Reversing Fate, Part 2

Sasuke looked up into his brother's deep black eyes. There was concern in them, and worry, and perhaps something more he could not yet understand.

His heart pounded, but he could only clutch the faded talisman in his hand, bury his surging emotions, and give a small nod.

Sasuke Uchiha looked up at his brother and said softly, with a child's unguarded innocence, "I happened to overhear the teachers talking about it."

He paused, as though a more important question had just occurred to him, and his small hand caught Itachi's sleeve. "Brother, if Konoha really tries to wipe us out, will you stand with the Uchiha?"

A fleeting, complicated emotion crossed Itachi Uchiha's dark eyes, but he quickly hid it. He gently stroked Sasuke's soft black hair, his voice steady and reassuring.

"Don't worry, Sasuke. I won't let that happen." He rested his hands on Sasuke's shoulders and guided him toward the bed. "Now, nothing's going to happen tonight. Get some sleep. Everything will be all right."

But Sasuke lay awake that night, his parents' reactions at dinner and his brother's promise echoing through his mind.

From the future he had seen on the Canopy Screen, he knew the Uchiha's troubles had begun with Second Hokage Tobirama Senju's policy of using the clan while keeping it in check.

Tobirama had placed the Uchiha in the Konoha Military Police Force, creating a rift between the clan and the villagers.

The Third Hokage had continued that policy. Then the Nine-Tails Incident, caused by Obito Uchiha, had given the Konoha Leadership an excuse to suspect and isolate the Uchiha further.

Shimura Danzō had seized the chance to turn against the clan. In the end, driven by the schemes of Danzo and Naraka, the Uchiha had decided to launch a coup, handing Danzo