Interlude: History Repeating Itself
"Well, well, well. An Uchiha. After such a long time. Tell me, boy. Why have you sought me here?"
He gazes up at the Nine-Tail, impressed by its sheer size but not intimidated. He is well past that. "Kurama," he says, inclining his head.
A brief silence. "You know my name."
"I know more than that," he says. "But there are some things I don't know. And I would like answers for them."
"Indeed. I'm rather inclined to acquiesce. But before I do, I have a question of my own."
It is his turn to hesitate. He nods once. "Very well."
"How is it you've found me? You've never even seen my vessel."
There is no harm, he supposes, in explaining to a demon completely sealed away. The only person who could ever learn is the vessel, and no vessel has ever communicated with its demon. Well, he amends, another Uchiha could question the Nine-Tail. But no other Uchiha would think to try.
"A version of the Sharingan," he replies.
"That is only a half truth," the demon states.
Not a question. He sighs. "It is a combination of two variations of the Sharingan." He pauses, wondering if the demon will understand.
It does. "Interesting. Who would ever have thought to combine them. But you only possess one. Who gave you the other?"
"That is inconsequential," he dismisses the question. "I believe you asked why I sought you. The answer to that is simple. I have need of the Nine-Tail's power."
"Indeed. It would seem you posses power in significant measure, yourself. I haven't met such a strong Uchiha in generations."
"You will again," he says, grimacing. "Times have changed, Kurama. And there's something I have to protect, above all else." There are a great many things he won't be able to protect, but he can't let that cripple him to inaction.
The Nine-Tail's terrible grin stretches wider. "Your conviction does you credit. But tell me. What could I possibly do for you? I am safely sealed away inside my vessel."
"I can break the seal and free you."
A long silence follows this offer. The Nine-Tail gazes down at him, its smile fading away as it appears to contemplate. Presently, "And why would you do this?"
"There'll be time for that later," he says. "All I want from you right now is your oath. If I free you, you will help me."
The Nine-Tail paces a moment. "And what of my vessel?"
He blinks. "Why should you care about the vessel?"
A low, deep chuckle. "It may surprise you to learn this, but we demons develop a sort of fondness for our vessels."
Certainly, killing a vessel is one of the fastest ways to break a seal, but not the only way. So he shrugs one shoulder. "I don't need to harm your vessel to free you."
The Kyuubi's grin returns, a frozen rictus of grim delight. "Then we have a deal, Uchiha. You free me, and I will be in your debt. Whatever this task you've set yourself, I will see it done."
~*o0o 0o0 o0o*~
Though it was hardly fair to take his anger, frustration, and fear out on Naruto, Kakashi made him go back to his room and warned him to stay. He paced the infirmary's hall, desperately wishing Iruka were here for him to hold. Actually, it wasn't even fair of him to be angry at all, considering all the stupid shit he and Iruka had done together their first year.
None of them had resulted in complete catatonia.
He activated the Sharingan and looked up at Naruto while in third form. Why would that have caused this?
Shizune had brought Tsunade down to the infirmary about an hour ago, and Kakashi was ready to lose his mind. What was wrong with his kid? Had the Kyuubi somehow . . . done something to him? Kakashi knew the Sharingan had been used in the past to communicate with the Tailed demons. Do way more than just communicate, actually. Had Sasuke triggered something?
Just when he was ready to break down the door and threaten homicide of Tsunade didn't hurry up, the door opened. Tsunade stepped out, looking tired but satisfied. She smiled at Kakashi.
"You can relax. He's all right now."
"What happened to him?" Kakashi demanded.
She took a deep breath. "He came into direct contact with the Kyuubi. I sincerely doubt that was his intent, and as such he was dangerously unprepared for the impact to his mind. It's a good thing the Nine-Tail decided to be gentle."
"So he communicated with it?" Kakashi asked after a pause.
Tsunade rolled her shoulders. "I can't say for sure until Sasuke wakes up and answers that question himself." Her eyes darkened. "But it looks that way."
A terrible foreboding welled up inside him. "Thanks," he said distantly, moving past her to the room. She squeezed his wrist.
Shizune smiled up at him. "I'll leave you alone," she said as she walked out.
Kakashi perched himself on the edge of the bed and just gazed down at Sasuke. The kid looked like he was just peacefully sleeping. Reaching over, Kakashi brushed ebony hair off his forehead.
"You don't know this," he murmured, "but your family has quite a dark history in the Empire."
A long, long time ago, the Empire had been the strongest force in the entire civilized world. The reason for that was twofold. First and foremost, Imperial Konohagakure had a small arsenal of Tailed-demons fighting alongside them. And second, the Uchiha clan was native to Konoha.
The Sharingan, that powerful and dangerous ability unique to the clan, could be used to summon, communicate with, and control demons.
During the first great war between the nations, the people of Konohagakure practically revered the Uchiha clan. They were high-ranking military leaders, second only to the Hokage.
Then along came a spider.
An Uchiha ruined everything. History called him terrorist when it mentioned his name at all. He turned the Tailed-demons against Konohagakure. His reasons were murky at best.
It marked the changing tides and began a long and uneasy silence between the clan and the empire. The Uchihas deeply resented how they were all branded for the actions of one. Resentment burned hot and bright in their breasts, and eventually the Hokage of that time tried to make peace.
His efforts ended in dismal failure. A sort of civil war broke out among clans, and a surprising number sided with the Uchiha. The revolt was eventually put down, and the new Hokage managed to forge a fragile peace.
Now, the Uchiha were once again touted as heroes. They were directly responsible for coming up with a way to seal demons. And the Sharingan was coveted by the military. Most barely remembered the fear and mistrust of decades past.
Until Itachi, of course.
Kakashi had actually received orders directly from the Hokage to insulate Sasuke from his family's history. Nothing was to be done that might jeopardize Sasuke's joining the Imperial Army.
With everything that had happened in the last four years, that history hadn't much occurred to Kakashi. Now it awakened with a vengeance, light cast on it by Sasuke's actions. He just learned he can communicate with the Kyuubi. Something which should have been impossible.
How long before he starts wondering what else he can do?
Raking fingers through his hair, Kakashi vigorously rubbed his hands over his face. Clarity. He needed a little clarity. And sleep. There was no way to keep this information from reaching the Hokage.
The direct consequence will be him absolutely forbidding Sasuke from bonding to Naruto. There's no way he'll risk a repeat of two hundred years ago.
And there wasn't much Kakashi could do about it. They were far beyond damage control at this point. He clenched his jaw so hard it hurt, and he forced himself to relax.
"What were you thinking, dumb kid?" he whispered. "You've set something in motion I'm not sure I can stop."
~*o0o*~
He turns his head and looks around, and it strikes him as odd that he has a head to turn. Blinking, he finds himself standing in an empty field. It looks as though a brush fire has claimed every green and living thing, leaving the ground scorched. It's also hot, and he's somehow barefoot.
He yelps and wishes it didn't burn. It stops burning.
Turning in a full circle, he is surprised to see someone. For a moment, he can't quite place the face. Then he smiles faintly. "Naruto. What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you. Dummy." The blonde's voice is light and affectionate, and he leans down and smooches the end of Sasuke's nose.
He pulls back with a mild glare, but he isn't really irritated. Actually, he's more bothered that Naruto didn't give him a proper kiss. "Where are we?" he asks, because he feels this is very important.
"I dunno," the blonde says, abruptly wrapping his arms around Sasuke.
The raven is overcome by the disturbing impression that the Controller just pushed him down bit his throat. Only, he's still standing but now in what looks like a long-dead forest. The trees are withered, gnarled things with blackened bark. It's unsettling.
"Sasuke?" says Naruto's voice.
Whirling, he peers up into sky-blue eyes. But why does the other look so worried?
"What?" he demands, but his mouth doesn't move and suddenly all he sees is red.
Red. He looks down, and he's standing on the banks of a river. A river of blood. He stumbles backward, and strong hands stabilize him. He spins around and almost faints from the shock. Naruto is gone. In his place stands the Kyuubi, the demon impossibly huge in this desolate landscape.
"We made a deal, Uchiha," the Nine-Tail says.
Sasuke opens his mouth to protest. Like hell he'd ever make a deal with a demon. Especially this demon! Instead, he hears himself say, "No one knows what truly happened. For now, it must stay that way."
"Why bother?" the Kyuubi says. "You've gone to a lot of trouble for no reward. Why not let me handle this?"
"Because you're still sealed away," Sasuke says, and he feels a bolt of irritation that he has to explain. Isn't it obvious? "And because . . . it has to be this way. For now, at least."
The Nine-Tail laughs. It's a terrible sound. "You are a peculiarly twisted child. You remind me very much of Madara. He was just as driven and focused as you. And just as prone to self-destruction."
"Don't compare me to him," Sasuke spits out. "He's a madman."
The Kyuubi just laughs and laughs. "So are you, Itachi. So are you."
Sasuke flew upright on the bed, chest heaving, heart pounding, eyes wide and unseeing. Images flashed through his mind, fast and chaotic and jumbled. What was that? What the fuck was that? Fear and hate and rage clutched at him, because that dream felt familiar.
Exactly like that terrible night Itachi had first used the Mangekyo Sharingan on him.
What did I just see? Did that actually happen, or was it just a dream? He pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes, trembling from too many emotions to even name.
His whole body jerked when he suddenly felt arms go around him. He'd been in this position often enough, waking from horrifying nightmares, to recognize the strong cage of Kakashi's body. He realized he'd been rocking, made to stop in his guardian's arms. He tried to force himself to relax, but it wasn't easy.
"What happened?" he finally croaked.
A slight pause. "You don't remember?"
Pushing against the man's chest until he eased his hold, he peered up into the only visible eye. "I . . . I think I talked to the Kyuubi."
Kakashi nodded. "You did." He ran gentle hands down Sasuke's shoulders, gripping his upper arms. He tightened his hold until Sasuke almost yelped. "What the hell were you two doing, sneaking off campus to link up like that? What you did could have killed you, Sasuke. The Committee is furious, and they're considering expelling Naruto to prevent the two of you from bonding."
Sasuke gritted his teeth; it hurt. But he didn't protest. And he set aside his anger at the Committee. For now. "I had a dream about Itachi," he didn't answer. "He was talking to the Kyuubi. Something about a deal he made with it."
Blinking, looking taken aback, Kakashi regarded him for a moment. He didn't relax his grip. "A dream."
"More like a vision," Sasuke said. "It reminded me of . . . when he . . . used that ability on me."
At this, Kakashi let go of him and reached up to pull his mask down. His expression was grave. "Mangekyo Sharingan can be used to pass on memories," he said after a moment. "Were you seeing one of Itachi's?"
"I don't know," Sasuke replied faintly. "I think so."
Kakashi made a vexed sound and pulled Sasuke into a rough hug. "Well, one thing at a time," he murmured.
Sasuke allowed himself to melt against his guardian. I wonder who Madara is. And how the hell Itachi talked to the Kyuubi. And how I did, for that matter. And what deal they made.
Only two people knew, and one was far beyond Sasuke's reach. The other . . . If I talked to the demon once, I can do it again. And this time, he'd get a few answers.