Here, Kazeo was in Hokage's offid there Uchiha Itachi was grieving the death of his teammate, who was killed by a masked shinobi while esc the Fire Daimyo."

  (Itachi's and 3rd P.O.V. bined)

  Four year old Itachi stood in the middle of a ruined field, the air thick with the st of blood and burning flesh. His tiny hands ched as he looked around—the bodies of enemy ninja y scattered, the result of a battle he hadn't fought, but had been forced to witness. His father stood nearby, sword in hand, his Sharingan fading bato dark eyes.

  "This is the world of shinobi, Itachi," Fugaku said, his voice devoid of emotion. "Strength decides everything. If you want to protect, you must be strong."

  Itachi, too young to respond, merely nodded. But inside, something cracked.

  This was the world he was meant to live in.

  A world soaked in blood.

  -----

  By the time I was five, I had already surpassed the other children in the . Even the older ones. My father rarely praised me ht, but I could see it in his eyes—the quiet expectation.

  "Itachi, e with me," he said one evening after training.

  We walked in silehe twilight casting long shadows over the Uchiha pound. Finally, he stopped under a cherry blossom tree.

  "You have a gift," he said. "And with gifts e responsibilities. The Uchiha eeds strong shinobi. Do you uand?"

  I nodded. I always nodded.

  That night, as I watched Sasuke sleep, his tiny fingers curled into a fist, I wondered—what would he think of all this when he grew up?

  Would he be forced to walk the same path as me?

  Would he have to uand war?

  I hoped not.

  ----

  At home, life was different. My mother, Mikoto, was gentle—her hands warm wheucked me in at night, her voice soft when she hummed lulbies. And Sasuke…

  Sasuke was still a baby, barely able to walk, but whenever he giggled, I felt something lighter in my chest.

  "Look at him, Itachi," My mother whispered as she cradled the infant. "Sasuke will look up to you. He'll need you."

  I looked at my little brother, sleeping peacefully in my mother's arms. I reached out aly touched Sasuke's tiny fingers.

  A silent promise formed in his heart.

  "I'll protect him" I whispered.

  Mikoto smiled, stroking his hair. "I know you will."

  ----

  Fmes devoured houses, the air was filled with the screams of civilians, and above it all—a monster.

  The Kyūbi roared, its massive form looming over Konoha, tails thrashing like whips of destru.

  Itachi clutched Sasuke tightly, his small body shielding his baby brother from the chaos. His mother was with them, eyes frantic as she tried to find safety.

  "Where's father?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.

  "Fighting," Mikoto answered, her expression tense.

  Itachi knew what that meant. The Uchiha were otlefield, trying to subdue the beast.

  And then—it happened.

  A shadow moved past the Kyūbi, leaping through the air. The Kyūbi's eyes—red, twisted with boe—locked onto that figure.

  Itachi's breath hitched.

  A man.

  A masked man.

  Even at six, his instincts screamed that this was no ordinary ninja. There was something wrong, something unnatural.

  Then, just as quickly as the chaos began, it ehe Fourth Hokage's chakra fred, and then the Kyūbi was gone. Sealed aed.

  Itachi exhaled shakily, still clutg Sasuke as he watched the vilge burn.

  'How many had died tonight?'

  The monster was gone, but the scars would remain.

  And so would the shadow of that masked man.

  -----

  "Itachi, let's spar!"

  Shisui grinned, flipping his kunai in his hand. He was older, faster, but Itachi didn't mind. Shisui was the only one who could challenge him—his only real friend.

  Itaodded, taking a stance.

  They cshed, kunai meeting in a blur of motion. Itachi moved effitly, dodging each strike with minimal effort. But Shisui was uable.

  He grinned suddenly. "Too slow!"

  A flicker of motion, and Itachi felt the cold press of a kunai at his neck.

  He exhaled, l his own bde. "You win."

  Shisui ughed, stepping back. "You're way too serious, you know that?"

  Itachi didn't answer. His mind was elsewhere. If this were real bat, I'd be dead.

  That wasn't acceptable.

  He had to bee stronger.

  For Sasuke.

  For the vilge.

  ------

  In my life , there is also a girl who talks to me regurly.

  Her name , Izumi Uchiha. She is the daughter of a lower-ranked Uchiha, but she had a fire ihat remind me of my mother.

  She would always find excuses to talk to me.

  "Itachi-kun, did you eat today?" she'd ask, peeking over my shoulder while I trained.

  I would nod, barely aowledging her.

  "You should smile more," she oold me with a pout. "It'd suit you."

  I didn't know how to respond to that.

  She was… different. Always trying to make me ugh, always looking for a way t warmth into my world.

  Maybe, in another life, I could have let myself enjoy that.

  But I didn't have time for distras. Not when I had a goal.

  ------

  By the time I was seven,

  I had already surpassed the Academy curriculum.

  The instructors didn't hesitate to let me graduate early.

  That's when I ced into Team 2, alongside Tenma Izumo and Shinko Inari, under a Jonin-sensei whose name ruly mattered to me.

  Tenma was loud, brash, and fident—a stark trast to my silent nature. "We're gonhe best team in history!" he decred on our first day.

  Shinko rolled her eyes. "Only if you stop talking and actually train."

  I didn't say anything, but deep down, I khat no matter how strong they were… they weren't prepared for the real world.

  ----

  After a year of fwless teamwork and tless successful missions, Team 2 had earned a stroation.

  We weren't just anroup of fresh Genin—we were reized and trusted.

  And because of that, we were given an honorary mission—esc the Land of Fire's daimyō to Konoha. A prestigious task, o to show off Konoha's strength and discipline.

  Tenma was ecstatic. "This is it! This is the kind of mission oes get, right? We're practically famous now!"

  Shinko rolled her eyes but smiled. "It's just an esission. Don't get ahead of yourself."

  I remained silent, them both. Something about this mission didn't sit right with me. Not because of the daimyō or the responsibility, but because my instincts told me that something… was ing.

  And I was right.

  We were Team 2—Our seenma, Shinko, and I.

  A team of graduates.

  When we were assigo escort the Fire Daimyō, I didn't expect it to be anything more than a routine mission. Twelve guards apanied us, their presence making it seem like no danger could touch us.

  Then he appeared.

  A man, cloaked in bck, his mask cealing his face. He walked toward us with unnatural ease, as if he feared nothing.

  The moment our eyes met, I felt it—power.

  Then, without warning, the world shattered.

  A genjutsu.

  I fought against it, breaking free. So did Tenma.

  The masked man tilted his head, intrigued. "Oh? Two of you resisted?" His voice was smooth, amused. "Iing."

  Tenma stepped forward, kunai drawn. "I don't know who you are, but you made a mistake attag us! Genjutsu is my specialty!"

  "Tenma, wait—"

  He lunged.

  The masked man chuckled. "A ninja who ot calmly assess a situation will die."

  Shing.

  Blood.

  Tenma's body jerked, eyes wide in shock as the bde slid through him.

  I took a step forward, but it was too te.

  A waterfall of blood poured from his chest as the masked man yanked his on free.

  Tenma's firembled, reag up as if trying to grasp something.

  "Itachi… was I… fast?"

  My breath hitched. "Yeah," I whispered. "You were fast."

  Then Tenma stopped moving.

  and I froze.

  "Those who rush forward, recklessly seeking distin, die young," the masked man murmured. He crouched beside Tenma's corpse, as if studying it. "That is the reality of the ninja world. But it's already too te to teach you that, hm?"

  His eyes flicked to me.

  "But you..." He straightened. "You did not fall. You did not charge blindly. You tried to assess both your power and mine." A chuckle. "Wonderful, Uchiha Itachi."

  My hands ched into fists. "Who are you, How do you know my name ?"

  He tilted his head. "I know everything about the Uchiha."

  He turned his gaze toward the Daimyō. "I only want his life. The rest of you leave."

  I stepped forward. "I won't let you."

  A sigh. "Then, like your friend... you will die."

  He moved. Faster than anything I had ever seen. I barely had time to react. My body screamed to move, but—

  To be tinued....