The students in Naruto's class finished their first year at the ninja academy. Many of the students that weren't made for the shinobi life quit. It wasn't unusual.
The gang was currently throwing kunai, Ali mg with the Uchiha and Hyuga. Sakura was there but she sat behind Sasuke along with a few of the fangirls that were cheering him on.
As Hinata flicked a kunai, she was scoring perfectly. Naruto noticed and walked up to her. "Hello, my name is Naruto Uzumaki. What's your name?" Naruto asked.
"My name is Hinata Hyuga, though, I'm sure you already know." The girl said with a harsh tone.
"You know, you're wasting a bit of energy with how you throw the kunai." Naruto said.
"Oh? Is the class clown giving out advice now?" Hinata asked.
Naruto chuckled and picked up four Shuriken and flicked them lightly at once. The four of them connected to the center of the target. The squad was in shock at how good and talented Naruto was.
"How did you do that?" Hinata asked as she crossed her arms.
"Training effectively. You should join us after school during our training sessions. I'd really like to have a match with you." Naruto said.
"Do you know my clan is known for its perfect taijutsu art?" Hinata asked.
"Sure, but did you know that I never back down from any challenge?" Naruto asked.
"Dude, he's actually flirting with a Hyuga. The last guy that did that ended up in the hospital." Said Kiba.
"Man, women are so troublesome." Shikamaru said.
Hinata smirked at the blond. "Maybe I'll take you up on that offer. But right now I'm training. If you keep bothering me, I'll drop you in front of your friends." Hinata whispered in his ears.
"You know, you remind me of sensei. I might just let you try." Naruto said with a wink. Hinata went to strike him but he flashed away back to the group.
"Hmph, annoying blonds." Hinata muttered while resuming her Shuriken practice.
"Naruto, that was incredible. You really got game. Are you going to ask her out?" Kiba asked.
Naruto shook his head. "No, there is only one woman for me. But I wouldn't mind training against a Hyuga. She could probably wipe the floor with me in an only taijutsu match." Naruto admitted.
"No way, you're the best in everything in our class." Ino said.
"Thanks, but that isn't true. You're way better at gathering information, Kiba is a better tracker, Shikamaru is an excellent strategist, Shino is an excellent tracker and information gatherer, and Choji is easily stronger than me." Naruto said.
"Then what does that make you?" Shino asked.
"Oh, I'm the fastest. I might take the name, Orange flash of Konoha, Haha." Naruto said in a joking tone.
"Such immature kids. Playing around and not taking life serious. As an Uchiha, I need to be the best." Sasuke thought as he continued throwing kunai at the targets.
A few hours passed and Sasuke realized that it was getting late. "Shit, mom is going to kill me." Sasuke thought as he quickly gathered his things and proceeded to leave.
"Hmph, stupid Uzumaki. Who cares, you are clan less and an orphan. I don't see what makes you so special." Thought Sasuke as he couldn't get the picture of the blond out of his mind.
While walking, Sasuke noticed a figure standing on top of a light pole. "Huh? Who is that?" Sasuke thought and when he blinked, the figure was gone.
"Man, that was weird. I better get home." Sasuke out loud to nobody in particular.
"Wait a minute, it's too early for everyone to be in bed. What's going on, another clan meeting?" Sasuke thought as he proceeded to walk down one the Ichiha district's main streets.
To his horror, man of his clansmen were on the ground, their bodies cut open in such a brutal way. "What the, I need to get home." Sasuke said as he started running.
As he ran as fast as he could, he stopped by his grandparents and were horrified at seeing them on the ground, lifeless. "Who could do such a thing?" Sasuke asked out loud.
Sasuke made it to his home and like everywhere else, it was a ghost town with all the lights off. "Mother, father, Itachi." Sasuke thought as he proceeded to his parents bedroom.
Both of his hands were on the handles. "Sasuke, don't come in! Please!" Begged his mother Mikoto. He instantly heard the sound of two bodies dropping.
Using all of his strength, Sasuke ram inside and saw the same figure from before standing over the bodies of his parents. "Who are you?" Sasuke asked until he saw the face. "Itachi? What's going on? Who killed mother and father?" Sasuke asked.
Itachi remained silent as he looked at his younger brother. "Foolish little brother. Are you that stupid to the reality of what's before you?" Itachi asked.
"Huh? Are you saying it was you?" Sasuke asked as his tears ran down his face. "Why? Why would you do this?" Sasuke asked.
"It was simple. I wanted to test my ability and reach the new level." Itachi said without any emotion in his voice.
Sasuke's became shadowed. "You mean, you butchered our entire clan for the sole purpose of testing your sbility? Are you out of your mind?" Sasuke asked as he charged toward with brother with rage fueling his body.
Instantly, Itachi struck his brother in the gut, knocking him to the ground. "Foolish little brother, you're weak." Itachi said. "Sasuke, you aren't even worth killing. Run and hang on to your pathetic life.
"You must have hate, little brother. You must have that hate for the rest of your days. Use it to become stronger and one day, you'll have the same eyes as I do." Itachi said.
"I'm scared, I, I don't want to die!" Sasuke shouted as he ran out of his parents house, attempting to get help from someone close by.
As he made it towards the gate, he was blocked by Itachi. "Please, please don't kill me." Sasuke begged.
"Foolish little brother, as I said before, you aren't worth killing. I'm simply giving you a guide to have the same eyes as me. In order to awaken the power of the Mangekyou Sharingan, you must take the life of the person most precious to you. Only then can you have the power to defeat me and avenge our clan. Before I go, I'll give a taste of what I can do. Tsukuyomi!" Itachi muttered.
The entire world became black with a white outline, red sky and black moon. Itachi was slaughtering the members of the Uchiha clan, including their parents and grandparents.
"For the next seventy-two hours. You will relive the events of tonight. I want them burned into your mind every time your eyes are closed.
If you wish to kill me, then hate me. Use your hatred as your drive ti become stronger. Kill the one who you're most close with as I did with Shisui. Farewell." Itachi said as Sasuke continued seeing the death of his family.
While three days passed through Sasuke's mind, only a mere second passed in reality. As he gave one final look to his brother, a tear can be seen running down his face.
The next morning, word about the Uchiha clan massacre spread like a wildfire. When Naruto heard about it, he immediately went to the hospital.
"Let me see my friend!" Naruto shouted.
"Young man, this is a hospital. There is no reason to yell." Snapped the front desk lady.
"I don't care! My friend lost his entire family and I'm not letting him remain alone!" Naruto shouted.
"Naruto, that's enough. Please settle down." Hiruzen said.
"But Lord Third, look what happened." Naruto said.
"I'm aware of the events that took place. Sasuke is currently in a mental coma right now. He needs rest." Hiruzen said.
Naruto frowned. "Alright, I understand. But the moment he wakes up, let me know." Naruto said.
"I promise you, I will." Hiruzen said and Naruto left the hospital.
"Curse you Danzo, what have you done?" Hiruzen mentally cursed his former teammates name.
Naruto was sitting under a tree at the training field. The memories of the precious night and his meeting with Itachi was playing in his mind.
Flashback
Naruto was on a midnight walk to clear his mind when he noticed a figure running at high speed. Deciding to check it out, Naruto found Itachi Uchiha.
"Hey, are you alright?" Naruto asked as he saw that Itachi was covered in blood.
"Hello, Naruto. Yes, I'm fine." Itachi said.
"What happened, you look a mess." Naruto said.
"Naruto, can you do a favor for me?" Itachi asked.
"What is it?" Naruto responded.
"Please keep an eye out for Sasuke. I'm leaving the village, so I won't be around." Itachi said. Naruto have a confused look and when Itachi's Mangekyou Sharingan activated, he was brought to the world of Tsukuyomi.
"Where are we?" Naruto asked.
"That isn't important. But you need to be careful of the man, Danzo Shimura. He's ordered me to eliminate the entire clan aside from my brother." Itachi said.
"What? You slaughtered your entire clan? What the hell is wrong with you?" Naruto asked.
"The Uchiha clan was planning a coup to attack the village. Had it gone through, many innocent lives would have been killed. It could have led to the fourth great shinobi world war.
I'm afraid I might have gone a bit far with Sasuke's mjnd. But please understand that it was for the best. He'll most likely live his life for vengeance against me. Whatever happens, I need you to make sure that he doesn't fall down the path of darkness.
Save and protect my younger brother, Naruto. I believe that only you can do that." Itachi said.
"I see. Alright, Itachi. I will and I'll make sure Danzo is handled." Naruto said.
"Be careful. He's a tricky man and is smart. He was able to defeat Shisui. Naruto, Danzo's covered eye is actually an act. Behind the bandages, Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan is there and his ability to use Kotoamatsukami is deadly. It can control any number of people for an unknown length of time.
Please mature your Sharingan and eliminate him. Are you aware of the conditions?" Itachi asked.
Naruto nodded. "Yeah, I know what to do. Get out of here, I'll get the Hokage and the Anbu so you have time to escape." Naruto said.
"Thank you, Naruto. You truly are a pure soul." Itachi said as he ended the jutsu and vanished into a flock of crows.
Flashback ended
"Can I really bring myself to kill Anko?" Naruto silently asked himself as he thought about his conversation with Hagoromo.
"To sacrifice one person to save the world. Am I really ready to make that choice?" Naruto asked himself before leaving and going to his own devices.