The night wind whipped against Menma's long robes, and the cloak behind him—embroidered with the nine-faced Suva-ka totem—unfurled beneath the blood-red moonlight.
In this genjutsu world constructed by the Book of the Vermilion Moon, Menma was the absolute sovereign. He could mold the people, the scenery, and even the behavioral patterns and dialogues of every entity within this realm at will. While it lacked the autonomous complexity of the "Limited Tsukuyomi" or the "Infinite Tsukuyomi," this was merely one aspect of the book's power.
"This Uchiha... why is he slaughtering his own kin?" Hikari asked, crossing her arms. A flicker of confusion played across her brow.
Even though she had been raised as a weapon, imprisoned, and sealed for centuries by the Uchiha—leaving her heart simmering with resentment—she had never once entertained the thought of wiping out the entire clan.
"Well, how should I put it..." Menma rubbed his chin, pondering Itachi's motivations.
"In the Mist Village, the Yuki clan was purged under the guise of rebellion; the Kaguya clan was suppressed and wiped out for the same reason." Seeing Hikari nod, Menma continued slowly. "The Nine-Tails' attack years ago dealt a heavy blow to Konoha, killing many, including the Fourth Hokage and his wife. More importantly, many saw the Sharingan reflected in the Nine-Tails' eyes."
"Trust vanished. Combined with the Uchiha's natural pride and friction with the villagers during law enforcement, resentment grew. Furthermore, the Military Police Force had vast authority; they could investigate any building in the village except the Hokage's office, including other noble clans."
"With the Senju clan disbanded and their bloodline thinning into the populace, the Uchiha became the strongest clan in the ninja world. As they say, the tallest tree catches the most wind."
"But those were just the prerequisites."
"Discontent within the clan was rising, and the whispers of rebellion grew louder. Without an outlet for that frustration, a coup was inevitable. The Konoha leadership exploited the loyalty of Shisui and Itachi, using them to gather intelligence on their own kin."
"Once the threat of rebellion became clear, Danzo Shimura proposed the extermination plan, to be carried out by Itachi. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, allowed it to happen."
"Under normal circumstances, Itachi couldn't have pulled it off. The clan had over ten elite Jonin with three-tomoe Sharingan, and his father, Fugaku, possessed the Mangekyō. But Itachi sought out Obito from outside the village, and together, they executed the massacre."
"Fugaku claimed to respect Itachi's choice, yet he stood by as hundreds of his clansmen were butchered."
"That is the script of the Uchiha Massacre."
As Menma finished his explanation, the three-eyed fox mask shifted slightly as he looked at Hikari. She thought of Shisui, whom she had fought, and the masked Obito whom Menma frequently teased.
"And what of Shisui?" she asked.
Though she had taken one of his eyes, he still possessed the Mangekyō. He should have had the power to stop it.
Menma shook his head. "Shisui's eye held 'Kotoamatsukami,' the power to rewrite a person's will. He told Hiruzen about it, who in turn told Danzo. Coveting that power, Danzo ambushed him and stole an eye. Shisui, wanting to prevent open conflict between the village and the clan, chose to commit suicide."
"Hmph." After hearing of their choices, Hikari let out a cold, haughty snort. "Since when does the Uchiha need validation from others?"
"Shisui failed the legacy of the Mangekyō. As for Itachi..." She looked down at the boy in the 'theater' below. "He didn't even realize he was walking into a trap, believing a massacre was a form of salvation? His capacity was truly that limited."
Though she viewed this from a detached perspective, she felt nothing but contempt for Itachi's choice. With the power of the Mangekyō, he could have changed everything, yet he chose the most devastating path possible.
"What about the girl?" Hikari asked, watching Izumi fall in a pool of blood once more.
As Izumi 'died' in the theater, the genjutsu reset. The cycle began anew, and Izumi found herself back at the start of the nightmare.
"She is Itachi's lover. Quite talented—she awakened two tomoe at seven and three tomoe before she was twelve," Menma said, watching Izumi struggle desperately to save anyone she could.
"Her Sharingan is indeed quite beautiful," Hikari said suddenly. "I want her. It won't interfere with your plans, will it?"
Standing on the roof, Menma spread his hands. "Do as you wish."
A smile touched Hikari's lips. She moved close, pressing a light kiss to Menma's cheek before he could react, then leaped from the roof.
Beneath the crimson moon, Menma touched the spot on his cheek where her lips had brushed.
"Heh... did a kitten just mark its territory?" he chuckled, watching her descend into the district and land in front of Izumi.
Down in the streets, Izumi—defeated once again by the phantom Itachi and facing imminent death—saw a figure drop from the sky. The shadow of the phantom Itachi was cut down in an instant.
The moonlight stretched Hikari's silhouette across the ground, the cold glint of her blade slicing through the artificial night.
"Do you wish to change all of this?"
Izumi sat weakly on the ground, looking up at the girl before her. The sheer aura of defiance and heroic grace radiating from Hikari filled her with sudden admiration.
"Please! Save everyone!" Izumi cried out, her mind nearing its breaking point.
Nearly a year had passed in the real world since she first entered this loop, yet she had found no way out. No matter where she ran, the Uchiha were slaughtered. The ANBU and Root ninjas guarded every exit. She couldn't even leave the district. Watching the man she loved murder the elderly and children over and over had left her soul exhausted.
Hikari walked slowly toward her and pressed her hand against Izumi, injecting the power of her Tsukuyomi seal into her body.
"If you want answers, then evolve your Sharingan."
As a seal manifested on the back of Izumi's hand, Hikari turned to leave, her voice lingering in the air.
"Right now, you don't even have the strength to carry the weight of your own despair."