Disclaimer: The Naruto characters are the property of Masashi Kishimoto and the Naruto franchise
Author's Note: Thank you to KARASU25, Rosebunse and The Void Fox for their reviews which were, in turn, thorough, thoughtful and encouraging. I'm sorry I haven't been able to update lately. Unfortunately, I won't be able to put up a chapter until Tuesday evening, due to a test I'll be doing and I currently need to be studying for. A large part of the next chapter has been written, but as it was getting longer and longer, I thought I'd separate this section out and at least give you guys. This story is alive and will be back in force on Tuesday or Wednesday evening! I can't expect anyone to review a section so short, so I won't make any such demands this time, but I hope you enjoy this section and come back on Tuesday. :) Best, Zen
The man in the mask set down a bowl of rice and looked down at his charge.
"It's beneath my dignity to force feed you," he said mildly, "as it ought to be beneath your dignity to be force fed."
The boy sitting at the table didn't respond. He stared at the bowl then pushed it to one side.
The man stood behind him. He put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "The offer I am making you is fair. It's fairer than what Konoha offered, isn't it?" The man glanced around the room, the desk, the table, the lighted candles and the doorway without a door. He lowered his voice. "Konoha has never kept its promises. You know this. It has only ever taken advantage of us – our skills, our strengths, our love, the kindness of our loved ones."
He felt the boy flinch under his hand. Good, a response. "And what has it ever done for us in return? What has Konoha ever given us, but disgrace and dishonour? Nothing, my boy. Konoha never pays its dues."
The man paused to allow his words to sink.
"Whereas, I," he gestured at his masked face, "I always pay my dues. If I especially like that person, I will pay them three times over. I will help you achieve your goals, if you will help me achieve mine."
The boy breathed out slowly. "Where am I?"
"Not in a cage," the edges of the single visible eye crinkled upwards in a smile. "I won't keep you here against your will. If you want Konoha destroyed, however, I do strongly suggest you stay."
"I don't need your help." The boy smiled. "If I die, Konoha will destroy itself."
"Such a half-baked revenge, only the feeble would think such a thing would be enough. I didn't expect you to be so easily satisfied. I am disappointed." The man sighed and put his hands behind his back. "Perhaps it is as I feared. Despite your talents, you are still a child."
The boy surged up from the table, but at the sudden movement his head reeled and he dropped back into the chair. "I am not a child!"
"Is that so? The perfect revenge is within your reach. Only a child wouldn't see it! Think about it, boy. To stand over the ashes of your enemy, to take everything that was his, to build your castle where your enemy's once stood, and to build it better than his ever was!" The masked man looked back into the room, to where the boy was still sitting at the table, holding his giddy head in his hands. "To be the last man standing – that is the perfect revenge. And for that, you must live and outlive your enemies."
The boy considered the masked man's words. "You will hide me here then?" he said, peering up at the swirling mask in the candlelight. "In exchange for being your lab- "
"I don't like the term lab-rat. I prefer volunteer," the masked man enunciated, before smiling again. "Or partner. Certainly, if the papers are ever published, I promise, by the names of both our hallowed ancestors, that your name will be recorded alongside my own – "
"Like I care about your damn papers," the boy growled. His hand moved across to the bowl of rice, growing cold at the edge of the desk, and pulled it towards him. He stared at the rice. He had thought he was beyond hunger, but his stomach was starting to feel dismally empty.
The boy gritted his teeth and raised his head. Red glowing eye met red glowing eye, like a challenge. "You can do what you like with me."
"Good, Sasuke. Very good. Then you will be hidden here, under the best barriers and illusions known to ninja history, until either Konoha falls or my colleague gives notice that he has no more need of you and you wish to leave." The man raised a finger and smiled. "But, if my colleague reports that you have been uncooperative in any way, be prepared to face consequences."
Sasuke closed his eyes. He took up his chopsticks. He murmured, "I'll show them who'll be the last man standing."
"I'm sure you will," the masked man agreed, smiling beneath his mask.
Sasuke began to eat and the masked man left, satisfied at a job well done.
Thank you for reading!