____________//INFO: SASUKE: HISTORY ♥

 
During the show, we are able to learn snippets of the incident that changed Sasuke but all is revealed in episode 84, with some more details in 128-131. We see that Sasuke has not always been as moody as he is in his early teens (and he was super-cute!). I suppose you could say he had a "normal" upbringing in the wealthy Uchiha household and he is a content boy (he SMILES). The current Sasuke does not care for conversation yet the young Sasuke initates it with his family and relatives on the street.

Itachi always seemed to be too preoccupied to spend anytime with Sasuke though he always said "forgive me" and hit Sasuke's forehead. Although he was not particularly close with his older brother, Itachi, Sasuke was proud of him and admired him, though you can also tell he was jealous of him as Itachi became a fine ninja at a very young age, as well as being able to use the sharingan well.

First, we see Sasuke spying on his brother, Itachi, who really is that amazing a ninja. Itachi is very skilled with the shuriken and little Sasuke wants to imitate his beloved brother but, as usual, there is no time for that, according to Itachi. Itachi was protective over his younger brother and acted very cutely with Sasuke when he attempts to show off and ends up spraying his ankle.

They pass the Konoha police station on the way home, where Itachi reveals that many on the force are Uchiha, because their clan are just that strong. Upon returning home, the stern father has a talk with his two sons. He praises Itachi for progressing so quickly but poor Sasuke's introduction to the ninja academy is brushed aside. Itachi knows how important it is to his younger brother and sticks up for him. Even at this young age, Sasuke knows how far ahead Itachi is.

Sasuke's father expects Sasuke to turn out like his brother. It seems Sasuke can never be himself and can merely chase after Itachi's shadow. The other kids at the academy stay away just because Sasuke is an "Uchiha" so Sasuke practices long and hard in solitude to earn his father's praise. His mother is more compassionate and nurses her son's wounds and tells him not to push himself so hard.

Beaming with pride, Sasuke shows his father his school report (in which he is the best student in every area) but his father offers no kind words, only, "Continue like this and you will be as good as your brother". One night, Sasuke wakes to hear his father shouting as Itachi claims to not be attending an important meeting tomorrow. His excuse is that he has a top-secret mission. And just to show how talented Itachi is, Itachi is the only one (of him, the mother and the father) who realises Sasuke is listening in.

Back in the day, the brothers were extremely close and Sasuke even revealed his thoughts to Itachi; that their father only has eyes for the eldest. Itachi comes out with some wise words at this point about how being excellent also has its downsides since it makes you isolated and arrogant. But he assures Sasuke that they will always be connected as Itachi is the wall that Sasuke must overcome. "Even if you were to hate me, that is what elder brothers are for."

Then, three people appear at the house demanding to see Itachi about his whereabouts during the meeting last night. (Other Uchiha are not as good-looking as Itachi or Sasuke) They are angry that he didn't show up but he is forgiven. They, however, also add that they're suspicious about the suicide of one Uchiha Shisui. After some accusations, Itachi is pushed so far, he attacks the three visitors.

Itachi spews out a lot of stuff that basically says being so attached to the clan is pointless and it restricts you. You should also not judge someone by their looks. They claim that Itachi has been acting very strongly recently. Even the appearance of his father does not stop him but once the scared Sasuke pleads for Itachi to stop acting in this way, Itachi stops and apologises for his actions, but inside, he still seems to be burning with anger.

Little Sasuke saw this new Sharingan but can't think what it is. Even though time has passed since that event, he has noticed the father and son relationship with Itachi has become somewhat strained and Itachi now even seems to ignore Sasuke. The father, however, seems to be able to actually see Sasuke now and decides to teach him the "goukakyuu no jutsu" which is seen as the basic ninjutsu an Uchiha must know. Too bad for Sasuke that he does not perform as well as Itachi did on the first try.

Sasuke's mother is so cute! She knows he's been practising and hurt himself a bit whilst doing so. He practised for a whole week and finally got it down and excitedly shows his father. At first, there is no response but then he says the words, "You are indeed my son," which Sasuke has been longing for. But he also adds that Sasuke should no longer chase after Itachi.

Sasuke, whilst eating in the kitchen, confesses his feelings to his mother. He wonders if Sasuke is only Itachi's replacement ever since their relationship has gone under pressure. His mother's words don't really seem to hit him, until she tells Sasuke that in her presence alone, he only speaks about Sasuke and this cheers him up greatly.

One day, after attending the ninja academy, Sasuke decides to do some extra training as he is determined to become as good a shinobi as Itachi. He comes home quite late and he notices that all the lights are off and then he sees dead bodies lying in the street. He runs home to find a dark, empty house...

After searching through the house and being unsuccessful, there is just one more room left. Sasuke realises there is someone inside and, of course, being only eight years old and having seen the lifeless bodies of his clan, he was very scared. He convinced himself to open the door ("Move! Move!" sound familiar?) and thereupon the floor lay the bodies of his mother and father.

Sasuke then realised there was another person in the room, someone alive. It was Itachi. Understandably, Sasuke could not think Itachi, his own brother, was responsible for this massacre and he became confused when Itachi threw a shuriken at him. Itachi then uses "mangekyou sharingan" on Sasuke so that Sasuke has to witness and re-live the slaughter of his clan for twenty-four hours.

Sasuke then falls to the floor and asks Itachi for an explanation and finds that Itachi merely wanted to see what he was capable of. After getting a short beating from Itachi, Sasuke gets scared and runs but is met by Itachi down the street and is told that he is not even worth killing. Itachi says he will spare Sasuke as he has the potential to also obtain the mangekyou sharingan.
He reveals that in order to do so, Sasuke must kill his closest friend. He also adds that in the main building of the Nakano Temple, in the right corner at the rear of the room, under the seventh tatami mat, the original purpose of the Uchiha doujutsu is revealed. Itachi's parting words tell Sasuke that if he wishes to kill him, Sasuke must hate him, detest him and survive in an unsightly way. He must run, run and cling to life.

These are the words that have been keeping Sasuke alive and he tells Itachi so on their first encounter in four/five years. Had Itachi not killed the Uchiha clan, Sasuke may not be the boy we meet in the anime, the boy who is silent and simmers in his hatred and is engrossed in his quest for vengeance.