at the sudden question. He felt conflicted, he couldn't kill him or let him die but, he couldn't kill his clan for him. The man chuckled again, Itachi was really hating this guy's laugh. "What about Sasuke? Would you kill them for him?" Itachi couldn't reply. Who was this guy? Why was he asking him all these questions? The man yet again laughed at Itachi's silence and offered him a preposition. "Well then, how about I offer you this? You kill the entirety of your clan except your precious little brothers OR…"

Itachi did not like where this was going, he readied his newly obtained sword and prepared for a fight. "…I take the Jinchūriki and the little Uchiha and force them to become my weapons to destroy this village and in turn the entire world?" Is this guy insane? He would never let him do that! Itachi dived at the man but passed right through him. He turned after landing to see the man had disappeared. He heard laughing from the trees, "I'll give you to tomorrow. If your clan is not dead by then, the boys are mine." The laugh continued but soon faded into nothingness. What was he going to do? He couldn't wipe out his clan! But, Naruto and Sasuke were in danger. He bounded back towards the village with one thing on his mind. "Father can help me!"

He made it back home and went straight to the part of the house his parents were always in this time of day. His father's study. He burst open the door and before they could ask what had happened he explained the events that just occurred. A few minutes passed and the two looked utterly shocked. Fugaku quickly composed himself and nodded. "There is only one thing to do in this case." Itachi looked hopefully at his father, "YES! I knew he would come up with something!" Mikoto nodded, as if she knew what was coming. "Itachi." "Yes father?" Fugaku stood up and walked to their bedroom door. Mikoto shortly followed. "You have to end the Uchiha clan." Itachi gasped as he jumped to his feet. "NO! I can't! There has to be another way!" Fugaku simply shook his head. "There is no other way. If what he said was true then no matter what the clan dies." He turned back to Itachi and wrapped an arm around his now sobbing wife. "This way, Naruto, Sasuke and yourself can train, get stronger and eventually defeat this masked man." Itachi looked at the floor, rage filling his body. His mother than looked at him with a weak smile. "Don't tell the rest of the clan alright? That way, it will look more believable." Itachi's head snapped to see his mother's apologetic smile. She was right though, for this to work, he will have to get the others off guard to make it believable. He silently cursed and took his sword, leaving the study. Fugaku held his wife as they walked into their bedroom. "Don't worry. The boys will survive! They have each other." Mikoto nodded and they went inside to prepare for death.