[ Author here !
25 Powerstones target is completed. So this is the bonus chapter ,Enjoy
]
Here, Kazeo was in Hokage's office and there Uchiha Itachi was grieving the death of his teammate, who was killed by a masked shinobi while escorting the Fire Daimyo."
(Itachi's and 3rd P.O.V. combined)
Four year old Itachi stood in the middle of a ruined field, the air thick with the scent of blood and burning flesh. His tiny hands clenched as he looked around—the bodies of enemy ninja lay scattered, the result of a battle he hadn't fought, but had been forced to witness. His father stood nearby, sword in hand, his Sharingan fading back into dark eyes.
"This is the world of shinobi, Itachi," Fugaku said, his voice devoid of emotion. "Strength decides everything. If you want to protect, you must be strong."
Itachi, too young to respond, merely nodded. But inside, something cracked.
This was the world he was meant to live in.
A world soaked in blood.
-----
By the time I was five, I had already surpassed the other children in the clan. Even the older ones. My father rarely praised me outright, but I could see it in his eyes—the quiet expectation.
"Itachi, come with me," he said one evening after training.
We walked in silence, the twilight casting long shadows over the Uchiha compound. Finally, he stopped under a cherry blossom tree.
"You have a gift," he said. "And with gifts come responsibilities. The Uchiha clan needs strong shinobi. Do you understand?"
I nodded. I always nodded.
That night, as I watched Sasuke sleep, his tiny fingers curled into a fist, I wondered—what would he think of all this when he grew up?
Would he be forced to walk the same path as me?
Would he have to understand war?
I hoped not.
----
At home, life was different. My mother, Mikoto, was gentle—her hands warm when she tucked me in at night, her voice soft when she hummed lullabies. And Sasuke…
Sasuke was still a baby, barely able to walk, but whenever he giggled, I felt something lighter in my chest.
"Look at him, Itachi," My mother whispered as she cradled the infant. "Sasuke will look up to you. He'll need you."
I looked at my little brother, sleeping peacefully in my mother's arms. I reached out and gently touched Sasuke's tiny fingers.
A silent promise formed in his heart.
"I'll protect him" I whispered.
Mikoto smiled, stroking his hair. "I know you will."
----
Flames devoured houses, the air was filled with the screams of civilians, and above it all—a monster.
The Kyūbi roared, its massive form looming over Konoha, tails thrashing like whips of destruction.
Itachi clutched Sasuke tightly, his small body shielding his baby brother from the chaos. His mother was with them, eyes frantic as she tried to find safety.
"Where's father?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.
"Fighting," Mikoto answered, her expression tense.
Itachi knew what that meant. The Uchiha were on the battlefield, trying to subdue the beast.
And then—it happened.
A shadow moved past the Kyūbi, leaping through the air. The Kyūbi's eyes—red, twisted with black tomoe—locked onto that figure.
Itachi's breath hitched.
A man.
A masked man.
Even at six, his instincts screamed that this was no ordinary ninja. There was something wrong, something unnatural.
Then, just as quickly as the chaos began, it ended. The Fourth Hokage's chakra flared, and then the Kyūbi was gone. Sealed and Defeated.
Itachi exhaled shakily, still clutching Sasuke as he watched the village burn.
'How many had died tonight?'
The monster was gone, but the scars would remain.
And so would the shadow of that masked man.
-----
"Itachi, let's spar!"
Shisui grinned, flipping his kunai in his hand. He was older, faster, but Itachi didn't mind. Shisui was the only one who could challenge him—his only real friend.
Itachi nodded, taking a stance.
They clashed, kunai meeting in a blur of motion. Itachi moved efficiently, dodging each strike with minimal effort. But Shisui was unpredictable.
He grinned suddenly. "Too slow!"
A flicker of motion, and Itachi felt the cold press of a kunai at his neck.
He exhaled, lowering his own blade. "You win."
Shisui laughed, stepping back. "You're way too serious, you know that?"
Itachi didn't answer. His mind was elsewhere. If this were real combat, I'd be dead.
That wasn't acceptable.
He had to become stronger.
For Sasuke.
For the village.
------
In my life , there is also a girl who talks to me regularly.
Her name , Izumi Uchiha. She is the daughter of a lower-ranked Uchiha, but she had a fire in her that remind me of my mother.
She would always find excuses to talk to me.
"Itachi-kun, did you eat today?" she'd ask, peeking over my shoulder while I trained.
I would nod, barely acknowledging her.
"You should smile more," she once told me with a pout. "It'd suit you."
I didn't know how to respond to that.
She was… different. Always trying to make me laugh, always looking for a way to bring warmth into my world.
Maybe, in another life, I could have let myself enjoy that.
But I didn't have time for distractions. Not when I had a goal.
------
By the time I was seven,
I had already surpassed the Academy curriculum.
The instructors didn't hesitate to let me graduate early.
That's when I was placed into Team 2, alongside Tenma Izumo and Shinko Inari, under a Jonin-sensei whose name never truly mattered to me.
Tenma was loud, brash, and confident—a stark contrast to my silent nature. "We're gonna be the best team in history!" he declared on our first day.
Shinko rolled her eyes. "Only if you stop talking and actually train."
I didn't say anything, but deep down, I knew that no matter how strong they were… they weren't prepared for the real world.
----
After a year of flawless teamwork and countless successful missions, Team 2 had earned a strong reputation.
We weren't just another group of fresh Genin—we were recognized and trusted.
And because of that, we were given an honorary mission—escorting the Land of Fire's daimyō to Konoha. A prestigious task, one meant to show off Konoha's strength and discipline.
Tenma was ecstatic. "This is it! This is the kind of mission only elites get, right? We're practically famous now!"
Shinko rolled her eyes but smiled. "It's just an escort mission. Don't get ahead of yourself."
I remained silent, observing them both. Something about this mission didn't sit right with me. Not because of the daimyō or the responsibility, but because my instincts told me that something… was coming.
And I was right.
We were Team 2—Our sensei ,Tenma, Shinko, and I.
A team of graduates.
When we were assigned to escort the Fire Daimyō, I didn't expect it to be anything more than a routine mission. Twelve guards accompanied us, their presence making it seem like no danger could touch us.
Then he appeared.
A man, cloaked in black, his mask concealing his face. He walked toward us with unnatural ease, as if he feared nothing.
The moment our eyes met, I felt it—power.
Then, without warning, the world shattered.
A genjutsu.
I fought against it, breaking free. So did Tenma.
The masked man tilted his head, intrigued. "Oh? Two of you resisted?" His voice was smooth, amused. "Interesting."
Tenma stepped forward, kunai drawn. "I don't know who you are, but you made a mistake attacking us! Genjutsu is my specialty!"
"Tenma, wait—"
He lunged.
The masked man chuckled. "A ninja who cannot calmly assess a situation will die."
Shing.
Blood.
Tenma's body jerked, eyes wide in shock as the blade slid through him.
I took a step forward, but it was too late.
A waterfall of blood poured from his chest as the masked man yanked his weapon free.
Tenma's fingers trembled, reaching up as if trying to grasp something.
"Itachi… was I… fast?"
My breath hitched. "Yeah," I whispered. "You were fast."
Then Tenma stopped moving.
and I froze.
"Those who rush forward, recklessly seeking distinction, die young," the masked man murmured. He crouched beside Tenma's corpse, as if studying it. "That is the reality of the ninja world. But it's already too late to teach you that, hm?"
His eyes flicked to me.
"But you..." He straightened. "You did not fall. You did not charge blindly. You tried to assess both your power and mine." A chuckle. "Wonderful, Uchiha Itachi."
My hands clenched into fists. "Who are you, How do you know my name ?"
He tilted his head. "I know everything about the Uchiha."
He turned his gaze toward the Daimyō. "I only want his life. The rest of you can leave."
I stepped forward. "I won't let you."
A sigh. "Then, like your friend... you will die."
He moved. Faster than anything I had ever seen. I barely had time to react. My body screamed to move, but—
To be Continued....
//////////////
[ Author here !
How was the chapter, guys?
First time tried writing from perspective of other characters .
( Announcements :-
For every 25 Powerstones, I will add an extra chapter the next day. )
Thank you Xenox_6302 and Jayroy_63 for Powerstones
Do let me know your thoughts 😉
]