Sasuke's Reason -

Itachi. It is a name that haunts every waking hour of my life. It is that name that has shattered the fragile glass of my childhood, and it is that name that pushes me to become more than I was yesterday.

What is my reason for existing? To be the best? So others will acknowledge me? Perhaps to prove how smart or fast or talented I am?

No.

I live for one reason only. Revenge. To take the life of that man. Itachi.

"Brother? Brother teach me how to fight like you do!" It seems so very long ago that I could speak to you so easily. You would look at me and smile and tousle my hair.

"You're annoying," you'd always say with a laugh. You never seemed to have time for me. But that was ok, because you were the coolest big brother a kid could have. Until that day, when there was so much blood; pooling in the dark where monsters lurk. Where you lurk.

"Brother? Itachi can you come play with me?" I looked to you with hopeful eyes, though I already knew the answer.

"You're annoying," you reply with a smile. Though your smile is warm, it doesn't reach your cold red eyes.

I practiced so hard that day. I thought that if I tried hard enough, one day I could be like you. I walked home through the dark and my heart was light, as every child's heart should be.

The lights were off at our house. I was afraid, but I took courage because I knew you were never afraid of something so childish as the dark. I saw red stains on the walls and crumpled bodies in the street. My tiny fingers shook, but I kept telling myself to be brave. The door creaked open, like a man's last dying breath. That's when I saw you.

I didn't believe it at first. You tried to stop the one that did this, didn't you? The terrible, heartless person that did this to our family? "Who did this? Who?" I couldn't stop myself from screaming. You looked at me with those cold red eyes. I could feel my heart almost stop as I realized what had happened.

You stood emotionless over the pile of corpses that was our family. You tried to wipe the blood, their blood, from your dirty hands, but it did no good. Your red eyes glowed amid the crimson puddles on the floor.

My hands trembled in fear and shock, and my childish mouth stumbled over the words, "Why brother? Why?" My voice shook and I could feel the tears that real men weren't supposed to cry run down my cheeks.

"Foolish little brother..." You pause a moment and I can feel my legs give out beneath me. Is this really you? This monster that looks down on me with vacant eyes? "To test my strength," you reply, as though it were nothing more cruel than tearing the wings from a butterfly. Did my family's existence mean so little? You shrug and walk past me. I can barely hear your footsteps, even in the stinging silence.

I waited for you to strike me down as well, to deliver the final blow that would end it all. The pain was too much. I thought my heart would shatter into a million pieces. But you never lifted your sword. You just kept walking.

"Why?!" I yelled in frustration, "Why kill all of them and not me too?!"

The words you spoke next were more painful and cut deeper than any knife could have.

"Do you think you could have protected them? Would your weak and worthless existence have saved them? Never. You live, not because I hold any love for you, but because you are no threat to me. You will never be strong enough to hurt me."

You gave my life meaning. A reason to exist in this cold world. I will exist only to kill you. To make you eat those bitter words you once fed me.

I'm getting stronger brother. Are you worried? Perhaps you should be. You see, I met a man today. He had the same smile that never seemed to reach his cold eyes. He must be someone a lot like you brother. He has offered me power. With such terrible power I know I can finally kill you. All he wants in return are the lives of those I call friends, my life, my body, and my soul.

I almost refuse.

I almost turn away.

But it's then I remember... none of that matters.

It's then I remember your terrible eyes.

And it's then I remember...

...the reason I exist.