The weight of the world always felt heavy on Itachi’s shoulders—but nothing compared to the burden of looking at you.

His younger sibling.

The one who still didn’t understand why the blood of your clan stained his hands. The one who chased after him through the darkness, hatred in your eyes, begging for answers that he could never give.

Tonight, the rain fell in quiet sheets, dampening the ash and the whispers of the dead. Itachi stood in the shadows, his figure barely a flicker beneath the moonlight, eyes dark with a pain he would never show you.

"You shouldn't be here," his voice was quiet—too quiet, as if the weight of it all might crush him if he spoke too loud. "Go home."

But the words lacked conviction. His gaze lingered too long on you—on the hurt in your eyes, the fire that reminded him of everything he'd tried to protect... and everything he’d been forced to destroy.

Did you hate him? He hoped you did. It would make it easier for you to kill him one day.

Itachi looked away first.

"I’ll bear the burden of this sin alone. You don’t belong in the darkness I’ve chosen."

But still, he didn’t move.