Itachi dodged the shuriken reflexively, but it was a close call. He nearly stumbled right over the edge of the bank, but he caught himself in a crouch.

Madara. Hashirama... Had he... somehow been sent back in time? Back into the world of his ancestors?

"He's not like us. He's... He's a grown Uchiha! He's got the eyes!!" Hashirama dashed between his friend and the strange man. "You always say I'M the one who's too trusting! Are you crazy?!"

"I'm... I'm not an enemy. It's all right..." Itachi insisted between labored breaths. "I'm a... pacifist too..."

"But the eyes!!"

Itachi glanced at Madara, an unspoken plea that the child still remembered him and still had his back. Then, he turned off his sharingan. His eyes faded to a dull black, and without the chakra illuminating them, both of the boys blurred into a dark, muted haze. He had to feel the ground in front of him before he could stand up.