AN: Alright here's the next drabble. I hope you guys enjoy it!

Itachi: 13

Sasuke: 8

"Itachi! How much further?" Sasuke asked his brother impatiently. Itachi just smiled at his otouto's question, as he lead the way out of the Uchiha Village and into the forest where they would always play at. "Patience, Sasuke. The forest isn't going anywhere." The older raven haired boy said gently. The walk lasted another couple of minutes before they finally reached their clearing among the many trees.

"Yaaay! We're here!" Sasuke said happily as he run ahead, and stopping right in the center of the clearing, he turned around and faced his big brother. "Nii-san? What are you going to play first?"

"I thought we try running a crossed the trees today."

His otouto's eyes beamed brightly. "Like real shinobi do?"

The thirteen year old nodded, with a smile. Sasuke jumped up and down, running over to his nii-san, unable to contain his excitement any longer. "Aniki, let's go!" His beloved brother tempted to jump up on the trees alone, but Itachi reached forward and gently grabbed the back of Sasuke's collar of his shirt, and pulled his back.

"Hold on, otouto. When your first beginning it's really rather hard, especially since these tree are so tall. I'll help you up, for your first try, alright?" Itachi explained putting a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, the younger Uchiha boy looked rather disappointed he wasn't going to be able to do it himself. Itachi chuckled, shaking his head slightly, he picked his brother up with one arm and jumped upward. Causing Sasuke to let out a small "Eep!" of surprise, before his aniki let him down on the large tree branch.

He poked his otouto's forehead with his index finger, a gentle, silent command for him to pay attention. "Now watch carefully, Sasuke." Taking a deep breathe he began running and leaping forward from tree to tree. Slowly showing Sasuke how to keep an even pace and keep calm. When he was done Itachi landed ten slightly spaced out branches away from Sasuke. They were far passed the clearing now, all that lay below were rocks, leaves and branches that had fallen off some of the other trees.

"Itachi! Nii-san! Wow, your so cool!" The eight year old exclaimed in amazement, clapping his hands together.

Itachi smiled again, it was warm, soft and honest. "Now you try, Sasuke." The boy nodded and taking a step back, remembering what his nii-san did only seconds ago, he leaped forward, Light on his feet, calm and steady, Sasuke was able to get to clear five branches all on his own, he grinned triumphantly, so proud he was able to accomplish something. He made to jump on the sixth branch, so he could meet up with his brother-

Snap!

Sasuke's eyes widened when he felt the branch no longer under his feet, with nothing to grab on to in front of him, he went backwards. He fell down, they were so high up and Sasuke was going faster and faster downward. His heart banged in his chest, completely terrified he was going to die, he squeezed his black orbs shut on impulse.

"SASUKE!"

The boy snapped them open when he heard his aniki horrified yell. Only to be meet with the shirt of Itachi's clothing he was wearing as his brother engulfed him. No time. He wasn't going to be able to get them out of this situation. There isn't enough time. No time to think, have no choice but to act risk-fully. For Sasuke's sake. As he saw what lay below them, Itachi then twisted his body around, so that now his otouto was facing down and he was facing up. Clinging his brother close to his right side, he braced for what was coming next. "Please...Let this be enough. Let him be unharmed from this." He muttered to himself, a silent pray.

Three

Two

Then they landed, the force of the impacted caused Sasuke to go tumbling out of Itachi's arms, he landed on his stomach in some twigs and dirt, a few feet away. For a moment he just laid there with his eyes closed, shocked. Unable to move even an inch. Then the eight year old slowly stood up on shaky legs. Baffled and happy at the same time that they were able to survive that. "Nii-san! We made it!" Sasuke announced to Itachi, turning his head he saw that his big brother was still laying on the ground, flat on his back.

"Big brother?" Sasuke asked making his way over to his brother. Perhaps he was just too tired to move, or maybe he was in too much shock, like Sasuke was a few moments ago?

"Nii-?"

The boy abruptly stopped when he could see his brother more clearly. His young heart almost stopped from what he saw. Itachi was laying in a pile of broken branches, twigs, rocks and leaves. But sticking out of his left side of his brother's stomach was a short but rather thick branch, it had easily impaled Itachi on their way down, it was stained with a red residue.

He maybe a young kid, but he knew what that was instantly. Any kid who wanted to be a shinobi knew what that stuff was.

Blood. Itachi's blood.

"NII-SAN!" Sasuke shot forward, falling down on his hands and knees by his big brother's side. His hands hovered over the thirteen year old, he gazed at the wood that impaled his dear aniki. the red liquid was slowly pouring out of Itachi's wound, soaking his shirt and dripping onto the grassy forest floor. Sasuke gagged, covering his mouth with his hand. Tears formed in his eyes, as he stared at his nii-san. Itachi's face was scrunched up in a painful grimace.

The pride of the Uchiha clan let out a small moan. "Big brother! Wake up!"

Nothing.

Sasuke's lower lip trembled, his heart beat wildly in his ears as he shook his head. "Please, aniki! Don't die! Don't leave me all alone!" He cried out the tears from before fell in different directions down his cheeks as he gazed at his beloved big brother, helplessly. He laid his head on Itachi's shoulder and cried.

What do I do? Sasuke wasn't physically strong enough to lift his brother off the branch, nor was he if he tried to pull the wood out of Itachi's side. He also didn't want to leave his big brother by himself, but he couldn't just sit here either, that would be no help to his nii-san.

Help. Getting help is the best option. At least if he got someone here they would know what to do for the older Uchiha.

Slowly, almost reluctantly, the eight year old got back up on his feet. Sasuke gazed at Itachi for one more moment. "Don't worry, Nii-san. I'll be back soon."

And with that promise. He took off running. He ran and ran towards the Village, tripping over rocks and tree trucks that jetted out from the earth below Sasuke's feet. The more he thought about his aniki laying there, unconscious, in pain and helpless. The faster he ran without stopping.

By the time he reached the Village entrance, he was huffing and wheezing, clinching his chest, trying to get air in his lungs, so he could form a proper sentence. His legs felt like they were on fire, his vision was hazing. "HELP!" Sasuke yelled running toward the people that were casually walking around in the Village. "Please! In the woods, my brother, he needs help. Please help him!"

Several people rushed toward him when they heard his cries. A man, who Sasuke even though his vision was darkening for some reason, was able to identify was the baker's husband: Teyaki Uchiha. "Sasuke, what happened?" The younger raven haired boy's legs felt like jelly, no longer able to stand on his own two feet anymore, he fell forward. Teyaki steady him with his wrinkled but strong hands.

"Itachi... Please, help my aniki. He's going to...die if no one helps him." Sasuke cried. Tears formed and then fell down his face. He closed his eyes, unable to keep them open anymore. The eight year old was vaguely aware of Teyaki's muffled voice ordering people to go into the forest and look for his nii-san.

Please...Please be alright, Nii-san. Don't die... please...

Utterly exhausted. Sasuke let the darkness slowly grasping at his consciousness, to finally take him.

...

...

When Sasuke came too, he was laying face up, looking at the familiar ceiling he was so used to seeing. He was in his room, the light from outside casted an orange tint into his room.

All of this told Sasuke that he was only asleep for a few hours or so. The boy moved to sit up, only to fall back down against his pillow, letting out a small moan, his body ached, it protested with every movement Sasuke attempted to make, he closed his eyes. What a mess he got himself in, chest sore, limps stiff and aching, and Itachi...

Sasuke's black orbs shot open as he sat up. Itachi!

Where was his big brother? Was he alright? Was he dead? That thought sent a horrible pain in the younger Uchiha's heart. Sasuke tossed the blanket off his body and got to his feet, trying really hard to ignore the pain that shot through his body. "Big brother.." He whispered, that was his mantra, his reason to keep going.

Reaching the door he slid it open, and found himself in the hallway. Maybe since I was in my room, Nii-san's in his? Sasuke tried to reason with himself. Making his way towards his brother's room, hesitating only just a moment before he opened the door. His eyes instantly fell on Itachi, who was propped up slightly on his futon, reading a book of all things. His aniki's face was very pale, dark circles were under his eyes.

His nii-san was wake, he was alive! Tears of joy, relief, and guilt fell down his face. "Itachi!" Sasuke said his voice small and hoarse. Itachi lifted his head up, a look of surprise over his face, but then melted away as fast as it had come.

"Sasuke." Itachi said setting his book down and opened his arms out wide. His little brother wasted no time in rushing forward to his big brother, putting his small arms his aniki's chest and buried his face in it. He hugged him as tight as he sore arms would allow him too.

Itachi embraced his just as tightly, he put his face in Sasuke's black hair and sighed in relief, tears forming behind his closed eyes. Thank you. He said to whoever saved his beloved brother from the hands of death. His otouto was alive, he was still with him, Itachi could rest easier now.

"Big brother! Nii-san!" Sasuke sobbed out, his body shook against their tight embrace. He knew why his otouto was this upset, when he awoken two hours ago his mother explained to him what happened, his little brother came into the Village running, and yelling, asking desperately for help. Saying that his nii-san was in trouble and he'd die if they didn't do anything soon. Sasuke was terrified if losing him. Upon hearing this news, Itachi instantly wanted to go into his brother's room and be with him, but his mother firmly, but gently, ordered him to stay in bed.

Itachi returned the tightness of the hug. "Shhh. Sasuke. Please..." Unsurprised to hear his voice crack. "Don't cry. It's okay. I'm fine, I'm still here with you. We're both fine, otouto."

His little brother only cried and shook all the harder. Itachi just held onto Sasuke, rubbing circles on his back and running a hand through his black raven hair soothingly. He laid his head in the crook of Sasuke neck, the thirteen year old needing the comfort as much as his otouto.

Slowly the boy's sobs and cries turned into silent tears. Itachi didn't want to let go, he didn't ever want to pull his arms back from around his brother's, he wanted things to stay as they are, Itachi want to always be here, with Sasuke, just the two of them, where Itachi could be his caring, smiling self and not the emotionless ninja in training Fugaku and the others were trying to make him become.

His dear otouto did let go, but it was only to get a clear view of his big brother's face. Sasuke smiled wetly, tears still falling from his eyes, though not as heavily. Itachi's own black eyes widened in surprise when he saw the white bandaged that lay a crossed Sasuke's right cheek. He looked down and the breathe left him when his gaze fell on the bandages the wrapped around his brothers right leg. It started at his ankle and travel up calf, stopping at his knee.

The older Uchiha then remember what his mother said before he left him to rest. "The only reason they were able to find you so quickly, was because there was a trail of blood droplets starting from where you were found, to the Village entrance."

What his mother said didn't register in his mind until now. The blood trail was from Sasuke's leg, it had been cut so deep that... Itachi's lip trembled, reaching his hands out, he cupped his otouto's face. A tear slide down his pale face, followed by another and another.

"Your hurt..." His statement was only above a whisper. Itachi couldn't believe this happened again. He leaned his forehead against his little brothers, squeezing his eyes shut, as now he too, cries his guilt and failure out. "I promised myself I'd never hurt you again... Sasuke, forgive me." Sasuke grasped his nii-san's arms with his hands and held on.

"No, Nii-san. This isn't your fault! I'm the one who wanted to go play." The eight year old stated, not wanting Itachi to blame himself. "If I hadn't fallen..." Sasuke trailed off, and for what felt like the hundredths time salty tears spilled out of his eyes again.

Itachi whipped them away with the pads of his thumbs. "Otouto."

Silence fell between them, as they held onto one another. The older boy could feel the other's body slowly growing more and more tired, physically and emotionally exhausted. Itachi leaned back, taking Sasuke with him as he laid down on his futon, he wrapped his arms around the boy protectively, desperately wanting to shield his dearly little brother from the harsh truths of the world. Selfishly wanting to keep the eight year old all to himself. Sasuke was his. He was his little brother. His otouto. No one understood the boy other then Itachi, just like no one understood Itachi other then Sasuke.

His otouto wrapped his short arms around his nii-san carefully, trying to mind his wound. When they were both in a comfortable position, Sasuke smiled contently and snuggled up to his big brother's chest, his eyes drooping shut, a look of peacefulness fell a crossed his sweet, innocent face as he fell asleep.

Itachi gazed at the little boy in his arms, a loving smile spread a crossed his face. He softly brushed his black bangs back behind his brother's ears and placed a kiss on the eight year olds forehead. The older Uchiha's eyes fell shut soon after.

"I'll love you always, otouto."

AN: Brotherly fluff! Oh how I love it! I love it so! =3 It's adorable!

So thoughts? Please leave a review as you leave to go read other fanfics, that are probably way better then mine. I hope you guys enjoyed this as much as I had writing it.

I'll see you guys soon.