"On the way to class I got lost on life's journey," Sasuke addressed his class blankly. "That's why I'm late." It was true, he'd even had a chat with an old friend. They hadn't talked much, they hadn't needed to. It had been a truly pleasant morning.

"Fine!" Konohomaru said, standing atop his desk. "You'd better have something good planned for us this time!" He jabbed his index finger at Sasuke, reminding him of his younger self. There had been a time, long ago, when he'd been as foolish as the child, when he'd dreamed of becoming a powerful shinobi. How silly. "We've been waiting for you all morning."

Hmm, he did have something planned for them.

"You can do as you like," Sasuke said. There were more productive things they could be doing with their lives, than trying to become genin. "I've heard that Konoha's top selling author, Jiraiya, has released a brilliant new book, and that his series will finally be getting an anime adaptation. So perhaps you should read that." Aside from discovering porn, what else appealed to children? Video games? Anime and manga? How many of them had tried drugs? All safe and wholesome hobbies, suitable for Konoha's ambitious young citizens. He excused himself. Honestly, he'd just gotten here. He needed his morning tea.

"We'll never pass unless you take this seriously," Konohomaru shouted, as he left. Sasuke smiled, but didn't respond, and soon found himself in the teacher's lounge, brewing a cup of ginseng tea. He was surprised nobody else had caught onto what he was doing. But then, he was Itachi's younger brother. Perhaps that was why.

He was fond of Konohamaru. He wanted all his children to live a safe and happy life. And there was no such thing as a safe shinobi. It didn't matter how strong a shinobi was, in their line of work the story ended one way.

Father would have been ashamed, but Sasuke hadn't seen the man in a long time. Besides, Sasuke believed in what he was doing. Saving Konoha's youth from themselves, protecting them from the cruel, ugly world. He was the only one who could do it. Anyone else would be fired. But not the younger brother of the brilliant, selfless, heroic, Itachi Uchiha. He let the steam heat his nose, and took a small bitter sip. Aww… He gently placed his clay cup onto the table.

Sasuke dropped to a knee, and bowed his head. There was no better way, to ruin his day, than to see a member of that accursed clan. The one he despised more than any other.

"No need to do that," Shisui said. "You're Itachi's little brother, we played together all the time. Don't be so formal, we're friends."

And he'd just made his ginseng tea. Now it would surely be cool before he got to finish it.

"Why are you here?" Sasuke asked. It would be improper to finish his tea in front of a guest, but then, Shisui didn't deserve propriety. "The Academy is a place for failures and rejects. It's beneath the dignity of a shinobi of your caliber."

"This coming from you." Shisui snorted. "You're a prodigy Sasuke. You have more potential than any shinobi in the village."

And he was making full use of his genius, using his prodigious talents to their fullest.

"I haven't done anything. I'm nothing compared to you," Sasuke said, sipping his tea. He could see his reflection in the amber fluid, wearing a small little smirk. His enjoyment of this silly competition was unsightly, but Sasuke was a broken person. "After all." He set down his cup. "You have the mangekyou."

Shisui stiffened, and Sasuke's enjoyment soured. He'd hurt his brother's best friend. Why had he done that? Shisui was kind, as good a person as an Uchiha could be. But Sasuke loathed his presence.

"It's The Yellow Flash," Shisui said quietly. "There have been rumors of… Sightings."

And to think he'd debated brewing camille. He'd thought that after his tea he could take a relaxing afternoon nap, content knowing that Konoha's greatest enemy was resting ten feet under. But now he knew. Now he knew. It had been a good idea to choose ginseng. He took a sip. Tried to. But it spilled all over his shirt. It couldn't be helped. He couldn't stop trembling.

"The Old Man told me to lead with that," Shisui said, smiling. "He knows his Uchiha, gotta give him that."

The clay cup exploded in Sasuke's hand. "The Third Hokage, Sasuke said. "Take me to him!" But Sasuke knew the way. He was out The Academy's window before a single drop of his spilt tea hit the wooden floorboard. Sasuke was halfway to the building, by the time Shisui had caught up to him. Sasuke was moving slowly. Keeping his eyes down. There was a certain mountain he couldn't stand to look at, but he was fine viewing the busy market below.

"They're just rumors," Shisui said. "And there's all these strange details that go along with the sightings. I'm pretty sure they're fake. Don't lose your cool bro."

"Don't call me bro," Sasuke snapped. "We're not brothers… I am not Itachi."

Shisui followed behind silently, and whispered two words so quietly Sasuke almost missed them. "I'm sorry."

The Hokage greeted Sasuke with a smile. "I like that look in your eye. I can tell you are finally, truly an Uchiha."

Sasuke slammed his hand on The Hokage's oak desk. "Where?"

"The question is how," The Hokage said, drumming his finger on the desk. "How can that man still be alive? How could Tobirama's heir have survived? How could the beloved Fourth Hokage have failed. He was supposed to have defeated The Yellow Flash, Konoha's greatest enemy, once and for all. At the cost of his own life of course. I guess the great Fourth Hokage wasn't so perfect after all." The Old Man chuckled. "I did always warn him, you know? That he was too soft."

Sasuke shook. "Shut up! I don't need to know all this, I don't need to know how he's back. Just tell me where so I can go and fuckin' kill him!"

"Of course," The Hokage smiled, leaning back into his chair. "Rumor is that he's around our border with Lightning. Near Uzushiogakure."

"I'll need Shisui and Kakashi," Sasuke said immediately. He'd thought of the possibilities obsessively in the years since the attack, and those two would be absolutely vital in a fight against The Yellow Flash. Now to the specifics of the situation. Along the border, near Uzushiogakure, that wasn't exactly a small area. And Letting The Yellow Flash get the jump on them would be a disaster. "I need Kiba."

"Is that everyone?" Asked The Hokage calmly, with a hidden trace of disappointment. Sasuke was being judged.

He sighed. He wasn't stupid. He wasn't an arrogant child. The Yellow Flash had been- was, the most powerful shinobi since Madara. "I need Sakura Haruno."

The Hokage chuckled. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"

"Are you sure?" Shisui asked. "You know what she's like."

"We need a healer," Sasuke said. "And Sakura is the best in the village. Unless you can convince Tsunade?"

"No, no," The Hokage said. "You've assembled yourself quite the team. The only question is you Sasuke. Are you willing to do what it takes for this mission?"

"I'm willing to do whatever it takes," Sasuke said sharpy. "I'm willing to die."

"I'm not asking you if you're willing to die." The Third Hokage, Danzou Shimura, leaned forward. His brown eyes drilled into Sasuke. "Are you willing to become a monster?"

"All shinobi are monsters," Sasuke growled. "And The Yellow Flash is the biggest one. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to bring him down."

Danzou nodded, and allowed the conversation to grow dormant. It was one of his better traits. Sasuke hated people who acted like silence was a thing to be feared.

"You two are so dark," Shisui laughed. "'All shinobi are monsters'. Well I ain't and he may not be one neither. Maybe he's a nice guy. Maybe we won't have to kill him."

"He attacked Konoha," Sasuke said, gnashing his teeth. "He killed hundreds of our shinobi."

Shisui stopped smiling. "We don't want to start a war."

War this. Peace that. Those lofty ideals had killed more people than any vice. Maybe Sasuke just wanted to kill the fucker, and make the world a little better. Reduce its evil just a little. But of course, such words were never spoken, even if everyone knew they were true. So Sasuke held his tongue, and let Shisui bloviate about his empty ideals.

"Just let me talk to the guy before you try and kill him."

Try? Try? TRY!

Sasuke would not try to kill that evil man, he was gonna end him, even if he had to bring down the very moon to do so.

Danzou nodded. "Of course, as an ally he would strengthen Konoha greatly. With him at our side, we would have the strength to bring about peace. But Sasuke… If Shisui fails. Kill The Yellow Flash. No price is too high, no sacrifice is too much. Do you understand?"

"I do."

XOXOXOXOX

Author's Note: Thanks for reading! Let me know if you want this to continue by favoriting, following, or leaving a review. Otherwise I'll probably just post what happens next in outline form rather than prose. Either way though, this probably won't be a long story.