"We'll meet again, right?"
"...-hime, I'm eternally yours."
"...-kun. For now?"
"No, forever."
"...-kun –"
"...-hime, I love you."
"!"
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Eternally
BokchoiBaboy
Disclaimer:Don't own Naruto.
Prologue – Journey
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It was that annoying dream again. Every time I would drift off to sleep, the very same scene replays in my head over and over. I hear the voices clearly, as if they were spoken just a few minutes ago; one was a soothing baritone, somewhat resembling Itachi's voice, while the other voice was sweet and gentle, clear and sophisticated. I could see two faces, but I couldn't see their eyes, their noses, their mouths, nothing.I just saw the shape of their face shadowed in by black. I saw the outlines of their clothes and bodies; the person who spoke the sweet and gentle voice wore extravagant kimono that ruffled and flowed, as if they were antique and of the past; the person who spoke like Itachi wore normal clothes of no significance.
It was almost as if that dream was trying to tell me something, or try to make me remember something of my distant past.
I was never one to believe in superstition, past lives, or any of those religious, karma beliefs.
But this time, could it really be?
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Uchiha Sasuke looked out of the windows of his castle windows, the early morning sunlight penetrating through the thick walls and seeping into the room. His fingers idly tapped the windowsill, his mind lost in thought. The cold breezes of early autumn passed through his windows and flew around the room, sending shivers down his spine; but still, the Uchiha remained unfazed.
"Teme."
Sasuke's train of thought was broken when he turned and found his best friend, Uzumaki Naruto. The two had known each other since the early days of childhood, Naruto orphaned as a baby, his origins and parents unknown. All that had been left with the infant Uzumaki was a short note, which simply read: "A dear thanks to the Uchiha for taking in our son, Uzumaki Naruto."Uchiha Mikoto, or more formally, Mikoto-sama (Queen Mikoto), had openly taken in the child, raising him as her own. Her husband, the ever-harsh and rational Uchiha Fugaku (King Fugaku), was more skeptical about taking in an orphan, but after he had connected dots and lines, he, too, raised the Uzumaki as his own.
It was not a surprise when the two children began a never-ending rivalry between themselves, both competing for the better graces from their parents, who loved them both equally. It was more obvious the annoyance the two received when the other had won, but it was evident that the two were close, sharing an unbreakable bond of brothers.
"Dobe."
The blond smiled and took a seat on Sasuke's bed, his cerulean eyes seeming to bring life into the bland room of the prince.
It was a hard world for the Uzumaki, being noticeably, contrastingly different from the Royal Family. It was a battle that Sasuke had no control over, and a battle that Naruto was destined to lose. He would never,ever be able to be prince, only because of the radical fanatics present in the ever-restless Kingdom of Fire; if an orphan was able to make prince, why couldn't the commoners? Had Naruto been given a title reserved only for the Royal Family, it would guarantee a bloody coup d'etat and complete chaos.
But Naruto was strong, in physical strength, but more so spirit, willpower, courage. It was evident to everyone that though Naruto would never be able to be crowned Prince of the Kingdom of Fire, he was happy with the thought of being by his best friend's – his brother's– side, be it only as a most trusted advisor and guardian (but Naruto was not stupid; Sasuke didn't need protection, as he could fend for himself notably well).
"Can you believe Itachi's getting crowned King?"
Naruto looked at Sasuke with a look of unfazed innocence, his cerulean pools seeming to crash against the black outlines of his irises. Sasuke remained silent, Naruto's knowledge of Sasuke's envy for their elder brother far too well and complete for the Uchiha to say anything more.
Though Naruto held envy for Sasuke for having a real family – not an adopted one – his envy was of a different degree than Sasuke's was for Itachi. Living with the Royal Family, and being part of it without the honored title, Naruto saw firsthand the sole purposes for Sasuke's driving envy for his older brother.
Uchiha Itachi was a child prodigy, born a genius fighter. He is never one step behind and always a hundred steps ahead, each one of his moves accurately planned – foolproof. However, his remarkable talent in fighting remained only in that field, and was not taken to the throne. He was raised that it was kill or be killed; that life was the survival of the fittest and the weak would always die. He was raised to believe that peasants were the weak doomed to die, while he was born lucky fit and able to survive in the harsh world of LIFE. Come it to politics, government, or just the social welfare of the people, Uchiha Itachi was helpless.
And he was not so pompous and egotistical to pretend he was. He was smart, painfully honest, and never strayed from the truth.
"I am not fit to be king," he once told Sasuke and Naruto during a friendly spar, "Only to protect the king."
However, Fugaku refused to see the truth in this, insisting that Itachi succeed him and become king of one of the most powerful kingdoms in all the land. Fugaku had always prized Itachi over Sasuke, perhaps unconsciously, and had a drive that plunged Sasuke into the world of shadows and following the footsteps of his elder brother.
"Hn."
The Uzumaki replied with a toothy grin.
"It's weird, huh? Having Tou-san refuse to see that Itachi doesn't –"
"Dobe,"Sasuke coarsely interrupted, "Tou-san sees what he sees."
"And you're going to let it happen?"
There was a tense silence between the two.
"Even Kaa-san sees it, Sasuke," the Uzumaki courageously continued, "That you're more fit to rule people."
"It doesn't matter if Kaa-san sees it," Sasuke bitterly replied, "Because what Tou-san says goes."
Silence reigned between the two rivals, best friends, and brothers.
There was more to be said, millions of words to be spoken, but they decided to leave it at that, knowing that no matter how many words they spoke and how many times they tried, Uchiha Fugaku would forever remain glued to Itachi's prowess.
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"The sun doesn't seem to like waiting, hmm, Sasuke?"
Sasuke quickly got up from his spot in the forest and turned around, surprised to see his brother leaning against the same tree he had leaned upon moments earlier. Itachi smirked at him and looked up at the glowing sky, the first rays of sunlight beginning to penetrate through the cold forest air and the thick canopies. Sasuke looked at his brother skeptically, eyeing him with disbelief.
Itachi never went out of his way to speak with Sasuke, never. His schedule, being busier than ever with coronation festivals and celebrations and whatnot, forbade Itachi to ever get a sniff of his personal life. Though Sasuke knew that Itachi sympathized for their father's unfairness, he also knew that Itachi somehow liked to feel such power.
"What were you doing out here at cursed hours of the morning? Don't tell me you've turned insomniac?"
Sasuke grumbled upon inspection by his elder brother, and Itachi merely chuckled.
"I'm turning eighteen soon."
Sasuke's eyebrow rose with puzzlement.
"I'm aware," he slowly said.
Itachi chuckled once more and turned to face his brother.
"Sasuke, I'm running."
It took Sasuke a few moments to comprehend what his brother had just said, and was flabbergasted.
"What? Itachi, a – are you crazy?"
Itachi smiled.
"Perhaps I am. But, as I've told you and Naruto many times, kingship is not the path for me."
Sasuke opened his mouth to speak, but no words came. His eyes were wide with surprise, his brain trying to comprehend and translate the insanity his brother was speaking.
"I'm sure Naruto's already told you," Itachi continued, "That we all see you more fit to rule this kingdom. You're more socially involved. Every time Tou-san wants to kill a peasant, surprisingly, you stop him. You don't use hierarchy or titles to your advantage. In your world, Sasuke, everyone is equal. It's ideal, it's unique, it's modest. It's never a matter of peasants are filthy, so let them die in filth, or nobles are royal, so let them be rich and important. It's always justice with you. If a noble stole one of our heirlooms, and a peasant was accused, you would do everything in your power to make sure that the right person is hung. It's almost like – like, you know, so painfully accurately know,what it's like to be a peasant."
Every reason Itachi spoke Sasuke winced. There was truth, and he could deny it no longer.
It killed him when his father wrongfully accused a peasant of a crime the peasant did not commit; it killed him when peasants were seen filthy but received no help to make them clean and proper. Sasuke did not care one bit about whose blood was royal and whose blood was filth; all he cared about was bringing justice to his kingdom to make life equally easier and more peaceful for his subjects.
"...Well, I guess you beat me to it, Itachi."
The two brothers turned and were met with Naruto's trademark grin, his hands shoved into his pockets. Itachi offered his younger brother a smile, which Naruto returned fully.
"Naruto," Itachi politely greeted.
"Itachi," Naruto politely replied.
The two turned and faced Sasuke, who was lost in himself, trying to find answers.
"Sasuke, I am doing it tonight. Do not tell the curious soul what I will do or what I have done. I'll be around, watching you, foolish little brother."
With that, Itachi smiled at them both and disappeared in a flash. Naruto's eyebrow rose with curiosity, but decided to leave it at that, knowing a secret was a secret and it would unfold itself when the time came. Sasuke inhaled, smelling the unique scent of sweat, blood, and a hint of spice where his brother had stood, filling his lungs with the smell for what seemed like the last time.
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"Can someone tell me what my son was thinking?"
Multiple pairs of onyx eyes fearfully stared up at their king, not used to seeing the raging tempests of blood taking place within his eyes. There was an empty seat to the left of Mikoto, where Itachi would have sat, had he been there. Naruto cast a sideways glance, which Sasuke caught.
"Where the hell is Itachi? Mikoto? Sasuke? Naruto?"
The king was met with silence and he sat down on his cushion, exasperated and stressed to no end. He held his head in his hands as he sat there in silence, thinking about the next possible solution to solve the problem.
Sasuke stared at his father detachedly, fighting an inner struggle whether or not to tell him. Mikoto cast her youngest son a knowing glance, her motherly premonitions nearly screaming at her the reasons why her eldest son had disappeared. Naruto looked at Sasuke, knowing that he knew something that nobody else did, but decided to remain silent and badger the truth about it later.
The Kingdom of Fire's Royal Council sat in the room, quietly thinking of solutions of hiding the disappearance from the general public until a plausible excuse for Itachi's succession failing could be made. Many looked at their king apathetically, most already used to the tragic flaws of being one of the most powerful kingdoms in the land. Though they were a strong kingdom militarily and politically, their economic and social systems were weakening, crime rates increasing rapidly with the coming of chaos and restlessness.
They were ready for a new king. The peasants were ready for change.
"Fugaku," Mikoto quietly began, "Perhaps we have been overlooking Itachi's unhappiness for far too long?"
"Unhappiness? What unhappiness would Itachi feel?! He had everything, Mikoto, everything!"
Mikoto looked to her husband sadly, her eyes looking down upon her two hands, which were clenched together in attempts to keep herself from crying. The queen was a strong woman, having dealt with four, hot-tempered men all her life; never once did she succumb to the gender bias present in her kingdom.
"Perhaps Itachi did not want everything?"
Her husband turned to her, the three tomoe swirling rapidly in fits of anger and rage. Mikoto was unfazed and stared at him with the same intensity, her lips pursed in an uncharacteristic frown. Her eyes flared with anger, rage, sadness,sorrow, and she could do nothing for her eldest son.
"That's ridiculous, Mikoto! FATE! He had FATE on his side! And he throws it all away to change the perfect destiny!"
"He is not you, Fugaku! You seem to forget that, when you want power, when you want fame, when you want fear! He is his own person, and if he desires to change the 'perfect' destiny, then let it be so! Let him disappear, let him run, let himlive!I fear, Fugaku, that though Itachi is the epitome of a warrior – a fighter – he is not the epitome of a king."
Sasuke and Naruto looked at both their parents with worry, Mikoto's outbursts of rage and wisdom rare and hardly ever seen. They both disliked the look of extreme dislike emitted from their father, but were both able to thank the gods above that their mother was a strong woman.
"Tou-san," Naruto coarsely began, "I know someone else fit for the job."
All eyes wandered to the Uzumaki, looking at him curiously. Mikoto's gentle expression returned to her face, a soft smile present on her lips.
"And pray tell, Naruto, who?"
Sasuke threw Naruto a glance, daring him to let the name slip across his lips.
"Sasuke."
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"Naruto, what the hell were you thinking?"
Sasuke glared at his brother in utter rage. He knew that Naruto knew more than anyone else how much Sasuke was not readyto be king. He was fourteen years old, for crying out loud!
"Didn't you see Kaa-san's face? And Tou-san's? Tou-san is obviously going to think it over now."
The Uzumaki's lips moved into his characteristic grin. Sasuke sat down on his bed, holding his head in his hands, much like his father had done, and began to think.
He was not ready to be king. He was not. And he felt that, even though what everyone said about his instincts for justice were true, he would never be ready.
"You know where Itachi is, don't you?"
Sasuke's eyes became the horrific red, three tomoe swirling dangerously around the red irises. His lips twitched in the Uchiha's last attempts to control his rage, already a storm swirling around through his blood, tempting him to punch the walls down. The Uzumaki was unfazed by Sasuke's temper, already having dealt with it for more fourteen years, and took lay down on his brother's bed, cerulean pools staring up at the blank ceiling.
"I'm not asking you where he went or why he ran. I was just wondering," Naruto nonchalantly added.
Do not tell the curious soul...
"He ran away. He didn't want the kingdom."
Silence once again reigned between the two brothers.
"That's believable. So what are you going to do now? I think Tou-san's going to let you succeed once you turn eighteen."
"That's four years."
Naruto turned to his side and looked at his brother's back, the Uchiha's robe twirling as the gentle breezes came through his window. He saw his brother's naturally spiked hair, and his brother's face of concentration.
"Say, I have an idea."
Sasuke turned to face Naruto's cerulean orbs, the Uchiha's eyebrow rising with curiosity.
"Why don't you go around through the villages and familiarize yourself? Maybe they'll like you and riot for you to be king."
There was more silence.
"I can come with you, just to 'protect you'."
The Uzumaki grinned when he saw Sasuke's lips curve upwards into his characteristic smirk.
"You're sick of this castle as much as I am, aren't you?" Sasuke asked.
Naruto chuckled.
"Yep."
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"So, Tou-san, I would like to propose that I go around through the villages in the kingdom, for the next four years, to familiarize myself with the nobles, commoners, and peasants alike."
The Royal Council once again silently sat beside the Royal Family, each member contemplating the safety of their prince and the cunning of his plan. Mikoto looked at her son, almost skeptically, as if she knew what the two had planned. Connecting the lines, she could assume that Sasuke, too, did not want to succeed the throne. Fugaku looked at his son, almost with amusement, and laughed.
"You? Who said I was giving you the throne, boy?"
Naruto fought back an urge to growl.
"Fugaku, I would appreciate it if you call our son by his proper name," Mikoto harshly interjected.
"You're not Itachi, Sasuke."
Sasuke frowned.
"But I will compromise with you."
All pairs of eyes looked at the king.
"If you can accomplish what your brother could not, you will be the new king."
I'm not your damn puppet!
"Tou-san," Naruto angrily replied, "I'm going with Sasuke."
Fugaku shrugged.
"Do what you will, Naruto."
Sasuke bit his lip in irritation and anger, fighting all his urges to let him show his anger through his concealed red eyes. Mikoto cast her son a sympathetic glance, her eyes dull with sorrow and despair.
Everyone knew that once Itachi had run away, the king had changed.
There was silence for long moments, each member inside the room waiting to be dismissed, the room too tense with family struggles and hatred.
"So, Sasuke? When your hourglass of four years is emptied, I will come to search for you. If I do not deem your worthy, you can stay out on the countryside and live your own life."
Mikoto glared at her husband.
"Hai, Tou-san."
Naruto smirked and mocked their father, teasing him with his eyes. Naruto knew more than anyone that Sasuke did not lose a fight. Ever.
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"Oh, Sasuke-kun! Naruto-kun!"
Mikoto stood before them as they prepared to depart. No tears were in her eyes as she was ready to release her sons from the protective hold from the castle walls, and she hugged them both, not wanting to let go. Though she feared for their safety, she knew that they could fend for themselves even better than Itachi if they stuck together through the long journeys ahead of them.
"Be sure to write, yes? Oh, I'll miss you two so!"
The two gave their mother their best genuine smiles, and her eyes lit up with happiness.
"Farewell, my sons! I shall see you when you are both eighteen, both grown and ripe in age! Oh, please bring back a wife, both of you? I'd like to see grandchildren!"
They both sweatdropped, and graced their mother with one last hug. When she had finally released them, tears began to flow from her eyes as they gave her one last bow.
"Work hard, Sasuke!"
Naruto and Sasuke turned to face their father, and both nodded and bowed politely.
"Until then, Tou-san," they both said.
Throwing their mother one last smile, they walked out through the castle gates, ready for the new life that lay ahead of them.
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"Will you watch where you're going?"
Sasuke glared when he found himself on the ground over a girl, their position too compromising for his liking (he was all too glad that Naruto was off looking for a ramen stand). He found his nostrils filled with the scent of cherry blossoms, his vision filled with messy pink locks.
"Speak for yourself," The Uchiha coolly replied.
His eyebrow rose with curiosity, but got off the girl nonetheless. The girl, in turn, got off and dusted herself off, mumbling about 'nobles and manners'. Her clothes were old and those of a peasant's, Sasuke noticed as he closely watched her, and she wore nothing else of extreme value. He noticed that she was unbelievably clean (much to his liking), and that her body was toned with muscles from the hard life of a peasant.
"Anyway," she said, looking into his orbs with her emerald irises, "Sorry. I guess I'm to blame too."
She offered him a smile of innocence, gave a polite bow, and went back on her merry way. Sasuke continued to watch her, her pink locks twirling as the breezes passed them by.
There was something about her that irked him, almost like a familiarity.
"Whoa, that girl's pretty," he heard Naruto say as the Uzumaki stood by his side, returning from his scavenging, "Do you know her?"
"No, dobe."
Naruto smiled.
"This place is really far. Why'd we go here first?"
"So it takes Tou-san longer to find us. He'll think we'd stay close, because I believe he has the impression I want the throne."
"That's cool," The Uzumaki replied, "So that means we're staying here for four years? Maybe Tou-san's guard will pass by here."
"Dobe," Sasuke said, smirking, "This isn't part of our kingdom."
"What the hell, Sasuke?!"
"And besides," Sasuke continued, walking towards the closest inn, "I thought you hated the castle life. You can always go back after four years is done."
Naruto nodded.
"So, who was that girl?"
There were long moments of silence, Sasuke contemplating the answer.
He could swear he knew her from somewhere, he could swear!
"...I don't know, dobe."
The breezes brought the scent of cherry blossoms from somewhere in the distance, and Sasuke inhaled the intoxicating scent.
Who are you?
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A/N: Hey, I know this is really long. I
guess you can call this a teaser, so I'm just sticking it in here
for now.
I think I'm going to replace this storyline with
'Chance', though they're going to be pretty much the same.
So, enjoy this for now!
(To make this a story, or not, that is the
question!)
