Carnage
Weeks had passed since Naruto had secluded himself within the confines of his apartment, drowning in the choking emptiness that had taken root within his heart. But grief, as time stretched on, slowly morphed into a simmering feeling he could sense slowly suffocating him each minute he remained secluded inside this tiny, dark space. Ayame and sometimes, even Iruka-sensei had tried to get him to come out, and yet, he remained inside. Willing in vain his world to rearrange itself, to make everything right again.
It took him a while to finally identify what was making his chest feel like it was on fire.
Anger. A searing inferno that boiled down to his very bones and brewed within him. A fury fueled by the unanswered questions surrounding, Shisui’s death, Itachi's disappearance, and the haunting reality of his absence.
One moonless night, as the shadows loomed large and the whispers of the wind echoed tales of unrest, Naruto made a decision. Fueled by a newfound determination, he ventured out from the margins of his apartment. With a steely resolve, he embarked on a journey to seek answers, the kind only Itachi could provide. Each step felt like a battle against the weight of his own emotions, a relentless struggle against the emptiness that gnawed at his soul.
Naruto's footsteps echoed through the silent streets, a stark contrast to the bustling energy the village usually held. The air felt thick with unspoken tension, whispers of secrets lurking in the shadows.
As he got closer to his destination, the silence grew thicker, pressing against him like an invisible barrier.
Approaching the Uchiha compound was akin to stepping into a ghostly realm. Confusion and horror bloomed in his chest at the sight that greeted him.
The looming structures stood like silent sentinels, haunted remnants of what was once a thriving community. The once-vibrant buildings now exuded an aura of desolation, their broken windows and dilapidated structures telling tales of despair.
He had expected life, the hustle and bustle of the Uchiha district at night was reknowned, after all. Instead, it was a ghost town. No familiar sounds, no lights in the windows, just an unsettling void. His heart raced, unsure what to expect. He never imagined the reality that awaited him.
Bloodstains painted the walls, stark against the pale moonlight. The smell of iron stung his nostrils, a sharp tang in the air. His eyes widened, trying to comprehend the chaos before him. Broken homes, belongings strewn about—fear and panic seemed to have torn through every inch of this place.
It hit him like a bolt of lightning—he hadn't expected this. No one had prepared him for the sight of destruction and death. The shock wrapped around him like a suffocating blanket, leaving him gasping for breath.
Naruto’s mind raced to find a logical explanation, a way to make sense of the nightmare before him. But it was too much, too sudden. It felt like the world had turned upside down, and he was stumbling through it, desperately trying to understand what he couldn't grasp.
All he wanted was to turn away, escape this haunting scene. It was too real, too overwhelming. The weight of the unknown, the absence of answers—those feelings crashed over him like a tidal wave, leaving him stranded in a sea of confusion and disbelief.
The deeper Naruto ventured into the compound, the more chilling the sights became. Gore and blood adorned the walls, as if a scarlet paint had been carelessly thrown across a canvas. Hands and footprints were smeared on most every surface, creating before him a scene straight out of a horror story. Clear signs of struggle and torture materializing right before his eyes.
His mind flashed to the war he'd lived through, creating parallels where he hoped there would never be within this lifetime. Bile rose in his throat and he held white knuckles to his mouth to keep the contents of his stomach inside where they belonged.
Broken remnants of what were once homes bore witness to the carnage. A child's lonely toy lay abandoned amidst the debris, a stark testament to lives shattered in an instant. Each step forward felt like a plunge into a bottomless pit of horror, the weight of the tragedy threatening to suffocate Naruto.
As he wandered through the compound's desolation, steps faster with each sight that greeted him, the chaos surrounding him made his thoughts whirl. Itachi—his name echoed in his mind like a plea for reassurance. He couldn't shake the images of him amidst this devastation. Fear for his safety gnawed at Naruto, every step forward intensifying the turmoil in his heart.
Questions ricocheted through his mind like a never-ending storm. Was he here? Was he safe? Had he been caught in this catastrophe? The thought of Itachi facing such danger pierced him like a dagger, a cold dread settling deep within. Had he lost him too?
He wanted to believe he wasn't there—that he was alright. But the scenes of destruction around him shattered that hope. What if he had been here when all of this happened? The possibility was unbearable, a knot of worry tightening in his chest.
Itachi was elusive, an enigma wrapped in mysteries he couldn't comprehend. His presence was both a source of comfort and protection, and the thought of him being entangled in this tragedy sent shivers down Naruto’s spine. And despite his anger, Naruto desperately wished for his safety, but the unknown loomed like a menacing shadow, casting doubt upon his hopes.
The need to find answers, to ensure Itachi's well-being, clawed at him relentlessly. But amidst the chaos and devastation, locating him seemed an impossible task. It felt like searching for a needle in a haystack, a daunting and nearly hopeless endeavor.
Terror clenched his chest as he staggered back, retracing his steps out of the compound. He believed, in that moment, that Itachi lay among the fallen, lost to the brutality that surrounded him.
Racing back to the village, his heart pounding in his ears, Naruto sought the only authority figure he thought could shed light on this nightmare—the Hokage. Driven by desperation, he reached the Sandaime's office. Knowing that despite the late hour, the man would still be there, filling out some paperwork as was his habit.
The boy stood outside the Hokage's towering doors, a solitary figure amidst the dimly lit corridor. His determination masked the turmoil brewing within, a storm of emotions raging just beneath the surface. Anbu suddenly appeared then, blocking his entry, their stern expressions reflecting a reluctance to allow him inside.
He pleaded with them, an urgency in his eyes that spoke volumes, a silent plea to be heard. But their orders were clear, and their stance remained unyielding. The tension in the air was palpable, a battle of wills unfolding before the sealed door. “I need to see him, please, tell him I need to talk to him!” He shouted, aware of the late hours of the night and yet uncaring in the least.
“Scram brat, Lord Third is busy.”
Frustration stirred within him and he slipped between the pair, ignoring their shouts of indignation as he dashed towards the closed door, banging on it relentlessly, his voice rising. A last, desperate attempt to break through the barriers that stood between him and the truth.
A hand snagged his collar, constricting the air in his throat with the pressure as the guard tried to pull him back. However, Naruto clutched at the door's handle in a death grip, unyielding as he kicked out his legs in an attempt to keep banging on the hardwood.
The commotion outside the Hokage's office did not go unnoticed. Sensing the urgency, Sarutobi himself emerged from behind the closed door. “What in god’s name is happening here?” His voice resounded loudly, complete stillness following his words.
“This brat wouldn’t take no for an answer, Lord Third.” One of the Anbu responded, his hand clutching at Naruto’s collar tighter, as if ready to throw him out at a moment’s notice.
“Let him go,” The Sandaime ordered, voice low and tired as he gestured for the guard to step aside, allowing the boy entrance into the chamber. Naruto didn’t miss the chance to glare at the pair one last time before the doors closed, leaving them on the other side.
In the dimly lit office, the Hokage's aged features held a mix of concern and solemnity. His gaze fixed upon the boy, recognizing the gravity of the moment. The room exuded an air of morbidity, the weight of impending revelations hanging in the air.
"Naruto," Sarutobi began, his voice gentle yet laden with the weight of knowing why the young ninja had come.
Naruto's gaze was unwavering, a torrent of emotions simmering beneath the surface. "You know why I'm here, don't you?" His words were a mix of urgency and a quiet plea for answers.
Sarutobi nodded, a pained understanding etched on his weathered features. "The Uchiha compound," Naruto's voice trembled slightly, the name leaving a bitter taste in his mouth. "I- I saw- What happened there, what happened to Itachi. Is he… Is he dead?" His voice cracked on the last words, the weight of uncertainty bearing down on his shoulders.
For a fleeting moment, memories from another life flashed before Naruto's eyes. The ache of familiar pain resurfaced, whispering of a destiny shaped by tragic farewells. Was he doomed to lose everything and everyone he ever loves?
Sarutobi sighed heavily, his gaze softening with empathy for the boy standing before him. He chose his next words carefully, understanding the gravity of what he was about to disclose. "Naruto, what happened at the Uchiha compound--- Itachi…" The Hokage paused, his voice faltering momentarily, "Itachi was-“
“He’s dead, Isn’t he?” Naruto interrupted, feeling like he was going insane. “You can tell me, I can take it. Just tell me the truth. He's dead, right?" A sob broke through his throat despite his best efforts at keeping his tears at bay.
“Naruto.” The man seemed to age right before his eyes. A tired, ancient old expression of exhaustion etching itself onto his features. “Itachi is- he’s alive.” The Hokage’s words made hope within him stir, and yet his expression was no less grieved. No less solemn. It made the dread pooling in Naruto’s guts bury themselves deeper within him. “He wasn’t a victim, in fact,” The man seemed to brace himself before continuing. “In fact, he was the one behind the massacre.” His voice felt far, far away. “Uchiha Itachi killed every member of his clan. He was the one behind the bloodshed you saw tonight."
The words struck Naruto like a physical blow, the impact reverberating through every fiber of his being. He couldn't comprehend the enormity of what he had just been told. The weight of those words hung heavily in the air, a revelation that shattered the fragile hope Naruto clung to. Confusion, disbelief, and a sense of betrayal washed over him. “W-what?” His mind felt like it had been plunged into icy, frigid water. “No- What are you talking about?” He whispered brokenly, recalling the carnage he’d just witnessed. “Itachi couldn’t- he wouldn’t-“ He staggered backward, his mind unable to process the conflicting images of Itachi—kind, protective, sweet Itachi, and the one painted as the orchestrator of such horrors.
“Naruto, please have a seat. I understand this may be difficult to hear.” The Hokage urged softly, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. “You were close to Itachi but sometimes people-“
“No! You’re lying!” Naruto was going crazy, this had to be it. This was a nightmare. It had to be. “Itachi would never! He would never kill without-“
“He would Naruto. He did.” The man’s voice hardened, despite the different story unfolding within his gaze. As if he himself didn’t believe in his own words. It made the whirlwind inside Naruto roar with confusion and loss.
"No, I- I don’t believe you-" Naruto's voice was barely a whisper, grappling with the enormity of the revelation. "W-why? Why would he do that?" His mind raced, trying to reconcile the image of the kind-hearted older brother he knew Itachi to be with this incomprehensible truth.
Sarutobi's voice held a solemn tone as he continued, "There were... reasons, Naruto. Deep, complex reasons. Ones that may never fully make sense." He could see the turmoil in Naruto's eyes, the pain of shattered trust, and a reality that didn't align with his understanding.
“What reasons?! What reasons could he possibly have had to- to kill his own family?” And suddenly as if struck with an epiphany. “What about Sasuke? Is he- did he k-kill him too?” And he knew that his heart wouldn’t take the answer he was bracing himself for.
“Thankfully, through reasons that have yet to be known, Sasuke was spared. He is currently unconscious, being held at the hospital for observation.”
Relief, all-encompassing relief took over him then. If Itachi spared Sasuke, If he let his little brother live, didn’t it mean that somewhere within him he still cared? Was it too naïve to hope for that? But why would he do that? Why would he kill everyone, h-his own parents- but let Sasuke live?
The boy was left grappling with a reality that defied his understanding. His world tilted on its axis, the ground beneath him feeling unsteady, as if the very foundation of his beliefs had been uprooted.
The conversation was a fragile dance between truth and despair, his emotions a tempest that threatened to engulf him.
“W-where is he now? Itachi, do you know?” If only he could talk to him, ask him why, ask if it was true, if any of it was real.
“Itachi Uchiha has fled the village, as of two days ago, he has been declared a missing nin.” The Sandaime answered solemnly. “And Naruto, I must remind you of the dire consequences should you even think of stepping a foot outside of the village.”
Despair, heavy and crushing settled on him like a blanket. This was a nightmare. Couldn’t he wake up already?
The walk back to his apartment was a blur, a haze of movement and changing scenery without conscious thought or awareness.
His mind was eerily quiet as he climbed the stairs into his building, the sound of his creaking doors feeling like a siren call. His back hit the frame with a thud and he slid down the structure, pushing it closed behind him. His legs folded to meet his face as he huddled into himself.
As he sat there, the icy tiles beneath his body were almost shadowed by the cold, stony void he could feel expand within his chest.
It seemed even with a lifetime’s worth of knowledge and experience, he still understood absolutely nothing at all. And life… well life seemed to always find a way to bring him down.
That night, Naruto made an oath to himself.
He’d opened up his heart to Itachi and Shisui and it had phenomenally blown up in his face. He swore then and there that he would not make the same mistake again.
In this world, the only thing he could rely on was himself. And in this life, like his previous one, he would go through his hardship on his own.
The only witnesses to his silent promise were the cobwebs and the dust adorning his lonely apartment. A testament to the years that awaited him.
Chapter 13 already up on the link in my insta bio