Have I mentioned I'm obsessed with this part of the story? I've been wanting to write this for so long that I'm high on feels and excitement!

Please bear with me.

This is a sort of heavy chapter, so brace yourselves a little

Not betaed, but I will probably edit in a few days, so forgive the horrible typos you might find.

Happy reading, and don't forget to read the notes at the end ;)

*TRIGGER WARNING*: MENTIONS OF DEATH, MASS MURDER, GORE, TRAUMA AND RAPING.


From Which We'll Rise

Part XXIX: Endō Kamui II

Despite his previous assumptions, Sasuke had managed to fall easily into a deep and undisturbed slumber as soon as he got to the Inn, which led him to wake up early, much to his pleasure, completely refreshed.

There was still time before he had to meet with Kamui (if the man dignified himself to show up, Sasuke still didn't trust him), so he decided to find someplace to train. Just like in Konoha, he found training grounds at the far end of the village, but they were less spacious and already filled with youngsters training together.

Next time he would certainly go back to the beach, but for now, it would have to do.

It was a beautiful day and he needed to get some adrenaline in his body.

Afterward, he got back to the Inn to take a bath and put on some clean clothes, and by the time he went downstairs and stepped out into the street while munching on a green apple, he was feeling blissfully invigorated and in a good mood.

Thankfully, Kamui decided not to ruin it by being there, waiting for him even though there were still a few minutes left until their scheduled meeting time.

Unlike the previous day, Kamui wore his hair tied back in a ponytail, a linen short-sleeved cream shirt, and some tight-fitting dark green trousers that hugged his strong thighs in a most flattering way. Aside from the familiar pouch around his waist and knife holders strapped to both his ankles, he didn't seem to be hiding more weapons, which was a treacherous assumption to make.

This look was humble on him, yet oddly immaculate, making him seem a bit younger. Nevertheless, his impressive physique made him look slightly threatening but no less attractive.

He was a vision in broad daylight, and some passersby chanced glances in their direction.

Sasuke found that he wasn't exactly as bothered by Kamui as he'd been the day before, and while he didn't know what to make of it, he didn't want to waste emotional effort thinking about it – he'd gotten pissed enough already.

It wasn't as if he couldn't evaluate how attractive another person was – hell, he found Naruto attractive, and Gaara and Juugo, and he could even admit that Karin could have some sort of sex appeal, too.

Still, those were people he knew and people with whom he shared a past, as well as emotional ties. The level of attraction he'd had for them had been influenced by that and brought upon for several different reasons.

While Sasuke had seen many attractive people in his life, this was the first time that he felt drawn to someone's looks, and a stranger, nonetheless.

Well, drawn probably wasn't the word. Sasuke didn't know what it was - perhaps mere curiosity - because he really couldn't put his finger on what made Kamui any different from the other good-looking people that had crossed his path.

It was a mystery that got on Sasuke's nerves too much – a mystery he sort of wanted to solve to comprehend himself better, yet also didn't. Something about the man was distracting, and he hated it, but he had to live with it for the time being.

Biting down on his apple, Sasuke shamelessly checked the other man from head to toe as if assessing whether he was a suitable company. With a lopsided smile, Kamui nodded in greeting.

"You could've told me you were going to train in the morning; we could've gone together," he said, and even if his voice was calm, it still sounded a bit resentful.

Sasuke didn't resist the urge to roll his eyes – of course, the guy had followed him.

He swallowed the bit of apple he'd been chewing. "Why should I?" he said, shrugging. "Last time I checked we weren't friends and hadn't scheduled anything other than this meeting. If you wanted to train together so much you should've said so instead of watching me like a creep."

Kamui didn't seem offended, instead laughing a bit. "I thought you'd be flattered by my interest in watching you, but I figured you'd be a bit of a brat," he said, with a hint of playfulness, crossing his arms over his chest. "You're not making life easier for me, are you?"

"No," Sasuke snapped, with a frown, deciding it was best not to delve too much into the man's words. "Can we get going now?"

"Of course, your highness," Kamui acquiesced, offering him an elegant, sarcastic bow, before raising an arm invitingly, as if granting him passage. "After you."

"Screw you," Sasuke uttered, but still proudly walked by the man and continued to munch on his apple. He was not going to let the guy get under his skin right before he met with the leader.

"You should be so lucky," Kamui teased, falling into step beside him, eyeing Sasuke with a smile. "Unfortunately, it's not my cup of tea, but thanks."

Sasuke couldn't help but groan.

It was a little surprising that Kamui had kept his part of the deal because Sasuke was granted entrance to the leader's residence as soon as he approached the guards at the huge doors of the worn-out gray building. Kamui had explained to him on their way there that he would not be able to accompany him there because he was both a civilian and a spy, and those two roles did not blend.

"I have no identity as a spy, just a number the government can associate me with if they want to hire my services," Kamui had explained. "But they don't know who's behind the mask, it's how it works. Because I've done jobs for the leader I was able to ask that you were seen at once, but as a spy, not as Kamui. Right now, I cannot possibly come with you, but I will wait for you right here."

The negotiations took a little longer than expected – the leader wanted to add more terms and conditions to the contract where they would benefit more considering Konoha was a far more powerful village. After a lot of bantering and careful bargains, Sasuke was able to have the man sign the first draft of the Peace and Collaboration treaty with minimal changes from the initial proposal.

The leader ended up inviting him to spend the remainder of his stay at his residence, but Sasuke had to politely refuse.

There was still his deal with Kamui, and if he ended up helping the man, there was no telling how things would unfold, so it was best if he was not under constant surveillance.

Either way, even if he hadn't had as much time to prepare for his meeting with the leader as he had thought, he left the residence close to lunchtime with a sense of accomplishment. His political purpose here was done, and now he could focus on what mattered to him.

Kamui was nowhere to be seen, but it was to be expected. Sasuke ended up finding him not too far from there, leaning against a building, an absent-minded look on his face as he placidly smoked a cigarette.

"How did it go?" the man asked, as Sasuke approached him.

"As expected," Sasuke retorted, curtly. "I thought you'd be tracking my whereabouts, yet you're here. I could've just left when I didn't see you there."

Kamui merely offered him one of his charming smiles. "You're a man of honor; I knew you wouldn't do that."

"You shouldn't trust whatever you think you know about me."

"If you say so," Kamui acquiesced, almost sweetly. "There's somewhere I'd like to take you to. For lunch, you see. We can talk then if you don't mind."

Kamui took a small drag on his cigarette, and Sasuke's eyes narrowed at the action as his stomach clenched without his permission.

He had never tried tobacco or anything of the sort, and he didn't like the way it smelled. Also, it was a horrible vice for someone who needed to be healthy to use their bodies in battle. Regardless, it was true that cigarettes suited some people, and Kamui was certainly one of them.

"Whatever, but if you're thinking about doing something funny I'm warning you that you'll be in trouble," Sasuke warned, as they went on their way down the street.

"Relax, feisty cat; I wouldn't dream of it," Kamui said, elbowing him slightly, which promptly made Sasuke take a step to the side so he put a decent distance between them. "You seem to forget who I'm dealing with. I'm as wary of you as you are of me but, as I said, I need you. We need each other to get what we want, so why don't we just go with the flow, heh?"

For some reason, it sounded like a terrible idea.

They had left the village and spent over a good half an hour walking at a fast pace. They'd been mostly in silence – though not an awkward one – and Sasuke wondered why Kamui was postponing talking business when could've used this time to do so. It made him believe that he was being led into a trap, and yet, much to his own dismay, he didn't feel like it was the case, so he let it rest for the time being and see what came out of it.

If there was something he strongly trusted about himself it was his gut, even if he always made sure to evaluate people and situations from all angles just to be sure, and Kamui would be no exception – Sasuke was ready to fight if he had to.

The sun was unpredictably hot, and he was quickly regretting bringing his cloak.

Kamui was expectedly nimble on his feet, his steps steady yet careful, nearly soundless to a point where they seemed graceful, which was an odd contrast to someone with such a physique.

What physique? Sasuke thought, exasperated at himself. The man wasn't even huge or anything like that, he was actually lean, but he looked strong and his muscles were full and looked hard. If there was a personification of the word 'masculine', that was certainly him.

What a stupid thing to think about…

Kamui's expression was thoughtful, yet his eyes were sharp, a small crease in his brow giving away the fact that he was considering something seriously. Sasuke often caught himself staring at his companion's profile, slightly hypnotized by the perfect hard lines, and when he did, he immediately looked away, berating himself.

Even though he could feel the spy's sideways gaze on him for several moments, as well, he stubbornly refused to acknowledge it despite both of them knowing very well this was something easy to perceive as a Shinobi.

Sasuke didn't want to think about it, but it was an undeniable fact that they were acutely aware of each other for obvious reasons, yet there also seemed to be reasons he preferred to push aside. He was far from stupid, and this type of dynamic wasn't new to him – it simply wasn't something he expected to ever go through again in his life.

There was no denying that this exchange brought about a bit of tension between them, yet it wasn't exactly something Sasuke could call uncomfortable, and it baffled him.

I need to stop thinking about this, he kept telling himself, knowing perfectly well that was the opposite of what he was doing.

They ended up in an area resembling a forest, but while it was rich in bushes and greenery, it wasn't exactly one because the trees were varied and widely dispersed, barely providing suitable shade.

Walking a little bit further, they reached yet another area where the vegetation was a bit denser, and this was where they stopped at the same time, Sasuke, in his case, because he found himself surrounded by the sort of energy that exposed danger, but it wasn't coming from Kamui.

"There are seals with traps everywhere," Kamui warned him in a low voice, having noticed his sudden state of alert, which led Sasuke to activate his Sharingan and quickly confirm his companion's words.

It was no joke, the place was packed with hidden seals on the ground, tree trunks, amidst bushes, and even hanging in the air, sustained by chakra alone. Another step and Sasuke would've probably stepped on one.

Sasuke didn't know how much land was protected by these seals, but the chakra field that served as an invisible barrier was powerful enough to stop an army.

"Is this protecting something?" Sasuke asked, in a cautious voice. "A hideout?"

"Yes," Kamui confirmed, unmoving. When Sasuke eyed him inquisitively, the man was looking at him with a strange expression, his head tilted slightly to the side.

"What?" Sasuke asked, unconsciously touching his cheek and wiping it, his fingers absently pushing his fringe aside. "Is there something on my face?"

"No, it's just that it's the first time I'm seeing a Sharingan," Kamui said, passively. "And a Rinnegan. I hadn't noticed it before, but they're quite beautiful in a… haunting way."

"Well, you can't have them," Sasuke retorted, self-consciously putting his fringe back over his eye.

"I have no interest in them, don't worry," Kamui assured, with a smile. "They are exactly where they should be. It's a shame you wear that thing over your Rinnegan, though. I wouldn't dream of covering up a face like yours." The man reached out and playfully flicked Sasuke's fringe with a finger, and the innocent move made every muscle in the Uchiha's body stiffen. "You look like a drowned kitten."

"Mind your own business," Sasuke threw, slapping Kamui's hand away. "And don't touch me again or I'll break your fingers."

Again, Kamui didn't seem fazed, smiling at him. "You need to be less disrespectful of your elders."

Without another word, he performed a few hand seals and Sasuke could see the barrier closest to them dissolving.

They stepped inside the protected land before Kamui performed another set of seals to lift the barrier once more.

While he didn't want to admit it, Sasuke was impressed. Apprehension gnawed at him along with curiosity as he followed Kamui's lead.

Eventually, they spotted an old house in front of which several children of various ages were playing.

Sasuke counted fifteen in total, six that were about Katsuo's age and a bit older, five that had to be around seven or eight, while the rest were about five more or less (two were twin boys).

The barriers were protecting this house and these children, Sasuke realized.

As soon as they spotted Kamui, the group of little ones ran to the man with loud yelps of glee, and Sasuke had to jump to the side as the kids came to surround him, the smaller ones hugging his legs while others tried to jump him.

"Kamui! You came!"

"Oi-baa-san said you'd stay for lunch!"

"Will you play with us?"

"Show us your cool suit!"

"Where are the gifts you promised?"

There was so much noise while children spoke over each other at Kamui that Sasuke could only stare at the scene with his mouth hanging open.

Kamui's smile towards the children was the widest and most genuine Sasuke had seen so far, and it was so full of life it was unbelievably beautiful.

Differently, it reminded him of the qualities of Naruto's pure smile, which was capable of lighting up a whole room and putting everyone in good spirits. It was so infuriatingly contagious.

It made Sasuke's chest clench, seeing Kamui's smile. The man ruffled the kids' hair and hugged them as he could, picking the twins up and tucking them both under each arm, making them laugh hysterically.

"Look, there's a person!"

This was when Sasuke was noticed, the children turning their excited attention to him. Sasuke tensed as they quickly approached him, but they didn't tackle him, thankfully, simply surrounding him with innocent wonder and excitement.

"Are you Kamui's friend?"

"What's your name?"

"You're pretty!"

"Look, look! Such pretty eyes!"

"I wanna see!"

"Did you bring the gifts?"

Sasuke wanted to say something even if just to greet them, but they all spoke so quickly and loudly that he simply couldn't.

"Come on, everyone, settle down," Kamui said, loudly enough to be heard but not screaming. He put the twins down. "This is Sasuke, and he's a traveler I recently met. We need to discuss business, so he's here for lunch. Please treat him well."

"A traveler?" One of the boys around Katsuo's age inquired, big brown eyes very wide. "Awesome! Are you a Shinobi, too?"

"I…"

"Come on, stop nagging him," a grumpy female voice interrupted, and Sasuke saw a small old woman with short gray hair emerging from the house and making their way to them, limping.

The children whined but left Sasuke alone, and he could see now that the woman was missing half of her right leg, which was replaced by what looked like a wooden prosthetic.

As she stopped in front of him, Sasuke noticed she was so small she barely reached his chest, her eyes were wise and fierce, and her features scrunched up in a stern expression.

"Welcome, Sasuke-san," she greeted, and Sasuke bowed respectfully to her, even if hesitant because he was thoroughly confused. How did she know his name? Unless she heard Kamui introducing him?

"Thank you for having me."

"I'm Oi, but you can call me Oi-baa-san," she said, nodding. Sasuke had the impression that he had been expected, and not just for a casual visit.

"This is my sister, Yui." Kamui's voice right next to him nearly startled Sasuke, but he looked to the side to see a young woman he hadn't noticed before, no older than seventeen. Her long braided hair and skin tone matched Kamui's, yet her eyes were dark green, clever, and evaluating. She was pretty, but not strikingly so.

Yui bowed to him politely and her manners were delicate. Sasuke bowed back. "Nice to meet you," she said, her expression blank. Straightening up, she asked, "Will you be staying with us, Sasuke-san?"

The question took Sasuke by surprise. He didn't even know what was going on, who these people were or what he was doing here in the first place. He had no idea what Kamui's idea was.

"I have a room at an Inn in Jōmae, so…"

"You should stay with us, then," Oi said, linking both hands behind her back. "It's ridiculous to be going back and forth if you're working together. Our accommodations are not luxurious, but there'll be a roof over your head and warm food. We have an extra mattress and running water, and you don't seem like a man of high demands."

"Thank you, but…"

"It must be lonely being there all by yourself!" one of the children exclaimed – a little girl of about eight years old. "Please stay, mister! We'll play with you!"

"Guys, I have your gifts here, so don't bother Sasuke anymore," Kamui said, showing the children a small brown bag that he had probably fetched from his pouch. They all screamed a collective 'yay!' before he passed the bag to Yui.

A little dumbfounded, Sasuke watched as the kids gathered around the eldest girl as she distributed what was obviously candy.

"We don't have visitors, so excuse them for being a little too excited," Kamui told Sasuke, with a relaxed smile, observing his reaction.

"It's… fine…" Sasuke muttered, uncertain of what else he could say that made sense just then.

"You should go get your things and bring them over, young man," Oi said, slapping Sasuke's back a little too forcefully to catch his attention.

"Oi-baa-chan, let the man breathe and at least think about it," Kamui dismissed with a small chuckle. "Is lunch ready?"

"Of course; I already set the table for you two behind the house so these brats wouldn't bother you."

Ah, so they had been expecting him, Sasuke concluded, eying Kamui silently while waiting for him to explain.

"Come on, let's get away from the confusion."

Kamui motioned with his head for Sasuke to follow him and led him to the back of the house, where an old table made of gray stone could be seen, already set with cups, chopsticks, and plates, a bottle of wine, bread, and fruits. It was set just for two, conveniently located under a tree so they would be blessed with shade for a while.

"You know, you'll roast under this heat with that cloak," Kamui noted, alluding to Sasuke's cloak. "You can take it off. I know about your arm."

"I know you do. You've been spying on me," Sasuke retorted, mercilessly. "Who knows what else you've seen."

At this, Kamui merely smiled again, mischievously, giving Sasuke a clear answer to his unuttered question.

"Why do you always hide it, though?" The man inquired, without malice. "Does it make you feel self-conscious?"

"Do I look like someone who feels self-conscious about something like this?" Sasuke mumbled, making a displeased face.

"No, you don't."

With a sigh, Sasuke used a hand to undo the cloak's clasp around his neck and slid the thick fabric from his shoulders. "I just don't want to be underestimated because of it, so it's easier to cover it up."

Politely, Kamui extended his hands, intent on taking the garment from him. "It could work to your advantage," he commented reasonably.

Looking down, Sasuke considered the man's hands, because while he couldn't feel or detect a single trace of a threat around him, his nature ordered him to always be suspicious. "I don't need an advantage," he ended up saying, eventually passing his cloak to Kamui along with his bag.

"That you don't," the man agreed, seemingly pleased, and carefully placed Sasuke's bag on the ground next to the tree trunk. He wasted but a second to give Sasuke a once over, and then neatly folded the cloak and placed it on top of the bag before motioning to the table. "Please, sit."

Still a little unsure of what all this was about, Sasuke nodded and made his way to the table, where he sat on the long stone bench, Kamui sitting across from him.

Kamui picked up the bottle of wine and uncorked it, pouring Sasuke some first, and then himself. "You seem surprised," he noted, with a lopsided smirk.

"That was certainly unexpected," Sasuke confessed, with a frown. "They're not all your kids, are they?"

"The twins are my nephews, but none of them are my kids, no. But we'll get to that."

Frown deepening, Sasuke watched the other take a couple of healthy swigs of the wine. Well, at least it wasn't poisoned, Sasuke concluded. "Why did you bring me all the way here?" he asked, straight to the point because there was just so much mystery he could handle before he lost his patience.

"I just wanted to make you feel less suspicious of me," Kamui replied, with a shrug. "This is my life, and this is the family I'm protecting. Right now, that's the most precious secret I own, and you're part of it. Surely you understand the risk I'm taking by bringing you here."

"Is the risk even worth it just to do business?" Sasuke had to counter, shaking his head because it didn't make sense to him. "You don't know me, Kamui."

"I know enough," the man said, as someone who fully believes his own words.

Oi showed up, then, in her hands a large terrine made of clay. She set it down on the table between them, and Sasuke noticed it had meat, rice, and vegetables. It smelled delicious, too.

Despite his insecurity, Sasuke couldn't help but smile gratefully at the old woman as she patted his shoulder. "Dig in, you two! Just yell if you need anything else."

"Thank you, Oi-baa-chan," Kamui said, also smiling softly at her.

As she limped away, Sasuke couldn't help but feel sympathetic toward her. He had long since stopped feeling sorry for disabled people – he was one of them, after all – because they were a lot stronger and more capable than people gave them credit for.

Both men uttered their gratitude. Kamui instructed Sasuke to help himself, which he did.

When their plates were full, Sasuke waited for the other to dig in first, just to make sure the food wasn't poisoned either, and only then did he feel comfortable enough to sip on some wine and get something on his stomach.

The wine wasn't too strong, the bread was freshly baked and the food was good and comforting, and all of this combined with the gentle breeze and the distant yelling of the children brought Sasuke a sense of nostalgia for his village. He missed Katsuo and hoped he was doing well.

They ate in silence for a while, exchanging glances between them. Kamui seemed amused by Sasuke's suspicious attitude, almost as if it somehow endeared him. His steady, unwavering gaze on Sasuke was highly disconcerting, though.

"Do I seem a little less distasteful to you, now?" the man eventually asked, conversationally.

"As nice and welcoming as this is, and I am grateful, I didn't come here to socialize," Sasuke said, wiping his mouth with the cloth that had been left for him. "Care to tell me what this place is? Who are those children if they're not yours? Orphans?"

"Yes," Kamui replied sincerely, his smile disappearing. "They're the last remaining survivors of my clan."

Freezing, Sasuke blinked at him. "What?"

"Well, I suppose I can't postpone our conversation for much longer, can I?" Kamui said, heaving a defeated sigh. He frowned, for the first time looking a little off-put. "I'm sorry for dragging it, but it's a sensitive subject for me and I haven't talked about it in years."

"Talk about what?" Sasuke pressed on slowly.

Again, Kamui sighed and downed the rest of his wine in one go, as if he needed the extra strength, and his serious demeanor was so unlike his previous self that Sasuke instantly knew something grave was coming. "Allow me to tell you about me so you can understand what I need and why."

Kamui then proceeded to tell Sasuke his story.

The Endō clan didn't have a bloodline, but it had been formed from scratch when Kamui's ancestors (wealthy merchants) had entered the country and purchased a large expanse of land about an hour away from where they were. From then on, they expanded the family, the clan, and the business as agricultural lords that held close commercial ties with the daimyos and Jōmae. A large compound had been built throughout the years and everyone lived in the same humongous house.

While the clan didn't belong to a Shinobi lineage, many went to Jōmae for work and education. Kamui himself had wanted to become a Shinobi and a medic and had studied there for that purpose.

Kamui's father had been nominated by his father as the clan leader due to his strong influence and leadership skills, which had always left things bitter between him and his older brother, Dazai, who thought that he should be the leader as the legitimate firstborn and heir.

Apart from Kamui and Yui, there were other three sons, all older.

Kamui had also been married to his childhood sweetheart, a woman named Rio. Kamui showed Sasuke a worn-out picture of her that he had inside his wallet, and her beauty matched Kamui's quite well – they would've made a striking pair.

She had been eight months pregnant when the catastrophe occurred, five years ago.

At the time, Kamui had been working as an assistant medic in Jōmae. There had been a small but bloody conflict with some foreigners that had tried to sack the village, and while everything had turned out fine, there had been many wounded, so Kamui had been called to spend a few days at the village so he could help.

Needless to say, when he returned to his compound, it was no longer the home he knew.

"It was my uncle, you see," Kamui explained without smiling, lighting himself a cigarette with a match since he clearly wouldn't be touching his food anymore. "Oi-baa-san said she woke up to the sound of screaming, but when she tried to call for help in all the different chambers, many had already died in their sleep. Poisoned food, I suspect, but something must've gone wrong because many others were still alive and were fighting for their lives, according to her."

Swallowing hard, Sasuke bit down on his lower lip, not feeling like eating anymore, either, his eyes glued to Kamui in apprehension and disbelief.

"They weren't a special group; thieves and crooks paid by my uncle to kill everything that moved, but there were too many of them." Kamui expelled the smoke, looking down at his plate. "Oi-baa-san did the best she could to get Yui and at least the children out of there but ended up being attacked when she finally managed to get them out through a gap in the walls where no normal adult could fit. She was lucky to escape with just one leg missing, but she's a tough one. She was my martial arts sensei, by the way."

So that's how Oi lost her leg. Sasuke felt something unpleasant make his stomach churn. "Are these all the children in the clan? How come they weren't poisoned?"

"There were teenagers, too, but they were killed, and yes. There was a bacterium in the water at the time, so the food meant for the children was carefully prepared and monitored," Kamui explained, scratching his forehead, looking upset – it was clear that talking about this had a detrimental effect on him, because all the light Sasuke had seen before seemed to have been put out by its weight. "I reckon he didn't think they would survive anyway, defenseless as they were."

The spy cleared his throat and poured himself some more wine.

"When I got there, it was all over, already," he proceeded, keeping his voice even. It was heartbreaking how he had a hard time meeting Sasuke's eye at this point. "The smell of corpses stretched for miles; I remember feeling it on my way there. When I got to the compound, there was a fire in front of the main gates and they were just throwing the dead into it without a care. The bodies were naked and dismembered because they took everything they could from them, including organs to sell. This was information I gathered at a later stage. My wife, Rio…"

This time, Kamui cut himself off, and while his expression was still upset, he merely stared down at his cup of wine in silence, obviously haunted.

The tale was horrifying.

For the first time, Sasuke allowed himself to let his defenses down and openly feel sorry for the man because what he had seen – what he had gone through – weren't things easily pushed aside, and he had not expected Kamui's story to be as serious as it was.

Either that or the man was a very good liar and an even better actor, but Sasuke had become good at identifying lies and this couldn't possibly be one.

Kamui's anger, horror, and grief were very obvious just then, and it tore at Sasuke's heartstrings because this was a very different man from the one he had met the previous day. Hell, it was a different man from the one who had smiled so beautifully at the children not even half an hour before.

How someone could smile and tease when he lived with such horrid memories so fresh in his heart was a mystery to Sasuke. Then again, Sasuke had done the same because he'd had team 7. Like him, Kamui had his sister and children.

"At my uncle's order, they raped and gutted my people," Kamui finally spoke again. "My father, my mother, my brothers and their wives… my wife and my unborn child, my friends… and I was just one man, a low-ranked Shinobi with no special abilities, knowing I'd be killed if I stepped inside that compound."

He downed his wine all at once before slamming the cup down on the table. "I would've thrown myself into that den if Yui hadn't been waiting for me outside in the dark, hoping she could stop me from being killed as soon as I got home."

Kamui took another drag on his cigarette and Sasuke almost felt like touching him so he could offer some comfort, even though he knew, better than anyone, that there was no possible way of making something like this better. "Oi-baa-san's life was in danger because she had lost a leg, and there were sixteen children that needed to be cared for. Mind you, many were mere babies that Oi-baa-san had rescued from their cribs because their parents had died in their sleep."

Finally, Kamui's almond eyes rolled up to meet Sasuke and he had the strength to smile at him apologetically.

"I'm sorry, you were eating," he muttered sadly, noticing how Sasuke hadn't taken another bite. "I should've left this story to a later time."

"No," Sasuke dismissed, and his voice cracked slightly. "Your uncle… he didn't come after you? He should've known you were still alive if you had been absent. He must know you're still around Jōmae."

"Yes, and he still comes after me and the kids, sometimes," Kamui confirmed, bitterly. "Why do you think I keep such strong barriers around here? The house is currently untraceable and those seals also don't allow sound to escape to the outside."

"And Jōmae? You worked for them, why didn't they do something to help you get your house back?"

Kamui laughed dryly. "Sasuke, you of all people know how unfair the world is," he said, shaking his head. "I did ask for help, even if just to ensure the children's safety. Some of my fellow Shinobi checked the compound, but eventually, the government decided that this had nothing to do with them and that they would not risk unnecessary lives just to get back something that held no interest to them and would only be troublesome. After all, my uncle is also a legitimate heir."

Firsts turning into balls, Sasuke grit his teeth. Of course, the fucking villages and their righteousness that didn't give a single fuck about other people.

His heart was pounding so hard in his ears in his fury that, for a moment, he saw red.

It was so devastating it seemed impossible that such calamity had fallen over Kamui and those people.

"They spent a lot of money in Jōmae," Kamui said, referring to the thieves. "Hookers, clothes, food, jewels… All the money we had that was meant to provide for us as a clan was spent and, of course, Jōmae was more than glad to do business with them."

He snorted. "Because my uncle was the new owner of every contract held with the village, the children and I became the outcasts, the stone in their shoe. They were scared of saying no to him and being attacked. I lost my job as a medic and wasn't given protection or housing. They accepted to take the children and give them for adoption, but I couldn't live with myself giving them away and not being able to make sure they were safe. Only the members of our clan that studied or worked in Jōmae were considered citizens. I can still walk around the village because they simply couldn't legally throw me away as a Shinobi trained there, even if they could strip me of my job and benefits. After all, I became too much of a hassle."

Unable to speak, Sasuke watched Kamui's ironic, empty smile, and by now, they both had tears in their eyes for different reasons, yet both ignored them, simply pretending they didn't exist.

"So, I found this house and rebuilt it for us, and became a worker for pay in Jōmae." Absent-mindedly, Kamui smashed his cigarette on the small ashtray at the farthest end of the table, having barely smoked it – an indication that this was a nervous habit rather than an addiction. "I did… I still do everything that crosses my path to make money and keep a low profile. I'm just the guy Jōmae accepts because it would look bad to kick me out knowing I'm the survivor of a massacre. Eventually, because I heard it paid handsomely, I looked for the best masters to train me to become a spy and an assassin and I joined the list of the most solicited assassins in the world. Regardless, since I don't take many missions from outside of the country because of the kids, it doesn't pay that well, and it's difficult to provide for so many people when your very existence ties you up."

"I had never killed before, and now it's something I do without breaking a sweat," Kamui confessed, closing his eyes briefly. "It's especially easy when I envision my uncle, crushed under my hands like he's made of shit. Still, sometimes I don't know where to turn, it's just one day at a time. I can't keep these kids hidden forever, they need a life, but I don't know where I could go or what I could do."

Opening his eyes, Kamui met Sasuke's gaze again, and for a few seconds, the two stared at each other as they both processed the heaviness of the moment between them and what this all meant.

Sasuke knew well what it meant for him, and it brought a knot to his throat and punch to his very soul.

Their story was similar, yet different, but their pain was the same. The grief they felt, the horror they had seen and the marks it all left… Those were things they undoubtedly shared and mutually understood, and Sasuke had never in a million years thought that he would ever see in this man a reality so similar to his.

Even so, Kamui had struggled a lot more than he had, and all things considered, he had lost a lot more. That he had taken so many burdens upon himself while still working and making himself stronger was a thing to applaud.

At least Konoha had not thrown Sasuke away as the last remaining Uchiha. Sasuke, however, had to wonder what would've happened if Itachi had not demanded it.

"I suppose this is all a bit heavy, even for you, huh?" Kamui muttered gently, and he seemed to feel guilty for the things he saw in Sasuke's expression just then.

Sasuke shook his head, hating the way he felt and how it silenced his voice. He, too, picked up his cup and downed the rest of his wine to get his wits back.

"I understand why you'd come to me with this story," he eventually spoke, choosing his words carefully. "I assume you are seeking revenge?"

"I'm seeking peace," Kamui corrected. "I can't run away and move on, pretend that they didn't take my life away from me. That is not something I can do, or live with."

Again, Sasuke found that he could relate all too well.

"So you want to kill Dazai?"

"I want to kill them all."

"And then what?" Sasuke hissed, frowning as he frustratingly wiped at the tears in the corners of his eyes. "How will life change for you once you do?"

Staring at him impassively, Kamui shrugged, helplessly. "I don't know. I was hoping you could tell me."

That answer was devastating to Sasuke and spoke worlds of Kamui's current emotional state.

The man truly had no idea what he wanted or could do with his life. Was he even planning on getting the compound back? Whichever decision he could potentially make would be hard on him with so many people to take care of.

Would they even get Jōmae's help and official citizenship if they got their home back or would they still be treated as nuisances?

If it was Sasuke, he would not want it, either way.

"I can't possibly do that," Sasuke muttered, sincerely. "I can't dictate what you do with your life."

"I see." Placing his elbow on the table and resting his chin on a hand, Kamui sniffed but seemed comfortable with looking at Sasuke now, heavy-lidded but attentive. His expression changed, then, becoming calm, almost aloof. "How did revenge feel for you?"

The question was asked softly, in that very 'Kamui' way of speaking that had become familiar to Sasuke, devoid of malice, gentle even. It was a tone capable of warming people from the inside out and forcing them to drop their defenses. Sasuke noticed that he was becoming rather accustomed to these shifts in the man's persona, even if he was sure this was a trick used as a means to an end in his line of work since it was useful in several areas.

That Kamui was able to be so physically honest in one moment and then swallow it all down in the other was impressive, but forced Sasuke to pull himself together and stay alert.

Looking back at the other, he noticed the exhaustion, but no one would tell that he'd been talking about the murder of his clan just a minute ago, and it was a little disturbing. How much of that was a trick and how much was Kamui's mental instability (or outstanding ability to muffle his feelings down) Sasuke didn't know.

He didn't think the man was lying, but he wasn't exactly alright, either.

"It felt like hell, from start to finish, and it didn't get any better afterward," Sasuke replied, wryly. "But this isn't about me. What is it that you want me to do?"

Kamui huffed and straightened his back. "I wouldn't dream of asking you to help me kill them if that's what you're thinking," he said, gravely. "But as a Shinobi, while I am strong and skilled, I don't have any special abilities that could help me as I told you. I've never honestly faced so many opponents before, so I need you for that. I need you to slow those men down so I can kill them."

Sasuke blinked at him in disbelief. "And how do you expect me to do that?"

"I heard you're a genjustu master."

Well, was there anything the guy didn't know about Sasuke?

"Genjustu can only be used on one person at a time, and while I can put several people under it, it's not something possible on a massive scale from one moment to the other, if I'm attacked by a large group of men," Sasuke explained, making a face. "You don't realize how tricky it is to perform on a single person, let alone dozens."

"I do know that," Kamui acquiesced, raising a hand to placate him. "Genjutsu can only be performed by the strongest and most intelligent people due to the intricate chakra control it requires as well as the ability to tamper with another person's mind. I don't think you will need to perform it on a massive scale because I have a well-designed plan for my attack, but it could come in handy all the same."

The man's gaze lit up unexpectedly as he leaned forward on the table and lowered his voice. "I just need a helping hand, Sasuke, because I can't fight them by myself, let alone kill them, there's too many of them, and it's a type of thing that needs to be done in silence," he said, seriously. "I will do the job, but I need you to have my back and cover up for me, with or without a genjutsu."

"So you want me to hold them down for you so you can kill them?" Sasuke retorted. "You want me to be an accomplice to murder."

"I told you, you won't have to kill them."

"But I'll be in charge of quieting them down and preparing them for you," Sasuke countered, coldly. "Isn't that the same as indirectly killing them?"

"Perhaps."

Bringing two fingers to his temple, Sasuke took a deep breath to try and calm himself down so he could think about all of this with a clearer mind.

It had been years since he had last killed someone, and he'd promised himself he wouldn't unless he couldn't help it. Nevertheless, he empathized with Kamui's story and goal more than he cared to admit because what those people had done was inexcusable. Some people deserved to die, sometimes an excruciatingly long death.

Much to his frustration, he admitted that this was such a case, even if it bothered him a little that Kamui knew Sasuke's story well and had used it to create that sense of empathy while searching for mutual understanding. It was a smart move and that alone was both despicable and commendable.

Hadn't Sasuke himself felt relieved when he found a similar pain to his in Naruto's heart at some point? Hadn't this helped him go through his everyday life feeling less alone and more hopeful?

Sasuke couldn't shake the feeling that, even if Kamui was a grown man, he must've felt lonely in all this. Finding out about someone who shared a story similar to his must've felt like a light at the end of a dark deep tunnel.

That he believed his feelings could be acknowledged and respected by someone had to feel relieving, purifying even.

"I'm not judging your actions, Kamui," Sasuke said, a little more in tune with himself. "I understand your motives, but you're insane asking someone you don't know to help you with such a monumental thing."

"I will understand if you don't want to help me," Kamui said, apparently not disheartened at all. "It's not your responsibility and I am aware that it's a heavy task. I also understand that the scrolls I promised alone are not enough retribution for what I'm asking of you. But I will pay whatever you want. Just name the price, and I'll get it no matter what."

Biting on his lower lip, Sasuke had to ask. "Why me?"

At his question, Kamui paused, eyes widening slightly as if he hadn't expected Sasuke to ask despite it being obvious. Still, Sasuke wanted to hear it from him and he was quick to oblige.

"Because you're strong enough," he eventually replied, unfiltered. "And, yes, because our stories are similar and I needed to tell you about it. I watched you long enough to know you wouldn't judge me. I knew I could share this with you and not feel like my hatred turns me into a monster."

A shiver ran down Sasuke's spine but he remained very still, not allowing his expression to change as the man's crude, sincere words punched his gut fiercely.

"I need to do this so I can be free, but I can't afford to die," Kamui proceeded, firmly, and the way his gaze sharpened brought his eyes back to life in that bright way that was more like him. "Yui and the children need me. If they didn't exist I would've tried to get it done by myself and probably gotten myself killed in the process. But as it is, with you protecting me my chances are a lot higher."

Indeed, a man who didn't fear death that would've probably killed himself if he didn't have something to hold on to.

There was grief in Sasuke's heart on his behalf, sorrow, too, yet not pity because he knew the sentiment well.

Unexpectedly, Kamui's raw honesty struck him with an irreversible feeling of kinship, even if he instantly told himself to keep focused.

"Haven't you considered that I will be risking my life, too?" he retorted, heaving a tired sigh. "I have a family to think about, too."

Finally, this made the older man smile condescendingly. "No offense, Sasuke, but you can't be serious," he said, shaking his head, and again, a flash of authentic endearment crossed his features. "Those guys are small fish to someone like you."

"What about the bodies?"

"You don't need to think about that."

At this point, Sasuke's heart was heavy with emotion but his spirit was restless. His gut told him all of this was legitimate and unfortunately for him, Kamui's speech and strange emotional allure had somehow held him captive and he instantly knew he couldn't escape if he tried. Even if a stubborn side of him told him it could all be a scam, he wouldn't be able to rest knowing it could be true and that he could've done something to help, somehow, even if what Kamui was asking of him was atrocious.

Worst of all, Sasuke felt that he wanted Kamui to heal. There was a light to him that shone too bright, much like Naruto's, and it would be put out soon if nothing was done. He didn't want to see it happening.

Some people were meant to bring that light into the world.

If things turned out for the worst and his instinct was wrong, he would deal with it accordingly, but at least he wouldn't be torturing himself for walking away.

"Take me to the compound," Sasuke demanded, without missing a beat.

Kamui promptly obliged.

The two arrived at their destination reasonably quickly after a silent run through a detour led by Kamui. Expectedly, the man was incredibly fast on his feet, something for which Sasuke was thankful, and yet he still had time to cool his head down, the welcomed exercise helping his agitated mind to quiet down.

The compound was a lot bigger than Sasuke had expected, almost like a small village, protected by tall and thick wooden walls and with a massive gate at the main entrance. It was impressive even from a distance, but as soon as they spotted it, Sasuke felt a shift in his companion's demeanor. Sasuke turned to look at him to see that he had paled visibly.

"I need a second," Kamui said, quickly turning around and only managing to take a few steps away from Sasuke before leaning forward and helplessly disposing of what little he had eaten at lunch, startling the youngest one.

"Fuck, are you alright?" he asked, going over to the man and instinctually putting a hand on his back for comfort. Kamui could only nod his affirmation and lift to ask him to wait, the other one supporting his position on a thigh.

While the man convulsed a few times, Sasuke waited patiently, wondering what was wrong with him. Maybe the wine, or the fact that they had gotten there too fast, but they were both trained to be prepared for this, it wasn't supposed to affect him.

This was when it hit Sasuke. "It's the gate isn't it?" he asked, as Kamui straightened himself up with a low grunt.

Kamui had mentioned the fire and how the bodies of his family had been burnt in front of the gate, even his pregnant wife's.

Not a single trace of that could be seen right now, but just thinking about it made Sasuke feel equally sick.

"I'm sorry you had to see this," the man said, composing himself and carefully wiping his mouth with a thumb. "It used to be worse before. I have much more control of my body now, but I still get triggered by it."

"It's a conditioned response caused by trauma," Sasuke noted with a worried frown, extending him his canteen of water that he had fetched from his bag. "Even if I can't erase your memory, I can probably fix that."

With a grateful nod, Kamui accepted the canteen. "How?"

Sasuke didn't reply, motioning with his hand for him to drink a bit, which he did. "Let me know when you're good to go. I want to see the place."

"I'm good now, let's go."

Sasuke threw him a disbelieving glance, but Kamui's expression was determined and he did seem to have gained back some color in his cheeks. Taking his canteen back and putting it away, he walked fast so he could take a look at the compound from outside and from a good distance, Kamui following after him as silently as before.

For the second time that day, Sasuke activated his Sharingan in search of traps, seals, or strange occurrences. There was nothing but walls protecting those people.

He managed to find a tree that they both climbed easily before perching themselves on their branches, and the first thing he noticed was that inside the gigantic compound there was also cultivated land that stretched out beyond what the eye could see that was used for agriculture. He also noticed that he could barely see the houses or anything because metal roofs had been built everywhere, covering most of the exterior residential area inside the compound.

"Why the metal roofs?" Sasuke asked. "Won't they melt under the heat? They barely let the sunlight in."

"They built these roofs to protect themselves from me," Kamui explained, and this brought a bitter but satisfied smile to his mouth. "I used to attack them from the outside, even managed to kill a few of them but they've been mostly barricading themselves inside the houses since then. They have vigilant men, too. Those idiots in the ironed samurai armors over there."

Indeed, two men were doing a vigil on top of the roofs, but they seemed sluggish and inattentive, merely there because it was required, and their fighting skills were probably shit.

With his eyes, Sasuke tried to observe as much as he could. But there was nothing spectacular to see other than the fact, despite the apparent quiet, probably a hundred people or more resided there and were currently inside the house.

He couldn't possibly take this at face value, but he felt a sudden sense of calm washing over him.

Looking at Kamui, who was elegantly perched on a branch a little higher up from his, he made up his mind. "I'll help you under three conditions," he said firmly.

"Anything," Kamui agreed at once, without hesitating.

"First, those scrolls you promised; I still want them."

"They're yours," the other assured, confidently. "I'll give you all of my family's secret scrolls if you want."

"Second, I will hear your plan, but if I feel like it needs to be changed we will go with my ideas."

"Of course."

"And three, you'll have to teach me your jutsu," Sasuke finished in a way that had no space for refusal or debate. "I'm not getting in there until I've managed to hide my chakra signature."

To his surprise – though he didn't show it – Kamui's smile was one of immense relief and gratitude, a hint of excitement making his dark eye sparkle with something intense. "Most of those idiots cannot even recognize a chakra signature. But fine, I'd be honored to teach you."

Honored. That was the second time Sasuke had heard it coming from the other's mouth, and it somehow gave him a peculiar sense of arrogance and pleasure.

"Then, we have a deal," Sasuke finalized, stretching his arm and extending his hand up to Kamui, who easily crouched down and held it.

"Thank you," he said with his simple, charming smile that was a relief to see, shaking Sasuke's hand once. However, when he didn't let go, Sasuke had to raise an inquisitive eyebrow at him.

"Is that… all you want as payment?" Kamui asked softly, even if a little hesitantly. "It's not nearly enough for what you'll do."

"Don't worry, I'll think of something eventually so you can pay back with interest," Sasuke replied.

"Fair enough," Kamui accepted. "I'll be looking forward to it."

Despite this, he held on to Sasuke's hand for a few seconds more and Sasuke let him, for reasons he didn't want to think about.

They gazed at each other, and it felt like some sort of competition as if they were trying to see who would look away first.

It wasn't anything of the sort, of course, but Kamui's eyes could be overwhelmingly intense and unfaltering, expressive and they now spoke to him of silent awe and gratefulness, and it did things to Sasuke's nerves he couldn't control.

Gently, he slowly slid his hand away from the grasp, and while Kamui's hold loosened, his fingers made sure to brush Sasuke's intentionally until they were no longer touching, something so simple it made goosebumps break all over Sasuke's skin.

He got into a standing position once more and smiled down at Sasuke. "How about I start by offering you lodging? It would make it easier for us to work together. The kids would like that, and Oi-baa-san is surely counting on you. I promise I'll stop stalking you from now on."

Despite his better judgment, Sasuke realized he had no will of his own to refuse anymore.

TBC…


Okay, so was this an expected plot line? Perhaps, but I still like it and hope you do, too.

I know this chapter was a serious one, but the next one will be considerably lighter as we enter the messy and intense journey of Sasuke's and Kamui's chemistry.

As expected, though, their story will have its dark moments, so it will be composed of ups and downs. It will be no less interesting and alluring, though, quite the contrary ;)

I think the next chapter will be released quickly because… well, I'm dying to write it.

As usual, thank you all for the wonderful feedback and approval of Kamui's character!

Don't forget to comment! Your feedback feeds the muse!

See y'all soon!