Not my favorite chapter. I really struggled pulling this one together for some reason. Possibly because I am utter trash at battle/fight scenes... I have some of the next chapter written out and i think it will flow easier than this...I hate fight scenes. Kudos to anyone who can actually write them!

Shisui appeared for three days straight. Each day he would become a little more clearer and Itachi would get all the more closer to him. By the lake and then by the compound gates. He would appear then vanish as quickly as Itachi had seen him. Always managing to get away before Itachi could reach him. The boy would call teasingly over his shoulder for Itachi to catch him; to find him. Each night he slept Itachi would reach for him, only to find himself awake and blindly reaching in the dark for air. Yet at night, Shisui would be where they left off, beaming at his cousin like everything was right in the world.

"You're nearly there, Itachi." He would assure the boy. "Come fine me!"

"But where?" Itachi would ask and Shisui would answer with that same sad smile.

"Where it ended." He would reply. Itachi would attempt to apologize. To relay his regret over killing Shisui but the youth would just smile and fade away. To where it ended? What did that even mean?

Itachi would awake in a cold sweat, clamping a hand over him mouth so no one could hear him. And while he dreamed of Shisui and the blue man, the man in the mask would always be just behind them with the man in the cloak. Itachi never saw his face, but it felt like they were laughing at him. One night he awoke to his face wet. He wiped at it, wondering he had been crying but the consistency was wrong and the smell of blood was strong, yet as soon as he turned on the lights to check his hands and face, they would be devoid of it.

"You look pale, Itachi-kun." Karin told him the next morning as she pulled his hair into a simple braid. Sasuke watched on from the counter, face impassive but eyes warm as he watched Itachi. Itachi studied his pale hands and closed his eyes.

"I'm fine Karin-san. Thank you."

I'm fine...

"Don't you think you're being a bit over dramatic?" Naruto questioned as Sasuke scowled after Kakashi. The Uchiha turned to his friend looking non pulsed.

"Itachi's thirteen. They shouldn't be hitting on him." He solemnly stated. Naruto made a face.

"True but I don't think Itachi's gonna be too thrilled with you chasing off his ex everyday." It was weird saying that. Uchiha Itachi and Hatake Kakashi dating... Sasuke was not overtly concerned with Naruto's comments. It was heartwarming seeing how devoted Sasuke was now to Itachi. Naruto was certain the suicide attempt had humanized Itachi in Sasuke's eyes. Perhaps he was making up for lost time. Sasuke crossed his arms, shrugging.

Sasuke was now fully integrated back into the fold. He was taking missions, he was training and life was reaching a near peaceful simplicity. Itachi's presence continued to leave him at a loss. This child Itachi was ensnared the Uchiha's heart with such ease it was as if Itachi had never left. But in the back of Sasuke's head, he remembered him. The true Itachi was lurking in the body of this one, just waiting to strike. This only caused Sasuke to feel all the more protective of his sibling. He wanted to preserve what family he still had and he would be damned if that fucking monster touched Itachi.

Each mission he took was in hopes that he would grow stronger and faster. For what he was unsure. To defend this young Itachi or take him down if he ever returned to his true age. He was not naive. This was still Itachi. It just so happened that this Itachi was untouched by the cruelty that ran through the elder's cold veins.

Even now there were times where Sasuke would just look at Itachi in anticipation for the charade to end. The boy he hugged now so easily would prove so breakable. Just a little pressure on his neck and Sasuke's grief and revenge would be over. Itachi trusted him. He would not be able to act in time...but as quickly as those thoughts entered his mind, they vanished just by Itachi offering him a small smile just for him.

This was his brother.

He would protect him.

During the late evening while Itachi slept, Sasuke received the news that Akatsuki members were lurking just beyond the borders. Kakashi had approached Sasuke, face calm but tone harsh. There was really know telling with the Akatsuki. Either they were here to grab Naruto or to reclaim Itachi. Sasuke was not about to let either of those scenarios unfold. A team was quickly gathered to intercept the group before they could get any closer.

Shikamaru and Naruto approached the field. Guy close behind. They surveyed the land. They moved forward and heard a crunch of leaves. Swiftly, Guy lifted his hand halting the teens.

"Wait here." He muttered, thick brows pulled into a deep frown. He lifted a single kunai and crouched low, listening intently to the wind in the grass. He barely breathed. That's when a man approached, walking from the shadows of nearby trees and allowing the moonlight to illuminate off him. Before Naruto could stop him Shikamaru shoved passed Guy, eyes narrowed and teeth bared.

"YOU!" The noise that escaped Shikamaru's throat was almost unhuman as he stared across the clearing at the Jashin. Hidan waved, grin in place.

"Oi! Long time no see kid. How's the sensei?" He asked with a casual air, his grin almost painful looking. Shikamaru made a move towards Hidan but Naruto grabbed his arm halting him. Shikamaru turned to snarl at the blonde before he too noticed Kisame step from the shadows, Samehada casually held aloft.

"My, isn't this sweet? A welcome committee." He jeered studying the group, teeth flashing. His eyes danced around, wondering where Itachi was being held. The bastard younger brother would know doubt know where he was.

With Kisame distracted, Shikaamaru darted forward towards Hidan who lifted his scythe. At the same time, Guy charged towards the Kiri nin, Genma close behind.

Kisame turned sharply fighting off Guy. He heard Hidan course loudly in the distance. Kisame offered Kakashi a sharp grin.

"It's been awhile, Hatake." He jeered watching the Copy nin narrow his eyes. "I'm here for my partner." His grin turned feral at the look that crossed Kakashi's face. He eyed Shikamaru and Genma as they dropped from the treetops. Hidan dodged Naruto's kick with a loud laugh, eyes swiftly moving to Kisame.

"You afraid of the dark Itachi-chan?" Kisame drawled as the pair made their way down a dusty road. The night sky casting them in shadows. Itachi lifted his red eyes and regarded Kisame blankly for a moment. The cloak was huge on him, seeming to swallow the child. Yet he stood with a straight back and an edge of superiority that it was easy to see that this was no waif of a child despite appearances. He looked away from Kisame and kept walking, Kisame annoyed that the brat was continuing to ignore him. His thinly veiled threats and taunts slid off Itachi with ease.

"Are you?" Itachi questioned back, voice blank. Kisame scowled after the kid, gripping Samehada. Of all the people Pein could have paired him with it had to be this scrawny little rat child that looked like a small gust of wind would end him. It was an insult. No doubt Kakuzu was amused by this.

He and Kakuzu had a thing going here...killing off partners and all that fun. They were neck in neck with the amount of partners they had killed. Kisame was more careful however. Leaving his partners in enemy territory or breaking their legs and leaving them behind was his preferred method compared to Kakuzu's blank faced admittance of killing them.

Itachi would be no different.

Kill the brat and go back saying he had been captured...

Easy...

Kisame suddenly chuckled when Sasuke approached, hand on his katana, his expression cold. These Uchiha brothers...

"Ahh," Kisame sneered. "Just the man I wanted to see." he watched Sasuke's grip tighten. His eyes were activated and followed Kisame's every move. "I need your brother. Could you pretty please return him?" Kisame asked mockingly. Sasuke lunged forward, katana flashing through the air, but Kisame evaded it. They parried for a moment, Kisame looking highly amused.

Back at the compound Itachi awoke to the man in the mask.

Not the projection of him but the real physical man. He was crouched by the window, staring in at Itachi.

"Neh, Itachi-san...you don't know me yet." The masked man greeted while Itachi was quick to activate his eyes. The masked man cocked his head, seemingly amused.

"Who are you?" Itachi asked, reaching for a kunai. The masked man held out a hand dramatically.

"I am Tobi. And I want to help you remember." He declared and they boy stared at the hand but did not take it. He looked back towards the man, noting the single Sharingan glaring at him. He carefully stepped towards the door.

"Help me? Why?" He asked, voice low as if afraid of waking someone. Silly boy.

"Oh, Itachi..." Tobi sighed. "What's family for." He regarded Itachi closely and the boy fought not to flee the room. He was still a Shinobi. No matter the crawling sensation he felt in this man's presence. He lifted his chin, still weighing his options.

So he was related to this man...but had he not killed the Uchiha? He breathed evenly weighing his options. Tobi leaned against the window.

"You brother is going into a battle he cannot win. You can end it." Itachi shot forward at this.

"He's fighting? Who?"

"Your old teammates are here to claim you. One of them in particular will be fighting for you." Tobi began to examine his nails. "It would be best if you intervened. Your brother is hot headed. He may be hurt and we wouldn't want that..." He watched as Itachi swiftly headed for the door and laughed. He leaped to his feet and followed Itachi.

"Itachi-san!" He called out and the boy stopped and faced him. "One more thing..."

Sasuke leaped over the Samehada as it came tearing down at him. He swung his katana, Kisame narrowly avoiding having his face cut. Behind him Sasuke could hear Naruto, Shikamaru and Hidan battling. Kakashi and Guy were taking on Zetsu who seemed almost bored with the whole affair.

Naruto fell back from a hit to the ribs from the Kiri nin. This followed by a second strike and Naruto cried out as a rib cracked under the brutal attack. Genma charged at Kisame, throwing two blades before disappearing and popping up behind the man. Kisame however was just as quick.

Kisame landed a hard kick on Genma, sending the man flying. Genma fell back, landing hard. Kisame gave him no chance to recover and lunged forward, Samehada raised. Before Kisame could land the blow a kunai zipped through the night air and pierced the Kiri nin's shoulder.

Kisame swiftly yanked back, hand gripping the kunai buried in the back of his shoulder. He wrenched it from his flesh and tossed it aside and raised Samehada to strike down whoever managed to hit him. He brought down his weapon just as he turned, eyes widening at the sight before him. Red eyes glowed in the night and stared coldly at the Kiri nin. The thin body stood prepared to strike again. Kisame adored Samehada. That was more than a weapon. It was an extension of himself. He prized it above all else. Except one thing...without a second thought he flung Samehada away before it could strike Itachi Uchiha, not sparing it a glance as it struck the ground.

For that one thing was standing before him.

Kisame and Itachi are reunited!