8 year old Itachi sat on the kitchen table. His mouth curled into a sly smile. His eyes were fixated on his parents.

"Happy birthday Itachi!" They both exclaimed. Itachi had a big grin.

Sasuke walked in the kitchen holding a cake and walking towards the table with a big smile on his face.

"Happy birthday big brother!" he cheered.

"Thanks Sasuke!" Itachi said as he smiled at the young boy.

The cake was placed on the table with candles. Mikoto lit up the candles.

"Make a wish big brother!" Sasuke said.

Itachi closed his eyes and thought on what he was going to say. He then wanted to know if he'll become the best ninja or a Hokage. "I wish to see myself in the future" He said in his head. He then blew the candles and heard clapping a cheering. Then that noise echoed away. Itachi opened his eyes and saw that everyone had disappeared. He was astonished. He sat there looking around to see where they went and then he looked forward and saw his future self sitting in front of him. His older self was wearing an anbu uniform.

"How old are you?" Itachi said.

"I'm 13 years old" The 13 year old Itachi replied back with a monotone voice.

"Did I become the best?"

"I'm not sure"

Itachi was confused. How can his future self not know what they'd become?

"What do you mean?"

"If you want to know then blow on the candles again"

Itachi looked down and saw the table and the cake. The candles lit up. Itachi looked at his future self and then at the cake and blew the candles. His future self was gone and a new person appeared. It was a more older him.

"How old are you?"

"...I'm 17"

"What happened to your head band?"

The older Itachi glared at the young one.

"Did I become...the best ninja" The young one asked.

"...No, not yet"

"Then what happened to your headband? And what is it that you're wearing?"

"Discord arose. I couldn't do anything about it. You once said that you will become the best ninja, remember? Understand that being the best isn't what is seems. I believe you understand that. But being a ninja is working behind the scenes. So, I sacrificed"

"What did you do?"

"A crime. A crime that an old man made me do. I was manipulated"

Itachi's little face was full of concern and he was a bit sad. "Who was it?"

"...Danzo. You don't know him yet but as you grew you became distant. You were gullible because he fed you with lies. You were his pawn"

Itachi didn't like this conversation. "I don't like this. I wanna leave"

"Then blow out the candles"

Itachi was confused and looked down to see the candles lit again. He gave his older self a sad glare and blew out the candles. Once again everything disappeared and a much older matured Itachi appeared before him sitting.

"...How old-"

"I'm 21" He said as he cut him off.

"What crime did I commit?"

"You slaughtered the whole Uchiha clan-"

"No!!" Itachi yelled.

"I understand well"

"Why!? Why would I do such a thing!?" Itachi said while tears spilled out of his eyes and covered his face with his arm. His mouth shook.

"For Sasuke"

Itachi stopped his crying a looked at his older self sobbing a little.

"He was a child and didn't know what was going on. I only had 2 options and decided to spare our baby brother. You always wanted a brother and that's why we couldn't get rid of him. At least he got stonger, even though I messed up"

"Did...I" Itachi said as his mouth quivered. "Did I become a great ninja?"

"No...You were on of the best"

Itachi's face was surprised and happy. "Even though I failed?"

"Yes. You proved yourself as a ninja would. You worked behind the shadows. You did it for love not for hatred. Even now that I am older that love is still within me"

Young Itachi smiled.

"It's time for you to go. You've heard enough"

"Okay" Itachi said as he wiped the small tears from his face. He formed a small smile and then blew the candles. Everything dissapeared.

Itachi opend his eyes from where he was sitting at. His head was on the table and he weakly opened his eyes and looked in front of him. It wasn't a cake but a mirror. He lifted his head and saw himself from the mirror. He wasn't young anymore he was his 21 year old self. He was confused for a little but remembered that today was his birthday and as a present he put himself in a genjutsu full of his memories. He was his young self and talked to his older self.

Itachi put his head down on the table and closed his eyes. He shed a tear as he smiled.

He truly was the best.