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Chapter Text

There are Littles and Bigs in this world, Itachi tells Sasuke when he turns six. They are the Littles, Chibi beings shorter than a human hand. Bigs are the humans, Oki people prevalent across the globe.

Sasuke, having heard this already from their parents, scowls and folds his arms from atop his bed. He asked for a bedtime story, not a boring lesson!

Itachi chuckles at Sasuke's pouty face and sets the glowing lantern on the dresser before sitting down on the mattress. "Yes." He tugs the boy out from under the covers, settling him upon his legs. "I know you know this, but there's more," he says in a hush like one telling a secret.

Sasuke perks up, arms dropping and head angling back so Itachi can see his wide-eyed curiosity. "Really? What is it?"

Itachi smiles faintly at his eagerness. "Well, we're connected, us Chibi and Oki."

Sasuke's head tilts. "We are?" His brow knits together. "But I thought the Oki didn't know about us."

"They don't," Itachi quickly assures. "But that doesn't mean we aren't connected. Just think, where do we get most of our food from?"

"Borrowing from the Oki!" Sasuke chirps, happy to show off his smarts. "'Cause they leave out lots and lots of food."

Itachi nods, smile broadening. "And who taught us our shinobi ways?"

"The Oki!" Sasuke boasts confidently. "Because they leave out ninjutsu books for us to read, and they're always fighting, so we watched them and learned how to use chakra."

"Exactly." Itachi smooths back Sasuke's hair, and the younger boy preens under the attention. "The Oki don't know we exist, but we wouldn't be Chibi Uchiha without the Oki Uchiha."

"Oh!" Sasuke's eyes widen as comprehension lights up his face. "So that's what you meant about us being connected?"

"Yes." Itachi shuts his eyes for a beat too long. "But there's more to it, to this connection between Chibi and Oki."

Sasuke frowns, sensing the mood change. "What's wrong, Nii-san?"

"We Chibi," Itachi turns from Sasuke while his arms twine around the child's middle and reel him in closer, "Copy the Oki not just in regards to the way we live, but also with our appearances."

Sasuke blinks, mind tangling in his attempt to understand his brother's words. "You mean..." He hesitates. "Like Chibi having two arms and ten fingers like the Oki do?"

Sasuke can tell he's guessed wrong before Itachi shakes his head. "No, though that is true."

His expression goes blank and the six-year old cows under the weight of Itachi's cold stare. "For every Chibi," his brother intones, "There is an Oki who looks exactly like them."

Sasuke's eyes widen, brows inching up until they disappear beneath his bangs. Somehow, he finds the strength to sputter, "There's an Oki who looks just like me? Just like you!?" His naturally pitchy voice rises three notches.

Itachi, unbothered by his little brother practically screaming in his ear, nods sagely. "Yes, and those Oki share not only our looks, but our names as well."

Sasuke's head fizzes, and the wire linking his brain to his mouth goes so taunt it nearly snaps in two. He trembles because there is another Sasuke, another him, an Oki-Sasuke running around somewhere in this too big world.

The small part of his Chibi brain that isn't stuck on—There's two Sasukes, two me's!—wonders what his larger counterpart looks like, if Oki-Sasuke lives near his home. After all, the Chibi Uchiha live within the walls of the Oki Uchiha compound, and since no Chibi is allowed outside the walls their family dwells in until they enter the Academy—something Sasuke won't do for another week—he has never seen the Oki who reside in the same house as him.

Quickly he realizes it's very likely his family does live in the same house as his Oki counterpart. Sasuke has heard a young Oki boy speaking to an older boy outside his bedroom, and now Sasuke is gasping because he might have been hearing the Oki version of his big brother too!

Soft fingers run through Sasuke's hair, coaxing him into awareness, and he looks up right in time for Itachi's fingers to poke his forehead. Sasuke shuts his eyes reflexively, but when his brother starts laughing he opens them to glare.

"Aniki!" Sasuke wails, though he calms when Itachi hugs him.

"Don't worry so much, Sasuke. You'll get used to the idea eventually. We all do," Itachi says kindly.

Sasuke frowns, refocusing on what he's learned. "Have..." He looks away, pink sprinkling over his cheeks and hands wringing together. It's a stupid question. He shouldn't ask, lest he look stupid in front of Nii-san.

"Yes?" Itachi asks patiently.

It takes a minute, but eventually Sasuke's head swings up and he blurts. "Have you ever seen my Oki?"

Itachi nods, and Sasuke's eyes double in size. "Really?" He sits up so fast his head nearly bops Itachi's chin. "What's he like, I mean, is he like me? Or does he act scary like most Oki? Does he like the same food as me? Have you seen him eat tomatoes? Do you like—" He hesitates, but forces out the question whose answer he desires most. "Do you like him?" His eyes drop to the floorboard, the boy too nervous to watch his brother's expression.

Itachi hums before responding in order of Sasuke's asking. "Yes, no, yes, yes, and—" He pretends to mull over his last answer, soaking up the anticipation brimming in Sasuke, but then his eyes crinkle and he grins. "Yes, I like him very much."

Something cold and thorny uncoils from Sasuke's heart while Itachi gives him a squeeze, saying, "Because he reminds me of you."

"G-good," Sasuke stutters in relief, snuggling up against Itachi's chest and muttering into his brother's neck. "I was worried you'd say he was annoying."

"How could I find him annoying?" Itachi notices Sasuke's eyes drooping as his mental exhaustion finally takes its toll, so grabs the discarded bedsheet and drapes it around his little brother, "When he's just like my favorite otouto."

"I'm your only otouto," Sasuke grouses, his eyes fluttering close while the blanket's warmth seeps into his skin and fatigue sedates his mind. "I wonder..." He says more to himself than Itachi. "If I'd like Oki-Sasuke...or Oki-Nii-san..."

Itachi stiffens at the mentioning of his Oki counterpart, but soon relaxes. "I hope..." He waits for Sasuke's breathing to even out before whispering, "I hope you never find out."

Sasuke doesn't pick up on the undercurrent of warning in the eldest's tone as sleep overtakes him.

—

It's a decade later when Sasuke finally grasps his brother's concern.

He and Shisui are out forging for medicinal herbs in a lush thicket within the Oki Suna greenhouse while Itachi and Izumi keep watch outside the glass building. They are far from home. In fact, this is the farthest Sasuke has ever been and the longest he’s been away from the Village—two weeks!—but the Chibi Uchiha clan is running low on poison antidotes, and they can only borrow so much from the Oki Konoha Hospital without making the Oki shinobi suspicious. This wouldn't be an issue if they could still borrow supplies from their Oki counterparts like all the other Chibi clans do.

But the Oki Uchiha died when Sasuke was seven.

Sasuke had been heading home late, having lost track of time throwing shuriken at the leaves hanging off the end of the tree branch he was on. The Chibi Ninja Academy has target boards and training grounds right outside the building, but the school is underground and Sasuke has been stuck indoors all day, so preferred to practice out in the sunshine.

Yet now the sun is gone, and his brother's crow summon is getting antsy, so Sasuke gathers his shuriken and mounts the crow.

The ride to the Uchiha compound is as smooth as ever, the full moon glinting off the bird's coal black feathers while she weaves through the air. Sasuke's hair ripples in the brisk breeze, and he’s grinning at the cool sensation after having worked up a sweat when the crow dives straight into an electrical pole.

A deep swerve saves them from a violent collision, Sasuke just barely holding onto the bird's saddle as a scream breaks from his throat.

The crow right herself, and he sucks in a shuddering breath, chest heaving and eyes big and round. He…he almost died.

Sasuke’s lips tremble, hands shaking on the reins. However, he’s drawn out of his shock when he notices his hands are barely visible in the pale moonlight. He looks down and just makes out Oki houses through the darkness.

That's weird... It isn't even close to bedtime yet.

Regardless of what Sasuke assumes is a power outage, crows don't have night vision, so he guides the bird down to a patch of grass. He dismisses the summon while he touches down on the dirt.

Though now that he's on the ground, his feet are groaning at just the idea of walking all the way to his bedroom within the main Uchiha family's home. He sighs, bracing himself to make the twenty-minute journey. However, in a stroke of good fortune, Oki-Sasuke runs past his hiding spot.

Quickly he jumps onto the giant's shoe. He scales up his leg as fast as he can and leaps onto the Oki's satchel.

By some miracle, Oki-Sasuke doesn't notice, and the Chibi is relieved while he slides under the bag flap and falls in among the Oki's schoolbooks. He knows this is risky, all Chibi know better than to get so close to an Oki-nin, but Sasuke is seven-years old and tired, and it's not like his counterpart is a fully-trained shinobi. He won't notice a thing.

It takes a little work to avoid being squashed by Oki-Sasuke's schoolbooks, and he nearly loses his footing twice as he’s bounced around, but eventually he finds his balance atop one of the thicker texts. Sasuke crosses his legs and holds onto the lip of the book beneath him, preparing for a somewhat bumpy ride.

The Oki skids to a stop. Sasuke nearly pitches off the book as his counterpart gasps. "This is—!"

A stench hits Sasuke while he straightens up. What is that? His little nose wrinkles at the putrid smell wafting through the satchel, reminding him of raw fish.

He assumes it's coming from a trash can until the larger boy cries. "W-what is this!?”

Curiosity getting the better of him, Sasuke stands up and peeks out the space where the satchel doesn't touch the flap.

With all the streetlights off, Sasuke can't tell the difference between the dead Oki littering the earth and the usual litter, but he does see the weapons. The kunai, the shuriken, and blood gleaming along their edges. 

His horrified gasp goes unheard as Oki-Sasuke breaks into a run and sends Sasuke tumbling back onto the textbook. He’s trying to push himself up when the human stops again and he face plants on the pages.

"Uncle... Auntie..." the Oki says in a breathy, horrified whisper, and a chill claws Sasuke all the way to his bones.

Something is wrong. The human’s breath is becoming uneven and his movements erratic. Whatever he’s seeing is scaring him, and it makes Sasuke grip tighten on the book because what could scare a giant?

His counterpart sprints ahead and Sasuke’s arms nearly wrench out their socket while he hangs on to the book, glimpsing a familiar Oki house between the flap and satchel. He’s almost assured that they’re home and safe, but then he notices it’s dark in the house.

"Father... Mother..."

Tagging along was a mistake, Sasuke realizes when Oki-Sasuke slides open the front door. He needs to get out now, leave the satchel right now.

Yet he’s frozen, dread for himself and his counterpart gripping his lungs and making it nearly impossible to breathe because something is wrong, horribly wrong.

"Father? Mother?"

The Oki’s voice echoes in the silent home, and though Sasuke wants to call out for his own parents, all he can do is whimper as Oki-Sasuke slowly steps forward.

"Move," Sasuke whispers to himself, knowing instinctively that Oki-Sasuke is walking into something terrible and will consequently drag Sasuke with him unless he leaves the satchel fast.

Move! He mentally urges, getting his shaking body to rise.

MOVE! His brain screams, and finally Sasuke scrambles out of the bag. He grips its side and is sliding down when Oki-Sasuke rips the satchel off.

Sasuke loses his grip and free falls. His eyes widen, arms flailing, and by chance he latches onto the Oki's shorts pocket.

He gapes at the ground far below. He’s alive? How did—

The human starts running with his shoes and satchel now off, and all Sasuke can do is cling for dear life.

His teeth clench to hold in a scream while all the rooms pass in a rush, and by the time the Oki stops, Sasuke is gasping for breath with his arms trembling so hard he's losing his grip. Looking down while his counterpart hesitates in front of a door, Sasuke realizes the ground is too far, a fall from here would kill him, and the Oki boy is shaking too much for him to safely climb down.

So Sasuke uses the last of his strength to tumble headfirst into Oki-Sasuke's pocket right as the human pushes open the doors.

"Father! Mother!"

Fresh blood assaults Sasuke even through the pocket's thick material, and the Chibi huddles as deeply as he can inside the pouch, shaking so badly he's certain if the Oki wasn't shaking too he would have definitely noticed him.

Oki sandals clack on the floorboards ominously and Sasuke covers his ears, certain he’s going to hear his counterpart be murdered by some intruder.

”Nii-san!”

Sasuke gasps, and for a second, hope shines within him.

Then a shuriken slices into Oki-Sasuke's skin, and his hands can't block out the human’s low, deep voice nor the heart-wrenching screams when Oki-Nii-san tortures his little brother.

Sasuke's eardrums burst, and he's sure he's screaming too, but his scream is hidden beneath his counterpart's until Oki-Sasuke collapses, pulling the Chibi to the ground with him.

Sasuke is mercifully knocked out when his head hits the floorboard, and it isn't until he wakes up the following morning on a bed within the Chibi Konoha Hospital that he's told the fall also ejected him out of Oki-Sasuke's pocket. His brother found him three hours later, half-drowned in the blood pooling around their Oki-parents' corpses.

Even today Sasuke is ashamed for screaming the first time Itachi visited his hospital room, having last heard his brother's voice while he cooly tortured his Oki counterpart. It takes weeks for him to look at Itachi without a haunted, hooded gaze, and even longer for his brother to forgive himself for not personally picking up Sasuke from the Academy that night.

It takes even longer than that for the Chibi Uchiha clan to accept that Oki-Sasuke is the sole survivor of the Oki Uchiha.

And it takes no time at all for Chibi Uchiha life as they know it to fall apart at the seams.

Yet Sasuke isn't thinking about that night—tries very hard to never think about that night—when he plucks a plump red berry off a shrub and stuffs it into his satchel. Shisui, pouches and backpack overloaded with medicine leaves, waves him out of the thicket’s shade.

"I think we're done here."

Sasuke nods, lifting his backpack off the dirt and shrugging on his burden of roots and berries his clan so desperately needs. He joins Shisui on the blue ledge and together they hop down to the marble-tiled floor.

They’re walking to the giant glass door where they carved a short tunnel under a tile when Shisui elbows him, whispering, "Think we should slow down? I wouldn't want to interrupt Itachi and Izumi's private time."

He waggles his eyebrows and Sasuke's face scrunches with disgust, thoroughly grossed out by the mental image of his brother and Izumi doing anything…unseemly.

Shisui laughs without a sound, knowing Oki shinobi's senses are usually sharp enough to pick up Chibi voices. "Don't worry," he clasps Sasuke's shoulder, "Some day when you’re older and have a special someone—"

Sasuke's teeth grind and he's growling, “I'm fifteen, don't treat me like a child!” as a large shadow covers them.

Shisui's grip tightens and Sasuke's eyes widen while the elder Uchiha shunshins them out of the greenhouse.

They land hard on the sand under the scorching sunlight, dust swirling at their feet, and Itachi and Izumi whip around with kunai at ready. Yet their brows rise when they see it's just them.

However, neither gets out a word as Shisui points up and shouts, "Hawk!"

Sasuke can’t register the warning before that same shadow blocks out the sun, and then he and Shisui are diving away from talons smashing into the area they were at.

Sasuke's ankles sting while he lands awkwardly on the uneven sand, baggage throwing off his normal grace, but he still easily shifts into a fighting position and flicks a shuriken into his hand. The giant bird rears back like it's planning to peck him.

Fire rushes over Sasuke’s head and into the bird's face.

The hawk screeches, and shoots up to the sky with singed feathers. It bobs up and down rapidly before eventually righting itself and ascending fast. They all watch it fade into the blue heavens, and only once they can’t see it anymore do they calm.

"Where…did it come from?" Izumi lowers the kunai in her hands, straightening from the crouch she fell into.

"And how did it follow us outside?" Sasuke turns to the greenhouse, eyes darting around in search of a break in the glass. "The door was closed and there's no windows."

Yet the hawk had definitely been inside with them, Sasuke felt its talons brushing over his head until Shisui shunshined them out.

"It doesn't matter." Itachi strides over to them, a hint of a frown marring his face. "My fire jutsu was likely noticed by nearby shinobi, and Chibi or Oki, we don't want Suna-nin on our tail."

It's clear Itachi isn't worried they can't take on the foreign ninja, all four of them ranked near or were the top of their Academy class. However, if a fight were to ensue, it's highly likely their precious provisions would get damaged or be lost, and their clan cannot afford anymore setbacks.

"I'm on it." Shisui quickly bites his thumb and weaves signs before bending to lay his hand on the sand. Smoke puffs around an ebony hawk while Itachi summons a crow behind him.

They split their stolen medicine evenly. Then Sasuke mounts Shisui's bird, getting situated behind the older male on the saddle while Izumi and Itachi board the other avian. Both summons take off at the same time, and like that night so long ago, everything goes well until it doesn't.

"Wha—"

Shisui's head whips back less than a minute after they've ascended and Sasuke follows his line of vision to see the same hawk from earlier swooping down at them from high above. The bird's singed and blackened face makes it recognizable, but apparently the fire didn't impair its vision because its sharp talons nearly swipe Shisui’s head off until the man ducks low.

The hawk cries shrilly as it turns in a circle to make another pass, and Sasuke and Shisui flinch at the ear-shattering sound.

“Gah! What is up with that bird?” Shisui scowls, more annoyed than concerned while steering his summon into a steep dive. “We’ll lose the medicine at this rate.”

Sasuke glowers up at the hawk. “No, we won’t.”

He quickly forms the signs for a fire jutsu, though inwardly he also wonders why the avian is attacking them. Most animals, even really big ones, can sense a Chibi-nin's strong chakra signature and know better than to mess with them. Also, while some hungry animals might risk attacking a Chibi shinobi, rarely do they return after receiving a fireball to the face.

The hawk pulls up alongside them faster than they can blink, and both Chibi gape. A normal bird can't fly that fast, so how—

Rough, scaly talons coil around Sasuke’s torso and the fire extinguishes in his lungs while his arms are pinned to his sides.

“Sasuke!”

He thinks Shisui calls his name, maybe Itachi and Izumi do too, but the hawk zooms up with him in its clutches and the rush of air overtakes the sound. Then there's a dizzying change in altitude, so fast the sky is a blur of blue and white and it feels like his stomach has plummeted to earth while his body soared up to the stars.

Sasuke can't breathe, the wind pressure is crushing him, and though he wants to scream, nothing comes out except a silent wheeze.

Mercifully the hawk slows, and Sasuke blinks away the black spots to see Shisui is a distant dot among the clouds behind them.

Fear floods Sasuke’s heart because he’s being taken—being kidnapped. And it’s now that the hawk's eyes fall on him, intelligence in its gaze.

This isn't a normal hawk, it's a summon!

Much like that horrible night eight years ago, Sasuke only has a second to realize he's probably going to die before the hawk dives to the sandy earth. Its talons tighten around him until he’s certain his ribs are cracking, but then black spots invade his vision and darkness is all he sees.

Sasuke wakes up to his brother's voice asking if he can get up.

He doesn’t understand why Itachi would ask such a strange question, but tries to show Itachi he's fine by rising despite his eyes being glued shut and arms shaking when he sets them under him. However, a heavy weight atop Sasuke's back makes it hard to breathe, so even when Itachi's gentle yet firm hands guide him into a stand, Sasuke's legs fold beneath him and he lands on his palms.

"Sorry, Nii-san," he whispers as his hearing dims and he falls under sleep's dark curtains once again.

The next time Sasuke awakens, a glass wall is pressed hard against his spine and he's freezing despite the thin, black cloak wrapped around his body.

There's something wrong with his chakra, Sasuke can tell immediately when he throws it out in search of nearby enemies and his chakra barely reacts to his call, never leaving his body and instead swirling inside him like a puppy chasing its own tail. He tries again, and the results are the same.

"Sasuke?"

Itachi calls him, but he's too focused on his right leg. It's stiff and the only part of him that's warm—burning really—and when he tries lifting it, a spike of pain shoots up to his hip.

"Stop." Itachi touches his shoulder and Sasuke forces his eyes open to take in the blurry image of his brother kneeling beside him. "Your leg is broken, don't try to move it."

Sasuke nods because his throat is dry and his tongue is stuck to the roof of his mouth. However, his sight starts clearing up until he sees a tan wooden shelf behind Itachi. He turns his head to find a tall black lamp illuminating the shelf they’re on. Its light is dim, so most of the store is shrouded in darkness, but what Sasuke can see is unfamiliar.

"Where..." Sasuke sits up, eyes roving about the place while glass jars filled with jams and oddly colored liquids on the shelf come into focus.

Though it's the hamsters, fish, and other little animals in cages across from them that grab Sasuke's attention. Especially when he notices the thick glass boxing them in—they’re in a cage.

Sasuke's breath hitches and eyes widen as he realizes they are sitting on a shelf like an item on display. Yet that's impossible, right? The Oki don't know Chibi exist, and even if they did, they wouldn't sell them.

"What..." Sasuke can't get out the rest, but Itachi picks up his meaning.

"We've been captured by an Oki."

Something cold and needle-sharp like a senbon left in the snow strikes Sasuke's chest while Itachi continues. "He's a missing-nin from Suna, and seems to own this establishment from what I can tell." Itachi's tone is flat, and that calms Sasuke because it's something familiar in this unfamiliar situation. "He frequently conducts black market exchanges here with other criminals."

Itachi pauses, gauging Sasuke's reaction, and Sasuke swallows to moisten his tongue before he asks, "Then why are we here?"

He can't keep the quiver out of his voice because every Chibi has heard the tall-tales about Chibi who got captured by an Oki and were never seen again. Sure, Sasuke doesn't believe all of the stories, and can't imagine any Oki thinks something as small as them makes for a tasty meal or that all Oki are mad scientists bent on dissecting them. However, Chibi captured by Oki really aren't ever seen again, and now it seems Sasuke is going to be one of those never-seen-again Chibi.

"He plans to sell us."

Sasuke's head whips up to stare incredulously at his brother's impassive face. "What?"

Itachi closes his eyes briefly, then says, "There are rumors that the Oki shinobi who have managed to glimpse, or even capture a Chibi shinobi, believe us to be like summons." Sasuke's mouth falls open. "They view Chibi as beings that can be used to aid them in their missions."

Sasuke's hand clutches at the cloak around his legs, the teen unsettled.

"Our captor seemed quite delighted by our headbands, and this container already had a chakra-restraint seal on it before he put us in." Sasuke follows Itachi's gaze over to a large black seal painted on the glass lid covering their cage. "I suspect he often sends his hawk out in search for Chibi ninja, and when his summon saw our headbands and attire, it sought to capture us."

Sasuke struggles to wrap his head around the idea that he has not only been kidnapped by an Oki, but the man plans to sell him and his brother like they're nothing more than ninja hardware. Yet, it's not that hard to picture why an Oki might find Chibi ninja desirable. His kind is far less detectable than their human counterparts, and it would be easy for them to steal from or assassinate an unsuspecting Oki.

However, one thing remains unclear. "How did you get here, Nii-san?" Sasuke has a good idea, and dreads he's right.

Itachi turns away to stare at the nearby lamp. "My crow caught up with the hawk summon, but the ensuing struggle caused both birds to crash. You were barely awake and couldn't stand, so I ordered Shisui and Izumi to leave without us. We might have managed to catch up with them if the missing-nin hadn't arrived so quickly."

Sasuke's heart sinks to the floor. "You—"

Itachi turns back, and shakes his head. "Shisui's hawk could not have carried me regardless, not with him, Izumi and all the supplies." He smiles suddenly and Sasuke is too stunned to move away before two fingers poke him in the forehead, and his eyes close.

When he opens them, Itachi's smile is fading, but he sounds warm as he assures, "We will get out of this, otouto. As long as you remember our most important rule."

Sasuke squints, recalling the rule's brief mentioning back during his Academy days. "Never speak in front of an Oki, act like you don't understand what they're saying, and no matter what, don't communicate with them."

Itachi nods, grim while he stands and looks off into the darkness where a clock hangs on the wall, undoubtedly already forming an escape plan. Sasuke straightens up, shrugs off Itachi's cloak and examines his injured leg. It's splinted and tied to a twig by bits of cloth, which explains why his brother's cloak is torn. Then he follows Itachi's gaze to the clock.

It's 10 PM, and if this were a normal shop, that would mean Sasuke and Itachi have until morning to escape, but this store is owned by a missing-nin and it's main clientele are criminals. Therefore, it likely opens late, perhaps around midnight.

So Sasuke, weaponless and injured, only has two hours to form a plan with his brother, and escape their chakra-restricting prison before they fall into the hands of any missing-nin with the right amount of money.

Just great. 

Chapter Text

"You don't know what a min-nin is?"

The question echoes in the dark stone corridor while Kisame eyes his partner.

Itachi turns and stares evenly at him over his cloak collar, and Kisame’s mouth curves into a smirk.

"No need to glare, I just thought a smart guy like you would know about them."

Itachi looks ahead, quiet a moment, yet eventually he relents. "I have heard about them, but everything I’ve been told has sounded like mere children’s tales."

He doesn't think about his mother sitting at his bedside after he caught a cold one winter, weaving the most fantastical tales to occupy his restless mind while he shivered under the covers. Nor does he recall sitting on Sasuke's bed, his little brother curled up in his lap and eyes lighting up with wonder as retold his mother's stories.

"I thought that too." Kisame shrugs. "I heard the rumors, but didn't believe them until I saw one."

Itachi's eyes narrow at the information, and Kisame's smile is all teeth as he divulges. "The min-nin was already dead when I found it on a rogue ninja. At first, I thought it was a doll, maybe a keepsake from the guy's daughter, until I picked it up and felt how warm it was. Then I noticed its mesh shirt and weapons were all real."

Kisame stops at the end of the tunnel in front of a wooden door. "I still wonder how that rogue got his hands on a min-nin, but I figure he stole it, didn't know how to properly care for it, and that's why it died." He turns the doorknob and enters the underground store, Itachi following him inside.

White overhead lights buzz above them, illuminating the rows of shelves stocked with ointments, medicines, and other pharmaceuticals. They make their way past them to the back corner where a Suna missing-nin sits on a stool behind a counter. The man looks up and smirks at the sight of customers, but Itachi focuses to the left of him where glittering fish swim in tanks—products of poaching?— beside cages of mice and hamsters on a tall shelf, though he sees no min-nin.

"Well, what can I do for you gentlemen?" the Suna-nin asks once they’re near, standing up.

"Depends," Kisame pulls out their payment and sets it on the counter, "Is this the place selling the min-nin?"

The shop owner glances at the roll of cash, a greedy gleam in his violet eyes, but doesn't take it as he says, "Indeed it is, my friend, but I'll warn you now," he waves his hand over the money, "This will only buy one of them."

Kisame flashes his teeth, unbothered. "We only want one."

The Suna-nin smiles back, but his grin is too wide to be genuine. "Perfect." He comes out from behind the counter and walks over to the shelf with the animals, though he turns his back on them to survey the shelf across from it. "Here they are.”

His finger taps on a glass cage set at eye level. Itachi sees movement past his hand, but his poor eyesight makes it hard to tell what he’s seeing.

"One of them is awake and the other..."

The man freezes. Itachi tenses as his head snaps over to him. His wide violet eyes examine Itachi’s face before he whips back to the cage.

"Huh...what are the odds..."

Before Itachi can decipher the man's comment, Kisame sends him a sidelong-grin. "Well, I guess those stories had more truth to them than I thought.”

Recognizing that their unusual behavior has something to do with the min-nin, Itachi peers closer at the cage.

His mirror image stares back.

Neither Itachi nor the min-nin overtly react, but Itachi catches the tightening of skin around the min-nin's eyes, much like his own face is doing. So not only do they look identical, they act similar too.

How unsettling.

"I can't believe it,” the Suna-nin exhales loudly behind Itachi, but he doesn't turn back so sees the min-nin’s face twitch in irritation. Are min-nin sensitive to loud sounds?

"I mean, I heard that min-nin had counterparts, but I've never seen proof of it until now."

"Counterparts?" Itachi asks, his eyes locked on the miniature version of himself, who seems to be imitating a statue.

Kisame laughs. "You really don't know anything about min-nin, do you?"

Itachi doesn't bestow him an answer, and Kisame sounds amused as he says, "Some people think min-nin are created from the chakra humans expel, and that they take the form of whichever human released that chakra."

If it's true, nothing on the min-nin's face reveals this. However, it's possible his counterpart doesn't understand them, perhaps min-nin have their own language.

"Wait.” The shopkeeper refocuses on the glass cage, and Itachi suddenly notices a dark-haired figure lying on the ground behind his counterpart. "The other one should be up by now. He better not be dead."

The Suna-nin scowls, undoubtedly upset over the loss of revenue, and taps his finger against the glass. "Hey, out of the way."

Itachi’s counterpart stares evenly at him, unmoving.

The man’s scowl deepens. "Move so we can see the other guy."

He taps hard enough for the cage to shake, but the min-nin merely adjusts his footing to stay in place.

"Hey!" the man shouts, his hand curling into a fist, and finally the min-nin reacts—

By turning his back on the shopkeeper in clear dismissal.

Kisame cackles. "He's just like you, Itachi!"

The Suna-nin turns red, sputtering curses, but Itachi simply stares at the tiny Uchiha crest on the back of the min-nin's gray t-shirt. He shouldn't be surprised, especially since he noticed no scratch running through the min-nin's headband. Yet he is. His counterpart is still a part of his Village, perhaps even his parents are still alive—

Itachi stops himself from thinking further along that route, but can't prevent a stab of jealousy from striking his heart before he shuts the emotion down.

"For the last time," the shop owner growls, raising his hands over the cage with his fingers arching. "Get out of the way!"

The glass lid pops off without being touched. Itachi tenses, but quickly puts it together when his counterpart seizes up like a rope has coiled around him. Both min-nin are dragged into the air, dangling over the container.

Chakra strings. The Suna-nin can manipulate chakra strings. No wonder he’s able to capture so many min-nin.

"Huh, this day is just full of surprises."

Kisame gestures to the other min-nin hanging in front of his face and Itachi looks over to it. His eyes widen.

"Sasuke…" Itachi exhales, unable to mask his shock because this min-nin is undoubtedly his brother's counterpart.

From the way his ebony hair spikes up in the back to the round shape of his cheeks, the min-nin is an identical copy of his brother, and this unleashes a thousand questions in his head.

Does Sasuke's counterpart know what Itachi did? Do any of the miniature Uchiha—assuming there are more—know what Itachi did to their human counterparts? If they do, which version of events do they know? Do they…do they know the truth?

Itachi's eyes slide over to his counterpart, whose arms are bound tightly to his sides by invisible strings, yet the min-nin appears unbothered by his trapped state, and instead his black eyes are on what must be his younger brother.

Hn. So their brotherly bond remains untarnished? It seems his counterpart truly knows nothing of sacrifice.

As if sensing his irrational bout of disdain, Itachi's min-nin regards him, assessing, but then Kisame draws near and steals away the min-nin's attention. "I guess there's not much of a choice, we're buying your counterpart, right? It's clearly the strongest of the two."

His reasoning is solid, Itachi knows, and yet what comes out of his mouth is, "No."

Kisame cocks his head, sharp teeth peeking out of his mouth as he raises a brow. "Really, why not?"

There's a teasing lit to his voice, as if he already knows Itachi's answer, but that is his typical tone so Itachi doesn't react. "While my counterpart is uninjured, and likely the most experienced of the two, his dōjutsu is probably on the same level as mine, meaning he is immune to my Sharingan's effects." He turns to Sasuke's counterpart, who has remained unconscious throughout his spiel, hanging limp as a rag doll and disturbingly vulnerable.

"I figure he stole it, didn't know how to properly care for it, and that's why it was dead."

Kisame's words echo in Itachi's mind, for the Uchiha can easily imagine what would happen if they left Sasuke's counterpart here. Injured as the min-nin is, all it would take is for an uninformed or foolish missing-nin to buy him, and Sasuke's counterpart wouldn't survive a day.

This min-nin is not his brother, but the idea of any version of Sasuke being dead is reprehensible to him.

Kisame doesn't appear to suspect Itachi is being anything but logical when he agrees. "Yeah, and I can imagine your counterpart would be harder to contain." He gives the min-nin a pointed stare, but Itachi's counterpart is not looking at Kisame, rather his eyes are on him.

Itachi stiffens at the knowing look those dark orbs give him, as if his counterpart is aware of exactly what Itachi is doing. Could it be the min-nin actually understood their conversation? Or did something about Itachi's body language give him away?

Itachi doesn't get an answer before the shopkeeper speaks up. "If you're sure about your choice," he lowers the miniature Itachi back into the glass cage and snaps the lid over it while bringing Sasuke's counterpart up to Itachi's face, "We better seal this guy's chakra soon, 'cause if he's faking unconscious, he'll be able to use a jutsu in one minute."

Itachi opens his raised hand, and the shopkeeper releases his hold on the min-nin so Sasuke's counterpart drops into his palm. Itachi is surprised by the weight of flesh and bone, having assumed he'd be lighter. However, as he's examining the twig splinting the min-nin's leg, something else grabs his attention.

"Where are his shoes?" Itachi narrows his eyes at the min-nin's bare feet and Kisame turns to reply when the shattering of glass disrupts them.

Itachi swivels towards the glass cage and sees it's empty right as a fireball flies straight towards his face.

—

Sasuke lies on the cage floor behind his brother, forcing his breaths to remain even and slow. He feels vulnerable with his closed eyes and lax body, but everything seems to be going well until he hears Itachi quietly gasp.

Alarm rushes through his veins, and Sasuke nearly ask what's wrong, but chokes down the question because his brother is in no position to answer. Still, Itachi wouldn't audibly react unless something serious is happening.

"Counterpart?"

Sasuke's heart stops, and his breath gets caught in his throat. He has to fight to keep motionless because he knows that voice. He didn't expect him, of all the missing-nin to show up and try to buy them, neither Sasuke nor Itachi expected him.

"Nii-san...why did you..."

"In order to measure my vessel..."

"Only for that reason you killed everybody?"

Oki-Itachi, his flat voice splitting the air like a bitter breeze, says, "That is what’s important."

Sasuke's breathing quickens, the Chibi tormented by the echoes from that night and the phantom sound of Oki-Sasuke's screams.

It takes everything Sasuke has not to yell like he did back then when chakra strings wrap around his body and dangle him mere inches away from Oki-Itachi's cold, dark eyes. Yet, somehow Sasuke sticks to his brother's plan, and dislodges his sandal, kicking his foot back so the shoe falls on the edge of the cage.

Unfortunately, he overshoots, and the sandal falls outside the glass container. The giants don't notice, Oki-Itachi and the sharkman are too fixated on his brother and the shopkeeper is busy glaring at Itachi. His brother was right, the Suna-nin is easily irked, and it was so easy for Itachi to rile him up.

Therefore, while the Suna-nin keeps Itachi trussed up tight, Sasuke dangles in a far looser hold, especially since the Oki think him unconscious. Now, however, the Chibi has to bite his tongue to keep from crying out while he jerks his broken leg back and dislodges his second sandal.

Sasuke holds his breath until he sees the black shoe land on the cage rim, wobbling precariously for a terrifying moment before it stills. However, Sasuke can't celebrate as he's suddenly pulled directly in front of Oki-Itachi's face.

Heart hammering and eyes squeezed shut, Sasuke is stiffer than he should be when he's dumped onto Oki-Itachi's hand.

The cool, calloused palm presses against Sasuke's cheek, the same hand that steeped itself in a sea of Uchiha blood eight years ago, and Sasuke is only mildly ashamed when he mentally cries—Help me, Nii-san!

Yet he needn't worry long, because Sasuke hears glass shatter and knows his shoe propped the cage lid up just enough for the chakra-restraint seal to remain incomplete, and now Itachi has escaped. Sasuke's eyes snap open when he smells the smoke from his brother's fire jutsu, and he eagerly springs up and dives off Oki-Itachi's hand while the Oki is distracted by the flames.

Sasuke doesn't plummet for long, Itachi catching him halfway down, and soon they're soaring through the air, leaping from shelf to shelf, and closing in on the exit.

So of course that's when Sasuke feels a violent tug on the back of his cloak, and is yanked out of Itachi's arms, flying back towards the glowering Suna-nin.

—

Itachi sidesteps the hand-sized fireball easily, but can't stop the miniature Sasuke from leaping out of his palm, having genuinely thought him unconscious. Quickly Itachi's eyes bleed into his Sharingan while the shopkeeper hisses as the fireball nicks his arm. Kisame, however, doesn't react at all, and Itachi realizes his counterpart must have placed him under a genjutsu.

"Kai!" Itachi calls, forming a hand seal, and the fog clears from Kisame's eyes, though the man blinks sluggishly and holds his head like he's disoriented.

Itachi assumes he'll recover fine so returns his focus to the tiny figures hoping off a shelf only four feet away from the entrance.

"No you don't!" The Suna-nin raises his hands and Itachi's dōjutsu allows him to see the chakra strings zipping towards the min-nin.

Itachi's counterpart must sense them, however, because he dodges the strings by twisting to the side midair. Yet one string still manages to latch onto Sasuke's counterpart, tearing the min-nin out of his brother's grasp. Only for the older brother to spin back, catch his sibling's arm, and slice through the chakra string with what must be a shard of glass he picked up from the shattered cage.

Even with the string gone though, the min-nin's momentum have been reversed and they fly towards the shopkeeper. The Suna-nin rushes down the aisle to catch them and Itachi can't warn him in time as his counterpart throws four glass shards like they're shuriken, and they cut red streaks across the shop owner's fingers.

He cries out, grasping his injured hand, while the min-nin land on the counter in a skid, and knowing he's been idle, Itachi moves to grab them. His fingers successfully close around the duo, but Sasuke's counterpart sparks with ferocious blue electricity and Itachi releases them, his arm convulsing. The min-nin starts to fall—

Small jets of water smack into each of them.

The water widens and curves into spheres around them while Kisame, a hand on each orb, smirks. "Water Prison is quite the useful jutsu."

Itachi believes that's the end of the struggle until his counterpart pops within the water sphere, revealing himself to be a shadow clone.

Kisame disperses the empty orb, and his mouth curves up to reveal pointed teeth. "Talk about a betrayal." His eyes flick to Sasuke's counterpart, who is wide-eyed and twitching within the water. "It abandoned its own brother."

The min-nin stares up at Itachi, and genuine terror warps his expression. Now Itachi is certain at least Sasuke's min-nin knows what he did to the human Uchiha clan, and he's terrified Itachi will do the same to him.

Deciding not to terrorize the min-nin needlessly, Itachi turns. "Don't be so certain," he scans the room slowly, anticipating a possible onslaught of fire to come their way, "My counterpart may simply be hiding."

"No." The shop owner has one hand, covered in angry red scratches, forming the ram hand seal while his eyes are shut tight. "I don't sense it anywhere, it's gone," the man growls, dropping the seal. "There goes that investment," he scowls.

"Good thing the boss only told us to buy one," Kisame says while the shop owner grudgingly sets a jar marked with a chakra-restraint seal on the counter and pops open the lid. The sharkman releases the prison jutsu, and catches the soaking wet min-nin in his palm, allowing the shinobi to hack out water off the side of his hand.

Once the min-nin appears able to breath easier, Kisame carefully pinches the back of his cloak and sets him in the jar. Though when he sees Itachi eyeing him, Kisame shrugs. "Its leg is broken, I'm not going to aggravate its injury. It's bad enough we're going to have to delay its training."

Despite the care Kisame takes, the min-min's face screws up with pain when his bad leg hits the bottom of the jar. He also begins to shiver.

Itachi is concerned the trip to the Akatsuki hideout may be too harsh on the min-nin, but the shop keeper shakes his head. "Don't worry, these little guys heal fast. As long as it stays off its leg for a couple of weeks, the bone will heal." He snaps the lid closed and the min-nin flinches, no doubt feeling his chakra being restricted once more. "And remember to keep it warm, especially at night. Min-nin are sensitive to low temperatures."

"Trust me," Kisame smirks, "I know all about min-nin since our leader made me read up on them." He glances tauntingly at the small shinobi and Sasuke's counterpart stares up defiantly. "Wouldn't want it dying too soon."

Itachi watches the min-nin try to maintain a brave face, only to fail miserably when he notices Itachi observing him.

The tiny shinobi, his skin paling and face screwing up with a silent scream, makes a small part of Itachi wish he could reassure him. Yet, even if the min-nin could understand him, Itachi couldn't truthfully tell his brother’s counterpart no harm would come to him.

So Itachi simply grabs the jar, and brings it close to his chest, hoping his body heat will warm up the wet min-nin. Yet the miniature Sasuke immediately scoots to the side of the jar farthest from Itachi, and the man knows already this task won't be easy.

—

They spend the night in the woods. Itachi stirs the campfire until he's satisfied by the flames' height. Then he sets the jar on the dirt, close enough for the fire to warm it but far enough for the glass to not melt.

The min-nin watches Itachi's hand warily as if he somehow expects it to reach through the glass and nab him.

Itachi reins in a sigh, tired of the min-nin's skittishness as he takes his hand off the cylinder. Even his most mundane movements have been perceived as a threat by the little shinobi, such as retrieving the min-nin's sandals from the broken cage and slipping them into the jar, only for the miniature shinobi to send him a narrow-eyed look before sliding them on.

Certainly, the distrust is warranted—though it makes things so much harder—as from the tiny shinobi's point of view, he's not only been captured by enemy ninja, he's been captured by giant enemy ninja. It probably doesn't help that Itachi is one of those enemy ninja since it's obvious Sasuke's counterpart either heard of what he did to the human Uchiha clan or witnessed the massacre himself—Itachi hopes it's the former, that at least one version of Sasuke was spared the pain of seeing such bloodshed, but knows it's unlikely.

A quiet rumbling intrudes on Itachi's thoughts, and it takes him a second to recognize it's coming from the jar. The min-nin's face turns pink, and he ducks his head, and Itachi realizes that was the min-nin's stomach growling. He's hungry.

"What do they eat?" Itachi turns to Kisame, who sits on the log across from him.

The blue-skinned man looks up from sharpening his kunai, saying, "Same things as us, though they need to be fed more often."

Itachi slips a granola bar out of his pocket and tears off the plastic wrapper. "How often?" He holds the bar over the air holes in the lid, tilting it so the crumbs fall through them and rain down on the min-nin.

The small shinobi starts when he's struck by a crumb, but soon examines the brown pebble and realizes it's food. His eyes widen and jump up to Itachi, but when they meet his cool gaze, the min-nin sneers and drops the crumb on the floor, crossing his arms and turning his back in clear refusal to eat. It reminds Itachi a lot of when his little brother was young and refused to eat his vegetables.

"About five times a day." Kisame looks over to the min-nin and raises a brow. "Though maybe less for this guy, it seems used to starving."

Itachi's face hardens, but his expression doesn't change while Kisame carries on. "It felt a little underweight when I held it, either because it's not fully-grown or because you killed off its main food source." He searches Itachi's face for a reaction, but Itachi doesn't give him one, and this merely furthers Kisame's amusement. "They say min-nin follow their counterparts, living off their scraps." He points at the min-nin, who seems to be ignoring them. "This guy has probably been following you, sharing food with you, watching you, for years."

Itachi is mildly discomfited by the thought. He has always been a private person, and to think someone—maybe multiple someones—has been watching him since childhood... Then again, that likely stopped once he left Konoha.

"Anyway," Kisame sets his kunai on the log, "The min-nin being your brother's counterpart should make it easier to train."

Itachi's brow furrows. "Why is that?"

"You're already connected," Kisame stares into the fire, making his eyes gleam red, "Even if the little guy hates you, you're connected by that hatred."

Itachi finds it ironic that he might share a bond of hatred with both versions of Sasuke, but supposes it's what he deserves. Particularly if what Kisame says is true, and he has harmed this min-nin, potentially having harmed an entire community of min-nin when he slaughtered his fellow Uchiha.

"By the way," Kisame's lips hitch up on one side, "You wouldn't happen to have summoned a crow recently, right?"

Itachi shakes his head. "No, my crows cannot travel at night."

Kisame's lips peels back to reveal a vicious smirk. "Great, so it must be your counterpart. Min-nin are known for riding their summons."

Kisame suddenly stands and unleashes a barrage of kunai into the night sky. Itachi doesn't see anything, but hears the sudden fluttering of wings, the crow struggling to dodge the attack when it can hardly see.

"Got ya." Kisame locates the bird from the sound, and rapidly forms hand signs before spitting five jets of water in the bird's direction.

Itachi hears the crow cry and knows at least one of the jets hit its mark right before he sees a winged creature tumble out of the sky and crash yards away.

Kisame chuckles. "That was fun. Too bad the crash probably killed your counterpart. I kinda liked that guy."

A sudden clinking sound makes Itachi look down to see Sasuke's min-nin pressing his hands into the glass while he stares horrified in the direction where the crow fell.

Itachi understands now that this was the min-nin's plan. Itachi's counterpart figured he couldn't take on all three missing-nin, so pretended to leave Sasuke behind. In reality, he was following Itachi and Kisame this whole time, waiting for them to let their guard down so he could quietly retrieve his little brother without a fight.

But now Itachi's counterpart might be dead, and the miniature Sasuke is trembling and breathing raggedly because he knows that too.

"Just in case it survived," Kisame regathers his kunai from the ground, "We should head to the hideout before your counterpart recovers."

"I agree." Itachi rises fluidly, carefully picking up the jar and frowning at the catatonic expression on the min-nin's face.

He wants to tell the tiny shinobi that his brother is likely alive, just injured, but once again, Itachi doesn't know that for sure, and he doesn't want to lie if he doesn't have to.

Itachi has been lying for years ever since that night. To Konoha. To the Akatsuki. 

To Sasuke.

The Uchiha's eyes drift down to the min-nin panicking in the jar. The little shinobi can't understand him regardless, so why should Itachi lie when he doesn't have to? Even if the tiny shinobi could understand, it's not like the min-nin can speak... So maybe...maybe before he and Sasuke have their final battle, Itachi can finally be honest with someone. Have one last honest relationship, even if it's only with a min-nin who hates him.

It's not like Itachi has anything to lose anyway.

Chapter Text

Sasuke's min-nin gradually calms down over the course of their five-hour journey to the waterfall. Maybe that's because like Itachi the miniature shinobi has rationalized his brother is too skilled to have died in a mere bird crash. Or perhaps the min-nin is simply too tired to panic anymore.

Sasuke's counterpart is leaning against the jar wall like the only things keeping him up are pride and sheer strength of will, and he winces when Kisame and Itachi walk behind the waterfall to enter a short cavern. The rushing water likely resembles thunder to his little ears, so Itachi moves a bit faster down the tunnel until the waterfall is a dull thudding behind him. Kisame eyes Itachi curiously when he reaches the hideout entrance first—Itachi never was one to rush—before undoing the lock seals.

Itachi steps in quickly to avoid his partner's scrutiny, but only gets three feet inside before the blond on the couch springs up and strides over.

"Did you get it?" Deidara asks, approaching with an eager shine to his blue orbs while he rubs his hands together.

Itachi considers walking past him without a word, but already Deidara's eyes have landed on the jar, and soon he invades Itachi's personal space.

"Wow! It's real! Look at its little clothes and stuff, un!" The bomber bends over to examine the jar's occupant up-close, and Sasuke's min-nin pushes off the wall and backs up into the jar's center, glancing between Itachi and Deidara like he can't decide which would be worst to stand near.

"Heeey," Deidara squints, sending a critical look to Itachi, then the min-nin. "This thing kinda looks like you."

"That's because it's an Uchiha," Kisame enters and gestures to Sasuke's counterpart. "Technically it's Itachi's younger brother, just a miniature version of him."

"What!?" Deidara gapes, and Itachi leaves while Kisame explains everything to the bomber.

He slips into a side tunnel, briefly stopping by the restroom to grab what he needs from the medicine cabinet, and walking on until he reaches the third bedroom.

Itachi closes the door behind him and turns to the square table jammed in the corner. He sets the jar on it next to the long glass container already there.

Sasuke's counterpart glares at the cage, realizing Itachi plans to put him in it, and squares his shoulders like he's gearing up for a fight while Itachi places down the rubbing alcohol bottle, bandage roll, ointment jar, and cotton swab.

Itachi wishes he could simply place the min-nin in the cage and be done with it. However, the tiny shinobi is injured and Itachi can't leave him with a rudimentary splint. That's just asking for an infection to develop.

Still, Itachi knows this experience will be unpleasant for the both of them as he opens the jar and snatches the min-nin up.

The shinobi struggles instantly, squirming and bucking within his hold so violently it appears he's having a seizure. Itachi has to tighten his grip to ensure the min-nin doesn't slip out, and when the tiny ninja rears his head back, Itachi presses his thumb lightly under his chin so he can't dip his head down and bite him.

"Calm down. I need to treat your leg," Itachi says in case the min-nin can understand and be reasoned with.

Yet, he either doesn't hear him or doesn't care because Sasuke's counterpart gnashes his teeth and tilts his head aside to gnaw at Itachi's thumb, but Itachi presses a little harder on the min-nin's neck until he can't move his head at all. Then Itachi waits, unmoving while the teenager continues to wrench against his fingers, his tiny nails scraping at Itachi's palm and his chest heaving against Itachi's fingers.

Itachi is considering placing the min-nin under a genjutsu before he hurts himself when the little Uchiha starts to slow, his wild bucks dwindling into sporadic spasms. Soon the shinobi's energy is completely spent, and he sags, panting so heavily Itachi can hear his every breath.

Itachi waits ten seconds after the min-nin's last futile scratch at his hand before removing his thumb from his throat. The min-nin of course tries to nip him, but Itachi merely pushes back his neck again, and asks, "Are you almost done?"

Sasuke's counterpart glares death at him, but Itachi ignores this, explaining. "I'm going to treat your leg. The less you struggle, the sooner I can let you go."

The little Sasuke's expression doesn't change, and Itachi sighs as he lowers the min-nin onto the table, laying him flat on his back and pressing his hand firmly over the small shinobi's torso so he can't rise.

Sasuke's counterpart writhes under his fingers, growling when Itachi tugs up his cloak with his free hand until the min-nin's injured leg is exposed. He waits for the little Sasuke to simmer down before untying the twig from his leg.

The min-nin's breath hitches, face draining of color and expression contorting with pain despite how carefully Itachi extracts the twig from his limb. Then setting it aside, Itachi opens the alcohol bottle, picks up the cotton swab, and dips the tip in the liquid before gently running the cotton up and down the min-nin's leg, cleaning away dirt and sand grains. While letting his leg dry, Itachi dunks the other end of the swab in the jar of light green ointment and repeats the process.

Once he's finished, Itachi checks the min-nin's face for any signs of pain, but the tiny shinobi is staring off into space, clearly trying to pretend this isn't happening. Itachi understands, he wouldn't appreciate being manhandled either, especially by an enemy ninja. Frankly, this probably hurts the min-nin's pride more than anything.

Quickly Itachi pulls the small, gray accessory from his cloak pocket. It's a plastic leg splint, an item from a dress-up doll collection, but when Itachi saw it in the Suna-nin's shop, he figured it would fit the min-nin well enough.

The little Sasuke shudders when Itachi sets his broken leg in the splint and secures it with the velcro straps, but otherwise doesn't react until Itachi picks him up. The min-nin claws at Itachi's knuckles since Itachi didn't trap his arms this time, but Itachi ignores the minor pain as he sets the min-nin in the glass cage. The small shinobi limps away immediately while Itachi secures the plastic lid over it, making sure the chakra-restraint activates.

"Try to stay off your leg unless it's necessary," Itachi tells the miniature Sasuke, though the teenager doesn't look back as he examines the other objects in the cage. "I will provide water and nourishment for you later."

The min-nin still doesn't look back, which is fine. It hurts seeing any Sasuke's face so full of bitterness and hate when Itachi knows it's his fault his sweet little brother turned out so wrathful.

Itachi turns, grabbing the ointment and bandages and walking over to his bed. He removes his cloak, sits on the mattress edge, and scoops up a glob of ointment, rubbing it over the blisters on his arm where the miniature Sasuke electrocuted him.

He pretends not to notice the min-nin watching him as he winds a strip of bandage around his arm to help the ointment stay on and lessen the pain while the injury heals.

When he's finished, Itachi puts his cloak back on, gathers all the medical supplies, and leaves the room without looking back.

—

Sasuke watches Oki-Itachi depart with a blank expression, but once the bedroom door closes, he scowls. "He deserved it." Sasuke crosses his arms. "I should have fried his whole body." The Chibi growls, remembering how Oki-Itachi had the gall to sound disappointed when he asked, "Are you almost done?"

As if Sasuke was an unruly child throwing a tantrum and not a shinobi trying to escape his missing-nin captors.

Sasuke seethes. "Lecturing me like he's my brother..."

The Chibi freezes the second the words leave his mouth, recalling the sight of his brother's crow spiraling out of the night sky and crashing into the earth with a sickening crack. Sasuke hasn't eaten since yesterday, but his stomach churns at the possibility his dear brother might be de—

Sasuke shakes his head. No. Nii-san isn't dead. He can't be. Their plan might have gone awry, but Itachi is a fast-thinker, he would have thought of something when his crow started to fall.

But if Itachi is fine, why hasn't he come for me?

The question causes Sasuke to fall against the glass wall, sliding down it until he sits with his legs stretched out and hands balled in his lap. Please. Surely that time in the shop wouldn't be his last memory of his brother...

"I'm going to create a shadow clone once the chakra-restraint wears off," Itachi says, eyeing the seal on the glass container. "My clone will create a diversion to help you escape, but if he can't get you out, I will have already escaped and shall be waiting outside." He turns to Sasuke, who is watching attentively from his seat on the floor. "I will summon a crow once all of my chakra returns and follow the missing-nin who buys you. When their guard is down, I will place them under a genjutsu and free you."

Sasuke nods, but is frowning. "And if I can't get my sandal in place, if we both get caught?"

Itachi lowers himself and catches his brother's chin, gently tilting it up. "Have a little faith in yourself, Sasuke, and trust me. We'll get home, no matter what."

Sasuke feels his face warm, and he looks away as his brother lets him go. "I know, Nii-san," he rubs the back of his neck and musters a smile, "I always trust you."

Sasuke doesn't want that to be the last time he ever sees Itachi. It can't be. It can't.

Sasuke braces himself against the wall and stands, searching the cage. It's obvious the missing-nin were planning to procure a Chibi shinobi for some time now because there's a beanbag next to a piece of cloth stuffed in the corner that is probably supposed to be his bedding, and two empty plastic bowls on the other side of the cage. As if he's a pet gerbil in need of feeding.

Sasuke rolls his eyes, but his expression falls when he realizes there's nothing here that can help him escape. He can't jump high enough to reach the ceiling, and even if he stacked all the "furniture" to reach the cover, the Chibi doubts he could lift it.

The small ninja hobbles over to the green beanbag and sits on the plush cushion, sinking back and closing his eyes. He's tired, hungry, injured, and trapped. His only hope is his brother who might be dead, and maybe that's why when he falls asleep, he dreams of the day he first met Itachi.

Sasuke was born like every Chibi, on the day his Oki counterpart first uses chakra, which in Sasuke's case is when the Oki produces a tiny flame under his father's guidance at age four.

Chibi-Sasuke wakes up four-years old at the edge of a lake under a foggy gray sky, blinking groggily as he sits up. His brand new body fails him when he first tries to stand and he splashes back into the shallow water, getting mud on his shorts and gravel in his hair. Wet now, Sasuke shivers as he rises and instinctively heads to the tall grass on a nearby hill to avoid being seen by humans.

While he climbs up the incline, tripping often but determined to reach the top, brief images of a man and woman with dark eyes and fair skin flash across his mind next to a boy of similar appearance.

His parents, a voice in his head supplies.

Next, a snapshot of a bedroom with an open window and wooden shuriken littering the floor pops up, and Sasuke knows it's his destination, but the image fades when Sasuke spots an older boy standing by the base of a tree. He has four kunai in his hand, poised like he's about to throw them at the tree trunk until he notices Sasuke and they slip from his fingers as he gapes.

"Nii-san?" Sasuke calls instinctively, and the older boy rushes over, dropping to his knees once he reaches him.

"Sasuke," his big brother smiles widely, settling his hand on Sasuke's hair. "We've been waiting for you."

"You have?" Sasuke cocks his head. "Sorry I made you wait."

Itachi shakes his head. "No, don't worry about it, all Chibi come at their own time."

"Chibi?" Sasuke asks, but Itachi just gets up and reaches down to take Sasuke's muddy hand.

"Let's go home, Sasuke." Itachi beams, and his hand is so warm Sasuke never wants to let go, but he has to when his new body fails him halfway to their house. Though it turns out for the best when Itachi carries him the rest of the way, and Sasuke's whole body warms up as he nuzzles into his brother's chest.

Their parents are surprised to see him, but Mother quickly gets over her shock to gush at how cute Sasuke is. Father is disappointed Sasuke hadn't arrived earlier—Itachi showed up when he was three and walked himself home without help—but eventually welcomes the newest addition to their family.

Itachi doesn't let Sasuke go for the rest of the day, except while he bathes to rid himself of the mud, and when Sasuke asks why, Itachi grins and says, "I'm just so happy to be your big brother."

Sasuke jerks awake, coughing and choking on the humid air while a couple of tears trickle down his face. Though he can't produce anymore teardrops when his whole body feels drier than a prune in the desert.

Through the haze of dehydration and his violent coughing fit, Sasuke sees the little water bowl has been filled. He stumbles up, but the world fades in and out, and he regrets not eating those granola crumbs earlier because he thinks he might pass out before he can drink the water.

Still, Sasuke forces himself to put one foot forward after another, swaying with every step. For some reason the water bowl looks like it's getting farther the more distance he crosses, and Sasuke is worried this means the water is a mirage, but if it is, it doesn't really matter, because Sasuke doesn't make it halfway across the cage before he falls in what feels like slow-motion.

Suddenly large fingers hook around his waist, catching him, and Sasuke blinks blearily at the painted fingernails—purple nail polish really isn't this guy's color.

The two fingers gently urge Sasuke ahead and he stumbles foreward, draped over the two fingers like they're a crutch. Together they slowly make their way to the water bowl, and upon reaching it, Sasuke cups his trembling hands and dips them in the cool liquid, bringing the water to his lips and practically inhaling the too small drink. He takes a dozen more sips, soothing his throat and filling his belly until he's so full of water he likens a ship about to capsize.

Breathing hard from the overexertion, Sasuke just hangs for a minute, completely immobile atop the fingers. However, as his mind clears, Sasuke realizes the fingers are an oddity, so trails them up until he sees Oki-Itachi standing over the open cage. For a moment, Sasuke is too shocked to do anything, but then he remembers all the other times Oki-Itachi helped him today and grows confused. Oki-Itachi made sure Sasuke was warmed by the fire last night, tried to share his granola bar with him, and even went out of his way to find a splint that fit his Chibi leg. Why was the human being so nice?

It must be a trick. I shouldn't fall for it.

Sasuke doesn't understand why he's so distrustful of Oki-Itachi until he recalls everything that happened before today.

Sasuke is eight-years old when the Chibi Uchiha run out of food. The Third Hokage offers to help, and many of the other Chibi clans offer a portion of their meals to the Uchiha. Yet Fugaku is stubborn, and will not accept charity. Not until the former Hokage stops by their house, Minato's tan face graying at the sight of Sasuke's bony body.

The blond slams his hands on the table, and hisses. "Fugaku-san," Minato glares, "Do not let pride be what kills your clan." His face softens. "At least let us feed the children."

Fugaku relents, accepting the food for the children and the civilian Uchiha. However, he sends out their shinobi population to hunt and gather, but it's hard to take down even a squirrel when most of the Uchiha have lost the majority of their chakra.

For the Chibi and Oki are connected, and when their Oki counterparts die, much of the Chibi Uchiha's chakra dies with them.

It begins with Shisui, who loses his Sharingan in one eye the day his Oki counterpart perishes, and now only has enough chakra to perform some jutsu and a single summoning. Similarly, Izumi can't use her Sharingan at all, and a few other Uchiha share her infirmity, while the rest of the clan can only maintain their Sharingan for a few minutes.

Sasuke and Itachi are the only ones unaffected, and now talk follows them everywhere. For Sasuke, there are offers to train him and pass down secret Uchiha ninjutsu since Sasuke might be the last Uchiha child with full strength. However, for Itachi, it's all suspicious mummers and hushed accusations.

Glares now follow Itachi everywhere in the compound, as do whispers like—

"Will he kill us too?"

"I bet he conspired with his Oki!"

Itachi never wavers under their distrust, and doesn't even bat an eye when a group of Uchiha warn Shisui right in front of him to stay away from Itachi because, "We all know his Oki killed Shisui's counterpart, he'll do the same to you."

Sasuke hates himself for being the one to tell his clan what Oki-Itachi did, even though other Chibi Uchiha reported seeing Itachi's counterpart kill the Oki Uchiha too, but eventually Sasuke just hates Oki-Itachi. He hates the human for making his clan starve, for causing so many deaths because hunting is dangerous when most of their shinobi can barely use their Sharingan, and a lot of the civilians aren't strong enough to protect themselves from the animals that break into their now abandoned homes.

Chibi Uchiha life is tough these days, and Oki-Itachi is too far and powerful to hold responsible, so all the blame falls on Sasuke's brother.

It's why Father sends Itachi away when Sasuke is eight. The clan has decided to split up to make life easier on everybody. Half of them will travel to the city of Sora-ku where the clan has a pact with the ninja cats there, who promise to protect and provide for them. The rest will stay in Konoha.

Itachi, because he is the clan heir and strongest Chibi Uchiha, is the perfect candidate to lead the group in Sora-ku while Fugaku manages the ones in Konoha. Sasuke wants to go with his brother, like Shisui and Izumi volunteered to, but since Sasuke is the only other Uchiha with unimpaired chakra, Father wants him to stay in Konoha so the power is balanced for both groups.

Sasuke cries the whole night before Itachi's departure, and in the morning, refuses to let his brother go. Their parents have to pry him off Itachi, Sasuke kicking and screaming the whole time, but Itachi can't leave his little brother in such a state, so he takes Sasuke in his arms and walks over to the docks at the lake.

He sits on the edge and hugs Sasuke tight while the eight-year old bawls into his shoulder. "It's my fault they're sending you away! I shouldn't have told them what Oki-Itachi did! That's why everyone hates you, Nii-san, it's all my fault!"

Itachi rubs circles on his back and tells Sasuke he is not to blame. When the sky darkens Sasuke knows their time has come to an end and he thinks he's all out of tears until Itachi presses their foreheads together and vows. "I will always love you."

Then Itachi takes him home, and Sasuke watches him disappear into the tunnel beneath the gnarled tree root leading the crowd of Uchiha to Sora-ku. Sasuke watches until the last Uchiha disappears into the tunnel, and even after that, Sasuke lingers.

Itachi doesn't return to Konoha for five years, and Sasuke doesn't see him again until he's thirteen.

Sasuke's hands curl around the fingers holding him, hate boiling his blood and rage ravaging his mind. It's Oki-Itachi's fault his clan has fallen so far. It's his fault the Chibi Uchiha clan have to fight for every meal. It's his fault Nii-san was banished for five years, and now his brother might be dead because Oki-Itachi sat back and watched the sharkman kill him.

Sasuke wrenches off the human hand and chomps hard on the Oki's finger. He bites until he breaks through skin, and only once he sees a line of blood welling does Sasuke let go and back up to glare at Oki-Itachi.

The human's face is devoid of expression, as if he doesn't feel anything, and the Oki doesn't, does he? Because Oki-Itachi is a cold-hearted, unfeeling monster and Sasuke hates him. He will always hate him, and shall never forgive him.

Oki-Itachi doesn't say anything while he pulls his hand out of the container and puts the lid back on. Sasuke expects him to leave then, but Oki-Itachi stares at him for a moment before he whispers, "I am sorry, for everything, Little Sasuke."

Sasuke's eyes widen, but already Oki-Itachi is heading out the room and shutting the door behind him, leaving the Chibi to stare after him in stunned confusion.

—

Itachi walks into his bedroom and immediately looks over to the glass cage. Approaching the square table, he's surprised to see the min-nin asleep on the beanbag, but Sasuke's counterpart did expend a lot of energy fighting Itachi, and was undoubtedly tired prior to their altercation. Still, it amazes Itachi to see his little face so relaxed, the lack of a scowl shaving years off the min-nin until he resembles a young child. Itachi wonders if his own brother looks this innocent when he sleeps, but snips the thought before it can go further.

Itachi turns away from the min-nin, and his eyes land on the empty bowls. He soon decides now would be the best time to fill them, so quietly removes the cage lid and takes one of the plastic basins, filling it with water from the kitchen sink. He's setting the bowl back inside the cage, and pondering which food item to put into the other bowl, when the little Sasuke's face twitches. Itachi thinks it's because he was being too loud, but the min-nin starts crying and Itachi realizes he's having a nightmare.

The twenty-year old doesn't get to decide whether to intervene as the boy suddenly wakes up coughing and wheezing. The tiny shinobi appears dazed, squinting and teetering when he stands without noticing Itachi's looming presence above him. Instinctively Itachi catches the little ninja as he falls because for a moment all Itachi saw was his kid brother tripping over his two feet in his eagerness to catch up with Itachi, and he doesn't want Sasuke to get scraped knees.

Itachi continues to assist the shinobi until the min-nin is properly hydrated, though he's concerned when the little shinobi remains in a stupor. However, his expression slowly morphs into one of clarity, and it's all too evident the moment when Sasuke's counterpart recognizes him, rage swiftly replacing his docile features. Yet Itachi doesn't stop him from biting his finger because Itachi understands the min-nin is just scared and frustrated. It's obvious min-nin think and feel no differently from humans. Yet, Itachi helped to trap and capture the min-nin as if he was an animal. While not the worst crime Itachi has committed since he became a missing-nin, because it's Sasuke—his little brother's face glaring up at him—and the tiny shinobi probably won't understand anyway, Itachi apologizes.

Then he bolts. Itachi walks briskly through the tunnel feeling off-kilter because his words to the min-nin were one of the most honest things he's said in a long time. There's also the name that slipped out, "Little Sasuke," which bothers him, and the question of why Itachi called the min-nin such an affectionate term.

Soon Itachi is standing outside by the waterfall, attempting to calm his racing heart. His chest twinges with the urge to cough due to his illness being aggravated whenever he exerts himself, but Itachi holds it in while he stares up at the twilight orange sky.

Yet Itachi can’t properly appreciate the pinks and yellows of the setting sun before a dark spot in the bright horizon captures his attention. 

The Uchiha holds out his arm once the crow is near, allowing it to land. 

"Did you find him?" Itachi asks.

The bird cranes its neck to drop something small and leathery in Itachi's palm. Itachi looks down to see a miniature saddle in his hand.

"This was all you found?" He doesn't look up as the crow caws an affirmative, and Itachi dismisses the summon while he ponders the evidence.

That's the second crow Itachi has sent to his counterpart's crash site. He was hoping to retrieve the injured min-nin in secret, but it seems his counterpart might not need his help. Though there is a possibility the min-nin's body was already eaten by scavengers, but the dead crow's body remains untouched so Itachi finds that unlikely.

Itachi faces the sinking sun again before looking down at the drop of blood racing down his forefinger.

"You and I are flesh and blood. I'm always going to be there for you... Even if you do hate me. That's what big brothers are for."

Itachi stares off into the darkening sky and wonders how much longer he must wait until he finds permanent relief at his little brother's hands.

Chapter Text

Sasuke stares at the closed door for minutes—maybe hours—before he shakes off his shock. Then he backs up in his cage and falls bonelessly onto the green beanbag behind him.

It's a lie, Sasuke is sure of it. Oki-Itachi's apology is a lie meant to trick him, just like all the other nice things he did for Sasuke earlier. They have to be lies...but then why did the Oki verbalize his apology to Sasuke? What was the point in Oki-Itachi verbally lying to Sasuke when he's under the impression the Chibi doesn't understand human speech...unless Oki-Itachi said it specifically because he thought Sasuke couldn't understand him, so he wouldn't have to feel embarrassed about apologizing genuinely.

For a second Sasuke dares to consider if Oki-Itachi has realized the error of his ways and the apology was an attempt to get it off his chest, but then Sasuke remembers what the sharkman said.

"It's bad enough we're going to have to delay its training."

The Chibi's brow furrows as he recalls the sharkman mentioning he needs to undergo some type of training. This "training" is probably related to whatever these missing-nin want to use him for, and must involve Oki-Itachi, otherwise the sharkman wouldn't have said, "The min-nin being your brother's counterpart should make it easier to train... You're already connected."

So Oki-Itachi is supposed to be "training" Sasuke, and to do that, the Oki needs to connect with him?

Sasuke's expression darkens, a low growl rumbling in the back of his throat. No wonder Oki-Itachi kept acting so nice and gave him that fake apology, the human needs Sasuke to bond with him. The Oki doesn't actually regret any of the suffering he's caused, and even if he did it doesn't change what he's done!

Sasuke punches down on the beanbag, his fist sinking into the cushion and quaking with rage. To think Sasuke almost fell for the Oki's act when he of all Chibi should know better. Sasuke's counterpart and he both learned how great of an actor human Itachi was on that night when Oki-Itachi admitted he'd been pretending to be a kind, caring older brother while all along the man really only sought power and to test his abilities.

Sasuke's jaw clenches, hate mounting in his chest like lava about to erupt from a volcano. However, the Chibi's thoughts are interrupted by the sound of footsteps.

Sasuke sits up, listening to the footsteps stop outside the room and hesitate by the door. Immediately he knows it can't be Oki-Itachi right as the door flies open and crashes into the cavern wall.

Sasuke flinches at the noise while the blond shinobi from earlier strides into the room, his blue eyes flitting about the space until he spots the cage.

"Ah, there you are!" The blond's face lights up, and Sasuke doesn't like the curious gleam in his eyes as he nears.

"Deidara-senpai!" A man wearing an orange mask pokes his head into the room, glancing around nervously. "I don't think this is a good idea, Itachi-san might get mad if he finds out you went into his room!"

The blond—Deidara—rolls his eyes and scoffs. "Yeah, right." He bends down so his giant face hovers over Sasuke, who stands up to feel a little less vulnerable. "When have you ever seen Itachi get mad, or yell? I bet he doesn't even have feelings!" He snarked.

"Ooh!" The masked man exclaims loudly enough to grate on Sasuke's nerves. "I didn't think about that! You're so smart, senpai!"

Deidara bares his teeth victoriously, and his smile reminds Sasuke of a cat's leer when it spots a mouse. "Of course, I'm a genius, un!" The blond boasts while the masked man approaches him from behind, only to gasp upon seeing Sasuke.

"Woow!" The man leans over Deidara to get a closer look, shoving the blond to the floor in the process. "It's so tiny and cute!" He gushes, his lone black eye peeking through a hole in his mask, and Sasuke backs away as far as he can from him because there's something off about the masked man, a quiet malevolence swirling in his gaze that's at odds with his childish demeanor.

"Tobi!" Deidara snarls, lurching up and purposely head-butting Tobi's stomach as he rises.

The masked man chokes and falls to the floor, clutching his stomach while Deidara shouts over his whimpering. "You idiot! You almost broke my nose!" The blond rubs the bruise already forming on his snout and glares over his hand. "Stop being so clumsy!"

Tobi curls up in a fetal position. "I'm sorry, senpai! I won't do it again."

Deidara scowls. "You better not," he warns, though his expression morphs into a smirk as he turns to Sasuke. "Just get out, and let me know when Itachi comes back."

"But I thought you didn't care if Itachi-san catches you—"

"Tobi—" Deidara hisses through clenched teeth, glaring over his shoulder and Tobi scrambles to his feet with a fearful cry, running out and slamming the door behind him.

"Newbies..." Deidara scoffs before looking back at Sasuke with a sharp smile.

The Chibi moves into a fighting stance, raising his arms in front of his chest and adjusting his footing for better balance, but this merely amuses the human.

"Aww," Deidara coos mockingly, "Look at the little ninja trying to act tough."

Sasuke narrows his eyes, but can't do more while the blond unlocks the cage and sets the top aside on the table. The Chibi is considering leaping out and making a run for it when Deidara's hand snaps around his body faster than he can blink.

Then he's swung up so fast the wind rushes past his ears while Deidara squeezes him bruisingly tight.

"Oh, I can feel it's little heart racing. Is it scared?" Deidara pulls the Chibi up to his face and something inside Sasuke instinctively recoils at being so close to an Oki. Humans aren't supposed to know about Chibi kind, and it feels wrong having such a large being stare him down while the Oki's fingers keep him trapped, hand fully capable of crushing him at any moment.

Sasuke's unease mixed with the fact Deidara is holding him tightly enough to aggravate his injured leg motivates Sasuke to take a chance and bite the blond's thumb.

"Ow!" Deidara nearly drops him, having not anticipated Sasuke biting him like Oki-Itachi had, and Sasuke wiggles in the looser hold until he's freed one arm, but then Deidara's grip tightens and Sasuke chokes.

"You," Deidara hisses. "You think you're better than me just like him!" He glares while Sasuke gasps for air, wondering what in the world Deidara is talking about until he recalls the blond pointing out his resemblance to Itachi. Is that what this is? Deidara came in here to take out his disdain for Itachi on Sasuke just because they look similar?

The Chibi is mildly miffed by the comparison to Itachi's counterpart, but is more focused on finding a way out of his situation when the human brings him closer to his face and demands. "Don't you?"

The Chibi is struck by an idea then and sucks in a deep breath like he's about to speak, something the blond notices and is genuinely shocked by.

Except it's not words that come out of Sasuke's mouth, but saliva, which he spits straight into Deidara's eye.

The giant yelps, his grip loosening as he slaps a hand over his afflicted eye, and the Chibi uses his free arm to lug himself out of the shinobi's hold.

"H-hey!" The blond releases his eye, but can't move fast enough as Sasuke dives under Deidara's cloak sleeve and starts crawling up his arm.

The world is dark and muggy under the cloth, the skin beneath him slick and hard to grip, yet Sasuke doesn't stop even as the Oki shouts. "What are you doing!?"

Sasuke clambers over Deidara's elbow, his breath hot under the confined clothing while he climbs as fast as he can with his injured leg. He’s forced to stop though when Deidara's arm begins flapping down and up, bouncing the Chibi and making Sasuke cling to the limb as the blond tries to shake him loose.

"Get off!" Deidara growls while Sasuke starts to lose his grip, grunting when his bad leg smacks into his good one as Deidara's arm swings him back and forth. Yet desperate not to lose what might be his last chance to escape, Sasuke digs his nails into the Oki's skin.

Deidara shrieks, arm stilling as it seizes up with pain, and Sasuke uses the opportunity to crawl up to his shoulder while another Oki rushes into the room.

"Senpai?" Tobi sounds concerned. "What—"

"It's trying to escape!"

The cloth above Sasuke suddenly indents in the shape of a hand as Deidara's attempts to pin him through the cloak, but Sasuke throws himself over the Oki's shoulder, latching onto the inner fabric and sliding down it until he hangs below Deidara's neck where the Oki can't easily reach.

"It's on my back, get it!"

Sasuke should probably feel more concerned when the collar above him is pulled away, shinning light on his hiding place while Tobi peers down at him, but Sasuke can feel his chakra awakening and spreading steadily across his body like a warm ocean breeze. It's a matter of seconds before he regains all of his jutsu abilities, and though he needs a little more time, Sasuke is sure he can make it.

"Got it!" Tobi reaches down Deidara's back faster than Sasuke is expecting, but the Chibi swings himself over Tobi's hand, lands on the masked man's arm, and leaps just high enough to catch the end of Deidara's ponytail.

The blond yelps, reaching for his head, and Sasuke moves behind Deidara's ponytail so he can't be grabbed. "My hair!"

"Hold on, senpai!" Tobi pushes the ponytail aside and the Chibi doesn't move as Tobi plucks the back of Sasuke's cloak and yanks him up, not noticing that Sasuke has latched onto some of Deidara's hair.

"Ahh!" Deidara screeches shrilly while Sasuke maintains his grip even as a couple of blond strands are plucked out.

Tobi releases Sasuke, startled. "S-senpai?"

"What is going on in here?"

Sasuke recognizes the gruff voice coming from the doorway and smirks when the sharkman steps into this room because this was the distraction he was waiting for.

Tobi swivels towards the sharkman, waving his hands frantically. "It's nothing!"

"Why are you in Itachi's room?" The sharkman cuts him off, turning suspiciously to the blond who is wide-eyed. "And why does Diedara look like he's been fight—"

Sasuke clambers to the top of Deidara's head and stands, instantly capturing the sharkman's attention.

"Hey! The min-nin is—"

Sasuke's chakra flares like a firework going off in his body, and Sasuke drags every ounce of his newly-awakened chakra into his eyes, activating his three tomoe Sharingan.

The sharkman stiffens as Sasuke captures him in a genjutsu, and the Chibi leaps onto the immobile man's shoulder, not bothering to look back as the sharkman pulls out two kunai from his pocket and swiftly tosses them at Tobi and Deidara's heads.

"Kisame!?"

Sasuke smirks while the sound of fighting ensues behind him as he grabs the shark—Kisame's—cloak and slides down the man's back, hoping the missing-nin remains under the illusion he's surrounded by enemy ninja until he's made it out the room.

"Kai!"

Sasuke's hopes are dashed when one of the Oki frees Kisame from his genjutsu, but thankfully Sasuke is already at the bottom of Kisame's cloak and letting go of the edge to drop to the floor.

His broken leg stings on impact, but Sasuke forces himsef into an awkward sprint through the doorway when Deidara shouts. "It's getting away!"

The ground trembles beneath Sasuke's feet as the Oki shinobi chase after him into the hallway, merely a couple feet behind.

Yet Sasuke doesn't stop even as Tobi shunshins directly in front of him, the masked man's entire countenance deadly serious as he hisses. "You can't escape, little Uchiha."

A chill runs down Sasuke's spine at the drastic shift in personality, but the return of his chakra emboldens him, so Sasuke shunshins past the masked man until his broken leg forces him to stop in the base's living room.

The Chibi's leg drums with pain while he zeroes in on the cave entrance, which looks a mile away to Sasuke though it's actually only a few yards. Yet the Uchiha can't even consider making a run towards it as he spots two unfamiliar Oki ninja sitting on gray couches to the left of him. One of the missing-nin is lounging on the longer sofa, a huge red scythe set against the couch arm by his feet while the other missing-nin sits upright on the couch across from him, holding a pen over a ledger in his lap. Though the shinobi stiffens and his head snaps over to Sasuke when he senses the Chibi enter the area.

Green, pupilless eyes bore into Sasuke, and the Chibi's gaze darts longingly to the door when the man sets down his ledger and gets to his feet.

"There you are!" Deidara shouts behind Sasuke, and the Chibi doesn’t think before dashing under the nearest couch, which happens to be the one the scythe-wielder lies on.

Sasuke resists the urge to cough as dust floods his airways, and he pushes through the cobwebs and grime until his palm touches the wall the couch's back is set against, knowing it's the only place where the Oki can't reach him.

"So the korobokkuru has escaped," Kakuzu says in an even tone.

"The what?" The man with the scythe asks, sitting up based on how the couch springs groan above Sasuke.

"Korobokkuru is what we call min-nin in my Village."

"That unholy thing Leader bought is on the loose?"

Sasuke would be offended by the man's callous talk of him, but is too busy watching out for any grabby hands coming his way.

"So it would seem." Kakuzu's feet shift towards the right as he says, "I assume one of you let it escape."

Sasuke imagines the sudden silence is because Tobi and Kisame are staring at Deidara while the blond attempts to think of an excuse.

"Well, you see..."

"No matter," Kakuzu approaches the couch, and the cushion shifts above Sasuke as the scythe-wielder moves out of the way, muttering about how he doesn't want the 'unholy creature' to soil him. "I shall retrieve it." The man drops to his knees and lowers his head until his green eyes hone in on Sasuke. "A min-nin is too expensive to replace."

Kakuzu's hand creeps a few inches under the couch, and Sasuke prepares to stab the hand with his Chidori spear once it gets closer. However, Sasuke's gapes when the skin above the missing-nin's wrist unstitches itself, revealing gray tendrils that rise out of his arm like serpents.

The Chibi switches tactics right as the tendrils zip towards him, hands flying through six signs before he spits fire at them.

They all roast in the scarlet flames except for one, which whips around the fire to coil around Sasuke's ankle.

Sasuke cries out as he falls onto his back and is dragged forward by his bad foot. Yet through the haze of pain, an idea sparks in his mind, and Sasuke inhales a deep breath, building up chakra in his throat.

He waits to be pulled out from under the sofa and to see Kakuzu hovering over him before unleasheing a stream of fire up towards the green-eyed man's face.

"Woah!" The sycthe-weilder shouts in surprise while Kakuzu merely turns his head so the flames harmlessly bypass him. Yet the second his green eyes are off Sasuke, the Chibi's palm sparks with a lightning blade and he slices through the tendril tied to his ankle. Kakuzu refocuses on him, more tendrils rising from his arm, but Sasuke rolls to his feet and leaps up onto the couch cushion.

"I got it!" Deidara rushes forward as Sasuke bounces on the sofa, only for the Chibi to slash at the blond's hands with his Chidori spear, forcing the Oki back. Then Sasuke jumps up towards the sofa arm, intending to leap his way to freedom while using his lightning to keep the enemy ninja away, when suddenly an invisible force wraps around his body and freezes him midair.

What!? The Chibi's eyes widen and he unconsciously releases his Chidori spear as the force drags him past Deidara and Kisame's shocked faces and dumps him onto an unfamiliar Oki's pale hand.

The human's fingers close around him and Sasuke immediately unleashes lightning over his body, but the hand around him doesn't so much as twitch in response.

Sasuke stops releasing electricity, his Sharingan eyes widening because surely the human is in pain. Yet the hand around his body is secure, so Sasuke throws back his head to see what type of person could handle his lightning.

Just to choke at the sight of two violet Rinnegan eyes staring him down until the red-headed man turns aside. "Itachi." Sasuke twists left to see Oki-Itachi standing behind the man near the base's entrance, his ebony gaze resting on Sasuke. "I thought you said the min-nin was injured."

"He is," Oki-Itachi steps forward, brow furrowing slightly as he takes in Sasuke's frazzled appearance. "His leg is broken."

The Rinnegan man gives Sasuke a calculating look and the Chibi trembles at the sight of the legendary dōjutsu. "Yet despite this, the min-nin managed to escape its cage, elude several S-rank shinobi, and even injury one of them."

Deidara scoffs. "It didn't injury me!" He glares at Sasuke while smoothing down his hair, though some parts still stick up as he stutters. "I just fell.”

Oki-Itachi's eyes shift to the blond and narrow. "You fell in my room?" His voice turns icy. "And I suppose you just happened to knock off the cage lid as you fell, allowing the min-nin to escape?"

Everyone except the man with the Rinnegan is taken aback by the thinly-veiled accusation in Oki-Itachi's voice, having never seen the Uchiha so outright antagonistic.

"Ha!" The scythe-wielder cuts through the tension, cackling loudly. "I guess there are emotions in that blasphemous husk of yours, huh, Itachi?" Then a manic grin upturns his lips as he side-eyes the blond. "How about I sacrifice Deidara to Jashin-sama? He's clearly a nuisance and I bet his blood will be pleasing to—"

"I am not upset with Deidara."

All the shinobi turn to the redhead as he says, "Though I hope Deidara will not be so reckless in the future." The blond shrinks under the man's gaze, hearing the warning in his tone until the man looks back at Sasuke. "But even if it was by accident, Deidara has revealed the min-nin is capable of fighting despite its injury."

Oki-Itachi stiffens, but doesn't say anything while his leader says, "Let the min-nin rest for three days, then you must begin its training, Itachi."

The Uchiha nods, though there's a tightness around his mouth while he speaks. "Yes, Pain-sama." He raises his hand and Pain sets the shell-shocked Chibi in Oki-Itachi's palm.

Yet the tiny ninja can't do a thing before the larger Uchiha's eyes bleed into his Mangekyō Sharingan, and Sasuke's lesser eyes are no match for the genjutsu order that slams into his brain.

Then the world spirals into a kaleidoscope of red and black, and Sasuke is dunked into an ocean so dark he can't see his own hands in front of him as he sinks into oblivion.

—

Sasuke wakes up on the beanbag in his glass cage, a soft cloth draped over his body and dull orange light warming his skin. Yet Sasuke feels cold as he sits up, muscles aching, head spinning, and chakra so absent it feels like someone carved a hole in his chest.

After some seconds, the vertigo passes, but Sasuke feels no better. The Chibi stares blankly at the wall ahead, the stench of failure diluting his senses while he blinks at the gray heat lamp next to his cage on the table, which certainly wasn't there earlier. Though the lamp's warmth isn't unwelcome, it does nothing to lift Sasuke's mood because Sasuke is locked up again. This time for good. No more second chances, no more escape attempts, Sasuke is truly trapped this time.

Sasuke hangs his head and maybe would have lamented forever if the door didn't suddenly creak open. An Oki steps into the room, but Sasuke doesn't turn around, knowing who it is.

"You're awake," Oki-Itachi says quietly, walking up to his cage.

Sasuke doesn't acknowledge his words, and a full minute passes in silence before he hears the cage top being opened. The Chibi drags his eyes up and stands when Oki-Itachi dips his hand into the container because Sasuke has had enough manhandling today.

Yet Oki-Itachi's hand never strays from the other end of the cage as the human deposits something into his food bowl. Sasuke watches Oki-Itachi's hand leave warily so doesn't see what he's been given until the Oki secures the cage top and Sasuke turns to the food bowl. His eyes widen.

"I remember my mother used to complain about rabbits sneaking into her garden, nibbling on her fruits at night." Oki-Itachi watches the min-nin slowly approach the plump tomato sitting in his food bowl, nearly as tall as him. "But eventually she noticed the bite marks were too small to come from a rabbit, and the mouth size didn't match any animal she knew of."

Oki-Itachi stops there, but Sasuke doubts he needs the Chibi to confirm the truth. To explain that when they were kids, Itachi used to take Sasuke to the Oki garden at night. It was only on special occasions, like when Sasuke had a bad dream or Itachi needed some fresh air, and his brother only ever took him out after sunset since daytime was too risky—though Sasuke always thought that made the experience more magical.

They used to play hide-and-seek under the peppermint leaves, inhaling their sweet scent and using the fireflies fluttering above to find each other in the darkness. Sasuke would slide down the chili pepper stems, his brother catching him at the bottom, before they’d tie the vines into a makeshift swing and ride it together while eating their fill of juicy fruits. Sometimes they even went over to the koi pond, Sasuke marveling at the giant fishes' glittering scales while they drifted up to the water's surface.

Sasuke's stomach growls, disrupting the memory, and Sasuke clutches his abdomen as pain blossoms in the pit of his gut. He hasn't eaten all day, and though he's faced far worse starvation in the past, his hunger mixed with his worry over Itachi's fate as well as the stress from trying to escape three times in the past day have left Sasuke famished.

Still, he can feel Oki-Itachi's eyes on him and the Chibi won't give in to the human's attempt to get into Sasuke's good graces. He won't fall for such false kindness again.

Someone knocks on the bedroom door and Oki-Itachi moves to unlock the entrance—was there always a lock there?

Kisame stands in the doorway, and Oki-Itachi shifts aside so he can walk in. The older man raises a brow at Sasuke's stance, his crossed arms and face turned away from the tomato even as his Chibi stomach cries with hunger.

"Still being stubborn, huh?" Kisame turns to Itachi. "I can't tell if that's an Uchiha thing or just a you two thing." He gestures between the Chibi and Oki Uchiha while Sasuke scowls at the comparison because Oki-Itachi is nothing like his kind older brother.

Oki-Itachi ignores the teasing and says, "It's Konoha protocol not to accept food from enemy shinobi after one's been captured, as most Konoha-nin would prefer to starve rather than sell out their comrades." His raven eyes stare deep into Sasuke's. "I suspect the min-nin of Konoha have a similar protocol, but it's pointless for him to follow it now when we won't be using him against his own kind."

Though Oki-Itachi is speaking to Kisame, his eyes remain on Sasuke and the Chibi can tell he's being addressed even as Oki-Itachi looks away.

"Well, if that's what you think is best," Kisame turns to leave. "I'll let our leader know we got the min-nin to eat."

Oki-Itachi closes the door behind him, twisting a lock over the knob before moving towards the dresser by his bed. He removes his cloak and Sasuke looks away as the human gets prepared for bed, both of them ignoring how Sasuke's stomach releases another piercing wail while the tomato twinkles enticingly under the lamplight. Regardless, even after Oki-Itachi retires to bed, Sasuke refuses to give in as he lays back on the beanbag, determined to suffer through hunger pains all night long if he has to.

—

The next morning Itachi slips on his cloak, ties back his hair, and is making his way out the door when he stops to check on the min-nin.

His lips twitch as he takes in the tiny shinobi curled up on his beanbag, stomach bulging under his cloak while only the tomato stem and seeds remain in his food bowl.

A spark of amusement lifts the corner of Itachi's mouth as he whispers. "Sleep well, Little Sasuke," before closing the door gently behind him.

Chapter Text

Oki-Itachi's visits are like clockwork. He always drops off Sasuke's breakfast at exactly 9AM, then shows up every subsequent three hours until he delivers his dinner at 9PM. It's the easiest access to food Sasuke has had in years—though it's only been so hard because of what Oki-Itachi did—but more importantly, the Oki's punctuality allows Sasuke to keep track of time.

So the Chibi knows he's been with these missing-nin for three days, that it has also been three days since Sasuke watched his beloved brother fall out of the sky to a fate unknown, two days since he tried to escape, and one day before Oki-Itachi is supposed to start training him. Whatever that means.

Sasuke lays back on his beanbag, staring up at the cage lid while going through a mental list of all the missing-nin he's encountered so far.

Oki-Itachi, murderous sharkman Kisame, Uchiha-hater Deidara, probably has a split-personality Tobi, living ragdoll Kakuzu, psychotic scythe-wielder guy, and Pain their leader with the legendary Rinnegan.

The Chibi exhales, massaging his temples. He couldn't imagine a crazier bunch if he tried, and of course Oki-Itachi just has to be working with them. Though that's not too shocking considering Sasuke was told years ago Oki-Itachi joined some criminal organization after abandoning Konoha. He learned back when Oki-Itachi sent Oki-Sasuke to the hospital, having used Tsukuyomi on his poor younger brother a second time.

Still, Sasuke never expected to find himself among the human Akatsuki. Or, well, he's pretty sure that's who they are since they're wearing the trademark black cloaks with a red cloud pattern. Though Sasuke is more familiar with their Chibi counterparts who are primarily stationed in Amegakure according to Chibi Konoha intelligence, and aren't a band of criminals so much as a vigilante group striving for world peace.

Clearly the Oki Akatsuki are very different from the Chibi Akatsuki, but what Sasuke can't figure out is what do they need him for? Surely the advantages that come with Sasuke's smaller size aren't that impressive to a group of S-rank shinobi.

The door lock clicks, startling Sasuke from his pondering, and he quickly stands since he finished breakfast less than an hour ago, meaning Oki-Itachi shouldn't be back for another two hours. Yet the human that enters the room is in fact the Oki Uchiha, carrying a plastic bowl in his hands.

The Chibi watches warily as the human sets the bowl on the table, noticing the steam rising from it. Did the Oki bring him soup? Is this an extra meal?

His guess is proven incorrect when the Oki unlocks the cage, and Sasuke backs up while the human sets the tall bowl in a corner of the container. Sasuke's face crinkles with confusion as Oki-Itachi also lays down a white washcloth and two travel-size bottles, which are slightly shorter than Sasuke, beside it.

"I apologize for not providing you a means to clean yourself sooner." Sasuke's eyes widen, realizing what's happening. "But I thought it best if you had time to adjust to your new surroundings first."

Sasuke stuffs down his shock, pretending not to understand the Oki's words while he cautiously approaches what he can now see is a bowl of hot water. The warm air wafting above it sends a thrum of longing down to Sasuke's core because he hasn't been able to bathe for over a week, as prior to being captured there hadn't been any bodies of waters in Suna for him to wash up in, and after being locked up, the best Sasuke could do was splash some of his drinking water on his face since anything more would dirty the liquid.

"I'll return in two hours." Oki-Itachi tells him as he turns, pulls the door closed and leaves.

Sasuke narrows his eyes at the doorway, suspicious, but after five minutes of not hearing anybody so much as walk past the room, the Chibi relaxes. He's still cautious when he slips off his brother's torn cloak, reverently folding it and placing it on his beanbag, and he waits another five minutes before determining none of the Oki shinobi are around to disrupt him, perhaps too busy completing missions.

Yet Sasuke still feels paranoid until he dips his hand into the water and his whole arm goes lax as the heat permeates every muscle and tendon below his wrist. Everything afterwards is a blur of clothes being thrown off before Sasuke plunges into the steaming liquid.

His skin burns on contact, but it's a good sort of pain while Sasuke drifts weightlessly below the water. He floats back up, breaching the surface so his body bobs upon the waves his plunge made.

Sasuke releases a little laugh, smiling for the first time in days as the heat takes away all the aches and pains throughout his body, soothing his broken leg and brushing aside his worries until they fall away like leaves caught in the wind.

Eventually the water temperature drops, forcing Sasuke to open his eyes and ease into a stand. He shivers when the air touches his bare shoulders, quickly wading over to the travel-size bottles and squinting at their labels before unscrewing the green one's top and scooping out a little shampoo. He runs the gel through his hair, massaging his scalp and dunking under the water to rinse it off. He does the same with the white bottle, except he uses a corner of the washcloth to scrub on the almond-scented body wash.

By the time he's finished the water is freezing and Sasuke eagerly leaves it, drying himself off with the washcloth and wearing it like a cloak afterwards since it's too big to wrap around his waist. He glances at his white high-collar t-shirt and dark blue pants on the floor, but frowns at the stains on them. Sasuke doesn't want to wear soiled clothes after getting himself clean, so dumps them and Itachi's cloak into the water. He uses the soap gel to wash out the dirt and sweat and lays them on the bowl's rim to dry under the lamplight.

Oki-Itachi returns an hour later to find Sasuke clean, dressed and lounging on his beanbag. The Oki must notice Sasuke is more relaxed because his gaze lingers on the Chibi while he removes the bowl and toiletries. Though it could also be the fact Sasuke didn't put Itachi's cloak back on that's caught his attention since this would be his first time seeing Sasuke's true outfit.

"It looks like someone enjoyed their bath," Oki-Itachi says conversationally, and if he was Sasuke's actual brother he'd say there was teasing lit to his voice, but this monster is not his brother so Sasuke scowls at him.

If the Oki notices Sasuke's hostility he ignores it and says, "We can do this again tomorrow." The Chibi lights up, surprised by the offer. "After your training session."

Sasuke's excitement dies, the Chibi realizing what the Oki is implying. The bath was a trap, something Sasuke was given to appreciate simply so it can be hung over his head like a threat if he doesn't behave as these missing-nin want him to. Thus it's very likely Sasuke will never get to bathe again until he escapes from the Akatsuki.

Itachi frowns when the min-nin glares at him, wondering what he said to upset the tiny shinobi. However, it's not like Itachi can ask, so he simply locks the cage and takes away the bowl to empty in the bathroom sink.

—

Sasuke can't sleep that night, too anxious over what his first "training" session will entail. Will it be an exercise session? A test to see how fast he can run despite his injury? Or something more strenuous such as pitting him against a squirrel and seeing how long he lasts? Well, maybe not that last one...

Sasuke rolls over on his beanbag and stares at his brother's folded cloak beside him. His expression falls as he reaches for the black cloth and drags it up to his face. Despite the thorough washing he gave it, there's a familiar scent lying beneath the chemical fragrance, likening incense and green tea.

It smells like Itachi, and how Sasuke wishes he knew where his brother was. Assuming his sibling survived the fall, did he make it back to Konoha safely? Or is he still out there searching for Sasuke? And what about Shisui and Izumi?

Sasuke feels guilty for not thinking about them sooner, but now wonders if they too are safely back in Konoha. The Chibi's lips slant down, realizing if they are then they must have told his mother what happened and she's probably worried sick about him—worried about Itachi too if his brother hasn't made it back yet.

In fact, the entire Chibi Uchiha clan might be in a frenzy by now since Sasuke and Itachi are the clan's strongest members. And that's without considering Itachi is the clan head while Sasuke is the clan's sole heir. If anything happens to them the Chibi Uchiha will be devastated and it will be all Oki-Itachi's fault again.

Sasuke's fingers clench around his brother's cloak, bunching the clothing, while he stares out of his cage to the Oki lying in his bed. He can't see well outside of the ring of lamplight beaming down on the table, but he does his best to glare at Oki-Itachi anyway since the human may have brought ruin upon his clan.

Sasuke is still glaring when the Oki twitches. For a second he thinks the human's senses are so sharp he felt Sasuke's stare in his sleep, but then the Oki starts coughing.

Sasuke figures it‘s the dust in the air causing his reaction until the coughing intensifies, racking the Oki's entire frame. Is the human sick?

Oki-Itachi jerks upright in his bed, hand slapping over his mouth while he hacks up something wet from his lungs. Sasuke's brow furrows as the Oki moves less gracefully than he's ever seen and yanks open his drawer. He pulls out a large pill bottle and rushes to unscrew the cap, wheezing between his coughs.

Sasuke is beginning to feel uncomfortable because the Oki's cough sounds terrible.

Yet Sasuke can only watch as the Oki swallows two tablets dry before swiping his fist over a dark liquid leaking from his mouth. Gradually his coughing subsides, and once he can breathe normally, Oki-Itachi rises and walks unsteadily to the door, glancing Sasuke's way as he does.

Sasuke shuts his eyes quickly, but the Oki isn't fooled this time. "Sorry," the human says quietly. "I didn't mean to wake you."

Sasuke reluctantly opens his eyes and narrows them at Oki-Itachi, though there's less heat in them than usual since he's more confused than angry.

"I'm sick." Oki-Itachi lowers his hand to the doorknob, but doesn't turn it. "I've been sick for a while."

Sasuke keeps his face blank, though something about the calm way Oki-Itachi is speaking puts him on edge.

"Normally it doesn't effect me at night, so you don't have to worry about this becoming a regular thing." His lips turn up like he's attempting a joke, but of course Sasuke doesn't answer, and the human sobers.

"It's terminal."

Sasuke's mask shatters, shock and horror blooming across his face.

Oki-Itachi shuts his eyes. "I've never told anyone that," he whispers as if awed by his own action before opening his eyes to focus on Sasuke. "It's okay." He smiles, and his expression sends a shiver down Sasuke's back. "I'll set you free before I have my final battle with Sasuke." He unlocks the door. "Assuming you haven't escaped by then."

Sasuke sits straight up the second the door closes, the soft cloth slipping off his shoulders without his notice. "Why..." he asks no one in particular, his brain whirring.

It must be another ploy, Sasuke decides. Oki-Itachi must be trying to garner Sasuke's sympathy by pretending to be terminally ill while also endearing himself to Sasuke by promising to set the Chibi free.

Sasuke glowers. He hates the tiny part of himself that believed the Oki for a moment and resolves to squash that bit of himself as he flops back on the beanbag, yanking the cloth over his head and mentally berating himself until he falls asleep.

The Chibi never notices the bloody fingerprints staining the doorknob, especially since Itachi cleans up all traces of his illness once he returns to his room.

—

Sasuke munches unenthusiastically on the omelet he's been given for lunch, not even tasting the green peppers and cheese before he lets the meal fall back into the bowl.

He didn't sleep well last night, having been plagued with a nightmare where Itachi was riding a crow during a thunderstorm, searching for Sasuke, only for the bird to be struck by lightning and tumble out of the air.

Bloodied and bruised, his brother had crawled out from under the crow's corpse and resumed his search by foot. However, Itachi started coughing, the coughs worsening until his brother collapsed onto his knees. Black blood dripping from his lips, Itachi fell back, and as his eyes dulled, used his final breath to call Sasuke's name before staring sightlessly up at the cloudy gray sky.

Sasuke woke up shouting, "Nii-san!", but fortunately Oki-Itachi was already awake and out of the room. Still, Sasuke can't shake off the memory of his brother dying in his nightmare, fearing its some sort of warning of what's to come unless Sasuke escapes the Akatsuki soon.

The Chibi sips a handful of water to help the omelet go down, but in his agitated state the drink merely makes him feel bloated.

The door opens, and Sasuke starts so badly he nearly falls into the bowl while Oki-Itachi enters the room. The Chibi's glare is weak as the Oki frowns at the half-eaten omelet. Yet Oki-Itachi says nothing when he takes the bowl to dump his remains in the trash, which only makes Sasuke feel worse because food is a precious resource that shouldn't be wasted.

A minute later Oki-Itachi returns and sets the bowl back in, but Sasuke tenses when he doesn't immediately close the cage. Instead Oki-Itachi reaches for the jar on the table and removes its lid, regarding him with what must be feigned sympathy. "It will be more comfortable for us both if I carry you in this."

Sasuke schools his expression, not allowing his fear to show even though he wasn't expecting his training to begin so soon. He crosses his arms tightly over his chest, not budging when the Oki lowers the jar into the cage and tilts it like he's honestly expecting Sasuke to willingly enter it.

After a brief staring match, the Oki sighs, and in a flash, pinches the back of Sasuke's shirt, lifting him easily despite the Chibi's flailing. He gently sets Sasuke in the jar, snapping the lid over it before he can leap out. "I'm sorry for this."

Sasuke has to bite his tongue to keep from calling him a liar while Oki-Itachi picks up the jar and glides out of the room.

The Chibi leans his hand on the glass, steadying himself as they enter the living room. He glowers at Kisame who waits by the door before noticing Kakuzu is also nearby, sitting on the couch and scrawling in his ledger while Deidara sits on the other sofa, a magazine with paper bombs on the cover in front of his face.

The blond lowers the magazine to stare at the newcomers, and seeing Itachi, glares. Then he notices Sasuke and glares at him too.

Sasuke turns up his nose at the blond in response, and rage flashes over Deidara's face.

Though the Chibi loses eye contact when Oki-Itachi suddenly hands him over to Kisame. "I will make sure everything is in place." The Oki waits for his partner to nod, then heads out the door.

Sasuke doesn't appreciate being left in the hands of the Oki who might have murdered his brother, and his gaze hardens as he looks up at the sharkman. If Sasuke gets out of here and learns his brother really did perish because of him, it won't matter if Kisame is a giant, Sasuke will kill him.

A brief shout startles Sasuke into swiveling around to see the crazy scythe-weilder standing horrified in the doorway of the living room, his entire body rearing back. "The unholy creature!" He whips his pointer finger at Sasuke, eyes narrowing. "Keep that thing away from me!"

Kisame cocks his head, seemingly amused. "And what's so 'unholy' about it?"

The purple-eyed man snorts disdainfully, folding his arms. "Just look at it!" He says like it should be obvious while Sasuke's ears ring from his volume. "It's a crime against Jashin-sama that those things exist!"

Sasuke scowls when Kakuzu speaks without looking up from his numbers. "In my Village the korobokkuru are revered as mythical beings, known for leaving gifts on the doorsteps of shinobi who have earned their respect."

Sasuke blinks. That's actually not too far off from what Chibi typically do for their Oki counterparts. Since humans feed and shelter Sasuke's kind—even if they don't realize it—most Chibi find ways to return the favor. Sometimes they perform simple tasks such as retrieving a lost toy and leaving it out where the human will see it. Other times it's more serious like a Chibi following their Oki to the battlefield and helping them out from behind the scenes.

In Sasuke's house his mother used to pick flowers and leave the bouquet on her counterpart's bed, the human woman always assuming they were from her husband or sons. Father sometimes shined his counterpart's shuriken at night, and Sasuke and Itachi would take turns leaving a piece of candy or mint on their counterpart's beds. Of course this all ended when Oki-Itachi murdered most of the family.

"Blasphemy!" The scythe man cries, throwing his hands up. "That creature probably doesn't even have an ounce of blood in its body!" He shudders, revolted.

"Wait." Deidara finally lowers his magazine to send the scythe-weilder a deadpan stare. "Are you saying min-nin are filthy little monsters," he sends Sasuke a sharp smile that says he agrees with the sentiment, "Because they're too small to sacrifice?"

"Of course!" The scythe-weilder huffs. "What's the point of them if they can't even bleed properly?"

The cave entrance opening cuts off anyone's response and Oki-Itachi stands in the doorway, surreptitiously examining the shinobi inside prior to turning to Sasuke. The Chibi thinks he's imagining the way Oki-Itachi's face softens for a second before it frosts over.

"Everything is in place." Oki-Itachi retakes the jar from Kisame and goes back out, the sharkman following him and both ignoring the scythe-weilder's call to not bring back the "cursed creature".

"That guy sure is something," Kisame mutters and Sasuke has to agree.

Oki-Itachi doesn't reply, but his silence is telling as they walk past the waterfall and enter the forest.

Sasuke's eyes widen when he takes in the sunlit woods, the sunshine warming his face, a songbird singing somewhere above, and raindrops dripping off the tree leaves while pinecones lay scattered on the dirt floor.

Sasuke almost forgot what it felt like to be outdoors, having been locked in a room inside an even smaller cage with nothing but his thoughts for company over the past four days. He missed this, missed the fresh air and boundless sky.

The Chibi grins until he senses he's being watched and turns up his head to see Oki-Itachi observing him. Sasuke can't decipher the look in the Oki's ebony orbs, but he thinks the man is almost peering fondly at him.

Sasuke bares his teeth to show he's not fooled by the nice guy act, and certainly isn't falling for the "terminally ill" one because the man would definitely be showing more symptoms if he were dying.

The Oki looks up, slowing to a stop, and Sasuke glances around to see why, but nothing appears out of the ordinary. There aren't any target boards set against the trees or even squirrels waiting to fight him. Just what is the Oki planning?

"We're doing it here?" Kisame asks, which only furthers Sasuke's confusion because shouldn't he know? The Chibi thought for sure the sharkman and Oki-Itachi were partners.

"Yes," Oki-Itachi takes three steps and bends down.

Sasuke tenses, not knowing what's happening, while the Oki slowly tilts the jar, allowing Sasuke to reorient himself before unscrewing the lid and setting the container on the ground.

The Chibi's jaw drops, head swiveling from Oki-Itachi to the unobstructed jar opening as the human straightens up. It's got to be a trap, this must be a part of the training. Yet even if it is, Sasuke would be a fool not to try.

The Chibi rushes out the cylinder, throwing back his arms and speeding across the damp forest floor so fast he ends up skidding on a leaf before he regains his balance. He spares the missing-nin a glance over his shoulder, but neither Oki has moved.

Sasuke turns frontwards, unable to enjoy the wind whipping across his face or the sweet sensation of freedom when all his senses are screaming, It's too easy! Don't let your guard down!

It's these very thoughts that save Sasuke from crashing into the crow that suddenly swoops into his path. The Chibi somersaults over it, broken leg oddly unbothered when he lands a couple feet away.

He glares at the tall black bird, not recognizing it as one of his brother's, meaning it's Oki-Itachi's summon. Maybe his "pitting him against a squirrel" idea wasn't too far-fetched if they've sent this bird to fight him.

Yet the animal doesn't move, its beady red eyes merely watching Sasuke back up as the Chibi searches for something to defend himself with.

Though not seeing any twigs or stones nearby, Sasuke waits until he's backed up a good distance away before breaking into a run, hoping the bird won't follow.

The crow does, but soars so high Sasuke can only tell it's following because its shadow is right on top of him.

Desperate to avoid being tracked, Sasuke rushes into a patch of tall grass and ducks under the shade of a flower. He keeps an ear out for the sound of flapping wings, so nearly jumps out of his skin when a crow screeches right outside the grass. Apparently Oki-Itachi sent more than one crow to hunt him down.

Sasuke cringes when the crow screeches again, slapping his hands over his ears as a second crow joins in the screeching. Sasuke grows nervous when the cawing gets louder, realizing there must be a dozen crows outside the grass surrounding him.

The Chibi falls to his knees, hands unable to block the cacophony of birds. His eardrums are on fire, brain rattling, and either blood or sweat is leaking out of his ears because the crows are so loud he's going to go deaf if he doesn't get out of here now.

With no other choice, Sasuke springs out of his hiding spot and bursts out the grass, prepared to fight every single bird if it means he can escape.

Yet there are no crows lying in wait for him. In fact Sasuke isn't even on the forest floor anymore, but atop a human palm.

"He already got out of it?" Kisame asks, and Sasuke is too stunned to move as Oki-Itachi sets him back into the jar and secures it, standing in a broad forest clearing Sasuke doesn't recognize. When did they get here?

"Yes," Oki-Itachi inclines his head. "Being a Sharingan user like myself grants him a natural resistance to genjutsu, so he quickly saw through my visual and tactile illusions. If I hadn't reinforced them with my crow he would have escaped the genjutsu sooner. Though it seems he is mildly susceptible to the auditory ones."

Kisame smiles, showing off his sharklike teeth. "Ah, well at least it was fun watching him run from invisible enemies."

Sasuke finally breaks free of his shock, recognizing he's been played a fool. Everything after being released from the jar was a genjutsu, but when could Oki-Itachi have placed him under it?

The Chibi recalls the fond look Oki-Itachi gave him as they were walking. Was it then?

Sasuke is mortified he was tricked so easily, by genjutsu no less, something he excels in. Even without his Sharingan Sasuke should have noticed he was in an illusion.

The Oki return to their base and the living room is vacant as they enter. "I'll let the boss know how the genjutsu test went," Kisame says, sending Sasuke an amused look before moving down the hall and Sasuke grits his teeth to resist screaming.

The Chibi's face burns with humiliation, and Sasuke is sure it's turning red based on the concerned look Oki-Itachi sends him. It's annoying how the man keeps pretending to care about him, acting like he's not a cold-hearted monster, the liar!

Sasuke is steaming when Oki-Itachi deposits him back into his cage so barely hears the human mention something about bringing back food. Sasuke's chest heaves once the Oki shuts the door, his rage growing as he glares at the walls entrapping him.

Sasuke is tired of being locked up, angry that he doesn't understand why he's here or what the missing-nin are planning to do with him. He wants to be out of here already, wants to know what's happening with his clan and make sure Shisui, Izumi, and his mother are okay.

Most of all he wants to find Itachi. His brother isn't okay, Sasuke can feel it, yet every time he tries to escape and find him Oki-Itachi ruins it. The man ruins everything. His clan, his life, his home, and now Oki-Itachi helped murder his brother and Sasuke has had enough!

The Uchiha doesn't feel himself run up and kick the food bowl into the wall. He isn't thinking as he grabs the basin and beats it against the glass until it cracks. Then he's flipping over the water bowl until its liquid spills out onto the floor, soaking his feet. Yet Sasuke feels nothing as he marches up to the beanbag, locates its seam and bites into it, tearing the cloth apart with his teeth until the beans spill out.

He pummels the bag, striking it over and over while asking himself why he didn't do this sooner. Eventually the bag is too deflated to beat so Sasuke tosses it aside and zeroes in on the cloth. The Chibi tries to march towards it, but one step and his bad leg gives out so he ends up on his hands and knees.

Panting, Sasuke glares at the plastic splint, recalling the humiliating way Oki-Itachi put it on him. He sits down and rips off the straps, tearing off the plastic contraption and ignoring how his leg screams while he chucks it at the wall. He doesn't need Oki-Itachi's help, doesn't want anything from that monster!

The door opens and Sasuke’s head whips up to see the Oki enter the room, a rice ball in his hand, only to stop short, eyes widening.

Sasuke smirks, relishing in the Oki's shock as the man takes in the trashed cage. The water and beans all over the floor, the beaten beanbag, turned over bowls, and the Chibi sitting in the middle of it with bruised knuckles and a broken leg.

"Sasuke..." Oki-Itachi whispers, and the Chibi flinches because he almost sounded like his brother whenever his sibling is dismayed.

However, all feelings of regret are wiped away when the Oki's eyes melt into his Sharingan. Sasuke is instantly dragged into the swirling pinwheels, and as he falls back unconscious, his last thought is that at least he made his point. 

Sasuke isn't happy here, so as long as he's stuck with the Akatsuki, they'll all be feeling his wrath.

Chapter Text

Sasuke wakes up barely conscious as something soft yet sturdy cradles his body.

"—certain?"

The Chibi twitches at the muffled word, but his eyelids are too heavy to open and the call to sleep is strong.

"—danger to himself."

A deep voice rumbles above him, oddly familiar, and therefore, comforting.

"...adverse effect on his emotional and mental...needs room..."

Sasuke quickly fades back into the darkness.

The Chibi awakens again much more coherent, lying on a cushion with a soft cloth blanketing him. Sasuke assumes he's on the beanbag in his cage until he notices how spacious the bedding is, his feet and hands unable to reach its ends.

Confused, Sasuke covertly brushes his fingers over the cushion. The material feels plush and bouncy...like a pillow?

Sasuke's eyes snap open and he jerks up, muscles protesting the sudden movement, but the teen barely notices because an Oki pillow can't fit in his cage so how—

The Chibi inhales sharply because there are no glass walls above or around him. Instead, Sasuke sits upon a pillow on the floor of Oki-Itachi's bedroom with nothing save for empty air surrounding him.

Sasuke scrambles to his feet, uncaring that the plastic splint is back on his leg while his eyes sweep across the area because he is free, completely free. He can leave now and finally find Itach—

"Before you try anything."

Sasuke's head whips up to see Oki-Itachi sitting on his bed, staring him down from the other side of the room. The human looks even bigger than usual, probably because Sasuke is below him on the floor, and the Chibi struggles not to let his instinctive fear of such a large creature overcome him.

"Know that a barrier seal is in place." The Oki points at a black seal inked on the ground in front of Sasuke. "It's keeping you from entering my half of the room as well as suppressing your chakra."

Sasuke glares at the Oki, purposely not looking where he indicated, and the human stands. "Attempting to cross the barrier will be no different from attempting to walk through a wall." He steps forward and Sasuke backs up on the blue pillow, but Oki-Itachi merely goes to the middle of the room and crouches until he's near Sasuke's eye level.

"I'm the only one who can freely cross the barrier," the human's gaze bores into the Chibi's, "So you don't have to worry about Deidara or anyone else bothering you when I'm not around."

Sasuke narrows his eyes, though of course gives no indication he comprehends.

Oki-Itachi's expression suddenly cools. "There's no point in pretending you don't understand me."

Sasuke very carefully does not change his expression despite how his heart starts thumping because Oki aren't supposed to know Chibi can understand them, and Sasuke has given no indication he can speak so the Oki must be bluffing...right?

Oki-Itachi stares at him, gaze unnervingly intense, but soon the moment passes and he says, "You are free to roam everywhere behind the barrier, and make use of any objects on your side of the room."

"However." The Oki rises to his full height and Sasuke suddenly feel very small. "If you ever hurt yourself again," Oki-Itachi's voice thickens and his black eyes burn, "I will have no choice but to confine you inside a cage, deprive you of even the most basic furniture, and monitor you constantly."

The Chibi winces, yet glares to show he isn't cowed, even though the mere thought of being stuffed back into a cage makes him feel claustrophobic.

The Oki's face softens and he sighs. "Don't worry me like that again, Little Sasuke." His eyes close briefly. "I know you don't want to be here, and you're just acting out because you're homesick, but you need to be patient."

Sasuke inwardly scoffs at the human's attempt to convince him he actually cares while Oki-Itachi spares him a final lingering look before leaving the room.

The Chibi watches the door, refusing to move until five minutes pass and he decides the Oki isn't coming back.

Sasuke thus turns towards his new surroundings, eyeing all the new furniture and curbing his curiosity over them as he goes to inspect the seal first. He stops an inch behind it and raises his hand, slowly pushing his palm forward.

Nothing happens. However, the further his hand goes, the thicker the air feels around it until something hard and solid presses against his fingers. Sasuke tries to push through the barrier, but the seal doesn't give in the slightest, and he drops his arm, realizing it's futile.

Now having established he's still trapped, the teenager moves on to investigate the rest of his new surroundings.

He walks past the heat lamp on the floor, its light aimed at Sasuke's pillow, and goes to the right where plastic furniture—likely from a dollhouse—has been set up.

The picnic bench holds Sasuke's weight when he sits on it. However, the plastic cup, plate, knife, spoon, and chopsticks are too flimsy to turn into potential weapons. Though at least Sasuke finally has actual dining utensils instead of having to eat with his hands all the time.

A sudden thirst tingles Sasuke's throat and he coughs, wondering how long he was asleep for his throat to be this dry as he goes to the water and food bowl behind the picnic bench. He dips the cup in the liquid to bring water to his lips while examining himself in the water's reflection.

Yet the Uchiha almost chokes when he sees how wild his hair looks. Sasuke sets the cup on the bench, moving to run his hands through his hair—his only means of combing it these days—but stops when something glitters in his peripheral vision. He turns to see a plastic dresser with a cheap aluminum mirror on top of it by the wall beside the heat lamp.

Approaching what must be another dollhouse accessory, considering the dresser's drawers don't actually open, Sasuke finds Itachi's cloak folded on top of the furniture as well as a plastic brush and comb that work well enough once Sasuke runs them through his ebony locks.

Satisfied with his appearance in the mirror, the Chibi turns to a giant table in the room's left corner. He's pretty sure it's the same table his glass cage used to be on and is surprised Oki-Itachi didn't remove it from his half of the room. Then again, the table is much too big for Sasuke to weild as a weapon.

Sasuke is perplexed to find a Chibi-sized rope ladder hanging off the table's side. He tests the rope, tugging it, and when the ladder doesn't budge, Sasuke climbs it until he can pull himself onto the tabletop.

The cage and jar being gone are the first thing he notices before spotting the four miniature wooden target boards glued to the wall the table rests against. Sasuke blinks at the four red rubber balls, about the size of his head, clustered in front of the targets, and what looks like a white training dummy lying on the floor beside them. Is...is this supposed to be a training field?

The Chibi is shocked, but supposes if the Oki Akatsuki want to use him during missions, it would be wise to give Sasuke a means to keep up with his shinobi training.

Sasuke walks over to the edge of the table and looks down at his new, grander prison. This isn't the treatment Sasuke was expecting after throwing his tantrum, but he will make the most of it as long as it lasts.

—

Itachi returns to his room an hour later, a plate in his hand as he approaches the barrier seal. He pauses, seeing the min-nin's pillow is now under the square table.

The little ninja must have moved it to get some privacy as he sleeps, and Itachi sees no harm in that, so reaches down to turn the heat lamp towards the pillow.

A small object soars at Itachi's head and he instinctively jerks back, watching as a rubber ball flies through where he was, falls to the floor and bounces until it rolls to a stop by his feet.

Itachi looks up to see the min-nin glaring and standing on the tabletop with another rubber ball in his hands. The Uchiha's lips angle upwards, glad the little shinobi is making use of the training facilities he set up even if it's just to attack him.

The little Sasuke grinds his teeth, perhaps mistaking his smile for a patronizing grin as Itachi steps over the barrier. "I brought you dinner." He goes to the food bowl and sets one of the pork dumplings on his plate inside it.

The min-nin's hands clench around the ball, but he doesn't throw it while Itachi steps back and goes to sit on his bed. He picks up the chopsticks from his plate, and hoping to put the tiny shinobi at ease, starts to eat the other dumplings.

It's only once he hears tiny feet pad towards the food bowl and the barest sound of the min-nin eating, that he speaks.

"I'm leaving tomorrow."

Itachi peeks up and sees the min-nin stiffen in his seat at the plastic table. It's further proof that the small shinobi must understand at least some human speech. Though whether the min-nin can talk is doubtful.

Regardless, Itachi doesn't bring up his suspicions again, recalling the fear on the little Sasuke's face when he mentioned it earlier. "I'll be gone on a mission for five days."

Itachi watches the min-nin stare through the dumpling piece on his plate, eyes unfocused and frowning. Thinking he's worried about who will feed him while Itachi is gone, the older Uchiha explains. "Konan will take care of you until I return. She should arrive sometime tomorrow."

He waits to see the min-nin's reaction, but the tiny shinobi has already resumed eating and doesn't look up again. Itachi is mildly concerned by Little Sasuke's odd behavior, a concern which only intensifies the next morning as he's about to depart.

The min-nin looks dazed while he nibbles on the pancake Itachi gave him, and though Itachi really should get going, he lowers his hand from the doorknob and stares over his shoulder.

"Konan isn't like Deidara."

The min-nin's jaw stops moving, but he doesn't lift his gaze from his food on the plastic table.

"She won't bully you or be needlessly cruel... You're safe with her."

Itachi isn't sure, not with his ever worsening eyesight, but he thinks the tiny shinobi's shoulders lower a bit at the assurance.

Itachi turns the knob. "Goodbye, Little Sasuke." He leaves without looking back, marveling at the drop of sadness he feels at leaving the min-nin behind.

Therefore, as Itachi meets Kisame at the base entrance, the Uchiha vows to make fast work of his assignment and return to the min-nin quickly.

"You going to miss your little pet, Itachi-san?" Kisame asks teasingly, unaware just how close to the truth he is.

They move past the waterfall and the Uchiha's expression is flat as he replies. "No."

"Really?" Kisame smirks, sharp teeth gleaming in the early morning light. "Guess it's no fun when you can't beat the min-nin around like your real brother, huh?"

Itachi stuffs down the memory of what he did to Sasuke in that hallway three years ago, dryly saying, "There is no pleasure in beating the weak."

Sasuke's screams after he placed his little brother in his Tsukuyomi chase after Itachi as he walks deeper into the forest, and the Uchiha only hopes the day of their fated battle comes soon.

—

The second Oki-Itachi leaves, a tidal wave of anxiety slams into Sasuke's chest. The emotion hits him so hard the Chibi breaks out in a sweat and his breathing grows labored. What is this? Where did all this fear come from?

Sasuke's hands curl up and he forces himself to take deep, measured breaths, counting down from twenty in his head before he stops.

Respiration normal again, Sasuke stands up from the picnic table on trembling legs. "What is wrong with me?" He whispers.

Oki-Itachi leaving shouldn't have this effect on him. Of all things, shouldn't Sasuke be celebrating his time away from the kin murderer?

The Chibi is pulled from his thoughts when the bedroom door opens, and he quickly sprints to his pillow, burrowing under the cushion right as sandaled feet enter the room.

Sasuke isn't sure why he's hiding since the Oki coming in must be Konan, but the thought of being around another human without Oki-Itachi nearby is oddly terrifying. Then again, his brother's counterpart is one of the few Akatsuki members who hasn't gone out of their way to harm him, so maybe that's why he feels so paranoid now that Oki-Itachi is gone.

The human footsteps draw closer, walking over the seal to stand by the table, and Sasuke realizes Oki-Itachi must have gave Konan the code to unlock the barrier.

Slowing his breathing so the movement won't be noticed under the pillow, Sasuke peers through the shred of light and sees black, heeled shoes. He thinks Konan is looking for him above the table until a piece of paper suddenly drifts down and lands on the floor in front of him.

Sasuke gapes as the piece of paper starts sliding across the ground—is this a jutsu?

However, the paper proves to be a distraction when suddenly the weight of the pillow disappears and a delicate hand snaps closed around his body.

"To think min-nin exist."

The toneless, feminine voice surprises Sasuke into stilling as he's brought up to a human face.

Blue hair pinned into a bun frame amber eyes, which stare coolly at him.

Sasuke blinks, absorbing the human's appearance, while Konan says, "And such a young one too..."

The Chibi can't tell if there's a note of sympathy in her voice before the woman pulls out a glass jar and swiftly drops him inside it.

She waits for him to stand and brace himself against the glass before exiting the room, and some of Sasuke's anxiety fades seeing she is being careful with him.

Konan breezes past the living room and promptly enters the forest outside. Sasuke realizes they're heading to the same clearing Oki-Itachi took him for training and knows what's happening before the woman unscrews the jar lid and tilts it so he slides out onto the forest floor.

Sasuke glances around, fearing it's another genjutsu, but nothing seems out of the ordinary, and even without access to his chakra, Sasuke would notice a non-Sharingan user placing him under an illusion.

Yet the Chibi can't figure out the trick before suddenly pieces of papers rise around Konan, undoubtedly from a jutsu of her creation, and they fold midair until dozens of paper shuriken hover around her.

The woman doesn't say a word or lift a finger, which makes it all the more unnerving when the paper shuriken hurtle towards Sasuke.

The Chibi instinctively jumps away, and the first shuriken stabs deep into the earth where he previously stood. Sasuke's eyes widen, realizing Konan is genuinely attacking him, and he runs as fast as he can with his injured leg while the paper weapons strike the earth mere centimeters behind him.

However, a wall of paper forms right in front of him, blocking his path, and Sasuke only has a second to act before he's skewered.

Scowling, Sasuke runs up the paper wall, flips backwards as a shuriken spins beneath him, and kicks the shuriken down while he falls.

The origami weapon lands beside Sasuke, and the Chibi picks it up, wielding it like a shield to deflect the other shuriken. His whole body trembles with each strike against his paper defense, but Sasuke maintains his grip until finally the hits stop coming.

Sasuke waits ten seconds before peeking around the paper, but regrets his decision when a metal kunai comes flying towards his head. He drops the shuriken, realizing it will only impede his movements as he ducks under the blade.

The weapon imbeds itself in a tree, and Sasuke looks to Konan, wondering why the kunoichi is trying to kill him—don't the Akatuski need him alive?

However, a sizzling sound makes Sasuke turn back to see a paper bomb tied to the kunai's hilt, and realizing it's about to go off, Sasuke runs.

Yet there isn't enough time to escape the blast radius. So the bomb explodes, fire and ash lick his skin and Sasuke is going to die—

A paper butterfly sweeps under the teen's feet and he falls back on it while the butterfly soars up high as the flames overtake the clearing below. The Chibi is so stunned as the smoke plume billows beneath him that he slides limply off the butterfly once it lands in Konan's palm.

The kunoichi quickly places Sasuke back in the jar, saying, "That's enough for today."

Sasuke realizes this was a training session and not an actual attempt to murder him as Konan returns to the cave, and the realization is almost enough to make Sasuke miss Oki-Itachi because at least his genjutsu can't actually kill him.

The woman goes down a tunnel Sasuke has never seen before, striding into a room that turns out to be a kitchen with a low table to the left where Deidara eats what looks like ramen while Tobi makes a card pyramid across from him.

She doesn't acknowledge them as she sets the jar on the counter and opens the fridge. Sasuke glances warily at Deidara, but the Oki doesn't seem to notice he's here.

Konan makes a quiet noise of surprise and closes the fridge, her expression somewhat colder than before while she regards the two at the table.  "Deidara."

The blond looks up, blinking with chopsticks halfway to his mouth. "Huh?" He lowers his chopsticks. "What is it?"

"Did you seen anyone take the food Itachi prepared for the min-nin?"

Sasuke's brow rises. Oki-Itachi made food for him? Wait, had Oki-Itachi been the one making Sasuke's meals this whole time?

The Chibi always assumed the human bought his meals, but if Oki-Itachi had been preparing his food all along, that would explain why it tasted so familiar. Oki-Itachi cooked just like his brother.

Deidara scowls, eyes narrowing as he finally notices Sasuke in the jar. "No," he crosses his arms, "And it wasn't me, if that's what you're thinking!"

Konan shakes her head. "I didn't think it was you, but since you are here, I thought you might have seen something."

The blond scoffs. "It must have been Hidan," he throws his hands up, "He's probably trying to starve the min-nin or something, un."

Tobi looks up, nodding rapidly. "Yeah, I saw him in the hall earlier!" He smacks the table in his enthusiasm and his card pyramid teeters before tipping over.

"I see," Konan says, ignoring Tobi's shriek over his fallen pyramid and Deidara's shout about cards getting in his food as she picks up the jar and leaves the room.

The woman quietly exits the hideout, unnervingly silent, and only once they enter the forest does Sasuke put together why it bothers him.

Oki-Itachi always talks to him. Sasuke never noticed until now, but whenever they're alone, his brother's counterpart always speaks to him like he's expecting Sasuke to talk back...

Sasuke frowns. Maybe Oki-Itachi wasn't bluffing yesterday, and he really has figured out Sasuke can understand him. If so, the Chibi will have to be extra careful from now on not to give away how much he understands. Otherwise, the Oki might figure out he can talk too.

The faintest scent of spice and fire along the wind catches Sasuke's attention and he looks up to see lights, which are noticeable only because the sky is gray, and what must be buildings in the distance at the bottom of the grassy hill.

It takes another thirty minutes for Konan to reach the town that Sasuke doesn't recognize, and where are they? Is this even the Land of Wind anymore?

Sasuke doubts it. It took Oki-Itachi and Kisame hours to travel from the Suna-nin's shop to the Akatsuki cave, meaning they probably walked quite a distance away from Suna.

Konan pauses before entering the town and pulls a bandage roll out of her pocket. She winds a strip around the jar, and Sasuke's world is thrown into shade until he stands on his toes to peek over the cloth wrapping. The Oki must not want others to see Sasuke, which is fine by the Chibi since he'd rather not be seen by more humans.

The kunoichi heads straight to an open market and begins picking up fruits, vegetables, and ready-to-eat meals. Clearly she won't be cooking for Sasuke like Oki-Itachi did, so is searching for items that require little preparation.

Sasuke clutches his stomach, feeling a pang of hunger probably because he didn't finish his breakfast this morning. He hopes Konan will give him some food prior to them getting back to the cave.

A low whistle barely audible over the clamor of humans moving through the aisles catches Sasuke's attention. Strange, it almost sounds like a bird chirping.

The high-pitched sound repeats itself a minute later and Sasuke glances around, curious, until he locates the source. His heart skips a beat.

For down by Konan's shoes is a Chibi with a carrot strapped to his back and a Konoha headband tied around his arm.

Sasuke wants to scream because a fellow Konoha-nin is right there. Yet he can't, or Konan might hear him.

Another Chibi shinobi joins up with the the carrot-carrier under the fruit stand, a basket filled with berries strapped to his back. The two ninja must be a part of a team on a long-term mission, here to restock their supplies.

They eye Konan, waiting for her to leave so they can grab more fruit, but neither can see Sasuke since his jar is covered.

A plea for help burns in Sasuke's chest and his mind whirs with plans to safely get their attention. He could tap on the glass in code or whistle a bird call like they were... But then he'd be risking their lives, wouldn't he?

It hits Sasuke suddenly that if the Chibi try to help him, they'll likely be spotted by Konan or another human. As much as Sasuke longs to go home, find Itachi and see his family again, there is no way he can jeopardize the lives of his fellow Konoha-nin.

The teen bows his head, hands balling up into fists. He's on his own, facing impossible odds—because for all his bravado he knows how unlikely it is he'll escape a group of S-rank Oki shinobi—and now must let his best chance at escape slip away.

The whistle comes again and Sasuke weakly gazes over the cloth covering.

The two Chibi stare back, eyes widening.

Sasuke realizes they were signaling him right as the Chibi turn and start whispering to each other like they're deliberating what to do. Oh...oh. Sasuke left his Konoha headband in his brother's cloak pocket, Itachi having warned him the Oki might confiscate it because of the metal leaf symbol, so the other Chibi don't know Sasuke is a Konoha ninja.

Sasuke fixes this by turning around, pulling up his shirt collar, and pointing at the Uchiha symbol on his back.

He looks over his shoulder to watch the two Chibi's mouth fall open, obviously recognizing the red and white fan.

Sasuke loses sight of them though as Konan walks over to the checkout counter, making the Uchiha stumble forward. He catches himself on the wall and looks over the bandage to see one man in front of Konan, meaning there isn't much time before the kunoichi pays for the groceries and leaves town.

He looks back, eyes desperately scanning the floor, and heartbeat accelerating when he can't find the Chibi. Did they leave him? If so, Sasuke doesn't blame them. Konan is clearly a shinobi, meaning it's likely she'll notice any attempt to save him.

"Hey!"

Sasuke jumps, head whipping down to see the dark-haired Chibi with the headband around his arm is in Konan's grocery basket, hidden between the tomatoes and lettuce.

"What's your name, kid?" The man whisper shouts, eyes darting from Sasuke to the cashier as the man in front of Konan pulls out his wallet.

"Uchiha Sasuke." He whispers in a rush, seeing the customer before Konan picking up his bags to leave. "I've been captured by the human Akatsuki, but my brother Itachi escaped. Have you heard of him? Did he make it back to Konoha?" The questions spill out before he can think.

"Uchiha Itachi?" The man shakes his head. "Sorry, haven't heard of him." Sasuke's heart shatters, and the fear must show on his face, because the man says, "But it takes weeks for news about Konoha to reach us way out here."

Sasuke is somewhat assured and starts to ask where exactly here is when Konan steps up to the checkout counter and lifts her grocery basket.

The Konoha Chibi doesn't say a word before jumping out of the basket and landing on a nearby shelf, a chip bag cushioning his fall. The man stands up on the bag and sends Sasuke a pitying look before making an ANBU hand signal, one Sasuke only recognizes because Itachi taught him some when he was kid.

Help is on the way.

Sasuke hears the promise in the signal even as Konan pays for the groceries and exits the market.

Warmth fills Sasuke's chest and he barely notices when Konan briefly stops to buy a fried squid on a stick and puts it in the jar beside him. The teen eats the seafood with a little smile on his face because though it might take a while, word of Sasuke's capture will reach the Village, and Konoha will send out search parties to locate him.

And even if they can't find Sasuke, maybe the'll run into Itachi and get his brother home safely.

Hold on, Nii-san, help is on the way.

Sasuke only hopes help doesn't arrive too late.

—

Konan is like Oki-Itachi, Sasuke comes to realize. Though her countenance is cold, she never fails to provide Sasuke a bath every night, feed him five times a day, and for some reason take the Chibi along with her on daily walks through the forest.

He learns the reason for this when Konan travels to a vast, bleak industrial city and goes to the peak of its highest tower where she reports to the Akatsuki leader.

"The min-nin has been calm. It has not attempted to escape or tried to attack me. I believe letting it out for walks has improved its temperament."

Pain's Rinnegan eyes fall upon Sasuke, making the Chibi swallow thickly as the redhead says, "It seems Itachi was right." He looks back at the kunoichi. "And what of its progress?"

"It is ready."

Pain pauses before asking, "Are you certain?"

Konan's eyes shut for a second as she softly says, "Nagato." Sasuke raises a brow because that isn't the man's name. "The min-nin has passed all the tests, I'm sure we can use it now."

The Chibi lowers his head, hiding his frown because it sounds like whatever they're planning to use him for, they've decided to start using him immediately.

Pain—or Nagato?—agrees. "Then we will begin the first phase once Itachi and Kisame return from their mission."

Konan inclines her head, saying a goodbye before leaving the tower.

She returns to the cave, releasing Sasuke back into the room and standing behind the seal as she whispers. "To think our goal will finally be realized thanks to you."

Sasuke thinks she's expressing gratitude before leaving and shutting the door behind her. Yet the Chibi can't accept any thanks because the Akatsuki are a group of criminals, so if they're happy about something, Sasuke is certain it means nothing good for the rest of the world.

Chapter Text

Eight days pass and Oki-Itachi doesn't return.

Sasuke paces a hole through the floor after Konan drops off his breakfast, agitated by the lack of news. Not that the Chibi is worried about Oki-Itachi. He just hates not knowing what's going on and what this delay might mean for him.

The lack of intel makes him feel helpless, a feeling that only grows once the Chibi realizes today marks two weeks since he was captured by the Akatsuki...meaning today is Itachi's birthday.

The teenager slows to a stop under the table. Sasuke was supposed to be home by now. He was supposed to be picking up his special order from the weapons shop while Mother cooked Itachi's favorite meals, and they were going to surprise him with a party at the dango shop.

Shisui and Izumi had been especially excited to celebrate, happy for any excuse to drag Itachi out of his office... But now Sasuke isn't even sure his brother is alive, and the thought that Itachi didn't live to see his twenty-first birthday kills him inside.

The Chibi falls back on his pillow, rolling over to bury his face in the cushion and dragging the cloth over his head. He's tired suddenly, despite getting a full night's rest, and all he wants to do is sleep the day away.

So he does.

Konan enters the room twice. Sasuke senses her staring after she sees his untouched meal. Yet the kunoichi merely switches out the food with a fresh dish before leaving as quietly as she came.

Sasuke doesn't get up, doesn't want to. He doesn't feel hungry, though there's a yawning emptiness inside him. Sasuke doesn't feel anything, and maybe it's better this way.

Konan comes in a third time, walking right over the barrier and bending down so close he can sense her body heat. Still, Sasuke doesn't move until her fingers tug the cloth off his head.

He quickly steals the blanket back and yanks it over himself. The Chibi waits for the kunoichi to do something, perhaps steal the blanket again, but all he gets is the shuffling of feet and then she's gone.

Good. Sasuke prefers to be alone today.

Hours or minutes pass and the door clicks open again. The Chibi doesn't have the energy to put up a fight when a hand slides under his side and picks him up, cloth and all.

Konan puts him in the jar, and Sasuke immediately sits against the glass, draping the cloth over his head. The Chibi knows he's being childish, and that hiding from his problems won't solve them or bring Itachi back, but he just doesn't care.

A bright light invades Sasuke's vision, and his eyes squeeze closed as he turns away from the setting sun, wondering when they went outside.

"You said the min-nin was sick."

Sasuke opens his eyes and peeks out of the cloth to see Oki-Itachi, his face slightly pinched with concern.

"Yes." Konan stares at Sasuke. "The min-nin would not eat, and it's been lethargic all day. It also refused to come out from under its blanket until now." Her amber eyes glide up to Itachi then back to the Chibi. "Though perhaps it wasn't as sick as I thought."

She hands the jar to Oki-Itachi while Kisame says, "The min-nin looks pretty lively to me." He smirks. "Maybe it just missed Itachi."

The Oki Uchiha doesn't comment, simply continuing to stare at him, and Sasuke feels something for the first time since this morning, so glares back.

"Was he eating before today?" Oki-Itachi asks.

Konan nods. "Yes, it was fine until this morning."

Itachi gives Sasuke another look over and then his features go blank. "I suppose the min-nin has grown a little attached to me." Sasuke's eyes widen. "So perhaps he really did just miss me."

The Chibi pales because surely Oki-Itachi doesn't actually think he missed him!? He hates him!

"That is good news," Konan says, "Considering your mission with the min-nin is tomorrow."

Itachi doesn't look surprised, maybe having already been informed about his next assignment, and neither does Kisame, though the blue-skinned man sighs. "To think we just got back after our target eluded us for days and we're already being sent out again." His sharp grin shows he isn't as bothered by the new mission as he sounds.

"We can go over the details tomorrow." Oki-Itachi tells his partner before striding into the cave.

The Oki takes Sasuke back to their room, leaving him in the jar and placing it on his dresser. He returns thirty minutes later with a plate of sushi, which he sets beside the Chibi.

Sasuke backs away as the human lowers a sushi roll into the jar. Then screwing the lid back on, Oki-Itachi catches Sasuke's gaze and orders. "Eat."

Sasuke scowls and Oki-Itachi's eyes narrow. "I told you what would happen if you hurt yourself." The Chibi blinks, surprised by the reminder. "Starving yourself counts as self-harm, so unless you want to spend the rest of the night in that jar, I suggest you eat."

Sasuke clenches his jaw. It looks like Oki-Itachi wasn't making an idle threat, he really will lock Sasuke in a cage and deprive him of privacy if he doesn't take proper care of himself.

The Chibi still isn't hungry, but it's not healthy to go this long without food. Therefore, Sasuke stands, and holding his head high, abandons the cloth on the floor as he marches over to the sushi. He picks up the roll and bends down to bite into the seaweed wrap, ignoring the uncomfortable feeling of being watched while he chews.

After he takes another bite, Oki-Itachi looks away and sits on his bed as Sasuke focuses on eating.

Once the Chibi is done, Oki-Itachi turns and his eyes rake over Sasuke like he's searching for something. The teen glares back, but a whole minute passes before Oki-Itachi says, "I know you didn't miss me."

The teen glowers, eyes asking why the Oki made the other humans believe that lie then.

Oki-Itachi gives him a knowing look. "At least, I'm not the Itachi you miss."

Sasuke's body goes rigid and the Oki closes his eyes. "So it is his birthday too."

If Itachi is still alive. Sasuke's eyes burn at the thought and he stares at the ground to cover up his reaction.

"You must have been looking forward to celebrating with him." The Oki notes. "But now you're not even sure he's alive."

Sasuke's hands curl into fists and his whole body trembles with his rage and despair. How dare Oki-Itachi taunt him like this, how dare—

"You shouldn't worry."

Sasuke looks up, dark orbs moist and narrowed with hatred. Yet Oki-Itachi's expression isn't cold or callous. Rather, his face is drawn down in sympathy. "I think your brother is alive."

Shock flashes over Sasuke's face while the Oki pulls open a drawer. "I would have told you this earlier, but I didn't know you could understand me."

The Chibi's eyes widen as Oki-Itachi sets a familiar bird saddle next to his jar. "My crow found this at your brother's crash site."

Sasuke presses his hands against the glass, peering closely at the saddle's side until he spots the Uchiha fan in the corner. There's no way an Oki would know to paint the symbol in that specific spot, which means it really is Itachi's saddle.

"They couldn't find any signs of your brother, but it's possible the rain washed the evidence away."

Sasuke's lip quivers and his face screws up because if that's true then Itachi could be... Itachi is...

The Oki looks the other way when the tears start rolling down Sasuke's face because Itachi is alive, his brother is okay!

The Chibi had clung to hope of his brother's survival, but now he has proof Itachi walked away from the crash and the relief nearly brings him to his knees.

After a few minutes, Sasuke scrubs the tears from his eyes and Oki-Itachi takes the jar behind the seal, releasing him onto his pillow.

"Keep it." Oki-Itachi places the saddle near the cushion. "You can give it back to your brother when you get home." The Oki doesn't say more as he goes to his side of the room and gets ready for bed.

Later that night, Sasuke lies on his pillow with his brother's cloak folded beside him, and turns to Oki-Itachi's sleeping form. It is ironic the human gave him a gift today when it's the Oki having a birthday.

The teen frowns. But why did Oki-Itachi tell him about the saddle?

Sasuke tries telling himself the human is simply pretending to be nice, but for some reason, the explanation doesn't carry as much weight as it used to.

—

Oki-Itachi and Kisame set off for the mission the next morning, Sasuke coming along in his jar, which is stuffed into a weapons pouch clipped to the larger Uchiha's side.

The ride isn't as bumpy as Sasuke was expecting, maybe because Oki-Itachi padded the cylinder with a fleecy hand towel before setting him in. However, watching the forest scenery gets boring after the first day. Especially since it gives little indication how far they are from Konoha, as nearly every Elemental Nation has woodland areas.

Growing restless, Sasuke paces around the jar, but Oki-Itachi's constant movements make it near impossible to maintain balance, and he's soon forced to sit back down.

By the time they stop for lunch, Sasuke is restless enough to lunge at the hand lowering a granola bar into his container.

Of course Oki-Itachi merely catches him and holds his neck back when he tries to bite him while Sasuke writhes.

Kisame, watching from his perch on a boulder, chuckles. "Somebody is cranky." The Chibi would glare at the sharkman if Oki-Itachi wasn't holding his head in place. "Maybe we should knock it out until we reach the docks."

Oki-Itachi keeps his gaze on the still squirming Chibi as he says, "No, I need to show him how to complete the mission first." His eyes bleed into the Mangekyō Sharingan and Sasuke can't avert his gaze before he's drawn into the scarlet irises. "I'll show him now."

The Oki's voice echoes as the world darkens, and Sasuke can't even see the hand around him until a soft yellow light forms above the Uchiha.

The Chibi ceases struggling and his pulse quickens because he's seen what Oki-Itachi can do with a genjutsu, will never forget how Oki-Sasuke screamed.

Oki-Itachi frowns, loosening his hold on him. "You don't have to be afraid," he says gently. "I'm not going to hurt you."

The Chibi scoffs because that's probably what the Oki Uchiha thought before he killed them all.

The human's brow furrows. "Is that why you're so scared of me? You saw what I did?"

Sasuke quickly realizes he projected that thought out loud because this isn't the real world, but an illusion in his mind. He has to guard his thoughts carefully here or they could become audible.

Oki-Itachi stares seriously at him, repeating. "I am not going to hurt you." The Chibi's skeptical expression doesn't change. "What I did in the past...I have no intention of ever carrying out again."

A hard glint enters the Oki's eyes, but Sasuke doesn't care if he means it. His intentions don't matter, considering Oki-Itachi didn't intend to starve his clan and nearly kill him that night, yet his actions almost cost Sasuke everything regardless.

"What?" Oki-Itachi looks genuinely shocked, having heard Sasuke's thoughts, and anger rushes into the teen's veins.

It's not fair. The human didn't even know what he’d done to the Chibi Uchiha, was ignorant of the harm he caused while Sasuke's brother had suffered for months as he exhausted himself every night gathering enough food for the clan to survive.

Sasuke's emotions churn, venomous words hanging off the tip of his tongue, so when Oki-Itachi moves to speak, the dam breaks loose.

—isn't even close to bedtime yet.

The memory of Sasuke riding a crow that fateful night displays itself like a scratchy film beside them, and Oki-Itachi whips around to it with wide eyes while it shows the seven-year old Chibi climbing into Oki-Sasuke's satchel.

"This is—!"

"Uncle... Auntie..."

"Father? Mother?"

Sasuke struggles to halt the flow of memories, yet his emotions are so charged that suddenly he's no longer fifteen, but seven-years old and trembling inside Oki-Sasuke's shorts pocket while Oki sandals clack against the floorboards.

Sasuke squeezes his eyes shut and covers his ears, but Oki-Sasuke screams and screams until Sasuke can't help but scream too.

Then he's falling, head colliding harshly with the floor, and vision fading in and out as the Oki talk above him.

"Nii-san...why did you..."

"That is what's important."

A thick, metallic-smelling liquid fills around Sasuke and the seven-year old weakly opens his eyes to see an ocean of blood. Is it his blood? Is he dying?

Sasuke's eyes drift close.

I don't...want to...

The memory ends abruptly, Sasuke gasping as the genjutsu world shatters around him.

Then he's fifteen again, standing in Oki-Itachi's palm while the giant sways back and forth.

It takes a second to realize it isn't the Oki swaying, but himself, and by then Sasuke is already falling back unconscious while Oki-Itachi whispers his name.

Fingers running through his hair wakes Sasuke up. The Chibi believes it's his brother, and is going to complain about being too old for this when he notices it isn't fingers running through his hair. It's a single, giant finger brushing his head.

The Chibi cracks open his eyes to see a large campfire against the backdrop of night and a black material beneath him. Soon he realizes he's lying on an Akatsuki cloak, which is spread over a human's lap.

An Oki finger strokes Sasuke's hair, gently smoothing down the spikes, and the Chibi looks up to see Oki-Itachi gazing at the campfire, his hand hovering over him.

Disturbed by their close proximity, Sasuke lurches to his feet and nearly falls right back down. The Chibi looks to the ground, blinking at the ninja wire twined around his ankles and lifting his arms to see his wrists are tied too.

"You're awake." Oki-Itachi takes his hand away from him. "Are you feeling alright?"

Sasuke ignores the question and tries pulling his hands apart because he can tell his chakra is no longer suppressed, so if he can just get his hands loose...

"Sorry about the wire, but it was either that or put you back in the jar, and you didn't seem very fond of the jar."

Sasuke glowers at the giant Uchiha because being tied up is hardly better.

The Oki frowns. "Are you really okay? The genjutsu…" He trails off and Sasuke looks away, embarrassed by how he lost control to the point he showed the Oki his memories. He's only fortunate none of the memories showed him or other Chibi talking.

"I didn't mean to invade your privacy." Oki-Itachi bows his head and Sasuke is shocked by the sincerity in his voice. "And I am sorry for the harm I brought you that night."

Sasuke's mouth drops. Yet soon he realizes the Oki must still be trying to bond with him by acting nice. The explanation doesn't quite satisfy the Chibi like it used to, but it's the only explanation that makes sense, so he goes with it.

Oki-Itachi raises his head. "I still need to tell you about the mission." Sasuke braces himself for another genjutsu, but the human doesn't activate his Sharingan. "You'll be gathering information. We'll drop you off at a message encryption center where you will break into the mailroom and read a letter labeled with this date and name."

The Oki pulls out a piece of paper from his weapons pouch and shows it to Sasuke, who takes a moment to read the large print.

Terumī Mei. The Mizukage? Why do they want information on her?

"I'm not sure if you can read kanji, but even if you can't, I'll simply retrieve the image of the letter from your head."

Sasuke turns up to glare at the Oki because the entire Akatsuki must be crazy if they think he's actually going to help them with anything.

Oki-Itachi notices his defiant stance and lowers his voice as he asks, "Do you know why they assigned you to me?" Sasuke blinks, confused by the change in subject. "It's because I'm the only one who can force you to go along with our plans."

The Chibi flinches, realizing that with his Mangekyō Sharingan, Oki-Itachi could force Sasuke to do whatever the Akatsuki want... But what exactly is the Akatsuki's plan for him? And how does it involve the Mizukage?

"I'm sure we would both prefer to avoid that," Oki-Itachi says. "So I recommend you do as they ask for now."

Sasuke scowls, but knows the Oki is right. He can either complete the mission of his own free will or do it while under the influence of a genjutsu.

"You should eat before the mission." Oki-Itachi lowers some senbei beside Sasuke and pulls out a thermos, pouring a light-colored liquid into the thermos cup before placing it next to him.

Sasuke is considering kicking the cup so the drink spills over the Oki's legs when he catches a whiff of it. The liquid has a scent, meaning it isn't water.

The Chibi peers closer at the steam rising from the drink, soon identifying it as green tea.

Eyes widening, Sasuke pulls the cup down with his bound hands until he can dip his head in and sip the hot liquid. He drinks all of it in two breaths, and releases the cup with a satisfied sigh because it's been weeks since he drank anything beside plain water.

Oki-Itachi stares him, eyes a little bigger than normal, and a light blush spreads across Sasuke's cheeks. Yet the Oki doesn't comment before pouring him another cup of green tea, which Sasuke enjoys between bites of the rice crackers.

It's as the Chibi is finishing his meal that Kisame returns, and Sasuke thinks Oki-Itachi's face becomes a tad more reserved when he addresses his partner. "Did you find one?"

"Of course, the dock barely has any guards this late." Kisame frowns a little. "And the ones there barely put up a fight." He sighs and shakes his head. "It was really no fun."

Oki-Itachi nods, putting away the the thermos and moving Sasuke to the ground while he stands and shrugs on his cloak. The Chibi is about to activate his Sharingan as Kisame faces him, hoping to capture the man in a genjutsu, but Oki-Itachi lifts him by his shirt and tucks him in his weapons pouch, closing the flap before he can.

Annoyed, Sasuke huffs while the Oki discuss the mission plan, which apparently involves sending him to an island via a crow summon. At least part of the journey must be by boat though because the Chibi eventually smells salt water and feels the bobbing of waves beneath him.

Are they in the Land of Water? If so, that would explain the island destination and the connection to the Mizukage. It would also allow him to cross out the Land of Water as a potential location for the Akatsuki base he's been staying in, considering it took days to reach this land.

Sasuke stares at the wire tied around his wrists, wondering if he can burn it off, but his hands are too close together to weave signs and the wire is part metal, meaning he would electricute himself if he used lightning on it.

The Chibi is beginning to doubt this mission will be an escape opportunity, but doesn't give up hope until Oki-Itachi removes him from the pouch and he looks around while the human unties his hands.

Sasuke could try running across the water, but he can't tell how far they are from land. He could attack the humans, but Oki-Itachi will just use his Sharingan to force him to complete the mission anyway.

Grudgingly accepting he won't be escaping today, Sasuke allows Oki-Itachi to set him on his crow. The Chibi uses chakra to stick to the bird's back, savoring the feeling of having access to it as the crow takes off into the dark, moonless sky.

Sasuke is mildly concerned about the bird's lack of night vision, but thankfully the flight only lasts three minutes before a tall, stone building appears in the distance.

It takes another five minutes for the crow to land on the sand beside the building, and Sasuke hops off of it, scanning the area until he finds an air vent in the stone structure.

The Chibi creates a lightning blade and uses it to cut a hole through the metal grate, which he walks into assuming the crow will wait here for him.

Then Sasuke breaks into a run, wanting to complete this mission as fast as possible because helping the Akatsuki makes him feel like a traitor even if he doesn't really have a choice.

The teen slows every time he passes a grate opening, checking to see where it leads, and comes to a total stop once he finds a staircase. He makes sure no Oki are nearby before cutting a hole and stepping out onto the floor.

Sasuke's bad leg twinges as he runs up the staircase railing, but his injury is almost completely healed, so he quickly shakes off the pain and walks up the metal towards the exit. Pausing on the railing corner, the Chibi examines the map directory hanging beside the doorway and sees the mailroom is two floors up and the fourth room on the left.

Sasuke hurries up the rail to the third floor, grateful no Oki enter the stairwell, and leaps to the ground upon seeing the door labeled with a large number three.

His hand sparks with lightning as he prepares to form a blade, but a human pushes open the door and Sasuke quickly ends the jutsu, cartwheels aside and presses himself flat against the wall.

The man walks past without turning back and Sasuke runs out as the door closes behind him, yet freezes upon seeing a dozen Oki milling about the hallway.

He can't henge into something less noticeable because the Oki might sense his jutsu, so Sasuke takes a chance and darts towards the nearest woman.

Her skirt falls just above the floor and grants him the perfect cover. However, she soon moves towards the staircase, forcing Sasuke to run out from under her and hide between the shoes of two men absorbed in conversation.

The mailroom is merely a few feet ahead of them, but the door is closed and using his lightning blade on it would definitely catch the attention of the Oki.

Fortunately, a man pushing a cart full of boxes enters the corridor and Sasuke slides under it as it passes, leaping onto the cart's underside and smirking when the man turns straight into the mailroom.

The lights are off inside, and the man doesn't bother turning them on as he deposits three boxes on the middle table and pulls the cart back out, Sasuke letting go of it to land on the ground while the man closes the door.

Moonlight streams in through a small window in the back, but Sasuke still uses chakra to climb up the wall and flick on the lights.

He squints until his eyes adjust and then takes in the area. Four long tables border the room while a circular table rests in the middle. Plastic baskets labeled with dates are on every table, some empty and others brimming with envelopes.

Sasuke looks around for the date he's supposed to find and soon spots it on the nearest right table. He uses his chakra to run along the wall and drops down in front of the basket. Then he picks up each envelope, scanning over their addresses until he comes across one with the Mizukage's name.

He quickly breaks the seal, opens it, and pulls out the letter. Yet reading it, he frowns.

Her schedule? The message has a list of future dates and times next to brief descriptions of what the Mizukage will be doing, such as meeting with a daimyo or passing a reform law.

The teen is confused since nothing here pertains to the Akatsuki. Though he can't ponder it more as a familiar whistle slices through the air behind him and Sasuke ducks, watching Chibi shuriken clatter against the mail basket.

The Uchiha leaps high as four more shuriken soar under him while a voice quips. "Well, can't say I was expecting to see an Uchiha this far in Land of Water territory."

Sasuke lands on the table corner and his eyes widen, recognizing the other man's voice as he turns towards the middle table.

Chibi-Kisame stands there wearing an unmarred Kirigakure headband and a katana on his back.

Sasuke is stunned, having not expected to encounter an enemy Chibi, let alone one whose Oki counterpart he already knows.

"I don't know what you're doing here," Kisame slides out his sword and smirks, "But I'm not going to let you leave with Kirigakure's secrets."

Sasuke can't respond before the sharkman runs and leaps across the distance, bearing down on Sasuke with his blade.

The katana slashes across the Uchiha's chest, but Kisame is shocked when Sasuke turns into a log. However, heat bursts behind the Kiri-nin and he swivels around, hands already forming signs before he spits a stream of water at the incoming fireball.

The two elements clash and steam fills the room. Yet once it clears, Kisame finds the Konoha-nin is nowhere in sight.

He gazes over the table to see a jagged hole in the window, and grins. "Smart, but you won't be getting away that easily."

—

Out on the sand, Sasuke uses shunshin to reach the metal vent he first came through, only to panic when he finds his ride is gone.

Yet soon he notices the crow is there, its dark feathers blending in with the shadows. Hastily Sasuke hops onto the bird's back and sighs in relief as it takes off into the sky.

However, the Chibi can’t relax before something big shoots at them from below. The crow screeches, gliding left to dodge the projectile and Sasuke's activates his Sharingan, scouring the sea for the source of attack.

The Uchiha can’t make out anything in the dark waters until a formless ball of chakra—a water jutsu—hurtles up from under them and Sasuke leaps off the bird, knowing the crow won't be able to move in time.

The crow is struck, falling somewhere to wayside while the Chibi lands on the water's surface. Though Sasuke gasps as his Sharingan reveals a dozen jets of water soaring towards him.

The Chibi jumps and flips to avoid them, but wobbles when the ocean suddenly lurches up beneath him. Sasuke looks down to see sharp teeth and eyes widening, launches up before the shark summon can swallow him.

He falls safely on the shark's head. However, a katana comes swinging at his neck and Sasuke ducks.

Chibi-Kisame again brings the sword down on his shoulder, but Sasuke twists aside and kicks at the sharkman's knees.

Kisame isn't effected by Sasuke's hit, merely chuckling. "Is this the best you can do? And here I thought I'd found a real challenge."

Sasuke attempts to make eye contact, to trap him in a genjutsu, but Kisame wisely keeps his eyes on Sasuke's neck as he stabs at the Uchiha's throat.

The teen leans back, but the shark summon suddenly lunges forward, racing along the water, and unprepared, Sasuke can't push chakra into his feet before he slides off.

The Chibi plunges into the frigid water and the cold bites into Sasuke's bones like needles while the teen flails in his attempt to climb back onto the surface.

Sasuke eventually manages to get on top of the waves, but his teeth chatter as the wind whips across his face. This isn't good, he'll freeze to death if he doesn't get off of the water soon.

The Uchiha looks around, but there is no land in sight, and he's nearly out of chakra.

He deactivates his Sharingan to conserve his strength, but the action does nothing to warm him up. What should he do? The teen can't even tell where the island is, it's too dark, and he’s starting to shiver.

Sasuke searches desperately and stiffens when he sees what looks like a tall wave approaching. If it is one, Sasuke doubts he can evade it, and if it's Chibi-Kisame returning, Sasuke will certainly be done for.

"Little Sasuke?" The large shape stops yards away, and Sasuke realizes it's Oki-Itachi, his Sharingan shining like a beacon in the darkness.

Sasuke flares his chakra up and down, too desperate to be stubborn, and the Oki spins around, quickly making his way over and stopping in front of the Chibi.

"Come on," Oki-Itachi urges, crouching and laying his cupped hands on the water.

The Chibi weakly stumbles onto his palms, uncaring that it's Oki-Itachi helping him because he's freezing and the human's hands are so warm.

"Are you alright?" The Oki's fingers curl over Sasuke and the Chibi presses his face against the hot skin.

"Hold on." Oki-Itachi tells him, but his voice sounds far off, and though Sasuke fights to keep his eyes open, exhaustion gradually sweeps him away.

Chapter Text

Itachi watches the crow carry the min-nin to the island. He waits for the avian to fade into the dark horizon before summoning another crow and sending it after them. The second bird is to report back if anything goes awry, whether that's the min-nin attempting to escape or the little shinobi getting into trouble.

Therefore, Itachi knows something is wrong the moment his crow returns to the rowboat and perches on his arm. He quickly activates his Sharingan and dives into the bird's memories. Yet his heart clenches as he sees the min-nin falling to the ocean and desperately dodging what looks like water bullets.

Itachi immediately dismisses his summon and runs across the water, leaving a confused Kisame behind. He's forced to slow down when a boat patrol crosses his path, him darting around their roving searchlights, but soon he arrives where the min-nin fell.

The Uchiha scans the water's surface, using his dōjutsu to search for the min-nin's chakra. However, he finds no trace of the tiny shinobi. He keeps searching, but even with his Sharingan all he sees are dark, blurry waves.

Frowning, Itachi calls. "Little Sasuke?"

He examines the ocean again, yet when his only response is the distant crashing of waves, Itachi turns and hurries left, calling for the min-nin once more.

Still, no response, so Itachi goes to the right. Yet the min-nin isn't there either, and now the dreadful possibility Little Sasuke has been killed, that his little body is floating lifelessly under the waves, stabs into Itachi's chest like a burning poker.

Sasuke can't be dead. Itachi won't allow it. Never.

Itachi backtracks, running around in zigzags and calling for the min-nin over and over until finally a little chakra signature rises and falls behind him.

The Uchiha sprints towards Little Sasuke and crouches down, lowering his hands. He's surprised when the min-nin climbs onto his palms without protest, but quickly notices the teen is soaking wet.

"Are you alright?" Itachi cups his hands over the min-nin to shield him from the nighttime breeze, but this doesn't seem to help much as the tiny ninja shivers and presses his face against Itachi's fingers.

"Hold on," Itachi says while the min-nin lays his whole body against his palm for warmth.

The Uchiha weaves the tiger seal and holds Little Sasuke against his chest as he moves rapidly across the water. He arrives back on the boat in a whirl of wind and Kisame releases his sword handle, seeing it's him.

"Hey, where did you—" The man stops when Itachi pulls his hand from his chest, revealing the min-nin curled up in his palm and trembling violently.

Kisame hisses a curse while Itachi takes a fleecy hand towel from his pocket and wraps it around the min-nin, saying, "He fell in the water and now appears hypothermic." He unbuttons the top of his cloak and places the bundled min-nin against his chest. "We need to warm him up quickly or he won't last long."

Kisame, a rare serious expression on his face, says, "Alright, if we head twelve miles from the shore we should be far enough that our campfire won't be noticed." He knocks on the boat's side twice and it starts speeding ahead as his shark summons push it from below.

Itachi nods, forcing his features to remain neutral while he peers down at the min-nin. The little Sasuke's teeth are chattering, face pale and dark orbs half-lidded.

The Uchiha considers what to do before taking the min-nin out and unwinding the towel. The small shinobi whimpers as he's exposed to the cool air and tries curling up, but Itachi grabs his collar and tugs the damp shirt off of him first. It looks like the towel soaked up most of the water from the min-nin's pants, but his shirt is made of a thicker material and thus is still wet.

The min-nin glares weakly at Itachi and reaches for his shirt. Yet the Uchiha presses him against his chest again, halting his movements as the boat arrives at the docks.

"Follow me." Kisame leaps onto shore and takes off, Itachi soon following him onto land and into the forest.

Late as it is, they don't encounter anyone as they run through the trees, but that's a small comfort once Itachi notices the min-nin is nodding off.

"Don't go to sleep," Itachi orders, and the little ninja stirs, blinking tiredly. "I need to make sure you don't have other injuries first."

Little Sasuke ignores him, turning his face into Itachi's shirt like he has every intention to sleep.

"Don't, Sasuke," Itachi scolds, and the min-nin flinches, twisting around with wide eyes.

Itachi wonders why the min-min looks so startled, but figures his sharp tone took the small shinobi by surprise. After all, he doesn't raise his voice often.

Regardless, the Uchiha continues. "Don't sleep until I tell you to."

The min-nin frowns, but his eyes are wide open and he appears more awake, so Itachi looks away as he catches up to Kisame.

His partner has already stopped in a clearing and is gathering dry branches from the ground. Itachi quickly does the same, only pausing to tap on Little Sasuke's head when the min-nin starts closing his eyes.

Soon the wood pile is ready and Itachi blows fire onto the branches until it blazes. Then he pulls the min-nin from his chest, removes his cloak and folds it into a makeshift futon. He sets the cloth by the fire, tucking Little Sasuke into its folds and kneeling beside him.

Kisame watches, a curious expression on his face as he asks, "Will it be okay?"

Itachi pulls out the hand towel and the min-nin's shirt, laying them by the fire to dry. "I'm not sure," he says, frowning at the min-nin who is struggling to keep his eyes open. "He might have other injuries, but I can't check until he has warmed up."

Itachi glances at the min-nin's shirt. There aren't any holes or cuts in the cloth, and Itachi saw no wounds or blood on Little Sasuke's body, which implies he wasn't injured beyond falling into the cold water. However, he can't be sure of this until he fully examines the min-nin. In the meantime, Itachi has a question that needs answering.

The Uchiha looks up at his partner standing by the trees. "Pain said we were just buying a min-nin to increase the efficiency of our missions, but the min-nin's assignment today hardly required any involvement from us." He trails off, knowing his implication will be heard.

Kisame blinks, either surprised by the topic or that Itachi is the one initiating a conversation. Yet soon a smirk spreads across his face. "So you noticed that too," he folds his arms and stares up at the sky, "I thought you might."

Itachi stares seriously at Kisame until his smirk fades and he frowns. "Honestly, I'm not sure, but I think the plan changed once Pain met the min-nin."

"Because he saw his Sharingan." Itachi deduces, having been shocked himself to find a min-nin with a Kekkei Genkai, let alone one with the same dōjutsu.

"The min-nin is far stronger than we were expecting." He glances at Little Sasuke, heart lifting at the sight of color returning to the tiny ninja's face. The min-nin still shivers, but the tremors have lessened and his eyes aren't quite so dazed too.

"Yes, and then there's this mission." Kisame looks down in thought. "The Akatsuki sent a Sharingan-weilder to find information on the Mizukage..."

Itachi's eyes narrow because he doesn't understand what Kisame is referencing. Though after a minute, his partner lifts his gaze and explains. "During the Fourth Mizukage's reign, there were rumors he was being manipulated, that his actions weren't his own."

The Uchiha remembers his sole encounter with Kirigakure's leader back when he was fairly new to the Akatsuki, how the Mizukage had been so powerful Itachi needed Amaterasu to escape him. The thought of anyone having the power to manipulate such a Kage is almost inconceivable.

Kisame notices Itachi's disbelief and smirks. "I didn't believe the rumors either," his smirk widens, "Until I saw it with my own eyes."

Itachi is stunned, though he remains expressionless while Kisame shakes his head ruefully. "Even now, it's hard to believe the Mizukage was being manipulated," his gaze meets Itachi's, "By a Sharingan."

The Uchiha stiffens, mind racing because the Fourth Mizukage had been manipulated by a Sharingan-user, an actual Uchiha if his hypnosis ability was strong enough to take over his mind. Also, the manipulation must have occurred after Itachi joined the Akatsuki since he would have noticed if a Sharingan was influencing the Mizukage during their battle, and the only Uchiha still alive by then with such powerful Sharingan were himself and Tobi.

A feeling of dread sinks into Itachi's stomach as he sees the connection. The Fourth Mizukage was controlled by a Sharingan, the Akatsuki has obtained a min-nin with the Sharingan and is suddenly interested in the Fifth Mizukage's whereabouts.

"Of course, it's just a theory," Kisame shrugs nonchalantly, like he didn't just imply that the Akatsuki is planning to use the min-nin to take over the Fifth Mizukage's mind, which would put Kirigakure under the Akatsuki's control.

And if the min-nin succeeds in taking over one Kage's mind, the Akatsuki will likely try to take over the other Kage too. Then with all the Villages under their influence, they could obtain most of the jinchūriki without a struggle.

The Uchiha hums like the idea is merely interesting when really he's deeply disturbed by the possibility. He looks to Little Sasuke and his lips form a line.

Itachi has to stop the Akatsuki's plan, and the simplest way to do that would be by helping the min-nin escape. However, it would be reckless to make a move when Little Sasuke is still recovering, so for now Itachi will wait and keep a lookout for the right opportunity.

—

Sasuke is confused as he wakes up, for a minute ago he was freezing to death in the middle of an endless ocean and now he's lying in something warm and cozy.

The Chibi pries open his eyes to see sunlight peeking through a green blur. Sasuke blinks until the green merges into tree leaves above him, a jar lid obscuring half of the scenery. He's in a forest during daytime, but that doesn't makes sense when he was on the ocean in the dark—

Sasuke's thoughts screech to a halt as the memory of giant hands holding him against a warm body crop up. Oh...that's right. Oki-Itachi came and saved him.

"No, Sasuke."

The Chibi flinches at the recollection of his brother's stern voice, but...no, that couldn't have been his brother. It must have been Oki-Itachi, Sasuke was just so confused at the time he'd mistaken his brother's human counterpart for him.

Sasuke struggles to recall what else happened after the mission and the scent of burning oak while a fire crackles beside his ear comes to mind.

"No sign of poisoning." Oki-Itachi's voice drifts along the memory of human fingers running over his body. "His chakra is undisrupted..."

Oki-Itachi stares down at him, expression blank yet eyes warm as he whispers. "You can sleep now."

Sasuke, believing it was his actual brother speaking, had instantly fell asleep by the campfire. Now though the Chibi is awake and bundled in a towel within his jar. He quickly extracts himself from the cloth and stands, yet his knees wobble and he ends up falling forward.

Sasuke catches himself, hands banging against the jar wall, but that soft noise is enough to draw attention.

Oki-Itachi looks at him, slowing his stride. His cloak collar hides his expression, but he seems relieved as he says, "The min-nin is awake."

Kisame glances back, mouth hitching up. "Have a nice nap?" He asks, and Sasuke's eyes narrow. Though his glare is ruined when his stomach rumbles.

A faint blush burns across the Chibi's cheeks while Oki-Itachi pauses to set a small apple in his jar. Sasuke scowls, not a big fan of the fruit, but his entire body feels limp from hunger, so he eats it.

The Chibi is down to the apple core when Oki-Itachi and Kisame suddenly freeze, and while the Uchiha's expression hardens, his partner says, "We're almost at the base, why?"

For a second Sasuke thinks the sharkman has lost his mind, but then Oki-Itachi nods. "Understood."

The Chibi blinks because it looks like the Akatsuki members are talking to thin air, yet if both of them are responding, it must be some sort of jutsu—telepathy, perhaps?

"The min-nin was injured and only woke up a few minutes ago, but I can check now." Oki-Itachi turns down with Sharingan eyes and Sasuke wants to smack himself for making eye contact as he's dragged under a genjutsu.

Again the world goes dark, a dim light glows above them and the jar disappears, leaving the Chibi to stand on the human's palm.

"Show me what happened during your mission." Oki-Itachi's mouth doesn't move while the genjutsu order ripples across Sasuke's mind and a calming sensation spreads over his body. Sasuke recognizes this information extraction technique, having used it himself before, but with his chakra sealed he doesn't have the power to resist it.

The Chibi's mind opens up and the memory of landing on the island and running through the vents streams out to Oki-Itachi. Sasuke doesn't put up a fight, thoughts sedated by the genjutsu. However, the feeling that something is wrong pricks through his tranquility, and Sasuke ponders why that is until it hits him that Chibi-Kisame spoke during their fight.

Sasuke's tranquility shatters, eyes widening as he realizes if Oki-Itachi sees his memories of the mailroom, the human will learn Chibi can talk.

Sasuke slams down on his memories, grappling them away from Oki-Itachi. The human makes a surprised sound, but his hold remains firm on the Chibi's mind, and alarm rushes through Sasuke's veins as the image of him entering the mailroom slips out his head. No, no, no, Chibi-Kisame will speak at any second!

The teen fights desperately to tear his memories from the Oki's grasp, but it's like holding a writhing eel and he can't get a good grip on them. Yet Sasuke can't give up, the human can't learn the truth! His clan, his friends, his Village, everybody will be put in danger!

Suddenly his memories snap back into his mind, cutting off right as Chibi-Kisame opens his mouth, and Sasuke staggers back from the mental rebound.

"What's wrong?" Oki-Itachi asks, brow furrowing. "Why don't you want me to see what happened?"

The Chibi glares at him, but isn't sure what to do. He obviously can't respond, yet if he does nothing, the Oki will simply continue watching his memories.

Oki-Itachi stares, clearly trying to figure out why Sasuke is being stubborn, but soon he sighs. "I don't understand."

The Chibi tenses, knowing the man will simply go through his memories again unless he does something. However, he's stunned as the Oki says, "I need to know who attacked you and how you fell in the ocean, as well as what the Mizukage's letter said. If you show me that, I will end the genjutsu."

Sasuke blinks twice, and it takes a minute to recognize Oki-Itachi is asking Sasuke to show him his memories rather than take them by force.

The Chibi hesitates, not wanting to show him anything since he doesn't know what the Akatsuki will do with the information, but if he doesn't, Oki-Itachi will look through his memories anyway.

As much as Sasuke hates it, he opens up his mind and allows his memories to flow out. He reveals an image of the Mizukage's letter, jumps to his recollection of riding the crow until the water bullets shot at him, and finally allows snapshots of Chibi-Kisame attacking him to be revealed.

After showing himself fall off the shark summon, he clamps down on his memories and scowls, expression asking if Oki-Itachi is satisfied.

"So another min-nin attacked you..." The human sounds upset, but Sasuke can't tell who his ire is aimed at before the genjutsu swirls around him and he's returned to his jar in the real world.

"He completed his mission," Oki-Itachi tells whoever he's speaking to—the Akatsuki leader maybe?

The Oki talk through the jutsu for another minute before the conversation ends and Kisame grins. "Well, it sounds like the next few days might be interesting."

Sasuke's face wrinkles, not understanding what the sharkman means based on the one-sided conversation he heard. Is something happening? Are they going on another mission?

The Chibi hopes not since he's still sore from the last one. Though his concern is allayed once the Oki continue ahead and within minutes arrive at a familiar waterfall.

Sasuke is shocked. Was he really asleep for days? Hm, maybe not if Oki-Itachi and Kisame traveled faster returning than they had heading to the island, which would mean Sasuke was actually only out for about a day.

The two enter the base, and Sasuke immediately senses something is off. He scans the living room, but the center table and sofas are in the same place as usual, though they're devoid of Deidara's magazines or Kakuzu's ledgers and the floor looks like it was recently swept.

The two Akatsuki members separate in the hall as Oki-Itachi heads to the restroom. The Chibi glances around the bathroom, having never seen it before, while the human washes his face and hands. After drying himself, the Oki opens the medicine cabinet over the sink and pulls out Sasuke's bath bowl. The Chibi examines the cabinet as he fills the bowl with hot water, yet is confused to see it only contains a first aid kit and soap bar.

Suddenly it hits Sasuke what's so off about the base. It's empty, devoid not just of other people, but their belongings are gone too. Has the Akatsuki abandoned the base? But if so, why did Kisame and Oki-Itachi return to it?

"We're moving to another base tomorrow," Oki-Itachi says like he read Sasuke's mind while entering his bedroom. Then he places the steaming bowl and other bathing necessities by Sasuke's pillow and releases the Chibi from the jar beside them.

"This base is no longer suitable for the Akatsuki's purposes." The Oki concludes as if that explains everything. "You can take a bath while I make dinner." He turns and leaves without another word, an odd expression on his face like he's lost in thought.

Sasuke frowns, uncertain how to feel about changing bases as he gets undressed and enters his bath, sitting against the bowl rim and staring at the ceiling. Why is the Akatsuki leaving the hideout? What are they planning to do with the information in the Mizukage's letter? What does the organization want with him?

The questions are still buzzing in his head while he drifts off on his pillow, wondering if he'll ever get the answers he seeks.

The Chibi jumps awake when large fingers wrap around his body and lift him off the cushion. Sasuke immediately tries breaking free as he’s pulled away from the lamplight, but the hand is unyielding around him and a thumb already holds his head in place.

"Calm down."

Sasuke stills as he peers through the darkness and sees the shadowed outline of Oki-Itachi's face.

"There's something I need to tell you," the Oki says while taking swift steps towards the door and hurrying out into the unlit corridor.

The Chibi wonders if he's dreaming, completely thrown off by the sudden awakening. Sasuke is so confused he doesn't even try to bite the human once Oki-Itachi releases his head and exits the base, rushing out past the waterfall and entering the woods.

Sasuke stares at the Oki, but in the pale moonlight he can't make out his expression and only sees the human's eyes, which are scanning his surroundings warily.

Oki-Itachi slows to a stop once he reaches a vast lake at the edge of the forest, one Konan often liked to visit when she took the Chibi for walks. The human looks around, Sharingan activated, but soon his red irises fade to black. "This should be far enough."

The human regards him and Sasuke stares back, though he doesn't foolishly make eye contact this time. "I've figured out what the Akatsuki plans to do with you." Sasuke's eyes widen. "They want you to take control of the Fifth Mizukage with your Sharingan."

Sasuke gapes at the Oki's blunt delivery, but his mouth snaps shut as he realizes the human isn't joking. The Akatsuki really want him to take over a Kage's mind!?

"I also suspect they won't stop there if you succeed in manipulating her," Oki-Itachi's voice hardens, "But they'll probably have you do the same to the other Kage."

Sasuke wants to deny the possibility, yet it makes sense. Sasuke is a Chibi, he's spent his whole living around humans undetected, so naturally he's a stealth expert. The teen can break into heavily guarded human facilities much more easily than an Oki shinobi, and with his three tomoe Sharingan it is feasible for him to take over a human's mind.

"That's why I'm going to help you es—" The Oki's mouth shuts and he turns sharply to the left, Sharingan eyes flashing. Sasuke follows his gaze over to the tree line where a dark figure in an Akatsuki cloak stands beside some bushes.

Oki-Itachi's face shutters as Tobi steps out of the tree shade to stand across from them. Sasuke can already tell this isn't the playful, childish version of the man he normally sees, but the Tobi he glimpsed while trying to escape the Akatsuki, the Tobi who radiates danger.

"Itachi." Tobi's voice is cool and underlined with warning. "What are you doing with the min-nin?"

"My job," Oki-Itachi says flatly, raising Sasuke a little higher. "I'm bonding with him."

A dangerous light enters Tobi's lone black eye. "Why isn't it in the jar?"

"He doesn't like to be confined," Oki-Itachi replies smoothly. "And I thought he'd find this more relaxing."

"You took a risk," Tobi comments and Sasuke wonders why Oki-Itachi is acting like the masked man has some type of authority over him. Certainly, Tobi must be powerful to be among the Akatsuki, but from what he's seen the masked man shares the same rank as Oki-Itachi in the organization, perhaps even a lesser rank based on Deidara's derisive treatment of him.

"I didn't," the Uchiha counters, tone unwavering. "He can't weave hand signs like this and I would put him under a genjutsu if I sensed him forming lightning."

Tobi goes silent and a undercurrent of animosity wavers in the air between the two humans. Sasuke is missing something, he knows because the muscles in Oki-Itachi's hand are flexing, the Uchiha clearly viewing Tobi as a threat. Could...could Tobi actually be stronger than Oki-Itachi? Stronger than an Uchiha with the Mangekyō Sharingan?

The masked man inclines his head, the dangerous glint fading from his eye. "I see," his gaze drops onto the Chibi, Sasuke shrinking under it, "So how are you two getting along?"

"Not well, considering the min-nin seems aware of what I did to his clan," Oki-Itachi says like one commenting on the weather, as if he didn't just reference the mass murder he committed.

Tobi hums. "You mean it thinks it knows what really happened that night."

Sasuke's face twitches, and he quickly looks away to hide that he understands Tobi. But what is the man talking about? What does he mean by "think"?

Suddenly Itachi's grip tightens around him, only to relax a second later as the human regains control over himself. It seems Tobi struck a nerve, but Sasuke isn't sure how. It's not like Oki-Itachi regrets what he did to his clan.

"Regardless," Tobi moves on after Oki-Itachi stays silent, "It's a shame you're on such bad terms since you're the closest thing to a brother the min-nin has anymore."

Sasuke faces down to hide his eye roll because his brother is alive, Oki-Itachi proved it—

"If only Zetsu hadn't killed him." Tobi sighs, shaking his head. "We could have had two min-nin with the Sharingan."

A flicker of confusion crosses Oki-Itachi's features, Sasuke only noticing because he looked up at the unfamiliar name—Zetsu, is that another Akatsuki member?

"You mean Kisame killed him," the Uchiha corrects.

"No." Tobi's deep voice rings Sasuke's ears, tone weighty. "Kisame thought he killed your min-nin counterpart, but in reality your counterpart survived Kisame's attack and nearly reached our base."

Tobi waved in the general direction of the hideout, Sasuke watching the man with widening eyes because he's confirming Itachi survived!

"Thankfully Zetsu spotted the min-nin before it could find the base." Tobi sounds like he's smirking beneath his mask. "Your counterpart put up quite the fight, nearly burning Zetsu to ash with those eyes of his."

Sasuke pictures the fight easily, imagining his brother surrounding this Zetsu guy with Amaterasu and raining fireballs down on Zetsu from above to ensure his annihilation. Itachi had probably tried placing Zetsu under a genjutsu at first, but when that failed, he had to use deadlier methods.

"That's why Zetsu was forced to kill your counterpart."

Sasuke gasps, so quietly only Oki-Itachi hears him, the human drawing him an inch closer to himself, but the Chibi barely notices because that...that's wrong. Tobi is wrong...right?

The Chibi glances at Oki-Itachi, waiting for him to say something—anything—to prove Tobi wrong. Yet the Uchiha's mouth stays shut and in his eyes are the barest hint of uncertainty.

Dread spreads like ice over Sasuke's heart while Oki-Itachi sternly asks, "Why wasn't I informed of this?"

Tobi shrugs. "What would have been the point?" His eye slides over to Sasuke. "It's dead." The Chibi bites his lip to keep silent. "Does it matter how it died?"

Died, died, died, dead. No...he can't be... Itachi isn't—it can't be true.

Yet, it makes sense, doesn't it? A horrid voice taunts Sasuke in his mind because if Itachi survived Kisame's attack he would have kept tracking the Akatsuki members to find Sasuke, and if Itachi ran into Zetsu along the way, an Oki S-rank shinobi...

Maybe Itachi would have been fine on a regular day, but if he fought Zetsu while low on food or chakra, he might have lost and die—

A giant finger settles gently upon Sasuke's hair and the Chibi looks up to see Oki-Itachi glaring at Tobi. "You shouldn't believe everything you hear." The Oki strides past the masked man. "Truth and lies can become easily tangled when you only listen to one source."

Oki-Itachi doesn't spare the man another look as he leaves, but Sasuke hears Tobi chuckle lowly behind him and say, "You would know that better than anyone, Itachi."

Sasuke doesn't know what he means and doesn't care because Itachi—Nii-san is—

"Don't believe his words." Oki-Itachi looks down at him with stern yet sympathetic eyes. "That man is an adept manipulator, don't trust him."

Sasuke wants to take comfort in the Oki's words, but a bitter part of him recalls that he once trusted Oki-Itachi as much as his own brother, and look how that turned out. He doesn't want to believe Tobi, but can he really believe the murderer of the Oki Uchiha?

The idea of trusting Oki-Itachi sours Sasuke's stomach almost as badly as believing Tobi and accepting his brother is dead. Thus the Chibi lays back on his pillow, stares up at the lamplight and marvels at the irony that he was given answers tonight, yet now he has more questions than ever.

Chapter Text

Sasuke's spiraling thoughts keep him up for the rest of the night. Or more likely, the rest of the early morning considering Oki-Itachi doesn't return to bed, but starts taking all the items from Sasuke's side of the room and placing them in a sealing scroll.

The human walks quietly, probably thinking Sasuke is asleep since he's lying with his back to him on the pillow, but the Chibi feels the slight vibrations on the ground as he moves. It's how Sasuke knows when the Oki stops by the table and crouches behind him. He keeps still as the human's hand approaches and waits until the fingers arch to grab him before slamming his elbow up into the Oki's thumb.

The finger cracks and the human gasps while Sasuke leaps to his feet, tearing out his headband from where he stuffed it in his splint and tossing it like a shuriken at the table's front leg.

A hand wraps around him, pulling him up, but Sasuke smirks as the headband strikes the table leg and a piece of the wood snaps off. The table tips, falling towards Oki-Itachi's knees, but the human leaps back and the table clatters onto the floor.

Sasuke's grin twists into a scowl. It took weeks of carefully chipping away at the table leg with his headband's metal symbol to set up that trap, and yet it had failed!

"That was a good try."

Sasuke glares at Oki-Itachi, believing he's being mocked, but the human is giving the broken table a considering look. "It might work on Deidara or Hidan." He turns to Sasuke. "You should try it on them next time."

The Chibi's eyes widen. Is...Is Oki-Itachi giving him advice on how to escape?

Sasuke shakes off the thought—if the man really wanted to help him, he would let Sasuke leave now!—as the Oki takes the jar out of his weapons pouch and drops him inside. The teen lands in a crouch on the towel padding the glass and stands up, but freezes.

A plastic water bottle sticks to the jar wall before him, the same type pet gerbils drink from...

Sasuke turns to the Oki and glares.

Oki-Itachi sighs. "I know you probably think it's demeaning, but a regular water bottle would crush you and it's going to be very hot today."

Sasuke keeps glaring.

The human frowns, yet simply screws the lid on the jar and sets it in his weapon pouch. He doesn't close the pouch flap though, so Sasuke sees the Oki grab his right hand, and with an almost unnoticeable wince, push his thumb back into place. Sasuke realizes he dislocated Oki-Itachi's thumb as the human pulls out a bandage roll and ties a strip firmly around his finger before putting it away.

Then Oki-Itachi bends down and drags his pillow out from under the broken table as well as plucks up his headband. He seals the cushion in the scroll, but drops Sasuke's headband in the jar, which the Chibi catches and quickly tucks in his splint.

He's not sure why the Oki gave it back to him after he used it to make a trap, but perhaps the human doesn't deem it much of a threat considering his trap failed.

Oki-Itachi tucks the scroll in his pocket and surveys the room. Sasuke also spares the room one last look before Oki-Itachi walks out and shuts the door behind them.

The human heads out of the base, only stopping by the kitchen to remove four bread rolls from the oven, which turn out to be anpan. Sasuke eyes the roll suspiciously once Oki-Itachi drops one in his jar, but when he take a bite of it, instead of the red bean paste he was dreading, hazelnut filling warms his tongue.

Sasuke contently eats the rest of the roll while Oki-Itachi joins Kisame in the living room and together they exit the cave.

The Chibi frowns, watching the waterfall get smaller and smaller behind them until its thunderous roar is nothing but a whisper. Will the next Akatsuki base be like that one? Or better? Maybe worse?

The uncertainty makes him nervous, but there's nothing Sasuke can do about it, so he takes another bite of the anpan and faces ahead.

—

It's about four hours later when the humidity starts bothering Sasuke. Oki-Itachi stopped an hour ago to give him another bread roll, but didn't provide anything to drink with it and the sun has been shining all day.

Sasuke scowls at the gerbil water bottle beside him and crosses his arms. He won't drink from that thing no matter how hot it gets!

Despite his resolve, it gets harder and harder to ignore the swish of sparkling water in the bottle as the minutes pass by, especially since the Chibi has nothing to distract him besides the scenery and the rare bit of conversation between the Akatsuki members.

Still, Sasuke does his best to ignore his thirst and the sweat rolling down his forehead as Kisame asks, "Should we set up camp at night or keep going till we reach the base?"

"We can keep going," Oki-Itachi says. "By nightfall we should be close to Ame anyway."

Sasuke raises his head at the information. They're going to Amegakure? But the Akatsuki are wanted criminals across the Elemental Nations, so isn't it risky to have a hideout near a shinobi village? Though, perhaps their base is well-hidden thanks to all that rain and fog surrounding Ame.

"I hope the others haven't arrived yet," Kisame sighs. "Fighting Hidan is getting boring since he always waits in the same spot behind the door and uses the same method to try killing whoever walks in first." He huffs and sends his partner a sharp-toothed grin. "How about you go ahead of me just in case—"

A thunderous crack rattles the air and Sasuke whips left to see a large tree tumbling towards the missing-nin. The Chibi stumbles as the Akatsuki members leap back and the tree hits the earth with a deafening thud.

Sasuke braces himself against the glass, muscles tensing when he notices the fallen tree has bright green leaves. It doesn't look sickly or weak, so why did it fall?

The humans seem to notice this too as Kisame grabs his sword handle and Oki-Itachi summons his Sharingan while examining the tree. His eyes stop on the tree's base, then narrow.

"There's traces of chakra around its roots." Oki-Itachi walks over and crouches to better inspect the tree, Sasuke also peering at it.

Though the Chibi gasps at seeing large cracks in the bark spreading from a coin-sized crater in the wood. This mark...could it be…?

Sasuke gets an answer as a sharp whistle pierces the air and Oki-Itachi stands up so quick the Chibi nearly crashes into the gerbil water bottle.

"Is that..." Kisame squints at a tree branch above and Sasuke rights himself, looking up.

His eyes widen, and he blinks, but the image doesn't change.

Namikaze Naruto stands on the tree branch, a feral grin on his face while he holds a familiar hand seal and thousands of his shadow clones burst across the trees surrounding them.

Kisame's jaw drops and Sasuke wonders if he's dreaming as a Rasengan whirls in the Naruto clones' palms and they spring into the air with battle cries. The clones plummet towards the missing-nin and Oki-Itachi tries stepping back, but his feet don't budge. He looks down to see tree roots have erupted from the earth and are coiled tightly around his and Kisame's ankles.

The sharkman smirks. "Now this is going to be interesting!" He pulls out his sword and slices through the dozens of clones falling in front of him, angling his head to dodge the ones that get past his blade before swinging back to catch the clones behind him.

However, Oki-Itachi doesn't move and hundreds of Narutos drive their Rasengan into his body. The jar shakes violently and Sasuke is pitched to the side as the world flips and tilts. Yet it's the sting of his cheek smacking into the glass that finally knocks him from his stupor and he realizes this is really happening, Naruto is here. And he must be here for him. Otherwise, the Chibi wouldn't have risked revealing himself to humans.

Dozens of crows erupt from below and Sasuke suddenly realizes he's in a tree, Oki-Itachi having leapt up onto a branch before Naruto's clones could touch him while leaving a crow clone to take the hit.

"Are you alright?" Oki-Itachi glances down at Sasuke as his crows swarm the Naruto clones.

Yet the Chibi can't even think of a response before the tree they're in teeters and Oki-Itachi jumps off it while the tree drops towards his partner.

"Kisame!" Oki-Itachi warns, landing on the ground.

The sharkman quickly twists back, sword hacking the tree in two. Its pieces fly across the forest, snapping branches and knocking over a few other trees.

Kisame smirks, looking pleased. "These min-nin are gutsy for a bunch of little guys!"

He then turns to slice the tree roots off his legs and Sasuke notices Oki-Itachi's crows have left while Naruto's clones are gone, all having been defeated. Yet Kisame has only just freed himself when a cloud of smoke bursts between him and Oki-Itachi.

Sasuke ignores a soft clink against his jar as he watches the smoke fade away to reveal an orange frog summon slightly shorter than the Oki. Naruto is on top of the toad's head, having used his ridiculously large chakra reserves to summon the frog.

Kisame bears his sharp teeth, raising his sword eagerly. "Now this is a fight—"

Wooden pillars rise out of the earth, shocking Kisame into silence while they curl around him to form a thick dome. Oki-Itachi moves to aid Kisame, but stops as the frog's cheeks bulge and its mouth puckers to release a water jutsu.

Sasuke is concerned Naruto doesn't realize he will be caught in the water attack when there's a click above him and suddenly fresh air rushes into his container. The Chibi looks up and his mouth falls open.

Sakura stands on the jar rim, the lid tucked under her shoulder and a wicked smirk on her face. Yet her eyes are warm as she motions upwards.

The Uchiha slowly shakes off his shock and bends his knees to leap out, but stops as he notices Oki-Itachi staring straight at them.

Sasuke imagines the human's hand slamming down on Sakura, or worse, grabbing the girl and stuffing her into the jar with Sasuke.

However, the Oki simply stares for a moment, and then to Sasuke's amazement, he looks away towards the frog summon. Oki-Itachi's eyes narrow, he weaves rapid hand signs and breathes in deeply before opening his mouth to blow out a stream of fire.

Quickly the frog spits a torrent of water back at him and the elements clash, exploding into a thick mist.

"Sasuke-kun!"

The whisper-shout startles Sasuke and he turns to see Sakura's anxious expression. Realizing he hasn't moved, Sasuke jumps out of the jar and lands on the rim beside her. Sakura quickly drops the lid and leaps to the ground, Sasuke following her lead while a dense mist floods the area.

Sakura breaks into a sprint, trusting he's behind her, and Sasuke is about to go after the kunoichi, but something stops him.

He looks back and barely makes out Oki-Itachi's tall outline through the fog. A strange feeling tightens the muscles in his chest, likening fear, but somehow sadder. However, the fog is already dispersing, and Sasuke doesn't want to be caught, so he forces himself to look away and rushes after the faint bob of pink hair ahead.

They run for three minutes straight, the fog and clamor of battle vanishing in the distance. Sasuke's throat is on fire by the time Sakura stops beside a shrub and he barely avoids crashing into her, unbalanced by the suddenness of his escape. A part of him is questioning if this is a genjutsu, but Oki-Itachi couldn't have known what his teammates looked like or their fighting abilities.

The bush rustles, and Sasuke's hand slides to his back before he remembers his sword has been missing since he was captured. Though it doesn't matter as a familiar brown dog steps out of the thicket.

Pakkun's lazy gaze falls on Sasuke and his mouth curves in an approximation of a smile. "Nice to see you in one piece, kid." He lowers himself and the two Chibi hop on his back, using their chakra to keep their balance as the dog starts running.

Sasuke's eyes rove about while the wind brushes over his hair and the sun kisses his skin unhindered by glass or any other barrier. He's free, truly free…

"Are you okay?" Sakura asks, frowning, and Sasuke realizes he hasn't said a word, having gotten used to keeping his mouth shut for weeks now.

Sasuke nods, and in a voice raspy from disuse and thirst, says, "Yes."

He coughs a little and Sakura immediately pulls out a bottle and hands it to him, the Uchiha quickly chugging down the water.

He lowers the bottle once its empty, about to thank her, but suddenly strong arms wrap around him and Sakura's head falls on his shoulder. "I'm so glad you're alive!"

Sasuke's eyes widen while the kunoichi slowly pulls back to reveal her misty green eyes. The Uchiha is shocked because as emotional as Sakura is, it's rare for her to get so worked up during a mission. After all, she's a civilian Chibi, born without parents or a clan to find her on the day of her birth.

Sakura woke up alone in a field of flowers. Lost, confused, and only eight-years old, she had curled into a ball under the petals of a daisy and cried herself to sleep. By chance an Oki came across the flower patch she was in and dug it up, accidentally taking Sakura with it.

That Oki took the flowers to a shop, where they were to be sorted, put in pots, and sold the following morning. Sakura might have been discovered by humans the next day, but Ino lived in the shop and overheard Sakura crying while she was playing among the flowers. She took the lost girl to her father and the Chibi Yamanaka decided to take Sakura in, teaching her how to borrow food from Oki and registering her for the Chibi Ninja Academy.

Eventually, Sakura moved out to live in the walls of her counterpart's house and graduated as the top kunoichi in their Academy class. Considering most clanless Chibi die of starvation before they're found and those that survive rarely become ninja, it's a testament to her will and power that she's made it so far.

Sasuke's face falls, realizing Sakura must have been very worried about him for her to be this emotional. "I'm fine, really," he insists.

Sakura doesn't look assured, gaze falling on his splint. "But your leg…" Her face hardens, the kunoichi entering medic-nin mode as she kneels to examine it.

Sasuke shakes his head. "I don't need it anymore, I was just using it to hide my headband." He reaches down, pulls off the splint's straps and removes it while picking up his dark blue headband.

He ties the headband around his forehead, savoring the familiar weight on his head, and tucks the splint under Pakkun’s vest as Sakura runs her fingers over his leg in search of injuries. Sasuke is certain it's completely healed, but figures she needs to see for himself, so allows her to check until she's satisfied.

"It's not broken," Sakura says, standing. "Though the tendons are a little stiff, but I assume that's because you've been wearing that splint for a while." Her expression turns thoughtful. "Itachi did say you broke your leg."

Sasuke's breath hitches. "You've talked to Itachi!?" The girl jolts in shock as he grabs her shoulders. "He's alive?" Desperation pitches his voice, but Sasuke doesn't care—he needs to know!

Sakura's lips draw to a line. "No, I haven't talked to him."

Sasuke's grip tightens. "Is he alive?" He demands, having not received an answer.

The kunoichi hesitates. "Itachi is—"

"SASUKE!"

The Uchiha releases the girl as an orange blur drops onto Pakkun's head and the dog nearly trips.

"Hey!" Pakkun turns and glares. "Are you trying to break my neck!?"

Naruto doesn't respond, blue eyes narrowing on Sasuke while he marches over to him and jabs an accusing finger in his chest. "Teme! You ruined my party!"

Sasuke blinks. "What?"

Naruto glowers and crosses his arms, chin jutting out indignantly. "I come back to the Village after a spending a whole year away, and expect my friends to throw me a 'Welcome Back Party', but instead, I find everyone moping because you went missing!"

The Namikaze threw up his hands as he mocked. "Everybody was like 'Sasuke, Sasuke! We have to find Sasuke!'" His hands dropped and he scowled. "No one even noticed I returned because you were dumb enough to get caught by some Oki—"

"Who are you calling dumb, baka!?" Sasuke shouts back instinctively, then pauses, surprised by the sound of his voice at such a high volume. It had been a while since he yelled.

"You, teme! Believe it!" Naruto gets in his face. "And I barely got to see my parents before I was sent out to find you just because you're too weak to save yourself!"

Sasuke's eyes bleed into his Sharingan and he grabs Naruto by his collar. "I didn't ask for your help," he seethes.

Naruto opens his mouth, another insult on his tongue, but a soft giggle interrupts them while a man asks, "Are they always like this?"

Sasuke looks over his shoulder to see a brown-haired man with deep, dark eyes wearing a flak jacket. The Uchiha falters, Sharingan fading as he stares at the unfamiliar jonin.

Sakura smiles at the man. "Yeah, they've been like this since the Academy." She giggles again. "Probably before then too."

The man chuckles and Sasuke keeps staring at him until the jonin finally notices and says, "Oh, I haven't introduced myself." He inclines his head. "My name is Yamato, I'm the temporary captain of Team Kakashi."

Sasuke releases Naruto, asking, "What happened to Kakashi?"

"He was on another assignment when we received intel about your whereabouts," Yamato says. "And Tsunade-sama didn't want to waste time waiting for him to return." He gestured downwards. "He sent Pakkun to help us travel faster."

Sasuke's brow furrows. "But how did you know where I was?" He holds his breath. "Did Itachi tell you?"

The man's face goes eerily blank. "No, we heard you were captured by humans from a scouting team near the Land of Rivers."

Sasuke understands he must be talking about those Chibi he ran into at the marketplace with Konan, and while he's grateful they sent him help, he’d been hoping it was Itachi who told them about the hideout…

"We're one of the search parties they sent here, and a few days ago one of Naruto's clones spotted an Oki wearing a black cloak with red clouds and followed them to a cave. We scouted the place, but couldn't confirm you were there until yesterday."

"Since then, we've just been waiting for the right moment to attack," Sakura concluded.

"So Itachi didn't tell you anything?" Sasuke looks from one shinobi to the next, frowning when Naruto and Sakura refuse to meet his eyes. "But one of the Oki said Itachi made it to the hideout, so why didn't he tell you I was there?"

Sasuke doesn't mention that Tobi also said Itachi was dead because he won't believe it. Not without proof.

"Because he couldn't," Sakura suddenly looks up, meeting his wild-eyed gaze.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Sasuke demands, towering over her.

Sakura stares back, lips a stern line. "Because Itachi is in—"

Pakkun suddenly skids to a stop and all the Chibi sway with surprised cries. Naruto rights himself first and goes to shout, but his mouth snaps shut, eyes widening as he stares over Sasuke's head.

"I wasn't expecting so many min-nin."

Sasuke swivels around and stiffens at the sight of Tobi standing a few feet ahead, his lone eye full malice.

"But perhaps this is better." He steps forward and Pakkun growls, bearing his canines while moving back.

Yamato shoots Sakura a glance and the girl unclips her weapon pouch, tossing it back to Sasuke who catches it and clips it on. The dark-haired teen then turns to Naruto who meets his eyes and nods.

"Though I was hoping you would lead us to another Uchiha min-nin," Tobi's eye falls on Naruto. "You all displayed rather powerful abilities, so I'm sure we can find some use for you regardless."

As he finishes the grass bulges behind Pakkun and the dog jumps aside while a man's head, half-white and half-black, rises from the ground surrounded by large Venus flytrap appendages.

"Ooh!" The plant man drawls, his lone human eye sparkling. "The min-nin look so colorful and yummy!"

"Stop gawking and grab them!" A deeper voice hisses from the dark side of the plant man's face before his arms break through the earth, covered in an Akatsuki cloak—is this another member?—and reach for them.

All the Chibi jump off Pakkun while the dog leaps onto a tree, knowing he can't help much, and Sasuke's hands fly through familiar signs before he blows out a volley of fireballs up towards the plant man, tossing shuriken into the flames as he does.

Behind him a high-pitched sound erupts while a Rasenshuriken blooms in Naruto's hand and Yamato weaves five signs, causing tree roots to rise and tangle around Tobi's ankles.

The Uchiha is confident they'll be okay so focuses on guiding his flames towards the plant man's eyes. Yet the man's Venus flytrap appendages close and protect his head from the fire and shuriken. However, the Uchiha smirks as Sakura jumps down from the air and her gloved fist crashes onto the green appendages.

The closed flaps cave under her fist and a wail resounds from inside them before they fall open to reveal the plant man slumped over unconscious.

Sakura smirks triumphantly and Sasuke is sure the plant man is out of the fight, so turns back to see Naruto slinging his Rasenshuriken at Tobi's abdomen with a battle cry.

Yet all the Chibi are stunned when the Rasenshuriken runs straight through Tobi as if the man was a ghost and the Akatsuki member walks right through the branches tangled around his feet.

"Impressive," Tobi's dark eye glints as he gazes upon Naruto. "You will definitely be useful."

Faster than Sasuke can see, the man snatches Naruto off the ground. Sakura gasps, but before they can do anything, Tobi grunts in surprise as Naruto's Rasenshuriken collides with a rock behind him and explodes into a ferocious whirlwind.

Sasuke immediately weaves six signs and spits fire towards the whirlwind. The flames absorb the oxygen eagerly and stretch up to a human height while the whirlwind expands into a fiery tornado.

Suddenly Naruto slips straight through Tobi's hand and plummets as the flames harmlessly pass through the masked man. Yamato quickly extends his arm, which turns into wood and reaches for Naruto.

The Namikaze lands on the wood and slides it down to them while Yamato turns to Sakura and whispers. "Smoke bombs!"

The kunoichi pulls out said bombs and tosses them down, engulfing them all in a smoke so thick Sasuke can't see his own hands. Yet before he can try to find a way to his companions, a hand latches onto his back and he's yanked up, then dropped on something soft and in motion.

"Hold on," Pakkun whispers from below as he sprints out the smoke and dives into a bush.

Sasuke glimpses Naruto, Sakura, and Yamato beside him under the spots of sunlight breaking through the dense shrubbery. Yet peeking out of the bush he sees another Pakkun with somebody that looks like him and his teammates on his back running out the smoke and sprinting past Tobi.

The masked man moves to intercept the other dog and while he's distracted, Pakkun jets out of the bush and jumps silently onto a tree branch.

As the dog hops from one tree to the next, Sasuke regards Naruto. "Your shadow clones henged into us?"

The blond beams. "Pretty clever, huh?"

Sasuke raises a brow. "For a twelve-year old maybe."

Naruto scowls. "Hey, hey, I just saved you, ya know!"

"Then we're even." Sasuke crosses his arms. "Considering all the times I've rescued you."

"Name one—"

"That time you got stuck in dough and that Oki almost baked you into a cake."

Naruto's mouth shuts and a petulant look crosses his face while Sasuke smirks until Sakura asks, "Did we lose him?"

Sasuke looks back, but all he sees are trees and open air with Tobi nowhere in sight.

"I think we're in the clear," he says.

"Just to be safe, we should travel through that river." Yamato points ahead at a tranquil stream. "The water will mask our scent and hide your paw prints."

"Got it!" Pakkun turns and jumps onto a small tree that hangs over the rushing water. He scans over the river below and his gaze settles on a couple of rocks jutting out of the stream.

The dog leaps down onto it, and it's as his front paws touch the stone that Sasuke feels something warm erupt on his back.

"Sasuke-kun!"

The Uchiha twists around to see a white mass bulging off the back of his shirt, its weight pressing down on Sasuke so heavily he ends up tumbling off Pakkun's side.

"Sasuke!" Naruto dives after him, Rasengan in hand, which he presses into the white mass that's vaguely humanoid with green hair before the jutsu hits it and the mass bursts apart.

The explosion knocks Sasuke through the air and he can't latch onto anything before he plummets into the river. The Uchiha flounders under the water, the liquid dragging down his clothes and slowing his movements. Yet he shoves chakra into his hands and waves them blindly until he feels air and slaps them down onto the water's surface.

He pulls himself up and stands on the river, clothes dripping wet, and is stunned to see Pakkun over ten yards away, the river having dragged him that far in a mere six seconds.

"Hold on!" Yamato calls, hands forming signs before wood erupts from the riverside in the shape of a hand and zips towards Sasuke.

Once it's close, the Uchiha leaps onto it, but freezes as the air swirls like a vortex beside him and Tobi appears in front of the aberration. "There you are."

His teammates shout in alarm as Tobi reaches for him and Sasuke only has a second to think before he swivels back and dives off the wooden hand.

Tobi's eye widens as Sasuke plunges into the water and the current steals him away.

The Uchiha rolls in the undertow, paddling frantically to avoid large rocks and logs. Yet it's only once his lungs start to burn that he swims upwards. His head breaches the surface and he gasps for oxygen, rushing to wipe the water from his eyes. However, no one stands on the river or beside it.

Sasuke clambers on top of the water and stands, his Sharingan activating as he looks around. But there's no one to see and all he hears is the river's gurgle.

The Chibi sprints off the water and steps onto the gravely riverside, frowning at a couple of pink flowering plants growing by the water. He's never seen such plants in the Land of Fire, and gazing at the tall trees in the distance, bark pale as snow, Sasuke realizes he doesn't recognize any of the vegetation around him.

Sasuke's Sharingan fades as he frowns. "Where…am I?"

The Uchiha has no idea how far he's traveled from his team and there's a high chance they don't know either, and while they might just run down the river until they come across him, Tobi could do the same. In fact, his team probably left the river to escape the masked man anyway.

The Chibi takes a steadying breath, closes his eyes, and then opens them. He'll have to leave the river too in that case.

Sasuke trudges into the unfamiliar, drooping grass that stands over twice his size, telling himself it's okay if it's unfamiliar. That won't stop him from finding his way back to Konoha and seeing his family again.

I'm coming, Nii-san.

Sasuke pictures his brother's encouraging smile and the image fills him with confidence as he traverses deeper into the unknown.

Chapter Text

The grass thins out the further Sasuke walks until it disappears entirely and he steps out onto a thick mud.

Sasuke scowls as his feet sink into the mire, the mud covering his exposed toes and staining the top of his sandals. He would normally avoid such sludge, especially since mud can be as deadly as quicksand if a Chibi isn't careful, but his movements are very noticeable in the grass and Tobi might be tracking him.

Also, the muddy area appears to be a man-made trail cutting through the tall foliage on its sides, which means it's connected to a human settlement. Whether that place is a shinobi village or a civilian city, some Chibi probably reside there, and perhaps Sasuke can bargain for a ride on their summon. Or maybe he can hop on an Oki carriage heading towards the Land of Fire. Whichever gets him home faster.

Sasuke's eyes narrow determinedly as he trudges through the mud, splashing some of it on his pants. The sun beats down on his back, his wet clothes already drying from the heat, but the mud at least keeps him somewhat cool.

The teen marches on under the brilliant sun for hours, only stopping a couple of times to get a drink from the river. Every time he does, he keeps an eye out for fish to catch, but none swim by, and Sasuke doesn't dare linger on the chance Tobi might be near. Though maybe the masked man switched to his more playful personality and gave up on hunting him.

Sasuke doubts it, in fact, he's starting to doubt the guy really has a split personality. Mostly because Oki-Itachi seems to view Tobi as a threat, which Sasuke agrees with after fighting the masked man. Also, Oki-Itachi called Tobi a manipulator, and if that's true his childish personality could be an act. But why put on a persona? Who is he trying to fool?

Sasuke can't think of a good answer once he arrives back at the path, brightening when he sees the mud has dried to point of being solid. Quickly Sasuke throws back his arms and starts blazing down the trail, crossing as much distance as he can until the sun dips into the horizon and the sky grows dark.

Crickets hum all around the Uchiha while he travels through the grass. He could make a fire and keep going, but the flames might attract unwanted attention from Oki. However, the air is chilly and goosebumps are forming on his exposed skin, so Sasuke walks until he reaches a tree. He pushes chakra into his feet and runs up the bark, scanning every branch until he finds an empty bird nest under a cluster of leaves.

Broken blue eggshell pieces litter the nest, but there aren't any feathers—the chicks must have grown and flown off already. Sasuke's stomach rumbles, yet he ignores the hunger pang and gets settled in the middle of the nest. He lays down, suddenly feeling very tired as he gazes at the stars twinkling between the tree leaves.

Sasuke frowns, recalling a time when he and Itachi were young and chased each other under the moonlight in the garden.

Sasuke's eyes burn and he looks away because he still doesn't know if Itachi is okay. Sakura was going to tell him, but she got interrupted and he can only guess what she was going to say. Itachi is in trouble? Itachi is in the hospital? Itachi is in the next life?

The Uchiha's mind splinters while he considers what might have happened to his beloved brother. Yet somehow he stamps out his whirling thoughts and sighs. "I'll just have to go home and see for myself."

His resolve comforts him as he closes his eyes and quickly drifts to sleep.

That night Sasuke dreams he's on a desk in a forest with Oki-Itachi staring down at him. The human's raven eyes are warm as he reaches with two fingers and gently taps them on Sasuke's head.

"Let's go home, Little Sasuke."

He beams, and for some reason, Sasuke smiles back.

—

The next day, the Uchiha has been running for hours when he reaches a crossroads.

Sasuke cranes his neck back to read the large kanji on the wooden signpost between the two paths. Below the painted red arrow pointing left is the name of a town he's never heard of while below the right arrow it says—

"Amegakure?" Sasuke gasps, and then wants to hit himself.

Of course he's near Amegakure! That's where Oki-Itachi was taking him, and didn't Yamato mention they were in the Land of Rivers? That country is right next to Ame!

Sasuke looks from the right path to the left, frowning. If he goes to Amegakure, he might run into the Akatsuki and be recaptured. Even if he doesn't, Ame isn't Konoha's ally, and while they aren't at war either, Ame-nin aren't known for being friendly to outsiders. Yet, Sasuke knows nothing about the small town, and if no Chibi live there, traveling to that town would be a waste of time.

Sasuke's stomach rumbles and his hand falls on his gut while it cramps with hunger. Going to the small town would guarantee easy access to food, and it is fourteen miles closer than Ame…

The Uchiha bites his lip, thinking hard for a minute. Then he heaves a sigh, turns and starts running down the right path.

Amegakure promises faster transportation to Konoha, and even the risk of being attacked by Ame-nin or the Oki Akatsuki won't deter him because whenever there's a choice between himself and his brother, Nii-san comes first. Always.

—

Sasuke sits by the riverside at sunset and drinks his fill of water, but it's no longer enough, and the world sways as he stands. He needs food badly.

The average Chibi can't last longer than three days without nourishment, and though Sasuke has only gone a day and a half without food, all his running has sapped his energy to the point he can barely walk.

The Uchiha glares at the river, but no fish, turtles, or even a slimy frog emerge from its depths.

Think, Sasuke, a voice that sounds oddly like Itachi urges, and the teen takes his advice.

He could eat bugs, but they're too small to fill him for long. No edible vegetation is nearby, and waiting for prey to show up in the river probably won't work because it seems none live there. The current is just too fast for the river to be habitable—

Sasuke inhales sharply. The current, that's it!

The Chibi staggers to the tall grass, pulling out a shuriken from the pouch Sakura lent him and bending down to cut some of the blades. He picks up any twigs he comes across and leaves his gatherings by the water. Then Sasuke returns to the Oki path, uses his shuriken to cut out blocks of mud from the ground, and drags them back to the stream.

Sasuke hands shake as he kneels by the river and dips the mud blocks in the water, moistening them until they're malleable. Next, he arranges the twigs crisscross over each other and coats them in mud before layering the grass over them.

He waits thirty minutes for the sun to dry the mud, glueing the grass and sticks together, and once it's ready he drags the raft towards the river and pushes it halfway in.

The makeshift boat sinks a little as Sasuke steps onto it, but stays above the water and no leaks spring up, so he has faith the wood will hold his weight as he grabs a twig off the ground and uses it to push the raft fully into the river. The boat immediately surges forward, Sasuke dropping the twig while he falls to his knees and stares ahead in amazement as the scenery blurs past.

The wind whips across his face, so Sasuke has to squint to see while he circulates chakra to his legs and sits up right as a large rock appears ahead.

Sasuke draws lightning to his hand and shapes it into a long sword, bearing it down on the stone and smashing it to pieces seconds before the raft can hit it. He sighs in relief as the raft bobs over the debris and releases the lightning while calling on his Sharingan since it will be hard to spot other obstacles at the speed he's going.

The raft suddenly dips and Sasuke grips the boat's sides as it slides down a cascade, bouncing on each landing and sprinkling water on his clothes. He’s concerned the raft will break, but it rights itself once it reaches the bottom and continues speeding steadily down the river.

Sasuke gazes ahead to the sunset painting the water golden with a frown. He’s taking a gamble riding the river on the chance it empties into a lake near Amegakure, but walking was draining too much of his energy. Besides, even if the river doesn't lead to Ame it will likely take him to an Oki settlement, and where there's Oki, there's food.

Sasuke only hopes he lasts long enough to see where he ends up.

—

The Uchiha faints sometime in the middle of the night, and upon awakening, opens his eyes to stare at a gray, cloudy sky.

Sasuke blinks, vision blurry and world spinning despite him lying motionless. Every inch of him is heavy, so when he tries raising his head, it merely lolls to the side. Yet Sasuke is startled to see tall, dark shapes beyond the water he's floating on—water he notices now is much more expansive than a river.

The raft is on a lake, drifting closer and closer towards the dark shapes until Sasuke can make them out as towering, industrial buildings. Is this Amegakure?

Something about this place seems oddly familiar as his raft hits the muddy shore and gets stuck there, but Sasuke can't focus on one thought long enough to figure out why. He's just too exhausted, his chakra levels depleted after he used his Sharingan for most of last night. Really, it's no exaggeration to say he's on the verge of death.

Sasuke chuckles softly. He'd been born at the edge of a lake, so wouldn't it be perfectly poetic to die at one?

Yet Sasuke doesn't want to die, but wishes to go home and see his brother and everyone else again. He doesn't want to abandon them or leave them mourning his death. However, he's already drifting into a slumber he probably won't wake from and his sight is getting dim.

Sasuke's eyes are closing for what might be the last time when he spots something white fluttering high above. He thinks it's a bird, maybe a dove, but it starts floating down and its shape thins and sharpens until there is a woman with large, white wings hovering a couple of feet above him.

For a moment Sasuke thinks she's an angel and he's dead, but then he notices the woman's wings are layered not with feathers, but sheets of paper.

Chibi-Konan drops lightly onto the raft, her cool expression ebbing into concern.

Sasuke manages to turn and meet her amber gaze, stuttering. "Help..."

Konan's brow furrows, lips moving, but a loud ringing swallows up her words as Sasuke's eyes close for what feels like a second. Yet when they open the raft is a brown dot beneath him and the wind is running through his hair while arms cradle him under his back and knees.

Sasuke blinks again and everything afterwards is hazy.

He hears voices, one feminine and the other deeper, but all he sees are quivering shadows.

"...wasn't sneaking...found him in the lake outside..."

"...safer to kill..."

"He's a child...needs..."

"...foreign ninja...dangerous..."

Sasuke groans and the voices go silent as he pries open his eyes. Red, blue and orange blobs garbed in black hover over him.

"Eat," the blue one says, pressing something warm and flaky to his mouth.

Sasuke catches a whiff of honey as he uses the last of his strength to open his mouth and sink his teeth into the biscuit. He downs it, hardly tasting the bread in his rush, and when a second honeyed biscuit is brought to his mouth, he downs it even faster, vision clearing and strength returning as his body is nourished.

A plastic cup is brought to his lips and Sasuke doesn't even question what's in it before guzzling down the liquid, which turns out to be orange juice. Once he drinks every last drop, the cup is taken away and Sasuke finally notices he's leaning in the corner of a Chibi couch under a bright lamp hanging from a metal ceiling.

"How do you feel?"

Sasuke turns to the speaker and stiffens at seeing the blue-haired woman wearing a black cloak with red clouds. Stunned, he whispers. "Konan?"

The woman's eyes light with surprise and Sasuke quickly explains. "I've seen your Oki."

Konan makes an understanding sound, face returning to its neutral expression while Sasuke says, "And I feel much better." He bows his head towards her, though the motion makes him dizzy. "Thank you, Konan-san."

The kunoichi smiles faintly. "You are welcome, child." Her expression goes blank. "Though I must ask, what is a Konoha-nin doing so far from home?"

"I'm wondering the same."

Sasuke looks to the doorway where a man with spiky, orange hair and brown eyes enters the living room, coming over with a stern expression.

"Pain?" Sasuke asks in shock while the man's face warps with confusion.

"Huh?" The man cocks his head. "You got a headache or something? Want some painkillers?"

Sasuke frowns, perplexed. "I thought… Isn't your Oki called Pain?"

The man stares at him like he's speaking a foreign language. "Uh, no." He smiles, but his grin is sharp. "My Oki was called Yahiko, same as me, and I doubt you met him since he died twenty years ago."

Sasuke grows more confused because Pain is alive. Though this man doesn't have Rinnegan eyes like Pain or his piercings, so maybe Pain really isn't his human counterpart?

It's as he is examining Yahiko that he realizes Konan and him are both wearing black cloaks with red clouds. "Akatsuki?" He whispers because he thought he might run into the Oki Akatsuki, yet never expected to meet their Chibi versions.

The Ame-nin freeze, but soon Yahiko grins wide. "You've heard of us?" He sets his hands on his sides and puffs out his chest. "If even Konoha-nin know about us, then our reputation must really be expanding!"

"Don't get distracted, Yahiko," Konan chides lightly and faces Sasuke. "We still need to know why you came to Amegakure."

Yahiko frowns, hands dropping while his eyes narrow on Sasuke. The Uchiha swallows, knowing he's still weakened by his earlier starvation, and though Yahiko probably has limited chakra since his counterpart died, Konan would be hard to fight in his condition.

Sasuke braces for their disbelief and says, "I was captured by Oki."

Konan's eyes widen and Yahiko's mouth drops while Sasuke continues. "My team managed to free me, but during the fight I fell in a river and got separated from them." His dark orbs gleam with sincerity. "I couldn't find any food so I decided to head to Ame before I starved."

Sasuke looks at Yahiko, guessing he's the Akatsuki leader like Pain. "You're mercenaries, right? The Oki took all my weapons, but my teammate lent me some shuriken." He reaches for the pouch and sets it on his lap, opening it. "I can sell them and give you all the money if you help me get back to Konoha."

Konan gives the shuriken a considering look and takes the pouch before regarding Yahiko who frowns. Sasuke's hope wanes at the lack of a reaction, but soon the man says, "I'll have to discuss this with the other members. In the meantime," he looks Sasuke up and down, eyes lingering on his shirt that's more brown than white and streaked with grass stains. "How about you get cleaned up?"

He offers Sasuke his hand and the Uchiha grabs it, teetering when he's pulled into a stand, but soon regaining balance.

"Konan." Yahiko glances at the kunoichi. "Gather whoever's available in the meeting room."

She nods and walks away while the man lets Sasuke go and enters a corridor. "Follow me."

Sasuke trails the man into the hall, noticing the walls and floor are metal like the ceiling. Is this an air vent? Or is it an underground Chibi structure? Hard to tell unless he finds a window.

The teen drops the train of thought as Yahiko stops at a wooden door and pushes it open, revealing a tiled bathroom inside. Sasuke lights up while Yahiko waves him in. "Take as long as you need. Just leave your dirty clothes on the doorknob and we'll clean them while you're showering."

Sasuke nods, stunned the man is being so generous to a foreign shinobi like himself, especially since Yahiko is a missing-nin. Though the Akatsuki are seeking world peace, so maybe they're more altruistic than most missing-nin?

Yahiko shuts the door behind him and Sasuke immediately tears off his shirt, grimacing when it peels off his skin like glue. His pants are similarly hard to remove, but he manages to kick them off. He hangs his clothes on the doorknob and steps into the shower. Sasuke reaches for the knob, turning it to its hottest setting, and water bursts from the shower head. His whole body droops as the warm water rains on his scalp and rolls down his back.

Sasuke simply relaxes under the hot spray for about thirty minutes before actually picking up a washcloth and soap bar from the tub rim. It takes another fifteen minutes to clean off what feels like ten pounds worth of mud and grime.

Once he's finished, Sasuke dries himself off with a towel and steps out onto the fluffy green mat. He finds his clean clothes already hanging from the knob and quickly gets dressed. Then he exits the bathroom, assuming he should return to the living room. Yet he stops, muscles coiling at seeing a red-haired man in the hall.

The man's Rinnegan eyes peer at him past his long, side bang, and Sasuke's blood runs cold as the man says, "We should kill you."

Chakra floods over Sasuke's optic nerves in preparation to summon his Sharingan—though his dōjutsu probably can't save him from the legendary Rinnegan.

"However," the redhead sighs and shakes his head in exasperation. "I was outvoted." His ringed eyes suddenly fade into normal purple irises. "Come along now."

The man starts walking down the hall and Sasuke hesitates, but eventually follows. He stares at the back of the man's head while he walks, thoroughly puzzled because this guy has the Rinnegan like Pain, but Pain has Yahiko's face. There's clearly a connection between the Oki and two Chibi, but Sasuke can't unravel the mystery as they arrive at the living room.

Three Akatsuki members stand beside Yahiko and Konan, two he recognizes instantly as Chibi-Deidara and Chibi-Kakuzu. Though the third person is an unfamiliar man with dark, spiky hair and matching black eyes.

The dark-haired man stares at Sasuke, bare forehead knitting together like he's confused while a strange feeling of familiarity washes over Sasuke. Does he know this guy?

The redhead comes to stand on Yahiko's right and Sasuke straightens up as all the Akatsuki members turn to him.

"We have decided to help you," Yahiko begins with a frown. "But we can't offer you much."

"We shouldn't offer him anything." Kakuzu grumbles, eyes narrowing on Sasuke. "His shuriken won't cover what we're giving him."

"We can still kill him." The red-haired man adds, side-eyeing Yahiko. "You know with his chances it would be a mercy."

Sasuke is surprised by the man's earnestness, as if he truly thinks killing him would be a kindness.

"Nagato." Yahiko looks to the redhead. "Even if his chances are slim, the boy has a right to try." He looks to Sasuke and his eyes slant down in sympathy. "You can borrow one of our messenger pigeons."

Sasuke frowns. "Not a summon?"

"We can't afford to lend you a summon," Kakuzu says coolly. "Too many missions require them."

Yahiko grimaces. "And unfortunately our pigeon can only take you to the Land of Fire's border. Any farther and they won't be able to find their way back."

Sasuke nods. "I understand," he closes his eyes for a second, gathering himself. "Do you think I can borrow a map too? I've only been outside the Land of Fire twice."

Yahiko looks surprised then saddened, pity clear in his gaze. "Of course."

Everyone except Kakuzu sends him a pitying or sympathetic look because they all know it will take weeks for him to reach Konoha on foot, and that's without accounting for any time he spends gathering food or dealing with the number of things that could go wrong during his travel.

"This is why we should have went with my idea!" Deidara scowls, staring at Sasuke, and the lack of antagonism in his gaze is odd to see considering his Oki counterpart hates him. "Join the Akatsuki, hn!" He smirks and throws out his arms, revealing a clay bomb in each of his hands. "Then you can blow up whatever crap you want!"

Sasuke blinks—does Deidara really think everybody enjoys blowing things up?—while Yahiko rubs his chin. "Well, we could always use new members." He smiles at Sasuke. "How about it? Do you want to join the Akatsuki and help us overthrow the Oki?"

Sasuke balks. "Overthrow the Oki!?" He wonders if it's a joke, yet no one is laughing. "But I thought the Akatsuki wanted world peace!"

"We do," Konan says mildly. "That is why human rule must come to an end."

Yahiko nods. "The Oki are the ones who wage wars, us Chibi are just caught in the middle because we want to protect our villages." A dark, unreadable emotion passes through his eyes. "Only by controlling the Oki can we put an end to war."

Sasuke's expression goes blank while inside his heart races. This man is insane! Even if Yahiko's intentions are good, trying to control the Oki is impossible, not to mention morally wrong. For the Oki give them life, food, chakra, and children. How could the Akatsuki be so ungrateful?

Sasuke turns, not wanting to stick around this group any longer. "No thanks," he says over his shoulder. "I need to get home to my family." His eyes latch on an iron door in the right corner, and assuming it's the exit, he starts walking towards it.

"Wait!"

The teen pauses, looking back to see the dark-haired man gawking at him. "You...you're an Uchiha!?"

Sasuke turns around, unsure what to expect as the man strides over and stops in front of him to stare intently into his eyes. After a moment, he glowers and swivels to Konan, hissing. "Why didn't you tell me he was an Uchiha?"

It's unclear if the man is shocked or enraged so Sasuke shifts in case he needs to run while Konan says, "I couldn't see his clan symbol when I found him. His shirt was covered in mud."

The man spins back to him, frowning deeply, and Sasuke is about to flee when the man suddenly grins. "I can't believe it..." His hands clamp onto Sasuke's arms and he bounces excitedly on the balls of his feet. "It's another Uchiha!"

Sasuke is stunned, realizing what the man is implying. "You're an Uchiha?" He gasps. "But how…"

The man's smile falls for a second, yet quickly jumps back up. "I'll explain later." He turns to Yahiko. "Cut it out of my pay if you have to, but I'm taking my cousin back to Konoha right now." His expression grows determined as he shifts to grab Sasuke's elbow and drags him to the door.

"Are you sure?" The redhead—Nagato asks, looking concerned. "If a Konoha-nin spots you—"

"It'll be fine!" The man waves him off and throws open the door, depositing Sasuke outside. "Wait here!"

He closes the door, and Sasuke gapes, seeing he's on a metal ledge over a hundred feet in the air with the ground below obscured by fog.

The door slams open and the dark-haired man returns with a sack slung over his shoulder. A sweet and spicy aroma drifts from the sack—it must be food—as the man bites his thumb, weaves a blur of hand signs and sets his palm on the ground.

In a puff of smoke, a brown hawk appears on the ledge already wearing a saddle. Sasuke glimpses a faded uchiwa on the saddle's bottom left corner as the man jumps onto the bird and straps the sack to the back of the saddle.

The teen wonders if he'd be better off taking a pigeon because this guy can't actually be an Uchiha, right? And if he's lying, he must have ulterior motives. However, the other Chibi's dark hair, black eyes and fair skin are common features in the Uchiha clan. Also, riding a hawk summon would shorten his over two-week trip to a four day one.

Sasuke hops onto the bird and sits down while the man looks back. "Hold on!" He warns, tugging on the reins, and the hawk extends its wings as it leaps off the ledge.

The bird falls and then swoops up, soaring through the air. Sasuke gazes at the tall buildings they fly past in amazement, surprised by their height in comparison to the shorter buildings common to Konoha.

However, he glances back at the tower where the Chibi Akatsuki live and frowns. There's something awfully familiar about that tower…

"I'm Obito, by the way," the man says without looking back.

Sasuke doesn't recognize the name, but maybe Obito became a missing-nin prior to his birth and his counterpart could have died before the massacre.

"Why did you leave Konoha?" Sasuke blurts, unable to help himself because he's never heard of a rogue Chibi Uchiha, and after what happened to the Oki Uchiha, he can't imagine how Obito survived all these years with such limited chakra.

Obito doesn't say anything for a long moment while his hawk glides over a still lake and the spiraling buildings fade behind them, and Sasuke is chiding himself for his bluntness when Obito sighs and turns.

The older Uchiha's dark orbs hold a heavy sadness while he quietly admits. "I broke Konoha's greatest rule."

The wind roars past Sasuke's ears, tousling his hair and chilling his skin. Yet Sasuke notices none of this as Obito's face hardens and he looks down. "I revealed myself to an Oki."

A jolt of horror strikes Sasuke like lightning because Obito didn't break just any law, but he broke perhaps the highest law all Chibi have.

"I was supposed to be executed, but my friends broke me out of jail." Obito looks up with a painful grin. "I had no choice except to leave Konoha." He turns ahead. "I was only fourteen… I didn't even get to tell my mom goodbye…"

Sasuke stares at the man, speechless. He has questions simmering on his tongue, but can't find the will to speak, so silence descends on them as the hawk sails through the dark sky.

The next two days are strange and awkward as Obito bombards him with question after question about the clan and how they're doing. Sasuke answers honestly when he can and skirts around any questions relating to the Oki Uchiha.

"How was the Fire Fan Festival last year? Do they still set off fireworks at midnight?"

"It was great, but we don't use fireworks anymore. We set off confetti instead."

Sasuke doesn't explain they can't set off fireworks. That was the Oki Uchiha's job, and if the Chibi set off fireworks in the seemingly abandoned Uchiha district, it would undoubtedly be noticed by the Oki shinobi.

"How's Fugaku-sama? Is he still grumpy as ever?"

"He...died three years ago."

"..."

"His son Itachi runs the clan now."

"...oh."

It's the evening of the third day when Sasuke starts to recognize the towns they're passing over and he practically vibrates in his seat after spotting a familiar road leading to Konoha.

That night Sasuke doesn’t sleep, his excitement keeping him awake, so he sees when Konohagakure's walls appear in the violet horizon.

"We're almost there."

Sasuke glances at Obito who rubs his eyes drowsily from where he's sprawled across the saddle and sits up. They've been flying almost nonstop for three days, the man having switched his first summon out with two others so they could travel even through the night.

Sasuke nods, his raven orbs stuck on Konoha’s gates while they get closer and closer. He's home. After a month of not seeing his village, Sasuke is finally home. Mother, Shisui, Izumi, his clan and teammates. He'll get to see all of them in just a few minutes.

And Itachi must be waiting for him too, probably having been worried sick about his little brother.

Sasuke takes a deep breath and releases it as the hawk lands on a tree branch ten meters from the gates where two Oki guards linger. There's a very small hole in the grass to the left of the humans, the main Chibi entrance to Konoha.

The teen stands and looks at Obito. "If there's anything I can do to repay—"

Obito is already waving him down with a bright smile that's reminiscent of Naruto's. "Don't worry about it." His mouth twitches, gaze falling on Konoha.

His eyes shimmer and he hums fondly. "I'm just happy to see home again."

Sasuke frowns, wanting to do more because Obito, even if he did break their highest law, had dropped everything to help him.

Yet Sasuke doesn't have anything to give and is desperate to see his brother, so he hops off onto the branch while Obito sends him a nod. Then the man tugs on the reins and his hawk leaps into the air, flying up over the treetops and quickly disappearing in the dawn sky.

Sasuke looks away once he can't see him and anticipation burns through his veins as he leaps down to the forest floor. He lands in a crouch, eyes on Konoha’s gates when he hears rustling leaves.

The teen whips back and stops. His eyes widen as a man with long, ebony hair tied back jumps through the trees leading away from Konoha.

Sasuke gasps. "Nii-san?"

His Sharingan flashes to prove he’s imagining the scene, but all it does is slow down the image of his brother soaring from branch to branch until Sasuke is certain it's him.

Without wasting another second, Sasuke pivots and jumps high onto the tree branch, springing after his brother with a cry. "Nii-san!"

Chapter Text

"In summary, the min-nin escaped." Itachi stares impassively at Pain, who stands at the entrance of the copper canopy with wind and rain roaring behind him.

"And it's not our fault it got away." Kisame crosses his arms from beside the Uchiha. "You told us to be on the lookout for some hunter-nin, not min-nin." He bares his teeth in a wry smile. "Those little guys were fast, and they weren't weaklings either."

Lightning flashes, casting harsh shadows on Pain's expressionless face, and the man seems to wait for the thunderclap to pass before saying, "You are correct." He turns to Kisame. "Konan thought the foreign chakra signatures she sensed were hunter-nin who had found the hideout and misinformed you."

He pauses, then says, "The loss of the min-nin is unfortunate, but was not your fault."

Kisame nods as their leader continues. "I will ask Deidara and Tobi to search for the min-nin since they are the closest to the Land of Fire." His gaze slides to Itachi. "If they fail to find it within five days, I will send you two to retrieve a replacement."

Itachi quickly picks up on the man's meaning and asks, "You believe there are other min-nin with the Sharingan?"

"Yes." Pain inclines his head. "The shop owner found two with such dōjutsu, both wearing Konoha headbands, so other Uchiha min-nin likely reside in Konoha."

Itachi, aware Pain is right since he heard Little Sasuke worrying about his clan when he accidentally saw the min-nin's memories, flatly says, "I see." He doesn't want to know what the Akatsuki would do if they learned there was entire clan of Uchiha min-nin. Yet he's also hoping Deidara and Tobi don't find Little Sasuke.

The tiny ninja was obviously miserable in the Akatsuki's care, something that probably wasn't helped by Itachi being his primary keeper since the min-nin had heard him speaking to Sasuke the night of the massacre. Itachi's words and actions from that day still seemed to haunt the little ninja, so it would probably be for the best if Little Sasuke never saw him again.

Pain dismisses him and Kisame, and the Uchiha immediately heads to the tower's staircase. He leaves the Kiri-nin behind since his room is on a lower level and enters the hallway of an upper floor, walking straight towards the room at the end.

Yet Itachi stops in the doorway of his bedroom, and his eyes narrow.

The window is shut just like he left it, rain pelting the glass. His bed is made, dresser bare and drawers closed.

Itachi takes a single step in, flicking on the lights. However, still nothing stands out, so he goes up to his dresser and opens all its compartments, but the clothes inside appear untouched.

The Uchiha frowns. His instincts are telling him something is missing, but what could it be?

Itachi reaches back, hand going to his weapon pouch—

He freezes. Slowly his fingers run over the rim of a glass cylinder before he pulls it out and holds it before him. Itachi frowns at the jar, seeing the plastic water bottle inside is full. Little Sasuke hadn't drank a sip, but hopefully the min-nin wasn't too dehydrated when he ran off.

Itachi turns to the window and with his poor vision can only assume the dark blur outside must be a cloudy gray sky, and it's as he's listening to the the rain striking the glass that it hits him.

It's quiet. There are no tiny feet clinking inside the jar or padding around the room. Little Sasuke is gone, and though the min-nin never talked, his absence is loud.

Itachi's gaze drops to the floor while he sits on his bed, jar on his lap. He always knew his relationship with the min-nin was a temporary one and he's glad the little shinobi is finally on his way home, but a part of him misses the tiny Uchiha's company, misses that face—Sasuke's face—staring back at him.

The rain starts to lessen until it's hardly more than a whisper, but Itachi no longer has any reason to break the silence, so he doesn't say a word as the rain continues to fall.

—

"Nii-san!"

Sasuke dives between two branches, Sharingan eyes locked on his brother.

However, Itachi doesn't look back, but leaps to the next tree like he didn't hear him.

The teen frowns as he lands on a branch. Is something wrong with Itachi's ears or is his brother too lost in thought to hear him?

Concerned, Sasuke pushes chakra to his feet and launches himself even faster through the trees. "Nii-san, wait!"

Sasuke touches down on a tree limb a second after Itachi springs off of it and fear stabs into Sasuke's heart when his brother still doesn't acknowledge him. Shouldn't Itachi at least notice someone is following him?

The fifteen-year old's face twists with worry as he hurdles past branches and leaves until finally he leaps into the air and Itachi is mere centimeters away.

"It's me, Nii-san," Sasuke reaches for his brother's shoulder, but stops when Itachi spins back with a startled expression.

"Sasuke?" Itachi gapes, landing on a thick branch while Sasuke touches down across from him.

"Nii-san." Sasuke smiles, eyes brimming with joy. "You're okay, I knew you were—"

A low hiss slices through the air and Sasuke blinks, confused as to why Itachi is suddenly posed with his arm in front of him like he's throwing something. Yet he curiously follows the angle of Itachi's fingers and looks down.

Sasuke chokes at the three shuriken sticking out of his chest and he gasps as pain bursts across his torso, redness spreading over his white shirt.

The teen looks up at Itachi with wide, horrified eyes. "Nii…san…?"

Itachi's face goes blank while he surges across the branch, and even with his Sharingan, Sasuke can't move back fast enough to avoid Itachi's hand chopping down on his side. The teen cries out and instinctively raises his arms, but his defense does him no good when Itachi leaps over him, grabs the back of his shirt, and drags him up in a rotation before throwing him down.

Sasuke's back slams onto the bark, wood scraping against his skin as he rolls. Yet he stops in a crouch and rises, his ribs screaming at the motion while Itachi slowly walks over.

"Foolish otouto," Itachi hisses, Mangekyō Sharingan flaring, "It's your fault I almost died."

Sasuke feels like he's been slapped, Itachi's words cutting through him like a sword. However, he soon shakes his head and gasps. "You… You're not my brother, Itachi wouldn't—"

"I would." Itachi pulls out four kunai and Sasuke's Sharingan is the only reason he manages to duck under the knives.

Yet a breeze brushes over Sasuke's back and he whirls around to see Itachi—shadow clone!?

The older boy kicks Sasuke's stomach, knocking the air out his chest and sending him flying off the branch.

Sasuke plummets, but fighting through the pain lacing his body, he reaches out and catches a leaf hanging off the end of a tree. His hands slide despite his tight grip and Sasuke realizes the leaf is wet right as he loses his hold and drops.

The teen crashes into a bundle of twigs behind a puddle. He quickly pulls himself out of the pile, but a hand wraps around his throat and slams him into a rock. His head cracks against the stone and his vision blinks out for a moment while Itachi steps on his feet and grabs his wrists, pinning them against the stone.

"You're pathetic," Itachi says coldly, slowly crushing Sasuke's throat and making the teen wheeze. "I almost died because you were too weak to save yourself."

Sasuke's eyes sting, hearing his own negative thoughts being thrown back at him, but the teen forces himself to calm and look the man in the eye while he rasps, "You're…not Itachi." A smirk slides over his face and Itachi's eyes narrow. "Or you'd noticed…it rained recently."

"What?" Itachi asks while Sasuke glares.

"Fake." Sasuke's hand flaps down and lightning erupts from a cloud above in the shape of a dragon.

Itachi can't look up before the dragon strikes him like a lightning bolt and electricity explodes over the Uchiha. Sasuke is released, but shouts when some of the sparks jump over to him and falls to his knees, grasping his burned palms while Itachi's convulsing body goes still.

Itachi falls face forward into the stone beside Sasuke and his face scapes down the rock until his knees hit the earth and he topples on his side, body rolling onto his back.

Sasuke is disturbed by the horror frozen on Itachi's face, but assures himself the man can't actually be Itachi. His brother would have known it had rained in Konoha recently, something Sasuke realized after spotting puddles on the ground, and would have known Sasuke could use the lingering storm clouds to summon lightning.

Sasuke inhales sharply when Itachi's skin ripples and his clothes melt into himself like water, his skin lightening to a pale white while his hair shortens and turns green.

Sasuke's eyes widen. That guy!?

The Akatsuki member with the Venus flytrap around his head lies beside him, or at least it looks like that guy without the plant appendages and the dark half of his face. How he'd transformed into Itachi to the point even his chakra matched his brother's, Sasuke didn't know.

The teen is considering if the plant man could somehow mimic chakra signatures when something hot rushes up his throat and he coughs it out. Sasuke stares at the red drops on the ground—his blood?—while the world starts to swim.

The Uchiha only has the mind to turn so he doesn't fall on the shuriken in his chest as he drops on his side and sprawls onto his back.

The sky peeks through the tree leaves above and his vision blurs into rivers of blue and green while Sasuke's scarlet orbs fade to black.

A part of Sasuke hopes his body is never found because his family and friends will be devastated if they realize how close he was to Konoha.

Forgive me, Nii-san… Your otouto was foolish…

Sasuke succumbs to the darkness with his lips curved into a frown and tears pooling in his eyes.

The Chibi is confused when he wakes up to bright sunlight and a gray ceiling. He squints and tries turning away, but he can't feel his head or the rest of his body, maybe because they aren’t there anymore. Perhaps he's a ghost—a possibility that doesn't bother him so long as he gets to see his family again.

A large shadow emerges from his side, eclipsing half his vision, and Sasuke weakly focuses on it.

Oki-Itachi gazes at him, brow furrowed slightly while he asks, "How do you feel?"

Sasuke stares at the human for a second, wondering if he's dreaming, but soon it strikes him that he's lying on a familiar soft cushion and clearly isn't a ghost, which means—

He's been recaptured by the Akatsuki.

Disbelief slams into him first, soon followed by fear and despair, but it's the overwhelming desire to escape that gives Sasuke the strength to sit up. Immediately the Chibi has to bite down on a scream as a sharp pain cuts across his chest and he looks down to see bandages wrapped around his bare torso, shoulder, and hands.

"You should rest," Oki-Itachi says quietly. "I know min-nin heal faster than humans, but one of your injuries required stitches—"

The Oki's voice fades into the background while a single question rings through Sasuke's head. How did the Akatsuki find him? Did the plant man tell them? No, that's impossible, Sasuke killed the man before he could perform any jutsu.

Sasuke's eyes lift to Oki-Itachi and a seed of suspicion sprouts inside him. The human had let him leave with Sakura, something Sasuke had wondered about while traveling on that muddy road. At first he thought the human let him escape because he was tired of taking care of Sasuke. However, if the Oki was so irritated by Sasuke, why personally cook his meals? Or give him hot baths?

Sasuke doesn't need either to survive, but Oki-Itachi gave him both anyway, just like the human told him what the Akatsuki was planning to make him do... For a second, Sasuke thought maybe...maybe Oki-Itachi had changed and really did want to help him escape, but now Sasuke knows he was fooled.

He glowers, hands curling into fists. This...this was all Oki-Itachi's plan to gain Sasuke's trust. The Oki must have worked with the other Akatsuki members and made sure the plant guy and Tobi were tracking Sasuke before letting the Chibi escape.

That's how those two found Sasuke and his team so quickly, and why Tobi hadn't bothered chasing him down the river. They knew Sasuke was a Konoha-nin and would likely be heading back to his village, so they simply waited outside Konoha for Sasuke to show up. Then the plant man used some type of transformation jutsu to pretend to be Itachi and lured Sasuke away from the village.

Maybe the plant man intended to wear Sasuke down by attacking him and make it easier for the Akatsuki to retrieve him, but whatever his reason Sasuke was certain Oki-Itachi had tricked him in the cruelest way imaginable. Because the human had allowed Sasuke to hope, allowed him to see his village and get so close to seeing his brother again, only to snatch it all away and feign sympathy once Sasuke was caught.

Rage swells inside Sasuke like a typhoon, his nails digging into his bandaged palms, and Oki-Itachi must see his fury because he asks, "Little Sasuke?"

The Chibi screams and leaps up to charge the man. Shock flashes on Oki-Itachi's face while Sasuke soars off the table, but the human swiftly catches him.

Yet Sasuke snarls and twists violently in his grip even as pain bursts over his body and something tears in his chest.

"Stop," the Oki says, voice oddly sharp, but Sasuke barely hears him over his own racing heart while he throws his head down to bite the Oki's finger.

The human's thumb snaps up to hold back his neck, but the Chibi rams his throat against it though this cuts off his breathing.

"Little Sasuke, calm down."

Sasuke doesn't understand the man's words while he writhes, his lungs burning from the lack of oxygen and battered body screaming, but Sasuke can't stop. His hatred is only fueled by his frustration at being trapped again and the mere sight of the monstrous Oki makes him want to claw the human's face off.

Suddenly the Oki's thumb lifts and Sasuke instinctively inhales, quickly falling into a coughing fit. However, he continues wrenching against the fingers holding him, determined to escape.

"I understand you're upset—"

False sympathy dyes the Oki's voice and anger flares so hot within Sasuke that he doesn't even think before chomping down on the human's thumb.

The hand goes rigid around him, but the human doesn't make a sound, and angered by the lack of reaction, Sasuke sinks his teeth even deeper into the flesh until he tastes blood.

Sasuke pulls back and spits out the blood, but when he looks up Oki-Itachi is observing him expressionlessly. Of course, he forgot the monster doesn't feel anything. Why did Sasuke ever believe he could? The man murdered his clan, traumatized his brother, and nearly wiped out the Chibi Uchiha, there isn't a drop of humanity inside him! There never was!

A growl builds in the back of his throat because somehow Sasuke will make the human pay. For his clan, the Oki Uchiha, his family and friends, Oki-Itachi will suffer.

He stares defiantly into those black orbs, expecting the Sharingan to appear any minute. Yet the man simply lowers Sasuke onto the table, releases him and steps back to the other half of the room.

"I can tell you want to be alone." Oki-Itachi turns. "Try getting some rest."

He goes to the door and leaves, shutting it behind him, but Sasuke's hands still ball up once he's gone and without thinking he jumps off the table.

The Chibi cuts off a yell when he lands as pain radiates from his middle and his hand slaps over his side. He grits his teeth while he straightens from his crouch and limping, trudges forward.

Sasuke stops when he hits an invisible wall, but slams his hands against the barrier. He hits it again and again until his fists are numb and his arms drop against his will.

Breathless, Sasuke sinks to the floor and grips his hair while he screams.

—

A couple of hours later Oki-Itachi steps into the room and Sasuke stands on the table, ignoring the stabbing pain in his side that prevents him from standing straight.

Oki-Itachi approaches, pulling something out of his pouch, and Sasuke staggers back to the wall while the man sets a bandage strip and alcohol-soaked cotton pad in front of him. "Can you use these to take care of your wounds?"

Sasuke's eyes narrow, and the Oki waits a minute, but when Sasuke makes no move towards the bandage, he sighs. "If that is your choice...”

Oki-Itachi's hand forms a sign and Sasuke is going to move when what feels like iron chains wrap around his body and he drops to his knees—paralysis jutsu!?

"I'm sorry," the Oki reaches down and grabs Sasuke, "But I can't allow your injuries to get infected."

Sasuke bares his teeth while the human sets him in his palm and unwinds the bandages from around him, pulling some of Sasuke's skin painfully since the blood from his wounds glued the bandages to his body. Yet Sasuke refuses to express any emotion beside rage.

Still, the Oki sends him an apologetic look like he actually cares about his pain and Sasuke's fingers twitch. He wants so badly to maim the human, but can only simmer in silence while Oki-Itachi wipes the cotton pad over his cuts and bruises.

Humiliation burns bright in Sasuke as a new bandage is tied over his shoulder and torso until finally the human makes a quick motion with his fingers and the invisible ropes drop from around Sasuke.

"Please try not to aggravate your injur—"

Sasuke grabs the pillow and chucks it at the Oki's head.

The human catches it and Sasuke's chest heaves while Oki-Itachi stares evenly at him before turning and walking out the room.

Sasuke wants to demand he return, but knows better than to talk. Still, his frustration over his entrapment makes him want to destroy something. However, there's no furniture on his side of the room except for the table.

Sasuke scowls and turns to punch the wall.

—

Oki-Itachi returns twice to feed him, but Sasuke lunges at him the first time and knocks the food to the floor the second time. He won't make this easy for the monster, not anymore.

The door opens a third time and Sasuke rises, yet his brow jumps up when Konan enters with a bowl of soup. However, he soon glowers.

Sasuke allows the woman to approach the table, but the second she sets the dish down he runs up and kicks it off.

The bowl is plastic so doesn't break as it clatters onto the floor. Still, seeing the liquid and vegetables spread over the ground makes Sasuke smirk. Though he scowls when the kunoichi bends down to pick up the bowl. However, an idea strikes him, and Sasuke rushes to the table edge and leaps towards her neck.

Konan moves back in a flash and Sasuke hits the floor in an awkward roll. He pushes himself up, searing pain slicing apart his insides while he stands and sprints towards her feet.

The kunoichi steps behind the barrier, yet Sasuke springs up and kicks the wall.

The woman simply watches as he kicks and strikes the barrier over and over, his face growing slick with sweat and heart pounding while his body grows heavy.

Eventually he drops to the ground and his legs crumble beneath him while Sasuke barely has the energy to raise his head and glare at the woman.

She regards him neutrally for a second, then turns and departs from the room. A few minutes later she comes back with a washcloth and walks past him to clean up the mess by the table. Sasuke struggles to his feet and staggers over to her, but by the time he's near her, the kunoichi is rising and swiftly leaves.

Sasuke glares at the closing door while he collapses onto his hands. He knows Oki-Itachi only sent Konan to soften him up, but Sasuke won't be tricked into complacency again.

Because the Akatsuki is keeping him from his brother, and that more than anything guarantees Sasuke will destroy every single one of them no matter what.

—

Itachi sits at the round table in the kitchen when a presence enters the doorway. Without looking up from his grocery list, he asks, "Did he throw his food again?"

Konan, tone neutral, says, "That, as well as attempted to attack me."

Itachi nods. "I'll find another way to feed him."

Konan inclines her head and the Uchiha waits for her footsteps to disappear down the hall before his face tightens. Little Sasuke is even angrier than he expected, his wrath reaching heights he didn't think was possible and his injured body suffering for it. He had hoped Little Sasuke's anger was aimed solely at him, but clearly the min-nin resents all of the Akatsuki for his recapture.

Itachi resists massaging his temples as he stands. He’s out of ideas for now so decides to go out and buy groceries while pondering what might soothe the min-nin's rage.

He doesn't return until after midnight, but to be safe, he cautiously opens his bedroom door.

Little Sasuke glares at him from his slumped position against the wall, and Itachi frowns, though he doesn't look the min-nin's way as he starts getting ready for bed. The min-nin doesn't let up in his glaring for a second, and Itachi knows he’ll need more time to calm down, so turns off the lights and hopes the tiny ninja will get some rest as he settles into his bed.

The next morning Itachi is dismayed to find Little Sasuke awake, dark circles around his eyes and chest rising and falling quickly while he holds his side.

The min-nin's injuries are clearly paining him, so Itachi pulls out a small bottle of numbing gel from his dresser, sets it on the table and leaves to get his breakfast.

He returns twenty minutes later to find the bottle open and on the ground, green gel oozing from it while Little Sasuke sits in the same place, though his breathing seems even more haggard—probably due to his bruised ribs being aggravated. 

Itachi wants to leave the min-nin be, yet he cannot watch the small shinobi suffer, so his Sharingan burns to life and he quickly catches the min-nin in a pleasant genjutsu. The teen’s face goes lax, ebony orbs dulling, and he gently picks Little Sasuke up and unwraps the bandage over his torso.

The skin around his ribs is splotched purple and green, making Itachi frown while he picks up the gel bottle from the ground, squirts a little on his fingers and rubs it over the min-nin's bruises. Then he puts a new bandage over Little Sasuke's torso and lays him back on the table.

For a second he considers going to the kitchen, bringing back some bread, and making the min-nin eat it since he doesn't want Little Sasuke to starve. However, forcing the min-nin to do something he's clearly against unsettles Itachi more than it should, perhaps because the Akatsuki has already taken away the teen’s freedom and Itachi wants to preserve what dignity the min-nin has left.

Itachi ends the genjutsu and the tiny ninja starts, eyes darting around until he sees Itachi. The teen's face hardens and he shoves himself up, but before he can fly at him, his legs tremble and he falls back on his elbows.

Itachi knows Little Sasuke will keep forcing himself up as long he remains here, so he quickly vacates his bedroom.

The Uchiha shuts the door behind him and lingers in the hall, his tear troughs deepening as he frowns at the ground. Itachi doesn't know where to go from here. What little progress he made with the min-nin is clearly gone and neither time nor space seems to be abating Little Sasuke's anger. Yet if the little ninja keeps going like this he will certainly die, and that cannot happen.

"How is it?"

He turns to Tobi who is leaning casually against the wall a few feet away, and scowls. "How do you think?" Itachi raises a brow, anger boiling hotter than he's felt in a long time. "You stole him away from his home, took him from his friends and had Zetsu attack him."

His expression cools. "He won't eat, his injuries won't let him rest, and there is nothing I can do to make it better."

Tobi gazes at him, Sharingan flashing in his eye. "Is that what you think? Truly?"

Itachi reins in his anger, but his voice is tight while he says, "Yes." He starts walking past the man, but stops to whisper. "And since you're probably wondering, there's no sign he has the Mangekyō." His tone sharpens. "All your little tricks have done is ensured he'll kill himself before he ever does what the Akatsuki wants."

Itachi storms ahead without waiting for a response.

—

Oki-Itachi doesn't come back for the rest of the day.

The sky turns dark outside the bedroom window hanging over the table and Sasuke lays on the sill, pressing himself against the glass, though it chills his skin, to give himself the illusion he's outside.

Despite his aching shoulder and bruised body, he is starting to drift off until a whisper makes him raise his head.

Sasuke looks back right as a gloved hand wraps around him and lifts him up. The Chibi gasps in pain at the sudden motion while Tobi glares down at him with a red Sharingan eye.

The Uchiha pales because how did the man get his clan's dōjutsu!? However, he can’t question it when the human is already saying, "You don't know what really happened the night Itachi killed his clan."

The teen's eyes widen as the man says, "But I will tell you the truth," his scarlet gaze bores into Sasuke's, "The truth that Konoha ordered Itachi to kill them."

Sasuke's mouth drops, and he’s certain this is a nightmare until the man's Sharingan swirls and his chakra is forcibly molded while he’s dragged under a genjutsu.

Chapter Text

Memories that aren't his flow into Sasuke's mind and the Chibi gasps from the sudden onslaught.

He sees a giant red fox, far larger than anything he's ever seen, towering over a damaged Konoha with its tails thrashing against the night sky and roar ringing his eardrums.

Sasuke realizes this must be when the Nine-Tails attacked the Village right as Tobi says, "The Uchiha clan's demise began the night of the Kyuubi Attack nearly sixteen years ago."

The Chibi rears back. What? But the clan was only killed eight years ago and it was Itachi who slaughtered them. What did the Nine-Tails have to do with anything?

"Let me explain," Tobi says as if Sasuke has any choice but to listen. "The Kyuubi Attack was the event that spurred distrust between Konoha and the Uchiha clan since the Sharingan is the only dōjutsu capable of controlling the Kyuubi."

Sasuke stiffens, aware this is true, but it would have been ridiculous for the Village to blame the Oki Uchiha on that fact alone. Tobi must be making this up, though Sasuke doesn't understand why he's lying.

"Of course, the Kyuubi rampaging was merely a natural disaster that the Uchiha had no connection to, but suspicion fell on them anyway."

The scene of the Nine-Tails Attack dissolves and is replaced by the image of a tall tower in a forest. Inside the building shinobi wearing white masks gaze through telescopes while a couple of them sit on a bench and watch live video feed of the Uchiha compound.

"The Uchiha were put under the surveillance of ANBU and were forced to relocate to the outskirts of the Village."

Sasuke shakes his head because the Uchiha were one of the most honored clans of Konoha, the Village never would have shown them such disrespect. And though the Uchiha district is quite a walk from the Village's center, that doesn't prove the Village was suspicious of the Oki Uchiha.

"What I'm telling you is the truth," Tobi insists. "I saw with my own eyes how the Village's distrust bred hatred within the Uchiha clan until their suspicions became reality."

The Chibi's eyes widen as Tobi says, "The Uchiha clan plotted a coup d'état to take over the Village."

Nonesense! Sasuke has to swallow the word before he verbally shouts it. Tobi is lying, Sasuke is certain now because the great Oki Uchiha betraying Konoha is even more unbelievable than Konoha thinking the Uchiha had caused the Nine-Tails Attack.

"Uchiha Shisui knew what his clan was planning and decided to stop it. However, the Village killed him before he could put his plan into motion."

Sasuke scowls. How stupid does Tobi think he is? Everyone knows Oki-Itachi killed Shisui's human counterpart, they all saw or heard about Oki-Itachi attacking three Police Force members when the trio attempted to question him about Oki-Shisui's death. His actions were clearly an admission of guilt.

"Danzo, a man on the Konoha council, didn't trust Shisui's plan, so he ambushed him and stole Shisui's right eye."

The Chibi is scoffing when it hits him that Shisui lost his Sharingan in one eye the day his human counterpart perished...his right eye.

Sasuke pauses. It had been strange when that happened because normally one's Oki counterpart dying caused a Chibi to lose most of their chakra, but Shisui had just suddenly lost the Sharingan in his right eye and later lost most of his chakra.

A frown slides onto Sasuke's face. If Oki-Shisui's Sharingan was stolen that would explain why Shisui lost his Sharingan in one eye...and it wouldn't have made sense for Oki-Itachi to steal Shisui's eye when he already had the Sharingan—

No! Sasuke's eyes squeeze shut and he clamps his hands over his ears. The Village couldn't have killed Oki-Shisui. It has to be another one of Tobi's lies!

"Once Shisui's plan failed, Itachi was devastated, for like Shisui, Itachi was against the Uchiha coup."

Sasuke shakes his head. Lies! Every word out of Tobi's mouth is a lie!

"You must think Itachi is too cold-hearted to have cared about the Uchiha coup, but tell me, is Itachi truly as cold-hearted as you think?"

Of course he is! Sasuke glares while a new image unravels around him showing a preteen Oki-Itachi standing in a field of tall grass under the golden twilight. He's smiling while he ruffles his little brother's hair.

Sasuke jerks away from the image because it's not real! Oki-Itachi himself admitted he was only pretending to be a caring older brother when really he's always been a monster!

"Think," Tobi's voice ripples across his head as a genjutsu order, and Sasuke cries out when his own memories are yanked to the forefront of his mind. "How has Itachi treated you since the Akatsuki took you in?"

The Chibi gasps while he recalls Oki-Itachi rewrapping the bandages over his chest, his expression blank yet his eyes focused intently on his injuries.

Sasuke stills, having not noticed how careful the Oki had been while healing him until now.

"Has he hurt you? Taunted you? Been cruel or mean?"

The memory of Oki-Itachi switches to an older one of the Uchiha hooking his fingers around Sasuke's waist and helping him walk to the water bowl, the human's brow furrowing with worry as Sasuke stumbles.

Sasuke's forehead scrunches up because Oki-Itachi's expression looks genuine. But, no. The human was just pretending to be nice to bond with him...wasn't he?

"Itachi loves Konoha." Tobi's voice makes Sasuke jump, the Chibi having forgotten about him. "And he had nothing against his clan, but a civil war started by the likes of the Uchiha would shake the very foundations of Konohagakure and the Land of Fire."

An image of Konoha burning with buildings shuddering and groaning as they fall apart plays around Sasuke. "Once other nations heard about it, they would waste no time in seizing the opportunity to attack. It could even trigger a Fourth Shinobi War."

Sasuke frowns because he's familiar enough with shinobi history to know that is exactly what would happen if a clan as powerful as the Uchiha caused a civil war. But the Oki Uchiha couldn't have planned a coup... They couldn't be traitors...

"Konoha's higher-ups recognized the threat the Uchiha clan posed and though the Third Hokage tried to approach the Uchiha for a compromise, time ran out and the Konoha council decided to give Itachi a mission."

Trepidation sprouts in Sasuke's heart as Tobi says, "The total annihilation of the Uchiha clan."

The Chibi gasps, and though he knows he's in a genjutsu and his actual body is fine, he thinks he's suffocating. It...can't be... The Village couldn't have...

Sasuke's teeth clench and he grips his hair. It's a lie! It has to be a lie!

"It was a mission that forced Itachi to make a terrible choice."

Liar! Sasuke mentally shouts loud as he can, yet Tobi's voice is unaffected while he continues. "The impossible choice of killing one's own brethren. But if he didn't go through with it, the Uchiha clan's coup would involve innocent people who had nothing to do with the ninja world, and countless lives would have been lost."

It can't be true. It can't.

"It was a mission to be the sole perpetrator of his clan's slaughter and become a missing-nin with his reputation in tatters."

Sasuke shakes his head, but his heart is racing because Tobi must be lying and yet—

"What I did in the past...I have no intention of ever carrying out again."

Sasuke remembers how serious Oki-Itachi looked when he said that during their Kiri mission and he can't ignore how much his words coincide with what Tobi is saying. But if Tobi is telling the truth that means Konoha betrayed his clan, the Oki Uchiha betrayed the Village, and Oki-Itachi is...innocent.

The Chibi's breath hitches as Tobi quietly says, "Itachi completely filled his duty...with one exception..." Sasuke starts trembling, knowing what’s coming. "He could not bring himself to kill his younger brother."

Sasuke's eyes grow wide as moons and a cold sweat breaks out across his forehead. The world blinks in and out and he can't tell if it's the genjutsu or his own mind making him see things. No...no... It can't be true...

"Yet Itachi couldn't tell his younger brother the truth. Not only because the truth would have ruined his brother's image of his clan, but it would have likely turned him against Konoha and endangered his life there."

Sasuke slowly sinks to the floor, arms dropping uselessly while he stares at the ground. There's no proof... Tobi is lying.

The teen tries telling himself that, but he remembers Shisui losing the Sharingan in his right eye and how strange that had been. He remembers how before Oki-Shisui’s death, Oki-Itachi and Oki-Shisui seemed as close as brothers. Finally, as much as he's tried to forget, Sasuke remembers the way Oki-Itachi used to smile at his younger brother with eyes full of adoration, and he can't deny that lately Oki-Itachi has been staring him the same way.

"Itachi had no choice but to say the things he did that night. Though even now his only thoughts are of his brother and the Village he hopes his brother will one day return to." Sasuke feels numb while Tobi explains. "Itachi even infiltrated the Akatsuki for the sole purpose of protecting his Village."

Sasuke closes his eyes, but the world just spins faster and faster. Nothing makes sense... He can't even tell what's real anymore!

"Do you understand what all of this means?"

Sasuke's eyes snap open when Tobi's fingers grasp his chin and force him to look up into his lone Sharingan eye. "Itachi killed his friends, his lover, his father and mother, but he could not kill his little brother... Because to Itachi, Sasuke is more precious than the Village...and he feels the same way about you."

The Chibi's eyes burn as Tobi stares him down, saying, "You look and act so much like his little brother, Itachi can't help caring for you like he cares for him."

Sasuke lips tremble while Tobi's eye hardens. "What I've told you is the truth and you'll know it is once you answer this question... If your brother had been in Itachi's position, what would he have done?"

Sasuke's mouth opens and a silent scream erupts from his throat as the Oki lets him go and the floor gives out beneath him.

He falls.

Sasuke falls and falls while memories run through his head at a dizzying speed until Sasuke can't take it anymore and a tidal wave of darkness rushes over him.

"What would he have done?"

The question echoes through Sasuke's mind, but it drifts out of his reach as he slowly cracks open his eyes.

"Sasuke?" Itachi, thirteen-years old and standing by a giant, empty can of soup beside the fridge, regards him worriedly.

Sasuke looks down and sees he's sitting at a low table with a bowl of miso soup in front of him. Immediately he realizes he's eight-years old, the massacre happened a month ago, and this is the last bit of food they have in the house.

The Chibi Uchiha had went through every empty home in the district and gathered up all the nonperishable food they could find. However, even with the sizable stock of canned goods they found, the Chibi Uchiha have had to borrow twice as much food from Oki around the village in order to feed everybody.

Though now that the canned foods have run out, Sasuke realizes they'll have to borrow even more. Something that will be a challenge since most of the clan is still adjusting to their reduced chakra reserves.

A hand slides over Sasuke's forehead and he looks up to find his brother pulling his hand back with a frown. "You don't feel warm." He glances at his soup. "Aren't you hungry?"

Sasuke realizes his brother thinks he's sick and shakes his head. "I am hungry, it's just..." He stares down at the soup and a forlorn look comes upon him while he quietly asks, "Why did he do it?"

Itachi stiffens, clearly realizing he's talking about his Oki counterpart, but soon he lowers himself beside Sasuke and gently says, "Humans are the cruelest creatures on this earth." Sasuke's eyes widen, the boy having never heard a Chibi describe humans so harshly.

"Yet," Itachi sighs, "They are also the kindest."

"Huh?" Sasuke blinks and Itachi smiles slightly before his expression dips into pensiveness.

"Perhaps their evil is kinder than we think."

Sasuke is even more confused, but he doesn't want his brother thinking he's stupid, so he just looks back at his bowl of soup. He stares at the greenish-yellow broth and catches a glimmer of his frowning face in the liquid, but frowning won't change the Uchiha clan's situation so he simply picks up his chopsticks and starts to eat.

Two weeks later Sasuke is starving. All of the Uchiha are starving.

Mother hands him his bento and he tries not to stare at her face, which is noticeably thinner and a shade too pale. The bento feels light in his grasp—too light—but Sasuke knows better than to check how much is in it as he runs out the front door and steps into the dark space under the Oki house's engawa.

He walks to the borderline of the shade and gazes at a bush in the backyard by the wall before checking both ways. Once he's certain Oki-Sasuke isn't around, he throws back his arms and rushes out towards the grass.

Sasuke ducks as he skids under the bush and bends over to grasp his knees while he pants from the run, refusing to think about how he used to be able to run much farther without breaking a sweat.

Once he catches his breath, Sasuke walks a few inches and crouches next to a wooden hatch in the dirt. He opens it and peers down at the metal ladder lining the side of the dark underground tunnel. Sasuke reaches into his satchel, pulls out a metal headlamp, and straps it under his chin. He clicks on the light and then steps onto the ladder, pulling the hatch closed over him while he starts climbing down.

The Chibi's nose wrinkles from the stagnant air, but he's already used to the scent by the time his feet hit the ground. Sasuke stares ahead at the tunnel, and seeing the festive yellow bulbs hanging from wire in the dirt ceiling are on, he turns off his headlamp and puts it back in his bag. Then he hurries through the underground passage, turning into one tunnel after the next until he reaches his destination.

Sasuke stops at the opening of a large cavern where the Chibi Ninja Academy stands. The usual group of latecomers are entering the school and Sasuke runs to join them.

Shikamaru and Choji don't even notice Sasuke tailing them while they walk into their homeroom right as the bell rings, the Uchiha slipping in to find most of the seats taken except for one by Naruto. Sasuke doesn't hesitate to sit by the blond and the Namikaze looks startled, but he ignores him as he starts setting his school books on the table. The Uchiha doesn't care who he sits by, just as long as he doesn't have to talk to those girls.

Sasuke glowers, recalling the group of girls who had the audacity to set baked goods on his table a week after the massacre, and loudly proclaim if he ever needed extra food they'd gladly bake for him. Sasuke's face had turned scarlet as a couple of students whispered behind him about how the rumors of the Oki Uchiha being dead were true and the Chibi Uchiha must be starving and poor after spending all their money on food.

Anger burning through his veins, Sasuke had swiped the food off the table and crushed the pastries beneath his feet, roaring, "Do not insult my clan! An Uchiha doesn't need handouts!"

The girls had burst into tears and Sasuke had expected his teacher to reprimand him, but Iruka-sensei merely looked at him a little sadly before grabbing a broom and dustpan to clean up the mess himself.

Sasuke had been coming later to school ever since in order to avoid having the girls try to give him charity food. After all, his father had told him not to speak of clan affairs to non-Uchiha, and if asked about it, he was to tell others the Chibi Uchiha were fine.

"Do not bring shame to the crest on your back," Father had said sternly across the breakfast table, which held merely a cup of coffee for him and tea for the rest of the family.

Sasuke promised he wouldn't bring shame on the clan and his father's face had lightened somewhat, making Sasuke's heart flutter because normally only Itachi made Father look so pleased.

Sasuke's stomach growls, drawing him out of the memory, and he quickly glances at Naruto, worried the boy will make fun of him. However, Naruto is oddly focused on his schoolbook while the teacher describes different shuriken throwing styles.

Sasuke calms down, glad no one noticed while he mentally tells himself to hold on just a couple of hours until first lunch.

Somehow, that's exactly what he does. Though the second the bell rings, Sasuke is grabbing his satchel off the ground and sprinting out the door.

Sasuke runs past the cafeteria and throws open the supply closet in the hallway, going in before anyone can spot him and leaving it open a crack so he can see. Then he sits on an overturned bucket and pulls his bento out of his satchel, setting it on his lap.

The Chibi opens the container to find a hand-sized ball of rice with strips of seaweed and overcooked salmon mixed inside it. No doubt his mother borrowed the food from Oki-Sasuke's packed lunch, and though his Oki counterpart's cooking leaves much to be desired, Sasuke quickly bites into the rice and swallows without chewing. He is biting into the rice ball again when the closet door swings open.

Ino and Sakura freeze, wide-eyed, while Sasuke gazes back at them with equal shock.

For a second, none of them seem to know how to react, but then Sakura stutters. "We just need a washcloth 'cause Ino spilled her juice..." She trails off, eyes falling on Sasuke's bento, which is a fourth the size of a normal bento. 

Sasuke swallows the rice in his mouth and stands to leave when Ino, her blue eyes full of pity, says, "Sasuke-kun, you can have some of our lunch if you're starving—"

"Ino!" Sakura shouts admonishingly, and Sasuke's teeth clench as the pink-haired girl turns to apologize.

"She didn't mean—"

Sasuke shoves past both of them and runs through the hallway, ignoring the calls that chase after him while he flees into the boy's bathroom and throws himself into a stall. He drops to the tiled floor, breathing raggedly as his hands curl into fists while humiliation darkens his cheeks.

The Uchiha stays in the stall until the bell rings, but time hasn't soothed away his rage so he returns to class angry, and when he notices Ino and Sakura staring at him, his anger burns even hotter.

Sasuke doesn't even feel his stomach growling because he's so mad, and maybe that's why when Iruka leads them all outside for sparring practice and quietly asks Sasuke if he wants to skip it, Sasuke just glares at him.

His teacher takes the hint and eventually calls his name and Naruto's. Sasuke gets into position across from the blond and flexes his hands, eager to unleash his pent up anger, but he stops as an uncomfortable look flashes upon Naruto's face.

The Namikaze is always eager to fight him, boasting every day how he's better than Sasuke, and the Uchiha doesn't understand why Naruto looks so reluctant until the other boy bites his lip and turns to Iruka. "I quit."

Sasuke's mouth drops because the blond is surrendering without a fight? The Uchiha is questioning if he's under a genjutsu when he notices Naruto's eyes raking over his body, clear pity in his gaze.

Anger bursts in Sasuke's heart as he realizes the blond is refusing to fight because he thinks Sasuke can't handle it, he thinks he's too weak!

Enraged, Sasuke rushes at Naruto and brings his foot down on the startled blond's head.

Quickly Naruto throws himself back onto his hands and pushes off them to land on his feet, saying, "H-hey! I don't want to fight—"

"But I do!" Sasuke's hands fly through six signs and his throat burns with chakra as he spews out a fireball.

Naruto gawks and doesn’t move, but Iruka grabs the back of his orange sweatshirt and yanks him away from the fireball, which crashes into the cavern wall.

Some of the other kids scream as the cavern shakes and dirt falls from the ceiling onto their heads while Iruka shouts, "Sasuke, stop!"

The Uchiha ignores him and though his lungs are on fire, he balls his hand into a fist and runs at Naruto. Yet he only makes it halfway to the blond before he trips over his own feet and he's already unconscious as he starts to fall.

Sasuke wakes up on a bed in the nurse's office. His vision swims when he sits up and the medic-nin on duty swivels towards him with a scowl, quickly breaking into a rant about the dangers of chakra exhaustion. The Uchiha is too tired and hungry to care about what she's saying so mostly tunes her out until the woman says, "Your guardian has been informed of your injury and will be here to pick you up soon."

Sasuke's heart wrenches and his nails dig into the bed because if the school contacted his father then he knows Sasuke fainted and that he showed himself to be weak. The eight-year old is already imagining his father's disappointed glare and his head is bowing in shame as someone knocks on the office door.

The nurse turns to the doorway. "Oh, you're here, Uchiha-san. Thank you for coming on such short notice."

"It was no problem."

Sasuke's head whips up at hearing that voice and he sees Itachi standing in the doorway with his ANBU uniform on. He waves him forward. "Come on, Sasuke."

The younger Uchiha is in shock for a second, but soon he slides off the bed, wobbling on his first step, though he quickly regains his balance and goes to his brother's side.

"Thank you for taking care of him," Itachi nods to the nurse before grabbing Sasuke's hand and walking out into the hall.

Sasuke peeks up at his brother's face as they exit the school, wondering if Itachi is upset like Father would be. Yet his brother's expression is as inscrutable as ever so Sasuke looks away to the tunnel ahead.

The child blinks at seeing they're going to the right tunnel instead of the left one, and he's going to tell his brother they're going the wrong way, but Itachi notices his confusion and says, "I'm making a stop before we go home."

Sasuke makes an understanding sound, yet the noise is overshadowed by his stomach growling. His face heats up and he clutches his cramping abdomen, begging it to quiet.

"Don't worry," Itachi smiles gently at him, "I'm picking up some food."

Sasuke blinks. "But I thought the clan spent all our money on seeds."

The young Uchiha distinctly remembers a couple of adults in his clan complaining about how they'll be dead before the plant seeds sprout anything edible.

Itachi shakes his head. "I'm not buying food." He stops beside the ladder that leads to the Nara district and pulls out a flashlight from his pouch, turning it on and sticking it in his vest pocket. "Wait here and don't move, I'll be back in ten minutes."

Sasuke is confused, but trusts his brother, so does what he tells him to. While he waits, three Nara chunin pass him and shoot him almost concerned looks. However, Sasuke pretends not to notice until they disappear up the ladder.

His brother comes back down a few minutes later, a bag of steamed vegetables and packed meat in his hand. Sasuke's jaw drops while he salivates from the spicy aroma coming from the bag.

"Eat up," Itachi says, handing him a box of stir fried vegetables and chicken.

Immediately Sasuke tears off the top and barely remembers to use the chopsticks inside the box as he dives into the meal. His brother hands him more food while they walk down the tunnel and it's not till they run out that Sasuke realizes his brother didn't eat anything.

Guilt stabs into Sasuke's heart, but when he tries to apologize, Itachi shakes his head and says, "I already ate some food pills during my mission."

Sasuke is reassured, and nearly jumps for joy when Itachi says he'll get him food like this again the next time he picks him up.

After that, he and Itachi follow the same routine whenever Itachi picks him up from school—which has been happening more often than usual lately. His brother always stops by a clan district, leaves Sasuke in the tunnel, and comes back minutes later with food.

At first, Sasuke is simply grateful for the tasty meals because the only time his stomach isn't cramped with hunger these days is when Itachi picks him up. However, after the sixth time they do this, Sasuke grows curious about where exactly Itachi is getting the food since he says he isn't buying it.

Sasuke tries tamping down his curiosity when his brother climbs up the ladder to the Hyuga district, but two minutes later he ends up pulling out his headlamp, turning on the light and hurrying up the ladder himself.

He's only planning to take a quick peek when he pushes up the wooden hatch and sticks out his head. Yet Sasuke spots his brother in the shade of a small tree talking to the Hyuga clan head and becomes concerned when he notices the man's deep frown. Worried the Hyuga is upset with Itachi, Sasuke is debating going to his brother right as Itachi drops to his knees.

Sasuke's eyes grow big and round while Itachi lowers his head to the dirt and the Hyuga's face tightens. Sasuke gapes as the man walks off to a hole in a nearby wooden fence and Itachi doesn't move until he returns with a basket of food.

Itachi rises and the Hyuga hands him the basket, nodding solemnly to his brother before turning to disappear into the grass.

Sasuke closes the hatch over himself and hurries down the ladder, breathing unevenly. The boy rips off his headlamp, flicking off the light and stuffing it into his satchel right as the hatch opens and Itachi starts climbing down.

His brother touches the floor and turns with a smile. "Look, Sasuke, this dish has tomatoes—"

"You've been begging!?" Sasuke snarls, his chest heaving, and Itachi's smile drops while his face goes blank.

"Sasuke," Itachi sighs, expression pained. "You followed me."

"Why would you do that!?" Sasuke screams, eyes burning and hands fisted.

Itachi's lips press together and he bends down to stare deep into Sasuke's eyes, calmly saying, "Because my otouto was starving to death."

Sasuke throws his arms up violently. "So what!? We're all starving!" His voice echoes through the tunnel as tears sting his eyes because how dare he, how dare Nii-san bring himself so low! Uchiha aren't supposed to do that!

Itachi reaches for him and Sasuke is expecting his head to be poked, but his brother’s arm curls around the back of his neck and he yanks him into a fierce hug.

Stunned, all the anger drains out of Sasuke as Itachi asks, "Don't you get it, Sasuke?" His voice is fragile and shaky, and when he pulls back, there are tears in his eyes while he says, "I'd do anything for you. Anything."

Sasuke is mute with shock as Itachi pulls him into an even fiercer hug. "Anything," Itachi whispers as his arms tremble around him and slowly Sasuke's fists drop and tears start rolling down his face.

"Nii-san...”

"Anything," Itachi repeats and Sasuke never forgets how desperate and scared he sounds as he says it.

Even eight years later and miles away from home, Itachi's words reverberate across Sasuke’s mind like ripples in a lake.

"I'd do anything..."

"Anything."

Sasuke gradually awakens on something soft and warm and blinks up at a familiar ceiling. He doesn't move for a few minutes while he waits for his head to stop pounding. Though once it does, Sasuke pushes himself up on the pillow and freezes as he finds Oki-Itachi's head cushioned on his arms upon the table beside him.

The Chibi feels strangely empty while he stares at the slumbering Oki, uncertain what he's supposed to be feeling. Yet Sasuke's pondering is interrupted as a piece of cloth slides down his face and he instinctively catches it.

The cloth is damp and Sasuke's forehead is wet, which means he must have had a fever. The teen glances at the Oki, knowing he was the one who put the wet cloth on his head and had probably been worried sick when he found Sasuke feverish.

Sasuke forces himself up and walks off the pillow towards the giant. He stops by the Oki's slumbering face, taking in the strain around his eyes and slight frown slanting his lips. Even in his sleep Oki-Itachi is stressed and who wouldn't be after having to murder his clan to save his Village? To constantly have to pretend to be evil when his heart is pure?

The Chibi stumbles over to Oki-Itachi's arm and pulls himself on top of the limb, wrapping his arms as far as he can around his wrist.

"I'm sorry, Oki-Nii-san," Sasuke whispers as exhaustion drags his eyelids close and he drifts to sleep with Itachi's words lulling him.

I'd do anything for you.

Anything.

Chapter Text

"Little…Sasuke?"

The Chibi cracks open his eyes and sees Oki-Itachi's face hovering over him, the man blinking in surprise. Sasuke stares back groggily, wondering why the human is so close when memories of last night slam into his brain.

"Itachi killed his friends, his lover, his father and mother, but he could not kill his little brother..."

Sasuke gasps, flinging himself up. Yet this ruins his balance and he slides off the human's wrist.

A hand catches him before he can hit the table, and Sasuke winces as he lands on his chest, pinpricks of pain flaring over his torso.

"Are you alright?"

Sasuke gingerly pushes himself into a sitting position, mindful of his injuries, and shakes his head.

Oki-Itachi's eyes widen, and Sasuke is confused until he realizes he shook his head…he answered the Oki.

Terror drenches his heart, but soon Sasuke calms, expression becoming thoughtful. Oki-Itachi already figured out he understands human language, so answering him doesn't really reveal anything new, does it? And as long as he doesn't verbally talk, he's not actually communicating with the human, is he?

Sasuke is still debating it when Oki-Itachi gets over his shock and his face turns neutral. "Okay, you're not alright. What is wrong—"

Sasuke's stomach growls like a starved dog, and heat spreads across his cheeks while he looks aside.

The human makes an understanding sound. "Of course, you must be starving." He reaches for Sasuke and the Chibi tenses instinctively, but his hand settles beside him, palm up and fingers curled.

Oki-Itachi must see his confusion because he explains, "I don't want to aggravate your wounds, so you can sit down and hold on to me."

Sasuke blinks, surprised by the man's consideration. Yet soon his head bows in shame because how did he ever think Oki-Itachi was a monster?

The human waits for Sasuke to get seated on his hand and grasp his index finger before standing from his chair and exiting the room.

Oki-Itachi takes his time going down the staircase, and though Sasuke knows it's because he's trying not to jostle him, his stomach cramps the longer he has to wait for food. Fortunately the second they leave the steps, the aroma of heat and spices waft towards them and Sasuke's mouth waters as they enter the kitchen.

The cooking area is three times the size of the kitchen in the Akatsuki's former hideout and Sasuke's gaze rakes over the stainless steel stoves and the gleaming white countertops under glossy cabinets.

"I made inarizushi," Oki-Itachi says while he goes to the fridge and pulls it open. "But it will take a minute to reheat so you can have this in the meantime." He bends down and pulls a plump tomato off the fridge shelf.

Sasuke's eyes light up and he tightens his hold on the Oki's finger to stop himself from jumping at the juicy fruit. The man lowers him to the countertop and grabs a small plate from the cabinet, placing the tomato on it. Sasuke tenses when he takes a knife out a drawer, the blade likening a sword from his perspective, but his fear is replaced with anticipation as the Oki deftly slices the tomato into eight pieces.

Sasuke only waits for the knife to move away before diving at a slice taller than him and stuffing it into his mouth, ignoring Oki-Itachi's amused hum while he puts the knife in the sink.

The Chibi gulps the slice and wastes no time grabbing a second one, the gnawing feeling in his stomach disappearing. Soon the tomato is gone and Sasuke is content, but knows he can eat more. After all, Chibi teens eat up to three times their weight.

A bento box is set in front of him, two steaming pouches of inarizushi inside. Sasuke reaches into the box and is pulling over a pouch when someone shouts.

"The min-nin!"

Sasuke looks up to see Deidara in the kitchen doorway, wide-eyed and pointing at him. "Grab it! Before it escapes!"

Oki-Itachi's face turns cold, and Sasuke is disturbed by how quickly his expression changes from fondness to ice while he says, "Clearly the min-nin is too injured to escape."

Deidara blinks, surprised, but his eyes narrow on Sasuke's bandaged chest and he seems to understand. "I guess you're right." He smirks. "And I bet it's too scared to try to run when I'm around, hn." His smile grows sly.

Sasuke glares and rips a piece off the inarizushi, but just before it touches his lips, he cranes back his hand and chucks it at Deidara's head. The blond yelps, scrambling back into the hall, and the piece hits his shoulder. The tofu slides down, leaving an oily smear on his cloak sleeve, and Deidara stares shock-still at it for a moment before his features twist into a glower.

"You!" Deidara snarls, marching over, and Sasuke tears another piece of tofu to throw when a voice calls.

"Deidara-senpai!"

The Chibi freezes and Itachi turns sharply to him. Sasuke knows he should relax or there will be questions, but his gaze is stuck on the masked man behind Deidara, Tobi's lone eye radiating childish glee.

And hiding its true nature as a Sharingan.

Sasuke slowly looks down at the tofu in his hand and forces himself to eat it, though he's no longer hungry. Calm down, Oki-Itachi won't let him hurt you.

He's proven correct when the Uchiha lays his hand beside him in invitation and Sasuke tries not to look desperate as he climbs into his palm and sits down, clutching the Oki's fingers as he lifts him up.

"—you believe it had the nerve!?" Deidara rants in Tobi's face, the masked man leaning back while the blond waves wildly at his stained cloak.

Oki-Itachi grabs the food container, tucks it in his cloak pocket, and goes to the refridgerator. He grabs a bottle of lemondae and shuts the door.

"Hey!" Deidara whirls towards them as Oki-Itachi walks past.

The human Uchiha stops and coolly regards the blond, but Deidara is eyeing Sasuke. "You should keep that thing on a leash."

Sasuke turns to hide his glower, but Oki-Itachi says, "Or perhaps you should stop antagonizing him." His tone implies it's not a suggestion so much as a warning, and Deidara reels back while Tobi stares between them like he's confused.

Oki-Itachi doesn't wait for a response and resumes walking, ignoring Deidara's scoff that follows them. "They're like twins, un! Both of them acting like they're better than me..."

"Uhh, maybe it's an Uchiha thing?" Tobi says like he isn't an Uchiha himself, but he must be to create such powerful genjutsu with his Sharingan. Though he wonders how the man escaped the massacre.

Tobi isn't a name he recognizes for any Oki or Chibi, but the masked man is a missing-nin. So perhaps he's a rogue Uchiha who left Konoha before Sasuke was born. However, Tobi said he witnessed the events leading to the massacre himself, so had the missing-nin returned frequently to Konoha? For what reason?

Oki-Itachi enters his room, shuts the door and sets him on the table beside the bottle of juice. Sasuke flinches as his chakra is locked up tight and Oki-Itachi frowns, glancing at the seal on the floor. However, the human soon looks back at Sasuke and dread stings the Chibi when he sees the contemplation on his face. He's going to ask about Sasuke's reaction to Tobi, has probably already figured out Sasuke's new temperament towards him is related to his new fear of the masked man.

"Little Sasuke." The Chibi quails, realizing the Oki is preparing to question him and he's not ready to see the human's reaction. Oki-Itachi clearly wanted to keep the truth a secret or he would have told Sasuke the minute he realized the Chibi could understand human language. The man will likely be upset Sasuke knows the truth, perhaps even angry.

"Did Tobi say something—" Oki-Itachi coughs, loud and abrupt, and Sasuke jumps when something wet hits his face, blinding him.

The teen quickly wipes his eyes, but stops at seeing blood coating his hand.

Oki-Itachi looks startled, red droplets on his lips while he reaches for him. "Little Sa—" Another cough bursts from his throat, the force making him stumble back.

The human throws a hand over his mouth as he hacks violently, but blood seeps between his fingers while he falls into a harsh coughing fit.

Sasuke is still staring at the blood on his hand, Oki-Itachi's blood streaked over half his face, when he recalls the human coughing like this weeks ago.

"I'm sick."

The human stumbles over to the dresser as Sasuke pales.

"It's terminal."

Oki-Itachi drags a pill bottle out of a drawer while Sasuke crumbles to his knees, horror washing over him. He'd thought the human was lying, pretending to have a deadly illness for sympathy, but if Oki-Itachi is actually a good person that means it's true. Oki-Itachi is dying. The human is suffering from a disease that's killing him, and considering the frequency and severity of his coughing fits, he doesn't have long.

The Oki swallows three large pills, coughs and blood still sputtering out his mouth while he holds the dresser edge in a white-knuckled grip. He's shaking and wheezing, sweat coating his face, and Sasuke shivers because Oki-Nii-san is dying.

Eventually his coughing ebbs, and Oki-Itachi releases the dresser and opens a drawer, pulling out a towel. He quickly wipes the blood from his lips and hand before grabbing a rag and walking to Sasuke.

"Here, you can clean your—"

The Oki freezes, eyes widening. "Little Sasuke?" He slowly approaches, the image of him blurring, and that's when the Chibi realizes he's crying.

Oki-Itachi's face pinches worriedly and he reaches with both hands to scoop Sasuke off the desk, cradling him. "There, there, it's okay." He brings Sasuke to his chest, who quickly presses his blood-stained face into his cloak and grips the cloth tightly. "I'm alright."

Sasuke shakes his head because he's not. Oki-Itachi is dying and…and Oki-Sasuke has no idea, does he?

The Chibi's tears dry up in an instant as he realizes Oki-Sasuke thinks his brother is a cold-blooded murderer and is planning to kill him—

"I'll set you free before I have my final battle with Sasuke."

And Oki-Itachi is planning to let his little brother kill him, isn't he?

Sasuke is too overwhelmed to react as Oki-Itachi picks up the rag, gently tugs him around, and wipes the blood off his face. He cleans his hand too, then lowers Sasuke on his pillow upon the table.

The human's brows slant down worriedly. "Are you okay?"

Sasuke wonders if that's Oki-Itachi's favorite question to ask him because he certainly asks it a lot. However, Sasuke has been a magnet for trouble lately, so maybe it's warranted.

The Chibi snickers a little hysterically, but quickly cuts off his laughter when Oki-Itachi frowns. The human looks like he wants to ask him something, but instead of voicing his question, he says, "I believe it's about time you got some fresh air." He pulls out the box of inarizushi and sets it beside him. "Finish eating while I change and then we can go."

The human opens the lemonade bottle and pours some of it in Sasuke's bowl beside the Chibi-sized cup he got him. Sasuke is pretty sure he knocked away all the objects Oki-Itachi gave him in his earlier tantrum, but apparently Oki-Itachi picked them up and cleaned them.

Moved by Oki-Itachi's caring for him even when Sasuke had been a brat, the Chibi forces himself to finish up the tofu pouches and to drink a few cups of juice while Oki-Itachi burns his bloody cloak—hiding evidence he's sick?—and grabs another one from his dresser.

Oki-Itachi comes over once he's changed and lowers his closed hand by the table. "I fixed this for you since your old shirt was lost." He opens his fist to reveal Itachi's black cloak.

Sasuke runs up and snatches it eagerly, inspecting the bottom trim and finding the tear has been seamlessly repaired. He brings the cloth to his nose and inhales, smiling at his brother's familiar scent because it's the closest thing he has to Itachi right now.

He beams gratefully at the human before tugging on the cloak and scampering onto the Oki's palm. Sasuke sits, holding onto Oki-Itachi's curled fingers as his hand rises, but he blinks when he's carried to a large pocket over the human's chest.

"I thought you might be more comfortable in here than in the jar."

Sasuke glances from the pocket to Oki-Itachi and stands. He reaches for the pocket's edge, noticing it has a silver zipper, and drags himself inside.

The pocket flap closes over Sasuke's head and everything goes dark as his feet land on a foamy square at the bottom of the pocket. However, the pouch is as tall as Sasuke, so he simply raises his hand to push the flap open and look outside.

"What do you think?"

Sasuke lowers his arms and stretches them out to find his fingers don't touch the sides, but checking the length, he finds he only has a little room in front of and behind him. However, the pocket's snugness will keep him from being jostled too much, so Sasuke looks up at Oki-Itachi and gives him a thumbs up.

"I'm glad you like it," Oki-Itachi says. "I only ask you keep the pocket closed when we're around civilians."

Sasuke nods, understanding the sight of him would cause a scene considering Chibi are a myth to most humans. Therefore, Sasuke lets the flap fall over his head and zips the pocket close halfway as Oki-Itachi starts walking, the movement reminding him of a boat bobbing in the sea.

The Chibi watches through the small opening in the pocket while Oki-Itachi leaves the tower, brow furrowing as he stares back at the towering building they'd been in. There's something awfully familiar about it, but he can't figure out why until he spots a pigeon taking off from its nest near the top of the tower.

Sasuke squints and spots a small figure on the bird's back. Yahiko rides the pigeon, soaring higher and higher until Sasuke loses sight of him and can only stare at the sky wide-eyed. The Akatsuki's tower is the same place where the Chibi-Akatsuki live in the vents, and with this revelation, Sasuke's life has become all the more complicated.

—

The crowds thin out as Oki-Itachi heads to the village's edge where a giant lake—the one his raft had carried him to—spreads out like an ocean. Oki-Itachi walks across the water and Sasuke thinks he's leaving Amegakure when he sees a little island in the middle of the lake, shrouded by the fog.

The human stops on the sandy ground and sits on a wooden crate under a tall, bushy tree in the middle of the island. He reaches up to offer his hand and Sasuke unzips the pocket, climbs out, and slides down the human's arm much to the Oki's shock. He touches down on the inside of his elbow and hops onto his lap, grinning up at the man.

Oki-Itachi smiles faintly. "You're being lively. Does this mean your injuries are healing well?"

Sasuke nods because he's just a little tender and bruised around his chest, but he feels way better than he has for days. Maybe it's because he finally ate or perhaps it's because he knows the truth about Oki-Itachi. That now the tiny part of his heart that couldn't believe his brother's counterpart—Oki-Nii-san—was a monster has finally found the validation it sought all these years.

Oki-Itachi's smile drops. "You've been acting different around me."

Sasuke winces and looks away, but Oki-Itachi gently taps two fingers on his head and runs them down his back. "I thought maybe Tobi threatened you into obedience, but your emotions are too real."

The Chibi tentatively peeks up, but Oki-Itachi is staring across the lake. "Tobi told you what I did that night, didn't he?"

He looks down, expressionless, and Sasuke bites his lips, takes a deep breath, and nods.

Oki-Itachi's face doesn't change, but his eyes close. "Well." Sasuke wrings his hands, nervous as he imagines the man becoming angry. "It wasn't like I was trying to hide it from you."

Sasuke gapes while Oki-Itachi's eyes open, expression becoming a little sad. "I simply saw no reason to explain it to you. I also doubted you would believe me."

The Chibi's face falls because he probably wouldn't have believed him.

"Regardless, now that you know, I do not expect nor ask you to forgive me." Oki-Itachi's face hardens. "It was my choice, even if certain circumstances pushed me toward my decision."

Sasuke goes to the Oki's thumb, making the human glance down as he wraps his arms around the finger in a hug. His raven eyes implore Oki-Nii-san's, begging him to understand.

Gradually the human's face eases, though he doesn't smile. "Okay, if that's how you feel." He sobers. "However, now that you trust me, we should talk about how you're going to escape the Akatsuki."

Sasuke lets go of his thumb in shock while the Oki continues. "Since my last attempt to release you failed, we won't be able to try something like that again, Tobi is already suspicious of me." The Chibi bobs his head to show his agreement. "So instead we'll have to play the long game."

Oki-Itachi gazes sternly at him. "You'll need to act like you'll obey the Akatsuki. This means sometimes you may have to do what they say and I will have to pretend as well. However, once you've gained the Akatsuki's trust, I'm sure an opportunity to escape will arise."

The human's eyes turns flinty. "If it comes to it, I will simply take you back to Konoha before my battle with Sasuke."

The Chibi frowns, recognizing the implication Oki-Itachi isn't planning to survive the fight so won't have to worry about getting on the Akatsuki's bad side.

"Also, I do have one stipulation." Oki-Itachi stares down at him and Sasuke cowls under his cold expression. "You must never hurt yourself from now on," his voice is quiet yet sharp, "This means no starving yourself, and no aggravating your injuries or pushing yourself to the point of becoming sick. Do you understand?"

Sasuke's eyes fall because he remembers the human threatening him to take care of himself and thinking he was being cruel, but now it's so obvious Oki-Itachi is just worried about him, that hurting himself hurts the Oki too.

The teen quickly nods. He won't ever scare Oki-Nii-san again.

The human must see his earnestness because his face softens. "Good. Now let's..." He stops, Sharingan blooming in his eyes, and Sasuke startles as a voice speaks.

"You're getting along better with the min-nin."

Sasuke whips around to see Tobi standing on the lake ahead and his body goes rigid. He wants to run and hide, but Tobi's dark eye is on him and he's too scared to even breathe. He's certain now the man's playful side is just an act while this sinister side is his true self, which is why it's a mercy when Oki-Itachi's hand moves to cup around his body and partially hide him from the masked man.

"Yes," Oki-Itachi's icy tone makes Sasuke flinch though it's not directed him. "I'm assuming you incited this change."

Instead of responding, Tobi steps onto the island and Sasuke internally shivers as the man says, "Deidara was right, the min-nin needs a leash if it's going to keep trying to escape." He holds up his gloved hand, revealing a tiny white plant spore on his fingertip.

"Zetsu's spore?" Oki-Itachi whispers, eyes narrowing. "That's how you found him after he escaped, Zetsu planted his spore on him while he and his teammates were fighting him."

Sasuke's brow furrows. Who is Zetsu and when did he and his team fight him? He thinks for a second before his face lights up in remembrance. That plantlike Akatsuki member, he must be Zetsu! And now it makes sense why that white mass suddenly appeared on his back by the river after he fought the man.

And could it have been Zetsu's spore who pretended to be Itachi and attacked him? Is that why that fake looked like the white half of that plant guy after Sasuke killed him? All this time those were Zetsu's spores tracking him and trying to stop him from escaping.

"Exactly," Tobi's deep voice slices through his thoughts as he offers the spore to Itachi, "It will restrain the min-nin if it attempts to escape or break away from its mission, and monitor its movements since you insist on letting it roam about with its chakra."

His gaze narrows on Sasuke and the Chibi's face twitches despite him trying to look apathetic. "If it tries to use any jutsu on the spore, it will automatically activate."

Oki-Itachi's expression is neutral as he pinches the spore off Tobi's gloved finger, and though Sasuke knows he's only doing what he must to keep his cover, he tenses when the hand around him moves to catch his arm in a firm hold. Sasuke stays still as Oki-Itachi lowers the spore to his bicep, but he jumps when the spore pounces at his throat.

It spreads around his neck like a clay collar and Sasuke reaches up, pulling at it. Yet the spore tightens, cutting off his oxygen and making him choke.

"Little Sasuke?" Oki-Itachi asks in concern as Sasuke's eyes bug out.

"Sasuke?" the human asks louder, hands hovering fretfully around him when the collar loosens. Sasuke coughs, panting and rubbing his throat though he avoids touching the spore in case that will trigger it strangling him again.

Once Oki-Itachi is certain he can breathe, he raises his Sharingan eyes to glare at Tobi. "Was that necessary?" he asks coldly.

Tobi shrugs one shoulder. "I'd say it was. In a desperate attempt to escape, the min-nin could cut off the arm the spore's attached to, but I doubt it will risk beheading itself."

Oki-Itachi scowls, appearing less than pleased for a second before his face goes blank. "I see." He plucks Sasuke by the back of his shirt and gently drops him in his zipper pocket. The Chibi for once doesn't mind the manhandling as he closes the flap, hiding himself from Tobi though the collar remains a strange, uncomfortable weight around his neck.

"Meet Pain in the meeting room once you finish walking the min-nin. He has a mission for you and Kisame."

Tobi's Mangekyō Sharingan spins and the air spirals into a vortex that he swiftly disappears in. Sasuke opens the pocket flap once he's gone and Oki-Itachi's hand comes beside him so he climbs out to stand on his palm.

"I'm sorry about the spore."

Oki-Itachi looks guilty and Sasuke swiftly sliced his arms down in an 'X' shape while shaking his head, emphasizing his disagreement. The human hadn't done anything wrong, it was Tobi who forced the spore on him.

"It will complicate things, and yes, the spore can hear us as it's basically a Zetsu clone." Sasuke's brow rises in alarm. "However, the spore won't be able to tell anybody what we say without activating, and it won't activate unless you deviate from a mission or attempt to escape."

Oki-Itachi's gaze fills with determination. "Regardless, it won't stop me from getting you back to Konoha." His face eases into a warm smile that resembles his brother's own smile so much it hurts. "So don't give up, Little Sasuke."

The Chibi reaches for the human's fingers and gives them a reassuring squeeze because he believes Oki-Itachi. Sasuke will get home and see his family and friends again. Because they're in this together now, and his brother has never let him down when it really counts.

—

Itachi stands before Pain and feels the min-nin cringe in his zipper pocket as Pain's Rinnegan eyes shift to him. "I've heard the min-nin is more amenable today, is this true?"

The Uchiha inclines his head. "Yes, he has started accepting food again and hasn't lashed out at all today except when Deidara bothered him. He also hasn't tried to escape though I've allowed him access to his chakra."

Pain seems to consider the information before asking, "Will it be fully healed in the time it would take you to reach Kirigakure?"

Kisame's eyes widen and Itachi is inwardly surprised and wary. "Yes, he should be."

Pain extends his hand and Itachi hesitates for less than a second before reaching into his pocket and pulling the min-nin out. Little Sasuke's heart thumps fast under his fingers and Itachi wants dearly to reassure him while he hands him to Pain.

The Akatsuki leader thumbs the collar-shaped spore around the min-nin's neck, making the little ninja flinch while Pain looks between him and Kisame. "If either of you see the min-nin without this Zetsu spore during your mission, assume it's trying to escape and immediately capture it."

"And what exactly is our mission?" Kisame asks, crossing his arms while Little Sasuke glances at him.

Pain's Rinnegan seems to gleam in the sunlight pouring through the window as he replies, "You're going to Kirigakure and smuggling the min-nin into the village." He glances at the min-min. "Then it will place a genjutsu over the Mizukage, which will put her under the Akatsuki's control."

Itachi barely keeps his expression neutral, though he'd realized where Pain was heading, and even Kisame seems shocked before a sly smile spreads across his face. "It sounds like we're going to have to take some heads," he says with a vicious eagerness.

"Do what you must," Pain stares down Little Sasuke who has gone stark white, "But ensure the min-nin succeeds. Otherwise, we may have to replace it."

Itachi's heart stops, fear flashing on his face, but he sweeps it away before anyone notices. He accepts Little Sasuke back from Pain, secretly stroking his back in reassurance while returning him to his pocket.

"We won't fail, Pain-sama." Itachi bows his head, and he means it.

He won't allow Little Sasuke to be replaced—killed—even if it means allowing this dreadful mission to succeed. Itachi will do what he must to protect his brother's counterpart because nothing is more important than Sasuke.

Nothing.

Chapter Text

Sasuke stands on Oki-Itachi's dresser, scanning the ceiling for a vent while the human rifles through his drawers and gathers supplies for the mission.

The Chibi frowns, not seeing any pipes or vents in the ceiling. He hadn't found any on the floor either, and would keep looking, but they have to leave in a few minutes. So he's going to need help if he wants to find the Chibi Akatsuki in time.

Sasuke stares at Oki-Itachi until the human notices and looks up, a roll of bandages in his hand as he straightens. "What is it?" he asks.

The teen bites his lip, suddenly realizing he isn't sure how to ask the Oki for help. However, he slowly gets an idea and points to himself with both hands. Then he runs over to the wall, raises a hand over his eyes and moves his head left to right, up and down.

Oki-Itachi's brow furrows, and for a long moment, he says nothing, but eventually he asks, "You're looking for something in the wall?"

That's not exactly what he meant, but it's on the right track so Sasuke nods.

Oki-Itachi scans over the wall and approaches it, yet stops when Sasuke shakes his head and makes a sweeping gesture around the room. The human picks up his meaning faster. "What you're looking for isn't in this room...but what are you searching for?"

Sasuke uses his finger to draw a rectangle in the air and makes four vertical lines in the shape.

Oki-Itachi's face scrunches in thought, and tentatively he guesses, "A square in the wall, it can't be the window so…a vent?"

Sasuke nods and Oki-Itachi's eyes narrow. "You want something that's inside the vents?"

He again nods and the human says, "There's a vent in the bathroom." His lips angle down. "I can take you there, but you won't have much time to search."

Sasuke inclines his head in acceptance and climbs onto Oki-Itachi's offered hand, sitting down. The human strides out the door and in seconds enters the bathroom.

The Chibi immediately sees the vent above the sink as Oki-Itachi reaches up to pull off its grate and lifts Sasuke to it. Yet he doesn't get off his palm, but stares at the human, raises his hand and rubs his thumb over his fingers.

Oki-Itachi lowers him to his face and sets the grate on the sink counter. "You need money?"

Sasuke nods, and though the human seems confused, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a few paper bills with coins on top. He holds the cash by Sasuke who ignores the bills and grabs the four 500 coins and single 50 coin. Oki coins are worth six times more to Chibi since a single coin is large enough to be melted down into multiple Chibi coins. So this is over 12,000 in Chibi currency, and Sasuke only hopes that will be enough to get the Chibi Akatsuki's interest while he takes off his headband and uses it to tie the money around his back.

Oki-Itachi is eyeing him strangely, but just lifts him to the vent and says, "Hurry."

Sasuke nods and immediately sprints down the metal tunnel, the darkness growing rapidly as he speeds and coins clinking along his back. He stops when the vent angles up, bending his knees and launching himself to the left wall before leaping to the right one, doing this over and over until he touches down on a horizontal vent.

The Chibi starts running again and nearly hits a corner in the dim lighting, but turns rapidly to avoid it. Yet he soon slides to a stop when he sees a junction of two vents that creates three paths. There isn't enough time to explore them all, so he'll have to leave his message here.

Sasuke calls lightning to his hand, savoring the feeling of having access to his chakra as he shapes the electricity into a blade no longer than his forearm. He turns to the nearest wall and slices the lightning spear into the metal surface, making it screech while he writes out a request for help to the Chibi Akatsuki.

In three minutes the letter is done, and he releases the lightning, unties the coins from his back and stacks them in front of his message. However, Sasuke jumps when an human voice echoes through the vent, only for him to realize it's Oki-Itachi calling.

Sasuke ties on his headband and dashes back the way he came. He again almost hits a corner in his rush, but manages to reach the vertical shaft unscathed and jumps down it to land in a roll.

The teen swiftly stands and runs towards the faint light ahead, ignoring the twinge of pain over his bruised chest as he pants.

Soon the light grows and Sasuke skids to a stop at the entrance, Oki-Itachi's hand already waiting for him. He climbs onto the human's palm and sits, Oki-Itachi lowering him while replacing the vent's grating.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Oki-Itachi asks a bit curiously as he opens the bathroom door and walks out.

Sasuke makes the so-so gesture and Oki-Itachi seems to want to ask more, but they both know it might be impossible for Sasuke to explain with mere hand gestures. Therefore, the human simply tucks him in his front pocket and Sasuke grasps the pocket's lining to keep his balance as they meet Kisame by the tower entrance.

The sharkman smirks in greeting. "And to think I thought you weren't capable of being late."

Oki-Itachi's face has already chilled into a cold mask and his voice is flat as he replies, "I had to change the min-nin's bandages."

The sharkman glances at Sasuke and his smirk broadens to reveal razor-sharp teeth. "And how does it like its new collar?" he taunts.

Sasuke's blank face twitches, but he doesn't snarl like he wants to, and Kisame's smirk drops. "Ah," the man sighs, "I forgot the min-nin can't understand us." His eyes narrow and suddenly he leans into Sasuke's face. "Or can it?"

Sasuke blinks slowly at him, then grabs the pocket flap, pulls it over his head and zips the pouch close.

Kisame barks a laugh. "Ha, it's got guts! Kind of reminds me of you, Itachi-san."

Oki-Itachi hums and starts walking while Kisame's heavier footsteps follow. "It's a shame your counterpart's dead." Sasuke's heart stutters and he grasps the fabric over his chest. "I bet he would have been fun to have around too."

"Yes," Oki-Itachi replies. "But I wonder if you really killed him."

Sasuke's eyes widen.

"You know, I've wondered the same." Kisame's tone grows thoughtful. "If that guy was half as strong as you, it wouldn't surprise me if he faked his death." His cloak rustles like he's shrugging. "If he did, I hope he comes back, it would be interesting to fight him."

Sasuke doesn't listen to Oki-Itachi's response, hand dropping from his chest at Oki-Itachi's subtle reassurance. Itachi is in Konoha, safe and sound, and though he's not sure why his brother hasn't come back for him, he'll just ask Itachi about it once he gets back home.

—

Oki-Itachi lets Sasuke out once they're alone since the Zetsu spore ensures he can't run. Sasuke has to admit it's nice being able to stretch his legs and feel chakra running freely throughout his body even if he can't use any jutsu without permission.

The teen leaps from tree to tree, wind running through his hair and rippling over his cloak while the two Akatsuki members walk below him on the marshy mountain path.

Over the whistling wind, Sasuke hears Kisame saying, "We're less than a day from Kirigakure, so we'll start running into patrols soon. How do you want to handle them?"

"We'll have the min-nin scout ahead and take out the nearest patrols."

Sasuke hesitates on a branch, surprised by his mention, but quickly resumes leaping through the trees. Oki-Itachi must be planning something.

"I'll send him on a crow to help him avoid any Kiri-min-nin that might also be patrolling."

The Uchiha stops walking and beckons Sasuke who quickly turns and jumps down onto Oki-Itachi's shoulder.

"If you're telling it the plan now, let it know Kiri-nin like to hide in bodies of water, especially puddles that look like they came from the rain. Also, some say Kiri-min-nin are capable of breathing underwater and turning into fishes."

Oki-Itachi stares at Kisame and the sharkman shrugs. "Don't look at me, I didn't write the legends, but according to them our min-nin live in a village on the ocean floor."

Sasuke cocks his head. The man might be on to something considering his Chibi counterpart rode a shark underwater and both him and Kisame have amphibious features. Also, he's heard that Chibi Kiri-nin are absurdly fast swimmers, so maybe they really can turn into fish and live in an underwater village.

"I'll let him know," Oki-Itachi assures while summoning his Sharingan and turning to Sasuke.

The Chibi doesn't fight the genjutsu that washes over him and merely blinks when he finds himself standing on Oki-Itachi's palm, held up in front of his face. He is surprised too see they're in a meadow with the sun shining on them from a clear blue sky, but it's a refreshing sight after spending hours under gray clouds.

"I know how to sabotage the mission." Sasuke's head snaps to Oki-Itachi who looks serious. "You can warn the Kiri-min-nin about the Akatsuki's plan, assuming you share the same form of communication…"

Sasuke's lips slant down. He could try warning the Chibi Kiri-nin, but Kirigakure and Konoha aren't exactly allies, especially since their Oki have stolen eyes from Uchiha and Hyuga. However, Chibi Kiri-nin aren't known to steal dōjutsu, though that might simply be because Chibi from different villages don't interact with each other as much as their Oki counterparts—the distance between the Elemental Nations being much farther for Chibi.

Sasuke nods, but his expression must convey his uncertainty because Oki-Itachi frowns. "Or if you can't speak to them, you could simply make your presence known and put them on alert so they'll guard the human Mizukage more closely."

That plan is less ideal since Sasuke will likely have to harm some Chibi Kiri-nin to put them on alert and that could sour things between Chibi Konoha and Kiri. However, once he's escaped the Akatsuki, maybe he can explain why he had to attacked them.

"I can stall Kisame for around three hours at a local teahouse while you set the plan in motion, but be careful not to alert the Zetsu spore about what you're up to, okay?"

Sasuke nods, and Oki-Itachi smiles slightly before the sunlight dims and the peaceful meadow is torn away until they’re back in the marshy woods.

"He knows what to do," Oki-Itachi tells Kisame while Sasuke slides off his shoulder and catches his zipper pocket's rim, dragging himself into it. "We'll send him out once we reach the teahouse and wait for him there."

Kisame frowns, but soon perks up. "Well, I'll still get to pick off any patrol he misses."

The man sounds almost comforted by the possibility and Sasuke wonders just how much Kirigakure's moniker—the Bloody Mist—is warranted.

Sasuke picks up one of the roasted almonds from the packet beside him and bites it in half. He only hopes Kiri Chibi aren't as bloodthirsty.

—

Rain starts pouring ten minutes after Oki-Itachi sends him out on the crow. The bird soon lands in a tree, unable to fly with its wings weighed down by water. Sasuke dismounts and begins walking away, but the bird caws at him, and he winces, glaring back at it.

"I know it's dangerous," he growls. "But they're going to reach Kirigakure in hours and I have to do what Oki-Itachi asked as soon as possible." He's purposely vague so the Zetsu spore doesn't learn about the plan.

Yet the crow angles its head, black eye asking, "Seriously?"

Sasuke scoffs, turning his back to it. "Just track me down once the rain stops."

The bird caws again in contention, ringing Sasuke's ears, but the Chibi activates his Sharingan and leaps to the branch ahead. He lands in a slide and his eyes widen as he shoots chakra to his feet, stopping himself right at the branch’s end.

Staring down at the forest floor far, far below, Sasuke realizes maybe it's not a good idea to search on foot. Maybe it would be better to have the Kiri-nin come to him.

Sasuke smirks and draws lightning to his hand, shaping it into a long Chidori Spear. He holds the blade against a large tree on his right, pulls back his arm and chops through its trunk. He cuts another tall tree while that one falls and the two trees groan in a cacophony of cracking wood.

Branches snap as they topple onto other trees and a deafening rumble fills the air when they all crash to the ground. Sasuke disperses his lightning to cover his ears while the branch he's on quakes. Yes, this will definitely get the attention of every Chibi in a half mile radius.

However, Sasuke is shocked by a strong gust blowing past as an Oki lands next to him. Three other ninja touch down on nearby treetops and Sasuke realizes he caught attention from the wrong Kiri-nin. Yet putting the humans on alert won't help him since Kisame and Oki-Itachi will just take out anyone that interferes with the mission.

Therefore, Sasuke jumps onto the Oki's knee, and the human's head jerks down. Though the man can't even gasp before Sasuke knocks him out with a genjutsu and he slumps back against the tree trunk.

"Hey!" A kunoichi calls in alarm, the other ninja also looking to their slumbering comrade.

Sasuke quickly stares into their eyes and the humans' faces go lax until they sag against the trees, sound asleep.

The Chibi deactivates his Sharingan, brow wrinkling in thought. Alright, he needs to try something that won't be noticed by Oki...

Sasuke glances around the forest floor, but fog shrouds most things from sight… Wait, fog?

He looks to the leaves extending from the branch he's on and hurriedly begins plucking the driest leaves he can find, tearing off twigs too. Once he has a leaf pile bigger than himself, Sasuke stabs the twigs through all the leaves and bundles the sticks under his arms. Then he jumps down branch to branch until he hits the forest floor.

Sasuke glances around the foggy area in search of dry land and spots some under a leafy sapling. He sprints through the rain, covering the twigs from the downpour the best he can while his hair gets soaked, and even the spikes on the back of his head droop as he stops under the sapling.

Sasuke ignores the chill settling in his bones and piles the twigs and leaves on top of each. When he's satisfied by the arrangement, he backs up and forms six hand seals.

"Katon: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Chakra expands in his throat and he blows a stream of fire over the pile. He waits to see the leaves smoking and embers sparking over the twigs before ending the jutsu. He watches another moment to make sure the fire will survive despite the damp conditions.

It does, and gray smoke starts drifting up from the bonfire, though it blends in with the fog the higher it rises. The smell of burning wood also shouldn't travel far thanks to the rain, which means no Oki will notice his bonfire. However, Chibi typically travel near the ground to avoid detection from humans and it won't be long till someone notices a fire in the middle of a rainstorm.

Sasuke rushes back into the downpour, gathering any dry leaves, twigs and branches he finds. Unfortunately, the fire has gone out by the time he returns, but he simply lights the pile again and adds what he found to feed the flames.

He keeps doing this for what feels like an hour when finally he senses eyes on him. Soaking wet, shivering, and tired from gathering things to feed the fire, Sasuke barely leaps over the shuriken in time and lands on top of the sapling.

He makes sure the team of four Chibi Kiri-nin are staring at him, then as they're preparing to throw more shuriken, his Sharingan awakens.

The Kiri-nin cry out in shock when Sasuke creates a genjutsu where they're bound by steel ropes, and he doesn't give them a chance to recover as he says, "I've come to warn you about an impending attack on the Oki Mizukage from the Akatsuki."

"Akatsuki?" A man with blue hair styled up questions, appearing unperturbed despite his trapped state.

"Yes, the Oki Akatsuki captured me over a month ago and want to use me to put the Oki Mizukage under their control with my Sharingan." The Kiri-nin look surprised, though one glares at Sasuke and the blue-haired man's face hardens. "If I'm successful they'll have me do the same to the other four Kage so they can more easily capture the jinchūriki in their villages."

"What do they want the jinchūriki for?" the blue-haired man asks and Sasuke shakes his head.

"I don't know." He reaches for the Zetsu spore on his neck. "All I know is this thing they forced on me is monitoring what I do, and if I don't follow their orders I'll be killed."

Sasuke frowns. "But I don't want to help the Akatsuki because whatever they want all the jinchūriki for cannot be good for any of us."

"Why should we believe you?" demands a glowering blonde.

Sasuke shrugs. "I don't see how I would benefit from lying to you like this, but believe what you want." Some of the kunoichi's animosity fades into shock at his bland tone. "I'm going to be smuggled into Kiri regardless, all I ask is that you put up enough resistance that I won't be able to get anywhere near the Mizukage."

The blonde frowns and the other shinobi have blank or thoughtful expressions. However, the blue-haired man says, "This wouldn't be the first time the Oki Mizukage was controlled by outside forces."

Everyone looks to him and Sasuke's eyes widen. "What do you mean?"

The blue-haired man glares at the floor. "The Oki Fourth Mizukage was influenced by someone's genjutsu for years, but no one ever found out who was controlling him. Could it have been the Oki Akatsuki?" he asks more to himself.

Sasuke's eyes twitch, strain from his Sharingan stinging him. "I don't know, but if someone did it before, it could happen again unless you stop me or the two Oki smuggling me into your village."

The blue-haired man goes to speak when the genjutsu cracks and Sasuke's eyes burn while the illusion breaks apart.

Sasuke falls to his knees on the sapling, hissing in pain as his Sharingan fades. The Kiri-nin below grasp their heads and shake off the remnants of the genjutsu while Sasuke slowly picks himself up.

The Uchiha staggers a little before leaping over to the nearest tree, not wanting to stick around in case the foreign shinobi attack. He lands on the branch right as a crow glides down beside him.

The avian stares expectantly at him and Sasuke ignores the shouts of the Chibi Kiri-nin below while he hops onto the bird's back and it takes off under the cover of leafy trees, avoiding most of the rain.

Itachi's crow still has to stop a few times and flap its wings to dry, which makes Sasuke concerned the Kiri shinobi will catch up to them. Yet the other Chibi never come and they eventually make it back to the teahouse unbothered.

Oki-Itachi notices them on the windowsill immediately from his seat at a booth and comes over. "How did it go?" he asks, eyes raking over Sasuke as he climbs off the crow.

Sasuke thinks about it and soon smirks. The Kiri-nin won't ignore his warning, he's sure of it.

Oki-Itachi doesn't smile, gaze on Sasuke’s clothes. "You're shivering." He pulls out a washcloth and starts to pat Sasuke dry, and the teen doesn't complain because he's just too tired to.

Once the human’s satisfied he's no longer at risk of hyperthermia, he tucks Sasuke in his zipper pocket and closes it halfway.

The Chibi lays out on the foam and only has the will to grab the soft cloth folded beside him and throw it over himself before he falls asleep assured his mission will fail.

—

Two patrol teams intercept them on the valley path, and Kisame takes them down with an efficient brutality while Oki-Itachi watches impassively. Sasuke winces as the last ninja drops at Kisame's feet, arm bent at a strange angle. He isn't sure if the shinobi is dead or unconscious, but there's nothing Sasuke can do for him while Oki-Itachi stands from the rock he'd been sitting on and approaches Kisame.

"All that's left are the gate guards," Kisame sighs, strapping the sword Sasuke is pretty sure is growling to his back. "But we have to be stealthy from here on out, so I'll leave them to you. The min-min will have forty minutes tops to accomplish its mission before someone notices the missing patrols."

Sasuke ducks to hide his grin in the darkness of his pocket. Forty minutes? The Kiri-nin will definitely be able to keep him occupied long enough that he won't have time to place the Mizukage under a genjutsu.

Kisame picks his straw hat off the ground and sets it on his head as the Akatsuki duo head down the road between two great mountains. Sasuke can't see much through the fog, so he's startled when Kirigakure's gate suddenly appears from the mist a few feet ahead.

Oki-Itachi waits to be right beside the two Kiri-nin who are conversing before lifting the brim of his hat and meeting their eyes with his Sharingan. The two guards drop and Oki-Itachi breezes into the village while Kisame stays behind to stall any Kiri-nin who notice their unconscious comrades.

Sasuke stares in awe at the stone and brick towers and circular architecture of the buildings that he glimpses behind the fog. He's never seen a place like this, and though Kirigakure had been described to him in the Academy, the actual village in person is far more impressive than any description.

Oki-Itachi leaps onto a rooftop, crouching as he summons a crow that appears on his extended arm. This is his cue, so Sasuke gets out the pocket and uses chakra to run up to the Oki's shoulder.

He jumps onto the crow's back and Oki-Itachi regards him. "The Mizukage's tower is straight ahead. Once you land on the roof, find a way inside her office. She should be alone for the next two hours, but you have less than forty minutes to place the genjutsu on her."

Oki-Itachi's eyes shift to the crow. "Take him."

The crow leaps into the air and Sasuke braces himself while the wind whips past him. In under a minute the edge of a stone building peeks through the mist and the bird perches on it. Sasuke almost expects to be attacked as he hops off the crow. However, no kunai shoot out the fog, so the Chibi figures the Kiri-nin are waiting for him inside.

He heads to the gray vent sticking out the roof, cutting a hole in its grate with his lightning blade. Stepping in the vent purposely louder than he should, Sasuke holds Chidori ahead of him and its light reveals the vent slopes down like a hill. He quickly ends his lightning, goes to the start of the incline and sits, pushing himself to slide into the vent.

He speeds down, body barely touching the metal as he travels faster and faster while the vent curves and bobs. The sound of rushing water emerges below him, and Sasuke frowns. Are there pipes beneath this vent?

The water gets louder, and Sasuke is about to try slowing his descent when his feet hit something cold and he gasps right before he plunges into a foot of water. He flounders and swims up, blinking water from his eyes though it does him no good in the pitch-black darkness. Is this an attack? Are the Kiri-nin here?

His Sharingan bleeds to life, yet he sees no chakra around to indicate other shinobi as the water's current drags him through the vent. Though the river slows in seconds and Sauske's feet brush against the ground until he's standing more than treading water.

The Uchiha shakes himself off, throughly confused because that dunk wasn't much of an attack—was it just a broken pipe?

Blue chakra flickers like embers ahead and Sasuke’s dismay vanishes as he grins. The Kiri-nin!

Sasuke runs, Chidori sparking brilliantly in his hand because the fight must look real. Yet he stops immediately upon spotting the source of chakra.

A Kiri-nin lies on the ground, skin red and raw from burns and clothes in pieces.

Sasuke steps back in shock and quickly looks to the other flickers of chakra, only to find more Kiri-nin laid out or slumped against the wall, burns and cuts across their bodies. Who…who did this to them? And why?

He doesn't have enough medical knowledge or tools to help the shinobi—and he doubts many of them are alive—so Sasuke runs, heart pounding and sweat beading on his forehead when he finds more bodies strewn across the vent.

Sasuke's mind races because this isn't what was supposed to happen. So why did it happen? Who attacked these shinobi?

He can't imagine some rogue ninja happened to attack the Kiri-nin at the same time Sasuke was supposed to. Also, he's noticed all the shinobi's wounds are either from fire or lightning jutsu, so their attacker was likely either a Kumo-nin or…a Konoha-nin…

"You came back."

Sasuke starts, skidding to a halt at hearing the voice. He stares wide-eyed at the shadowy figure that pushes off the wall and slowly walks into the ring of light cast by his Chidori.

The Chibi Mizukage glares coolly at him, two deep gouges on her stomach and clothes shredded and bloody around them. However, she isn't bleeding as the skin is burned over her wounds—did she burn herself?

The woman's right foot is twisted, but she limps forward, green eyes locked on Sasuke. "So…you're here to finish me off?"

Sasuke's brow wrinkles under his headband. "What are you talking about?" He lowers his Chidori to show he means no harm. "Who attacked all of you?"

The Chibi Mizukage smiles, but it's as cold as the glint in her eyes. "To think you even fooled Ao, convincing him you were trying to warn us…when really you just wanted to lower our guard."

Sasuke suddenly understands what she's saying and his face lights with horror. "You think I did this!?" He shakes his head. "I got here a couple minutes ago, and I wouldn't have—"

"You might have gotten the Oki Mizukage," the woman talks like she didn't hear him, and maybe she didn’t considering she's standing on what looks like determination alone. "Oki Kirigakure may be lost as well, but you won't touch Chibi Kirigakure."

She smirks. "It's a shame, you are rather handsome…"

"Wait—"

Her cheeks bulge and lava shoots from her mouth, striking the floor by Sasuke's feet and surging towards him. He jumps to the ceiling, standing upside, but the Mizukage aims the lava up and the heat rushes over Sasuke's hair while he flips to the side, extending Chidori into a blade.

He slices an X through the vent's left side and kicks his feet into the metal, knocking out a hole that he flies through.

Scalding heat brushes over his back as Sasuke falls, his left hand hitting a pipe and making him yelp while he drops into the darkness. He reaches out blindly, but fails to catch anything so falls and falls until he crashes onto a metal floor.

He chokes from the pain, body tumbling and falling once more for a second before he strikes another metal floor.

Sasuke groans, pushing himself up and blinking at the light pouring in through the metal grate under him. He stops short seeing the Oki Mizukage sitting at her desk, hands frozen over her computer keyboard. Why is she so still?

Sasuke quickly cuts a hole in the vent and jumps through it to the Oki's desk, his bruised knees crying while he straightens from his crouch. The woman remains unmoving, and the Uchiha tentatively comes in front of her, peeking at her face.

The Sharingan glows red in her eyes and Sasuke inhales sharply. No, no, she can't—who's doing this!?

Sasuke whirls around and freezes.

A boy who looks identical to him stands on the desk by the computer screen, his Sharingan spinning back and forth.

Sasuke grabs his head, clutching his hair. This can't be real… What is this!?

“Stop!” Sasuke snarls and rushes at the imposter, raising Chidori.

White explodes around his neck and Sasuke’s body locks in place under the white mass stretching over him, Chidori fizzling to nothing under the spore.

"No!" Sasuke cries, suddenly understanding what's happened.

That imposter is another Zetsu spore who must have been hiding on him and jumped to one of those Kiri-nin when Sasuke warned them about the Akatsuki. It copied Sasuke's appearance and abilities like it did with Itachi, and now it's using his Sharingan to brainwash the Mizukage!

Sasuke's jaw goes slack. This was never about him completing the mission. Tobi just used him to carry the Zetsu spore to the Mizukage so it could complete the mission…and this is the same thing that will happen to the Kazekage, Raikage, Tsuchikage, and Hokage… Everyone will fall under the Akatsuki's control so easily and Sasuke is going to help them do it. He already has.

Sasuke's face twists with despair and he closes his eyes. He's doomed his Village, his friends, family, Nii-san…the entire shinobi world. Sasuke was a fool and now the Akatsuki has everything they need to accomplish their goal.

—

"It wasn't your fault," Oki-Itachi repeats for the hundredth time when they reach his floor in the Akatsuki tower, unzipping the pocket Sasuke has been holed away in for days.

"I should have realized what Tobi was planning—"

Sasuke shoves open the pocket flap and climbs out.

"Little Sasuke?"

The Chibi leaps to the wall, using chakra to run across it and heading straight to the bathroom. Oki-Itachi follows, but says nothing as Sasuke slices the grate off the vent and it clatters onto the tiled floor while Sasuke runs into the shaft.

Sasuke races down the path he took what feels like weeks ago, the world a blur of motion until he comes to a stop in front of his letter.

The coins sit before his message untouched, and Sasuke falls to his knees, tears welling in his eyes. He beats a trembling fist on the ground, but it doesn't change anything.

Sasuke falls back against the wall, wraps his arms around his knees and whispers. "Somebody help me…”

Nobody answers because Sasuke is alone, the shinobi world is doomed, and the Akatsuki have already won.

Chapter Text

Itachi splashes water on his face over the bathroom sink and wipes it dry with the towel on the counter. He turns the faucet off and stares at himself in the mirror, wondering if the red clouds on his cloak are duller. However, his eyes flick up to the vent and his tear troughs stretch with a frown. It's been twelve minutes since Little Sasuke disappeared in the shaft and he hasn't returned.

The Uchiha wants to call for him, but that might distract the tiny shinobi from his search. Of course, that’s assuming Itachi didn’t misunderstand him and Little Sasuke isn’t actually doing something else.

It could be that the min-nin is investigating the interior of the building for a stealthy escape route. Or maybe he's practicing a religious custom. He did take Itachi's coins and leave them in the vent, perhaps as an offering to a deity. Considering the Uchiha clan had a shrine for their own patron deity, it would make sense if Uchiha min-nin hold similar beliefs.

Itachi doesn't want to interrupt Little Sasuke if he's doing something like praying, especially if this is bringing the distraught ninja some comfort. Regardless, it looks like Little Sasuke might stay in the vent for a while, so Itachi sits down on the edge of the bathtub and considers what to do once his brother's counterpart comes out. Giving him a warm meal and hot bath would be a good start, but it will take more to lift Little Sasuke's spirits… Should Itachi give him a gift? To show he cares?

The soft tap of sandals on metal makes Itachi look up to see Little Sasuke emerging from the vent. His face is blurry at this distance, but as Itachi gets up and nears him, the little ninja's despondent expression and red-rimmed eyes become clear.

Itachi's heart sinks while he offers Little Sasuke his hand. The min-nin clambers on his palm and sits, grip loose on Itachi's curled fingers like he doesn't care if he falls. So Itachi walks carefully to the stairs and down them, not wanting to return the min-nin to his pocket in case the little shinobi is tempted to lock himself in there again.

Thankfully the kitchen is dark and vacant, probably because it's so early. He flicks on the light and goes to the refrigerator, deciding soup will be a nice warm dish for Little Sasuke.

"Would you like some oden?" he asks.

The min-min shrugs without looking up.

Itachi's lips draw to a line and he sets the min-nin on the counter, tentatively saying, "There's a vent next to the oven." The teen's head jerks up. "You can keep searching for whatever you're looking for while I cook..."

Little Sasuke seems to consider it and soon nods. Itachi pulls out all the coins he has in his pocket and offers it to the min-nin who looks surprised, yet quickly takes them all. Though he interrupts the teen when he reaches for his headband.

"Here," Itachi puts down the small tan pouch he carries his emergency pills in beside Little Sasuke. "You can use this to carry them."

The min-nin nods, puts the coins in the pouch and adjusts the string around its opening until he can wear it like a backpack. Itachi reaches to take off the vent covering and puts the grate in a drawer while Little Sasuke runs up the wall and over the cabinets before swiftly disappearing into the vent.

Itachi listens to his footsteps fade, grateful whatever the min-nin is doing in the vents at least pulls the teen away from his despondent thoughts. Though he's curious about what exactly Little Sasuke is searching for, and what his coins are being used for if they're not an offering. It's too bad the teen can't tell him, and also confusing. According to Kisame's books, a min-nin's tongue functions the same as a human's, and clearly Little Sasuke understands human speech. So why can't any min-nin talk?

The Uchiha sighs, though part of him wonders if it's for the best he doesn't hear Sasuke's voice coming from the min-nin. It's hard enough seeing Sasuke's face every day, especially now that the teen no longer hates him. The adoration in his raven eyes aches Itachi down to his bones because sometimes he forgets it's not actually Sasuke staring at him, only to remember his little brother will never look at him with love again.

Itachi shoves away such thoughts and returns to the fridge, pulling out eggs, kombu, daikon radish, leek, tofu, konnyaku and fishcakes he already made—they're out of octopus so he'll have to make do without it. He turns to the cabinet by the oven and performs swift hand signs to undo the seal Konan placed on it since not everyone in the Akatsuki can be trusted with her cooking ingredients. It unlocks and he grabs dashi stock and soy sauce from the shelf inside, setting them on the counter.

Soon he loses himself in cooking, forgetting about his worry for Little Sasuke and the ever-present ache in his chest when he breathes while he chops up vegetables and peels the boiled eggs.

Though once he puts all the ingredients together and the oden stews on the stove, his gaze drifts to the vent. His brow rises, seeing Little Sasuke sitting on the vent ledge, and his lips purse when he notices the teen staring at the blue flame under the pot of oden.

Itachi recognizes that look on the min-nin's face. He's grown familiar with that expression on his own face ever since he stained his hands with his parents' blood and his precious little brother chased him down with nothing but hate in his newly-awakened Sharingan.

Itachi turns the stove off and Little Sasuke blinks, hopefully forgetting about that dreadful idea in his head as the fire disappears. "The oden is ready." He reaches into the cupboard and pulls out a small bowl, setting it by the stove and grabbing the ladle in the pot to pour some oden into it. "I know you haven't had much of an appetite lately, but you'll feel better if you eat."

The min-nin's lips dip down like he doesn't believe him, yet he obediently sits in Itachi's hand while he takes out Little Sasuke's plastic silverware from his zipper pocket. He goes out to the dining room and sets the bowl, utensils, and the min-nin on a round table before going to get himself some oden.

When he returns, Little Sasuke is sitting on the rim of his bowl and tearing off pieces of fishcake, but his gaze is distant and chewing mechanical. Itachi sits in the chair next to him and focuses on his own meal for a few minutes.

Eventually though he puts down his chopsticks and says, "I got you something."

The min-nin raises his head from scooping broth into his mini cup and blinks.

"I'll show it to you after we finish eating."

The min-nin nods and returns to sipping the broth. Itachi inwardly sighs, having hoped to generate some enthusiasm. Still, he finishes his oden without saying more and thanks Little Sasuke when he sees his bowl is mostly empty.

He lets the min-nin climb in his zipper pocket while he takes their dirty dishes to the sink and washes them. After he sets them in the drying rack and covers the vent, Itachi heads straight up to his room and stops at the door.

"If you don't want it, just let me know, I won't be upset," he assures the min-nin.

Little Sasuke cocks his head, brow furrowing as Itachi opens his door and goes to the bookshelf against the wall in front of his bed. He moves aside some books on the top shelf to grab the scroll hidden behind them. Little Sasuke's eyes widen while he strides to the middle of the floor and performs twenty signs before slamming his palm on the chakra seal.

It shatters, ink burning away as he says, "Your chakra doesn't need to be restrained anymore."

Itachi doesn't notice Little Sasuke's jaw dropping while he goes to the min-nin’s table and unfurls the scroll on his pillow. He's going to speak, but the teen crawls out his pocket and hops onto the scroll, eyes roving over the paper before darting to him, gaze asking, "Is this real?"

The Uchiha smiles and gently taps two fingers on the min-nin's head. "Yes," he takes his fingers back, "It's a hawk summoning contract...for you."

Little Sasuke's eyes brighten in wonder, and it warms him to see his gift having the positive effect he hoped for. "Do you want it?"

The min-nin nods enthusiastically and raises his hand to bite his finger. Itachi realizes he doesn't have to explain what to do when the teen crouches to sign his name on the scroll. Yet his lips part at the small Kanji that forms under Little Sasuke's finger and he reads it a second time to be sure.

"Your name," he gasps, and the min-nin looks up from stamping his fingerprints on the contract. "Your name is...Sasuke?"

The min-nin freezes, eyes huge. Shame and fear creep on his expression and Itachi doesn't understand why as he says, "I didn't know you had the same name, I just called you Little Sasuke because you look like him..."

The tiny ninja bites his lips and Itachi considers the nervousness he's radiating. "Am I not supposed to know your name?"

Little Sasuke hesitates, but nods, which tells Itachi he's missing something yet the min-nin doesn't know how to convey what's wrong. So Itachi moves on and bows his head. "My apologizes then, I shouldn't have read it." He frowns. "Would you prefer I stop calling you Little Sasuke since it's similiar—"

The min-nin shakes his head and Itachi guesses the shinobi likes being called something close to his name, even if it had been an accidentally correct naming. Does this mean all min-nin have the same name as their human counterparts? And if so, why?

Itachi shakes his head. It wouldn't be appropriate to ask such questions when min-nin names are apparently not supposed to be known by humans—perhaps they're sacred to min-nin?

"Okay, Little Sasuke." The teen smiles slightly, looking relieved Itachi is still using his nickname. "Do you know the hand signs to summon?" The ninja nods. "Would you like to try it now?"

Little Sasuke flexes his hand, fingertips lightly stained with his blood as he weaves the boar, dog, bird, monkey, and ram seals. He jumps to the table and goes to lower his hand, but looks back at him. Itachi smiles encouragingly and the teen grins back before slamming his hand on the desk.

Smoke bursts around the min-nin and a shrill cry resounds from inside it as the gray cloud disperses. Soon Itachi sees a hazel brown hawk on the desk gleaming in the rays of the rising sun. The min-min is staring up at the summon and the hawk eyes him back, unspoken words passing between them.

The hawk bows its head and Little Sasuke steps up to it, hand landing on its chest and stroking its feathers. Slowly a grin tilts up the teen's lips and Itachi decides now to ask, "Would you like to fly it?"

The min-nin practically jumps in excitement as he nods and Itachi walks over to his dresser, opening the top drawer and pulling out his counterpart's saddle. He walks back and offers it to Little Sasuke whose face lights up in recognition. The teen quickly drags the saddle out of his hand and the hawk ducks, allowing Little Sasuke to push the saddle on its back and climb on to strap it around its neck.

The bird shrugs its wings in preparation while Little Sasuke sits down on the saddle and grabs its reins. Itachi unlocks the window and pushes it open, the hawk hopping over to the ledge.

Little Sasuke wiggles in excitement, face aglow in the morning light while he looks back to beam at Itachi. Then he turns ahead, exhales all his nervousness and gives the reins a light tug.

The hawk leaps into the air, falling for a second before its wings spread open wide.

The bird shoots up, soaring off into the pink and violet sky and flying higher and higher until Itachi can't tell it apart from the clouds. The Uchiha starts to turn away when the wind billows in and he picks up the faint sound of elated laughter. His eyes widen because he's never heard Little Sasuke laugh, yet soon his lips hitch up in a smile.

Neither he nor the min-nin are free from the Akatsuki and Tobi's plans, but right now the world consists only of them, the hawk, and the open sky. Even if it's for just a moment, they've escaped reality, and in this world without the disease eating away his lungs and that terrible night, Itachi is more content than he's been in years.

—

The afternoon sun wakes Itachi hours later, the Uchiha blinking groggily when something moves in front of his face. Itachi has grabbed the kunai taped under his bed frame when he realizes it's Little Sasuke lying fast asleep on his pillow.

He immediately slips the kunai back into place and slowly pushes himself up on the bed, careful not to awaken the min-nin buried under his soft cloth so only his spiky hair sticks out. Was the sun too bright on Little Sasuke's table? Is that why he moved to Itachi's pillow?

Itachi soundlessly slides his feet to the floor and stands. He stifles the cough caught in his chest while he grabs his cloak off the bed headboard and puts it on. He's brushing his hair in his dresser mirror when a familiar connection hums in his head and he frowns as Pain's voice speaks.

"Everyone, come to the mid-level meeting room in fifteen minutes. There's been a development in the Akatsuki's goal that we must discuss."

The connection ends and Itachi sets his brush down, eyes narrowed. Pain must be talking about the Mizukage being under the Akatsuki's control, and wants to discuss how this will impact their current hunt for jinchūriki.

Itachi ties his hair back and glances at Little Sasuke. There's no need to wake the min-nin for the meeting, so he opens his dresser drawer, takes a granola bar out of it, quietly tears the wrapper and leaves it by the min-nin in case he wakes up.

Itachi exits into the hall, not locking his bedroom door since everyone who could bother Little Sasuke will be at the meeting.

He heads down the staircase, expression cooling as he runs into Deidara also going down the steps. The teen glares back at him, but his eyes are bleary like he barely slept and he merely grumbles intelligibly under his breath before ignoring him.

Itachi doesn't acknowledge him, too busy considering why Tobi isn't with his partner. Yet his question is answered when he reaches the tower's middle floor just as the masked man is slipping into the meeting room. Deidara picks up the pace to catch up to Tobi and Itachi walks in after them.

Konan and Zetsu are already seated in the stone chairs around the large circle table. Pain stands beside the kunoichi at the head of the table while Zetsu sits on her left. Tobi and Deidara are moving to chairs on the right so Itachi walks to the left side right as the door opens.

Kisame glances around curiously and smirks at finding Itachi, coming over to sit beside him. "It's strange, having all of us physically in the same room." He grins. "Also dangerous since not everyone plays nice with each other." His voice lights with amusement. "Then again, wouldn't be very interesting if we all got along."

Itachi nods, but can't reply as the door flies open and bangs into the wall.

"Hey, heretics!" Hidan lowers his foot from where he'd kicked the door, a wild smirk on his face and hand clutching the scythe slung over his shoulder like he's readying for a fight.

Though his arm falls off his weapon when Kakuzu brushes past him to sit near the back of the table. Hidan scowls, but takes a seat beside his partner, dropping his scythe on his lap and throwing his feet on the table. "So everyone's here…" He cocks a brow. "So what's this development that made you drag all of us from our missions?" He scowls. "You better have a good reason for interrupting my ritual to Jashin-sama!"

Nobody reacts to Hidan, too used to his antics, and Pain doesn't even look at him as he replies. "There is great news I must share with all of you. Recenlty Kisame and Itachi took the min-nin to Kirigakure and it successfully used its Sharingan to bring the Fifth Mizukage under the Akatsuki's control."

Silence fills the room. Then Kakuzu's eyes widen, Hidan's jaw drops, Tobi gasps and Deidara shoots up from his dozing.

"WHAT!?" the blond screeches, leaning forward. "W-what does that mean?"

"It means," Pain replies, "The Mizukage has willing given us information on Kiri's missing jinchūriki, as well as assigned a team of hunter-nin to help us track down and capture the jinchūriki." He looks to Itachi. "You and Konan will be meeting with this team tommorow."

The Uchiha nods, though inwardly he's as shocked as Kisame looks that he's being sent out with Konan.

"The rest of you will be working to bring the other Kage under the Akatsuki's control." He gestures towards the plantlike Akatsuki member. "Zetsu has attached some spores to the min-nin and one of them has absorbed enough of its chakra to use the Sharingan." His eyes shift to Tobi. "You and Zetsu will take this spore to Konohagakure and ensure the spore reaches the Hokage so she will willingly give us the Nine-Tails jinchūriki."

"Aww," Tobi's pout is audible through his mask, "I'm not going with Deidara-senpai..."

"No," Pain says flatly, "Deidara and Kisame will be taking the min-nin to Kumogakure." Itachi tenses. "There it will place the Raikage under our control so he will give us Kumo's two jinchūriki."

"I don't believe that will work," Itachi says coolly, and Pain regards him. "The min-nin can't understand orders unless we show him them through genjutsu, and even if I show him what his mission is before he goes to Kumo, if the plan needs to change during the journey there no one will be able to explain that to the min-nin."

Pain seems to consider his concern and Itachi hopes it was enough to dissuade him because he doesn't trust Deidara with Little Sasuke and the shinobi world won't fair well if another Kage is put under the Akatsuki's control. Though he's planning to break the genjutsu placed on the Mizukage, it would complicate things if he has to break more Kage free from genjutsu.

"I understand your concern," Pain finally says. "But I'm sure Kisame can figure out how to convey something to the min-nin if the need arises."

Itachi's eyes narrow, though he forces himself to nod. This isn't good, Little Sasuke could get hurt under Deidara's watch and three Kage may fall under the Akatsuki's control in a matter of days if he doesn't think of something now.

Itachi only pays half-attention to the rest of the meeting, mind on potential plans and calculating their chances of success. It's not until after the meeting ends and he's heading back up the stairs to his room that he decides which plan to go with.

He opens his bedroom door and quickly shuts it behind him. Little Sasuke's cloth is flat and the granola bar empty on his pillow, so he turns to the min-nin's table, saying, "Little Sas—"

Sunlight streams through a jagged hole in his window and glistens off the broken glass scattered across the table. Itachi strides over, Sharingan flaring and darting all over the windowsill until he spots Little Sasuke.

Itachi's heart drops, seeing the min-nin standing on the building's side four yards down with only the chakra in his feet keeping him from plummeting over 60 meters to the street below. Little Sasuke glances back with dull eyes and a desolate expression before staring ahead and Itachi realizes he knows what the Akatsuki is planning.

Maybe the min-nin left the room to find him or he was searching through the vents again, but somehow the teen ended up by the meeting room and heard everything. Now the teen is trying to stop the Akatsuki's plan the only way he knows how.

"Stop." Itachi shoves open the window and stretches his arm down, but Little Sasuke is far from reach even as he bends over, and according to the law of gravity, if the min-nin jumps, he will hit the ground before Itachi can catch him. "I've already figured out a way to sabotage Pain's plan so don't do it."

Little Sasuke doesn't turn around and Itachi's teeth clench, heart beating hard enough to break his ribs. Even though Itachi might save him, the fact Little Sasuke feels hopeless to the point he'd do this makes Itachi want to set the whole tower on fire and watch the Akatsuki burn.

"Sasuke." The min-nin twitches. "Don't you trust me?" he asks, fear and desperation stretched across every syllable.

The teen turns slightly, but his eyes are shadowed by his bangs, so Itachi continues. "I know how to stop the Akatsuki and how to get you home, but if you do this you'll never get to see your family and friends again, you'll be leaving them alone… You'll be abandoning your brother, so please."

He's begging, but Itachi doesn't care, he'll drop to his knees and bow with his head to the floor if it convinces Sasuke not to leave him like this—only Itachi gets to leave the world this way, not his otouto.

Little Sasuke raises his leg, and Itachi's breath hitches at seeing only one foot keeping him from falling. Yet he plants his leg behind him and Itachi understands he's backing up, returning inch by inch until he's right under his hand.

Itachi quickly grabs him, unable to wait another second uncertain if the min-nin would change his mind and plummet.

"You…" He brings Little Sasuke to his face, tone harsh and expression a mix of anger and fear. "You promised not to hurt yourself and yet you…" He shakes his head, cutting himself off because the min-nin's mournful eyes says he already regrets what he did.

"If I had came a second later you would have been…" Itachi steps back to drop on his bed, releasing the min-nin on his lap so he can pinch the bridge of his nose. His jaw clenches, keeping in his words because if he goes on he'll end up breaking down like he hasn't in years.

A small pressure pushes against his thumb and he sees Little Sasuke leaning his head on his finger before wrapping his arm around it—the closest to a hug he can give.

The teen looks up, apology clear on his face and Itachi sighs. "It's alright, you just scared me."

The min-nin hugs his thumb again and Itachi takes a deep breath to steady himself, expression becoming neutral while his heart calms. "Okay, now let me show you the plan."

He casts a genjutsu over Little Sasuke and starts telling him the details of his plan. After a few minutes he ends the genjutsu and Little Sasuke regards him with owlish eyes. Itachi smiles and gently taps two fingers on the min-nin's head since his forehead is too small to poke.

"Are you ready?"

Little Sasuke blinks and his expression falls. Itachi's lips quirk with amusement, though his heart is heavy. "Why the long face? I thought you wanted to go home."

The min-nin's frown deepens and he stares at Itachi with a question in his gaze.

Itachi shakes his head. "Don't worry about me, just make sure you get home safely."

The min-nin's face falls further and Itachi has a feeling he knows this will be the last time they see each other. In two months Sasuke will have to leave Orochimaru to avoid the Sannin stealing his body, and once he does, he'll go looking for Itachi. He won't hide from his brother, they'll end up fighting and Sasuke will defeat him.

Itachi isn't sure how much the min-nin has figured out, but decides not to address his encroaching death as he gently moves the teen to his zipper pocket. He then grabs the soft cloth off his pillow and gets the min-nin's other things out of his drawer, packing them in a storage scroll.

Soon the Uchiha is going out the door, but stops in the entrance and whispers, "I will miss you too." The min-nin gapes while he continues. "But you have to go, for the safety of the shinobi world and Konoha."

Little Sasuke frowns and Itachi's hand tightens around the scroll. However, both of them know he's right so the teen doesn't protest as he goes downstairs to where Konan, Kisame, and Deidara are waiting by the door.

Expressionless, Itachi hands the scroll to Kisame. "This is everything you'll need to care for the min-nin."

Little Sasuke peeks out his pocket and Itachi stares down at him with a final goodbye on his tongue, and that's why he doesn't notice the scythe swinging towards his chest until the blade falls toward Little Sasuke.

—

Sasuke hears the familiar sound of metal slicing through air and spins back to see a gigantic scythe bearing down at him and Oki-Itachi. He leans back in his pocket, knowing he won't be able to move in time right as there's a squish of metal cutting through flesh.

The Chibi blinks, staring at the scythe tip motionless in front of him before it drops from the purple-eyed Oki's hands and clatters on the floor. He looks up to see the sycthe-wielder staring with a shocked expression at the kunai in Oki-Itachi's hand.

Sasuke thinks Oki-Itachi deflected the scythe with his kunai until the purple-eyed man tips over and crashes to the ground, and he gasps as the man's head rolls off his neck. He whips back to Itachi, but his expression is blank as if he didn't just murder a fellow Akatsuki member. Won't he be in trouble—

"Owww!"

Sasuke jumps and twists around to see the severed head's mouth curling with a grimace and purple eyes blinking—he's alive!? HOW!?

"Gaah," the head groans, left eye twitching in pain. "Don't you know how much that hurts—"

"Shut up."

Sasuke's eyes widen at the hiss, and he looks up to see Oki-Itachi's Sharingan narrowed at the severed head before he strides over and picks up the head by the his hair, ignoring the man's cry of pain.

"What are you—"

"I can't kill you," Itachi cuts off the man, blood red eyes whirling. "But the Amaterasu I can summon with my eye will burn you for three days."

Sasuke's mouth drops as does Kisame and Deidara's while Konan looks stunned and the headless man gapes.

Oki-Itachi's voice quiets to a low growl. "Amaterasu will melt the skin off your skull and burn the oxygen from your lungs before you can scream, and though you'll regenerate, you will merely awaken to the same fiery agony over and over and over for 72 hours."

Oki-Itachi leans into the man's face. "Do not ever threaten the min-nin again, Hidan."

The lack of a honorific on the man's name drives home more than Oki-Itachi's threat how angry the human Uchiha is because his brother is always well-mannered.

Oki-Itachi lowers Hidan's head to the floor who doesn't react, face frozen with terror while his eyes follow the Uchiha who walks over to Deidara. The blond steps back, gulping audibly, but Oki-Itachi merely offers his hand to Sasuke.

He climbs into his palm and Oki-Itachi holds him out to Deidara. "Feed him five times a day, savory or salty foods, no sweets or sour flavors."

The blond stares at Oki-Itachi like he's speaking another language, so the man sets him on Deidara's shoulder and moves back. "Have a safe journey," he says like he's talking to the humans, but his eyes shift to Sasuke for a second and he knows this is his goodbye.

Sasuke nods as the man turns and goes to Konan's side, the woman watching him like a hawk. Itachi doesn't seem to notice all the other Akatsuki members gazing at him with some fear, but mostly shock.

Yet as Deidara slowly steps out the building like he's resisting the urge to run, and Kisame follows him while repeatedly glancing back at the human Uchiha, Sasuke understands why Oki-Itachi threatened Hidan. It was a warning to everyone not to mess with Sasuke, so even after he escapes, he'll be safe from the Akatsuki.

Thank you, Oki-Nii-san, Sasuke wants to say, but he's not allowed to. So Sasuke just watches Oki-Itachi until Kisame walks out the tower, shuts the door, and he catches a glimpse of Oki-Itachi's raven eyes shifting to him before the door hides him away.

Chapter Text

Deidara's hand wraps tightly around Sasuke, and he immediately bites the Oki's finger. The blond yelps, but doesn't ease his suffocating grip, and Sasuke is going to sink his teeth deeper into his flesh when the Oki lets him go.

Sasuke falls, but throws his hands out and catches himself on the glass interior of a jar, chakra circulating in his hands. Yet the lid slams shut, and though he could shatter the metal with his lightning jutsu, that would probably awaken the Zetsu spore around his neck.

He scowls. Oki-Itachi's plan will be ruined if he activates the spore too early. So he lets himself drop and lands in a crouch on the glass floor as Deidara shouts, "Ugh!" His face wrinkles with disgust while he pats himself down desperately. "I can't believe that thing was walking on me this whole time! It felt like a giant ant feeling me up, un!"

Sasuke scoffs, crossing his arms, but he is surprised Deidara let him sit on his shoulder for so long. It seemed the blond had been so shocked over Itachi's actions he hadn't realized Sasuke was there until Kisame mentioned feeding him.

"Here," Deidara shoves the jar into Kisame's chest, "You feed it and clean after it."

Kisame cocks his head, pausing on the dirt road though he doesn't accept the jar. "Actually, min-nin are pretty clean since their saliva has a lower pH level than a human's." Deidara's eyes widen. "So most of what they eat burns up before it reaches their stomach, and the acid keeps their teeth clean too."

Deidara glances at Sasuke curiously. "Anything else I should know about the little monster?" He lifts the jar up to eye level and taps on it, making Sasuke wince at the sound and glare at the Oki. "Are they really born on mountain summits? And do they actually fly on magic leaves?"

Kisame blinks, and Deidara stops, eyes narrowing though his cheeks are reddening. "What?" he demands. "That's what they say about min-nin in Iwa, un!"

Sasuke raises a brow. Magic leaves to fly? More like Iwa Chibi had built hang-gliders to help them travel between Iwakagure's mountains and towering buildings. Though maybe their gliders are disguised as leaves to help conceal their existence.

Kisame's mouth quirks and there's an amused edge to his voice as he starts, "Well, I don't know anything about magic leaves," Deidara's cheeks puff up, "But not much else is different between us and min-nin."

The blond frowns, his shoulders droop, and surly disappointment rings clear in his tone while he asks, "Why do we even have to do this?" His expression sours at Sasuke. "We were catching jinchūriki just fine before we bought this thing!"

Kisame shrugs, resuming his walk down the road. "Maybe, but we're catching them faster now." A smirk slides onto his face. "Think of it this way, the sooner the Akatsuki accomplishes its goal, the sooner you'll be free to blow up whatever you want."

"Art!" Deidara jabs a finger in Kisame's face, much to the man's shock. "My bombs create art," he hisses, nose turning up in the air. "They don't just blow up stuff!"

Kisame raises a brow, but Sasuke cocks his head at the sharkman. It kind of felt like...Kisame deflected Deidara's question. Does he know something about the Akatsuki that the blond doesn't?

"And why did we have to switch partners?" Deidara throws up his hands, and Sasuke nearly loses his balance as the jar is yanked up. "Tobi and Zetsu? Together? Those two knuckleheads will probably get caught at Konoha's gates! Then Tobi will end up screaming, the guards will chase him, and Zetsu will probably bail on him because he gets distracted by a stupid butterfly or something, un!"

Deidara's chest heaves, throwing down his hands, and Sasuke crashes into the wall, ears ringing from his loudness. Therefore, he barely hears Kisame chuckle. "You sure sound concerned about Tobi," he grins sharply, "And here I thought you couldn't stand the fool."

"I can't!" Deidara snaps. "But I'd rather put up with him than you who doesn't appreciate my art!" He glares at the Kiri-nin.

Yet amusement glints in Kisame's eyes. "I'd be offended." His expression turns serious. "But I also prefer my partner's company."

Deidara balks. "Seriously? That psycho!?" He leans into Kisame's face. "Did you not see how he threatened us just because Hidan tried killing the min-nin? Like what was that about?"

Kisame falters for a second, uncertainty flickering in his gaze, but soon his mouth curves into a sly grin. "Who says I'm not just as crazy as him?" His razor sharp teeth peek through his smile.

Deidara grimaces and shifts away from the man while Kisame chuckles, clearly enjoying taunting the teen. Sasuke looks between the two and wonders how Pain thought putting them together was a great idea. However, if all goes well he won't have to worry about the Oki Akatsuki for much longer.

The Chibi stares out to the road ahead. His eyes close as he imagines the large trees in the Uchiha compound. Sunlight peeks through the foliage, leaves gently falling in the lake, and at the shore his brother sits and waits for him.

—

Kisame unscrews the lid and sets the jar on the log beside him. Sasuke hops out immediately, landing on the bark. His nose twitches at the scent of food and he quickly sprints towards the steaming fish on a nearby skewer.

"Someone is hungry," Kisame mutters while Sasuke checks around the stick until he finds his plastic utensils and plate behind it.

He grabs them and uses the knife to saw off pieces of meat while surreptitiously surveying the area. The sky is dark, starlight peeking through the wiry tree branches, which means the Oki should be making camp soon. Once one of them falls asleep, he'll put Oki-Itachi's plan into motion.

Though first, he needs to take care of the Zetsu spore.

Sasuke glances at Deidara who's seated on a nearby rock and bringing his own cooked fish to his mouth. The Chibi abandons his plate of food and rushes down the log towards Deidara while Kisame watches curiously.

He waits till he's a foot away from the Oki before leaping onto his knee. The blond's head jerks down. "What—"

Sasuke brings a lightning blade to his hand and swings it through Deidara's fish.

"Hey!" Deidara tries to catch the half of his meal that falls, but Sasuke releases his lightning and launches himself at it.

He catches the sitck before Deidara can and grunts under its weight as he lands on the Oki's knee. Quickly, he bites off as much fish as possible.

"What are you doing!?" Deidara snatches Sasuke up, forcing him to drop what's left of the fish.

The blond brings him to his face, blue eyes smoldering. "That was mines!" He glances down at what remains of the fish, and his teeth grind at seeing most of it's gone.

Sasuke smirks and swallows the food in his mouth. Yet Deidara squeezes him and the Chibi gags—he didn't go too far, right?

Abruptly Deidara's hand relaxes, and Sasuke gulps in fresh air while the Oki shoves a finger in his face. "I'm going to stuff you in a bomb," he seethes.

Kisame laughs, and the blond's head snaps over to him. "What's so funny?" He raises Sasuke, giving him a shake, and the Chibi's brain rattles against his skull. "This monster stole my food!"

"Just take his fish." Kisame holds up Sasuke's abandoned meal with a smirk.

Yet the Iwa-nin is already shaking his head. "After the min-nin touched it? Yeah, right!" He holds up his nose like he thinks Sasuke is diseased—yet he's not worried about picking him up?

Kisame shrugs, and lowers Sasuke's fish. "Guess you'll have to catch yourself another one then."

Deidara glares at the man before his gaze slides over to Sasuke. His mouth curves into a vicious grin. "Or I could toss the min-min in the river, use it as live bait."

The Chibi glowers at Deidara while Kisame shakes his head. "You could, but if it drowns, you'll have to tell our leader and Itachi how it died."

Deidara freezes. Sasuke fights to keep the smirk off his face while the blond slowly lowers him, his expression souring.

"Whatever, un." Deidara sends Sasuke one last glare before pulling back his arm.

The Chibi realizes what he's doing right as Deidara chucks him at Kisame. Sasuke flips through the air with wide eyes, but grunts when he crashes into the tough flesh of Kisame's hand.

The man doesn't even glance at him while he sets Sasuke by his fish skewer, staring at Deidara who's storming off towards the lake. He mutters, “That kid is strange.”

More like the Iwa-nin is crazy, and clearly has anger issues—yes, Sasuke knows he does too, but that's why he recognizes the temperament problem in someone else.

"You though," Kisame glances down at him. "You're a mystery."

Sasuke looks up with his brow wrinkling in feigned confusion. Then he shakes his head like he doesn't understand and grabs the skewer, cutting off more fish pieces to add to his plate.

He thinks he's successful at defelcting until Kisame says, "Itachi has been different since he met you."

Sasuke's hand twitches. He quickly covers it by grabbing his chopsticks off the log and dipping it into the sliced fish.

"Sometimes it feels like he isn't just taking care of you for the Akatsuki. It's more like he's taking care of a summon…or like he's taking care of his younger bro—"

An explosion booms through the air and Sasuke drops his food to slap his hands over his ears, a pained hiss escaping him. Kisame, however, just turns to the path leading to the lake.

After a minute, Deidara appears from the shrubbery, a bundle of smoking fish with charred scales in his grasp. Kisame lifts a brow as the blond passes him and plops down on the rock, saying, "You blew up the lake, didn't you?"

Deidara's eyes narrow while he grabs a stick off the ground. Yet he doesn't say anything while stabbing it through the middle of three burnt fish.

"Not exactly keeping a low profile," Kisame sighs, sounding genuinely put out.

Sasuke glances between the two Oki, noticing Deidara's irritated expression while he crunches on his fish and Kisame staring up at the sky, eyes narrowing on the gray plume rising from the lake's direction.

Sasuke has never seen either Akatsuki members in such foul moods, but it will only make escaping easier if the Oki are uncoordinated. He smirks, excitement running through his veins.

He'll be home soon, just wait, Nii-san.

—

Kisame takes first watch like Oki-Itachi said he would. Sasuke pretends to be asleep, bundled in his soft cloth with Oki-Itachi's coin pouch serving as his pillow. He's on a low branch just above the humans’ heads, which grants him some privacy and a good view of the Oki. However, the warm current from the fire is genuinely starting to lull him to sleep when he hears movement under him.

He tenses. Kisame's light footsteps are padding away.

A moment later, Deidara groans, "Ughhh, alright…alright. I'm up," he grumbles in a scratchy voice.

"The min-nin is there," Kisame whispers, probably pointing at him.

Deidara sounds more alert while he scoffs. "Why didn't you put it in the jar?"

"You mean the jar that doesn't even have a chakra seal?" Kisame’s voice gets louder as the Oki returns to Sasuke’s tree. "The min-nin could easily escape that," there's a thunk that must be Kisame getting settled against the tree's base, "But the Zetsu spore won't let it leave anyway, so there's nothing to worry about."

Kisame's cloak rustles like he's shrugging while Deidara sputters. "Fine, un! But if the little monster attacks you in your sleep, don't expect me to save you!"

The man huffs. "Of course, Deidara-kun," he says with a sardonic smile in his voice.

Deidara grumbles, stepping over to the side. "Shark freak," he mutters too low for an Oki to hear.

Sasuke quickly closes his eyes when he senses Deidara turn to him, as for all the blond's childishness, he's still a lethal missing-nin.

Ten seconds pass, and the human looks away. Still, Sasuke waits almost an hour before making his move.

The Chibi peeks open one eye, and looks at the forest floor. Kisame is leaned against the tree, eyes shut and head bowed with his chest slowly rising and falling. He hasn't moved in thirty minutes, so must be asleep.

Sasuke looks over to Deidara on a rock by the campfire, about ten yards away. Good, hopefully the distance will keep Kisame from hearing anything, or at least buy him some time to escape if things go wrong.

Sasuke stands, soft cloth falling at his feet while he shakes his arms and legs to get rid of the numbness. Deidara is idly rolling a clay ball in his hands—an explosive according to what Oki-Itachi told him in the genjutsu—so never looks up.

Once he’s limber, Sasuke walks to the end of the branch. He pauses when the Zetsu spore tightens around his neck, and fear washes over his face. No, no, please don't activate, not yet.

He holds his breath. The collar relaxes, and Sasuke sighs. Apparently it was just a warning.

Sasuke continues to the end of the branch and jumps over to the next tree, landing on a branch a little further down. His movements are silent, but he keeps checking to make sure Deidara doesn’t look up while he hops from tree to tree. Eventually, he drops down on the bare branch hanging right above the Oki, the limb bouncing slightly with his weight.

Deidara tenses, and Sasuke’s eyes widen. Did he hear him?

The blond's spine goes ramrod straight, and Sasuke prepares to run when the human jerks with a full-body sneeze. Sasuke winces at the sharp sound while Deidara sniffles. "Ugh, stupid smoke." He wipes his nose on his cloak sleeve.

Sasuke calms and gets back in position at the end of the branch. He takes a deep breath and positions his fingers around his mouth. Now or never.

He blows out a piercing whistle. The Oki jumps like a startled cat.

Deidara’s head smacks into the branch and he cries out while Sasuke is knocked off balance and falls on his back.

“Gah!” The human grasps his aching head as Sasuke flings himself up, glancing over to Kisame. However, the man hasn't stirred. He grins. The plan is working!

"What—you!"

Sasuke twists around right as Deidara snatches him off the branch. The wind is knocked from his lungs while the human glares fire at him. "That was you, wasn't it!?" he growls.

The Chibi chokes as the Oki's grip tigthens, but doesn't try to escape while Deidara seethes, "That's it! I don't care what Pain says!" His expression darkens. "You're dead."

Suddenly a kunai flashes in the Oki's hand and Sasuke's eyes bulge, something cracking in his chest. Just a…little longer...any…second!

Deidara grins cruelly, firelight gleaming off his teeth while he holds the kunai against Sasuke's neck. He slices into the skin slowly and Sasuke's neck burns—

White explodes around Sasuke. Deidara's kunai flies to the ground while the white Zetsu stretches up around the Chibi and Deidara's hand.

"What!?" the Oki thunders. "Get out of the way!"

Sasuke inhales a desperate breath as the Zetsu forces open Deidara’s hand, and ignoring the black spots in his vision, he summons a lightning blade.

He raises it quickly and the spear shoots into Zetsu's head, scorching Deidara’s palm.

The human yells only for a second before Sasuke jumps up, Sharingan whirling in his eyes. Deidara's mouth snaps close, gaze going blank.

Go to sleep—Sasuke mentally orders, pouring all his chakra into his dōjutsu while he lands on a tree branch.

The human doesn't move, and Sasuke grits his teeth. Could he be resisting his genjutsu?

Deidara drops, hitting the ground with a dull thump and sprawling out on the dirt.

Sasuke sighs, relieved, and looks to Kisame. The man is shifting, and Sasuke's face lights with shock before his hands fly into the tiger seal.

Chakra whirls around him and he shunshins onto the man's leg right as Kisame opens one eye. "Deidara, what's with the noise—"

He spots Sasuke. His hand rushes to his sword, but Sasuke's Sharingan flashes in his eyes and his arm freezes. Sasuke is going to put him to sleep, grab the scroll with all his stuff, and leave. However he recalls the man's earlier odd behavior.

The Chibi hesitates. If Kisame knows something about the Akatsuki's plans, something maybe even Oki-Itachi doesn't know, it would be foolish not to learn about it.

The Oki Akatsuki have proven to be more of a threat than any Chibi has realized, especially now that they're using the Zetsu to take over Kage. Sure, Oki-Itachi has plans to free the Mizukage and any others they take over, but still, the way they're gathering jinchūriki is concerning.

So Sasuke delves into the Oki's mind and asks, What is the Akatsuki's true goal?

Kisame resists, but Sasuke puts more force behind his question, and slowly Kisame's mind opens up to a misty scene.

"Just who are you?"

Kisame, years younger and in black uniform, stands in a dark underground sewer with an unmarred headband. He's staring at a dark tunnel, hand lowering from his sword handle, and Sasuke squints. What's he looking at?

Out of the shadows sandaled feet step forward.

Sasuke freezes. That…it can't be…

"I am Uchiha Madara."

A lone Sharingan glows out of a white mask, and Sasuke's heart drops to the floor. Tobi? No, no, it can't be. Tobi can't be—Uchiha Madara is dead. Oki and Chibi-Madara passed decades ago. He's certain of it, so how can Tobi be Madara? It can't be true.

Sasuke sucks in a ragged breath, heart fluttering in his chest, and he almost loses control of his genjutsu because…because wouldn't that explain so much though? Tobi's Sharingan? Him playing the fool, and the wariness Oki-Itachi held for him?

The teen goes rigid, eyes widening while he starts listening to what Madara is telling Kisame. He pales, stepping back. No…

"That is my plan…the Eye of the Moon project. That is a true world free of lies."

No, no, no, this is all wrong. Because if it isn’t…that plan…if it's true…

A strangled cry breaks out Sasuke's throat, and the genjutsu shatters.

Sasuke clutches the front of his cloak, head pounding. He has to…he has to warn everyone.

A sudden urgency overtakes him and Sasuke spins on his heels, yet he nearly loses his balance and his vision briefly goes white. He catches himself on Kisame's foot, pressing a knuckle against his forehead. He needs to get to Konoha right now—wait. He also needs to warn Oki-Itachi. The human has no idea what the Akatsuki is planning, and he'll be in danger if he stays with the group, especially if Tobi really is Madara. That Uchiha is a legend—

Metal slices through the air. Sasuke instinctively leaps up while an Oki kunai stabs into the ground where he was. He lands on the dirt and looks back to see Deidara, hand bandaged and glaring daggers at him.

"You thought a genjutsu would take me down!" he roars, and Sasuke's eyes widen. "When I've been practicing for years to kill that Itachi!"

He tears out three kunai and Sasuke darts behind Kisame for cover. Yet something heavy strikes his foot. He falls down hard, ankle twisting painfully under him and making him bite his tongue to stifle a scream.

The Chibi looks down to see white clay around his leg. Deidara smirks, stomping over like a cat who cornered a mouse, and Sasuke quickly bites his finger.

He rapidly weaves five seals and Deidara must realize what he's doing because he shouts, "No, you're not getting away!"

He tosses his kunai at Sasuke right as the Chibi slams his palm on the ground. Smoke billows around him while the kunai stab the earth so close iron brushes over Sasuke's nose. Yet feathers poke his elbow and his hawk summon screeches as the smoke clears.

Deidara lurches at the bird with a roar, but his hawk twists around and stabs his beak into his injured palm.

The Oki yells and Sasuke rips his foot free from the clay, scrambling to climb onto the bird's saddle. He yanks on the reins the second he’s up and the hawk leaps into the air, gliding to the treetops.

Deidara shouts threats after them, but Sasuke doesn't looks back. He needs to get home, needs to warn everyone about the Eye of the Moon Plan and Madara. This is worse than anything Sasuke could have imagined—

A boom rockets through the sky behind him. Sasuke whips back, and his Sharingan reveals clay birds flying after them, full of chakra—explosives.

The Chibi pulls the hawk's reins left and the bird makes a sharp turn. The clay birds follow them, but Sasuke lets go of the reins to form several signs. His throat fills with chakra and he turns back, flames rushing out of his mouth.

The trees catch fire immediately, red and orange inferno raging across their leaves and branches. Sasuke continues to look back, making sure none of the bombs are still following. However, after a moment of silence, he faces ahead. Hopefully, he lost them.

They're soaring over the lake and Sasuke guides them low. If the Akatsuki try tracking his scent, the water will throw off the ninken. However, a cold draft rises under Sasuke. He stares down in surprise, and quickly notices the lake is still. That's weird considering how windy it is.

Sasuke summons lightning to his palm to see better.

Ice. The lake is covered in a layer of ice. But that's impossible, it's July—

Wire wraps around Sasuke's foot—Chibi-sized. He gasps as he's yanked off his hawk. The bird screeches while Sasuke slams back hard onto the frozen lake and tumbles in a rough roll. He growls when he lands on his sprained leg, the torn muscles screaming, but pushes himself up. Yet he stops, hearing ice crack behind him—is the ground breaking!?

He whirls around. His breath hitches. Ice is sprouting like a tree behind him, rising up and growing long thin limbs that produce tall horizontal slabs.

It takes a second, but then Sasuke recognizes the jutsu. Crystal Ice Mirrors…that Kekkei Genkai…

"I didn't believe it when they said you attacked our village."

Sasuke looks past the ice mirrors growing around him to find Chibi-Haku standing a human foot away, Hunter-nin mask hiding his expression. Chibi-Zabuza stands behind him, hand on his sword handle and cold eyes narrowing on Sasuke.

"I never forgot about the boy who took a hit for his teammate, whose blood stained my ice." Haku sighs. "To think, you'd grow up to be this."

Sasuke shakes his head. "I didn't attack your village, please listen." He gazed at the older boy between the gaps in the mirrors. "I was framed by a creature who can imitate—"

"Save your breath, kid."

Sasuke's head snaps over to Chibi-Kisame who comes up and lays a hand on Haku's shoulder, palm glowing with blue chakra.

"You broke into the records room, stole information on the Oki-Mizukage and then used it to take control of her." His voice sharpens. "Those actions show you've been planning this for a while, and our Mizukage has rightfully put a bounty on your head."

He grins, showing off his sharklike teeth. "And it makes it clear she wants a corpse."

Sasuke backs up, but stops when his sprained leg nearly gives out. It looks bad, all those things the Akatsuki forced him to do have made him a criminal in Chibi Kirigakure's eyes.

He looks up for his hawk, but the bird is circling the lake blindly—unable to see in the darkness. If he could light a fire for it—except that might melt the ice beneath him and dunk him in icy water.

Sasuke realizes that was probably why Haku froze the lake, to prevent him from burning his way out of the ice mirror prison. Still, he has his lightning, but Kisame and Zabuza will charge him the second he breaks out of the prison. He might have stood a chance against the trio if Kisame didn't feed Haku chakra, compensating for the chakra the teen lost when his Oki counterpart perished almost right after their first encounter.

However, Sasuke can’t give up. He needs to go home, needs to warn everyone about the Oki Akatsuki and Madara…and… And Nii-san is waiting for him. He won’t let him down.

Sasuke's Sharingan bores into their gazes, though the Kiri-nin wisely avoid eye contact. "Please, just listen to me."

Haku's masked face regards him. Slowly, the boy walks to the mirrors and enters the glass. Sasuke tenses while Haku's reflection appears in all the mirrors, his unseen stare leveling heavily upon his head.

"I accepted this mission for one reason, to honor the boy you once were," senbon flick into Haku's hands, "So you won't suffer long."

Lightning sparks in Sasuke's grip, but suddenly water wraps around his body. He gags, bubbles bursting from his mouth while he's encompassed in a water sphere. His eyes dart aside to see Zabuza holding the water prison together.

"Your teacher called you a prodigy.” The man shakes his head. "He seemed pretty proud of you, but I guess all that praise went to your head.”

Sasuke wants to argue, but all he does is inhale some water. He can't even cough before the water drops around him and  Zabuza leaps away while a hundred senbon fly at him.

The needles slice across his face. He screams, blinded by his own blood while his skin is torn and shredded across his legs, chest, back, and arms in a never-ending stream of agony.

What feels like hours later, his knees hit the ground, head thumping against the freezing ice. Yet even along the cold, every inch of him burns.

"I don't think he's dead yet."

"I don't know, that's a lot of blood."

The world twists and sounds fade in and out, but distantly Sasuke knows someone is talking about killing him. Yet he can't die…everyone is in danger…the Akatsuki…

"I can stab him, see if he moves."

"Zabuza, end his suffering."

Footsteps approach. A blade clinks as its taken out of its holster. No…can't die here…

The shadow of the blade raises over his neck. Then the sword sings through the air—

Lightning blazes in Sasuke's palm, Chidori spear shooting up.

Zabuza's wide eyes meet his as lightning meets metal and his sword shatters.

The Kiri-nin is thrown back from the force and Sasuke's lightning dies. However a shadow leaps at him and Kisame's katana comes bearing down on his head. Sasuke rolls, the ice scorching his already shredded skin, and the katana sinks into the ground.

Kisame tears his blade out the ice, throwing bits of frost his way. "Still got some fight in you? That's great—"

"I found you!"

All the Chibi spin towards Oki-Deidara behind them, clay in each of his hands. "And I'm going to…" He pauses, finally noticing the other Chibi. "M-more min-nin!?"

Sasuke takes advantage of the distraction and gathers chakra in his throat, hands rushing through seals. Haku whips back to him right as he blows fire on the ice and leaps while the ground bursts apart.

He stretches his arms up. Come on, come on, see the fire!

His hand catches a scaly talon and his hawk screeches in triumphant. Sasuke grins, though the world is spinning fast around him. Below him, distant shouts ring out. Yet for some reason the discordant noise lulls him, and his eyes fall half-lidded.

He's very tired…very, very tired. The pain and adrenaline coursing through his veins start to dull, and Sasuke knows something isn't right about this, but doesn’t have the energy to fight. He feels like he's leaking over the sky, spreading across it like paint.

Sasuke’s hand drops from his hawk. The bird's beak opens wide, but Sasuke can't hear anything except wind while he falls.

His body crashes through the ice and he sinks in the chilly water. Sasuke's lungs fill with cold liquid. However, he feels warm and fuzzy.

He opens his eyes. In the darkness, he makes out the blurry image of Itachi's face. His brother is frowning, eyes big and round with concern.

Sasuke smiles. "Nii-san."

Itachi freezes. Then his lips are moving, but Sasuke has already closed his eyes.

In seconds, he drifts away.

I'm home, Nii-san.

Chapter Text

They are nearly at the Land of Fire's border when Konan suggests they stop for the night. Itachi agrees because the clouds are dark and swelling with rain, so it isn't long before they're entering a shabby two-floor inn on the far edge of town.

Itachi shuts the door on the whistling wind while Konan approaches the front desk. The teen behind the counter barely glances up from her novel before scribbling man and woman in her ledger and tossing Itachi the silver key to a two-bed room.

The Uchiha pockets it and turns to the pale pink hallway when Konan says, "I will see if the cafe is still open. What would you like?"

Itachi pauses, mildly surprised since he can count on one hand the number of times they've spoken today.

Soon though, he says, "Tea and dango."

Konan nods and glides down the adjacent corridor while Itachi heads to the staircase. His feet are soundless on the steps before he remembers there are civilians around and stops avoiding the creaks.

He exits onto the second level, going up to the first door and turning the key in the scratched-up knob. The door creaks open and Itachi steps inside to find two beds with only a foot between them.

Yet he doesn't spare them another glance as he strides into the restroom and locks the door behind him. Approaching the sink, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out an eyedropper. Relief washes over him before he even tilts back his head and pours four drops in each eye, not flinching at the chemical sting since his eyes have already been screaming for five hours.

Konan had been watching too closely for him to take his medication before now—probably wary of him after his encounter with Hidan—and he can't risk Pain's righthand finding out about his illness when he's so close to his final battle.

The wind beats against the window behind the shower curtain while Itachi blinks the drops into his eyes. Soon a cool sensation envelopes his burning irises and Itachi sighs—

Memories flood his brain. Itachi stiffens as his shadow clone's thoughts merge with his own, though he's surprised since his clone was supposed to watch over Little Sasuke until he reached Konoha.

Images skip through his head, so one second Itachi recalls following Deidara and Kisame, Little Sasuke in a jar they carry. Then it's dark, the crickets buzzing loudly, and the min-nin flies through the night sky on his hawk.

Itachi edges closer to a lake, intending to follow the little ninja—

The lake is frozen. Itachi's brow furrows at the sign of a jutsu, the sense something is wrong sprouting within him—

A bird screeches. Something falls from the sky. Itachi realizes its a tiny body right before Sasuke crashes through the ice and disappears under the black water—

"No!"

Itachi's fist slams on the sink counter and the porcelain cracks under his hand as his Sharingan blazes to life. Then he's already using shunshin and arriving outside the hotel in a whirl of leaves before he realizes what he's doing.

Wind roars in his ears and his bangs thrash against his headband, but Itachi notices nothing while his Sharingan spins. Translucent ruby flames erupt at his feet, rising and solidifying into a spine, which snaps out into a rib cage. Blood rivers from Itachi's eye as sinew and flesh weave around the skeleton until Susanoo encases him.

The Susanoo stands, towering over the hotel and nearby stores. Someone shouts his name while wings sprout from Susanoo's back. However, Itachi ignores Konan's stunned face through the hotel window as chakra pours out of him like blood.

Itachi grits his teeth, vision twisting at the chakra drain. Yet he grasps his head tight enough to hurt and the pain helps him focus.

"Hold on," he hisses. "Sasuke."

The Uchiha's eyes narrow and he lowers his hand as Susanoo flaps its great wings, rising into the sky. Fields bow and houses tremble under the resulting wind, and Itachi's chest twinges so he clutches his cloak over his heart while Susanoo takes flight over the town.

The few people out on the roads gape at the glowing red figure among the clouds. Some even scream, dropping their baskets and bags and mouthing "Monster!"

Yet their voices are lost as thunder rumbles around him, vibrations in the air rattling Itachi's bones, and rain battering Susanoo's armor. However, all his focus is on moving Susanoo's wings while he glides out of the Land of Fire.

Lightning flashes and stings his already burning eyes, but Itachi doesn't stop. Miles are being covered in minutes as he soars over trees and rivers, cutting through the clouds and scattering their gray wisps.

Suddenly his breath stutters. Itachi coughs harshly, hand tightening on his cloak while his whole body convulses with a coughing fit. But he can't stop. Sasuke needs him.

A cough shatters his lungs. His eyes widen as fire blazes within his chest, blood spilling on his lips. No. Don't stop, not yet.

Itachi wheezes, eyes growing foggy, and though every cough ruptures his throat, Susanoo flies on. The ground blurs and the air seems to grow thinner. Every inch of him is screaming, but he keeps his chakra flowing until a dark shadow emerges on the horizon.

Thunder rips through the air as lightning strikes over the distant mountain. However, Itachi can't hear anything between his barking coughs and ragged breaths while he guides Susanoo down. Almost…there…

He's about to touch down on the narrow mountain path when pain punctures his eyes. Itachi's face seizes with agony as he chokes, Sharingan fading. Susanoo gives a ghoulish howl before suddenly it's stripped away from him like a candle blown out.

Itachi falls, the ground thirty feet below. Quickly he twists around to land in a crouch. Yet a hacking cough slows his turn so his feet hit the ground wrong. He immediately loses his footing and tumbles onto his side, rolling to the edge of the mountain. However, he slaps his hands on the gravelly mud and catches himself before he can go over the cliff.

Itachi hacks out blood, yet the rain washes it away as soon as it hits the ground. Still, it takes a full minute for his coughing to ebb, and even then, his arms tremble while he pushes himself up to his knees. He reaches for the mountainside, clawing it for a hold, and slowly drags himself up.

His knees shake, heart racing, and he falls into a slump against the rocky wall, but Sasuke is so close, he can't give up. Itachi moves to take a step, and nearly crumples right back down. However, his gaze rises to a tall crevice up the mountain path.

Sasuke needs him, so he forces his shaking legs forward. He drags himself along the wall, walking far slower than he wishes as his legs twinge after his awkward landing, and the wind tugs at his cloak. Sweat coats his skin, but the rain cools him until he's shivering.

The weight of water has nearly dragged him to the ground by the time he reaches the fissure, yet he simply ducks into the cramped space and slides against the jagged wall. A dying campfire flickers at the end of the cave. Itachi's breath hitches, the Uchiha spotting the small body laid out behind the charred sticks and embers.

He stumbles faster until he's by the fire and crouches down. "Little Sasuke?" he rasps, reaching for the min-nin.

Frigid skin slides onto Itachi's fingers. His eyes widen as he brings the min-nin close to his face, but he calms seeing the teen's chest shuddering with an inhale. Still, the small shinobi's eyes are closed, his black cloak little more than tatters, and he's unnaturally pale.

His brow furrows at the long white lines marring Little Sasuke all over—healing scars? From what?

The teen's face contorts and a ragged exhale leaves him. It hits Itachi then that Sasuke is in worse shape than he thought, he could be dying.

Itachi tears down his cloak zipper, cups his hand around Little Sasuke and brings him against his chest. Hypothermia and blood loss…even with the min-nin's fast healing, he might not make it.

Yet Itachi will try—will do everything it takes to save him. Because Little Sasuke is his brother, human or not, and Itachi will not let him leave this world before him.

That's a promise he made eight years ago. He won't go breaking it now.

—

The rain stops when Itachi reaches Amegakure. His clothes are damp, hair gangly, and chakra levels low despite him eating a chakra pill. Yet he strides into the tower with a purpose and sidesteps Pain by the entrance.

"Itachi," the Akatsuki leader intones. "Konan has informed me you left—"

"Did she tell you what I said to Hidan?" Itachi stops beside the man, but doesn't look at him as he keeps Little Sasuke pressed against his chest.

"Yes—"

"Then know this." Itachi glares into his Rinnegan eyes. "My threat applies to you as well."

Pain's mouth shuts, and though no shock appears on his face, Itachi senses the man is speechless. Yet it doesn't matter while he passes the Akatsuki leader and hurries to the staircase.

He takes three steps at a time, the stairs blurring under his feet as he frowns down at the min-nin under his hand. The teen is still unconscious, and though he hasn't moved the whole journey, something seems off about his stillness.

Itachi slows to a stop on the sixth floor. "Sasuke?"

He eyes him closely for a few seconds. Sasuke's chest doesn't move. A hand crushes Itachi's heart.

"Sasuke!?" he calls, pulling the min-nin out from his cloak and up to his face.

Little Sasuke doesn't move. He's not breathing—how long hasn't he been breathing!?

"Sasuke!"

He taps the min-nin's chest, shaking him. However, Sasuke's eyes don't open and his head lolls onto Itachi's fingers. The Uchiha's free hand curls up, nails digging into his palm. No…Sasuke cannot die.

Itachi's battered chakra reserves scream as his Mangekyō Sharingan burns to life. His fingers sweep over the min-nin's face, peeling back his eyelids. Little black eyes stare vacantly through him and Itachi clenches his teeth.

"Live." His Sharingan spins, weaving a genjutsu order. "You have to—"

His Sharingan vanishes and pain shreds across his eyes. Itachi hisses a curse because he doesn't have enough chakra, but Sasuke cannot die. He'll do anything—

Itachi jolts. He hesitates. But no, this is his only chance—Sasuke's only chance. So Itachi lowers himself onto the stairs, sets the min-nin on his lap, and summons the last of his chakra while forming signs.

He extends his elbow and a crow appears on it in a smoke cloud. Shisui's Sharingan stares back at him from the crow's eye socket, and Itachi's expression turns grim as his own Mangekyō Sharingan flares.

"Do not give up," Itachi's pinwheel eyes spin, the last drops of his chakra weaving the genjutsu order. "Do not give up, Sasuke."

Shisui's Sharingan starts turning slowly. However, Itachi throws all the chakra he has into his dōjutsu and Shisui's eye moves faster, accepting the genjutsu order as its own.

Itachi's Sharingan vanishes and he grunts from the sharp pain in his eyes while black spots fill his sight. Yet he lifts Little Sasuke to the crow and his thumb peels back the min-nin's eyelids.

Shisui's spinning eye bores into the teen's lifeless gaze. Itachi waits, blinking back his exhaustion.

"Please, don't give up…otouto."

The min-nin's face twitches before his eyes widen, their ebony hue bleeding into red. Shisui's Sharingan flashes in Little Sasuke's eyes, yet Itachi watches anxiously. Please, please be enough…

Sasuke inhales a raspy breath. Itachi takes a shuddering breath himself, sagging and falling back against the wall. His crow disappears in a puff of smoke while Itachi's arm flops onto his lap and he lets Sasuke's eyes close.

His hand trembles around the min-nin, vision graying and funneling down until Sasuke is all he can see. Chakra exhaustion weighs down Itachi's eyes, yet he smiles.

"Good job…Sasuke…"

His arm drops onto the floor, but his hand stays curled around the min-nin even as a veil of darkness washes everything away.

—

Itachi wakes up gradually to a warm and familiar bed. However, his first thought is of Sasuke. Did he make it? is he okay?

The Uchiha shoots up, muscles crying and eyes flying open because Sasuke had barely been breathing. Is he alive?

"Woah."

Itachi whips around and the world is a mash of dull copper and gray. For a second, he wonders if his eyesight has worsened. Yet soon his vision clears until he sees Kisame leaning against the wall by the door, brow raised.

"Two days," Kisame mutters in shock. "Already awake," he says under his breath.

Or perhaps he says normally, but the pounding in Itachi's ears muffles his voice. His chest is heaving, every breath scalding him like he'd just run a marathon.

Yet Itachi brushes aside his stringy hair and looks to his table. His heating lamp shines down on a rolled-up towel—no, a towel bundled around a small lump.

He throws off his covers, swings his legs over the bedside, and staggers to his feet, nearly falling as his legs get tangled in them. Kisame says something, but he's ignored while Itachi stumbles to the table.

His hands smack on the wood and he grasps the table edge, eyes locking on the towel. Little Sasuke is cocooned in the thick cloth, eyes closed and head barely peeking out of the folds.

Itachi waits to see the min-nin's chest shudder with breath before exhaling in relief.

Quietly, he asks, "Has he woken up?"

His voice is thin and hoarse, but probably still sounds better than he feels.

"No."

Itachi glances over his shoulder. His eyes narrow.

"Was it you or Deidara who attacked him?"

The question hangs like a sword between them, sharp and deadly.

However, Kisame smirks. "More like other min-nin."

Itachi's lips dip with a frown. Yet neither Kisame nor Deidara can utilize ice jutsu and he detects no lie in Kisame's voice.

He turns back to Little Sasuke. The teen takes a ragged breath, mouth parting slightly, and it occurs to him that the teen hasn't eaten for over two days. However, no IV is small enough to fit him and Itachi doesn't have enough chakra for Tsukuyomi.

He'd ask Tobi to try using his Sharingan to save him, but the man is likely still on his mission. So what…what can he do?

"You know," Kisame says casually. "I think I was wrong."

Itachi watches Little Sasuke inhale…exhale…inhale…

"The books said a min-nin with a blood or clan connection to their human owner is quicker to bond and become loyal faster."

Kisame stares intently at him, but Itachi only has eyes for his brother.

"Now though, I think the books got it wrong." Kisame's smirk becomes audible as he says, "It's not just the min-nin who bonds."

Itachi's lips press together. Yet he's tired, too tired to think, and too tired to care what Kisame or the Akatsuki think. They can kill him now and he wouldn't fight it. Sasuke…he wished he could fight him, uphold Shisui's wish to restore honor to the clan, and send his human brother home…but what does it matter? What does anything matter if Little Sasuke dies?

Kisame's cloak rustles as he stands from the wall. "Well, that's what I told Leader-sama anyway. He seemed to believe it and has changed your current assignment back to just caring for the min-nin, and saving it if possible."

Itachi's brow furrows while his partner walks out the door. However, the man pauses in the doorway.

"Though the truth…is there really such a thing for guys like us, Itachi-san?"

He waits. Itachi considers answering, but doesn't say a word. The moment passes and Kisame laughs.

"Yeah, that's what I thought too."

The Kiri-nin leaves, shutting the door behind him. Itachi is still for a second before staggering over to the knob and turning the lock.

Then he wobbles back to Little Sasuke, his expression crumbling. He collapses into the chair and his head falls into his hands, elbows hitting the table. What is he supposed to do? Sasuke cannot die.

The teen shudders with a ragged inhale and Itachi closes his eyes, releasing a frustrated hiss. Sasuke is alive, but for how long? None of the Akatsuki are medic-nin and finding a doctor with the control to not use too much chakra on his small body is unlikely.

Itachi glares at the table. He thought Kisame's books might have some helpful information, but the fact Kisame hadn't done anything except keep the min-nin warm told him they don't... Nobody can save Little Sasuke in the approximate day the min-nin has left before he starves—assuming his lungs don't give out first.

A presence appears by Itachi. His head snaps to the window. A pigeon leaps off from the outside ledge. Itachi calms, his gaze dulling while the bird takes off and glides into the dawn-lit sky. Little Sasuke's laughter echoes in his head as he recalls the min-nin riding his hawk for the first time.

"I'm sorry." Itachi looks down at the comatose min-nin, whispering, "I'm so sorry."

The Uchiha bows his head, eyes burning.

"Sorry, Sasuke."

"Another time, okay?"

Itachi raises two fingers and reaches to lay them on the min-nin's head, gently stroking his hair.

"Sorry, Sasuke…"

He closes his eyes.

"I don't think there's going to be a next time…"

A tear rolls down his face.

—

Itachi wakes up with his head pillowed in his arms. His eyes flutter, confusion layering his mind. His chakra is still recovering, so why did he wake up?

A breeze brushes over his bare arms. Itachi stiffens. He didn't leave the window open. Hastily he relaxes to appear unconscious because someone is in here, and it's not an Akatsuki member.

Everyone except for Pain, Kisame, and Deidara should still be out on their missions. Kisame wouldn't intrude and Deidara isn't foolish enough to sneak into his room again. Pain wouldn't have woken him up so easily—

Soft taps on the table. Itachi's heart clenches. He knows those little footsteps.

He peeks open his eyes, desperate hope rising inside him. The lamp's circle of light is blinding, but soon his vision adjusts. Little Sasuke lies in the towel, unconscious, yet Itachi's eyes widen at the min-nin beside the teen.

Konan's counterpart is staring at Little Sasuke, brow furrowed and two fingers pressed against the teen's neck. Itachi wonders if he's dreaming, hallucinating possibly, but then he senses someone's stare.

Itachi's eyes swing up to the open window. A min-nin with ebony hair gazes back at him from the sill, fear and horror twisting his face. However, Itachi can't speak before the min-nin jumps off the ledge and he jerks up as the min-nin whisks out four kunai in each hand, flinging them at his chest.

The Uchiha lurches to his feet and the kunai strike the chair. Yet he hisses as a blade rakes across his back, shredding through his armor weave. He twists around, whipping out a kunai from his pouch, and cuts through a paper shuriken stained red.

Itachi pivots back to see the dark-haired min-nin landing beside Konan, their expressions wary.

"Wait," Itachi raises his hand plaintively. "I—"

Tiny paper shuriken whirl from Konan and spin into a wall around the table. Between the spinning paper, Itachi glimpses both min-nin sprinting toward the window.

Itachi's eyes widen and in a blur of motion, he flicks out a paper tag before tossing out his kunai after them. The blade slices through the paper shuriken and flies out the window in front of the min-nin, the paper bomb attached to it sizzling.

The min-nin slide to a stop and jump back towards the table as the bomb goes off outside, flames shattering the window and throwing glass pieces into the air. Itachi's Sharingan flares and he lunges toward the table, hands snapping out to catch the min-nin.

His hand closes around the small Konan, but he's stunned when her companion whirls back with incredible speed and slices a kunai across his other hand. Yet Itachi ignores the sting and grabs the dark-haired min-nin.

Both min-nin tense up in his grip, though Konan is expressionless, and the other glares. However, neither tries to escape while Itachi brings them in closer.

"I know min-nin can understand human language." Konan's face twitches while the other min-nin gapes. "So listen, please."

His Sharingan fades and Itachi allows his face to fall. "Sasuke is dying, he needs your help."

Shock flashes on both of the min-nin's faces while he lowers them to the table. "Please." He sinks to his knees and lowers his head to the ground. "Help my brother."

Itachi waits, uncaring how the glass shards cut into his palms and legs. Nothing happens. However, Itachi doesn't hear the patter of feet, so keeps bowing until something brushes over his head.

Itachi looks up. Konan is in front of his face, her paper wings beating while her amber eyes stare intensely into his. Slowly, the kunoichi raises her hand.

Her thumb rubs against her fingers. Itachi's lips part.

"You…want money?"

Konan continues the motion, her neutral expression unchanging.

Itachi shakes off his surprise and carefully gets up. Konan flies over him, keeping her distance while he stumbles over to his dresser. He opens the bottom drawer, pushes aside his cloak and reaches for the small money pouch beneath.

The coins jingle while Itachi carries them back to the table and unclips the pouch, setting it down.

"It's not much," he says, side-eyeing the min-nin. "But I can get more if you…"

He trails off as an origami sheet flutters past his face and sweeps under the pouch. It rises, lifting the money off the table and gliding out the broken window.

Itachi turns back.

Nobody is there. The Uchiha's face wrinkles with uncertainty. Did the min-nin agree? Will they help Sasuke?

Itachi looks out the broken window. He doesn't know. All he does know is that if Little Sasuke dies, he'll take him down with him.

—

Itachi pours tea into a cup. He puts the silver kettle back on the stove, grabs his tea, and strides out of the room while swiping up a bento full of dumplings. He's not hungry, though he hasn't eaten more than microwaved ramen all day, but if Sasuke wakes up by some miracle, he'll need something to eat.

Itachi pulls open his bedroom door, yet stops, hand tightening on the knob. The window is open, the plastic sheet he'd covered it with flapping in the wind.

The Uchiha looks at the table. An empty towel lays open there. Itachi hurries to the table, but Little Sasuke is nowhere to be found.

However, Itachi reaches down for the object left in front of the towel, carefully pinching it between his fingers.

The miniature paper crane gleams gold in the sunlight.

Itachi's breath hitches, face wracking with emotion. Little Sasuke…he's in good hands now.

The Uchiha deposits the food on the table and takes the crane to his dresser. He opens a drawer and sets it on top of his clothes.

He may not have a thousand paper cranes, but maybe one is all he needs for his wish to come true.

—

Itachi goes to bed feeling oddly light and wakes up more refreshed than he has in months. His chakra flourishes throughout his body and his muscles barely ache as he sits up.

Yet his peace is interrupted when a washcloth hits his chest. Itachi eyes the hand towel rolling into his lap before turning to his dresser.

The dark-haired min-nin from earlier stands on top of an open drawer. He glances back warily, one of Itachi's kunai tied to his back though it's almost twice his size.

Itachi raises a brow. "If you wanted a kunai, you simply had to ask."

The min-nin stares flatly at him. Then he turns away from Itachi and hops into the drawer, continuing to rifle through his clothes. He's listening, but pretending not to like Little Sasuke used to. Maybe acknowledging human language is a taboo in min-nin culture or they're just not used to having a human try to communicate with them.

Regardless, Itachi wonders how the min-nin version of the Akatsuki met Little Sasuke. He's certain now that the teen gave his coins to them, perhaps as payment to rescue him. Though if that's the case, why didn't they help the teen until now? Sasuke was in Ame for over a week before leaving on missions. The min-nin had plenty of time to help, so why did they wait?

A rattling makes Itachi refocus. The min-nin stands on the dresser next to Itachi's pill bottle. Itachi frowns while the min-nin eyes him.

Soon Itachi understands his expression and sighs, "I'm sick." He looks out to his window. "I don't have much longer."

The min-nin's face hardens and he looks between the pill bottle and Itachi twice. Itachi's eyes narrow. The min-nin movements are oddly familiar… Could he be a Konoha-nin?

Yet Itachi is the only Akatsuki member from Konoha, and the only other missing-nin with dark hair and eyes is—

He shakes his head. He shouldn't assume when he's never seen Tobi's real face. Also, he's unsure if this min-nin is even an Uchiha.

Another washcloth flies at Itachi, but he snatches it out of the air and lowers it to his lap. He cocks his head, curious. Is the min-nin really robbing him? Or rifling through Itachi's things, perhaps to learn more about him?

The air whirls into a vortex beside Itachi's bed. Itachi quickly stands and grabs the min-nin in his hand towel while a figure emerges from the vortex. He brings the min-min close to his chest and the tiny shinobi squirms, kunai nicking Itachi's already bandaged hand.

"Get out of my room," Itachi seethes as Tobi arrives.

"Is the min-nin dead?" the masked man asks, unbothered while his eye scans the room and narrows on the empty table. "If he is—"

"Get out of my room," Itachi repeats through his teeth, glaring fire.

Tobi brushes past him and goes to the broken window. "You can retrieve a replacement—"

Amaterasu flares over Tobi. The man cries out in shock and pain, tearing off his burning cloak while a vortex whirls around him. Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan eye bleeds, veins bulging as the man stumbles in the vortex and disappears, his burning cloak drifting to the ground.

Itachi's Sharingan fades and he clutches his throbbing eye while the black fire eats away the cloak's red clouds until not even ashes remain. Itachi opens his hand with the min-nin in it.

The little shinobi stares at him, jaw hanging open at the black flames. However, Itachi just walks over to the dresser and sets the min-nin on it before using the hand towel to wipe the blood from his eye.

"Do you understand now?" Itachi looks to the min-nin who has closed his mouth, though still seems stunned. "I have nothing left to lose."

The min-nin's brow furrows, and some indiscernible emotion gleams in his gaze. Slowly, he nods.

Itachi sighs, eyes closing. "So take care of my brother…he's all that matters."

His eyes open and Itachi isn't shocked when he finds the min-nin has disappeared.

—

Itachi is drinking tea at his table when the plastic over the window peels open from the corner. He looks up, and his tea nearly slips from his hand.

Konan's counterpart and the dark-haired shinobi carry a stretcher into the room. Little Sasuke lays in it, the collar of a black t-shirt peeking out from the white sheet tucked around him.

Itachi hastily lowers his tea as the min-nin set Little Sasuke on the table. He looks to Konan's counterpart while the woman lets go of the stretcher and regards him.

"Is he going to be okay?"

Konan inclines her head. Relief rinses away the tension in his shoulders and he sighs.

"Good." Itachi's eyes lighten. "Thank you."

Konan doesn't react, but her expression softens the slightest bit, and she raises her hand. A folded origami sheet slips in from the window and flies over to Itachi.

He catches the paper, quickly unfolding it. The sheet is blank. Itachi's brow furrows, having expected a message since min-nin could write.

The Uchiha raises his head. "What—"

The min-nin are gone. Itachi is surprised, but soon smiles. This must mean their business is done.

A choked exhale interrupts the quiet. Itachi’s head snaps over to Little Sasuke as the teen's face scrunches with pain.

"Little Sasuke?"

Itachi leans forward, hands hovering over the teen while the tiny ninja's eyes flutter open. His groggy gaze finds Itachi.

Joy bursts in Itachi's chest, his hands pulling back. "You're awake—"

"Nii-san."

Itachi freezes. His eyes grow impossibly wide. Then his chair is clattering to the floor and he’s on his feet, mouth opening and closing while his lips tremble.

"Sasuke," he whispers. "You…you can talk!?"

The teen has already closed his eyes so Itachi's question rings in the silence.

Chapter Text

"Nii-san."

Itachi sucks in a ragged breath as that one word shatters his heart just as fast as it mends it. Yet if there’s any pain in his lungs, he doesn’t feel it, so he forgets for a second that he's sick, forgets that he's twenty-one and won't live to see twenty-two, forgets everything because that voice—it's Sasuke's voice.

Little Sasuke has Sasuke’s voice. He can talk. What does this mean? That the min-nin could talk this whole time, yet hadn’t? Why?

Itachi's lips press together and he glares at the metal ceiling. Why didn't the min-nin start talking once he trusted him? Or could he not talk back then—no, raspy as his voice was, he'd spoken too fluidly for him to have just learned how to speak. So why all the charades when he could have simply spoken? Or did the min-nin have difficulty speaking? Maybe all min-nin have trouble talking and that's why they don't—

Itachi sighs harshly, his head flopping back against his pillow and the mattress squeaking while his raven hair strews around his face. This is ridiculous. He's been asking himself the same questions for six days and isn't any closer to proper answers… Because only one person can tell him what he needs to know. However, that same person has been hiding the fact he can speak for two months and will likely continue to do so once he awakens.

The Uchiha closes his eyes. Maybe he shouldn't say anything. Whatever reason Little Sasuke had for his silence likely still exists, so would there be any point in telling him he knew he could talk? No, not if it would just make things awkward between them… If only he knew the min-nin's reason, he could find a way to work around it. Or, at least, understand why Little Sasuke deceived him for so long.

A crunch resounds through the room. Itachi's eyes snap open.

Another crunch echoes across the room. Itachi inhales a steadying breath because could it be?

He dares look aside.

Little Sasuke wobbles on the table, his cheeks bulged and chunks of rice and fish in his hands while the plate of onigiri he'd been making fresh each day is a scattered mess behind him. Itachi is up and crossing the room in under two seconds. Little Sasuke only gets to blink at him before he's snatched up into his hands.

"Sasuke!" Itachi cries, smiling so hard it hurts and pressing the min-min against his chest in the closest thing to an embrace they can have.

The min-nin chokes, the food tumbling out of his grasp, and Itachi quickly pulls him back.

"Sorry, sorry," Itachi exhales shakily, though his smile is still radiant.

Little Sasuke blinks dazedly in his hold and his lips move. Itachi tenses, heart clenching.

The min-nin yawns and drops his head on Itachi's thumb. Hope crumbles in Itachi's chest, but he shakes it off.

"I was worried about you." Itachi bows his head to hide his disappointment. "I'm just so glad you're okay."

He looks up. Little Sasuke's eyes are closed, the teen breathing slowly and deeply. Itachi almost worries he imagined the min-nin standing and eating, but spots the rice grains and fish bits on the floor.

The Uchiha sighs, "Get some rest, Little Sasuke." His smile falls a little. "We have a lot to discuss when you wake up."

Itachi's mouth draws to a line while the min-nin sleeps on, and if his lips form that word again, Itachi pretends he doesn't see it.

—

The Akatsuki tower gleams in the golden sunshine, the sky pink and violet behind it while light spills through Itachi's broken window. Sasuke's face warms under the sun and he twitches on the pillow upon the table. Slowly, his eyes flutter open.

Instant alertness slams into him. Sasuke’s eyes widen and he flings himself up, muscles twinging from disuse. What? Where…?

Sasuke’s stomach roars, but he ignores his hunger as the sun burns his eyes. He hisses and raises his hand against the light, trying to squint past it.

Memories of ice and iron cutting his flesh rush through his head. He tenses. Someone had pulled him out of the frozen lake, but who? Deidara? Kisame? Someone else?

A shadow rises beside the window and blocks the sun—Oki. Sasuke leaps up into a defensive position, legs trembling slightly, when the light falls on the Oki's face.

"Little Sasuke?" Oki-Itachi, eyes huge and the sunshine a golden halo around him, peers worriedly at Sasuke.

Joy blooms in the teen’s heart. Oki-Nii-san? He thought he’d never see him again!

Sasuke starts to smile, but the grin freezes as it hits him this also means he's back with the Akatsuki. Hope wilts in his chest right when a spicy aroma floods his nose.

Sasuke’s head snaps over to a wooden bento box in the Oki's hand. His eyes latch onto the fried rice dipped in soy sauce under veggies and beef. Then he's stumbling into a run.

"Sasuke?" Itachi calls in alarm while the teen springs off the table and flies at the box.

He trips a bit on the landing, skidding on oil, but he doesn't care as he stops by the steaming pile of food. His mouth is full of rice before he knows it, and though he hears a startled chuckle escape the Oki, he ignores it while shoveling more warm rice into his mouth.

"Oh, I see."

Sasuke gulps the food, hand already on a celery piece as he glances up. Oki-Itachi's eyes crinkle with a smile.

"So you only keep me around for my cooking?"

The human crosses his arms in mock offense. Sasuke stills, realizing he probably stole the Oki's dinner, and he smiles bashfully, rubbing the back of his neck.

Oki-Itachi shakes his head, amused, and carefully lowers the bento box onto the table. "Eat as much as you like. You haven't had a proper meal for over a week."

Sasuke stops chewing. A week? And he didn't starve?

Oki-Itachi reads the question on his face and his expression hardens. "After my shadow clone retrieved you from the lake, I brought you back here." His voice tightens. "You wouldn't have made it, but a couple of Akatsuki min-nin showed up and saved you."

Sasuke's eyes widen. The Chibi Akatsuki helped him?

"They brought you back once you were well enough and you woke up yesterday, though you weren't all there."

Sasuke blinks, unable to recall anything after falling into the lake. He lowers his celery, chomping on it slowly while his brow wrinkles. Why did the Chibi Akatsuki come for him now? Why not sooner? Did they only recently see his message? Or were they unwilling to risk helping him until he was at death's door?

"Also, tell me…”

Sasuke looks up. He flinches at the Oki’s expressionless face.

"Was it Deidara who threw you into the lake?"

Sasuke jolts, but quickly understanding, he shakes his head. However, Oki-Itachi's expression grows colder.

"Kisame?" he asks tonelessly.

Sasuke shakes his head again, and the Oki's face eases.

"Was it other min-nin?"

Sasuke nods and the human's tear troughs stretch with confusion. "Why?"

The teen pauses, considering how to explain. Slowly, he points up to his headband, but stops as he notices no weight there. He pats his bare forehead, face falling. Did it get loose when Haku attacked him?

Oki-Itachi understands anyway. "Headband," he says.

Sasuke shakes off his worry and nods. Then he makes a wavy motion with his hands. Oki-Itachi's eyes narrow.

"Swimming…the min-nin who attacked you were from Kirigakure."

Sasuke inclines his head and is going to make another move, but stills. Kiri…Kiri! 

"The Eye of the Moon project."

Sasuke gasps.

"That is a true world free of lies."

He loses two shades of color as Madara’s voice sears through his head. No, no. He remembers now. The Mizukage was under Madara’s control and…and he has to warn everyone. The whole world is in danger. His clan, his mom, Nii-san, Naruto, Sakura, Konoha—

A hand wraps around him and Sasuke's head snaps up while he suddenly realizes his chest is heaving with too fast breaths. Oki-Itachi stares worriedly at him.

"Tell me what's wrong," he says sternly, yet kindly.

Sasuke's mouth opens, but he manages to snap it close on the words begging to burst out. Instead, he lifts a trembling hand, points at his eye, and draws chakra up so his Sharingan awakens. Then he points to Oki-Itachi's eyes, deactivating his dōjutsu.

The Oki frowns. "You want me to look at your memories?"

Sasuke nods jerkily, his hands clutching Oki-Itachi's finger like he'd fall without it because that's what it feels like. He's falling. The world is crumbling around him and he'll fall and fall to oblivion if he doesn't get help now.

Oki-Itachi's Sharingan burns to life and Sasuke meets his gaze. A gentle genjutsu washes over him, mental fingers prodding his mind, and Sasuke easily dredges up the memory of Kisame and Madara.

In seconds, Oki-Itachi's hand is squeezing Sasuke too tight. Sasuke chokes as the human’s jaw goes slack and the genjutsu shatters.

"No…that can't…"

Oki-Itachi's eyes are wide, his Sharingan spinning back and forth agitatedly. He looks at Sasuke before snatching his hand back from him, face becoming ashen.

"You saw this in Kisame's head?" His brow furrows. "He's known all this time…"

A chill drenches Sasuke. Oki-Itachi didn't know, which means he hasn't figured out how to stop it. Nobody is ready to stop this.

Sasuke inhales a steadying breath to halt his panic. They…they need help. Oki-Itachi can't do anything to stop the Akatsuki directly, the others would kill him if he tries fighting them and do the same if he refuses to help them. Yet, he's not on friendly terms with any other Akatsuki member except Kisame—who's clearly with Madara. So assuming some of the other missing-nin similarly don't know the truth, telling them about it would either change nothing or even cause them to join Madara.

Also, even if he warns Konoha, Danzo wouldn't believe him and would convince his fellow counselors not to believe him too while the Fifth Hokage only knows his brother as a missing-nin…

Oki-Itachi realizes this as well because he hisses a curse before saying, "I've always tried to delay the Akatsuki's capturing of jinchūriki, but now that the Hokage and Mizukage are under their control…”

Sasuke gapes. The Hokage is under the Akatsuki's control?

His brother frowns. "Yes, Tobi was successful in catching her in a genjutsu, but your escape attempt at least saved the Raikage and Kumo's jinchūriki." His frown deepens. "Though, Hidan and Kazuku have been sent to retrieve one of them and Konan captured Kiri's jinchūriki."

Oki-Itachi‘s jaw clenches. "He's already…"

Sasuke shakes his head because this can't be it, there must be something they can do. Sure, Sasuke is just a Chibi and most of his allies are Chibi, and no matter how strong they all are, their Oki counterparts will always have an advantage… Wait a second…

Sasuke inhales sharply. Then he’s biting his thumb and flying through five seals.

"Little Sasuke?"

The teen lays his hand on the table. Smoke explodes around him while his hawk summon emerges through the wisps.

"Hold on," the Oki raises his hand, "You can't leave—"

Sasuke shakes his head. He stares determinedly at Oki-Itachi and the human's face lights with surprise while Sasuke joins his palms together like two people shaking hands.

Itachi's eyes narrow, the man recognizing the ANBU code. "Get help. From who?"

Sasuke's brows slant with resolve. There's only one entity that can stop the Akatsuki.

He points. Oki-Itachi's eyes follow his finger down. His breath hitches.

The red cloud on the human's cloak gleams orange in the sunlight.

Because the only ones who can stop the Akatsuki are the Akatsuki.

—

Sasuke's hawk swoops out of the hazy orange sky and drops down on the tower ledge. Sasuke hops off the summon before it fully lands, his feet clanging on the metal ground while he sprints toward the iron door. Lightning sparks in his palm, stretching into a blade, and he doesn't hesitate to slash it down the entrance.

The metal tilts back in two pieces, clattering on the floor. Sasuke rushes over the slabs and strides into the base.

"Who the—"

Chibi-Deidara pauses from where he jumped off the couch, a kunai poised to throw in his hand.

"You…"

Deidara's face scrunches in confusion as Sasuke dismisses his lightning and stares imploringly at the missing-nin.

"The Oki are going to destroy us." Deidara's mouth drops. "Oki and Chibi, none of us are safe."

Deidara freezes while something flashes in the corner of Sasuke's eye. He turns to see a kunai stilling by his throat as Nagato's cloak settles down after his teleporting. His Rinnegan eye is steely, yet soon widens in recognition.

Though Sasuke doesn't care while he exhales breathily, "The Oki Akatsuki are going to place the entire world under a genjutsu."

Deidara gasps as Nagato's face goes blank, though his Rinnegan bores into Sasuke. Eventually, the man lowers his kunai.

He gives Sasuke another long look before quietly saying, "Tell me everything."

Sasuke's shoulders slouch in relief and then everything spills out.

Chibi-Konan is pale as she recoils in her seat at the gray round table. Yahiko turns to her, expression tight and eyes full of concern.

"My Oki knew about this?" she whispers, face spasming with horror and betrayal. "How could she?"

Sasuke gazes sympathetically from across the table before glancing at the other members. Deidara is staring into space, looking very lost, while Kakuzu's expression is blank, though his back is tense. Yet Obito stands away from them all, face turned to the giant vent grate where the cool night air whistles into the base.

"I suspect," Nagato says carefully, everyone seated turning his way. "That she is simply being loyal to her friend."

Konan closes her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Those fools. That isn't peace," she spits, her eyes opening to reveal a flinty stare.

"And regardless of their reasons," Yahiko glowers at the table, "We cannot allow their plan to succeed."

Sasuke frowns, but now that his initial panic has faded, he just feels hollow and worn. So he keeps silent as the seconds tick, tick, and tick.

"We all know what the easiest solution is."

Sasuke raises his head. Nagato assesses everyone coolly, his violet eye lingering on Yahiko and Konan.

"We kill the Oki Akatsuki."

Concern rouses in Sasuke, lips drawing to a line. Oki-Itachi is technically a part of the Akatsuki, but he's innocent of this plan. He shouldn't have to pay for their crimes.

"Hey, hey." Deidara's eyes narrow. "My Oki isn't a part of this crazy project, he didn't even want to join the Akatsuki."

He crosses his arms and huffs, leaning back in his seat with his scowl daring someone to challenge him. Yet no challenge comes as Kakuzu nods and Nagato smirks.

"I didn't mean all of the Oki Akatsuki." Nagato's amusement vanishes. "I just meant the ones in charge. Without them, I doubt the other Akatsuki members will have the means or will to carry out this Eye of the Moon plan."

"Yes," Yahiko glowers at the table, "But where would that leave the Chibi Akatsuki? How will we accomplish our goals after our strongest members lose most of their chakra?"

Sasuke's raises a brow. The Oki Akatsuki's strongest members are Pain and Tobi considering they lead the others. He looks between Nagato and Yahiko, both bearing a resemblance to Pain, but Yahiko already lost most of his chakra so…

"Your counterpart is Pain."

Sasuke stares at Nagato and the man's gaze flicks toward him.

"Oki-Konan," Sasuke grimaces, wanting to hit himself, "I forgot she called Pain Nagato." His brow wrinkles. "And that's why you can summon the Rinnegan…which you'll lose if Pain dies."

Nagato shrugs, his bang shifting over his face. "Yes, it would be a loss, but regardless, we can't kill my counterpart unless we track down Pain's real body anyway."

Sasuke recoils. Real body—Pain's not in his real body!? But then whose…

The teen glances at Yahiko. Revulsion rises inside him. Is Pain walking around in Oki-Yahiko's corpse? What type of twisted jutsu—

"No."

Obito turns around, eyes granite and a hint of red smoldering in his pupils.

"We don't need to kill Oki-Nagato or Oki-Konan." Obito's face hardens. "Just my Oki," he hisses.

Sasuke cocks his head. "Who is…"

He pauses, thinking while Obito stares flatly at him. Yet there's only one other Uchiha in the Oki Akatsuki…

So Tobi isn't Madara. That's reassuring, but also makes him wonder why the Oki is a missing-nin and why he hates the world so much he wants to put everyone in a genjutsu. Maybe he can ask Oki-Itachi about it.

"What if we talk to them?"

Sasuke's head shoots up and Deidara sputters, "Huh!?"

Yet Konan gazes steadily at everyone. Wait, she really means reveal themselves to the Oki?

"We could kill them," Konan says blandly. "But even if we struck them in their beds, killing them would be detrimental to our own organization." Her lips purse. "I'm also not sure we're capable of killing them."

She frowns at the table. "Oki-Obito always has a White Zetsu spore on him for protection, so we'd have to kill Zetsu first, and his death would put Oki-Obito on guard."

Yahiko nods, stroking his chin. "And Zetsu never sleeps, so there would be no sneaking up on him."

"Exactly." Konan turns to him, face softening though her expression is strained. "So why don't we try talking to our Oki first? I can convince her, I'm sure of it," she whispers almost like he's the only one meant to hear.

"And if you do?" Kakuzu interrupts, and Konan glares at him. "Can she really change Oki-Nagato's mind?"

Yahiko's eyes narrow. "Of course, no version of Nagato would betray Konan." He sends the redhead a brief smile before looking back at Kakuzu. "So if we convince one of them to abandon the plan, both of them will."

"And then they would turn on Oki-Obito," Nagato adds. "And get rid of him for us."

"Yet," Kakuzu interrupts. "This all hinges on convincing Oki-Konan to give up on a plan she has been working towards for over a decade."

Konan's eyes slant determinedly. "I can."

"And if you can't?" Kakuzu asks sternly.

Konan recoils and her expression pinches, eyes shifting aside. Doubt splinters Sasuke's chest because if the plan fails…

"At worst." Obito folds his arms, not meeting anyone's eyes. "The Oki will kill us, but more likely, they'll use us like they used Sasuke."

Confidence visibly disintegrates around the room, Deidara even sinking into his seat with a despairing look. Yet Sasuke hands curl into fists, rage boiling inside as it hits him that if the Oki's plan succeeds, everything Oki-Itachi sacrificed would become meaningless. Not happening.

"Then we need a backup plan," Sasuke seethes, resolve steeling his tone. "I can warn Chibi Konoha, tell them what's happened to the Oki-Hokage and save the Nine-Tails jinchūriki."

He looks to Nagato. "I can also convince them to support you guys if need be, and we could stop the Oki Akatsuki together."

Skepticism crosses Yahiko's face. "But don't you Konoha-nin have laws against interfering with Oki affairs?"

Sasuke scowls. "That won't stop me."

Yahiko's brow rises, but Sasuke means it, nothing is allowed to make a mockery of his brother's life.

"So." Sasuke refocus as a smirk curves Yahiko's mouth. "You mean we would declare war on the Oki?"

Sasuke reels back against his chair. However, the shock fades and he frowns.

"Well, only against the Oki Akatsuki—"

Yahiko jumps to his feet, pointer finger flying heavenward. Nagato rolls his eye and annoyance crosses Konan's face before she puts up a blank mask, but everyone else looks resigned while the Akatsuki leader announces.

"Then united, we Chibi will defeat the Oki Akatsuki! And soon all Oki will bow to our will!"

Sasuke opens his mouth, but a hand lands on his shoulder. He turns to Kakuzu who shakes his head.

Sasuke closes his mouth as the man sighs, "Let him have this or he'll go on for longer."

Sasuke nods in understanding, but pauses to gaze past the man as Obito strides around them to the metal door. The man is tense from his shoulders down to his legs, and Sasuke wants to speak with him, but Obito is out the door and then he's gone.

"There's a bounty on your head." Sasuke's eyes snap back to Kakuzu. "A pretty large one, offered by the Mizukage herself."

Sasuke frowns as the man's gaze pierces his. "Be careful on your journey home." He gets up. "Though if you find yourself dying, try to send word so I can cash in your bounty."

Sasuke balks while the man exits the room. Um, what?

The teen shakes off his confusion and looks across the room. Yahiko is seated again, Konan and Nagato speaking in hushed tones beside him. Guess the meeting is over then.

Sasuke stands from his chair, intending to find Obito. Deidara is still sitting, eyes glazed and a frown slanting his mouth.

"Hey," Sasuke says quietly, and Deidara jumps, twisting around.

Concern wells inside the Uchiha as he notices sweat beading the Iwa-nin's face.

"You okay?"

Deidara stares at him. Gradually, his eyes clear and sharpen. He stands and brushes past Sasuke to the door. The Uchiha is taken aback when Deidara pauses in the doorway. Sasuke realizes what he wants and goes to join him, the both of them exiting together.

"What is it?" Sasuke asks while the teen turns a corner.

However, Deidara doesn't slow his stride or stop, so Sasuke shuts his mouth as they arrive in the living room. Deidara walks over the broken door, which Sasuke feels bad about now that he's not panicking, and goes out to the ledge.

Finally, Deidara stops. He looks up at the night sky where the moon hides behind the clouds. Sasuke shivers at the cool night air since he's only wearing a t-shirt, but takes his place beside him.

Seconds pass. Then without turning from the sky, Deidara asks, "Do you know why I joined the Akatsuki?"

Sasuke blinks, yet can't answer as Deidara continues, "I joined to stay near my Oki."

Sasuke reels back. "Him?" he says before realizing how rude it sounds.

However, Deidara chuckles and turns around, mirth brightening his eyes. "Yeah, I know, he can be a pain.”

Deidara scratches his cheek bashfully. “But…” He sighs, expression growing serious. His gaze falls on the ledge while the wind ripples through his cloak and Sasuke rubs his arms to stave off the cold.

"You've got family waiting for you back in Konoha, right?"

Sasuke squints, thrown off by the subject change, yet soon nods.

Deidara huffs. He raises his head and his expression is carefully blank.

"I never had parents.” Deidara shrugs, but his stare is flinty, and Sasuke's lips part in shock. "By the time I was born, neither did my Oki… He was all I had."

Sasuke's forehead wrinkles. "You're worried about him."

Deidara slumps and runs a hand through his long hair. "Just, I know he's not the nicest guy or even a good guy…but he's family."

His blue bores into Sasuke's ebony.

"Please,” Deidara begs. “Don’t fail us."

Sasuke freezes for a second. Yet soon he smiles.

"Don't worry,” he says kindly. “My brother is waiting for me."

He turns to the horizon. The village lights glint off the towering metal buildings and rooftops, shimmering across the enormous lake, but Sasuke stares past them to a place far away. His face hardens.

"I'm going home."

The wind courses through Sasuke's hair, and part of him hopes it carries his words so they glide past the lake, down the river, through the trees, and right into the Uchiha district. And if his brother is awake, he hears it, so a smile brightens his face.

—

Sasuke returns to Oki-Itachi’s window, rubbing the goosebumps from his bare arms. Pale yellow light is streaming out of the room so he squints while stepping into its glow and reaches to tug aside the plastic taped over the sill corner.

Oki-Itachi glances up from his chair, the heat lamp dim on the table before him as Sasuke hops down onto the wooden surface. The human’s mouth opens, but wavers while Sasuke practically runs up to the lamp. Heat washes over him and Sasuke melts with a happy sigh. That’s better.

"I…assume your trip was successful," Oki-Itachi says like that isn't what he meant to say.

Sasuke raises a brow at his strange tone, yet nods. However, Oki-Itachi keeps staring, his brow wrinkling and eyes losing focus. Sasuke frowns. He hesitates, but soon leaves the lamp to approach the hand resting on the table.

Oki-Itachi doesn’t react, his gaze a hundred miles gone, until Sasuke taps on his finger. His brother’s hand snaps away and Sasuke starts, but Itachi sees him and quickly lowers it back down. 

"Oh, um, I have a plan to get you home."

Sasuke’s breath hitches, eyes growing huge while the human turns away.

"It's foolproof this time, no one will even think to follow you."

Hope flutters around Sasuke's heart because he'll be home in days if this is true.

"But before we get to that—“

Oki-Itachi stops, face contorting with discomfort. Sasuke raises an eye and barely keeps in the, “Are you okay?” threatening to spill from his lips.

The human exhales and his raven eyes bore into Sasuke.

"I need to tell you something.”

Wariness prickles over Sasuke's skin, the Chibi realizing something important is about to be said.

Oki-Itachi swallows thickly, but his expression is resolved as he says, "If you don't feel comfortable explaining,” his voice softens, “You don’t have to, I won't be mad.”

Sasuke frowns and crosses his arms, trying to get comfortable because while he doesn’t want to be impatient, he’s been panicked practically since the moment he woke up and his nerves can’t take much more so just say it—

"You called me Nii-san."

Sasuke blinks. Oki-Itachi stares gravely at him, yet Sasuke blinks again because what? What did he just hear?

Itachi waits a minute. However, when Sasuke continues staring uncomprehendingly at him, his brow furrows.

”As you briefly woke up from your coma,” the Oki says carefully. “You called me Nii-san.” 

Sasuke stares, hearing the words but not understanding. Because it can’t be what Sasuke thinks—that’s impossible.

“Sasuke.”

The Chibi’s heartbeat quickens as Itachi’s raven eyes burn into his.

”You spoke.”

Sasuke stops breathing. Something shatters in his ears. The world goes silent. No… No. He didn’t—wouldn’t, couldn’t, never!—spoke to a human. 

”Little Sasuke?”

The Chibi chokes and his hands shoot to his neck while horror clogs up his lungs. Oki-Itachi’s eyes widen.

”Sasuke?” the human asks louder, standing up.

However, the world wobbles and goes fuzzy at the edges. Sasuke drops to his knees, but doesn’t feel anything as he floats between conscious and unconscious.

He spoke…he spoke to an Oki?

"Remember our most important rule."

Itachi's words ring in his head and something breaks inside Sasuke. His hands slip from his throat and he falls back on something soft. Oki-Itachi’s face is suddenly very close, his lips moving fast, but there’s a fog between them so Sasuke soon forgets he’s there.

He…Oki-Itachi heard him talk… Sasuke talked. All these weeks of bottling up his words and using hand signs to be understood, and Sasuke gave in. He failed his brother. It doesn’t matter now if he goes home, he’ll be banished. His brother, his clan, his friends, they'll be heartbroken when they find out what he's done.

Sasuke inhales a ragged breath and his vision clears while his expression twists with grief. Nii-san, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.

Shame burns over his face, and yet there's a weight lifting from him. Sasuke refocuses on Oki-Itachi's worried face and it hits him that there's no need to lie anymore. He…he can talk to Oki-Nii-san now. 

Sasuke laughs a little, though it's more hysterical than amused while he sits up on the table. Oki-Itachi’s tear troughs deepen with concern.

"Are you okay?"

The human eyes him, an expectation in his gaze, and Sasuke knows what he wants. So the teen takes a deep breath and opens his mouth.

"I'm okay, Oki-Nii-san," is what he tries to say. However, what comes out is a strangled wheeze.

Confusion twists the human's face and Sasuke blinks, mouth snapping close. What was that? Why didn’t the words come out?

Sasuke opens his mouth again. He chokes.

Sasuke coughs, hacking nothing into his hands. What…what is wrong with him?

"Oh." Sasuke's eyes shoot up to see Oki-Itachi's brow furrowing in comprehension. "You've been pretending so long, it feels too strange for you to speak."

Sasuke gasps. Could that be it? Is that really what's holding him back?

The Oki smiles reassuringly. "That's alright, you don't have to say anything," a bit of sadness weighs down his face, "I understand."

Sasuke shakes his head because there are so many things he wants to tell his brother now that he can. Expressions of gratitude, apologies, explanations, and the list just goes on.

"It was the same for me." Itachi's expression becomes serious. "I pretended to be this cold, unfeeling missing-nin for so long that I… I started to forget what was fake and what was my true self."

Sasuke recoils. Oki-Itachi forgot who he was... How long had he lived like that? Surely not since he was thirteen…right?

"But then I met you." Itachi's voice warms, his smile tender. "And everything I did for you, I never had to think about or second-guess because caring for you brought out a side of me I couldn’t deny.” He sighs. “For the first time in years, I felt like me again."

The human looks away.

"So if you can't speak, that's alright."

Oki-Itachi starts walking to his dresser.

"Just be ready in the morning, I'll explain everything after breakfast."

He unzips his cloak, shrugging it off, and Sasuke realizes he's getting ready for bed. The Chibi opens his mouth, his hand stretching out to the Oki, but something strangles his voice into silence. His hand drops. Despair wracks his expression.

If he doesn't speak now, he'll never get a chance to. Something tells Sasuke this truly will be the last time he sees Oki-Itachi and he can't let it end like this.

He won't.

Sasuke's teeth grit, hands curling up so tight his nails cut into his palms. He gags while opening his mouth, lips trembling, and yet he forces himself to take a deep breath and—

"Oki-Nii-san!"

The human spins back, eyes huge.

Sasuke, his chest heaving, stares back in equal shock. However, soon a smile splits his face, and he raises a shaky hand.

"H-hi."

Itachi's eyes somehow get bigger. Then he's at the table and bending down to his level. He stares, expression giving away nothing. Sasuke gazes back, heart thumping. Slowly, a smile lights up his face.

"Hi," Oki-Itachi exhales, the slightest quiver in his voice. "Little Sasuke."

Heat burns Sasuke's cheeks because out of all the things to say, they went with a generic greeting, and yet they're talking. He and Oki-Nii-san are talking, and Sasuke's heart glows because he has so much to say.

The teen’s face falls. Though, there's something more important than what he wants to say.

"I love you."

Oki-Itachi jerks back so fast he's surprised his spine doesn't break, shock bright in his gaze.

Yet before he can recover, Sasuke adds, "And I know you love me too, but…"

Sadness strains Sasuke's eyes.

"Do you love me enough not to kill yourself?"

Oki-Itachi freezes. His eyes lock on Sasuke. The Chibi stares back, expression grave.

"Sasuke…"

The Oki raises a hand like he’s going to pick him up. Yet he stops. In a blink his fingers twist into signs and a wind sweeps around him, dust swirling at his feet. His brother vanishes.

Sasuke stares at where the human used Shunshin, and slowly his expression crumbles. What was the point in talking if Itachi wouldn’t listen?

Chapter Text

Sasuke waits. His eyelids grow heavy, his legs go numb, and yet he stares at the door, waiting. Oki-Nii-san loves him like Nii-san loves him. Sasuke's eyes burn into the door. His lips curve down. But what if that love isn't as strong as he thought?

Time passes. Dawn's light crawls up the table, warming his back. Sasuke wilts, eyes dulling. Oki-Nii-san…

The door lock clicks. Sasuke's head shoots up while the door opens. Oki-Itachi enters the room, and though he's expressionless, hope blooms in Sasuke's chest. He's here! They're actually going to talk!

Itachi locks the door shut and turns to him. "I'm sorry for running off on you but about what you said—"

He smiles gently and Sasuke's hope crescendos.

"I'll consider it."

Sasuke's grin vanishes. Numb shock echoes inside him. Consider it…he'll consider it?

The Oki comes to the table, laying down a closed scroll, but his words keep ringing in Sasuke's ears. Consider it…consider it…consider it…

He's not going to do it.

Hope shatters in Sasuke's chest. He feels nothing for a second…then rage blazes inside.

Yet his voice is ice as he asks, "Do you know what will happen to my brother if you die?"

Oki-Itachi stills. He looks at Sasuke, brow scrunching.

Sasuke smirks cruelly. "When our Oki counterpart dies, most of our chakra goes with them."

Itachi's eyes widen and Sasuke growls, "My clan's chakra was crippled after what you did, and now you're going to kill yourself and steal chakra from one of the only two who didn't lose theirs."

Itachi's expression goes flat. "You say that like it's a choice."

"It is." Sasuke glares, hands balling up. "You never even tried curing yourself, and if I told you us Chibi could cure you, you'd deny our help, wouldn't you?"

Itachi's expression doesn't change and Sasuke bristles. "And even if there is no cure," his voice darkens, "How dare you use your brother like a tool."

Itachi doesn't scowl but his face twitches in a way that says he wants to. "My brother has every right to kill me as the clan heir—"

"Then it's my right too, isn't it?" Sasuke raises a brow. "Even my brother's right by that logic," he scoffs.

Itachi finally scowls but his voice is perfectly calm while he says, "You and your brother haven't abandoned Konoha like Sasuke, and though he isn't officially listed as a missing-nin, most of Konoha views him as such. Yet if he kills me, he can return to the Village a hero."

Sasuke glowers but soon looks to the desk. "You know," his voice softens, "I'm not blaming you for the choices you made that night."

Itachi blinks, taken aback.

"Oki-Sasuke needed a goal to keep him from falling into despair, and telling him the truth would have just had him target the Village and be killed, I get that."

Sasuke's face hardens. "My problem is that you have more options now, yet you're still going with a plan that will cripple my brother, hurt my clan, and hurt me!"

Itachi's breath hitches. "Little Sas—"

"I've loved you since the day I learned you exist!"

Itachi freezes while despair twists Sasuke's face.

"Don't you get it?" he whispers like the silence is too fragile to handle anything more. "Chibi or human, you're all my family." His eyes burn, voice wavering. "And I didn't just lose Oki-Tou-san and Oki-Kaa-san that night."

His sad eyes bore into Itachi's.

"I lost you."

Itachi's eyes widen.

"And I just got you back." Sasuke's expression crumbles. "So why are you leaving me again?"

Itachi stares. Suddenly, he looks very tired. "I'm being selfish, aren't I?"

Sasuke frowns. "I…don't want you to suffer." He looks away. "So if this is what you want, I won't stop you…"

He turns to the Oki.

"But you should tell your brother the truth."

Itachi stiffens while Sasuke's face grows serious.

"Because I forgave you the second I learned the truth, and though I'm not Oki-Sasuke, a lot of what makes me me comes from him. So I know if Oki-Sasuke finds out the truth after you're gone," his eyes narrow, "It will kill him."

Itachi's lips purse. "I've taken precautions to ensure that doesn't happen—

"And if those precautions fail?"

"I have a backup in case Sasuke—"

"Why are you so afraid of asking Oki-Sasuke what he wants?"

Itachi's jaw tightens. "I already explained—"

Suddenly, Sasuke realizes Itachi isn't listening—hasn't really been listening this whole time. Nothing he says will change anything. Sasuke's heart shrivels and he turns to the rising sun outside the broken window.

"Little Sasuke?"

The teen presses his lips shut, eyes closing. Oki-Itachi listened more when he said nothing at all.

The Oki waits…

Silence prevails.

—

An hour later, Itachi enters the base's living room, cloak missing, hands cupped before his chest, and raven hair loose and unkempt.

Deidara gapes at him from his seat on the low table, his shogi tile slipping out his fingers and clattering onto the board. Tobi is wide-eyed across from him while Zetsu's head sprouts out of the wall, his white half's eye sparking with childish curiosity.

"Wow, you look different! Did you grow out your hair?"

Itachi stares straight through Zetsu and the plant man falters as Itachi turns to the room corner. Pain looks up from his discussion with Konan and both regard him, mouths a line.

"Pain-sama…"

Itachi bows his head and slowly pulls apart his hands. Little Sasuke lays in his palm, eyes closed and soft cloth laid over his unmoving chest.

"The min-nin passed away this morning."

Deidara's breath hitches. Konan's eyes widen. Tobi gasps, grabbing the sides of his face.

However, Zetsu grins. "Really?" He stretches out towards the Uchiha, grin sharpening. "So I can eat it now?"

He's ignored as everyone watches Itachi. The Uchiha is quiet for a moment, then he harshly whispers, "I thought he was getting better. He opened his eyes, looked at me…"

He raises his head and his irises are dull—lifeless. "But his eyes closed and soon he stopped breathing." He stares mournfully at the deceased min-nin. "So maybe it was just him saying goodbye."

The room goes silent. Deidara and Tobi share a look. A second passes, and shinobi sandals walk up to Itachi and stop.

"You can take off five days."

Itachi's dull eyes slowly look up. Pain is expressionless but it's obvious his offer is sincere and it's more than generous for a shinobi, especially considering Itachi abandoned his mission and outright threatened the Akatsuki leader. Though, maybe this is Pain's attempt to appease the Uchiha who's been volatile lately…or maybe he truly is sympathetic.

Regardless, Itachi shakes his head. "I just need one." He looks down mournfully at Little Sasuke. "Uchiha are burned, not buried. I'm going to make a pyre for him…I won't go far."

He shifts his hands to cover the min-nin again and walks past Pain. However, Konan catches his gaze.

"I'm sorry for your loss."

She raises her arm and opens her hand. Paper squares flutter around her fingers, coming together.

"For Little Sasuke."

She holds out a white origami rose. Itachi hesitates, but eventually accepts it, whispering, "Thank you."

He continues out of the room and enters the staircase, Sasuke cradled right over his still beating heart.

—

Itachi piles branches on the little island in the lake. It's up to his waist when he pauses, looking it over. That should be enough.

He glances down and his face creases at the folded white bandana on the sandy shore, a tiny body bulging under the cloth. Itachi crouches and reverently picks up the body, laying it on top of the sticks. Yet as he's pulling away, he stills. Itachi looks over his shoulder, Mangekyō gleaming.

"I'm only allowing you to watch because you're an Uchiha. Disrespect this ceremony," Itachi glowers, "And you'll die."

Tobi gazes evenly at him and nods. Then his Sharingan slides over to the bandana. He's checking the min-nin's chakra, making sure it is Little Sasuke and that he's truly dead.

Itachi ignores him because it is the min-nin's body and his death will soon be proven true. So his Mangekyō recedes as he reaches for his white belt, slipping out the paper rose.

Tenderly, he vows, "I'll see you soon."

He blows fire onto the flower. Flames engulf the paper petals and Itachi drops the rose onto the min-nin's body. The fire roars over the pyre, burning the cloth and racing down the fragrance-soaked sticks. The aroma of lilies and cherry blossoms wafts alongside the smoke curling up to the gray skies.

Itachi puts his hands together, closing his eyes. He stays like that as the fire eats away at the pyre, the sticks falling apart and pile sinking lower and lower under the orange flames.

Heat warms his front even while goosebumps crawl up his bare arms. Still, Itachi stays in position until the flames are embers, the pyre is ash under a few burnt sticks, and the bandana is nothing more than a scrap.

Itachi opens his eyes and lowers his hands. "I'm going away for a while," he says without looking back. "Follow me, examine Little Sasuke's remains, do whatever you want to verify he's really dead." He glares at the lake. "I don't care."

He bursts into crows. They screech, black feathers flying through the air while they take to the sky.

Miles away, Itachi receives his crow clone's memory from a lush field. Sunshine gleams off his tied-back hair as he turns to the tiny Sasuke on his shoulder, but the min-nin doesn't acknowledge him while he ties the soft cloth around his neck into a cloak.

Itachi frowns yet begins, "I guess this is goodbye—"

Little Sasuke bites his own finger and flies through seals before slamming his hand on the air. Smoke puffs and his hawk emerges from the gray tendrils, cawing as it settles on the man's shoulder. Itachi's face falls slightly as the min-nin climbs onto the bird's back and grabs its reins.

"Do you have everything you need?"

Little Sasuke just slings Itachi's coin pouch onto his back.

"You should be safe getting home this time." Itachi's face hardens. "There's no way Tobi can prove that dead body was the Zetsu around your neck and I'll be sure to keep acting—"

Little Sasuke tugs the reins. The hawk spreads its wings and angles to take flight. Itachi's mouth closes. He looks away….

A scoff.

"You'd really let me just leave like that?"

Itachi faces the Chibi as Sasuke glares. "When this is the last time I'll ever s-see you a-again?"

Sasuke's expression breaks, eyes shimmering, and he hastily ducks to hide it. However, he really won't see Oki-Nii-san again, something in his heart knows this goodbye will be real. Soon, the human will be dead—

Sasuke jerks off the thought, every cell inside denying it though he knows it's true. But he doesn't want it to be, would do anything to change the man's fate.

Two fingers tap Sasuke's head. He looks up. Itachi smiles. "I don't need you to say anything." His eyes crinkle fondly. "You've already given me more than I deserve…your forgiveness, helping me remember who I really am…"

He stares at the sun. "When I die, it will be as myself."

He sighs. "What else do I need?"

Sasuke's heart shudders but he fights back the tears. "Thank you for saving me." He swallows the emotions swelling in his throat. "For confirming the truth about that night."

His hands ball up, shaking. "I wish we could talk more, but it's forbidden for Chibi to talk to Oki." He sighs. "And even sending a letter to you would be considered treason."

Realization falls over Itachi. "That's why you didn't speak…" His brow furrows. "Will you get in trouble for speaking to me?"

Sasuke shrugs. "Yeah, but Nii-san won't let anything too bad happen to me."

Itachi frowns but nods. "Good."

Sasuke senses their conversation winding to its inevitable end, and though he wants it to keep going—never end—his brother is waiting for him in Konoha…he has to go.

He turns to his human brother and peers into his giant raven eyes. Itachi meets his gaze.

"I'm going to convince the Chibi Uchiha to reveal themselves to Oki-Sasuke." Sasuke's expression grows resolved. "So he knows he's not alone."

A small smile curves Itachi's lips. "I believe you can do it," he says, and Sasuke's heart warms at his faith in him…but this really is goodbye, isn't it?

Sasuke gazes off to the side. Pale blue ajisai bloom behind Itachi, petals rippling in the breeze.

"One more thing."

Sasuke looks at the Oki. A single finger jabs Sasuke's forehead. He grunts, eyes closing reflexively.

"Happy birthday, Sasuke!"

His eyes fly open. Itachi beams and Sasuke's eyes widen. He doesn't remember pulling the reins but suddenly the wind blows in his face and his stomach drops as his hawk swoops into the air. Yet Sasuke keeps looking back, and he'll never forget the sight of Oki-Nii-san smiling up from the field, genuine joy in his bright raven eyes.

Pale blue ajisai petals fluttering around him.

—

Sasuke's long journey home begins uneventfully. He borrows some pork dumplings from an Oki prior to leaving Amegakure so munches on the doughy meat while the wind ripples through his hair and the sunshine gleams off his hawk's brown feathers.

He stops at a river in the forest, pouring dew into an empty acorn and tying it close with a grass stem before stuffing it in his money pouch. Then he approaches the murky river, summons white-blue lightning to his hand, and shoots it into the water. Fishes jump out and his lightning blade skewers three. He cures a couple with the salt packets he borrowed from the dumpling place and tosses the other to his summon.

At night his hawk settles on a branch while crickets screech below. Sasuke curls up on the saddle, bundled in the soft cloth and pushing his nose into the cotton to breathe in Oki-Nii-san's faint aroma. He tries not to think about how soon the scent will leave the world forever.

On the next day, they don't come across much water and the blackberries he finds are withered, the soil dry under the bush. He frowns up at the harsh sunlight, his hand on his forehead to shield his eyes. It's been hot lately, so he might have some trouble finding edible vegetation. There are also no Oki settlements between here and Konoha unless he takes a detour that will add days to his journey… Yet Nii-san is waiting for him, the Oki Alatsuki must be stopped, he's got no time to lose.

Grimacing, Sasuke mounts his hawk again and tugs the reins. His stomach nips painfully at itself for hours until his hawk tracks down a few hares. Sasuke has to skin and roast his rabbit, so by the time he's made a meal out of it, the sun is dipping into the horizon.

The teen frowns while scanning the darkening forest floor below. Crushed leaves, Oki sandal tracks in the dirt, and twigs scattered about. But not a crumb to be found. However, he's still hungry and he'll be pretty weak by morning if he doesn't find something now.

Sasuke searches more frantically, every passing minute ticking in his head. A purple stain streaks down a tree. Sasuke's eyes widen. A rest stop sign?

He looks closely at the next few trees. Another purple streak on rugged bark, so faint it blends into the wood. Sasuke grins and points ahead.

"Follow those marks!"

His hawk screeches and flaps its wings, putting on another burst of speed. They pass tree after tree, shadows of branches darkening them while the violet-orange sky peeks between the leaves.

Eventually, they come upon a purple streak longer than the rest. Any Oki who sees it would think it's a mere splatter trail from the tree's fruit. Yet Sasuke knows what it really is as his hawk dives low and lands on the dirt, leaves stirring around them. He hops off the bird, soft cloth fluttering behind him and coin pouch jangling while he lands.

Sasuke quickly darts up to the tree and skids to a stop by the thick roots arching out of the ground, peeking under. A small stone sits in the darkness. Sasuke grins and turns back.

"Go rest up, I'll call you in the morning."

The hawk nods and smoke puffs around it, the summon returning to its dimension. Sasuke walks on under the roots and approaches the stone. He lays his hand on the smooth rock, pushing it aside with a grunt and glancing down.

A hole with a metal slide sits in the ground—in case those arriving are too weak or injured to climb. Sasuke raises and drops his chakra, respectfully signaling his arrival to the rest stop owner. Then he lowers himself onto the slide and pushes off.

He slips down into the darkness, soft cloth flapping behind him and metal ringing as he twists and turns. A light emerges below, the slide slowing until Sasuke is tossed onto his feet. He straightens, looking ahead.

Welcome—faint letters read on a wooden sign at the arched entrance. Sasuke pulls the soft cloth over his head and passes the sign, glancing around the lit area. A bar with shelves of alcohol behind the counter, electric chandeliers over round tables, and a weapon shop off to the side. Sasuke eyes the group of three hooded shinobi at a table but his attention soon falls on the man sitting at the bar, a blue headband around his neck. Could it be?

Hope flickers in Sasuke as the man reaches for his bottle. A grass symbol glints off his headband. Sasuke deflates. Not a Konoha-nin…

He quickly shakes off his disappointment. Not much farther till he's home anyway, though to be safe, grabbing a few supplies wouldn't hurt.

Sasuke swipes ten shuriken off the shelf, a bag of jerky, and five explosive tags. He's paying the woman at the counter when eyes burn into his back.

Sasuke doesn't tense up but his instincts shout danger! Swiftly he remembers the Mizukage put a hit on him and any shinobi can cash in on it.

The teen lays an Oki coin on the counter and smiles at the rosy-haired shop owner in an apron. "I think I'll add some ninja wire and a sealing scroll to my purchase. Never know, right?"

He leaves the shop broke but feeling more secure while his mind buzzes with ideas. The Grass-nin is gone and two Sand kunoichi occupy the bar. Was it them who was staring or…

He side-eyes the hooded group while approaching the bar. If any of them are sensors and he encountered them before, they might recognize him without seeing his face. It's also possible someone spotted his hawk and recognized it. No matter the case, he has to leave here tonight. Few have summons with night vision so he has a good chance of escaping without a fight if he leaves under the cover of dark. However, his hawk can't see at night. So he needs a different ride home.

The bartender raises a thick brow at him. Sasuke inclines his head respectfully and leans his elbow on the counter. "Do you have any Oki-sized chicken?"

The man's brow rises even higher but everyone knows how Chibi teens eat so Sasuke smirks as the bartender shrugs and disappears into the back door.

—

Sasuke strides down the tunnel leading to the rentable rooms. However, halfway there, he sneaks back to the bar, concealing his chakra the best he can.

He climbs up the slide and pushes the stone, gritting his teeth as his arms shake. The rock rolls over and Sasuke sighs in relief, climbing out into the darkness.

Crickets hum deafeningly loud, fireflies glow past the tree roots, and an owl trills faintly. Sasuke doesn't have much time if good shinobi are after him and he's got even less if a good sensor is tracking him.

So he hastily leaves the tree and the cool summertime air runs over him while he surveys the moonlit clearing.

"Now look, Sasuke, the first thing you gotta do is become one of them."

Chibi-Kiba slung an arm around Sasuke's neck and the Uchiha scowled in the moonlight but allowed Kiba to drag him away from the hatch in the dirt and into a training field.

"You get on all fours," Kiba smirks, raising a pointer finger in Sasuke's face. "And you howl up to the sky."

He waves towards the full moon above and Sasuke raises a brow. "Can't you just throw out some food and lure—"

"No." Kiba has the nerve to eye Sasuke like he's a fool. "Bringing it food makes you seem like you're the subordinate and it might associate you with prey."

Kiba tsks, shaking his head, and annoyance flares in Sasuke. He yanks himself free of the Inuzuka and crosses his arms, glaring. "Fine, then what do you do?"

Kiba's smirk becomes wolfish, his fangs peeking out. "You show it who's boss, of course!"

Kiba laughs loud and free, and the sound chases Sasuke as he gazes over the stream on the forest edge. He scowls yet drops onto all fours, his palms sinking into the cold dirt while he arches back his head. That stupid advice better work, Kiba.

Sasuke howls up to the moon. Something flees out of the shrub behind him and the crickets go silent as he howls again. However, his skin bristles when eyes fall on him. He ignores whoever it is though because they aren't attacking so takes a deep breath and howls once more.

A leaf crunches behind him—too big to be a Chibi. Sasuke whips back on all fours.

A red fox stands tall on a stone peeking out of the stream, her amber irises observing him cooly. Sasuke's eyes widen. He was aiming for a wolf cub, but this works too.

The vixen's muzzle peels back in a snarl, her ears pulling flat against her head. Yet Sasuke bares his teeth and growls. The vixen snarls louder, opening her jaw warningly, but Sasuke growls and unleashes his chakra.

The fox's mouth clicks shut. Her snarling ebbs to nothing. Sasuke stops growling as the vixen's ears lift and she takes one step back.

"Now's your chance!" Kiba cheers in his head, and Sasuke launches himself high, springing at the fox.

Chibi shuriken sing through the air as he touches down on the vixen's back. Yet he's already torn out his own shuriken and is tossing them back. Their weapons clash but one of Sasuke's shuriken flies undisturbed and hits its mark.

There's a garbled cry before the Grass-nin's body drops out of the tree he was hiding in, a shuriken in his throat. If the man gets help fast, he might survive.

Though that's the least of Sasuke's worries as the fox contorts, wiggling violently under his feet. Sasuke snatches fistfuls of her red-orange fur and that's when water bullets shoot at him. Sasuke yanks the fur, hoping the fox understands.

The vixen might not but still obediently leaps over to the marshy earth. The water bullets pelt the stone behind them, smashing it to pieces. Sasuke spins towards the direction they came from.

The shinobi in hoods and the kunoichi are racing across the treetops. They're all after him. Sasuke whirls forward, yanks the fur again, and the fox takes off.

Water jutsu tugs up a wave from the stream, raising it above Sasuke. Yet the Uchiha pushes chakra into his feet, securing himself to the fox, and his lightning blade shoots out of his palm, slicing apart the wave.

Droplets sprinkle on his head but Sasuke doesn't feel them as his blade retracts and he fires lightning at the ground. The electricity sparks blindingly bright and the other shinobi cry out while Sasuke turns away, swiftly slapping explosive tags onto his shuriken.

He tosses them ahead at a tree. They stab into the bark, sizzling. One of the kunoichi jumps down at him, throwing a purple scythe high above her head.

The tags explode. Bark flies out, the tree cracks and the kunoichi is thrown aside, smoke engulfing her. Though the vixen rushes fearlessly past the scorched tree.

The second kunoichi shunshins in front of him, stabbing a kunai at his neck. Sasuke catches her wrist, twists it until it crunches, and the woman screams before Sasuke tosses her into the water. Yet her voice is drowned out as the scorched tree groans, tumbling towards the river.

"Get him before he escapes!" one of the hooded ninja shouts, and his group rushes through hand signs.

Sasuke flicks smoke bombs to his hands and tosses them down. However, one of his enemies blows a fierce jet of wind down at him. Sasuke's feet are yanked off the fox, but his hand catches the fur and he fights to hold on.

Yet the hooded group takes advantage of his peril and two blow out fire. The wind stream carries the flames straight at him and Sasuke's eyes widen.

The tree crashes into the river. Water splashes high, and what looks like tidal waves from his Chibi perspective collide with the fire. Scalding steam erupts around Sasuke. The Uchiha cries out, skin burning, but the vixen leaps onto the fallen tree.

Sasuke slams facefirst on the animal's back. Quickly though, he grips the fur and raises his head. Cool air rushes into his face but Sasuke doesn't care as the fox leaps off the fallen tree and dives straight down a short waterfall.

Sasuke recoils. "Wait—!"

His breath is stolen as gravity punches his chest and he screams soundlessly as they drop, his legs flying up behind him. They hit the water. His mouth snaps close as the river engulfs him, cloaks drifting around him.

They breach the surface. Cold night air bites through his drenched clothes while Sasuke inhales desperately. Yet the fox swims with ease, her fluffy tail floating behind them. Sasuke turns back. Up on the fallen tree, the hooded group stands at the waterfall's edge. They make no move to follow—oh, they must know he has a lightning affinity and that entering the water would give him a great advantage.

So Sasuke smirks even as his soppy hair gets in his eyes and sends them a mocking wave. Then he turns forward as the fox paddles through the moonlit stream, homeward bound again.

—

The fox carries him until Konoha's walls appear just past a tree-covered hill. Sasuke beams at the sight while the vixen trots on fallen leaves and twigs, much calmer now that she's gotten used to his weight on her back and his gentle tugs on her fur—especially after he feeds her the chicken.

Sasuke has only eaten his bag of jerky and maybe caught six hours of sleep last night after leashing the fox to a tree stump with his ninja wire, yet he's wide-awake as he tugs the vixen to a stop, gazing up at those gigantic walls framed by leafy trees. Konoha…he's home. After everything he's been through, all the near deaths, and learning the truth about Oki-Itachi, yet he's finally back.

Sasuke hops off the fox and stares at the vixen. She stares back, her tongue peeking out in mild exhaustion. Sasuke slowly reaches up and lays his hand on her wet nose.

"Thank you."

He reaches back into his money pouch and pulls out the last of the chicken. The teen tosses it to the fox and she catches it in her mouth, quickly gobbling it. Sasuke turns away and approaches the gigantic walls. It's been…a whole month since Obito dropped him off here.

Yet this time there's no Zetsu spore posing as Itachi and leading him away, so Sasuke treads to the hole in the gate unbothered. He brushes aside the grass while entering the Village, peering up. Sasuke gasps.

Humans mill about the street, a few chunin racing over the rooftops, and children chasing each other around the block—he's home. He's really home.

Sasuke's smile wobbles. Nii-san…he can see Nii-san.

Sasuke sidesteps the nearby hatch leading to a Chibi tunnel because he doesn't want to be slowed down by someone recognizing him, and runs right into the street, hurrying to the Uchiha district.

"S-Sasuke?"

The teen freezes at that familiar booming voice. However, he twists around right as an Oki hand wraps around his body tight.

Sasuke chokes while he's yanked up to blue Oki eyes.

"Sasuke!?" Oki-Naruto gawks. "Is that really you!?" he bellows and Sasuke's ears bleed. "But what—why are you so small!?"

Shock keeps Sasuke frozen even while a frustrated scream builds in his throat. Yet Oki-Naruto is oblivious as he runs, carrying him in the opposite direction of home.

Chapter Text

"Sensei!"

Oki-Naruto bounds towards an apartment building, lands onto its wooden side, and scales it fast. Sasuke wheezes as the scenery bounces violently around him, his brain rattling in his skull.

"Kakashi-sensei!"

Oki-Naruto flips onto a windowsill, knees bending as he lands, and peeks into a bedroom.

"KAKASHI—"

"Hey, hey, what's with all the yelling?"

Sasuke shakes off his dizziness and blinks his vision clear. Oki-Kakashi stares flatly at Naruto from the doorway, eye bleary and uniform rumpled like he just completed harsh training.

"Sasuke’s back!" Naruto cries, and Kakashi jolts, mouth parting behind his mask. "But he did something to himself! Look!"

Naruto holds Sasuke up, face creasing worriedly. "He's shrunk!"

Kakashi stares at Sasuke, eye widening, and Sasuke cows instinctively under the gaze of a human. This is not good.

"A min-nin?" Kakashi chokes, awe strangling his voice.

He blinks twice like he doubts his own sight, and Sasuke has to get free now. No human should ever get more than a glimpse of a Chibi, but now two are seeing him up close.

Sweat drips from Sasuke's forehead. He can't put Oki-Kakashi under a genjutsu when he has a Mangekyō Sharingan. Sasuke's gaze shoots to Oki-Naruto. But he could knock out the Uzumaki, make a run for it, and then get Nii-san to sneak up on the Oki and use his Mangekyō to wipe their memories.

Swiftly, Sasuke pulls chakra to his eyes. Yet he pauses. The Oki-Hokage…he still has to warn them about her. His face creases. Any second now, she could hand Oki-Naruto over to the Akatsuki…but how can he warn them without talking or showing he understands them? Certainly, he broke their highest rule once, but intentionally doing so a second time…he'd be executed for sure.

"Where—how?" Kakashi sputters, grasping his hair. "How did you get your hands on a min-nin?"

Naruto blinks, head tilting. "Min…nin?" He squints. "What's a min-nin?"

Kakashi glares. "You don't know what a min-nin is? Everyone's parents tell them bedtime stories about—"

He stops, mouth snapping shut. However, Naruto must be too confused to realize what Kakashi was saying because he simply cocks his head further. "Bedtime stories?"

Kakashi's eye creases, and he sighs. "Naruto," he begins softer, and the blond regards him curiously. "Min-nin—"

He gestures at Sasuke, and the Uchiha wonders if he imagines Kakashi's apologetic glance.

"—are tiny ninja who exist in secret and steal stuff from humans when we're not looking."

Naruto's jaw drops.

"They show up in a lot of myths and fairytales." Kakashi shakes his head. "But most people don't actually believe they exist."

He grimaces. "Though, right now, it's pretty clear there's some truth to those tales."

Both humans eye him. Sasuke fights the urge to bite the Oki and flee. Yet he has to warn them, he promised the Chibi Akatsuki he would.

Oki-Naruto frowns. "But…" His face falls. "He looks just like Sasuke."

He wilts, blue irises dulling, and sympathy pricks Sasuke's chest. Oki-Naruto is dreadfully loud and technically kidnapped him…but it's wrong seeing any Naruto so glum. He must miss Oki-Sasuke a lot, has been clinging to the hope that his friend would come to his senses and return to Konoha for years… Sasuke gets it. He's hoped the same ever since he watched his Oki counterpart leave Oki-Sakura on the bench and walk off into the night.

Sasuke could have stopped him, could have knocked him out, and let the boy be found with his teammate. Yet a part of him wanted Oki-Sasuke to go and hunt down Itachi by any means necessary, to get justice for Oki and Chibi Uchiha alike… Oh, how things have changed.

"There's, uh, rumors that all min-nin look like a human." Kakashi scratches his head. "Because they're born from our chakra."

"Oh." Naruto's face falls even more. "So he's not Sasuke…"

His big blue eyes burn into Sasuke's raven. "I'm sorry," Naruto whispers. "I thought you were someone I knew."

He turns and gently lowers Sasuke onto the windowsill. The Uchiha's eyes widen as the giant fingers release him.

"You can get home from here, right?"

Sasuke stares disbelievingly at him. He's letting him go? Just like that?

The two Oki stare, but neither makes a move towards him. Sasuke takes a tentative step back, ready to leap off towards the Uchiha district. But what if the Oki-Hokage is about to send Naruto into the Akatsuki's clutches right now? The Akatsuki would be one step closer to trapping everyone in an endless dream… He can't allow that.

Sasuke's eyes narrow. Kakashi notices his expression and his brow wrinkles while Sasuke's mind churns. Talking, writing, or showing he understands human language in any way is forbidden. So what else can he do to tell them the Oki-Hokage is under the Akatsuki's control?

"What's wrong?" Naruto's face pinches. "Don't you want to go home?"

Sasuke ignores the question and looks at Kakashi. The man stares back, eye narrowing as he recognizes the intent in Sasuke's gaze. Okay, he can't communicate…but he can draw.

Lightning sparks in Sasuke's hand, moulding into a short blade jutting out of his palm. Naruto starts, and Kakashi tenses. However, Sasuke feeds chakra into his feet, leaps onto the bedroom wall, and crouches, bringing his lightning blade to the surface.

"Uhhh, what's he doing?"

Sasuke carves two ovals swiftly. Then he shifts down a couple of steps and stretches his arms to etch a Hokage's hat large enough for the Oki to see. Naruto makes a surprised noise as he recognizes it, and Sasuke smiles to himself. Let's hope these two are as good at guessing as Oki-Itachi is.

He etches the last line and runs back up, jumping onto the windowsill. Then he turns to the Oki.

Both humans gaze in confusion at the three-tomoe Sharingan eyes looming over the Hokage's hat, Akatsuki clouds around them.

"Akatsuki…" Kakashi mutters, staring intently at the drawing. "A Sharingan…and the Hokage?"

"Is this a game or something?" Naruto raises a brow, scratching his head. He looks down at Sasuke. "Are you trying to play with us?"

Sasuke stares expressionlessly back.

Naruto frowns. "Hey, why aren't you talking?"

"Min-nin don't talk," Kakashi says idly, though his eye is still on the drawing. "He probably doesn't even understand you."

Naruto makes an understanding noise while Kakashi rubs his chin and glances at Sasuke. The Chibi tenses as the man's face hardens.

"Though you are trying to tell us something, aren't you?"

Sasuke blinks placidly. Then he turns to the sky and leaps out the window.

"Hey!"

Naruto's call chases him while Sasuke silently catches the underside of the windowsill and crouches upside down on it. He strains his ears, listening.

"Hm…what could this symbolize?”

"You really think it's important? I mean, maybe he just felt like drawing?"

Kakashi hums. "No…kanji are also pictures, in a way, but they symbolize words. So these images also likely symbolize something, perhaps in the min-nin’s language.”

"Oh, I guess that makes sense. Um, the clouds are the Akatsuki, right? And that's the Sharingan."

There's a long pause.

"Is it about Itachi?" The Chibi frowns. "I mean, that min-nin looks like Sasuke, so maybe he is after Itachi like Sasuke is."

"No, look, the Akatsuki clouds aren't touching the Sharingan, and that distance implies they're not connected directly…but the clouds are surrounding the Sharingan and the Hokage hat."

Sasuke nods. Come on, you're almost there.

Kakashi taps his chin. "And if the clouds represent the Akatsuki, the Hokage hat probably represents the Hokage…both are clothing that those people wear."

"But the Sharingan isn't clothing," Naruto says, frown in his voice. "And those eyes can't mean Uchiha because there aren't any Uchiha in the Village."

"I agree, it's not clothing, so it doesn't represent people like the other two symbols…which means it represents…genjutsu?"

The two fall silent. Sasuke frowns. Please, keep going.

"Kakashi-sensei?"

"The Sharingan is on top of the Hokage hat, and they're surrounded by clouds…surrounded like a village under siege."

Kakashi's breath hitches. "Attacking. The Akatsuki are attacking the Hokage…with genjutsu."

Sasuke's heart soars while Naruto chokes. "What!? Granny Tsunade is in trouble!?"

A crash like an Oki hitting something resounds, but then Kakashi says, "Wait, think. If an Akatsuki attack was imminent, why would the min-nin be so calm? Unless…Tsunade-sama was already attacked…”

He swallows thickly.

"And is already under genjutsu."

Silence. Sasuke breathes a sigh of relief. He's done his part. Sasuke stands to leave.

Dizziness strikes him. His heels lift dangerously from the windowsill—he hasn't eaten more than a bag of food since yesterday. Sasuke's vision blurs, and he barely manages to leap back onto the windowsill before his eyes fall closed, and he hits the ground.

—

Sasuke wakes up to the scent of salt. On auto, he sits up on the giant pillow, eyes peeling open. A blurry stack of rice crackers sits on a nearby dish. Sasuke stumbles up, walks over, and takes a cracker, chomping on the meal quickly.

He eats mindlessly for who knows how many minutes until his hand reaches and grasps nothing but crumbs. He eats those bits too and then drops where he stands, bouncing slightly before he sinks into the plush.

He must fall asleep. Because Sasuke wakes up again to someone shaking his shoulder. He groans, slapping the hand away.

Someone chuckles.

"Is that any way to greet your worried sensei?"

Sasuke jolts, shooting up. A giant finger pulls off his arm. It wasn't a hand but—

Oki-Kakashi smiles, skin pale in the moonlight, and his black long sleeve looking almost blue from it. Sasuke stiffens and rapidly looks around. He's still in the human's room…the Oki must have found him unconscious.

Yet Kakashi no longer wears his vest, his headband gone too, though his scarred, Sharingan eye is closed. He looks ready for bed…so it's either early morning or late night.

"I can summon Pakkun for you."

Sasuke’s head snaps up. Kakashi is staring, gaze oddly intent…like he's expecting an answer.

Sasuke forces his expression to remain blank, though his heart hammers. There's no way…

"He works for your sensei too, doesn't he?" Kakashi hums, rubbing his chin, and Sasuke's chest tightens. But no, maybe it's like when people talk to pets yet don't actually think their animals can understand.

Kakashi eyes him, waiting. Sasuke's conviction wavers. He knows.

Kakashi sighs, shoulders slumping. "You Chibi never make this easy."

Sasuke tenses as the man crouches until they're at eye level, his chin resting on the bed.

"I know you can talk."

Sasuke ceases breathing.

"I…" Discomfort twists Kakashi's expression. "I spoke to a Chibi once."

Sasuke's mouth drops. He what!?

"I was a kid," Kakashi says quietly. "It was a bad time." His gaze drifts low. "And I wasn't in the best headspace."

Sasuke's brows rise to his hair. Kakashi never talks about his past. He hadn't even realized his brother knew Kakashi until Itachi greeted his sensei with a smile, asking if he was taking good care of his little brother.

Yet Kakashi is telling him something clearly personal, smiling, though his eyes are grieved. And for the first time in his life, it occurs to Sasuke that there might be a reason his teacher never talks about the past.

"I had a kunai."

Sasuke stiffens.

"I was on the floor, staring at it."

Wait…why does it sound like…

"I'd lost my best friend recently."

He can't mean—

"So when I heard his voice shouting, 'Kakashi, stop!'" The man shrugs. "I thought I was imagining it."

He frowns. "Until a miniature version of my friend came running and kicked the kunai out of my hand."

Kakashi looks up thoughtfully. "Then he was berating me for how 'dumb' I was and 'did I have any idea what that would have done to Chibi-Kakashi?'" He shakes his head. "It made no sense, I thought I was dreaming."

He stops, something bright and vulnerable in his eye. "But I was just so glad to see him—"

Kakashi cuts himself off and straightens, that broken look fading away and the ache vanishing from his voice.

"My point is, I'm not going to report you to the Chibi authorities or whatever makes you guys act mute around humans." His eye softens with sincerity. "I only want to help—"

Shuriken swing through the air. Kakashi stands so fast that the wind ripples through Sasuke's cloak.

"Really?" Kakashi arches a brow, staring at the mini shuriken sticking out of his dresser where he'd been. "We're still doing this?"

A hand touches Sasuke's shoulder. He whips around.

Chibi-Kakashi glares at the Oki, his tanto raised threateningly. Sensei!

The Oki rolls his eyes. "What do you think your little weapons can do to me? Give me a paper cut?"

Chibi-Kakashi's eyes narrow further, and Sasuke is surprised at the malice in his teacher's gaze. However, the human simply looks bored.

"I leave snacks out for you, pretend not to notice you creeping around at night, and never complained even when you cut a hole in all of my underwear—yes, I know that was you."

Sasuke side-eyes his teacher. He does have some strange-patterned curtains in his apartment…

"And I never told anyone about you or your friend." Kakashi shrugs his hands. "But this is the thanks I get every time we acknowledge each other?"

Sasuke stiffens. Kakashi's friend…he was likely executed for talking to the Oki… Oh, Kakashi-sensei must blame his Oki counterpart for his friend's death. Sasuke gets it, he'd felt the same hatred towards Oki-Itachi until recently.

He frowns at the remembrance of a human finger gently poking Sasuke's head.

Oki-Kakashi crosses his arms. "Maa, maa…" He waves them away. "Just take your student and go back to hiding in my walls."

Chibi-Kakashi glares harder yet tugs Sasuke back. His wary eyes never leave the human, tanto still raised defensively, while he pulls Sasuke step by step until they reach the wall. Sasuke spots the red dog print on the floor by the bed leg. So when Kakashi jerks his head at it, Sasuke doesn't hesitate to jump down.

He falls for only a second before he reaches the dog print. Then he slips right through the genjutsu covering the hole in the floor and lands in a crouch on the giant pillow below.

Wind swirls around him, dust flying, and Sasuke turns to see his teacher beside him. Chibi-Kakashi swiftly moves to the wall, flicking a switch, and an Oki-sized light bulb flickers on behind the pillow—he really did pilfer a lot of things from his human counterpart.

Kakashi clicks his tongue. Sasuke turns to a silver water pipe that goes straight down a hole, Kakashi’s hand on a ladder attached to its side. Sasuke moves to follow him.

"Sasuke."

The boy freezes. He looks up to where Oki-Kakashi is somewhere above the wooden ceiling.

"Thanks for stopping by."

Sasuke's eyes draw down. Oki-Naruto wasn't the only one missing Oki-Sasuke, huh?

The man can't see him, but Sasuke nods anyway. Then he chases after the vanishing figure of his sensei in the dark.

—

He and Kakashi climb down far longer than Sasuke thinks is necessary when his sensei finally speaks.

"Two months."

Sasuke glances at the man climbing beneath him.

"You said," his voice drops into a squeaky, childlike tone, "I'll only be gone twenty days max, sensei!"

Sasuke scowls at the insulting imitation while his sensei shakes his head. "Then you come back months later, yet I'm the one who's not punctual."

Sasuke's eye twitches while he grabs another rung. "Next time I get kidnapped by the Oki Akatsuki," disdain sharpens his voice to a hiss, "I'll send a hawk."

"You do that."

Sasuke growls, retort on his tongue.

"I heard you got into trouble in Kiri."

Sasuke freezes.

Kakashi glances up at him, expression hard. "Word got back to the Hokage—"

"I was forced to help the Oki!" Sasuke snaps, desperation and anger sparking in his chest. He's so close to home, so close to seeing Nii-san, he can't be imprisoned—

"I know."

Sasuke startles and looks down. Aside from the occasional hole letting in moonlight, it's pitch-black, so he can't make out Kakashi's expression.

"The Hokage knows too, but legally, she had to list you as a missing-nin or risk relations breaking down between Konoha and Kiri."

Kakashi hops off the ladder. Sasuke takes a gamble and hops down too. He lands gracefully, yet squints as light stings his eyes.

An Oki flashlight shines on a faded red toy boat. The object bobs over rushing water in a metal slide that leads into the apartment's outside wall—a rain gutter. Sasuke peers into the gutter's dark tunnel, rushing water thunderous to his ears.

"You're lucky it rained recently."

Sasuke's expression goes flat. "You must be kidding me."

Kakashi sticks his hand in his pocket, idly reading his orange novel.

"It's that, or we flush you down the toilet."

Sasuke sends Kakashi a look. The man doesn't bother glancing up, but waves him on. Sasuke grits his teeth, yet hops onto the toy boat and sits beside the plastic blue sail.

"It's going to be a bumpy ride."

"If I survive this—"

"Try not to get caught!"

Kakashi cuts the rope tying the boat. Sasuke barely glues himself down with chakra before the boat speeds into the dark tunnel and—

Drops.

Sasuke screams soundlessly as his stomach plummets, hair and cloak flying back while water sprays his face. Yet the boat pulls up, and Sasuke jumps a bit despite his chakra holding him down. He scrabbles to grip the slick plastic, but the boat dips again, and his food almost comes up, the darkness not helping his vertigo as the boat speeds so fast he can't tell if they're riding the waves or free falling down the gutter.

The boat pulls up suddenly, and Sasuke's teeth clack as they swing around a curve, boat tilting so far to the side, Sasuke is almost tossed into the water—curse you, Kakashi!

The boat drops again, sail banging against the metal. Yet no human hears more than a distant thump as the pipe straightens out, old leaves crunching under Sasuke's speeding ride. However, a cold draft billows in from ahead, bringing in the scent of grimy, damp metal. Sasuke swiftly realizes this gutter leads straight to a storm drain.

Sasuke’s face goes deadpans. "Sakura is my only good teammate."

Then his mouth snaps closed right before the toy boat soars out into the open air and dives between the iron bars of the storm drain in the road.

—

Sasuke is shivering by the time the plastic boat pours out of the grating into the lake. Yet he barely feels the cold as he stumbles onto the sandy shore, peering past the fog to the abandoned Oki Uchiha district. He's home. After so long, he's really home.

He takes in the towering shadows of dark, empty homes. The squeak of store signs, faded and chipped, and the wind whistling through broken, boarded-up windows. After a moment, Sasuke shunshins to his house.

He touches down on the engawa, and then he's sprinting past the peeled-back edge in the paper door, inhaling until his chest is ready to burst.

"Nii-san!"

Sasuke expels all his air in the word, breaking into the dark, dusty living room. No food sizzles on the Oki stove, no lights shine on the ground, and the air is eerily still. Yet Sasuke keeps running, head swiveling all around and Sharingan blooming in his eyes.

"Nii-san!" he calls even louder, but no voice calls back.

So he rushes at the wall in the kitchen, shoving open the Chibi door that blends into the wood. It flies almost off its hinges, but Sasuke ignores the bang and runs into the dark interior walls.

"NII-SAN!" he calls so loudly it hurts, uncaring that he'll wake half of the district. His clan would never arrest him, and even if they do, it wouldn't matter. Itachi is here, he's alive, and well, he has to be!

Sasuke's hands slam into the door, tearing open Itachi's bedroom.

"Nii-san—"

A dark, empty room greets him. Sasuke's breath hitches, chest heaving. Dust spools on the perfectly-made bed…the floor is layered in dirt…it's quiet as a tomb.

Fear crushes Sasuke's heart. Yet he spins around and keeps running.

"Kaa-san! Nii-san! Shisui!"

He calls and calls, though his voice grows hoarse and his muscles steam from the force of his running. Where is everyone? Where is Nii-san? He has to be here…has to be alive…

…isn't he?

Sasuke slows to a stop, arms hanging limp and panting. Nii-san came home…he must have…and he just didn't come back for Sasuke because…because…

Sasuke falls to his knees, palms hitting the floor. He stares at the dark ground, tears pricking his eyes and heavy breaths trembling. No one is here…Nii-san's room hasn't been used since the day they left…

Itachi never came home.

Sasuke's eyes burn. No, please, on his everything, don't tell him…

Lights flick on. Sasuke jolts.

"Sasuke?"

The teen raises glistening, Sharingan eyes.

In the halo of the kitchen light, Itachi stares down at him, shock stark on his face and hand on the doorway.

Sasuke stares up at him for a second. Then he's on his feet, crushing his brother in a hug and crying.

"Nii-san!"

Sasuke presses his ear against that chest. A fast heartbeat thrums under his head, and it's not an apparition, Nii-san is here—solid and alive.

Sasuke's eyes burn, his whole body shivering with emotion. "I t-thought you were," his throat collapses around his words so he can barely gasp out, "When y-you didn't come for me…"

Itachi wraps an arm around him, gently rubbing his back, and Sasuke bites his lips to keep in a sob.

"Oh…Sasuke…" he whispers worriedly, and it's the same voice as his Oki counterpart's, but it's quieter, more natural. Not the same as that Zetsu pretending to be Itachi, not the same as the human who killed his clan to protect his little brother, but that same gentle, quiet voice of the one who found Sasuke by the lake and wouldn't put him down all day because he loved his little brother so much.

"Nii-san," Sasuke sighs, hugging him tighter.

Itachi grunts. Sasuke freezes. Then he yanks himself off Itachi, stepping back.

"Nii…"

Sasuke's voice dies. He gapes.

Itachi's arm on the doorway…it's bandaged. There's also not an ounce of chakra moving inside it.

"What happened to your…" Sasuke exhales shakily, eyes roving down.

Itachi's legs are trembling. And it's then, Sasuke spots the wheelchair behind Itachi.

A chill wisps through Sasuke. "Nii-san?"

Itachi's lips draw to a thin line. "Sasuke…" He closes his eyes. "That night…something happened…"

—

Itachi's crow fell with a screech, ebony feathers flying through the night sky as it hit the ground with a terrible crunch. Itachi watched it from behind the leaves of the tree branch he hid on, frowning at Sasuke's devastated face in the jar. Otouto…be strong.

Itachi follows the two Akatsuki to the base hidden behind a roaring waterfall. He waits until night falls to strike.

Itachi leaps down to the grass, tearing through the green blades while rain pelts the soil. He's almost at the waterfall when the earth bubbles unnaturally beneath him.

Itachi leaps into the air right as a black and white-face sprouts out of the earth.

"Oooh, you look tasty!"

Itachi flips upside down, Mangekyō Sharingan blooming in his black irises.

"Amaterasu!"

Dark flames burst on the creature's venus flytrap appendages. The Oki screams, but Itachi merely lands behind the plant man and runs towards the stone path behind the waterfall. That's one Oki down.

A grass blade twitches oddly beside him. Itachi tosses shuriken, blowing fire across the metal stars while they soar at the grass blades around him. The grass burns, and Itachi frowns. Was that the whole attack?

His chakra vanishes. Itachi jolts, Mangekyō vanishing, and chakra levels plummeting near zero. What—

"You released the spores."

White bursts over Itachi's arm like clay. Itachi's eyes widen as there's a crack. His right arm goes numb for a second. Then fiery pain rushes up the limb.

Yet Itachi jumps up even as the ground crumbles where he'd been, more white beings with green hair rising from the ashes of the grass he burned. The Oki could clone itself?

His thoughts screech to a halt as the white morphs on his broken arm, zipping towards his face. There's only one option.

A kunai flicks out of Itachi's sleeve into his hand, and he stabs at his broken arm.

"I cauterized my wound, but that plant Oki followed me."

The Chibi-sized Zetsu are a small army, their pale arms and wicked smiles reaching for the injured Itachi. So the Uchiha leaps towards the river and dives into the violent waves.

"The water carried me far."

Itachi dragged himself onto the gravelly shore, storm raging overhead.

"I summoned a crow once my chakra returned, but even with the meals and aid, my wounds became infected."

Itachi stares evenly at the teapot whistling on the stove. He reaches up from his seat in the wheelchair to grab it and then twists back to the short table. Sasuke stares blankly at the table top, his legs folded beneath him.

"By the time I reached Konoha, I was delirious and severely septic…I was in a medically induced coma for weeks."

Itachi pours the tea into a cup for Sasuke.

"Imagine my surprise when I woke up with both arms."

Sasuke jolts. He stares at the bandaged arm hanging limp on Itachi's side.

"I suspect having that spore attached to my body is the reason…but the science behind it recreating my arm is beyond me."

Itachi pours himself a cup of tea.

"Regardless, it will take some time for my body and chakra system to accept this arm as its own."

Sasuke feels faint. "You almost died…I was meters away and you almost…"

His eyes grow strained. Yet Itachi lowers the teapot and—

Two fingers poke his forehead.

"Don't be silly, otouto."

Sasuke's breath hitches, but Itachi smiles brightly.

"We're home now. That's all that matters."

Sasuke stares at him. He suddenly remembers…

"Happy Birthday, Sasuke."

Oki-Itachi smiles in the bright sunlight, violet-blue petals fluttering around him.

Sasuke's face grows strained. "Nii-san…" His eyes fall to the ground. "There's something I need to tell you."

He looks up, resolve hardening his expression.

"The truth about Oki-Itachi."

Itachi takes back his hand, gaze patient, waiting.

Sasuke closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "I was wrong about him…" His jaw tightens. "We were all wrong about him."

"I'm sick."

"It's terminal."

Sasuke claws the table's underside.

"He lied so well, and we fell for it, but the truth…"

He opens his eyes, dark irises shimmering.

"He always loved his little brother."

Itachi stares at him. Then, a sad smile curves his lips.

"You finally know."

Sasuke starts. Wait, what!?

Itachi looks thoughtfully at his steaming tea. "I always suspected something was amiss…many of the adult Uchiha did…"

Sasuke recoils. "They—but they accused you."

"The children accused me." Sasuke gasps while Itachi frowns. "The teens…and the civilian Uchiha…but the shinobi knew better."

Itachi's face pinches. "Sasuke…"

Raven eyes bore into Sasuke's matching pair.

"There's more than one truth that needs to be shared tonight."

Sasuke braces his hands on his thighs as Itachi takes a breath.

"Father sent me to Sora-ku to protect me."

The words echo through Sasuke's head. Father…what?

"From those in our clan who resented me for my Oki's actions."

Sasuke dazedly shakes his head. "You mean…"

"I'm sorry I allowed you to believe otherwise, but considering your feelings towards my Oki—"

"It wasn’t my fault?"

Itachi pauses. Genuine shock crosses his face before it evaporates with calm. "Of course, not." His brow creases. "Did you still think that? Even after all these years?”

A quiet horror seeps into his voice, but Sasuke hardly notices, his own worldview rocking. All this time, resenting his father, resenting himself for making Nii-san be sent away, and resenting Oki-Itachi when he loves Sasuke.

"Oh, otouto."

Arms wrap around him, and Sasuke suddenly realizes he's crying. He tries hastily to stop the burning liquid trailing his cheeks, but Itachi shushes him.

"Let it go."

And for the first time since that terrible night when the world came crashing down, Sasuke lets go.

So his heart flies free.

Chapter Text

Chibi-Tsunade sits in Itachi's office, scowl on her face and honey eyes sharp behind the sleek oak desk.

"And you're certain this Eye of the Moon plan is real?" 

Sasuke's eyes narrow, and he nods. "Absolutely, Hokage-sama."

Itachi sits in his wheelchair beside him, expressionless ever since he heard the whole truth of what happened to Oki-Itachi that night.

They've been talking for hours, so he doesn't blame Tsunade for rubbing her temples, eyes squeezing shut. "You Uchiha…" she tsks. "Always stirring up trouble."

Sasuke scowls. It's not their fault a rogue Uchiha is going to use the Rinnegan to hypnotize the whole world!

A hand slips into Sasuke's. The teen calms as Itachi's thumb runs over his knuckles, quietly assuring. He'd miss his brother's calming presence.

Tsunade opens her eyes, dropping her hand. "I believe you."

Sasuke starts, lips parting. She…does…? After so much had gone wrong since the Oki Akatsuki captured him, something going right almost felt unnatural.

"But…" Tsunade stares hard at him. "I can't remove you from the missing-nin list."

Annnd there's the catch he was expecting.

Tsunade glares at the table. "The truth doesn't change the fact that Kiri is suffering from your actions."

Sasuke's teeth clench. Though it's true. He'd only been trying to save Kiri from the Oki Akatsuki, yet he played right into the humans' hands.

The Hokage leans back in the rolling chair, eyes closing thoughtfully. "If you could repair what's been done, that act of good faith might be enough to restore your reputation." She hums. "But only someone who has mastered a high-level Sharingan could safely remove her genjutsu."

Her eyes open and lock onto Itachi. "And the only ones qualified are your wheelchair-bound brother—" Sasuke's hands curl up. "That easily chakra-drained Kakashi." She sighs. "And the chakra-crippled Shisui."

Sasuke can't hold back anymore and strides forward, palms slamming on the desk. "That's not it! I told you the Chibi Akatsuki has two members—one with a Mangekyō and the other with a Rinnegan!" His eyes flare. "And Oki-Itachi knows and is working to help us, too!"

Tsunade eyes him calmly. "And you can contact Oki-Itachi?"

Sasuke jolts, breath hitching.

"Or check in and ask the Chibi Akatsuki how their attempts to prevent the Eye of the Moon plan are going?"

Sasuke grimaces.

"If they're even still alive."

His head bows.

Tsunade's lips draw to a line. "I thought so…" She huffs. "So, we're on our own."

Sasuke's eyes draw down. Oki-Nii-san…Yahiko and his team…

"And all we can do is wait to see if the Chibi-Akatsuki succeed in stopping their counterparts."

Her gaze sharpens. "Or, more likely, let the Oki deal with their own problems."

Sasuke's head shoots up. "Their problems?"

"Sasuke—"

"Didn't you hear me!?" Sasuke seethes, heat billowing in his chest. "This is bigger than Oki and Chibi—all of us are going to be trapped in an endless dream unless we do something."

Tsunade lifts an unimpressed brow. "And by doing something, you mean break our highest law, contact the Oki, and team up to defeat the Akatsuki?"

Sasuke's teeth clench. It sounds wrong, every inch of him says it's insanity, but this is a threat—a crisis of the likes the Shinobi World has never seen. So, he nods. "Yes, Hokage-sama."

Itachi's brow furrows, but his expression is unreadable. Tsunade, though, frowns.

"You know…" Tsunade looks out the window, which is really a glass lens that once belonged to an Oki telescope. No human has noticed it gleaming in the Oki Police Headquarters symbol, right through the painted uchiwa's center.

"There was a time in this Village when Chibi and Oki spoke freely."

Sasuke's heart misses a beat. "What?"

Her eye slides to him. "Why else do you think so many of their tales involve us?"

Sasuke pales.

"Chibi shinobi used to work in tandem with their Oki counterparts." Her lips press together. "You ought to know." She faces him solemnly. "It was an incident involving an Uchiha Oki that made all Chibi go into hiding."

Sasuke gasps. A human Uchiha?

"Until we became nothing more than fairytales, the Oki tell their kids." She waves her hand. "Some of them might even be true."

Sasuke swallows his suddenly dry mouth. "I…didn't know…"

He glances at Itachi. Yet his brother is stone-faced. It's true then…they all have to hide because of a human Uchiha…what happened?

"Regardless." Tsunade rises. "I can't remove you from the missing-nin list until the Oki Mizukage is freed."

She walks around the desk. "Ridiculous." She pauses, her hand finding Sasuke's shoulder. "Your Oki counterpart runs off with a criminal and actually commits crimes, yet he stays off the missing-nin list."

She tsks!

"But you've been loyal to Konoha since the day you put on that headband." She scowls, gently brushing back a fringe of his hair. "And you make the list."

The Hokage passes him, arms crossed. "Lie low, complete missions for your clan if you wish, but you're officially off the village roster until further notice, so take a break."

She stops at the entrance.

"You've certainly earned one."

She shuts the door, and her heels click off into the distance. Sasuke stares blankly at the bright yellow walls that were once stylish. They haven't been repainted for decades… Some things can't be changed.

Eventually, he finds his voice. "Is it really an Uchiha's fault we don't talk to humans?"

Itachi looks up. "It is." He grabs his wheels, spinning his chair towards the door. "It was kind of her to overlook your talking with my Oki counterpart after he overheard you…" He glances back. "And clever how you drew for Oki-Kakashi and Naruto."

He turns ahead. Quieter, he says, "She's on our side, but Oki matters—" He gestures. "Are out of her hands."

He wheels towards the door. Yet Sasuke lingers in the room, the cloak that's really his soft cloth, heavy on his back.

"I don't need you to say anything."

Oki-Itachi's eyes crinkle fondly.

"You've already given me more than I deserve."

Sasuke stands in the brightly-colored room and feels hollow.

—

They go home. Itachi rolls down the hallway in the interior walls. Sasuke eyes his wheelchair. Its metal wheels gleam under the fairy-lights hanging above them.

Sasuke takes a steadying breath. "Oki-Itachi is sick."

His brother stills and turns to him. Sasuke's face falls, gaze dropping low. "It's terminal…and he won't seek treatment." He sighs. "He's just holding on until his brother…"

"Kills him?"

Sasuke raises sad eyes. Itachi gazes back, knowing in his dark irises.

"I don't have to ask if you would have done the same." Sasuke smiles wanly. "If you were the Oki…if you were in his place that night…"

Sasuke shakes his head. "I know we're not identical to our counterparts, but if Oki-Sasuke knew the truth…"

He looks away. "Oh, never mind."

He walks on.

"What are his symptoms?"

Sasuke slows, and Itachi wheels up beside him.

"If you want to look through the medical texts." Itachi pushes open the door and rolls onto a ramp with fenced sides, Sasuke stepping after him. "I'm sure you can find something about it in here."

The teen stands on top of the grandfather clock, peering down at the bolted wooden plank leading towards the giant desk. Itachi is already there, sitting before an open book—wait.

Sasuke's eyes widen. "You got it?"

Sasuke leaps down and lands beside his brother, quickly rising from his crouch and peering at the page. A photograph of icy mountain peaks under the vibrant aurora borealis in the starry sky. The book is so large it almost feels like they're actually there.

"Everyone else got me ninja tools, weapons, or baked sweets and clothes, but you, Sasuke."

Itachi looks back with a brilliant smile. "You knew exactly what I wanted for my birthday."

Sasuke's face warms, cheeks reddening. "You…" He looks away, scratching his face. "You really like it?"

Itachi raises a playful brow. "Would I lie if I didn't?"

Sasuke's cheeks burn hotter. "I g-guess not." He shrugs, but inside, he glows.

Sasuke noticed his brother collected things on his faraway missions—seashells, odd-shaped leaves, scraps of newspaper, and other souvenirs. Yet what did they have in common? They all have nothing to do with the shinobi world…so Sasuke bought a book on natural wonders from distant lands. He decided to have it mailed in case their Suna mission ran late, and they didn't make it back in time for Itachi's birthday…huh…would Oki-Nii-san have liked the same gift? Or, would he like something else? When was the last time someone even gave Oki-Nii-san a gift?

Sasuke frowns.

"And I'm not the only one who got something in the mail."

Sasuke refocuses as Itachi pushes the book. It falls flat, and behind it—

Sasuke's mouth drops. A mountain of gifts stands proudly on the desk, bathing in the desk lamp's light.

"None of your friends really believe you're a missing-nin." Itachi smiles. "So they bought you gifts…for when you made it home."

Sasuke looks the pile over. An Oki bath set—Ino. Medicinal herbs—Hinata. Textbooks on chokutō techniques—Minato-san. Dog-print pajama set—Kiba. Gift card to a barbecue restaurant—Choji. A pink box with a glittery red ribbon—Sakura.

The list goes on and on. Friends, mentors, teammates, and clansmen, they all got him something.

"Sasuke."

The teen turns around. Itachi presents a shiny blade across his palms, its handle a beautiful, rich violet.

"Your new chokutō."

Sasuke slowly, reverently, lifts the sword and holds it before his face.

His raven eyes reflect in its gleaming blade. Sasuke swallows the lump in his throat. "Nii-san…"

"Happy Birthday, Sasuke."

Sasuke stiffens.

"Happy Birthday," Oki-Itachi whispers in his memory.

Suddenly, Sasuke is cold. Yet he turns to Itachi and smiles. "Thank you, Nii-san."

He smiles wider. "I love it."

Though inside, he knows there will never be a gift that compares to Oki-Nii-san admitting the truth and setting every part of Sasuke free.

—

Sasuke goes to bed in his Oki's bedroom. He lies on the giant mattress, tiny pillows under his head, though he's tucked under the Oki's massive blanket.

A wristwatch lies on the dresser, its tick, tick, tick, tick loud to his Chibi ears. Yet Sasuke isn't bothered by it as he stares at the white expanse of the ceiling.

He's home…but still…

Sasuke's eyes shimmer, hand clenching his blanket edge.

"So."

Sasuke startles, yet slowly turns his head. Obito stands on the windowsill against the starry night sky. Sasuke blinks, oddly unbothered by his appearance. Perhaps this is a dream.

"You talked to a human."

Sasuke stiffens. Even though the Hokage pardoned him, it's instinct to be wary about discussing such things.

However, Obito grins.

"Did you change his mind?"

Sasuke's face falls, and suddenly, he's got the weight of a thousand stones on his heart.

"I…don't think so," Sasuke whispers, tired, miserable.

Obito is silent. Then he sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "Those who break the rules are trash."

Sasuke gasps, his eyes widening.

"But those who abandon family and friends are worse."

Sasuke sits up, lips parting. That sounded like Kakashi-sensei's saying. How did Obito know it?

Sasuke's brow wrinkles. Obito does look around Kakashi's age…could they have gone to school together?

"I got you something." Obito jerks his thumb back. A pouch is slung over his shoulder.

Sasuke swiftly shakes his head. "I don't have any money."

Obito huffs. "That's fine, this one's on me." He looks back at the sky, starlight reflecting in his raven irises. "This is probably the last time we'll see each other."

Sasuke's breath hitches. Yet even if they stop the Oki Akatsuki's plan, it is unlikely their paths will ever cross again.

"The Chibi Akatsuki." Sasuke's brow furrows. "Have they decided what to do?"

Obito frowns. "Konan will try talking to her Oki. If she succeeds, my Oki will be killed by her or Pain. If she fails, I'll kill my Oki myself."

Horror wrenches Sasuke's face, but Obito waves it away, casually adding, "Don't worry, I've been preparing to lose my chakra for like decades, that's why I've built up my other skills."

Sasuke's expression pinches. "Obito-nii." The man's face lights in surprise at the name while Sasuke glares determinedly. "I'm Itachi's younger brother. I can vouch for you to the clan. You could come home—"

"I know who you are."

Sasuke recoils while Obito smirks.

"But," Obito exhales, setting his hand on his side while he turns to the moonlight. "Someone has to protect Konoha…without the restraints of Chibi laws."

Sasuke's eyes widen as wind whirls around Obito, his Akatsuki cloak fluttering.

"Take care of the clan, Sasuke-kun."

He vanishes in a whisk of wind. Sasuke can only stare where he was for a moment. Then he hears a ping like a drop of water hitting a lake's surface, and the world ripples.

Sasuke inhales sharply, freed from the calming genjutsu Obito placed on him.

"Obito-san!" he cries, jumping up with his chest heaving.

Yet the windowsill is empty…all that's left is his tan pouch. Sasuke leaps over and lands beside it. He reaches for the drawstring and slowly pulls the pouch apart, peering inside.

Sasuke stares. He wilts, eyes creasing. Oh, Obito…

He drops the pouch and sinks to his knees. A choked sob stutters out of his throat, fists clutching at the fabric on his legs. He can't save Obito…can't free the Oki Hokage or stop the Oki Akatsuki's plans…and he'll never see Oki-Nii-san again.

Tears drip down his cheeks, and for once, Sasuke truly feels small.

—

Time passes.

Sasuke is welcomed back, his mother hugging him tight and Shisui ruffling his hair while the crowd of Uchiha cheer.

Gradually, he slips back into routine, and soon it's almost like Sasuke never left.

He sweeps up the hidden hallways and secret spaces his family has always dwelled in, as well as the Oki rooms they started occupying once it became clear Oki-Sasuke wasn’t coming back.

He hefts the enormous fertilizer bags with chakra-enhanced strength, carrying them from the front doors of the abandoned houses to the back gardens every Chibi has converted into rows of farmland.

He flies his hawk over the plots of earth in the greenhouse, tossing seeds into the tilled soil.

He harvests the carrots and potatoes for the elderly Uchiha, tossing the vegetables onto the towering pile in the wheelbarrow before he grabs the handles and pushes it along to the kitchen.

He hammers nails in the boards, patching up leaking roofs, and repaints all the Oki signs. Then he replaces the shattered windows and torn paper in the shoji, doing more to erase traces of the massacre than the Oki ever bothered to do.

Weeks and weeks pass that bleed into months.

And pretty soon, the engawa is covered by dry autumn leaves.

Sasuke sits on the wooden step, face tilted towards the sun and eyes closed. Footsteps clack behind him. They stop, there’s the rustle of clothes, and Itachi sits down, his presence warm on his side.

For a moment, they are silent.

Then Sasuke opens dull, weary eyes.

"I think there's something wrong with me."

Itachi shifts. His hand slides onto Sasuke's shoulder, but Sasuke barely feels his touch.

"There's nothing wrong with missing your brother."

Sasuke bows, unsurprised by Itachi knowing. "Nii-san…do you think we're doing the right thing? Not speaking to the Oki…keeping ourselves a secret even when we could save them?"

Itachi turns to the distance. The bare branches of the trees quiver as the breeze blows through them.

"I understand my Oki's choices."

Sasuke frowns.

"Even if I don't agree with all of them."

Sasuke's eyes grow shiny. "I understand my Oki too." He turns miserably to Itachi. "If he kills his brother, he will never forgive himself."

Itachi stares calmly at him. Then he closes his eyes.

"Uchiha Madara is the human who caused the Chibi to go into hiding."

The air flees Sasuke's lungs.

Itachi's eyes narrow. "Back when the Village was new, most shinobi spoke freely to the Chibi of their clan, and Oki and Chibi counterparts lived together like a family."

Sasuke gapes, struggling to picture it.

"Madara had a little brother…but when he died, he became clingy towards the only version of him he had left—Chibi-Izuna."

A sense of foreboding slithers up Sasuke's spine.

"He talked to him constantly, spent time with him more than he did with even humans."

Itachi's voice gains an edge. "So when Madara abandoned Konoha, he took Chibi-Izuna with him."

Sasuke gasps. "He kidnapped him?"

Itachi nods. "Chibi-Madara gave chase, and after a while, many Uchiha feared he would never return. Yet one year later, Chibi-Madara came back."

Anxiousness built in Sasuke, but he quietly asked, "Did he find his brother?"

"No one knows." Itachi frowns. "Some records say he came back with his brother…his body cold and lifeless." The blood drains from Sasuke's face. "Maybe it was an accident…maybe Oki Madara held him a little too hard or didn't feed him enough."

Itachi looks at the floor. "Other records say they both came back alive, but something was wrong with Izuna. He no longer spoke, he could not walk, and he needed constant care for the rest of his life."

Pity wells in Sasuke's core. That's awful…

"Whatever happened, it was bad enough that Chibi Madara decided we could no longer coexist with the Oki. So he destroyed all evidence of our existence among humankind, and told the Oki Uchiha the Chibi were leaving Konoha."

Itachi's frown deepens. "In reality, the Chibi never left, merely stayed in secret… Yet word spread of what the Chibi Uchiha did, so when other Chibi suffered similar incidents with humans, the Second Chibi Hokage decided the only way to protect Chibi Konoha was to cut off all contact with the Oki. His counterpart agreed, and out of respect for our wishes, he did what he could to bury the truth."

Sasuke's forehead wrinkles. He turns to the ground. So that's what happened…

"But you aren't under Chibi law."

Sasuke's head snaps up.

"Missing-nin aren't under the jurisdiction of any Village."

Sasuke gasps, recalling Itachi's words.

"She's on our side."

Hokage-sama…she left him on the missing-nin list to free him from Chibi laws.

"Sasuke."

Itachi's lips curve with a bright smile, and he raises his hand. Sasuke looks down.

"Bring our brothers home."

A Konoha headband sits in Itachi's palm, the metal leaf sparkling in the sunlight.

Sasuke grins with all his teeth.

—

Obito's gift hits the windowsill. Sasuke quickly bends down, tears open the pouch, and peers inside.

A silver uchiwa engraved with a colorless Uchiha fan stands almost as tall as Sasuke. Yet it's no war fan, but a rare tool. All it requires is a small sample of chakra, and the fan can track that chakra signature across nations. And guess who has the same chakra as Oki-Sasuke?

The teen pushes the fan aside and finds a map of the Elemental Nations along with a compass. He reaches past them until his fingers brush a small slip of paper, and he pulls it out.

"Good luck," Obito's voice whispers in Sasuke's head when he reads it.

Sasuke nods. "I won't fail, Obito-san."

He stuffs the paper back into the pouch and slings it on his shoulder, his cloak fluttering as he turns.

"Isano!"

Wings flutter outside the open window. Sasuke breaks into a run across the windowsill and leaps off the edge.

His hawk swoops down, and Sasuke lands on her saddle, grabbing the reins.

"Let's go find my Oki!"

Isano lets out a cry, and Sasuke smiles at the blue sky.

—

They're almost out of the village, riding high to avoid other flying Chibi. This far up, Sasuke almost misses the dot of blond spiky hair leaping from roof to roof.

He squints. "Oki-Naruto."

The red conical building of the Hokage's office comes into sight. Sasuke's chest seizes up. No…that fool. Didn't he remember his warning?

Oki-Naruto drops to the ground at the entrance and jogs into the building. Reliable Isano swerves back to it before Sasuke has to tug the reins, and Sasuke hops off the moment she's over a window.

The Chibi touches down in a smooth roll, catching himself in a crouch. Air conditioning rushes from a vent overhead, its roar almost covering the sound of Naruto's sandals slapping the floorboards. Yet as Naruto reaches the Hokage's office, a hand catches his shoulder, and he yelps, jerking to a stop. Sasuke whisks out his chokutō, ready to jump in.

"Wait out here."

Oki-Kakashi steps forward, and Sasuke's brow rises.

"What!?" Naruto glares. "But—"

"If the Akatsuki are controlling her, seeing a jinchūriki like you might trigger a genjutsu order that involves harming you."

Naruto scowls, but grumbles, "Fineee…"

Sasuke frowns despite the man being correct. Is Oki-Kakashi taking her on alone? Sasuke glances around, searching for his sensei since Chibi are rarely far from their Oki.

However, he sees no sign of silver hair as Oki-Kakashi opens the door and closes it behind him. Oki-Naruto immediately fidgets, his fingers tapping on his side pockets, and Sasuke frowns. Maybe he should—

Thump. Oki-Naruto continues his nervous tapping, not hearing it. Yet Sasuke's Chibi ears lock on the sound behind the door. Muffled words…another thump and…choking.

Sasuke pales. Then he leaps past Oki-Naruto, drops to the ground, and sprints towards the office. He ducks under the space between the ground and the door, sliding into the room. His eyes shoot up.

Kakashi is on the floor before him, Tsunade gripping his throat while her knee digs into his gut, her eyes bright with the Sharingan. Sasuke freezes at her cold face, the woman unmoved by Kakashi's gasps for air and twitching—he's paralyzed.

Sasuke runs at the Oki, and though a voice in his head screams—you can't interfere with Oki affairs! A much louder voice says—I don't care!

Sasuke shunshins onto Kakashi's chest, his Sharingan whirling with growing chakra. Tsunade's eyes shoot to him, and Sasuke shoves all his chakra into his dōjutsu, firing a genjutsu into the woman's gaze. Break free!

Tsunade stills. Sasuke grits his teeth as her genjutsu bends and bulges, but doesn't break. Come on! He tears at the layers of illusions, ripping and shredding them apart. Yet the genjutsu hardly weakens. How strong did the Akatsuki make this thing!?

The genjutsu lashes out. Sasuke braces himself, but hisses as chakra rams into him. Sasuke stumbles, sweat rolling down his face. No, how could it be so strong—

The Sharingan in Tsunade's eyes swirls into a Mangekyō. Sasuke's heart stops at the three-pinwheel pattern. Tobi…he must have strengthened the genjutsu order laid by the Zetsu spore, upgrading it to resist even other Sharingan. He…he can't break her order…but Kakashi can!

Sasuke flicks out a kunai and tosses it at Oki-Kakashi's headband. The metal dings as his kunai knocks up the human's headband, revealing Kakashi's Mangekyō eye.

Yet Sasuke can't do more before Tsunade's fist crashes into him, blue chakra strengthening the force.

The world goes black for a terrifying second. Then he's crashing into the wall.

Agony quakes through his bones, plaster cracking around his body. Sasuke chokes, spit spurting from his lips. His arms slip bonelessly from the craters they've made, and he falls forward, tumbling limply through the air, white noise buzzing in his ears.

Arms wrap around him.

"Maa, maa."

Sasuke blinks dazedly at Chibi-Kakashi's face, his teacher holding him.

"Sensei?" he whispers, the man swaying in his dizzying vision.

Kakashi-sensei goes to speak, but then Sasuke remembers. "Oki-Kakashi!" He grips his teacher's vest collar. "He needs help—!"

"I got it, uh, Sasuke."

Sasuke freezes. His head swivels around.

Oki-Kakashi is still on the floor, panting hard. Tsunade lies on her side beside him, blinking hazy yet non-Sharingan eyes before falling unconscious.

Chibi-Kakashi glares. He snorts and turns to leave. Sasuke tugs his sleeve. "Wait!" His face hardens. "Those who abandon the rules are trash, but those who abandon their friends and family are worse."

His teacher balks. "What?" he whispers. "He's not—"

"Chibi and Oki are connected," Sasuke recalls his brother's words from ten years ago. "Because all of us together…are…"

"How could she?" Konan whispered, expression of devastation, like a sister betrayed.

"I joined to stay near my Oki." Deidara peered at the starry sky sadly.

"There's nothing wrong with missing your brother." Itachi smiled assuredly.

"Family," Sasuke whispers, realization echoing through him. Then he turns to Oki-Kakashi. "So even if he's the reason your friend was executed—"

Both Kakashis jolt.

"Executed," the human whispers, alarmed.

"You can't abandon him." Sasuke scowls. "Or are you a hypocrite, sensei?" he asks harshly.

Chibi-Kakashi freezes, stunned.

Yet after a moment, he raises his hand—

His fingers pinch Sasuke's cheek. Sasuke's eye twitches as Kakashi coos, "Aww, my cute little student is finally learning!"

Sasuke growls, slapping his hand away. "Kakashi—!"

"Fine, fine."

The human startles, and Sasuke knows it's the first time he has heard his Chibi counterpart speak.

"I'll clean up the mess." Kakashi winks. "Get going, Sasuke."

The teen grows serious and nods. Then he shunshins out of the man's hold and stumbles onto the office window, grasping his aching skull. His hawk screeches overhead. Sasuke glances at the approaching summon, but turns back.

Oki-Kakashi is on his knees, Chibi-Kakashi standing on his palm. The human looks sad, regretful, and though Sasuke's sensei is glaring at him, he thinks maybe there's a chance for reconciliation.

Sasuke's expression eases. Then he flips backwards off the ledge and lands easily on his hawk. He swiftly sits on the saddle, breeze rippling through his hair as he jerks up the reins.

"Isano!"

He reaches into the pouch tied to the saddle and pulls out the silver fan. A stripe of gold sparkles up its middle—north.

"Forward!"

Isano flaps her wings for another burst of speed, and Sasuke's eyes narrow determinedly. Reconciliation…it's possible.

He just hopes he's not too late.

Chapter Text

Sasuke travels for days. The soft cloth his mother sewed into a genuine cloak keeps him warm while he tugs the hood down a little further, the misty wind lightly pelting his face.

Rain is plentiful this season. So, his hawk simply has to glide down to a swollen stream, and it's easy for Sasuke to lean over the saddle and scoop water into his flask. As they ride, he blows a little fire under it, boiling his drink clean. He also eats solely from the bag of food pills that Sakura gifted him, specially made to be nutrient-rich and tasty as a real meal—thankfully, the Haruno didn't inherit her Oki's cooking style.

Finally, the roads below are quiet. Maybe it's because the weather convinced most Chibi to take shelter at an inn or hide among Oki, but Sasuke likes to think his brooch acts as a bit of a ward, too. The red Uzumaki swirl pinned to his cloak contains a sample of the Nine-Tails' chakra, giving off a fierce, pungent chakra signature—Kushina-san always did spoil her favorite nephew (sorry, Nii-san, but it's true).

Sometimes it storms, and Sasuke and his hawk hide in abandoned nests or build their own fortress in a tree hollow while the droplets patter across the leaves. At night, he sends his hawk back and searches the ground for a line of tiny paw prints.

In the darkness, he shoves aside the straw-like grass and twigs woven into a ball under the leaves, and lightly steps into the warm, little den, laying his sleeping bag beside the hibernating dormouse, even smaller than him.

Days go on like this, days, a week, and then some. There are no incidents. So, of course, something must go wrong.

"What?"

Sasuke gapes at the silver fan. It glows and glitters all over the place, pointing in one direction for a second only to dim and quickly flicker towards another. Sasuke's teeth clench. Is it broken?

Sasuke rests the fan on the saddle, expression thoughtful. Even if Oki-Sasuke learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu, he doesn't have the reserves to create so many clones that it overwhelms his fan's sensing abilities. So, maybe it has nothing to do with Oki-Sasuke. Maybe something is interfering with the fan's sensors.

Sasuke frowns. He reaches for his map, rolls it open across the saddle, and trails his fingers along the inked river, occasionally checking the direction with his compass. They're just outside Amegakure.

His eyes narrow. Konoha has an invisible barrier protecting it from intruders, but Ame… Even after all the time he spent there, he can't recall spotting any barrier or other defenses. Yet, considering Amegakure's secretive nature, it wouldn't surprise him if the Village has a sensor-disrupting field.

So, go around the village until his fan starts working—which could take hours. Or travel straight through Ame and immediately negate the interference. It would just be a quick dip in and out to get a clear direction on the fan. Also, it wouldn't hurt to check on the Chibi Akats—

Boom! An explosion cracks the air. Sasuke's head snaps up, face creasing. "Did you hear that?"

Isano's amber eye slides towards him, the hawk trilling. Sasuke frowns and quickly stuffs away his tools in his pouch.

That was in the direction of Ame…meaning it might not be the village's defenses causing the interference. The true source could be whatever caused that explosion.

So Sasuke tugs the reins down, and Isano swoops towards the lake.

The sky is gray as his hawk skims over the surface, the wind from her wings rippling the water beneath her. Sasuke hardly notices when he catches sight of white among the deep blue. Square origami papers float atop the dark water, rough waves bringing foam over them.

A disquieting feeling rises in Sasuke. It looks like a battle happened here, but Pain wouldn't allow a fight in broad day—

Someone cries out. Sasuke's head whips around. Oki-Konan stands on the water, cloak soaked to the bone, blue bangs a stringy mess. Yet her wide amber eyes are bright with shock, lips parted. Behind her, Tobi holds the bloodied, jagged pole piercing her abdomen.

Sasuke's eyes blow open wide. She's—!

"Nagato will never know," Tobi whispers in her ear, voice deep, guttural, and void of the playfulness he often employed before.

Konan's eyes narrow even as pain twitches her face. Sasuke realizes immediately that Chibi-Konan spoke to her counterpart, the human woman agreed to drop the Eye of the Moon plan, and now Tobi is going to kill her for it. She needs help now.

Sasuke doesn't even have to tug the reins before his hawk swoops up like a rocket. They speed across the lake so fast, Sasuke can't even blink before they're on land. Humans screech as his hawk soars past their heads, but neither Chibi nor summon care while a familiar tower comes into view.

Sasuke grunts as Isano soars straight up the side of the building, gravity, the wind, and rain pummeling Sasuke's body. Yet he grits his teeth and bears it until the Chibi door on the ledge comes into view. Sasuke flips off his hawk, Chidori sword extending out his palm and slicing down the door's hinges.

The door falls into the entrance. Chibi-Deidara yelps from his seat on the couch, a red-haired man with pretty brown eyes glances up from the puppet in his lap, and Nagato impassively cracks an unimpressed eye at him.

Sasuke rushes in, cloak flying behind him, and Deidara tosses down his magazine on the table, standing up. "Hey! We just fixed that—"

"Tobi is attacking Oki-Konan!"

Deidara freezes, eyes widening. The room goes silent. Konan gasps, stilling in the hallway.

Then Yahiko is suddenly in front of Sasuke, brown eyes peering intently at him. "Where?"

Sasuke doesn't flinch, even while Yahiko's killing intent sparks off him. He just tersely says, "On the lake."

Yahiko whips around. "Nagato!"

The redhead swiftly gets up and throws out his hands, his Rinnegan flashing to life. Sasuke's eyes widen, and Deidara yelps, flailing as they're both pulled into the air and dragged towards the man. Even Kakuzu soars out of his room, arms crossed, while he blandly asks, "What is the meaning of this?"

A dozen other people he's never even seen before are also pulled all across the base and into the living room.

"Obito!"

The Uchiha man arrives in a puff of smoke above them. Sasuke's eyes widen. Obito?

"Everyone, prepare yourselves!"

Obito's eyes spin into the Mangekyō. Sasuke gasps as the world swirls around them. He glimpses a dark abyss with a maze of concrete staircases. Then he's in the air, sun shining on the group while they all fall over the lake. Red blooms in Sasuke's eyes, and he searches the lake.

There is no rain. Sasuke gasps. Sunlight glitters brilliantly across the lake's surface, a beautiful rainbow arching over the water…and the scenery is in complete juxtaposition to Tobi, glaring hatefully while he holds Konan up to the sky, his hand crushing her throat. Konan's fingers grasp weakly at Tobi's hand, her feet jerking unnaturally—she's suffocating.

Sasuke is speechless. Yahiko is not.

"KONAN!"

Tobi's head twists back. Yahiko flies at his face, kunai held in each hand.

"Min-nin?" Tobi doesn't so much as blink while Yahiko soars through his intangible face.

Yet his Sharingan shoots to Chibi-Konan as her paper wings spread, Nagato floating beside her. "And a Nagato?"

Sasuke suddenly notices Tobi has one arm, his right sleeve torn as if it was bombed, and his mask chipped so badly it only covers the lower half of his face. Oki-Konan caused all that damage!?

"Got ya!"

Sasuke's sandals touch down on a clay dragon, and he turns to see Deidara beside him, several other clay creatures flying the rest of the Akatsuki.

"Get out of here, boy."

Kakuzu lands behind Sasuke, and the teen looks back.

"You have your own mission, don't you?"

Sasuke balks. "But I can help—"

"Don't underestimate us, Sasuke-kun!"

Sasuke's head snaps aside. Konan glides down to Yahiko, catching him under the arms and soaring up to Tobi.

"We're the Chibi Akatsuki!" Nagato motions his hands towards Tobi. The human stiffens, then trembles. Abruptly, his arm is yanked off Oki-Konan.

"And we shall rule the world!"

Oki-Konan falls, eyes slipping closed. She splashes on the water, bobbing over the surface. The Akatsuki members rush to her aid.

Tobi chuckles darkly. "You really believe you can defeat me? That you're anything but—"

Konan and Yahiko soar at Tobi's face, Yahiko blowing out a water jet.

"Pathetic," Tobi spits as the jet passes through his face. "Nothing more than—ngh!"

A red scratch tears over Tobi's eye, just above his brow. Sasuke gasps. What—

"Again!" Yahiko cries.

Konan swiftly dives at Tobi. They pass through his shoulder. Tobi rematerializes—

And grunts while a kunai pierces his shoulder. Sasuke inhales sharply… He looks around the lake…Obito is nowhere in sight. It's him, he remained in that dark abyss…the same place Tobi has access to…which means whenever Tobi sends a piece of himself there…

Obito can strike him.

Tobi might realize this because he growls, dodging around Yahiko's thrown shuriken and reaching for the duo.

"How dare you!" Konan drops Yahiko, swiftly performing a single-hand jutsu.

Yahiko grins madly as paper wings extend behind his back and he loops around Tobi's reaching hand.

"How dare you hurt her!"

Yahiko flies to Konan's side, Nagato floating above them.

"Giant Creation Jutsu!"

Smoke puffs before the trio. Sasuke's mouth drops.

Konan stands before Tobi, the same height as the human. Yet her blue hair is orange like Yahiko's, her origami flower black, and her Rinnegan eyes glare at the stunned Tobi.

"What?" Tobi hisses and jumps back, kicking up a broken pole from the ground and catching it in his sole hand.

Sasuke's eyes grow huge, his three tomoe spinning as he examines the creation. Konan's clone is made of thousands and thousands of paper bombs. If it explodes, the force would be strong enough to destroy the entire lake.

Sasuke gapes. S-such power. Together, they're as strong as an Oki!

"This is where you get off!" Deidara turns to Sasuke, a clay bomb in each hand.

Sasuke's eyes crease. Yet he's right, this isn't his fight. And he's running out of time to find Oki-Sasuke. Reluctantly, he nods and leaps off the clay dragon.

He falls, but his Sharingan slows down the world around him.

So he watches the Chibi Akatsuki members rush at Tobi's feet with battle cries, shuriken, and kunai flying at the human. He watches chakra strings gently pull Oki-Konan through the water, that red-haired Suna-nin guiding the strings. Several Akatsuki members stand around Oki-Konan's stomach, the cloak cut open over her injury, while Kakuzu crouches, thread pulling out of his wrist to stitch up her wound. Above, Deidara circles Oki-Konan protectively, clay explosives in each hand and a manic grin on his face.

Sasuke's hawk swoops down and catches him, Sasuke automatically sticking his feet to the saddle. Yet he keeps looking back. The Chibi Akatsuki…Oki-Konan…

The Konan replica flies up in the sky, her white wings golden in the sunlight, and a rainbow crowning her head. Yet Tobi stands before her shadow, his Sharingan glaring hatefully.

Then Tobi takes a running leap, his metal pole swinging up. Yet the Giant Creation raises her arms, metal slot popping open on her shoulders and rocket launchers extending out.

"Futon: Asura Path!" she cries with the Ame's trio's joined voices.

Fuma shuriken fire out of her rocket launchers. Tobi knocks aside one but grunts as the second slices against his pole, sparks flying.

Sasuke watches the battle between light and dark until the lake bursts with jutsu, and the explosion of mist hides the fight away.

—

Sasuke's fan works once Ame is behind him. He follows the trail as he did before the interference.

Though at night, tucked away in a mouse den, Sasuke stares at the twiggy ceiling and wonders if Oki-Konan survived. She had been one of his captors, but in the end, she chose her Chibi over a plan she'd working towards for years… He hopes she lives.

The next day, gold sparkles blindingly on his silver fan. He's close…Oki-Sasuke can't be more than an hour ahead.

Anticipation rises in Sasuke while his hawk glides over a thin forest. Yet it dies away as he spots orange moving fast. It can't be…

Namikaze Naruto leaps off a branch, swings from ninja wire, and flies towards the food bar sticking out of Oki-Naruto's pouch. The jinchūriki? Is he out on a mission?

Chibi-Naruto reaches for the bar, a grin spreading across his face. A shuriken on a wire spins past him, and the blond gasps.

The wire wraps around the food bar and yanks it out, the blond gawking while it soars past his face. Sasuke catches the food in his arms and lands on Naruto's swinging wire, easily standing vertical upon it.

"S-Sasuke!" His teammate stares, wide-eyed, while his wire swings to a stop.

Sasuke smirks, and Naruto's face reddens, waving a fist. "W-what are you doing here!?"

The Uchiha goes to speak.

"Sasuke-kun?"

The boys turn. Sakura is on the branch over him, her green eyes bright with shock as they land on Sasuke.

"Did you follow us?" Her brow furrows. "To find Oki-Itachi?"

Sasuke stiffens, ice water dousing his head. "Oki-Nii-san?"

Naruto and Sakura balk at the familial term he's refused to call Oki-Itachi for years. Yet Sasuke jumps up, drops the food bar—Naruto squawks as it bangs on his head—and lands before Sakura, grabbing her shoulders.

"You're looking for him?" He gestures at the disappearing Oki-Naruto. "They sent a jinchūriki to look for an Akatsuki member?"

Her lips part, stunned by the fever in his gaze, but Naruto flips onto the branch behind him, standing quickly.

"It's your fault, teme!" Naruto points accusingly at Sasuke, nose tilting up. "After that genjutsu stuff with Oki-Granny, Oki Konoha decided it was time to get more information on the Akatsuki! So they sent a team to capture a member and interrogate them."

"Oki-Naruto came because he's hoping wherever Itachi is…" Sakura frowns. "Oki-Sasuke will be."

Sasuke's heart races. He realized Oki-Sasuke must have killed Orochimaru and abandoned his hideout, considering the time limit of the Sanin's body-stealing jutsu, but only now does he realize this also means Oki-Sasuke is looking to kill his brother.

Sasuke's eyes harden. "I have to find my Oki first." His voice tightens. "Before he kills Oki-Nii-san."

His teammates gape. "Sasuke…" Sakura's face pinches. "Did something happen?"

Sasuke's fist clenches, Sharingan threatening to flare. "Yes, I learned a terrible secret about Oki Konaha." His hand slices through the air. "Oki-Itachi was ordered to kill the Uchiha or watch his little brother perish."

Naruto pales, and Sakura inhales sharply, hands coming over her mouth. Yet Sasuke bares his teeth, growling, "He's been undercover in the Akatsuki ever since…"

"But…" Sweat drips down Naruto's face. "He was like…thirteen…"

Sasuke's jaw clenches so hard it threatens to break. Naruto turns green, realizing the truth.

However, Sasuke moves on. "Also, the Oki Akatsuki is suffering from infighting. One member attacked Konan, and Konan is the Akatsuki leader's dear friend."

Sasuke turns to the sky peeking between the green leaves, and whistles sharply. His hawk cries back, returning swiftly.

"Why didn't you tell us?" Sakura peers at him, voice soft and sad. "You made it back to Konoha, so why didn't you send a message?"

Sasuke looks over his shoulder. "Because my Oki is about to kill the only family he has left."

Horror washes over his friends' faces, but then Sakura's sharp eyes burn.

"We'll help you." She turns to Naruto. "We have to slow down our Oki, buy Sasuke time to find him."

Sasuke's eyes widen. "Sakura…"

"I don't care if we have to break the rules!" Sakura's eyes burn brighter, clenching a hand before her chest.

Sasuke shakes his head. "You'll get in trouble—"

"I'll find the ninken!" Naruto whips around. "Get them to give out false leads!"

He crosses his fingers over each other.

"Shadow Clone Justu!"

A hundred Narutos burst to life across the trees.

"Let's help Sasuke!" they shout, sprinting and leaping from branch to branch.

Sakura flexes her gloves and runs after them, right as Isano swoops down and circles Sasuke. Yet the Uchiha ignores his hawk, staring after the group.

"Why?" Sasuke whispers, his bangs falling over his eyes.

Behind him, the real Naruto frowns, blue eyes grave.

"Because he's your brother."

Sasuke's breath hitches, emotion clogging his throat.

"We know how much he means to you."

Naruto turns, his white cloak flapping while he chases his clones.

Sasuke remains, eyes on the ground.

Sakura…Naruto…

"Do not let pride be what kills your clan."

Minato slammed his hands on the kitchen table. Eight-year old Sasuke was standing beside his father, weak and bony. Yet he looked past the emotional Namikaze.

In the doorway, clinging to a growling Kushina's skirt, Naruto peeked worriedly around his mother. His blue eyes burned into Sasuke's. Naruto…he must have told his parents about Sasuke passing out during their spar…why?

"Hey!"

Eight-year old Sakura marched up to Sasuke's seat at the school table, her red ribbon bouncing from the force, and her hands white-knuckled fists.

"Here!"

She slammed a giant seed packet on his books. Then jabbed a finger in Sasuke's wide-eyed face. Her green eyes burned so fiercely that Sasuke thought he might melt.

"Plant these flowers before winter! They're very beautiful, and you'll love them!"

Everyone gawked as the girl stormed off, even Iruka-sensei, too speechless to act. Yet as Sasuke pulled the packet down to rest it against his satchel, he noticed the label.

Radishes—grows in 20 days!

Sasuke's eyes widened. Then he hastily lifted a book, hiding his face in it. Sakura lied in front of the class, sparing Sasuke the embarrassment of accepting the fast-growing vegetable his clan desperately needed…why?

Sasuke's hands ball up before they relax.

"Thank you," he whispers.

Then he launches into the air and lands on his hawk, quickly sitting and reaching for his pouch. He pulls out the silver fan. It glows brilliantly towards the side—northeast.

Time to fix this.

—

They've only been flying for thirty minutes when his silver fan turns off. Sasuke goes on alert instantly, lowering his fan and scanning the area. Oki-Sasuke should be here.

A dense forest lies beneath them. Gray mountains rise in the distance against the blue sky. The clouds are puffy…it might rain soon.

An explosion trembles the air. Sasuke's head swivels aside. Smoke clouds the horizon right outside the forest. A bomb?

Isano swings around to it, and Sasuke frowns as the forest thins out into a wide open field. The smoke obscures much of it, but Sasuke feels chakra simmering and sees the scorched grass. A battle…Oki-Sasuke…and who?

Metal glints. His hawk screeches, and Sasuke inhales sharply as she dives, his stomach dropping. His eyes widen as they dodge under the chokutō spinning through the air, sharp steel tip inches over his head. Sasuke's Sharingan blooms, and he tracks the blade as it stabs the dirt, red embers burning at its feet and smoke tendrils curling around it.

Yet the sword is a beacon among the gloom, blue lightning sparking over the metal—Oki-Sasuke's sword. But where is—

A large shadow swarms the land. His Sharingan snaps up, and he glimpses an enormous white dragon made of clay. Oki-Deidara. Hn, not surprising given how much the Iwa-nin hated Uchiha.

The ground explodes—too close. Sasuke bites down a scream as the air trembles, dirt shooting up, and smoke rushing at them. Yet explosion after explosion comes—land mines. And they're flying right over them.

"Isano, turn—agh!"

The smoke slams into his face, a violent gust rippling around them. Isano flies blindly, and Sasuke squints, but sees nothing until—

A boulder arches towards his face. He jerks the reins left. Isano flips upside down, the rock skimming her claws. They can't stay here.

"Back to the forest! Before—"

He can't finish when his hawk swerves so fast the wind is knocked from his lungs. Yet swiftly the smoke clears, branches and leaves coming into sight.

Trees groan and grumble around them. Sasuke's eyes widen. Oh, no.

Fire licks up the bark, and leaves burn to ash. Sasuke's grip tightens on the reins as the forest falls apart around them.

His hawk angles onto her side right before a tree tumbles where her wings were spread. Black smoke chases her tail feathers, the fire spreading rapidly. It's too dangerous.

Sasuke's eyes narrow. "Isano, go back!"

His hawk's eye shoots to him. Sasuke's Sharingan meets hers for a moment. Understanding passes between them.

Then his hawk soars up, trees falling thunderously loud under them, and smoke scalding Sasuke's skin. Isano wails a final battle cry.

She puffs out of existence. Yet Sasuke shoots high into the air, soaring over the tree tops with his pouch jangling on his back. He yanks down his arm warmer. He slaps the weapon seals wrapped around his arm, catches the shuriken as it puffs into existence, and weaves ninja wire around it with his fingers before tossing it far.

It winds around a branch below. Sasuke yanks himself back into the forest and swings. Thinning smoke and heat brush over him, his Sharingan eyes searching quickly for danger. The fire is dying…what's happening?

It's not long before his Sharingan spots it. Clay bits lay all over the forest, stopping the flames in their tracks, inadvertently protecting nature.

Sasuke swings down onto a branch and falls in a crouch, palm splaying over the rough bark. Now, where is his…?

His Sharingan lands on Oki-Deidara. The blond is kneeling on the ground, breathing harshly, sweat rolling down his face, and a black pit where his heart should be.

Sasuke chokes. What is that thing!?

The black mouth-like object pulses with blue chakra. It pulses…pulses…pulses…like the ticks of a bomb. He's going to detonate himself!

Sasuke gapes for a second. Then he notices the Oki across from the Iwa-nin. His shirt is pooled around his waist, arms shaking as he struggles to push himself up, but that spiky raven hair is undeniable. Oki-Sasuke…he's exhausted, his chakra a faint flame in his center.

So Sasuke jumps down, chakra shooting to his feet as they touch the tree trunk.

Hysterically, Deidara cackles, his skin browning, black cracks like veins spreading from where his heart should be.

"An explosion that will cover a ten-kilometer radius!"

Sasuke dashes down the tree, bark flying under his sandals while he sends improper amounts of chakra to his feet.

"Now, tremble with fear!"

Sasuke leaps to the ground, electricity sparking in his hand.

"Be in awe—despair!"

Sasuke takes a flying leap at Deidara, the Oki's arms spread wide, his body translucent.

"Scream!"

Sasuke reaches desperately for the Oki's back. Almost there!

"My art is—"

"Chidori!"

The blue lightning sharpens in Sasuke's hand as he touches the human's back. Deidara's head snaps around, shock bright in his blue eyes. "The min-nin!? You—"

Sasuke flares lightning over the human's body. Deidara screams soundlessly as electricity wracks his entire anatomy. Yet Sasuke keeps it up until all the microscopic clay in Deidara's veins stills. Then he reins in his electricity and drops to the dirt in a skid.

Sasuke waits, breathless from the exertion, while Deidara's translucent form rapidly regains color until he's solid again. Then the Oki's eyes fall to a squint, he groans, and tilts back. Deidara hits the dirt with a thump, arms rolling out beside him. Sasuke's chest heaves. He…he did it. He saved him and…

Eyes burn into Sasuke. He tenses, but straightens up, raising his head.

Panting, pale, missing a sandal, and his scratches merging with sweat across his bare chest, a larger version of Sasuke's own face stares at him, shock clear in his dark eyes.

Sasuke's breath hitches. Oki-Sasuke…he's gotten so much bigger. And yes, he should have expected the Oki to grow after all these years, but still, it's a shock seeing how big he is. He's almost as towering as Oki-Itachi.

For a second, they stare. Sasuke pants like the Oki, though his breaths are more anxious than tired. Oki-Sasuke—no, his twin. His brother.

Sasuke steels himself. Slowly, to not be perceived as a threat, he lifts his hand. Sasuke offers the two-finger peace sign, the one his twin always denied Naruto after their sparring matches.

The Oki's face lights with recognition, and hope kindles in Sasuke's chest. Please…talk to me…please, listen…

Oki-Sasuke pushes himself up. He motions his fingers towards his palm, beckoning.

Sasuke quickly runs towards the Oki and leaps onto the Oki's dirt-crusted knee. The human peers down at him, expression devoid of aggression, but rather, curious.

"You saved me."

His brow furrows. "A min-nin."

His twin lowers his large hand next to Sasuke. Sasuke steps onto his calloused palm and clutches his twin's curled thumb as the human brings him to his face.

"My min-nin."

Sasuke wonders if he imagines the slightest bit of affection behind that my. Yet, Sasuke is an Uchiha…the first Uchiha his counterpart has seen in years. It must be lonely thinking he's pretty much the last Uchiha.

Sympathy wells in Sasuke's chest. So he carefully walks over and reaches out.

His hand rests on Oki-Sasuke's cheek. The human's eyes widen, but Sasuke frowns, sympathy deep in his irises.

The Oki releases a breathy exhale. Yet Sasuke knows his counterpart understands as Oki-Sasuke's features soften the slightest bit. And it doesn't matter what the Oki has done, or the crimes he's committed since leaving Konoha, he isn't a bad person…he's scared.

So Sasuke lays his other hand on his cheek and rests his face against his.