Author's Note: Because it has been on my mind for a while that Sakon was a hypocrite and he didn't even know it.

"You lied to Sasuke-sama, you know."

Sakon looked up from the stone jutsu scroll he was reading to stare at his older brother. "What are you talking about, Ukon? I haven't even spoken to Orochimaru-sama's little protégé today. When did I have time to lie to him?"

From his perch of the end of Sakon's bed, Ukon shrugged. He was still wearing that ridiculous fur coat he had gotten in that fight with the kid and his dog over a month ago. Sakon hated that coat. "It wasn't recently. Just something that's been on my mind for awhile. When we first met him. Back in Konoha."

Sakon cast his mind back to his memory of that encounter. He couldn't recall ever saying anything untruthful. As far as he could remember, he had in fact been rather brutally honest. "I give up. When?"

"You told him his bonds made him weak. You of all people should know better then that."

"I didn't even know you were awake then."

Ukon shrugged. "I'm always awake. I just don't… want to bother."

And that pretty much epitomized Ukon. Not wanting to bother. With people, mostly, because Ukon probably trained more than himself. It was for that reason that almost everyone considered them one person, one personality. Probably one soul. There was a popular rumor in Otogakure that Ukon was just some bunshin that wouldn't dissipate when hit. Their team knew better, of course, but no one else did. Not Kabuto, and not Kimimaro. Orochimaru-sama probably did, but that was only because he insisted that they report to him separately.

Sakon finally closed his eyes with a sigh and lay back on the bed. "It wasn't a lie. His friendship with those people kept him from getting any stronger."

"You're trying to tell me that learning from the Copy-nin and training with that kage bunshin guy bogged him down? You can't honestly believe that to be true. Besides, considering how badly we all fight when apart, isn't our team proof enough that close bonds are the key to true strength? Aren't we?"

"It's not the same."

"Why?"

Sakon opened his mouth. Then he closed it. Why was it not the same? He didn't have any idea. It just was. "We were made to protect each other, Ukon. We can't fight well when we're not together. We never could, even though our training allegedly makes us independently capable. You've always watched my back-"

"-as I've watched yours. Who's to say that Sasuke-sama isn't the same?"

"He's got those damned eyes of his. The Uchiha are supposed to battle alone. Who needs someone behind you when your vision is three-hundred sixty degrees?"

Ukon smiled softly. "That's a stupid reason, little brother."

Sakon conceded the argument with a scowl. "So I lied. Big deal. It got him here, didn't it? If he's so desperate for comrades, he's got us now. And we're way better then those pathetic little brats he left behind."

"True enough." Gracious in victory, Ukon pushed up from the bed and walked over to their bookcase, picking out one of the scrolls at random. He settled himself on the windowsill looking out over the woods. "Just keep that in mind the next time you think about insulting his friends, little brother. Some bonds don't break as cleanly as it looks."