No, he hadn't been here for long - but already he'd managed to acclimatise to the differences in this world from his own. There were some things, things people hadn't wanted to tell him that he was oblivious to. In time, he would accept and move on in the knowledge of those things, but for the time being he had one thing very stubbornly awaiting his attention.

The single goal was to make contact with his little brother, and once he'd managed to work out where he was, there was nothing that would stop him from finding him. If he had to fight through blockades and barriers, or even Sasuke himself he would find him. Perhaps it would be against Sasuke's will - to have his brother with him at a time when their relationship was so fragile, but logic told Itachi that there had been no other time in their lives than this. The things that went unsaid, the unspoken truths, the lies he'd held to his chest, and the scars of the things he'd done wrong.

Perhaps. Here. There was the opportunity at least to do something right - but even now, as he moved in toward the last few feet of the place Sasuke was he had to wonder if it would not be best just to stay out of Sasuke's way entirely.

When his heart won the internal struggle, it seemed like a weight had been lifted - and he gingerly turned toward the cave, stepping through the huge mouth quietly, except for--

"... Sasuke?"