Here's another chapter. Thanks to Keitzuro, grither55, cristifilip372 Rain-XIX, blacknredrose37 and nsyminav (for your suggestions as well and no, infact I welcome it if you can review like that, it helps me get some ideas) for reviewing. Thanks to those who are following this as well.

I was finished with this chapter, so I thought to update it as soon as possible.

The events from now on until Erza returns to Fiore will be the same as the events happening in Sasuke Shinden(about time I started that) along with NaruHina wedding. The sparks between them may happen in Fiore. Like I say, I don't know that myself. It will be clear as the story progresses.

After that it is going to be the start of GMG arc.

Let's continue,

...

Chapter 4: Team Taka

"Fiancée?!"

"Yes, she is my Fiancée. I met her on a journey while I was traveling to complete the missing nin mission." Sasuke said unfazed looking Mizukage in the eye.

Meanwhile, Erza's face rivalled her hair as she fought the blush. "W-what are you saying all of a sudden?!" she blurted out.

"She is just embarrassed as you can see for yourself." Sasuke said to Mizukage as he moved next to Erza and placed a hand on her shoulder. Chojuro watched the exchange between them, sweating as the word marriage was thrown casually around the Mizukage, Mei.

She would normally misinterpret the normal words as something related to marriage. She often used to threaten Ao for the very reason.

"It's getting late." Sasuke said.

Late ….late marriage?! She reacted with a twitch at his words.

Aware of the Mizukage's animosity towards marriage-related topics, Chojuro quickly addressed Sasuke.

"Raikage-sama's land is harsh for everyone… what Sasuke-san meant to say was they were tired after journeying through his land. It would be painful to his fiancée if he were to keep her up any more."

"Yes, thank you for your concern, Chojuro." Sasuke said.

Late marriage…a harsh place…painful annulment?!

The Mizukage's expression immediately became grim, despite the amiable conversation between the two. A sullen aura surrounded her.

"Mizukage-sama, what's wrong?" Chojuro noticed the Mizukage sink into silence and tilt her head strangely. She exhaled and became serious.

"I was recalling something sad…if he were here…."

"Ah….senpai…I also wanted him to see my present form…"

That the Mizukage also wanted him to see how Chojuro had grown was not what she was thinking. Her feelings stemmed from different thoughts, but without denying his words, she smiled and agreed.

"So, Sasuke-kun. Here are the details you asked for. Hopefully this will help us in getting back the missing nin." Mizukage said handing him the scroll. "A lot of our Shinobi are missing, so the borders aren't as tight as they used to be. And we had to postpone the mission due to the Moon incident."

"I understand." Sasuke said. Mizukage and Chojuro took their leave.

"What the heck was all that about?" Erza said smacking him on his back. Sasuke just wore an annoyed expression.

"…"

"Why are you so intent on introducing me as your Fiancée, first you said I was your wife, and now this. Don't tell me…." She covered her mouth with her hands, "You like me, don't you?"

"Don't pull yourself into weird fantasies. It was to cover up your identity. You don't realize the gravity of the situation you are in. If people found out about your existence or about another world where people could survive, chaos would spread over." Sasuke said.

"That still doesn't give you the right!"

Sasuke sighed. "Fine. I'll treat you to something… a dessert maybe. And next time I'll ask about what I should say beforehand. Are you happy, now?" Erza's facial expressions took a three-sixty degree from an annoyed one to an elated one.

They walked through the streets as Erza kept hopping whereas Sasuke wore a bored expression. They finally reached a dessert shop.

"So, what do you want?"

For some reason, Erza's gaze was fixed onto a strawberry cake having whipped cream and many cherries on top of it. Sasuke taking notice of it, "Are you planning to eat an entire cake or is a slice enough?"

Alas, Sasuke didn't know about Erza's love for Strawberry cake. It just shows her love for it as she still remembers about it even after she lost her memories.

Erza scoffed, "You don't think I can eat an entire cake?"

"I don't even wanna know. Old man, this one please." He said pointing to the cake.

Erza took the cake with a delighted expression on her face and sat at the table outside. Meanwhile Sasuke paid for the cake and sat with her. She frowned,

"Why don't you order something as well? I am not going to share it with you, you know." She said putting her hands in front of the cake defensively.

"I wasn't planning to. Plus I don't like sweet things, though I am worried about how are you going to finish the entire cake by yourself." Sasuke said taking out the scroll.

Erza saw him like he had just now said something grave, "Y-you don't like sweet things?" after earning a nod from him. "Why are you even alive?"

Sasuke's lip twitched in irritation, "Seriously, your obsession with the strawberry cake is same as the dobe's with his Ramen." Having no response from her, he looked at her to see her completely indulged in eating the cake. He had a smile as he saw her eating peacefully.

He then opened the scroll given to him by Mizukage and started reading it. His jaw fell down slightly as his eye brows raised a bit.

"What's wrong?" Erza asked noticing the minute changes in Sasuke's expression.

Sasuke quickly closed the scroll, "If what is written here is legitimate, then my previous mission and this one are coinciding."

"Your previous one?"

"I was investigating the dark thunder group formerly known as the Lightning group. They were a bunch of blood-line limit users like myself. I was supposed to extract information from their head, but some disturbances occurred and he is dead." Sasuke said as he tch'ed in irritation as he remembered how the death had occurred.

"How does that concern this?"

"The shinobi who attacked us were rogue ninja working with the enemy. He apparently stole the Uchiha forbidden scroll and my guess is that he used it to win himself some comrades. They all are plotting to flee this world and I am positive that they attacked you for gaining more information on that world." Sasuke said as she took in the information. "As for the previous mission, about a hundred mist shinobi went missing. Whoever was responsible for it was also responsible for the attack on you. This links up to one thing."

"If we find the scroll, we find the missing shinobi." Erza said thinking to herself. "So, do you have any leads?"

"I know a person who might have information on such things." Sasuke said getting up seeing to as Erza finished her cake.

"And, who might that be?"

"He is someone called Orochimaru."

..

Orochimaru, one of the three legendary sannin. In his quest for learning everything related to Ninjutsu, he abandoned the Konoha and fled the village. He later plotted to destroy the leaf due to his personal grudges and attempted to kill the third Hokage, which he was successful. He even managed to lure Sasuke out of the village who was on a quest for power to take his revenge on Itachi, which was the common goal among them only to be back stabbed by Sasuke later on.

Being a creepy guy, he somehow managed to come back to life during the fourth Great ninja war. He, much like all the main villains during that time, learnt their mistakes and decided to correct themselves. Orochimaru was far from repenting himself but the good news was that he had no more leanings towards destroying the leaf. He was just conducing his experiments peacefully, of course with Yamato kept on his watch.

Sasuke weighed his options once more about taking Erza with him to the hide out and decided it would be best if she were to stick close to him. He sighed and prepared himself as he came into sight of Yamato who was outside the hideout's entrance.

Captain Yamato, as Naruto fondly calls him that, was part of the Sasuke rescue mission which resulted in a failure. Back then, Sasuke and Yamato exchanged few blows but it was only for a short time before Orochimaru intervened.

Erza stuck close to Sasuke as instructed. "…this is going to be troublesome." She heard those words escape from his mouth. As far as she knew, nothing actually bothered him until now. If he said those words, this Orochimaru guy was definitely strong.

When they got closer to the hideout, a man suddenly blocked their way. It was a known face.

"Sasuke… it's you. Let me introduce myself, I'm Yamato," He then eyed the red head beside Sasuke. "And who might this be? I don't think she is Karin."

"This is Erza. She…" he started but looked at Erza to see her glaring at him on how he was going to introduce her. "…is helping me on this mission." Her glare seemed to vanish after he finished.

"If you are helping Sasuke, then you must be strong. I am Yamato." he said, extending his hand as Erza shook it.

"Erza Scarlet. Pleasure to meet you." She said as Sasuke face palmed.

"Scarlet...? That's a strange name," Yamato said getting confused.

"Yes, it is." Sasuke said intervening before he asked any more questions. "Looks like Orochimaru is here."

Orochimaru had bigger hideouts, but he had no doubt he was here. Yamato inhaled with a fuu.

"I give up. Will you tell me your business?"

"I have some business with Orochimaru."

"Well, I worked that much out for myself."

"…"

"…"

Erza just groaned at those two. "What's with you two? Can't you at least make some progress in talking with others, Sasuke."

Sasuke was silent. Also Yamato crossed his arms and sank into silence as he watched Erza lecturing Sasuke on talking while Sasuke had no reaction. Probably he intended to wait thoroughly. In that case, the conversation was going to make no progress.

"…It's possible that Orochimaru has some information related to the scroll that was stolen and the dark thunder group." Sasuke said finally giving in to Erza's stare.

"The replicated scroll which Orochimaru made of the Uchiha clan's version?"

"So, you know about it as well? That makes it easier."

He then, briefly explained him the situation, and Yamato seemed disappointed. He unfolded his crossed arms, and scratched his head.

"Did you get in contact with the Sixth for this matter?" Yamato asked. Erza understood by Sixth, he was referring to Kakashi, Sasuke's former sensei. She had juiced that information out of him earlier.

"I don't want to trouble him with this as the Moon falling thing is happening. If this gives results, I intend to report to him."

"Well, it'd be better if you send your progresses en route in detail, it's easy to take connection even if we're here but…"

Yamato looked at Sasuke steadily.

"But, you're doing it for Konoha's sake, right?" he asked looking him dead in the eye.

At Yamato's question, he had trouble breathing for a moment.

He was doing it for Konoha's sake, that's right. He was doing it so naturally that it seemed strange even to himself. Even if he didn't stay in the village, he was concerned with Konoha. He had such feeling. But he was also doing it as a means to revive his clan, which he would not disclose at the moment.

"…yeah."

At Sasuke's reply, Yamato let those both through saying "It can't be helped."

"…is it ok?"

"I'll report to the Sixth. Because you're my 'comrade'. And since Erza-san is also working with us, I consider her as my comrade as well. Trust and importance of teamwork, Kakashi-san taught them to you, right?"

Kakashi, Team 7. The memory of those times was brought back to Sasuke's mind.

Again he felt like he was gathering from the start important things that he had thrown away. Though a certain red head kept reminding him the team work's importance since they were in a partnership or alliance to speak.

"…thank you."

Saying this, Sasuke walked into Orochimaru's hideout. Yamato stopped Erza behind as he went in.

"Is this your first time going into Orochimaru's hideout?"

"Yeah."

"Remember to be careful inside and be wary of Orochimaru. Does Sasuke trust you?" Yamato asked.

Erza replied without wavering, "I have all the reasons to believe that he trusts me."

Yamato's serious look got diffused, "Good. If, so please watch Sasuke's back on this mission as he tends to travels alone and keeps mostly to himself. His friends are worried for him."

"I most certainly will." With that said she joined Sasuke inside the cave after bowing down to Yamato.

"What did he say to you?" Sasuke asked as they walked.

"Nothing… just that your friends are worried sick for you. Apparently you have more people who care about you than you think." She said the last part in low voice looking down but Sasuke heard it. He looked at her seeing as she had a sad expression. She was probably starting to feel lonely in this world.

"And I am sure you are one of the top people on that list." Sasuke said stopping momentarily.

The sad expression on her face faded away, "Yeah, you are right." She said with a smile. His soul was broken beyond repair and maybe this was his way of slowly repairing it through time. Things he often thought of as pointless.

Revenge supported his heart during his dark times but also damaged it beyond repair. Maybe, because always others paid their attention to him while he was immersed in the hatred, he didn't notice it but taking care of someone was one way repairing one's soul. His sensei, Kakashi had gone through the exact same thing when he was handed team 7 after losing his friends and his sensei, the fourth Hokage. Taking care of them, worrying for them, maybe that was the reason his brother never fell to darkness as he had his little brother to take care of. His brother always used to think of him while he had no one to think of except taking revenge on his brother. When he finally found the truth and felt the affection again, his brother was long dead.

Itachi probably carried all of that sadness and anger with him. Without knowing anything about Shisui's thoughts or wishes, his life was taken for the sake of the Uchiha Clan and interpreted for their own convenience. The means of their criticism, unfortunately, would change the fate of the Uchiha. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen, spoke of how Itachi paid attention to the thoughts and signs from his predecessors that no one else noticed, even as a child. He was a delicate child who did not focus on the ties of the past. Without the binding ties of the Uchiha, he was able to think of previous shinobi and villages and fear for the future.

Like Itachi, Sasuke had also questioned the future. The situation before him was the matter of the Konoha Police Force. Konoha's Police Force managed crime, and they made their contribution to the village as a unit that maintained public order. Established by previous Uchiha, Sasuke's father, Fugaku, acted diligently as its leader. Therefore, Sasuke used to wonder whether Itachi would come to work there as well.

The answer was unclear.

At that time, the purpose of the Police Force was to cut off the Uchiha Clan from the rest of Konoha, and there was also talk of Itachi entering the Anbu. Sasuke had innocently said that Itachi should join the Konoha Police, because he himself would join the Konoha police when he grew up.

That, for sure, was a foolish little brother's dream.

"….Is that so?" Itachi had answered him.

The vision of the Konoha framework existed far and wide. Even so, Itachi had replied kindly, knowing that his brother dreamed of belonging to the Police Force and enduring missions together. He still had mixed feelings about Itachi and the Uchiha Clan, and how he became a victim of Konoha. There was a time when he thought only of restoring Itachi's honor. During the Edo Tensei, Itachi was resurrected. Upon parting, he supported the back of Sasuke's head with his hand and joined their foreheads together, looking closely into Sasuke's eyes as he spoke his final words.

"I will always love you."

Because of the love he had for his little brother, he wanted to leave the world without any resentment or hatred. He wasn't worried about restoring his own honor.

However, Naruto seemed to be spreading around the fact that Itachi had lent his power for the sake of the world when he was brought back under the Edo Tensei. Naruto likely knew about the Uchiha coup d'état, but without touching on the subject, he named Itachi as one of the ninjas that helped in the war effort. Though people did not seem to be convinced, there weren't many who doubted Naruto's words. Even if people doubted him, Naruto would not give up on continuing to tell his story. Whether this is what Itachi wanted or not, he had his reasons for his actions, and the day might come when Konoha would grow to understand.

Such was Itachi's love for Sasuke. Maybe if he also found someone to take care of, always thinking about their well being, maybe he wouldn't fall to darkness again. Sasuke had escaped the darkness, but there was still a possibility of the same thing happening in the future. The violent impulse lay asleep inside him, eating up his sense and reasoning. To avoid making the same mistakes, Sasuke needed time alone to reconsider himself.

Erza clapped her hands in front of him, "Hello!" she waved her hands in front of him as he blankly stared at her. "You went into some sort of trance back there. I had to bring you back to earth."

Sasuke stared as she rambled about his lack of attention to what she was saying. Maybe, if he found out another surviving member of the clan through her, he would definitely sit with them and have a long chat about the doubts concerning him.

"Let's go in." he said ignoring her.

They opened the doors and entered the long hallway. In the walls that vividly reminded him of a snake's skin, artworks of snakes were used to decorate the place he arrived to. Probably those also served as a surveillance camera. Orochimaru must have seen him, too.

"It's been a while, Sasuke-kun."

They proceeded silently, and before they reached the depths of the hideout Orochimaru showed up with a smile floating on his mouth.

"Creepy!" Erza whispered to Sasuke as Orochimaru rolled out his tongue. "Is that a man or a woman?"

"Who knows?" Sasuke casually shrugged the question.

Orochimaru was a genius of his generation. The depth of his knowledge on ninjutsu and his spirit of persistent quest exceeded every other shinobi's.

His tenacity was snake-like, he had experienced the abyss of darkness, and there was a part of him that transcended humanity.

"Sasuke-kun! I didn't think that you thought of my place fancy enough to go on a date." Orochimaru said eyeing Erza. "Oh! An Uzumaki too… Sasuke-kun, I envy you and your luck at always having a way with Uzumaki." he grinned having a mischievous glint in his eye.

'What's with the people and their obsession with Uzumaki clan…?' Erza thought as it was constantly being thrown when anyone saw those both together. She knew that Uzumaki clan was almost extinct, but still she couldn't help but get annoyed each time it was pointed out.

"Do you know the 'Lightning Group'?" Sasuke asked without beating about the bush.

Orochimaru muttered, "Ah."

"You know them?"

"Oh, I've heard of them. Though I heard that in the end they've been 'suppressed' by Mist village."

Orochimaru laughed snickering. Apparently he had come to know that Mist village framed the Lightning Group to create a connection with the high executive.

"There's the possibility that the head of this Lightning Group is responsible for the missing Shinobi and the scroll stolen from here." Sasuke said what he knew so far.

"Really, the head of the Lightning Group…"

Sasuke's expression became stern for the tone of voice he was using.

"If there's something you know about it, spit it out."

"Fufu… You're the same as ever… Is that the attitude you use when you ask something to a person?"

Sasuke urged Orochimaru, who had bent his head in question: "Do it quickly".

Orochimaru made an even wider smile and questioned "Are you sure you want to talk about it in front of her?" Sasuke looked at Orochimaru plotting something in that brain of his.

"You can talk about it in front of her. And Orochimaru, don't even dare to mess with her." His expression became dark at the final warning. Erza not understanding what they were talking about tilted her head in confusion.

"This situation became somehow amusing… If I remember correctly the head of the Lightning Group was a man named Fuushin, a kekkei genkai user(blood line limit user), and at the beginning he was supposed to be in the group of Oyashiro En's guards."

"Oyashiro En…?"

He had never heard of that name.

"He's a man who belongs to nowhere. While he's a shinobi, that man is also an arms dealer. Since he would sell weapons on large scale to anyone as long as he can pile up money, he's called merchant of death. He was very skilled in amassing enormous fortunes in his lifetime."

"And that guy was his guard?"

"He was also a guard, but he provided arms in the battlefields together with Oyashiro. The elites, too, come out in the foremost lines of the battle. He was also close to the Anbu."

In that case, if he went asking Oyashiro the story he would probably get closer to the head of the Lightning Group.

"Where's Oyashiro?"

"Come on now. Apparently he has more hideouts than I do. So it may be difficult to go in search for him."

Sasuke scowled at Orochimaru, glaring.

"It's impossible that you told me such unsubstantiated talk so expressly if you didn't knew his location."

At Sasuke's words, Orochimaru laughed to himself.

"You trusted me? Oh well. I don't know where he is, but I can lure him out. But moreover… will it be difficult?"

'Will you do it despite this?' Orochimaru was asking him suggesting something.

"What do you think I came here for? But don't involve her too much in whatever you are planning."

"We may have to if the situation demands." He said.

"I am willing to be helpful if it is something that I can do." Erza said deciding to voice her opinion.

"Thank you, dear. That should settle the matter then, eh, Sasuke-kun?" Orochimaru said smiling slyly as Sasuke frowned.

"Tch. All right." Sasuke said admitting defeat.

At Sasuke's answer, Orochimaru muttered "I feel the wind." and smiled again. He eyed Erza, smiling slyly at her before taking their leave.

The preparations would take little time. Orochimaru had said so, and they waited in the hideout for a short while.

"Sasuke! Who is that woman behind you?"

"Yo, what kind of evildoings are you planning by coming here and what's with the chick?"

"…Long time no see."

Thereupon, the members of Taka that once fought with him rushed over to him.

Erza observed the members of taka. One was a huge muscular guy having orange hair. Despite his outward appearance, he seemed like a peaceful guy. Next was a lean white haired guy. He was grinning like an idiot upon seeing Sasuke. The last was a woman having the same hair color, maybe not as bright as her's. She understood that the opposite was an Uzumaki and why everyone assumed her to be one as well.

"Looks like Karin has sensed you early on, she was all having ants in her pants. But she did tell she sensed someone with weird chakra around you and rushed here." Suigetsu said seeing Erza. "Now that I see the situation for myself, I think she made us rush here because a woman was with Sasuke, ain't that right Juugo?"

"No! It's only because I was worried that some problem had happened! Don't say things at your convenience!" Karin shouted.

Erza watched their exchange with interest. 'Must be old comrades of Sasuke.' She learnt a lot about Sasuke while travelling together with him although the only thing he ever told her was about the Uchiha clan.

Just like in the old times Karin began arguing with Suigetsu. While looking at those two arguing back and forth, Juugo asked him about his present condition "Are you still on your journey?"

"…yeah."

"Who's the chick Sasuke? Another one who fell to your charm?" Suigetsu asked feeling a bit jealous at his friend's good fortune.

"My name is Erza Scarlet. I am a partner to Sasuke in his current quest." Erza said stepping forward and introducing herself formally. She then turned to Suigetsu, "And to answer your question, no. I did not fall to his charms. In fact, it may be the opposite."

Sasuke raised his eye-brows at the declaration and but smirked inwardly. Suigetsu had nothing but appreciation for Erza thinking about how a woman finally appeared who was resistant to Sasuke whereas Karin glared at her. Juugo did not seem to care about this conversation.

"Didn't you go back to Konoha?"

Karin asked him as if she was worried about something, but Suigetsu butted in, "You can't help but caring about Sasuke's things, don't you?"

"Seriously, shut up, bastard!"

They nearly started arguing again, when Orochimaru appeared.

"You two, shut up. Sasuke-kun, the arrangements are set. Let's go." he also signalled Erza to follow.

"Orochimaru-sama, are you going out anywhere?"

Orochimaru smiled broadly at Karin's question.

"I'm going with Sasuke-kun and Erza-chan to the sea for a little while."

At Orochimaru's words, Karin and the others sank into silence for a second.

"Eh-eeh? To the sea with Sasuke…?" Karin shuddered.

"Don't tell me you are interested in that woman too, Orochimaru-sama." Suigetsu asked.

"You look after the place."

Being told to hold back, Karin dropped her shoulders. "I can't imagine something like the sea with Orochimaru-sama." Suigetsu stiffened.

"Wait, this is new to me too."

Sasuke scowled as he followed Orochimaru, who had volunteered. Erza followed quietly behind them. She was mostly quiet in the hide out as it felt awkward for her to talk something when they all were chummy-chummy. Watching Suigetsu and Karin argue like that reminded her of some people, but it was all hazy on who the people in her memory were and she started having a head-ache. She was broken out of her thoughts when Sasuke asked where they were going.

"We are going to the sea… to be accurate, a solitary island that floats on the sea. Over there, there's the amusement place of rich people."

"…is Oyashiro there?" Sasuke asked.

"If he took the bait." Orochimaru gave him a suggestive smile.

And cut.

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Until then, later!