Sasuke sat down in his onsen. What? Wouldn't you build a private bath house on your land? Because Sasuke definitely did. He sighed as he slunk further into the warm water, gazing at the night sky above. Wave had been a cinch without Zabuza. They folded Gato like a pancake. More specifically, Kakashi ordered Naruto to make a bunch of clones, and with ten times the workforce to work with Tazuna completed the bridge in two days and two nights. Sometimes, when he hadn't looked at how much money he had in a while, he was definitely jealous of Naruto's insane ability to throw out Jutsu. Bro was literally halving his chakra over, and over again. Sasuke wasn't a math guy but how did that even work? He could do three, count 'em, THREE shadow clones. On the third he might pass out. And Sasuke wasn't exactly sparse on chakra, years of Sharingan activation paid off in spades, but hundreds was ridiculous. Guess the Kyuubi was infinite.

Anyway, the only interesting thing that happened on that trip, aside from Sasuke overhearing a conversation about precious people, was when Gato brought a bunch of bandits and mercenaries to the bridge. The memory was crystal clear in his mind, like most were, and he fought to keep the savage grin from his face. Sometimes he scared himself.

Kakashi moved forward with a serious expression on his face.

"Okay kids, everybody turn around and cover their ears." Naruto and Sakura gulped, even Guy's team looked somewhat frightened; Haku turned immediately. Kakashi looked at Guy who shook his head, urging his team to follow Kakashi's advice. He supposed no one had made their first kill yet. He read somewhere that in Konoha, it wasn't expected until you were a Chunin. Unless it was a time of war. He looked firmly at Kakashi, sword unsheathed.

"Bring me."

Kakashi's head snapped to him, refusal clear on his lips. But he stopped. He considered.

"It will be bloody Sasuke. It will be like-" he stopped himself but what he referenced did not go over Sasuke's head. "Are you sure you're ready?"

"Better to find out now, then later."

"Kakashi you can't be-"

"My team Guy, I say when they're ready."

He looked at Sasuke one final time.

"Don't hurry on my account." Gato snidely yelled. "Go on, settle your mortal affairs!"

His deadmen laughed.

"Form on me Sasuke." he uncovered his Sharingan. "We move in tandem."

It was a blender.

Gato's head was put on a spike in front of the bridge. The Great Leaf bridge.

The only troubling part to Sasuke, had been cleaning off his armor afterwards. It had always been like that. Feel everything when a comrade dies, feel nothing for the enemy. He'd always wondered why. Why had he been formed from birth, a killing machine? Sasuke shook these thoughts away. It was a boon, now more than ever. He could curse God later.

He had more important considerations. The Chunin exams were coming up. In months sure, but Kakashi and Guy seemed dead set on letting their Genin take them. A good experience, they had said. Sasuke snorted. Yeah a chance to meet foreign ninja, and kill them! It was a fucked up world, though he supposed it was his fucked up world now. What he needed to feel absolutely sure of himself was just one thing. Okay two things. Izanagi and Izanami. Sasuke had spent countless evenings in the former world just trying to understand what they did. Izanami was the simpler one. Ironically. It was a Genjutsu that cost the user their eye, sealing a friend or foe in an infinite time loop set at an arbitrary point in time using the Sharingan's memorizing abilities. Point A to A until the subject repented and gave up. Repent what? Gave up what? What you decide is wrong. Izanagi was the tricky one, he was pretty sure he could perform Izanami right now. But how did he alter fucking reality? In the manga it only worked on one's self, but in the anime it worked on one's surroundings as well. He wouldn't be testing this of course, but hot damn, the possibilities of altering the self alone was more than enough to consider the blindness. Could he alter reality and just give himself the Rinne Sharingan? Or just the Rinnegan? What were the limits of telling reality to go fuck itself? He'd scoured through the Uchiha district looking for so much as a clue, but there was nothing. Did Itachi perhaps destroy it? Wherever the technique was, was it already lost? Man, fuck Itachi if that's the case. He was becoming irritated with his lack of fruitful ideas. He felt like he was forgetting something, but what? Dammit he knew Naruto like the back of his hand-, oh that's new, but what the hell was he missing? Where would the Uchiha forbidden techniques be?

A dinner bell sounded.

Haku had decided to move in with him, he had plenty of space for his new vassal. Instead of the whole screening process which Kakashi had mentioned, the Hokage had asked if Haku had been a part of a clan when they went to report in person. She was. The Yuki clan. A small ceremony later with the Hokage as officiator, and Haku had sworn fealty to Sasuke. Sometimes he forgot how medieval Naruto's setting was. He had little doubt Haku would be loyal, in truth it was her fault. There wasn't a cruel bone in her body. He wondered if Zabuza had just done all the killing. But on the other hand…one step closer to becoming Oda Nobunaga, HAHAHAHA. The Uchiha shall unify the world!

"Mmm, this is delicious Haku."

"Thank you Sasuke-sama."

"...You don't have to call me -sama."

"It is alright, Sasuke-sama."

He ate the rest of his dinner in silence. Haku visibly enjoyed his suffering. Forget what he said, the girl was cruel. Damn that felt weird. Like being called master. Ugh. She wasn't much older than him dammit. Why couldn't he be transported to Naruto when he actually was thirteen. Ah, Naruto wasn't out yet. That would have sucked. A bell rang from his mind at the thought of the bright orange blunder whom he was bound to through fate. Sasuke was a descendent of Indra, Naruto a descendent of Asura. They were both reincarnations of the men. If he…if he absorbed some of Naruto's chakra, thereby combining the blood of Indra and Asura, their chakra, to form Hagoromo's. Could he awaken the Rinnegan? That's how it was said to work. It wouldn't form a true Rinnegan, but it was still enormously powerful in and of itself.

"Chakra Transfer technique." he whispered stunned. Thus was the true limitation of the Sharingan. He could memorize everything at a glance and recall it later. It did not mean he'd know when to apply such knowledge. Naruto had no inherent ocular jutsu either and was only distantly related to the Senju so…would he get the Rinnegan? Notes for later.

"What was that Sasuke-sama?"

"I think I'll retire for the night."

Haku stared at him strangely. Wonder if she heard?

"Goodnight."

He had plans now, simple plans, but plans nonetheless. To survive the chunin exam he'd have to pull out all the stops. Orochimaru was not his opponent, wouldn't be for years. If they could scare him off, great, if not…Valhalla awaits.

Haku stepped lightly through the house. It was already clean when she arrived, it didn't seem like Sasuke-san needed any help maintaining his estate. He was not a normal boy. Ever since she had sworn fealty to him, they'd been training constantly. He had asked one day on what seemed like a whim and she had trained with his team and himself nearly every day. It was hard to gauge his emotions through those…eyes. He referred to them as evil frequently, it was as though his thoughts were plagued by darkness and despair. It was hard not to notice. Yet when he spoke, he revealed nothing but jests, which he reveled in. Perhaps they are his arms against the night. Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud thunk she had grown accustomed to.

She moved to the porch. It was fascinating to watch him engage in a familiar activity. For all intents and purposes, he repeated the same action, over and over again without err or failure. Truly the eyes of hatred saw nothing but truth. Absolute perfection. But what of his mind? Mysteries within mysteries. She had seen him in combat. Against her better judgment she glanced at him and his sensei when they went to slaughter the bandits. It was horrible. The blood was horrible. When they spared his face was alight with fury and joy, like he truly wanted nothing but to sunder the world he saw before him. He loved battle too much. And he grumbled frequently about…substances. She had half-considered going out to get some things for him, but he seemed content to follow the law. O! When he had delivered that portrait of her and Zabuza-san, she had nearly burst into tears. He had captured her former master's likeness so well. And what he had said.

"I know you miss him, Haku. Take this, may it ease your burdens."

Konoha was nothing like Mist. Zabuza had been correct. Everyone was so kind, so cheerful. The will of fire was beautifully emblematic of both the land and people. A caring flame that never extinguished, so different from her master whose banner spelled out his beliefs. Peace is a lie, war is eternal. She'd been so frightened. She thought her new liege was some awful warmonger. A bloodletter through and through who enjoyed the killing. And it was somewhat true; he sought the destruction of his enemies not the salvation of his friends. But he was kind. Somewhere in those words she sensed a lie. An honest heart turned to stone. It reminded her so much of Zabuza. His last words to her echoed in her soul.

"I go to war, Haku. I…I cannot bring you with me."

It was her purpose, she was his tool. Why? Tears pooled in her eyes and trailed down her face.

"Have I failed-"

"No. You-, I…" he looked at her with glistening eyes. "I just can't. You must not see war. I won't let you."

He said this with a gruff determination he leveled at the most important of things, an admission; of her importance to him.

"Please." he turned his face from her.

"Go. You'll love it there. It's peaceful. All know this."

And he said no more.

Haku wiped a tear away. She would serve this master just as well. She swore it.

"Are you alright Haku?"

"Yes."

He also frequently forgot to use honorifics between them in private, as if he cared little for them. He grunted, sliding his yukata back over his shoulder.

"I want your opinion Haku." he sat down beside her. "Do you think our squad is ready for the Chunin exams?"

Our squad. He hadn't even hesitated, he must have really considered her a friend and "comrade", as he frequently labeled his allies. It warmed her heart. Haku gave it serious thought.

Naruto was a one man army. His chakra control still wasn't the best but when one could summon so many clones, each who could devise traps and fallback positions, cause obscuring smoke and a litany of distractions, and each who could use the only wind Jutsu that Kakashi could find after he tested their chakra nature, wind bullet, he made a formidable adversary. Kakashi was trying to convince Asuma Sarutobi, one of the few men in the land of fire with wind chakra nature to part with his formidable techniques, but the man was very busy whipping his own squad into shape. Naruto was ready in Haku's scroll, well within Chunin fighting level.

Sakura was becoming an excellent kunoichi. She had such fine control of her chakra that most injuries she could easily heal within minutes, and more serious disabling blows within under thirty. She also absorbed healing techniques and knowledge like she had the Sharingan herself. However, she was obviously not a frontline fighter. She lacked the physique and endurance for sustained fights, she was no match for any of them in combat. Too slow, tired too quickly, received too much damage. Useful, certainly, but you couldn't make up for years of inadequate training in months. Chakra was spirit and body, neglect one and the other suffers. A true risk. But the boys practiced multiple scenarios of "medic defense" as Sasuke called it. It was a manageable risk. Granted their opponent was on the same level.

Sasuke was simply a jack of all trades. He had mastered multiple weapons, and though she had never seen what he and Kakashi did together after training, she had heard on several occasions the chirping of many birds. She could guess what Kakashi the lightning cutter was teaching him. Other than that, they seemed matched in prowess when they sparred. If so, then Sasuke was already on the cusp of becoming Jounin level, and therefore more than ready for the exam. Haku's own strength increased after countless spars with an enemy who could predict her every move.

"Yes, Sasuke-sama. You are all ready."

He didn't look satisfied with her answer. He was never truly satisfied with any assessment of his strength. What was he trying to achieve? What height was he desperately reaching for? Rumors had reached as far as the Mist about the sudden lack of Uchiha's prowling the land. But was Itachi such a towering figure in his mind, a benchmark which he always moved forward, struggling against a perceived weakness? She put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

"You need not carry your burdens alone Sasuke-sama."

He looked at her with eyes filled with horror and remorse. Guilt and despair. The eyes of a seasoned veteran, not a thirteen year old boy.

"One inch is enough to make the difference between a cut throat and a living soldier. What if I lack that single inch?"

Haku realized she could do nothing for the poor boy. He lived his life fearing blades that were not there. Haunted by a single night. She was so saddened by this realization that he had left without her taking notice. He had stopped painting recently. He was off to train, something else, somewhere else. What cruel fate is his, that the world torments him so? She wondered this all the way into a troubled sleep.

Sasuke slammed his hand down on his alarm. It was today. He ran to the toilet and emptied his guts into it. He must have been too loud for Haku stood at the door, hand over her mouth.

"Sasuke!"

He wiped his mouth and flushed.

"I'm fine. Nerves."

She did not look convinced. Feelings of confliction clearly blossomed across her face.

"I have made breakfast."

She practically dragged him away from the restroom and shoved food into his mouth. Concern dripping from every action. But she said nothing else, except one reassurance when he stood bedecked in armor at the threshold of his domain.

"I will pray for your safety Sasuke-sama."

It was a nice sentiment, but he was in no mood for the gods today. He merely nodded, raised his hand, and did not look back. He had done everything, everything, he could think of. Kakashi must have sensed his desperation to keep his teammates hale and whole for they had practically doubled their training regime for two months. They had been told to rest for a week, but Sasuke had only relented for four days before the exam. He had gotten Sakura who knew the Chakra Transfer technique to teach him but he had met a stumbling block when trying to teach Naruto the technique. Chakra control. Naruto had tried it countless times at Sasuke's urging, but he always put too little chakra in it. He'd rather learn Wind Bullet instead.

"Well that's alright, right Sasuke? We're good with just you and Sakura ya know?"

Sasuke grit his teeth, the one time he must rely on someone else for something-. He sighed. Naruto hadn't learned the Rasengan yet, so his chakra control would probably stay at that level until he did. He knew Kakashi knew it but how did he suggest something he shouldn't know about. Danzo lurked around every corner of his mind. One suggestion to the Hokage that Sasuke was too odd, and that could reach Danzo's ear. There was one technique Sasuke feared above all others. One thing which haunted him at every step. Kotoamatsukami. Distinguished Heavenly Gods. Even the name dripped power from every syllable. The power to make a man hate his true love. The power to make a priest slit his own belly. The power to make an honorable samurai betray his lord. True power over mortal men, to bend their thoughts to the users will. It scared him deeply. One look and he was a pawn. One look, to do the bidding of someone truly evil. With absolute loyalty.

Naruto and Sakura were leagues above their cannon counterparts. Stronger, faster, more intelligent and adaptable. His interference had paid off, but was it enough. To face one of the legendary Sannin? To stare down Orochimaru and beat him off? No. He didn't believe it was. He knew deep within his heart that the capabilities of the Snake Sage required legendary strength to match. They were no legends. Just children playing war. Wir werden sterben. No! Be resolute. He slapped himself. It didn't feel painful enough. He slapped harder.

"Sas-, Sasuke?"

He whipped his head at Naruto. Naruto stared back at him.

"G-…Getting psyched?

"Yes."

Naruto really didn't look convinced by his paltry affirmation. Sakura came around the bend not too soon after looking confident.

"Hey guys! Ready to crush this?"

"Hell yeah!"

"Uh-huh."

Naruto seemed a bit concerned over his unenthusiastic response, but still confident in his own abilities. Could I have told someone? Would they have believed me? What would happen if he ran to the Hokage right now and said he'd come from another world, perhaps if he said he had visions of the future, maybe if…none of the things flying through his head would be satisfactory explanations. They would call him crazy, bar him from the exam, and the only thing he'd be doing was holding back himself and his teammates from their potential. But maybe that was the trick, intentionally fail the exam. But there was a question he would be asked that he could not answer, not without being incredibly out of character. Why? Did he truly not believe in his teammates? He'd been the one to spur on their training, Kakashi would never believe that. He was not confident in himself? Again, completely contrary to his actions thus far. He had dug his own grave, by the conceit that he simply had acted as himself, and not Sasuke Uchiha, who may have had excuses up to this point for bailing. Paltry one's, but better than himself. Who had none. And…Kotoamatsukami. Mindwalking. The Truth. He'd be dead, and this world would be trapped forever in darkness. Infinite Tsukuyomi. Naruto and Sakura couldn't do it by themselves. Fuck.

The first part of the exams ran smoothly. He'd said high to the Genin, pumped Kabuto for information, and left a little note on his tenth question that Kabuto Yakushi knew things he definitely should not about foreign and allied shinobi. That should cover that base at least. How is a Genin supposed to know how many missions an allied shinobi has undertaken? Big slip if you asked him. Other than that nothing of import happened.

"Okay, get going!"

He barely said a word as they entered the forest of death, a pit of fear in his stomach eating him whole. His teammates both asked him if he was alright, he ignored the sentiment.

"Operation Dopplegänger go."

Naruto grinned. It was a plan that mostly involved himself. Hundreds of clones popped into existence beside them. The goal? Find teams, defeat them, deliver the scrolls to the alpha team. If the team was too tough to be beaten? Dispel and they would avoid them. If the team didn't have the right scroll? Give it to a Konoha team. It was always good to have indebted enemies. They might remember that they owe you. Where was alpha team going? Straight to the tower to lie in wait. With this he planned to avoid Orochimaru entirely. Sun Tzu once said that if you didn't understand your enemies capabilities, or knew they exceeded your own; don't fucking fight him. Sasuke really thought the plan was going to work when they received a heaven scroll and were already spying the top of the tower. He estimated two more miles, and they would have made it. But then Orochimaru kicked his ribs so hard he could have sworn he felt them shatter like glass in his chest, and that was before he hit a tree so hard that he thought he heard his spine break in half.

"Hello, Sasuke-chan."

"SASUKE!"

He looked at Naruto through a haze that the Sharingan barely made clear. It clicked. He hadn't been able to stop Naruto from agitating Anko. Orochimaru must have marked him somehow, knowing he was on his team. Motherfucker. Plan B.

"Naruto!-" He coughed up blood. "Get the fuck out of here, we can't beat-"

Orochimaru grabbed his throat before he could blink. He was definitely not into strangulation.

"Now, Now Sasuke-chan. That wouldn't be entertaining."

Then he threw him into Naruto before Sasuke could stab him with his tanto. They recovered quickly, though Sasuke knew he'd already sustained some pretty bad injuries. Sakura dropped down behind them. He burned their heaven scroll in his hand. What!? How-, oh that cunt took it while he was being strangled. Anger coursed through Sasuke like a river. He could guess what Orochimaru's next play was.

"Now if you want the earth scroll that's in my hand, make this interesting." his killing intent washed over them. He felt his fear magnify by a hundred thousand, his hands shook and thoughts from his bleakest, blackest days flashed through his mind. Tell mama I- NO. BEGONE FROM ME. He bit his cheek so hard he drew blood, the saccharine ichor and pain pulling him back from the abyss. He barked out orders to his men.

"Naruto! Snap out of it, clones now! Get Sakura away!"

Naruto shook himself from his terrified grimace, forming six clones in an instant three of which grabbed Sakura who was shivering against the tree behind them, teal eyes wide with fear. They moved in unison, hours of training made their thoughts as one. Every movement memorized, every action practiced. He threw a fuma shuriken high into the sky, the huge three bladed throwing star leaping from his seal into the air in an instant. Naruto and his clones took out some of their own and threw them directly at Orochimaru. They had crossed over to him in a blazing fast burst of speed, trailing just behind the shuriken. Naruto's clones each fired a Wind Bullet. Orochimaru smirked.

"Impressive."

He dodged out of the way of the shuriken and wind bullets, his body contorting in ways that weren't humanly possible. His first kick dispelled a clone. His first punch destroyed another. Sasuke reached him and swung his blade from his sheath. Blitz. His arm moved so fast it physically hurt. He could see that even Orochimaru was surprised by the glowing blue blade that leapt toward him. But not surprised enough. Suddenly his blade severed a Naruto clone in two. Shit. He felt a rough blow behind him and he sailed forward into the brush. He made a clone of his own while on the floor, reeling from tiredness and adrenaline. Two Chidori, I can do two Chidori now. He hid himself as best he could, letting his presence become null as he witnessed Orochimaru dismantle Naruto completely and destroy his clone with barely any effort. He grit his teeth. Naruto can take it, he can take it, he's a tough man. He's- A child. He surged behind Orochimaru, hoping this took him by surprise. The Chidori glowed in his hands, a thousand birds deafening all in the field. He felt his hand go through Orochimaru's ribcage and out his chest. For a brief moment hope welled in his heart. But it was a clone. When-

A kick actually shattered his ribs. He puked blood on the floor.

"HAHA, o Sasuke-chan! You're better than I could have even hoped."

Orochimaru looked down at him with a sick perverted smile as Naruto screamed his name. He only had one thing to say to this monster.

"That's what your mother said last-"

He saw stars fly in his vision as Orochimaru picked him up and slammed him against a tree. He slid down as he realized that Orochimaru held Naruto with his other hands.

"Cute." he said. The bastard. He threw Naruto back further, whose entire being seemed to glow with a red chakra, so intense was his anger…for who? For himself. He could only gurgle as he tried to tell Naruto to just stay back. Orochimaru performed seals that he could not keep up with, slamming his palm into an oncoming Naruto whose light went out as if someone flicked the switch. He slumped to the floor as Sasuke felt a thunk against his head. It was the scroll. This guy was an asshole.

"Good job Sasuke-chan. Let me give you an extra present. For being so impressive."

His shoulder armor had been destroyed at some point, along with most of the front, so when Orochimaru's head extended and his fangs bit deeply into Sasuke; nothing could stop him. Nothing could stop him anyway. The last voice he heard was Sakura's.

"SASUKE!"

Sakura was so scared. Her teammates lay before her in ramshackle covering that was barely able to keep the wind out. She was so tired. She knew she was close to chakra exhaustion. She almost used it all trying to fix Sasuke-kun's broken body. Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at Naruto, who still hadn't woken up despite the broken arm she'd set and splinted. There was some seal on his belly she didn't understand, but obviously it was sealing away something important. The seal on Sasuke's shoulder was much the same. It was clearly sapping him of strength, slowing her healing. If only she wasn't so usel- No! She wasn't useless. She was getting better everyday. Anko-sensei said as much, she was a great healer. She closed her eyes with a shutter, clutching her knees wishing the boys would wake up. Remember Anko-sensei's words.

"Being strong isn't easy, Sakura." Anko-sensei said one day while chewing on some dango. "It's whatcha do at your weakest that proves your strength."

Anko-sensei had a faraway look in her eye when she said that. Sakura couldn't remember what prompted the sagely words but she took them to heart. She whispered them underneath her breath, like a magic spell that would take away all her worries.

"Please wake up guys." she whispered. "Please."

A bell sounded above her and her heart nearly stopped. She gazed out of a hole in the poorly camouflaged tarp to see three sound Genin in gray. They looked mean.

"Zaku, you idiot."

"Oh, shut the hell up. Hey bitch we know you're in there. Come out."

She scrambled for the bow she'd unsealed from Sasuke. He told her to familiarize himself with his short bow: In case I've been taken out and you need some long range defense. Sometimes she wondered if the Sharingan could see the future. Each of his arrows had been wrapped in explosive tags. She nocked one, and aimed for the one who called her bitch. Shannaro, that one's first! Sakura waited with baited breath as he inched closer to her trap. He looked down.

"A pitfall? What kind of nin-"

She cut the ninja wire that held the log in place and cursed as Zaku turned to the sound and destroyed it…with a blast of sound? It triggered the tags she set on the log which created a larger explosion.

"Oho, the bitch is tricksy."

She let the arrow fly through the hole. This time he was tackled by his other male teammate, which probably saved his life. The tags detonated in a huge explosion. Sasuke loved overkill.

"Wha-, what the hell was that!"

"Just stay where you are Zaku."

The hunched one had risen from his comrade without offering help. He gestured toward the hut with one of his arms.

"Get out of there or we'll blow that damn tarp to pieces, and everything in it."

Sakura was cursing. That was everything she had. It had taken days to fix Naruto's arm, prepare the tarp, heal Sasuke, and set up traps. She was pretty sure they were close to failing the exam. So she steeled herself, and came out. She hoped her sweaty palms didn't mess up the tag on the handle of her kunai.

"What is it you want?" she said in her best impression of Anko-sensei's fearless voice. It didn't sound right.

"We're here to offer a trade." the boy's bandaged face and cloaked form revealed nothing. "Give us Sasuke Uchiha and we'll spare you and your teammates life."

The response was out before Sakura could even register what he'd said.

"Never!" as the boy known as Zaku grit his teeth, it was clear that it was not the answer they wanted.

"Well, I guess-" the girl interrupted him. "Let me have her."

She looked at her with cruel eyes. Neither of the boys said anything as she approached Sakura, though Zaku was clearly amused. Sakura wished she had Sasuke's bow in her hands, even though she'd never be able to aim it with the precision he did. Just something of her crush's to give her the resolve she so desperately needed. Please wake up.

"You know the first thing I noticed about you?" Sakura didn't respond as the other girl moved closer. "Your hair was just so luscious. Tell me, how long do you spend on it each evening?"

She said nothing. Just readied herself.

"Well, I'll tell you how long I spend. Zero." she closed the space when Sakura blinked, a fist buried itself into her stomach. Sakura ignored the pain and delivered an elbow of her own to the girl's temple eliciting a pained growl. The girl's leg shot out into Sakura's knee causing her to buckle. Suddenly her hair was being grabbed and a knee was being shoved in her face. Over and over again.

"And that. Is what happens. When a fake ass shinobi like you. Fucks. With a real. KUNOICHI!" each period had been punctuated by a knee strike. At some point Sakura felt her nose break. Her entire world was in pain.

"Anything to say now bitch?"

"I don't spend that long on my hair." Sakura said as she cut it with the kunai causing the black haired girl to drop her. With the last of her chakra, she formed a scalpel and cut across the other girl's knees, severing the tendons. Shannaro, that's right scream. She was so tired the kunai dropped from her hand.

"AHHH! My legs won't move! MY LEGS WON'T MOVE!"

"Godammit Kin you had one job. Fucks sake. Dosu Imma finish this dumb-"

He never got to finish the sentence. They all felt from the covering an immense outpouring of chakra. It felt horrible. It was a thousand times worse than Orochimaru's killing intent. It was evil, straight from the furthest pit of hell. And it was emanating from Sasuke. Her Sasuke.

"Sasuke-kun." she said. And his whirling eyes gazed upon her form, his frown deepening into the most furious scowl she had ever seen. A demon.

"Who hurt you Kameradin.?" he said it so calmly, as if his eyes didn't convey madness and disdain. Like black flames weren't eating his form whole. She was too scared to reply.

"Wer!" the force from his words made her flinch. He strode up to Kin.

"Her?" he needed no confirmation as he looked into Kin's eyes; and she just began to scream. He…he smiled.

"Hey you fuck that's our teamate-"

The boy shouldn't have called attention to himself. Sasuke was on him in a flash breaking his arm and kicking his leg so it bent the other way. Sasuke's smile was maddening. He approached the one called Dosu who was scrambling on his back away from him.

"Wait, wait here is a heav-" Sasuke stomped on his stomach causing him to vomit in his own mask. He took the scroll without bothering to hear Dosu out. "P-plea-"

Sasuke stomped again. And again. And again. Was he…oh gods he was just toying with the poor boy. Reveling in his pain.

"HAHA, das schmerzen ja! Das schmerzen? Sag es. SAG ES!"

She couldn't understand him as Dosu screamed in pain. She struggled to stand. She needed to get over to him. She didn't know when she had gotten behind him, but she had. She fell on him, causing him to pause. She held him tight.

"Stop it Sasuke, STOP IT!" she cried into his back.

Sasuke felt like a god. He felt invincible. Let the world come to his feet, he would crush any who opposed him. And why shouldn't he? The strong do what they can, the weak do as they must. Sakura's voice filtered through his head. Stop it. Stop what? Letting nature take its course? Why would he? He growled fiercely as he looked at the wretch beneath his boot, no further suited to stain it with blood than to lick it. An animal, subhuman. How could he even be distantly related to this swine? Sasuke was superhuman. Sasuke was the übermensch. The harbinger of death, bringer of the end times. He would devour the SUN AND CAST ALL REALMS IN ETERNAL DARKNESS. DAMN THIS WORLD, DAMN THEM ALL! WHY SHOULD HE CARE FOR THE RACE OF MEN? THEY WERE HIS! LET US BAPTIZE THE WORLD IN NUCLEAR FIRE. HAHAHAHA!

"STOP IT!"

Sasuke's world came into clarity. What was he doing? Why was he torturing this poor boy who rasped beneath him for air? Whose thoughts were those that called for the end of all things? Sasuke backed away in horror at what he had done.

"Jesus Christ." it was all he could say. Sakura sobbed behind him, wrapped around him in a death grip. He picked her up in a fireman's carry. Naruto staggered out of the tent, his eyes wide at the screaming, and the broken bodies that littered the ground.

"Follow." Sasuke ground out. Control like a bar of soap constantly threatening to slip from his grasp. Naruto made no noise, just walked. He didn't understand why he lost control of his legs, nor when Naruto began to carry them both. When they got to the tower he could only say two words.

"Unseal…scroll."

Then he blacked out to the thirsting calls for unceasing bloodshed. The nightmares began and he could not stop them this time. He felt a hot wind against his face.

No, not back there. NOT BACK THERE.

But the gods did not listen.