Chapter one. Was going to be longer, but I have so many stories to keep up with I figured I it was as good enough time as any to end the chapter and update.

kawaii kitsune-kun – I completely agree with you. There definitely needs to be more Uchihacest in the fanfic/fanart world.

Patty – I decided I wanted to try out 1st person P.O.V., since I hadn't written in it for a while. I'm still not sure whether it's going to be totally Sasuke's point of view or whether I'll also do some Itachi.

narroch06 – I'm trying to stay somewhat true to his character, because I do tend to go OOC a lot.

The Theif Kuronue – Hehehe…..


Chapter One: Learn to Hate

The forest was deadly quiet. I looked around warily. Usually the eerie silence indicated another presence nearby, but I sensed no one. My shoulder throbbed and I rubbed at the spot where the cursed seal was branded into my skin. This was my payment for the power that I would soon gain. I acted so cold and confident when I declared that I was going to Orochimaru to seek power. In truth, I was scared shitless of what he would do to me. Regardless of the consequences, no matter what price, it was a sacrifice I was willing to make in order to reach that higher level. I was still weak. I needed more power.

The unnerving feeling of being watched crept down my spine. So my suspicions regarding the silent forest were well founded. I wasn't too concerned. Despite not being strong enough to face up to Orochimaru or my brother, I could hold my own in a fight involving others. Regardless of the threat, I slid my fingers around the comforting warm steel of my kunai.

It was mid-autumn and the fiery leaves drifted gracefully in the wind before coming to rest on the forest floor. I stopped walking and stood, staring straight ahead. I didn't have time to play games.

"Come out. I know you're there."

No response but the wind blowing past me and up into the trees, causing more leaves to be cast into the air. Annoyed, I continued on. If they were going to stay out of sight, then they had better keep it that way. I was not going to get involved in a game of hide-and-seek.

The back of my neck prickled and I slid my sharigan on, whirling around and expecting to find no one there. What I ended up seeing shocked me so much that I just stood there, dumbfounded for a few seconds.

"As I suspected. Still so weak," stated a voice that I had not heard for a long time, and that I didn't want to hear for some time yet. My stomach felt like it was beginning to boil.

My mouth didn't have time to form words as he strode up to me, standing less than a foot away. Itachi.

"Well? Don't you have something to say for yourself?" My brother, my constant loathing obsession, was standing before me, mocking my surprise.

I felt the rage inside me swell and I lunged at him, brandishing my kunai and wanting to inflict as much damage on him as possible. I was sent hurtling back as he simply took his two fingers and pushed me away. I went skidding across the ground, and lay there, stunned for a few seconds before slowly rising to my feet again. He had hardly touched me and I had still been sent flying several feet. I was not ready to face this, but it appeared I had no choice. My sheer determination would see me through, because I would not allow myself to die while my brother still lived.

The childish means in which he threw me back only angered me more. He would constantly poke his fingers at my forehead when he didn't want to acknowledge my attempts to spend time with him. Even now, I wasn't worth his time. If that was true, then why the hell did he follow me in the first place? I snarled and ran back up to him, determined to at least get a blow in.

I was stopped when I reached him by his hand moving around my throat and squeezing it so tightly that I gagged. I clawed and struggled, but his grip did not lessen.

"Not enough hate."

I loathed those words. Those were the words that he constantly said to point out my failing weakness, and predispose me as the loser. Never did he ever take me seriously. I wanted to be able to prove myself to him, but both he and I knew that I still did not have the strength, nor the sufficient hate. He didn't release his hold, even after I had stopped struggling and glared at him in the eyes. Itachi looked steadily back at me without blinking.

"I am here to tell you not to touch Naruto," he stated, not breaking his gaze with my furious one.

"He's the one that came after me," I snarled, "And I'll do whatever the bloody hell I want!"

His fingers tightened dramatically and I began to choke, my knuckles white with trying to pry his hand off.

"Naruto is far more valuable than you. Remember that. If you make a move to try and harm the boy, then I'm afraid your little game will be over."

"Game?" I narrowed my eyes. This was not a game. I did not dedicate my entire life to a game.

Gradually, his hold on me lightened, and I gasped as welcome air filled my lungs.

"As always, you are a fool, little brother." Once again he poked me in the forehead, and turned to walk away.

I was not going to let him go so fast. I ran and lunged at him. In a movement too quick for me to register, even with my sharigan, he whirled around and pinned me to a tree.

"What were you planning to do when you reached me?" he questioned, leaning in and regarding me with an unnerving gaze.

"Kill you," I spat, kicking out at him. It seemed to do nothing and his hold on me didn't loosen.

A sadistic smirk of amusement grew across my brother's face, angering me even more. Stop mocking me dammit!

"You will never gain enough power to kill me until you let go of your other feelings. Admit it brother, you haven't the heart to kill me."

"I do so!" I screamed, struggling in his grasp, my eyes blazing in anger.

"You do not," he whispered, and I was shocked as he leaned in and lightly brushed his lips against my own, slowly deepening the kiss. He pulled away and examined me critically.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I yelled, my cheeks flushed and my heart racing so fast in my chest that I was sure it would explode from the exertion. How dare he do that, invade my personal space and then... My head was buzzing from what had happened.

"Could you really kill me?" Itachi asked evenly, as if nothing had happened.

I shook as I watched him move away. I wanted to shove my kunai right into his chest and drive it through his heart, but my fist still remained at my side, shaking and tightening uselessly against the kunai's handle.

Satisfied, my brother turned and walked away again. I slumped at the base of the tree, watching through hazy red eyes as he left.

Once again, I had failed.

I cursed and kicked the tree in frustration, trying to ignore the tingling in my lips. He still treated me like a little helpless kid. It angered me so much because I knew I wasn't strong enough to prove him wrong. My attacks had been completely useless, and I could hardly defend myself, much less put a scratch on him. It all boiled down to that I just wasn't good enough.

I bit my lip hard and forced the pessimistic thoughts out of my head. I just wasn't good enough yet. I would be. I would be. I kept reassuring myself of this as I punched the tree in front of me repeatedly, envisioning the trunk as my brother's tall lean figure. The wood splintered and I turned away, massaging my fist. How dare he play with my mind! He had scarred me mentally enough, just what was he thinking, kissing me like that?

Yet my brother had made a point that I couldn't ignore. Even if I went to Orochimaru, and got the power to kill Itachi, would I be able to do it? I kept telling myself confidently that I could, but when faced with the opening, I couldn't even lift my kunai after what he had done. In order to kill my brother, I had to kill all past sentimental feelings that were rooted within me from when I was a child.

Power was nothing without direction. That was my weakness. In the end, that would be the deciding factor: hate. I had to master that before I could even think of moving on to anything else. Turning away from the direction I had been heading, towards Orochimaru, I walked the path that Itachi had disappeared down.


And off Sasuke goes on his (failing) quest to crush his unwanted sentimental feelings towards his brother. Hi-ho!