This is a work of fan fiction using characters from the Naruto, which is trademarked by Masashi Kishimoto. Everything aside from the original characters are created from the wonderful mind of Kishimoto.
Most of the following unrecognizable are original characters of mine, please bear with me I am still in the process of making the character profiles for an even better visualization.
This chapter would be told on Sasuke's side of the spectrum,
Comments, suggestions, criticism, even just simple messages are welcomes, please feel free to message me anytime.
Thanks for reading!
Chapter 18:
Sasuke stood in the middle of the dark training room, reaching in the depths of his mind trying to recall a memory he was so familiar with during his younger year.
Itachi standing in the middle of his targets, none of which were easy but as he jumped up in the air, eyes not even opened as he methodically threw his kunais in the air, hitting each and every single target head on.
Sasuke mimicked Itachi's movements in his memory, his body working more on retention rather than precision, and just like his brother did in his memory he hit the targets with accuracy.
"That was awesome Sasuke, but you missed one, better luck next time" Misaki came out from behind a tree trunk, carrying an unscathed target smiling mischievously.
Sasuke's fist tightened at the memory, these memories were useless, at most a hindrance to him an his cause, he doesn't need to remember them right now, but even as he opened his eyes, there she stood, Misaki like he had seen her the last time, smiling at him, holding an unscathed target.
"Chidori Stream" he unleashed torrents of lightning until the image of Misaki before him had all been fried into just that an illusion, along with the rest of his targets.
No distractions
As a butterfly presented itself in front of him, he drew his katana in a split second, slicing not the butterfly in mind, but the vision of Itachi standing before him, and as he walked out of the room, the butterfly, still unknowledgeable of its fate split in half as he burned under the heat of the candle.
An inevitable casualty, simply unavoidable, and this one had outlived his purpose.
Sasuke thought as he sent a solid steam of chidori through the door and slashed the door in pieces with his katana.
"You came, just as I thought you would" Orochimaru struggled to say, his arms blocking his chidori for doing anything too fatal.
"I have nothing more to learn from you, even here, before you, I think I could become heartless" Sasuke said, his onyx eyes easing into a sharingan, partially activating his cursed mark. Sasuke walked forward, pushing his chidori harder on Orochimaru, who had only to divert the attack as it strike through the wall. Listing the things that Sasuke had detested about Orochimaru and his actions, because Orochimaru, was exactly like Itachi, destroying others in their quest for power.
"I wanted to get revenge, and I was prepared to give up my body to get it, but you just wanted the sharingan. Itacahi didn't work out, that's why you came after me a fledging. Isn't that right, you who they called the genius sannin, but you turned out to be what they called on the streets,
'just an ordinary prodigy', you couldn't even live up to the Uchiha name, much less surpass it, even the best prodigy is only ordinary against the Uchiha name. What you did, disgustingly trying to approach the powers of the Uchiha by drowning yourself in drugs and trying to overcome your body, it seems shameless and comical to me who possesses that name, by drowning yourself in drugs and trying to overcome your body. What's more I don't like the way you do things. What is your goal? You hopped from hideout to hideout, conducting experiments, toying with life after life, saying you were trying to unravel the order of this world, you continued to toy with others for your own stupid and selfish reasons. You make me sick!" Sasuke ended his litany and advanced in attacking his master, who seemingly lay helpless on his bed, pinned by his chidori, but before he could do any real damage, Orochimaru abandoned the body he was in and behind Sasuke unveiled his true form, a giant snake with white scales, designed so that even death's door he might escape it.
"Now Sasuke-kun, give me your body" Orochimaru yelled and began an onslaught of attacks, the snakes on his body coming alive and attacking Sasuke all at once. Sasuke dodged for a while before stopping all at once to removing his upper garments to fully activate his cursed mark.
"A snake slithers on the ground can only dream of flying through the air, you wanted it so badly that you went after the fledging in the nest, but you became targeted as the prey instead, by the eyes of a hawk soaring high above in the sky." Sasuke stood victorious amongst the countless snakes that tried to cage him, his skin darker, his eyes blackened, and behind him a physical manifestation of his power a pair of wings resembling talons of a hawk.
"Sasuke!" Orochimaru shrieked as he continued to go after Sasuke, who formed a sword out of his chidori and put an end to their fight, slicing Orochimaru in three parts.
"It's over…that was too quick" standing amongst the remains of Orochimaru, Sasuke deactivated his cursed mark, rising victorious against his master, but it wasn't that much fight, Orochimaru was at death's door, weak, so it wasn't much victory to relish in.
Like he said, it was too quick, as chemical substances steamed out of Orochimaru's dismembered body, flooding the whole room.
"Looks like it's beginning to take effect, the body fluid of the giant white snake skin vaporizes upon contact with the air and becomes an anesthetic, I am immortal, the likes of your jutsu cannot kill me, now then I shall have you now!" Orochimaru laughed as Sasuke doubled over as they drug took effect on his body, taking him…someplace else.
"What is this?" Sasuke looked around his surroundings, which consisted of something that resembled innards.
"This is a different space inside my body, here, the transference ritual will be held, we'll begin now" Orochimaru immerged from the pile of entrails, completely covered in them, the same snake like entrails covering him, much like Orochimaru's previous vessels who had immerged behind him.
"What visual prowess, marvelous, the things I can do with that body, and from your body I will make the powerful vessel, combining the your visual prowess to Misaki's physical aptitude, that child would be the ultimate vessel" Orochimaru revealed his plans not only for his body but with Misaki and a child between them too.
Sasuke flinched as he pulled out the anger in him, letting it seep to the snake like innards, turning them black and turning them against their master releasing him in the process.
"No! It can't be I created place only I can-" Orochimaru gasped eyes wide with fear and disbelief as everything began to turn against him.
"Before my eyes, all your justu are, well you get it now don't you?" Sasuke callously said as one of the giant blackened snakes descended upon Orochimaru.
"No this isn't possible, I Orochimaru, the immortal, the one who will reveal all the answers, the one who will inherit it all" Orochimaru continued to struggle until his own snakely innards finally consumed him.
When Sasuke opened his eyes he was back to the dark and dismal hideout standing before Orochimaru's corpse just like he had been.
"Kabuto is that you" Sasuke called out to the medical nin spying by the door. Eyes wide and almost shaking as he stood at the door just as Sasuke was exiting it.
"Which, which one are you?" Kabuto managed to stutter out as Sasuke was on his way for the exit.
"Which one do you think" he smirked and activated his sharingan showing him what had occurred during the transference ritual.
"Orochimaru-sama is dead?" Kabuto nearly suffocated in his own words, his master the great and immortal Orochimaru is dead…just like that.
"I've consumed him completely" Sasuke smirked at the sight of Kabuto, trembling like a lost puppy with his master gone, now this, this is victory. Not a long lived one, because he still has a lot of things to do before he can accomplish his goals.
'I will make the powerful vessel, combining the your visual prowess to Misaki's physical aptitude, that child would be the ultimate vessel' Orochimaru'swords rang inside Sasuke's mind, along with flashes of heartfelt images of the life he could have lived, of the life he could have had with Misaki, of the life he could have lead if only he had decided to stay the night she told him she loved her. The night he broke her heart.
Sasuke shook his head physically pushing himself of this memories and fantasies, it wasn't going to help his cause.
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"Come with me, I'll take you to Neko-baa" Denka said leading the team of misfits through the tunnel as his companion happily carried the gift of catnip.
When they got to Neko-baa a young girl almost about their age went straight to Karin staring at her face in the most scrutinizing manner it brought Orochimaru's to shame.
"Oh I thought you were her!" Tamaki pouted and stomped.
"Calm down Tamaki, the likes of her would rarely visit out her place we just happened to be lucky to meet them in person, plus she travels with four female companions, I'm sure you don't remember him much but this one is Sasuke, of the Uchiha clan" Neko-baa reasoned with her energetic granddaughter.
"Oh I see, how may we be of service" Tamaki asked.
"We're going to need some clothes and medicine amongst other things" Sasuke asked and immediately Neko-baa nodded to her grandchild who followed her wordless order.
"Um, if you don't mind me asking, who was I mistaken for?" Karin asked as the silence of getting to work overtook them.
"She's one of five female bandless travelers" Neko-baa answered nonchalantly.
"Bandless?" Suigetsu asked suddenly interested in the conversation rather than playing with the cats.
"Neko-baa is oversimplying things. They are known around the kunoichi five, five shinobi from different ninja countries who decided to put their differences aside and travel together. They rescue towns and villages, from bandits amd all those no do gooders, I think they even went against the Akatsuki a couple of times" Tamaki boasted like she was boasting her would be children.
"So what does it have to do with me?" Karin asked.
"Your hair, its almost similar to one of the members, she goes by so many names, they have made quite a reputation,lightning master, red flash, katana wielder, little shrimp, now what was her name" Neko-baa smoked her pipe even more trying so hard to remember.
"Neko-baa her name is Misaki, Mi-sa-ki" Tamaki scolded, arms in her hips. Sasuke almost flinched at the mention of her name.
"Misaki?" Juugo repeated, the sound of his voice snapping Tamaki back to her work.
"Yeah, she has this long beautiful unique hair that only a tad bit different colour from Karin's hair. I haven't seen her fight, but some say when she fights she is so fast you would only catch after images of her long red hair, that's why they called her red flash, similar to a man back then, who only leaves a vision of yellow flash in his wake." Tamaki explained.
"They visited here once, I remembered her from the times Itachi brought her here to get supplies for her mother's shop" Neko-baa purposely mentioned Itachi, and when Sasuke lifted the materials and began packing she knew she hit a nerve.
"I knew it, you're going after him. I've known you both since you were younger, but little did I imagine it would come to this… You two are all that is left of the Uchiha clan and now you'll have to fight to the death" Neko-baa said the sadness evident in her voice. Sasuke said nothing but his thanks for the services and products whilst placing his payment before Neko-baa and leaving wordlessly.
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"I hope Misaki made if back safely" Kazumi said removing the hood on her head as they entered the dark tunnels of their destination.
"Are you kidding me, she probably arrived the second she disappeared" Natsumi groaned shaking her whole body to rid herself of the water.
"You're just worried about her part in the mission, but she would want you to focus on yours" Yoko explained
Kazumi was about to apologise for her silliness when the person before them in the shadows shocked her core, taking out a kunai and standing in a attack position, her reaction jumpstarting the other members, except for Natsumi.
"What's going on?" Natsumi asked, but no answered until the reason itself revealed itself from the shadows, but even still Natsumi was left baffled.
"That is Uchiha Sasuke" Ayako answered, remembering the rogue shinobi during the chunin exams where he and Gaara both participated in.
"Oh you mean Misaki friend from the past, wow he kinda reminds me a lot of Sai honestly" Natsumi shrugged completely unfazed by the pending battle.
"I agree he does look a lot like Misaki's new friend" Yoko added. The veins in Sasuke forehead popped as he felt a foreign kind of anger rise within him.
"I don't suppose you're the kunoichi five aren't you" Suigetsu asked hand on his sword the other on his hips.
"We don't go by any name, but yes that is what the people call us" Kazumi answered.
"Then where's the fifth one?" Suigetsu asked intentionally, because he knows Sasuke is too stubborn and too prideful to ask and that would put him in a very foul mood, and Sasuke in a foul mood is not something Suigetsu is looking forward to travel with.
"It's not really your business, especially your sulking emo buddy here" Natsumi nearly growled at Suigetsu getting ready to ponce but Yoko held her in place.
"That is enough Natsumi, we have our priorities to attend to, besides, this is not our battle" Yoko calmed the fiesty kunoichi who extinguished her fire.
"Fine, but only for Misaki" Natsumi pouted crossing her arms.
"If you'll excuse us, we need to be getting some supplies at Neko-baa's" Yoko said and passed through them, followed by the rest.
Once they were out of ear shot, Yoko quickly turned to Ayako,
'Send a message to Misaki, tell her it is just as she expected, we found Sasuke regrouped with Neko-baa with two male and a single female companion" Yoko instructed and once the wind blew, Ayako turned and joined with the wind.
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After they had concluded their meeting Misaki teleported back to Konohagakure where she ended on top of the fourth hokage's head. She could have teleported closer to the hokage's office, for instance right outside the window, but she wanted to walk and take some time as to how she will be able to break the news, especially to Naruto, who was so hell bent on 'saving' Sasuke from Orochimaru.
On her way there, about two hallways away, she already heard a familiar ruckus inside the hokage's office.
"Oww… Sakura that hurt!" Naruto complained as Sakura forcibly bowed Naruto's head.
"Excuse me," Misaki entered with a light knock on the door.
"Misaki, it's great to see you just in time, after this, Naruto and I will be going out to get some ramen, join us"
"Ah, Misaki, you've returned, did you finished what you need to do" Tsunade asked as Misaki walked forward inline with Naruto and Sakura.
"Most of it Tsunade-sensei, It's good to see you too Jiraiya-san, and yes I'd like to have some ramen too" Misaki smiled at two of the three legendary sannin.
"Yahoo! Misaki you know what I perfected my collaboration technique with Gamatatsu, I'll show you I'll show you" Naruto held on to Misaki's shoulder shaking her in the process of his excitement. However, it wasn't long after that did Naruto notice the silence of his companions.
"Ne, Tsunade-bachan, why did you call us for in the first place" Naruto asked.
"Well, its about the information circulating across the lands" Tsunade began, uneasy than usual.
"Orochimaru is dead, it seems that Uchiha Sasuke killed him" Tsunade announced, eyes widening, Naruto and Sakura tried to process the news.
"Is that true" Naruto whispered.
"There's no mistake about it, I heard it from a reliable source" Jiraiya said.
"That is also the reason why I returned earlier than expected, my sources told me that at the time where Orochimaru was about to posses his body, near death, Sasuke attacked him and killed him" Misaki revealed, breaking the news a little easier than she had expected. The reaction from S asuke's teammates varied from one end to another end of the scale with Sakura near tears and Naruto…
"Heh! After all there's no way he'd get killed by Orochimaru, then that means Sasuke will be coming back to Konoha right?" Naruto rejoiced with pride at Sasuke's 'escape' Misaki, Tsunade and Jiraiya all exchanged looks.
"That doesn't seem to be the case" Jiraiya began
"Sasuke's goal for leaving the village was to put an end to Itachi Naruto, Orochimaru was just in his way, his continued absence in the village is a proof of that" just then, a gush of petal carrying winds uncharacteristically entered Tsunade's office and landed on Misaki's hand, forming a paper made out of petal. Misaki read through it quickly before frying it into dust.
"My informant just told me that Sasuke had been seen traveling with two male and a female companion, and their on their way to Itachi" Misaki informed everyone.
"How reliable is that source?" Jiraiya asked.
"Very" Misaki answered.
"So then we know where Sasuke is, did they tell, we have to talk to him" Naruto placed his hands on Misaki's shoulders.
"I'm sorry Naruto, the information stated that they were moving at a fast pace, even if they had the current location, by the time we get there, they might be long gone" Misaki said.
"Damn" Naruto bit his lip.
"So we target the one he is after" Jiraiya said.
"WE target the one who has the highest chance of encountering Sasuke, hmm should we do it" Tsunade pondered.
"If we're able to take just one of the Akatsuki into custody, Ibiki can get information about Itachi and his whereabouts" Sakura supported.
"I've already issued an order to all teams to capture a member of the Akatsuki if the opportunity presents itself and transport him to us" Tsunade said.
"That will be very difficult" Kakashi said, who had been leaning on the door with Kaede all the while.
"When did you guys return" Misaki rushed to her parents with a hug
"When did you leave"
"My bad" Misaki rubbed the back of her head with a smile.
"However, back to what I was saying, we won't be able to make them talk so easily" Kakaashi said.
"Those we have encountered were far too dangerous, taking them into custody was already out of the question the moment we saw them." Misaki explained.
"Then what are we gonna do" Naruto asked.
"Well until we come across Itachi, I don't think we have anything to do but be patient and search" Kakashi answered.
"And I am also advising to leave Naruto behind" Misaki said out of he blue. Everybody froze as Misaki stared intently at Naruto, whose frustration was growing by the second.
"What do you mean not coming?" Naruto's voice tethered between anger and unbelief.
"You are the primary target for Akatsuki, do you really think it's safe for you to come chasing after one" Misaki tried to respond as calmly as she could, but Naruto's neck is directly under the noose and that she won't be able to.
"Misaki, don't you understand this is for Sasuke, we have to get him home!" Naruto exclaimed.
"Naruto you are the priority, my priority here, I won't let you do this"
"What's your problem! You've been avoiding Sasuke's topic like a plague since you returned." Naruto's eyes had lost their blue color and now turned into the fox red. Everyone around them were preparing to subdue Naruto before it can get any heavier, but when Naruto had placed his hands on Misaki's shoulder, Misaki had teleported them away.
"Misaki, Naruto!" Kaede yelled out, hands shaking in panic.
"We have to find them, we have to get to them before anything happens" Kaede pulled Kakashi out the window as they began their search, followed by Jiraiya and Sakura.
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The twins landed outside of Konohagakura away from any living soul at the moment, and as soon as they touched solid ground, Misaki pushed Naruto creating a considerable amount of distance between them.
"Why is that Misaki? You haven't been answering anyone about what happened the night Sasuke disappeared, did you drive him away huh! And now you're keeping me from looking from looking for him" Naruto yelled at his twin. Misaki jumped out of range of his claws, she knew this isn't Naruto anymore, or at least most of it. The kyuubi's angsty chakra had managed to intertwine itself with Naruto's frustrations and it's using Naruto's anger.
"It's not like that Naruto, there things we need to put first at the moment" Misaki answered dodging attack after attack.
"Or is it because you kissed Sai?" Naruto growled, the kyuubi's chakra beginning to take form of a cloak around him.
"It had nothing to do with that!" Misaki yelled out, her own patience beginning to run out with Naruto's malicious cajoling.
"You wanted to be rid of him don't you, that's why you don't want me looking for him. You never wanted him back, you drew him away!"
"It's not like THAT!" Misaki finally lost it and pushed Naruto away and out of range as she released a huge bolt of lightning into the skies in anger.
Not far from them, Kaede and Kakashi saw Misaki's outburst like a beam sprouting from the ground straight into the skies.
"That's Misaki!" Kaede gasped, pushing her body forward to where the bolt had appeared.
"Jiraiya-sama we have gained visual of the twins" Kakashi said through their microphone, picking up his pace to catch up to Kaede.
The sibling stood face to face against each other, staring at each other, waiting for the other to strike first.
Naruto being the naturally impatient one dashed towards Misaki who charged at him head on.
"You are not going to hurt my brother" Misaki said, not talking to Naruto, but straight to the tailed beast within him as golden chains coming from behind her and wrapping itself around Naruto's body, and chaining him down.
They landed on the ground with Naruto in a three tailed cloak squirming and Misaki kneeling on one knee restraining him.
"Why are you doing this, I just want Sasuke home, I just want my friend back" Naruto yelled out in frustration.
"Don't you think this doesn't hurt me too?!" Misaki yelled back, tears falling in her eyes.
"Do you think you're the only one who's hurting? The night Sasuke left I told him I love him, hoping that I would be enough to get him to stay, but he left Naruto, he left me, he broke my heart. How'd you think that makes me feel. And even now here I am trying to fight of my feeling because I am still in love with him! I want to save him, I want him back, but that's the thing he doesn't want saving and he doesn't want to be back!" Misaki yelled, crying, feeling completely helpless. Naruto finally stopped squirming and felt himself beginning let go of his anger as he saw his sister crying.
Eventually Kakashi and Kaede found them in this condition, with Misaki crying like a child, with her face hiding behind her knees and arms, her adamantine chakra wrapped around a moping Naruto.
"That's!" Kaede gasped, covering her mouth, Kaede didn't think Misaki was capable of accomplishing that technique, how could she, no one who knew that jutsu was around to teach her. She knew Misaki was gifted with fuinjutsu, but she just assumed that she had just found a way to learn it, but it turns out, Misaki inherited so much more than just her mother's looks. Kaede always thought that despite her looks, she always took after her father, but this jutsu was the testament of just how much she has of her mother.
The Adamantine Sealing Chains, a special kind of technique that uses a special strong kind of chakra found only within the Uzumaki clan, controlling it and molding it to form into chains.
Despite his initial shock at seeing Misaki's justu, Kakashi was not surprised that Misaki was able to pull it off just like several other techniques she mastered just by either observation or studying it.
Both of them had a lot of questions, but right now their top priority was amending the mess the siblings had gotten themselves into. Kakashi approached the crying Misaki and slowly soothed and coaxed her into releasing an already compliant Naruto.
As soon as Misaki had settled down and released Naruto, Kaede collected him in her arms, pulling her away from Misaki so they can contemplate apart.
"What happened?" Kaede asked, sitting next to Naruto on the grass watching the water flow, calm and steady down the stream.
"I didn't know what came over me to be honest, all I know what that I was so frustrated, and I guess I just took out my frustrations on Misaki" Naruto confessed, Kaede didn't speak and just rubbed Naruto's back urging him to let it all out.
"She never said anything, I didn't know how she was feeling and assumed she didn't feel anything about it, I'm such an idiot" Naruto moped.
"You see Naruto, the way Misaki is, she puts everything before herself, no matter how she feels about it, she'll always choose the best for everyone, much like you and your parents actually, loyalty to the people you love, always. But it's good that you guys managed to talk this one out, now your conscious of the other is feelings, and then you're going to have to respect the other's decision and actions" Kaede comforted Naruto hugging him, ruffling his already unruly hair.
Kaede spend a little more time alone with Naruto when Jiraiya arrived.
"I think Kakashi needs you at Tsunade's office, Naruto why don't you and I get that ramen" Jiraiya said, Kaede nodded giving Naruto one last pat on his blond head before leaving. Naruto looked at Jiraiya suspiciously.
"Are you buying?"
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Dun dun dun dun! Chapter 18, and How did you like Sasuke's side of the story? I know it isn't much, but I hope you liked it. Sasuke and Misaki almost faced each other once again, heheehe almost, but the time is coming soon guy, just sit tight and hang on to your seats and hopefully it will be at least half as great as I am making out to be, but I shall try my very best.
Also, what did you think about Misaki and Naruto's fight. It proved to be a little difficult than I originally thought when I was plotting the outline, let me know what you think in either the review or private message panel. I had to remove an incredibly large scene, because it was spoiling a little too much too early, so I had to remove it in this chapter, but don't worry it will still make a debut in the next chapter/s, that's for sure.
Any who see you next chapter, just a little teasing hint, next chapter, someone from the past you never thought you'd see again will make a debut and there would be another heartbreaking rendezvous, so hang on tight and stay tuned. Ciao!