Chapter 1

"So, I'm the last one? You killed everyone?" asked a young boy, his voice filled with resentment as he stared at the man before him. Itachi's jet-black hair framed a face as cold as the blood still dripping from his blade.

"You hid well," Itachi replied, his tone impassive, stepping forward with his sword aimed directly at the boy's chest. "I'm sorry, kid, but I have to do this... for him."

The boy smirked bitterly, though his eyes betrayed something deeper. "Before you kill me, let me tell you something… If you don't want your dear little brother to die right this moment, Itachi."

Itachi's eyes narrowed, his Sharingan activating instantly, the crimson glow reflecting a silent alarm.

"Oh, wait. Don't rush," the boy continued, holding his sword with steady yet tense hands. "Or do you want little Sasuke to die here and now? He's unconscious next to my clone, completely defenseless. Can you take that risk?"

Itachi's face remained expressionless, but something dark seemed to stir behind his gaze. "Explain yourself quickly before I cut you down," he said, his voice dripping with menace.

The boy let out a bitter laugh, though his jaw trembled slightly. "Don't misunderstand me, Itachi. You're not in a position to demand anything. I have the upper hand here, understand? Sasuke's life is in my hands, so you'd better not do anything stupid."

For a moment, the tension in the air was almost suffocating.

"You know?" the boy continued, his tone shifting between irony and barely contained desperation. "From the moment I arrived here, I never expected to save anyone. I only cared about surviving. You killed my entire family in this world… but to be honest, that doesn't matter to me either."

A dry laugh escaped his lips, but his words began to falter as tears welled up in his eyes. Crimson began to tint his pupils as he spoke.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Itachi replied, his voice now laced with urgency. "But tell me where Sasuke is. I made a promise."

The boy gritted his teeth, wiping his tears roughly. "First, I need assurances, Itachi. You should know you can't kill me right now. My clone is with Sasuke, and my only order is to kill him if anything happens to me. Besides, you still have something important to do, don't you? Time is running out."

Silence fell again, heavy and ominous.

'He's thinking about how to kill me,' the boy thought, watching the deliberation on Itachi's face.

Finally, Itachi raised his sword, his gaze piercing through the boy like a blade. "Tell me your name. I've never seen you at clan meetings."

The question caught him off guard, but he didn't let it show. "Kazui," he replied firmly. "Kazui Uchiha. I never cared much for those meetings, to be honest."

Itachi studied him silently for a long moment before lowering his sword. "Fine, Kazui. I've changed my mind. I'll let you live, but on one condition: you'll protect Sasuke. And you'll tell me where he is. If you've done anything to his body…"

The ominous tone in Itachi's voice left no room for doubt. If he found out Kazui was lying, there would be no mercy.

'Eh… what just happened?' Kazui thought, trying to hide his surprise. 'Why didn't he kill me? Well, I'll stick to the lie. If he thinks I have Sasuke's life in my hands, he won't do anything. But I need to find someone strong enough to protect me until I can defend myself.'

As Itachi walked away with steady steps, the blood-stained sword still in his hand, Kazui knew he had bought himself some time. But the shadow of the older Uchiha loomed over him like a grim reminder of what was yet to come.

Kazui stood frozen for a few seconds after Itachi disappeared into the darkness. When the silence became unbearable, his legs moved almost instinctively. He entered one of the homes devastated by the massacre.

There, on the floor, lay the lifeless body of his younger sister, her eyes wide open, reflecting the horror of her final moments. Kazui knelt beside her, trembling as he pulled her into a tight embrace. Tears streamed down his face, soaking the girl's unresponsive features.

"I swear…" he murmured in a broken voice, yet filled with uncontrollable rage. "I swear I'll kill you, Itachi. No matter how long it takes… No matter what I have to do… One day, you'll pay for this."

As his fingers clenched around his sister's cold body, his gaze rose to the window. Kazui's crimson eyes reflected something new: a hatred so deep it seemed capable of consuming him. At that moment, his resolve was forged in a fire that would never extinguish.