"Sasuke really?" Naruto asked annoyed.
"what dobe?"
"You're still in that form" Naruto stated annoyed but Sasuke just kept walking next to Kakashi behind his two teammates. "So? what's it to you?" Sasuke asked earning himself a glare from Naruto. "Our punishments ended months ago but you're still like this?" Sasuke just shrugged "this form is more useful than my small one, plus with the Chunin exams coming up i think it will give me the advantage."
"WAIT WHAT?" both Sakura and Naruto shouted coming to a stop in front of Sasuke, "you know for shinobi you guys are awfully loud," Kakashi said but they weren't paying attention to him. "Sasuke i have helped you hide from the others for the past few months every time someone wanted to see you ...why now?" Sakura asked. Kakashi stood behind Sasuke in what he clearly told naruto was his personal space and had punched him constantly whenever he broke it, but for some reason, he didn't shout at Kakashi ...maybe it was because he was their sensei but that never stopped him before. Naruto continued to ponder while Sasuke decided he might as well just deal with it or it will interfere with the mission they were currently on.
"I can't hide forever, what if i need to use this form again in the future," he said to sakura with a small shoulder shrug that awfully looked a lot like Kakashi's. Sakura knew that probably wasn't the reason but Sasuke would not give it up so readily, the dobe however wasn't so quick to let it go. "Really Sasuke, you expect me to believe that? you probably just like that form" Naruto pointed accusingly at Sasuke. The Uchiha narrowed his eyes and brought out his kunai "what did you say to me Dobe?" he was about to charge at naruto but felt a small but strong tug at the lower back of his shirt.
He glanced over his shoulder to meet Kakashi's eye and he just gave him a small nod as he felt his hand rest against his lower back stealthily making sure the other members of their team didn't see. Sasuke took a deep calming breath and glanced back at Naruto and Sakura, the one who had been readying for a fight judging by the way he was holding his kunai at the ready. "It also helps with training, since constantly releasing my chakra in a stable form helps widen my chakra paths allowing more power to follow easier."
This seemed to actually intrigue the two before naruto inexplicably interrupted sakura who Sasuke thought was about to question it, "So like Kurama does for me?" Sasuke just nodded but decided to add one more nail in the coffin of any doubts "Yes and Kakashi checked with his Sharingan and told me about it so i decided to keep it." Kakashi's fingers were now lazily drawing circles on Sasuke's back and he loved the feeling, "So if it's actual training then why try to hide it" Sakura asked. "Because i didn't want people drowning me in questions like you two an-" he felt a small pinch on his lower back and glared back at Kakashi who just looked forward smugly. He released another deep breath " and as an Uchiha to be seen like this would be awful, as i would be associated with that dobe."
The two were about to start asking something else till Kakashi decided to finally end this " and since i have decided to personally train Sasuke for the Chunin exams since his style of fighting matches mine." Kakashi hand wandered a bit further down and Sasuke's breath hitched a bit "and since you all have someone teaching you for the chunin exams, i decided if Sasuke wanted this training he could do it, but for now let's get back to the mission."
With a final nod, they carried on with the mission, a simple recon one since it had been a while since Sasuke had to be allowed to go on one ever since The Third found out Orochimaru had been lurking around.
The past few months had flown by since then, as Sasuke had been at home for most of it under ANBU guard. He had begged Kakashi and The Third to drop the security and just let him be a shinobi again but they both had said "no." Often at night, Sasuke would wake up in Kakashi's room or what had become their room and search his side to find it empty "don't tell me he's patrolling again."
"Not this time," Kakashi voice said from the shadows and all Sasuke could see was one red glowing eye in the darkness before he stepped into the moonlight next to Sasuke in bed "okay maybe that's a lie." Sasuke gave him a small smile before reaching out and dragging him into bed as Kakashi carefully fell on top of him before sinking into the crock of Sasuke's neck "you should sleep" Sasuke whispered into his ear "I'm safe you know." Kakashi rose up propping his hands on the sides of Sasuke's head and looking down at him with his mask off, something that he had started doing a lot more when at home. "i want to but it's not that easy," he felt Sasuke's hand reach up to stroke his cheek "you have a mission tomorrow with the others and the Hokage basically gave us a small army to protect me ...the last thing we need is you being tired and not coming back home."
Home, that word had started to mean something to Sasuke, maybe it was that he no longer saw the Uchiha compound as a home but a grave sight, a killing that only brought torturous memories. But with Kakashi he could see why this place felt different ...it felt safe.
The two would often spend their time training with Sasuke's stolen students as Kakashi liked to put it, would often join them as Sasuke made them run drills that he had got from Kakashi the night before after coaxing it out of him with a bribe of kisses. It was a lot easier for them to be like this behind closed doors as outside and in front of the other members of team 7 Sasuke had to act like his old self but he now often found that tiring. As at times he would subconsciously try to reach out to Kakashi and be caught in many awkward positions that he had to then rush to explain to his teammates.
Sasuke's small group of genin were not doing the chunin exams this year which Sasuke had disagreed with arguing that they were strong enough. That was until Kakashi had pointed out although it's looked down upon and now severely monitored and punished, some students can die in the chunin exams. After hearing that Sasuke had quickly backtracked sighting that after further inspection, that they weren't ready and he thought they would never be for a long time. Recently they hadn't been any fatalities since they brokered an alliance with the other villages and training new shinobi took too many resources. Kakashi also didn't want Sasuke to also have to go against his stolen students.
Miko had asked Sasuke why he wore a genin headband sometimes and he had simply replied "because i have never done the chunin exams" they all had looked at him with sad pouts before delving in for a hug muttering "you can do it, Miss Sasuke." It all confused him but Kakashi knew that they thought he was an older kunoichi who never passed the exams thus he didn't have a team. The team of 4 was quite gifted Kakashi had seen, and he had denied it when they had asked to come to see Sasuke fight in the chunin exams. "What if Sasuke was to lose?" he asked and they immediately quietened before Miko had stepped forward "then that just means she might need us more.
Kakashi had seen the influence of having a sort of team had done to Sasuke and he could see why the Hokage had signed him up to be one too.
During this time, however, Sasuke had grown more curious as to what Orochimaru had coming up in his plan. He didn't know whether to warn the Hokage or be more scared for himself after he had heard what the slithering ninja wanted. But the carrot that dangled in front of him was too great "enough power to finally kill Itachi." He knew of Orochimaru as one of the Rogue ninjas that they were told to stay clear of when they had started going on the missions in the beginning. He was rated as an S-Class and above shinobi so Sasuke knew he wasn't lying when it came to his power plus the knowledge that he used to be on The Third's team along with Jiraya and Tsunade only served to fan the flames.
Sasuke had asked Kakashi one night whilst they were in bed as he laid on his chest "what do you know about Orochimaru?" he asked shattering the quiet they usually enjoyed before sleeping. "That he's bad news," Kakashi said reaching down to hook under Sasuke's chin to make him look up "i have seen what he did to other ninjas...even some of the ANBU that mysteriously disappeared back in the day." Kakashi held him a little tighter "he even cloned shinobi with forbidden jutsu in order to steal their jutsu but mostly their bodies and now i suspect he is after the Sharingan."
"You have a Sharingan, hasn't he tried coming after you?" Sasuke asked looking up to the covered eye, "i wasn't born with mine so it's more of a burden on my body, that didn't stop him from trying till ..." Kakashi stopped them looked away slowly stroking Sasuke's back "till the Uchiha massacre." Sasuke looked at him while he put two and two together and spoke as barely a whisper "but that would mean?" he wanted to continue but he felt a finger press against his lips "don't think about it, all you must do is stay far away from him ...i suspect he was here because he probably tried and failed to get Itachi."
It made sense to Sasuke, if he wanted to get a Sharingan he could have gone to Itachi or he probably wanted someone who would cause less trouble like Sasuke.
Their days turned to weeks under village guard but they didn't interfere with him too much, only when he tried to leave the village to go do some training would they let their presence known.
One day, he was sitting with Kakashi under a tree that his sensei favoured sitting at while he read his novels. They were at the training grounds just relaxing as Sasuke sat between Kakashi's legs with his back on the Jonin's chest and head on his shoulder with his arms wrapped around him. Kakashi had told him that it is sometimes more beneficial to do this than train but he always thought that was his sensei being lazy but he soon ended up joining him.
Sasuke was so relaxed he didn't hear or notice the four genins running towards them till he heard Karin shouting, he opened his eyes and was about to scramble to get up. but the arms around him felt like vices "Kakashi let go now they're going to see us" Kakashi opened his eyes looking down at Sasuke squirming in his arms then back to the approaching genin before closing it. "Then let them" "what?" Sasuke breathlessly asked but before he could question it more the genin arrived.
"See dummy i told you they were busy," Miko said slapping Karin in the back of the head before turning back to Sasuke who had stopped squirming in Kakashi's hold. "Sorry Miss Sasuke, i told them that you were busy but Karin wouldn't listen and then Ishido challenged him to a race here an-" Sasuke just held up his hand bringing the rant to a stop "so how are you four?" he asked and their faces lit up "i am great Sasuke," Ishido said pushing past the others before stopping in front of Sasuke and sending him a wink. As always the reliable student Miko immediately decked him and wanted to keep beating on him as the others held her back. A small chuckle escaped Sasuke and everyone immediately froze before slowly turning to face him.
He even felt Kakashi shift behind him "what?" he asked confused, Taka was about to answer but he saw behind Sasuke Kakashi signalling to keep his mouth shut. "Well since you all seem to have all this energy, how about some training?"
That had been his life for the past few months as he waited to see what Orochimaru had in store for the leaf. But if he was being honest with himself with each day that had passed with "his" students and Kakashi after a long day, was starting to wear him down quenching his thirst for vengeance. Miko had mentioned to him that he smiled more and it didn't look like he was forcing it.
Mrs Misano hadn't been exactly helping as after the first month as she was already trying to pressure Kakashi into tying the knot with Sasuke, as she said "I've never seen him tolerate someone this long" he didn't know if it was a compliment or not but she had reassured him that it was. He always liked learning more about Kakashi's history many of which he was sure he wouldn't have heard if not for their new relationship.
/ A month ago. /
Sasuke was watching some of the soapies he and Kakashi always watched after coming back from training. That day had been brutal, Sasuke didn't expect that he would get special treatment from Kakashi to go easier on him but somehow their new relationship has only made the training on him harder. He was waiting for Kakashi to come out of their room, till he heard the bedroom door open.
"About time, that new one is about to start," Sasuke said glancing over his shoulder to see a fully clothes Kakashi wearing his armour, "oh it's that time of the month," he said jokily and only got a small nod in reply. "I will be back later ...don't wait up," he said before heading for the door and slowly going out. Kakashi's had turned down the whole disappearing act as he preferred to slowly assess the area around him as he walked. Plus the ANBU hadn't been big fans of having a shinobi sudden appear behind them, and after scaring the hell out of them a few times Kakashi had stopped doing it.
This time however Sasuke was bored and he wanted to see where Kakashi was heading, it had been months of them living together, firstly to hide from people asking questions then under a special guard order from the Hokage. Sasuke slowly snuck out the windows and looked around before sending out two shadow clones which quickly found Kakashi still walking slowly on the outskirts of the village. It looked as if Kakashi wasn't in a hurry with his guard down but Sasuke wasn't about to get complacent.
After a few more minutes of Sasuke following Kakashi and the ANBU following him but making sure to keep out of sight as they were told. Sasuke would sometimes forget that they were there and he would curse himself for getting too comfortable and slipping but then he reminded himself that this was the whole point of ANBU.
Sasuke quickly ducked into the bush when he was another Kakashi running towards the one he had been tailing, it was carrying flowers which was odd. With a quick Sharingan zoom, Sasuke looked and saw all of them were white roses, Kakashi's clone nodded to him before disappearing into lighting and fading away.
Kakashi stood there for a while then turned to a low gate next to his right and enter the small place. After following a little closer Sasuke saw that it was a sort of a memorial site and he began to wonder who Kakashi was coming to see here. He followed for a bit more but saw Kakashi going to a completely different side of the memorial, it wasn't as well maintained but looked well enough. They were two graves next to each other and now it was starting to come to Sasuke who those two could belong to. it was either Kakashi's parents or Obito and rin, Kakashi had never spoken much about his family. Sasuke knew more from Mrs Misano than he thought Kakashi would tell him, but somehow Sasuke knew Mrs. Misano was telling all this, he wonder why he never confronted him about it.
"Hello dad, it's me again" that immediately made Sasuke tense up, he didn't no longer know if he should be here for something like this that Kakashi had kept clearly away from him. "This month has been going great you know, my students are doing amazing and I am happier these days." He took a deep breath as if steadying himself and Sasuke couldn't help but keep his locked on him as he saw every subtle expression his otherwise expressionless masked face made. "Sasuke's students are a handful but always so eager, he needs to step up as their sensei," Kakashi said with a small chuckle that escaped from his lips.
"Mrs Misano had been on my case for a while now saying she wants to see her nieces and nephews before Kami takes her. " "I worry about the future you know ...everything that has come and is to come in creating a path that really clouds my mind." "But you always taught me efficiency was the way to do things but a part of me is seeing different."
As Kakashi went on Sasuke just kept watching intently, taking every word but he didn't know about the presence behind him even as it crouched down. Till a set of words was whispered into his ear "so what are we listening to" causing him to jump forward. As Sasuke fell out and was dragged back into his bush it didn't make sense, ANBU would have done something by no unless. Then the voice replayed in his heard, "but that can't be" he said staring back to the Kakashi standing in front of the graves and then looked over his shoulder behind him.
Kakashi was standing there looking at him with a smug look in his eye, Sasuke did a quick double-take before sighing "Clone." The Kakashi behind him faded and as he looked back towards the graveyard Kakashi was standing right in front of him, his face expressionless as always. "Mind telling me why you've been tailing me since back home?" he asked as Sasuke slowly got out of the bushes and stepped out to face him.
"I got curious about where you go sometimes" Kakashi just let out a small chuckle "afraid I'm going to find someone else" and all he received from Sasuke was a glare. "Kidding kidding" he let out a deep sigh "it's my mother and father" he answered already turning to head back home with Sasuke following behind. "Don't you have a shrine of them back home?" Sasuke asked walking up next to Kakashi, "yes I do, but sometimes this is just much better ...i was rarely coming back here anyhow but..."
Sasuke knew that he wanted to say more but just left it at that, the last thing he needed was Kakashi staring off into the distance for a whole week like last time. "Anyway, how did you know I was there? i made sure to be pretty stealthily with the training you taught me unless that says much about your teaching." Kakashi just released a small chuckle "oh that, I left a shadow clone at home plus you and your little army are pretty loud, could hear you miles away."
/ Present /
They had returned home after a long mission delivering scrolls to some nearby allies, but Sasuke had seen that Kakashi was on edge after having heard something from some ANBU they met along the way. He had a feeling he knew what was causing it, but since he had chosen that lie and he was willing to sail it and asking questions would cause suspicion.
The day proceeded as usual with the team meeting with the Hokage for their debrief before splitting up with Sasuke going off with Kakashi.
Sasuke looked a Kakashi out of the corner of his eye as they were sitting on the couch watching one of Kakashi shows. He was leaning on Kakashi but taking a few glances at him every few minutes because even though it wasn't visible to the others even the Hokage when they spoke with him, Sasuke could tell something was bothering him by the way his eye narrowed and brow furrowed ever so slightly. "You can take a picture" Kakashi suddenly said suddenly startling the Uchiha a bit before he regained his composure. "What's going on? You've had that look on your face, like when you thought we were going to miss one of the episodes to your shows."
Kakashi looked down at Sasuke and gave a small smile from under his mask "it's nothing, don't worry about it," he felt a flick to his forehead "that may work on the dobe and Sakura but not me, that just makes it seem worse." The Hatake let out a huff "Can't you enjoy being in the dark for a little bit so that you can enjoy life that little bit more with the worries because knowing everything never makes you happy." He felt another flick on his forehead, harder this time "start talking, mask off."
"Dammit," Kakashi thought as he pulled down his mask, Sasuke had been more or less using him as a benchmark to test out his lie-detecting ability ever since the one time he had used him as a sacrifice against Mrs Misano to avoid going on an outing with her. Sasuke had spent the whole day learning stuff he never wanted to and being flooded by stories from Mrs Misano and the stay at home wives in the neighbourhood, Sasuke had noticed the lack of kunoichi except him "kind of." That day he had learned everything about almost anyone on this side of town, this was probably more effective than the ANBU network he thought at the time with just how much he learned about everyone.
"Well it's probably nothing but there have just been some rumours of a new group recruiting, call themselves The Akatsuki or something" Sasuke nodded moving to straddle Kakashi as he looked into his eye. Sasuke knew Kakashi could easily lie if he wanted to and he wouldn't be able to tell the difference but he also knew Kakashi made it easier for him to read him on purpose. He gave him a slow nod to continue as he saw that wasn't a lie "we don't know much about them except they tend to cause some trouble then disappear nothing vital though, but the Hokage has asked we bump up security around naruto just in case. Sasuke knew Naruto himself wasn't a threat but what was inside him. "Do you think they might use him how the others tried to use Rin?" he asked but he always hated asking Kakashi anything about his old team but he needed the answers.
The tight nod from Kakashi immediately set him on edge as he pictured them having to kill him to stop it from happening, he shook his head to try to get the image out of his mind. "You thought of having to do it didn't you?" Kakashi asked as their eyes met, "Don't worry if it were to come to that, I'll carry that burden so you don't have to" Kakashi said bringing his hand up to lightly stroke Sasuke cheek. Another flick to the forehead "no sacrifices, we share that burden together." Kakashi gave him another smile as he leaned into his hand "why do you always have to hide that smile, but I'm happy that I'm the only one that gets to see it."
He saw the small loss of focus in Kakashi eye's that indicated there was something more and he could either ignore it or ask, that how Kakashi showed him the option. "and what's the other thing?" he asked straightening himself up. "Orochimaru was spotted on the border perimeter of the village" that immediately stiffened his body and Kakashi felt it moving to hold him close. Sasuke tried to open his mouth but the words wouldn't come out and Kakashi thought it was out of fear but Sasuke knew it meant that sooner or later he would have to make a decision.
"Don't worry they have triple the security around the village for those Akatsuki and Orochimaru, they'll make sure that neither of them can get to the both of you."
When they went to sleep that night Sasuke stayed up for more hours than he would like to admit, whether it was from guilt or fear for what was going to happen or what he was willing to let happen for his revenge. He knew Kakashi was awake too laying next to him as he could him tighten his grip on his hands once in a while as if to ground him.
Darkness came, he wasn't sure if he was awake or dreaming but he remembered being here before because in front of him he could see those red swirling eyes that haunted him all those months ago. "It seems the time is fast approaching Sasuke" unlike the last time Sasuke wasn't just going to let this pass "and who the hell do you think you are."
The dark silhouette that those eyes belonged to just had an unsteady as it let out a shuddering laugh that echoed seemingly everywhere around him. "Do you remember your visions?" it asked after it took a moment to calm down, the eyes were now right in front of him in the pitch black. "Yes i remember," he said taking a shaking breath before looking straight at the eyes "the other one was confusing." The mysterious eyes could already tell "which one? the one of you as a mother, the one of you finally getting your vengeance or the one about your dear lover ending your life ...did i miss anything."
Sasuke wanted to cuss out whoever was doing this because he could tell since the last time this happened that it wasn't a dream but more a jutsu and a dream, somewhere in between and he needed answers. "How the hell is that woman suppose to be me this is only a henge ...it can't do the rest?" that had been the question that had been bothering the most besides the one of him dying at Kakashi's hands. "Oh that's the simplest one, Orochimaru" the voice answered nonchalantly. "w-what?" he struggled to ask "isn't Orochimaru a man?" the eyes started walking around him looking up and down.
"Well yes he is, quite a crafty little shinobi isn't he" "then how?" the eyes stopped in front of him "Many Forbinned Jutsu's that he found and some he made, as a backup plan in case there was no suitable host for him to occupy ...all in his pursuit to be a false immortal, a false god." So that was it, but everything seemed a little too easy "that's it" Sasuke asked just to make sure "Yes that's quite all, you could have the power to kill your traitorous brother or start your family and live in comfort for the rest of your boring life ... I'm sure you will choose wisely." The voice started laughing with the world seemingly shaking as it faded away and Sasuke bolted awake.
The first thing he saw was Kakashi holding his shoulder having stopped trying to shake him awake "you okay Sasuke?" he asked the concern very visible on his masked face. "Yes I'm fine just a bad dream," he said laying back down and shifting closer to lay his head on Kakashi's shoulder. The Hatake let out a tired huff "now you know why i didn't want to tell you, so you would be worried for nothing." Kakashi closed his eye then wrapped his arm around Sasuke's waist drawing him close before giving him a kiss on his forehead. "I just hope everything will be okay" he spoke barely above a whisper "not everything will be okay."
Flick "ow ow ow ...let me finish," Kakashi said a hand over his forehead "not everything will be okay, that's the way life works, it's unfair like that ...but it's what you do when the bad things are happening and after, that determine whether you can find yourself after." Sasuke let out a small chuckle "you're a sage now" and Kakashi replied with one of his own and a light flick "I have my moments I'll have you know." "For so long after everything I didn't see that and I just want to help you if you need it."
Sasuke stayed awake a few more minutes and then this time sleep came a little more easier, but the question that plagued his thoughts as he went to sleep was whether he would leave for family or to finally get his revenge. He didn't know if he could even trust the voice in his head but the more important question was could he trust himself to make the right decision when the time came.