Sasuke didn't look well.

He'd lost weight over the last month. Even so far away, perched high in the trees of the Uchiha clan's training ground, Itachi could see as much. The teen didn't have the energy to activate his sharingan as his dark eyes carefully scanned over the pale boy, searching his small body over. By the looks of it, his younger brother hadn't been getting enough iron. Though he supposed the paleness could also be attributed to a lack of sleep. A combination of the two was most likely.

Either way, it was beneficial to Sasuke in the long run. The lack of sleep most likely meant nightmares. Nightmares were...useful. They were sure to replay the most horrific parts of that night to the boy, embedding each detail in his mind. Details that would remind him of his weakness, echoing in his mind each time his blood spilt so easily.

Sasuke had been given a terrible start to life. One Itachi was sure he'd despise. Still, it would all be worth it. All the suffering he had to endure now would be eased once he was finally able to kill his wicked older brother off. Yes, Itachi reaffirmed as Sasuke moved along. The desolate expression on his brother's face was a good sign. Even if it made the teen's insides tighten, it was for the best.

The young Uchiha would grow strong. Sasuke would kill him someday. The leaf would praise him for killing off an S-rank criminal. His younger brother would become powerful, respected, and maybe even appreciated.

It was just going to take some time...and a lot of work. Sasuke would need to learn how to endure his life before striving to improve it. He'd have to move one step at a time if he wanted to pull himself through the gruelling process. As painful as it would be, he'd come out of it strong. Itachi was sure of it.

The teen had hoped to keep an eye on this development from afar. After all, if he wanted his brother to learn how to endure things on his own, he couldn't play babysitter and risk interfering more than necessary.

The world was a cruel place. Sasuke knew that. Now he needed to learn to accept and deal with it so he could one day thrive.

Unfortunately, the world had a way of attacking when Itachi least expected it. Stepping in to remind him that, in the grand scheme of things, he was just as powerless as the little ravenet.

The proof stood tall next to his little brother, walking alongside the boy as if his very presence didn't offer up a dozen new issues for Itachi to consider.

Who was he? Where did he come from? What was he doing here? Why was he here? When had he arrived? How had he managed to get so close to Sasuke without the hokage interfering?

Hiruzen had sworn no one would harm Sasuke so long as he lived. Once again, the man's promise of aid felt half-hearted to the teen. How could he promise that no harm would come while simultaneously allowing this stranger to linger?

Itachi had of course heard the rumours on his way towards the village. That the man was from far away; that he was distantly connected to the Uchiha through a lover of some sort.

Then there were those he'd listened in on when waiting for Sasuke to be released from the academy. The ones that claimed he was an old ally the Hokage had made while he was visiting the Land of Water for negotiation purposes.

Neither felt right.

It wasn't that Itachi had a reason not to believe these rumours, per se. It was something more...instinctual. It didn't help that the man looked almost...familiar?

There was something about his eyes, Itachi noted as he traced tired sharingan over the man.

Though his eye colour was striking, it wasn't that alone. No, Itachi couldn't help but focus on the look in his eyes. That serious yet regal look embedded itself in the teen. Where had he seen such features and expression before?

The eyes were not sharingan. Who else had he met or seen with red eyes?

There was that red-eyed woman he'd seen in passing...but her eyes looked nothing like his.

Maybe he was thinking of Kakashi? That could be it. The silver hair, mask, and red tone could be what was making him think the man was familiar. Though, Kakashi's expression looked less sharp than this man's.

Itachi supposed it wasn't something he needed to find out urgently. It was important, but definitely not at the top of his to-do list.

First, he needed to figure out the man's motive. Why was he focusing on Sasuke? That was the most important question right now, followed closely by the question of whether or not the Hokage knew what was going on. Perhaps it was what the man had called Itachi for.

The shinobi he'd listened in on had all been of a higher rank. Which meant their words most likely held more truth than the villager's interested musings of a mysterious outlander.

Itachi had a sneaking suspicion Hiruzen knew exactly what was going on. Perhaps the man was indeed from overseas-- a fresh and unrecognizable face. If it were the case, Itachi wouldn't put it past Danzo to encourage Hiruzen to give Sasuke a secret attendant of their choice.

A fire lit itself in Itachi's stomach as the thought of Danzo getting his hands on Sasuke entered his mind. Eyes narrowing, Itachi's lips pursed in distaste. Was that the man's role? Was he sent by Danzo to preemptively grab control?

Was he called back to the village so Hiruzen could tell him of Sasuke's new keeper?

What would the man say? That he was here to make sure Sasuke wasn't harmed? That he was supposedly a distant relative and they couldn't keep him away without seeming suspicious? Or perhaps he'd be forward enough to admit the man was a precaution of sorts?

Each excuse Itachi thought of made him more frustrated than the last. Closing his eyes, the teen took a breath.

He was making dangerous assumptions, though he was unsure if he'd prefer for them to be right or for the man to have his own motive after all. Perhaps Itachi could deal with it, if the man was truly a surprise thorn after all. That was yet another possibility. Perhaps he had been called back to handle the issue personally-- though the teen couldn't begin to think of the hokage's reasoning if this were the case.

The red-clad shinobi supposed only time - and some investigation - would tell.

Itachi believed he had led the hokage to believe he was slower than he actually was. It was important for him to have more time to consider and gather information, especially back when the coup had been building. The days he had spent on missions were the perfect times to consider the situation without the threat of his clan or ANBU interrupting.

Now he was especially glad to have lingered on tasks longer than necessary.

If Itachi had to guess, the Hokage most likely assumed it would take him four to five days. Perhaps he could even push it to a full week if he used the justification of having to slip under the Akatsuki's radar. After all, it was risky to leave shadow clones on either side...

Oh, he couldn't help but lament, his little brother was such a handful - even now.

Itachi was sure even the silver-haired stranger, 'Tobira' he believed he'd heard him called - thought as much. With the way Sasuke had decided to move ahead for the training grounds, it wouldn't surprise the teen in the least.

Whatever the man wanted from Sasuke, he was sure to get it at this rate. Itachi of all people knew how much the boy enjoyed training. It seemed as though the man had picked up on it too. It was something he intended to use, the teen was sure.

Sasuke definitely seemed appeased, if nothing else. Once they arrived, it was like a flip switched in the boy's mind. Itachi watched as the young Uchiha glanced over his shoulder momentarily, towards the compound before moving back to the training ground with a huff. Quick to remove his school bag and set it to the side, the boy looked up at the masked man with a serious expression.

Their lips moved, and though Itachi was too far away to hear what they were saying, it was clear that it was time to get down to business. The air around them shifted, the larger shinobi straightening up as he began speaking. Dark eyes scanned over the man, shifting between him and the attentive six-year-old.

Tobira had picked Sasuke up from school. He seemed to have made a good impression on the jonin. Even the hokage himself seemed to get along with him, if he'd really managed to speak to the elderly shinobi so soon after entering the village. Now here he was, pointing around the training field and calling out firm orders on where to go.

Itachi moved across the tree branches with soft footsteps, nearing the two as he slid through the shadows. Leaning his back to the rough bark of a tree, the young shinobi peered up with one leg drawn into his stomach while the other dangled loosely.

As much as he would like to watch the two, he had no idea what the power level of the elder shinobi was. Being caught with his head out would be...inconvenient. Whether the man was with the village or an independent, it could bring up questions Itachi would rather not answer at the moment.

Not to mention it could cause a few shifts in his plan if Sasuke saw him again so soon after the massacre. It wouldn't be a big issue, per se, but it would definitely affect his plans and future appearances. He'd need to act more as a present threat than a lingering one if he wanted to keep Sasuke's perception of his steady.

Yes, the risks far outweighed the benefits of being able to see their body language. No matter how useful it was. Besides, Itachi was tired. If he were an inch bolder, he'd let his eyes rest. The trees were swaying above the teen-- the intricate veins of the leaves dancing above him as he listened.

"Yes, I'm serious." Tobira's voice came, the low tone laced with some form of mild entertainment. "How do you expect me to help you improve if I don't know what you can do?"

Itachi could practically envision his brother's pout, the elder Uchiha's brows coming together in light amusement.

"Okay...but remember to leave time to teach me something after!" The small boy's voice rang out with an insisting tone, one that struck Itachi's chest harder than he'd thought it would. Even as his expression remained impassive, Itachi's chest tightened.

He hadn't thought he'd miss his brother so much. He'd known it would be painful, but even he couldn't have foreseen the extent of it. It was merely weeks ago that Itachi had tried to convince himself that it wasn't as terrible as it seemed to be. That it was for the best, in the long run. That he'd taken on missions that lasted much longer than a month and been fine without his brother...

This was different, though. Itachi wouldn't lie to himself and say otherwise as he listened to the steady thumping of Sasuke's feet against the training ground. This wasn't a three-month-long mission where he'd fight his hardest to return home as soon as possible. There wouldn't be a welcome dinner waiting for him. Sasuke's wouldn't scurry up from his toys to meet him at the door. No proud hums of approval would ring in his ears.

This mission wasn't going to end until he was gone. It would end with his guts spilt, Sasuke running at him with killing intent, and angry battle cries of betrayal.

Itachi had made his bed, and now he had to get ready to lie in it. Even if the sheets were made of sandpaper and the pillow was hard as stone.

That of course didn't make it any less uncomfortable, the pained expression on Sasuke's face flashing through his eyes and the steady thumping in his ears mimicking their rare training sessions from only a month or so ago.

Hand slipping upwards to rest on his forehead, Itachi rubbed his enflamed temples. It was for the best, even as the light thumps rang in his mind. He didn't regret what had happened. He couldn't.

Itachi would have plenty of time to lament in purgatory.

He was sure he'd be there a while.