A Night of Horror
Sasuke walked home with a smile on his face, his heart light despite the exhaustion of the day's training. The sun had long since set, and the streets of Konoha were bathed in the soft glow of the moon. He hummed a tune under his breath, his thoughts drifting to the Phoenix Fire Technique he had recently mastered. He couldn't wait to show it to his older brother, Itachi, who had always been his idol and inspiration.
"Naruto's Kido techniques are amazing," Sasuke mused as he walked. "But Nisan said I should focus on ninjutsu and my Sharingan. Still, it would be cool to learn those chants…"
As he approached the Uchiha compound, a sense of unease crept over him. The gates were wide open, and there was no one in sight. The usually bustling mansion was eerily silent, the darkness within seeming to swallow the light from the moon.
"Where is everyone?" Sasuke muttered, his voice trembling slightly. He stepped inside, his footsteps echoing in the empty courtyard. The absence of guards, the stillness—it was all wrong.
The Bloodstained Hall
Inside the mansion, Itachi Uchiha stood in the dimly lit hall, a bloodied katana in his hand. His face was streaked with tears, his expression a mask of anguish and resolve. The bodies of his clansmen lay scattered around him, their lifeless eyes staring into the void.
In the center of the room, Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha sat quietly at the table, their faces calm but sorrowful. They had known this moment would come, and they had chosen to face it with dignity.
"Is this your choice?" Fugaku asked, his voice low and steady.
Itachi's grip on the katana tightened, his knuckles white. "For Sasuke… for Konoha," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "This is the only way."
Fugaku nodded, his expression unreadable. "Then do it."
Mikito closed her eyes, a single tear sliding down her cheek. "Take care of yourself, Itachi."
Itachi's hand trembled as he raised the blade. "Goodbye, Mother… Father."
The katana fell, and the room was filled with the sound of silence.
Sasuke's Return
The front door creaked open, and Sasuke stepped inside, his cheerful voice cutting through the heavy air. "I'm home!"
His words died in his throat as he took in the scene before him. The hall was drenched in blood, the bodies of his parents lying motionless on the floor. And standing over them was Itachi, his beloved brother, his katana dripping with blood.
"Welcome home, Sasuke," Itachi said, his voice cold and devoid of emotion.
Sasuke's mind reeled, his heart pounding in his chest. "No… this can't be real. It's an illusion. It has to be!"
He drew a kunai from his pouch, his hands shaking but his resolve firm. "Who are you? How dare you impersonate my brother!"
Itachi's lips curled into a cruel smile. "My foolish little brother. Can't you see the truth? Or are you too weak to face it?"
Sasuke's Sharingan activated, the tomoe spinning rapidly as he tried to dispel the illusion. But the scene remained unchanged. His parents were dead, and Itachi—his brother—was the one who had killed them.
"No!" Sasuke screamed, his voice breaking. "You're not Itachi! You're not my brother!"
He lunged at Itachi, his kunai aimed at the man's heart. But Itachi moved faster, his foot connecting with Sasuke's chest and sending him flying out of the mansion. Sasuke crashed into a tree, the impact knocking the breath from his lungs.
The Chase
Sasuke struggled to his feet, his body aching but his mind clear. He remembered Naruto's teachings: Understand your environment. Don't be reckless. Survive.
He turned and ran, his legs carrying him as fast as they could. He didn't look back, didn't dare to. He could feel Itachi's presence behind him, closing in.
"You can't escape, Sasuke," Itachi's voice echoed in his ears, cold and mocking.
Sasuke's heart pounded as he pushed himself harder, his Sharingan allowing him to navigate the dark streets with ease. But it wasn't enough. Itachi was faster, stronger. He caught up to Sasuke in an instant, his hand closing around the younger boy's throat.
The Tsukuyomi
Itachi's kaleidoscope Sharingan spun, and Sasuke was pulled into the Tsukuyomi, a world of endless darkness and pain. He was forced to relive the massacre over and over again, watching as Itachi slaughtered their clan, their parents, everyone Sasuke had ever loved.
"No! Stop!" Sasuke screamed, his voice raw with anguish. "This isn't real! It can't be!"
But the visions continued, each one more vivid and horrifying than the last. Sasuke's mind began to fracture under the weight of the trauma, his screams echoing in the void.
The Final Blow
When Itachi finally released him, Sasuke collapsed to the ground, his body trembling and his mind shattered. He looked up at Itachi, his eyes filled with a mixture of hatred and despair.
"Why?" Sasuke whispered, his voice barely audible. "Why did you do this?"
Itachi's expression was unreadable as he looked down at his younger brother. "You're too weak to understand, Sasuke. But one day, you will. And when you do, you'll come for me."
He raised his foot, pressing it against Sasuke's face. "Run away, Sasuke. Run and cling to your pathetic life. And when you've gained the power to kill me, come find me."
With that, Itachi turned and walked away, leaving Sasuke broken and alone in the bloodstained hall.
The Aftermath
Sasuke lay on the ground, his body wracked with pain and his mind consumed by hatred. The image of Itachi's cold, merciless eyes burned into his memory, a constant reminder of the betrayal he had suffered.
"I'll kill you," Sasuke whispered, his voice trembling but filled with resolve. "I'll become stronger… and I'll kill you, Itachi."
As the moon shone down on the Uchiha compound, Sasuke's world had been irrevocably changed. The boy who had once idolized his brother was gone, replaced by a vessel of hatred and vengeance.
And somewhere in the shadows, Itachi walked away, his heart heavy with the burden of his choices. He had sacrificed everything—his family, his clan, his soul—for the sake of Konoha. And now, he would carry that weight alone.