Hanabi's P.O.V
"What is this?", Itachi inspected his surroundings, his eyes darting sideways. It was a dark and gloomy setting, but it had gradually faded out into oblivion, unveiling a familiar setting.
"Sasuke!", Itachi yelled out, his legs put him in motion at the sight of his kid brother. However, he'd halted in his tracks, his eyes had broadened when he saw himself. Covered in blood.
"Where am I?", Itachi questioned no one in particular.
"I hate you", Sasuke hissed, his entire body was trembling and it was not due to the cold wind.
"Sasuke?", Itachi inquired, his eyes had squinted to get a better view.
"I'll never forgive you", Sasuke growled, tears had streamed down his face.
Upon witnessing this, Itachi treaded closer towards his kid brother. Sasuke was trembling and shivering as he stood rooted to the ground where the corpses of endless Uchiha members draped there. Not sure what had happened the other figure that resembled Itachi stared him straight in the eye before vanishing into crows.
"Sasuke?", Itachi's voice was a bare whisper, which echoed over and over again, ringing like a curse in Sasuke's ears. Itachi had treaded close enough, his figure loomed over Sasuke's petite body, casting a lengthy shadow above him.
Itachi's hand was hesitantly reaching out to land on Sasuke's shoulder.
"I'll be the one to end you do you hear me?!", Sasuke shouted, staring straight in his older brother's eyes. Itachi had jumped back, his eyes widened when he witnessed Sasuke's dark brown eyes fade. A crimson pigment with three dotting blades replaced his usual murk complexion.
Sasuke had lost his balance then and fell on the ground, his tear stained eyes directed one more glare at Itachi before losing consciousness.
"Sasuke!", Itachi lunged towards his brother, but it was too late.
Sasuke's body had disintegrated into utter nothingness, leaving fragile flakes roaming around Itachi.
Itachi stood in his ground. His expression suggested that he figured it out.
"Genjutsu huh?", he lowered his head and stared down at where Sasuke previously was.
I took another deep breath and coordinated what I wanted him to see next.
It was Sasuke again.
Even though I have no idea of what the future is like, I know for sure that what Itachi will do tonight is going to scar Sasuke for life.
Which is why I showed him the following setting:
Sasuke, was grown up. Despite his natural talent as a descendant of the Uchiha clan, his heart became wretched. The look in his eyes was of pure lust towards vengeance. Darkness had completely conquered his severed heart, deliberately, moving through each crook until the invasion was complete.
And even though he was alive. Even though he breathed the same air as everyone else. Even though he'd acquired power that surpassed Itachi's, there was nothing left of him.
There was nothing about this Sasuke that Itachi could recognize. Not his features, not his aura, and not his eyes...
I'd remained in my place within the shadows and observed him from afar. I couldn't hold this any longer. Genjutsu might not be that hard for me to do, but it's not my speciality.
We remained cemented in our place. Face to face. My bare hands still blocking his sword as I kept staring him straight in the eyes. I heard a few sniffles escape him. His blank eyes had remained wide eyed, with stillborn tears struggling to elude.
He was looking back at me through the veil of my own blood that dripped down in rhythm. His mouth was parted slightly, but no words came from him.
"Don't do it Itachi", I whispered, my eyes pleaded to him.
I winced in pain from his blade that was still piercing in my skin. Small tears filled up my eyes, but I swallowed my shrieks.
"This is pathetic", the masked man scoffed, earning my attention instantly.
"Sasuke", Itachi whispered to himself and clenched his jaw, completely disregarding the masked man's remark.
It's dangerous to leave this man alone, which is why I recoiled at the idea of teleporting Itachi to the clearing I'd marked earlier. I decided I didn't wanna test my luck with this mysterious guy again.
And so, at the nearest opening I caught sight of in my current position, I hastened my speed and backed away from Itachi.
My face scrunched in pain as I held out my palms in front of me. Itachi's blade had cut a little bit deep into my skin, leaving blood to gush out.
The pain stung, but I forced myself to suck it up anyways. Itachi had regained his thoughts again and lunged forward. I dodged him easily since I surpass him in speed.
All the while I kept dodging Itachi's attacks, I kept a close eye at the masked man.
Instinctively, I snatched a string of shurikens and pelted them in his direction. To my dismay, I was left wide eyed and taken aback when my string of shurikens pierced right through him.
The catch was, he was left unscathed. The target of the shurikens became the trees behind the masked man.
This split moment created an opening for Itachi. He took the advantage and wielded his sword again. This time, if it weren't for the butterfly that whispered a warning in my ear. I'd be a bloody mess.
The real problem here wasn't Itachi. It was this masked man.
"Who are you!?", I demanded, looking at him straight.
The mask prevented me from seeing his current expression, but if I were to guess then I'd suggest he was smirking wickedly.
"Madara Uchiha", he rasped.
"What?!"
Itachi straightened his posture and fixed his gaze elsewhere, his eyes still sparkled with the memories of the Genjutsu I ensnared him in.
My mouth was parted as I stared at the masked man in disbelief.
"No way! That man is supposed to have died decades ago..", I yelled out, my mind still processing what he'd just said.
"Oh I'm afraid it is the truth", he said, then directed his stare at me, "I survived the battle against Hashirama Senju and found a way to elongate my life span"
"To elongate your life span?", I echoed back in disbelief.
Madara Uchiha began laughing for a moment, while I darted my gaze towards Itachi.
"You knew about this?", I asked skeptically, unable to tear my eyes away from him.
Isn't this considered treason?
When no response emanated from Itachi I knew I had my answer.
"So you were planning alongside this man to annihilate the Uchiha clan?", I lowered my head in disbelief. The blurry picture had finally come together.
Their meeting at the clearing, him urging me to not mention this to anyone and making a deal with me on top of that.
"Itachi...", I leveled my unblinking eyes in his direction, the breeze sending my hair away from my face.
"Don't fret", the masked man suddenly chuckled, sending a shiver down my spine.
"I no longer want the Uchiha clan's annihilation", he addressed, earning Itachi's attention suddenly.
"It might've been on spur of the moment, but I had a change of heart", he declared in a raspy voice which made goosebumps appear on my limbs.
"What?", Itachi gasped breathlessly, "Why all of a sudden?!?", he demanded, his eyes unblinking and wide open.
The masked man darted his eye to Itachi and declared in a loud voice, "because this is the best decision for my upcoming plans".
"Upcoming plans?!", Itachi and I yelled in unison.
My eyes remained unblinking, my breath was held tight, but the masked man still managed to slip before my unblinking eyes.
He disappeared into thin air, leaving Itachi and I searching for him frantically and aimlessly.
If this man's claim that he is Madara of the Uchiha clan then things are already out of hand.
I was completely lost in this moment. I had no idea what to do. I stared over at Itachi who was rendered immobile.
"Hanabi!"
My head jerks up towards the string of butterflies that suddenly came into view.
"He's heading to the Uchiha district!"
"Uchiha district?!", I whispered to myself in disbelief.
I whipped my head in Itachi's direction, not sure what to do.
"Itachi!", I yelled out loud, snapping him out of his trance. He simply exchanged the gesture and gave me all ears.
"The Uchiha district! He's heading to the Uchiha district!", I informed, a bead of sweat hanging loose from my forehead.
Itachi simply stared back at me.
"What?"
Frustrated, I lunged forward towards him and grasped his wrist. I winced at the piercing pain from my wound. Looking him directly in the eyes I clenched my jaw, my knotted tongue somehow found the words to say to him.
"Listen", I said in a warning tone, I felt my Sharingan fade as I said the following, "we'll talk about this later when we've successfully prevented this coup d'etat. You owe me answers and explanations".
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A/N:- I really don't know how to write author's notes, but do me a favor and tell me how you found this fanfic and what in PARTICULAR made you want to read it. Bye for now <3!
~A