Reason's
I do not own NARUTO, Kishimoto does!
Atop the Uchiha complex, a battle dragged on. Blood siblings locked into a life or death fight with one another. In their heart-breaking battle, there can be only one winner.
Uchiha Itachi, first-born genius of the prestigious Uchiha Clan and Uchiha Sasuke, the never good enough; youngest son of Uchiha Fugaku, and otouto of Itachi. Sasuke remained always in the shadows created by his elder Nii-san's success in life.
Driven by rage and deceit Sasuke attacks his Nii-san relentlessly. Sasuke using words Itachi once spoke to him long ago, against the very man who spoke them. In his mind those words rang clearly, and he remembered every word as it was spat at him that night. "Foolish little brother, if you wish to kill me, hate me, detest me and survive in an unsightly way. Foster your hatred. Run and cling to your wretched life, and when you posses the same eyes as I do, come before me" He used those words that were spat in his face that night to strengthen himself for this battle, to steel his emotions and to tighten his focus so he could defeat Itachi, his blood, his Nii-San. He survived for this moment, this was what he trained every day until he collapsed for...the death of his elder, one Uchiha Itachi by his hands.
What Sasuke failed to notice was that Itachi loved him dearly, and this battle was for him to attain the Mangekyo Sharingan. To awaken it, the death of someone close to him was needed. Sasuke had already failed at it once, the death of Uzumaki Naruto couldn't be attained no matter how hard he strived for it.
Now he faces his elder in a life or death battle still ignorant to his elders intentions till Itachi, bloodied, battered and struggling to pull precious air into his lungs, battling an unseen illness, pokes him in the forehead like in the days of old, smiles at his otouto and whispers the words "I'm sorry Sasuke, this is the last time" Itachi collapses in a heap none to gently at his otouto's feet. He attempts to inform his otouto about everything but a horrible coughing fit interferes. Sasuke hits his knees at Itachi's side and help him sit up, so the blood would not choke his Nii-San.
However Itachi's attempts to obtain oxygen were futile and the more he struggled to pull in the more pain radiated through his battered, illness ravaged body blood coming up every time he coughed. He beckons Sasuke closer, so his ear is just a few centimeters from his bloodied mouth, and whispers the tale leading up to the massacre after the massacre, and all the reason's he has lived his life as an S-class criminal to his precious little brother. His tale is one about his truth, the clans dark truth, his reasons behind every action he took, and everything that he's deemed Sasuke deserving enough to know before he passes on from this life to the next.
His love evident in his words, he tells him how, no matter what the village wanted him to do, no matter how much pressure they put on him to murder the entire Uchiha clan, he fought to protect him. How he refused to bring justice on his precious baby brothers life. He told him how he blackmailed the village to keep his Otouto safe and out of harms way, and how he would accept his life as a missing ninja and take the blame for the clans extermination. How he would allow Sasuke the glory of saving the village from his "deranged older brother" and be the "hero of the Leaf village".
That was Itachi's truth, he loved his otouto with every fiber that made up his being. Itachi's whole life he spent being devoted to one Sasuke Uchiha his beloved little brother. Even when illness struck him down, he sustained his dwindling life with medications till the proper time. Hoping to die by his hand versus the illness taking him before he could awaken the Mangekyo in Sasuke.
Sasuke stood there staring down at his Nii-san, who's eyes shone of love and pride for his younger brother. As he comes to terms with everything his Nii-san has said. Sasuke is pained to leave Itachi to die alone, but the voice of Uzumaki Naruto pierces the sound shield the rain has created forcing his retreat.
One last time he looks at his dying elder Nii-san, tears gathered in his eyes for the first time in years, body struggling for air because the reality of his brothers demise is setting in. "Aishiteru, otouto..." pulls him back to where his brother lie, his movements stiff and akward. "Aishiteru Nii-san" he whispers, his voice too broken and strangled to be anything more, as He feels his brothers life start to slip from the realm of the living.
He takes off, screaming out his frustrations, anguish and pain to the world before disappearing into a swirl of black ravens, a trademark Itachi transferred to him when the Mangekyo was activated. The last words he heard before he departed from the broken roof of the complex "Nankurunaisa" ringing painfully in his ears as he makes it to a far-away river. The Image of his Nii-san's body broken, battered and blood dripping down his face as he fought the illness which stole his breaths haunts his mind. "Nankurunaisa Sasuke, Aishiteru Otouto" the words and images are on instant replay and repeat endlessly behind his eyes.
Tears fled his eyes, overtaking and running down Sasuke's face, as his heart shatters into a million pieces at the loss of his Nii-San, his beloved elder who's face and smile would never grace the mortal world from this night on, and that Sasuke would never be privileged see again during his life-span, regardless of all the Sharingan abilities he'd attain and master usage of their unique techniques through the years and he had many choices excluding his precious elder Nii-San.(Danzo, Uchiha Shusui, Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Madara)
'Maybe the next time we meet nii-san' Sasuke's mind trailed off into thought. No there a wouldn't be a next time, by the time the date when he was destined to reunite with his beloved elder Nii-San rolled around, when his execution would be assured, after his revenge was completed and oath fulfilled, would there be the slightest chance at meeting with his elder Nii-San Itachi at the pearly gates of Heaven. However deep in Sasuke's heart he knew there would be absolutely no chance at a happy reunion with Itachi after his death. He knew Heaven would reject him for the blood staining his very being, penetrating him all the way that his soul was saturated leaving him tainted.
No, Sasuke Uchiha would never see his brother again; except for within the sweet memories he clung to with white-knuckled force in his heart and mind. He allowed those memories to be pushed aside for the briefest of moments, to bring forth the plan his brain had formulated, a new plan for vengeance.
He ran until he could no longer feel his limbs as he jumped from branch to branch in the seemingly never-ending forest. Chakra depletion upon him, and his lower extremities screaming at him in pain from his prior meeting with his elder had him looking for a stable place to rest and regain his stamina and Chakra reserves. However he relished the pain clung to it as if his life depended on it. That pain radiating through his body was the only thing that was strong enough to counter the numbness that was consuming his being. He was running on fumes and running out of time before he hit the critical stages of no return. He stumbled onto the perfect place to recover, just as he was about to give up.
Landing on a tree branch fifty feet off the ground and wide enough to sleep on without the risk of rolling during his sleep and plummeting t his death, he collapses into a heap emotionally, physically exhausted. 99.9% of his chakra totally depleted. "Don't leave me Nii-san!...Onegai, Onegai Nii-san" he half whimpers half screams, his voice trembling as the afternoon transforms slowly into night. The sun slowly fades from the sky and the stars replacing the clouds. His consciousness fading with the pace of the disappearing sun, his body refusing to remain awake to do his bidding.
However, his sleep was a tortured, restless one filled with both memories of his past and the last few hours of his elders life. Sweet memories of his childhood invade his unconscious mind, his Nii-san during their target practice, him trying to show off to Itachi, falling to the ground and getting hurt in the process, him being carried by his Nii-san back to the house with a pout on his face, a smile gracing Itachi's lips and face. His mother, father and clans dead bodies scattered throughout the Uchiha compound entered his mind then. The ending to his sweet stroll down memory lane.
"NOOO!" he screamed as he jolted awake from his nightmare his breathing heavy, heart rapidly beating in his chest and his thoughts chaotic once again. He stood from the place where he lay, the only thought that crossed his mind. Take sweet revenge on the Village Hidden in the Leaves, for the corruption of his Nii-san and his horrible life as a missing ninja and his death because of the contributing factors.
When dawn breaks the next morning, he discovers his Chakra is only about fifty-percent restored, the recovery of his stores taking much longer than he anticipated. Meeting up with his group, he acts as if nothing is wrong, though there was definitely something wrong with him. Karin, the sensory type ninja accompanying him senses otherwise; and pulls him aside expressing her concern for her leader and the man she's got a infatuation problem with. Following her into a desolate area away from Jugo and Suigetsu, the red head known as the "healer" of Sasuke's team, offered her arm to him. He could see that it was covered in previous bite marks turned scars from the countless other times she'd healed Jugo, Suigetsu or himself or transferred her own chakra into them during a battle when they were in a pinch.
She looked into Sasuke's eyes, her own conveying a hidden message that was all too clear to him. Not asking any questions, he takes his arm gently in his hands and proceeds to sink his teeth into the vulnerable flesh of her arm. With his teeth firmly sunk into her skin, she winces, then shivers because of the pain his teeth, and the fact that he's swiping his tongue over her arm in an attempt to soothe her. She regains her composure, still slightly trembling because of the intimate interaction and transfers another twenty-five percent of her-own Chakra reserves to him.
Only after she is satisfied with the amount of Chakra that she has transferred to him through her technique, does she allow him to remove his teeth from her forearm. Sasuke's color has returned to its healthy glow, his Chakra levels almost 3/4th's full, he nods to Karin in acknowledgement of her selflessness. All because she worried for his well-being and acted on it, not just letting it slide like some would. She blushes, and her embarrassment forces her to hide her flushed face in her cloak. Smirking at her embarrassment he wraps his arm around her lower back causing a squeak to erupt from her throat and her face to become redder than a perfectly ripe Tomato. Needless to say Karin didn't say anything the whole way back, her whole being focused on keeping herself from keeling over.
They return to the group from their secluded sanctuary, Sasuke releasing her lower back abruptly causing her to stumble. Reaching out, his arm grasps the collar of her cloak holding her from toppling over. "Arigatou Sasuke-Kun...her voice betraying her wishes to be calm and level headed. Suigetsu looks on a glint of mischief in his eyes, Jugo just watching the birds, silent as always.
Sasuke's voice breaches the silence "Lets move, we have to make it there before night-fall" his voice cold and demanding again betraying nothing of his emotions, much to Karin's disappointment. Taking off in the general direction of the Akatsuki base. The location being disclosed to Sasuke in a Genjutsu which was cast after the battle with his brother by none other than Uchiha Madara, better known as one Uchiha Obito the same Obito who's name was carved in the KIA memorial stone in Konoha's graveyard. Arriving at the hidden base they met with "Leader-Sama" aka Nagato Pein of the Akatsuki, they all pledged "allegiance" to the criminal syndicate group of which his own dead Nii-San was once a core part of. He did not tell Pein about how Itachi had passed, feeling it better to keep that bit of information to himself. All four left the base, donning the infamous cloaks as they took off towards a destination unknown to all but Sasuke, but following him none the less. They all decided to keep their thoughts to themselves and not questioning his judgment on the subject, all of them knowing full well that he was able to kill them in the blink of his eye, now that he had the Mangekyo in his possession.
As they traveled towards their destination, Sasuke decided he needed time to be alone. Wanting more than anything to try and bring some peace to his tortured heart and mind. Deciding on his path, he leapt to a branch and stopped. Karin, Jugo, and Suigetsu following his lead and landing beside him on the same branch.
He turned to his group, facing the three of them his intentions quite evident in his charcoal eyes. Explaining to them he needed some time alone to sort thoughts out, and come up with a plan, they nodded and agreed that they would split up. With a lot of convincing from Suigetsu, Karin reluctantly agreed to leave her "Sasuke-Kun's" side, Jugo, Suigetsu and Karin take off in one direction; Sasuke continuing on his original chosen path. With intentions to meet-up later during the month evident in the directions Sasuke gave them, they chose a general area outside Konoha to reunite. However, an exact meeting place was never defined, and they'd have to search a bit to find one another. He knew Karin wouldn't have a problem with tracing his Chakra, her infatuation with him assured him of that.
Uchiha Sasuke swore on his deceased Nii-san's memory that he would have his revenge, no matter who he had to tear apart to achieve his sworn oath. Vengeance would be his, and he would restore the Uchiha to it's former glory. His eyes bled into the familiar shape of the Sharingan as the night closed in around him, and all that could be seen was the blood-red eyes of a demon of the night.
Gomen-Ai, my readers forgive me, this is my FIRST attempt at a two-shot and I hate to leave you with a cliffe but I must. I have not forgot about Ita-kun, I promise. Please R & R, and no flames3