Work Text:
Based on this fanart I found on Pinterest.
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“There’s a dango shop over there, Itachi-san.”
Kisame pointed ahead of the trees to a nearing shop.
“I don’t eat sweets.” Sasuke muttered from inside his hood draped over his head.
The bells of Itachi’s straw hat tinkled. “It’ll be raining soon, Sasuke. Let’s take it as shelter for now.”
Sasuke nodded and Kisame chuckled.
“Your little brother is quite adorable, isn’t he?” he whispered to Itachi.
“Kisame-san!” Sasuke barked suddenly. “What did I say about that statement?”
Itachi just smiled and Kisame stuck his tongue out to the younger, smaller Uchiha.
“You’re doing a better job addressing your sensei. But you may wanna watch that tone. For a 12-year-old, you’re very snappy.”
Sasuke just hmphed and pulled the hood further down his face.
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“Keep your legs spread apart on the ground. That’ll keep you steady on the battlefield.”
Kisame watched as Sasuke planted his feet on the grass. He launched himself against the raven with Samehada, and Sasuke quickly shielded himself with his kusanagi sword, keeping himself as steady as possible.
Kisame shoved harder. “Can you keep it up?”
It took a good couple more seconds of straining to keep balance until Sasuke gave way and fell backwards to the ground.
Kisame stood up. “Hm. I guess Uchihas are more agile and lithe felines. Not very beastly.”
“Or it could just be his size.”
Itachi who was sitting against a tree trunk caught Kisame’s attention.
“He’s still a child-”
“I’m not a child anymore, nii-san!” Sasuke interrupted, grunting in frustration. “Kisame-san will train me.”
“Who said I wasn’t?” Kisame laughed and ruffled Sasuke’s hair. “Undermining my authority, huh kid?”
“I’m not a kid .” The raven growled.
The older ninja nodded and walked off, placing Samehada against the same tree Itachi was leaning against. “Take a break, Sasuke-kun. We’ll train later and then hit the road.”
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The fire crackled loudly in the warm air. Kisame had shed off his cloak and was busy polishing up his sword.
“You do that religiously, Kisame-san.”
The man turned to Itachi’s direction. He was sitting up gazing at his friend practicing his nightly routine.
“Can’t sleep?” Kisame asked.
Itachi huffed and grinned. “Too hot.”
“Hm.”
Kisame finished polishing Samehada and set it aside. He cast his gaze to where Sasuke was sleeping beside Itachi.
“He’s grown too fast. 16 already, eh?”
Itachi looked to his little brother and widened his smile, nodding.
“It seemed only yesterday he couldn’t knock you over in a fight.”
“Oi, don’t point out his first time.”
The Uchiha chuckled in amusement at the retort. “I remembered his smile of victory. It was the first time I’ve seen it since...”
Itachi’s eyes suddenly looked downcast. Kisame looked away, wondering if the other man didn’t want him to see him that way.
“It was hard for him, killing his clan...” Itachi muttered. “I never thought I’d see him smile again.”
Kisame frowned. “It escalated to that point, huh?”
Itachi just nodded silently. He quietly tucked a strand of hair behind Sasuke’s ear.
“There was nothing we could do.”
The heavy silence afterward blanketed them for the rest of the night.
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Sasuke winced in pain as Kisame tightened the bandages around his head. Both his arms were also swathed with white.
“K-kisame-san...” the raven muttered, teary-eyed.
“Whoa, kid,” the larger man stopped him. “Conserve your energy.”
Sasuke closed his eyes and tried to keep the tears from falling. The image of him killing more and more enemies flashed in his mind from his recent battle. They looked all too familiar. Like his family-
“I’m- I’m sorry...”
Kisame frowned. “What are you apologizing for, Sasuke-kun?”
Sasuke shuddered, his voice barely audible and husky. “My parents...”
The raven broke into sobs and Kisame rubbed his back gently. He hoped Itachi would be back to meet them soon after he was done with his opponents.
“S’all right, kid. It’s all right.”
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A tasty scent wafted through the air of the abandoned cottage the 3 took shelter in.
“Nii-saan would definitely beat you at cooking.”
Kisame laughed. “You think so? I should challenge him to a duel then.”
“No point,” Itachi called from where he was working by the boiling pot. “It would be a waste of time for a winner to compete against a loser.”
Sasuke snickered and Kisame gently hit his fist against his pupil’s head.
“We’ll see about that soon enough.” he retorted.
Itachi handed a bowl of soup and boiled crab to each of his comrades, then sat down with his own. Kisame was silent the entire time he was eating, and Sasuke let the smug look return to his face.
“You’re not saying anything because it’s the best soup you’ve ever tasted.”
“Respect for your elders, Sasuke-kun!” the man glared, then turned to the older Uchiha. “Itachi-san, help me out here!”
“You think it’s good?” Itachi asked his brother, ignoring his friend’s plea.
“Mm. The crab was boiled just right.”
“There’s a good boy.” Itachi smiled and ruffled Sasuke’s hair, which earned a smug grin to give to his sensei.
“Children.” Kisame muttered and rolled his eyes as the three got back to eating their lunch.