Unholy Love | SasuSaku

In the Hands of Violence

"There are no beautiful surfaces without a terrible depth."

Friedrich Nietzsche, Beyond Good and Evil

Itachi's POV

The hours had passed slowly and the trio's scouting mission had thus far been fruitless. While the lack of enemy presence was reassuring, it was also a constant reminder of the unknown; a source of quiet frustration that gnawed at the back of Itachi's mind. Naruto, as usual, could not contain his impatience.

"Pff, this is pointless!" Naruto exclaimed, throwing his hands up. "We've been at it for hours and we haven't found anything."

Shisui's lips quirked into a grin. "Naruto, that's a good thing. The Senjus are not closing in on us. We should be glad the forest is empty... for now."

Naruto groaned but couldn't argue with Shisui's logic. Itachi glanced at the two of them, his expression calm, though his thoughts wandered elsewhere. He wondered if Sasuke had learned anything useful. A slight frown creased his brow, but before he could dwell too much, movement caught his eye.

A small rabbit hopped into view, stopping to sniff at a patch of grass. Itachi paused, his eyes softening as a memory surfaced. He remembered taking Sasuke on his first hunting trip many years ago. Sasuke had been a little boy, his arms barely strong enough to hold the bow properly. Itachi had knelt beside him, patiently guiding his hands and adjusting his stance. Sasuke had aimed, trembling with concentration, and had missed the rabbit completely. Itachi had gently ruffled his brother's hair, telling him that even the best hunters missed sometimes. "Maybe next time, Sasuke," he had told him.

Itachi's lips curved into a rare, genuine smile at the recollection.

Shisui noticed and raised an eyebrow. "Thinking of her again?" he teased, his voice light.

Naruto perked up, instantly intrigued. "Her?" he asked, eyes widening with curiosity. "Who's this mysterious girl that has Uchiha Itachi smiling? Come on, tell me!"

Itachi shot Shisui a warning look, though it was without malice. "Watch it, Shisui," he said, his tone carrying a hint of humour.

Shisui raised his hands in mock surrender.

Naruto crossed his arms, pouting. "You, Uchihas, are always so secretive! No fun at all."

Itachi's smile lingered, but his attention shifted as he noticed dark clouds gathering in the sky. The first hints of a coming storm. His eyes narrowed and he turned to his companions. "The weather's changing. We should head back to the monastery before the rain hits."

Shisui and Naruto exchanged a glance and nodded, understanding that Itachi's instincts were rarely wrong. Together, they began to make their way back, their pace steady but cautious, each step bringing them closer to their safe refuge.

Sasuke's POV

The sun had begun its slow descent behind the trees, casting long shadows across the village as Sasuke and Sakura left the tavern. The air had grown cooler, the breeze carrying the scent of rain as dark clouds had started gathering in the sky. Minutes later, drops began to fall softly at first, little pinpricks of cold against their skin. Sakura walked beside him in silence, seemingly deep in thought.

As they passed through the outskirts of the village, the path winding back towards the forest, Sakura's voice broke the quiet. "You Uchihas have brought this doom upon yourselves," she said softly, her tone cold but not unkind. "Starting a war with the Senju... it's only brought death and suffering." She sighed.