Prologue: Two Years After the Massacre
Sasuke's nights were no longer his own.
At first, the dreams were vague-flashes of a man with sharp eyes and flowing hair, standing atop a mountain, overlooking a vast land. His name echoed through the void: Indra.
The dreams grew more vivid, replaying memories of a distant past. Sasuke witnessed a young Indra training, his father Hagoromo watching over him. He saw Indra's sheer talent, his natural grasp of power, and his early use of the Sharingan. But as the visions continued, Sasuke saw something else, a growing resentment, a hunger for recognition, and a darkness that crept into Indra's heart.
Sasuke learned the truth: Indra was the ancestor of the Uchiha, the progenitor of his clan. The same pride, the same fire that burned within Indra was within him. But that fire had consumed Indra, turning him against his family and setting in motion a cycle of hatred.
Sasuke watched as Indra fell into a path of destruction. He saw how a dark figure-a strange, inky black being-whispered into his ancestor's ear, fanning the flames of his bitterness. It was subtle at first, planting seeds of doubt, feeding his frustration. Sasuke didn't know what this creature was, but something about it made his skin crawl.
He awoke each night in a cold sweat, his hands clenched into fists.
For the first time since the massacre, Sasuke truly questioned his rage. He still burned with vengeance, still wanted to cut down Itachi with his own hands-but he began to wonder; Would he end up like Indra? Would his hatred consume him before he even got his chance?
Sasuke decided then and there, he would not let his emotions control him.
--
Chapter 1: The Growth of an Heir
Timeskip:
The dreams never stopped.
Each night, Sasuke saw more of his ancestors, more of his clan's history. He watched generations of Uchiha warriors, brilliant yet doomed to repeat the same mistakes. He saw the cycle of hatred woven into their blood.
He also learned from them.
Instead of dwelling in grief, Sasuke spent his free time experimenting with what he had seen. Ninshu, the original form of jutsu before hand signs were needed. Hagoromo, could mold his chakra freely, shaping it with will alone. If Indra was capable of it, then so was he.
It took months of relentless practice, but one day, Sasuke managed to surround his hand in pure lightning without a single hand sign. The chakra felt wild, unstable, but it was progress.
When he applied traditional chakra molding afterward, the results were astounding. His control had increased exponentially.
This led him to refine both his Fire and Lightning Release techniques, using knowledge from past Uchiha. His fire jutsu became more polished, his lightning sharper and more lethal.
But he didn't stop there. He pushed his body, undergoing brutal physical conditioning, sculpting himself into a weapon. If he wanted to surpass Itachi, he had to be the strongest Uchiha in history.
And to do that, he would need Madara's knowledge.
But those dreams hadn't come yet.
--
Chapter 2: Team 7's Bell Test
Sasuke stood at the ready, his sharp eyes locked onto Kakashi, who was effortlessly dodging Naruto's reckless attacks.
"Sasuke! A little help here?!" Naruto called out as he struggled, caught in a snare Kakashi had set up.
Sasuke didn't reply immediately. His mind was already moving three steps ahead.
He pulled a smoke bomb from his pouch and tossed it between Naruto and Kakashi.
By the time the smoke cleared, Naruto and Sasuke were gone.
--
The trio regrouped in the forest, hidden behind thick foliage.
"Listen," Sasuke said, his voice level. "We have to work together."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Since when do you like teamwork?"
Sasuke's gaze darkened. "Since I learned that fighting alone against someone like Kakashi is suicide." He glanced toward their sensei's position. "He's a jonin. We're just kids. If we fight him separately, he'll crush us."
Naruto scoffed. "So what do we do?"
Sasuke smirked slightly. "We think like shinobi."
--
The plan worked.
By using Naruto's unpredictability, Sakura's intelligence, and Sasuke's tactical prowess, the trio managed to snatch a bell from Kakashi.
Kakashi, clearly impressed, relayed his famous lesson:
"Those who break the rules are trash, but those who abandon their comrades are worse than trash."
The words struck Sasuke deeper than he expected. He thought of his clan, their infighting, their betrayals, their endless pursuit of power.
"I refuse to be like them," he thought.
One day, he would face Itachi. But he would do so with a clear mind, not a blind rage.
For the first time since the massacre, Sasuke had taken a step toward breaking the cycle.
Tbc