Chapter 16: Chapter 16 - Return..
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{Itachi pov}
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Walking back home after being told the truth about his friends was the hardest thing he's ever had to do in his life. Being greeted by his mom with a hug and his over exicted father after being notified of his sharingan awakening didn't even register in his mind.
As the evening passed by he hesitantly made his way to hana's homestead. Havung to look her in the eyes and tell her of houzu's capture was the hardest burden to carry as she bore a cheerful expression as her eyes darted behind him.
He wasn't surprised by her behavior. Ever since Hana met houzu she always had a blooming crush on his pale companion despite their age. That fact just made the words he spoke that much harder to say.
"He's not here Hana..." itach choked out as the girl grew confused by his words. That confusion quickly turned into concern at her comrades down trodden expression.
"Itachi... what happened? Where's houzu.." she asked as he could hear the worry and fear in her voice.
For a few moments he remained silent, hands trembling in anxious hesitation. As his lips finally moved to inform the inuzuka a sudden bright flare of light and heat lit the night sky like the morning sun beyond the village horizon as a chakra signature could be felt in the same direction of the phenomenon. Houzu's signature...
"Houzu...?" Itachi uttered as his comrades signature and the light dimmed until the dark night sky returned to an eerie black. Both stared in the direction of the explosion like all others in the streets. Soon the sounds of sirens blared across the village as shinobi yelled to citizens to return home and remain indoors.
"Houzu... oh god..." Hana whispered in horror as tears welled up in her eyes as she felt her friends fading presence. Without hesitation the boy broke into a sprint towards his home.
"Itachi!? Where are you going!" Hana shouted after him as she ran after him. However as they ran towards his Clan's compound she was forced to stay behind as the gaurds rudely denied her entry.
Bursting into his home he sprinted into his room while causing his family to look on in shock. His little brother was shaken by his brothers mood and abrupt return. Clutching his mother's gown as Mikoto looked on in concern.
Retrieving his ninja attire and tools he wasted no time in running back out as his mother yelled for him to return. Once he was outside the compound once more the two children ran in the direction of the village gates. Only for a figure to stop them in their tracks.
"Shisui!?" Itachi asked incredulously as the older child stood with a serious gaze.
"What are you doing itachi.." shisui asked in a calm tone as he drew closer. Itachi gritted his teeth as he tried to run passed his teacher. Only to recieve a palm to the chest causing him to fall on his back.
Grinding in frustration he activated his two tomoe sharingan to which shisui's eyes widened but soon returned to normal as he activated his own.
"Get out of my way shisui!" Itachi yelled as the two begun to exchange blows. But he failed to gain ground or find a way passed his teacher. Proving shisui's superior fighting prowess.
"I can't do that. I know what your doing and I can't let you go off on your own. I can feel your pain itachi. You know going out there won't bring your friend back. I've felt his death just as you have, I know what your going through! What your both going through!" Shisui shouted as tears poured down itachi's cheeks as his fighting technique began to become sloppy and disorderly.
All Hana could do was watch her friend slowly fall apart as the weight of their comrades death weighed him down little by little. For the first time in her life she saw her friend vulnerable as he fell to his knees as shisui held him as he greaved.
Stepping towards the two Uchiha she wrapped her arms around her comrade as he began to weep.
"It was suppose to be a simple mission..." itachi sobbed as the two continued hold him. *Sigh*~ "Itachi... no such mission a shinobi is given is simple." Shisui responded as he took itachi by the hand and got him to his feet.
Leading him back to the compound he instructed the inuzuka to return home as well. As the two entered the clan head's abode mikoto wasted no time in comforting her distraught child while Sasuke hugged his brother in turn who responded in kind.
As itachi looked up to his mother, she noticed blood trailed down the boys cheeks as his blood shot eyes beared a remarkable change.
"Fugaku!" Mikoto shouted in shock as the man bolted into the room from his study. Seeing his wifes concerned face he looked to his eldest son only instead of worry adorning his face it was replaced with excitement and pride.
"Itachi..." shisui spoke in disbelief and sadness as the boys pupils no longer bore the simplistic design of the sharingan. What took its place was a three pointed wheel like design in each eye. With this awakening his power grew.
The mangekyo sharingan...
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~ Next morning ~
Standing before a fresh dug grave surrounded by tombstones a small group could be seen in black attire consisting of both Hana and itachi's families were in attendance.
Early that morning the death of houzu was announced to the public to which cheered in celebration while a small few looked on in sadness and disappointment at their abhorrent behavior.
Seeing all those people cheer for the death of his friend made him want to lash out at them just like houzu would have done. But he was stopped and calmed by his mother and mentor. Telling him it wouldn't make a difference.
They were right. But that didn't make him feel any less hate for the masses.
Standing before the small container housing his friends arm he could still see the aura of the mysterious energy he always possessed so clearly with his evolved dojutsu. But he quickly deactivated them as they gave a burning sensation to his sockets whenever they were active.
Shisui had told him the feeling would fade over time, even showed his own mangekyo. Showing he too had gone through the unbearable pain of losing a person close to him.
As a monk gave a reluctant prayer and speech about his comrade he could only stare in silence while within wanted to strangle the man of the cloth for his blatant lies. Speaking how houzu was a misguided individual, given all he needed to succeed but was brought down by his own recklessness and the weight of his misdeeds.
It came to the hokage forcibly removed him from the area and gave his own words for the departed. From his misunderstood attitude that hid a kind heart, to a boy who beared the hate of a population but still found a measurement of happiness. As his speech ended he looked to itachi who gave a nod and stepped up to give his own words.
"Houzu... was frightening at first. Kept to himself. Never trusted a soul. Then as school began we both were pitted against each other. He was..powerful. didn't even flinch as I attacked his most vulnerable points.
Seeing his strength I saw an opportunity to grow stronger. Make my clan proud. But as time passed our rivalry, if you can call it so, turned into understanding each other. I could see his loneliness and the treatment he received from the village. As more time passed I threw my desire for strength away and actually grew to see him as a comrade.
Though for a time he merely showed hints of gratefulness for my efforts to befriend him, always trying to keep our connection as professional as possible. But a few days ago..." he choked out the words he spoke caught in his throat. "He actually thanked me for standing up for him. Called me a true friend." He spoke as tears went down his cheeks. Itachi could even see Hana weeping by her mother as he continued while turning his attention to the small casket holding the remains of his friend.
"I'm thankful for that honor." Putting a hand on the container he nodded towards hiruzen who motioned for him to carry out the final act of the ceremony.
Opening the box he reached in and held out houzu's limb with care as he slowly made his way towards the empty grave.
But before he could continue, another group of hooded individuals made their way over. Causing the audience to turn their attention to the uninvited guests.
The leading two members holding a hooded child and infant stepped forward. Removing their hoods revealed them to be a man with blonde hair and blue eyes. The woman however bore captivating red hair with rear stained dark violet eyes. Both of them wore guilt ridden faces while their children looked on in childish curiosity.
"Are we...too late...?" The woman spoke.
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Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone