Summary: Gods don't get involved in mortal affairs for any real reason, noble or otherwise. When it really comes down to it, it's just for the sake of entertainment. Sasuke Uchiha finds this out all too well as he treads the uncertain and often rocky path to redemption. This story is AU, wherein Sasuke died as a result of his wounds at the VotE after his final battle with Naruto. Not canon-compliant after 698. Gen fic.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or anything that can be found within the Naruto universe. All copyrights of the series belong to their respective holders and I make no profit in writing this. The plot for this fanfiction however, is my own.

Chapter 4: A Different Dysfunctional Family – Itachi

"A lot of parents will do anything for their kids except let them be themselves."

–Bansky

Wall and Piece

When a casual observer casts their eyes over the gates of Konoha, they see many things. Economic opportunities, stability, new beginnings, a home, a death trap, an enemy camp, it all really depended upon their unique point of view. The world is viewed through many a different looking glass but Uchiha Itachi only saw the outer walls of his personal prison. Which was quite a jaded view, considering the genin was only 7 years old, though if you were to ask him he would point out that he would be 8 soon. Alright, perhaps he was being a bit harsh. After all, Konoha was his home and he loved it dearly, flaws and all. But it could be…suffocating, at times. As the gates came into view, his older teammate, Izumo Tenma, elbowed him in the side with a sharp, impish grin. The youth had a head of untamed, dark grey hair and piercing, black eyes.

"Hey Itachi, your babysitter's waiting for ya!" The child resisted the urge to sigh as, sure enough, his older cousin, Shisui, could be seen leaning casually against the side of the check-in station. The tiny black-haired youth spotted the team and waved, though it turned a bit sheepish upon seeing Itachi's resigned expression.

"Tenma, leave Itachi alone. So what if Shisui escorts him home? That just shows he cares about him." Their third teammate, Inari Shinko scolded, her thick accent morphing her words. Her light purple, bordering on silver hair was done in Pippy Longstocking style, two pigtails that curved slightly upwards while her bangs framed her round face. Her eyes matched her teammates' in that they were dark, almost black in color.

"Che. He doesn't do it because he WANTS to. He does it because Itachi's mom makes him. She'd wrap him in bubble wrap if she could."

"Enough, all of you. We just finished the mission and you choose now to start arguing?" The words of their sensei and team leader, Minazuki Yūki, are dipped in resigned exasperation. His features are nearly nondescript, with long, brown hair that is tied back in a jagged ponytail, black eyes, and a baby goatee dusts his chin. Though his students – Shinko and Tenma when he chooses to care enough to add his two cents –have insisted he'd probably look better without it, he stubbornly refuses to shave. He is dressed in the standard jonin uniform. "Besides, the fact that Uchiha-san walks Itachi home and his motives behind doing so are none of our business." That quieted Team 2, and while they were one of the best genin teams in Konoha at the moment, their teamwork…needed work.

Once they reached the station, the group signed in, recording their return time, the mission identification number, the team name and identification number. Upon finishing the last character with a flourish, Minazuki-sensei straightened up and clapped his hands for his students' attention. Shisui stayed a respectable distance away, knowing better than to approach before the team was dismissed.

"Alright, I'll go report in. However, I expect you all to have your written reports finished by tomorrow, before we meet up. Before they are turned in, I'll check them over and critique any mistakes you made and offer suggestions to make your reports better. Understand?"

"Hai, Minazuki-sensei." The three chorused, with varying degrees of enthusiasm. Itachi's voice was neutral and possibly the most 'excited,' out of the trio, though even that was stretching it. Tenma's was full of dread, and Shinko's was only marginally better. Still, it was a skill they had to learn for future missions. The academy neglected to mention just HOW MUCH paperwork was involved in the life of a ninja.

"Heh. Good, then you're all dismissed." As the team dispersed like morning mist, Shisui gravitated over to Itachi's side, his hands shoved in his pockets. The older of the two smiled and partially leaned down so they were closer in height.

"Soooo? How did the mission go?" Itachi sighed and glanced over at him in mild, irritated amusement. A wry, tired smile split his face.

"We were trampled to death by ostriches. This is just my ghost returning home." Shisui snorted as he tried hard to repress his snickers before he flipped the other's ponytail.

"Just don't let Auntie Mikoto hear you say that." At that reminder, Itachi's shoulders slumped and he seemed to shrink in on himself, just a little. His companion winced. Damn it, he should have kept his mouth shut. Shisui scrambled to come up with a way to salvage the situation and an epiphany came over him as he spotted a woman walk by, an all too familiar tea-green bag clutched in her hand. There was hiragana written on the left side, each individual character boldly embellished in a banana yellow diamond. He laid a hand on Itachi's shoulder. "Hey, how about before we head home, we grab some dango on the way? As a way to celebrate a successful mission?" Itachi regarded the hand on his shoulder blankly, though if you knew him well enough, you could see the interest kindling in his eyes.

"But I never told you whether my mission succeeded or failed-"

"Details, details!" Soon both the child's shoulders were accosted by Shisui's hands and the genin was being steered to the nearby dango stand. "Besides, it's YOU. The day you failed a mission is the day I eat my sandals." Well…that was true. Though with the most recent task they were given, how COULD they fail? Itachi could all but smell his clan's influence in the decision that his team be assigned that particular mission but he kept such thoughts to himself.

The two ordered their dango and walked side by side, and their destination was the Uchiha compound. As he munched on his first stick, Itachi glanced at Shisui out of the corner of his eye. Shisui would doubtless get in trouble for not taking him straight home, but Itachi had a feeling the other didn't mind much. It was these small acts of defiance, these deviances that caused Shisui to be his best friend…almost his brother figure even. Though, there was always this underlying tension between them…and Itachi hated himself for being the one that caused most of it. But he couldn't let it go – let his suspicions go – so easily. When it came to his clan…especially his parents…Itachi was often babied and his growth stifled if it meant lowering the risk of injury or worse to his person. And as Shisui was close to his age, not to mention one of the clan's most talented members, in the first few days of their friendship he had suspected he was planted there just to be his discreet bodyguard of sorts.

Shisui had pleasantly surprised him and his offer of friendship appeared genuine. After three years, the two were quite close but there were…moments…where it felt like even Shisui was trying to protect him from something. As if he expected that whatever it was, Itachi couldn't handle it himself. They were few and far between…but they were often enough that it made the younger Uchiha question Shisui's true feelings. If he had to choose between the clan's overprotective measures and trusting in Itachi's own ability to make decisions…which would he pick?

"Oi, earth to Itachi! We're here!" Shisui's voice jarred him from their thoughts, and Itachi found them already standing before the gates of the Uchiha compound. After the Kyuubi attack, the clan had been relocated to this remote corner of the village…no doubt those at the top of the village hierarchy blamed the event on the Uchiha. Whether or not an Uchiha was actually responsible for it…Itachi didn't know. But even a blind man could see the rising tensions.

The walk to his home was as cringe-inducing as always. As the heir, Itachi was used to having many eyes cast in his direction at all times. The looks he got however, varied. He was hailed as a prodigy, though that title was terribly dampened by the fact he was kept wrapped up, as Tenma said, in bubble wrap. So there were those that thought such a label was overrated and overused, because of course Itachi would do well in such controlled, low-risk conditions. There was also the bitterness some felt…as their children, their loved ones, were not as protected. And some never came home. Still more pitied him, being as sheltered as he was and oh what would he do once he reached adulthood and his parents weren't there to protect him? Others did truly admire him and just felt he needed the opportunity to prove himself. Those people were in the minority. Still, as he was polite and well-spoken, Itachi mostly garnered smiles…and like the looks, they too, were varied in sincerity. He tried not to let it bother him. Itachi tried a lot of things really.

He tried to show that he wasn't one to be coddled.

He tried to prove his worth.

He tried to get stronger.

He tried not to feel stifled…and most of all…

Itachi tried so very hard not to be frustrated when he kept hitting a brick wall in these ventures.

"Thank you, Shisui."

"No problem! Just don't let them see the dango…they'll tan my hide for ruining your dinner." The more likely reason would be because such a sweet could potentially lead to diabetes. Still, Itachi kept that tidbit to himself. It was a common habit at this point. "Well, see you later!" Shisui gave a parting flip to the heir's hair before walking away. Taking a deep breath that tried not to sound like a sigh, Itachi shoved the significantly emptier bag into his hip pouch in an attempt to make it fit. Once that was accomplished, he headed for the door and opened it.

"I'm back." And then his mother was on him like smoke on fire.

"Welcome home!" Her embrace was strong, loving and desperate. When Mikoto pulled away she checked him over, and while irritating…he was used to it. It was sad, Itachi reflected, when he found his mother's touch and worry to be…annoying. And in that moment he felt like a horrible human being. That too, is something he was getting used to.

After the ever intense affair that was dinner ended, he paused beside the door to the empty nursery on the way to his room. Itachi never got to officially meet his brother…and while he would always have a deep, hollow pit in his heart for the dreaded 'what could have been' wounds and no small amount of unrequited familial love…the young man couldn't help but feel no small ounce of resentment toward Sasuke. Why…why couldn't his little brother be stronger? Why couldn't he stay with him, and mother and father? Why did he have to leave…and hurt them all like this?

And why did Itachi have to suffer in his place?

If the young prodigy shut his door a little harder than usual, well.

That was his business.

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I apologize deeply for the lateness of this chapter, a holiday and family happened and I just couldn't find the time to post this chapter. Thank you all, for your patience.