Replacing My Sister || FullbusterFic » vonlane

Chapter 15: Hunting

Sasuke walked out of the dinning hall after his brother, who walked at a fast pace. Only his personal guard followed after Sasuke, making his steps thunder through the closed, stone hallway. Sasuke caught up to his brother, grabbing him by the wrist and obligating him to come to a stop.

"Hey, wait a second." Sasuke said, seeing how his brother stopped but kept his back to him.

"What do you want, Sasuke?" His brother asked, voice serious and hoarse.

Sasuke let go of his brother's hand and lowered his head upon realizing this was not a good moment. He knew Itachi was not alright: this situation was getting him out of control and he no longer knew what to do to get Deidara out of the mess he was in.

"Did you speak with him?" Sasuke asked.

"I haven't been able to yet." Itachi commented. "Every time I try getting close, Pein appears to take him away. I don't know what else to do to separate him from Pein."

"I'll distract him. This afternoon, when we leave for the hunt, you can stay with the excuse that you have some urgent meeting. One of your advisors could come to get you when you're about ready to get on the horse and he could ask for your urgent presence. Pein won't suspect a thing; he'll think you'll want to go with us but this unexpected meeting impedes you from doing so. While I take Pein far away from here, you can take advantage to go to Deidara. You know Pein won't take him along to the hunt. He won't risk letting anything happen to him."

"Are you sure you want to do it?" Itachi asked, staring fixedly at his brother.

"Yes. Look, I know that we haven't understood each other in many years; we're like cat and mouse, were always against each other but... I think that perhaps I finally understand a bit of what you have so guarded inside you that you don't want to bring up. I know you have something intense with that guy and you may not recognize it but... I want to help you, so let me help you. I can distract Pein long enough for you to get to Deidara. Trust me."

"Alright." Itachi said. "I'll pretend to be excited for our hunt this afternoon."

"I'll speak with your right hand in the council and tell them to go look for you before you leave. He'll provide the excuse of the meeting. That way even if Pein doesn't let you out of his sight, he won't suspect anything. He's not keeping eyes on me and he still thinks you and I don't get along all too well so he won't even imagine that I'd be helping you."

Sasuke left soon after smiling towards his brother. For the first time in a long time, they were beginning to understand each other. Itachi continued with his daily routine and of course, he had to deal with Pein in the different meetings to maintain the alliance that Itachi only thought how to break by placing exaggerated conditions. He didn't want to come to an agreement. He didn't want Pein to not have anything else to do in his kingdom, otherwise he'd march off to his kingdom, taking Deidara with him once again. He could not permit that, so the meetings became long and heavy as Itachi tried to not come to an agreement, thus holding Pein from leaving to his domain.

In the afternoon, after the intense meeting in the morning where both kings could not come into agreement, they decided to close all negotiations at the moment and instead enjoy the splendid day to go out to hunt. Itachi, just like he promised his brother, changed his clothes for the event and accompanied Pein towards the horse stalls, ordering for their horses to be prepared for the outing. Sasuke was around there, waiting for his saddle and Naruto had decided to saddle his own horse under Sasuke's attentive gaze.

"You know, I don't know why you're so fixed on coming to the hunt if you don't even know how to shoot an arrow." Sasuke commented as he didn't believe all that about Naruto being so useless.