Title: Possession
Author: desolate butterfly
Genre: gen/drama
Pairings: NaruSasu, implied ItaSasu
Rating: PG

Itachi didn't really know why he was watching Sasuke and the kyuubi vessel train. It wasn't key to the mission to capture the blond, and Kisame had left to retire to their room at the Inn an hour ago. And yet there was something Itachi needed to see for himself.

From his place in the thickness of the forest where he blended perfectly into the shadows, he could just make out the pair as they struggled and fought each other--Sasuke sliding dozens of kunai into kage bunshin after kage bunshin while the blond-haired boy danced around him, dodging the occasional shuriken.

If he activated his sharingan, Itachi could see the beads of sweat on Sasuke's neck as they rolled down the wide collar of his shirt. He could see the frown of concentration on Sasuke's face while he kicked and spun and kicked again.

Sasuke had gotten better, Itachi decided, since he'd seen him last. Not nearly good enough to be a threat to Itachi but still...better. He wondered if Hatake Kakashi was responsible for the improvement. Or perhaps...

Itachi's eyes narrowed as Sasuke was suddenly thrown to the ground, the kyuubi vessel pinning his hands and legs with the weight of his body and straddling the other boy like it was routine.

The blond moved in, slowly, until his nose was almost brushing against Sasuke's and his fingers twined in his little brother's grasp. And Sasuke wasn't moving.

Itachi felt something shift within his chest and he breathed slowly, his eyes fixed to the kyuubi boy's soft expression, Sasuke's parted lips...

And then Sasuke pushed the other boy away and sent a kunai whistling at his face. The blond stumbled back, dodging the strike but losing his balance in the process. He fell hard on his back and lay stunned for a few seconds, immobile.

Sasuke got to his feet, his expression closed and tight, and Itachi moved back into the branches of his hiding place much reassured.

He was still the only one Sasuke thought about.

--

Fin.

Any commentary is appreciated.