"You don't need to ask Itachi or Sakura. You're right about everything." Kakashi and Saku both looked at their Kage stunned. Saku knew that something was off but for some reason she didn't expect Tsunade to admit the truth so easily. The fact that she had filled her with foreboding. "My counterpart discovered a way, by a drinking related accident, for us to communicate. We discussed many things regarding the problems within the village and thought we had come up with a way to make both our worlds better.

After some time had passed we managed to create a jutsu that would allow someone to slip between the two worlds. Once it was created all we had to do was slip through the veil the purpose was mainly for curiosity's sake. I was the one who tried to pass through to the other world. However, while I knew we had created that pathway, for some reason I couldn't pass through the veil nor could my counterpart. We put the idea on hold trying to come up with a way to slip through, but to know avail.

And then Sakura ended up here and you Saku ended up there. It was the answer to our prayers.

As we pondered the switch we realized that it would solve a lot of problems. We thought that you, Saku, would fall in love with the alter Kakashi and if not the Kakashi then the Sasuke and stay in that world." Saku nearly scoffed out loud at that unreasonable suggestion. The alter Sasuke? And her? Preposterous.

"You, for some reason, seem to be more powerful than the other Sakura. As such you would be able to withstand the threats to her life. The other Sakura, with her success with dealing with her Sasuke, we hoped would be able to live as the future Matriach of the Uchiha Clan. If the two of you switched then there would be stability to both villages.

We also thought that it would be the other Saku that would come to the conclusion first. That it would be easier for her to see what was going on. However, we were wrong. Which now that I think about it makes sense that we were. Sakura has a lot going on in her village. At this point there could very well be a civil war on account of Danzo."

"The same could happen here if Itachi isn't made Hokage." Saku interjected.

"It could but as of now it isn't on the verge of happening. In Sakura's world it's imminent." Sasuke said showing a surprising bit of knowledge.

"Why are you here Sasuke? Why are you a part of this?" Saku finally demanded.

"Because I am the one who cast the jutsu splitting the worlds in two."

Saku stared at Sasuke incredulously. When? How? Why? They were questions that ran through her mind. That just couldn't be possible at all.

Sasuke simply smiled.

"The worlds were once one and the same and as Lady Tsunade mentioned they were split.

In the original world the Uchiha Massacre was only a matter of time. The difference in the two worlds was that I knew about it before it happened. I...adored my older brother, but he never had time for me. So I took to following him around, practicing my ninja skills to avoid being detected. Most times he caught me and sent me home. However, one day, perhaps because of the stress of the situation he didn't. Maybe he was just so stressed that he didn't care. Regardless, I was there the entire time.

It was the week they taught us that we could use chakra to enhance our hearing. I hid in a tree and listened in on the obviously serious conversation that and dangled my life in front of him like a carrot to a donkey. Itachi agreed to Danzo's plan, not in words, but I could tell just by looking at him that for me he would do this."

Saku gasped and felt tears sting her eyes. She knew how much Sasuke loved Itachi. It went without saying that the brothers although different in temperament would do anything for each other. They had a bond unlike any she had ever seen in her life.

"I sought to spare Itachi from the burden he chose to bear, but I was a child. I didn't know what I could do. And then...I met him.

He found me on my way home. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. Itachi, being ordered to execute our whole clan. I was certain it would drive him insane—especially since the thought of it was driving me insane at that very moment and I wasn't the one given such an arduous task.

There was never a question of whether or not he would do it. I was young, but I knew Itachi. He loves Konoha. He would have done it. So I had to stop him."

Flashback:

"I can help you."

The tears that had filled the young Uchiha's eyes halted slowly. He looked around to find the voice that whispered those teasing words. His little heart filled with hope. Someone out there could help him, could help his brother and save them all.

"Where are you?" He cried out brokenly his eyes scanning the area around him only to find nothing. It was then that he appeared seemingly made out of shadows or maybe that was just the imagination of a young mind. Sasuke's eyes grew large as a masked man approached him.

He stopped several feet away from him and then smiled.

"I'm here."

Sasuke couldn't think of anything to say although something told him that he should run. Run fast, run hard, and find Itachi. However, that was something that he didn't do. Instead, he stayed rooted to his spot, because even though his was afraid he knew that staying would be his only way to create hope for his loved ones.

"Will you help me?"

"Yes, but there's a price for everything little Uchiha."

-End Flashback

Sasuke shook his head breaking himself of his reverie just in time to hear Kakashi's question."Who was he Sasuke?" A sense of dread began growing within Kakashi and somehow he knew that none of this was going to end well.

"I don't remember. I suppose I will once me and my other self merge together."

"So we really are only one person not two." Saku said softly.

"Everyone in both worlds only contains half a soul. He taught me how to split reality as well as people. He told me the world would be changed into light and dark. Good and bad. Different sides of a mirror. I couldn't control where the pieces of everyone's soul landed. I mainly only tried with those closest to me. I remember him telling me that no world could be perfect, because we aren't perfect and so I had to pick and choose my battles. But he told me not to worry because in the end perfection would be a goal that could be obtained with the right preparation.

Despite his words it was my intention that the worlds never join. In my mind nothing good could come of us merging together once more. Still, there are things that we just can't control. I was unaware that the Hokage had torn through to the other reality until I saw Sakura. Once I saw her...I knew things were going to get out of hand. I went to the Hokage immediately and told her everything."

"Why didn't you tell us? Why did you let us believe that we could live out our lives normally with both us here?" Saku demanded of her mentor. She couldn't believe the fear, and anxiety that a woman she respected so much had put her through. She had placed so many people's lives on the line. But why?

"Don't blame her Sakura. I told her I could fix it. If I went to the other world I could have strengthen the jutsu, but Itachi was against me going. Not to mention that with the number of people coming and going through the veil now repairing it has become impossible." Kakashi and Saku didn't understand those words. Kakashi had been at the veil for days and hadn't seen anyone going through. They were missing information, but before they could ask further questions Sasuke's words penetrated their brain.

"It's a jutsu?" The stunned look on Kakashi's face was mirrored by Saku's.

"It is." Tsunade confirmed. "And now that you know Saku the worlds will begin to merge much faster."

"What does me knowing have to do with anything? What do I have to do with any of this?"

Sasuke sighed and closed his eyes. "Because the person closest to my heart was the person who could break through the veil making it possible for others to travel through. Lady Tsunade created the veil, but it was Sakura that tore it open."

Saku and Sasuke stared at each other for several moments before Saku started to laugh. "Come on Sasuke. You and I both know that it isn't possible for me to be the closet person to your heart. We dated. It ended spectacularly bad. We're better off as friends."

"Just because we're better off friends doesn't mean you aren't the closet to my heart." Sasuke said softly causing Saku to shift in her chair uneasily. "Besides, it wasn't 'you' that passed through the veil first."

It didn't take long to put those dots together. Saku's horrified voice filled the air. "Sakura...she is the closet to the other Sasuke's heart."

"Yes." Sasuke replied simply. "God help her, yes."

"What will happen when the two worlds merge?" Kakashi asked quietly drawing eyes to him. It was a question that Saku had been avoiding asking truthfully because she didn't want to know. She liked sand and she didn't mind burying her head in it.

"Everything will change." Sasuke replied vaguely.

"And what of those who only now have half a soul?" Pain danced in Sasuke's eyes causing Saku's breath to catch.

"Hopefully, they'll survive."

:::

Kakashi went back to guard the veil. Saku told him she'd follow him after she grabbed them a bite to eat. His lone eye told her that he was aware that she intended to do more than that, but it was something that she couldn't voice nor was it something he could question her on. She'd tell him in her own time as he wasn't one to push things. So Saku watched him leave the Tower and waited until he was no longer in sight and then she went back to talk to Sasuke.

She hadn't even taken a step back inside the Tower before he exited and beckoned her to follow him. She did so quietly noting that she had never seen Sasuke look so serious. There was nowhere private for them to really talk about everything that was going through her mind so they spoke quietly as they moved along the streets of Konoha.

"I know what you're thinking. My actions were selfish." Sasuke spoke first.

"I can't say I truly felt they were selfish. The lives of your family were on the line. You made a decision to protect them. In a way I find you admirable." Saku missed the surprised look on Sasuke's face. He obviously expected her to condemn him but she had no idea why he would feel that way. She had known him for years. They were friends, but it seemed like he didn't know that. She didn't know how to express that so she did the only thing she could. She changed the subject. "My reaction, on the other hand, is selfish. All I can think is will I lose Kakashi if I merge together with Sakura? She's in love with your brother."

"I know." The two paused and exchanged looks. Sasuke's lips quirked upward knowing exactly what she was trying to do, but she didn't stop.

"Who will be the next Hokage? Which world will be dominant? Everything is hanging in the balance. With these earthquakes we're loosing lives. Something must be done so that we can save everyone."

"I know. I'm going to dispel the jutsu soon."

Saku paused stunned to hear his words. She wanted to ask him if he was serious, but one look at his face told her he was. She grabbed the sleeve of his navy shirt that was so common for her to see him in and pulled him to a stop. He looked down at her hand and then into her eyes waiting to hear what she would say. "How?"

"I'm going to the other world and finding the other Sasuke."

"And then?"

"And then we'll fix things." He wasn't going to tell her anything more. The stubborn glint in his eye told her as much. She tightened her grip on his shirt worriedly.

"Sasuke, your counterpart is not the easiest person to get along with."

"I know. But if you can't listen to yourself who can you listen to?" His attempt at a joke fell flat. Saku couldn't stop the worry that was gnawing at her heart.

"Does the other Sasuke know about all this?" Sasuke shook his head slightly.

"No. Only one of us could keep the memories. I thought it would be best it if were me." Saku nodded slowly.

"Sasuke the jutsu you used had to be an S-class one. You were so young...how?"

"Sakura, I told you I didn't do it alone."

"But still-"

"Sakura you know that what I don't tell you now I will tell you later. You may feel I'm keeping you in the dark, but you know the light will eventually come."

She knew that. It still didn't make her any less uneasy to know he was keeping things from her.

"And am I really the closest person to your heart? Are you...?" Sasuke smiled and Saku found she couldn't finish her question. She didn't want to know the answer and Sasuke knew that. He opted instead to change the subject much like she had earlier.

"Saku, I need you to help me."

Saku, thinking he wanted her to help reason with his counterpart immediately wanted to say no, but then it had always been hard for her to say no to Sasuke—unless he was being a jerk then it was a different story.

"What do you need Sasuke?"

"I need you to get Kakashi away from the veil. I have a feeling he's not really amiable to the worlds becoming one."

She wasn't exactly amiable to the idea either, but what was the alternative? It was then that she realized that she hadn't asked.

"Is there any other way but this Sasuke? Any other way that you can think of at all besides letting the worlds rejoin?"

Sasuke sighed. "At this point, Sakura, no. Not unless I meet him again and I'm not really sure that's a good idea." Saku pushed aside the thoughts of the man who had lured Sasuke into this mess. There was nothing they could do about him yet. They didn't have the time. She would deal with what problems she could until then.

"Sasuke...who will you be when all this is over? That other Sasuke...he's..."

"We're the same person Saku. I am him and he is me. The question is will you stand by my side when the two worlds are one?"

"Wha-" Sasuke raised a hand and placed a single digit on her lips. Saku flushed slightly, but couldn't find it in herself to move.

"Things will be a mess and the blame for that will fall at my feet. I don't know how big that mess will be, but I accept it Saku and I regret nothing. If my family survives this we will need people on our side. People willing to defend the Uchiha. People who understand us. People who will do what it takes to make sure that the Massacre that occurred in Sakura's world never occurs anywhere. I need to know that you are willing to stand with the Uchiha. I need to know if you are willing, despite the fact that your relationship failed with my brother, are willing to stand with me." Sasuke pulled his finger away from Saku's lips.

Saku had no reply to that. How could she reply when she didn't even know who she would be when the worlds became one? She stared up at Sasuke helplessly. He seemed to sense that she was confused, yet he nodded his head seemingly satisfied with something he saw within her.

"Distract Kakashi, please, so that I can end this."

He disappeared before she had the chance to ask him why couldn't he dispel the jutsu in their world and had to go to the other.

About this chapter: So earlier this month I woke up in the middle of the night and realized that I had about 3 plot holes in this chapter. However, as it was the middle of the night when I got up the next morning I didn't remember what said 'plot holes' were. Eventually, I woke up in the middle of the night AGAIN and remembered what they were however this time when morning came I only remembered two. I filled in those holes and as of today I still can't remember what I missed. So I apologize in advance if this story ends and you have a wtf moment because I forgot something here.

And yes, I do wake up in the middle of the night A LOT.

-JnR