Chapter 20: A World of Lies

You are still a groggy from passing out.

It was the first thing that greeted Itachi when he came to. He was in a cave, on some sort of bed. An alert was flashing in the corner of his vision, but he ignored it.

"Quite amazing," A voice said. "You took on all of ANBU, and yet here you are, without a scratch." It was the masked man. Itachi's thoughts drifted to what had happened.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"I am Madara Uchiha." The response was simple. "I know that it's difficult to believe, but it's a story for another time."

"Where is my clan?" Itachi could tell even if asked, he wouldn't answer the question of how he was alive and why he was here.

"They've gone into hiding. They'll be fine," he told him. "I know that not everyone lived, and because of this I have a proposition for you." Itachi remained silent. "I want you to join Akatsuki, to fulfill my dream. It's called the Tsuki No Me project."

"Why should I care?" Itachi asked. "I have succeeded in my mission. I protected the Uchiha that I could."

"A fair question," he said. "In the time since I fled Konoha, I've realized something. There are people who will tell you of the good in the world. But what they don't mention is that it's all just a lie. This world is full of pain, suffering, and emptiness. Surely you know this to be true, after what happened last night."

"I don't see what this has to do with your dream." Itachi's face remained blank.

"I want to remove all those things from this world," he continued, ignoring Itachi's interruption. "I want to make a world of love, a world of peace. To create a world where everything goes right for everyone, even if it means bringing back people from the dead. That is Tsuki No Me. That is my dream."

Quest Alert:

Project Tsuki No Me

Join Madara and Akatsuki to help them create the perfect world.

Completion Awards:

Effectively infinite XP

A perfect world for everyone

Completion Failure:

?

"A world where everything is right. It sounds too good," Itachi remarked.

"I've already tested it on the small scale and seen its effects. It's perfect. I just need the power of the tailed beasts to be able to cast it on everyone," he explained. "You could have your entire clan back: Your parents, Shisui, Sasuke."

Itachi thought for a moment. He still was quite doubtful of the masked man's story. Even in a world where you could shoot fire, walk on walls, and have manifestations of hate, it was too far fetched. Genjutsu was powerful, but for such a thing to exist seemed impossible.

Madara was more than happy to give Itachi all the time he needed to think it through. If he wasn't lying, then it would be a perfect world for everyone. No one would fight because everyone would have reality as they wanted. The alert beeped at him from earlier, taking him away from his thoughts. He opened it.

Quest Failed: Honor

The Uchiha name has been dishonored. Despite your best efforts, Shisui's wish remains unfulfilled.

Completion Failure:

You are now in exile from Konoha, a missing nin

The Uchiha clan is now a clan of missing nin

Quest: Vengeance

Immediately after dismissing it another window popped up.

Quest Alert: Vengeance

Danzo Shimura was the one who ruined the Uchiha's chance at a peaceful resolution. Make him pay with his life.

Quest Completion:

25,000 XP

Elevated Status among the Uchiha

Forever a criminal in Konoha

Quest Failure:

The clan will avenge you

?

?

Itachi thought for a bit longer. He was talking to someone who was supposed to have died decades ago. Maybe the Tsuki No Me wasn't as farfetched as he thought. There was also the benefits to Akatsuki. They'd been mentioned several times in ANBU, and they could help him meet his own goals. But there was still something he needed to do, before he felt like he deserved to see Sasuke.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think I can join just yet," Itachi finally said. The masked man searched him for an answer. "I'm too young, and I'm not strong enough. But after I get enough power, I will join your cause."

"You are already strong enough, Itachi," Madara said. "To take on all of Konoha's elite and live is an impressive feat, especially to come out unscathed."

"It's not what you think," he replied. " I'm different. I have a power, one that makes me live my life differently from other people."

"And this power let you defeat all of Konoha's ANBU?" Madara leaned forward. His voice broke from the all knowing tone he'd been maintaining.

"Yes." Itachi couldn't quite bring himself to explain that he saw floating textboxes that gave him instructions and gave him numbers to represent his skills. "It's complicated. It's not important though." Madara went to raise a counterpoint. "What is important is that I almost died, and I couldn't take down Danzo."

"You're being too harsh on yourself," Madara cut in. "Danzo Shimura has many tricks up his sleeve that makes him a very difficult opponent to fight. The fact you had a fight with him and lived says a lot about your skill and potential."

"I could've done it if I hadn't been so foolish, if I had gone in assuming the worst."

By realizing the folly of your actions, your Wisdom increases by one.

"And you claim this because of your power?" Madara asked.

"Yes, but now it's pointless to think about," Itachi answered. "I won't have the same advantages I did if I try to kill him now. I have to get stronger."

"Very well, I will be satisfied with your promise to join," Madara said. "Now with that out of the way, there is someone who would very much like to meet you. However, it is a meeting that can be delayed should you choose to rest here longer."

"It's fine. Who is this person who wants to meet me?" Itachi pulled himself out of the bed and stood up.

"His name is Orochimaru. I informed him of the situation and he has agreed to host the Uchiha clan in his village," Madara explained. "He just wanted to meet you."

"Take me to him." Orochimaru, the name was familiar to Itachi. He remembered a little bit of him from a few stories that Kakashi had told him along with some of the talk within ANBU was centered around him. No matter his motives, it would only be proper to thank him for what he was doing for the clan.

Madara took him back to the strange dimension from when he took him away from Konoha. They walked in silence for about 10 minutes before leaving, coming back to the real world inside an office of sorts. Orochimaru sat behind the desk.

"So this is the prodigious young Uchiha," he said. Charisma oozed from his voice. Itachi took a knee.

"I would like to thank you for what you have done for my clan. My gratitude is immeasurable and I will do everything in my power to assist you as long as you show hospitality." Orochimaru was left speechless for a moment.

"You do not need to go to such lengths, your clan has already made arrangements to bestow upon me a gift for my services," he explained. "However, I am curious to study you to see what makes you so extraordinary, but that will be for another time."

"Thank you," Itachi said once again before standing up.

"Did you collect the anything from the village?" Orochimaru asked, turning his attention to Madara. Itachi listened carefully.

"The clan was very helpful. They retrieved several sets of mature Sharingan from their fallen clansmen. They are safe from Danzo," he answered.

"Very well. I only wished to confirm what they had told me when I offered them a place within my village," Orochimaru said. He sounded very pleased. "This will help me with my research immensely."

"Itachi, your clan is waiting for you, come." Madara said, now that their business with Orochimaru had drawn to a close. The world distorted once more and they were back in the dimension of cubes and emptiness.

"What is this place, exactly?" Despite putting much thought into it, Itachi still hadn't been able to figure it out.

"This is my personal secret. I trust that you know not to reveal its existence to anyone," he said.

"Why have you shown it to me, then?" He asked.

"Think of it as a sign of trust," he explained. "We are fellow Uchiha, and should strive to ensure that we remain strong together. With our exile from the village we helped found, it is our only option to ensure that we survive."

"I see. Thank you. Now may we go see my clan? I wish to know who has survived." Itachi asked. Madara began leading him along. Not five minutes later he stopped him. The world twisted one last time and Itachi found himself in a village not unlike Konoha.

Everywhere he looked, he saw his clan. They were all looking at him, probably because of his sudden entrance. There was a moment of silence as it dawned on them who he was. Then Itachi was deafened by a loud cheering. At once he was swarmed by his clan.

He was home.