The Paths We Take
If you had asked Sasuke 24 hours ago if someone would declare him a traitor and cause him to run for his life, he would have laughed at your face. He probably would square you right in the jaw for such as insinuation.
But, here he was, tired, broken, and angry- rushing through the wilderness as fast as he could. Failure was not an option because the Konoha shinobi were hot on his heels. He struggled as he readjusted the knocked-out cargo on his back.
He felt blood rushing down his back that didn't seem entirely his own.
Hold on, Naruto. For Kami's sake hold on.
A thought clawed its way inside his head.
Sooner or later he would have to decide, Naruto or him? He only had enough Chakra for one of them.
He violently dismissed it. He wasn't going to give up just yet.
They had so much to live for! So much to do!
A sharp glint.
Sasuke sensed a kunai rushing towards him and lunged aside.
It buried itself where he previously stood.
He glared above him, where the kunai had been thrown from. Then the true horror of his situation dawned upon him.
They were surrounded. Shinobi stood on tall trees at all sides, their gleaming weapons aimed toward them. Worse, they morbidly looked like him.
Itachi had the same gear…. Fuck, they are the ANBU.
Whatever delusions he had of fighting outside of this situation left him immediately.
The shinobi descended on them mercilessly. Kunai and shuriken rained all over them, tearing apart their flesh and spattering their blood all over the area.
Naruto howled in pain as Sasuke was unable to cover him.
This was not an execution, this was torture.
They wanted to humiliate Naruto and him before finishing them off.
The price for treachery I suppose. Make an example of us.
Naruto's anguished cries grew too loud for Sasuke to bear any longer. He smashed a wounded fist into the ground below.
Damn it all!
Why was it always him? First, he couldn't defend his parents from Itachi. Now he couldn't defend his brother from Konoha. Blood liberally poured out of every vessel.
And then it happened.
Sasuke roared in pain as a torrent of power erupted inside him.
It felt as if a thousand bells had gone were ringing inside his head.
Arcs of pure energy erupted all around him. His assailants paused and regrouped to observe this new phenomenon. None of them were brave enough to act.
Sasuke could see everything. He could see the flow of air. He could see the electromagnetic spectrum. He saw waves fluctuating.
The spectacular nature of the vision before him was meaningless. Naruto was all that mattered.
As if acting on instinct, he whispered words that hadn't been spoken in over a decade.
MANGEKYō
A portal appeared over Naruto and started to engulf him.
Sasuke panicked, not knowing what he had just done. He grabbed his tanto and threw it toward his friend. A final momento of their camaraderie.
And then he was gone.
Sasuke grinned as he saw the ANBU fumble as they failed to reach Naruto in time. A shinobi punched him in his face and Sasuke fell to the ground. That certainly knocked his grin off.
He briefly noted he was bleeding from his eyes. His world went dark as the ANBU appeared to cuff his hands and legs.
As skilled as these Konoha shinobi were, their victory was short-lived.
A coiled serpent observed the events from a tree. It transmitted its vision to its master.
The shinobi stood no chance against the new incomer. Several giant serpents ravaged their makeshift camp and devoured the surprised ANBU.
By the time dawn broke, the only thing of value left behind in the camp were field equipment and an empty cage with its door ajar.
24 Hours Ago,
Sasuke
Sasuke wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, squinting under the scorching sun. He stood alone in the empty training yard of the compound, going through his karate forms with focused precision. The compound's silence, once haunting to him as a child, had become a solace, a refuge from the chaos of the world.
As he completed a particularly swift kick, his mind drifted to Naruto. They had come a long way since their days as bitter rivals.
Sasuke wondered if Naruto would ever be interested in moving into one of the abandoned apartments nearby.
It's criminal how the Hokage forces him to live on the village's edge. In that shithole.
A blueish glow went off in his ancestral and Sasuke halted.
Burglars.
Sasuke's heart raced, and instinctively, he reached for his kunai, prepared for a potential threat. He dashed toward the house, his mind racing with thoughts of burglars rummaging through his family's belongings, searching for lost Uchiha treasures.
As Sasuke burst through the entrance, he found no intruders. Instead, his eyes were drawn to a hauntingly radiant scroll lying on the floor.
Its magical glow pulsed and danced with an ethereal energy that sent shivers down Sasuke's spine. Warily, he approached the scroll, his hand trembling as he reached out to touch it.
In an instant, his world turned upside down. Visions assaulted his mind, each one more devastating than the last. He witnessed the manipulations of Danzo and Hiruzen, and how they orchestrated Itachi's torment, forcing him to annihilate the Uchiha clan.
That wasn't the worst of it.
Blood trickled from Sasuke's nose as a torrent of visions tore through his mind. He witnessed the atrocities committed against his clan, the sins of the Senju clan etched into his consciousness. The weight of their suffering crushed his spirit, fueling his rage.
Amidst the flashes, the figure of Tobirama Senju loomed, revered yet tainted with racism and prejudice. The crimes against the Uchiha unfolded, a relentless assault on their existence. Excessive surveillance, crippling taxation, and the desecration of cherished Sharingan, all for vile experiments.
But there was more. A wiry blonde man, reminiscent of the Yondaime Hokage, laughed with a red-haired companion. Sasuke couldn't fathom the meaning behind this vision, for now.
Yet, the most ominous revelation pierced his heart. A shadowy shinobi lurked within Naruto's compound, clutching a syringe filled with sickly green liquid. Panic surged through Sasuke as he fought to regain control.
Suppressing his fury, he summoned his training to the forefront. Time was of the essence. He had to reach Naruto before it was too late.
As Sasuke rushed towards the red light district, a laughing voice of a woman echoed in his mind.
Have faith in the Elder Gods, mortal. All will be well.
Quan Chi
Quan Chi sighed as a jolt awakened him.
For a brief moment, he forgot about his whereabouts before memories came rushing back to him.
Golden chains approached from nowhere and wrapped around his hands, leaving him suspended about a gaping void whose depth he couldn't fathom.
Above him, a neon purple roof stared back at him.
Quan Chi sighed in annoyance. Once again he had been used as a pawn in a game of giants. And as always, he was crushed in the ensuing battle.
If the only said giants could be bothered to heed his counsel instead of being ruled by their ego, they would be victorious.
It wasn't as if he didn't have a choice. Darkness permeated his soul through and through.
He had rolled the die, played the hand that was dealt to him, and lost. Fair and square. He wasn't petty enough to deny the Thunder God his victory.
Raiden had won a total victory. In one stroke he had crippled Shinnok, took the amulet from him, and banished Netherrealms forces back to hell.
Now with both Shao Kahn and Netherrealm rudderless, Earthrealm was sacrosanct.
Quan Chi took a perverse delight in knowing that with his death, not even Raiden could cure the revenants of their condition. This was his only solace in the entire farce of a war.
At least he wouldn't have to suffer at the hands of those insufferable monks anymore.
A shudder ran through him as he felt the phantom pain of lightning-fast jabs and kicks tearing through his defenses.
Quan Chi cursed the incompetence of his allies. Not for the first time mind you.
Shao Kahn was too egotistical. Too driven by his lust for gluttonous violence to think beyond two steps. Quan Chi had leveraged this to play him like a violin. He now regretted that.
Shinnok had sent him a "wise" counselor to Shao Kahn's court since he was the supreme military might across the realms. They needed to play their cards carefully here, lest they too meet Onaga's fate.
Yet, the Emperor too had been foiled. His mind betrayed him. His lust for battle and conquest overpowered his cunning. The Elder Gods had swiftly punished this folly and now Shao Kahn was lost in some abyss.
That was his greatest triumph. His master, Shinnok, in a rare display of approval, had rewarded him with hundreds of souls trapped in the Netherrealm. His power tripled and Quan Chi felt unstoppable.
All was going to plan until he lost. Quan Chi sacrificed his life in a last bid to summon Shinnok directly to Earthrealm. He had held up his end of the bargain completely.
Yet the Elder Gods were fickle beings, including Shinnok.
Shinnok had decided to throw away a perfectly good victory by losing to a brat and then to said brat' brat.
Admittedly, to brats whose lineage Quan Chi suspected blessed by the Elder Gods but that was no excuse. A millennium of posturing, power, sorcery, and combat skills- all had proven to be a fraud. Blown apart by a family trio, united to fight till the very end.
Blonde hair, boisterous personalities, bravado, beauty, and unmatched skill.
They remind me of another life, I used to live. If I had the chance, I would have spared them.
Unbidden to him, the memory vault cracked further and he remembered.
A blonde kid running around the village, causing harmless trouble. The villagers despising the very fabric of his being. Hungry nights, cold showers, mobs beating him within inches of his life, kids ignoring him, and him failing the academy.
He had failed him too; Just like he had failed his master, Shinnok.
He was too weak.
What was his name? Quan Chi wondered. It had been centuries since that faithful day.
Satsuki? Sasuko… or wait was it Sasunari?
No that wasn't right. An image burned in his mind. A raven-haired boy with red glowing eyes.
Sasuke!
Yes, that was right.
If he was here, none of this would have happened. Naruto thought.
That miserable Hanzo would have never been able to touch him much less harm him. The shinobi would have learned then what being a true shinobi meant. Those worthless celibate monks would be clawing their own eyes at Genjutsu-laced horrors.
The realms would have bled at their combined might. Shao Kahn, Raiden, Shinnok, and Jarod, all would have bowed bent the knee.
He had once tried to forge similar bonds with one another, perhaps out of loneliness. It was another sorcerer he had met in Shao Kahn's court. The fool couldn't see beyond his petty desires.
That entire affair had ended badly. Especially when he was so close to the cusp of absolute power.
Quan Chi remembered that day with crystal clear clarity.
It was Sasuke in a last bid attempt to save him, sent him rolling across the worlds.
Naruto landed with a thud, and it took him a while to take in his surroundings.
The new place could only be described as hell. Molten magma flowed through the cracks and the entire environment was saturated with fumes of sulfur & despair.
Flayed corpses hung out over roving fire; their flesh being cooked to feed the realm's nightmarish denizens. One-eyed Onis unleashed unrestrained depravity on their captives. Pained shrieks, sobbing, and mercy pleas echoed throughout the place.
On the pillars stretching to skies, skeletal figures, their flesh seared away, dangled from ghastly chains, their hollow eyes staring into an eternity of suffering.
This had only been the beginning of his nightmare. The Onis had found him injured and laughed at his "puny" wounds. They quickly healed his wounds and then proceeded to introduce to him real pain.
On the first day, they whipped him raw with barbed wires and smashed his bones with maces.
On the second day, they flayed him and let the hell fire settle directly on his flesh.
On the third day, they blinded him and forced him to fight against other denizens.
The Oni did not know the strength or the adaptability of the resolve they dealt with. Naruto hid away weapons and one night when the Oni lapsed in the binding of his restraints, he struck.
Hundreds perished as he turned their very powers against them. His fury was unmatched, but the Oni were numberless and soon they would overwhelm him.
He had fled the scene. He wandered the nightmarish expanse for months. Hunting the Oni for food and blood till they had come to regard him with fear.
And then he had found him. A humanoid trapped inside a mausoleum with Onis even more sadistic than the usual standards.
At first, Naruto had regarded him as a kindred spirit, lost in circumstances similar to his.
He slew the Onis in a dash of stealth and shadow and freed the man. Yet he was too weak to survive on his own. So, Naruto hunted on his behalf and protected him while he recovered.
The man was dark. Even Naruto had begun to sense it, but it was too late. It was them against this hell.
Each night, the man whispered dark dreams and histories to him. He told him of the first war. The primordial war.
The war where the most supreme of Gods united to destroy a parasitic being. His flesh and soul had become the foundation of the realms today.
Then he talked about his war. How the so-called "Elder Gods" denied him just rewards. How an insolent young ling being of thunder and lightning had struck him down and condemned him to this hell.
He said he knew Naruto wasn't a native of this area. He had heard whispers of the realm Naruto described as his own.
Shinnok had sensed the black seeds of revenge within his soul. He promised Naruto power and vengeance.
He would find out why Konoha did what it did. And the Village Hidden in the Leaves would learn the folly of being surrounded by combustible timber.
Especially when their opponents wielded hellfire and brimstone.
Upon being healed, Shinnok forced Naruto's loyalty and granted him a new name to better suit his new stature.
Quan Chi.
They two had made short work of their rivals and Shinnok crowned himself master of NetherRealm.
If he had thought he knew hell, Shinnok introduced him to how laughable that concept was.
His "mentorship" was merciless and brutal.
As appropriate for tutelage in dark arts, Shinnok held nothing back.
Bones were shattered repeatedly, the skin was flayed for the merest of errors, and each day demanded survival.
Through chopped limbs and bloodied bodies, he learned the art of dual-wielding swords.
Through hellfire-induced hallucinations, he learned the concept of soul bindings and sorcery. He was a natural at this. Naruto suspected it to be a kekai genkai, but never voiced his concerns to Shinnok.
Naruto had long since learned that his new master had little to no intention of honoring any sort of accord.
He only kept Naruto around as a leashed pet, ready to be sic'd at a moment's command.
Around this time, Naruto had gotten to explore other realms while on errands for Shinnok.
Shinnok plotted his return to Earthrealm and needed his cult back. Sleeper agents would have to be placed amongst realms.
Shinnok had termed it "The Brotherhood of Shadow". A cult dedicated to worshipping Shinnok and practicing dark arts.
He witnessed the beauty and tranquility of Edenia. A realm of fair folk with passionate long lives. He witnessed how beautifully it burned when Shao Kahn's hoards. A ruler too soft-hearted to do what was necessary, a wife that was very willing to do. A stark contrast to her significant other.
He witnessed the disciplined regiments of the realm of Order. Children since birth are punished for every infraction from long-established law. Citizens are serving decades in jail for loitering or littering. A totalitarian nightmare that made even Shinnok concerned.
Many other realms passed with other uniqueness passed by him. All slowly fell into the hands of Shao Kahn. Shinnok was concerned at the pace of the conquest. Not even he could beat him in open combat. Osh-Tekk,Vaeternus, & Zaterra – all merged with Outworld.
The Elder Gods in their desperation created Mortal Kombat in a shameless bid to stop the emperor.
For a while, it went well. Many champions of their realms stood their ground and beat back Outworld's forces. Till Shao Kahn revealed his apex predator, Prince Goro. A 4-armed, 9-foot tall, fire-breathing behemoth that tore through his competition. Shinnok had remarked on the similarity between Goro and Onaga, their fire seemed all too similar.
Then it happened. Goro was beaten. Another champion, the most formidable humanoid Quan Chi had seen in a long while.
Liu Kang.
His speed, strength, and precision were unmatched. A passionate fire for life and victory burned in his eye. The boy was young, not fully aware of what he was capable of.
Quan Chi observed him through arcane means as he swept the Shao Kahn's daughter from right under his nose. The two seemed happy. A rare sight in these worlds.
A shudder ran through him as memories of his previous realm came to him.
He saw a vision of himself growing up leading a raven and pink-haired shinobi to war with would-be Gods. He saw himself being crowned Fire Lord and his people roared their fealty and love to him.
He snarled and pulled against the restraints that bound him. If the Elder Gods deluded themselves that he would have an iota of remorse, they were dead wrong.
He felt nothing. He had sent thousands to their graves. Eaten their souls. Salted their Earth.
He had played with the cards that were dealt to him. Not with what he had chosen for himself.
You never change, do you? A most admirable trait given the circumstances, Quan Chi. Or should I say Naruto?
A harmonious voice echoed inside his head. Quan Chi swiveled to see who dared to echo his dead name.
And he saw her.
An ethereal being of light and regal nature levitated above him. Holding a right hand to air which glowed with light. A name echoed in his brain, one that Shinnok had frequently cursed.
Centurion
She smiled gently upon him.
So, the Elder Gods now finally have the time for him.
Quan Chi now braced himself for whatever punishment was about to befall him.
This need not be your end, Naruto. This is a mere setback in your fate's overall ark.
Cetrion pulled out a tanto and presented it before his eyes.
Quan Chi's eyes widened his shock. He had thought this was lost forever. Ancient memories once again threatened to pour over him. The Goddess knew more than she let on.
She now had Quan Chi's full attention.
Sasuke
He sensed another shinobi sneaking up from behind him and immediately thrust his katana back in a reverse grip.
A squelching sound of steel meeting flesh told Sasuke that he had found his mark.
Sasuke scanned his surroundings for a moment, no other human life form existed in the vicinity.
He scratched his grizzly beard and winced as his wounds ached when he sat down.
Another day, another ambush. This was his life now. Living on scraps, hoping to fight and die another day.
The world had grown more violent than Sasuke had ever remembered in recent memory.
He held his katana up and began to clean the chunks of flesh from it and tended to his wounds.
His mind wandered as muscle memory took over and handled the rather monotonous process.
Shortly after losing Naruto, Sasuke was bound and taken by Konoha ANBU.
He chuckled as he remembered what had become of that particular group. The hunters had become the hunted.
Orochimaru of the Densetsu Sannin would not be denied his prize. He had brutally ambushed his captors. In a matter of seconds, his serpents devoured the hapless shinobi. The unfortunate enough to escape the initial assault found themselves at the receiving end of the Sannin's mighty taijutsu.
He had taken his time with them. Breaking them down with violent strikes that severed limbs from the body. And then he turned his attention to him.
The Sannin struck him and after an hour of cursed seals and bindings, he woke up in a different surrounding. He was now a SOUND shinobi whether he liked it or not. Orochimaru had kept his loyalty closely leashed to his neck.
For better or worse, he trained Sasuke diligently. muscles burned with every repetition; his joints strained under the weight of grueling drills. Combat simulations tested his reflexes and instincts, each strike met with fierce determination. Orochimaru spared no mercy, subjecting him to punishing routines that built resilience and honed his skills. Enduring pain and exhaustion became his daily existence, forging Sasuke into a warrior capable of facing any challenge with unwavering resolve.
When he failed, Orochimaru triggered the cursed seal that sent him spasming in pain for hours on end.
When he had been sufficiently trained, Orochimaru had sent him off on missions under guard of course.
In his rage at his circumstances, Sasuke had been merciless. He slaughtered at will. He had put down entire clans, burned homes, and hunted down shinobi who were tired of the great war.
None had been spared. Why should they be? The world certainly didn't show any mercy to Naruto and him.
When out on missions he had developed a sort of mutual understanding with his captors cum bodyguards. Being constantly exposed to the heat of battle bred familiarity between people. It creates the strongest bond between people.
That's when he used to hear what was happening in the wider world.
The Yondaime Hokage, Minato Namizake, had performed a miraculous return with his wife. To the wider world, they attributed it as a favor of the Gods. The Gods wept at the death of such a pure-hearted couple and granted them another life.
But Orochimaru was never one of the ordinary sheep. His limited spy network in Konoha had told another tale, the Yondaime had never died. His wife had survived due to her clan's inherent bodily vigor.
Kushina had saved the Hokage long enough for medic-nin to swarm their location and stabilize Minato. His wounds, unfortunately, were too severe to heal and his mind had shut down to prevent trauma.
Orochimaru's minion, Kabuto reported that the Sandaime had mobilized the entire force to help the Hokage. Fearing an imminent joint invasion from Iwa and Kumo to avenge their losses against an injured Yondaime, Sarutobi had spun the narrative of how Yondaime had sacrificed his life to save the village.
Meanwhile, the finest medical minds in Fire Country led by the famed Tsunade Senju had gone to work on Minato. Countless resources had been used to save the village's hero. But it worked.
Like the angel returning at the last hour, Minato returned to turn the tide in the village's favor.
Curiously enough, he had two reported children with him.
That's when the trail went cold.
Whatever they knew from before had been delivered to Orochimaru in the skull of his spies, a data tape wrapped in a plastic foil. The note on it simply said,
Regards, Jiraiya. :)
Kabuto too had gone AWOL.
The message was clear. The Jiraiya wanted Orochimaru to know the Fourth was back and kicking. The time of Orochimaru and his ilk was limited.
This had nearly sent the Sanin into a crazed frenzy. His fear of the Fourth's strength was palpable. His spy network in Fire Country & Suna had gone dark in a span of months.
Orochimaru didn't know who the Namizake children were, he didn't know why Konoha was sending extensive diplomatic missions to Suna, or why they had allied.
One day Kumo and Iwa stood with their boots at Konoha's neck, the next they were fighting for their very lives.
The fighting had been fierce and relentless. The entire world was set ablaze.
Trades routes were gone, minor nations were annexed by greater powers, and famine gripped the wider world. Most bizarrely, Fire Country seemed to be getting stronger despite the odds.
Yet despite the odds, Sasuke kept getting visions. A woman's voice in his dreams kept urging him to be strong. In his visions, Sasuke saw ambushes and plots against him being planned. He saw wars in foreign lands being fought between beings of alien physiognomy. He saw visions of victory.
Sasuke saw himself clad in a diadem of diamond and silk robes. As he looked out, the Uchiha clan saluted him. The ground shook with their battle cries and their numbers stretched out as far as the eye could see.
Most concerningly, Sasuke saw a pale bald demon resurrect entire clans and snuff their lights out, he ate souls and plotted grand schemes in the dark of night.
A symbol of a large oak tree imprinted on his mind. During his weaker moments, he carved the symbol on dirt and prayed for the voice to deliver him from this nightmarish reality.
Have faith in the Elder Gods, mortal. The woman's voice chided him.
He felt a presence swiftly approaching him, but didn't move.
Sasuke grunted as he felt a woman's touched his shoulders and start working on his back.
His reminiscing was interrupted.
The two worked in silence till he was completely patched up.
The pain and stinging sensations still lingered but there was so much that field medicine could do. They needed to get back to SOUND asap before Orochimaru did something stupid.
For now, they needed to rest, rain clouds thundered overhead.
Great, a storm was coming. I suppose it would help in covering our tracks.
The woman pulled out a scroll and two shovels appeared. With a word, he grabbed one and went to work digging a foxhole to spend the night in.
The two Sound shinobi wrapped themselves in an embrace of limbs.
Meager clothing lay them in case they needed to cover their bits in an urgency.
Guren Sasuke whispered the woman's name in his mind as he looked at her.
Orochimaru had assigned the woman to be his minder and neutralize him should Sasuke attempt to defect.
Their start had been neutral. Whenever he was out on missions, Sasuke could a feel presence in the back of his mind. A shadow that never seemed to blend amongst others quite fully. A rustle of leaves that sounded too heavy to be shifted by wind alone.
He had started preparing meals for two. Whenever he ate alone after a mission, he left one for his minder.
The loneliness had been getting to him and there was only so much he could endure.
At his base, Sasuke was still a primate. He remembered his mother lecturing him about the importance of making friends at the academy.
Man is a social animal, Sasuke-kun. You must never forget that.
He had nearly given up on the meal prep till one day he felt the shadows stir and saw a woman seated on the other rock. A SOUND shinobi headband wrapped around her neck.
The two ate in silence.
Since that time, their relationship had grown more complex. Sasuke found her to be actively helping him in missions.
His kunai stock was restored whenever he forgot. Armor sewn & repaired when he was too injured to do it himself. The bodyguards that he missed on missions were found dead with crystal rocks in their heads.
Her descending on him to patch him up whenever his wounds were too severe. They shared their warmth when the nights were too cold.
Sasuke had often wondered where they stood. Two lonely souls using each other to fulfill the hellish void in their life.
He looked at her once again, her eyes were shut close, and her bountiful chest rose and fell with each breath. Her long hair purple hair now slightly damp due to rain, stuck to her pale face.
She was a beauty. Sasuke often took the first watch just so he could admire her at peace.
It was surprising Orochimaru hadn't claimed her for himself. Then again, Orochimaru wasn't known for his wisdom.
The man had lost all sense of reality a while back.
They clearly weren't man and wife. He knew his father would have severely disapproved of their relationship. He didn't care anymore.
The man was dead. He wasn't a great father in the first place.
They certainly weren't boyfriends or girlfriends. They didn't go out on long walks in the park, hold hands under the bridge, or make out in the moonlight.
None of them were deluded enough to do such things when Orochimaru was always looking.
Their "dalliances" were limited to whenever they were away from the village.
One night she approached whiskey in hand when they lay on the borders of Mist village. Orochimaru had sent them to scout any potential bloodlines they could "acquire" with the Mist civil war raging on.
The two had shared a hot passionate night after a dreadful encounter filled with senbons and poisons.
Neither of them expected to escape the mist alive. Sasuke was willing to accept his end and so was Guren.
As she laid her head on his chest. They had confessed. They had to relieve their souls of their heavy burdens before the met their maker.
Guren told him how she had come to care for a boy, Yukimaru, whose mother Orochimaru had forced her to kill. She had come to take him on as her younger brother. Through tear-riddled eyes, she whispered to him how Orochimaru held Yukimaru over her head.
He tortured the boy as a punishment for her failings. One day Guren had planned to surprise him with his birthday, a small toy boat in a gift box. She had entered his room to find him suspended from the ceiling by his neck.
The boy had killed himself.
The horror and guilt of her actions tore her apart daily and she sobbed quietly on his chest.
She listened in silence as Sasuke spoke of a similar brother.
A bubbly blonde he had befriended when his elder brother killed his family. He had found the blonde swinging alone in a park on a cold night. Without hesitation, Sasuke marched up to him and sat beside him. He need the silence. The boy was silent.
The two had swung for minutes before he noticed the blonde handing him a handkerchief. Sasuke returned to his senses to find himself crying.
A torrent of burried emotions exploded and Sasuke confessed to the blonde. He confessed how weak and pathetic he felt. How ashamed he was of being unable to defend his parents.
He confessed how much a murderous fury he felt towards Itachi. How he intended to do heinous deeds to him before sending him to hell.
The blonde listened. He never judged. He never chastised me about the road to revenge or any other nonsense. In his eyes, Sasuke could feel similar emotions.
The blonde had once slipped up how he wanted to burn the village down.
They were of a similar mind.
The two had become secret fast friends after that. At the academy, they put on a different mask. At night, they let their true selves shine.
Sasuke told Guren how Konoha shinobi took Naruto from him. How he had been searching for him over the years without any results.
Two lonely young adults, bonding over trauma. Perhaps it was mere lust borne out of their stressful lives.
He had risked using his Mangekyo once again despite explicit instructions not to. A powerful genjutsu spread arount them, covering their tracks. No mist nin will find them.
His eyes bled once again. Orochimaru had warned him that he had awakened Mangekyo too fast. He risked brain damage if he was careless.
Sasuke did not care.
He will kill Orochimaru.
Itachi might be beyond his means.
He will kill Orochimaru for Guren, Yukimaru, and himself.
His one good deed in this wretched world.
A crow cawed near him waking up Guren. Her eyes flickered open, and she got up without a word to assume dawn watch. Sasuke admired her supple behind as she dressed. Guren turned towards him, a sad smile on her lips, and whispered,
Sleep.
He slipped into the dream world and saw him again.
A pale man with arcane face tattoos and blazing red eyes. A ghostly fire erupts in his hands.
And the world went dark again for Sasuke.
A brief respite before he woke up to face the horrors again.
And again.
Again.
Fire Country.
Unknown Location. 1 year before the Uchiha massacre.
In a dimly lit room within an undisclosed ANBU black site, Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, sat in silence at the head of a polished mahogany table.
To his left stood Danzo Shimura, the enigmatic leader of Root, and to his right, Jiraiya, the legendary Sannin. A veil of secrecy hung heavy in the air as if the room itself held its breath.
Danzo's voice cut through the tension, filled with steely determination. "Operation Cleanup, as we propose it, will rid us of the Uchiha menace once and for all," he declared, unveiling a holographic projection. The room flickered to life, displaying detailed plans and strategies.
Jiraiya took a step forward, his eyes scanning the hologram. "Our objective is clear," he began. "We will manipulate Itachi Uchiha, their prodigious member, to do the unthinkable. Itachi holds strong loyalty to the village, and we can exploit that loyalty to force him to extinguish the Uchiha rebellion from within."
Sarutobi leaned forward, his gaze piercing through the holographic display. "What exactly are you proposing, Danzo?" he asked, his voice laced with caution.
Danzo's hand glided over the projection, highlighting key elements. "We will employ heavy psycho-social operations," he explained. "Using carefully crafted missions and fabricated intel, we will manipulate Itachi's perception of the Uchiha rebellion. We will push him to believe that the only way to protect the village is to eliminate the Uchiha, thereby preventing a civil war."
Jiraiya interjected, his voice heavy with age. "It won't be an easy task. We'll need to create a network of informants and spies within the Uchiha clan, monitoring their activities and ensuring their isolation from the rest of the village. Financial sanctions will cripple their resources and disrupt their support base. We need to make them feel cornered, forcing Itachi to make the difficult decision."
Sarutobi's eyes narrowed, his features etched with a mix of grim determination and sorrow. "This path we tread is treacherous, Danzo, Jiraiya. We must proceed with utmost caution. The Uchiha are an integral part of our village. If we undertake this operation, we must be prepared for the consequences. Failure is not an option."
Danzo's gaze hardened, his voice unwavering. "Failure is not an option, indeed. But sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the greater good. The Uchiha rebellion threatens the stability of our village. We cannot allow it to escalate any further. I already have medical-nin on standby to harvest as many Sharingans as possible."
Sarutobi took a puff off his cigar pipe. The seconds trickled as he contemplated the decision.
"Proceed" Was all he said and Sarutobi vanished in a plume of white smoke.
Danzo and Jiraiya exchanged a brief, solemn glance, acknowledging the enormity of their task.
The holographic projection flickered off, leaving the room shrouded in darkness once more.
Konohagakure no Sato
48 Hours After the Uchiha Massacre
Sarutobi. Never trust an Uchiha.
His mentor and lord, Tobirama Senju had once imparted this wisdom to him.
They won't be bothering us any more sensei. Sarutobi thought.
He cursed Itachi for sparing that worthless Sasuke, but he relented. If the boy bent the knee and entered the fold, it was well and good. If not, he was a worm...
Tobirama's elder brother and the first fire lord, Hashirama Senju, had formed the basis for this policy. Tobirama had shaped it and Sarutobi had put it into action.
One fine day before they left for that fateful mission, Tobirama had invited him to the Senju ancestral home for tea.
The Uchiha, Sarutobi, are a clan of maddened freaks. Incestuous & fratricidal curs that should have been put down. Hashirama-sama, bless his soul, in his infinite wisdom had a better plan for these curs. Why waste precious Senju, Uzumaki, or Hyuga blood fighting them? No, the Uchiha were to be our shield on which our enemies broke their ranks.
The Senju brothers had never trusted the Uchiha. They simply picked the deception & diplomacy tools from their considerable repertoire. The foolish Uchiha, always so desperate for love and companionship, followed them like broken puppies.
The first Shinobi war had broken out and the statement stood true.
The Senju brother had gutted the Uchihas by sending them in one meat grinder after another.
Bless Hashirama-sama's natural charisma that he forced Madara to buy it hook, line, & sinker. And it did work militarily speaking. The combined might of Mist, Kumo, and Iwa was broken at their border.
That fool Madara had believed that this was for the greater good or love of the village.
As if the Uchihas could ever comprehend the purity of the will of fire. Filth should not be allowed to ascertain to higher ideals.
Madara had eventually pieced the plot together. Yet he could not do much about it. For all his might of Sharingan and ninjutsu, Madara could not even begin to best Hashirama in combat. The fool had even bought a Biju to battle.
The cur had actually cried when he witnessed it get skewed by a living forest.
Then the typical Uchiha treachery struck. In his dying moments, the Uchiha cur had used Kyuubi's corrosive chakra to poison the First Fire Lord.
Hashirama had no natural defenses against such a unique poison. His healing factor was unable to help this time around and Hashirama perished at the of 50 on his deathbed.
It was at this moment, Tobirama took the mantle and continued the war. First, the Uchiha will be obliterated. Then they will move the war abroad.
The prophecy of the toad sages will be brought to fruition and the world will know true peace.
Under the wise hands of Konoha, the world will bloom.
Yet their journey had not been without losses.
Uzuhio's fall had been the most devastating blow to Konoha since Hashirama's fall.
Those damned Uchiha had failed to hold the line against Iwa and Kumo, as a result, they encircled Uzuhio and destroyed it. A desperate Senju relief force mounted Tsunade only returned with a single survivor. All other Senju except Tsunade had fallen in battle.
Kushina Uzumaki.
And then another more fatal loss struck them.
The Yondaime Hokage, Minato Namizake, had fallen in battle against Kyuubi.
3 decades of careful breeding, drawing lineages, psycho-social manipulation, and countless sums of money had gone down the gutter.
The apple of their eyes, the reviver of the Senju clan, was brain dead.
The solution was first proposed by Tsuande. Using the DNA of the existing retired Senju shinobi, a cadet branch of the Senju could be created. It was codenamed Operation Namizake.
Sarutobi knew the blood would ensure the boy would be strong. But he defied all expectations. The boy was a shinobi prodigy with a work ethic that put even Maito-Gai to shame.
He was everything they needed. A young handsome lad with a beautiful girlfriend. A perfect symbol to rally the new generation around now that the Senju-Uzumaki coalition was dying.
A symbol that all others would work their sweat off to accomplish. A symbol to rally the new clans of Nara, Yamanaka, and Inuzuka around.
Careful tutelage under Jiraiya ensured he was a shinobi without equals.
Careful apprenticeship under Sarutobi ensured he would be a leader without equals.
Minato was equipped with the finest seals of the Uzumaki, the jutsu research of Tobirama, and when the time came, he would be given Hashirama's armor and diadem.
Hope was not lost. Minato & Kushina had successfully managed to seal the Biju in the twins.
A counter-intelligence operation commenced by Kakashi and Jiraiya had ensured that there was no mention of the twins.
Kumo and Iwa spies had reported back that a new kid, Naruto, had been the Kyuubi Jinchuriki.
Jiraiya informed him that Naruto was the son of mist spies that posed as refugees. The male had died in the Kyuubi attack. The woman had been caught fleeing towards the border by Inuzuka K9 units.
She was now being entertained by Ibiki at a black site.
Sarutobi nodded to himself, Ibiki will get the truth out of her soon enough.
Tsunade had reported that Minato's treatment proceeded well. They had used Hashirama-sama's stored cells to speed up Minato's healing process.
Sarutobi stood content. All they had to do was hold Iwa and Kumo at the border long enough for the Yellow Flash to return. Then the world will reckon Konoha's might.
They were wounded but they were not out of the count.
Unknown.
Secure Military Bunker. Forest of Death.
Konoha.
In the deep underground bunker beneath the Forbidden Forest, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. The clan heads, generals, and security chiefs of Konoha gathered around a long, oak table, their eyes fixed on Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage. The room was filled with hushed murmurs of anticipation and the occasional creak of leather chairs.
To the left of the Hokage stood Hiashi Hyuga, the current paramount head of the Hyuga clan. His regal bearing and sharp gaze commanded attention as if he were already the true ruler of the village. Some found his newfound authority amusing, while others found it irritating, but none could deny the strength and influence of the Hyuga clan after the tragic destruction of the Uchiha.
Kakashi Hatake, the Jounin Commander, leaned against the wall, his single visible Sharingan eye observing the room with a mix of vigilance and weariness. Minato had replaced Nara with him in a political power play to reduce the Clan Head's influence.
Tenzo, the ANBU Chief, sat with silent precision, his dark robes blending seamlessly with the shadows. Tokagawa, the samurai representative, stood tall with a stoic expression, his hand resting firmly on the hilt of his sword.
Danzo Shimura, the head of ROOT, sat beside the Third Hokage. His bandaged face revealed only his piercing eyes, which darted around the room, assessing each person present. Jiraiya, the head of external intelligence gathering, exuded an air of mystery, his gaze sharp and calculating. Together, they represented the power and influence that stood behind the Third Hokage.
As the tension mounted, the heavy doors swung open, revealing the figure of Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, entering the room with his wife, Kushina Uzumaki. The clan heads rose in unison, bowing respectfully to their esteemed leader. The military and security chiefs saluted, acknowledging their commanding officer.
"Please, be seated," Minato said, his voice calm yet authoritative. As everyone took their places, all eyes turned to the Fourth Hokage, eager to hear his words.
"I stand before you today, alive and well," Minato began, his voice steady and filled with gratitude. "The day I was struck down by the Nine-Tailed Fox, I did not die. Instead, I fell into a deep coma, teetering between life and death. It was only through the unwavering dedication of Kushina and the exceptional medical skills of Tsunade that I stand here before you today."
Gasps of astonishment filled the room. The revelation that their beloved Fourth Hokage had survived brought a wave of relief and renewed hope to the weary hearts of those gathered.
Minato gestured for the crowd to silence.
Kakashi Hatake stepped forward, his voice measured and authoritative. "Allow me to provide an update on the current state of the war, Hokage-sama" he said, addressing Minato and the council. "The situation is grim. Kumo's jinchuriki-led assault on the eastern front has been relentless, pushing us further back. On the western front, Iwa has successfully surrounded Forward Operating Base 'Thunder' and continues to advance."
Minato's brow furrowed, his eyes reflecting the weight of their dire circumstances. "I see," he responded, his voice laced with concern. "Our village is facing formidable challenges, but all hope is not lost."
He paused for a moment, allowing his words to sink in before continuing. "Kushina and I have taken measures to ensure our survival," Minato revealed. "We have sealed the Nine-Tailed Fox within our twin children, Menma and Kimiko. They have been trained rigorously under the guidance of Kushina and Maito Gai, reaching Jounin levels of skill."
A murmur of astonishment and admiration rippled through the room. The realization that they possessed their own jinchuriki ignited a spark of hope within the hearts of the Konoha forces.
Kushina stepped forward, her fiery red hair cascading over her shoulders. "But that is not all," she declared, her voice filled with conviction. "To strengthen our position, we have formed a strategic alliance with Suna. A regime change operation has been successfully enacted"
The room erupted in surprised whispers. Kushina continued, her gaze unwavering as she addressed the assembly. "Danzo, Jiraiya, and I led secret diplomatic missions to Suna. Through a combination of Danzo's implants and my own sealing techniques, we managed to depose the hostile Kazekage, who was under Orochimaru's spell. In his place, we installed his son, a more favorable leader for our alliance. Also, we have strengthened his seal against the one tail."
She paused, allowing her words to sink in. "Through this alliance, we have secured additional resources and support, increasing our chances of victory."
Minato stepped forward, his voice resonating with authority. "Now, let us discuss our proposed counterattack," he said, addressing the room. "Our first objective will be to reinforce Forward Operating Base 'Thunder' with a combined force from Suna and Konoha. This relief force will hold the line and buy us time to regroup."
The room fell silent as Minato outlined the details of their plan. Each person present absorbed the information, their minds racing with strategies and possibilities.
"We will not falter," Minato declared, his voice filled with unwavering determination. "Together, we will overcome these challenges and protect our village. Konoha will prevail!"
The room erupted in resounding applause, filled with a renewed sense of unity and purpose.
They were facing their darkest hour, but with the leadership of Minato Namikaze and the strength of their allies, there was a flicker of hope amidst the shadows of war.
Prison in a void.
Cetrion & Quan Chi
Cetrion approached the imprisoned Quan Chi, his battered form suspended by his hand over a gaping void. She observed him with a mix of politeness and diplomatic poise.
Quan Chi, weary, hungry, and injured, remained stoic, refusing to meet her eyes or respond.
Cetrion's voice dripped with subtle mockery as she addressed Quan Chi, the fallen sorcerer. "Quan Chi, how foolish you were to wage war against the Elder Gods," she taunted, a hint of disdain in her tone. With a flourish, she presented Shinnok's lost amulet—a symbol of his defeat. "Do you see the consequences of your arrogance?"
Quan Chi's head hung in shame, his silence serving as an acknowledgment of his failures.
Sensing the need for a change in approach, Cetrion's tone softened, infused with a touch of admiration. "Yet, I must acknowledge your cunning in engineering Shao Kahn's demise," she remarked, her voice laden with respect. "You carried the entire movement on your back, enabling Shinnok to make significant progress." She flattered Quan Chi's ego, urging him to prioritize his interests instead of fighting battles for others.
Conjuring a mirror, she revealed his disfigured face, the scars of his time in the Netherrealm permanently etched upon his features.
Quan Chi's intrigue overcame his stoicism, his eyes fixed upon his mutilated reflection. "Fascinating" he murmured, a tinge of vulnerability in his voice.
Spite overtook him and Quan Chi spat out,
"I have nothing to offer you, woman. I am dead in case you forgot. Leave me be!"
A phantom backhanded him, his rant was cut short.
Cetrion's laughter echoed through the prison chamber, her amusement mingling with an air of authority. "Quan Chi, you would do well not to test an Elder God," she warned, her voice carrying a subtle menace. "There are fates far worse than death." She locked eyes with him, a knowing glint in her gaze. "I am aware of your deepest desire, your black heart's yearning. When Shinnok denied you, I shall grant you. I shall reveal the whereabouts of the Elemental Realm, where you can reunite with your dear friend, Sasuke Uchiha."
Quan Chi's fury returned, and he rattled against his restraints, his voice filled with anger. "You dare make a fool out of me?" he yelled, his threats aimed at Cetrion, vowing to exact vengeance.
"Countless ages have passed since I met that man. He is dead!"
But his defiance was short-lived as Cetrion's eyes glowed with a blinding light, causing excruciating pain to surge through his body, silencing him once more.
His helplessness juxtaposed against Cetrion's unwavering power.
Cetrion's smile returned, exuding a sense of serenity. "Time means nothing in comparison to the might of an Elder God," she proclaimed. "Especially when I have allies in realms far grander than this." She painted a vivid vision within Quan Chi's mind—a colossal titan, a being beyond the Elder Gods themselves. Each titan represented an entire universe, and the word "Kronika" reverberated through his thoughts, followed by a haunting image of endless hourglasses, their sands flowing ceaselessly.
Returning to the present, Cetrion regarded Quan Chi with a knowing look. The offer had been laid bare before him, an opportunity for redemption and power.
Returning to the present, Quan Chi looked at Cetrion, a mix of fear and curiosity in his eyes.
His life's ambition lay a deal ahead.
"What do you want from me? In exchange for a visit back?" he asked, his voice tinged with desperation.
Cetrion chuckled. "Oh, Quan Chi, your ambitions have become so limited," she said, her voice filled with a sense of superiority. "I did not come here to merely return you. I came here to offer you the opportunity to conquer realms."
Quan Chi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Conquer... realms?" he stammered, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of her proposition. "But Shinnok's forces are scattered, and I lack the might of Shao Kahn's army. How could I possibly achieve such a feat?"
Cetrion's tone turned harsh, her voice cutting through the air. "Do not lie to an Elder God, Quan Chi," she said, her eyes flashing with power. "I know everything about you. The Brotherhood of Shadow is deeply under your command, not Shinnok's. You hid D'Vorah's hive in a realm of nightmarish islands, beyond the knowledge of Shao Kahn or Shinnok. That same realm holds remnants of the Cyber Lin Kuei, Noob Saibot, and Zaterra. Use this force as your staging point."
Quan Chi's heart raced as Cetrion revealed his carefully hidden plans. He nodded, a mixture of fear and excitement coursing through his veins. "I understand," he admitted, his voice filled with a newfound determination. "What else do you require of me?"
A devious smile played upon Cetrion's lips as she looked down at him. "Ah, there is one more thing," she said, her voice dripping with anticipation. "I will help you revive the Uchiha Clan, granting you the chance to win Sasuke's eternal loyalty. Oh, and I shall allow you to keep all the souls you have absorbed throughout your long and treacherous life."
Quan Chi's concern deepened, his mind racing as he weighed the implications of Cetrion's offer. He met her gaze, his voice filled with uncertainty. "What... What do you want in exchange?" he asked cautiously, knowing that such a generous offer would come at a price.
Cetrion's eyes locked with his, her expression unwavering. "I have three conditions," she said, her voice resolute. "First, you shall forever remain loyal to me and me alone among all the gods. Arcane restraints will be placed upon you to ensure you never act against me. Second, you will serve as my bulwark against Dark Raiden, Liu Kang, and whoever wins the Outworld civil war between Mileena, Kitana, and Kotal Kahn. Lastly, if the Dragon King Onaga ever returns, you shall aid me in the war against him."
Onaga? He is still alive?!
A knowing smile graced Cetrion's lips. "There is one more thing," she added, her voice filled with authority. "All other deity cults in the Elemental Realm shall be abolished. Only my worship shall be permitted."
Moments pause followed,
"It shall be done, Lady Cetrion." Quan Chi said.
"Very well then, Quan Chi. Preparations have been made. Your friend Sasuke awaits you in another realm. Strategize amongst yourselves and move." Cetrion stated.
Quan Chi's eyes widened in shock again.
She has already started?!
A nervous anticipation settled in him, what will the Uchiha think of him now? It had been an age when they had last met.
Cetrion smirked at Quan Chi's expression and turned, preparing to leave. As she took a few steps, she paused, her eyes glancing over her shoulder.
Cetrion raised her hand, conjuring a ghostly halo that shimmered with a familiar image. The ethereal manifestation grew clearer until it revealed the majestic figure of Empress Sindel. A regal aura surrounded her, radiating both royalty and divine beauty.
A smug expression graced her face, accentuated by the tiara of purple skulls adorning her head—a symbol of her power.
Quan Chi had always admired Sindel from a distance, her cunning mind entwining Shao Kahn in ways he himself had failed. Her unmatched strength and influence swiftly established her as an alpha predator within the royal court, reigning supreme among sorcerers, thieves, murderers, and politicians, much to Shao Kahn's amusement.
She walked upon Outworld as if it were her divine inheritance. In Quan Chi's darkest dreams, he desired her, but he dared not voice his longing, for fear that Shao Kahn would swiftly end his existence in a torturous manner.
Cetrion's voice took on a dark, teasing tone, as she reveled in Quan Chi's secret desires. "Who knows, Quan Chi? If you were to accomplish your current quest, perhaps Empress Sindel would finally cast her gaze upon you, rather than Shao Kahn."
At this moment Quan Chi imagined himself painfully rippng out the Goddess's soul.
A blinding engulfed him, and Quan Chi was teleported through realms till he reached his destination, the NetherRealm.
He glanced around and spied from the shadows as a solitary figure stood in a tall hall.
It was Sasuke Uchiha.
Fin.
Author's notes: Hello everyone. Tbh, I have no idea wtf I just did. This was something I wrote long ago on a fever dream. Then in another fever dream I edit it today and posted it. Tbh I have very little idea about continuing this and how to go about doing it. If demand is high enough, I might do it. But from my experience, Mk + Naruto verse doesn't exactly translate into high hits. My primary motivation was to write Sasuke+Naruto bromance. Most of the crossover fics I find have a hypercompetent Naruto with a room temp IQ opposition and relentless Sasuke bashing. I wanted my take on that. A deadly alliance: reborn :')
Also basing Naruto on Shao Kahn or Onaga never made sense to me. Quan Chi/Shang Tsung felt more like it. Both are simps for Sonya Blade just like how Naruto is a simp for Sakura. Both are cunning pervy little s*its. I just changed Quan Chi's crush to Sindel and in this universe, Shang Tsung killed Sindel.
Lemme know what you think of this fic in reviews. Like it? Lemme know why? Hate it? Lemme know why? Have recommendations on how this should proceed? Feel free to contribute! Ciao!