Chapter 12 Path of darkness

Itachi had been on a weeklong mission with his group to hunt down a group of ninjas that had been in the Country of Fire for awhile now. The Lord was getting nervous and was getting complaints on attacks by a few ninjas in black cloaks with red clouds.

They had found one of them but the strength of these ninjas had been understated, he had already lost one member of his ANBU team already as they started to chase this ninja. He was fast, nearly as fast as he was and he had on a forehead protector that had a slash over it, from the symbol it looked like he was an ex ninja from Rock, which made sense with the earth style attacks that they had come up against.

Suddenly the ground shot up at them and Itachi managed to dodge but Raven was caught as giant and sharp rocks the size of trees came out of the ground and crushed the elite ninja. That only left him and Crane and by the way Crane was moving he could read his body and tell he was rattled. He was about to bark at him to get his mind focused when they had to dodge what looked like a giant shuriken

Itachi activated his sharingan as the enemy game into view. He started to make hand seals and he matched it taking the jutsu for himself. At the same time they both cried out, "Earth Release: Stone Pillars!"

Giant stone pillars shot out of the ground all over the place, some of them colliding together trying to smash the other ninja between them. His partner came up behind the cloaked ninja with a sword and slashed into the ninja. Itachi watched as the ninja's body turned into earth as he released it was an Earth clone, he was going to warn his comrade when a stone blade pierced his chest. The ANBU looked down almost like he was confused but when it was pulled out the body fell to the ground and died very quickly from the fatal wound.

Itachi new saw the ninja with some type of earth like armour on his arms and legs, one of the arms were bladed as well. It was too bad he hadn't seen the ninja use that technique, he would have liked to have added that to his growing list of abilities. Itachi fired off kunai with steel lines attacked trying to immobilise him. He was satisfied when he saw most of the wires holding him in place.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Missile!" Itachi roared out as a giant flaming dragon smashed into the ninja. With those wires there holding him there was no way for him to use a replacement technique the wires were specially designed to disrupt that. But there was a drawback to using the technique he had, and that was for a small moment you lost sight of the person you were trying to incinerate. In that moment the ninja had somehow called more earth together and had a shell covering himself.

Itachi was getting slightly frustrated but he kept himself calm and detached as usual. In battle he found that thinking logically and keeping yourself detached from emotions helped to keep you totally focused. He didn't think about the people he lost, or how strong this opponent was he was only thinking of winning, and how to win. He was about to hit the dome with enough fire to superheat it but thankfully he kept his guard up.

He jumped back as the ninja burst out of the ground. Itachi was grazed on the chest but nothing much more difficult.

"I have to admit you're better than the others," The black clad ninja smirked.

Itachi didn't bother to replay with words but with actions, he started to cast an illusion around the ninja. He wasn't the best but he knew a few good ones that would let him get in a good shot. While the ninja was busy trying to get out of the illusion Itachi jumped up and pulled his sword out, attacking from above.

But the enemy ninja moved just getting out of the illusion and his blade sliced into him but it wasn't fatal. Itachi then received a blow to his face shattering his mask as he flew into a tree. He moved as soon as he could knowing of a follow up but a kunai hit his arm, he winced but kept on fighting the enemy ninja. They continued to fight on never stopping to give the other a break, but it was a tough opponent.

Itachi began looking for an opening, any opening. He used a landslide technique that caused the ground under the ninja to become unstable, it was then that Itachi threw a few smoke bombs and several kunai with explosive tags into the smoke making large explosions. The enemy ninja jumped out singed but still alive

He began looking for the other ninja and felt movement to his left, he grinned and dodged the sword and gripped the ninja by the throat, "Time to end this little ninja."

Itachi gave only look with his eyes that seemed to say to him that he knew something, "Yes I agree with that."

Then there was a sharp pain in the ninja as a blade was shoved through his chest from his back and into Itachi, only a split second later Itachi became a puff of smoke as the shadow clone vanished. The ninja managed to look behind him seeing the real Itachi there. "Damn...got me with my own move..."

Itachi let the ninja fall dead just like he had with his partner that the ninja had was then that he suddenly felt a presence behind him and turned but was hit in the stomach, then in the face in a blow that was harder then he could remember ever being hit before.

Itachi coughed up blood feeling a loose tooth somewhere in the back of his mouth, the taste of iron from his blood was in his mouth as he looked up at the new comer. The last one had been difficult but this man, he was on a whole other level, he was superior in every way to the man he just beat but he was tired and this man was fresh. There was also something strange as well, the man's eyes they looked like the eyes of some kind of bloodline like his own or the Hyuga's. A few black circular lines in pale eyes, he couldn't remember ever hearing about such a thing before.

"So you are the mighty Itachi, I've heard of your skill and I must say to take down one of my men means that you are indeed strong. But you're not stronger than I am, and yet I see you want to fight on, why do you fight Itachi?"

"Why not?" Itachi said getting to his feet, "I am Itachi Uchiha and I am the strongest in my clan. I have no equal and I will not lose to someone else." Itachi said calmly as he started to gather more chakra.

"The strongest? Then you have no one to push you beyond you limits," the man said and Itachi paused for a moment as the man said something that he had known for years about himself. "Yes I know you very well or the type that you are. You strive to be the perfect ninja, the best that there has ever been but for what purpose? Even if you become the strongest with no purpose there is no meaning to it all, but you've gotten me interested in you so here is what I'll offer you."

"I can offer you skills and abilities that no one would know about, I can show you things that will make you the true equal to no one. Also I will give you a purpose, I doubt you want to serve for your life. Sure you most likely will lead a clan but what is a clan...to the entire world?"

Now Itachi was thinking carefully as he was getting ready, the man obviously was either insane, or very ambitious. No one could take over all of the known nations it was impossible to do that you would need true power, power that even he had to admit that he did not have. He didn't think he knew of any power that could allow anyone to conquer the world. But for the first time in a very long time something in him was sparked. The idea of showing the world his power, and to have true power in the world to be able to shape it to his whim...he was actually surprised that a part of him actually liked the idea.

"I can even give you something to show you my good faith," the stranger said to him, "Tell me what do you know of the Mangekyo Sharingan?"

Itachi's eyes widened at that, no one from outside of the village was supposed to know of that even most in his own village and clan didn't know the name. "How...How could you know of that?"

"I know many things Itachi and I know even how you can gain a Mangekyo Sharingan."

"That's impossible! No one knows how that was lost in the histories and everyone who has tried has failed. There have only been a few to gain that power but it was never recorded how it was done." Now Itachi was thinking back to all the studies on his bloodline, there were references to the Mangekyo and a few of the abilities but they never stated how. It was like the information was erased long ago for some unknown reason.

"Oh but I do know Itachi and there is a reason why no one speaks of it anymore. The way to gain that ability is through a sacrifice but not just any sacrifice...You must kill your best friend, with killing that bond in your life you will access your full potential."

Itachi in all his life would have guessed that to gain the ultimate power of his clan he would have to do something so...simple

It was simple and yet he could see why no one had tried it, it would make sense why no one would talk about it or remember it, and why only a handful had gained it. Most likely they gained that power by accident and with all his training and with the knowledge that this man had known he knew that it had to be the truth. There was no lie in his voice and Itachi had to ask him more, "Why are you telling me this?"

"I offer you a choice Itachi, you can join me and my group. You have no real future in your village and your skills and talents are wasted there. I offer you to be part of the future, I plan on ruling this world and I know of how to do this. There are powers hidden all over the world, great demons that had been sealed away. I plan on taking their power and using it as the ultimate power, nothing will stand in my way."

"And as I've said you've interested me, so go back home and chose. If you want the power kill your friend. If you do you know your life there is over with and as proof of your commitment to me you must show me that there is nothing to hold to your old life. You must destroy your old life as proof that you seek the future." The man turned and started to walk away but then he stopped, "Think on it Itachi because if you do not accept the next time we meet you will die."

Then he was suddenly gone and Itachi was left with his dead comrades and left to think on his own future.

-Konoha-

Sasuke was having a good day, he had nearly killed himself trying to get that one jutsu that he saw his brother use and after days he finally got it down. In fact even his father seemed please at least that's what he thought, but something was still wrong. For some reason he said not to follow in his brother's path which confused him. Wasn't his brother the strongest in the clan? It made no sense but he had seen how even though his father up to that point had ignored him all his life, he wasn't any closer to his older brother.

In fact it looked like he was close to their father then his older brother which was strange. Things had been very odd around the compound too, it all started a few days ago when one of them seemed to have committed suicide something nearly unheard of in their clan. He had drowned himself apparently as a note with his hand writing was found in his room, but his father's reaction was not what he expected. Instead of being angry with a member of the clan for showing such weakness or even consoling the family as was his obligation as clan head, he seemed to be deep in thought about something.

Well for Sasuke he didn't understand any of this but he was too happy with his father finally acknowledging him to really care. For the first time in his life his father would train him personally and to finally get his father's approval after all this time and effort, well it just felt really good to him.

Across the village there was another son undergoing training but this was under his father's gaze. Naruto was finally doing chakra control exercises or at least trying to. He had this stupid leave on his hand and he had to make it float but too little chakra and it wouldn't do anything, too much and it would burn. And by the huge pile of burnt leaves he had a real problem with not burning them.

Kakashi was sitting on the deck reading one of this perverted books, although he looked to be reading he was actually thinking. Naruto was having a lot of trouble with such a simple thing, anyone else would have gotten this long ago but they had nearly a quarter of the leaves off one small tree gone now. It sent him thinking on why this was so hard for his son. One answer was that Naruto had no skills with chakra but given who his biological father and mother was that made no sense. Two other reasons were that because Naruto had such a huge amount of chakra it was a lot harder for him to mould, kids his age didn't have that much.

Hell, there were low grade chunins that didn't have that much chakra. Another reason he figured was because of the fox's chakra, Kakashi wasn't sure exactly how it worked with Naruto's chakra system but it wasn't normal chakra it was far more powerful and potent. If some of it was mixing in with his that also could explain a few things. It could even be because of those two factors which meant that he would have to really work on Naruto's chakra control.

He sighed as his son burnt another leave and started to yell at it and lose his temper. It was a long road for his son but there was a bright side to things. Naruto never gave up and he worked hard, maybe harder than anyone. He wouldn't stop until he got something right even to the point he just dropped from exhaustion. Also the fact that with his little training, some of Gai with taijutsu and whatever Anko did that didn't kill him, the thought of what Naruto could be when he grew up made him a little giddy.

His son had so much potential, now he just needed to know what to teach him. He could easily help him with the academy stuff but he wanted his son to have an edge. There were so many techniques to teach him but when he was ready there were two that he wasn't sure which to teach him. His own technique the chidori or the technique of his father the rasengan, in a way he felt that because Naruto was his adopted son he should get his own and only original technique but he was sure that Minato would want his son to have the rasengan.

He had been taught the rasengan but he had only actually used it three times in actual combat, it was just too insane for him to make and use. Each time his hand felt like it nearly drained him, the amount of chakra you needed for it was a very large amount.

He remembered the first time he actually made a perfect one, that had landed him in the hospital for chakra exhaustion. It was pretty much something he saved if there was no other way, sure now he had a lot more chakra then most as he had one of the largest among the jonins but he still wasn't anywhere near his old sensei had. Even now he could make one without using up all his chakra but he would be very weak after it and wouldn't be able to make another.

That was why he stuck with his own technique, it wasn't as powerful as the rasengan but it sure got the job done and he could use that a few times in one day as well.

There was only one other person who could teach Naruto the rasengan anyways but he hadn't been around for years. It was too bad since Kakashi had a bunch of books he would love to get autographed he only had bought the limited edition of the first series with his autograph. Cost him a whole month of savings but it was worth it.

Naruto started to throw another burnt leaf down and Kakashi starting to try and think of other exercises that would help Naruto.

Later that night as the sun fell Fugaku was walking along the clan compound trying to puzzle out the small mystery before him. Shisui's death bothered him, mainly because he knew that young man and he was anything but suicidal. But there was another thing bothering him, Shisui had been reporting on his son Itachi and what his son had been doing. His son seemed to be acting odd after his return from that mission where he had been the only survivor.

The fact that the boy had suddenly died made him think that Itachi might be linked to it. He honestly didn't know what was going on with his son but lately Itachi had been in the family library before the boy's death researching something. His oldest son hadn't been seen after the Shisui had been found and already he had recalled the family members. If his oldest son had been responsible then he would need forces to take him down.

His son held so much promise and he wondered where he had gone wrong with him. He could have lead the clan to greatness but it looked like he would become their great shame. On the other hand Sasuke had surprised him with his ability with the jutsu that he had mastered. Maybe he shouldn't have neglected his youngest son because he didn't develop as fast as his older brother, but he had seen the promise in Sasuke's abilities. He would help train his youngest son and he would lead the clan, and maybe it was for the best.

He had never been that close with his sons but at least with Sasuke he would understand him. Now was the only matter was Itachi to deal with. He walked through the dark home but suddenly something seemed odd. There was a stillness to the night, like death was in the air. He slowly turned his head to the window and looked out into the night.

He looked at the moon and noticed a slight red tint to it all, a blood moon. It was a bad omen to be sure and with the night like this his instincts were screaming at him. He noticed something else as well, there usually were roaming patrols on the grounds but he didn't see any of them. Now he was certain something was wrong and quickly ran through the mansion wondering when he never came upon another soul or how quiet things were.

He opened up the door to Kai Uchiha who was in charge of the guards, he stopped in his tracks at the sight. There in the center room was Kai, his wife and their two children all dead. It looked like the mother tried to cover the children with her body but had failed anyway. No one had ever managed to get this deep inside of the Uchiha home and commit a murder such as this. The person that could only do something like this he knew would have to be extraordinarily trained and would have to know the compound very well.

Then the answer hit him and he ran to check on the rest of his own family. He came into the common room and was met by a sight that broke through his nearly emotionless mask. There was Itachi in his ANBU uniform with a bloody katana, on the floor was his wife. His heart seemed to be like stone at the sight of his wife's unmoving body. As clan head he had to be totally in control and keep his emotions but this sight broke through all his control.

He might not have said it much or often but he loved his wife and seeing her dead at the hands of their own son was heart breaking. He took a few steps looking at her pale face and then looked at his son, but when he saw his son's eyes he was surprised to see the sharingan was different. It took a moment to process but there was only one thing that it could be.

His son had found a way to activate the last level of the sharingan, something only a handful had been able to do but had been lost for several generations. But he didn't care about that he stood to face his son setting his face in stone. "Why?"

"Anything in particular father?" Itachi asked in the same manner.

He didn't say anything only glaring at the young man, "you could have become clan head, even maybe be Hokage one day. Why throw it all away and why turn on your clan and family."

Itachi looked at him for a moment, "why would I settle for this village when there is a world out there to rule. And this village is only holding me back, I have found a new path for getting stronger, I thought that I was strong but there are others out there stronger than I am. I would never gain that kind of power like the power I have now. This village means nothing to me now, and I have to move forward and to do that...I have to cut all ties I have to this village."

He clenched his fists at his son's words as he glared at the boy and activated his own sharingan.

Elsewhere in the mansion Sasuke was running, he couldn't find anyone and he knew something was wrong. He ran through the halls looking for his mother and father wondering why the compound seemed to be deserted. He ran to the common room that his family used and opened to the door just in time to see his father being impaled by a katana. He froze there in shock as he watched his father die in front of him. Then he noticed his mother on the floor and when the face of their killer came into view as his father's body hit the floor it was like someone had shattered his world.

"B-brother?"

He stepped forward on shaking legs looking at their deaths and felt the sting in his eyes from tears. Then he looked to his older brother, "Why? Why did you do this! Why!?"

Itachi walked over to his little brother with no emotion on his face almost looking like he was studying him. "Because they were all weak and deserved it."

Sasuke tried to punch him but his fist was easily caught by Itachi, "You're weak too Sasuke, and let me show you a new power of mine... Tsukuyomi."

In that small moment Sasuke lived through three days of hell as he watched his family die over and over again in his mind. When it was over he looked at his older brother, "You're not worthy for me to kill, if you want to kill me you must hate me with all your being. To grow strong you must live to hate Sasuke."

With that final statement Sasuke blacked out from the mental stress that he had gone through. Itachi watched him fall and figured that those words were the best to get his little brother on the right path. He wanted to give his little brother enough motivation to become truly strong like he had become. One day he would see if his little brother had what it took to fight him and he would see which way of the ninja was best. But now it was time to go, he had to finish off any survivors before someone became aware of the deaths.

As the dawn came to the village, Itachi was a long way away from the village that had once been his home at that moment. He had left the village and not once did he look back. He had made his choice and he knew he had made the right one. He now had the legendary power of his clan and the power it gave him was unbelievable, and he was now on his way to only get more. He returned to the area where he had defeated the strange ninja waiting for the other one to show up.

He didn't have to wait long as the one he had met before had arrived, "I see that you have decided to join us. I must admit killing your clan was very impressive."

"They were weak and they would have hunted me down, they would have made things very difficult. Besides this way none of them would try and get the power that I have," although what he didn't say was that he left his brother alive not for any sentimental reasons but because Sasuke was the only one he felt was worthy to live on, and to live in with hate burning him up inside. He would see if he could push his little brother to be as powerful as he was to see which way of the ninja was the stronger.

Being emotionally detached or using your emotions.

"Then you'll need these then Itachi," the figure threw a cloak down that Itachi put on and then he noticed that the man had an open hand towards him with a ring on it. "This belonged to the one you defeated it's only fitting that you take his place."

"You still haven't told me much about this group of yours," Itachi said putting on the rind.

"It's called Akatsuki and you can call me, Pein." The man said to him leading him towards his future.

Next up Chapter 13: First day of School