Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ The Brother I Once Was ❯ The Brother I Once Was Pt. 12 ( Chapter 12 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

It was all quiet. Itachi pulled Sasuke slowly off his back and into his arms once again. Before he put his little brother back into bed he peeked in his parent's room. They were both asleep. Itachi let out a small sigh. He closed the door and walked back over to Sasuke's room. Sasuke groaned lightly as his brother laid him back down on his bed for the second time and pulled the blankets over him. Itachi yawned and laid by his brother. He brushed a few stray hairs out of his younger brother's face before drifting off to sleep next to him.

Sasuke awoke the next morning, not really remembered laying in his brother's arms on the rooftops. He sat up and looked around. To his surprise, Itachi was still fast asleep next to him on his bed. His hands were resting infront of his face and there was a leaf in his hair. Sasuke reached over to the leaf and pulled it out of his older brother's hair carefully. Itachi didn't stir. He was still deeply asleep, breathing slowly. Sasuke pulled the sheets over him and and got dressed before walking out to his father.

Fugaku was still upset about what Itachi had done the night before. He looked down at Sasuke. "Are you hurt?"

"No." Sasuke looked puzzled.

There was a bandage around his father's arm, he noted carefully. Was it from Itachi? Just what had happened the night before? Sasuke stood looking up at his father for a while before his father turned to walk outside. He followed, glancing back twards his room before speeding off to catch up to his father. Itachi...Sasuke thought to himself. I love you brother...I will no matter what...father can't keep me away from you forever..you are just as important to me as I am to you...I'll make sure to tell you that when you come back....

When Itachi woke up he noticed as many times before that he was alone. He went over to his room and grogily strapped on his Anbu gear. He put his sword on his back and walked out of his room. He glanced out the kitchen window and could see Sasuke performing one of his fire style jutsus out at the lake a short distance from the house. Itachi chuckled a bit to himself and walked out the door. When he did, two Anbu jumped down to meet him.

"Itachi Uchiha. Are you ready to leave?" The one masked figure called.

Itachi looked at the mask. "Kakashi Hatake?"

There was a nod. He figured as much. The other Anbu was female and one he didn't know. In an instant they all hopped off twards the forest. Itachi strapped on his mask as they went and got ready for the long day ahead of him. Not before realizing a sharp pressure in his left shoulder. He clenched his teeth. Not now...not today...Kakashi looked over at him and realized he was holding his shoulder.

"Itachi...are you alright?"

Itachi nodded. Kakashi wasn't convinced but kept moving forward anyway. "Iruka and I won't need your help after the mission. "

The Uchiha sighed with relief. That was one stress off his shoulders. They reached their destination and stayed on the treetops looking down at the people below them. They were low class criminals. The job would be easy. But the shinobi didn't want to take any chances so they sent out the Anbu. Itachi pulled out his sword and they all hopped down.

The criminals didn't put up that much of a resistance but they did try to run. The one that gave them the most trouble was the one who, surprise, ended up being Itachi's target to handle. He moved quickly so Itachi had to be very careful as he tried to watch his every move. The ninja tossed shirukens, kunais and shadow clones everywhere. Itachi leaps around trying to dodge all of them while Kakashi and the other Anbu worked on capturing the others. Eventually Itachi stopped to lean against a tree. He was breathing heavily and he had several slash marks on him. He had tried his hardest but still barely laid a hand on his opponent.

This fact didn't surprise Itachi. They were ninjas from the sand village. But through exaustion Itachi finally caught the upperhand and brought the criminal back, unconcious, to where Kakashi and the other girl was waiting. Kakashi looked him up and down. Itachi's shoulder was flaring up badly but he tried to ignore it. The three on them turned in the criminals. Itachi leaned against the wall dizzily. Kakashi put his hand on Itachi's right shoulder. Itachi glanced up at him.

"Itachi...are you sure you are okay? You don't seem so good...you should go home and rest...."

Itachi waved his hand infront of his face. "I have to go see the Hokage...." and without another word he hopped off once again to the Hokage's office.

When he reached the office the Hokage had his hands folded on his desk. "Ah! Itachi Uchiha! Just the boy I wanted to see..."

Itachi groaned to himself. What now...? Be the next Hokage? What?? Nothing could possible make this day any worse. "I want you, starting next week to train the kids down at the academy." Correction. Thing DID get worse. Itachi felt a new pressure bearing down on him now.

Was the man nuts?? Anbu, Shinobi, Police mans son and now a teacher?! Itachi didn't say anything. He just ran out of the room, leaving the Hokage baffled.

Itachi broke out laughing as he walked twards the police station. He got the occasional glance here and there. He didn't care. He decided at the last minute to head back to the house. He stood infront of it, staring at the symbol of the doorway when he reached it.

"Tomorrow is the full moon....." He smirked. "A very fitting time....To make it all go away...." Itachi let out a mad sounding laugh.

~

I didn't remember going to sleep that night. Or for that matter even walking into the house. My mind was in a hundred places. My limbs ached slightly from the mission the day before. My shoulder had stopped hurting, finally. I wasn't going to give the Hokage my answer to his request. He would find the answer in due time. I plan on taking care of all this stress tonight. Simple talk. If I absolutely have to I will resort to physical violence. Ha, makes me laugh a bit to think about it.

When I walked out into the kitchen I noticed Sasuke was just sitting at the table looking down at his breakfast without even the slightest trace of a smile. He looked up at me and opened his mouth as if he was going to say something to me but father glared deeply at him and he shut his mouth again.

We all sat around the table silently for what seemed like forever. Our shirts and hair blew lightly from the wind comming through the open window. Then without a word, Sasuke stood up and ran outside. When I looked at the clock I realized it was time for him to head down to the academy. I started laughing lightly to myself as memories from the night before came back to me.

"Itachi...." Father said sternly.

I held up my hand. I didn't really want to hear what he had to say at the moment. Wow, it seemed like I wanted everyone dead the night before this...I wonder why...not like everyone was suffocating me with chores and such? Naaah that couldn't have been it. I smirked at my own sarcasm and my father's eyebrow lifted slightly.

I stood up and walked out onto the backyard. I just felt like laughing. Just falling on the ground and laughing. It was weird. My mind was a bit hazey. All I could think about was the Anbu missions I had been sent on, the Hokage's request, Shisui, my father, my mother every tiny little thing that weighed on me.

"We're going out for a bit...we'll be back later..." My mother called about an hour or so after I had walked outside. I nodded and looked up at the sky.

That thought came racing back to me again. My dream of Sasuke calling me a murderer and trying ot kill me. He was so silent today...maybe father DID convince him to hate me. I lost Sasuke didn't I? The thought angered me to the point where the Mangekyo Sharingan burned my eyes quite litterally. After I finally calmed myself down and my eyes returned to normal I got bored. I went to get my sword and armor. While I was getting it together I head Sasuke come into my room.

"Brother...?"

I turned to look at him, the academy must be on break. He smiled sheepishly "Can you help me with my shuriken practice after school today?"

"I'm busy..." I replied. I wanted to get my sword polished and sharp again it was looking dull now-a-days.

Sasuke pouted cutely. "You always treat me like I'm a nuisance brother...."

Ah, the pity card. Nice try Sasuke. I raised my hand slightly and waved my hand twards myself, beckoning him to approach. I was going to laugh if he did. Sure enough Sasuke came walking twards me.