You don't ask.

You know the answer. He's under a lot of pressure, and you don't want him to crack under it. You know the clan has been pushing him harder lately, and you know exactly why. You know that he's a prodigy and his skill is renown throughout the shinobi world. You know that he can handle it, because is there really anything that he cannot handle?

But you also know that he is a child. You know that he still loves to curl up to sleep in front of the fire like a content kitten,

(in that moment he looked calmer than you'd ever seen him before in your life)

to hear his mother's voice in the morning,

(his face lit up immediately upon seeing hers, whether he knew it or not)

to taste sticky sweet ice cream running down his chin.

(he licked up every drop)

You know he's still afraid of embarrassing himself in front of his comrades,

(he vanished without a trace after his only fall you'd ever witnissed)

afraid of failing his missions,

(the only blemish on his record)

afraid of disappointing his family.

(his movements are flawless but you see the slight clenching of his jaw as he demonstrates lessons for his father)

You know he's not afraid of dying.

(you see it in his eyes with every mission report)

You've seen him hurt,

(when he came home that terrible night with a katana lodged in his chest and it wouldn't stop bleedingbleedingbleeding)

you've seen him happy,

(his laughter could only be caused by his otouto)

you've seen him melancholy.

(you remember his silhouette on the bridge, and you remember the water rippling with fallen tears)

You've never seen him angry.

(you sometimes wonder if he has a temper to lose)

You know he's intelligent, powerful beyond belief, and precise to a tee; he's a prodigy, and you and countless others have been reminded constantly. You know that he can handle it, because is there really anything he cannot handle?

But sometimes, you cannot help but wonder.

And in the water under the same bridge you'd seen him silently crying on, Uchiha Itachi's last words to you touch your ears... the last words you'll ever hear.

"Shisui... I'm sorry..."