[Congratulations! You've Unlocked Itachi's Interlude!]

Megumi was the first thing that confused me.

She, even though she was my younger sister, was a strange child. Her very being was different than everything I had ever known, even compared to Shisui. But perhaps, that was what made me appreciate her more.

My little sister, for some reason, always treated me like almost nobody else did: like me. It was refreshing, to say the least.

But, it was such in a way that perplexed me, even if I spent time with someone as enthusiastic as Shisui. Megumi kept her distance away, even in the rare times that I was able to spend time with the twins. If I recall, all she did was simply encourage me to spend time with Sasuke.

Speaking of that, it was only later on that I realized that she never included herself in such things. The thought only confused me more: does she not like my presence? After that, the thought flew through my mind every now and then.

I truly did not know her.

It was only that night that I came to an understanding of her.

"Megumi? What are you doing up so late?" I had called out to her. Her body shifted towards me in response, staring at me with a blank stare.

"Nii," I walked up to her, settling down next to her as I watched her wrap her knees with her arms. Questions swarmed my mind. Is she still grieving Shisui's death? What will she do now? What is going inside of her head? "I couldn't sleep, What about you, Nii?"

"I couldn't sleep either," I replied back, despite my past thoughts. I heard her hum, suddenly coming to the revelation that this was one of the few times that we sat down alone and had a conversation. Usually, Sasuke and... Shisui would accompany us so there was a certain discomfort between us.

Especially considering the fact that our best friend died recently.

I felt my heart ache— Shisui would know what to say in a time like this. Shisui would know how to deal with someone like her. would be able to understand her.

But he was gone now.

I will admit, I've always been envious of their relationship. How they look so close compared to me. It was laughable: I already had Sasuke and yet I yearned for her attention. Perhaps it was the fact that unlike Sasuke or almost anyone else, she seemed to never expect anything of me.

"You... you plan on taking the village's side, don't you?" Megumi asked, albeit a little hesitant in her tone.

I let out a soft groan, nodding my head with remorse written in my heart, despite it being the right thing. I tore my attention away from my younger sibling, tilting my head up to stare at the dark sky and its small stars. "How did you find out?" It made sense for me to know, I was the heir and, what people call, a 'prodigy'. I was bound to acknowledge the slowly increasing aggression. So how did she find out?

She shook her head, in a way that looked like she was dismissing an amusing thought. It confused me: what in a time like this was amusing? "It was kinda obvious when you really think about it. How we started living here after the Kyuubi attack? The tension and whispering of the other members?" Megumi let out a sigh, sounding the most tired I've ever heard from her. "I may be a kid but I don't turn a blind eye. Unlike Sasuke."

My mind processed this with surprise underlining them. She... This was the first time I ever thought of anything other than a strange child. Not only did she have an advanced understanding of things... but she was clever enough to it! "...you are smart for an eight-year-old."

"Like you're any different!" She said with a small smile. What was her point in saying that? Her smile quickly fell, turning her head away. "... you'll at least spare our foolish little brother right?"

Despite our situation, I chuckled at Sasuke's nickname for our younger brother. Where did she even get it from? "Of course."

"That's good." Was all she said.

It took me a second to truly understand what she implied. Even at this, she still doesn't include herself? "You're not asking me to spare you, Megumi?" I couldn't help but question her, the beating in my chest accelerating quicker. Why does she keep on doing this?

"Why would I?" Was her immediate answer, causing my posture to tense. The lump in my throat felt heavier. "I wasn't even supposed to exist," Megumi mumbled, mostly to herself. "I know that mom, dad, even you, were expecting one child, a male to be specific."

Even being the older one, all I did was sit there and stare. Is this... is this what she thinks of herself? As an unimportant being that wasn't supposed to exist? How long did she think this? didn't I know this?!

Did I...

Did I as an older brother?

My younger sister glanced back at me with a smile, one that felt faker than all the other ones. "Don't worry, Nii, I wouldn't care; I'll always love you."

We stayed there in silence.

It was years later that, even if it shouldn't have, my heart swelled with warmth.

It was during a mission, a simple bounty mission that Kisame and I swiftly finished. We were having a break from traveling back to the base when one of my crows flew in view.

"Ah, it's one of your birds," Kisame noted as we stopped. Lifting my arm out, I let it fall upon it, chirping as it did."We've been walking for hours, it should be fine for us if we take a break."

Giving a silent nod, I forced myself to walk away to a nearby tree, laying my back against it as the crow reported back to me. As it did, I became more perplexed. In the end, I was drowning in my confusion.

She... likes my hair? If I was not undercover, I would've shaken my head. No, that is not the point. Dismissing my summon away, I tilted my head downwards as I contemplated what it stated. Megumi still considers me as a brother. Even all that I did to her?

She did write and say she never hated me but I always felt like she was saying it out of pity. So to hear that...

I felt a little... elated if that's the correct word. And yet, the guilt overwhelms it.

If... if I have the right to... I wish for a future where I could be an actual older brother that they deserve.

From my room, I held the scroll in my hand. It was attached to one of the kunai Megumi threw at me at our earlier encounter. I closed my eyes in the thought of it: Sasuke... The Tsukiyomi may have been too much but I had to make sure his hatred was secure.

Dismissing the thought, I decided to take the matter at hand. Settling down on my bed, I unraveled it and scanned through its contents.

'Dearest older sibling,

..., I'm cringing from just writing that. How do people even speak so formally 24/7???

So how does one do? I hope you and your eyes are doing well (yeah I see u lol). Anyways, I'm doing great! The cafe didn't get smashed by a drag-Queen and my adorable Sakura and Hinata-tan's getting their character development!

Hinata-tan's so cute! I'm surprised me and Hiro never made a fan club of her yet. And, Naruto's finally tackling vegetables! God knows how stubborn he is.

Moving on, you take care of your health!!! I know you're like trying to abstain yourself (which is weird because I don't recall you being against vaccination unlike certain Karens) at it. Really, it feels like the older sibling here. So do it before I shave your eyebrows! Or... or make you cook!

Oh, and Sasuke's also been doing fine, not that I'll allow him to otherwise. He's also finally letting himself be open, yay! Don't worry, I won't let him kill you, even if I have to pull a Rin

Speaking of Sasuke, how's it feel to call him a "foolish, younger brother"? It feels great right?

The utter smug, the

Uh, I don't know how to end this.

Have a lollipop

Wwwwww your lord and savior,

Megumi Uchihaaaaaaaaaaaaa'

Glancing at the bottom of the note, I pulled out the lollipop that was taped onto it. Even all this time, she never changes.

When Megumi first started saying all these peculiar things she should not have known, I was skeptical at first: how did she know? But, as time had run on, I simply concluded that it was simply a part of her mind. I didn't have to worry about her being a spy considering her... abnormal humor. I've noted that despite her attitude, she was observant so perhaps it ranged out to that.

Reprocessing the letter, I felt the ends of my lips quirk up— Yes, I did feel quite complacent when calling Sasuke a "Foolish" brother.