Title: Sasuke's Heart: Denied?

Author: Ladye Black

Warnings: Ah, some semi-spoilers and regular spoilers. I've been reading the scanlations on Naruto Chuushin. But, AU, since I only know what happens up to a certain point.

Disclaimer: Characters aren't mine.

Notes: Oh my god! I am so sorry! You've probably forgotten all about this fic by now. All I can say is that my mind decided to go wandering for a very long time and didn't come back until recently.

Chapter 8

Panting, Sasuke took the brief break in the fight to study his brother. Itachi looked the same. Same hair, same face, same eyes. The same eyes that were the result of killing ones best friend. And Sasuke's eyes matched them.

He hadn't killed his best friend, though. He'd tried, oh how he had tried when Naruto came after him, but he had failed. So, instead, Sasuke's eyes were the result of intent. He hadn't actually done the deed.

Itachi looked into those red eyes and hid his surprise. "So, you finally did it, huh? Tell me, little brother, who was the poor bastard that had to die?"

Sasuke's vision was clouded with red. "I'm not like you," he answered, then attacked.

The older brother was almost impressed by how far Sasuke had come along. He was still no where close to Itachi himself though. Dodging almost effortlessly, Itachi continued his taunts. "Is that so, little brother? Red eyes like that don't lie."

Reversing his position, Sasuke threw a kunai, then disappeared. "Perhaps your vision needs to be checked, Itachi, or your information." He was behind Itachi, and had already finished his seal, the result of which was a gigantic fireball.

Itachi pushed himself to the side, avoiding both attacks, and started a seal of his own. He didn't have a chance to finish it, however, as Sasuke's trap closed upon him. Breaking off the seal, he dodged the barrage of fire and sharp steal. When did he do that? The question floated through Itachi's mind, but he wasn't very concerned about it. His little brother could never win against him, Sasuke had never been fierce enough, and he wasn't fierce enough now.

Sasuke grinned to himself, slightly amused by how the fight was going. His brother was strong, always had been, but he underestimated Sasuke. Especially now, when it counted. "Hey, Itachi?"

"Yes?" his brother answered as they locked to together in another fierce round of kicks and punches.

Sasuke let his grin show. "Have you ever wondered how much power the Sharingan really affords it user?" And he unleashed the power he had been holding back.

Standing several yards apart, Itachi wore a grin of his own. "Perhaps you will be worth my time, little brother."

"More than you could ever know," Sasuke replied, a prepared for another attack.

Naruto paced worriedly. It wasn't really like him, the blonde Jounin never worried about much more than where his next meal came from, but this was different. Sasuke was fighting his hated older brother, someone he had wanted to kill since he was seven. This time, however, he had a chance of winning.

It was only that, however, but he suspected a set up as well. Why would the Hokage offer a mission to Uchiha Itachi, and then send them on a mission where they met up with anyway? Despite his friends' teasing, Naruto wasn't really a dunce; he was just a little slower at figuring things out than his friends. And they knew he wasn't stupid, which made their comments just teasing, not hurtful.

Catching Sakura's gaze, they both looked over at Wong, who was sitting on an oversized tree root. At Sakura's small nod he stalked up to the man and leaned down into him closely. "What do you know?" he demanded.

Wong smiled innocently. "What makes you think I know anything?"

Naruto's eyes narrowed dangerously. "If you think that we didn't already know this was a set up, than the Hokage has a really low opinion of us." He felt Sakura stand behind him. "A mission to kill Uchiha Itachi? And then we meet him anyway? What's the Hokage thinking?"

Blinking lazily, Wong smiled. "I can see why she thought you'd be perfect for this mission."

Naruto growled. "Tell me everything."

Falling back, Sasuke glared at his opponent, the Sharingan burning in his eyes. Across from him, Itachi raised his hand to stop the flow of blood from the newly acquired cut on his upper arm. "You have indeed become a worthy opponent, Sasuke."

The dark-haired Jounin grinned mirthlessly. "Thank you, brother, you seem to have been lax in your training." Itachi's eyes narrowed, he was not amused, and it made Sasuke grin even wider. "Scared, nii-san?"

The older Uchiha barely restrained a growl. "Of you? Never." And he attacked his brother again.

This time he used his best technique, his illusion. It was quick, and to the untrained and unwary, it was deadly. But, Sasuke was neither of these things. He had witnessed this jutsu at his brother's hands before, and this time, he was ready for it.

In mere moments, the jutsu was cast and then broken, and for the first time in Uchiha Itachi's life he felt the first faint stirrings of fear.

Sasuke smirked.

Naruto stared at Wong. "You're joking."

Wong smiled his most irritating smile. "No joke."

"You've got to be joking!" Sakura pleaded. Suddenly, Wong recognized the looks on their faces. It was the look of someone who had just been given a bit of hope but didn't want to believe in it. It made Wong suddenly very serious.

"I'm not joking," he replied, being at his most serious. "The Hokage ordered it just a little over two years ago, a top secret mission. No one was allowed to know about other than the Hokage and those who were sent."

Sakura grabbed him by the collar. "So everything you just said is true, right?! Right?!"

Wong gently peeled her hands from his clothing. "Yes, yes, all of it is very true. The Anbu that went missing are on a very dangerous mission that could soon be coming to an end."

"And exactly what was their mission again?" Naruto queried.

Smiling up at him gently, Wong answered. "To find and stop Uchiha Itachi and his partners as soon as possible."

TBC...

Erm, I'm gonna stop there for now. I think I don't have too many more chapters to go anymore. I'm not quite sure though, yet. Make sure to review! Maybe I'll remember better if people keep hounding me!