Sasuke had been dead for hours, carefully laid down and looking like he was simply sleeping. Itachi had been so mindful of his little brother's body. His face was serene, as if the hardships, horrors, and his awful rage had never touched the young Uchiha. Sakura sat next to him, holding his cold hand. The tears had stopped long ago. The only reason she didn't continue crying was simply that she physically was all out of tears. She would mourn this man for a long time. They all would.

They had all carved a special place for him in their hearts that he would forever keep regardless of the awful wretch he had become. He had been Sakura's first love and stomped all over it. Yet she would always love him, always care. Naruto had found a best friend and fierce rival that had always pushed him to be more, better. He would be grateful to his teammate for having made him want to keep growing.

Itachi. He would never heal from this. He would get better, but he wouldn't fully heal. He spoke to Naruto the entire time they sat on that path, discussing so many things. The elder brother started at the beginning, being prompted to tell the Hokage what had happened years earlier. He had told him all about why he had killed his entire clan. Itachi had been a true loyalist to his village. He had done so much for it. Captain of an ANBU team at thirteen, doing so many high ranking missions and returning virtually unharmed.

He had been the pride and joy of the Uchiha clan, exceeding expectations. But he had learned of a dark secret, a conspiracy. He brought this information forward and asked nothing for himself when he agreed to do what would be considered one of the worst things to ever happen in Konohagakure. He murdered his entire family to save everyone else from a hostile take over. The Uchiha Clan could have done it to. They had the power.

But the entire village was saved and the only thing that they were allowed to know was that Uchiha Itachi, a shiny star of the village, was now an enemy. Sasuke had been spared, his brother wanting him to remain safe, cared for in the village. He hoped he would grow up uncorrupted, only harboring a desire to best his brother. But what he had become? That had been unexpected and unwanted.

What Itachi himself had become had been unexpected and unwanted. He didn't want to be afraid to be blind, to fear never seeing again. Now he couldn't fathom not deciding to do the exact same thing all over again. He had such deep regret for his brother but couldn't allow such a bitter being to continue through life like that. If he had to do it again, the only thing he really would change would be to take mercy on his brother and kill him after taking his eyes. That would have been the humane thing to do.

Naruto sat quietly, only asking a few questions here and there. He was shocked to know that there were a few that had been abreast of the situation, that had known for so long and chose to hide Itachi's great deed to the village. The blond was shocked to find out the lengths that the genjutsu master went through. He had killed his entire clan, went on the run, and joined the most feared organization known to all shinobi.

This man had stayed with that group to make sure no action was planned to go directly against the village. He had taken assignments personally to come to the village and ensured that no major harm was done. Itachi knew that he wouldn't do anything seriously detrimental against his former home and was the only one that could truly control Kisame. That was a man with a weapon no one wanted to go near if given a choice.

The Rokudaime heaved a heavy sigh. He had much to think about. He looked at the pink haired medic, watching her stared at Sasuke. They couldn't just leave him, let him rot out here. He had meant something to the entire village even after all these years. They would have to have a proper service, allow him to die an honorable death in the eyes of everyone else. They couldn't know that he attacked their most prized medic and would have killed the Hokage if given a clear shot.

No one could know just how crazy he had gone.

But the village should know some truth. They needed to learn of what Itachi had done, that their hatred was misplaced and unnecessary. That was going to be a hard thing to do, to convince people of.

Another sigh.

/

Naruto had called for some ANBU guards and a few medics. Two guards and the medics were sent to the villages that Sakura was supposed to be helping. They wouldn't be able to do quite the job that the kunoichi could but they would do what they could. The rest were set on edge and fell into defensive stances around Itachi. The Uchiha was unfazed, expecting such a reaction. Actually, he had expected to simply be attacked, but the close proximity of Sakura and Naruto saved him from that.

The guard escorted the trio back to the village. Itachi carried Sasuke's body, cradling his brother to his chest, holding him securely as he did when they were very small. A few tears escaped him, rolling down his cheeks as they entered the village. Sakura was the first to notice, moving slightly closer to give what support she could. She knew that her pain was nothing to Itachi's. This was the last family that anyone was aware of. He had killed all of his clan now, and had no one left.

The village was in an uproar as they watched the slow progress of the small group. This was the most unlikely sight that anyone could ever dream of. The entire village created an impromptu parade, all headed to Hokage Tower. There, they found a long table set before the doors. Itachi laid Saskue down, putting his fingers to the younger brother's forehead briefly before setting away. Trying to get as far out of the spotlight as possible.

Sakura and Naruto shared a look and the medic joined the seemingly last Uchiha, holding his hand and making sure that everyone was aware that she cared for him. The crowd went wild, cursing, sneering, demanding the blood of both.

Naruto held up a hand, yelling as loudly as he could for the village to listen. Again, it seemed to take hours, and few were convinced of what they were told. But now the village knew the truth. Itachi was not to be considered an enemy any longer. It would take a very long time for people to changed what they were brought up to feel. How were they supposed to just accept that he had done it for the good of the village. He had killed his entire family!

But the village bit their tongues, most arriving the mourn with the odd trio as Sasuke was buried as a hero. He died helping to protect his friends. Itachi had arrived but had not been the attacker. In fact, the fearsome four had taken on hostile rogue shinobi, Sasuke and Naruto having been there to keep an eye on the skittish Sakura. Itachi had been in the area, on his way to Konoha looking for his brother and his love. Unfortunately, the fight had been enough of a ruckus, caused so much chaos, that someone got a lucky shot on the disoriented Sasuke.

Itachi moved into the empty Uchiha complex shortly after the service, feeling so strange to be back home. It wasn't quite home though, with no one there. His favorite person would never run up those steps there again, begging for Itachi to spend time together. Over there, he would never spar with this or that relative. He sighed, remembering so many things, small details that would mean nothing to anyone else. The little nicks and dings in these walls and floor, so familiar yet now so alien to him.

Sakura joined him, giving up her own apartment to keep close to Itachi. It was clear to everyone that they actually were in love and that it didn't look to be a fading thing. On the rare occasions that Itachi left the complex, he was side by side with the small medic, showing some mild form of affection. He didn't leave her side for everything, throwing the force-of-habit glare at anyone that looked at them too long. It was clear that he was protective of Sakura and she of him. Her quick temper had defused many a confrontation some men tried to start with the new inhabitant.

The outward hostility was lessened by the unaccompanied visits by the Hokage himself to the complex. It was a daily occurrence. At least one meal, the blond demon vessel ate with the controversial couple. Hinata, Naruto's "secret" love ended up joining him on several occasions, their own relationship finally coming out of the shadows. It was about time, Sakura had told him after one of their dinners.

So, for now, they would live uneasily ever after.