My Brothers
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Inuyasha.
Sasuke stood triumphantly over his brother, but for some reason, he didn't feel the satisfaction that he had imagined. Itachi coughed up blood and tried to push himself off the ground. "Congratulations… Sasuke…" The younger Uchiha looked down as his brother warily and Sharingan met Sharingan as the elder activated his Mangekyou. "You're… strong enough to protect her now… I give you back our memories of our sister."
Images of an innocent young girl began to flash through his mind and he stumbled backwards. Most images came back to him easily, like finding an old photograph; others came painfully, since they were Itachi's memories. Retrieving Kagome from that other world, her adoptive son, and the scars littered across her body. "How…" He glared down at his defeated brother. "How could you take me own twin away from me?!"
Itachi chuckled and a violent tremor rocked through him, causing him Sasuke's rage to pause. "You were too young to understand then… but you should be able to now…" More blood came up, adding to the growing pool growing around him. "Examine your memories closely, Otouto; you'll find the reason for the massacre and where I kept Kagome and Shippo…"
"Sasuke…" Blood dribbled from his lips and his brother's eyes widened. "Know that I never meant anything I said to you after that night, and I don't expect you to keep our promise… Gomen."
Sasuke watched in morbid fascination as Itachi fell back to the ground, smiling faintly.
"Sasu-chan? Onii-chan?" The two brothers immediately turned their attention to the girl sitting between them. "If one of us was in danger or dying…" Itachi's eyes widened; she shouldn't know that concept yet, she was too young. "Would you both help the other?"
They looked at each other over her head and blinked before turning back to her with smiles. "Of course! That's what brothers are for!" Sasuke grinned and Itachi nodded, glaring at the doorway over his siblings' heads.
Fugaku stood there, sneering at the girl by their side and Itachi put an arm around her shoulders, bringing her closer to him, protecting her from the rest of the clan's scorn. "I'll never let anything happen to either of you."
Sasuke's eyes grew wide and he stepped back, away from his brother. That was the promise that Itachi was talking about: taking care of each other and her. What have I…
He slowly came back to his brother's side, watching the faint rise and fall of his chest. He was still alive, but only just, and he was fading quickly. The younger Uchiha wracked his brain, trying to think of someone who could heal Itachi. I don't trust the others, so they're out of the question… Damn!
He carefully picked up Itachi and raced to find Karin. He may not like her – at all – but she would be able to tell him where Sakura was. His former teammate had trained under Tsunade, so she would know at least some healing.
Don't you dare die, Nii-san; Kagome would never forgive me…
A young boy with reddish hair ran through the forest, his tail twitching as he caught the scent he was looking for. A grin appeared on his face and his forest-shaded eyes lit up as his speed increased. "Okaa-chan!"
Kagome laughed as she caught the kitsune that came flying at her from the trees. "Hello, Shippo-chan." The kitsune grinned at her. "How was training?" Ever since they had come back with Itachi, her brother had been training kitsune in just about everything: the history of the shinobi, taijutsu, (which he wasn't very good at but was getting better,) ninjutsu, (he was best with fire techniques, making Itachi the perfect teacher because the Uchiha were best with fire as well,) and genjutsu, (which he excelled at.)
"It was great!" Kagome had to set him down because he had grown so much. "I'm finally getting the hang of throwing kunai and shiruken; I hit three out of five targets!"
The miko smiled proudly at him when she felt a pain in her chest, above her heart. "Kaa-chan? Daijoubu? Kaa-chan!"
Kagome fell to her knees, hand clutching her shirt. This is… "Itachi…"
Sasuke ran with Itachi on his back. The others had been shocked that both of them were alive, but a furious glare had silence their questions. When he had demanded Sakura's location from Karin, she had stuttered her answer. A growled command of stay there kept them from following for which he was grateful. Itachi's breathing was even fainter than before and Sasuke sped up. "Damn it, don't die on me, Nii-san."
He began to feel Team Kakashi's chakre signatures and he veered off his current course to run toward them. "Almost there…" He burst through the clearing and was immediately at the point of Kakashi's kunai. Gasps were heard at his appearance. "I'll do anything…" Questioning looks were his answer and he continued. "I'll come back, go to jail, anything… just heal my brother."
Surprise was etched on all of their faces as he carefully set Itachi on the ground. "Just heal him, that's all I ask." He turned pleading eyes to Sakura. "Please…"
Kakashi held out a hand to keep any of the others from coming forward and his eyes narrowed. "Why would you want him to live after all the time that you've spent trying to kill him?"
"He left her alive!" His sudden outburst caused them to jump back a little. The youngest Uchiha lowered his and continued quietly. "He left Kagome alive, and only he knows where she is." This wasn't the truth anymore, but he was desperate. He turned sorrowful eyes to his first teacher. "I want my sister back, Kakashi…"
The Copy-nin sighed and scratched his head, still holding the kunai in his other hand. "Alright; Sakura, heal him." The kunoichi came forward tentatively and a green light shown from under her hands. "However, if either of you make a wrong move, you're both dead."
Sasuke made no response as he watched nervously as his brother's wounds heal; he had lost so much blood… "Nii-san…" Kakashi looked at him strangely, but the younger Uchiha kept his eyes on Itachi's face.
They sat like that for a long time. Naruto had come up to stand by Sasuke, despite Kakashi's protests and Sai was off to the side, feeling out of place. Color started to return to Itachi's face and slowly, his eyes opened, ebony irises looking around in confusion. "So you saved me after all…"
Sasuke had to force his expression clear, but he wanted to hug his brother in relief. Did giving me my memories back change my outlook on him that much? "A promise is a promise." A chuckle emanated from the elder Uchiha, causing Sakura to fidget nervously, still healing him.
"My apologies for disconcerting you, Haruno-san." He sat up slowly, catching site of the on edge Kakashi. "Hatake-san." Kakashi gave a curt nod of acknowledgement and Sai walked closer. Sasuke placed a hand on his brother's shoulder to steady him and the elder Uchiha nodded to Naruto. "Naruto-kun." The jinchuuriki nodded back and shifted uneasily.
"Itachi, take us to Kagome." The elder Uchiha nodded and slowly stood up, wincing slightly. "Then we can all go back to Konoha." The others looked to Sasuke in shock and Itachi froze before sighing.
"Forgetting about Shippo already, Otouto? He's kitsune, and Konoha isn't welcoming to kitsune." Kakashi's eye widened and he stepped forward but Itachi paid him no mind and continued. "Kagome isn't going to leave him behind, and lastly, I'm not welcome in Konoha."
Sasuke seemed to slump and Itachi smiled lightly, rubbing his hair. "We'll see what happens." His brother nodded resignedly and Itachi turned to the others. "You may come if you wish."
Naruto was immediately at his best friend's side, the others following a little more tentatively. Itachi nodded and turned to walk away.
Shippo changed the cloth over Kagome's forehead, relieved that her fever had finally gone down; she had him worried there for a bit.
A familiar scent came to his nose and he gave his mother one last look before running outside. "Itachi-sensei!"
He stopped short when other shinobi appeared behind his uncle and he dropped into his fighting stance, growling lowly. "Shippo, that's enough." Itachi gave him a small smile, showing him that everything was okay before looking around. "Where is Kagome?"
The kitsune's eyes widened and he darted forward to grab his uncle's hand. "She's sick! We were talking when she sort of collapsed. Her fever just broke a minute ago."
"Shipp?" Everyone looked up to see a girl in the doorway to the hut, leaning against it a little. "Onii-chan?" Her eyes widened and she gave a sigh of relief when she looked over her brother, then she looked the shorter one beside him. "Sasu-chan?" Her twin's eyes softened and he almost took a step forward.
"Okaa-chan!" Shippo whirled around and ran to his mother, showing the Konoha-nin his tail to their shock. "You should still be resting! Why did you faint like that anyway?"
She smiled indulgently at him and bent to hug him. "I felt that Itachi was dying, and since I was in the other place so long, when he came back I somehow tied my life to his, to keep me bound here instead of returning to the other place by accident. In short, my life is tied to his." The eldest sibling blinked in surprise and Sasuke shuddered; he had been so close to losing them both. Shippo just clung to her.
After a moment, Kagome let go of Shippo and ran to her brothers, wrapping her arms around their necks. "I missed you guys." They wrapped their arms around her, muttering apologies. "Just don't scare me like that again, 'k?"
Itachi set his head on her shoulder, nodding slightly before turning to introduce her to the shinobi behind them. They nodded at each of their names, Naruto grinning, Kakashi trying to hide his curiosity, and Sakura glaring slightly. Sai was just indifferent. "Uzumaki-san is the one Kisame and I were supposed to go after."
Naruto blinked and looked around confused. "Where is Fish-face?"
Kagome giggled at the jinchuuriki's nickname for the swordsman and Shippo had a huge grin on his face. "Oh, Fish-sticks threatened Okaa-chan, so Itachi-sensei sent him to swim with his family."
Naruto blinked before grinning and turning to the Uchihas. "I'm going to like him." Sasuke smirked, ruffling his nephew's hair and Sharingan showing pride while Itachi rolled his eyes. The eldest sibling then turned to Kakashi.
"What do you propose we do, Hatake-san?" Kakashi scratched the back of his head at the Uchiha's question. Why did he have to put him on the spot? Looking at the family, the Copy-nin couldn't help but think that things might work out this time.
"Well, I suppose we could take the four of you back to Konoha under a genjutsu so you're not apprehended immediately." His one eye became serious as he leveled a glare to the two missing-nins. I'll warn both of you now, former student and former partner or not, I will kill you both if you make one wrong move."
Kagome tightened her hold on her bothers, her face suddenly masked and Shippo couldn't help but be reminded of Sesshomaru. "I wouldn't do that, Hatake-san." Everyone stared at her in surprise – what happened to the happy girl? "If you did, even if you had not meant to kill me, I would have died with Itachi-nii, and the Uchiha Clan would be wiped out. Not the best thing for Konoha, don't you think?"
Naruto laughed at Kakashi and walked over to the Uchihas. "On to Konoha!"
Tsunade stared at the group in front of her, eyes wide and mouth open slightly. Naruto was arguing with Suigetsu while trying to save Sasuke from Karin and Sakura who were fighting while Sasuke tried to unnoticeably hide behind his siblings. Itachi was speaking with Shippo about showing respect to the Hokage and Kagome was laughing at something Juugo, who looked confused, had said or done. Kakashi was reading his little orange book as always and Sai was sweat-dropping at the whole situation.
Jiraiya was beside her in a similar state of shock while looking over Karin and Kagome with analyzing eyes. Naruto caught the look and paused in his argument to glare at the author. "Oi, get your eyes off Kagome-chan, Ero-Sennin." Immediately, two Sharingan glares and one turquoise glare were directed at him, causing the Toad Sannin to sweat and laugh nervously.
Tsunade sighed and laced her fingers together. This is going to cause me so much paperwork… "Alright, I'll cast a genjutsu like my own over the boy to hide his features and each of you will be followed by an ANBU each, except Itachi who will have three and Sasuke, who will have two." She looked around at the crowd, her gaze narrowing at Shippo. "I will place a genjutsu on him, but I swear that if he shows even the slightest killing intent that Kyuubi did, he will be killed immediately."
Kagome's hold tightened on him and she glared at the Hokage. "If such a thing were to come to pass, Konoha will lose all support from the Uchiha Clan."
Without another word, Kagome turned to walk out of the room, followed by her brothers and the others. Soon, only the two Sannins were left with Kakashi. "I suppose I should head back to ANBU to keep an eye on them, ne?" After a poof of smoke, it was only Tsunade and Jiraiya.
The Hokage put her head in her heads, wishing for sake. "Did I do the right thing, letting them back in here? Or should I have had them killed on sight?" Jiraiya didn't answer, because he didn't know the answer either.
Kagome was looking around Naruto's apartment, face blank. "Well, that settles that."
Naruto looked up from something or other, eyes wide and cute with confusion. "What settles what?" Itachi raised an amused eyebrow at the situation, already knowing what his sister was thinking.
"You're living at the estate with us!" Shippo grabbed the jinchuuriki's hand and began dragging him away despite the protests. "That took care of that well, ne?" She grinned at her brother who smiled back at her.
"You know that Sasuke is going to be jealous, right?" She looked up at him questioningly but he just wrapped an arm around her shoulders, leading her towards the estate where Sasuke was already setting up rooms for Team Hebi. "He's not you only brother anymore."
"He never was, you're my brother, too, Onii-chan."
"Yes, I'm 'Onii-chan', but not there's 'Sasu-chan' and 'Naru-chan.'" The miko laughed a little nervously, already seeing the problems that could occur. A smile flitted across her brother's lips. "Come on, Imouto; let's go stop the fight before it really starts." We're all your brothers now, and we'll always protect you, we'll always be there for you, for everything.
AN: Sorry for not updating in so long, but my Grandfather recently passed away and I'm still recovering from the first funeral I've ever attended and catching up with the school work I missed. I don't know what's coming next or when - Gomen. bows apologetically Thank you all for reading and please leave me with a review and perhaps a request!