Another purpose

The Past

Itachi, his dark eyes reflecting the shimmering moon, nodded in acknowledgment. "Very well, Robin. My past is not an easy one, but I believe it's time I confide in you."

He began, his voice a whisper in the quiet night. "My journey starts in a world vastly different from this one, a world of shinobi and ninja. I was born into the Uchiha clan, a family known for their unique ocular abilities – the Sharingan."

Robin, her eyes fixed on Itachi, listened with rapt attention as the cool ocean breeze rustled her hair.

"The Uchiha clan was riddled with internal conflict," Itachi continued, "and it escalated to the point where the village was on the brink of chaos. To prevent a catastrophe, I was assigned an unimaginable mission – to eliminate my entire clan, my own family, in order to protect the village."

Robin's expression showed empathy as she comprehended the weight of Itachi's burden. She reached out, placing a hand on his shoulder in a silent gesture of support.

Itachi's voice quivered slightly as he continued. "The guilt and darkness of that act haunted me, and I became a rogue ninja, pursued by my own village. But I did it to protect my younger brother, Sasuke. I hoped he would grow stronger and come to understand the truth behind my actions."

Robin's eyes glistened with sympathy as she processed the torment Itachi had endured.

He went on, "I joined an organization called Akatsuki, where I worked to maintain peace through unconventional methods. It was a path filled with darkness, but I believed in the greater good. However, life had its own plans for me."

Robin leaned closer, hanging onto Itachi's every word. "What happened next?"

"I contracted a terminal illness," Itachi revealed, "knowing my time was limited. I died having to battle with my brother to the death."

Robin's eyes widened as Itachi's revelation unfolded. She listened intently as he continued.

"Knowing my time was limited," Itachi's voice trembled, "I faced an agonizing decision. I had to die in battle with my younger brother, Sasuke, to protect the village from my own clan's curse."

The weight of Itachi's confession hung in the air, a testament to the sacrifices he had made.

"And then," Itachi continued, "I found myself ensnared in a powerful jutsu, resurrected as a shinobi zombie. I became a pawn, forced to carry out the will of the one who controlled the reanimation jutsu."

Robin leaned closer, her eyes filled with empathy. "You were robbed of your autonomy, forced to act against your will. It must have been a nightmarish existence."

Itachi nodded, his gaze distant. "Indeed. But I couldn't allow myself to be used for malevolent purposes. I embarked on a treacherous last journey to break free from the control of the reanimation jutsu. It was a battle not just of physical prowess but of willpower and resilience."

Eventually," he continued, "I succeeded in breaking the jutsu's hold over me. But I knew I couldn't escape my past. I had to confront the actions I had taken, the truths and lies that had woven a tangled web around my life."

Robin's hand found Itachi's shoulder, a comforting presence amidst the turmoil of his story. "You've carried the weight of your choices, your secrets, and now, the burden of your past."

Itachi acknowledged her understanding with a somber smile. "Yes, but there was one person I had been avoiding all this time—my younger brother, Sasuke."

As he mentioned Sasuke, Itachi's eyes revealed a mixture of remorse and anticipation. "We eventually crossed paths, and Sasuke demanded answers. He needed to know why I had done what I did and why I had perpetuated lies."

The memory of their encounter hung heavy in the air, a moment that had been both painful and necessary for their relationship.

Robin leaned closer, her voice a hushed plea for more. "What did you tell him, Itachi?"

Itachi sighed, a weight lifting from his shoulders as he shared his truth. "I revealed the truth about my actions, the circumstances that had led me down my path, and the pain that had driven me to do what I did. But Sasuke's anger and confusion were overpowering. He couldn't easily accept the truths I had to offer."

As he spoke of Sasuke's struggle to come to terms with their shared past, Itachi's gaze drifted toward the horizon.

"In our quest for retribution and justice," he continued, "we were confronted by the one who had controlled the reanimation jutsu—Kabuto Yakushi."

The sea was calm and still as Itachi recounted the meeting with their formidable adversary. "We engaged in a fierce battle against Kabuto, fighting to end his threat once and for all. But during that confrontation, I realized I possessed one final jutsu, a forbidden one, known as Izanami."

Itachi's voice took on a solemn tone as he explained the Izanami. "The Izanami is a jutsu that traps an opponent in an eternal loop of illusion, a prison of their own mind. It forces them to confront their actions, their truths, and find their way back to the truth."

Robin's eyes shimmered with both concern and fascination as she listened. "What happened when you used the Izanami?"

Itachi paused for a moment, the weight of that final confrontation with Kabuto still heavy on his heart. "It was a last resort, a desperate attempt to free Sasuke from the cycle of hatred and vengeance. I initiated the Izanami, and it ensnared both Kabuto and me in an illusion, a place outside of time and space."

The sunlight glistened on the water, its reflection mirroring the uncertainty of the past. "In that place, we had to confront our deepest regrets, our truths, and the reasons behind our actions."

As Itachi's story hung in the air like an ancient tale, Robin remained captivated by his journey. She knew that Itachi's past was a testament to the complexities of human nature and the choices people made in pursuit of what they believed was right.

The deck of the Thousand Sunny quivered beneath their feet, causing Itachi and Robin to look up. Monkey D. Luffy, the Straw Hat Pirates' captain, had burst onto the scene with his usual exuberance.

"Hey, guys!" Luffy shouted, his wide grin lighting up the night. "Fishman Island is just ahead! I can't wait to see what's there!"

Itachi and Robin shared a knowing glance, the shared moment of understanding still lingering between them.

A/N: miss me?