Framing the Innocent

The Shimura Clan's compound had fallen deathly silent.

The thick stench of blood hung in the air.

Shimura Danzō stood at the entrance, staring at the scene before him, his body trembling slightly.

Not one Root member behind him dared to speak.

Moonlight spilled over the Shimura Clan's estate. Bodies lay scattered everywhere.

Some lay in the corridors, some slumped against doorways, and others curled up in corners. Every one of them had died from a single blow: a throat slit by a kunai, a heart pierced, a neck snapped.

Clean and efficient. No unnecessary wounds.

"Elder..."

A Root member spoke cautiously.

Danzō did not answer.

Leaning on his cane, he walked into the compound one step at a time.

Wet footsteps sounded beneath him as he trod through pools of blood.

Danzō glanced down at the blood on the ground, his face darkening.

"Where's Yūichi?"

His voice was calm. Disturbingly calm.

"Captain Shimura Yūichi... is in the inner courtyard."

The Root member answered quietly.

Danzō quickened his pace, crossed the long corridor, and reached Shimura Yūichi's residence.

He pushed open the door.

Shimura Yūichi lay on his back across the threshold, a kunai lodged in his chest. His eyes were wide open, and terror still lingered on his face.

Danzō stopped breathing for a second.

He slowly crouched and closed Shimura Yūichi's eyes.

"Who did this?"

His voice never wavered, but every Root member knew Elder Danzō was furious beyond measure.

"Report!"

A Root member rushed in from outside and dropped to one knee.

"Elder! We found survivors!"

Danzō snapped his head up.

"Bring them here."

Before long, they carried in a middle-aged man. Blood covered him, a deep gash ran across his left arm, and tears and blood streaked his face.

At the sight of Danzō, his legs gave way and he fell to his knees.

"E-Elder..."

His voice was so hoarse it was barely audible.

"Who did this?" Danzō asked.

The middle-aged man looked up, his eyes full of fear.

"It... it was someone in a black robe with red clouds..."

"He wore an orange tiger-patterned mask... His eyes... his eyes were red..."

"Sharingan..."

Danzō's pupils contracted sharply.

"An Uchiha?"

"Yes... yes! An Uchiha!" the man cried. "He had red eyes! He killed everyone he came across... Our ninjutsu didn't work on him at all! He..."

Danzō fell silent for several seconds.

"The Sarutobi Clan was attacked too," he said slowly. "It seems the same person was responsible."

He turned to the Root members behind him.

"First squad, stay here. Secure the scene and treat the wounded."

"The rest of you, come with me to the Sarutobi Clan."

"Yes!"

The Root members quickly dispersed.

Danzō walked out of the Shimura Clan compound without a moment's hesitation.

But his fist remained clenched.

The Sarutobi Clan compound.

Flames soared into the sky.

Screams, battle cries, and the roar of colliding ninjutsu filled the air.

When the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, arrived with the Anbu, the sight before him nearly stopped his heart.

A figure in a black robe patterned with red clouds and a tiger-patterned mask held a Sarutobi ninja by the throat with one hand.

The ninja thrashed and kicked, but could not break free.

"Stop!!!"

The Third Hokage roared.

The figure turned.

Beneath the tiger-patterned mask gleamed a pair of scarlet Sharingan.

"Heh heh heh..."

He laughed, his voice raspy and mocking.

"Third Hokage... you finally made it."

Then his grip tightened.

Crack.

The jonin's neck snapped, his head lolling at an unnatural angle.

The body was tossed to the ground like a rag.

The Third Hokage's face turned ashen.

The Anbu Ninja behind him drew their weapons and closed ranks around him.

"Who are you?!" the Third Hokage demanded. "Why are you slaughtering the Shimura and Sarutobi Clans?!"

Uchiha En tilted his head.

"Since you asked so earnestly!"

He took a step forward and spread his hands.

"I'll be generous and tell you."

"I'm with Akatsuki."

"You can call me Tobi."

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned deeply.

"Akatsuki?"

"That's right, Akatsuki," Uchiha En said lightly. "Wasn't it Danzō who had Uchiha Itachi contact me and ask me to help you deal with those troublemakers?"

He paused.

"He said... tonight was the perfect opportunity."

"He'd slaughter the Uchiha Clan himself."

"And I'd slaughter the Shimura and Sarutobi Clans."

"That way, every threat to Konoha would be gone."

"Right?"

His words fell.

The Third Hokage went deathly pale.

"Nonsense!"

His furious shout shook.

"When did Danzō ever say anything like that?!"

The Anbu Ninja behind him began whispering among themselves.

"Could the attacks on the Shimura and Sarutobi... really have been Lord Danzō's orders?"

The Third Hokage whipped around and glared at them.

"Silence!"

The Anbu immediately fell quiet.

The Third Hokage turned back to Uchiha En, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"Who sent you? Why are you trying to turn us against each other?"

Uchiha En shrugged.

"I'm telling the truth."

"If you don't believe me, ask Uchiha Itachi."

"He should be having the time of his life killing people in the Uchiha Clan Compound right now."

The Third Hokage's chest heaved.

He took a deep breath and forced down his anger.

"Whoever you are..."

He raised his hand.

"You're not leaving here today!"

The Anbu spread out in an instant, surrounding Uchiha En.

"Attack!"

At the Third Hokage's command, the Anbu Ninja struck together. Shuriken, kunai, and ninjutsu came at Uchiha En from every direction.

Uchiha En stood still.

Just as the attacks were about to hit,

he waved at the Third Hokage.

"I'm done playing with you."

"Goodbye."

The next instant, he vanished from where he stood.

Every attack missed.

Shuriken buried themselves in the ground, and ninjutsu blasted empty air.

The Third Hokage's pupils contracted sharply.

"Space-Time Ninjutsu?!"

The Anbu Ninja exchanged stunned looks.

The Third Hokage stood there, his face dark with fury.

He turned and said coldly:

"Go to the Uchiha Clan Compound."

"Now."

The Uchiha Clan Compound.

Uchiha Itachi walked down the street without expression.

Blood dripped from his blade.

A long trail of blood stretched behind him.

He had lost count of how many people he had killed.

Neighbors, elders, companions he had once known...

One by one, they had fallen to his blade.

At first, he had still felt a flicker of emotion.

Now, he was numb.

For the village.

For peace.

To stop the coup.

He told himself that over and over.

Sasuke... must live.

If I kill everyone, Sasuke can survive.

He entered a civilian home.

The house was quiet.

A family of three had gone to bed.

Itachi approached the main bedroom and gently pushed open the door.

A young couple slept soundly in the bed.

The man had his arm around the woman's waist, and she nestled against his chest.

Faint smiles still rested on their faces.

He was probably having a pleasant dream.

Itachi did not hesitate.

The Kunai slashed across.

Blood splattered against the wall.

He turned, left the master bedroom, and walked to the room at the end of the hall.

It was the child's room.

He pushed the door open and went in.

The room was quiet.

The blanket on the bed bulged around a small figure curled beneath it, fast asleep.

Itachi walked to the bedside and raised the Kunai in his hand.

He looked down at the shape beneath the blanket.

One stab.

Then it would all be over.

He took a deep breath.

The Kunai plunged down.

Squelch!

The sound of the blade piercing flesh was unnaturally clear in the dark.

"Ah!"

A cry of pain came from beneath the blanket.

The sound froze Itachi's hand in midair.

His pupils contracted sharply.

That voice...

His heart began to pound.

No...

Impossible...

Itachi's hand trembled.

He grabbed the blanket and tore it away.