SASUKE: The Beginning Of The Journey.

Chapter 9: The Massacre. (Uchiha Clan)

Several days had passed since the Hyuuga clan planned their coup d'état against Konoha, and the Uchiha clan did the same. Hiashi confronted Fugaku, and they discussed the alliance between their clans to attack Konoha together. It had been almost a century since the Hyuuga and Uchiha clans last joined forces, back in the Warring States Period against the Senju and Uzumaki clans.

Itachi and Neji reported the planned coup d'état to the Third Hokage, including the alliance between the Uchiha and Hyuuga clans. On the rooftop of the Hokage's office, Neji and Itachi knelt side-by-side in front of Shimura Danzo, a corrupt man. They wore porcelain ANBU masks as Danzo stood before them, Itachi on the right and Neji on the left.

Danzo looked at the two ANBU prodigies, Neji of the Hyuuga clan and Itachi of the Uchiha clan. "Do you two understand what you need to do?"

The two prodigies nodded in unison, "Yes, Lord Danzo," their voices low and emotionless.

Danzo looked down at the kneeling figures, his wooden cane clicking against the cement floor. "I know it's painful for both of you to betray your own clans, but it's for the sake of the village. Many people will die, and Konoha will be under the Uchiha and Hyuuga clans' control."

Danzo's expression turned serious. "It must be done by tomorrow night. If what you said is true, the Hyuuga and Uchiha clans are planning to attack tomorrow."

"Yes, Lord Danzo," Neji and Itachi replied.

"Good, then I expect you two to complete your mission tonight. Before sunrise, I want it completed."

"Yes, Lord Danzo." With that, Neji and Itachi vanished, each embarking on their separate missions.

Flashback: Before Danzo issued the order to massacre the Hyuuga and Uchiha clans, Itachi and Neji met with a man wearing an orange mask named Madara Uchiha in a remote area far from Konoha. They sought Madara's help, as they couldn't single-handedly eliminate entire clans. Konoha had tasked them with infiltrating Akatsuki to prevent the organization from attacking the village while simultaneously reinforcing their criminal image.

As Itachi and Neji's eyes adjusted, the masked man stepped forward. "So, you want me to help you stop the Uchiha and Hyuuga clans' coup d'état?" he said, identifying himself as Madara Uchiha.

Itachi and Neji were unsure if this man was truly Madara Uchiha. They suspected he wasn't the legendary shinobi who fought Hashirama Senju, as he would have been long gone by now. Still, they knew that some gained strange abilities and jutsu to extend their lives beyond natural limits.

Orochimaru was one of them. If Orochimaru, a man who paled in comparison to the Second Hokage, could discover a way to live forever by leeching off someone else, how much more could a man as superior as the Second Hokage?

"And if I agreed to your plan to stop the Uchiha and Hyuuga clans' coup d'état," he said to them, "what makes you think I would help you? What's in it for me?"

"Because I know you want revenge against the Hyuuga clan for what they did to Sayaka Hyuuga," Neji said, looking at the masked man.

"You know about her?" Madara asked, surprised under his mask.

Neji nodded. "Yes, I found forbidden scrolls hidden from both main and branch families in the Hyuuga Clan's history." Neji's expression was serious. "One scroll said you had a relationship with Sayaka Hyuuga. Only Lord Hiashi and I know about your relationship with her."

(Author's note: We know the guy behind the mask is Obito Uchiha, right? And we all know he has feelings for Rin, so I don't plan on changing that. Sayaka Hyuuga had a relationship with the real Madara, not Obito Uchiha.

Spoiler alert: We know Madara told Obito all his plans about the Infinite Tsukuyomi when he helped him recover from the boulder that crushed half his body. And we all know that in the series, Madara never had relationships with any woman, but in this story, I plan on giving Madara a woman he loves and truly understands him. Madara didn't only tell Obito his Infinite Tsukuyomi plan but also about Sayaka Hyuuga.)

Madara remembered how the Hyuuga clan killed the woman he truly loved. They took Sayaka's life because her older brother was against her feelings for Madara. He harbored a deep hatred not only for the Uchiha clan, his own clan, for forsaking him but also for the Hyuuga clan for taking the life of the person who truly loved and understood him the most.

The man under the moniker of Madara narrowed his eyes. "Very well, then..." Madara laughed and said, "I will assist you two with your little plan as promised, but I have a condition.

"I will help you annihilate the Hyuuga and Uchiha clans because I have another goal," Madara said. "And for that, I want you two to keep your eyes closed."

Neji and Itachi raised an eyebrow at this. "So, we are not allowed to use our eyes? Is that what you're saying?" Neji asked.

"Yes... and I guarantee I will not hurt your brother, Uchiha, especially your twin cousins, Hyuuga," Madara said under his mask. "I have no use for a bunch of weak children."

Neji and Itachi frowned. "You think that's supposed to reassure us?" Neji said seriously. "Although at this point, we don't have a choice but to trust you."

"Thank you, we expect your cooperation, Madara Uchiha," Itachi said to the masked man.

"If you two need refuge, join my organization," the masked man said.

Neji and Itachi's expressions turned serious. "Your organization?" Neji asked.

"Yes, the name of my organization is Akatsuki. In return, I will help you with your plan to stop the coup d'état, and I will not attack Konoha," Madara said.