Fugaku has always known fire burns. It stings the tips of his fingers while it twists and roars from open jaws. He stands steady, sweat glistening his forehead as he releases another Katon. The breeze causes the fireball to expand, glowing embers twist and fizzle in the air. The heat burns his face, the flames beautifully dancing, calling him, daring him.
Fire erupts from his palm, crimson and dark. Yet it does not burn. He stares in awe ashe performs the jutsu again. Fire is consuming. Taming the flames is difficult but he has centuries of experience flowing in his veins.
It burns as it flows through his veins, he feels every tendon and every joint ache for the heat, the rush of the adrenaline as flames dance around him. Uchiha are moulded from dragon's blood- moulded from the very flames itself.
Mikoto never wanted to marry Fugaku. A man with his status and power was intimidating, it demanded sacrifice and pain. She did not want to spend the rest of her life slaving away, watching on as her body and mind corroded. Her father had begged her "Please Mikoto, just meet him!" the lines on his face deepening, his rough hands gripping her own.
"Please. You're my only child. I want what's best for you"
She later grimaces at the memory, curses her own stupidity and blinding trust. When she finally agrees, she watches as happiness slips between her father's cracks. Watches as he steadies himself before leaving her. Abandoning her.
She does not have the luxury to dream of living a different life. She is to birth warriors and raise men. Her sons are mountains and Mikoto will remain stable. She is the wife of Fugaku Uchiha. She has no other choice but to find strength during fragile times.
Shisui's face is twisted in a painful expression, he bends low until his forehead is inches away from the ground. His jaw clenches and his lips move but Mikoto is far gone. A warm hand touches her lower back, another touches her cheek. A window is open, it rattles against the high winds.
"Mikoto"
Goosebumps litter her upper arm. She frowns. Is it winter already?
"Mikoto"
Her gaze meets her husband's. Her upper lip trembles. He grips her shoulder. She exhales loudly.
"Steady" he whispers as his grip tightens.
Mikoto struggles underneath the weight of the clan. Konoha is heavy. The village is heavy. Her husband is suffocating.
"Steady"
Shisui's forehead finally meets the ground. "Forgive me" his voice cracks between the two words but she does not notice.
Only when Shisui finally leaves does she collapse, her worlds collide and the earth tilts. Her husband's hands are warm but she remains cold. She screams at him. Clenched fists slam into his chest as her eyes water. Fugaku tightens his grip as he attempts to bring some comfort to his wife.
Mikoto does not allow it. She will not allow it.
"Where is he? Where is he? Fugaku, where is he?" she pleads and begs. Her hands finally rest in her lap. She is rigid in her husband's embrace.
Fugaku's voice cracks as he struggles to keep his own tears from flowing. His grip on his wife hardens, he is selfishly attempting to keep himself centred- to notbreak. He is an Uchiha; moulded by flames and he cannot, will not break.
He answers when the sun begins to set and the window no longer rattles. "We'll find him, even if I have to burn the world to the ground, we'll find him"
This is the crack, the fracture that can crush mountains and overthrow villages.
Shisui's voice rings in her ears.
"Sasuke is gone"
Mikoto knows fire burns, her scars are proof.
-S-
The ground trembles beneath his feet. The compass tilts and South is further than anticipated. He regains his vision and allows himself a moment to recover. Kakashi's chakra is seeping in ways it never has- it's erratic and consuming, releasing by waves and leaking through the cracks of smoke.
The hairs on Sasuke's neck rise. The air is heavy with humidity. Something is not right.
A cloak flutters in the breeze.
Gai grips his shoulder painfully, fingernails digging into his skin. "Run"
A silhouette is visible amongst the thick of the smoke. Sasuke grabs him by the elbow, to warn him of the danger that approaches. He is not oblivious.
Gold locks sway in the wind as the intruder stretches carelessly, arms folded behind his neck.
"Un, finally!" he says through a grin. One cerulean eye is visible.
A sudden laughter echoes throughout the forest, deep and dark. In a blur of blue, a large man suddenly appears, symmetrical scars litter his cheeks as his face stretches into a grin revealing a set of jagged teeth.
"Deidara-kun, stop scaring them away"
"Who the fuck invited you, fish?"
The giant of a man throws his head back and releases a roar of laughter. A sword wrapped with bandages, larger than Sasuke himself, nestles on his shoulder. He swings the weapon down easily, as if it were weightless.
"Learn to share, Deidara-kun" his gaze suddenly meets Sasuke's and the man lifts an eyebrow. "You want the Uchiha?"
Deidara grins in response. He lifts both hands, palms facing forward and Sasuke suddenly believes he is under genjutsu. A tongue slithers from both palms, leaving behind a trail of saliva. Teeth chatter in anticipation. Sasuke stares at the abomination before him, Sharingan swirling to life.
"It's not genjutsu" Bile burns the back of his throat. This can't be real.
Gai's fingers twitch by his sides, eyes hard as steel. "This is an ambush"
Sasuke remains rooted as both men stand tall. The clouds of the Akatsuki are bright in the dim forest. He vaguely recalls sneaking into Itachi's room and flickering through his bingo book. He recalls seeing clouds of crimson and puppet before hi his mother had snatched the book away from him, her eyes had glowed red and Sasuke promised to never touch his older brother's belongings ever again.
"Some things are better left unknown, Sasuke"
Gai grabs him by the wrist. "Take the fight far from here. Find Kakashi if you can"
Sasuke wants to hiss at him, tell him that Kakashi's chakra feels flawed and that he does not stand a chance against these two men but he is long gone.
Gai grins as he slides into a fighting stance "The Hoshigaki clan- I have never danced with you before"
Kisame eyebrows disappear into his hairline "A dance? Old man, this is a fight to the death. I assure you I will be the one that remains standing" He rolls his shoulders and flexes his forearms, his sword begins to buzz, she is becoming impatient, her last meal was days ago.
Kisame grips her handle gently and places her on his shoulder "My sword craves a meal, I do hope you will be satisfying enough"
Gai exhales calmly and allows all the tension from his body to release "The power of youth flows in my veins, who are you calling an old man?"
Kisame realises he may have met someone more insane than Hidan himself.
Kakashi winces as a resounding boom echoes throughout the forest. Branches tremble from the impact as a flock of raven abandon their home and take refuge in the skies. A young boy suddenly appears before him, features of his face smoothed by his age. The boy shifts closer and the distance narrows between the two.
"Hatake Kakashi. It is an honour" he says in a surprisingly deep voice.
Kakashi remains calm- his hands tremor in his pockets as his mind spirals "The honour is all mine. And you are?"
"Oh my, where are my manners?" the boy shifts even closer, tilting his head to the side. "I am Sasori of Sunagakure"
Kakashi's Sharingan twirls to life, a boy from Suna is not be underestimated. Gaara is proof of this.
"I heard what happened in Konoha. What a shame the Kazekage has met such a gruesome death"
Kakashi's eyes narrow. "What do you want?"
The boy's expression immediately hardens. He takes two steps forward "Twenty Six years ago, Konohagakure lists a B ranked mission to be completed by a lone Shinobi; to infiltrate Sunagakure's walls and murder a man and woman."
A twitch of a finger.
"Konohagakure sends out her best man, a Shinobi feared but not respected. He completes the mission and returns back home"
Something is not right- there is a change in the air. The boy's mask shifts for a quick moment; anger and hatred filter through the cracks before he instantly composes himself. Kakashi witnesses the fractures in the boy's persona and the compass tilts.
One step.
Two step.
"Rumours of the White fang circulate across the continent and the boy seethes. He builds puppets and promises to bring the world to its knees. But-" a shrug "- he is just a boy" the sand-nin says as he approaches closer.
Kakashi's lower lip trembles, fingers aching as he grips onto the kunai with more force than necessary. His father is a ghost that haunts his dreams and taunts his memories. This is Sakuma Hatake; a man who brought Konoha to her knees.
"The boy grows and his dreams do not falter but then the unforeseen happens. The great White Fang commits the most highest of treason-"
Inhale.
"-Suicide"
"Enough" hisses Kakashi as he throws the kunai with a blur of his hand.
Sasori calmly dodges the attack, face cracking into a smirk. "You see Hatake Kakashi, your father denied me my revenge."
He suddenly stands tall, no longer a boy, rather a grown man. His cloak flutters in the breeze, body hidden behind clouds of crimson.
"But I will gain it through other ways!" he roars, extending his mechanical limbs.
-S-
Lee is beyond recognition, behind the tangled limbs and charred skin is a boy struggling to keep his broken body alive. Naruto wonders whether he will continue to become a Shinobi, wonders whether he will become a hollow shell- echoing the dead dreams of an energetic man. He does not dare voice his concerns.
Tenten is a genuine Kunoichi, her strength is not her in body, rather her mind. Yet as she stands in the forest, watching Lee twitching in agony, she cannot help but succumb to her tears. She does not cry hysterically as if mourning an immediate death nor does she scream until her voice goes hoarse. She simply kneels near his ruined body and whispers silent prayers as tears carve her cheeks. She is mourning a brother.
This is her first crack.
Naruto is an emotional turmoil, fingers trembling as he struggles to keep the waves at bay. He feels each bone creak in defiance as his muscles strain underneath an invisible weight.
Sasuke. Sasuke. Sasuke.
He chants the name like a mantra, a prayer that he will whisper for hours on end. As if the Uchiha himself would suddenly appear out of thin air. (Because he saw him jump, saw him not hesitate, saw him fall down below)
Tenten finally looks away from Lee's broken bones, eyes staring at the boy unravelling before her. She knows Naruto from her academy days, a childish boy who constantly pulled pranks - the Yondaime's son. She once looked at him with an envious heart, a boy whose path was carved long before. She is not Neji, gifted with his eyes. She is not Naruto, gifted with his father's reputation. She is merely Tenten, a girl who slipped through the system and managed to find her way.
She remains by Lee's side for it is her duty to remain beside him and ease his suffering.He suddenly twitches underneath her grasp, fingers trembling as he slowly regains consciousness. It takes him moments to open his eyes, even longer to recognize Tenten.
He sobs as he thrashes, struggling to find his composure. His is slipping. Falling. The pendulum swings and Lee begs.
"I can't feel my legs" his eyes are wide, hair splayed around him on the forest floor.
She freezes.
"Please, I can't feel my legs. My legs, I can't move!"
She shakes as she struggles to compose herself. She must remain strong. For Lee. For Neji. She allows chakra to flow through her fingers as she tenderly places her palm on his forehead.
"Sleep"
And he does.
-S-
Sasuke moves to the right just in time as a shuriken whistles past his ear. Kusanagi is light in his grip, she vibrates as electricity flows through her steel. He sidesteps once, flickers through a series of signs, leaps into the air and exhales.
Katon!
When the flames settles and the earth is scorched, Deidara stands tall"Un, what a disappointment"
Sasuke lands gracefully, fingertips grazing the ground. He can sense Kakashi's chakra further away, erratic and powerful. His Sharingan rotates as the abomination before him merely cocks his head to the side, raising an eyebrow.
"Boring you?" he asks through a smirk.
Sasuke frowns. Orochimaru would have berated him, slammed the sharp edge of his sword into his ribs and hissed insults in snakes tongue. "Boy, never attack headstrong. Lure the enemy towards you and allow him to unveil his weakness. You Uchiha are arrogant" Sasuke had been offended, attacked him blindly. He was an Uchiha, they breathed fire and cried blood. Dragons blood Shisui had once told him when he was younger. What did Orochimaru expect?
Sasuke inhales deeply and relaxes his shoulders. For once, Orochimaru was right. He slams his palm into the ground and disappears with a poof.
"Ah, a game of hide and seek! Why didn't you say so?"
Deidra twirls, eyes scanning the upper branches. He waits for a movement, for a breath taken too deep or a twitch of a finger.
Nothing.
"Where would a little snake hide?" he yells aloud.
A shuriken embeds itself into an upper branch.
Deidara frowns.
Another pierces a thick trunk.
"Not here"
He slams his foot into the ground and a crater immediately appears, it expands as cracks begin to form. He closes his eyes and seeks out the Uchiha's chakra signature and is surprised when he finds nothing.
"Not here either" he hisses.
A roar erupts from the north side of the forest, a sudden surge of chakra flickers to life, the air grows thicker as the ground groans.
"Sorry little crow. Our game ends here" he says as he raises both hands, palms facing upwards. A white ball begins to form between both his palms, the mouths widening as the sphere grows in size. He throws it in the air and it immediately disintegrates.
Sasuke's Sharingan twirls to life.
There.
The sudden flare of chakra is all Deidara needs. Sasuke barely avoids the foot aiming for his skull before a fist embeds itself into his ribs. The blow itself knocks the air out his lungs as he bends over, struggling to regain his breath.
Deidara's laughter is loud as he grabs him by the hair, forcing his neck to snap back.
His gaze meets his. "What a disappointment you are" In that brief moment Sasuke sees his own father standing tall above him, lips curled into a snarl. "Disappointing"
Hi Sharingan spins rapidly and without warning, he disappears.
"Wha-"
Sasuke brings down his katana without mercy.
Kakashi dodges a wooden limb. He soars in the air before landing on the balls of his feet. Senbon appear mid-air and aim towards his feet. He avoids three, deflects two and burns five.
His Sharingan spins wildly. The sand-nin growls as he twists his fingers, strings intertwine each digit and with a simple pull of his finger, a roar erupts from the earth.
"You will meet your father soon, Hatake"
A large wooden like puppet explodes from the ground, it creaks with each movement as its arms sway from side to side. Dozens of chakra threads tighten as the creature stands as its full height, taller than the century old trees buried in the forest.
Mangekyou flares to life and the world instantly stops spinning. Kakashi counts twelve chakra strings, each one glowing amber. He focuses chakra in his right palm and a tingle travels form his shoulder towards the tips of his fingers. Chidori screams as it forms.
One.
He sprints towards the puppet, the wind whistling in his ear.
Two.
He slams his palm into the puppet- wood splits beneath his fingertips. The puppet lets out an ear splitting scream as cracks appear on its body.
Three.
Kakashi unleashes his tantō and slides away from the thrashing doll. He raises his weapon high in the air, it glows white underneath the rising sun. He turns and slashes three of the chakra strings, they immediately snap underneath the weight of steel.
The puppet sways as it attempts to maintain its balance. It is broken- dangling on loose chakra strings as dozens of cracks litter its body. It bows low, its forehead meeting the ground as if it mourning something that never existed. It begins to crumble, pieces of its limbs start to break apart until there is nothing left but fragments of wood.
Sasori blinks before rage consumes him. He stands tall as he snaps the remaining chakra strings surrounding his fingers.
"Ah, of course. How could I have forgotten you are the great copy-nin?" he snarls.
Kakashi does not reply. His posture is rigid, chest heaving with each breath. Blood drips from his chin, seeping from his eyes. His mangekyo spins rapidly before disappearing.
A few miles away an orange light shoots into the sky, it glows bright as the clouds separate. A moment later a blinding flash of lights descends from the heavens followed by a deafening boom.
Sasori stares ahead before he turns to face Kakashi, a small smile dancing on his lips.
He sees blood dripping onto the carpet, stains that don't fade overtime. He sees his father's eyes widen with fear, sees his mother's mouth open in a silent scream. His fingers are rigid as he struggles to stitch their open throats. The tip of the needle effortless glides into his mother's soft flesh and the thread tightens around his father's skin. Sasori grieves for his past self; a defected puppet fighting to untangle his own strings.
Sasori is anything but impatient. He will crumble and he will burst at the seams but he will be reborn. He meets Kakashi's gaze, watches his left eye bleed crimson "We will continue this another day, Hatake" he says before he wraps his cloak around his body and disappears.
Deidra's upper lip curls in a devilish manner. "I do apologize for leaving you like…this" he gestures towards Sasuke "but I do have other duties to attend to, I do hope we can finish this off another time"
His hands blur through a number of hands seals and ends with the tiger sign "I promise that when I do end you, I will treat your body with utmost respect. I will create my most beautiful piece of art the world has ever seen" he says before he vanishes.
Sasuke collapses on his knees, struggling to regain his breath. His right eye is swollen shut, his left shoulder is dislocated and he's positive two of his ribs are fractured. The inhale burns and the exhale stings. His vision blurs for a moment and the world tilts. He palms both eyes roughly- he wants to scream, slam his forehead into the ground until he is no longer conscious.
An electric static hovers in the air before purple lightning flickers in the distance. There is a scream followed by a crack and the earth shifts. Sasuke awkwardly stands with Kusanagi trembling in his palm. He grips his dislocated shoulder, inhales deeply and relocates the bone back in place. He swallows down a cry and focuses on his bloodied toes- the straps of his sandals long ripped. The pain flares before it returns to a dull thud. Lightning roars in the distance.
He focuses chakra into the sole of his feet and follows the lightning.
Kakashi gasps and twitches as he struggles to remind himself that this is not real. His mind drifts further away, his own insanity lurks within the shadows. He watches on as Obito weeps and begs to save him. He watches his father swing from the thick rope. The noose is too tight. He watches on as Rin begs for mercy as Chidori screams in his palm. He gauges out his eyes and his own Sharingan stares at him (no- Obito's Sharingan) a young Obito stands before him, fists shaking by his sides. "Why did you leave me?" a movement, a flicker of light. "Why did you let her die?"
A man stands before his Sensei, face hidden behind a swirling orange mask. Something glistens in his palm, he raises his arm high. The man says something, his voice is soft as the breeze carries out his words. He stands in a defensive stance, grips the weapon with both hands and brings it down onto Kakashi.
Steel meets steel. Lightning cackles between the two weapons, loud and bright as Sasuke pushes. He struggles against the man's strength, his shoulder burns and the skin around the wound tightens with each movement.
The man laughs. "My, my, this day just keeps getting better!" he takes two steps back, assessing Sasuke's height "You must be Sasuke, I do apologize for meeting under these circumstances but I must ask you to move"
Sasuke stands his ground, the dirt crunches beneath his sandals- he is a stone wall between his Sensei and the masked man. "What have you done to Kakashi-Sensei?" Kakashi is crumbling, drowning in an ocean of abyss and Sasuke can only stand and watch.
"Ah, an Uchiha that cannot tell when a genjutsu is cast. Shame"
Sasuke's Sharingan whorls to life at the insult, he takes several steps back ("Always keep distance between yourself and your enemy") "I know genjutsu, what you've done is not-"
"Mangekyo child, you will one day master its power" a shrug "or maybe not"
Sasuke snarls as he throws half a dozen of shuriken. The man's only visible eye blinks before his kunai meets each and every one. The metals sing as they clash, a low and rumbling tune. With a rush of energy, Sasuke launches himself in the air, Kusanagi cackles with lightning as he spins, the world tilts for a moment before his weapon meets the man's Gunbai. Something crimson flashes before it disappears.
Sasuke lands on the balls of his feet clumsily. The last of his reserved chakra is cold as exhaustion begins to set in.
"I do not wish to cause you any harm. Now, move" says the man.
Sasuke bows as he struggles to regain his energy, his muscles stiffen with each movement, the warmth of chakra long gone. The red and white uchiwa is visible in the sunlight as the Gunbai rests on the man's shoulders. Dread seeps into his bones, weighing him down.
No.
"Who are you?" ('Stupid boy, never speak in a battle. Focus!')
The man chuckles as a gloved hand rubs the back of his neck excitedly. "I am Tobi the great! The master of all masters!"
It's as if Sakura herself has knocked the air out his lungs as it registers in his mind. "You're an Uchiha" exhales Sasuke as Kusanagi trembles in his grip. "You can't be, no, you can't-how?" he knows he should be concentrating on the man's movements, watching for any weakness but he can't breathe, he can't move. This man was- is an Uchiha.
Tobi is in the air before Sasuke exhales, a gust of wind slams into him and throws him off balance. His weapon crosses with a kunai just as his left foot slides, his body spins and he immediately drops towards the floor. A dozen senbon sail above his head. Sasuke inhales the scent of the earth as the hairs on the back of his neck stand. His shoulder burns with pain, his fingers shake as the adrenaline begins to wear off.
The man's posture straightens, all evidence of humour long gone. "This is your last warning. Move!"
Sasuke bares his teeth as he stands. Dirt mixed with blood marks his forehead and cheeks, cuts and bruises litter his arm "You will not step a foot closer to Kakashi-sensei"
The air grows warmer, the humidity is thick as he struggles to breathe.
Tobi sighs deeply "So be it"
Shisui's tantō suddenly pierces the cloaked man from behind. The weapon pierces flesh with a squishing sound. Blood does not pour from the wound, even when Shisui buries the sword to the hilt. Instead Sasuke watches with horror as the man begins to melt, his face sagging as his knees give in until there is nothing left but his cloak and mask.
The pendulum swings and Sasuke's mind sinks. He stares at the swirling mask on the ground- paranoia seeps into the cracks as he stares at his cousin. He drowns in his own abyss, feels every crevice widen until he is drowning in darkness.
Shisui takes one step forward and Sasuke takes two steps back.
"Now, now Shisui-kun. That's cheating"
Shisui instantly turns, his tantō held high, its leather grip rough in his palm. "Sasuke, take Kakashi find Naruto and go. Head straight to Konoha and don't look back" he says, gaze not leaving the masked man.
Sasuke's limbs stiffen, pale fingers grip onto his empty weapons pouch. He hesitates- gaze glancing between the enemy and his cousin. The man's visible eye blinks before it transforms into a kaleidoscope of black and red.
Shisui senses his younger cousins unease- he recognises the threads of guilt and doubt. He straightens his posture and allows his mangekyo to bleed to life. "For once in your life listen, this is beyond you. Go now"
Sasuke is fragile but Shisui has witnessed the boy summon lightning from the heavens and watched him crack the earth.
"Oh how sweet! What a cute family reunion!" Tobi yells excitedly.
Shisui turns to face the enemy, his own Mangekyo bleeds to life. The man's chakra is fractured, darkness filters through his pathways as if he were only offering pieces of his true power.
"Ah, Shisui of the body flicker, I expected nothing less" says the man. He tilts his head to the side, his own eye rotating between red and black.
Shisui notices it when it's too late.
"Kamui"
-S-
The coil tightens and the spectrum shifts. This is lightning before the thunder, the calm before the storm. It's vicious and consuming as it roars beneath thin skin and thick muscles. It gurgles and hisses, beckoning and taunting. This is the beginning of the end.
Buried behind grey matter is a voice that calls out for Naruto, it starts off soft and gentle and ends with an ear splitting scream.
"Flesh cannot contain me"
Naruto stills, eyes wide as he stares at the forest floor.
A chuckle.
"Here"
Fingers dig into the dirt below. "Show yourself!"
Silence.
"Here"
Tenten watches with wide eyes, witnesses the madness unravelling before her. Her muscles beg for mercy as her joints crack with each movement. Steady. Lee needs you.
"Naruto"
He ignores her as he continues to rock in a back and forth motion. Fingers intertwined around his knees, forehead pressed against his thighs.
"No,no,no,no-"
"Naruto!"
He groans, desperate to keep the pain at bay. Nails pierce his shin as he struggles to maintain his breathing. Jiraiya's seal is heavy, it twists and burns against the skin ofhis belly. There is a high screeching sound grating against his eardrums, his body convulses as bones creaks. His control slips as the pendulum swings.
"Flesh cannot contain me"
The scene unravels itself before Tenten and for a brief moment she believes that she is hallucinating. Naruto is no longer human. Instead she watches on as thee creature twists and groans, claws grow longer as its fur thickens. It snarls, sniffing the air before meeting her gaze. No. This is not Naruto. This is a demon the gods have dragged from the seventh depth of hell.
She stands tall, forming a barrier between the creature and Lee. She is a Kunoichi; she will defend Lee from this monstrosity that stands before her. Her knees tremble in fear but she steels herself, she will not succumb to the terror before her.
The creature growls as it bends low. Three tails appear as an animalistic roar erupts from its jaws. Tenten does not dare move.
"Naruto!" she screams in an attempt to grab his attention because this beast was not Naruto. This was an animal that consumed flesh. It narrows its pupils before slowly making its way towards her. It snarls, revealing sharp molar teeth.
No, no, no
"Please, please" she begs, her eyes shining with unshed tears. Lee is broken, he is dying and she cannot-will not break now. Her Sensei's voice rings in her ears. "Protect each other. Use Neji's eyes, Lee's strength and your intelligence"
She turns to face Lee and she can almost feel Neji's breath on her cheekbones, scowling her for her stupidity. How dare she turn her back on the enemy? But Naruto is not her enemy. The enemy burnt down with the forest when Sasuke breathed fire and Naruto summoned wind.
She straightens her posture and inhales. Determination steels her as she gazes at the creature advancing towards her. She reminds herself that underneath the charred fur is Naruto "This is not the time for you stupid theatrics, we need to get to Konoha!" she screams.
The beast freezes as it blinks at her, head tilting to the side curiously.
"Naruto-"
The creatures throws its heads back and screams, chakra bursts in waves and causes the very ground beneath her feet to tremble. Tenten grits her teeth as she collapses on her knees. She is of the Kaze clan; her body is not moulded to handle large amounts of chakra. She can feel her muscles tearing, her chakra pathways shutting down as her body gives into the exhaustion.
Lee's shallow breathing serves as a reminder and Gai's words is the push she needs. Because between herself and Neji, her Sensei had declared her as the genius member of her team. Neji's arrogance blinded his judgement. Her mission is to save Lee. Her mission is dying.
"We need to go home! Sasuke needs you, I need you!"
The pendulum swings and something slides into place. The beast hisses as it shivers, its body convulsing as bones snap out of place. To Tenten's absolute horror she watches on as the creature transforms into a boy. Only when fur becomes skin does she finally look away, burying her face in her palms.
Naruto gasps for life. Lungs expand as he inhales oxygen and ash. He trembles, sobs and screams. He feels each bone snap in place, feels his skin stretch to accommodate new muscle. He sees an eye bleeding to life, the tomoes of the Sharingan spin. He sees a cage, he hears rumbling on the other side. Something sincere and powerful lurks. He feels the tide rise and sees a snake slithering in the thick grass. A boy screams for him. A distant roar of thunder bellows from the heavens and the metal bars of the cage bends.
"Flesh cannot contain me"
He sees Sasuke abandoning him, watches him jump into the depths below. He sees Neji choking on his own vomit, face pale and bloody. He sees Gai crumbling, mourning for a son.
Naruto's world goes dark.
-S-
Neji notices his error only when it's too late.
He holds his blade even, feet planted firmly into the ground. The blue man is a blur, his sword swiftly attacks him from the right and Neji slides to the left as chakra gathers in his feet. He bends low, tightens his grip on his blade and meets his attacker halfway.
He watches on as a wretched grin splits the man's face in half. Neji struggles underneath the weight; the man is pure muscle, blue arms tremble with gripping strength.
"Pretty" grins the man, revealing a set of jagged teeth.
Neji can feel his chakra abandoning him. His feet sink into mud as the weight becomes too much to bear. He struggles to maintain his balance, his knees inches from the ground. The weight suddenly disappears and the welcoming relief of his own chakra rushing through his veins makes him light-headed.
He is quick to recover; his feet slide in a defensive stance, he balances his blade in his grip, a smooth and impeccable weapon. He allows himself to breathe and brings his sword towards his chin, forcing it to remain even.
This is the mistake that Neji will spend a lifetime fixing.
His Byakugan throbs as he examines the man's form; his control is flawless, dark chakra flows from his sword as he effortlessly lifts it into the air. Droplets of water dance in his palm and the muscles in his forearm tense.
A movement flickers in the distance and Neji's forces more chakra into his eyes as his pupils expand.
The hairs on his neck rise and he slides his body to the left- right foot before the left.
Too late.
Cold fingers grip his jaw tightly and warm air blows on his cheekbones. His head throbs, his Byakugan reacts to his fear as his body enters overdrive.
Sasori looks at the young Hyuga before him, not even a man. The senbon is heavy between his knuckles. He hesitates briefly as the boy thrashes in his grip. Knuckles whiten as pupils darken.
"Forgive me"
The needles meets flesh; the tip pierces skin as he twists his arm, watches as the senbon sinks in deeper.
For a brief moment Sasori envisions the world through Deidara's eyes - poison is fragile but it will consume. Pale skin and bloodied lips, this truly is a magnificent piece of art.
Lee screams with such emotion his entire world shakes. He attempts to rush towards his fallen teammate but Kisame is faster, always faster. Fingers clench into his locks, pulling out strands of hair from his scalp. Kisame is moulded from the ocean itself; muscles tense and veins throb as he forces Lee's head back.
"Watch" whispers the fish to the boy.
"Watch as your teammate suffers and you stand here completely hopeless-"
He grabs the boy's wrist and twists it an unnatural angle. The bone cracks in response.
"-Completely useless-"
Lee cries out, eyes wide as tears stream down his bloodied cheeks. His vision darkens as the tide rises- it consumes him, it takes and takes. His throat is raw, mind distorted. Kisame grips the injured wrist and Lee screams. It burns as the pain spreads across his shoulder, travelling towards his chest and he suddenly can't breathe. He can't breathe and Neji needs him. (Neji gasping for air and choking on his vomit).
"-completely paralysed"
Kisame is all muscle and skin but Sasori watches on with such clarity, it almost feels surreal. He lifts the boy above the ground, carrying him above his head as if offering a sacrifice to the gods above. He lets out a laugh before he slams Lee on his knee.
The boy's spine snaps with a brutal crack. Sasori turns his face away in disgust- eyes screw shut as he counts to ten in his head.
The human body is a tangle of veins and tendons; fragile and complicated. Puppets are much simpler, more obedient. They are loyal to him, bound to him as if they were his flesh and blood. They did not bleed and drool, they did not break easy.
Lee immediately goes limp, face swollen as blood drools from slackened jaws. Kisame drops him carelessly. He crumbles- he is a puppet who has had its strings torn.
"Tell me Sasori, will he make a good puppet?" Kisame asks casually as he wipes Samehada against his thigh.
Sasori's gaze does not leave the boy's crippled form. He is pale against the dark earth. "The strings choose the puppets, I am merely the puppet master"
Kisame grins in response, turns to face his partner when an ear splitting scream interrupts him. The skies releases a rumble and the air immediately combusts. Trees bend in submission, snapping underneath an invisible weight and the ground explodes.
Sasuke can taste the chaos in the breeze. Naruto's chakra is erratic and dark, it lingers in the air and leaves him with a bitter after taste. Kakashi shifts in his slumber and Sasuke nearly collapses, he stops to adjust himself, hooks his arms behind his sensei's knees and pushes.
His bones pop with every movement, muscles straining to accommodate the extra weight. Sasuke is functioning on will power alone, his chakra has long abandoned him. He takes each step cautiously as he paces himself.
The previous winter had been harsh, it had stripped away the outer layers of the barks, leaving the trees exposed to the cold.
Strands of his hair stick to his forehead as the humidity becomes unbearable, mud squelches underneath his sandals. Sasuke allows his shoulders to relax once the forest begins to thin, the dirt trail he had been following slowly fades.
In the distance he hears the familiar sound of rushing water, its gentle at first but the quicker he moves, the louder it becomes. A new found strength urges him to rush, to quench his thirst and rest his aching bones.
Boulders rise out of the stream, foaming torrents crash against the rocks, the water flows freely until it merges. It drops several hundred feet; the waterfall is surreal and brutal.
Sasuke's relief is cut short.
Two members of the Akatsuki stand before him. He watches on with horror as one poisons the Hyuga and the other breaks Lee with his bare hands. Sasuke hears every bone crack, watches as Lee transforms into a cripple. His body screams at him to move and his mind begs him to flee.
Naruto appears with a swirl of anger; the ground moves and vibrates as thunderous chakra explodes in the air.Sasuke collapses on his knees, eyes wild and heart racing.
Orochimaru had once told him that fear was an illusion, an emotion weaker shinobi fabricated in their minds.
The world is shifting as the pendulum swings, the tide rises and dread settles into his bones. Breaksexpand to form deep crevices. This is the crack that will take decades to fix, it will leave a thick scar and serve as a reminder.
With trembling fingers Sasuke gently places Kakashi onto the ground. His Sensei is far gone, trapped in a deep psychosis. His breath shudders in short, desperate gasps. Hi hair slick with sweat sticks to his forehead as bloodied drool drips past chapped lips.
Sasuke sinks his teeth into his thumb, swipes the blood into the dirt and summons what little chakra he has left.
"Manda!"
The ground erupts as purple scales slither from the earth, jaws expand to bare sharpened fangs, steel green slits stare into his eyes as a forked tongue exposes itself.
"You dare summon me boy?" hisses Manda as his body stands tall, displaying his height.
"I need your help, I need to get-"
The snake bends low, licking the air "The fox has unleashed, he is angry"
He slithers closer to Sasuke, circling around him loosely "You dare summon me to fight the fox?" His head, larger than Sasuke himself, faces him "Do you not assume that I demand sacrifice?"
Sasuke stares at the creature before him, purple scales with black stripes surround him.His pride and arrogance does not give him the choice to abandon his team. Kakashi is drowning, Neji is dying and Lee lay broken and alone. Instead he braces himself, digs his nails into his palm and asks "What is it you want?"
He runs. A roar unleashes somewhere in the distance and the ground shifts underneath his feet. He runs. Manda screeches in snakes tongue- curses his stupidity. He runs. Heat burns the back of his thighs as his own Katon engulfs the remaining forest.
Naruto's presence brings with it a reckoning. Sasuke can feel his anger, it ignites and consumes everything it touches.
His feet pound into the cracked earth, his sandals are long gone, toes caked in dry mud.
Untameable flames grow, twisting and turning as they devour the forest. He inhales ash and exhale fire.
Naruto is screaming, his chakra makes the air unbreathable. Manda's voice grows louder and demanding.
"Run!"
Neji is hanging onto the last of his threads- foam dribbles from the corner of his lips. The poison seeps through his veins, it leaves swirls of magenta on his pale skin. His eyes rolls back, body convulsing as his mind corrodes.
Sasuke grabs him; one arm wrapped around his abdomen and the other around his knees. He grunts as he lifts him, his own muscles begging for mercy.
The forest cries as it burns, decade old trees turn to ash and spring leaves burn. Thundering winds fan the hungry flames and the earth mourns. Thunder rolled across the sky, warning of the coming storm but it will be far too late.
"Stupid boy! Run!"
He stands at the edge of the cliff, harsh torrents crash against the stained rocks. Below him the water drops for several miles until it collides with the river.
"No!"
He tightens his grip against Neji, closes his eyes and exhales.
Sasuke jumps.
-S-
A/N: There are two timelines here, before and after Sasuke's 'jump' the -S- differentiates between the two.
Sasuke has this 'self-sacrificing' mentality a he doesn't find value in his own life. It's a build-up of being in Itachi's shadow his entire life and his father's comments. I really like Mikoto as a character, a badass mother that is struggling to balance a power hungry clan while raising two sane sons.
The Byakugan blind spot is what defeats Neji, his faith is his own bloodline is what ends him.