AN: After reading many chapters of Naruto, I've decided to put my fingers to the keyboard and type a fanfic! This is a one-shot. Maybe I'll write some longer stories when I find time. Anyways, major OOC-ness for the two brothers. But, of course, the two could've lived a happy life in peace except that Itachi ruined it by killing off the whole clan..

Brothers
By Narika

Imagine the days before having a job. Imagine the days where you could relax and enjoy being a kid. You can play, eat, and sleep without any worries. But becoming anbu breaks that pure childhood image. For Uchiha Itachi, those days were long gone.

Itachi could only reflect on those memories that seem ages ago. He became completely different. He shattered the image of a perfect brother for Sasuke. Itachi killed off his parents and other Uchihas, but he couldn't bring himself to kill his brother. What stopped him? Why didn't he? Well, to see his brother grow strong and try to kill him once he mastered the Sharingan…but that didn't seem like the true reason why.

Holding his head in frustration, Itachi tried to shake away those thoughts. However, he couldn't bring himself to forget that one moment…

"OW!!!"

"What happened Sasuke?"

"I…hurt my ankle…"

Sigh. "I'll carry you the rest of the way…"

"…Thanks."

And so, Sasuke sort of got a free ride on Itachi's back. Funny how Itachi didn't even check the "hurt" ankle…

They continued walking through the forest. They weren't really going anywhere in particular. They were just…walking. One could call it spending time together? It was a rare occasion when the Uchiha brothers could actually spend time together. Or…it was rare for Itachi to spend much time with his brother ever since he became ANBU.

The leaves cackled beneath Itachi's feet. The wind played with their hair. The small critters did what they usually did. Scurrying could be heard from the trees where squirrels ran happily. Glimpses of sunlight fell upon Sasuke's hair, bouncing off in every which way. It was truly a cheerful scene.

Sasuke was gushing with happiness, a smile creeping to his lips. Itachi sensed that Sasuke was hiding the fact that his ankle wasn't really hurt.

"You better not be doing this for a free lift." Itachi's eyes narrowed into a glare, but in his heart he smiled. Trust his little brother to find ways for them to spend time together.

Itachi felt his heart twist when he thought of what he would do in order to master the techniques of his Sharingan. The smile in his heart shattered as he focused upon his set goal…

Memories…they ache your heart when your minds conjures a bittersweet past from the depths of your mind. If only they could be securely locked away in the darkness of your soul, to never be forgotten but always pushed deeper within. All Itachi could do was sigh.

Eep. This turned out to be a little weird. It was based on a little scene that I read in the Naruto manga and I thought that it was quite sweet, but…my writing has messed it up. I didn't know where I was going with this, but oh well. The result is a weird piece written by me...