Chapter Four: Void

Laughter.

That was how Sasuke Uchiha had responded when told he was to be executed for his crimes.

He smirked a little remembering the expression on the woman Hokage's face when the first peel of mirth had rumbled forth from his thin lips.

Her advisors angry shouts had only fuel his outburst, and soon the tiny room had been filled with a shrieking laugh that had danced dangerously close to madness, reverberating through the void, resonating and growing stronger.

They had left while he had been in the grips of a sort of flash dementia, tears streaming unchecked from his eyes as they muttered amongst themselves, sadly mourning the fall of the Uchiha to insanity and lust for power.

More likely they were upset over the possibility of loosing the power of the Sharingan forever, with Kakashi unable to pass on the ability to any offspring he may have, leaving the country of fire dependant solely on the Byukagan of the Hyuuga clan to give them an edge.

He swallowed the urge to laugh again. This was not a humorous matter, and he was not mad, despite what many others might claim.

He closed his eyes as he heard the door swing open once more.

Let the gawking masses and peons come, he was tired, they would have to find their entertainment elsewhere today.

"Sasuke-kun", had he been able to move he would have frozen. That was the last voice he had hoped to hear before his sentence was carried out.

He remained silent.

He had no desire to talk to the pink haired girl who had betrayed him.

She had smiled for him, blushed, tended his wounds, and talked as if she cared.

Lies

All to keep him busy, to weaken his ebbing hatred while her friends, watched from the shadows, seeking a moment of weakness.

"Sasuke-kun", the voice was closer this time, causing years of training to betray him as one eye opened to locate her and gauge how close she had come while he had been lost in thought.

He willed the hate to flow, to scorch the very earth this mint-eyed menace stood upon, but it all seemed to vanish as soon as she smiled.

---You are weak…why are you weak?---

Sasuke bit his lip so hard it bled. His face scrunching as the rage began to re-surface.

The void shivered with eager anticipation.

Sakura looked around cautiously before moving over to the bars, her eyes still alert and not trained on him.

The light of the candles danced on her hair, in her eyes, and Sasuke felt his glare faltering again as the void went silent.

One week. Was that really all it had taken to undo everything Itachi had drilled into his younger brother?

---You lack…hatred---

Nodding to herself as if satisfied by something she had found in the cell's cramped confines, she turned her attention back to the young man bound to the floor of his prison by a powerful seal rather than conventional restraints.

His returning gaze was unfathomable, and she shifted on the ball of her feet as she gripped the bars that separated them.

Was he ok? Did the seal hurt at all? Had he been fed recently?

Sakura wished she could remove the bars, even if it was just to lye by his side like they had back in the cabin.

"Sasuke-kun-"

"I have nothing to say to you", he cut her off, onyx eyes flashing darkly.

Sakura fought to keep her smile in place, "I came to see you, I had to, I-"

"Shut up!", his outburst took them both by surprise, and Sakura huddled against the bars.

"Why are you here, you did your job", she tensed as he said that, confirming her worst fears.

Sasuke thinks I did this on purpose

He griped the bars until her knuckles turned white.

"Sasuke-kun, you have to believe me", her tear filled gaze implored him to listen, "I never meant for this to happen".

The dark haired boy snorted contemptuously, "You think a few tears will fool me? You should know by now that such things can't sway me".

The cruelty in his words hit Sakura like blow to the gut, forcing her to relive yet again the night he had left the village, as she had realised that her tears didn't enter into his decision.

"I didn't need your wailing then and I don't need it how", Sasuke felt something twist violently in his gut at the heartbroken look Sakura gave him as those words left his mouth.

He ruthlessly crushed the urge to take them back as tears began to run freely down her pretty face, and sharp breaths rushed in and out of perfect lips.

"S-Sasuke-kun, don't hate me, please, anything but that".

She is trying to make me weak, she steals my hate, she admits as much!

Sasuke seethed beneath the surface, but his voice was cold as ice and as hard as steel when he spoke.

"You're annoying", she jerked but it didn't satisfy him, "Leave, this no longer concerns you".

Sakura was sobbing openly now, small shoulders heaving in time with her grief and Sasuke felt…empty.

He felt no satisfaction, no vindication, just a gnawing pain that left everything numb and distant as it spread.

It was like when he used the heaven seal but worse, it was like dying again.

He'd felt like this when he was in Itachi's shadow realm, helpless as the Tsukiyomi bombarded him with the horror of his Clan's death a thousand fold, shredding his fragile mind and ego under the weight of their screams as it all blurred into one before becoming silence.

Perfect solitude.

He had experienced it again when he had been placed in a state of artificial death to lower his mental defences and enable his seal to delve deeper into his mind, granting him the power of it's second stage when he was revived at the end of the process.

"No", he couldn't believe what he had heard for a moment, and could only stare as she wiped at red ringed eyes.

Sakura's head rose slowly, showing him one of the most beautiful smiles he had ever seen, "You once told me that before. Because back then I didn't understand solitude".

She wiped away a remaining tear, reaching through the bars as if she could touch him, even though she lay to far away for such a thing.

Sasuke felt the urge to flinch away from her touch, as if it were anathema to his existence in someway.

The void trembled with him.

"I understand now Sasuke-kun", she reached behind herself, removing one of the kunai stored in her pouch, "I finally know what it means to be alone thanks to you, thanks to Naruto…no, it's not fair to include him I suppose".

Sasuke found his eyes couldn't leave the blacked steel of the blade she held.

What did she plan to do with it, and why did the hopelessness in her voice set him on edge?

"Hey Sasuke-kun, would you like me to teach you a new technique?", she rested her head against the bars as if suddenly very tired, "I developed it myself. It's a variation on Ino's Shintenshin no jutsu. I just separate my mind from my body and let it drift".

Her voice was dreamy as she slid down to her knees.

Sasuke felt something in his chest tighten.

"Did you know there is a whole other world out there? It's so beautiful, a realm of mists", she looked at him with another beatific smile, "It's very peaceful, and your never alone, there are so many things there. All your thoughts become real for you".

She frowned a little seeing his wide-eyed look.

"Don't you want to see it Sasuke-kun, we can go there together, and never have to be lonely again", she smiled reassuringly as he watched her bring the kunai up to her wrist, "We can stay there forever if you want. All I have to do is cut the cord".

The dark haired boy was speechless.

He wanted her gone that was true, but if she was suggesting what he thought she was…

Something inside him was reacting, screaming out against the thought of Sakura harming herself.

"Will you come with me, Sasuke-kun?".

Whatever his reply would have been, they never found out. The strangely ominous sound of the cell door grinding open drew both teenagers attention.

When the door was fully ajar, they could see a young man in dressed in the vest of a jounin of Konoha standing in the entranceway.

Sakura hid the kunai behind her back as she turned to face him, her body shaking as the realisation of what she might have been about to do caught up with her.

Would I have really…was I going to…, she was unable to complete the thought and so focused herself on the man before her, probably a guard who had heard strange noises from the cell and come to investigate.

He would never know how grateful Sakura was to him.

"Um…Hi, I…I was just", the jounin didn't speak as he toppled forward, collapsing lifelessly to the ground with a dull thud.

Sakura blinked at the corpse on the ground before her, her head jerking up when someone spoke.

"You've caused me a lot of trouble you know?", the voice set her teeth on edge. It was like there were a thousand insects crawling across her bare skin as she shuddered with revulsion.

The speaker stepped out of the hall and into the light, causing her throat to lock in fear, his snake like eyes looking at the boy behind her while a sadistic grin spread across his cruel features.

"Sasuke-kun", the way he purred the younger man's name made her want to vomit.

Orochimaru

The snake master stepped on the body of the man he had undoubtedly murdered as he walked toward Sasuke's cell.

"The security here is a lax as always, one more reason to hurry along the destruction of the pathetic little village", his travesty of a smile widened as he found the reason Sasuke had yet to stand, "but at least they have secured my precious new body for me, I was so worried when you vanished Sasuke-kun. I should have known that letting you meet with that little spy you thought I didn't know about was a bad idea. But then again who could have guessed that Itachi would become careless enough for your efforts to locate him. I doubt the rest of the Nine would be pleased to know that".

The pale Sannin took another step toward his goal, "I'm lucky the girl found you before they did".

"What?", Sasuke asked suspiciously. How could his master know what had happened?

"Yes most fortunate", he continued as if Sasuke hadn't spoken, "A good thing I marked you as mine or I would have had no idea where you went after all those nasty things you slipped into my wine wore off. Have you been playing with Kabuto again Sasuke-kun?".

Sasuke felt his skin crawl. The S-class criminal before him had long since seized to startle him with his bursts of madness, a possible side effect of hopping bodies like most people changed clothes.

However his veiled innuendos and tastes still never failed to disturb him.

"You've had your fun", the snake master held out a hand as if waiting for the sealed boy to take it, "Time to come home".

"No!", Sakura placed herself between Orochimaru and the prone Sasuke, the kunai she had contemplated using on herself moments before held in a two handed grip before her, "Leave Sasuke-kun alone"

Orochimaru cocked his head curiously at her, a thin smile present on his lips as recognition crossed his features.

"You", he chuckled, "You must be…Sakura was it?".

He smiled wider seeing her shock, "Did you know Sasuke-kun has been dreaming about you for some time now? Yes I was almost jealous you know, but Sasuke-kun belongs to me. Stand aside"

"No!"

The snake master's smile faded, his face seeming even sharper, "Don't be stupid little girl, I haven't decided to kill you yet".

"I said no, I won't let you have Sasuke-kun", Sasuke looked at her as if this were the first time he had seen her.

"Sakura…"

Orochimaru threw back his head with a cackling laugh, "This again? I think Sasuke has proved where his loyalties lye by now. He is already mine. I have no plans to let one foolish little girl interfere".

"If you harm her…", Sasuke threatened darkly, drawing the Sannin's attention to him.

Orochimaru's face twisted with contempt.

"Don't presume to order me just because you are my current favourite", the snake master was a blur as he shot forward.

Sakura tensed, readying her weapon.

Suddenly Orochimaru rolled aside as a wave of kunai struck the ground he had been standing on moments before.

Faster than she could blink he had rolled around Sakura and come up behind her, summoned snakes slithering free of his robes and binding the pink haired girl tightly in place.

"Really Tsunade", he snorted as Sakura struggled in the grip of the serpents, "Is that anyway to greet old friends?".

Sasuke's head snapped around as the second of the legendary Sannin emerged from some concealed hiding place, glaring fiercely at her former friend and team-mate.

He hadn't even sensed her presence, but he had sensed the other.

Orochimaru leaned back lazily as a shrukien flew past his head, trimming a few hairs in the process.

Another snake shot out of his sleeve, forcing Kakashi to drop cover and roll aside toward Tsunade.

Orochimaru gazed around the room casually.

"Is that it Tsunade? Just you and an Uchiha wannabe against me", he glanced at her from the corner of his eyes, "I'm insulted".

"I thought we would have more time before you attacked, I haven't had chance to recall any of my jounin", she smirked, "It's not like you to be so hasty. Regardless you're still out numbered, give up".

Her former team-mate threw back his head with another cackling laugh, "It's nice to know your sense of humour hasn't been dulled by the years Tsunade. I'm afraid I will have to decline your offer".

Tsunade slid into a ready stance as the legendary blade at the other Sannin's command slide forth from the maw of one of his snakes into his waiting hand, spreading her weight evenly for optimum reaction time.

The razor edge flashed out, but not in the direction she had expected.

Three quick cuts removed a large section of the bars from Sasuke's prison, while a forth bisected the scroll near his feet, breaking the seal that restrained him.

Sasuke began to strain as the power of the seal slowly faded, his face locked on that of his master.

"Sasuke-kun", the snake master smiled, "Once you get free, meet me at the place you made your choice".

Sasuke through all of his weight against the retreating magic, managing to free one arm as he realised what was happening.

Orochimaru's feet began to sink as if the ground were made of sand.

"Orochimaru!", he screamed, tearing the other arm free.

"Hurry up Sasuke", the body swapper taunted, pulling Sakura to himself while Tsunade and Kakashi struggled with the mass of snakes that had been summoned to their master's aid while he fled.

"Sakura!", he struggled but couldn't free himself completely as the pale skinned Sannin sank from sight with one final bone shuddering laugh.

As if Orochimaru's presence had been all that maintained the seal's faltering power, Sasuke was free, rocking back on his spine, placing his hands behind his head and spring-boarding to his feet.

He growled at the spot his master had vanished on, his mind already working through the possible locations the older man could have been referring to.

A number of possibilities from across the years presented themselves but Orochimaru had a tendency to favour the dramatic.

If he had taken Sakura then it would be something to do with team seven. Something momentous.

Sasuke smirked at the obviousness of the choice.

Of course that pretentious bastard would go there he sacrificed a second to remember the most direct route from Konoha to the spot he had beaten Naruto shortly after gaining the power of stage two.

His destination confirmed he began to reach for the seal's power, as always feeling slightly heady as the dark power coursed in his veins, triggering the Sharingan like a knee-jerk reflex.

Darkness swirled around his heart, eating his soul, as the tattoo like pattern of the seal at stage one spread across his body from his neck.

He grinned like the devil himself as he felt the bloodlust rise. He would find his master, no, former master, he would retrieve Sakura, and tear Orochimaru apart.

"Sasuke!", the voice cut into his pleasant thoughts of the carnage he would reap, forcing him to focus on his first obstacle.

The Hokage of Konoha and the fake Uchiha bared his wary with wary glances and readied weapons.

"Stand down Sasuke", the fifth ordered, wincing at the ear-splitting laugh her command produced from the boy.

He was the sole survivor of the Uchiha now, he had surpassed and defeated Itachi the man hailed as a genius even in his own Clan, beaten Naruto, vessel of Kyuubi, attained and mastered the power of the cursed seal of heaven, strongest of them all.

He would bath in these insects blood as he tore them limb from limb, he would…

Sasuke clasped his head in his hand as he fought back the power of the seal, pushing it back into its forced slumber with the aid of the secondary seal Kakashi had given him all those years ago.

When his eyes opened the Sharingan was gone, but his opponents didn't make the mistake of lowering their guard. He was still more powerful than most jounin even accessing the seal indirectly like this, and they knew that.

"Tsunade-sama, Kakashi-sensei", the use of formal honorific didn't persuade them to back down, but it might make them more likely to listen. He would need all the power at his disposal to defeat Orochimaru.

He had no intention of becoming that sick freaks container, and more importantly…

"Please move aside", he said, allowing some of the seal to leak free as a silent warning of why it was in their best interests to comply, "I have no interest in either of you, but if you insist on standing in my way…I will destroy you".

Neither of the other ninja seemed phased by his threats and he silently cursed. He truly did not wish to do this the hard way, especially if it meant harming or killing two of the people most cared for by the girl he….

No, think of such things later, they have no place here, Sasuke slid into an even stance, another non-verbal warning.

He was only doing this out of a sense of duty. He had already decided not to let this get personal.

Humans betrayed.

"Sasuke-kun", his former teacher spoke up, his voice as emotionless as always, "What are you planning to do?".

Kakashi had caught something in his student's eyes he hadn't seen in a long time, ever since a thirst for revenge overtook the younger man.

A desire to protect something.

"Sakura-chan doesn't need an avenger Sasuke-kun", the dark haired boy's eyes went tight and Kakashi reached for his forehead protector, readied to match his own Sharingan against Sasuke's even if it there was no chance he could come out the victor.

"If you delay me any longer, I may need that title again, and you will be my target this time sensei", Kakashi blinked, Sasuke no longer called himself an avenger? Did that mean he had finally given up on revenge, or had he succeeded in killing Itachi?

That prospect didn't bode well. Itachi had been accepted as one of the Nine. S-ranked criminals even the legendary Sannin were wary of. If Sasuke had defeated him his power must be monstrous.

Another thought crossed the silver haired shinobi's mind.

If Itachi was dead, why was Sasuke still fighting? The broody young man had always claimed he only lived to kill his brother, and with that accomplished…

Kakashi lowered his hands, straightening and stepping aside.

Sasuke looked at him questioningly.

Kakashi shrugged and took out his favourite book, "Do what you have to, protect your friends".

"I'm pretty sure that decision is mine", Tsunade said, causing him to fumble the book and smile apologetically.

She sighed, what was it about the students of Jiraiya and their protégés that made them think they were in change of any given situation?

She had also picked up on the subtle changes in Sasuke's attitude and demeanour however, and agreed with Kakashi's unspoken conclusions.

She rubbed her head as she stepped aside, "This wasn't exactly part of the plan. The council will probably give me a stern talking to for this".

Sasuke frowned, wondering why she was attacking as if she had told some sort of in-joke.

"Shizune too", his confusion went up as she actually winced a little at that last statement.

"You should hurry, before she changes her mind", Kakashi advised.

Sasuke nodded roughly, taking off passed them, opening the door with a strong kick and vanishing into the tunnels that honeycombed the Hokage monument overlooking the town.

"I hope that was a good idea", Kakashi said when he was gone.

Tsunade laughed quietly under her breath, "Probably not, but if he comes back alive the Uchiha's sacrifice might still mean something".

"Protectors of the people no matter the cost", Kakashi recited something he had heard a long time ago.

Tsunade sighed heavily, glancing skyward with world-weary eyes, "No matter the cost".


Sakura woke with a strangle cry.

She had blacked out during the technique Orochimaru had used to escape.

How could he stand the soul suffocating cold that had wracked her during the transition?

She was suspended by her wrists and ankles but could not see her surroundings.

Her vision was patchy at best, but she could hear a deafening roar, and feel a wet spray coating her face and body, leaving her to shiver in damp clothes that clung to her body.

"Awake now?", an mockingly kind voice asked from somewhere above her and she craned her head back, trying to identify with of the coloured blotches above her was responsible.

"Not a moment to soon, he should be hear soon", the voice took on an almost purring note that threatened to make her empty her stomach, "He's moving quite quickly considering he isn't accessing the seal. He should be here in a few hours at the most".

Sasuke-kun?

"It looks like my suspicions were correct, he has taken quite a liking to you my dear, though I can't see why".

Sakura felt a thrill of excitement run through her.

Sasuke-kun is coming…for me?, she smiled to herself, feeling her cheeks heat.

Sasuke was coming to rescue her.

She hoped he hadn't hurt anyone as he escaped.

Her happiness vanished as she realised that if Sasuke was coming for her, then Orochimaru could and would us her to force him to return to the Sound.

Sakura felt helpless tears well up at the thought of her being used to hurt Sasuke in any way, and promised it wouldn't come to that.

If the need arose she would use her technique, and this time, she wouldn't hesitate to cut the cord if it would keep him safe.


Sasuke barely contained his impatience as the ground passed by at what to anyone else would be a blur.

To someone used to tapping the power of a cursed seal however it was like being reduced to a crawl after being able to run.

He burst clear of the last of the trees, his feet slapping down on the muddy ground, echoes of memory skittering form the darkened recesses of him mind with each step.

This was the same path he had taken when being chased by Naruto.

He had been drunk on the sense of unlimited power throbbing in his veins, running just for the pure joy of how alive he had felt.

He hadn't even realised Naruto was following him until he had reached the cave that he could see just up ahead, and when he had he had tried to brush the blond off as an annoyance, using a powerful genjutsu, something he had never previously shown much aptitude for.

Somehow Naruto had continued to through the illusion that should have disabled him, continuing to chase him until he had been forced to face the other boy…here.

The damage to the two gigantic statues of some bygone era that stood guard over the falls was still visible.

Most likely no one had come here since he had left Naruto battered and humbled by his power.

Now if he could repeat that lesson with the snake master things would be just fine.

He leapt, performing a lazy somersault and landing on top of the head of the nearest statue, hands resting casually in his pockets as he scanned the area.

He located a flash of pink, clenching his teeth as he spotted the stone shackles holding Sakura in place over the lethal fall onto the rocks below.

"Sasuke-kun", he froze, his eyes going wide, "I'm so glad you made it, I take it the fake and that annoying woman are dead?".

Sasuke grinned over his shoulder, his hand clasping one of the items hidden in the pockets of his trousers, "Not exactly".

Orochimaru gasped as the kunai embedded itself in his chest, staggering backward, clutching desperately at the weapon.

"Enough", Sasuke spat, glaring at him with the red eyes of Sharingan, "I'm not stupid and neither are you".

The clone of his master smirked at him before bowing mockingly and melting into mud and dirt.

"Excellent as always", Orochimaru complimented him as his apprentice stooped to retrieve the kunai, eying him across the water fall that separated them, "A single clean stab through the heart. That would have killed me Sasuke-kun".

"There's still time", Sasuke said, tossing the blade to his other hand and taking a second from his pocket.

"Do you want to kill me Sasuke-kun?", Orochimaru drew an kunai from his own pouch with his tongue, dropping it into his waiting hand.

Sasuke readied his guard, tapping into the power of the seal at stage one.

The Sannin's eyes narrowed as he watched the tattoo like marks of the heaven seal spread across the exposed areas of Sasuke's body.

"I think you've gotten a bit ahead of yourself Sasuke-kun. You know you can't beat me, so why try?".

Sasuke's response was to increase the output of the seal, his Chakra sending ripples across the fall as he lowered his centre of gravity.

"Shut up and die".

The raven-haired boy exploded into motion, charging across the raging waters with a fierce cry.

He drove in at Orochimaru with everything he had. His first swipe was dodged smoothly and the second parried wide as if whipped the second kunai directly through the path of the first.

As he fell, Sasuke pushed off the ground, scything his foot around in a wide arc that aimed to remove the Sannin's head from his shoulders.

Orochimaru grinned as he caught Sasuke's foot, grasping his kunai in his tongue as he was forced to use his free hand when Sasuke planted his hands on the ground pivoting and aiming a kick at his midsection.

He grabbed the other foot, his smile widening.

His feeling of triumph faltered as Sasuke crunched his stomach, putting him level with his opponent's chest as he drew back his fist, channelling his Chakra into the limb.

Sasuke gasped as his hand suddenly stopped dead. He looked over at the uncooperative appendage and found the source of his troubles. True to his name Orochimaru had summoned a snake to bind his arm before he could deliver the blow.

The Sannin smiled at the helpless boy, using his tongue to wave the kunai back and forth in front of his face.

"Game over Sasuke-kun, time to surrender".

Sasuke smirked knowingly and glanced at his opponent's feet.

Orochimaru's eyes widened at what he saw.

The explosive seal fizzed as it drew closer to completing its mission in life.

"Boom", Sasuke lashed out with his foot, kicking is former master square in the forehead as the seal exploded hurtling them in separate directions.

There was a cry from below him as dirt and debris rained down upon Sakura, reminding him why he had come there in the first place.

Sasuke's face hardened as his hands worded a number of seals in a pattern known only to members of his family.

His moulding complete, Sasuke drew a deep breath and held his right hand up to his lips as if gripping the neck of a bottle.

"Katon: Ryuuka no Jutsu!".

A huge ball of flame shot forth from his hand as he breathed out through the narrow tube made by his thumb and forefinger.

The burning wave shot through the dust and smoke created by the explosive seal, striking something and engulfing it.

Did I get him?, Sasuke thought, unable to believe the element of surprise had defeated a creature like Orochimaru so easily.

There was a whisper of movement behind him as the flames began to clear, showing a hardened mud clone standing at the centre of a burnt crater.

Sasuke spun, as he fell, crossing his arms to stop the punch aimed at his face.

He grunted under the impact, crying out when Orochimaru's foot shot under his guard, catching him hard under the chin and sending him sailing back upward.

Sasuke opened one eye as something gripped his leg, hauling him back to earth once more.

Sasuke braced himself as he was thrown repeatedly into the walls of the waterfall before being dropped, plunging beneath the surface of the icy water.

"Sasuke-kun!", Sakura called out as he vanished below the water.

Orochimaru landed on the surface as light as a feather, barely causing a ripple.

"Is that all you have Sasuke-kun? I know you aren't as weak as that", his eyes flickered back and forth across the water, waiting for his apprentice to make his move.

The water at his feet exploded upward, a sandal-clad foot rocketed out and striking him hard enough to launch him into the air. Sasuke followed; legs flashing out repeatedly as he drove the other man airborne.

He used his Chakra to propel him above the Sannin, performing a barrel roll as he went and bringing his leg down on the other man's gut with a devastating axe kick.

Sent to ground once more, Orochimaru cried out as he felt the first of Sasuke's blows collide, driving him ever faster toward the river below.

"Lion combo!"

Water flew in all directions as the pair crashed threw the river's tranquil surface with earth shattering force.

Watching from above, Sakura could only pray as the falls replenished the missing water, and an eerie silence descended upon the valley.

"Sasuke-kun…", her eyes roved the waters, searching for some sign of the dark haired young man who had come to rescue her.

With a shuttering cough, Sasuke emerged, gasping for air as he dragged himself ashore, crawling on hands and knees to distance himself from the river.

Sakura almost wilted with relief.

Sasuke was ok and there was no sign of Orochimaru.

She looked at him, waiting for him to come get her down, but he hadn't moved from where he knelt at the riverside.

Something was wrong.


Sasuke couldn't move.

His hand tightened on the kunai embedded in his stomach.

Being stabbed was a lot more painful than he had thought it would be. Far more painful than being hit by Haku's ice needles, or the lightening blade the missing-nin Aoi had used against him to defeat Chidori.

Even being smacked around by Gaara's semi-transformed body couldn't compare to the indescribable feeling of having cold steel shred your innards as it pierced your skin.

Tightening his grip and bracing himself, Sasuke pulled the weapon free, feeling faint as he tossed it aside and redirected a little of the cursed seal's power into his abdomen.

He rolled over, staring panting at the river, his red irises narrowing.

It wasn't over yet.

A small island of limp black hair appeared in the centre of the water, followed rapidly by a pale face and amused snake like eyes.

Orochimaru surfaced, reaching behind himself for another kunai.

"Did that hurt Sasuke-kun? I am sorry. You know I really don't want to injure you more than I have too. Just come home, all is forgiven".

The Sannin sighed as he knocked the shrukien launched at him aside.

"Of course if you really want me to, I could be persuaded".

Sasuke snorted, pulling taut the wires that had been attacked to his shrukien, sending them in a tight arc around Orochimaru's body, wrapping the controlling wires around him.

A quick jerk of his head and the wires had the snake master trapped.

"You talk too much. Katon: Goukakyu no Jutsu!", fire streaked down the wires contenting Sasuke to Orochimaru, the snake master's agonised scream filling the valley and causing Sakura high above them to advert her eyes.

Sasuke released the wires, his hands already forming the seals for another technique, a more powerful one.

When done his left hand shot down, Chakra gathering around it in such quantities that it became visible to the human eye, sparking and writhing around his hand like a thing alive.

"Time to end this. Chidori!", Sasuke charged, arm hanging limply at his side as the discharge from the Chidori gouged a furrow in the earth.

Water sprayed behind him as his feet hit the water, an application of Chakra holding above the aqueous surface as he ran.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!", the Chidori sliced cleanly through the smoke and the world went white.


"Chidori!"

Sakura screwed her eyes shut as Sasuke's last attack lit the world with a blinding light.

She had only just managed to get her sight back and she didn't want to loose it again.

Sakura cautiously opened one eye when she could no longer sense the glare through her closed lids.

"Sasuke-kun!"


Those who don't think history repeats itself just aren't paying attention.

Sasuke could only stare as Orochimaru smiled, pushing his arm a little further away from where it had come dangerously close to hitting him with the energy blade Chidori.

Sasuke glared, pulling a kunai from his pocket and driving it toward his opponent's face.

Blood flew.

Sasuke screamed as Orochimaru twisted the blade of his sword, grinning around the pommel that emerged from the mouth of the snake that had once been his tongue.

The sword was buried in his shoulder the humming blade continuing to slowly cut more and more of the surrounding tissue without moving.

Orochimaru frowned at his apprentice, launching him back with a solid blow to the gut, only to be stopped by one of the boulders that surrounded the bank.

The blade retracted back into the snake master's mouth along with his serpentine tongue.

Orochimaru frowned at his apprentice. That attack had been pathetic for someone with all the power of the seal at their command.

"Sloppy Sasuke-kun", he shook his head sadly, "You see what caring about this girl has brought you?"

"Who said I care", Sasuke cough, blood spraying the ground. He knew the impact had cracked at least one rib and now it looked like one of his lungs might be damaged as well.

"Please", Orochimaru spat, "What other explanation is there. You're distracted by the desire to keep her safe and it has made you weak. A kunai does it's job because it doesn't think about what it is, or what it does, it is cold. There is no place in your life for feelings for others Sasuke-kun".

The snake master's eyes narrowed angrily.

"You are nothing more than a weapon in the end".

---"…You are now the perfect weapon my little brother", Itachi glanced down at the blood pooling around him from the wound in his chest with almost child like fascination, "You have beaten me…"---

"You're right", Sasuke said, his chin resting against his chest, hiding his face from his observers.

---"Hate me Sasuke, always hate me…I don't mind if it makes you strong, it's my duty as your brother"

Sasuke looked up from where he lay next to his brother, "Oni-san…"

"I never felt something that strong you know. I was too powerful, I grew cold…arrogant. I stopped growing.

Don't stop…get stronger Sasuke, even if you hate me forever"---

"I am a weapon…but I am not flawed because I feel", Orochimaru frowned; Sasuke's Chakra was growing again.

"You know there is a thin line between all emotions", Sasuke began to stand, clutching at his ribs.

"Sorrow, happiness, hate…love. They're all the same in the end, the only difference is the choice. How we interpret them limits their strength…"

---"Leave…you're annoying"---

---"Feh, you really are annoying, aren't you?"---

Sasuke spared a glance at where Sakura was held.

---"Thank you"---

I finally know what I meant by that, he thought at her silently, No more limits.

"No more limits", Orachimaru took an involuntary step back as the power from his pupil continued to grow, changing.

Sasuke marvelled at the power welling up inside him because of a simple choice, an change of opinion.

He could feel the seal straining to cope with the new emotions it was being asked to interpret.

His former master leapt back, opting for a change of tactic at this unexpected outcome, landing on the cliff face next to his hostage and breaking her bonds, pinning her in front of himself as a human shield.

Sasuke smirked, his face still hidden, "You can't win anymore, I can see my dream again".

---Sasuke smiled happily to himself as Itachi sighed, dropping down to let the younger boy climb onto his back.

"Are you on Sasuke-kun?"

When the boy nodded the elder of the brothers stood again, making sure to get a good grip on his younger sibling's legs before setting off.

"Why did you try that?", he asked as the walked.

"…I want to be a good ninja, like Oni-san", the young boy said quietly after a moment.

Itachi glanced back at him, knowing what his little brother really meant by that. The young boy wanted their father's approval more than anything. A hard thing to achieve in the shadow of a genius elder brother.

"…Don't push yourself…I'm sure one day everyone will know what an excellent ninja you are", Itachi assured him solemnly.

Sasuke smiled, resting his head against his brother's shoulder, "Thank you…"---

"I see it"

---Sasuke lay awake, watching the pink haired girl that slept peacefully in his arms. They were sharing this bed out of necessity. Shared body warmth was one of the basics of survival training.

Shy shinobi died.

That wasn't why he was awake. He found himself unable to sleep properly with her there, but he found it harder to doze in the day when she wasn't.

It was…nice. Willing contact with another human being who wanted nothing more than to be close to him, no expectations or ulterior motives.---

"I will protect that dream", Orochimaru was staring incredulously as Sasuke's power surged yet again.

---"Why are you doing this?"…"To thank you"---

"My dream doesn't have to be in the past anymore…And I won't let anyone take that from me!", Sasuke's head shot up, his Sharingan eyes pinning Orochimaru to the spot.

Sasuke's hands were a blur as they began working the seals for his ultimate technique.

---"Naruto…", Sasuke barely managed to force his words out as his body tried to fight his will to keep him down and pray Gaara rediscovered mercy, "I can stand a little now…I'll keep him busy".

He glared at the travesty of nature the Sand ninja had become; ignoring the pain his ruptured seal wracked his body with after his overuse of Chidori.

"Protect Sakura no matter what…I will not loose another person I care for"---

"Do you know how I'm going to beat you?" Sasuke asked, his left hand shooting downward, Chakra gathering with a tortured cry like a thousand birds singing at once, "I'm going to show you the hidden power of stage three".

Orochimaru scoffed, "There is no stage three Sasuke-kun, you're bluffing".

Sasuke return grin spoke otherwise.

"Stage one: The seal is released, and the user channels whatever power it releases".

The tattoo like markings flared as they spread over his body.

"In this stage, the cursed seal is purely reactive, drawing forth and amplifying the hosts Chakra in response to fluctuations in there emotive state".

Sakura gasped as Sasuke's face contorted, shifting as his hair growing longer with his morphing body.

Soon the only part of the bat like creature she could recognise were the red eyes, marked by three black dots.

"Stage Two", he rasped, his voice as inhuman as his appearance. The Chidori blazed brighter, making it hard to look at.

"The seal merges with the host body, forcing a continued state of rage that it uses in combination with the hosts Chakra to produce unbelievable power…Stage three".

Sasuke's body shrunk, returning to normal, the tattoos retreating across his body until they were out of sight.

Orochimaru swallowed thickly as his apprentice's power took another leap.

On Sasuke's neck, he could just make out the seal, seemingly in it's dormant state but rotating rapidly in time with the dots of his Sharingan.

"The user subdues the seal using it to convert his desires into power. The stronger the desire, the stronger the power".

The Sannin smiled as sweat began to trickle down his brow, "Do you really want to kill me that much Sasuke-kun?".

Sasuke barked a short, sharp laugh.

"I don't give a damn about you".

Sakura felt herself blushing.

"No one escapes the Uchiha".

The Chidori flared, bolts of power crashing in all directions.

Sasuke lowered himself and pushed off.

The air screamed as it was rent apart by the passing of the energy blade, and the river parted like the red sea as he carved his way across its bed.

Orochimaru held Sakura closer to himself as Sasuke hid the base of the cliff, adhering to it with his Chakra and tearing up it at a pace few would have been able to match on dry horizontal ground.

How dare this boy try this after all he had done for him!

His features scrunched in hatred as the blazing ball of light Sasuke Uchiha had become drew closer, rock and energy flying in his wake.

"If you continue you'll kill the girl", he warned his rogue student.

The boy kept coming.

"She'll die!"

His unwavering course continued.

"Stop! This is not part of my dream!".

Sasuke closed the final gap, looking directly in Sakura's eyes as she smiled happily.

"Sasuke-kun…".

"Stop!"

"Chidori! Heartbreak of Innocence!"

Sight and sound disappeared and everything became light.


"Sasuke-kun"

Sasuke could see nothing but white.

"Sasuke-kun"

The blank canvas was slowly replaced by a beautiful pink haired girl, tears in her mint green eyes, her sadness tugging painfully at his heart.

"I love you! I love you so much!…Please, don't go…or if you must, take me with you".

Sakura…

The image was replaced. The same girl but this time with her hands clasped coyly behind her back as she smiled at him shyly.

"Don't you think I'd make a good wife?".

The pink haired girl reached out for him, a beatific smile on her pretty face.

Sakura!

The world shattered, and fell away.


Orochimaru smiled, he held the boy's arm in his tongue, everything was alright, he had failed.

The Sannin's laugh cut short as he wrenched, crimson fluid flowing over the arm that he held.

The arm that had pierced his chest and crushed his heart.

He turned rapidly glazing eyes on his killer, seeing the boy smiling up at him, panting with exhaustion.

Orochimaru felt his body going numb even as he sort to strike back at the smirking brat.

He swayed, releasing his hostage as the edges of his vision greyed and everything started to go quiet.

He watched as Sasuke and Sakura began to fall with him. He couldn't see properly anymore, it was all too dark.

He marvelled as his sense of tumbling vanished with everything else.

Abruptly he felt himself hauled upright, face to face with a pair of piercing red eyes.

Red eyes with three black dots set into the lined, angular face of the traitor and former member of the Nine.

Itachi Uchiha.

"So he did it", the imposing man said, his voice showing neither happiness or annoyance, "Sasuke-kun has surpassed the Sannin…I guess this means I was right about him. Our sacrifice was not in vain, nothing can stop him now. He is powerful, and he has something to drive him, a desire that will outlast my legacy".

As he died Orochimaru saw something much more fearsome, more terrifying than the death god, something no other person, dead or alive would see again.

He felt his nerves freeze and his innards liquefy.

Itachi smiled.

"Lets go to hell together", the elder of the Uchiha brothers whispered to the Sannin who had sort immortality, as if he had seen into his very soul and knew his deepest fear.

Above the screams of the damned, one might have heard laughter.

Sasuke woke slowly, his body spent.

"Am I dead", he whispered, staring up at the cloudless sky.

"No", he was surprised to be answered, almost as much as when Sakura's face appeared above his own seconds later, "You're ok, we both are, you won".

She brushed some of his blood-matted hair out of his face, tears falling on his face from her shining green eyes.

"Crybaby", she smiled, his words were at odds with the expression on his usually brooding face, "That's one of the things that annoys me about you".

"Why did I ever like you?", she wondered aloud, laughing as he snorted, "Baka".

"You owe me you know", she caught his expression and hurried to explain, "When we fell, I had to anchor us to the wall, you were out cold. This isn't the first time either".

Sasuke seemed to be pondering something for a moment, before shrugging, "I suppose that's ok".

Before she could ask, his hand had lanced out, grabbing the back of her neck and drawing her into a brief but powerful kiss.

Sakura's face was like a miniature sunset when he released her.

"I, you, we…that…"

"Shut up", he said, watching her expression turn from shy to murderous with amusement. She was much cuter when she was angry he decided.

"Thank you", Sakura lowered her fist uncertainly seeing his smile, the only genuine expression she could ever recall seeing on his usually stoic face.

"So", she asked, tucking a strand of pink hair behind her ear, "What now?".

By way of response Sasuke pulled he down next to him, wrapping his arms securely around her and sighing happily.

"This is just fine".

Sakura smiled, closing her eyes and hugging him closer to herself, luxuriating in the feel of his body against hers.

Neither of them noticed at the time, but the numbness that had pervade their lives until that point was gone.

The void was gone, filled by each other.

They would never be alone again.


---Author Notes---

Tada, all done, sorry about the mushy ending to an angst based story but…yeah.

There might be a small epilogue depending on the reviews I get.

There's a little button down here that needs some love.

Till next time, Betweenheavenandhell