I do not own Naruto, or any related characters. This fic is written for fun and amusement, and no monetary profit is gained from this endeavor. Please don't sue me.

One Down

"Well, I must admit it's rather refreshing to not have him badgering me constantly any more." Orochimaru chuckled softly, glancing at Kabuto out of the corner of his eye. The dark-haired man was sitting in a rather decorated chair in one of his libraries; an old book with yellowing pages lay on the table in front of him. The medical ninja stood next to him, a slightly annoyed expression on his face. His eyes drifted towards the book, which Orochimaru quickly snapped shut. The teen's irritation grew slightly.

"But still, I can't help but worry about him."

The Sannin raised an eyebrow, and Kabuto quickly continued. "From a purely physical standpoint, if he continues to remain inactive for a while, his muscles will begin to deteriorate and lose the peak condition that you have pushed him so hard to achieve."

"You think I didn't know that?"

Kabuto said nothing, resisting the urge to snap at his superior.

"We'll give him some time to himself. I doubt you could do much to motivate him, anyway." Orochimaru turned to his subordinate, green eyes glinting dangerously. "Now if you have nothing else to discuss, I would prefer if you leave this room."

Nothing else was needed. Kabuto instantly turned, heading over to the exit. Without so much as a backwards glance he let himself out, closing the door behind him. Orochimaru's private library. An untold collection of knowledge, carefully safeguarded by the snake master. Kabuto had no idea just how much was written within the pages of those books, what sort of things could be accomplished with the wisdom they could provide. It had taken him many years to establish a connection of trust to even be permitted to set a foot inside. And all he had managed to read from his peek was "chakra will be". He chuckled softly. What a waste of an opportunity.

*****

Sasuke lay motionless on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. A tightness gripped his throat, squeezing, turning his mouth dry. Again and again the scene replayed in his mind, frighteningly clear. Itachi stepped backwards, left hand drifting to his bleeding eye. His right hand swept forward, already halfway through the seal sequence needed for the fire jutsu. Sasuke had lunged forward, grabbing the wrist. He knee came up automatically, and he forced the arm down, feeling the snapping of the bone reverberating all the way to his hand. The smallest hints of pain crossed his brother's face, and the dots of his Sharingan began to gather towards the center. Before Itachi could activate the Mangekyou, Sasuke pushed the other over, right hand desperately covering the red eye. There was a crack, and Itachi's head hit the ground, Sasuke's full weight thrown into the impact. Following was an eerie silence.

He could still feel the limp arm in his grip. The phantom blood refused to be washed from his hand. The liquid made his skin cold; made it itch. He wanted to be rid of it all, now; now that it was all over. Itachi was gone. His family was avenged. He could move on with his life.

Where was there to move on to?

Suddenly a tidal wave of emotion crashed upon his being. How much he had suffered for that day. All the pain and training he had endured under Orochimaru. How much he had given up in his pursuit of power. He had almost made friends. Those back in Konoha... even though they couldn't help him reach the level he needed, he had still found the decision to leave them difficult. They had become so close to him. Almost...

"... like family..." The Uchiha's voice almost broke as the words passed his lips. He had almost moved on. He had almost found a substitute for the family he had lost.

Itachi had destroyed them, too.

If he hadn't been chasing after his brother, he never would have left them behind. It was all because of Itachi. It all looked so clear, now that he couldn't change a thing.

And what was he doing here? This wasn't his family. This wasn't anything close. Kabuto gave him a bad feeling, and Orochimaru's willingness to indulge him only extended as far as strengthening him for what was to come. That's right. Three months, and then...

He didn't even want to think about it any more. Up until now, beating Itachi had been pushed to the front of his mind, blocking out everything else. Now that that was gone, the reality of everything set in.

If he stayed here, he was going to die.

*****

"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune quickly opened the door to the Hokage's office, clutching several sheets of paper in her hand. The Sannin looked up from her latest paperwork, setting it aside when she noticed her assistant's apparent distress.

"Yes?"

"Please have a look at the latest report from the ANBU surveillance squadron!" The woman hurried in, thrusting the papers into Tsunade's hand before she had a chance to react. The elder sighed, reaching for a cup on her desk

"This had better be important..." She mumbled, taking a sip of tea. One glance at the papers, and she almost dropped the drink.

*****

Sasuke sat up suddenly as Kabuto brought in the tray of food, causing a look of surprise on the older ninja. Shaking it off, he set the tray on the ground, a few feet from the bed. Sasuke watched him, and just as he was about to exit the boy spoke out.

"Why do you stay here?" Kabuto turned to him, a strange look on his face. "Why do you follow Orochimaru?"

The medical ninja realized exactly where the question had come from, and smirked slightly. "I believe in Orochimaru-sama's ideals."

He couldn't stop himself from the obvious question, a grin threatening to break through the indifferent mask of his face. "And you?"

"You shouldn't need to ask..." Sasuke muttered, hand reaching to the mark on his neck. Kabuto turned away so that the Uchiha wouldn't see his smirk.

"Why? Any particular reason?" Of course there was a reason.

"... No."