That night, was very cold. Even though Itachi couldn't feel the cold, the weather suited his purpose perfectly.

Tomorrow is Monday, work day. By now, people should be in their beds. And with the cold weather… I may be able to see Sasuke!

Itachi left Sakura's house and climbed to the roof of a nearby apartment block. He looked towards the eastern side of the village where the hospital was located with his Sharingan. He planned. Itachi knew he doesn't have much time as not only he had to move unseen towards the hospital but infiltrate it as well. Sakura told him about the high ranking shinobi that guard Sasuke, many of them being skilled Sensor-type ninjas. Itachi was about to leave the rooftop until somebody hailed him:

"ITACHI? What… How?" The Uchiha turned around and saw that the ninja that called his name was none other than Naruto Uzumaki.

"Naruto-kun… So… you became Hokage! It seems you took my words seriously!"

"Yes, but… How the hell are you here? Who reanimated you?"

"It is not important. The only thing that matters is that Sasuke is sick and he needs my help. Please, Naruto-kun. Take me to him. I need to see him, even from afar!"

"I understand, but…"

"Naruto-kun, you are now Hokage. The lives of hundreds of thousand people depend on you. But right now, the life of my brother depends on me. Imagine how you would feel to be unable to save those you care about. Please. Take me to him. Otherwise, I may be inclined to use offensive moves against you, if you try to stop me." The last thing Naruto would want was to fight a reanimated Itachi who really means it. Even though he was now Hokage, he couldn't help but feel that the former Akatsuki member was stronger than ever right now, fueled by his desire to see his brother.

"There is no need to fight, Itachi, believe me! I will take you to see Sasuke but nobody can know. I will create an opening for you."

"Thank you, Naruto-kun!"

On the road to the hospital, Itachi and Naruto talked about what happened after the former's fight against Kabuto.

"Incredible… So Sasuke and you took down the Sage of the Six Paths' mother?"

"Yes… and then the stupid Sasuke tried to kill the Five Kage and even imprisoned the Tailed Beasts! He talked about some revolution and that he would become the Hokage to unite the others in hate!" Itachi saddened.

"His vision about what it means to be Hokage was warped. A Hokage must lead his people with love and compassion. There is much pain in the world, and Sasuke felt a lot. And it was only my fault. But now, I have the chance to make things right for once!"

"You are too hard on yourself, Itachi! You did great things for the village…" Naruto was interrupted by Itachi's Sharingan glare.

"Enough, Naruto-kun… I know what I have done. Nothing was great. I destroyed one evil just to create another that almost brought the end of the shinobi world."

"And yet, you love him. That says a lot about your personality! And besides, Sasuke is now our most powerful ally! It was your example that helped him understand!"

"Whether it was my example or not that helped him is pure academic. You changed him, not me. Your friendship was the breath of life for his dying heart!" Naruto's eyes started to water:

"You know… you speak so artistic and whatnot…" Itachi smiled: I guess some things never change!

A few minutes later, Naruto and Itachi arrived at the hospital.

"Hide in those bushes over there!"

Naruto went inside the hospital. He was greeted by the head nurse:

"Hokage-sama, what happened?"

"Please, can you gather all the shinobi that guard Sasuke over here?"

"At once, sir!"

Five minutes later, all the ninjas were at the ground floor, with the Hokage:

"I was informed by an anonymous source that an insurgent cell wants to assassinate high-ranking village councilors. Their location is inside this envelope. It seems that various rogue ninjas with Kekkei Genkai is within their ranks. I need all of you to go there at once!"

"Hokage-sama, who will guard Sasuke-san?"

"I will use Sage Mode Shadow Clones here. They would suffice. Now please, go!"

"Yes sir!"

After the shinobi left, Naruto turned towards the nurse:

"You go home too, Tamiki-chan. There are plenty of nurses and medical-nin here to help the other sick people."

"Yes, sir!"

With the nurse leaving Sasuke's hospital wing, Naruto called Itachi in.

"An insurgent cell?"

"Well, it is not entirely a lie. I heard that Orochimaru is on the move again, but people tend to get scared when they hear about him, so…"

"I understand. Be careful, though. Orochimaru is not someone to be trifled with!"

"I know. Come, Itachi, let's go see Sasuke!"

The two shinobi arrived outside Sasuke's room. Naruto opened the door with a key.

"Enter, Itachi! You need time alone with him!"

The Uzumaki smiled and closed the door. For the first time in his existence, both as a living or as a dead person, Itachi felt pure fear. He looked towards the bed wherein his brother lied and he cried. He approached his brother and whispered to him.

Look at you, Sasuke… Our cursed clan continues to ruin even the purest of us! But I swear to you, I won't let this disease destroy you! At this very moment, your wife fights for you! Trust her, Sasuke, and fight for her too! And also, fight for your daughter… Beautiful Sarada needs her daddy.

Sasuke's face started to cringe erratically. He had a bad dream. Itachi knew, because he had those too during his illness.

Sleep well, my brother!

Itachi activated his Mangekyou Sharingan and formed the Tiger sign with his hand.

Omoikane!

Itachi's Mangekyou shape started to rotate and Sasuke calmed down, even smiling. Then, Itachi fell down on his knees, holding his head with his hands. So much pain… My brother, why do you have to suffer so much pain?

Naruto saw Itachi falling on the door window and entered the room. He helped the Uchiha outside.

"Itachi, what happened? Are you alright?"

"Yes…"

"What happened with you? And what's with your eye?"

"I… I used a jutsu on Sasuke, the Omoikane. One of the Mangekyou Sharingan's techniques. I simply put him inside a genjutsu which gives him sweet dreams and took the bad ones inside me. I now have his fear, his pain in my head! It burns right through me, even though I am reanimated."

"What a jutsu…"

"The Omoikane is the most beautiful jutsu in existence, for it takes away the fear and the desperation in those you love."

"But in exchange, it gives you that fear and desperation!"

"A small price to pay, Naruto-kun!"

Naruto was impressed. He always spoke about taking Sasuke's pain unto himself but right now, Itachi did it literally.

"I must go. Please, do not try to follow me and don't tell anyone I am reanimated."

"Of course not, but you could stay in the village. There are many places you could hide!"

"I have a place to hide, don't worry. I will also try to work at a cure with my medical-nin accomplice. Naruto-kun, if this is to be our last meeting, I want you to promise me something: If somewhere along the way you will have to choose between your family and doing the right thing, please, choose your family! Even if that would create discord within the village! Do not make the same mistake as me. I chose to do what it was right to do and in exchange, I darkened my brother's soul. Do not make the same mistake with your son!"

Naruto pondered for a few moments and smirked at Itachi while extending his fist. Itachi understood the gesture and fist bumped with Naruto.

"Do not worry, Itachi. I promise!"

The Uchiha left the hospital, trying to reach Sakura's house before dawn. His revolving Mangekyou Sharingan pattern looked towards the moon.

Please, Kami, don't let him die!