CHAPTER XII

Sasuke

The wave towered over Konoha's walls, stretching from the north wall to the south. It was tall enough to be half the height of Konoha's tallest skyscraper. Sasuke could hear the panicked screams of Konoha's civilians below him, crying to be saved from the wave coming to wash them all away.

Sasuke's Perfect Susano'o floated above them, an Amaterasu blade in the hand of the purple chakra avatar. He made it wave its sword hand in a long sweep in front of the waves, manipulating the flames to match the height of the waves. The water evaporated immediately into smoke when it contacted the flames and Sasuke saw one hundred clones standing behind the dissipating wave.

They were all tall, muscular men with a mop of dark blue clinging to a mostly bald head. The main body, whose clasped hands slowly parted when he realized his jutsu had failed, drew a sword from his back and coated in water chakra. Sasuke would've been amused if he had the capacity for it.

His Susano'o flew over Konoha, casting a large black shadow over the city as it finally lowered and landed, before dissipating. Sasuke stood in front of Konoha's walls, his Sharingan fading to his natural onyx eyes as he looked at the man.

Kakashi landed to his left and straightened. "One hundred?"

"One hundred and one," Sasuke replied. "I can handle them."

Kakashi shrugged. "I need the exercise."

The muscular man stepped forward, grinning with his water sword. "Ah, the legendary Sasuke Uchiha and the Copy Ninja himself, Kakashi Hatake. I am Konran and it is an honor to be the one to kill you both!" He was loud, grandiose and a fool.

Sasuke heard Kakashi sigh softly. "I am a bit too old for this," he said.

"You volunteered," Sasuke said, drawing his chokuto and walking forward. The big man rushed ahead, disappearing then reappearing above Sasuke as he brought his sword down on him. Sasuke's chokuto pierced his chest and the man turned into water. "Kakashi?"

"Don't worry, I can handle him," Kakashi said, weaving hand seals together before summoning wild, purple lightning to his hand. Sasuke watched his former sensei as he flexed his hand and started to rush forward. Konran's true body turned to face Kakashi, but Sasuke was in front of him in an instant, drawing his sword hand back to swipe at him.

Konran moved back, sweating as he dodged Sasuke's lazy stroke. The Uchiha eyed him and noticed sparks of purple lightning and splashes of water as Kakashi tore through the scores of clones. Sasuke's eyes passed over Konran and he raised his fist to strike Sasuke again.

Sasuke summoned a Susano'o arm to grab Konran and squeezed him. Sasuke stared him in his eyes. "Yashagoro sent you to conquer Konoha?" He wanted to shake his head. Had Yashagoro expected he and Naruto to track him down?

Konran chuckled. "No," he said. "I am merely a sacrifice for Yashagoro's greater goal. He will restore the world to its true, former glory." Sasuke frowned. So Yashagoro had intended for them to come for him after all, but to what end? The team led by Naruto had headed towards the stump of the God Tree, the site that Sosei had surmised would be part of Yashagoro's plan. If Yashagoro had planned for the appearances of the world's two most powerful shinobi to arrive and had had the power to execute that plan, what was he planning for the rest of world?

"You have two options," Sasuke said as Konran's clones exploded in a spark of purple lightning that streaked across the clearing. "I can kill you now or you can keep giving us information on Yashagoro's plans."

"To die in Yashagoro's service is a great honor!" Konran said.

"Then I guess you'll see how it feels sitting in a cell," Kakashi said coolly. Sasuke let the man down out of the grip of his Susano'o and Konran dropped to the ground. Before he could do anything, Sasuke chopped him in the neck and knocked him out.

A few minutes later, a few jonin transported Konran to a cell and Sasuke and Kakashi stood near the site of their battle. "Seems like a catastrophe was avoided," Kakashi said. Sasuke nodded.

Perhaps this Yashagoro had planned this attack hoping that Naruto would go after him. He probably Sasuke would've gone as well. However, this Konran was a poor opponent to send instead.

"Maybe."

The thought lingered in Sasuke's mind that perhaps this had all been a ruse and a trap. Subsequent interrogations revealed that Konran knew nothing and wasn't anything more than a pawn. The paranoia from the attack on Konoha began to eat away at the back of his brain. The next few days saw the return of the Hasuya girl, sent out by her father to show off preliminary technologies to the Mizukage. He stood in the Hokage's office, overlooking the city as it started to return to normal as the panic subsided. He hoped that Naruto and his sons would return unharmed, that they would bring news of Yashagoro's death and his failed plan.

Instead, when he received the announcement of their return, the news had been grave. Sasuke met them all at the hospital and heard the raucous hospital chatter as medic-nin were rushing around. He saw a flash of pink hair as Sakura brushed past him and when he followed her, he saw Kichiro's former teacher letting out an inaudible gasp as blood spurted from a wound that split her open from her shoulder to her stomach. Sakura ordered he subordinates to use Katsuyu's slime to heal it while she sped out of the room, a miniature of her slug on her shoulder.

Turning away, Sasuke followed her and for a moment, he thought he heard the sound of Kichiro's voice and him crying. When he followed that noise, he found Sakura, Kichiro and Sosei in a room. Instead of entering, he paused and stood at the door, debating whether or not he would be welcomed. He chose to listen.

"Kataki's unconscious but he's stable. You did a good job, Kichiro." Sakura's voice. There was a pause and then she continued. "What happened?"

"It was like he was prepared for us to come," Sosei said quietly. "He used a chakra seal and suppression jutsu enhanced by that Hasuya glove. After that, I managed to put a Chidori through his chest and within a few minutes, he was back up again. I don't know how or when…"

"He must have regenerated at some point." That was Kichiro's voice. "But I saw you hit him with the Chidori. He didn't have time to react with whatever time jutsu you used."

"Even still, it didn't work. And we lost Setsuka because of it," Sosei said sadly. Sasuke dipped his head and took the information in. Instantaneous regeneration coupled with master swordsmanship and snake summoning jutsu. Yashagoro has Orochimaru's eyes but utilized Ice Release. He was fast, highly intelligent and seemed to get stronger every time he was encountered. He sounded like some kind of fantasy.

Or a result of experimentation...Sasuke thought. It was a leap, Sasuke knew. But for a shinobi of Yashagoro's caliber and expertise did not come naturally. He knew what simply taking the drugs Orochimaru had offered had made him capable of. Orochimaru was long since disappeared but there was still one that possessed a similar level of knowledge and skill.

Sasuke left the hospital and headed straight to Konoha's Orphanage.


"Sasuke," Kabuto said, looking up as the Uchiha entered the room. "What a pleasant surprise." A child turned to face Sasuke and he blinked with mismatching eyes, sapphire and ruby. The boy looked at him quizzically before he scampered out of the room. After he had gone, Sasuke walked towards Kabuto.

"You've been busy," Sasuke noted, keeping his voice level and dry. It didn't take much effort as he was already emotionally exhausted. Kabuto nodded and continued sorting through his paperwork.

"There's been quite the influx of orphans and refugees since this new war started. It's a bit hard to get things in order around here."

"Yashagoro's appearance has caused a lot of turmoil in the world. I just find it odd that a shinobi like him has never appeared in a Bingo Book or any kind of documentation we have before we encountered him five years ago," Sasuke said. Kabuto never looked up from his work.

"A shinobi's first skill is usually stealth. Perhaps he mastered that one at a young age."

"You would know wouldn't you?" Sasuke asked. This time, Kabuto's eyes raised, the snake-like slits resting on Sasuke's activated Sharingan. Kabuto didn't flinch under his gaze.

"Is this an interrogation, Sasuke? Because if you have questions, I'd be happy to answer them. Just not around the children." Sasuke felt fire on the back of his neck as his anger rose but he replaced it with icy calm and dipped his head. Kabuto rose from his chair and Sasuke followed him out of his open main office into a dark corridor. There were rows of file cabinets and Kabuto unlocked one of them and pulled out a thick folder. Sasuke caught a glimpse of the title and felt a chill.

Snake Amalgam Project

Kabuto entered another room, windowless and dark with only the slight flickering of a light above them. He carefully placed the folder on the desk and stepped back. Sasuke watched him and waited, then stepped forward. His hand traced over the cover and he opened the folder. His eyes widened and then narrowed. There was a picture of Yashagoro, but as a child.

"You…"

"I wanted someone to carry on my legacy and research after I die," Kabuto said. "Unlike you, the experimentation on my body has made traditional reproduction rather...impossible. However, I wanted to have someone by my side that would be my equal intelligence but also, able to protect what I've created. I wanted to create the perfect shinobi." Kabuto paused. "As well as the perfect child."

Sasuke's eyes shifted from Kabuto back to the notes in the folder. The experiments that Kabuto had done and the mutations he had made were extremely complex. Sasuke was able to comprehend some of it but it began to get far too technical for even him. Kabuto seemed to sense it and sighed.

"When I created Yashagoro, I began by using Orochimaru's DNA as well as my own as a base. From there, I decided to resurrect the Yuki clan's Kekkai Genkai and utilize the Uzumaki clan's immense chakra reserves and life energy. Adding that many volatile bloodlines artificially was extremely difficult and the first six times, I failed. However, upon the seventh time, I had successfully blended the DNA and was able to create an embryo. From there, it was easy to grow him in a tube," he said, almost proudly. Sasuke frowned.

"You created him and never thought to tell us that you had," he said angrily. "Then when the threat against Konoha rose, you still said nothing." He felt his hand near his sword and struggled to pull it back.

Nodding, Kabuto dipped his head. "I understand that you're upset, Sasuke. However, my experimentation, while morally or ethically questionable, was not illegal. I used samples I'd already acquired and did not use anyone else's body to my own ends. Yashagoro had always been here, however, I never treated him publicly any different than any of the orphans so he didn't stand out. But…"

"He left you, somehow."

"His emotions and memories are inconsistent and extremely muddled. I haven't determined exactly why that occurred…"

"Because the primary source of his DNA is someone as twisted as Orochimaru and you," Sasuke retorted dryly. Kabuto chuckled though Sasuke hadn't been joking.

"Perhaps. Maybe the combination of all the different DNA made the perfect shinobi but a wholly imperfect human. As we all are. Even so, that is the information that you sought, am I right?" Kabuto asked, pushing up his glasses. Sasuke looked Kabuto over and scowled. If he were to have it his way, he'd burn him to ashes and watch Orochimaru's cells struggle to grow him back. However, it wasn't ultimately up to him.

"I won't expose you. Not until Naruto is back safely. Once the Hokage is back in place, he'll make the final decision," Sasuke said. Kabuto gave a slight, surprised nod.

"I understand." Without another word, Sasuke turned on his heels and left. He walked out into Kabuto's office and once again saw the boy with mismatched eyes playing with the other orphans. Sasuke stared for a while then disappeared into the darkness awaiting him outside when he sensed the boy ready to turn his head.

Once the fresh air hit him, Sasuke let the weight of Yashagoro's true nature fall on him. Everything thing from his appearance to his fighting style to the way he carried out his chaotic plan pointed directly to Orochimaru. He was as annoying and tricky to kill as well. Orochimaru's high intelligence and hyper healing were difficult to get around and adding in Uzumaki blood and the Yuki clan's Ice Release...there was a lot to think and plan around. Sasuke had taken his own power for granted and not done everything in his power to kill him just as he hadn't done everything in his power to save Takuma.

Now, he fights for Yashagoro based on Sosei's report. Sasuke couldn't shake that fact from his mind. It was this depth of failure that hurt him the most, that he had failed so deeply to assist Takuma during his life that in his reanimation he seemed to willingly fight his family. It wasn't right but nothing about the world had ever been. It wasn't right that the Sage of Six Paths had had to choose a successor on his deathbed. It wasn't right that his decision had caused endless war and conflict. It wasn't right that the Uchiha had been ostracized and that Itachi had been tasked with ending the potential coup before it took place. It wasn't right that Sasuke had been spared to spend eight years of his life obsessing over vengeance only to discover the truth. It wasn't right that his choices that followed led to Yashin seeking his own revenge. It wasn't right that he had left Sakura to be with Karin all those years ago. It wasn't right that Takuma had been born without the ability to awaken his Sharingan. It wasn't right that he had abandoned his family afterward to wallow in self-pity and despair.

Sasuke stopped on the rooftop across the street from Konoha's main hospital. He could see Sakura sitting in her office going over papers that an assistant had just dropped off. Her hair rested in a messy bun, a sign that she was in work mode but stressed. Sasuke blinked and looked at the Hokage monument, his gaze passing over Naruto's face. He could almost hear his friend urging him to go and make things right with Sakura and his sons then go on living life. But that wasn't possible. It was selfish.

Things wouldn't be the same and Sasuke wouldn't get a second chance to make things right. However, he could give Takuma a second chance. He remembered the climax to the War when Obito had been forced to revive Madara using his Rinnegan. In his private studies, he found that the technique was called the Outer Path — Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique. It required the user to sacrifice themselves to do so, thus causing it to be classified as a heretical, forbidden technique. That didn't matter either.

Sasuke knew that Naruto would never let him do it and Sakura, however angry or hurt she was now, would be even more so if he did this. But for his son, the one he failed, he'd make whatever sacrifice was necessary to atone.

The Uchiha quietly jumped from his perch and landed on the wall next to the window to Sakura's office. She turned and when the two of them locked eyes, Sasuke could see the questions forming on her lips. She opened the window and Sasuke entered the office. It was dark, illuminated only by Sakura's computer and the lantern poles. Sasuke stared down at her and Sakura up at him. She seemed to sense his energy, his peace.

"Sasuke, what—"

Before she could finish, Sasuke pulled her into a kiss and held her close. She melted into his arms and Sasuke couldn't remember tasting anything in his near forty years as sweet as her. He reluctantly pulled away and stared into her eyes.

"Sakura," he whispered. "I'm sorry." Sakura looked smitten and confused at the same time. She nodded quickly and tore at his clothes, sliding his pants down with her strong legs and reaching into his shirt with deft hands and agile fingers. His hands reached under her uniform and her panties fell past her ankles. Sakura pulled Sasuke on top of her as she laid back on her desk.

Sasuke didn't know how exactly how long he and Sakura were intertwined, breathing heavily while trying to keep their passion quiet like teenagers messing around while their parents were home. Time seemed to remain stagnant until he felt Sakura quiver beneath him and grab his back, a sensation that let him relax his own body and finish. The two lay there panting and with the stress released from his body, Sasuke felt his mind was clear enough to think about what he had decided.

Fingers traced his jawline and pulled at his face gently. "I missed you," Sakura said sweetly.

"I missed you too," Sasuke replied. He missed this feeling, being alone with just Sakura, the way he had been before his children had been born when the two were newly married and deeply in love. He'd miss Sakura's touch…

He rose up and began to put his clothes on. Sakura shifted and Sasuke could feel that her mood was beginning to sink. Sasuke quickly turned around and stared at her one last time. He couldn't bring himself to say what he wanted, even if would be the last time he'd ever get the chance to. Words would fail anyway.

Instead, he chose a gesture. He raised his index and middle finger then lightly brushed them on his wife's forehead. Sakura's eyes widened and began to fill with tears as if she suddenly understood. Looking at her still, Sasuke said, "Sakura, thank you for everything."

He disappeared without hearing her retort, shed his official Konoha flak jacket and headed into the moonlit night with one mission in mind.

I will make this right.