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Chapter 9: The Call of Power

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Impatient... Bored... Tired...

Sasuke had been sitting in this damned jet for one day and a half and still, it's continuous movement has not indicated his arrival to the designated location. He gripped the controller with annoyance. He had tried to speed up but the machine refused further inputs, stating that the glass surrounding the airway cannot take the pressure that would be emitted by the jet should it go any faster than its current speed.

Forget the damn glasses. I want to be there during Kyuubi's trial. This is annoying. Sasuke's patience was further thinned when a drainage of power forced the vehicle to go slower.

But lucky for him, he found an emergency fueling system. This alone entertained him by altering the jet's control system. With his patience forgotten, he had not realized that he had already arrived in Dome 900. He was cut off from his current activity when a security robot opened his jet.

"Uchiha-sama, my scanners indicated that you have been idle for exactly 30 minutes inside this jet. May I have information of your current activities?"

"Err... I fell asleep."

"Reason confirmed. Person validated. Identity recognized. Welcome to Dome 900. Uchiha-sama, the ruling elite is expecting you. Please proceed to the court room. Just step on that teleporter pad."

Without any other word, he walked to his left and stepped on the pad indicated. The robot pressed a few buttons on the control panel and he was transported directly to the court room, where he caught the last few sentences before Kyuubi's fall.

"--with the evidence presented and with the direct confession of the noble Kyuubi, the officer presented and prosecuted in front of the jury and justice system of planet Sound, we the council of intergalactic union have found Kyuubi the Prime Minister guilty of the case "treason" and deceptive activities. He will hereby be stripped of his position and exiled to the deserted Land of Waves in planet Konoha where he will await the ultimate punishment." Once the gravel was slammed, ten security robots dragged the surprisingly quiet Kyuubi out of the room.

Sasuke caught Kyuubi's glare and smirked at the former demon.

"This is your fault Sasuke!" The prime minister shouted at him. But his voice was drowned out when the robots teleported him to the nearest transport system.

As Sasuke made his presence known, the council gathered around him.

"Uchiha-sama, it is with great sadness and regret to inform you of this. The main funder and supporter of your project has been dragged out of the system."

"Oh really? It's such a shame, it was nearing completion and only to be stopped. Very pitiful." He acted out, trying to convince the council to support the project. He bowed his head and walked ever so slowly unto the teleport pad.

Hesitant to stop the promising project, Shukaku stepped out and grabbed Sasuke's wrist.

"We don't mean it like that Uchiha-sama. Your progress is wonderful and indeed, it is such a waste if we will just throw it away. And it's not like we will cut the entire supply off your project. We do have a deal, right?"

"That's good to know. Well, I have to get going and..."

"Wait, Sasuke. Since we have exiled Kyuubi, we have found it difficult to just leave his seat empty. And, we have found you to be a charismatic, if not intelligent man who is suited to rule others and have them follow you, so we have come to a decision."

"What is it?" Sasuke replied, trying to act calm, while inside, he was anticipating it.

The council pointed at him.

"Sasuke, you are an influential being that rivals Kyuubi's power and talents. But you possessed one thing that he does not. You are honest, dependable and true to your word. Therefore, as the ruling elite and the heart of intergalactic law and reign, we hereby appoint you as the leader and prime minister of planet Sound as well as the primary executor, judicator and leader of the ruling elite."

Sasuke was shocked. He expected something but this was too much.

"If I may interrupt, the positions that you are about to give me is a bit too high. Are you quite sure?"

"Are you doubting our decision? Allow us to explain then. We saw your potential. You may begin in your office as soon as you can. Now, we will leave this planet. As executor, you have all the power you have to acquire the necessary funding for your project. And due to Kyuubi's loss, rebellions are bound to happen by those who are still loyal to him. Therefore, we will change your rule as a dictator for safety measures."

"I will be honored."

"Good. Now, we take our leave. Lord Uchiha, we will then announce your reign to the press a few weeks from now."

"Then leave."

"Thank you Uchiha-sama."

Sasuke's smirk widened as the council left. Those fools. They should have known better. He knew that they'd be desperate to fill in Kyuubi's power. But their pride failed to see that Kyuubi's crime is not worth handing their future to his hands.

From now on, we do things my way.

A laughter echoed throughout the courtroom as Sasuke made his way back to Dome 360. The two-day trip filled with frustration and annoyance is definitely worth it.

Meanwhile, back in Dome 360, Kabuto is getting worried. There are a few things that are odd. First Sasuke's room had gotten a bit quiet. UX15 is always making things busy. Sometimes, it would watch television. Sometimes, it would play with a few scientists and prank them while slacking.

A small smile left his face when he reached the door and heard a groan. It had been two days and still, there's no action, no life.... It feels like it's been a ghost town.

Curiosity got the better of him. He approached the door and opened it, but it was locked.

How strange, Uchiha-sama would never lock the door when he leaves for a meeting. He knows how active UX15 can get. Hmmm, I'll have to check up on that.

Despite for his current plans on twisting the semi-human's brain, he decided against it and instead, without Sasuke's permission, implanted a small memory disk containing a personality emulating Naruto. He remembered it clearly now.

3000 years ago, it was Naruto who saved him and not Sasuke. How foolish it is of him. He is still loyal to Sasuke because the dark-haired man provided him with knowledge, funding for researches and of course, the immortality potion that allowed him to survive aging.

But that was that. He is only loyal to him because of the opportunities he might have. If not, he would have poisoned the scientist with subtle drugs the first time he met him. That arrogant attitude seriously ticks him off.

He sighed. A sudden and overwhelming desire to open the door made his hand reached out to his pocket. He pulled out an emergency security card- one that opens locked door in case of emergency. He typed an emergency code, making the door lose its control and erasing any program Sasuke had injected earlier on.

"Emergency... Emergency, a threat detected in the head scientist's security door requiring immediate action. Disabling automatic control. Reverted to Manual Control." Kabuto smirked. This is so easy. Why would Sasuke-sama be so reckless?

He immediately inserted the emergency security card to the slot.

"Emergency card detected. Removing all locks." A beep is all the cue Kabuto needed as he opened the now, unlocked door.

He stepped in.

"UX15? Why is it dark in here?" He asked. Not getting any reply, he turned on the lights. What he saw made him sick.

UX15 lied on the bed, still secured and bound. His body is severely beaten and injured. He could not recognize it due to the blood that covered it and few bruises that made its face unrecognizable to an untrained eye. But because of the whisker marks that he had placed on its cheeks, he easily assumed it was UX15.

"UX15? UX15? Wake up."

"Ugh..." It moaned and opened its eyes.

"Kabuto-sensei? What are you doing here?"

"Shh... What happened here?"

"Sasuke will release me once he's back. That idiot didn't left me food. I'm starving." The semi-human smiled regardless of the pain that it felt.

Kabuto's face softened. This soft side is just like what he admired about Naruto years ago. His hatred for the boy died down.

"I have to release you."

"No. Sasuke says so himself that he'll release me later. I trust him."

"But this is not fair for you. You haven't eaten yet and these wounds might get infected." Kabuto grimaced at the truthfulness of his statement. Already a few flies gathered around them despite for the filters around the room.

"What are you talking about?"

"This is not right. This is wrong. He is playing with you."

"What? No. He told me he cares for me."

"Then you have to tell him this isn't right. Killing you is not right." Kabuto said as he slowly released Naruto and activated the droid beside them.

"Hello! I am Aya-chan and--- holy mother of steel! What happened to you, Ruto-chan?" The droid quickly pointed a stun gun at Kabuto.

"What have you done to him?"

"Calm down Aya-chan. Sasuke did this." Ruto-chan informed the droid.

"What? Let me take care of you. Kabuto, get out of the room. I think I know this entire scene. I should have seen this coming."

"What are you talking about?" Kabuto inquired.

"I'll tell you later. Now, get out. Sasuke might see you. I'll tend to Ruto-chan's wounds." The droid literally pushed him outside and slammed the door.

"Ruto-chan?"

"I betrayed him..."

"What?"

"I was supposed to wait for him and that stupid Kabuto has to release me."

"Shhh... We'll sort this out later. For now, I have to fix you up." The droid hurriedly started cooking. While waiting for the soup, it started scanning the semi-human for any infections. Thankful, there is nothing too serious. Once it is done scanning, it proceeded to treat the semi-human, despite its protests.

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Power, Ambition, Pride... Our story finally reached its end. Possible Preview:

"What is the meaning of this? Why are you unbound?" Sasuke roared with anger, his sharingan spinning wildly.

"Sasuke, I'm sorry, it's just that..."

"I thought you trusted me!" Filled with rage, he slammed the already injured boy to the nearest object. The boy just stared at him... blankly.

Tune in for the final section of Fake Love. Don't miss! The End Draws Near. Next Chapter: I Love You