Authoress Chat: I was glad that at least one person read this and liked it. Please review it if you find it interesting. And this story is big on minute details. The sum of these add up to significant conclusions.

The Grave

Sasuke was lost, once again, to the terrors of his dream. He had experienced this particular one before, but it never ceased to sadden him and infuriate him. The ghosts of the night that changed his life would continue to haunt him forever. Of this, he was very certain.

"Who did this?" Sasuke cried out to the night.

Every part of him was going haywire.

One part of his body wanted to go east, the other west. One part of his brain urged him to run away, the other wanted him to curl up with the bodies. One part of his tongue scorned him for his exclamation. The other didn't want him to be quiet. One eye drank in the bloody horror, and the other wanted to go blind. And no command given was possible to translate into action at that moment.

Sasuke struggled for breath and as soon as he had mingled his fantasy and reality into one, he continued along the streets, taking in the carnage. How could someone possibly kill of these people in a night, without so much as a ripple in the wind. Something was so very wrong and it wasn't so much the slaughter that had taken place, but the ease with which they had been slain.

He ran past obasan and ojisan's corpses, each clutching the others fingers, even now. Even in death...He could not be more concerned for his mother and father. Running straight to their house, Sasuke felt as if maybe he could run a little faster, be a little better, he would spare them this consummate horror. But before he could reach the door, he saw another easily identifiable clan member.

'No,' he thought. 'Kaikyu-chan...'

At the door, there was a hard knock. Even though the dream was a terrible one, he relished the remembrance. He awoke, taking in the intense sweat that the dreams left him with. Sasuke was careful not to make any sudden movements. Even if it was Orochimaru at the door, how could he show weakness to him? No, dispassion would have to be acceptable.

"What is it?" he asked, genuinely bored.

Kabuto's voice bounced off the walls in an eerie echo.

"Lord Orochimaru would like a word with you. It is imperative that you come."

The request was too vague. Sasuke constantly had to remind himself that he was dealing with a snake. But when a snake talked even less than usual, it usually wasn't a good sign.

"I'm tired. I will see him later."

Kabuto was careful around him. Even if he could go toe-to-toe with the Uchiha, he wasn't so sure that his augmentations would ensure him victory. Besides, Orochimaru would be even more displeased than he had been upon Niji's sudden violent death.

"Sasuke! You're being rude. Besides, this is for your benefit. It's in your best interest to come."

Slowly, Sasuke rolled over to look at Kabuto out the corner of his eye. Kabuto wasn't going to leave and he wasn't entirely certain that debilitating the nuisance was a viable option. So he slowly arose, being sure to grasp his katana.

"Take me to him quickly. I want to return to sleep soon.'

/ / / / /

After traveling deep into the earth, down winding corridors and past false passages, Kabuto finally showed him to Orochimaru's private chambers. The walls were slick with natural moisture, and lit up with red lamps the color of blood. On top of a massive throne, seemingly comprised entirely of taxidermy snakes, Orochimaru sat slumped over an arm of the chair.

"What do you want?" Sasuke snapped, the second he took in Orochimaru's lackadaisical attitude.

Orochimaru sat up with a sideways grin across his face. Mischievous undertones hung on every feature but he didn't say anything. He just shook his head and pointed to the floor. Suddenly, Sasuke felt such the fool. To think that he didn't even notice that there was a corpse in the middle of the floor.

"To think that you're so quick to anger, even after all this effort I took to make you a present. What a shame."

"What are you talking about?" Sasuke asked, a little more calmly, making Orochimaru's grin even wider. "So you dug a body up; so what?"

"Sasuke-kun, you should know better than that. I have not simply robbed a grave. I have revived a truly remarkable ninja! She's got a rare condition that made it nearly impossible to perform this jutsu, but here she is, reanimated. Are you curious yet about her?"

Sasuke's eyes narrowed. Her body was still so grey, so brittle looking. Her hair was wiry and dull. But even from the vagueness of her features, he sensed her familiarity. So why the games?

"Teme! Revive her already!" he shouted.

Closing his eyes and shrugging, Orochimaru lazily made the hand-seals for his technique.

"Kuchiyose: Edo Tensei (Summoning: Impure World Resurrection)!"

The Kunoichi began to stir.

Her body shook for a split second before she jolted upright. Some of her color returned, enough that Sasuke could recognize her at last. He opened his mouth to scream at the same time that she did.

"Kaikyu!"

"Itachi!"

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