A/N: Oh my gosh! Finally! I thought this chapter was never going to be done. But it is. Hallelujah! Now that Itachi's back in the castle, what's gonna happen in his trial? Just gotta read to find out, huh?

I do NOT OWN any of the Naruto Characters or the story line. You know what I would do if I did. ItaSasu forever, baby! Thank you for those that reviewed and please keep them coming! I love every single one of them and I'm sorry that this chapter is so long. I was trying to get as much stuff as I could in there and it came out this long. Wow. Thank you and enjoy!

Ch. 8: One-Side Mission and Trial

Rest of Leader's and Itachi's Discussion three days ago…

Hearing the news about the Kyuubi's existence became a surprise to Itachi, but hearing that the reincarnation is living behind the walls of the Uchiha castle he had once called home became a shocker. He knows that the Uchiha vampire family is the most powerful of all vampire families so it's really a no real surprise that the Kyuubi's new host would be taken care of and protected by the family. The only reason why he's surprise is that he didn't know about the Kyuubi's reincarnation before he left. He didn't even know that such a being was even born.

"Are you sure about this?" he asks, wondering if what his Leader's words are true. Like always, his Leader looks amused with every little thing that happens before him; good or bad.

"By Zetsu's report, yes," he answers, giving Itachi an amused smirk. The ex-vampire's shock expression relaxes back to his emotionless expression as his Leader continues, "I'm assigning you this mission because I have a feeling that you would be upset if I assigned it to someone else without your knowledge. However, this mission is a little too big for you."

"So you wish for me to choose a hunter to accompany me, then." It was more of a statement than it was for a question. All the other times Itachi is assigned to missions, it's mostly with Kisame and hardly with anyone else. Leader usually chooses who would accompany Itachi if Kisame is not the fitting partner to have. For example, Kisame is more for missions of literally hunting down their prey, Sasori is for using his puppets to attract vampire children, Deidara is for breaking and entering, Kakuzu is usually for robbing and swift assassinations, Hidan is…Itachi doesn't go on missions with him because he and Leader both know that Hidan would get distracted with the idea of one day ravishing Itachi in his sleep. Zetsu is the spying type and never has hunter partners and Tobi is…too childish for any real hunting Itachi has to deal with but at least Tobi makes things entertaining.

The smirk on Leader's face widens. "Sharp as always, Itachi and you guess right. Your intelligence and strategies are by far more superior than anyone else in this organization and you and I both started this organization. I believe it's about time I give you the freedom you deserve. You have the choice of who you think is better fitted for this mission. You must be swift and silent if you wish to assassinate the vampire god without any disturbances. Usually I would enroll Hidan but unless there's a reward involve, he won't do it. But be very careful as to who you are choosing for your last mission, Itachi. I would hate for you to get killed before you take every vampire down with you once the Kyuubi is dead. But there is one more thing I want to say to you. If you ever where to get captured and worked as a slave to your once so called 'family', let me give you a one-sided mission if that were to happen. I want you to gather as much information as you can, information that Zetsu has yet to discover. Their strengths, weakness, arm forces; anything you can find. Then once we come over at the end of your week period should you fail, you can tell us once we collect you and we will take down these vampires once and for all. You, Itachi, will finally be free."

Present…

When Itachi finally woken up, the first thing he feels is the cold. The cold, stone floor beneath him, the cold heavy chains on his wrists and throat, and the cold temperature of the room. He's lying down on his side and it pains him to even move. But he has to because he needs to know his surroundings. After a few seconds of a daze feeling clouding his mind and allowing his hazy vision to return back to normal, he starts pushing himself up. His wrists are bond together in front of him and the other end of that chain is connected to the floor. Same goes for the chain around his throat. It looks like a big round collar around his thin neck. It also made him feel like a dog. When he sat up, he had a slight headache. Or rather a huge one.

'Damn, my head. Where…'

He took that time to allow his eyes to wonder around a bit. Then he understood exactly where he is. All around him are stands with burning candles on the top. They're not so tall that if he stood up, they would over shadow him. In fact if he could, can't because of the chains, those candle stands would be half his height. They just surround him with a five six radius all around and they stand three feet apart from each other. But beyond those candle stands, he can see figures. Because of the candle light messing with his vision, he can't see them clearly but by their aura, it's vampires and powerful ones. Two words came to Itachi's head as he observes them: 'Vampire Council'. Great, he's in trial. Perfect…

'How did…'

Then memories begin to flow through his head like a running river. Memories of how Deidara and him found the fake Kyuubi and how they were almost skewered by the millions of arrows, how he burned them, how Deidara tried to get the two of them to escape, the swordsman, the fight, and…finding out that the swordsman is his little brother. He also remembered his little brother's enraged face when he figured out who Itachi was. He even remembers the kick in his chest and the broken ribs and severely cracked spin he gained after crashing into the stone wall…

Hold on!

Stone wall?

Breaks and cracks?

A small bit of surprise appears on Itachi's face as he focuses on how he's feeling right now. Besides the headache, the sore muscles of lying on the hard ground, and the cold, uncomfortable, heavy metal of the chains on his neck and wrists, he feels just fine. He's not in agonizing pain from his side or his back. Wounds like that a human would take weeks, sometimes months, to recover and to be fully healed that would take even months longer. But he feels perfectly fine now. How could he have healed so fast in only a short amount of time?

"Took you long enough to wake up."

After hearing that voice and those words, he decides to try and figure out how he's perfectly fine later. All Itachi has to do is look up to the side and he sees the form of his little brother standing before him with his arms crossed in front of his chest as he gives off an annoyed vibe while trying to appear like a confident capture; in control, powerful, and intimidating. Because Sasuke's inside the circle of candles, Itachi can see his face accompanied by the shadows. It gave a nice dark and dangerous look but Itachi's not at all unsettled. He only feels a little irritated with the fact that he didn't notice him till he spoke, despite being in a room full of powerful, old vampires. His little brother fit right in.

He greets, "Hello, otouto."

Sasuke got angry. A light growl rumbles in his chest but before he could do or say anything against him, a vampire woman suddenly sprints out of the crowd and wraps her arms around Itachi's neck the moment she's in front of him. Her appearance took Itachi and Sasuke off guard.

"Oh my boy. How I've missed you!"

Hearing her voice causes a slow gasp to escape Itachi's and a feeling of warmth to spread throughout his body. He knows that voice.

"Mother?"

Uchiha Mikoto, the queen of the Vampire World and the mother of Itachi and Sasuke. She releases her hold on her eldest son and backs away. Her pearl pale skin practically glows in the candle light. Her raven black hair lays gently on her shoulders and back and her bangs gentle brush against the skin on her face. Her onyx black eyes sparkle with joy and her lips are curled into a gentle, loving smile. It became the smile that surprised him the most. Her hand rises to his face and it feels so soft and so comforting to feel it against his warm skin. But because she's still a vampire, her hand feels deathly cold. Still her smile provides the warmth it lacks including its own.

"Oh, my darling boy. You've grown so beautifully. But a little skinny. Have you not been eating enough?"

Unlike how her words bring the motherly comfort to Itachi, it did not do the same to Sasuke. It only made him more irritated.

"Mother, please retain yourself," he orders firmly. She looks up at him with a questioning glance and he adds, "As of right now, he is a criminal. He attacked our castle as a vampire hunter, he tried to kill the Kyuubi, he killed a guard, and he himself is human." Itachi's face became a blank once again as he looks at Sasuke from the corner of his eye.

"That may be true," their mother responds, "but as of right now, even though he is in chains and in trial, he is my son who has finally returned home. And he will remain so until he is proven guilty. He is also, for the moment, your brother."

This time when he growled, it became louder so that everyone in the room could hear and know how offended he is with those words. It took every bit of control he had to calmly say, "My brother…died a long time ago."

"Oh come now, Sasuke. Let's not be too heartless."

It's just one surprise after another but Itachi should really be expecting these things since he is in a vampire castle. He looks up forward, pass the candles to see a shadowy figure in a high, tall chair. He had to squint his eyes a little to get a better, clearer look but he's certain that it's a fancy looking chair fit for a king, literally. Itachi knows that sitting on that tall chair with his legs crossed, his elbow leaning on one of the armrests, and his hand cupping his cheek is none other than the king of the vampires himself. Uchiha Madara, Sasuke's and Itachi's father. Even though he can't see him very well, Itachi can tell from the sound of his voice that he sounds rather amused with what's going on in front of him.

"Like your mother said, until he is proven guilty he is your brother finally home. Have a moment of bliss before we begin." If there is one thing Itachi remembers best about his father besides his long, unruly shadowy black hair and his piercing black eyes that just look directly into the depths of your soul, it's the fact that he's too carefree. Everything to him like an entertaining show and all he wants to do is sick back and watch. He's too laid back and easy-going. Something none of his sons inherited from him.

The air around Sasuke became very tense and very serious. And yet when he was ready to blow after Itachi called him otouto and Mikoto was being irritating, he didn't look half as angry as he does now. His expression was very similar to how Itachi would look if he was that angry. His face is composed instead of ruled up with arched brows and snarling nostrils with wide mouths to reveal gritted teeth. His once onyx black eyes are now red, but his fangs have not extended. Only his eyes changed. With a look like that and the ice cold, furry in his eyes and words, he could pass as the Kyuubi or the devil himself.

"Must I remind you what he did last night and what he has done in the past twenty years?"

"No need. I have a report right here from his blood."

While Sasuke flinches and got even more angry from now his father's behavior with three veins pulsing on his head, Itachi raise a brow when he heard that. 'He has a report. Oh shit.'

He could tell that Madara is up to his mischievous ways again, especially when he asks Sasuke, "Do you wish to see it? You might find a lot of interesting things your brother has been up to."

Sure let's add more fuel to the fire when it's already ablaze! It's like Itachi's sentence has already been decided and Sasuke is the one who's gonna carry it out if he sees that report. The young vampire prince walks up to his father, pass the circle of candles and from what Itachi can hear, there really is a written report about him. One useful trick the vampires have is if they taste a drop of your blood, they can know all your secrets, your past, what you think, and how you feel. But it all depends on how sensitive a vampire is. Not all vampires can know as much as another vampire could from a drop of blood. But the skill is quite useful for interrogation. Itachi should have seen this one coming, especially Sasuke's reaction after looking at it. All it took was the sound of a dropped folder and then all hell broke loose.

"You despicable, devious, fuckin whore!" his brother screaming without a care that he's surrounded by an audience. From what Itachi can see of the shadows, his little brother already has his sword out and he's struggling from someone's tight, strong grip. It's not Madara because he's still sitting on his chair so whoever is holding Sasuke back is very strong. "We don't need a damn trial! I'm gonna motherfuckin kill him right now! He's nothing more than a damn disgrace! A MOTHERFUCKIN DISGRACE!"

Wow. His mouth is just as filthy as Hidan and this used to be the little innocent boy that smile at the smallest little thing. Another bit that surprised, and disturbed, him is the fact that their parents are here and they heard every word that came out of his little brother's mouth, long with the Vampire Council. Sasuke may be in his mid thirties in human years, but he's still a teen in vampire years. Words like that shouldn't be escaping his lips so soon.

"Stop it, teme!" Itachi assumes to be the one holding Sasuke back yells. "He didn't actually do it with anyone! He only played with them."

Sure, let's announce it now to the whole vampire council that he's a virgin when he's already past the mature age for vampires to find a mate. Some of them are already enjoying this little scene and are whispering to each other on how pleased they are to be here. This is worse than the Akatsuki's Social Room and that's saying something. If Itachi ever lives after this trial, he's either gonna commit suicide out of humiliation or he's gonna find the Kyuubi's reincarnation and kill him as quickly as he can. Either way, he can't live with himself being the laughing stock of the vampire community.

Then Mikot grasps Itachi's attention when she says, "I am proud of you, Itachi. I'm happy that even as a human, you haven't broken the rules. You kept yourself pure for the one who will be lucky to have you. Although if you're gonna slay someone, don't do it with your pants down."How can his own mother say that without a care in the world and without a hint of disgust on her face? Her face looks as happy as can be. Her eldest son plays with his victims in bed for crying out loud! Is Sasuke the only one full of neglect and disgust at this moment? No. Because Itachi is too, plus a major feeling of 'you got to be kidding me' and disbelief on his parent's behavior. Now he can tell why his parents fit so perfectly. They have no pride at all.

Then things started to get serious.

"Mikoto," Madara calls, all good nature and mischief gone from his voice. "As much as I enjoy this small reunion, we are in a trial. We cannot ignore the crimes he committed and what he almost succeeded in doing earlier today. He must be punished."

Itachi's mother lets out a sigh and she looks back at her son. She still smiles at him and her hands cup his face. Before he knew it, his mother kisses him on his forehead like how she used to. That wave of motherly warmth spreads through his body again and his eyes widen as a small gasp escapes his lips. If he were caught, which he already is, Itachi would have expected rejection. Not acceptance. After her kiss, Mikoto looks at her son in the eye and says, "No matter what, you will always be my little boy." Then she gets up and walks over to her husband and king. He could see her standing beside Madara instead of having a seat of her own.

Then the vampire king calls, "Sasuke, calm yourself. We are about to begin." Slowly the sound of trashing and struggling begin to subside and a loud huff ends it. Itachi can see the shadow of someone with short spiky hair behind Sasuke as he slowly releases the vampire prince, just in case he might try to attack the hunter once he was free. He didn't. He stood there, absolutely still and Itachi can feel his hateful glare burning through him, along with every other stare from the other vampires. "Uchiha Itachi, you are here by charged with the murder of many vampires, some we must admit are glad to be rid of but nonetheless wrong. You are also charged for the crime against peace, breaking and entering a royal family's home, an attempt assault on our god, and the murder of yet another vampire; one who was faithful to this castle and the royal family. How do you pleade?"

Itachi says nothing. All he does is stare at the shape that's supposedly is his father and keeping his mouth shut. So he's going to go through this the hard way, huh? Madara doesn't appear insulted for not being answered but Itachi's silent treatment is making Sasuke clench his fists extra tight. Naruto sees this and he gets ready to hold the raven-head back if he tries to attack Itachi again.

"Guilty?" No answer.

"Innocent?" Still no answer.

"Come now, Itachi-kun. You got to answer to one of those questions."

"I have nothing to say to you filthy vampires," he answers. While Madara, Mikoto, and the council look unaffected by Itachi's answer, Naruto is staring at the hunter with blinking eyes as Sasuke's eyes are wide and his lips are a straight line again. His fist releases and his arm stiffens at his side. "I don't care if I was one long ago. That me is dead and the me that stands before you hates every single vampire in this room."

There became a small pause of silence in the air after he said that. From the look of his onyx black eyes, there is nothing but hatred and seriousness. He meant every word that left his lips. The council and the royals' expression appear unchanging as Naruto looks up at Sasuke at the corner of his eyes. All he sees is the back view of a frozen teen vampire. Naruto's sky blue eyes hold concern and sympathy, thinking that while on the outside Sasuke is pulling a strong face while on the inside, he's extremely hurt from his older brother's words. After a look at him, Naruto looks down at the ground to try and think of a solution to what might help his friend. One idea pops into his head right when Madara breaks the silence with a sigh.

"We sort of figure that since you were prepared to kill all of us without a hint of care or remorse," he says, not sounding at all affected from his eldest son's words. "I just wanted to see if you were going to make this trial any interesting. But as always, you're so difficult and so stubborn. I guess we can go right to deciding what your sentence will be then. By the Kyuubi's will, we are forbidden to kill you but we can't allow you to just leave a free man untouched. You have to be punished somehow." Itachi still doesn't say a thing. He only stares at the vampire king with no fear, actually no feelings what so ever. Like he's prepared to whatever the punishment will be and he no matter what it is, he will not yield. Madara sees that and the smirk on his face widens. "Does anyone have any ideas?"

"Ooo! I know!" Naruto yells, jumping up and down while raising his hand. Sasuke looks at the hyper vampire in confusion as to why he suddenly sounds so happy, but before he could ask, Naruto suggests, "Let's turn him back into a vampire!" Both Sasuke's and Itachi's eyes widen when they heard this and Itachi's blood suddenly runs cold. What did he just suggest?

Madara, however, smirks wider with interest as he says, "Well that's something different. Since he's been hunting them all these years, a befitting punishment for one who hates a vampire so much is to become one himself."

"Now hold on!" Sasuke screams, getting back into reality. He faces his father and yells, "I refuse to have this man become one of us! He was once feared as one of the most powerful vampires to have ever existed and you want that part of him to come back? He'll destroy us all in an instant!"

As much as Itachi would love that idea, he would die before becoming a filthy vampire again. That and he knows what'll happen once he's turned. His thirst would be too much for him to handle and he would be willing to kill anyone to survive. Not to forget that his will would then be controlled by the one who bites him. Since he was born a vampire, he never had the problem of being controlled but if he gets turned, he will have no choice but to obey his master despite his own anger and disgust against whoever the lucky leech will be.

"Have you forgotten the ways of turning into a vampire, Sasuke?" Madara asks, amused. His younger son's eyes widen when realization hit him. He forgot about that rule completely because of his emotions. Seeing that he has nothing more to say, Madara turns looks at the surrounding vampires and asks, "Does anyone else disagree?" When he receives no answer, he asks again, "Let's see what the Kyuubi has to say about this decision then, shall we?"

Itachi notices that Sasuke instantly tensed up after he said that. He eyes him for a moment before a fiery red light appears behind his little brother, revealing every vampiric face in the room. Some familiar, some new. However, Itachi wasn't paying much attention to them. The sudden, big, red light grasps his attention first and still holds it as he could see what resembles red flames swirling around a body that's hovering in mid air and then forming into a fox's head. Itachi's muscles tense at the sight of it as the Kyuubi's blood red eyes stare down at him. He heard stories of the Kyuubi from his childhood and more terrifying ones during his stay in the Akatsuki.

Supposedly, the Kyuubi is the god of the vampires. The one who started the race and the one who appeared again to replenish it during its dying era. There is a myth that when the vampire race is in jeopardy, the Kyuubi would appear to save it. That's why they always have the Kyuubi locked up with the royal family for protection with the best security in the vampire world. From a human's point of view, the Kyuubi is a monster and the very omen of destruction. Every time the humans try to find peace with the extermination of the vampires, the Kyuubi will appear and while some find it as an easier path to completely annihilate the cursed race, others find it as another weapon used against them – a weapon that's fuckin hard to beat.

As the Kyuubi stares down at him, Itachi keeps his guard up with not a hint of fear in his eyes. In fact as of now, he has no emotion on his face like always. His face is a completely blank and his eyes are as cold as ice. The Kyuubi smirks, revealing more of his razor sharp fangs and his eyes narrow in satisfaction. "Normally, I would have this child before me killed without a second thought. However, my host tells me that he used to be a very strong vampire. I see a great destiny about him. Therefore, I approve of my host's suggestion and welcome this child into his family, where he belongs."

Itachi's expression never faltered as Sasuke makes a 'che' sound as his teeth are gritted together.

"That will be all," the Kyuubi finished. Then with that, the red flames disappear instantly.

Because of his eyes not adjusting fast enough to the darkness, Itachi still didn't see the host's face. But it appears to be unconscious because he sees the motionless body falling to the ground. He hears Sasuke gasp as the body falls and a second later, the hunter hears a body falling into someone's arms. Sasuke catches Naruto before he hit the floor. After a short moment, the raven-hair prince sees his friend slowly returning back to consciousness. Naruto looks dazed for a moment before looking up at Sasuke's own blank face. He knows behind those cold eyes, they hold concern and questions for his well being. He smiles softly to show that he's okay and Sasuke's eyes narrow, a sign to the dope that he gets it.

"Father!" he calls, his voice stern and hard. "This better be worth it."

Madara's smirk never left his face as he answers, "If the Kyuubi predicts that it will, then it will. I know you will make sure of that because I am assigning you as Itachi's biter." This time when the two brother's eyes widen again and their mouths parted, Sasuke is less shock than Itachi. He's just taken back.

Then he yells, "You are completely out of your mind! I can't babysit two things at once!" Hearing that, Naruto huffs like an insulted child.

"I'm not a baby, teme. Now put me down!" he orders.

Sasuke scowls at him for a moment before obliging. "You sure act like one," he mumbles. Naruto heard him but before he could say something, Madara interrupts.

"Oh I'm sure that you can find the time, Sasuke-kun."

Mikoto adds, being silent since the beginning of the trial, "And besides, sweetheart, you and your brother have a lot of catching up to do. I know that the two of your won't like it now but in time, it won't be so bad. I'm your mother, I should know." Not for an instant do the Uchiha brothers believe her. It's already permanently decided in their minds that they will be at each other's throats from now on till one of them gives and since both of them are as stubborn as hell, it's gonna be a while before they can stand being in the same room with each other.

Or maybe, not long at all.

"Whatever! At least I know that I'm gonna enjoy this part."

Before he could blink, Itachi feels Sasuke roughly grabbing his hair on the top of his head from behind to tilt it sideways as the other hand is pressed against his shoulder to keep it in place. Sasuke opens his mouth to reveal his already extended fangs and his eyes glowing red with hunger. Itachi could only watch from the corner of his eyes as he sees how unhesitant his little brother is to chomp down on his neck. His fangs pierce Itachi's neck and his muscles tensed from the pain. The older Uchiha refuses to cry out. He merely grits his teeth together to bear with the pain as his eyes close shut. Sasuke's hand moves. From being on top of his head, it slides down the side of his face, his neck, his chest, and then to his side to hold him close while his other hand is still keeping his shoulder in place, digging his nails into Itachi's fragile looking skin. The vampires all around them got provoked with the scent of fresh spilled blood in the air. Their eyes glowing and their fangs extended with thirst. They held themselves back, however, and they watch as Sasuke continues to suck on Itachi's blood, leaving his mark on his neck and spreading the vampiric venom from inside his fangs into Itachi's blood stream. The pain starts to become unbearable and in moments' time, Itachi begins to gasp and pant as Sasuke's nails dig deeper into his skin. Sasuke's words were true. He is enjoying this; causing him great pain before Itachi becomes one of them once again.

But then after the pain, Itachi suddenly feels a new fond of pleasure taking over. It came in slowing with the pain, blending in until it completely replacing it. By the time that he realizes that the pleasure vibes pulse through his very being with the venom, he starts panting as beads of sweat begin to appear on his face. He wasn't the only one who felt it. Sasuke's once aggressive bite becomes a little softer and a little yearnful. His nails release the fragile skin and his hand that grasped his brother's side, slides it way to Itachi's neck, closer to his face, and gently holds up his older brother's chin with just the tips of his fingers. If Itachi wasn't so caught up in the pleasure he's feeling now, he would have heard Sasuke let out a low moan that no one else but him could hear. The other vampires see the yearning and pleasure on their faces, but the two brothers don't seem to care at all if it didn't appear at all or if their faces are practically screaming it out. The only thing they do care is what they're feeling right now. The world and the vampires around them just didn't exist.

Finally, Sasuke releases his fangs from his brother's skin and pulls away. Itachi feels a rush of disappointment when the fangs left him but he soon feels a surprisingly warm tongue licking away the excess blood that escaped during the bite. The feel of Sasuke's tongue against his skin sends his heart, probably for the last time, beating and pounding like a taiko drum, spreading the venom through his body faster. He couldn't understand if it was because of the venom or the tongue causing this reaction. Sasuke appears to be enjoying this as well. The way his tongue slowly licks the blood away and lingers on Itachi's softer, warm skin a little bit longer to savor its taste. It soon became too much for Itachi. As soon as Sasuke pulls away completely and gazes upon his brother's sweating, exhausted face, Itachi closes his eyes and falls on the ground, unconscious.

Yeeaa! I got ended the chapter with an ItaSasu moment. Wahoo! Anyway, how was this chapter? Was it too boring? Did it not make sense? Was it any good? Please tell me how it was good and/or what I did wrong. I'm always anxious to hear. See ya all later!