The Sharingan's Voice

Chapter 3 Recognition

"You and I are flesh and blood. I'm always going to be there for you, even if it's only as an obstacle for you to overcome. Even if you do hate me. That's what big brothers are for."

-Uchiha Itachi

"Are you sure you want to make that move?" Playing Shogi with Shikamaru had proven to be a challenge Sasuke enjoyed. The man didn't seem to mind his silence, he complained about it being "troublesome" at times, but it seemed more out of habit than anything else. The man was a brilliant strategist and Sasuke found himself wondering how he and Itachi would get along. Sasuke lost the match and felt reminded of when he used to play with Itachi, who didn't spare him either.

After playing Shogi, Sasuke finally went to the public library. He had to know what the common knowledge about the massacre was these days. Soon he sat down at a table, opening a book about Konoha's history. According to it the tragedy had stricken the Uchiha clan at one single night. It had happened without any warning. They had just been gone the next day, and the people looking for the Uchiha had found the aftermath. There had been a fire, black in colour. It had burned through the night without drawing attention. It's cause was unknown and it had stopped sometime later in the day. Just like that. No sign of what had caused or stopped it. It was guessed that the user had run out of Chakra and/or died, but all of that was just theory.

Sasuke couldn't help but remember the sight. How his brother had held him close, refusing to let go. How he had dragged him away from the sight of his life burning to the ground. How his brother had repeated the same words he had said the day before it all happened.

"I'm always going to be there for you,... even if you do hate me..."

Taking a deep breath he continued reading: Once the Konohanians had been able to enter... after the fire had cooled down and all, apparently not much had been left. The fire had spread from Fugaku's house in the center and had turned everything to mere ashes, no bodies were found near where the fire had broken out. There were only a few bodies at the end of the complex, that had not been burned. All stricken down by a blade. It was one of the unsolved cases in Konoha's history, but it was guessed that it had been caused by some internal quarrel of the Uchihas. The clan was considered extinct from then on, later. After all, ever since it had happened, no traitor with Sharingan abilities had appeared. Those exterminating the Uchiha clan had most likely died with the fire.

Sasuke shut the third book, standing up to leave the library. The more detailed history books got it fairly well. Except one thing... he opened the door.

Some had survived; they were just in hiding and him being one of them would have to be extra careful in this village. Even after 8-9 years, people were bound to recognize a Sharingan if they had seen it before. Good thing he was always very careful when using it. He went up to the Hokage Monument. Holding the practice sword, as if it would give him comfort. Anger built up once more and for the first time, he purposefully sought out the Uchiha district with his eyes. Or rather what was left of it, angry at Itachi and his vague answers.

For peace he'd said. For peace he had slaughtered his own family. He'd claimed, that it had been the only way... that more lives would have been lost, had he let them live. He never once had denied that he was their murderer.

At first Sasuke had been so very angry. The grief about the loss too great to think. Often Itachi had had to hold him in a tight grip, while Sasuke struggled and fought until he'd tired himself out. Itachi never had complained, he only had said, that it had been to protect him also. His brother had borne the loathing, the hatred, all the lashing out. He'd borne it simply, without fighting back. He still set ground rules, he still raised him. He taught Sasuke to fight, but he never denied, nor tried to get close, when Sasuke's trust in him so obviously had shattered.