Itachi watches the crow carry the min-nin to the island. He waits for the avian to fade into the dark horizon before summoning another crow and sending it after them. The second bird is to report back if anything goes awry, whether that's the min-nin attempting to escape or the little shinobi getting into trouble.

Therefore, Itachi knows something is wrong the moment his crow returns to the rowboat and perches on his arm. He quickly activates his Sharingan and dives into the bird's memories. Yet his heart clenches as he sees the min-nin falling to the ocean and desperately dodging what looks like water bullets.

Itachi immediately dismisses his summon and runs across the water, leaving a confused Kisame behind. He's forced to slow down when a boat patrol crosses his path, him darting around their roving searchlights, but soon he arrives where the min-nin fell.

The Uchiha scans the water's surface, using his dōjutsu to search for the min-nin's chakra. However, he finds no trace of the tiny shinobi. He keeps searching, but even with his Sharingan all he sees are dark, blurry waves.

Frowning, Itachi calls. "Little Sasuke?"

He examines the ocean again, yet when his only response is the distant crashing of waves, Itachi turns and hurries left, calling for the min-nin once more.

Still, no response, so Itachi goes to the right. Yet the min-nin isn't there either, and now the dreadful possibility Little Sasuke has been killed, that his little body is floating lifelessly under the waves, stabs into Itachi's chest like a burning poker.

Sasuke can't be dead. Itachi won't allow it. Never.

Itachi backtracks, running around in zigzags and calling for the min-nin over and over until finally a little chakra signature rises and falls behind him.

The Uchiha sprints towards Little Sasuke and crouches down, lowering his hands. He's surprised when the min-nin climbs onto his palms without protest, but quickly notices the teen is soaking wet.

"Are you alright?" Itachi cups his hands over the min-nin to shield him from the nighttime breeze, but this doesn't seem to help much as the tiny ninja shivers and presses his face against Itachi's fingers.

"Hold on," Itachi says while the min-nin lays his whole body against his palm for warmth.

The Uchiha weaves the tiger seal and holds Little Sasuke against his chest as he moves rapidly across the water. He arrives back on the boat in a whirl of wind and Kisame releases his sword handle, seeing it's him.

"Hey, where did you—" The man stops when Itachi pulls his hand from his chest, revealing the min-nin curled up in his palm and trembling violently.

Kisame hisses a curse while Itachi takes a fleecy hand towel from his pocket and wraps it around the min-nin, saying, "He fell in the water and now appears hypothermic." He unbuttons the top of his cloak and places the bundled min-nin against his chest. "We need to warm him up quickly or he won't last long."

Kisame, a rare serious expression on his face, says, "Alright, if we head twelve miles from the shore we should be far enough that our campfire won't be noticed." He knocks on the boat's side twice and it starts speeding ahead as his shark summons push it from below.

Itachi nods, forcing his features to remain neutral while he peers down at the min-nin. The little Sasuke's teeth are chattering, face pale and dark orbs half-lidded.

The Uchiha considers what to do before taking the min-nin out and unwinding the towel. The small shinobi whimpers as he's exposed to the cool air and tries curling up, but Itachi grabs his collar and tugs the damp shirt off of him first. It looks like the towel soaked up most of the water from the min-nin's pants, but his shirt is made of a thicker material and thus is still wet.

The min-nin glares weakly at Itachi and reaches for his shirt. Yet the Uchiha quickly presses him against his chest, halting his movements as the boat arrives at the docks.

"Follow me." Kisame leaps onto shore and takes off, Itachi quickly following him onto land and into the forest.

Late as it is, they don't encounter anyone as they run through the trees, but that's a small comfort once Itachi notices the min-nin is nodding off.

"Don't go to sleep," Itachi orders, and the little ninja stirs, blinking tiredly. "I need to make sure you don't have other injuries first."

Little Sasuke ignores him, turning his face into Itachi's shirt like he has every intention to sleep.

"Don't, Sasuke," Itachi scolds, and the min-nin flinches, twisting around with wide eyes.

Itachi wonders why the min-min looks so startled, but figures his sharp tone took the small shinobi by surprise. After all, he doesn't raise his voice often.

Regardless, the Uchiha continues. "Don't sleep until I tell you to."

The min-nin frowns, but his eyes are wide open and he appears more awake, so Itachi looks away as he catches up to Kisame.

His partner has already stopped in a clearing and is gathering dry branches from the ground. Itachi quickly does the same, only pausing to tap on Little Sasuke's head when the min-nin starts closing his eyes.

Soon the wood pile is ready and Itachi blows fire onto the branches until it blazes. Then he pulls the min-nin from his chest, removes his cloak and folds it into a makeshift futon. He sets the cloth by the fire, tucking Little Sasuke into its folds and kneeling beside him.

Kisame watches, a curious expression on his face as he asks, "Will it be okay?"

Itachi pulls out the hand towel and the min-nin's shirt, laying them by the fire to dry. "I'm not sure," he says, frowning at the min-nin who is struggling to keep his eyes open. "He might have other injuries, but I can't check until he has warmed up."

Itachi glances at the min-nin's shirt. There aren't any holes or cuts in the cloth, and Itachi saw no wounds or blood on Little Sasuke's body, which implies he wasn't injured beyond falling into the cold water. However, he can't be sure of this until he fully examines the min-nin. In the meantime, Itachi has a question that needs answering.

The Uchiha looks up at his partner standing by the trees. "Pain said we were just buying a min-nin to increase the efficiency of our missions, but the min-nin's assignment today hardly required any involvement from us." He trails off, knowing his implication will be heard.

Kisame blinks, either surprised by the topic or that Itachi is the one initiating a conversation. Yet soon a smirk spreads across his face. "So you noticed that too," he folds his arms and stares up at the sky, "I thought you might."

Itachi stares seriously at Kisame until his smirk fades and he frowns. "Honestly, I'm not sure, but I think the plan changed once Pain met the min-nin."

"Because he saw his Sharingan." Itachi deduces, having been shocked himself to find a min-nin with a Kekkei Genkai, let alone one with the same dōjutsu.

"The min-nin is far stronger than we were expecting." He glances at Little Sasuke, heart lifting at the sight of color returning to the tiny ninja's face. The min-nin still shivers, but the tremors have lessened and his eyes aren't quite so dazed too.

"Yes, and then there's this mission." Kisame looks down in thought. "The Akatsuki sent a Sharingan-weilder to find information on the Mizukage..."

Itachi's eyes narrow because he doesn't understand what Kisame is referencing. Though after a minute, his partner stares at him. "During the Fourth Mizukage's reign, there were rumors he was being manipulated, that his actions weren't his own."

The Uchiha remembers his sole encounter with Kirigakure's leader back when he was fairly new to the Akatsuki, how the Mizukage had been so powerful Itachi needed Amaterasu to escape him. The thought of anyone having the power to manipulate such a Kage is almost inconceivable.

Kisame notices Itachi's disbelief and smirks. "I didn't believe the rumors either," his smirk widens, "Until I saw it with my own eyes."

Itachi is stunned, though he remains expressionless while Kisame shakes his head ruefully. "Even now, it's hard to believe the Mizukage was being manipulated," his gaze meets Itachi's, "By a Sharingan."

The Uchiha stiffens, mind racing because the Fourth Mizukage had been manipulated by a Sharingan-user, an actual Uchiha if his hypnosis ability was strong enough to take over his mind. Also, the manipulation must have occurred after Itachi joined the Akatsuki since he would have noticed if a Sharingan was influencing the Mizukage during their battle, and the only Uchiha still alive by then with such powerful Sharingan were himself and Tobi.

A feeling of dread sinks into Itachi's stomach as he sees the connection. The Fourth Mizukage was controlled by a Sharingan, the Akatsuki has obtained a min-nin with the Sharingan and is suddenly interested in the Fifth Mizukage's whereabouts.

"Of course, it's just a theory," Kisame shrugs nonchalantly, like he didn't just imply that the Akatsuki is planning to use the min-nin to take over the Fifth Mizukage's mind, which would put Kirigakure under the Akatsuki's control.

And if the min-nin succeeds in taking over one Kage's mind, the Akatsuki will likely try to take over the rest of the Kage too. Then with all the Villages under their influence, they could obtain most of the jinchūriki without a struggle.

The Uchiha hums like the idea is merely interesting when really he's deeply disturbed by the possibility. He looks to Little Sasuke and his lips form a line.

Itachi has to stop the Akatsuki's plan, and the simplest way to do that would be by helping the min-nin escape. However, it would be reckless to make a move when Little Sasuke is still recovering, so for now Itachi will wait and keep a lookout for the right opportunity.

Sasuke is confused as he wakes up, for a minute ago he was freezing to death in the middle of an endless ocean and now he's lying in something warm and cozy.

The Chibi pries open his eyes to see sunlight peeking through a green blur. Sasuke blinks until the green merges into tree leaves above him, a jar lid obscuring half of the scenery. He's in a forest during daytime, but that doesn't makes sense when he was on the ocean in the dark—

Sasuke's thoughts screech to a halt as the memory of giant hands holding him against a warm body crop up. Oh...that's right. Oki-Itachi came and saved him.

"No, Sasuke."

The Chibi flinches at the recollection of his brother's stern voice, but...no, that couldn't have been his brother. It must have been Oki-Itachi, Sasuke was just so confused at the time he'd mistaken his brother's human counterpart for him.

Sasuke struggles to recall what else happened after the mission and the scent of burning oak while a fire crackles beside his ear comes to mind.

"No sign of poisoning." Oki-Itachi's voice drifts along the memory of human fingers running over his body. "His chakra is undisrupted..."

Oki-Itachi stares down at him, expression blank yet eyes warm as he whispers. "You can sleep now."

Sasuke, believing it was his actual brother speaking, had instantly fell asleep by the campfire. Now though the Chibi is awake and bundled in a towel within his jar. He quickly extracts himself from the cloth and stands, yet his knees wobble and he ends up falling forward.

Sasuke catches himself, hands banging against the jar wall, but that soft noise is enough to draw attention.

Oki-Itachi looks at him, slowing his stride. His cloak collar hides his expression, but he seems relieved as he says, "The min-nin is awake."

Kisame glances back, mouth hitching up. "Have a nice nap?" He asks, and Sasuke's eyes narrow. Though his glare is ruined when his stomach rumbles.

A faint blush burns across the Chibi's cheeks while Oki-Itachi pauses to set a small apple in his jar. Sasuke scowls, not a big fan of the fruit, but his entire body feels limp from hunger, so he eats it.

The Chibi is down to the apple core when Oki-Itachi and Kisame suddenly freeze, and while the Uchiha's expression hardens, his partner says, "We're almost at the base, why?"

For a second Sasuke thinks the sharkman has lost his mind, but then Oki-Itachi nods. "Understood."

The Chibi blinks because it looks like the Akatsuki members are talking to thin air, yet if both of them are responding, it must be some sort of jutsu—telepathy, perhaps?

"The min-nin was injured and only woke up a few minutes ago, but I can check now." Oki-Itachi turns down with Sharingan eyes and Sasuke wants to smack himself for making eye contact as he's dragged under a genjutsu.

Again the world goes dark, a dim light glows above them and the jar disappears, leaving the Chibi to stand on the human's palm.

"Show me what happened during your mission." Oki-Itachi's mouth doesn't move while the genjutsu order ripples across Sasuke's mind and a calming sensation spreads over his body. Sasuke recognizes this information extraction technique, having used it himself before, but with his chakra sealed he doesn't have the power to resist it.

The Chibi's mind opens up and the memory of landing on the island and running through the vents streams out to Oki-Itachi. Sasuke doesn't put up a fight, thoughts sedated by the genjutsu. However, the feeling that something is wrong pricks through his tranquility, and Sasuke ponders why that is until it hits him that Chibi-Kisame spoke during their fight.

Sasuke's tranquility shatters, eyes widening as he realizes if Oki-Itachi sees his memories of the mailroom, the human will learn Chibi can talk.

Sasuke slams down on his memories, grappling them away from Oki-Itachi. The human makes a surprised sound, but his hold remains firm on the Chibi's mind, and alarm rushes through Sasuke's veins as the image of him entering the mailroom slips out his head. No, no, no, Chibi-Kisame will speak at any second!

The teen fights desperately to tear his memories from the Oki's grasp, but it's like holding a writhing eel and he can't get a good grip on them. Yet Sasuke can't give up, the human can't learn the truth! His clan, his friends, his Village, everybody will be put in danger!

Suddenly his memories snap back into his mind, cutting off right as Chibi-Kisame opens his mouth, and Sasuke staggers back from the mental rebound.

"What's wrong?" Oki-Itachi asks, brow furrowing. "Why don't you want me to see what happened?"

The Chibi glares at him, but isn't sure what to do. He obviously can't respond, yet if he does nothing, the Oki will simply continue watching his memories.

Oki-Itachi stares, clearly trying to figure out why Sasuke is being stubborn, but soon he sighs. "I don't understand."

The Chibi tenses, knowing the man will simply go through his memories again unless he does something. However, he's stunned as the Oki says, "I need to know who attacked you and how you fell in the ocean, as well as what the Mizukage's letter said. If you show me that, I will end the genjutsu."

Sasuke blinks twice, and it takes a minute to recognize Oki-Itachi is asking Sasuke to show him his memories rather than take them by force.

The Chibi hesitates, not wanting to show him anything since he doesn't know what the Akatsuki will do with the information, but if he doesn't, Oki-Itachi will look through his memories anyway.

As much as Sasuke hates it, he opens up his mind and allows his memories to flow out. He reveals an image of the Mizukage's letter, jumps to his recollection of riding the crow until the water bullets shot at him, and finally allows snapshots of Chibi-Kisame attacking him to be revealed.

After showing himself fall off the shark summon, he clamps down on his memories and scowls, expression asking if Oki-Itachi is satisfied.

"So another min-nin attacked you..." The human sounds upset, but Sasuke can't tell who his ire is aimed at before the genjutsu swirls around him and he's returned to his jar in the real world.

"He completed his mission," Oki-Itachi tells whoever he's speaking to—the Akatsuki leader maybe?

The Oki talk through the jutsu for another minute before the conversation ends and Kisame grins. "Well, it sounds like the next few days might be interesting."

Sasuke's face wrinkles, not understanding what the sharkman means based on the one-sided conversation he heard. Is something happening? Are they going on another mission?

The Chibi hopes not since he's still sore from the last one. Though his concern is allayed once the Oki continue ahead and within minutes arrive at a familiar waterfall.

Sasuke is shocked. Was he really asleep for days? Hm, maybe not if Oki-Itachi and Kisame traveled faster returning than they had heading to the island, which would mean Sasuke was actually only out for about a day.

The two enter the base, and Sasuke immediately senses something is off. He scans the living room, but the center table and sofas are in the same place as usual, though they're devoid of Deidara's magazines or Kakuzu's ledgers and the floor looks like it was recently swept.

The two Akatsuki members separate in the hall as Oki-Itachi heads to the restroom. The Chibi glances around the bathroom, having never seen it before, while the human washes his face and hands. After drying himself, the Oki opens the medicine cabinet over the sink and pulls out Sasuke's bath bowl. The Chibi examines the cabinet as he fills the bowl with hot water, yet is confused to see it only contains a first aid kit and soap bar.

Suddenly it hits Sasuke what's so off about the base. It's empty, devoid not just of other people, but their belongings are gone too. Has the Akatsuki abandoned the base? But if so, why did Kisame and Oki-Itachi return to it?

"We're moving to another base tomorrow," Oki-Itachi says like he read Sasuke's mind while entering his bedroom. Then he places the steaming bowl and other bathing necessities by Sasuke's pillow and releases the Chibi from the jar beside them.

"This base is no longer suitable for the Akatsuki's purposes." The Oki concludes as if that explains everything. "You can take a bath while I make dinner." He turns and leaves without another word, an odd expression on his face like he's lost in thought.

Sasuke frowns, uncertain how to feel about changing bases as he gets undressed and enters his bath, sitting against the bowl rim and staring at the ceiling. Why is the Akatsuki leaving the hideout? What are they planning to do with the information in the Mizukage's letter? What does the organization want with him?

The questions are still buzzing in his head while he drifts off on his pillow, wondering if he'll ever get the answers he seeks.

.

The Chibi jumps awake when large fingers wrap around his body and lift him off the cushion. Sasuke immediately tries breaking free as he's pulled away from the lamplight, but the hand is unyielding around him and a thumb already holds his head in place.

"Calm down."

Sasuke stills as he peers through the darkness and sees the shadowed outline of Oki-Itachi's face.

"There's something I need to tell you," the Oki says while taking swift steps towards the door and hurrying out into the unlit corridor.

The Chibi wonders if he's dreaming, completely thrown off by the sudden awakening. Sasuke is so confused he doesn't even try to bite the human once Oki-Itachi releases his head and exits the base, rushing out past the waterfall and entering the woods.

Sasuke stares at the Oki, but in the pale moonlight he can't make out his expression and only sees the human's eyes, which are scanning his surroundings warily.

Oki-Itachi slows to a stop once he reaches a vast lake at the edge of the forest, one Konan often liked to visit when she took the Chibi for walks. The human looks around, Sharingan activated, but soon his red irises fade to black. "This should be far enough."

The human regards him and Sasuke stares back, though he doesn't foolishly make eye contact this time. "I've figured out what the Akatsuki plans to do with you." Sasuke's eyes widen. "They want you to take control of the Fifth Mizukage with your Sharingan."

Sasuke gapes at the Oki's blunt delivery, but his mouth snaps shut as he realizes the human isn't joking. The Akatsuki really want him to take over a Kage's mind!?

"I also suspect they won't stop there if you succeed in manipulating her," Oki-Itachi's voice hardens, "But they'll probably have you do the same to the other Kage."

Sasuke wants to deny the possibility, yet it makes sense. Sasuke is a Chibi, he's spent his whole living around humans undetected, so naturally he's a stealth expert. The teen can break into heavily guarded human facilities much more easily than an Oki shinobi, and with his three tomoe Sharingan it is feasible for him to take over a human's mind.

"That's why I'm going to help you es—" The Oki's mouth shuts and he turns sharply to the left, Sharingan eyes flashing. Sasuke follows his gaze over to the tree line where a dark figure in an Akatsuki cloak stands beside some bushes.

Oki-Itachi's face shutters as Tobi steps out of the tree shade to stand across from them. Sasuke can already tell this isn't the playful, childish version of the man he normally sees, but the Tobi he glimpsed while trying to escape the Akatsuki, the Tobi who radiates danger.

"Itachi." Tobi's voice is cool and underlined with warning. "What are you doing with the min-nin?"

"My job," Oki-Itachi says flatly, raising Sasuke a little higher. "I'm bonding with him."

A dangerous light enters Tobi's lone black eye. "Why isn't it in the jar?"

"He doesn't like to be confined," Oki-Itachi replies smoothly. "And I thought he'd find this more relaxing."

"You took a risk," Tobi comments and Sasuke wonders why Oki-Itachi is acting like the masked man has some type of authority over him. Certainly, Tobi must be powerful to be among the Akatsuki, but from what he's seen the masked man shares the same rank as Oki-Itachi in the organization, perhaps even a lesser rank based on Deidara's derisive treatment of him.

"I didn't," the Uchiha counters, tone unwavering. "He can't weave hand signs like this and I would put him under a genjutsu if I sensed him forming lightning."

Tobi goes silent and a undercurrent of animosity wavers in the air between the two humans. Sasuke is missing something, he knows because the muscles in Oki-Itachi's hand are flexing, the Uchiha clearly viewing Tobi as a threat. Could...could Tobi actually be stronger than Oki-Itachi? Stronger than an Uchiha with the Mangekyō Sharingan?

The masked man inclines his head, the dangerous glint fading from his eye. "I see," his gaze drops onto the Chibi, Sasuke shrinking under it, "So how are you two getting along?"

"Not well, considering the min-nin seems aware of what I did to his clan," Oki-Itachi says like one commenting on the weather, as if he didn't just reference the mass murder he committed.

Tobi hums. "You mean it thinks it knows what really happened that night."

Sasuke's face twitches, and he quickly looks away to hide that he understands Tobi. But what is the man talking about? What does he mean by "think"?

Suddenly Itachi's grip tightens around him, only to relax a second later as the human regains control over himself. It seems Tobi struck a nerve, but Sasuke isn't sure how. It's not like Oki-Itachi regrets what he did to his clan.

"Regardless," Tobi moves on after Oki-Itachi stays silent, "It's a shame you're on such bad terms since you're the closest thing to a brother the min-nin has anymore."

Sasuke faces down to hide his eye roll because his brother is alive, Oki-Itachi proved it—

"If only Zetsu hadn't killed him." Tobi sighs, shaking his head. "We could have had two min-nin with the Sharingan."

A flicker of confusion crosses Oki-Itachi's features, Sasuke only noticing because he looked up at the unfamiliar name—Zetsu, is that another Akatsuki member?

"You mean Kisame killed him," the Uchiha corrects.

"No." Tobi's deep voice rings Sasuke's ears, tone weighty. "Kisame thought he killed your min-nin counterpart, but in reality your counterpart survived Kisame's attack and nearly reached our base."

Tobi waved in the general direction of the hideout, Sasuke watching the man with widening eyes because he's confirming Itachi survived!

"Thankfully Zetsu spotted the min-nin before it could find the base." Tobi sounds like he's smirking beneath his mask. "Your counterpart put up quite the fight, nearly burning Zetsu to ash with those eyes of his."

Sasuke pictures the fight easily, imagining his brother surrounding this Zetsu guy with Amaterasu and raining fireballs down on Zetsu from above to ensure his annihilation. Itachi had probably tried placing Zetsu under a genjutsu at first, but when that failed, he had to use deadlier methods.

"That's why Zetsu was forced to kill your counterpart."

Sasuke gasps, so quietly only Oki-Itachi hears him, the human drawing him an inch closer to himself, but the Chibi barely notices because that...that's wrong. Tobi is wrong...right?

The Chibi glances at Oki-Itachi, waiting for him to say something—anything—to prove Tobi wrong. Yet the Uchiha's mouth stays shut and in his eyes are the barest hint of uncertainty.

Dread spreads like ice over Sasuke's heart while Oki-Itachi sternly asks, "Why wasn't I informed of this?"

Tobi shrugs. "What would have been the point?" His eye slides over to Sasuke. "It's dead." The Chibi bites his lip to keep silent. "Does it matter how it died?"

Died, died, died, dead. No...he can't be... Itachi isn't—it can't be true.

Yet, it makes sense, doesn't it? A horrid voice taunts Sasuke in his mind because if Itachi survived Kisame's attack he would have kept tracking the Akatsuki members to find Sasuke, and if Itachi ran into Zetsu along the way, an Oki S-rank shinobi...

Maybe Itachi would have been fine on a regular day, but if he fought Zetsu while low on food or chakra, he might have lost and die—

A giant finger settles gently upon Sasuke's hair and the Chibi looks up to see Oki-Itachi glaring at Tobi. "You shouldn't believe everything you hear." The Oki strides past the masked man. "Truth and lies can become easily tangled when you only listen to one source."

Oki-Itachi doesn't spare the man another look as he leaves, but Sasuke hears Tobi chuckle lowly behind him and say, "You would know that better than anyone, Itachi."

Sasuke doesn't know what he means and doesn't care because Itachi—Nii-san is—

"Don't believe his words." Oki-Itachi looks down at him with stern yet sympathetic eyes. "That man is an adept manipulator, don't trust him."

Sasuke wants to take comfort in the Oki's words, but a bitter part of him recalls that he once trusted Oki-Itachi as much as his own brother, and look how that turned out. He doesn't want to believe Tobi, but can he really believe the murderer of the Oki Uchiha?

The idea of trusting Oki-Itachi sours Sasuke's stomach almost as badly as believing Tobi and accepting his brother is dead. Thus the Chibi lays back on his pillow, stares up at the lamplight and marvels at the irony that he was given answers tonight, yet now he has more questions than ever.


As always, thanks for the support! It's wonderful hearing that people are enjoying this little story of mines :D

Next time: Chibi Sasuke grapples with the truth and runs into some familiar faces...

Stay safe!