itachi; unexpected turns
"Naruto, no , please, I can cook dinner," Sasuke said trying to be patient as he took the utensil in the said boy's hand carefully. "What the hell, Sasuke-teme! Do you think I can't cook or what? I'll make food ten times better than you!" Naruto retorts trying to take back his cooking equipment.
"But you don't even like to cook!"
"I wanna today!"
"Some other day okay? Maybe when you're older." Sasuke says and then bites his tongue. He has to remember than this is Naruto, who's at most six months younger to him, not a few years. Thankfully the other doesn't seem to notice the slip and pouts and goes away, yelling about what a 'bastard' his roommate is. Sasuke snorts, who'd complain about not having to do work. Except for Naruto of course.
He starts working on the curry he's making, from his mother's recipe book. He remembers helping her make it whenever Itachi was working late and they'd wait for him together. It doesn't hurt as much as he imagined. He feels better, almost as if his mother could watch him make her favourite foods. Maybe it's because he's lived for so long that the pain is easier to handle. But in this life, he is Sasuke more than is Indra. Just like the last time he was Madara more than he was Indra.
It's alright though, he knows he's not alone. Not when Naruto is in the living room setting up the dining table while grumbling about not getting to make ramen for dinner. He is not alone.
----
Itachi is perched on the tree outside his former home. He never expected to be here ever again. To see his home empty and quiet while he remembers the compound to never be empty. There were always some people found outside on the roads at any given time, except that night, of course, no one was out that day.
He doesn't know what to feel about seeing Sasuke at home. From where he is, he can only see the kitchen through the window, where his brother is making food on the stove, he looks relaxed, content even. Itachi is happy that Sasuke is fine, really, he is. But he can't help but wonder what made him take such drastic decisions regarding their clan. He doesn't want to show himself and ruin his brother's life once again, to destroy whatever sort of peace he has finally found. He thinks of turning away and reporting to the Hokage that he isn't going to meddle in his politics anymore, and maybe threaten him about ever trying to push Sasuke into doing what the council wants.
But just as he is about to leave a wire catches his foot, in surprise, Itachi forgets to move quickly and is pulled down from the tree.
Sasuke is standing right in front of him, he blinks once, twice, and looks back at the kitchen activating his Sharingan, the image of his brother melts away leaving an empty kitchen.
Genjutsu.
Since when did Sasuke know Genjutsu?
Now that he is settled he effortlessly frees himself and looks at his brother properly. He looks well, but his eyes are a whirlpool of emotion. He also stays silent where he is standing instead of attacking him in rage.
"Sasuke," he says evenly, no emotion in his voice.
"What are you doing here you murderer?" Sasuke's voice is so full of silent anger that Itachi startles. His brother had always been an open book to him, quick to anger and no restraint on that said anger. He stays quiet because he has nothing to say.
"Go away. Don't come back, I don't need you destroying everything once again." his brother says and steps back, his kunai still in hand. Itachi is very surprised, he had expected Sasuke to hate him, and one day grow strong enough to kill him and avenge his family, it was his final atonement for his sins, but here his brother was, dismissing him clearly, was his brother strong enough to avoid the curse of hatred that existed in their very blood?
"Oh? I see you've forgotten what I've done, Do you not want to kill me anymore? Avenge mother and father? The-"
"No matter what you do I won't become a kin killer like you!" his brother hissed, his Sharingan coming to life. Itachi took half a step back as if slapped. His brother had the Mangekyou. How did he get those eyes?
"Sasuke! Teme what are you doing I'm hungry 'ttebayo!" Itachi's eyes focused on the new presence among them. Uzumaki Naruto. The Kyuubi Jinchuriki. For the first time since that night, he saw panic in his younger brother's eyes.
"Hey who is this weirdo-"
"Naruto! Go back inside!" his brother yelled and stood in front of the blonde protectively.
"Wha- is this... him ?" the jinchuriki asked and once again Itachi found himself surprised. Sasuke trusted someone enough to tell him about that night, about Itachi, and Sasuke was ready to stand in front of him facing him to protect that person. He really didn't know his brother after all. Maybe if he killed the Uzumaki his brother would finally break and kill him. But Itachi didn't want to kill another innocent child ever again. He didn't want to take away Sasuke's happiness again.
"So I see you've made friends Ototo. What makes you think you'll be able to keep them safe? You're weak."
"Hey! Who're you calling weak huh?! Sasuke's a hundred times better than you are and I'm-"
"Naruto, please, run away. He'll hurt you if you're here, I'll hold him off, please, I can't see you hurt again," Itachi heard Sasuke say quietly, only the chakra enhanced ears would be able to pick the voice. Naruto didn't look convinced at all, he looked at Itachi straight in the eye. And when was the last time someone looked him in the eye? No one in Akatsuki did. Everyone knew to avoid the Uchiha's Sharingan if you wanted to avoid death.
Before he could make a move or trap both of them in a genjutsu and leave, Naruto fell to the floor holding his head as if in pain. Sasuke was by his side in an instant, holding him and calling his name. Itachi stayed still, his mind whirling. Was this something to do with the Kyuubi? Was the seal weakening? Was it something about looking him in the eyes that made him like this?
By the time Naruto finally calmed down, he was out of breath and sweating. His eyes too seemed different, a bit confused, a bit incredulous. His gaze straight away went to Sasuke.
"...... Indra-nii?" he whispered, Itachi did not understand what he meant by that but whatever it meant, it was enough to shock Sasuke completely, his brother took a step back, and another, looking at Naruto in surprise.
"Asura?" he asked, his voice was full of expectance and a bit of hesitance.
"It's really you!" the jinchuriki yelled and flung himself at the raven, hugging him tightly. Sasuke was embracing him back just as enthusiastically.
"....I can feel Kurama," the blonde said and both the boy's eye's widened. Itachi had enough by now, his brother was safe and the jinchuriki was stable. He had no reason to be here any longer. He'll tell the Hokage to not bother him again unless his brother was in danger and go away. It was clear that Sasuke did not wish to kill him anymore, he was content with his life and that was what Itachi wanted more than anything.
He stepped back and was about to blend into the shadows when a tendril caught his ankle. Before he could move his whole body was caged by branches of a tree. He looked up to see that Naruto was holding his hand in a seal.
Mokuton?
"Don't try using fire to escape, these are filled with oil instead of water," Sasuke said sharply and the blonde looked at him in surprise for a moment but then he smiled and focused his attention back to Itachi.
"What do you want to do with him Sasuke?" Naruto asked and Itachi watched as his brother was silent for a moment before he shook his head, "We'll hand him over to the Hokage, he is a missing-nin and should be treated as such," he replied.
But Naruto wasn't listening to him, he was looking straight at Itachi with eyes full of confusion. Itachi felt like he was being dissected. He couldn't afford to move right now, he had never countered the Mokuton before. How did this boy even have it?
"Sasuke... I'm sensing no negative emotions from him. He is so full of grief and.... regret. He also had an overwhelming amount of love and protectiveness for you.." he said warily, looking at Sasuke for his reaction.
Itachi felt his heart stop beating. A sensor. No, no, no. Sasuke would never know the truth about their clan, about their disgrace. He wouldn't let it happen, forgetting about being discrete, he moved to try and free himself but the vines holding him only tightened their hold.
Sasuke looked at him, and in one swift movement knocked him out. Itachi would vaguely hear the two boys talking. 'How did my little brother learn to fight like that?' was his last thought before he fell unconscious.