"Don't cry, Sasuke. Your big brother is here to protect you, no matter what happens."

Itachi Uchiha knew he was one of the worst kinds of murderers, the most horrible to face. Someone resigned to their duty, who'd do what they had to in order to carry out their mission. Itachi's killer intent was cold, dutiful and ruthless, permeating icyness. He would kill you, if he had to, if you were in the way, he wouldn't enjoy it. But it would be done, without fail or hesitation- that was the way Itachi was.

"I'll always be there for you."

A shinobi, because that's all he ever had hope to be anymore.

"Foolish little brother."

Not a big brother, because the only family he had left did not deserve the title 'Aneki' to a relentless murderer such as he was.

Itachi had killed the rest of them. Then he'd set it all up, so foolish little Sasuke... Would kill him as punishment for the lives of his clan.

"If you wish to kill me, hate me, detest me, and survive in an unsightly way. Foster your hatred. Run, run and cling to your wretched life. And one day, when you have the same eyes I do, come before me."

Who all died for the sake of his village, for Shisui. As a Shinobi of Konohagakure. Itachi did his duty. A duty that could've been different, had not one man ruined his friend and stole his eye.

"The village does have it's dark side and its inconsistencies, but I'm still Konoha's Itachi Uchiha."

Danzo, now that was one person he couldn't stand, the only- one of the only people he would've gladly wiped completely from existence, a mere spatter of gore on the floor. Ah, no, Itachi didn't even think he'd leave that much behind. Because, while Itachi was folded and bent and sharpened into a weapon that the man had used against his family, Shinobi were protectors, warriors of duty, and Itachi knew that if he hadn't fallen to his weakening disease?

Danzo would be a fading stain on a tanto, a wisp of ash that was blazed away with Katon jutsus, he would've been most certainly, utterly, dead. And Itachi knew Konoha would've been safer, had Itachi been able to do it.

"It's said that every strong man has a weak point."

Itachi wasn't a good person, he wished- dearly so- that he was, he hated fighting so much but he couldn't escape it. Itachi was a genius, a prodigy of the likes of Hatake Kakashi, Namikaze Minato, and few others. The Uchiha Clan's Prodigy Heir. But no matter how he tried he couldn't believe he was a good person, there was too much blood under his fingernails, soaking him constantly even though he couldn't feel it but sometimes when he looked at mirrors it was blaringly vivid and clear, and Itachi would spend hours trying to wash the smell off and the blood from his skin but it didn't work- it never worked.

"...people live their lives bound by what they accept as correct and true... that is how they define reality. But what does it mean to be correct or true? Merely vague concepts... their reality may all be an illusion."

The Uchiha Clan's Killer, was something he was too. Itachi's shoulders never bowed, his back never hunched- but the world's weight settled on his shoulders, growing heavier as corpses piled up on his back, weighing him down and making his heart heavy and his soul so tired. But that he could deal with, for he had dealt with it for a very long time.

"Self sacrifice... a nameless shinobi who protects peace within its shadow. That is a true shinobi."

Itachi had woven an elaborate tale, a façade and a brilliant lie around his brother- so well crafted it had become reality to everyone but Itachi himself. Sasuke wasn't his spare, Sasuke was his family, taking Itachi's life on behalf on ruining Sasuke's. However there still was...

A sense of disappointment, was this all that Sasuke could do? Was this it? As the fight drew on he could feel his lungs giving out, but his mind worked, every attack Sasuke made- counterable, his genjutsu? Off, tilted- easily dismissable. Was this... if Itachi wasn't already to die, would Sasuke have failed? Itachi's eyebrow furrowed in annoyance.

Even with all that effort... Did Orochimaru stifle Sasuke's potential so much? Did Sasuke even want to kill him? Of course he did but... Itachi's eyes widened, the hatred... Sasuke... He closed his eyes for a fraction of a moment, a sullen guilt welling up in him. Sasuke was never meant for hatred.

"However strong you become, never seek to bear everything alone. If you do, failure is certain."

Itachi Uchiha was never a good man. No matter how hard he tried, and as he stumbled towards Sasuke, index and middle finger outstretched, blood dripping from his mouth... The look of fear in Sasuke's eyes as he backed away... Itachi smiled, barely making the last steps closer and pressing bloody fingertips to Sasuke's forehead. Murmuring softly his last few words, the world spun around him as he collapsed- perhaps Sasuke had not run him through, like the younger one intended. However...

Eyes set on his little brother's face above him, a faint smile on his face, Itachi lay there a few seconds before death and it was the most content he'd felt in a very long time. Shutting his almost ruined eyes and letting himself slip away was the easiest thing, as effortless as spinning a genjutsu into existence.

But as he was slipping away- he could barely feel it but...

"Sorry, Sasuke… There won't be a next time."

Itachi swore he could feel something pulsing, in his gut and back of his waist, a slowly pulsating heat that could barely be described.

And then... He let go.

Darkness, unlike the previous one- shadowed by vague figures of reality- this was pitch, complete and utterly empty, he could barely focus. As hours-days-years?- passed, sudden, agonizing pain wrenched through Itachi's being and memories of beyond the grave seared his soul, of impure resurrection and war- and it hurt more than anything he remembered, but was soothed quickly, like a numbing shock.

"If I had been open with you from the start… and looked you straight in the eyes and told you the truth, then I wouldn't have had to stand before you, from above, as a failure, telling you all of this. So this time, I want to impart this truth to you… You don't even have to forgive me. And no matter what you do from here on out, know this… I will love you always."

Itachi had wanted to die before his final battle.

Itachi still regretted, and mourned, He was not a good man, but he had wanted to be.

For his brother, he did not want to be dead any longer, but Itachi was content, even if he had no right to be. Pride welled up to the forefront of Itachi's mind, Sasuke, and Naruto... they'd made amends, saved everything.

They'd brought peace.

And that was the only thing Itachi truly ever wanted.

"Foolish ototou..."

Do you really want it to be over...?

You said yourself...

You don't want to die.

Do you?

You don't want to stay dead...

Do you?!

Itachi..!