Arriving at Sakura's house, Itachi was discovered by his sister-in-law:

"Itachi-san, where have you been?"

Itachi knew that it was useless to lie, since he has been discovered.

"I went to see Sasuke. I simply couldn't resist… Knowing that he is suffering over there and I…"

His answer was cut short by the profound pain he felt in his head. Sakura approached him:

"Are you in pain? I thought reanimated people can't feel pain".

A bloody tear ran down Itachi's cracked cheek from his right Mangekyou Sharingan eye.

"It's nothing… It happens to reanimated shinobi to feel strange when brought back to the human world. However, with this being my second reanimation… I should have a lot of experience right now!"

Sakura didn't know if Itachi was trying to crack a joke but she nodded and decided to let him be.

"Itachi-san, I couldn't sleep so I looked over the list you gave me and I must say… It's extremely difficult to make the cure. Not only the resources I need are extremely rare but the whole process is extraordinarily hard. I am afraid it would take a very long time to prepare it…" She started to cry. "I am not sure I can save my husband in time!"

"Sakura-san, I will tell you what I once told Sasuke: people live their lives bound by only what they accept as reality. If you are willing to accept the fact that Sasuke can't be saved then it's useless, he can't be saved. But, if you are willing to see the entire forest, not just the tree in front of you, you can save two people instead of just one!"

"What do you mean by that?"

"This disease is very fickle. There were times when it didn't appear for a few generations. In other cases, fathers, sons and even grandsons were affected by it. So…"

"Oh no… you don't think it could affect Sarada?!"

"Like I said, you could save not only Sasuke, but Sarada, if she would develop the illness!"

Sakura's knees almost gave out. Her heart was pounding. How could she be so blind to this fact?

"Listen… In the years I've been a member of the Akatsuki, I was partnered with Kisame Hoshigaki of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist. He put me in contact with a medic from the Land of Water that developed the same cure we now try to recreate."

"Yes, but he was killed during the war! So it's hopeless…"

"Sakura-san, for someone who earlier was willing to become a sacrifice for the Impure World Reincarnation, you are giving up quite easily. That man was your run-of-the-mill medical-nin. He wasn't a genius, he was just a man who studied and applied what he has learned. He wasn't a student of Tsunade and he didn't create an antidote to Sasori of the Red Sand's poison! If he managed to create a cure, you can do it, maybe even better!"

Sakura felt much better hearing Itachi's words. He was strangely comforting and optimistic, for someone who eradicated his clan in just a night and has a reputation for aloofness.

"So… where to start?"

"First and foremost, go to bed! It's almost morning. Try to sleep for at least four hours. Exhaustion makes a mind prone to mistake."

"You are right, I will!"

After Sakura left, Itachi remained alone in the room. He went to the small balcony and looked at the sun that was slowly rising. The burning pain in his head was as strong as before but now Itachi adapted to it and learned to ignore it. The Uchiha then closed his eyes, thinking:

A sunny morning in the Hidden Leaf village. Itachi returned home after a grueling mission for the ANBU Black Ops.

"Nii-san! Nii-san!"

Itachi recognized the voice. Sasuke probably heard him when he entered the house. His perception is improving. Itachi smiled. Six years old Sasuke gave his brother a strong hug.

"Sasuke, it seems that you are quite happy this morning!"

"I am, nii-san! Tell me, how was the mission? Did you kill someone?"

"Well, I can't really speak about it. The mission is top secret, but I can tell you about the place I've been, only after you put some pants on!"

Sasuke looked down and his face became red hot. He was only in his briefs.

"I just woke up, you know…"

"I know. Dress yourself first and then we'll talk!"

A few hours later, Itachi met with Shisui in a forest near the village.

"Ha ha… you refused to tell him about the mission just because he didn't have pants on him? If I were him, I would have come before you butt-naked, just to see your reaction!"

"I would probably be shocked, Shisui…"

"He loves you so much, and yet you refuse to be a brother to him! It's not enough to just poke him in the forehead and go shuriken training with him once in a while… Play together, tell him stories about your travels, hell, even lie about them and tell him you fought a dragon or a kraken, everything just to make him happy!"

"You know I'm not a good storyteller!"

"You know what your problem is? You are afraid to love! You are even afraid to admit that you like what happens between us! You are afraid of being human, Itachi!"

Shisui's words upset Itachi, but he knew that they were true.

"I am not afraid to love, Shisui… I love Sasuke and I love you too… I'm just… not very good at speaking about it."

"And little Sasuke loves you and I love you. I would sacrifice my life for you! You should be happy that you have people that love you, Itachi… You know my parents were killed when I was just three. Try to be kinder with little Sasuke."

"And I also know that you spared your parents' killer when you found him in the Hidden Mist."

"Of course… His death wouldn't return my family to me and besides, this circle of hatred must end. He killed my parents, I would have killed him and his son would've probably killed me and so on! A never ending cycle of death and revenge. That's why I tell you to be nicer with your brother. You wouldn't want him to hate you!"

Itachi reopened his eyes… These memories were very painful for him.

Shisui… Maybe if I listened…