Anyone ever notice Sasuke looks ridiculously young in the newer episodes? Like I know he's seventeen, but like... they gave him his baby face. Don't take my word for it, look up young Sasuke then watch a new episode. In his teen years they redrew him apparently. Even Naruto looks beyond seventeen
Ereshkigal
Anaru? Dangerous? They weren't serious, no way in the seven dimensions of Hell could a boy that small and weak be that dangerous? Nonetheless, they pester her about it.
"The time is near!" Saa was livid, bringing a smile to the sadistic woman.
"If you think for one damn moment I believe that, you are sorely mistaken." She muttered, scribbling upon some parchment, pushing her glasses up.
"The Oracle," Minerva, who was vivid red growled, "has told us so, woman. If you would come off your high throne-"
"What throne? What throne do I sit upon? I relinquished my hold of most of this land, I have given it all to my sons."
"It does not matter. We must take precautions. We are warning you." Shiva pleaded
"I hear your warning, but I simply do not care. You three may shove it up your pompous asses." She held her ground, still not even glancing towards the three.
"Ereshkigal, please."
"Enough! I have more urgent matters than that of the end of that pitiful race. As far as my concerns extend, I'd be more than welcoming of new souls. But because things worry you, does not mean they worry me. Be gone, fleas!"
And the talk with her son.
He looked to be so innocent. He even fell over his words to speak to her. No possible way could he feign that much innocence. She knew deep in her immortal soul that Anaru did not love and respect her, but he has never shone any reason to distrust him. It was that War God's entire stupid fault. If Shiva did not claim to have seen an oracle, which she knew he would on to this claim, then the other two would not bother her about her middle child.
And her other two.
What if her son really was the beast they say exist? How would she protect the other two? She was not the deity she once was; all she really was were snarls, hisses, and tantrums. And really, who did that scare in her world?
Thinking was becoming incredibly hard for her. Too many possibilities, not enough certainty. But she knew where should find constant serenity. Hastily she made her way to the western gate, there, Neti sat sleep in a chair.
"Neti..."
He snored a bit louder.
"Raise you lazy excuse of worthlessness."
He popped up, taking the spear and holding it in a striking matter.
"Off of it. I am passing through." She chuckled.
With a shy grin, Neti opened the Seven Gates of the Realm. Ereshkigal nodded to him, vanishing from this world.
Sasuke
It wasn't a secret Sasuke Uchiha took soccer as serious as academics. It was also no secret he practiced long hours on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings of a game. From six to ten, it was no secret Sasuke was further fucking up his lungs.
Usually the blond headed Baka joined him, doing extra drills, but Naruto got horribly drunk the night before. So horribly drunk, he has to carry that stupid boy home, where the overly shy Hinata met him. Who had waited up for him at their apartment.
He felt so bad she had to deal with his best friend. But she was his fiancée, so technically, she asked for it.
It was eight o'clock and Sasuke Uchiha could not breath.
He decided it was a good enough time to break for water and a snack, and well of course, the red inhaler. As he sat on the dewy grass, the wind blew a chill over his spine. It looked like more than rain, it might be a storm, could cancel the game.
Which would be very welcomed.
Last week at the Iwa game, they had kicked major ass, in all three of the games. Usually his discredited the first two, but since the loss to Suna the previous Friday, he was appreciative his team was worked the way they were. But for Sasuke, it was never enough. He had to work twice as hard.
He missed too many practices and too many games to not push this hard, even in his lungs protest he pushed. He was determined, goal oriented, and really set on humiliating Kiri. The Captain of the team was related to Kisame in a weird distant, twice removed way. He was Zabuza, and Sasuke wanted to kick the ball just hard enough to break the asshole's nose.
Anyway, Friday was the best day. Sure he got to play his favorite sport, but his favorite girl was there, cheering him on. It also seemed his father had no work that day, he, Mikoto, Madara-Oji, Obito, Itachi, and Shisui sat in the stands, only his mother and Obito shouting. It brought a swelling to his chest. After the game, Ayame had congratulated him with the tightest hug; he could feel every part of her, spiking his blood pressure. It didn't help his mother had hugged him after, taking his red face into her hand and babying him. She cooed and asked where the inhaler went and if he needed it, or needed to lie down, or water, or whatever else her mom brain could conjure up. His brother and cousins just laughed at him, mimicking Mikoto's concerns. Fugaku, as always, stayed quiet, only choosing to pat Sasuke's back. His uncle had smiled at him then asked who the female, currently hiding behind him, was. Sasuke fumbled to introduce them, earning happy glances from mom and impressed looks from dad.
After the awkwardness, she dismissed herself, having to work tonight, knowing hungry soccer players would come in flocks. Sasuke was going to go there, but his father muttered that he already had plans some place else. Bummed but still very elated, Sasuke said bye to the team after a quick shower and followed his parents in his truck.
Sasuke's dad must've been really proud, because he had gathered most of the Uchiha in the family and rented a hall. But that was not the case. No, instead, Sasuke's father had announced he would be stepping down from being Chief of the Kohona Police Force. He then announced that Madara will be stepping in and that Sasuke had won all week in his athletics. Congratulations went all around from him, to his father, to his uncle. All three men looked as happy as Uchiha men could be. Sasuke was grateful his father had announced his achievements. He rarely did so.
It was a fabulous week if Sasuke could say so himself. And what really made it over the top was the fact he was not having any more sever attacks nor did he hear disembodied voices. So that was relaxing.
Sighing into the cold air, Sasuke laid out. Not minding the water seeping into his shirt. Cold days meant the start of fall, and Sasuke really liked autumn. There was no particular reason for his love of the cold, but he embraced the season change with open arms. But he really should get back to work. Sitting with a hand in his inky spikes, he turned quickly to crack his neck then back.
Wont get better lying in the grass. He sighed again, finally standing. Lazily he dribbled the ball, not feeling the drive to do much else. He must've kicked too hard because the ball was rolling away. Damn. It went down the hill he didn't know why he practiced on to retrieve it. It kept rolling till it rolled into a man, who appeared to be talking to a tree. Great. He get's to fight with a crazy for a damn ball. Great.
"Excuse me, can you kick it back over here?" Sasuke called out to the crazy tree whisperer, who didn't hear him. "Hey, man, can you-"
"Back off kid. Go away."
Why? Am I interrupting your talk with the tree? Might want to ask it on a date first. Sasuke was so funny in his head; he made himself laugh all the time.
"I just want my ball, dude."
"I said beat it."
"You might want to heed his warning." So there was a person by and or in the tree. So they guy wasn't crazy, but shady.
"Go away kid." Looking around to find the voice, he spotted her. She looked almost bored, annoyed maybe, with a half of a cigarette in her mouth. She peered at her nails, not at the man who was potentially harassing her.
"Bothering women is a nasty habit." Sasuke deadpanned.
"And bothering me is a lethal habit. Get out of here." The man turned to face Sasuke, a glare weaker than a kitten on his face. Sasuke frowned at the man, really feeling bad about what was about to happen.
"Leave her be."
Sasuke took in a slow analyst of the man. Couldn't weigh more than Naruto, about his height as well. Maybe a bit shorter. He does have a knife though, be wary of that. Last thing you need is a stab wound.
"Indica mihi quid facias mihi porrigite..."
Show me what you can do, my Prince...
A wave of impulse hit the dark haired boy, advancing towards the criminal. In a quick burst of energy, Sasuke had the man pinned with strength he hadn't known to possess, feral noises emitting from his chest.
"Leave here, else I'll slit your disgusting throat." He growled lowly, eyes shining in mysterious lavender.
The creep scurried off.
Applause from his forgotten spectator gave him a start. Sasuke finally looked at her. Hair that was pink that fell in long layers to her waist. Her eyes were sea foam green mixed with jade or emerald. Skin a paled peach with full lips that were a shade darker. Bangs hid most of her angelic face, but from what he could see, a jewel sat in the middle of her forehead. Couldn't be Japanese, though. Not with a face like that.
"Well, well, then. Thank you." Despite her words, she didn't ,in the least, look surprise, but at her voice, Sasuke snapped from his trance. "I'm forever indebted to you. You have my loyalty."
Sasuke cocked his head to the side. What strange words to say to another. "What is your name?"
"Haruno Sakura." Well then, maybe not. Her name was Cherry Blossom, for obvious reasons, but it was clear that she did not hail from another land.
"How did you get yourself into a mess like this, Haruno Sakura?" Sasuke decided to sit by the tree she stood against.
"Pink hair is a beacon of unwanted attention, you know. They ask if it's natural and if I can... prove it." Well, that made sense.
"So it is natural. I figured as much."
"Oh? How do you gather?" She sat next to him, picking at the grass.
"I'm a med student. I read about birth anomalies."
"Interesting fact, Uchiha Sasuke."
"It must stem from your parents in some way."
"I do not know my parents, so no luck finding out why I got the short stick in the gene pool."
"Ah."
"Mhm."
They sat, the wind carrying Sakura's perfume to Sasuke's senses, causing a pleasant tingle over his body. She was spring times embodiment, right down to reeking of a floral shop. If it weren't so cold, bees, butterflies, ladybugs, all bugs would revolve around her.
"I do owe you my gratitude. I didn't want to have a dead human on my hands."
Sasuke chuckled, looking at his newfound friend: spring.
"Uchiha Sasuke. What a lovely name. Your surname, it's a type of fan, no?"
"Aa."
"And your first, do you know what means?"
"Aa. Warrior."
"Fan Warrior. Interesting choice."
So his mother really liked the name Sasuke, so what? At least he was Fan Weasel. Itachi certainly cannot win there.
"May I ask you something?" Sakura whispered, barely catching the boy's attention.
"I guess?"
"In the library. Did you find what I was directing you to?"
"Pardon?"
"The book I sent you to get, you found it correct? I could not stay to make sure you did so."
Insane. He was hanging out with a pretty chick that just escaped the mental institute. And how does she know about the library? She just met him twenty minutes ago. Nope, she stalked him; it wouldn't be the first stalker. But she was stalking him and now he knew and felt violated.
"You seemed restless that night as well. I do hope you enjoyed the lullaby I sung for you."
"Well this was fun," Sasuke jumped up, grabbing his ball, ready to retreat, but an unknown force held him to the grass. His chest then heaved, air not getting to his lungs in due time. Sasuke's throat burned, eyes glassing over.
Images of the week's prior told him all he needed to know. The supermarket, in his room, the library, even the urges and dreams, they all had slivers of pink and green. He knew she was that thing in those books.
"What ails you?" She was fast, kneeling in front of him in a blink of an eye
A wheezy answer "Can't. Breath. Need. Inhaler. Bag. Top. Hill."
Instead of getting the device she touched his shoulder, watching as the color came back to his face.
"I know not what this 'inhaler' is but I may be of assistance."
A pulse of warmth flooded Sasuke; air not so hard to swallow. After a few deep inhales, Sasuke refocused his eyes, staring straight at the pink-headed weirdo,
"How... How di-did you do that?"
"Humans. It's not unnatural for Gods to hold powers. I can heal or destruct. All depends on whom I am working on."
"I-"
"Before you are sent into one of those failing to breaths again. You do know who I am now, correct?"
"You could've slowly released that information."
"Why? I feel no shame in hiding my true self from you."
"So. You're telling me you are that goddess of the underworld? Eresheegal or whatever."
"Ereshkigal. Here, take my hand and I shall show you."
Hesitant but not reluctant, Sasuke did as he was told. Unlike he thought, her hands were warm, inviting almost. She started chanting, slowly and under her breath.
Her sentences were not Japanese; they were Arabic, which he recognized instantly. His teacher use to speak it to the class when frustrated, she was always frustrated, by the way.
The grassy field he practiced him was gone, instead lay cold cement like gray floor. Mist crept up from the depths of the cracks in the cement, wrapping around his ankles. It was a bit hard to breath as well, the air was too thin. The hills that litter the park were now flatland. To the right was a castle, built in cobble and brimstone. It looked eerie, but at the same time held no ill feeling. Chains being pulled could be heard from the West, along with strange crunching sounds. To the East came the wailing, the North held no sound, and the South held flames.
Sakura was there next to him, but her hair was not just pink, the strands were pink flames, licking at her skin, sea foam eyes were now viridian and soulless. But she was beautiful; breathe taking, still springtime.
In a flash all of it was gone, Sasuke could breath and Sakura took on her normal shape.
"I cannot actually take you. You are human, being there too long will kill you."
He was amazed, but not all that shocked, maybe he was too shocked to actually feel it. Sakura's curious eyes peered into his soul it seemed like, worry knitted into her brow.
"Are you still doubtful?"
"N-no. No! I... I just."
What was it he needed? Space? He couldn't even move. If this could've happened any other day, okay, but it was game day. Who was he kidding? If this happened any other day he still would feel the same. If this only never happened. He should've gone when he was first told. But that's not how his mother raised him, no.
She just had to teach him to be a gentlemen with a heart. Thanks mom, now he was in too deep with a scary Goddess lady who could take him to his death if he was not careful.
"You internalize things much too long."
"You read minds?"
"Just yours. You called out to me, there is now a bond we share."
"How... How in the world did I-"
Wait. He sorta did. Last Friday during the game. He had a dream Thursday of the Goddess granting him a wish, strange yes, but he thought on it all day, giving half-assed prayers to her. He remembered thinking it was silly. But they won so maybe-
"You listen to prayers?"
"Only those with my name present. Which, I must remind you, is not often."
Technically, he brought this upon himself. Well that's great, now he had this thing following him about because of his halfhearted calls in mocking.
"Half hearted. Hm. That's a bit offensive."
"Okay, out of my head."
"If you wish."
The presences he had not felt before left his head, making most of his thoughts clearer. When did she even invade his mind?
"Okay, so say I do believe in all this junk. What now?"
"Well, it's code for me to serve those who would be man enough to stand for me. You did just that today. I am forever indebted to you."
"Like a master servant type deal."
"Absolutely not. More of a, 'I'm willing to do as you please within reason,' type thing."
"Who else can see you?"
"Whoever I, or you, please."
"... How many languages do you know?"
"When you've been around as long as I, you tend to learn many."
"So all of them?"
"I wouldn't say that."
"I can summon you at will?"
And that's how his afternoon went. One sided questions from the spikey haired boy, all answered by the supposed Goddess. Sasuke found him self actually intrigued in this powerful entity. She even made flowers on the oak bloom, killing them off then reviving them again. She confirmed other gods lived, not giving their earth identity, but told him that any and every deity he learned in school were live and well. All she told him fascinated him.
"- The southern most part of the nether hold the Christian hell, The northern hold hades, and the east holds misfortunate sinners. That's actually where the torture is held. In the west I over look the torturing of more tainted souls. The other three hold no candle to what I do in the west, I do not wish it on others, but these one's deserve it."
"So these other three deities. They rule with you." Coal eyes sparking in knowledge. "Do you hold power over them?"
"Yes. They answer to me and me alone. They do not even speak to the council members."
"Wow." Looking up to the sky, clouds continued to roll in, you could just barely see the sun. "Shit! I'm going to be late for practice. Fuck." Sasuke raced back up the hill, where Sakura already stood, blankly staring. "I have to go."
"I realized that. You must kick a sphere for hours into mesh netting. Pushing and shoving other grown men as you do."
"You know nothing about soccer."
"I know enough. You shalt have breathing issues today. My power resides in you. Play to your hearts content."
"Th-thank you."
"Go."
Sasuke failed to play his best today, causing the wrath of coach Kakashi. It was the first game they had against Iwa, and Sasuke daydreamed all through it. Zabuza even got a good elbow into his ribs, causing the Uchiha to actually threaten his life. Even in the ramen shop, Sasuke seemed out of it, not giving longing glances to his love interest of ten years. Naruto went as far as to say something out of line getting all the others to laugh, but not eliciting a single hint of hostility from his best friend. For, Sasuke had a secret.
One that may cause him his life.
So no, really, look up young Sasuke. Looks the same as seventeen Sasuke! Bothers (in the greatest of ways) me! Also, let me know when there's not a filler episode? I'm so bored!