He flees, heart pounding in his chest. Above him, the dark sky rumbles with thunder. The road is slick with rain, and it stretches on for what seems like an eternity. His feet sink into the marshy ground with each step, but he forces himself to keep moving forward.
Behind him, smoke billows up into the sky, accompanied by the distant sounds of panicked voices. He daren't look back; if he does it could mean the end of everything.
So he pushes on, his legs churning up and down as he forces himself to keep going. The pain is excruciating, his breath coming in ragged gasps, but he grits his teeth and refuses to give in. So, he keeps his focus fixed firmly ahead of him, with his heart racing and his breaths coming in short, ragged gasps.
This is his only chance, his only hope for survival. He won't let himself be caught, he can't. The world around him blurs as he runs, his fear and adrenaline making it impossible to focus on anything but the road ahead.
Jushiro stumbles through the mud, his feet sliding out from under him. He falls hard, facedown, feeling his nose sink deep into the muck. Dirty rainwater slips past his lips and down his throat, as leaves cling to his face. His empty stomach lurches, the reality of the situation hitting him with the force of a truck. The energy that had surged through him, fueled by adrenaline and panic, is now gone. There is nothing left, no fight, no flight, just emptiness and limpness. Fear settles into his bones, freezing every inch of him.
Desperate, he flips onto his back, his trembling fingers push hard on the arrow's wound, but it is not enough. The rain pounds relentlessly against his face, and he tastes blood and dirt on his tongue. But it is not his blood, he reminds himself. He is alive, but he has just taken a life. He has just killed a man. Jushiro stares at his hands in horror, seeing the blood staining them. It seems impossible that he could have acted with such violence, such savagery.
Jushiro killed a man.
Blood drips from his lips, and he notices a cut on the side of his mouth - the least of his concerns at the moment. The weight of his actions bears down on him like a ton of bricks.
Jushiro shudders, feeling his body beginning to shut down.
He is trapped, his body pinned down by the heavy mud. It feels like it's seeping into his very being, weighing him down and making it a struggle just to breathe. Tears prick at his eyes, blurring his vision even further, though the darkness surrounding him does nothing to help.
Suddenly, a deafening explosion erupts, sending tremors through the ground. It terrifies him to the core, but at least the screaming has stopped. His breath comes in shallow gasps, and his body trembles uncontrollably with more than just cold.
He can't take it anymore. The endless screaming, the throbbing agony, the relentless splashing of rain in his face – it all needs to stop. But what he wants more than anything is for the rain to stops.
Above him, the sky is a black abyss, occasionally slashed with veins of blue and purple as lightning breaks through the clouds. But the blinding downpour is all he can see.
He stretches out on the drenched ground, too exhausted to even curl up in a ball. His mind is sluggish and unfocused, his thoughts numb. His quivering fingers press hard against the wound in his side, while his other hand wipes away the mingled blood and rain droplets from his forehead and mouth.
It is unfair. It is cruel. They are good people, always have been.
They own a part of his heart that he cannot name, in a way his young mind cannot fully comprehend. Even as an orphan - a child born out of wedlock - he feels like he belongs in the orphanage walls. It is the only home he has ever known.
To the rest of the world, he is just another nameless, faceless bastard without a family or a future. To the people within the orphanage, however, he is not alone. He has a name that he can call his own, a roof over his head (even though it leaks sometimes) and food in his belly (even if it's rarely anything other than bland).
The world outside of the walls is cruel, unfair, and unrelenting.
Jushiro wants nothing more than for the rain to stop.
His eyelid slowly drifts shut, an automatic response to the overwhelming pain and despair. A chill runs down his spine when he hears the distant yet resolute sound of footfalls coming closer. The calculated and steady pace is reminiscent of an outlaw, yet it also brings to mind memories of the late monk who once lived atop the mountain.
The sound halts just inches away from him, accompanied by a sudden cessation of the relentless rain. The deafening silence that ensues is almost too much to bear.
The hat seems to shield them both from the relentless rain, but it also shrouds the man's face in shadow.
The ominous figure looms, shrouded in black from head to toe. The hat seems to shield them both from the relentless rain, but it also shrouds the man's face in shadow.
His towering height makes it seem like his head is miles away, concealed by shadows and flashes of lightning.
A bolt of lightning illuminates the scene, casting the figure's arm into sharp relief. Jushiro can't help but notice the arm is oddly shaped, and the sleeve flutters in the breeze as though empty. Horror grips him when he realizes the arm is missing entirely. And then, he sees it. The headband, slashed and tattered, hangs next to a sheathed katana on the man's belt.
Jushiro knows what this means; he's face-to-face with a missing-nin.
A missing-nin – not an outlaw driven to desperation by hunger and poverty. He is a well-trained man, strong and skilled enough to wear his ex-village's slashed headband with pride. He remembers hearing a man once warn others to fear missing-nin like him – those who would disrespect their homeland by slashing their headband, often possessing a strength matched only by their lack of morals.
Panic rises in his chest as he stumbles backwards, his head connecting with a hard object. Pain radiates outwards from the impact like a whip, shattering his resolve and leaving him weak.
Jushiro's voice shakes as he takes a step back. "Get away from me," he whispers, desperate to sound strong but failing. Tears blur his vision as he stumbles, his head colliding with a hidden rock. Pain explodes through him like wildfire, and he sobs uncontrollably.
The stranger mutters something, but the thunder roars too loudly for Jushiro to hear. Suddenly, he drops to one knee.
Jushiro recoils, fear gripping him tightly. The stranger grows agitated and barks, "Calm down! I promise I won't hurt you!"
The boy sobs in terror, knowing deep down that he won't make it out of this alive. His head throbs with agony, and the arrow lodged in his flesh sends bursts of excruciating pain through his body. Drenched to the bone, his bare feet ache with cold and mire - a deep blue-purple hue creeping up his skin.
The missing-nin's fingers graze his face, cold and rough against the warmth of his skin. He winces as a stream of blood trickles from the wound on his lip, and the man wipes away his tears with the same icy touch. "Calm down," he murmurs, like a smooth whisper on a breeze "Easy now. Let me take a look at this."
Jushiro admits, unbidden. "I don't want to die."
The man's hands are no longer cold, but warm and strong. The man grunts, his words are sharp and angry. Had Jushiro uttered such a slur, he would have been punished by the orphan keeper. But she was gone now, and he was all alone.
A voice yells out, "Sasuke!" from the other side. He can't see who it is, as the missing-nin, who he assumes is Sasuke, is blocking the way.
Sasuke's hands are now rough, yet careful, as he examines the injury on his neck. A pale green light emanates from his hand, casting a soft glow on his skin. He touches the arrow, and it suddenly comes out with a quick motion.
A white-haired man bursts out from the woods, his cloakless form armed with a massive blade that appears too heavy for him to wield. He pants heavily as he approaches them. "There's an attack on a nearby village, and they're trafficking humans." He abruptly stops mid-sentence, his eyes zeroing in on a boy cowering behind Sasuke. "What do we have here?"
"A boy, likely fleeing from his captors, I'll take him to Karin to get patched up," Sasuke declares, already taking the boy by the arm. "You handle the situation in the village. I'll meet up with you soon enough."
The white-haired man grumbles in agreement, his smile twisted with bloodlust and mischief. "I don't need you to back me up, who the fuck do you think I am?" His tone is rough, almost vicious.
Sasuke simply gives a curt nod. "Enough chatter. Get going, Suigetsu"
Suigetsu rolls his eyes, but takes off at a brisk pace nonetheless. "You and Karin are always ordering me around," he mutters to himself. "Suigetsu, do this. Suigetsu, do that."
Another massive explosion goes off.
"It reminds me of the fourth shinobi war, good times." Suigetsu says. "Fuck,"
Sasuke swiftly scoops up Jushiro, muttering "hold still, boy".
It's the first time Jushiro gets a good look at his savior's face, and it takes his breath away. The shinobi is handsome, almost pretty, with thick lashes casting mesmerizing shadows over his mismatched eyes that lock onto Jushiro's before he follows his partner's path. - one black and the other an entrancing shade of purple. Jushiro knows this is a bloodline limit, something he once asked about.
Jushiro clings onto Sasuke's cloak, his grip tightening with each step. He doesn't know why he's holding on - maybe it's out of fear, or hope, or maybe because being this close to the man's neck means he can strangle him easier. The thought is too obvious, and Jushiro looks up at the man, who now gazes down at him with a raised eyebrow.
The rain stops pouring, and the man doesn't even flinch as Jushiro's smudged clothes brush against him. Something in the air shifts, and Jushiro rests his head against Sasuke's shoulder, feeling a warmth blooming inside him. However, he's still tense, his eyes scanning their surroundings.
In a blink of an eye, the missing-nin's leg moves and the world shatters. A powerful force propels them across the forest, sending them crashing into trees and rocks. The world slows down rapidly, and the trees and the downpour blur into a hazy mess. It's a testament to the man's speed.
When Jushiro looks behind him, he sees rubble and smoke and flames. Civilians scream in the distance, and the chaos of battle fills his senses.
The missing-nin places him gently under the oak tree, as his companion with white hair dives headfirst into the one-sided battle. The massive sword in his hand tears through four people with one fluid motion, leaving no room for mercy.
Sasuke drapes his dark cloak over him, covering him in its warmth and the scent of smoke.
"Stay calm," he whispers, "it will be over soon."
In the dim light, Jushiro cannot see the fluid motion of Sasuek's blade, but his fiery outline of his towering frame reveals a certain gracefulness.
"You only have one hand," Jushito blurts out, immediately regretting his words. But he pushes through with a pained expression and adds, "If you go, you'll die."
"It'll take more than a band of feckless bandits to bring me down," his savior retorts coolly.
True to his promise, he effortlessly dispatches them, his movements too quick for any onlookers to comprehend. The darkness is his ally, as it cloaks his movements. They can barely see him, even with the light of the fires. His speed is unmatched, and someone notices him and exclaims, "It's the last Uchiha, run now!"
But it's already too late.
Two men have single-handedly ended the fight.
Jushiro can barely process what happens next, overwhelmed with a sense of awe and gratitude as he gently closes his eyes and clutches his cloak before succumbing to fatigue and collapsing.
When his eyes flutter open, he's greeted by a stark white ceiling - a sight he never grew accustomed to during his days at the orphanage. It's a stark contrast to the gathering storm clouds that once haunted his dreams. He blinks, trying to shake off the lingering images of blood and mud that still cling to his senses.
The rain never stops, and he can feel the cold creeping in, making his toes turn a sickly blue-purple. The memory of it all leaves him numb and speechless. He'd used a kunai to take out his victim's eye, clean and precise. But the fat man only bares his teeth, blood and spittle glistening on his lips before he takes another dusty kunai and awkwardly parts his own skin.
But when he blinks, he's back in the room, staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling. Pain and exhaustion take hold, and he feels tears well up in his eyes - more from the weight of his actions than any physical discomfort.
He realizes with a numb panic that he isn't at home. Instead, he's lying on a bed that isn't his, in an unknown room. His chest weighs heavy, finally healed, but the dull ache still resonates within him. An oversized shirt is the only thing that covers him.
Memories flood in, filtering out the background noise. Bandits and missing-nins.
He had killed a man. A bandit, his victim, had tried to take him away, but Jushiro slammed his skull with a stool. The man responded by squeezing his throat, until he was released by his attacker's bloodied kunai, which he snatched and plunged into the fat guy's eye. It blinded him once and for all, but that didn't matter since he was dead. A victim, his victim.
The sun pours in through the single window, and he is so weak he can barely stand.
The boy braces himself, tugging the blanket tighter around his shoulders. The room looks barren and ordinary, save for a lone chair stationed next to his bed and Sasuke's tattered cloak, sporting deep blemishes that can only come from bloodstains, strewn carelessly across the other cot. A gleaming katana leans against the wall nearby.
"Hey, you're finally awake," a woman's voice chimes in, interrupting his thoughts. She peeks her head through the door, a shock of red hair framing her face. Her locks are a shade he's never seen before, straight but in disarray, very much like his own.
Jushiro opens his mouth, ready to speak, but nothing comes out. His throat throbs painfully, still too swollen to bear any words.
"Here you go," she says, suddenly appearing near him, offering a helping hand and a bottle of water. He manages to whisper out a hoarse "thank you" as he reaches out and takes the water from her, taking small sips at first before gulping it down eagerly. He feels the cool, refreshing water soothe his parched throat
"How do you feel?" she asks, concern etched onto her face.
Jushiro manages to croak out a faint reply. "Fine," he says, his voice barely audible and hoarse from disuse.
"What is your name?"
"Jushiro," he replies, feeling a bit uneasy with the sudden questioning.
"Just Jushiro?— no family?" she inquires, her eyes searching his face.
Jushiro shakes his head, feeling a lump form in his throat. "No," he says quietly. "No family."
Jushiro shakes his head, his eyes trained on a distant point on the wall. He doesn't have a family, and he doesn't have a last name. He thinks of the people who gave him life - a nobleman and a farmer's wife. They were never meant to be together, but they defied convention for a brief moment in time. And that brief moment is all it took for Jushiro to exist - and suffer for it.
The orphan caretaker always reminded Jushiro of his unwelcome beginnings. He was a constant reminder that he wasn't wanted, that he was a burden. Jushiro takes a swig of water, letting the cool liquid wash over him. But then it catches in his throat, and he coughs violently.
"Be careful, Jushiro-kun," the woman's voice is not harsh, but it's formal and difficult to read. It's the same tone that all grown ups seem to use when talking to him, as if he's incapable of taking care of himself.
"Where am I?"
"You're safe now. We're still in your village, at the inn near the main road, up on the hill," she bites her lower lip, studying him. "Do you remember what happened?"
"I killed a man," he confesses. The memory floods back to him. The sensation of blood on his face, the screams of the dying man, the blood splashing over his face, the panic of the screaming man, the way he crawled under the table and started running. The arrow that had wounded him, the kunai that had branded his lips forever. He touches the skin, tracing the scar with his finger.
His heart pounds in his chest as he realizes the enormity of what he's done. He's taken a life, snuffed it out of another human being. A shudder runs through him, and the woman at his side places a comforting hand on his shoulder.
Jushiro can't bear to meet her gaze, so he focuses instead on his newly-cleaned hands. He wonders who she is, what happened to the others, and where Sasuke is, but he's too afraid to ask.
Tears prick the corners of his eyes as he bites the inside of his cheek, trying to hold back his emotions. Finally, he can't hold it in any longer and sobs uncontrollably. His fingers shook as he bit down hard on the flesh of his cheek. "They were good people," he whispers, barely managing to get the words out. "And he...he hurt them for no reason." He feels a stab of something deep within him, a pain he can't identify, as the words leave his lips.
And suddenly, it's all too much. He can't hold back any longer. Jushiro sobs, his chest heaving with the weight of his grief. It's a seamless sound, airy and empty, lacking any shred of remorse.
She moves forward, taking his hands in her own. They're firm and steady, a balm to the trembling in his own limbs. "What they did, to you, to your village," she begins, her voice low and steady. "It was wrong. And it was awful. But you did what you had to in order to survive. And you survived. That's all that matters, Jushiro."
Jushiro nods silently, unable to trust his voice. She stares at him, a pale smile curving her lips. And then, with a frustrated sigh, she looks away.
As the red-haired woman mumbles, he strains to hear her words. But all of a sudden, her gaze shifts to the half-closed door, where a shadowy figure seems to loom.
A feeling wraps around him, a sensation he's unable to identify. It's not the same warmth he had felt when the man called Sasuke had promised him safety. No, this is different. It's as if something gentle and feathery is tugging at him from within, molding him like a second skin over his own body.
"It's your Chakra," she explains calmly, her voice laced with a sense of familiarity. "My mother would pull my Chakra like this when I was in pain. I've noticed you're sensitive too, although not quite at the sensor-level. Am I doing it better now?"
"Yeah," he replies softly. "It's better now."
"I am Karin, by the way. Sasuke brought you here seven days ago and saved not only you, but your entire village. You were suffering from fear fever, which caused you to lose consciousness. Sasuke and another — um, friend, whose name is of no importance, also saved others and ensured they received justice."
Karin pauses, "Unfortunately, the orphanage did not survive the attack. It burned down, and only three of the surviving orphans were adopted. The remaining five teenagers left for work in a neighboring town. I'm sorry, but there was no one left to take care of you."
Her hand feels icy against his forehead, mirroring Sasuke's comforting touch. "I'm sorry, Jushiro," she whispers.
Jushiro doesn't cry. He should, but he has no tears left to shed.
He stares at her, remembering the slashed headband. "Are you a missing-nin?" he asks.
She gives him a half-smile, a cruel twist to her lips. "I guess, but things have been complicated lately. Why?"
"Missing-nin murdered my..." he falters, realizing he isn't quite sure how to describe his relationship with the people at the orphanage. "My... fam... friends," he says, stumbling over the words.
She nods her head in understanding. "I see. Yet, other missing-nins were the ones who saved your life and what remained of your home."
He grits his teeth, feeling anger and confusion bubble inside him. It was difficult to reconcile the idea of good and bad, especially when it came to missing-nins. Nothing was black and white —
"Karin," a familiar voice warns. Jushiro startles as Sasuke's voice pulls him from his thoughts, causing him to jump as his shadow appears in the doorway. He leans against the door, his eyes holding no malice as they peer at them.
"Where am I mistaken?" Karin asks dismissively, her tone confident. "Or have you reconsidered your choice?"
"No," Sasuke replies, turning to face him. Jushrio can't help but feel intimidated by the weight of his gaze.
"Don't sully his perspective of what's good and wrong," Sasuke warns her.
Karin's voice softens as she wonders aloud, "Is it wrong, though?"
"It's dangerous," Sasuke says firmly.
The answer seems to satisfy Karin as she claps her hands joyfully. "Now, now, Jushiro," she says, turning to him. "Let's grab you something to eat. Sasuke's treat."
The members of the group are an odd bunch, to say the least.
Jūgo, a towering figure, tenderly feeds a bird out of his hand, and offers Jushiro the opportunity to do the same. At the other end of the room is Suigetsu, with his stark white hair and devil-may-care attitude. He greets them with a quick sidelong glance before sarcastically drawling, "Hey there, Sasuke's baby. What's up?"
Before he has a chance to reply, Suigetsu dives straight into his meal, and leans back in his chair, propping his arm up lazily on Jushiro's head. Luckily for him, Karin is there to put an end to his suffering. With a swift strike to his face, Suigetsu's body shudders, and his once-solid form dissolves into a puddle of water, leaving behind only a puddle where he once sat.
"Bitch—"
"What did you call me?"
Finally, there's Sasuke, brooding and aloof, who remains unfazed by the chaos and commotion around him. Perched on the engawa, one leg leisurely swinging, while he meticulously oils his blade without a care in the world.
He glares at him only once when Suigetsu calls out, "Sasuke— Daddy, help."
As the dust settles, the innkeeper slyly approaches Sasuke, and takes more money from the lone warrior for their fight. Suigetsu can't help but chuckle at the scene.
Jushiro asks the group, his eyes glued to his food, "What would happen to me?" The question causes his heart to race. The once lively conversation abruptly halts, now all eyes fixated on the one-armed man, Sasuke.
Karin is the first to break the silence, cautiously commenting, "It depends on you. What do you want?"
This statement startles Sasuke, Jushiro's eyes flattened in response.
The tension in the room escalates, and Sasuke's eyes dart back and forth between Jushiro and Karin. His expression contorts, revealing an underlying frustration.
"I don't know what I want."
She and Suigetsu exchange a look, before engaging in a private argument. Then, the white-haired emphasizes, "Hey, Sasuke's kid, you're his burden anyways. Yeah, stick with that jerk, buddy."
Karin chimes in, "He seems to be enjoying our company, don't you think, Jūgo?"
Sasuks doesn't spare Jushiro a glance as he shuts her down coldly, "Stop your nonsense. Where do you propose we take him? Konoha?" He sneers at the name as if it had personally irked him. "Oto? — If he stays with us, he will be in danger for the rest of his life."
Karin snorts, clearly annoyed, and rolls her eyes, "You're half a god, or as near to one as a man can get. What could possibly go wrong?"
Sasuke's eyes narrow, "Everything."
"I like Jushiro-kun," the giant remarks, his body warm and firm at Jushiro's side, a kind smile etched into his features. "I hope you stay."
Suigetsu shrugs carelessly, "Nope, too late. The kid is ours now, or Krain's until he stops using diapers."
Jushiro interjects, indignant. "I'm six!"
Suigetsu snorts, unimpressed. "So? Good for you. But is that supposed to mean something?"
Sasuke attempts a more assertive approach, his voice low and threatening. "I know what you're doing. Stop it now."
The room falls into a heavy silence, the air thick with tension. Jushiro shifts uncomfortably, unsure of what to say or do.
"It's helpful for you, you know?" Karin says, voice calm and reassuring. "You're burying yourself in your stupidity and undeserved guilt. A good distraction is a good distraction, I say. It's better than pursuing criminals here and there. You too deserve a rest, Sasuke-kun. Let the past be buried. I read in Orochimaru's library once that if someone is continuously doubting you, distrusting him, certain that you are lying, or cheating, or dishonoring yourself, it is not your fault nor it's your responsibility to-"
He glares at her, the black eye now is red "He's a boy! not an animal to keep as a pet, do you even hear yourself, Karin!"
"Good. You are settling into your new life, wonderful."
"Kid, you're practically one of us now. It's not up for debate. Sasuke has a habit of saving people for his own reasons and then they end up sticking around, whether he wants them to or not. That's how we first met," Suigetsu states, wagging a finger at Sasuke before continuing. "Plus, someone's gotta pay the bills and he's kinda loaded, at least when it comes to our low bar. So, what do you say?"
The intensity of the red eye staring back at Jushiro sends a jolt of fear through him, causing his limbs to turn numb and his mind to go blank. He sits there in utter silence, unable to even find the words to speak, while the innkeeper eavesdrops casually. The rejection he feels from that one eye crushes his spirit entirely.
"Jushiro-kun?"
The red eye turns black again, "Karin," Sasuke threatens, his voice a rasp. Tired.
Karin's voice is stern as she speaks, "No, let me tell you something: you're going to meet them and hand him over to them, and then what? There's a chance he'll become a shinobi there, after all that is what orphans have to do, it's the easiest way to live. But you've seen what happened to the little boys who lived under a hidden village. You were once one, and look what that put you into!"
"Enough," he commands. The others flinch, and the old innkeeper takes a step back and turns away.
"He's yours now," Karin stresses, "do whatever you deem right, but he's yours, your burden to bear. If you can't stand to set a foot there because of what they did to you, do you really see a place for him there? We've traveled the world and seen that there is no peace, never has been, and certainly not now."
Sasuke's eyes narrow as his lips curl into a scowl, fixed on the woman before him. His voice is rigid. "What do you expect me to do? Staying with me is not an option, and we both know that Orochimaru is out of the question."
"You do you," she shrugs, her gaze flat and dead-eyed. Karin knows she's effectively planted the seed deeply in Sasuke's head.
She places a hand on Jushiro's cheek and then walks away, sending her two companions a knowing look, but ignores Sasuke.
Jushiro watches her go. He then heads towards the village just beneath the hill. From there, he can see the houses that have been wrecked or are being rebuilt, as well as the ones that have already been refurbished. The ashes have been washed away by gentle rain, and the sun drenches the houses in a dusty gold, much like the flames that day, which devoured everything in their path. In the distance, he sees the orphanage, or what's left of it.
Karin's words echo in Jushiro's ears, 'None of them remained.' He's truly alone now, abandoned once again. He instinctively reaches out, his fingers digging into the rough texture of the burnt wood. The scar on the side of his lip tingles with the rush of salty air.
Jushiro hears footsteps approaching, but he doesn't turn to look. He's not interested in hearing false promises or empty reassurances.
A deep voice rumbles behind him, "No need to be afraid." It's Jūgo, the giant. Jushiro can sense that the man is staring at him intently.
"He will take care of you," Jūgo adds gravely. "If he doesn't take you with him, he will find you a place to stay and live."
Jushiro scoffs at the words, bitterness coloring his tone. "I'm not afraid." His voice is laced with exhaustion and frustration. He digs his fingernails into the wood until they draw blood. The sound reverberates around him, filling the silence.
"I don't like this," he finally admits.
There's a sense of expectation in the air, waiting for him to say more. "I had enough a week ago," Jushiro continues, his voice shaking with emotion. "Not what I wanted, but it was enough. And now I have nothing."
None of them speak for a moment. The weight of Jushiro's words settles heavily on their shoulders. He's lost everything, and no amount of reassurance can change that fact. The only thing left to do is to move forward, even if moving forward is the last thing Jushiro wants to do.
Jūgo's hand rests warmly on Jushiro's shoulder. Despite being in the village, there is no semblance of home here.
Jushiro finds himself in the same room once more, the setting sun casting a dim, sorrowful orange hue through the window.
The boy approaches the sword and marvels at its intricate black scabbard with elegant dark purple inlay. His attention to detail is meticulous as he examines every inch of the weapon. Jushiro checks to see if the door is closed, then walks back to grab the hilt. As it slides noiselessly from the scabbard, it shimmers brilliantly in the light.
In his grasp, the weight is just right, not too heavy nor too light; it's a perfect balance. He gazes at his reflection, taken aback by the clarity. Running his index finger over the blade, he feels its oily texture, the chill of the silver against his warm skin, and wonders how many lives it has taken.
Suddenly, a voice startles him. "What do you think you are doing?"
Jushiro jumps and froze up, dropping the sword. However, the missing-nin materializes out of thin air and catches it with practiced ease. "A sword is not a toy," he says firmly.
Jushiro hangs his head and mumbles sheepishly, "I'm sorry, I just wanted to admire it."
Sasuke withdraws his blade and strides towards the window. He stares at the distant sun, lost in thought. Jushiro finds himself standing face to face with a man with a cold, dangerous aura that only his closest friends seem to ignore. He had initially thought he resembled the monk he met in the mountains, but now he's not so sure.
In front of the older man, Jushiro feels small and insignificant. Karin's words echo in his head, calling him "half-god."
Suddenly Jushiro blinks and catches Sasuke staring at him. His teeth clench together in discomfort. "I—" he starts, and shuts his mouth.
Sasuke doesn't want to hear it; A flicker of the eyelids. A twitch of the fingers. Jushiro knows it's his last chance to speak, his last chance to stay. "Please, Sasuke-san," Jushiro pleads, heart sinks. "If I leave, I'll die. I killed a man a week ago, and I can't shake the blood from my hands. Doesn't that make me a missing-nin?"
Sasuke remains silent, he's frozen, like a statue, staring blankly ahead. "You need to be a shinobi from a hidden village to be a missing-nin, boy." He then sighs heavily, "You've been spending too much time with Karin."
His lips don't curve upwards, but it's the closest thing to a smile one can get from him. He mumbles something about irony before fixing his gaze back on him. "Don't worry. They forgive much tougher men who have done much worse. There's nothing to fear." He pauses for a moment before adding. "After all, they forgave me when I had killed more than just a man,"
The boy's small fingers tightly grasp his long sleeve, folding it up for the umpteenth time. He stares intently at Sasuke.
"Who did you kill, Sasuke-san?"
Sasuke turns to him, his face expressionless but his displeasure palpable. "Go to sleep, boy. Tomorrow, you will be in Konoha."
The boy's face falls. "I want to stay here," he pleads again, desperation creeping into his voice. "Karin said you're the strongest guy ever, and I want to be strong, too. Please, make me strong!"
Sasuke doesn't say anything more, his silence speaking volumes.
Whatever Karin told him in her hushed words earlier, it clearly did something to him. The air around them is thick with his unease, and the boy shrinks back a little.
He downcasts his gaze, and walks back to his bed.
It's warm here. A good place to rest. A good place to recover. A good place to think of what next. He lays on the bed, curls up on his side and stares at the wall.
Jushiro feels the warm, raised skin of his latest scar, probably it won't be the last.
He shuts his eyes and imagines the nobleman and farmer's wife, his parents, their features blank as ever. They sometimes can be kind, affectionate, even sorry. But other times, like today, they're cruel, unjust - and there merely to deny him, just like the world they abandoned him into.
The nobleman stands before him with a face tonight, an imposing figure with his ink-black hair, mismatched eyes, and lips that never seem to curve upward in a smile. In his dreams, he sees his father's face for the first time, and he smells the smoke of his clothes.
But his slumber becomes haunted by visions of his victim, too, a force too strong to overcome, cruel and unforgiving. The taste of blood and brackish water still lingers in his mouth, a constant reminder of what he's done. This time, it is the now one-eyed victim who steals his breath away, choking his windpipe with one hand and pressing down on his ribs and lungs with his knee.
Jushiro is the victim now.
He wakes up, drenched in sweat, and senses a pair of eyes watching him intently. He quickly scans his surroundings, but finds no one else in the room. The door is securely shut, and Sasuke's bed appears to be untouched – as though it's never been slept in before.
Glimpsing outside the window, the sun shines.
The journey is not too long, and they set out at daybreak when the sun is shining and the air is warm. Jushiro takes pleasure in being outside; it allows him to contemplate and sort through his thoughts.
The tension between Sasuke and Karin is palpable, but the other members of the group seem to brush it off as just another day. Jushiro does the same. Like Karin's previous clashes with Suigetsu, her feud with Sasuke is dismissed.
As Suigetsu and Karin clash once more, Jushiro looks up to see a hawk soaring overhead. Its reddish-brown feathers are striking against the backdrop of the clear blue sky.
"Jūgo-san, where are we exactly?"
"The land of fire, Jushiro-kun."
"Nice—" he muses, kicking a rock, "I think it's nice out here. I know what I want to do now."
He can't help but feel a tingle of excitement.
Karin turns to him after punching Suigetsu for the last time, and then asks curiously, "And what do you want to do, Jushiro-kun?"
"I want to see the world," Jushiro declares confidently. "I want to see the world. I want to explore and experience everything that's out there. I want to be a part of it all, not just stuck in one place." He pauses to look up at the passing clouds, then continues, "I want to be a worker of something, like the people who used to come by our village. I want to contribute to the world, you know?"
Again, Karin seems to be pleased with herself for some reason, glancing at Sasuke with smugness, who obviously ignores her.
Jushiro observes a few things around him with a keen eye, taking note of the details that are hard to miss.
One glaring fact that he quickly realizes is that Sasuke is far from well-liked in this country. The inhabitants easily identify him by his missing hand and purple, half-covered eye.
It doesn't take long for him to realize that Sasuke is actually the last surviving member of the Uchiha clan, the clan that drove the world to its knees.
The familiarity of the name hits him hard, like a ton of bricks.
Jushiro is suddenly struck by a sense of conflict. On one hand, he had saved his life, and punished the outlaws, all of them. He had avenged him. Who also is taking him to somewhere safe where he can live and start again, despite his disapproval of this matter in particular.
Jushiro has a sour taste in his mouth.
The one-handed missing-nin strides past the crowd, head held high in defiance of their sneers and contemptuous looks. Jushiro recalls the words of Karin, telling him that missing-nins aren't necessarily bad, but it's dangerous to assume otherwise, too.
Amidst the sea of disdainful onlookers, Jushiro encounters other war heroes, marking a fateful first encounter that he would later realize was not to be his last.
It's an eerie sight- the abandoned house that Suigetsu claims to be Taka's base. Jushiro tries to keep himself busy by assisting Karin and Jūgo with cleaning and attempting to keep his sanity intact while Suigetsu interrogates him about his diaper usage- a futile effort to provoke a reaction.
A cool morning breeze calls to Jushiro, tempting him to take a step outside. He grabs a stick and begins to mimic Suigetsu's moves with his sword. It's an opportunity where he can strike back at the pestering man without fear of reprisal. It's also an escape from the stress of living in an abandoned hideout with no sense of purpose.
Sasuke gazes at him with a disapproving expression, silently judging his actions.
"He's asking for it," Jushiro defends, hardly not pouting.
"Let him try, Sasuke. I love kicking asses"
"A child's ass?" Again, Sasuke wasn't impressed by neither of them
"An ass is an ass."
"Bring it on, sucker."
The rest of team 7 arrives around midday, looking gleaming and cheerful. But for some reason, there's an air of uncertainty surrounding them. Jushiro can't quite put his finger on it.
Team Taka greets the arrivals and heads to the kitchen. However, things get heated between Karin and Suigetsu, prompting Jūgo to leave and meditate outside. As a result, Jushiro is left alone in the living room, shifting awkwardly with his stick.
"Hey, bastard. Who's the kid?" the blond asks, nudging Sasuke with his elbow in the ribs. The two other members of team 7 stare at him intently.
The oldest man gives Jushiro a friendly smile.
"Jushiro," The Uchiha says, his voice cryptic. "This is my old team, Naruto, Sakura, and the Kage of Konohagakure, Kakashi," he gestures towards the three individuals, who shift their gaze towards Sasuke then him, almost wearily.
Kakashi, the older man, teansed, like a kicked puppy.
"Are they taking me with them?" Jushiro blurts out before he can stop himself.
Naruto's excitement is palpable as he exclaims, "With us? Is he coming to Konoha? Cool! You're gonna love it there, Jushiro. We have the best ramen in the world!"
Sakura adds, "Konoha is safe, Jushiro-kun, I'm sure you will love it"
Sasuke says, rather abruptly "Go feed my hawk, will you? If you ask about its food, Jūgo will offer you some, careful not to overfeed it"
The kid nods, and walks away, sulking in disappointment.
However, he couldn't resist the urge to touch the beautiful bird, and that thought lifts his mood ever so slightly.
"Man, it's been two years already," Naruto exclaims.
Two years since the end of the fourth Shinobi war, and one year and five months since the last time he saw the bastard. "Are you ready to be back again? We can go on another mission together, all of us, as team 7 for the last time. What do you say, Kaka-sensei?" he asks, a mischievous grin spreading across his face.
"Maaa, we'll see about that, Naruto," Kakashi responds, his nose buried in a book, his hold on the book tightened. "It all depends on whether or not Sasuke wants to return to the village."
Naruto feels a flare of annoyance at their behavior; all the three were tiptoeing around the subject for no reason. Sasuke had returned to them. Their mission had been completed. And he had fulfilled his promise to Sakura-chan.
"Of course he will," Naruto says.
"Hn," Sasuke grunts in response, his eyes flickering with annoyance.
"What the hell does that even mean? I thought you were finished with your codes by now, bastard," Naruto growls, his stomach clenching with frustration.
Sakura steps in, sensing the tension between the two boys. "We've missed you," she says, her voice softening as she takes Sasuke's face in her hands. "Let's go back home, Sasuke-kun. It's been too long."
Naruto knows that look in Sasuke's eyes all too well. He isn't shocked when Sasuke pulls away from Sakura, not in the harsh manner he might have expected from a younger Sasuke. Instead, the Uchiha moves to the window, watching as a hawk swoops down and attacks a child. The giant beside them remains still and silent, watching the boy's struggle idly.
Under any other circumstances, Naruto might have found the display hilarious. But the underlying uncertainty is suffocating in the air, and he can tell something is off with Sasuke. Sakura senses it too, as she follows Sasuke's gaze towards the child. He assumes that the boy must be the cause of Sasuke's unease.
They watch Sasuke's hawk pester the boy's head. Memories flood back to Naruto, reminding him of Tora the demon cat from his Genin days. He can't help but let out a small chuckle at the comparison. "Should we lend a hand?"
"No, he can handle it."
Sakura, always inquisitive, chimes in with a question, "So, where did you stumble upon this child, Sasuke-kun?"
He looks up at them with a blank expression before finally uttering, "In my way," in a nonchalant manner.
Knowing Sasuke's tendencies, they know that he has something more important on his mind than answering their questions or being polite. But to their surprise, he continues, "It was late at night, and I had been in the Land of Tea. My team met me there, and there was bloodshed. Not as brutal as the Uchiha massacre, but still a slaughter nonetheless," his voice laced with disdain.
Naruto can see the anger flickering behind Sasuke's eyes, the barely restrained fury simmering just below the surface. He knows that when Sasuke is truly enraged, his tone becomes sharp and cutting, like a blade slicing through the air.
This isn't anger, though. It's something deeper, something more dangerous. It's a cold, calculating fury that's been festering for a long time, a bitter acceptance.
Naruto grimaces, feeling a cold chill run down his spine. This isn't good, not at all. Beside him, Sakura cringes visibly, her eyes wide with fear and concern. She knows, as they all do, that whatever Sasuke is planning, it's not going to end well.
"It's not that simple," Kakashi- says, his dim eyes fixed on the far wall. It's been a while since he have seen him like this, since the incident with Obito.
Sasuke ignores him, his gaze sharp as he speaks. "And when he was escaping, hurt and barely able to keep going, it reminded me of something." There is something familiar now in his eyes; anger. "Of myself that night."
Sakura's fists clench at her sides, her green eyes now darkening like a brooding sky. She looks away, as if unable to bear the weight of Sasuke's words. A gentle hand reaches out and settles on top of her head, Kakashi's silent gesture of comfort.
All the while, Naruto watches Sasuke gazes with hyper-awareness at the two, at Kakashi's hand. Naruto's smile tightens as he realizes, slightly alarmed, that Sasuke's awareness is tinged with mistrust. His face aches from exhaustion. "We've been working hard to mend things lately," he says, "and Kaka-sensei has been helping with the elders and the council. We won't let something like that happen again."
"What will happen to them?"
"No decision will be taken until there is an actual agreement, which is recognized and acknowledged by vote, that is just a start" Kakashi says, "The Uchiha affair will not be repeated again. Ever"
"What I mean by my questions is, what will happen to them? The two fuckers." Sasuke says, bitter. "What I'm saying, of course they won't face any consequences. Orochimaru is a free man, so is Kabuto, of course nothing will happen to the two cunts you are serving, which says much about Konoha's judicial system."
Understanding melts across Kakashi's covered features. He shifts to the other leg, eyes closed.
Sakura's face drained.
Naruto leans back in his seat, his lips turning into a thin line, "Will their death make you feel better?"
"That would be a start, yes"
Naruto bites back "Haven't you had enough of all of this already?"
"Get over yourself, moron. And don't presume that you understand me, or Itachi for that matter. It's not about vengeance, God knows I'm done with that, it's about justice; it's about knowing what happened but keeping your mouths shut about it. You and Kakashi aren't better than Sarutobi, you aren't different from him either, the worst thing, that it's you…you who did it, you who is doing it."
Naruto's cheeks stings, "jiji—"
Sasuke's lips tremble as he forms the word, and suddenly a maniacal laughter bursts out of his throat - the same brutal cackle that had ripped through the Samurai bridge in the Land of Iron, when he had savagely murdered Danzō. In that moment, they see him as he was then - a crazed, blood-soaked avenger consumed by rage and hatred, lost in the depths of his fury, blinded to all else by the red haze of his own wrath.
Kakashi says, in the way he does when he explains something important, "Sasuke, telling the world, especially now with the anti-shinobi movement, isn't the right choice nor it's the answer,"
Sasuke's irritation is thinly-veiled, but so is Naruto's; but in his heart he feels his own anger is shallow. He feels as if he is losing something he can't control or reduce.
"So tell me, Hokage-sama, what is the answer? Your lack of imagination doesn't surprise me, of that, be sure both of you. But don't dare to presume I will suck it up and serve the village that thrives upon my clan blood, my brother's honor, whatever is left of that, because won't happen."
Naruto grumbles under his breath, "Why do you have to be so damn stubborn?" He can feel Sakura's tears threatening to spill, but he doesn't dare look at her.
"Tell me what will happen next," Kakashi says. He is tired too, stewing in his guilt-ridden complex, something Sasuke must have noticed too as he closed his eyes and looked away to the boy. A slight sneer still on his face.
Sasuke lets out a weary sigh, his eyes distant. "I can't and won't ever return. I don't want my corpse to be some kind of toy for your village. I don't think I even want to be buried near my parents either. It's too dangerous to give you something to dig into. I need to make sure my death won't benefit anyone, especially not your people. " He turns to glance at Kakashi, a hint of amusement in his eyes, but his expression quickly falls as he catches Naruto and Sakura's grave expressions.
"What's your plan?" Kakashi asks again. Naruto and Sakura tense up, realizing what he means. It's either fight to protect their home or whatever Sasuke's option is. Naruto's shoulders slump as he silently, stupidly wishes for a different outcome. Kakashi presses on, "You're not content with how things are now. So, what now? You won't just leave, will you?"
Sasuke's thin smile barely reaches his eyes as they flicker back to the boy. "That's exactly what I meant. I won't do anything. Are you satisfied now? Your home is safe from me." He snorts bitterly. "But don't expect me to come back. I refuse to be a mindless puppet, even if it's for you, or Naruto, or anyone else who represents the same lies. You made your choice, and I've made mine."
His response sends shockwaves through them. For a moment, they had thought they would have to force sense into him. But Naruto feels a sudden pang of unease instead of the fleeting relief that shows on Sakura and Kakashi's faces.
Sasuke has always been the stubborn one. He's never been a patient, and it shows now more than ever. "You have no patience," Sakura murmurs, his voice soft and pleading. "If you only wait, it's a matter of time--"
"No." Sasuke cut her off, his tone firm and unrelenting. "I will never, ever serve Konoha or protect it again. And if I have to fight my way out through you, trust I will. But I hope, for the sake of the love we have for each other, as comrades and brothers-in-arms once, not to do that. I wish to fight no more. I want to live my life away from the memories, unbothered, unbound by duty or hatred."
Tears stream down Sakura's cheeks as she hears the finality in his voice. "You mean--?"
Sasuke's expression doesn't soften, but something in his eyes changes. "I mean that I'm done. I'm done fighting. I have nothing left to give to this village, to the people who took so much from me." He turns to face them, hoping they'll understand. "I'm sorry," he says, "but this is my decision. I can't keep living in the past, and I can't keep fighting for a village that I no longer believe in. I have to find my own path, one that doesn't involve Konoha or any of you."
Naruto stands up straight and shoots a quick glance at Kakashi, only to find an unusual expression on his sensei's face. It's evident that Sasuke's behavior has left him baffled. As their former sensei, Kakashi had always attempted to steer Sasuke away from the dark path of revenge, from himself, as he had once admitted. But now, it appears as though Sasuke has slipped out of his grasp entirely.
Sakura's shoulders start to shake, and Sasuke takes a step forward, his hand outstretched. "Sakura. Don't cry. This is what's best for both of us. I need to find my own path, and you need to find yours."
Sakura swallows hard, she looks away.
"What— what do you mean," Naruto asks finally. He knows the answer, but he doesn't believe it.
Sakura's sobs echo in the silence between them, but Sasuke doesn't flinch. He has no more tears to shed, no more emotions to give. He had made up his mind, and nothing they could say or do would change it.
"I won't ever come back." Sasuke repeats, "I have to find my own path, one that doesn't involve Konoha or any of you."
Naruto looks at Sasuke closely, searching for any cracks in his resolve. He had always believed in Sasuke's desire to protect their village, to become stronger for the sake of their loved ones. But now, it seemed as if Sasuke had turned his back on all of that. Naruto doesn't understand why or how this could have happened.
He clenches his fist, "What?"
Suigetsu approaches, chewing on something noisily, the background commotion behind him dies down. "What the heck's going on?" he demands, directing his query at no one in particular. No one answers him.
Kakashi steps forward, placing a comforting hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Sasuke," he says soothingly, "you don't need to run away."
Sasuke's eyes are bleak as he speaks. "I've thought about it...and I've lost so much. I just want to rest. You know I won't as long as I'm there, as long as there's something to link me to it."
Naruto and Kakashi exchange a worried glance.
"What about Itachi's wish?" Naruto blurts out, at the same time Kakashi asks, "where are you going?"
Sasuke ignores Naruto's interruption and instead puts a hand over Kakashi's, feeling awkward and stiff. He looks up at Kakashi and a small smile creeps onto his face.
"Are you speaking to me as a Hokage or as a teacher dealing with a rebellious student?" Sasuke asks, his voice soft yet firm.
"As your teacher," Kakashi responds with conviction, though there's a hint of sadness and guilt in his eyes.
Sasuke leans on Kakashi's other hand, which rests on his shoulder - a small gesture of familiarity that he has never offered before. They know that Sasuke isn't the same person he used to be. Not after what he's done, and certainly not with what he's currently dealing with.
Sasuke breaks the silence. "I'm not yet sure, sensei." His tone is gentle, a glimpse of the person he used to be.
Kakashi's eyes flutter shut, and he shifts slightly to the side without breaking contact.. He doesn't say anything in response, but he shifts again slightly to the side, as if granting Sasuke some space.
"Thank you for being there when I needed you," Sasuke adds. It is a simple phrase, but it carries the weight of years of regret, of missed opportunities and broken promises.
Kakashi doesn't say anything, but his grip on Sasuke's shoulder tightens ever so slightly. Perhaps in that moment, they both find a small measure of peace - a fleeting respite from the pain and sorrow that have marked their relationship. The air is thick with tension, and for a moment, it seems as though Kakashi might say something. But ultimately, he doesn't. The two share a long, lingering look before Sasuke turns and looks at Sakura.
Surprisingly, he takes a step forward, closing the distance between him and Sakura. her heart skips a beat as she watches him open his arms for her. For a moment, she can't believe what she's seeing.
"I apologize for not being able to provide you with what you desire, Sakura," Sasuke says, "You've grown into an incredible person. Strong and kind-hearted. My only regret is that I wasn't here to see it."
She feels a lump form in her throat, and sink into his arms. She can't help but feel grateful for his words, but they also sting with a sense of disappointment. God, it hurts. He has always been the one she's wanted, the one she's dreamed of being with. But at this moment, she knows that it's not possible.
She gazes up at him, the man who holds her heart captive, but who doesn't reciprocate her feelings in the way she desires. It's a harsh truth that she must accept - she is nothing more than a friend to him. The realization is like a dagger, piercing her heart and sending waves of pain through her entire being. Every action she ever took was for him, a testament to her love, but it seems that it was all in vain.
A part of her is wounded, aching from his refusal to rise up for her and fight for their bond like she did. Even after all these years, his first rejection continues to linger, searing her heart. She has always clung to the belief that he is worth saving, that one day he would gaze into her eyes and truly see the depth of her love. In her child-like arrogance, she expected his immediate acceptance, imagined him professing his love, and envisioned a future together as one. Deep down, Sakura knows that he is aware of the pain he has inflicted upon her, that he has pitied her for her boundless hope, but still viewing her as haughty and high-handed. Another rejection now etching itself upon her soul, as resolute and uncompromising as any before.
She sobs, tears streaming down her cheeks, and Naruto is frozen in place. He can't fulfill his promise, he failed her, and the crushing weight of his failure is too much for him to bear. It's the final rejection, the last nail in the coffin of their failed relationship.
Sasuke steps forward, pulling him up to stand. There's no embrace, but his hand rests firmly on Naruto's shoulders. "Itachi can't run my life forever, Naruto," he says, his voice soft but determined. "He's taken enough from me already; I love him, but I won't sacrifice any more for him. Life goes on, even for us. There's so much left to discover, so many new experiences to be had. We see things differently now, maybe you were right and I was wrong, or maybe it's the other way around. But it doesn't really matter, does it?"
Their foreheads touch, and for a moment, Naruto feels a spark of hope. Maybe they can start over, rebuild what they once had. But Sasuke's next words dash that hope to pieces. "I'll always remember you, Naruto," he says, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You're too damn annoying to be forgotten. A real pain in my ass, you know that?"
But then Sasuke's eyes turn serious, and he speaks from the heart. "You'll make a great Hokage someday, Naruto. Maybe even better than the ones who came before you. I do believe that."
His acknowledgment, at last.
Naruto can feel his heart racing and his skin growing hot. He can't believe his friend is so willing to throw away everything they've fought for. "For fuck's sake, bastard. Don't," he says, hoping to kick some reason in his thick skull. "Why are you so obsessed with hurting yourself and others?"
But his friend just scoffs. "Don't be Itachi, moron," he snaps back. "My life is mine to live as I want. It's been others' for far too long. I chose to go; it is my decision, not yours, Kakashi's, Itachi's, or Sarutobi's. It's mine, don't you see? If I stay, something in me will die forever, I can't. It's farewell now."
The weight of Sasuke's words crushes him. He can't imagine a world without the bastard in it. "What will you do then?" he asks, desperation creeping into his voice. "...how could you?"
Naruto stands there, staring at the empty space behind his friend. It feels like a knife has been plunged into his chest, twisting and turning, refusing to let go.
There is no Orochimaru to blame, no Itachi or Danzō to point the finger at. It was Sasuke's decision alone.
Sasuke rests his head on his shoulder, his voice barely above a whisper yet loud enough to be heard. "I crave a different existence," he admits. "This life is haunted by ghosts, but life goes on. I want to experience something new, to explore, to learn, to ponder, and perhaps even teach. I yearn to break free from the shackles of the past and the weight that it carries."
"That can still happen, here. I don't understand."
Sasuke backs away from him too quickly, just like he did with Sakura and Kakashi. Naruto wants to punch him in the face, to beat sense into his head, to yell at him to realize that there is no happiness for him away from home, away from them. But he can't. Not after what he just heard.
Kakashi looks around, unsure what to say. Naruto's heart fills with hope that he will say the right thing to stop Sasuke.
"Is there something I can do to stop you from leaving?" Kakashi asks.
Sasuke's shoulders slump in a sigh, "Even if you handed me their heads on a silver platter, it's final," he says.
Naruto feels his heart drop as Sasuke's words sink in.
"It doesn't have to be like this, Sasuke," Kakashi whispers, his voice low and urgent.
"But it does," Sasuke retorts stubbornly. "You and team 7 are shinobi of Konoha, you are Konoha - the embodiment of everything it stands for. And I refuse to let that into my life. I can't demand that you change yourselves for me, nor can I accept your demands on me to change myself for you."
Kakashi's eyes narrow, his expression hardening. "It's not about demands, Sasuke," he says evenly. "It's about understanding and compromise. You can't just simply shut out the ones who love you. The ones who fight and will fight for you."
Kakashi steps closer, his gaze holding Sasuke's. "But you're risking everything by isolating yourself," he says softly. "Don't let fear and hatred control your life."
"What is it got to do with us?" Naruto speaks up. Team 7 had been a family, a bond that had grown stronger with each mission and battle. They had laughed together, cried together, and relied on each other. But now, Sasuke's resentment was causing him to push away the people who cared about him the most. His anger boiling over, and he asks again, "why."
Sasuke's eyes flashes, the Sharingan swirls. They can feel the deep-seated anger seeping out of their former comrade. It frightens him.
He wants to reach out, to explain that their bond is stronger than any loyalty to the village, but he knows it's pointless. Sasuke has made up his mind
"I knew that you wouldn't understand me," Sasuke spits, his eyes flashing with barely contained rage. "You never did. How can I trust you? Because I can't. Not when your love for your village is what's between us. I bet you would take out both of my eyes yourself if Konoha demanded it. Do tell me: How can you trust me?"
Naruto notices a change in Sasuke's demeanor - a subtle shift in movement and a momentary pause. In that moment, Sasuke's posture appears forced, as if he's trying to appear calm. Naruto blinks his eyes, uncertain of what he's seeing, when it suddenly dawns on him. Sasuke's actions have been motivated by his desire to— he looks at the kid, wide-eyed, watching— protect the kid.
Naruto is struck by the realization that Sasuke has been honest all along, at least in his motivations.
Sasuke pauses, closing his eyes tightly, as Suigetsu snatches Jushiro's hand and walks away. The boy stares at them, fear in his eyes.
They wait for a moment, before glaring back at one another.
"You ask that, Naruto?!" Sasuke hisses. "You are the Will of Fire, you represent it. You three symbolize all that the village is. You deny me justice, just like Sarutobi did to my clan, to Itachi the fool. I'm not like you; I don't forget or forgive. I can't. I told you if I stay, I will die there, something in me will fade away forever. You claim that there is a new order of things" he pauses, suddenly seems empty, "but the truth is, a world cannot even begin to repair its sins if it fails to acknowledge them. I don't want to be part of it, I won't be a part of it—I'm sick of betrayal and mistrust, and that goes both ways. If I have to fight for my own path through you, I will."
The silence that follows is almost deafening.
He feels a sadness wash over him, mourning the loss of their friendship and the future they could have had. They were once brothers, fighting together for a better world.
"Maa, no need for a fight, Sasuke-kun,"
They all blink and turn their attention towards their teacher. Even Sasuke seems a bit puzzled. "Are you not going to consult with your advisors?" He asks, with a hint of mockery, but still genuinely curious.
The older man merely shrugs in response, "maaa, this matter is none of their concerns. I assure you."
Naruto feels his fists clenching involuntarily, the turmoil within him almost too much to bear. Kakashi's words hover at the forefront of his mind, a painful reminder of what he already knows deep down. He cannot force Sasuke to make the right choices, cannot be the one to dictate his path. He cannot be an Itachi to Sasuke.
Reluctantly, he looks to face him.
"I hope you find what you want there," Naruto manages to say, voice barely above a whisper. "But if not - and it's probably not - come back. Let's build a better home together."
Sakura stares at him with hurt and betrayal in her eyes.
"It's not my home," Sasuke replies, the stubborn bastard. "It will never be, but it's yours; and that is enough."
"Write to us, bastard" he says, but the glint in Sasuke's eyes tells him he has no intention of complying.
When Naruto leaves the house, he never looks back. This will be the last time he lays eyes on Sasuke, his former comrade. He can't help but hope that time and separation will heal Sasuke's resentment, but deep down, he knows it's wishful thinking. Sasuke doesn't do things halfway, there's nothing stronger than his resentment.
It all begins with murmurs of unease spreading throughout the villages. People whisper about the last remaining Uchiha, free to wander and unbound by any village. Yet, as concern builds, Kakashi simply shrugs off their fears. The Daimyō and his court are displeased with his nonchalant attitude, but the Hokage stands firm, reminding them of the dangers of forcefully bringing the Uchiha back. Who knows what destruction he might reign down upon them with the 'Shinra Tensei'?
Nevertheless, it seems some Kages took it upon themselves to extend a formal invitation for him to become a resident, in the hopes of expanding the Uchiha bloodline. However, no reply was ever received, and there is speculation that the Uchiha never even received the letter.
There is no trace of Sasuke, just as he had promised.
The house where they last saw him has been sold, and everything inside remains untouched as if time stood still. Naruto tries to sense his Chakra, but to no avail. Orochimaru's spies reveal that Sasuke visited him with a child and asked for a seal to disguise his Chakra. He's disappeared, and with him, all the worries have vanished.
It's been two years since Sasuke left. This spring, he's set to marry Hinata. Sakura is still struggling to move on, and Naruto catches her looking at Sasuke's old home from time to time. But, Ino tells him that Sakura has been seeing Lee. She had said it's a "baby step," but it's still a progress.
"Where we heading to?" Jushiro asks, eyeing the road ahead. A black serpent draped around his shoulders.
He's older now, with a mischievous yet lazy attitude influenced by Suigetsu's poison.
The little dark serpent adores him, but Karin has a hunch that the boy favors Sasuke's sharp-eyed hawks —although those birds often took pleasure in harassing him.
She keeps her eyes fixated on Sasuke, who strolls alongside their 'son' as if they have all the time in the world. The road appears never-ending, but she takes solace in the thought of the warm hearth that is waiting for them.
"Home," she whispers, hoping that they won't get sidetracked any longer. Her hand instinctively finds its way to her flat stomach, and she feels the familiar flutter of life nestled within.
"Do you like the sea, Jushiro-kun?"
The remaining chapters will be uploaded soon; there are currently four chapters in my ao3 account. (Azyan)