[He doesn't expect the sudden pang at those words, a surprised wrench of something he is grateful to be able to hide over Itachi's shoulder. It's something seven years old and eternally looking up and ahead for Itachi's shadow, a perfect faith both in the strength of his brother and the question of his own ability to ever be equal enough to be worth the attention he demanded.]

I was just your kid brother. There were bigger things to catch your attention.

[He'd been the child Itachi had treated him as -- but that had been the expectation to meet, and it's Sasuke now, seventeen and educated early in bloodshed, late in truth, who adds:]

I could have shared your burden, brother.