Kisame sensed the chakra flow before the others noticed. He turned and moved towards where Itachi was waiting. Itachi had situated himself on some of Madara's equipment, his knees crossed, he did not look up as Kisame approached and the Kiri nin fought down a chuckle. He stood at the Uchiha's side arms crossed.
"I thought Madara forbade you from being here." He began slowly and Itachi inspected his nails in disinterest.
"He did." The Uchiha drawled, flicking imaginary dirt away. The Kiri nin leaned back, head tilted to the ceiling of the cavern.
"And you followed anyway." Kisame's lips quirked and Itachi nodded.
"Naturally." Itachi offered and Kisame rubbed the back of his head absently. His conflicting emotions were once again at war. Either obey the order given to him or stand at Itachi's side as he had always done before.
"It's dangerous for you to be here, Itachi-san." Kisame muttered and Itachi rolled his eyes. "Why are you here?" He asked and Itachi pushed off the wall, slowly moving towards the entrance of the hideout. He stood, arms crossed and quiet for a long moment.
"Kabuto and Madara have begun to move out. How long do you really think you can keep those Konoha Shinobi fooled?" Itachi asked lightly and Kisame's brows rose in surprise.
"Oh, so you can sense them too." His voice ducked into a slight whisper and Itachi nodded, tilting his head to the side, thoughtfully.
"Yes…faintly…I cannot discern who they are, however." Kisame watched Itachi, noting the dark circles under his eyes. Once again, worry tugged at Kisame's chest. Itachi was wasting away. He had his good days. This obviously being one of them, but they were becoming less and less apparent.
"You have your medication?" Kisame questioned gruffly and Itachi reached into his knapsack, pulling out his medical kit. The Uchiha pat it, long fingers drumming on the cloth package. Itachi inclined his head, lips tilting up slightly.
"Does anyone else know I'm here?" He asked and Kisame shook his head.
"No one's noticed your chakra yet. Which means you can get away before anyone does." As he spoke Itachi turned his head, lips pulled into a tight line. Kisame watched him in concern when finally Itachi looked Kisame in the eye, a weak smile being offered.
"It seems you have company Kisame..." He murmured. "I will allow you to greet them." Kisame grinned as Itachi vanished into the air. With a shake of his head, Kisame slowly turning on his heel and walking towards his teammates. He motioned to Kakuzu who tilted his head but did not move his position. The others continued on as normal, Deidara's lips curving into a slight grin of anticipation. Kisame moved to stand by Sasori.
"You sense them." He stated. It was not a question.
"Yes." The red head hummed, his eyes void of emotion. Deidara cursed as he dropped one of the canteens he had been looking for. He scooped it up.
"Being dead makes it much easier being in the cold like this, un." He glanced to Hidan who was wearing his normal uniform with his chest bare. Hidan leered at the blonde, running a single finger down his chest.
"You staring at my breasts Dei-chan?" He mocked gasped, gripping his chest tightly while Deidara stuck out his tongue.
"Eww, fuck off!"
"My my, what language!"
"Just like old times, eh Kakuzu?" Kisame offered the miser a grin and the man grunted.
"Let's just get this over with." He replied and Kisame clicked his tongue and grinned. He glanced around Madara's mountain top armory. It had been a surprisingly easy job. Acting as a distraction as Kabuto and Madara worked their magic. War was coming, despite Itachi's hopes and if Kisame was still the living breathing man he had been, it would upset him knowing that Itachi's sacrifices had been in vain. But his thoughts were not his own anymore. He now served Kabuto, and Itachi could no longer mean anything to him.
"Well, then let's give them a proper greeting." He suggested.
From their hiding place, the Konoha nin watched the group with a critical expression.
"What do they have here that's so important?" Sai asked softly and Aoba leaned back on the ledge, his fingers chilled.
"It's enough to have guard up." Yamato murmured. "It could be a hideout or have something he needs."
"If Madara has been lurking here for all these years he could have made an arsenal out of this place." Genma muttered and Yamato nodded in agreement. Kakashi's gaze narrowed and he reached into his weapon pouch.
"Either way, we need to put a stop to whatever they're planning." He heard Sakura murmur. When had she stopped being that silly little girl? It was not the time for Kakashi to feel nostalgic, but here it was.
"Move now." Kakashi hissed and the group sprung into action. Sakura racing ahead, chakra flowing from her closed fist while Aoba and Sasuke followed close behind. It seemed that the Akatsuki were awaiting the attack, two raced off in opposite directions while Deidara took for the air. Sai watched him go, yanking out a scroll as he raced forward.
The next moment, Kakashi turned, blocking a thrown blade from a familiar blue skinned Kiri nin.
"Kisame..." Kakashi breathed. Kisame inclined his head in greeting. His small eyes were off. As if the whites had been sucked out and replaced with a pitch darkness.
"Long time no see, Hatake."
So it was true. Kakashi finally allowed himself to look at his adversaries. There stood Deidara and Sasori. Once dead, they were now standing before them. Not clones. Their eyes were all black, save Hidan.
Hidan quickly clashed with Genma, his scythe swinging haphazardly. He was the only one who did not possess the black eyes of the resurrected group. His movements were also more fluid than his counterparts. Genma swiftly backed away from the Jashinist, bouncing off the snow with quick grace.
Hidan scowled, swinging his scythe forward only for Yamato to interfere, driving the silver haired man back. The zealot cursed, tripping over his own feet and Kakuzu snickered.
"Getting slow, Hidan." Kakuzu called out to his companion. "Were you buried for too long for oxygen to reach your brain?"
"Bastard!" Hidan grinned at Kakuzu. Sasaori rolled his eyes, glancing up and watching as Deidara flew overhead, obviously uninterested in getting involved with the battle. Or maybe because he was still bitter towards the Uchiha brat.
Yamato performed a seal, his eyebrows low. Wood burst from the ground below, knocking Kakuzu backwards. Sasori huffed, eyes landing on Sakura. Sakura's own eyes narrowed at the puppet, shifting her weight slightly.
Before anyone could move forward, Kisame burst through the rock wall, knocking Sakura back. Even without Samehada, Kisame was a force to be reckoned with. His hands just as much of a weapon. He eyed the group with his eerie gaze before standing straight, lips curving into a grin.
"Okay, boys I think our work here is done." He jeered, black eyes dancing in glee.
Kisame nodded once at Kakuzu who performed a hand seal and immediately rest of the Akatsuki were gone in a puff of smoke.
"THEY'RE CLONES!" Aoba cried out and dread filled Kakashi's chest. These clones were obviously meant to distract them. So where were they really? With the clones now gone, only two chakra signatures remained. One was flickering as if extremely weak.
"Target the stronger chakra source!" Kakashi ordered. That source was certainly Kisame. Sakura moved forward, her eyes narrowed as the chakra came closer.
"He's close." She called out.
"Not too smart are you Hatake?" Kisame's voice mocked from above. "You're all like dogs going after a bone. You don't even stop to consider what exactly you are even attacking."
"And what exactly would that be?" Kakashi asked and Kisame opened his mouth to reply, but before he could black flames erupted from the base of the hideout. A loud roar echoed through the mountain side, like high pitched screaming. The hideout was engulfed in black flame. Where the nin currently stood, they were safe from danger, but down below was pure chaos.
The flames ate away at several storage containers, eating the wooden crates and whatever contents they once nin stood in shock, staring as the hideout was reduced to ash. Soon the last of the black flames vanished into the air, leaving a heavy silence behind. Kisame shook his head slowly, expression suddenly furious.
"Dammit Itachi." He muttered and heads quickly whipped around to him. Kakashi's eyes widened. Had he heard that correctly?
"Itachi's here?" Naruto called out and Kisame scowled at the blonde.
"Of course he is. He gets ordered to stay behind and he sneaks through anyway. Never listens to orders…brat's going to get himself killed." Kisame's voice trailed off and Naruto glanced quickly towards Sasuke who had given no visual reaction to the news. Kisame shook his head, his expression pinched.
"In any event, if Itachi did what I think he did then my mission here has failed. Which means you all need to disappear." The Kiri nin performed a jutsu and the ground under the other shinobi began to crack. "Nothing personal, kay?" Kisame jeered and instantly the floor began to collapse. Aoba fell back with a cry of shock, the ground under him collapsing.
"Move, Aoba!" Sakura screamed, she lunged forward and pushed the man aside, both scampering away from the unstable ground.
"Shit."
The mountain rumbled. Sakura stumbled back to her feet, her knees bloody. Genma glanced down nervously.
"Guys..." He began, and Sai turned his head in dread as the snow surrounding them began to fall forward. Kisame had caused an avalanche. He was intending to either bury them all alive or buy himself enough time to escape.
"GO!" The snow began to collapse around them. Sai, Kakashi and Genma to the right. Sakura, Sasuke and Aoba to the left.
Naruto leaped forward through the crevice and the snow burst behind him. The force of the snow had the blonde reeling, falling face first and skidding painfully through the tunnel. He face planted in an ungraceful heap, releasing a groan. He sat up, wiping the snow off himself and struggled to his feet.
"Guys!" He called out. "Sasuke!?"
No answer.
The silence was heavy and thick. With a grumble, Naruto glanced around the cavern he had run into. He could see a path ahead, which meant that he could still make it out and find everyone. The blonde took off quickly, air puffing ahead of him. The walls of the cavern were very stable as if carved.
Twice Naruto nearly slipped on the icy ground, groping for the wall for support. Naruto turned the corner and swiftly collided with another person. He fell back, stumbling over his own feet and gripped onto the stone wall to stop his fall. His palm bled freely and Naruto released a yelp, lifting his head to see who ran into him. He opened his mouth to apologize, wiping the blood away.
"Hey, are you-" Naruto's breath caught in his throat as he came face to face with not Sakura or possibly Sai as he had thought. It seemed Kisame had been correct. Uchiha Itachi stood in front of him.
Itachi stared back with an expression equally as shocked. His hair was out of its normal ponytail and was in a disarray around his face.
The blonde haired boy moved forward, fingers tense as if to grab for Itachi but he quickly lowered his hand, face suddenly deeply confused as he stared at Sasuke's missing brother. It was then that he noticed the differences in him. Itachi's face was sharper, baby fat cut away. His hair longer and he stood taller. He would not have grown that much in the five months since Naruto had seen him. Itachi was no longer that thirteen year old boy. Staring at him now was the man that he would eventually become.
"Hi." Naruto greeted once he found his voice. Itachi inclined his head.
"Naruto-kun."
"You've aged." Naruto noted and Itachi nodded once.
"Yes."
"When?" Naruto silently cursed at how high pitched his voice came out. He had not expected this. Itachi, suddenly returned to his former glory. Yet he looked washed out, far too thin and more delicate now than he had looked at thirteen. As if a strong gust of wind would send him toppling down.
"Shortly after I arrived at the base." Itachi offered quietly. Naruto continued to look him over, noting numbly that even with the height Itachi had gained, it made no difference. Naruto now stood nose to nose with him. And he still had growing to do. Meaning that Sasuke would now be taller than his brother. Naruto's heart ached at how Sasuke would react. He wondered if Itachi knew Sasuke was here.
"Why are you here?" He asked instead. "Are you helping the Akatsuki?" His lips pulled into a worried frown and Itachi shook his head.
"No, I was not supposed to be here for fear I would tamper with their weapons."
"Which you did." The boy noted, his lips twitching.
"Oh, yes. I'm sorry about that. No one was hurt were they?" Itachi's brows furrowed. Naruto nearly laughed at this, but shook his head.
"Nah, just all the weapons." He replied. It was just like Itachi to worry like this and it gave Naruto comfort. Itachi might be back to his actual age but he was still very much the soft-spoken worrywart Naruto had come to care for. Itachi nodded, expression softening. He glanced down the tunnel and sighed.
"Sasuke was really upset that you left." He muttered and Itachi's expression did not waver.
"I do not doubt that he was." He replied carefully and Naruto stared at him, gauging his reaction but finding nothing. Adult Itachi was better at hiding himself. Yet, Naruto guessed that after nearly a decade of having no choice but to hide who you really were, anyone would be good at it.
"Yet you ran anyway." Naruto's voice was bitter and he could not bring himself to care.
"I did not wish to."
"Then why!?" Naruto snapped, voice echoed through the cavern. "Why run if you knew it would hurt him?"
"What do you wish me to say Naruto? That I regret running? That I should have just stayed and pretended the last nine years never occurred? That Sasuke and I could play make believe and continue through our lives even though my hands were soaked with the blood of our kin? I love my brother more than anything in this world and leaving him again was the most painful thing I I had to do. But I had to. I killed them all, Naruto. I slaughtered our whole family and there is no coming back from that. I ran the first time so that our family's honor would remain intact. I could not stay and pretend that everything was going to be fine when the grounds of the Uchiha district are soaked with blood. Sasuke clung to me because I was a child and offered him the familial support he had lost because of my actions. I am not the person he needs, Naruto. I am the reason he was so lost and angry. I fed his fire and could not even do our clan honor and die by Sasuke's hand. The least I could do was suck the poison that my presence was out of his life and give him the chance to live his life without my shadow."
Itachi's voice did not raise, but Naruto could see in Itachi's eyes how much this affected him. The blonde gulped. He had never heard Itachi speak that much before.
"You're wrong, Itachi." He finally managed, voice wavering. "You don't even realize how much you mean to him. To me. You became my friend and knowing that you ran away was just as painful as when Sasuke ran. Believe it." He reached for the Uchiha, taking an icy hand into his grip. The hand was so frail in Naruto's own, bones protruding. Was Itachi even eating?
"Come home, Itachi. Sasuke needs you. Kakashi misses you." Itachi's gaze softened at these words and he looked at their joined hands. Naruto's hand was warm and Itachi loathed to break the boy's heart. He gave it a gentle squeeze and smile fondly at the teen.
"You've been wonderful to my brother, Naruto-kun. I am glad he has you in his life." He spoke softly and Naruto slowly grinned, eyes dancing.
"Try telling the Teme that." He replied and Itachi smiled slightly. The Uchiha took a step back, his expression returning to its normal state.
"I should leave before Madara gets here. He will be displeased."
"You destroyed his hideout. That takes guts." Naruto mused, smilingly slightly and Itachi nodded. He turned his head down the path, brows furrowing.
"Your friends should be close by. Be safe, Naruto."
"Wait-" Naruto barely got the word out before Itachi burst into a flock of crows and flew down the tunnel and out of sight. Naruto slowly shook his head in frustration.
"Uchihas…"
Kakashi helped Yamato to his feet, watching as Sakura brushed snow off herself. They were all accounted for…except Naruto. Kakashi glanced around nervously for his student.
"Missing someone Hatake?" Kisame called out, obviously amused by the situation. He was standing on a ledge of the cliff, looking all too comfortable with himself, despite the avalanche that he had caused.
"Where's your little partner, Hoshigaki?" Kakashi muttered back. Genma shared a dubious glance with Yamato. Kakashi was obviously still bitter.
"If he knows what's good for him, he'll run before Madara gets his hands on him." Kisame leered at Kakashi, eyes narrowed. Sasuke stared at the Kiri nin in silence, ignoring the worried glances Sakura was throwing him.
"What about you? You failed whatever you were ordered to do."
"But you were distracted long enough for Madara to move out." Kisame shrugged carelessly. "I'd call that a win."
The sound of crows cawing had them all looking up and watching as the crows landed and reformed into Itachi. The Uchiha did not spare the Konoha nin a glance, eyes on Kisame who narrowed his own in displeasure.
"Madara is not going to be happy with you." He noted and Itachi shrugged carelessly.
"I suppose he should be used to disappointments by now." Itachi offered softly.
"You destroyed his base."
"You noticed." Itachi inclined his head and Genma snorted earning a scowl from Yamato.
Sai felt Naruto approach and turned in his direction. The blonde's hair was disheveled and he did not spare Sai a glance, rushing to Sasuke's side. Kakashi and Sasuke were silently staring at Itachi. Kakashi's fingers clenched and unclenched, obviously distressed.
"Itachi!" Kakashi cried out and Itachi turned slowly. He stared at the Copy nin in tense silence while Kakashi gaped in realization that Itachi was returned to his normal age. Sasuke grit his teeth as he noticed this, fighting the urge to call out to him.
"Itachi, come on!" Kisame shouted. "Madara's going to show up any minute!" Itachi glanced from Kakashi to Kisame, eyes narrowed.
"Go without me." Itachi replied and Kisame released an exasperated groan.
"He's going to come after you, have your heart to heart later! Kabuto's waiting."
"I don't recall following Kabuto's orders, or is there something I missed?"
"ITACHI!" The Uchiha turned swiftly facing Kisame. His eyes held a cold hostility that did not look right.
"Go scurry back to your master, I will join shortly." Itachi callously sneered and Kisame stared for a long moment before nodding once. His eyes were cold as he stared at the Uchiha.
"Fine." He muttered and with a quick hand sign, vanished in a cloud of smoke. Itachi did not spare the smoke a second glance and looked back towards the Konoha nin.
"So you ran back to the Akatsuki." Kakashi mused and Itachi glanced towards him.
"Naturally." He offered, voice low. Sasuke shoved past Aoba and stared at Itachi.
"You're an adult again." He stated, his tone suddenly angry. Itachi's eyes moved towards his brother, studying him for a long moment before nodding.
"I am." He replied. Itachi regarded his brother with a cold expression that was matched by his brother's. He reached into the knapsack around his shoulder and pulled out a scroll, tossing it to Kakashi. "These are all the bases Madara and Kabuto have set up."
Kakashi caught the scroll and nodded his thanks, pocketing them. Naruto stared at the Uchiha hopefully.
"Why are you even with them, if you're working against them?" He asked and Itachi brushed his hair from his face. He had not expected to be so shaken by seeing Sasuke and Kakashi again. He had hoped to avoid this.
"Tobi has made it very clear that despite my obvious…distaste for their methods and their group in general, that it would be in my best interest to stay with them."
"But you're not loyal, why stay?" Sakura asked. Itachi did not want to mention the necklace that Tobi had given him that symblized Sasuke's true feelings for him or how he had tried to run only to be caught again. How he did not have the strength to survive on his own. How he was dying slowly and did not wish Sasuke to witness it. Instead he shrugged, forcing himself to remain calm. The pain in his chest pulsing, and his throat itched to release a cough.
"They believe differently. And in any event it is useful to know what exactly they are planning."
"Not Kisame. He thinks they're onto you." Genma pointed out. Itachi nodded.
"Kisame seems to believe that Madara is aware of my actions. I have clones set up and as far as he's aware, I am still at the hideout." Itachi was not actually allowed out of the hideout, because of his illness.
"Kisame seems to think that Madara knows." Yamato replied and Itachi shrugged.
"Perhaps he has discovered my actions. I think he's been expecting them for sometime now." He gracefully made his way down the snowy slope, seeming to glide over the snow. Kakashi moved forward without thinking, approaching Itachi in a slight daze. Itachi did not allow Kakashi to get any closer, his footsteps careful.
"You seemed a little hostile with your partner over there." Kakashi hummed, hands stuffed in his pockets. He was attempting to keep casual, even though his heart was racing wildly. Itachi shook his head, eyes narrowed.
"Kisame is dead. That is simply his corpse masquerading about." His voice was calm, but Kakashi could see how these words upset him.
"A bit harsh don't you think?" Aoba muttered and Itachi glanced towards him.
"Perhaps." He replied, but the truth was always harsh. He had come to accept that the man he had loved was dead, and even if this Kisame looked and acted like and thought he was that Kisame, he was his ghost. Itachi's Kisame was dead because of him.
"You're still working for Konoha?" Kakashi asked softly. The Uchiha's eyes moved to Kakashi, his lips managing a weak smile.
"Of course." He looked around the snowy mountain caps with a tired expression. His breath puffed in the air.
"There is something you need to know, Kakashi. About Tobi." He looked back towards the Copy nin.
"What?" Kakashi's brows furrowed. Itachi handed Kakashi another scroll, their fingers brushing. A bolt of electricity passed between them. The two met each other's eyes for a long moment, before Itachi quickly looked away.
"I do not know how to say it, but all the information on him is in that scroll. He does not want you to know and he will be furious when he learns what I've done. Please keep it safe." Kakashi met Itachi's gaze, his eyes widening at the sight of Itachi's glazed eyes.
"You-" Itachi realized what Kakashi was going to say and quickly cut him off.
"War is coming. Madara and Tobi are moving towards Konoha." Kakashi blinked, momentarily distracted.
"Help us stop them." He managed weakly. Itachi closed his eyes, expression suddenly torn.
"So the Akatsuki clones were what? A diversion?" Genma asked in confusion and Itachi nodded.
"They needed Sasuke and Naruto out of the way. Sasuke refused their offer, but they don't want him killed if there is a chance he may change his mind. Naruto is also a target."
"And you were planning on cutting off their weapon supply?"
"That was the plan. The avalanche was a surprise." Itachi replied softly. Sasuke scoffed. He did not want Itachi here. He had spent five months getting over Itachi's actions and now seeing him was already sending him over the edge. He wasn't sure if he wanted to hug Itachi or strangle him.
"We don't need this. We did what we had to do. You've given us nothing. Go crawl back to Madara." Sasuke sneered and Itachi inclined his head slightly, lips curved into a humorless smile. His eyes lingered on his brother, taking in how much he had grown in their months apart. His little brother was not so little anymore. Sasuke was quickly becoming a man. His hands shook and he kept them tucked by his side. He had to leave now, before his will broke.
"Be wary of the next few days. They are coming. Goodbye, Sasuke." Itachi stated calmly and turned.
"Wait!" Naruto cried out, stepping forward. He ignored Sasuke's snarl to shut up as he stumbled towards Itachi. "Come with us!"
Itachi did not turn. He closed his eyes tightly, huffing a light breath as the cold air nipped at his nose.
"I cannot." He finally spoke. His voice was surprisingly unaffected despite how shaken he truly felt.
"We need your help. You know what they're planning." Sakura spoke up. She came to stand at Naruto's side. Her jade eyes were imploring and Itachi loathed to turn his back on his brother's teammates.
"Which is exactly why I must stay with them." Itachi murmured.
"And if Madara knows what you've been doing? He'll catch on eventually. What will you do when he comes for you?" Aoba asked.
"I run." Itachi responded and Sasuke let out a bark of laughter.
"You've always been so good at that." He sneered and his brother did not respond. He closed his eyes and took for the air. He landed back on the ledge and turned to study his brother.
"Stay safe, Sasuke." He breathed and Sasuke moved forward, shoving past Sakura and Naruto.
"Fuck you, Itachi. Run away like you always do! You're nothing but a fucking coward! Didn't dad ask you to protect me? Wasn't that his dying wish as you slaughtered him!? The least you could have done was actually honor it! But no, you run like you always do because that's easier. I should have expected it. For all your power you're nothing more than Danzo's bitch!" Sasuke snarled viscously and Sakura flinched at this as Itachi offered a weak smile.
"Forgive me, Otouto." Itachi murmured, his expression remaining placid. Sasuke glared at him, his Mangekyo glowing in pure fury.
Before their eyes, Itachi burst into a murder of crows and flew off towards the mountainside, silhouetting off the glare of the setting sun. Sasuke's teeth bared and he scooped up a rock, flinging it as hard as he could after Itachi.
"GO!" He screamed. "RUN AWAY! I HATE YOU!" Sasuke's voice cracked and he picked up another rock and flung it. His teammates stared at his back in silence. It was clear that despite his once cold, uncaring exterior, Sasuke was breaking before their eyes. Kakashi turned away as Sasuke continued to scream out his rage. Naruto moved forward, approaching Sasuke as the older boy turned and snarled at him.
"You were with him weren't you? What did he say to you!?" He shoved at Naruto's shoulder. Naruto grasped his hand, halting another shove.
"He didn't say anything." Naruto managed, eyes narrowed. He was as confused as Sakura by Sasuke's sudden violent hostility.
"Bullshit!" Sasuke spat. "He spoke to you! WHY IS IT ALWAYS YOU!?"
"Sasuke…" He began and the boy shook his head. He moved away from the group, his shoulders heaving.
"No. I don't want to hear it. It's all the same. He's nothing to me! He can die for all I care!" Sasuke rasped and Sakura shook her head.
"You don't mean that." She began but the Uchiha only offered her a cold glare. Sakura stepped back, her fingers curling into a tight fist. They watched as Sasuke turned to stare into the distance Itachi had flown off to.
"Let's just go." Sasuke muttered weakly, shaking his head. He moved ahead, his shoulders sagging and the fight drained out of him. Sakura sighed sadly, glancing at the mountaintops where Itachi had vanished. She reached for Naruto, taking his hand in her own and the two followed after Sasuke. Kakashi stared in the distance, lost on how he could offer comfort to Sasuke when he himself was lost on what to feel. Genma approached and pat his shoulder lightly, but Kakashi did not glance towards him. He pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut, the scrolls Itachi had given him, offering a heavy weight against his chest.
The group followed after Sasuke, the sun setting behind the mountains and casting the snowy landscape in a bright orange light. And down bellow the snow laden valley, a crow released a long mournful caw and faded into the distance.
Honestly guys, for a split second I considered ending the story here just to be a twat waffle. But seeing how Itachi can't even have a happy ending in a filler AU where the Uchiha's are supposed to survive, I'm going to give him one here.