Eyes of the Soul

by operation meteor

Passing beyond the veil, Itachi finds himself in an afterlife that is far from the hellfire he'd steeled himself for. With a chance encounter involving a pervy sage, a Flash Goddess and a healer whose angelic appearance hides more than a hint of steel, the bane of the Uchiha Clan finds a chance at a second life... and perhaps redemption. Slow burn. M for language and violence.

13. Chapter 13

Author's notes: Hello there, it's been a while! Sorry for the wait, this one took a wee bit longer than I had originally expected. Admittedly, Ace Combat Seven: Skies Unknown, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice might've had a role to play here. The title of that second game's a lie; I've died way more than twice, to put it mildly! Anyway, please permit me a few quick words, and then I'll get out of your hair.

As the end of the last chapter indicated, this one is focused on Itachi explaining his backstory to Yoruichi. My dilemma here was the complexity of that story. After all, it's a hell of a lot more than Itachi just saying "I killed my entire clan save for my little brother to prevent a coup and save my brother's life." When dealing with the Uchiha Clan Massacre, there's a ton of historical context and shifting events that lead to that key moment, as any fan of the Naruto series will know. If Itachi was really going to come clean, then that historical context would need to be related to his lovely Captain as well in order to provide a full understanding.

So, I ultimately decided to go all in. He'll tell her everything, but more than just a straight info-dump. This is the events of those past years from Itachi's perspective, with his own thoughts and conclusions. This naturally means that not all of them are right; after all, he didn't know everything that was going on. I also wanted to make Yoruichi an active participant, with her own commentary, thoughts and clarifying questions. After all, this is essentially an interrogation, even if she's trying to be gentle about it. Did I go overboard with all of this? Probably. I'm a slave to detail, and that's a trait that I accepted long ago. Regardless, I made my choice, and when I make my decisions in my writing, I stick with them going forward and see them through to the end. Also, I decided to blend elements of the anime and the Itachi light novel duology when writing this story, taking parts from both as I felt was necessary to make it a bit more cohesive. I won't make claims to perfection, but I did work damn hard on this, and I'd like to think I've earned the right to indulge in a little bit of pride.

All right, enough from me. You've been warned; it's another long one. Really, you shouldn't expect anything less from me at this point.

Enjoy!

Chapter 13: Sins of the Prodigy

The next morning…

Slowly but surely, Itachi Uchiha began to wake up. His eyelids still seemed unusually heavy, so it took him a while to finally get them open and adjust to the sunlight that was filtering into his room. He could hear the sounds of clashing blades coming from the training yard, along with snippets of conversations from his comrades going about their business. Judging by the background noise and the current level of light, Itachi was surprised to realize that it was nearly noon.

She wasn't kidding about it being a deep sleep, he thought as he recalled his conversation with Yoruichi from the night before, I definitely would've blown right through any duties I had today. Good thing she gave me the day off.

He sat there for a moment, marveling at the effect that his Captain's concoction had had on him. True to Yoruichi's word, he'd gotten what he'd been denied for so long; a full and uninterrupted night of sleep. Not so much as a glimpse of the hellish memories that had tormented him as nightmares over the past fourteen years had managed to break through, testament to the efficacy of the Shihōin Clan's powerful potion.

He felt incredible. Moving his arms experimentally, he could tell that his reflexes were slower than normal, just as Yoruichi had warned him they'd be, but he also believed her testimony that it would eventually pass. More to the point, his impaired reflexes were more than offset by the sheer sense of rejuvenation that he felt. His spirit energy was flowing through him with renewed vigor, and Itachi realized that his prior lack of healthy sleep had actually adversely affected it before now. It was almost a shame that his Captain had prohibited him from training today; he was itching to see just what he was capable of after a full night's worth of rest.

Another time, he thought, I have no intention of violating my deal with Yoruichi today.

Getting dressed, he stopped at the barracks kitchen for a quick meal before heading outside. It was a gorgeous day in the Soul Society, with a pleasantly cool breeze offsetting the beating sun which had scant few clouds to obstruct it as it climbed higher and higher in the sky. He passed by the training yard as he made his way towards Yoruichi's office, with Visaelya catching sight of him as he did so.

"You're up rather late today, Itachi," she said as she approached, "That's not like you. Are you all right?"

Itachi nodded and gave her a small smile. "Better than I've been in quite some time, actually."

She looked puzzled, but she recovered quickly enough. "Oh… well, I'm glad to hear that. Still, you were late for this morning's patrol. I know the Captain's reasonable, but I don't think she'll be happy to hear that you overslept so severely."

Itachi shook her head. "It won't be a problem. Believe it or not, my sleeping in was actually on her orders."

Visaelya raised an eyebrow. "Really? Why's that?"

"There's a personal matter that I'm long overdue in attending to," he answered, "The Captain was generous enough to give me time today to do just that. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I can't say more than that right now."

Visaelya nodded and smiled. "I understand. Will you be returning to duty tomorrow morning, or will this matter take longer than just today to resolve?"

"I'll be joining you for tomorrow morning's patrol," said Itachi, "I have no intention of letting this matter keep me from my duties any longer than necessary."

"I won't delay you any further, then," she replied, "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow morning."

"Likewise," said Itachi.

It took him only a few minutes to make his way to the Captain's office. The door opened as he approached, and Soi-Fon came out into the hallway.

She gave him a courteous nod as he stepped forward. "Good morning, Itachi. Lady Yoruichi's expecting you."

"I hope I'm not late," he said.

Soi-Fon shook her head. "Lady Yoruichi didn't set an exact time for your arrival. In fact, she seems quite at ease with your late rising today."

"Well, I did sleep in on her orders," he pointed out.

"I see," said Soi-Fon, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly, "Well, I'm not sure what Lady Yoruichi has in mind for you today, but I still expect you to conduct yourself as a proper officer. She might be going easy on you this morning, but that's no excuse to slack off and disrespect her."

"Believe me," said Itachi, "disrespecting her is the very last thing I would do, especially today."

Soi-Fon looked puzzled for a moment before simply nodding in response. "I'll hold you to that, then."

With that, she brushed past him and went on her way, leaving his path to the Captain's office unobstructed. Yoruichi stood up to greet him as he shut the door behind him.

"Good morning, sleepyhead," she said with a smile, "How do you feel, Itachi?"

"It's… difficult to put into words," he said, "I… I haven't slept like that in a long time."

Yoruichi chuckled. "Really knocked you out there, didn't it? I told you it hits hard!"

Itachi nodded. "Yes… you weren't exaggerating its efficacy."

She stepped forward and put a hand on his shoulder as she met his gaze. "You look well. I was ready to let you sleep for as long as you needed. One night's not enough to make up for fourteen years, but it looks like you at least got off to a good start."

Itachi gave her a small smile. "I wouldn't have even gotten that if it weren't for you. Thank you, Yoruichi."

"Anytime," she replied, "Of course, now you'll have to make good on our deal. Are you ready for this?"

Itachi closed his eyes for a moment before answering. "Yes."

Yoruichi nodded. "Then come with me. We've got quite a walk ahead of us, and since my family's little potion still needs to finish passing through your system, I know you're not in prime shape for Shunpo."

"I can make Flash Steps just fine," Itachi protested.

Yoruichi shook her head. "Trust me, Itachi; this stuff messes with you in subtler ways than you might think. Even now, your balance is off, and that's pretty important when it comes to Shunpo. I'd hate for you to dislocate something just because you didn't stick the landing."

She smiled as she headed for the door. "Come on, let's get moving. Even without Shunpo, we should still reach our destination with time to spare."

She set a brisk pace, and as they made their way through the streets of the Seireitei Itachi realized that she'd been quite right about the aftereffects her family's concoction. He wasn't even moving at full speed, and yet each step did seem to have a slight wobble to it. His center of gravity was a little bit shaky, and more than once Itachi felt slightly light-headed.

No wonder she prohibited training today, he thought, Zanpakutō exercises in this state would be an accident just waiting to happen.

They kept to the main thoroughfares, weaving their way between groups of Soul Reapers and officials going about their business with little difficulty. The sun crept higher and higher into the sky as they progressed, and Itachi wondered just where they were going today. Yoruichi had given him no clues save that it would be somewhere private, and right now their trajectory was taking them deeper into the heart of the Seireitei.

As the continued their journey, Itachi's gaze was drawn to the mammoth geological formation at the center of the Seireitei. Known as Sōkyoku Hill, it was a massive rocky plateau whose sheer cliffs and outwardly jutting edifice were impossible to miss no matter where one stood in the Seireitei. His patrols had taken him close to it before, and it was difficult to keep from stopping just to marvel at its sheer size and scale. Itachi had seen more than his share of impressive pieces of geography during his career as a Shinobi, but Sōkyoku Hill easily put most of them to shame. Built into the side of the looming cliffs were the gleaming white towers of the Senzaikyū, the Palace of Penitence, were criminals condemned to execution would await their fate.

Yoruichi looked over her shoulder and gave him a knowing smile. "Never fails to impress, does it?"

Itachi nodded. "It's certainly distinctive."

Yoruichi smirked. "Try not to get distracted by the view. Once we get close is when things will get tricky."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"The place we're going is a special little hideaway known only to a few people," said Yoruichi, "You're about to join a very exclusive club."

As they drew closer to Sōkyoku Hill, he noticed how Yoruichi furtively began to study the scattered Soul Reapers going about their business. He knew that look; it was one he'd worn himself plenty of times as a Shinobi. It was the look of someone checking to see if they were being watched.

"This way," she whispered, nodding towards a small side street.

Itachi followed her, and soon they were off the beaten path altogether and heading into the small forested area that made up part of the base of Sōkyoku Hill. They stepped lightly, both checking for sentries from either the Thirteen Court Guard Squads or the Stealth Force as they progressed. Even with his reflexes still somewhat dulled by the sleeping concoction, Itachi's eyes and ears were up to the task, and with Yoruichi as a guide he wasn't too worried about discovery.

Eventually the trees gave way to a wall of dark brown stone; they'd reached the base of Sōkyoku Hill. Other parts of the Seireitei in immediate proximity to the great rock formation included the main offices of Squad One, but this area Itachi knew was kept the way it was to add some natural beauty to the heart of the Soul Society, and even from a distance he'd seen just how beautiful the cherry blossoms were in these parts come spring time. What was much more interesting to him than the nature surrounding the two of them, though, was a portion of the great cliff that now stood before him. At first glance, it didn't appear different from the rest of the rocky edifice, but Itachi could detect a very faint impression, along with the tiniest hint of spirit energy coming from one small section in particular.

He watched as Yoruichi stepped forward and placed a hand on that small section of rock. Itachi felt a momentary spike in the Captain's spirit energy, and the portion of the cliff she was touching briefly glowed white as a result. The light faded quickly, and then there was a low rumbling as a section of the cliff began to slide to the right, revealing a cave. Peering inside, Itachi saw more white glows begin to appear in the darkness, and as the illumination grew he realized that the sources were crystals mounted on the walls, each imbued with a small amount of spirit energy.

Yoruichi motioned for Itachi to follow her. "Come on in. You're going to love this!"

With nothing better to do, Itachi fell in behind her as she led him through the cave. They'd only travelled a handful of meters when the cave suddenly opened up into a massive cavern that, thanks to many more of those strange illuminating crystals coming to life, quickly became so well-lit that they might as well have been standing outside under the midday sun.

This place is huge, he thought as he took it all in, It must take up a significant portion of Sōkyoku Hill's interior…

Yoruichi grinned. "Impressive, isn't it?"

Itachi nodded absently, still taking it all in. The cavern was massive in scope, with space enough for at least several hundred people. Much of it was flat open rocky surface, but there were areas where the terrain became more varied with mounds, crevasses, and much more besides. He even caught sight of what appeared to be a hot spring off in the distance.

"What is this place?" he asked.

"A secret training ground," Yoruichi answered, "Kisuke built this place a long time ago. The two of us played here when we were younger. It was the perfect place to hone our skills away from prying eyes, and it still is today."

"You achieved your Bankai here, didn't you?" said Itachi as he looked around.

Yoruichi nodded. "Yup. Just because I became an active duty Soul Reaper didn't mean that I stopped using this place. You can cut loose in here without having to worry about collateral damage, which makes it excellent for developing powerful combat techniques. If I'd done my Bankai training back at the Squad Two barracks… well, let's just say that we would've needed to build new barracks."

"Who all knows about this place?" asked Itachi.

"Apart from Kisuke and I, just Tessai and Kūkaku," Yoruichi replied, "and now you, of course."

"An exclusive club indeed, then," Itachi quipped.

"I know that you're good friends with Shisui and Visaelya," said Yoruichi, "At this point, I honestly don't mind if you let them in on the secret, but I'd still rather keep word of this place from travelling too far. It's nice to have somewhere private to retreat to when you need a bit of space."

Itachi nodded. "I can understand that. Given all that you've done for me… I'll only tell them if it's necessary. You promised to respect my privacy, so the least I can do is return the favor."

Yoruichi gave him a warm smile. "I appreciate that. You're a good guy, Itachi."

Itachi closed his eyes for a moment. "You might change your mind by the time we're done here today."

He felt her hand fall gently on his shoulder, and when his eyes opened, he was greeted by her golden eyes and the sincerity of her gaze. "I don't believe that."

Time seemed to come to standstill for a moment as he stood there, once again feeling enchanted by the look in her eyes. What he was about to tell her today was a crime that had haunted him for fourteen years and had rightfully led to him being reviled in the Shinobi World. Even with his true motives for his actions taken into account, that did not change the fact that his deeds that fateful night were absolutely horrific.

And yet…

…if there was anyone else in the Soul Society apart from Jiraiya who could possibly accept what he had done and why he had done it…

… it just might be the woman standing before him now.

There's only one way to find out.

"In that case," he said, "we should sit down. This is going to take a while."

….

Yoruichi watched as Itachi closed his eyes again for a few seconds, clearly trying to put his thoughts in order. That didn't surprise her; if it was bad enough to have given him a sever case of insomnia over the past fourteen years, then trying to sort through it all in a single day would be no easy task.

When he opened his eyes again, he sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to stall, I promise. It's just… well, it's hard to figure out where to start. There's a lot of historical context that you need to know in order to fully understand what happened… what I did."

Yoruichi smiled, hoping to encourage him. "Hey, it's all right. We've got plenty of time. I'm in no rush."

Itachi nodded. "Thank you. I… I suppose it'd be best to go back to the roots of it all. How much do you know about the Shinobi World?"

"Less than I should," she admitted, "Beyond what I've learned from Shisui over the years, not a whole lot, and it wasn't hard for me to tell that he was holding back too. I didn't press him because I wanted to respect his privacy, plus there was that whole taboo about inquiring into past lives that I mentioned to you before."

"Our parts in this affair were linked," said Itachi, "I'm not surprised that he didn't want to talk about it."

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. "Still, I can't help but notice that, between the two of you, you're the only one who seems to be losing sleep over whatever it was that happened back then."

"There's a good reason for that," Itachi replied, "Speaking of Shisui… part of what I'm going to tell you involves information that he originally requested that I keep hidden... even from you. Please understand that he meant no disrespect; he simply wanted to be cautious. The past was an effective teacher."

Yoruichi nodded. "I can understand that, and normally I wouldn't want you to breach a confidence like that. Still, if it involves what's been keeping you up at night these past fourteen years, I'm going to need to hear it."

"Of course," said Itachi, "but, please… it can't spread further."

Yoruichi put her hand on his shoulder again. "Remember what I told you last night? What you say here won't go beyond me or this place. I gave you my word, and I intend to keep it."

He gave her a small smile. "I appreciate that."

He took one last moment to gather his thoughts before starting in earnest. "Has Shisui told you anything regarding the countries and Hidden Villages that dominate the Shinobi World?"

"Just some general information," Yoruichi replied, "I did a little bit of independent studying too. Basically, the Hidden Villages supply the Shinobi that are employed by the countries of your world, right?"

Itachi nodded. "That's correct. A country's standing in the world is in part determined by the strength of its affiliated Hidden Village. Shisui, Jiraiya and I were all from the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and by extension the Land of Fire. However, the formation of larger countries and the Hidden Villages as a whole was actually a relatively recent development. For a far longer period of time, the world was split into many smaller countries, and the large Hidden Villages didn't exist at all. These countries were constantly fighting each other for land, power, and wealth, so the era was known as the Warring States Period."

"A bit lacking in originality," Yoruichi pointed out, "It's hardly the first Realm of the Living to use that term for a piece of its history."

"True," said Itachi, "although in the Shinobi World's defense, I'm pretty sure they're completely unaware of the existence of any other Realms of the Living. Anyway, back then Shinobi were divided into disparate clans, and the warring countries would hire these clans to fight against their rivals. The clans sold their services to the highest bidder, and just as the countries themselves vied for dominance in the military and political arena, so to did the Shinobi clans. Amidst the constant bloodshed, two clans rose above all the others to become the most prominent and powerful of their time."

Yoruichi smiled. "Let me guess; the Uchiha Clan was one of them."

"That's correct," Itachi answered, "Martial prowess came naturally to our clan. Of course, when biology gives you an unfair advantage over others, that shouldn't really come as a surprise."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Biology? You look human to me. What am I missing here?"

Itachi sighed. "It's what Shisui had wanted me to keep hidden. Members of the Uchiha Clan possess what's known in the Shinobi World as a Kekkei Genkai; a bloodline trait. Several clans throughout the Shinobi World have their own Kekkei Genkai, allowing them to stand out from rival clans and become greater threats on the battlefield. Ours was one of the most famous in that Realm of the Living; an ocular Kekkei Genkai known as the Sharingan."

Yoruichi leaned forward, peering into the onyx gems that were Itachi's eyes. "Well, you've got yourself some lovely eyes, but apart from that they don't look all that special."

She had the satisfaction of seeing the hint of a blush flash briefly across his face. "Thanks… I think."

Yoruichi giggled. "All right, I'll stop teasing you! So, what makes your clan's eyes so famous?"

"The Sharingan," Itachi replied, "It manifests itself as crimson irises with the pupils orbited by black tomoe, with a maximum amount of three in each eye. When a member of the Uchiha Clan experiences a powerful emotional condition, typically linked to someone precious to them, their brain releases chakra that stimulates the optic nerves. This is how the Sharingan first appears. It typically starts with a single tomoe orbiting the pupil of each eye, with the three that I mentioned earlier being reached after the user's Sharingan has fully matured."

Yoruichi smiled. "Picturing it in my mind, it sounds kind of pretty. So, you used to have eyes like that back when you were alive?"

Itachi nodded. "Yes, although I should clarify; even after it's manifested, the Sharingan is not constantly active. The wielder can choose when to activate it, so when it's not in use the wielder's eyes take on their normal appearance."

She saw him look down for a moment, and when he met her gaze again it was hard to miss the guilt in his expression. "This is how Shisui's been able to hide his Sharingan since he reawakened it after death. He hasn't used it openly, instead waiting for moments in missions where you or other members of Squad Two have not been present."

Yoruichi's eyes widened slightly as she processed the implications. "So, you both lost the Sharingan when you died… but you're able to get it back. How come Shisui's regained it, but not you?"

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "You're not concerned that Shisui's been hiding his Sharingan from you?"

Yoruichi shrugged. "Well, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about it at all, but he's proven himself loyal to Squad Two since he joined. Besides, I take it his motives are linked in no small part to what we're going to be talking about today. Am I wrong?"

Itachi shook his head. "No, you're not."

"Then I'll be learning his real motives as our conversation goes along," said Yoruichi, "So, back to my original question; why's Shisui the only one out of the two of you to have gotten his Sharingan back since coming to the Soul Society?"

"From what he's told me," Itachi replied, "it seems that the regaining of the Sharingan was tied to two factors; his growth as a Soul Reaper and outside emotional stimulus. Do you remember the joint operation we had with Squad Ten two years ago?"

Yoruichi smiled. "Hard to forget it. For students, you, Jiraiya and Visaelya all acquitted yourselves remarkably well."

"Thank you," said Itachi, "Had you not allowed Shisui to pursue those Hollows up to the surface, though, things could've taken a turn for the worst."

"Good thing I made the right call, then," said Yoruichi, "So, what's that old mission got to do with the Sharingan?"

"After the fighting died down and Rija took Visaelya to the Squad Four detachment for medical treatment, Shisui showed me his Sharingan," Itachi answered, "He said that he'd regained it the same day he unlocked his Shikai and believed the two were linked. From what he told me, emotional stimulus also played a key role; a comrade was in danger, and the desire to save them provided the necessary key to unlocking the power required to rescue them."

Yoruichi nodded. "I see. I think I remember the incident he told you about. The Soul Reaper he saved was a fellow Squad Two officer, and they praised his actions in their mission report. They mentioned his Shikai, but nothing about Shisui's eyes."

"That doesn't surprise me," said Itachi, "When an Uchiha unlocks the Sharingan, it's impossible for them to miss the sudden surge in chakra that accompanies it. Shisui didn't go into the details, but I'm willing to bet that his spirit energy behaved in a similar manner. He probably recognized this cue and made sure that the officer he was saving couldn't see his eyes. Given the nature of his Shikai, I believe that alone likely served as a sufficient distraction to any potential witnesses."

Yoruichi smirked. "You're probably right. I've seen his Shikai in action, so I can understand why other Soul Reapers would focus on that rather than his eyes. So, you think that the reason you haven't unlocked your Sharingan yet is that it's tied to you achieving Shikai?"

Itachi nodded. "That and the required emotional stimulus, yes. Ever since the spirit of my Zanpakutō awakened, I've been trying to learn her name, but it still eludes me. I visit her in my inner world every day, but apart from continuing to sharpen my swordsmanship through our sparring matches I don't seem to be making much headway."

Yoruichi could sense his self-doubt a mile away and wanted to nip it in the bud. "There's no one-size-fits-all approach to achieving Shikai. You're doing everything right in my book. Shikai takes time, even for gifted Soul Reapers. If yours is tied to you unlocking your Sharingan, then I'm willing to bet that you've got a better chance at this point of achieving it while you're out in the field. After all, that's the best place to find that sharp emotional stimulus that's required to bring out those special eyes of yours."

He seemed to regain a small measure of surety at her words. "You may be right…"

She gave him a gentle nudge with her elbow. "May be right? Hey, I'm your Captain; give me a little more credit than that!"

She was relieved to see a small smile appear on his face in response to her ribbing. "Of course. My apologies."

Yoruichi shrugged. "Don't worry about it. So, what makes the Sharingan so special? What's it capable of?"

Itachi chuckled. "Well, there's quite the laundry list when it comes to its powers. I suppose the best way to start is to break it down the aspects of the Sharingan into two broad subcategories. The first would be the Eye of Insight, and the second would be the Eye of Hypnotism."

"Ooh, intriguing!" she said with a grin, "Tell me more."

Itachi nodded. "The Eye of Insight can be thought of as a general enhancement in vision, although there's more to it than that. It allows the wielder to see chakra and gives it certain colors, which allow the user to recognize unique composition and sources. It can also view that chakra through some obstructions, although by no means all of them. There's another ocular Kekkei Genkai, the Byakugan of the Hyūga Clan, that does a better job at this than the Sharingan."

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. "Chakra's the energy that you and Shisui used in the Shinobi World, but in the Soul Society that's been replaced by spirit energy. Does the Sharingan's ability to view chakra also allow it to perceive and analyze spirit energy?"

"Based on what I've heard from Shisui, it does," Itachi answered.

"Interesting..." Yoruichi murmured as she mulled it over, "That'd actually make it pretty useful in combat against other Soul Reapers. You'd be able to perceive the fluctuations in their spirit energy, particularly when they're about to release their Zanpakutō or utilize Kidō. As for Hollows, I imagine it'd give you a heads up for when the stronger ones are prepping to fire off a Cero."

"You're right about that," said Itachi, "Those aren't the only benefits of the Eye of Insight, though. It also grants the wielder enormous clarity of perception, which can be put to a variety of uses. This is particularly powerful in combat, as the user can read even the slightest muscle tension in their opponents and use that to anticipate their moves. Lip-reading and being able to mimic the movements of others are also common uses, and they make the Sharingan an invaluable tool for reconnaissance and espionage. They are also part of why the Sharingan is also known in the Shinobi World as the Copycat Eye, because this enhanced perception allows us to comprehend and then copy the ninja arts of our adversaries. We also retain knowledge of their techniques and can add them to our own arsenal."

Yoruichi whistled. "Copying your opponent's moves and making them your own? That sounds like it'd be very handy in a tight spot."

"There are limitations," Itachi pointed out, "A Sharingan wielder can copy a wide variety of techniques, but it cannot do so with regards to abilities that are the specific product of another Kekkei Genkai since these are powers based as much in the user's bloodline as they are in skill. Also, a Sharingan user's body needs to be able to perform the techniques that they observe, and this requires training. For example, if I had my Sharingan unlocked I could use it to analyze your techniques in Zanjutsu and Hakuda, but I'd be unable to match your level of proficiency and speed without first working to improve my own physical conditioning and abilities."

Yoruichi nodded. "In other words, even if your eyes perceive the techniques, that knowledge can't be translated into the ability to perform them to their fullest extent yourself if your body can't keep up."

"Well spoken," said Itachi.

Yoruichi rubbed her chin in thought. "If you were to reawaken your Sharingan, would you be able to copy a Soul Reaper's Zanpakutō?"

Itachi shook his head. "I highly doubt it. From what I understand, a Zanpakutō is intrinsically linked to the wielder's soul. In a way, that kind of connection could be considered similar to a Kekkei Genkai in that it's not simply a learned technique, but a part of the wielder's physical and spiritual being. I could probably perceive the nature of their Zanpakutō and gain a better understanding of any unique powers it possesses, but being able to copy them would likely be beyond my reach. Shisui's probably already come to a similar conclusion."

"I see," said Yoruichi, "Still, overall it sounds like this Eye of Insight will be incredibly useful for you once you unlock your Sharingan. I can already think of quite a few ways you could apply it in your duties as a member of Squad Two."

Itachi nodded. "Yes, and that's not even factoring in the Eye of Hypnotism."

Yoruichi smiled. "I almost forgot about that. So, what can that baby do?"

"Have you ever heard of genjutsu?" asked Itachi.

Yoruichi's brow furrowed. "I think I came across that term once or twice when I was browsing the records on your Realm of the Living. It involves illusionary techniques, right?"

"Correct," Itachi replied, "The Sharingan greatly enhances a Shinobi's ability to perform genjutsu, to the point that illusions crafted by skilled practitioners can be some of the most subtle and convincing in the whole of the Shinobi World. Eye contact is the primary way in which a Sharingan user begins casting genjutsu through the Eye of Hypnotism. Once the target is ensnared, they can be compelled to act through suggestion, and an experienced practitioner can carry this out without their opponent even being aware of it. In extreme cases, this influence can get rather close to outright mind-control."

Yoruichi couldn't stop a chill from running down her spine. "That's… rather creepy."

Itachi sighed. "I know. It's a power that can very easily be abused… even by those who may seek to use it with noble intentions. I… wasn't above doing so."

He looked down for a moment, shame clear in his eyes. "I won't blame you if you have doubts about my… integrity. I've certainly earned such suspicion."

Yoruichi reached over and cupped his chin in her hand, making sure to force his gaze up so that it met hers. "If I was afraid of you using this power on me, would I be looking you in the eye right now?"

"You know I don't have the Sharingan right now," Itachi countered, "Meeting my gaze is safe for the time being."

Yoruichi smiled. "And it'll be safe when you get it back. Itachi, if you're going to trust me with everything that you're telling me today, I think the least that I owe you is the benefit of the doubt."

His eyes widened ever so slightly. "Yoruichi…"

"I have faith in you, Itachi," she said, "In the six years I've known you so far, you've validated that faith. I like to think of myself as a good judge of character, so I'm willing to gamble that even after you get these special eyes of yours back, I'll be able to trust you with them."

"Besides," she continued with a wink before releasing her grip on his chin, "I bet that you'll look damn good with them!"

She had the satisfaction of seeing his face briefly flush red. "I'll… let you be the judge of that."

He cleared his throat, apparently eager to regain some semblance of control over the conversation. "You should know that the Eye of Hypnotism isn't flawless. A Sharingan wielder has to be able to maintain their focus in order for it to work. They're particularly vulnerable if they attempt to ensnare multiple foes. The greater the number of targets, the more divided the wielder's attention becomes, which means that the enemy has a better chance of escape the genjutsu."

Yoruichi nodded. "In other words, it's most effective in one-on-one encounters."

"Yes," he replied, "Also, a sufficiently disciplined mind can be capable of recognizing when its caught in an illusion. From there, the victim can begin to reassert control and eventually break the spell. That's why subtlety is so important for someone using the Eye of Hypnotism; the key is to have the illusion blend so seamlessly with reality that it becomes impossible for the target to distinguish where one ends and the other begins. Ideally, they'd never even recognize that they've been ensnared at all."

Yoruichi smirked. "So, you could make them see all sorts of twisted and scary things, but it's much more practical to keep the illusions as realistic as possible. Man, it's too bad you weren't in the Soul Society back when Kisuke and I were kids; we would've had a ball with using your powers for pranks!"

She was pleased to see a small smile grace his features; it was good to know that she could help lighten the mood even when he was dredging up shadows that had haunted him for far too long. "I imagine so. It… would've been fun."

Yoruichi chuckled. "Well, maybe we can dust that idea off when you get the Sharingan back."

Itachi raised an eyebrow. "You seem pretty confident that I'll regain it. It's hardly guaranteed."

Yoruichi shook her head. "Oh, please. You said it's linked to you gaining your Shikai, right? At the rate you're going, that's probably not too far off. You'll get it back. Call it a hunch."

Itachi nodded. "Well, when I do, you'll be the first to know. I think I owe you at least that much."

"We can worry about that later," said Yoruichi, "So, does that about wrap up the Eye of Hypnotism?"

"Not quite," Itachi replied, "There's one more aspect of it. This isn't really classified as an actual ability, but a skilled user of the Sharingan can actually make it appear to their opponents like they can see the future."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Really? How do you pull that off?"

"It's actually something of a combination of traits of the Eye of Insight and the Eye of Hypnotism," said Itachi, "Basically, we observe all aspects of our foes; the slightest movements, their mannerisms, speech patterns, and even their thoughts if we can successfully ensnare them in genjutsu. After that we're able to suggest actions, like the hand signs needed for certain ninjutsu, and the enemy will begin performing them. The trick is to suggest an action that we've already seen and copied, so that we end up performing the technique faster than the opponent. This illusion of future-sight on our part can confuse and demoralize opponents, making them much easier to defeat."

Yoruichi grinned. "You Uchiha fight dirty, don't you? No wonder you and Shisui are such a perfect fit for Squad Two!"

Itachi gave a slight smirk. "I suppose these traits would make us a poor fit for divisions that focus more on honorable direct combat. It's not that we're incapable of fighting in such a manner, but our training as Shinobi emphasized using any means necessary to achieve victory. Honor has no place there."

"Squad Eleven's going to hate you when you get your Sharingan back," said Yoruichi, "I hope you don't mind if I use that to get under their skin; it's fun to mess with the brutes' heads from time to time."

"As long as you don't ask me to do anything that will inflict permanent harm," said Itachi, "They're still our allies, after all."

Yoruichi shrugged. "Fair enough."

Itachi nodded. "With such powers at our disposal, it was difficult for most of the other clans to match us in combat during the Warring States Period. There was one that could challenge us, though; the Senju Clan."

"Did they have special eyes too?" asked Yoruichi.

Itachi shook his head. "No. Rather, they were renowned for their balanced skills in all aspects of the Shinobi arts. The Sharingan gave the Uchiha Clan incredible abilities to draw upon, but with it came two major flaws; arrogance and overreliance. Our pride in our ocular prowess led to us underestimating other clans while at the same time, ironically and metaphorically, narrowing our field of vision."

"When all you have is a hammer, all other problems start to resemble nails," said Yoruichi, "Sound about right?"

"Quite so," Itachi replied, "While the clan produced astounding individual fighters, as a whole the Uchiha became less versatile. The Senju were able to exploit this and reached a level of parity with the Uchiha. Once it became known that there was a Shinobi faction out there capable of rivaling us, a pattern began to emerge in the conflicts of that era; one side in a particular regional war would hire the Uchiha Clan, while their opponents would hire the Senju Clan. Clashes between Uchiha and Senju became commonplace, and as a result bitter grudges and fierce hatred built up between the clans as the Warring States Period dragged on."

Yoruichi could see where this was going. "They got caught in the cycle of revenge, didn't they?"

Itachi sighed. "Yes. An Uchiha would kill a Senju, a Senju an Uchiha… on and on it went. It appeared that the two clans would be locked in a state of eternal warfare, but a twist of fate planted the seeds for reconciliation."

Yoruichi leaned forward. "Really? What was it?"

"Well, according to historical texts, a Senju and an Uchiha met without knowing that they were from rival clans," Itachi answered, "In the Warring States Period, it was common for people to withhold their family names when they met strangers out of fear of meeting an enemy and sparking a fight. The respective Senju and Uchiha from this incident were children at the time; apparently, they played at the same river. Their names were Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, and eventually they would become the most powerful Shinobi of their respective clans. In time they learned each other's identities, and inevitably they would clash in open battle."

Yoruichi closed her eyes for a moment, imagining the tragic encounters that must've taken place. "Talk about a rough break."

When she opened her eyes again, she saw Itachi nod. "Yes… and yet without it, what happened next would not have been possible. Due to their incredible skill and strength, both Hashirama and Madara wound up the leaders of the Senju and Uchiha Clans. After a final clash, the Senju immerged victorious, yet what happened next was not an orgy of bloodletting that an outside observer might've expected. Hashirama, against all odds, managed to convince Madara to accept a truce. From that truce came what would've been considered impossible to the Shinobi of that era; not just peace between the Senju and Uchiha Clans, but an alliance, no less."

Yoruichi whistled. "Forging an alliance with his clan's most bitter enemies? This Hashirama must've been quite a guy."

Itachi nodded. "That he was. Of course, it's unlikely he would've been able to accomplish such a feat without having a powerful connection with the opposing leader. His childhood friendship with Madara wound up being the key to peace. Had it been another Uchiha leading the clan, one that Hashirama did not have that past bond with, and the alliance likely would not have been possible."

"Good point," Yoruichi conceded, "So, what happened next?"

"The two clans formed a pact," Itachi answered, "They entered into an arrangement with the Land of Fire, allowing them to establish a central Shinobi village within its borders. In time, it would become known as the Village Hidden in the Leaves, the hometown of Shisui, Jiraiya and myself. In exchange for support from the ruling Daimyō, including financial backing, the Shinobi of the Leaf Village would protect the Land of Fire from external threats. The Shinobi would also help keep the peace within the realm, while at the same time selling their services to both domestic and foreign clients provided those contracts did not harm the interests of the Land of Fire."

"In other words, they settled down and coordinated their mercenary activities in service to a new homeland," said Yoruichi, "Sound about right?"

"An apt a way as any to put it," Itachi admitted, "This had great repercussions, though. With the Senju and the Uchiha now united under a single banner, no single clan in the Shinobi World would be able to challenge them. Local clans already living within the Land of Fire either flocked to the Leaf Village to pledge fealty and join this new great power or scattered across the world. Other nations realized that the Land of Fire had become a military powerhouse by playing host to the two strongest clans, and the only way to catch up would be to replicate what they had done. In short, the founding of the Leaf Village forced rival powers to create their own Shinobi villages, bringing together many clans under unity banners and entering into similar pacts. This marked the end of the Warring States Period and the beginning of the modern Shinobi World."

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. "And within the Land of Fire, the Senju and the Uchiha would dominate Shinobi affairs. They could set both foreign and domestic policy thanks to their power. That had to have led to some friction, both inside the village and otherwise."

"From what I understand, there likely was some wariness on the part of the Daimyō's retainers," said Itachi, "Still, the newfound order and stability was enough to win them over. The village made it a point to not interfere too aggressively into the affairs of the Daimyō, and in return the Daimyō allowed the village to act more or less as an autonomous entity. The real tensions would be within the village; after all, generations of bitter hatred can't just be buried overnight."

Yoruichi nodded. "The Senju and Uchiha would've had to achieve a new balance of power to ensure that the village wouldn't become consumed by civil war. Even if the Senju had become strong enough to defeat the Uchiha in the final years of the Warring States Period, any new conflict would've devastated both clans and left them wide open to attack from the outside. How did they keep new brushfires from flaring within their own community?"

Itachi sighed. "The old rivalries might've been reduced, but eliminating them entirely was a tall order. In hindsight, it may well have been impossible. There were dustups right from the start, particularly when it came to the selection of the Leaf Village's First Hokage."

"That'd be the overall leader, right?" asked Yoruichi.

"Correct," Itachi answered, "Naturally, the two top candidates for the position were Hashirama and Madara. The villagers ultimately decided on Hashirama, and Madara did not take this well. From what I've read of that era, it seems that Madara interpreted Hashirama's rise to the position of Hokage as a step towards establishing Senju supremacy over the Uchiha. He feared the diminishment of the Uchiha and attempted to rally the clan in opposition. His supporters were few and far between, though. By this time, the majority of the Uchiha Clan were weary of conflict and wanted to give the fragile peace a chance to become something firmer. As a result, the Uchiha Clan largely backed Hashirama in the Hokage selection."

Yoruichi grimaced; it wasn't hard to see where this was going. "So Madara lost the support of his own clan, eh? I'm going to go out on a limb and say he didn't react too well to that. Am I on target?"

Itachi nodded. "Bullseye. The history texts regarding that era claim it was fear of Senju dominance that led Madara to challenge Hashirama later on, but I've often wondered if wounded pride played a role in his decision as well. Regardless of the reasons, Madara faced off with Hashirama without any support from the Uchiha Clan, and the devastation their clash wrought upon their chosen battlefield altered the very landscape itself; the ravine that was formed from the engagement was subsequently known as the Valley of the End. Hashirama emerged victorious, and Madara was believed to have been slain."

Yoruichi leaned forward slightly. "Believed to have been slain? Wouldn't Hashirama know for sure if he'd killed Madara?"

"The official account was that he did kill Madara," Itachi replied, "At the time of my death, that was still the version most of the world believed. However, certain events had led me to question the official version. I'll come back to that in a little while. With Madara's supposed passing, the most powerful opponent to Hashirama taking on the title of First Hokage was removed. Perhaps a few members of the Uchiha Clan or other families might've grumbled a bit, but for the most part the decision was broadly accepted. For his part, Hashirama did not hold Madara's actions against the Uchiha Clan as a whole and pressed forward with growing the village and making sure it would remain a home to the Senju and Uchiha Clans, along with any others who wished to join in the newfound prosperity. However, there were those that did not forget the clash between Hashirama and Madara, and from them seeds were planted that would later bear bitter fruits."

"Any figures in particular I need to be aware of?" Yoruichi asked.

"One more than others," Itachi answered, "For all his gifts in the Shinobi arts, Hashirama Senju was in the end still mortal. Although he was indispensable to the founding of the Village Hidden in the Leaves and the ending of the Warring States Period, ultimately the peace he worked so hard to establish wouldn't be permanent. Although the prior era of constant warfare was a thing of the past, new conflicts did still emerge, and he eventually met his end in battle. The title of Hokage then passed to Tobirama Senju, Hashirama's younger brother."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Did Tobirama become Hokage simply because he was Hashirama's brother, or was there actual merit to go along with the pedigree?"

Itachi's brow furrowed as he considered her question. "From what I understand, Hashirama personally directed that the title of Hokage be passed down to Tobirama upon his death. I think both bloodline and ability played a role in his ascension. While not as prominent as Hashirama, Tobirama was a powerful Shinobi in his own right. In fact, he was strong enough to mortally wound Madara's younger brother, Izuna Uchiha, during one of the many wars that the rival clans had participated in prior to their alliance. He also proved himself to be quite capable when it came to matters of leadership. You could consider him to be the pragmatist to Hashirama's idealist. I believe that Hashirama picked Tobirama partially because he was his brother, but also because he had confidence in his abilities and temperament. Of course, that's simply my own speculation."

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. "How did the Uchiha take his ascension?"

"It was a mixed reception," said Itachi, "Tobirama might've gone along with his older brother in the establishment of the Hidden Leaf Village, but he remained wary of the Uchiha Clan. There was more to it than simply old clan rivalries, though; Tobirama's ideals and governing philosophy clashed considerably with how the Uchiha Clan's viewed itself in the past."

Yoruichi was curious. "How so?"

"Remember what I told you earlier about the Uchiha Clan's pride?" Itachi asked.

Yoruichi nodded. "Yup. How does it play into this?"

"It's a common thread throughout this tale," Itachi replied, "In this particular instance, their fixation on the desires of the clan stood in stark contrast to Tobirama's emphasis on the well-being of the village as a whole. This resulted in him making decisions that were unpopular with the Uchiha, and to some it gave the appearance of him being prejudiced against them. It may have been the desire to counterbalance some of this animosity that led Tobirama to found the Leaf Village Military Police Force and place it under the charge of the Uchiha Clan, giving them the responsibility of enforcing law and order. His stated reason for doing so was to provide a gesture of trust and good faith from the Senju Clan to the Uchiha, reconciling with them and giving them a place of honor and prestige within the village."

Yoruichi sensed an opening and did not hesitate to pounce. "Did the Uchiha Clan believe him? Do you think he was sincere regarding his motives?"

Itachi sighed. "It's difficult to say. Thanks to my abilities when I was alive, I was given access to the Uchiha Clan's archives, so I was able to review accounts of multiple clan members who were alive during that time period. On the one hand, the selection of the Uchiha Clan to head up the Military Police Force made sense as a practical matter. The Sharingan's quite useful at countering the abilities of other Shinobi, so who better than the Uchiha to police a Shinobi village? The power of the organization was considerable, although they did not have the authority to arrest members of the Anbu Black Ops without a warrant as they reported directly to the Hokage."

"Anbu Black Ops?" she repeated, not even trying to hide her puzzlement.

"Think of them as an analogue to the Stealth Force," said Itachi, "The Executive Militia would probably be the closest equivalent your organization has to them."

Yoruichi nodded. "Got it."

"Anyway, the Military Police Force's prominence in village affairs was substantial," Itachi continued, "However, while they enforced the laws, they did not have the power to make them. That authority was held by the Hokage."

Yoruichi clasped her hands, her mind taking that train of though to its logical conclusion. "And the Hokage that founded the Military Police Force was a Senju. In practical terms, the Uchiha were becoming subservient to the Senju, just as Madara had feared."

"That's right," Itachi replied, "Several members of the clan believed that Tobirama's real motives for creating the Military Police Force and having it made up primarily of the Uchiha was a means for the Second Hokage to control the clan while at the same time keeping them out of the actual governance of the village, reducing them to merely being enforcers. Publicly, Tobirama countered that his intentions were to harness the powerful emotions of the Uchiha Clan and channel them in a productive direction while at the same time allowing the village to benefit from the legendary dedication members of the clan were known to possess. How many Uchiha believed him is something I cannot say for sure. As for your second question… based on my studies of that era, I believe it was it was something of a mixed bag. On the one hand, the Second Hokage did invest considerable resources into setting up the Military Police Force, and since he had fought so many battles against the Uchiha Clan in the past he understood better than most just how effective their abilities would be in keeping order within the Leaf Village. However, it's certainly possible that lingering suspicions on his part meant that he did see this as a way to control and potentially isolate the Uchiha Clan should they begin to drift back towards their old hostility regarding the Senju."

"Meanwhile, any member of the Uchiha Clan could draw their own conclusions," Yoruichi murmured, "Accept their prominence in the Military Police Force for what it was at face value, or look at shadows and allow suspicion to take root."

Itachi nodded. "Exactly. Matters probably weren't helped by the Second Hokage's personality. From what I understand, he wasn't as charismatic and open as his older brother. Instead, he was very composed and stern, which probably meant that he came across as harsh to those who were already predisposed towards distrusting him. He was a powerful Shinobi and capable administrator, dedicated to the security and long-term prosperity of the Leaf Village, but this meant that sacrifice was required of both individual Shinobi and clans to contribute to the strength of the greater whole. For the Uchiha, who'd been almost single-minded in the elevation of the individual and the clan since the Warring States Period, Tobirama's ideology would be difficult to accept… and it'd be all too easy for them to see it as an insult to what they believed to be their greatness."

"A prideful clan who deemed their status was under threat by another clan that had once been their mortal enemies and was now essentially being governed by them," said Yoruichi grimly, "There's no way that would end well."

"The future's not written in stone," Itachi reminded her, "Some Uchiha might've felt hostile towards the arrangement they found themselves in, but others wanted to move forward and help keep the peace. The seeds for what followed may have already been planted, but their fruition was not preordained, and there were chances to alter the flow of history for the better."

Yoruichi shook her head. "Sure, but if all this had a happy ending then it wouldn't have kept you from getting a single decent night's worth of sleep over the past fourteen years."

Itachi sighed. "You're right. The peace held for quite some time, but eventually it began to unravel. Looking back, I think the march down the road to ruin and tragedy truly started on the last night of the Fourth Hokage's reign."

"What happened?" asked Yoruichi.

Rather than answer the question directly, Itachi riposted with one of his own. "In your studies regarding the Shinobi World, have you ever come across references to beings known as Tailed Beasts?"

Yoruichi's brow furrowed for a moment as she sorted through her memories. "I think that term popped up once or twice, but there wasn't much in the way of context. Honestly, I'm pretty sure I just skimmed over that one. Seems that might've been a mistake."

"Unfortunately, yes," said Itachi, "To summarize, Tailed Beasts are massive creatures formed from incredible concentrations of chakra. According to legend, they were originally all part of a single being known as the Ten-Tails, but eventually that entity was split up. The resulting creatures were identified by the number of tails they had, from one to nine. Due to their incredible strength, they were highly sought-after by Shinobi who wished to turn that awesome power to their ends. In time, these Tailed Beasts were sealed away in order to ensure that they couldn't freely roam and potentially devastate the lands."

"Just how powerful were these things?" she asked.

Itachi's eyes narrowed for a moment as he mulled it over. "In terms of raw power… I'd say that each Tailed Beast could easily eclipse a Captain's strength."

Yoruichi whistled. "Damn! That's a ton of energy to throw around."

"Yes," said Itachi, "hence the desire of Shinobi to have them sealed away. Occasionally they'd be imprisoned in some geographic location, but the most common method was actually to seal them inside a human being. These hosts became known as jinchūriki, and they were highly sought after by the nations of the world and their respective Shinobi villages."

"Let me guess," said Yoruichi, "They were wanted as living weapons, right?"

Itachi nodded. "Spot on. During his tenure as the First Hokage, Hashirama took steps to make sure that the Tailed Beasts and their respective jinchūriki were divided amongst the Shinobi villages in order to create a balance of power, theoretically deterring war. Each time a host died, though, a new one would have to be found quickly in order to once again seal the Tailed Beasts."

Yoruichi's brow furrowed. "How did the beasts feel about this system? Or the hosts, for that matter?"

Itachi chuckled ruefully. "How would you feel if you knew that others saw your very existence as a threat? To know that you are nothing more than a weapon at their disposal, one to be purged at the first sign of misfiring?"

Yoruichi sighed. "Point taken. I bet if one these beasts got free, they'd be pretty eager for some payback."

Itachi closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them Yoruichi did not fail to notice the haunted look in his gaze. "Yes… and one night, that's what happened. The Nine Tailed Fox was the beast that the Leaf Village was supposed to possess. However, somehow it broke loose and went on a rampage... and the Leaf Village was the target."

This was more than just him reciting something he'd read, Yoruichi realized; his demeanor alone was proof enough of that. "You were there, weren't you?"

"Yes and no," Itachi replied, "I wasn't on the front lines, but I was in the village during the attack. I was five years old at the time, so due to my age I wasn't even a Shinobi at the time. Even if I had been, at that age there's no way I would've been allowed to face the Nine Tailed Fox with the adults. I remained at home with my little brother, Sasuke. He was only a year old at the time, and I was determined to protect him."

Yoruichi smiled and put her hand on his shoulder. "You cared for him deeply, didn't you?"

Itachi mustered a small smile in response, although the sadness in his gaze gave Yoruichi a hint at the tragedy she was sure lay ahead. "I did… and I still do."

She gave him a moment to collect himself, which he did remarkably quickly. "Both my father and mother were Shinobi, but after she'd married father mother had settled down to raise Sasuke and I. When the Nine Tailed Fox commenced its attack, both of them were out of the residence, so it fell to me to look after him. Mother eventually did return home while the attack was taking place, but father did not. Since he was the head of both the Uchiha Clan and the Leaf Village Military Police Force, he was naturally helping to protect village during the crisis. The beast wrought immense destruction, but it was eventually sealed away by the Fourth Hokage at the cost of his life. However, the victory was hollow for more than just the Fourth Hokage and the others who died in the attack. I didn't realize it at the time, but the events of that night were where it all began to fall apart."

"What do you mean?" asked Yoruichi.

"I learned later on that my father had wanted to take the Uchiha who were cable of combat to the front lines to confront the beast directly," Itachi replied, "However, they had been ordered to focus on strengthening the village's defenses instead."

Yoruichi was confused. "But your clan's Sharingan would've been a powerful asset in defeating the Nine Tails. Holding the entire clan back to shore up the defenses doesn't make any sense."

Itachi nodded. "You're quite right. In fact, it was because of the Sharingan's power that the Uchiha were held back."

Yoruichi shook her head. "I've got to be missing something here, because right now I'm completely lost."

"Remember the final fight between Hashirama and Madara I told you about?" asked Itachi.

Yoruichi wasn't sure where this was going, but suspected she'd find out shortly. "The one that took place after Hashirama was selected to be the First Hokage, right? What's that got to do with this?"

"Apparently, Madara had controlled the Nine Tails during his clash with Hashirama," Itachi answered, a dark look in his eyes, "The power of the Sharingan had enabled him to turn this fearsome beast into a weapon that nearly allowed him to overpower the First Hokage. Frankly, it's nothing short of a miracle that Hashirama was able to triumph in that encounter."

Yoruichi's eyes widened slightly as a piece of the puzzle slid into face. "The people who governed the village were afraid that your father and the rest of the Uchiha were behind the attack, weren't they? If Madara had been capable of controlling the Nine Tails in the past, another Uchiha could potentially do the same. They could make the beast back down… or incite it to inflict even greater devastation."

"Exactly," said Itachi, with more than a hint of bitterness in his voice, "There were those in positions of power who believed that the Uchiha were indeed responsible for the attack. They had no proof, and members of the clan were deeply resentful of their suspicions. My father must've been indignant at such a notion, but knowing him, he did his duty that night and followed orders. The resentment and suspicion of that fateful evening would not die down just because the Nine Tailed Fox was sealed and the village saved. They lingered and became a festering infection on the wounds the beast had inflicted… an infection that should've been recognized and treated immediately. Instead it was allowed to grow, and it would eventually lead to disaster."

"If the village suspected the Uchiha of taking part in the attack, did they take retaliatory measures after the dust settled?" asked Yoruichi.

"In a way," Itachi replied, "Since they had no proof, they couldn't act openly, and the clan leaders could never prove that any one measure was meant as an attack against them. Still, there were ways in which portions of the village leadership manifested the mistrust on their end. It started with the reconstruction of the village; the Nine Tails had levelled entire sections during its rampage, and the widespread rebuilding proved to be an ideal cover for those who suspected the Uchiha of having a hand to play in the devastation."

Yoruichi gave a slight tilt of her head in puzzlement. "How so?"

"Many homes had been destroyed, and in the aftermath, there was a great deal of reorganization put into the residential areas during reconstruction," Itachi answered, "Plenty of Uchiha had lost their homes as well, so the village had a special compound constructed for the entire clan. Officially, it was done so in order to ease the reconstruction by consolidating space… but it also made it much easier to keep tabs on the Uchiha by concentrating the clan in one area. The compound was towards the outskirts of the village, which meant that the Uchiha became more isolated from government affairs. The clan still retained control over the Military Police Force, but the first of a series of budget cuts was enacted almost immediately after the attack. While the public reason the rulers gave was that reconstruction was a top priority and thus funding had to be reallocated, many in the Uchiha Clan saw it as an attack on their prestige."

Yoruichi's brow furrowed as she considered everything. "Were the Uchiha just being paranoid, or were the perceived slights actually deliberate?"

Itachi sighed. "I believe both parties share blame here. While consolidating space and easing reconstruction was important in the aftermath of the attack, it wasn't necessary for the Uchiha Clan's new compound to be placed in such a location that would symbolize its growing isolation from village politics. In that light, it's clear that the compound was meant as a means of concentration and surveillance. With regards to the initial cuts to the budget of the Military Police Force, I can understand the need to shift funds to reconstruction. At the same time, though, it's entirely possible that subsequent cuts were intended to erode the power of the Uchiha Clan. The clan had legitimate grievances on these fronts, but by embracing resentment and suspicion they only further contributed to the growing animosity between the Uchiha and the heart of the village. Every sacrifice the clan was asked to make for the sake of the greater whole was only seen as deepening the affront to the pride of the Uchiha. The clan began to internalize the symbolic isolation, and this would only grow worse as the years went by."

"You said your father was the head of the clan, right?" asked Yoruichi, "How did he feel about all of this?"

"At first, I think he simply wanted to carry on with his duties and hope that everything would blow over," Itachi replied, "He wasn't just a clan head or leader of the Military Police Force, after all; he was a father with two young sons. In the early years, I doubt he wanted Sasuke and I exposed to any of the broader clan resentments with the village. Still, it always lingered beneath the surface, and it wasn't hard for me to pick up on it."

Yoruichi smiled. "I bet you were a pretty observant kid."

Itachi nodded. "I was. Even at an early age, I was able to detect things that my father likely would've preferred to keep hidden. I noticed when he went to secret meetings with other members of the clan, just as I noticed that his stress grew as the years went on and the number of meetings increased. The tensions between the clan and the village refused to subside, no matter how much he might've wished otherwise."

Yoruichi scratched her chin with her finger. "What about the village leadership? You mentioned that the Fourth Hokage died during the Nine Tailed Fox's attack. Who replaced him? Did they have a role in the escalating tensions?"

"Rather than name a Fifth Hokage, the Third Hokage was brought out of retirement instead," Itachi answered, "Hiruzen Sarutobi, despite his advancing years, remained a powerful Shinobi, so it's understandable why they asked him to resume a leadership role rather than look for a new candidate; at the time of his appointment, he was a much-needed stabilizing influence. Believe it or not, he was also the man that trained Jiraiya."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Really? What was he like?"

Itachi hesitated for a moment before replying. "He was popular with the village. It wasn't just his skills that won him renown, but his dedication to peace and justice. He wanted to make sure that the village was safe, and was cautious and deliberate in both domestic and foreign policy. Violence was a last resort to him; if he could solve a problem with words rather than combat, he would make every effort to do so. The people of the village loved him for it, and in the aftermath of the Nine Tailed Fox's attack believed that he was the best candidate to help ensure a period of peaceful reconstruction.'

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. "You say the people liked him, but what about you?"

"My thoughts on him are… mixed," he said cautiously, "Later experience in particular left me with a somewhat bitter taste. He was well-meaning, but also indecisive. That proved costly. He wanted to facilitate reconciliation between the village leadership and the Uchiha Clan, but even if he was the head of the village his power wasn't undisputed; the Hokages have traditionally governed with a council of advisors, and consensus on that council was hardly guaranteed."

"Let me guess," said Yoruichi, "Other members of the council were less inclined towards diplomacy than the Third Hokage. They saw the Uchiha as a threat. Am I on the right track?"

"Very much so," Itachi answered, "The strongest opponent of reconciliation came in the form of Danzō Shimura. He had ascended from the ranks of active duty Shinobi to become the lead figure in the village's clandestine operations. Danzō even created a subset of the Anbu Black Ops that was called 'Root'. Officially it was a subdivision devoted to the training of particularly promising individuals, but in practice it basically operated as Danzō's private Shinobi force. Assassination, infiltration, sabotage; they did all that and more. He commanded it in the manner that he thought was best for the village… without consulting the Hokage or other members of the village council."

Yoruichi rolled her eyes. "I'm sure that never blew up in anyone's face."

Itachi nodded. "Danzō was an extremist and hardliner who saw himself as willing to take on the dirty work that the Third Hokage couldn't bring himself to do. Perhaps he truly believed he was doing what was necessary for the sake of the village, but in doing so he undermined the authority of the Third Hokage in matters of both domestic and foreign policy. It would be no different when it came to resolving the tensions between the village and the Uchiha Clan."

Yoruichi shook her head, unable to suppress a sorrowful sigh as she looked at Itachi. "And all the while, you were growing up amidst these simmering tensions. That can't have been easy for you."

"Had I been a normal child, most of it likely would've gone over my head," said Itachi, "However, I learned very early on what the world was really like… far earlier than I should've, in hindsight."

She couldn't fail to notice the haunted look in his eyes. "What happened?"

It took a moment before Itachi could respond. "In the closing days of the Third Shinobi World War, my father and the Uchiha Clan took an active role in helping the village on the battlefield. One day, my father took me to the frontlines. I was four years old at the time."

Yoruichi's eyes widened in horror. "What? He took you to a goddamn warzone at that age? What the hell was wrong with him?"

It took quite a lot to make her genuinely angry, and it was a very good thing that Itachi's father wasn't with them at the moment; it would've required every last bit of restraint on Yoruichi's part to keep from going Bankai on his ass and unleashing a beatdown she normally reserved for Menos Grande. The thought of a young Itachi in such an environment inspired an almost searing fury within her, and she had to work to suppress her spirit energy lest it suddenly spike and overwhelm her companion.

Much to her surprise, she saw Itachi give her a small smile. "I remember that my mother had similar sentiments at the time, even if she ultimately relented. I think she would've liked you, Yoruichi."

Yoruichi took a deep breath, dialing back her anger; it would hardly help Itachi in a situation like this. "If she was against what your father had planned, then I'd definitely have her back at least. Seriously, what was your father thinking? I don't care how gifted you are now; at that age, you had no business being anywhere near a battlefield!"

Itachi nodded. "I won't dispute that. I do understand what was going through my father's mind at the time, though. Even at that young age, it had already been decided that I would become a Shinobi. My father wanted me to understand what that really meant, so he took me to the frontline. I didn't participate in the fighting itself; I was there only to observe the aftermath."

He closed his eyes for a moment. "I remember it as if it were yesterday. The pouring rain, pools of blood, cries of the wounded and the dying… and the corpses strewn everywhere. Shinobi from the Leaf Village, from hostile lands… death did not discriminate. This was the world of Shinobi; a world of conflict, struggle, and ultimately death. That was the point my father wanted to get across, and in that he succeeded. However… I took another lesson to heart that day too, one that my father didn't realize until it was far too late."

"What kind of lesson?" she asked.

"That it wasn't worth it," he replied, "The differences that had led to the conflict and their deaths… it was a complete waste. No one becomes a Shinobi because they want to die; they all have their own hopes and dreams. Yet that day, their hopes and dreams were destroyed by the cruelty of the world that Shinobi had built. Lying there on the battlefield, dead or dying, their hopes and dreams meant nothing. Their lives were claimed not just by the hell that was the Third Shinobi World War, but by the hell that was the Shinobi World as a whole… and on that day, I became determined to challenge that hell. My father, the Uchiha Clan, the Shinobi of the Leaf Village or the other Shinobi villages of the world might've accepted such carnage as simply the way things had to be, but I did not. The world had to change… and I wanted to be the one that made that happen. The world did not deserve to be torn apart by warring Shinobi. What was needed was a true and lasting peace… one that I decided to devote myself to bringing about."

Despite the somber nature of what he was describing, Yoruichi couldn't help but smile. "So, when most children would be dreaming about going on grand adventures, your vision was to create a better world… you were one hell of a kid, Itachi."

Itachi shook his head. "I was naïve, even with that harsh exposure."

"You were only four years old," Yoruichi firmly countered, "I bet any other kid put into that situation would've been rendered catatonic in horror. You saw the ugliness of the world in a way that no child should ever have to, and you wanted to change it. What you faced that day was mankind at its worst, but you found the strength to face that harsh reality and strive for something better. That's a level of bravery that plenty of adults fail to measure up to."

"I'm afraid you're giving me too much credit," said Itachi, "What I saw that day… well, it's fortunate that the heavy rain was enough to hide my tears."

"Again, you were four," Yoruichi argued, "I'd be much more concerned if you didn't cry under those circumstances."

There was a moment of silence before Itachi spoke again. "I suppose you're right. Regardless, that day's been burnt into my memory ever since, and it helped guide my actions going forward. I wasn't due to start my official education at the Shinobi Academy for another two years, but I trained every day regardless. I had some help, too; I'd met Shisui prior to the Nine Tailed Fox's attack, and I spent time practicing with him. I guess you could say that I was determined to hit the ground running."

Once again, Yoruichi found herself taken aback by the young man. "Hold on, you mean you started at this Academy when you were only six years old? Is that normal for your village?"

"Yes, although I should offer some context," Itachi replied, "The Shinobi Academy is not just for combat instruction. It's more accurate to think of it as an academic institution that frames its lessons in a Shinobi context. There's a core curriculum of reading, writing, mathematics, and other fundamentals that you'd find in any basic educational facility. However, these are all geared towards giving us a solid foundation for once we actually start our Shinobi training. Still, since I had already begun practicing before entering the Academy, I had a leg up on my fellow students when it came to actually applying that knowledge."

Yoruichi sighed. "At least tell me that training for students is properly supervised. A bunch of kids running around with kunai and shuriken strikes me as a disaster waiting to happen."

"Of course," said Itachi, "The Academy instructors hammer it into students early on that ninja tools and weapons are not toys. There's a nurse's office complete with medical Shinobi on hand in the event of accidents, and the teachers are all veteran Shinobi usually capable of spotting potential accidents before they happen. Academy students are considered a vital resource for the future of the village, so there's plenty of incentive for those running the institution to make sure that it's as safe an environment as possible."

Yoruichi smiled. "In that case, I guess I can ease up a bit on your village's education practices. If you'd been training prior to enrollment, then I bet you really wowed your teachers on your first day of class. I know your Shin'ō Academy instructors certainly were impressed when you made your debut!"

Itachi's answer was couched in what Yoruichi had no doubt was a considerable understatement. "I suppose I did make an impression. The teachers' initial responses were favorable, although I believe I rubbed at least a few students the wrong way."

Yoruichi shrugged. "That's hardly a surprise. They were probably jealous of what you were capable of."

Itachi looked down for a moment. "Actually… there was a bit more to it than that."

Yoruichi frowned. "Don't tell me you were bullied. You seem like the type who could handle themselves in a situation like that, even at a young age."

"Bullying wasn't the issue in and of itself," said Itachi, "I was more than capable of taking care of myself in such a scenario, as you suggest. There were a few older students who found that out the hard way. It didn't take long to scare off anyone who might opt for physical threats or intimidation to get their way. However, the suspicion that elements of the village leadership had for the Uchiha Clan had begun filtering down through the population ever since the attack by the Nine Tailed Fox. There had been plenty of time for rumors and whispers of Uchiha plotting to find their way to the ears of children who would be attending the Academy. The students didn't have the full picture, of course, but the impressions they got from their parents were enough for plenty of them to form less than savory opinions regarding my family."

Yoruichi winced. "That can't have been fun to go through."

Itachi shrugged. "I managed well enough. I actually had some help. I hadn't asked for it and didn't need it… but it was nice to have, just the same."

Yoruichi smiled. "What form did this 'help' take?"

There was a noticeable pause, and from the way Itachi turned his gaze slightly downwards he looked almost adorably awkward and shy. "It… was a girl."

Yoruichi grinned; this was too good to pass up. "Really? Care to tell me about her?"

"Her name was Izumi," Itachi replied, "Izumi Uchiha. She was in the class next door to mine. During a confrontation between myself and some other students, she stepped in… and activated her Sharingan."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "So, she was a member of your clan and already had the Sharingan despite only being an Academy student? Does it really manifest that early?"

Itachi nodded. "It can, if the Uchiha in question experiences a sufficiently powerful emotion. In Izumi's case, it was the death of her father; he perished during the attack by the Nine Tailed Fox. However, due to her youth and inexperience she couldn't call upon it without consequence; the subsequent chakra expenditure proved too much, and she actually passed out shortly after that confrontation. I took her to the nurse's office… and remained by her side until she regained consciousness."

The mental image of a young Itachi staying by a girl's bedside waiting for her to recover was absolutely adorable. "That's sweet of you. I bet she really appreciated that."

"I suppose so," said Itachi, "We became friends, and often wound up walking home together after school. This was out of convenience; we both resided in the Uchiha Clan compound, after all. Still… I came to enjoy her company."

"And I bet she enjoyed yours," said Yoruichi knowingly, "What girl wouldn't, after all?"

The briefest hint of a blush flashed across his face, but Itachi didn't let it faze him. "There were plenty of girls at the Academy who seemed to like watching me. Izumi was the only one that went past that, though. Part of it was likely because we shared the same clan, but that wasn't all there was to it. She'd lost her father, but she was still a kind girl, and she believed in doing what she thought was right. She was… special."

The past tense there was all too clear; Yoruichi doubted this tale of budding young love had a happy ending. "What happened to her?"

There was just the briefest pause before Itachi spoke again. "If it's all right with you, I'll come back to that later. Her fate… well, it's tied to what lies ahead."

Yoruichi nodded; she was all for letting Itachi go at his own pace. "Fair enough."

"Thank you," he replied, "Anyway, I didn't spend long at the Academy. Most village children enter when they're six and graduate when they're twelve, but my studies went at a much more rapid pace. In fact, I actually graduated when I was seven years old."

Yoruichi whistled. "Damn. I knew you were talented, but that's really something else! You must've turned quite a few heads."

"I did," said Itachi, "although not all of them were for the right reasons. Most teachers were suitably impressed with my abilities, but a few had complaints. They felt it was premature to let me graduate so early, even though I had decisively proven my mastery over the Academy curriculum. I realized that those arguing against my early graduation had something in common; they were all from families whose lineages ultimately connected them to the Senju Clan."

Yoruichi leaned forward and clasped her hands together. "So, it was clan rivalries driving their objections rather than less subjective concerns?"

"I never got definitive proof," Itachi cautioned, "but… well, that was the impression I gained, yes. I wasn't going to let it stop me from carrying out my new duties, though."

"Look, don't take this the wrong way," said Yoruichi, "I'm sure you were the most badass seven-year-old in the world, but you were still a kid. They can't have had you doing anything too dangerous right out of the gate, right?"

"You're not wrong," Itachi admitted, "Graduates fresh out of the Academy are known as Genin. It's basically the lowest Shinobi rank excluding that of a student, not all that different from an unseated Soul Reaper. Their can be a great level of variance when it comes to the skill and strength of individual Genin, but that doesn't change the fact that they're still low on the command hierarchy. Genin with greater experience can get dangerous assignments, but for the most part, especially when it comes to Genin that just came from Academy, they're typically assigned low-risk missions."

"What qualifies as 'low-risk' for Shinobi?" asked Yoruichi.

"Mostly manual labor and errands," Itachi answered, "Finding lost pets, weeding a garden, acting as couriers, moving supplies… basic maintenance and public service, really."

Yoruichi couldn't help but giggle. "Some of those sound more like chores, really. Don't tell me the Academy's star student was reduced to being a household errand boy!"

"It didn't last for very long," said Itachi, "With my abilities, the village couldn't keep me on garden variety Genin missions forever, even with my age taken into consideration. Just a year after my graduation, my skills had already developed to the point that other Shinobi considered me to be at a Chūnin's level of strength. However, I was still considered too young to actually take the Chūnin Examinations, so I remained with Team 2 for the time being."

"Who else was on your team?" asked Yoruichi.

"The typical Shinobi team for new Academy graduates is comprised of three Genin and a Jōnin," Itachi replied, "This is so the Genin can gain valuable experience while under a veteran Shinobi's guidance and protection. Since I had graduated early, both of my fellow Genin were five years older than me. One was a boy named Tenma Izumo, and the other was a girl named Shinko Inari. Oddly enough, Tenma was one of the boys that Izumi had scared off with her Sharingan when I had first entered the Academy. As our supervising Jōnin, that was Yuki Minazuki. He… was not the best choice for that role."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "What makes you say that? Was he incompetent?"

Itachi shook his head. "He had the necessary skills to lead Genin. With another team, he likely would've been much more suitable for the role of supervisor. The problem was me. It didn't take me long to notice a key flaw with him; he had a jealous streak, and in this case, it was directed at me because of how rapidly my abilities had advanced. He didn't appreciate the idea of being outdone by a Genin. In fact, I learned that he'd sent several Genin back to the Academy in the past because he'd feared being shown up by them. However, my skills had evolved to the point where he couldn't offer a plausible explanation for repeating such a feat. Instead, he settled for delaying my entry to the Chūnin Exams. As a result, I was with Team 2 for about three years."

Yoruichi sighed. "It had to have been frustrating being stuck under a guy like that. I've met my share of Soul Reapers who share that kind of pettiness. All they do is weaken the Thirteen Court Guard Squads as a whole just to bolster their fragile egos."

Itachi nodded. "Any sufficiently large organization will inevitably have some individuals like him in its ranks. I wasn't about to let the resentments of my team leader stop me from further honing my skills. When I wasn't on missions with Team 2, I trained in private. Occasionally, I'd have the chance to practice with Shisui when he wasn't on missions of his own. There were also… other matters that I was being drawn into."

Yoruichi could tell that emphasis on the word 'other' did not bode well. "What was going on?"

"The clan's resentments hadn't been put on hold just because I'd entered and graduated from the Academy," Itachi reminded her, "They certainly didn't lie idle during my time as a Genin. Once I officially became a Shinobi, my father began including me in the regular clan meetings. Most Shinobi clans have these get-togethers, and they're supposed to be peaceful family gatherings meant to make sure that a clan's on the right path. The ones that the Uchiha Clan had been having, though… well, they had much darker undertones."

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. "The fact that they waited until you were officially a Shinobi before actually including you is rather ominous."

"Believe me, that fact did not escape my notice," said Itachi, "I quickly learned that my apprehension was well-founded. The clan meetings were dominated by the tensions that had been building between the village and the Uchiha ever since the Nine Tailed Fox's attack. Many were already convinced that the village was out to get them and had scapegoated the Uchiha for the attack. There was also the widespread belief that our new clan compound was meant as a means to contain us and make us easier to watch, so our meetings were held in a secret chamber beneath the Nakano Shrine, a temple which was believed to be where the Uchiha Clan had originated from."

"Secret meeting beneath a temple, eh?" said Yoruichi, "Yeah, that's totally not suspicious or anything."

Itachi nodded. "I suppose the venue was an embodiment of what the clan was becoming; dark, bitter, obsessed with the memory of past glory… and hateful towards their perceived enemy. In the shadows of that dimly-lit chamber, the hate of the clan festered and grew. Originally, there was just talk of seeking redress for our grievances, but as time went by voices began advocating for more… direct action."

Yoruichi grimaced. "What kind of shit were they looking to stir up?"

Itachi closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again the regret and sorrow within was impossible to miss. "Ultimately… they began planning a coup."

Yoruichi took a deep breath, allowing the full weight of what he'd just said to sink in. "A coup… were things really that bad?"

Itachi shook his head. "It was a response completely out of proportion to the grievances the clan had. However, the Uchiha have a tendency towards overreaction… particularly when it comes to grudges."

"Is this something that's prevalent throughout the clan, or just powerful members of it?" asked Yoruichi.

Itachi sighed. "It's… complicated."

"This whole conversation's complicated," Yoruichi pointed out, "No reason for it to get simple now."

Itachi gave a rueful chuckle. "True enough. Anyway, with regards to my clan… we're rather contradictory in our nature. On the surface we might try to maintain a sort of aloofness, or at least make an effort to conceal our true feelings, but in fact we're actually capable of great love and friendship, to a deeper extent than most people realize. However, this deep affection often becomes a double-edged sword to the Uchiha. When the object of that affection is lost, those once-warm feelings become twisted into an extreme hatred. It drives members of the Uchiha Clan to undertake actions that would've been impossible to contemplate before; anything and everything becomes permissible, consequences of those actions be damned. In time, this trait became known as the Curse of Hatred."

Yoruichi was skeptical, to put it mildly. "So, your clan began plotting a coup because of a curse? Sorry, but that sounds a bit like a cop-out."

She was surprised to see Itachi actually smile at her words. "An interesting take on it… and perhaps not an inaccurate one. The truth is, the Uchiha tend to be more susceptible to powerful emotions in large part because they're required to unlock the Sharingan, not to mention fuel its evolution. These emotions can feel overwhelming to the particular Uchiha Clan member in question, and they can take extreme action in order to satisfy these feelings. However, sometimes it's felt like that's really just an excuse that the clan has used to justify the lengths it will go to in order to safeguard its power and prestige, or as a means to deflect taking responsibility for actions driven by the extreme self-interest of individual members. You could consider the 'Curse' to be an embodiment of the Uchiha's glorification of the self or the clan at the cost of the greater whole. Still, cop-out or not, there always has been an undercurrent of darkness present in the Uchiha Clan. Whether or not these powerful emotions and ambitions are the product of a literal curse is something we could spend plenty of time debating, but they were certainly a metaphorical curse for the clan in the long-run."

Yoruichi nodded. "The coup plot being an example of that, right?"

"Yes," Itachi replied, "Members of the Uchiha Clan had once been fully on board with founding the Leaf Village and selecting Hashirama Senju as the First Hokage, to the point of isolating Madara, their leader and most powerful combatant. There might've been strains on the clan's relationship with the village at times, but overall the peace had still held; the Uchiha still for the most part believed in the village and wanted it to succeed. The attack by the Nine Tailed Fox and the subsequent isolation of the clan changed that, though. Their loyalty to the village had been called into question, and faced with a perceived attack against their pride and strength, fondness transformed into bitterness. Old grudges were brought to the surface and joined by new ones. The Curse of Hatred fount fertile ground in that environment, and its proliferation was like that of a highly aggressive and tenacious weed overgrowing a once-vibrant and peaceful garden."

"That's why they invited you to the clan meetings, then?" asked Yoruichi, "They wanted you in on the coup?"

"Not just me," said Itachi, "Any Uchiha that was a full-fledged Shinobi was included, so Shisui was in attendance as well. Once she graduated, Izumi was brought in as well."

Yoruichi sighed. "The three of you would've been so young... too young for matters like that. I mean, I get that being a Shinobi means that you had to grow up quickly, but still…"

Itachi nodded. "I know. To be honest, the atmosphere in those meetings… it was terrifying. The air in that chamber felt almost smothering with all the simmering hatred and resentment. It was like a teapot that was being brought closer and closer to boiling over… and it got far worse as the years went by."

"How'd the three of you handle it?" asked Yoruichi, "That had to be rough, to put it mildly."

"None of us liked it, that's for sure," Itachi answered, "I think it was worse for Izumi. Shisui and I had a better grasp on the situation, but her… I could tell just from the look in her eyes how badly those meetings frightened her. She didn't share the bitter grudges of the adults in that meeting, and to be stuck in that chamber as they poured their hatred out for all of the clan to see… it was a toxic atmosphere, to say the least."

Yoruichi put her hand on his shoulder. "From what I'm hearing, it sounds like the three of you didn't share the hatred that was consuming your clan. Given just how young you were at the time, that's impressive. I mean, young minds are quite impressionable, after all. For you to resist that heavy atmosphere of resentment and suspicion at that age is no small feat."

"You're too generous," said Itachi, "The three of us might not have agreed with the path that the rest of the clan wanted to take, but we were a long way from being able to stop it, especially at that age."

"Maybe," Yoruichi admitted, "but you had time, right? Hastily planned and executed coups aren't the ones most likely to succeed, and given that your family was a Shinobi Clan I assume they put a lot of prep work into their revolt."

"That's true enough," Itachi replied, "The clan spent years plotting, making plans and adjusting them as circumstances dictated. As the head of the clan, I believe my father actually tried to delay those plans, or at least soften them. He took his duties very seriously, and it struck me that he wasn't exactly enthusiastic about the course of action the rest of the clan wanted to pursue. The idea for the coup wasn't driven by him, and had he acted more forcefully in the beginning it's entirely possible that he could've quashed such an idea, or at least formed a power bloc within the clan that would've provided a counter balance to the more radical elements. He was more than just a powerful Shinobi; he was a respected leader. He had a chance to take a stand against those that were pushing for the coup… but he didn't take it. Perhaps he stalled and tried to lessen the inherent violence of such a plot, but that doesn't change the fact the ultimately went along with it."

The bitterness and disappointment in Itachi's voice was impossible to miss. "You really loved your father, didn't you? Seeing him let things deteriorate like that can't have been easy."

"It wasn't," said Itachi, almost mournfully, "Watching him go along with a scheme that I'm sure he knew was wrong for both the clan and the village… was difficult. My beliefs put me in opposition to him, and while I still respected him that didn't change the fact that a rift began to grow between us. It was subtle at first, but as the years went by… well, before it was over, I probably seemed almost like a stranger to him."

Yoruichi didn't know how to respond to that. She might've had her differences and disagreements with her parents, but they were nothing on the scale of what Itachi was talking about. She wanted to be able to give Itachi a sympathetic shoulder to lean on, but how was she supposed to be able to do that if she couldn't relate to what he had gone through? She feared that any words she might say now would come across as little more than empty platitudes.

I knew he was complicated, she thought, I just didn't realize the full extent of that… and it sounds like his tale still has quite a way left to go, so whether or not I'll fully be able to comprehend the layers to him when it's over is very much up in the air right now.

"As you said, though, this all unfolded over a prolonged period of time," Itachi continued, "Meaning that I still had missions to carry out with Team 2 while the Uchiha Clan descended into darkness. It weighed heavily on my mind, but I learned to shelve my concerns while I was out in the field; a distracted Shinobi quickly becomes a dead one."

"But you were just a Genin at the time, right?" Yoruichi pointed out, "You told me that they get low-risk missions. I appreciate your dedication to duty, but given your level of talent you must've breezed through those tasks almost on instinct. You probably had plenty of time to mull over your clan's issues even while you were with your team."

"In theory, yes," said Itachi, "and in most of those early missions that was the case in practice as well. However… there was one that proved very much otherwise."

"Which one was that?" asked Yoruichi.

"It was about a year or so after I became a Genin," Itachi answered, "Due to our high performance, Team 2 was assigned to guard the Daimyō of the Land of Fire during his annual trip to visit village."

"Sounds like a real honor," said Yoruichi, "Since it was your skill that was bolstering Team 2's performance, that means they were recognizing your abilities."

Itachi nodded. "I suppose that's one way to look at it. However, you shouldn't give me too much credit. Team 2 was really more of a ceremonial honor guard for that mission; the Daimyō had his own professional bodyguards, the elite Twelve Guardian Shinobi, two of whom were with our immediate party while the others were spread across the surrounding area. There was also a four-person Anbu squad watching from concealment, ready to spring into action should trouble arise. In other words, Team 2 wasn't really expected to do all that much apart from spread out around the Daimyō, perhaps provide another set of eyes and ears. Any real fighting was meant to be handled by the others."

"I take it things didn't quite pan out that way," said Yoruichi, "Otherwise you probably wouldn't even be telling me about this mission."

"You're not wrong there," Itachi replied, "As we were travelling to the village, we came across a man in the middle of the road. At first glance, there was nothing too unusual about him… save for the mask he wore. It was a very strange creation; orange with wavy black lines, and a single eye-hole on the right. The way he moved didn't seem threatening initially, but there was something about him that put me on edge. I quickly found out that my instincts were right on the money."

Yoruichi felt a chill go down her spine. "What happened?"

"The man was a skilled genjutsu user," said Itachi, "Before they even knew what hit them, my team leader, the Daimyō, his aides and the two Guardian Shinobi were caught up in an illusion. I'd managed to sense it and avoid getting ensnared, as had Tenma; his specialty was genjutsu, so even though he was only a Genin he still understood what was happening and could counter it. However, what he did next was completely foolish; he immediately moved to attack the man rather than calmly assess the situation and our adversary. That mistake cost him his life. Before I could stop him, our enemy had already struck a fatal blow."

The thought of an eight-year-old Itachi watching one of his fellow Genin get struck down before him was almost heartbreaking. "Itachi… I'm sorry."

There were a few seconds of silence before Itachi continued. "In that moment… I froze. At first, I thought it was because I had been ensnared in another genjutsu, but it was something else. My instincts were screaming at me that I could not defeat the enemy before me. Every fiber of my being wanted to run."

"You were a kid who just saw one of his comrades killed in front of him," said Yoruichi softly, hoping to provide some measure of comfort, "The fear you felt at that moment was perfectly natural."

Itachi nodded. "I know. Still, I was a Shinobi, despite my youth. A Shinobi can't afford to freeze on the battlefield. You know as well as I do that hesitation can easily get you and your comrades killed."

"Of course," Yoruichi conceded, "but still, you shouldn't be ashamed of what you felt back then. Anyone your age in that situation would've felt the same thing, Shinobi or otherwise."

Itachi sighed. "Perhaps your right. Even so, despite the fear I felt, I managed to force myself to move. The attacker said he would let me live if I stayed back and watch, but I refused. Even at that age, I knew my duty, and I wasn't about to back down."

He was brave even back then, she thought with a sad smile, Itachi… you shouldn't have had to go through that at such a young age, but you still rose to the occasion. You really are a remarkable young man.

"I was fully aware that I couldn't win," Itachi continued, "Still, I stood my ground, even briefly exchanged blows with the masked man. Before he could strike me down, though, he stopped mid-strike and suddenly fled; he'd sensed the approaching Anbu Black Ops Shinobi that had been shadowing our group. Before he vanished, though, I caught sight of something that shook me almost as badly as Tenma's death; behind that single hole in the man's mask was a crimson eye with three tomoe."

Yoruichi's eyes widened in shock. "This guy had the Sharingan?"

"Yes," Itachi replied, "and he clearly knew how to use it. At the time, I had no idea who he was; there were no reports of any rogue Uchiha. I came up with a theory later on, but looking back I'm not sure if it was correct or not. Regardless, the fact remained that the would-be assassin of the Daimyō did appear to be an Uchiha. Word didn't get out, especially since I was the only one who saw the eye beneath that mask and live, but… well, the notion of a rogue Uchiha was a disturbing one, especially with the growing tension between the clan and the village."

Yoruichi nodded. "I bet. Any idea why he tried to kill the Daimyō?"

Itachi shook his head. "Sorry, but I never got enough evidence to pin down a concrete motive. Speculation's the best I could offer, and your guess would probably be as good as any one of mine under the circumstances."

Yoruichi smiled. "Well, at least you survived. You even kept to your mission and protected the Daimyō despite being outmatched. I'm sorry about your teammate, but it sounds like things could've gone much worse."

"They certainly could've," Itachi admitted, "As it turns out, there were a few positive repercussions from that encounter. For starters, the death of Tenma caused Shinko to quit being a Shinobi and return to civilian life, ultimately working in a tea shop."

Yoruichi was puzzled. "How is your other teammate ceasing to be a Shinobi a good thing?"

"She was exposed to the reality of being a Shinobi," said Itachi, "It was a reality that I understood before entering the Academy, but most Genin don't have that prior experience. Shinko was a kind girl; Shinobi life wasn't for her, and it was better for her to find out sooner rather than later. I wish it hadn't come at the expense of Tenma's life, but at least she was able to recognize what that encounter really meant, and she took the right lesson from it."

"I suppose that's one way to look at it," Yoruichi conceded, "I'm assuming there were more benefits from that encounter than just her early retirement though, right?"

Itachi nodded. "Seeing Tenma die right in front of me… proved to be a necessary catalyst. Given what I'd seen during the mission, my superiors decided that my report could be held off a few days, so I was sent home after the Daimyō arrived safely at the village. I couldn't get what I'd seen earlier out of my head, and that night my Sharingan awakened as a result. I wish it had done so without Tenma having to die, but I wasn't about to let it go to waste."

Yoruichi whistled. "I bet your Shinobi skills really took off once you got those special eyes of yours."

"That's putting it mildly," Itachi replied, "It felt like a whole new world opened up for me after gaining the Sharingan. The enhanced perception alone was a boon, and when combined with all the abilities that I described to you earlier… well, it was a game-changer. My growth accelerated at such a pace that my team leader rapidly ran out of excuses to keep me as a Genin. He managed to stall for a little while longer, but by the time I was ten even he couldn't deny what was clear to everyone else; I was ready for the Chūnin Exams. In fact, my abilities had advanced to the point that I was allowed to take the tests by myself rather than with the rest of Team 2. It was easy enough to see this as a testament to my skills, but there was more to it than that."

"Let me guess," said Yoruichi, "There were forces at work behind the scenes. Anything to do with the fact that you're an Uchiha?"

"Yes," Itachi answered, "Since my team leader had put off recommending me for the Chūnin Exams for so long, it struck me as odd that suddenly he'd pull an about face and allow me to take them solo. Something was off, but it was only after I'd passed the tests that I pieced everything together. It turned out that I had gained a benefactor on the Leaf Village Council; Danzō Shimura."

Yoruichi couldn't resist a double-take. "Wait a sec, wasn't he the guy who you said was the Uchiha Clan's greatest opponent on the Council? Why would he back the prodigy of a clan that he so deeply distrusted?

"A good question," said Itachi, "and one that I should've started asking myself far sooner than I did. It wasn't until years later that I finally figured it out. Even when I was only ten years old, perhaps earlier, even… he saw what I could become if pushed in the right direction. His insight would be crucial to his ultimate plan… and the Uchiha Clan would pay dearly for not recognizing it sooner."

He paused for a few moments, clearly needing to organize his thoughts before continuing. Yoruichi could only wonder what was next, but if the haunted look in his eyes was any indication, she doubted it was anything good.

"Things… changed considerably after the Chūnin Exams," he continued, "My time with Team 2 was over, meaning the old squad leader could no longer hold me back. Every new mission I went on was a chance to unleash the full spectrum of my abilities. My proficiency with the Sharingan continued to grow as well. When I wasn't on missions, I was usually training. Sasuke had grown considerably, so I even spent some time training with him, although not usually teaching him directly; I simply let him observe my practice sessions."

A bittersweet smile then appeared on his face. "Some time, but… not nearly enough. I should've given him so much more. He looked up to me… idolized me, even. More than anything else, I wanted to change the Shinobi World so that it would be a safer place for my younger brother. That desire drove me to redouble my efforts, but in doing so, I wound up becoming distant from the Uchiha Clan as a whole. The same went for my immediate family… and even Sasuke. I… I wish it had been otherwise."

Yoruichi could understand family troubles; with a Great Noble House like her own, there was always drama to go around in one form or another. What Itachi was describing was something different, though. It was much darker than anything she'd seen in her family, and from the way he was talking about it and how it clung to him like a shadow it was clear to her that it had ended very badly. She still didn't have the key details on what was likely the catastrophic moment that it had all fallen apart, but Yoruichi could tell that Itachi was building up to that.

"My ascension to the rank of Chūnin was no small matter as far as the clan was concerned," said Itachi, "In better times, it would've been something the clan could point to as yet another symbol of their proud service to the Leaf Village. Given just how sour the clan's feelings had become, though, they saw my promotion as something they could use to further their own ends. The further I climbed, the greater access I could potentially have to village leaders and secrets. In short, they saw me as a tool, a weapon to be used against the village in service of restoring the clan to glory."

The tension in his figure told Yoruichi all she needed to know about how that made Itachi feel. "They had no idea, did they? They didn't understand just how opposed you were to what they wanted to do."

Itachi shook his head. "No… they did not. I sent them signals, but their growing bitterness towards the village and their inflated sense of pride in the clan blinded them. They thought since I was an Uchiha I was automatically on their side. None of them save Shisui had a clue as to my true feelings… and he shared my sentiments. Ironic, really; we were the two rising stars of the Uchiha, yet both of us were firmly against the ambitions of the clan."

"I bet that came around to bite them in the ass," said Yoruichi.

It had been meant as a fun little quip, a way to bring some levity to a heavy conversation, but the dark look in Itachi's eyes told her that she'd seriously miscalculated. "It did… in the worst way possible."

He sighed. "It was around this time that talk within the clan had shifted, and they began making explicit preparations for the coup. Timetables, selecting key personnel and infrastructure to target, how to maintain order after seizing power… all those crucial details and more. They were still a few years away from putting the plan into action, but Shisui and I knew that the village was running out of time. During that same time period, the clan also began to debate my career trajectory. With my promotion to Chūnin, many wanted me to be officially assigned to the Military Police Force; they believed that such a move would improve the standing of the Uchiha within the village, especially given the accolades and prestige my performance in the exams had garnered. My father had other plans, though."

"What did he have in mind?" asked Yoruichi.

"He wanted me to join the Anbu Black Ops," Itachi replied, "This was initially… ill-received by the rest of the clan. Many believed that the Anbu had begun to encroach on the Military Police Force's jurisdiction when it came to maintaining public safety within the village, and it was an open secret that they were monitoring the Uchiha Clan compound. My father sought to turn the tables by making me the Uchiha's eyes and ears within the Anbu. If he had taken my concerns about the clan's trajectory more seriously, he might've realized that sending me to the Anbu was the worst possible move he could make."

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed as a crucial piece fell into place. "You became a double agent. They thought you were their man inside the Anbu, but in reality, it was the other way around; you were the Anbu's man inside the Uchiha Clan."

Itachi nodded. "Yes… and the seeds for that move had been planted years ago. Ironically enough, it was my own father that had sown them. Remember what I told you about his decision to take me to that battlefield when I was a child?"

Yoruichi grimaced as she worked to tamp down a fresh wave of fury at Itachi's father. "Oh, yes… I won't be forgetting that anytime soon."

"An interesting choice of words," said Itachi, "I didn't forget either, and never will. My father significantly underestimated the consequences of his actions that day. That exposure to the horrors of war had informed much of my outlook on life since then, and I was determined to be a Shinobi that brought about peace rather than conflict. It was because of that view that I could see the consequences of a potential coup when the rest of the clan could not. The Uchiha believed that they would be restored to their former glory, but they were blinded by arrogance and resentment. All I had to do was look at the past to know where things would go. A coup would lead to civil war… and that would bring in outside intervention from other nations. In short, the Uchiha Clan was setting itself up to be the catalyst for another Shinobi World War. I refused to let the clan's bitterness and pride become the spark for another massive conflict."

Yoruichi smiled. "You were willing to look past the clan and to the good of not just the village, but the rest of the world. Itachi… you were really one hell of a kid!"

Itachi shook his head. "Hardly. I could have all the high-minded ideals in the world, but that would mean nothing if I couldn't figure out how to actually stop the clan from continuing down this destructive path. I could wrack my brain for weeks on end and not come up with a solution. All the while, the clan would continue to flesh out its plans for the coup. I was eleven years old and racing against the clock… and I was losing."

"Going into the Anbu would've helped though, right?" asked Yoruichi, "I mean, you'd have access to village resources and could make your concerns known to the rulers. You could warn them about what was coming and help them prepare, even convince them to take steps to head things off."

"It wasn't quite that simple," Itachi countered, "A good portion of the Leaf Village Council was opposed to my entry to the Anbu simply on account of me being an Uchiha. I don't know the Third Hokage's thoughts, but I suspect my young age might've made him hesitant to sign off. Danzō was another matter, though; just like with the Chūnin Exams, I eventually found out that he was all for me joining the Anbu Black Ops… almost enthusiastic about it, actually. That should've set of some serious alarm bells, but I was so focused on the clan that I didn't put it all together until it was too late."

Yoruichi shook her head. "I think you're being a bit too hard on yourself. The mess you were in was one that no one your age should've been forced to deal with. From what you've told me so far, it sounds like you handled things remarkably well given the circumstances."

Itachi closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again sorrow and shame were readily apparent. "Once you've heard the rest… well, you'll probably want to revise that sentiment."

Yoruichi didn't like the sound of that. The story was already dicey; just how much worse could things get?

That's a question you really should know better than to ask by now, the spirit of her Zanpakutō chided her, You're the Captain of Squad Two; a big part of your job is planning for the worst-case scenario, remember? There are plenty of ways that this little tale can escalate, especially given what you've learned so far.

Good point.

"My entry into the Anbu wasn't set in stone," Itachi continued, "As a test, I was tasked with eliminating a senior Jōnin who was leaking information to another village. The Shinobi in question was quite skilled, so I was allowed to call in some assistance for the assignment. I chose Shisui, both for his skills and the fact that he was one of my few fellow Uchiha that shared my sentiments regarding what the clan was planning. It was tricky, but we managed to accomplish our mission. In the process, though, I learned something about Shisui; his Sharingan had evolved far beyond mine. In fact, it was no longer the regular version; it was the Mangekyou Sharingan."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Mangekyou Sharingan? Sorry, I'm afraid you lost me there."

Itachi bowed his head. "My apologies. The Mangekyou Sharingan is an advanced version of the Sharingan, one that's very rare in the Uchiha Clan. It manifests itself when the bearer of the Sharingan undergoes an intense emotional trauma, one much more severe than what caused the initial awakening of the Sharingan. In most cases, its appearance is triggered by the Uchiha in question witnessing the death of someone very close to them. The Mangekyou retains the same black and red coloration of the regular Sharingan, but with a twist; the three black tomoe merge together into an intricate pattern that typically resembles a pinwheel, with each Uchiha to unlock the Mangekyou getting a unique version."

Yoruichi nodded. "Sounds pretty to look at, but I'm guessing that it's more than simple ornamentation. So, what's this bad boy do?"

"Think of it as the Sharingan on steroids," Itachi answered, "It supercharges the basic Sharingan's abilities while also granting formidable new powers to the user. While there are three main powers that all wielders of the Mangekyou can use, each Uchiha in question also gain access to variations of these abilities that are unique to the specific user."

"All right, I think I'm following so far," said Yoruichi, "What are these three powers?"

"The first is Amaterasu, the pinnacle of all Shinobi Fire Style ninjutsu," Itachi replied, "These are the black flames of Hell, hotter than the sun itself, and capable of burning anything the user focuses on. They can last for seven days and seven nights, unable to be extinguished by anything other than the wielder's will. The second ability is Tsukuyomi, the most powerful form of genjutsu in existence. The illusions the wielder can conjure and ensnare their opponents in illusions more comprehensive and elaborate than any other in the world; every aspect of their visual perception can be manipulated to incredible effect. The last is known as Susanoo, a giant spectral warrior that requires the power of both eyes to be summoned. This is the strongest of the Mangekyou Sharingan's abilities in direct combat, capable of both protecting the wielder and utterly devastating entire armies when developed to its full potential."

Yoruichi's eyes widened. "Damn… a set of powers like that could give even a Captain a run for their money!"

Itachi nodded. "Those abilities are very formidable, but there are drawbacks to using them. They each require a substantial amount of chakra to use, to the point that repeated utilization in rapid succession will eventually cause the wielder's Sharingan to deactivate, and they will be unable to call upon it until they've been able to rest up and restore their energy. There is also a more insidious long-term cost; use of the Mangekyou over the years will eventually cause the Uchiha to lose their eyesight, and this deterioration in vision will only be accelerated the more frequently they use the Mangekyou's abilities. That's why it's best used as a weapon of last resort… although its great power makes it tempting for Uchiha to call upon it far more often that they should."

"No kidding," said Yoruichi, "So, Shisui had these crazy eyes, huh? How far along was he to going blind?"

"I never asked," Itachi admitted, "Based on my observations of him, though, I think he barely suffered any visual impairment, if at all. This wasn't surprising; he was only a few years older than me back then, and his Mangekyou was a recent acquisition. Besides, with his level of skill, he could be pressed considerably before he would have to call upon its power. When he did, though… well, it was impressive, to put it mildly. One ability in particular was… exquisite."

"What was that?" asked Yoruichi.

"Kotoamatsukami," said Itachi, in a tone that struck Yoruichi as close to hushed awe, "An ability unique to Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan. Related to Tsukuyomi, it was essentially a form of extremely subtle mind-control. All Shisui needed was just the briefest instant to get someone in his field of vision, and he could enter their minds, influencing their very thoughts. What made it truly devious was that he could implant false experiences and convince his targets to take actions that they believed were entirely of their own free will. It was a masterwork of genjutsu, with the victims being entirely unaware of ever being ensnared in the first place."

Yoruichi shuddered. "Look, don't take this the wrong way, but it sounds pretty damn scary. I mean, Shisui's a good guy and a great subordinate, so I can definitely think of worse people to have a power like that. Still… it's rather unnerving."

"I can understand that sentiment," Itachi replied, "A genjutsu like that can be easily abused. It's fortunate that Shisui was the one who had that ability. Of all the members of the Uchiha Clan, he's one of the few that could've been trusted to use such a power responsibly. He understood the ethical quandaries behind it and appreciated the moral dilemma an ability like that posed."

"You said he's regained the Sharingan," said Yoruichi, "Does that mean he's also regained Kotoamatsukami?"

Itachi shook his head. "Shisui has regained the Sharingan, but not the Mangekyou, so Kotoamatsukami is lost. If he acquires the Mangekyou again, then perhaps Kotoamatsukami will return as well. It's difficult to say for sure; I don't know if him being a soul now instead of a human living in the Shinobi World will affect the powers of his Mangekyou Sharingan should he regain it. Perhaps his unique abilities, Kotoamatsukami included, will return to him. It's also entirely possible that acquiring the Mangekyou Sharingan as a soul means that the user gains different abilities than what they had in life. This is all uncharted territory, really."

Yoruichi nodded. "I see. Well, either way, I can definitely understand how such a power would've been useful to him as a Shinobi. That would be an ability with a wide set of applications, both combat and espionage-related."

"That's putting it mildly," said Itachi, "As the clan made further preparations for the coup, Shisui came to believe that Kotoamatsukami could be used to stop them. His idea was to use it on my father and the main ringleaders of the coup to convince them to back down. It was a plan that he was initially hesitant to put into action; he wasn't exactly thrilled about subverting the free will of his fellow Uchiha. The further along things got, though, the more it started to seem like the best option for averting an uprising and civil war."

Yoruichi's brow furrowed as she considered it all. "Well, I can certainly see the merits of a plan like that. Still… how did you feel about it? I mean, this was your father that you guys were talking about here, after all. Even if the two of you didn't see eye-to-eye anymore and you wanted to stop the coup, you had to have had some doubts about placing him under a spell like that."

Itachi nodded. "It's true that I did have some reservations, but… well, the situation was becoming desperate. The more time that passed, the greater the bitterness and resentment that was already consuming the clan would become. The ones pressing for the coup would become more anxious and demand that the timetable be stepped up, or that they be more violent in their seizure of power. We were running out of time, and Kotoamatsukami began to look like our best option. Yes, we'd be overriding my father's free will, along with that of the most fervent backers of the coup, but we would be able to stop them with no bloodshed. With the way things were deteriorating, Kotoamatsukami appeared to be the only non-violent solution."

"What about the Third Hokage and the village council?" asked Yoruichi, "You were a double agent inside the clan, so your superiors in the Shinobi hierarchy would've been receiving reports from you. They would've been aware of what the situation was becoming. Didn't they try to come up with a plan to do something about it?"

"The council was split," Itachi replied, "The Third Hokage favored mediation, believing that the village and the Uchiha Clan could come to a negotiated settlement that would quell tensions and satisfy both parties. On the opposite end of the spectrum was Danzō, and he was hardly a believer in a diplomatic solution. He felt that firm and decisive action was the only way to resolve the crisis. The impasse meant that no major action could be taken… and all the while, the clan continued its plotting."

Yoruichi shook her head. "If the village leadership was paralyzed, then they'd only yield the initiative to the coup plotters. Something would've had to give, otherwise they'd lose everything. They had to realize that."

"Eventually, they did," said Itachi, "The council knew that Shisui was just as much against the clan's desire for a coup as I was, and they were also aware of what he wanted to achieve via Kotoamatsukami. The Third Hokage finally gave his blessing, but Danzō had become determined to sabotage that plan; he believed it was just a temporary measure and sought a more… permanent solution."

The emphasis Itachi had put on 'permanent' sent a chill down Yoruichi's spine. She could sense the climax approaching, and as all the pieces began to come together the full picture was slowly dawning on her.

No… let him finish. Don't jump to conclusions. He's come this far; hear him out to the very end.

"As the clan made their plans, so did we," said Itachi, "Shisui had decided to ensnare my father during an upcoming meeting at the Nakano Shrine. He'd convince him to call off the coup and return to the negotiation table. Danzō somehow caught wind, and he reacted swiftly. He staged an ambush… and took Shisui's right eye."

Yoruichi's eyes widened. "What? How did he pull that off?"

"He knew what Shisui was capable of and planned accordingly," Itachi answered, "His trap wasn't perfect, though; I'm sure he meant to actually kill Shisui, not simply take his right eye. Shisui was able to escape, but he knew he didn't have much time. After all, now that Danzō had played his hand, he couldn't let Shisui live. So, Shisui sought me out. I was waiting for him in the woods near a ravine, the Naka River flowing below…"

His tone became softer, barely more than a whisper, as he continued. "He'd originally wanted to meet me there in order to finalize the plan to ensnare my father and get him to pull the rest of the clan back from staging the coup. We were on the verge of putting an end to it all right then and there. However, with only his left eye, he now lacked the power to pull it off. He came up with a contingency on the fly… one that I wish he hadn't."

"What happened?" asked Yoruichi, almost afraid to know the answer.

"The Sharingan is a valuable commodity," said Itachi, "A Mangekyou Sharingan is rarer still… and one with Kotoamatsukami is priceless. Shisui knew that Danzō would try to claim his left eye as well, and he was determined not to let that happen. At the same time, though, despite Danzō's betrayal Shisui still wanted to save the village from the Uchiha Clan's coup attempt. However, since he felt he no longer had the power to do that, he wanted to make sure that I would be able to act in his place when the time came…"

For a moment, his voice caught in his throat. There was a slight tremor in his hands… no, his whole body. That was when Yoruichi came to a startling realization.

Itachi was on the verge of tears.

Not knowing what else to do, she reached out and put her had on his shoulder. "Hey… do you need a break? If you want a few minutes… I don't mind."

Itachi shook his head. "No… you need to hear the rest of it… sooner rather than later. Let's keep going."

Yoruichi could do little else but nod; if he was determined to press on, it wasn't her place to stop him. "All right. Still… if you want a breather, just tell me."

"I appreciate that," said Itachi.

He took a moment to clear his throat and take a deep breath before continuing. "There we were, an eleven-year-old and a fourteen-year-old with the fate of not just the village but the Shinobi World on our shoulders… and we had lost our only means to preserve the peace without violence. The Uchiha Clan and the village were racing down the path to full-blown civil war, with the coup plotters on one side and Hidden Leaf hardliners led by Danzō on the other. Shisui and I were caught in the middle… and he saw only one way forward. Standing right there in front of me… he ripped out his left eye and gave it to me."

Try as she might, Yoruichi could not keep her jaw from dropping. "He did what?"

Itachi sighed. "I know it sounds crazy, but I swear it's the truth. Kotoamatsukami's full power could only be achieved with both eyes acting in concert, but even with a single eye the genjutsu was still formidable. Shisui had decided to entrust me with that eye, confident that I would find a use for it down the line and could keep it out of Danzō's reach. That wasn't enough, though; he knew that I would need greater power if I was to stop the clan and protect the village. I would need the Mangekyou Sharingan… and there was one surefire way he knew of that would let me unlock it. He stepped to the edge of the ravine… and I knew what he wanted me to do. I placed my hands on his back… and he said that he was counting on me to handle the rest. Those were his last words before he plunged into the Naka River below… where his life ended."

He then looked down in shame and sorrow, leaving Yoruichi to process what she'd just been told. What could she do? Itachi's guilt and remorse were clear as day, and she felt powerless to help him. In his eyes, he'd killed his best friend, although Yoruichi saw it as assisted suicide. She doubted that distinction would make Itachi feel any better about it, though.

When they met again on that joint operation we had with Squad Ten… I was so damn blind, she thought bitterly, I had no idea what had happened between them in their previous lives. Yeah, I know it's not supposed to matter to us in the Soul Society, but that kind of trauma… of course that would transcend death. After the mission was over, when Itachi and the other students went back to the Academy… I should've given Shisui leave so he could spend some time with him.

From what she'd seen of Itachi and Shisui's interactions, it seemed clear enough that the latter didn't hold anything against the former regarding the manner of his death. Everything Itachi had told her indicated that Shisui had not only accepted his death but made the most of it, turning it to Itachi's benefit and trying to make sure that his friend would have a chance to succeed where he had failed. It was all too obvious to her just how torn up about Itachi remained, though…

…and she had a feeling that wasn't the only deep wound on his psyche.

His story's still not over. They say the night's darkest before the dawn, but…

…it feels like we've yet to hit midnight in this tale of his.

The silence probably only lasted a few seconds, but it felt much longer. Yoruichi was honestly amazed that Itachi was still able to continue, and that he hadn't needed more time to catch his breath. His resilience was nothing short of remarkable, but she had a feeling that it had to be buckling under the strain.

"Given that Shisui was one of the clan's rising stars, word of his death naturally spread quickly," said Itachi, "Shisui had planned for this and instructed me to leave a suicide note. Thanks to the Sharingan, I could perfectly copy his handwriting, and since I knew Shisui so well it wasn't hard to make the words appropriate for him. To an outsider, the wording would've been vague, but to anyone familiar with the internal strife gripping the clan it was crystal clear; a plea from him to his fellow Uchiha to abandon the coup and reconcile with the village. At least, it was clear to me, but… others didn't see it that way."

There was fresh tension in his frame, not from remorse and sorrow, but something new. It took Yoruichi a moment to realize what the source was.

Anger.

"A few members of the clan showed me the note," he continued, a bitter edge creeping into his voice, "They'd opened a murder investigation… and I was the prime suspect."

"Itachi…" she said softly.

What else could she say? It was clear that the clan had suspected malice on Itachi's part, but there was so much more to it. However, given the circumstances, Yoruichi doubted that he would've been able to say anything regarding the truth of the matter without jeopardizing his position as the sole remaining Leaf Village spy within the Uchiha Clan. Being suspected of his best friend's murder without being able to explain what had really happened must've ripped him apart inside.

Itachi closed his eyes for a moment, taking another deep breath to calm himself before pressing on. "Recently, I had become more open in my opposition to the path the clan was taking. Those who were pushing for the coup didn't understand it, though. They simply thought that I considered myself to be above them all purely because of how powerful I'd become at such a young age. None of them could see past their own pride and suspicion or the collective arrogance of the clan. They couldn't take a step back to see the big picture, to realize that the road they were going down was one that could only end in war. By the same token, none of them could so much as comprehend the notion that Shisui was anything other than fully devoted to the clan. The idea that he might be opposed to the coup and had been about to take action to stop it completely eluded them. Likewise, the thought that he had manipulated the manner of his death in order to give me the power to act in his stead never occurred to them. The words in the suicide note that I'd hoped would at least reach some of them fell on deaf ears. To have them so badly misread the situation, to be unable to look past their petty ambition and hatred was bad enough, but for them to do so while I was still privately mourning Shisui's death… it was too much."

He clenched his fists, and despite his best efforts to keep his voice level Yoruichi would've had to be blind and deaf to miss the strain. "I called them out. On their cowardice, their arrogance, their lust for power… and their complete inability to recognize what was staring them right in the face. The fact that the ones who had approached me and announced the investigation were also the primary advocates of the coup made it all the harder to hold myself back. I attacked them. I didn't inflict any serious injuries, but… well, I knew right then and there that none of them were a match for me. It was the first time I'd tested my skills against them, and even if it wasn't a serious fight, I found their abilities to be wanting. In that moment, I was tempted to strike for real… to cut the heart out of the coup in one fell swoop… and to show them just how badly they had underestimated me."

Itachi looked down at his hands, slowly unclenching the fists he'd made as he tried to reassert control over his emotions. "My father intervened… unknowingly saving their lives in the process. It provided a moment's respite, but still… I didn't have complete mastery over myself. Part of me still wanted to attack… and that wasn't helped when I saw him pull the conspirators back to there feet. Perhaps he didn't intend it this way, but I saw it as a declaration of solidarity. In my eyes, he was telling me that he was fully behind the coup plotters now. There they stood… those responsible for bringing the clan to the brink… those who wanted to push it over the edge… those who were so blinded by their resentment and suspicion of the village that they stood on the precipice of igniting a war that would drown the world in blood. They all had the Sharingan, but I had the Mangekyou, and none of them knew it. None of them comprehended the peril they were in at that moment."

The implied threat was all too clear, but Yoruichi couldn't bring herself to ask if he'd acted on it. She could hardly bring herself to speak at all; she was absolutely riveted to her companion's tale, absorbing and analyzing it as quickly as he spoke.

It's not every day a young man comes along with a story like this to tell…

"I was on the precipice," said Itachi, "So close to stepping over the edge… and then I heard Sasuke cry out. I'd become so focused on the confrontation that I hadn't even noticed my little brother at the edge… and just how frightened he had become. In that moment, I pulled myself back… I couldn't bring myself to strike in front of him. In truth, I was horrified that he'd heard as much as he had. The hostility with the village, the preparations for the coup; I wanted to keep all of that away from him. He was still so young, had only just entered the Academy… I wanted to protect him from the darkness swirling around him. No matter what else happened, I refused to let Sasuke get dragged into the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village. Was it realistic to expect that I could keep him out of it forever? In hindsight, of course not."

Yet you still tried, thought Yoruichi with a sad smile, Itachi… you really loved your little brother. Being the older sibling's never easy… I know that from experience.

She kept her mind from slipping towards her own family and bringing it up now with her companion; it was hardly the time or the place. Itachi's family and past were why the two of them were here today, not her own.

Itachi sighed. "If there was a moment where the coup plotters could've taken me, that was it. They certainly wanted to… in fact, they were itching to arrest me right then and there. My father forced them to back down. His stated reasoning was that since I was a member of the Anbu Black Ops the clan couldn't arrest me through the Military Police Force. He ordered me inside the compound immediately afterwards. I think it was finally starting to dawn on him that I wasn't exactly onboard with what the clan was planning, and he was hoping to bring me around to his side."

Yoruichi shook her head. "That ship sailed the moment he brought you to that battlefield when you were a kid. If he was half as smart as you, he would've recognized that."

"It wasn't a matter of intelligence, but of insight and worldview," Itachi replied, "My father was the head of the clan, so his thinking was always along the lines of trying to improve the lot of the Uchiha. While he may have ultimately allowed the coup plotters to dictate his path forward, he did act somewhat as a force for caution. Without him, they probably would've put their plan into motion much sooner. They needed his backing to keep the rest of the clan on side, but at the same time he felt that he couldn't outright oppose them due to fearing a split in the clan."

"A split had already occurred, though," Yoruichi pointed out, "It just wasn't the one he had expected."

Itachi nodded. "True enough. As it turned out, I later learned that it was more than just the caution of my father and his desire to seize power with minimal bloodshed that restrained the coup plotters in their action, though. Shisui had actually been an integral part of their plan. In particular, they'd been counting on him to abduct the Third Hokage. Leaving aside his opposition to the coup itself, his death meant that those pushing for the coup now had to figure out another way to pull it off. That bought time for the village, and for me… if only it had been used more wisely."

She patiently waited a few seconds for him to organize his thoughts before he continued. "Shisui's death marked a turning point in the crisis. The bitterness and suspicion of the clan had become full blown hatred and paranoia, and these readily manifested themselves at the hidden meetings. To say the atmosphere there was heated would be a considerable understatement. I began making my opposition to the planned coup more open, and this naturally drew unfavorable attention my way. I had to be mindful of myself; my position as a spy would be rendered moot if I got myself kicked out of the clan meetings. Still, it was only a matter of time before my presence there would be unwanted and I'd be banned altogether. The only other Uchiha Shinobi in those meetings who sided with me was Izumi."

He paused for a moment, his expression one of subdued melancholy. "Izumi… she knew that the clan was beginning to hate me for my opposition, yet she believed in what I said. She wanted me to keep saying what I said in those meetings despite the fierce blowback my words received. She was terrified of what was happening and new that showing any sort of support for me would draw condemnation, but still… she was willing to accept their scorn for siding with me."

"Brave girl," said Yoruichi, studying Itachi carefully, "Standing up to bullies at school, then her own clan… to have that kind of courage at such a young age is really something special."

Itachi surprised her with a bittersweet smile. "Something special… I suppose that's as good a way as any to describe her. I think she would've liked you, Yoruichi."

Yoruichi smiled in return, hoping to provide at least some small measure of encouragement. "I bet the feeling would be mutual."

"I'd certainly hope so," said Itachi, "For all her bravery, though, she didn't know how to stop the clan other than rely on me. She was still a Genin and only had experience with typical Genin-level missions. The harsh world of espionage, infiltration and politics was foreign to her, and despite having the Sharingan she was still a long way away from being given assignments that would've provided her with experience in the sort of affairs that the Uchiha Clan and the village were entangled with. I couldn't bring her into my efforts to stop them… no, that's not quite right. I could've brought her into my confidence, but I was afraid. I didn't want her to get hurt, and after Shisui's passing I felt that I had to shoulder the burden of challenging the clan on my own. Looking back, that was a mistake."

"You were trying to protect someone dear to you," Yoruichi countered, "You recognized that she'd be out of her depth in the kind of cloak-and-dagger situation you were in and kept her out of it for her safety."

Itachi shook his head. "I might've acted with that intent, but I was a fool. She was in danger no matter what I did… the entire clan was. My activities in the Anbu Black Ops began to shift when I turned twelve. I was promoted to team leader, although the 'team' in question only existed on paper. In reality, it was just something devised to allow me greater freedom of movement. I was given a few Shinobi, but they didn't really answer to me. Their loyalty belonged to the man who had set up the 'team' in the first place; Danzō."

Yoruichi's brow furrowed. "The hardliner on the council… and the one who attacked Shisui."

"Exactly," Itachi replied, "Needless to say, I wasn't exactly happy with the arrangement. I was now operating under the man whose attack had led to Shisui's death. Danzō at the very least must've suspected that Shisui had told me what had happened before his death, although he didn't have any proof. He likely also believed there was the possibility that I had Shisui's remaining eye hidden away. I'm sure he knew the risks of bringing me into his operations; after all, Shisui's death was all the reason I'd need to turn against him. However, he'd been working towards this moment for years, and he wasn't about to let it slip through his fingers."

Yoruichi's eyes widened ever so slightly as she came to a realization. "Getting you into the Chūnin Exams, then the Anbu… that whole time, he was trying to turn you into a weapon he could use against the Uchiha Clan!"

Itachi nodded. "Precisely. It had taken patience and persistence, but after all those years he finally had me right where he wanted me. He'd been watching me since the Academy, and even back then had likely realized the potential benefit he'd reap if he could properly manipulate me. As much as I hate to admit it, he'd read the situation perfectly; the animosity I held against him was outweighed by my desire to preserve the peace, meaning I wasn't in a position to strike back at him. Things were rapidly coming to a head. The coup wasn't a matter of if, only when… and the 'when' was on the horizon."

"How much time was left?" asked Yoruichi.

"Not nearly enough," Itachi answered bitterly, "and what little there was passed all too quickly. Before I knew it, I was thirteen… and the coup was suddenly mere weeks away. Surveillance over the Uchiha Clan compound had increased, and despite our efforts I'm sure my father and the rest of the clan leadership could sense our watchful gaze. At the same time, tension on the village council had reached a boiling point. The Third Hokage still advocated for diplomacy, but he was only now truly taking the matter seriously… and it was already too late. Battle lines had been drawn while Sarutobi dithered… and all the time Shisui's death had bought had been wasted."

Yoruichi's breath caught in her chest as she realized this was it. Everything Itachi had told her was in preparation for this exact moment; his tone was all she needed to know that they were about to cross the point of no return.

"The Third Hokage had already lost," Itachi continued, "The rest of the council had shifted towards Danzō's line of thinking, and he fully capitalized on it. He wanted to strike first, and he had the perfect weapon to do it; me."

"What did he want you to do?" asked Yoruichi nervously, her voice so soft it was barely more than a whisper.

Itachi looked away for a moment and took a deep breath. When he met Yoruichi's gaze again, the darkness in his eyes was impossible to miss.

"Danzō had seen the Uchiha Clan as a threat to the underlying stability of the village long before talks of a coup had begun," he said, "I think he believed that founding the village in cooperation with the Uchiha was a mistake. For him, the clan was an internal threat that had to be dealt with once and for all. That was always his wish; the impending coup simply gave him pretext. Danzō… wanted the Uchiha exterminated."

Given her dark complexion, it was a considerable feat for anyone or anything to make Yoruichi's face pale, yet she was sure that was exactly what she felt happening as Itachi's words sunk in. "He wanted you to kill your own clan?"

"Yes," Itachi replied, his voice almost a hoarse whisper.

A poignant silence hung in the air between them. For her part, Yoruichi was caught completely off-guard. She'd figured that whatever was haunting Itachi was pretty severe, but she'd had no idea that it was this bad.

After what felt like an eternity, she finally found herself capable of giving voice to her tangled thoughts. "Why… why you? You were already spying on your family; that would've been hard enough to bear. How could he demand that you… kill them?"

"I'm sure part of him appreciated the irony of pitting an Uchiha prodigy against the clan," Itachi answered, "but there was more to it than that. The Hidden Leaf Village was composed of many Shinobi clans, with the Senju and the Uchiha merely being the most prominent among them. If the village leadership implemented a purge of one clan because of a threat, real or perceived, other clans would become suspicious and resentful, fearing that they could be next in line. It could even inspire an uprising, replacing the threat of the Uchiha with a rebellion from multiple clans. However, if a clan was wiped out by one of its own, one that the village leadership could then paint as a disturbed individual, an isolated and deranged genius…"

If Yoruichi had been angry at Itachi's father for brining him to a battlefield at the tender age of four, then that paled in comparison to the sheer rage she now felt burning in her chest. What Itachi was describing, what Danzō had set the young man up for… it was cruelty the likes of which she had never seen before. If the Leaf Village hardliner had been standing before her right now, Yoruichi would've torn him apart limb from limb.

That son of a bitch, she silently fumed as she worked to keep her fury from spilling out into the open, Danzō… I swear, if you somehow find your way to the Soul Society instead of the deepest pits of Hell when you die, and our paths cross… death will be a mercy compared to what I'll do to you!

If Itachi detected any trace of her anger, he gave no sign of it. Even in the midst of delving into such harsh memories, his level of self-control was remarkable. Yes, cracks in his veneer had appeared as the conversation had continued, but overall, he'd demonstrated a tremendous amount of fortitude.

Fortitude that he paid a high price to achieve…

She could do little more than listen raptly as he pressed onward. "In what felt like no time at all, I was delivering a report to the council; the clan was just ten days away from launching the coup. When the session was over, I met privately with Danzō. That was where he sprung his trap. He knew that he couldn't simply order me to attack the clan and expect me to blindly obey, so he issued an ultimatum. If the Uchiha Clan launched their coup and I sided with them, the entire clan would be exterminated. The fighting between the clan and the rest of the village would surely draw in other nations, and a new Shinobi World War would begin. The village would show no mercy; every last Uchiha would be killed… even children like my little brother, who had no knowledge of what the clan was planning. However…"

He had to stop and clear his throat, and once again Yoruichi saw a slight tremor pass through his body. Between that, the tension in his jawline, his slight shallowness of breath, the narrowing of his eyes in a silent war to keep his emotions in check, the signs were all too clear; he was nearing the breaking point. Part of her wanted to stop him, but the other half wanted him to keep going.

The choice is his alone. It's not my place to interfere.

Somehow managing to reassert control and steel himself, Itachi continued. "If I struck first… annihilated the clan on behalf of the village… I would be allowed to spare Sasuke. Murder the clan… the rest of my family… so that my little brother could live. Civil war and extermination, or a purge with just a single survivor… those were the options. I… I couldn't decide at that moment, so I left the meeting."

"What… did you do?" asked Yoruichi, unable to conceal her apprehension.

"I went to the Naka River," he said, "To the exact spot at the cliff where Shisui had plunged into the ravine. I tried to figure out if there was another solution. I wracked my brain for what felt like forever, but… I found no other way forward. I… I…"

The dam finally broke; the tears he'd been struggling so hard to hold back at last began to flow. They fell slowly, one at a time… each one ripping at Yoruichi's heart more painfully than the last.

A rueful smile appeared on his face even as the tears trickled down his face. "I did… exactly what I'm doing now. The last time I remembered crying before then was that battlefield my father had taken me to. I had the rain back then as cover, but… I didn't have it this time. There was no one around, but Shisui's presence seemed to permeate that place. He had been determined to find a way to protect both the village and the clan, and had passed on that hope to me. However… I had failed. I wasn't as strong as him, and the fork in the road before me only had two choices. Side with the clan and launch a coup that I knew would only end in ruin for all… or massacre the clan so I could save my little brother and the village."

He turned to face her, anguish, shame and sorrow filling his eyes as the tears kept falling. "Tell me… which way was I supposed to go? To the left, where nothing was right… or to the right, where nothing was left?"

His gaze was one of despair, lost and desperate for an answer that he had clearly not found even after fourteen years of soul-searching. Yoruichi couldn't give him one, at least not with words, but she couldn't just sit back and do nothing. She reached out and took the young man in her arms, pulling him close and allowing him to rest his head on her shoulder. There were no audible cries, nor did his body shake from sobs or anything of that nature; even in the midst of such emotional agony, he refused to completely relinquish control. However, there was still that gradual flow of tears, and Yoruichi felt them as the slowly trickled down Itachi's face before falling onto her neck and shoulder.

She couldn't say for sure how long they remained together like that. It was probably just for a few minutes, but it certainly felt longer. All the while, she desperately searched for something, anything to say that could give him some form of comfort or reassurance, but words completely failed her.

That's a rarity, the spirit of her Zanpakutō quipped, and this is… unusual, for you. Rather tender, if I do say so myself.

Save the commentary. This isn't the time.

Very well, then.

Eventually, Itachi pulled himself away, and Yoruichi relinquished her grip. To her relief, she saw that the flow of tears had stopped, and even if anguish and sorrow were still clear in his eyes, the very small smile that appeared on his face was enough to tell her that she'd at least done some good for him.

"Thank you," he said softly.

Yoruichi nodded, surprised to actually feel herself blushing; where had that come from? "Sure… felt like it was the least I could do. So… are you sure you want to continue? We can pick the rest of this up at another time if you want. Trust me; I'll understand completely."

Itachi shook his head, his voice regaining some of its firmness. "No… I want to see this through… here and now. You deserve that much."

"All right," she replied, her voice barely more than a whisper.

He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply before opening them and pressing onward. "I don't remember how long I remained at that spot, but… it was long enough to reach a conclusion. Above all, my commitment was to two things; Sasuke's survival, and peace in the village. There was only one way that I could see to achieve both… and so I gave Danzō my answer. He wanted the Uchiha Clan destroyed… and I would consent to being the instrument of their demise, with the condition that my brother would be spared."

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. "How could you trust someone like Danzō to keep his word? He wanted the entire Uchiha Clan exterminated; what was to stop him from having Sasuke quietly killed after you did the bulk of the dirty work?"

"I wasn't going to just take him at his word," Itachi answered, "I had a plan to make him honor his agreement. It wasn't perfect, but it got the job done. I'll give you the details in a little bit; there are a few more matters to attend to in this tale first."

"Fair enough," said Yoruichi, "So… how were you going to take out the clan?"

"That was tricky, and not just because of the obvious moral lines that I was crossing by agreeing to slaughter my family," Itachi replied, "There were logistical problems to overcome as well. The Uchiha Clan compound that had been constructed in the aftermath of the attack by the Nine Tailed Fox was our home, but not every member of the clan was present at any one time. Since so many of our members were Shinobi, they obviously still had missions to attend to. The bulk of them were with the Military Police Force, and when they weren't on patrol or home they were typically at the headquarters. This had become more common as of late; since the Military Police Force was dominated by the Uchiha, the headquarters had become another center from which to covertly organize for the coming coup. Any Uchiha that had been out on foreign missions were recalled by the council, but that still left me with the problem of there being two major centers to target."

"And as good as you were, you couldn't be two places at once," Yoruichi observed, easily seeing his dilemma, "Attack the Military Police Force first, you risk word leaking out and the clan members at the compound. Strike the compound first, and you'd have the Military Police Force mobilize to counterattack. Either way, your true allegiance would be out in the open; the clan would either flee or every combat-capable member would concentrate their efforts on killing you."

Itachi nodded. "Precisely. I was skilled, but I still had doubts. My father in particular was a source of concern; he was an extremely adept Shinobi, and his mastery of the Sharingan was second to none. There's a very good reason he was known as 'Wicked Eye' Fugaku, after all. Even with the Mangekyou in my possession, I wasn't entirely sure if I could take him in a head-to-head fight, and other clan members would be sure to come to his aid."

"And you couldn't count on any official help from the village since Danzō wanted the purge to appear as purely a case of a rogue and mentally disturbed Uchiha," said Yoruichi grimly, "How'd you pull it off?"

"How to accomplish the mission was a question that I asked myself more times than I could count in those days leading up to the hour of judgment," Itachi admitted, "Had Shisui still been alive, it would've been a simple matter to launch a two-pronged assault, but obviously that was out the window. I could not rely on any of my fellow Anbu Black Ops colleagues lending a hand, either. I needed an attacker from outside the ranks of village Shinobi or the Uchiha Clan, a third party to the purge… and I found one where I least expected it."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "Really? Who was it?"

"In the lead-up to the purge, the surveillance over the Uchiha Clan was greatly intensified," said Itachi, "In addition to being the village's spy within the clan, I also took part in the Anbu's monitoring operations. While watching the compound and the Nakano Shrine, I caught glimpses of what I realized was someone that was neither coup plotter nor Anbu, or indeed any Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village for that matter. Three days before the coup was scheduled to commence, I confronted this figure in the secret meeting chamber beneath the Nakano Shrine. They wore a mask; orange with wavy black lines… and a single eye-hole on the right side."

Yoruichi's brow furrowed. "The man that killed your former teammate right in front of you… the one that had the Sharingan in the eye you could see through that mask."

"One and the same," Itachi confirmed, "It had been nearly four years since our confrontation. In that time my mind had often gone back to that fight as I tried to piece together his identity from the scant few clues available in my memory. When I met him again beneath the Nakano Shrine… I suspected that it was none other than Madara Uchiha."

Yoruichi could not stop her eyes from widening in shock. "Wait a second, Madara? The guy that fought Hashirama after he became the First Hokage? The one that Hashirama supposedly killed?"

"Yes," Itachi replied, "The power I felt emanating from that one eye, and his attempt on the Daimyō's life all those years ago… in my mind, it could only be him. Madara's grudge against the Hidden Leaf Village for rejecting him during the selection of the First Hokage was well known, and despite the official story claiming he had been killed in his confrontation with Hashirama there was no known grave or any confirmation as to what had become of his body. This would've been a grievous lapse given just how powerful his Sharingan was; Hashirama would not have wanted Madara's legendary eyes to fall into the hands of rival Shinobi. Those factors had led me to question the official account, and when combined with my run-in with the masked man who had at least one Sharingan and had taken obviously hostile actions towards the Land of Fire and Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village… well, there were no other rogue Uchiha that I knew of. Madara was the only figure that fit the bill, and despite how old he would've been had he survived that long I had no doubt that he would've remained formidable even in advanced age. Besides, he had made it past all the Shinobi patrolling the Hidden Leaf Village and had gone straight for the hidden chamber beneath the Nakano Shrine; only the Uchiha knew of that room."

Yoruichi nodded. "Given what you had to go on at the time, I guess I can understand the conclusion you came to. Still, that mask's an obvious red flag. You couldn't get a completely positive identification while he had that on."

"A valid point," Itachi conceded, "I never did get conclusive proof that he was Madara... and in fact, in later years I came to doubt my initial assessment. Still, his power and skills were undeniable, and that was what mattered."

"What was he even doing there?" she asked, "If he'd been ostracized from the rest of the clan and the village at large, why would he be poking around the Nakano Shrine?"

"As it turned out, the idea for a coup hadn't completely come from inside the clan," said Itachi, "The driving energy behind it now certainly was, but the notion was one that 'Madara' had suggested to the core malcontents when he made contact with them. To my knowledge, he took no active role in the planning; he simply threw out the suggestion and they happily made it their own. When the two of us spoke, though, he actually seemed to hold the coup plotters in contempt. That was my opening."

Yoruichi shook her head. "Sorry, but I don't get it. Why would he suddenly go from suggesting a coup to helping you act against it?"

"Whether or not he was the real Madara, he clearly had a grudge against the Uchiha Clan," Itachi replied, "I have no doubt he knew that launching the coup would lead to a civil war that would both annihilate the clan and severely damage the village. Seizing the window of opportunity before me, I struck a bargain with him; I'd help him get his revenge on the Uchiha by massacring the clan, and in exchange for my aid he'd leave the rest of the village and Sasuke alone."

"That's all well and good, but his original plan would've allowed him to kill two birds with one stone," Yoruichi argued, "If he had a grudge against both the clan and the village, having them wage a civil war against each other would've been the perfect revenge. Him allying with you might still let him get back at his clan, but the condition that the village be left alone would run counter to his desires. He wouldn't have much incentive to go along with you."

Itachi nodded. "You're not wrong there. Truth be told, I thought I'd have to argue harder in order to get him to side with me, yet it actually didn't take much to bring him around to my plan. It was strange… apparently, he found me to be more 'interesting' that the members of the clan he'd spoken to before. I don't know if it was because of our previous encounter or if there was something else to it. Either way, the result was the same; we joined forces and plotted the execution of the clan."

"What was the plan of attack?" asked Yoruichi.

"All things considered, rather straightforward," Itachi answered grimly, "He would attack the Military Police Headquarters and wipe out the bulk of the Uchiha Clan's fighters. Meanwhile, I would strike the compound… and wipe out the civilian portion of the clan."

Yoruichi couldn't begin to imagine what kind of resolve it must've taken for him to give himself such a task and move to carry it out. It was chilling to hear him describe planning such an act, and were it not for what had taken place just a few minutes ago she would've questioned if he had any humanity left. As it was, even though his voice was steady once again as he pressed onward, the shadow of shame and sorrow did not leave his eyes.

"What about your brother?" she asked after a brief pause, "How did you plan to keep him out of the crossfire?"

"That was easy," said Itachi, "Danzō would have a member of his Root organization disguise himself as one of Sasuke's Academy instructors and delay his return home by having him stay late for extra shuriken practice. My brother was probably annoyed by the ruse seeing as his skills with shuriken were already quite advanced for his age, but he wouldn't be able to see past the front and discern what was really going on. He was still young, not even a Genin yet… he had no idea what kind of shadows were swirling around him. The board was set, and all the pieces were in place. The operation would be carried out the day before the clan planned to execute the coup."

He was quiet again for a moment as he gathered himself. His outward expression didn't change much, but from the way he looked down at the ground for a few long seconds before he met her gaze again Yoruichi could tell that what was coming next was the act itself. He had already given her the context, the motives, and his feelings about the choice he had made. All that was left now was to describe the execution.

Itachi…

He took a deep breath before continuing. "Before the bloodbath began in earnest… I sought out Izumi. I couldn't spare her; the agreement with Danzō allowed for only one survivor. Still… I could ease her passing. I isolated her… and ensnared her in Tsukuyomi."

"The Mangekyou genjutsu you mentioned earlier," she commented, "What kind of illusion did you spin for her?"

"One where the horrors of what I unleashed that night never took place," he answered softly and mournfully, "Only the smallest fraction of a second passed in real life, but in her mind, she lived out no less than eighty years. A full life in her mind's eye alone… one where we married, had children and watched them grow… where we entered our twilight years together… and then faded from the world. Living out eighty years in such a tiny space of time… the human mind cannot survive being detached from reality in such a comprehensive manner. She died in my arms… and her last words… were to thank me. Thanking the man who had killed her…"

Yoruichi shook her head and put a hand on his shoulder. "She didn't suffer, right?"

"No," said Itachi, his voice barely more than a whisper. "I… I made sure of that."

She gave him a soft smile. "Then you did all you could. If you couldn't spare her, you at least gave her the gentlest passing possible. More than that… you tried to give her in her mind what you were forced to rob her of in reality. I know this might not be of much comfort, but I think her gratitude was sincere. She might not have understood what was happening in the real world or the motives behind it… but I think she knew you cared deeply for her."

Itachi sighed, a hint of bitterness creeping into his voice. "Murdered gently by someone who cared deeply for her… the ease of her passing doesn't excuse the act itself. I knew she had feelings for me, just as I felt something for her… yet I still took her life. In what world could that possibly be considered just?"

"Nothing about the situation you were thrown into was just," Yoruichi replied firmly, "That doesn't change the fact that you acted in a manner that was as humane as possible with her. She passed painlessly, and in her mind, she'd lived a full and loving life. The two of you were caught up in the worst possible circumstances, and you did everything in your power to keep her from suffering for it. It's not perfect, but… well, I can definitely think of worse ways to go."

"Perhaps," he said, although it was clear he wasn't entirely convinced, "I suppose the only way to know for sure would be to ask her if we meet again. I don't know where she might be right now, though. You know better than I do just how difficult it can be to track someone down in the Soul Society."

"Yeah," Yoruichi conceded, "This place's sheer size definitely doesn't make it easy. If you do find her, though… well, it might not be my place to say this, but don't be surprised if she's already forgiven you. From what you've told me about her, I think she would understand why, or at least give you a chance to explain."

A bittersweet smile appeared on Itachi's face. "Maybe. Izumi… she didn't deserve to share the fate of the clan. The Curse of Hatred had no grip on her. I… I should've tried to find a way to spare her too. No… I should've found a way to prevent things from getting to that point to begin with. It was too late, though. I targeted her first partially so I could ensure a peaceful end, but… it was also to steel my resolve. With her death, the last of my hesitation was gone… or so I told myself. From that point forward… the slaughter began."

The shadows that had haunted his gaze throughout their conversation became more pronounced as he described the ghastly affair. "Young and old, men and women… I put them all to the sword. I stalked that compound like a wraith, striking from the shadows. Most fell before they could even identify the assailant, but some manage to put up resistance, however brief it might be. Incidentally, that included the core advocates for the coup, the ones who had convinced my father to go along with their ruinous plan. I took no pleasure in my task, but… well, I'd be lying if I said I didn't experience a measure of satisfaction when I came across them and took their lives. Inabi, Tekka, Yashiro… so eager for their coup the following evening, they never even bothered to consider that the village might strike first. It was only then that they realized where my true loyalties lay, and it was far too late for that knowledge to help them. I was quick… and I was thorough. Eventually, only two targets remained… my parents."

The real test of his resolve, she thought somberly, Itachi… for all the fondness you may have had for Izumi, she was just the prologue. Targeting your mother and father for assassination…

The very notion made her shudder. Sure, she might have her disagreements with her parents from time to time, but that didn't change the fact that she loved them and did not wish any harm to come to them. To be in the situation that Itachi was describing, to turn her blade on them… she couldn't even begin to comprehend it.

"Despite the swiftness with which I had acted thus far, I didn't have much time remaining," Itachi continued, "The operative Danzō had sent to the Academy wouldn't keep Sasuke there indefinitely, after all. Still, when I came to our part of the compound… I hesitated."

"Of course, you did," said Yoruichi, "If you didn't hesitate before something like that, you wouldn't be human."

Itachi shook his head. "Family ties played a role there, true, but there was more to it than that. I loved my mother and father, but they were more than just family; they were both Shinobi. My mother had retired from being a Kunoichi to focus on raising Sasuke and I, but my father had remained an active-duty Jōnin. Theirs was also a marriage where both partners were of the Uchiha Clan, and while I'd never seen my mother use the Sharingan there was always the possibility that hers had been awakened during her career. As for my father… well, I already told you about him."

Yoruichi nodded. "You called him 'Wicked Eye' Fugaku. Even if you were a prodigy, he would've had the edge in experience."

"Exactly," said Itachi his voice softening again, "I fully expected a fight, and yet… when I entered, they were both sitting in the middle of the room. It wasn't a trick or illusion, no trap of any kind. It was just the two of them… and as I approached from behind, they made no move to stop me."

Yoruichi sighed heavily, realizing what had happened. "They already knew the truth behind your actions. They knew that you'd sided with the village over the clan, and that you were acting to stop the coup and subsequent civil war before it could start."

"Yes," said Itachi, a slight crack in his voice betraying what Yoruichi had no doubt was an intense internal turmoil, "and they said as much. They both understood my decision… and accepted it. I was standing behind them, so I couldn't see their faces, but still… I could fully sense their emotions. The kindness and gentleness of my mother… even on that blood-soaked night, her voice almost felt like an embrace. As for my father… there was no bitterness, no sense of betrayal. Both of them… were proud of me. Despite all the death that I had wrought that night… despite the fact that their lives remained to be taken by my blade, and I could not leave until the deed was done… the love they had for their children remained. They asked that I take care of Sasuke… their last request to their eldest son."

He looked down again, and Yoruichi saw that his right hand was trembling. It was as if it was joining the young man's mind in reliving the actions it had taken all those years ago.

"Once more… the tears flowed," he said solemnly, although none fell from his eyes this time as he spoke, "It took every last bit of resolve I had to finally do the deed… to murder the mother and father that loved me more than I had ever realized until that moment. Every single day since then… I've asked myself if there was another way. Countless possibilities and 'what-ifs' have played through my mind, as haunting as the memories of the actions I took that night. And yet, even as the blood of my parents dripped from my blade… the nightmare still wasn't over. My hesitation had cost me time… and my brother had finally returned home."

"At the worst possible moment, too," Yoruichi noted, "Damn… what'd you do?"

Itachi shook his head. "My agreement with Danzō was that I could spare Sasuke in return for purging the rest of the clan, but… I couldn't tell Sasuke the truth about it all. In order to sell the deception to the village that I had wiped our clan due to arrogance and mental instability rather than as a preemptive attack to head off a coup, I couldn't let anyone know the real reasons behind the events of that night. Between striking my deal with Danzō and then actually carrying out the mission, I did have some time to consider what actions I would take regarding Sasuke when it was all over. The conclusion I came to made sense to me at the time, but looking back on it now… it was the worst possible way I could've handled things."

"What happened?" asked Yoruichi, almost dreading the answer.

"I had told myself that my actions were to ensure Sasuke's safety," he answered, "However… I also wanted to preserve his view of the clan. Like I said before, he had absolutely no knowledge of the coup plot. I'm sure he detected hints of the tension within the clan, but he didn't understand what was really going on. In his eyes, the Uchiha Clan was a still a noble Shinobi family, proud and valiant members of the Village Hidden in the Leaves. I wanted to make sure he kept that preconception rather than learn the truth and mar his vision of the clan. In order to do so, I came up with a plan; I would convince him to focus all of his hatred on me, motivating him to become a Shinobi powerful enough to eventually hunt me down and kill me. To me, he was the only one that deserved to bring justice to the Uchiha name. He could survive, train, grow… and when the day finally came, he could seek me out, defeat me in battle and end my life. The murderer of the Uchiha Clan would be dead, our family would be avenged, and he could return home to the village as a hero. In order to push that plan forward, though…. in my eyes, the massacre of the clan wasn't enough to fully cement his hatred of me. I had to make sure a grudge took hold, one that would be powerful enough to push him through the difficult years to come. If he could become strong enough to defeat me, then that meant he'd be able to defend himself against anything else our cruel Shinobi World could throw at him. People like Danzō or other hardliners who distrusted the Uchiha and might seek to complete the purge when I was gone would think twice before attacking him."

He looked down for a moment, fresh shame readily apparent in his features. "To get him started down the path I'd chosen for him… I tortured the little brother that I had claimed to love. I unleashed the Mangekyou Sharingan, ensnared him in Tsukuyomi, and tormented him with visions of what I'd done to our family. To further cement his hatred of me, I told him that the reason I had murdered the clan was simply to test myself, and that I was letting him live only so that he could grow to become another test for me down the road. I told him… that I had never loved him… that I had only ever pretended to be a kind older brother in order to measure what he had the potential to become. I insulted him, belittled him… all the while, planting what I believed were the seeds for the justice I wished for him to give the clan in the future. No other Shinobi deserved to kill me; the only one I would allow to avenge the Uchiha would be the one member of the clan that was completely blameless in this whole affair."

Yoruichi shook her head sadly. "Was there really no other way?"

"At the time, I didn't believe so," Itachi replied, "However, looking back on it now… the entire plan was monumentally stupid. It was an exercise to my own vanity, my belief that I could plan out Sasuke's future… that I still had the right to make those kinds of decisions for him after what I had just done."

The self-loathing in his voice was impossible to miss as he continued. "For all that I might claim to love my little brother, I proved that I wasn't above manipulating him. Instead of being honest with him, as I should've from the start, I assumed that I knew what was best. I was determined to give him a future that would be better than mine after that night, but in doing so I acted as though he didn't have any agency in the matter. I laid out a path for him and pushed him down it without giving even the slightest consideration to whether or not it was one that he would want to take. I… I lost any right to call myself his older brother after what I did."

He's not even trying to hide his guilt, she thought somberly, I'll give him credit; he sure as hell isn't sugarcoating things here. When it comes to his own actions… he's a harsher critic of himself than anyone else.

"I could see despair, fear and anger overwhelming him," said Itachi, "and in those swirling emotions, something else appeared; the Sharingan. It was only for a few moments, and the sudden surge of chakra from its manifestation caused him to collapse, but it had been there all the same. I could take some comfort in knowing he had it, even if he probably wasn't consciously aware of it at the time. The power of our clan's eyes was at the root of all this misery, but at least it would give him a valuable weapon to wield in the years ahead. It would help him defend himself once he mastered it… and I was sure that he would. After all… he was my little brother."

Those last few words were tinged with bittersweet pride, tugging at Yoruichi's already-straining heartstrings. For someone who normally carried himself with such cool composure, Itachi had demonstrated a depth of emotion that she doubted any of his fellow Soul Reapers or former Academy classmates realized he possessed. Given her role as Squad Two's Captain, Yoruichi was fully aware of the value of never judging a book by its cover, but even so, she found herself caught completely flatfooted by what she'd seen from him today…

…and he still wasn't done yet.

Unohana told me that he wept after he recovered from the soul fracture, she recalled, Hearing all of this now… well, it gives that moment a bunch of new context.

"I thought he was down for the count, but I had misjudged his stamina," Itachi admitted, "As I moved to withdraw, he got back up… and actually managed to throw three kunai at me. It wasn't hard to doge the first two, but the last one actually managed to hit my Leaf Village Shinobi headband. There was a curved piece of metal imbedded in it, just as all the others of its kind had, so the blade was deflected. However, the headband came undone from the hit. I was astonished that he'd managed such a feat. That's when I realized… I was crying again. I knew that I had to get out of there immediately. If he saw my tears, I feared everything would come undone. I fled as fast as I could, but even so… I think he still caught a glimpse of my true feelings, even if he likely didn't fully comprehend what he was seeing at the time."

Yoruichi sighed. "No… from what you've told me, I bet his hatred was already taking hold. You were probably safe. Still… I get what you were thinking, but I'm not going to lie; I'm not a fan of your plan."

Itachi nodded. "I can hardly blame you there. Like I said, looking back on it, it was horrible. I used love for my brother as an excuse to feed my own ego in believing I could exercise control over events going forward. There were so many mistakes made that night… still, I think I was able to get at least one thing right."

"What was that?" asked Yoruichi.

"Sasuke's immediate safety," he replied, "Once I'd fled the compound, I sought out two people. The first was Danzō. In order to get him to honor his end of the agreement, I threatened to leak the secrets of the Hidden Leaf Village to the other nations should any harm come to Sasuke. My knowledge of the events of that night alone could rip the village apart if the truth got out, and he knew it."

"Blackmail's probably the only thing that would've worked on a man like that," Yoruichi conceded, "Let me guess; the second person was the Third Hokage."

"Correct," Itachi answered, "While I was furious at how his indecisiveness had contributed to just how badly the situation had decayed, the man still had a sense of righteousness that I could use to protect my little brother. I snuck into his residence, and it turned out that he'd already taken some preliminary action; he'd pieced together the situation and recognized Danzō's hand in the purge, and he had reacted by dismissing him from the village ruling council. His 'Root' organization was also to be officially dissolved in the aftermath of that night. It wasn't perfect; Danzō was more than capable of going to ground and reassembling his private black ops force in secret, but the immediate loss of status would hinder him in the short-term. The Third Hokage gave his word that no harm would come to Sasuke, and despite my disdain with how he'd handled the rising tensions between the clan and the village over the past few years I was certain that he'd keep his word here."

"Some good news out of that tragedy, then," said Yoruichi, "Still, even if the Third Hokage knew that your actions were on behalf of the village and agreed to protect your little brother, there was no way he could let you stay after what you'd done. Danzō might've been a real piece of work, but he did get one thing right; if peace in the village was to be maintained, the truth of your actions that night couldn't get out. Your very presence in the village was now a threat to stability."

"You're right," said Itachi, "I was all too aware of that, and I already knew that I'd be going into exile before that night was over. I would be officially branded a criminal by the village, wanted for mass murder. Shinobi that I had once called comrades would now attack on sight should I encounter them again. It wasn't just Leaf Village Shinobi that would be after me, either; my actions combined with my abilities meant that Shinobi of every nation saw me as a threat and would act accordingly. My extensive training, experience with the Anbu Black Ops, and the power of the Mangekyou Sharingan would make staying one step ahead of the hunters possible. However, I was determined to do more than simply go on the run and wait for Sasuke to grow strong enough to kill me. Publicly, the village would know me from then on out as a monster, but I was still determined to serve in secret as a Shinobi… and there was a potential threat that I wanted to keep an eye on."

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. "Madara, right?"

Itachi nodded. "Yes. He might've agreed to my plan that night regarding the Uchiha Clan, but I wasn't a fool; it was entirely possible that he could act against the Leaf Village in the future. I wanted to track his movements… and as it turned out, he offered me the perfect chance to. During our planning session prior to the massacre, he mentioned an organization of rogue Shinobi known as the Akatsuki. It was very small, and there wasn't too much intelligence available on it at the time… but the very fact that 'Madara' was connected to it was more than enough to convince me that it was dangerous. Shortly after the massacre of the clan, he offered me membership in the Akatsuki, claiming that it would help protect me now that I was a wanted man. I was sure that there was more to it than that; in all likelihood, he probably wanted to keep an eye on me as much as I wanted to monitor him."

Yoruichi could understand the logic there. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. So, what did this 'Akatsuki' group want?"

"That was difficult to determine," Itachi admitted, "After the massacre, I spent the rest of my life with them, but their true agenda was layered over by a series of false yet plausible promises. The organization was out to capture the Tailed Beasts scattered around the Shinobi World, but for what exact purpose was veiled. The most common version was what newcomers were told; that the Akatsuki sought out the power of the Tailed Beasts in order to start and then swiftly quell wars, undercutting the Shinobi Villages established by the great nations and eventually putting them out of business. This would leave the Akatsuki as the dominant Shinobi faction and allow them to conquer the world. To raise funds, the group would hire out its members to nations at rates well below those charged by the most prominent Shinobi Villages, allowing us to secure numerous contracts. Every member of the Akatsuki was an extremely powerful rogue Shinobi, each one of us capable of challenging even Kage-class opponents, so I'm sure you can see why our skills were highly sought after even though we were officially the most dangerous criminals in the world."

Yoruichi nodded. "Seems straightforward enough, but Madara's connection alone seems to undercut that stated purpose. After all, based on what you've told me about him, he's the type that would likely have goals apart from simple conquest, although the latter probably wouldn't be exclusive from the former."

"You're not wrong there," said Itachi, "Before I left the Hidden Leaf Village for good, I was able to find a clue as to what that might be. Remember when I told you that I had confronted him in the secret chamber beneath the Nakano Shrine, where the clan had been having its meetings to plot the coup? Even when there was no one inside it, that chamber wasn't entirely empty. There was a stone tablet, one that had been kept there since the founding of the clan."

Yoruichi raised an eyebrow. "What would an old stone tablet have to do with all of this?"

"That tablet contained secrets of the Uchiha Clan," Itachi replied, "However, there was a catch; it could only be translated by someone who had the Sharingan. Even then, someone with only the basic Sharingan couldn't read all of it. Someone with the Mangekyou Sharingan could go further in deciphering it, yet full comprehension would still elude them. My father had mentioned one time that the tablet held the key to restoring the Uchiha Clan to its former glory, although I didn't entirely buy into that. I didn't think it was a coincidence that the clan held its meetings in the same chamber as that tablet, though… and Madara had clearly been drawn to that chamber, particularly after the meetings when he could study the tablet by himself. Since I had unlocked the Mangekyou Sharingan, I took the opportunity to read what I could of the tablet before my exile."

"What did you find?" she asked.

"Some interesting information on the Mangekyou Sharingan," he answered, "There were those clan secrets I mentioned before, but at that point they weren't of particular value to me. There was something that really caught my eye, though; a line stating that the Infinite Tsukuyomi would be the salvation of the Uchiha Clan."

"Tsukuyomi was the illusion power of the Mangekyou, right?" said Yoruichi, "Would this 'Infinite Tsukuyomi' be a more powerful version of it?"

Itachi nodded. "Yes… one that, supposedly, used the entire moon to reflect the genjutsu upon the world. I wasn't able to find much in the way of concrete information on it, though. However, I suspected that Madara might be pursuing that as his end-goal and needed the power of the Tailed Beasts to achieve it, hence his forming the Akatsuki; an organization of powerful Shinobi would make tracking down the Beasts and their Jinchūriki a more efficient process. So, my watch began. I would stay inside the Akatsuki, track their movements as I pretended to be one of them, and keep tabs on the Hidden Leaf Village to make sure Sasuke remained protected. All the while, I would wait for Sasuke to grow stronger… counting down until our inevitable deathmatch."

Yoruichi shook her head. "Was that really necessary? I mean, I guess I can understand why you thought that Sasuke was the one that deserved to avenge the clan… and why you wanted to die by his hand. Still, years would've gone by in the meantime. He would've done more than just grow stronger as a Shinobi; he would've grown from a kid to an adolescent, then a teenager, and eventually to adulthood. Couldn't you have found a way to tell him the truth somewhere along the way? Did it all have to culminate in him killing you in the name of revenge?"

Itachi sighed. "I believed so back then, but now… well, in hindsight, I was an arrogant fool. I screwed everything up. The choices I made were mine and mine alone… and I made the wrong ones. My hubris, my belief that I had to make ever decision, that I couldn't lean on others… it blinded me. After Shisui's death, I felt that I had to shoulder everything myself. I should've realized that he wouldn't have wanted it to be that way. I don't know if I could've saved the clan, but as far as what happened after with Sasuke… if I could go back in time, there's so much that I would do differently."

He was making no effort whatsoever to conceal the bitterness and regret in his voice. Yoruichi knew that it was all too easy for someone to become consumed by past failures and what could've been done better, but Itachi had the worst case of it that she'd ever seen. With the benefit of everything that he'd told her thus far, the root cause of it was all too easy to see; in his own mind, he was rightfully condemned and beyond redemption. He believed his crimes were beyond any form of atonement, and that self-image as a monstrous criminal, regardless of the motivations behind his actions, had come to define him in ways he probably didn't even consciously realize.

His past is a prison… and he's condemned himself to an eternal sentence within its chains.

One that you don't think he deserves.

No… he doesn't.

So, how do you intend to free him?

That's a good question…

…one I'm not sure I have an answer for.

Her mental conversation with the spirit of her Zanpakutō did not distract her from Itachi, and her weapon had picked an ideal time to return to silence; the young man still had more to tell her. "Five years passed. Sasuke had grown, become a Genin, all the while I continued my activities with the Akatsuki. The Third Hokage had kept his word; my little brother was protected without ever realizing it. Danzō was still alive, still scheming away in the shadows, but wasn't able to act overtly. Things were moving along more or less the way I wanted… but it didn't last. In fact, everything got upended quite suddenly."

Yoruichi doubted that boded well. "What happened?"

"One of the members of the Akatsuki when I had initially joined was a man named Orochimaru," said Itachi, "Like me, he was a former Shinobi of the Hidden Leaf Village, and a very skilled one at that. He was one of a trio of powerful Shinobi once known as the Legendary Sannin, renowned heroes of the village. Believe it or not, another member of that trio was none other than Jiraiya."

Yoruichi smiled. "Really? Sounds like Jiraiya's good for more than a laugh and some entertaining novels after all!"

She was pleased to see that her remarks could at least elicit a small smirk from her companion. "That's putting it mildly. They were all extraordinarily talented. Jiraiya and third, a woman called Tsunade, remained in the light, but Orochimaru… well, his fall was ugly. He became obsessed with achieving immortality and comprehending every jutsu known to the world, and he performed horrific experiments on his fellow Shinobi in pursuit of those ends. When the village discovered what he was up to, there was an attempt to apprehend him and make him answer for his crimes, but he escaped… and wound up with the Akatsuki. When I joined the group, I attracted his attention, and not in a good way."

"What did he want with you?" asked Yoruichi.

"He saw my Sharingan as a means to acquire all manner of jutsu," Itachi replied, "As a result, he soon tried to attack me and take possession of my body; transferring his essence was the means he went about cheating death, and stealing my eyes would be a bonus for him. I fended him off, and he was forced to flee from the Akatsuki as a result. His interest in acquiring the power of the Uchiha Clan would remain, though… and his gaze would eventually fall upon Sasuke."

Yoruichi grimaced; that didn't sound good. "Your little brother couldn't catch a break, could he?"

Itachi shook his head. "By the time he became a Genin, Sasuke was quite gifted for a Shinobi of his age. However, at that time Orochimaru was leagues beyond him. I eventually found out that when Sasuke's team was taking the Chūnin Exams, Orochimaru had infiltrated the village and sought him out. He infected Sasuke with what he called a Cursed Seal of Heaven, which gave Sasuke potent power at the cost of corrupting his body and drawing him towards Orochimaru. The Cursed Seal was bad enough, but Sasuke already had a reason to seek out Orochimaru of his own free will; me."

Yoruichi nodded grimly. "The thirst for revenge… yeah, I can see him pursuing forbidden power to kill you, regardless of the source."

"He wouldn't pursue it right away," Itachi amended, "but he was dangerously close as things stood… and he soon got the push he needed to go in that direction. During the final phase of the Chūnin Exams, Orochimaru openly attacked the Hidden Leaf Village; he had a long-standing grudge against it, and not just because he'd become a fugitive from justice. He had longed to become the next Hokage following Sarutobi, but the Third Hokage had passed him over in favor of Minato Namikaze. As you know, when Minato died in the Nine Tailed Foxe's attack, Sarutobi came out of retirement to reprise his position as Third Hokage. He remained highly skilled, but his glory years were behind him. Orochimaru had bidden his time, and when he struck that day his patience was finally rewarded. The Third Hokage fought bravely, even sealing Orochimaru's arms and thus depriving him of the traditional means of using the jutsus he so fiercely coveted… but it wasn't enough. Hiruzen Sarutobi met his end that day… which meant that I had a problem."

Yoruichi instantly grasped what he was getting at. "Sasuke's protection… without the Third Hokage to keep Danzō and other hardliners at bay, they had a clear shot at him."

Itachi nodded. "Exactly. I needed to make a play, a show of force to remind Danzō of his bargain and the consequences of breaking it. Fortunately, I actually had a valid pretense to return to the village. Remember how I told you that the Akatsuki were hunting down the Jinchūriki? As it turned out, one of Sasuke's team members was one. His name was Naruto Uzumaki… and he was the son of the late Fourth Hokage."

Yoruichi swiftly put two and two together. "The night that the Nine Tails attacked… the Fourth Hokage sealed it inside his own son? Why the hell would he do something like that?"

Itachi shrugged. "The official story was that he wanted his son to be looked upon by the people of the village as a hero for containing the Nine Tailed Fox. I'm sure there's more to it, but I can only guess at his true motives, and such speculation serves little purpose here. What mattered was that his very existence as another Leaf Village Genin meant that it wouldn't look suspicious to the Akatsuki if I returned to the village; I could make it look like an attempt to capture him. The ruse was enough to fool my partner and most of the organization, although I suspect Madara may have guessed at my real motives."

"Wait a sec," said Yoruichi, "You had a partner while you were with the Akatsuki?"

"Akatsuki members were divided into pairs for our operations," Itachi explained, "Traditional Shinobi teams typically operate in cells with a lead Jōnin and three lower-ranked subordinates, normally Genin or Chūnin. However, given the extreme skill and strength of each individual Akatsuki member it was determined that working in pairs was not only feasible, but desirable; due to our small numbers, concentrating into four-man cells would limit our ability to cover ground, but operating solo could leave us vulnerable. My teammate at the time was a man called Kisame Hoshigaki, a fugitive from the Hidden Mist Village. He was a gifted and powerful swordsman… and rather bloodthirsty, to put it mildly. Returning to the Leaf Village with him in tow was hardly ideal, but I didn't have much of a choice."

Yoruichi winced. "I hope you were at least able to limit the collateral damage."

"All things considered, it could've been worse," said Itachi, "We did skirmish with a group of Jōnin, but there were no life-threatening injuries; I managed to convince Kisame to withdraw before things went too far. The encounter with the Jōnin served my purpose quite well; thanks to their survival, word of my return to the village would inevitably reach Danzō and the surviving councilors. The rest of the village would think that Kisame and I were after the Nine Tails, but Danzō would know that my presence was really a message to him to honor our agreement or else. After that encounter, I pretended to hunt for the Nine Tails with Kisame. We actually did encounter Naruto, but he was never in any real danger. After all, none other than Jiraiya was nearby, and he had already begun mentoring the boy. I was betting on him stepping in before Kisame would force my hand, and thanks to his intervention I was able to avoid blowing my cover. All I had to do was stall for time, which I did so by pretending to contemplate with Kisame the best means for capturing Naruto. However, before Jiraiya's arrival and our subsequent withdrawal… Sasuke showed up."

Yoruichi shook her head in exasperation. "Your little brother has the worst sense of timing."

"I'm sure he hastened to find me once word got out that I had shown up in the village," Itachi replied, "The last thing I had wanted was for him to get involved, but that was now out of my hands. I defeated him quickly… and used Tsukuyomi on him, once again showing him the deaths of our parents."

Yoruichi's brow furrowed. "Reinforcing his hatred of you, just in case it had waned in the years since he'd last seen you… I get the reasoning, but I can't say that I approve. Poor kid had been through enough already."

Itachi nodded, to his credit not even trying to argue with her. "Agreed. It was one more mistake thrown onto the pile. Our encounter did indeed keep the flames of hatred burning strong within him… and it soon led him to search for the last person I wanted him to seek aid from; Orochimaru."

Yoruichi grimaced. "Orochimaru had already given him a taste of power thanks to the Cursed Seal, so he figured he could become even stronger by going to him… powerful enough to achieve his revenge."

"Any power granted Orochimaru would come at a cost," said Itachi, "In this case, it was easy enough to guess what he was after with my little brother. He'd already failed to take possession of my body, so he substituted Sasuke instead. He would give Sasuke whatever training and power he desired, all to mold him into his ideal future vessel. By the time I learned that Sasuke had left the village, it was too late for me to stop him. Sasuke would have to survive on his own now… and Orochimaru wouldn't be the only threat to him."

Yoruichi could guess where this was going. "Sasuke might've been only a Genin, but he was still a Leaf Village Shinobi. For him to leave the village and seek out a known traitor, especially one that had recently attacked the village and killed the Third Hokage… that would've been treason. Your little brother was painting a target on his own back."

"Exactly," Itachi concurred, "My appearance at the village would've been enough to get Danzō to honor our agreement under normal circumstances, but Sasuke's defection meant that his safety could no longer be guaranteed. There was also the problem that the subsequently selected Fifth Hokage didn't know the truth about the Uchiha Clan massacre or my agreement with the Third Hokage, so they would not be bound by the pact I'd struck with the village leadership all those years ago. Fortunately, the woman that eventually took up the position had stronger ethics than the likes of Danzō. She ordered a mission to retrieve Sasuke, and while it did fail it showed me what kind of person she really was; she had put the emphasis on bringing him back alive, not killing him. I might not have had the same kind of working relationship with her that I did with her predecessor, but I felt that she could, at the very least, be trusted to bring no harm to Sasuke. She might've been unaware of the Uchiha coup plot or the bargain I'd struck with the Third Hokage and Danzō in exchange for carrying out the purge, but she at least wasn't going to order Sasuke's murder."

Yoruichi was skeptical. "You were putting an awful lot of faith in her. Are you sure that was the best call?"

"It was definitely a gamble," Itachi admitted, "However, she did have something else going for her. The Fifth Hokage was none other than Tsunade, the third member of the Legendary Sannin that I mentioned earlier. She had won renown as perhaps the greatest medical Shinobi of her age, and that wasn't even taking into account her formidable strength. She was also the granddaughter of none other than the First Hokage, and from what I could tell she seemed to have inherited his ideals. She wasn't perfect by any means; in particular, she had a reputation for drinking and gambling that was almost as legendary as her healing prowess. Still, compared to the likes of Danzō and the other councilors, she was a breath of fresh air. I might not have personally known her like I did her predecessor, but I felt it was okay to gamble on her character. I still kept an eye on the Hidden Leaf Village just to be safe, but my efforts should've been focused elsewhere. Sasuke was well beyond their reach."

He paused for a moment, and Yoruichi gave him the time he needed to put his thoughts in order before he continued. "Three years went by… and I was running out of time. My travels as a member of the Akatsuki took me far and wide, and somewhere along the way I'd contracted a severe illness. I tried to keep it hidden from the other Akatsuki members, although I'm not sure if I was completely successful. It could be kept at bay for a time through medication, but without highly advanced medical ninjutsu it was ultimately terminal. Since I was an internationally wanted criminal, I could hardly seek treatment from a medical Shinobi. Besides, I hadn't planned on living long; I just need to stay alive until Sasuke could seek me out again."

So, he was on borrowed time, she thought, dying of illness even as he was planning for his own brother to kill him… had he really already made peace with his impending death, though? It's not like he knew that the Soul Society was what awaited him on the other side, after all.

"Eventually, I learned that Sasuke had slain Orochimaru," Itachi said, "Of course, knowing just what that man was capable of, I suspected that it wasn't his permanent end. The Cursed Seal he'd placed on Sasuke had the potential to be more than just a means to provide him with corrupting power; I feared that it could also possibly give him an anchor in the world of the living should his physical form be destroyed. I had already been planning on purging his influence from Sasuke well before our inevitable clash took place, and at this point I just needed to live long enough to reach that duel. Orochimaru's 'death' was a signal to me that Sasuke had achieved the power necessary to confront me. Our final encounter was now just a matter of time. Still, I had something I needed to attend to before it took place."

"What was that?" asked Yoruichi.

He met her question with one of his own. "Do you remember that teammate of Sasuke's that I told you about?"

Yoruichi nodded. "Naruto was his name, right? The one that the Nine Tailed Fox was sealed inside. What's he got to do with this?"

"Quite a bit," Itachi replied, "In addition to being one of Sasuke's teammates, he was also involved in the mission to retrieve Sasuke after he defected to Orochimaru. In the three years that had passed since Sasuke left the village, I learned that Naruto had been the most determined to bring him back. I was running out of time; my health was failing, and my use of the Mangekyou Sharingan over the years had left me nearly blind. While I still hoped that my original plan of having Sasuke kill me in our climatic duel and then return home a hero would work, I was concerned that the Uchiha Clan's Curse of Hatred might've taken hold. There was the possibility that he could actually make the village his next target, and as much I wanted to protect him, I could not allow that to happen. I made a choice… one that showed just how far I had fallen as a brother."

Yoruichi gave a weary shake of her head. "What did you do?"

"After all those years, I still had Shisui's eye," Itachi answered, "The power of Kotoamatsukami… and I was willing to use it against my little brother as a contingency. I placed the eye inside a crow that I controlled, and then sought out Naruto shortly before my fight with Sasuke. Ensnaring him in genjutsu, I then forced him to swallow the crow. I had set it to activate Kotoamatsukami when it saw my eyes, compelling whoever was in possession of them to defend the Hidden Leaf Village no matter what."

Yoruichi did a double take. "Wait… compel whoever had your eyes? I'm lost. I thought you were setting that up as a contingency against Sasuke, not yourself."

Itachi actually chuckled at that. "Ah, yes. You see, when I was describing the properties of the Mangekyou Sharingan to you earlier… I left a bit out. There actually is a cure for the blindness caused by the overuse of the Mangekyou, and that's to transplant the Mangekyou Sharingan of another Uchiha, ideally one with strong blood ties. This process creates what is known as the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan; a Mangekyou that can be used without the threat of encroaching blindness."

Another piece of the puzzle fell into place for Yoruichi. "You thought Sasuke would take your eyes after he killed you."

Itachi nodded. "Eventually, yes. I was counting on my death being the trigger necessary for Sasuke to awaken his Mangekyou Sharingan. Even though he hated me, I wanted to believe that part of him still thought back fondly on those days when he could see me as his loving older brother. Given the hatred I had worked to instill in him… well, it was entirely possible that those memories had been completely repressed by his thirst for revenge. I was making a gamble, no doubt there. I believed he would eventually have to use the Mangekyou Sharingan to protect himself from the forces my death would unleash, particularly the likes of Danzō and the man I suspected to be Madara Uchiha. Eventually, his sight would begin to fade, and he would have no choice but to seek out my corpse and claim my eyes to restore his vision and claim the power of the Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan. Since those would be my eyes, that's why I had to set Kotoamatsukami to activate in that particular manner."

Yoruichi felt a chill go down her spine as she processed the implications behind that. "So, in order to protect the village and Sasuke… you chose to sacrifice the free will of your little brother."

"Yes," he said solemnly, not even attempting to hide his guilt, "Another decision that I made for him… acting as if he had no agency in his own life. I was willing to control and manipulate him up until the moment of my death, and even from beyond the grave. His deserved so much better… I was really earning all that hatred I'd worked to instill in him."

At least he's owning up to it, thought Yoruichi, I'll give him that much.

"Once I'd ensured that my contingency was in place, it was time to initiate the endgame," Itachi continued, "One of the good things about Sasuke chasing me meant that he was reacting to my movements, which gave me the luxury of determining our battlefield. As the stage, I chose an abandoned fortress that had been established by the Uchiha Clan during the Warring States Period. It was quite out of the way, so we'd have time to finish our fight before any outsiders could interfere. With my final preparations complete, I made sure the word got out to my little brother. He knew where I would be waiting now… and it didn't take long at all from him to arrive."

Yoruichi's eyes narrowed. "He just came right in? I know he was eager to kill you, but he had to have suspected a trap. I sure as hell would've."

Itachi simply shrugged, a hint of melancholy slipping into his voice. "I can't speak to his thoughts on that matter. What he believed at the time is irrelevant now. The only thing that matters is that he showed up. I could tell just by looking at him that he'd grown into a formidable Shinobi. Even as I taunted him, riling him up to make sure that he came at me with everything he had… in my heart, I was proud of him. Had things been otherwise… had he been allowed to mature in a village where the clan remained loyal and I could openly be his loving older brother… I would've been honored to fight alongside him as a comrade-in-arms. Instead, all I could give him was a deathmatch… and a measure of purification."

"Orochimaru's Cursed Seal," said Yoruichi, "How'd you purge it?"

"I had to drag the fight out and make sure Sasuke went to his absolute limit," he replied firmly, "He fought splendidly, and while I was no longer at peak strength, I gave him more than a just a good showing. I didn't want to kill him, of course, but I couldn't give him cause to suspect that I might be holding back. Once Sasuke unleashed his trump card, I got the opening I'd been seeking throughout the duel; his efforts had used up nearly all of his chakra, meaning that he could no longer suppress the essence of Orochimaru that was held within him. It turned out his corruption ran so deep that my worst fears were confirmed; Orochimaru had somehow already embedded his consciousness within Sasuke's body. Now that Sasuke's chakra was utterly spent, he could no longer contain the abomination that was Orochimaru, and that inhuman creature immerged from my little brother's body. He immediately moved to posses Sasuke's body… but I was ready for him."

Yoruichi smiled. "How'd you take him out?"

"Over the course of my travels, I had refined the abilities of my Mangekyou Sharingan," said Itachi, "This included enhancing my Susanoo via a unique weapon that I discovered during one of my journeys; the Sword of Totsuka. It's an ethereal weapon, much closer to the spiritual than physical realm, although it's more than capable of contending with foes in the latter. The weapon is actually housed in a liquid form that's held in a gourd; the liquid then forms the blade once the weapon is called upon."

Yoruichi leaned forward slightly. "Interesting… what does it do?"

"In short, it's a sealing weapon," Itachi answered, "Those stabbed by it are drawn into the gourd. There they are trapped in a realm of drunken dreams for all eternity. It was too kind a fate for the likes of Orochimaru, but it was the only way I could conclusively purge his influence from Sasuke. Once I was sure that the last of his essence had been sealed… well, there was only one thing left to do."

He then gave her a small, almost weary smile. "Sasuke's chakra was utterly spent… and now, so was mine. I had drawn heavily upon the Mangekyou Sharingan throughout the fight, but even without that, my time was done. The illness that had ravaged my body was in its final stages as you already know, and the rigors of that battle were more than enough to use up the last of the borrowed time I had been living on. My final mission was complete… and I believed that Sasuke would soon awaken the power he'd need to truly surpass me. So, without further ado, I collapsed by my brother… and finally passed on. Imagine my surprise when I woke up in the Soul Society rather than the pits of Hell. From there… well, you know most of the rest."

It was tempting for Yoruichi to agree, but there was a footnote she needed addressed first. "Not quite. The soul fracture; why were you brought back? From what you've told me today, it doesn't sound like you were planning on being resurrected after the fight with your brother."

Itachi shook his head. "No, I really had intended on that being the end. My resurrection was courtesy of one of Orochimaru's followers who had thrown in his lot with the 'Madara' that had once helped me wipe out the Uchiha Clan. I was brought back against my will, and the jutsu that did the deed forced me to fight against the Hidden Leaf Village under their command. Fortunately, I wound up running into none other than Naruto Uzumaki… and he still had the crow with Shisui's Mangekyou Sharingan inside of him. Kotoamatsukami was activated; after all, it was set for my eyes, remember?"

Yoruichi smirked. "So, your failsafe worked, although not in the manner you thought it would."

Itachi sighed. "It did, but… everything else I had planned before my death had completely fallen apart. I learned that Sasuke had claimed my eyes, just like I'd hoped… but he had also learned the truth about what I'd done, and his hatred became directed towards the Hidden Leaf Village. Rather than become a hero for the village and redeeming the clan name as I'd hoped, he'd become a dangerous enemy, all out of the desire to take revenge for me. It was only then that I finally realized the depths of my folly. Fortunately, Kotoamatsukami had freed me from the control of the resurrection jutsu. I could now act of my own free will, and after helping Naruto I set out to find the one that had brought me back. My goal was to undo the rest of the resurrection jutsu; my time in the Realm of the Living had already ended once, and I was not keen on prolonging this temporary return. My search soon bore fruit… and it also led me to Sasuke again."

He smiled again, only this time it was more genuine, practically a beacon of light in the sea of darkness that his long tale had been. "After all that had happened… all the lies, the manipulation, the torment… all those horrific mistakes I made… I was finally able to tell him the truth. More than that, when the two of us confronted the caster of the resurrection jutsu… we fought side by side. I had no right to ask Sasuke's trust, no right to expect him to willingly partner with me in battle… but he did, just the same. For the first time in a long time… I could finally be the big brother that I'd always wanted to be for him."

His smile grew ever so slightly as he continued. "When our foe was defeated and the jutsu undone… I knew exactly what I wanted to say to Sasuke. It was what I'd wanted to say for years… but only now, after having crossed death's door once and on the verge of crossing again, this time for good, was I finally able to tell him how I really felt. I had no right to ask forgiveness of him after all I had done, nor did I have any right to request that he follow one path or another. My time was well and truly done, and the only person who deserved to dictate Sasuke's destiny was himself. All I could tell him was that no matter what his decision was… I would always love him. After all… he's my little brother. He always will be… not even the divide of life and death will change that."

So that was why he wept upon his recovery from the soul fracture, Yoruichi mused, I didn't consider it my place to pry into the matter at the time, but now… I really wish I had. Itachi…

He closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again the smile was gone; his expression was now one of somber anticipation. "So… there you have it. From my youngest days to where I sit now… you know it all. Tell me, Yoruichi… what's your verdict? Betrayal, torture, mass murder; I've done it all. Squad Two's domain is the shadows, but tell me; are the shadows of your division dark enough for a man who's committed my sins? Tell me… will you still have me as your subordinate? Tell me…"

"…am I still worthy of your trust as a member of Squad Two after all that I have done?"

….

Itachi couldn't recall the last time in his life that he'd talked so much, let alone about himself. The trepidation that he'd felt going into this had been unlike anything he'd experienced before. Getting his past out in the open, even if it was just with one person, was no small task. Now, here he was; the moment of truth. The woman who was both his Captain and the person that he'd finally admitted to himself that he was attracted to now knew everything about him.

Every secret. Every crime. Every failure. Every shame.

Itachi wasn't going to kid himself here. Murder was one thing, but the massacre he'd committed was several orders of magnitude beyond that. As the head of Squad Two and the Stealth Force, Yoruichi was a woman who knew full well what it meant to get one's hands dirty in the name of duty, but Itachi was sure that she had a limit as to what she could stomach. She'd been kind and understanding with him up until now, and to her immense credit she'd proven herself willing to hear him out as he'd delved into his worst actions, but now his tale was complete. All he could do now was await her judgment.

And he was afraid.

I have no right to ask for absolution from her, he thought grimly, I didn't have any right to ask for her trust, either… yet I still did so. The arrogance of that request… all these years, and I've still learned nothing. She would be completely within her right to expel me from the division at the very least, and indeed a good deal more. With what I've done, what I've told her, it wouldn't be hard for her to see me as a threat not only to Squad Two but the entirety of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads…

By rights, I should be cast out.

Exiled in death, just as I was in life…

…it would be fitting.

Going into today, Itachi had thought he was ready for the worst. He had braced himself for Yoruichi's disgust and horror; regardless of her willingness to listen, what he'd done certainly merited condemnation. Yet she had simply allowed him to continue. She'd given voice to opinions and thoughts on his actions, yet her ultimate judgment had been withheld. If nothing else, Itachi was incredibly grateful for her patience and restraint, but now the time for those was past. Now was the time for her to call him out, to give him every bit of condemnation that he deserved… and despite his preparation, Itachi was afraid. Even though he knew he fully deserved nothing but her contempt, he dreaded it. The last thing he was worthy of was being allowed to continue to serve her after today, yet he dearly wanted that more than anything else.

She continued to look at him in silence, and Itachi could only imagine what was going through her mind. The suspense was tortuous, but he didn't dare attempt to force her answer. She would give her verdict when she was good and ready, and Itachi had no right to rush her.

She closed her eyes for what was probably just a couple of seconds, but what felt to Itachi like an eternity. When she opened them again, he fervently searched for any hint he could find as to her true feelings. She didn't make it easy for him; her years as the head of essentially the black ops of the Soul Society had given her one hell of a poker face.

She took a deep breath before finally speaking. "I always thought that you were an interesting guy, Itachi… turns out I had no idea just how interesting you'd really be, though. You really know how to throw a woman for a loop, that's for sure. That story of yours... if it came from anyone else, I would've called 'bullshit' on it well before they'd finished."

"So, what makes me the exception?" he asked, taking great pains to keep calm demeanor despite his heart hammering with anticipation and dread.

She smiled. "Do you remember the night we first met?"

"Like it was yesterday," Itachi immediately replied.

Yoruichi nodded. "Same here. I think back on it more often than you might imagine. One thing that really struck me was your complete lack of hesitation when that Hollow showed up. You stood your ground and fought unarmed alongside Jiraiya. Sure, Unohana and I had to bail you two out when more showed up, but you both made a damn good showing for yourselves. Still, I saw something that's stuck with me since then; you completely lacked any fear of death that night. For someone who had only just gotten to the Soul Society a couple weeks previously, I would've expected you to place greater value on your second chance at life… but you didn't. You were ready to die again… and I think I finally understand why."

She sighed. "I didn't put too much thought into it at the time; I was more focused on your performance in the entrance exams the next day, and after that on your development as a student. Looking back, though… well, I really should've paid more attention. I should've realized there was something more to you than just a cute guy who could handle himself in a fight. I suspected there was a story, but… well, I never thought it'd be one quite like this. The reason I'm willing to believe you, though, is because it clicks with what I saw that night over six years ago. You were willing to sacrifice your life so soon after getting another chance at it… because you didn't believe you deserved it in the first place. You didn't even think you should be in the Soul Society."

Itachi shook his head. "No… to this day, I still find myself wondering why I'm here instead of the pits of Hell. With all that I've done, it'd be a much more fitting final destination."

"I can see why you'd think that," Yoruichi conceded, "but you have no idea just how wrong you are."

Itachi's eyes widened ever so slightly, and his breath caught in his throat; he hadn't dared to get his hopes up, and yet…

"What… do you mean?" he hesitantly asked.

"I've seen a lot of killers in my time," she answered, "Comes with the territory. You get those that don't accept a shred of responsibility for their actions, those that deny that they did it despite the overwhelming evidence against them, those that might show some remorse but still try to find a way to shift the blame off of their shoulders… the list goes on. Seeing one that actually owns up to it, shows sincere regret and doesn't even attempt to shy away from the blame? That's rarer than you might think."

"I'm not sure I understand what you're getting at," said Itachi.

She put her hand on his shoulder, once again smiling. "What I'm getting at, Itachi, is that you're taking complete responsibility for your actions. You have the courage to face what you did head on and call yourself out for it in a way very few people do. That says a lot about you, whether you realize it or not."

Itachi shook his head. "Whether I accept responsibility for my actions or not, that doesn't change the fact that it was still mass murder. Coup plotters and civilians alike; I didn't discriminate, Yoruichi."

The Captain sighed. "No… you didn't. You said it yourself; you were thorough. If you had claimed that you were 'just following orders' when you carried out that massacre, there's no way that I'd let you get away with shaking off the blame like that. That wasn't it, though. You were given an impossible choice at an age where you should never have been put into such a position."

"My age is no defense," Itachi countered, "I knew full well what I was doing."

"That's not the point," Yoruichi shot back, "My point is that you were facing the absolute worst-case scenario regardless of the path you chose going forward. Did you make the right call? Honestly, I don't know. What I do know, though, is that you made the most difficult decision of your life out of love for your brother and the desire for peace. You did more than just kill your family; you sacrificed everything you'd known for the sake of preventing a coup that you believed would've set off a chain reaction culminating in a catastrophic war. You gave up your family, your personal honor and reputation, and the love of the little brother you cared so deeply for, because you believed it was the only way to salvage something good from what was a set of horrifically rigged circumstances."

She looked up for a moment before facing him again. "I think that's why you ended up here instead of Hell. The last thing your actions could be described as was selfish. Even if you believe arrogance played no small role in many of your decisions, you ultimately weren't acting out of self-interest. You were acting out of duty and love, trying to carve a path forward and find some form of light in an incredibly bleak and dark world. You were still searching for the right path when all you could see was wrong… and I believe that matters far more than you might think."

Yoruichi then stood up, gazing down at him for at least a few good seconds before continuing. "I can't offer you absolution. Believe me, I wish I could. I want nothing more than to wash away the guilt that you feel, especially since I can see just how badly it's consumed you over the years. There's only one person that can really do that, though; you. You have to learn to forgive yourself, Itachi, and that's not going to be easy. With all that you've done, the path of atonement is going to be a long one… but it's one that I'd love to help you find your way along."

Then she held out her hand, a warm smile gracing her face. "If there's one thing today has taught me more than anything else, it's this; you're a good man, Itachi. You may not believe it, but it's true. When I look at you, I see someone who's made terrible mistakes, ones that you might believe are beyond redemption… but they aren't. You deserve the right to move forward and reclaim your life from your past. You deserve the chance to build a new future for yourself in the Soul Society… and I'd be more than happy if the road to that future continued to go through Squad Two. You asked if you're still worthy of my trust as a member of my division? My answer is yes."

She then gave him a wink and gestured with the fingers of her outstretched hand. "What do you say, Itachi? I can't say for sure what twists and turns your road to atonement's going to take, but I can say for sure that I want to help you make the trip. A friendly nudge or two to help you keep moving forward, a shoulder to lean on when things get rough… I'll give you that and a good deal more. In return, all I want is for you to keep pushing yourself. Grow stronger, rise through my division, and show the Soul Society what the best of the Uchiha Clan is capable of when they've transcended the Curse of Hatred. Come out from the shadows of your clan and your past. Squad Two might take you through darkness, but there'll be light as well. It's there, and all you have to do is chase it. I'll do all I can to make sure you hit the ground running. You're not going to let something as petty as that Uchiha pride stand in the way, are you? You're a better man than that; I know it."

In that moment, as he stared up with her, Itachi was utterly captivated by what he saw. That confidence radiating in her eyes, the complete openness and acceptance emanating from her, the firm belief in her gaze that he could rise to the challenge she'd set for him…

…it was beautiful.

She was beautiful…

…and only now was he able to fully appreciate it.

Your move, the spirit of his Zanpakutō gently nudged him.

Yes… and there's only one move to make.

Reaching out, he accepter her hand. She pulled him to his feet with strength that belied her slender figure, but it wasn't enough to just get him standing again. He found himself in her embrace a moment later, and despite his shock it only took him a few seconds to return it.

"You can do this, Itachi," she whispered in his ear, "I don't know how long it'll take, and I don't know where you'll go before it's over, but I've got your back every step of the way. If you ever need anything, you know where to find me. My door will always be open to you."

He smiled, relishing this closeness with her. "Thank you, Yoruichi."

The two of them released each other a few moments later, and rather reluctantly on Itachi's part. He could've stayed like that with her for so much longer… and the look in her eyes told him that she might not have minded, either. Still, the outside world beckoned. Itachi had long lost track of how much time they'd spent down here, but he was sure that their absence had definitely been noticed by their comrades in Squad Two.

"The rest of the day's yours to do with as you please," said Yoruichi, "I expect you to be ready for duty tomorrow bright and early. Can I count on you, Itachi?"

His response was confident and immediate. "Yes."

"Good," she replied, "Let's get back to barracks. I don't know about you, but all that talking's got me feeling hungry. We've gotta be way past lunch time by now."

"My apologies," he said, "I didn't mean for this to go on for so long."

Yoruichi shook her head and gave him a friendly smirk. "Don't worry about. A story like that is more than worthy of my time. Let's move, Itachi!"

As he followed her out of the secret training ground, Itachi couldn't help but notice a subtle lightness in his step. It wasn't just because the sleeping draught she'd given him the night before had finally run its course. Somehow, if only just a little bit, the darkness that had permeated his soul for so long seemed to have receded.

How much further could he push it back?

As far as you have the will to. Your future is yours, and you have the means to seize it.

All thanks to her.

And to me as well.

You trying to say something?

Come visit me before calling it a day. You'll see what I mean.

….

As Itachi walked through his inner world, he didn't notice any overt changes. The crimson moon and stars still shone in the clear sky above, bloodred flames flickered in their stone lanterns; it remained as eerie now as it had been during his last visit. Itachi was beginning to wonder if the spirt of his Zanpakutō had been toying with him earlier when she'd requested that he visit. She wasn't the type to call him over just for conversation; if she wanted to chat, she could do that with him anytime he wanted. After all, she had unfettered access to his head.

What is she playing at?

He spotted her up ahead, sitting atop her rock and waiting for him. That was when Itachi noticed what had changed. Her black sword was drawn and held idly at her side, and as he got closer, he saw that the gap running down the center of the blade was filled with crimson flames. In fact, a steady stream of crimson flames was emanating from the gap and flowing into the sky, and as Itachi's eyes narrowed he realized that these flames were actually taking on the form of birds as they took off from the sword. Just a few seconds had passed, but already scores of these 'birds' were fluttering about above the spirit of his Zanpakutō, and that number was growing quite rapidly.

No… not just any birds.

Crows.

Having worked so closely with crows when he was still alive, the shape of the flame 'birds' was unmistakable to Itachi. Sure, the fact that they were crimson was a stark contrast to the crows that Itachi was used to, along with the notion of them being made of flame instead of flesh and blood birds, but when had anything about his inner world made any sort of sense? It certainly didn't follow the rules of the material world, that was for damn sure.

"What is this?" he asked as he stopped before the spirt of his sword, gesturing at the flock of fiery creatures that flew around her.

She smiled. "Evolution. Your confession today accomplished more than simply informing your dear Captain about your past misdeeds. It was a necessary step forward, one that was long overdue. Now you stand on the precipice of the next step."

Itachi shook his head. "I don't understand."

The woman clothed in black flames giggled. "I'm not surprised. Ask me my name."

Itachi was a bit taken aback; he'd grown accustomed to her shrugging and rolling her eyes whenever he'd asked her over the past few years. Why this sudden invitation?

He obliged her, and once again he couldn't make out the answer. However, that didn't mean the question had been in vain. He could discern her voice, even if he couldn't tell what exactly she'd said. The mysterious blurring of the air over her mouth had lessened slightly as well, not enough for a clean lip reading, but still noticeable nonetheless.

There was silence for a good long moment before he spoke again. "What does this mean?"

She held out her hands in an all-encompassing gesture. "It means that the next step in your journey lies before you… and the power to pursue it lies within your grasp. Your Captain's faith in you is not misplaced. Soon, you will be able to truly begin wielding my power… and the Soul Society will be in for quite a shock when that day comes, I promise you that!"

Itachi allowed himself a small smile. "I see. What should I do in the meantime? This might be progress, but I still can't make out your name just yet."

She smirked as she slid off the rock and stood before him, raising her black sword as fresh birds of crimson flame continued to take to the sky. "Well, don't sit around idly, that's for damn sure. The drug your Captain gave you the night before has completed its passage through your body, as I'm sure you're well aware. She might've given you the rest of the day off, but I have other ideas."

Itachi chuckled as he drew his blade. "I see. Very well, then. Let's go."

….

A few weeks later…

As far as Rukon Districts went, South 28 was quite pleasant. Despite being so deep in the Wandering Soul City, the district was notable for actually having a considerable amount of space reserved for agricultural activity. Rice was the main product, but various fruits were also grown there in considerable quantity, and there were even ranches set aside for cows, pigs, goats, and more besides. Given the demand for quality food inside the Seireitei, South 28's products were considered a high priority resource, so naturally the district was included in Squad Two's patrols. Patrolling South 28 was Itachi's current assignment, and he was enjoying the chance to explore a district that he'd never seen before.

Yoruichi had only begun giving him Rukon District patrols about a week ago, and so far, they'd all been in districts with low numbers. Itachi knew that this was intentional on his Captain's part; she was clearly easing him into his new area of responsibility by giving him relatively safe districts to start with. He suspected that this would go on for at least a couple more weeks before she'd start sending him into the riskier districts. He didn't mind the slow start; working the calmer interior districts gave him a chance to focus on his and Shisui's project of tracking down other members of the Uchiha Clan in the Soul Society. They hadn't had much luck so far, but given the sheer size of the Rukon District that was to be expected.

Shisui's been searching for over a decade now, Itachi mused, and he still hasn't found any trace of them. This hunt of ours is likely to go on for a very long time…

Finding the clan was one thing, but what the two of them would do if and when they encountered their kinsmen was another altogether. Their first priority, naturally, would be to determine if they still held onto the old ambition and resentment that had led the Uchiha Clan down its dark path the last time. Itachi hoped that the perspective the afterlife had granted him would likewise have an impact on other members of the clan and that they would abandon their old grudges with their deaths, but he wanted to prepare for the worst. He and Shisui were well aware of what the clan was capable of, and his old friend had proven that it was possible for an Uchiha to regain the Sharingan in death. If others had as well, and enough of them had gathered together to reconstitute the clan, there was no telling what they might plan.

At least he now had a powerful ally apart from Shisui and Jiraiya who understood what a potential threat the clan was. Yoruichi hadn't asked him any follow-up questions in the weeks since their conversation, but she was no fool; Itachi was certain that she knew he was using these relatively easy patrols to search for signs of the clan. Now that she was fully aware of his history and what the Uchiha had attempted in the past, it would be all the easier for him and Shisui to inform her if they encountered a reborn clan, and she would have the knowledge necessary to formulate a strategy for Squad Two and the Stealth Force. Hopefully they could keep any potential tensions from spiraling out of control. Head Captain Yamamoto wasn't Hiruzen Sarutobi; the venerable Soul Reaper had been willing to wipe out the populations of entire islands in the distant past in order to end a civil war. Purging an upstart clan, even one with the power of the Sharingan, would be an all too easy decision for him to make.

The clan would have no idea what they'd be up against with him, Itachi thought, his sparring match with the old warrior running through his mind, That enormous power, millennia of experience, and the willingness to go as far as he did two thousand years ago with Nur-Andunaya… he'd put them down far more quickly than I did, that's for sure.

He brushed his concerns about the Head Captain from his mind. With the way all of his previous patrols this week had gone, the odds of him encountering any signs of the Uchiha Clan today were slim to none. Even if South 28 was considered to be a safe district, it still wouldn't do for him to be distracted. It wasn't just Hollows or people from the Shinobi World that he had to keep an eye out for; he had to be mindful of the rest of the district's inhabitants. Troublemakers weren't all that common in lower-numbered districts, but they weren't entirely unheard of either.

He was currently positioned on one of the rooftops overlooking the district's central marketplace. Dusk was approaching, but even so there was still plenty of activity below. Farmers sold their wares and purchased new equipment, local artisans attempted to draw customers to their stalls, the scent of freshly cooked meat wafted through the air, and the clamor hundreds of people going about their business was ever-present. All in all, it was a rather pleasant scene, reminding Itachi of the more peaceful parts of life in the Hidden Leaf Village, albeit on a much larger scale.

Perhaps I'll come back here sometime when I'm off duty, he mused as he looked around, I can think of worse places to spend an afternoon.

One of the nice things about being a full-fledged Soul Reaper was that he had an official stipend now. The student allowances from the Academy had been nice, but the pay he got now that he was on active duty was substantially more, and that wasn't even taking into account the fact that he was an officer. Itachi hadn't become a Soul Reaper for the financial benefits, but it was always good to have a little more cash available. His quarters back at the Squad Two barracks were quite modest as was befitting his relatively low rank, but there was still room for a few personal belongings to spruce it up a bit.

He was idly scanning the stalls below in search of potential items to come back and purchase later when he sensed something unusual. Turning towards the southeast, he closed his eyes and focused until he narrowed it down. It was a faint bit of spiritual pressure, likely from one of the residents of the district. That wasn't odd in and of itself; Itachi had occasionally picked up on traces of spirit energy from souls in the Rukon District who had higher than average amounts of power, perhaps enough to mark them as potential candidates for the Academy. What was unusual here was that the energy he sensed actually felt familiar, but for the life of him Itachi couldn't figure out why. The closest he could get to describing the sensation was that it felt like something he had lost long ago, yet even than that wasn't nearly enough to help him narrow it down.

He was about to go investigate when he felt a handful of additional presences make themselves known, and this time there was no doubt in his mind as to what they were. Raising his gaze towards the sky, he saw three purple-black rifts appear and heard a set of familiar blood-curdling, primal screams.

Hollows.

"So much for an easy patrol," he muttered.

Why they'd appeared so far into the Rukon District was a puzzle he'd have to figure out later. As the people in the market below dropped everything they'd been doing just moments ago and began fleeing in terror, Itachi was already Flash Stepping his way across the rooftops towards the threat. It didn't escape his attention that the threat was to the southeast, the same direction he'd felt that unusual presence just seconds earlier.

To his knowledge, he was the only Soul Reaper currently patrolling in this area. Since South 28 was far into the interior of the Rukon District, it was certainly possible that reinforcements would show up soon, but Itachi couldn't afford to wait. Every second that passed was one that the Hollows could prey upon the residents of the district, and he was determined to stop them. He was little more than a blur to any observers below as he zipped over the rooftops, his training in the art of Shunpo serving him well.

The trio of Hollows had landed in a clearing up ahead. Studying the beasts as he rapidly approached, Itachi determined that they were standard Hollows, not unlike those he'd fought during his time as a student or the night he'd met Yoruichi. This would be as good an opportunity as any to see just how far his skills had come, and it would be his first official action against the main enemy of the Soul Society since his graduation.

Unfortunately for Itachi, the Hollows weren't the only beings currently in the clearing. Several houses were nearby, and their occupants were still trying to evacuate the area. The three Hollows were heading straight towards them, intent on making these residents their first meal of the night. Itachi moved as fast as he could, but even then, he still feared that he wouldn't make it in time.

That was when he saw a figure step out from the crowd, facing down the three Hollows alone. They wore a black cloak that didn't reveal much apart from a pair of black leggings that went up to just above the wearer's knees, followed by just a hint of fair skin. The legs combined with the slender arms that emerged from the cloak were enough to tell Itachi that the figure was female, but beyond that he could discern no further details. However, the figure then went into a stance that he immediately recognized; it was an opening form of standard Leaf Village taijutsu.

They have Shinobi training…

Training or not, Itachi knew it wouldn't be enough; his own unarmed first encounter with a Hollow was proof enough of that. Taijutsu might help the cloaked woman buy some time, but unless she demonstrated that strange burst of power Jiraiya had shown she wouldn't be able to land a killing strike. She had spirit energy, but from the irregular pulses Itachi could detect it clearly wasn't refined by formal training.

He leapt from the last rooftop and came down behind the trio of Hollows. Before the beasts were even aware of his presence, Itachi struck his opening blow. Rushing beneath the closest Hollow, he cut the legs out from under the monster, and as his foe fell, he then raised his blade and stabbed it through the neck. The Hollow immediately dissolved around Itachi, but he was already moving onto his next target.

The second Hollow had just enough time to turn towards Itachi and lash out with its claws, but the blow was clumsy and wild. Itachi effortlessly leapt over the attack and came down on the creature's upper back. He plunged his Zanpakutō into the back of the monster's neck, ending the creature's life with a single strike.

That was two Hollows down, but there was still one left, and that was the one closest to the cloaked woman. Itachi was impressed to see that she was holding her own. While he'd been dispatching the other two beasts, the third had moved to attack the woman, but so far its brute force attacks had failed to find their mark. She moved with lithe grace, rolling and flipping about to evade the Hollow's claws and teeth while striking back with kicks and punches where she found an opening. Unfortunately, her blows lacked the power needed to get through the Hollow's hide. She had the creature's attention solely on her, allowing the people she'd been with earlier to flee, but Itachi could already tell that this was just a delaying action.

It reminded him of that fateful night with Jiraiya, Yoruichi, and Unohana, but with a crucial difference; this time, the duty of rescuer was his, and he swiftly moved to carry it out. As the Hollow reared up and raised both its fists to bring down on the woman in what would surely be a fatal blow if it connected, Itachi moved in from the flank. Jumping into the air, he cut off the beast's left arm at the elbow before landing on its shoulder. The Hollow shrieked in pain and frantically swung its remaining arm, forcing Itachi to leap from his perch before he could strike the final blow. This was only a momentary setback, though. As soon as he hit the ground, he rushed forward. The creature made a desperate swipe with its claws, but before it could make contact Itachi had already thrust his sword into the monster's chest. It gave one last cry of pain and rage before becoming nothing more than dust on the evening wind.

Scanning the area, Itachi detected no further threats and sheathed his Zanpakutō. He then turned to the cloaked woman, who was looking right at him. The hood veiled her face in shadow, but from the way she carried herself it looked to Itachi as if she'd seen a ghost.

Well, technically speaking, you are a ghost.

Good point.

"Are you all right?" he asked, taking a step towards her.

For a good long moment, she didn't answer, regarding him in silent shock. When she finally did speak, though, it swiftly became his turn to be at a loss for words.

"Itachi… is that… is that really you?"

He couldn't suppress the gasp that followed even if he'd tried, nor could he keep his face from becoming nearly as pale as freshly fallen snow. He knew that voice.

And the last time he'd heard it…

…was on that fateful night fourteen years ago.

"Are you…" he said softly, his mind struggling to process what was happening, "Are you really…"

The woman standing before him took a step closer before raising her hands and pulling back her hood. Long raven hair fell freely, with straight bangs framing fair cheeks and onyx eyes…

…the same eyes that Itachi had inherited from her.

"Mother…" he whispered.

There was no mistaking it. It was really her.

Mikoto Uchiha.

Author's notes: Hey, I told you it was a long one! This is a chapter I've been looking forward to doing for a while, and I wanted to make sure I got it right. Of course, that's ultimately up to the readers, but the die's been cast. The story moves onward, and I'll try to get the next chapter out faster. No promises, though!

A quick word regarding Mikoto's marriage to Fugaku. In my run through the Naruto lore, I couldn't actually get confirmation if theirs was a match within the clan or if Mikoto came from outside it. Ultimately, I decided to have her be from within the clan, for reasons that will become clear later on.

Well, hope you liked the chapter! Please review, and I'll see you all next time!

P.S.

If you guys have questions regarding when a chapter will be released, just PM me instead of posting guest reviews repeatedly asking that. I promise I don't bite!