Itachi's Promise: Chapter Six

Waking up still sitting under the Cherry Blossom tree, my body shivered in the cold early morning air. Itachi struggled to open his locked eye lids, as he heard a noise not far from him. Itachi bit into the side of his mouth as he forced himself into a sitting position, opening his eyes he looked forward and saw Kisame's kneeling blue form.

"You're going to catch a cold if you sleep outside," Kisame told Itachi, Itachi looked down at his arms and realised Sakura was no longer in his arms.

"Where's Sakura?" Itachi asked, looking up at Kisame in hope of an explanation.

"I took her home; her parents wouldn't have been worried if she disappeared," Kisame answered, Itachi sighed and looked towards the main house.

"Why did you bring her here?" Itachi asked, looking away from Kisame.

"Because I was ordered to, Madara wants you to be a part of the akatsuki, but I he doesn't want he soulless, cold, empty shell," Kisame told Itachi.

"Madara wants me to still have contact, but is still keeping her away from me?" Itachi questioned himself out loud.

"Your mum is looking for you," Kisame told me, holding out his hand in hope of helping Itachi to his feet.

Itachi took Kisame's hand and helped him to his feet, stepped over Kisame's legs he walked towards the main house. Itachi opened the door and quietly stepped inside; his mother instantly wrapped her arms around Itachi and pulled him in for a hug.

"Where have you been?" His mother asked, wanting so badly to make sure that Itachi was firmly okay.

"I went outside for a breath of air and I must have fallen asleep," Itachi answered.

"Mikoto, get in here now," Fugaku ordered from his study.

"Take Sasuke and go for a walk to the park for a while," Itachi's mother ordered, Itachi nodded and then headed upstairs to find Sasuke.

Taking Sasuke in his arms, he walked out the house heading towards his and Sakura's favourite park. He held on to Sasuke as they walk quietly along the street, girls glancing in his direction hoping he will look back at them. Itachi reached the park and noticed two kids one or two years younger than him sitting on the two swings, a younger girl was playing on the park equipment. Itachi set Sasuke gently down and watched him run towards the playground.

"Be carefully," Itachi whispered, sitting under a tree away from everyone but close enough so he could watch his little brother.

"Itachi, Itachi, watch me," Sasuke ordered, Itachi turned his attention completely to Sasuke and watched as he slid down the slide and into the soft sand below.

Looking around he noticed the two kids who had been move over to the playground and begin to talk to his brother, they hadn't noticed Itachi was sitting under the tree behind them.

"Your useless," The boys told Sasuke, Sasuke just stared at them with a blank look.

"Hey, leave him alone," Kisame ordered, from a branch above Itachi.

Kisame jumped down from the branch between Itachi and the two boys, his sword swung on his back like usual and his teeth showing in his grin. The two boys went white as they watched Kisame step forward, his grin growing.

"Time to leave," Itachi said, from behind Kisame.

The two boys grabbed the small girl and then ran, the backs fading as they went further and further away. Itachi stepped up beside Kisame and smiled ever so slightly.

"Thanks," Sasuke said to Kisame, Itachi looked at Kisame with worry and then back to Sasuke.

"Can I talk to you for a second?" Itachi asked Kisame, Kisame nodded as they moved away from Sasuke.

"What do you want to talk about?" Kisame asked.

"What if he tells father?" Itachi asked, and then Kisame smiled.

"He will tell you father that he saw a tall man with brown hair and dark skin," Kisame answered.

"Jutsu, let me guess transformation jutsu?" Itachi said, Kisame nodded and continuing smiling at Itachi's knowledge of jutsus.

"Itachi, who is that?" Sasuke asked, pointing in the direction of the forest.

Itachi and Kisame turned to the forest and looked to see a dark haired man standing at the edge of the forest watching them; Itachi was at Sasuke side in seconds and holding him in his arms. Itachi looked at Kisame as his shoulders were tense and his body seemed to be shaking slightly.

"Kisame?" Itachi asked, hoping Kisame would snap out of it.

"Go home with Sasuke, Itachi, I have Akatsuki business to deal with I will be back late night," Kisame told Itachi, Itachi didn't move just watched the man take a step from the shadows.

"Kisame?" Itachi asked worried, looking up at Kisame scared for his new found friend.

"While I'm gone be careful," Kisame ordered, dashing into the forest followed by the man.

Itachi headed straight home, only ever slowing to move Sasuke higher on his back. Reaching home Itachi noticed the deathly quiet and decided against using the front door, he snuck in using his open window on the second floor. Setting Sasuke down on his bed, Itachi walked quietly to the top of the stairs where he held his parents and the man from the night Kisame took him to the Akatsuki base. Trying to listen, Itachi tried to make any sense of the sounds he heard with no luck he walked silently down the stairs and stopped. If anyone looked out of his father's office, they would be able to see him.

"No, he is my son," Fugaku yelled, across the desk.

"So, you have another one," Orochimaru replied.

"No, Orochimaru you can't have either of my sons," Fugaku yelled.

"Why do you need them?" Mikoto asked, Orochimaru didn't answer he had heard something.

"I think someone is home," Orochimaru said, walking to the doorway and looking out at Itachi.

To Be Continued