[Comprehensive] living to death

"Do you want to be in control?"

He heard his sister's voice.

And the sound of the wind blowing.The afternoon sun shines on the courtyard, and the grass blades sway gently, casting mottled shadows on the ground.The bamboo and water in the pond made a slow and light sound, but it didn't sound monotonous.

My sister was sitting in the corridor, wiping her sharp knife.She lifted it up and turned it gently in the sunlight.The light of the knife was like snow, so dazzling that it almost brought a tingling sensation.

He could have closed his eyes, or at least looked away, but he didn't; he held his breath, staring blankly at the glare, just because the man's eyes were reflected in the narrow sliver of light.

The man turned around.The sun shone in her eyes, forming an almost amber color.

"Little Weasel, do you want to control others?"

Her gaze, as well as her voice, are as comfortable and warm as the autumn garden behind her, and also like the sound of a flute lost in memory.

Take control of...?

He felt his thoughts spin with this question.

——I hope to become the most powerful ninja, and then make other people follow my opinion, and finally end the disputes in this world.That's right, that's it.

He silently repeated this long-established ideal in his heart.

"elder sister."

He heard his own voice, as dull as the mask on Anbu's face, out of tune with the bright and stable surroundings.

"People always listen to the strong; in force, in wisdom. I will be the strongest ninja. Sister, is this 'control'?"

Ah... that sounds like a sharp rhetorical question, he thought vaguely.Why do you have to say that?He could have laughed.It would be nice if he smiled.

Just like that guy is doing now.

She has a nice smile.

"Come on, Little Weasel, sit next to me." She put down the knife and waved to him.

He suddenly remembered that he was talking to Sasuke, and subconsciously opened his eyes slightly, wary of the direction of his sister's finger.

Should be able to escape.he thinks.

"Hey, I won't poke you!" My sister puffed her cheeks like a child, and flicked his forehead in the air.

The serious atmosphere of the conversation just now was instantly dispelled by her childishness.

He was a little shy, tried his best to hide it, walked up to his sister, and sat upright with his knees bent, just like any time in the past.Then he discovered that his sister was also sitting upright today.Now she is looking at the sky.

He also raised his head, like his sister, gazing at the velvet blue sky and the slowly moving white clouds.Wind chimes swayed above his head, jingle, jingle.The wind chimes hung here in early summer have not been removed.

Clouds covered the sun.The courtyard suddenly became dark, and the wind that was still flaming just now also cooled down.

A few red leaves fell on the surface of the pond, swirling, unable to find their way.

The man exhaled lightly.

"Whether that is 'control', you, little Itachi, know it very well, don't you?" She smiled sideways at him, "Because there is never a necessary connection between 'powerful' and 'obedience', unless you just rely on force to make you Others are silent."

Why... do you want to say these things?Why are you saying this at this time?

"You have what it takes to be Hokage, Itachi, so don't let that talent down."

His sister's palm fell gently on top of his head.

"Make other people not only obey you, but also be willing to believe in you, so that we can work together for that grand ideal. Nothing can be achieved by one person alone; one person's 'peace' will not be true. 'peace'."

So, why are you talking about this, sister... You have never been someone who uses words to achieve goals, have you?

But he heard himself thinking seriously.Thinking has a voice, like gears turning precisely, driven only by reason, ignoring others.

He is answering.

"What many people can see is nothing more than a small profit in front of them. It is impossible for such a person to understand my thoughts when they are eager to fight for interests, and they are not willing to consider the long-term path, sister."

Was that all he could think of at that time?

"And a small number of like-minded people can confirm each other's ideas through simple communication, without wasting words at all."

The wind chime is still ringing.Jingle, jingle.

"Oh, it sounds like you're praising me. It turns out that you, Itachi, have such a high opinion of me~"

Even with such an exaggerated smugness, he never disliked her when he appeared on her body.She deserves all the praise in the world.

"but."

She flicked her forehead.Didn't you say it's better not to poke him?He obviously thought it was funny, but his eyes were hot.

"That's the hard part, Itachi."

She rubbed his forehead.My sister is a ninja with thin calluses on her fingers, but that slightly rough feeling has never been so reassuring.

"In this world, most people are just ordinary people. It is true that they do not have a long-term vision, and their temperament is not firm enough; however, how to make them truly believe in you, support you, and be willing to work with you for the new world you have planned And hard work, this is what the so-called people who take on great responsibilities should do. Conquering people with force is simple, but isn't it the most lazy move? Most of the time, wanting to take shortcuts is just taking a long way."

"Scholars can't be resolute, there is a heavy responsibility and a long way to go. Itachi, do you think that your responsibilities and goals are only related to yourself?"

This is too arrogant, arrogant, and too selfish.He understood the meaning behind this sentence.

sister.

The wind high in the sky finally drove the clouds away, and the bright sun once again flooded the courtyard.The warm wind was blowing on his body, and the warm feeling penetrated into his bones and blood, which was almost scalding under his beating heartbeat.

He finally laughed, and also shed tears.Unstoppable tears kept flowing down his cheeks, but he just wanted to get rid of his blurred vision and see her face clearly.

"Sister..." He desperately suppressed the choking in his voice, and begged her anxiously, "Don't die..."

In an instant, the sunny courtyard turned into dusk, and the world was enveloped like a bloody sun.

"You don't want to die..."

Suddenly, he seemed to be back in childhood.He has indeed become that child who doesn't have much strength, grabbing his sister's sleeve, crying on her lap.

The man's palm brushed against his back, soft but full of strength.

This is his elder sister, who can make him let go of all scruples, stop suppressing his emotions, and cry instinctively in her arms... elder sister.

"Don't die, sister, don't die, okay..."

Just like a real young child, crying out of fear, willfully demanding things from adults that are obviously impossible to give.

"Weasel."

Her voice sounded so far away, as if it was separated from dreams, memories, and heavy winter rains.

"Have you ever been afraid of death?"

No... It was never death itself that could scare him.

"I'm scared."

However, there was a faint smile in her voice.

"Someone once told me that I must live brilliantly enough. But the word 'brilliant' is really subjective, who knows what is 'brilliant'? Is it enough to be Hokage, or do I have to unify the world?"

"But we ninjas are destined to be with turmoil; the unknown lives, and the prophet dies. Itachi, are you the same?"

yes.The mountain of corpses and sea of ​​blood that year became the beginning of his lifelong ideals.

"So I decided that my life should only be lived according to my own will. Whether others are brilliant or successful, it has nothing to do with me; in this life, I only want to have no regrets."

Without knowing it, he raised his head and gazed sadly, almost greedily into her face.He seemed to have really returned to his childhood, sitting on the ground, only looking up at her.However, the elder sister still looks like a girl, with her head lowered, wiping his tears with a smile.

This conversation happened for real. On a certain evening in the past, in the courtyard under the setting sun, far before the final moment came.

"There are times when people just have to go down a given path."

There were a few dandelions blooming on the edge of the courtyard corridor, and she reached out and picked one off.

"No matter how much you love each other, even if you are as close as brothers, even if you don't want to, at that time, parting will eventually come." She lowered her eyes and turned the dandelion in her hand, "But, Itachi, remember not to be too sad."

She looked up, her long eyelashes trembled at that moment, like a butterfly fluttering away.

"Maybe, they just went to a place you can't see. You have to believe that although you will never see each other again, you still hold the same persistence and wave your sword against reality and destiny."

But the tears still kept pouring out of his eyes.He kept looking at his sister, and also saw heavy dark clouds rolling in from the farther horizon, swallowing up the rosy sky bit by bit, bringing endless cold rain.

But she just held up the dandelion in her hand.

The scent of flowers was suddenly strong, and the wind chimes kept shaking. She blew a dandelion in the direction of the setting sun, with such a beautiful smile.

"We all have to live strong, Little Weasel."

Tears flowed unscrupulously.

"Yes, I know... my sister..."

His outstretched hand trembled slightly.Spots of light began to rise in the world, dancing like countless fireflies; the moment before his fingertips touched her cheek, all the scenes dissipated into spots of light that could not be grasped.

"...goodbye...sister..."

Those spots of light drifted farther and farther away, never to be seen again.

******

heartbeat.breathe.low light.

Itachi woke up.

The smell of disinfectant floated in the air.It was dark outside the window, the lights on the ceiling were not turned on, only a desk lamp not far away exuded a soft light.Besides him, there were two other breaths in the room.

"Wake up."

This voice belonged to his father, but it was more hoarse than his father's voice in memory.

"……Yes."

This is Konoha Hospital, and it looks like a separate ward.In just one year, he actually lived in the hospital twice. If you think about it this way, you will feel that you are really weak.

Also really weak, isn't it.

He jumped out of bed.

"The doctor said you'd better rest more these two days."

Father said lightly, but did not look back at him.He was standing by the window, facing the night view of Konoha; the light refracted on his face, Itachi could clearly see the green stubble on his father's chin, and his faintly sunken cheeks.

Itachi looked at his father silently.

"Yes."

"Don't you have anything else to say?" Father turned his head, "Then I'll go back. Mikoto is still at home, and Sasuke is with her."

My father is not very old, but his age is always overlooked because of his seriousness.However, in the dim light, Itachi found that his father had aged a lot, and every muscle had new wrinkles.

"Yes."

Father walked out.When passing by, he said, "Zhishui is outside."

Itachi didn't say anything, just clenched his fists.

The door "clicked" a few times.

There are still two people breathing in this quiet small space.Nothing but breath.The person at the door didn't come over, and Itachi also stood there without looking back.

It was Shisui who finally broke the silence.

"Weasel..."

footsteps.

Itachi gritted his teeth suddenly.The moment Zhishui's hand was about to touch his shoulder, he turned around suddenly and punched with all his strength!Then, the second time, the third time...

Small spaces became their battleground.No one spoke, but no one held back; the darkness did nothing to stop them.Itachi can clearly see the trajectory of each attack, as well as the omen of the upcoming move.

And this "clarity" made him even more painful.

huh-huh-

"You haven't recovered yet, so it's best not to do anything."

The sound of Zhishui is so steady.But after saying this, he was silent for a moment, and walked up to Itachi.

"However, if you insist." Zhishui said, "Please do."

Itachi looked directly at him.He didn't like disputes since he was a child, let alone take the initiative to attack people, let alone this is his best friend.

Shisui didn't avoid his gaze.

Bang!

The friend fell heavily to the ground; with Itachi's eyesight, he could even see the corner of Zhishui's lips being punched with blood.But he has no regrets.

He felt like a hollow stone statue, filled with frozen water; nothing could stir a ripple in him.

"Why?" he asked.

His temples throbbed and his head ached, but the pain made his five senses clearer.He could hear the beating of his heart, the noise in the corridor outside the door, the movement in the next ward, and the faint chatter and laughter in the street outside; the smell of disinfectant mixed with the fragrance of flowers from nowhere; a drop of sweat rolled down his face jaw.

"That is……"

His voice echoed coldly on the surrounding walls, stacked together to form a colder metallic texture.

"... my sister's eyes."

Zhishui got up from the ground, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, but couldn't wipe off the bruise.His expression didn't change at all, steady and firm.

"This is what Mingyue asked me to do." Zhishui said.

"That's my sister's eyes." Itachi repeated, his breath already slightly unstable.

"She has long been prepared." Zhishui said, "As the number of times of use increases, the Kaleidoscope Sharingan will be gradually sealed, and in the end it will be completely blind. Only the Kaleidoscope Sharingan fused with close relatives can break the seal. Mingyue It is with this in mind that…”

"So I said it!" He finally yelled out unbearably, "Those are my sister's eyes, Zhishui!!"

Anger burned within him; but even the flames of anger were cold--cold and weak.

Shisui's expression was as if he didn't hear Itachi's anger and sadness at all.

"Itachi, your kaleidoscope Sharingan has just opened, and you have undergone eye fusion surgery right away. Now is the time you need to rest the most." He said, "Go to sleep after eating a little..."

Bang!

Itachi stared at his friend in front of him, so angry that even his clenched hands were shaking.Zhishui turned his face sideways, his eyes fell into the shadows.

"Sister, she just died... No, death without even seeing the body, what is it called death!" Itachi gasped violently, "My sister gave me her eyes, so what should she do! You..."

Bang!

Itachi's words also stopped abruptly.The place where I was beaten was very painful; the pain was like dust floating in the air, weightless and completely negligible.But it was such a sudden jerk that pulled him back to reality from that emptiness, emptiness, and dazed illusion.

He could almost hear the sound of his own body slamming heavily on the ground of reality.

Then the real despair and the sea of ​​sorrow drowned him.

But reflected in his actual actions, Itachi just closed his eyes gently.

"Then what do you want me to do!"

Instead, the stability of the water stop was broken.He suddenly raised his voice, took a step forward and grabbed Itachi's collar tightly, letting the light illuminate his red eye sockets, and his blood red eyes.

"Mingyue is dead, don't you know that she is dead! The blood contract between her and the psychic beast is broken!!" Zhishui roared, "She knows she will die, do you understand, that's why she asked me!! What am I going to do, you want me to look at the scroll that sealed her eyes every day!! Do you think I’m in a good mood!!”

...Yes, that's it.That blood contract has been transferred to his hands, just like her eyes have melted into his sockets.

Itachi moved his fingers, almost wanting to touch his eyes.For a moment, he even had a naive question: How could those eyes that often smile like moonlight disappear on him?

But he did nothing after all.

Shisui let go of his hands and covered his face. "Sorry, Itachi." His voice was hoarse and he smiled wryly, "I thought I could comfort you like her...but I can't. Really...I can't."

The window was open, and the cold wind blew in, swept in a dead leaf, and "slapped" it on the ground.The lights on the opposite side flickered and disappeared.The night is deep, and the living should sleep.

The frosty moonlight shone on the window sill.

Itachi quietly looked at the small patch of hazy moonlight.

"It's late." He said suddenly, his tone became his usual calm and restrained, as if the excitement just now was a phantom, "Zhishui, you go back."

Without waiting for Shishui's answer, he walked back to the bed, lifted the quilt, and lay back down again.He pulled the quilt up to his chin, leaving only his head exposed.Itachi closed his eyes and opened them again; he turned over and faced the direction of the window, and continued to stare at the moonlight without blinking.

footsteps.The sound of the door closing.Zhishui left, leaving him alone in the room.

The moonlight was quiet and gentle, without saying a word, it just lightly filled his field of vision.Itachi watched for a long, long time.

Then, finally closing his eyes, he exhaled carefully.In the dark, it seemed that someone lowered his head and gently kissed his forehead, then stuffed the ugly doll into his arms, and lied to him that as long as he hugged the doll and slept, everything would be fine.

It would be great if... that doll was by his side now.

However, even if there is nothing, even if there is nothing, he can still stand up and move on.He will keep going along his path, towards his goal.

He will live strong.Of course he will live strong.

He is Itachi Uchiha.

——If there is really a place where the dead can continue to live, then sister, I hope that the day we meet again, I will not let you down.

Night will always fall, and the long night always seems endless, but even so, he also knows that the bright moon that illuminates the darkness is really beautiful.

No matter where he is in the future, no matter where his road leads, he will firmly remember this——

All the darkness in his life has been illuminated by one person.