a/n: Ladies and Gentlemen, SasuSaku fic readers of all nations and squee levels, are you ready to ruuuuummmmbbbbllllllllleeee?

'cause I am and so here we go!


Sasuke spit out some blood staining the ground with the first of what would be many to come. His opportunity of coming in on his own time had been shattered by an unknown force.

"Well, look what we have here." A menacing voice sounded from behind him. "Uncle Sasuke came to play."

The killing intent in all of their chakras came all around him and he had to fight to take a breath. Getting to his knees, he pushed up and was on his feet again hissing in pain.

"Oh, you're in pain? See what happens once you become a collared dog of Konoha…" The same voice called out to him. Sasuke turned and found no one there to claim the voice.

"You could have avoided all this pain. We would never have tried to limit your power or once again try to kill off your bloodline."

"What the hell are you talking about? Come out here now!" Sasuke snarled in a deep and threatening voice.

"Such big talk for one who can hardly activate the Sharingan. Even your brother's spawn can do that."

"Who are you?" Sasuke demanded as he looked around him. The group had come closer standing in a circle around him ready to strike at any moment… but they waited. Someone was controlling them… and then it hit him.

"Madara…"

"Correct. My, you aren't so dumb now are you?" The voice taunted and then appeared out of nothing. The dark figure wore a dark cloak covering this face and body.

"Just who the hell are you? I was warned about you…"

"Ah, your brother's famous last words… I was there, I know what he told you… too bad you didn't get to hear the rest of his story… or else he would have told you who I was." Sasuke's eyes shot daggers at the man. "It's been eating away at you hasn't it? The apology from your brother, how he let you kill him in the end, and then you having to take in his child? Too bad it was only to have Konoha once again attempt to exterminate us."

"Us? Exterminate? Just what the hell are you getting after?" Sasuke was getting mad… however the brief break from running or fighting might help him in the end, right?

"My dear nephew you were never the last of the Uchiha clan… how could you be when I am still breathing?"

"You can't be an Uchiha!" Sasuke felt sick. How was this possible?

The hooded man took off the cloak and Sasuke was face to face with the Sharingan, it was in a strange and powerful looking form, but the Uchiha bloodline technique none the less.

"Oh, it's a long story. One that sadly you will not be able to hear. As much as I hate killing off more of my clan, you seem to have been brainwashed again by that dirty city. You will side with them, and not your own blood. Do you even know what they wanted to do to you and your little nephew?"

"Shut up!"

"They decided they could control you… with the help from your pink haired sweetheart. But that one… was too much of a gamble. So they were off to destroy him. Like they would have done with you."

"I said shut up!" Sasuke's anger hit a new limit and he could feel the anger and power pulsing through his veins. That was pretty much the only sensation he could feel at the moment, the pain must have been taken over by the anger.

"Now, now… you always did get over angry about things. Hopefully your little nephew will grow up to inherit that same angry spirit."

"Kouhei is not going to be like that! That's not way to live! I won't let you do that to him!" Sasuke snarled.

"I am sorry to say that you won't have much of a say once that jitsu of yours kills you and I tell him a dog of Konoha killed his parents. He will be like putty in my hands… much like his uncle was for others."

Sasuke was pushed over the edge. He was not about to let anyone else make the same mistakes he did. Kouhei would not be living a life of hatred. No matter how torn he was with the information about Konoha and his family in the past, he knew that he could change the future. They could change it for the better.

"This ends now my dear Sasuke." Madara smirked.

"You're damn right it does." Sasuke said as he launched himself at the man who was taunting him.


If there was one thing that Sakura was happy about it was predictability. The only person that could help Sasuke now was so predictable that she knew exactly where to look for him. The ramen shop was exactly where the young man was that day.

Rushing into the shop she grabbed her teammate and friend's arm. There was a protest of course, due mostly to the fact that he had a steaming bowl of ramen waiting for him on the counter.

"Sakura?" He called in a questioning voice. She still had him by the arm, and now they were outside of the restaurant.

His face went serious as he saw the frantic look on her face.

"I need your help."

"What's wrong Sakura?" Naruto asked looking worried. Sakura tried to calm down her breathing so she could speak. Huffing and heaving from running to collect Shikamaru and a few others she had not stopped to catch her breath yet.

"It's Sasuke… Kouhei was taken and Sasuke went after them… he's…. he's… gonna die. Naruto… please…" Tears stung her tried eyes.

"It's ok. I'll get my stuff and then we'll go after him." Naruto gave her a quick reassuring hug. "I won't let him die on you."

And with that Naruto took to the sky to return home and get his gear.

Within the span of thirty minutes after leaving the Hokage's office, Sakura had assembled the remaining Rookie 7 and Team Gai. They were all ready to go and geared up for what could possibly be one of their biggest battles.

Sakura nearly began to cry out of happiness that they all had come. She didn't know if they had come to help Sasuke or because of her. It really didn't matter in the end, they were here. They knew the risks, and once again they were going to help.

"Let's go and get those Uchihas back." Shikamaru sighed not wanting the others to know that for once he was more than willing to get up off his lazy butt. He wanted to not only get rid of the remnants of these evil groups, but to get things back on track…

"And this time once Sasuke's ass is back, you chain him up for good!" Naruto smiled giving Sakura a wink. He knew that this time Sasuke was not leaving the village by choice, but still… how many times could one person cause so much trouble?

With a nod they all took off through the gates and into the trees.

'Hang on Sasuke… Kouhei… We're coming.'


Taking the chance Sasuke jumped up and took a swing at the ring leader. Madara, whoever he really was would not leave this forest alive… Kunai met with kunai as the two fought.

"Is that all you have?" Madara continued to taunt him.

The two Uchiha members were up in the trees matching each others attacks. Power swirled around each as they attacked, blocked and dodged the abundance of jitsu and physical attacks.

Sasuke took some comfort in the knowledge that for the moment it was a one-on-one fight. The others seemed to want to help, but stayed at bay. They were waiting for their chance to get in on the fight.

"Shut that damn kid up!" Sasuke heard someone yell at the blue skinned man.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed one of the dark cloaked members approach the crying baby. It was this distraction that Madra took advantage of and sent Sasuke falling from the tree tops.

Kisame looked confused. But he didn't seem to stop the encroaching figure. In fact he seemed relieved to hand over the baby to another team member.

Sasuke knew what that meant. His brother's old partner was the only one he could even begin to feel a little at ease with holding Kouhei… if you could even call it at ease… but of all of them, he would at least not harm the baby.

Looking from his place on the ground the half black and half white creature of the Akataski was the one about to take Kouhei out of Kisame's hands. Zetsu… that man was unstable… he would not allow him to touch his son…

Closing his eyes, he summoned every ounce of energy he had… he could feel the limiter. It felt as if there was a weight holding back the power he knew he had. An invisible brick attached to a chained ball of chakra inside his body. He could get to it… he was an Uchiha. He would break through that jitsu… he had to.

Pulling his feet up underneath himself, he took a deep breath and opened his eyes. The Sharingan activated and came alive with anger as Zetsu grabbed Kouhei and held the baby by his little leg.

A roar of anger caught everyone's attention as Sasuke pushed off and launched himself at Zetsu.

Zetsu froze with the unexpected attack. He felt a swirl of energy rush up to him and take the baby out of his hands. Before he could so much as react, a swift kick to the back of his head sent him face first into the dirt.

"Don't touch my son!" Sasuke hissed as a dark energy began to surround him. He had never felt this way before. Even with the curse from Orochimaru, when it took control over him, the feeling… the surge of power was different. This time, he felt more in control.

Holding Kouhei tightly to his chest, he took off again. This time he launched a massive string of attacks on the puppet master; swiftly destroying the puppet with a shattering blow.

Turning he found himself face to face with Jugo. The unstable man seemed to be looking perplexed about something. It was an eerie feeling. He did not wait for the man to decide on what personality he would show.

The two began throwing hit after hit at each other, it was becoming a hopeless fight as the others decided on joining. Konan, the other woman of the group landed a solid kick to his back, sending him to his knees.

Blood was flowing from open wounds and his uniform was severely ripped by kunai cuts. Yet in his arm Kouhei was safe. Sasuke shielded the tiny baby as the others pounded his back, taunting him.

Drawing inward as much as possible, Sasuke drew in his power and then released it as he jumped up. His opponents were knocked on their backs due to the force of the power he pushed out.

A chuckle from above could be heard. He knew it was Madara. This battle was far from over and he had already used up a lot of his power.

"I give you credit. You would have made a proud Uchiha. But I tire of this… and I sense your Konoha Masters are coming to take you back… it will never happen."

Madara instantly appeared before Sasuke and grabbed Kouhei out of his arms. Throwing the baby against the tree Sasuke felt his world shatter…

The crying was instantly stopped as the baby's body limply rolled down the trunk that it hit.

Sasuke's eyes were frozen on the body of the baby he had been trying to protect… something snapped inside. Turning slowly to face Madara, Sasuke could feel his body going white with rage.

Hozuki, Jugo, Konan, Sasori, Kisame and Zetsu were all up and closing in on him. Supposedly they had forgotten the one at a time plan and now it seemed to be a bloody free for all on him.

It didn't matter. He was too upset… to angry… furious… to care. The world had stopped the moment he saw Kouhei's little body hit the tree.

With a roar, the battle began.


The Konoha group was making good time. However, Sakura knew the needed to go faster.

"Guys! Look!" Naruto's voice stopped the group as they all converged on the ramen loving boy's position.

"Is she dead?" Ino asked as they saw the body of the only female member of Sasuke's old group the Hawks.

Sakura knelt down and quickly inspected her. Nodding, she stood up.

"She's been dead maybe an hour…" Sakura said as placed a handkerchief over their enemy's face. The silence of the forest was shattered with a loud scream of rage that echoed through the forest. The birds went flying from the trees and any animal that was still anywhere near them run for their lives.

"We're on the right trail then." Naruto said as he stood up and jumped back into the trees. "Sounds like things aren't going so well… that means we gotta go now."

Everyone followed suit and soon all of them were back on their way.


He lost it. That was the only way to explain the events that were happening. This rage was different than what he had felt before, but he didn't have time to think about it too much. His enemies were on him in seconds.

The attacks didn't hurt anymore. It was like he had separated from his body because he could hardly say he was in control anymore.

His arms reached out and snapped bones of his enemies like they were mere twigs. Special techniques that he had never seen, but strangely felt familiar came to him and he used them mercilessly on his opponents.

Like lightening, he turned feeling a change in the air. Seeing the huge blade Samehada coming at him, he reached out and grabbed the blade. With his free hand his fingers moved so fast it was hard to see the jitsu he called on to break the blade in half. Kisame was sent flying back into a tree stunned at the immense power.

"You can't possibly keep this up for long… your rage is eating at your remaining chakra. You are killing yourself." Madara smiled seeing Sasuke pant after the last attack on Kisame.

For a time the mysterious Uchiha had been worried about underestimating the boy… no the man before him. Sasuke could no longer be considered a boy. However, he could tell that no one, not even the one in front of him could survive.

"I don't care! We end the cycle of hate now… if that means no more Uchiha… then so be it!" Sasuke said finally letting his rage take full control. Madara needed to be stopped or else Konoha would continue to be threatened… she would be threatened… that was not acceptable.

As he launched himself onto the only man who stood in his way, there was only one thought in his mind…. Sakura.

Nothing else mattered. He had lived for revenge, he had lived with eyes clouded to the world on how it could have and should have been… not anymore.

Crouching down, he used his legs to propel his body up into the trees where Midara was still laughing at him. Once he was at the same level, both men didn't hold back. Arms, legs and jitsus were flying.

Sparks of pure energy seemed to reverberate off of them as each landed hit after hit.

Their bodies looked to be no more than lines at times as they went back and forth. The world seemed to stop to both of them as they continued a dance that would only lead to death for one or both of them.

"This is our chance!" Sasori said trying to rally his teammates and temporary partners. They had found Sasuke to have more power than they had expected. But with him too occupied with Midara, his back was wide open.

With a nod from several of them, they leapt into the air as well. Kunai and weapons in hand they intended to strike swiftly however it was not to be.

Out of the tree tops came the group of young Konoha nins.

"Not so fast!" Naruto roared as they jumped straight into the battle.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, Sasuke had noticed his friends arrive, but he was too busy to smile or even feel relieved. His battle still continued.

Sakura searched the area for Sasuke. She was scared with the state she saw him in. He was bloody and tired… and he was once again glowing with a strange aura that she hoped to never see again. Although it was different than the cursed marks, it was still frightening to truly think on how strong this man really was…

At least he was alive. She was a bit relieved; however her mind told her to find the other boy that had disrupted her life. Kouhei… he was not crying or making noise… this could mean any number of things…

Scanning the area again, her eyes and heart were not ready to see what she was about to see.

Near a big tree laid the tiny baby that had once been so lively. Just days before he had been crying so loud that neither of them got any sleep… but now he was a completely different baby.

Running to his side, Sakura felt afraid to touch the baby. Ino came up behind her and tried to offer her silent support. At the moment, the Konoha team had more than enough members to fight the already weakened remnants of the Hawks and Akasaki.

"Is he?" Sakura snapped out of her haze and mentally kicked herself. She was a medical nin.

Bending over the small baby, she began to cry.

"Sakura?"

"He's breathing… but just barely." She said carefully holding his neck and turning the baby on his back.

"We need to get him back to Konoha then." Ino said standing up. As she did so, a swift kick to the chest sent the blond woman backwards without warning.

"Sorry dears, you are not going anywhere, especially with that brat." Konan smiled evilly as she looked down on Sakura who was still holding Kouhei's neck gently.

"And who is going to stop us?" Sakura snarled as she let her hands fall to her sides.

"Oh, there's no way you could beat me…"

"We'll have to see about that!" She replied as she released several kunai at her opponent. She would have to take care of this first, she only hoped Kouhei could hold on.


"Why don't you just die?" Sasuke hissed as he connected another attack to this opponent. It gave him hope to see that he was also weakening. They had both been using quite a lot of chakra with their attacks. Somehow he had been able to overpower several of the more deadly Uchiha techniques. He was not sure how it happened, but now was not the time.

"Are you happy with being a leashed animal again?" Madara hissed as the sharp kunai pierced his hand, making it difficult to use jitsus, but not impossible.

"I'm paying for mistakes. Mistakes I made! For mistakes YOU made as well!" He roared and launched another barrage of hand to hand attacks.

But it was still proving to be a difficult challenge. A swift hit sent him flying to the ground. He landed on his back, blood spraying out of his mouth. His body felt so heavy, and yet his spirit told him to move… to get up. To finish this.

Madara saw his chance to end it as well. A simple strike to the already weakened fighter's chest would surely explode the fragile human heart inside. Gathering his power he jumped out of the trees and aimed straight at the Uchiha still on the ground.

"Saskue-teme!" Came a familiar voice from behind. The fox demon nin had called forth the inner spirit and drove a ball of energy into the side of his friend's unsuspecting attacker.

Madara let out a shriek of pain as the attack connected and knocked him out of the trees as well.

Looking around Madara saw that most of his team was in similar situations. It didn't look good for his plans to conquer Konoha and rule it in the position he felt he had been robbed of so long ago…. And it was all due to an Uchiha… Uchiha Sasuke…

Naruto began to summon his energy to put an end to the evil man before him when a hand was placed on his shoulder. Turning his head, he saw the badly beaten body of Sasuke standing, just barely, behind him.

"Thanks, but this is my battle… it is a family matter."

Naruto looked at his friend, worry was clearly shown on his face, and yet he nodded. Letting his power levels normalize, he steeped back allowing his limping friend to continue to use his shoulder for support.

"Thanks." Sasuke said seemingly acknowledging his former team member and friend for the first time.

"Don't mention it… but you better not die… "

"She won't let me die." He assured him.

And with that Sasuke closed his eyes and ended it.

The world went black. He was not even aware of what he had done. He focused the remaining energy he had inside and released it.

The pain, the anger, the worry, everything was gone. He felt like he was floating, but that was not the case when he felt his body hit the ground.

He was slightly aware of the outside world, a loud voice yelling at him… screams full of worry… but he was too tired to open his eyes… just a little sleep… he thought as he let himself drift away.

"SASUKE! SASUKE!"


A/n: Shit that was a long chapter… it took a long time to write… I have to say I am not a master at the writing of fight scenes…. Can you tell? Sorry about that. Anyway, I have been sitting on this chapter for some time now… I hope you enjoyed it. Maybe I will go back after I finish this fic and rework a few things… we shall see.

I see the end! It shall come soon! It's kinda scary to see the publish date being that of a year ago…. This fic has taken bit of time to get done… but it will get there! Promise!!!!