Pairing: Itachi/Naruto. Sasuke/Sakura, past-Naruto/Hinata
Thank you for all the support so far though it means so much! I meant to say as well this incorporates elements from everything we've seen after the actual series (so the novels, movies, etc.) but doesn't follow a fixed timeline age wise (because I have no idea how old they were in 700 or in Boruto the movie so yeah!)
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Sarada was quiet as they walked over to Naruto's house, and Itachi didn't break the silence. She seemed more contemplative now, rather than outright amazed or fearful, and he knew she'd say whatever she wanted when she wanted to.
"You're very strong," she said, looking up at Itachi and pushing her glasses up her nose.
"I was part of the Akatsuki when I was alive," Itachi said, and Sarada tilted her head to the side.
"They were the ones who tried to destroy the world, weren't they?" she asked, and Itachi nodded. She'd been told a lot, perhaps more than she should have, but then again it made Itachi's job easier now.
"I may have been a double agent, but I was still a member. When I was your age, I was in ANBU. I had a flee-on-sight order on me. I helped defeat a mastermind in the war." Itachi looked at Sarada, hoping she would understand what he was trying to say.
"I wiped out the Uchiha clan, save for your father, in one night because they planned to start a war. I just bested the Hokage in one fight. I've been brought back from the dead." Itachi gave a wry grin. "Twice."
He stopped walking, shifting the back on his shoulder up a little more and turning to Sarada. She looked so open and innocent, so trusting, and Itachi vowed that he wouldn't fuck things up with her. He wouldn't construct some bullshit ridiculous plan or envelop her in his martyr complex. He'd protect her and love her, but he wasn't going to ruin her life as he had with Sasuke.
"But I'm just Uchiha Itachi. I'm just your uncle and your teacher – for as long as you'll have me. That's all, nothing more, nothing less." Itachi finished, taking a slight step back as Sarada looked down. He'd never admit it, but he needed her acceptance. Itachi needed her to still need him, to see him just as her uncle and nothing more. Whatever he'd been in the past, none of that mattered now. He'd lived that life, and while it was true he still had that power, Itachi wanted to use it for something more worthwhile.
He wanted to live his life.
"You need to teach me something better than the rasengan then," Sarada said, crossing her arms over her chest and supressing a grin. "Boruto's already got the upper hand on me, it's not fair."
Itachi nodded, and they continued on, Sarada launching into an in-depth analysis of her team. While he nodded along and was half-listening, Itachi was slightly distracted by the warmth in his chest, and he wondered whether a good thing could honestly last this long.
The house Sarada led them to was nice, a simple two-floored affair that had an unkempt garden and squeaky gate. It had seen better days, honestly, but it looked nice.
"That's Boruto's music," Sarada said, rolling her eyes as they approached the door. "He thinks his favourite bands are the best, but they are the worst, Oji-san. It's ridiculous." She sighed, and Itachi wished his problems amounted to his friend's taste in music.
The music shut off suddenly, and Sarada rang the bell, rocking on her feet as she waited for the door to open. She was excited, Itachi could tell, and he was about to ask her why when Naruto opened the door. He looked a little more haggard than he had after their fight, and Itachi stepped inside, following Sarada.
If Boruto looked more like Naruto, Itachi thought as he set his shoes to the side, then Himawari looked more like Hinata. Though, he considered as Himawari ran off to face the injustice of Itachi not having a home, her personality was pure Uzumaki clan. Boruto, on the other hand, had all the sullen attitude Sasuke had been fond of, but there was a spark underneath, something that was just as fiery as Naruto.
They ended up heading to the kitchen, Boruto and Sarada leading the way. Naruto offered him a slight smile, but they were called to make a choice about food ordering before Itachi was allowed to drop his stuff off. He didn't mind, but the look Naruto shot him made him think that Naruto did.
"I want pizza!" Himawari roared as she ran into the room, waving a sheet of paper above her head. She clung to Naruto's side for a moment, staring at Itachi with narrowed eyes, and then she launched herself at him, pressed against his side as she grinned, eyes full of mischief.
"Papa," Himawari announced, turning her back on Itachi and waving her paper again. "I've decided that Itachi-san can stay here. He'll stay in my room and he can borrow my toys," she announced proudly, slapping her paper down. It was a drawing of Itachi and Himawari, both holding the arm of a teddy bear each. Naruto, Boruto and Sarada were in the background, smiling widely.
"This is pretty good," Itachi said, as Naruto sat down at the kitchen table, ruffling Himawari's hair.
"Your room isn't big enough for two people," Naruto said gently, and Himawari's smile fell for a moment. She frowned, walking over to sit on Naruto's lap, staring at her drawing.
"I've split my room into two though," Naruto said gently, and Himawari's face lit up.
"Itachi-san can stay then? He'll have a home?" she asked, excitedly, and Naruto nodded as he looked up, meeting Itachi's gaze.
There was something so disarming about Naruto, Itachi realised. While he carried self-loathing and his issues around like a cloak, he was also brimming to the full of love and life. The look he gave Itachi was warm and everything Itachi could ask for, yet he closed himself off a split second later, when Boruto announced loudly that pizza was a great choice.
Itachi turned in interest as Boruto slid a menu towards him, listing various pizza options.
"Make your choice now and we can ring them up in a bit. They'll deliver whenever we want them to," Boruto said, smiling widely, and Itachi was taken back years, the same grin on Naruto's face right there in front of him.
"Oji-san?" Sarada asked softly, and Itachi snapped himself out of it, glancing at Naruto before looking to the menu.
It hadn't been that long ago, not really. Itachi was probably closer to Boruto in age than Naruto now, and wasn't that a scary thought. It unnerved him, made his skin crawl, and Itachi pointed to one of the pizzas.
"I'll have this one, please," he said, excusing himself a moment later. "Would I be able to put my bag down?"
Himawari looked as if she was about to volunteer, but Naruto stood quickly, picking her up and spinning her around.
"I'll take Itachi upstairs. Sakura-chan said you can join us for dinner, so choose what you want, Sarada-chan. You guys can go choose a film as well, just make sure it's something you all agree on." Naruto set Himawari back down on the chair, nodding for Itachi to follow him.
They walked upstairs in silence, Itachi's stomach twisting uncomfortably. His chest was tight, mind whirling, and he felt Naruto take his arm and pull him along the hallway and to the room at the very end.
Itachi's back hit the door as it closed behind them, and then Naruto was there, arms either side of his head. He leant in close, eyes wide and blue as they looked at him.
"You're here," Naruto said clearly, fixing his gaze on Itachi. It was almost too much, too much blue, too much familiarity and strangeness, and then Naruto's hands curled on his shoulders, holding him. "I'm here. You're here. Sasuke's here too. You have a family again, and so do I. None of us are perfect, but you belong with us."
Itachi's knees went without his consent, and he knew they'd be bruised when he stood up again. He didn't care, though, and he buried his face in his hands, trying to stop the sobs as they broke from him, like waves crashing over the shore.
He was aware of Naruto crouching down beside him, shifting until he sat beside Itachi. He just waited, though, waiting until Itachi's sobs subsided, until the rage and anguish inside of him had calmed. He was there, like a beacon, until Itachi regained control once more.
"When Hinata first told me we should get a divorce, I felt as if the world had betrayed me. I mean, I knew we weren't perfect, but I thought we were okay. I was okay, at least, and it took me a long time to realise that just because I was okay it didn't mean she was." Itachi looked at Naruto through strands of hair, wiping his eyes on the back of his hand. "You don't have to be okay with this. I've lived the past fifteen years, but you've… everything is different."
Itachi nodded, words escaping him. He slowly uncurled, wiping his face with the back of his sleeve, and he refused to look at what state that was in now. He closed his eyes as he leant against the door, and gave a soft laugh.
"I planned everything. Or thought I did. I thought I was so clever, that if I could just plan everything then everyone would fall into place." Itachi opened his eyes and looked down at his hands, bitterness flooding his mouth. "I thought I could control everything, that my purpose in life was to be some god, deciding what the mortal men did."
He turned his head to the side, shaking his head as he gave Naruto a grim smile.
"All I've learnt is that I would make a shit god," Itachi said, and he had never meant words more than those. He'd played with lives, manipulated for what he thought was the greater good, and where had it gotten him? No one had needed him, in the end. They'd all lived and survived, and they were all thriving without him.
"Hey, Himawari thinks the world of you," Naruto said, and Itachi met his eye. They both laughed, knocking shoulders as they shifted, familiar and desperate all rolled into one.
"I've missed so much," Itachi said eventually, staring out at Naruto's room. There was a bed and a chest of drawers before a screen blocked off the rest of the room – Itachi's half he supposed. "And they remind me so much of how you all were."
Naruto didn't say anything to that, but he stretched his legs out, thigh resting against Itachi's. The contact, strangely, relaxed Itachi, and he found himself leaning into Naruto more and more.
"Sometimes I think that they have it so easy. They are so lucky, their biggest worries are the things our dreams were made of. They'll never know the horrors we did, they'll never understand." Naruto trailed off, hands settling in his lap.
"A ninja is one who endures," he quoted, and Itachi nodded. That had been his mantra for many years, and it was one he still had yet to let go of.
"I rushed into a marriage with Hinata, you know," Naruto said, and Itachi stilled, knowing that this was something Naruto had never told anyone before. This was a small thought, the kind that people kept to themselves no matter what, and Itachi didn't feel he could move or he'd break the moment. "I knew it at the time, and she probably did too, but she was so star struck with me and I… I don't know. Sakura-chan said we made a good match, everyone did, and it just happened and…"
Naruto closed his eyes, sighing.
"I loved her with all my heart, and I love my children more than anything, but if I had the chance to do things differently, I would have divorced her sooner, back when the children were younger. We wasted so much time pretending we were good, but we weren't good. I fucked things up and she just took it."
Naruto looked at him then, eyes full of sadness.
"I've missed so much too, but we've both made it here now, haven't we?" Naruto sounded so hopeful, so honest, and Itachi's heart leapt at the words. "That has to count for something."
It did, Itachi thought. It counted for so much. It had taken them fifteen years, even, but here they were, alone in Naruto's room looking back on their past mistakes.
"We're like two old men," Itachi said with a laugh, resting his hands on his thighs. "Two old men going through a mid-life crisis. Putting things into perspective, we're both being ridiculous," Itachi added, looking down as Naruto's fingers bumped against his, slowly joining their hands. When he looked at Naruto, he was staring ahead, smiling.
"We are," he agreed brightly, looking at Itachi and squeezing his hand.
They stayed there for a while, soaking in each other's presence. It gave Itachi time to think, to really think, about what being back meant. It meant he could try to rebuild things with Sasuke. It meant he could pass on his clan heritage to the next generation – Sarada. It meant he could see this fledgling thing with Naruto through, find out where it would take them.
"It's not just your fault, you know," Itachi said, clearing his throat as his words came out quietly. "Your family problems, it's not just you. Hinata-san should have done more too, there's always two people who need to split the problem."
Naruto didn't say anything, but his hand curled slightly. He nodded, and Itachi knew that he had probably told himself that many times, but he still didn't believe it. Perhaps Itachi wasn't the only one with a martyr complex.
"Papa!" a voice shouted suddenly, and Naruto called back.
"Pizza!" Himawari shouted, and Naruto was standing with a grin, pulling Itachi up with him.
"Himawari will probably try to marry you during the course of this dinner," Naruto warned, letting go of Itachi's hand slowly. His eyes narrowed as he smiled, wrinkles appearing at the corners of his eyes. "I'd like for you to be part of the family, but that wasn't the particular way I'd hoped for."
He opened the door, and Itachi felt a spike of excitement run through him. The lingering gaze Naruto shot him confirmed his thoughts, and Itachi raised an eyebrow, setting his bag to the side properly from where it had fallen. He probably still looked a mess, red-eyed and slightly bedraggled, but the way Naruto was looking at him made him feel as if he was a masterpiece.
"She's far too young to have her heart broken," Itachi said kindly, following Naruto closely. He felt boldness rise in him, and at the top of the stairs paused, Naruto looking at him in curiosity.
"So you'll have to be content to share, until she gets bored of me," he said, and was off towards the pizza, leaving Naruto behind. Itachi smiled to himself as he looked back up the stairs, heading towards the living room, at Naruto's incredulous look. It was one-part cat-got-the-cream and one-part disbelief.
So maybe Itachi didn't need to focus on the bigger picture. Maybe he didn't need to wonder about cosmic retribution and whether he'd done enough good in this world. This time around he could think about himself, think about the handful of people that were his new family. Things had changed, yes, but that didn't mean Itachi couldn't enjoy life. It didn't mean he had nothing left.
Looking around the living room, from where the children were already arguing about who had had more pizza than the others to where Naruto was slowly walking in, as if he was an animal about to be devoured, he thought that he had a lot left, much more than he could ever have hoped for.
.
Naruto didn't know what he was playing at. He'd taken Itachi upstairs to give him some privacy and dignity while he had his… whatever it was. Breakdown, Naruto supposed. He'd crumpled and built himself back up, trusting Naruto's words and strengthening them with his own. He was formidable, Naruto thought, for he'd witnessed many people crumble, and very few were able to build themselves back up in the way Uchiha Itachi had.
Still, he had a lot more waiting for him than the others had. He had more to do, Naruto thought, and while he should have just been comforting Itachi objectively, he'd been revelling in his company, enjoying their solitude. He'd even joked about keeping Itachi in the family as his partner, and Itachi… well Itachi had joked right back.
At least Naruto thought it was a joke. A selfish part of him hoped it wasn't, but he wasn't so cocky he could think he'd seduced Itachi in the day and a bit he'd been back.
Naruto sighed, pausing the film as Himawari squirmed next to him.
"Toilet," he ordered, and she turned to look at him, an expression of utter betrayal on her face. Still, she marched off, loudly complaining that she was going because she decided, not because she'd been sent.
Boruto and Sarada were sprawled out on the floor, peacefully munching on the last of the pizza. Itachi was sharing the largest sofa with Naruto – Himawari comfortably positioned between them – and one look at him told Naruto that he was fast asleep, head lolling back against the sofa. Naruto fought a smile, and pretended not to notice Itachi's head snapping up when Himawari returned, sprawling across them both.
The film was one that Himawari loved. It was also one she (and Naruto, Boruto and Sarada) had seen a million times before, so while Boruto and Sarada were content to talk quietly to each other, Naruto was free to watch Itachi out of the corner of his eye.
Itachi was as taken with the film as Himawari was, and his laughter was genuine. Himawari seemed to be enjoying Itachi's experience too, for she hadn't been this excited by the film in a long while. Her eyes constantly flickered from the screen to Itachi too, as if she needed to make sure he was still paying attention.
He looked free, Naruto thought. Gone were the stress lines on his brow and the slight frown he wore. His mouth wasn't pressed into a hard line, and even his body looked more relaxed. It was a state Naruto would wager very few people had ever seen Itachi in, fewer still that were alive today.
There was nothing about Itachi that reminded Naruto of Hinata, not even with Himawari cuddling up to him. There had always been a meekness to Hinata that she had never shaken off until they'd split. She'd always seen Naruto as someone who was perfect, when all he'd wanted was to be seen as an equal. Hinata had given him something precious in their children, but they hadn't been themselves with each other.
He could see that now, watching as Himawari explained to Itachi how amazing her favourite character was, and why he should like the rabbit the most. Itachi was focused on her, eyes bright as her hands moved all around, waving manically. Hinata had trapped Naruto as much as he had her, and he vowed when she was back that they make amends. He didn't want to leave their relationship as sour as it was now, and while he never wanted to reform their bond, they had shared so much of their lives together. He could be happy for her at least, just as she could be happy for him. Naruto didn't want them to hurt each other anymore.
When the film ended, Sarada announced that she was going to head home. She punched Boruto on the arm, gave both Himawari and Itachi a hug, and smiled at Naruto.
"See you tomorrow," Naruto said kindly, and her smile widened at the invitation. She was part of their family now, and Sarada needed to know she was always invited. Sakura too, Naruto thought, for they'd drifted over the years.
There was guilt in his feelings for Sakura. She'd been so supportive and pushy for his relationship with Hinata, probably feeling that she needed to be on Hinata's behalf. Naruto didn't resent her that – that was just Sakura's personality. Over their individual marriages, though, they had drifted, and when Naruto's had disintegrated, he had bizarrely felt as though he'd let Sakura down too. He couldn't explain why, but he'd avoided her even more after that.
But Itachi was a beacon of mending bridges. He was their opportunity – or rather their signal. Naruto wasn't going to waste such an opportunity.
"There's a second one coming out at the movies soon," Himawari was saying, tugging on Itachi's sleeve. "We can go see that!"
"If your father doesn't mind, I'd love to," Itachi said, looking up at Naruto. He rolled his eyes, Himawari had been trying desperately to get someone to take her to the premiere, but Boruto had point blank refused (he usually couldn't deny her anything, but he refused to be surrounded by Himawaris on the opening night), Hinata wasn't a fan of the movies, and Naruto was out of Konoha on business.
"She's all yours," Naruto commented, and Himawari practically launched herself at him, squealing in excitement. She then ran out of the room, calling for Boruto and Sarada, and Naruto could hear her as she ran around the front garden with glee.
"She really loves that rabbit," Naruto said, about to laugh. He cut himself short, though, when he saw the serious look on Itachi's face, and he raised an eyebrow.
"That rabbit went on an emotional journey to find where it belongs in the world." Itachi gave a small smile. "I really love that rabbit too."
Naruto stretched his arms up, hands linking behind his neck. He closed his eyes, shaking his head.
"Careful, she'll be angling for more merchandise. If there's one thing Himawari is good at, it's manipulating you to get her what she wants. She does it so sweetly," Naruto said fondly. He'd fallen into the Himawari trap many times before, and while Hinata had sent him a hopeless look, the way Himawari had lit up with her present had made it worth it.
"I don't know if I have any money," Itachi said suddenly, and Naruto looked at him sharply. "Sakura-san gave me some of Sasuke's clothes," he added, and Naruto's jaw slackened a little. He was such an idiot!
"We'll sort that out tomorrow," he promised. Usually Shikamaru would take care of finance issues, but Naruto knew enough to be able to sort Itachi out. He knew there was an old Uchiha clan fund that Sasuke had refused, claiming it was tainted money, and Sakura hadn't wanted to know about it. Sasuke and Sakura's current savings for Sarada were more than the old fund too, and it would compensate Itachi for the time he had spent unpaid in the field.
"I have an account for you," Naruto added, and Itachi nodded slowly. "Tomorrow we can go shopping if you like. I'll be sending a clone into work anyway – Shikamaru's not in and I'd rather be with the children. We can make it a big trip, they probably have stuff they need as well."
Itachi nodded again, and Naruto beamed. Crisis averted he thought, and then another thing occurred to him.
"We can also stop by a clan tailor and get them to embroider your clothes with the Uchiha mark if you like," he said quickly, and Itachi tilted his head to the side for a moment.
"I think that's something I need to talk about with Sasuke first," Itachi admitted, the noise of the film credits filling the silence that stretched between them. Naruto hadn't expected his living room to be the stage of this conversation, but it was good as place as any.
"I sent a message off to him last night. I'm not sure when he'll receive it, but it'll hopefully be soon. I've told him everything – coded in only something the two of us know – so he should be home soon." Naruto drifted off, knowing that Itachi much have thousands of questions. He had plenty about Sasuke too, but he'd long since learnt to accept they'd never likely be answered.
"Is he happy?" Itachi asked, and that was something Naruto hadn't been expecting.
He didn't reply right away. It wasn't really a question he could answer, after all, and Naruto sank back into the sofa, sighing lightly.
"He seems content. He loves Sarada-chan with all his heart, Sakura-chan too, though I'll never really understand their relationship properly. He protects Konoha from afar, and while I wish he'd stay longer, Sasuke does what he has to do." Naruto turned to Itachi, smiling. "He's living his life the way he wants. It's not perfect, but none of us are."
Itachi was quiet, and then he nodded, seemingly satisfied.
"That's all that matters," he said quietly, and Naruto hummed in agreement.
A comfortable silence stretched between them. Naruto was about to speak, the kind of conversation more suited to the dark of night, when two people would spill their secrets into the inky night, when Boruto entered the room, fixing Naruto with a scowl.
"I'm going upstairs," Boruto said sullenly, and Naruto could see Itachi sit straighter, almost as if he was inspecting Boruto.
"I'd like to know more about my brother from you," Itachi said smoothly, and Naruto wondered what he was up to. If there was anything he needed to know about Sasuke, Naruto was more than enough to cover his bases.
Boruto nodded stiffly, and Naruto took that as his cue to leave, exiting smoothly. He didn't bother to eavesdrop; whatever it was, he could wheedle out of Itachi later. Instead, he went to find Himawari. She was suspiciously quiet, and Naruto found her up in his room, looking at one of the photograph books he kept in his drawers. She'd always loved looking at them, but since he'd split from Hinata, she'd never shown an interest.
"Papa isn't sad anymore," Himawari said softly, flipping between pages. "Mama isn't either, so even if Boruto-nii doesn't like it, I get it," she said sagely, with wisdom that was far beyond anything Naruto thought she was capable of. He sat down on the bed beside her, scooping her into his lap as they browsed through the photos, commenting every now and then when they saw a particularly memorable one.
It was easy to see the sadness creeping into the lines of their faces through these photos, Naruto thought. Hinata and himself were distanced over time, and Naruto wanted to laugh at how blind he had been. It was right there, after all.
"And if you marry Itachi-san, Sarada-chan will become my sister!" Himawari announced eagerly, and while the connection wasn't quite sisterly, it was close enough. Still, he had to nip this particular bud before it grew even more. Naruto didn't need rumours he was going to marry Itachi spreading around the village.
"What happened to you wanting to marry him?" he asked, and Himawari sighed, as if Naruto was a huge burden.
"We're incompatible," she said offhandedly. "I did want to marry Sarada-chan, but if she's going to by my sister that will be a problem too." Himawari looked up at Naruto, frowning. "I should focus on my career first I think."
Naruto laughed, rolling back on the bed and tickling Himawari as he did so. She squealed with laughter, kicking her legs out to try and get him to stop, and Naruto sighed happily, letting her get her revenge.
"Your career, eh?" he said, rolling out of the way of her fingers. "You'll make a formidable ninja."
And she would, but the thought churned in his stomach, just as it had when Boruto had fought the enemy Momoshiki. He was proud of them, yes, but Naruto didn't want his children fighting the way he had. That era was over, or so he hoped, and yet he'd done little to aid peace and prosperity.
When Shikamaru was back, Naruto was going to set about changing some laws. Itachi could input, as could Kakashi and many others. There would be no child in his village who had to deal with what they had. The ninja system couldn't be eradicated completely, but he could protect those inside of it.
"I'm going to be a teacher," Himawari said. "I'll make them all super smart, and everyone will love me."
Naruto laughed again as Himawari jumped on him. She was ridiculously strong, he thought, and while Naruto knew he'd gain a few bruises from their play fighting, it was worth it to see Himawari so happy.
Naruto just hoped he could keep this up. He was starting to get everything on the right track, but keeping it there would be much harder. Naruto was nothing but determined, though, and if there was one thing he could dedicate himself to, it was to his family.
.
Itachi listened as Boruto regaled his tale of how Sasuke had become his teacher, including information on these ninja tools and the fact he had mastered the rasengan in no time at all. He was a prodigy if Itachi had ever seen one, and it was no surprise Sasuke had taken him on as a student.
"He still never mentioned you though," Boruto said at the end of his story, almost pouting at that fact, as if he'd been told every other aspect of Sasuke's life.
"I'm not surprised," Itachi said, shrugging. "He didn't even tell his own daughter. In the end we… we were okay, but I did a lot of things to push Sasuke away. He had every right to hate me, and maybe he still does."
Boruto looked at him for a moment, looking down quickly when Itachi caught his eye.
"You said that earlier," he mumbled, "but I still don't get how you can love someone and hate them at the same time."
"The world that we grew up in was dangerous," Itachi began, turning on the sofa so Boruto could see him fully. "We all, including your father, had to do a lot of things that hurt people, that we didn't want to do, to protect what was – is – precious to us. I made a mistake that cost Sasuke a lot of his happiness, and I thought that I could change things by manipulating him."
It had seemed so simple in his head, Itachi thought. But, of course, Sasuke had had a mind of his own, desires of his own, and as much as Itachi had tried to shape him, he'd forgotten that important detail. He'd never wanted Sasuke to find out his innocence either, but that discovery hadn't been his fault at least.
"When Sasuke learnt the truth behind my actions, my manipulations, he was willing to learn from me, to forgive me to a degree. We parted on better terms, but there wasn't enough time to heal the damage I'd done." It was good to accept that. Itachi felt slightly more open with himself, more honest. He could admit now that his plans had been flawed, that he'd tried to do so much and failed.
But that was okay. He was here now, so was Sasuke. Whatever had happened in the past, if Sasuke was up to it, Itachi could rebuild their relationship. He could atone for what he'd done, what he thought he could achieve, and he would do it right this time.
"A family is a difficult thing," Itachi said, and Boruto nodded at that, still looking down at his hands. "It's all about compromise and communication," Itachi said wryly, knowing that they were two things he had never executed with Sasuke.
"Do you think…" Boruto began, looking suddenly so young and uncertain. He looked at Itachi, and Itachi smiled, nodding slowly.
"All sides need to try, but it can be done. It's never too late," Itachi said.
He just hoped his words applied for his family just as much as Boruto's.
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Feedback is always appreciated thank you for reading!
