Chapter 168

Title: Timeskip - Uchiha Massacre - Awakening.

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(A/N: This will be a long Chapter as I hope to rush through this arc and move unto an interesting part of the Filler arcs I find interesting, as well as move on to the main Naruto Timeline.)

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Time quickly passed and the hype of the Jounin Exams, or better known as Gold Ranking Exams in Hanagakure, came to an end and exactly as Shun had thought, his fame grew into obscurity with his absence from the public's eye.

Currently, six months had passed and Shun had spent the entire time 'learning' all he could from his Senpais while also giving them an idea on two.

To him, this was a win-win situation as he could learn new things while bolstering the villages' future.

A month prior, he was still a low level assasin assigned to just information retrieval as well as extermination of unnecessary spies... This meant that there were spies that were necessary.

Just as how information was power, knowing more than you were allowed to know was actually a ticket to hell.

Unlike how every village had spies and were usually unawares of them, Hanagakure prided itself with knowing every foreign individual who stepped into their island.

Even self-induced Genjutsu wouldn't work as their chaotic flow of chakra in the brain would be notice from a mile away.

It was left to the higher authorities whether said spy was allowed to stay or not.

If allowed to stay, specific set of information would be made privy to him or her. Going outside of their boundaries to look for more information would most likely, lead to their untimely death.

"Bat!"

"Hai!"

"The head Summons you."

"Understood." The individual with the name bat, said and disappeared into the already dark room.

"I still marvel at how he does that. Not even a trace of him is left. As expected of a prodigy." The informat shook his head with a wry smile.

...

"You called for me, captain." Bat said as his figure appeared out of a puddle of muddy black liquid, which was actually the shadow Realm.

"Yeah... I'm still unable to understand how you're able to access the Shadow Dimension and stay there unaffected by the paralysis." Kurotsume said after a short pause.

Although he sounded neutral, one could sense his pride, intrigue and unwillingness.

"It's quite simple, Kurotsume-sancho..." Bat said with a pause. "...I'm Batman."

"..."

"Sigh. I shouldn't have asked. Here, take this." Kurotsume said and passed him a scroll which Bat unceremoniously opened and read through before burning it.

"Isn't this a little bit too... intrusive? We aren't meant to interfere with them. You know that." Bat asked.

"Of course. But this isn't a village mission. It's a clan one." Kurotsume said and sighed. "I still don't understand why we maintain this century old promise, but... A promise is a promise."

"It is a promise, but I don't think killing that man would help the issue." Bat said.

"I understand that too. Don't think we haven't done a thorough research on the entire village. Even with that man's instigation out of the way, that clan's arrogance has already put them in a very unfavorable situation." Kurotsume said and stood up from his chair.

Walking to a secret compartment on the wall, he pulled out a bottle of highly intoxicating alcohol and poured two glasses and offered one to Bat.

"I'm still a kid."

"Old enough to kill, old enough to drink."

"Fair enough." Bat said and accepted the cup before downing it.

"Sigh. There's a lot of parties actually involved in this case. There's a third party who has been whispering in the ears of the Uchihas. We think this is a fourth party." Kurotsume said.

"Fourth?"

"Yes. We're the third party, trying to salvage the situation while that unknown is pulling the strings of both the first and second party." Kurotsume said and downed another glass. "surprisingly, we can't locate them at all."

"So you want the entire second party out of the picture." Bat muttered. "That way, there won't be a force for the first party to fight in the first place?"

"That's the idea, but..."

"The first party would still turn their aggression on the entire village."

"Exactly. So effective immediately, find a way to resolve this situation on the fly. You've proven to be quite capable. Succes or failure, no one would blame you." Kurotsume said and sat down. "Even we are unable to resolve this issue without escalating it to the point of another world war."

"We don't want that." Bat said

"We definitely don't want that." Kurotsume said. "So rendezvous with our agents on site and take command with immediate effect."

"Understood." Bat saluted and vanished the same way he came.

...

In the heart of the Hidden Leaf Village, shadows of betrayal loomed over the tranquil streets and beneath the serene façade of the Uchiha clan's compound.

The Uchiha, renowned for their legendary Sharingan eyes and unparalleled prowess in the shinobi arts, had always been a clan of distinction.

However, a sinister undercurrent of distrust had slowly eroded the bonds of unity between the Uchiha and the village that had long been their home.

The roots of this discord stretched back years, as simmering discontent brewed within the clan. Many Uchiha felt marginalized and viewed with suspicion by the village's leadership.

Their desire for more significant influence and the belief that they were the true protectors of the village fueled a dangerous ambition.

At the epicenter of this turmoil was Itachi Uchiha, an enigmatic figure whose brilliance and secrets shrouded him in an aura of mystery.

Itachi's father, Fugaku, had become the driving force behind a clandestine plot to overthrow the village's leadership, a plan that Itachi reluctantly supported.

Unknown to all but a select few, Itachi bore a harrowing secret, one that weighed heavily upon his heart. He had been appointed by the village's elders to infiltrate and ultimately eliminate the Uchiha clan, a mission that tortured his soul but was needed to be undertaken in the name of preserving peace.

As tensions spiraled out of control, the day of reckoning drew near. Itachi stood at the precipice, torn between loyalty to the clan that was his blood and the village that had entrusted him with a devastating responsibility.

"Itachi, you're here." A deep voice sounded as Itachi stepped into the house with his Anbu attire

"I'm back." Itachi greeted the owner of the voice respectfully. "Father."

"Um. Come with me." The person, or rather, Uchiha Fugaku said and began walking towards a location.

"I still have a mission with my team tomorrow. I need to rest early." Itachi said and made to walk away.

"Don't run away!" Fugaku shouted at his son causing Itachi to pause. "Run away? From what?" Itachi asked in derision.

"From your Uchiha destiny. Do you understand? Follow me." Fugaku said and began walking while Itachi looked at him over his shoulder and then followed behind.

Despite is confusion, he didn't voice out any query and followed his father as they entered and walked towards a hidden compartment underground.

As soon as they entered, the previously dark room lit up as the torches by the wall caught fire due to Fugaku flexing his chakra a bit.

"Over here." Fugaku said, drawing Itachi'a attention. "This is the Uchiha tablet. Within the clan, only those who possess the Sharingan are capable of reading this stone tablet."

"And even then, they can only read a part of it. But with your Mangekyou Sharingan, you should be able read further."

"So you want me to tell you what it says?" Itachi asked without any emotion in his voice.

"That won't be necessary." Fugaku said as he looked over his shoulder at Itachi who's eyes widened in shock. "Mangekyou Sharingan!?"

"You have them too, father?"

"It was during the third Shinobi war. My friend gave his life to save me." Fugaku said as pain flashed past his eye for a split second. "Along with his tears of blood, the Mangekyou Sharingan was born."

"The Uchiha tablet offers a path to salvation, however, even with the Mangekyou Sharingan, the end can not be deciphered. It seems we still have some ways to go. However, even if it's part way, once you read it, you will understand, Itachi." Fugaku said passionately.

Itachi watched his father ramble on and didn't even know how to react. Yes, he had gotten his Sharingan a few months back when Shusui attempted to kill himself.

Thankfully, he was fast enough to stop him while taking some words from Shun's mouths.

Shusui was able to look forward to a brighter future, however, due to his overly trusty ability, he still lost an eye to Danzo and after racking their heads, Shusui decided to lay low.

'If Shun saw us now, he'd surely laugh.' Itachi mused to himself as he turned to continue listening to his father.

"The current situation forced upon the Uchiha clan is wrong."

"Even so. To use force to overcome it is..." Itachi wanted to refute but he remembered Shun's earlier words half a year ago.

"The higher-ups of the village dear us. That is why they persecute us... Out of fear towards our Sharingan." Fugaku said.

'That's the exact scenario Shun...' Itachi thought but since he hadn't gotten his own answer, "You're right. They fear we will control the Nine Tails with the power of the Sharingan."

"Sigh. That's just the legend of Uchiha Madara." Fugaku sighed in exasperation. "Since then, no one has ever been able to do something like that."

"We don't even know if anyone can. But the higher-ups cling to the ghosts of the past. If they fear is, there's nothing left to do but for us to control them." Fugaku said with a tone of finality.

"Will you use force to become the Hokage?"

"It is because the clan wishes it. I can't stop them. But I can't stop the use of brute force too. That is why I kept my Mangekyou Sharingan a secret." Fugaku said.

"Why?" Itachi asked.

"I can control the Kyuubi with the Mangekyou Sharingan. If the Clan learns if this, they would desire even more." Turning to face Itachi his Mangekyou Sharingan spun.

"Watch!"

Immediately, Itachi was made to witness a scene he had never seen before. Something that made his heart pound due to sheer terror at the moment the Kyuubi surfaced.

A mere roar from the beast claimed the lives of many civilian lives. Families were extinguished with a mere stomp of it's leg. Buildings crumbled under the immense power of the beast, and the earth trembled with each thunderous step it took.

Panic and fear gripped the villagers as they desperately sought shelter from the impending catastrophe.

Yes, he was aware of the attack of the Jinchuriki a few years back, but he was but a child. Compared to the point of view of Fugaku who witnessed it firsthand, he was still lacking a bit.

The once-peaceful streets of Konohagakure were plunged into chaos as the Kyuubi, now a pawn of the Sharingan user, unleashed its devastating wrath.

The village's highly skilled shinobi, renowned for their courage and resilience, rallied to confront this unprecedented threat.

But they faced an adversary unlike any they had encountered before—the Kyuubi, amplified in its malevolence and strength by the sinister alliance with the Mangekyou Sharingan.

He witnessed the frailty of human life once more in but a few seconds.

Despite his nigh-godly Genjutsu prowess, he came to realise that should he be present in that scenario, he would face nothing but death.

Gasp! Gasp!

Loud gasps escaped his mouth as he tried to collect himself. Shun had shown him a lot of life and death moments with his Genjutsu, but in all of them, he was an active member, in this case, he was an observer. Every death, pain, scream, was witnessed and experienced by him in a matter of seconds.

"That's...."

"Many in the clan resent the village. When you're pushed into a corner, you'll resort to things like this. There will be much bloodshed on both sides." Fugaku said and turned his back to him once more

"But Itachi, if you're with me... We can take them by surprise and restrain the higher-ups. Some fighting will ensure, but with your help as a member of the Anbu, a bloodless revolution can take place." Fugaku said once more with passion and righteous indignation.

"Bloodless revolution?" Itachi asked in confusion. There was no such thing as bloodless revolution. In all revolution, there will always be bloodshed.

Innocents will suffer. It is a constant.

"Itachi. You're my son. Please! Save our clan!" Fugaku turned to his son and bowed, and for the first time since this conversation, Itachi felt like his father was trying to tell him something.

Something other than what he had been saying since the beginning of this conversation.

With a flicker, he left the shrine without giving his father an answer.

...

Somehow, retracing their conversation, he felt like there should be key words his father was trying to pass across.

'His anger. His unwillingness. His confusion, despair and hope. What am I to do with all this?' Itachi thought to himself as he walked the dark path of the root headquarters.

Fugaku first told him about his destiny, then he talked about the clan's tablet, how it was the path to salvation, yet they weren't able to read it to the end, meaning it wasn't their salvation.

How the clan and village were at odds. An odd that wasn't reconcileable due to the deep seeted hatred the Clan had for the village. How this situation wasn't their fault but the village forcing it on them.

How they fear the power of their eyes, yet push them so far. How the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi could be used, yet is under so little protection.

'Of course Shun would destroy this village if anything were to happen to N-' Itachi thought to this point and a sudden realization struck him.

Should the Uchiha clan use the Kyuubi, Naruto will die. Should Shun hey news of this, there would be a debt to pay... By blood.

'Even without trying much, the Uchiha clan would be doomed if Shun were to unleash his anger on us.' Itachi thought. "Even I haven't seen his true depths." He muttered to himself.

But then, Fugaku wasn't going with this plan as the clan doesn't know he has the Mangekyou Sharingan. '

He should be telling me that he has considered it deeply.' Itachi mused.

Fugaku also mentioned what would happen when the clan is pushed to a certain extent. There would be bloodshed. Bloodshed from both sides.

'But with my help, we can make it bloodless. No. Even father said that some fighting will ensure. There can't be no bloodshed in a coup.'

Sighing, he came to a pause. -Itachi. You're my son. Please. Save our clan.- His father's words rang in his ears once more as he remembered his father's bowing posture.

"Damn. Putting such a burden on your son. How can you trust me so?"

Uchiha Fugaku, as he knew his was a traditional man. His mother too. Despite being Shinobi, as the clan patriarch and matriarch, they had to put the clan first.

This was something he understood after being reasoned with by Shun. No matter the circumstances, once little circle comes first.

Your son, daughter, brother, sister, father, mother. You family. They were first. Then after them, came the clan. But as the clan head, the clan was his family, similar to how the village was the Hokage's family.

In asking him to save 'our' Fugaku was basically asking him to see the clan as his family first, before the village.

However, his trauma from childhood made him unable to differentiate between clan and village. In his eyes, everyone was his to protect.

This was why he was famed for being able to think like a Kage.

Only a Kage would put the collective need of the people before themselves. It was a noble way of thinking, but as Shun would always say... It was way too restrictive.

He had chance to live his life. He was basically living for others.

'Izumi, Sasuke, Shusui, Kaa-san.' Itachi closed his eyes as the faces of these four flashed in his mind, only for a face plastered with a smug grin to disrupt the tranquility in his mind.

Sighing before chuckling at the face of his friend, he asked. "Shun, what should I do?"

...

To be continued.

**#*

A/N: I slept like 6 times while writing this. I dunno if it's impactful enough yet with Itachi being all conflicted and stuff. I mean, I tried watching the anime to see if I can mirror and understand both Fugaku and Itachi mentality.

While trying to simulate and create similar personalities in my head, I fell asleep like four times.

Then putting them in writing was another issue. I even developed an headache as I wrote.

*Sigh* Seriously. To be continued tomorrow.

PS: The Awakening was not for Itachi but for Izumi. I initially wanted to write it all in this chapter without having any conversations but someone told me I needed to write how Shun's presence is actually changing the world, so...

PSS: I already have an idea for her Mangekyou Sharingan abilities. Trust me, it'll be cool and actually be restrictive to Obito as well as Shun.

Muhahaha.

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Good day.