Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters in it.
XXV.
- King Of The Hill -
The sharp smell of mold and stagnant air forced him to shift himself awake. The pain still lingered somewhere underneath, crawling through his veins with a dull and a slow pulse. It was somehow subdued, though, losing its previous vivid presence. He took a deep breath and exhaled, making sure his body and soul were still one and in the same, preferable reality. There weren't many times he found himself glad that they were so, but now was one of those times.
It wasn't over yet.
Sasuke opened his eyes to a small room. It was weaved in metallic pipes and metal barred entrances on his left and right served as doors. A flickering light intensified and dimmed rhythmically somewhere outside the door and after a few seconds, he became aware of the presence of a generator in the room, one that regulated the flow of electricity and buzzed in a constant, low tone.
He hurried to push himself up to a sitting position, feeling his bones already agonizing to the hard and cold touch of the stone underneath. What was that place? No memories came to mind when he tried to recall how he's ended up here.
That odd recess was in no way built for someone to live in because such places were the meeting of various tunnels and likely used as a sort of underground control panels. However, this one's appearance suggested it had an owner. A rusty, metallic set of shelves was set across him, next to an improvised, low table with sheets of paper and an unusually looking set of instruments. Boxes were tossed on the floor, on top of them some sort of clothing-resembling rags. It slowly came back to his mind that he met a lunatic of some kind. Well, lunatic sounded a bit rude considering he spared his life. And helped him.
Sasuke's eyes fell on his right hand and scanned the clean bandage thoughtfully. Perhaps he wasn't so bad.
The rusty hinges of the heavy shaft on his right moaned under the pressure as Suigetsu dashed in, holding a bundle in his hands. He pulled out the knife from his side and left it on the table with a content sigh. The bundle turned out to be a piece of bread after he revealed it and sat on the floor, eating. Sasuke almost forgot that he was obliged to announce his full presence after a few minutes of silence. If he had to be honest, he had always preferred the stealthier approaches when it came to interaction.
He went over a thorough analysis and then just as a thorough synthesis before he could decide whether it was worth his time and words. Often, the final conclusion was negative. People tended to be overly trivial. Idle talk was what he most despised in his life, right after hypocrisy. "Where did you get that bread from?"
Suigetsu startled, facing him at lightning speed. For a moment he had just frozen as if trying to remember who he was looking at, but then he continued chewing.
"Some dude. Killed him in the back of a market," Suigetsu lifted up his knife absently. "You wanna have a bite?"
His very first thought was of shooting the guy, but then he reminded himself it would be a huge loss for him if he did. Missing information that could be useful. Nevertheless, Sasuke's hand rested on the gun next to him. Strange, if the weirdo considered him an enemy, he would've stolen his weapons easily while he slept and not leave them next to him.
Sasuke leaned back on the wall, eyes fixed on the shaft. "Aren't there others like you down here?"
"Yeah, but it's something like a king-of-the-hill game when it comes to this place," Suigetsu smirked. "You know what I mean?"
Sasuke furrowed. Wasn't life, in general, a king-of-the-hill game, really? The strongest was the winner.
"You kill everyone that makes demands to hold the sewers as their own?"
Suigetsu left the piece of bread in his hands and turned to Sasuke fully, opening a long pause. His gaze was steady and estimating, and the glimmer in it tensed Sasuke a bit. This man was a mass murderer with a burnt-out conscience. He found nothing wrong with that. Constant amusement was spread on that pale face.
"I had to choose whether to run and hide from the multiple mafias that rule over there," Suigetsu pointed up, "or live a comparatively normal life without the stress down here." Without the stress? "Of course, I am not the only one who has ideas so I periodically get rid of them," Suigetsu shrugged. "Most of them. There are two or three people left but we're on good terms."
"So you prefer killing people rather than paying taxes?"
"Damn right," Suigetsu's features lit up at his companion's quick mind. Then returned to his previous occupation, namely eating, "I don't kill animals, though."
Sasuke couldn't suppress the puff of amusement that came out of him. Did Orochimaru mess him up like that or was it the life in the sewers with the constant lack of sunlight? This city was worse than he thought. So far so good. "Do you happen to know anything about Uchiha?"
Suigetsu almost choked on his food, turning to face him again. "Why would you want to have anything to do with Uchiha?" The disgust in his voice was tangible. "Uchiha is the most hated name in this city."
Sasuke squinted. "Why?"
"I suppose you're not local," Suigetsu scoffed. "The countless manhunts that ruined so many people? Drug dealers, human traffickers, the black market… I'm sure even Amegakure's police hated that name since some dandy with a permit and a signature from the Government came and claimed their place, capturing a criminal after criminal."
"I heard the chief brought his eldest son with him from time to time," Sasuke pointed out.
"Yeah," Suigetsu stood up and dusted off his clothes. "That bastard was no better than his father. But I think he spent lots of time behind desks, researching. At least those were the rumors."
"Researching what?" Sasuke's heartbeat increased with the realization that he finally got a lead.
"Akatsuki," Suigetsu tucked the knife back at his side absently.
Akatsuki? The most fearsome gang of criminals there ever was? "Why them?"
"Don't you know?" Suigetsu folded hands, facing him. "Most of the group's members are from here. This city. Guess the younger Uchiha thought he'd find answers of some kind," he paused. "Amateur, if you ask me. Akatsuki are ghosts. No one can find, much less capture them."
Sasuke's mind was racing. Nothing of what he heard about Itachi since he entered the city proved he had some kind of a connection to those criminal networks or he had any criminal behavior whatsoever. Itachi never mentioned to him that he's done research on Akatsuki, everything he shared was information on the city or on the missions he went with their father. Did he find something? If so, why keep it a secret? There were still too many questions and he had to do something about it.
"You said he spent time behind desks," Sasuke reached for the sniper rifle and eyed the blood-stained sling before setting the weapon on his back. "Any idea where those desks might be?"
"The former Police Department. The building's not used anymore," Suigetsu squinted at him. "And why are you so interested in that scum?"
"I have an unfinished business," Sasuke's voice lowered as he slowly stood up, leaning on the wall.
"You know both Uchiha are dead, right?" Suigetsu turned back to the table and shuffled the pieces of paper there. A quiet murmur followed, "Thank the heavens for that."
"I know. Can you get me there?" Sasuke was certain that his companion wouldn't be overly content with the commanding tone he used so he hurried to offer a strong enough compensation. "I will pay you."
Suigetsu glanced back, a playful smile on his lips.
Those wet and dark tunnels were like an endless nightmare. Somehow, Suigetsu never once hesitated whether the direction he followed was the right one, he was convinced of it the whole time. Their steps echoed in the vast spaces of the labyrinth, leaving the impression of an infinite loop of unceasing, identical sounds and identical voids. Every corner, every bit of stone in those corridors were the same and the sameness was maddening.
Whenever Itachi mentioned Amegakure's labyrinths, he painted a picture of adventure and mystery, and much to Sasuke's amusement, their concept of adventure and sights that intrigued were more than opposite. Shivers ran down his spine when he heard an unusual scratching at one point, but Suigetsu assured him that's a dear friend of his. The rare bulbs of light that formed the pathways of that giant maze were the only thing that dispersed the thick with moist and stench shadows. Overall, if he didn't know there was a whole industrial center over his head, Sasuke would've thought all this looked like the maw of a huge monster.
While they threaded the darkness in silence Sasuke thought over the fact that this man could've very well killed and robbed him, but he chose to help him instead. Assuming he did that out of goodwill was laughable. What made more sense was that he could've perceived him as some sort of an equal. They had both encountered Orochimaru. Perhaps Suigetsu's always wanted to avenge his brother, but hasn't done it for some reason and Sasuke's interference with the problem gained him Suigetsu's respect. He could go for that. Nothing else sounded plausible anyway.
Sasuke didn't count the minutes or the distance they passed. He was sure those were at least two kilometers of tunnels and darkness. At least that's how he felt about them. Suigetsu stopped in front of a metallic ladder at the bottom of the dead-end they entered last and climbed up. His hands shifted something that reminded a canal-lock and pushed up the oval sluice over his head a few times before it shifted, giving the way of faint sunbeams. Sasuke readjusted to the light, quick to follow Suigetsu up.
The noise of the civilization hit them like a wave from every side. It was an alley trapped between two larger streets. A two-story building of heavy concrete and cracking paint towered over looming shadows. No paint could endure the test of daily rain. And these walls looked on the verge of falling down, too. The windows appeared unbreakable, though, each reinforced with bars. It was best if he tried to enter through the door.
"You need company?" Suigetsu leaned on the wall, glancing curiously at the abandoned building across the street and back at Sasuke.
"No."
Sasuke turned to him for a moment. He did deserve gratitude for everything, despite that his way of living was disgraceful. Points of view are a bad thing. If judged by his actions since the moment of their meeting Suigetsu could very well be a better person than most of the people he knew, himself included. But apart from that, he was a murderer and a thief. The dregs of the society he particularly despised.
"Thanks."
"Guess you don't want a tail so I'm not gonna wait for you," Suigetsu glanced up at the frowning skies and pulled the hood over his head. "If we don't meet again," he paused, his melancholic tone suggesting a promising end, "it'd be great."
Sasuke tucked a hand into his pocket and proceeded to pay him, as promised. Soon after, Suigetsu slid across the wall and quickly disappeared into the crowd of people, shifting ghastly into the fog. Sasuke took a breath and released it, the chilly air helping him to focus more. He hurried to cross the desolate street and climb over the wired fence. It was an old edifice but, as Suigetsu had mentioned, obviously not used anymore. The windows were dim and dirty. As he surrounded the wall to get to the entrance, he found out gladly that it was a double door. They were easier to break through.
He was about to break the lock when he noticed the door was ajar. A furrow appeared on his features at the sight. Did they leave it open or did someone break in after they've locked it up?
Sasuke stepped in and clicked the door shut, curiosity driving him to move forward at a fast pace. There was no way Itachi wouldn't leave a message or an explanation of some kind. He left notes to him even when he went to the shop when they were little. The view dight didn't give Sasuke much hope. The police station was completely wiped up and everything that was left were bare walls and furniture. He walked down the tiled corridor, scanning the opened lockers at his side. Everything was taken.
Multiple switches were lined up one next to another at the end of the corridor and he slowly turned them on, letting the lamps light up the spacious lobby that spread in front of him. Just as he thought he'd have more luck with finding something, his eyes fell on barely discernable footsteps. He kneeled, making sure he's not imagining there were really traces of a recent breakthrough. Muddy outlines of a footprint. Likely a male, if the shoe size was taken in mind.
He walked further and his breath hitched at the sound of a familiar voice. Calm, deep timbre. It was Itachi's voice but somehow muffled… as if played on a record.
"…raise doubts to anyone. It was later when I got to know…"
Whoever had breached in, he was still here. Sasuke walked in the direction of the voice and surrounded a few desks on his way. Was it on the second floor? He crossed the lobby and climbed up the L-shaped stairs ascending along the wall.
"…decided to infiltrate the world's most famous criminal gang in the world by using…"
Sasuke heard some shuffling noise from the office across him and pulled his gun, lowering the hammer as he advanced slowly between the new set of desks.
"Sources led me to Amegakure and even further...
Sasuke fired through the dimmed glass of the door and managed to only graze his target's shoulder. He cleverly dodged the bullet on his way out and reached to hit Sasuke's wrist so that he can drop the weapon but Sasuke backed away in time. The man pulled out a gun and a blink of an eye later they were pointing at each other, completely still.
"Daaamn," the cold blue of his young eyes darkened with amusement. "That was good." His thin lips were curved in a smirk when he scanned Sasuke from head to toe. "Guess you can expect that kind of class from an Uchiha. Shooting people from behind without a warning."
"What do you know about Itachi?" Sasuke couldn't quite tell what he hid under that long coat, but that gun wasn't the only thing on him.
"I did work with one Itachi," The man scoffed, making a line with his gun. "That high. Repulsive. Painful lack of humor."
"Quit the talk. Who are you?"
"Deidara. Of The Akatsuki," he made a reverence. "You must be the brother he mentioned. Oh," Deidara pulled out a small recording device from his pocket. "Took me a while to find this. He says some pretty confidential stuff. Can't let that slip into your hands. Or the police's."
Sasuke felt his grip on the gun weaken for a moment, his thoughts spurring into chaos. Akatsuki? His brother worked with Akatsuki? So he wasn't the noble man that he had looked up to his whole life. The one he worshipped and loved was a two-faced villain.
"Give me the device."
"Listen, man, I don't like your face. I'd love to wipe those nasty genes off the world once and for all," Deidara snapped and grimaced in disgust. "Makes me wanna blow that head of yours."
He aimed, closing one eye, but Sasuke quickly hid behind the piled wooden desks. Deidara fired at him a couple of times, but found himself hiding when Sasuke decided to return the favor.
"I only like to keep the device because I have orders to bring evidence," Deidara explained out loud. "It's so infuriating to think that I've always hated your brother, but Pain was just mesmerized by him. Still is. I could never get it into my head. Hope that recording will erase his… partiality."
"Give me the device, bastard!" Sasuke growled, shooting at random.
"You need to die already," Deidara's low murmur reached him right before two grenades landed at his sides.
He ran behind the concrete railing before the explosions caused a minor ring in his ears. After the cloud of smoke cleared up, he saw a part of the second floor has landed on the first, opening a big hole. What was with that guy? Another grenade was thrown his way before he could think about it further, forcing him to back down to the first floor and hide behind an office door. Was there a way to take that device off him without having to kill him? He had to get close. Or… shoot with something that would disarm him.
"I haven't got all day, Uchiha. Come out."
Sasuke took off his sniper and put away the scope. He had to shoot without a sight this time. Deidara's voice came from near, he surely had come down to the first floor. Sasuke peeked for a moment before Deidara shot at him twice, nearly hitting him. He really was close but he was slow, too. Sasuke needed a second to aim and fire at his hand. The bullet pierced through Deidara's palm and he groaned in pain, dropping the gun. He made a step forward, but froze when Sasuke screamed at him to stop, this time aiming for his head.
"Give me the device and I'll spare you."
The beating of his heart deafened every other noise.
Deidara was glaring at him, not moving an inch. Without taking his eyes off Sasuke's, his bleeding hand slipped inside his coat and pulled out the device. Sasuke wasn't convinced he had changed his mind so fast. The glimmer of insanity burning in his eyes was in no way a sign of defeat. Deidara stretched his hand nevertheless, with a smile, ignoring the drops of blood that fell from it.
"Take it," Deidara beckoned.
Sasuke shifted closer, still keeping him at a gunpoint. That was not good. Not good at all. Whatever he had in mind, it wasn't going to be faster than a sniper rifle's bullet. Did he really admit he had lost? Didn't look like the type to admit defeat. In fact, he had that teenage attitude that often got on one's nerves. The I'm-always-right attitude.
Sasuke reached for the device and took it, but his lips parted in surprise when Deidara leaned in with a whisper and a sincere smile. "I placed some demolition explosive on my way in. You'll love it."
The split second before he detonated the building was not enough for him to make up a plan of escape. He managed to get under a desk's frame before the tons of concrete and metal shattered with a heavy blast, concussing the whole structure. It was close to an earthquake, but brief and… fatal. Brief and fatal.
He tried pushing away some pieces of concrete that were piled up and blocking his way, but at the second attempt the pain had become too much and he gave up, leaning back on the wooden frame. There was light coming through the cracks of the wall of stone blocks that helped him see the gradually growing stains of blood on his clothes. He wasn't much of an expert in medical conditions, but it did feel like he had been placed under one of those car-smashing vices they used in scrap yards.
Great.
His shaking hand squeezed the small device in his hand and a smile altered his harassed expression. At least the device was whole. He didn't know how much time he had left and there wasn't much to do so he decided to give it a go and clicked the red button, trying to take a deep breath despite the heaviness in his chest.
"Sasuke… I'm sorry the last time you'll hear my voice will be through a recording device. I have important things to say to you and I know this is upsetting because I am already dead if you're listening to this, but there was no other way. You will understand." A small cough separated the introduction before Itachi's voice continued "Uchiha is a clan of many secrets and many crimes. I think you suspected it, but our parents never told you anything. The truth is our kin's power and money lie in pools of blood. I decided I don't want such a legacy for you and was prepared to meet the consequences of that decision."
"I'll start from the beginning. I met Danzo Shimura at a business gathering by the time he was still trying to become a governor and no one suspected anything about him. Seems like our father had deep connections with most of the high levels because he wasn't really himself on those gatherings, at least not the man we know. His strict obedience to them could raise doubts in anyone. It was later when I got to know his position as chief of the police has been given to him at the cost of innocent lives."
"Anyway… I was brought aside by Shimura one night during a meeting and received an ultimatum from him. I was coerced to work for him and give him information and in return, he said he wouldn't harm my family since he had the full power to do so. That… was where the tough part began. Father didn't question me, of course, and he should've, as a chief of police in a capital city. I'm afraid his conscience was asleep and he preferred to stay silent, although I was convinced he was well aware of my secret. I forestalled a bad occurrence of circumstances. Shimura was a merciless, greedy man with nothing to lose and my weaknesses were too many and too evident."
"One day he asked me to give him the coordinates of my platoon's current residence. I knew he was already deep in the trade with weapons and his petition for the governor's position had been refused for the third time. I knew he wanted to use that information to threaten the authorities and take what he wants. As much as I thought Konoha's Government corrupted and phony, I was convinced they wouldn't sacrifice their most elite soldiers only to grant the desire of a madman. I tried putting sense into him, offering less extreme measurement of taking the political power he so desired, but that only angered him more and led him to set a choice before me. It was rather… a promise. Shimura said my father boasted about his younger son being sent on an A-rank mission at Konoha South 5. He promised to wipe your platoon out if I don't give him the means to wipe out mine."
"I requested time to make the decision and was granted with it but forced to make a vow that if I choose my platoon, I have to die with it."
"My captain sent for me a few days later and I reported for duty. He had found another trace and had decided to infiltrate the world's most famous criminal gang in the world by using a double agent with the needed abilities. Sources led me to Amegakure and even further… I even found Akatsuki's leader (or rather he found me). He saw great potential in me so I joined his group. It was easy, I've always been too smart for my own good. I won their trust because I spoke rarely and killed with finesse, something that was valued among those people. One only thing remained — to give them away and end Akatsuki once and for all, but that meant making a connection with Konoha again. Which meant I had to give my answer to Shimura. An answer I still didn't have."
And so… the weeks passed and I couldn't bring myself to go back. I knew whatever my choice was, it was going to tear me apart. Not that I wasn't haunted by my crimes already. Just that," a breathy laugh followed and Sasuke closed his eyes, feeling warmth stream down from them. "I have dear friends in that platoon, Sasuke. I love those people. And, uh…" Itachi exhaled sharply, his voice shaking despite the effort he put into concealing it. "Man, that's harder than I thought."
Sasuke refused to acknowledge the physical pain that surged through him but the one that rent his heart was merciless and relentless, and it couldn't be escaped.
"55.538075 to 7.599948 are the exact coordinates of Akatsuki's hideout. Give them to the right people, Sasuke. I know where Shimura's hiding too. After he ran away from Konoha I received only phone calls and didn't know where he was."
"Well, I guess the choice has always been clear to me, but I needed some time to part with everything. To part with you." Itachi made another, longer pause. "I'm sorry you had to end up all alone, little brother. It was never my intention to leave you, but you have to understand. After all my sins, after all the sins of the previous generations in our family, I couldn't remain impartial. It's something I had to do, do you understand? It was out of the question to stay aside as my friends die and then tell myself it was the right choice afterward. Choosing to lose your life instead of mine has never been an option for me."
"So, I…" Itachi's voice lowered, becoming less formal. "Want you to see my death as a sacrifice and a new beginning. I want you to take it as a burial of all the pain and sorrow in your heart. I need you to stop hurting and start fixing, not only what you've done to yourself, but to the others too. And if you ever find hope again, somewhere among the ruins I leave you in, please try to remember it wasn't all bad. Perhaps then you'll have become strong enough to forgive me… because I've always loved you, always will. "
There was a click that followed and the recording ended. Silence spread after the sound that echoed loudly in the narrow space.
As he thought about it, he couldn't come up with a better way to go. Somehow, the fear of death wasn't as strong as he thought it would be. Maybe the hope that he might see his brother again was what scattered the panic. Maybe he was too tired. In any case, no worry clouded his mind now and it was liberating. He was sorry for everything he did, that was the truth. It would've been better if he was granted the chance to apologize personally, yes, but… well, doesn't matter now. Only if that awful pain could cease already.
There was a new click on the device next to him and another recording started, making him open his eyes in wonder.
"Oh and, uh... I never thought I'd have to think of leaving a real legacy behind but..." Loud laughter rang out from the speaker. "Remember when I told you not to touch that button I built in your rifle's frame? You always asked me about it and I never explained to you its purpose. Since you won't be hearing from me anymore, I thought it's time. "
Sasuke turned his head, his eyes searching for any pieces of his rifle. Two parts laid crushed between the weight of a block at his side, but the chassis must've fallen somewhere else when the explosion occurred… or it was completely crushed. Concrete pieces and dust covered everything his eyes could see. With his body bleeding and aching like that he couldn't move an inch. Just the small movement he made a minute ago caused him excruciating pain.
"Konoha has no sea outlet and I guess there's no way you might know this, but whenever a ship is built, the constructors usually put in a small device called an SOS system. It's a system used when the vessel finds itself in an emergency situation in the middle of the sea or the ocean. Quite useful." Itachi coughed dramatically. "I took the liberty to buy a minimized version of such a device without letting father or mother know. Now, if you press that button, the system will transmit pulsing signals for help in the ether around you. And… help will come. Guaranteed." Itachi sighed. "So. I built an SOS device in your rifle. Don't be afraid to use it. You have to rely on others sometimes. You can make it, Sasuke," Itachi laughed again. "I believe in you."
Sasuke made another attempt to shift. The harrowing shivers through his spine forced him to remain still and relax back. The pause was prolonged as he felt coldness slowly enveloping his body and numbing his mind. The pain increased. SOS beacon, huh? Always giving him the best presents.
Well… maybe in another life.
A/N: Long chapter. Thank you for reading! I hope you liked my rendition in this one. Wanted to make it kinda close to the original, but mine in a way and that's why I took my time so much.