Heyyy guys! An update! I'm getting pretty busy with school and work so it will not be as often with the updates! I hope you enjoy this one!

For over a week, each night Itachi would sneak from his room and make his way to the family memorial and spend most of the night there. He would return before dawn and be back in bed without Sasuke being aware. Pakkun watched him during these times, allowing him privacy and watching. He went to his meetings with the elders without complaint and when Sasuke would later demand to know what would happen he would tell him in a monotone voice. Sasuke avoided Itachi when he could, taking missions and making sure to be out with Naruto as long as he was able to.

Naruto of course was excited to have his friend back and was quick to keep the brooding teen occupied. Somehow, Sakura and Karin had started up a friendship and often went out to lunch with Ino. Pakkun took this time to watch Itachi for Kakashi, the copy nin having grown cold feet around the Uchiha. The boy was quiet, Pakkun noticed. Never leaving the house until the dead of night to visit his family. Pakkun could not help but feel bad for the kid. He remembered him from before the massacre. He was soft spoken but smiled often at Kakashi. Not to mention that Kakashi was absolutely enamored with the Uchiha.

Sasuke remained unmoved by Itachi's age. If anything it enraged him to know that while he could very well kill Itachi, it would not be the Itachi he had been striving for. Even after the tomato incident, Sasuke acted as if nothing had changed. He was cruel and dismissive, lashing out in frustration. Itachi was torn on the urge to defend himself and the guilt to allow Sasuke to do as he pleased. Itachi's youth and lack of memory was the only thing standing between Sasuke and revenge. Once those memories came back...even in that frail body, there would be nothing to save Itachi from Sasuke. Itachi would be his.

Sasuke began using missions as an excuse to avoid Itachi. Tsunade was more than happy to send him on errands. Jobs that normally would have bothered Sasuke, but were now appreciated. However, the rumors of his return were spread throughout the ANBU ranks and twice Ibiki approached Sasuke and Kakashi about the boy.

"So the soft Uchiha is back?" He questioned one hazy morning while Gai's team and Kakashi's were getting ready for a mission. He said this to Kakashi but Sasuke heard and slowly approached. Kakashi blinked and glanced at the interrogator.

"Itachi?"

"Heh, that one." Ibiki confirmed and Sasuke walked towards the man.

"What about him?"

"Rumor is that he's back...but a kid." Ibiki shrugged. "I'm just surprised I have not been able to get my hands on him." Naruto and Sakura shard quick glances while Kakashi sighed.

"Get your hands on him?" Sasuke stated softly. Kakashi shot a glare at the teenager which was ignored.

"Missing-nin who committed genocide...S Ranked. Only seems to make sense." The man pointed out and Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

"He has no memories of killing his clan. There's no reason for you to even look at him." He drawled. Ibiki looked non pulsed as he offered Sasuke a grin.

"Fine, fine. Just keep an eye on him. Won't want him stabbing any of you guys in the back, now would we?..." He chuckled at this little joke and walked off, leaving Sasuke reeling.

Itachi watched out his window as the stars twinkled in the night sky. He glanced back into his room, straining hid ears for any sign of movement. Everyone was asleep...he slid from his window and headed into the dark. The monument was as imposing as it was every time he went there. He slowly approached and tentatively knelt. He sensed Kakashi's familiar presence so he did not move. Even as the nin approached. When he felt the hand on his shoulder, he tore his eyes away from his father's name to look up at Kakashi. Kakashi regarded him with an unreadable expression. Slowly, he knelt beside Itachi.

"It's cold out tonight, Itachi." He noted and Itachi smiled tentatively.

"Is it?"

"You're hardly dressed warm enough." He glanced at Itachi's attire and the boy shifted. The wind blew his hair over his face and Itachi pushed it back.

"It's fine." The boy replied, voice soft. Kakashi fought down a smile.

"You've always hated the cold." He noted.

"That's very true." Itachi admitted. Kakashi glanced at the memorial.

"Is it okay if I sit with you?" He asked and Itachi nodded.

"Please."

They sat in silence throughout the night. Their shoulders brushed and every so often they would look towards each other. Itachi looked over all the names, eyes training on his mother's. His father's. It was heartbreaking. To think this soft spoken waif of a boy managed to kill his whole clan in cold blood. Something was not right here...Kakashi knew this. What had caused Itachi to do this? He contemplated the possibilities, feeling Itachi pressed against his shoulder.

It felt...nice. For years he had forced those memories from his mind and focused on what Itachi became. He was not the same boy he had been. As much as it hurt knowing that the boy sitting next to him was a mass murdering psychopath, he forced himself to realize it was reality...and eventually, Itachi nodded off. His head resting against Kakashi's shoulder. Kakashi looked away from the memorial to study the Uchiha. It was surprising...that Itachi felt comfortable around him enough to fall asleep. Or pure exhaustion...maybe both. Before the sun rose, Kakashi scooped Itachi up in his arms and headed back to the Uchiha compound. He weighed very little, making Kakashi realize how young he truly was.

The shadows under his eyes were dark, this was probably the most sleep Itachi had gotten in awhile. Pakkun greeted him as he approached Itachi's house. He slipped through the window, cradling Itachi's form in one arm as he steadied himself. He brought him over to his bed and gently lay him down, tucking the blanket around him. Itachi barely moved, body limp as he slept. Kakashi's hand hesitated over Itachi's face, tempted to run a hand through that familiar hair. Instead, he pulled back and slipped from the window, leaving the Uchiha to sleep.

Sasuke sat against the wall, book in hand half listening to Suigetsu and Karin prattle. Juugo sat at the table listening with half a smile at the two bickering. Sasuke set the book down and glanced down the hall towards Itachi's room. He had not seen him all morning. He stood, walking away from his team and heading towards Itachi's room. He pushed open the door, an insult prepared on his lips when he realized no one was there. Blind panic filled Sasuke's chest as he stepped back and glanced quickly down the hall.

Had he made an escape attempt? He began to head down the hall, grasping the wall. He considered calling out for Juugo but decided against it. He needed to search the whole house. Itachi could not have gotten far...

The moment of fear however was quelled when he walked by the bathroom and heard movement within. He let out a low breath and shook his head. He glanced back down the hall towards his team who were still yelling. The bathroom door slid open and Sasuke turned to see Itachi wearing a towel around his chest and his wet hair pulled over his shoulder. He glanced at Sasuke, brows furrowing while Sasuke eyed him.

His eyes moved from Itachi's face down to his thin feet, taking in how scrawny he was. His legs were thin, shoulders hunched from the cold. His collarbones were prominent. Sasuke could see how skinny Itachi was becoming. His lip curled in disgust and Itachi stared down at his feet.

Pitiful...

"How could you have managed it?" He muttered and Itachi lifted his eyes to stare at him.

"I don't know." He replied and Sasuke gritted his teeth. How many times would he ask this and receive the same answer.

"You were father's favorite. I wonder what he saw in you." The Uchiha bit out and Itachi's lips quirked.

"You're still bitter, Sasuke?" Itachi laughed slightly. Sasuke's glare intensified. It would be so easy to break that thin neck... He turned away from Itachi, deciding to go spend time with Naruto rather than another minute in this house. Itachi stared after him, face troubled. He slid into his room, quietly closing the door behind him.

"Foolish little brother, if you wish to kill me, hate me, detest me, and survive in an unsightly way. Foster your hatred. Run, run and cling to your wretched life. And one day, when you have the same eyes I do, come before me."

Itachi frowned as these words flew through his head. It was his voice speaking...but he had never said that...had he?

Naruto and Sakura of course were more than happy to have Sasuke with them. Sakura's crush never seemed to have gone away. Her smiles were quick and Sasuke felt nothing when he looked at her. She was possibly a friend...but there was nothing else there... she smiled at him as if he was the only man there.

"Sasuke-kun," She had greeted, blushing and Sasuke fought not to roll his eyes.

"Sakura." He responded. The three of them walked through Konoha, Naruto asking after Itachi and Sasuke muttering a response.

"I hope you guys can try to be friends." Naruto stated as they walked over the bridge.

"Naruto..." Sakura warned but was ignored.

"I mean he seems really sweet and it would be a great chance to fix everything." Naruto rambled and Sasuke narrowed his eyes.

"You know what he is, dobe." He replied and Sakura looked hopelessly towards the sky.

"I know what he was, Sasuke. Now he's a really confused kid who probably doesn't know if he should even defend himself." Naruto shot back ignoring Sakura's sigh.

"You're too soft to understand."

"You underestimate him." Naruto hummed. They stopped by the ramen shop and Naruto looked longingly at the food.

"He's pathetic, that's all." Sasuke stated sullenly and Naruto snorted.

"Uhhh, Teme you remember that he was a genius and prodigy at that age. He's holding back." Naruto replied firmly and Sasuke frowned. Saskura snapped at Naruto to shut up and the two began to bicker, but Sasuke followed still frowning.

Was Itachi holding back?

Was the real him just waiting to come out?

That night, Itachi slid out of his window same as usual. He passed by Pakkun who nodded slightly and made his way towards the memorial. There was no moon out that night. The stars offered the only source of light and Itachi fought to not activate his Sharingan to see his way there. Overhead he could hear a crow cawing loudly. He silently walked over the wet grass, the cold night air nipped at his nose. He barely felt it as he walked closer and closer. He approached the stone, as slowly as he always did, unsure of his place there. Pakkun and Kakashi could not be far behind. They were always there eventually. He lifted his hand to touch the stone, his fingers nearly brushing over a name when he heard it.

Clap

Clap

...Clap!

Itachi turned quickly, eyes activated and bright in the night. Behind him stood Sasuke, hands together and a smile on his face that was anything but kind. The air around Itachi seemed to drop several degrees and Sasuke looked all too comfortable. He regarded his sibling with that little grin, his eyes activated. Itachi stood tense, forcing his face to remain impassive. Sasuke rolled his neck with a little sigh.

"I warned you not to come here, Aniki."