172-=(Anti)Climatic battle=-

Itachi looked at Sasuke with his sharingan

Oh, how wonderful it is that his brother has gotten to this level

The sword is his hand shook

How unfortunate it was that he could not give his brother the fight he deserved...

His disease was already a pain way before his legs being broken by Kaede years ago

Such a mistake that was

His new legs were metallic, prothesis created by Sasori based on one os the paths of pain and its mechanization abilities

He smiled at the thought, how pathetic this display of what once was him it is

Itachi died that night, with the rest of his clan, what remains is only a husk with one mission, so it didn't matter

Kaede was a mystery to him, yet he didn't find his curiosity worth the effort to satiate

"Sasuke..."

To his words, his brother tensed, gripping his swords tighter in his hands

"This is your last chance to curse me"

He said, getting ready for what would without a doubt be, his last fight

"Cursing, huh?

You already cursed me enough"

We're Sasuke's last words before he covered his blades in fire and electricity once again

'Yes... So it would seem'

With his past finally catching up to him, Itachi smiled bitterly

He wouldn't find his family in the pure lands, yet

In hell he knew Danzo also was, an cruel glint passed by his eyes

At least, he would have something worth watching in his eternal damnation

-=-

Sasuke rushed at Itachi, blades screeching as they cut through the air

The acrid smell of sulfur left by his fiery blade entangled with the pungent odor of Ozone his lighting covered blade exhaled

The result was disgusting, which he thought fitting

The smell of blood he felt every time he even thought of the name of his accursed brother was similar in his mind

He once thought this to be poetic even, although, that sounds silly now, doesn't it?

Within the blink of an eye, Sasuke passed by Itachi, blades crossing in the re start of their conflict

Itachi was sent a few steps back, ending almost back to back with Sasuke

With one twirling movement, they faced each other

Sasuke with a kick, blocked by Itachi's legs

He felt the weight of metal in Itachi's legs, smirking he thought about Kaede

She would be so happy when Itachi died, he thought

His logic, simple but much flawed

He hated Itachi, so she must hate him too, no?

A shame for the Uchiha that, reality is often not what you expect it to be

That was easily seen as with another slash, Sasuke 'cut through itachi's body cleanly'

The lack of resistance made it clear that it was a clone

Surprised, he never saw itachi make hand seals, and his sharingan didn't see any chakra flow in his body

Behind him, nothing

In front, nothing

Suddenly he didn't see anything

An eerie silence permeating the whole place

Impossible, he thought

Kaede and his team were fighting Kisame outside

Having no noise was completely impossible

'Itachi must really want to end this quickly if he already used this...'

He couldn't be more right

Sasuke's eyes spun

Within a blink of his eyes, their pattern changed to his Mangekyo pattern

Kaede told him the consequences of using this eyes

That brought a smile to his face

She cares, he naively thought

His thoughts focusing back on his surroundings

Soon they began to break, like glass

Itachi could bring him into this false reality of his

His eyes have changed, he could see through this deception

Alas, with so much eye power, he still couldn't see the truth...

Or he could, but chose to ignore it

Ironic

He proclaimed his eyes can see through deception, yet he deceived himself willingly

Such is the essence of an Uchiha...

-=-

Itachi's breathing was irregular

His left eye, bleeding

Tskukuyomi

The realm it f nightmares, being used to stall for time

How unlucky that his disease was acting up right now

His eye drops could help with the pain, but they momentarily would take his vision away

He couldn't do that, not right now

He couldn't afford it

This is the moment he lived for

The reason he is still here

How could he fail at such a time?

He still had to make Sasuke awaken-

Suddenly, to his incredulity

Sasuke's eyes changed

"The Mangekyo?!"

He couldn't hold back his surprise this time

He made so many plans and counter plans just so Sasuke could awaken his eyes

Yet...

He did it by himself?

He couldn't decide whether to feel saddened or proud about this revelation

Taking a deep breath before Sasuke inevitably broke through his illusion, he decided

Taking his time wasn't needed any longer

He would use his all, to give Sasuke his moment of glory

To make him a hero

Would that be enough?

Would Sasuke even care about it?

That wasn't the point

Susanoo

This time, both of his eyes bled

A red (yellow) chakra skeleton surrounded Itachi's form

In it's hands, a shield and a sword of legends

He was ready for almost anything his brother could do

Almost

Except

-=-

As soon as Sasuke woke up and saw the form of his brother covered in the baleful form of his Susanoo, he knew

It was over

Swiftly he dropped his sword and with chakra strings, made them aim at his neck

Itachi was mortified, and for a second

His guard was open

Yet it was all it took

When Sasuke first awoke his eyes, he wished to be in Naruto or Luna's place

And his wish was granted

Ame-no-tejikara

Suddenly Sasuke and Itachi's position was switched

Being formed by his chakra, his Susanoo went with him

Yet, the susanoo unfortunately didn't have any defense when attacked from the inside

With the sickening sound of flesh being cut, the deafening sound of thunder cackling in one of the swords at the same time the other burned through everything in its way

Was all Sasuke heard

He didn't look back, be it for whatever good feeling he still had for his brother or for not ever wanting to see his face again

Only he knew

It was underwhelming

But such is the fate of those who hide in the shadows, as Kaede said

Those who shine bright, will be remembered, even if they never amounted to anything

Those who dwell in the shadows, are bound to be forgotten

Doesn't matter the relevance they once had in life

Thus, the life and legend of Uchiha Itachi

Was over

Never to be remembered again