Tale of a Crow

Uchiha Itachi clearly remembered the moment that decided the course of his life. The moment when he found his ninja path.

It was raining, the rain was so heavy that the young Uchiha, who had just turned four years old, had trouble opening his eyes at the weight of the water that kept falling on him, like an endless waterfall. Standing next to him, Uchiha Fugaku, made no attempt to protect his son from the raging weather.

"Remember Itachi, this is a battlefield." His father's words cut through the roar of the rain. Every sound pierces Itachi's heart-

`Battlefield`

The words resonate in the depths of his being.

It's not something a four-year-old is going to think about. Even less the scene that was before him at the moment, none of it is remotely suitable for the innocent eyes of a child.

Corpses. Corpses. And more corpses.

Mountains of corpses as far as he could see. And none of them seemed to be at peace, their expressions hardened, their faces twisted in agony. The pain of their last moments was reflected in every facial feature. These men and women died a slow and painful death.

"In a couple of years you too will be a ninja. This war will be over soon, but the reality of the shinobi world will remain the same. This is the world you will become a part of, Itachi."

His father's voice rumbled in his ears, Itachi stayed still and listened intently to every word. If he moved, if he did anything he would lose what little control he had over himself. He had to be strong, he had to keep his composure.

He wasn't scared, he knew that his father wouldn't take him into a situation that would threaten his life, he is the only son and heir to the head of the Uchiha clan after all. He wasn't sad either. He didn't understand why, but he felt such a tightness in his chest that he could barely breathe.

Drenched in the rain his father probably wouldn't notice if he cried. Still, Itachi didn't want to do it, he felt that if he cried here he might lose something critical to his life as a ninja, so he clenched his fists tightly.

But still tears began to well up in his dark eyes.

People from Konoha, ninjas he may have met on the street at some point. Ninjas who are members of his clan, people with whom he shares blood. Ninjas from other villages. Countless corpses littered the landscape.

None of them could escape death, they struggled, screamed and writhed, but could not escape. Their faces are full of anguish, no matter the village, no matter the country. They are all human beings who died repenting. None of them had wished for death. And yet they all died.

Why? Due to the war.

The Third Shinobi War. The war started seven years ago. The official reason for the start of the war is Hatake Sakumo's invasion of Iwa territory, and the subsequent murder of two dozen Iwa ninja.

In truth the war started for the same reasons as the other two: humans.

People who want the territory of others, people who want to kill others for having been wronged, people who covet the wealth of others and try to steal it...

The White Fang became a scapegoat.

And it was his son, Kakashi, only five years old at the time, who suffered the consequences.

"Tou-san." Itachi realized from hearing his own voice that he was trembling. It wasn't because of the cold, nor because of the fear of corpses. It was rage, the anger made Itachi's small body tremble.

"Why did you bring me here...?"

Fugaku was silent for a moment at his son's question, and then began to reply, choosing his words carefully.

"You are a smart boy, Itachi. Very smart." His eyes turned to the battlefield, Itachi waited for his father to continue. The young Uchiha felt something warm on the top of his head, his father's hand. "I wanted to make sure you saw this reality. I wanted you to see with your own eyes the future that lies before you son."

His father's words burned into his soul.

`The future'.

`This is my future...`

"This is the world I will live in..."

"That's right, Itachi. Ninjas are violet creatures. They fight and kill, or are killed. Never forget what you saw today."

Itachi rubbed his eyes, the scene in front of him he would never forget.

Never before had he witnessed such carnage.

`This is nothing like the scenes of the movies or series that I have seen`

Itachi before being Itachi was another person, his name was Iker. When he died he went through the cycle of reincarnation but there was a not so small mistake, his memories remained intact.

Young Itachi is 4 years old, but at the same time he has the memories of a 23-year-old.

A warmth other than tears twisted in his eyes. The sensation—a wave of power flowing into his retinas—was so terrifying that he closed his eyes. His mind and his heart were in conflict. Instinctively he knew that if he embraced that power nothing would be the same, something vital inside him would change. Itachi was not prepared for more changes, but he also knew that he needed that power.

A battle between his heart and his mind.

Itachi took a deep breath and opened his eyes.

His once black eyes glow a deep red like blood, a tomoe in each eye slowly spinning.

Itachi closes his eyes again and places a hand on his chest, he takes a deep breath.

"What 's happening?"

He didn't answer his father's question. When he reopened his eyes his eyes were black, all traces of red gone.

He stared at the scene before him. This hell may be the world he's going to live in, but he won't sit back and just accept it.

`I'll change it`

This world is bloody and cruel. Itachi refuses to be just another cog in this machinery.

`This is the reason why God gave me a second chance to live. I'm going to change this world

His eyes blaze with fierce determination.

Itachi Uchiha never forgot that day.