Author's Note: So sorry about the wait! There is a bit of buzz about this story, so I decided to make yet another chapter! Yay! So, let me know what you think, everyone! Enjoy!
Warnings: Language, maybe. A bit of violence.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The idea was brought to me by RedGoddessEclipse and asked me to write it for her. :3
Word Count: 5,243
Sasuke looks up at the front gates of Konoha. It was so familiar, even though it doesn't have as much wear as Sasuke remembers, and it catches him off guard. He just stares up at the gate with a blank expression. When he left Konoha he went out through a back way, he wasn't dumb enough to go out through the main gate, but he can vividly remember when he last stood before this gate, really looking up at it. At the time he had no idea that he was going to leave, but for some reason, he had committed it to memory. Maybe somewhere deep inside, Sasuke knew this place couldn't be his home. Wouldn't be.
Or perhaps he's just romanticizing his final times within the village that he was born in.
He doesn't miss the distinct three pronged kunai sticking out of the wood of the gate next to where they appeared.
"Have you been to the Leaf before?" Minato asks, bringing Sasuke back to the present. He drops his head to turn a level gaze to the blond haired man a few feet in front in front of him.
"Who knows?" He asks illusively. "Lead the way."
Minato stares at him for a moment with keen blue eyes and a look in them that was never in his son's eyes. Minato was picking him apart with just his eyes and he was probably picking up a lot more than his dumbass son ever could about Sasuke. And that's without the blue haired young man saying much of anything. Minato doesn't even know Sasuke's name yet and it almost feels like the man knows too much already.
Minato tilts his head a bit toward the village and murmurs, "Very well," and then turns and heads past the gates into the village as if it was the most simple thing in the world. Perhaps it was for someone who loved his home village, Sasuke doesn't remember anymore. Had he ever felt that way for his village? Or had Itachi warped his mind so much that he could focus on nothing other than training and seeking his revenge? Sasuke didn't know. That person, that blind fool, felt light years away.
Once again, without a hint of fear that Sasuke could suddenly turn on him, Minato leads the way into the village with Sasuke following two feet behind him. The two gate guards, not Izumo and Kotetsu, which surprises Sasuke, give him suspicious looks as he walks passed. Even though it's years into the past, for some reason, Sasuke expected to see the two bored Jounin that usually babysat the gate there. Perhaps grasping at straws and hoping to pull out one that's familiar. Or maybe he took a bit of relief in knowing that he didn't have the shittiest life out there.
He could be Izumo or Kotetsu. Babysitting a gate all day or doing bitch duty for the new Hokage. Yeah, Sasuke could be one of them. He'll live in his own personal version of hell, thanks very much.
Sasuke closes his Rinnegan eye and follows after Minato with his head tilted downward. It's been a long time since Sasuke stepped foot past the gates of Konohagakure, but as he does so now, he can tell easily how much everything is the same. A few businesses are differently named and the buildings are newer, less worn with different paint colors. Even in a few places, walking through the market, there was buildings missing all together or were under construction.
As he remembered from his childhood, the streets of Konoha were bustling with people going to and from one work place to another, stopping only to talk to other people on the streets or local venders. It seemed like they were going to be able to make it through the market unmolested when someone noticed the vibrant blond of Minato's mane and called out his name. Then everyone was turning toward the blond haired man, whispering and smiling at him. Some would outright bow and ask him how his day was and if he was doing alright.
Sasuke's not sure what he expected from all of this, but when Minato would pause briefly to speak to everyone who called out to him, Sasuke's wasn't really bothered. It didn't surprise Sasuke to see that he stopped to see people, it just seemed like something to naturally expect. Years ago, and probably just with Naruto, Sasuke would have both expected this and been annoyed by it.
Perhaps Sasuke has a bit more respect toward Minato to not be bothered by something that would be weird if Minato did the opposite. But something that Sasuke did notice was that Minato, while being friendly to everyone that spoke to him, never strayed far or took his eye off of Sasuke for long. A true, professional shinobi, through and through.
Sasuke would never be ballsy enough to attack a village - a shinobi village - but he can understand Minato's hesitance in keeping an eye on him, yet still he takes his time walking through the village when obviously he's concerned for their safety. Why put them through this? The chance that Sasuke goes psychco is great and yet Minato is still taking him through this...
Why?
An older woman has her small wrinkly hands wrapped around Minato's, holding them tightly. Minato doesn't seem bothered, looking down at the old woman, hunched over slightly so that he can get a good look at her. She was asking about her grandson that was apparently off fighting on the front lines and Minato was promising that he would keep his eyes open for the boy before his eyes flickered back over at Sasuke, glittering in the light.
Almost as if Minato could read minds, it feels like the threw the answer at Sasuke with just those twin blue orbs.
He's seeing how Sasuke is reacting around the people of Konoha. The people who, in his words, Sasuke is protecting. Sasuke didn't think he was reacting in any sort of special manner, just standing in the middle of the road relaxed while the people crowd in around him to get to Minato, but by the secret smile the blond sends his way, Sasuke doubts the future Fourth sees it that way. Sasuke just can't figure this man out. Either he is filled with a bunch of misconceptions about Sasuke or he can read the ex-avenger in ways that make him extremely uncomfortable.
But, oh how very ballsy of the future Fourth. Sasuke could go loco at any moment, without warning and either the Fourth is confident that Sasuke's not as bad as he appears or he's confident enough in his legendary speed to get Sasuke away from the village at a split second's notice.
A strange shiver runs through Sasuke.
It has been a long time since Sasuke has really gone against an opponent that could offer a great challenge. Sasuke's fast, but not as fast as the Fourth. Ahem, future Fourth. This place would be insane to not choose him if he has even a fraction of the abilities the Fourth in Sasuke's time had.
There was this aching temptation to try his luck and see what the man does, but the rational part of Sasuke's mind immediately vetos that idea. Something about getting the shit kicked out of him by Naruto's dad just doesn't seem all that appealing. The only perk is that it's not as insulting as getting beat by the Kyuubi's Jinchuriki himself.
Sasuke glares at Minato to show the man that he's caught on and Minato's smile widens. It looks... playful. Like Sasuke is doing something that amuses him. Probably trying to glare at him with one eye. He must look stupid.
Sasuke jerks his head, letting out an annoyed huff, but catches the blond let out a soft laugh before telling everyone, "that while I'd love to stay and talk, I need to go see Lord Hokage, so I will see all of you later." Before waving for Sasuke to follow and extracting himself from the old woman, with a kiss to her cheek before leading Sasuke toward the tower again.
"Annoying," Sasuke mutters under his breath, but Minato hears and glances back at him from over his shoulder.
"They aren't that bad," he says, kindly.
Sasuke rolls his single black eye. "I was talking about you."
Mnato laughs, once again creeping Sasuke out on how relaxed the man is. But, he doesn't draw attention to it, figuring there had to be reasons and while Sasuke is certain they'd be riveting to hear, he wasn't interested. If this man was anything like his son, then it would just hurt Sasuke's head trying to wrap his mind around anything the man does.
Minato stops in front of the gate leading to the Hokage Tower and steps up to one of the Jounin that was stationed out front, leaning in close to whisper to him. The man stares passed Minato's shoulder at Sasuke the whole time before nodding slightly and body flickering away. Minato turns around to face Sasuke and puts his right hand on his hip, tilting his head to the side.
"Excited to meet the Hokage?" He asks, a boyish smile on his lips.
Sasuke doesn't answer, wondering if perhaps this was all a mistake. What would he even say to the Legendary Professor? He wouldn't want to bring up anything unnesessary, like the fact that this is an alternate timeline from him or anything, but Sasuke has no excuse to give for what he's doing. Sasuke, himself, doesn't really know why he helps the Leaf shinobi out.
You aren't, a voice that sounds an awful lot like Orochimaru whispers in the back of his head, you're helping yourself out. They're all just training material. Obsticals to make you stronger. So what if you haven't killed any Leaf ninja yet? That could change at any time.
Sasuke suppresses a shiver at the sound of the snake Sannin's voice in the back of his head. It hadn't been so long for Sasuke to had forgotten how creepy his drawl was, crawling up his spine like the snake he is. Sasuke must have had a strange look on his face that Minato misunderstood.
"You aren't in trouble, as far as I know," Minato says, face falling neutral. "It's just a precautionary not to let anyone into the tower during wartimes."
Sasuke looks at him with a blank expression. "What?"
"You appeared slightly paler, I though perhaps you were concerned about the Hokage coming down to meet you," Minato says.
Oh, right. Forget Orochimaru, Sasuke still has to deal with what he'll say to the Hokage. Sasuke's never had any issues with the Third, not really. He took care of Sasuke when his clan died.
Because he ordered it, the voice whispers again and Sasuke physically shakes himself to rid it from his consciousness.
"No," Sasuke finally says after a moment of staring back at Minato's inquisitive look. "I am not worried about the Hokage." His voice was a little sharper than he may have wanted it. He probably should be worried about Hokage, despite his words. The man was still a legend and while he's also an old man, even now, he's not as old as he was when Sasuke last saw him.
Sasuke's decided. He'll answer whatever he has to, then skedaddle. He can't stay in this village any longer than he already has. If he asks Sasuke where he come from... he'll just not respond. Yeah, that'll work. Sasuke's head is not working anymore. He has to think of an escape strategy in case this entire thing goes south in a hurry. He'll be going up against... every shinobi in the Leaf, if it does. Is he really ready for that? The last thing Sasuke needs is to get severely hurt in this forsaken village.
Don't you want to die?
Sasuke's blood chills down to subzero temperatures in seconds. That voice... it sounded like Naruto. Is that what this was? Did Naruto truly send Sasuke here to die? Had he so little faith that Sasuke would be able to be trusted, had they been able to beat the dead Goddess? But then why did he send him here? What was the point? Shouldn't Sasuke just have died along side the rest of his team? Why would Naruto chose to send him here?
He kept asking himself, but he just couldn't come up with the answer: Did Naruto really hate him?
Was this just for him to suffer alone? Surrounded by people who could never accept him? Who would never offer him what he needed?
And what was that? Sasuke wasn't sure anymore. He didn't know what he wanted, let alone what he needed.
Maybe he did want to die.
Sasuke was never the dramatic kind. He would never kill himself. No matter how bad it was. He would rather die as a man, on his feet, than on his knees. So what is Sasuke doing here? In the village that he hates? Surrounded by people he would never love and that would never love him?
"Minato, good. I knew you were perfect for this job," the Third's very distinctive voice pulls Sasuke from the dark place his mind was slipping into. Sasuke looks up to see the Third, flanked by a team of ANBU, walking toward him. Minato straightens up from where he was leaning against the side of the gate and bows respectfully to the older man.
"Thank you, Lord Hokage," he says humbly. He straightens up and turns to Sasuke. "This is the Third Hokage."
"Sarutobi, Hiruzen, I know," Sasuke says.
Hiruzen stops a few feet in front of Sasuke, looking the same as Sasuke remembered, but with a lot more dark hair to his beard. He looks up at Sasuke with calculating dark eyes. It's while standing under the intensity of those eyes that Sasuke is reminded that this man, while old, is still very very dangerous and should not be underestimated.
"Have we met before?" the Third asks.
"No." The word was simple and even, without a hint of emotion.
A pause, Hiruzen and Sasuke both study each other for a moment. Then, "May I learn your name, son?" Hiruzen asks evenly.
Sasuke doesn't miss a beat. "No. It's not important." But his teeth did clench at the term 'son'. Who'd of thought that, of all things, would strike a nerve with him?
"A name, no matter whose, is always important," Hiruzen says, folding his hands behind his back.
Sasuke pauses for a moment, staring at the old man, wondering if this was even smart. Would the Hokage kill him if he just suddenly bolted? Even if it was away? Probably.
"I'm not important," Sasuke says. Hiruzen tilts his head a bit at that, making Sasuke uncomfortable under his intense gaze.
"I don't believe that," he says easily. "You've been assisting our shinobi on the front lines. I think that makes you important in my book."
Sasuke doesn't mean to say it, it just slips past his lips, "There is a stark difference between 'important' and 'intriguing', Lord Third." The Third doesn't respond right away, staring at Sasuke from beneath his signature red and white Hokage hat, making Sasuke shift his weight from one foot to the other, feeling greatly uncomfortable.
The ANBU, Minato and the two other Jounin must have noticed the shifting weight and sudden anxiety because they all straighten up a bit. If Sasuke makes a move, they'll be on him as fast as their muscles will allow. That makes Sasuke's more nervous. He doesn't know what to do. He doesn't want to die, not really, but he can't find any reason why not. If he was asked right now, what his reasons for living was, he'd have no way of answering.
Yet there is still a bit of self-preservation instincts inside Sasuke, or else he wouldn't be so off-put by the Third.
"I suppose you're right in that regard," Hiruzen says, the Hokage gown ruffles a bit as the wind picks up. The hair laying against Sasuke's nose tickles him a bit, but he doesn't want to move. Too cautious to move just yet.
"You're an Uchiha?" the Third asks, catching Sasuke off guard, making the younger man stiffen for a split second before he forces himself to relax and hope that his facial expression remains neutral.
"Depends on your definition," Sasuke says slowly.
Hiruzen finally shifts slightly, his weight moving a bit. This is the first time in their entire exchange that the man has moved his feet from their planted positions. It unnerves Sasuke even more. His stance is sure and strong, even Minato was shifting slightly behind the older man. With the Third it was like every movement was purposeful, but the most minute shift of his weight was something that he didn't have strategically placed.
This man is very dangerous indeed.
"And how would you define it?" the Third asks casually, like they were talking about the weather, which did nothing but continue to unsettle Sasuke.
"I have blood ties that are similar to them, but there is no family here," Sasuke says illusively. "Am I in trouble, Lord Hokage? Or may I go?"
"What gives you the impression you are in trouble, son?" Hiruzen asks, the term 'son' making Sasuke unintentionally flinch again.
The Third must have noticed Sasuke's unease with that term, yet he used it again. Was he trying to force Sasuke into a corner? Because if he was, he was doing a wonderful job. Sasuke was starting to feel really trapped. Minato must have noticed, for he shifts closer slightly with large blue eyes locked on Sasuke.
Sasuke's black eye flickers passed the Hokage to the five ANBU and three Jounin before looking back down at the old man, hoping that was clairification enough and Sasuke didn't have to open his mouth, he didn't trust it right now.
"They," Hiruzen says airily, as if he barely noticed them there, "are here for my protection. Not for you. There is no need for you to be tense."
"I don't want to be here," Sasuke grounds out. "If I've done nothing wrong, Lord Hokage, allow me to go. And don't send shinobi after me. Getting caught once was a fluke, it won't happen again."
He didn't intend for it to sound like a threat, but the shinobi behind the Third must have taken it that way, for they tensed up at that, except for Minato. Other than the Hokage, he was visibly the most calm of them, still staring at Sasuke with relaxed body language, except, if Sasuke had to guess, underneath that regulation blue Jounin pants, his legs were tense. No doubt a seal is already on Sasuke somewhere and it would allow him to close the distance in mili-seconds if Sasuke proved to be a threat.
The Hokage holds up a hand, halting anyone from making a move. The Leaf shinobi settle back a bit in obedience, but Sasuke is thoroughly anxious, squeezing the hilt of his sword reflexively, underneath his cloak.
"I believe that," Hiruzen says easily. "I just wanted to hear your intentions for helping out our shinobi. Surely there is a reason."
"I'm not," Sasuke says. After a moment of the Third staring at him with a slightly puzzled look, he elaborates, albeit hesitantly. "I'm just honing my skills. It's not a matter of if they are shinobi of any village. I'm not doing it to help the Leaf, I'm doing it to help me." It's probably the most selfish thing Sasuke's said in a while and yet the Third didn't appear to believe him. Sasuke has to ignore how much the words sounded like what Orochimaru's voice in the back of his head whispered to him.
"And my shinobi do not pose a threat to you?" the Third asks simply, but Sasuke feels completely trapped. He walked right into that one without even realizing it. If he says that he didn't perceive them as a threat, he may be shown just how deadly they can be, but if he says that he does, he's not sure he can be convincing enough to follow through with that notion.
"Sasuke," the ex-avenger says suddenly, hoping to turn the coarse of this entire situation. Anything to momentarily give Sasuke a breath of fresh air. A moment to think.
The old man looks caught off guard by that. "Pardon?"
"My name. It's Sasuke." And of course Sasuke was named after the Third's deceased father. If Sasuke believed it'd help, he'd have crossed his fingers and prayed that the old man wouldn't think that he was playing some sort of game.
Whatever he assumed Sasuke's name was, it wasn't that. It's kind of interesting to see the old man look so surprised, before relaxing. "Sasuke, eh?"
Sasuke nods slowly. "My parents respected you, Lord Hokage. I am given my name from them as a tribute to your father." A little bit of truth couldn't hurt, right?
The Third Hokage appears to take a moment to really think about that. He reaches up with his right hand and strokes his beard for a moment, staring up at Sasuke, as if trying to see if the young man was telling the truth or not. Sasuke's not sure how long the Third was staring at him before he finally spoke, but Sasuke didn't breath once the entire wait. He was completely out of practice talking to people. Not that he was all that good at doing it before, but at least he wasn't so strange about it before.
Now every time he speaks, it sounds weird.
"I see," the Third finally says, still stroking his beard. "That was awfully kind of them."
Sasuke's shoulders relax a bit. "I suppose."
A moment of pause, then, "Did you lose your left eye, Sasuke?"
Sasuke's black eye flickers over to Minato, wondering if it was simple curiosity or if Minato told him about Sasuke's Rinnegan. Whereas Minato seems to be reading Sasuke like an open book, Sasuke can't interpret the look the blond haired man is giving him. Maybe he hasn't said anything to the Hokage yet, or he has. Either way, this is a chance to either lie, or tell the truth and earn cookie points. Obviously the future Fourth recognized the eye, for he whispered it's name under his breath when he saw it.
There is no avoiding it.
"No," Sasuke says, looking back at the Third. "I still have my eye." Perhaps that would be enough.
"Then why close it?" Hiruzen asks.
Guess not. "Why does it matter?"
"Hm," the Third says, rubbing his beard, thinking about something, before finally dropping his hand and putting it behind his back with the other. "What are your plans, Sasuke? What will you do once you leave here?"
It was such a simple question but for a moment, Sasuke didn't know how to answer. What would the old man accomplish by knowing this? What was in it for him? What did it even matter?
"I'll decide when I get there," Sasuke says evenly, surprising himself, he feels anything but calm. His hand, wrapped around the hilt of his sword, is cramping up from prolonged tensing of the muscles. He relaxes his grip and wiggles his fingers around.
"Why did you leave the Leaf?" Hiruzen asks suddenly.
Sasuke stares at him for a moment, wondering if he should try and lie, but when the man just stares back at him with patiences and nonjudgement, a part of Sasuke wants to cling to the familiar old man. Even if this Third has never seen him before today, he still reminded Sasuke a lot of his Third. The Third showed great remorse for the death of his clan and other than that, he tried to look after Sasuke.
Perhaps, he was owed a bit of the truth. "There is nothing here for me. I left when I was thirteen. This is the first time..." Sasuke trails off. He was going to say this was his first time back, but that's not true. He's never been in this village. This wasn't his home. He wasn't born here. Just like the Uchiha of this village weren't his family, this village wasn't his.
"You betrayed the Leaf?" Minato asks incredulously, like he couldn't believe it.
Sasuke turns his single black eye toward the blond. "No. This isn't my home. I am not, nor have I ever been a shinobi of this village."
"You aren't a registered shinobi," the Third says, eyebrows raised slightly. Sasuke was going to say no, that he was, but in fact, that worked in his favor. If he wasn't a registered shinobi, which he isn't here, then it's not considered betrayal and he's not a missing ninja. There is no way they could prove it. Even if such a thing was strange for this time. His brother would have been sent to train in the academy at the age of four. Sasuke was thirteen and left, an unregistered shinobi? That was far fetched.
"Why did you leave?" the Third asks again.
Sasuke stares at him, wondering what else there was to be said. Then, a horrible thought crossed his mind, and before he could really think it through, he says, in a low tone, "I don't like the foundation in which this village was built upon."
"How dare you!" One of the Jounin snaps, taking a step forward. He misinterpreted Sasuke's words as that he didn't believe in the Will of Fire but the Third's eyes narrow a bit dangerously, catching Sasuke's hidden meaning.
ROOT.
The Third holds his hand up to silence the Jounin, eyes still locked on Sasuke, trying to see something that Sasuke doubted was even there. "Oh?" he finally says, giving Sasuke a chance to elaborate.
But Sasuke has nothing more to say. "If that is all, Lord Third, then may I leave?"
"What is out there for you?" Minato asks, stepping up next to one of the ANBU near the back. "Forgive me, Lord Hokage, but I just want to know, Sasuke, what is so important out there that you have to live in solitude. You left because there is nothing here for you? Then why not make something? Give yourself something to stay here for."
Sasuke barks a laugh. Minato will never know how much like Naruto he just sounded. But the sound catches the Leaf shinobi off guard, making a few of them jump in surprise.
"That's very humorous of you, Minato-san," Sasuke says with mock joy. "Why had I not thought of something so simple?" His entire demeanor sombers up almost immediately, as he stares levelly at the blond man. "You are a powerful shinobi, Minato-san, but what's unique about you can't be removed from you."
"What do you mean by that?" the ANBU captain asks slowly, this being the first time he spoke. A signature black '1' on the forehead of his mask.
Sasuke turns his gaze over to him and opens his Rinnegan eye. "You know as well as I, captain, that some thing, certain radicalists would break a lot of rules to get their hands on..." he takes a moment to scan the crowd. "There is very little that my eye cannot see." His eyes stop on the only female in this group, the other Jounin. "It's going to take after you." He nods to her stomach.
For a moment, her expression was blank, as if she didn't understand, before a look flickers across her face and she looks down at her stomach, eyes wide. Her hands fly upward, one going to her stomach and the other one to her mouth in shock.
"I'm pregnant?" she asks, sounding a mixture of surprised, and horrified.
Sasuke nods. "I can see it's chakra system pulling together with my eye."
"So this is the Rinnegan," the Third says wearily, looking into the purple swirling eye with tomoe in it.
"No, this is a different form of the Rinnegan," Sasuke says. "It's a mixture of the Sharingan and Rinnegan. That eye can perform both, and shall never fall into enemy hands." Sasuke weight again, this time pausing a moment to listen to the soft sounds of his beads clacking against each other. He turns his gaze back to Minato. "How about that? Can you guarantee me, that if I sought some sort of home in this village, that I wouldn't have to worry about agents of the government trying to steal my eye? Who will ensure that? You?"
Minato doesn't respond, staring at Sasuke with this strange look on his face. He might not really know who Sasuke was referring to, and that was fine. Sasuke doubted that he learned much about it before he died. And it wouldn't have mattered much if he had.
"No, I will," Hiruzen says, catching Sasuke off guard. He looks down at the old man to see his stern, determined face. "The Rinnegan of legends is a powerful weapon that cannot be risked falling into the wrong hands anywhere. Inside Konoha or outside. You are an Uchiha and this is the home of the Uchiha, I would like to formally ask you to return."
Sasuke tilts his head to the side. "Danzo-"
"Will never know you have that eye," the Third says sternly, cutting Sasuke off. "He cares deeply for the wellbeing of the village, and while I respect him for that, such radical beliefs may one day cause more harm than good. A part of the reason I want you here is selfish, keeping a legendary Rinnegan near is a major asset, but also, you are a child of the Leaf and should be allowed to live here. If you are threatened here, then you have the right to defend yourself. But I can't truly help you if you aren't here."
Sasuke stares at Hiruzen blankly, not understanding. "What are you saying?"
Hiruzen locks eyes with Sasuke. "It is irrefutable that the Rinnegan of the Sage of Six Paths mustn't fall into the wrong hands, so to ensure that you, a boy who somehow managed to obtain it, stays safe, I will keep you by my side. As a personal guard of the Hokage."
For the Reviewers:
1. bribright91: Thanks!
2. Mizuki hikari: Thank you so much! You know, I haven't thought much about that. Which do you think? He would be able to get the cats, yeah. Hm...
3. Masy: Thank you!
4. erison: Oh, you have? Is mine really the first? I suppose I never noticed. O.O Thank you!
5. Mearn-Tahl: Yeah, I didn't really know if I would originally like it either, but I think I am. XD I hope you come to like it!
6. Mimic: Thank you! I hope I don't disappoint!