Uzumaki Sasuke
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Chapter 2: Itachi and Sasuke, Broken at Heart
Sasuke had not moved from the tile floor he was sitting on ever since the mysterious voices had come to his door. The boy had been crying and shedding his tears all throughout the night. Sasuke had now felt a new type of loneliness enter his dark heart. It was now the next morning, and Sasuke knew that he could not stay within the house forever. Then the young ninja stood up trying to stay as stable as he wobbly legs could hold him. Then Sasuke looked at the morning sun and wiped his tears away. He went to wash his face in the water and looked at his reflection.
"Wha…" said Sasuke feeling his own face.
Then he looked back at the mirror and saw the scars on the side of his face. There were three on each side and Sasuke jumped up from the unfamiliar face in the mirror. Then he touched his reflection and saw the reflection touch back at him. They were the same…they were one… Sasuke then tried to use his hair to block the scars on the side of his face.
"I am Uchiha Sasuke…not Uzumaki Sasuke…" he echoed.
Then Sasuke took all the courage he could muster and opened the door of the house. He looked at the dawn coming from the horizon and then headed out. Sasuke was deeply troubled by what had been happening to him in the first twenty four hours. He then walked over to the familiar lake near the Ninja Academy. Jubilantly, Sasuke ran over towards the dock, where his father had taught him to do the clan's basic ninjutsu.
"Katon! Goukakyuu no Jutsu!" he shouted as he drew the seals…
Sasuke concentrated all his chakra onto making the Grand Fireball. But unfortunately, Sasuke blew… The fire was only a wisp of smoke and then it had disappeared. This was as never as hard as Sasuke imagined. Even when his father was teaching it to him…he could make a better effort and technique to it. But… failure is not an option…
"Katon! Goukakayuu no Jutsu!" he shouted again.
Then Sasuke had made a bigger flame, although still minuscule compared to his original strength in this ninjutsu. The ninja continued tediously through and through to make his clan Jutsu as powerful as he could. Then suddenly, as Sasuke was about to try it once more…
"It's all useless, whatever I do, it's useless. I have no talent…no skill…no life…" whispered Sasuke.
He had tried over and over again with the same results. Then with much disappointment, Sasuke fell down onto the wooden planks. The feeling of defeat had blanketed him in a toxic haze. Sasuke could feel his failure creep down his spine. He wondered why his skills were gone and what had happened to him since he had woken up.
"Katon! Goukakyuu…" said Sasuke and faltered off.
This is the Uchiha original jutsu, most basic ninjutsu that belonged to them. The fire can be felt flowing through his veins.
"Maybe…I'll find kaasan…" said Sasuke thoughtfully.
Sasuke then stood up and looked at his hands again. They were shaking because of fear, frustration, and anxiety. Sasuke wasn't out of chakra, but he felt as if the life had been drained out of him. He then got up and looked at the sun high in the sky. Sasuke then turned around and walked over to the forest. The young ninja began to feel hate and power running through his veins. He didn't want this life… He only wanted it to end.
"Amazing…" said a voice nearby. "You even hit the blind spot behind the rock!"
Sasuke crept closer and looked from behind a bush into a clearing. He saw the familiar targets and strange enough…Uchiha Itachi. His eyes hadn't changed. They were still cold and dark in a horrible way, but Sasuke had wanted to be with his brother more than ever. Itachi's cold voice had turned warm leaving a little boy to be the younger brother.
"Okay, now-" started the boy.
"Naruto, let's go. I have an important mission tomorrow and I have to prepare for it," said Itachi.
"Nii-san, you liar…" said Naruto pouting.
Naruto was wearing a black long sleeved shirt with the collar reaching a bit over his mouth. The back of his shirt revealed the Uchiha crest… The fan crest, only worn by heirs and clan members of that noble clan.
Then Itachi motioned Naruto to come closer. Naruto ran as fast as he could and then over to Itachi. Itachi raised his hand and then poked Naruto in the head. Sasuke nearly cried as he did this. Naruto's head had a red spot and Itachi smiled warmly at the little boy. Then Naruto tried to look up at his forehead and pouted even more. Then he looked at Itachi giving him a frown. Itachi then looked at his little brother and stared intently in his eyes.
"Watch me!" shouted Naruto and grabbed the kunais.
"Hey! Don't overdo it!" warned Itachi as Naruto ran and sprained his ankle.
Sasuke's tears did not stop falling and he could not control himself any longer. He cried and cried behind the trees trying to stop himself. Although, Sasuke could not watch Naruto and Itachi spend any more times together. The young Sasuke's tears glistened down, again in a river of tears never stopping and yielding. Then he looked up…
"Who are you?" asked the curious Naruto. "Why are you crying?"
"Go away…" sobbed Sasuke.
"What's your name?" Naruto asked again.
"Sasuke," Sasuke said finally.
"Sasuke?" Itachi said questionably. "That sounds familiar…"
Familiar… Sasuke then immediately stopped the tears and looked up at his older brother. Itachi's stern face had shown Sasuke that he was already suffering from the petty missions and requests from the Hokage that he is obligated to do. By severing ties, Itachi could become stronger. Much stronger and more powerful than anyone could ever imagine.
"Itachi…" said Sasuke.
"You know me?" he asked.
"Of course, you're my brother," said Sasuke.
"You must have me mistaken for someone else… Naruto is the only little brother I have," said Itachi sternly.
"Why did you falter in the middle of your sentence?" asked Sasuke shrewdly, wiping away his tears.
"I always thought…my brother was named Sasuke. But father and mother said he was Naruto…" said Itachi.
Sasuke's eyes widened as he looked into Itachi's dark eyes, similar to his own. Although, Sasuke knew that he would someday be the cold blooded killer to destroy his life. Itachi reached out his arm towards Sasuke. Sasuke then recoiled at the sight of the hand that had killed the entire clan. The little boy then tried to back away from Itachi.
"Are you all right?" asked Itachi sincerely concerned.
"You…stay away from me…" said Sasuke warningly.
Itachi then looked closely at the young boy. Something had reminded him that Sasuke seemed to connected and in a way, related to him. They looked alike, they seemed to have gotten along fine… Except, there was something different. Itachi touched his face, and they had felt like if they were the same. Forever together bound by the Uchiha blood…
"Nii-san what did you do?" asked Naruto.
"He…is a murderer!" breathed Sasuke quickly.
Naruto then looked at Sasuke and brushed his hair away. There Naruto saw the three scars on each side of his face. Naruto quickly drew back and Itachi had understood as well. Then the two Uchihas stared long and hard at Sasuke. The wind blew soundly, and Sasuke's whole face was uncovered. He revealed his harsh past. Naruto then tried to hide behind Itachi. Sasuke stood up and then looked at the Uchiha.
"Sasuke…you are the monster, aren't you?" asked Itachi.
"Monster?"
"The Kyuubi, the Nine Tails. It was locked inside you. You are a monster and we don't have to listen to what you say. You killed many lives, and to say that I will too? Sasuke, you're nothing but a liar. You were never anything to the village besides the hate, power, and detest that lies within everyone," said Itachi harshly.
"No! I am Uchiha Sauske," said Sasuke defiantly.
"You can't be, that's our noble house name and you don't even deserve to be any part of it. All you are, is a nuisance, a burden," said Itachi.
"Let's go Naruto…" said Naruto and then Itachi lifted Naruto onto his back.
Sasuke stared at the brothers. They had showed great loyalty and happiness within their eyes. Itachi was not the cold ruthless killer that he had imagined he'd be. Instead, he is skipping ANBU missions, training with his little brother, and helping his little brother. None of this had been done to Sasuke, and the pain was mortifying. Everything that was done by Itachi was only for his little brother, and he had cared so much about him…about Naruto…
"Wait!" Sasuke shouted.
Itachi turned around and Naruto followed his older brother. They were the Uchiha brothers of the Main House and they had a great potential within them. Naruto revealed his cheerful face over Itachi's shoulders. Sasuke could almost feel the tears almost creeping out of his eyes again. Except, he was an Uchiha. An Uchiha. An refined shinobi of the Uchiha clan would rather bleed to death, than allow a tear to fall from their eyes. It's a harsh tradition, and a cruel one, but someday, you will find yourself on the edge of dying. Your eyes won't stop pouring, and you will find the courage to change your fate. That is what potential you carry on your shoulders. Itachi. Sasuke. Sasuke's father's voice had echoed throughout his mind. And with a brave movement, Sasuke bit into his lip allowing a trickle of blood to flow, and restrained himself…
"Nani?" asked Itachi.
"I'm sorry I called you a murderer…" said Sasuke at last.
"Hn" said Itachi coldly.
"Allow me to talk to Naruto alone…please?" pleaded Sasuke.
"Niisan, I will be okay. An Uzumaki can never match an Uchiha house member!" shouted Naruto happily.
"Sure. But Sasuke, I warn you. If you hurt Naruto in any way, you won't be able to lift yourself to see the morning sun anymore," said Itachi warningly.
Then a drip of cold sweat fell down Sasuke's face as Naruto happily followed Sasuke as fast as his limping body could hold him. Sasuke then stared into Naruto's deep sapphire eyes and saw the happiness that he had carried for seven years since his birth. Sasuke wiped away the trickle of fresh blood that had flown down and then looked at Naruto again.
"Naruto, this isn't your life…" Sasuke said sadly.
"Huh? Sasuke, if you are trying to hurt me, Itachi will stop you…" said Naruto and backed a few steps.
"Naruto! I'm serious, don't you remember? We were on Team Seven together with Kakashi sensei and Sakura-chan. We were great rivals and…comrades at the time. Remember. Naruto, you are the only one who can understand what is going on," said Sasuke.
Then Sasuke gasped as he just recalled what he had come out of his mouth. He…Sasuke had never called Sakura 'Sakura-chan' and never called Kakashi 'Kakashi sensei.' Those were words that he had never spoken, through his dark and rigid character. Then, Naruto stared at Sasuke relentlessly and then smiled.
"Sasuke, this is something you must understand right now… This is my life now. Not yours. You aren't an Uchiha, you are an Uzumaki," said Naruto with a smirk.
"You?" Sasuke started dumbfounded.
"No, I am Uchiha Naruto and not as you call me, Uzumaki Naruto. These are two paths that will never collide. Sayounara Uzumaki Sasuke!" shouted Naruto.
Then Itachi came out of the trees still fresh with dew. Naruto grinned at his older brother and Itachi smiled warmly back at him. Then Itachi lifted Naruto onto his back. Sasuke then trotted in front of Itachi. Then Itachi stared back into Sasuke's dark eyes, and realized that the eyes were the same…
"Your eyes…" started Itachi.
"You noticed? They are the eyes that belong to the Uchiha clan, not the Uzumaki clan," said Sasuke defiantly.
"Your eyes… They remind me of stars that are hidden behind clouds. You are in solitude, you wish to return home. Sasuke, you want to end the pain and suffering that you have carried with you for seven years. But… it seems like you are not whole. You are missing your life, your real life?" wondered Itachi out loud.
"How? How? How can you figure that…just by looking into my eyes?" asked Sasuke with melancholy.
"I'm blinded… But I have the power of insight without the Sharingan. My power of insight surpasses all in the Uchiha clan and possibly the Hyuuga clan," breathed Itachi.
"Niisan…" started Naruto.
Then Itachi looked back onto the little boy on his back and shook those thoughts away. Naruto hugged him even tighter and Itachi looked towards the sky. The birds were flying greatly, and the clouds were floating into the sky carelessly. Itachi had lost the coldness to his tone, and walked forward on the blades of grass.
"Naruto. It's okay…I just forgot my place for a moment," said Itachi.
"You remember?" asked Sasuke.
"Remember?" repeated Itachi.
"Our old life, where I am in Naruto's place. Where I belong in the Uchiha clan!" shouted Sasuke.
"I'm picking up pieces…" said Itachi slowly, but then he shook his head. "No, to accept that, is to accept the fact that Naruto is not my brother. I have cared for him for years. I cannot negate what I have been building up to him. I just can't…"
Then Itachi and Naruto walked out of the forest and into the village of Konoha. Sasuke then stood there speechless with his feet glued to the soft earthy dirt. He looked up into the sky and breathed the fresh air all around him. Then he took a deep breath and fell down. His hands and knees were in the dirt. His shorts became grass stained and he closed his eyes for a short time.
"Come back!" Sasuke shouted into the grassy meadow.
The images of his mother, father, and brother slowly drifted away from him. The young ninja ran and ran until his unsteady legs could carry him. He ran with regret, his feet slowly tiring with each step he took. Finally he collapsed again onto a stone cold pavement. Sasuke was grasping for breath and pulling at the ground below him. He wanted so badly, to feel his mother's warmth again, to be acknowledged by his father…and hear Itachi's voice again…
"I hate you…" Sasuke managed to choke out. This hatred was directed towards his family. It seems as though they were mocking him.
"Wait…the Academy Entrance Ceremony is tomorrow…" said Sasuke thoughtfully.
"Oi…bakemono!" shouted a voice behind Sasuke.
Sasuke didn't turn his face. All he could do was try to stop the glistening tears from falling out of his eyes. He had cried too much…he had suffered too much… he carried it wherever he went… Sasuke then whirled around and saw a little boy. He was a year or two younger than Sasuke. Then Sasuke looked angrily at the young boy and stared into his eyes with hatred and despite.
"Get away from him!" shouted a woman.
Then Sasuke's face and lightened, by seeing the woman caring so much for her son… The thought was saddening, it was painful, and it was depressing. Then the woman took his pudgy hand and waved her finger at him warningly…
"…Don't you ever do that again! He could have killed you…you could have died! That's enough, we know he's a monster. Do not wander off away from me and to him!" she shouted at the boy.
Then the boy trotted along with his mother away from the very spot Sasuke had fallen down. Sasuke was still on his knees, and the ground he was pressed onto, became wet with t ears. Except this time, they were different. His tears fell because of anger and madness , not sorrow anymore… Sasuke had an intent to hate.
As the young ninja stood up, he looked across the street and saw the Sharingan master with his younger brother, Naruto.
"Niisan!" Sasuke shouted.
Then Itachi looked up and saw the nine tails boy run toward him with speed. Itachi then looked at Naruto and Naruto stared curiously back into his red, Sharingan eyes.
"You remember!" Sasuke shouted again. "No, to accept that, is to accept the fact that Naruto is not my brother. I have cared for him for years. I cannot negate what I have been building up to him. I just can't… You are denying the fact that you remember!"
"No…"
"Itachi! Stop lying!" Sasuke shouted.
"If you bother me one more time…I am not your brother…You are not in our clan…If you bother Naruto or anyone in our family, I won't forgive you. Ever," said Itachi firmly.
Itachi pulled out his kunai, and it gleamed in the sunlight. He held it up to his eye level and pointed it at the young ninja running towards him. As Sasuke couldn't stop running… Itachi began to grow hate in his eyes. Sasuke couldn't stop himself from running to his brother and the open kunai. He was too weak… Sasuke waited for his life to end before his eyes…
Author's Note: Heh, sorry for making people wait so long. Technically, Naruto doesn't remember anything for his past life and Itachi is Sasuke's only link to finding his own life again. But Itachi doesn't want to negate what his plan is. His plan is more evil and destructive than what Sasuke has anticipated…
Please review! I hope nothing dragged too much. Romances, a bit more in the next chapter. The Academy Entrance Ceremony occurs, and Sakura comes into the story.
