Thank you so much for your sweet reviews! Sasuke is a little bit different but all for a reason...I have a clear outline for this story that I plan to do justice until the end! Thank you for reading!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto...Team 8 would've been more heavily involved in the Sasuke retrieval arc...hello tracking ninjas anyone?

A/N: This has been re-edited 12/23/19, I feel as if this flows a lot better and provides more development for the story!

Chapter 1: The Beginning

"There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness." - Friedrich Nietzsche

2 years ago...

He could handle the stares but the whispers… those were another thing. It wasn't at all unusual for him to receive such attention, no, he had always drawn such fascination from those who chose to look at him through a single lens of what they so personally thought defined him.

The never-ending study of him began from the time he was seven years old with a criminal older brother and a shamed lineage all the way to his current self, twenty-one with a chip on his shoulder and a past he liked to pretend didn't exist.

Yes, Uchiha Sasuke was very much familiar with such scrutiny.

The true surprising factor to the whole equation was the sight of him outside of his sacred Uchiha grounds. Sasuke never left his home apart from the obligatory mission and for unavoidable circumstances which, for him, only encompassed being seconds away from dying.

It wasn't that he was a recluse that shied away from the sun. In fact, he would much prefer it if he was able to enter a simple shop and get what he needed without so much as a blink in his direction, but that was a luxury he never had the privilege of enjoying. It became increasingly frustrating for him to feel as though he was on trial each time he managed to drag himself outside.

He had helped in the war and he had paid the dues everyone thought they deserved and yet he still was regarded in a mixture of horror and borderline obsession depending on the person. Sasuke didn't know why some people couldn't just let bygones be bygones. Besides, the Avenger hadn't harmed anyone who didn't deserve it. Well, not anyone he liked to admit to that is.

The last Uchiha stood tall as he struggled to keep his impassive attitude in check. He would never give them the satisfaction of a reaction. He didn't want to prove whatever image they had of him in their minds right.

He had conquered every quest that filled his young heart's desire, but he still resented Konoha quite a bit for being the falsely righteous catalyst to everything that occurred in his youth.

It was them who had turned him into the monster they constantly addressed him as. Pretending they were not complicit and instead choosing to throw all of the blame on his shoulders.

Sasuke supposed he couldn't let bygones be bygones either.

With his destination clear Sasuke shoved past awe-struck villagers with wide eyes and mouths agape. Hurrying across the uneven cobblestone sidewalks he wondered why he hadn't chosen to travel by roof instead but gritted his teeth in acceptance nonetheless, he had already made his choice.

His dark irises trained themselves on the red academy building, specifically the half open metal window that peered into the Hokage's office. There he would find his former sensei Hatake Kakashi, now the Rokudaime of Konoha, probably giggling at a lewd piece of fiction as he awaited his former student.

Much to Naruto's chagrin Kakashi's war efforts had deemed him worthy of becoming leader of the village, the Hokage. The sliver haired jonin succeeded Tsunade after the former had deemed him next in line when she retired, unlike his best-friend Sasuke could completely understand why he was chosen, he was the most obvious choice. If Kakashi was able to hold his own with the Juubi, fight through the mental shock of battling a living Uchiha Obito, and still make it in time to help his former squad deliver Kagura's finishing blow; then by all means he deserved it.

Stopping by the Hokage's office doors Sasuke heard the usual argument of Naruto and Sakura taking place right on schedule. There wasn't a day they hadn't fought, it was a bit strange to him though. They acted and treated him as if he had been there all along and he wasn't sure if he was grateful for it or slightly irritated by it. Regardless of it all, he still didn't expect the two to be there as well.

Sasuke wondered why his old sensei had summoned his entire genin squad in his presence. If Sasuke recalled correctly the three of them were only put on missions together if it was a high-ranking S type, anything ranked less and they were subjected to suffer through a solo job or babysit a bunch of mediocre shinobi who didn't quite match up to par.

Entering with a sigh he glanced at Kakashi to see he was wearing his trademark mask. His one eye was closed giving off the impression of a smile, but there was an unmistakable trace of tiredness etched into his darkened iris when it opened.

"Sasuke so nice of you to join the real world," He extended as a greeting, earning a grunt from the person in question.

"Cut to the chase Kakashi. Why am I here?" Sasuke scowled, slightly aggravated.

He, unlike his childhood friends, was the only one who didn't openly call Kakashi 'Sensei'. That was a title the man had lost the privilege of bearing long ago. Still that didn't hinder his recognition of his former teacher, he still held him in high regards but not in the same naive way he did when he was a child. Childish things were of no use to him anymore, he had lived a life that didn't permit such thinking.

Rolling his visible eye Kakashi pulled a scroll from his jonin jacket (he wasn't fond of wearing his traditional cloak) and skillfully unrolled it, its contents now naked for their eyes to behold.

"This is an invitation from ANBU, to skip the formalities all I'm going to say is that this is a great opportunity for all of you and also say that I'm proud."

"Kakashi Sensei!" Naruto called out with his usual vigour. "Are you serious?! Tell me more!"

Uzumaki Naruto hadn't changed much after the war, though one could say he did come off a lot more admirable. After they had laid the enemy to rest he and Naruto exchanged years of pent up anger through devastating blows. It was a long time coming if you asked Sasuke, when all was said and done he felt truly free admitting his defeat at the hands of a best-friend who just wouldn't give up on him. He remembered apologizing a lot that day, basking in the dimming sunlight of the ruined founder statues as the rest of Team Seven joined them.

At that time Sasuke had felt a sense of belonging again, at least until he decided to pack up and leave with Taka to atone for his wrongdoings. This time he had said goodbye of course, receiving the slashed Konoha headband he had discarded so hatefully from Naruto as a parting gift.

On the road, however was a different story, working as a mercenary and being reminded of his mistakes at every turn was enough to harden the Uchiha's heart from anyone who wasn't his old teammates. The sense of belonging was once again taken from him and the bitterness crept its way in, growing with each passing day.

Sasuke had lost the optimism he had momentarily sustained before returning back to Konoha, now he only looked towards one constant goal.

Naruto managed to grow into his looks while he was gone, his appearance sharpened, mimicking that of his Father's. His usually unruly blonde hair had been cut shorter, a change which gave off an air of maturity. He had to admit it was a good look for Naruto, the number of women's attention he managed to obtain increased a lot after that.

"Well Naruto if you would just shut-up maybe Sensei could explain!" Sakura chided as she shouldered Naruto to get him to behave. Times like these were when Sasuke was most grateful for the kunoichi.

Haruno Sakura's beauty had managed to blossom greatly, though he admitted that she had always been a pretty girl even when they were kids. She opted to continue keeping her hair short as a symbol of a promise she made to herself long ago, something Sasuke greatly respected her for. Upon her prominent forehead, she bore a purple diamond, a seal that like her Master exhibited the amazing chakra control she possessed.

Sakura was every bit of the kunoichi she had vowed to become from her genin years. Her emotional maturity had grown so much from their younger selves, now she was able to control them with ease. He remembered her displaying such growth when he turned her down before leaving for his redemption. He had half expected her to loudly protest despite herself but she held an unbelievable amount of poise at his rejection accepting it then bidding him farewell and luck.

She had finally mastered Shinobi saying #25.

"All of the other shinobi from your class are also being encouraged to take the exams. It will be just like old times!"

Hearing this, the trio visibly tensed. Sasuke could practically feel Naruto and Sakura's strain to not turn around and look at him. Annoyed, a scowl managed to find root on his face and stayed there as he silently cursed his teammates. Sometimes they could be just as unforgiving as the villagers.

"Now what will that be a…yes?" Kakashi eyed each of his former students with what seemed like hope; a hint of scrutiny followed his normally placid gaze as his eyes landed on Sasuke expectantly. "Or no,"

"Sensei I don't think all of us ar-"

"I'll do it." Sasuke interjected effectively stopping Sakura from speaking. He knew what they were thinking of but that was a long time ago and people like Orochimaru could never hope of manipulating him again. Besides, that snake sannin was long gone and no longer a threat to the village. He had died by his hands twice already, surely, they didn't expect to see him again.

"Are you sure?"

He scoffed at his Sensei's display of worry, he had already gotten everything out of his system after the war had ended. There was nothing that could bring him back to the irrational obsessed state he was in as a child. Now, he just let things fly over his head, not daring to get too attached.

"I'm positive."

"Alright then." Kakashi's famous one-eyed smile was ever-present on his face as he handed each of them separate scrolls he also had hidden in his seemingly endless jacket.

Opening up his scroll Sasuke realized that there were names of people he barely knew written on it and frowned. Why would their names be on his scroll?

"Oi Kakashi." He looked up from the text on the parchment and towards his former Sensei. "Why are there names underneath my own? I thought you said this was a test for ANBU."

"It is." He smiled again, effectively annoying the vexed Uchiha.

"Then why are there other names here?"

"Yeah Sensei, why?" Naruto seconded, confusion littering his face.

Kakashi exasperatedly sighed and tsked at them as if they were children, something which greatly upset the Uchiha. "Because it's ANBU and in ANBU people are put into teams to help them finish the mission properly and effectively."

"Then why are the names on my scroll not Sasuke-kun and Naruto's?" Sakura asked equally perplexed. Sasuke had to admit he was wondering the same thing. These two were the only people he wanted to work with, he would refuse anyone else.

"Because you three although you three have tremendous team work…your skills are somewhat unbalanced for ANBU and would therefore be better utilized individually in different teams. You wouldn't have quite the amount of flow you would if you were placed on the same team as the people named on your individual scrolls."

Still not understanding anything Sasuke was almost appreciative for Naruto as he spoke up and said the words he refused to. "I still don't get what you're trying to say."

"These are the people you'll be taking the test with. The teams are made based on who would fit together best, skills, jutsu, and personality wise. And before you ask, no, you cannot change your teammates." Kakashi deadpanned shooting each of them a knowing look. "That is all, you three may leave."

Turning around to exit Sasuke was stopped as Kakashi's voice called out to him. "Actually Sasuke, I would like to have a word with you."

Maneuvering his body to allow his teammates exit he turned towards the Hokage with a calculating gaze, he didn't like where this was headed.

"I just wanted to say that you should definitely take this test. I saw the look on your face just now. You shouldn't give up ANBU, it would be good for you. Trust me."

"And why should I listen to you?" Sasuke asked almost defiantly. Kakashi was holding back and it irked him a bit, why didn't he just say what he had to and be done with it?

Shooting him a look of apathy and authority Kakashi meet Sasuke's intense gaze with his own matching expression.

"Because you will not become Hokage. That's Naruto's rightful place and you know it. It's time to be realistic and focus on other things."

There it was. The truth. Sasuke clenched his fists at his side as Kakashi watched him carefully, like he was going to explode. But he wouldn't give the man the satisfaction.

Silently seething Sasuke rushed out of the room not bothering to address the concerned calls from his teammates- one's who had bothered to wait for him.

Taking to the rooftops to avoid the village below he made it to his home located in the Uchiha district and angrily thrashed the scroll on the counter in his kitchen, enraged.

Who did he think he was? Even though he was the Hokage he had no right to speak to him so condescendingly.

Making his way towards his bedroom, he stopped dead in his tracks and turned around back to where he discarded the scroll. Clenching it in his hand; a new concept etched into his mind as he looked at the scroll slightly wrinkled within his grasp and read the names aloud.

"Nara Shikamaru and Hyūga Hinata,"

He now understood.

He would make all of Konoha worship his name, he would force the village to acknowledge him, he would show Kakashi, he would become Hokage. This was his new fixation. He smiled a crooked grin.

He had almost forgotten just how good ambition tasted.