Dream
Shuriken whizzed over head, cutting through the air with deft precision. Sasuke watched with awe as the trajectory of the little blades curved, embedding the points deep into wooden targets.
"Now you try." Itachi handed him the blades gently. Sasuke walked forward, gripping the handles tight. He threw the first forward.
"Now." His brother commanded. He leapt to the side, tossing another blade so that it hit the first mid-air, altering its path. It sunk deep into the grassy earth. He hissed in frustration.
"Not bad." Itachi said gently. "Just keep practicing, you'll get it."
"No one can curve shuriken like you can." He said, dejected. Awareness of his Father's gaze pressed at him. The Uchiha patriarch watched over them from his position in the Hokage tower.
"You will too, even better than me someday." Sasuke shook his dark head in disbelief. The gap between ability in the two brothers had never seemed larger. At seven Itachi had long mastered the ability to direct multiple shuriken to their targets. Sasuke, at the same age, struggled with anything more than two.
Movement in the trees caught the corner of his eye, and he saw a flash of blonde hair disappear into the brush. Itachi smiled slightly as Sasuke turned wide eyes to meet his. His mouth moved to call out his friends name.
"Shh"
"Soo"
The masked jounin's voice drawled out the single word into a sentence. He led the small group of genin through the heavy woods outside the village.
"What would you say your dream is?"
The Hyuga girl dropped her eyes, brows furrowed in thought. Sasuke watched this with a detached interest. What a ridiculous set of questions the man had asked. 'What is something you like', 'What is something you hate'. Were they fully fledged shinobi or academy students on their first day of class?
"I...I want to change my family."
Interesting. He found that he could relate.
"The Hyuga Clan?" The jounin pressed further. She nodded softly, bobbed dark hair swishing around her ears.
The Hyuga had a number of unsavory practices. He wondered which sat unwell with her. He knew from talks with his Father that Hyuga Hiashi was not a man to suffer dissent from his own heir.
"And you, Kiba?"
The boy shrugged, crossing his arms behind his head.
"I don't know." He said. His eyes darted to Hinata for a brief moment. The girl walked a few paces ahead of him.
"Dig deep. This is how I get to know who I'm working with." A hint of sarcasm was laced in their sensei's voice.
"Well..to get really strong, and to take care of Akamaru." He said. The small white dog barked at his name.
"Sasuke?" Kakashi turned to glance behind him at the silent Uchiha. "What is your dream?"
He kicked a small rock out off path in front of him.
"I don't have a dream. I have an ambition."
"Ohh." The jounin carried on forward. His teammates turned to watch him.
"To avenge my brother, and to find someone."
Hot anger coursed through his veins. Somewhere out here, outside the village, the man who killed Itachi walked free.
Kakashi turned to meet his eye, and Sasuke thought he detected a hint of pity in the dark depths. The team was silent. They moved forward through the green underbrush. The smell of vegetation and earth was powerful, a stark contrast to the bustling village. He realized suddenly that he'd rarely ever stepped outside of the great walls surrounding Konoha. His thirteen years had been spent in relative isolation from the rest of the world. Now the two people he held closest had gone beyond that safe enclosure and left him behind. Though Itachi had gone forever, he would not let Naruto disappear the same way. He would find him out here, no matter what it took. He would get the full story from him. And then, Sasuke swore, he would find a way to free him from the nine-tailed fox sealed inside of him.
"We're approaching the town now. Remember, these people are frightened. We're here to make them feel safe." Kakashi gestured forward, and Sasuke saw thin pillars of smoke rising over the treetops. Konoha's nearest neighbor. A small fishing village. They'd received complaints of a lurking band of figures at night. Of voices that carried over the woods, and campfires found with the embers still warm. A stolen crate of goods had sparked panic among the villagers, and they'd reached out to the neighboring shinobi village for aid.
"So glad you've arrived." A barefoot man bowed to greet them. His bald head was sunburnt, and his clothes hung loose on his skinny frame. Still the wrinkled face was warm and greeted them with clear gratitude. A teen, only a few years older than himself by the look of it, bowed deeply at his side. Sasuke crinkled his nose. The air stank with the smell of raw, slaughtered fish.
Kakashi nodded his head.
"These are my students. They're here to assist in any way possible."
"And this is my son. He'll lead you to our home, where we've set up a place for you."
The man bowed again toward the three genin, and Hinata offered a small smile. The village youth led them to a house at the center of the village. Four mats were laid out on the living room floor for them.
"It's not much..but.." The youth smiled sheepishly. His eyes skated over Sasuke's headband, resting on the hidden leaf symbol.
"Thank you for the hospitality." Kakashi responded, and the boy turned to leave.
"I'm starving." Kiba complained as he kicked off his sandals at the entry way. Sasuke's stomach growled, as if on cue.
"You three stay here. I'll come back with lunch." Kakashi opened the door. "Oh, and try not to get into any trouble."
He dropped his bag onto the furthermost mat, claiming his spot on the ground. The Hyuga girl chose the mat furthest from his. He found it odd that she'd be sleeping in the same room as them, but then as a kunoichi perhaps she forfeit her right to female privacy.
Kiba chose the mat closest to hers. He stretched out on the floor, loudly sighing in relief.
"Who knew being a shinobi would mean so much walking."
"Anyone who paid attention in class." Sasuke said blandly. The Inuzuka glared at him. He opened his mouth to retort when Hinata interrupted.
"I'm glad we c-can be here to help the villagers feel safe." She stuttered out. Kiba grunted an acknowledgment, still glaring daggers at him.
He stood, checking his pocket discretely to be sure that the mirror was still safely tucked inside.
"I'm going for a walk."
"But..sensei.."
"You can't just leave whenever you want." Kiba barked at him. He ignored them, shutting the door behind him with a resounding smack. The stinking smell of the village assaulted his senses once again as he made his way outside. He took to the rooftops, jumping from house to house before reaching the edge of the town. As far from the river as possible.
Secluded, at last, he pulled the cold mirror from his pocket.
"Naruto.." He called in softly. The surface shimmered and glowed as his call connected with the other side. Bright blue eyes reflect back at him. The boys face cracked into a familiar smile. He felt some of the stress and tension leave his limbs at the sight.
"You okay?" Naruto asked. The last week flashed through his mind. Naruto's sudden disappearance. Itachi's death. His funeral. His new team and their vapid assignment. Grief threatened to overwhelm him, but his face remained neutral.
"Yeah. Are you?"
"Yeah." A shadow had fallen over Naruto's eyes. Lost in thought.
"How's your first assignment?" He asked.
"Boring. We've barely left the village. The town we're at stinks of fish."
Naruto's blue eyes widened. His mouth formed a perfect 'O'.
"What?" He asked. The blond recomposed himself.
"Nothing. That sounds like it smells gross."
"You're lying."
He looked down at his hands.
"Are you there now?" He asked. His voice trembled in an attempt to stay neutral. Naruto had never been any good at hiding things from him.
"Yes..." Sasuke said. "Are you..are you near here?"
Twigs cracked in the bushes nearby. He detected soft footsteps. An untrained attempt to remain silent. He looked up, half expecting to see his friend emerge from the trees.
"Is that you?" He stood.
"What are you talking about?"
He clenched the mirror in his hand, peering out through the heavy leaves. Suddenly he felt a sharp crack on his head. He cried out in pain. The mirror slipped from his hand to the earth.
"Sasuke!" Naruto screamed as the mirror fell.
The surface cracked and went dark.
"No!"
He whipped around to face the adversaries behind him. Anger was pounding in his temples.
"He didn't go down!"
"I told you this wouldn't work."
"You!" He roared. Three villagers coward before him. He recognized the boy from earlier among them. "Look what you've done!"
The mirror lay broken in the grass. The boy glanced at it, confusion marring his brow. He rose a short knife toward him and the others followed suit.
Hands trembling he began to form the seal for a jutsu, sucking air into his lungs to spit back at them as a ball of fire.
Footsteps sounded behind him and he turned too late. Cold steel aimed at his head. He crossed his arms above him and braced for impact as a sword came down on him.
His attacker shrieked and dropped to the ground. The sword caught his elbow and opened a thin line of red. Shuriken were embedded in the top of the man's plump neck. A heavy man of impressive stature. He writhed and gurgled as his life spilled out into the grass. The boys behind him yelled and backed away, turning to run. Shuriken curved across the ground, embedding themselves deep into each heel. They dropped to the ground.
Sasuke turned to the woods, looking for his savior. The way that had been thrown...
"Who's there?" He called out. He stepped toward the wood. "Show yourself!"
"Sasuke!"
His sensei's voice rang out across the woods. Kakashi was running toward him from the village. His teammates trailed along behind him.
"What happened here?"
"Someone helped me." He pointed at the direction the shuriken had come from. "They took down these men."
"Oh!" Hinata's hand rose to her mouth as she took in the dead man lying bleeding on the dirt.
"You!" He said, startling the girl. "Look out there with your byakugan."
She nodded, veins rippled across her temple as her white eyes focused.
"I..I don't see anyone."
"Look harder!"
"I..I'm sorry Sasuke-kun. I can't see anyone out there"
Villagers were spilling into the clearing now. Their gasps and panicked talk filled the air.
"Why did you attack my student?" Kakashi stood before the three boys on the ground. They shook in fear of him.
"It was his idea." The tallest of the three pointed at the heavy corpse before them. His bloodied sword lay next to his still hand. "He said we could ransom him."
"He's an Uchiha." Another chimed in. Kakashi sighed, he turned to appraise his students.
"You're injured." He pointed to Sasuke's bleeding arm. He raised it, suddenly aware of the pain. His heart was still pounding.
"It's nothing."
The mirror reflected sunlight in its cracked surface. He knelt down next to it, gently slipping it into his pocket. Ignoring his sensei's pressing gaze. It didn't matter what Kakashi thought of the item now. To any observer, it was nothing but broken trash.
His heart was pounding. He clenched the cold mirror to his chest.
"You don't think this is something you should have told me about?"
"It wasn't any of your business, old man."
Jiraiya paced around their campsite. Face creased downward in a deep frown. The mirror, which he'd been so cautious to keep secret from him, laid out in the open now.
"This isn't a game. You're in hiding. You think chit chatting with the Hokage's son was a good idea?"
"His name is Sasuke."
"His Father wants to kill you."
"Just leave me alone!" He shouted, rounding on the old man. "My friend could be dead, and all you can do is lecture me?"
"We're not far. Itachi will have reached him in time. Your friend is fine."
Naruto took off, angrily pushing through the woods.
"Where do you think you're going?"
"To find Sasuke."
"Oh no you're not."
Jiraiya planted himself in front of Naruto, placing a large hand on his head.
"Let me go." He ground out, glaring up at the man.
"Can't do that."
He pressed down, and Naruto's knees buckled to the ground under the pressure.
"You may not like the situation you're in, but this is what you've got. You go charging into that village and you'll screw everything up."
The man knelt down in front of him. His gaze softened and he mussed Naruto's hair. Angry tears gathered in the corners of his blue eyes.
"The best thing you can do for Sasuke is stay away from him." The man said gravely. He clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Shinobi must be strong for their friends."
"I should be there." Naruto looked down at the ground. "I should be on that team with him."
Itachi emerged from the darkening woods behind them. He stood, running to him.
"Itachi-nii" He grasped the mans arms on either side, planting himself before him. "Sasuke?"
"Sasuke is safe." He said. He graced Naruto with a small smile. Rarely seen on his face these days. "No thanks to Kakashi." He added, raising an eyebrow at their third companion. Jiraiya shrugged, looking bemused.
"Wonderful jounin, but he doesn't have much experience leading a team of kids."
Naruto sputtered.
"Who cares if he's a good jounin, he's nearly let-"
"Unfortunately, however." The Uchiha's smile slid off his face as he interrupted and he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Sasuke's mirror was broken."
Horror overwhelmed him.
"No.."
"I'm sorry Naruto."
He turned away, planting his forehead against a sturdy oak. He slammed his fist into the bark.
"Damnit."
Hot tears spilled out over his cheeks.
"Damnit." Another fist into the tree. He felt Jiraiya's hand on his back as the man pulled him away. He looked to the ground. Miserable.
"Kid." The man said sadly, dropping to a knee. "I'm going to make you stronger."
Naruto raised his chin, meeting his dark eyes.
"You'll see your friend again. And when that day comes, you'll never have to run or hide again."
He traced his thumb across the cracks in his pocket. The edges of glass caught at the skin, threatening to draw blood.
"After several nights, we determined that there was no threat to the town safety. A youth admitted to stealing the valuables that started off the investigation."
Kakashi summarized the last week with a dry tone. Bored even standing before the Hokage. His Father waved a hand, indicating his impatience with the recount.
"So a successful first mission." He gaze dropped to Sasuke's arm, wrapped in bandages from where the edge of the sword had sliced him. "Despite the unexpected encounter."
Sasuke avoided his gaze, seeing the disappointment there. Itachi would have dodged the blow. He wouldn't have returned home from a C rank mission with an injury.
"Yes, all performed admirably." Kakashi said. Hinata and Kiba stood a little straighter beside him.
"You're dismissed." His Father nodded at the door. "Except you Sasuke."
He stood still as his team turned to leave.
"How is your injury?" Fugaku asked, his tone hard.
"It's barely a graze." Sasuke replied, eyes dropping to the ground. He pushed his thumb into the mirror in his pocket. Feeling dropping of blood appear from where the broken surface cut into his skin.
"That is good. I have news." He folded his hands on the desk before him. "The shinobi who killed your brother has been identified."
Sasuke's head jerked up. He leaned forward, hands pressed on the Hokage's desk.
"Who?" Again the anger boiled in his blood. He would find whoever it was. He would kill him.
"A man named Jiraiya."
A/N: Sorry for the long wait from the last chapter. Been pretty busy lately. Leave some comments to let me know what you think. 3