°∆ REVERSING THE STORY ∆° [Sakura Haruno ff]

Chapter |23|

Itachi could feel his head sting, a tattle tale of the headache that was about to happen. "You're right, yes. But understand Shisui-" Itachi pleaded, his voice leaked desperation, not quite noticable. But Shisui knows, how could he not know.

He had tried to explain it to Shisui, he gets where his older cousin was coming from, but really. Still, he surely understood right?

"You thought you have a chance didn't you? With Sakura?" Shisui gritted out. Of all times when Itachi had opened up to people. It had to be her. "With almost the same age as you? Itachi, she's a child!" He hisses.

"She could help!" Itachi stated, "She could be a turning point. A corner piece." He added.

"I'm not about to drag an innocent civilian into this Itachi." Shisui patiently stated. "She is four, sure she might be mature at times. But you can't expect- you can't use her, we can't use anyone. I understand that you trust her, but Itachi, a child. We can't have another empty shell walking around Konoha Itachi." Shisui fought hard to put his thought into words.

"I was a child too." Itachi rebutted.

"You are a child, don't think otherwise." Shisui sighed, honestly drained. And he wonders if he can truly get rid of Shinobi's walking anything like but the vessel of their own shadows. He supposed, that it was a daily thing to Shinobis, striding like a walking trauma. But if he can atleast save one from becoming like one, then so be it, he'll save one.

"And I hope you understand that. No matter how many battles you've gone through. How many harrowing experiences you've done, seen, been through. Do not forget you are a child too." Shisui looked around the room, suddenly feeling suffocated, painfully aware of what they are meant to do.

"You are too." Before Shisui could argue, he continued. "But she's different Shisui," he tunes in a little weaker this time.

"Itachi, we know who we need to get to." Shisui smiled wearily, recalling the parchment that was far to heavy to carry that one night. "We don't need to bring another." He relents, the edges around his eyes turning soft, reaching out to ruffle his younger cousin's hair. "Sakura need to atleast breathe without us huddling like ghost's around her." He smiled when Itachi swatted his hands.

Oh how ironic it was for Shisui to say that, even if he tries to do that. Sakura already has the whole world strapped into her shoulders, and the phantoms of the people she loved could be seen all around the faces of every passing person in the village.

The phantoms of people who are already dead to her. What she felt like, could only be much worst than them breathing down on her neck like hungry ghosts. Because unlike them, Shisui and Itachi was alive. And they weren't plastered on the faces of every nook and cranny if the entire village. Even if they are, dead to her in her timeline.

"Hn," Itachi grunted, relenting for a bit. But the Uchiha stubbornness was a trait on their clan and it was very apparent on Itachi's face at the moment. "That look doesn't suit your face Shisui."

With that, it was easy for Shisui to crack a smile when he heard it. "For a second their I thought you were really considering Auntie's offer to Sakura." Shisui teased. Then he covered his mouth as if remembering something. "Oops! Don't tell auntie that I called her auntie. She really doesn't like to be called that."

Itachi could've rolled his eyes that moment, but he settled in grunting. "What is it to me? It's not my place to be considering my mother's offer to Sakura. Shouldn't it be her choice?" Itachi continued in a flat tone.

"Hmm if you don't want the little blossom, there's always other Uchiha's that would gladly want her." Shisui teasingly shot back, his eyes glinted mischievously at the irritated twitch of Itachi's mouth. His little cousin could be a glacier, and it certainly did not stop from Shisui messing with him.