Empathy

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. I hope that you all enjoy this chapter.

Chapter Notation: Warnings have been put up before and after a certain scene in this chapter. It is NOT for the faint of heart. If you choose to skip it, the plot will not be altered. For those of you do choose to read it, happy reading.

Chapter 10

A few hours had passed since well everything. Itachi was currently curled up in the hospital bed and trying to get some rest. Trying being the operative word.

"Mmm Utakata." He sighs in contentment as he tilts his head to the side, exposing more of his neck to the other man. "As good as that feels, it's not very productive." To more of the other man's kisses and seductive touches. "I don't think that I'm going to be able to fall asleep, if you keep that up."

He feels the curve of Utakata's smile against the back of his neck. His lips were definitely moving in a way that Itachi was certain symbolized amusement.

"Well, I suppose it still counts as relaxing." Utakata nips lightly.

Itachi wasn't entirely certain how the amber eyed ninja knew this, but his neck had always been sensitive. It wasn't something he liked to advertise. Honestly, he had been relieved that the Akatsuki Cloak covered so much because of that particular quirk. And now, the Six Tails was exploiting this weakness without mercy.

He shakes his head. "Mmm whatever you wish to tell yourself." Itachi smiles as he tilts his head back slightly and kisses the other man.

The beautiful man who for some reason was able to overlook everything that he had ever done. Utakata knew that he had slain most of his family and loved him anyway. He knew that he had been part of the Akatsuki and loved him anyway. He knew that most of Itachi's life had been one grand deception after another. And he loved him anyway.

It was both the most beautiful and perplexing thing that the elder Uchiha Brother had ever heard of. He didn't really know how to process it. That was a new feeling for Itachi. Generally, he prided himself on his analytical skills. Here though, he was completely lost.

"Have you decided on what you're going to do about the Council?" Utakata kisses his neck more. "I'm certain that Sasuke is in the mood for quite the bloody spectacle."

Itachi sighs both in pleasure from the gentle kisses and in dread. "I haven't entirely decided yet, but you're probably correct about Sasuke." His foolish little brother likely had spent hours upon hours trying to decide what manner of execution would inflict the most pain and humiliation.

He almost felt a stab of pity for the Council, but it was gone almost as soon as it had whispered in his ear. These people were the ones who had him kill his family to prevent a war. Had they been more fair in their dealings with his family or had his family been more open, it was possible that none of them would have had to die.

Unfortunately, that hadn't happened and there was no way to change the past. And for once, it was the future that was calling to him. Rarely, did he think about the future in any long-term sense before.

"Of course, I am." Utakata runs his fingers through Itachi's hair. "I haven't known him very long, but you're brother is quite the hot head." Not that Sasuke didn't have legitimate grievances against the Leaf, but Itachi couldn't contest that label. "I almost feel sorry for the bastards, but I hope that you make them suffer for what they did to you and what they did to that kid."

Sasuke was hardly a child, but Itachi echoed the sentiment. He wanted to be noble and to understand that the Council had just been doing what they thought was best. What they thought would protect the village as a whole, but well he just couldn't do it.

He had been noble for years and what had he gotten in return? A life filled with scorn. A life where the person who had loved the most wanted him dead. And where he had almost missed out on love because the Leaf couldn't be bothered to do their own dirty work.

No. They had sent a boy to do a man's job. "I'm certain that Sasuke will ensure they suffer adequately." And Itachi had never been the same afterwards. "Both of your sadistic impulses were be satisfied long before they breathe their last treacherous breaths." Of that much, Itachi Uchiha was entirely certain!

"Do you feel well enough to travel?" His beloved looks at him seriously.

No. Not really. He felt better than he had in years, but it would have been unwise to journey all the way to the Leaf. It would have to wait.

Itachi shakes his head. "I'm afraid not. Though I imagine that Naruto will be more than willing to assist me." The Flying Thunder God Technique. Itachi had no idea how the blonde had mastered it, but according to his sources…he had.

"How so? Do they have a carriage or a horse you can ride?" Itachi snorts at that thought.

People like himself didn't ride in carriages. It was such a romanticized notion and he was anything, but. Then again, now he had Utakata. Utakata brought out the romantic in him.

A side of himself that he had thought was lost forever. That was until he caught sight of those beautiful amber eyes. After that, well he had been lost. Whether he had wanted to admit it or not.

He simply shakes his head. "No. I don't think so. Naruto will likely teleport us there." The eldest Uchiha smiles at that thought.

Utakata blinks. He wanted to ask how that was possible, but he thought better of it. If there was one thing that he had learned about Leaf Ninjas, it was there were times when it was better to just simply go with it. This was just one of those times.

A few minutes later, Naruto bursts into the room, dragging Sasuke behind him. Taka was also there. It was a rather comical picture to say the least.

"Hey, guys!" The blonde never ceased to amuse Utakata.

Sasuke was looking at Naruto in a manner that could only be described as positively murderous. Really, Utakata was beginning to wonder if the blonde had a Nine Tailed Cat inside him instead of a fox. The idiot really did seem to have nine lives.

Itachi smiles. "You must have left as soon as Tsunade said that we could decide the fate of the Council." It was quite a distance to travel without using the Flying Thunder God Technique.

For that Jutsu to work, one needed a seal in your current location and a seal in another. It could transport you over long distances, instantly. Though the seals were essential.

Seals weren't necessary for the Body Flicker Technique. So that was an advantage the other Jutsu had over its newer version, but it also couldn't transport one nearly as far as the Flying Thunder God could.

"Yeah. Between Sasuke's angry muttering and Naruto's dragging, we got here pretty quick!" Suigetsu smiles merrily.

Utakata didn't doubt for a second. What he was less sure of is what was going to happen after the Council was executed. Though he supposed that could wait for the time being. The Uchiha Brothers had most certainly been forced to wait long enough for justice.

Karin rolls her eyes. "Is now, really the time to be teasing them?" The red head was apparently rather fed up with her traveling companions' bickering.

"It's always the time to tease them." The violet eyed ninja smirks. "Because it's fun!"

The sight was rather amusing to Utakata, but he could see why it would grate on the red head's nerves after awhile. Anyway, they had more important things to focus on. Like getting back to the Leaf!

Jugo shakes his head. "Come on. Naruto's set up a Seal and the sooner the elders are dealt with, the better." The gentle giant had the right idea though.

If they waited too long, that would just cause unrest in the Village of the Hidden Leaves. Which wouldn't be good. As much as Utakata would like to see that place suffer for what it had done to Itachi, the Leaf was a power player.

The balance of power was a delicate thing. If it was thrown off because one village was bickering amongst itself, another village would fill the void. Which in turn would prompt the other villages to react and such things could easily spiral out of control.

The journey of a thousand miles began with one step or something like that. "Wonderful. Do you have the Seals in place, Naruto?" And Utakata was more than ready to take that step.

He was ready to watch the Council be punished and to start his new life with Itachi. His beloved wasn't out of the woods yet. Itachi was still very weak, but he would get better now.

The fact that he didn't have to worry about his younger brother trying to kill him, would definitely help him recover. The Nomadic Ninja imagined that knowledge had lifted a major weight off Itachi's shoulders. The elder Uchiha Brother was now free to live his life as he saw fit!

"Yeah! I got the Seals!" Naruto grins.

Sasuke looks at Itachi anxiously. "Are you sure that you're ready for this?" Unfortunately, his concerns weren't unfounded.

Utakata wasn't too keen on moving Itachi just yet, but it was better than allowing unrest to fester. Besides, Itachi wouldn't have tolerated lying in bed while that happened. His intended was just as stubborn as he was beautiful.

Which was saying something. Utakata could get lost in those eyes so easily. He also really liked Itachi's hair. It was nice and silky. Wait. He was getting off track here.

"As ready as I'm going to be." He stands up and Utakata immediately gets him a wheelchair.

"And don't even think about trying to walk." He gives him a firm look.

If Itachi thought he was going to prance about while he was still in recovery, he could forget about that. Utakata would personally chakra cuff Itachi, if he even thought about it. Hmm. Chakra cuffs. Now that certainly had possibilities!

Itachi shakes his head in amusement and gets in the chair. "I wouldn't dream of it." After all, the Uchiha knew when to just concede defeat.

There was no point in fighting battles that you couldn't win. Besides, he didn't feel up to walking yet. While the eldest Uchiha was confident that he could have managed it, he didn't want to. Not unless it was absolutely necessary.

"You're so completely whipped." Suigetsu laughs. "You've got it almost as bad as FoxBoy has!"

Itachi raises an eyebrow. Well he had to admit that Sasuke was apparently much more patient than he had ever given his foolish little brother credit for. It was nothing short of a miracle that the other man hadn't strangled the sword lover yet.

Whipped? Pft. "I'm far from whipped." He just knew how to choose his battles.

Under no circumstance, was he whipped. Clearly, the violet eyed ninja must have been smacked around a few too many times. Brain damage was the most likely explanation for his inaccurate observations!

"I never thought this would happen." Itachi pauses for dramatic effect. "But I've finally met someone more foolish than Sasuke and it's you, Suigetsu."

Utakata chuckles and follows Naruto outside to the Seal. The action brought a smile to Itachi's face. The other man really did have such a beautiful laugh. There was no denying that fact.

As soon as everyone was on the Seal, Naruto performs the necessary technique and they all found themselves in the Leaf again. Itachi wasn't entirely certain how he felt about that.

He would die to protect this village, but that didn't mean that he wanted to be here. There were too many bad memories here. Horrors that quickly returned to haunt him with every glance he gave to the village. It made him want to scream. Want to leave.

"We'll be out of here soon enough." Utakata kisses his cheek reassuringly.

Itachi nods in agreement. Well for Utakata it would be soon. For him and Sasuke though. It would be an entirely different matter.

Naruto gestures for them to follow him and leads them into the Leaf's Prison. Tsunade was there and she looked especially grim. Though the reason why was no mystery.

The Hokage knew exactly what was about to happen. "Let's get this over with. Everyone who isn't Sasuke and Itachi, get out of here." She sighs as she looks at them with wary eyes.

Well perhaps exactly might have been a bit of a stretch. Still, Itachi was reasonably confident that the woman could read between the lines. Tsunade essentially understood what he was planning to do.

It was the only thing that would give Sasuke any satisfaction. Itachi was going to have to perform that Genjutsu. The one that would allow him to manipulate even the perception of time itself and the one, that might finally be able to provide his baby brother with a sense of closure.

"But I want to be with them!" Naruto was the first to voice his displeasure though that didn't surprise Itachi.

Tsunade sighs. "As do I!" And Utakata was predictably second.

That man drove him crazy in every possible sense of the word. How was it possible to want to kiss and strangle someone at the same time? Itachi didn't know, but he supposed that was the beauty and the madness that symbolized love.

"That's too bad." She narrows her eyes in warning. "You're all coming with me. This shouldn't take more than a few moments anyway." The others protest a bit more, but it was a futile effort.

There were many reasons why Tsunade was Hokage. One of them was she wasn't an amateur when it came to dealing with stubborn people. No decent Kage was.

"I'll see you soon." Utakata kisses his cheek and smiles. "I love you."

Itachi smiles back. "I love you too." Yes, indeed. It was fully possible to want to kiss and strangle someone at the same time. He now knew that for a fact.

Utakata gives him one last look of longing after that, but soon leaves with the others. That meant that it would just be him, Sasuke, and the Council. "Lady Tsunade, are you staying?" He glances at the granddaughter of the First Hokage warily.

She shakes her head. "There are some things that I'd rather not see." And with that, she leaves them alone with the Council Members.

The Council Members who looked torn between seething hatred and outright terror. They were trembling. Whether it was with fury, fear, or both was somewhat hard to determine.

It mattered not though. "Tsukuyomi!" Their fate was sealed either way!

Sasuke smirks as he sees that they were in the red and black world that signified they were now inside Itachi's strongest Genjutsu. The one that was going to make the Council pay.

"I presume that you've given this matter a great deal of thought." Itachi glances at him.

The younger Uchiha found himself nodding. He had thought of little else for the past few days. He must have envisioned at least a thousand ways for them all to die screaming, but none of them had seemed suitable.

They were all too quick. Too merciful. No matter how many ways he came up with to make them bleed, it wasn't enough. He wanted them to suffer. To feel the pain that he and Itachi had and that's when he came up with his idea.

Warning Execution Scene

"I want them to feel exactly what we did on that night." Sasuke glares at them. "I want them to feel everything and I want them to bleed out." The younger Uchiha decides it was best to elaborate. "One cut on each of them for every member of our Clan that had to be butchered."

Itachi blinks and Sasuke smirks in response. It looked like he had managed to surprise Itachi. That wasn't something that most people could ever say. He felt vindicated in a way.

"YOU'RE DEMONS!" One of the Council Members hisses at them.

They were all tied to a pole though. None of them were going anywhere and that knowledge made Sasuke smirk more. They were completely helpless. Just as he had been on that horrible night. The night that still haunted his dreams to this day.

Itachi glares at that one. "Perhaps, but we are the product of our environment." He sighs. "If we're demons, it is only because you a made us that way."

He then turns his head back to Sasuke. "I should think that your idea is more than a suitable punishment. Shall we start with what I felt that night and work our way forwards in chronological order?" Sasuke nods his head in agreement.

Itachi smiles, but it was a cold smile. A smile without any warmth or empathy as he places his hand on each of their foreheads, one at a time. He must have found a way to combine interrogation techniques with his Genjutsu because soon enough, there were tears running down their cheeks.

Itachi was forcing them to relive the Massacre. With one important catch. He was forcing them to do so through his eyes.

"That's for Izumi!" Sasuke snarls as he slices his sword across the stomach of one of the Council Members. "She used to babysit me." A fairly shallow cut though.

After all, he wanted them to bleed out slowly and painfully. If he went for fatalistic wounds, that would stop all the fun. And Sasuke wasn't going to allow that.

The pain and horror reflected in their eyes was intense. Sasuke hadn't seen Itachi commit the atrocities that he had been forced to carry out. Everything he knew about the Massacre was secondhand, but the eyes of the Council Members spoke volumes.

"And this is for Shisui." Itachi surprises him by dragging a kunai shallowly along a Councilwoman's throat. "He was my best friend."

Itachi had carried out his task dutifully and likely had done nothing more than kill them and cry silent tears, but he had been impacted by what he had done. He was not the heartless killer that the elder man had wanted Sasuke to believe he was so desperately.

One and on it went. Cuts everywhere. Some shallow and some not. The tears kept flowing and the Council Members were sobbing. Sasuke's perceptive of time was skewed here, but it felt like hours until they had completed the same mission that they had assigned Itachi.

"MAKE IT STOP!" The youngest of the Council Members screams.

Oh they would make it stop alright, but not until they had experienced the final act. Sasuke was going to make sure they knew, exactly what he had felt. How he had felt on the day that his childhood had been destroyed.

He smirks as he stabs one in the eye. "We're only at halftime. You wouldn't want to miss the grand finale." Sasuke moves and does the same to the others. "Now, would you? Besides, this is for our parents!"

The old man howls in agony as Itachi takes Sasuke's hand and then touches their foreheads. He was transferring Sasuke's memories to them. Making them relive it.

What seemed like hours more passed by. More cuts. Blood splattered everywhere. The streets were now crimson red. Their shirts covered in gore and the Council Members were a sobbing mess.

"Now, you know what we felt." Itachi caresses their cheeks in a psychotic way. "I was not given the opportunity to show my family much mercy, but I will grant you one small mercy." His lips practically brush against their ears as he continues. "The mercy of death."

Sasuke watches as if transfixed. "RELEASE!" And with that, the Genjutsu was dispelled and they were back in the real world.

In the real world, not a single mark was on them. They were still a mess though. Sobbing and quivering.

"Itachi said he'd grant you the mercy of death. He didn't say how though." Sasuke unbinds them and hands them each a kunai. "Whoever kills the others will get to live."

Sasuke watches in astonishment as the Council Members go after each other. They turned on each other almost instantly. It was as if they were wild animals.

The complete savagery was awesome to watch. Well in the worst sense of the word. Finally, one emerged victorious and looks at them expectantly.

"You're an idiot." Sasuke Flickers over to him with a Chidori fully charged in his hand. "You didn't actually think that we were going to let you go. Did you?" He slams his fist into the other man's chest. "You once tore out my heart metaphorically. Allow me to return the favor in a more physical sense." And with that, Sasuke rips out the other man's still beating heart and tosses it onto the ground in disgust.

End Execution Scene

Itachi watches with no small degree of horror as Sasuke literally rips out the heart of the last Council Member. It was the final dramatic scene in this terrifying chapter in the Uchiha Clan's History.

After forcing them to relive the Massacre through both of their eyes and cutting them each once for every fallen Uchiha, Itachi had thought they were done. It seemed that Sasuke had other thoughts on the matter though. Having them turn on each other for the chance of salvation had been beautifully sadistic and then ripping out the other man's heart.

"It's over, Sasuke." Itachi sighs. "Everyone knows the truth and the Council has been punished."

They could start over now. He could be with Utakata and Sasuke with Naruto. Whether or not his foolish little brother would admit to desiring that last part was irrelevant. It was obviously going to happen.

Sasuke nods. "It's just hard to believe." He sighs and looks at Itachi. "After all this time, this is the end."

Itachi shakes his head and embraces the other man. "No, my foolish little brother, this is just the beginning." He smiles at him. "We've been given a second chance. Let's not waste it. Now, hopefully Naruto can tame these violent and sadistic impulses of yours and I'll be very happy with Utakata."

Sasuke gives him a dirty look. It was obvious that his brother was less than pleased about his advice. That was fine though. His irritated look just made the entire situation that much amusing.

"I don't like him that way." Sasuke rolls his eyes.

"Of course not." Itachi pokes his forehead. "You love him. You're just too stubborn and foolish to admit it." Itachi smiles. "It seems to run in the family. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have my own Jinchuuriki to get back to." And with that, Itachi Flickers off to his soon to be lover and leaves behind one very agitated and sputtering, foolish little brother.