Sasuke was moody and distracted the entire day, oblivious to Sakura's concerned questions and Naruto's pestering about when Sasuke would bring him more of Mikoto's cookies. Fifty-two days before Itachi would kill the clan. He had that long to outwit his brother.

Sasuke had finally abandoned the concept of an illusion; Itachi was clever, but no one was that perfect. Nor was this a dream; he could never control his mind's wanderings like some people, and if this had been a dream Kakashi would have sprouted giant teeth and Naruto would have become the first eight year old Hokage. That only left the third option open to him; his wish had carried him eight years into the past. Now he only had to find a way to keep the past from repeating itself.

Fifty-two days to assassinate the most powerful Uchiha in the Hidden Leaf. My only advantage is that I'm young enough to appear innocent and he'll never suspect a member of his family to harm him. It should be relatively simple... hopefully.

His mind still occupied, Sasuke pushed aside the double doors to his home.

He froze the moment he stepped inside.

Fresh blood trickled warmly over the floorboards near his feet.

"K-Kaasan?" Sasuke's breath quickened. No! No, it's too early! He can't have killed them already! It's too soon!

"Sasuke."

Sasuke whirled at the voice, his eyes lighting on the man he hated with a violent passion. "Why?"

"You know the answer, Sasuke." Itachi stepped out of the shadows, his sharingan glinting. Instantly Sasuke averted his eyes from the mangekyo.

"You killed them! How could you? They were your family! I..." Sasuke choked on the words, refusing to believe what had happened. "You killed them," he said in a broken whisper. "I was... I was going to save them."

He looked up to Itachi, vehemence radiating from his gaze.

"I hate you!" he screamed. "I hate you, I hate everything about you! You ruined everything for me! Why can't you just leave me alone, Itachi?"

Itachi's face remained impassioned, and Sasuke grabbed the nearest glass object and flung it at his head. A harsh sob escaped him as Itachi sidestepped with ease.

"You wanted me to hate you, Itachi, well here you have it!" Sasuke shouted. "Is this what you wanted? Tell me you're happy now! Because..." His voice reached a dangerously low tone, his chest heaving as he spat out, "Because I'm going to kill you for this. I've killed you once before, I can do it again! And when you lie cold at my feet I'll never stop hating you for what you did today! You're dead to me, Itachi! You're dead to me!"

"Sasuke! Sasuke wake up, it's just a dream!"

Sasuke's eyes shot open and he bolted upright, his breath coming in gasps as he looked wildly about him. Darkness still lay heavy on the household, and at last he recognized his own bedroom. Moaning in relief, he slumped back and buried his face in his hands.

"What was that? Sasuke, what did you dream?" Itachi's question echoed a singular horror of his own as he watched his brother in alarm.

Sasuke clutched the covers, afraid to speak a word. Kaasan and Tousan... How could I tell Itachi what I saw? He would never believe me... He might even kill me to ensure I don't tell someone about his plans.

"Sasuke? Sasuke!" Itachi's voice was almost frantic. "What is going on?"

"Nothing," Sasuke finally answered. "It was just a dream."

Itachi sat back and ran a hand through his hair. His face was worn and haggard, and he looked like he hadn't slept in days. "What did I do to you?"

Sasuke's head shot up in horror. "What?" he breathed.

"You were screaming," Itachi told him softly, refusing to meet his eyes. "You... Sasuke, I would never do anything to harm you. How could I...?" He bit his lip, unable to finish the thought.

"How many times have I woken you?" Sasuke asked quietly. The night terrors were a constant battle that often left him drained in the morning. If Mikoto or Fugaku had heard him...

"Almost every night," Itachi admitted. "I have often shaken you awake. You do not remember?"

Sasuke closed his eyes in mortification. He's heard everything. What in the world do I tell him?

"Sasuke, just tell me why you are so afraid of me." Itachi's gaze was desperate, pleading. "Tell me what I have done wrong and I will do my utmost to fix it!"

"It's nothing Itachi - "

"Night terrors do not come of their own accord, Sasuke," Itachi interrupted harshly. "Something is frightening you."

Sasuke refused to answer, and at long last Itachi rose with a sigh.

"I cannot help you if you refuse to confide in me. Understand this, Touto. I will never do anything to harm you or our parents."

Itachi hesitated at the door, his words pained as he picked at the mantel. "I just wish you would believe me."

Sasuke waited until he was positive Itachi had returned to his room before allowing a few shuddering sobs to escape. He was at a loss for what he should do next. Itachi was completely opposite the cold, indifferent sibling he was supposed to be. He acted as though he had no idea of the monstrosity he would commit in the near future. For the first time Sasuke doubted Itachi had the motivation for such a deed. Yet that had done little to prevent his parents' murder in the past.

"I don't want to kill you," Sasuke admitted in a husky whisper. "But what choice do I have?"