Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor do I believe in reincarnation.

Chapter 26

The next morning, I was up and about, training my physique without remorse, as I had done for thirty years. I wasn't a muscled beast, that was stupid and looked terrible, but I wasn't a mere twig like Kakashi.

Since the culture was Asian in nature, muscles and body-building wasn't as important to them as excellent martial arts. A fact I agreed with, but I liked to have the best of both worlds.

After my early-morning training, I ate a quick meal before picking up Sasuke. I wasn't about to let the kid fall behind, nor was I ready to let vultures like Danzo and Orochimaru harm my family.

Yes indeed, my relationship with Orochimaru was curious, he was my sensei, but he was also a man I knew would have no qualms with stealing an Uchiha. And killing said Uchiha. Well, possessing him, but that would kill the host.

Sasuke wasn't ready to blow fireballs around yet, but he was good at ninja stuff, and that obviously included chakra. So while I didn't use hand-seals nowadays, I did teach them to Sasuke. They were tough little suckers, and if you learned them young they were far, far, easier.

I ended the session with a spar between Sasuke and a suitable puppet, since no human sparring partner was available. Besides me, but that wasn't even worth mentioning.

Ninja wounds healed much faster than their civilian equals, a ninja could break a bone and be ok, even without medical assistance, in half the time of a civilian. That, of course, was because of chakra, it boosted bodily functions even without the user commanding it to do so.

Thus, ninja, if they were not killed, generally lived much longer than a standard civilian.

Now one might wonder why I was mentioning all this, the reason was simple, in a spar, kids get hurt. Sasuke was no exception to the rule, and it was very hard for him, since the puppet was wooden, so punching it hurt quite a lot.

Thus, he often got bruises or even more serious wounds, resulting in his universal dislike of sparring. Well, I already threw canon away, nothing to be concerned about.

I had no doubt that Sasuke was more proficient for his age than his more known counterpart, after the Third War, even clans had stopped training their children so early. Of course, true traditionalists like the Hyuuga would never be shaken. Be that as it may, the Uchiha had to a large degree put off training toddlers and now began only after the age of four.

I wasn't of such an opinion, emotional development was important and such, but in a world of equality, kids couldn't afford to be weaker than adults.

And yes, that's what equality was here, everyone had equal right to be killed, no mercy for children, and certainly not women. There was no chivalry in ninja work, no code of honor beyond that of the mission. Such things were foolishness, and foolishness was death.

Only the very strong survived for any length of time, it was simply impossible to get lucky forever.

As for me, I was strong, not nearly invincible, but undoubtedly strong. Strength was very relative however, and not nearly universal. I was not strong in the area of finding a wife, no sir.

If I couldn't find a satisfactory woman outside it truly would be good to marry within the clan. Having a son with a chakra signature virtually identical to my own would be easier that way. As to why I wanted such a thing, I make no comment.

Marriage was a great thing, if possibly inconvenient. Children were a joyful pain that never repaid to their parents what their parents gave to them, hopefully. It would be a sad day when a punk kid gave his parents something more valuable than sheer existence.

Of course, letting that corrupt your view of children to 'they can never repay me, but I can make them try' was stupid in the extreme. But there, I was a shinobi, not a parenting counselor.

XXXX

Four months after the evening my family as a whole became aware of my intention to marry; I was once again going out for the evening with Shizune. She was more altruistic and foolish than I, having a temper that showed while my own was forgotten. Nevertheless, I liked her, I liked the fact that she taught me something useful, I liked the fact she got the job done, and I liked that fact that she was indefatigable.

This was our second 'date', our first dinner not being included in the count.

I picked up Shizune at the appointed hour, with great precision. We went to a nice family restaurant and ordered our respective meals.

Shizune got some sort of fish thing, but while this body didn't mind fish, my mind was still hesitant about the creatures' flesh, so I got steak.

"So, hospital work wearing you into the ground?" I made what talk I was not too awkward to pursue.

"Very nearly, I love the patients, and Tsunade-sama certainly needs the help, but it's not easy."

"No, I suppose it is not. As for me, I have never ventured far into the area of paperwork, writing a mission report or checking over a subordinate's papers occasionally is the closest I've come."

"Envy you I do." She quipped in her very own humorless-but-only-for-humor voice.

"So, Shizune, what do you plan to do with your future, any change of heart?"

"No. I'll be working at the hospital until I die most likely."

I nodded, "It seems likely, it's taxing work, but you've impressed me, I believe you can handle it."

"It's nice to have someone believe in you."

"Make no mistake; I believe in your capability, I make no guarantee about you."

"It's nice to know some people don't change."

"So you like me as I am. I am pleased." I innocently ate a bite.

Shizune quickly pushed down her blush, so she was interested in me, good, "Who ever said I liked you?" She managed.

"You said it was nice that I am unchanging, implying there is no need for me to change, thus, I must be likeable as I am."

She fell back to eating, and we talked no more of liking one another for the evening.

The fact that Shizune liked me, in a most likely romantic sense, was, in its own way, rather eye-opening. I'd been pursuing a relationship with her, largely unaware, but I wasn't sure that was what I wanted.

I didn't want Shizune to have to live with me; I certainly was gray at the best estimate. My morals were as ambiguous as the wind, my code of honor nonexistent, my body count as high as the sky.

More importantly, I had plans for the future, vague though they were, that would make her shudder. I planned, for better or for worse, to become as immortal as a human could hope to be, and to fight the world's most dangerous man, and kill him.

Konoha had already become a restraint, and I had begun to feel the fetters of established order. Indeed, I was by the day sympathizing with Orochimaru more and more, and I knew my peaceful life here at the Clan would end soon.

I hated to betray, in any way, my family, my mother and father meant much to me, and Fugaku more. I would hate to leave my family, letting them think I cared so little for them, but there was no other way. Short of involving Konoha, in some manner or other, in the war with Madara, I could not fight him from here. It would be far better to sell my services to my devilish sensei and make use of what small assistance I could garner from him.

I was conflicted; my selfish desire to become more than a mortal, for there was no real life after death in this world, and my fear fought one another. I feared what my family would think if I left, I well and truly did.

In the end though, the root cause of the other argument was also fear, everything a human does can be boiled down and fear will be one of the stages in almost every single case. I feared dying, I feared letting Madara enact his plan.

I feared starving, thus I ate. I feared someone stronger than me, so I tried my best to become the strongest. I feared getting married, so I was single. I feared losing my fear, for that would make me a mere beast. I feared being uncomfortable in the morning, so I slept on a good bed. I feared any number of things, and so the simple fact is 99% of what people do is because of fear, of one sort or another.

I do not say 100%, for I fear being wrong.

To be honest, I feared being married, with its many consequences, more than leaving the village. That being said, the logical conclusion was to leave. Preparations had to be made, a large stock of food and money would be required. I'd need to leave behind some instructions for Sasuke. I couldn't leave the boy simply hanging.

Unfortunately, if I did leave the village, not only would Sasuke be stunted, the Uchiha clan's reputation would take a massive hit. I was a hero in Konoha, and I hadn't tarnished my reputation or that of the Clan. However, if I left, many would hate me, calling me a betrayer of the worst kind.

I had at least a year to prepare, enough time to be comfortable, and go unnoticed.

My lessons with Shizune would be dropped, for while she was unmistakably superior to me in medical knowledge and execution, I knew all I needed. Hopefully she wouldn't be to hurt by it, but it was of no concern.

But there! That was my main concern right there. Indeed, Itachi approached.

"Greetings, teacher," Itachi acknowledged me officially.

I'd rather get married then leave without my true genius of a student, I could tear myself from Sasuke, and leave Naruto's fate to chance, but Itachi was special. He was my apprentice, and I'd come to love the boy something like how a father would. That certainly laid to rest the idea of leaving, if only for a time.

"So Itachi, did you find what you needed?"

"Yes."

"Good, do write a short essay about it before the day after tomorrow."

He nodded in assent, not finding reason to argue with my methods. I'd sent the boy out to spy on several different, and very assorted, people, now he was back and I required the info. Basic spy work, but useful nonetheless.

Itachi already had the three-tomoe, so I figured it was about time we began on my seal-less style of ninjutsu. This really meant he needed incredible chakra control. My own had always been bolstered, once I got the basics down, by my over-aged brain.

Itachi had low chakra reserves and great mental acuity, there was no question control would be simple for him. Thus, while the scale of his sand manipulation would not be great, I expected it to be equally diverse and proficient as my own.

"Your chakra is yours, look at this sand, think about how its chakra looks and feels, make your chakra change to be the same."

Itachi activated his Sharingan, gazing at the sand intently. Great concentration was evident as he brought some of his chakra out, trying to change it to be the same as the sand.

I looked between him and the sand, it was incredible. Itachi was already where it had taken me a year to reach. It reinforced how truly fragile my superiority was.

"Excellent! Keep at this every day, it won't be instantaneous."

"I shall."

"How's your sensing ability?"

"Tolerable."

"It is of no concern, I rarely use mine, nor do I have much talent in the field, I suspect it's related to the way I over-produce chakra."

"Some days I envy you Uncle, my own chakra reserves are very limited."

"True, more chakra is generally better, but I have faith you can get past such a small defect." I pause came about as Itachi looked up at me expectantly, "Acrobatics." I decided swiftly.

What followed was a tradition passed down for generations, roof-jumping. Many had done it before, and many would do it again, for good reason. It was healthy, and kept a sense of agility and confidence about a ninja.

Our day finished with a spar between the two of us, I, obviously, went easy on the boy, but he did well.

X

The following day we took a nice B-rank mission, a simple escort mission for a fairly rich man who'd received an anonymous letter to watch his back. It was a week-long affair, so I'd left plenty of clones for Sasuke.

On the third day an infiltrator approached, gentle in mannerism, far too polite, and dressed quite fashionably. Yes, I spoke of a female assassin. Her gait indicated a former career as a dancer, so how she got to doing this kind of work I knew not.

I looked closer, yes; she had no chakra at all, just an athletic body, far too amateurish and self-confident for a real assassin. She was, no doubt, a girl the client had somehow wronged, and now she wished him dead. Why do I say too self-confident? Any real assassin would tuck its tail between its legs and get out after it saw ninja.

Clearly she attributed the strength of ninja to propaganda and overblown rumors.

Well, there was no danger, and watching how Itachi dealt with it would be enlightening.

The client seemed in no way suspicious, perfectly happy to have an attractive young woman in his small party. We stopped in the early evening at a small inn that lived off of travelers like us, and I generously provided a room for the dancer, Yukari, as she called herself.

Itachi and I roomed together, while the client took a room to himself, warning us to stay alert in a very official way.

At one-o'clock, a decent time for such things I supposed, and luckily during Itachi's watch, Yukari got up, making a frightful quantity of noise.

I got up swiftly and silently, perching myself on the rafters just as Itachi appeared.

"Yukari-san? Why are you up at this hour?" He asked, quirking his head harmlessly to the side.

Yukari's heartrate rose to the heavens as the tension in her body was suddenly activated, the knife behind her back quivering, but she held on bravely, "And why are you Itachi-kun? You startled me."

"Ninja work." He replied in a monotone, as if the whole world understood that an eleven-year old did such things regularly.

"Oh, well, I need to get to the bathroom." She began walking in the direction of the client's room.

"The bathroom is this way, Yukari-san." He appeared before her, pointing in the direction opposite to which she walked.

"Silly me, thanks," She walked off to the restroom, calming her nerves inside for a good 5 minutes.

It was not an unexpected performance from either of the two. Itachi did not like spilling blood without good reason, and Yukari, while an amateur at assassination, had impressed me already. Most noobs were far worse than she.

Nevertheless, conflict was inevitable, the dancer was determined that our client should die, and there was no way my nephew would allow that. Thus, I watched on, not focusing so much on these two that I missed others. Though to be honest, it turned out there were no other happenings to miss.

Yukari, most likely an alias, came out of the restroom, heading once more to the client's room. In the intense darkness, she did not notice Itachi come up behind her. Rather than immediately terminating her, he let her go so far as the client's door, to ensure he did not misread the situation. A good, safe, response.

As soon as she placed her hand to the knob, Itachi brought up his kunai, and brought it down on her head.

Blood… did not flow at all; he'd used the base, simply knocking her out. She wouldn't be out for a week or anything convenient like that though. She'd have a bump and a few dead brain cells, but really would end up no worse for wear.

An acceptable, though by no means unexpected, solution, although I did wonder if he'd thought it through.

XXX

"Leaving without me?" Yes, that was exactly what I meant by thought it through. Yukari didn't stay out for a week or anywhere near it.

"Of course not Yukari-chan, these ninja somehow got the idea you were staying, but I knew better." He smiled ever so nicely, and Yukari suppressed a grimace of disgust. Her opinion of him was obviously deeply rooted.

We finished loading up the horses with the civilian's belongings, our own secure in scrolls. The client then mounted the less-laden of the two, riding onward atop his mare.

Yukari fell back, to plot if I was not mistaken, and I joined her shortly after.

"So, what is your alleged grievance?"

She swallowed before answering, "What do you mean?"

"The only one who doesn't know you want him dead is the man himself."

"I see, why aren't I dead yet then?"

"Ah, so you can understand my student letting you live due to his age, but you cannot understand why I stand next to you without animosity."

"Something like that."

"You see, Yukari-chan, though that is not your name, I left this decision to him. Besides, you're hardly any threat, and our mission is to protect our client for the duration of the mission, not kill anyone who would kill him."

"For the duration of the mission…" She was fairly smart after-all, "You're cold, ninja."

"Perhaps, but then again, I can make anyone cold." I splashed some of my water into the air, where it nigh-instantly turned to ice.

"No trick." The ice floated down to the young dancer, into her wondering palms.

"It's cold!" A pause followed as she gazed at the ice, "How did you do that?"

"If I told just anyone, I'd be in trouble, so I'll just tell you this: any ninja can do that with practice."

She turned that over in her mind, "But you're the only one who does?"

I chuckled a little at that, "You are refreshingly smart aren't you? I'm glad Itachi didn't end you, but trust me, once you start killing in anything but self-defense, you can't stop. Ever."

The conversation died out for a bit, until Yukari noticed I hadn't really answered her question, "So are you the only one?"

"No, there are others, one's who achieved it not through practice, but by blood. They are the once-proud Yuki clan, and I should not be surprised if less than a score of them remain now. They live in hiding and in fear, hunted to poverty and exile, pursued to extinction. Indeed, the hate of bloodlines is strong in Kiri." Haku was somewhere out there, soon to be picked up by Zabuza, and fated to die young.

"What's a bloodline?" Ever knowledge seeking, Yukari prodded me once more.

"It's a special ability, passed down from generation to generation, I have one as well." I turned on my Sharingan, looking into the eyes of the girl.

"That's… different," She offered diplomatically, "What's it do, other than creep people out?"

"It is by no means the creepiest of doujutsu, that is, bloodlines that grant a special eye. It grants supernatural vision, I can see the all-pervading energy known as chakra if I wish, and it gives photographic memory. I remember everything I see with it on."

"That sounds convenient, but not." She reasoned out loud.

"Why is a girl as smart as you trying to ruin her life by killing a man?"

"He killed my brother."

"Your brother was going to die; mortality is such, why ruin more lives in the never-ending foolishness of revenge when you are clearly doing alright for yourself?"

"You wouldn't understand."

"I would understand. I took revenge once; I killed a man called Rasa, largely because I thought he'd killed my brother. But my brother was still alive, though permanently injured."

"My brother's dead!" She screamed in frustration, her overactive brain fining no point or lesson in my story.

"I do not regret killing that man, and I never will, because I kill for a living. I've killed hundreds, and I'll kill hundreds more before I leave this Continent, bringing misery to more hundreds. Breeding their hearts to hate me for what I did. But I won't regret it; because I have a reason, killing them brings my family food and keeps them safe, but what reason do you have?"

She had no reply.

"You have none! You would kill, simply for the sake of killing, for no other reason than to see your victim dead. You are not a brute beast; you are something far more evil. Right about now you're thinking about everything I just said, ready to point out I did the same thing. But while in my heart I did, on the outside, I got paid for it."

"So getting paid to kill people makes it all okay!?"

I stopped in my tracks, looking down at my tainted hands. A large portion of those people didn't need to die, my armor and puppets didn't have to be made, that was extra stuff I didn't need. Extra money I didn't have, extra people I had to kill to get it.

I didn't have to kill people. I could have chosen life as a doctor. While not supportive; my family would have allowed it. I didn't even have to continue in this world which I didn't belong in, I could have just ended it as soon as I realized I was an Uchiha.

The group had stopped, so I dumbly walked forward at their pace, weakly assuring Itachi I was fine, but ordering that he should keep an eye out.

I had thought I was over this whole debacle, but my battered conscience, while suppressed and nigh-eliminated, was back with a vengeance: a true and final last gasp.

If I rejected it here, I would lose it forever, I would most likely go mad slowly, ever so slowly, like my sensei. We really were two peas in a pod. But to listen and accept, to go so far as to revive my conscience, would be death.

Not death in the literal sense, but I'd lived twenty years as a killer, and I had to admit it: I knew no other way of life now. I could not just pack up and go, but I could not stay as I was.

I'd reached my breaking point, hadn't I? To try to atone for my many sins and live without killing, or to go on, and soon lose myself to my lifestyle. I could not accept either option, it was too horrible.

The only option was to forge a third choice with my own will, to lose myself to myself, thus preserving my sanity, at least to an extent, but preventing me from truly feeling emotions for others. I'd be a selfish, greedy, and utterly ruthless me, not so far off from what I was now.

I was convinced of it. There was only one option now, to go on and become as immortal as I could, to live on in the world until someone came along who could end me.

…

For what?

That made no sense, I had no duty to stick around; I could simply teach Itachi a few things and end my own life. Heck, I didn't even have to teach him, mere curiosity was the only reason to not commit suicide and bug-out.

Bah, it was as good a reason as any; I had nothing else to do these days.

XXXX

The mission ended successfully and we returned home, whether or not 'Yukari' killed the client I do not know or care.

Both Itachi and Sasuke continued progressing until Sasuke was six, at which point he was entered into the academy, and taken out of my hands for a little while.

My clones spied on Naruto regularly, and unfortunately the Anbu discovered them a couple times, but could not identify whose clones they were. I could tell that Sakumo was troubled by it, but I honestly didn't care about him or his petty troubles.

Two months after Sasuke entered the academy I judged Itachi to have completed the sand manipulation training. He was now a certified sand-wielder, one of a growing breed of powerful Uchiha.

I was well satisfied, and continued in teaching Itachi useful things, every trick I knew I passed on. Of course, I couldn't do that all at once, that's why apprenticeships existed.

From sand, we moved to wind, fire being taken care of long ago. Wind was undeniably incredibly useful, though it was assuredly hard to learn without an affinity. Still, I was curious to see how Itachi would do and how long it would take him to master the element.

XXXX

"Hah!" One of Itachi's clones yelled as it assaulted me, foolishly revealing its obvious status as a non-human. The mere chakra construct was immediately popped by a needle of air, piercing through its heart.

Two more of my student appeared, one coming down with a kick from above and the other preparing a jutsu. A stream of fire emerged from Itachi's mouth, doing nothing beyond burning his clone through, resulting in its untimely demise.

The final clone popped out of the ground, grabbing my heel.

I smiled, "You managed to catch me."

He nodded, coming over.

"You're doing quite well nephew."

"Thank you."

"Someday we will separate, do not be surprised if it happens whenever."

"You wish to imply something."

"As you may have noticed, I'm not an emotional person, reserving such displays for my family. But have you noticed it? I have. My emotions are less present now."

"Meaning?"

"You possess a good degree of discretion, so I'll rest it in your judgement, for better or worse. When my emotions fade far enough, I possess a high chance of leaving the village. I'd become some sort of threat in that case." I explained, though rather misleadingly, my situation.

"Why tell me?"

"You are my student." I paused, forming a little figurine of dirt in my hand with chakra control before I spoke up, "What do you think is more interesting, staying around and seeing how people I know turn out, or going off into the world and meddling?"

He looked up at me questioningly, "I mean meddling with the future." I explained.

"The future is not known, meddling won't bring any amusement. Staying and watching is more interesting, since you learn more."

"Logically, you're right, unfortunately, the future is known, on some level." I felt like skipping a rock, but we weren't near water.

"How?" Why, what, are you even human? All expected reactions from a human being.

"I was curious as to how you would react, rather boring all considered."

He frowned subtly, "You have no reason to tell me this, and I have no reason to believe you."

As expected from my over-mature student, he thought of himself as a separate entity. Much like I had done for quite a while; noted.

"True enough, and while it was ridiculous to even tell you this, I did. What you believe is not my decision, nor is it a great concern of mine in this matter."

"I see." He fell into thought. While Itachi was undeniably loyal to Konoha, he was no Anbu captain, he was primarily my student, and his secondary status was as a chunin. Therefore, I was not really worried he would reveal anything to the Hokage. No one had spied on us; I'd made sure of that.

There really was no point in letting him know, or even asking what he thought was more interesting. I was simply sick of hiding it from everyone.

We returned home for the day, Itachi even less talkative than his normal self, much to Sasuke's chagrin.

On a side note, my marriage date was very near; I had no doubt that Iwao had already made his choice, and I had none of my own. I'd stopped seeing Shizune altogether months ago, and I didn't know any other eligible females.

And thus my boring existence continued unabated.

XXXX

I was tweaking my puppets when the grand letter arrived, hailing from the legendary Yakushi Kabuto. Or rather it had arrived from his master, Orochimaru. To be clear, Kabuto hadn't exactly signed his name on it, it was merely a very educated guess.

Akatsuki was beginning the recruitment process with him. Apparently Sasori was the recruiter, useful information altogether. Sensei didn't know where Akatsuki resided as of yet, but had sent me the news anyway.

I had calculated the chance of his actually doing so to be quite low, so I was well pleased. In addition, it assured me that Orochimaru felt zero loyalty to Akatsuki.

I wrote word back that he should join, and that I myself would appear on the grand scheme in due time. I filled the rest of my letter with trivialities that contained hints to potentially useful information, as a sign of our mutual relationship.

I followed the directions that were given to send the letter back, not at all surprised that a certain glasses wearing genin picked it up. What channels he used to forward it to Orochimaru were none of my concern.

I got back to my puppets the day after, mention of Sasori sparking a renewed interest in the art. And to call puppetry a fine art was by no means overstating it; I would go as to say it was the third most artful thing.

The first was life, life was an art that humanity did not yet comprehend, nor was it exceedingly likely to ever achieve such knowledge.

The second was chakra manipulation, and really just chakra itself. The stuff was incredibly complex, and yet impossibly simple, diverse to an extreme, yet strangely all the same. Yes, chakra was an art.

And as I just mentioned, the third was puppetry, higher than buildings, figurines, paintings, and statues, even motion picture was eclipsed by it once one had an appreciation for it. One could not devote months to puppetry and deny that there was something to it. That feeling of satisfaction when a puppet did everything one intended, that victorious smile that came when the beauty of one's puppet exceeded that of what it mimicked.

There were many arts, but I could with confidence say these were the top three.

Of course, there were plenty of good contenders, and many would disagree with me, but whatever.

After a while longer working solo on my puppets, I got up and left, leaving behind half a dozen shadow clones to make new ones and finish the work. The sand I kept in my sandals activated and I flew up into the air, enjoying the wind.

I surveyed the town from my lofty height, memorizing any interesting changes that might have occurred.

Nothing of special note had occurred, which was good. Change affected everyone, and I was just fine as I was.

I exercised until dinner time, at which point I washed up and joined the group. To my surprise, a certain pink-haired person was already at the table. Of course, her hood was still on, so the pinkness of her dyed hair was not revealed.

"Uchiha," She took the time and effort to acknowledge only me.

"Miyuki, forgive my rudeness, but who invited you?" I asked, careful to sound curious and not accusing.

"I did." She replied flatly, "I heard it from the mill of rumors that you would be getting married soon."

"And this concerns you how?"

"I suppose I have no reason beyond coming to congratulate you."

"That's not like you, what's the real reason?"

"It has been a while since I've seen you, and I thought it'd be a good excuse." She offered quietly.

"Truth or not, I shall pester you no further, I owe you that much." Whatever she was really here for, I knew she wasn't stupid enough to try and fight me. Sarcastic personality or not, she was not an idiot.

Dinner passed in relative silence, Sasuke, the normal noise maker, cowed by the presence of a stranger. It was good; the boy had the discipline to recognize that an unknowing child should stay silent in front of company.

I slept well enough, getting up at my usual early hour; I honed my body for forty minutes and then picked up my apprentice.

Itachi was prepared, but that was not unexpected, he always was up and ready by the time I came around. We practiced jumping for ten minutes before moving onto the next thing, iryojutsu.

Indeed, it was time for Itachi to truly learn of the first art, Life, more specifically, the preservation of it.

Authors Note: So, Nanashi had the chance to, though he didn't rationalize it that way, either open up or close himself off, and we see he, predictably, basically chose to close off.

Tsk, tsk, how did I ever end up this way?

Thanks for waiting for this super-late update, not that you had any other options, seriously, I could have gotten this out weeks ago if I put my mind to it. But, contrary to my fan-fic self, I am very lazy, sorry guys.

Love, hate, disappointed, rage-quit, bored-quit, or whatever, let me know in your reviews.

Sincerely, Iamwhononofyouare