GYAH! i checked and rechecked everything again but there are still errors! OMFG! (uh, excuse my language...)

i'll do better this time! and the (stupid) ruler doesn't seem to work. why?

to Priestess kurumi inu's sister; is it true? that there really is such a rumor? i really didn't know anything about it (i made it all up, actually, heheh sweatdrops) so if you might know more, please tell me!

to others who have reviewed, thank you! All my love goes out to all of you!

Uhm, sorry for the late post...one pathetic word... exams...

ugh. Next chap.

do I really need to put up the disclaimers when all you smart people out there already know the truth about my pathetic lie?

aniways, read on...

CHAPTER 3

With ANBU mask dangling off his hand, one arm draped carelessly on his knee and the other draped over the back of the hard sofa, the raven teen sitting languidly in the lounge of the Hokage tower looked the picture of calm and relaxation. Half-mast eyes of dark lashes hid darker pools of obsidian. Equally dark bangs fell softly against milky skin and porcelain cheeks. The teen was definitely the epitome of all things cool and beautiful.

Even with the dark mask hiding the lower half of the teen's face, the blushing – of girls and boys alike – proved the point. Dark bangs fell away carelessly to show the full force of those sultry eyes. His quiet voice asked what the young woman at the door wanted with a simple, "Yes?"

The young woman grinned almost flirtatiously at the teen before her. But she wouldn't hit on the kid. It was too undermining to do it to someone who was still too young for her. Instead, she gave an appreciative whistle. "Three years with the snake did this to you, huh, kid? I like…"

The teen rolled his eyes at the other elite and tilted his head to look at the young woman clearly. "What do you want, Anko?"

Anko snorted. The kid still hadn't changed his manners after three years. She nodded her head to the back with a plain, "The Hokage wants to see you."

The teen sighed wearily at the summon, seemingly undisturbed at it, and got up from his seat. Even as he glanced drily back at her, Anko couldn't help pinch his tight ass. She grinned cheekily when the teen shot her a dark glare. Anko didn't care. She had just pinched the ass of someone she just knew in the future would be the sex-god. Her grin didn't waver until the door closed. And only then did she let out a silent squeal. She had just touched the ass of Uchiha Sasuke!

:Anko is like, so dead: a fangurl banner

"You really aren't lying, aren't you?" Shizune whispered in nothing more than awe as she traced the markings across the abdomen of the pale teen standing before her. At the same time, Sasuke sighed and forced himself not to giggle at the soft touches the woman was giving his cursed mark. He would rather die than let anyone know of his extreme ticklishness. It was basically why he steered clear of everyone. He was an Uchiha and Uchihas don't bloody get ticklish!

Betraying him though, was his undeniably trembling body and his biting of his lip. Tsunade probably knew because she was giving him that look. In the end, he just broke and burst out laughing. Shizune instantly shrank back as though he had burned her. Sasuke could only wrap his arms around himself. "Stop…! Stop touching—"

He abruptly giggled instead at the young woman's shocked face. He wanted to stop but it was like he had been given laughing gas. While this happened, and Shizune stared, Tsunade only sighed.

"Sasuke, calm down," Tsunade ordered. Sasuke found himself listening and finally wiped the tears that had gathered in his eyes. It was the first time he had gone laugh-crazy like that because of a few tickles; and it felt good. He blinked then when he realized that Tsunade had said something. Shizune seemed to be blushing because of it.

"Uh, sorry, what?" he asked blankly even as Tsunade sighed again and Shizune flushed further. The Hokage shook her head.

"It's nothing," she put in lightly and turned serious. "Now, about that mark, you say it appeared suddenly?"

The teen nodded. He didn't bother saying anything else. It was just unnecessary.

Tsunade sighed again and rubbed her temples. All these were giving her a headache. "You do know the power of the Phoenix is stronger than even that of the Kyuubi, right?"

The young Uchiha's blank stare told her negative. She rubbed her temples again. "Fine. Tell me what you know about it."

"Well, I know that this mark tells me I'm the new Phoenix – that's how I told you," Sasuke frowned, trying to remember more, "and I remember reading that it has side-effects to having the power…I forgot what, though."

Tsunade was thoughtful for a while. She suddenly snapped her fingers at Shizune. "Get the scroll."

Shizune was instantly gone with a curt nod of her head. Sasuke came forward as the young woman placed the retrieved scroll on the Hokage's desk. His eyes widened as he traced the mark on it. It looked like the ANBU's tattoo except that it was more intricately designed with a third wave curling out to the left between the two main waves. Four small curves surrounded the center of the larger waves like fingers grabbing for the spiral in the center.

"It's just like the mark on my body…" Sasuke breathed in wonder and clutched the spiral seemingly carved into his left side.

"Yes, it's exactly the same, isn't it?" Tsunade watched the teen nod and clasped her fingers under her chin in contemplation. "The strange thing is, this scroll was placed under ANBU history."

Sasuke's head snapped up at this. "ANBU history? But what has it to do with the Phoenix?"

"Wait a minute, alright? I haven't even said anything!" Tsunade growled, then sighed in exasperation. This was going to take a while. So as simple as possible, Tsunade summarized all that she knew; which was basically the origin of the ANBU and what their past connections may have with the Phoenix.

"Do you know the true history of the Hidden Villages?" Tsunade began. Sasuke shook his head and sat down when the woman gestured him to. Even he knew that it was going to be quite long. Shizune took the hint and sat down as well – after checking that the door was closed properly and that the clerk knew they were not to be disturbed.

"In the past, Hidden Villages did not exist. Villages were just villages and ninjas, known officially as the shadow guards of the Kingdom, were a normal sight. Everyone was treated equally and ninjas were more or less given the respect that normal soldiers get – we were protectors as well, and the villagers respected that," the Godaime went on, "But, this was all before the Kingdom grew proud and thought themselves even better than the world that had just opened to them. The old king died and the new one thought the ninjas to be a threat to the country – a powerful force that could not be controlled.

"The shadow guard was tricked into an ambush and killed off. The survivors ran away to their families, seeking refuge at their home. News of their threat had spread, however, and the other villagers began to fear the ninjas. Whole families and clans were shunned and even thrown out a village. And these villages were kinder than others. There were some that were cruel enough to murder innocent families in cold blood.

"Chaos reigned everywhere in the Kingdom and at the mere mention of a ninja in your bloodline, no matter how recent or long past, you were either stoned to death on the spot or worse, taken to the camps to be humiliated and later executed in public. Age didn't matter anymore. False accusations flew around as people tried to get jealous revenge on each other. No one could be trusted. Anyone could be a traitor."

"The Dark Age," Sasuke suddenly spoke up. His voice was low and his eyes hidden. Tsunade started at it. The teen had barely spoken since she began. And to say a fact from a hidden scroll…Even Shizune looked perturbed. How did he know of such information?

"Ah, yes," Tsunade went on, albeit with less certainty "The Dark Age. It was during this time that the first Hidden Village was formed. Ninjas – and basically all those shunned – had run away to hide. They began banding together for protection and became nomads of the Kingdom. Although ninjas were scattered worldwide, the new king still continued his hunt for these ninja nomads and even turned it into a game. Such was the cruelty of his rule.

"The elite ninjas thus banded together into one community and made the first Hidden Village. Other Hidden Villages were only copies of it, Konoha being one of them. The elite nins called themselves the ANBU under the direct order of the Village Head, the strongest ninja of all others. They were the ones to end the first hidden World War. This is where the Phoenix comes in, Sasuke—"

"I know. I've experienced it," Sasuke said and looked at the Hokage steadily. Tsunade gasped. Instead of the cool obsidian orbs that she was getting used to seeing, red orbs of blazing life watched her. They were unlike Kyuubi's uncontrollable red or the Sharingan's calculating one. Tsunade had never seen anything like it before. Beside her, Shizune was glued to the spot at the power in those eyes. And to think that these were only his eyes!

"Ph- Phoenix…" she whispered in awe and gripped the armrest tight as those burning orbs turned to her.

"Yes, I am, aren't I?" the eyes closed wearily and the two women found themselves relax in their seats – for a moment. "It took me quite a while to come to. I've become quite the stubborn one, haven't I? And to come to now, of all times, I'm sure something bad is going to happen? I can feel an ominous feeling…"

"Um, yes. I'm sure you know why? Sasuke's memories…" Tsunade trailed off. She didn't know what to say. In all her training as Hokage, no one ever mentioned talking to the Phoenix before. Besides, there was very little knowledge about it and most that were known were either myths or tall tales told to children. An unexpected snort from the Phoenix started her. A childish pout coupled with those burning red eyes disoriented her for a moment. "Wh- What…?"

"Oh, come on, Tsunade. Just because I'm getting the Phoenix's past memories doesn't mean I have suddenly grown an alter ego, alright? I am not like that dobe or Sakura," the Phoenix – or perhaps Sasuke – interjected. He crossed his arms. "I'm still Uchiha Sasuke. Address me as such and nothing more."

Tsunade aand Shizune glanced at the other doubtfully. But if he had another's memory…

"Stop it! don't think too much! Memories are just memories. I am still me. Think of it as…being reborn. Yeah, that sounds kind of right," Sasuke frowned in thought at that and then seemed to agree with something with himself by a small nod. He turned to the two older women, a large grin in his face. "Ne?"

Tsunade and Shizune only stared at him. That was fine with them. The thing that concerned them, though was—

"You're acting strange, Sasuke. Do you know that?" Tsunade voiced out the doubt. To this the raven teen unexpectedly laughed.

"I'll be shocked if I'm not!" he replied casually, lowering his burning orbs, "It's just one side-effect to having all these memories come crushing suddenly on you."

"Side-effects? You mean like one of those you told us about in having the Phoenix mark on you?" Shizune asked in all curiosity. Sasuke nodded almost reverently – almost because teenage boys just entering full-blown puberty cannot look so wise, dammit!

"Memories are what shape a person," Sasuke explained thoughtfully, "They are like pieces of a puzzle thatfinally makes a whole person. Even if one piece of the puzzle is missing, the puzzle may fall apart or be incomplete to leave an empty void – resulting in amnesiac patients.

"Now, imagine having the jigsaw puzzle building perfectly, and someone suddenly comes along, messes up the pieces, and puts new, but more ancient pieces in at the same time. What do you think will be the reaction of the person affected?"

"I'd be angry, of course!" Shizune blurted, and sheepishly grinned at it. She looked warily at Sasuke. "Is that how you feel?"

Tsunade sighed. "Obviously he's not, Shizune. If he is, half the village would have been gone by now. And no; he's not insane – if he is, god help me, no one would be able to stop his rampage."

"And I wouldn't be talking to you like this now, would I, Shizune?" Sasuke remarked lightly, a small smile gracing his features. Tsunade took this in without a second thought. The teen was still not himself. The normal Sasuke would have made the comment drily and smirked. Tsunade gave a proud smile to herself. She was getting to have quite the Hokage intuition!

"Yes, Tsunade, you're improving," Sasukegave a bemused glance her way, much to her absolute embarrassment – and the horrified inner thought of 'How the hell did he know that!' – and cocked his head ever so slightly to the side. Tsunade could see that he was exhausted of some sort; the teen's eyes were starting to droop and the fire in his eyes was dimming. To confirm her deductions, the boy yawned.

"Ah, Naruto's coming! I wanna stay awake but the mental fatigue is getting to me…" the boy was obviously tired now. His words drawled and he was absently rubbing his eyes – that had turned black, by the way. He frowned sleepily at Tsunade. "Remember to tell them the truth! You promised me…"

"Uh, he fainted," Shizune stated the obvious and giggled bashfully at the sleeping boy. Tsunade took her time to perfect the art of rolling her eyes. She cleared her throat at her assistant and the younger woman blushed. Mumbling incoherent excuses, Shizune got up to pull the ANBU mask over the boy's face just as the door slammed open to show two haggard-looking chuunins and a grinning jounin.

"Tsunade baa-chan!" the younger blonde male of the grouppractically yelled obnoxiously. Tsunade could feel one of her veins threatening to burst in annoyance. No one called her a baa-cahn – grandmother, to any who don't know – and got away with it! Seeing the blonde's ecstatic face, a little marred by worry, exhaustion and sadness all meshed together, however, the Hokage decided to give the brat a chance. Instead, she placed all her frustration into the snap that she aimed at the unfortunate boy. "So you finished the mission successfully? And where's Kakashi? Don't tell me he overdid himself on his latest jutsu!"

The only jounin of the group went on grinning despite the last question being lashed purposefully at him. He even went on to reply it with, "He is definitely worthy of being my rival!"

To which Tsunade felt all her pent up anger and irritancy melt away to exasperation. She sighed. There was no use talking sarcasm and sense with this group; not with the village's self-proclaimed green beast, number one ninja in surprises – also known as the village's loud-mouthed ninja – and youngest and most talented – but schizophrenic – medic nin under Tsunade's tutelage.

They were simply too incomprehensible.

"Tsunade-sama, who is the strange ANBU? Is he hurt?" a young female voice asked her, concern clearly heard in it. Tsunade waved the topic aside and nodded to Shizune to take the unconscious Sasuke back to his room at her place. She told the green beast to give her the report of the mission by next week – and to check on Kakashi's condition – and discreetly asked the two chuunins to stay. Now the fun starts.

She linked her fingers together and placed her chin on them. She barely suppressed an evil smirk at the teens' curious but carefully blank faces.

"Naruto, Sakura…"

end

of 3rd chappie, that is...