Black. We see it when we close our eyes. We see it when we sit in a dark room. We feel it in the forms of depression, hatred, loneliness.

It never occurred to Itachi that death would be filled with an eternal blackness that could be felt in the soul.

He found it almost poetic in a way.

The raven-haired Uchiha walked for a while in the blackness before noticing the faint whispers of light flickering in the distance, drawing him to it.

Itachi often thought of who would be waiting for him on the other side. Shisui perhaps? His clan members? Death himself?

He'd been living in the shadows, hiding his broken soul from those that he protected and now he was forced to face the pain he carried deep within his heart.

His parents.

"Is it really you, Itachi?" Mikoto Uchiha softly spoke as her eyes stared at him with love and adoration.

Itachi had struggled to remember his mother's voice but when she spoke, he felt tears prickle at his eyes. It soothed him and he nearly forgot what he had done to them.

"Ka-san..." Itachi whispered. He had come to a halt, barely revealing himself in the light of the campfire burning by his parents.

"What are you standing over there for? Come closer, Itachi" Fugaku Uchiha motioned him over with a firm but loving expression.

His soul hurt too much. His heart broke worse than the night he murdered his clan. They looked at him with such love. As if he were still their son and hadn't committed such atrocities.

Itachi didn't bother keeping his tears at bay. He let them fall as though his guilt and shame fell before them. Bare. Vulnerable. Remorseful.

"Oh, Itachi" Mikoto smiled sadly before walking over to him.

Gently, she cupped his face in her hands and wiped his tears from his cheeks.

Itachi couldn't help but lean into her warm touch.

"I-"

"We know, son" Fugaku interrupted, walking up behind Mikoto "Let's talk by the fire".

___

Tears hit Itachi's forehead as Sasuke leaned over him with a pained expression and tears running down his cheeks, dripping off his nose.

"I-Itachi...Nii-san!" Sasuke cried as he tightly grabbed onto Itachi's corpse.

Kakashi stood beside him with sorrow hanging over his head.

They had driven the Pein's back and the older Jounin could only assume they had gone to fight Naruto but Kakashi had faith in the blonde man.

With Sasuke out of commission, Sakura supporting the village with her medical ninjutsu and Kakashi watching over Sasuke, making sure he wouldn't act out against the village, Naruto was left to take on the enemy.

If anyone could defeat Pein, it was Naruto. Though, Kakashi would feel better about helping his student saving the village.

He looked down at the youngest Uchiha "Sasuke..."

Sasuke seemed to sober up for a moment as his expression fell numb with sadness being the only emotion seen on him.

"Go..." The boy muttered though Kakashi couldn't help but hesitate.

Sasuke knew he wouldn't be allowed to fight, he was too overwhelmed with his emotions and would only be a burden on his team so he glanced at Kakashi, a glare set deep into his eyes.

"Go."

Kakashi responded with a firm nod before leaving the young Jounin to grieve.

He ran through the broken homes, past the bodies of his comrades and civilians of Konoha with a glare set on his features. He would get payback for what Pein did to this village.

Despite what the older Jounin's views were on the village, he cared about it. Enough to want to change it and certainly enough to want to protect it.

Screams could be heard in the distance as Kakashi came closer. His eyes widening at the sight of Naruto pinned to the ground with rods impaled into his body.

What truly halted him in his steps was Hinata. She had come to help Naruto knowing she wouldn't be a match for Pein but she still fought. She fought until she could no more. Until Pein lifted her high into the air and forced her body down into the ground.

Kakashi could see Sakura off in the distance, rushing to the purple-haired girl's aid but Pein had already turned his attention back to Naruto.

Naruto eyed Hinata's body with shock and before any of them could react, the Kyuubi's power burst from him, creating a major shockwave that sent Kakashi back into a wall of debris.

He grunted as his vision swayed but he didn't need his vision to understand what was happening. To feel it.

The Kyuubi has been released.

Naruto's body was no longer controlled by himself. His skin had burned off, replaced with pure dark red chakra that could extend itself.

Whilst Naruto, or rather the Kyuubi, went after Pein, Kakashi knew there wasn't anything he could do to bring his student back right now and instead appeared before Tsunade.

The Hokage had been in shock. She had used up all her chakra and even went so far as to dip into her reserves but her body wasn't prepared enough.

She had fallen into a coma and Kakashi eyed Shizune with exhaustion as Shizune cried over Tsunade.

Much was lost for Konoha today. Many were lost.

He wasn't sure how the village would recover from this but Kakashi believed in them. The civilians and the shinobi would find a way. They all would.

The Jounin knew Pein's bodies were being controlled by someone behind the scenes. He had figured it out when whilst fighting. He was sure Jiraiya would have figured it out as well but the man was still in a deep sleep recovering from his injuries.

Kakashi watched as Pein and Naruto fought. Pein had trapped the villagers in a large ball of rock in the sky before trapping the Kyuubi as well.

He stepped forward to help before noticing the furless Kyuubi breaking halfway out of the rock.

He panicked.

'Did Kurama break free from the seal?' He thought.

As Kakashi activated his Mangekou Sharingan to try and control the Kyuubi, a sudden burst of smoke made the Kyuubi disappear with Naruto taking its place.

The older Jounin was shocked. Naruto had taken back control.

An intense battle followed as Naruto lay into Pein but eventually succeeded in defeating him.

Kakashi watched as Naruto left the battlefield into the forest and followed him.

___

"Ke" came a soft voice from behind the Uchiha.

He sat with his back to his teammate. He didn't want anyone seeing him. His brother lay dead before him and all he could do was cry over it. He was ashamed.

Ashamed that he couldn't stop him. That he couldn't do anything.

His only family member was gone. What would he do now? Take revenge on Danzo?

The Uchiha suddenly felt exhausted. He was tired of the all secrets. The lies. His whole life, things kept changing and now he wasn't sure he could continue to change with life.

A hand made its way to the Uchiha's shoulder, gripping as if he'd disappear any second.

Sakura knelt beside her teammate with silent tears running down her cheeks for Itachi. She hadn't known him personally but she knew the sacrifice he'd made for the village. For Sasuke.

No words could make the matter better. No time could heal the deep wound in Sasuke's heart. There was nothing the pinkette could do but silently comfort him as he came to terms with the inevitable.

Sasuke clenched his eyes shut as he remembered his brother's deeds and honor. Sasuke could still imagine his brother apologetically poking his forehead whenever the older Uchiha became too busy for his younger sibling. He never understood why Itachi did it but it became a special pastime between the two.

Even now, the young Uchiha could his fingers poking his forehead as if he were still alive.

Sakura gasping made the young Uchiha flinch at the sudden sound before he slowly opened his eyes to see what had startled her.

Only, instead of looking down at a closed-eyed Itachi, Sasuke found himself staring at a slim wrist with the hand poking his forehead.

The hand slowly moved away to reveal Itachi gently smiling up at his brother.

Sasuke's eyes widened. He struggled to believe what was happening but there was no doubt, his brother was alive again.

"Ita-"

"-Sorry Sasuke" Itachi interrupted as his hand fell back down to his side.

"Hn-" Sasuke clicked his tongue as more tears fell down his cheeks. He chuckled as he tightly gripped Itachi's shirt "-Baka! Why are you sorry? You sacrificed yourself...for me" The young Uchiha muttered as he shook his head.

Itachi simply remained silent as he let his younger brother comprehend that everything would be okay. Slowly, Sasuke stopped crying as he looked down at his brother with a rare genuine smile. Perhaps now things could get better for the Uchiha brothers.

"Hm? People are gathering at the village entrance" Sakura muttered as she stood up, staring in the direction of the large group.

The two Uchiha brothers glanced at the group as well before Itachi slowly stood up with Sasuke helping him.

The three slowly made their way over before Sakura lit up "Hinata!" She yelled before rushing over to the purple-haired woman. She still had bruises and cuts covering her body and face but otherwise gently smiled at the pinkette.

"You shouldn't be up yet" Sakura tried grumbling but couldn't stop the smile from forming on her face. Even though Sakura was the one to heal Hinata, she felt happy seeing her conscious and smiling like her usual self.

"Arigato, Sakura" Hinata bowed to Sakura startling the pinkette. 

"Hinata..." 

"Oi!" A sudden shout startled both women as teams 10 and 8 rushed over with wide grins. Every single one of them was alive and well albeit with a few minor wounds.

Sasuke and Itachi watched from the sides. Itachi smiling softly as he glanced at his brother. He vowed then and there he would do everything possible to stay alive for him.

"Yo" Kakashi suddenly appeared by the Uchiha's side with a bored expression.

"Hn. Sensei, where's the dobe?" Sasuke questioned.

Kakashi simply pointed toward the large crowd when the blonde suddenly appeared by being thrown into the air. It seemed they were celebrating his victory.

Itachi smiled, happy for the blonde and the village's survival whilst Sasuke glowered. He hadn't fought his best. Instead, he was felt useless and pathetic. The young Uchiha cursed himself internally for lacking behind the blonde.

"Sasuke" Kakashi suddenly spoke up, gaining said Uchiha's attention "The village survived with the help of everyone." He said, seemingly understanding where Sasuke's mind was drifting. 

Said Jounin glared down at the ground "How did I help when he defeated Pein?" 

Itachi glanced down at his brother with a sad expression "Many more would have died had it not been for you and the others keep Pein at bay" Itachi muttered to him. 

Sasuke clicked his tongue once more as he glared down at the ground "I wasn't strong enough. Pein would have killed me if you hadn't jumped in the way. I need to get stronger" The young Uchiha grumbled as his pride overtook his reasoning.

Kakashi and Itachi could only watch as the raven-haired Jounin wallowed in self-despair. Kakashi had done everything he could to stop Sasuke from going down a dangerous path and now that Itachi was here, the older Jounin hoped the young Uchiha would come to see reason and be content.

As Kakashi glanced back at Naruto, who had a large grin on his features, he knew Sasuke would take this more personally than anything. 

"Very well, if you see yourself as weak as that. I'll give you more training." Kakashi offered with a dangerous smile.

Sasuke paused, he knew his sensei well enough to know whatever training he would give the young Jounin would be intense. Which is exactly why it grabbed his attention and made him feel determined again.

"Hai" Sasuke muttered, the glare of hate no longer in his eyes. Instead, a glare of determination overtook his features and Itachi glanced at Kakashi in awe at how easily he seemed to bring Sasuke back from his destructive thoughts.