A/N: Inspired by the song 'I spoke to the devil in Miami, he said everything would be fine- 'XXXTentacion'
Yes, I did attempt to write a poem/song. Forgive me.
Anima vestra = your soul
xxx
Jump, jump up and down
Hop like a rabbit
Running from a fox
Don't you dare
Trip on rocks.
Run, run as fast as a deer
If your quite you can hear
A slithering snake
Hunting a rat
Quite, quite, as silent as a cat
When the fox chases the mouse
Hide, hide in your house
Don't fall down, don't fall down
The lion is the one with the crown.
xxx
If madness is falling Sasuke is drowning. The line between sanity and insanity has been blurred, long gone. And Sasuke has overstepped the boundary.
He no longer bends, rather breaks. In the recesses of his mind the creature does not whisper nor does it gently urge. It screams and claws against his skull, ripping nerves and tearing tissue. His eyes bleed, crimson morphing into black as it drips from his chin. He wipes away the dark droplets but they continue to flow, a river rushing to join the impatient ocean.
Men with hollow eyes emerge from the darkness, limping towards him, begging for help. He's mortified, obsidian eyes widen as he struggles to stand. To compose himself.
But his eyes continue to bleed and his hands continue to tremble. A creature with black pupils reaches out for him, nails sharp enough to draw blood if grazed against skin.
"Sasuke"
The blind men fall into a chant.
"Anima vestra"
—S—
113 seconds
One hundred and thirteen seconds.
Was all the amount of time needed for Uchiha Itachi to finally comprehend the true importance of Sasuke.
Seven.
Seven year old Sasuke tumbled in the grassy fields, cheeks flushed and hair ruffled. A flawless smile graced his face, lips pouted.
His laughter was paradise; it pierced through the dark abyss, reaching out a hand.
Itachi watched with wary eyes while seated on the docks of the Chita Lake. Feet submerged in the icy waters below, numbing his body. It allowed him to temporarily forget his demons and suffering. For Itachi's theory was if one could numb the physical pain, the emotional pain is bound to fade.
Oh how wrong he was.
Don't fall down. Don't fall down.
Sasuke continued singing, running in circles as the warm glow of the sun caressed his porcelain skin. The days of spring in Konoha were truly beautiful.
But never as beautiful as him.
"Itachi!" Sasuke gleefully yelled, running at an incredible speed towards his brother. Itachi allowed his façade to slip as his lips quirked into a smirk. Sasuke showed no signs of slowing down, instead seemed to gain speed as he neared his brother.
"Sasuke…" Itachi warned. But the youngest did not heed his brothers warning, almost seemed to ignore it. He collided with the elder's body. Sasuke expected the collision to have a soft impact but he must have miscalculated because he completely forgot his older brother consisted of bones and muscle.
"Ooooww" groaned Sasuke, gently rubbing his forehead in which Itachi's elbow had clashed with. "That hurt!" he pouted, glaring at his elder brother.
Black hair swayed as Itachi shook his head.
"Foolish little brother"
Sasuke growled, blowing a strand of navy hair away from his forehead. "I am not."
Instead, Itachi chuckled. Sasuke was stubborn, indeed a true Uchiha. The elder of the two gestured for him to come closer, wanting to inspect the red mark on his younger brother's forehead. "Show me" he urged softly. Sasuke nervously nears as his eyes remain glued to Itachi's elbows, afraid they would unexpectedly attack him.
Itachi gently brushed away navy locks, his fingers intertwined in Sasuke's hair for a moment. Two fingers extended as they landed on the blotched skin. Sasuke fell back, as if the mere poke was a heavy blow. "Nii-san!" he growled as his cheeks flushed, this time from embarrassment.
It all happened too quick, too sudden that if Itachi blinked, the moment would have passed.
It was a slip. A mere tumble.
Time slowed down as everything blurred, Sasuke's hand reached out instinctively, attempting to grab Itachi's sleeve. Soft cotton grazes delicate fingers. He misses. Distorted images transform into sharp lines, eyes wide and mouth agape. Sasuke's scream is caught in his throat and suddenly he is plunged into the icy waters of the river.
Falling is simple and Sasuke plunges.
Itachi remains rooted, eyes wide and jaw slackened. Muscles twitch in defiance. Nerves beg and scream. Instead he remains frozen as time slowly ticks by.
The splashing sounds return as Sasuke attempts to break the surface, struggling against the gravity of the weight.
He fails.
The surface is disappearing. The darkness is consuming. Water engulfs him. Jaws unclench to form air bubbles that do not survive to the surface. Sapphire deepens until shadows form, blurring his vision.
Itachi watches on, the cogs in his mind churning at rapid speeds.
It could all be so simple.
Sasuke slipped into the lake as he has yet to master the art of swimming. No one was around the premise and his instinctive flare of chakra could not be detected from miles away. It could all be so simple.
He could save his younger brother. Save him from his own destiny, from his own awaited insanity. For each gasp of air and for each attempted scream at help, Itachi's mind supported his theory. He could prevent Sasuke suffering a great amount of pain. He would no longer be used as a puppet nor as a tool.
However his muscles began to twitch and protest, his fingers began to fidget while his nervous system enters overdrive as his body begs for him to move, to save his own flesh.
Don't fall down, don't fall down.
Sasuke's voice rings in his ears.
Itachi dives.
113 seconds.
"Madness is in the very heart of every Uchiha's mind. For madness and tragedy allows them to achieve the Sharingan."
The water is cold. It burns against his skin as it robs him of all heat.
Itachi grips onto the broken doll. Sharp nails dig into Sasuke's skin that will no doubt bloom into bruises. Strokes of pain and shock attempt to nibble at his mind, yet his ultimate focus is on Sasuke. They both break the surface as they gasp for air. Blue lips tinged with purple tremble as they struggle to formulate words.
Sharingan flashes to life as one black tomoe spins rapidly.
When Itachi is five he learns that love is difficult.
When he is nine he learns love is protective.
When he is ten he learns that love is manipulative.
Now he understands that love is destructive.
—S—
The moment Sasuke's Chidori slams into soft flesh, the barrier cracks and turns into dust. Minato is by his son's side within moments, ignoring the cries of the ANBU guards. He holds Naruto in a rough embrace, sharp nails dig into flesh as jagged canines rip into his lower lip. Fear and anger constrict his arteries and numb his veins. Chaos erupts as members of the ANBU position themselves around the Hokage, citizens flee the arena in an attempt to escape and hide from the creature that manifested from nature herself. Minato senses Kurama unleashing, he senses chains creaking and a low rumble erupting from the pit of his stomach. Yet all that matters is Naruto, Naruto is the only soul worth protecting and unleashing Kurama for.
Kushina will never forgive him.
This is the first mistake the Hokage allows to occur.
"Broken bones heal. Shattered souls do not"
The disappearance of the Kazekage arises rumours and fear amongst the civilians. It takes hours to discover the dead, bloated body of the Fourth Kazekage. Body rotting as maggots litter his face. Proof that the man was possessed by an unfamiliar chakra, dark shackles chained him as he was forced to do the mysterious man's work. Forbidden Justus required a concealed and powerful chakra In order to be performed. The news of his death brings with it the whirlwind of politics. Suna's shinobi's and citizens flee the Land of Fire once their leader disappears. Gaara and his teammates vanish in the commotion. The alliance between Sunagakure and Konohagakure ended the moment it began. An untameable beast that has shattered its shackles was better left alone, or hunted.
Konoha produced the best of hunters.
—S—
Fear is quiet. Fear is cunning. It is a still creature that slowly envelopes its victims. It taunts its victims and devours the strongest of shinobi. It creeps against skin and crawls in the darkest of hours, wrapping itself against Sasuke skin, gentle but harsh. It leaves him immobile, frozen in fear. Fear is merciless.
It is fear that forces him to move.
Sasuke has sharp pieces that refuse to smooth over time. Harsh edges that tend to scar him when he pushes himself beyond the limits he can control. Sasuke is not oblivious. He sees Sakura, a female shinobi derived from a clan predominantly civilians. Sasuke knows when Sakura finally tells her father her dream is to become a ninja, he merely brushes her off with a chuckle.
"Sakura dear it's too dangerous. Besides, your mother needs the help with the family business"
But Sakura refuses to acknowledge the life her mother has created for herself, instead she pushes and forces her dream to bloom. She studies and trains for hours in order to surpass her academy classmates.
For each high grade she receives, she soars. Beaming and laughing as she rushes towards her father. Eager to prove to himself and her family that she will develop into a worthy Kunoichi. Her father's smile is warm yet it does not reach his eyes. Later that night he enters the family shrine with glassy eyes accompanied with a gentle breeze of hope.
Sakura cracks once she discovers who her teammates are. Both sons derived from legendary clans and fathers, both in their own league. Once she enters her home she feels plagued as if a sickness is crawling underneath her skin. For each D-ranked mission Team Seven completes, she breaks. Minor cracks forming a deep crevice that will directly end with her demise.
Yet when she meets her father's gaze a sense of guilt washes over her and she's forced to slip on the mask she has managed to perfect overtime. She grips onto her dream with quivering fingers and a heavy soul. She refuses to let go. She shatters through her expectations and remains focused. This was Sakura Haruno's ninja way. Unspoken promises should never be broken.
Her father allows tears of joy to drips from his eyes, for Sakura has never seen her father weep openly. He embraces her tightly and congratulates her for becoming the legendary Sannin's apprentice. She allows the joy to consume her, just for the moment. The candles in the Haruno shrine burn brightest that night.
When Sakura gives up and begs Sasuke to do the same, a dull flame flickers to life in his mind. How dare she, how dare she give up when she herself refused to end training sessions until Naruto begged Kakashi for a short rest. When she was the only one amongst the trio that managed to perfect her chakra control. When Sasuke himself asked her for advice because he was truly confident he has never witnessed such perfected chakra control in his life.
Sasuke knows fear is causing her, forcing her to unbind and let go. He knows it's triggering her fight or flight mode and no doubt she chooses the latter. It robs her sanity as her entire focus is on the broken body oozing unusual large amounts of blood. She whispers and begs for Sasuke to let go and yield. The temptation is almost worth it. Almost.
In those few moments of self-loathing Sasuke understands Naruto will never forgive him if he dares to surrender. It is Naruto's ninja way to never succumb to defeat, even if one must break in the process.
"You cannot mend the unmendable."
A touch of anguish envelopes his mind, consuming all his rationality. Embraces of pain and strokes of death leave white scars and bruised knuckles. Underneath the thrashing waves are hands that beckon Sasuke, grab him and force him to drown. The tide grows stronger, their grips are tighter. There is a subtle fracture, a slight gap. His mind drifts. Floating towards the gap.
Sasuke begs that his sanity does not slip through the crack.
Lightning blinds his senses yet he can hear the unmistakably loud roar of thunder. His palm is on fire as Chidori roars to life. His shoulder spams in response as his limit begins to approach.
"Push"
And so he does.
—S—
Akamaru is unsettled, he whimpers as his muzzle rubs against Kiba's calf. Kiba hesitantly pats his thick fur, eyes glued to the fight unfolding below. He would have never dreamed of witnessing a fight of this scale, would have never guessed how powerful Naruto truly is. Whimpers transform into soft howls as his pleads grow louder, more urgent.
"Shhh boy it's okay. There's nothing to fear" he mumbles reassuringly as his upper lip curls ever so slightly. It does little to subside Akamaru's fears. The very DNA that surges in his body is the same shared with great wolves. Years of lineage and instinct forged and placed in his very bones.
Akamaru's instinct is never wrong.
Instead he whimpers and seeks shelter by his owner's feet, awaiting the storm that will undoubtedly create chaos. Akamaru feared the roaring sound of thunder, for it caused the earth to tremble in fear. He feared the flash of lightning, for it blinded his senses and disrupted his coordination. He feared the unknown wrath that is bound to shatter them all.
"Don't crack like porcelain. Crack like lightning."
Kakashi lives alone. Witnessing the death of loved ones has proven to him loneliness and isolation is the best of healers. Old wounds reopen once he sees Chidori burst to life. New scars form once Naruto's screeching voice shatters the clouds of doubt surrounding Kakashi. He recognises the determination surrounding Sasuke, the choice to lay his life for Naruto. To rush and defend loved ones before witnessing death claim what is rightfully hers. Kakashi freezes once Sasuke pushes and bends, shatters and mends. Kakashi cannot breathe when a glimpse of Obito is seen as Sasuke rushes towards the sand-nin, followed by the screeching sound of a thousand birds.
Naruto and Sasuke. Obito and himself.
Too close.
Too far.
"Cannot love the unlovable"
"Does it hurt to watch him from afar, to watch him grow and lean without you?"
Obsidian flicker to crimson.
"You love him"
A sharp inhale.
"More than you should"
Broken promises haunt him. Shattered fragments click into place once Itachi sees Sasuke's Sharingan flicker to life, muscles tense as strands of black hair sway in the storm the Hokage has conjured. Foolish boy. The shield shatters and crumbles towards the floor. Sasuke's body lands in milky hands and soft skin.
"Don't fall down, don't fall down
The lion is the one with the crown."
Sasuke's voice rings in his head and the sudden surge of chakra is uncontrollable. It is Uchiha Itachi himself who is prepared to obliterate part of the village for his younger brother. Only for him, always for him.
Naruto is a container, a vessel for a Jinchuriki and the amount of preserved chakra he holds is astounding. His ability to heal at such a quick pace shocks Tsunade herself who has witnessed men survive with their organs exposed hanging from their abdomen. She spends hours scrubbing her raw and dry hands. Flakes of dead skin and old blood twirl in the sink before following the stream of water into the drain. Blood stains may fade but scar tissue is tough.
The Yondaime breaks behind closed doors and locked windows. He weeps with relief and anger. Relief that his only living son will live the next day. Anger for allowing himself to lose control. The sealed Kyuubi is restless, stirring and dangerously close.
—S—
There is a gnawing feeling, a creature that lives deep within his mind that constantly attempts to rip his medulla. At times it is agonizing and uncontrollable, begging to be released. On rare occasion it is tameable, easy to deceive and control. Itachi Uchiha is afraid. Afraid when the time comes that he will no longer be able to control the monster that hides underneath layers of flesh and muscle. It is the very same creature that creates a mockery of him. It laughs and screams. He convinces himself that this beast is not a part of him, it is merely a fragment of his imagination. After all Itachi is always the deceiver, never the deceived
Shisui settles by the banks of the river, legs crossed as his gaze remains on the calm stream. Once consisted of high tides and foaming edges is now a calm and gentle part of the ocean. A blurry memory arises, two young boys pebble skipping near the river. Long hair swaying in the gentle wind. Oh he was so tempted. So eager to tuck that loose strand of hair behind his milky ear. Shisui immediately dismisses the memory as his eyes flicker towards the sky, cotton clouds and a flaming orb. There is no gain in dwelling on the past. His fingers curl into his weapons pouch as they cling to a cool metallic weapon, unsheathing a kunai his father had gifted him. He twirls the weapon around his index finger lazily in an attempt distract himself from his thoughts.
His mind drifts to the fight. To the lightning and thunder that was unleashed on earth. He had never witnessed Chidori in its true form, only heard whispers of Hatake performing it. For it required both speed and the Sharingan, however when Shisui himself attempted the lightning Jutsu, he was left with a bruised wrist. He is not compatible with the lightning element, fire burns is in his veins.
Itachi appears a few moments later. Time ticks by and neither of the two say a word.
Shisui is the one to shatter the silence. (It has always been Shisui)
"Danzo will want him"
There's a sharp intake of breath before Itachi replies.
"I know"
"Sasuke demonstrated unique skill today. No doubt Konoha would want to forge a weapon from his new acquainted power" Shisui pushes, but gently. He knows glass is delicate and he did not have the mental strength to gather and mend shattered pieces.
Instead Itachi shakes his head. "He means too much to Naruto. The Hokage would never allow it"
Shisui raises an eyebrow before finally facing his younger cousin.
"The Hokage will put his son before the village?"
Itachi's gaze darkens before meeting Shisui's stare. Distant and blurry. "He is not choosing. Instead he is attempting to balance both. The Hokage knows his relationship with his son is delicate, hence he won't dare to take away my brother"
Shisui gaze returns to the river, ever so calm.
"However, it does not rule out that Konoha won't attempt to use him for her own reasons." Shisui whispers, the sharp edge of the kunai grazes him softly.
"I am not afraid of Konoha's decision. The village will leave him be. Danzo will not"
Shisui is hesitant as his finger twitches against the kunai. So easy, so very easy. Just a deep slash against the humming artery and it could all end. Shisui understands who the kings and queens are, he recognizes who the pawns are. Uchiha's are never pawns.
"What will you do"?
What a ludicrous question, Shisui had no doubt of what Itachi is capable of. He does not doubt the lengths his cousin is willing to take in order to protect his brother, even from himself. No doubt Itachi will harm both of them in the process. The wall of bitterness he will build will be unbreakable, unclimbable.
"Are you okay?" barely an octave higher than a whisper.
Another absurd question Shisui asks. He does not need an answer, he knows.
Itachi freezes as he struggles to maintain his growing anger. His hidden rage seeps through cracks as his chakra fluctuates dangerously. He has barely managed to compose himself long enough in order to speak to Shisui with a sane mind. Watching his brother foolishly charge towards the enemy knowing the consequences, that Itachi could have potentially lost Sasuke in that very moment triggers an unknown beast deep within him.
"Foolish boy" Itachi whispers through clenched teeth.
Shisui knows that he has lost.
Itachi leaves with a flock of raven.
Shisui faces the sun touched sky. Its main source of light disappearing over the horizon. Stars will soon bloom, littering the darkened skies of Konoha. Scattered orbs of light that dance along the skies, winking and casting shadows amongst the village's buildings.
Stars are merely burning gas. They eventually die, like everything else.
"Cannot fix the unfixable"
—S—
Itachi finds him in the clan's garden, body facing the floating clouds as grass grazes pale skin. Bandages litter his arm and legs as the lack of chakra is evident with his posture. For a moment Itachi decides to stand there and admire his brother's beauty. Yet he is not here to admire.
Sasuke senses his brother's presence before Itachi chooses to reveal himself, neither say a word. Weeks have passed since the Chunnin exams and Itachi has yet to confront him.
Sasuke inhales before forcing his body to sit up, eyes still avoiding his brother's.
"I'm sorry. Okaa-san lectured me of the dangers of pushing my limits and father refuses to-" eyes flicker curiously towards his brother before he continues. "She says I don't need to prove to the village or the clan that-"
He gestures with his hand as if it was a good enough explanation.
"I just couldn't control anything. Watching Naruto in his state and-"
He allows his voice to fade
Itachi says nothing as an uncomfortable silence grows between them.
A stroke of anger is all Itachi requires as the need for destruction burns in his veins. He steps closer towards his brother, the urge to ravish and consume grows ever so stronger.
"Arrogant foolish boy" hisses Itachi between clenched teeth, barely meters away from his brother. Sasuke stands his ground, fingers curling into fists as he lifts his body from the ground.
"Tell me"
He inhales deeply.
"Tell me"
Louder, closer.
"Tell me why you chose to go against what I said when I specifically told you not to"
Sasuke's mask cracks as confusion seeps in, however it immediately mends, guarding himself with anger. "You're angry because I didn't follow what you-"
"No" suddenly Itachi snaps back, upper lip twitching as he grows a step closer.
"Your pride and need of approval is no excuse for acting out on mere stupidity!"
Every word pronounced slices the dark tension, which seemed to deepen for each second that passed. Anger had manifested itself into hatred. Thorns pricked delicate fingers and fractured old promises.
Sasuke's shock transforms itself into anger as the familiar throbbing of his Sharingan comes to life.
"I chose to protect Naruto!"
Itachi immediately closes the gap between them with one step. A hand suddenly reaches out, fingers curling against his neck, the artery underneath humming. Crimson bores into his soul.
"Stupid, pathetic boy. Did you think you could reach my level?" his breaths come out in puffs, warming Sasuke's flaming stained cheeks.
Itachi witnesses a crack. He pushes. He knows even glass is bound to shatter when met with a powerful blow.
"Did you think you could merely surpass me by foolishly charging into the battlefield, attempting to boast in front of the village" he hisses, lips barely grazing the shell of Sasuke's ear.
Sasuke attempts to argue with a snide remark, however Itachi's grip is iron; cold and harsh. Dark specks begin to form as he struggles to remain conscious, his heart thudding against his ribcage, begging for oxygen.
Drowning
Itachi releases his grip.
The moment he let's go, Sasuke charges.
He sees red. He sees an ocean of crimson and dark thunderous skies. Chidori screams in anguish as lightning crackles in his palm. Itachi's nails sink into his brother's wrist as he easily twists the limb, forcing Sasuke's palm to crush into the ground.
A crack appears in the soil, multiplying as it spread from the crater the Chidori caused.
Another crack appears, this time in a young boy.
"You cannot touch me, barely make me bleed" Itachi taunts.
Cogs creak as they spin rapidly. Both hearts are drums. Eyes restrain oceans. Trees bowing in fear of the ongoing winds.
"Fuck you! I did it because I knew Naruto would-"
A fist connects with Sauke's jaw and the sheer force causes his body to hurl a few metres back. His back crashes against the ancient Uchiha tree. For a brief moment his vision darkens before it flares back to life.
"Why are you so infatuated with Naruto?!"
Once his calm façade cracks the concealed monster roars to life, long supressed and forced to live in the shadows. How long has it been since Itachi felt the familiar surge of adrenalin pump in his veins? How long has it been since he tasted his own blood?
Nails dig into dirt as Sasuke struggles to compose himself.
"Why?" he spits out before wiping the trickle of blood with the back of his hand. "Because I'm not selfish! Because I actually give a shit about my teammates!" he roars back, a build-up of chakra surrounding his limp, smaller frame.
"Tch" chuckles Itachi darkly. "Something Kakashi taught you. 'That you are less than trash if you choose to abandon you teammates?' " he mockingly questions.
"Do you wonder where his own teammates are?" he taunts and pushes. So fragile so weak.
Sasuke freezes, his chakra immediately fades as an unknown emotion flickers across his face.
The silence stretches between them.
Sasuke breaks first.
"I wonder where your teammates are, Nii-san"
He knows he hit a nerve, the widening of his brother's eyes is confirmation. Years ago, his mother had told him that Itachi's teammates were discovered burnt during the war.
It takes a moment for Itachi to compose himself before he disappears, only to materialize before his brother.
The rough bark of the tree presses against the arch of Sasuke's back. However, he does not dare to move. Nails dig into his skin. Breaths mingle. Eyelashes flutter.
So close yet so far.
Itachi inhales. This will be his final blow.
"Fucking pathetic excuse of an Uchiha, you will never be truly one of us. We are the elite. There are no room for weaklings. Ever wondered why the clan never gave you a second glance? Ever questioned why you never attend the clan's meeting when you are Fugaku's son? You will never reach my level. So train and play with lightning. But we are the true Uchiha. Born and bred by fire. We do not love those that are beneath us. We do not protect the weak. We are the elite"
He senses Sasuke's muscles stiffen under his grip. He hears the sudden intake of breath.
A magnificent piece of glass preserves its beauty even when shattered. Sasuke is no different.
Itachi releases his grip on his brother. Sasuke does not bother to brace the fall.
He forces himself to let go.
Sasuke breaks the moment Itachi disappears.
—S—
"Time heals" such stupidity, such a naïve concept taught and practiced in order to allow one person's demons to lay to rest.
It's constantly the same dream. Same nightmare, same torment.
Large scales slither against the cold earth, smooth and silent. Cunning and lethal.
Jaws stretch abnormally wide to reveal a black forked tongue.
Rose coloured fangs.
Vertical pupils flicker towards Sasuke as she inspects the trembling boy.
The blind men reappear, chanting and moaning, grieving and sobbing. Her gaze does not leave his. Sasuke does not dare to move.
They have no eyes and no soul.
"Uchiha Sasuke" cold and deep. Only then does Sasuke remember to inhale again.
"You wish to be saved Uchiha?"
Sharingan flares to life. His mind corrodes.
"I will save you, only if you give me one thing in return."
The mamba comes into view again, she closes in the distance between them as she slithers amongst feet and aged bones.
Sasuke pleads, drops to his knees as he whispers incoherent words. Fingers tangle into his hair, forming fists. The river of saline tears begins to form and Sasuke struggles to keep them at bay.
"Stop" he whispers.
"Stop" he begs.
"Stop"
She ignores his desperate pleads as yellow pupils regard him in disgust before a shadow of emotion flickers to life. "It's the key to happiness Uchiha" she pushes and urges in an attempt to break the child.
Toying with death, mere steps.
"What you need will become yours through patience."
Scales form into delicate fingers and thickly curled lashes. Bone and flesh come to life as her body rotates and creaks to life. She kneels before him as her tongue slithers from the confinement of her jaws. Fear lingers between them, the unmistakable scent overcomes her senses as she fights the urge to consume him.
"But what I want is mine."
Her pupils reflect the sharp weapon in her grip. Sasuke is too terrified to voice his fear. A choked scream erupts from his larynx once the kunai meets his throat.
The dead men fall into a chant, they echo and vibrate against his skull as they threaten to tear limb from limb. Sanity from madness.
So fragile, so weak.
"Anima vestra Uchiha."
"Anima vestra"
—S—
"1200.
Underneath the large Sakura tree, west of the training grounds.
Hatake Kakashi"
Sasuke frowns, lightly stroking his sensei's seal on the scroll before discarding it amongst the pile of Jutsu scrolls.
"Orochimaru?" echoes Sasuke, hesitant on whether he should express his excitement.
Kakashi nods before extending both arms into the air, only satisfied once a loud crack is released from his aching back.
Spring. Sakura leaves bloomed before them as they lay in the shelter of the large mother tree.
Black- the shadows that form as the sun rises, announcing another day.
Sasuke is young and naïve, he is a mere boy in the eyes of Konoha. An Uchiha who will no doubt become corrupted overtime. However Konoha is tactical, she is lethal and cunning. She decides who is worthy enough to defend her soil. She decides who the pawns and kings are.
For they are were all animals scavenging for the crown.
Orochimaru; notoriously known as a snake. A man accused of immorally experimenting on lesser beings, on beggars and orphans. He forged the best of fighters and the smartest of shinobi. However, they all eventually reduced to a pile of rotting flesh. The best are bound to break, the strong are bound to drown and the sane are bound to be driven mad.
"There's a rat, a rat amongst us!"
The man roars in defiance, or in anger, neither of his comrades live to know. "Then send a snake!"
Sasuke struggles to compose himself as he subconsciously drums his fingers on his covered knee. His head rolls back as his gaze meets freshly bloomed flowers, unfocused eyes admiring the large Sakura tree. The thick trunk spouted smaller branches, forming new radiating pink petals. Drifting in the slight breeze, a sweet fragrance overcomes him as he inhales deeply.
Kakashi wonders whether Sasuke knows he is becoming much more like Itachi for each passing day. A glimpse of Itachi is seen through Sasuke's fighting stance. (When his left foot subconsciously slides forward in a defensive stance. Or when he flickers his right wrist once throwing a kunai). Kakashi is wise enough to not discuss it. The purple bruises that have bloomed a few days ago remain marked on his neck. Only noticeable once Sasuke rolls his head back, exposing the littered skin underneath. Kakashi does not dare to ask. He knows love is cruel.
"A legendry Sannin" Sasuke finally mumbles, eyes still locked with the large mother tree.
Kakashi simply sighs before uncovering his Icha Icha novel from his side.
She moans as she sees splashes of crimson blended with green and hues of blue. The grip on her thigh intensifies as he begins to flicker his tongue-
"Kakashi"
An eye flickers away from the window.
"Itachi will be furious" he mumbles incoherently.
A gloved finger caresses the rim of the teacup, gentle and slow. For a moment the finger freezes before relaxing lazily against the wooden desk.
The Yondaime massages the bridge of his nose before exhaling loudly through his nostrils.
"Will we regret this Kakashi?"
Regret taunted him in his most vulnerable moments, it triggers a whirlwind of emotions as it brings the most painful of his demons back from the dead. Rarely does teacher ask student for advice but Kakashi has noticed that he learns much more from his students than they learn from him.
Stains of auburn and violet litter the darkening sky. The sun disappears against the horizon, embracing black skies and bursting stars. The change of lighting casts beautiful shadows against Konoha and its citizens. Kakashi watches on with distant eyes, he knows all beautiful things must come to an end. This no doubt was no different.
"We might. But it is for the best" he slowly answers as if choosing his words carefully.
"Is that what I will whisper to myself in order to put my heart at ease?"
Kakashi's smile falters.
"The Uchiha clan are dangerous. Tobiramu Senju allowed them to form the police force in order to remain-"
"Yes" interrupts the Hokage impatiently. "But did it work?"
"You have seen what an Uchiha is capable of" Minato whispers as his fingers curl into his hair.
Kakashi holds his breath.
"You placed Uchiha Sasuke in my care. I do not give up on my students. Orochimaru will take the bait, give him a chance of trust and he will believe we have faith in him. Allow the pieces to fall into place"
There's a brief moment of silence.
"And if they shatter?"
"Then we alter them to fit into place"
Both of them knows what an Uchiha is truly capable of.
Obito still haunts their dreams.
—S—
"The Jinchuriki is merely a vessel constricting the true power of the nine tailed beast. In order to unleash and ultimately control such power, we must disrupt what he loves most."
Silence.
"And that is?" asks the man, blowing a puff of smoke into the air.
"Konoha"
The smoker arches an eyebrow before he grins, sharp teeth gleaming.
"And how do you intend to do pursue such a dream?"
A shifting of limbs
"Tell me, if one was to create chaos and paranoia within the walls of Konoha, how would they achieve it?"
Silence.
"Disrupt the hierarchy" whispers the smaller man, his rice hat forming shifting shadows.
A/N
Itachi's coping mechanism is pushing Sasuke away. He's world is Sasuke and in order to protect his world he must distance himself. He chooses to break Sasuke in hopes that it is for the best but it obviously backfires. Both crack in the process. Although Itachi's anger may not seem justified, he truly believes in that moment he may have lost his brother and it's that very thought that unleashes what he attempts to diligently hide. Itachi's anger is not just defensive, but also formed from jealousy. Both are too broken to love each other and both are fragile pieces of glass.
Sasuke is too naïve to understand the true intentions of Itachi, even though they're not clear at this point. Instead he shatters and believes each words his brother says. Itachi knows Sasuke's insecurities, the main that he does not view himself 'worthy' enough to be an 'authentic' Uchiha. Itachi knows that by pulling on these strings Sasuke is bound to snap and that is the true goal that he must achieve.
This chapter is not meant to be a perfect timeline. Pieces of the previous fight reveals itself in minor scenes. This is merely a puzzle that makes sense once all the pieces come together.