From the "What If" Story Arc:

Lost Hope

Prologue I : A Dire Miscalculation

The sky flickered between light and dark, as though Kami-sama were flipping a light switch off and on. The lightning was quite unsettling. Slowly, a hand reached and touched the glass of a window…the red, painted nails of the hand scratching slightly against the smooth surface. Dark brown, expressionless eyes carefully scanned the outside, taking a look at the deep purple skies covered in foreboding clouds. Somewhere behind the raging storm, the sun was setting…but no one, even Uchiha Itachi, could see the silver lining on these clouds.

Something is deadly wrong…Itachi caught himself thinking. Rarely did the summer weather in Water Country get this intense…it was making his senses become quite heightened. Call it intuition, but he knew something was urgently wrong.

Watching the wind blow the smaller trees of Water Country around, his eyes caught sight of one in particular…the wind tossed it back and forth, and suddenly tore the top of the tree away. This wind…is powerful enough to stop a shinobi in his tracks…what is going on? Suddenly, he noticed that the other trees were not being affected in nearly the same way…

Without turning from the window, he focused his eyesight on the reflections he could see. "Kisame."

Behind him, he heard a sudden shift. Kisame must have dosed off back there. "What, Itachi…storms make me dream of swimming…"

"Kisame…have I ever given you an order that was not in the best interest of our missions?"

No answer. Itachi watched the reflections from the window carefully, noticing the blond hair of his partner in crime suddenly rise into the images on the glass. Soon, his pale white, animal-like face could be seen, as could his arms, stretched above his head. Itachi heard the man yawn out a reply.

"What the f--- are you getting at…Itachi…"

Itachi paused, taking a look outside. The tree he had seen before was gone entirely. Suddenly, he knew. Without as much as a move, Itachi spoke once more, his expression remaining completely blank. "If you trust me and my judgement, Kisame…leave here now."

"What?"

"Leave here. Head back to headquarters and let them know I've run into something unexpected."

"Wh—"

Before the shark-head could bark out a rebuttal, Itachi turned around, quickly making eye contact with him. Kisame stopped in mid-word. That expression didn't cover his partner's face very often, but when it did, it meant he was quite serious. And there were very few things that made him send away his partner. Kisame grit his teeth for a moment in consideration, then made a decision.

"Very well." Kisame reached behind the chair he had been seated in and grabbed his giant Samehada. "You better come back alive, though." Without another word, he marched out of the building, lightly slamming the door behind him.

Itachi closed his eyes. 20 long years…he could hear the presence on the roof. It's been 6 since…that began. He was certain that Kisame would hear it too, if he wasn't still half-asleep. How many more until it ends? Itachi lifted the collar of his black and red coat up once more, in order to cover his mouth. Even if Kisame did notice it, Itachi thought…I'm certain that he would trust my word and go.

After all, this was a family affair.

After a couple of minutes, Itachi slowly made his way out of the front door. Looking up to the sky, he noted the clouds to the west in the distance seemed less condensed…the storm would let up soon. You wouldn't be able to tell that now, however, for the torrential downpour showed no signs of ending. Still standing beneath the extensions of the roof, Itachi grabbed his straw hat from the door handle, and placed it on his head. Then, he leaped onto the roof.

Landing on the edge of the extension, he glanced forward. As expected, a young man—about the same size as he—stood, his fists balled. The man wore all black…a short sleeved shirt and long pants. His left arm had a large bandage wrapped around the elbow…his right was covered in bandages. There seemed to be a large leather wrapping around the bandages, locking them in place. His shruiken holster was tied to his left leg, facing outside. Itachi made note of his fairly pale skin…and that his black hair had a certain hint of blue to it. As a particularly fierce bolt of lightning struck to the side of them, Itachi made eye contact with the brown-eyed one…his brother.

"I see you found me, Sasuke."

Sasuke remained still, his face contorted in anger. Itachi smiled beneath the hem of his jacket. He still carries the old hatred…my hope lives on. Itachi spoke once more. "It has been 3 years since we last met, brother. I hope you've improved since last time."

Sasuke's face revealed an evil smirk. "You had a five year head start on me…but that's not going to matter any more."

Indeed, when 5 years was more than half of Sasuke's life, that had made all the difference. Sasuke remained in the shadow of Itachi always…and when Itachi killed the Uchiha clan, he had left his brother alive…still in his shadow…Sasuke's only destiny being to finish Itachi with the avengement of his parents.

Now, that destiny seemed to be begging for fulfillment. Sasuke slowly tilted his body a bit to the right, taking a step back with his right foot.

Quickly, Sasuke's hands rattled off seals. Even without the Sharingan, Itachi knew what was coming. Brother, you're far too predictable...

"Katon! Gokyakuu no jutsu!"

Itachi always anticipated a fire attack from nearly any ninja of the house of Uchiha...especially Sasuke. Evading to the side, he was surprised when his side roll was met...Sasuke was right there as he rose from his roll. He's faster than before...I mustn't be sloppy. Sasuke's left leg came hurtling towards Itachi's head in a roundhouse kick...Itachi caught it, then turned his head to another noise he heard.

Above him, another Sasuke was dropping from the sky, a kunai barred in his right hand...nothing more than a bunshin...Itachi quickly spun around and tossed the body of the grounded Sasuke towards the airborne one, foot first...

Both collided, then exploded with a puff of smoke.

Kage bunshin, huh...you've gotten a bit better...

From out of the smoke came an outstretched foot...a jump kick...Itachi easily leaped back, backflipped, then leaped into the air.

As Sasuke landed on the ground, Itachi landed back on the roof, and folded his arms. Even though neither of them had activated their Sharingan, Itachi could already tell that the boy had not done enough to achieve his goal…or Itachi's. What the heck has he been doing for three years? Perhaps his hatred isn't as strong as I thought…

He called down to Sasuke. "You've improved…but not nearly enough to defeat me…"

Sasuke's body twitched in anger at that comment, and he leaped up to the roof once more…

Immediately, he blazed forward full speed at his brother...yet neither activated their Sharingan. Sasuke charged in, throwing a strong right hook as soon as he was in range. Itachi was a bit surprised by the guts his brother had to charge in as such...but he easily ducked the attack. As he did, he saw Sasuke's left knee come up towards his gut.

Acting on instinct, Itachi used both hands to shove the knee as far to the side of him as he could...Sasuke took the momentum this gave him and continued that way, spinning around and kicking the leg up....turning his hip, he attempted to bring the foot around to the back of Itachi's head...Itachi simply tilted his head to the side and back, letting the kick glide by.

This is too simple, thought Itachi. Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by a sound he hadn't expected...

Birds.

In the middle of a thunderstorm? Admittingly, the storm was beginning to lighten, but there still was no way...

Not a moment too soon, he made the connection between birds and the chidori...as Sasuke attempted to jab directly through his heart...

With no true conscious thought, Itachi tilted his body sideways, causing the attack to be less on target...quickly his hands reached up and wrapped the extended thrusting arm of Sasuke into an armbar. He pushed sharply on the boy's bicep, and knocked him off balance. Then, just as what had just happened began to register to Sasuke, Itachi released the armbar, and sent a massive backhanded fist across his brother's face. Sasuke flew from the building roof, turning in midair and falling face first onto the ground....

Itachi frowned, and walked back to the side of the roof he had originated from. A moment later, he saw Sasuke climb the roof, and return to his original spot. Sasuke still had the drive to fight, Itachi noticed, but this had become pointless. As Sasuke regained his focus and began to step toward the middle, Itachi remained emotionless.

"Like I said…you're not ready for me…."

Itachi paused for a moment, looking Sasuke in the eye. If hate wasn't a good motivator against me…maybe it's time I told him the truth.

"NOR are you ready to face Orochimaru."

Sasuke froze in midstep. His face twisted in malice. "Orochimaru? Why would I wish to face him?" Slowly, he stepped forward once more, making his way towards Itachi. "Why…"

Itachi suddenly noticed a mark on the boy's neck…

"Why would I want to face the man who gave me everything I needed…to destroy you?"

Making note of the boy's words, Itachi focused on that mark. It seemed to be 3 circles…each with a tail…like small tadpoles…each was black. As he watched, these marks seemed to spread out, and more appeared…soon Itachi made the connection between words and actions…

"You didn't…"

Itachi watched as the boy's body slowly began to become covered in these marks…and a purple aura began to flow around the boy. What the heck…some kind of seal…a curse, in fact…

Two and two make…

"YOU FOOL!!!!" Itachi stomped loudly on the roof as he figured it all out. "How could you possibly BE so…" Most folks would have been surprised to see Itachi get this emotional...Sasuke found the reaction to be quite interesting, though in truth, he didn't care.

"You will die here…Uchiha Itachi…"

Orochimaru…dam- it…no…Itachi frowned. The wind began to blow, tossing his jacket about him a bit, as he took the collar down from around his mouth. "Sasuke…you have Sharingan…you see…but you do not look…you hear, but you do not listen…"

"YOU KILL BUT YOU DO NOT FEEL REMORSE…" Sasuke balled his fists tighter, a sadistic smile crossing his face. "I am an avenger…and I have done what I needed to ensure my parents' revenge."

Itachi closed his eyes. He knew his brother would not stop until he had succeeded in killing him. Yet, he never anticipated the boy would lose faith in himself. He couldn't do it on his own…and Orochimaru gave him power. I miscalculated…

"You are too weak, Sasuke…Orochimaru will take you…I am not the bad guy here…"

"You…brother…you are the only one who mattered. To father…to the people of Konoha…to everyone. I have lived in your shadow long enough! I have surpassed you!"

"Dam- it are you even listening?! This isn't about me!" Itachi cursed mentally, seeing that this would get out of hand VERY quickly if he didn't do something. "Listen to me, Sasuke…this is not the way this is meant to end. My life's work…everything I've tried to do would be in vain if we continue this…father's death would be in vain…"

Sasuke paused momentarily. Itachi took that pause to mean interest.

"Brother…you've made a grave mistake that must be rectified as soon as possible. It is time…that I showed you what REALLY happened that day…"

Suddenly, as lightning struck once more in the background, it was apparent that Itachi had activated his Sharingan. Sasuke attempted to look away, but it was too late…Itachi had caught his gaze. Sasuke's neck muscles twitched as he attempted to force movement…but he couldn't.

Itachi's deep red eyes suddenly changed… "Mangekyou Sharingan technique…Tsukiyomi!"

Suddenly, with a consequential loss of chakra, Itachi activated his ultimate genjutsu…as he did so he could feel his brain lose control for a moment…his nervous system overreacted to the images it was gathering to show Sasuke, and his muscles tightened in an unexpected way…it was as if he had actually just fought Orochimaru to the death. Indeed, Tsukiyomi was a technique that hurt his mind to perform.

Yet, as he blinked himself out of the haze that this technique always attempted to put him under, he began to realize something was wrong. His eyes widened as something pierced his stomach…he dropped to his knees…This is…no…what…how…

As he looked up, he noticed saw the blood red sky…and the moon…and recognized his position as the one his father had been in…when death came for him.

He REVERSED Tsukiyomi??!?

As the move ended, Itachi fought the urge to just collapse, gripping the roof hard with his hands, and attempting to push himself back to his feet. As he looked back up towards his adversary, quite the sight awaited him.

Sasuke…had the mangekyou. Itachi lowered his head, cursing his weakness in not killing the boy when he had the chance. Yet what happened next surprised him even more.

Step.

"You told me once…"

Step.

"that in order to gain these eyes…"

Step.

"you had to kill someone close to you."

Step.

"Only through death could ultimate power be gained…"

Step.

Itachi paused, giving up his effort to rise for a moment. "So you went and killed someone…"

Sasuke sneered, an evil look that Itachi had only seen on one other. "Yes…Sakura died for me."

Itachi didn't really know who that was, but apparently she had really cared for Sasuke. Itachi fought back a tear…this kid is far worse than I ever was…

It was out of his hands now…Sasuke was in control of this battle, Itachi knew. But, it wasn't time to give up hope yet. "Don't you realize…you're…falling…into a trap…"

Sasuke didn't want to hear that at all. "I'll deal with that when I come to it…but you are the villain of my life, Itachi…my parents cry out for revenge…"

Itachi sighed, noticing how hazy the roof looked. Not only did I DO Tsukiyomi, but I experienced it…that's too much even for me…but I…have to…keep… "MY parents cry for revenge too, Sasuke…we are both avengers…"

Itachi reached into his jacket…and pulled out a small book. As he did, the rain began to slow, and soon became nothing more than a continuous mist. Itachi tossed the book onto Sasuke's foot. Curious, Sasuke's curse seal receded, and the boy reached down and grabbed the book. Opening the cover, he read the first page slowly.

"Journal

Year 14 Day 200

Sasuke graduated from the academy today…"

Sasuke blinked. "Your diary?"

Itachi nodded, slowly willing himself to stand once more. His stance wavered slightly as he attempted to keep himself steady. "Read it. It will tell you the truth of what happened those days…you should be able to tell when I wrote it."

Sasuke shook his head. "I saw what deception you tried to pull just now, traitor. I will not fall for your tricks." Sasuke turned, and threw the diary over the roof and into the trees. His curse seal reactivated, filling the air with purple chakra once more.

Itachi felt his legs attempting to give out once more beneath him, and frowned. A single tear rolled down the arches of his nose as the normally poker-faced young man cried. "Then…it was damned from the beginning." So be it… "and…the only way to stop Orochimaru…"

Itachi made eye contact with his brother once more… "…is to do what I couldn't will myself to do before." Itachi's eyes glowed with intensity, and a low, guttural growl leaked from his lips. Suddenly, a huge mass of violent red chakra began to flow from his body…clashing in midair with the purple chakra of Kuro Sasuke. "Prepare yourself, brother…it ends here." Itachi reached up into his eye and swiped quickly, dragging the tears from his eye out and instantaneously flinging them away. "One way…or the other."

T O B E C O N T I N U E D . . .

AN:

Believe it or not, this story is actually NOT going to be about these characters...but the prologue is. Sasuke-Itachi fans...enjoy the moment. In the end this fic may very well PO all of you.