Sasuke's Redemption

Author's Note: I have been "aching" to read or do a story on a reunion between the Uchiha brothers. I know Misashi Kishimoto has one in store for us down the road with Sasuke and Naruto, but I just had to get one in with Itachi and Sasuke. Do hope you like it. :)

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Chapter 1

Flashback

"What is it about my brother that makes you care so much about him?" Itachi asked Naruto with great curiosity. The understanding of this lone fact always did elude the elder Uchiha.

"Because he's like a brother to me… And I'm a better brother than you ever were!"

The words stung Itachi. Naruto's words were sharp and cut deeper than any blade, yet Itachi smiled. He smiled knowing that Sasuke had indeed found a rare and true friend in Naruto. Itachi gave a wave of his hand as Naruto charged him. A big black raven hurled itself into Naruto's mouth, ceasing the blonde in his tracks. Naruto gagged and clasped at his throat as he choked on Itachi's illusion.

"I have given you some of my power," Itachi said solemnly as he lowered his hand. "I only pray the day never comes where you have to use it…."

End Flashback

Naruto rose slowly to his feet. He was half dazed from the blow Sasuke had delivered to the back of his head. He could feel the anger swelling… boiling deep inside of him. Deeply etched whisker lines, teeth and claws were beginning to show.

"Just who the hell are you?!!" Naruto screamed, his emotions getting the better of him. " I don't even know you anymore! We were once friends! How can you fight me on this level, Sasuke?!!! Do you really mean to kill me?!!!"

Sasuke glared at Naruto with the full intensity of his burning hatred. "You're such a child, Naruto," Sasuke spat venomously. "I always told you that you were too naïve for your own good."

"But you said we were best friends… brothers!"

Sasuke shook his head at Naruto's idiocy and looked at him with cold, unfeeling eyes. "Naruto, I only have one brother, who is now dead by my hand. If I didn't spare Itachi, what makes you think that I'll spare you now?"

Naruto's mouth shut and his fists clenched tight into balls as the sudden reality of truth struck him in the gut. Sasuke really did mean to kill him.

"Now, you'll die for your childish ignorance… for believing there is a "bond" where none exists. You will pay with your life for getting in my way…. KATON GOUR YUUKA NO JUTSU!"

A ridiculously huge blazing dragon appeared and hurled a great wave of red and orange flaming dragon fire at Naruto. The blonde knew he couldn't dodge and instead hurled a powerful jutsu of his own.

"FUUTON RASEN SHURIKEN!"

But Naruto forgot that his wind element was weak against Sasuke's fire-based jutsus, so when the two powers met, Naruto's jutsu backfired and his wind-based jutsu only enlarged Sasuke's great dragon fire flame. The blazing flames descended down on Naruto like some great hell fire. Naruto screamed in pain. Sasuke pulled his sword and moved with lightning speed to take advantage of Naruto's blunder…. His cold black lifeless eyes met the swirling red eyes of his opponent….

And then suddenly, a bright and brilliant light of white flashed forth, blinding the Uchiha. Sasuke caught his eyes and fell backward stumbling as the intensity in light grew and surrounded him. Sasuke flashed his sharingan but all he could make out was a faint figure standing far off in the distance.

"Damn you, Naruto!" Sasuke shouted, squinting, scrambling to get to his feet. "I will destroy…"

"Sasuke."

Sasuke froze in his tracks. His heart pounded loudly in his chest as his mental capacities began to process the familiar voice that had just called out to him. He stood silent and very still.

"Sasuke!"

The young Uchiha began to tremble as the recognition of his elder brother's voice came into full unmistakable clarity.

"Itachi?" Sasuke whispered. He squinted his eyes trying to peer through the brilliant bright light. He saw the faint figure begin to approach him. It looked like Itachi.

"Brother?"

"Sasuke," Itachi said, coming into plain view, "why are you here?"

Sasuke blinked at the blinding light that emitted from Itachi and their surroundings. Itachi accommodated the younger Uchiha and dimmed the light so that his brother could see.

"Where am I?" Sasuke asked with a hint of fear in his voice.

Itachi looked at the frightened young man. "Where exactly do you think you are, Sasuke?"

Sasuke glanced around. No one else was in sight. There was no one. Just Itachi and he stood alone surrounded in the brightness of white light. Sasuke looked to Itachi.

"Am I dead?" Sasuke asked, his brows knitted together in fear and worry.

Itachi stared at Sasuke for a long time. He was silent and gave no answer.

"Am I?" Sasuke demanded.

Itachi continued to stare at him but he did answer him this time. "Sasuke, you died a long time ago," Itachi answered.

Sasuke grew angry. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he blurted in frustration. "Why the hell can't you ever give me a straight answer? What the hell is going on here? Where the fuck am I? I don't understand!!!"

Itachi raised a brow. "That little brother is quite the understatement."

"Am I dead or not?!!" Sasuke demanded.

"Perhaps it would've been best had you died alongside the others long ago," Itachi continued. "I made a grave miscalculation concerning you. The fact that you're here confirms that I overestimated your strength and purity of heart…"

"What the hell are you talking about?!!" Sasuke fumed. "What the hell is this place? Where am I?!!!"

"Foolish little brother," Itachi said, "I truly do pity you."

"Answer me, damn it! What is this place?!!"

Itachi sighed sadly. "This, my brother, is the personal prison I planned for you and implanted into Naruto, should the need ever arise."

"What are you saying?" Sasuke growled.

"This is my genjutsu….the nightmare realm…"

Sasuke's eyes grew wide with fear. "No…."

"Yes, little brother. You're trapped in my advanced genjutsu, the Tsukiyomi, level 2. There is no breaking it. There is no escape."

"NOOOOOOO!!!!!!"

Naruto heard Sasuke scream as he fell to his knees clutching the eye that dripped red with blood from the advanced stage Tsukiyomi that Itachi had secretly implanted within him. He glanced over at Sasuke who was effectively immobilized with a look of sheer terror etched deep in his handsome features. Naruto came quick to his friend's side and stared into the fear-filled eyes of his comatose friend.

"Sasuke…no…"