Beta-ed by Jenny-Cat-Miaow
Chapter 2
Sasuke squeezed his eyes shut as he eavesdropped on the meeting he had at one time in his life actually attended.
"If you complete tomorrow's mission, Itachi-kun, your entrance into ANBU Black Ops is all but assured." Sasuke felt the shift in his father's chakra to show that he had once again activated his Sharingan, "Do you understand." Not a question, a statement that held a hint of warning. Itachi wasn't allowed to fail this mission. Not that Itachi had ever failed a mission before.
Itachi was silent, not replying for a moment before his quiet reply reached Sasuke, who already knew what Itachi was going to say, but couldn't be one hundred percent sure. "You don't have to worry about me out there, a-and more importantly . . ." Here Itachi would have looked to Sasuke if the boy had been in the room, instead he stood and came to the door yanking Sasuke's arm and pulling him into the room.
"Hey, I was waiting my turn you know." Sasuke protested, knowing that Itachi knew he was lying.
Fugaku watched silently, not saying a word. "Otou-san, you see, tomorrow afternoon is–" Sasuke began when Itachi gave him a look, almost smiling warmly at him but just as the first time, Fugaku cut him off.
"This mission tomorrow, it's not just about you. Your performance will reflect on our entire clan."
Sasuke looked away and bit his lip, wondering if Itachi would refuse again this time. A part of him dearly hoped so.
"Actually . . . I'm going to pass on tomorrow's mission." A cool, calm statement that had Sasuke holding back a choke of surprise. Even though it had happened the first time, it was still just as unexpected.
"What are you talking about?!" Fugaku was angry, leaning forward as he demanded an explanation from Itachi. "That's insanity." Sasuke found himself wondering if Itachi was dispensable to his father because he was really pushing to put the thirteen year old into the ANBU ranks. It wasn't known for its long life expectancy.
But then again, he probably took Itachi's genius for granted, merely believing without a doubt that Itachi would always be perfect.
"You know how important this is." Itachi didn't at all seem fazed by Fugaku's words, proven only further when he didn't so much as flinch at Fugaku's enraged order, "You'll do no such thing!"
Itachi blinked once, Sasuke only now realising that this was Itachi's way of gathering his calm. His anger at the Uchiha Clan was already quite prominent and Sasuke was amazed he'd managed to keep his calm this long. "I have to, tomorrow is Sasuke's entrance ceremony." Itachi smiled, Sasuke hid a smirk, and Fugaku looked a little lost for words. "Our family has to attend. It's customary at the Academy. You received a notice, remember." It wasn't really a question. Only now did Sasuke see that Itachi was silently patronising his father, all the while keeping that smile on his face as he belittled his father. The embarrassment was only further added when Fugaku failed to even realise this.
The man grit his teeth, closing his eyes in annoyance before getting to his feet. "Alright I get it. I'll be at the Academy tomorrow."
As they walked away from the meeting room, Sasuke remembered that the last time, Itachi had expressed concern for his sprained leg. This time, there wasn't anything to express concern about but Sasuke whispered very quietly so that only Itachi could hear him, "Thank-you Aniki."
He watched his brother freeze slightly, not having expected the gratitude for something he hadn't even realised that Sasuke had fully understood. He glanced back once but strangely, Sasuke wasn't behind them anymore.
Just how much of what was going on, did Sasuke fully understand far beyond his age and what he'd been allowed to see? His brother was turning out to be a bigger mystery than Itachi himself was.
.0.0.0.
Sasuke stood still, his attention focused on the leaves blowing in the trees behind them rather than the words of the Sandaime as they entrance ceremony proceeded. He'd already been to this. Why would he need to listen again?
Among the students he saw familiar faces, and knew immediately which ones would not pass. But he wouldn't say anything to them, considering it wasn't his place and it was more fun to watch them fail. Among the students however, was not a certain blond.
Glancing behind him, he saw his father, face set in a silent frown as though being here was not on his things to do list. Sasuke could relate but the man wasn't doing this for the second time, only for the second son.
When it was over, Itachi noticeably absent from the ceremony, having only threatened to come because it would make Fugaku come, Sasuke was standing with his father listening to some Academy sensei talk about the greatness of Itachi. Not that Sasuke blamed the man but did he have to do it right in front of Sasuke? Sasuke couldn't help but think that Itachi's attendance would have meant more to him than Fugaku's but he was touched that Itachi seemed to think otherwise and had made sure that Fugaku attended.
"Boy, it seems like only yesterday that you were here for Itachi-kun huh?" The man continued, Sasuke doing his very best to ignore him while still looking semi interested. The man seemed to remember his presence because he looked down at Sasuke "And you're his spitting image." At one time, Sasuke had been flattered by this. Now, he was annoyed at all the sucking up that his father had to endure.
Fugaku, however seemed used to it because he gave a small smile. "Thank-you for your help with both of my boys."
"Oh, not at all, it's been a pleasure." Sasuke remembered that there were different Academy teachers for different years and this man was one of the beginning ones. Probably the man that taught the jutsu signs. Iruka-sensei had been their graduating homeroom teacher and the one that had taught them the most about being Shinobi. Previous years had concentrated on reading, writing and various other basics like throwing shuriken and kunai correctly. Iruka-sensei had focused on aim and hitting the centre of the target. Stuff like that.
The man had started talking again. "That boy of yours is a true prodigy. There hasn't been another like him in the history of the Academy." Eyes travelled down to Sasuke, the young Uchiha wondering if perhaps the man was wondering if Sasuke was anything like his brother.
He wasn't.
He would never be close to Itachi.
Sasuke remember that his father had given more comments but Sasuke interrupted before he could. "Hatake-san. He was even better than Aniki during the Academy wasn't he? He graduated at five, right so there has been someone like Aniki in the Academy before. Of course Aniki is way better but that's beside the point." Sasuke added a childish frown. He had only spoken because he was tired of this silly conversation.
Both the adults stared at him in surprise. Fugaku with a thoughtful frown, perhaps wondering how Sasuke had known this and the instructor in thoughtful wonderment. "Perhaps young Sasuke is a lot more like his brother than we first thought." He smiled and Sasuke narrowed his eyes, unimpressed with the man's attitude.
At this point in the conversation, the first time, Sasuke had been informed in rather roundabout way that even here, he would be placed within his brother's shadow. Now, he was being told directly that he was going to be compared to Itachi every step of the way. Sasuke planned to surprise them there.
This time, he wouldn't waste time with petty and childish tantrums over being one step behind Itachi all the time because this time he realised that he was well over a hundred steps behind Itachi and he had accepted that. Now, he just needed to focus on getting stronger, making sure that he didn't fall further behind. He couldn't afford to, not with what was coming.
.0.0.0.
Sasuke huffed as he sat in the Academy classroom. The first time around had been bad enough. His only saving grace this time around was the fact that his fangirls included one less member and that now non-member had made another once rather rabid member a little tamer, making the rest more timid as well.
There was also the annoying whispers about his Uchiha status and the fact that he just had to be a genius because of it. Didn't anyone think that the Uchiha had worked hard to be where they were today? Apparently not.
He resisted the urge to get out of his seat and go throw shuriken or something.
Sakura glanced at him and brushed his hand reassuringly. A small movement that would not be caught by anyone else. "Almost Sasuke, almost." She whispered.
What she was referring to was perhaps the fact that their homeroom teacher had yet to enter the classroom, or that it was almost time for the short break between years in the Academy. The break was never anything more than a week so it was more of an extra-long week end than anything else.
But she was most probably referring to the arrival of a certain blond. Whose daily activities were not quite as loud and obnoxious as what they'd been the last time around. In fact they hardly heard about the pranks Naruto pulled, but they did hear about them so they didn't worry too much about it.
.0.0.0.
Naruto sat in his apartment humming to himself as he rocked slightly back and forth, hugging his knees to his chest.
Those eyes . . . how had he forgotten the power of those eyes.
Every day, everywhere he went, those eyes followed him.
Inu had left the ANBU and Naruto didn't go looking for him outside of it. He was too afraid at what that action might bring upon Kakashi.
He did wonder though, why the other hadn't been a bit more involved in his life after he had become his jonin-sensei but then again Kakashi's sense of normality had never really been the healthiest.
Soon, so very soon, he'd get to be in Iruka-sensei's class. He'd see them again. He only had to hold on a little longer. Just a little longer.
.0.0.0.
His father's chuckle stopped him this time just as it had the first time. Sasuke looked towards the flickering silhouettes of his father and brother as his father congratulated Itachi on making it into the ANBU black ops, unknowingly congratulating the boy for getting one step closer to murdering the entire clan.
School had been tediously boring as always but that was to be expected. So Sasuke had drowned himself in the events that came just before the day his brother had killed everyone with Madara's help. He knew that it wouldn't be long now, not long at all.
.0.0.0.
Sasuke spent the next day training his kunai and shuriken aim, going through the same motions as his brother had. This time however, he wasn't trying and failing to get it right, he was getting it right. And to think he'd only managed to fully grasp this while he'd been tucked away in some dark hole with Orochimaru.
"Sasuke-kun." Itachi greeted softly, just as Sasuke landed on the ground for the fifth time.
"Aniki." Sasuke replied just as softly. He didn't want to admit that the older Uchiha had surprised him.
"Shisui-kun wants to know if you're interested in training?" Itachi continued, making the boy blink in surprise.
"Let me guess, you've both decided to see just how skilled I am, eh Aniki?" Sasuke teased knowingly, watching the tiniest frown tilt his brother's lips meaning he was correct.
"Well it took me far longer to get this little exercise than what it took you." Itachi finally replied, not denying it but not confirming it either.
"I had a good sensei." Sasuke smiled at his brother to make sure he knew exactly who he was talking about.
"So you learnt that just from watching?" Shusui asked, dropping down from the trees. Seeing the two together almost made Sasuke want to laugh. The clan had sent the two most loyal Uchiha to try and betray the thing they were most loyal to.
"I'm not on your level Aniki, not even close. I just watch and learn, like any Uchiha should." Sasuke continued, not really wanting to go through an evaluation with the clans most prestigious members. They'd see too much.
"Modesty isn't really an Uchiha trait." Itachi mused, raising a brow.
"But knowing your limits is." Sasuke countered.
"Well said, little cousin." Shisui laughed, ruffling his hair.
"Besides, aren't you two supposed to be really busy with missions? I mean I'd ask you to train me but you'll just say 'Not now Sasuke-kun, I'm busy.' Or something like that and then you'll poke me on the forehead before leaving, again." Sasuke huffed, telling the tale of how things were supposed to be.
"I'm hurt, dear little cousin. Didn't I offer to train you?" Shisui asked with mock staggering while clutching at his chest. Shisui had always been one of the more outspoken Uchiha, but not in the things that he had truly believed in, just his daily emotions.
"Ohkay then, teach me how to do that Shunshin Jutsu of yours." Sasuke asked with an Uchiha worthy smirk.
"Ah my little apprentice, aiming mighty high are we not? The question is, can you handle it?" Shisui asked with mock seriousness.
"Well I guess I won't know until you show me." Sasuke quirked an eyebrow at the older Uchiha, noting that Itachi had the smallest of smiles on his face, merely watching.
This was something he had not had the first time around and this was something he would always treasure. This day, where the clan prodigies took it upon themselves to personally seek him out and offer to train him. He wouldn't forget it.
For the first time Sasuke actually smiled and forgot about the impending doom of his family and the very ninja in front of him. He merely enjoyed the moment for what it was, accepting whatever he could, and learning while he still had the chance.
He refused to think that this time last time, he'd been sitting outside their home, while his mother tended to the wounds he had gotten while desperately trying to perfect the very same exercise he had been doing flawlessly before Itachi came. He'd been sulking about how he wasn't like Itachi, how he couldn't do things as perfectly as Itachi could, no matter how hard he tried.
He had been sulking because his father had called Itachi 'my boy' for achieving the rank of ANBU, even though Itachi had been silently suffering because of it.
.0.0.0.
Sasuke sat silently as he waited for his father to finish reading his report card. Sasuke hadn't even looked at it. He knew that everything was perfect, top to bottom. Sakura's was the same, in the theory part, but not in the physical part. They hadn't wanted to draw attention there.
He didn't look up at his father with hopeful and breathless anticipation. He merely sat there with a slightly stoic expression on his face. A part of him realised that he was doing exactly what Itachi did while sitting with father. A part of him wondered if this is how Itachi had felt with every praise his father and others had given, that it wasn't really worth much if the accomplishment was so pathetically easy.
He no longer envied his brother. In fact he didn't even pity him.
He respected his brother more than what he'd done so previously, and that had been an awful lot.
The report card was lowered but Sasuke didn't react. Fugaku hesitated for a moment, taking in Sasuke's posture and facial expression. For a moment he felt like he was staring at Itachi and his heart sped at the thought.
Sasuke, his precious, innocent Sasuke couldn't be like Itachi. He just couldn't. Itachi was so cold and aloof, so confusing. It would break his heart to have a second son just like that.
But none of this showed on his face as he stated in an even tone, "Keep excelling like this and you'll be just like your brother in no time."
It didn't even occur to him that Sasuke was tired of being seen as nothing more than a miniature Itachi and that all it would've taken to get a smile out of him, was to say well done Sasuke, to mention nothing of Itachi in the process.
Sasuke respected his brother more than anything but he really didn't want to be stuck in Itachi's shadow. He wanted to be his own person too and he'd only become his own person after Itachi committed an act so horrible that it was practically forbidden to talk about. So no one even wanted to see the young genius in the ninja's younger brother.
.0.0.0.
Sasuke was awake this time when his father's angry shout rang through their home.
"Come again?! What do you mean you can't participate in tomorrow's assembly?"
Itachi had been growing more and more distant, hardly ever at home these days. Sasuke knew why that was, his life as a double spy becoming increasingly taxing as the Uchiha moved their plans for a coup along. Sasuke wished he could change it but there was just nothing that he could do.
He'd try to stop it but he knew that the death of the clan had been what Itachi had used to both save the Shinobi nation from another war, for the time being, and to satisfy Madara into not attacking the Leaf. Interfering was not an option. Not when he was still so weak.
He would have to suffer with his brother and let it all happen.
His mother and father were in a room with Itachi. Sasuke knew this already. Didn't have to leave his room to find it out. Yet he did so anyway, knowing that he wouldn't hear very much more otherwise.
"I don't think you really understand your position." Fugaku continued while silently Sasuke added "No Otou-san, it is you who does not understand their position."
"I'm setting off on a mission tomorrow." Itachi replied calmly, as though this was something that was happening with or without Fugaku's permission and it probably was.
"What are you talking about?" Did their father really not think that by sending Itachi into the ANBU Black Ops, he'd also be taxing more of Itachi's time? After all Itachi could hardly say no to a mission from ANBU just because the clan decided to have a meeting. Didn't Fugaku know this?
"I can't tell you, the mission is covert." Itachi replied, his tone conveying nothing of his thoughts or emotions. This was the mission where Shisui died, Sasuke knew this but did Itachi?
There was a pause, in which Fugaku gathered his thoughts, putting aside his anger. "Itachi, you also serve as the Uchiha Clan's pipeline to the Village's nerve centre. You know that don't you?"
A silly question. Itachi was all too aware of exactly what he was doing, more so than Fugaku ever would be.
"Yes." A single word, in which Sasuke finally heard the true pain his brother was feeling, and it was deeper than anything Sasuke would ever understand. But it was a pain that one had to be looking for otherwise they would not see it.
"Well make sure you don't forget it. You will be at that meeting tomorrow." It wasn't something Itachi had answered the first time around either.
Would his brother rat on him this time as well?
"Sasuke," Itachi was using him as a distraction, he realised that now but damn it if he didn't have the urge to throw something at the older Uchiha.
Sasuke opened the door and stepped inside the room. "I don't need the bathroom, Aniki. The shouting woke me up." He stated before Itachi could continue.
He watched sadly as his mother looked utterly shocked at seeing him standing there, his father growing angry, well even more so than what he had already been. What was it about this situation that caused their reactions? Was it the fact that their innocent little Sasuke knew more than he should, saw more than he was ever meant to? He wondered for only a moment, what they would have done should their plans have succeeded. They'd have been hard pressed to hide the violence from him then.
"What are you doing roaming the house at this hour?" Fugaku asked, getting to his feet. "Get to bed!"
Sasuke looked at Itachi, watching as his brother studied him, trying to understand him and growing frustrated when he could not.
"Sasuke!" Fugaku snapped, not liking the way the two boys were silently communicating. Mikoto stood and came to him, small hands grasping his arm. "It's almost as though they understand one another." She whispered fearfully.
And truly, any person that ever understood why Itachi did the things he did, was a person to be feared just as much as Itachi himself. Was Fugaku going to have to start becoming weary of both of his sons? He had thought he was safe while around Sasuke, but those eyes were becoming just as unreadable to him as Itachi's had always been. Those eyes were losing their curious innocence, slowly being replaced by pained understanding.
"Good night, Aniki. Good luck on your mission tomorrow. Tell Shisui-kun I say hi," Sasuke said eventually, turning to leave the way he had entered while Itachi's gaze widened in shock, an expression that went unnoticed by their parents. "And tell him I say good bye as well." Sasuke added just before the door closed.
"It seems Otouto, that I have underestimated you." Itachi murmured quietly to himself with a small smirk. The fact that Sasuke hadn't meekly obeyed their father as he had expected the boy to do gave Itachi hope that Sasuke wouldn't blindly follow the clan's arrogant views and traditions.
However, Sasuke had showed a far greater understanding of this situation then even the Uchiha elders and that was something worth looking into, even if he no longer really had the time. In fact, Sasuke had shown an understanding of something he should have no knowledge about at all.
This was a discovery Itachi would keep to himself no matter what. If Danzou ever found out, Sasuke would never be left alone. Sasuke would be used just as they were trying to use Itachi.
Sasuke's stealth skills were not great enough to fool him, so the boy could not be following him. Besides, the boy spent his time at the Academy and training in the various grounds around the compound. There was no way his parting words meant what Itachi thought they did.
Yet Itachi was rarely wrong. Sasuke knew more than what he should, but the question was, how much more and where did he learn it from?
.0.0.0.
It was later the next day that found Sasuke and Itachi sitting outside of their house, Sasuke's report card between them.
Sasuke's thoughts echoed the words Itachi had said to him the first time, after he had expressed his fear at being unwanted by their father. This time he voiced no such fear.
"Otou-san only cares about you, Itachi-kun." Sasuke had stated very quietly.
Itachi had looked at the clouds and smiled a soft sad smile, but an understanding one, "You probably hate me huh?"
At the time Sasuke had been so scared that Itachi would be mad at him, that Itachi had guessed so correctly on what he'd been thinking in right that moment. It had been a moment of childish anger where he hadn't understood anything at all yet he'd demanded so much. Looking back now, knowing what he did, he was surprised he had allowed his anger to cloud his judgement so fully when it came to his brother. On that day, in that moment, Itachi had basically told him of his innocence and he hadn't listened.
But he listened now.
"It's alright. People often think ill of Shinobi, it's only logical."
"That's not how I feel." Sasuke had tried to protest, to deny his own feelings to himself. But the moment the words had left his mouth he knew he'd been lying.
"Hn." A small smile, a private joke that Sasuke now understood. "Being the best isn't all that it's cracked up to be. When you have power you become arrogant and isolated from the world, no matter how coveted and sought after you are in the beginning, but with us it's different because you and I are flesh and blood. I'm always going to be there for you, even if it's only as an obstacle to overcome." Here he had paused to look at Sasuke, "Even if you do hate me. That's what big brothers are for."
Then they'd been interrupted. This time though, the conversation would be different, he could feel it. And this time, he wouldn't hate Itachi, he could never hate Itachi again.
"Sasuke-kun, tell me honestly, what do you understand of what is happening right now, within the clan?" Itachi didn't bother with beating around the bush, jumping straight to the issue.
"I understand that it's the reason you're not home as often and I understand that it's the reason you and Otou-san fight a lot. So it is for those reasons that I don't agree with it." Sasuke replied, looking at their surroundings rather than his brother. He knew that his brother was somewhat expecting a childish reply, one that lacked true understanding and insight. What he had told his brother was a childish version of truths that could be plausible and even seen as selfish but when looked at through the eyes of a child, it could be understood.
"What about Shisui-kun?" Itachi seemed to be holding his breath for this one.
Sasuke was so very much aware that in this moment, in this very second, Shisui was already dead, Itachi having witnessed everything or at least most of it. Just one more event that added to his mental list of events leading up to that day.
"He's around you a lot, so I figured you'd have the mission with him." Sasuke shrugged, stating something he had observed and connecting it to his words but not stating the truth behind those earlier words. He had meant exactly what Itachi had initially understood Sasuke to mean. "Did you tell him I said good bye?" Sasuke asked carefully, wide childlike eyes staring at his brother.
"I did, and he told me to tell you to stop being so much like me. That I'm not as amazing as you think I am." Itachi replied, a sad smile on his face.
"Ah, but I think he's wrong. You're more amazing than what anyone will ever understand Aniki. I am only just beginning to grasp the extent of your achievements." Sasuke's eyes grew distant as he thought it over and realised that there was still so much that he had yet to comprehend about Itachi.
"You, little brother, really are a mystery. Sometimes I don't think I'm talking to a child at all." Itachi was baiting him, he knew that.
So he just smiled and placed his hand on top of his brother's. "I will always love you Itachi. No matter what happens. After all you and I are flesh and blood. I'm always going to be there for you." Itachi's eyes seemed to grow as distant as Sasuke's had been a moment before.
This conversation had been a conversation within a conversation and he wondered if Itachi would pick at the thread until it unravelled. Sasuke was inclined to let him.
But then they were interrupted by someone opening their door and shouting into the house, again.
"Is Itachi in there?!" An angry demand of an arrogant Uchiha. One that made Sasuke scowl in annoyance. "We need to talk. Get out here!"
Itachi approached them wearily, not at all concerned about their anger. He was merely tired from his mission. Sasuke followed but at a slight distance.
"What's going on?" Itachi asked and Sasuke was amazed at his acting skills. He could only tell because he knew. "What are you all doing here?"
"There were two people who didn't show up at yesterday's assembly." A very poorly veiled accusation. A slight pause before "Do you want to tell me why you weren't there?" An angry demand in a tone so disrespectful it made Sasuke grit his teeth. "You're in the ANBU Black Ops now. I know full well that you can be called away at the drop of a hat, and that's the case your father was trying to make when we asked why you weren't there." His tone suggested that no one believed it for a moment.
"But we're not your father. You won't be getting any special treatment from us." One of the others added.
Itachi bowed his head in acknowledgement, but the action was a very slight one. "I understand. I should have been more careful. Will that be all then?" Sasuke could hear the slight irritation in Itachi's tone but only because he knew to look for it.
"Sure thing, but you know what, before we go there's just one other thing."
Itachi had the sense to look more attentive as one of the other's continued. "Do you . . . know anything about Uchiha Shisui throwing himself into Nakana River?" Sasuke closed his eyes in pain, pushing the emotion aside as this was a crucial moment.
"Shisui was the other guy that didn't turn up at the assembly yesterday." This guy was a lot more aggressive in his approach than the other guy. Sasuke could see that he'd already condemned Itachi and that he was just waiting for a chance to hit him. "It's funny. If I remember correctly you kind of looked up to him like an older brother, didn't you?" The man continued, oblivious to the pain he was causing Itachi and he was causing Itachi pain. Sasuke could see that. See it in the way Itachi closed his eyes to hide what he was feeling.
"How terrible." Itachi murmured. "Forgive me, I haven't seen him at all recently." He opened his eyes, whispering in a tone that was filled with hidden pain. "What a tragedy." Sasuke knew this to be a partial lie. He knew that he'd seen Shisui and had even admitted at much to Sasuke. Was he so assured of Sasuke's loyalty to him and not the clan that he would actually take a chance like that?
"Yeah, well at this point the police force sees no other choice but to launch a full out investigation into the matter."
Sasuke watched as Itachi played his part perfectly. "Investigation?"
A note was handed to Itachi after having been pulled from between the layers of material on one of the Uchiha's sashes. "This is a note Shisui left behind. We've already had it analysed. There is no question that this is his handwriting."
Itachi didn't move to take the note. "But if it wasn't homicide, why the investigation?"
"It would be no great feat for someone who possesses Sharingan to copy his handwriting." Another thinly veiled accusation.
This time Itachi did take the note, examining it as the one who'd given it to him began talking again. "The most talented of all out clan feared as Shunshin no Shisui would do anything, take any mission, for the good of the clan. Hard to imagine a man like that throwing it all away, don't you think." This time the accusation was so obvious it was painful.
"You shouldn't judge people by their appearances . . . or by your own preconceptions." Itachi replied coldly, but yet still managing to sound polite.
"We'll leave that with you. Take it to ANBU Black Ops and put in a request for them to start sniffing around as well." They appeared to be leaving but Sasuke knew it was far from over.
"Understood." Itachi replied curtly.
"Let's just hope we get a lead on this soon." One man sighed as they walked out of the house they had so rudely barged into.
"By the way," The man that really irritated Sasuke stopped to add over his shoulder. "We have our own connections within the ANBU Black Ops. You try and sweep this investigation under the rug, and we're going to know about it."
Sasuke immediately understood that the man had crossed a line with that last little dig at Itachi, that last poorly disguised accusation. Itachi's entire demeanour changed like a switch had been flicked. Eyes narrowed, lips thinned and his hand clenched against the note that was Shusui's letter.
"Why don't you just come out and say it." An angry, gruffly stated challenge. Sasuke wanted to interfere here but did not, not yet. He was just as angry as Itachi. How dare they even suspect Itachi had anything to do with it! Three sets of activated Sharingan eyes looked back at Itachi whose Sharingan was also active. "You believe I had a hand in this, don't you." Not a question.
"Yeah that's right, little punk." Sasuke's anger only grew upon hearing that man think so lowly of Itachi. It just wasn't fair.
"Listen here Itachi, if I find you betrayed this clan I just want you to know, you'll pay for your wrongs." The man that had been somewhat polite up till now warned arrogantly just before Itachi attacked them, not even trying to best them and succeeding spectacularly all the same.
When Itachi spoke again, his Sharingan was no longer active and his tone was completely different. He was now openly patronising them. "Like I said before, appearances and preconceptions aren't going to tell you anything. For instance you've already made the mistake of assuming I'm a patient man. The clan, the clan . . . You over-estimate your own abilities with no idea of the depth of my own." Those words had a special emphasis placed on tem, almost like Itachi was indulging in the arrogance of the Uchiha clan. "And look at you now, grovelling in the dirt."
One of the men managed to recover enough to speak once more "Shisui . . . Shisui had been keeping an eye on you recently, the strangeness of your behaviour, half a year into your time at ANBU, it was impossible to overlook. What the heck are you playing at you filthy little wretch."
Sasuke bit his lip to keep himself in place. It would not do to interfere.
"Obsessed with the organisation," Itachi began again, eyes narrowing with blazing Sharingan, "Obsessed with the clan, obsessed with our lineage. A worthless compulsion that enslaves us and limits our capabilities, leading us to fear what we don't understand." Itachi hissed out, for once showing nothing but honesty and Sasuke found himself entranced with his brother's views, his opinions. Listening in a way he hadn't done so the first time around.
"Stop it Itachi!" Fukagu yelled having finally arrived at the house. Itachi's attention snapped towards the man, and he continued. "What on earth is the matter with you? . . . Itachi, you've been strange lately." That last statement had almost been stated like Fugaku was admitting to a defeat.
"Nothing strange about me. I have my own duties to fulfil, that's all." Itachi wasn't looking at Fugaku as he said this and Sasuke could see his brother once again collecting the calm patient mask that he usually donned and for some reason, this saddened him. Why did his brother have to always hide the way he truly felt?
"So what's your story, why didn't you come last night?" Fugaku demanded.
"To achieve the next state." Itachi replied dully.
"What are you talking about?" Fugaku asked, his tone nearing frustration.
Itachi reacted suddenly, pulling out a kunai and tossing it at the wall, where it landed directly in the centre of the clan's crest. This was a sign more obnoxious than any words Itachi would have ever spoken. This was his truest protest.
"I've had enough, there's no hope left for this pathetic clan." Itachi stated darkly. "The people of this clan are all the same. You focus on the trivial and lose sight of what's most important. Change is impossible in this fog of ignorance. How can we evolve when regulation is all we know?" Itachi seemed to be speaking to himself, the Uchiha he had knocked down earlier, getting to their feet.
Fugaku narrowed his eyes and Sasuke once again felt the charge in the air, that tension that seemed to scream of inevitable violence. He didn't stop to think about what he was about to do, he simply acted.
"Such arrogance." One spat in disgust. "That's enough, if I hear once more word of this nonsense–"
He rushed out of the house to stand directly in front of Itachi and spread his arms wide. "Leave nii-san alone." He stated firmly, none of his usual child-like innocence lacing his tone. "You ask so much of him, never once asking him what he wants. Then you have the nerve to treat him like this when something goes wrong! That's not fair!" Sasuke stopped to smirk. "Besides, you can't do anything to Aniki. He's ANBU Black Ops." He didn't have to say anything more. His father would understand.
The first time around he had been the reason his brother had bowed so shamefully in front of these arrogant buffoons. Not this time. Itachi didn't do anything that deserved apologising for.
"Oh yeah, you little runt. I might not be able to do anything to him but I can touch you." The one that had angered Sasuke the most snapped but before Itachi could pull him to safety, before Fugaku could shout the order to make the man stop, before the man could even make a move at all, Sasuke had already sent a fire ball jutsu straight at him forcing him to slam himself to the ground to avoid it.
"You can try." Sasuke sneered, acting nothing like the darling little six year old he'd been pretending to be and more like the experienced ninja he was. The problem was, he wasn't strong enough to actually back up his challenge. Not yet.
He had the advantage of surprise on his side but that would only last so long.
"He's corrupted your youngest I see." One of the men muttered to Fugaku who was watching with wide eyes.
"Sasuke, this is not the time nor the place." Itachi scolded quietly.
"Hardly Aniki, but you were about to apologise to them. They don't deserve it, barging into our home and accusing you of things you'd never do. Just who do they think they are?" Sasuke turned to his brother, venting the anger he'd been trying to keep back since the interruption had started, perhaps even from since that 'nightmare'.
"If I was about to apologise, Sasuke-kun, then that is what we must both do. We have attacked those above us in rank and we have disgraced the family name. You are young still, Sasuke-kun. You have a lot to learn." Itachi said quietly, almost lowering to his level. Sasuke looked at Itachi's eyes and saw that this was something he needed Sasuke to do so the small boy turned back to their elders while Itachi grasped his shoulder.
"Sasuke-kun is young, his understanding of the situation isn't quite what you would wish it to be." Itachi then sank to his knees, gently pushing Sasuke to do the same. They both lowered their head to the floor, Itachi still doing the talking. "I did not kill Shisui. And I must apologise for the words that I have said."
"I too have acted out of line. Forgive my childish actions, Otou-san. I was not thinking as an Uchiha should. It won't happen again." Sasuke added.
The four Uchiha men seemed stunned and for a moment no one moved, no one said a word but Fugaku recovered first. "Itachi-kun has been pretty tired lately. Up to his ears in missions from the ANBU Black Ops." His tone was robotic, a father making excuses so that his heart would not believe what his eyes had seen.
"But taichou!–"
"ANBU are under the direct control of the Hokage. Even if you wanted to arrest one of them, you'd need to get a warrant first. As for those two, I take full responsibility for them. You have my word." Fugaku interrupted while the men grumbled their displeasure, realising there was nothing they could do even if they wanted to.
"Very well taichou, but you might want to keep an eye on that younger brat."
Fugaku ignored him, walking into the house with a tired gait and a heavy expression, leaving his sons kneeling on the ground behind him. Itachi looked towards the man, and Sasuke saw the transformation up close as they morphed into those of the Mangekyou Sharingan.
Those eyes flickered to his own before widening. "A fully mastered Sharingan at six." Itachi breathed, almost lifting a hand to touch his face.
Sasuke stiffened when he realised that he did indeed have an active Sharingan and at the level that meant he had all three tomoe. He hadn't even realised that his emotional responses to this event were that strong.
"Don't tell anyone. Deactivate them, now." Itachi murmured, barely finished with his previous statement. Sasuke obeyed without question. "There are those to whom you must hide those eyes from." Itachi elaborated, satisfied that Sasuke would understand this comment just like he had understood everything else.
"Hai, Aniki." Sasuke murmured quietly, watching as Itachi's eyes faded to black as well.
The two brothers got to their feet and Sasuke blinked at his brother, waiting for him to say something, to ask the questions he knew were burning within his mind.
But Itachi didn't say a word. Instead he walked into the house, not even glancing back at Sasuke. Sasuke couldn't help but wonder if this was his way of hiding Sasuke's true power from those that were undoubtedly watching the Uchiha so very closely. If Itachi didn't openly acknowledge it, if Itachi didn't openly begin to question it, then no one else would know of it.
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