Too Late
Summary: AU. Sasuke, alpha, known international criminal, missing nin. Imagine his surprise when the guards to Konoha let him in without so much as a fight. There, he met with a grim looking Tsunade. And that's the second time he shed a tear that day. That day, Uchiha Sasuke regained his clan, but lost two people in his life. SasuNaru. Character Death Omegaverse
-o-o-o-
Crimson eyes stared at the corpse in front of him. Something wet fell down the sides of his cheeks… wet and warm.
Ehh?
Had he been crying all this time?
Why?
He achieved his dreams haven't he? He killed the man who took his family from him, avenged the clan that was cruelly snuffed out in a matter of one night. So why… why does he feel so empty… so… hollow?
"Nii-san…" He whispered, surprised at how his voice broke.
Itachi's finger was still warm against his forehead. It's funny really. It's as if his older brother was still there, comforting him. For what? He doesn't know. But one look at Itachi's peacefully smiling face brought about an unsettling feeling within him.
He took one last look at his brother's face, wiping away the tears on his face and composed himself. He has to go home.
Something in his gut tells him he has to.
-o-o-o-
Sasuke stared at the familiar wooden gate, spotting the gatekeepers lazing in their guard house. And he was so sure that they'd try to stop him. He was so sure he's in for a tough fight. So he steeled himself, sharingan in full display as a threat. He took a bold step forward, one hand on his Katana, prepared to pull it out should the need arise.
But surprisingly, the guard merely talked to each other, before one of them approached him.
"Uchiha Sasuke… Lady Tsunade's been expecting you."
He frowned. He was sure he could feel the guard's animosity. But the man kept civility as he addressed him. Not knowing whether this is a trap or not, he trudged through familiar streets, feeling a strange chill on his spine at the bizarre way he was greeted… no.. welcomed at the gates.
Surprisingly, Konoha remained the same, despite news of its destruction reaching far and wide. It was rebuilt, better and bigger but… more or less the same than Sasuke has remembered it to be. He followed the old roads to familiar place, where his family used to rest, and was surprised to see that the Uchiha compound loomed in the distance, just as he remembered it to be.
"Sasuke-kun!" A familiar voice greeted him. His old teammate, Sakura approached him from the right. "Are you… are you finally back for good?" She asked, but it did not escape his notice that her eyes were guarded and she was subtly collecting chakra by her forehead and fists, as if she's ready to fight him any moment. Still, she kept a small smile on her face.
"You should go to the Hokage's office. Lady Tsunade's waiting." She said tersely, civil yet tense.
"I was told that, too. Where's Naruto?"
The smile on Sakura's face disappeared. But she kept her eyes on him.
"Come now, Sasuke. You came home after a long time and the first thing you ask was that? Whatever happened to hello?" It didn't escape his notice either that the she did not use -kun to address him this time. Her eyes hardened, her lips a thin line as her face contorted tightly.
"Where's Naruto?" He repeated again.
Sakura looked like she was struggling with herself, before she finally repeated. "Lady Tsunade's waiting. You should get going."
Sasuke frowned. There's something odd about his old teammate. And while he may not have stepped foot in Konoha for a long time now, he could still remember his teammate's idiosyncrasies. The body languages that spoke out to him loudly despite the lack of words spoken. And he can't help but feel a sinking dread at the pit of his stomach.
Ignoring the feeling, he kept his face impassive, impenetrable to all emotions as he faced his former teammates.
"Aren't you going to apprehend me?"
"Why should I? You're not a criminal. You're an old hero returning from a mission." Sasuke frowned. Okay. There's so many things wrong with what she said. But what bothered him more was the bitterness with which she spoke. And while she may have this controlled anger and animosity barely leaking through, it cannot be denied that her sharp green eyes had been anything but welcoming.
"You should report to the Hokage now. I've got to get going. See you, Sasuke…" She waved him goodbye and Sasuke was left with an eerie feeling as he watched her disappearing back.
The same pattern would repeat itself as he slowly made his way for the Hokage tower. One of the Konoha 13 would show up, animosity in their eyes with restrained anger and hostility as they cryptically delivered one message, "Tsunade-sama's waiting for you."
So he did so. Not really knowing what to expect as he ascended the winding stairs up to the central seat of government, again, finding no resistance, no guards that intercepted him as he swung the massive doors wide open.
When he opened the doors, he was greeted with a peculiar sight. Tsunade, the brave strong woman he used to know was drinking on her desk, a sake bottle on her desk as one hand caressed something on her chest.
Sasuke took no note of this. But he pressed forward just the same.
"I was told to see you, Tsunade-sama."
"Wha? Oh.. it's you…." Tsunade barely spared him a glance as she kept clutching something on her chest.
"Welcome back, Uchiha Sasuke. As of this moment, you are now returned to active service. You will take a special chuunin exams and will henceforth be assigned a team of your own."
"Team 7?" He asked, hope in his eyes, before he looked up to see her honey brown eyes narrowed, teeth gritting tightly around her rosy lips as her hand tightened on the sake cup.
"Team 7 is non existent. It had been for a while now. Now on to business. The Uchiha compound have been restored and is now officially transferred to your name. As the head of the Uchiha clan, your seat in the council will be restored as well." Dark eyes narrowed. There's something odd here… something building up…. An eerie atmosphere has surrounded them both.
"There is no more Uchiha clan, Lady Hokage. Itachi is dead by my hands."
"I'm well aware, Uchiha-san. And as was arranged you will now rebuild the clan from the ground up. The council has allowed you to carry on the bloodline due to your actions in the war. If there's anything else you need…"
"I would take no other partner, Lady Hokage. Where's Naruto? Where MY omega?"
Sasuke gasped as the cup in Tsunade's hand shattered.
"You're dismissed, Uchiha-san. Go meet your family and get out of my office. Kakashi!"
Sasuke frowned. Family? What does she mean family? There's no more Uchiha except him.
But Kakashi did walk in. And behind him, three children followed. One looked like a younger version of him that Sasuke would think he's looking at a mirror. But he could see that the boy's eyes are blue. The other, a female had the same looks as his older brother that Sasuke imagined if Izumi and Itachi had a child, it would definitely be this girl. The last was the most striking. Far shorter than the other children was an exact replica of the man who plagued his dreams day in and day out, the boy that used to call him brother, the boy who declared him his first bond and chased him to the ends of the earth and back.
"Hello, Sasuke-kun." Kakashi greeted. "Meet the Uchiha clan. Children, why don't you introduce yourself to your father?"
The children look at each other at first, not sure whether to accept the man before them as their dad but nodded and obeyed.
"Uchiha Menma." Said the dark haired boy as he gave a respectful bow.
"Uchiha Sarada, desu. Pleased to finally meet you…. Papa." The girl smiled. But the last one pointed at Kakashi.
"Oi oi oi. This isn't funny old man Kakashi. Are we to believe that this… sullen-looking guy is our dad? There's no way that mom would have picked him -tebasa!"
Kakashi chuckled as he ruffled the other's hair.
"Hey watch the hair old man, I spent the whole morning on that one."
"Shut up Boruto." The girl scolded him. "Kakashi-sensei's serious, ne? I've seen him in that picture that mom always kept with him.
Sasuke perked up at this. Adding everything he heard so far, these kids are definitely his and Naruto's children. Not only the resemblance are uncanny, but the girl basically confirmed it. There are not many omegas in Konoha. And the last thing he know, only Naruto fits the description.
"So… where's your mom?" Sasuke asked, anticipation welling up in his stomach but all children looked away from him. "Well?"
"Enough Uchiha!" Tsunade rose her voice as she stood up and Sasuke looked at the familiar blue gem stone around her neck, dangling close to her chest as she let go of it. "Take your children and go. I don't want to see your face here until it's absolutely necessary."
Sasuke frowned. The Hokage's being evasive and he'll find out why.
"Where's Naruto?" he asked again, and this time, he heard one of the children gasped as Kakashi ushered them outside.
"If you weren't such an important figure in that brat's life, Uchiha, I'd see you behind bars. Be thankful that his last wishes was for you to continue the clan. Didn't even want them to carry the Uzumaki name, eh? Foolish brat."
"Wha… what are you saying? What-" Sasuke mumbled as he processed Tsunade's words. "What do you mean last wish? Where is NARUTO?" He stared at Tsunade in disbelief, eyes taken by the dangling blue stone on her neck. That stone shouldn't be there… He knew… Many times had he kissed that blue stone in another's chest, promising his return to a certain omega.
But that stone… definitely shouldn't be on Tsunade's neck.
"Why do you have that?"
He saw Tsunade's lips tremble as she gripped her desk, the wooden mahogany desk cracking under her strong fingers as she bit her lips red.
"After the war…" She sighed, voice now trembling as a lone tear wets her eye… "He…" Tsunade took a deep breath, unable to bring herself to say it as she took one chug from her sake bottle. "After the war… Uzumaki Naruto…. No…" She shook her head as she took another deep breath.
"After the war, Uchiha Naruto died in childbirth. He gave the last of his and Kyuubi's chakra to help the injured. His last wish was for your acceptance in this village, to be given a new beginning as head of the Uchiha clan. Sasuke… just… go…. Please…" Tsunade's face was wet by now, streams of tears falling down her cheeks as she gripped the stone on her neck once more.
"What… what are you saying?" Sasuke shook his head. "It can't be… it can't- I promised him I'd return…. For him and give him the life he deserves… I… promised him…" He whispered to himself as he backed away from Tsunade with wide eyes."I promised him I'd get stronger… for him. That has to be a lie…. No… It can't be!"
Sasuke mumbled as his sharingan flared to life that Tsunade had to look away from him. But she knew she wouldn't harm him. She took off the necklace from her neck and placed the familiar blue stone on her desk.
"He… This was returned to me after his death. He wanted you to have this. Said he has nothing else to give you. So he begged me to let you have this."
With shaking hands, Sasuke reached for the necklace, his world suddenly turned drab and gray despite the vibrant jewel in his hands.
"Teme, just you wait. I'll get stronger and the next time we meet, I'll drag you ass to Konoha."
A voice taunted him in his head. "Liar.." He whispered and Tsunade looked at him in confusion, noting that one of his eye have become the fabled rinnegan one. She sighed as she sunk to her chair.
"You promised me, Naruto…. That you'll wait for me…" Sasuke gritted his teeth, his eyes felt wet, cheeks warm for some reason as his heart raced, chest constricting. He felt as if he's drowning as he gasped for air.
"Uchiha? You okay?" Tsunade asked, concern in her eyes and Sasuke chuckled darkly to himself as he felt his world around him swim. Why are you concerned about me Hokage? I thought you hated me? He asked himself.
"Uchiha!"
Tsunade rushed to his side as Sasuke fell to the floor, gripping the necklace like a lifeline as he gasped for air, tears streaming from his eyes as he whispered. "Naru my naru…." Repeatedly to himself.
"Shizune! Sakura! He's having a panic attack. Get in here…" Was the last thing he heard before everything around him turned to darkness.
-o-o-o-
"Teme… oi… Wake up… OI! Teme!"
Sasuke groaned as he felt familiar voice above him.
"Stupid old man. Wake up will you…"
"Naruto?"
He held up a hand to caress familiar tanned cheeks. But as his eyes came into focus, his eyes met a paler shade of blue.
"Boruto…"
"Finally. We've been calling for you for three hours now. The old lady summoned you to her office. Now get up, or Sarada-neechan will throw a fit again."
He frowned at the youngest of his triplets.
"What does she want this time?"
"She said she has a special mission for you. Now come on, tebasa."
"Fine, I'm up." He grunted as he pushed himself up and headed for the bathroom. He splashed his face with cold water as his brain started waking up.
"That dream again huh? Why now?" He asked himself as he stared at the blue gemstone dangling on his neck.
"He wanted you to have this. Said he has nothing else to give you. So he begged me to let you have this." Tsunade's voice rang in his mind once more and he sighed deeply. Running his hand to long dark locks, he fished out a hair tie from the cabinet and tied his hair.
He hasn't cut his hair since that… since that day.
"Naruto… You're wrong… You've given me everything without thinking about yourself."
He whispered to himself as he made himself presentable, still rattled by the dream as his lips quivered. The dream that disturbed his rest every night. For it was the day that Uchiha Sasuke regained his clan, but lost two people in his life.
After the unfortunate commotion in Tsunade's office, Sasuke would later waken to their old nest. Naruto's jacket and old clothes have been preserved by Konohamaru and donated it to the Uchiha clan, saying something that his hero would want his alpha to have it.
Sasuke looked at the half made bed and stared at the torn up orange jacket on his bed.
Ahhhh….
That must be why the dream was so intense this time.
He took a deep breath, the scent of Naruto still fresh in the room, like it hadn't been three years since the horrific day he lost not just his brother but the sunshine of his life.
He stood before the Hokage this time, awaiting his orders as he gave a polite bow to the woman before him. Tsunade looked at him seriously, and for a moment, he wondered whether the old hokage was still bitter at him.
"Uchiha Sasuke… as you know…. I'm getting a bit too old for this job. And time and again you have proven yourself to the village, proven your loyalty to defend Konoha from her enemies. As much as it was his dream… I wanted you to carry on the mantle of my office. Will you accept this charge, Rokudaime Hokage?"
Sasuke's eyes widened at the woman. He couldn't believe it. Ever since his return, Tsunade has showed just how much she hated him, how much she wished he hadn't return. But this time, she's letting him become the 6th hokage?
"Are you sure?"
"I am. He would have wanted it. The inauguration takes three days from now."
Sasuke gulped… He can't believe it… Naruto's dream… Naruto's will of fire… passed down to him.
"Is this my atonement…." He whispered to himself…
"No, you dumb brat. It's his will, the will that you now carry. The village… His village.. Is now yours to protect. I… I know that's what he would have wanted."
Sasuke's eyes hardened.
Yeah…
This must be penance for all his wrongs… But most importantly, this is how he carry out his Naruto's will. In his hands, by these hands…
"I'll defend this village… You better believe it." Sasuke whispered, causing a small tug of smile at Tsunade's lips.
"I know. Now scram. I have some more work to do."
Sasuke bowed and took his leave.
On the distance, below the hokage's office, his Rinnegan eye spotted his children bickering, before they too started their training. Sarada blew a huge fire at her brothers, while Boruto threw a disappearing rasengan at her while Menma summoned shadow beasts to shield against the attacks.
And Sasuke can't help but smile.
There are pieces of Naruto all around him. This village, his children, this necklace…
His hand found its way to the blue gemstone once more.
And eyes filled with resolve, he made his way to the village.
"This village is now mine to protect. I promise you this Naruto." He uttered a silent promise as he joined his children below.
-o-o-o-
A/N: Uhmm… I haven't written an angst fic in quite a while now so I hope you enjoyed this one. At any rate, feel free to let me know what you think about it.
