"Itsuko sensei..." Naruto let out a mumble. This alerted those who crowded around the boy. It had been a while since he had last spoken that it worried them. During such situations, he was usually the one that was livelier and more fired up but for the past hour, he had fallen silent, staring into nothing but empty space.

"What is it about Itsuko?" Tsunade spoke. She had hope that everything went well for Itsuko and that she would be able to help them in the situation they were in. They needed her. But reading from Naruto's expression, it didn't seem like anything miraculously well was going to happen anytime soon. She had never seen the bright boy so defeated and gloomy.

Tears streamed down his cheeks. Each word he spoke felt heavier than the other and his heart ached as the thoughts ran through his head. "I could feel it, her every thought and emotion. At some point, I could see her memories, the pain she's been through all this while. It's just wrong! A moment ago, I could still feel the raging anger in her. The disappointment she had towards the world and her hatred grew as every second passed. It scared even Kurama because even he couldn't do anything about it. But I could tell she tried to hold on, that she tried to swallow it down the way she always did. It must have hurt her more when Kakashi sensei died, but Itachi too? She's lost it completely. There's no longer raging anger, hurt, or even disappointment. I know she's out there, the number of lives taken in her hands. It's almost as if she's no longer the Itsuko sensei we know, maybe she really isn't. It's scary."

A few anbus who overhead their conversation stared into blank space as if all hope was lost. While Lady Tsunade didn't know Itsuko as well as the others, she had heard about it. It seemed to be the times when Itsuko would lose herself and her powers would grow incredibly, killing countless people in the process. But at the same time, it chips her own life away. The duration always varied depending on her emotions when it happened. If both Kakashi and Itachi left her, perhaps this was how the world would end.

-

Was it a hundred, two maybe? Definitely not. The numbers had long exceeded that. The night didn't seem to progress no matter how many hours passed. It was as if time itself stopped as piercing screams rang through villages after villages, all under the hands of none other than Itsuko Uchiha. Those who suffered under her hands knew this was going to be how the world ended. She was going to destroy the world in her very own hands.

She went on and on, with no intention of stopping or even taking a break. It seemed like she had an endless source of stamina and power. Little did anyone know, she really didn't.

Itsuko was making her way through the woods, on her way to bring doom and demise on yet another village. That was when she finally felt it, the pain. Every step she took sent a wave of pain throughout. Not an inch of her muscle was free from ache and pain. Then came the wave that hit her organs. It sent the unfallen warrior on her knees and soon she fell headfirst onto the ground. Even Kurama couldn't be of help now. She was too far gone. Her body was equivalent to that of a ripped apart body.

It brought her mind back into the world, freed from what tied her down to the endless stream of the massacre. "I really am the monster they say I am. I'm glad though. At least no one else has to go through this now. I'm glad. The world is still intact. This just proves to the world, no matter how strong the monster grows, people will still survive. They'll find their ways. But a monster is still a monster. A monster like me isn't wanted in this world."

"Hey, Kurama? Remember that jutsu we were working on?" Her voice cracked as her throat tore apart, spilling with blood. A taste that was no stranger to her.

"The one that releases me? Of course, but at this rate, you'll die before Tsunade gets here without me. I'm sure she'll be able to heal you with her expertise. They're already on the way here-" But Itusko didn't let him finish. Her fate was already decided the moment she stepped foot out of the village. She knew she wasn't going to live and she wanted to bring the world down with her. But once, again she had failed. A part of her was genuinely glad but another still raged on. She was tired of living. Dying alone was her fate. The people who loved her would have been disappointed in the monster she became and Kurama deserved a much better vessel than her. She didn't want to hold anyone back.

"Goodbye, Kurama. Thank you for everything, I really appreciate it. Now, go. I've deprived you of what you deserved." With the last of her energy, she performed the jutsu, much against Kurama's will. He wanted to save her because he knew and understood her. Dying alone was the last thing she would have wanted and he didn't mind dying with her. Over the years, he had come to love her like family. She had always thought lowly of herself but he had really enjoyed having her as his vessel. There was a real bond there and he didn't want her to die. But, it was too late. She was gone.

-

There was no pain. Her body no longer felt like it was being ripped apart. Itsuko felt free and light again. Is this the afterlife?

In front of her was a fireplace surrounded by the woods. She couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the person who sat on a log beside the fire. It was her twin brother, Itachi. Seeing him, tears threatened to escape. He looked over, giving her a warm smile, gesturing for her to sit down. "Come here, I've missed you."

She threw herself into his arms, hugging him ever so tightly as she sobbed harder than ever. Her voice cracked accompanying her attempt to speak. "I-it hurts. Everyone-hic died, I'm such a monster!"

She screamed and cried as her brother held her tightly in his arms the way he always did when they were kids, gently stroking her hair. He knew it comforted her and eventually made her feel better.

"Aw, Itachi has already stolen our spotlight!"

The voice made Itsuko shoot up. She recognized that voice from the back of her head. It was the one thing she would never be able to forget. It was the voice of the man who added colors into her childhood, Minato.

"My, you've grown so big! I don't think a duel would be as simple anymore. Back then, you were so short, it made it so simple-" Minato stood beside Itsuko, comparing in size. Comparing to back then, she had really grown a lot. She was only just slightly shorter than Minato now and her aura and build had changed entirely.

"Did you miss us? Have you been eating well? You've grown into such a fine lady." Kushina came into the picture punching Minato in the head for his comment.

Itsuko's smile grew bigger than ever. It was comforting to know that after all that, they still stuck by her and welcomed her. She had really missed them. They were like her family. "Yes, I've been well."

That was when she saw her silver-haired boy walking towards them. Her heart ached even more as guilt filled her, realizing she couldn't protect any one of them. Kakashi ran over, pulling her into a kiss as his hand cupped her cheeks, only pulling away as the both of them ran out of breath. As if reading her thoughts, he wiped her tears, "It's okay. It really is. None of us blame you, so don't be so harsh on yourself hm? What matters is now we're reunited again right?"

This was it. The feeling that she had longed for all these years. To be reunited with these people, away from all her worries and troubles. With the people who paid no mind to the monster she could be, she could be herself with them. Itsuko wasn't sure, but this felt like the family would have wanted. She was truly happy wherever she was, as long as she was with them. She felt loved.