6 The Massacre

Arriving at the compound, I was immediately assaulted with an eerie silence looming over me. I would think that the entire compound just so happened to be asleep were it not for the fact that I could not sense anyone's chakra signature inside their homes.

'FUCK FUCK FUCK... this can't be happening' I try to sense for any signs of life among the various houses to no avail as I rush to my house.

I get home and enter, immediately noticing the metallic smell of blood present in the air. I also can't sense anybody around so I scour the house. I feel a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, 'This can't be happening!' I think for like the millionth time, getting more frantic as I check off all the possible rooms my family could be in. I search the house until I arrive to my parents' room at last. I open the door and am greeted with the sight of my mother, lying in a pool of her own blood.

"Oka-san... ?" I shakily ask as I walk towards her. Each step towards her feels heavy, like I'm carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. I crouch down and turn her head towards me revealing a peaceful look on her face.

"No! Oka-San!" I can't help but burst out in grief. "Okay God... take me back. I want to go back in time and this time, I'll take matters into my own hands. You wanted a good show right, you must've been bored seeing me waste my time painting and fucking around right? This time... this time I'll train more and learn cool new abilities. C'mon god, if you truly are all-capable, something like this should be a cake walk."

A deafening silence looms around me, almost as if mocking me.

"GOD I KNOW YOU ARE WATCHING! TAKE ME BACK! TAKE ME BACK! TAKE ME BACK! TAKE ME BACK! TAKE ME BACK!" my voice devolves into madness.

I clutch my mother's dead body closer and I too begin to mock myself, "Who am I kidding, someone like me who treats their second chance as indulgently as I did doesn't deserve another chance. If only I hadn't ignored the various signs that I was given. It just goes to show that I didn't learn from the various memories inside my mind or even from my past life."

A hollow look appears in my eyes. "Who's to say a third chance will change anything."

I can't stop myself from reaching over to the kunai I carry in sleeve. I clutch it tightly and hold it against my jugular vein. "Maybe in my next life... I won't be so complacent." I close my eyes ready to end it all when I feel the familiar chakra signature of my brother.

"Itachi-nii?" Hope is rekindled in me. I realize that I not alone. That I at least have my brother. I run out of the house and see him standing in the middle of the street.

"Itachi-nii" I call out in a broken voice. "Mother... she is..."

"Dead?" My brother says with a cold voice. " I know foolish little brother. I killed not just mother, but the entire clan."

"What? Itachi-nii... you're lying..." My face drops at the thought of my brother being responsible for such an act.

"Let me show you" I can only sit and watch as I'm shown the gruesome killings of various Uchiha clan members, all committed by my brother. I see as he kills all the children in their sleep before moving on to their parents. I see as he stabs right through my mother's heart. "KAI!" I shout trying to break free from this nightmare. I see as he murders various members of the clan council. I see my father, to proud to be killed by his own son, take a tanto knife and drag it across his stomach. His pink intestines droop to the floor, contrasting quite clearly against his black shirt.

My own stomach begins to churn. Dry-heaving, my body attempts to empty the contents of my own stomach but fails as it is void of materials to expel.

My brother just looks at me in disgust, "There is no value in killing the likes of you… Foolish little brother, if you wish to kill me, then hate me, detest me, curse me, and survive in an unsightly way. Run, run and cling to your pitiful life."

I try and stop him from leaving but my body refuses to listen to me. 'Get up' I think, 'GET UP!' I jut up and realize that I am lying in a bed. I look around and recognize the blindingly white surroundings as a hospital room before being attacked by a horrible migraine. I lie back down before I hear a soft knock at the door.

The door opens to reveal a medic-nin, "I see you've awakened Uchiha-san." He puts me through some check-ups which I follow mindlessly. I can't help but think on my brothers actions. What is his motive. Why would he leave me alive?

"Is everyone dead?" an uncomfortable silence fills the room before he excuses himself saying that someone else would be explaining things to me.

After he leaves, the Hokage arrives. "How are you feeling, Sasuke-kun?"

My face sinks and I can't help but feel a blind rage towards him. I attempt to lunge towards him to grab him by the collar when my world gets flipped upside down. I get pinned down by a pair of Anbu.

"I didn't need your assistance." The Anbu let go and hide in the shadows again. The Hokage looks at me with a kind gaze.

"I'm sorry Hokage-sama, I just... how would you feel if your whole family was killed by your brother?" The Hokage apologizes for his inconsiderate behavior before explaining my situation. He explains that my brother is now a missing-nin and is registered on every bingo book. He finishes up by telling me I am the owner of the Uchiha compound as the lone survivor and excuses himself, but not before telling me to get some rest.

*Time Skip*

A few days have passed since I've been discharged from the hospital. I'm currently sitting in front of my parents grave. Over the days, I've been thinking more and more about what occurred that day. Connecting the dots, I can't help but smell a conspiracy afoot.

I place the flowers in front of my parent's grave and head back to my house. The cool autumn breeze caresses my solemn face.

Although the air is cold.

My heart is colder.