17 Chapter 17

Izuna said, "Had Itachi not done so, I myself would have massacred everyone myself."

Naruto was more than shocked at what he was hearing.

Izuna said, "The reason why Itachi massacred the clan is much more complicated. The Uchiha were planning a coup de tat to take command over the village and rebel against me. A secret society within the Uchiha formed with hatred rising due to many suspicions placed on them. Their demands were exorbitant. If I agreed to them, the village would break in to civil war against the Uchiha and me leading to a Fourth Great Shinobi War. If I did not agree to their demands, they would take control by force which would again lead to civil war then again leading to the Fourth Great Shinobi war for control of Konoha. I initially wanted to do something to save my Uchiha brethren but it soon dawned upon me that in the current situation, getting rid of the clan was the only viable option."

Naruto said in a depressed tone, "There is always a way to save everyone."

Izuna also let his motions leak. He said, "Not always. You will understand later. This time clearly there was no chance to save everyone. Had Minato lived, there would be a chance of doing so, but not now."

Naruto said, "I understand why Itachi massacred the clan but he is a criminal because he joined the Akatsuki."

Izuna smiled and said, "He is actually a spy inside the Akatsuki for Konoha. I was the one who gave him that mission."

Naruto was shocked at what he was hearing.

Izuna then said, "You only know this because you are an Uchiha. You will not reveal anything from what you heard to anybody else. Not even your closest friends or siblings."

Naruto said, "I won't reveal it to anyone."

Izuna said, "Good. It might be a lot to take in, but what I told you is the truth. The truth is never simple and always harsh. We have to live with it. Now off you go to the Academy."

Izuna teleported Naruto to the academy and rested in peace and went back to his office to take care of paperwork sitting in his office.

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Two Year Time Lapse

The day of Graduation Exam

It was time for graduation from the Academy. The exams were to be held that day. All of them were asked to write a written exam first. Most of them passed easily. Menma had barely passed.

Then it was turn for the projectile skills exams. Naruto and Mito got a perfect score of 20 on 20. Sasuke got a good seventeen on twenty and Naruto achieved 15 on 20 being a few of the best scores. Then the Ninjutsu skills were tested. Everybody was asked to do the henge and the Bunshin no Jutsu.

Everyone did it easily. Naruto henged into Madara Uchiha. All of the youngsters mistook him for a transformation into Izuna but Iruka understood that it was Madara. There were differences between Madara and Izuna. He was surprised. He was thinking why Naruto did that. Nevertheless, Naruto then transformed back to himself. He was very tall for his age. He was now almost as tall as Madara and even looked a lot like Madara in his peak. Everyone was just pissed thinking that he had just transformed to make him a few centimeters taller and make his hair a little more unkempt. They didn't like the fact that he just made himself taller and he could pass easily. He then did Bunshin. About fifty Bunshin popped around. Everyone was surprised. They all popped and Naruto passed. He took his head band and took a place. Sasuke soon followed and did the same, but he henged into his father. Soon Mito came to finish her exam. She henged into the ideal form of herself which she wanted for and she got a lot of cheers from the boys. She then completed the bunshin, took her head band and moved ahead.

Menma then came and did the henge. He henged into something that gave Iruka the biggest nose bleed in his life. Menma transformed back and did the hand sign for the Kage Bunshin and a few shadow clones of himself popped up next to him. Iruka was surprised. He didn't know that Menma could do the Kage Bunshin. He passed Menma and Menma was now a genin.

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The same day night, in the Uchiha Clan Compound

Mizuki who had been one of the judges of the graduation exam had come by to visit Menma. Menma just came and when he saw Mizuki he said, "Sensei, what are you doing here?"

Mizuki said, "I just wanted to talk to you. Can you come to the forest with me?"

Menma said, "Fine."

They soon reached the forest when Mizuki said, "Now, I shall kill you and then take revenge on Konoha."

Menma was shocked. He hadn't seen this coming. He asked, "Why do you want to kill me?"

Mizuki said, "How would you know? You monster Fox! No one has yet told you. Of Course, this all makes sense.. No one would tell you what you really are you monster fox. You are the Nine-tailed Fox which attacked the village twelve years ago and killed everybody. You are nothing but a monster."

Right then Izuna appeared. He said, "You have said and done enough damage. I shall not allow you to do anymore damage Menma."

Mizuki stood in shock. All of a sudden, he felt many people binding him. Izuna manifested the Chidori and stabbed Mizuki with it. He said, "You are the true monster here Mizuki"

Mizuki collapsed with a lot of blood flowing from his body. Izuna turned towards Menma and said, "You don't need to worry Menma. You are no monster. I intended to tell you this once you were completely ready to take on the Kyubi, but since you already know, I shall tell you this, the Kyubi is no demon either. He has been through the same treatment you received by the villagers by everyone and all the time. He is just a misunderstood person not unlike you were misunderstood by everyone in the village."

Menma took all of that in. He was crying right now.

Somewhere deep down the Kyubi was also listening to this. He could also not believe that Izuna who was the grandson of Madara Uchiha thought of him this way. The Kyubi hoped that the tailed beasts might at last get some respect if Izuna wanted that. Izuna did remind the Kyubi of the sage of Six Paths. He thought he would never meet another person like that ever, but Izuna was just like that, and he intended to turn Menma into a person who would bring peace to the tailed beasts. But the Kyubi thought that even Izuna was just a person who was here for his power like everyone was. He was after all the grandson of Madara Uchiha. He would never expect anything good from the progeny of Madara Uchiha. He hoped that at least he would be able to get out of Menma by giving him his Chakra. Yes, that was what he would do until he got out and exact revenge on Izuna.

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Author's Notes: Tell me if you like the pace at which I am going and it is my humble request for you to leave comments on the story if you read this.