Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto (either manga or anime!); the wonderful Masashi Kishimoto-sensei owns all rights. However, the plot and Namiko Uzumaki are mine!

Chapter 63: Brotherly Love

May 20

Namiko took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. She knew Sasuke was more than capable, but that didn't mean she wasn't worried. The idea of Itachi being brought back to life never crossed her mind, and she couldn't imagine what Sasuke was feeling. He had finally begun to heal from the past and look forward to their future, but his brother being reanimated was sure to open old wounds.

She desperately wished she could be by his side, but she also knew it wasn't safe in her condition, so she'd have to settle for praying and hoping he'd come back safely. Her heart sunk at the racing thoughts of worry going through her mind. She laid on her side, curling into herself as much as she physically could as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

As if sensing her distress, the tent flap rustled, and Naruto poked his head inside. His blue eyes softened at the sight of her curled on the futon. "You okay?"

Namiko forced a small smile, attempting to brush away the tear subtly. "I'm fine. Just tired."

Naruto wasn't convinced, stepping fully inside and plopping down beside her with a dramatic sigh. "Liar."

She let out a huff but didn't argue as he leaned back on his hands, stretching his legs out. "You don't have to act tough with me, ya know."

She shot him a half-hearted glare as she sat up. "I'm not acting tough."

"You totally are." Naruto nudged her shoulder playfully. "But it's okay. I'd be freaking out too if I were in your position. Well…actually, I can't be in your position since I can't get pregnant so that part would be different, but you get what I mean."

Namiko shook her head in amusement. "You're an idiot."

"And you love me anyway," he said, grinning.

"Yeah, I do." Namiko smiled as she looked at her stomach, her hand resting where the twins had settled. "I know. It's just…I hate being away from him."

"Yeah, I get it." Naruto ran a hand through his hair, exhaling. "It's how I feel every time Hinata gets called out. But we have to stay put. The last thing we need is you running off toward danger when you're very, very…" He trailed off, making a shape with his hands imitating her belly.

"Choose your words carefully or I swear I'll throw something at you," Namiko warned, giving him a stern look.

Naruto grinned but wisely changed tactics. "—very, very pregnant." Namiko rolled her eyes but truly laughed, which had been Naruto's goal all along.

The tent fell into a brief silence before Naruto spoke again, quieter this time as he reached for her hand, giving it a soft squeeze. "He's gonna be fine. Sasuke's tough, and you know Itachi wouldn't want to fight him."

Namiko nodded slowly. "It's not just Sasuke I'm worried about. It's everything. The war, the twins, what happens after…" She trailed off, her fingers gripping his a bit tighter. "What if something happens before he gets back? What if I go into labor too soon?"

Naruto's expression turned serious. "Hey, stop that. You can't think like that. You've got me, Hinata, Sakura, Kiba, Baa-chan, and so many others looking after you. Sasuke should only be gone for a couple of days. Don't you have like two months left before you have them?"

Namiko sighed. "Yeah, give or take a couple of weeks. Ba-chan is hoping for me to make it another six weeks, but I seriously don't know how much bigger I could possibly get—don't you dare say—" She stopped her threat, wincing slightly as one of the twins kicked particularly hard, causing her to cough. "…I'll be so glad when I'm no longer getting kicked from the inside out."

Naruto perked up. "You can feel them moving that much? It seems like they're strong, but then again, they come from two strong clans."

Namiko huffed a breath, adjusting her position as she tried to get comfortable. "Yeah, that was definitely a foot…or an elbow. Your niece loves to kick my ribs and diaphragm."

Naruto tried to hide his grin and shifted to sit closer, hesitating for just a second before reaching out. "Can I…?"

She nodded, lifting her shirt to expose her stomach and guiding his hand to the right spot. A few seconds passed before a strong kick landed against his palm. Naruto's eyes widened in pure awe. "Whoa! That's so weird!"

He quickly removed his hand as the baby pressed outward, making the outline of the baby's foot visible under her skin. "What the—is that the kid?!" His eyes were practically popping out of their sockets.

"Yes, that's your niece. Your nephew is down here." Namiko chuckled, placing her hand lower on her stomach as the other twin pushed out there as well.

He jerked his hand back quickly. "It looks like something out of a horror movie! Like an alien is gonna burst out of your stomach or something!"

She burst into a fit of giggles as she pulled down her shirt. "It's definitely a strange feeling, and sometimes uncomfortable, but totally normal. Just wait until you and Hinata have a baby…in like five or ten years, after you're married."
Naruto's cheeks flushed. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure Hiashi-san and Neji would kill me if we had a baby before I married her…no offense."

"None taken."

Silence grew between them. He wanted to ask a question but hesitated, opening his mouth a couple of times before finally speaking. "Would you change it? I mean, if you could've waited a couple of years, would you?"
Namiko blinked at him, caught off guard by the question. She traced slow circles over her stomach, feeling the now gentle shifts of movement beneath her palm as the twins settled down.

"I don't know," she admitted after a moment. "I mean, yeah, it would've been easier if we waited and were older and had this planned out, but we didn't. Sasuke and I barely had time to just…be a couple before everything got crazy." She exhaled softly. "But even with all that, I don't think I'd change it. They're already here, already a part of me and Sasuke. I can't wait to hold them in my arms and watch them grow."

Naruto studied her, his usual easy grin transformed into something softer. "You're gonna be a great mom, ya know."

Her throat tightened, and she swallowed against the sudden lump forming there. "I hope so."

"You will be," he said firmly. "And Sasuke's gonna be a good dad, even if he acts like he has a stick up his butt."

That made her laugh. "He's already so protective. You should've seen him when Ba-chan told me to take it easy. He was ready to wrap me in bubble wrap and put me in a padded room. He may be more cautious than me once they're born."

"I can't wait to watch his head explode when I teach them Rasengan," he replied with a cheeky grin.

Namiko rolled her eyes and sighed. "At least wait until they're out of the Academy so they're less likely to hurt themselves…the fact that you taught Konohamaru so young makes me nervous, even if he does use it properly."

"I make no promises." His grin turned mischievous. "And if the twins end up being little troublemakers like you and me, I promise to be the best uncle-slash-bad-influence they could ever ask for."

"I was not the troublemaker growing up."

"Okay, fine…troublemakers like me then."

"That's—oof—" Another strong kick cut off her words and she sighed. "That's exactly what I'm afraid of."

Sasuke, Suigetsu, and Juugo leapt through the trees in search of Itachi. The Sensory Division had given them the best place to start their search, but Itachi had fallen off their radar.

"So are you just not going to talk about how you knocked up Red?" said Suigetsu bluntly.

"You know, my genjutsu is stronger than before and I'm not above using it on you." Sasuke shot him a sideways glare, effectively shutting him up.

Juugo's deep but quiet voice spoke up from behind, "The birds say they have seen Itachi not far from here and headed right toward us."

"Good," said Sasuke as he slowed them to a stop, "I want you two to hang back. I need to handle Itachi on my own."

"Yeah, yeah, you just want to be the man of the hour," snipped Suigetsu. "But I don't really want to deal with any of these reanimated people anyhow."

A few moments later, Sasuke caught sight of the familiar black and red robes to the right of them. "Stay here," he commanded, "I'll come find you afterward. Just don't cause any more trouble."

Suigetsu smirked, shouting after Sasuke, "We haven't caused trouble!" He glanced at Juugo, quieting his voice, "…yet."

Sasuke picked up his pace, keeping his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan at the ready as he neared Itachi. He was stronger now and his Sharingan outranked Itachi's. While Itachi may have unlimited chakra due to the Reanimation Jutsu, there was no way he was going to win any fight they may have.

Sasuke landed on a thick branch just ahead of Itachi's path, the bark cracking beneath his weight. His eyes locked onto the figure moving with silent purpose through the trees. "Itachi!" Sasuke called, his voice sharp, demanding.

The reanimated Uchiha didn't stop, didn't even hesitate. His expression remained unreadable as his eyes flickered toward Sasuke before shifting back ahead, as if he hadn't seen him at all.

"Tch," Sasuke clicked his tongue, his fingers twitching toward his sword. He lunged, cutting off Itachi's path with a burst of speed, landing directly in front of him. "Don't ignore me."

Itachi finally paused, tilting his head slightly. "Sasuke." His voice was calm, but something about it felt distant, detached. "You shouldn't be here."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. "Neither should you."

"I'm aware of that fact."

He didn't miss the way Itachi's hands remained still at his sides—no defensive stance, no immediate attack. If Itachi had really wanted to fight, he would have already moved.

"Where are you headed?" asked Sasuke,

Itachi hesitated before speaking, "…my orders are to find the kyuubi's jinchuriki."

"So after Naruto and Namiko." Sasuke narrowed his eyes, though he wasn't upset with Itachi, he knew he was being forced to by whoever reanimated him. That fact made Sasuke sick to his stomach; Itachi always seemed to be put in situations out of his control. "You know I can't let that happen."

"I have no choice."

"Who's controlling you?" Sasuke's voice was firm, but there was a flicker of something else beneath it—something raw. He took a conscious breath before asking again, "Who is using the Reanimation Jutsu?"

Itachi didn't hesitate this time, "Kabuto."

"I knew it," Sasuke ground out through gritted teeth.

Sasuke's grip tightened around the hilt of his sword, his thoughts racing. Kabuto. That man was always meddling, always pulling the strings from the shadows. He had to be the one responsible for the reanimation of so many of their fallen comrades—and now, he was manipulating Itachi, forcing him to fight against the nation and comrades he'd worked so hard to protect.

"Damn him," Sasuke muttered, his anger was like a bitter fire, stoking the flames of his vengeance. Itachi had always been the one to protect him, the one to keep him grounded, even when their paths diverged. But now... now it was all twisted, all wrong.

Suddenly, Itachi made hand signs all too familiar to Sasuke, Great Fireball Jutsu. Sasuke easily leapt out of the way before quickly ensnaring his brother in genjutsu.

Memories flooded Itachi's mind. Sitting on the engawa of their house teaching Sasuke a new jutsu, mentoring him through shuriken work, helping him fish in the Uchiha pond, hunting together, poking him on the forehead as he left for another mission, and countless other memories. It was all too much for him to process, and the next thing Itachi knew, it was like the shackles in his mind had been released.

Sasuke breathed a sigh of relief as he saw Itachi's body fully relax. "It worked."

"I never doubted you could free me, otouto." The corner of Itachi's lips curved, proof that he was free and proud of his brother. "How long has it been?"

"Since your death? About six months."

"So…how's Namiko?"

Sasuke paused, looking at Itachi curiously, as memories of their last conversation before his death turned over in his mind. "…protect the family you have in Namiko…you knew, didn't you?"

"That she's pregnant…yes, I know," Itachi's voice was level and calm.

Sasuke blinked in surprise a few times before slowly asking, "…how did you know? We didn't find out until almost six weeks later!"

"You know as well as I do that the Sharingan can see microscopically, including changes in chakra," Itachi said, his brow slightly raising. "There was a disturbance in her chakra that I had seen many times before in other pregnant women, something you never saw since you didn't have your Sharingan until later and wouldn't have known the difference."

Sasuke dropped his gaze. "…I married her."

"Okaa-san would've been happy knowing that you married her…though maybe not with you both being so young and because you got her pregnant," said Itachi, a slight teasing tone to his voice. "She always liked her. I vaguely remember you telling okaa-san that you wanted to marry her when you grew up."

"Hn." He scoffed, finally looking back at Itachi. "I was six, with a crush, and I thought that was a private conservation between me and her."

"Nothing is private in a shinobi household."

Sasuke sighed. "To answer your earlier question, she's doing well despite everything going on with the war. She's thirty weeks pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl, and everyone is healthy."

"Twins? You'll have your hands full." Itachi's lips tilted into a smirk.

"I already do with just Namiko. I know I'm probably smothering her, but I worry about her and the twins all the time," Sasuke admitted, his expression softening slightly. "I just wish the war wasn't happening now. I should be at her side, not out here fighting battles that should've stayed dead."

Itachi studied him for a long moment. "You've grown, Sasuke."

Sasuke tensed. "Don't say things like that. It sounds like you're saying goodbye."

"I'm not." Itachi's voice was gentle but firm. "Not yet…but I don't have much time left like this."

Sasuke clenched his fists, but he didn't argue. He knew Itachi was right. As soon as they ended the Reanimation Jutsu, he'd likely fade away.

"I won't let Kabuto keep playing god with the dead," Sasuke finally said. "I'll put an end to it."

"Together." Itachi nodded in approval. "I can lead us back to Kabuto. Now, let's put an end to this."

Sasuke turned and fell into step beside his brother as they began running. For the first time in years, they weren't standing on opposite sides of the battlefield.

The last thing Naruto expected that day was for the Kage to call not only him, but also Killer Bee, to HQ. "What are you doing here, Octopops?"

"Yo, Naruto, how ya been? I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever see you again," rapped Killer Bee.

"Baa-chan called me up here." Naruto walked closer to the Kage in question. "What's going on? Are we being put into battle? Did Madara show up?"

Killer Bee opened his mouth to speak but Gaara cut him off, "Not quite, six of the previous jinchuriki have appeared and you two are the only ones we know of who can stop them without heavy losses."

Tsunade cleared her throat. "We'll tell Namiko to be prepared to recall you if necessary. Intelligence will be keeping communication open with you both in case you need help."

Naruto nodded once. "Understood." While he was excited to finally be in the action himself, he was also nervous about what would happen if he failed.

"Don't worry, Naruto, we'll take care of this and be good to go!" Killer Bee said with a thumbs up.

Just as they left HQ and were about to head off, Hinata came running over to them. "Naruto-kun!"

"Hinata!" Naruto caught her in a hug, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, I just wanted to tell you good luck and to be careful."

Blush tinted her cheeks and he leaned down to kiss her. "I'll be fine, don't worry about me. Can you watch after Namiko until Sasuke or I get back? Tell her to stick with the clone I left back at medical."

"I'll keep a close eye on her, I promise. I was heading to check on her anyway." She glanced up at him through her lashes and pulled him down for another kiss, whispering against his lips. "I'm serious, please be careful. I love you."

Naruto's lips tilted up in a love-struck half-smile. "I love you too, Hina. Don't worry about me, I'll be back before you know it!"

And without another word, he and Killer Bee left in search of the reanimated jinchuriki.

Itachi led them deep into the forest and into a hidden cave, scoffing when he sensed a barrier ahead of them. "This is it. What a useless barrier." He summoned his Susanoo to cover them, punching straight through the wall of the cave as Sasuke followed closely behind him.

Kabuto didn't move from his crouched position as the brothers entered. "I'm impressed you were able to pass through my barrier and find this place."

"Back when you were still controlling me, I was able to pinpoint where your chakra was coming from," said Itachi as he let the Susanoo fade. "Yet another risk of this jutsu. Though you won't survive to remember for next time."

"Thanks for the tip. I wasn't worried because I didn't think anyone was capable of defying the jutsu as you have done," said Kabuto with a snarky tone. "Oh, by the way, there's something I'd like you to know. This Reanimation Jutsu won't come undone, even if you kill me. I'm the only one who can stop it. So, in other words, you cannot simply destroy me. If you do, you'll never be able to stop the jutsu."

"It wouldn't be hard to force your hand with genjutsu," muttered Sasuke snidely.

Kabuto chuckled before his laughter turned into full belly laughs. "I see you're still as naïve as ever, Sasuke! I bet you wish you had killed me while you had the chance. If you hadn't let me live, the war would not be going quite as swimmingly for Tobi and I, but now you're stuck! Not only did I create the Reanimation Battalion, but also mass-produced one hundred thousand White Zetsu…which can also spawn even more Zetsu."

Kabuto's snake-like eyes locked with Sasuke's. "Not to mention I just reanimated six of the previous jinchuriki, and I've been told that Naruto and Killer Bee are finally entering the fight." A malicious smile spread across his face, his eyes still locked with Sasuke's. "But I wonder why you haven't allowed your darling Namiko out to play…"

"Take her name out of your mouth!" snapped Sasuke, throwing a handful of shuriken toward the snake master.

Itachi easily batted the shuriken away before they could reach Kabuto. "Don't lose your cool here. We can't kill him yet; we need him to end the jutsu first. I need you to stay focused."

"Not that any of it matters," Kabuto said nonchalantly. "The Reanimation Jutsu has no risks or weaknesses."

"Every jutsu has a weak point," said Itachi calmly. "And your jutsu's weakness is me."

"Come now, if it wasn't for my jutsu, you siblings wouldn't get to have such a touching reunion. I was hoping for a little more gratitude." Snakes emerged from Kabuto's robes as he pulled down his hood to cover his eyes. "Don't stare at me, I'd rather be in the background plotting."

Sasuke pressed his lips in a thin line. "A genjutsu countermeasure."

The snakes around Kabuto swayed back and forth. "The way those snakes are moving, they know exactly where we are," stated Itachi.

"Snakes perceive body heat and smell the air with their tongues." Sasuke removed Kusanagi from its sheath, holding it in front of him.

Itachi's eyes never left the snakes in front of them. "You've studied a lot. You're like a snake expert now."

Sasuke smirked, staying focused on Kabuto. "I had to take down Orochimaru, so I learned all I could."

"Ha! Being a snake expert will do you no good in trying to take me down!" shouted Kabuto as the snakes around him grew in size. "I chose this battlefield. Nature is my ally."

"The terrain gives him an advantage! There could be traps, Sasuke," warned Itachi.

"Traps? Oh no, that's not what I meant." Kabuto's snakes launched toward the brothers.

Both immediately activated their Susanoos. Itachi's grabbed the massive snakes' heads while Sasuke's swiftly cut off the head of another. "You're being too aggressive, Sasuke. Remember, we can't kill him or this will never end."

"It seems he's acquired Orochimaru's power. He won't go down as easy as you think!" Sasuke rushed forward inside his Susanoo, attempting to grab the hood from Kabuto's head. The skeletal arm ripped back the hood to reveal several smaller snake heads instead of Kabuto. "Damn it…"

The snakes split apart and scattered throughout the cave. Sasuke blew out an irritated breath. "You're just shedding your skin and hiding in the shadows like the snake you are. All you have is what you took from Orochimaru, and yet you're still nothing!"

Kabuto's voice echoed through the cave, "Sasuke, you underestimate me. Well, then again, I was listed lower than you on the danger scale in the bingo books, and of course, I'm nothing compared to Orochimaru-sama."

Sasuke scanned with his Sharingan until he easily saw Kabuto's chakra in snake form lying behind a pillar. As it moved, he threw his sword, pinning the snake, only to have it rip itself before healing back to normal. "So you copied from him?"

"You are nothing in the shinobi world if you lack talent, but those who lack talent can just steal it from those who possess it. However…" A group of snakes burst through the floor and a hand reached out from one of the snakes' mouths. "This power is something I mastered myself at Ryuchi Cave! I trained under the White Snake Sage and awakened this ability. I was finally able to pass Orochimaru-sama!"

Sasuke's Susanoo grew in size, quickly turning from a simple ribcage into a heavily armored body. It formed an ethereal bow and arrow, aiming straight for Kabuto as his arm hung from the mouth of the snake.

The arrow lodged in the pillar behind him, and Kabuto waggled his finger disapprovingly. "Ah ah ah, I told you, my sensory ability is far better than what it used to be. As I said earlier, Nature Energy is my ally now. Orochimaru-sama tried to gain this power, but he didn't yet possess a body that could tolerate it."

Kabuto crawled out of the snake's mouth, his body pale and covered in scales. "That's why he couldn't become the perfect sage that I have become!"

"Ha!" Sasuke scoffed cockily. "You're just like Orochimaru! A disgusting snake!"

"That's where you're wrong. You should know better, snake expert. I am no longer a snake. Sage power has allowed me to shed that skin! I am a dragon!" Kabuto placed his hands together. "Sage Jutsu: White Extreme Attack!"

Kabuto blew out a dragon made of chakra, which carried an orb. It circled the orb a few times before emitting a bright light and a high-pitched noise, causing the brothers to cover their ears and shut their eyes.

Sasuke couldn't hold Susanoo anymore, and just as it started to fall, Kabuto launched for him, mouth agape, stopping short as Itachi reached out with his Susanoo and shielded Sasuke from Kabuto.

"Itachi, you always seem to find me. Are you sensing my chakra?" asked Kabuto.

Itachi lightly scoffed as the light and sound faded. "I don't need to, I have instincts, you know. I merely protect what I think you most want to attack. If a man as cautious and opportunistic as you wants Sasuke, you'll go for him first. Your best chance to capture Sasuke is now, before either of us has a chance to figure out your jutsu. And then after that, you use my brother to stop me."

The Susanoo shield faded away and Kabuto smiled menacingly. "What sets you apart from the rest of your Uchiha brethren is that you have true ocular powers…the ability to peer into and read people's souls and use what you learn in battle. That's why you're so good at deceiving people. You died a genius…at lying!"

Sasuke clenched his teeth, his hand instantly crackling with the Chidori. He turned it into a beam, attempting to spear Kabuto with it, but the sage dodged and landed on the ceiling.

"You truly think that a makeshift team of two people who hate each other can stop me? You'll never be able to trust your liar of a brother," said Kabuto with a laugh.

"Sasuke," began Itachi, never taking his eyes off Kabuto, "Do you remember that time long ago when you tagged along on my boar mission?"

The hunting trip he'd mentioned earlier to his brother came flooding through his own memory. Sasuke glanced over at his brother and smirked. "Oh, that…the one that was ruining our fields? Of course."

"Ready?"

"Ready."

The brothers activated their Susanoos simultaneously, Sasuke's immediately taking aim with the bow and arrow again as Itachi's threw several shuriken. The shuriken all landed around Kabuto, causing him to shield his eyes. Sasuke's Susanoo released the arrow, pinning Kabuto's 'tail' to the ceiling and leaving him hanging upside down.

"Watch out, he's going to grab my blade and cut off his own tail to escape!" shouted Sasuke.

Itachi blitzed forward, attempting to get to the sword first. But Kabuto grasped it first, stabbing Itachi through the stomach. Kabuto smirked triumphantly. "I warned you what would happen if you were too eager."

His pinned tail began to melt and he looked Itachi right in the eye as he began to fall to the ground. Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan spun momentarily just before Itachi's form burst into crows, causing Kabuto to shield his eyes.

Itachi grabbed Sasuke's sword, cutting off one of the horns on Kabuto's head. "That's right, I forgot I have horns now," he said as he rubbed the missing appendage.

Sasuke let his Susanoo fade and walked over to Itachi who smiled proudly at him. "Looks like you might be able to take down that boar you missed back then."

Sasuke returned the smile. "Well, first I need to take down a giant snake."

"Right now you two almost look like friends. You, the siblings with the worst case of rivalry on record; it's not hard to guess that something happened between you back when you took Itachi down." Kabuto stood to his full height. "Not that it will matter. I've shut off my vision, so anything either of you try won't work."

"That's what you think," shouted Itachi before dropping his voice to speak to Sasuke, "There is a jutsu that doesn't require eyesight in exchange for losing the light in one's eyes permanently."

"Izanagi and Izanami, right?" whispered Sasuke back.

"I see you read some of the secret Uchiha texts." Itachi stood in front of Sasuke, holding the sword defensively. "Do not leave my side, Sasuke, no matter what!"

Suddenly, Kabuto's head slumped forward. Sasuke was bewildered, staring at Itachi. "What did you do?"

"I used the Izanami," explained Itachi as he turned to Sasuke, handing him back his blade. "Izanagi changes one's fate, but the Izanami decides one's fate."

"So Kabuto's consciousness is now trapped, fighting a phantom you and a phantom me for all eternity on an endless loop?" asked Sasuke, trying to recall what he had read in the Uchiha texts.

"Not quite. There is an escape route built into the jutsu. You could feasibly disengage from the loop. All you have to do is accept the original outcome. Once Kabuto accepts himself as he is and stops looking for perfection, he'll be able to move on and escape the loop."

"Why on earth would you feel you needed to help him like that?"

Itachi's shoulders went slack. "Because he reminds me of myself. The shinobi world made us both victims of our own egos. He can't forgive himself for what he's done because he can't see himself for who and what he truly is. What he's doing is certainly wrong, but he's not completely to blame for his not realizing that. I lost my chance, but he can still forgive himself before he dies."

Sasuke furrowed his brow, his voice raising, "He is not like you! You were perfect!"

"No, I am far from perfect. Otou-san pushed me toward perfectionism which only caused me pain. So I treated you like a child. I thought you needed my protection. I didn't trust your strength. That's why I pushed you so hard to get the Mangekyo Sharingan…to protect yourself." Itachi's expression softened. "I should've trusted you to come into things on your own, to let you be your own person instead of trying to shape you into who I wanted you to be."

"All I wanted was to be like you."

"Sasuke…I want you to be yourself, not push to try to be me. I really am proud of you. You've grown up so much and accomplished so much more in your nearly seventeen years than I did during my entire life."

"What are you talking about? You were ANBU Captain at age thirteen," said Sasuke with a confused look. "You saved Konoha, even though it was at the cost of our clan, you saved the village from a much bigger loss. You were forced into a no-win situation and came out with the best outcome."
"No, the best outcome would've been for the coup to have never been an option. Part of me wonders, if you had been in my place, if you could've changed otou-san's mind. Our whole clan could've still been alive." Itachi smiled, a mix of sadness and pride. "You're becoming a true man of honor, burning with the Will of Fire. Life isn't all about promotions or acquiring new jutsu and getting stronger, and I wish I learned that sooner. You are doing something much more important…about to raise a new generation."

"I'm going to end this war," Sasuke said, narrowing his eyes in determination. "And then I'm going to make sure my children never grow up the way we did. They won't have to pick up a sword before they can even understand what it means to use one."

"I told you before, that all I ever wanted was to eliminate war. However, I think you can actually follow through with it." Itachi smiled, and for the first time, it wasn't tinged with regret. "Now let's end this."

Itachi placed his hand on Kabuto's head, forcing his eyes open before throwing him into a genjutsu. "I'm going to have him release the Reanimation Jutsu now. Everyone who was brought back will disappear, myself included."

Sasuke dropped his eyes to the ground, his voice thick with grief. "I don't want you to go…but I know you have to."

"You know I don't belong here," said Itachi as Kabuto's hands began to weave the signs to dispel the jutsu. "My time has passed, I should have never been brought back to life in the first place."

"I know…but I'm thankful I got to see you one last time. I only wish you could've met your nephew and niece."

"Bring them to the Naka Shrine after this is all over to say hello."

Sasuke bit back a sob. "I promise."

"There's one more thing, Sasuke." Itachi's face suddenly became dark. "Madara is cunning. While Kabuto may have been the one who performed this jutsu now, it's possible that Madara knows how to use it as well, and if so, he could bring back more reanimated shinobi, possibly even more than before. The Allied Forces will need to fight fire with fire."

Sasuke's brows furrowed. "Fire with fire? What are you talking about?"

"You need to convince the Kage to free Orochimaru and have him perform Reanimation Jutsu on the former Hokage. He brought them back once before and he can do it again. You may no longer have access to Orochimaru, but there are others who do via the curse seal."

"Mitarashi Anko." Sasuke remembered her well from the Chuunin Exams, and Kakashi had also had her speak with him once about her own curse seal.

"Yes…it could give the Allied Forces the boost they so desperately need," said Itachi just as Kabuto finished the last hand sign.

Sasuke watched as Itachi's form flickered slightly, the cracks in his body beginning to glow with a faint ethereal light. The finality of it made Sasuke's chest tighten.

"You really are going," Sasuke muttered, fists clenching at his sides.

Itachi turned to him, his expression calm but firm. "This is how it should be."

Sasuke opened his mouth, then closed it again, warring with himself. The words wouldn't come, but Itachi, as always, understood. He stepped closer and placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder before bringing him into a hug, squeezing gently.

Itachi said softly. "You have people who love you—who will fight beside you. You have a future, Sasuke." He smiled knowingly. "A family waiting for you."

At the mention of them, Namiko and their unborn twins, a sudden surge of determination shot through Sasuke's veins. He had no time to mourn—not now. Not when the war was still raging, when Madara was still out there. If there was any hope of ending this madness, of giving his children a world where they wouldn't have to worry about war, he had to keep going.

Sasuke took a steady breath. "I won't fail."

Itachi's eyes softened as he stepped back, his body crumbling as the light brightened. "I know you won't."

The glow surrounding Itachi intensified, his body dissolved completely as his spirit rose into the air. His smile never fading. "Goodbye, Sasuke. And remember, I will always love you."

Sasuke swallowed hard. "Goodbye, nii-san. I love you too."

With one last look, Itachi faded into light, his soul finally finding peace.

A/N: And I've killed Itachi…again. It never gets easier but I wanted to give them a little more closure before the final time. I also hope you enjoyed the silly moments between Namiko and Naruto. I couldn't resist putting in an "Alien" movie reference!

We're getting closer to the end! Only about 7 chapters left, including the epilogue. This has been a wild ride and I'm so thankful for each of my dear readers. I'm nearing 20,000 hits on AO3 and 40,000 hits on FFN! That just blows my mind! Thank you all so much for your love and support!

Love, Eriisu

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