Itachi enters the room with the barest of signs of exertion, of anxiousness, signs he's sure his brother is trying to hide.

But he can see them. His brother has always been eager for an opportunity with Sasuke, for a slip of Sasuke's rightful anger in which he's sure he'll be able to wiggle into. Sasuke has never given him a chance, has never felt the slightest compassion for the man.

But he can try to feign it.

He doesn't even have to act tired or be out of it. He is. The drugs have been upped and his control, already fucking awful, is now almost nonexistant. He's sure any attempt to use chakra would do more damage than anything else.

So he looks pathetic. If his brother can gain favor by playing the pity card, so fucking can he.

"Sasuke, are you all right?"

The poor sap looks actually worried and he looks back at the same Sakura that drugged Sasuke before. She probably didn't think this all through, huh, don't they know Itachi's guilt outweighs everything in him? That the only reason he hasn't killed himself is because he believes that saving Sasuke's life is his comeuppance. That he doesn't really care about what Sasuke wants as long as he follows through with his righteous path? Sasuke can only grit his teeth in mockery, maybe his righteousness took a vacation when he killed his own parents. Who can fucking know?

Sasuke moans an answer and he can see Sakura's eyes squinting. At least she's not that fucking dumb, but it doesn't matter, because brother dearest will do something about her somehow. Sasuke moves his hands and fingers as if he's experimenting with their movement. As if he's making sure they are actually there, and maybe he should be thanking this Sakura for the drugs, because now the signals he's sending his brother through his fingers looks unassuming and frankly pathetic to whoever watches.

"Is he all right?" His brother asks with the perfect touch of actual worry and anxiousness in his voice. Sasuke wants to bark a laugh, stand and clap, can you see what a great fucking ninja his brother is?

Sakura mumbles one thing and another about Sasuke's current status, and Sasuke can already see his brother's gears turning this way or another. Sasuke has asked for time alone and maybe his brother is actually thinking of killing this Sakura for a chance at redemption. Who knows. What he does know is that now that he's asked for this, he will have his chance to speak alone with Itachi sooner than later. A couple of days at most. Maybe he will come in the middle of the night. But he'll fulfill this request.

It's as if the gods are smiling down upon him. Itachi stands -surely to look sadder and wedge himself deeper into the woman's pity-, but then there's a roar outside the room. Screams and the rattling of metal against metal, things falling to the floor and the unmistakable shouts of help from those that are in charge of this place.

Nobody moves and Sasuke only keeps on his pitiful act while Itachi moves to the window with obvious curiosity. This Sakura doesn't move, her eyes steal a glance through the window and then travel back to Sasuke with the barest of hesitations. Tough crowd.

But then the noise grows bigger and it seems a huge influx of people has just arrived. And then, -by miracle, of course,- a black haired woman rushes to their room, opens the door wide open and grabs Sakura.

"We need you."

But this Sakura only frowns, looks pointedly at Itachi and Sasuke, "I can't."

"We need you," the woman repeats, stressing the words, her fingers digging into Sakura's arm. And then there's a flash of recognition in both women, "It won't be long," the woman assures this Sakura and then they rush out the room. Leaving the door open -a warning,- and the brothers are alone.

And Sasuke almost wants to fucking howl in victory. His eyes land on Itachi, who just stands where he is, his back to him, his eyes glued to the mayhem outside. "What is it you need, Sasuke?" His mouth a line, yet his voice still carrying all the way to the other side.

"Info."

And when Sakura comes back, a mere couple of minutes later, she stares, but Sasuke is just too tired to keep on talking and Itachi shares he just wanted to know when he would be able to be out of this shithole -a grimace on his face,- and that they barely spoke because his brother was much too under the influence of drugs.

And could you try to be more careful in the future? If it's not too much to ask.

This Sakura nods and they leave. And though Itachi managed to answer Sasuke's questions, and though he doubts this information will be able to travel outside the compound, Sakura is now a little harsher, a little colder.

And Itachi keeps quiet and follows. Because as much as he is grateful to the Uzumaki clan, as much as their kindness fills him with hope and happiness, his allegiance is to Sasuke and Sasuke alone. Even if it comes down to Itachi's own detriment, even if it puts him in a tough spot.

That's just how it is.

•···•···•

"Sir," the man enters, slightly out of breath, his eyes sweeping through the room in order to find-

Madara's black eyes look back and he stares, waiting for him to continue.

"The Eight-Tales is here, sir, but he's really unstable, if you could-"

Madara's long black hair sways as he stands and walks out of the room. "I'll take care of it, keep on with the plan for the Six-Tails."

"Yes, sir. The Three-Tails was a bust, sir."

"Doesn't matter," Madara shrugs. "We don't need weak ones."

The man huffs and puffs and groans in pain and Madara brings him to his eye-level with no care at all. His eyes grow red, with his Sharingan circling around inside, his chakra manages the Beast Tamer's and the man grows silent. But this is temporary. They sealed the Beast with zero attention to the actual process, they just need it to go off inside the Uzumaki compound and wreak havoc. That's all the man is worth.

That's all Madara needs. So it doesn't matter that he will be unconscious until they start their plan. It doesn't even matter that this man will not be able to control his own Beast. Because it's not his.

It's Madara's. And he needs only his Sharingan to make the Beast do his bidding.

•···•···•

Sai stares at the young lord. His sleeping face calm and quiet.

"You can hold him, you know?" Lady Hinata says, her voice low and stable. A little detached, but Sai doesn't take it to heart. He knows it's the way she has learned to control her stutter.

He shakes his head, "I don't know how, my lady." But Lady Hinata frowns at him.

"Neither did I, you can l-learn." She grimaces at her slip but then breathes out in one sharp breath. "Here," she moves to him, and though Sai puts his hands up in surrender and keeps on assuring her that he is in no way qualified to do this, he ends up with Lord Boruto on his arms, a couple of pointers given by Lady Hinata. "Keep his head steady and… support his body."

Lord Boruto sleeps and sleeps and he barely notices the change around him, aside from a little pucker of his lips as Sai settles his body into his arms. "Is it all right?" he asks, and Lady Hinata just smiles as an answer. Her fingers dragging across Lord Boruto's cheek with obvious care.

"He doesn't seem bothered," she whispers. And Sai stares at Lord Boruto again. So very small and so very frail.

Sakura finds them huddled together, speaking in hushed voices she at first mistakes for Lady Hinata's attempts at conquering her stammer, but then, as she comes closer, she realizes they're just gushing about the young lord, and it's just their attempt to keep from disturbing him. It's endearing. "Good job, Sai, handling the young lord."

Sai looks at her and manages a smile. Something Sakura has seen a bunch of times, practiced and studied, of course, but this one is genuine and it takes her aback. Sai looks younger. Maybe even his age.

Lady Hinata presses her index finger to the young lord, a small smile on her face. "It's good for Sai to know how to handle Boruto," a pause to control her breathing, "in case anything happens, you know." She smiles back at Sakura, proud of the way her words flew out of her mouth.

But Sai frowns, "Nothing will happen to you," his eyes linger on Lady Hinata.

And she shrugs, "In case something happens."

"And nothing will," he repeats.

Lady Hinata looks at Sakura, as if asking for help. Her eyes bright and big and Sakura wants to side with Sai, tell her and assure her that nothing will ever be able to go past them. That she and the young lord are safe, that she has nothing to worry. She really wants to side with Sai, would love to, but she knows she can't. "The lady is right, Sai." He frowns at her and Sakura is almost relieved at that. "If it comes down to it, you and her are to leave me behind, and then, if something were to follow you two…"

Lady Hinata nods as she talks, "You're the only one who can f-fly, Sai."

"You're in no shape to fight," he snaps, and no one chastizes him, because they know he's saying out of loyalty. "You're still recuperating from- from Lord Boruto's birth."

And Lady Hinata is smiling so softly Sai has to look away. "Which is why I wouldn't be able to protect my son, right? Even if I- even if I wanted to."

"You won't have to," Sai says, obstinate.

"And if I can at l-least work as a decoy, then I… I will gladly do so."

And not even Sai can refute her words, but he doesn't want to give this train of thought any power. None at all. So he remains silent, stubborn, and as such he only says, "You won't have to," again. But this time a little lower, a little less rough and as he gazes at Lord Boruto.

He knows when it comes down to it. He will have to.

•···•···•

Ino finds Lord Naruto with his face on his hands, with papers thrown around him, no order whatsoever to be seen.

"My lord."

Naruto doesn't move, but he breathes out deep and slowly. "Go ahead."

"I guess Shikamaru got here already with the news about the Beasts…"

"Kiba, actually" Naruto corrects, then scoffs a little. "You think bringing the Four-Tails as a weapon will help us?" Ino remains silent, and Naruto barely waits before he continues, "because Madara seems super chill with collecting them, so maybe he is able to control them. Like actually controlling them."

"I would hope he can only keep control of one or two at most, my lord."

"I would hope he tries to control one and then gives himself an aneurysm or something, he can drop dead for all I care. That would be excellent." His hands drag down his hair, barely an inch, his fingers digging into the skin. "Fucker had to come back now, huh."

"My lord," Ino says and her voice is all business, so Naruto whines.

"What is it?"

"Itachi and Sasuke, sir."

"Great."

"Nothing happened, but they managed to be alone for a couple of minutes -nothing they could have planned,- but their attitude seemed suspicious nonetheless."

"Doesn't matter. We never trusted them anyway."

Ino thins her lips. Because she hadn't trusted them at all, but Itachi had always looked so genuine, so real… and she only smirks. She was trained to be a spy and charisma worked wonders for her, but it would seem that looking pitiful was just as good a tool. "Just wanted to let you know, my lord. Don't trust them."

"Roger that."

Ino should leave, but Lord Naruto is still hunched over and he hasn't looked at her once. And the idea that he hasn't looked at her to keep his emotions at bay -to keep his tears hidden- is enough to make her hesitate. To make sure to assuage his feelings somewhat. "My lord." Naruto makes a noise as an answer. "We will protect you with our life."

Lord Naruto's back hunches even further, as if that were possible, and then he raises his head. His eyes are bloodshot and tired, and his face does wear the signs of some shed tears, but he smiles. "Do I look that fucking bad for all of you to come and swear on your lives? Fuck, I have to rein on myself." He barks a laugh, shakes his head and then assumes the position he likes. His chin on his hand, his elbow resting on his leg. "Ino, don't you fucking die."

Ino bows and leaves, Lord Naruto's shouts right at her back. "You heard me, Ino!"

But as long as she doesn't acknowledge it, she can make it as if she didn't.

Helloo, people!
Just wanted to let you know that I'm also uploading two one-shots (one Naruhina, one Dimileth (Fire Emblem Three Houses) if that's your jam).
If you enjoy Beast Tamers, I'm pretty sure you'll enjoy the Naruhina one-shot (it was sitting there from like, last year, pretty satisfied with it). Smut, the two of them, but also A LOT for the Naruhina one, because it's LONG.
Tell me what you think, and hopefully you'll enjoy them!
Have a great one, see you!

Goddamitiminlove! Yes, we give shotouts over here! Welcome!
I LOVED your ramblings, so thank YOU! Super thankful you're enjoying this story 💕💕

Ramona! Now that I think about it, you're totally correct. Sasuke is kind of childishly simple-minded. Well, that's what happens when you live in a cult-like place with an obsessed for power leader!
Thank you as always for the kind words

Shoutout to our new guest, Guest! (they didn't leave a name 😭😭)
Thanks for the comments, had a blast reading them, and for enjoying this story! 💃💃