Naruto Fan Fiction / Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction ❯ The Never Played Symphonies ❯ The Truth of Us My Darling ( Chapter 37 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The Never Played Symphonies

Chapter 37: The Real Truth of Us My Darling

Five years ago

Deidara sighed, leaning on his hand as he adjusted his scope. “This is so boring,” He murmured, eyes trailing towards the jackass he was with. “Couldn't you have taken Kisame?” He asked, already knowing the answer. He rolled his eyes, of course he couldn't, because nobody knew Itachi did this besides him. “Didn't I tell you he was fine?” He asked. “I would have told you if he was getting into trouble.”

Itachi shot him a dirty look. “Did I ask you to speak?” He asked. “Are you allowed to speak?” Deidara glared heartily at him, wanting to punch the cocky bastard in the face. Allowed to?

“Anyone ever tell you you're an annoying asshole?” He asked. “I'm doing this out of the kindness of my heart…” He tried, only to be interrupted.

“You're doing this because you have no other choice,” Itachi hissed. “You're doing this because I saved you. You're doing this because I own you...now shut up Deidara.” Deidara punched his arm hard, not scared of the repercussions.

Itachi wasn't wrong, he was just an asshole. The other had gotten him into the Akatsuki, just like he had gotten him away from his previous life. Not that Itachi ever let him forget it. He had promised to teach him how he used his eyes, and in exchange...well...this. Deidara would come here once a month, check up on this brat...and report back. It literally bored him to tears the majority of the time. He would let Itachi know, and that freak would show up every once in awhile.

“I told you he was just being his normal boring self...still infatuated with revenge on you….still shooting pretty eyes at that Kyuubi.” The death glare Itachi gave him made his stomach flip in what he would lie to himself later and say wasn't terror. “I don't know why you care so much, and I don't know why you made me your lackey. You know I hate you, right?”

“Deidara…” Itachi said, ignoring the tone. “Go buy my brother a drink.” He handed him a vial. “Now.”

Deidara stared at the vial in his hand, sloshing the liquid back and forth. “And what will happen when he drinks this?” He asked curiously, Itachi not meeting his eyes. “You're so goddamn strange sometimes. I don't know why I work for you,” He murmured, heading into the restaurant.

He sighed, flipping his hair over his shoulder as he sank down at the counter, the kid enjoying some ramen as he stared into the bowl. He looked so much like Itachi it was eerie. “So what's good to drink around here?” He asked, more than skilled at striking up conversations.

“Go away you freak.” Sasuke murmured, never once looking up from his ramen. Definitely Itachi's brother.

“Oh I'm a freak now?” Deidara asked. “Is no one allowed to talk to you Princess?”

“I'm not into boys…” Sasuke assured him, stirring his soup. “But I'm sure if you keep trolling you'll find someone who'd even be into blond bimbos.” Deidara clenched his fist to stop himself from smacking the brat.

“Hey Sasuke!” A loud voice shouted, and the blond freak he always hung out with wrapped himself around him, hanging off him. “You told me you wouldn't go without me! You owe me ramen!”

“Like a date?” Deidara suggested, grinning at the young Uchiha as he glared.

“Yeah like a date…” Naruto mocked him. “Like I would ever want to date him.” He was blushing now, as if he had just realized something. “Sasuke, is this a date?”

Sasuke glowered at him, chucking a chop stick at Naruto's head. “No Dobe, this is not a date! Would you just sit down and order some food!”

Deidara had to strain to hear Naruto whisper. “It could be a date if you want it to be...I wouldn't mind.” He could only imagine how pissed off Itachi was at the stain that lit up Sasuke's cheeks.

“Thought you weren't into boys, Princess?” He taunted, chuckling to himself and at the same time subtly sneaking the liquid into Sasuke's glass.

“Who the hell are you anyways?” Sasuke asked, but Deidara noticed how he didn't deny it.

“No one of consequence little Princess.” He slid out of the stool. “Enjoy your date.”

“It's not a date!” Sasuke yelled after him, and Deidara noticed out of the corner of his eye how he took a drink. Maybe now he could get back to Sasori...one could only make so many excuses for going to Konoha.

Sasuke made his way out of the ramen shop, feeling beyond tired as he made his excuses. He didn't know what to think about what was going on between him and Naruto. He didn't know why he felt this way about the annoying blond, but he couldn't stop thinking about him.

He stumbled a little on the gravel, shaking his head to clear as the world spun. This wasn't him being...this was...no...not again. “You don't have to…” He tried, stumbling forward. “Don't. Don't...not again.” He fell forward into warm arms, blacking out almost instantly.

Sasuke woke up in his bed, hands tied together as he laid on his side, blearily opening his eyes. He was unsurprised to see his brother sitting there. “You don't have to drug me to talk to me you know?” He said, still high as he watched Itachi, anxiety in his features. “It's so I forget, right? Whatever you keep doing to me. You had someone else drug me this time....some...was he blond?”

“Deidara.” Itachi answered. “You've been more guarded lately.” He reached out, running his fingers through his hair. “He's useful. I bound him to you.” Sasuke stared blearily at that, wondering what that meant, wondering why Itachi was touching him.

“What do you mean you bound him to me?” Sasuke asked, voice muffled and heavy from the drugs. “What does that mean?”

“It means I bound him to you when I bought him.” Itachi tilted Sasuke's face up. “He belongs to you...not that you'll ever know that. Not that you'll remember this conversation.”

“Then why have it?” Sasuke asked, struggling to move his bound hands. “Why do you do this?”

“I explain every time,” Itachi assured him, sounding weary.

“Humor me,” Sasuke grumbled, glaring as Itachi ran his fingers down his cheek .”Don't touch me.” Itachi removed his hand, staring down at his fingers strangely.

“I have to get you ready...for the future,” He explained, as if placating a child. “You wouldn't understand right now...I couldn't make you understand.”

“How would you make me understand?” Sasuke asked, still too drugged to move.

“By making you love me,” Itachi said, almost shy. “Someday you will.”

“Why?” Sasuke asked, trying to wrap his mind around it. “Are you doing something to me?” Itachi looked away, an obvious sign of guilt. “Itachi….Aniki...are you doing something to me?”

“Not to make you love me.” Sasuke shut his eyes as Itachi kissed his eyelids. “You'll do that all on your own.”

“You're insane,” Sasuke murmured, feeling Itachi's breath on his face. “I'll never love you….I hate you.”

“You don't believe that,” His brother murmured, turning him over onto his back. “Otouto...I can never explain myself to you properly,” He said, sounding exhausted. “When will it ever be easy between us?”

“Have you touched me before?” Sasuke asked him, staring with nothing but hate. “When you take me like this? What the fuck do you do to me Itachi?”

“Don't be disgusting,” Itachi hissed. “I would never do anything without your permission...you're just a kid.”

“You want to?” Sasuke asked. “That's what all that love shit is about...you want to fuck me?” He watched Itachi, the other's eyes roaming down his body. “So what is this? A coercion technique?”

“I'm getting you ready,” He said, hands coming to Sasuke's hips, pushing up his shirt to reveal his creamy white stomach. “I have to ruin your soul to make you ready.” Sasuke gasped as Itachi leaned in then, kissing just above his belly button. “Hollow you out.”

“Ready for what….” Sasuke whispered breathlessly. “For what….” He squirmed as Itachi kissed along his stomach, and by the time Itachi buried his face in it they were both panting. Itachi's hands dug into his hips to control himself. Sasuke could feel him shaking.

“You have no idea what it's like to have this sickness...to want something you can never have,” Itachi breathed into his skin. “To know that you're corrupted to your very soul...I've killed so many people, and never has it made me feel as wrong as when I look at you.”

Sasuke reached towards his shorts, getting feeling back in his fingers as he slowly grabbed for a kunai, fingers wrapping around the knife as Itachi kissed up his stomach, biting at his lower rib. Sasuke used all the strength he had with the drugs in his system, swinging the knife and going to plunge it directly into Itachi's neck.

Itachi caught it easily, twisting his wrist until Sasuke dropped the kunai, hissing at the pain. “If you think for one second that I would `ever' let you touch me willingly, you're delusional. You're sick in the head your freak.!” He hissed, spitting in Itachi's face only to be punched directly in the nose. He heard it break with a sickening crack as his entire head spun.

Blood gushed down his face as he groaned in pain, head spinning as he heard Itachi began to chant a jutsu. He didn't recognize the words, but the more and more he spoke, the more he felt like there were bugs crawling underneath his skin. “Stop it!” He begged, writhing in the bed. “Aniki….stop….it hurts.” It felt like they were ripping out of his skin, like needles were piercing every inch of him. Tearing...torturing...ripping his soul. His body arched, bending almost unnaturally until he thought his back would break, gasping as light began to leave his mouth. Blue light flared from his mouth, draining him as Itachi held up a ring, the light hitting it….absorbed by it.

He collapsed onto the bed, limbs sprawled unnaturally as he couldn't move, could barely breathe. He felt dirty...like all the goodness in him had been scrubbed away with a rusty spoon. He was sullied. He was wrong. Itachi had taken part of his soul. He had taken away something that he could never get back. How many times had he done this before? For how long?

Itachi got up then, pocketing the ring. “One day you'll understand all this...but I'm doing this for your own good.” He reached out, running his hand through his hair. “I'll see you in a few years.” Sasuke couldn't even respond as he leaned down and kissed him. “Don't worry, you won't remember any of this.”

,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sasuke shoved Itachi back, devouring his mouth roughly. He had been gone for a week, and Sasuke was going crazy. He had jumped over the table when Itachi had sat for breakfast, getting into his lap as he ate out his mouth like he was dying. “Take off your pants…” He begged, kissing all over his neck. “Now…” He grinded his hips on Itachi, kissing everywhere he could get to. “You said two days…”

“I had to check on Kakashi and Neji.” Itachi explained. “It took longer than I thought...besides didn't really think you'd miss me.”

“Why?” Sasuke asked, peppering his neck with kisses. “We're not fighting anymore...and I'm a little addicted to you right now.” He leaned into his ear. “And your cock,” He whispered dirtily. He reached to slip Itachi's pants down his hips. “Did you miss me Aniki?” He asked, hand wrapping around his hard cock. “What do you want me to do to you?”

“Stop,” Itachi murmured, and Sasuke froze. He recognized that tone of voice. He pulled back, frowning at his brother. “Don't give me that look,” Itachi said. “I'm not in the mood.”

“We haven't seen each other for a week, your dick is hard in my hand, and you're not in the mood?” He asked. “Fuck you Itachi,” He hissed, sliding off his lap and going to walk away only to be pulled backwards back onto Itachi's lap. “Let me go.”

Itachi buried his face in Sasuke's neck, inhaling his smell. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. Of course I missed you.” He rubbed down his stomach, fingertips tracing over the scar. “Of course I did,” He sighed. “Sometimes I don't believe this is real...and when you act like that...I just think you're lying.”

Sasuke rolled his eyes, leaning back into those arms. “You're an idiot. Why are you always like this? I'm in love with you, and you don't believe it. It's exhausting.” He turned to kiss his cheek. “What did you find out...have they accepted them?” He asked, trying not to sound annoyed as he curled up on his lap.

“As far as I can see...Neji is in prison, just like you were.” Sasuke snorted. Everything really did come around.

“You fuck him with soap too?” He asked, trying once again to push off his lap. “Let. Go.”

“No.” Itachi assured him. “I thought you were over this Neji business?” He asked.

“Not over it,” Sasuke promised. “Waiting for the day when you leave me is more like it.” Itachi did let him pull away then, and he didn't look back as he stalked down the hall, slamming the door to the training room behind him as he did.

Itachi found him a few hours later, obviously waiting for him to calm down. Sasuke shot his chidori towards Itachi, hitting the practice dummy right by his head. “Aniki…” He greeted, brow sweaty from working out. He was back to 100% again, aching to get out of here. “Did you come to apologize?”

He watched Itachi arch a brow. “Why on earth would I apologize to you?” He asked. “Do I need to apologize for your fits now?” He asked boredly. “Get over here.”

“Not in the mood.” Sasuke mocked him, knowing Itachi was only doing this to appease him. He stood his ground, glaring at him, daring him to demand him again.

Itachi exhaled in annoyance, and when he looked at Sasuke again his eyes were red and full of hatred. “Get over here now...or I'm going to beat the shit out of you.”

Sasuke's eye flared red as well. “I'd like to see you try.” His chakra flared around him, shirtless as sweat dripped down his navel. “C'mon Aniki...give me your best shot.” He beckoned him forward with a grin.

His brother watched him, obviously trying to decide between annoyance and conceding. By the way he pushed off the wall slowly he knew he had succeeded. “You seem to be pretty cocky,” Itachi pointed out. “There is one thing I've been meaning to do though, and I think it will help with that chip on your shoulder. So yeah Otouto...I'll fight you.”

“What have you been meaning to do?” Sasuke asked, the Kyuubi cloak coating him as his fangs grew. He bent over on all fours as two tails grew, one eye swirled with the Mangekyo, and the other slitted with the fox.

“Take him out of you,” Itachi explained calmly. “I told you it was a mistake.”

Sasuke grinned cruelly. “But he'll always be inside me Aniki….” He mocked, watching Itachi's face go dark. He licked, tongue extending as one eye turned gold, pulling from the dark powers inside of him. “This piss you off baby?” He asked, using the nickname he knew Itachi despised. He lunged first, Itachi moving too fast to see. Sasuke reacted, flipping backwards just in time to have Itachi breathe out fire and miss. They clashed with each other, Sasuke running on all fours along the wall, flipping backwards to grab Itachi around the neck. The body exploding into crows as he growled, shooting snakes to where he thought Itachi might be next.

He hit nothing but air. Another tail grew as anger took over, sliding across the floor as Itachi lunged at him with a sword. He barely avoided getting his head cut off, the sword slashing across his face and stomach. Sasuke grabbed for a sword out of the practice swords, barely blocking Itachi as he came at him next. The two slashed back and forth, hitting so hard that sparks flew all over the room, ending up lashed to the ceiling with their chakra. Sasuke kicked out to try to break Itachi's face. Itachi reacted, landing a solid kick into Sasuke's stomach as they both fell towards the ground. Sasuke stabbed forward with the sword, stabbing through Itachi's stomach as it exploded into crows again.

“Stop hiding!” Sasuke hissed, darkness bubbling below the surface where he store Orochimaru's chakra. He growled as he was grabbed from behind, Itachi putting him into a hold as he held his arms above him, wrapping around the back of his neck.

“I'm not going to hide from you,” Itachi hissed into his ear, holding him. “Now I'm going to take him out of you,” Was all his said, before his hand plunged into Sasuke's mouth. The younger choked as he pushed down his throat, swelling and expanding the muscles with chakra as Sasuke choked and struggled in his arms. He coughed, tears pouring from his at the pain as Itachi ripped out of his throat, a long sword coming with him as he did, the source of Orochimaru's powers. Itachi spun the sword around, plunging it deep into Sasuke's stomach, moving out of the way to let Sasuke collapse onto the ground, impaled.

Sasuke coughed, claws digging into the ground as he bled everywhere, coughing up black blood as it flowed from his stomach, burning into the concrete like acid. He was struggling for breath, intense pain filling him as Itachi squat down in front of him, grabbing his chin.

“That cockiness doesn't go so far, does it?” Itachi asked him as the last of the putrid substance came out of him. “I don't want him inside you. I don't want those powers in you. You'll survive with what `I' gave you,” He assured him.

Sasuke glared at him, finally calming down, furious eyes watching his brother. “What `you' gave me?” He asked. “Like the Kyuubi?”

“Exactly like the Kyuubi,” Itachi said, yanking on him as the wound healed. “Let's get you cleaned up.”

Sasuke glared as Itachi held him close. “I could have used that chakra.”

“You're better without it,” Itachi said, exhausted as he threw Sasuke over his shoulder. “I'm going to take you back to our room and clean you...and then show you how much I missed you,” He mocked, slapping Sasuke's ass roughly. “Now shut up you fucking brat,” He growled.

,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Neji looked up from his bed in the cell as the man in the orange mask approached. His eyes scanned over him, knowing this man was hiding a lot. His chakra, it was like Itachi and Sasuke's. “You're an Uchiha.” He murmured, tracing the massive amount of chakra patterns in that body.

The man tilt his head, as if pondering something, and then slipped off the mask. Neji traced his face, seeing the scarred side, knowing this man had been in some serious accident. “You're very clever.” The Uchiha said. “How's that working out for you?” He asked. “How clever are you being right now?”

Neji wasn't stupid, he knew what he was implying. “You want to know if I'm a spy for the Leaf?” He asked, and kept a calm face at the other's biting laughter.

“Oh no...I know you're not spying for the leaf. I know all their spies.” He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. “Are you spying for Itachi?”

“No.” Neji answered automatically, because he technically wasn't spying for Itachi.

“Ah.” The Uchiha murmured. “Sasuke then...Are you his friend?” The man unlocked his cage, opening the bars. “You shouldn't be. The kid is poison...I gave him over to be killed and they messed it up. Funny story though...I have a small contingency plan.” He tilt his head. “I think we'll start with you...and I'll work my way up to Kakashi.”

“What do you mean you'll start with me?” Neji asked, guard up as the Uchiha stepped into the cell. He stood up as the man came in. “Back up.” He hissed.

“It's a funny thing about lessons.” The man started with. “Death is the most important lesson of all. I don't like to be betrayed Neji. I apologize for this.”

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Sasuke's hands kneaded into Itachi's lower back, his brother groaning as he worked down the perfect skin of his back. He leaned down, kissing every bone of his spine. “You're tense…” He pointed out, fingers working all of the knots out of his muscles. “You're nervous about not hearing back from Neji.” He kissed along his neck. “Why?”

“Because I'm madly in love with him,” Itachi mocked tiredly, sounding pliant and relaxed. “Lower.” Sasuke complied, kneading the muscles right above his ass. “He hasn't responded in days. Something is wrong.”

“Yet here you are,” Sasuke mused, dropping lower, kneading the back of Itachi's thighs. He had felt much better since the incident with Itachi earlier, much more like himself. “Should we go check?” He asked, itching to get out. “I can fight whoever they throw my way.”

Itachi hummed his disapproval, and Sasuke sighed as he crawled back up to sit on his back. “I need out Itachi...I'm going crazy.” He kissed along the back of his neck as he moved his hair out of the way. “I'll make it worth your while.” His brother barely responded, relaxed under his hands. “Niisan?” He prodded, turning Itachi's face a little, the pillow underneath Itachi's lips was speckled with crimson. Sasuke swallowed hard, keeping calm and not letting Itachi feel him shake. “You're exhausted...maybe we should just go to sleep?” He suggested instead, stomach tight in knots as he watched Itachi nod, his eyes were closed. This had been happening more and more. The taste of blood...his brother passing out on him. He swallowed hard as he kissed those bloody lips, laying down beside him as he laid onto the slightly wet pillow.

Itachi's arms wrapped around him, pulling him in close as he pulled the blankets over them. “You're very good with your hands Otouto...don't think I've ever been this relaxed.” Sasuke smiled at him, thumb drawing across Itachi's lip to wipe the blood away.

“Don't think this gets you out of letting me out of this compound Itachi.” He grumbled, curled up in Itachi's cold arms. Itachi was already asleep by that time, and Sasuke tried not to cry as he wiped the trail of blood leaking from his nose.

He watched Itachi the next morning, seeing his chest rise and fall in that slow manner. Had his brother been sleeping more? Had he been less guarded? How long had he been sick? Sasuke had been so happy to have him back that he had let Itachi tell him the lie. He had eaten it up. Sasuke slowly shook his shoulder. “Aniki…” He whispered, not able to hide the terror in his voice.

Itachi cracked his eyes open slowly, frown creasing his forehead. “Why do you sound like that?” He asked, watching Sasuke from the pillow. He sighed, going to tug Sasuke down, but the younger avoided it.

“I made you some tea,” Sasuke murmured, grabbing for the medicated tea he made that morning. “And breakfast.” Itachi was just staring at him in annoyance, not grabbing for the cup.

“What is it you think you know Sasuke?” He asked, pushing himself up. “I'm fine...I just over exerted myself in our fight.”

“You're lying,” Sasuke half hissed, half whined. “You're sick. You're sick just like you said you were, aren't you? You're dying.”

Itachi rolled his eyes. “Stop being so dramatic. I told you I was fine.” He grabbed for the tea, making a face at the taste. “What is this, it's disgusting,” He murmured, setting it back down. “Can you not even make tea right?” He mocked him. He got out of the bed, stretching and Sasuke couldn't help but stare at every perfect muscle of his back. How did he still manage to be this gorgeous when he was so sick?

“You're beautiful…” He whispered, and Itachi looked over his shoulder, raising an eyebrow. “I love you.”

“Shut up Sasuke,” Itachi snapped, annoyed. “Get out of bed. We need to continue training.”

“But Itachi….” He tried softly. “You can't just...you're…” Hurt, he was going to say, but the look from Itachi quieted his response. “Alright Aniki.” He slid out of bed, pulling on pants over his boxers as he followed Itachi silently, feeling cowed and forlorn. He had to help him. He had to stop this.

“We have to go after Neji,” Itachi explained as they headed down the hall of the compound. “If he isn't dead yet he soon will be. Or worse.”

“Worse?” Sasuke asked, not able to look at his brother.

“Obito is quite skilled in turning people to his side. If he turns Neji it could be a trap for us to walk in there. However, I'm very skilled at avoiding traps.”

“Of that I have no doubt,” Sasuke murmured, finger playing with his ring, stomach eating at him at just the thought of his Aniki leaving him. “I can bring him back. I need the practice anyways.”

“I'll go with you,” Itachi assured him. “You're strong, but I'm not sure you could beat Obito yet...or Pein.”

“He cheats,” Sasuke sneered.

“No doubt,” Itachi agreed. “And yet...I'm still going to help you.”

“What about Kakashi?” Sasuke asked. “Why aren't you concerned for his welfare?” He asked. “His salvation?”

“Kakashi is lost to us. He was just meant as a distraction for Obito...a trap.” He grinned at his brother, and Sasuke looked up, blushing and looking away as all he could think about was Itachi's blood on the pillow. “You're pathetic,” Itachi said under his breath, grabbing Sasuke's elbow and yanking him towards the practice room. “Stock up on weapons. I'll get the food. We leave in 10 minutes.”

“Yes Aniki,” Sasuke agreed as he was shoved forward, trying to push down the overwhelming sadness. He grabbed for their weapons, fingers shaking as he loaded their sacks. His stomach was heaving as he remembered how cold Itachi had been, how much their fight had taken out of him. Itachi was perfect. He couldn't get hurt. He couldn't die. He couldn't bleed. He couldn't leave him.

“Ready?” Itachi asked from behind him, hands wrapping around his waist. They felt strong...forever strong. Sasuke tilt his neck as Itachi's lips found their place, sighing at the amazing feeling. “Stop being so sad. You're here...I'm here...that's all that matters.”

“And when you're not?” Sasuke asked him, gasping as Itachi bit his pulse, leaning back against his lover. “When you leave me?”

“Nothing is forever,” Itachi replied with. “Not even you and me.” He inhaled his scent. “No matter how much I wish it...to keep you.” He kissed Sasuke's cheek then, hugging him tighter. “When I'm gone...you can be happy.”

“Never,” Sasuke disagreed. “Never without you.” Itachi sighed against his cheek, pulling back as he took his own weapons for himself. They were done talking about this, Itachi had said all he ever would about the subject.

Sasuke followed him out as they took off running, pushing down the grief. It would do him no good now. They ran unfathomably fast through the trees. His brother and he, prodigies of the world. They were more powerful than any other shinobi in this world. A legacy that would forever live on. Uchihas, their name would strike fear in the hearts of men. He would give Itachi a legacy that would never die, unlike his brother.

They were running for almost a day, night setting as their feet began to slow. He paused in his steps, feeling the rush of chakra coming from the trees. “Someone's here.” He whispered, his eyes slitting with the fox. He inhaled through the air, taking in the scent in the trees. “it stinks like Akatsuki.”

“So they knew we were coming,” Itachi mused, his own eyes red as he scanned the trees. “Stay alert. Don't get stupid Otouto.”

“How little you think of me Aniki,” Sasuke mocked right back, teeth sharp as lines grew along his face. “Can I play, or do you want her all to yourself?” He asked, recognizing the scent even if he had never spoken to the woman. Pein's lover...the one they called angel.

“Konan.” Itachi agreed, and they both barely had the time to jump out of the way before the winged Akatsuki flew towards them, slashing at them with a paper sword. Sasuke growled, landing on all fours as his hackles rose, a tail growing from him.

“You shouldn't have come here,” He assured her, voice a deep growl. “I'm going to eat those wings right off of you.”

“I think they'll find them a bit bitter for your tastes,” She said, her voice floating on the wind as she landed on a branch. “The Uchiha brothers...traitors.” Her eyes landed on Itachi. “You could have had everything once Obito was gone. You chose your brother. You chose death.”

“He's not the one that's going to die today.” Sasuke assured her, another tail growing as her eyes flickered towards him.

“The power of the Kyuubi...impressive.” She conceded. “It won't save you. I will not let you hurt him.”

“My only regret is he won't be here to watch while I rip your throat out…” He tried, but was silenced as Itachi held up a hand.

“Why are you here Konan?” He asked the woman. “Pein send you to do his dirty work?” He asked her. “Did Obito?”

“Obito fights plenty dirty,” She agreed. “If only you knew what he had in store for you Uchihas. He's recovering.” Sasuke looked over when he saw Itachi smirk knowingly. “Tricky Uchiha scum...how'd you know?”

“You can never stay away from the one you love,” He glanced towards Sasuke, before looking back. “A shame it didn't kill him.”

“A shame?” She asked. “You burned the other side of his face when he touched Kakashi.” She grinned. “He really can't afford to be scarred on both sides.”

“You learn to live with scars.” Itachi promised her. “His ugliness matches his insides. Fitting that it should come from Kakashi's hands yet again.”

“I was sent to make you suffer,” Konan promised him, wings flapping wide.

“You were sent to try,” Itachi corrected, before lunging forward. The world filled with crows as he went after Konan, Sasuke watching from the ground. Itachi shot fire at the paper wings, the flames doing nothing as Konan used them as a shield. She flew backwards, lashing yet again with the sword, an enormous amount of chakra exploding forth as Itachi blocked it with his own sword. They clashed then, flying in the air, sparks of chakra filling the sky as they moved almost too fast to see. Sasuke tracked it with his eyes, not able to believe how fast his brother could move...how strong he was. She was strong too though.

He surged himself into the air then, using chakra to propel himself just as she came up with another weapon, blocking it before it could strike Itachi's face. She looked towards him, frowning at the added opponent.

“You don't fight fair.” She told them both, before spinning and slashing to defend against them both. “Dishonor coats your clan like a sickness. You disgust me.”

“The feeling is mutual.” Sasuke assured her, slashing with his claw and making a dent in her wings, flipping as he kicked her in the chest to send her flying. Itachi and Sasuke landed down on the ground, standing back to back as Konan screamed, sending paper flying stars towards them, thousands sharp as razors as they jumped out of the way.

Sasuke rolled along the ground to avoid it, stars whipping along him, slicing his face as his green eyes glowed in healing. Itachi stepped forward then, calm as ever as he faced her. Sasuke tracked it with his eyes, seeing the genjutsu.

“Do you really think I'm weak enough to fall for something like that?” Konan asked, paper shadow clone grabbing Itachi from behind. His brother's own clone exploded into crows that flew everywhere, the world fading into a deep red.

Sasuke's eyes widened as he was also in this world? When had Itachi...How? They had the same eyes? He stood up, looking into the shades of black and red to meet Itachi's eyes, the other's fierce with battle. “Konan. What were you saying about not falling for this trap?” He asked her, hand reaching out. He ripped the girl to pieces, paper flying everywhere as her visage appeared in each and every piece. “A founding member of the Akatsuki, reduced to Obito Uchiha's puppet.”

“You don't understand, scum,” She hissed at him, fighting to put her body back together, but with just another look Itachi ripped it to pieces once again. She screamed this time, blood leaking from every piece of paper. “I have to protect him. I have to stop you.”

“Nothing can protect him,” Itachi assured her. “Nothing can stop me.” He stepped closer, surrounded by the paper. “I know normal fire can't hurt you, but as you've already seen from Obito, I don't have normal fire.”

Black fire exploded all around them, burning. Sasuke could smell searing flesh even in this world. The world exploded to blue again, sun breaking through the illusion. Sasuke saw the body thrashing on the ground, rolling to try to get the black flames off to no avail.

“My lady.” Itachi mock bowed, walking over as she screamed. “Lady Angel. You could have done so much more. You could have the world just as you had always wanted.” He kicked her over, avoiding the black flames slowly dissolving her. “You chose Obito.” He looked down dispassionately. “You chose death.” She burst into flames and screams, Itachi watching it until it burnt out, cinders the only thing left on the ground.

Sasuke walked over, tails retreated by this point as he stared at the cinders, not even bones left. “They're not going to be happy to realize she's dead,” He assured Itachi. “But then again, we only have Obito and Pein left.”

Itachi stared at his work. “Words not said lightly Otouto. They aren't easy kills.” He turned away.

“Neither was she. You managed just fine.” If his brother was this powerful, how was it that he could be sick? How was it that he could be this strong and yet this sick? No, he couldn't be. Itachi was fine. He had shown that toay.

“Don't be an idiot Otouto. This isn't the same.” Itachi's head snapped towards the trees as they heard rustling. “This isn't over.”

Sasuke looked to the trees as well, growling as the shinobi stumbled out of them, teeth sharp points as Neji stumbled out, covered head to foot in blood. Sasuke ran forward then, tackling him back, kunai pressed to his throat as he fought everything in him not to slit it. “What are you doing here?”

Neji coughed, blood spouting from his mouth. “I escaped...from the compound. He tortured me for days. He wanted to know my secrets.” Neji looked over to Itachi. “Your plan failed. He knew.”

“Of course he knew,” Itachi said, eyes suspicious as he examined him. “How is it he was stupid enough to let you leave alive?”

Sasuke pressed the kunai deeper into his throat at that, breaking skin as he pressed against his jugular. “Be careful how you answer this Hyuuga...I very much want to do this.”

“He was hurt,” Neji said, glaring at Sasuke. “Kakashi burned him alive. He's close to death.” Sasuke glanced over to Itachi, knowing this was his brother's doing. He had heard his earlier conversation with with Konan. “Injured doesn't mean sloppy. He would never let you out of that cell. You're lying!” He pressed the kunai deeper. “I say we kill him. Why take the chance? He's useless to us now.”

“Sorry, some of us didn't have brothers as an in.” Neji pushed against him, clearly too weak to use any chakra. “I tried. That bastard came in to try to use me as a trap, and I defended myself to the point of death! He left me there in my own pile of blood, and when I heard his screams it was like sweet music to my ears.”

“And why should we believe you?” Sasuke asked, eyes wide and wild. “I never trusted you...You've been trying to take him from me,” He said, chakra flared and powerful as he reached back, going to stab through his neck as Itachi yanked him back and off.

“Control yourself,” Itachi hissed, throwing him down onto the ground. “We're taking him with us. We'll figure out if he's lying back at the compound.”

Sasuke growled at his brother. “You don't be an idiot!” He yelled. “We should just kill him and go after Obito!” He yelled. “He's hurt! This could be our only chance to kill him!” He yelled. “Why are you so afraid of him?” He questioned, eyes flaring.

“I'm scared of no man,” Itachi bit right back. “Mind your tongue.”

“No!” Sasuke argued. “We need to go after him! Now Itachi…” He paused, his voice ending in a shaky hiccup. Itachi's eyes were dripping with blood, his nose starting as well as it covered his face. He turned away as he saw Sasuke's expression, and he heard a cough, blood spraying the ground. He frowned, panic welling up in him as he saw Neji look towards and Itachi, and then Sasuke knowingly. He lashed then, slamming his fist into Neji's face, hearing his cheek bone break as he fell to the ground.

When Itachi turned back to him his face was clean again. He was put together in a way only his brother could obtain. “Pick up Neji. Tie him up if you have to...we'll get our answers.” Sasuke felt himself nod, not about to argue at this point. Not when he was so sick. Itachi had seemed fine. He had taken down one of the strongest members of the Akatsuki. How...how when he was hurting like this? How were they supposed to win when his brother was in this much pain?

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