Sasuke Potter
Summary: At the moment as Harry spend the last breath of live on a ironic laugh, took in a other world a different Sasuke his first breath of live. Fate was changed and destiny rewritten.
Warnings: OOC!Sasuke/Harry! maybe a bit of AU! Grammar errors! I mean really absurd grammar errors! No regular update!
Pairings: None planned but up for suggestions, but I think I rather have it a gen-fic.
On a small note: I again thank the many reviewers and apologize that I didn't answer you personally, I just hadn't the time. It's sad that some people find the grammar error so upsetting that they stopped reading. I'm aware of my problem with the tenses and work on it, but I have, to my regret, a live outside of this, still go to school and can't concentrate on only learning English, but I try.
And of course, I apologize for the guest-reviewer who apparently had his brain melted. My condolence.
Chapter two: Of visits and discovery
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the building, where the two infamous orphans of Konoha resided.
It was a house with three floors and for some reason decided both, Sasuke and Naruto, to live in the two apartments of the upper level. On the roof were some plants and flowers, and he remembered faintly that one of Naruto's hobbies was to look after plants.
He chuckled slowly to himself, he didn't think that anyone in the village would believe that such a loud boy had such a quiet hobby.
He slowly walked up the stairs and thought about the two boys.
It did surprise him when the last Uchiha came in to his office and all but accused him of neglecting Naruto. It was somewhat shocking to have someone shouting accusations at him. It was a long time ago that people had the actual gall to question him, even when he was just a Chunin gave people him respect and moved cautiously around him.
But he couldn't argue with the fact, that what Sasuke said the truth was.
He turned a blind eye on Naruto, for all that he really loved the boy like a second grandson, turned he a blind eye on Naruto's situation. Minato and his dear wife would have his head in the afterlife, how he disappointed them.
He should have fought stronger against the council, but it was either the situation now or training Naruto to be a assassin from a young age, he didn't want that, even if just for some years wanted Sarutobi to give him some years of peace.
He frowned, but had the boy peace?
Can you truly call that what the boy now had peace?
He sighed and his thought strayed again to the young Uchiha. Uchiha Sasuke was remarkable, he had the kindness of his mother and the hard stare of his father but the mix of that, and his own characteristic made him unique.
Sarutobi just hopes that he will not lose that fire in his live as Shinobi. It would be catastrophic if the last Uchiha lost the drive to live, for Sasuke, for Konoha and Itachi.
For a moment closed he his eyes in painfully remembrance and murmured a soft prayer for strength under his breath.
How he wished that it would have been dealt peacefully with, there were innocent souls under the Uchiha, he is sure, but the council just didn't want to wait, they were inpatient and used Itachi in the worst possible way.
He should have stopped it, but he couldn't, he too was tired and exhausted, every diplomatic approach failed with either Fukagu or Danzo or someone other from the council.
Itachi was so young, only thirteen, newly promoted ANBU captain. He thought back on that cursed day.
[...]
"Hokage-sama" said Itachi, kneeling before him, tense but remarkably composed. I tried to smile encouraging, but it came more out as a pitiful grimace.
"You don't need to bow before me Itachi-kun" I said, regret and sadness clear in my voice, but Itachi didn't stand up, he just slowly shook his head.
"It's only respectful" The young captain explained, head still bowed and I just wanted to give the boy -no, young man a strong hug and tell him that it will be alright, but I knew that it would have been empty words.
"I...I have a request, Hokage-sama" He spoke slowly and raised his head. I nodded and mentioned him to continuing, hoping that it will be a wish that I can fulfill.
"It was agreed that my brother will be spared," said the young Uchiha and Sarutobi heard the warning in the voice. If somewhat were to happen to Sasuke because of the council, then Itachi will not quietly sit back.
"My brother is not stupid, he has experience beyond his years and I hate lying to him, because he always knows when I'm lying." His voice spoke of fondness and warmth. I ruthlessly squashed down the guilt I felt.
"It would be only a matter of time before he recovered from the shock and then he will search for answers." His eyes turned undecided "I...just...please..." the voice left the boy and I sighed.
"Itachi-kun, I promise you, that I will do everything to make sure that Sasuke is safe in Konoha and from Konoha. I will tell the boy no lies but I will not tell him the truth either." I said to him. "I don't think that you deserve his hate Itachi, but I can't have him turn against Konoha in revenge."
Itachi nodded in understanding.
[...]
His guilt only grew worse when he visited Itachi's younger brother in the hospital.
The shock on the boy was clear to see, but it was mixed with confusion and plain despair.
He was often confronted with that look, many Shinobi lose their lives, the lives of their comrades, family, but to see it in the eyes of someone so young.
It unnerved him, Uchiha Sasuke unnerved him. He understood why Itachi hated lying to him, the black eyes did not just look at you, but it was like their were looking straight into your soul, seeing all what you didn't want to show.
So, when the boy practically stormed into his office, and told him the hard truth.
He was again confronted with those all-seeing, black eyes.
Those accusing eyes that glowed with knowledge, knowledge of the truth and if Sarutobi didn't know better he would thought that the boy indeed knew, but he knew that the boy didn't knew.
The sealing of the Kyuubi was to be forever remain a secret of the older generation.
He shook his head to get rid of the thoughts and knocked on Naruto's apartment door.
Only to remain standing before the closed doors. Was Naruto not at home? A frown graced his face and he walked to the next door and after knocking, was the door promptly opened by the house owner.
He smiled softly at the young boy, who stared politely back.
"Hello, Sasuke-kun" He greeted the boy "Is Naruto with you?" He inquired and Sasuke nodded.
"Yeah, he's here" The Uchiha replied and made room so that the Hokage could enter. "Naruto is in the living room" The boy explained as he closed the door behind the older man.
Sarutobi glided his eyes curious through the apartment. It was clean, nothing like you would expect a nine year old boy to live. Another point for the obvious maturity of the boy. It didn't looked anything like the chaos he imagined and he was satisfied that the boy could look after himself. He just hoped that Naruto's apartment looked the same.
Speaking of Naruto, as he caught sigh of Naruto, he couldn't quite hid his astonishment. The trouble maker was sitting quietly by the table and seemed to do homework. His face was a mask of deep concentration, browns and mouth furrowed and completely absorbed in hin his work. Did Sasuke really influence him like that? Even Iruka didn't manage that feat.
The concentrating boy was so absorbed in his work that he didn't even notice the approach of Sarutobi, just as he was about to speak up, beated him Sasuke.
"Oy, Naruto you have a guest" Sasuke said as he walked past the Hokage to the big open kitchen. Confused, Naruto looked up and his eyes widened as they caught sight of the aged leader.
"Hokage-Jiji!" Naruto shouted with happiness and stumbled clumsily from the stool.
Sarutobi laughed "Like always I see, Naruto" He commented warmly and the Kyuubi container rubbed his head sheepishly, his gaze strayed to the table.
"You're doing homework? Decided to see reason?" He asked , Naruto always told him that he didn't need those trifle facts that are thought in the Academy, that he as a future Hokage didn't needed to know those useless dry information. Yes, Sasuke really influenced him for good.
Naruto blinked and shook his head with a grin "Nah, they aren't homework" He answered "I..uh just have some problems with the kanji," He explained a bit embarrassed "Sasuke's helping me" He added, his face began to literally shine "He is very good! Much better than those stupid academy teachers!" He praised the Uchiha and Sarutobi blinked surprised.
"What kind of problems?"
The small boy looked at this a bit unsure and turned his gaze to the forgotten Uchiha, who was leaning against the counter and watched the interaction between the two quietly.
"Naruto seems to have a mild case of dyslexia, he has a problem with reading and his short attention span doesn't do anything to help." He explained "Iruka is a good teacher, but he can't give Naruto the individual lessons he needs or slow down the class lessons. So we just do it here at home"
The Hogake was again surprised and he begins to think that it will likely be a frequent occurrence with these two.
"I see," Sarutobi spoke slowly. "You must have been very attentive to have realized this" stated he to the boy who just shrugged.
"Really, after all the time I spent with him, was it easy to see that Narutos problem wasn't the information, but the way the information was mediated to him" He explained "Especially if most of those useless teachers just ignore Naruto" added Sasuke in a whisper more to himself than the Hokage.
The boy was only nine wasn't he? thought Sarutobi. The child proved an insight and maturity other children his age wouldn't have.
A genius, it was easy to see that the younger Uchiha was a genius, just like his brother.
Still, just because the boy was a genius, didn't mean it that he could just leave the massacre of his family behind. The psyche of the 'last Uchiha' was worrisome, after that visit in the hospital gave Sasuke no indication that the dead of his whole clan weighted him down. There was some guarded sadness and sorrow in his eyes, but no child, no person could just accept the dead of his family easily like that.
"I don't believe that my brother would kill them without reason" The boy spoke to him from his seated position on the hospital bed. "It doesn't mean that I think that what happened was alright." He said. "Itachi was a pacifist, he wouldn't kill them, his own family, just to test his strength."
The boy turned tired black eyes to him. "I don't know why, but I want to reserve my opinion till I'm sure what happened." A sigh escaped the young boy and he smiled sadly at the Hokage. "...I'm sorry, I speak nonsense don't I?"
[...]
"I doesn't matter where, people always die around me" The boy murmured the softly to himself, as the Hokage turned to leave "I'm incapable of protecting those important to me" Sarutobi was sure he wasn't suppose to hear the soft admission. He shut the door with a soft click. Feeling even more guilty than before.
The boy didn't take the dead of his family lightly, he just hid it and came slowly to a acceptance that would take others a lifetime.
"Oy, Hokage-Jiji?!" The bright voice brought him from his day dream and he smiled apoplectic at the small boy before him.
"I'm sorry Naruto. My mind wandered"
Naruto nodded in childish seriousness "Of course, you're a old man." He stated.
"That means that it's my time to be Hokage, 'ttebayo!" The boy yelled and pointed a finger at him, looking self-confident.
Before the current Hokage could do more than smile in amusement, was the blond boy in a headlock courtesy of Sasuke who twisted his fist on the blondes head.
"Learn first to read, Future-Hokage-san!" He spoke as he easily dominated the smaller boy. "And what did I say about shouting indoors?"
"Wha! Bastard! Sometimes you need to shout to express yourself" The blond defended himself "And when I become Hokage than I just make other people read!"
The Uchiha's eye twitched dangerously.
"Learn it first yourself before you make others do it! What people, will acknowledge a person who can't even read? "
That comment made the boy strangely quiet and Sasuke released him from the headlock.
"Fine, I first learn the stupid kanji," Naruto spoke sully. "but then I will become Hokage!"
Sasuke besides Naruto just shook his head with a sigh, but his eyes held no irritation, he clearly was, after all this time, accustomed to Naruto's emotional outbreaks.
"Oh yeah, Jiji, what do you want?" Naruto asked after he calmed down, remembering the presence of the older man.
"Just to see how the two of you are managing. I did not visit you after you moved, so I thought a catch up" He smiled kindly "But I see no problem, you two seem to cope quite good"
Naruto rubbed his head with a smile.
"Hehe, it's because of Sasuke! Yeah, he is totally awesome! He explains and is patient. He even made a lady who insulted me, apologize to me!" The fascination was clear in the boys voice, it made Sarutobi both happy and sad. "And he isn't easily irritated as Iruka-sensei, and explains when I do something wrong and why I shouldn't do it." The boy blabbered on exited and Sarutobi saw how the boy, who Naruto so enthusiastically praised, rolled his eyes.
"Oh, and he even allowed me to use the roof as a garden!" Naruto spoke further.
He shouldn't have worried, the boy's are good to each other, with Sasuke having a protective hand over Naruto and Naruto ceasing the loneliness of Sasuke.
"He is a great friend!" Naruto shouted at the end, looking happy like never before and it eased some of the guilt that dwelt in his heart . The Kyuubi container, smiled often, but it looked more like a robotic stretch of his mouth than a real smile of happiness, but this one was genuine and it was all because of a single friend.
Harry closed the door with a click after the Hokage left, his mind in turmoil. The village leader was a lot like his old mentor, but he wasn't, not really, no.
He didn't dislike Dumbledore, no, he long a ago let go of the anger he felt, the 'light lord' was just like him, a human. He doesn't hate him but he couldn't and will ever forgive him that he put him to the Dursleys, just so that he grew up humble. He often manipulated the situation for the greater god, or what he believed was the greater god.
It usually didn't account for the live of the single.
Snape died in the believe that the son of the women he loved died, died with the believe that he failed her. He never told Harry the whole truth, till his last dying breath was his mind full of secrets. It was frustrating and somehow it hurt, that the man, that he saw as a grandfather, didn't trust him.
The Hokage was different in that aspect, he could practically fell the guilt radiating from him today. The eyes that looked genuine happy at Naruto with no hidden intention. Yes, for all their likeness was the Sarutobi Hiruzen different, if for the better or worse, Harry wasn't sure.
"Hey...Sasuke?"
Harry turned to his friend. Naruto stood in the living room, somewhat tense and nervous. The Uchiha narrowed his eyes, did the visit of the Hokage upset him somehow? No, that couldn't be, he looked happy to see the old man.
"What is it, Naruto?" Harry asked, moving to stand before the smaller boy, no point in thinking if he could just ask.
"Why..." He trailed of, searching for words and Harry gave him the time, remembering how irritating it was when Hermione always hurried him and gave him no time to think his words over.
"Why are you my friend?" Naruto asked slowly, turning confused blue eyes at him.
Harry frowned "What do you mean?"
The blonde clenched his hands in visible distress "Why are you helping me? Why are you putting up with me?!" He was shaking now. "I'm stupid, I make always all thinks wrong..." Blue eyes burned with desperate questions "Why do you care?!"
The older just watched with a calm face, what brought this? He looked at the shaking boy, it didn't matter, he first needed to calm him down.
"Why shouldn't I?" Harry asked calmly and Naruto stared at him with pure disbelieve.
"Why? Why?!" He nearly yelled, "It's obvious! You're smart and you know everything, you're cool and people respect you!" Naruto turned his eyes away from him and stared at the ground.
"I'm just the stupid boy without parent...people hate me...useless...always no-good" Tears began to from in his eyes and Harry cursed all those people in the village that made the boy so insecure.
The former wizard didn't know what to do, so he just acted what his heart and instincts told him. He closed the distance between them and enclosed the boy in a hug, not loosing it even as Naruto visibly flinched.
"I care because I see that it's wrong how people are treating you" He answered voice soft. Naruto released a soft choked gasp, did someone ever told him that? That it was just wrong? That he had no fault in it?
"I care because everybody deserves a chance"
"I care because you are my friend" He spoke fondly, thinking at the various pranks the boy played only to cheer Harry up "a precious friend, that brightens my day. Who is awesome one his own, someone who sees me as the person I am and not the clan I represent. Someone who reminds me of myself and someone who has a strength that I never had." Harry would have added more, but a choked sob stopped him and he patted the back of Naruto reassuringly.
"You know," Harry heard himself saying "It's alright to cry if you're happy"
Naruto just hugged him fiercely back and pressed his face against the Uchiha's shoulder. Sobbing and feeling ridiculously happy as warmth surged from his chest.
Harry sat down on the cold bench, his eyes wandered through the roof. Naruto did really a great job with all the plants, who would have thought that the energetic boy had such a quiet hobby?
He looked up and frowned when he saw no stars, just a dark, clouded night-sky.
Naruto's emotional outburst from before made him, if he is truthful with himself, uncomfortable. He never was good with crying persons. The younger boy compared himself to Harry, 'the genius Uchiha Sasuke', and found himself lacking. Harry could relate to that feeling. In this life, he was never really jealous, or found himself inadequate when compared to Itachi, but as Harry Potter…well, the list was pretty long.
Uzumaki Naruto, the boy who wanted to be acknowledged, who wanted to be the Hokage. What a big dream he had, Harry had once too such a dream, a thirst to prove himself, to prove that he had a right to live. That he was worth something.
He just hopes that Naruto will not end up like him, nearly completely emotional broken. He will prevent that.
It was in moments like those that Harry wished that he was reborn as someone older, someone who could protect him better, maybe even knew why Naruto was treated like that. When Naruto looked at him, what did he see? A friend? A brother? Harry cannot really say that their current relationship is like that of friends. It's more like that of an older person who protects a younger person.
Older brother and younger brother?
Itachi flashed before his eyes and he shook his head. He will not accuse him, he may punch him in the face the next time he sees him, but he will first wait for a explanation.
A groan escaped him and he let his head fall into his hands. What's up with all these depressing thoughts? Sometimes he wished he could have the positive outlook Naruto always had, being happy for the simplest of reasons. He was once like that too, but he lost it. War, dead, enemies all that took a toll on him...he couldn't be the naive hero anymore.
"You are - truly your father's son, Harry..."
"...and now you face me, like a man ... straight-backed and proud, the way your father died..."
"There's nothing you can do, Harry ... nothing ... He's gone."
"...don't worry. You're just as sane as I am."
"We are proud of you!"
"Sasuke, your father just doesn't know how to speak with you."
"You are truly my son..."
"You and I are flesh and blood. I'm always going to be there for you, even if it's only as an obstacle for you to overcome. Even if you do hate me. That's what big brothers are for."
"My foolish brother… curse me! Hate me! And live a long and unsightly life… Run away…."
Dark eyes snapped open and harsh, panicked pants left the small body.
It was a dream, a dream...
Harry lay there for a moment panting, when will this end? How long will he be affected by this nightmares? Was he really this weak?
With a last deep breath turned he to the clock and sighed at the glowing six. Great, it wouldn't bring anything to go back to sleep.
He stood up and a sound of surprise left him as he swayed and stumbled. The boy ran a shaky hand through his hair and breathed slowly in and out, calming his erratic heartbeat.
Almost absently minded walked he to the bathroom, only to freeze when he caught sight of his face in the mirror.
His eyes. Sharingan?
"Wha...What the hell!" He yelled out in surprise and dawning horror. With wide eyes took he a shaky step back. No, it couldn't be, he couldn't have the Sharingan, but what was it then?
It looked...strange, for the lack of a better word,...nothing like the Sharingan his father, brother and other clan members had. There were no tomoes(1). His right eye had something like three intersecting ellipes in the usual red and black color of the Sharingan, just reversed.
Mangekyo Sharingan, could that be the eyes Itachi and his father talked about? Then why does the left look so different?
It was green, were his right eye was black, looked this one green , and it had a strange triangle, with a circle in it which was split in the middle by a line. The symbol was made of simple black lines.
His mind moved for a moment blank, till realization shot through him like a burning arrow. Symbol.
Deathly Hallows... . Of course that was the symbol of the deathly hallows!
But why? How? He didn't had any magic left. There was no magic in this land.
He...he was again marked by fate, by death?
He again staggered on his feet and lurched back, his back hitting the wall painfully.
It was only now that he noticed his exhaustion, he slide down the wall as the world swayed around him. Breathing became hard, his vision blurred and the last thought he had before he fell into the welcoming hands of darkness was, why me?
(1) Tomoe: It's the black swirl thingy, that resembles a comma in the Sharingan, looks a bit like a tiny black tadpole if it think about it.
Author Note:
...I just hope that it doesn't have as many grammar errors as the other chapters. Yes, I have Sasuke/Harry discover the Mangekyo Sharingan early one, but I will be still carefully with it. I don't want him to become all super powerful, but really, Masashi Kishimoto-sama doesn't make it easy, he rather overpowered the Uchiha-clan as a whole, not that I can really complain, I find amaterasu pretty cool.
So for all that I will make, or want to make Sasuke/Harry powerful, I will try to gave him a reasonable weakness.
Many of you suggested that I should give him the Raijin, (I was surprised that so many were against Kusanagi) something I didn't know even existed as I don't really watch the Anime. I have some idea how I could include it, but I don't think that it will happen in the near future.
At the moment I'm thinkin about giving Sasuke or Naruto some skills in fuinjutsu "Sealing Techniques", because I think it's a shame that Jiraya didn't teach it to Naruto in that three year interval , but I still have some apprehension as it is a often used cliché in fanfictions...and have no idea how I should use or rather include it...
Oh and I'm sorry for the somewhat mushy scene between Sasuke/Harry and Naruto...but oh well...Harry and Naruto are both rather emotional.
(Edited version. 1.0 - yeah,yeah again the tenses, mixed up words...and so one...I really should have been born in an english speaking country -.-)
(Edited verion 1.1)