Warning: Sasuke has a potty mouth...again.
Thanks for all the love!
Sunlight peeked through a thicket of leaves as raindrops fell heavily onto the grass below. In a tree, sat Kakashi who watched the raindrops silently. Just below him and within his sights, lay Itachi. Kakashi had finally managed to convince Itachi to get some rest. Itachi lay curled beneath a scratchy blanket under a tree, his face tucked inwards as he had some desperately needed sleep. Kakashi was vigilant as ever. Pakkun rested at his side, snoring softly. When Kakashi felt the all too familiar chakra approach he had relaxed, arms crossed and waiting.
Sasuke did not make him wait long. The boy was wounded, and dirty. But he was alive. Gloriously so. He approached the camp Kakashi had set up and watched as the man leaped from the tree to greet him. There were shadow's under the boy's eyes but he nodded at Kakashi's silent question.
"It's done."
The Copy nin glanced over his shoulder to where Itachi slept and Sasuke followed his eyes. His expression shifting from exhaustion to trepidation. Kakashi caught the shift and offered the Uchiha a lazy salute, backing away from the brothers.
"I'll give you two some privacy." He stated calmly. Pakkun was quick to follow the man, allowing Sasuke privacy. Sasuke stood, unsure of how to approach Itachi. He shifted, leaning all his weight on one foot as he watched his sleeping sibling. Slowly he approached, setting his bloody katana aside and quickly checking himself over and wiping away as much blood as he could. The pain in his side was intense but he ignored it. The Uchiha knelt in the damp grass next to Itachi, reluctant to wake him. Finally, Sasuke reached his arm forward and lightly touched Itachi's shoulder.
"Aniki." He called out, giving a light shake. It did not take much for Itachi to awaken. He opened his eyes blearily and looked up at Sasuke.
"Otouto." He managed softly and Sasuke's lips curved at the corners.
"Hey." He greeted and Itachi shot up, throwing his arms around his brother's shoulders as Sasuke blinked in surprise. He recovered quickly however and wrapped his arms around the smaller boy, burying his face into Itachi's neck and clenched his eyes shut. For several minutes they sat in complete silence, clinging to each other as if their very lives depended on it. Finally, Itachi broke the silence with a little pained sigh.
"You came back." Itachi croaked and Sasuke tightened his hold for a long moment.
"Of course I did." He replied softly.
Shisui never did.
Sasuke pulled away from his brother to offer him a weak smile. He reached forward and brushed Itachi's from his face, brushing a strand behind his ear. Itachi searched Sasuke's face, his eyes dark and knowing.
"He's dead."
"Yes."
Thin fingers trailed down Sasuke's wounded cheek as Itachi began to inspect him with concern. Sasuke allowed Itachi's gentle ministrations, enjoying the kindness in the touch. Itachi's fingertips glided over harsh bruises, his eyes observing scrapes and cuts. Finally he focused on a deep gash in Sasuke's side and his brows furrowed in dismay.
"You're hurt."
"You should see the other guy." Sasuke offered Itachi a weak grin and the boy blinked, unimpressed. He lifted Sasuke's shirt and looked at the wound, holding down a wince at seeing how deep it was. He briefly pulled away to go through the medic bag Kakashi had left him. He found some antiseptic and some clear gauze.
"Come here." Itachi instructed for Sasuke to lay back and Sasuke knew better than to say no to that tone. He lay back and Itachi lightly pulled his shirt up, out of his way.
"I am no medic nin, but I can try to patch you up at least." Itachi's fingers were gentle on his skin, brushing lightly over the bruises and wiping the salve over his wounds. Sasuke relaxed under Itachi's touch, staring up at the sky as his brother worked.
"He raped you." He finally murmured and Itachi stilled for a moment before quickly returning to his work.
"Yes." Was the only reply Sasuke received and the teen frowned.
"You let him." He stated, as Itachi began to wrap the gauze. Itachi did not reply, preoccupied with wrapping the wound. Finally Sasuke reached forward and grasped Itachi's wrist, halting him.
"We need to talk about this."
"We really don't." Itachi replied coldly, his eyes refusing to meet Sasuke's. The spiky haired boy clenched his teeth in frustration.
"Itachi, he admitted to have raped you several times in the past and even the last few months. Why didn't you say anything?" His grip on Itachi loosened slightly and the younger boy pulled away.
"I thought I had made it pretty clear that whatever happens to me is of no consequence. You're all set." Itachi pulled Sasuke's shirt back down and the older boy bared his teeth in frustration.
"Itachi-"
"Kakashi has some medicine in the pack. I suggest taking one and getting some sleep. We're going to bring you to a healer tomorrow."
"Itachi..." He trailed off as Itachi stood, his face expressionless. He turned, walking away from his brother.
"I have a pallet already set up for you. I suggest you get some rest. If the bandages are uncomfortable at all-"
"ITACHI!" Sasuke barked. Itachi stopped walking, back tense. The boy struggled to his feet and moved towards Itachi who did not move.
"Yes?" Itachi's voice was far too calm and collected. It was like the months leading up to the massacre. Itachi was in pain and trying to shut Sasuke out. Sasuke was not a child anymore. He would fight Itachi this time.
"Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"That! Acting all cold and distant! It's bullshit!"
"How should I act than, Sasuke?" Itachi was still not facing Sasuke. The boy grit his teeth in frustration.
"What did you want me to do!? That asshole ruined everything! He killed our family! HE raped you! You! Thirteen years old and more level headed and understanding than any adult! And he had the fucking nerve...the audacity to brag about it!?"
"You had no right t-"
"I had every right. Why are you pinning this all on me!?" Itachi whirled around, starling Sasuke.
"You drugged me!" Itachi hissed. "You drugged and left me, so you could go play hero! I lay on that pallet for hours, Sasuke! You made me powerless!"
"You weren't going to do anything! You were going to let him win!'
"Dan-"
"DO NOT SPEAK HIS NAME! HE IS NOTHING NOW! I MADE SURE OF IT! I MADE SURE THAT THERE WOULD BE NOTHING RECOGNIZABLE ABOUT THAT PIECE OF SHIT! IF I COULD, I WOULD DO IT AGAIN! I WOULD MAKE HIM REGRET HAVING EVER LAID HIS FUCKING HANDS ON YOUR BODY! I WOULD HAVE KILLED THE CLAN MYSELF IF THAT MEANT PROTECTING YOU FROM HIM!" Sasuke screamed and watched the stricken expression that spread across Itachi's face. Instantly all the fight left Sasuke and he reached for Itachi who did not move. The indecision ate at Sasuke and his fingers strained forward.
"Aniki, please..." The boy pleaded, voice raw. "I can't do this without you. I need you Aniki...please don't shut me out again." At this desperate plea Itachi lunged forward into Sasuke's arms. Sasuke grasped Itachi against him and held him desperately, his shoulders quaking. He could feel Itachi's fingers stroking his hair, softly comforting him and it only served to make Sasuke cry harder. It was as if all the frustrations from the last few days...from the last few months with Itachi as a child had come back full force and Sasuke could not handle it.
Six months ago if someone had told Sasuke he would be crying into a thirteen year old Itachi's neck as Itachi comforted him,Sasuke would have scoffed. And probably killed them for saying Sasuke would cry and mention Itachi's name in his presence. He allowed Itachi to lay him on the pallet. Boneless as once again his brother took care of him. He tended to his wounds and draped the blanket over his shoulders, brushing his hair from his face. When Itachi had gone to move back, Sasuke had grabbed his thin wrist, halting him.
"Father knew?" The spiky haired Uchiha croaked. Itachi watched him for a long moment.
"Yes."
Sasuke wanted to deny it. To call Itachi a liar. To claim that father would never do such a thing. That he loved his sons. But how could he? How could he call Itachi out when Sasuke knew in his heart that it was true.
"Why?"
"He...I suppose he must have caught on at some point. But he asked me if I was being...touched and I told him the truth. I don't know why I bothered but...I could see in his eyes that he was upset. Yet...he did nothing to stop it. He told me to keep doing what I was doing and that it would all be worth it in the end. He probably had hopes that once the Uchiha were in power he would be able to take direct revenge again Shimura but..." Itachi was careful to avoid saying Danzō's name, Sasuke watched him in exhaustion and pain.
"I would have stopped it."
"Hm?" Itachi's brows furrowed.
"I would have found a way. If I was dad I would have gone right to the fucker's office and cut his dick off and shoved it up his ass."
Itachi smiled at this and bumped his forehead against Sasuke's.
"I have no doubt about that." Sasuke smiled at this sleepily. He closed his eyes, bidding Itachi goodnight as the other boy crawled to the other pallet and began to set it up. He was asleep before Itachi reached it.
Itachi sat down before the fire, smiling as Sasuke's breathing evened out. He closed his eyes, enjoying the glow and warmth on his chilled skin. He did not move at the approaching footsteps, recognizing them with ease. Instead he released a light hum.
"Sempai." Itachi greeted softly and he heard the man shuffle behind him, moving to kneel at his side.
"Yo." Kakashi offered Itachi a tender smile which the boy slowly returned.
"You did well with him" Itachi murmured, head inclining towards Sasuke's slumbering form. Kakashi blinked in surprise and looked towards Sasuke for a quick moment, looking proud of the teen.
"I wish I could have done more." He replied and stilled when he felt Itachi's fingers reach out to stroke his face.
"You did Sempai."
Kakashi's own hand closed over Itachi's as he brought it to his covered mouth, kissing it through the fabric. The two sat before the fire and did not speak again. The silence of the trees and the crackle of the fire offering the only ambiance to the peaceful serenity that existed between the two.
Madara drummed his fingers on the desk in front of him as he stared pointedly at Obito. The younger man's arms were crossed over his chest, his head tilted as he awaited Madara to speak. The elder Uchiha breathed sharply through his nose, his eyes narrowed.
"Konan is dead. Nagato is dead. Hidan is no where to be found at the moment and we only have Zetsu active. The Akatsuki have effectively splintered. We are hanging on by a thread my boy. And you waltz in here claiming that some crazed spy of ours wants one of my potential candidates as well as my protege."
"He wants Sasuke. I'm certain Itachi would just be used to ensure his compliance." Obito replied with a shrug. Madara scoffed at this and stood, walking around the destroyed room with his hands clasped behind his back.
"I have my own plans for Itachi." He replied stiffly and Obito watched him closely.
"You intend to keep him this age." He finally spoke, voice surprised. Madara glanced at his student over his shoulder his lips curved into a amused smile.
"Yes."
"Why? It'll take years for him to reach the strength he was at prior." Obito asked, obviously confused to his sensei's reasoning.
"Have you looked at the child?" Madara drawled and Obito frowned, slowly removing his mask so he could stare at the elder properly. Madara's own gaze moved over Obito's distorted features placidly.
"What?"
"His skin." The elder supplied and Obito blinked.
"What about it?" He questioned, feeling suddenly like this conversation was taking an awkward turn.
"It is a marvel. It's young and supple. He breathes well. His eyesight is sharp. He is healthy Obito. Once he reaches eighteen however...that begins to deteriorate. Unless we keep him healthy." Madara's voice was bored but his eyes were alight with ambition. He had such ambitions for Itachi. But once Itachi got sick he had to restructure his whole system. Now Itachi was healthy again. And now he had an equally healthy brother who was brimming with rage and pain that Madara could use. Obito shook his head.
"You think that you can keep Itachi from catching that illness again." He muttered bitterly. "It won't matter. Just like with his memories returning. Eventually he will wake up one day and his lungs will start hurting and his eyesight will be hazy." He could recall the early days of the illness. How his skin lost what little color it possessed. how he began to lose weight, unable to keep food down. Kisame had been so worried...Obito had instructed Zetsu to keep Itachi's medication on hand but it progressed. It ate away at Itachi. Then his eyesight began to go...
That poor boy.
This wasn't however Madara being protective over Itachi. This was possession. Itachi was his. Obito was his. He could not have his protegees getting sick and dying on him. Itachi had always been the rebellious one... Either way...the Uchiha brother's might have faced one hurdle, but they had another one swiftly approaching, and it seemed Kabuto wanted to go along for the ride.
"Have you heard?" The sky was a bright blue. The sun was shining and Konoha seemed to have life breathed back into it.
"About Tsunade? Yeah, I can't believe she's up and moving already." Kurenai moved down the stairs, brushing her long hair aside. Genma laughed at her side.
"That woman's already making plans. Guy and Yamato went to her about what happened with Itachi and Danzō." Genma moved the senbon out of his mouth and Kurenai's lips thinned as she recalled what Hinata had told her. That poor boy. How was Kakashi handling the news?
"She must have been furious." Kurenai mused and Genma nodded.
"Oh she was. But she's been researching too. On whatever jutsu hit Itachi. She thinks she may have a way to bring him back to his original age."
"Go on." Kurenai prompted the man who blinked up at the sky.
"That's all. But she'll discuss it with him and Sasuke when they get back to the village." Kurenai smiled at this.
"It'll be good to have Itachi back again. He was such a sweet boy." She mused. Perhaps Itachi could finally find the peace he had adored so much.