Okay… I felt inspired, so wrote this chapter in one day.

Hope you all enjoy this. This chapter has lot more action than I'm used to write, so I can just hope I did a good job with it.

Here it is!

Night of the Avenger

復讐者の夜 (Fukushū-sha no yoru)

The bells rang as Shinya's small coffin was placed in the ditch and covered with earth.

Nearly all the inhabitants of Maruki had come to the funeral. A group of women surrounded Shinya's mother, who was crying so hard she fell to the ground from exhaustion. Shinya's father started screaming when the coffin was buried, and several men had to stop him from throwing himself into the ditch.

The cemetery was filled with men and women dressed in black and wailing faces. Sasuke had never been to a funeral before (except when they buried Akuma). It was the first time he came to person's funeral. A kid... a person he knew...

The raven looked around and saw several of his classmates with their parents. Many of them were crying, especially Junko, who was Shinya's best friend since they were babies. The girl clung to her father, sobbing uncontrollably and repeating that "it wasn't fair" over and over.

Not far from Shinya's grave, Akane stood pale as a ghost and thick tears fell down her cheeks. She knew that the last thing that Shinya had done was pick flowers to give to her. Kaito approached her and placed his hand on her shoulder. Shortly after, Akane cried in his arms.

Naruto was beside Sasuke, watching him covertly. When the blond heard what had happened at school, he had rushed there. When he got there, Sasuke was sitting on a bench, surrounded by weeping friends and teachers, white as a sheet and staring at nothing. The raven didn't say a word all the way home and had eaten only because Naruto forced him.

During the funeral, Sasuke had stood still and silent, staring at everything and everyone with a empty gaze. Naruto still hadn't reassure him... he was not sure that Sasuke was ready for that yet, therefore, he remained at his side, also silent.

When the funeral was over, Naruto and Sasuke went home, walking slowly under the setting sun. Curiously, no one was on the road, it was as if the village had become deserted. They could only hear the sound of the cicadas, birds and wind.

Suddenly, Sasuke stopped on his tracks.

"Huh? What is it, Sasuke?" Naruto asked, turning back.

Sasuke remained silent, with his eyes on the ground and his hair blowing in the wind.

"Sasuke?" Naruto asked again.

Sasuke's shoulders shook.

"I didn't like him" the raven said. Naruto blinked. "Shinya... He was an idiot and a showoff... he liked to mock me and I called him a moron..."

Naruto stood still, staring at Sasuke's lowered head.

"He was annoying... a total idiot... but..." Sasuke let out a sob. "But he didn't have to die... he was dumb and annoyed me, but... he didn't need to die..."

Naruto approached the raven and knelt before him.

"I know" the blond said.

Sasuke looked up and the first tears rolled down his cheeks. When he could no longer bear it, the raven burst into tears and ran into his father's arms. Naruto took the child on his lap and patted his back as he moaned and wept with his face buried in his shoulder, with his two small hands clenched in Naruto's shirt.

"He didn't deserve to die" Sasuke repeated through his sobs. "It's not fair..."

Naruto continued to stroke his back, letting the raven vent all his feelings of sadness, confusion and guilt. Naruto knew Sasuke well enough to know what he not only felt disturbed by the death of his classmate, but also for being the one that annoyed him.

There were no words that could comfort Sasuke at the moment, so Naruto just took the child home. When they arrived, Naruto laid Sasuke on the bed and stood beside him in silence as the boy cried.

"Tou-chan?" Sasuke asked.

"Yes?"

"Why do people die?"

Naruto laid a hand on the raven's head and stroked his hair.

"I don't know... it's something that happens to everybody," Naruto said. "No one lives forever."

"But death is sad..."

Naruto smiled sadly.

"You're right... death... is sad and painful. It's sad for those who die and it's sad for those who are left behind" Naruto looked out Sasuke's bedroom window and saw a green leaf floating in the wind, before disappearing from view.

"If I promise to be nicer to Shinya... can he come back?" the boy asked.

Naruto shook his head.

"Sasuke… Shinya didn't die because of you" the blond said. "Unfortunately, there is nothing that can bring Shinya back."

Sasuke nodded sadly, he knew it was useless to think of a way to bring back Shinya. When people died, they disappeared forever. Sniffing, Sasuke got up from bed and lay down on Naruto's lap, leaning his head to his father's chest.

Naruto continued to stroke his back and spiky black hair.

"The first time I went to a funeral was when the leader of our village died," Naruto told. "He was an old man who scolded me many times when I did stupid things... but I loved him... it was almost as if he were family. When he died... I was very sad... I didn't understand why he had to die, because death is sad..."

Sasuke raised his tearful eyes and stared at Naruto, who was still looking at the window.

Naruto stood quiet during the funeral, with bandages from his fight with Gaara over his face. Next to him, Konohamaru was crying. Iruka placed a hand on the little boy's back and then kneeled and hugged him.

"Iruka-sensei...why do people risk their lives for others?" the blond asked.

Iruka looked at the picture of the Third Hokage, he was probably lost in his own memories of the old man as well.

"When a person dies, he disappears...along with his past, current lifestyle, and his future. Many people die in missions and wars. They die easily and in surprisingly simple ways. Hayate was one of them" the sensei said. "Those who die have goals and dreams, but everyone has something as important as those. Parents, siblings, friends, lovers...people who are important to you. They trust and help each other. The bond between the people important to you ever since birth. And the sting that binds them becomes thicker and stronger as time goes by. It's beyond reason. Those bound to you by that string will do that...because it's important..."

Naruto looked at the Sandaime's picture again.

"Yes, I think I understand somewhat, but...it's painful when someone dies."

"Life is important" Naruto continued. "While we live, we bond with other people who become important to us. That is why it is so important to protect the people we love."

Sasuke heard his Dad's words carefully, although he couldn't fully understand their meaning. He remembered the talk he had with Iruka-sensei about being able to protect people. Sasuke felt that he could understand what he tried to say a bit better now... death was sad and makes people suffer, that was why life was so important.

An hour later, Naruto made a soup and took it to his son's room. Sasuke wasn't very hungry and told him that he didn't want to eat, but Naruto insisted, in a way that only parents do, and Sasuke ended up eating soup in his bed.

"Feeling better?" Naruto asked, taking the empty bowl.

"A little" Sasuke replied. "My eyes hurt."

"Then you better lie down and go to sleep. Put on your pajamas and go to wash yourself. "

"Huh? Tou-chan... But it's still early! And I'm not sleepy!"

"You're exhausted and you yawned three times already" Naruto said. "What you need is a good night's sleep. Come on! "

"Oh..." Sasuke grumbled, but obeyed. However, when he was ready to sleep, the raven got out of his bed and peeked at Naruto's bedroom. The blond was also in his pajamas and was lying in bed, reading a manga.

"Tou-chan?"

Naruto looked away from the book and looked at his son, who was leaning against the doorjamb.

"What is it, Sasuke?"

The boy rubbed his hands against the other, blushing slightly.

"Want to ask me something, son?" Naruto asked, smiling slightly.

"Oh... I... can I stay here with you?" Sasuke asked with his cheeks flushed. "Just a little bit..."

Naruto smiled even more. He knew Sasuke wanted to sleep in his bed, but the boy thought he was already too old for this.

Gosh… the kid was like an open book. Or maybe, Naruto just knew him too well. Parents knew their children better than anyone else.

"Sure," the blond replied. "You can make me company if you like. Besides, I was feeling a bit lonely."

Trying to hide his joy, Sasuke ran to his father's bed and lay down beside him. Naruto pulled the sheets and let Sasuke lay his head on his pillow. The raven looked at Naruto, who continued to read his book quietly, and moved closer. Shortly after, Sasuke grabbed Naruto's shirt and leaned against his warm and familiar body. Touched, Naruto placed a hand on the child's back, pulling him closer.

Feeling warm and cherished, Sasuke closed his eyes and slowly fell asleep.

Everything is ready. Tonight will be the final night; I'm tired of these games.

It was fun, I must admit. All these small deaths, funerals, the crying... it was quite satisfying. And they don't have the slightest idea it was me. They would be surprised, shocked and finally horrified.

I wasn't expecting that the famous Uzumaki Naruto could show up here. He can be a nuisance, but I'm not worried. I can deal with him. I waited too long and trained too hard to postpone my revenge. It has to be tonight, right after the kid's funeral.

It was annoying to be at the memorial service because of a pathetic little brat, but I had to keep my mask, smiling on the inside and weeping on the outside. But it's time to take this mask off and reveal all these worms that I came back to claim the justice that has been denied.

"Sasuke! Sasuke, wake up! "

Sasuke felt a hand shaking him hard, waking him from his peaceful dream. First, the boy tried to turn and go back to sleep, but Naruto's worried voice made him realize that something was wrong.

"Tou-chan? What is it?" the raven asked.

"You have to get dressed, quick!" Naruto ordered, stripping his pajamas.

Sasuke looked out the window. It was still dark, but there was an orange light outside...

"What's wrong?" Sasuke asked again.

Naruto pulled his pants up and grabbed his son, pulling him into the bedroom, where he began to undress his pajamas and dress him with the first clothes he found.

In the distance came the sound of an explosion. The window panes of Sasuke's room shook.

"Tou-chan?" Sasuke asked, feeling confused and scared. "What was that?"

"We have to leave, Sasuke" Naruto said, pulling Sasuke to the hall and putting on his sandals.

"Why?"

"There's no time to explain. Come with me!"

Naruto and Sasuke left home and ran down the stairs. Sasuke looked at the horizon and saw the towers of flame rise up from several buildings. There was a lot of smoke in the air and people screaming. What was happening?

Many other people had also left their homes, some still in their pajamas, and ran along the road, asking about their family and friends. Naruto took Sasuke in his arms and ran through the crowd until he got to a group of upset women and children. Sasuke recognized some of his classmates and their mothers.

"Akiyama-san!" Naruto shouted to one woman, who Sasuke recognized as Kyoshiro's mom.

"Naruto-san! This is horrible! The village... it's all on fire!" the woman exclaimed, her eyes filled with concern. "It looks like a war scenario. My husband went to help fight the fires... he said that someone is attacking the village. They found exploding tags."

Naruto's eyes darkened.

"I'm going to help too" Naruto said, not realizing that Sasuke's eyes had widened when the boy landed on the floor and he pulled him in Mrs. Akiyama's direction. "Get everyone who you can to the shelters. Please take Sasuke too. "

"Of course" the lady said, clutching Sasuke's shoulders. "Don't worry. We'll take care of him. "

Sasuke looked at Naruto and Mrs. Akiyama, confused about what was going on.

"Tou-chan? What's wrong?" the raven asked as the fear grew in his chest.

Naruto knelt in front of the child and looked into his eyes.

"The village is in danger" Naruto said quietly. "I want you to go with Akiyama-san and do as you are told, okay? She and the other ladies are going to a safe place. "

Sasuke felt his lip trembling.

"And where are you going?"

"I'll help the other men. Be good until I get back, okay? "

The raven gasped in horror.

"No... Don't go..." the boy sobbed, feeling the tears behind his eyes. "Please, Papa. Stay…"

Naruto hugged his son tightly.

"I'll come back, I promise" the blond whispered. "Be good and wait for me."

Before Sasuke could reply, Naruto got up and ran down the street, disappearing through the crowd and smoke.

"No! Papa, don't go! Don't go!" Sasuke shouted, trying to go after Naruto, but Mrs. Akiyama grabbed him tightly.

"He'll be okay, Sasuke-chan" the lady said, although her voice was full of fear and worry. "Come on… we have to go now."

"I don't wanna go" Sasuke yelled, more and more scared. "Let me go! I want my Daddy!"

But Mrs. Akiyama didn't let go and pulled him along with her children to the woods where there was an emergency shelter in a safe cave.

Sasuke looked steadily into the burning village and the full moon, covered by black smoke from the fires. The boy couldn't help feeling that something horrible was happening. People around him were concerned, crying and even injured. All the while, Sasuke was hoping to see his father come back through the crowd, but Naruto still hadn't reappeared and no one told him where he was.

Sasuke never felt so scared in his life. He just wanted his Daddy back. Why did he have to go help in the village? There were more men in the village... strong men! Why did his Dad have to go too? He was going to die... his father was going to die... like Shinya...

Naruto wasn't strong; he should have come with Sasuke to the shelters. If he was in the midst of these explosions he was going to die.

One of Mrs. Akiyama's sons tripped and she dropped Sasuke's hand to help him. The raven didn't even think twice and ran through the crowd, towards the village. He had to find his Tou-chan.

Sasuke continued to run in the opposite direction of villagers fleeing the village. The more he rushed to the village's center, the more heat and smoke prevented him from breathing.

"Tou-chan!" Sasuke shouted, looking around. "Papa! Where are you? "

But nobody answered. That area of the village was deserted... there were just burning buildings.

"Papa!" Sasuke yelled with all his might.

Something exploded behind him and Sasuke fell to the ground, coughing violently.

"Daddy..." the boy murmured.

A shadow passed in front of Sasuke. The raven looked up and saw Kaito, covered in soot and dirt, across the street.

"Ka-Kaito-san!" Sasuke yelled, getting up and running in his direction.

Kaito stopped and looked at the child with his eyes wide with surprise.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, abruptly. "Why didn't you escape to the shelters?"

"My Dad is gone" Sasuke sighed, gazing at him with pleading eyes. "Please... I can't find him..."

Kaito looked at the buildings on fire and ran a hand through his dirty hair.

"There is nothing I can do," the man said. "I also came looking for someone. Go back and look for someone to take you to the shelters!"

Without another word, Kaito left Sasuke and ran down the street. The raven was perplexed and disappointed. Kaito had ignored him as if he was nothing!

"Kaito-san! Wait!" Sasuke yelled, following the man. Kaito was the strongest man he knew, if anyone was able to save his father he was. Sasuke had to convince him to help him.

Kaito ran through several streets that Sasuke didn't know, even so, the boy followed the man. Finally, Sasuke saw that Kaito had stopped near a large house that wasn't on fire, his eyes fixed on the open door.

Sasuke approached Kaito slowly, but he didn't even notice his presence. The man's eyes were fixed on the woman who staggered out the door.

"Akane!" Kaito shouted, running towards the candy lady.

Akane looked at Kaito, with her messy hair and her clothes covered in blood.

"Kaito..." she said.

Kaito walked up to her and hugged her tightly.

"I looked for you everywhere" Kaito said in anguish. "When couldn't find you at home... I immediately thought the worst... you're hurt."

"This... this is nothing..." Akane said, hugging Kaito. "I'm so glad you're here, Kaito."

Sasuke moved closer and noticed the board above the door of the big house: Nakano Family.

"Akane, let's go... we have to go to the shelters" Kaito said, staring at her. "Why did you come to the mayor's house?"

Akane looked down. Then, Kaito gasped.

"Because I came to kill him, my love" Akane said with a cruel smile on her lips.

With wide eyes, Kaito and staggered away from her. With a stunned expression, he looked at the kunai that she stabbed in his chest. A trickle of blood ran from his mouth.

"Akane...?" Kaito asked before falling to the ground.

Akane laughed and threw her long black hair wig to the floor. Her real hair, reddish orange, was fluttering in the air like the flames consuming the buildings behind them.

"Himura Akane never existed" the woman said with a grin, staring at the dead man in front her.

Sasuke was in awe... Akane Nee-chan... she had... she had killed Kaito-san... It couldn't be. That couldn't be happening!

"Well now... what am I going to do with you?" the woman asked, looking at Sasuke with her cold and ruthless eyes. "Sasuke-kun?"

Sasuke was so frightened, he couldn't even move. His legs were shaking like green leaves.

"Why?" the raven stammered.

"Oh! Kaito? He was getting on my nerves" Akane replied coldly. "Men... they think they can have a woman just because of one simple kiss. He served his purpose, but now don't need him. So I got rid of him."

Akane walked up to Sasuke and took something from her bloody kimono. A kunai.

"It's a shame, Sasuke-kun" Akane continued. "You had bad luck. If you had gone to the shelter, maybe you'd lived a few more hours. If your father hadn't decided to come to this damn village, you wouldn't even have to die. "

Sasuke gasped. She was going to kill him like she killed Kaito-san. Akane had no resemblance at all to the kind and friendly woman who offered them free candy and talked with them with such gentleness. This Akane seemed crazy and dangerous... like a monster.

"You know? I was at your school yesterday" Akane revealed, continuing to move towards the boy. "My plan was to kill a teacher or even the principal... that would disturb those dim-witted villagers. I wasn't expecting to find Shinya-kun in the office, looking for flowers to give me. It was almost a gift from heaven! A kid's death would be much more shocking."

The raven couldn't believe what he was hearing. The horror caused his bile to rise up to his mouth.

"You killed Shinya" Sasuke said.

Akane laughed unpleasantly.

"You're a clever little brat, aren't you? Yes, I did... you should have seen his face when he realized he was going to die. It was priceless."

Despite the horror and fear, Sasuke felt another emotion at the bottom of his heart… it was resentment and fury.

"Shinya liked you" the raven said. "He liked you so much that he wanted you to be his girlfriend. And you killed him!"

"As if I cared about that" Akane said with contempt. "All I want is to destroy this village, but want everyone to suffer first. I want to hear their cries of despair before I kill them all... one by one. Many of them have already died tonight. After that, only ashes will remain."

Sasuke finally understood. It was all Akane's fault. She was the one who had burned the village.

"Why are you doing this? Why do you want to hurt everyone? They didn't do anything to you" Sasuke asked, feeling a strange knot in his stomach and heart.

Sasuke finally managed to move his legs, but just enough to back away a few steps, banging his back against a wall. Akane continued to approach him slowly, staring at him with her dark eyes full of hatred.

"Revenge" she answered. "You know what that is, boy? It means that I will make them pay for what they did... I am an avenger."

Sasuke saw Akane lift the kunai in the air and knew he was going to die, she was going to kill him like killed Kaito, Shinya and the others.

He was never going to see his father again.

Suddenly, Sasuke felt weird. His eyes were burning and he saw a line of light that radiated from Akane's kunai. By the time she attacked him; Sasuke was able to bypass the kunai and swung to the left. Akane's kunai opened a huge hole in the wall where Sasuke had been.

"Where are you?" Akane asked, looking at the debris, confused and frustrated for failing such an easy target. "Where did you go?"

When she looked to the side, she saw Sasuke on his knees and trying to get up. When the boy looked at her, Akane's eyes widened in genuine surprise… Sasuke irises had become bright red, a small tomoe around each pupil.

Akane was a ninja long enough to recognize that eye, despite never having seen one personally.

"The Sharingan?" she murmured, almost to herself. "That's not possible. How can you have one?"

Sasuke didn't know what she was talking about, but it wasn't important. He had to get out or she would kill him. With some surprise, the raven realized that he could see everything much more clearly, even Akane. Sasuke could perceive her every move, no matter how small they were, like the waving of her hair or a small movement of her fingers.

Composing herself, Akane attacked him again, but Sasuke could see that she was going to attack and moved on time again.

"You fucking bastard!" Akane yelled, continuing to attack Sasuke.

The raven jumped in time to avoid a new attack, but he stumbled and staggered. Taking this opportunity, Akane grabbed him by the neck and lifted him into the air. Sasuke kicked and tried to get her to let go of him, but it was of no use. Her grasp was too strong.

Feeling out of air, Sasuke looked at Akane. Her eyes looked like small purple spots, filled with rage and bloodlust. With her other hand, she raised her kunai and Sasuke closed his eyes with a tear running down his face.

"Die!" Akane shouted, and Sasuke flinched, ready for the pain.

But the pain didn't come. Instead, Sasuke felt someone had grabbed him and pulled him away with a jump.

"What?" Akane asked, looking straight ahead.

Sasuke slowly opened his eyes and realized that Akane was several meters away. Also, there was someone holding him. When the raven looked up, his eyes widened in astonishment.

Holding him was a young man who was surrounded by an aura of enormous power. Under his blond fringe was the traditional shinobi forehead protector and his serious blue eyes were fixed on the woman in front of them.

Sasuke had seen that face a thousand times, but now it seemed entirely new.

"Tou-chan?"

Okay… so the killer is revealed. It's my first murder story; I hope the killer wasn't too obvious. Her reasons will be revealed in the following chapter. BTW, Akane has a chakra kunai blade.

And yes, Sasuke has a regular Sharingan, though very underdeveloped. One tomoe (those dot like things) on each eye.

The "I am an avenger" line... I know it's cliché, but I couldn't help it ^_^

Also, along with Phoenix Rising, I'm writing two other fanfictions, one about Madara and other about Golbez from Final Fantasy IV. If you're interested, please check it out.

I hope you liked this chapter. See you guys later!