Itachi shielded Sakura as a loud explosion went off. It shook the building, causing things to fall off the shelves and dust to rain down on them, but thankfully, nothing was broken. "I have to go."

He pulled away, but Sakura wouldn't let go. "I'm coming with you."

"No, you shouldn't," he said firmly. "I can't let you get in danger."

"He's my friend too, baka!" Itachi saw stars as Sakura whapped the back of his head. He rubbed it, staring in shock at the fire-breathing dragoness that had burst forth from sweet Sakura. "We're the only ones who know that he isn't trying to take down the village, it's Orochimaru!" Itachi half smiled, something close to a triumphant smirk.

"Come on then." He motioned. "Let's bring my brother home." Sakura smiled grimly back, the two taking off at high speed out of the hospital. When they reached the roof, the sight stopped them both. The heavy rains made everything fuzzy and dark, illuminated only by bright flashes of lightening.

"What the fuck is that?" Itachi turned on his Sharingan, letting the henge fall away to focus his energy.

"That's Orochimaru."

Sakura stared in horror at the eight writhing snakes bursting from the faint dot that was Sasuke. One wall of Konoha had been completely destroyed. Lightening crackled briefly, allowing Sakura a clearer look. He was screaming. "What do we do?"

"You get everyone back. I need space for what I must do, and I don't want anyone hurt." Itachi took off without waiting for her answer. He knew she would carry out his wishes. Itachi pushed into the fray, terrified people wailing and screaming around him, running away from the destruction. As he neared, he turned on his Mangekou, forcing himself not to recoil in pain and shock.

Orochimaru's chakra flowed in and out of his brother's eyes in a pattern Itachi recognized all too well. How he had done it, Itachi was not sure he wanted to know. Sasuke's eyes locked on Itachi's as he grew closer. For a second, he could see his brother in those eyes, caught between fury and pleading, before the madness of Orochimaru took over, sucking Itachi into the Nightmare.

Itachi wasn't going to take it lying down. If Orochimaru wanted mind games, that's what he'd get. Orochimaru conjured images of a young Sasuke, begging for death, cutting himself, trying to poison himself, trying to hang himself, screaming in agony with each failed attempt. Just a genjitsu, Itachi. Hold it together. Itachi fought back, sucking both Sasuke and Orochimaru into his own mind, twisting in inescapable pain. He heard his brother cry for release, but he forced himself to continue, this time knowing that it really was to save him. Orochimaru withdrew, manifesting himself externally, his slimy body coming forth from one of the white snakes.

"I see you've grown, Itachi-kun," he said in that sickly sweet voice. "Are you jealous I took your brother instead of you?"

"Get out of his body, you pathetic snake," Itachi shot back. "I'll have your freeloading ass off to hell."

Orochimaru laugh weezily. "Death wouldn't take me, Itachi-kun. Hell spat me back out."

"Wrong. Hell came for you on earth, and you clung like a leech to those strong enough," Itachi hissed.

"Strong enough? They are weaklings!" Orochimaru laughed harder. "They give anything for power, even if it means this!"

"And what does that say about you? ! You are a small child, afraid of the dark!"

Orochimaru's face became dark and grim. "I'm stronger than all of them! When my parents died, I did not wish to join them; I wished to be stronger than them, to live no matter what!"

"So you kill others in the process! Hypocrite!" Itachi spat. "At least be man enough to admit you are afraid!"

"I am not a man Itachi! I am a god!" Orochimaru shrieked over Sasuke's increasing cries. "And gods fear nothing!" Itachi started to cough, the river of blood making itself known. It spilled from his lips. His vision began to darken. "How could a mortal like yourself hope to ever kill me? !" Itachi didn't have time to use the first syringe, opting instead to use the epipen. He coughed harder at the increase in blood pressure forced more bleeding, but his vision returned enough to see Sasuke as a blur.

He didn't have much time left.

Itachi closed his eyes, conjuring first one eye, then the other to his last resort, the jitsu he knew could kill Orochimaru. Slowly at first, then faster and faster, a skeleton built itself in red around Itachi, standing taller than the wall, taller than Orochimaru's snakes. Flesh and armor built around the skeleton, forming Itachi's demon god, Susanoo.

Itachi couldn't see, except through Susanoo. His vision was completely gone. He could only feel where Orochimaru's and Sasuke's chakra was intertwined. His body became cold and heavy. He forced himself to make hand seals, raising his arms to command the demon. As the demon god moved to Orochimaru, he could feel the snake fighting back furiously, every jitsu bouncing off.

Finally, the god got a hold on Orochimaru's head snake, choking the head, holding the jaws open. A sword appeared, sutras written all down the side from Susanoo's cloak.

"The Soul-Sealing sword? !" Orochimaru's voice became high pitched in fear that Itachi darkly relished. He didn't have the breath to laugh, but inside, his perverse pleasure at destroying what had damaged his only brother was immense. The katana sunk itself into Orochimaru, who screamed loudly, his soul being sucked into the sword, his chakra being consumed and destroyed. Through the haze, he heard lightening and thunder as Orochimaru fought back, but it was useless against Susanoo. With one last shriek, Orochimaru was forever sealed inside the demon.

Sasuke had been freed.

Itachi still sensed a little, mostly that Sasuke still wanted to kill him, even though his chakra was weak. A few exploding tags were thrown, but Susanoo blocked them easily. Itachi would have to keep Susanoo up until he could no longer. He trudged towards the faint signal of his brother, each step harder than the last, blood pouring steadily from his mouth. More exploding tags, a few kunei and a few shuriken. They bounced off, not affecting Itachi's death walk. Just a few more steps….. Just one more breath….

Sasuke was backed into a tree, shaking, no energy left., too terrified to even breathe. Itachi kept coming closer, until he was just there, an arms length away. Itachi gurgled one more breath, bringing up his numb arm to tap his little brother on the forehead, saying softly, "Forgive me, Sasuke." He smiled, and knew no more.

O*O*O*O*O*

"NO!" Sakura shot over the rubble, watching the blood pour from Itachi's lips, his arm outstretched to tap Sasuke. His mouth formed words, then he fell to the ground, leaving a track of blood on Sasuke's pale face. The massive red demon faded as he fell limply.

Sasuke stood in horror for a second more, before taking off, screaming. Sakura ignored him, coming over to Itachi's still form. "Itachi," she shouted, checking his pulse. She couldn't feel anything. "No! Please…" She rolled him over, looking at his face. His eyes were half closed and dull, streaked with blood, but his face was peaceful. She shook violently, begging him over and over to come back. Finally, she just sobbed, her tears lost in the rain.

My death will have been in vain if he can't truly live… Sakura heard his words in her head. She looked one last time at his blank face. Slowly, she stood. "I promise." And she took off after Sasuke.

He wasn't hard to find. He was weakened by the battle. Though his sprint was fueled by fear, Sakura was at full strength. He was still running when she caught up to him. She grabbed him by his ripped collar, dragging him to the ground. "Sasuke!" He was down on all fours, grabbing his wet hair and shaking. Sakura lifted his head, forcing him to look into her eyes. His eyes were red. "It's okay, Sasuke. They're gone. It's over." Her voice was soft and soothing. Sasuke clawed at her arms for support, sobs racking his shoulders. "It's over now. You're safe. I'm here." She gathered Sasuke's head to her chest, stroking the black locks she had missed so much. Sasuke clung to her and cried like a child until he passed out.

O*O*O*O*O*

"Sasuke, wake up. I know you're awake." Sasuke blinked uncomfortably. "Come on, I've been waiting." He rubbed his eyes, looking towards the voice. Something touched his nose. He grunted, trying to slap it away. He heard a laugh. "Then wake up." Finally, he saw. It was Sakura's smiling face. He blinked stupidly.

"Where am I?" The room looked unnaturally white. "Am I dead?"

Sakura chuckled. "Unless I'm mistaken, no."

"Tell the teme I'm going to get better before him." A voice that sounded like Naruto's came from behind a curtain.

"Shut up, baka!" Sakura quipped, sounding more playful than annoyed. Sasuke took in his surroundings. Sakura was sitting on the side of his bed, the light of a spring sun pouring through the window. With a gasp, he remembered what had happened, and he grabbed for his curse seal. Sakura smiled wider. "It's gone, Sasuke. You defeated them both." Her voice was soft and tender.

"You brought me back," he said back, staring in wonder. She nodded. "Why?"

"We're family, teme!" Naruto shouted from behind the curtain.

"Naruto, you're going to hurt yourself!" Sakura snapped.

"Did I-"

"No." Sakura cut off his insecurities. "It was a mission before your little stunt."

Sasuke was silent for long minutes, listening to Sakura and Naruto bicker like siblings. Family. They were family. Sasuke came to a conclusion long buried, one he didn't want to admit to before, but now it seemed right. He inched himself up to sitting. Sakura reached to fluff his pillow behind him, but he cupped a hand around her cheek. "Sakura, I love you. I owe you everything." A flash of pain went across her face, but it was quickly replaced by a soft smile.

"I love you too, Sasuke. Why do you think I keep coming back?" Sasuke leaned in and kissed her.

"Oi, teme, are you making out with her? ! That's so gross!"

"Shut up, dobe," Sasuke mumbled against Sakura's lips, making Sakura laugh. "Get used to it."

O*O*O*O*O*O*

Epilogue:

Naruto made a full recovery. His scars healed thanks to Hinata's work, but he was sent away for two years to relearn Ninjitsu. The sickness caused his tenketsu to change.

Within weeks of Sasuke's return, Sakura was found to be pregnant. Sasuke proposed on the spot, but Sakura hit him and said she would not get married while looking and feeling like a cow. It was a very difficult pregnancy, and Sakura was bedridden for weeks. The labor was as easy as the pregnancy was difficult. It was a girl, and they named her "Tenmaki" after a joke that she would be "tensai" (genius). Sakura became the Uchiha matriarch three months later, moving into the Uchiha district and cleaning it up. An outdoor shine was constructed by Sasuke's old house, surrounded by cherry trees.

Hinata continued her studies as a medical student, achieving Jounin as a doctor.

Tsunade didn't survive the attack on Konoha, permanently passing control to a reluctant Kakashi. Shizune became the head of the hospital, Hinata as her student and assistant.

(And because I know most of you are about to kill me…)

A small moan escapes his lips. His fingers flex against his palms. Legs are shifted uncomfortably. When he opens his eyes, everything is blurry. He winces against the light.

"I can't believe it….Hinata-san, you are a genius."

A single word whispers like a soft breeze:

"Sakura…"

I want to make my thanks to all who reviewed: Reina Reina, kisukebenihime, Morgan EF, OTURAN-IKAMUZU1, Dawn Destiny, TeenageCrisis, TheHeartBreaker, fuzzysoxftw, kamiccolo's rose, Feuerphoenix, ItaSaku-ness, wingchan7, ChicFreakSistaFierce, ToxicInsanity, Toyroys, and the one who wrote the most reviews, Mischa Rowe.

To be continued.