Note: This drabble might be a bit depressing, but it's about Sasuke, like Lunar requested! I'm sorry if this isn't what you were looking for, Lunar. Gift to aforementioned Lunar.
Disclaimer: Kishimoto owns Sasuke and Itachi and all else that has to do with Naruto. Not me!
After Revenge
Wind whistled through the branches of the old oak tree, and the leaves swayed, revealing a lone boy sitting upon the topmost limb. His shape stood out against the bright starry night, as though he were a great bird of prey— a majestic eagle perched on his throne, watching over all that he reigned over. Dark eyes studied the landscape. Down, down, down, in the streets of Konoha, lights flashed and laughter rang out. But this boy wasn't part of it all. He was— different. He was Uchiha Sasuke.
If he so wished, he could easily be part of the bright warmth that Konoha radiated. If he so wished, the other boys would willingly let him join in the fun and games, and respect him as their leader. The girls would willingly make friends with him, hoping maybe someday to be more than friends to him. But no, Sasuke would have none of that. Sasuke was his own man, no one else's. What had come out of trusting another man in the past? Family, home, clan— massacred.
It was better to trust no one, let no one trust. Friends? Ha. What were friends but a nuisance, people who held you back when you could easily go forwards?
It would be much easier to achieve one's dream with no friends. Uchiha Sasuke would soon kill his brother, the one he had once trusted. The boy would take his revenge.
Then—then what?
Would Sasuke come back to Konoha, make friends, and live a good, fulfilling life after killing Itachi Uchiha? That sounded… wrong. But what else could Sasuke do?
After burying the dead remains of his brother, would Sasuke spend the rest of his life wandering? Pick up pupils and teach them? Create an organization and be the supreme leader?
If he wanted, maybe he would be powerful enough to be the next Hokage— maybe. After all, Itachi was no easy kill. But would the people of Konoha accept someone who had thirsted for revenge, and killed his own brother, accept him as their protector?
Would anyone accept Sasuke after he killed Itachi— if he killed him?
Perhaps it was too early to be thinking of all this, when he was just a genin. But no. Sasuke was the top genin of his year, a genius pupil to all his Academy teachers.
Yes, Sasuke could kill Itachi Uchiha with just a bit more training.
…Right?
Sasuke rested his head against the trunk of the tree, dark eyes flickering. Now that he had come so far, he wouldn't back down. He wouldn't give up his dream of revenge.
Would Sasuke have to live his whole life chasing this goal? Would he never succeed, and never have to even bother thinking about what his next dream would be, now that he had killed Itachi?
No, this was impossible.
Sasuke's pride would not allow him to chase after an unfulfillable dream.
…Right?
So then, what would Sasuke do after killing Itachi?
Was the answer not killing his brother? Was it best to let Itachi live?
No. Not ever. His older brother's last words to him before leaving still rang in his head.
"Foolish little brother! If you wish to kill me—hate me. Detest me! And survive in an unsightly way. Run, run, cling to life!"
Sasuke would be nothing but a failure if he didn't kill his brother. Itachi himself wanted Sasuke to kill him.
But, if Sasuke killed Itachi and quenched his thirst for revenge and Itachi's blood… Sasuke would have no more goal, no more dream—no more… life?
