Chapter Text
“Do you really have to go at a time like this? You never taught me that technique.” Sasuke sighed, body lean but still awkward from his recent growth spurt. Orochimaru chuckled at his student’s forlorn complaints, leaning against the village gates as he watched the brothers. Itachi smiled reassuringly, pressing two fingers to his little brother's forehead.
The dreaded words that usually accompanied the poke did not follow, but instead:
“When I come back, definitely.”
He let his brother go after that, smiling back as he watched the elder go down the dirt path wearing a familiar red and black cloak. Itachi would come back, he had held true to all of his promises and Sasuke finally trusted him with something as important like this.
The duo watched until Itachi’s light footprints were covered with fresh dirt by the cool breeze. Making their way back into the village, the two veered away from the bustling streets and onto the trails of the Nara Woods until Jiraiya’s house came to view.
“You understand why he had to leave, dear child?” Orochimaru finally asked, smiling at Kimimaro in greeting when the white haired boy met them at the door.
“In time I will.” Sasuke responded, “As long as he returns.” He added as a silent plea to Amaterasu.
A shriek broke the silence and as though the sun goddess had blessed him with everlasting childishness, he shed his worry and raced further into the house to see what his friend was up to.
His family was still gone, the man behind it suffering their fate but his comrades and brother still roamed the village. Always seeking constant adventure and helping their home mission by mission. He would stay in an open field of that passion rather than go down that dark tunnel he shuddered at thinking about.
Fleeing out of the house with Naruto after the telltale sign of glass breaking sounded throughout the kitchen, he rushed through the forest, laughter echoing as he ran after his best friend.