At this moment, the Uchiha district was completely soaked in the stench of blood.
Even the moon hanging high above seemed dyed crimson, its light cold and distorted, casting an eerie glow over the streets.
Yet what no one noticed...
A thick, silent black mist was slowly spreading, enveloping the entire village.
Inside the Uchiha Clan Head's Residence
Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Mikoto knelt calmly on the tatami.
Behind them stood their eldest son.
Uchiha Itachi.
A blade was clenched tightly in his trembling hand.
What an unbearably ironic sight.
For the so-called "peace" of the village, Itachi had chosen to sacrifice his own clan. He raised his blade against his blood, against his parents—shouldering the darkness alone, then casting himself into the shadows as a member of Akatsuki, continuing to serve as Konoha's hidden spy.
His teacher… his closest friend…
Uchiha Shisui had been driven into a corner by Danzō, ultimately choosing death.
Even that bond had ended in tragedy.
The only exception in Itachi's life was his younger brother.
Uchiha Sasuke.
He protected Sasuke for the first half of his life—
and in the end, orchestrated his own death by Sasuke's hands.
Peace in exchange for a lifetime of torment.
Even during the Fourth Great Ninja War, when Yakushi Kabuto used Edo Tensei to plunge the Shinobi Alliance into despair, Itachi stepped forward and ended it.
And yet...
Aside from Sasuke and a select few, no one ever knew what he had done.
But looking at the ninja world—
Was Konoha truly at peace?
No.
It never was.
The only time true peace existed was when Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara stood together.
There was no darkness then.
Because one was the God of Shinobi, and the other was the Asura of the battlefield.
Their overwhelming power crushed all schemes before they could even take shape.
Were people during the Warring States Era pure?
No.
They simply understood one truth:
No matter what schemes they devised, absolute power would erase them all.
In the face of strength that crushed everything, conspiracies were nothing more than paper illusions.
"…So," Fugaku spoke at last, his voice calm yet heavy,
"you've already chosen their side."
Though phrased as a question, there was no doubt in his tone.
He understood.
He knew what his son had done and what was about to happen.
"Father… Mother… I—"
"We know, Itachi."
Mikoto interrupted gently, her eyes warm, her voice steady.
"Itachi," Fugaku said solemnly,
"promise me one thing."
"…Sasuke."
At that single name—
Itachi finally broke.
Tears streamed from his blood-red eyes, tracing paths down his cheeks.
"I… understand."
His grip on the blade shook violently. His chest felt as though it were being crushed.
Sensing his hesitation, Fugaku spoke again.
"Don't be afraid. This is the path you chose."
"Compared to you… our pain lasts only a moment."
"Even if we disagreed—"
"We are proud of you."
"You are a kind child."
Itachi sobbed openly now—
Yet still, he raised the blade.
Just then...
A voice echoed softly from the shadows.
"Tsk, tsk… what a scene."
"I knew it would happen… but seeing it with my own eyes is still unsettling."
"Who's there?!"
Itachi wiped his tears away instantly, spinning around with his blade raised, Sharingan blazing.
Fugaku and Mikoto turned as well.
"Relax," the voice replied casually.
"Go on. Don't let me interrupt. I'm just passing through."
A red-haired boy stepped out from the darkness, hands raised lazily.
Namikaze Kirito.
He had returned to Konoha ahead of schedule—for this very night.
The first step of his plan had begun.
"Who are you?!" Itachi demanded.
They had met before.
Long ago—when Kushina and Mikoto still brought their children together.
But seven years had changed too much.
Only the red hair remained familiar.
"Itachi," Kirito said calmly, walking forward,
"has it really been so long that you forgot an old friend?"
He stopped directly in front of Itachi and placed two fingers against the tip of the blade.
"This thing won't work on me."
"And if you swing it while trembling… it won't hurt anyone."
Itachi stared at him—
Then realization struck.
"…Namikaze… Kirito?"
At those words, Fugaku and Mikoto froze.
"Kushina's son…?"
"Wasn't he taken away by Jiraiya for treatment?"
"Why is he here… now?"
Kirito ignored them.
His gaze never left Itachi.
"I came back to see an old friend."
"But instead… I found a coward."
"A beast."
Itachi's anger exploded.
"What do you know?!"
"You know nothing!"
"How dare you judge me?!"
"So this is it?" Kirito replied coolly.
"You slaughter your clan… all for the 'peace' of the village?"
"What else can I do?!"
"This is the only way!"
"If civil war breaks out, the outside world will intervene! The village will collapse and the Uchiha will become Konoha's greatest sinners!"
"So I have to—"
"Shut up."
Kirito's calm finally shattered.
"You're killing your own parents and calling it 'bearing the darkness'?"
"Don't make me laugh."
"The Uchiha were pushed into a corner and instead of fighting back, you chose to run."
"Can a coward like you really shoulder the darkness of this village?"
"Or do you think that once the Uchiha are gone, everything magically becomes peaceful?"
Itachi said nothing.
But the blade lowered, inch by inch.
"I'll tell you this, Uchiha Itachi."
"Even if the Uchiha disappear tonight, new darkness will rise tomorrow."
"Did Shisui's death teach you nothing?"
"Two—no—three Mangekyō Sharingan users. Three Kage-level shinobi."
"And instead of changing the system, you all chose to die?"
"Where is the pride of the Uchiha?!"
"Where is your common sense?!"
Itachi's face was pale.
For the first time, the path he chose began to crumble.
"Son of the Fourth Hokage," Fugaku said slowly, standing up,
"what exactly do you want?"
Kirito pulled a chair from the corner, sat down casually, crossed his legs, and spread his arms.
"Stop this meaningless suicide."
Then his gaze sharpened.
"And you, Uchiha Itachi—"
"Do you want to follow me?"
"Not to run from darkness…"
"But to truly become it."
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