Chapter 98
Past, Present, Future: The Fate of the Uchiha
Sasuke was floating.
He lay motionless, eyes shut, hovering in an empty, infinite void. Feeling as though he was completely submerged in a stream, the steady current carried him along, the calm, lukewarm waters splitting gently around his still body. But he could breathe. He could see despite his eyes being eternally shut. Darkness was all there was, all there would be here.
Yet unlike the slithering slime of before, this void was absent of the menacing whispers. Absent of the corrupting power.
Where am I? Am I…dead?
His voice echoed in the void. Severed the silence, briefly. But the farther it traveled away, the quieter the echo became until all returned to silence once more. The void was greater in size than him or his small voice; as vast as the ocean and a hundred times the depth, he was a humble speck of dust, as insignificant to this void as an ant's life was to anyone except an Aburame.
Despite the overwhelming emptiness, it wasn't cold. Or frightening. He felt…strangely at peace. It was as if the burden of pain he shouldered had been taken from him. All the stress, the anxiety, the hatred and fear was just…gone.
For the first time in years he was free. No longer bound by lead shackles. No longer drinking from a well poisoned by arsenic. He wasn't hurting anymore.
Sasuke floated along at peace. Comfortable, secure and content to finally rest without the pain in his heart. He couldn't ever remember feeling so at peace. Since he was a child he felt like…he felt like he was always yearning for something unreachable, struggling against a remorseless destiny that burdened him with varying pains. He couldn't remember ever not fighting for something, whether to gain the approval of his father and be seen as more than a nuisance to his brother, or avenge his Clan and fester his hatred for Itachi.
In the void there was only rest. Respite. Reprieve from the fighting, the stress and the grief for the first time in years. Unconditional peace reigned here. He accepted the feeling, embraced it wholly and let the war in his heart settle, the fire in his Uchiha blood cool.
Then the void seemed to open up above him like an aurora borealis, replacing nothingness with the hill overlooking Nakano River. Amari and Itachi stood together.
"Shisui entrusted you with many truths I did not plan to tell you or Sasuke. Perhaps that is where I have made my greatest mistake as a brother, and where Shisui has accomplished what I was incapable of."
"…Itachi…"
His brother looked so…sad. Defeated. The burden he kept hidden behind a mask of indifference was crushing him inside. Bleeding his soul with a thousand cuts.
"Shisui realized his mistake. His attempt to take the burden of the Clan's fate alone cost him his life. But given the chance to continue to hide truths from you, he chose the opposite. He placed his trust and his Will in you; he brought you in instead of pushing you away."
Itachi's eyes lowered. "I've only ever pushed Sasuke away, out of hope I could protect him from darkness through lies and half-truths. But if I had been honest with him from the start, if I only brought him in instead of pushing him away, I wonder what could have been different."
"Itachi," Sasuke murmured in the void. "Why didn't you tell me the truth?"
"I'm entrusting Sasuke's future to you. All I ask is that you keep him on the right path. Keep him from the darkness by whatever means you must. Do not let Orochimaru mold him into a disposable tool."
He saw Itachi dressed in his Anbu gear the night of the Massacre next. Itachi stared at him with tears flowing freely, with his hurt and guilt and grief displayed under pale moonlight. Sasuke couldn't recall ever witnessing his brother cry. And, to his regret, he couldn't remember ever seeing him happy, either.
The scene in the void returned to Nakano River. Shisui stood before Itachi, Aimi and Atsuko, blood staining his cheeks and regret in his voice.
"From now on, you two may be forced to walk down a long, dark path. One that's filled with pain and suffering."
Like someone swiping their hand over the surface of water, the scene rippled away and reformed again; this time his brother was pinning Amari against the wall.
"This is our path. For Shisui, for you, for Sasuke, we must keep walking it."
One last time the scene of memories changed. Amari was sitting in front of him, right before the Sound Four attack.
"I'm not asking you to forgive him or Aimi for their decisions and actions, but don't doubt for a moment that our safety and our lives were always at the center of them."
"Few Uchiha were equally loyal to the Leaf as they were to the Clan, that's what Atsuko told me. Itachi, Aimi, my family, plus some others, were a minority group who sought a peaceful solution to steer the Uchiha Clan from self-destruction."
The void shut the memories out. Sasuke floated along, his internal peace in this purgatory disrupted by uncertainty.
He furrowed his brow. "Is that why you and Father became so distant with each other? Was he the one behind the potential coup d'état? But why? What would motivate Father to do that? If you, Aimi and Amari's family were seeking peaceful solutions, why was Father seeking to overthrow the Leaf? For power? Did he lose himself to the Curse of Hatred?
"The Leaf isn't perfect, I know that now. The Uchiha weren't either. I saw how our Clan treated Amari as a child. I'm still not sure if they meant to kill her, but if you three didn't arrive in time, I think they would have. On purpose or by accident. Were those the kind of people Father was listening to? Or was he motivating their rhetoric?"
An uncomfortable knot formed in his stomach.
"I…don't want to believe Father would do that. I don't want to believe his words, his beliefs or his actions were responsible for pain like that…
"…But it's true, isn't it? At least to some degree. I don't want to believe it. But everything I know now, through the truths you and Shisui entrusted to Amari, and the truths she entrusted to me, points to it. Why else would there be such a divide between you and Father? Everything you, Aimi and Shisui were doing opposed his plan. You supported a man who wasn't even your father, because you could see our father lost himself.
"Did Mother know? Did she support the plan?"
He still had so many questions, so much he needed to learn, no matter how hard and rough the truths were to swallow. What was his father planning? What was his mother's role in it? What motivated Itachi to follow Amari's father over his own? Where was the Foundation leader now?
…Could he have convinced his father to see reason? If he had tried harder to learn the truth, if he had pressed the issue, could he have changed their fate?
"All of you, even Amari's family, kept us in the dark. We both knew something was wrong, but all of you tried to protect us by keeping us away. Yet now we're the ones who have to pick up the pieces. While you and Aimi…walk a path someone else forced onto you. For us."
Sasuke fell silent for what could have been several hours or a few seconds. He would never know.
"I think…" He paused for a moment, uncertain in himself.
He spent so many years hating Itachi, seeking to destroy him to avenge his Clan and family. To surpass him and become someone entirely different than the poisonous caricature he was spoon fed. And yet…
"I think I understand why you did it. I had to make a choice recently to leave behind everything I care about, or risk it being destroyed. In the end, I made the same choice you did. To protect Amari, my comrades and the Leaf, I was willing to walk a path of darkness, where the people I cared about would always be out of my reach. I risked death and being overcome by darkness to protect them, and I'd do it again."
Slowly, without any tangible reason, his senses sank into something close to sleep.
Sasuke wasn't floating anymore. The all-encompassing darkness and silent void, like a one-way mirror, collapsed around him to reveal what was hidden beyond his sight. He inhaled sharply, eyes darting around the familiar environment illuminated by warm light.
He was home. Presently standing on the porch of his family's home, untouched by the massacre. Nostalgic memories, smells and feelings overwhelmed Sasuke. He could see his mother in the kitchen in his mind's eye as she prepared breakfast, hear her calling him and Itachi to join her, smell the freshly cooked eggs and toast on the air. He could hear his father's heavy footsteps along the floor. See Itachi sitting with their mother, sharing the rare smile with her.
It was almost too much to bear. He reached his hand out to the door, but hesitated to open the door. After a moment of conflict, he let his hand fall.
Nobody was home. He knew that. But some days he wished.
Turning away from the door, he was startled by the presence of two individuals sitting at the edge of the porch, looking out into the yard with their backs turned to him. On the right sat Aimi, and on the left was his younger self. The kunoichi dressed in a royal blue high-collared tank top and casual black pants, while his child self wore a black long sleeve and white shorts—both of their shirts bore the Uchiha crest on the back.
"Aimi?"
"Yes, Sasuke?"
"…Did Shisui really kill himself?"
The question made the kunoichi stiffen. He watched her straight posture sag as she drew out a heavy sigh.
"Yes. He did."
"I just… I don't get why the Police Force would accuse Itachi of killing him. Shisui was his friend. Our friend. Itachi wouldn't kill him."
No, he wouldn't, Sasuke thought.
"You're not wrong. Itachi and I loved Shisui as a brother. Neither of us would ever bring harm to him willingly."
"Then why would they accuse him? It doesn't make sense."
Back then, when Aimi said nothing, Sasuke assumed she was trying to find the right words. These weren't easy questions, especially to ask Aimi. He knew that. He knew it wasn't fair to put her on the spot, but no one else would talk to him about it, or dignify his questions with a real answer. She was the only person left he could ask in his search for answers and closure.
When he looked at her now, with fresh eyes, he could see a different conflict warring within. A broken heart, certainly. No one could deny that. But her body language spoke volumes, from the closed and tight fist out of his line of sight, to the light tremble that shook her body as she struggled to maintain control of terrible emotions.
It was a violent war. A war fought between her desire to tell him the truth, and the necessity of the half-truth she would tell him.
"…When a tragedy like this occurs, none of us truly wish to believe it. We feel like we know the victim so well that we seek reasons for what they did, because the simplest reason seems so absurd. So wrong. So impossible. None of us wish to believe Shisui took his own life. He is…was a pure soul. He loved his family, the Leaf and Uchiha Clan so dearly. Everyone remembers him with a smile, with love in his heart. The idea such a person would commit suicide…"
"Do you think he was unhappy?"
"I think…the real reasons are likely more complicated than that, Sasuke."
A blatant hint he never caught. He was so innocent and naïve to the pain he could now hear so clearly in Aimi's voice.
"As for the Police Force, perhaps it is their grief that drives them to falsely accuse 'Tachi of murdering Shisui. Grief can cloud the judgement of others, or blind them entirely to reality."
"…I miss him already."
Aimi wrapped an arm around his smaller frame and pulled him into her side.
"I miss him, too. Every day. But Shisui would ask us to endure, to continue to walk forward on our paths. His Will and spirit is a part of our Will of Fire now. He'll stay at our sides as long as we keep him in our hearts."
Shisui had asked them to endure. Another grain of truth he'd been so blind to. And watching himself with Aimi… It made him miss her, too.
"What about his cousin? Haya, right? Is she okay?"
Again Aimi stiffened. She shut her eyes, and though his younger self was utterly oblivious, Sasuke saw her mask shatter. For the slightest moment Aimi's grief twisted her features, tears nearly spilling over. It made his heart physically hurt.
"…She hasn't been told yet. Her parents are trying to find a way to tell her."
A half-truth, he knew now. No one intended to tell her. Not yet. They planned for her to live the next few years unaware of his existence.
"Oh. But, uh, maybe I could help! I…I mean I can't replace Shisui, but I could try to be her friend, right? Like how you, Shisui and Itachi are. That way she doesn't have to feel alone."
"I think that is a wonderful idea, Sasuke. However, there is a problem."
"Huh? Wh- what? Does she not like me already?"
Sasuke chuckled. "You idiot," he said beneath his breath.
"No, no," Aimi laughed lightly. "Nothing so scandalous. Who wouldn't like this cute little face!" She began to pinch his cheeks.
"Aimi!" he whined as he tried to battle her away.
"See? Too adorable."
"Boys aren't meant to be adorable," he replied with a huff, crossing his arms and pouting childishly.
"And yet when you and 'Tachi pout, I can think of nothing cuter."
"Itachi doesn't pout," he argued.
"Have you ever stolen one of his dango?"
"No."
Aimi smiled. "I'll have to show you then. Pouting 'Tachi is quite the treat to behold."
"It's a deal then," he giggled. "But what about Haya? Why is there a problem?"
"Haya is as shy as a baby doe around strangers. She will likely try to hide behind 'Tachi or I when we introduce you."
"No way!" he laughed boyishly. "No one can be that shy!"
You clearly never met her or Hinata, he thought amusedly.
"Oh, I beg to differ. My little sweet is chronically shy. It makes her all the more adorable."
"Your little sweet?"
"Of course," Aimi grinned. "She's a sweet fiend, and I spoil her rotten. Isn't that right, 'Tachi?"
Both Sasuke and his younger self spun around at the same time. There, standing in arm distance, was his older brother. He wore a high-collared black shirt and grey pants as he leaned lightly on the open doorway, a mildly surprised expression on his face at the attention suddenly being drawn to him. Aimi smiled mischievously at him.
"Oh, Big Brother. Hey," Sasuke's voice became layered with accusation. "Were you eavesdropping on us?"
Itachi chuckled bashfully and rubbed the back of his neck. "I…suppose I was."
"So sneaky, 'Tachi," Aimi scolded playfully. "Listening in on Sasuke and I. What salacious secrets are you seeking to acquire?"
"Yeah, Big Brother! What are trying to learn?" past Sasuke joined in the teasing. "Because I learned you pout around Aimi."
For a brief moment, Itachi was taken aback by the statement. Stunned and startled by the accusation, maybe even a little embarrassed. Aimi covered her mouth with her hand, giggling at his reaction. Then his onyx eyes fell onto her. He squinted and pursed his lips unconsciously in a pout.
"See! I told you he did, Sasuke!" Aimi cheered.
Little Sasuke giggled uncontrollably at the new expression he learned his brother did. Sasuke himself felt the smallest upturn of his lips, a mixture of amusement and sadness.
There's…
"Go on, Sasuke. Tell 'Tachi what you want to do."
"Oh, right! One of these days can we go see Haya? I know…with Shisui gone she's going to have a rough time. And I don't want her to be alone. So, I thought…maybe I could be her friend. The way you, Aimi and Shisui always were. It's what Shisui would do, don't you think?"
Itachi said nothing at first, but his eyes said plenty; he never noticed it as a child. His brother's eyes were already burdened by grief over the brother he lost, and guilt for being unable to save him. Sadness for Haya and her family, who had lost a son and brother. Fear of what the future may hold.
Finally, his brother exhaled a breath and smiled warmly, genuinely at him.
"I think it's an excellent idea, Sasuke." He walked across the porch and sat down beside him. Looking down at his younger brother with a smile, Itachi continued. "You're right. This is what Shisui would do. We'll have to schedule a meeting with her parents—this is a sensitive time for them, remember. But I'm sure you and Haya will become close friends."
There's so much I've forgotten…
"Do you think we'll have a bond like yours and Shisui's?"
"Of course. However, there's something I want you to keep in mind if that is what you seek."
"Huh? Is it like a secret way to become close friends?"
Itachi smiled. "You could say that. If you desire to share a bond with Haya similar to that which Aimi and I shared with Shisui…"
Sasuke's eyes opened slowly.
He was struck by a wave of déjà vu when he saw Shizune through an exhausted haze standing beside him, her hand resting on his forehead; Medical Ninjutsu flowed warmly through him, easing his internal tension nearly as well as seeing her familiar and friendly face.
When they met each other's gazes, she smiled happily at him.
"Welcome back. Try to take it slow as you wake up. You're safe now."
"And the others?" he asked tiredly.
"All safe and accounted for."
Shutting his eyes, Sasuke dipped his chin down slightly in a nod, lacking the energy for anything else. He breathed in. Then exhaled out. The entirety of his right shoulder ached. It didn't throb. It wasn't merciless, debilitating pain. But it ached. An inconvenience more than an annoyance.
He breathed in again. As his chest compressed on the exhale he opened his eyes.
"If you need to run any tests, I'm ready."
"Only if you're sure." He nodded. "Okay. I know some of this may seem tedious, but I promise it's important."
"It's fine."
And it was. No irritability on his part. After all, considering where he could've ended up, and what they all went through, a few questions about his health and motor-skill tests was a decent vacation.
At the end of it, Shizune adjusted his bed into an inclined position before aiding him in sitting up.
"Now that you're more awake, do you feel any discomfort anywhere else in your body? Besides your shoulder?" she asked.
Sasuke shook his head. "No. It feels like I haven't moved in weeks, though."
"It's only been two days, I promise." Shizune marked something off on her chart before sitting on the edge of his bed. Brushing his long bangs back, she gently placed her slender hand on his forehead and activated some sort of Medical Ninjutsu. He assumed a Diagnostic Jutsu, since he didn't feel any differently during or after.
"Overall, your recovery is going well," she said at length, lowering her hand into her lap. "It will be some time before you and Amaririsu are allowed to be released, I'm afraid. Your body needs time to recover from the surgery, and you'll both need to undergo physical therapy to regain range of motion and build up the strength in your injured limbs. In your case, we'll be working on your shoulder. Other than that you're the picture of good health."
The time-frame of recovery sounded annoying. Inconvenient, given what he remembered about the Stone. Regardless, he accepted the news with a nod; he couldn't change the reality of his injury.
"Thanks."
Looking down at his body for the first time, he noticed his entire torso was wrapped in white bandages, wrapping up and over his right shoulder.
Great. I look like a mummy.
It wasn't until he looked up and really took in his surroundings that he noticed Amari was in a bed beside his, separated by three or four long strides. Not only that, but Kakashi, Kurenai, Shikaku, the Hokage and the Haimaru brothers occupied the room as well. The Jōnin and ninken, to his eye, positioned themselves around their beds so they could act at a moment's notice. The Hokage had her hand on Amari's forehead; a hue of green surrounded it.
His clan-sister was not awake. She slept as soundly as he had been. Although her body remained hidden beneath a blanket, he noticed bandages wrapping around her shoulders just like his.
"Is he dead?" Sasuke asked.
"Is who dead?"
"Kasai."
"We're…not sure, actually." Shizune looked over to the other bed. "They found his headband, but nothing else. She fell unconscious soon after Kakashi and Kurenai recovered her, so we haven't been able to learn what occurred. Her injuries were severe—burns, lacerations, contusions. She breathed in a lot of smoke, too. We've had her on oxygen since all of you returned"
"He wouldn't have left her alive," Sasuke stated with a shake of his head. "He hates her too much."
"Sounds like you gleaned something of Kasai's personality." Kakashi approached, hands in his pockets. "How are you feeling, Sasuke?"
"Better than I would be if I was stuck with Orochimaru right now."
His sensei chuckled. "That's a positive outlook, at least."
Sasuke looked around at the room again. "What's with the security?"
"A necessary precaution." Kakashi glanced over his shoulder at the elder Nara. "Shikaku tells me Amari has brought you in to this little circle of trust we've formed. Did she happen to mention anything about the Masked Man to you?"
"Yeah."
"Well, we met him. He possesses a distinct ability that allows him to teleport without a trace of where he's gone to, or where he might appear again. We're not sure he'll show up again, but…" Kakashi shrugged. "He's not the only one who might have his sights set on you and Amari."
The Foundation, he meant. Sasuke nodded lightly.
"I get it. So, the whole hospital is under guard, huh?"
Kakashi eye smiled at him. It was answer enough.
Shizune stood up and crossed the floor to the Hokage's side. "I'll take over Amaririsu's care for now, milady."
Tsunade offered an appreciative and silent nod. She, along with Shikaku, joined Kakashi at Sasuke's bed. Two of the Haimaru brothers took over their previous positions surrounding Amari's bed, their pointed heads swiveling about, noses and ears seeking any scent or sound of an intruder. The third Haimaru brother leapt onto her bed, below her feet, and laid down, ears up and head resting lightly on Kurenai's lap. The mother petted the ninken.
"Sasuke, I know you've only woken up—"
"You want to know about the Curse Mark, Kasai and Kimimaro, right?" he interrupted the Hokage. "You don't need to tiptoe around it or give me more time to recover. It was hell, yeah. But I'm fine. I've—"
At that moment, as if summoned by his name, Sasuke was struck by the memory of sad green eyes, overflowing with tears.
The last gasps of a brainwashed little boy he killed as he looked at him with a broken heart.
Sasuke grimaced and lowered his eyes.
"I've been through worse."
The reassurance sounded pathetically weak. He assumed they noticed; they were all seasoned veterans, who had experienced far more bloodshed and war than him. To his pride's relief they didn't acknowledge it, taking him at his word instead.
"All right. Let's start at the beginning then. How did the Sound Four trap you in that coffin? Did they call your bluff?"
"No," he shook his head. "They didn't suspect anything. After we were a safe distance from the Leaf, Sakon stopped the group so they could begin my Curse Mark's advancement to the second stage. There was a catch, though. To advance the mark, first I had to die once."
"Die once?" Kakashi repeated.
"A false death state. To quickly advance the Curse Mark to its second stage, they had me take some drug—an Awakening Pill, they called it. It sped up the Curse Mark's contamination and, left alone, would kill me within a few minutes. That's why they put me in that coffin and used some sort of fūinjutsu or barrier ninjutsu on it."
"It turned a permanent death into a suspended death state," Tsunade noted. She folded her arms. "By speeding up the contamination of the Curse Mark, they likely meant to make you even more malleable to Orochimaru's desires. The corruption of the Curse Mark is no laughing matter."
"I'm pretty sure Orochimaru found a way to put his consciousness into his Curse Marks," Sasuke said.
He acquired their full attention with that truth. He lifted his hands up and looked at his palms, remembering the graphite complexion of his skin.
"When I finally woke up, I felt…different. The Curse Mark has always been like a whisper only I can hear, when it isn't suppressed. It entices you with its power. Twists your thoughts and feelings so it sounds logical."
"Anko has described it the same way," Shikaku hummed.
"At first I thought the second stage only made the whispers louder, stronger, more influencing. It did, in a way. Yet the more I separated myself from those thoughts, the more I sensed foreign feelings. Strongest of all of them was an insatiable hunger for…more."
"More what?" asked Kakashi.
"Power. Knowledge. Everything."
"That certainly sounds like Orochimaru," Tsunade said. "So, were you able to control it then?"
"It took all of my willpower, honestly. And even then it influenced my personality."
"Influenced? How so?"
"Made me crueler, in how I spoke and how I acted. I sounded like a damn maniac, laughing with no cause. The power excited me and inflated my ego. I was able to force the power back down and fight without it for a time; it itched but didn't influence me. Later, after Amari showed up, it became obvious we had no other choice but to use it. Kimimaro's kekkei genkai, Curse Mark and will to live were too powerful, even for Gaara and Hikari. The only way to kill him was to battle his dark power with mine."
"Risky," Shikaku murmured, scratching at his rough goatee hairs.
"I saw Kimimaro survive being buried beneath a tsunami of sand, being crushed by Gaara's Sand Burial and imprisoned in a Molten Sand Coffin, covered by Hikari's Lava. Hikari petrified him with her Lava Style, turned him into a stone statue and he did not die," Sasuke explained calmly. "He survived Hikari's Iron Sand attacks. He exhausted Gaara of chakra, injured Hikari and nearly killed me, and that was the best case scenario with my Curse Mark."
"You believe Kimimaro would've killed you all," Kakashi stated.
"I know he would have." Sasuke shook his head. "I didn't like using that power. I hated every moment of it. The things I said, the way I acted, I was disgusted with myself. My pride couldn't stand relying on someone else's power to defeat an enemy. But I swallowed my pride, I risked falling prey to that darkness to protect my comrades. To protect everyone.
"None of you saw what I did. He fought while missing chunks of flesh all the way down to the bone, while his skin was charred black and smoldering white by the Lava he survived. Not even Naruto's Rasengan left a visible bruise on his body. At that point, when Amari showed up and asked me to enhance my Chidori with the Curse Mark, we both knew it was the only option left."
Sasuke shook his head in disbelief. "His kekkei genkai practically made him impervious to physical attacks and ninjutsu. Even as his flesh was burned and broken he just kept coming at us. Our best chance at survival was a battle between Curse Mark and Curse Mark. Even then I needed Gaara's and Hikari's help to get an opening."
And he still almost killed me, Sasuke thought, bringing his left hand to his right shoulder.
Kimimaro's sad green eyes flashed through his mind again.
"Although it was a risky plan, I trust yours and Amari's judgement on the situation."
"How does the Curse Mark feel now, Sasuke?" asked Tsunade.
"Dormant. Who knows how long that'll last for."
"Keep us updated if or when there are any changes. My plan is for Jiraiya to strengthen the Seal Kakashi placed on it once he returns. It will still rely on your Will, but considering the willpower you've already exerted over it, that shouldn't be an issue."
"I appreciate it," he nodded.
"Finally, what can you tell us about Kasai?"
"What do you want to know?"
"Anything is relevant at this point," Shikaku answered. "His skills, personality traits, weaknesses your Sharingan may have uncovered. We've spoken to Naruto, Hinata and Rock Lee already, but I suspect you, 'Risu and Atsuko may have more yet to tell us."
The mention of the Head of the Crows caught Sasuke by surprise. He'd neglected to notice her absence until that very moment.
"Where is Atsuko anyway?" he asked while looking around.
"Being taken care of by a bird specialist. She was injured during 'Risu's battle with Kasai."
"Injured? How badly?"
"She'll recover. Please, we need you to tell us what you learned about Kasai," Shikaku pressed. "The more we learn, the better we can prepare your peers and ourselves for the inevitable next battle."
Sasuke paused and looked at Amari. If she and Atsuko were injured by Kasai… How tough of an enemy was he?
"He didn't take Naruto or I seriously," he began. "Spent most of the time taunting us, evading attacks while getting under our skin. I didn't see enough of his skills to explain her injuries. As far as I could tell, he was competent in taijutsu, Fire Style and Earth Style defense ninjutsu. His movements were fluid and he possessed power behind his strikes, similar in strength to Lee's. Except… No. That's not right. Lee is better at taijutsu, but Kasai had a different strength behind his attacks."
"Hatred, you mean. Don't look so surprised. Hinata, Lee and Naruto all recognized it, too. Where Rock Lee is hot-blooded, Kasai battles with hatred and fury behind his blows. Behind his actions."
"He doesn't leave a lot of openings, despite that mindset," Sasuke explained. "It didn't help he knew exactly which buttons to push on me and Naruto to make us lose focus. Everything he said was about Amari, what he did to her three years ago and other personal taunts."
"He sounds like an arrogant little pest," Tsunade said.
"Kasai doesn't just think highly of himself, he takes credit and wants credit for 'creating' Amaririsu Yūhi of the Leaf."
"Creating?"
"'You should be thanking me. If I hadn't killed Ryu and left her for dead, none of you would even know she existed,' he said to us. 'She'd still be some unknown little orphan, afraid of her own shadow. Without me Amaririsu Yūhi doesn't exit. You and the Leaf owe me for giving her a little backbone. I created Amaririsu Yūhi. I gave you a friend, Nine-Tailed Fox. I gave Kurenai Yūhi a daughter. It's because of me Amaririsu Yūhi exists. And today, I'll be the reason Amaririsu Yūhi of the Leaf dies.'"
The room sat silent after that. Sasuke noticed Kurenai had grown tense. Angry. He couldn't blame her.
He felt it, too.
"Well," Shikaku spoke at length. "We can say with certainty he's no oracle. 'Risu is still alive, despite his best efforts. However…" He crossed his arms. "There are two details the information we've gathered makes clear about Kasai. First, he has the personality of a vindictive, arrogant man-child.
"There are times where he flaunts his strength, taunts his enemies and pushes their buttons, because he finds a cruel pleasure in the suffering of others. But when he loses control of the situation, or an enemy he perceives as a weakling begins to push him, he lashes out. Grows furious. Acts like a sore loser. He's arrogant to a fault, and is unwilling to accept his own inadequacies."
"A man-child, huh?" Sasuke chuckled.
"Be sure to give him my diagnosis next time you meet," Shikaku added, a slight smirk on his lips.
"Count on it."
"The other detail is this: Kasai's vendetta against 'Risu is more personal to him than it should be, by what we know. 'Risu and Ryu did not betray him. They did not leave him to die. And yet Kasai is obsessed with punishing 'Risu, while taking credit for her 'creation' as he puts it. For someone who killed his friend and left another for dead, he wields deeply rooted hatred one might expect from 'Risu herself.
"We'll have to wait until 'Risu is awake to learn more about the source. Or confirm it, might be more accurate."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow at the group. "You have an idea of what his problem is?"
"A conjecture without confirmation. Let's wait until 'Risu is awake to discuss it." Shikaku nodded to him. "You and your peers did good work. As far as we can tell, the news of the infiltration and ensuing battles remains unknown to the world."
"Will the Stone back off?"
"Hard to say," Shikaku hummed, rubbing his forehead. "We're still monitoring the situation."
Tsunade approached Sasuke. She placed her hand on his good shoulder. "For now, focus on resting, Sasuke. You earned it."
"Thanks."
Tsunade and Shikaku returned to Amari's bed while Kakashi settled down on the edge of his bed. The two Haimaru brothers switched positions again, while the one lying on Amari's bed didn't budge, head still in Kurenai's lap.
Kakashi stared at the downed kunoichi. Sasuke leaned back on his bed and shut his eyes.
The haunting sad green eyes followed him there. The Uchiha sighed and opened his eyes, lifting his left hand up to look at the palm again. He didn't see any blood there, but it was. He'd delivered that final blow. He killed the brainwashed boy.
"What's bothering you, Sasuke?" Kakashi asked calmly.
He considered silence, or a simple answer that deflected the question off of him. The mere idea of talking about his feelings was unappealing. Yet he tried.
"Should I pity him?"
"Who?"
"Kimimaro."
"Hmm. Pity isn't necessarily a bad emotion to feel. It can be a way we express our sorrow for someone whose situation is impossible for us to understand fully. A false sense of sympathy or empathy can be more insulting than pity."
"He was just a brainwashed kid. He didn't know anything except Orochimaru's so-called love. Kimimaro lived and died for him. As he took his last breaths he cried and apologized to Orochimaru for failing."
"It sounds to me he was as devoted to Orochimaru as Haku was to Zabuza, if not more fanatical." Kakashi cast a glance his way. "You keep seeing his eyes, don't you?"
"…Yeah."
"There was nothing you or anyone else could do for him, Sasuke. You said it yourself: He would have killed all of you if you, Gaara and Hikari did not act. And unlike you, he wouldn't have felt an ounce of remorse over it. All lives, save Orochimaru's, were expendable to him, even his own.
"Although he was brainwashed into becoming Orochimaru's pawn, and we should pity that, Kimimaro was also fully capable of recognizing his actions and what they wrought. He wasn't under a genjutsu. He willingly committed crimes and murder in the name of Orochimaru."
"Yeah. I guess you're right about that."
"It doesn't make it easier, I know." Kakashi looked at him. "Pity his unfortunate circumstances, but don't allow it to shadow your heart with doubt, regret or guilt. Many innocent lives were lost at Kimimaro's hands, of that I have no doubt. Many more would have perished if he was not eliminated—you and your comrades among them."
Sasuke flattened his lips in thought. Eventually he nodded.
"Just another reason to hate Orochimaru," he said at length.
"Another reason among a never-ending list," Kakashi agreed.
"Do you think he meant to set our current stage?"
"No. I think he expected to destroy the Leaf and Sand during the Invasion. Orochimaru never expected Lord Third to put up a fight, let alone steal his arms—and thus his jutsus—from him. Who knows if he killed the Kazekage himself or if one of his servants did the deed for him. From the reports on Kimimaro, I wouldn't doubt it if that was a role he played. I don't want to imagine the devastation he may have caused to our forces had he been set loose during the Invasion."
"So, in a way, we're better off than Orochimaru planned." Sasuke scrunched his nose. "If he switched bodies, do you think he'll try to invade or attack us directly again?"
"Despite switching bodies, Orochimaru hasn't regained his arms."
"You lost me."
"The jutsu Lord Third used didn't physically take Orochimaru's arms from him. Had it been something as simple as dismemberment, switching bodies would fully restore his power. However, the jutsu used—how to explain it?" Kakashi gazed up at the ceiling in thought. "It is a Forbidden Jutsu, one that requires the life of the user to perform. I will not tell you the name of this jutsu; no offense, but I don't want you or the others researching or using it."
"I get it. So, what did it do that you can tell me?"
"In short, it allows the user to Seal their victim's soul away. Forever. Had Lord Third been slightly younger, I am certain he could have sealed Orochimaru away completely. As it stands, he was only able to Seal away the arms of his soul."
"And since switching bodies doesn't repair his severed soul, Orochimaru's power will be limited to some degree."
Kakashi nodded. "Precisely. So the odds he decides to attack us directly is minimal, especially when Lady Tsunade is here to stand against him. Where we need to be careful is when you and Amari are out on missions. If he somehow learns where you'll be, it is likely he or one of his many pawns will target you two. Especially now that he has likely learned of Amari's Mangekyō Sharingan."
"She used it again?" Sasuke's eyebrows rose.
"Yes," he nodded. "There's no mistaking that power she unleashed. And if Kasai has truly survived and returned to Orochimaru, whatever injuries he now harbors because of it will be visible. Likely worse than those Itachi bore after our battle. Unlike Kasai, Itachi recognized it immediately and directed the power down into the river below us—the burns he endured were severe despite his counter. Kasai lacked his foreknowledge of the technique."
"I saw Itachi's burns. But what does her Mangekyō technique do exactly? Is it like the Amaterasu?"
"Amaterasu?" It was Kakashi's turn to appear surprised. "Is that what those black flames are called?"
Sasuke paused briefly. He hadn't even thought about it, yet the name of the jutsu came off his tongue as if he'd always known it. An effect of unlocking the power, perhaps? Is that how Amari learned the names of her abilities?
"…Yeah," he answered finally.
"I see. No, Amari's power isn't like the Amaterasu. It's—"
"Wait! Is it safe to talk about all this in the open? I know this room is under lock-down and guarded, but what if they—"
Chuckling lightly, Kakashi raised his hands and waved him to slow down. "Easy. Easy. I understand your fears, though I'm surprised it took you this long to realize it. Don't worry. This room isn't only protected by shinobi, ninja hounds or Crows. There is a Barrier Ninjutsu protecting this room from infiltration, deafening our conversations completely so no foreign entity can eavesdrop on us."
He could only sigh in relief. Kakashi continued on to explain the Amenominakanushi, its explosive power and overwhelming heat. He described it as an exploding star—raw, uncontrollable, uncontainable power.
Sasuke was stunned at first. Then…
"If anyone should wield power like that, it's her," he said. "I wouldn't trust many other Uchiha's, let alone other shinobi, with it. A handful, maybe. Everyone else would abuse it. Or allow the power to corrupt their hearts." He cast a long look to his unconscious clan-sister. "Amari won't. Her convictions are too strong."
"You're not wrong," Kakashi agreed. He, too, gazed at his student. "Many covet power like hers. If more people learn of its existence, those we call allies could turn into enemies, seeking to steal it from her to strengthen themselves, or to destroy it so it poses no threat to them or their Nations. Raw power can corrupt or frighten those without it. In a way, the Sharingan—like any kekkei genkai—is a gift and a curse. It empowers those who wield it, and those who are not gifted with it desire to make it their own or destroy its existence.
"Like you, I trust Amari to wield the power of the Amenominakanushi. However, because of her lineage, her eyes and the path she's chosen for herself, Amari will face hardships and be forced to fight many battles. This is her burden. You face a similar burden yourself, and to some degree so do all of your peers."
Kakashi looked him right in the eye. "Sasuke, I'd ask you to stand by her side through it all."
"If you desire to share a bond with Haya similar to that which Aimi and I shared with Shisui…"
Sasuke dipped his chin in a short nod. "I'll do it."
"Stand by her side, always."
"You can count on me, Big Brother!"
Looking over to Amari, he repeated the vow he once made.
"I'll stand by her side through everything."
"Don't you see, old friend, how poetic this is? I've inherited Madara Uchiha's ideals and mutated them into my ninja way. You've inherited Hashirama Senju's Will of Fire. Our roles have switched, but the result will end the same way. You'll die here, and I'll live on."
Their battle raged on endlessly. Intense emotions flourished in their hearts, feeding the darkness within them. She trained for this. The blood, sweat and tears she shed, the lonely nights hugging her pillows, wishing they were the two boys she lost; the injuries she sustained, the nightmares she endured, it all led to this battle.
"You were our brother! We loved you and you betrayed us!"
"Oh, spare me! Ryu's death was the best thing that ever happened to you! What did you truly lose that day? Two friends? And what did you gain? New power, new friends, a new family and the Village your ancestor co-founded! You're better off without him!"
"Shut up! You two were my family! I would have given everything for you two!"
"You had nothing I wanted! I wanted to be free!"
He was destroying the memory she held dear, twisting it until all that remained was the current Kasai. The one who's words cut deeper than his blade. It fanned the flames of their battle, ignited an inferno that consumed her broken heart and fractured soul. It was a weakness, on her part. He declared she moved on, yet she hadn't.
Only Kasai had forgotten the memories she held onto. The days they spent training together. The nights she cherished being squished between them. Those moments weren't precious to him; he sacrificed those memories for his so-called freedom.
"I hate you!"
"The feeling is mutual, you bastard!"
Freedom, he called it. But neither of them were free. They were enslaved by this connection of hatred binding them together. Enslaved by their bloodlines and the twisted inheritance their ancestors left them.
"I'll…destroy everything you love! I'll make you suffer!"
Make her suffer? Couldn't he already see that she was suffering? Couldn't he see that battling him cut open old wounds? Why couldn't he see the pain she was burdened with?
Why couldn't they understand each other anymore?
Why did it have to be this way?
"Well, well. What an interesting turn of events."
Amari's eyes snapped open as she inhaled a sharp breath.
Searing white hospital lights blinded her. The startled gasp became a broken groan. Eyes shutting to block out the light, she fought the instinctive reaction to bolt upright as her heart slammed steadily against her chest, up into her head.
"Welcome back."
The Fifth Hokage's voice reassured her she was safe. It took an extra moment for her eyes to adjust, and the intense brown eyes—young and old at the same time—were there to greet her.
For the second time in her life, Amari awoke to Lady Tsunade hovering over her. For the second time in her life she was face to face with the expanse of bulging cleavage the heavens blessed the Fifth Hokage with.
It really wouldn't be a bad way to die, she decided with finality.
Embarrassing, certainly. But it wasn't a bad way to go. She could think of plenty of worse ways, like anything involving snakes, being cleaved by an enraged Demon of the Hidden Mist or drowning.
"Lie there for a moment," Tsunade ordered. "There are some tests I need to run now that you're awake."
Amari complied; she was too exhausted to sit up. The few times she tried to examine the room, check her surroundings and the people in it, Tsunade redirected her attention back to her. She saw her mother at the edge of her bed, who smiled and also told her to focus. Her uncle Shikaku sat in a chair on her right, she learned, while Shizune and Kakashi occupied themselves with her hospital roommate—Sasuke.
Two of the Haimaru brothers patrolled around the room. The third was on her bed, his head lying in her mother's lap.
A complete lock-down. She couldn't blame them, not after seeing the Masked Man's space-time ninjutsu firsthand.
Tsunade pointed penlight in both of her eyes. She hummed, put the penlight away and pulled a rolling chair up beside her bed.
"All right, Amaririsu. How do you feel?"
"Exhausted. Sore. But I'm alive," she answered in a meek voice, slightly distorted by the oxygen mask on her face.
"And your vision?"
"Undamaged, I think."
"Mm." The Hokage crossed her right leg over her left. "It will likely take more than two or three uses for the deterioration to become noticeable. However, we lack any medical records on how the deterioration looks like over time or how quickly it sets in. The Uchiha kept that information closely guarded. For all we know, it could differ from technique to technique. Be cautious, Amaririsu."
"I'm trying. But it was all I could do to protect Atsuko and myself. Can someone help me sit up? It's weird talking to everyone from here."
Once Tsunade finished adjusting her bed into a seated position, Amari looked down at herself, taking in the bandages covering her entire torso, wrapped over her shoulder and down the length of her arms. She could feel the brace on her right ankle. It felt stiff, ached.
Kasai has worse injuries, that's for sure.
The memory of his moans and groans and screams of pain sprang from the darkness of her memories.
"We'll need you to tell us what you can about his abilities, when you're ready. As well as what this Masked Man said to you. Beyond your physical health, how do you feel? You can be honest with us. This room is secure. Amaririsu? Hey, can you hear me? Amaririsu?"
With half open eyes Amari stared at her lap, covered by a white bed sheet. But she did not see her lap or the sheet; she did not sense the presence of the other occupants or see the sterile white walls enclosing her safely in the Leaf.
Amari was in the heat of battle again. The sharp clang of their blades rang in her ears. Adrenaline pumped through her veins as they dashed along water, along stone statues and eventually through a burning forest. The smell of the forest fire permeated in her nostrils.
The red light of the Amenominakanushi glowed in the burning sky.
The scar over her left eye burned.
"Little one."
The sudden voice and weight of a hand on her shoulder startled Amari awake. Half open eyes widened like a frozen baby doe, alerted by a sudden out of place scent or noise. Her mother's comforting red eyes became a focus point, her warm features consumed her vision.
The young kunoichi was trembling.
"Breathe, little one. Breathe. In. Now out. Again. In. Easy, don't exhale too quickly. It's okay. You're safe now. In. Now out. Control it. Focus on breathing from your diaphragm. In. And out again. You're doing great."
Had anyone else told her that, she wouldn't have believed them. But this was her mother, whose comfort chased away her worst nightmares, and confidence in her recovery never wavered. Kurenai was the one who always helped her to put the pieces of her heart back together. So she listened to her serene voice, obeyed every command.
Finally, after some time, the trembling eased. The smell of the fire faded. The battle between her and Kasai ended.
For now.
"I'm sorry," Amari apologized after a pregnant silence, forehead resting against her mother's shoulder.
Kurenai pressed a kiss to her temple and held her close. "You don't need to apologize for any of that. It's okay to be shaken up. It's been an intense week for all of you."
"I always end up worrying you, though."
"I'm your mother. I'm supposed to worry about my troublesome daughter."
The quip made Amari giggle lightly. "Being troublesome is hereditary. Sorry."
"I know," her mother chuckled. "Stubborn and troublesome. But I won't scold you for that. I'm sure Yoshino will say enough for both of us."
Dread sewed itself in Amari's gut. She was far past fashionably late for dinner. A few days, to be exact.
"Aunt Yoshino is going to kill me," she whined weakly.
"Don't whine," Kurenai reprimanded lightly, her voice still smooth and supportive. "We've all been worried about you, little one. You snuck away without permission to rejoin the battles after nearly losing your life. As your mother, I know why you acted. I can't be angry with you for the Will and heart you possess, the same Will and heart that led you to stand ready to sacrifice your life to the Akatsuki for our sake.
"I can't be disappointed when I'm proud of the kunoichi you've become. Strong. Fierce. Brave. And I know your teacher has a certain philosophy on rules, one which you've inherited. You refused to stand by when you knew your comrades needed you.
"However, you can't always run off without permission."
"I had Atsuko's and Miss Anko's permission," she mumbled despite knowing her mother was right.
Two fingers prodded her forehead to scold her.
Shinobi who left without express permission were considered rogues. This time it worked in her favor, but that didn't make it acceptable conduct.
"Under normal circumstances, I would demote you," Tsunade stated plainly. She laid her hands in her lap. "However, your contributions to the mission were invaluable. Without the Flying Raijin, who knows what condition Chōji Akimichi and Neji Hyūga would have been in when the Medic Corps reached them. It also allowed Ino Yamanaka, Kiba Inuzuka and Akamaru to receive immediate treatment after their battle.
"Although," the Hokage smiled, "according to Genma, forbidding all of you from leaving wouldn't have changed anything. Apparently I've inherited quite the unruly bunch of brats."
Amari smiled faintly. "Think you can handle us, Lady Hokage?"
"We'll see."
Kurenai stood and returned to her position at the edge of her bed. The Haimaru brother, still lying there, lifted his head and laid it in her lap again, sighing deeply as if asking for attention. The kunoichi obliged the ninken with gentle strokes to the top of its head.
"Did everyone make it?" Amari asked, looking to the Hokage. "The last memories I have from my Clones are of delivering Chōji, Neji and Ino. Are they okay? Is Atsuko?" Her eyes fell. "It's…my fault she got hurt. I asked her to intensify the forest fire Kasai started, thinking it would help me finish him off. In the end it only made it hazardous for all of us. She couldn't out-maneuver his paper bombs because of it."
"Forest fire?" Sasuke questioned.
"Patience, Sasuke. We'll learn more soon," Kakashi urged.
"The procedures for Chōji Akimichi, Neji Hyūga and Ino Yamanaka were successful," answered Tsunade. "Atsuko is also recovering from her injuries. It may be some time before she flies again, I've been told, but she's more concerned for you."
Relief and guilt hit her. Amari could only nod at the news, unsure of herself.
"Other members of the two squads had varying injuries. Most were very mild. The Sand shinobi escaped with minimal injuries as well. There were a few severe injuries, though. As you can undoubtedly tell, you and Sasuke fell under that category. Hinata Hyūga did as well."
Her stomach dropped.
"Hinata was hurt? How bad? Where?"
"Her right hand and the left side of her face," her uncle replied. "She had Kasai's Clone on his back foot, and was primed to strike him down. He countered at the last moment by stealing a kunai from her tool box as she knocked him to the ground, which he then impaled through the center of her right hand to stop her from hitting his heart."
It didn't take a genius to understand the bones and tendons Kasai damaged in the process.
"He then tried to destroy one of her eyes." Amari's heart stopped, her breath caught in her throat as flashes of Ryu's bloody face appeared in her mind. "However, Hinata minimized the damage with a last second evasion."
"Her eyesight remains intact," Kurenai explained. "But she'll bear a scar on her face because of the wound. Don't blame yourself, Amari. And don't say you aren't. I can see the guilt in your eyes already. Hinata hasn't lost her spirit in the slightest. She's inspired to grow stronger, because of the example you set."
"…He keeps hurting the people I cherish. How can I not blame myself?" she asked in return.
"'Risu, look at me." Shikaku stared at her with severe eyes. "Hinata has found strength in her injuries because of your influence. You believed in her abilities, in all of your peers. Do you now believe that was a mistake?"
"Kasai is—"
"This isn't about Kasai. Do you believe it was a mistake, 'Risu?" Shikaku pressed.
"No!" she flared weakly. "But that doesn't change this terrible feeling in my heart!"
"The feeling of guilt, you mean?" he returned calmly but intensely. "The feeling that you could have stopped any harm from coming to Hinata if you had been there? Don't be so arrogant. Hinata is a perfectly capable shinobi. By treating her as someone lesser, someone who must be protected, you're insulting all of her hard work."
Amari winced and ground her teeth together, wishing she had something to say. Wishing he wasn't right about her stupid arrogance.
"I don't want him to hurt my friends and comrades."
"Then help them prepare for the next battle," Shikaku urged. "You have friends and comrades who would proudly risk their lives and fight at your side, without fear or regrets. Lift them up, help them attain strength to defend themselves and their fellow shinobi. Don't discard them over this vendetta. Don't distance yourself from them as some sort of punishment or false sense of protection.
"Just as none of you would abandon Sasuke, they won't abandon you either, 'Risu. They'll follow you into every battle against Kasai. They'll seek ways to help you, to ease your burden. Pushing them away will cause them greater pain than anything he does. Do you understand? Kasai has burrowed beneath your skin, he seeks to sever your bonds by sewing fear and doubt in your heart."
After a moment, Amari nodded silently.
"Would you be willing to tell us everything that happened, Amaririsu?" the Hokage asked at length.
Again she nodded and went on to explain what she learned from Kasai, starting at their ancestors in the Senju and Uchiha Clan. Lady Tsunade was more than troubled by the reality of a distant relative who wielded her grandfather's kekkei genkai, especially one who showed no possibility of reforming. Sasuke was stunned to learn Kasai wielded Wood Style, and by her bloodline.
She described the battle in as much detail as she could handle. Every jutsu Kasai used, the skills he revealed and the emotions that their exchange of blows ignited, anything that might help them understand the intensity of the battle.
When she explained the Deep Forest Emergence and the density of the trees, the adults were practically beside themselves with shock. Sasuke, she noticed, only shook his head, dumbfounded.
"He really was toying with us," he noted under his breath.
"Atsuko and I barely dodged the attack. It was then he set the entire forest on fire with his Wood Clones. After Atsuko and I evaded the flames, I asked her to use a Wind jutsu to intensify the flames. Her attack lit one of his Wood Clones on fire and the battle continued in that hell."
Kasai's hatred and powerful chakra came up more than once. Their heated arguments as they clashed did as well, bringing to light the motivations and obsessions the Senju boy fought with, which proved to the adults he wasn't reachable.
Eventually she reached Atsuko's injury, hers and the inevitable conclusion.
The Susanoo caught everyone by surprise.
"I woke up floating in the water after I used Amenominakanushi, blind in my left eye and exhausted. Kasai was alive—I launched the attack several meters behind him to avoid being caught in the blast radius. He sensed its power, I think, and tried to shield himself with his Wood Style. The left half of his body was covered in severe burns, I think worse than the ones Itachi had. All he could really do was moan, groan and cry out in pain."
"And that's when the Masked Man showed up?" Tsunade asked.
"Yes," Amari nodded. "He was watching our battle from the very beginning. The last I saw of Kasai was him being sucked into Madara's space-time ninjutsu, vowing to destroy everything I love and make me suffer."
"Madara, huh?" Shikaku murmured.
"That's what he called himself. He knew about the history between Madara and Hashirama, and mentioned he had a wife and child. Atsuko confirmed that he loved once." Amari shrugged helplessly. "I don't know if he's the real Madara. He claimed to be a shell of his former self, but… I don't know. I was too exhausted to sense his chakra. I'm not even sure if our relation is close enough that our chakra will be similar.
"Being alone with him frightened me. It took all my self-control to ask questions. Not that it mattered. He was all too happy to talk to me."
"He was confident he finally had you alone," Kurenai nodded to herself. "Madara or whoever he is didn't expect Kakashi or I to arrive. Had he known, he would've waited to speak to you until after transporting you away."
A dreadful thought. One that made Amari shudder visibly.
"What did he say, little one?"
"A lot," she sighed. "There were times I sensed his honesty. Other times I couldn't tell if he was twisting half-truths, lying outright or speaking the truth. His words are as honeyed as Shisui and Itachi warned me. He is trying to manipulate me, I know that. How much is truth, half-truth and lies, I don't know. The best lies always have truth to them.
"Honestly, it was enough to make me even more cautious of who I trust in the Leaf."
Kakashi hummed, thoughtful. "We'll need you to tell us everything, Amari. It's the only way we can sift through his lies."
She told them everything. By the end of it, the air of the room was tense. Uncomfortable. There were questions they couldn't answer simply by listening to her relay the information the Masked Man gave up, but suspicions of duplicitous motives from the Councilors and the Foundation leader permeated from her uncle and the Hokage.
Amari felt guilty. She didn't know if the Councilors were involved or not in any of this, it could easily be a lie that the Masked Man spun. Yet the question of what if hung in her mind. It made caution a necessity, especially if they were plotting with the Foundation leader to overthrow Lady Tsunade and put him in charge.
Shikaku scratched at his goatee. "There is truth to what he told you. The Councilors did support stopping the Uchiha by any means necessary before a civil war could break out. They have supported the Foundation leader in the past over the Third Hokage, and even the Fourth before him, because they share similar hard-line beliefs."
Tsunade got up.
"Damn it, Sarutobi-sensei," she cursed under her breath, beginning to pace. "You should've known better than to trust him. He tried to assassinate you, for kami's sake!"
"Is there anything we can do to get rid of him now?" Kurenai pressed.
"I wish we could," Kakashi answered. "But our reality isn't that simple anymore. We may be on the verge of continuing the Third Great Ninja War. Whether any of us like it or not, he and his shadow agents are assets that aid the Leaf, in their own skewed way."
"Yes, but—"
"Kakashi's right, Kurenai," Shikaku sighed, leaning forward to rest his forearms on his thighs. "He may be a necessary evil we have to deal with for the time being."
"Necessary?" her mother flared. "He ordered the massacre of an entire Clan! He tried to assassinate the Third Hokage. He's plotting to overthrow the Fifth Hokage, and if he learns about the power Amari wields, he will target her to steal its power or kill her."
"I know that," Shikaku replied calmly. "But we can't act rashly. If the Councilors are supporting him in secret, we need solid evidence. We can't take Madara at his word when we know he's trying to manipulate 'Risu. We must investigate these matters, and avoid disunity and paranoia, otherwise we will make mistakes and leave openings for the Foundation leader to seize power."
Kurenai grunted and scowled. "If he or his men approach my daughter, I will kill them."
"As will I," Shikaku nodded.
"That makes three," Kakashi said coolly. "However, let's not forget that Shisui did say a key to stop him will become available in the future. It could be hidden in Amari's locked memories for all we know." He looked around at the group. Tsunade paused her pacing. "Patience is our ally. And by maintaining this circle of trust, we will stop his schemes."
"Right," Tsunade nodded.
"None of us alone can stop him," Kakashi continued. "Shisui, Amari's parents, Itachi and Aimi in their own ways tried to bear this burden on their own. Alone they were picked off, or given an impossible choice. We cannot allow their sacrifices to be in vain. Had there been more honesty, had we of the Leaf paid attention to the feelings of the Uchiha Clan and tried to understand them, many things would be different. We must learn from these past mistakes."
Kakashi looked directly at Sasuke. Then to Amari. "The legacy and the fate of the Uchiha Clan rests in these two. Amari's parents, Shisui, Itachi and Aimi entrusted the Clan's fate and legacy to them. The Uchiha Clan's path is not Madara's to decide anymore, or for the Foundation leader to obscure or destroy. It's yours," he emphasized.
"I don't have any right to decide that future," Sasuke grimaced. "My father was the ringleader behind a potential coup d'état."
Amari's eyes fell. "I can't do this alone, Sasuke. I need your help."
"I'll be at your side through it all, that I promise." Amari met his eyes; she could see the conviction behind those words in his eyes. "The way I see it, though, if there's going to be a new Clan Head for the Uchiha Clan, it needs to be you. It's already you. You're the one who led me away from the Curse of Hatred. It was you Itachi revealed the truth of his and Aimi's situation to, not me. Because they believe in you. Because your family believed you would rise and change the Uchiha Clan and the world."
"I- I don't even…I'm not sure how."
Sasuke hummed amusedly. It reminded her of Itachi
"Sure you do. You got through my thick-head, didn't you?"
Amari giggled nervously.
"Whatever legacy and fate you decide for the Uchiha Clan, I'll be there to help you build it. I'll follow you into the depths of hell if I have to. And the way things are going, I get the feeling that'll be a mission for us at some point," he said dryly.
"I hope not," she snorted unevenly, eyes welling with tears. "It'll be a big, stupid drag if it is."
"Heh, yeah. And knowing our brain-dead friends, they'll follow us down there, too." She snorted again, nose beginning to run. "Madara was right: Your influence is growing. It's your influence that pushes our generation to become stronger. Let these old warmongers fear you. They should. You're Haya Uchiha and Amaririsu Yūhi of the Leaf."
"Damn it, you troublesome boy," she choked on a sob, tears overflowing. "When we spar next, I'll make you regret making me cry."
"I'm sure you will," he chuckled. "I've got your back, Amari. Through everything."
"Thank you," she cried, wiping her tears on her bandages.
"Since the decision is unanimous between you two, Amaririsu Yūhi, you will be the Head of the Uchiha Clan," Tsunade declared. "Although for now the title holds little by way of power, I suspect you and Sasuke will one day change that. For now there will be little expected of you as Head of the Uchiha Clan—internal politics is the least of your priorities at the moment.
"However, there are ways for you to rebuild your Clan, without asking you two to sire more offspring personally, or raise the little snots. But that will be a choice you and Sasuke will need to make in the future. Think you can handle decisions like that?"
"I'll do my best, Lady Hokage," she promised through tears.
"Also, there's Aimi and Itachi Uchiha to consider. Although they were forced by the leader of the Foundation to massacre your Clan, and do hold the Leaf's interest at their hearts, they are also now members of the Akatsuki. They have and will cause harm to the other Nations."
"I'll save them," Amari declared. "I'll clear their names, even if I have to go to every single Village and apologize to every single Villager and shinobi personally. I'll tell their story. I'll make the world see them as the heroes they are. That's my decision, as a kunoichi of the Leaf, as the Head of the Uchiha Clan and as someone who cares about them."
"It may not be that simple, Amaririsu," Tsunade stated firmly.
"Nothing worth doing is simple," she retorted. "They sacrificed themselves for us, for the Leaf. They're true heroes. The least I can do is try to save them."
The Hokage smiled softly at her. "All right. I can see there's no point in arguing. I'll also have to change your bandages now that you've wiped your tears and snot on them."
"Sorry."
"Quite the stubborn bunch you all turned out to be."
"Sorry."
"Stop apologizing. First rule of politicking: Don't admit fault unless absolutely necessary, or unless it really is your fault. Then you apologize and find a way to worm your way out of consequences."
"That's so dishonest, though."
"Welcome to politics, kid."
"Politics are stupid."
The adults laughed heartily. The Haimaru brothers chortled.
And the two Uchiha's were a united front.
The legacy and fate of the Uchiha Clan was theirs to decide.
This was their path.
This was the Uchiha Clan's new origin.
Later that same day, the hospital room window slid open suddenly. Roughly.
"Feast your eyes, my Uchiha chicklets, on the one, the only, the gallant and glorious— gah!"
Master Jiraiya was planted face first on the cold hospital floor. An Inuzuka ninken, the fur on its back standing on edge, growled viciously in his face. His arm was wrenched behind his back, a blade pressed to his throat.
"Hello, Master Jiraiya."
Amaririsu Yūhi's voice drew him a detailed image of a wide and amused grin. The snort from Sasuke Uchiha may have deflated his ego a little.
"No wonder he teaches Naruto. They're both brain-dead idiots."
"You little snot!" he boomed from the floor. "I'm the gallant and glorious Master Jiraiya! One of the legendary Sannin. The Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku! I was wooing ladies and battling shinobi before you were in even a twinkle in your fathers—"
"Yeah, yeah. We get it. We bow before your greatness, Master Jiraiya," the Uchiha boy drawled. The little brat.
His arm was released. The blade to his throat returned to its holder; the Anbu agent pinning him stood.
"My apologies, Master Jiraiya."
"No, no. Don't apologize. You four did excellent."
Jiraiya rose to his feet, looked at the cat-masked Anbu agent and then to the three ninken. The other two Haimaru brothers stood on the beds of the two Uchiha, guarding them, the hairs on their back lowering. Behind him he sensed the presence of the Crows.
"I wanted to test the security of the room. I don't have a space-time ninjutsu, but your reaction times to an intruder are worth praise."
The three ninken raised their heads, a gesture of pride, before returning to their calm patrols.
I breached the room as quickly as I could, and I didn't even make it two steps before they had me apprehended. He turned his attention back to the Anbu agent. He came from the floor, and I sense Clone's lying in wait in the walls.
Jiraiya nodded to him. "Good work."
"Thank you, sir."
The Anbu agent turned away, slid the window shut then vanished as Jiraiya blinked.
"So," he began as he turned to the two Uchiha's, "Sasuke, I hear you have a Curse Mark in need of a new Seal. You know the drill. I need you to sit still on the floor here for a while."
The boy did as he was asked without complaint. Jiraiya pricked his own fingers with a blade and began to paint the proper fūinjutsu patterns for the Curse Sealing. The fūinjutsu eventually would be drawn from the Curse Mark, all the way along the open and vast expanse of the relatively empty floor of the room. The blood itself, when the technique was activated, would act as an anchor to prevent Sasuke's Curse Mark from spreading further.
"With the power of the Second Stage," Jiraiya began to explain, "we'll strengthen this Seal to prevent any possible deterioration to your mental state. No offense to Kakashi, or Kurenai for that matter, but this has advanced past their Curse Sealing abilities."
"Is it going to hurt as much as last time?"
"Yes."
"Great," he sighed.
"I know it's tedious, but this is in the best interest of your health. I was debriefed on everything a little while ago. If Orochimaru has in fact found a way to Seal a piece of his essence into these Curse Marks, we cannot risk leaving this unchecked. You've shown a great amount of willpower, Sasuke, but, well, I don't need to tell you how powerful Orochimaru's lust for power is. You've felt it now."
"Yeah. I prefer my mind to be my own."
"It's really no wonder why those he plants his marks on become willing servants," said Jiraiya thoughtfully. "I always assumed it was Orochimaru's charisma and manipulation that turned them into pawns, and it is, but the minds of those who bear his Curse Mark become warped by his essence. You and Anko Mitarashi are the only two to resist it as far as we know."
"Master Jiraiya?"
"Yes, Amaririsu?"
"What's the situation on the border like? You were there, weren't you?"
"I was," he nodded, not drawing his eyes away from his work. It required his full attention. "As of now, the main force of the Stone is still on their side of the border. We owe the Grass's distinct talent at peaceful negotiations for holding them there. However…" He flattened his lips in a deep frown. "The Stone sent a small infiltration unit through our northern border, through the Waterfall Village's Nation. Osamu and I stopped them before they could get deeper into the Land of Fire."
"But it's not over, is it?"
"No, it's not," he agreed. "I interrogated the four and learned the Stone was hired by an unknown source to gather a first wave invasion force on the border with the Grass, to draw our shinobi away from the Leaf. The Stone itself decided to send the infiltration unit. Orochimaru's and the Sand's Invasion has weakened our Nation significantly—you two and your peers witnessed this firsthand. The Stone has not suffered such losses or setbacks.
"In the last war, and through the Stone's history, they've been opportunists. It's not that they don't possess powerful shinobi—they do. But—hmm, it's difficult to explain. Every shinobi Nation has sought to be the dominant force, economically and militarily. The Cloud still seeks this, hence why they steal secret Clan jutsus from all over the shinobi world and certain transferable kekkei genkais."
"Like the First Hyūga Incident. And their second attempt to kidnap Hinata."
"Precisely."
Jiraiya began drawing Seals along the floor, leading away from Sasuke.
"I try not to hold grudges. My dream is to find some way to bring peace to this world, and I truly believe it is possible," he said. "Unfortunately, the Stone has consistently undermined the other Nations throughout its history in some form or other. It's a well-known secret they've hired mercenary shinobi to do their dirty work in the past, but there is rarely any solid evidence to bring forth.
"This is another act to undermine our Village, an attempt to eliminate us from the board. And then the Sand. Then the Mist."
Sasuke snapped around. "You can't be serious!"
"Hey!" Jiraiya pointed his non-bloody hand at the boy. "Didn't I tell you not to move! This isn't easy work, you know!" he reprimanded, a lightness to his voice that betrayed the serious discussion.
"They want to destroy three of the Five Great Nations?" Amari gasped. "But… Why? I know war could boost their economy; Atsuko mentioned that. But to destroy three Nations?"
The Sannin sighed and continued to work. "Let me put it this way: The relationship between the Stone and our three Nations has always been one of war and betrayal. Think about it, Amaririsu. What do the Leaf, Sand and Mist all have in common right now?"
"…We're significantly weakened. The Mist has undergone a regime change, the Sand is leaderless and we're still recovering from the Invasion. It's the perfect opportunity to strike down our Nations, annex land and to turn their Nation into an Empire."
"Huh, you really are Shikaku's niece. I didn't expect you to piece it together that quickly."
"So…the war is inevitable, isn't it?"
"Inevitable? Hmm," he hummed deeply. "Hard to say. It is possible the Grass's peace talks will settle the fire in their blood, or continued failed attempts to infiltrate will deter them from entering."
"You don't sound convinced."
The Sannin shook his head. "I'm not. At this point, I fear we may only be able to delay this war by a few months at most. I don't think the Stone are going to back down this time, no matter what we do. They've grown bold. They see a chance to gain leverage and power."
The two Uchiha's said nothing. They stewed in silence as he worked. He couldn't blame them for their reaction, not when they'd seen the Invasion firsthand. The possibility of war was becoming a real reality they and their peers would have to face personally.
It didn't help he had other bad news to tell them.
"There's also something else. It won't be for a while now, but I will be taking Naruto out of the Leaf to train him on the road."
"O- oh…" Amaririsu visibly slouched. "You want to hide him from the Akatsuki, right?"
"Yes. He'll be safest at my side, constantly on the move so the Akatsuki can't track him down. Doing so should also draw their attention away from the Leaf itself."
"I understand. Just promise me you'll train him seriously. Don't just spend all his time learning how to create a bigger Rasengan or control the Nine-tails power; those can't be his only tricks. Yes, they're powerful. But Naruto needs to fight smarter. You're a veteran of war. Teach him all you can."
"Heh," Jiraiya paused and grinned at the kid. "You're pretty bossy."
"Promise me, Master Jiraiya," she didn't budge or relinquish her serious expression.
"I promise."
Jiraiya finished the Curse Sealing technique, the activation of which knocked Sasuke unconscious after a stint of pain. He laid the kid back in his bed and strolled towards the window. Amaririsu maintained a thoughtful silence.
Sliding the window open, Jiraiya prepared to exit.
"Amaririsu."
"Hm?" She raised her head, seemingly surprised he was still there. "Yes, Master Jiraiya?"
"Take this time to rest and recover. Also." He hopped onto the windowsill. Slowly, he turned his head to look back at the kunoichi. His eyes turned white with rage as he jabbed a finger at her. "I'll get you back for tricking Tsunade one of these days, you little brat!"
Amaririsu recoiled back slightly. Then she began to giggle madly.
Jiraiya huffed, hopped down and listened to the Anbu agent slide the window shut again.
Rest while you can, kid.
Review Response to Guest: Jiraiya wasn't under disguise. Essentially, although he's renowned, the Stone shinobi personally have never seen Jiriaya and few who have met him would believe he actually is the legendary shinobi given his eccentric behavior and, in this case, his assumed state of inebriation. Plus, I don't remember him ever really disguising himself in the anime despite spying.
Temari does appreciate what Amari and Naruto did, and is grateful for it. But she isn't one to admit those things out loud, especially at this point. That's why when Kankuro tried to say something about it earlier in front of Shikamaru, Sakura, Tenten and Mimi, she snapped at him. Gaara has spoke with Temari; Temari just has her own way of expressing herself to the Leaf shinobi, especially Shikamaru and Amari. I don't have a preference to any one Sand Sibling. I always liked all three of them.
It's not that the villagers have entirely changed at this point, though they aren't nearly as hateful towards Naruto as they used to be. Gaara wants to be like Naruto and Amari based on their bonds with their comrades and friends, as well as desiring to become seen as more than a weapon, tool or monster by his own people. Just like Naruto is seen as more by his friends and comrades.
We'll see the purpose and meaning behind the meeting with Hiashi and Amari in the future.
At this point, it is unknown what Clan, if any, Mimi's father was from in Kiri.
Although Kasai's relation to Hashirama is technically unofficial due to a heat of the moment incident, Amari's relation to Madara is not. As Atsuko said, Madara loved once. He had a wife and child. More on that later on. I'm not sure if the Kazekages are all related, but I can say that Hikari and Gaara share no blood relation. Whether or not she's related to the Third Kazekage isn't known at this moment.
There will be more of Guy throughout this story.
We'll see who Sasuke's and Amari's teachers will be in the future.
Thank you for the review!
Review Response to HelloToYou: We'll have to wait and see if Boruto shows up in our current present and what would be his past. It's not impossible, I will say that.
Thank you for the review!