The End of All Things Known (Formerly Titled: Fourteen, though it will still be found under the fourteen link, the new title will be our little secret, Alright! eyes flame and holds fists near mouth)
Rating PG-13 for language, though will probably become R due to language and violence.
A/N: It's funny how things change. I can no longer call the story fourteen, thought they are fourteen, in the grand scheme of the series, age, and what goes on during those years wasn't the main factor. I changed a few things to the story as a whole, I may need to go back and change some things in the first two chapters...anyway. I'll talk more at the end, onward to the next chapter!
ARG! And why in the hell does always have problems when I have to post MY story!??
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Black Ch.1
How miserable.
His hair was matted against his face, and every drop of water that hit him felt like a needle, piercing his skin, and penetrating to the bone. Luckily, it was only raining lightly, though it was still enough to piss him off. The stiff breezes didn't make matters any better. Here he was out in the middle of who knows where...
Actually...he knew exactly where he was.
The Sound/Fire Country border, better known as the "Red Zone." The Leaf had always been wary of the Sound since the war, and it patrolled this area heavily. Sasuke had never truly understood the purpose of this mission, Konoha wouldn't make a move against Oto, and Orochimaru knew that, yet he still insisted, or rather demanded, inspection of the border area.
And why on a night as shitty as this one?
He felt a chakra source coming towards him, the bitterness of the night left him quite soaked, though his senses had yet to be dampened.
"Sasuke-sama, we have a problem."
He groaned and ran a hand through his hair, moving the bangs out of his face, and behind his ears.
Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse. Kabuto knew how to handle any situation, and if he needed his help, then things must not be going well at all.
"A few kilometers ahead, exactly in our way, someone has set up camp."
"That's all?" Sasuke spoke, quite irate that he would bring something so trivial to his attention.
He watched as Kabuto pressed his glasses to his face, as he did whenever he had anything of importance to say, almost demanding those listening to look him in the eye when spoke.
"I believe it's Naruto-kun."
The biting rain that had once annoyed Sasuke, was barely noticed, in fact he didn't feel much of anything.
"...Naruto?"
Almost two years now.
He was such a pathetic student at the Academy, but the Genin Naruto was far from pathetic. From the time he graduated his strength grew like no one else's.
The Kage Bunshin's a day after he couldn't even perform a normal clone.
The Chuunin Exams.
Gaara...
He remembered the emotions that surfaced when he saw his teammate fighting the demon.
He remembered the kinship, as Naruto was fighting for him too.
He remembered the awe, as the boy showed powers he had never seen before.
He remembered the anger, at how he was able to do nothing.
He remembered the jealousy, because he had been surpassed.
He remembered the fear.
Fear at how easily Naruto could have killed him.
Itachi, Orochimaru, and now a dead last idiot were the only ones to make this feeling burn within him.
Whatever the hell that was he used on the water tank, only helped to push Sasuke farther away. He wasn't used to seeing Genin perform jutsu he couldn't copy, especially one like Naruto, who had started so far below him. He would have never surpassed him if he would have stayed in the Leaf...but then again he may not have surpassed him, even now.
The boy had just as much time as he had to train.
How much more powerful has he gotten in these two years. He couldn't help but wonder.
Sasuke knew it was inevitable that he would kill Itachi, and it was without doubt that he would have to kill Orochimaru too, there was no way in hell he was just going to let the Snake have his body.
He and Naruto would have their day as well. It, also, was inevitable.
"...Sasuke-sama?"
"How sure are you?"
"Well, his chakra is quite unique."
Sasuke gave a small hmmph. 'Isn't that the truth, how many other people have a demon fox bound to their soul?'
Sasuke had felt that unique chakra before. A monstrous power, that was the equivalent of a dam bursting, power that threatened to destroy anything in it's way
"Well, what do you want to do?" Kabuto calmly asked, pressing his glasses against his face. "It would be easy to kill him, as he seems a bit weary at the moment."
"No!" Sasuke interjected with finality.
Kabuto looked at him questioningly. "So...you want us to just leave him alone?"
"He's in the way, and we can't just leave him alone." Sasuke sighed
Even after all these years, he's still gets in my way.
"You can do a sleep jutsu, right?"
Kabuto nodded.
"Knock him out for a few hours. We finish our patrol, and he'll be none the wiser."
"We really should head back to camp. The men know someone is ahead, and seem anxious for conflict."
As Sasuke looked towards the small flame in the distance, he noticed once again, the painful stings of rain, as they fell from the sky.
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As he approached the camp, he noticed the men were well armed, many with kunai in hand.
"We're ready when you are, Sasuke-sama." One shouted from the throng gathered around the fire.
"Kabuto and I will go alone. Be prepared to leave, when we return." He coldly replied, earning groans of disapproval from the men under his control.
"Sasuke-sama ... Mashiro's already gone to scout the target." Another spoke out.
"What the hell!" Sasuke exclaimed, the anger easily seen in his eyes. "Orders weren't given!"
He took off, a blur against the grey and black of the nighttime trees.
He hoped he wasn't too late. Moving as fast as he could, in what little light the storm offered, he navigated through the darkness, The greys and blacks meshed to form incoherent walls of blur, that were quite tangible, as the scrapes that now lined his arms and legs attested to.
Not only did one of his men leave without orders, it had to be the best one of them at that.
After what felt like hours, he arrived at the scene to find his man standing over the supine body of his old teammate. He wasn't wearing the orange jumpsuit Sasuke was expecting to see, but the blonde hair was unmistakable.
"Is he dead!?" Sasuke angrily asked, emotion betraying his usually stoic nature.
"Not yet, but he will be." Mashiro turned and faced Sasuke. "This is the Kyuubi right?" He asked as he faced the unconscious boy once again, and prodded him with his foot. "I don't know why Orochimaru-sama has him on 'The List.'
The list. A list of people Orochimaru has decreed to death . It's short for "The list of people that scare the shit out of Orochimaru, so they must die."
Though it was no longer written on there, Sasuke knew his brother was still at the top of that list. He abhorred Itachi, but he liked the fact that he made the Snake squirm. He was truly surprised to see Naruto's name and picture on that list, though he was under the name 'Kyuubi'. Just another area where they conflicted. Orochimaru offered Sasuke a place to live with him in his tower, while he offered Naruto a death sentence.
"Go Mashiro, we'll handle this." Sasuke ordered, as Kabuto approached.
"I haven't finished my duty, Sasuke-sama. The master wants him dead." Mashiro calmly stated.
"And... I.... said... to...go." Sasuke responded with more than a little annoyance.
"I can't disobey an order from Orochimaru-sama."
"If you kill him, you'll be disobeying me, and I will kill you...Orochimaru isn't here, and what he doesn't know... he doesn't know."
"I see." Mashiro looked at the unconscious boy, and then at Sasuke. His eyes grew wide as he noticed the red eyes and the black lines that almost dared him to make a move. He raised an arm and pointed to his squad leader. "Your ass, not mine, Sasuke-sama." A few moments later he faded into the darkness as he retreated towards the camp..
Kabuto lowered his head and sighed. "You know we're going to catch holy hell for this, don't you?"
A smirk flashed across Sasuke's face for an instant. "What else is new?"
He watched as Kabuto bent down and put his ear on Naruto's chest and a hand on his throat.. "Mashiro did a thorough job. He'll probably be out for days."
Sasuke found himself staring at the boy, noticing the green vest for the first time.
So he's a least a Chuunin.
He felt a longing in his body. A longing for a time when he was happier.
"Do you miss him?" Kabuto asked as he stood up.
A few moments of silence passed.
"He's just a person to measure my capacity..." Sasuke tensed at the words.
It was to measure my capacity.
His brother's words.
His mouth.
He felt slightly sick at this thought..
"...and the fact that his existence puts a little fear into Orochimaru, is reason enough for me to let him live."
Kabuto smiled. "You don't have to justify your feelings."
"Shut up." Sasuke replied, the coldness of the answer, in perfect synchronicity with that of the rain.
And that ended the conversation, the next hours seemed to pass in a blur, as Sasuke thought about the significance of the boy. Naruto was at least Chuunin, his body looked a lot stronger than when Sasuke had last seen him. He was taller, leaner. So was Sasuke, but one rarely notices the changes to himself.
Sasuke probably would have been a Jounin by now, at least one level higher than Naruto.
He realized he missed his friend, and the village, which was the closest thing that ever felt like home. He even missed Sakura, despite how annoying she could be. Naruto was probably courting her, now that Sasuke was out of the picture.
He wondered how much he had truly missed. Perhaps Kakashi had been right about the path of revenge. But it was too late now, choices had been made, and he had to accept the consequences.
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As he stood before the gates of the Hidden Sound, it almost seemed like he was standing before the gate of the Hidden Leaf. The buildings that could be seen between the two massive structures were of the same architecture of Konoha, and the gate looked exactly the same.
Apparently Sasuke wasn't the only one who longed for a place long gone.
He was abruptly stopped from his thoughts as a blur flashed before him and became a man. Sasuke could tell by the white animal mask he wore that he was one of Orochimaru's elite guards.
"Sasuke-sama, Orochimaru-sama demands an audience with you and Kabuto immediately."
Sasuke groaned and heard a small chuckle from Kabuto. "Not even through the gates and we're already summoned, eh Sasuke-sama?"
Sasuke took a deep breath. "Tell him we'll be right there."
Upon receiving the only answer he would accept, the Anbu disappeared as quickly as he had appeared.
"He's really pissed." Kabuto spoke quietly .
"Go on. I've got something I've got to do first."
Kabuto looked at him incredulously. "You're going to make him wait?"
Sasuke shrugged as he walked off. "What's he going to do, kill me?"
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Sasuke began to walk the streets of the village. Orochimaru wasn't going to take his transgression lightly, so he needed a little serenity, before the chaos that would ensue.
Vendors lined the streets selling a variety of goods, he noticed a cart of flowers, their redolence permeating the air with a sweet smell, overwhelmed with customers. The other carts were bustling with action as well, their vendors with smiles as they peddled their goods, not detered in the least by the coolness of the morning air. The trees that lined the street swayed to and fro in the breeze, doing a simple dance, as their leaves floated gently to the ground. He always thought the trees that lined the cobblestone street were a nice touch. They could even be found between the mass of buildings that ran along side the road, almost as if the man made objects were built around nature herself, though the leader of the Sound was ugly, his village was not.
Again, he was reminded of his former home, and felt an urge to at least visit and see what had changed in his absence, but that would be for a later time.
Today, he had a meeting to attend.
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Sasuke leisurely strolled into Orochimaru's throne room. For a man with a god complex, he lived simply enough. The torches that lined the wall threw shadows across the floor, the only other distinguishable features were a couple of tables, a massive wooden chair, Kabuto, and the Snake himself.
A glint of anger could be seen on Orochimaru's pallid face.
"Ah, Sasuke-kun. I am most appreciative of your...punctuality." He spoke with the slightest hint of venom.
Already losing his cool?
Sasuke enjoyed seeing him angry, and though he conveyed no emotion, he was quite pleased.
Orochimaru, however; was not.
He inhaled slowly and deeply. "You encountered the Kyuubi, not only did you encounter him, he was delivered into your hands." Orochimaru showed his open palm as he said the last part.
Sasuke put his hand to his chin, and took a moment before he answered. "I don't remember finding the Kyuubi in my hands." he said feigning ignorance.
Orochimaru growled. "You don't remember... finding... a boy incapacitated...on the ground?!" His teeth clenched as he spoke. Sasuke watched as the muscles in the man's neck flexed with emotion, exposing the tendons and blood vessels as formed his words.
"Oh, You mean Naruto. Yeah we saw him."
Orochimaru shot up from his chair. "I don't give a good goddamn what his name is. Why is he still alive?!" he shouted.
Sasuke said nothing. It wasn't like he could say the boy was a testament to happier times for him, and the fact that he was alive gave Sasuke a little hope for a normal life one day.
Orochimaru sunk back into his chair and rubbed his face with both hands. "Sasuke-kun...why do you defy me so? I only want for you to complete your ambitions. You know as well as I do, that boy will cause nothing but problems for us both later on."
'Yeah right. You just want me to kill Itachi and Naruto, that way when you take over my body, you'll have little to worry about."
"You should eliminate your problems when they are young, or you may end up dead, like that idiot, Sarutobi."
"Yeah, well that idiot defeated two Hokage, and destroyed your arms with a single jutsu." Sasuke retorted before he thought.
Rage contorted Orochimaru's face. "LEAVE!"
Sasuke bowed, and then turned to leave for his quarters, on the other side of the building. His response contained a taboo subject, and he would have to face the repercussions of it later.
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He slowly rose from his bed and walked towards the light knocking at his door.
"Kabuto..."
"Be quiet. I have to make this fast before the Anbu get here. Orochimaru is going to do IT tonight. We don't have the time to get help. I'll try to come up with a plan, you better think too. I'll be back this evening."
He reached for the door handle and slammed the door shut.
The sounds of feet could be heard on the roof.
He looked out of his window and saw nothing. Sasuke returned to the door and opened it, and where Kabuto was moments ago, there now stood two squads of Anbu, two men on each side.
Shit! There's no way out!
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Evening came slow for Sasuke, as he tried desperately to think of someway to escape, but with four Anbu at his door, and no telling how many were watching his window, there was little he could do.
As the light of the sun brightened and then started to fade away, so had his hope for escaping. He would have to rely on Kabuto's help. Kabuto hated Orochimaru as much as he did, and Sasuke had grown to trust the man, though he wouldn't call him a friend.
A light series of knocks at the door made him jump.
So it's time. He quickly ran up to the door and opened it.
"Kabuto." He spoke with hope that the genius man had something for him.
"Come with me Sasuke-sama. Orochimaru demands your presence."
Sasuke didn't need to see it to know the color had drained from his face.
"Kabuto..."
A folded sheet of paper was placed into Sasuke's hands, as Kabuto tied a rope around them and began to lead him to the door and out into the hallway.
"Why?"
Kabuto remained silent.
The Anbu were following, though at a distance Sasuke knew they could hear conversation...
...Though not close enough to read something!
Sasuke opened the note which only had two words on it.
Kage Bunshin?
Sure, he knew the technique, after all he did have the Sharingan and an old teammate of his did have a flair for using the jutsu. It was really a useless technique for something like this though, he couldn't beat Orochimaru with a Kage Bunshin.
Sasuke felt the chakra of the Anbu start to drift away.
KAGE BUNSHIN! The idea hit Sasuke fully. I can do a Kage Bunshin before we get to the throne room. Orochimaru will place his soul in the clone, then I'll cancel the jutsu. We may be able to kill Orochimaru like that. That's brilliant Kabuto.
Once he no longer felt the presence of the Anbu, he quietly performed Kage Bunshin. Kabuto turned and smiled at Sasuke, he removed the ropes from him and replaced them on the clone.
Sasuke watched as they made their way down the hallway, towards the room that would soon contain one, very soulless, Orochimaru.
Now there was another problem. Just how in the hell was he going to get into the throne room. He couldn't be seen like this.
Henge.
A poof of smoke later, what once was a young dark haired man, was now a masked Anbu.
He slowly made his way down the same path Kabuto had taken.
I can't just barge in there...
"Are you the other one?" The voice surprised Sasuke. He cursed himself for being caught unaware, and turned to face an Anbu.
"What?"
"I'm sorry I'm late for the ceremony ." The Anbu spoke, obviously mistaking Sasuke's question, as a reprimand.
Talk about lucky.
"Just go, you've been replaced." Sasuke scoffed, his voice full of scorn.
The Anbu nodded, and quickly left.
I guess I can after all!
He made his way to the double doors of Orochimaru's throne room, pushed them open, and stepped inside.
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More A/N: Another long delay, and I apologize for that. Work again for 11 days straight, troubles with the woman, registering for fall semester, and getting a new car have all delayed me from my work, which i can tell you without arrogance, is going to get very good.
I'm really excited to be writing this story, and when an author loves his work, you know you'll have a good story, it was a slow beginning but for those of you that have continued to read, I promise you things are going to get good.
So, read and review. Like I say, if you like, say you like, if you hate, go on and be a hater, but you better have support.
Now on to other things. To my reviewers...
Henrika: Heh, I'm pretty sure there are some grammar problems! I'm just a lowly Cellular Bio. major, and as much as much as I love literature, the intricate nature of grammar has always chaffed my behind. In 101 and 102, my teacher told me the content in my papers was awesome, but my grammar skills lacked. He loved my essays so he would give me bonus content points to make up for the loss of my grammar points. I probably would have never made it though Eng. without him!
K. Sue: I'm such a fan of the whole time switching thing, I know it makes things confusing, but I like to reveal little parts of the story at one time, and slowly ease into things instead of revealing everything at once. The primary story is about the members of team seven, but I assure you, that you will find out about the rest of the characters, however you will see them through their interactions of Team 7, it would really detract from the story if I wrote a chapter about them. Although I am thinking about including a bonus chapter after every three chapters to tell a little about them, but I worry about that taking from the original story. Plus, this is just the first book, of a planned three, and these chapters are the beginning of the beginning.
Elijah Snow: Wow thanks! I don't know if I'd go so far as to say what you did, but I really really appreciate it! I'm really looking forward to writing the rest of the story, as I have it ALL outlined, and these chapters are nothing compared to what's coming up. I'm glad you enjoy it, and I'm looking forward to you enjoying more!
Jenniyah: She does seem cold, and she realizes she seems cold, though she wasn't written to be cold. She was more hurt than anything. Sure, she cares for Naruto, but those feelings are nothing compared to those she has for Sasuke, after all she did declare her love for him in the middle of a street
But it's how life works, we all don't like the people that like us. It's like the Hinata/ Naruto thing. Naruto can be seen as being cold towards Naruto, though we know he's not. He's just naive and Sakura's just hurt, or at least that's how I see it. And as we saw, she got over it, and they went out for Ramen, and happiness ensued. In a triangle sort of way...
Alright. I'm done...No I'm not...I forgot.
Did you know that are Wrestling fanfics on here!!!?? You should have heard what came out of my mouth when I saw that...It had what the...and the f word with it...To each his own...
Fanfic Shoutout. (Intresting Fanfic read of the Chapter) One or two (or however many of these catch my attention) will be included with every chapter!
Dragonblooded: This is shaping up to be a good story. It's the only story I've ever seen that shows the inner workings of the Sound, without basis on primary Naruto characters. The characters are unique and fun to read.
Do You Hate Me? : A Naruto/Temari story, that reeks of fun stuff. Things progress a little too fast for me, but the story is funny as hell, and Temari is hilarious, and is exactly the kind of woman I want. One that loves, but will kick your ass, and hit you over the head with a spatual if you piss her off!
Naruto X: OMG. Hiko in the Naruto World...with a twist. I loved this fic till a certain thing happened...sigh sigh Hiko from Rurouni Kenshin is so great in this story!!! 3 cheers for Hiko and his manliness!!! And I can think of very few situations more hilarious than Hiko having to meet Aunt Flo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay, now I'm done.
