Itachi stopped, his feet sinking in the wet mud. Raindrops fell in clusters around and on him, trickling down his cheeks. He looked up at the dark clouds, his sharingan replaced with his natural black irises. He was finally alone. Kisame had gone out on a separate mission assigned by Pain. Madara was carrying out a secret task with Zetsu. At last, after so long, the Uchiha was alone to himself.
The cold water on his face began to be replaced by the soothing warmth of tears. His vision blurred slightly as they slide down his chin and melded with the rain. His body started to shake and shiver. A frown formed on his mouth, which gradually became agape.
Itachi wallowed in his anguish. He released sobs of pain and sorrow. Images of that night flashed before his eyes. Blood. Screams. Pitch black night. Death. His hands grasped upon the bloodied katana that ran through his mother and father. The shocked expression of his little brother plastered on his vision. How could he have done such a heinous act? His father was true to the mark; Itachi was too pure of heart.
The Uchiha lowered his head and stared longingly at the muddy ground. He resisted the urge to fall upon his knees and sob into the moist dirt. One man's reputation for the lives of thousands: what good did it do? He had joined an organization devoted to evil. He had murdered others for such an organization. He had torn apart the lives of others by being a criminal. There was no good in what he did. He could not atone for the lives lost by his actions.
"Unless…" He wondered aloud. "…Can there be an answer I haven't thought of?" He stood up straight and attempted to regain his composure. He ceased sniffling and stiffened himself. His senses were regained and his sharingan was reactivated. Itachi knew what he could do. Years of planning to be a wall for Sasuke to overcome were too selfish. He couldn't live on like this. He was too cowardly. He was too afraid.
He had already plunged Sasuke into darkness. He had heard the stories about Orochimaru. Sasuke was already in pursuit of him. Once Sasuke killed him, Madara would ingrain his mind with the truth and push him against Konoha. Itachi could not let his death become so vain.
Chakra pulsed into his feet as he rushed forward and jumped into the nearby trees. Akatsuki already had ample information on Sasuke's whereabouts. If he could reach Sasuke in time, maybe things could be different. If he could reach Sasuke, maybe he could atone for his sins.
Or then again, maybe Sasuke would kill him in his moment of weakness. What would he leave behind then?