a/n: Hello readers! This is chapter eight! I hope you guys enjoy this one! I made a HUGE HUMAN ERROR in the previous chapter but I fixed it now! Thank you for the reviews. And no more FMA stuff most probably in the upcoming chappies! Enjoy! P.S. regular disclaimer applies!

Dancing bears,
Painted wings
Things I almost remember
Someone holds me safe and warm
Horses prance through a silver storm
Figures dancing gracefully
Across my memory...
Far away, long ago
Glowing dim as an ember,
Things my heart used to know,
Things it yearns to remember...
And a song someone sings
Once upon a December

Chapter Eight: Bitter Sweet Revenge

Time, people say, is like a river. Just like a river washes away rocks and sediments, time washes away tears and pain. A river continues flowing despite that it weathers away rock. Time flows despite the many bitter experiences in our life. We have to move on matter how bitter or how sweet our experiences are. Now matter how we fight the flow of time, we still get carried by its violent current.

But I am but a human. I have emotion. I have feelings. And just like all people, no matter how much a genius I maybe, my emotions still get the better of me. My weak heart has grown strong over a period of time. I know now that when people love, they not only use hearts but also use their brain. And that was mistake I made a long time ago.

After the success of my experiment, Leader has been enthusiastic in gathering information on where the Bijus' location could be. Each of Akatsuki was tasked to catch one. As the leader explained to us, the Biju we captured would be used to revive someone dear to us. I tried hard to find a tailed beast, but the first one to find and capture is Diedara. Shichibi, he reported to Leader, is a seven-tailed badger that has the power to control clay. It was a very powerful demon, I could tell just by looking at Diedara's battered body when he arrived after defeating the biju.

Like I what I have told you, I am genius that comes once in a decade. I understand most things most ninjas did not understand. I knew that certain elements, like radium, decay and become simple elements. And elements, like Helium, Neon, and Xenon, are more stable. Water behaves differently from other liquids. Bats, the only flying mammals, use radar. This radar is perfect for seeing in the dark. I have learned a lot so much I cannot tell them all.

And because of this knowledge, Leader fondness for me grew even more. He favored all my ideas and neglecting the other proposals suggested. And to make the long story short, the other Akastuki members became jealous of me. They were afraid of my knowledge. I was troubled by the possible outcome. That is why I left the organization. Nevertheless, I did not really leave. I decide to cut my connection with them. But still, I had a duty. I must capture a tailed demon.

But, I was still human. There was still something inside me telling me to return to Konoha. My body and mind longed for something. And though I knew it was useless, there I was longing for it.

An eye for an eye; a tooth for a tooth. People always say that.

And there was another reason. A boy with eyes bluer than the ocean was said to have something of Akatsuki's interest. He had within him the most powerful demon ever born. It was the Nine-tailed fox. The fox was rumored to have appeared in Konoha the time the forth Hokage died. I heard that fox was sealed inside an orphan boy. I decided to go to the Hidden Leaf Village to see if the rumors were true. And definitely, if I ask for the boy they would not give him to me. That is why I decided to take him by force. But little did I know that it would be harder than I expected.

I don't really remember how I planned the entire thing. I became planning in the Otogakure for a years. This is when I developed a lot of techniques; one of the most important is the perfection of the Cursed Seal. This cursed seal; I used to name my subordinates. It also multiplies the physical and chakra capacities of the bearer. Not only that, I was able to transfer my soul into a fresher and stronger body.

Of course, as you might have known, my going to Konoha was not only to capture the Kyuubi but also to get an even stronger body. I theorized that I might be able to gain the abilities of a certain clan if I took the body of a member. I wanted to have that of an Uchiha because they can copy a lot of techniques. At first I planned to use Itachi, but his talent would be a waste since I would only be using his body. So, I decided to take the younger one's body instead.

As time passed, it was time to execute my plan for retribution. My first step was to find an ally. And I found the Hidden Village of the Sand. It was easy to brainwash them and in a snap with out me noticing it, the sand, the sound, and the leaf were going to have the chounin test together. I was thrilled since I found out that the younger Uchiha was so eager to become a chounin. He took the chounin test as a chance to make himself stronger.

As I have shared earlier, Itachi Uchiha has massacred almost his entire clan leaving only his younger brother for unexplainable reasons. Being a young and unexperienced child, Sasuke, the younger Uchiha sought revenge. Still, who could blame him? He has indirectly been affected by the rotten system of the village. I met that boy during the second part of the Chounin examination.

The night was dark, I remember vividly. The moon sometimes peeked behind the night clouds. The trees in that forest blocked most of the moonlight. So, it is hard to see unless you have exceptional ninja skills. I enjoyed observing the two young gennins for quiet sometime that I was almost discovered. Of course, I announced my presence soon after. And I enjoyed watching trying their best to kill me.

Sasuke Uchiha. He was a pathetic ninja. His every action was guided by one thing: revenge. He attacked with all his strength, giving his best in every attack. I felt that he believed that every time he punched, kicked, or made a seal, it would take him a step closer in getting rid of his brother. His eyes were filled with sorrow and anger. He had a strong Sharingan, much stronger than his brother's probably. But that boy will never win against his oni-san. I know. And that is why I had my eyes on him.

Of course, it was not only Sasuke that I met; I also had an encounter with my student, Anko. She has grown into a fine young woman from a little girl. She was skilled, just like what I taught her to be. She had been convinced by her superiors that I was nothing but an evil man. But still, she still belonged to me. As long as she has her cursed seal, I still had some influence on her. Long time ago, you see, back in those days when I was still looked up by some ninja, a few months before Hakucho's death, I created the Cursed Seal and I tested it on Anko. She grew more powerful after surviving the deadly side effects of the seal. It temporarily disappeared when I left Konoha but surprisingly it reappear when I returned. I told her not to tell anyone my presence and she obeyed reluctantly. Nevertheless, the Anbu still discovered my arrival.

It was easy for me to get inside the Chounin Arena without being suspected. I disguised myself as one of the most honored and respected persons in that Arena, the Kazekage. I sat beside the person I looked up to and the one I scorned. Yes, I sat beside my sensei, Sarutobi. And surprisingly he did not sense that I was the kage. He smiled at me a lot of times making me feel a bit awkward. I just bowed in return to not make it look suspicious. On the other hand, I was already nervous around that time. The Oto and Suna nins were waiting for my signal. I breathed deeply preparing myself for the huge battle ahead of me. I knew that I would kill someone every important to the village and also to me.

I watched every gennin battling in the arena below me. It reminded me of the time I took the chounin exam myself. Though I did not have a hard time on the written and the second part, the last part was a bit tricky since I fought with Jiraiya. We were both knocked unconscious so the committee decided that we both be chounin (along with Tsunade, of course). It was those times when I believed that the world was a beautiful place, that I could do everything if I try my best. But those days were long gone. I have changed…a lot.

And being beside my sensei, you can imagine how I suppressed my emotions. I wanted ask him if he remembered the chounin exam I took. Still, I know I could not; I know I should not. It would spoil my plan. It will make what I have worked for years nothing. I just smiled and did the reminiscing all by myself.

Every battle was quick and pretty soon I just have to start moving. The jutsu for the audience was activated. The sand and sound nins became to attack the Konoha shinobis. Sadly, there was a slight set back in my plan. The jinchūriki of the sand had some difficulties. Though it was not really a big problem, it disappointed me. And it was not really my problem then, Sarutobi-sensei was already furious and he wanted an explanation.

"What is the meaning of this, Kazekage-sama?" he asked.

I chuckled. "Why? Do you not recognize me, Sarutobi-sensei?"

I could really tell he was in a state of shock when I said his name. Around that time however, that past was catching up with me. And for some unexplainable reason, tears trailed down my eyes. Crap, I could not believe it. I just made up a stupid excuse for crying. But in truth, I was filled with so much joy and sadness. I was happy because I was in Konoha. At the same time, I was sad because I knew what I was about to do. I had prepared myself for this moment. And there I was crying. Was I afraid to kill him? Was I reluctant to kill him? Or maybe, I did not want to kill him in the first place. I do not know. And perhaps, I never will.

I was at the upper hand at first, I guess. I was able to call out the two hokages. (Too bad, Sensei stopped me from calling the Fourth.) We fought neck to neck. But, I knew he could not kill me. He dare not kill me. He still did not understand why I ran away from Konoha. His mind was dwelling on the past, on how he could have saved me. But, I reminded him.

"If you could not kill back then, what difference does it make now?"

Finally using his last strength, he used his final resort. He called up the God of Death. He planned to seal me along with him. That crazy old geezer! He was going to sacrifice himself. I did not understand myself back then though. But, I wish, honestly did, just a little, that he would not do it; both for me and for him. After all, I am his priced student.

Sarutobi-sensei loved Konohagakure a lot. I knew. I could tell by his words. And as a student, I did not believe him because, first of all, I did not understand. And even now, I still don't. After all, I am just a naïve boy from a small fishing village taken away from his family at a young age. I cannot be expected to value bounding when I barely had one at all. I can sympathize with him.

If you ask me what the saddest moments in my life are, I would tell you two moments. The first one was when Hakucho died. That moment totally changed my outlook in life. And the second one was the death of my mentor. I watched his slowly die. I saw literally how his soul was taken out of his body. He fought hard, I know. But the irony of it all, I was the one that killed him. And for the price of his death, my hands had to be taken away from me.

Somehow, I did not get my revenge. I gained nothing. I lost. I left the Village of the Leaf barely alive. I could not believe it. I am so filled with disgrace. I lost to an old man, young boy, and a naïve gennin. It just was not my day.

I made a lot of mistakes and miscalculations. Many of my subordinates underestimated the Konoha nins. Kabuto was discovered. The young blued-eyed boy had gotten stronger. But it seems that my future vessel is starting to seek more power. And soon, the boy would be coming to me.

Soon after, my vision will be realized. I will wait until all the pieces of my plan will take its place. I hope it will come true. I remember my conversation with a nomad long time ago. He told me a lot of things; some never made sense to me. He told me that no dream is evil. All are made because people have hope. Sadly, all dreams are just but a dream. It will never ever come true. Something as beautiful as a dream cannot take place in this dreadful world. My dream of beautiful world, some how I have a feeling it will never come true. I can remember clearly the wanderer's words.

"The pleasure of a dream is that it's a fantasy. If it happens, it was never a dream."

a/n: That was the eighth chapter! I hope you enjoyed it! This fic is quite short though. Please tell if you guys have any comments, violent reactions, anything that might improve this fic, please tell! And I apologize for any typos and grammatical errors I might have missed out! Please do tell me also! See you!