Itachi had succeeded, finally.
His sins were hidden forever. No one would ever know the truth. Sasuke would never know the truth. Madara could not tell Sasuke, he made sure of that.
Itachi wanted Sasuke to be proud of being an Uchiha. He wanted him to think that he was the enemy, not Konoha. All he wanted was for Sasuke to make his sins worth it.
If Sasuke could just kill him and find a normal life, then he could find rest. If Sasuke could just manage to make Uchiha a name to be proud of again…
There was no hope left for Itachi. The life he had lived was one he never would have picked. He did not want to have to live with the memories of it anymore; the children he slaughtered, the look in his mother's eyes as she died… He did not want that. He wished he could go back with Sasuke. He wished he could be aniki again and just be there for Sasuke without the violence, but Itachi was no fool.
He knew he was dying and he would not choose to live anymore if he could. His past was too much to deal with anymore, and his sickness was defeating him.
Please, Sasuke, please…Find peace, find it for me. Otouto, do not follow my footsteps, do not make my mistakes. Please…
Itachi took a step towards Sasuke and reached out his hand.
This is the last of it, otouto.
As his blood-drenched fingers touched his brother's forehead, Itachi smiled with triumph and prayed.
Sasuke, you can rest now. Forget your hate and live.