Disclaimer: same as previous.

This started off being very very fragmented and it still looks whacked but I just don't know how to fix it at the moment. It wasn't that I didn't know what I wanted to write, but finding the words for it was hard. So I hope you like it because I certainly don't – I have developed a large dose of hate for my writing at the moment – and no promises as to when the next chapter (probably the last chapter of this little saga-thing) will be out.

Nothing

Pushing the mask up to the top of his head, he ran a hand tiredly over his face. It had been a long day and there was no doubt there were plenty more still to come.

He rubbed a little at his strained eyes and willed his Sharingan away. He hadn't used it much, Kakashi had headed the whole interrogation from start to finish despite arriving a few hours later. They had waited at his insistence despite Ibiki's protests that if the prisoner didn't kill himself then he would most likely clam up and never tell them anything, but the whole team had stood firm. They had already checked to make sure the assassin didn't have any sort of poison embedded in his teeth and each member kept watch until their captain arrived, each one knowing full well that Kakashi would want to be the one conducting the interrogation.

When Kakashi did finally arrive everyone in the room had shuffled uncomfortably at the sight of their captain. Itachi had known that despite having grey-silver hair Kakashi didn't look anything like an old man, but today the man looked like he had aged a good ten years. The worry clouding the other's eyes only added to the haggard appearance, but when told that they had waited for him something in those eyes flickered. And he was loathe to interfere despite the fact that he would've loved to make the man suffer for the pain he had caused.

A fine tremor danced down his spine as the memory of the interrogation filtered by. He had seen plenty of interrogations during his short time in the Anbu, even watched and learned from Ibiki which technique were the best and most efficient at extrapolating the needed information. And of course, he was no stranger to it all, and it would seem that breaking the mind of a fellow human being was something that came with the Uchiha blood. Despite that, something about the way Kakashi had held himself throughout the whole ordeal – barely contained rage dancing behind a wall of frigid calm – had struck something deep and he couldn't make himself put this whole thing down.

But be that as it may, he'd have to put it aside for now, he couldn't risk scaring Sasuke and he couldn't possibly let anything show in his expression when facing his mother. Uchiha Mikoto might look like an ordinary and loving housewife but Itachi knew better than anyone what his mother was capable of. After all, his father wouldn't have married someone who wasn't his equal. Checking his appearance in the window of his neighbour's house, he made sure he was at least presentable and headed for his house.

--

“I'm home,” he murmured softly, bending wearily to undo the straps of his sandals. Toeing them to the side, he straightened and began unclasping his armour. By the time he found his mother standing at the threshold with an upset Sasuke clinging to her neck he had removed both arm guards and was making progress on the left shin guard.

Straightening enough to regard both his brother and mother, he was a little surprised to find Tsune clutched tightly in Sasuke's arms. His brother had not let go of the plushie since this morning and he suspected that he wouldn't be letting it go until he handed it back to Naruto.

“Itachi,” his mother greeted and he stiffened slightly at the inquiry displayed clearly in her eyes. No doubt he was going to sit through his own interrogation some time soon. “How did it go?”

“As well as something like this is to be expected,” he replied, eyeing his now curious brother who was staring between him and his mother.

“I-Is Naruto okay?” Sasuke asked timidly, one eye peeking at him as he hid his face in his mother's neck, burrowing for comfort as his bottom lip wobbled.

“He's with his father.”

The tiny little face instantly lit up and Itachi wondered if the truth would've been a better choice than the half truth he had just told. It wasn't that he had lied, Naruto was with his father but he did leave the blatant fact that Arashi-sama was still unconscious and under observation while Naruto was probably worried sick about his father. He'd said it so that Sasuke would stop worrying and moping but the way the boy had perked up wasn't something he was expecting. The tiredness was really getting to him.

“Really? Can we go see – ”

“I'm sure Naruto-kun will come see you when he's ready, Sasuke,” Mikoto soothed and began to make her way back towards the kitchen.

Itachi breathed out a sigh of relief. Working the remaining shin guard off, he scooped up his gear and deposited it in his room. The katana strapped to his back was the next to go and the mask returned to its on the bare desk he had in his room. Quickly pulling out a loose T-shirt and a pair of drawstring pants, he did the same for Sasuke and walked swiftly to the kitchen.

His footsteps barely made a sound on the polished wood floor and he had to smile a little at the sight of his little brother helping with preparing dinner. The little dark head looked up when he deliberately made his presence known.

“Bath, Sasuke.”

There was a little uncertainty painted on that smile and his stomach churned uneasily. Questions were going to fly during bath time and he wasn't looking forward to it at all.

--

The smell of lemons permeated through the air as he worked the shampoo into his hair and the light sounds of Sasuke splashing in the heated bath was the only noise. The shared bath was a daily ritual that had started before he could even remember. When Itachi had been young a father-son bath was something he looked forward to as that was the only time he could spend time with the man. That stopped when he was five and when Sasuke came along the ritual reappeared, but instead of father-son it was just between siblings.

Reaching for the small bucket of water by his feet, he dumped the contents over his head and felt the lukewarm water sluice down his back taking most of the suds with it. So far there had been no questions regarding Naruto's well-being, but Itachi knew that sooner or later his little brother's curiosity would get the better of him.

The bar of soap was slippery in his hands and as he ran the pale yellow bar over his arms there was a splash and Sasuke's sopping wet head appeared from behind the side of the tub.

“Aniki?”

Dark eyes stared at him as he paused and behind those normally innocent and carefree depths was a layer of concern.

“Hm?”

“Why did Naruto's otousan get hurt?”

Ah.... let the fun begin. “Because Arashi-sama is important to the village.” Sasuke's brows furrowed in thought and Itachi carried on with soaping the rest of his upper body. “Will Naruto get hurt, too?”

The question he knew Sasuke had been dying to ask, and he had two options laid out before him. He could lie and spare his younger sibling the hurt and worry that would surely follow or he could tell the truth. The latter meant that Sasuke would have to face the same reality Naruto was be facing, but from a different angle. The little blonde would have to accept that he would end up being the most sought after bartering chip, and Sasuke would have to accept that his most treasured friend's life would be threatened for a good many years. And that bit of truth wasn't something for a child to even contemplate.

“Maybe.”

Sasuke's eyes swam and his jutted bottom lip trembled briefly. The truth hurt.

“But you and Kakashi-san and Jiraiya-san and Tsunade-neesan won't let Naruto get hurt, right?”

Those dark eyes pleaded for him to say yes and so Itachi found himself murmuring those words while washing the soap from his body. He knew he would rather die first before seeing the blonde hurt – Naruto and Arashi-sama were the only two people who weren't Uchiha he considered family – and he was sure the same could be said for the people who were mentioned.

Hearing what he wanted, Sasuke nodded and gave him a small smile before getting out of the bath and headed for the change room attached to the bathroom.

“I'm gonna finish helping okaasan with dinner.”

Itachi nodded and sank into the hot tub of water, grateful that the question session was over and that he was left alone with his thoughts.

--

Water lapped at his chest as he moved until his back came in contact with slightly cool porcelain. Sighing, he willed his muscles to relax and closed his eyes once again allowing the morning's events play through his mind.

Naruto's frantic panicked scream echoed through his mind and goose flesh broke out over his skin despite the warm temperature of the water. The image of Arashi-sama's form curled protectively around a sobbing and hysterical Naruto was going to haunt him for a good few months. Anger and protectiveness had threatened to choke him and when Kakashi had returned from the hospital he was ready to tear the assassin apart.

But it would seem that his own anger was nothing compared to what Kakashi had felt. Those tired grey eyes had flashed and glinted with blood lust when he had informed him that the prisoner was awaiting him. Even though Kakashi hadn't touched the cowering man throughout the entire interrogation the man had screamed and clutched at his head. Invisible claws rending the mind to ribbons.

He had felt no pity as he watched on and he doubted any one in the room would've either. It only took five minutes before all sorts of secrets spilled from his lips, and the blank cold expression on Kakashi's face did nothing to stop the man from trembling. Itachi had thought that he would feel some sense of satisfaction after but all that was left was exhaustion. One look at Kakashi told him that the man was feeling the same and as he leaned over the table to deliver a hard swift punch to the assassin's face there was still nothing.

--

The knock at the door was soft, muffled and would have gone unheard if not for the fact that Itachi was making his way back to his room. Letting the towel rest around his neck, he stepped into the entrance way and opened the door.

“Jiraiya-sama,” he greeted politely, keeping his surprise at seeing the man at this hour at their doorstep. What was even more of a shock was finding the Naruto resting against the other man's shoulder. The only reason why the little blonde would be here and not at the hospital with his father would be –

He started in alarm. “Arashi-sama – ”

The grim expression on the sennin's face made his heart drop to his feet. “He's relapsed.” Itachi took a calm breath to try to stop his own racing heart. Not dead. “Tsunade had him stable for a good part of the day but something triggered another.... Tsunade nearly lost him this time and I couldn't leave Naruto there.”

“And now?”

“He's hanging in there.” Jiraiya glanced down at the sleeping child, expression sombre. “The brat was hysterical.” A humourless chuckle. “I don't blame him, but I think if Naruto hadn't started screaming like he did we would've lost Arashi.”

“Then shouldn't Naruto-kun be by Arashi-sama's side.”

Even as he said it Itachi knew that if he had been given that choice he would never be able to live with himself. It would be stressful enough for an adult to watch someone they care about – their own family – struggle back from the brink of death but making a child witness that would be beyond cruel.

“The brat cried himself to sleep.”

He nodded and watched as Jiraiya looked past him. “Fugaku.”

“Jiraiya-sama.” Glancing back Itachi found his father straightening from his bow and watched as the man's brows knitted at the scene set before him. “Naruto-kun is always welcome here.”

“I owe you and your family, Fugaku.”

“You owe us nothing,” his father muttered and Itachi knew that that was his cue to take Naruto-kun and allow the two men to discuss whatever it was that needed discussing.

He reached out and paused when strong arms tightened around the orange bundle.

“Uh.” A large hand came up to card through white hair in embarrassment. “Just let me – ”

“It's fine, Jiraiya-sama.”

Itachi could understand. He wouldn't want to let go either if it meant hanging onto the last shred of hope. A kiss was dropped onto spiky blonde hair and he reached out when the child was offered to him.

“I'll make sure he's safe.”

Something in the older man's eyes flickered and a small grateful smile stretched those thin lips. “There are a few more house guests you need to meet before you go, Itachi.”

--

The moon lit room was silent as the numerous occupants slept on in the dead of night. The house guests that Jiraiya-sama had bestowed upon them were occupying various places of Sasuke's room and said boy was wrapped protectively – possessively – around Naruto's smaller form under the duvet. The blonde head was tucked securely under his brother's chin and small hands clutched almost desperately at the dark blue nightshirt. Tsune lay dejectedly by its master's head while the two foxes – he had been told that there were four and the little team of woodland creatures had split up to guard both father and son – that had accompanied Jiraiya-sama pressed themselves against Naruto's back. Pakkun slept at the foot of the bed and Gamakichi sat on the bedside table.

It was an adorable sight, a little like what he'd expect from a child's picture book about some sort of imaginary adventure that the two boys had just returned from and was just napping with their new found friends, but of course reality was cruel.

When Naruto had woken with tear-swollen eyes and stared at them in confusion he could only guess that Jiraiya-sama had taken the boy away while he had been asleep because the little blonde had quickly dissolved into agonised tears when he realised just where he was. And his little brother, being the naïve child that he was, had quickly made his way over with Tsune and presented his friend his beloved plushie. However, instead of grabbing onto the orange fox and snuggling close to the plushie was quickly ignored and Sasuke found himself trapped in a fierce hug. It would've been amusing to see his brother panic at the sudden action but as it was it was just heart breaking seeing Naruto sob uncontrollably for his father.

Their mother had done a good job at calming the little blonde down and coaxed him into the bath. Sasuke, despite having bathed already accompanied his friend, no doubt feeling distraught because he didn't know what to do to make the tears stop except for drawing Naruto into his arms.

That had been hours ago. After he had managed to herd the two boys, foxes, dog and toad into Sasuke's room he had made sure the door was securely shut and tucked them both in. The rest of the entourage had settled themselves and judging by the position of the moon in the sky there were still a few more hours before the sun decided to resurface. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and prayed that when the sun rose it would bring with it good news.

(Completed 21st April 2009)

Author's note: It seems I'm hating everything I'm writing currently. I've lost my Itachi-muse, well I hate to say it it seems my entire Uchiha-muse has died on me, so if our 'Tachi-kun and the rest of the Uchiha's sound OOC it's because of that. And it's not an ItaSasu fic! 'Tis just a brotherly moment between the Uchiha sibs!