Hello again. Once again thanks to everyone for their positive support, and hell, negative support if you've got it. I've been asked about pairings, but I'm still tinkering with some things for this story; so I'll get back to you on that. Well, enough babbling.
Part 1.6: Beyond the Leaf
He closed his eyes and went freefalling headfirst from the tops of the trees. The wind slowly blanketed around him; he allowed it to do so, through his hair, his fingertips, as if he were feeling the air itself. He could hear the sky whistling around him, signaling an increase of speed in his descent. Yet, he refused to open his eyes until the last moment. He was accelerating faster now. Every second, closer and closer, he could feel the forest floor rising up to meet him. However, it was not time yet. He allowed his eyes to remain closed, past the point where his brain began sending signals of panic down his spine, electrifying his body. He ignored them and remained calm. Finally, he felt the floor was close enough. He opened his eyes; they were red, with a large circle around the pupil, with three yang dots in them. He quickly reached to his belt and pulled out eight kunai, one for each finger. He contorted his back to achieve the maximum power and let loose with the kunai, sending them outward. He was now falling feet-first towards the ground. He reached to his belt again and pulled out two shuriken. He didn't have much time left, the ground was so close now. He let the shuriken fly with precise aim, ricocheting them off the kunai, causing a chain reaction where the kunai ricocheted off each other. Finally, he hit the ground, causing the dust on the floor to rise from the impact. He had landed on both of his feet, using one hand for balance. He closed his eyes until the dust settled and then opened them again. They were black now, his ability was deactivated with his exercise complete.
Uchiha Sasuke surveyed his handiwork. He had seen Itachi do this exact same exercise before, and as much as he hated to admit it, it was quite practical. Targets had been set up around the forest much akin to a bull's-eye. The kunai, having reached their final destinations hit the targets dead center. Sasuke grinned at this, 'I would be his equal if our ages were the same,' he thought. He smiled inwardly. He then checked the blind spot target behind a large mound of earth. His brother had hit this target consistently, despite the fact that he could not see it. Sasuke looked at the target, and a rage of aggravation overwhelmed him. 'It's off by two whole inches,' he thought. He punched the mound in frustration, leaving a deep mark on it. 'I'm still not his equal, not even when he was thirteen years old.' Sasuke had done this exercise at least twenty times a day, but each time he had been inconsistent with the blind spot. Sometimes it hit the center, other times it would be off two or three inches. Sometimes it would miss completely. 'How did he do this? After all this time, all this sacrifice, am I still no better than I was?' No, he knew that wasn't true; he had come to Orochimaru with a promise that he would eventually be able to take his revenge. And knowing full well what Orochimaru had planned for him, he went to the Sound with the hope of finally becoming greater than his brother.
For the first two months he was there, Sasuke didn't even see Orochimaru. Kabuto said he was going through some extensive 'metamorphoses'. However, Kabuto seemed more than capable at the task. 'He's at least as good as Kakashi,' thought Sasuke. However, all of the techniques Kabuto had taught him had to do with his cursed seal and ways in which to manage it...
"The curse seal represents an excellent boost of power, but at the same time it deteriorates the body at a rapid rate. Any wound you sustain in this form could very well kill you if you can't handle it right," Kabuto lectured. "Therefore, what I'm going to teach you today is a healing exercise that you can use it combat." He pulled a kunai from his belt and slashed his hand with it, allowing the blood to flow freely. Sasuke watched as Kabuto allowed the blood to trickle to the ground, leaving red droplets marked on the floor. He then raised his palm up so that Sasuke could see the wound. Suddenly, smoke started appearing from the gash, and the wound seemed to cauterize itself, leaving a slight mark on his hand and a sickly, burning smell in the air. "The skill I'm about to teach you can be used to close up any wounds on the outside of your body. It does not heal internal damage, but because you are so new to the cursed seal, any wounds you receive could be fatal. It is very much a double-edged technique, but we're going to take the edge off of it. Now, give me your hand."
Sasuke reluctantly gave Kabuto his hand, palm facing up. Kabuto slashed Sasuke's hand across, leaving a fine trail of blood on it. "To perform this technique, gather charka to the wound itself, then force it out of your hand directly above the wound. The resulting friction will cause enough heat to close it." Sasuke concentrated and forced himself to channel the charka to the wound. It was excruciatingly painful, as the burning of the cut just seemed to amplify the pain itself. Sasuke continued to try; every time the blood would clot, Kabuto would slash his hand open again, allowing it to flow freely. Finally, after losing quite a bit of blood, Sasuke successfully closed the wound on his own. "Very good," said Kabuto. He walked over to Sasuke, who was now breathing heavily. The technique felt like an intense training regiment. Kabuto now grabbed his arm and sliced him just below the elbow. Sasuke looked at him in shock. "Now do it again," said Kabuto.
It was the most painful and intense training he had ever gone through. Sasuke had about a hundred small cuts across his body by the end of the day, but had mastered the skill pretty well. Kabuto was impressed, but that did not seem to deter him to work Sasuke to the point of collapsing him. By the end of the two month span, he could heal small wounds on the outside of his body pretty effectively. He also had felt his charka capacity expand, which finally allowed him to do a fourth chidori. Even though he could not move a single muscle after doing it, he smiled in triumph. 'And Kakashi said my growth would stop. Surely he couldn't have been serious.'
After about two months of this, Orochimaru took over only part of his training. Now the time Kabuto spent maiming him in some way was spent learning jutsus. Orochimaru's knowledge of the subject seemed endless as he was trying to decipher what level of jusu Sasuke could learn. He ended up teaching him some basic level elemental jutsus. He seemed to especially concentrate on the element of thunder, and it wasn't until a few days ago when Sasuke learned why.
"In about four days time we will be making a voyage to the Nation of Thunder," said Orochimaru to a large group of nins. Sasuke never did see where Orochimaru found this trash, but he surveyed the crowd for any signs of strength. Some seemed to have those odd, sound devices he had seen the first time he encountered Sound nins. Some even had cursed seals. 'Well,' thought Sasuke, 'at least they're not totally weak.' Orochimaru continued with his speech, "This mission is to ensure a treaty between our clan and the Thunder nation. The Raikage has already informed me that we will be given amnesty in the Thunder Nation barring the exam. The Hidden Cloud have a profound hatred for the Leaf and if we can convince them to support us in our efforts, we could easily crush them. Therefore, it is imperative that none of you do anything that would offend or anger the Thunder Nation." Suddenly, he looked up staring straight at Sasuke. "Sasuke is the reason we have amnesty in the first place," said Orochimaru. Sasuke raised a single eyebrow in surprise, but showed little else emotion wise. "The Raikage has wished to see one of the Leaf's greatest bloodlines in action, and I have decided to deliver in that respect. However," his tone suddenly grew stern, "I want you all to watch yourselves. The Thunder may hate the Leaf, but they are very weary of us as well. Especially you Sasuke; there is no love lost between the Hidden Cloud and those who possess exceptional bloodlines of the Leaf. That is all, now get ready."
That had been about four days ago. They were leaving for the Thunder Nation today, hoping to arrive there before the Leaf and thus settle in beforehand. Sasuke looked up at the sky, the weather had an ominous feel to it, as it grew black and thundered. Rain slowly began to fall, washing away the target areas he had made, but he continued to look up at the sky. He wondered if this was the same weather the Leaf was experiencing right now.
He had been thinking about the village he left behind ever since Orochimaru's meeting; wondered how things had changed there; how Sakura and Naruto were doing.
'Naruto,' he thought. His mind trailed off to the fateful day when his brother had killed the clan. "You too can achieve eyes like mine, but you must kill your closest friend." 'I was so close too. I was weak, but I could have finished him off easily, but then...I would be just like you. I will not be you; I will not take the same path you took; I will not be your puppet, following your orders like a marionette on strings. Even if I must be possessed by Orochimaru I will surpass you, and I will kill you.
'But,' he continued with his self-monolague, 'even so...' He couldn't kill Naruto. Naruto represented something he had not felt in so long; the feeling of family, of acceptance. True, he had been doted on in the village, but that was just because of his blood. Naruto was the first person who did not dote on him and even seemed to borderline hate him. Sasuke found this annoying at first, but then came to expect it from Naruto. Eventually, the brat grew on him, and he experienced a feeling he before Itachi had become so heavily influenced into the clan. Back when they weren't rivals or enemies, just siblings.
Sasuke pushed the thought from his mind, attempting to gather himself back to reality, but his mind kept wandering back to the Leaf.
'Sakura,' he thought. 'What had she meant, "I love you with all my heart?" Did she really know what love was.' Sasuke had always thought she liked him on simply a physical level; he never thought that the annoying girl was capable of love. Yet, he had felt something when she had told him that. 'But that's irrelevant now; I have too much important work to do to think of such trivial matters. Naruto, Sakura, and all of the Leaf, I would gladly leave any of you, betray any of you, kill any of you if it gets me one step closer to him.'
And with that, Sasuke went back to the Sound base to prepare for whatever may come.
"You're taking quite a big risk," Kabuto said.
They were sitting in the middle of the Sound complex; all of their minions had gone to prepare for the journey tonight. 'It will be a few weeks before we can make the journey to the Thunder Country,' he thought.
He turned his head to stare at the man beside him. Orochimaru was still recovering from the body possession he had done only a few months prior to this. He lifted up his still bandaged arms, slowly and very shakily. 'Seems like it was a success, though it will still take time to completely recover,' he thought.
Orochimaru turned to look at him. "It's a risk I'm more than willing to take Kabuto," he said, "Just think of what we can accomplish with an alliance with the Thunder Nation. We could smash the Leaf into oblivion; they wouldn't stand a slight chance." Orochimaru smiled evilly, "There's no love lost between the Leaf and the Cloud, and besides, even if I can't use my arms well, I am more than a match for anything the Cloud will throw at me."
"That's not what I mean," said Kabuto, "You're taking quite a large risk telling the Raikage that we have the last Uchiha in our possession. You of all people should know that the Cloud hate those eye bloodlines of the Leaf. He may try to kill him."
Orochimaru laughed openly at this. "Let him try. That boy's eyes are amazing; the greatest bloodline to ever exist on this earth. I cannot wait to have them for my own."
Kabuto kept his tone of concern. "I think you're seriously overestimating that boy Orochimaru. He's not perfect, I need not remind you that the Sharingan is not born without weaknesses as all bloodlines are."
"You worry too much," replied Orochimaru, "but nevertheless, keep an eye on him. I don't want any Leaf or Cloud bastards taking what is rightfully mine. No, the Raikage will see what that boy is capable and will practically beg us to join with him."
Orochimaru walked back off to his quarters, leaving Kabuto still feeling quite apprehensive. He still didn't understand what the Raikage had been so eager about. As soon as they had mentioned the last of the Uchiha was in their possession he had practically jumped at the chance to give them complete amnesty.
'I have a very bad feeling about this,' thought Kabuto, and with the thought still lingering in his mind, went to prepare.
In the Thunder Country, Hidden Cloud Palace, home of the Raikage
"So, all the arrangements have been made for their arrival?" asked a man bathed by candlelight. The Raikage of the Thunder Country wore a garb similar to that of the Hokage of the Leaf except the colors on his were a light yellow. He was also considerably younger, having a very clean shaven face, that looked not a day past 25. The Raikage overviewed the preparations for the Chuunin exam to be held in his country. "I want to make sure that things go through smoothly."
"Yes, Raikage-sama, everything is ready. Everything checked and double-checked," said the man opposite him. He seemed to shift about anxiously as if waiting for an opportunity to ask something but was unsure whether it would be appropriate.
"Very good Raan, you may go. I'll leave the final preparations up to you," The Raikage dismissed him with a wave of his hand. Raan hesitated, and then proceeded to leave until the Raikage spoke again. "Oh," said the Raikage, "Is there something else on your mind Raan?"
"Yes, Raikage-sama," said Raan. He seemed to go very slowly, as if picking his words carefully and deliberately. "It's just that, I have about entering those two in the exam. You see, they've never...really...been in this kind of environment before, interacting in a neutral setting with members of the other clans and villages. I just wonder if they're going to be...alright."
He waited for what seemed like an eternity for the Raikage to answer. Raan knew that Raikage-sama did not like to be undermined or have his authority questioned, but he had to take this risk. Surely, the Raikage could see that those two just weren't ready for this.
Finally, Raikage said, "You are referring to Julius and Set, are you not?" Raan, refusing to meet his eyes, simply nodded. "I see." The Raikage stood up and slowly walked to a nearby window and looked out. It was dark and snowy outside, as it always was in this country. Rarely did any light ever break through; it made for a rather dreary atmosphere. Raan had always despised that about this country.
"Your concerns have validity to them," said Raikage, refocusing Raan on the conversation at hand. His spirits rose slightly, perhaps the Raikage would pull them out of the Chuunin exam, give them more time to find ways to control them. "However," said Raikage, and Raan's spirits immediately sank again, "it is imperative in this Chuunin exam that the Hidden Cloud show the surrounding villages, that we are the strongest country. The Lord of Thunder has asked that both Julius and Set to participate so that the Thunder Country can flex its proverbial muscle in front of the other territories. I agree with him, both those children represent very important trump cards for our village, especially against the Leaf. Therefore, although your fears are not unfounded, we will simply have to keep a close eye on those two. That is your job Raan, as it has always been," he said with a much more forceful tone, that made Raan shudder slightly, "it is your duty to make sure these two not only complete the Chuunin exam, but also that they strike a certain amount of fear in any who would think about going into conflict with us. Genin such as themselves that can perform top-ranked missions need to be kept under our thumb for now."
The Raikage read Raan's face, still seeing the fear and doubt in him. It annoyed him whenever his ninjas felt any amount of misgivings towards his decisions. Nevertheless, Raan had always been a faithful servant to him. His tone softened, "I understand your fears Raan, their mental states seem to be shifting very rapidly, and it will be harder to control them later on in life," his tone hardened again, "but they WILL participate and they WILL come out victorious. Remember, those two are not anything more than weapons, the more they think about murder, death, killing, the better off we may be. That is all Raan, leave me, for I have much work to attend to."
Raan bowed deeply, and then left. Although his fears had not been resolved, he knew he could not convince Raikage-sama. He would just have to keep tabs on them, although, as sporadic as they were now, that would prove a problem. Raan sighed deeply, he really didn't know how he had gotten stuck with the Thunder Nations' pet projects, but he had sworn that he would do his best to keep those two in line. He just wondered how long he would be able to do that...