Over the next three years you took on every responsibility and every hardest job. Although I had never confessed to you that the real reason why I withdrew from battles was my weakness and blurred vision, you insisted on completing our tasks alone more and more often. I was alone for an entire day when you went to capture Goku's jinchūriki. I was worried about you even though I didn't show it to you, I knew he would give you a hard time. However, I begged you to retreat in case the situation was disadvantageous for you, I knew that facing a jinchūriki was no joke, especially without the support of my special eyes, as you called them. I couldn't bear the idea of losing you, without first making sure that you were ready to face life without me, flying without being afraid of missing me, but making it, as much as possible, a strength. I forced myself to smile confident in your success as I kissed you goodbye, but my heart was full of anguish. You, for your part, promised me to return as soon as possible, telling me all the qualities of your superhuman physical strength and Samehada, I pretended to calm down even if inside myself I wasn't at all. As soon as you left I sat under a tree swallowing my pills, I was getting worse and worse, I found myself thinking that if Sasuke hadn't tracked me down quickly maybe I wouldn't have had time to show up for that appointment I had thought for him in which he would transform into the hero who eliminates the traitor, redeeming the reputation of the Uchiha. The of him, being the only one left. I would have died soon anyway, I hoped at least to serve some good once in my life. A sudden pang in my chest made me bend over with a groan, I was grateful that you hadn't been there at that moment, you would have ended up feeling overwhelmed by worry. It was necessary, now, for my flame to remain solid and with its feet firmly planted on the ground, it should have represented the springboard to make you fly, you deserved all the love I was capable of. We both knew that you would soon have to deal with the loss of me, but I wanted to give you all the tools you needed to be as strong as possible in that moment. I knew that Sasuke had put together a team to track me down, I prayed that this would happen as soon as possible, of course I would have to organize everything so as not to involve you, I hadn't had the courage to explain all this to you yet, I was sure that I would see tears come down from your silver eyes, giving you these clarifications. I resolved to address the issue when you returned, it was senseless to put it off any longer. I had learned that Naruto and his team were also following me, the aim was to capture me by using me as bait to find Sasuke and, once I had convinced my brother to go back, proceed to eliminate me. I couldn't let it go like this, these were not the plans I had in mind for years and for which I was dragging out my miserable existence with the help of medicines. You probably also noticed this: every time I was forced to use higher doses, I inevitably ended up prey to side effects. I could see your eyes looking at me sideways as you tried to slow down or get me to rest, another topic to address as soon as I saw you again. You were gone a little while and I already missed you. Your consideration towards me was something wonderful, you did a thousand things, in my wretched life I couldn't have found anything better, I would have left feeling lucky. I lay down with my back against the trunk, closing my eyes, invaded by the drowsiness given to me by the drugs, I was breathing heavily and I hoped that this would not end up forcing me to take more pills, for the moment I limited myself to opening the front of the cloak a little to have more air.
One of your many beautiful gestures came to mind, we had just learned the news of Deidara's death who had insisted on challenging Sasuke. I felt terribly guilty about this, if he had gotten to that point it was because he hated the Sharingan and their owners, it was I who brought him to this, albeit unintentionally, on the day of his recruitment. His obsession had started from there, when I had defeated him just by looking into his eyes while you told him all your admiration for me. If I had realized before that this would have the ability to hurt him so much I would have avoided using the Sharingan and I would have held back your words, even if dictated by love. That was one of the very rare occasions when I was unable to predict something. Every time I had made some mistake or oversight, I had always been punished severely by life and, in each of these circumstances I felt I fully deserved it. It was raining heavily and that's why we took refuge inside a large cave. While you were cursing the bad weather, the guilt towards Deidara had started to tear at my soul, bringing tears to my eyes. I was aware that the crying would explode at any moment, but since in my life I have always thought that I didn't deserve anything, not even the fact of feeling emotions, I had to come up with a quick solution so as not to let you see me. I started walking out of the cave to get the rain on my face, as soon as my face was completely wet, I let go of tears and a silent sob. I heard your voice calling me from behind, you were advising me to go back inside, telling me that I would get sick if I persisted in wanting to get wet any longer. Your words made my heart melt, you said them with a slightly gruff tone but underneath I felt that love that you had never reserved for anyone else. I couldn't answer you anything, I didn't even turn to look at you. You felt entitled to keep talking to get my attention, like that time on the dock when you ended up lecturing me about shark cannibalism. You told me in no uncertain terms that you had sensed that I was crying over Sasuke's death, even though I was such a cold and detached person that I never understood what was going through my head. You had the wrong person, but your intuition was more than correct, I was crying. No one in the world understood what was going through my mind except you, you always had the ability to read my soul directly and respect my silences and my moments of discouragement. My shy nature, naturally, prevented me from admitting the truth, did not allow me to rest my forehead on your shoulder and vent as would have been right and as you would have desired. I limited myself to expressing my certainty that Sasuke was still alive, while I found myself forced to return home since the rain had stopped, at the same time exhausting my freedom to cry. However, I had gotten soaked to the bone, returning next to you several coughs escaped me, I could never escape your furtive gaze, without saying a word you took off my rain-soaked cloak to see my hair dripping water everywhere. You let out a sigh of resignation as you hung my dripping cape on a protrusion of the irregular stone, you lit a small bonfire with the few dry twigs that were inside there probably blown by the wind, you advised me to undress completely since my clothes were completely get wet, and sit by the fire. I hesitated for a moment since I was freezing, but then I did as you asked, realizing that you were right, my gray uniform ended up keeping company with the cloak hanging on the wall. You immediately sat next to me, surrounding my trembling body with your incredibly muscular legs. You opened the front of your cloak to let us both enter inside it, you literally lifted me bodily with just one hand under my ass to remove me from the cold floor by placing me on your powerful legs. I snuggled up against your broad, warm chest while you untied my hair, spreading it with your fingers so it would dry more quickly. I've always loved your skin, so smooth and warm, with just the slightest bit of rubbery feeling. I pressed a kiss to your neck, making you smile before my body started to twitch from coughing. It was so sweet the way you hugged me and cradled me until I passed. The anguish that shone through your light eyes hurt me, I felt nauseous but I tried to push it down so as not to worry you any further.
You held me like that until my clothes I don't know dried in the heat of the little flame and I could put them back on, we lay down and you covered me lovingly as always with my cloak. Our bodies were attached, you hugged me tightly as if to protect me from who knows what catastrophes, presumably you were thinking that I had lied to you about the fact that Sasuke was still alive and your intention was also to console me for the loss of him. He was sure that you weren't acting like this simply to keep me warm, I could sense it from your attitude and the sweetness of your gaze. You kissed my forehead, eyes and lips softly, telling me that I was your treasure. I slowly ran my left hand over your back and his right over your abs, still amazed at how developed they were. I felt your erection pressing against my legs but I knew you were too worried to let yourself be carried away by passion, I understood you fully from the first day even though you were convinced of the opposite. I touched your pectorals with small kisses, despite your size your heartbeat was slow and reassuring, which is why my head fell asleep on your shoulder before I could say I love you.
A hand untied my forehead protector dragging me out of this memory, my head ached and I was too dizzy from the medicine to open my eyes. So you had already returned triumphant from the battle with Roshi, Goku's jinchūriki, or you may have lost, but at least you were alive. I regretted that you had now caught me red-handed in those conditions, I still felt the air entering me with difficulty, I sucked it from my slightly open lips. I sighed, basking in those hands that pushed my hair back from my face while simultaneously stroking my head. However I sensed something wrong in them, your skin was normally much smoother and warmer, with that slightly rubbery something, and then these hands were much smaller. I jumped as I heard Naruto's voice calling me to ask how I was feeling. It was over, they had found me, my distraction this time was unforgivable, my heart jumped as I opened my eyes to find his turquoise ones just a few centimeters away, he was crouching in front of me. He slowly placed a hand on my chest, reassuring me since he was alone, he explained to me that, yes, his team was not far away but that he had gone away making an excuse, he had been the only one to perceive my presence, he hadn't I'm going to do nothing to myself. He sat down next to me offering me some water, I accepted it since perhaps there was no escape for me anymore, if we had engaged in a fight the others would have arrived in a few minutes and I was in no condition to resist for long , my only hope was your return. That water was very fresh, it did me so much good that I almost finished it, I immediately felt better. I apologized for not holding back while he stared straight into my eyes like when we'd tried to catch him in the hotel three years earlier. Except that at the time he was still a little boy, now he had grown into a young man with very pleasant features. I didn't know how to interpret this attitude, he had come all the way there with the aim of capturing me and then he lied to his team just to come and give me a drink? It seemed strange to me that he suddenly gave up on his plan to use me as bait to lure Sasuke. Naruto smiled sparking more memories in me. I remembered him when, still a child, he had come to our house on some occasions to play with Sasuke, they were the same age, they attended the Academy together and were friends. To tell the truth, my little brother always treated him with disdain since he was at the top of the class while Naruto found studying a big bore. At Sasuke's age I too had been an excellent student, but, unlike him, I had never dreamed of being arrogant, on the contrary, when I received the inevitable compliments, I slipped into embarrassment feeling that I didn't deserve them, I always hated being at the center of attention. However, I was happy that they were friends, Naruto, with his cheerful and joking nature, I hoped that he could melt Sasuke's ice a little. The first few times the blond boy entered our house I naturally introduced myself and tried to start a conversation with him, if only out of politeness since he was our guest. Soon, however, I noticed how this caused him embarrassment, with my mere presence he suddenly became silent, his pink skin flushed, he could only giggle stupidly while he massaged his short golden hair by passing an arm behind his head. There was a circumstance in which he even made an excuse to go home since I had dared enough to sit at the table where he and Sasuke were. Since my brother was annoyed by this attitude of his friend, I ended up retreating to my room every time they were together, I quickly said goodbye to Naruto and then went to the upper floor of the house where the rooms were located. I would lie on my bed reading, smiling while I heard them having fun downstairs. On a couple of occasions when Sasuke had been forced to leave for a few minutes, perhaps to go to the bathroom or because our parents called, I had heard the dull thuds of Naruto's feet quickly climbing the wooden stairs. Shortly afterwards his blond head appeared at my bedroom door, he looked at me smiling without saying a word. When I lowered the book to look at him and smile back at him, he would put his usual hand behind his head, blushing, and then run away again. I didn't know why he behaved like this, or maybe yes, he liked me, but we were just kids at the time, he certainly inspired me with great sympathy. After this I saw him again three years ago in that hotel, and then there, on the day he found me half dazed from the pills and from breathlessness, I was waiting for you.
Naruto leaned forward to get closer to me, his turquoise eyes still fixed on mine, he stretched out a hand with which he first put my hair behind my ear then slid it to gently grasp my shoulder. That hand came down again to encircle my waist, I didn't know what to do, maybe I stiffened even if my face remained impassive.
Kisame's face stared at Itachi darkly, he had never known about this episode as he was absent at the time.
"Kisame, you have no reason to be upset, the trust you have always given me has never been betrayed, you are always as impetuous as usual, at least allow me to finish my story"
"I understand very well, Itachi, but I know you can understand my reaction, I have never managed to remain as unperturbed as you, even though I sometimes admire you for it."
The shark man's face calmed down under the caresses that his companion was leaving on his hair.
Itachi continued, his voice seemed to directly touch Kisame's soul as if it were made of violin strings: "Naruto is a dear boy, he always tries to be positive and have a good word for everyone, even forgetting about himself, in some cases; the love he wants for Sasuke is intense and sincere, I couldn't have entrusted my brother in better hands, he is skilled, perhaps even more than me, but he is still too naive and impulsive. If I am now deciding not to hide anything from you anymore, it is because I have always cared about you, allow me to finish and you will understand it yourself."
I was convinced that my adamant expression would be enough to make him give up, but I was wrong, his embrace became even tighter as he reassured me that he didn't have the slightest intention of capturing me, his team would have found Sasuke without problems even excluding the use of me as bait, it wasn't necessary. He told me that I was beautiful and that he had always admired me, all things that he, of course, could never confess to Sasuke. He was certain that my talent and intelligence had always been superior to those of my brother and that he was not interested in the accusations made against me, his esteem for me had never been diminished at all, on the contrary, he considered me a very good strategist for having managed to get by all those years. He even confessed that Konoha would have solved all its problems if I had been the Hokage. I didn't move, I didn't say a word, perhaps also out of gratitude for the fact that he was keeping me away from his team. He pulled me towards him with the arm he had passed behind my back while he sat on my legs holding me tightly with his arms. He admitted that he had spent countless sleepless nights thinking about me and wondering if I was okay, he had never been able to vent these doubts to anyone, obviously, and it had worn him out. I immediately activated my Sharingan, for the moment it was just a warning, in reality I felt understanding and tenderness for him following what he was telling me, I wasn't used to having so many thoughts from others and they always ended up leaving me amazed and taken aback. He wasn't at all intimidated by my eyes, after all he too was a supporting force. He held me so tightly it hurt, I sensed that he was holding back anyway, he claimed that he had never forgotten my face in all those years. By now our bodies were adhering, I felt his erection pressing on my abs from under the trousers of his orange uniform, his lips barely touched mine, the sun made the gold of his hair shine as if it had its own light, my eyes rose to the higher level I showed him the three-pointed star of the Hypnotic Sharingan to make him understand once and for all that I didn't want it. Breathing faster, he begged me not to make any rash moves since he noticed how my pupils were starting to blur as he kissed my neck. He definitely had to love me to say something like that to me, and I know he had been doing it since he was still a child, but by now I had decided who my heart belonged to. It was starting to be too much, when he looked into my eyes again I saw the silver of yours overlap with that turquoise, it clouded it, canceling it completely, it was you who filled my entire heart and this left no room for anyone else, not even one of infinitesimal proportions . I freed myself from his grip with a shove that made him tip over backwards and land awkwardly on his butt, while I jumped to my feet. He rubbed himself, half-closing one eye and showing off an asymmetrical smile somewhere between surprised and sly, it seemed as if he had been somewhat expecting such a reaction and that, absurdly, he had been pleased. He stood up and approached me again, his face was serene, he gently took my hands. I took a step back, slipping out of his grasp and asking him why he cared so much about Sasuke, maybe this would distract him from his intentions. His face suddenly became serious as he replied that, unlike me, he had always considered him a brother. He couldn't have given me a better opportunity than that. When the truth came out that I had exterminated my entire clan, I had already foreseen that Sasuke's anger and thirst for revenge could explode against Konoha to avenge me. A very probable eventuality since he was still very naive and impressionable, I would have already been dead by that time so I wouldn't have been able to stop him and Naruto certainly wouldn't have used extreme means against him, not even in case of necessity, that's why it came to me like lightning an idea, I certainly couldn't accept that the sacrifice of my entire life could be in vain. I decided to donate part of my power to Naruto, I implanted within him the eye that Shisui had entrusted to me, ready to intervene in case of need. The operation took less than a fraction of a second so the blond didn't even notice. His expression changed, the features of his rosy face relaxed into a sympathetic smile. He came towards me calmly this time, I calmed down by making my eyes go black again. He was so serene that he seemed to shine with his own light.
He held me in a gentle hug, telling me that he sensed my pain and my physical difficulties and that the affection he felt for me would prevent him from causing me further suffering, he would let me go, betraying his team, he probably sensed that I was dying. He didn't care if I didn't want to, he would have continued to love me by respecting my decisions. He kissed me on the forehead before walking back the way he came smiling. Even on that occasion I was unable to find the right words to say.
I started looking at the sea, letting my eyes fill with its reflections when I heard you return. I turned to hug you but the fact that you had Roshi hanging on Samehada like a sack of potatoes made me stop. Instead of thanking you for completing the job, I could only blame you for capturing him more dead than alive and for the fact that you had certainly made too much of a spectacle by attracting too much attention. You replied that doing it on your own hadn't been easy and this immediately made me feel guilty. Even though you were exhausted from the recent fight, you immediately proposed to me that if I wanted, you could gladly do other jobs without me. You did it to keep me from getting tired, you took great care of your sick partner, and I didn't know how to do anything but criticize you, if there had been someone else in your place he would have certainly abandoned me somewhere, or complained to Pain , if not actually killed to get rid of the trouble. This time I was really wrong with you, Pain's order that came immediately afterwards to immediately seal Son Goku saved my eyes from tears at the last minute.