One-shot just to show the side of Itachi that I see and kinda as a protest regarding him being perpetually portrayed as a villain!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters.
Weary yet observant eyes took in all the visible details of their forest surroundings and then some. Every decision and action was a chore to Itachi and the minutes of his life dragged by painfully slowly. He got through by telling himself it was his duty, and that by taking these responsibilities upon himself he was saving another from the cruel torture and self-loathing his task was putting him through. But when it really came down to it, he was struggling to cope with the isolation. All his life, he had people, everyone, anyone he wanted for anything he needed. He'd had family, friends, a home, a life. And in a single night everything and everyone had been taken from him.
The tall thin man sighed heavily and forced away his self pity. No time for emotions. Any moment of weakness could cost him everything. He couldn't afford to make mistakes, the task he had to carry out was far to important. He, Itachi, must be the perfect weapon.
A shadow of movement behind him caught his full attention. Nothing. No warmth, no presence, no light, and yet… for just an instant he was sure…
A flicker on his right now. There was definitely someone… or something here. He had to act fast to identify the threat and to establish how it had gotten so close unnoticed and undetected. Silently he slid through the shadows searching, but his superior sensing abilities and even his sharingan appeared to be letting him down on this one. His innate abilities told him the forest was empty, that he was safe, but his highly attuned instincts were telling him otherwise. He was in danger – the worst kind – where he had no idea from what or in what way. Some portion of his brain was telling him to be afraid, to fear for his safety and even for his life, but the cold red eyes that blinked held no fear as they held no hope, joy, anger or sadness. He was just one person who had lost everything – no… he had willingly given everything, willingly given up his life, all for-
'Itachi-nii.'
Red eyes widened and a dark body stiffened as the cold point of a kunai was pressed into his lower back.
'Itachi-nii, remember me?'
He didn't speak. He didn't turn to look. He knew…
'I'm the one, nii-san.'
Yes… He's the one he had suffered for… He was who Itachi had stayed alive for so long for….
'I'm the one who has finally come to kill you for what you have done, to our family, to our village, to me.'
He knew he would come for him someday. He wanted to tell him, to make it all right, to just be his nii-san again. But he couldn't. There was nothing he could do.
'You didn't even see me coming, did you? I don't need your protection anymore big brother. I can fight for the village now and do a better job than you could ever do!'
He didn't doubt it. His little brother sure had grown since back then…
A sudden jerk and the small knife pierced his spine and tore, tore, tore….
Itachi offered no resistance. It was over and he had fulfilled the most difficult part of his assignment; he had taken the truth to his grave. Sasuke could live on freed from his vengeance, oblivious to what he, Itachi, had done on his behalf, had protected him from. His only regret was that his little brother would never again love or look kindly upon his memory and as this thought passed through his fading mind a single tear rolled from under his closing eyes.
'I love you… Sasuke.'
Hope you enjoyed my perspective. Please review but be nice cos this is my first fic! 3