Prologue

The stub of wax candle balanced on a ledge of wood, its flames casting odd lively shadows. The smell of burning wax was a pleasant one, compared to the other aromas hanging heavily all round him. Damp musty air, thick green fungus growing over rough-hewn stone walls, and filthy human bodies. Until tonight, Sasuke had been careful to conserve the wax, well aware he wasn't getting anymore. Tonight it was different. Tomorrow he was to be killed.

Sasuke closed his eyes against the dancing shadows that seemed to mock him, and he placed his back to the stone wall. At the far end of the cell was a man coughing in awful spasms, But soon that man went silent. Sasuke sat awake since he arrived, the other Inmates were different. It seemed as soon as they entered this place they would die so when they faced death they were already dead and it was said that it didn;t hurt as much.

He wondered if his brother had suffered this way the hours before his death. Even though Itachi was free to roam the streets and do as he liked, until Sasuke had put the final blow to him. He wondered whether his parents were disappointed in his life, the paths he chose. He already knew how his beloved brother felt.

Where were all the choices he had, where were they all wrong or where were they good in some way?He'd held the hatred, vengeance, and revenge all those years to realize it was wrong, and now it was too late. He had changed his way to help Naruto and the others to defeat Obito, Madara, Kabuto and 'Mother' Kaguya.

The 5th Hokage had ordered his death for treason, attempted murder two times, and intention of destroying the village. No one expected him to really kill Itachi and betray the village, would they care if he was gone. He had not been considered odd to anyone... Would anyone miss his death? His nine years had been spent alone and in the darkness. His stomach groaned, for the past three days no water or food touched his lips. Food smelted like they would kill him quicker from the awful smell they put off and the taste wasn't any better.

The cell door opened with a great force, but Sasuke didn't not look up. "Leave us, I'll call when I've finished here." The tone held authority that commanded obedience. The door closed with a bang and still Sasuke didn't look up or move.

Footsteps came closer to him and stopped right in front of where he was sitting. "Come on, Sasuke , I haven't got all night." Sasuke lifted his face slowly. The man before him smiled and placed his hands behind his head. The candle light had made the men's hair a dirty color while it made Sasuke's hair darker. "Naruto?"