This story is inspired by a drawing of Itachi hanging beside my bed.

Prologue – A Simple Wish

"Haa… Haah… Argh… Your eyes belong to me now. I'll take them slowly… I want to savour this." Itachi gasped out between labored breaths. Sasuke flinched at his venomous threat. Without warning, Itachi's heartbeat pounded against his chest, and dark streams of liquid came gashing out of his mouth. Between the pain and the rapid coughing fit that had assaulted him, his knee gave out as he gripped his chest in agony. It was during that instant that Sasuke saw an opening as Susanoo, the gigantic humanoid surrounding Itachi, momentarily weakened. With the stealth and accuracy only a skilled ninja has, he flung a tagged kunai towards Itachi.

The resounding explosion gave Sasuke some comfort, but only briefly, as the cleared out smoke revealed an unscathed Itachi. Sasuke's act of impulse only served to fuel Itachi's anger, and he began making gradual steps towards him.

"DAMN YOU!" Struggling to remain unaffected, he unleashed a scroll with explosive seals tags which he swiftly attached to his kunai, aimed at his Brother. With Susanoo, any in-coming attacks are futile. Haven't you realise that, Sasuke? Itachi pondered pensively.

"My eyes…"

With each nearing steps, Sasuke's helplessness and fear only increased, threatening to swallow him inside out. His last attack with his sword was easily repelled by Susanoo's Yata Mirror, and the force of repulsion caused him to be backed up against a wall with a large Uchiha symbol craving. The irony of the situation was not lost on him – that the very symbol of his pride severed him of his escape route, leading him closer than ever to his impending death. Itachi's blood stained arm reached out, ready to claim those every eyes that Sasuke were so dependent on. He could only respond with shaking legs.

"… S…. S... … …. .. … …. T..."

What the…? What did Itachi just said? Sasuke's thought was interrupted as his Brother's fingers were mere inches from his forehead. It came nearer, and nearer, and…. Poke. Upon contact with his forehead, Itachi's fingers slackened and went tracing down the left profile of his face, leaving behind a trail of blood, reminiscent of tear tracks. Itachi's body sang forward, diving head first onto the wall beside Sasuke, before sinking onto his knees and collapsing on the broken granite floor, battle won but match lost.

Chapter 1 – All Alone

Cutting off the thread, Haruno Sakura successfully sealed the gaping wound of her latest and last of her morning shift's casualty. She looked up and was met with approving nods and eye contacts from her seniors of Konoha Hospital, where she worked as a part-time assistant medic after school and during the weekends. Swiping the sweat off her now glistening forehead, she proceeded to thank everyone for their help (her mother always empathized mannerism and maintaining good relationship with her co-workers, albeit being just a part-timer) while swiftly peeling off her doctor's coat. A quick glance at her watch gave her enough reason to hasten up - it was already four past ten! She was supposed to be off work an hour ago, lazing around at her apartment and sipping tea while listening to one of her favorite idol's songs... Shaking her head out of her fantasy-about-to-turn-into-reality, she bid her last farewell to her Supervisor, Ms Shizune (a real charmer - she still hasn't thank her for those amazing homemade strawberry shortcakes yet, and gently reminded herself to return the favor soon) and excused herself from the building.

Ten minutes has passed before she brisk past her apartment's guard house - the perks of working near your house, not before waving at the "jolly guardians" who she loved so much.
"Konichiwa, Izumo-san, Kotetsu-san! You two are working hard as ever!"

"Konichiwa, Sakura-chan! Iya, iya, that's our job. But aren't you late today! Hopefully there weren't any fatal casualties...?" Kotetsu Hagane replied with a concerned look.

"Ah, shinpai shinaide, the staffs are working really hard and they are all doing fine now," Sakura responded with a certain pride for her seniors, and herself, knowing she did her best be it bandaging, paper work or even the hardest task- closing of huge wounds. The last took some time to get used to, and between the exposed bones, overflowing blood and limited time, the novelty of such a gruesome scene was lost on her.

"Jaa, I'm going up to rest for a while. Keep up the good job, futari tomo!"

"Hai, hai, we will look out for any suspicious guy going after you!" Izumo offered with humour.

"Tataima!" Sakura exclaimed cheerfully, her voice echoing slightly throughout the empty apartment on the tenth floor. She frowned slightly, before remembering that there was not supposed to be anyone at home. How could there be when they were all dead? Kicking off her white heels, she surveyed her living room. The furniture was kept sparse to reduce the housekeeping, making the space very minimalist. The walls were freshly painted pristine white, thanks to Naruto's latest obsession of messing with paint. That best friend of hers lived by the motto "Live life to the fullest," though sometimes she wished he would slow down. She was only juggling one part-time job and was barely managing! So, when Naruto offered to paint her house, Sakura practically dove at the chance. Who doesn't like a free paint job?

"Urgh, I am sticky and I hate it," Sakura said out loud with a disgusted shudder as she made her way to her bathroom. She was never one to take her time over trivialities like showering, and was done before her green tea was soaked up by the boiling water.

Carrying her green tea into her cosy cocoon - her room, she sat and leaned back against her black armchair, sipping her aromatic drink while staring into the eyes of her beloved idol – Kanae Itachi.

"Tataima, Itachi-san," Sakura whispered to the full body poster of the lead singer, secured neatly within a custom-made rosewood frame and hanging proudly against the celadon wall, beside her single bed. Despite her independent facade, she was in fact garnering most of her confidence from Itachi. Since the day she had the poster, it has quickly became a habit for her to hold idle conversations with him, from ranting about her overzealous physical education teacher, panicking over what to wear on Picture Day (while hoping to capture her crush's attention with the strategically chosen outfit) to sharing her deepest sorrows that not even Naruto knew about. It has offered her some form of comfort and delusion of an occupied flat other than herself.

The chores of the day finally took its toll on her as she start to feel her eyelids getting heavy. All the overtime she did to cover for her school fees and daily expenditure were definitely a killer to her health. She carefully sat the clay cup on her desk and made a bee dive for her bed. She smiled at him 'lying' next to her (above her), before giving in to her exhaustion. Her last thoughts were of his mesmerizing eyes and those locks hanging in front of his onyx orbs, imagining them to be swaying with the wind, of her sweeping it off his forehead and kissing it...

Is it over?

Sasuke dared a glance over at Itachi's still life. Yes, Itachi's dead. I've finally beaten you, nii-san... Or did you not let me win on purpose?

Before Sasuke could wonder any further, he felt darkness consuming him from within. He promptly fell over and landed adjacent to Itachi.

It is over.

Before Sasuke lost his consciousness, he could not help but wonder, why does it have to be me? Why can't nii-san be… Like before? It was at this very instant that Itachi's body shimmered slightly, followed by a sudden jerk that propelled his soul out of his vessel, towards a new perspective.

When Sakura was deep in slumber, nothing could pull her away from her state of unconsciousness. Nothing. Hell, she even slept through an earthquake (albeit a small one)! That was what she thought.

Amidst the deafening silence and stillness, the poster hanging beside Sakura's bed began emitting rays of ghastly white, filling up the entire room with its heavenly luminance. Itachi's limp and bruised body went tumbling out of the life size poster, landing ceremoniously on top of Sakura.

"Oooof..." What the... What's this heavy thing on top of me?

"It can't be you right, Itachi...? I'm sure I secured you on my wall..." Sakura mumbled beneath the baby pink blanket. She shifted her face, and felt something soft tickling her cheek. Sakura's eye immediately bolted open. If Sakura was in a deep slumber before, she was definitely sober now.

Who wouldn't with Itachi in the same room as you, much less lying on top of you? Not that she knew that, not yet. Sakura tried to sit up, but the dead load was too much to handle for her stiff muscles from those hours of work and heavy sleep. Impossible, she must still be dreaming. Wait what if this was... A pervert thief?! That notion jolted all her drowsy muscles awake and with one shove, she managed to get away from being sandwiched between the unidentified person and her bed, only to roll and landed on the timber floor with a dull thump.

"Itai... Eh... what?! Is this really...!" From her new vantage point beside the bed, she assessed the scene with part disbelief and undisguised admiration. Sakura blinked. There laid the most beautiful man she has ever laid eyes on in her entire existence.

Cladded simply in a loose-fit, V-neck lavender tee-shirt with a mesh top underneath and slim-fit lavender cotton pants, Sakura could not believe that such unflattering apparels could complement to such extent with his alabaster skin and appeal so much to her. This was the same man who she squealed and yelled over and swooned at since five (and probably the only guy she has ever known who could pull off a head to toe assemble of pure purple raiment) - her idol Kanae Itachi. It can't be.

The next bugging issue was, what the heck was he doing in her room? Why wasn't he moving at all? She began tapping lightly on his shoulder.

"Ano... Itachi? Are you awake? Ita... Shinjirarenai, what happened to you?" Now that the novelty of the situation has worn off, she began to notice another more disturbing observation - the multiple bruises and scratches and the severe burn on his entire right arm. Her medic instincts took control; after hastily securing the load of pink hair with the hairband on her bedside table, Sakura knelt down and swiftly assessed his various injuries. Second degree burns, a deep wound across his left thigh and those streaks of dried blood on his cheeks… I've got to take him to the hospital. Without deliberating further, she probed him up and carried him by his shoulders out of her room.

Kicking open the front door, Sakura managed to get both of them out of her house with little effort (with much thanks to Itachi's slender build) before closing it back with a muted thump.

"Hang on there, Itachi-san! I am bringing you to the hospital now…" Sakura whispered encouragingly while shuffling slightly on the way to the lift at the end of the deserted corridor. It was during times like this that she was glad that she has MIA neighbours – who knew what sort of gossip could escalate should she be caught hurling a man out of her flat by a buttinsky? I must be in luck, eh? Sakura grinned inwardly at that thought as she pressed the lift button with her knuckles.

….

"You've got to be kidding right?" Cried an exasperated Sakura. Between her irrational brewing excitement and anxiety to bring Itachi medical aid, she completely missed the "Under repair" signage pasted on the lift's door. There was even a cute image of a chibi construction guy beside the texts, bowing in mocking repentance at her.

"I must be in luck, eh?" Sakura forced out with a defeated sigh.

So bright... Is this... The afterlife?

"Ten days… Worry… Sta…"

Are those people's voices? I tried to move my arm, but it would not respond. Why does my body feel so heavy… And weak? I tried shifting my neck, and in doing so it sent an intensifying pain throughout my now aching body.

"Mfmm..."

"Itachi…? Itachi-san, is that you? Shishou, quick come over here! He's awake!" The afterlife is a lot noisier than I expected.

Through my hazy vision, I could make out two figures looming over me, and soon felt someone pulling at my top and dragging something cool over my chest. Next, light was shone into my eyes. Surprisingly, it did not hurt my vision but I did not appreciate being prodded and probed at, since I thought that afterlife is supposed to be peaceful and accommodating… Or was this my retribution?

"How is he?"

"Calm down, Sakura. He is fine. To be honest, I was shocked that he even regained consciousness, not after you bringing him in that wrecked condition. I cannot say I fully believed your explanation, in which I shall find out more in due time, Sakura."

"Hai, sumimasen, soushite, arigatou."

Wrecked condition? What happened to me?

"Also, for some reason his superior rectus and optic nerve were severely damaged. Thankfully for the latest technology that resourceful Jiraya managed to secure for us, I was able to restore them, along with some other muscles along his superior and inferior oblique. However, he would still need some aids to see clearly, since the damaged cannot be reversed." With that concluded, Tsunade, managing director and Sakura's master, left the room.

"Wher… Where am I?" I forced out between laboured breaths. My throat felt like it was on fire, and in dire need of water.

"The hospital. Here, have some water first." After I was probed up against the headboard of the bed, I was given a glass of water to sooth my dry throat. Gradually getting used to the brightness, my vision became more focused (as focus as the persisting blurriness allows) and I realised I was in a small room. The white walls were devoid of any decorations and emitted hints of fresh paint, while hanging next to the bed were a wall of cerulean cubicle curtains complementing the pale yellow ones pulled across the window to shelter against the brewing breeze.

"How are you feeling now?" I tilted my head and was met with a pair of big, sparkling jade orbs, fully focused on me. She must have found me. I could not detect any chakra on her, it's unlikey she's a ninja.

However, what really caught my attention was the mass of pink hair resting just above her shoulders, looking so surreal and displaced yet it somehow suited the healthy complexion of this young woman, who has begun to reveal signs of worry at my lack of reaction.

"I am fine." Surreal or not, I knew nothing about her. Neither her village, nor her capabilities. I needed to know more, and began to eye her warily. To my surprise, she burst out laughing. Refraining from revealing anymore of my thoughts and emotions, I waited patiently for an explanation.

"Oh, don't worry Itachi-san; I am not some paparazzi- see, no cameras, notebooks or whatsoever! You can rest assure that no one will disturb you over here." What is she saying?

"How do you know my name?"

"How could anyone not know your name? At least, the whole of Konoha knows about you. But after your venture to other places like the Rain and Sand, you can practically say that everybody knows about you."

So, I must be in Konoha now. However, something felt amiss. I did not sense any ANBU Black Ops around, and if the pink-head knew about me, then how could she remain so friendly in front of me? What about… Sasuke?

"After all, you are the heartthrob of all females, the legendary Kanae Itachi!"

Wait a second, did I hear Kanae? I did not recall anyone of my age group bearing similar name as me, much less a Kanae-san.

"On a serious note, how did you end up in my room though, Itachi-san? I had the biggest shock in my life- you were all beaten up and unconscious, I thought you were dead!"

"What happened to Sasuke? Did he come back?"

"I was all worried… What? Sasuke-kun? I could not contact him since he just left Konoha for his taijutsu training with Sensei, but don't worry, he will be back by next week."

"That's good." He returned to the village, that's good.

"Ne, Itachi-san. Could you me excuse me for a second? Let me go fetch your dinner; you must be famished." I nodded my thanks and was left alone, at last. Although there were still plenty of ambiguities to be solved, I was heartened to hear that Sasuke came back and regained his status as a proud ninja of Konohagagure, where Naruto and his friends were. Where we were from.

Coming back to what she said, who could this Kanae Itachi be? Could he have casted a powerful genjutsu and deceived everyone that he was a Konoha ninja? It was plausible, but very unlikely since I would have detected any ignis fatuus, especially one of a massive scale. Flipping off the hospital blanket, I lifted my legs off the bed and walked towards the window and pushed aside the curtain. How long has it been since I last came back to Konoha, to check on Sasuke?

The first thing I noticed were the specks of lights scattered across the crepuscular landscape- my vision must be beyond hope now. In fact, I was astonished that I could still see after straining them so much during my battle with Sasuke. I did not expect light to enter them once again.

The next thing that I found disturbing was the perspective from the hospital. I was getting too good a view for a mere three storey high architecture. I observed a sea of vertical structures with irrational height emerging from the mass of low buildings that were reminiscent of those in Amegagure, but never present in Konoha. On the ground, there were multiple infinite tracks that seemed to stretch on beyond the darkness. Along the continuous paths I could make out a parade of rectangular figurines moving, undeviating from its designated path as though charging towards an impending war.

"What is going on?" My eyes began a frantic and futile attempt in searching for the Hokage's monument. What resided at its location was the same mountain, and if I recalled hard enough I could conjure up the five great Hokage's faces on the now vegetated mountain surface.

I took a reluctant step back and was instantly filled with an emotion so raw and so eerily familiar to the younger me – helplessness. This is Konoha, but no longer the Konoha that I knew of.

What happened after I had passed out?

"Itachi-san? Sorry I took so long! I didn't want you to have the hospital food so I went home to cook… Itachi-san…?" A sudden gust of wind from the window caught Sakura off-guard, causing her to drop the lunchbox, spilling its contents. She remained rooted to the ground, numbed against the scalding contents of her dinner on her feet. Itachi was gone. She began making sluggish steps towards the unmade bed. With her shaky hand, she picked up a piece of note lying on the bed in place of the owner.

"Oh no, this is bad… I've… I've got to find him!" Tucking the note carefully into her skirt's pocket, Sakura went after Itachi.

Scribbled in neat handwriting:

Thank you, Sakura.

I've always wondered how Itachi would cope in the modern era, so here's how I envisioned it to be like. Comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated, 3Q minna-san!