Sasuke woke up at five in the morning, the same way he had everyday since he was eight years old. He made his bed and boiled hot water for tea. Then, he read mission reports as he waited for a certain lazy-ass to wake up. At seven-thirty, Kakashi usually showed up, although that day, he was late.
"Yo" the older man greeted an irate Sasuke with a grin, heading straight for the fridge. He doesn't wear his mask anymore to the joy of his goddaughter, Kurenai's brat, who has a bit of a crush on him (along with half the female population of Kohona). Kakashi can hide his advancing age well.
"You're late" Sasuke mutters half heartedly, and stood up.
"I got lost on the road of life" Kakashi answered with a shrug. Sasuke rolled his black eyes.
"You used that one last time" he grumbled, but flashed a tiny grin. He'd learned how to smile in the years since Naruto brought him back.
"C'mon, let's go"
Kakashi closed the fridge, biting into a dark red apple.
"You gonna wake the kid first?" he asked casually, pointing upstairs.
"Nah," Sasuke grinned, "I need to stop coddling him. He's a Chuunin now, after all." he added boastfully and pulled on his Jounin jacket. Kakashi rolled his eyes as he hopped out the window, muttering about ninjas gone soft and Sasuke smirked.
"So Kakashi," he drawled a little way down the cobblestone street, "How's Anko been?" Kakashi stiffened.
"What do you mean?" the other man mumbled as they walked along the street, head buried in that same book he's been reading for almost twenty years. Sasuke just snickered but didn't feel like teasing him today. A curvy Chuunin he recognized vaguely smiled as she passed, batting her long eyelashes at him. He blinked at her and gave a slight nod. Kakashi snorted.
"Shut up" Sasuke growled, making a mental note to beat the shit out of him during a sparring match later. They continued on in silence. As they passed through the market place the Uchila stiffened slightly. Most had accepted him as a permanent part of their village but there were still some who spat when he walked by. Kakashi came a little closer to him, tensing slightly. Sasuke rolled his eyes but allowed Kakashi to be stupid. They were the last members of Team 7.
Sasuke passed a shop window and caught his reflection in it. He's thirty-one years old and hasn't changed much except for his right eye is a blind milky white. He is a traitor three times over, a liar, a Jounin, a sensei, a Sage, and a father. And he is changed. He is still young, but has gone through far more than most ninja; his life having been ripped apart several times, his soul shredded into tiny bits. Older and wiser now, he has long since realized that yes; he was a stupid idiot who wrecked his own life. Funny though, how he found salvation in the green eyes of an orphaned child.
…
The Memorial Stone has gotten bigger, Sasuke mused. He's not quite sure when, even though he's been coming to this spot for the last twelve years. Kakashi was right behind him, head buried in that stupid orange book. Sasuke realized awhile ago that the Copy-Nin reads it now only in tribute to the dead man who wrote it. He brushed that thought away and focused on the names carved in the blue stone. He traced them gently, feeling guilt course through his veins like a slow-working poison.
Uzamaki Naruto, ANBU Capitan KIA
"Sasuke!"
The missing nin doesn't even turn around.
'Leave me alone. I am never coming back.'
He can't feel them anymore. Their chakra used to be so familiar to him, and now, he can't even recognize Karin's. But he still knows Theirs. Why is that? Why?
"Sasuke?" whispers Karin "Sasuke, his chakra, it's-" he's shoves her away roughly. "Go!" he snarls, "Run away now while you still got the chance!" She looks stunned and Suigetsu opens his mouth but Sasuke cuts him off.
"Damnit I told you to leave! They only want me; you can still make it out! Now GO!" Suigetsu hesitates but he's too far gone to stay. He slips into the woods with an awkward nod. Karin begins to cry and throws her arms around Sasuke. He lets her for a moment just because it feels nice to be touched, but shoves her away again. She stumbles away into the woods after Suigetsu and Sasuke, deep down, hopes they'll be okay. But Jugo won't leave. Sasuke shakes his head yet doesn't bother. The freak's just like-
"SASUKE!"
And then Naruto is there, his blue eyes burning and heart on his sleeve, Sakura right behind. They stop at the clearing, the dog-boy, two Hyuugas, Kakashi and some people he can't be bothered to remember. Sasuke considers running, but sensing others coming from Kohona's gates, decides that would be suicide. 'I'm sorry Itachi' he thinks.
"Do you ever quit?" he says aloud, devoid of emotion.
"Never!" Naruto shouts "I'm gonna drag you back this time!"
Sasuke laughs at this, hard and loud as Jugo steps forward.
"Kuku kuku I don't think so, but you can try. It's fate after all, Senju" Sasuke laughs enjoying the wince on his (best friend) enemy's face "Look we're even in the right place!" he adds with a smirk, gesturing towards the Valley of the End. The look on Naruto's face is almost painful but the Uchila brushes it off. Sakura glares at him, and for the first time in his life, he sees hate in her green eyes and that shocks him. The girl touches Naruto's arm with a soft look and everything clicks. Something snaps in Sasuke and he's furious because( they don't need him anymore) they've forgotten him, and nobody ignores an Uchila and gets away with it. He motions to Jugo and they attack.
It's glorious and beautiful, the way they fight and Sasuke is glad that the last thing he will ever see is Naruto's furious face because he knows he won't make it out of this alive.
Jugo is putting up a fight but not even at level two can he beat both Kakashi and Sakura. "C'mon Sasuke, don't do this" Naruto pleads, blood dripping from his mouth "Danzou and Madera are dead, you can come back now!" Sasuke doesn't even bother to answer and fires up a Chidori instead. Naruto sighs, and says something to those stupid frogs on his shoulders and they disappear, looking a bit wary.
"Fine, we'll just have to do this the hard way," he mutters and his palm alights with a simple Rasengen that's so strong, Sasuke can feel the chakra from twenty feet away. He considers uses Susanoo again but he's got nothing left for something that strong. His vision blurs for a moment but he ignores it. Suddenly, pain flashes across Naruto's face and he gasps, hand going for his stomach. Sasuke takes this chance and slams his jutsu into the other's stomach. Naruto's resounding howl shreds his eardrums.
"Bastard!" he hears Sakura shriek, but he can only gape at Naruto. A rushing sound fills his ears and he thinks he might actually faint.
"I. . .Ita. . .chi?"
A pair of Sharingan eyes are swirling out at him. Naruto looks surprised and wipes the blood from his mouth.
"What is this?" he whispers, sounding awed "I can see what you're gonna do!"
"Naruto?" he whispered. Suddenly, everything turns upside and Sasuke knows where he is but simply can't believe it. Naruto doesn't have the Sharingan so how can he be in Tsukiomi? Sasuke hates that place. It confuses him, and makes him think that maybe, the sky isn't blue, that the grass is white and that villains are really heroes.
"Sasuke" a voice whispers to him and Itachi is there. Sasuke is frozen.
"Little brother, listen to me. I know you will defeat me, I've already planned it. But I know you will try to seek revenge for me if Madera tells you. Please don't. I realize now, what I did was foolish. I should have just taken you and ran. But I didn't and we must both live with my decision. The jinchuuriki would kill to bring you back to the Leaf. He is your friend and such a friend should not be thrown away lightly. I ask you one thing; go back to the village I gave everything to protect and rescue it from destruction. Danzou might be dead by the time you get this, but if not, destroy him. He is a monster and you and your friends must bring the Leaf back to its former glory. Please, brother, I ask you this." Sasuke feels a gentle poke on his forehead. "Sasuke, I believe in you" and with that he was gone. Sasuke is back at the valley again, feeling like he just got hit by a train. Naruto stares at him, confused and senses something's changed because he's so damn perceptive when it comes to Sasuke.
"Sasuke? You finally got your sense back?" the blond grins weakly. Sasuke almost smiles and takes the others hand. Naruto pulls him up and everything is perfect for a moment as he stares into the other's serene blue eyes. But of course, nothing good lasts forever. Naruto's eyes turn to slits and he falls to the ground, twitching and moaning. Stunned Sasuke shouts for Sakura and bends down. A ball of red chakra blasts him backwards and burns his skin. He can hear the ANBU from the cliffs edge curse and shout; but it's too late. Everything is scarlet for a long moment and Sasuke wishes it would last forever because he doesn't want to see what he's lost this time.
When it clears, Sasuke feels fear for the first time since he saw Naruto and Madera fight. A colossal fox that defies physics is standing atop Naruto. He has to crane his head back to see the head. Nine tails( of course) wave gracefully in the breeze. It's so beautiful and terrible Sasuke has to look away. Instead he crawls toward Naruto and clutches his dead body as the fox raises its head and lets loose a howl so loud he thinks he'll go mad. The fox growls and is perfectly still for a long time. Then, slowly, it lowers its great head and stares at Naruto. Frozen, Sasuke stares into its huge red eyes, until it simply leaves with a great sigh. His vision falters at last and a great wave of terror washes over him as everything goes black. . .
"Lord Hokage? Lord Hokage!" came a loud voice, Sasuke looked up annoyed.
"Oi Kakashi" he said "Duty calls, Hokage" The Rudiakume looked up, confused.
"Eh-oh! Hello!" he said cheerfully, smiling at the young genin and sneaking the book back in his pocket "Need something kid?"
The brown-haired boy looked scared and rubbed his glinting forehead protector..
"Uh, s-s-sir, the uh council is uh w-waiting for y-you sir." He stammered.
"Oh shit!" Kakashi cursed "Thanks kid. Hey Sasuke what's this meeting about?!"
Sasuke sighed and rolled his eyes.
"The renewal of the peace treaty with Iwa. It's rather important and it would be a good idea if you arrived there before the ambassador leaves" he snorted. Kakashi glared at him and sniffed.
"No need to be so snippy Uchila. Remember I can always demote you" he growled before bounding away. Sasuke laughed and stood up, brushing the dirt off his pants and grinned at the boy.
"That man would forget where he lived if he didn't have me to remind him" he grumbled before turning his attention back to the stone. Sasuke's eyes were drawn immediately to the other name.
Haruno Sakura, Head Medic Nin
He sighed softly and he missed her horribly. He could never forgive himself for (loving what she did) taking what she loved. The wind tossed his hair playfully and he stiffened afraid to hope it was who he thought it was. Sasuke closed his eyes but nothing happened. With another sigh, he trudged down the hill leaving the poor kid looking totally creeped out.
…
"Sensei you were almost late today!" Tukiko giggled. Sasuke couldn't hold back a grin at her. She was a girl from a family of merchants who traveled the lands. Her grandfather had been reluctant of letting her become the first ninja of her tribe but her mother convinced him. Tukiko was too beautiful, delicate and naïve to be a ninja, he complained at first to Kakashi; looking at her now, he still wondered but he had been wrong. She was cunning and had a frightening way of twisting words to fit what she wanted. Her aptitude for learning jutsu was startling and she craved to know everything, and she couldn't convince someone, she could always use her beauty. Sasuke would be worried about her if it wasn't for her kindness.
"I am never late Tukiko" he smirked, yanking her black ponytail. Rai snorted and his dog barked.
"Yeah sensei, you might never be late but he always is" the Inuzuka complained, shaking his dark red hair out of his silver eyes. Sasuke rolled his eyes. The boy was a good student but definitely had authority issues. He challenged Sasuke often, but could still be cowed by a legendary Uchila glare. Rai was still a much better kid than either he or Naruto was at thirteen.
"Calm down Rai, he'll be here any minute now." Sure enough-
"Sasuke why the hell didn't you wake me up?!" came an outraged cry. The Uchila didn't even bother to turn around.
"Nice to see you could finally join us Naruto" he answered leaning against the bridge. The blond boy was panting hard as he ran up to his team. His blond, spiky hair was even messier than usual and his green eyes still looked sleepy. Rai grinned and stopped flicking pebbles off the bridge and at his disgruntled teammate.
"Oi, stop ya bastard," he grumbled as he pulled on his black jacket. Sasuke held back a laugh. Naruto was just like his father.
"Please, Sasuke, I beg you. If anything happens to me, you must take care of him. You're the only one I could ever trust to take care of my baby. Besides, you owe Naruto. And if that can't convince you well, you need him just as much you need me."
A/N: Eh, it wasn't very good was it? Didn't make much sense, but there's gonna be another chapter. This was supposed to be more SasuNaruish with a lot of NaruSaku but it came off as SasuSaku. Please review, this is my first fanfic in a looong time and I need help!