There is a sense of absurdity in watching his children…disappear.
He doesn't need Orochimaru to drill into him the sensitivity of the fabric of time or how extreme he is even in his thirties. He should know better, truly. Sasuke knows. He has forever been consumed by maddening rage, parlous sorrow, and ugly love. It is an inseparable part of him. Old habits die hard, after all.
Even with only a sketchy idea of the strength of his opponent, he won't put them at risk. Not with a ghastly creature lurking about that may exploit their weaknesses and use them to its own ends—to use them against him.
No one has ever threatened his family, whether it was a real or imagined threat, and managed to tell the tale. No-one.
Shikamaru Nara learned this lesson the hard way, paying a steep price for his audacity. Kakashi also attempted to test the boundaries, but his efforts only resulted in deeper despair and lingering fear on his part. A fair price.
Sasuke casts his gaze upon the men surrounding him, their eyes akin to his own, and there is something utterly raw, calm, and just enraged about it. It seems like Madara won't let him catch a break, even when he's already six feet under. Screw him for that.
After sending the Kids away into a time portal, his own reserves of Chakra have significantly dwindled, possibly even less than half. This depletion encompasses even the dense and unrefined Chakra he had extracted from the fox.
"I had hoped for more wisdom from you," Orochimaru drawls, "especially after all this time."
Sasuke pays no mind to Orochimaru's words, his one hand skillfully unbuttoning his coat as his eyes remain fixed on the men before him. The faces of the Paths stare back at him, their expressions void of emotion, unfazed by the sight of his Rinnegan.
Kakuzu retrieves a neatly folded paper from his pocket, unfolding it to reveal a bounty poster. He gazes at it with a detached curiosity, as if comparing it to Sasuke himself. "Sasuke Uchiha, the mysterious drifter. An eighty-million ryo bounty on your head. You've made yourself quite a number of enemies, Uchiha," Kakuzu remarks, his eyes then shifting to Orochimaru. "And Orochimaru the Sannin, Konoha offers two hundred and fifty-million ryo reward for your capture. It's nothing personal, gentlemen..."
Sasuke shrouds himself in crackling lightning. "You have made the grave mistake of targeting me before I sought you out. For this, your organization will be put down and humbled."
By the time Sasuke unbuttons his last button, the fight starts.
In a synchronized motion, four of the Path bodies spring into action, swiftly forming hand signs. Papers from Konan's arsenal glide along the walls, scattering in all directions like a storm of confetti. It appears to be a security precaution, an attempt to counter Sasuke's impending wrath. He can at least appreciate that they haven't underestimated the intensity of his anger.
Sasuke's movements become fluid and almost ethereal, too swift for mortal eyes to perceive, and even challenging for the most extraordinary beings to keep up. In an instant too fleeting to be observed, he unsheathes his sword.
He switches places with one of the Paths behind the others.
Shifting his angle to the left, he expertly decapitates the path that charged towards him with a swift and merciless strike. Without pause, he readjusts his stance, pressing the sharp tip of his sword against the sidehead of another path, effectively keeping it in place through sheer force. With a surge of electrical energy coursing through his weapon, he sends a jolt into the path's brain, incapacitating it instantly, but only for a fleeting second.
The chopped head flies and lays on the ground soundlessly. On the other side of the battle, there is a brief moment of confusion. Finally, their stunned reactions show. It sends morbid satisfaction that thrills up Sasuke's spine.
Orochimaru crouches down and pulls out the metal pricinges from the head, causing the corpse to slump back lifeless. "This is a very useful technique, Sasuke-kun; consider learning it."
Sasuke directs his sword with a flood of lightning that weaves through the Path's head, drawing it out and plunging it into the ground instead. The Path, now immobilized by Susanoo's ghostly hand, struggles to break free.
Sasuke's eyes stay fixed on the opposite side of the battlefield, where the remaining group and the Paths leader stare back at him as his hand stretches out to firmly rip the metal pieces from his opponent's body.
In a mere forty seconds, two of the Path's bodies are eliminated.
"I underestimated you, Sasuke Uchiha." The main Path declares loudly "It seems you possess a modicum of skill that I had not anticipated. Rest assured, I am not one to make the same mistake twice."
"His head is worth eighty million ryo for a reason."
In the secret code of Otogakure, Orochimaru transmits his intentions. He discreetly conveys, "I will take Sasori and Kakuzu. The safety of the hideout has been compromised by Konan's strategic placement of explosive papers on the walls. Maintain a delay in proceedings until Log can safely retrieve my valuable work from the crossfire."
Sasuke silently delivers his message using the same secret code: "Inform him to head towards the eastern Labutory. I will create a portal at that location. Take Obito. To Kirigakure."
The serpent slithering silently on Orochimaru's shoulder delivers its hissing message to Log. In response, Log swiftly flashes his chakra as a form of acknowledgment. He keeps his sense focused on them — but then, Obito's Chakra flares, and he disappears.
Sasuke grunts, "Zetsu took Obito."
An overwhelming pressure fills the air, causing the force of gravity to feel magnified. Suspended in mid-air, with arms extended like a divine entity bestowing its radiance, he exudes an aura of absolute power. His eyes, swirling with vibrant purple hues, emit a mesmerizing glow. "Sasuke Uchiha, prepare to comprehend the true meaning of pain."
In the same breath, the other remaining Paths simultaneously perform hand seals, summoning six powerful entities. Orochimaru quickly calls forth Manda, in response.
Meanwhile, Sasori and Kakuzu synchronize their chakra threads, unleashing a flurry of expertly executed maneuvers with their deadly weaponry.
The battle reignites with a surge of intensity. Pain releases a devastating Almighty-Push that obliterates the hideout, reducing it to rubble. In a swift countermove, Sasuke switches the positions of himself and Orochimaru with Sasori and Konan.
The puppeteer's puppet smashes against the walls, freeing him out of his wooden cage.
The red-haired assailant, Sasori, sneers contemptuously as he extricates himself from his fractured puppet. Simultaneously, Konan gracefully repositions herself in mid-air, her movements as calm as a dance. With a flick of her dexterous hands, she commands a multitude of intricate paper creations to detach from the surrounding walls, hurtling towards Sasuke with astonishing speed. Yet, Sasuke reacts swiftly, activating Susanoo's protective shield just in the nick of time.
The shield intercepts the barrage of paper projectiles, preventing them from ever reaching his body. The Susanoo absorbs the impact, causing the papers to explode harmlessly around Sasuke, leaving him unharmed.
Once more, Sasuke uses his lightning-fast reflexes to throw a wall of kunais in an attempt to switch positions with one of them behind the incoming bodies.
The nimble enemy effortlessly dodges half of the projectile and sidesteps the other half. Seizing the moment, Sasuke again switches places with a Kunai and delivers a precise slash, cleaving the head of another Path with a single swift motion. The lifeless body falls, and he collects its metal shreds.
Orochimaru has already incapacitated three of Kakuzu's hearts. Though the immortal's body appears fragile, it manages to mend itself using the thin threads that bind it together. But then Sasori, freshly joining the fight, unleashes his deadly chakra threads, ensnaring Orochimaru in a dense and venomous web. The thick, toxic strands coil tightly around The Sannin, constricting his movements and exacerbating the peril he faces.
Suddenly, the ground trembles and fractures under the immense chakra-infused pressure. Sasuke's attention swings back to Pain; now three of his bodies remain, along with Konan.
He charges forwards, channeling Chidori into the blade. The air resonates with the sound of a thousand birds chirping in unison, intensifying the tension of the battle.
The clash resumes. Sasuke strategically switches places between Orochimaru and Konan, disrupting their coordination. Seizing the opportunity, The Sannin strikes down another Path, removing one more threat from the battlefield. Meanwhile, Konan finds herself entangled in a perilous web of poisonous threads and surrounded by puppets.
Kakuzu lets out a string of curses, setting her free, while Sasori snarls, pointing out, "He's the issue."
As the Path Orochimaru killed collapses, the summoned entities vanish in a cloud of smoke. Manda, no longer engaged in combat, redirects its attention towards them.
"Seek cover!" Konan urges, swiftly rearranging a thousand pieces of paper. She takes flight, her hands raised as the papers float alongside her. As Pain drifts away, Orochimaru reverses his summoning, disappearing into a puff of smoke with Manda.
The hideout explodes, enveloped in rising smoke and roaring flames. Within the fiery chaos, however, Sasuke stands untouched, a ghostly shield shimmering around him.
Jūzō, who had been trailing after Log before his sudden disappearance through a portal, observes the shield with its demonic Samurai-esque appearance. He whispers, "Is he a devil in disguise?"
"It's some secret technique used by the Uchiha clan. I've only seen it once during the battle against 'wicked-eye' Fugaku and my Jonin commander." Sasori says, walking around a crumbling wall, "Nothing can get through it; and as long as this man has Chakra, he's invincible."
With another release of Almighty Push, its impact solely directed at pushing Sasuke, still sheltered within the armor of Susanoo, even farther away. In perfect coordination with Pain, Konan swiftly rearranges her arsenal of papers, propelling them straight towards Sasuke's shield, followed closely by yet another Almighty Push.
The ghostly armor billows eerily, fluttering weakly, capturing the attention of all those present. Seizing the opportunity, the remaining members launch themselves towards Sasuke, each swiftly forming their own unique hand signs.
However, at that moment, Orochimaru re-materializes, diverting Sasori's attention towards him, but the other members of the group subtly keep their aim towards Sasuke.
A morbid delight washes over the Uchiha as he witnesses his foes once again stumbling into his sloppy trap. Usually, he might have felt a touch of pity for their failure to discern the recurring patterns in his strategies.
However, today is different.
Today, he grapples with the limitless grief of losing his children, thrown away on a timeline he cannot follow by his own hand. It is the same hand that they forced him to raise against them.
For that, and for that alone, they will crumble.
Harnessing his Chakra within, he dispels the Sussano and unleashes an Almighty Push in the same breath, sending his attackers to smashes into walls rabbles
Simultaneously, he quickly forms Chibaku Tensei, drawing one of Pain's bodies into a gravitational prison with his own rods attached tightly.
Sasuke then deftly switches the positions of Orochimaru and Konan once more. This causes Konan to be ensnared by Sasori's deadly threads, while granting Orochimaru the opportunity to extract another heart from Kakuzu.
He appears behind the Kiri-missing nin, piercing his heart with a chidori. The man stills, hanging on his extended lighting-clad hand, spewing blood, his eyes widening, and he doesn't say anything before his body falls limp.
Wielding a metal rod he grabbed from his own palm instead of his sword, laced with Chakra, he looks at Pain.
Pain's ego finally crumbles ruthlessly. He turns his attention back to him, horror visible in his eyes.
In an instant, Konan materializes behind The Uchiha, and her paper trail tracks his body. Acting swiftly, Sasuke spins and infuses his rod with a surge of lightning, piercing it directly into her shoulder and launching her body forcefully into a solid wall. In retaliation, she sets off on the paper that manages to reach him before he can fully activate Susanoo's armor.
In a cloud of smoke and debris, he disperses and reappears atop one of the crumbling walls.
With his attire charred and his lone arm exposed, there's third and second degree burns. The Uchiha wordlessly tears off his shirt and allows it to be carried away by the wind.
His cold, emotionless eyes remain fixed on Pain, unflinching and unwavering, as a tangible grip of Killing Intent takes hold, binding their movements like unbreakable shackles. In his mismatched eyes there is a raging tempest.
"Put down and humbled." He repeats his words. His promise. A whisper, yet obvious enough to those who gazed up at him.
He wraps himself in snapping lightning all over again, and as he despatches Kakuzu's final two hearts with lightning and jutsu in a matter of seconds, his motions blur into blueish flashes. The once-immortal body consumed by Amaterasu.
Pain's attempts to follow him are futile, as Sasori's head thuds to the ground — their last shinobi dies with only a quick swipe of his blade.
Konan attempts to move or use her papers, but the rods prevent her from doing so.
Then, in a blink of an eye, the Uchiha appears before her.
Nagato screams, "Konan," abandoning his disguise, and begins to float towards her in a frenzy manner. However, it becomes clear that this was a ploy to ensnare him, as the Uchiha's clone swiftly materializes above Nagato and thrusts a rod into his back, forcefully bringing him crashing down to the ground.
Sasuke takes out another rod from his hand, and throws it to the clone that catches it and slams it down into Nagato again. Fully paralyzed him.
In a puff of smoke, the clone then disappears.
"Do you still consider yourself a God, Pain, now that you are properly beneath me?"
"Let her go. Don't touch her, or I promise you, you'll die screaming. I will make an example of—"
The Uchiha grunts mockingly, "Why should I let her go? What purpose would it serve? Is it because you wouldn't get over the pain of losing her—the same pain that you are obsessed with inflicting upon others? Explain to me, Pain, how she is any different from the countless individuals you have tormented." His voice is raising, filled with somber anger, "How is she any different from me or my own children? Why is she worth saving? How many fathers, how many sons have you cut down, killed, and mercilessly sent to their graves? Innocent or guilty, it matters not to you. And yet, here you stand, having the audacity to pass judgment on me? To threaten me?" His eyes seethe with a mixture of anger, resentment, and defiance. "— Pain, tell me."
"Sasuke-kun," The Sannin walks slowly to them, and makes a brief gesture with his palms upturned, placating. "Anger clouds judgment."
Sasuke ignores him, he maintains his eye contact with Nagato, "You speak of the weaponization of suffering, but have you ever considered that the very same weapon can be used against you? Now I ask you, why shouldn't I do the same? After all, you came here seeking my life, the lives of those I hold dear, and to take Obito away as well. Do tell me, have you ever even stopped to think that there might be someone you would sacrifice everything for, just like any other person?"
"We still need eyes on Amegakure to corner Kara, Sasuke." Orochimaru repeats again, but even that doesn't stop the flaring Killing Intent from raging.
Sasuke catches his blade when it flies into his hand, swinging it dangerously near Konan's neck to cause a cut. "What is the purpose of life when there is nothing left to fight for? Are you ready to experience a life devoid of those you hold dear?"
Nagato desperately attempts to manipulate gravity to free himself, or at least to free his other body from the confines of the gravitational prison that holds it captive. However, his efforts prove futile. "Do not lay a hand on her," he warns through gritted teeth. "I will take everything you hold dear, Uchiha."
Sasuke remains unfazed by Nagato's threats, retorting with a cool demeanor, "The key is not to love anything, really. But you have already robbed me of everything. When you thought it was wise to set your eyes—no, Madara's cursed eyes, isn't?—on someone far surpassing your reach."
"Obito is gone, Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke lifts his sword; an air of trepidation fills Nagato's expression; he opens his mouth to scream his pain; and Konan tightly shuts her eyes in anticipation. Yet, to their surprise, the sword smoothly slides back into its sheath. "Consider this day a humbling lesson, a reminder," Sasuke states, his tone clear and cold and… tired, "to not let arrogance blind you. Even the most patient saints would swiftly swat down a wasp without a second thought, should that wasp dare to sting them. Who lives by the sword, dies by it."
Orochimaru's annoyance seeps through his sigh as he peers down at Nagato. "Do you have the slightest interest in preserving that pitiful excuse for a village you call home and keeping it standing for the next four decades?"
In an apartment granted to him by Mei, he finds himself seated, his eyes fixated on the walls, loneliness seeping into his thoughts. Jūgo busies himself in the kitchen, expertly preparing a meal, while Log observes him with an unwavering gaze.
Stepping into the room, Orochimaru carries a notebook with a familiar brown cover - Kaisuke's notebook. "They are in the future, approximately six or seven years from now," he proclaims.
"How are you so sure?"
Sasuke grapples with the knowledge that he single-handedly propelled them into an unknown future. He understands the weight of his actions and the far-reaching consequences they entail. He had intended to protect them, to shield them from the perils of raising a sword or risking their lives. To him, they were mere weapons to be utilized against him. Despite Kaisuke's brilliance, combat was not his forte. And although Sayuri possessed the ability to cover multiple fronts, she was still just one person. Jushiro had proven himself battle-hardened, yet the presence of his vulnerable siblings would undoubtedly serve as a distraction.
Kazui…Kazui was just a boy, a child. His youngest son. His boy. His defiant, brilliant son.
He thinks of him and his eyes burn him.
He should have become numb to this feeling by now, considering the countless losses he has endured over the years. People taken from him, lives fading away without mercy. The pain shouldn't grip him as strongly as it does, but perhaps there is nothing quite like the anguish of losing a child. It is an experience he had never truly faced until now. Yet, his kids are safe, even if they are not by his side. What between them is long, bitter, years.. but it's for the best. He knows. As long as there's a sword in his hand and a battle awaits him, they can never be safe with him.
He would have to adjust to a home devoid of Kaisuke's infectious laughter, Jushiro's biting sarcasm, Sayuri's dry puns, and Kazui's smug Clinginess.
The door to the apartment crashes open, Suigetsu storming in with an air of urgency. "Is it true?" he exclaims, carelessly discarding his sword. The mud and water stains on his clothes suggest he had been engaging in his usual practice of sparring with his brother, trading blows with swords before the snake reached him
"Yes," Jūgo replies, eyeing Sasuke carefully.
"Damn it." He violently kicks a nearby stool, sending it away. Inquiringly, he directs his gaze towards Sasuke before questioning, "are we gonna follow them?"
The question withers out to silence
He had been so careful. Yet he had been so close to losing them. He can only suffocate in assumption, implication. Something about his anger feels automatic. He closes his eyes, recalling the way Kaisuke explains to him how he figured out how time travel works. He replays the memory of it, and he replays the memory of the moment before the fight. The first time, they swirled the tomoe carefully and sharply counterclockwise—which means to the past. Then, when they tried to send the stool into the future, it showed up three days later. He tightens his grip. He sees it. His finger switches as he counts the number, then he opens his eyes. No Sharingan.
"Sasuke.?"
"No."
"The fuck you mean no?"
"It's for the better, six or seven years — yes," he looks at Orochimaru. "I see it now, you are right. Now that the fools that caused the fourth shinobi war have been eliminated, it is an opportune moment to address the imminent threats. We can now shift our attention towards other adversaries, such as those Kara. Do not forget that Kaguya is still alive. We need Obito back."
"Sasuke—"
"I know, they're fine. I'll even go check on them myself, of course. It's best for them to stay far away from all the chaos. As for Zetsu, we still have no clue where he is. If the kid was there, they would've been caught just like Obito, and there wouldn't have been a chance for any of you to do anything before it's too late."
"You can't just throw the kids into some space-time hol—"
"I can, I already did. Speaks no more of it."
The dimension he finds himself in is similar to Kamui's, although it doesn't seem to have the same tangible qualities. Maybe because he doesn't have his Sharingan anymore.
"Well, holy shit, buddy … you got caught." One of the two white Zetsu says.
The other gazes at him, mussing, "They've taken your Sharingan."
Obito slumps back, his palms crashing against his face with a jarring thud. The abrupt noise startles them, prompting one of them to confiding towards the other in a stage whisper, "He's lost it again."
The other acknowledges this with an incomprehensible hum of agreement.
Obito parts his fingers just enough to expose his eyes as he locks a piercing gaze onto them. Shock, then cold anger boils over him. He then volleys back, "Have you been bullshitting me this entire time?"
"Mmm. No?"
"Yes, you did!"
"To you? Never!"
"That would be silly, silly."
"Yeah, totally."
The other nods, his smile nervously disguised as he exchanges a furtive glance with his companion. Obito feels something within him snap.
In an instant, Sayuri's kunai materializes in his hand, and he swiftly propels himself towards them with an intense anger.
But then, a corporeal, shadow-like being becomes intertwined within his very essence, contorting within his stomach and constricting his insides — Black Zetsu. "They've unsealed you," he remarks, exerting his muscles as his bones strain under the force. "I'll need to rectify that."
A portal appears right in front of Obito's eyes before the space around him plunges into darkness. He glimpses a lone, hauntingly familiar Sharingan through the momentary crack. In an instant, Black flames blanket them and wholly swallow them.
Obito screams.
When Obito finally regains consciousness, his gaze falls on an unfamiliar ceiling. Unlike the complex, cracked design of Orochimaru's hideout, this one is constructed from rough stone. Curiosity tinged with trepidation, he tries to sit up. He feels a throbbing pain emanating from his left eye.
Obito lifts up his hand to touch it, confirming the presence of a bandage.
The room, coloured in shades of gray and blue, is furnished with more than his own at the previous underground hideout but lacks any personal touches. However, his eyes gravitate towards a familiar sight—a black coat hanging on the walls, the only token of familiarity in this unknown place.
Half of his body is swathed in tightly-wrapped bandages. As his eyes trace the lines of the bandages, he recalls the sensation of the black flames —Amaterasu— enveloping him, the searing pain, and the spiteful hope that Black Zetsu had been eradicated in the process. He desperately wishes for it to be true.
So, it's true. He had been a plaything for Madara, for Zetsu, for whoever else was there. "Damn it."
Turning his head, Obito's eyes settle on a half-opened door, welcoming a cool gust of breeze into the room. idly, he steps closer and pushes it open, revealing Sasuke perched on the balcony. In his hands, a sword glints under the careful strokes of a sharpening whetstone. Beyond Sasuke, the bleak-colored rooftops of Kiri stretch out, painting a melancholic backdrop.
Haloed beneath the mist-flattered sunlight, he's all sharp edged with only one sleeve that hangs empty and sways gently with the caress of the wind. Sasuke doesn't move, nor does he acknowledge him, but there's something smober about his posture, about the coldness of his gaze.
Obito forces himself to get closer. "Is it dead?"
"It sank somewhere." Sasuke replies tonelessly.
"Pain?"
A half-sneer, "he just had lost his godhood, and got humbled."
At that, Obito pauses.
His gaze sweeps across the surroundings, taking in the scene of a lazy Kiri morning.
The mist gently blankets the landscape, adding a touch of tranquility to the atmosphere. there's an unusual liveliness and relaxation among the people. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and foods wafts through the air, mingling with the joyous laughter of children echoing in the distance. Nearby, swordsmen engage in sparring matches, their grunts and clashing blades filling the air. There's a notable absence of bloodshed and violence.
The Mizukage chopped up four men and hung their corpses on a pole as a sort of reminder the last time he was here.
"Stop it," Sasuke says. He looks to find his deep eyes gazes down at him.
He asks inanely, "Stop what?"
"Blame yourself for others' doing." He pauses, then adds, "most of it yours, yes… but not everything."
Annoyance flickers across his features as he thinks about how the father his brats heedlessly shrug off his feelings, his guilt. A thoughtless consistency. He grins joylessly, "How can I not? It's mostly me who did everything, who played with the strings."
"Guilt is a gaping pit that will swallow you if you keep staring into it for too long. It would make you usable, weak, easy to manipulate." Standing tall, Sasuke reaches out and firmly grabs his face, angling it upwards to meet his gaze. "I need your help, Obito. The entire shinobi world is rotten to its core, it always has been. Yes. It's just how things are. A messed up world will always produce messed up men. But that's not our only problem, there are also things like Zetsu and other things that we need to take care of."
The older man tugs his bandage away from his face, and Obito flinches instinctively, only to discover that his Sharingan has returned, pulsating within his skull. The world around him transforms into a vivid spectacle, more intense and vibrant than the dull perception granted by the previous pair of eyes they had given him.
Then, as Sasuke's Sharingan spins, the world around them undergoes a dramatic transformation. The sky takes on a vibrant green hue resembling lush grass, while the stony floor below them turns into sand with a surprising shade of pink. His enhanced vision allows him to discern the details of their surroundings with striking clarity. It's not a genjutsu; it's a memory.
He notices a man who bears a striking resemblance to Kakashi, his face partially obscured by a mask. Blood drips from his jounin flak jacket; his gray hair is matted with a mixture of sweat and dirt. Then, his eyes fall on a young teenager with Minato's familiar features, albeit with a more boyish and sun-kissed visage.
Further ahead, a girl with vivid pink hair exudes a vibrant green chakra, fiercely determined as she attempts to heal a man who, with a pang of realization, he recognises as his future self—older and battle-worn. And there, standing beside them, is a boy who possesses the unmistakable Uchiha resemblance, similar to Kaisuke but radiating vitality and pride — Sasuke.
But what draws his attention most is the woman with Sharingan eyes—the shared enemy they have all confronted and fought against. In a surge of memories, he sees the sacrifices made to bring her down, including his own life.
The scene abruptly shifts once again. Obito finds himself in a dimly lit bar, where an older and wearier Kakashi sits before him. This time, Kakashi's face lacks the customary mask, revealing a sorrowful feature. To his surprise, Kakashi is adorned with a goofy-looking wig that resembles Rin's hair, accentuating the deep purple markings of her clan beneath his bloodshot, melancholic eyes.
A set of fangs are peeking from his lips, forming a bittersweet smile, directed not at himself but at Sasuke.
"They're coming, and they're more dangerous than Kaguya ever was. It's not just Konoha, Sasuke. It's the entire world. This enemy doesn't care about borders or allegiances. They only care about destruction. Either we unite to battle them or we die, like Naruto. Ideology is irrelevant in this great war; what matters is survival."
He slips a scroll with a slashed headband towards him. "You know what the best choice is, Sasuke."
The vision disappears, showing Kiri gray sky. There's only the ghost of Sasuke's fingers on his face as he snaps his eyes open.
Obito peers at the back of the Uchiha, noticing the conspicuous absence of the clan's crest. Sasuke leans over the balcony to peer at the village below.
"Kakashi," Obito mutters quietly. "What was he for you?"
"Kakashi," Sasuke whispers with a hint of disdain. He reluctantly admits that perhaps, somewhere beneath it all, he does still care for him. Kakashi had been more than just a teacher; he had been Sasuke's protector. "My Jōnin instructor." He says, equivalently cryptic, flickering his gaze fleetingly over to Obito. He turns around again, gazing up at the purple-gray horizon.
"I pity him sometimes," Sasuke whispers to himself. "Trapped in a life of following and obeying, my old sensei, forever confined within breakable boundaries."
"That sounds like him." Obito's laughter escapes his lips, choked and bitter. With a heavy heart, he joins Sasuke by the balcony, his smile faint and sad. He feels a painful twinge in his chest, an ache he wishes to deny. He doesn't want to know, not really, but he craves honesty.
"What happened next?" Obito whispers, like a prayer. His knuckles whitens against the rail, "And what led up to this? Please, tell me."
Sasuke presses his mouth into a tight frown. The question hung unanswered for a long while, but then, with a sense of wistfulness, he answered him, every asked and unasked question.
He spoke aimlessly, weaving tales of his experiences and memories with Kakashi, his team, and even … Naruto.
Sasuke's words trickle out as murmurs, sharing whatever comes to his mind without a filter. He delved into the aftermath of the war, the world's journey to heal, his peaceful life on the island, and even about Itachi, who turned out to be his brother.
The idea that the shameless, lazy, make-out paradise-reader Kaisuke is actually related (a nephew, no less!) to the devout, pious and socially awkward Itachi is so ridiculous that it makes him burst into an inappropriate cackle. He just can't wrap his head around the thought of having family gatherings at the Uchiha house, where the stark difference in personalities is bound to clash.
Sasuke even snorts at his comment. Although when he learned about the porn reading's part, his eye twitched a little.
Before they realize it, they find themselves in the kitchen, surrounded by the comforting hum of the refrigerator.
As Obito watches Sasuke go through the motions of cutting vegetables, something inside him twists and crumbles. It is a painfully familiar sight— nostalgic, even.
Like a bystander observing from the sidelines; he observes silently as the Uchiha retrieves ground beef from the packed shelves, placing it in a mixing bowl. Absent-mindedly, Sasuke seasoning the meat with salt, pepper, and various aromatic spices.
The semblance of normalcy strikes a chord deep within Obito's heart. It reminds him painfully of the Namazaki household, after they had completed their first C-rank mission. Minato had taken charge of the cooking duties while Kushina had attempted to help, although not really doing much. At that moment, their team had been whole - him, Rin, and... Kakashi. They had been alive, untouched by the horrors that awaited them, their bond unbroken, and Kakashi hadn't yet earned the title of "friend-killer"
He leans over the kitchen island, folding his hands on the table and watches with mild interest the man dividing the meat into equal portions, he molds each portion into a patty, delicately pressing the meat between his hand and the cutting board.
"What are you making?" He asks. Just to stop the memories from swallowing him, although part of him is genuinely curious.
"A burger."
"Kaisuke mentioned it once." Obito muses. He then raises an eyebrow, suspicious. "Why are you burning the charcoal?"
Sasuke lets out a sigh, "to make charcoal oil. It's charcoal and virgin oil— to give the burger a smoky flavor."
"Is that even healthy?"
Sasuke grunts. "A few drops won't kill you."
Breaking the calm silence, he musters the courage to speak up, "Can I ask you something?"
Without missing a beat, the response comes curtly, "You're already asking, so get to the point."
Rude. Obito grumbles. He gazes at the fire, then at the mist outside the window. He feels something ugly inside him. "Did you ever forgive Itachi for what he did?"
Sasuke tales, obviously, were narrated with restraint, sparing the gruesome details. Instead, it delved into the depths of motivation, exposing Danzō's schemes and the Hokage's impotence in the face of it all. It revealed how Konoha swept their own brutality under the rug, hiding it beneath a facade of righteousness.
Sasuke comes to a momentary halt, his knife gliding effortlessly through the tomatoes as he fixates on their succulent flesh. After a silent contemplation, he breaks the silence with a toneless voice. "I think I understand his perspective," he admits. "Just like my brother, I would not hesitate to set the world ablaze if it meant protecting my family. It seems our inclination towards extremes is inherent in our nature. He made his decision, and he chose wrongly."
"That's not an answer."
"Probably I never truly forgive him for the choices he got to make, but I forgive him for the ones he didn't get to make. There was a moment when I thought I had forgiven him utterly. But that doesn't mean I don't still love him. I love him with all my heart, no matter what he did. He may have betrayed me, but he's still my brother, my blood… maybe that is not enough, but for now it is."
There's a certain twisted logic to it all.
Obito still hates Kakashi, but at the same time, he kind of doesn't. He reminisces about the good old days back at home, nostalgically, wistfully, foolishly. He can't help but think about how he used to try to be friends with Kakashi and how Rin always stepped in to prevent them from breaking into a fight.
He is utterly alone, consumed by bitterness and anger towards both himself, his former companions, and the village that once claimed to be his own.
There's a deep-seated anger within him, directed towards his once sensei. It's a constant, unyielding blaze that defies conventional reasoning. He struggles to find a logical explanation for this conflicting sentiment. It's as if many different things exist simultaneously within him.
He recognizes that he can never be the Sasuke of his own story, not even a fraction of it. Yet, if he were to draw parallels, he sees Minato and Kakashi as the Itachi figures in this alternate storyline.
They bear the weight of his resentment and anger, just as Itachi did in Sasuke's sob story.
His love for them, in a twisted way, persists despite his unwillingness to forget or forgive them, concealed beneath layers of anger.
He stares up at the imposing structure of Kirigakure, his palm pressed against the chilling surface. "Madara's gone, finally for good... Zetsu's probably done for. How the hell am I supposed to carry on without seeking revenge? The idea of it is eating me up inside; it's the only thing on my mind." He lets out a half-sobbed, strangled chuckle. "Y'know, it's like when you mention Danzō's name and your blood pressure instantly goes through the roof. But hey, you're fortunate because you have the ability to take him out, and nobody could really prevent you from doing so. And who knows? Maybe no one would even find out if you did. So why is he still breathing after all the havoc he's caused? The agony and misery that your family has experienced because of him!"
The mouth-watering aroma fills the kitchen.
Sasuke looks him in the eyes, his fierce stare weighing heavily. In the face of that penetrating gaze, Obito resists the urge to flinch. Sasuke finally speaks out, his voice filled with a silent, biting malice. "It isn't not enough to kill him. Not even close. First, I need to make an example of this rat, to strip him out of his dignity and honor. I have all the team and means to do so. This time, however, I can enjoy it thoroughly."
He puts the meat on top of the veggies and the bun, then adds the cheese and watches it melt before slapping on another bun. He then glances at him, "If you're asking me this to figure out where you stand with your former team, I suggest you just forget about it. It's totally okay to keep those memories of people who have hurt you - don't let anyone tell you otherwise. So, if you can't stand your sensei or hate Kakashi, it's fine. You'll eventually figure out how you want to handle them and find your own way to move on.."
"And what would be the point?"
Sasuke slides the thing he called a burger across the table to him, "Finding peace, I suppose."
Obito pauses. He takes a chopsticks, which earned him an amused look from Sasuke that slightly disturbed him. "Did you find peace?"
There's a silence, then Sasuke murmurs, "for a time, I did." While he shows him how to hold the burger with one hand.
Obito mimics him carefully but with two hands, and before he takes a bite of the foreign food made of absurd amounts of tomatoes and cheese, he asks again, "Now that we're best buds, do I get to join your merry crew?"
Despite their best efforts, their search for Zetsu leads to nothing but frustration. The slippery creature always manages to slip through their fingers.
Tired of playing a fruitless game, Sasuke's spiteful wisdom compelled him to take drastic measures. He boldly entered Kaguya's Dimension, ready to confront her. In their encounter, Kaguya mocks him, although with a shivering smile on her face, revealing the dark secrets of her twisted lineage, and threatening the lives of all. Even hers.
She made a fervent demand to be unsealed.
"He's coming for you," her words spilled out, her smile revealing a madness tinged with fear and foreboding. She tried to mark them with Karma, but they callously left her grumbling in frustration.
Her life was a macabre present for Orochimaru and Kaisuke to toy with when Kaisuke's pops up again in exactly six and a half years from now.
Over the course of four years, he went on a ton of wild adventures with Sasuke, jumping between different dimensions and exploring crazy new worlds. Normally, they lived in Kiri, thanks to Jūgo and Suigetsu being there, only sending him updates whenever they found something interesting. Despite Sasuke's reserved nature, there is a certain fascination in observing him. The rare moments when he does open up or display emotions remain etched in memory, such as the instance when he woke up after being consumed by flames. Yet, since that fateful event, a silence has descended upon him. He communicates mainly through grunts and growls, revealing little through spoken words.
In their fifth year together, an unforeseen event unfolded, casting a grim shadow over Sasuke.
Returning from another journey; they were greeted by a Kiri ANBU member waiting in their vacant apartment. "Uchiha-sama, the Mizukage requires your assistance. Immediately."
It was evident from the ANBU's demeanor that this request went beyond the Mizukage's usual flattery interactions with Sasuke.
It turned out that one of the Fourth Mizukage's allies, a royal descendant, had conspired with the local mafia to utilize the Kaguya clan as pawns in a ruthless campaign against other clans. Tragically, many clans had fallen victim to this orchestrated massacre. The ulterior motive was to hinder his brother's relationship with the new Mizukage, thereby hindering any chance of fostering a cooperative relationship with the village.
The snow on the island glistened with a chilling hue of pink, tainted by the frozen blood that had stained it. Kiri's shinobis were tirelessly confronting the mafia presence, and Sasuke took it upon himself to personally eliminate any remaining members.
Under three days, The conspirators were completely wiped out.
A massive memorial site had been prepared to pay homage to the fallen victims, their bodies respectfully gathered in a solemn ceremony. The poignant scene unfolded as grieving families embarked on boats, carefully releasing them into the harsh waves. In a ritualistic tribute, archers set the boats ablaze, casting a haunting glow against the dusky sky that had been tinged with shades of gray by the billowing smoke.
Mei, stands on the bleak shore, her countenance marked by a somber gaze, dedicated seven hours to bear witness to the boats sinking into the waters one by one. Her hand repeatedly clutches and unclutches. Ao stands right behind her, grim-eyed.
Standing atop a solitary hill, Obito surveys the somber scene as the mist slowly enshrines the harsh waves. He ponders if any of the lives he had taken had been granted the dignity and respect they deserved after death.
"Where's your guardian?" Ao asks him. There is none of his usual snobby tone.
Obito clicks his tongue disapprovingly, muttering, "he's not my — never mind." He casts a fleeting glance at the eyepatched man, remarking, "He's been aimlessly roaming the woods."
He comes with two different explanations for this. The first involves blaming himself for not being present at that moment. The second, and perhaps more reasonable and in-character, is maybe he is having a flashback of his own clan massacre.
The man hums, noncommittal.
They gaze down at Mei standing on the shore, steadfast. Her vibrant red hair ripples in the wind. The waves crash against her to her waist.
Gazing up at the grim expanse of the dusky sky, Sasuke finds his vision obscured by a veil of mist and falling snow. The air carries a chill, though it pales in comparison to the rigidness he once experienced within Kaguya's Dimension.
Thin snowflakes sink into his hair and melt.
He walks over blood stains, still frozen upon the ground and mingled with mud. The charred remains of houses stand soberly down the hill. He only glances over it once before walking back to the village.
The surprise of the massacre is truthfully and only skin-deep. It's the timing that caught him off guard. He grimaces.
that he acknowledges them with an automatic nod. His eyes however catch a pair of brown eyes, a familiar sight of a boy standing near the frozen lake, with only knee-length pink kimono to cover him and grayish pants. Barefoot even. His black hair is down his shoulder as the snowflakes sinks into his hair and melts into it. He breathes, and a ghost of fog appears before him. Like a ghost the boy doesn't look at anyone.
Sasuke traverses the path lined with towering, bare trees, and observes the people around him. Some walk with purpose, while others offer prayers to the spirits residing within the ancient, black trees. He receives bows of respect and whispers of "Uchiha-sama," to which he instinctively responds with a nonchalant nod of acknowledgment.
A rift in the mist allows sunlight to seep through, the golden rays gradually lose their brilliance and turn into a soft silver hue. It is at this very moment that his eyes capture the haunting presence of a ghost near the frozen lake. Abruptly, he freezes mid-stride, and even those observing him pause in unison, murmuring to one and another.
There stands a boy near the frozen lake, clad in a knee-length pink kimono and grayish pants, his feet bare against the cold ground. Black hair falls down his shoulders, heavy with snowflakes that don't melt.
The boy breathes, and a faint ghostly fog forms before him. The boy remains oblivious to the surroundings or the people suddenly watching them, his gaze fixated on no his misty reflection.
Without a moment's thought, Sasuke's voice breaks the silence as he calls out, "Haku."
In response, Haku's wide eyes, filled with fear, meet his gaze through the mist.
Although the boy takes a step back, he swiftly materializes before him.
"Calm down, boy."
"How do you know my name?"
Sasuke hesitates, for a second he regrets his thoughtless intervention.
He locks his gaze onto the young boy before him, no older than seven, who stands there shivering in threadbare garments ill-suited for the harsh weather. The boy's bare feet, blue and purple, make contact with the uneven ground, completely vulnerable. Smudges of smoke that had not been washed off his face were still clinging.
Sasuke scans the surroundings, observing the stillness of the forest. The air hangs heavy with silence; the villagers who moments ago praying and whispered about the beheaded outlaws have now discovered a distraction more interesting.
"Where is your family?"
The boy's shoulders slump down, while looking at his feet.
Suddenly, Sasuke unfastens his cloak and throws it over his shoulders as he becomes annoyed by the onlookers' growing whispers. Haku blinks in astonishment, unable to utter a word before the world around them shifts, transporting them both to an unfamiliar dwelling.
"Stay here," Sasuke commands, gently guiding Haku towards a fireplace that meagrely radiates faint embers.
Within moments, the doors swing open to reveal a masked man striding lazily towards him. The man's gaze fixes upon him briefly, seemingly surprised by his presence. He makes a vague salute, "Hey there, buddy!"
Following closely behind is Mei, the Mizukage, who shuts the door behind her. Then her gaze falls upon him, and she instinctively freezes in her tracks. Haku stands alertly, the once-warm black cloak slipping from his shoulders and landing on the floor.
"Easy there, easy." The man takes the cloak and drops it back over his shoulder.
At that very moment, the owner of the cloak returns, carefully balancing a tray with a steaming cup of tea and a rich-smelling, hot meal.
A pang of forgotten hunger growls through his gut
He places it in front of him and commands again, "eat."
He then glances at the masked man, "watch over him."
"Okay."
Mei maintains a solemn silence, yet her expression implies that she has pieced together the unfolding situation.
She settles onto the sofa, positioning herself away from the fireplace, away from where Obito and the orphaned child engage in a conversation—more of Obito's rambling and the boy shyly nodding in response.
Sasuke, positioned in front of her, observes the scene intently before finally refilling his cup and fills hers. "Where did you come across him?"
"Near the God's forest."
"Who is he?"
"A Yuki."
"Orphaned?"
"Not sure of that yet."
"I believe they're gone," she responds, her voice filled with an undertone of sadness. "The scouts have been unable to find any trace of their presence or what might remain of them."
He hums, taking a sip.
She looks at the ill-fated boy. She suddenly has no pride, no pleasure, nothing. There's a sour taste in her mouth. "Should have listened to your warning." Mei says.
Their eyes meet, and in that moment, she realizes that his hair has grown longer, its disarray lending a certain charm to his appearance. In the dim light cast by the crackling fireplace, he seems more strikingly handsome, revealing a side of him that she had never seen before—a glimpse of unusual vulnerability.
Denying her any opportunity to ask or act on the impulse to kiss his cold lips, he takes another deliberate sip, his gaze steady. In a low, murmured tone, he declares, "I have a plan." He sets the empty cup down and gazes at her. "To get the village to stop relying on the court, we need to find different approaches that don't rely on my portals. It's important to deal with their power struggles within the village if we wanna keep the progress.."
Mie leans over, snapping out of her thoughts. "What plan."
He doesn't answer her, only looking at the boys silently.
"What do you expect from me?" Obito whines, partially to irritate Sasuke, but also with genuine curiosity all while he explores Sasuke's mindscape—a white shore with a glaring black sun.
Sasuke glances at him and lets out an exasperated breath. "The founder of Gatō company..."
"Yes, I heard you the first time," Obito grumbles, "but what I want to know is why?"
"In the Wave. He's involved in drug dealing, human trafficking, and smuggling," Sasuke explains. "I need you to take whatever measures necessary to redeem him." And with that, the mindscape dissipates.
"You're just rude by nature, which explains why your daughter is a witch." Obito yells after him, "Is that like some kind of cheesy way to impress Mei and get into her pants?"
He grins when he turns to glare at him.
From his perch on the walls, Obito watches mindlessly as a plump, short businessman engages in contract negotiations with the Mizukage. Haku and Kimimaro (who Jūgo was oddly overjoyed to take him in) flank him, observing the scene with equal interest. Obito absentmindedly twirls a lollipop in his mouth, thinking of a way to traumatize Bakashi once and for all.
That evening, at the bar that Team Taka and their brood considered their territory, Mei enters. It's at the point in the night where the noise is hardly a noise. The crowd is idle, close-pressed, whispering thickly into their drinks. Suigetsu, tipsy, swings an arm over Sasuke's shoulder, laughing with a cluster of known faces at something Kisame said.
Mei spots him first; she walks, approaches grinning. A lamplight gleams against her red hair. The room fell into a hushed silence.
Sasuke's head tilts in reflex in time as she leans in and presses her lips against his. Without permission, without hesitation or warning, she kisses him deeply, ferociously. Tongue and teeth. Her hand spreads against the small of his back.
Obito instinctively reaches out, covering Haku's eyes, shielding him from the shameless display. "Don't look, Haku-chan. These people, I swear, got no shame."
Unfazed, Jūgo absentmindedly extends his hand, effortlessly snapping Suigetsu's jaw back into place without taking his eyes off the scene, while Kimimaro offers Mangetsu a tissue to wipe away his bleeding nose.
Following what became known as the "Year of the Last Blood," their movements between destinations decreased significantly, often lasting no more than three months. This was primarily to monitor their new charges and remain vigilant for any time-traveling troublemakers, whose arrival drew nearer with each passing day.
He spent his time constantly cockblocking Mei to toughen her up for the real deal, which is none other than Kazui Uchiha. He's also back to his goofy scheme of bringing down Konoha higher-ups' dignity by slipping copies of Make-Out Paradise into their financial reports to the capital or on their foreign affairs exchange scrolls.
There's a sick satisfaction in watching Minato crumble under shame and confusion.
True to his word, Sasuke exposed Danzō's true nature, stripping him of his dignity and honor.
The evidence he reveals with Orochimaru's spies help leaves no room for doubt, making it visible to all.
Surprisingly, Minato does not falter or hesitate. In a shocking turn of events, he decisively beheads Danzō, disregarding the former hokage's pleas, presenting an unexpected resolution before the eyes of the onlookers.
And unknowingly, the Hokage saved himself and earned Sasuke's respect.
Kaisuke lies on the ground, groaning, "what the fuck Oto-san."
He stays still for a moment, clouds-gazing. His Sharingan flickers to replay the memory of his father, rather stupidly and selfishly, forming the portal to throw them into.
He knows for sure the portal, like the stool's experience that knocked Jushiro out, leads to the future, but way further ahead than what he expected.
This swirling portal was far unstable. It pushes him into a different place while his siblings end up somewhere else. Well, at least they're in the same time period, which means his father didn't totally screw things up.
Kaisuke reluctantly acknowledges that the experience at hand is pretty interesting. Trying to keep a record of his thoughts, he digs into his jacket and grabs his notebook, all set to jot down his observations. But then, to his surprise, instead of the brown cover he was expecting, he's faced with the bright, eye-catching neon green of the sixth edition Make-Out Paradise. "Now I feel so stupid."
He gets on his feet, slightly lightheaded and hungry. He checks his clothes to make sure he has all his stuff. He's got his phone, but it's pointless right now. Not in this era at least. A copy of Make-Out Paradise. Again, useless.
His weapon pouch, at least, is there. He retrieves a storage scroll. Carefully unsealing it to unveil his prized sword. The blade remains clad in white bandages, within its black leathery baldric; A kiri-made stainless steel. It was a gift from his father, given to him prior to the ambush.
He takes a moment to fully take in the beauty of the sword in his hands. While he may not possess the same level of skill in swordplay as Sayuri or the natural talent for ninjutsu that Jushiro possesses, he can still appreciate a finely-crafted blade when he sees one. He knows that his father understood this when he presented him with this gift. It's really heartwarming, honestly, he would even get emotional if it wasn't for the fact that he's in the middle of what used to be their house, now all destroyed.
He pauses momentarily. Kaisuke bites his finger, drawing blood. He summons his snakes, "Hey there, guys! I need your help - we gotta locate my brothers and pops. It'd be amazing if you could step up and save the day. Seriously, any one of them would do the trick."
The snake hisses.
Kaisuke wails, "What the fuck— kiri! Why? All of them? Even Oro-sensei?"
It hisses again.
"Okay cool, cool, cool." Kaisuke crouches down, folding his hands in front of him, "What now?"
The snake climbs up his arm, slithering around his neck, and hisses. Kaisuke pauses, "That's so typical! How disappointing."
He swings the sword and slips it through the baldric over his shoulder. "led the way, sweetie."
He stumbles upon a nearby town. Despite his lack of money, he feels no remorse for deftly relieving unsuspecting men of their wallets. He takes enough to get him to any of Orochimaru's hideouts, or even to kiri.
Flopping onto a nearby table, he requests a sandwich and coffee. He then casually asks the elderly waitress, "By the way, I seem to have lost my bearings. Can you tell me where we are?" Taking a bite of the sandwich.
"Akaigawa, darling."
Akaigawa is far away from the hideout. He grimaces.
Mindlessly tapping the cover of his book, he asks again, "what year? I mean since the last war.?"
She pauses her wiping, throwing the towel over her shoulder. "Erm..Seven years, I suppose?"
"Okay, thanks."
He takes another bite, sipping the coffee. He only hopes that Kazui is not alone. In any case, he's going to summon all the snakes to find them after restoring his strength.
"I see you are a man of culture" a man speaks, positioned on the nearby table, gesturing vaguely towards the book. Kaisuke glances over, finding an elderly man with long white hair, his eyes playfully half-closed as he grins curiously at him.
"I'm a big fan, actually. Much to my old man's dismay." Kaisuke says, taking a sip of the coffee. He pauses, and then adds, "Now, thinking about it, I'm a bigger fan. I will read this shit in public. Serves him right."
The old man re-angels himself to face him, "Is this a special edition?"
"Nah, just the regular version. The sixth."
"No way, the sixth book? That's so cool! I totally missed reading it. Can I check it out?."
Kaisuke hands it over to him,"Sure."
While the old man flips through the pages, Kaisuke removes a slice of tomato from his sandwich, offering it to his snake.
Just then, the man closes the book with an unreadable gesture, gently thudding its spine against the table. "It's intriguing," he remarks, "You actually have a version of the story that hasn't been published yet, a story that hasn't even been written."
Kaisuke pauses, allowing the snake to climb into his nick. He dismisses with a flick of his hand, "Yeah, don't tell anyone, the author is my neighbor."
"I'm the author." Jiraiya says, eyeing the snake of Ryūchi Cave, "what are you, boy?"
Kaisuke pauses again, suddenly more alert than ever. He licks his lips, smiles, and shunshines away.
He appears outside of the town, and leans against the tree, "well, fuck." As the man appears easily before him.
"An Uchiha, with a snake of Ryūchi Cave." Jiraiya hums, putting his book in his weapon pouch, "perhaps one of Orochimaru's victims, or a son of a traitor? Maybe you were snatched away as a kid? But that doesn't fully explain everything. Forget it, it doesn't matter. You're coming along with me."
With caution, Kazui slowly opens his eyes.
To his surprise, Jushiro is again beneath him, but this time, there are no complaints or pained growls. Instead, the older boy looks up at the sky with a clenched jaw.
"Aniki?"
Jushiro lets out a weary groan and his hand brushes over his own leg, where the puppeteer's ninja wire had left its poisonous mark. "Take it easy, kid. Just stretching out," he replies, trying to pacify Kazui's concern.
By merely being a snake summoner, Jushiro's bloodstream boasts a resilience to most toxins, even those synthesized by man. However, there are occasions where he is not entirely immune, particularly when faced with a potent or unfamiliar poison. Presently, his leg hangs weakly, while a slight heat courses through his body, leaving him feeling mildly fatigued. He creeps over a wall to lean over it.
"Kid, listen up." Jushiro says, as Kazui balances himself to be by his side, "look around and tell me where we are."
Kazui stares at him, then nods determinedly. His footsteps grow heavy as he walks through the dilapidated ruins, his weariness becoming more evident with each passing moment. Despite his efforts to search for any signs or clues, all he finds are the faint outlines of familiar serpent-like statues engraved on the walls. His gaze lands on a nearby river, its course veering into the unknown.
A shiver of fear runs down his spine as he detects numerous chakra signatures rapidly approaching their location. Even Jushiro's usually composed system appears to be grappling with an unsettling struggle for reasons yet unknown.
He runs to his brother, and finds his face sickly pale, with sweat dripping down from his forehead. His eyes are unfocused, yet he mutters, "Kazui, did you find anything?"
"Aniki," Kazui urgently whispers, reaching for Jushiro's weapon pouch and retrieving a kunai, "someone is coming."
Jushiro's eyes snap open, and he quickly adjusts his posture to a sitting position. In a flash, Konoha's ANBUs soundlessly appear before them.
"Gentlemen," Jushiro addresses them as his hand instinctively pulls Kazui closer to his side, disguising any weakness he may be feeling, "to what do we owe the displeasure of this sudden, unwanted visit?"
A man wearing a dog-like mask tilts his head and speaks, "This is what remains of Orochimaru's hideout, a missing-nin from Konoha. And you are one of the drifters who was present during the night of the Kyuubi attack." He pauses, as two members of the ANBUs, one with a weasel-like mask and the other with a crow-like mask, stand upright, tensing. Jushiro doesn't have to glance at his brother to know that his Sharingan is fixed on them.
The crow declares, "And that child is an Uchiha."
Jushiro quietly mutters under his breath, "Oh, fuck me."
— So, basically, my outline for this chapter was all about life in Konoha without Danzo. My plan was to kick off the chapter with some of the kids hanging around Konoha's doorstep. But, ya know, things kinda went a different way. I had to do some serious reading on Sasuke's jutsu to really understand what I was writing about. It's my first time tackling parts like this, so I wanted to make sure I got it right. I really hope I didn't downplay any of the other characters, but I still think I portrayed everything realistically. Especially when you consider that Nagato/Pain (in this timeline canonly) is new to this and that Sasuke has that eye with its totally unique fighting style.
— Obito is just goofing around with Minato and Konoha because he knows deep down that his beef is mostly unwarranted, except for his issues with Kakashi. In Obito's head, he still thinks Kakashi is the one who offed Rin, not Madara.
— there is a fanart of my meow meow Kaisuke, I made it with pics.me in the same chapter at ao3 (Azyan)
— Okay, I promise you, the next chapter is gonna be all about Konoha and our favorite little troublemakers, Naruto and Sasuke, having a blast together.
— thoughts? Ideas?