©Masashi Kishimoto; Naruto

He Believed…

be·lieve –verb (used without object)

1. to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something, although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so

—Verb phrase

6. believe in,

to be persuaded of the truth or existence of

How often does Itachi haunt your thoughts? Plague your mind? Has it always been... with the "worst" intentions?

Sasuke grits his teeth; clenches his fist.

Itachi is the one person always on his mind. Everywhere, from the darkest parts of his mind to the most hopeful (which seemed to have a doubtful existence). Itachi was there. Sadly, bitterly—though Sasuke hates his big brother with a fiery passion—Itachi was always the one that gave him something to do, a goal, a reason to live. A reason to get stronger, whether it to be recognized by his father or to avenge his clan. Even during the time when Sasuke no longer had a father to impress, or a brother to be there next to him to be compared to, Itachi told Sasuke to become stronger. To spend his life hating him and to hunt him down. During the time when Sasuke was at an absolute loss of reason and life, Itachi gave him one. A reason to live on.

Itachi was the one that was always giving him advice. Always the one to encourage him despite the circumstances. And Sasuke was the one that had always believed in Itachi. Always.

He couldn't believe that his lovely brother would kill his clan, his family, but he was there to watch the slaughter. To witness the deaths. To walk among the dead. Though he didn't want to, Sasuke believed that Itachi was the one that killed the clan by and for his own means. Ah, even then Sasuke believed in everything Itachi did. Believed as in: only his brother was capable of doing whatever he does. Believed as in, "my brother is this strong". Sasuke's belief in Itachi was not in his faith in his big brother, but in his abilities.

Yes. Sasuke believed in his dear brother very strongly.

And that is why he took Itachi's advice to become stronger. Because sadly, reluctantly, and stubbornly, Sasuke knew he needed the strength. Because his belief in Itachi was so great, he needed his strength to overcome that belief. Sasuke needed to...stop believing in his brother. To stop thinking that Itachi was strong. But that was impossible ever since childhood.

Itachi was always his idol. His strength. His guide. His encouragement.

How could Sasuke stop believing in him?

Through the tough and constant training, the crying, the hurting, the healing, and the mourning, Sasuke thought it was possible. That one day he'd accumulate enough hate to break down his belief in Itachi and build up his own strength.

And then he had it. Sasuke thought he was there. And with one swift kick from his brother, oh, his dear brother, Sasuke's contempt was brittled and sanded down. After Itachi's visit to the village, Sasuke felt his belief in his brother grow again.

Ah, he really did believe in him. Itachi was really the strongest in Sasuke's world. Truly, the person to live up to.

And so Sasuke started his hate again. He desperately tried to stop believing in his brother. That figure of strength. Luckily or not, Orochimaru made his appearance into the younger Uchiha's life. He gave the boy more pain and in turn, promised more power. More strength. The strength to beat his brother.

So Sasuke joined the snake. The slithering bastard preyed on the young boy's body. Despite that thought, Sasuke used this to his advantage. He sucked knowledge and techniques from the snake; did everything Orochimaru told him plus the things that Sasuke forced out of Orochimaru. Sasuke learned everything there was to know in the snake's lair. Including the story that Itachi was once Orochimaru's prey and that Itachi beat the snake with nothing but a single glance into his eyes.

Sasuke's beliefs were shaking.

Sasuke knew that if he couldn't beat Orochimaru, then he was absolutely no match against his brother. He took the time to get to know Orochimaru. Not his personal thoughts and feelings, but his perks, his oddities and techniques, his secrets, his way of thinking, and all of his abilities. He knew everything there was to know about the damned snake. Since there was nothing to learn anymore, Sasuke killed Orochimaru. He didn't know that Orochimaru's true form was a white snake. A huge serpent. And Sasuke's confidence faltered.

Did this make Orochimaru stronger than Sasuke? Not at all. Sasuke won easily. As he walked out of the lair victoriously Sasuke's first thoughts were that he could now beat Itachi. He didn't believe anymore. Sasuke was tired of believing in his brother…

He sought out his brother eagerly. When they stared each other down, caught in each other's illusions and tangled in the mind's thoughts and feelings—it was amazing. Sasuke was able to match up with Itachi. The younger Uchiha had finally—finally—caught up with his big brother prodigy.

At some point the battle had taken a slight turn. Both brothers were powerful, but Sasuke was cornered. Both brothers were tired. Itachi could've easily killed Sasuke. And as he went to reach up to Sasuke's face, Sasuke feared his life. His eyes widened in terror. That's what Sasuke thought Itachi was going for. Sasuke's eyes.

"I believed in you." Echoed in Sasuke's mind. "I've always believed in you."

Itachi smiled. With a delicate poke to Sasuke's forehead his fingers dropped and dragged across Sasuke's cheek as he fell forward.

Always.

Itachi had literally dropped dead before Sasuke's stunned eyes.

I never stopped believing in you, big brother.

Itachi was dead. Sasuke had achieved his lifelong goal. To avenge his clan, his parents. To become stronger than his brother and beat him.

But now… What else is there to do? Itachi always gave Sasuke a reason to carry on. Now that Itachi was gone, dead, Sasuke had nothing else to live for. What…What the hell was he supposed to do now?

Madara appeared before Sasuke after he had awakened from the exhausting battle. Ah, Sasuke had learned about Madara's existence from Itachi during the fight. Madara was the one that also took part in the clan's annihilation. He was easing his way onto Sasuke's hit list before Madara told Sasuke the truth about Itachi.

Everything was a lie. The killing of the clan was a mission devised by the elders of the Leaf, for fear of the Uchiha clan preparing a coup d'état. Itachi was the only one that could pull it off, and did so for the sake of the village and his love of peace. He killed everyone—but Sasuke. Because Itachi had an even greater love for his brother.

Itachi had even instilled all of his techniques into Sasuke in order to protect him from Madara.

It was a lie. Sasuke had thought. Everything that Madara had told him must have been a lie.

Even after death, he still believed in Itachi. Everything he did and said. Itachi was very much alive in his mind's eye. Itachi was…

Sasuke believed Madara and decided to take on the role of a new light. He believed in Itachi more than ever now. Sasuke had decided that he'd take vengeance for his brother's unbearable life. He'd cause "the complete and utter destruction of the Leaf". Yes, he'd do this for Itachi. His very dear big brother.

Itachi was his everything. He always protected Sasuke, taught him, encouraged him, made him stronger… Itachi always gave Sasuke a reason to live. Itachi always gave Sasuke a purpose. Even after death, Itachi still guided Sasuke.

Sasuke now not only had an absolutely unshakable belief in his big brother, but had an incredible faith in Itachi as well.

He had and will always…always, always, alwaysbelieve in Itachi…