A/N: I accidentally forgot to update on FFNet. Sorry (on an entirely "unrelated" note, the version of this up on AO3 gets updated a lot quicker than this so if you want first look at chapters, that's still the place to go). Anyway, the idea for this was loaned to me by a friend and basically it's just a reincarnation meeting a reincarnation. Sort of.

I fucked up, I fucked up, I fucked up-

The words are on repeat in my head as I try - and succeed because damn are these features good with a poker face, it's no wonder he never - no. Don't get distracted. This is not a situation to get distracted in. Well, no situation in this damn world is, but this is one of those it's definitely not. This is not canon.

Oh Gods is this not canon. I would definitely remember if it had been, you don't really forget this sort of thing. It's an anime, viewers don't get to forget what happens in arcs with time travels like the characters do. I watched every episode of the anime - I think? - and this did not happen.

Somehow I fucked up and someone decided time travel was the way to fix it. And sent Uchiha fucking Sasuke back to do it. Or. Or did I misstep and reveal myself after the massacre and he decided to come back and change it somehow? Did his Sharingan get fucked up? Is this Sharingan magic bullshit?

Shit. I got distracted again.

"Hn."

There. The typical Uchiha response. That along with the poker face won't reveal my panic. I hope.

"..."

He's looking at me weirdly. Oh Gods, I knew it. I knew he knows. Knew he knows - is that proper grammar - never mind!

"Who are you?"

What.

I know he knows who I am so why -

Is he checking that he got the timing right? No, he'd ask my age or something then, so what - he must be pretending to be someone else. This must be why no one warned me of his coming. Maybe he recently appeared, claimed to be a lost relative and proved it with the Sharingan? It's what I'd do if I had to time travel and couldn't trust the government...

Wait. If he knows who I am, he'd worry I'd figure it out anyway and decide it is better to make me trust him by the tellling the truth, right?

"...Itachi."

He looks at me as if surprised, which doesn't make any sense. Did I do this wrong? Was I not supposed to be careful about introducing myself to someone no one has thought to introduce me to? Was the leaving out my last name part a bad idea after all? I thought it seemed like common sense - oh. Right. Common sense and Uchihas don't go hand in hand. But I'm Itachi, that'll have to be excuse enough.

Especially given that my newly born younger brother just appeared from the future and is pretending otherwise.

This time Sasuke smiles slightly, and what the fuck? Nodding at me, he returns the favor, "you must be the heir, my name is Sasuke. I suppose you've heard of my appearing here?"

"...Some," I tilt my head as if curious to learn more about him, in this world I cannot possibly be different from what he knows so my regular mannerisms with the clan will have to do, I know not what I will be in the future he knows. That is to say, I know nothing of what I want to be, just what I can be, and parts of that I'd love to not be.

Sasuke looks at me almost fond, more than I'd have thought he'd be if I do what I am destined to, and it's the strangest choice of words that come from him, "I thought so. You'll learn more soon, I'll make sure of it. My big brother once taught me that trusting your clan is a choice, and while I may not know this part of it, I know my clan. I'd like to trust you, if you'd let me."

This is nothing like the Sasuke I thought he'd grow up to be, no matter what I do. And choices? Would I make that choice, the one trusting them while knowing they plan to take over the village? Knowing that the village needs to be stronger than it is, not weakened from the clan? I can't imagine it.

There's obviously something very wrong with my little brother. It's either that or he's not actually my little brother and instead some sort of doppleganger. A double. Maybe from a parallel universe? That would be helpful, at least, as it might mean that when he leaves, I won't constantly be watched as they wait for me to start killing them all. Perhaps in that universe Uchiha Itachi was never born, or there was more than one elder sibling, the eldest someone capable of showing the village they can be trusted.

"Your big brother?" of course, as Itachi, someone I've always thought to be smart - not clever, that's different - I have to notice the parts that are important. If I do not know this Sasuke, I would assume that the big brother part might be another Uchiha who has never been found. And that could be a problem.

"Ah," Sasuke makes an affirming noise, clearly refraining from telling me my own name. "You remind me of him."

Well, then.

"He's of few words, as well."

Sasuke isn't. That's normal, I think. Before the massacre. Did it never happen in this Sasuke's life? Gods, there's so many questions left unanswered.

"I see," I'm clearly proving him right because I'm at a loss for what to say further. Will a twitch of my lips that hint at a smile work? Yes, good, there's a hint of a smile back. I hope. I've grown used to being able to read Uchiha emotions from all these years but I'm still not perfect at it. I've made a few mistakes. Horrible ones. Poor Fugaku.

"I thought I would get something to snack on before I meet with the Clan Head and Hokage, would you like to join me?"

I tilt my head, watching him. Considering him, not the offer, is what I hope he thinks I am doing. In truth, I believe I know him. I just don't know if the smart Itachi-like thing would be to say yes or no. Do I excuse myself with some random important training or such, or do I agree? Maybe if it depends on the snack? Ugh, this is just like Politics.

"What were you thinking of getting?"

"Well, what do you recommend?"

So that's how it's going to be. Fine. Maybe I can actually learn something from this entire thing. Maybe he'll think this is an Alternate Universe if I act differently. It's not like anyone will accuse me of not being Itachi when I'm the only Itachi known in this Universe. I should be safe, though as usual I'm going to prepare for the worst.

"Follow me."

And now for the most important decision of all times. Do I follow my sweet tooth and take him for dango on the assumption that everyone likes dango even though I'm of the belief that he does not enjoy sweet things, or do I follow the kind and considerate side of me and take him for onigiri of which he can choose what he likes?

The temptation for dango is strong, increasingly so for every step I take, but I will be training later. It may be smarter to go for Onigiri. Do I ask? Should I?

The struggle is too real, what if he really only does like tomatoes, oh Gods. Merlin. Fate. Help me out here, give me a sign.

"I suppose I should mention that I may be sparring later," Sasuke tells me in a very casual manner, after minutes of silent walking, proving to me that if I call for the Gods, Merlin and Fate, my prayers will be answered. Good to know. Onigiri it is.

It takes me a moment to realize he's fallen silent again, and I doubt he'd said it for the sake of just letting me think up somewhere to eat. Clearly he's waiting for the inquisitive sound I make as it clicks in my mind.

"Would you like to come? I could use another sparring partner and I have heard good things about you," 'have heard good things about you'? Who says those kind of things these days? Is that another difference of time? Does the future really hold such easy-going remarks? I'm looking forward to it, then. Sort of.

"I could make time," I offer slowly, glancing over at him. He's looking around like he's a tourist, which is strange but at the same time not. He must be seeing differences he's never noticed before. He probably didn't think much of knowing the Village after the Massacre and then later the invasion and so on. Man, Konoha sure has shit luck every few years. "I find myself curious to learn what you know."

There, that's as good as any reason and it's even the truth.

"I have heard you are well-traveled," it's not quite a question, but it follows my previous words and he'll think it's me following up on it instead of trying to steer the conversation into some, uh, safe spaces. Also, I'd really like to hear about it all so I can prepare. Some things will always be the same and I'm betting that if he has no intention of revealing his time traveling, he'll stick to those parts.

I am a genius, clearly. Officially and unofficially.

Okay, no I'm not, but I can damn well pretend. If there is one thing I've always been good at, in my previous life as well, it's pretending. Everything from happiness to understanding. Guess I'm the perfect fit for Itachi when it really comes down to it, maybe there never even was an original Itachi but always a reincarnation. A pretender who can't help but love their younger sibling, always.

The little brother thing is not new to me. I had one before. A boy who got to grow into a man and yet still always absolutely had to talk to me about things we had in common. He was a blabbermouth, just like Sasuke really. Heck, maybe he IS my little brother from my previous life but doesn't remember like I do. I hope not, though I like to think I would have noticed by now if that was the case.

Maybe not. Any reincarnation should know to not take orders from Danzo without confirmation from the Hokage. Unless that was all wrong. There are so many variables that I can't imagine would happen if there's a reincarnation responsible for playing Itachi. Not if they know.

The Massacre will not happen like in the anime. It can't. I could never torture my little brother, not even knowing everything. Kill everyone, maybe, but not torture. Not my little brother.

I'm going to need a better spynet than I have, someone fully loyal to only me. Summons. Itachi had crows, didn't he? I can use crows.

"Ah, but if there is one thing that remains the same, it is this," oh, Sasuke is smiling. We're by the stand with my favorite onigiri and he is smiling right at me. Smiling. Sasuke. At me.

What.

"I think I'll go for two with tomatoes. Would you like any? Consider it repayment for showing me here."

What.

How different is the future from canon?! He doesn't look like he's gone past the defeat of Kaguya yet, just - what. I don't understand anything anymore.

I force out a sound of denial, but it's not as hard as I expect. Maybe because I'm in total denial about a lot of things so it's pretty much just an automatic response to plenty of things. Of which I usually repress, not let out, but beggars can't be choosers.

"Later then. Maybe we can share a meal after sparring?"

He seems insistent on spending time with me. But I did say I'd make time. I guess I'll have to stick to it, unless a mission comes up. Gods, I hope I get a mission. At least then I'd know what to do.

My nod is slow and hesitant, not an outright agreement but accepting the maybe for now. And then I make my escape, rudely leaving him behind to find his own way to the Hokage's Office. Very not-Itachi when I think about it, but whatever. I'm sure it'll be explained away somehow, people do that for people who are thought of as geniuses. Explain it away as quirks when we do something impolite.

As I wander away, though, I could've sworn I heard the tune of a familiar old Christmas song whistled slowly and very prettily.