Yajuu Chapter 1

Sasuke was running home excitedly—he couldn't wait to show his mother what he'd learned that day, and to see if Itachi would train with him.

As he reached the Uchiha complex he slowed down. Why was it so quiet? He trotted up to the gate but stopped short of entering. A chill ran down Sasuke's spine; a premonition of doom had come over him. He eased the gate open and peeked inside. No one was there. Maybe they were in a clan meeting. Nothing was wrong.

Sasuke could hear his footsteps echoing through the street—there wasn't a single soul in sight, not even one of his little cousins was out causing trouble. It was so still… it seemed as if death itself had settled over the compound. He shook the thought from his head, though he couldn't help but walk faster.

He saw a figure in the distance—a lump, really—and ran towards it, hoping to find a familiar face.

There was blood everywhere. "Auntie?" he croaked. "Uncle?" His voice grew louder with panic. Sasuke ran from building to building, his terror growing with every step. The blood. The blood and the gore and the tangible fear and the smell. The smell was the worst. It was overwhelming and you could taste it—Sasuke could taste the death of his clan. He collapsed to his knees and wretched.

On shaky knees he stumbled towards his home. He already knew his family was dead but he could not suppress the glimmer of hope.

He threw open the doors of his parents' bedroom and skidded inside. "No!" the cry tore out of his mouth and his soul. A shadowy figure in the corner stepped into view. And it was horrible.

Itachi, his beloved older brother, holding a bloodied sword in his hand; his red eyes void of all emotion and completely blank. Sasuke fell to his knees again while his brother spoke in a horrible voice. "Little brother," he sneered, "foolish little brother!" He stepped closer to the shivering boy. "I have learned this, and now you must learn it as well."

Itachi crouched in front of his brother. "Hate!" he spat, his eyes showing a spark of anger. "You must learn to hate or you will never grow strong enough!" He looked around the room, growling at the blood-stained walls, at the gore on his sword. He dropped the weapon as he stood up. "Hate, little brother! You must hate!" And then he was gone.

Sasuke crawled over to where his parents lay. They looked no different from the other bodies—covered in death, soulless eyes staring at nothing. And he wept. He wept with heart-wrenching intensity and clung to his parents, covering himself in blood.

And when he couldn't take it anymore, he ran. He ran out of the compound into the bright sunlight that promised great things, the deceiving sunlight. He ran and ran until his legs were lead and he toppled face first into the grass.

His eye blackened and his nose bled but Sasuke was numb. He couldn't cry or think anymore. He lay shaking in the grass until sleep claimed him.