Izumi stood in the corridor, turned into a puppet controlled by Itachi, her eyes vacant.
In the world of illusion, Itachi began to meticulously paint a picture of beauty.
The Uchiha Clan had not initiated a coup, Konoha was prosperous and strong, everything was peaceful and beautiful.
He had become an excellent Jonin of Konoha.
Izumi was also chasing after his footsteps, becoming a Chunin in the village.
One day, he gave a wedding ring to the sulking Izumi.
Marriage.
Having children.
Letting their child grow up in a peaceful environment, without having to feel the harshness of war, without having to hear the cries from the battlefield.
Itachi sketched out everything beautifully.
The child's future, heading towards the direction he hoped for, becoming a person healthy in body and mind, becoming a remarkable figure in the village.
Growing old together with Izumi, at seventy, Izumi fell ill.
He held Izumi's hand by the sickbed, letting her leave the world peacefully, without regrets.
...
The illusion ended here.
Izumi's body fell coldly to the ground, her hair like seaweed, scattered everywhere, her eyes losing their vitality and color.
Itachi painfully closed his eyes, blood flowed down his eyes, panting heavily.
This truly is... a burdensome darkness...
A cursed destiny...?
Itachi thought bitterly.
Then, he looked at Izumi's mother, who was lying beside him still trapped in illusion, took a deep breath, drew the ninja blade from his back, and swung it towards her heart.
Blood splattered on his face and clothes, the figure vanished from the corridor, moving towards another place to continue hunting his targets.
◎
In the courtyard, only the sound of a stream flowing could be heard.
In the bedroom, an elderly man was about to extinguish the light when he suddenly turned his head and saw in the corner a short figure standing there, holding a blood-stained ninja blade, the killing intent approaching him.
"Uchiha... Itachi?"
The old man squinted.
Itachi stepped out of the shadows and stood before the old man.
This old man was named Uchiha Shikora, the past leader of the Uchiha Radical Faction, who had once educated him for three days.
But regardless of how glorious this old man's past was, today he would meet his demise here.
Seeing Itachi's cold, killing intent-filled expression now, with blood on his blade, clothes, and face, it was clear he had killed many before coming here.
Elder Shikora pondered slightly, as if realizing something.
"I see, tonight is the night when those Shimura brats strike against the Uchiha."
He spoke as if it was a casual greeting, there was no trace of surprise in his tone, as if he had already anticipated it.
Itachi ignored Elder Shikora's ramblings and raised the ninja blade in his hand, ready to swing it down.
"But you... cannot kill me."
Elder Shikora declared with certainty, revealing a very peculiar smile, as if assured that Itachi wouldn't be able to kill him.
Itachi frowned, seemingly sensing something as well, stopped his swing.
A man quietly entered the room.
Aburame Ryuma, Shimura Danzo's right-hand man.
"I'll handle him. Lord Danzo wants him brought in, there are questions he wants to ask him personally."
Upon hearing this, Itachi took a deep breath and turned around without hesitation, leaving the room, leaving the space to Aburame Ryuma and Elder Shikora.
After Itachi left, Elder Shikora took a look at Aburame Ryuma.
"A boy of the Aburame family, to have grown to this extent, truly remarkable."
"I wouldn't dare. So, will you come with me willingly, or shall I take you to see Lord Danzo?"
Aburame Ryuma asked, nerves taut.
Even though the elder was ancient, he could not afford to be careless.
This elder had ruled the Uchiha from the shadows for nearly thirty years, during which the Uchiha Clan never voiced opposition against him, fortifying the Uchiha into an impenetrable bastion, turning them into an exceedingly dangerous autonomous region within Konoha.
Even his superior Danzo, when in his presence, would have to address him as a junior.
"I'm an old man now, not fond of a tussle. For me to witness the Uchiha Clan fade from the world, that Danzo brat must have found me some scenic, peaceful place to let me appreciate this grand drama for a long time. It's really tough for him to go to such expense for a remnant of my era."
Elder Shikora sighed, picked up the cane beside him, and with no slow movements followed Aburame Ryuma out.
◎
Blood danced before his eyes.
No screams could be heard, those locked as targets perished silently.
This was the greatest mercy Itachi could give them.
As each target was eliminated, now only the final target remained on his side.
Thinking of this, Itachi headed back home, ninja blade in hand.
The sky was dark, through the house's light, you could see some windows stained with spattered blood.
Itachi hastened homewards, he had to finish everything before Sasuke returned.
He soon reached his home, silently entered.
Thinking that, by now, his parents should be asleep.
As long as they departed quietly in sweet dreams, everything would be over.
"Is that you, Itachi?"
A voice came unexpectedly, startling Itachi.
Tracking the source of the voice, it wasn't from his parents' bedroom, but from the empty room at the back of the hallway.
Itachi ran over recklessly, pushing the door open.
There he saw his parents kneeling on the floor, backs turned to him.