Ain't That a Kick in The Head?

18 - Waterloo

linked the mamma mia end credits because they're fucking awesome

Sasuke has no idea how to get to the endless salt flats where his brother is.

He knows every time he goes there, he passes out. He knows it's somehow connected to his usage of his Eternal Mangekyou sharingan– Itachi had said something about it being connected to the seal on his forehead and the pathways of his eyes– though admittedly at the time, he'd been too glad to see his brother again to pay attention to what he was saying.

However, he has an idea.

Sasuke has noticed a pattern.

Every time he tries to use his Mangekyou to do something impulsive, he passes out.

Therefore, Sasuke sits up straight, turns to his left where Naruto sits, leaning around him to make one-sided conversation to a red-faced Hinata, and tries to set him on fire with Amaterasu's flames.

His vision spirals away from him in a blurry wheel of red, white, and warm brown. He hears someone scream his name, and a buzz of muttering floods his ears. It sounds like he's underwater. He smacks his chin on something ceramic and tastes mashed noodles.

Then salt.

The overwhelming taste of saltwater floods his mouth. His brother grabs him by the back of the shirt and pulls him up and on top of the flat. Though, the way Itachi holds him reminds him of the way one of the stray cats he fed in the district would hold one of her kittens by the scruff of its neck.

"Little brother, what were you–"

"I wanted to talk to you."

Itachi releases the back of his shirt. He cocks an eyebrow and smiles faintly, "What do you wish to speak about?"

His hair, Sasuke passively notes, is dripping wet. He pushes a hand through his bangs and moves them away from his face. "Kakashi gave me porn. He's a terrible influence, somehow even worse than you." He grimaces. "I need...love advice."

Open surprise flashes across his brother's face. Then Itachi chuckles and mutters something to himself under his breath. Suddenly, Sasuke shivers. Guilt settles in his stomach.

"I'm sorry," Sasuke blurts, "I was...harsh to you when you were only trying to help me."

"You had every right to be. What I did to Izumi wasn't right, though I believed at the time it was the kindest fate for her."

Giving someone the illusion of your perfect life together before ripping it away from them– Sasuke doesn't really know how he could have even called that kind. Though in retrospect–as he realized Itachi basically used him to commit suicide– he understands why his brother wants to take down Madara so badly.

Silence. A warm breeze floats by and caresses their faces.

"So, you went to Kakashi for advice?"

"He was useless. He said I have 'unhealthy ideas about love'. " Sasuke scoffs, then shakes his head. "I couldn't even defend myself without exposing our plan."

"Sasuke, have you considered that Kakashi is worried about Naruto?"

"Clearly." he grumbles.

Itachi narrows his eyes, "It seems obvious to me what he's attempting to do, little brother. Kakashi isn't someone who's particularly in touch with dealing with emotions. Nobody who's been in ANBU is."

"He was in ANBU?"

"He was my captain." There's a hint of nostalgia in his words. "Sasuke, he worries about both of you."