Onimusha*
"Do you remember that day…?"
"Hm…?"
"The day you got away."
His black cloak captured the howling wind, as he walked on another grassy hill, his eyes were locked on faraway, somewhere hid in the horizon, in the heart of a setting sun was a town, he called… home.
In the past two years, he was all eyes and ears to the sufferings and damages he caused to innocents. He couldn't say unknowingly though. If he did so he would had deceived himself. He perfectly knew what he was doing back then and still... he kept doing it. He kept on hurting people. Just because he wanted all the world to know how damaged and broken his own soul was.
And maybe that was the worst of the punishments he could accept on himself, The regrets of the past. That was why he took an oath to do whatever it takes to redo what was … done.
Thanks to his Sensei and his best friend, he knew he had a chance to make things right. So all in all his past years passed with him traveling to every single villages existed in Land of Fire and asking them for forgiveness. That was the only way to redeem the burden of the guilt he carried for so long. Soothing those who in need and ceasing the pain of others… was something he partially got succeed in.
While the anger of some was still surging towards the survivor of Uchiha and they didn't accept his charitable attitudes, and good deeds he endured. After all… that was what being a Shinobi about. To endure anything and everything.
two years passed like a decade for Sasuke as he learnt about things he missed: loyalty, beauty of the world and how kindness could still bloom in hardships. Hatred sure blinded him for so long and so little by little he got to understand what it was to be in light again. To feel the warmness of sun stroking his cold, dead skin.
He was always looking for a way to restore his clan, to clear Uchiha's name and reveal their true face. Strong and loyal. At least that was what his brother was. He just recently found out the right way to it. To create a new life you have be alive first.
Before, he hated Shinobi. As it was a world of cruel frozen souls who knew nothing of love. Who just followed the orders and didn't care about moralities. Shinobi was all about war and hatred and what was produced out of war and hatred? Death and misery.
It was different now. It was a birth of a new world. People's heart never were filled with something more than darkness, more than hatred... Now the word "Hope" didn't seem to be that out of reach.
Hope… which made Sasuke picture one specific person in his mind. The blond whiny stubborn brat who became the… hero. And how much this word suited him. It wasn't the first time this thought brought a smile on Sasuke's face. Naruto surely was more than a brat. He was strong-willed who never ever thought of giving up. He tried to get all his friends' approval, he tried his best to get to his dream and to save everyone around him, including… Sasuke.
He changed Sasuke… for good. And here Sasuke thought not only himself and not only Naruto's comrades and friends… he made a difference in the whole world. He changed everyone. He showed them it's okay to show their love and their kindness. It's okay to light the path of those who trapped in darkness and drag them up and soothe their pain. And all of these were becoming part of people's heart now which no one could deny.
The exile was a chance for Sasuke to find himelf. One lonely soul he had had lost right after his brother passed away. He grabbed the little boy's hand who was wondering in the darkest part of his heart and showed him the path to light. And slowly he got to know himself better and he was surprised when he found out how fragile he really was.
Sasuke remembered the last time he left Konoha, he thought he would never have the chance to come back. Even he, somewhere deep inside, knew the path to revenge was a one-way to abyss.
He never imagined destiny lead him this way though. To once again stand on a hill, right in front of his home. Not only he felt delighted, he knew his brother's soul was happy as well.
But to start a new life here… where should he start?
This, made him nervous. There were nights he stayed awake till dawn to find an answer for his question. Perhaps he was too afraid to admit he was frightened of how people in his homeland would react upon his return. Sure Naruto was always an exception. He would accept him unconditionally with open arms but was it the same for others? Was he even deserved their forgiveness?
Sasuke pushed the uncomfortable thoughts aside. It was too late for those now, wasn't it? He was finally here.
Right in front of him were the half open gates leading to his past also future self. He knew there were still things he had to endure but this time,
He was ready, ready to be part of the Dancing Leaves again.
* meaning : ogre warrior
There's still no actual plot in my mind for this. It might be a set of drabbles for each characters' thoughts after the war and their interactions with each other, maybe a little fluff here and there... I don't know...
Hope you enjoyed anyway
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Thanks for reading
