Itachi stays focused on the mission.

He's not a sensory specialist, but he can still feel the rest of his team engaging the stranger. The battle's a constant prickle at the edge of his consciousness, one that he pushes down and ignores.

He has a job to do.

Danzo keeps pace with him, and they're crashing through the underbrush. This isn't the time for stealth, this isn't the time for finesse. This is the time to run, as fast as they can, until his breathing turns ragged and his legs hurt.

Because there's something wrong.

The stranger by the lake had been entirely too sure of himself, too confident. He's engaged a whole ANBU team with no hesitation. And the fact that the battle is still raging, that it's not over within seconds—

Itachi knows something's very wrong.

At the very edge of his awareness, an alien presence flares into existence. Itachi comes to a halt, looking over his shoulder in the direction of the lake.

"What is it?" Danzo snaps, and Itachi shakes his head.

"I just-what is that?" he says breathlessly.

"We have to head towards the outpost. Don't forget your mission," Danzo replies curtly.

"There's something wrong. Can't you feel it?" Itachi asks.

Danzo doesn't answer him, but rather, starts to run again. Itachi's throat tightens with anger, and he clenches his fists so hard his knuckles turn white. Tenzo, Kakashi, Shisui-they would have laid their lives down without hesitation to protect Danzo.

There's a good chance that they already have.

And Danzo can't be bothered to even feign interest in their fates? He doesn't even care?

But that's what it means to be an ANBU. It means putting the good of the village above everything, even over the people he loves.

He's an ANBU. Letting out a slow breath, he resumes running, following Danzo. He doesn't know if his team, if his friends, are okay, but—

Itachi stays focused on the mission.

Sasuke's moving so fast the wind whips the hood of his cloak down, letting air rush through his short, choppy locks of hair. The mask shields his face from the worst of the wind as he moves faster than the eye can see, darting between trees soundlessly.

His heart's racing, his palms are sweating, and his mouth's dry. Because—

Because ANBU work in teams of four, and he's only fought three so far. Because there's a presence accompanying Danzo, up ahead. Because he knows the fourth member of Kakashi's ANBU team.

And Sasuke's terrified to see Itachi again.

"Itachi!" he yells, wrapping his brother in a big hug. He'd missed Itachi, but he knows his brother has to go to the Academy now. "Can we play?"

Itachi's solemn face breaks into a slight smile, and Sasuke laughs as his brother hugs him back.

"Of course we can, Sasuke."

Sasuke lets the pounding of his feet against the hard earth fill his mind, trying to drive the memories away. But that's never worked before, and it doesn't work now.

"Itachi!" Sasuke screams, soggy hair falling into his blood-red eyes. He's on all fours, trembling violently. "Why? Why would you do this?"

Itachi turns to face him, his face blank. But Sasuke knows him. He knows his brother. He knows the pain in his eyes. And he can tell what comes next is a lie.

"A test of my own power," Itachi says softly, not meeting his gaze. And Sasuke doesn't have a reply. Because what can he say to such an obvious lie?

He's not in the fucking mood for this. Sasuke tries to think about Danzo, about revenge, about anything else. It's stupid, pointless to think about these things now. If Sasuke has his way, the Uchiha Massacre will never happen. Itachi will never leave the Leaf Village.

But that doesn't erase the pain Sasuke carries with him. It doesn't erase the hurt.

They're surrounded by ruined masonry and black flames. The swirling red-orange of Itachi's Susanoo is gone now, and it's just the two of them. Sasuke's back is against a slab of stone, and he's too exhausted to even move as Itachi reaches out one hand towards him.

This is the end of the road. This is where Sasuke's quest for revenge has driven them. This is the moment where it's all over.

But Itachi doesn't claw out his eye. He doesn't burn Sasuke alive. He doesn't cast a jutsu. He just presses a finger against Sasuke's forehead, his voice raspy as he whispers something.

"I'm sorry, Sasuke. This is it." And then Itachi, his big brother, the man he's loved and hated all his life—

He falls to the ground, limp and unmoving. And Sasuke's shaking, he can't stop fucking shaking, because that's Itachi. That's Itachi, and he's gone.

He's gone.

This is the end of the road. Everything he's ever done has led to this. And he's never felt more alone.

And now Sasuke stops moving, his throat raw, and he's standing in a clearing. Now he's not alone. There's two figures in front of him, whirling around to face him. Danzo's right there, wrapped in a travelling cloak, but Sasuke barely notices. He only has eyes for the young ANBU with black hair and a raven mask, walking slowly towards him.

He only has eyes for Itachi.

That's the way it's always been, really.