A/N: H'okay, hopefully this is out a bit sooner than usual, I'm trying but life is a crazy thing. My grandpa is now in the hospital with pneumonia and possibly a malignant tumor so this has just not been a good summer. But I'll continue to try and update all I can. Hope you enjoy and that it's not too terrible.

Disclamer: Rights to Naruto belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I just destroy his work with my poor attempts at writing.

Chapter Seven:All That Stands Forgiven

"I should've known you'd bother me soon enough, Kabuto," Sasuke smirked, looking down at the white haired faithful of Orochimaru. He was however different from the last time Sasuke had seen him. There was a white snake skin like patch surrounding his left eye which now had an eerie resemblance to the eye of Orochimaru.

"Yes, I do suppose I wasn't very clever coming up with this plan, but you know you are quite the hard boy to pinpoint Sasuke-kun," Kabuto smirked, using the pet name in teasing sounding all too much like the power crazed Sanin. Sasuke had always disliked Kabuto with his utmost loyalty to Orochimaru and his air of haughtiness that he was above Sasuke and could order him like he was some petulant child. But now seeing that the overly loyal medic had taken things so far as to take on a somewhat similar appearance was a bit too much to bear.

"To what do I know the pleasure of your unexpected arrival?" Sasuke taunted back, keeping his tone light.

"I see your attitude has not changed. But I'm not here to exchange pleasantries with you. I think you know why I'm here, you have the Lord's powers within you and I plan to kill you in hopes that maybe I can release Lord Orochimaru, if not harvest his powers for myself. A bit more controlled form anyway." Both of Kabuto's hands started to glow in a pale blue burst of light, sharpening into a point of radiating energy, one of Kabuto's trademark moves, the chakra dissection blades. In an instant response to the sudden attack the usual black eyes of Sasuke changed as he activated the sharingan.

Suigetsu yawned, leaning on the Kubikiri-bouchou, "well this is a bit of an annoyance. And to think we could be a step closer to having shark for dinner."

Sasuke pulled out the Kusangi blade, his sword glowing and crackling from the Chidori attack that coursed around it.

"Oh man, Sasuke's gonna make quick work of this buffoon using the Chidori blade against him," Karin cheered as the trio sat watching. Then in a flash Sasuke disappeared, reappearing right in front of Kabuto, getting ready for the swing.

"Really Sasuke, where are you aiming? I think you've bored your opponent to death," Kabuto smirked, over on a nearby tree as the body collapsed, clearly one of Kabuto's cheap jutsus that Sasuke knew so well.

"Maybe you should spend a bit less time talking and more time watching your back," Sasuke smirked, and Kabuto dodged just in time to avoid a lethal attack although a deep cut began to gush blood from his shoulder. Kabuto smirked, hands glowing a pale green as the wound evaporated nearly as quickly as it had been dealt to him.

"Ah, naïve little Sasuke still doesn't understand that I am a medical ninja and every blow you deal to me I can just as easily fix," Kabuto sighed, still with the arrogance that he was something special.

"You sure do talk big and with nothing to show for it," Sasuke smirked causing Kabuto to grit his teeth with mild anger flitting across his face, though just as quickly receding.

"Ah that Uchiha arrogance. All of you are alike, especially that haughty brother of yours. From that shocked expression I guess it comes as a surprise to you that really Lord Orochimaru desired your older brother, but when he became a bit out of control the Lord decided to set his sights on you hoping you be as least somewhat near your brother's level," Kabuto cackled.

"Shut that cocky mouth of yours before I ensure that you'll never speak another word," Sasuke growled, the air turning static as he readied his Chidori Nagashi. Sasuke again effortlessly sprinted to Kabuto's position, the immense power of the Chidori Nagashi coursing through his body and hitting Kabuto full force. Kabuto crumpled to the ground, severely injured from the attack. Seeing that Kabuto was finally quiet and down caused Sasuke to smirk slightly in satisfaction before wincing as his left leg gave out beneath him in pain. Kabuto began to snigger on the ground.

"You are truly a strong opponent Sasuke-kun, so at the cost of a direct hit with your attack I have left you with a couple of presents that you will hopefully find interesting," Kabuto continued to snigger, panting slightly in pain and 

effort, "our meeting is done for now, but I hope that we can enjoy a more conclusive battle in the future." Kabuto slowly got up, throwing a smoke bomb into the air blocking out all the forest from sight. The quartet stood helpless until finally the smoke parted, revealing the departure of Kabuto.

"Damn it," Sasuke cursed under his breath, trying to support his full weight onto his right leg. He began to have a violent coughing fit, finally feeling something warm and wet hit his palm. Still coughing slightly he moved the palm in front of his eyes, cursing again as he saw the white skin stained with his own blood. The other members of team snake were immediately at his side.

"What's the matter Sasuke?" Karin asked, voice full of superficial worry.

"That bastard Kabuto must've done something to my organs when I attacked him without noticing. He's nothing but a coward who used his attack at the one opening in my defenses and the time that people with any sense would be trying to defend rather than attack," Sasuke muttered.

"If he wanted to kill you though it certainly wasn't the smartest move because he couldn't even continue to fight afterwards," Suigetsu pointed out.

"I don't think he was here to kill me today but rather to see if I had improved at all since overtaking that bastard Orochimaru, and he found out all he needs for now to begin working on his strategy. What a fool," Sasuke sighed, leaning against a tree and breathing heavily.

"You should rest for a little bit until your injuries heal a bit or at least until we can get some supplies and treat your injuries," Karin chided.

"There's no reason, by the time you get back from the nearest town Itachi will be long gone. These injuries are nothing but annoyances," Sasuke coldly replied, gingerly trying to support weight with his left leg. "C'mon, I've had enough of these interruptions, we need to get moving. Karin, where are they?"

Karin stood, staring at Sasuke for a second before finally speaking, "they're moving in the same direction, they only just started moving a bit ago and are only meters from our current location. We should catch up to them in a few minutes if nothing else happens."

"Alright then, you guys wait here while I go catch up to him. After I've dealt with him I'll be back," Sasuke spoke after mulling the issue over for a bit. Before any of the group could protest, Sasuke was weaving through the trees, headed toward his ultimate goal, his injured leg protesting as the nearly severed tendon tried to stop him from going further. Nothing will stop me from my goal, ever again. He had been going for about a minute or two when he heard a sickening crack and white hot pain shoot up his leg. He was falling before anything even registered, but he was immediately angered by the fact that he was so weak, never able to reach his brother, always reaching but never grabbing or pushing ahead.

He didn't resist anymore as gravity pulled him, and stayed put where he fell on the ground, finally letting his mental and physical exhaustion overtake him.

--

"Itachi, what are you up to?" Kisame asked curiously, eyebrow raised as his partner suddenly stop, falling from his leading position.

"I could have sworn I heard something nearby, perhaps an enemy has reached us," Itachi replied nonchalantly.

"Eah, probably just an animal, why do you care?"

"Yes, but a surprise attack could be a bit troublesome," Itachi explained.

"Whatever, you go check it out, I'll wait here," Kisame replied.

"Fine, I suppose it would be best if there wasn't a shredded mess littering the forest for some shinobi to stumble across," Itachi sighed, darting off into the trees. Finally he stumbled across the source of the noise. No, no, I left him behind, to forget and hate me but remain free from this twisted existence. There on the ground staring lifelessly at the sky was Sasuke, he looked over for a second at Itachi, looking but not really registering as though looking through 

him. The boy looked so pale and worn, much different from how strong he had seemed in the short time since their departure.

Unable to bear the sight of his younger brother looking so defeated, Itachi scooped the limp body of his brother up, rushing off to where Kisame was waiting.

"So, you've found your favorite toy again? He sure doesn't look so hot," Kisame chuckled slightly as Itachi returned.

"Yes, it would appear that no matter what happens this boy will go after trouble," Itachi sighed, worried. He set his brother down who was now resting, not knowing what else to do. It appeared that he had severely damaged his left ankle and lower thigh, small scratches and scrapes were on various places, probably from falling; a thin trail of dried blood from the corner of his mouth running down to his cheek and a stain on his palm indicated some possible internal bleeding. The wounds, while bad, were nothing life threatening, what really pained Itachi however was how frail his brother looked, as though a single touch could break him.

"Kisame, watch over him. I'm going to head to the nearest town and see if I can't get any supplies," Itachi ordered.

"Alright," Kisame replied, trailing off at the end as he noticed that Itachi had already dashed away.

--

I am tired of this foolishness, playing avenger yet always grabbing at the coattails. I don't want to fight, no longer. But those twisted words as he warped me to his own sick fantasy and cast me away like garbage. It's not that I'm not strong enough, it's that I don't want to be strong enough to hurt him. I suppose I am nothing but the second choice, always chosen as the last resort, but never wanted as much as he his.

Sasuke slowly blinked his eyes open, realizing that the day had slipped away and it was now night, with him collapsed the whole time. Shit, all that time, I could've sworn I just fell and then I just crashed. Sasuke slowly sat up, feeling something slide down his torso and rest bunched on his lap. Looking down he saw it was an Akatsuki cloak, more specifically his brother's, who was currently resting in just his black outfit against a tree. Sasuke slowly began to pull out a kunai from inside his brother's pouch, laid out and waiting, his eyes now the crimson of Sharingan. He stood over top of his brother, sleeping there, looking troubled rather than emotionless as he usually did. With the kunai clutched in both hands, Sasuke raised it over his head, poised to strike. He stood motionless for a second before letting got of the kunai with one hand, letting the other drop it to the ground.

"Even after all you did I'm unable to do it. Sasuke walked over to a tree by where he had woke up, sliding down into a sitting position. His left ankle was a dull ache, probably from some medication his brother had gone to get and it was currently wrapped tightly in bandages so it didn't move much when he walked. He still couldn't apply his full weight to it, but it was a hell of a lot better than earlier.

"So you're awake," Itachi spoke softly, coming to rest beside Sasuke.

"Yes, with no thanks to you," Sasuke spat back,

"Remember back when all this madness started and we were talking and I told you not everything was as black and white as we like to make it out to be?"

"I suppose," Sasuke coolly answered.

"I lied to you back at the house that day. It was stupid and I thought it was being noble and trying to protect you at the time, but I suppose it wasn't the best plan," Itachi sighed, sounding much older than his twenty years.

"But why? I would've been happy to go to hell and back rather than be alone again," Sasuke replied, his tone a bit softer but still containing the cold edge.

"Which is exactly what I fear. But I suppose you'll follow me no matter where I go and find all the trouble you can along the way. So I won't try to leave you again."

"We must be really screwed up," Sasuke sighed.

"Maybe," Itachi chuckled and patted the ground next to him for his brother to scoot closer, which he happily obliged. He rested his head in his brother's lap who began to gently stroke his hair. As the boy laid there, Itachi could feel the 

rise and fall of his chest as Sasuke closed his eyes in contentment. Although still a bit frail, his younger brother was finally starting to seem more like the strong young man that he had last seen again.

Closing Remarks: Okie Dokie, this was appallingly written but I am beat, it's four in the morning but I wanted to get this done before I had to go back home and since I'm spending the night at my cousin's tomorrow I had to get it done tonight. Hope it's not as terrible as it seems. Enjoy the rest of your summer and always remember, seatbelts are the silent killers.