Chapter 22: The Secrets of the Past

The path to the old Uchiha Hideout was quiet, the dense forest muffling their footsteps. Kakashi and Sasuke walked side by side, their journey marked by the occasional rustle of leaves or the distant call of a bird. Kakashi glanced at Sasuke, his lone visible eye studying the boy's tense posture.

"You've been awfully quiet, Sasuke," Kakashi said, breaking the silence. "Something on your mind?"

Sasuke didn't respond immediately. His dark eyes were fixed ahead, his thoughts swirling like a storm. Finally, he spoke, his voice low. "I met with the Sound Four."

Kakashi stopped in his tracks, his body going rigid. "When?"

"Not long ago," Sasuke admitted, his gaze unwavering. "They ambushed me in the village. I fought them... and I lost."

Kakashi's shoulders relaxed slightly, but his voice was firm. "And what did they want?"

"They wanted me to go with them," Sasuke replied, his voice tinged with frustration. "To Orochimaru."

"Yet you didn't." Kakashi's subsequent silence was heavy, the weight of his words and Sasuke's confession sinking in. "Why are you telling me this now?"

"Because I was close to saying yes," Sasuke said, his fists clenching. "I was close to leaving Konoha."

Kakashi resumed walking, his tone softer. "But you didn't."

"No," Sasuke admitted, his pace slower. "I knew Orochimaru wasn't the true path to strength. Itachi didn't need shortcuts like the Curse Mark. I can't follow someone like Orochimaru."

Kakashi nodded, his eye narrowing in thought. "Then why did you even consider it?"

Sasuke's jaw tightened. "Because Naruto is surpassing me."

The words hung in the air, their weight undeniable. Kakashi glanced at Sasuke, his expression unreadable. "Naruto isn't your enemy, Sasuke."

"I know," Sasuke snapped, his frustration boiling over. "But he's training under a Sannin. He's growing stronger, and I... I need to catch up. I need someone who can push me further."

Kakashi sighed. "You're already stronger than you realize. But if you're looking for strength, I'll do what I can to help. That's why we're here."

As they continued their journey, Kakashi began teaching Sasuke techniques to enhance his Sharingan. He demonstrated fire and lightning jutsu, guiding Sasuke through the intricacies of controlling both elements. Sasuke absorbed the lessons with fierce determination, his focus unwavering.

When they finally arrived at the Uchiha Hideout, the air was thick with a sense of history. The once-proud building was now overgrown with vines, its walls cracked and weathered by time. Kakashi and Sasuke entered cautiously, their footsteps echoing in the hollow halls.

Deeper inside, they discovered a hidden staircase leading to an underground chamber. The ruins were dimly lit, the faint glow of moss illuminating ancient carvings on the walls. At the far end of the chamber stood a large stone tablet, its surface covered in incomprehensible writings.

Kakashi lifted his headband, revealing his Sharingan. "Turn on your Sharingan, Sasuke. Let's see if we can make sense of this."

Sasuke activated his Sharingan, the three tomoe spinning in his crimson eyes. As he focused on the tablet, some of the writing became legible. He squinted, his voice steady as he began to read aloud.

"It says... this is the story of the Sage of Six Paths. The story of his two sons and their eternal struggle to right the mistakes of their father."

Kakashi frowned, his Sharingan scanning the tablet. He could only make out fragments of the text. "Sasuke," he said, his voice laced with shock. "Your Sharingan... you're reading far more than I can."

Sasuke's gaze remained fixed on the tablet, his expression unreadable. As he continued to decipher the writing, a vision assaulted his mind.

Sasuke saw two figures, their faces sharp and determined. The Sage of Six Paths' sons, Indra and Asura, clashed in a battle that shook the earth. Asura's ferocious Wood Release golems wrestled with Indra's ethereal projections, their power tearing the landscape apart.

The scene shifted, and Sasuke found himself witnessing the legendary duel between Madara Uchiha and the First Hokage. Madara's chakra radiated like a storm, his Sharingan spinning with eerie precision. Hashirama's Wood Release erupted around them, towering trees and golems battling Madara's Susanoo.

The intensity of the vision was overwhelming, the raw power and hatred leaving Sasuke breathless. His head pounded, and his knees buckled beneath him.

"Sasuke!" Kakashi's voice cut through the haze, but it was too late.

Sasuke collapsed to the ground, his Sharingan fading as his consciousness slipped away. Kakashi rushed to his side, gently shaking his shoulder. "Sasuke, wake up!"

But Sasuke remained unresponsive, his mind consumed by the echoes of the past. Kakashi looked back at the tablet, his unease growing. Whatever Sasuke had seen, it had left a mark—one that could not be easily erased.

Sakura was seated at her desk, flipping through one of the Fuinjutsu scrolls Jiraiya had lent her, when her mother's voice called from downstairs.

"Sakura! There's someone at the door for you."

Frowning, Sakura stood and made her way down, wondering who could be visiting this late. As she opened the door, her breath hitched. Standing there, hands in his pockets, was Sasuke Uchiha.

"Sasuke?" she said, her voice a mixture of surprise and uncertainty. "What are you doing here?"

His dark eyes met hers briefly before flickering away. "Can we talk?"

For a moment, Sakura froze. A few short months ago, this would have been the start of a dream come true. Sasuke, standing at her doorstep, asking for her time. But now... did she still feel the same way? Her chest tightened as she realized she wasn't sure. Her focus had been entirely on her training, her teammates, and her growth. Sasuke had barely crossed her mind.

Still, she nodded, stepping outside. "Sure."

The two walked in silence through the dimly lit streets, the quiet broken only by the soft rustle of leaves in the wind. Sakura stole a glance at Sasuke. He looked serious—more so than usual. She waited for him to speak, her curiosity growing with each passing moment.

Finally, Sasuke broke the silence. "I need your help."

Sakura blinked, caught off guard. "My help?"

He stopped walking, his hand rising to touch his neck. His fingers brushed the faint, sinister markings of the Curse Mark. "This Curse Mark. You agreed to study it, figure out a way to control it. I need you to come with me to meet somebody else."

Sakura stared at him, her mind racing. This was a vulnerable request, one she never expected from Sasuke. He was always so self-reliant, so distant. Yet here he was, opening up to her in a way that felt... genuine.

A small smile tugged at her lips. "Of course," she said softly. "We'll figure this out, Sasuke-kun."

Sakura and Sasuke made their way to a local shinobi bar. The establishment was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of alcohol and the murmur of low conversations. At a corner table, nursing a cocktail, sat Anko Mitarashi.

Her violet hair was tied back messily, and her signature fishnet outfit gave her an air of casual confidence. She looked up as they approached, her lips curling into a smirk.

"Well, well," Anko said, her voice playful. "If it isn't the brooding Uchiha and his little pink-haired friend. What brings you two to my corner of the world?"

Sasuke stiffened slightly, but Sakura stepped forward, her tone polite but firm. "Anko-san, we need your help. Sasuke-kun has a Curse Mark like yours, and I'm trying to study it. If I can figure out how it works, maybe we can find a way to suppress it—or even remove it."

Anko raised an eyebrow, swirling her drink. "You're bold, I'll give you that. Messing with seals like these isn't for the faint of heart." Her eyes flicked to Sasuke, and a sly grin spread across her face. "And here I thought you were just a quiet pretty boy. Didn't know you had an evil streak."

Sasuke scowled, but Sakura barely registered the comment. Her focus was on Anko. "Will you help us?"

Anko leaned back in her chair, considering. "Why should I?"

"Because Jiraiya-sama is involved," Sakura said quickly. "He's mentoring me in Fuinjutsu, and I'll have his guidance every step of the way. Because it's your best shot at finally getting rid of Orochimraru's influence."

Anko's smirk deepened. "Jiraiya, huh? Well, that changes things. I wouldn't mind hearing what the old perv has to say about these marks." She took a sip of her drink, then set it down with a clink. "Alright, I'll help. But don't expect this to be easy—or clean."

Sakura nodded, relief washing over her. "Thank you, Anko-san."

"Don't thank me yet," Anko said, her grin sharp. "You're messing with something Orochimaru created. It's not just dangerous—it's deadly."

As they left the bar, Sakura felt a surge of determination. The road ahead would be challenging, but she was ready. Sasuke had come to her for help, and she wouldn't let him down.