"You and I are flesh and blood. I'm always going to be there for you, even if it's only as an obstacle for you to overcome. Even if you do hate me. That's what big brothers are for."

He seemed well, shaken but well – tossing and turning as if trapped in the nightmare that he had already been subjected to the night before. Watching from the tree outside the hospital room red eyes followed the small boy's movements, eyes full of guilt and pain. The boy of no more than eight years jolt upright, as if he knew he was being watched. The young boy seemed to scream and break down in tears once more – his wails silenced by the glass wall that separated him from the very person who had caused all of this pain. The older boy looked away, seemingly unnerved at the small boy's pain.

"Don't cry, Sasuke. Your big brother is here to protect you, no matter what happens."

Turning around at the village gates, Itachi looked back at the place that he had been told he saved – at the cost of his entire family and eventually, his own life. It was his job to protect them now, though. To become the villain that he had tried so hard to save his brother from. The Land of Fire was no longer home to him, seeing the masked man beckon to him, Itachi nodded slowly and followed. He had to protect them.

"Self-sacrifice… A nameless shinobi who protects peace within its shadow… That is a true shinobi."

He stumbled again, Susanoo blocking all of his younger brother's attacks. This ploy had to continue, it had to end this way. Everything seemed slower – he had to force himself to continue. He coughed – the metallic taste in his mouth even stronger now, looking down at his hand the stain of blood seemed forever leeched into his skin. The look of terror on his brother's face made his heart sink. Realizing he was at his end her reached his hand up and pressed two fingers to his brother's forehead. Always the protector. He smiled for the last time, finally at peace.

"You don't have to forgive me. No matter what you decide from now on, I will love you forever."