Chapter 16: The truth.

"Again Sasuke." Kakashi ordered the young Uchiha, Sasuke panted staring at the large rock formation in front of him. Sweat poured down the boys face, his legs shook barely holding him up. He struggled to get air in his lungs and growled, he gripped his left hand and growled, chakra grew in his hand shining a blue white, a chirping noise sounded before his hand was enshrouded by the chakra, he roared running forward and slammed his hand into rock, Kakashi watched with a smirk. Sasuke skidded back and panted, he groaned and fell to his butt.

"Seems like you can only handle it twice." Kakashi said walking up, he looked at him panting. "It's not bad especially since you just began this jutsu." He said.

"How can I get it more?" Sasuke asked, Kakashi chuckled.

"Time, training."

"A faster way?" He asked, Kakashi smiled.

"Sasuke it takes time, you don't even have the jutsu mastered yet." He said.

"What do you mean?!" He snarled.

"The jutsu is a jab meant to puncture anything, so covering the hand is excellent, but you don't have the full power amount." He said, Sasuke pouted slightly.

"How do I master it like that then?" He asked.

"Pull chakra up in your hand." He said, Sasuke held his hand out and growled, his chakra began to grow. "See it covers your hand, but you ball your fist up when you strike, your hand needs to be straight out," He said motioning. "Gather the chakra in your palm where your jutsu will emanate from. It gives more power and strength." He said, Sasuke frowned and stared at his hand his chakra moved around and began to move back, he growled focusing more chakra. "Careful Sasuke." He said.

"Come on!" Sasuke growled then cried out falling to the ground twitching in pain, Kakashi ran up and turned the boy over and watched the mark on his neck pulse red.

"Stop your chakra now!" Kakashi ordered, Sasuke closed his eyes and focused before slumping with a slight twitch.

"Dammit." Sasuke panted.

"You need to learn control." Kakashi said.

"I know." He hissed and sat up with a sigh.

"Take a breather."

"I can't keep taking breaks!" He snapped. "It's already been nearly two weeks!" He said.

"I know Sasuke, and you'll get there, but you need to be able to control that mark, if not you're not going to be allowed to participate." Kakashi said. "Orochimaru is after you, if you continue to let that mark out, soon you wont be able to pull back and you'll die." He said, Sasuke looked down with a frown. "You have a goal in mind and I'm going to help you get that goal, but you have to listen." He said.

"Alright." Sasuke said.

"Take a breather then we're going to start your taijutsu training and speed." He said, Sasuke nodded and pulled his hitai-ate off and wiped his sweaty brow.

On a tree next to the empty training grounds a medium size black raven sat on the top branch looking down at the two sitting there, his eye shining bright red. He gave a caw and flew away quickly heading to the deep forest landing in front of a meditating man who sat in front of a large tree. He had fair skin and black hair pulled into a low ponytail and wore a blue shirt with a v-neck that had mesh across it and pants that reached his mid-calf and a white belt around his stomach. He opened his eyes that were shining red with the sharingan, the raven cawed and disappeared into smoke. He sighed quietly rubbing his eyes and pulled out a bottle of eye drops and put two into his eyes, he sighed blinking and looked out. 'What do I do?' He thought solemnly, he stood and pulled his cloak on his body fastening it closed and sighed looking at the black material with red and white clouds signifying his alliance with the Akatsuki. 'I will see what happens.' He thought and walked into the small shack where he had been hiding out keep an eye on Sasuke.

-*o*-

Sasuke stood across from Kakashi, the jounin had his hitai-ate pulled up revealing his sharingan, Sasuke's sharingan shined as well. "Begin!" Kakashi said, Sasuke ran forward pumping chakra into his body giving him more speed, Kakashi followed keeping up with him. Sasuke threw punch after punch and kicks which Kakashi dodged.

"More speed." Kakashi instructed, Sasuke growled and swung faster, Kakashi groaned as he was struck by Sasuke's hand, Sasuke smirked and swung faster. Kakashi poured chakra into his arms and moved faster, Sasuke swung his fist and Kakashi did as well, they slammed into each other and pushed against each other, the ground shook and began to break up, Kakashi smirked as Sasuke growled and poured more chakra in his hand.

"Take it easy Sasuke." Kakashi warned the boy, he groaned pushed harder, Kakashi stumbled and Sasuke hit the ground breaking it up, he panted shook before falling to the ground again twitching in pain. Kakashi walked up and touched his shoulder, Sasuke panted and his eyes closed and he passed out, Kakashi sighed quietly and looked around.

-*o*-

Sasuke opened his eyes and groaned in frustration realizing he passed out. "Dammit."

"You're doing better." Kakashi said, Sasuke looked at him.

"Not enough." He muttered. "I can't even stay awake!" He said. "And I'm no closer in mastering this stuff!" He said. "This stupid mark." He grumbled and rubbed his neck.

"It-"

"If you say it takes time, I swear they will never find your body!" He growled, Kakashi arched his silver eyebrow and smirked.

"It's frustrating but really you're doing good. The damage from that exam you shouldn't be moving yet! You've mastered Lightning affinity in a week and the chidori on top of that. Your taijutsu takes training and patience." He said, Sasuke got up with a snort and stuffed his hands in his pocket. "Sasuke?" Kakashi questioned.

"I'm going for a walk." He said silently telling the jounin to leave him be, Kakashi sighed and leaned against the tree as Sasuke walked away.

The boy walked to a clearing and looked at his burned hands and growled in frustration. "I'm still weak. I'll never catch up to him." He said.

"What if I come to you." A chilling voice said, Sasuke whipped around and stared at his brother Itachi standing there, he gulped.

"Kakashi if this is a training trick-"

"Otouto." He said and looked at him his eyes shining blood red, Sasuke growled and shifted back ready to attack. "You've come far." He said, Sasuke snarled and ran forward at him with a roar.

Kakashi jumped at the loud thud come from Sasuke's direction, he sighed and walked towards the field.

Kakashi walked up seeing smoke in the air from a fireball jutsu but from the ground as well, but he wasn't prepared for Sasuke to come flying out of the smoke and crash into him. Both tumbled to the ground with a cry of pain, Sasuke shook blood leaking from his lip, he growled.

"Sasuke what are you doing?" Kakashi scolded.

"Look!" He barked, Kakashi watched as a figure appeared from the smoke and finally revealed Itachi.

"Impossible." He whispered.

"Kakashi, it's been a long time." He said. "No wonder my otouto is strong, being taught by you." He said.

"Shut up!" Sasuke snarled and launched at him, Kakashi got up and watched. Sasuke threw a kick towards the rogue but he leaned back and brought his knee up nailing Sasuke in the gut, he coughed and slumped, Itachi kicked him back and he skidded and slumped.

"You should listen to what your elder has to say, you may be strong but you are still hotheaded." Itachi said walking up.

"Raikiri!" Itachi looked to see Kakashi charging him with his right hand shining a bright white emitting a loud chirping sound.

Itachi let out a sigh closing his eyes and opening them again, the eyes shined bright red, Kakashi looked away but grunted as his muscles wouldn't move fast before he completely stopped short of Itachi his arm still chirping loudly. He growled shaking but couldn't move his body, he shook as Itachi made eye contact with him and he felt like he had giant nails in his body.

"What.." He growled shaking.

"I have business, but not with you, so stay out of it." Itachi said kicking the jounin to the ground, he groaned laying on the ground shaking and watched as Itachi walked up to Sasuke lifting him by his shirt.

"We need to fix this." Itachi said then blinked as Sasuke disappeared from his hands.

"Ushi, u, saru, tatsu, ne, tori, ushi, mi, inu, tora, saru chidori!!" Sasuke snarled charging the older Uchiha but had his sharingan activated this time, Itachi watched his moves carefully before shifting to a defense attack position and took in a deep breath "Katon: Gōryūka no Jutsu!" Itachi said, fire billowed out in the shape of a huge dragon. Sasuke grunted and flipped out of the way just in time but tripped and fell backwards.

"Why are you here!?" Sasuke growled at him.

"To do something important that needs to be done." He said, Sasuke growled and threw punch after punch at him, Itachi dodged and moved faster than what Sasuke could keep up. Itachi grabbed his arm yanking it behind him, Sasuke let out a cry as his shoulder was moved in an awkward position. He grunted and glared at his older brother, he smirked and poked his shoulder and neck a few times. Sasuke groaned and fell to the ground shaking in pain.

"Leave him alone!" Kakashi said pushing himself up slowly.

"You are getting in my way." Itachi said. "I have important things to do."

"What?! Torment your brother more!? Betray everyone again?!" Kakashi said standing but was wobbling, Itachi sighed closing his eyes and focusing.

"Yaei-chi kekkai." He said, a blue dome shined around them and the area.

"What the?" Kakashi rasped and groaned before rushing forward towards Itachi. The Uchiha spun around and kicked Kakashi in the head and he hit the ground right next to Sasuke.

"Look at me." He said.

"Like hell." Sasuke rasped, Itachi sighed and closed his eyes, he flinched slightly before opening them.

"Genjutsu: Shiranui." He said pointed, they watched as a purple wave shot towards them, they blue flames appeared on their bodies.

"It's a genjutsu! It's not real!" Kakashi said through gritted teeth as his skin burned.

"Then why does it hurt so damn much!?" Sasuke groaned.

"This is created with dark chakra." Itachi said walking. "It may be a genjutsu but it does do damage." He said and bent down. "I have something important to do." He said grabbing Sasuke jaw and stared into his eyes. Sasuke's eyes widened before his body stiffened and started shaking.

"Sasuke." Kakashi groaned, Itachi grabbed his jaw looking into his eyes and Kakashi went stiff shaking as well.

-*o*-Genjutsu-*o*-

Kakashi looked as he appeared next to Sasuke. He pulled the boy up, they looked around the negative space. "What's going on?"

"It's time for you to know the truth." Itachi's voice echoed in the space. "Sasuke I told you lie after lie to protect you."

"Protect me!?" Sasuke snarled looking around. "You're a mass murderer who killed my family!" He yelled into the dark.

"The family you knew and the family I knew were two different ones." Itachi said. "You knew the calm, loyal to Konoha clan." He said. "Kakashi you know what I'm saying." Itachi said, Kakashi growled. "The Uchiha clan was pushed to the side, separated from Konoha for being suspected of a coup d'etat." He said, both grunted. "Anbu were assigned to watch the clan closely. They wanted to overthrow Konoha and become the leaders." He said. "So Konoha sent in a spy... I was that spy." He said appearing, Sasuke shook.

"You're lying! I would of-"

"You were too young. You were kept in the dark. I could guarantee once you got older, father would of told you everything and pulled you into that darkness as well." Itachi said.

"But! Father said -"

"He thought I was the spy for the Uchiha clan, to tell them what Konoha was up to, but actually I was the opposite. I spied on the clan, got the information and gave it to Konoha." He said.

"Why?! You were an Uchiha!!!" Sasuke yelled.

"When I was four, the third great ninja was coming to an end. But I saw so much death and destruction, it turned my stomach. I wanted peace. The council used that and had me become the spy to keep peace. Had the clan attacked and taken down Konoha, other nations would join in and our village would have been wiped from the map." He said. "Hurizen tried other ways but it didn't work because of one man." He said.

"Who?" Kakashi groaned.

"Shimura Danzo." He said. "While Hurizen tried peaceful negotiations, Danzo had already decided there was no hope for the clan." He said. "Now I was not the only double spy." He said. "Do you remember Shisui?" He asked, Sasuke gulped remembering the young Uchiha. "He was my best friend, he was on Konoha's side, he wanted peace as well.." He said and sighed.

Light shined from the side making both immobile ninja flinch before images appeared. They were greeted by a young anbu clad Itachi and Shisui standing on a cliff by a river.

"It … no longer looks like the Uchiha coup can be prevented." Shisui said. "And if civil war erupts in Konoha, the other villages will invade for sure. True war will break out." He said, Itachi gulped. "When I tried to stop the coup using the koto'amatsukami … Danzo stole my right eye." He said turning showing Itachi his right eye was closed and had blood running down it, the eyelid had an indent showing the eye was totally gone. "He didn't trust me. He intends to protect the village his way, no matter what it takes or how it looks." He said. "I suspect he'll come for my left eye as well so I'm going to give it to you before he has the chance." He said, Itachi shook with a quiet whimper.

Shisui pulled his eye out and held his bloody hand out to Itachi.

"You're the only one I can count on, my true best friend. Please protect the village and the Uchiha both." He said. Itachi took the eye and sighed.

"But I .." Itachi started.

"This is not the only power I'm giving you... the mangekyou sharingan." He said, Itachi gasped.

"Shisui! You can't!" He protested.

"I'm not going to last long. Take it as a gift, my dying wish." He said, Itachi sighed looking at him. "What's with that look of yours? Even like this I can see your face easily you know." He teased slightly and put his hand on Itachi's shoulder. "A worried expression doesn't look good on you. You must always be calm my friend." He said. "That's who Itachi Uchiha is. I'm positive you can do this." He said. "So don't worry it'll be fine." He smiled with a tilt of his head. Itachi shook before looking down.

"I will carry on your will for the Uchiha." He said.

"From now on, you may be force to walk down a long, dark path. One filled with pain and suffering." He said. "I'm sorry I can't be with you through it. Still I hope you don't falter from it, keep moving forward as a Konoha ninja." He said squeezing Itachi's shoulder. "I believe in you. That's why I can ask you to carry my will and the mangekyou." He said turning away, Itachi looked up at him, he sighed. "Thank you for everything." He said. "This is the end for me, but the beginning for you." He said. "It's time. Make a new way for yourself with your own hands." He said. "I know you can." He said and sighed shaking. Itachi sighed looking at him and gulped remembering all the great times with his friend. "See you, my friend." He said and fell from the cliff, Itachi stumbled up missing his hand and watched as he fell to his death into the river. Itachi shook and sighed as he felt his sharingan morph.

"I promise Shisui." He said quietly.

-*o*-

"This can not continue!" Koharu said, Itachi bowed to the council listening to them.

"Enough!" Hurizen said. "I will come up with something, Itachi, buy me as much time as possible." He said, the boy nodded.

-*o*-

"Despite what Hurizen said, he will move to protect Konoha if push comes to shove. That's the man he is." Danzo said to Itachi later that night. "The moment the Uchiha clan created this coup, they sealed their fate of annihilation, including your little brother who is innocent." He said. "But there is a way to save him before this comes." He said. "If things come to pass, your brother will know everything. And if he witnesses a Konoha shinobi slaughter his clan, it will make him hate Konoha. Then he'll have to die as well." He said, Itachi glared at him.

"Is that a threat?" He asked.

"No, it's giving you a choice." Danzo said. "Either align with the Uchiha and be killed. Or side with Konoha, save your precious little brother and help us eliminate all other Uchiha." He said. "No matter what, things must be dealt with before any mayhem can arise. The only ninja that can be trusted with this is you Itachi." He said. Itachi looked at him with a blank face all the while steaming that that man was the cause of his Shisui's death. "Itachi, it will be a painful mission for you, but on the other hand it will allow your brother to be spared. I know you care for Konoha. Will you accept this mission?" He asked.

Itachi turned without a word and walked away from the man. He traveled deep into the woods of Fire finding a man who wore a full faced orange mask with black marks on it and a single eye hole of the left side.

"How did you know of me?" He asked.

"You slipped through extra tight Konoha security to examine the Nakano shrine's secret stone. Only Uchiha's know of this location. After, I studied your movements I know of your character and ideology is." He said.

"That saves time." He said with a chuckle. "You know I am an Uchiha myself and I hate Konoha and my clan."

"I have terms first." He said, the man looked at him. "I will help you exact revenge on the Uchiha clan, but you must not touch Konoha. Nor Uchiha Sasuke." He said.

-*o*-

Sasuke and Kakashi found themselves in the Uchiha main house. Sasuke shook as he saw his mother and father sitting still as Itachi appeared behind him. "So you've aligned with the other side eh.." His father said.

"Father, mother … I ..."

"We already know Itachi." His mother said.

"Itachi promise me this." He said, the boy looked at him. "Take care of Sasuke." He said. Itachi shook as tears poured down his cheeks, he held his katana up to their backs.

"I will." He said shakily.

"Do not fear it, you chose this path right? Compared to you, our pain will be over in an instant, even if our philosophies differ, I am still proud of you." He said, Itachi let out a choked sob shaking, tears poured down his face and on his hands. "You are a truly considerate child." He said as the blade came closer to his back.

'I regret not telling you everything before it'd come to this Sasuke.' Itachi thought as the young eight year old Sasuke walked in on the scene in shock.

"I killed the clan and took on the title as a rogue ninja. I was sent as a spy to the Akatsuki group, to make sure they never could complete their goals." He said. "I've lied to you your whole life, but no longer." Itachi said.

Sasuke panted shaking, tears pouring from his cheeks, Kakashi looked at Sasuke shaking and stayed silent. The world began to shake and slowly disappear.

Sasuke panted and tipping forward emptying his stomach.

"Why?" He rasped looking at Itachi.

"I did it for you." He said. "Now fight."

"What?" Sasuke whispered.

"You must lose that." He said pointing. "This is the only way." He said bringing his chakra up around him. Sasuke panted getting up slowly before he fell.

"I can't." He said.

"Get up!" Itachi barked grabbing him by his shirt flinging him over, he grunted as he was cut up a little from the rocks. He stumbled up and panted, his sharingan flickered to life and he panted.

"What is this suppose to do!?!" Sasuke yelled. "My life is still over!"

"No it's not." Itachi said. "If Orochimaru gets his hands on you. Then it will be. Pull your chakra up." He said.

"I-"

"Do it!" He barked, Sasuke focused shaking and groaned as the seal pulsed harshly causing him to fall to his knees.

"Sasuke." Kakashi said wanting to run to the boy but had no strength.

"Stay out of it Kakashi." Itachi said. "It has to be done." He said looking over at his brother as he shook in pain as the flame marks spread on his skin.

'It will be difficult, the mark hasn't been fully activated.' Itachi thought. His red chakra formed a figure over him and a sword appeared shining the same color.

Sasuke screamed in agony as the flames shined and shifted on his body, he looked up as marks appeared on his skin that began to lighten to a sickly gray shade.

The skin on the mark pushed up slightly, Sasuke screamed in horror feeling it and fell to the ground. He began to convulse as the skin and mark pulled up, Itachi walked up and as the mark pulled out again, he brought sword down. Kakashi cried out in shock as blood shot in the air and Sasuke's body when still. The mark shined and pulled back from his body before being sucked into the sword and disappeared.

Itachi sighed rubbing his eyes and bent down to Sasuke who shook and looked at him through a hazy exhausted eye.

"Itachi.." He rasped.

"Next time Otouto." He said and tapping Sasuke's head. He let out a grunt before he passed out. Itachi stood up and sighed quietly and looked at Kakashi who struggled to get up and over to Sasuke.

"Kakashi." He said walking up, the jounin looked at him. "Thank you for taking care of my brother." He said. "Keep him safe and in line." He said, the jounin nodded and looked at the boy. "He'll be weak and probably unconscious for a while, but he'll be okay. Orochimaru's grip is no more."

"Itachi... I ..." He stopped.

"Hmph." Itachi said and disappeared into crows, the barrier disappeared. The weight in Kakashi's body disappeared and he could finally stand. He walked over to Sasuke lifting the boy in his arms and looked at him with a sighed. 'What's going to happen now?' He thought and sighed.