車輪の兄弟
Sharingan no Gokyoudai
-Brothers of the Sharingan-
Summery: In which, Itachi has been captured and is being held in Kumogakure. Sasuke must travel to see him, in the hopes of bringing him back to Konoha, or gaining information about Akatsuki. Having to visit the man in his holding cell, with the Raikage refusing to give over the Uchiha murderer, will Sasuke find he still holds a bond with his brother?
Disclaimer: This product is meant for entertainment purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Some assembly required. Batteries not included. Use only as directed. Flammable.
A/N: Hoorah, I'm updating! Once again, sorry for the slow and inconsistant updates, as I am plagued with university and have trouble writing my fanfiction these days. Bare with me.
Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter, as I do believe it is my favorite so far.
Chapter 4: Developments of a Different Kind
Exiting the large doors which opened up to the courtyard, Sasuke looked down the path that lead to the large metal gates surrounding the holding cells for wanted foreign criminals in Kumogakure, and could see even from a distance the bright orange jumpsuit of a certain boy he remembered from home.
'What is he doing here?' Sasuke asked himself, as he walked away from the location of his brother - something which irritated him more than he thought it should - and towards the blonde boy, who stood beside Kakashi outside the gate.
"Sasuke!" Naruto called, as the raven-haired Uchiha came into sight.
Sasuke made his way towards the gate, Yamada leading him along as they approached the guarded entrance. The blonde boy was very-nearly jumping with impatience as Sasuke neared, with a casual Kakashi standing behind him and appearing almost amused.
As soon as Yamada gave the guards a signal, the gate door swung open and Naruto flung himself inside, surprising Sasuke slightly as the taller boy gasped him in a fierce hug - an almost protective embrace which immediately betrayed how worried the Uzumaki must have been about him.
"Naruto," Sasuke stated as the blonde pulled away from they hug but still stood very close to the raven-haired boy, clasping his arms, "What are you doing here?"
"Teme," Naruto scolded him with worried eyes and a half-hearted smile, "I heard about your brother, Tsunade baa-san told me, so I came here to make sure your weren't moping about by yourself!"
Sasuke gave a light smile in return. The stupid blonde really was much too considerate of him, he thought. "Dobe, you didn't have to some here. Nothing has even happened yet, and I will have to stay here for a while."
"I know!" Naruto replied brightly, smiling widely down at his shorter friend, "That's why I came! I decided you needed someone to bother you while you were here, and who better than me, ne, Teme?"
Sasuke sighed with exasperation, while the blonde simply grinned good-naturedly. How could he say no to the idiot? Naruto was not one to give up easily, especially, as the case may be, when it came to Sasuke. Now that the Kyuubi vessel was here, he would be there until the end.
"Fine." Sasuke finally relented, not that he ever had a choice in the matter, "But you can't get in the way of the negotiations, Dobe." He told the boy sternly, and Naruto merely gave him an innocent expression in reply. Sasuke saw through this though, and made a mental note to keep the blonde away from the Raikage. The last thing this case needed was the blonde to get himself mixed up in the proceedings so that they never get Itachi back to Konoha.
Kakashi took this moment to make himself known, having held back from asking Sasuke about his most recent meeting with his brother in preference of letting Naruto get a hold of the Uchiha first. Now though, the copy-nin stepped forward to inform;
"Naruto will be staying with you in your temporary apartment, Sasuke." Kakashi announced, to which the boy was momentarily surprised, "It is large enough, and both the Hokage and I agree that you would benefit from having someone here to take care of you."
Sasuke frowned at this. He felt like protesting that he was not a child, and did not require taking care of. In the midst of the moment though, he realised it really was not worth it to argue - the case was settled and Tsunade would force him in the end. Then gazing to the bright grin still in place on Naruto's face as he looked to him, Sasuke concluded that the blonde probably would have broken into his apartment anyway.
"Hn." Sasuke gave a simple noise of agreement, and yet still it managed to make Naruto's grin widen, his happiness at being close to the young Uchiha almost a tangible element in the air around them.
"Wonderful." Yamada voiced cheerfully then, smiling at Naruto as he stood beside Sasuke. "Perhaps I should show you to the apartment then, Uzumaki? You can settle your things there." Yamada then turned to Sasuke and stated clearly, "Uchiha and Hatake can follow when they are ready."
Kakashi nodded at this, "Good. Go with Yamada, Naruto."
Naruto seemed to be about to frown for a moment then, wanting to protest leaving Sasuke behind even for a moment, but relented when he saw that he must. Smiling easily again then, he dropped his hold on Sasuke's arms, still smiling to the boy.
Sasuke smiled lightly back at his friend, as Naruto nodded and Yamada led him away. Watching the too take off, Sasuke wondered for a moment what Yamada had meant by following when they were ready. As he turned to see Kakashi's worried expression, he realised.
"How did it go?" Kakashi asked immediately, as the two of them started walking leisurely away from the holding cells.
Sasuke had to restrain himself from looking over his shoulder back at the location of his brother, as he answered the man; "It went... fine, actually. He did not seem to want to... hurt me, in any way." The boy struggled to put together words which explained exactly how it had been.
Kakashi nodded. Even though he wouldn't say it to the youth, he felt he understood the confusion the boy was going through in reuniting with his brother - a man who had destroyed their clan and family, left him to survive on his own, and tortured his mind for years. The only thing Kakashi truly didn't understand, was how Itachi would be feeling right now - and what the elder Uchiha's intentions might be. And so, the copy-nin resolved to take no chances - he would monitor Sasuke's visiting his brother as much as he could, and ensure the elder did not fool Sasuke into getting hurt.
"Naruto was worried when he heard." Kakashi informed the boy then, and saw as Sasuke looked up to him with slight surprise, "As soon as he heard, he came rushing straight here. Didn't stop once, and wanted to know where you were immediately."
The young Uchiha sighed at this. Trust Naruto to think he had to come rushing to Sasuke's rescue. "He didn't need to come. I am doing fine."
The copy-nin gave him a knowing look at this. "Naruto cares about you, more than anyone else. You should have known he would come."
Sasuke looked away from Kakashi at this - it was common knowledge than Naruto was a sensitive subject for Sasuke, and for the dobe as well.
The Jounin was persistent though, and as they continued to walk, he stated more firmly; "If it had been the other way around, you would have gone after him, too."
This struck the Uchiha suddenly, as he looked to Kakashi again, and suddenly felt he should be more grateful. Here his friends were, trying to be there for him in a time of great confusion, and he did not even stop to think how they felt about it. Especially Naruto - his closest friend, whom had always been there for him, how could he not be thankful when the boy came rushing to see him after his brother had been captured? It was only natural that the blonde should worry about him. And as Kakashi had said, had the tables been turned, it would be he who walked across an entire country to help Naruto.
"You are right, Kakashi." Sasuke sighed eventually, rubbing his hand through his hair as he relented. "I will talk to Naruto later."
Kakashi smiled then, seemingly appeased by this promise, as he nodded and they continued to walk in silence.
Eventually, they made their way to Sasuke's apartment, and standing outside the door, Sasuke could see the light was on inside and Naruto would probably be waiting for him. Kakashi squeezed his shoulder supportively before he left the boy, and Sasuke walked inside.
Apon entering the apartment, he could already see the influence the blonde boy had had apon the place since he had left it that morning. Pictures were hung askew on the walls - some meaningless pictures of trees or posters of shinobi products, others snapshots of Team Kakashi and other friends of theirs. In the kitchen, too, from the doorway Sasuke could see steam billowing out of a large pot currently boiling noodles - no doubt an attempt of Naruto's to start some form of dinner. Most notably, though, as far as Sasuke could see, were the clothes strewn around the living room - bright orange clothes hanging on the couch and dumped on the floor apparently in a frenzy, and then the sleeping figure of Naruto on the couch itself, clothed in sweat pants a black sleeping shirt.
Sasuke shook his head as he walked inside, and couldn't help the small smile which alighted his face. He had lived with Naruto before on different occasions, once when Naruto's apartment had been destroyed by a misplaced rasengan - and therefore knew what it was like to live with the big blonde idiot. And let it be known, that he could never have lived with anyone else so comfortably.
Making his way over to the sleeping form of his friend, Sasuke kicked Naruto once to wake him up. The blonde snorted, as he eyes flung open in surprise.
"Honestly, Dobe," Sasuke spoke with fake-irritation, a smirk on his features, "I leave you hear for half an hour and this is what happens." He gestured to the general room.
Naruto grinned when he heard Sasuke's voice, knowing the boy's displeasure was not genuine, and sat up on the couch - taking hold of Sasuke's arm to lead him to sit down next to him.
"I try." The blonde shrugged, his grinned wide.
Sasuke smiled lightly in response, before becoming more serious. Naruto instantly frowned when he saw the Uchiha's expression darken.
"What it is?" Naruto asked, his bright blue eyes wide and imploring to help, "Has anything happened?"
The young Uchiha shook his head, "No, Dobe." He answered in a quiet tone. How would he explain what was going on? "I just... needed to talk to you."
Naruto turned a little where he sat, to face Sasuke as much as he could, though the raven-haired boy avoided his gaze. "You know you can tell me anything, Sasuke." The blonde assured him, using the boy's name for emphasis of his support. The taller boy then reached out and grabbed Sasuke's hand in his own rather boldly. "I'll be here for you."
The Uchiha struggled for a minute with this, trying not to react badly to Naruto's support - despite the fact that he felt guilty for at first doubting the blonde, and not knowing how to deal with the boy's affection. Naruto has been more like this of late with the raven-haired boy though, taking his hand or hugging him when he could - not to mention wanting to be around Sasuke almost constantly. And with the knowing glances he was constantly given by Sakura and Kakashi, it was almost as if there were a secret he was unaware of and everyone else was in on.
"Naruto," Sasuke returned the sentiment by using the boy's name, and instantly gained his attention, "I've chosen... to stay here, while the negotiations between Konoha and Kumo go on. For as long as it might take."
Naruto nodded, "I know. Kakashi told me you had, and Tsunade baa-san thought you would." The blonde answered, then added with concern, "I thought you'd be lonely, if this went on for months..."
Sasuke gave the taller boy a genuinely thankful look then, as he finally made eye-contact with the blonde. "I really do appreciate it, Naruto." He told him earnestly.
The blonde grinned widely then, despite the grave tone that had come over the conversation, he seemed momentarily proud of himself for being there for his friend.
Sasuke sighed then though, and the tension fell back into the room. Naruto squeezed the hand he held though, and the Uchiha went on.
"I have been... visiting my brother." Sasuke stated as evenly as he could manage, "At his cell... alone."
Naruto was obviously taken aback by this, as his eyes widened and he gazed at Sasuke in alarm. "You what?!" He asked, stunned, "But - but why would Kakashi let you do that alone, dattebayo?!"
"Naruto, calm d-"
"Did he do anything? That bastard-!"
"Dobe!" Sasuke yelled over the top of the blonde's outburst, and the boy stopped yelling to look at him again. "Calm down, its fine."
"Right, right." Naruto calmed himself, taking a deep breath he stated, "Next time, I'll just go with you, to make sure nothing happens-"
"No, you don't understand." Sasuke interrupted, shaking his head as he told Naruto gently, "Only one person can visit a criminal in their cell at a time, so I have to go alone. Otherwise Kakashi would have come in with me."
"What, only one person?" The blonde asked, "But, that means you'd have to be alone with him." The boy spat out the last word like it tasted horrible.
Sasuke nodded slowly, "It's alright, Dobe." He reassured, "Everything's been going... alright. And..." He added delicately, looking to Naruto's bright eyes, "I'm going back there tomorrow morning. I have to keep going back, if we want to get any information out of him."
Naruto hesitated for a moment, but gradually and reluctantly agreed with this. For the rest of that night, they did not talk about Itachi or the matter of why they were - resolving instead to pretend it was like any other day, that the circumstances were normal, and that everything was all right. For that night, Sasuke forgot his troubles and everything seemed so much clearer.
Before they went to sleep in their separate bedrooms, Naruto promised Sasuke that he would walk him to the holding cell as Kakashi had done previously, and Sasuke allowed this.
Perhaps, he thought before falling asleep that night, having the dobe's support in this would be helpful after all.
The next day when Sasuke woke up, he found it somehow more comforting to hear the noises of another living being out in the kitchen - it made him feel less alone in all this, and somehow less empty. When he ventured out into the apartment, it was a relief to see Naruto's smiling face and to feel at least marginally at home.
After a rushed and badly burnt breakfast (compliments of the blonde dobe) they both set out to complete the requirements of the day. Naruto had plans, as he had apparently been told early that morning by Kakashi while Sasuke was still asleep, and so was regretful that he could not wait outside the cell door for Sasuke that day, as he was to help Kakashi in researching the capture of Itachi - helping the case along, as he had put it.
It was resolved instead that Naruto would simply walk Sasuke to the location of the holding cells, where Yamada would lead him up from the front gate. The raven-haired Uchiha was glad that the blonde would have something to do while he was here, instead of constantly worrying about him, and so reassured the boy that it was all right for him to go and help.
When the blonde had left him at the gate, Yamada was as friendly and optimistic as ever to see the young Uchiha, and led him up to his brother's holding cell with a warm smile.
Before Sasuke knew it, he was standing before the large metal door again - the one barrier standing between he and his brother, and like every time before, his heart was thumping and his mind was frazzled with through of the most basic instinct - fight or flee. He was prepared to fight should the need arise, and yet the impulse to flee was almost overwhelming - yet, most confusing of all, he found it was not a sense of fear which gripped him, but a state of unexplainable nervousness, the same unease he felt when Itachi's cool, dark eyes watched him as they were enclosed within that room.
And here he was again, about to endure the same treatment from his brother. And what did it mean? The question arouse in him again, what was Itachi's intention? He had been acting strangely ever since his capture, and the way he had seemed to want to talk to Sasuke...
Well, there was no time to ponder on those confusing thoughts anymore, because before long that large, heavy metal barrier was swinging open, and Yamada was standing aside for Sasuke to go in.
With a deep breath and steeling of his nerves, Sasuke walked forward into the cell. The light was pleasant, early morning sunshine streaming in through the constantly-open window to the left of the room, which seemed to highlight the red covers of the bed and the small table to the other side of the room.
In fact, the only strange fixture about the room this time was the absence of the criminal who lived in it.
Itachi was no where to be seen, and the room seemed somehow very quiet and empty without him. Sasuke looked around the room for a moment in confusion and some fear, before he heard a noise across the room - and saw a door opposite the one he had come though open.
There, stood Itachi, clothed but with a damp towel around his shoulders, his hair out and pulled over one shoulder, dripping wet.
There was curious moment then, when Itachi's eyes fixed on Sasuke and he stopped still - his expression one of confused disbelief, as though he were not sure that the younger Uchiha was not a figment of his imagination, before his face relaxed and he smiled lightly at Sasuke in welcome.
"Sasuke," He called the boy's name in recognition, his tone drawling as he accentuated the name, "I am sorry... I was washing." He told the boy as an explanation.
Sasuke nodded hurriedly, looking anywhere but at his brother as the elder closed the bathroom door and came slowly to sit on his bed, watching Sasuke the entire time like he ought to be careful what he did around the boy.
The younger Uchiha turned his face towards the window like he were disinterested in the room itself - but looked at his brother out of the corner of his eye, watching as the elder used the towel that had been around his shoulders to dry his wet hair.
Gazing at his brother, Sasuke's eyes followed his brother's pale hands as they ran through his long, black locks. Suddenly, the youth felt himself filled with a lighted feeling, like butterflies in his stomach. What was happening to him? What did that feeling mean? He had never felt more confused around another person as he was with his own brother.
Eventually, Itachi looked back to his brother, and caught Sasuke as the younger tried to look away hurriedly and make it look as if he was wasn't watching him. The elder Uchiha smiled.
"I am glad to see you again, as always." Itachi said, and Sasuke merely nodded again - not able to find his voice.
After a moment of silence, Itachi patted the spot next to him on his bed, and spoke as softly and harmlessly as he could manage;
"Will you sit?"
Sasuke hesitated for a moment. He had sat across a table from this man last time he was here, and now he was asking him to sit beside him. Was it necessary? He didn't know. But there was something inside Sasuke then that made him feel that he... wanted to.
Without a word, the youth came and sat beside his brother, his heart thumping as he ensured to be a safe distance from the man. Itachi peered at him intensely, watching his every movement as though he should not miss a second of his brother's presence. The attention Sasuke was received made him unnerved, and yet somehow, pleased him in some strange and unsure way.
"Your friend called for you the other day, did he not?" Itachi asked casually then, leaning slightly towards his brother as he awaited an answer.
Sasuke clasped his hands together to prevent them from shaking, as he finally spoke. "Yes," The boy answered, "He had come to see me while I stay here."
Itachi seemed to think this over for a moment, taking several moments to speak - as though the youth's words called for great consideration, in the way he often spoke to people. "Uzumaki Naruto..." The elder Uchiha finally spoke again, in almost wondering. "He cares for you?" The man then asked with a demanding edge.
Sasuke was slightly surprised by the undertone of protectiveness to the question, and his eyes flickered to his brother's face for a moment before he answered; "We are friends."
"Hn." Itachi studied his brother's face for a moment, before he spoke again. "It is good that he... wishes to ensure your safety."
Sasuke immediately thought of the irony to that statement; that Itachi should be relieved to hear that someone is concerned for Sasuke because he is around him. The younger Uchiha nodded though, and before he knew it, he continued;
"Naruto often wants to make sure I'm alright." Sasuke stated, his hands folding and refolding themselves as he gazed intently at them in his lap. "He is a good friend to me."
Itachi seemed greatly pleased by Sasuke's talking, and spoke in a soft tone, "And you care for him?" The man then questioned.
Sasuke hesitated for a long moment, before he answered quietly. "He is my closest friend."
Something strangely predatorial flickered in Itachi's eyes then, but Sasuke did not see it, and the elder quickly composed himself - resisting the urge to reach out and touch the boy.
"I am glad you have come to see me again." The elder Uchiha stated again, his eyes wide and staring at the youth before him.
Sasuke gave a small shrug and tried to appear nonchalant. "I said I would come back."
"And you did." Itachi replied, his tone grateful and pleased.
Sasuke, for some unknown reason, felt himself struggle not to blush at the sound of Itachi's voice - wait, when had it become so close to him?
With a sharp inhalation of breath, Sasuke felt Itachi's hand lightly touch his own, and saw now that his brother had somehow come to sit right beside him, their legs almost touching and the scent of Itachi drifting towards him now with an overwhelming source of heat.
The fingers that lightly stroked Sasuke's hand made him tremble, and soon Itachi held that hand in his own very gently, a caress to his touch that stole Sasuke's breath and froze his mind of any comprehensible thoughts. There was no fear, there was no impulse to fight or flee, there was only the feeling of those thin fingers and the presence of his brother so close now... and the most alarming element of it all, was how obscurely comforting it all was to the young Uchiha.
His next touch is even more alarming, even more intimate, as Itachi's other hand came up to brush the hair away from the side of his face where it had been concealing the boy's now blushing cheeks, tucking the hair behind his ear were it stayed. Sasuke's breath was coming out in pants now, and his heart was thumping so quickly as he almost could have convinced himself he was in mortal danger - if it weren't for the serene, sensual presence of his calm brother.
When next Itachi speaks, his mouth is so close to Sasuke's ear that the boy can feel his breath ghost against his neck in warm puffs.
"I am glad... to see how you have grown..." The elder whispered, his voice like a gentle wave that rolled over Sasuke and made him shiver. They were so close now, and he was touching him, and Sasuke didn't know what to do about it all... his senses where overwhelmed with the sound, the feeling, thetouch of Itachi, that he felt he had been pulled underwater and would never surface again.
"I-I..." Sasuke stuttered incomprehensibly, suddenly not in control of himself, as Itachi's hand slipped from where it had been touching his palm to slide up his arm slowly. Sasuke watched it as it went, up his forearm and climbing up still, making him shake with anxious confusion.
"I will look after you, Sasuke." Itachi spoke then, and his words further confused the youth. The elder's hands held him tighter then, as the man spoke meaningfully, "I will never leave you alone again."
Then, suddenly, something inside of Sasuke shattered, and he frowned.
"Stop it!" The youth yelled then, and tried to pull away from his older sibling. Itachi was surprised by the boy's sudden outburst though, and tried to pull the boy closer again.
"I SAID STOP!" Sasuke bellowed then, in pure outrage, and Itachi really did let go.
Standing in the sudden shocked silence of the room, Sasuke had bolted away from his brother, and was standing over near the low table now, away from where Itachi still sat on the bed. It was when the elder's face softened and a look of sadness came over Itachi's features, that Sasuke realised he was crying.
"Sasuke..." Itachi spoke gently, as he stood up and tried to approach the smaller boy.
The young Uchiha recoiled from him though, and made his way quickly to the door. Before Sasuke even realised he had done so, he had pushed the large red button which signalled his wanting to leave, and the alarm could be heard around the cell.
Itachi stared at Sasuke with almost hurt in his eyes, as the youth's tears streamed down his face, and he could see the elder was already sorry for what he had said - although, Sasuke didn't really know what he had become so upset about, then it hit him.
He was afraid Itachi would leave him again.
"Sasuke." Itachi called again, very near to pleading.
But Sasuke could not handle speaking to Itachi any longer, and with tears still springing to his eyes, he turned as he heard the heavy door open, rushing out of the cell and into the safety of the hall once again.
Breathing deeply, Sasuke's heart beat frantically as the events of a few moments ago played themselves over in his mind.
Yamada's face was one of pure concern as he looked to Sasuke, the boy's face stained with tears and his expression one of shock.
"Sasuke?" The ANBU asked as he placed his hand on the boy's shoulder, and saw as the youth flinched away from him. Yamada frowned, "What happen-"
Sasuke snapped his head towards the man fiercely then, and told Yamada sternly, his voice quaking slightly with the emotions still running through him; "You will tell criminal nine," The boy spat, "That I will not be coming here again."
And with that, Sasuke stormed off in the direction of the exit, leaving behind his brother and all that had happened, all that had been said.
Inside that holding cell however, Itachi sat back on his bed, his head held in his hands, wondering what to do - how to reach his brother, and knowing, that he had just blown it.
A/N: Will Sasuke return to see his brother again? Will he be able to talk with him, now that Itachi has angered him so? And What about Naruto? Stay tuned to see more.
Oh, and please don't forget to press the pretty purple button below this message, and drop me a nice review, so that I may update in due time. Thank you.
-Emerald-