"Ah, that feels good." Kakashi, still wearing his usual lazy expression, slowly climbed out of bed. "Feels like it's time for lunch… What should I eat? Aside from training, eating is the only fun thing all day. Forget it, I'll take a walk."
Tap, tap, tap. "Hm? Isn't that Uchiha Itachi, the one praised alongside Shisui as the Uchiha clan's genius?" Kakashi thought of something. "You're Uchiha Itachi, right?" he scratched his head. "Ah, you're Kakashi of the Sharingan, the Copy Ninja of Konoha. An honor to meet you." Itachi's face was somber; he only glanced up before lowering his head again and walking on silently. "Itachi, you're already a capable shinobi. Some things… are unavoidable, so you—" Kakashi started, knowing what was to come.
"You know something?" Itachi's gaze suddenly went cold, his eyes bleeding red.
Kakashi instantly realized he'd spoken wrongly. He feigned ignorance. "Know what? Did something happen to you?"
"Oh, nothing. I'm just in a bad mood today." Itachi's eyes returned to normal, his tone flat. Then he walked away.
"It seems… that day is coming," Kakashi murmured, not moving to stop the tragedy.
"Have you decided, Itachi?" A masked man with a cat face stood before him. "Yes, I've decided." Itachi lowered his head, not looking at him. "I told you, you don't have to force yourself. If you can't, we'll handle it." "No. Let me do it. I said I've decided." "Very well."
"Itachi, I left your meal by the door." A gentle voice reached his ears, but to him it felt piercing. "Thank you, Mother…"
"What's with this schedule, and self-study so late…" Sasuke ran quickly along the Uchiha clan's streets, wanting to hurry home. "Who's there? …Huh? Gone? A trick of the eyes? Never mind, just get home." He ran on.
"Huh? What is this?" A bloody corpse lay before him. "Ah… this is…" His body trembled. "No… no way. Father… Mother…" Tears streamed as he stumbled toward his home. "No… they can't…"
"Father! Mother!" Sasuke entered, stepping into the living room. "Please, no… don't…" His eyes fell on his parents' corpses… and the brother standing opposite, blade in hand—Itachi.
"Sasuke? They were killed by me." Itachi's tone was cold. "Now I'll show you… Mangekyō Sharingan." Blood-red light filled Sasuke's sight, dragging him into endless, bloody visions. "Father, Mother… why, brother, why…" Sasuke screamed, unable to accept it.
"All of this was to test my capacity," Itachi said, expressionless.
"No… Brother, tell me it's false, that none of this is real…" Sasuke collapsed, tears flooding his eyes. "Brother…"
Itachi's face remained cold. "My foolish little brother. Why are you so weak? It's because you're too weak that things came to this. So hate me, live on in pain. When you gain eyes like mine, then come before me." "Brother… why…" Sasuke tried to speak but fainted. Turning away, Itachi's face softened. A single tear slid down his cheek. "Forgive me, Sasuke."
"You still went through with it, Itachi." A figure with silver hair stood in the dark.
"Hm? Hatake Kakashi. Did the Sandaime send you?" Itachi asked, surprised.
"Sandaime? No."
"Then forgive me, Kakashi. You know what you shouldn't. Mangekyō Sharingan—Tsukuyomi."
"What—?" Kakashi's face hardened. He hadn't expected Itachi to have mastered Mangekyō so soon.
"In this space, time flows by my control," Itachi said calmly.
"Argh!" Kakashi screamed, reminding himself: "It's an illusion—stay calm."
"Heh, true, it's an illusion. But the pain here is no different from reality. And this is only the beginning." Itachi himself was impressed by Kakashi's willpower…
"An impressive technique… but it seems you haven't fully mastered it." Kakashi caught his breath, thinking, "As expected of Uchiha Itachi. If it weren't his first time using it, even now, dealing with this would not have been so easy."
"You broke Tsukuyomi… Kakashi's mastery of the Sharingan truly is remarkable," Itachi admitted.
"Then it's my turn." Kakashi readied to weave signs. But Itachi didn't care. "I don't have time for this. End of the line, Kakashi—Dōjutsu: Amaterasu."
"What—?" Kakashi was stunned. "So soon after awakening Mangekyō, he's already grasped another power?" Black flames burst forth, consuming everything. "This technique is the ultimate physical attack. Tsukuyomi is the ultimate illusion. Even with Sharingan, without the Uchiha body you can't draw out its full power. Blame yourself for knowing too much, Kakashi. Farewell." With that, Itachi left.
The black fire still roared when a familiar voice echoed. "Mangekyō Sharingan." From the flames, a scarlet eye appeared. Its pupil was shuriken-shaped, ringed by three tomoe. Kakashi's left eye spun, a vortex opening to swallow the black flames. "Looks like my eye is stronger… No, if we truly fought, I'd only be able to defend. I'm still not strong enough. Eh, forget it. I'll deal with this later. For now, sleep." He turned away.
"Tsukuyomi and even Amaterasu…" Itachi clutched his forehead, exhausted, kneeling.
"It's done, Itachi?"
"Yes, Sandaime-sama. Please look after Sasuke."
"Very well." The Third Hokage nodded. With that, Itachi vanished. "Truthfully, I never wanted this," the Hokage muttered, cigarette smoke curling.
"You never change, Hiruzen." A bandaged old man appeared before him.
"Danzo? Shouldn't you be with Root? Why are you here?" The Third frowned.
"Do you think leaving behind an Uchiha survivor won't cause problems?" Danzo's eyes narrowed.
"You mean to wipe him out too? No. I won't. This was Itachi's final request—and Sasuke is just a child."
"You're still stubborn, Hiruzen. Always have been." Danzo's voice was cool. "I'll keep an eye on him, then."
"Do as you like. But don't you dare try anything." The Third exhaled smoke.
"…Where am I?" Sasuke opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling. "Was it all real?"
He looked around and found himself in a hospital bed. Getting up, he prepared to leave. "That's the last Uchiha, huh? Poor kid…" Several nurses whispered, not caring about Sasuke's feelings. He only lowered his head. "All of this is because I'm weak. If I had power… it wouldn't be like this. I will become strong. I'll kill that man."
"Sasuke?" A figure appeared beside him.
"Hm? Hokage-sama." Sasuke never expected the Hokage himself to stand before him.
The Sandaime had come to keep him from straying into darkness. "Sasuke, I know you're grieving. But you must live well. You're a genius of the Uchiha. Don't let me down."
Sasuke froze, then nodded quickly. Inside, he vowed: "I will become strong… Itachi…"
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