Chapter 4: A truth so ugly

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the characters.

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Itachi sat in his tent staring at the wall. He tapped his fingers on his table, lost in his thoughts. He was out here for two days, leading men into battle. He grew tired of the gore and the blood and hoped to soon return home. He didn't show it that he was anxious and only his guard captain had noticed. Pain had been keeping a close eye on him, and he knew it. Sometimes he wished his childhood friend didn't care so much. It had been a long time since he had been on the field, most of his fighting had been in a training arena. It had been years since he saw actual combat. His bloodlust had been sated in all the previous anger he felt had vanished. He wasn't sure who to be angry at, himself, Sasuke, his mother. . . However, somewhere deep inside he couldn't be mad at Sasuke. He had been pushing himself on the boy for years. He didn't blame Sasuke for his rebelliousness. He didn't blame his brother for pushing him away. He wanted Sasuke, with a passion he didn't know he had ever possessed. The boy brought something out in him, his more seductive side. It was hard because Sasuke it was his brother, but his mother supported, and he'd always ridden off of it. Simple seduction never worked on Sasuke, and he had always eliminated potential lovers. He knew Sasuke he was no virgin; he almost killed Kakashi when Itachi figured it out. The late-night visits, the long hours in the boy's room. It took all his self-control not to rush in there and kill the silver-haired guard. He had confronted the other about it, and Kakashi respectfully backed off. He knew the man never started it, Sasuke, he had been the one to do that. He didn't want to back the other into a corner, but he felt like that's what he needed to do in order to gain the younger's attention. Sasuke pushed him away two days ago, and it still burned him. Being out here so far off while someone else courted his brother was also painful. He wanted to finish this, he wanted to go home and explain to Sasuke his genuine intentions. He wanted to tell the boy that he really loved him and that his intentions were true. It would devastate him internally if the boy ever truly did fall for the man his mother had invited into their home. His thoughts were interrupted as the flap of his tent made movement. Pain walked in, his purple eyes taking in his prints. He felt guilty for throwing his problems onto his friend; he knew the other only wanted to look out for him.

"The men are ready when you are my prince," His guard captain announced. Itachi nodded and stood, his armor adjusting to the movement after sitting for so long.

"Very well, let's move out," Itachi ordered.

For two days, Sasuke was haunted by this man named Orochimaru. The kiss had startled him so much so that he dropped his tea onto the floor. Orochimaru never apologized; he only stood up with an unreadable look on his face. They stared at each other for a moment and Sasuke much to his embarrassment, excused himself from the room. He didn't want to be rude, but he had to get out of there. It was pathetic, but Sasuke framed sickness the next day. His mother probably knew it was an excuse and so did Orochimaru but Sasuke needed space to think. He sat now at his eating table, staring out of his large window. It was tempting to crawl back into bed and just simply forget, but he couldn't motivate himself to do so. He wished almost in a way Itachi was here. His brother would've protected him from this man. Even if Sasuke wasn't on speaking terms with him, he wanted to hide behind his older brother. He always did in the past in the battles Sasuke could not fight alone. The occasional bully, the overbearing guard, a strict nanny or a maid who got too bold. He had taken personal enjoyment once when Itachi grounded a guard with his fist and had the man sent away. However, this was long before his brother had changed into a seductive being. He missed the days when he could hold Itachi's hand without questioning his intentions. He missed the days his brother offered friendly hugs and not caresses filled with kisses of force. He wondered why sometimes Itachi had changed on him, if he had been the one to make him change. It just happened suddenly, as soon as Sasuke turned of age, Itachi had changed into a whole other person. He was smooth, suave, a temptation. Sasuke he had been treated different by him, and he didn't know how to take it. He reacted by pushing the other way, avoiding him, making any excuse to stay away. It seemed that this behavior had goaded Itachi, making him angry and make him more determined. They treated each other differently; years went by and Sasuke no longer saw him as an older brother, but an enigma. He sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. Parts of him wanted to give in to Itachi; a part of him wanted to love his brother, but something held back. His future with Itachi would be uncertain; they were both men, and Itachi would need an heir. Sasuke he didn't want to get this heartbroken the day his brother decided a nice female with large breasts would look better on the throne next to him. Many kings had consorts and mistresses; Sasuke didn't want to be treated like that. It sounded foolish, but he wanted true love. However, he knew being royalty would never gain him the love a commoner could achieve. He stood from his chair and regarded himself in the mirror. He was a mess, and utter mess. His hair was in a disarray, and his eyes were red rimmed. Unfortunately, as much as he wanted to hide he was due for dinner in an hour. He pulled himself to the bathroom and went through the ritual of making himself look like the prince everyone expected.

Itachi stood on the battlefield looking over the hills. Sitting atop his large steed, he watched men capture prisoners. His blood-red eyes showed between the slits in his helmet, regarding everything in cruel calmness. He went to another place in his mind, a place where his bloodlust could take over. He was completely separate now from his body, the fighting machine his mother had raised. Even so, something nicked at him while he sat there. He felt like something was about to go wrong. He felt his heart beating in his chest plate, and it made him feel uncertain. He shook it off as he steered his horse back to camp, the enemy was almost defeated, and soon he could return to figure out his problems in his love life.

Sasuke stood before his mother on the third day of Itachi's travels. His mother wore a simple dress, elegant yet comfortable, a deep rich blue. Sasuke he stood before her in an olive-green vest decorated with silver leaves. His hands were clasped behind his back as he regarded the woman behind her desk. His mother was going over some paper work, and he was patient as she finished. He was lost in his own thoughts anyway. She finally looked at him with a smile as she sat down her quill.

"You're very quiet this morning, something bothering you?" His mother asked him. Sasuke looked up at her and tried to give her convincing smile.

"I'm fine," was all he said. She didn't look convinced, and she gave him half a smirk.

"Worried about Itachi?" She asked him. Sasuke he gave her a hard look then; he turned his face toward her large windows in defiance.

"No." She shook her head and set up from her chair. She came around the desk, and Sasuke couldn't help but tense at her approach. He looked toward her finally, and her gaze was soft.

"You're lying," She said.

Sasuke he knew he was not lying.

"I'm not," was his harsh response. Mikoto's face went calm and Sasuke didn't dare say another word. She reached a hand up and smoothed it across his cheek. Her touch was warm and Sasuke couldn't help but feel his inner child screaming to just throw himself in her arms. He wanted his mother; he wanted her to make Orochimaru, and his thoughts about Itachi go away. Since he hit puberty, he had been so alone, Itachi changed and his mother though loving, hadn't coddled him the way she used it. As if reading his thoughts, she took her hand away but moved her arms up and over his shoulders. She pressed him into her chest and Sasuke immediately felt a warmth flood him. She held him for a few moments before pulling away, her look unreadable.

"Sasuke, have I ever told you about your father?" She said. She tilted her head in a way that her black hair hid her eyes. Sasuke watched her as she pulled away and gave him, her back. He couldn't lie; he had been curious at some point in his life.

"No, you never went into detail," He said softly. This was new territory, and he advised himself to tread cautiously. She nodded and turned to face him, leaning against her desk.

"Well, I would have to start by telling you about Itachi's father. There have been rumors, stories, I'm not blind to them. Nevertheless, they are true; I was pregnant with Itachi when I was fourteen," She said. Sasuke tried not to let surprise coat his face, but he was unsuccessful. His mother's face never changed.

"Your grandfather, my father, asked something of me one day. He approached me with the task of seducing the son of his ally. They were a neighboring country at the time, but they were weak. My father needed a way not only to disgrace them, but overthrow them." Sasuke didn't know why but his heart rate picked up.

"Grandfather?" He said quietly. She nodded and continued.

"I never imagined he would ask such a thing of me. I was a fourteen-year-old girl, still playing with my dolls. The son he wanted me to seduce was thirty-six years old. By seducing, your grandfather wanted me to sleep with him."

Sasuke suddenly held a look of disturbance. He felt the urge to need to sit.

"As a princess it was my obligation, as an Uchiha, it was my duty. I admit I was scared, who wouldn't be? However, I steeled myself and realized that more lives were at stake than my own. I obeyed your grandfather and slept with the man that very night. A week later, I found out I was pregnant."

Mikoto came forward toward her son. She mindlessly raised a hand and fiddled with Sasuke's bangs. Her son's eyes were wide but with good reason. His mother smiled at him though it was not in gentleness or humor.

"My father blackmailed his allies. It was a bad, his fourteen-year-old daughter pregnant by his son. They were forced into seclusion and forced politically to hand over armies. I was carrying a grandchild of a very rich and highly noble family. Your grandfather claimed rule over them forcefully through blackmail. He used me, but I know that. Eight months later I gave birth to Itachi," She finished.

"Why are you telling me this?" Sasuke suddenly asked. He reached up and caught his mother's hands. He didn't know what to feel. It must have been horrible for her, forcing her to bed a man at such a tender age. Mikoto curled her fingers into his and continued.

"Because it leads to your birth. Itachi was five when many suitors sought me. Unknown to me, I had a suitor specifically bred for me. Your grandfather summoned me again, and I had a feeling about what he wanted. Little did I know that I would be taken for a ride."

"A man was standing behind your grandfather. I had never seen him; he was handsome, strong, and instantly I thought I was in love. Little did I know that this man was my brother, my older brother."

Sasuke took a hitch of breath and blinked.

"Your brother?"

Mikoto nodded.

"We had the same mother, the equivalent father, but I'd never met him before then, he had been hidden away from me. He stared at me much in a way Itachi stares at you now."

Sasuke swallowed and took a step back.

"You didn't," He whispered in disbelief. Mikoto's smile now was taunting.

"Us Uchiha are a rare breed. It takes a careful gene pool to keep us strong. My father ordered me to sleep with an older brother I had never seen in my life," She said resolutely.

A sudden thought hit Sasuke like a tidal wave. He backed up so hard he almost tripped on the floor.

"No! No! It's not true!" He suddenly yelled. Mikoto strode forward quickly and grasped his wrist to keep him from falling. No doubt she could feel the drumming of his heart through his skin.

"Yes, my brother bedded me that night with the intent to make a child. My father did the same with my mother. Uchiha are bred very carefully. Sasuke, you are the result of successful incest breeding."

Sasuke shook his head so hard it nearly gave him a migraine. He didn't realize he was crying until his mother reached up and wiped the tears away.

"Why? Why did you tell me this? Why did you let him? Did you feel wrong? Giving birth to your brother's child!" He shouted the last part.

"No, I didn't," She said, her voice hard. Sasuke froze and regarded her strangely as if another head had spouted from her shoulder. She pulled him close and got in his face.

"I loved my brother, more than what was considered appropriate. He uttered words of love and devotion to me, and I accepted them. I never regretted growing heavy with his child. You were a child made from love. Itachi was a child made from greed and blackmail."

Her gaze softened as she pulled Sasuke to her and hugged him tightly.

"Look at you, you're beautiful, a child faultless, a perfect Uchiha."

Sasuke was like a doll as he let himself be led as she pulled him toward her lounge. She positioned him in front of the mirror next to the fireplace. She wrapped her arms around his waist and set her chin on his shoulder. Sasuke stared at himself, a feeling of dread and fear rumbling around in his stomach. He flinched as his mother ran a hand from his waist up to his chest and ran fingers up to his neck. Goose pimples occupied his arms and down his spine as his mother's other hand went down his back, over his ass and landed on the back of his thigh.

"Look at you, perfect in every way. Your skin, your eyes, your lips, your entire body. A mixture of both, myself and your father. No flaw of a child born from incest. No mental restraints, high intelligence, you are everything I wanted in a son. Everything my brother and I made that incredible night."

The morbid touches made Sasuke nervous and afraid. They were no longer the gentle caresses of a mother but a brutal display of sickness. His mother's smile was creepy as she observed him in the mirror.

"That's why I need you to do something for me Sasuke, as my true son, I need you to sleep with Orochimaru."

Sasuke made a sound between fear and being choked. His mother's laughter rang around the room and echoed in his skull.

Unaware to them, a blonde ran full speed down the hallway and away from their conversation.

TBC