Reviewers;

Czar Joseph: Not pregnant at all. Just imagine that you have your talent in anything and suddenly, it is taken right out from under you, and now you are having to live without it, unless someone else allows you to use it. Basically, Sakura can only undo what she has created, she cannot create at all, and that includes the heat from her once warm body.

TsukoBlue: Thanks. I appreciate it.

St3rfire: Well, that part will be told in a bit. Right now, I want to input a filler chapter or two to show both sides to the story, a mini story, I suppose one could say. And to clear things up from your comment, the Ice Kingdom did not have an earthquake. It was something else. And Blake Did die in that attack. He is simply alive in a better place.

Duh Bomb: Yes! You understood Sakura's loss of power, as well as that part of her that is angry and frustrated from not being heard or listened to Now, Sakura is in a sense of the word the servant of another, which I'll bring up in a few chapters. And so I could understand the split of Naruto and Kakashi's thoughts, though I still prefer it the original way. Now though, I have new characters for you to describe, so be prepared to rack your brain out.

AN: Now that we have reached a good break in the story, I want to try out another angle to see just how my ending may come to be a good change to what some of you may or may not be thinking. So then, let's see where this leads, shall we?

Fire & Ice

Arc 3: Trust

Chapter 37: Sasuke's past

The sun warmed the earth in the ever moving cycle around the globe, moving from east to west in the way the world turned on its axis. The yellow burned through the air, its color reflecting through the green trees, their leaves soaking in the energy as much as it could, as on a lone hill in the middle of the earthly plains, a lowly stone church sat proud against the surroundings.

But slowly, the sun paused in the sky, as if time had stopped completely. Ants froze on their crawls across the ground, birds flapped their wings in slow motion, and the wind ceased to move. Slowly, the sun moved from west to east, and Ants backed up into their ant hill, birds flew back to their nests, and the trees blew backwards in a new kind of wind, made of more of a suction-esk movement.

The sun dipped around the eastern horizon, and the moon arose from the west, moving across the sky and then back down its zenith to the eastern horizon, and the sun came up from the west. The sunrise and sunset became the previous day's sunset and sunrise, as days passed and merged together, as time sped up backwards.

Trees swayed in the sweeping breeze, shrinking as time moved backwards and passed them by. Hundred year old trees became ninety, and small saplings ceased to exist. The stone church on the hill moved into construction and then the stones were taken away, leaving the hill bare among the plains. And as the world slowed down and began to replay itself, eight years had rewound and a fifteen year old boy stood on the grassy hill, his black raven hair swinging in the soft breeze, as up above him, the sun poured on a warm gentle heat around him.

His horse nay'd and stamped its hooves, adding to the noise and the teenager breathed through their mouth, before turning to the horse and shook their head as they placed their foot into the stirrup and pulled himself up, pulling the reins expertly as the horse began to trot and then up into a full trot. The horse bucked him and the teen sighed, knowing how the horse felt.

"Okay, boy. I got it. We're going to be late. I get it."

The black haired teen rode off through the Great Plains, passing much of nothing and yet so much of the land that the Lord and King owned all on his own. The teen was one of his two sons and he was the younger one, who moved over the hill and there beyond in the short distance, was the walled city on another portion of the land that was higher than all of the others, the town being built over the land time and time again, building over the ancient lands as they did so.

The teen looked to his side, noticing all of the horses grazing on the short grass of the land, and the other riders learning to break the wild horses down so that they could be ridden into battle, commerce, or whatever whoever bought them deemed for their individual needs. Sasuke's horse had been chosen for him from these very plains, where the horses were the strongest, swiftest, and best suited for combat and for knights and Kings alike. Each Lord and Lady chose their white stallions from the Uchiha Plains, except for the Haruno, who favored their own horses, from the sister region next to that of the Uchiha's.

As the young prince made his way in through the low lying walls of the lower commoner's level, he thought back to a year ago, when the young Haruno princess had made her trip out to the Uchiha lands for another visit. Sasuke had smiled at her eleven year old figure and like her mother, already was quite the beauty. Sasuke knew that she would become beautiful, and he could already see that she had grown a few inches since last year when he came with his elder brother to Port Haruno.

She smiled at everyone else, but every time she caught sight of him, even when they first met when Sakura was four years old, she cried in front of him and ran to her mother that day. She said that he had a mean looking face, always scowling as he did. Now, she just frowned at him, so he tried to make her do any other expression but frown.

So he had peeked in at her when she was bathing, if one called going to the local and open hot springs bathing. She was the one who liked to skinny dip when she was around water, and when she had caught him staring, he had been as surprised as she was when he found that her male servant was the one massaging her shoulders and cleaning her back. She had been giggling at a comment he made about how beautiful she looked and then she had gasped at the sight of him around one of the hot rocks.

Sasuke glared at the memory of Sakura yelling to him before rushing off, and then her servant had rushed after her after flipping him some finger that meant terrible things. And then Sasuke had been embarrassed at court when a young Ino Yamanaka, who had come with Sakura, had stomped on his foot in retaliation for his apparent treachery. When Sasuke thought back on it, he should have peaked at Ino, who had already begun to be pronounced with a bust that made even grown women envious.

Sasuke reached the nobility wall and veered off to the right and jumped off his horse as it continued on into the stables, the stable boy running after it inside. Sasuke would let the commoner deal with it, as it was his job, not Sasuke's to chase after horses and take care of them. Sasuke walked into the castle with annoyance on his face because he had to be here today, in the capital city.

As Sasuke walked along the hallways and up through the castle that looked like a huge circular tower, he thought of what today would bring. His father was finally deciding on which of his sons would succeed him and Sasuke knew that he would be chosen over his elder brother. After all, Itachi hated the sight of blood, even got queasy at the sight of it at times, while Sasuke absolutely loved the sight of it.

When he had been told that his father would choose who would lead, he knew that he would be chosen. After all, Itachi was such a pacifist, wanting only peace between their neighbors and not even listening to foreigners and their desires, whereas Sasuke was absolutely fine with waging war when it was called for, and even if it wasn't, what was so bad about showing one's strength? Using other nations to crush one's enemies just made one stronger, surely.

Sasuke paused in his thoughts as he arrived inside the rear corner of the castle, where the King himself lived and the area was only able to be accessed by one of two places, the east and west gates into the gardens and hallways above them. The guards allowed him through, and suffocated the roaring fire by the door for a second, and then let it go, the smoke signaling that someone had entered the area of the King.

Sasuke quickly made his way up the stairs to the outward hallway that looked over the palace gardens and his eyes widened at the sight of his older brother and father walking slowly towards him, deep in conversation. Surely, King Fugaku was explaining to Itachi how he would have to take care of Sasuke's needs as his steward and secondary lineage. If Sasuke died, then Itachi would be king and would for now become the Heir Apparent. But Sasuke smiled at that thought, as he would lay with many princesses easily and ensure that a child was born and kick Itachi from ever reaching the throne.

"Father." Sasuke spoke up and the pair broke off and stared at Sasuke, before he walked forward and bent his knees to kiss his father's hand, as he so hated to do. He was born to lead people, not to be lead himself, why wouldn't his father just die and leave the world to him to take care of?

"Sasuke, Itachi, please stand." The brothers stood, and the King turned to watch the garden below. Fugaku was a kind King, but he was harsh on his sons, so that they would be prepared for anything, and because of that, the brothers were alike only in looks, and were complete opposites in personality. Itachi was a great listener and friend, while Sasuke was always persistent and not to be made an enemy of.

Fugaku smiled brightly as he explained his life. "I have thought about my life and how my people have been at peace for so long. I grew up in war, endless war, and then around the time that you and the other heirs your age were born, we have created a peace that has increased our trade, both by sea and by land. Our lands have flourished because of that, and now my reign, maybe soon, and maybe far away, is coming to its end.

"I have you two, as my sons, and I am proud of both of you, but only one can rule, and the other will serve his brother as family does and blood is thicker than nationality. Tell me, my sons, if we were to be attacked by the Yamanaka nobility, what would you do?" The king pondered the question.

"Father," Itachi spoke up, and their King turned to them. "I would send an envoy to them for peace and pay recompense for our losses, and a chance to restore the peace."

The King nodded his head, and then saw Sasuke's rolling eyes. "You Sasuke?"

"They attacked us, and therefore, the alliance should side with us and we should destroy them tenfold for what they've done and make them beg for peace, for it was our people that they attacked, and they must submit to us and our own rule."

"And pray explain further Sasuke. How would you make the Yamanaka submit?"

"The Yamanaka have many daughters in their nobility. I would make them concubines and harlots in our capital's brothels, and have them pay tribute to us yearly."

"Sasuke." Itachi turned to his younger brother of five years, "The nobility would never stay that way. You would bring war upon us time and time again."

"Then we burn their homes, and make them learn from their mistakes, brother."

"Enough. I have decided on my chosen heir, and the one to succeed me when I die." The King spoke and as he did, a servant walked forward with the golden laurel wrapped on a silk black pillow. The two boys bowed and bent their heads, and Sasuke smiled widely as he felt his father touch his head. "Sasuke….your path for a future…will only bring chaos to the land, and the people desire peace. They are truly happy with peace."

"Father? I can lead our people further than you ever have. We can create an empire that will last a thousand years. That is what we have been doing for centuries, defeating the Lords of the other cities in the plains."

"You are right and in the process, I have lost all of my brothers and even my only sister. No, Itachi will take the throne when I am gone." The King spoke and the servant placed the crown on Itachi's black hair and Sasuke's red eyes smoldered at the sight of his brother's happy and content face. He hated it so…...

Sasuke walked into his bed chambers a week later, angrier than ever! Down in the streets, people were rejoicing at the announcement of his brother's future succession to the throne. Nothing mattered about Sasuke anymore, and soon, he would be sent off to one of the forts of the border, left out of the royal palace as Itachi bred little bastards to upstage Sasuke himself.

He was better than his brother at everything! Yet somehow, right now, knights pledged their sons' lives and that of their families to him! Sasuke took off his black leather armor and shrugged out of his black shirt, his white skin shining in the moonlight. He couldn't do anything now! If he could, he would bring misery upon his brother's reign, and then kill him and take the throne for himself!

"Ahahahahahhahahahaa….." A giggle rushed over the room, and the moonlight dimmed lower, and Sasuke grabbed his sword from the sheath upon his dresser and looked around, ready for anything. "My…don't you have an imagination…" The voice called out.

"Who's there? Show yourself!"

"Such a strong teenager you are, but barely a man…your brother is a man yes?..."

"So what?!"

"He has taken many a princess's virginity yes? Whereas you have not?"

"So what?"

"What do you desire, young prince?"

"What? W-Where are you, you…insolent coward?"

"Oh?…" A voice spoke rather close and Sasuke turned to stare at a blackness that formed into a door of sorts, and slowly, the door hissed open and a girl whiter than Sasuke and almost as white as snow appeared near him, and wearing only a grey cloak around her form opened the black door fully before she approached before him. "I am here right, Sasuke-San, and you shouldn't say those things to a Lady."

Sasuke gulped at the sight of the girl, no older than him, and her curves were perfect, but Sasuke could tell that the white of her skin was sickly, not rich and full of bright darkness. But her eyes were deep black, and Sasuke swore that she was older than she let on. "What are you? A witch?"

"Oh, nothing so dismal as those impudent whores. Though I will say that they bring the most…" The girl moaned aloud as she touched herself lewdly, and Sasuke shivered, feeling the lust that rolled over her "…the most…delicious misery to me."

"Who are you then?"

"...You could call me a Goddess, my dear young one. You want and desire misery for your brother yes?"

"Of course….but how does that-"

"I am the Goddess of Misery, dear prince. I have looked into your heart Sasuke Uchiha, and I see so much…(Moan)…potential in you. You could be a great King over many cities."

"But I'm not. I only rule over three, while my brother rules the other seven. I can't stand against him and win."

"Oh, Sasuke. I never said you had to win on the battlefield. You just need to crush the people's spirit. They will then follow you anywhere, girls will spread their legs for you, men will die for you. You can achieve so much in other people's misery you see."

"And…what does all this misery….cost?"

The girl smiled, and slowly, Sasuke's silver blade glowed darkly, as deep purple and red smeared like jelly onto the top of the blade until the sword was midnight black. "My dear Sasuke…it only requires…a sacrifice."

It was a dark night a few days later as King Fugaku walked through the Citadel, making his way to his room after court was over and no longer in session. He personally hated going to court, but his once fiancee Yuki Haruno had begun the tradition of holding court every day instead of once a week, and Fugaku took her word and actions with great reverence.

Fugaku when he was younger wanted to challenge Maki for Yuki's hand and would have risked any one of his cities for her hand as well, but it was not to be, as Yuki loved Maki, and so Fugaku had backed off and allowed her to choose Maki. Now though, he was glad he did, otherwise, he would never have met Mikoto, Yuki's best friend and until Yuki got married, Fugaku had not gotten to know her properly, but soon, it was made clear that they shared more in common than just coincidences. She was from a minor nobility, but she had a fiery personality and when she disagreed on something, she spoke her mind, and that made Fugaku love her all the more.

And then Mikoto had Itachi and bragged to Yuki about having her first child, and all hell broke loose between the two Queens. It was a peaceful war, but Yuki was determined to have a child and much of the war between rival nations kept the Uchiha and the Haruno close as siblings. Fugaku remembered Mikoto rushing to Yuki's side when they said that she was pregnant with child, but it not to be, as the Namikaze did not have a child, and it was a false pregnancy.

Yuki had been so devastated, and locked herself in the castle, and only Mikoto could help feed her and hold her as she cried. Kushina Namikaze had been there too, while Minato, Fugaku, and Maki had only time to prepare their armies and troops and go on the attack with the warring cities of the Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi. It had been a terrible battle, and Fugaku lost his last brother, and Maki his last cousin.

"Father?" A dark haired male called out and Fugaku turned to smile at the son he had favored a few days ago.

"Itachi."

"May I have a word?"

"Of course. Please, come closer."

Itachi did indeed come closer and they sat down on the palace stone railings, before he smiled at his father. "Father, I want to know why you did not choose Sasuke over me."

"Surely, you have seen his impatience and ferocity, my son?"

"Yes Father, but you have always compared us together, despite us being five years apart. And you one had such ferocity, did you not?"

"…You believe that I have deprived him of some fairness?"

"Yes Father…"

"Perhaps you are right, Itachi, but you are exactly the one who I believe can rule this nation of cities and not become corrupted by outside influence. I stand by my decision."

"Thank you, Father."

"Itachi, I know that I will not be here forever, but I want you and Sasuke to rule as brothers do. Do not shut him out as I did to mine."

"Of course not, Father." Itachi bowed and moved to the end of the hallway, before the King called back.

"I love you both equally, son."

"We know, Father." Itachi smiled softly and moved out of view and Fugaku smiled and groaned as he got up and made his way to his bed chambers. His bones ached from the numerous broken limbs during many seasons of war in his younger life, but he knew that while his battles were over, his sons could continue the fight, but he wished that they were few and far between.

Fugaku nodded to the men outside his door and they opened the door so that their king could head to bed. The king nodded to them and they left after bowing, and Fugaku locked the door from the inside, and moved to his bed. Fugaku changed out of his armor and moved to his sleeping clothes for the night before he headed into the white bed, and closed his eyes.

There was a noise by the balcony, and the King opened his eyes and looked over to the area. The door to the balcony was open, and what light there was flooded into the room, but there was no one standing there. Fugaku moved onto his stomach and closed his eyes. That was his mistake.

Before the king could move, a figure covered in black from their nose down to their boots and black hair revealing only white porcelain skin jumped from the side of the bed and straddled the king. Fugaku moved to get up, but was too slow as he was pushed back down and then the black clad figure pulled out a sword from his belt and everything turned black.

The light around them dyed a pure black, and the sword surged in through the white clothes and skin, and deep into the bed underneath the king. The king's eyes widened as he choked on his own blood, as the black of the blade slowly seeped off of the blade and into the King's body, before the King's body stilled, as if paralyzed and the figure moved off the bed, retrieved his once again silver sword from the dying king and ran out of the room, to the balcony and disappeared over the railing.

The king tried to speak, but his throat just choked out quiet sounds that did not travel past his bed, and as the black liquid seeped up his neck, and began to cover his skin, sucking the life out of him, he smiled. It looked like his elder son would lead the nation sooner than he expected.

Sasuke walked through the castle, and arrived at his room once more. Sasuke reached into his pocket and pulled out his key, and quickly unlocked it and headed inside. As he reached the center of the room, darkness lay on his bed, and Sasuke stared at the lusciously nude teen lying completely exposed upon his sheets.

"Hello, Sasuke. I felt stronger a few minutes ago. Did you provide for that?"

Sasuke smiled darkly as he took out his sword and showed her the once again silver blade. "Yes. Now, give me what you promised."

"Oh Sasuke, I will provide you with everything you'll ever need." Akhlys smiled and waved her black smoke around the room, and Sasuke smiled widely as out of the smoke's presence, things in gold and silver appeared all around him, and they filled until they were Sasuke's height.

A heavy knocking sounded on the door and Sasuke rushed to the door and opened it slightly to see five guards at his door. "What is it?"

"Sasuke-Sama, please come quickly. The king…he's dead."

"Alright, let me get changed." Sasuke spoke hurriedly and closed the door and made his way over to his bed and stripped naked to switch into something more appropriate to see his dead father. But Sasuke's member twitched at the sight of Akhlys's body, now more plump and beautiful than before and lust covered his eyes.

"Akhlys?"

"Yes, Sasuke?"

"How much sacrifice would it take for you to lie down with me?"

"Oh?" Akhlys smiled darkly, "….a whole city, with a princess at the lead."

AN: So I wanted to test out showing Sasuke's brief upbringing and the darkness seeping into his mind, and what her plans are for the future to guide him.