A/N: I lied, the next chapter will be the continuation of the Uchihacest. The chapter title will be appropriately labelled so you'll know it's the same story. This chapter is why I don't write action scenes or emotional ones...Did this on a whim, writing for a few hours.

Guest: Hi, do you mean a three-way relationship and then Narukonan, NaruDei separately? I'm not too good with sex scenes if that's you were hoping, but give me some time to figure out a plot that would make sense.

Pairing: None

Summary: Three scenarios in which things could have gone differently at different points of Sasuke's life pre-shippuuden.

Warning/tags: what if AU

They had offered him power, offered it on a silver plate in exchange for his body. Of course Sasuke had no intention of giving up his vengeance. He'd squeeze every last drop he could get from the snake and kill him when there was nothing more he could learn. That was his plan. He looked up to see Naruto before him.

"Where are you going, Sasuke?"

"Out," he answered.

"That's not what I meant. You were planning on leaving Konoha weren't you?"

He matched the narrowed gaze Naruto gave him. "If that's the case, what're you going to do about it?" he taunted.

"Stop you," Naruto stated. His shoulders slumped and in a quieter voice said, "Don't go, Sasuke."

Fists balled by Sasuke's side. He wasn't going to change his mind. Not even if the dobe begged him, no. He wasn't going to bend to anyone's will. What softened him in the first place was Naruto so this time, he'll force his way through. Despite his thoughts, Sasuke glanced aside—a sign of weakness.

"Move," he demanded.

"No." Naruto stepped closer to him and he stood unmoving. "I don't really get why you need to leave the village, to be honest."

"For power, what else?" Sasuke scoffed. A document was shoved in his face.

"It's from Kakashi-sensei," Naruto said. Sasuke quirked a brow, clicking his tongue and snatched the papers. Naruto silently stared at him as he read, fidgeting. He didn't know what he just handed Sasuke, but Kakashi-sensei promised him everything would be alright if he gave it. He heard Sasuke growl and put a hand out.

"What?"

"Pen. Give me the pen," Sasuke snapped. Naruto jumped and pat his pockets. He pulled out the pen Kakashi-sensei told him to keep on him. Sasuke moved towards the bench, crouching down and wrote something on the papers. He shoved the document into Naruto's chest and grumbled.

"See you."

Fucking Kakashi, Sasuke thought. After the small pep talk Kakashi gave him, he was certain the older man wouldn't expect him to up and leave. It was cunning of him to do that: make Sasuke sign the papers saying he accepted a S-rank mission. Well it didn't matter anyways. If he was allowed to freely waltz out the gates of Konoha to gain more power and have the hunter ninjas off his tail, it was worth it. It was one less thing to be bothered about.

Leaking intel on Orochimaru and informing the village of his movements? Why not? He would become more powerful having two sources to fall back on. The final line of the document in fine print convinced Sasuke.

In the case that Orochimaru is subjugated or killed, Uchiha Sasuke may be formally allowed back into the shinobi ranks. He is granted permission to continue his education as a Genin ninja under Jounin instructor Hatake Kakashi and granted access to special ranked missions for his accomplishments.

Sasuke grit his teeth and struggled to stand, fingers digging into the tree bark. He looked on as an enormous sand beast thrashed about, violently clearing the forest of its greenery.

"I…don't want to see any more of my precious people get hurt," he stated. He didn't care that the curse mark was throbbing, sucking him of his energy or that he was likely to die trying to fight Gaara in that strange form.

Beside him, Naruto's eyes widened at the revelation. Precious people, the two words echoed in his mind. He trembled and got to his feet as well. He thumped a fist to his chest.

"Sasuke, you and Sakura, you guys are important to me too," Naruto said and turned to Sasuke. The other was surprised, unsure of how to react. Naruto glared ahead and smirked.

"Temporary truce?" he offered and Sasuke nodded, snapping out of his daze.

"Yeah, let's do this."

Naruto dashed forward and created multiple shadow clones to jump Gaara. One by one they were swept away by a hard, sandy arm, numbers quickly dwindling. A kunai flew past the clones and stuck into the branch sand ninja was on. It exploded, a blast of white smoke mixed with debris whipping in their faces.

"Hey, Naruto, listen," Sasuke said, panting slightly. Naruto leapt next to him, readying himself for when Gaara would charge at them.

"What is it?"

"It's going to be just barely, but I think I can manage one more chidori." Naruto eyed Sasuke's weary form. He could tell the other was already past his limits and his lips thinned into a line. He nodded. He positioned his hands into a seal.

"The moment the attack connects, take Sakura and run as fast as you can, got it?" Naruto exhaled, an ear-piercing screech and clear view of a crazed Gaara.

"Shadow replication jutsu!" Naruto shouted. "Leave it to me." He flashed a smile and was off. He swung from a branch and landed on top of Gaara, a kunai in his hand. Another clone was throwing shurikens by his feet and lower half. Gaara's elbow came flying at the real Naruto on his back. He couldn't make it. A tug on his collar pulled him back at the last second, a dangerous claw grazing his nose.

Sasuke ducked and propelled his body weight towards Gaara's shoulder. The other tipped backwards, losing balance from his wide swing when a force attacked a weak spot. A couple of Naruto's clones popped up behind and locked Gaara's arms in place.

Good, Sasuke thought as he weaved the signs for a chidori. Gaara's recovery was instantaneous. He spun backwards, a leg lashing out and catching Sasuke's chin. Sasuke's hands fell away, the sign disrupted and incomplete. He coughed, air expelled from his lungs in one swoop.

Wildly, Gaara roared and flung the clones hard into the tree. He lunged at Sasuke who had no way of moving in mid-air. He saw a glimpse of blond and stretched hand out. Gaara swung a fist and he fell through. He growled in confusion. Naruto grabbed onto Sasuke's wrist as Sasuke did the same. They flew to another tree, many Naruto clones forming a vine of some sort to get them across.

Gaara's tail snapped and before Sasuke could turn around to see where it was aimed, Naruto kicked him.

"Naru—" His voice halted in his throat. His eyes widened, black pupils dilating in apprehension. Naruto was struck by the tail and slammed to the ground with a loud boom. Gaara released a keening noise, form changing again into something larger and Sasuke took the pause of attacks to check on Naruto. He jumped down and landed clumsily. He rolled Naruto onto his back to get a better look of the damage.

"Hey, Naruto."

Naruto's fingers were shaking as it seemed like he was weaving another sign. Red chakra flared in licks, enveloping Naruto.

"What are you…" Naruto slapped his palm beside him on the ground. A seal drew on the ground, swirling.

"Summoning a strong ally…" he answered. Sasuke yelped, the plain they were standing on shaking and rumbling. They were elevating, but he couldn't see what was happening with the smoke. Once it cleared, he blinked. What in the world? Naruto chuckled.

"Strong ally, huh?"

"Who dares to summon me in th—" an irritating voice bellowed. He stopped and exhaled, removing the pipe from his mouth.

It was a freaking toad. A huge one at that.

"Naruto…" the toad spoke. There was too many things occurring at the same time that Sasuke's head was spinning. There was a sand beast, similar in size as the toad they were on and Naruto was…Naruto was…

"Hey, Naruto," he called the other's name. Naruto snickered, choking on his own breath. He reached to pat the side of Sasuke's face.

Blood. It was blood that was coming from Naruto's mouth. Sasuke's fingers wrapped around a thin wrist.

"What are you doing. A whip like that shouldn't even hurt you," Sasuke said. Naruto smiled.

"It doesn't hurt, dumbass," he retorted and the lifeless tone hit Sasuke. "Hey Sasuke, try not to worry Kakashi-sensei and Sakura…"

"This isn't the time to talk about those things." Sasuke's palms pressed into Naruto's skin more—one around his wrist and on his shoulder. They didn't have time for this chit chat. His stomach dropped at Naruto's shake. To him, this was the most appropriate time for this type of talk.

"If you chase Itachi, that's fine."

"Naruto." Stop.

"But you know, you're important to me. You matter to Sakura-chan and Kakashi-sensei too," Naruto continued, vision gradually getting blurry. He couldn't see Sasuke's face all too clear anymore. It took so much effort to speak, like something was lodged in his guts.

"Naruto, enough." Not now.

"I'm glad that you were my first friend," Naruto whispered and grinned. His hand went limp. Sasuke looked and looked, but no matter how he looked, Naruto was injured and beyond help. Maybe it was a genjutsu, a trick, one of Naruto's jokes.

He shook, unable to comprehend the state of his friend. The only person that could understand Sasuke's loneliness, who was bright and positive that it irritated him as well as gave him hope. Now an empty shell was left. Gone like his clan. Corpses littering the road.

"Brat, he's no longer…" The ruckus didn't bother him, the toad jumping and swinging his blade at the sand beast didn't shake him off the toad's head.

Squeezing his wrist, Sasuke brushed down Naruto's face to close his eyes. He stared, jaw tightening, chest tightening, insides boiling and skin freezing.

He'd kill him. The one who hurt him. Slaughter them cruelly until the word mercy vanished from the face of the earth.

He'd burn them.

Sasuke's eyes bled. He glared at the rampaging beast and concentrated. He wanted that thing to suffer. The back of his eye sockets burned and he paid it no mind. His rage and bloodlust smothered even himself.

And he set the monster on fire—engulfed in the black flames that it deserved.

Screaming, he hurled a kunai at the other. There was a clang, hitting against a metal surface and then a clatter as it dropped.

The six year old Sasuke kneeled on the hard ground, panting. His brother had murdered every single one of the clan members and he couldn't understand why. Why did Itachi kill everyone, their mother and father, and point a knife at him? He rambled on and on about power, the Uchiha eyes and other things the younger couldn't make sense of. It hardly registered in his mind.

Sasuke lifted his head, grasping his left elbow. His heart stopped in his chest.

"Why," he whispered. "Nii-san, why're you crying?" Itachi clutched the kunai in his hand tighter. Tears welled in Sasuke's eyes and he began crawling, limping whatever movement he could manage, towards his brother. Never. He had never seen Itachi—so strong, intelligent and graceful—cry and yet here he was, standing in front of Sasuke, running tears staining his face.

All he was thinking about now was Itachi. What kind of scary thing happened to his older brother for him to show such a sad expression?

"Hate me, Sasuke…" Itachi said again, trying his best to stay in his role. He had to be cruel for Sasuke to become strong enough to protect himself. He'll be safe this way, he thought. But it seemed his baby brother hadn't heard him and he involuntarily shivered. It was no good, his resolve was wavering once more. A hand clasped around his ankle and hesitantly, he looked down.

"Where are you going, nii-san? Don't go," Sasuke whimpered. He stared up into Itachi's eyes and trembled. He didn't get anything, why his brother was acting like this and why he was feeling afraid. Why Itachi looked like he was about to be knocked over by the wind and collapse into a quivering mess.

"Sasu…ke," Itachi croaked, his voice cracking.

"Please, please, don't go."

"Sasuke, let go…" He had to kick Sasuke off, pry his hand off him, something. He wasn't confident that he could maintain the stoic character he knew he had to play. He wouldn't be able to hold himself together, not when his brother was clinging onto him this desperately. Itachi's breath stilled as he watched the shine in Sasuke's eyes slowly dull; he was finally losing conscious.

No. If he let go now, his only chance would slip through his fingers. No, stay awake, Sasuke willed, don't sleep, don't close your eyes, don't. He took a deep breath and bit his lip. He felt warm liquid trickle from the tear and chuckled weakly. He wouldn't lose to exhaustion.

"Itachi…" Sasuke was staring at his brother's ankle. "Don't leave me alone."

The grip on his kunai gripped painfully to the point Itachi's nails were drawing blood from his palm. He watched the tears overflow and flood endlessly down Sasuke's cheeks. His jaw was clenched harshly, teeth grinding against each other. Shaky breaths filled the space between them and right now, Itachi was sure it came from both him and Sasuke.

"Tell me why you're crying." Sasuke tried to convey his worry for Itachi and tried to make his voice as gentle as possible to comfort his big brother. But he couldn't and sobbed. Itachi's hand clawed his Anbu armour. His breaths came out as ragged puffs and he sank to his knees.

Unable to keep his fingers wrapped around Itachi's ankles with the shift of position, Sasuke's grip was undone.

"Forgive me, Sasuke," Itachi murmured, reaching out two fingers. Sasuke's eyes instantly widened at the gesture.

He shut his eyes and screamed, "No. No, take me with you, nii-san!" Even when the fingers touched Sasuke's forehead, he continued shouting frantically, "I'll be good. I won't bug you anymore to watch me train. Take me with you. Mom and dad are gone." He sniffed, snot dripping out of his nose. The fingers froze in place.

"I don't want to live if you aren't with me!" Sasuke's eyes snapped open again, searching Itachi's face for a response. Arms pulled him to a chest and he stopped flailing. "Nii-san…?"

"Sasuke, are you sure?" Itachi asked, barely audible. He was going to ruin Sasuke's life. He was going to destroy this child's life and it was going to be by his hands. He felt Sasuke's fist his shirt and nod.

"I don't want to be apart from nii-san…" was Sasuke's last words before he black out. Itachi stood, carrying Sasuke in his arms. He stroked the boy's spiky locks as he took a final memory of the Uchiha district streets and turned.

He could easily set Sasuke down somewhere. He could leave him here and let him experience a life surrounded by wonderful friends and supportive teachers who'd push him to grow as a person. Itachi had the power to do that.

But he couldn't. A choked sob left his lips, fresh tears rolling down. Not when Sasuke saw him cry and try to comfort him. When he begged him to be taken away from the village, discarding the possibilities of a peaceful life despite what Itachi had just done.

The air swirled and a man in an orange mask appeared. He dusted his long cloak. Noticing a bulge underneath Itachi's matching black cloak, he raised an amused eyebrow—though it was unseen by the young teen.

"So you couldn't do it," he said. Itachi remained silent, a somber frown tugging his features. His fingers thread through Sasuke's strands of hair, watching him sleep. The back of his hand caressed his brother's soft cheek.

"Sorry," Itachi said and shook his head. The other shrugged.

"No matter. We can find uses in him when he grows a little older." He smirked as Sharingan eyes flared at him. He raised his hands in surrender.

"If he's going to stick around, he'll have to work," the man said.

While Sasuke didn't necessarily have to associate with the Akatsuki, he'd need to become stronger. Itachi knew there would be great obstacles standing in their way in the near future and he would ensure Sasuke was ready.

"I understand."