OOC: So...I've decided to insert snippets of the pre-war shippuden era into this chapter. No major pairing fluff in this chapter except very strong Uchihasiblings feels. You have been warned.
"So Sasuke has managed to find some useful information after all." Itachi sipped at his tea gracefully, mulling over the words of his companion.
Kakashi nodded, meeting the ex-ANBU captain's dark eyes with a knowing gaze of his own. Briefly averting his eyes to the three happy teenagers at the buffet line, the silver-haired jonin smiled and took a bite of the last few morsels that remained of his delicious breakfast. "It certainly seems that way, although it looks as if you've been busy with some inquiries of your own."
He was answered with a perceptive smile. "Force of habit I suppose." The older Uchiha murmured, watching the branches of the trees sway in the wind through the dining hall's windows.
"You've made up your mind then?" Kakashi asked, changing the topic of their conversation after a short but meaningful pause.
There was a brief moment of silence before Itachi nodded. "I have officially been relieved of duty some days before we left for Nami no Kuni."
Somehow, his kohai's discreteness did not come as a surprise. "I hope you don't take that as any indication that you are going to be completely relieved of ANBU related activities anytime soon." The older jonin simply chuckled. "Tsunade-sama would be a fool to let such talent go on a permanent basis."
"No, I suppose not." The older Uchiha replied, watching his younger brother tenderly as Sasuke conversed with Sakura from the corners of his dark eyes. "If I recall correctly, you were and are still unofficially part of the corps, senpai."
Kakashi smiled beneath his mask. To say that Itachi was perceptive was an understatement to his brilliance. Nonetheless, he could hardly argue with the older Uchiha's choice—after having been a prime example of such a change, although for a slightly different purpose. "It's an arrangement that will work in your favour." Pushing the empty plate away from him, the silver-haired jonin allowed his gaze to flicker to his companion's face briefly before turning to look out of the window to his left. "This war, whether for better or worse, has finally set us free from the past."
"Ah." Itachi nodded with a faint sigh. "The world becomes much more beautiful the moment we realize how close we were to losing it altogether."
Kakashi's quiet laugh broke the thick blanket of silence that had gathered between them. "You will be an extraordinary influence to the next generation of shinobi, Itachi-sensei." The last part came as sort of a tease.
"Senpai." The older Uchiha's calm voice chided him. However, both men could not help but smile at the other. It was evident that Kakashi and Itachi understood each other more than they were probably ever given credit for.
"Whoa…this place hasn't changed one bit!" Naruto exclaimed excitedly, examining the outskirts of Nami no Kuni from a distance. The group of six had arrived at their designated meeting place at the other side of the Great Naruto Bridge slightly ahead of schedule, and so had allowed themselves a little bit of luxury to indulge in snacks at a small tea shop while they waited for the commissioners of the mission to arrive.
Both Sasuke and Sakura smiled, indulging in the nostalgia of their very first "C-rank" mission and the bonds that Team 7 had been able to form with each other ever since.
"It's good to know that they've put this bridge to good use." Sasuke acknowledged, glancing over the impressive structure that Team 7, now known as Team Kakashi, had helped build with their own hands.
"You're right." Sakura nodded, squinting into the distance that was now cleared of mist thanks to the bright rays of the sun. "It even looks like they've added some extra support structures to increase the flow of people and goods."
"Since when have you gotten so knowledgeable about bridges, Sakura?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow, his voice teasing.
"Since always." The pinkette stuck her tongue out playfully before joining Kaori in examining some flowers outside the tea house.
"I take that as an indication that you were able to successfully reconcile, senpai." Itachi teased.
Before the silver-haired jonin could respond, however, a flash of orange shot past him from within the tea house. It only took seconds for Uzumaki Naruto to rush to the man who was leading a small group of smiling villagers in their direction and knock him over with a monstrous hug. "Tazuna oji-chan!"
"My, Naruto, don't you look all grown up." The old bridge builder laughed heartily, accepting Sasuke's hand to help him stand. "You too, Sasuke."
"Long time no see, Tazuna-san." Sakura smiled, approaching the group with the rest of Team Kakashi in tow.
"Sakura? Is that you?" Tazuna's smile only grew wider. "I've always known that you'll be a fine young lady, isn't that right Kakashi-san?"
"She sure is." Kakashi smiled, and the two men shook hands warmly.
"And who may I ask are these folks?" the older male looked on at Kaori and Itachi curiously once the heartfelt introductions finally came to a close.
"This is my onii-san, Tazuna-san." Sasuke practically beamed with pride. "Uchiha Itachi."
"A pleasure to meet you, Tazuna-san." The twenty-year old nodded politely. "Thank you for taking care of my otoutou."
"Ain't he a polite fellow." The builder chuckled. "Got a regal air about him, no doubt about it." His group of companions nodded passionately in the affirmative. Surprisingly, Tazuna became somewhat shy as his dark eyes settled on Kaori, his previous burst of confidence all but tamed as he waited to be introduced.
Sakura rolled her eyes inconspicuously. The amount of throwbacks that the-silver haired kuniochi had gotten on their trip here alone was enough to take up the fingers on both of her hands to keep count.
"That's Sasuke's nee-chan!" Naruto shouted, looking between the ex and current ANBU captains with a big goofy grin.
"My imoutou." Kakashi clarified with a small smile. "Hatake Kaori."
"Domo."
Itachi was not a jealous person. He had lived under the radar for a majority of his adult life, sticking to the shadows without much of an appearance unless absolutely necessary. Even while he was in the Akatsuki, the older Uchiha had not asked for much other than basic living amenities when the rest of the group all had special privileges of their own. His willingness to endure Sasuke's unfounded hate, fed with the older Uchiha's own lies, was the epitome of the ex-ANBU capitain's remarkable self-restraint. However, despite all of these accomplishments and many more, Uchiha Itachi could not help but shift in annoyance as the shopkeeper hovered over Kaori with more attention than was necessary—something he was sure that did not escape unnoticed as his kanojo turned the minute the man's back was turned to blow him a kiss.
They had arrived in time for Nami no Kuni's summer festival, a gregarious event filled with colours, lights, delicious cuisine, and a plethora of activities that would accompany the week long celebration. After hours of meticulous planning and serious debate over the mission at the old bridge builder's residence earlier this evening, Tazuna had warmly suggested that Team Kakashi go out and enjoy the first night of the festivities at the very least. In retrospect, Itachi was thankful for the man's persistence. He had rarely seen such beautiful displays and walkways that seemed to stretch for miles over calm and welcoming surfaces. It appeared that the Great Naruto Bridge was able to bring prosperity to the Land of the Waves, just as its builders had envisioned.
"Nii-san," Sasuke beamed at him, holding an origami boat in an outstretched hand. "let's release this together."
Slowly, they made their way to the edge of the water. Standing shoulder to shoulder, the younger Uchiha waited patiently as Itachi lit the small round candle before fitting it in the centre of the boat with the utmost care. Placing the fragile construction in the water, they sent it off with a gentle push of their overlapped fingers, watching as it slowly drifted to the mouth of the shallows and into the currents of the deep.
"Toutou, are you happy?"
There was a gasp. A sudden intake of breath. Onyx orbs met, and tears threatened to rush to Sasuke's eyes at the tender affection in his older brother's eyes.
"He's dying, Sasuke"
"Hn. I wish he'd have died sooner." The raven-haired teen snorted after a moment's pause. "Finally, that monster is doing the world a favour."
"You don't understand, do you…?" Kaori's voice trembled. "He planned his entire life so that it would end in your hands! In the end…Ita-kun…he…" her voice quivered again, "He…only lived for you, Sasuke."
"Kaori!" Konan cried, attempting to stop her companion before it was too late. "You can't! It'll kill you!"
The silver-haired kuniochi smiled weakly. "I have to, Konan. I…" She took a deep breath, closing her eyes in concentration. "I want him to know if there is a chance that we can escape this curse." When she opened them again, Sasuke instinctively recoiled in horror. Her left eye, or rather, Shisui's eye, stared unblinkingly into his soul. Itachi's memories crashed against him like a wave. Sasuke screamed, but the sound never came. He was choked for air, crushed under the weight of the immense burden that his older brother had chosen to shoulder all alone.
Nii-san…just what…have I done to you?
The raven-haired teen dropped to his knees, howling in pain.
Itachi was a little surprised at the sudden weight of Sasuke suddenly throwing himself against the older Uchiha's chest.
"Nii-san…" Sasuke stared remorsefully at Itachi's pale and still figure—surrounded by a dense canopy of wires and machines.
"Come over here kid, un." Deidara motioned to him with a wave of the hand. There was a hint of emotion in the blonde's visible eye. "He'd want to see you if he was awake, yeah."
Moving as if he was controlled entirely by an entity not his own, Sasuke found himself numbly taking steps across the floor until he crashed robotically against the metal frames of the bed.
"Toutou…"
Sasuke ran with all his strength. Nothing of the scenery around him registered, passing by in a blur of shapes and shadows. "He's awake." He repeated Kisame's words over and over to himself like a mantra.
He burst into the room, sending a million things that he could care less about crashing to the ground. The only thing that registered on his mind was a pair of clear onyx eyes looking back at his own.
"Don't you dare leave me alone again nii-san."
"Toutou..." Itachi smiled. "I don't think I can afford to lose you again."