The Three Heirs!

(I was stuck at the end of this for quite a while… still don't think it is polished enough but I have rewritten it quite a few times already so I am just posting it. Hope you guys enjoy it.)

(Sasuke POV)

'Itachi…' I was finally catching up to him. Despite the fact that the shinobi with the weird explosive arms delayed my journey slightly, it would not take long now.

Itachi was a person I refused to call my brother any longer, but that didn't mean that I didn't recognize the threat he posed. Having the same eyes as big brother, they were in a class of their own. I had yet to see in person the power that those eyes granted in person… but if the rumors amongst the villagers were to be believed, it was comparable to the Kages on a base level.

But it also came with its own drawbacks. Itachi's eyes were on their last legs… they should be given the fact that he has been using them continuously over the years. I most likely had the advantage in long-range visual prowess, but until those eyes gave out that didn't matter.

Itachi was a genius, a taijutsu, and genjutsu specialist with the biggest flaw being his weak body proven by short-term engagements over the years… his endurance was falling together with his eyes.

I knew very little about the Mangekyou Sharingan… meaning that Uchihas' body might be tied to the eyes for as far as I knew. It was what made me go after Itachi so fast, even after knowing that my victory would be guaranteed if I waited for a while longer.

I was nowhere near the level of intellect that Itachi and big brother had… but I wasn't an idiot. I had seen my brother deal with politicians… deal with Iwa. Even when all I wanted was to rush ahead with my sword and cut Itachi to pieces, I knew better… I had seen better.

But I was out of options at this point. If Uchiha's bodies degraded with their eyes… then big brother shouldn't be too far behind Itachi… and unlike him, he couldn't retreat if his enemies came to Konoha. With Itachi's eyes, there might be a way for him to overcome it, there must be… or I wouldn't know what to do then.

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(3rd Person POV)

Itachi could be seen sitting down at the Uchiha fortress, relaxing his tired eyes for the upcoming battle with his little brother. He knew that no matter the result, it would put a burden on his precious brother's shoulders… as if it hadn't done enough up 'till this point, the saving grace being that despite the fact that Sasuke had left the leaf village, it would be very easy for him to go back and live unhindered as long as Kei was the Hokage.

'My role is at its end now, but there is one last thing I can do… Sasuke will be safe as long as Kei has power.' – Itachi thought as his eyes darted towards a corner of the room, closing a moment later as he kept his thoughts to himself.

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Sasuke made his way towards the Uchiha compound, Karin, Suigetsu, and Jugo following behind him as they traveled at high speed in the forest.

Not a moment later Sasuke's Sharingan spotted an explosive tag as he raised his hand, the entire team jumping back.

*BOOM* - An explosion was heard as a cloud of smoke rose in the area, leaving behind an open field.

As Jugo raised his head from behind his arms, in his completely transformed state, the other members came out from behind him. They came face to face with their aggressors, two shinobi wearing coats with red clouds, one whose face was composed of black and white and the other having an orange mask.

'The same pattern as Itachi's… it's one obstacle after the other.' – Sasuke thought as they prepared to engage the two shinobi.

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Meanwhile, Itachi had opened his eyes once again, his matured Sharingan reflecting the ones of the visitor standing in front of him.

"Hokage-sama." – Itachi greeted respectfully as he looked at the figure in front of him.

Kei was slightly taller than Itachi, definitely more physically gifted, sporting a bigger frame than him and not just for show. Cold eyes and a stoic expression greeted Itachi back.

"Itachi." – Kei greeted back.

Itachi looked quietly for a while as Kei just stared back, both opting to stay still.

"Would it be possible to ask you not to interfere in this matter?" – Itachi asked as he looked at the Hokage, still sitting in his seat.

Kei merely shook his head.

"Itachi… you more than me should clearly understand the burden of killing your own family. Sasuke might not feel it at the beginning… but he will always regret it later." – Kei responded slowly.

"Nevertheless, it will help him grow." – Itachi responded.

"Perhaps… but people grow every day, that is guaranteed. On the other hand, neither I nor you can guarantee the future, the future in which those eyes of yours are Sasuke's."

"They will be… is what I'd like to say. But that reality is built upon my assumptions, what I know… it could very well be an illusion, just like yours could be either." – Itachi said.

Kei nodded as both of their matured Sharingan rotated, a *CLANG* noise following shortly after as blades collided with each other.

"Then we'll have to see whose reality will persevere in the end."

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Sasuke had evaded the two Akatsuki shinobi, heading towards the now Uchiha compound at high speed only to be stopped short once again… this time by some shinobi he knew better than everybody else.

"Sasuke…" – the figure's whispered as Sasuke drew his sword, his intentions clear as day.

Standing in front of him were his old teammates, Naruto and Sakura, both clearly waiting for him.

"What are you doing here?" – Sasuke asked as he looked at them.

"We came to bring you back to Konoha." – Naruto was the first to respond.

"I see you haven't changed one bit Naruto. However, I am not coming back." – Sasuke said, his sword channeling lightning as he swung forward, the thoughts of how they had known he was heading here rotating in his head.

His brother definitely knew about it… meaning he might have sent the two to hold him back… but why?

(A/N: Tried to leave more space between lines. Hope it is a bit more clear now.)