This chapter was beta-ed by Jenny-Cat-Miaow. XD
Thanks for all the reviews, favourites and follows.
For those who read the story the first time around, this chapter holds a lot more changes than the previous two, mostly added scenes.
Things as they are
Chapter 3
"What?" Sasuke snapped rudely as soon as he dropped down from the ANBU's back, whom had declared quite grandly that since Sasuke's excuse was exhaustion he would be humiliatingly carried into the Hokage's office, and that his little delay meant that they were behind schedule, making the ANBU look bad.
His rude question wasn't the way to behave to a Hokage, but he decided that it was okay for him to because he'd unceremoniously been kidnapped (sort of) and dragged back to the office where the Yondaime—who apparently thought he needed to go the hospital—was waiting to talk to him. Oh and that was usually the way Naruto talked to the Sandaime so it was bound to be alright. Aaaaaand he might have been slightly nervous, but only a little.
He also had more chances to blow his cover and end up with the wrong sort of ANBU.
Taking slight note of the now uncharacteristically rude question, something he had expected when the boy had first walked in, the Yondaime motioned for the ANBU to leave and quietly watched them disappear. Using the slight moment to gather his thoughts, not that there was much of it, the Yondaime leaned back ever so slightly. Then, he sat forward and stared directly into Sasuke's eyes. It was intimidating beyond belief and Sasuke actually had to suppress the shiver it bought to life within him.
The boy had never been so unnerved by a gaze before, but mustering all of his courage he repeated, "What?" in faltering confidence. He had never felt like this under Orochimaru's gaze. Was this why the blond made the better Hokage?
"I want an explanation," the Yondaime began, his tone soft yet serious, not at all the cheerful laughter from before. Please stop frowning!?
Sasuke cut in a bit too quickly—"An explanation? About what?" Che. This man was actually making him anxious and making him flounder! He'd faced down Orochimaru for crying out loud! He spoke coolly to that snake all the time. Why couldn't he do so with the blond?
"It's about your behaviour today and yesterday." The man continued after another hard, long look at him. "You've been acting strangely."
"Didn't we already discuss this a few minutes ago?" Sasuke asked.
"Yes," the Yondaime said, "but I never got the answers I wanted and you left before I could really ask." A deeper frown and Sasuke felt as though his entire world was crashing down around him.
"I did answer you," Sasuke pointed out defensively. Sasuke was mentally mortified at the possibility of suddenly acting out childishly, but it was there bubbling under the surface and he couldn't stop it.
"You did not."
"Yes, I did."
"Not the answers I wanted. All you gave me were excuses Sasuke. They weren't real answers," replied the other, and the argument was over. Sighing, the Yondaime ran a hand through his long blond hair. "You're more serious, you haven't played a prank since the day before yesterday –makes the paperwork less but it's still worrying in that of itself–, you want to be on Team 7 which you're not even sure will pass Kakashi-kun's test, you treat me with respect—"
"Why wouldn't I treat the Hokage with respect? Any Shinobi should. And besides Hatake-san is the best jonin in the village, anyone knows that." Sasuke countered.
"Let me finish," the Yondaime said sternly, and then continued. "You were surprised at seeing me, although you saw me just the day before the exam, which—by the way—you passed with uncharacteristic ease, even the bunshin no jutsu." He sat back. "I can go on, if you'd like. For example cleaning out your apartment, but I think that list sums everything up. You can imagine why I don't think you are who you are supposed to be."
"Aa," Sasuke muttered as he averted his eyes. He wasn't who the he was supposed to be but he couldn't very well tell them that now could he? They'd never believe him. So what was he supposed to say?
"No eye contact," the Yondaime noted aloud. "You want to hide something." Did saying it out loud make it better for the blond or for Sasuke?
Startled, Sasuke snapped his—hopefully apathetic—gaze back to the man, but said nothing. He forced his gaze to remain on the Yondaime, willing his eyebrow not to twitch.
"Which of those do you want to explain first?" the Yondaime sat back in his chair and laced his fingers together, blue eyes holding a pain that Sasuke could never hope to understand as well as a sort of breathless anticipation. He was worried about what Sasuke might say.
Though he knew it wasn't the time to do so, Sasuke smiled humourlessly. "And I suppose I won't be able to get out of it?" he asked with the knowledge that it was a rhetorical question. He had a feeling that, like a certain other blonde he knew too well, this man would not stop until he got answers. He was just far quieter at it.
"Right," the Yondaime said.
"What would you do if I told you that I'm not the twelve year old genin you see in front of you? That I'm not the Sasuke you know. In fact I'm a sixteen year old student of Orochimaru's and I became said student after nearly killing Naruto and ditching Konoha all in an attempt to gain enough power to kill my brother for killing my clan and betraying Konoha and the Uchiha name?" Sasuke stated all in a rush, somehow being compelled to tell the truth when being pinned with those blue eyes and faced with that disapproving frown. Immediately he wanted to smack his forehead but stood ramrod straight instead.
"Ha. Ha." The Yondaime deadpanned, eyes narrowing. "Very funny Sasuke." There wasn't any amusement in his tone. "I suppose we can knock off not playing any pranks from that list. Seriously though, I want an honest explanation this time."
Sasuke drew his lips tight. He would have to create a fabricated yet believable lie. They would never believe that truth unless a Yamanaka was let inside his head and he really didn't want that. "Okay," he said. "You got me. I'll spill everything." As if.
"So you aren't Uchiha Sasuke?"
"No, I am," Sasuke quickly affirmed. If he said he was a spy… he shuddered to think of the consequences. "It's just… I've been…" his face screwed up. "Hiding stuff," he said lamely, scratching the back of his head sheepishly—on purpose. If he acted like the stupid boy the Hokage apparently thought he was everything would become easier. More would be able to slip under the radar. Since apparently, telling the truth wasn't working, not that he really thought it would.
"Hiding stuff?" the Hokage echoed incredulously. "Sasuke, or whoever you are, I'm sure you'll understand my suspicions remain until some proof appears. I think you have more to say than that. Hiding stuff barely begins to cover what you apparently have hidden."
The Hokage was suspicious of him. Perfect, the boy thought sarcastically. Retaining the sheepish face, he continued. "I mean, uh, you know… You know how the villagers treat me, right?" he asked, hoping that the rude behaviour from them had not just been anything short-lived. Naruto's certainly wasn't. His hopes were affirmed when the Yondaime nodded. "It's just that… I've known how to do a lot of things for a while now, but it's not like I can show it, because… wouldn't that make them more suspicious?"
"True," the man agreed, "but how did you learn all of that?"
Uh. It was harder to make up a lie than what he originally thought. But he was a ninja. He could do this."There was a visiting merchant a while ago, remember, ne?" This is not going to work! I don't even know whether a visiting merchant visited Konoha in the days that I've been here!
"I think I remember…" the Yondaime trailed off, suspicious eyes unrelenting and unbelieving.
Sasuke jumped at the opportunity. And besides, taking his training with Orochimaru into account he wasn't technically lying. "Yeah, well he uh, kinda' wasn't really a merchant, you know? And uh—"
The other held up a hand. "I get the point," he said, "but how he did this without anyone knowing and how much you know are questions unanswered."
The boy paused for a split second, and then said, "The merchant was pretty advanced. He made this sorta' bunshin but it wasn't really, 'cause it was all solid an—"
"It was solid?" the Yondaime interjected sternly.
He nodded once. "It was really cool… uh, and it replaced me —which is half the reason I sucked in the Academy so much since it wasn't really me but the clone me— while we went to train someplace where the ANBU weren't…"
No reaction.
Sasuke continued. "I don't know that much," he rushed out, "because he only taught me random jutsu and skills…" he trailed off.
"So you're saying, in essence," the Yondaime frowned, "that you were training under this 'visiting merchant' for a while, during which you learned what, B-, A-ranking skills and possibly jutsu? And your speed increased from almost nothing to the level of an ANBU's? Furthermore, your attitude changed completely?" A wry and knowing smile spread halfway on his face. "That just doesn't sound logical, does it?" Sasuke didn't think he'd displayed that many skills over the past two days, had he? Perhaps it was such an unconscious action on his part that he didn't even know he was doing it. He was going to have to be careful from now on.
"No, I suppose it doesn't," Sasuke agreed. "Fine. IwantedtobelikeNaruto." Sasuke had decided that the merchant story would only get him so far and it really only explained half of the 'changes' "As for my trainer. I had training under a visiting merchant for say, a couple of months? During which I became up-to-par with my peers at the Academy. I also increased my speed drastically—" he wanted to say, And it's not my fault if the ANBU are slow. They're slacking behind if you ask me and they were underestimating me, but didn't— "or actually, that was practically the only thing we worked on, since my sensei was particularly concerned about speed. Said something about running away from the enemies I wasn't strong enough to defeat. He also said something about being too thick headed to realise when it was smarter to actually run away but I guess he had a point so I took it upon myself to hit the books. I did learn some jutsu, but nothing above C-ranked."
"And why would he teach you?" the Yondaime asked, still sceptical and ignoring the question for now. "And for that matter what was it that you said earlier?"
"I don't know," Sasuke replied with a careless shrug. "Because I'm interesting? He said he liked me? Why does any ninja teach another? And I said I wanted to be like Naruto. (*Cringe*) He's always so moody and serious and stuff but everyone and I mean everyone still likes him so I thought that maybe if I acted like him then they wouldn't look at me with those eyes anymore." He'd heard Naruto refer to the looks he was getting as 'those eyes' once. He'd muttered it under his breath and at the time Sasuke had pretended not to hear him.
"Aa … But I'm sure you'll understand if I still can't completely trust you and I'll have to check your story." There was a new kind of pain in the Yondaime's eyes, regret or maybe guilt.
Sasuke nodded once. "Have all the surveillance you want. Just allow me to continue doing things the way I have been doing, since it's only been two days I don't know if it's working yet."
The Yondaime frowned. "You know I can't do that," he said. What was wrong with acting like Naruto, well this dream-Naruto anyway? And frowning already!
"I know," Sasuke replied off-handedly, "but you're the Hokage, aren't you? Can't you make an exception?"
"Why would I want to make an exception?" Ouch.
"Do you want to arouse the suspicion of the villagers, my fellow Shinobi and my team —whichever one that might end up being with a full on and unnecessary investigation?" Sasuke shot back.
There was a slight pause. "I suppose I could," the Yondaime murmured. "All right, Uchiha Sasuke. You are allowed to continue being a Shinobi. I will furthermore transfer you to Hatake Kakashi's team." Better to watch you … was the unspoken term.
Sasuke tilted his head to the side as he processed everything that had been said. He nodded his head in acceptance once before asking, "Permission to leave?"
"Yes, you may leave now." It almost physically hurt to have those eyes pinned to him, those eyes that were filled with so many things, like concern, worry, guilt … suspicion.
The door clicked shut as Sasuke let himself out of the room, and Minato immediately motioned to the ANBU outside his window. "Bird!" he snapped. "Follow Uchiha Sasuke with your squad! At any sign of betrayal or suspicion, capture the target and take him to the interrogation chamber with Ibiki. Go!" He paused once, and then added quickly, "And tell Hatake Kakashi the changes in the genin teams and to watch him carefully, will you? Also, please inform Yuuhi of the genin change as well."
The ANBU nodded and disappeared with a puff of smoke and Minato let out a sharp breath as he leaned back. That conversation—or interview, more like—had scared the wits out of him. It took a lot to scare him, but the possibility of the Kyuubi inside Sasuke being taken and somehow taken advantage of and a spy replacing him did. Sasuke's story was believable, but not completely. There were a few suspicious holes which Minato would have to check into. He didn't want to have to do it, but it was necessary. For the safety of both his village and the Uchiha boy.
He didn't believe that a merchant had trained Sasuke. Not for a moment. There was more to this than what the boy was willing to admit to. But that part about Naruto, that was almost breaking his heart. If the boy believed that it was Naruto's attitude that attracted the people to him, then he was going to be in for a lot more pain and suffering but he seemed to be set on that course of action.
He sighed wearily. Well he hoped it ran its course soon. All he could really do was wait and be there to catch the pieces as he'd always done for the boy before.
Strangely enough, the only time Minato had felt that Sasuke was speaking the truth was when he'd spun that ludicrous tale of being a 16 year old student of Orochimaru's. There was just no way it could be true. There were too many time and space impossibilities involved and he was berating himself for even considering the possibility of the story being true.
But that conversation—Minato had truly felt like he was talking to a fully-fledged adult, not a twelve-year-old fledgling. Every question was met with a semi believable answer and in the ninja world that was as good as any answer got. After all, some things were meant to be impossible but they did it every day. So possible or impossible were merely points of perception when it came to being Shinobi. Sasuke's new turn of behaviour completely baffled the Yondaime—what could that 'merchant' have done to him to make him that way, if his story was true?
He wished he knew what truly happened to the Sasuke he knew. He missed the carefree laugh.
It didn't take long for Sasuke to notice that ANBU were following him again. He supposed it was logical, but that didn't seem to ease his annoyance. Back in Sound, no one would have dared to follow—or should he say stalk?—him, the favourite pet of Orochimaru and the most powerful one (Kabuto came pretty close) but here, it seemed that pesky ANBU did all the time.
Still, he had said to the Yondaime that he could put surveillance on him.
Resisting his sudden urge to kill or cause bodily harm to those Shinobi (In his current state he wasn't even entirely sure if he could because he definitely wasn't as strong as he'd been before coming here or ending up in this dream world reality place so that meant he was going to have to train), Sasuke walked down the main road. People were staring at him again, but he couldn't have cared less about them, as those ANBU were more of his main concern—Che. He shouldn't have to think about those things. They were undoubtedly there to watch his behaviour for suspicious anythings, and by thinking about them, he would then betray the fact that he knew they were there, and that in itself would be suspicious, earning him a one-way ticket to Ibiki's interrogation office.
Besides, what the hell was he supposed to do when he needed to use the bathroom?
It was hardly too presumptuous to say that he could easily deceive these ANBU and flee, at his current strength. He could try but that was a slightly too risky move for the moment. Besides, he didn't feel like it.
Not feeling like doing anything Shinobi-related had never been in his mind before, but he inexplicably did at this moment. Well not really Shinobi related per say but more like anything at all actually.
Nevermind that now. This was- it was a dream, wasn't it? All of this?
Sasuke didn't know the answer to that anymore. On one hand, it would be preposterous to think that all of this could be happening, but on the other hand, why did everything feel so real, and would his dull, unimaginative mind actually be able to create such a fantasy? Of course not. Any fantasy he allowed his mind to entertain would inevitably involve the death of his brother. So no, this wasn't his imagination.
Moreover, the Uchiha clan wasn't exactly credited on their imaginations, just their battle prowess. Did genjutsu take imagination?
Nor on their dreaming. Sasuke scoffed; Uchihas did not dream of worlds that weren't theirs.
Their attention was not, and could not, be wasted on such irrelevant things such as dreams. They were imbedded into reality like no other clan ever would be due to their accursed eyes. The Uchiha saw the fact of a matter before anyone else ever did. So no, dreams were not—
Sasuke stopped abruptly. He'd just passed a street.
The street that led into the Uchiha clan district.
Wasn't that street supposed to be empty?
He felt his heart thud loudly, and heard the quick breath that escaped his lips. But he didn't move. Red flushed his mind; and his first thought was, Who are the idiots that dare invade the Uchiha clan district?
But as he stared down the wide, bustling street that he'd walked down so many times as a kid, he realized with alarm and disbelief that they were Uchihas who were in that street.
Uchihas. Plural. Now that chunin he'd been faced with before seeing the Yondaime made a lot more sense, but this still didn't make any sense at all.
Slack-jawed and wide-eyed, Sasuke stared at the many people talking, selling, walking, whatever. There were—how could he have forgotten their names? Oh, Akito-san, tending her geraniums as she'd done many years ago. His cousin, Tetsuo—and Daichi, her brother—and even that brat Miyuki, who thought she was better than anyone else, were welcome sights.
It just mattered that they were alive. That's all that mattered.
But if they are alive… then otou-san and okaa-san… are also—
A lump in his throat formed, but he ignored it, bursting into full speed down the street as the hope swelled inside him. His old house—down this road, to the right, across the road—this road now, this way—I almost didn't recognize it now that there are people on it—
He never noticed the stares in his direction and the hostile air, but even if he had, he wouldn't have cared. His thoughts remained focused on one thing.
Right here!
His house was in front of him, looking every bit as majestic as it had been before that happened. He noticed lights in the windows, and realized that even such a minor thing such as that comforted himself. It'd been a long since he'd seen lit lights in there from the outside. So many nights had been spent just sitting right here, in the street, staring into dark broken windows, not even daring to enter the house.
Now Sasuke could hardly run fast enough down the path, to the door—
The image of a dark-haired man sprung to his mind, and his hand froze a few inches from the doorknob. If everyone was alive, that meant… he… was also here. In this very house before him.
He was at a crossroad. Should he go in and greet his mother and father and risk seeing Itachi, or not go in and—
And what?
Avoid his own family?
Perhaps Itachi was once again on one of his many missions. Forgetting or completely ignoring the fact that this was supposed to be nothing but a dream Sasuke grasped the doorknob firmly and turned it. The door creaked its familiar welcome, and he stepped inside, eagerly drinking in its old smell, sounds, sights—oh, the sudden relief of comfort!
But there, in the corners of his mind, something dark and sinister bubbled, threatening to overwhelm him. Images of Shinobi in the shadows standing over crumpled, once proud forms. Blood pooling on the floor and moving ever so slowly towards him. His breath quickened from something other than anticipation, as he found himself drowning in sensations and thought he no longer wished to see but could not stop.
"Itachi?"
It was his mother, washing over him like a soothing balm and helping to move the darkness away from his mind. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to enjoy the peace that was settling over him.
"Itachi, is that you? You're home early—"
She stepped out into the foyer and paled at the sight of Sasuke, dropping the dish she was drying. It let out a shriek of shattering as it crashed on the floor, sending shattered pieces everywhere. She wasn't smiling. She wasn't laughing. She was staring at him with horror.
Sasuke froze. What should he do? She looked so pale that—"Okaa-san, are you okay?" he asked.
She didn't answer for a moment. Her eyes were wide and disbelief shone in them clearly. "What… What are you doing here, Sasuke?" she asked in a shaky, uneven breath.
"What?" Had he just heard that? "I'm—I'm—" he couldn't find an answer. He felt the air leave his lungs as though he'd been punched. What would he say? You've been dead for how many years, and all I want is to see you, so why are you asking what I'm doing here?!
"You shouldn't—You shouldn't be here," Mikoto cut him off. "Your otou-san or Itachi will be back soon and—"
"I don't care!" Sasuke interrupted. "I don't care." He rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her. He couldn't stop himself. He had to know she was real, to know that she was really there and not just some sick torment of his twisted imagination. She wasn't. She was warm and soft and she smelled just as he remembered. She was home. "I missed you, okaa-san," he whispered.
She did not respond, and stiffened as if—as if he hurt her?
He released her and asked confusedly, "What is it? What's wrong? Have I—"
"Get out, Sasuke. Please," she pleaded. "Before your otou-san comes back."
"Why? I'm not scared—"
"What are you doing, you monster?"
Sasuke whirled around to face his father, even stonier-faced than he'd remembered. "I'm saying hello to my okaa-san. Is that wrong?" he asked defiantly.
"You do not belong here anymore. Get out."
"I am Uchiha. I belong in the Uchiha compound."
Fugaku's features froze. "You are a monster before you are Uchiha," he hissed with narrowed eyes, eyes that had never been directed at Sasuke before in his life, "and I don't want you to ever call yourself Uchiha again! You don't deserve it."
"If a newborn is called Uchiha simply because they were born into the clan, how can I, the son of the head himself, not deserve clanship?" Sasuke shot back. He was really cursing his ignorance of this reality now.
"Because you are Ky—"
"Fugaku!" Mikoto cried.
The man paused. "Because you are no longer my son," he amended but it was too late. Sasuke had at least some idea as to what he'd been about to say. Still, what he'd ended up saying was something far worse to the Uchiha. All the stares meant nothing until they were in the eyes of those he loved so dearly.
The blow was sickening. "What…?" Sasuke whispered. He had been scolded harshly before, but for his father to go as far as disowning him? What on earth had he even done to deserve that?
"You forgot already? Typical of the runt, once again showing just what a disappointment you are even without taking what you are into account." Fugaku sneered. "You were no longer Uchiha the day you left the clan!"
"I—" I didn't leave the clan. I didn't. Why would I do that? Why are they acting this way? Why? Sasuke gulped and backed up, trying to process what was happening. He finally had his family but he wasn't allowed to see them?!
This was worse than watching their deaths. This was the ultimate torture. He'd worked so hard to avenge them and they — hated him.
His back hit the wall but it didn't register in his mind. He couldn't believe this was happening. His okaa-san wouldn't look at him and if she allowed herself a glance, as though morbidly obliged to, all Sasuke saw was fear. She was afraid of him, her own son.
Broken memories stuttered within his mind, pieces of something that made no sense. An overwhelming urge to throw up made him fall to his knees, gasping for air in the hopes to keep his breakfast down. Rage, so much blind rage. What was this? Shouts of panic but too broken and distorted to even understand. Where was this coming from? What was happening?
Sasuke clutched at his hair as he tried to banish the images from his mind. But they wouldn't leave. They kept on going, over and over with the same broken confusion, the same blinding rage, the urge to kill.
Betrayal. A sickly thing that clung to the memories like a bad taste in his mouth. What was this!?
Arms wrapped around him, forcing his head between his knees. He was hyperventilating.
"Breathe Sasuke." A familiar voice whispered into his ear almost frantically.
Sasuke thought the advice was ludicrous. He was breathing!
"Slowly Sasuke. Everything is alright. You're safe. No one is going to hurt you."
Anger leaked from the images in his mind over to him. He lashed out at the voice but found himself pinned to the floor, arms held down at his sides.
"No!" Sasuke yelled as new images began to blend in with the rage and bloodlust. Itachi, the Uchiha. His broken and defeated parents. The blood. So much blood.
"Make it stop." Sasuke sobbed brokenly, both appalled at his behaviour and desperate for relief.
"Sasuke, calm down, stop struggling." Sasuke froze immediately. He hadn't even realised that he had been struggling at all. "No Sasuke." He was immediately scolded, "Not like that. You need to relax your muscles. Come on they teach this at the Academy."
The voice, it was helping. It was helping to focus the young Uchiha, to bring him out of the downward spiral of chilling images. So instead he focused on the voice, focused on what was being asked of him. This was something he could do.
"Please don't stop talking." Sasuke whispered, taking deep gulps of air, trying to slow down, trying to relax and fighting the urge to break free and fight his way out. Out of what he wasn't entirely sure though.
"Huh? Oh is it helping? Well okay then. You know Sasuke I don't know what's going on with you but I sure hope it's not permanent. Hokage-sama doesn't like it."
"Now I remember. You're Shisui. The first one that Itachi …" Sasuke didn't finish. He'd chosen to ignore the words that Shisui spoke earlier. It was just nice to know that it was Shisui. He'd always liked his older cousin.
"How did you–? Never mind. Just don't go telling everybody. ANBU identities are supposed to be secrets. What did you mean about Itachi? The first one what?" Shisui was beginning to sound exasperated.
Sasuke closed his eyes, eyes that had previously been staring at his parent's feet, watching as his father tried to usher his mother away, out the room … away from him.
The first one that Itachi had killed.
"Sasuke, you're not helping your case. You shouldn't even be here." Shisui clucked his tongue impatiently, the noise sounding weird coming from behind his ANBU mask.
"Why, why am I not an Uchiha?" Sasuke asked, still keeping his eyes closed. His breathing was finally beginning to calm down, his racing heart starting to even out. The images in his mind were almost gone now, the rage he had felt fading with them. All that was left was weariness, weariness and betrayal but a betrayal he couldn't connect to anything.
"You left Sasuke. I know your memory is not that bad." Shisui tone was softer now, pitying and Sasuke's annoyance spiked.
"I'm fine now, you can let go." Sasuke's voice had reverted back to the cold toneless-ness from before coming home. He had a lot to think about, a lot to sort out but being pinned to the floor with the blood circulation being disrupted to his limbs was not helping him, and for that matter neither was the interrogation.
He was an Uchiha. He was Uchiha Sasuke and he should not have lost control like that. It was time to retreat, to look at the situation and then continue from there. One thing was clear. He was not welcome here and something had happened. He'd have to find out what though. But for now he needed to be the cool calm Uchiha. He needed to be the Avenger, even if for now, he had nothing to avenge.
Gloved hands released him reluctantly and Sasuke got to his feet. An image of his brother suddenly came to mind, of the proud and powerful Itachi falling to his knees before his accusers and asking for forgiveness for his behaviour, a forgiveness he had never meant. The only time Itachi had ever told the truth was when he had lashed out, lost control in a manner that was most unlike Itachi. But Sasuke understood, only now that time had passed. Still, the action had placated the Uchiha, made them believe what they wanted as they only saw what they wanted to see. Itachi's words that day were starting to make a little more sense.
So Sasuke did the same. He allowed his body to fall to the ground, his knees impacting with the wooden floors harshly. He pressed his knuckles against the floors he knew so well from childhood and bowed his head to his father, mirroring Itachi's exact posture from so many years before, before he stated in much the same tone that Itachi had. "Forgive me, Uchiha-san. I have not been myself lately. I'll see to it that this incident does not happen again."
Then he got back to his feet and walked to the door, not even glancing back at his parents. "What happened to him? He's nothing like before he left." Mikoto asked a startled Shisui.
"We don't know." Was all Shisui replied with but Sasuke didn't care. He'd heard his mother's tone and it was not the concern of a parent. It was the fear of a stranger.
They may look like his family, but they were not his family. His family had died that night Itachi had killed them. So Sasuke did the one thing he had been fighting with himself not to do the second Shisui had released him.
He ran.
Back in the apartment, Sasuke stared at himself in the mirror. Monster. Demon. Why were people calling him this? What had he done to deserve this? Why had he chosen to leave the Uchiha clan? So many questions and no legal ways to get the answers without becoming suspicious. How would the Hokage react to that morning's incident at the Uchiha compound? He'd be told, that was certain. Still, what had he done to make his mother fear him so much?
Here, he was apparently still in the Academy, a dobe at that,—and he couldn't remember anything in the Academy that he did strangely, but in this wacky world and twisted reality, anything could happen.
Monster.
Demon.
His brow furrowed. Wasn't that what people called Naruto? And he certainly wasn't Naruto. But he had been thrust into the role of Naruto ever since he arrived here.
But those two words… Naruto had something which caused people to call him that—the nine-tailed demon fox, Kyuubi. And Sasuke certainly did not—
Did not what? His mind cackled. Did not what? Did not have Kyuubi? You fool!
Sasuke felt an ominous shiver skitter up his back. He lifted his shirt. Nothing there.
"See?" He told himself. "There's nothing there. Nothing—"
And you call yourself smart? Look harder, dimwit! He was really starting to wonder if that voice truly was his own mind, or perhaps something else.
"Fine. If you're so insistent." He activated the Sharingan, and again, nothing was there. "See? I don't have the Kyuubi."
Heh. One last way which you've been avoiding.
"I haven't been—"
But he had.
He channelled chakra to the center of his stomach, and for a split second, he felt triumph as nothing happened—but suddenly a great black intricate spiral seal shimmered into view.
Sasuke sharply inhaled. No, no way, no—
What the—?
He had the Kyuubi!
"Hokage-sama." Shisui greeted with a bow.
"Yes, Shisui?" Minato asked with a slight frown. The Uchiha before him was not wearing his ANBU mask, meaning he was here in his free time, something he didn't get a lot of so this had to be important.
"It's about Sasuke-kun, Hokage-sama. He went to the Uchiha Compound today. It was like he couldn't remember a thing about that incident. I'd even go so far as to say it was almost like he was surprised to see the Uchiha there at all." Shisui's reports were always direct and to the point. Having been the Hokage's personal ANBU guard for some time now, the Uchiha understood just how little time Minato really had.
Minato frowned, Sasuke's earlier words flashing through his mind. But that was a ludicrous idea, impossible. He squeezed his eyes shut before sighing. "Just keep watching Shisui, just keep watching him."
Cold.
He felt cold.
Numb.
He felt that, too.
The sun had already sunk beneath the edges of the earth and Sasuke was still idly skipping rocks over a pond.
Like he had been doing for the last few hours.
He supposed he should have known; after all, he had known for quite some time about Naruto's tenant- and since he and the blonde had switched places, it was only logical that he would have the Kyuubi too.
But his thoughts still lay in disbelief.
He skipped another rock across the pond.
I...
The Kyuubi...
Another rock.
Is everything switched in this world?
Will I be as loud and hyperactive as Naruto was?
Will I love ramen as much as Naruto did?
Will I start to act just like Naruto?
Will I start to remember things from this world, like at the Uchiha compound?
Will I love the colour orange?
Sasuke shuddered. Himself in orange?
Scary, scary thought.
Another rock.
But his thoughts turned to his friend:
Will Naruto leave?
Will Naruto join Orochimaru?
Will he...
His hand froze before skipping another rock.
...kill me?
Sasuke's eyes glazed in memories.
And absentmindedly, he wondered how much longer he could hold everything in, how much longer he could keep it altogether. He didn't think he'd be able to keep his calm façade up if this continued for much longer.
-the next day-
Hatake Kakashi was not happy.
He wondered why he kept testing Genin teams, year after year. He had tested so many all of these years, and each of them decided that it was better to save themselves instead of working together. So why did he keep on testing?
Perhaps it was the Obito part of him.
Or perhaps it was the other Jonins- as well as the Yondaime- insisting his participation every year.
And he couldn't always say no.
"Kakashi-kun, aren't you going to meet your team?"
He turned his head towards the voice, identifying the speaker as his smiling sensei.
Kakashi shook his head in annoyance. "I still can't believe you managed to persuade me to do this..."
Only three people still remained in the classroom and, needless to say, they were bored.
"Why isn't our sensei here yet?!" Sakura whined, kicking at the ground.
"It's only been five minutes. Stop whining." Naruto said, obviously annoyed. They had been called back to the Academy and had been told about a last minute team switch on the request of the Hokage. Naruto saw who his teammate was being replaced with and scowled. The Yondaime's favourite. Typical.
He still didn't understand why his father paid so much attention to the dobe.
"Anything for you, Naruto-kun!" Sakura chirped sweetly, her mood changing dramatically.
Sasuke resisted the urge to raise his eyebrow in confusion. She hadn't been this expressive and submissive for that matter in the past timeline; had he changed her already? Then again, he'd more likely than not, ignored her rather than told her to shut up.
But he shrugged it off; he didn't care as much about Sakura's new behaviour as much as he did Naruto's.
Speaking of the dobe...
Sasuke turned his head slightly to stare at the boy, who was, again, sitting with his fingers laced beneath his chin. Mentally, the Uchiha sighed. I have to get closer to him. As far as he's concerned, I'm just a burden.
"Hey, Sasuke?"
He jerked his head towards the voice, surprised, though his indifferent expression still held on his face.
It was Sakura, her face mixed in confusion and irritation. "Why are you on Team 7, anyway? I thought Kiba was in in our team instead of you."
Sasuke shrugged. "I convinced Hokage-sama to switch the teams."
"Oh? Why was that?" Sakura narrowed her eyes suspiciously, her hands placed intimidatingly on her hips. Was this seriously what Naruto had had to deal with all the fricken time? And he'd still wanted to date the crazy kunoichi.
Sasuke thought quickly. A crush, the Yondaime had said something about a crush on Sakura. Now, how could he express that in Naruto-speak? "I didn't want to be separated from you, Sakura-chan!" He burst out, very Naruto-like.
He was rewarded with a slap on the cheek. "I would've preferred Kiba over you, Sasuke-baka!"
It was a strange experience; he had never been slapped so openly before, much less from Sakura. She had always had a lingering crush on him, and would have never thought of slapping him.
It stung.
Hard.
He once again briefly wondered how Naruto had even managed to have a crush on the girl and in that moment decided to drop the 'I want to be on Team 7 because of Sakura' act then and there.
"Sakura-chan, you didn't have to do that..." Sasuke managed to whine. It felt so strange; he had never really whined before, and hoped he wouldn't have to do so again on another occasion.
"I don't like you, Sasuke, so bug off!"
"But Sakura-chaaann..." Now he was really pushing his own patience.
The tirade was interrupted by the sound of a door opening. All three heads turned quickly to the door, and there, looking surprisingly cold, was a tall, silver-haired Jonin.
Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke thought silently. Too bad I didn't try to pull a prank on him. The thought surprised Sasuke but he shoved it to the side.
Sakura was furious with her new sensei. "Why are you so late?! And especially on the first-"
The Jonin cut her off. "Meet me on the rooftop in ten minutes." He narrowed his eyes. "Don't be late." And as quickly as he had arrived, he was gone.
Sasuke blinked. Why is Kakashi-sensei so cold? Did something happen? Then he smirked. Or has the Yondaime been keeping him in shape?
The introductions would be interesting indeed.
"Introduce yourselves."
Kakashi stood rigid in front of the three newly-promoted Genin. Their seats on the ground made it seem like the Jounin was even taller than he really was.
Intimidating. Not at all the lazy slouch that was no longer annoying to Sasuke but rather a reminder of a world he was no longer in, of a jonin sensei that was friendlier and more tolerating by the looks of it.
"Like what?" Sakura inquired.
"Likes. Dislikes. Hobbies. Goal."
Sasuke decided he'd better keep things as close to the original timeline as possible, just for the fun of things. "Kakashi-sensei, how about you go first?"
"My name is Hatake Kakashi. My likes and dislikes are nobody's business. I have a few hobbies... My goal... I'd rather not say."
Sakura was indignant, but thankfully quiet. "So we only got his name..." she whispered to herself.
"You first, girl."
The addressed person bit her lip at the 'nickname', but she decided to continue. "My name is Haruno Sakura. My likes..." she giggled nervously while glancing in Naruto's direction. The blond ignored her. "I dislike Sasuke. My hobby..." she shrugged. "My goal..." another giggle, and another glance at Naruto.
"You next, Uchiha."
Sasuke thought for a second. He did not like ramen or Sakura, nor did he want to become Hokage. There goes Naruto's introduction... Well... this Sasuke would be different from the original Sasuke in this world. "My name is Uchiha Sasuke. I like to train... and... I dislike..." his eyes glazed, and he was sure Kakashi saw. "I dislike traitors. I don't have much of a hobby, and my goal... I... I'm not sure of yet."
He could feel Kakashi's gaze linger on him for a few moments, then turn to Naruto.
"Your turn, Namikaze."
"My name is Namikaze Naruto. I have few likes but many dislikes. My hobby is irrelevant, and my goal is to surpass one person."
Again, Kakashi's gaze lingered on Naruto before he turned to the other two. "Tomorrow you'll be tested for Genin."
"But we already passed!" Sakura flared indignantly and Sasuke rolled his eyes, an action the Jonin did not miss.
Kakashi's one eye narrowed at Sakura. "The Academy Graduating Exam was simply for those who qualified to be tested. This test has a sixty-six percent dropout. If you pass, you'll become Genin. If you fail, you get sent back to the Academy."
Both Sakura's and Sasuke's eyes widened in disbelief. Sakura's in shock at the harshness being directed at her. She was a teacher's pet so she was usually treated with kindness. Sasuke's eyes widened with the realisation that he was stuck doing the bell test AGAIN.
"Come to Training Area 9 (What the hell happened to 7?) tomorrow. Oh..." Kakashi's eyebrow formed into an amused expression. "And don't eat breakfast."
Three pairs of eyebrows were raised in inquiry.
"You'll puke."
Three pairs of eyes widened in horror. Sasuke's merely at the way the two statements, one from the lazy Kakashi and one from the coldly aloof one, differed. One was a friendly suggestion and the other was almost an order. Sasuke found himself thinking that this was going to get dodgy.
