Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto. This non-profit, non-copyright infringing fanfiction belongs to me under international copyright laws and taking it is plagiarism. Don't steal and don't sue. Thank you *Phantomness bows*

Notes: AU, Bastard! Sasuke, SasuIta

Chapter 43: Playing God

The slight hum of the HEPA filtration system was the only noise in the silent room. Quietly, almost noiselessly, eyes hidden behind protective glass, two pairs of heads – one bright red, one raven black – bent over their work, two pairs of shoulders in white lab coats, two pairs of hands aseptic in crisp blue nitrile gloves, two pairs of dark eyes focused intently on the specimen they were examining. In the background, rack after rack of test tubes glittered with blood agar and poisonous extracts, cultivating only the deadliest microbes and most virulent poisons to produce the chemical and biological weapons needed to make Akatsuki Corporation the deadliest terrorist organization in the world.

Abruptly, the male rose, with a frown. "No… this is not the correct strain either." He frowned. "Damn those Konoha pacifists! They've managed to create an antidote again!"

"Sasuke," The woman turned to him. "It's only a temporary setback…"

"And how many of these temporary setbacks do you think Pein-sama will tolerate, Karin?" Sasuke snapped at her. He turned around abruptly, lab coat flaring behind him.

"You need a break, Sasuke," Karin replied. "You can't work like this."

Sasuke sighed. He knew that Karin was correct. It had been over twenty-four hours since he had last slept, and the signs of exhaustion were definitely starting to show. "All right, Karin. You've made your point…"

Itachi had arrived to pick him up by the time Sasuke had showered and finished the decontamination process. He landed the helicopter on the roof, and they walked down the stairs to their penthouse apartment. Sasuke had been silent on the ride home, and Itachi guessed the reason for his brother's anger.

"I made you something," He offered quietly.

Sasuke sighed, sitting down when Itachi pulled out the chair for him. "I don't understand, niisan," He whispered. He gazed listlessly at Itachi, glad that the window glass was thick, and the curtains were closed so that he would not have to listen to the sounds of the seething sea of humanity beneath them, nor hear their cries. Ever since the cure for aging and natural death had been discovered by legendary scientist Senju Tsunade fifteen years ago, the world's population had exploded. No one died, and people kept reproducing like vermin. The young twenty-one-year old scientist was tired, so very tired… That was why at the tender age of sixteen, he had joined Akatsuki Corp., determined to stop the time bomb before the very earth they lived on perished…

But those people from Konoha Corp., they just did not understand! Why couldn't they see that there were just not enough natural resources to support this overpopulation? The marine life was nearly gone, so what was left – cannibalism? Sasuke shuddered, glancing down at his plate. As though Itachi had sensed his thoughts, there was a simple dish of vegetarian curry tonight. Sasuke thanked his brother, and began to eat slowly.

"So," Itachi asked, later that night. "What will you be working on next?"

"I don't know," Sasuke confessed, cuddling against his older brother's chest. "I feel as though I'm up against a wall, and I don't know what to do. Every single time I come up with an idea, Konoha manages to counter it. Maybe… maybe I should just give up."

Inwardly, Itachi felt a slight frisson of fear run down his spine. "Sasuke, you can't do that." He coaxed. "That's no one else in Akatsuki as good as you…"

Sasuke sighed, tucking his head under Itachi's chin. "I mean it, niisan… Pein-sama might really dispose of me this time. I thought that aerosolized, rapid-acting HIV strain was perfect. No one else had ever managed it before… and what did they do? They had a fucking antidote within three weeks!"

Yes they did, Itachi thought grimly. Tsunade and Sakura had worked themselves to the bone to counter it. He also remembered Sasuke babbling out the alterations he had made while he knelt between his thighs, giving him one of the best blowjobs of his life. He knew that he was betraying his brother, and that he was betraying his organization. But, he couldn't bring himself to care. The way they looked at human life – playing God – he couldn't allow that.

Three weeks later, Itachi was lying in bed as Sasuke thrust into him, panting. Itachi gazed into his little brother's eyes, watching the Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan spin lazily, his own Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan spinning lazily. Even in a world without ninja, there were still some traits that stayed the same – for example, their inclination to watch each other during intercourse – and their ability to never forget.

"Ahh… niisan…" Sasuke panted, collapsing on top of Itachi.

"Yes, Sasuke," Itachi purred, stroking his little brother's hair.

"I finished it…" Sasuke panted, nuzzling his brother's shoulder.

Itachi felt his heart rate quicken slightly. "So soon," He asked, pulling Sasuke closer. "You really are a genius."

"Pein-sama was very insistent," Sasuke admitted. "That's why I haven't been able to come home and spend time with you… Do you want to know what the changes are?"

Itachi nodded, and Sasuke began to whisper them in his ear.

"So they're planning to contaminate the global water supply with this," Tsunade frowned. "We don't have much time…"
Itachi nodded, remembering the date Sasuke had told him. On that date, Pein would reveal himself as 'God', and then unleash the virus.

"But we will have the vaccine before then," Tsunade finished. "Thank you, Itachi. We will spare Sasuke's life, as you requested."

"Thank you, Tsunade." Itachi replied. "That is all I ask."

The Day of Pein's announcement, Pein announced coldly that all water – for water was now only bought and sold through one company, Kirigakure Corp. – was contaminated with his virus – Tsunade similarly revealed that she and her employees at Konoha Corp. had all been vaccinated against that virus – and they had vaccinated every human they could get their hands on, all over the world.

Itachi nervously fingered the two syringes of vaccine in his jacket, one for him, and one for Sasuke.

"If you're so certain of it, take a drink," Pein taunted her.

Tsunade snatched a bottle of water from the Kirigakure Corp. employee, popped the cap, and took a chug, daring him to protest. One, two, three minutes passed, and nothing happened. She was grinning in triumph, before she fell over, dead.

Itachi's eyes widened. Sasuke, who was standing behind Pein, gave his brother a long, slow smile that did not touch his eyes.

He slowly walked off the stage, and reached his brother. He slipped his hand into his jacket, found the syringes, and tossed them aside, hearing them shatter on the sidewalk.

"Did you think I didn't know; niisan?"

"W-when… h-how…" Itachi stammered, as Sasuke pinned him up against the wall of a convenient building.

"Niisan," Sasuke tsked. "Who else would I tell my formulas to?"

Itachi could barely breathe, and at this point, he could hardly think. He could only see Sasuke's eyes, swirling onyx and ruby and lavender, boring into his.

"Did you enjoy playing God, niisan?"

"I… I never meant…"

Sasuke pressed his lips against Itachi's, gently but firmly, cutting off his words, leaving him breathless.

"How does it feel, niisan, to know that you've single-handedly condemned more people to death than I ever did?"

Itachi stared at Sasuke, wide-eyed. He wasn't certain how he should feel. Sasuke's words felt like daggers being driven into his heart, over and over. Instinctively, his Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan flared in response, as one of Sasuke's hands slid from his shoulders down to between his thighs. He realized where this was going. He felt an involuntary shiver of desire run down his spine. Sasuke smirked as he slowly unzipped Itachi's pants, tugging them and his boxers down.

"Stay still, niisan…" He purred. "I think we'll both enjoy this…"

Itachi tilted his head back, exposing more of his throat as his younger brother as Sasuke roughly penetrated him. No lubricant, no preparation, but neither of them cared. Itachi hissed through his teeth as he clenched down on Sasuke's length, and Sasuke gritted his teeth as Itachi began to ride him, owning him. That was more like it…

"You enjoyed it, didn't you, niisan…" He crooned, gazing into Itachi's eyes. "You wanted that power… the power to play God…"

"Damn you, Sasuke…" Itachi's voice cracked. "Damn you…"

"You didn't join Konoha to protect me," Sasuke continued, as Itachi's motions became more frantic. "You did it to oppose me, to test me, to prove that you still had a hold on me… to test your power against mine."

"Why do you always have to be right, otouto?" Itachi demanded, the Mangekyo Sharingan and Rinnegan in his eyes flashing. "Why?"

Any words Sasuke might have spoken were lost as the powerful force of impending orgasm washed through both of them.

Sasuke held Itachi close as they calmed down. "Shh, aniki, it's all right." He crooned. "You're not alone anymore. You'll always have me."

"Sasuke…" Itachi sighed.

"You don't have to run from the darkness anymore," Sasuke reassured him. "I'll always be there, right beside you…"

Itachi chuckled wryly. "Only you, otouto…" He said, ruffling Sasuke's hair, giving him a gentle kiss. They managed to get their clothing in some semblance of order, before returning to join the rest of the Akatsuki. Pein gave them a sideways look and sent them home, suggesting that maybe a week off would do them both some good.

"Playing God, are we?" Sasuke asked Itachi, once their hosts had fallen asleep.

"How ironic," Itachi agreed.

"This dimension is in a sorry shape…" Sasuke's lip curled in disgust. "I suppose we can spare some energy…"

Itachi chuckled. "I'll hold you to that."

End Chapter

Started 3/17/16

Completed 3/17/16

If it didn't make sense, the last formula Sasuke gave Itachi was fake – so the vaccine they came up with + the virus = poison