Oh look! I'm writing another story even when I'm in the middle of another one! Look at me go! Look at me go…so I won't give anything away…cause if you're going to read this chapter you'll find out and I'll add some end notes…
Konoha was much the same as he had left it. It was an ever growing village but still, some things could never truly change. The same paint chip on the bridge, the swing by the academy still hanging as though nothing in the world could take it down.
Sasuke had not planned on returning so soon. He had been gone three months since his last visit and the fact that he was back left an uneasy feeling in his stomach. He did not want to be back here. No matter how much time had passed, it would not change that bitterness Sasuke felt every time he stepped through the village gates.
Konoha was not his home. Nothing would change that. Not his friendship with Naruto or his marriage and family with Sakura. He had not wanted to marry Sakura. He hadn't wanted to marry anyone for that matter. He had wanted to help the village for his brother then leave and never return. It was not Sakura who convinced him to stay. It wasn't her pleas and declarations of love that stilled his heart. It was Naruto's impassioned speech as they both lay dying together. It was the raspy breathiness in Naruto's voice as they stared at the sky that convinced Sasuke to return to the very village that had torn his world apart. Sasuke had stayed for Naruto and because he knew it was what Itachi would have wanted.
Thinking of Itachi still hurt. Still left that bone aching pain that would never escape the Uchiha. He would stay in the village his brother had loved so loyalties however…remained elsewhere. Even he was unsure on what this meant for him. What this meant for Sarada who lived her life without her father at her side. What would his own parents think of him now?
Sasuke was sent a message two days ago, Naruto writing to him with urgent news that he could not simply put on paper. Something that could not be risked falling into the wrong hands.
At first, Sasuke had feared something had happened to Sarada. That she had been hurt or killed on a mission. That he had lost his daughter before she could even begin her life. Another fear was that Sakura had been killed. Killed protecting Sarada or a patient. That fear was dismissed however. Naruto would have come to find him personally if something had happened to his wife and daughter. Naruto gave no indication in his letter and Sasuke was quick to return to Konoha, walking through the gates as the sun had just begun to set over the treetops.
He did not approach his own home, knowing it would be easier to slip in and out before Sakura even realized he was there. She was a sharp woman however…she might possibly already know he was there. The Hokage tower was as unchanging as ever…except now however the Hokage who occupied it had Sasuke's upmost respect…not that he'd ever admit it.
He did not bother knocking. Never with the dobe. Just swinging the door open as Naruto turned, blinking at the Uchiha in obvious surprise at his speedy arrival. He stood from his chair, setting down the papers he had been going over. His blonde locks were mused from constantly running his hands through them and he looked as tried as ever. But he still shot Sasuke a wide grin that was reminiscent of childhood rivalries and friendship.
"Sasuke." Naruto greeted, clear blue eyes fixing on his friend and the half smile Sasuke was going to offer him was lost by the look in the blonde's eyes. The dobe approached Sasuke, scratching the back of his head and mulling over his words. It was clear, that whatever news Naruto had was huge. But it was not about Sarada or Sakura. Sasuke's shoulders relaxed unconsciously as he crossed his arms over his chest and regarded the blonde, raising a thin brow.
"What is it, Naruto?" Sasuke asked casually, trying to mask his concern with his normal stoicism. Naruto huffed, leaning against his desk and studying his hands for a long moment. Sasuke waited in silence, watching Naruto internally struggle with whatever was going on in that head of his. Finally, Naruto shook his head and pushed away from the desk.
"It might just be easier to show you rather than try to blindly explain it." Naruto muttered after a moment, lifting exhausted eyes to meet Sasuke's who frowned.
"Explain what?" Sasuke questioned, walking towards the desk. Naruto sighed again, running a hand through his hair. The bags under his eyes seemed to have increased over night and Sasuke would be lying of he claimed he wasn't worried about that look. This sort of stress should never be on the dobe's usually smarmy cheeky face. The blonde ran a hand down the side of his face, obviously torn about something before his eyes moved over Sasuke's shoulder.
"Kakashi?" Naruto looked up and the door behind Sasuke opened. Sasuke did not turn, gaze fixed on Naruto even as Kakashi called out a lazy 'yo' as he entered.
"Thanks for coming." Naruto murmured to the former Hokage. Sasuke watched as the exhaustion washed from Naruto's face, as if putting up a front for Kakashi. Something Naruto had never done before. Sasuke's frown deepened at this, wishing to speak up.
"No problem." Kakashi drawled in response, closing the door behind him. However, there was another pair of footsteps that followed lightly behind Kakashi and Sasuke glanced over his shoulder just in time to see a tiny face hide behind Kakashi's leg.
The Uchiha blinked, glancing from the hidden figure to Kakashi who was looking down at the child with a warm expression. Since when did Kakashi have a kid? The man was not the settling down type. Naruto's own expression was kindly, but that was nothing new. Sasuke's eyes flickered to Kakashi and he inclined his head.
"Yours?" Sasuke hummed, lips twitching and Kakashi glanced away from the child to Sasuke with a small shake of his head. The expression in his one visible eye had Sasuke frowning once more.
"Hey," Kakashi murmured to the little body behind his leg. "Wanna say hello?" He questioned. The child did not budge and the Uchiha glanced to Naruto in silent question on what was going on. Naruto's gaze however was focused on the child and the expression he wore, mirrored Kakashi's. Sasuke turned back to look at the kid, brows furrowed as Kakashi watched on arms crossed. The child was now standing by the Copy nin's leg, one hang grasping the material of Kakashi's pants. A boy...Sasuke guessed, not completely sure with the kid being so young.
"Who is he?" Sasuke finally asked. Naruto ushered the child forward and the little boy looked up at Sasuke who regarded him closely, noting that there was something about his dark eyes that was familiar. He was Uchiha. There was no doubt about it, but Sasuke could not figure out what that meant. Was he one of Shin's clones? He couldn't be Sasuke's. Sasuke had not lain with Sakura or any woman for that matter in years. The little boy lifted his chin so he could meet Sasuke's gaze.
"I'm Itachi." The boy greeted in a steady voice for one so young. Sasuke looked towards him and blinked. It took a moment for the child's words to sink. And when they did…
"What did you say?" Sasuke croaked and the child tilted his head, dark eyes inquisitive.
"My name's Itachi…Uchiha." He spoke again, adding the last name as an afterthought. Naruto watched the little boy and Kakashi's gaze was steadily focused on Sasuke. Sasuke looked from the child called Itachi to Kakashi and back. No one said anything for a long moment. Where was the punchline? The laugh? What was this?
"Is this some kind of joke?" Sasuke muttered, dark eyes narrowed. Naruto shook his head.
"Sasuk-"
"Shut up." The other man hissed, cutting his friend off sharply. "What is this?" He gestured to the child who had quietly retreated to Kakashi once more, his large dark eyes fixed on Sasuke in obvious trepidation. If Sasuke wasn't so pissed he would feel guilty for scaring the kid. Naruto stepped forward, reaching out slowly for Sasuke's shoulder. The Uchiha allowed the contact, but his stare was hard.
"Karin brought him in." Naruto quietly murmured. "Said that there was a raid in one of Orochimaru's rivals's lab…he was locked in one of the rooms. The scientists had been splicing chakra strands and genes…they sought to build a weapon against Konoha and they knew that Itachi was the most powerful adversary." Sasuke's mouth went dry at this. Naruto continued on, eyes never straying from Sasuke's. "Karin freed him and once she had his identification she brought him right here for you." Naruto glanced at the chipped desk, voice trailing off towards the end. Sasuke stared blankly at Naruto for a long moment before ever so slowly, turning towards the child who was pressed firmly against Kakashi.
"Is he…is he real?" Sasuke croaked and Naruto shared a glance with Kakashi before answering.
"The jutsu used was forbidden but effective. It's Itachi's blood and his…soul. This is really your brother. Not some clone like what Shin was." Sasuke stared at Itachi, knowing he probably looked ridiculous. Before he knew it, he was moving forward and kneeling on the floor as Itachi pressed against Kakashi's leg. Sasuke blinked, gulping down the lump in his throat as he looked Itachi up and down. His hair was shorter, barely touching his little shoulders. His eyes were large and framed by those famous long curly eyelashes that mother had gushed over. There were no lines under his eyes, Sasuke noticed. The skin instead supple and flawless like every other toddler's should be. Sasuke reached forward suddenly and the child blinked, glancing up to Kakashi who offered him a kindly nod.
"Go on." He ushered the boy forward. Itachi shuffled but did not move from Kakashi's side, watching Sasuke warily. His eyes suddenly years older than…
"How old are you, Itachi?" Sasuke finally asked when he found his voice and Itachi hesitantly held up three tiny fingers. His chubby little face held such confusion, dark eyes darting around.
"Kaasan?" He called out, reaching once more for Kakashi who knelt at his side and ran a calming hand through his dark hair. Mother...Itachi wanted his mother...How long had he been locked in that lab? How long had he been some sort of test subject? All these questions whirled through Sasuke's mind and he couldn't grasp it.
"We aren't sure if he will gain his memories or not. He remembers his mother and father but other than that, there is no tell whether or not he will regain any other memories." Naruto uttered softly, arms crossed as he looked at the boy. Sasuke nodded absently, unable to tear his eyes away from his brother who was now studying his little feet which scuffed softly against the worn carpet of the Hokage's office.
All at once, it seemed Sasuke knew what to do. He slowly offered his hand out to Itachi, palm up. His smile was hesitant and made him look years younger in a span of a couple of seconds. The boy stared at the hand for a moment, blinking once. His long lashes kissed over his cherubic cheeks as he too came to a decision and moved towards Sasuke and away from Kakashi. Itachi slowly reached forward and touched Sasuke's palm. His tiny hand fit in the middle of his brother's and Sasuke slowly enveloped that hand in his own.
And just like that…it was as if an electric current had traveled through Sasuke's who body at that little hand in his own. He tore his eyes from their clasped hands to meet the child's openly curious gaze and the smile he offered was suddenly shy and yearning. Like a child greeting his older brother after a day at the academy.
"Hello Itachi," Sasuke greeted softly, dark eyes steadily fixed on Itachi's. "My name is Sasuke." It was as if they were the only two people in the room...in the world. All outside noise and distraction was non existent. It was now only them and Sasuke could barely breathe. Itachi offered the man a timid smile of his own.
"Hello Sasuke." Itachi chirped. "It's nice to meet you." The boy spoke sincerely, as if he too had felt the shift when they had smile Sasuke returned to the boy was vulnerable, and his dark eyes positively sparkled in the office as he nodded. As if his whole world had come together and torn apart in the same breath, Sasuke smiled gently. Lost in his own thoughts and own memories. He could feel Naruto and Kakashi's gazes on him but he could not look away from this child. This…amazing boy… This was real. This was his brother…smiling, breathing and living right across from him…and all Sasuke could do was nod.
"It's nice to finally meet you…Itachi."
So this chapter was written while listening to The Jedi Steps from the Star Wars Force Awakens Soundtrack…The crescendo of the song was written during their 'formal' introduction and it made the chapter for me.
This won't be a slash piece…actually I'm not going to add any romance. This is going to be a brotherly/fatherly fanfiction which certainly won't be as long as 'For Brother's Share This Bond' it will be a shorter story.