Chapter III

"How fare away is this base?' I ask Karin. She and Suigetsu have just returned, after six days.

"Well it depends on the speed we'll be traveling at. We were going pretty fast so it took use two days to get back here, after finding it." She explains.

"Two days of pure nagging and torture," Suigetsu whines from the corner.

"It's not my fault you always want to stop and take your damn water breaks!" she snaps at the boy.

"And this base, is it in good condition?"

"Yes, it's pretty big and complex." Karin says. "But a nice place to start up a clan." She adds with a flutter of her eyelashes. I say nothing, instead look towards Suigetsu to give me more information.

"We cleaned the place out. When we arrives there were still followers of Orochimaru huddled in there."

"What do you mean cleaned out?" I ask narrowing my eyes at the boy.

"Oh come on! Most of them were loyal to Orochimaru and wished you death!"

"How many did you kill?" I ask with a tired voice.

"About ten, the rest were test subjects. Some of them we set free, others died shortly after being freed, I guess they had major medical problems," he waves his hand in the air, not at all carrying about the casualties.

I get to my feet, "Well then let's head back."

"So soon?' Suigetsu moans out.

"Yes, It's not a good idea to stay here. It's to open, and we don't want to stay for to long," I mutter getting up.

"Can't I just take a short nap?"

"Get your lazy ass up and move. Sasuke wants to leave so we're going! You can relax once we get back to the hide out!" Karin yells at the water boy. He shots her a glare.

"No one was talking to you bitch! So don't act like you're in charge! And stop being such a suck up," he adds.

"I'm so not being a suck up! If you don't want o follow Sasuke-kun, then you don't' have to. You can just stay here, for all I care."

"Oh you would like that wouldn't you? Then you can't rub yourself all over Sasuke, and molest him."

"Why do you even care!" They start to get into a heated argument. I block out the loud noise, and look towards Juugo to see if he's still at peace. He also seems to be ignoring the two more childish members of the group, and there's no sign of marks crawling up his neck.

I kneel down next to Itachi.

"Get up we're leaving," I tell him. I'm sure he's going to attempt to stand and walk himself, so I don't even bother to extend the courtesy of helping him. Let him stumble and fall, and his legs burns in sever pain as he pushes himself past his limit. It would suit him if he just collapsed out of exhaustion, and then need my help to carry on. I smirk at the though. Itachi pulls the covers off himself, and I turn to Karin; who's beating Suigetsu with her shoe.

"Karin."

"Yes Sasuke?' she stops her attack immediately.

I extend to her some money, "Go pay for our stay," I tell her. She nods and takes the money from me, letting her hand linger on mine much longer then necessary.

"So he's going with us too?" Suigetsu says with a toothy grin, his eyes studying Itachi. I look back to see how much progress my brother has made. He's just now getting to his feet slowly.

"Yes," I mumble out.

"He'll slow us down."

"No he won't, I'll make sure of it," I mutter out, Suigetsu gives me a smirk.

"What about those Konoha freaks?"

"They are probably still looking for me, which is why I wanted to leave and go to a more…secluded area," I explain.

"Why not just confront them? I mean you got your brother, and I don't' think he's going anywhere."

"I don't wish to speak to them…they don't want to listen to reason," I add the last part as an after thought. Naruto..he would do anything to convince me to come back. To keep that image he has of me. So he can still believe he understands who I am. In truth not all are as compassionate and ignorant as Naruto. If I were to go back to the leaf village it would be too much of a hassle. To many people would judge my actions as selfish. Maybe partly they were, but also I wanted to give my clan some peace in their after life. I look towards Itachi, who's taking slow steps towards me. But now I wonder which action should I take? Should I continue with the killings? Should I make the extinction of the Uchiha clan a tragedy? Or should I keep Itachi let him suffer and eventually die of natural causes? I'm not sure, but either way I'm going to hold on to him. I'll make sure he doesn't have the satisfaction of committing suicide. I'll make sure he'll learn his place. A place just for him at my feet, within my shadow. No longer will he be the genius, the perfect son. But simply the murder Sasuke Uchiha had mercy on.

I open the door, and tell Suigetsu and Juugo to leave, just as Karin turns the corner to come back. I also tell her to start heading in the direction of the hide out; letting her be in charge of navigating. Then I stand keeping the door open as Itachi makes his way towards the exit.

"Are you in pain?" Itachi doesn't answer me. "Well you will be, I'm not slowly down for your sake," I say. My brother finally enters the hall. I let the door close and then walk out in front of him. He will follow behind me, like a dog; I won't have it any other way.


"We should take a break," Suigetsu says his voice full of hope.

"No way, Sasuke wants to get to our new clan's home in a timely manner!" Karin shouts over her shoulder.

"But this time it's not only me, but I think Sasuke's brother needs a break too," Suigetsu says. Karin stops and turns to look at me. I give her and nod.

"Fine we'll take a break," She says. I look behind me, and see five feet away Itachi steadily carries on. I sit down, and watch him come closer to me. He doesn't make eye contact with me, instead looks towards the sky. He was looking at the sky or straight ahead the whole time we traveled. His steps are still rather slow, and his legs seem to be shaking worse then they had been when we first set out. There's a light shimmer of sweat trailing down his forehead, but he refuses to wipe it away. As if doing so would be a sign of weakness. I take out a small bottle of water, and bring it to my lips. Itachi finally, only a foot away, takes a seat. I can see that he's in great pain, and his body is exhausted. No matter how hard he's trying to hide it, he's sitting up straight and trying to calm his breathing. The fact remains he's weak, and his legs are shaking even now when he's not using them.

I walk up in front of me, before taking a seat again. "Are you thirsty?" I question. His red eyes only look at me, from behind black strands of hair, still flying loose in the wind. He doesn't answer me, and eventually averts his gaze. I pour some water into my cupped hand, before pressing it to my brother's lips. He glares at me and I smirk.

"I don't' want your germs on my bottle. Go on drink from my hand," I urge him, like you might urge a wild animal to eat from your hand. Itachi hesitates, and then decided he doesn't need the water that badly.

"Fine," I mutter out pulling my hand away and bringing it closer to my own lips. Itachi ignores me, until finally he stops my hand. He brings it back to him and drinks. I smirk enjoying my small victory. Once he's done I shake my hand and wipe the excess liquids on his shirt. His red eyes stay emotionless, but they stare at me.

"Are you ready Suigetsu?" I ask getting to my feet again.

"I'm good," he calls form his resting place.

"Then lets start up again," I say softly. Karin pops up to her feet, and starts to lead the way again. Suigetsu behind her, followed by Juugo, then me, Itachi last. However it seems Itachi is having a hard time getting to his feet. I wait for a moment but then begin to walk. He won't ask for my help anyway. Itachi does indeed pull himself off the ground, and straightens up and starts to walk, attempting to keep some of his dignity. Never slouching never stumbling, no matter how badly his legs shake. He keeps a steady pass, no matter that it's rather slow. I occasionally glance back at him. He continues to look at our surrounding. We are surrounded by trees placed far apart form one another, letting in a lot of sun light. The dirt looks almost like sand, and the only animals around are birds.

Everything is peaceful, the occasional bird chirps but no arguments or loud noises disturb the peace that has fallen. I glance back at Itachi, who seems to have grown even slower in his pace. He's now far behind, but keeps pushing. I stop.

"Slow down," I tell the others with a wave of my hand. I walk towards my struggling brother. I reach out for his arm and only then do his eyes look at me.

"You're slowing us down," I mutter simply a hand behind his back; pick him up bridal style. "I'd like to reach our destination before a week has passed," I mutter out the insult, which Itachi doesn't respond to. The others look at me, and then start up at their normal pace again. I keep up with them very well, the extra weight of my brother not bothering me at all. Itachi stays quiet, his hands sitting on his lap his head held up, and facing the thin forest.

I adjust him a little as he start to slip in my grip. "Why not kill me? If I'm slowing you down, then why not just kill me?"

"You don't' get to choose when I should kill you," I mutter out looking ahead.

"So you'd rather carry me. Such special treatment," he says in a monotone voice. I don't' let the words effect me though.

"It would be shameful if I cut you down, while you're in such a weak state. Though I doubt you'll every be as powerful as me, it would still be unfair to you; in your current state." Itachi doesn't respond, and I continue to walk with him in my arms.

"We should speed up, before night fall," I command the others, noticing that the forest is becoming thicker. We soon take to the branches jumping along at a fast past all following Karin. The extra weigh I'm holding doesn't slow me down. Though it throws of my balance a little, I quickly adjust to it.

I look to the sky, which is turning a light orange. Karin is still leading, not stopping and Suigetsu as starting to complain. Juugo seems fine, and if I'm not mistaken he's occasionally admiring the forest surroundings. I look down at Itachi cradled within my arms, and notice his eyes are closed. His hair is whipping around in the wind, as I continue my fast pace. His chest is moving up and down softly, as he takes in air. A strange feeling comes over me as I realize he's fallen asleep. His body really is weak.

We continue our travels until the sun has set, and it's become to dark to see the branches correctly. We takes shelter under a pair of trees sitting close together.

"Oh Sasuke, it's so cold tonight we—"

"Can't we please get rid of her? Why do we need a woman in this group anyway?" Suigetsu groans out.

"Why do we need a useless dick face like you?!" Karin shrieks. Itachi –who I've set against a tree—stirs opening his eyes and staring at the two teens.

"Let's just get some rest," I tell them.

"But that's what I mean—"

"She wants your body heat Sasuke. But I'm sure you don't want AIDS."

"I don't' have AIDS, and you can't get AIDS form sharing body heat anyway!"

"I'm sure Juugo as plenty of body heat," I tell the girl. Letting myself land on a branch so that I may have and eagle's eye view over every one. I lean back against the bark.

Karin shutters visibly, and Juugo only makes himself comfortable on the forest floor. It's not long until everyone settles down into a light sleep. A semi conscious sleeps, just in case anything would suddenly happen. Everyone rests except for Itachi and me.

Itachi's red eyes look up at me, but I can tell he cannot see me in this darkness. However he is no idiot, he can sense I'm above him. Something within me causes me to jump down and land in front of him. Itachi's half-blind eyes follow my every movement. I kneel down in front of his form.

"Sleep," I say in a commanding voice.

"I do not feel tired. Your arms were a rather warm and comfortable bed," Itachi mutters out using a tone I can not recognize. The emotion is to twisted and hidden, I can't place it. I give my brother an odd look, but do not let his words effect me.

"Tomorrow you may not be so lucky. I could just let you struggle along."

"But then I would only be slowing you down, dear brother," Again his voice is laced with that strange pitch.

"Possibly. But I like to see you in misery."

"Then why not kill me? Would that not be the ultimate misery?" He questions me, his eyelashes hiding away his crimson gaze.

"One day. Though I'm glade you seem to be so eager." Itachi doesn't respond. "Besides simply killing you, it has become…less desirable for me to simply kill you. It would give you to much peace. You should still suffer and pay for all your crimes."

"Where you not appalled?"

"By you? Yes of course," I say in a cocky tone. Itachi doesn't react for a while, but hen does speak again.

"When you saw what the Uchiha truly where….I do not see my killing as a crime. After all how many of our clansmen would have been killed by their best friends, by their kin, all to selfishly gain power."

"You are one to talk," I mutter out. Itachi lets a smirk grace his lips for a brief moment. His eyes open up to look at me, and for a moment I though I felt a pulse. Something you may feel when a demon attempts to devour your soul. I keep his gaze though, not looking away.

"One man's sin, is another man's redemption," Itachi mumbles out plainly letting his eyelids lower yet again. I scoff at my brother's statement before again returning to my branch. I look out at the moon and the stars, before also attempting to go into a light sleep.

My mind conjures up images like a dream. But they're not dreams because I'm only partially asleep. I'm still aware of the outside world, of the crickets chirping, and the fact that it is still night. However before my closed eyes dance images of my past. Memories of me and my brother…my Aniki. I can almost feel his hand holding me, my legs encircling his stomach, as he carries me on his back. I see how he's carrying me home, because I sprained my ankle. Everything is silent as my mind runs through the memory. I see my father. I don't hear his voice as his lips move, but I know what he's saying. I know this memory. How the next day I entered the academy and how I worked so very hard just to make my father proud. Only to get my hopes crushed and realize how very far away Itachi seemed to be. How we lived in separate worlds, how our father had different standards for us. How I lived in his shadow. He was so very far away..but not anymore. Now he's close, and I will keep him close. Never again will I be his shadow, never again will I be over looked. My father can't see me now..but how very ironic it would seem to him. Who would have though that it would all turn out like this. In those memories life wasn't so horrible, I still cared for Itachi back then. He seemed kind, loving…

"Over the years my brotherly love turned into a sick obsession. An emotion one should never feel towards their younger brother…"

Back then I still followed him, strive to be like him, and thirsted for his attention. Itachi was my aniki..he seemed ok…he was sane…

"…I love you…"

I open my eyes, and look at the early morning sky. I push away my dream, if you can even call it such. I look down at my brother below me, and feel anger boil in my veins. He is far from sane, and far from anything I wish to strive for. No, he is stick. Those words…that speech he gave me as he though he was taking his last breaths…Why is it that those words seem to stick in my mind? They don't' bother me, I do not care. My brother is sick, disgusting. Those words could mean so much, but I am aware of the deep emotions they held. Disgusting. However maybe I can us it to my advantage, to torture him more. f he truly feels that unnatural affection towards me, then let me be just out of his reach. He will see me everyday, and every day I will treat him like dirt. Remind him of my deep hatred for him. Let him suffer in his weakened state, and in his eye lose. Yes, years of keeping him alive as he withers away would be just the punishment he deserves. He means nothing to me, that alone could cause turmoil in his dark and fragile soul. I want him to know, I want to remind him every day of his life that he's sick, disgusting, and a murder. Then maybe I will kill him, out of mercy. Or maybe I will not let the Uchiha die out in tragedy, and just let him suffer, until his final days.

I jump off my perch on the branch, and once everyone one awakens we set out for another days travel. Again I am forced to carry my brother, so that our journey isn't slowed.

A/N; don't have much to say, but love to hear from you. Please review, thanks!