FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS HOLY! ((and a special treat, so read all the way through.))

A/N: Duck and cover, kids—the Sasuke Flame War has begun, and I don't mean his Katon Gokakyu no jutsu. I know I shouldn't get upset over it. I like constructive criticism, like when Goyana let me know about Sasuke using one of the Yondaime's moves. That's fine. I have no problem with that.

However, one anonymous reviewer(Jaques Rico) has now accused me of being a Sasuke fangirl, and that I've turned him into a "sexy, lovable uberninja." Here's the review:

Sasuke and the Body Flicker, huh? Probably learnt during one of his weekend seminars with Orochimaru and Kabuto. Maybe he got his OOCness also there. Although he isnt the only one suffering from that.
Anyway, I stop reading here. The story telling isnt bad but I really dislike it when Sasuke-Fangirls have to make him into a sexy, lovable uberninja, and i can tell that its only going to get worse from here on.

Geesh. This one's easier to refute than the next one…Well. Sasuke's already a super-ninja. Now, to make him loveable, that's quite a feat, and maybe I've managed to do that here, but I think a bit of his personality (mostly his dispair) actually does come through. As to him being sexy…-snorting laugh- Sorry. I have done nothing but make him taller, with longer hair, and add 4.5 years to his age. He doesn't act sexy, that's for sure. So if he came off as sexy, I didn't mean him to so um, I'm sorry? Jaques Rico stopped reading after chapter 3.

I got another one last night. This person said they "cringed" at Sasuke's character. The review:

I know you said Sasuke was going to be OOC, and I tried to keep an open mind, but I could only make it to chapter two. I'm sorry, but it's just too much, I was constantly cringing at his character.
Other than that, it was still nice to see a story with good grammar and spelling. ---Oh, what a compliment. I feel much better now.

Oh, joy. I've gone and upset my fellow Sasuke-bashers again. Darn. Now, this person couldn't take it after chapter 2. So that just leads me to believe that they're a dyed-in-the-wool Sasuke basher, and they can't stand it if anyone ever makes him into a decent human being. Really, that's all I've done here. If there's a problem with it…I would like it if people would tell me what it is they don't like! Dangitall, if there's an aspect of someone's character you don't particularly like, let me freaking-well know. It's probably the whole middle-child wish for acceptance doing this in my head, but it does hurt when someone says they're gonna stop reading. So, I think maybe I need to do one of two things: 1. Suck it up and keep writing the way I want to 2. Act like a total pansy and let it really bother me to the point where I can't function in the real world.

Which one do you think I'm gonna pick? The first option, of course. I can't afford to lose sleep over these people. It's difficult, not knowing what people don't like, but really…I can't please everyone, right? For now, I'm editing chapter 5, and then I'll start on chapter 6 later in the week once I've done my schoolwork.
So, just to avoid the "no author's notes only" rule, I've decided to have a special treat for those of you who really do appreciate my story, don't think I'm a fangirl (a Sasuke fangirl, no less), and don't have a problem with Sasuke being a decent person every now and again. If you want to know, it takes place the night of Chapter 4, when he finally got to sleep.

Interlude: Uchiha Demons

Low moaning was heard in the Uchiha main house, as Sasuke slept. These pitiful sounds came from the mouth of the sole Uchiha remaining in Konoha. He was lying in bed, light perspiration breaking out over his body. Muscles tensed as he turned in his sleep, as he was here in body only. Sasuke's mind and spirit were miles away, in a deep forest. He saw himself, as he was. He found his mind rebelling as he saw himself activate the curse that marked him.

Undulating black markings spread over his neck, back, his chest, and face. The seal invaded his body with a power that was both intoxicating and frightening. The terror that he felt back then, though it was not recognized as such, had been far from his mind. He focused all of his energy, chakra, and overwhelming hatred on the man before him. Though he knew that Kabuto had only used the Henge no Jutsu, he saw his brother before him. It was Itachi. That bastard was standing there. He was standing there, and smiling.

The old hate bubbled up inside him, overflowing all of his senses, blotting out every other emotion. He cared for nothing in the world. Nothing. There was not a damned thing that mattered other than this man's death. His heart had begun to pound in his chest, even his vision pulsing now, his excitement over seeing the black-clad man before him was so great. He could smell blood. That was a sweet, heady scent, which drove him close to the brink of madness. He could feel the mark on his neck burning, as if it were urging him to do what he itched and longed to.

With a sudden and ear-splitting cry, Sasuke launched himself at what he could only wish was his brother. The snarl on his lips after that deafening sound made his current self shudder. I want to avenge my family…His dream-fogged thoughts came slowly, hesitantly, as he watched the Sasuke of three years prior go toe-to-toe with a disguised Kabuto. Fists and feet flew, and chakra exploded in jutsus from both the cloaked figure, and Sasuke. Why? Why do I feel these things? Hate. Fear. Anger. They are useless. Kakashi's words rang through his mind.

"Anger makes you sloppy…"

That was true. Back before he'd left the village, he'd gone to save Naruto from his brother, when the Akatsuki were attempting to gain the Kyuubi for themselves. He'd attacked Itachi, all of the hatred and anger that had stayed inside him for so long being unleashed when he felt the tenketsu of his arm flood with chakra. His Chidori had been turned easily aside. This could only mean one thing.

"Anger makes you sloppy…"

If he were to truly avenge his clan, to take a step toward righting the wrongs that were done that dreadful night, he must not become more like his brother than he already had. Itachi had thrown him against the wall, bringing his face so close to his own that they could have brushed their noses against one another. He had said something that chilled him.

"You don't have enough hatred..."

Why had he listened? Why had he let himself be goaded into becoming nearly the same monster that Itachi had become? Was there some motive behind his brother's actions, other than a psychotic need to shed the blood of those who cared for him most? He had been his brother, his Aniki. What was he now? Was he a demon? A killer, certainly. A genius, without a doubt. But what was he really?

Dreams are often the threshold of revelation. Now, in this dream that he knew to be a dream, Sasuke looked on his former self with utmost pity. The rage that tempered the actions of the young man before him was like a knife in his heart. His brother…the image of the fight before him faded away. More painful sights followed.

There was a much younger version of himself, being carried on the back of his beloved Aniki. Itachi had a very small smile on his lips. It was then that Sasuke felt something he hadn't for a long time. He felt it deep inside himself, weak though it may be…a small seed of something he had pushed from himself, trying to rid himself of any attachment to his demon of a brother. It was something akin to affection. How it was still there, he knew not. But it was there.

This image faded as well, replaced by that of his brother standing over him, holding a blood-soaked katana. The Mangekyo Sharingan bore into his small form, paralyzing him. Those words he would remember always echoed through the room where his parents died…

"If you wish to kill me, hate me..."

He wanted to be hated. He wanted Sasuke to hate him, to grow stronger, to become like him. It seemed that his brother wanted to see which of them were truly stronger. Or did he? Did he, in his twisted mind, want to face off against Sasuke? Did he want to murder the one person who had idolized him for who he was, as only a younger brother could? Sasuke could feel himself sliding into some kind of dark realization.

There are some people who should not be as strong as they are. He is a pitiful creature. Because he knew none of the others could…He has killed them all, so that I could one day take from the world the person who never should have been.

His body was twisted in the sheets of the bed, his face contorted in a mask of pain. As his eyes slowly opened, the image of his brother still stung at his eyes. Could there be no other way? The laws of his clan said that he must avenge his family. His pride…what of his pride? The last of the acknowledged Uchihas stared at the after-image of his dream. A black coat, with red clouds scattered over it…just like in the world of the Mangekyo Sharingan.

Why was he suddenly afraid? No. Clear your mind. A blank canvas…peaceful. He breathed deeply. That small seed was beginning to sprout in his mind, and he didn't have the will to crush it. Hate, fear, anger…they were not what would allow him to set right the balance. He would kill his brother. But when he finally did, he would look his Aniki in the eyes, and take his life, with the love of a brother.

Endnote: My first interlude...for Sam. This came to me the other day while visiting my best friend, Sam. She's brilliant, and loves Naruto. Actually, she deserves more credit for this than I do. That's why I say it's for her. -gives chibi-Sam a GIANT hug- Sorry if my blabbing at the beginning was totally schizophrenic, guys. I've just been getting some really stupid reviews, and I cuoldn't bring myself to write any more until I got that crap out of my system. There. C'est tout. Finis. Now, I can get on with my life, and finish editing Chapter 5, which will be fun, since you find out more about Moegi...an interesting kid.