An Itachi Fanfiction [EDITING]

A Shadow in Darkness

I went straight home after the preliminaries, desperate to recover what little chakra I had left.

The apartment felt strangely empty without Sasuke there.

Too quiet.

No annoyed comments from the kitchen.

No sound of kunai hitting targets outside.

No irritated "stop leaving books everywhere."

Just silence.

I hated it.

I had just started getting ready for bed when I felt a familiar presence behind me.

Cold dread settled in my stomach instantly.

I didn't even bother turning around.

"So it's true," I whispered quietly.

Slowly, I looked over my shoulder.

And there he stood.

Kabuto Yakushi.

Standing calmly beside my bedroom window like he belonged there.

For a moment, I didn't see the spy working for Orochimaru.

I saw the older boy who used to train with me.

The one who corrected my stance when I held a kunai wrong.

The one who patiently taught me chakra control while my mother laughed nearby.

The one who used to ruffle my hair and call me "kid."

My chest tightened painfully.

"Hello, Big Brother Kabuto."

The title slipped out before I could stop it.

Something flickered in his expression at the words.

"So you finally remembered me."

His voice was softer than usual.

And somehow...

That hurt worse.

I looked away first.

"It took me a while."

The room felt suffocating suddenly.

"He's after me and Sasuke, isn't he?"

Kabuto didn't answer.

He didn't need to.

Silence was enough.

I swallowed hard.

"I suspected you'd come eventually."

My fingers curled tightly at my sides.

"But I'm not letting that man back into my life."

Kabuto's gaze sharpened slightly.

Before he could respond, I grabbed my bag.

My body dissolved instantly into a snake.

Then I fled.

Slithering through the open window and into the darkness before he could stop me.

⸻

I didn't transform back until I reached the streets below.

Then I ran.

Straight toward the hospital.

Panic pounded in my chest the entire way.

If Kabuto had approached me—

Then there was a chance he'd already gone after Sasuke.

I practically slammed myself against the reception desk.