A/N: Chapter 25 is live! I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who's read, favorited, and followed this story so far. Especially my beta readers. I never expected it to get any attention, but seeing that people are enjoying it is wonderful!
I don't own Naruto.
Chapter XXV: Eternal
Chained and blindfolded. That was what Itachi Uchiha had been reduced to. He who was once the prodigy of the Uchiha and one of the most well-respected ANBU captains was now no more than a prisoner awaiting trial. His brother didn't grant him the death he deserved. Instead, he was likely to die by poison or some unknown executioner. That is, if his sickness didn't claim him first.
Itachi was thrown back into reality when he heard footsteps approaching his cell. One set was definitely a pair of heels, while the other sounded familiar. They weren't the usual guards rotating. He turned to face his visitors, despite not being able to see them due to the seal over his eyes. Normally he'd be able to escape, but the disruption of his chakra system exacerbated his illness, and the chakra suppression seal didn't allow for chakra manipulation. Not that it mattered much; he was too tired, anyway.
The footsteps came to a halt a few paces in front of him.
"I was told you wanted to speak to me," Sasuke deadpanned.
"I wasn't expecting the Hokage to be present," Itachi stated.
"Tough. Now talk, and don't waste my time," his brother snapped.
Itachi bit his tongue, knowing a retort would be misplaced here. "What do you know of the Sharingan, Sasuke?"
Sasuke shifted his weight, wary of the possibility of manipulation. Nonetheless, he humored his question. "Aside from it being one of the 'Three Great Dōjutsu,' just that it's the mark of the Uchiha, for all intents and purposes."
"You've unlocked your Mangekyō Sharingan, somehow. Tell me, Sasuke—how did you come upon the Mangekyō?"
"I'm not sure how that's relevant." Even though he was blindfolded with a bandana adorned with a seal, Sasuke was sure Itachi would be staring him down if his eyes were uncovered.
"I watched my best friend leap to his death. That was the event that unlocked my Mangekyō. Surely, you had to experience some kind of tragedy."
"Get to the point, Itachi. You already know the answer to the question you're asking," Sasuke all but growled.
The older Uchiha let out a huff. "The Mangekyō Sharingan is powerful, but pales in comparison to the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan."
Sasuke and Tsunade both cocked an eyebrow, the former taking a breath before deciding to press on. "Explain. You mentioned it before."
"You must have felt the effects of using the Mangekyō before. The fatigue, blurred vision, trouble focusing. All are side effects of using the Mangekyō."
Tsunade pursed her lips while Sasuke's jaw set, remembering experiencing those exact symptoms after his fight with him and with Orochimaru. He was bedridden for days following the latter, and distinctly remembered feeling fatigued after the former.
"What does that have to do with it?" he asked warily.
"The curse of the Uchiha is more than the tragedies we experience to unlock the Sharingan and the Mangekyō—more than the hatred that we all carry. Over time, usage of the Mangekyō leads to blindness. But there's a way to stop this, a way that will not only stop the loss of sight, but also unlock more power than is possible with the Mangekyō alone. The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan is that power."
"Why are you telling me this?" Sasuke probed, masking his curiosity with irritation.
A small, wry smirk crawled across Itachi's mouth. "You still want power, don't you? You want a solution to the eventual blindness, don't you? You need your Sharingan, Sasuke, if you are to become stronger than you are now."
Sasuke turned to Tsunade, whose brow had furrowed along with her pursed lips. He wasn't sure what, but Sasuke knew Itachi had to be playing some sort of sick game with him. He also knew that strength was something he worked towards ever since he became a genin.
"Don't you want to catch up to your friend? His visual prowess exceeds yours, whether you realize it or not," Itachi added.
Tsunade tensed and took a step forward. "Choose your next words carefully, Itachi Uchiha," she warned.
Sasuke turned to the Hokage. "Lady Tsunade, don't. He's just trying to get a rise out of you. Don't give him what he wants."
With a nod, Tsunade stepped back, letting Sasuke address his older brother. "Naruto's eyes have nothing to do with this. Stop beating around the bush and say what you want to say."
"Answer this question first: do you want to know how to unlock the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?"
Sasuke chewed the inside of his cheek, weighing his options. On the one hand, he couldn't help but feel the slightest bit curious about what exactly the Eternal Mangekyō was and how it compared to the Mangekyō. However, his suspicions over Itachi's motivations nagged at him. Surely, this had to be some sort of ploy to get Sasuke to trust him.
Letting his curiosity have this one, Sasuke let out a small sigh. "Sure. Tell me what to do to unlock this 'Eternal Mangekyō' that you seem so interested in."
Itachi sat up straighter, making the chains that bound him ring like dozens of tiny bells. "The Eternal Mangekyō is the solution to the blindness that plagues the Mangekyō Sharingan. But, it isn't unlocked by normal means. Where the Sharingan and the Mangekyō are obtained through emotional duress, the Eternal Mangekyō may only be obtained through an exchange of eyes between two Uchiha who have strong blood ties—like siblings."
Sasuke flinched, his blood freezing in his veins. Even Tsunade visibly tensed. Sasuke took a deep breath, trying to calm himself before speaking quietly. "You aren't suggesting what I think you're suggesting, are you?"
"The Hokage is a world-renowned medic. She would be the perfect person to transpl—"
"And just what makes you think you're in a position to make such a request, Uchiha?" Tsunade growled as she stepped forward. Sasuke swore he saw fire in her eyes as a vein bulged on her forehead.
"I'm fully aware of my circumstances, Lady Hokage. I know I'm not in a position to make requests or demands, especially the one I'm suggesting," Itachi reasoned.
Sasuke put two and two together. "You want me to agree and be the one to suggest it instead."
"You catch on quickly, Sasuke."
Ignoring the comment, Sasuke turned to the Hokage, whose brow was deeply furrowed. Catching the look in his eye, she frowned at him. He shrugged apologetically in response, knowing the idea bordered on preposterous. As much as he didn't want to go along with any idea that Itachi had, he couldn't ignore the eventual blindness that would befall him.
There was also the supposed power that the Eternal Mangekyō held. Though he had no desire to surpass Naruto, the thought of being able to at least match his strength was tempting. Of course, his focus was to be able to fight alongside him and protect Naruto and his comrades, should he need to.
Sasuke considered the ramifications of Itachi's offer, turning his attention back to the prisoner. "Is that all you wanted to say?"
Itachi only hummed in response.
Turning to Tsunade, Sasuke tilted his head towards the exit. Itachi sensed their imminent departure and spoke up. "Do you not have an answer?"
Sasuke paused mid-stride, glancing over his shoulder at Itachi. "No. You said what you had to say. I'm not obligated to give you any answer. Goodbye."
With that, Sasuke and the Hokage made their way out of the cell block, leaving Itachi none too satisfied with the sequence of events up till now. Sasuke resolved that he would sooner confess his feelings for Hinata in front of his friends than let Itachi have the satisfaction of a direct answer. Even if deep down, he was considering it.
Outside of the cell block, he turned to Tsunade as they walked. "I think I should mull this over and le—"
"Oh? I was under the impression that this wasn't on the table to begin with. This is also assuming I or any of the medics in Konoha would agree to such a procedure," she interrupted with a hint of irritation.
Sasuke let out a sigh. "I fully understand how outrageous the idea is, but if there's a possibility that I could go blind, don't you think it's worth looking into courses of action that could prevent that?"
Tsunade's face set into another scowl. "I understand, Sasuke, but you have to remember that he's a prisoner for good reason. Not only was he an S-ranked rouge nin, he was a member of a terrorist organization. One that attacked Konoha very recently. I may not have witnessed it firsthand, but I've heard the whisperings of just how skilled Itachi was with his Sharingan. Him having this 'Eternal Mangekyō' likely wouldn't be good for you or anyone."
"I understand that. But, as much as I hate to admit it, he's also my brother, even if his right to clan heir or formal membership is forfeit," he reasoned. When he was met with a glare from Tsunade, he let out another sigh. "Lady Tsunade, for what it's worth, I haven't exactly reached a decision yet, either. Something tells me this could all be part of whatever game he's playing to obtain power through any means necessary. That, or he could just be trying to find a way to screw with me. It could even be both. But I also wonder if he's telling the truth. I plan to look through the scrolls I have from the Uchiha archives and make a decision soon."
It was Tsunade's turn to sigh. "I'm guessing you'll want my support in this?"
Sasuke gave a nod, bowing his head slightly. "If you're willing, that is, Lady Tsunade."
After a moment, Tsunade let another sigh escape through her nose. "Very well. I suppose I can offer my support, if nothing else."
Now just outside the door to the prison, Sasuke bowed deeply. "Thank you, Lady Tsunade."
The Hokage huffed. "Just make sure your decision is well-informed. Now go and get some rest."
With a nod, Sasuke set off. His instincts told him his friends would be at Ichiraku, but given what they were celebrating, Yakiniku Q was another possibility. They weren't far from each other, so he'd check both to make sure.
Ichiraku Ramen was the unofficial—but also slightly official—watering hole for Team 7. Naruto devoured countless bowls of Teuchi's signature miso char siu both alone and with his friends and sensei. The restaurant became a place of celebration after their mission to Wave Country. However, some occasions called for even more splurging, which meant dinner at Yakiniku Q. A promotion to tokubetsu jōnin was one such occasion that warranted dinner at the favored barbecue establishment. Even though Team 10 laid claim to the latter as their hangout spot, Team 7 popped in now and again whenever they had extra cash to spare.
Sasuke was later than Kakashi, and was made aware of it with lighthearted jabs from his friends. He was glad he was only a few minutes late, or he'd never hear the end of it, from his roommate especially.
The food was delicious, as always, and the conversations were warm and full of smiles and laughter. Despite the day's events, Sasuke let himself enjoy the company of his friends. The topic of Kakashi's mask came up, and subsequently how he could possibly eat quickly enough that his face would remain hidden. True to form, Kakashi brushed all their questions off, much to the chagrin of his students. Even Haku's interest was piqued, despite not having spent much time around the sensei in question. Of course, no one was any closer to unveiling that mystery.
The group parted ways soon after finishing their celebration. Sakura walked Haku home before heading for her own apartment. Kakashi buried his nose in his so-called romance novel, while Sasuke and Naruto walked home. Their short trek was quiet, but they were content, nonetheless. At least, that was what Sasuke told himself.
The sight of Naruto and Sasuke having tea at their dining table while poring over the Hiraishin and Uchiha scrolls, respectively, was an all too familiar one. Despite it only being their second day back, they were eager to continue their respective research. Though, Sasuke's search had taken a different turn after his conversation with Itachi.
Naruto glanced at his roommate and couldn't help but notice the way his brow was furrowed, along with the small frown he wore. The blond made a face and cleared his throat, which went unanswered. Frowning, Naruto decided to speak up.
"You trying to burn holes through that scroll with Amaterasu or something, dude?"
Silence.
"Yo, Sasuke. You still conscious?"
His question hung in the air as Sasuke's onyx eyes scanned back and forth through the scroll.
"Hey, jackass!"
Sasuke jumped, glaring at the blond. "For crying out loud! What do you want, whiskers?"
Naruto threw him a slightly irritated but curious look. "You've been death glaring that scroll like it stole the last cherry tomato from your bento box."
"No I haven't."
"Uh, yeah. You have."
"You must be hallucinating. The meat sweats will do that to you."
"Hey hey hey, first of all I don't have the 'meat sweats' or whatever the fuck that is. Second, my eyes happen to work just fine, thank you very much. Seriously, though, what gives? Something in that scroll pissing you off?"
Sasuke chewed the inside of his cheek, turning his attention back to the scroll. "No, I'm just focused."
Naruto hummed inquisitively. "Focused on what, exactly? I know it's an Uchiha scroll, but what's it got in there?"
"Just some stuff about the Sharingan," Sasuke answered, hoping to avoid telling him about the conversation with Itachi. Though, he had a sinking feeling that Naruto's tendency to pry would lead to exactly that.
The curious blond cocked an eyebrow. "What kinda stuff?"
More silence.
"Well. It's about another kind of Sharingan," Sasuke said quietly.
Naruto's brows shot up before he knitted them in confusion. "Another kind? Aren't there only like, what, two?"
The Uchiha heir shut his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Sasuke?"
Onyx met amethyst. "That's what I thought at first. Turns out there's something else. There's a third kind…sort of."
Naruto drew a breath. "Where'd you hear about it? The scroll?"
Sasuke pressed his lips together. "Well. Yeah. Kind of. Believe it or not, Itachi told me about it first."
Naruto's face immediately set into a scowl. "How do you know he isn't lying to you?"
"I don't. That's why I decided to comb through the scrolls. But it turns out he's actually telling the truth this time around. Take a look here." Sasuke pointed to a particular section in the scroll that chronicled the first instance of the new Sharingan in question.
The scowl on Naruto's face softened into a frown, though his brow remained furrowed as he read. "This is what he was talking about? The 'Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan'?"
"The very same. I didn't believe him at first, either. He rambled on about it during our fight, but he sounded more like a madman than he did when I spoke to him earlier."
"Earlier? Is that why Granny asked you to stay behind?"
A sigh escaped the Uchiha. "Yeah. Apparently, he requested my presence specifically. His bargaining chip was that he wouldn't talk to anyone unless he talked to me first."
Naruto snorted. "Slimy coward. That son of a bitch is nothing if not manipulative, huh?"
"You're telling me. Anyways, yeah. Turns out this whole 'Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan' thing is real."
"What's different about it? I know the Mangekyō is supposed to be stronger or whatever, right?"
Sasuke nodded. "The Mangekyō is strong in its own right. The only thing is, there are consequences when using that strength."
"Whaddaya mean?" Naruto took a sip of tea.
"Do you remember when we got back from hunting for Orochimaru? How tired I was?"
The blond hummed as he finished his swig. "Oh, yeah. You were on bedrest for a few days after Granny took a look at you."
"That wasn't the only thing, though," Sasuke interrupted. "I'm not sure if you knew this or not, but I was having trouble seeing. Specifically, I felt like I couldn't quite get my eyes to focus on anything."
Naruto nodded slowly as he put two and two together. "I'm guessing the exhaustion and trouble seeing are because of the Mangekyō?"
A smirk crossed Sasuke's face. "You're smarter than I give you credit for, whiskers," he quipped. Naruto blew a raspberry before Sasuke continued. "But yeah. Fatigue and trouble seeing are two of the consequences of using the Mangekyō for an extended period of time. I even had trouble with my vision after my fight against Itachi."
"Well, I mean, that sucks and all, but is it that huge of a deal? If any of that stuff happens, you can just take a break and be good as new, right?"
The Uchiha heir shook his head, earning him a frown from his roommate. "Not quite. Continued use of the Mangekyō over time can lead to more serious effects. Permanent ones."
Naruto titled his head slightly, eyeing Sasuke warily. A weight settled in his stomach, having an idea of what Sasuke meant by "permanent," but he pressed on. "What sort of serious effects?"
A sigh escaped Sasuke's nose as he pressed his lips into a tight line. "It can lead to total blindness," he said defeatedly.
A heavy silence settled over the kitchen. Sasuke absently skimmed through the scroll that laid before him, while Naruto's mouth was twisted into a pensive expression. Neither knew what to say to that. Permanent blindness was certainly not to be taken lightly.
Naruto was the first to break the thick silence. "So…what's the deal with this 'Eternal Mangekyō,' anyways?"
Another sigh escaped Sasuke. "From what Itachi told me, the only real, surefire way to avoid going blind and suffering debilitating fatigue is…well…an eye transplant."
Normally, Naruto would have been incredulous at the idea of something so unorthodox and borderline taboo. However, after having known Kakashi—whose own Sharingan was a transplant—and having his own eyes transplanted for Nagato's Rinnegan, the severity of the statement was lost on him. He simply frowned. "Is that something you want to do? Itachi's not exactly the most honest guy. He could be bullshitting you, for all you know."
"No, I know. The thing is, though, he wasn't lying about that, either. This scroll here…" he tapped on the parchment in front of him. "…is a memoir, journal type thing. The person who wrote this knew about the Eternal Mangekyō, too. They even managed to obtain it. They took their brother's eyes."
Naruto winced. "Sheesh. Was the guy already dead or did they just kinda pluck them out?"
"Doesn't say. Just that when they learned of their blindness, they took their brother's eyes."
"And now Itachi is just…offering his eyes to you?"
"I don't think so. Itachi likely wants us to swap eyes so we both get the Eternal Mangekyō. But who knows what sort of shit he'd try to pull with it? For all we know, he could be planning to escape as soon as he recovers from the surgery. As much of a bastard as he is, he's skilled with his Sharingan."
The blond snorted. "I'm guessing Granny knows already?"
"She's the one who took me to him, so yeah," Sasuke answered.
"Well, do you know what you're going to do?"
Sasuke paused, considering his roommate's question. "Not yet. I mean, I sort of do, but I need to talk to Lady Tsunade about it." He took a breath. "I get the feeling that if I turn down the chance to improve my Sharingan, I'd be an idiot for doing so. But at the same time, I know I can't play into Itachi's hands." Another sigh escaped him as he raked his fingers through his jet-black locks.
Naruto watched his friend, gears turning within his mind. After a pregnant silence passed between them, Naruto found his voice. "I know you're not the kinda guy to go with a gut feeling, but I think you should trust your gut on this one." Sasuke eyed his roommate, which Naruto answered with a slightly exasperated sigh. "I mean, look, Nagato gave me his eyes, right? And I managed to help all of you back in the Land of Lightning. I know my situation is different, since Nagato is dead, but personally? I agree with the whole 'you'd be stupid to pass up the chance' thing."
A small frown darkened Sasuke's face. "And what about Itachi's end? How do I know he won't try to weasel his way out of prison?"
The blond shrugged. "You're smart. Granny's old and smart. The fact you're so worried about how Itachi is gonna benefit from this is probably a good sign. Means you're aware of it. I'm sure you and Granny will figure something out. I believe in both of you." He finished with one of his signature smiles.
Sasuke couldn't help but feel moved at the outpouring of support. He knew Naruto was right, deep down. Preventing blindness while also improving his dōjutsu had obvious benefits. Lady Tsunade was no idiot, either. She was likely considering ways to make sure Itachi got the short end of the stick in this whole thing, if only to make sure he didn't gain an upper hand. He chewed on his lower lip for a moment before letting his shoulders relax as he let out the breath he didn't know he was holding. "You have a point. Even the scroll lines up with what Itachi said. I'll talk to Lady Tsunade tomorrow and see what we can do."
Naruto flashed a smile once more. "Sounds good!" His face dropped for a moment. "Hey, are you sure about this, though? I know how you feel about Itachi, and, well. I just worry, y'know?"
"Yeah, I'm sure," Sasuke responded. A smirk danced along his mouth. "Have a little faith in me, would ya? I managed to hold my own against him, and that was before he was chained to a wall with a sealed blindfold."
Naruto shot him a mischievous grin before chuckling. "Yeah, yeah, I know what you mean. Just make sure you go with what feels right, yeah?"
"Wouldn't do it any other way, whiskers."
The two friends sat for a while longer in content silence as they read through their scrolls and finished their tea before retiring for the night.
A/N: Sasuke has quite a lot to think about. I don't think I'll ever get tired of writing dialogue/banter between him and Naruto, either. I've got a few plot bunnies that are running around in my head, but my main focus right now is this story. Though, maybe I'll have to do something with them at some point. Thanks so much for reading! Chapter 26 is in the works!
