Chương 15: Thank You...Mother
The birds were chirping from the outside. Sasuke furrowed his brows. They were mocking him again.
Yet another day at Konoha's renown hospital, always ready to house the Uchiha-Uzumaki family.
"Yo Sasuke."
Sasuke turned in the direction of the caller. It was Naruto, his hospital roommate for the past few days.
He loved his brother to the end of life, but really, he missed his own private room.
"What?" the blindfolded Uchiha asked, not bothering to hide his irritation.
"When do you think Mother's coming to visit?" the blonde wondered aloud giddily, placing one arm to cushion his head.
The hospital bed was as bad as ever, lacking in support for his aching and swollen body. But he'd been through worse.
At the mention of Mother, Sasuke's expression immediately softened. "Soon…I hope…"
If there was anything good about ending up in the hospital, it was Mother coming to visit. Sure, she was annoying when she acted all worried and stuff, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't like her doting.
Sasuke would act like he could care less, but inside, he treasured those moments. He enjoyed them to the very limit that no one else had cared enough to reach. The best part—Mother completely missing out on how much he's enjoying himself. Just the thought could always stir up something in him. That brought a smile to the bedridden patient's handsome face.
Naruto, lying on the neighboring bed, swam in his own happy thoughts. Mother would always sneak in some Ichiraku ramen for him despite the hospital's strict regulations regarding the diet for their patients. But who was he to listen if it was his own mother sneaking the food in? He wasn't going to complain. He loved her philosophy. He loved everything about her. He loved her. He always found himself smiling his best smile thinking about her.
The Uchiha-Uzumaki would patiently wait for her to come skipping in like she usually did.
But today, she was late. And that, was unbearably vexing.
Thus, never being the type to sit back, both brothers grabbed their IV walking stands and once again set upon a journey through Konoha's bustling hospital.
"Sasuke," Naruto whispered as he carefully leaned towards the wall and crept on tiptoes. "Sa-ku-ra," he enunciated with extreme caution as his eyes followed the dainty pink-haired ninja walking the hallway.
Sasuke meticulously stuck himself to the wall as he wrapped around the corner, cautiously avoiding capturing their medical teammate's unwanted attention. The two knew, if they were caught, it'll just be another day staring at the birds from their bed.
Once clear of Sakura, Naruto slowly breezed through the rooms, only stopping upon a room one level above theirs hiding at the very end of the hallway. Sasuke followed suit until they were right outside the door, close enough to eavesdrop but safe enough to be undetected.
"I wanted to thank you."
Sasuke didn't need to see to know that it was his biological brother. Itachi was sitting on his hospital bed, head lowered at a pretty lady with long black hair all the way to her waist.
"Thank you for taking care of my little brother all this time. I owe you my deepest gratitude."
The woman placed a firm hand on the ex-Akatsuki Uchiha prodigy.
"It is I who should thank you for allowing me to look after Sasuke. Thank you for loving him and entrusting him to me. He has been and will always be an irreplaceable brother and most precious son to me."
Itachi looked into the woman's crystal blue eyes and instantly knew that Sasuke was raised with the proper love he deserved. All these years, he worried for his precious younger brother but it turns out there wasn't a need. This was much more than he dared to hope for.
"I can now leave Konoha satisfied," Itachi sighed with relief.
"Are you really planning to leave already?" Mother's sweet voice asked. "You're hardly recovered."
"I've done things—unforgivable things. There are so many people I've hurt. I can't stay."
"Can't or won't?"
"I don't deserve to. When I leave," Itachi hesitated for a moment before mustering the courage to request one last favor, "Please take care of Sasuke for me."
Sasuke gritted his teeth. So after all this, his stupid selfish older brother was about to leave and not explain anything again.
He knew it. Why did he let himself get disappointed once more? What could he have been hoping for from Itachi anyways?
"I too hope Itachi Uchiha can leave and never return to Konoha," Mother bit out sharply, surprising the two patients eavesdropping outside.
Itachi lowered his head in sincerest apologies. "I understand."
For some reason, Sasuke felt his heart sink. He loathed his brother all these years, but when Mother downright banished Itachi right when they were reunited, the feeling wasn't as strong. To be completely honest, the feeling of hate wasn't even really there.
It was more pain. Fear of betrayal. Hurt with no apparent reason. No logical reason. Pointless pain. Unexplained sacrifice. Selflessness in the form of buried heroism.
"I will continue to look after Sasuke so you don't have to worry, but I believe you owe me a favor as well," Mother demanded.
"Anything."
"I wish for a kind, responsible, and loving older brother for my sons." Mio looked out through the door. "Naruto, Sasuke!" Mother's voice called casually as if they were at home. "Come out!"
Naruto winced. Was he and Sasuke that badly injured that they couldn't even hide their presence from their average, non-ninja mother?
Slowly, the blonde crept out. Mother eyed him. "Both of you," she demanded seriously.
Soon enough, a shy Sasuke trailed into the room.
"If you're willing, stay in Konoha as Itachi Uchiha-Uzumaki."
Itachi froze. He could fulfill anything she wished. Riches, gold, power. He could grant one way or another. But this task. This task wasn't even a favor. It was in all ways, a blessing, a gift. A dream.
A dream he, of all people, wouldn't dare to dream. But just hearing her say it, he felt so blessed. That was enough. It was the best reward for his life's works.
At that moment, he couldn't help a tear from rolling down his cheek as he stayed silent.
"I'll take that as a yes," Mother concluded.
The speechless rogue only found himself humbly nodding. Even if it was only that moment, he wanted to accept that offer more than anything else in the world.
"Welcome to the fam, big bro!" Naruto greeted radiantly. His jubilant smile already lightening the mood. The blonde gave his blindfolded brother a nudge, cuing him to do the same.
Sasuke remained silent. To outsiders, he was playing it off cool. But to all who knew him, he was just too confused to thoroughly express his nervousness and excitement. Only when Mother gave him a little push did he finally gather the confidence to share a piece of his mind.
"Whether I care for it or not, you're already my brother. Can't help that you are and will always be family…and a part of my life," the cool Uchiha spat out unwillingly as he crossed his arms crossed his chest. "Just don't go leaving without a word like last time. We don't do that in THIS family."
If Sasuke wasn't blind, he would've seen the expression on Itachi's face. The amount of love this older brother had for everything was infinite.
He gave so much love, he forgot to love himself.
"Under one condition," Mother suddenly threw out. "You'll be the older brother of BOTH Sasuke AND Naruto. Only then will I acknowledge you as my son and part of the family."
It was then that Itachi finally revealed his first genuine smile since becoming a ninja. It was the happiest moment in his life by far.
"Thank you…Mother."
Mio smiled gently as she looked at the three fine shinobi in front of her. The entire family was finally together at last.
[Thank you for granting me this precious family.]
SUY NGHĨ CỦA NGƯỜI SÁNG TẠO 
softee
softee Longer chapter than usual, that's because the next one will be short. Very short.
Many thx @LeonaBlanca, @frecklish
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