An Itachi Fanfiction [EDITING]

Orochimaru's Return

For several seconds after Itachi disappeared, neither Sasuke nor I moved.

The cave felt impossibly empty without him.

I stared at the place where my husband had been standing only moments before, almost expecting the light to gather again. For his silhouette to reform. For this entire thing to have been some cruel trick.

Nothing happened.

He was gone.

Again.

Except this time felt different.

The first time Itachi died, he'd left me with questions. Secrets. Anger. Guilt. A thousand things I wished I'd said and no way of ever saying them.

This time...

He'd left me with goodbye.

"How are you doing?"

I blinked and looked at Sasuke.

His voice was unusually gentle.

I sniffled and wiped the remaining tears from my cheeks.

Strangely, beneath the grief, there was something else.

Peace.

"I think I'm going to be okay."

Sasuke studied me.

I looked back toward where Itachi had disappeared.

"Last time, I wasn't ready to live without him."

My fingers unconsciously brushed against my marriage bracelet.

"I don't think I even knew how."

I swallowed.

"But I got to see him again. I got to tell him everything I never thought I'd get the chance to say. I got angry with him. I forgave him. I got to hold him again."

My voice broke slightly.

"And this time... I got to say goodbye."

Sasuke looked away.

I knew he understood.

Maybe better than anyone.

"It still hurts," I whispered. "Gods, it hurts."

I closed my eyes.

"But I think it'll be easier now."

Not easy.

Never easy.

Just...

Easier.

A familiar voice suddenly entered my mind.

"(Y/N), what's happening? Did you actually stop the Reanimation Jutsu?"

Lord Inoichi.

I held one finger toward Sasuke.

"Give me a second."

His eyebrow rose, but he remained quiet.

"Lord Inoichi, can you broadcast something for me? To everyone."

There was a short pause.

"Go ahead."

I took a breath.

This mattered.

If the world was going to remember Itachi Uchiha, then for once, they were going to remember the truth.

"The Reanimation Jutsu has been stopped."

I imagined the thousands of shinobi across the battlefield hearing my voice.