Passion and Tears

Itachi's POV

Silence surrounded Kisame and me as we walked through a dead forest. This wasn't any kind of silence though. It was the kind of stillness that was before a thunderstorm; it gave off a feeling of apprehension.

I liked it.

"Itachi."

I tilted my head towards my companion, giving him recognition.

"We've been roaming the countryside for weeks only to stop ande walk through a couple towns. Pein said the Jinchuriki is in the Land of Lightning adn we've been heading in the opposite direction for months now. What exactly are we doing?" Kisame asked annoyed.

This was unusual behavior for him but I could see where his frustration was coming from. I could feel his heated gaze upon me,,however, I ignored it as I looked ahead.

"Patience, Kisame," I heard my own smooth voice reply, "all will be revealed soon enough."

Kisame tried to hide a sigh, but failed miserably. "...This is about Sasuke, isn't it?"

I gave him no answer as we continued advancing through the lifeless forest. It was about Sasuke. The last time I tested his hate for me was two years ago.

Far too long Otouto

It was time again.

Heading towards the horizon, the sun slowly trekked its way across the sky. The sky, in turn, reflected the golden orb's journey as it gradually changed from an azure to a deep sapphire. My eyes searched for a suitable place to stop for the night and I finally found it.

"We'll rest here," I said.

***

The next morning found Kisame and me walking towards a small village. This village was only a couple miles from the Hidden Leaf Village, yet interstingly enough was not well-known. The people that lived there were somewhat oblivious to the world around them, and they seemed fine with that. Kisame and I had visited here quite often, so when we walked through the hamlet there was a multitude of greetings. Out of the corner of my eyes, I noticed Kisame nodding his head at every 'hello.' Eventually, we arrived at a little restaurant that was considerd the best in the village.

"Itachi, Kisame. Haven't seen you two in a while. The usual?" a balding, portly man asked.

I nodded and watched as the man bustled around making two steaming bowls of miso soup. Tsukio Manchuko set the dishes in front of us and gave a wide smile. He, like the rest of the village people, had grown up here;yet unlike his fellow villagers, Tsukio prefered news from the outside. So Kisame would update him in exchange for a free meals.

Kisame began talking about the latest news as I quietly sipped my soup.

"Naruto, let's just stop here and rest for a while. We've got a whole month to find Sasuke," a male voice said.

"Yes, I do think that Shikamaru's suggestion is most wise," a voice agreed.

I glanced to the group of four people that were coming up the restaurant from the left. The boy who had spoken first had dark brown hair pulled into a high ponytail. He seemed to issue laziness from his bored expression. The one who had agreed with 'Shikamaru' had large furry eyebrows and bowl haircut. The third youth sported long brown hair - longer than my own - that framed his face and pale eyes which was the signature of the Hyuuga clan. But the last boy caught my attention. There was no mistaking the blonde hair and blue eyes that were downcast, as he relunctantly nodded his head.

The Nine-Tailed Fox

I lowerd my head so my straw hat covered my face. The four of them sat down a little ways away from Kisame and me.

What could they want with Sasuke?

Tsukio noticed the newcomers just as Kisame was finishing up updating him.

"Wow, really! That's- oh hold on Kisame, let me take care of these folks real quick," Tsukio said.

He hobbled towards the four Hidden Leaf ninjas to take their orders.

"Kisame," I said softly, "It's time to leave."

"What?...Why?" he asked.

I patiently stared at him.

"Right...ok, I'll just take this with me."

We swiftly left the restaurant quietly and began making our way out of the town. I picked up speed when we were outside of the town. Chances are Tsukio would mention myself and Kisame to the group of four, since they were outsiders as well.

Hmm...what's this?

I could feel a chakara hurtling towards Kisame and me fast. I stopped running and Kisame did as well.

"Is that...?" he began.

A smirk found its way on my lips as a blur shot at me. I heard the clash as my kunai met his sword. Angry red orbs stared into my own amused brown ones. I looked at the person who had similar features to my own.

"...Itachi," he spat out.

"Sasuke."

A short silence ensued before we both jumped away from eachother. I made a clone of myself and sent it. Sasuke fought against my clone that had about a tenth of my power. He seemed to be holding his own quite well. I was pleased. My clone threw several kunais at Sasuke, but he just swiped his sword blocking them all. The clone manuevered itself around Sasuke and managed to kick Sasuke's sword out of his hands.

"Phoenix flower jutsu," Sasuke said then took a deep breath and blew. Balls of fire came from his mouth and engulfed my clone.

As soon as the smoke cleared, Sasuke was headed towards me - his sword already in hand. I was expecting him when someone came bursting into the clearing.

The person stood snarling at me and Kisame interchangably with a giant sword in his hands. Blue hair shaped the angry face. I could tell from the sharp teeth so similar to Kisame's that he was a shark.

I looked over at my little brother and saw him staring at the intruder with indifference. He quickly dismissed him and began charging at me again. I gave a quick look towards Kisame who nodded and began attacking the unknown boy. I met Sasuke halfway in his dash, and our dance began. He had improved much from the last time I encounterd him. But something was different. He seemed to be fighting with much more earnest...almost frantic.

I stepped aside as his sword came in a downward slash. I then took his wrist and began turning it, intending to break it. Sasuke figured out my plan, flipped the direction I was turning his wrist and then kicked his foot in my direction. I jumped some distance a way and he did the same. Then I saw him take a quick glance towards Kisame's and the shark boy's fight.

So that is what has you distracted...pathetic

I watched as Kisame's sword slashed uselessly through the shark boy's arm as his sword passed through him without making a mark. The blue haired boy smirked at Kisame's frustration and continued to fight.

He's made of water...

Sasuke saw me looking at the water boy and was advancing towards me again. I quickly activated my sharingan and flashed stepped behind the smaller shark.

"...Chidori," I said softly. It was a harsh comparision to the scream that ripped itself from his throat.

"NOO, Suigetsu," shouted Sasuke. I caught the uncouncious form of 'Suigetsu' and looked up to see Sasuke running towards me, hate etched into his features. Before he could get any closer, Kisame hit him on the head with the but of his sword. Sasuke dropped like a dead weight.

"Are we taking him with us?" Kisame asked indicating the slumped figure in my arms.

I nodded and gave him to my companion. I took one look at my little brother before flitting away into the forest with Kisame not far behind.

A/N: hey sorry for not updating for a whie. I won't burdend (sp) you with my reasons, but I do have them. Itachi might have been OOC but I've never done a story or written for him before so I tried my best. Thank you is the UltimateXD for the virtual cookies and milk. It tasted good, lol. And I thank the rest of you who gave your reviews. I'll try to get the next one up soon. Sorry for any spelling, grammatical, and sentence structure errors. Read and Review