Happy new year to everyone! I hope that I can update this year more but it could be difficult because I have exams this year. But nevertheless I will try my best to not disappoint you.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from the Naruto world, they belong to Kishimoto. If I could I would own Itachi.

Chapter 12 – Memories: Sharingan

- In Konoha forest –

I can't place this feeling. There is definitely something wrong here. Why haven't we been attacked yet? On every mission I went were always enemies I had to fight.

Itachi felt uneasy and now with Sasuke at his side even nervous. His missions are nothing for his little brother - they are S-rank and his level is only D-rank. He could die if someone at a Jounin or even ANBU level would attack now. The prodigy used another tree to gain new speed, thinking about this situation.

This is too easy. No ambush until now. I feel it, I know it, someone will attack us. I have to be more careful now, I can't pull Sasuke into it.

Itachi looked around, his Sharingan scanned the surrounding, still having this feeling that something is about to happen. Sasuke silently watched his brother's movements through the corner of his eye.

"Why do you keep looking around? Are you waiting for something?" He asked, annoyed by his big brother's paranoid behavior.

"When you were coming after me did you notice anything? Anything out of place?" Itachi asked, his voice without any emotion, his eyes locking with the black ones of his brother. Sasuke turned away, thinking about the question and remembered something.

"I had a strange feeling as if something would watch me, follow me." He stated and Itachi's eyes widened for a moment.

"How long has it been?" He wanted to know, his voice changing, filling with something unknown to the young Uchiha.

"For three days." Itachi mumbled a quiet 'damn' , feeling even more uneasy now. His Sharingan quickly darted around, searching, looking for something.

There is it. Exactly right in front of us.

Then he fixed a spot and halted his team to a stop. They all stopped and Sasuke was the first one to question his action.

"What's the matter?" He questioned but got his answer when he looked into Itachi's serious expression.

"I knew it." The older Uchiha uttered. "Tenshi, Fuji, Taichi, Kenji, you'll fight with me. " He instructed the four ANBU and they nodded in understanding. "Sasuke, you'll protect Takeru. Don't leave his side and never let your guard down." He spoke with a serious voice, drawing out a kunai.

"Would you mind to explain me what the hell is going on?!" Sasuke's voice rose, he was getting angry.

Itachi opened his mouth to answer him but then shut it close and threw his kunai into the air. A metal sound could be heard as the knife clashed against another one and landed on the ground a good distance away.

"The moment you told me about your suspicion I knew that enemies are following us and waiting for the right moment."

"Enemies? What do you mean? " Takeru interrupted, feeling afraid.

"We've been cornered by five, no six shinobis. But don't worry Takeru-san we will protect you no matter what." Itachi assured him to calm the Suna nin down, his voice on the emotionless level but held a trustworthy undertone.

"Now scatter everyone, take up your position and fight with full force." Itachi ordered and five enemies appeared before the escort team. They all had a evil smirk on their face.

The four ANBU immediately left their taichou's side and stood now face to face with their own opponent. Takeru looked unsure to Itachi who gave him a look of safety. Sasuke shook lightly, it was his first time of being in a real battle. His eyes slowly travelled to his brother. The elder Uchiha nodded and his eyes held hidden worry. He hoped that nothing would happen to his little brother. Sasuke drew out a kunai and ran over to Takeru side, standing in a protective way before him.

"Itachi and his team will take care of the foes and I will protect you as told." The younger Uchiha said to Takeru. Everything vanished in this moment even the feeling that he couldn't stand this man and would rather let him get beaten up.

I can't stand this man and I wouldn't be able to like him but it was my order. Why did I protect him? Because Itachi said so? Since when do I listen to my brother? Well, this was one of the few exceptions. It was a real battle, a battle where you can lose your life if you let your guard down. I had nothing in my mind but this thought. I even forgot to protest to Itachi's command. I just did what he told me to do – for the first time maybe. I didn't complain for the first time and I didn't care because I forgot everything around me. Everything was blocked out now.

"Since you're Itachi-kun's little brother I think I can trust you. My life lies in your hand now, don't disappoint me Uchiha kid." Takeru said mockingly, hiding his own fear of battle. He never was in any battle. He can't even fight because he is used to being protected.

Sasuke's lower lip quivered and he felt his legs go weak but bit his lips to gain his strength back. Itachi glanced one last time at the twoand then concentrated on the enemy before him. His Sharingan swirled around in a circle and he took out a handful shuriken to throw it at his opponent.

The brown haired man blocked the shuriken with his sword. He then dashed towards the Uchiha and pulled back for a blow. Itachi drew his sword to block the other one and a clash fight of katanas followed soon after. Sasuke watched his brother, watching his movements closely and in between eyed the other four ANBU. He made mental notes of this fight to remember it for his own use. But he soon forgot about the ANBU and only focused on his Itachi's fight.

Itachi made his fire technique to hit the other shinobi but he dodged by jumping to the side. The Uchiha followed with his Sharingan every movement of the man and countered the next attack with his sword.

"He is analyzing his enemy." Sasuke stated.

"Itachi-kun is awesome. I'd love to change position with the enemy now and have the change of being close to the prodigy." Takeru said, his voice held a seducing tone.

Sasuke gave him a glare which the Suna nin didn't notice. "Hopefully he will pierce his sword through you then." The younger Uchiha mumbled with a growl.

"No one can deny that Itachi-kun is pure temptation. I'd love to have him as my taichou and being on missions with him." He admitted with a purr in his words, floating in day dreaming, his mind wrapped up in various thoughts about him and Itachi.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed and he turned around to look with disgust and anger at the ambassador. "We are in a serious situation, in a fight to be exact. Would you stop with your disgusting imagination and shut up?" He spit at him with a low voice.

"Jealous?" Takeru asked mockingly, making the Genin fist his hand and narrowing his eyes more.

"Shut up or I'll change my mind about protecting you and make your death look like a suicide!" Sasuke shouted, angry and displeased. If he had the Sharingan he would definitely have blood red eyes by now and the Suna nin would wince in fear at the angry display in its expression. Takeru shut his mouth close not wanting to try the young Uchiha. Sasuke glared some more daggers at him and then again turned to face Itachi's fight.

I hope Takeru dies in this battle.

What exactly made me snap like this? Why did I yell at Takeru? Why did it bother me what he said? He pissed me off enough to make me wish for his death. Again this strange feeling in my stomach like the feeling from the scene earlier with Itachi and this so-called ninja. What is it? Why do I feel upset lately? What was wrong with me? When I think about it now I was stupid for that it took me a long time to understand this feeling.

"Umm… Sasuke." Takeru voiced out quietly, making the teen turn to face him again.

"What?!" Sasuke snapped pissed off.

"Didn't Itachi-kun say something about the lines like there are 6 shinobis?"

"So what?" The Uchiha didn't get what this men was trying to say.

"Right me if I'm wrong but I count only five ninjas…" Fear filled him after he said his statement.

Sasuke had some uneasy feelings pooling in his stomach and one of his ninja instincts told him to look over Takeru's shoulder. His eyes widened when he spotted a mischievous grinning person, holding a dagger ready to plunge it into the Suna nin's back. Again fear rose within his body and his legs grew weak but he managed to pull himself together and did what first came into his mind. He grabbed Takeru's wrist and pulled him back. The man fell onto the ground due to the force and this surprisingly movement. Sasuke countered the dagger with a kunai, his eyes stared into the purple ones of the man before him. He smirked sickly and kicked the Genin into his stomach which sent him flying backwards to collide with his back against a tree. The impact made him spit out some blood and a painful noise escaped his lips.

"Kid are you alright?" Takeru asked, standing up und walking over to him.

Itachi heard this and spun around, his eyes widened when he the saw his brother sitting on the ground, seemingly hurt.

Kuso, Sasuke. I will make it quick and help you.

His eyes became cold and serious like the way everyone remembers the prodigy. His blood red shade glowed, his expression stoic. He disappeared then with his speed and appeared before the four other enemies, slashing them down one after another. They screamed a terrified scream when the blade sliced through the flesh, blood streaming out. Four almost lifeless shinobis slumped to the ground, collapsing on the grass and taking their final breath. The ANBU force could only watch as their taichou killed their foes for them. Itachi swung his sword to the right, freeing his blade from the blood as he stared with his indifferent gaze to the leader. He calmly walked back to his earlier place and placed his katana back into its sheath.

"Sorry that I made you wait. Now I will concentrate everything I have merely on you." Itachi spoke without any emotions. His enemy smirked at him, looking forward to the fight he had dreamed of ever since he heard of the prodigy's name.

Sasuke carefully stood up, wiping the blood from his mouth and glared at this bastard who made him look like a complete beginner. But the man only smirked at him and appeared in a blink of an eye out of the Uchiha's sight. He blinked, looking around in an attempt to find the man.

"Takeru, don't stay there like this! Come over to me! I have to protect you or have you already forgotten?!" Sasuke shouted and Takeru did what was told and ran over to the teen. He stood beside him, grabbing his sleeve, afraid that the enemy would appear out of nowhere and this time hurt him.

The Genin checked the surrounding. It was hard to find someone without the Sharingan but he tried it nonetheless. He focused merely on the sounds he could hear. Letting his eyes fall close he tried to hear the other's footsteps.

His eyes shot open and he freed himself from Takeru's grip to form seals for his fire technique. A sound of rustling and he immediately blew the fireball towards the direction.

"He escaped." Sasuke muttered under his breath and focused again on the sounds. His enemy was quickly moving around and had an unnatural speed for common eyes. Again he cursed his lack of his Bloodline Limit which would come in handy in this situation. A slash and a small yelp of pain escaped the young Uchiha's lips. He held onto the aching spot on which the enemy sliced him with his dagger.

"Damn it. This guy could hurt you without us seeing it!" Takeru cursed.

"He's fast. He jumped back and forth in almost lightening speed and then sliced with his dagger a cut in my left upper arm." Sasuke explained, still holding his arm.

"Did he hurt you much?" The Suna nin asked with a bit worry, feeling bad for that a kid had to protect him.

"Just a cut." He winced slightly, pulling his hand away. Takeru's eyes widened at the sight of blood trickling down the boy's skin.

"Wait, I'll bandage it." He suggested, lifting the arm but the teen yanked it away.

"We have no time for this he might attack us again." Growling, the young Uchiha quickly looked around, not moving one inch away from Takeru. If he had to he would fight back with back with his patron.

Another slash followed and again Sasuke held a spot on his body. This time though it was his right upper arm. Another trail of blood travelled down the pale skin.

"Bastard." He cursed.

I have to focus. Come on Sasuke, don't let this bastard win this fight. Where the hell is Itachi and what is he doing? Does it take him that long to kill a few shinobis? Just concentrate Sasuke.

The next slash was on his left thigh.

Concentrate.

The right thigh.

Concentrate.

His chest.

Concentrate!

Takeru couldn't believe his eyes when he saw that Sasuke had a strong grip on the enemy's wrist who struggled to get free. The Genin then pressed harder, breaking the assassin's bones. He screamed in pain when he was released and kicked back by the Uchiha. The Suna nin mumbled a few quiet words of disbelief. Sasuke changed: He was serious now and no longer afraid, his expression was emotionless but the greatest difference held his eyes.

"It can't be. Your eyes…" Takeru stuttered, lifting a shaky hand when the Genin turned around to question his behavior. The man pointed a finger at his eyes.

"They are…" Sasuke trailed slowly a hand up his face.

"Red…" And the Uchiha's eyes widened in surprise.

"I will kill you, kill you and your reputation. The name Uchiha will be deceased for all eternity."

"Do you think so? It will never happen. Maybe you will destroy me but not the name Uchiha. There will always be someone who carries that name." Itachi responsed with his blank voice.

"Don't talk so much Uchiha. Just die. Die within this pathetic place." The brown haired man said back, pointing his sword at the Uchiha. Itachi smirked, stretching his right hand to the side. A loud noise gathered around his palm and it started to shine blue. Many Chakra was placed on this spot and the enemy's smirk faded.

"That's…" He managed to voice out.

"Correct. That's my ultimate Ninjutsu." A loud noise of thousand birds chirping filled the area and a blue orb with flickering lightening was formed in Itachi's hand.

"It's as loud as thousand birds and that's why this technique is called: Chidori." He finished and glared at his foe. Itachi jumped towards the man with great speed, his right hand dragged close behind when he pulled back more and with full force thrust it through the heart of his opponent. A stream of blood splashed out of his mouth and landed on the prodigy's face. He then pulled his arm out of the body and watched him collapse backwards. Eyes closing slowly as he took his last breath, his head slumping to the side.

"Konoha is no pathetic place. Rest in peace." Itachi muttered quietly and wiped the blood on his face away, kneeling next to the man to cover his eyes and close them. He then stood up, looked at his ANBU comrades and they nodded. They were done: attack successful prevented. Everything was fine now and they could finally go on with heading towards Konoha-Gakure. Still Itachi couldn't place this feeling he had. There was something bothering him, something important.

"Sasuke!" He called and ran towards the direction he heard the yelps of pain from earlier.

Could it be? Have I gained the Sharingan?

But the Uchiha had no time to time think about it as the enemy dashed towards him with his dagger pulled back to land the final blow and for the first Sasuke was afraid, afraid he could die for that his body didn't react anymore. He tried to move but it was in vain. His vision clear and he saw the attack coming but still he felt unable to move, his cuts stung with uncomfortable pain. A loud clash came followed by a loud scream. The black haired Genin could only watch as his enemy fell to the ground in front of him, blue glowing Chakra disappeared together with the chirping.

"That was a close one Sasuke." Itachi said calmly and turned around to gaze into the widened red eyes of his little brother. "But it seems that you had a good outcome of this situation. Your eyes are shining blood red, matching the colors of our Bloodline Limit. Congrats, now you are a full acknowledged member of the Uchiha Clan. You activated your Sharingan. I'm proud of you Sasuke." He finished with a smile, surprising the young Genin .

Sasuke dropped down, sitting on the ground. His Sharingan faded from his eyes, leaving his usual black shade behind as he smiled a content smile to the sky above him.

"Can you move or should I carry you?" Itachi asked with hidden concern, eying the cuts on the teen's body.

"Forget it I can move on my own. Even if I wasn't able to any more I wouldn't ask you to carry me nor would I allow you do so. Got it?" Sasuke replied, glaring at his brother but then frowned and got up. "Now let's hurry up before more enemies come out and prevent us from our mission again."

The teen covered his left upper arm which had the deepest cut and Itachi watched him with concern as he began to walk ahead. "Wait, let me bandage you first. Your cuts have to be covered otherwise they will get infected." Sasuke stopped, turning around to protest but held it back when he saw Itachi removing his shirt to take off the bandage around his chest.

Ignoring that fact that Takeru watched him with lustful eyes the Uchiha bent down to remove the last bandages around his ankles. He gathered them in his hand and walked over to his brother, putting his shirt on while he did so.

"You better listen to me this once otherwise you have to deal with some uncomfortable side effects." Sasuke scoffed, averting his gaze from his brother in a displeased manner.

"Tenshi, Fuji, Taichi, Kenji, keep an eye on Takeru and take a rest for a moment. I'll come immediately when I'm finished here." Itachi instructed and they nodded, leaving to go to a near river.

"Don't try to be nice and don't try to be a good brother. It won't change anything." Sasuke warned with a dark tone though it didn't sound that dark. He just felt uncomfortable with the fact of having his big brother taking care of his body. Itachi ignored the attempted warning and drew closer to his little brother. He knew Sasuke wouldn't cooperate so he grabbed the hem of the boy's shirt and pulled it over his head, revealing his creamy skin to the light. The younger Uchiha suppressed an uneasy blush which wanted to taint his cheeks and gave his brother a good glare.

"If you're daring to take off my shorts as well I'm going to kill you." He warned again but this time meaning it fully minus the killing part. Itachi almost laughed but held it back to a quiet chuckle and Sasuke turned his head away, not being able to look him into the eye now.

I would die of embarrassment if Itachi dares to take off my shorts. I can't let him see me in only my boxers. We are brothers but I would feel just too uneasy. In fact no one had the right to see me half nude. And I couldn't even bring myself to look him into his eyes now. I felt his breath on my bare skin, it was warm and comforting and felt so familiar like mother did when she would held me in her arms like in the past times.

Sasuke's POV

I barely registered that he chuckled because I already faced away from him. He decided to take care of the cut on my chest first. His warm breath met my bare skin and it was then when I didn't feel the cool breeze any more. I could slap myself mentally for enjoying this feeling. His unique scent filled my nostrils and let me float in memories of familiar scenes. I inhaled deeply without him noticing it.

He then carefully placed the beginning of the white fabric on the middle of my chest and wrapped a few layers around my torso. It remembered me of the time when I did this before he left for this mission. And it seems like he remembered it as well because he mimicked my movements. He brushed lightly my sides when he wrapped the layers around me, he rolled it gently over my shoulder even more gentle than I did and I could feel his breath meeting my skin every five seconds he exhaled.

I tried my hardest not to stare him into his eyes for that I would stare directly into his blood red orbs. I decided that it would be best if I just let him treat me while I try to distract myself from this. I thought of something else like what I would say when my so-called comrades confront me because I fled the stupid training and left them alone with their fate. Probably I would say that they are stupid for not coming up with the same idea or something like that. I smirked just at the thought of their priceless faces they would certainly make when I come back from this.

I was really into useless thoughts like those to not notice that Itachi already bandaged my right arm. He paused, thinking of my warning and then sighed.

"Because I'm not allowed to take care of your wounds on your thigh you have to do it on your own. But before so I'll finish my work." Itachi explained and I looked at him with questioning eyes. He then pushed me down into a sitting position and kneeled next to me. I just wanted to yell at him for this but he was faster than me to speak up.

"It's much easier for me and you if you sit down and relax a bit." Did he really think that I was too weak to stay any longer? No, but I had to admit when I sit down it would be easier for him to bandage my arm and I had a bit of a rest for my body. I travelled four days to find Itachi without taking any great breaks so I was a bit exhausted.

I leaned back against the tree behind me and closed my eyes, starting to enjoy everything. A fresh breeze swept across my face, cooling my skin down. Itachi lifted my left arm, running softly his hand up to the cut. He then ever so softly put the bandage on it and started to wrap around my arm. Carefully he added a bit pressure to tighten the layers otherwise it would slide down again. It really remembered me of our mother. She was a kind mother and always took care of the stupid scratches I got from spending the day with training. And she was always careful with it too. But there were days when she didn't do that instead it was Itachi back then. Sometimes he would treat my wounds when he was back from a mission. That's when I noticed when I saw the warm look in his eyes that he really cared about me. I wonder if it has changed. I don't know because I don't know my brother any more. He has changed a lot ever since that day.

I was so wrong. Itachi did never change but me. I was the one who changed completely. But I did it only because our parents were murdered, our whole clan slaughtered. I lost my kind and caring mother and I lost my dad who finally started to acknowledge me. Why did it have to end like this? Why when I was at a tender age of eight years? Why when finally everything seemed to be right?

Normal POV

"Done. The rest is up to you. I hope it won't bother you but I'll stay here and just turn around. My comrades are with Takeru so I can stay here and watch over you." Itachi stated, stood up and turned around to give his brother some privacy.

"It will bother me and I'm not a child any more but I think it's useless to argue on this point so I'll just leave it be. " Sasuke said with no trace of emotion and reassured himself once again that his brother has turned around and not intending to do otherwise. He then stripped himself off his shorts and quickly wrapped the remaining bandages around his thighs. Once he was done he put his shorts back on and stood up.

"You can turn around now." Sasuke said flatly and without further ado walked ahead, going to where the other's were waiting. Itachi didn't need to question further and followed his little brother. He gestured his comrades to come along and altogether they left this place, continuing their journey to Konoha-Gakure once again. It was dark and the mass of trees blocked the moonlight from illuminating their way but nonetheless two Uchihas enjoyed the peaceful night atmosphere and paced their way through to reach their destination.

AN: Finished and for the first time I somehow liked what I wrote minus the whole part with the fight ^^; I'm not so good at describing fights but unfortunately my whole story contains a lot of them. I think Sasuke had his days or mood swings for that he seemed so bitchy. Oh well… I'm not happy with my writing style for that it seems like I'm a beginner. Damn German blood. You have to deal with it simply. See ya next chapter!