Itachi leaned back against the rough bark of the tree, his lethal blood-red eyes closed in resignation and his body slack and as loose as the black and red cape fluttering around him.

He was almost done...

Effortlessly, he detected the familiar chakra signature in the periphery of his surroundings and opened his world-weary eyes.

His little otouto would soon be here. Soon it would finally be all over...

Serenity descended upon the tall, built but dying Uchiha and he drew his eyes shut once more. It wasn't as if he could see much anyway. Everything was just a faint broken outline, an indecipherable blur and Itachi yearned for the moment of clarity his death would bring.

Sasuke, his dear otouto, would finally avenge his clan. And return to Konoha, grudgingly pardoned - a controversial hero, but a hero no less. And Itachi would finally close the chapter on the dirty dark secrets of the past, take them to his grave and finally be at rest.

"Hate me...otouto"

He would be so proud. Had always been so proud of Sasuke.

"Because you love him."

Crimson eyes snapped open, body tense even though he did not appear to be in a fighting stance. His heart recognising that the moment that had come even though he knew he knew his plans had been foiled. The after-effects of the pills were appearing, he fought the urge to cough up fresh blood from his lungs and instead fixed his deadliest glare onto the figure who had entered the glade. The woman who had just so easily interrupted his peace, his concentration, his plans.

And he couldn't even see her, he thought frustratedly. Outwardly all he revealed was his displeasure.

"Leave, kunoichi," he commanded even though it would be futile. If she had could have been so easily scared off she would have never approached him in the first place. He was momentarily stunned as she appeared in front of him, pink hair and emerald eyes hurting so bright they hurt his deteriorating eyes.

"Haruno Sakura of Konoha."

She paused, taken aback. Not because he knew her name even though he had no cause to, she knew that he was the perceptive kind who was always aware of things, but because he was chuckling in dark amusement.

"So I live for Konoha and die for it. You are here to kill me, aren't you kunoichi?"

She bristled slightly at his choosing to call her kunoichi even though he made it clear that he knew who she was.

"You planned to die anyway," she tossed carelessly. And in that moment she was given a sight so rare it was difficult to behold. Uchiha Itachi, slack-jawed, eyes-wide in surprise then animosity. The rage in his eyes was simply...impressive.

"You...!" He hissed - almost snarled - accusingly. He lunged forward hands circling the slim, vulnerable column of her throat. Foolish girl. She was at his mercy. "What do you know-"

He choked on his words blood splattering on his cape and staining his teeth.

"I can tell a dying man when I see one," she said wryly, not the least perturbed when he furiously tightened his hold.

He knew of course. The only way she could have analysed his plans so thoroughly was because she knew about the real nature of his massacre. Even knew his real reason for leaving the village and inciting Sasuke. But he could not fathom how. How had she known?

If she knew then Konoha must know. Then why had she come so clearly to kill him?

"You are a hero, Itachi. A martyr. I will never let Sasuke become like you."

His eyes widened and his heart trembled, for the moment of clarity had finally arrived. He saw then in emerald eyes the same thinking he had on that fateful night of the massacre. And that was why even though he could have easily fought back, he chose not to. He was giving in to the illness that was overtaking his body. Giving in to her, the girl he had never seen before but understood as well as he knew himself. Blood had already more than half-filled his lungs. He would never escape death. He had only hoped that Sasuke would kill him before the illness did. But that would never happen now.

When her glowing hand tenderly caressed the base of the throat he knew it was a merciful kill. One of grudging respect, for the undying loyalty he had towards Konoha...but also for the unsurpassable love he had for Sasuke, no doubt.

He crumpled in her grasp, even as he sensed his little brother step into the glade, falling with a resigned, endearing smile cast in his general direction.

I have always loved you, Sasuke.

Sasuke halted at the edge of the glade, pure disbelief plastered on his face. Chest heaving and perspiring at the effort he had put into charging full-chakra towards Itachi. He had sworn he would catchup with Itachi this time.

But instead all he is faced with is

- This.

The pink-haired kunoichi respectfully lays the frail body crumpled within her arms to rest on the ground and turns around slowly - as if she had all the time in the world - to face him.

He didn't know what he had expected, bright emerald eyes glistening with tears perhaps? Shock? Guilt? Fear?

Yet all she does is run a bloodied hand through rose-hued bangs, stare unwaveringly at him and open her mouth.

"You're always too late, Sasuke."

His blood runs cold. He knows that tone of voice. That unmistakeable derision.

Weak. You are much to weak...

Hate me, otouto. Hate me...

He blinks to remind himself that Itachi is dead and this is Sakura.

Sakura killed Itachi.

Fury erupts from his core.

"Sakura. What have you done?!" He growls. "You have taken away my reason to live!"

He simmers in his anger. "i should have killed you the last time I saw you. No...I should have fucking killed you the first time I met you! ALWAYS SO ANNOY-"

"Immature brat."

The tomoe in his eyes spin madly.

"You should be thanking me, Sasuke. I have given you a reason to live."