A/N: Thank you all who reviewed! Though, I hope I can update this story as often as I do now. I have so many things to take care of.... homework, chores, novels, and my other stories. Well, without further a due, chapter 4!

It was around 7 at night, when Itachi was plastered on the living room couch, in front of the TV. It served as a way to distract the elder Uchiha, though it didn't serve its purpose. Itachi was wondering when his Otouto would wake up. Maybe he had put too much. Maybe he should check up on Sasuke again.

But as Itachi's thoughts wondered to a more extreme level, Sasuke came down the stairs. He looked up when he saw his nii-san and tears filled his eyes.

"Nii-san.." Itachi noticed his voice croaked as Sasuke continued to walk towards him until he stood in front of Itachi. "...Aniki... my throat hurts..." Sasuke sobbed, rubbing his eyes and Itachi was glad that he had not down at him or he would've noticed the utter guilt that shaped his brother's frame. "It really hurts.. Aniki," he stated.

Sasuke was standing there like a lost child and Itachi never thought twice about pulling his Otouto into his lap and craddling him. "I'm sorry Otouto.... I'm sorry.." Itachi said, kissing Sasuke's smaller adam's apple.

The younger teen was too busy crying to recognize Itachi's empty apologies, even if he wondered why the elder was say sorry for. Itachi picked him up and walked towards the kitchen, so he could find something cool for his little brother's throat. His Otouto instinctively wrapped his legs around his waist and tightened his arms that were already around his neck.

Itachi managed to pour a glass of water, while holding Sasuke and lifted his precious Otouto's head that was buried in his neck, and remorsed as Sasuke swollowed with a slight difficulty.

"I'm sorry Otouto," said Itachi, again. I'm just a selfish, greedy bastard.

Sasuke just nodded, wiping away his tears. He must have thought his Aniki was sorry for him happening to endure the pain that magically appeared. "It'll go away, Otouto. Just give it some time." Itachi said, bringing both of them upstairs.

"Lets go back to bed Otouto. Nii-san will sleep with you, okay?"

Sasuke nodded several times, treasuring the embrace. "Nii-san, I have a mission tomorrow." Itachi automatically paused in his footsteps having reached the top of the stairs. Sasuke also noticed this, staring up at Itachi in confusion."Itachi-nii, what's wrong?" Sasuke managed to be audiable without raising his voice level to its original tone.

"Nothing," came the abnormally cold voice. It scared Sasuke that Itachi was speaking like that to him. It had only been on rare occasions where Itachi would use that voice towards him and he never, ever liked any of those encounters. They always succeeded in leaving Sasuke trembling, in a not so good way.

The Hokage just wants to take my Otouto away from me.. Why couldn't she find some other team to take the mission..?! Sasuke has already completed more than enough missions. That Hokage wants to warn my Otouto out with missions that have nothing to do with the village's wellfare instead of doing them herself. She's making Sasuke spend time with his team when he clearly doesn't want to.

"How long is this mission, Sasuke?" Itachi used his name; he was serious, even as he resumed walking into their room.

"Five days," the younger of the two almost stuttered out after he was placed on the mattress. Itachi's palms clenched together; knuckles turning white. "I see," Itachi growled. "Sasuke, go to sleep. I'll be back later."

"Nii-sa-" poof! Itachi had already left.

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"Itachi-nii!! I'm leaving!" Sasuke called from the main entrance. Itachi came down the stairs, but Sasuke noticed that Itachi was dressed in his ANBU training clothes. "Nii-san?" the younger teen questioned.

"I have a mission too, Otouto. Let's get to the village gates before you're late." Itachi suggested, seemingly a bit calmer than yesterday. "Okay," the younger one replied, following the elder Uchiha out the door.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXx

"Sasuke-kunnnn!!" Sakura gushed, scurrying over to the arriving Uchihas and latching herself to Sasuke's arm, as the Uchiha sent her an annoyed look.

"Let go of me," he stated coldly. He didn't bother in trying to detach her from him since he knew it was nearly impossible. Sasuke sent a pleading look towards Itachi's direction, clearly asking for help. "Did you hear him? Let go of my Otouto." Itachi didn't leave room for an argument; he spoke in a icy tone sending the pink-haired girl a death glare, grabbing her wrist and twisting until she screamed and released Sasuke, rubbing her bruised wrist.

Sasuke sighed in relief and sent Itachi a grateful look. The elder Uchiha in return ruffled his hair, though his features stayed emotionless. Sasuke smiled.

".God. Teme's smiling!" the quiet blondie, until now, yelled. "The world must be coming to an end! Agghh!" he clutched his head.

"Shut it, dobe." Itachi raised an eyebrow at his Otouto. Sasuke shrugged, moving slightly closer to Itachi's side unconsciously.

Poof!

"Yo." Kakashi greeted team 7. Surprisingly to the team members, Kakashi wasn't reading that book 'Icha Icha Paradise.' Naruto and Sakura stared increduously at their sensei, mouths agape. "Is there a problem?" the jounin asked, his right hand scratching the back of his head.

"You're..... early," they both stated in unison. "Wow."

Kakashi shrugged, casting a glance at Itachi. They both nodded their greetings at each other before the white-haired jounin spoke. "Change of plans, guys. Team 7 will not be going on this misson with me tagging along. Itachi will be the jounin to guide this team through the remaining task."

Sakura screeched 'why?!' as she probably noticed how protective Itachi was; Naruto kept his eyes on the younger Uchiha who, by the way, had a full grown smirk on his face, staring at his Aniki in pure satisfaction.

"Hokage's orders," Itachi stated, receiving the scroll from Kakashi before they departured, inwardly smirking to himself.

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"So... Itachi-nii, what's the mission about?" Naruto and Sakura had wandered off a few meters ahead, as the Uchiha brothers purposely lingered behind. "We are heading to Tea Country to cease the threats neighboring villages have caused, Otouto." Sasuke nodded in understanding.

"Then why did you come along Aniki?" Sasuke questioned. Itachi smiled down at his Otouto.

"So I can make sure my precious Otouto won't get hurt. And besides, Aniki would miss his beautiful, little brother for five days if he hadn't come along." He bent down slightly to kiss Sasuke's cheek when Sakura and Naruto wasn't looking.

He petted Sasuke's spikes, enjoying the light blush that colored Sasuke's cheeks before it disappeared altogether. "Alright Otouto. Let's pick up our pace."

The next moment a blur passed the other two teammates and they both blinked in surprise. "Come on Sakura-chan! We can't let Sasuke-teme beat us!" And they too took off after the Uchiha brothers in a quick dash.

Two hours and 25 minutes later...

"Let's stay here for tonight. The moon is already above our head." Sasuke agreed silently, as he looked back, expecting to find the blonde and pink-haired ninjas,.. but then again... he didn't.

Setting out thier tents, Itachi and Sasuke created a bond fire, using a simple fireball jutsu and sat down next to each other awaiting the arrival of the others. "Nii-san, what's taking them so long?"

Itachi smirked, but stayed silent. Another five minutes later, Naruto and Sakura arrived, panting, heaving, and coughing on their knees. They seem to have slight difficulty catchinig up. Fortunately.

Okay.. this chapter was nothing special, but here's a preview of Chapter 5!

Chapter 5 Preview:Itachi growled. "What are you doing watching my Otouto bathe, Naruto? Do you want me to kill you?"