A Tear For Family

"We get Dirty, and The World stays Clean. That's the Mission."

Naruto

He ran and ran as fast as he could, jumping from the tree as he approached the Uchiha compound; Naruto spread his senses as far as possible but couldn't feel Shisui or Itachi.

He's Not Dead, He's Not Dead, Naruto told himself repeatedly, sweat rolling down his cheek; he felt cold, his whole body crawling.

Naruto reached the compound, his body moved on his own, he found Shisui's house, bursting inside.

"SHISUI" Naruto yelled at the top of his lungs, his eyes desperately trying to find him. Where is He? wEhere, WHere??

Naruto understood he wasn't here; he jumped away, making his way towards Itachi's house; perhaps he's there despite not feeling him or Shisui neither there.

The sun shines on his face, red leaves flying towards the sky; he shielded his face from the leaves flying on his face, reaching the door, he opened it.

"Itachi, Shisui", Naruto cried out his eyes looking around when he heard footsteps, almost breathed in relief only to see Mikoto walking downstairs, she noticed his pale face, his breathing quickening and not stopping.

"Where's Shisui and Itachi?" Naruto asked immediately as she tried to approach and ask what was wrong.

"I don't know Naruto but what's wrong, I'm..." Naruto didn't stay and immediately jumped away; he activated his Sharingan as he jumped at the top of a pole, his eyes trying to find them.

Naruto swallowed a huge breath; where?? Where? Please Where Are You?

Take Care of Itachi

Nonono, You're Not Dead, Where?? Naki River, Naruto immediately rushed towards the river, knowing he, Shisui and Itachi had trained there many times.

Reaching it, he looked around for any sign of Shisui, the trees everywhere around him, the sound of the river rushing in his ears.

"SHISUI SHISUI"

No sign as he kept his Sharingan activated, inside Kurama was silent, knowing what Naruto wanted to refuse.

"Naruto, He's..."

"ShuT UP" Naruto yelled at his friend; Kurama always supported him; no, Shisui can't be Dead.

Naruto ran to the top; from there, he could see very far, his eyes searching around, nothing but trees and rocks.

"SHISUI"

Naruto turned his head downwards at the bottom, where the waterfall ended; he noticed something, jumping down, the tiny bits of water hitting his face as he reached the bottom, there he saw a body lying at the shore.

Naruto swallowed; he felt his body freeze; he closed his eyes tightly, enough to hurt, his breathing rate increasing, his heart hitting his chest like a hammer, his hands and legs shaking.

Naruto didn't know how, but he found himself walking towards it, soon he reached the body lying on his belly, his right hand on the mud and his left hand still beneath the water.

His hand moved on its own, rolling the body to face him.

No, No, nononono. No NO. Itachi, "Itachi, Nii-San, Help. Kurama you Can Help Him" Naruto shouted, his hand touching his neck, desperately trying to find a pulse.

"Naruto, I'm really sorr" "NOOO, SHUT UP. He Can't Be, He Promised, HE Can't Be..." Naruto fell on his knees; he closed and opened his eyes, Shisui still there.

"Big Brother, Please. Pleaseeee..." Naruto suddenly felt lightheaded, his entire body numb, everything covered in darkness, the last thing he heard.

"I'm Sorry Naruto-Kun"

I-Itachi?

Itachi - After 2 Days - Night

It was just past dinnertime when Izumi heard a quiet but firm knock at her door. A pretty smile immediately graced the young girls' features as she sensed a familiar chakra signature. For a moment, she had an internal freakout. This was so sudden! She certainly hadn't expected Itachi to show up out of the blue, not that she was complaining. What if she looked like a hot mess? Untying her apron and tossing it aside, she quickly made her way to the living room mirror. She examined herself thoroughly, ensuring that there was nothing in her teeth and that she looked presentable. Deciding she shouldn't keep Itachi waiting any longer, she ran her fingers through her long hair and smoothed out her clothes before going to answer the door.

"Itachi-kun! What brings you- Wait, are you okay?"

The smile that previously graced her features disappeared as she took in the object of her affections appearance. Itachi was in full ANBU gear, Katana and all. She hadn't been aware that he'd been assigned to a mission. What was even weirder was the fact that he'd stopped by to see her before leaving. The raven-haired man quietly stepped into her apartment and removed his mask, donning a carefully controlled and blank expression. However, Izumi had known Itachi for a long time. She studied him carefully, looking into his eyes. She saw the pain in those onyx orbs of his, and her chest constricted painfully. Something was terribly wrong.

Shutting her door and taking a calming breath, Izumi offered what she hoped was a comforting smile. "I can tell something is wrong, Itachi-kun. Talk to me," she said.

He stood there for a few moments, still as a statue. Inwardly, two parts of himself were at war with one another. He had a mission to carry out. Tonight was the Night that the Uchiha clan, except for his younger brother, were to be exterminated. Why did his father and his fellow clansmen have to be so damn foolish? As he gazed into Izumi's innocent and hopeful eyes, he was almost tempted to take her, Sasuke and Naruto and run someplace far away. Nobody had to die tonight. He could take his two little brothers and his lover. They could be happy together, the village and the clan be damned.

'You know that can never happen,' Itachi thought bitterly.

The ANBU captain had decided to begin his onslaught with Izumi, the woman he was well aware of harbored deep feelings for him. She was so sweet and innocent, completely unfit for shinobi life. Yet, she felt that she had something to prove and insisted on continuing to push herself. As twisted as it sounded even in his own mind, he had to kill her first to spare her. If nothing else, he wanted her last moments in the world to be painless and for her to never be traumatized. He almost released a bitter laugh, disgusted with himself.

'Trying to protect her while killing her, how noble.'

Truthfully, Itachi wanted to tell her everything. He knew he could tell her anything, and she would never judge him; she would simply understand. Unfortunately for both of them, their fate was sealed. He knew that he couldn't put things off any longer, and he activated his Sharingan, his expression blank.

"There's nothing to talk about," he said coldly, his voice wavering ever so slightly.

Izumi's eyes widened in alarm as realization washed over her like a tidal wave. She thought back to the hushed conversations that Itachi and Shisui had when they thought she was out of earshot. Had things truly gotten that bad? Had communications between the village and the Uchiha broken down that much? She took a shaky breath, more out of shock than fear.

"You're... here to kill me, aren't you?" she asked calmly, no hint of accusation in her tone.

Itachi swallowed thickly, trying to maintain his composure. "I don't expect you to understand, and I'm sorry."

Tears stung at the back of her eyes, and she cursed herself for being so weak. She knew that there was no way she could fight him. Even if she could, she wouldn't. It was clear even to civilians that there had been tension between the village and the Uchiha for years.

The optimistic side of her always believed that things would be resolved peacefully. As she took in Itachi's pained expression that he was so desperately trying to hide, she found that she couldn't be angry with him if she tried.

She'd known him for years and knew that he despised the shinobi lifestyle and only wished for peace. She knew he had his reasons if he was standing in front of her like this to take her out. Her heart broke for him as she realized the pain and suffering he would endure for the rest of his days.

Izumi released a breath she wasn't aware she'd been holding and bravely looked into Itachi's eyes. "I know that you wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't your last resort. I... I want you to know that I'm not angry with you. And that I love you," she whispered, unable to stop the tears from falling.

Upon hearing her confession, Itachi closed his eyes as the weight of her words washed over him. Of course, he'd known that she loved him. It was evident in the way that she looked at him when she thought he wasn't looking and in her actions. Why she loved him, he had no idea. Yes, he was a skilled shinobi. However, he could never be what she needed. Izumi deserved someone who would fawn over her and treat her like a queen. He was a trained killing machine and faced death and destruction daily. She was simply too sweet and kind to live that kind of life.

Itachi realized that he wished he could be that man for her. The girl standing in front of him had wormed her way into his heart, and now he was seconds away from killing her.

"I know," was all that Itachi said before opening his eyes and unleashing his Tsukuyomi upon her.

Izumi looked around the grand ballroom and quickly realized that she was in an illusion. However, this genjutsu felt so real, so unlike anything she'd experienced before. She gasped as she felt a warm hand grasp her own, and she turned to find Itachi standing beside her with a gentle smile on his face. He was dressed in a tuxedo, and he looked as handsome as ever. She glanced down and discovered she was wearing a beautiful strapless white dress with intricate beading. Izumi felt tears well up in her eyes upon realizing that this was her wedding and nearly fainted as Itachi leaned in close to her and whispered 'I love you' in her ear.

Suddenly she found herself in a huge room with a lovely view of the ocean. The room had an indoor Jacuzzi bath and rose petals leading up to the most comfortable looking king-sized bed she had ever laid eyes upon.

'Is this my honeymoon?' Izumi thought with a blush.

Her question was quickly answered as Itachi embraced her from behind. He leaned down and peppered soft kisses along her neck, and she shivered at the contact. She knew this was just a powerful illusion, but she never wanted it to end. She would embrace it for as long as she could. Turning in his arms and wrapping her arms around his neck, Izumi caught his lips in a fiery kiss. He backed her up toward the bed and made quick work of removing their clothing, his lips never leaving hers. He overwhelmed her senses, and she began to feel dizzy with desire. Just how long had she been dreaming of this moment? She'd dreamt of giving herself to him for longer than she'd like to admit. For a moment, she almost forgot it was an illusion. As he caressed every inch of her skin and brought her to euphoria, she let all thoughts and worries leave her mind.

Time suddenly moved forward, and Izumi found herself sitting on a familiar park bench. It didn't take her long to realize that she was sitting in the park where she and Itachi played as children. Scanning the park for any sign of Itachi, she gasped as she took in the sight before her. The raven-haired man was holding a little girl in his arms, spinning her around as she squealed happily. A little boy that appeared to be a couple of years older than the girl spotted Izumi and ran towards her with a smile on his face.

'Mama, come play with us!'

Izumi couldn't stop the tears of joy from falling.

Once again, time moved forward, and she found herself sitting in a rocking chair on a front porch, a cup of tea in hand. Glancing next to her, she found an elderly Itachi right by her side. She gave him a smile, which he returned, and they talked about their lives and grandchildren. She knew that she was witnessing what were to be her final moments, and she couldn't have been more content. Growing old and passing on beside Itachi would be the perfect ending to her story.

Later

In the following hours, silent screams echoed throughout the Uchiha Compound.

As he ran another one of his kin through, as he felt their blood splatter against his sword and clothes, he couldn't help but think that the stains would never come off his soul. No matter how spotless his clothes looked when he finished purging them of the blood of his comrades, his conscience could never be cleaned. It was on this matter of thought where he found his father, alone. It was as if he was being waited for.

"Itachi! What lies behind this slaughter!" He waited before speaking again, but his twisted eyes spoke to him in the way his father never could; the Mangekyou Sharingan. "Are you going to show me... a different future from the one I showed you?"

Itachi's eyes were dead as he faced the man who raised him, knowing only one of them would walk out alive.

Masked Uchiha

Elsewhere, while father and son faced a dangerous confrontation, the shadowy figure in the orange mask known as Uchiha Madara had his own part in eradicating the Uchiha. He was walking out of the now corpse-filled Uchiha police building, so Easy, he thought when he felt a rush of cold around him.

The masked man looked around when he immediately turned his head, looking at the moon, Hmm! I could have sworn I felt someone up there?

The figure disappeared, leaving Itachi to deal with his little brother.

Itachi

Itachi stared at the numerous bodies strewn around the streets. "This is the future I see for the Uchiha."

Fugaku's warped Mangekyou eyes narrowed dangerously.

"I see."

Fugaku's calm demeanour belied what he was thinking on the inside, his mind racing. And he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

'Kage Bunshin?'

Itachi narrowed his eyes and thought. 'This isn't good. Tou-san was the worst possible enemy for me. This is going to be a battle of Mangekyou Sharingan.'

He pushed the thought out of his mind as he travelled to his home, where he knew his father would be, along with his mother. A quick shunshin got him outside of the house, where he walked toward the door cautiously, watching for any traps or surprises. He was trying to discreetly check their bedroom for them when he heard a voice from the living room. His father's voice resonated throughout the dead-silent compound.

"Come inside, there are no traps. I will not participate in a death match with my own son."

Itachi obeyed but kept his guard up. He walked in to have his mind blown. His parents were kneeling on the living room floor with their back to him. No fighting positions, no weapon in hand, not even a clenched fist. They were truly prepared to die.

That's when the gravity of the situation hit him. Could he truly end their lives, the very people who fed him, clothed him, and were even prepared to die for him? For a cause, they didn't believe in, just because he supported it? Itachi couldn't keep the sword from trembling in his hands as he stood behind his Mother and Father, tears rolling down his cheeks.

His father's strong, commanding voice he would never see again cut through him sharper than any blade.

"You've aligned with the other side."

He responded, his eyes getting watery. " Tou-san, Kaa-san... I..."

He was cut off by his mother's voice that held his heart in a vice grip. "We know, Itachi."

His father spoke again. "Itachi, promise me one thing. Take care of Sasuke and Naruto."

Itachi felt like he was being given his own personal type of torture as he couldn't hold back the tears anymore. His heart constricted tighter than he thought possible as his teary voice stuttered. "I w-will."

Itachi readied his Katana with a heavy heart he thought would simply give out because of how much pain he felt. His father spoke for the last time.

"Do not fear. This is the path you have chosen. Compared to your pain, ours will be gone in an instant. Even if our philosophies differ, I am proud of you. You truly are a kind child."

His silent sobs heard only by him increased as he drove his Katana through their chests.

While witnessing the aftermath of what he had done, he heard footsteps approaching the door.

He recognized them as his little brother, Sasuke. He forced himself to look strong. The only way to escape this pain weighing him down like an anchor. He forced himself to stay silent after hearing Sasuke's yell, and as he heard, " Tou-san! Kaa-san!" yelled in fear, he stepped out of the shadows.

" I-Itachi! You have to help, Kaa-san and Tou-san are..." When he heard no reply from the older boy, he repeated again, shakily. "Itachi? Who could do this?" The raven-haired Anbu watched as horrifying comprehension settled into his brother's eyes as he saw the blood-stained Katana held in Itachi's hands.

As soon as those words left his throat, Sasuke felt a sting on his shoulder, and a shuriken imbedded in the wall behind him. He looked down to see a thin line of blood under his ripped clothing and looked up in fear. "Wait a s-second, no!"

Despite their teary state almost in an instant, Itachi's eyes were now as motionless as a stone. He spoke in the cruellest voice he could. "Foolish little brother. I almost pity you. So weak."

Sasuke's tortured voice ripped Itachi apart.

"W-Why! Why d-did you do this?"

Itachi spoke. "To test the limits...Of my ability."

Sasuke was gripped with the fiercest anger he had ever been in his life at those words. "To test...your ability? That's the reason you butchered every member of our clan! Of our family!"

Sasuke charged at Itachi as fast as he could, screaming. "YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR MIND!"

As he went to strike Itachi, a swift punch to the stomach stopped him cold in his tracks. Saliva was forcibly ejected from his mouth as he stood, suspended on his older brother's fist. Removing that support sent Sasuke careening to the floor, face to face with his dead mother and father.

It was then Sasuke started to sob uncontrollably. The volume is only matched by the booming sound of Itachi stepping toward him. He looked up in fear before realizing what he earlier had not. 'I'm scared.' He repeated again, audibly. "I'm scared!"

The younger Uchiha turned and ran out the door as fast as possible. His sobs echoed throughout the Night as he screamed. " I DON'T WANNA DIE!"

He kept running through the streets of the Uchiha district, hoping it wasn't empty for the reason he knew it to be. He kept running until the sound of Itachi's ninja sandal hitting the floor in from of him struck fear into every cell in his body. "P-Please. Don't kill me."

Itachi's hard voice answered him. "You're not even worth killing. Foolish little brother... If you wish to kill me one day, foster your hatred and despise me. By all means, run. Cling to your wretched life. And when you have the same eyes as me..."

His warped Mangekyou Sharingan spun menacingly. "Seek me out."

In the following two words, Itachi had to gather up more resolve than he ever had to in his life. "Mangekyou Sharingan!"

Sasuke yelled in agony as Itachi used his Tsukuyomi to force him to fall asleep. Only when he fell to the ground did Itachi release him from the clutches of Tsukuyomi.

With that, Itachi disappeared and decided to visit Naruto one last time.

However, he turned as he heard the sounds of two kunai racing toward him. After seeing it was ... Naruto?

Naruto was silent, his breath stuck on his throat like a lump, frozen like ice, piercing his flesh, his eyes saw Itachi in front of him, but at the same time, he couldn't believe his own eyes. WHY? WHY??

"Itachi? Why!?" Naruto finally managed to ask, his Sharingan shining in his eyes; he focused on his answers, he would know the truth, and he would not let him leave until he knew IT.

Itachi looked at Naruto with pain behind his eyes; he didn't know why he was here and how? He made sure that he would be in the apartment this Night?

"I Did it to test my abilities", Itachi spoke with an ice tone; he needed to lie and hide the truth, but..."

"Don't LIE TO ME Nii-chan", Naruto screams in return, tears streaming down his cheek.

Itachi didn't know how Naruto could know he was lying; he knew Naruto could tell lies from the truth...but that wasn't what caught his attention! No...

Itachi saw as the Sharingan in Naruto's eyes changed, his tomoe started spinning until finally, they created his Mangekyo Sharingan.

"Naruto, I need you to leave NOW", Itachi spoke with a commanding tone, his Mangekyo in his eyes; he prepared to use Tsukuyomi on him.

Naruto suddenly spread his arms, his hands open, before Itachi could do anything.

"Kontorōru no Tensei."

Suddenly Itachi felt a wave of cold wash over his whole body; he felt pain spread everywhere when suddenly it disappeared...

Itachi's hand moved at his Katana's pommel tightened to his back; what's This? He asked himself, unable to stop himself, as his body suddenly rushed towards Naruto, his Katana pointed at his chest.

No

Naruto closed his eyes, waiting for his fate as a single tear fell on the ground as a scream of despair echoed through the Night.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Naruto opened his eyes, feeling no pain; he saw the blade just inches away from his chest where the heart was...

He saw Itachi's right eye bleeding; suddenly, before anything could be said, the sky turned red, the moon changed colour to black, the bodies of everyone disappeared, including Itachi, who turned into crows.

"What Happened Here?" Naruto asked, knowing he was in Tsukuyomi.

The crows suddenly came together in a single point.

Itachi looked at his little brother, who was still waiting for his answer.

"I'm really sorry Naruto, My Clan wanted to take over the Village, It was my decision", Itachi answered honestly.

Naruto closed his eyes, trying to take it all in, a flash of Shisui's body hit him.

"What... What happened to Shisui?" Naruto asked his Mangekyo shining.

Itachi gulped slightly, the last thing he needed was for Naruto to dedicate his life to killing Danzo, but he knew Naruto wasn't an ordinary child.

"Please, Just tell me," Naruto pleaded; Itachi sighed, knowing his brother could tell if he was lying and his Mangekyo wasn't something he had accounted for.

Opening his eyes, he told Naruto everything about that day, how Shisui had tried to use Kotoamatsukami, and Danzo trying to steal his eyes.

When he was done, Naruto's facial expression didn't change outside, not even in the slightest, but inside he felt a burning fire.

Later

Itachi returned back, gasping for air; Naruto suddenly fell on his knees.

Naruto felt dizzy, he still wasn't sure what jutsu he used to do that to Nii-san, but his chakra had dropped to almost Zero.

Itachi said something but Naruto could hardly hear anything at this point.

Itachi left him alone as Naruto fell unconscious.

Naruto

He didn't know how long he had been lying on the ground; his body slowly rose up, his legs shaking; he used a bit of Kurama's chakra to fully stand up and walk towards the house.

Reaching the house, he walked inside; his eyes found her figure lying dead close to Fugaku.

Naruto walked and reached her; his shaking hand touched her now cold cheek, his forehead touching hers, her smile had disappeared.

"Kaa-chan, Please wake up," Naruto pleaded; moving her shoulder, but her body was as cold as a grave. Her skin had turned pale like snow, blood all over the floor.

"You can call me Kaa-chan"

Naruto started sobbing; his forehead touching her shoulder, he kept moving her shoulder hoping that she would wake up.

Naruto's Mangekyo started expanding before turning metallic color; I Failed, I Failed, I FAILED.

The sound of a huge explosion was the last thing Naruto heard...