Pov 1: Day of the Massacre

Death should not bother me. Murder should not bother me. Usually, neither has any effect on me. But until I reaped and sowed seeds of murder among my own clan, I did not know the true meaning of destruction. Seeing the familiar faces staring back at me, the sightless eyes accusatory and glowering, shook the unshakable core of my being.

Was I right in my decision?. As seeds of doubt grew in my head, I couldn't help but reconsider my action. But remembering my brother's life was at risk, I couldn't help but convince myself to drown in sorrow later.

It rained that day. Thick, heavy clouds filled the sky throughout the entire morning, waiting until late afternoon to drop an ocean's worth of water upon my—the—village. I left the house early that morning, a final, pathetic attempt to hide my plans from my clueless family. Even my ever perceptive father did not notice anything amiss.

I almost escaped successfully, free of any final contact with my family, contact that could shake my resolve once more and create the shadow of doubt that would ultimately prove to be my undoing. One foot out the door, the other hovered over the threshold, I allowed myself an instant of celebration. Then, I heard a soft, high voice faintly call out to me.

"Oni-Chan?" he whispered. Curse the insufferable curiosity of younger brothers. Of all the younger siblings in the world, Sasuke was perhaps the worst, always following me and pestering me for help with his training. Yet I couldn't help but love his dear little Otōto enough to kill every other member who I consider as family.

"Hmm?" I turned back, wiping all traces of hesitation from my face. A few more hours, and I would not have to deal with any of this trepidation and sorrow. But until then, I had to remain the perfect older brother, even if it meant suffering this pain for a few more minutes. It's all for him

"Where are you going?" Sasuke whined. "You promised to help me with my new jutsu." He stretched the final syllable out into a plaintive sigh. Gods only can guess how much I hate it when he whines. Calm down, I told myself, today is just like every other day, no different than yesterday or…tomorrow. He adores you, will believe anything, he isn't a threat to the mission.

"Sasuke…I am going," I paused dramatically and gestured conspiratorially for him to come closer. "Out." I poked him in the center of the forehead as I spoke.

"Oww." Sasuke rubbed his head. "You always do that, Oni-chan. You act nice and then you poke me in the head." He frowned at me, and I fought the urge to smile. Gods I hate his whining, incessant complaints about everything, and I briefly wondered if he was capable of normal speech. But his betrayed looks always amused me. He was so young, so naïve, so innocent. My stupid, dear Otōto.

"Sasuke, I'll help you with your jutsu when I get back, okay? I do not have time now."

"Itachi—"

I just walked away, unable to stand his presence anymore without revealing part of my plan. That face… As much as he annoyed me, I could not help but hope he would not be around that afternoon. He made me doubt I could complete my mission with him in the way.

"Sasuke, why don't you stay after school and train for a while? Get some help from your sensei." I suggested, trying to salvage my plan and keep him out of the way.

"Okay ni-san." Sasuke flashed his trademark lopsided grin at my back, and I felt his content. But no Sasuke meant no obstacle, so everything would go smoothly, a small blessing in itself. I stalked away into the cloudy morning, doubting my ability to be impartial for the first time, doubting my ability to complete my mission. Maybe if I spoke to Sarutobi one more time…

No. No, the bastards in the Hokage's office would never allow me to reconsider. I agreed to the task, and as part of the ANBU Black Ops, I could not back out because I found it distasteful. I had gotten in too far to back out, anyway. My best friend rested in his grave, dead by 'his' hand, yet I could only follow the words of his killer. 'It's all for the sake of the village' I consoled myself.

The day went by slowly. Each second ticked by with all the speed of frozen molasses, and each instant grated on my nerves. With no small missions to undertake that day, I paced the village like a caged tiger, angry and full of raw tension. Overcast skies, heavy with the impending rain did nothing to improve my mood.

I began my attack as the clouds finally broke, spilling rain on the village.

Dressed in full ANBU attire, I returned to the Uchiha compound, weapons in hand. The first fell easily, unaware of the impending danger of my kunai, unaware of their imminent demises. After those first murders, the scattered drops of rain fell harder, almost as thick and heavy as the rain of blood falling from my hands.

My extended family fell before my hands, most of the relatives in this area too old or too young to defend themselves well enough to pose a challenge. Despite that, I knew better than to relax my guard. At any moment the active ninja would arrive, and then I would have my hands full just staying alive. Even a prodigy is not a god.

Soon enough, one of my cousins, an active Jonin just back from an S ranked mission, appeared behind me, fingers flying through a jutsu. Before he finished the last symbol, I lodged a kunai knife in his throat. Too easy, really, especially to defeat a Jonin, so I was not surprised to hear the familiar whoosh of a substitution jutsu.

I reversed my grip on the kunai knife and swung behind me. A cry of pain rewarded my efforts, and I twisted the blade violently before wrenching it free. His corpse thudded to the ground behind me. I glanced down at my arm, slightly surprised by the thick blood that covered me in a gory, partially dry splatter. I looked demonic. Good, perhaps I could put some fear into their hearts before I killed them. The more that could run away, the better I would feel.

But unfortunately, my new 'partner-in crime' hadn't let them leave.

Night fell quickly, its approach expedited by dark storm clouds still looming overhead.

Even with the sight disguised by the half-light, I felt sick as the bodies began to accumulate in the street. A thousand sightless eyes glared up at me, and the accusations of guilt and betrayal cut deeper than any blade.

What was I doing? Did I really trust Sarutobi more than my own family? Could I truly place the safety of the village over the lives of my kin?

Pausing, I surveyed the carnage around me. The clouds chose that moment to disperse, and the glare of the full moon left no detail untouched. Every body glowed a cadaverous white, their wounds violent slashes outlined in the deepest crimson. It was awful.

I sighed and closed my eyes slowly. Too late now for me to change anything. I had killed too many and left too many alive for either faction of this silent war of intelligence and subterfuge to accept me. It would be best if I finished the job and simply disappeared. No future awaited me now, no life existed for me in the village.

I turned to the only remaining house. Mine.

This was tiring to write. But I got enough feel into it. Don't mind him cursing Sasuke, he is just in a really bad mood and can't keep himself stable. There is no transmigrator, he himself reincarnates. Please add the book to your library and give me chapter comments if anything goes wrong. Goodbye. Second chapter will be uploaded immediately.