The heart, being full of blood, casts a shadow.
GRAY'S ANATOMY
Sasuke stood over his parents graves, the seals slipping between his fingers like blood - a rapid sequence only memory and practice found. The echoes of Orochimaru in his head moving like a hangover.
He grinned, flesh lifting over teeth, even as his heels dug into the too-soft earth beneath him (worms disturbed, rise from below).
He would bring the Uchiha back, even if he had to sacrifice the whole of Konoha for them.
Even if he had to make the streets run red with blood.
Corpse
by bloody corpse..
Two thick voices filtered by Konoha wood, standing guard outside the hospital door, hushed, bodiless. They were scratchy with age and emotion. He lifted his head slowly - injuries and apprehension - and listened the harder.
This is how he learned of Orochimaru standing before the Hokage, fearless, victorious, like a matriach - or every Olympian hero time sang of - and called the very dead out of their homes.
And how they had responded. Even as the dirt fell from their coffins, even as the maggots were dusted from their robes..
It burned within him. This desire.
"I will revive my clan."
Sasuke
