Nightshift 40: Greenhouse Yard

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[from here]

Itachi made it out to the yard without being accosted by any vengeance-obsessed brothers, so he could probably continue with his plans without further disruption. Additionally, there didn't seem to be any monsters or other obstacles in this area, either. With the exception of that minor occurrence, the night was proceeding entirely too smoothly. He had been correct in assuming he could get much further on his own.

And yet, something he could not admit to made him hesitate halfway across the yard. He turned, glancing back to the doorway. He could not deny that some part of him almost wished Sasuke would follow him, because he still wanted to see exactly what the boy could do when not drugged. That was unacceptable, however; he could not afford a fight that would waste his time, and he could definitely not afford a fight that exceeded his expectations. Not here, not until they destroyed the Institute and regained their abilities, not until whatever had been done to Sasuke's eyes could be reversed. There was no reason for him to be waiting here, in the eerie stillness of the night, staring at that door. This was not how he wanted to see his brother, and in the unlikely event that Sasuke was significantly stronger than he believed, this was not how he wanted to lose his life. Every logical consideration pointed to the fact that he should be leaving, now.

. . . So why was he still standing here?

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Breath rushed out of Itachi's body, his eyes wide with surprise as he fell back, injured leg folded under him at a painful angle. He hadn't expected Sasuke to do something so impulsive and crude, especially not after his satisfactory performance so far. He could not be positive, but it was possible Sasuke was feeling desperate. Itachi hadn't believed his strikes so far had been damaging enough to drive Sasuke into a corner, though his brother had always allowed anger to rule his actions. Itachi could hardly complain, as he had intentionally fostered that anger himself in order to protect both of them, but he couldn't help wishing Sasuke would channel it in a more controlled manner. Loss of control over one's emotions was the greatest weakness one could have, and Sasuke would never have the fortitude to kill him if he let his strength unravel for such a stupid reason. Itachi knew firsthand how vital it was to harden oneself to be able to do such a thing.

Still, if Sasuke had lost control now, Itachi could use that to his own gain. He somehow didn't believe desperation lay behind Sasuke's actions, however; they were far too deliberate. It would be too much of a gamble to risk underestimating him again. He would simply have to make the best of this new position. He was more vulnerable than ever, Sasuke was close enough to read his movements without wasting use of the Sharingan, and the sword was still too far back for Itachi to completely neutralize it. There was also the factor that a blow to Itachi's solar plexus had paralyzed him for a moment, because no matter how much one mastered one's reactions to pain, a strike there would serve as a temporary incapacitation. It was biologically inevitable. But Itachi had never let forces such as biological constraints stop him.

Sasuke had broken his grip and ducked his head under Itachi's hands, meaning the weapons Itachi still clung to were hovering over Sasuke's back. A mistake -- Sasuke was just as vulnerable as him, now. Perhaps he really hadn't been thinking. Lightning fast, awareness of that sword sharpened by the shock of pain and the distant possibility of defeat, Itachi brought the kunai down to rip into the muscles that joined the back of Sasuke's shoulder to his torso. He had been hoping not to inflict any long-lasting damage on his brother, but if he did not take this challenge seriously he could very well meet his death tonight. Besides, wounds healed more quickly than usual in the Institute.