114 112. Itachi Shinden: A Sleepless Night

Itachi silently lies on a bed as he stares at the fitful silvery crimson moonlight. Many dense, turbulent clouds will occasionally float by and block the moonlight.

Itachi stretches his bandaged arm towards the sky as he gazes out of the window.

"Life is meaningless."

Itachi clenches his fingers into a fist and contemplates.

"Every life dies... one day. There is no eternal life."

Itachi sits up and removes the IV drip from his arm and continues to stare at the starless sky.

"What am I living for? Is it for my friends…"

Happy memories of Izumi, Tenma, and Shinko flashes through his mind.

"Is it for my family…"

Happy memories of Izuna, Shisui, and Naruto flashes through his mind. Itachi further clenches his fist tightly.

"Is it for my loved ones…"

Happy memories of his time with Father, Mother, and Little brother Sasuke flashes through his mind. Itachi further clenches his fist.

Blood leaks from his fist. Itachi ignores the blood and continues to question himself,

"If I am living for them, then I want to protect them. But why?... why am I so weak? I saw my entire clan getting slaughtered in front of me and… and I was powerless to do anything."

Bang…

Itachi slams his palm on a nearby table as tears flow from his eyes.

Sob… sob…

Itachi silently sobs to himself as he continues to cry.

"Let it all out."

Itachi raises his head and notices Shisui resting against the window wall.

"Let all of your emotions, hatred, grief, sorrow out. Let out everything. You will feel much better."

Shisui walks up to Itachi. He pulls out a bandage from a nearby drawer and wraps it around Itachi's palm.

Shisui nods to Itachi and jumps out of the window.

Hah…

Itachi wipes his tears and slowly gets up. He slowly walks towards the window and looks at the night sky.

Swoosh…

Itachi jumps out from the window and flickers away.

"Mmm… the air is listless and dreary today, just like that day." Shisui takes out a pale green scarf from his pocket. There are some blood-stains on the scarf.

He silently caresses the scarf and looks at the distant horizon.

Tip-toe…

Itachi noiselessly walks up to Shisui and lies beside him. Shisui notices Itachi but ignores his presence for a while.

"Itachi!"

The sudden address from Shisui startles Itachi.

"Ye… yes, Shisui nii-san." He replies erratically.

"So, have you calmed down a little?" Shisui asks Itachi.

"Yes, I have calmed down a lot. But… but I am lost now. I can't see a path forward. What should I do now? I want to protect my family, but I feel that I am not strong enough to protect them." Itachi tells his dilemma to Shisui.

Shisui raises his eyebrow when Itachi mentions this. He sighs and replies to Itachi.

"I also went through the same phase as you."

Shisui shows the torn and tattered scarf with blood stains to Itachi.

"This is a gift from my friend. Seven years… it has been seven years since I parted with her. We were on a mission with Izuna nii-san.

The mission was a trap laid for us and we feel for it. In that mission, I lost two of my teammates, Kazuko and Mami. It was her who made this scarf for me with her clumsy hands."

Shisui tucks away the scarf and turns towards Itachi. He activates his Mangekyo Sharingan and shows them to Itachi.

"These eyes… Itachi. These eyes are a symbol of our failure. Whenever an Uchiha loses something very precious to him, his body triggers a change. The greater the feelings, the greater the change."

Shisui looks towards Itachi and notices his expression. Itachi is listening attentively to Shisui. Shisui nods his head and continues.

"These emotions release a strange chakra in our Optic nerves and change our Sharingan. It is at this moment, we awaken the greatest cursed power of the Uchiha clan, the Mangekyo Sharingan."

Itachi's eyes widen in surprise as he comes to know the truth behind Mangekyo Sharingan.

"These eyes grant their user enormous power in exchange for their vision. The more you use this power, the greater the loss of vision. So, you have to pay a price to use such great power."

Shisui sighs and turns towards the sky.

"This is what big brother Izuna told me? Sigh… I always wonder how he figured out such secrets that are unknown to most of the members of our clan."

"Itachi! Find your own Ninja way. Your family doesn't need your protection, what they need is your attention and love.

Mangekyo Sharingan is a power that relies on our emotions. If you fail to control your negative emotions, this power will consume you. I am sure Izuna nii-san will agree with me."

Shisui closes his eyes and gets back to his contemplation. Itachi stands with firm resolve.

"I think I have figured out the direction. What is a Ninja? Why do we fight?… I may not have reached the depth of these questions, but one day I will find my Ninja way?" Itachi mutter to himself.

He turns towards Shisui and bows to him.

"Thank you, Shisui nii-san."

Shisui pats Itachi's back and laughs.

"We are family, right? Why do you need to thank me? It is my duty to take care of my family."

Itachi flashes a smile at Shisui and flickers away. Shisui smiles at the retreating back of Itachi.

Sigh…

"Looks like it will be another sleepless night. I have to get stronger too. I can't allow Itachi to leave me in the dust."

Shisui stands up and looks at the vast expanse of the village.

------------------

In Mount Myoboku,

The Great Toad Sage opens his eyes from his long meditation.

"Substantial changes are coming in the future. I can see multiple children of prophecy in my divination. Looks like one child of prophecy isn't enough for the chaotic future."

Great Toad Sage looks at the stars in his skies and spot a star shining brighter in the center of many bright stars.

"Looks like fate has gathered all children of prophecy around him."

Great Toad Sage closes his eyes again and return to his meditation.