Sasuke's Secret

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. Oh and in case this wasn't clear for some reason, this is a Sasuke x Hinata x Itachi story. So Hinata will love both Uchiha Brothers. Eventually. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter because it's the most emotional one yet.

Chapter Notation: Warning the angst is coming, but I do promise a happy ending.

Chapter 8

Time seemed to past swiftly in the hospital. One day blended almost seamlessly into the next as far as Itachi could tell. Not that he minded. Strangely enough, he was rather enjoying himself. Well except for one thing.

He had no idea where his foolish little brother was at the moment. "Hinata, where is Sasuke?" Itachi hadn't seen the other man all day.

Which was unusual to say the least. They had been sharing the same hospital room for months. Itachi had grown accustomed to seeing Sasuke laying in the bed a few feet away from him or doing his exercises at all times.

Idly, he muses that might not be healthy. "Oh he's with Lady Tsunade." Itachi would worry about that later though.

With Tsunade? Ah well that was fine then. No harm would come to Sasuke while he was with that busty former Hokage.

Well other than dying of curiosity maybe. Were those breasts real? Itachi had seen women with large cleavage before, like Hinata. Tsunade was in a completely different league though. Those had to be enhanced somehow. Surely.

"Oh good." Itachi pauses, deciding it would be prudent to gather more information. "Why is he with Lady Tsunade?" After all, it was always prudent to do so.

Hinata nods and smiles. "Yes, he's scheduled for release in three days." What?! "Well that's if everything goes well on his final examination." Why had no one told him about this?!

Now, he was going to be forced to lay in that bed or do his exercises alone until Hinata or another medic came by. Obviously, he was happy for his brother. Of course, Itachi was. That didn't change the fact that he was going to go stir crazy though.

Maybe, he should ask Kakashi for some of his books. Just something to pass the time with. Hopefully, he wouldn't imagine Hinata as the heroine in them though.

"That's wonderful news." The elder Uchiha Brother would just have to put on a brave face. "I'm quite certain Sasuke would be ecstatic not to be a hospital patient anymore." Itachi smiles at her reassuringly. "You have taken such good care of us, but you know how proud he can be. He hates asking help."

Hinata nods in understanding. That was just one of the many things that Itachi liked about the woman. She so rarely got offended by well anything. It seemed almost impossible to truly anger her.

Though Sasuke had told him that the woman had challenged Pain once. She'd lost of course, but it was the principle of the thing. The Hyuga Heiress had been willing to sacrifice herself for the people she loved. He could respect (and relate) to that.

Hinata shakes her head and caresses his cheek. "You don't have to do that." She looks at him with concern.

"I don't have to do what?" Itachi blinks in confusion.

She smiles at Itachi reassuringly. "Force yourself to smile." Hinata leans closer to him. "I know that you'll miss him, after he's discharged."

Well Itachi had to give Sasuke credit where he was do. Clearly, he hadn't fallen for the Hyuga woman merely for her beauty. She was intelligent in an unassuming way. At the very least, Hinata was a person who was constantly aware of her environment.

"You're right." Itachi nods, conceding her point. "I will miss him, but I suppose that it's a habit." Forcing himself to smile.

Forcing himself to pretend that nothing was bothering him. Most didn't notice. That was by design, of course. Itachi Uchiha was a man who had been given a part to play and he had played it to perfection.

He had played the role of the unfeeling criminal for so long, that the line between reality and façade had started to blur. Blur to a disturbing degree. Fortunately, he had Hinata and Sasuke now. That made it better.

Her smile never wavered. "Well you shouldn't have to worry about that." Hinata shakes her head as if coming to a decision. "You've been through more than enough. You should be able to express your feelings freely."

Itachi merely nods in response. What could he say to that? The elder Uchiha Brother was still working on doing exactly that. These things took time.

Speaking of time though, Itachi had almost no time to react when he felt Hinata brush her lips against his own. "I know that you like me and I like you too." And after making her sweet declaration, the Hyuga Heiress kissed him.


Meanwhile Sasuke was getting examined by Lady Tsunade. He'd never really cared for checkups, but he was relieved. Relieved that finally he'd be out of this damn hospital soon!

"Well it looks like your body took to the transplant very well, all things considered." Tsunade writes a few notes on her clipboard. "Go easy on that new limb. It is not going to be as strong as your other for awhile, but it's functional for everyday activities at the moment."

Sasuke nods at this. That was good news. Of course, he wasn't a complete idiot. It'd likely be awhile before he could charge up a Chidori with his new arm, but he'd take what he could get.

Still, it was probably better to ask. "How long do you think it will be, before I can use Jutsus with this arm?" Just to be on the safe side.

"I'd start slowly practicing summoning chakra in it over time." She pauses as if considering it. "For a couple months. Only summon tiny portions of chakra into it." Another pause. "Don't use an actual Jutsu. You just want open the chakra network more."

Right. That made sense. It might not be in his nature, but for now Sasuke would simply have to take it easy. That much was obvious.

There was no need to argue with her about it though. "Understood." It wasn't as if there were very many ninjas who could pose a severe threat to him, even if he could only use Jutsus with one hand.

"Good." Tsunade actually smiles at him. "Well Itachi is making tremendous progress, but I can't release him from the hospital yet in good conscience." Damn it!

Sasuke had been hoping that he would go home with Itachi. It had been foolish, but he had always pictured them going back to the Uchiha District together. No matter though.

Itachi just needed more time to recover. So Sasuke did the only thing he could do. "That's fine. I'll let him know." He forced himself to smile and politely dismissed himself from Tsunade's Office.


Hinata almost couldn't believe she was actually doing this. She had finally acted on it. She was kissing Itachi Uchiha.

He looked rather shocked, but he wasn't pushing her away. The Hyuga Heiress decides to take that as a good sign. After all, it was only natural that he'd be shocked that she was kissing him.

Everyone knew that Hinata was shy. "Hinata, wait." Itachi breaks the kiss briefly to look at her.

Wait? Wait for what? Itachi had been flirting with her for months. Why did he want her to wait?

"Is something wrong?" Was she not a good kisser? "I know that I'm probably not very good at it yet, but I'll get better with practice." She shyly looks at her feet and blushes.

He wouldn't hold that against her, would he? That Hinata had almost no romantic experience to speak of and even less kissing experience? Itachi was older than her. Clearly, he was more worldly than her in this respect.

Surely, he had been aware of this though. Nothing escaped Itachi's notice. He had to know that Hinata had never seriously dated anyone before.

Itachi blinks at her as though he was shocked. "Hinata, that's not it." He smiles at her and caresses her cheek. "You are a wonderful kisser." She was?

Hinata smiles at that. No one had ever said that to her! Probably because she hadn't kissed anyone before, but she digressed.

That one simple comment seemed to put all her doubts to rest because she kisses him again. "Good. So are you." She smiles at him more between kisses.

Itachi kisses her back. It was nice. Hinata likened his kiss to a fine wine. Elegant and rich, without being overpowering. His tongue gliding over her own in a sensual dance. Coaxing her, making her moans softly as she wraps her arms around his neck.

She tries her best to return the kiss. Hinata tries to copy his movements and must have succeeded because he soon grabs her by her backside and deepens it even more.

"You'll have to forgive me." He murmurs between kisses.

Forgive him? Forgive him for what? Maybe, he was referring to what happened to his Clan? Yes, that must be it.

"There's nothing to forgive." She shakes her head. "You did what you thought was best."


Unbeknownst to Hinata and Itachi, Sasuke had just turned the corner and was about to head back into his room, when he saw them. His eyes widened and he quickly walks away, feeling something burn against his cheek.

Sasuke didn't even need to look to know what it was. A single tear. So that was it then. That was how a dream died. Suddenly and yet, with a million warnings proceeding its violent death all at once.

"It's not their fault." He sighs as he leans against the wall in another hallway. "It's not her fault." It wasn't. "Or his."

Itachi had been trying to help him. His brother had made every effort to teach Sasuke how to get Hinata's attention. It was just that Itachi was better at that sort of thing.

He had clearly been moving too slow and Itachi had been flirting with Hinata. As painful as it was to admit, it was only natural that she'd interpret his flirting to mean that Itachi had feelings for her. Why wouldn't she?

"Damn it!" He punches the wall, leaving a fist sized whole in it. "Damn it!" He didn't care though.

Physical pain was something that he was used to. He didn't enjoy it , but Sasuke could easily tolerate it and it provided a much needed distraction. A distraction from the utter agony that was currently raging within his heart.

He had lost her. Not that he had ever really had Hinata to begin with, but still. Sasuke had lost the dream of her.

What hurt even more was that he deserved this. "I did ignore her for years." Of course, Hinata wouldn't think of him that way.

He had barely even looked at her in the Academy. He'd only ever spoken to her once before ending up in this damn hospital again. The Byakugan could see many things, but it wasn't capable of reading another person's thoughts. How was she supposed to know?

That didn't solve the problem though. What was he supposed to do now? He didn't blame them. Sasuke felt a bit bitter, but logically he knew that this had probably been destined to happen.

Itachi deserved happiness and so did Hinata. If they had found that with each other, it wouldn't be right to stand in their way. That would be the ultimate sign of selfishness and he had promised himself that he was going to change.

He wasn't going to be that monster anymore. "I don't know, if I can do it though." Sasuke sighs to himself.

Could he really do it? Could Sasuke stand aside and watch them fall in love and do nothing? Could he give her up that easily?

He wanted to say yes, but he knew that was a lie. Still, Sasuke loved her. Hinata didn't love him, but that didn't make his feelings for her any less real.

"Well they always said that if you love someone, you let them go." That's what he'd have to do. "I just never knew how hard that was until now."


The kiss lasted for several minutes. "I'm sorry, I have to go." That was until Hinata's beeper went off. "It's a red button." An emergency then.

"That's fine." He nods his head quickly. "Go! I'll still be here when you get back." Not that he knew what he was going to do when she came back, but that didn't change the fact that Itachi would indeed still be there.

Hinata smiles at him and quickly darts off. How could he have allowed this to happen? Why did it have to be her?

The one woman that his foolish little brother had ever truly loved in a romantic sense and Itachi had to go and fall for her too! It wasn't right. He should do the right thing and explain the situation to Hinata.

Though it was more likely than not, nothing good would come of it. The poor woman would be humiliated. Sasuke would be as well and he would be breaking her heart.

"This is what they call a lose-lose situation." To break his brother's heart or Hinata's? "This is karma's way of making me pay for my misdeeds." Itachi didn't want to break either, but it seemed unavoidable.

At the very least, he owed it to Sasuke to tell him the truth. That and his brother was likely to find out soon anyway. If Hinata truly wanted to be with Itachi, she was likely going to say or do something to indicate that in front of Sasuke.

He could picture the end result of such an occurrence so clearly in his mind. The very thought made him wince.

"I trusted you!" Sasuke snarled at Itachi as he slammed him against the wall.

Itachi made no attempt to avoid his brother's attack. He deserved it after all. After everything that he had done to Sasuke, this was unforgivable.

Sasuke never should have forgiven him for his other crimes, but this was a bridge too far. He'd earned every glare, every cruel word, and every strike that that his heartbroken little brother would give him.

He looked at Sasuke and sighed. "I'm sorry." Itachi had said that a lot to Sasuke and it seemed that he couldn't stop saying it.

No matter what he did, he always hurt the other man. The only family that Itachi had. His precious baby brother was the one that he always hurt. It almost seemed as though he was cursed.

Cursed to hurt the ones he loved. "Sorry?!" Sasuke's fury was like a living, breathing creature at this point. "You're sorry?!" A rabid and snarling one at that.

Of course, Itachi couldn't judge him. He had just stolen the woman that Sasuke loved. The woman that he had loved since childhood. Itachi Uchiha deserved all this and more.

"I know that what I did was wrong." He dared himself to look at his brother again. "I never intended for any of this to happen!"

Sasuke's Rinnegan and Sharingan were whirling with unbridled fury and hatred. "Is that somehow supposed to absolve you of everything?!" He slammed his fist into Itachi's chest. "You never intended to kill our family either and now, you've stolen her from me!"

Itachi started to choke on his own blood. "S-Sasuke!" His brother wasn't done though.

Sasuke was going to kill him. He knew that much. This was the end. The end of everything.

"I should have done this a long time ago!" Itachi felt a sharp pain in his chest. "I should have torn out your treacherous heart like you've done to mine so many times!" He snarled and ripped it out of Itachi's chest and then…Itachi snaps out of his horrifying vision.

"Why did this have to happen?" He sighs.


Hinata had finally finished caring for the patient and was doing her rounds with Sakura. The bluenette found herself very grateful for this fact.

After all, she had to tell someone and Sakura was the only one who knew about Itachi! She had kissed Itachi Uchiha and he had kissed back! Her life was never going to be the same!

"You actually did it?" The pink haired medic blinks in shock.

Hinata nods her head energetically. She couldn't believe it either, but she had really done it! And now, there was no going back.

She still wasn't certain how she would ever tell her family. "I did." Hinata would find a way though. "I kissed him." Sakura was right. Love was love.

Well perhaps it was a bit early to say she loved him. Hinata did like him. She liked him a lot and he was an amazing kisser. That was certainly something!

"Wow." Sakura blinks again. "How was it?" That was a good question.

Hinata feels her face grow hot. "Really good." She was blushing and she knew it, but she couldn't help it.

It was her first real kiss. She knew that no matter what happened next, she'd never forget this!

"Well that's good." Sakura smiles at her. "Does Sasuke know?"

Hinata shakes her head. "No. Not yet." She smiles at her friend. "Though I don't think he'll mind." Itachi had been flirting with her right in front of Sasuke for awhile.

That was probably why the other Uchiha had been so nice to her. He likely knew that this was going to happen and wanted to be on good terms with her because of it. Sasuke was smart that way!

Well actually, Sasuke was really smart in general. It was just he had a bad habit of being impulsive and allowing his emotions to blind him. He tended to lash out when in pain.

"That's good." Sakura smiles at her.

At least, that used to be the case. Hinata was convinced that he was sincere about starting over. And she really hoped that he would be able to.

The Uchiha Brothers had both been through so much pain. It was about time for them to have a chance for a normal life. Maybe, this was the beginning of something new. Of something wonderful!


Ten minutes later, Sasuke smiles as he ties a scroll around a messenger hawk's legs. There were lots of messenger hawks at the hospital. It was so that patients and their loved ones could communicate easier. After all, one couldn't visit all the time.

"Make sure this gets to Suigetsu, Karin, and Jugo." He pets the beautiful animal. "As soon as possible." And hands it a treat, before the bird flies off to deliver its precious cargo.

Sasuke had made a decision. He would leave the Leaf as soon as he was discharged from the hospital. Not forever, but for awhile. Just long enough for him to come to gripes with everything.

It would take time, but eventually he'd get used to it. The younger Uchiha Brother would get used to the sight of Hinata and Itachi together. In love. And in time, maybe he'd even get used to thinking of the woman he loved as his Sister-In-Law.

Well that was assuming, that their courtship ended well. Sasuke knew that it would though. Itachi was a Kage Level Master of Seduction. On the other hand, he was at best…a Chunin. That was probably why Hinata had chosen Itachi.

That and Itachi hadn't ignored her throughout their Academy Days, especially after Hinata had only ever been nice to him. Of course, Sasuke thought that he had been protecting her. Hinata hadn't known that at the time though.

"At least this way, I won't be standing in their way." He sighs as he watches the hawk fly through the sky.

He wished that he had wing of his own. That he could fly like Garuda. Away from this place, but he still likely had a couple days before he was discharged.

Besides, Team Taka would need time to plan anyway. Sasuke was taking Karin, Jugo, and Suigetsu with him on his journey. Mostly, because he didn't want to be alone. Alone with his thoughts.

If nothing else, his second team was quite good at distracting him. They were loud. They'd keep him from focusing on the pain he felt. It would be good for him.

"That and maybe I'll do some good out there." He could slowly work on earning some form of redemption. "This might work out for the best."

While he had been pardoned of his crimes legally, his reputation was another matter. That might never recover, but Sasuke would try. After all, it was likely Itachi would restore the Clan with Hinata.

He didn't want his nieces and nephews to suffer because of him. Sasuke would try his best to reclaim his good name and by extension, his Clan's.


Later that day, Itachi sighs. It was time to face this. Whatever this was. Sasuke had a right to know.

He looks at his brother now that they were alone and sighs again. This wasn't going to be easy, but it was the right thing to do.

"Sasuke, I have an apology to make." He looks at him anxiously. "And I completely understand that you're likely going to hate me." It was now or never. "But there's something I must tell you."

The only response he got was a light snoring sound. Itachi blinks. Oh. His foolish little brother must have fallen asleep then.

Hmm. That was strange. Since when did Sasuke snore? Nevermind. He'd just have to tell him in the morning.

"I'm so tired of keeping secrets." He shakes his head. "I'm not going to do that to you anymore. Secrets are what has kept us apart so long." And what was likely going to break them.

One way or another though, Sasuke was going to find out about that kiss. He was going to find out about his feelings for Hinata and Itachi had no idea what he was going to do about either of those two things. He did know one thing though.

Itachi was going to be the one to tell Sasuke. He would face his brother's wrath like a man. And if the other Uchiha wanted to, Itachi would allow him to vent his frustrations physically.

He shakes his head once more at the thought. "We were never destined to live easy lives, but this is absurd." Itachi looks at Sasuke who was currently sleeping on his hospital bed. "I am sorry though, for what it's worth."

Sasuke winces underneath the blankets. He had pulled them over his head and was pretending to snore. He didn't want his brother to know that he was actually awake.

"I know." He wasn't sobbing, but that tear was persistent. "I know, Itachi." The words couldn't be heard by his elder brother. They were simply too quiet.

The ghost of a whisper. That's what they were. Still, Sasuke voiced them anyway. His brother hadn't meant to hurt him and Sasuke knew that.

That didn't change the fact that Itachi had hurt him, but at the end of the day…it was Hinata's choice. She had chosen Itachi. Sasuke would have to live with that. It was that simple.