Disclaimer: I still don't own Naruto, probably never will.
Warnings: This chapter contains violence, blood, incest, yaoi, sexual content, vulgar language, references to rape, OOC, and the canon is pretty screwed up (later chapters will show this more). This chapter is the longest one in the bunch so far, approx 18 and a half pages in Microsoft Word (this is not a quick read) There are also A LOT of errors that I probably didn't pick up. A CHARACTER GETS HURT IN THIS CHAPTER, SO TO ALL OF THE FANS OF THAT PARTICULAR CHARECTER, I DO NOT HATE THEM. Well, before the warnings get longer than the story, I close it here. Oh yeah, Itachi's back too...
Pairings: ItaSasu, Traces of KakaIta, Hints of AsuKure, and a splish-splash of GaiKaka (if you really look)
The rain continued to fall on the village as the hospital was filled with horror. Around every corner there was an ANBU squad waiting to strike at the first sign of danger. At the door there were two men with katana questioning who ever came in trying to get past any suspicions.
"He's master of genjutsu," one of the guards said as they passed Sasuke's door. "He could be around any corner."
"Do you think he's in there with the boy?"
"No, he might be a master of genjutsu but he can't walk through walls."
Sasuke looked around the room as he remembered what happened yesterday. He felt warmth on his as he tried to move, the darkness of the room hiding the secrets. Was it Itachi? His heart raced in his chest as he thought of his brother in here touching him again, but through the glare of the light from the dark clouds he saw who it was, it was Naruto resting gently on his chest in a state of deep slumber, still embracing his friend.
"Don't people miss you?" Sasuke asked as he moved his hand from his embrace. "Go home and sleep in your bed, Naruto," blue eyes looked up at him. "You look like hell." He laughed lightly as Naruto opened his eyes fully.
"You think you look perfect?" Naruto asked. "You're soaking wet."
"It's sweat, you moron," he answered rolling his eyes. "God, I thought you would have been able to hear me pain, you have been there for a whole day, and your fat ass on me isn't helping any of this."
"Quit your whining, you drama queen," he answered as he sat up. "It's really dark in here. How can you not fall asleep during this?"
Sasuke smiled. "I was sleeping… but it was hard to breathe with you on top of me, Naruto. So I woke up coughing," he took a breath. "Did ANBU question you? Or do they not know you're in here."
"Oh come on," Naruto answered as he looked into Sasuke's eyes. "Kakashi-sensei said that I was harmless. So only Sakura and I are really the only ones allowed in here. You should be honored that you have such a small guest list."
Sasuke laughed. "Well, Naruto, today's probably going to be the day when they try to fix the broken tissue again. It would be the perfect day, the only way to keep Itachi out of here."
Naruto watched as Sasuke cringed. "Does that hurt? The procedure?"
"It stings for a little while, then your breath gets caught in your throat," he looked at Naruto's hand that was grabbing onto his. "It's like getting raped all over again. They go so deep in there and they keep pushing and pushing against all of the ripped flesh."
"Wow," Naruto sighed. "So it really does hurt."
"You have no idea how much it hurts," Sasuke answered. "Why am I talking about this with you? Why are you doing this to me?"
"I'm not doing anything to you," Naruto answered. "I'm just trying to talk to you. You've been acting strange since I came in here, is it because you feel as though you can't get close to someone."
"I can get close," Sasuke continued. "I can talk with you all day long."
Naruto held Sasuke's hand as he looked at the EKG. "I'm not going to let anything hurt you, I told you that. I'm not going to leave this room, Sasuke, and you can't make me."
"But Itachi…"
"Won't get past the guards," Naruto answered as he looked into watering black eyes. "As for you, you need to get some sleep. You aren't going to get better by being this stubborn."
Sasuke looked up into the window as he thought about his brother. Did they think this was going to stop him? A few guards? No. Itachi took out some of the best ninja that Sasuke had ever seen. He killed Shisui the Mirage; he killed everyone in the Uchiha clan. He was a monster, no remorse in his actions. The rain was going to cover up any chill that they could feel as he walked by. It would be the perfect day.
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you," Naruto soothed as he walked toward the door.
I won't let anything happen to you, Sasuke. The words ran throughout his head as he looked into the darkness of the room. He was the only thing that was on his mind ever since they had sex. Was it really rape? By standards it was considered such, but in his heart it was different. Could it be rape when someplace deep inside he wanted it?
No, I didn't want it in any way shape or form! The only thing that I want is for his face to leave me alone! I was being used and abused by my own brother, there is no was. A tear ran down his cheek as he was lost in his thoughts. I was an idiot to think that he would have gone easy on me, he's a psychotic pervert after all, and he is obsessed with me.
He closed his eyes going back into a place and time where he was still safe. You can come into bed with me, but only for this one night. One night, turned into every storm, every thunderstorm that happened he would go in there so he could be embraced by his brother's arms. The beat of his heart, the beating still resonated in his mind. He was always going to be there.
"Itachi…" he breathed. My body is giving out on me, the sensations are getting closer. No! I am not in love with him! I am not in love with my brother! He heard ANBU walk down the hall still talking.
"Why would his brother rape him? That's disgusting."
Disgusting? Sasuke's eyes moved to the door, what the hell were they doing. Did they think that he couldn't hear them? Itachi's far from disgusting just because he raped me. Disgusting?
"Well he is a monster…"
Monster? What is this? He felt the pain in his arm increase. "Damn it…"
Was he in love with his brother? Did that make him a disgusting monster? No. He wasn't disgusting, he wasn't a monster, he was a victim to his brother's spell. He was somehow drawn to him like a moth to a flame.
"I would feel so sorry for him; I heard that he was a virgin."
"Losing it to your brother, how terrifying."
No. He was not going to listen to them. The abuse that he was getting without them even knowing it, the way that the ANBU talked about people, it was starting to get to him. No one was going to talk about Itachi that way. Bastard or not, blood was thicker than water.
"I-Itachi? W-what do you mean? What happened to you?" He remembered the look in his brother eyes; feeling the tremor in his body as they talk about what happened in ANBU right when he said those two words
Absolute Hell. What did they do to him? Did they give him this much abuse? No, he was one of them. He was a squad leader! Or did they… did they rape him while on the missions. He came home with scars; he knew that they were from all of the fighting but the way that he almost never slept. Was he plagued by the memories of his squad of men that were much older than him?
"Itachi," he breathed as his eyes closed. "I'm sorry…"
The voices were fading.
"He's nothing but a whore now."
No, that's not true.
"The great Itachi Uchiha is an incestuous queer."
No, stop saying that!
"I'm sorry, Itachi…" he breathed again another warm tear running down his face. The voices meant nothing at they stopped invading his ears. They were all lies; his brother wasn't the person that he described. He was different, he was better than that.
But he wasn't in love with him.
-----
"Whatever you do, you can't let anything happen to Sasuke," Kakashi looked at the ANBU squads that were at the front of the hospital. Even after hours of having the squads out there he still had the fear of losing Sasuke to Itachi. He was getting closer every minute that went by.
"Respect? Why do you think he's still alive? There's something that I need him to do, something that I will never be able to obtain by myself. What happened that night was nothing more but a test."
He looked around the front of the hospital as rain continued to fall down on him. Itachi was out there searching for him, and he wasn't going to give up until he got him. Is he working for Orochimaru? The words repeated in his head. He worked alone now, did his organization drop him? It didn't add up, it made absolutely no sense.
"Kakashi," a voice called out from behind.
He turned to see who it was. "Asuma."
The other jounin walked closer the rain still falling. "You seem tense."
"Of course I do," Kakashi answered. "You've heard the information concerning a week ago; you know what happened to Sasuke."
"Itachi," Asuma answered as he threw his cigarette to the ground. "I know that it must be hard on you knowing that he's back in the village. After what he did the kid has courage, I give him credit for that."
"He's after Sasuke."
"I know, Kakashi, why else would he be back here? He's coming to take back what's his," Asuma closed his eyes. "I'm sorry about the lack of ANBU; this was all that the village could provide you with. I don't know if this is even going to work. He knows ANBU secrets."
Kakashi looked up at the window leading to Sasuke's room. "Itachi's wounded."
"What? What do you mean he's wounded?"
The rain fell harder. "Sasuke got a good punch in before he was pinned down, he broke I'd say around three of his ribs on the left side. He can hardly breathe; he was coughing up blood when we spoke yesterday. He's in tough shape."
The area went silent as another man walked up to the door, it was an ANBU official. It looked right enough, he had the armor, he had the mask, he even had the tattoo on his left arm. But there was something suspicious about him.
"Where are you going?" Asuma asked.
The man looked over at him. "I was given orders to go on the inside and switch shifts with one of the other guards. Is there something wrong, sir?"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. I know that voice.
"No," Asuma answered. "No problem."
Chills ran through the air as the man walked through the doors, a familiar smell filling the air. Jasmine. No, there was only one place where Kakashi had smelled that scent. The scent of jasmine. No, it couldn't have been him, not now. But it was his smell; it was his scent, the only way to recognize him.
He had all of the other attributes that Asuma had neglected to point out. It had his body frame, the small yet defined structure of his body, his hair was in a long black ponytail that was nicely tied back, and that was his armor. But most importantly the breathing, it was labored, his ribs were broken.
"Jasmine," Kakashi whispered as he walked in the path of the ANBU guard.
"What?" Asuma started walking after him. "Kakashi! Where are you going?"
"Stay here, Asuma," the younger jounin demanded. "I don't need you to get hurt during this one. Watch the ANBU Black Ops down here."
He ran into the building as he heard Asuma screaming his name behind him asking who it was. Itachi, you little devil. You think you can sneak in while you look like that? I can hear you breathing all the way back here.
They stood at the elevator, the officer inside. He took of his mask looking at him with the horrid red eyes that he feared everyday of the hospital stay. Taking a few step forward, Kakashi felt a roiling heated anger fill his body.
"Itachi," he breathed.
"I told you, Kakashi, don't underestimate me," the door closed as Kakashi stood right outside the doors, pressing the buttons to get in. He had only a minimal amount of time to save Sasuke from absolute death. The laughter filled the empty room as he kept pushing the button.
"You damn bastard!" he hit the door harder. "Itachi!" he closed his eyes as he rested his body up against the door. I swore… I swore that I would never see another Uchiha die. I swore that I would save him. Sasuke, I'm sorry. He looked over at the stairs. Maybe there's a way that I can still get there before he does. You aren't going to win this one, Itachi, I'm going to get there first.
He ran to the stairs thinking about what was going to happen when he got in there. What was Itachi going to try to do? "Why? Do you really think that if you try to touch me right now I'm going to let you walk away? You'll be another useless casualty in my journey for power. And then there's Sasuke, he's the last piece, the one that I need more than anything. He belongs to me."
His heart beat faster in his chest as he tried to get to the room as fast as he could. Itachi was getting craftier. I don't care if I am a useless casualty, as long as that boy gets out of there alive and well. You aren't going to poison him with more of your lies, you bastard.
He could hear Asuma start to chase after him screaming his name. "Kakashi! Where are you going?"
Can't he take a damn order? He ran faster up the stairs hearing the door open. He was being chased now. He's not going to stop me from saving Sasuke. I am not going to watch another Uchiha die. Not after Obito.
"Kakashi!" Asuma cried out as he continued to follow him. "What the hell are you doing?"
"I told you to stay put, Asuma!" he cried out still going up the stairs avoiding his fellow jounin. "I don't want you to get involved in this."
The other walked up the stairs after him. "Kakashi, what the hell do you think you're doing? We're supposed to be out there protecting the hospital, not going after suspicious looking ANBU members."
"It wasn't a normal guard, he was Itachi Uchiha."
"How do you know?" Asuma asked as he grabbed Kakashi's wrist pulling him back. "Kakashi, come on, just get back down there. Itachi isn't going to hurt Sasuke, he wouldn't have come in so easily."
"He's armed," Kakashi answered as he tried to pull away. "I have to stop him before he gets too far into it. If he hurts Sasuke, I'm going to kill him."
"Kakashi!"
"Let go…"
"Kakashi," the pull became greater. "He'll kill you."
"It's a sacrifice I have to make for my squad," he looked back at his colleague. "I don't want to see your blood get spilled during this. If Itachi comes to you, I might not be able to hold him off," he pushed him away. "I don't want to watch you die."
"Kakashi, I can take it," Asuma answered.
More force was applied as he pushed him closer to the edge. "Let me go, Asuma, and get back down there with he guards. I don't want to see you get hurt in this. Itachi is a ruthless ninja and I know that he won't go easy on you."
"I'm not leaving," the other jounin answered.
Kakashi's hand moved to Asuma's chest as he pushed him. "Then I'm going to have to make you stay, even if I have to break you arms and legs!" He fell back hitting the stairs, Kakashi's eyes closed as he to see his colleague falling down, blood running from his lips as he hit chest, breaking his ribs. "I'm sorry, Asuma."
He hit the ground with a loud thud, his body shaking as he tried to breathe, his lips coated with blood. He weakly opened his eyes looking up at him. "Kakashi." He took another breath as he struggled to his feet. "How do you know that it's Itachi?"
Kakashi opened the door as Asuma fell to his knees uttering one single word. "Jasmine." He ran through the halls leaving his pleading colleague behind not paying attention. He's probably already there; I don't have much time to get there. He ran faster, he was still a floor too low to be of any importance. I'm going to get you, Itachi. You're not going to touch that boy! I can smell you all the way back here you bastard! I'm coming for you.
-----
Sasuke's eyes opened rapidly as he looked at the door hearing the bangs and crashes that were coming from outside. Were the ANBU having fight, did all of the alcohol those men drank while on the job finally get to them?
What the hell is their problem? They can't even stop fighting each other? Then he saw it, the blood running underneath the door. What was going on out there? He lifted his body looking at the doorknob. It was turning.
No. It couldn't be it wasn't. The door opened and there he stood, a man in an ANBU uniform covered in blood. A strange smell ran through the room, the smell of jasmine. He remembered that smell from that night by the river. Jasmine, that with the mix of sweat and blood. It was all becoming clear.
The man took another step forward as he looked into the mask, he knew the face behind, he could see the traces of his jaw line. It was the jaw line that he dreamed about planting many kisses along. The smell got stronger as he got closer to the bed. The beeping from the EKG became more rapid as he choked on his own breath. This hurts. He took another deep breath trying to get rid of the burning that was going up and down his throat.
"W-what are you doing h-here?" he struggled on his words as he tried to catch his breath. I can't breathe.
"It's been a while, Sasuke," the man breathed heavily as he knelt next to the bed. "It's been a whole week hasn't it?"
The smell was intoxicating, making the young boy's mind go through a series of battle not to get aroused from it. But this ANBU guard wasn't an average ANBU guard, he knew him, and the way that his body was shaped looked familiar. All too familiar.
"How long?"
"What?" Sasuke asked feeling the man stroke his face.
"How long until you get out of here?" his hand was soft even after gripping a katana. He could still feel the dryness of the fair flesh; this man had been handling heavy weapons for a while something that many of the guards couldn't say.
Obsidian eyes opened and caught a glimpse of something on the man's had: purple nail polish. His breath caught in his throat as his stomach churned violently. The EKG had a hitch of an irregular rhythm as he whispered his name. "Itachi…"
Silence filled the room as the man moved his hand to take off the mask dropping it to the ground with a thud. Underneath the mask he saw it, the same scarlet eyes. He let out a low sigh as he looked down at his brother, a smirk on his face.
"It's been a while," he moved down to kiss Sasuke on the lips lightly. "How are you doing?"
"After you tore me up on the inside?" Sasuke asked turning away.
"Physically or mentally?" Itachi asked as he looked around the room. "It's dark in here. Doesn't that get annoying?"
"I sleep most of the time."
"Sleep?" he older ninja asked as he stood up walking toward the door. "You have time for such wasteful activities? I know that in my lifetime there would be no use for any of these pastimes."
"I have plenty of time in here," he answered, wishing that Itachi would disappear. It was torture being there strapped to a bed watching the man that you wanted to kill more than anything walking around in the same room as you. He was only a few feet away and there was nothing that Sasuke could do. It was useless.
"Did you see it?" Itachi asked his voice low, easing up to the point of concern. "The other side?"
Sasuke swallowed hard. "You mean did I die?"
His brother's eyes looked back at him. "Did I kill you, Sasuke?" his eyes weren't showing any emotion. "Did I?
Sasuke's eyes closed as he took a deep breath. "Yeah."
Itachi closed his eyes and muttered a quiet: "Damn," red looked up to meet onyx, his eyes starting to bleed with traces of emotion. "How long did I kill you for?"
"For only a little while," Sasuke answered noticing the anger in Itachi's eyes. "But they said I'm going to be alright. There was no major damage to my heart, but they said it weakened my lungs a little." There was a small pause as he noticed Itachi wasn't paying attention. "Four times they had to try to revive me. All because of you, you selfish prick! If you hadn't done that to me, I wouldn't be in this much pain." A tear ran down his cheek his voice breaking. "It hurts to be in here."
Itachi moved to Sasuke's side. "The more you cooperate the sooner you'll get out." He held his younger brother's hand, Sasuke gasping in shock. "Just hold on for a bit longer, it gets better, you'll be able to breathe in no time at all."
"Why do you care?" Sasuke asked as he looked at the hand. "You raped me."
"I know…" Itachi retorted as he caressed the hand gently. "I didn't mean to do that to you. I just… I…"
Sasuke swallowed hard. "What?" Was Itachi going to apologizing for something?
He felt Itachi's breath form on his lips, his eyes looking straight into his, the cool metal of the armor up against his fragile chest. Itachi's lips kissed lightly at Sasuke's forehead and then he moved to his cheeks, his lips quick yet soft.
"No…" the younger brother protested. "No, Itachi, stop it."
"I didn't want to have it be like that," his silken tongue ran along Sasuke's Adam's apple making his body shudder. "I didn't want you to wind up here, all you had to do was say stop, but you didn't. I swore… I swore that I would never let anything happen to you, and I'm not going to let myself do that again, no matter how much I want to hurt you.."
Sasuke pushed his right arm against Itachi's chest. "I'm not just going to forgive you. You raped me! I'm not going to let you walk in here and pretend that nothing happened. I'm not going to let you dance all over me."
"I don't intend to," Itachi breathed. "I just want to talk."
"I just came to talk, Sasuke. There's no use getting mad."
"I'm not going to fall for that one again!" he protested. "That's what you said a week ago. Go to Hell, Itachi."
Tears streaked his face as he turned to the side coughing lightly. He didn't want to have his brother there anymore; he wanted to see him go away from him. He wasn't supposed to be there. He killed the guards and got past Kakashi, how?
"Sasuke," Itachi breathed his hand moving to wipe away the tears. "I didn't…"
"It won't work this time," the young ninja whispered as the room got darker from the clouds, rain falling harder onto the windows as he took a light breath. Then the room filled with a blinding flash of light followed by a loud rumble.
"Damn it!" Sasuke breathed as he closed. It's just a lightening storm, it can't hurt you. It can't hurt you.
Itachi stood up and started to walk toward the door again. "I guess I'll be on my way then," he put his hand on the discarded mask. "Sorry to be a bother."
"No," Sasuke's voice was shaking as was his body. "W-wait," he lifted the blankets. "Don't leave me alone now. I-I don't." Crash! "I can make an exception since you're already here. Come on, I-I-I…"
Itachi looked out the window, a grin plastered on his face. "You're still scared."
"I am not," Sasuke scoffed.
"Then why are you asking for my attention? Are you trying to lure me I so you can take me out easier? Or are you really starting to forgive me for what you did because you liked it," Itachi smirked.
"Remind me to obliterate you once I get out of here."
Itachi walked forward, standing over him looking down into his eyes. He always knew he shouldn't do that, even when they were young he always had an effect on him; he always made Sasuke want more. Smooth hands caressed Sasuke's forehead as Itachi sat down next to him on the bed. The smell of jasmine filled Sasuke's mind again as he looked up licking his lips lightly.
"Itachi…" he breathed feeling his brother move down on top of him, his warmth encompassing him. "You're so warm."
"I'm not that warm," Itachi purred.
Sasuke moved his right hand up to stroke his brother's face looking into his eyes. Even though he was his rapist, the one who almost killed him, he couldn't get him off of his mind. He needed him, his body was crying for him. Maybe he deserved the pain.
"Itachi," Sasuke breathed kissing at the tattoo on his brother's left arm, his tongue gliding across the black inked flesh.
"Sasuke?" they looked into each other's eyes again. "I thought you hated me."
"Don't think this means you won," the young boy smiled. "I know the sooner I give you what you want, the sooner you go away. You're predictable, Itachi, and you've come here because your colleagues want something."
"Actually, on the contrary," he kissed his forehead. "I work alone."
A small laugh was exerted. "You always were the type to do everything on your own," he could feel his breath mix with his brother's as they moved closer to one another. "Itachi…"
His eyes closed as he met his brother's in a warm kiss. His heart as racing in his chest, not because he didn't want it, it was because he needed it. The same warm silken tongue that violated his mouth a week ago entered his mouth again, stroking every spot that made him moan and beg for more.
Purrs filled the room as their breathing became more and more ragged, a shaking hand moving to grab Itachi's ponytail, pulling him closer. The heat roiled, breath catching in his throat, his fingers shaking as they grasped the ebony hairs, he was losing it. He was here with his one true hate and he wasn't going to make an attempt to kill him.
What's going on? My body… he grabbed onto the ponytail tighter. Why am I doing this? I don't have to surrender to him.
Their lips left for a moment, both of them taking a deep breath as Itachi moved back breathing heavily. It was a good time to get at him. All he had to do was move, move just a little forward. His body was stuck on the bed, saliva dripping down his chin. Never had he been this numb with pleasure. Itachi felt so good.
"I-Itachi," he breathed trying to move his left arm wincing.
"What is it?" Itachi asked, his breath heavy, thick with sexual desire.
"Like I said, you can't just come in here kiss me and expect me to say that I love you," Sasuke breathed. "I hate you! Everything about you!" he let out another wince as he tried to move his left arm. "Don't fuck with me. Not now, not again."
Itachi watched as Sasuke desperately tried to move from the sling on his arm, his low cries filling the room. "I wouldn't do that if I was you, you could hurt yourself, and the last thing that we want is your arm to be damaged more."
"Stop trying to care!" his fingers moved to pull the wires off of his chest, the EKG going to a flat line. The harmonic beep filled the room as Itachi stood in one place, his face finally showing some incarnation fear. That was the heart monitor that was connected to Sasuke, the one that showed that he was still alive. It was nothing but one long sound now, it represented death. It burned him.
"Sasuke, get back in bed," he said calmly as he watched him balance himself on his right arm trying to get up. "Don't strain yourself."
A squeal echoed off of the walls as Sasuke's feet hit the ground, he was trying to stand up, but the pain rolled up his spine his whole body aching in pain, his screams the same pitch as the EKG, blood rolling down his legs. I shouldn't be walking… it hurts too much, and I'm losing more blood.
"Sasuke…" Itachi's tone of voice was different; it was a little more concerned. "Be reasonable and get back in bed!"
"You…" Sasuke took a breath his body shaking as he walked forward, his arm still in the sling. "You can't tell me what to do! I'm not yours to play with!"
Itachi backed up watching Sasuke's feet come closer, he shouldn't even be standing up. The pain that was running through his body was too great. No. He wasn't supposed to be moving this soon, and the blood dripping down his legs proved that.
"Sasuke!" Itachi begged, his voice on the verge of breaking the barrier between fear and anger.
"I'm going to kill you," the young boy muttered as he pulled out the IVs walking closer still. "I'm not going to let you live after what you did to me," sweat was pouring down his face. "You bastard!" his breath was catching again, but the walls of his throat were closing with every movement. Damn it! I can't breathe. My body…
He fell to his knees and started shaking, screaming out in pain. Blood was running down his legs vigorously as he struggled to get back up but to no avail. With cold black eyes he looked up at his brother, his body fragile.
"I… I'm going to…" he took a deep breath trying not to give into his pain. "I'm g-going to kill you." he coughed violently as he reached his right arm. A thunderclap echoed through the room as he moved face down. "I want to kill you."
Itachi crouched down next to him. "Kill me? You can't even walk," he scoffed, his voice in a mocking tone.
"They said I'll be walking in no time," Sasuke breathed, his words muffled by the floor. "You tore me up pretty badly."
The older brother rolled Sasuke onto his back looking into dark eyes. "Don't push yourself too hard."
"Don't try to be the brother that was a figment of my imagination. It's easier to kill the stone cold prick that you've become," he looked away from his brother who's hand was going to caress his face. "No…"
"You weren't protesting a few moments ago," Itachi breathed stroking his brother's face. "Sasuke, please, don't hurt yourself. Is your dream worth your life?"
"My dream burns stronger after what you did."
"Sasuke," his brother smiled. "I only did it to make you give up on that dream of yours. I know that you want to have the taste on my blood on your lips, but you have to understand that I won't let you," he kissed his forehead. "I will keep destroying until you give up on that little goal. Give up…"
Sasuke swallowed a moan as his brother kissed him deeper. "N-n-no, I won't do that. It's been years since I made that promise to myself and I'm not going to break my promise, even if you try to break me. Rape me all you want, kill me, I don't care, as long as I get you to die even on the inside after what you did."
There was a small silence before there was a sigh. "You just don't get it do you?"
"Get what?" Sasuke could sense the terror rising in the air.
"I'm here for you, Sasuke," the older one answered moving back onto his knees. "I'm here to talk to you about something that is going on now, regarding the nine-tails that lies in your best friend Naruto Uzumzki."
"Nine-tails?" Sasuke asked. "Naruto? What do you want with him? Is it that stupid organization, are you trying to get back in by turning him in? You're low."
Itachi laughed. "Sasuke, why would I turn over the one thing they wants more than anything when I can finally foil their plans?" He moved to Sasuke's ear. "I'm going to do something to him that will make all of them pay for what they did to me." He kissed as his younger brother's neck on the bandages that wrapped around.
"What are you going to do?" he turned his head to meet his brother's lips receiving a light kiss. "What are you going to do to Naruto?"
Itachi pulled back after another short kiss, warm breath condensing on his lips. "I'm going to kill him…"
"Kill him?" Sasuke asked his voice raising a pitch.
"They'll never get him that way," he backed away looking down at the young bloody boy. "And you're going to deliver him to me."
Sasuke breathed heavily as one of his brother's hands moved to run through his hair. He wasn't supposed to enjoy this, not with Itachi, not with the brother that he hated through all of the years. Now he told him the worst news, he was going to have to kill Naruto? No! There were some things that couldn't be done.
"Itachi," Sasuke breathed. "You want me to help you kill my best friend?"
"It's necessary," Itachi answered his voice quiet.
"What's telling you all of this bullshit?" Sasuke asked. "What's telling you what's necessary or not? What told you to kill our parents? What told you to kill Shisui? What told you to kill those innocent guards? What told you to fuck me that night? What the hell is doing all of this to you? What's controlling you?"
Itachi looked out the window getting lost in the dark clouds. "I'm in control of my own destiny, just like you are. We aren't that different you and I. When you think about it we're almost exactly the same. Both of us have sworn our lives to revenge, and now we can work together to get what we want."
"I'm not like you!"
Itachi's eyes closed. "Protest all you want, just get me the nine-tails," he looked at his younger brother. "Now I'm going to get you back to bed before you get hurt even more. That noise is getting to me."
Sasuke scowled at him as he felt his body being lifted the pain still in his lower half, pulsing up to his brain. He felt the warmth up against his chest hearing his brother's heart beating. It was the sound that he had fallen asleep to all of those years back. It was his brother's warmth, the one that he had fallen in love with.
He closed his eyes as he was placed back on the bed, the smell of jasmine filling his nostrils. The feeling of the wires that had confined him to the bed returned his brother's hands moving quickly.
"You little fool, why would you get out of bed?" Itachi asked coughing lightly, traces of blood on his lips. "Damn it…"
"Itachi?" Sasuke asked, the blood dripping onto his cheek, it was Itachi's blood. "What the hell? Are you alright?"
The beeping started again as Itachi continued to cough lightly. "Do you remember what you did to me that night, Sasuke? Right before I pinned you down? You must know. It was your own fist that hit me."
It came back to him instantly. Crunch! The sound of his brother's bones cracking was filling his mind. Did he do that to him? He actually got to lay a finger on him and when he did he almost killed him.
"I…?" Sasuke looked away.
"You broke three of my ribs," he answered. "It's slowed my movements down a little, but I'm not going to give up. You're going to bring me that fox and I'm going to get my revenge on that whole organization. Nothing is in my way now."
Sasuke looked at his brother's shaking hands as he inserted the IV needle. He was in pain, this was more than just a minor setback to him, it was like his life was taken away with that single hit. All of the power that he had was his reason for living. Did he kill him like he told himself he would? Did he make all of that pain remerge in his brother's unstable mind?
"Itachi," Sasuke breathed. "I just wanted to know why you did all of this. Especially what you did to Shisui, I thought he was your best friend."
There was another silence as a thunderclap filled the room. "I knew that he was supposed to be the first sacrifice. I told you that because I killed him I was able to obtain that mangekyou sharingan," he looked at the EKG. "Sasuke… I didn't want to kill you because I need you. Look at me now; I'm begging you to help me."
There was a dreadfully long silence right before Sasuke moved his hand to stroke his brother's face. "I don't want you to come here and beg to me. I don't want your Goddamn apologies. I want you to finally feel the pain that I've gone through all of these years and how you destroyed my life."
Itachi touched Sasuke's hand turning to kiss at the palm. "You want me to feel pain?" he took one of the fingers into his mouth sucking lewdly. "I didn't know that you hated me that much. Isn't the blood you spilt enough."
The rain fell harder as Sasuke's vision blurred feeling the way that he was sucking on his fingers, making his whole body go numb with the pleasure that he was excreting.
"S-stop," Sasuke begged.
Itachi pulled back. "Stop? Why?"
"B-because," Sasuke swallowed around the lump in his throat, his pulse racing. "Because I want you to kiss me again," he closed his eyes. "P-please, enough with the fingers."
"Begging?" Itachi asked. "I thought that the little avenger would be above such an act. I thought you would care more about that pathetic dream. Or in this moment have you finally come to realize that your body craves me?" he moved closer. "You feel overwhelmed with heat don't you? I can see in your eyes, you try to hide it, but you're worse at hiding than anyone that I have ever seen."
"Quit acting like you know me," Sasuke begged his voice thick with an unknown emotion. "The Sasuke that you knew is dead along with that fake Itachi that you created. You will no longer deceive me; this is going to end now."
"With a kiss?" his wet tongue ran along Sasuke's dry lips
"Are you going to hurt me?" he moved to his brother's ear.
"I can't hurt you anymore," Itachi's lips hit Sasuke's, the EKG racing. "I need you in one piece now. The examples are done, there are no more tests of your capacity. This is all a grander design; I want to see what you can do. This is all about you, all that I'm doing now is about you."
"You came all the way here just for me?" Sasuke asked kissing him again. "You're crazy… and so damn selfish."
"I always get what I want," he answered pushing Sasuke deeper into the bed biting gently at his lower lip, his tongue teasing the violated flesh that was in his mouth.
A loud wet moan filled the room, Sasuke's lips parting to take Itachi's tongue in. He couldn't help what he was feeling right now, he wanted more, he wanted to wrap his arms around him, feel his heat circulate through him. His right arm moved shakily to embrace Itachi's body, gently touching the spot right in between his shoulder blades feeling his brother's body tense.
"I-Itachi," he breathed up against his lips. "It hurts."
"What hurts?" Itachi asked backing away. His lips moved to kiss lightly at the bandages that concealed the bite that he had left him with. He kissed every spot of his depravity: Sasuke's shoulder, his neck, his lips, his wrists. The room grew hot as the rain pounded down even harder.
"Stop that," Sasuke begged concealing a giggle. "Don't do this; you don't have to show any sympathy?"
"Sympathy? What are you talking about?" Itachi asked a slight tone of laughter in his voice. "You think that I'm doing this because I feel sorry for you? There are different reasons, and there is no way that I would ever feel sorry for you… you've got too much for my pity."
Black eyes stared blankly at him, his breathing becoming almost silent. "What the hell are you talking about? Tell me…"
"I don't have to," Itachi taunted flatly.
Sasuke sighed. "I'm being a bother again aren't I? Are you going to flick my forehead and make stupid excuses? Or are you just going to sit on the edge of my bed and not show any emotion toward the subject," sheets rustled from the shifting of his weight. "Why are you really after me? It's more than the nine-tails. You want more from me."
Itachi stroked Sasuke's face. "You're too young to understand what I'm going through right now; you don't know why I have to get you on my side. You're my only hope."
Their lips met again, Sasuke was holding back all resistance returning the kiss fully his own tongue passing through the threshold of Itachi's lips. The bed creaked as Itachi moved on top of Sasuke pushing some of the breath from his lungs. And with a moan Sasuke felt his body let go, starting to surrender and for once he didn't care. For this moment there was nothing. There was no revenge. It was like the Itachi that he loved was back in his arms.
An unchaste hand moved up Sasuke's shirt stroking the flesh of his abdomen, it was electrifying. There was something that told him to stop before he got too into it, yet the churning desire in his brain was telling him that he wanted that hand right there. He didn't want it to back away to leave him alone, he wanted to feel him the way that he couldn't that night.
I'm sick; I'm enjoying the company of my rapist. He moaned loudly kissing at the flesh of Itachi's neck. But I'm drawn to him. I can't help but wonder what I can get out of him; a moan left Itachi's lips. Maybe he didn't make his personality up.
His hand moved to caress Itachi's face, sweat running down his skin as he felt his body temperature start to soar. He was getting lost in the daze, not able to find a way through the misty horizon. He gave in, moaning loudly, wanting more than he ever had before. Am I attracted to the man that I want to kill?
Just as he felt as though it was going to get out of hand, the door swung open, someone was here to save Sasuke. As his onyx eyes looked up he saw that it was Kakashi with a cross look on his face. Why now?
"Get away from him," Kakashi cursed, his voice rigid.
Itachi lifted from Sasuke hearing a moan of disproval. "I thought you got lost for a second, I've been waiting for you, Kakashi. I think you saw what happened to those ANBU guards outside, they were less than formidable."
Kakashi moved his hand to his forehead protector. "Itachi Uchiha, the ninja who slew the whole Uchiha clan in a single night, the ninja who raped his brother and left him to die," he moved it over revealing his sharingan. "That ninja going to die."
Itachi laughed standing up. "You dare challenge me? How bold, Kakashi."
"Damn brat," Kakashi sneered.
"Stubborn old man," Itachi laughed his hand moving for the handle of his sword his eyes looking straight into Kakashi's. "You're courage is making you cocky. You really think that you have a hold on Sasuke that I haven't made yet?"
Kakashi pulled out a kunai. "Sasuke will die before he does anything for you."
"You give yourself too much credit," he drew his sword. "You're right though, it does end here, Kakashi, it ends for you. You won't make a single mark on me; you won't even touch me with that kunai."
Kakashi took a step forward. "Itachi…"
"Kakashi…" Itachi countered his step.
Sasuke was forced to watch as the two of them ran up to each other, hate in their eyes as they held tightly onto their weapons. He closed his eyes as he heard the crash of metal up against each other. Itachi! Looking through semi-opened eyes lids he saw a sight that he never thought he would see. A katana and a kunai were up against one another, the katana winning by a landslide, almost cutting at Kakashi's shoulder.
"Keep away from my student!" Kakashi snapped, in a cursing tone.
"Keep away from my brother," Itachi stated, the clam tone of his voice almost disappearing.
Sasuke sat up, hearing the crashes of metal as they fought against one another, trying to make futile hits. If they can both predict other people's moves, why are they even bothering with this? They moved closer to the window, metal still clashing as their breathing became heavy.
"I wouldn't use any of your signature moves, Kakashi," Itachi cursed pushing harder against the sword, loosening Kakashi's grip on his own weapon. "I'll copy them and use them as my own. No matter what you do you can't win. You can't even handle the amount of force I exert for my attacks."
The pushing became stronger, the katana moving toward Itachi's body breath becoming ragged. It was his broken ribs; he was pushing himself to hard, putting too much chakra into the sword to produce more damage, at this rate Itachi was going to fall.
"Itachi!" Sasuke warned his voice on the border of being a scream. "Watch out!"
A punch was administered to Itachi's face his body falling back, hearing Sasuke shriek his name trying to get out of bed. Blood ran from his lips as he laid face down hiding himself from his opponent hearing Sasuke starting to disconnect his wires again.
"No, Sasuke, stay in bed," Itachi begged getting back up to his feet.
Sasuke disconnected the EKG. "No, I'm not going to let him hurt you. Stop holding back, Itachi, you're better than this. Are you trying to disgrace my dream by being easy to beat now when I couldn't even do it by the river?"
"I haven't even started," Itachi breathed, wiping the blood from his lips hearing Kakashi walk up behind him. "You'll see what I really can do, Kakashi, you're going to pay for what you just did."
A hand wrapped around his ponytail pulling at him. "Really Itachi?" he pulled harder hearing Itachi scream out in protest. "I told myself that I would never allow myself to watch an Uchiha die again, but now, I'm going to make an exception just for you."
Itachi spat, blood falling to the floor. "I'd like to see you try…"
"Maybe I will…" his words were cut off as he felt a sharp pain. "What the…" he turned to look behind him seeing Itachi right behind him a kunai buried in his shoulder. "But you… you're right there. How? How did you?"
Itachi laughed, blood running from his lips onto the ground. "Shadow Clones… I thought you would be able to make this one out," he looked over at Sasuke. "It's going to be alright, Sasuke, he didn't hurt me. He can't even recognize a simple jutsu."
Kakashi pulled on his hair tighter. "You're not going to get out of this one. I have you right where I want you and you're not getting out of this one alive." He adjusted his body his foot rested up against Itachi's back. "This one is the real you, and now you die…"
Sasuke felt hate fill his body. "Kakashi! Stay out of this! His life is mine!"
"I'm sorry Sasuke, but I'm not going to let him go," the jounin breathed pulling Itachi's hair tighter. "And who would have thought that your hair would be the weakness that brought you down?"
Itachi let out a low breath as his hand reached for the dropped kunai. "You give me no choice, Kakashi… sacrifices must he made."
Is he going to kill Kakashi? Sasuke asked watching the kunai moved to his ponytail. "I-Itachi?"
Red eyes closed tightly as he moved the knife back to touch the edge of his hair, his lips curling into a sadistic smile. Something was going wrong. The kunai moved up to Kakashi's wrist as Itachi closed his eyes tighter still, chuckling as he felt small droplets of blood run down his neck.
"I hope you'll, make this one sacrifice for your student," he sliced along Kakashi's hand feeling more blood run down his neck, releasing a moan as the jounin's breathing became labored. "I love it when you bleed."
Scarlet liquid dripped to the ground as Kakashi back up hitting the clone behind him, arms wrapping around him tightly. He was stuck. There wasn't a prayer for him now as the clone held onto him tighter, the real Itachi walking toward him, blood sickeningly running from his lips, the stained katana in his hand.
"You thought you could stop me," he cocked his head to the side. "Tell me one thing, Kakashi. How did you find me?"
"Your scent," Kakashi answered. "The smell of jasmine isn't a common aroma in a hospital, especially on an ANBU guard," he tried to break free feeling the clone pull him closer. "My question now: why are you here?"
"I'm here for Sasuke," Itachi breathed his fingers trailing through the blood on his lips, wiping it off of his face.
"What are your intentions with him? Were you intending to continue what you did down by the river? Itachi, leave him out of this, this is between you and me."
"But you never do satisfy me," the younger ninja snickered. "You were always too weak, Kakashi, I got more of a fight out of your student. Then again I guess he's better than you because he's an heir of the sharingan. He didn't steal his."
"I don't know what they told you," Kakashi argued.
Itachi moved closer still. "You're only famous because you took that from a member of Sasuke's clan. Do you think you should feel proud for having something that was given to you that only first come to surface from a near death experience? When you look into my eyes you should see the pain that I had to go through to obtain them. The sharingan, no matter what stage it's in, is about self sacrifice."
Sasuke looked away. "Itachi…"
The criminal walked closer to Kakashi. "I was a master at the sharingan when I was eight; I had my near death experience as a young child. Do you know how unlucky I am to have almost died to get my kekkei genkai?"
There was a slight silence as they looked at each other. "My condolences for your pain, but I don't show you any sympathy. Look what you did with your power; you killed your best friend. You killed your family. You almost killed your brother. You killed everything that you cared about."
"And you think that fazes me?" Itachi asked his eyes narrowing.
"It does, you feel guilt for all that you did. That's why you came back to Sasuke, and that's why you're wearing perfume. You feel that all of the wrongs that you've done weren't necessary. You're punishing yourself, cursing yourself on the inside."
Silence, just like the silence right before he struck by the river. Red eyes looked up at Kakashi as he got a better hold on his katana. In those red irises, there was nothing but bloodshed, there was no remorse.
"It's just become necessary for you to die here, Kakashi. You're spreading these lies to Sasuke making him try to find a weakness in my mind. I have no weaknesses and to prove that fact, I'm going to use more of my chakra to put you in your place," he grabbed Kakashi by the neck hearing him gag. "Look into my eyes and say that again. Say that I feel sorry for my actions. Say that I'm weak. Tell him that he can take me out by just saying those lies," he smiled as water ran from his eyes, his voice tight. "Look into my eyes, Kakashi Hatake."
He's straining himself; his body is starting to use greater amounts of chakra than the sword techniques and the Shadow Clone. He's going to use mangekyou sharingan. No, that's way too much; Sasuke sat up trying to still get out of bed. "No, Itachi! Your body's too weak."
Itachi let out wince of pain as he looked deeper into Kakashi's eyes. "You'll see the true power of the sharingan. No doubt you've heard what happens when a person with the kekkei genkai gives up the life of that closest to him."
Kakashi refused to look into his eyes. "Mangekyou sharingan."
"With that level of power comes Tsukuyomi; no genjutsu that you can even dream of can match it. Ninjutsu is worthless, there's no way that you can resist me. Look into my eyes, Kakashi, look and see your horrible fate."
Sasuke watched as they looked into each other's eyes hearing breath coming harder from Kakashi's body, his whole physical being shaking with every moment that passed. "Itachi?"
"I need absolute concentration, S-Sasuke," Itachi breathed trying his hardest to keep his eyes completely open, a rivulet of blood running from his nose, the lack of chakra almost causing them to close. "Stay out of this."
Sasuke did as he was told and sat on the side watching as his sensei writhed in pain from his brother's attack, but he wasn't as focused on Kakashi as he was on Itachi. He was almost defeated right there and if he didn't have the assistance of the Shadow Clone Jutsu. As a price, he only had energy at the time to risk enough chakra to make one clone. This is all a trick, he's holding back. I know how he operates; he's giving me false hope so I will go to him. He strongly believes this will work.
Itachi closed his eyes letting out a low moan, letting Kakashi free from it. What the hell is going on? What happened to his chakra?
"Out of chakra?" Kakashi asked weakly as he fell to his knees. "Looks like you used it all too fast, or maybe you're just surprised that I can keep you out of my head."
"Actually…" Itachi breathed moving to Kakashi's ear. "Can you keep a secret, Kakashi?" The jounin looked opened his eyes wide as he heard the words pass from Itachi's lips. "I've been holding back."
"Fight like a man," Kakashi whispered. "I'm not just going to let you go, nor am I going to let you take Sasuke, no matter how much you hold back. Are you saving chakra? If so, what for, this fight is over."
Itachi turned Kakashi's head to the side resting his nose up against his, looking into his eyes again. "It is over, Kakashi, but you're not going to win this one. You're going to fall right here, right in front of your student."
They looked into each other's eyes again, both of them breathing heavy for only a few seconds like before, Kakashi's body was shaking violently in Itachi's arms not able to move his eyes from his glance.
"Now give up," Itachi caught Kakashi's body in his arms.
Sasuke gasped as his brother closed his eyes, reopening them revealing the same black eyes that he saw years ago. He really is using too much; his weakened body can't take it. If he used anymore chakra, he could have put himself into cardiac arrest.
"Sasuke…" Itachi panted turning to him. "You see what kinds of power you could have if you obtain these eyes."
"I could be covered in sweat to, barely able to use anymore chakra?" Sasuke rolled his eyes seriousness coming back quickly. "You were holding back the whole time, Itachi?"
Itachi's legs were shaking as he struggled to his feet his eyes closed tightly. "A ninja knows not to overexert his body when he's already in physical distress. You took more than you thought you did when you punched me in the ribs, you disrupted my chakra flow," a light cough, traces of blood falling to his fingertips. "My body's off balance, and the more energy I exert the harder I breathe, the more the broken bones push onto my lungs."
Sasuke closed his eyes. "I didn't destroy you that night. No more tricks, no more mind games, tell me the truth."
"You disrupted me," Itachi winced looking down at Kakashi. "And he knew that the moment that he first looked into my eyes. He was trying to push me out knowing that I would have to use more chakra. He was swaiting for the right moment to use Lightening Blade on me," more blood ran from his lips as he looked into Sasuke's eyes. "But I won't die that easily, Sasuke."
"We'll see about that," the young boy scowled.
"Don't get cocky," Itachi breathed. "When I was down there fighting your sensei you were asking if I was going to be alright. Sasuke, I know how you feel right now. You're lost; you don't know whether to hate me or to accept that I'm part of you."
"I hate you!" Sasuke hissed as Itachi got closer.
"You don't mean that," he connected the wires to Sasuke's chest the beeping starting up again. "You're hate for me is still not strong enough. You're still that little boy begging me not to kill you, and you hide it horribly. You don't hate me, you fear me. There's a big difference," he kissed Sasuke's lips lightly. "And we accept our fears once we realize that they aren't so bad. Bottom line: you want me."
Footsteps could be heard coming toward the door, more people were coming. Why? Why were they coming for Itachi now when he barely had anything to fight with? He was gathering all of the scattered parts of his ninja repertoire.
"They're back for him are they?" Itachi asked looking at Sasuke. "Don't forget our deal. I'll come for you as soon as you get out to give you more details." He kissed him on the cheek. "I'll come for you, I promise."
The door swung open and there stood the other three jounin. "Itachi Uchiha, so Kakashi wasn't lying about this."
Itachi turned to them as he put his mask back on hiding his face. "Asuma Sarutobi, what is a person of such high station doing here?" he looked at the blood running down his face. "What happened to you?"
"That's none of your concern," Gai hissed as he looked down at a lifeless body on the ground. "K-Kakashi?" he fell to his knees next to the body. "You bastard!" he looked up at Itachi. "You bastard! What the hell did you do?"
The young ninja looked at all of them. "He was lucky to face the fate that he did; I've done worse."
Asuma walked forward. "What is your intention? War or peace?"
"I didn't come here to start a war, nor did I come here to get all of you involved, I came here because that boy on that hospital bed means something to me, something of interest," he took the mask off looking at Sasuke
"Why are you here?" Gai asked holding onto Kakashi's hand. "Who the hell do you work for you damn brat!"
Itachi laughed lightly. "I don't think I'm obligated to answer that, this has nothing to do with any of you. If you let me go you all can leave with your lives, get involved and you will face the same face as the ANBU guards."
Asuma looked at Kurenai and then his glance went back to Itachi. "You promise that you won't hurt us if we don't get involved."
"Asuma!" Gai yelled in disbelief.
Itachi nodded. "I'm a man of my word."
The room was silent as Itachi back up to the window looking over at Sasuke the room growing cold from his stare. The window was opened the wind going through the atmosphere making Sasuke shiver watching him move forward over to his bed.
"Keep away from him!" Gai yelled not leaving Kakashi's side.
Itachi's breath was on Sasuke's lips. "I'm not coming back here. I'll find you Sasuke, I promise, and I swear that I'm not going to repeat what happened a week ago." He kissed him lightly, tenderly stroking his hair.
"How long will you wait?" Sasuke asked quietly the adults not hearing.
"Forever," the older brother answered as he walked away toward the window looking at the jounin. "You're a smart man, Asuma, thank you for showing mercy. For now I'm going to show everyone in this room that same mercy, but when we meet again we start fresh. Don't mess with me…"
Crash! The window smashed open Itachi's body going through the broken glass traces of blood on the edges of the shards. He was gone the words that he said to Sasuke rolling through his head. "You are too young to understand what I'm going through right now; you don't know why I have to get you on my side. You're my only hope."
Reality kicked back in as he saw Gai hold onto Kakashi's unconscious body his eyes closed. This was the aftermath of Itachi's onslaught. Kakashi shouldn't have gotten involved, if he had only stayed at the front of the hospital with the ANBU guards, he would still be here. This wouldn't have happened.
"Kakashi," Gai whispered burying his face in Kakashi's idle chest. "Kakashi…"
His last words roamed through Asuma's head as he closed his eyes bowing his head. "Then I'm going to have to make you stay, even if I have to break you arms and legs. I'm sorry, Asuma."
"Kakashi," Asuma whispered thinking of Kakashi absolute last word to his last question: jasmine. The God awful smell filled the room as they continued crowding around Kakashi, the sound of screaming ANBU guards was heard outside.
A single tear fell down Sasuke's cheek. "What have I done?"
He looked out the window at the bloody glass, the rain washing the crimson away as the thunder sounding throughout the sky. How did he let this happen to his sensei? Was he was on the opposing side the whole battle? He lost him just to make that deal. "I swear nothing will happen to you, Sasuke." That was all a lie, wasn't it? Itachi lied to him.
Author's Note: No ANBU were hurt in the writing of this chapter. And to all Kakashi fans, I didn't mean to offend you, I didn't do this to him because I hate him, I like Kakashi. Today is also Sakura's birthday (too bad this is a Sakura free chapter). Any comments on this chapter? Good? Bad? Infuriated becasue I killed ANBU? Honesty is always a bonus.
Next chapter Team 10 makes a cameo and it goes into more depth about Sasuke's views on the ItaSasu relationship, but it will be another Itachi-less chapter (he should be back in Chapter 6, Chapter 8 for sure).