Chapter Three: Kai

Sasuke surveyed the village that sprawled beneath him, Konoha was a splendid portrait of peace behind which hung a pallid moon. He could clearly make out the stone faces of the brave rulers of times past, the ultimate representation of all of what Konoha stood for: honour, duty and peace. He sneered down at its sleeping inhabitants. He was unaware that the position that he now took on the village's ridge was the same exact one his brother had chosen three years back when intending to sneak into Konoha. Had you informed Sasuke of this; a familiar heavy feeling would have returned to his stomach; that of remorse.

"And you're saying we should just prance in like we own the place?" Suigetsu snapped.

"Shut up you!" Karin reprimanded him, "If Sasuke thinks it'll work. Then it'll work."

Suigetsu smirked at her, "Your absolute belief in him is very comforting." He said sarcastically, then he added to the third member who was under discussion, "you did adapt the plan now that we're down one member, right?"

"Of course he did!" Karin snapped at him from her side.

"I don't recall asking you whether he changed the plan! I'm quite sure the question was-"

Suigetsu's retort was cut short when Sasuke turned to the both of them,

"Be alert."

"Yes, because we shouldn't trouble you by dying on you now should we?" Suigetsu sneered at him.

To this Sasuke said nothing, instead his body plunged down the slope and landed gracefully on the earth beneath, his two companions obediently followed. The team darted under the watchful moon towards the village's centre. Sasuke reminded himself not to fumble simply because he was overconfident. He knew that the village was peaceful, therefore there were no guards patrolling at this hour, they also had the added advantage that Konoha was still unaware of what had happened to its newly appointed Hokage. And so slipping into one of the Village's accommodations, wherein was the Elder's chambers, was done quickly and stealthily by the team of rouge Nin.

As their careful footfalls reverberated in the empty halls, Karin took the lead and guided them only through the hallways which she deemed clear of any unwanted interferences. It would not do to be seen, or noticed, until they reached the Elders, for a run-in with any capable ninja would mean that the whole village would be alerted. And there were priorities that Sasuke had to attend to. Karin could easily guide them through the passageways as she had been made to memorize the directions that Uchiha Madara had given them. Sasuke knew to be wary of the masked ninja, but could see no reason as to why the knowledge he gave them would be misleading. He also could not be sure why Madara would offer to set up interference with Konoha's protective barrier, but Sasuke wasn't going to let pass such a tempting offer.

But these weren't the thoughts that clouded Sasuke's mind as Karin pointed up with her index finger and the team took to the ceiling by gathering chakra at their feet that in effect stuck them to the wall; and as he promptly dispelled a genjutsu that concealed their appearance. There weren't many thoughts that drifted through his alert mind at this current moment, or many emotions, save for the distinct taste of determination that set his jaw in a rigid line. He could foresee his immediate future, there would be no scope for failure, and for a moment he ravished in the fulfilling sensation that came to him when he imagined plunging his katana into the Elders' brittle bodies. They would be made to pay, by his own two hands, for their crimes towards his clan, his family. It must have been twisted fate that led Sasuke to the position he was in now; still adorning that title of avenger- though now he was, undoubtedly, Uchiha Itachi's avenger.

They waited till the sleepy ninja who had been their obstruction cleared the passage before dropping from the ceiling and continuing on ahead. They were close to the chambers now, for Karin had fallen back, signalling that they had a hindrance free, straight path ahead of them. Once Sasuke reached to their destination he paused outside the doors that would lead him to the sleeping Elders.

"How many people do you sense in there?" he asked Karin who replied shortly,

"Four, they're apart, seems as though there are two guarding ninjas located not too far from these main doors."

"Alright then, follow, but be rid of them quickly and quietly." Sasuke told his teammates then proceeded to open the doors.

And just as Karin had warned soon they found themselves facing two of Konoha's ninjas.

"Hey!" One of the shinobi yelled roughly at them, "what the hell do you-"

He was cut short by his teammate who, gasping in sudden realization, gestured towards Sasuke. "He's that Uchiha- don't look into his eyes!"

"Don't you be worrying about him... when you have me to deal with!" Suigetsu snapped irritably, and with that he charged at the ninja wielding his unnaturally large sword.

In the commotion of the battle that ensued Sasuke slipped by the two guarding ninja to the rooms that Karin had just pointed out to him. He was pleased at how smoothly things were going, satisfied that he would be able to fully enjoy what was to come. He could feel his hands ache in anticipation as he pushed through the doors that would lead him to the two individuals who had, with their sickening plans for Konoha, destroyed his world. His red eyes were easily able to penetrate the feeble darkness that attempted to shroud the room before him.

"I told you he was coming." She said to her companion.

"Ah. Youth are predictable." He added.

Sasuke's eyes narrowed, "So you were expecting me?" He could sense no other presence but theirs.

"For a while now, yes." Koharu, the female adviser, replied, "This must mean that poor Danzo has met his end."

"Ah." Sasuke answered simply.

At that moment, the elders' eyes widened as the scene before them melted and then promptly reformed into an entirely different one. Sasuke knew that they had willingly fallen into his genjutsu because they would be incapable of truly fighting him while averting his gaze. They had gambled that once they escaped what he would put them through, they would be able to fight him in true combat. He smirked at this; did they not know that they had gambled with their lives?

Koharu gasped at the images before her. It was as if the sun had been blotched out by thick clouds of crimson red, saved from witnessing the horror scattered beneath it; the sight of an entire clan's worth of rigid corpses. An elderly man with a kunai protruding from his chest; what must be his wife's body sprawled close to him, the shurikens that were embedded in her back caught the light of the moon and shone in the night. As Koharu was slowly retreating, looking for a place to escape to, she only saw more of the death around her. A small child still holding on a bag of candies was propped up against a wall, blood trickling down his gaping mouth. A young man was lying on his stomach, his face unnaturally angled towards her- his eyes silently accusing her.

"Stop it!" there was death everywhere she looked, "Stop it you sick man!"

She soon heard the faint sobs of a small child and was compelled to approach it. She found Homura by the boy's side, examining him. The child drew in his small breaths with difficulty, his body trembling uncontrollably, his eyes fixed on the ground beneath him.

"They're all dead." he managed between sobs.

"Dead." He confirmed needlessly; as though they couldn't see the corpses that surrounded them, as though the stench that the dead bodies emitted hadn't managed to seep into their souls.

"I couldn't save any-" The boys words were snatched away from him as he suddenly gasped, noticing for the first time, who he was talking to. He abruptly pulled away from them, holding up one shaky finger and pointing it at them.

"Y-you... It was... you killed..." The elders followed the boys shocked gaze and stared, stunned, at their hands. Closely examining them they noticed the sticky blood that had appeared of its own accord.

"It... You don't understand!" Homura snapped impatiently at the child.

"We had to." Koharu explained gently.

"You had to?" he yelled at them, "What's that even mean?"

"You can't understand."

"You killed them all. You did. For nothing, for nothing."

"For peace! You stupid child! For Konoha!" Homura was yelling now.

Koharu stood their quietly. So Homura continued, "Why am I even arguing with you here? This is just a genjutsu. That's all."

"No its not!" The boy spat, "you can't escape what you've done!"

Homura replied simply, "you think any of this will deter me? You think I feel guilt for what I've done? What I had to do?"

He began to concentrate; he had to break out soon. "Kai!"

"Kai!" The boy bellowed. "What about me? What about what you did to me?" the child screeched in his ears.

Homura tried to break the spell once more, concentrating harder this time.

"Kai!" He screamed; ignoring the child's traumatized pleading resonating in his ears.

A/N:Thanks Lutrashinobi for editing!