Merry Christmas everyone and here's my gift to you, a sweet and cute Itachi birthday oneshot. I thought up this idea a while back but today in between the realm of awake and asleep (haha) I had this idea again and basically wrote it out in my head and when I woke up this morning I just had to write it, so here we are.

Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me

Itachi's Birthday Itinerary

It's just after sunrise and there was already commotion about the house. Little footsteps moving up and down past Itachi's room. The older Uchiha wakes as his bedroom door is basically slammed open and eight year old Sasuke rushed in and raced over and jumped into Itachi's lap.

"Happy birthday, Itachi!" Sasuke says excitedly with his arms wrapped tightly around him

"Thank you, Sasuke." He smiles at him

"C'mon I've got a surprise for you, it's in the kitchen." He hopped off and went to the door

"A surprise for me?" he asked as he got out of bed and followed Sasuke out

"Yeah and I want to see you enjoy it before I have to leave for the academy, let's go." He ran ahead

Itachi walked in to the kitchen to find the table full of his favourite dishes, it was quite the breakfast spread.

"You did this all by yourself?" he asked surprised

"Well mom did help me since she didn't me by the stove alone but I did most of it." He said proudly with the biggest beaming smile Itachi had seen from him. He couldn't help but chuckle at that. He'd do anything to keep his little brother this happy.

"So? Are you surprised? Do you like it?" he asked barely standing still

"It's incredible, how could I not like it?" he took a seat and started eating which seemed to please Sasuke even more. Unfortunately the younger Uchiha had to leave for school or he'd be late.

"I'll see you later, Itachi. Your next surprise is at your ANBU locker and with Kakashi. Bye!" his small voice echoed down the passage as he left. Itachi had been so focused on eating that he hadn't registered that last part.

Wait a minute, next surprise, as in there was more? And Kakashi? How did Sasuke even know where the ANBU headquarters were? And then it dawned on him. Only one person would volunteer that information so freely. Itachi left the kitchen after cleaning up, he was going to have a word with Shisui about this later, he thought to himself. But little did Itachi know that him seeing Shisui was also a part of Sasuke's plans.

Itachi made it to the ANBU building and went straight to his locker, greeting a few people on his way over. When he got to his locker he found a note stuck to it. He put it in his pocket and headed to Kakashi as per Sasuke's instructions.

"I have the day off?" Itachi asked

"Yes. I got quite the convincing argument from an eight year old as to why I should let you have the day off." He was smiling beneath his mask

"I see, so Sasuke arranged this. Sorry about this Captain."

"Don't worry about it. It's about time you had a break anyways, it's only fitting it be on your birthday. Your brother's just looking out for you." Kakashi put his hand on Itachi's shoulder

"Thank you."

"Of course and happy birthday."

Itachi thanked him once more before turning to leave. On his way back home he opened up the note that was on his locker:

Go to the dumpling shop for a sweet surprise.

And so Itachi changed directions and headed straight there. He walked in to the small shop and took a seat. Thankfully the place was quite empty, he enjoyed the silence. Not long after he sat down, a waitress came out with a plate of three coloured dumplings on a plate and a cup of tea for him. He looked confused since he hadn't ordered anything yet but the waitress explained that a young boy had come by them yesterday and told them his older brother would be stopping by for some dumplings and he'd already paid for them. Itachi picked up one of the sticks and ate one of the dumplings. He did this all for me. He really had to hand it to Sasuke, this was quite the elaborate plan and when had his younger brother been this organised and able to plan like this? Itachi pondered over these questions as he enjoyed his sweet treats. With his sweet tooth satisfied, he thanked the waitress and headed home.

Xxx

Once back in his room, content that that had been enough excitement for one day, he heard his name being called from the front entrance. Itachi got up and headed there, he knew that voice anywhere. He was greeted by none other than Shisui and Izumi waiting for him.

"Let me guess, Sasuke?" he asked already knowing he was right

"Yup. That little brother of yours really pulled out all the stops for you." Shisui replied

"He really is going all out." Itachi agreed

"I think it's really sweet he went to all this trouble." Izumi added "And can you blame him? Itachi you never really do anything special for your birthday." She smirked

"There's no need to, it's just a birthday."

"Sasuke's favourite person's birthday." Shisui chuckled and added matter of fact

They presented Itachi with wrapped gifts which he put in his room before leaving with them. A table at a restaurant had been reserved for them. The notes left to Shisui and Izumi courtesy of Sasuke lead them there. Itachi honestly thought he'd seen it all but he was once again pleasantly surprised by how far ahead Sasuke had thought and Itachi assumed his day was far from over. The Uchiha prodigy along with his best friend and girlfriend ate and talked laughed into the late afternoon.

"So you told Sasuke where to find my locker and Kakashi?" Itachi turned to Shisui as they walked back to the Uchiha compound together

"It's not like I could refuse him. You know how determined he is." Shisui raised his hands defensively

Itachi couldn't help but agree. Even if Shisui had tried to deny Sasuke the information, he had no doubt in his mind Sasuke would find other ways to convince Shisui or find other avenues of learning the information on his own. He really was a lot more resourceful than he'd given him credit for. There were times when even Itachi just couldn't refuse young Sasuke, a trait his friends constantly reminded him of. Sasuke really has you wrapped around his finger sometimes Itachi, they'd say to him, well mostly Shisui who enjoyed teasing Itachi.

Later that evening after dinner time, Sasuke had presented a beautiful cake before Itachi. Their mother had helped him bake it while he was out with Shisui and Izumi. The small Uchiha family enjoyed the cake, even Fugaku cracked a smile while Sasuke was cutting a slice for Itachi and smeared some icing on his face. Sasuke raced out the room as soon as they were all done. Itachi guessed he had one last surprise left. Mikoto began clearing the table but Itachi offered to help.

"It's alright dear, I've got it."

"I've been taken care of and served all day today so I don't mind doing the dishes." He took the remaining dishes to the sink. He mother smiled and kissed him on the cheek before leaving the room. After the dishes were done Itachi found a note stuck to room door telling him to go to the front of the house. As soon as he walked out he saw Izumi approaching, a note in her hand as well.

"I've got to say Itachi, Sasuke really is quite good at this." She walked until she was in front of him

"He gave you a note as well?" he asked happy to see her and put his arms around her

"Uh huh, telling me to meet you out here but that's all."

They both noticed another note on the wall opposite them at the same time. Itachi went and got it and opened it so they could read it: Follow the lights, was all it said. They looked at each other then back at the note. What lights? But then Itachi noticed a small light on one of the nearby houses. He and Izumi climbed the roof and saw it wasn't the only light, there was a whole trail of them leading outwards. When on earth did Sasuke find the time to set this up? But the two of them did as instructed and followed the lights to the Uchiha training grounds where they saw a blanket and a basket set up surrounded by lanterns lighting up the area beautifully.

"Looks like moonlit picnic to me." Izumi said with a smile and went to sit down on the blanket

"That brother of mine…" he was just at a loss for words that an eight year old could pull off something like this although he knew Sasuke wasn't just an average child, this was still hard to believe though. He'd set up a date for them.

Itachi and Izumi sat side-by-side talking and looking at the stars together and eventually they were laying down together, Itachi's arm around her while her head rested on his shoulder. After a while they remained in a comfortable, intimate silence just enjoying each other's company. His day couldn't have gone any better, he thought to himself. This was the happiest and the most at peace he'd felt in an incredibly long time. And it's not like he was doing anything over the top, just resting next to the girl he cared so deeply for, embracing her warmth and enjoying her presence was enough to put him at ease. Izumi propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at Itachi with a sweet smile and caressed his face.

"You know…" she started and he tuned his body so he was facing her, waiting for her to carry on. "You look so happy."

"Of course I'm happy, I'm spending time with you on what's been an unforgettable day."

"For the past few weeks you've looked so serious like something's been on your mind weighing you down. But now you're present, you're here and smiling and I'm grateful for it."

Itachi thought over her words for a bit and realised what she was saying. He'd been burdened by his thoughts, the same thoughts that always burdened him: thoughts of clans, shinobi, a village and what all of it really means for him. He hadn't realised how much of it was showing on his face for her to worry so much about him. So soon into their relationship and he already had her worrying about him. He sat up as well,

"I'm sorry I made you worry." He took her hand in his but she just shook her head with a small smile

"Well that comes with loving you, of course I'm going to worry about you." She kissed him on the cheek but he cupped her face and gently pulled her in to kiss her on the lips. Izumi leaned into him and put her arm around his neck and returned the kiss.

"You're really too good to me." He said to her making her blush

They went back to gazing at the stars again for another hour before heading back. Itachi walked Izumi home. She wished him a happy birthday one last time before saying goodnight with a hug and a kiss.

Itachi went home and when he walked into his room he found Sasuke fast asleep on his bed with photos spread all around him. Itachi carefully collected the photos without disturbing Sasuke and went through them all. They were pictures taken of him throughout the day. He gently picked up Sasuke and carried him to his room, he woke up on the way over.

"Itachi you're back." He said sleepily "Did you like your surprises?"

"I loved every single one, as usual you made my birthday special. But I'm surprised you didn't include yourself on the list of surprises."

"Spending the day with you will be my birthday present for my birthday next month so you can't get out of it." His eyes lit up at the thought of it "Oh and the pictures?"

"I just saw them. How did you take all these?" he put Sasuke on his bed

"I asked Shisui to follow you and take the pictures." He sat up feeling more awake suddenly

"But Shisui was with me and Izumi at lunch."

"I had my clone take that picture."

To say he was impressed was an understatement but he wasn't really surprised. Sasuke was his little brother after all. He tucked Sasuke into his blankets.

"Happy birthday again big brother," he gave him a last big hug before settling on the pillow and falling asleep almost instantly.

"Thank you, Sasuke." He ruffled his hair before going back to his room

He sat on his bed and looked through the pictures again, there was one he'd missed. It was a picture of him and Sasuke together at the breakfast table that morning, Sasuke beaming with his ecstatic grin. Itachi smiled at the picture and went and stuck it, as well as the others, on his wall so he'd always be able to see them and remember the greatest birthday set up by his younger brother.

Itachi was never one to make a big deal about his birthday, it just didn't seem like something to get worked up over. He also never told anyone when it was his birthday so the only ones who knew were the ones who already knew, but he enjoyed seeing how happy the people he loved were so he'd always indulge them and this year Sasuke took it upon himself to give him a day he'd never forget and always be grateful for. One thing Sasuke and Izumi had in common (amongst other things) was that they both really enjoyed fussing over him on his birthday. Itachi thought back fondly to the times Izumi had surprised him as well, even before they'd started dating she was always trying to make him smile.

As he was about to get into bed he saw a piece of paper at the bottom of his bed, he recognised the handwriting as Sasuke's. He must have forgotten he'd brought it with when he came in with the photos. Itachi picked it up and read over it and smiled as soon as he saw the heading for it, he made sure to hang it up as well. It was a list of activities and times next to them and the heading for it was:

Itachi's Birthday Itinerary by Sasuke Uchiha, age eight.

And there you have it: short, sweet and to the point. The more I wrote about it the sadder I got like dang this is the kind of life I wish Itachi could have had but I'm glad I could at least write this, so it's something. And since I've been in my Itachi feels for the past few weeks, this is also sort of a Christmas gift to myself haha. Anyways I hope you enjoyed and would love to hear you thoughts on it and most importantly, Merry Christmas again.

Well that's it from me-

Until the next story:

Ketsui Tasogare :-)