Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

"I'm sorry for causing you pain. You don't even have to forgive me. And no matter what you do from here on now know this, I will love you always" Itachi gave a smile, the one Sasuke remembered from before he committed the massacre, before he was roped into the clan and village mess, when it was just him and his little brother he loved more than anything in the world.

He watched as tears formed in Sasuke's eyes as his soul left his reanimated body to go back and rest in the pure world. The smile never left his face, happy to have got the chance to meet him again as his beloved older brother. His reanimated host body withered away in the air as Sasuke slumped back onto the ground, defeated and lost. It pained him to watch him like that, it seemed that he's at crossroads with himself. It only confirmed for him that there's still a chance after all.

'Naruto, I leave Sasuke to you. Hopefully, you'll be able to bring him back to the light from the darkness.' He thought as he was called back to the pure world. 'Good luck Sasuke. Your aniki will always be with you'

In a blink of an eye, he was at the gates of the pure world. He looked around and saw souls popping up in numbers he couldn't keep count of. He couldn't help but marvel at the sheer number of souls present and the fact that Kabuto controlled them all.

'Glad i was able to release the reanimation jutsu. I hope Kabuto, you learned a valuable lesson in your defeat.' he chastised.

He couldn't help but glance at the other souls. He saw the faces of the complete strangers, but when he glanced around further he could make out some faces he remembers in passing. Some of the comrades he once fought side by side with, and then later, opposite. Looking at them all, he could make out how they had the look of serene and calm.

"Yo danna, look it's the uchiha. Looks like he too kicked the bucket right after us yeah" he heard a familiar voice nearing him, with a twinge of amusement lacing it.

Itachi turned and looked at diedara who looked smug at seeing him, alongside Sasori who seemed to watch him with lack of interest, but Itachi knew he was very much interested in knowing the how.

"Shut up and go die somewhere else" Sasori deadpanned at Deidara, annoyed at his usual antics and he glanced back at Itachi. "Uchiha" he acknowledged with a nod.

"Sasori" Itachi in return gave a nod.

"So, who did you in?" Diedara ask with impatience. Sasori too looked at him for answer, fully knowing that Itachi was one of the stronger members of the Akatsuki.

"Uchiha Sasuke" he answered in a bored toned. At this, Sasori raised an eyebrow- which Itachi thought was eiree since he was used to Sasori as a puppet- not expecting that, but accepted thinking that he must've been strong to kill him as he's never met him. Deidara on the other hand was livid.

"What?" He sputtered out in shock, wide eyed and mouth agape. "That little Uchiha bastard with the same bastard eyes as you managed to survive my suicide blast? And not only that he managed to kill you as well? I don't bloody believe it yeah." he spat out in a hiss. Sasori merely tilted his head in response. "Seems like you're not as good as your reputation says you are huh Uchiha" his tone turned into a mock as he narrowed his eyes at him.

Itachi stayed silent as he continued watching him with his passive face and decided not to validate his immature jab at him with an answer.

"You exploded yourself in a suicide?" Sasori asked baffled, not understanding his reasons for creating this jutsu in the first place.

"Yeah. We both outta have our last ditch jutsu as our own bodies yeah? You with your puppet and me with my explosion." He said as-a-matter-of-fact, which caused Sasori to roll his eyes and murmur 'Ofcource you're an insufferable and a stupid idiotic moron' which went unheard as Deidara continued-

"Cause you know, ART IS AN EXPLOSION!" he exclaimed, mimicking an explosion with his hands and have a very expressive face which was full of amazement and pride.

"Shut up and go die somewhere else you moron" Sasori snapped.

But already Deidara's commotion seemed to have garnered quite an attention from everyone within earshot.

"Sharingan no Itachi" "Clan killer Itachi" "Akatsuki" they could hear murmures and whispers around them.

Everyone around the Akatsuki trio and instinctively took a step back with their disdain and utter dislike openly showing on their face. Deidara scowled watching this happen and opened his mouth to retort-

"Let them be, it matters not who we are once we pass the gate." Sasori decided to interfere.

Deidara humped and shut his mouth as he swallowed his words and calmed himself knowing it was true. As one passes the gates, every sense of identity is stripped off and there is nothing but eternal rest and peace. But that didn't stop him from glowering at others.

"Farewell Uchiha. It seems you're more notorious than all of us combined." Sasori continued on towards another direction. "When will this damned gate open? It's taking too much time" he whispered to himself but both Deidara and Itachi heard him. Deidara rolled his eyes but followed him nonetheless.

He thought he heard Sasori question Deidara 'Why are you following me? I clearly remember I told you to go die somewhere else didn't i?' and subsequently Deidara's incoherent reply but decided not to dwell upon it too much.

With nothing else to do as he watched others mixing and sharing anecdotes about who they faced as a reanimation. Knowing Kabuto, he mused that he must've picked someone close to them and have them fight with their emotions rather than their jutsus. And noting the tone of their voices and ensuing laughters and smiles all around clearly indicated that they were proud even if they tasted defeat.

He couldn't help but frown as he went over the information Kabuto presented. Madara aiming to cast 'Infinite Tsukuyomi' onto the entire world.

And the way he hinted that things weren't exactly going as planned as Madara wanted meant that the man in the mask isn't actually Madara Uchiha as he led himself to believe.

'Whoever he was, was more craftier and resourceful than I gave him credit for. He fooled me all this time. And I thought I was living my whole life full of half truths and lies' he chuckled at himself.

'It matters not now' he shook his head as he reminded himself. 'Either way the war goes, this one is going to be the end of all wars.'

A loud metal sound brought him out of his thoughts as everyone's attention went to the gates to enter the after life which went ajar and then slowly and steadily started opening. He saw that the souls have stopped emerging entirely. 'Everyone must be here then'

'This is it' he thought with a wistful smile on his lips. 'I have many regrets, but it matters not. Mother, Father, Shishui, Sasuke... Izumi, I love you all' he said to himself as he too started walking with everyone.

He saw the souls started entering the gates with a smile etched onto their faces. He watched with awe as they converted into tiny specks of particles in the air of mesmerizing colours as they passed the threshold of the barrier of the gates and vanished inside in vivid patterns almost in glee, never to be seen again.

After waiting and watching the spectacle in anticipation for good few minutes he got nearer and nearer to the gates as his heart started beating faster and faster. He watched many familiar faces vanish in the same mesmerising way as before, but still managing to awe him every single time. The tiny specks of particles are made up of different vibrant colours, each managing to fascinate him beyond anything. His eyes glistened up with tears as he reached the threshold barrier, knowing this is his last moment.

He took a step forward and was going to step in when-

"Uchiha Itachi. You will not pass" a voice stopped him midstep. The words were spoken with such authority that he only ever heard from Pain before. He knew it was not a request but a command.

He immediately looked around but could not discern the one that spoke to him, as everyone else seemed unaware that someone even spoke. He took a step back and moved aside to let others continue ahead, knowing better than to not follow the order. Everyone else gave him a puzzled glances once and twice but he disregarded those like he always did and closed his eyes.

"Who are you?" He asked with curiosity and caution mixed, hoping to get an answer.

"My job is to oversee the pure world. Some refer to me as the shinigami among many things." the voice replied. Itachi's eyes blew open wide in shock as he reeled back a step hearing the reply. He knew of the shinigami ofcourse. But he never thought he'd meet them, and atleast not in these circumstances. He still couldn't see them. He searched around but to no avail.

"You cannot see me. No one here can." He assured him. Itachi nodded in understanding, but soon he started frowning remembering the command. He closed his eyes again, knowing it would make himself feel better to talk to someone with his eyes closed than to remember that he's talking to someone who's not visible.

"Why did you stop me?" He asked with slight annoyance which managed to creep into his voice unintentionally.

"You, Uchiha Itachi will not be allowed in the pure world." Itachi frowned and burrowed his brows at that revelation. "You have committed a great misdeed. Your actions were a violation of one of the important rules of the pure world."

"And what would that be?"

"You sealed away one of the pure world bounded soul. That is not acceptable, nor forgiveable" he answered

"You mean Nagato? I simply had no choice. The caster was using him for his control over life and death"

"That may be, however laws are laws. There is no choice in this matter, neither for you, nor me. I also am bound by these laws. So you will release his soul from the eternal Genjutsu you sealed away him in"

"That is not possible. I do not have the ability to release him from my eternal Genjutsu that i sealed him in." He argued for the sake of argument. But he knew he had no choice and wouldn't like the outcome of this argument.

"You simply have yet to learn it" he dismissed his argument as nothing but a childish tantrum, which irked Itachi a bit. After going through all he went through, he thought he'd be taken a bit seriously, but he supposed in the shinigami's eye he's just a soul that broke a rule. He calmed himself down and tried to analyse the situation.

"Very well. How shall I learn it?" He asked, giving in, knowing that he had no choice in the matter.

"When you return to the world of living, activate your Sussano, with your sealing sword and gourd manifested and then perform the Jutsu signs I tell you. Now listen carefully."

Itachi was reeling from hearing the first statement, which turned into a seething rage as he clenched his teeths and fists. He already died two times and lived his entire life being disgraced and hated. And yet he will have to go through it again? He pushed his thoughts aside to concentrate to the hand signs as he listened to them carefully and committed them to his memory.

It was a complex jutsu with many parts intertwined. Firstly, It summons the shinigami without needing to seal him away. Then the second set of jutsu in the series allows himself control over the release of the souls trapped in his sealing gourd if he chooses so. And third set in the series, the shinigami will grab the soul of Nagato and bring him back to rest in the pure world instead of swallowing him inside it's stomach.

"Now go back. And release him." He bellowed.

"What happens after i release him?" He wanted to clear that part first.

"You will continue to live your pitiful life until you die for the third time. Consider that to be your punishment. Begone"

He didn't have a moment to react and ready himself as he felt a sudden pull on his soul. It stretched and thinned and ballooned him on all places. It was worse than anything he ever felt. He groaned as he felt like air was pushed out of his lungs. He didn't know if he could survive this trip. He was sure he was losing consciousness. He allowed himself to scream as a release for something, but soon even his voice couldn't be heard by him. And with a sudden jerk he blacked out.

Chapter Text

"... I've healed most of it, but it'll need to heal naturally in time. And see, it's just a scratch now, you'll be better in no time. So just rest now" Sakura assured the patient with a smile as she patted the wound and examined the face for any worries. When she found none, instead a face filled with gratitude, she felt elated, happy to be of help to so many people.

She sighed as she walked away from the patient rooms towards the hustling and bustling of the main corridor. It's been a week since the war was over. And she being the medic didn't get a chance to get even a wink of sleep since the fourth day. She was exhausted to her bones and she knew it. She's run herself ragged dry of her chakra more than twice and has been eating chakra pills to replenish it. She knows she'll pay the price of this in the coming days. 'I don't think I'm gonna survive the backlash' she mused to herself.

"Sakura" the familiar voice called out to her.

"Yes Shishou" she stood attentive, her posture betraying the fact that she's spent and will keel over in a couple hours as things stand.

"Everyone is analysed?" Tsunade asked as Sakura's eyes followed her arms as she folded them under her large bosom. She won't admit out loud, but she knows she's quite jealous of them and imagines what would she be like with them. "Eyes up here Sakura" she chided.

Sakura flushed deep red in embarrassment at being caught staring. She shook her thoughts away and cleared her throat as she focused on her Shishou's face. She opened the patient files and recalled every single one's current condition and what to expect.

"Well done. I'll send sanaki for the rounds next time" she said distractedly as she looked at the information in the files she gave her. After a moment, she looked at Sakura with a wry smile "And Look at you, all grown up and taking responsibilities and the duties. I knew I could count on you." She chuckled as she watched her apprentice blush deep red at those words of praise showered at her.

"I... Thank you Shishou. It's because I learned from the best" she averted her eyes, as being not able to make eye contact with her mentor out of sheer embarrassment.

"Nonsense. You're the strongest kuniochi and they're calling you one of the new generation Sannin now. After single handedly saving the shinobi's from the sure deaths, you deserve these praise don't you think so?" She decided to further her embarassment.

"I.. I.. um.. ye... Oh..." She couldn't form words as her blush started creeping onto her neck. Tsunade couldn't keep it in and bellowed out a laughter which rang out in all directions.

"Look at your face. Gaki, you're not good with complements are you?" She teased.

"Ahh Tsunade Sama. Stop it" she cried with her head behind her hands. Watching her all embarrassed, she decided to be merciful.

"Enough sweet talk. I'm here for a official business." That gained Sakura's full attention as she switched into her professional persona. "I'm here to discuss Uchiha Sasuke" she said as she moved towards the highly safeguarded location of the hospital two floors above with anbu posted where Sasuke was currently admitted. Sakura followed besides with heavy heart, concern filling her every nerve as she was unsure about his future.

"There's just too many unknowns with him" she started as she moved around the nurses, careful of someone overhearing. "When you healed his arm and admitted him here after he lost consciousness, we ofcourse had to strip him away of his powers. That means, no chakra. We wanted to seal away his eyes, but with his rinnegan, we don't know how the eyes will react, or even if the seal will work on it. And also, we didn't want him to wake up blind and go on a rampage, so we waited for him to regain consciousness and tell him of the seal"

"Isn't that a bit extreme?" Sakura asked dejectedly.

"These are the protocols Sakura. As I said, there's just too many unknowns with him. Yes, it is true that he helped us win the war, but we don't know where his loyalties lies. Naruto may laugh it off and say he's back, but you know that past isn't just erased in a clean slate whenever you want. Also with what happened between him and Naruto, not many people are happy with him" She asked eyeing her from the side of her eye, Sakura seemed to be in a trance, no doubt recalling the events. When receiving no answer, she continued on ahead walking up the stairs.

"I understand why this is happening Shishou. But I believe he'll turn around his life. He just needs our support for that" Sakura said with a firm resolve that her Tsunade turn around with a raised eyebrow. They got into a staring contest for a couple of moments but Tsunade abruptly cut off and walked off ahead, leaving her to catch up with her.

"I hope so it's that easy. He'll be judged on his actions soon enough in front of the five kages. If he plays his cards correctly, he might just come out of it alive" she shrugged.

Sakura reeled in shock at that news, her jaw slacked and eyes wide. She suddenly didn't feel optimistic about this situation. She started squirming her fingers around her sides and worry filling her heart. She didn't let it show for much longer, but she knows Tsunade must've picked it up from her periphery. Medical nins are astute and have a very keen eye after all. But she did not say anything, which she was thankful for.

"Anyways, what i want you to do is to figure out what he wants to do. Why did he decide to aid us when he was hell bent on destroying the village. That's what puzzling me the most. You're his teammate, chances are he'll relax around you and may fuss up some things. You only have a couple of days before he's moved to ibiki's care, and you know how he likes to work." Sakura cringed at the mere thought.

"Why me Tsunade Shishou? I mean I'm glad you're trusting me with this, but don't you think Naruto would do a better job?" She asked as she was curious.

"Because that Gaki Naruto won't open his damn mouth. I think he's refusing to tell me because he knows everything. But I don't understand why." She growled in frustration and anger. Sakura was surprised by this revelation to say the least. 'Naruto keeping quite about Sasuke. That was unheard of' she thought. But didn't get to mull on it further as her shishou continued her rant.

"Also I think Kakashi has an inkling of what's going on, but he's a pain in the ass when he wants to be. He'll play coy and just raise my anger further. And I don't like to be in the dark about things." Sakura hung her head down thinking she's the last resort.

"Don't go like that Gaki. Seriously it's like you have no self belief. Don't think you're my last choice or something." She scolded. "Even if Naruto or kakashi were willing, you'd be my first choice. You're my apprentice, I trust you more than anyone aside from Shizune and my booze." Sakura nodded quite animatedly, after being scolded and praised by her mentor in the same breath.

"Also, when I analysed his body before we put seals on him, i discovered something." She started, Sakura picked up the tone, and knew whatever it was, Tsunade didn't like that. She stopped midway and turned to her with grim eyes.

"Sasuke's curse mark has vanished" she stated.

"Eh? That is a good thing right?" Sakura didn't know what was the problem with it.

"Yes. It is. Anko lost hers too. The information we have mentions that Anko was kidnapped by Kabuto. Long story short, he used her to gain more control over the reanimated souls. So I assume that he used her curse mark to revive Orochimaru after he failed with his edo tensei. We both know how he's obsessed with him, so it's a high possibility." She frowned at that information.

"So it leaves Sasuke's curse mark. Sasuke must've used it regularly since it gave a lot of power to the user and kami knows he was hell bent on having it to kill Uchiha Itachi" The name of Itachi caused some of her not so fond memories of her teammates in anguish to brew forward. She shook her thoughts knowing that Sasuke has killed him long before. She paid attention back to her shishou "He woudn't have part ways with it so easily. So question arises how did he lose it?"

"I can ask that to him?" She provided her help.

"Ask him real nicely if that's what it gets him to open his mouth. But be careful Sakura. He's hurt you before-" Tsunade put a hand to where Sakura's heart would be "-don't let him hurt you again. Just promise me you'll be careful"

Tears came of the brim of her eyes as she saw her mother figure care for her in such a way. She knew what she was reminding her with her words- that he's broken her heart before. Don't let him break your heart again.

"I promise." She firmly said as she rubbed her eyes off the tears threatening to fall down.

"Good. Now go. Change his bandaged rolls from the stump and see how he's healed there. And try to gain some information so I could try to help him out of this mess he's gotten into" she shook her head, wrinkles on her face belaying the fact that she's older than 50.

As they reached the main corridor and passed the many rooms in the hallway, there was a sudden influx in the number of anbu guards stationed nearby. 6 anbu's on the rounds. 2 stationed on the side of every turn.

When they reached his room, instead of 2 anbu's guarding his room, it was Kakashi who was lazily standing besides the door reading the icha icha series. He didn't even look up from it, but lazily waved a hand at them, acknowledging their presence.

Sakura turned towards her shishou as she stopped in the middle of the hallway. She saw her eyes twitch a few times, then narrow at him which further turn into a heated glare. But Kakashi seemed to be nonchalant and flippant as always and just disregarded her anger.

Sakura sweatdropped at her sensei's actions, knowing that Shishou is gonna punt him for that, especially for walking around when he was told to rest up. She instinctively took a couple of steps back, knowing that she's gonna explode right here and now.

When Tsunade was about to make a bellowing sound to scold him he raised his hands to stop as he put his icha icha in his back pocket and took a serious stance and started walking towards them, all playfulness vanished from him. Immediately they both were on alert and knew he wasn't taking a walk in the park.

They both took careful strides towards him and reached him in ten strides all the while their eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Talk" Tsunade commanded in her low voice, but still maintaining the authority of the hokage, eyes still narrowed at him.

"I decided to visit my newly reformed student, but it seems somebody already beat me to it" he gazed back at the door.

"Who? Naruto" Sakura asked. Kakashi nodded in affirmation. Both woman groaned in reply.

"I was just here half an hour ago, trying to help out all the nice nurses with their rude patients" both of them rolled their eyes "when i stumbled across Sasuke's room. I thought that a talk was in order, reminding him to be nice to everyone here and be a good model patient. But instead what I found or rather heard is Naruto and Sasuke arguing about who is a teme and who is a dobe or whatever it is that they always did before. I immediately sent the anbu away and I stayed to keep an ear on them." He shrugged.

"That Naruto" Sakura growled in anger. "I told him to stay put. I even promised to bring him the ichikaru ramen. Arghhh. He'll never learn. Shannaro" she pumped her fist in bellowing anger. Kakashi's eye widened at that.

"Whaaaat? And you didn't think to bring me anything Sakura? Here I am, telling everyone how you single handedly saved the shinobi world, how you're my favourite student. I thought you cared about me." He sulked. "Mah, teenagers these days don't have any respect for their superiors."

"Only Yamato will fall for that Kakashi" Tsunade cut him off seeing that Sakura was actually gonna fall for it.

"Mah, it was worth a try" he flippantly waved his arm. "Naruto has matured a lot hasn't he?" He asked instead, diverting the conversation. It Tsunade was stumped by that, she didn't show it, but Sakura did, which earned a crinkled eye smile from Kakashi.

"Yes he has. Get to the point." Tsunade was getting impatient.

"He was fishing for information right now."

"Naruto?" Sakura asked incredulously.

"Yes. He started with small talk. What has been going on in the village since.. you know and what not. But he knows Sasuke trusts him. He knows everything about Sasuke and Sasuke about Naruto. They both understand each other due to their.. eh, similar life. By the way i gather, i think Naruto finally understands Sasuke's acyions now that they had their final battle. But he already knew why he wanted to destroy konoha-" his eyes hardened as his voice took an edge as they instinctively sucked a breath in "-and during the war, he knew that Sasuke genuinely wanted to save the village and help us, and also as to why he wanted to be the Hokage, which i want the answers too as they didn't really talk about." He stopped for a moment.

"But what Naruto wanted to find out was the middle part that he was missing. How did Sasuke reach the decision to save the village? I'm sure you all had similar questions." He crooked his neck and looked at them curiously.

"That is one of the reasons yes." Tsunade off handedly mentioned.

Sakura processed the information that Kakashi gave. Naruto knew the reason why Sasuke wanted to destroy Konoha. Try as she might she just couldn't fathom why he would want to do that. There was no reason for him to turn against the village and attack the Five Kage meeting. Was he corrupted by Obito? Or by Itachi? 'After all' she thought, 'He started drowning into darkness after his first fight with Itachi.  Who knows what happened after their final battle. It's always about him isn't it?'

"So did you get the answers Kakashi sensei?"

"Nope. They were being more careful than before discussing that." He said flatly.

Tsunade leveled him with narrowed eyes, trying to decipher if he was telling the truth or not but she gave up soon.

"Fine. Go rest up Hatake, wouldn't want you to gouge out another of your eyes do you" Kakashi paled at that threat and Tsunade left them standing but not before giving Sakura a pointed look, reminding her of her request. She nodded in affirmative.

She turned around to see Kakashi's eyes wide looking at Tsunade sama's retreating form. She decided to have pity on him.

"She won't do anything like that Sensei." He sighed in relief. "How are you holding up though? Had enough rest? Your eye isn't giving you any discomfort is it?" She asked in before he could say anything.

"I'm fine, just like you asked yesterday and the day before yesterday and the day before that everytime you came across me." he smiled within his mask, eyes crinkling with mirth.

"I can't help it Kakashi sensei. I care about you." She gave a small smile in return. It resulted in a rare display of emotion visible from him as he was touched with care and affection. He genuinely smiled at that.

"So? How's my favourite student doing?" Kakashi asked as he put his hand on her head.

"In over my neck with all the papers and the hospital rounds and emergency surgeries. I'm beyond exhausted Kakashi sensei. I'll keel over in a couple of hours give or take. But I'll go take a rest after i visit Sasuke." She huffed as he frowned in return.

"That won't do. Say what, as you go visit Sasuke, I'll bring over anmitsu for you and Sasuke, and some ramen for Naruto. How's that sounds?" He offered

"That sounds lovely Kakashi sensei." She gave a smile full of gratitude to her ever caring sensei. "Don't forget about yourself" she reminded. He responded by ruffling her hair playfully in return and leaving to the cafeteria.

"Hey!" She cried in complaint as she made her hair proper again as she made her way to the door. She stood for a couple seconds before the door, anxiety pooling her body, but steeled herself nonetheless.

Doing a once over to her attire she took a deep breath. Raising her hand, she knock twice and opened the door as she ducked her head inside to gauge the situation only to watch Naruto and Sasuke already looking back at her intently. When they realised it's her they relaxed visibly.

"Hey guys!" she called them with a cheerful smile as she let herself in and closed the door behind.

"Hey Sakura chan" he smiled sitting up properly on his seat by Sasuke's bed. He waved at her with his stumped arm in habit, which he corrected instantly when he realised and smiled sheepishly.

"Sakura" Sasuke acknowledged her with a nod and an imperceptible smile and a soft look grazing his face, which she wasn't used to.

She gave them a brief once over, both clad in the standard blue coloured patient gown with the side arms of clothing fluttering as they flailed around due to their lack of said arms.

"Naruto. I told you to stay put" she accused him and narrowed her eyes. Naruto atleast had the decency to look sheepish under her stare.

"He he he" he nervously chuckled. "Come on Sakura chan, it was so boring just to sit and do nothing. I thought I was gonna die sitting on that hospital bed. I mean how do you even work here? It's all just so... Meh." He scrunched up his face to show his distaste.

"Naruto" she growled and bumped him in the head. He held his head for a bit and ran his hand through his head to ease the pain and muttered something indescribable. "And no Ichikaru Ramen for you" she continued and the reaction was instant. Naruto's face morphed into the one of horror.

Before he could give any verbal reply, a chuckling sound was heard from the side and both their head snapped towards the origin of the sound to see Sasuke watching their antics with a smirk. "Heh! Dobe"

Grabbing the notepad, she went through the latest observations to check if anything was amiss. After making sure, she looked at him but instead her gaze went to his arms and then his chest visible through the gown where she could see the seal which was engraved on him. She couldn't fathom how he could even sit still after been stripped of his chakra, for shinobis of high calibres honing your chakra and being in touch with it at all times was second nature to them as breathing. She knew she would lose her shit.

"How are you feeling?" She asked him.

"Fine" he shrugged. "It hurts a bit when I try to move about my arm too much. Once it suddenly started paining, like it was burning from inside out" she nodded at the him, thankful for sharing the information as she started processing it in her brain, but he continued on "...but I'll feel much better if you throw him out instead" he asked with a deceptive smile growing on his lips. She couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"Hey what was that teme?" Naruto rose to the bait.

"Naruto" she chided and it had the desired effect. But Sasuke had others ideas.

"Just what you heard dobe. Or are your ears too damaged to hear what i was saying right in your face?" He smirked at him.

Sakura rolled her eyes knowing Naruto will blow up and she'll have to throw him out. And it happened exactly as she predicted, but didn't knew Naruto was perceptive enough to pick up on it when he mentioned "Don't think I don't know what you're doing teme. If you wanted to talk to Sakura chan alone you just had to say so. Bastard." as he went and closed the door behind him.

Being left dumbstruck by that admission, she blushed furiously. And after not getting any response from Sasuke, it dawned to her that it is indeed what he intended to do. Hoping to calm herself down she took a few deep breaths.

Looking back at him, she saw that he was looking elsewhere, his ears were red- probably out of embarrassment at being found out, she mused, which she admitted was cute and welcome change to his usual stuff character.

Moving towards him, she got into her professional persona and motioned him to lend her his arm which he obliged without hesitation. Rolling his sleeves up, she saw the bandages rolled around his stump.

She started undoing the bandages and offered a quick 'sorry' when he hissed in pain. After carefully removing the rolls, she dumped them into the dustbin. After sending some soothing medical chakra into his stump, she searched the nerves for any permanent damages. When content with what she found, she rolled a new pack of bandages back on his stump. She knew another medics have already likely checked it before her, but she wanted to check it and reassure herself.

Sasuke let his sleeve back down and she watched as it hid behind the cloth.

(This is not true, i have no information. I am just bullshitting my way here. But i have to write something down here)

"Since the injury is still new, it will hurt. And also since there are some permanent nerve damage and severely destroyed chakra pathways in and around the area, it will continue to hurt for a few weeks at the very least. For that, me or someone else will come regularly and have to perform healing sessions on your arm. As for the sudden pain you mentioned, it is something called as phantom pain. The nerves in your cells and the chakra pathways are suddenly flaring, trying to reach for something that isn't there anymore, so it's confused and lashing out. Don't worry, it won't happen that often, only rarely. You will have to massage that area often though" She informed him easily as she possibly could.

"You've changed" he suddenly started, making it sound like a deduction. Her eyes widened a bit, not expecting him to speak up, but calmed herself down. She looked up at him from the notepad with her eyebrows raising at him with the intent for him to continue. But when he simply kept looking at her, she knew she wouldn't get any follow up.

"People change with time Sasuke kun. And I had no choice. I simply had to." She looked down back at her notepad, not feeling too thrilled about that topic. From her peripheral vision, she could see Sasuke nod imperceptibly.

Sasuke knew what she was implying, that she couldn't stay the same person as she once was. Even he isn't the same person he once was, so he knew it was probably not the wisest choice to start a conversation with. But he simply didn't know what else to talk about. With naruto, he didn't have to say things at all, Naruto did most of the talking so it was easy. But it's almost awkward with Sakura.

Besides, looking at her, he knew she hasn't just changed, but also-

"You've grown" he continued.

"I needed to" she replied immediately, but decided to add something "For myself mostly, but for others too."

Perhaps he can count this as a chance to know each other again? They both have changed since that fateful day he left the village. And it dawned on him that he knows nothing about her except for the fact that she's more than just a capable medic nin and throws incredibly strong earth shattering punches.

Perhaps, he reasoned with himself, that her core personality hasn't changed much. Perhaps she's still the girl, no woman, he corrected himself, she once was who cared about her friends immensely? He hated that, thought it was a weakness, to care about others. But perhaps, she's made that into her strength? He didn't know, but he has a chance now.

"I'm glad. You're more confident about yourself." He admitted with a smile. "That's good" He pointed out. "It seems my defection served for something good afterall" he shrugged.

Her breath hitched in her lungs and it felt her Shishou punched her with all her might and splashed ice cold bucket on her. Tears pricked her eyes as she remembered that night. She felt herself losing to her anger as it grew in alarming rate. She clutched the notepad with all her might, with her fingers tightening around the edges. How it didn't break in splinters she didn't know nor care at this moment.

"Don't you dare say that Sasuke kun" she gritted out, each word enunciated for him to back off. Looking at him though, she saw that he wasn't at all affected by that, which irked her even more than those words.

"It's true though. Back then I only managed to distract you from the important things... like growing as a proper shinobi." His words cut through her anger and she mulled over it. She knew there might be some truth to it, but decided it wasn't as important right now.

"It wasn't your fault Sasuke kun" she was adamant, and Sasuke saw that and sighed.

"We don't have to beat around the bushes Sakura." She looked at him and saw his full attention was on her. "We will eventually have to talk about it all." He admitted and paused as if searching for the right words and having difficulty speaking from his heart.

"I hurt you many times, I even broke your trust. It won't repair itself on its own." He said in low somber voice, but she heard it nonetheless. Her eyes moistened as she saw the look in his eyes, full of guilt and remorse. She doesn't think she can take it watching him like this anymore. She turned around and wiped off her eyes, before tears could fall.

"You're feeling awfully chatty today aren't you Sasuke kun?"

"I know i hurt a lot of people by my actions and decisions... but mostly you" he said. "So i needed to... no, I wanted to speak to you." His voice was getting lower and lower and she had to strain her ears to hear clearly.

"And I know an apology isn't going to cut it, but... you deserve that much atleast. I'm sorry.. for everything" He finished with a soft voice.

"That's right. You jerk." She gritted out as her emotions crumbled and hot tear sprang up. "If you do anything stupid again Sasuke kun, you'll have to go through me first" she fisted her hands and her eyes were firm as she glared at him through her lashes.

Sasuke met her eyes and understood that it was a promise, and she wouldn't hesitate to go through with it. And so he nodded.

She then walked up to him and gave a tight hug, resting her head on his shoulder. She hasn't forgiven him yet, not fully, some scars will take time, and the pain he caused her and others are yet to heal, but "I'm glad you're back Sasuke kun"

Although, a bit startled at first, instinct going against him, Sasuke relaxed and slowly brought up his right arm around her and slowly brought her closer to himself. He won't outright admit it, but it felt good and he wouldn't mind staying in that position for a while. But eventually he let her go after a few moments.

Standing back, she felt happy and gave him a genuine smile. At that moment, Sasuke thought he rather liked watching her smile like that. And without knowing, he gave a smile in return as he brought his two fingers to her forehead diamond and poked it.

She was simply left stunned by that action. The blush came back full force on her face and her neck. She brought her fingers to feel the diamond where he poked her and the affectionate action left her a blushing mess. She averted her eyes from him feeling flustered but she nervously kept looking back at him.

Sasuke couldn't believe himself he did that, but he found that he quite liked it. He felt happy even now that he did it to her. Now he understood why itachi kept doing it to him. Watching her getting flustered, he admitted to himself he liked this part of her too. He chuckled at that. That brought her out of her flustered state and she looked at him with puzzled expression.

"What was that? Why'd you hit.. no, poke my forehead?" She asked trying to figure out, but he just chuckled and she scowled which made his smile.

"Perhaps, some other time" he said with a serene smile on his face that left Sakura breathless. She wanted to capture that moment with him forever if she could.

She watched his mismatched eyes and grew mesmerized by the purple colour and the legend behind it. She wanted to gaze into them if possible, after all, it's not everyday one gets to see a Rinnegan in their life. Heck, it is practically a legend, a myth more than anything still.

"Can I.." she started nervously "Can I see your eyes?"

"You want to see my Rinnegan?" He asked narrowinng his eyes in wariness for a moment.

He recieved a nod in return to his question. He wasn't comfortable with anyone near his eyes, considering he was without his chakra and it went everything against his instinct for being a missing nin so long to trust someone. But he fought it and held still.

He nodded to let her know he consents to her request. She brought her hands to his face and wraps it around his jaw and brought her face close to his to peer into the eye. She marveled on the eye for a long time with her hands making his face to this way and that way.

When she was sated, she let go of him and simply exclaimed "Marvelous. Simply Fascinating. Beautiful even" with almost dazed expression on her face.

"Thank you." She smiled at him for giving the opportunity.

Watching her smile, he relaxed back into the pillow. It revealed the seal on his chest which got her attention.

"These aren't hurting you are they?" She asked as she trailed the seal engraved on him to suppress his chakra which was effectively negating his ability to use them.

"It's... discomforting." He answered honestly, eyeing the said seal.

"I can't even imagine being cut off from my chakra. I think 'Discomforting' is an understatement" she snorted causing him to chuckle as well.

"Tsunade sama told me about them." She continued. "She had to put these seals on you as a precaution. She wanted me to inform you that they want to put a seal on your eyes too, but are concerned about the reaction Rinnegan might have with those so they put it off for now." She trailed off at the end, discomforted by saying these words and averted her eyes from him.

Sasuke picked up her discomfort and understood that she wasn't happy with that decision. He didn't respond, just took in her words as she said them. He knew that would happen and he gritted his teeth in frustration.

He didn't know why but the fact that she wasn't happy with it made him feel a little bit lighter on the inside.

"Also, she wanted to ask you questions regarding... you know.. everything" she shrugged, knowing he will get the reference.

"Hn" he looked away clenching his jaw.

Things settled into silence once again. Albeit this was an awkward one for both of them.

"Sakura, there is... something I want to tell you." By the tone he used, she knew it was hard for him to talk about. She smiled at him, trying to ease him.

"A hospital bed is hardly a place to talk important matters Sasuke kun." She gave him a choice, that if he wanted to stop, he could.

"Ah. But I doubt they would allow visitors in the prison down there." Her whole body froze in shock. She snapped her eyes back to his face to see him already looking at her intently. She breathed deeply couple of times. She didn't like that he could easily say stuff like this like he's talking weather. It hurt a little everytime when she thought about what will happen to him now that he's back. She shook her head clear.

She nodded and opened her mouth to ask him to continue, but it was at this moment the door opened and Kakashi and Naruto decided to join them with food plate in their hands.

"Food Dattebayo" he hollered at them. reclaiming the seat he was seated on before, he placed the plate on his lap as he opened the ramen cup with his hand somehow.

"Kakashi" Sasuke acknowledged him with a nod.

"Sasuke" he nodded back "So how's my reformed student?" He asked to gauge his mood, but he bristled when he recieved just a 'Fine' with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Kami, I will have to teach you all some manners it seems" Kakashi sighed and gave both Sasuke and Sakura a plate on anmitsu, while he took a place besides the desk with his own dish.

While Sasuke looked at the anmitsu with something indescribable look, like he was figuring out an alien.

She saw both Naruto and Sasuke struggling to handle the chopsticks properly with their non dominant hand, but as she tried to offer them her help, they both waved away her concerns stating they need to learn using their non dominant arm anyway, and it'll be good practice. She nodded at that reason but knew it was their brittle male pride refusing her help eating. She shook her thoughts away and decided to eat for herself.

They ate in comfortable silence, until Kakashi decided to break that. She wondered when he finished his dish.

"So, still wanting to be Hokage?" He asked Sasuke. Everyone looked at him for answer.

"Tch. I realised being a Hokage is made for losers like him" Sasuke replied looking at Naruto with a smirk.

"Hey! Being Hokage is cool Dattebayo" he replied spluttering all the ramen from his mouth.

"Good." Kakashi just said. They knew it was the answer he was looking for and he got it.

Sasuke, perturbed, looked away from them which exposed his neck to Sakura. She saw the place where the curse mark used to reside on him, it is now empty.

"Sasuke kun.. your curse mark.. it's gone" she said, hoping he won't snap at her about asking that and also because she remembered her Shishou asked to gain information about that.

Kakashi's and Naruto's attention went to his bare neck too and they remembered now. Kakashi raised his eyes in curiosity.

"Hey, yeah that's trueee. I didn't notice at all. Good riddance though." Naruto scrunched up his mouth in grimace.

"Tch. It's nothing you should worry about."

"Did it go away when you.. killed Orochimaru?" She asked with tredepition.

"... No. It was.. Itachi" he answered in a painful voice and he cast his eyes downwards.

All three's eyes widened at that.

"Wait what? He did that?" Naruto asked.

"Uchiha Itachi?" Sakura asked confused. Kakashi whistled lowly.

"I didn't know he was a seal master. Never mentioned in the bingo books though" kakashi drawled which Sasuke ignored.

"I never killed Orochimaru fully, I had just surpressed him inside his own seal with my chakra. But during my fight with him, when I ran out of chakra, Orochimaru emerged from the seal to take over my body." Sakura's breath hitched at that. "But he didn't like that our fight was interrupted and he sealed him away with his Sussano blade which also removed the curse mark completely from me." He looked ashamed and pained.

Kakashi had doubts that Itachi wanted to do it from the start, knowing what he does, but he couldn't really be sure. "Sealed him away?" He asked instead with a puzzled expression on his face.

"The Totsuka blade of his, had a property that can seal away anything that it cuts" Sasuke cleared up.

Naruto on the side remembered the sealing blade, but refrained from speaking up, knowing it'll lead to many questions at this time.

Kakashi seemed surprised, eyes wide, before he collected himself.

"Oh!" Sakura exclaimed. She didn't know what to do with this information. She's seen Sasuke writhing in pain, seen him corrupted by the lust of power and it drove him to leave the village by the curse mark. To have it removed in a death match with his evil brother was not what she expected. She had many questions, but didn't get the opportunity to mull them over.

"Wait. If Itachi sealed him away, so how was he alive in the war?" Naruto rubbed his chin in thoughtful expression.

"Tch. What is this? A damn questionnaire? I'm tired" he huffed, annoyed by the questions.

"Alright, no questions anyone." Kakashi chuckled at his sour mood. "We'll save them when he's up for questioning with Hokage sama" he said with a firm expression on his face to Naruto, telling to behave.

"Fine." Naruto looked down, accepting it.

Suddenly, Sakura started feeling the fatigue of working her body and running herself dry. She tried to hide it, but it was a futile attempt as everyone that.

"Well Sakura, unless you want to keel over from over exhausting yourself.. again, I think it's time for you to hit the resting quaters." Kakashi mentioned as he took the plate from her. She nodded and said her goodbyes to them all, after reminding them of hitting bedrest themselves ofcourse, and promised to return tomorrow to visit again.

Chapter Text

The next couple days, Sasuke and Naruto were busy with the Physical therapy they both needed and so the whole of team Seven weren't able to spend time together.

Sakura was busy with all the work, and didn't get to spend time with them as much as she would've liked. But she didn't complain, she had a responsibility on her shoulders and she wasn't one to shy away from one.

Sakura met Sai that day when he visited Naruto and Kakashi, and they both even decided to have lunch together, where he prodded her about many things medical. He wanted to ask about Sasuke, but knew that it wouldn't be a pretty talk so decided to rest it. Instead he asked about Ino, which surprised her greatly as she didn't know where it came from and it was completely random, even for him. But she composed herself and decided to answer his questions.

When asked about his intention, he merely provided that he was curious about her. She raised a brow, and mulled it over. She thought it must be right as he hadn't known Ino much apart from the fact that she's from Yamanaka clan. She assumed that he might be interested in her, but discarded that thought altogether. Sai isn't one for emotions and affections due to his root training, but only his thirst for curiosity and to learn about people as far as she knew.

He thanked her and went on his way.

After a few hours, she went on her rounds again and dreaded the paperwork that she was appointed to complete by her Shishou and Shizune Senpai. Both being busy and overloaded with their respective works post war. She sighed and cursed her luck as she dragged her feet to her office to work on those papers.

The next day was chosen for the formal hearing to take place on Sasuke. They couldn't push it farther, he was the main concern on everyone's mind.

She here she was in the Hokage's office, sitting on a chair on the left her Shishou, with Shizune senpai on the other side. The job of writing his report fell on her, so she was left holding the pig Tonton. It kept quiet.

As soon as everyone was seated, Shishou led a silencing jutsu on the room. From the right to left, it was Shikamaru, then Kakashi, then Ibiki Morin. Their seats were placed around Sasuke's seat in the middle.

After the formalities proceeding the hearing complete, they began.

------

"After all that..." He started again, after his recollections of his actions when faced off against Naruto at the bridge.

"I... I met him again." Sasuke continued. He looked pensive, his face solemn as he stared his lap.

Tsunade narrowed her eyes. She didn't need his hesitance now. Although she didn't let it show on her face and kept her countenance inscrutable, she was still reeling, raging from the inside. Feeling sick from the information she received from him when he admitted to Danzo's murder.

Doujutsu Theft of 11 sharingans. Using those to perform a Forbidden Kinjustsu to cheat death. The worst of the worst crimes anyone could commit. And from the looks of it, everyone else present had the same thoughts and feelings as herself.

She was never a fan of his meddling and his perverted sense of duty. (Nor his emotionless drone army he liked to keep hiding in the shadows, but it was not the time to think so she discarded that thought altogether)

Her perverted teammate's words rung in her head 'Beware of the Foundation'.

'You were right to be wary Jiraiya'

She reigned herself in. She will need proof from him. Although he's been forthcoming with all the information, even where he's been immoral by some standards, it's quite an allegation to put on a council elder. Perhaps a Yamanaka would be able to read his memories and confirm it. She hopes it's not true.

Although, she wishes it is. When she mentioned he will be tried of Danzo's murder, Kakashi admitted in private the fact long before the meeting adjourned that Danzo had tried to coerce him into assassinating the Sandaime sama, by presenting false facts to him, when he failed on his own. She was glad the brat killed him now.

Although, she didn't forget the part where Sasuke admitted he faced off with his former teammates with the intent to kill. He will pay for that, the brat, she promised herself.

She mentally shook herself and wordlessly urged him to elaborate and continue as she was sure she would snap if she opened her mouth to form any words.

"Itachi. When he was.. reanimated during the war." He felt he needed to take a deep breath for his own sake.

They didn't expect that and were stupified at that unforeseen circumstance to say the least. They all had their memories tarnished of their loved one's by the vile and disgusting jutsu. Tsunade did nothing but narrowed her eyes.

She raised an eyebrow at Ibiki.

"No one reported any sightings of him during the war Hokage sama" he answered in his usual gruff voice.

Ibiki had been appointed the temporary head of Information for the time being in the death of Inoichi Yamanaka. He doesn't like the Uchiha. But he accepts the fact that he helped save the world and could prove to be a valuable asset to the village and the shinobi world. Well, the judgement's still open.

"We'll verify these details at a later date when everyone submits their reports." She instructed. "Continue"

"He... he had broke out of Kabuto's control-" he starts but was interrupted by a voice.

"Wait a minute." Tsunade stopped him from continuing. "You really want us to believe, Uchiha Itachi broke out of Kabuto's control." She asked, bewildered, but also highly sceptical. And when Sasuke opened his mouth to speak a rebuttal, she put a hand in front of him to stop. She could feel incredulity mixed with concern and scepticism emerge from others.

"I'll admit, Uchiha Madara resisted the calling of the souls back to the pure lands. But it was because he knew the hand signs of the jutsu beforehand and Kabuto never really exerted any control over him. But Uchiha Itachi? It'll take some convincing on your part I'm afraid." She argued.

"From what I gathered" Sasuke gained everyone's attention "He used an extremely strong genjutsu on himself to snap out of Kabuto's control." Sasuke shrugged, like it was an everyday occurrence.

"That's genius" "Is that even possible?" Shizune and Shikamaru remarked simultaneously. Former more in awe and the latter in more scepticism. Sakura -who wordlessly sat besides her Shishou in a chair all this time- had the same thoughts as the both of them.

Tsunade and Sakura both turned to look at Shizune, who flushed in attention, meanwhile Shikamaru was contemplating whether or not it was possible. Everyone was wondering the same.

After a tense silence, where everyone was mulling over the information, Tsunade thrummed her fingers in contemplation and the after a while she sighed.

"Look. Let's just assume for the time being he did and hear your part" she acquiesced.

"But Hokage sama, if he had that kind of power, we cannot risk the implications it-"

"Mah" Kakashi decides to interrupt Ibiki, already bored. "I didn't know this was an Eulogy gathering for my ex kohai turned missing nin." He mocked. "It seems I was misinformed Hokage sama, I would have came prepared instead. I thought we were here to decide whether or not Sasuke will have Konoha's backing in the trial."

Sakura did a double take at her ex sensei, as did Shikamaru. Kakashi seemed sharp and ready to snap.

"But to placate Morino san's suspicions, I would like to say that with these seemingly unbelievable powers, the cost is always too high" he finished with giving Ibiki a blank look and holding his gaze, getting into a staring contest.

"Alright, that's enough. Hatake, Ibiki, keep your testosterone battle to yourself or Kami help me I will cut those genitals and shove those into the other's ass." She threatened.

Kakashi paled, while Ibiki felt properly chastised. Shikamaru, mouth agape and wide eyed, felt they were gonna bug out of their socket. Her two apprentices coughed to hide their laughter, although the mirth was visible in their eyes. Tsunade spoke again.

"I don't know about you, but I have different meetings lined up after this to take care of, and I would like to go home and rest sometime today. Shizune, keep writing the report as he says word to word. Continue." She took control back of the situation.

Sasuke shook himself, not really expecting this kind of mirthful display. It gave him some time to regain control of his emotions though, so he didn't mind it. He took a deep breath, held it for a couple seconds and released it as he continued.

"When I saw him, I was aggravated naturally. I wanted to know how he was alive, but he kept dodging my efforts to intercept and kept running away. He wasn't even interested in me.

It was when he stopped in a cave that I managed to catch up to him, that I also came face to face with Kabuto" he recieved looks of alarm, but he was a mess on the inside to pay any attention to them and continued, deciding that it be best to be just done with it.

"It was then I learnt that he was a reanimation which Kabuto created. He disclosed that he wanted to teach Kabuto a lesson because he was pissed as he didn't like be controlled by anyone.

As I mentioned before, I was just using Akatsuki, and then get rid of them after I had made use of them, just like I had with Orochimaru. In between Kabuto's attempt to capture me for Orochimaru and his attempt to regain control over.. him.. it turned out to be a three way fight. But.." he formed a fist with his only hand.

"Since he was reanimated, I figured I would defeat Kabuto and be done with both of them. But midway through the battle, Kabuto turned himself into a Snake sage and became a dragon." Everyone was startled hearing Kabuto's power-up, mentally imagining his view as a dragon. But he paid them no heed and continued in his monotone voice.

"He became more of a threat than both of us. Also, since Kabuto was the original caster I couldn't outright kill him, or risk the reanimated shinobi's roam forever..." He clenched his face in pain and anger at this point. Everyone was listening with rapt attention and were eager to know what happened next.

"We.. we both let go of our grudges and worked together to lay the ground work of another forbidden Kinjustsu that he knew of." He stopped and swallowed his breath and it took everything in him to not break down, thinking of his brother.

Sakura, jaw slack with fevor, was feeling numb with that revelation. Kakashi's eyes had gone soft with emotions. Ibiki's look was incomprehensible (although he loved this form of torture). Tsunade and Shizune, even Shikamaru- who felt thankful for him saving the world, but had an unamicable feeling towards him, even before he hurt Naruto- felt nothing but pity for him.

"It trapped him inside a loop with an exit point hidden inside. Outside.. he used Tsukuyomi and complied him to perform the handsigns to undo the Edo Tensei Jutsu" he said like it was killing him to admit it. He closed his eyes as a lone tear fell from his eye and he quickly wiped it away.

A hush silence fell on the room, like someone had used a silencing jutsu. No one dared to speak a word. They were astounded, astonished from this relevation, but didn't let it show on their face. They all acknowledged that if he is indeed telling the truth, this information would help him massively.

After a couple of moments, the silence was cut through by an unexpected noise.

"Hah! Hahhaahaa haa haa" a boisterous laughter bubbled up from somewhere and all looked to see their Godaime Hokage cackling unabashedly.

Everyone sent her looks of confusion, but since she was their Hokage, the males did not dare question her, less they risk her wrath and anger.

But her apprentices were used to her and went to ask her what's so funny.

"All this time.. all this time we kages were wondering who stopped the Edo Tensei Jutsu, meanwhile he was right our noses" she finally said after cackling for a full minute as she thumped her desk for good measure.

"Ahh" they both nodded, understandingly and chuckled.

"Oh this is good" She suddenly exclaimed, still having a spitting smile on her face, which put a shiver down other's bodies.

"What now Tsunade sama?" Shizune inquired.

"Well let's just say, Madara was practically gonna smash us, us 5 kages like bugs, and they-" she pointed at Sasuke "at that precise moment, saved our lives. Otherwise we were a goner." She shrugged and let them mull over the information.

"To think we were saved by two missing nins; and the bastard was thwarted by the kin of his own clan." She said. Before anyone could say, her face went wide with satisfaction again.

"Oh this is even better. I can't wait to look at the face of the rest of the kages when I share this information." She carried on her tirades with smug and satisfaction etched on her facial expressions.

Sakura just sweat dropped and couldn't help but smile at her Shishou's antics.

Inwardly, she was feeling elated, knowing that Sasuke helped turn tide in their favour in more ways than one and it would help massively in his trial. Knowing that all of Team 7 was equally important in saving the world from world ending maniacs and aliens, she felt a surge of pride for herself and her team.

But when she glanced at him, he looked a bit hunched over, there was a slump on his shoulder, a lone trail of tear from his blank eyes, her heart clenched at that sight. Ofcourse, she thought to herself. Not only he met his brother after he had killed him, he even had to work together to defeat Kabuto. He must be so torn, suffering in silence from having to work with his sworn enemy that killed everyone he ever cared about.

She wanted to reach out to him, hold him in her arms, ease his suffering, tell him that she's proud of him, that he is far a better person than that monster ever could hope to be, that he shouldn't suffer alone, that she's here with him.

But she couldn't exactly do that here. Not only it was a formal hearing, but also, Sasuke has always been a private person, she knew he wouldn't appreciate her concern in front of everyone, or at all in this case.

So as he looked at her when he felt being watched, she held his gaze and hoped that she could convey her concern, her worry, and lastly her pride through her eyes and hoped that he would understand. She was rewarded with a small imperceptive nod, easily missable if one didn't pay attention and she would gladly take that. She already felt a bit lighter on the inside.

Sasuke continued after the commotion settled down.

"After we put a stop to that jutsu, in a few moments he had, he made some remarks, which aggravated me further and aroused all sorts of uncomfortable questions for me.

Like what am I doing? The exact same thing that I sworn to destroy. And, What am I supposed to do. I was distraught, I started questioning myself what does it even mean to be a shinobi.

Then I got news that Madara resisted his call back. I wanted to understand why this war is being fought in the first place. I couldn't stand on the sidelines anymore.

I needed those answers to understand certain things for myself too and based on that I would then make my decision whether or not to help Kohona in the war." Tension rose in the room as he admitted that. But he didn't deter, he knew he has already made his decision.

"It was then I decided to summon Orochimaru by activating his curse mark residing on a women lying around Kabuto-"

"I have so many questions with that statement of yours" Tsunade sighed, massaging her temple with her hand, knowing a massive headache is waiting her. Possibly a migrane if she does not get her usual medicine.

She is still regaining her strength from after the war, but she continued her job, knowing that she still has duties to perform as a medic and the village needs their Hokage.

Sasuke annoyed with constant interruptions, scrunched up his face for a moment. He quickly put up a blank expression though, not wanting to risk her ire, already having proof of constant moodswings of their Hokage.

"Firstly, you didn't recognise who that woman was?"

Sasuke was baffled by her question but didn't let it show on his face. He tried to place her face in his memories, but came up empty. He simply shrugged.

"Seriously? Does the name Anko ring any bells?" She waited, but nothing. "Your Chunin exam proctor? Orochimaru's ex student?" He looked back without any recollection on his expression. Everyone looked astonished at that.

"What does it matter? She was inconsequential" he said matter of factly. Several choking noises could be heard. They couldn't believe that he was speaking about Anko like she was nothing. Sasuke looked at them bewildered.

"Sasuke, take it from me, don't let her know you said that about her. It's for your own benefit." Kakashi placed a hand and said with a serious tone like he's giving out one of the most important rules of survival. He could see Ibiki, Shikamaru and Sakura nod around him.

"Tch. Whatever." Annoyed, he rolled his shoulder to remove Kakashi's hold from him.

"Secondly" Tsunade resumed, which Sasuke was thankful for. "You mentioned activating Anko's Curse Mark to summon Orochimaru, which I surmise, got rid of her curse mark." She clarified, and narrowed her eyes at him when he nodded in affirmative.

Sakura's eyes widened in mortification when she realised where she was going with this. Shit! Shit. Shitshitshitshitshit. Shishou's gonna kill me.

No. She thought, No, She's gonna do worse. She gulped in fear, already starting to panic.

Going home after she checked up on Sasuke, she slept for 10 long hours. The next day before she could tell her Shishou anything, she got roped into various things hospital. And Tsunade sama was busy juggling her constant Hospital and Hokage duties, so she never got the chance for the couple of days. And when she met up with her, the thought never crossed her mind. So all in all, she totally forgot to inform her.

"What happened to your curse mark? You never mentioned about that."

Goodbye world. It was good while it lasted.

She saw as Sasuke's confused look landed on her. She could also feel Kakashi sensei's quizzical gaze upon her, but she refused to look at him.

Looking at her head in headlights state Sasuke raised an eyebrow and when it dawned on him that she simply forgot to tell her Shishou, he inwardly smirk at her,

When she saw the smug aura, mirth in his eyes and an upward tuck of his lips, her mortification and panic quickly gave way to silent fury and indignation as she narrowed her eyes, holding his gaze, daring him to laugh at her.

Tsunade arched her eyebrow and gave a quizzical look at her younger apprentice, when she saw the silent communication between two ex teammates.

"Spill it out already." She lost her patience at them.

That broke their staring and brought them back. Sakura, embarrassed, flushed crimson under her stare, and when she tried to apologise and inform her she was beaten by Sasuke.

"I lost it when I confronted Itachi." He provided.

Tsunade waited for an elaboration but scowled when she saw he wasn't willing to elaborate anymore than that. She made up her mind to ask Sakura, concluding that it must be what they were eye goggling about.

"Alright. Continue."

"I summoned Orochimaru from that woman and I made him Reanimate the past four Hokages for me. We went to the Naka Shrine, a Uchiha Hideout, where an Uzumaki scroll aided him in Reverse summoning the souls from shinigami's belly. Or atleast that's what he told us." He shrugged.

"I asked them a few questions, and they admitted, not in those exact words, but admitted nonetheless, that it was because of them that this war is taking place. And the shinobi world as it is, is broken. And when I recieved satisfying answers I decided to join Konoha's side. After that you know what happened." He layed it out.

"I see." Tsunade had a pensive face, thoughts running million miles.

"And what happened between you and Naruto?"

"We.. both had different views of how to proceed ahead. I wanted to bring forth a revolution, wipe the slate clean, so we can start anew. But I believed after this war, things will only go back to how they were before. So I decided to become a new deterrent to the whole world so they could be united against a single threat. I knew, I alone had the power to do so. And I was gonna start by getting rid of Naruto, the 5 kages, then they would have no choice but to stay united out of necessity." His statements felt nothing but ramblings of a mad man.

"But that damn idiot." He laughed, but it sounded hollow. "He always had a big mouth didn't he? We beat the shit out of each other, we were on literal death bed, but he still goes on and on about how I'm a moron.

I thought I was doing something good. Uniting others. But he made me realise I was doing the same things as Akatsuki in the name of betterment of the world. Using hatred as a driving force." He paused for a moment, to recollect himself.

"I always used to hate him, because we were so similar, yet so different. He had no one, yet he could still be so carefree, still laugh with others, still be so happy. But it was when he opened up to me that I finally understood him, and felt for the first time that someone finally understood me. Also that, I'm not alone, no matter how much I pushed and convinced myself to be." He glanced at Sakura and Kakashi.

" For the first time, I felt free. That made me understand that my path was wrong. And I decided to accept Naruto" A wry smile came up on his face.

Things stalled into silence as they took his words in.

"Where does your loyalty lie Sasuke? What is your decision?" Tsunade asked at last. Is he was surprised at her using his first name, he didn't show it. Instead he took his time to think his response, few of them held their breath waiting for his response.

"I.. still believe the shinobi world is broken. As it is, it just uses and consumes and then spits out when it no longer needs us, leaving nothing but a husk behind. But I've still decided to stand besides Naruto and do it his way."

"Hmm-"

"As for myself, I accept my punishment. Whatever is decided by you five kages" He spoke up, staring into Hokage's eyes, so she could confirm that he's serious.

For the first time today, it looked like Tsunade was stunned into silence. Eyes wide with surprise for a couple of seconds, but she quickly morphed into a calm facade.

Heh. Brat.

Glancing at others, she knew they didn't expect that either, seeing their expressions, she could've laughed. Shikamaru actually had his mouth agape.

"Alright. Now all that's left is letting a Yamanaka to go through your memories to confirm those assumptions that I've been letting on as facts"

He tensed on the spot, his instict turning defensive. With narrowed his eyes he spat out "No."

"Oh?" She raised her eyebrow in response. "It's funny that you think you have any choice in this matter." She contested seriously.

But Sasuke didn't take that comment lightly. His face contorted in barely suppressed outrage. All his life he's been led around by others, his brother, the third, then Orochimaru, and lastly Obito, without any choice of his own.

He couldn't help and spat out "Ofcourse I wouldn't have any choice. I didn't before, so why should anything change now?" He laughed hollowly. "You're all the same"

"Sasuke" Sakura shouted, her fists shaking at her side with barely controlled anger. She was confused at his choice of statement, but she wouldn't let anyone let belittle and disrespect her Shishou by implying such things. "She's trying to help you, dammit" she said with clenched teeth.

It seemed that brought him out of his stupor. He looked at her with wide eyes, but then averted them downwards, irritated, but also chastised somewhat.

"Kami, I'm not asking them to go through your entire life." She snorted, which gained his attention. "I don't want to see a Yamanaka go through PTSD watching your memories. I'm only interested in a couple."

She put up one finger to indicate number 1. "Danzo." She figured she didn't have to add anything to that. She added another finger "Your part in putting a stop to Kabuto's Jutsu"

He took his time to consider the pros and cons of admitting to this. His face turned sour as he reached a decision and he clenched and unclenched his fingers of his hand, as if to reassure himself.

"Fine"

Ino assigned herself the job when an ANBU came into her clan house and mentioned the necessity of Yamanaka Inosuke- a proficient in using Memory probing jutsu coveted by the Information and Torture department- who was busy with Clan work.

As the title of new clan leader felt into her lap and seeing as she was grossly inexperienced at that, she was hounded by her clan elders, each trying to mold her into their version of a clan head, and felt suffocated in her own house. She wondered how did her dad worked through all this, and not for the first time she missed him terribly. She shook her head, not now, she's needed.

Although she felt bad for abandoning her duties to her clan, she decided this was an opportunity to get away of those interfering elders, even for a while.

I wonder who it is that I will be performing it on. She contemplated to herself. Hopefully, someone who's willing and doesn't pull up any defences. It will make my work easier atleast.

Weird. She thought as she was led to Hokage's office and not the I&T department.

She knocked on the door as she reached and saw that the ANBU left as soon as she entered.

Tsunade looked up at Ino when she entered the room. She reinforced the silencing jutsu as Ino closed the door behind her. From the looks of it, she was surprised when her eyes fell on her teammate and her best friend. And when her eyes roamed and fell on the figure with back to her, she let out a soft "Oh!" in understanding.

Other's didn't understand her presence.

"Ino?" Shikamaru and Sakura quizzed her. Being his teammate and her friend for so long, she understood their questioning line.

She went and stood in front of Tsunade.

"I apologise Hokage sama. Inosuke is a bit busy with clan work, so I decided to come in his stead and perform the jutsu."

Tsunade didn't have any objections to that.

"All the better I suppose." She brought up a pen and paper and laid it out in front of her.

"Sign this and add your chakra to the seal. It's just a bunch of formalities. You admit that you were present at this formal gathering with your own consent and will adhere to secrecy about what you see, hear and speak here. And since you're gonna go in his memories, you will not speak what you see or hear to others. Also, you will answer only to us Five Kage's questions during the next summit blah blah blah" She drawled, already bored.

"Tsunade Sama" Shizune chastised at her misconduct, while Ino proceeded to do the needful and gave it back.

"Alright, now that everything's in order, let's get to business. Ino we need you to probe his mind, memories, whatever and find only two specific one's." She paused for a second.

"Firstly, we need you to confirm some allegations against our 'esteemed' elder-" she said with disgust "-Danzo. So you'll look around when he killed him."

"Hai!" Ino nodded and went back and around Sasuke's chair, standing behind him, readying herself to get into right concentration and mentality to perform the jutsu.

"Is he willing?" She asked, as it will make her job easier.

"Reluctant." Was the answer she recieved. She was glad for the one word quip.

Alright. Reluctant. I can work with reluctant.

"Wait" It was Ibiki who put a pause.

"Yes Ibiki?" Tsunade asked, knowing he won't interrupt just for the giggles.

"I believe having a Doujutsu can hinder these sessions. He not only has an advanced Sharingan but also the Rinnegan. There's practically no clue how it'll affect the probing"

"A valid concern. What do you say Yamanaka?"

"My father said a Sharingan is tied closely to it's user's mind and helps imprinting permanent memories onto the brain. So it wouldn't be too surprising that it might activate on its own when I try to probe his mind. It might resist me."

"Hmm. Alright, we'll put on the blindfold seal that our team has specifically prepared."

Sasuke looked like he was going to protest vehemently, but gritted his jaw and subdued. A black blindfold inscribed with seal was placed on his eyes and Ino got ready.

"Alright. Sasuke, tell me when was this? So I can understand how deep I have to go" She placed her fingers on both side of his temple. "How far back did it happen?" She clarified without waiting for his answer.

"11 days ago"

She hummed as closed her eye and pushed her chakra into his mind through her fingers. He jerked in his position at the feeling of invading chakra, and being helpless to do anything. He hated it.

"Sasuke, don't fight me." She probed his mind. It took a lot of effort just to probe his surface memories.

"Okay. Just try to bring out the memory. It'll make this easier on the both of us."

He thought of the day he killed Danzo, but it was nearly impossible through the feeling of his mind being invaded. Somehow he gritted it through and helped her access it.

She saw it. And she nearly lost the connection. She gasped in mortification.

"WHAT IN THE KAMI'S NAME IS THAT?" she shouted in a shrill voice, sounding shell shocked.

"Tell us what you see"

"Danzo.. he.. he has an arm full of.. Sharingans." She said with utter disgust and hatred on her face. "And.. that's not all." She said as she probed further.

"Ino, can you connect us all like you did in the war?" Shikamaru asked.

"Okay." She opened her senses and allowed then to connect with her. Although it's taking quite a strain on her to keep both jutsu on simultaneously.

Everyone can view the same as Ino now. They see Danzo's arm with Sharingan and grimaces with disgust. Although Kakashi and Tsunade saw what his arm was made of- Hashirama's cells. It increased Kakashi's vehemence for him tenfold, while Tsunade seethed in rage, thinking how long has he been doing this vile things behind everyone's watch.

"I think I'm gonna puke" someone said but was ignored as they see Danzo die, yet not.

"I don't understand, is this a genjutsu? Sasuke kills him, but Danzo still somehow pops out alive somewhere else. It's already happened like 3 times now."

"Alright that's enough. Onto the next one." Tsunade says, knowing she won't be able to continue watching this.

Ino let's go of that memory.

"8 days ago. Kabuto." Sasuke provides.

"Alright, hit it up Sasuke"

Ino decided they don't need to see whole memory and sped up the process.

They saw flashes of Sasuke following Itachi on tree tops and when they reached the Cave where Kabuto was hiding.

"It's Uchiha Itachi" Ino shouted in shock.

"Reanimation"

Makes sense.

A couple snippets of him and Itachi fighting a dragon mode Kabuto.

"Ew.." Ino couldn't help but grimace. "But if Itachi's a reanimation, how's he fighting Kabuto?" She asked for clarification.

"He broke free"

Makes sens- Wait "What?"

"Later Ino." Shikamaru replied.

And lastly, Itachi using Tsukuyomi on a still standing Kabuto and complying him to perform the signs needed to end the Edo Tensei Jutsu.

"Is that it?" She asked.

"Yeah. You can stop now"

Ino stopped her connection to others. It took a couple moments for her to mentally gather herself and get ready to retreat.

She then carefully retreated her chakra from Sasuke's mind, mindful not to hurt him or herself from the backlash.

They both snapped back to attention with their wide eyes blinking, gathering their bearings. They both seemed in a daze, and shook their heads. It took them a while to get their wits back.

After a while of formalities, several ANBU's were called and they escorted Sasuke to his holding cell- until they decide his future- clad in back jacket and the blindfold seal still on his eyes.

Sakura averted her eyes, not able to look at him in this condition.

"So, Ino, you're here so might as well get your opinion about Sasuke?" Tsunade asked with a heavy emphasis on his name, stating wordlessly that Danzo's matter is off limits to discuss. She relaxed her back to her chair in much needed rest. It was starting to ache. She wondered if she would be able to coerce Shizune or Sakura into giving her a massage later.

"I'm thankful to him, he held off his vendetta against that murderer to deal with Kabuto and put an end to such an vile and perverted jutsu." She replied with a hard tone, thinking about her Asuma Sensei. Shikamaru thought of the same as they both made eye contact.

"What do you think Sakura?"

"You know I'm a bit biased on this Shishou, why are you asking me?"

"Just humour me why don't you?"

"Alright Shishou. He made choices that were detrimental and destructive to everyone and he has gained animosity of people from all hidden villages with his actions.

But I think he thought the choices that he made were his only choices available. Also more often than not, he was often used as a pawn by others to further their own gains.

He's been traumatized from such a young age, that his mental and emotional capabilities were left unstable at best, and he used to suppress his emotions every moment and it resulted in a massive build up without any outlet.

And, after he killed Itachi, I assume that instead of feeling satisfied, his emotions went haywire and he just snapped. And he let those out with only way he knew how- anger, rage, destruction.

But it was after his.. fight with Naruto that he gained his senses. And he is owning up to his actions, so I think he should have some faith. and support from us, that he is genuine in his wish to better himself. Ofcourse" she added as an after thought watching everyone's bewildered gazes. "we can't afford to overlook his past actions"

"That's all and good, but Kami I don't remember telling you to write a whole thesis on him Sakura." Sakura flustered red in embarrassment.

"What about you Shikamaru?"

"I agree with Sakura on that. But, I don't really trust him. It was already broken before his altercation with Naruto at the end. And it will be lot harder for him to gain everyone's trust again.

Although, I do believe he should have our backing as a shinobi who was vital in the war. Also, because he has a fully evolved Sharingan and the mythical Rinnegan and the shinobi world can't afford to lose the natural user of them in case of any future threats.

But he also deserves his punishment for his actions, I believe a few years jail time. Because despite his claims that he joined Akatsuki just so he could use them, he did associate with them willingly, and not to mention he did attack the Five Kage Summit"

"Kakashi?"

"Yes, he made mistakes, but he's willing to repent. We as his elders can't turn a blind eye to that."

"Morino?"

"I agree with Shikamaru"

"And you, Shizune?"

"Me?" After receiving a look that screamed 'who else?' she hastily replied

"I agree with Sakura wholeheartedly. Oh and also with Ino.. Shikamaru and Kakashi."

Tsunade hmmed and contemplated about her options in silence.

After a while, Morino interrupted.

"Hokage sama? Now that we have proof that Uchiha Itachi did manage to break free of Kabuto's control aren't we going to speak of the implications of what his Genjutsu's existence means"

"Mah, again?"

"Seriously? He just happened to have a really strong Mind Altering Genjutsu in his arsenal and never use it before?" Ibiki scoffed in disbelief at Kakashi

"Tsunade Sama, if I may?" Kakashi asked permission.

"Yes Hatake. You may"

"I've worked with Itachi for around couple years in ANBU-" Sakura, Ino and Shikamaru were taken aback at that "-and then went toe to toe against him twice."

"I've always known him to be a cautious, and curious person by nature. And add in the fact that he must've made enemies of all types around the world in his time as an Akatsuki member, he had to be extra cautious. Plus, there was the possibility of Obito trying something on him, so he had to be watching his back 24x7. So it wouldn't be too surprising that he held that card very close to himself, so that he might use it in times like this. He might only have one chance to use it for all we know. And I doubt any one else has this kind of power."

"As always, your analytical mind astounds me Hatake"

Kakashi looked at Ibiki who just grunted in acceptance.

"Very all, all of you may go. And remember, no speaking of this to anyone"

Sakura's mind was whirling like a whirlwind. Watching Sasuke clad in back jacket and blindfold seal, her heart had constricted in her chest. She could only pay attention to half of the things she discussed and worked on later rest of the day as she was engrossed with herself.

When at home, she couldn't help but repeat what Sasuke had said like a mantra.

'There's something inherently wrong with the shinobi world.'

When she reached home later in the day, she couldn't help but think about it.

She wanted to refute the claim, but couldn't bring herself to do so.

It brought forth a horror and she couldn't stop herself from gasping.

The memories of Naruto and Sasuke in various circumstances were popping forth in her mind.

Sasuke's first day back after the massacre, how he looked stricken, in pain, grieving, and full of hatred. It looked... wrong on a 8 year old.

And also Naruto's situation, The hatred he recieved from the village, the total look of confusion on his face when he didn't understand why he was being looked at with disgust with no fault of his own.

Children shouldn't have to go through that.

Despite Sasuke's obvious PTSD, and Naruto's orphan status, no one gave them anything. They were both shoved in a house to live alone and expected to take care of themselves and neglecting their emotional state. Instead of taking care of them, they were handed a kunai to learn to kill, completely disregarding that they needed a gentle and a caring hand.

If they had that, who knows how different they would have turned out to be.

A lone tear fell from her eyes as she realised that it is indeed true.

'There's something inherently wrong with the shinobi world.'

Chapter Text

With a sudden jerk to his body, he became concious.

His mind was blank. Still within a fog. At the moment, he had no concept of thoughts. It was as if he had woken up from a deep slumber.

He sensed deep down that something wasn't right, but he couldn't discern it.

His body felt as rigid as a stone. He couldn't move an inch as if he wasn't in control of his limbs and was having an out of body experience. The very first sensation he felt was, that everything hurt. His insides were on fire, outside he felt cold as ice. His heart was thumping in his chest so loud, his ears were ringing.

And with certain effort when he tried to open his eyes, it was then he realised that something was definitely wrong.

It was dark. Pitch black.

He blinked to get rid of the darkness, but couldn't, as much as he tried to.

Am I blind?

His eyes opened up in shock at the thought. Not believing this, he tried to get his hand close to his face to ascertain.

At first he couldn't even lift his hand, but with much difficulty he he finally managed to get control. His shoulder bones and ankle joints made popping sounds, affirming the fact of their non use.

With great efforts, he placed his hand on his stomach, then slid up to his chest, feeling the rough cloth over him and heard several other bone joints popping, making further noise.

He brought it to his neck feeling the necklace, then slid it up his chin, He skimmed over his mouth as he felt his dry rough lips and skipped his nose altogether. And lastly, he brought it dangerously close to where his eyes are, hoping to see his fingers.

But still, nothing. It was still a pitch black. He frowned at that. He let his hand mask over his face.

His mind then supplied to him that it wasn't dark, nor pitch black. But rather, it was a void. It was, nothing.

It was a void of pure nothingness

To his dismay, it dawned on him that he really couldn't see.

I am blind

His heart rate increased from the sudden revelation, but he managed to get it in control. He felt his chest started constricting in his efforts. His could feel his hands shake on his face but he simply held it firmly. 

After much thought, his mind provided him a rope.

Blindness due to overuse of Mangekyo Sharingan.

He knew one day he would be blind, he just hoped that Sasuke would kill him befor- his thoughts suddenly came to a halting stop.

He knows he's missing something.

With much trepidation and shaking hands, he brought his fingers to his eyes and to his horror, his fingers went through where his eyes should be.

I- That- what? Oh! It dawned on him. 

No. 

No. 

No. No. Nononononononono my eyes my eyes myeyesmyeyesmyeyesmyeyes

He panicked. And with each passing second his panic rose with alarming rate. His heart was thumping like it was going to burst out, with his heartbeat pulsating.

Get a grip, he spoke to himself, but try as he might he couldn't silence his mind from the inferno that was actively consuming his very mind.

His hand clenched around the cloth on his chest above his heart, praying that he'll get a grip on himself but even that didn't help.

He could feel the cold air whooshing within his eyelids and it made him sick to his stomach.

Suddenly, his insides were retching and he started convulsion-ing on himself. His chest was constricting again painfully.

And furthermore to his on growing horror, he realised he couldn't breathe and was now having a full blown panic attack.

He tried setting up a methodical breathing pattern, tried breathing with his mouth but his lungs were non responsive. It was as if his lungs were made up of ice, while his nose canal and his nerves are burning with the never ending fire of Amaterasu. 

He knew that he was slowly losing his consciousness. So in a last bout of survival instinct, with great struggle, he reached out deep within, tried to concentrate onto a single point and with force let it all out.

Suddenly, his eyes drooped further. He didn't know what he just did, but he hoped it did something. It wasn't something he did, resort to hope, but he did it nonetheless.

As his senses started failing, from within the ringing of his ears, he thought he could hear a faint and a familiar shrill voice of cawing echo in a distance, before he eventually succumbed to unconsciousness.

But that couldn't be, right? Because it would be hoping too much, wouldn't it?

Chapter Text

Kakashi carefully leaped above various houses, always looking for the next step, his next footing, as he made his way towards the Hokage tower. It was hard with moon shining behind him and casting his own shadow onto his path.

It is still a bit of a novel and wonderful experience, childlike exciting even, seeing everything and everyone from both eyes on normal basis. 

Passing over his hands onto mundane things and marvel at them. It'd be dead embarrassing for a shinobi of his calibre to be caught in such acts, but he never cared about it anyways. 

Although, the stinky eyes Sakura gives him and Naruto when Naruto brings more things for him to wonder at makes him questions quite a lot of things about himself. And Naruto. But he's had a lot of years to get better at ignoring things he wants to, and he's the best at it.

When he re-read icha icha paradise in private, he was left speechless. He didn't know it looked this amazing (He absolutely did not cry in sheer awe and wonder. It was just a passing drizzle)

It is also a bit jarring, as he had trained to get used to the depth of the field and measuring distances from single eye, he now has to revert back, which is proving more difficult.

He accidentally poked Kurenai in the eye as he was talking to her when he saw her standing in front of Asuma's grave just like he used to. And she was mad at him for a while. Giving him a scowl everytime they met or came face to face. He did say sorry though. 

Also took her at Asuma's favourite restaurant, had his favourite meal, talked about this and that, which quickly turned about Asuma, and then the war. But he thinks they and had some good time. He never did that before, and was reminded by her, but he felt he owed it to Asuma, and also, she has become his friend over the years too, he realised. And the realisation felt good. It felt nice.

Although, he wonders if she's forgiven him yet for that eye poke as she did tell everyone about it and ruined his image as an porn reader and painted him as a gentleman. He shuddered.

It feels like he's back being a toddler taking his first step. Learning things again.

But he'll gladly take baby steps if the alternative is being caught tripping and falling down an alley, or from a tree because he misjudged the distance.

But he isn't labelled as the best for nothing. He'll get it in a week or so.

He saw the Hokage tower ahead and sped up.

He didn't find it weird that Tsunade sama summoned him into her office after midnight, considering she's been showing him the in's and out's of the job as the next in line whenever she got time, which was scarce as she's been stretched thin after the war with all the meetings with councils and delegations, also her obligations as the Hokage, overlooking the reconstruction of the village after Pain's assault, complaints of the citizens, and her duty at the Hospital as the main Head figure.

Not to mention, the immediate aftermath of a war is the most precarious of situations and has to be managed with severe caution. And she's been doing just that.

He respects her, and it's not just limited to that aspect.

Although from what he learnt when he visited Gai (or what he could, in between the shouts of Youth and Yes sensei's of his Youthful student) Shizune and Sakura shared those responsibilities and the workload amongst themselves. He has never been so proud of her before.

After hearing of this, Hinata and Ino also provided their assistance. They even handpicked couple medics from within their clans and offered their services, and requested other clans to pitch in their part as their duty towards the village, and to help the people however they can which was gladly received with thanks and gratitude.

They're already making good leaders, he thinks of the famously dubbed Konoha 12, thinking of the village as a whole.

Although, he likes to think they just wanted to get away from their clans for a breather. Ino in particular.

After all, being a clan heir and having someone breathing down your neck, scrutinizing you every minute all day is inevitable, but it can be very suffocating.

His steps faltered when his thoughts inevitably went to the Uchiha heir and he stopped completely.

Itachi. He looked at the moon hanging behind him, casting an illuminating sight.

He remembers when Naruto confirmed Itachi's mission when Yamato helped Naruto complete his report.

"You did well on escaping Tsunade sama and the Raikage, Naruto. Select few have ever escaped his speed and her fists unscathed." Yamato said.

"You bet." He pumped his hand with wide grin marring his face. "You know my father was one of them?" He asked with such enthusiasm Kakashi couldn't help his grin.

"Oh? I did not"  Yamato's eye lit up.

"Yeah. He said only my father was able to evade him at his fastest. And now I'm only the second one to do so. I went as fast as my old man did dattebayo"

'You did more than just that Naruto. You surpassed sensei' is what he thought to himself. 

Yamato, besides him gave him a nod accompanied with "You did." He seemed impressed so far by everything Naruto says. Well, he was not exactly active during the war was he. Poor guy.

"Now let's continue on ahead. We have to submit this soon. Before Tsunade sama chews out our heads." They all chuckled at that and he motioned him to speak.

"Hmm." Naruto sported a far away look as he tried to get ahold of his memories. "Yeah. After that the real me and octopops were gunning ahead to join the battlefield and.. oh" Yamato stopped writing and looked at him as Naruto closed his eyes. Kakashi looked up from his Icha Icha too.

He raised his eyebrows at the myriad number of emotions passing through his face, ranging from sullen then rage, to anguish, to grimace, to acceptance as he hung his head down, gritted his teeth and closed his sole fist.

Well... this isn't a good indication is it?

"I met the reanimated Nagato and Uchiha Itachi." Kakashi's grip on his book tightened, the same with Yamato. He did not know about that. Why didn't he know about that?

He knows what both of them are capable of, being in the recieving end of their attacks, but add to the fact them being reanimated and controlled by Kabuto made it worse that they had infinite chakra and healing abilities and no say or control of their actions in their fight.

Naruto raised his head and Kakashi could see so many raw emotions in those eyes, he had to avert his own eyes to not feel overwhelmed by them.

He knows that Pain- Nagato and Naruto came to an understanding the day they battled, and that Naruto felt thankful towards him for really opening his eyes to the injustice carried out in the world.

But still, he couldn't help but shiver slightly remembering the raw power he showed and his subsequent death at the hands of the Rinnegan weilder.

And Itachi... he doesn't want to think of him. He now knows that Itachi helped the shinobi world, in more ways than one, even after his death. 

And he feels the world would be in his debt, if they knew. But since Tsunade sama refused to give Itachi the credit and instead gave the sole credit to Sasuke, which, even he refused, citing he doesn't feel deserving. But still, in the official reports and records it says Sasuke was vital in undoing the Edo Tensei Jutsu. Which, while it was true, omitting Itachi's name didn't exactly feel right to him.

But thinking of all of this would only make him more angry. But at what exactly, he doesn't know yet.

It seemed Yamato had more or less the same thoughts as him as he side eyed him and he looked back and made eye contact.

"They both didn't want to fight ofcourse." Naruto's voice pulled them back. "But it seems Kabuto wanted me and Octopops dead as he controlled both of them and tried to kill us. It went on for a while, I went against Nagato and his summons with my Rasenshuriken and Octopops went against Itachi and his Genjutsu. We were all at a stalemate, no one was winning, but no one was losing either" Naruto, it seemed got over being sullen and now was back to normal.

"It was then, I confronted Itachi about all the things Obito claimed." Both Yamato and Kakashi waited with bated breath. 

"He.. He confirmed it was a mission given to him to eliminate the Uchiha Clan" He could here the sharp intake of breath from Yamato. But he refused to see anywhere else but the page of his book. "And in turn he would be allowed to spare Sasuke alive"

The ringing of his ears grew further and further. He gripped his book like his life depended on it. 

Also, it mattered not that he had read this page numerous times, all words to heart, but he only just saw the kanji of a certain word was a bit tilted of it's axis. 

Huh.

Just like this world, isn't it?

No! Not anymore. They've bled and died for a chance to make their own decisions, for a chance to make better choices.

"After that, Itachi used his Mangekyo Sharingan on me-" which unsettled both to no end "- and I barfed up a crow out of my mouth" both blinked their eyes in confusion and such an anti climatic change to their anticipation. Naruto's face scrunched up, while he performed gagging motion.

"You what?" Yamato beat Kakashi to it.

"Yeah. He put a crow into me when we met before his battle with Sasuke. He asked why was I so hell bent on following Sasuke. When I said that I considered Sasuke more of a brother than he ever did, he made me swallow a bird, which I thought was just a Genjutsu. But turned out it was real, and it also had a Sharingan eye instead of one of it's eyes"

'Huh. Yeah. Okay. Tooootally makes sense.' They nodded to themselves. Dumbfounded and stumped from the revelation, these were their only thoughts as they both looked at each other, their looks and body language screaming 'Is this for real?'

Well, they shouldn't really be surprised anymore by anything if they witnessed. The existence of Ten Tails, then the existence of Ten tails jinchuriki, then the absurd yet terrifying event of casting a Sharingan Genjutsu on the moon, which in turn casts a Genjutsu on everyone.

But what takes the clincher is the existence of someone like Kaguya and how she made her entrance, Kakashi thought.

Now that's a show stopper if there ever was. 

And then he was really interested ahead, but his mind was elsewhere courtesy of his perverted mind. He tried very hard ofcourse but, his thoughts had wandered around and made him imagine Kaguya as main lead in the Icha Icha series. His whole face flushed red when his mind conjured up the image. His blood travelled south to a particular point as he shifted in his position to accomodate his rapidly growing need of space.

He pinched himself in the arm for a few seconds, careful not to gain attention onto him. 

Naruto continued on, oblivious to him, about how Itachi escaped the Genjutsu, fumbling on a particular name "komo akatsuki" Tenzo and him both sighed as they knew that wasn't the correct name. He'll have to ask Sasuke perhaps.

It seemed Itachi too, had made quite an impression on Naruto, and he revered him like he was something akin to god- which brought him and Yamato great amusement watching him.

He returned to the present and clenched his fist, his mind still not processing the fate of Itachi.

A nameless shinobi, you say?

I wonder, did you made the right decision? He asked to no one in particular.

No, he refused. No matter what the situation, Genocide can never be justified.

He did not expect any rebuttal, so was surprised when his mind conjured Itachi's imagination from a long forgotten memory that answered him.

People only see what decisions you made, not the choices you had.

Shaking himself mentally, he quickly made his way and climbed up the tower, skillfully ignoring the voice.

See, he was the best at it.

Tsunade drank a couple of glass but then her eyes fell on the folders sitting on her desk. Daimyo's letter recommending stern actions against Sasuke Orochimaru and Kabuto,

She knew it just essentially meant they wanted a scapegoat to pin the whole blame onto and be done with it.

But she knows they can be inspired otherwise if they present enough facts of their necessity (so far she only saw Sasuke's necessity) alive and how their compensation can be accommodated in any other way.

But that was not what she was worried about. It was their council pushing for death sentence without any trials.

And to add to her ministrations, Orochimaru's and Kabuto's report were staring right back at her. 

It's old sentiments, she thinks, when she hopes that he may have decided to turn over a new leaf.

But as a Hokage, she couldn't take that dangerous a leap. Hopefully, she wouldn't have to make a decision over him. She may play the teammate bias card to fet out of making a decision if it came down to it.

And then there's Kabuto.

He mentioned in detail about him, the orphanage, Danzo, his mother, Orochimaru, Obito, Madara and lastly about his defeat at the hands of Sasuke and Itachi which led to the end of Edo Tensei jutsu and his experience inside of Itachi's genjutsu. It was marvellous to read about the existence of such genjutsu.

She was taken aback when he decided to comply with the interrogation, but she wasn't gonna look a gift horse in the mouth. 

And oh the incriminating things she found. It seems Danzo was left unchecked far too much. And in the name of the village, he played mastermind in the shadows. She felt a brief pity for Kabuto, but squashed it completely. He made his choices. Just like Orochimaru.

And no one was trusting them that they've suddenly turned to their side. Orochimaru was a snake, and going by Kabuto's own report, he was a spy. And a good one seeing as he was never caught. Deceit and backstabbing is in their nature. So both were locked alongside Sasuke. 

Although she think her ex teammate is just humouring her by staying inside. She damn well knows he could get out of it if he chooses to.

Kabuto seemed genuine, a tinge of remorse marring his features, but she still cannot be too careful with that slippery bastard.

But if he's genuine, it will take time to heal the wounds he's reopened during the war, but Konoha may have another Medical prodigy in their ranks.

It was then Kakashi showed up, always with that damned mask of his. He perched at the balcony overlooking the village, acknowledging her with a head bow. 

She waited for him to come in, but it seemed he was comfortable there. She scowled in envy. It reminded her of her own lack of rest and comfort, all the stressful situations she's been thrust into and made her mood further sour.

Kami, what had descended upon her to take up this job.

"You're losing your edge Hatake. Only half an hour late this time." She remarked.

"Ah. The owls were singing lullaby in my balcony. So I sang lullaby for them to return the favour. But they had peculiar way of saying thanks. Far as I know, only Ravens show gratitude by pecking someone."

"Funny." She deadpanned. "Here." She motioned the missive and the council's order to him. He took them apprehensively, and scanned it's content.

"This.." Kakashi looked at her bewildered, yet not.

"I can understand why the Daimyo would want their deaths. It's whole lot of bullshit I don't want to get into. But it seems someone's more interested in getting rid of them." She said.

"Although I'm keeping my decisions on Orochimaru and Kabuto open to discussion, but I'm not gonna budge on Sasuke. But it seems that it matters not that all the allegations against Danzo are proved. The council still want them dead, Uchiha brat especially with his Sharingan and the legendary Rinnegan transplanted ." She thrummed the table absent mindedly. Kakashi stilled at his spot, his gase hardened and eyes narrowed in anger.

"The fact is, Sasuke did kill a high ranking elder of the village. And the does law state to grant him death, but still.... And the honorable council want to see to it that those misdeeds of their misguided teammate are not out in the open, citing nonsense such as honour of the village." She couldn't help but snort in disdain.

"As if it matters anymore. We're finally at the brink of acquiring peace between all the elemental nations, yet those old kahoots still won't let go of their callous ways. Always saving their own heads. You know what? I smell something foul here that I don't like.""

"We have to keep in mind these are extenuating circumstances Hokage sama. We're not here to appease them-"

"Oh get off it, repeating my words won't solve anything." She grumbled. "And get off the damn window, will ya, you're blocking off all the good air"

"But the view here of the village is so beautiful to look at."

"Spare me your excuses Hatake"

Kakashi sighed 'The one time I wasn't making an excuse. I like sitting in places where wind hits my body. It's not fair' he pouted and reluctantly let go of his position and stood a few metres on the side.

"I think you should remind them of who you really are." She raised her eyebrow for him to elaborate "The granddaughter of the First, grand niece of the second, student of the third, not to mention one of the three legendary Sannin, The Slug Princess and the Godaime herself, Senju Tsunade sama" he paused "And, my most respected Hokage" he bowed for further effect.

'I hope I haven't lost my charm. It's been a while' he gleefully remembered the last time he sweet talked Yamato which resulted into him redecorating his house by his wood style jutsu. For free ofcourse.

"All you're doing is making me feel old. Is that what you want?" She asked him testily.

"Ofcourse not hehe" he replied sweat dropping.

"How is Naruto's report coming along?" Tsunade asked instead.

"Ah. It is time consuming. He had many memories jumbled because of number of his shadow clones running around simultaneously on all battlefields. Also he gets distracted so easily. Goes on tangents. You know him."

"How far are you?"

"I'm done with mine."

"So are you going to submit it anytime this week or am I have to personally ask it off you?"

"I've already mailed it"

A moment passed in silence as Tsunade looked at him as he was moron

"You've done wh- you know what? I don't even care." She interrupted her tirade as she pinched her nose in agitation. "However you do it, but your report should be on my desk by tomorrow evening, else you'll be writing everyone else's too"

"It will be done Hokage sama" he nodded quickly. Writing everyone's report didn't sound exactly fun.

A silence settled onto the room.

"You saw it, didn't you?" Tsunade said seriously, with stern eyes, and continued further without waiting for a response.

"He had grafted an arm out of my grandfather's cells and implanted tens of Sharingan into them. THAT SICK BASTARD! HOW FUCKING DARE HE???" She snarled and smacked the table with her hand, which craked, but still stood on it's hinges.

"Desecrating the grave of my grandfather, countless corpse of Uchihas's to use them for his nefarious gains. I'll never forgive him" She paused and took a deep breath to try and compose herself.

"Now I understand how the Uchiha brat must've felt. In between the both of us Hatake, I commend him for the kill." She held a malicious smirk.

"Well, Sasuke did save us from a grim future." Kakashi comments off handedly.

Hearing his tone, she looked at him and narrowed her gaze. It didn't take her long to reach a conclusion.

"You know something else don't you?"

"I do?" He asked innocently.

"Spare me your antics Kakashi. I'm no longer in the mood" she warned.

Kakashi's sighed and his whole demeanor changed into one of seriousness.

"You won't like this"

A snort was heard coming from her.

"Do you think I don't know that? It comes with the job. Pretty soon you'll be the one hogging the seat, so you better get used to it kid." Kakashi bristled at the term, but didn't let it show to prove to her that it did ruffle his feathers.

'I don't think I'll survive much if this keeps going like this' he thought to himself.

"A Senju dna mixed with an Uchiha dna gives one the power to gain control over the Kyuubi" Tsunade, eyes wide and mouth agape was left stunned in shock.

"It was how Obito did it all those years ago, and it was how Madara did it the first time. And, I think, it was how Danzo planned to do it."

"I see." was the only thing she said to acknowledge what she heard.

On the inside, she was numb with the information, and when it's implications hit her, she seethed and shook with pure rage and hatred she never felt for anyone before.

She wished she could revive him just so she could kill him again with her own hands.

Her killing intent was stifling the room and Kakashi had to take couple of steps back. Suddenly 4 ANBU's dropped into the room in reaction and stood in defensive maneuver, gauging the room for possible threats.

"Leave." She said in monotone voice and they left in an instant without any questions.

It was then she came to a certain decision, that will impact the village going forward.

"They need to go" She spoke vaguely, but Kakashi understood whom she was speaking of.

"Is that wise Hokage Sama?" Kakashi asked just to ascertain her firmness in her decision. "The council is needed -"

"Exactly. The council is needed. Not them." She interrupted. "They're nothing but relics of the old. They've been working during the time of tensions between the villages for so long, peace might as well be a foreign term for them." She snorted. "Wouldn't know peace if it stood begging in their face."

"You make a valid point. But how will you proceed? I don't think they'll give in without much fight"

"You forget Kakashi, it's the end of a great ninja war. A change of guard is necessary or risk consumed being caught unawares. They've been working at this position for far too many years now. It's finally time to acknowledge and celebrate their hard work, loyalty, duty and services towards the village."

"You mean to lay them off?" Kakashi asked increduously, though his voice sounded a touch optimistic.

"Tsk. It's such a dirty word. I prefer the term retirement."

"Forced retirement" Kakashi deadpanned. "I'll admit it's a nice enough idea and could work if all loose ends are tidied up neatly. But it will consume much time."

"That's where you come in" she smirked at him and her mischief adorned her eyes. Kakashi gulped.

"Me?" 

"Yes." Her smirk got wider. "You'll be the next Hokage. Might as well start looking for your own appropriate advisors."

"You basically thrusted the whole thing onto me didn't you?" He solemnly uttered.

"One of the perks of being the Hokage." She shrugged as she looked for a bottle of sake and glass.

"Now off you go, we both have many things to work with. And I better have your report on my desk by tomorrow." She sternly reminded him. Kakashi nodded and poofed out of the room.

"Shizune" she shouted. "Shizune"

The brown haired woman quickly stomped into the room with tonton safely tucked away in her other hand.

"What happened?"

"Oh nothing. Just want you to write a my reply to the council pertaining a certain request of theirs" 

Shizune didn't even have to see the bottle and the glass to know she's been drinking. Being around her for so long, only a look at her was enough to confirm that. But she's clearly in her senses so she knows she hasn't gone off the far end. Yet.

She took away the bottle but before she could take the glass, Tsunade quickly snatched it away and gulped down the contents. Slamming the glass back down onto the table, she smirked at her in victory.

She sighed, knowing she will have to be the mature one as always when it comes to her. But she loves her as a very big sister. Because she's so used to seeing her in this form, she tends to forget she's about 50 years old.

She took a pen and a paper and sat down in front of her. Tsunade bent forward and kept her ankles on the table, supporting her chin on her intertwined hands.

"Tsunade sama. What would you like to state in this letter."

Tsunade's face went serious. "This is an utterly serious matter Shizune. Any mistake and the whole Konoha would end up paying for it."

"Ofcourse. I would try my best to let your point through."

"Yes. I wouldn't expect anything else but best from you. Now listen..."

"Yes?" She started scribbling on a note to take the pointers.

"I want you to write a diplomatic letter. Apologising for not being able to comply with their wishes due to certain factors evolving and further complicating the matter. That we cannot risk making a decision without any input from certain people involved and they will have a heavy emphasis on how to proceed ahead."

Shizune thought for a while going through the notes and then smiled. "Hmm.. okay I can do that." 

"Anything else you might want to add?" She asked.

"Oh yes."

Shizune hummed and motioned her to speak.

"The reply must be strongly worded, showing the authority of the Hokage, and it must essentially translate to.."

"To?" She waited with a stilled breath.

"It must essentially translate to Fuck you"

An ear splitting "TSUNADE SAMA" followed subsequently by equally boisterous laughter rocked the Tower for few moments.

Chapter Text

Tsunade looked at the mission scroll and did a double take. She exhaled through her nostrils in a concious effort to not laugh at the contents as she looked at the person standing in front of her.

The person bristled at the look on her face "Please don't laugh Hokage sama. This is a serious matter"

Another wave of laughter awoken inside of her from deep within the chest as couple of them leaked out and threatened to overtake her, but she stifled the urge by clearing the throat.

"Ofcourse, ofcourse. We treat every client and their mission request seriously and with utmost importance, respect and care here at Konohagure." She tried to be serious, but failed to keep her face and eyes from grinning in amusement time and again, which she would then rectify with a cough.

The man looked at her defeated, resigned and desperate "Please Hokage sama. The shinobi san at the mission centre refused to lodge in my request thinking I am a troll-"

Tsunade could just imagine the deadpanned face and the snark he must've pulled. She cleared her throat to pass her laughter as a cough, but she knows that he's not foolish and he knows that he's being laughed at, but he continued to bear it.

"-and told me to drop my Henge or risk irrevocable damage to my self"

"Ah. I apologise for his rudeness. You see we have to check authenticity of every mission request we get. It's protocols. I'm sure you understand it. But don't worry we'll deal with it now."

"Thank you Hokage sama" he bowed deep.

"Is every information pertaining to your request in this scroll?"

"Hai"

"Alright. We'll send our shinobi at the latest to check this out and carry out the mission. Just pay the fees before you leave."

"Hai Hokage sama. And thank you. We villagers will never forget your assistance. You have no idea how much of a nuisance those pests have become in our village"

She couldn't control anymore and bellowed out loud, shaking with the laughter emerging from deep within her. The scrolls dropped from her hands and onto the desk, which read "Extermination of Rodents"

The dinner plan by Naruto was working well, if going by the smiles on everyone's faces, Kakashi thought. Since Naruto recently passed his Jounin exams, he wanted to celebrate with everyone, so everyone chimed in, some out of their busy schedule to meet and greet.

It was a rare night this, he admitted, where he had dinner with his team- his almost family of sorts, his friends and other regulars. It's been long time awaiting, where he could take a step back, and just relax. 

They all talked, or rather complained (bitched was the term Yamanaka used) about their respective responsibilities and works. 

Although, everyone mostly mingled with their usual quantities. Him with Kurenai, Gai, Tenzo, or rather, Yamato. Iruka tagged along seeing as he was elderly and nearer to their age more than Naruto's. But he mostly kept to himself though.

Well, It was going well, until Kurenai mentioned them of the misfortune run in his finger had with her eye.

The scathing looks he recieved from Asuma's kids and her own kids is something, he likes to think, is reserved for enemies. (Except Hinata- that kid is too nice for her own good) But he brushed them off by being nonchalant, relaxed and laid back like he always is.

It would have been better if she hadn't continued further. But no, she had to mention his once in a life time offer to catch up with a friend (and an apology mixed somewhere in there, that he is sure of) and now he's suffering for it. 

Just before, he had 5 kids on his back planning his murder in cold blood, but instead, he could look the their eyes twinkling with something akin to newfound respect and awe, and other grown ups glint with humour and mischief. 

But to his sheer incredulity, he saw couple marred with suspicion. It was his own students at that. Those brats.

Although Sakura was deep in contemplation, going by her narrow gaze.

And that brings them to the now.

"Whoever you are, you might have imitated Kakashi sensei good so far, but ahhaa, you messed up"

"Pray tell me, by doing what exactly" he humoured them, seeing as humour was exactly what was needed at the moment.

"By being a gentleman ofcourse." Naruto looked smug, nodding at himself, as if he had figured out the secret of life.

Annoyed, he looked at Kurenai and just gave her a look that screamed 'This is your doing'

She had the gall to laugh right at him, shrugging in return. He could see Gai's smile widen in glee besides him. Yamato was openly laughing.

Gosh, why did he agree to this. Such disrespect.

"He would be correct in his assumption, as Kakashi san is a pervert. Always reading porns in the public-" that was Sai. Kami bless him for his unfiltered mouth.

"Yes. Yes" Gai cut him off thankfully. "Now that I think about it, My eternal rival was never so budding joy of youthful energy. He always looked to preserve them for our challenges." Gai flashed his thinking pose, which looked ridiculous with his all green suit which he still insisted on wearing for this event.

"Kai" That was Naruto. Again. Kami, was he thinking this is a Genjutsu? He will have to talk to him about Genjutsu.

"Baka. It's not a Genjutsu." Sakura punched him in the head. And thankfully, it was without chakra, but Naruto still felt the bruise on his head. He might have winced if it was laced with chakra. But as it wasn't, he didn't.

She seemed to have reached a conclusion, it seemed from before.

Finally, he thought. She'll put an end to-

"It's obviously a Henge" she smiled sweetly at him. 

Uh Oh. Now that's a warning sign if he ever saw one. Her temper inherited from Tsunade sama is brimming beneath the surface. He just knew she was just playing along with it. He must've overdone with the whole wondering thing with Naruto and Sai.

Ino, knowing her best friend so well, was alarmed too. He could see from his periphery that she straightened and readied herself. Although, he wasn't sure if it was to reel Sakura in, or to leave at the first sign of sparks.

"Sakura chan, you're the best at detecting Henge. Why don't you try?"

"Baka. You have so much chakra, you can just overwhelm them with just your chakra alone. And then.." her sweet smile turned into wickedly smirk "leave the plummeting to me."

He felt everyone besides him back off from them. Yamato and Naruto shuddered with grave look on their face. He just knew what they were all thinking about. He himself shuddered too at that promise. Internally.

That was something he would like to miss out on. Preferably forever, if possible.

"Now now." He brought his hands up to appease them. "We all can reach a civilised conclusion to this"

"I think we're well past that point. Kakashi sensei."

"I'm sure we could sort something out?"

"No. As I said, we're well past that point"

"Are we?" He tilted his head. "There was no point pointed out beforehand, so you can't claim that we're past that point. And even if we are past the point, I can still claim that we are not, since there was no verbal or written confirmation or agreement of associating that particular point as a point regarding this subject of questioning the possible identity of Konohagire shinobi Jounin named Hatake Kakashi. So I regrettably have to inform you, your whole point is moot."

He enjoyed the feeling of watching annoyance slowly creep up those faces with every word he spoke and settle on a scowl.

Naruto and Sakura had their faces scrunched, Sai's face holding a slight frown on his lips. 

Gai, Yamato and Kurenai, who had gotten used to him over the years of his eccentric ways, just shook their heads and laughed at that. They knew what he was doing. It worked everytime.

"Way to suck the life out of a party sensei" Sakura admonished/lightly chastised him with a pat on his shoulder.

"Party pooper" Naruto spoke.

"Yeah. That sucked" Kiba uttered defeatedly with others nodding in admittance. "Our plan of getting him to remove his mask didn't work. At all. And it's all your fault Shikamaru" he pointed at the Nara.

Oh! That was news to him.

"Hey, it wasn't even my plan." He looked pointedly at Naruto.

"Heyy!" Naruto got defensive. "Don't you pin the blame on me. I was sure that he will be so afraid of Sakura chan's wrath that he'll offer to provide any proof we would want. And we could ask him to remove his mask"

Everyone looked at Naruto like he was a stupid. Which, Kakashi admitted, he kind of was with this.

"That was your super duper plan?" Ino asked, not impressed.

"What? The last time we all worked together, still it didn't work. So i thought we could get him to come forward on his own"

This went on for a while. It was fun listening to them bicker at first, but honestly this is just grating on his nerves and ears now, dragging on further and it just isn't funny anymore.

"Alright. That's enough now." He put an end to it. They all settled back into their respective seats.

"Oh man" Naruto sighed, having a far away look in his eyes and a wistful look on his face. 

"I wish Neji, Asuma sensei and Jiraiya sensei were here too you know"

The mood shifted into one of somber as they all remembered them, their ties, their memories and their sacrifice and they internally agreed to that sentiment.

They all silently prayed for them all, including Ino and Shikamaru's fathers and everyone who lost their life during the war.

Kurenai patted her bump, which was starting to grow bigger and bigger now as she was 8 months due already, remembering the man she fell in love with.

"We all wish they were Naruto. They are really missed." She gained everyone's attention as her eyes turned misty. "But they won't ever be forgotten. They have left their mark on each of us." She said as she patted her belly with a warm smile.

"They live on in our hearts as we each carry on their dreams, their legacy, their love and a part of them with us into the future as we make sure their sacrifice wasn't in vain."

"I'm sure, they are proud of us and love us immensely as their love transcends life and death." She said as a tear rolled down her cheeks and she wiped it and showed a warm smile to everyone.

They all understood what she meant and felt at ease at her words.

Kakashi thought it was enough emotions for a day for him as he couldn't help but go into a downward spiral thinking about everyone he lost. He got up to leave and everyone's eyes focused on him. 

"Couldn't have said it better myself." 

He made his way towards Kurenai with a smile and squeezed her shoulder as a show of support and she squeezed his hand in return as she too knows how much he has lost.

"Thanks Naruto. This was fun" he smiled. "And again, Congratulations. You still have a long way to go fulfilling your, father, mother's and Jiraiya sensei's dream. So don't slack off"

"Yes Kakashi Sensei." He gave thumbs up with a smile that spoke of his belief and confidence in himself. "I'll become the greatest Hokage. And I will continue their dreams and their legacy. So keep the seat warm for me will ya?"

"Yeah yeah." He waved them off and walked away chaperoneing Gai on his wheelchair, followed by Yamato, Kurenai saying their own Goodbye's, Thanks and Congratulations for Naruto. Iruka left too after reminding them to take care.

Everyone started speaking to themselves.

"Don't see Kakashi sensei like that everyday" Sakura said as Naruto agreed. 

"Dang, kinda wished Sasuke was here too. He's so missing out on this awesome party." Naruto admitted.

It caught rest of their attention and they side eyed each other in contempt, whilst some faces frowned in distaste.

"Yeah. Me too. But you know, we aren't even allowed to meet him." Sakura admitted, side hugging him with her arm around his shoulder. She squeezed him tight and let go, not noticing the shift of mood from their friends.

Sai raised his eyebrow as he watched them with keen eyes as everyone squirmed in their seats, eyes downcast, evading each other's eye contact. He understood their apprehension towards Sasuke. He too does not like him.

Although, he admits that he was surprised on Sasuke's decision to fight with them, but he was still sceptical during the war after his initial quip about being Hokage. It seemed he only wanted to help for his own gain, his own benefit.

And he proved him right ofcourse. He clenched his fist. He had never felt so much anger at a person as he felt at that moment, watching Naruto all smiles, despite his arm being cut off.

Everyone was stunned shell shocked at his appearance. Blood soaking from where his right arm should be. And the same state of Sasuke's left arm.

They didn't even get the time for prodding Naruto, before Sasuke fessed up about his actions, and to their shock, his decision to surrender.

"Not everyone here shares your opinions Ugly, Dickless" he casually addressed as he made them aware of their stance.

Habitually, they both bristled at his more than endearing terms for them and went to rectify him as usual, but they both paused mid actions, his words hitting them.

Their eyes widened as Naruto looked around at the group.

Sakura, just passed her gaze onto each of them without any emotions, not as surprised as Naruto.

Except, maybe Hinata, who looked guilty by her feelings, their apprehension and contempt towards Sasuke was as clear as day on their face for them to see. Safe to say they weren't thrilled about his return.

"Wha-Why?" Confusion and hurt passed through his face.

Everyone guiltily avoided his eyes, all except Sai, who didn't understood why everyone looked guilty for having their opinions and their emotions.

"We can't just forget everything Dickless. He hurt Ugly, he hurt you, he even hurt the village. More than once. And we can't watch the people we... care about being hurt. It makes me... more angry?" He posed it more of a question.

"I agree with Sai. I don't trust him. Who knows what he might do again when he gets the chance." Kiba said. 

'What he might do to you' he thought to himself.

Akamaru besides him nodded as if understanding what he meant.

Hinata besides him perked up and said "I don't want him to hurt you again Naruto kun"

"Hey I already told you, it's no big deal. We had a difference, but we settled it like we promised each other we would. Don't forget he lost his arm too you know."

"Look Naruto." Shikamaru started.

"It's not about whether or not he is back to being good again or not. It's about trust. The village doesn't trust him. Our trust in him was already fractured even before he joined Akatsuki. And it's completely broken after you both fought your battle."

Naruto took a long time to understand it and admitted defeat. Shikamaru saw the look and felt guilty for making him look like this as he thought 'troublesome'. 

"Look, I'm not saying it's completely a loat cause. I'm just saying he will have to earn back our trust and prove to everyone that he really is one of us now. It won't be easy. And it will take a long time."

"Yeah you'll see. He'll prove to everyone that he's one of us now."

"I doubt that he'll prove to us that. Why? Because he does not care what people think of him. He just does what he wants. He does not do himself any favours with his attitude and personality." Shino stated. "But we will see"

"Holy- Shino. It's you. I did not see you there" Naruto stupefiedly said.

Sai saw that during all this, Sakura hasn't said a word as she kept that fake smile of hers on her face. She must be hurting from the inside too much.

Chapter Text

It was a sudden urge to clear his choked mouth that caused him to regain a state of near consciousness.

He couldn't hear any sound apart from his laboured breathing, couldn't discern up or down of anything, but he felt something hard beneath his face. After a moment, he got hold of his bearings.

His neck felt stiff. He was laying face down on the cold hard surface. His lips felt something of an odd mixture of dry and wet.

When he tried opening his eyes, he was nearly overwhelmed by the fear and the sense of dread and helplessness he felt as the void of nothing-ness swallowed him whole and it almost drove him to the edge of sanity.

His throat went dry, he could feel his heart thumping in his chest and his heartbeat racing further.

My eyes are gone

He instinctively brought his arms and placed them on his face just so he could feel his touch. 

Ignoring the prickle of pain that shot through all his arm and shoulder which such quick movement brought, he shakingly felt every part of his face except for his eyes as he cupped his hands over them, covering them completely.

I can't see anymore

It was like a switch has been turned off that completely took away his visual sense.

It's in body's nature to reassure themselves after a loss of vital sense of information gathering, to compensate with the help of other senses. In this case, his body was instinctively reassuring him with the sense of touch to gather information.

But before he could mourn for his loss of vision, he could feel the build-up in his body, his inside's were quivering.

Suddenly feeling the urge to vomit, he instinctively brought his hands to his mouth.

Shuting his eyelids, scrunching up his face tight in pain, he bore it through gritted teeth.

Placing one of his hand on the groud, he heaved and turned himself on his side and hacked out, while the other hand covered his mouth. 

His whole body shook with the effort. It felt as if numerous sharpened hot kunai's were stabbing his throat and chest over and over.

He felt the warm liquid in his hands as they leaked through his fingers. He had an eerie suspicion that it would be mixture of blood and his inside juices as he doubted he had anything in his body to put out other than that.

When the last of the coughs left his body, he manuvered himself back to his previous position and let himself simply... be. 

It was silent. The air was still. He took gulp of air through his mouth. Suddenly, he was accosted with the whirlwind that were his memories.

Oh!

He placed his hand on his eyes again, 'or where they should be'  his mind provided. The panic settled in him again, but he gritted his teeth and held out this time.

Yes. 

I remember now.

He had set things in motion such so Sasuke would inevitably take his eyes. That made it easier to deal with it atleast. The fact that his eyes are proving to be Sasuke's light, it comforts him.

Yet, it mattered not anymore. 

None of it.

He was tired.

Drained. 

Exhausted. 

Physically. Mentally. Emotionally.

He could almost feel it. The disarray. The discordant within himself. There was a war waging inside of him. His soul and his body were at conflict with each other.

When his soul was recalled into the land of the living, it was a jarring experience. He was not simply meant to be there. But he was not alive, he was just in a not dead state.

But now.. that he has been revived, his soul yearns for what it had touched- rightfully earned- and had it snatched away from it so cruelly.

His soul screaming for the warm yet cold embrace of the merciful truth that death was. And what it represented- a true end, an eternal peace. Entropy.

Nirvana

Moksh

People fear it. Yearn for it.

And yet, here I am. Discarded. Again.

I thought you of all, would have mercy and take me kindly. He had a wry smile thinking that.

But I guess not.

He snorted, which quickly turned into hacks of coughs to breathe.

He tried taking a deep breath, but still found it an insurmountable task as of yet in his state. So he settled with small bouts of pacy breaths to keep his self alive.

His body is clashing with his soul- fighting for a semblance for life. For the painful illusion that he conjured up for everyone around him. That he eventually had to shatter through to give a semblance of peace to Sasuke.

His mouth pressed into the dirt as he thought about it all.

Life and Death

What cruel, cruel entities indeed. The two which couldn't be more opposite of what they represent - yet, two so intricately intertwined, they don't have any meaning without each other.

Death and Life

Yet, he felt he was somehow out of both of their grasp. He neither felt alive at this moment, nor was he dead.

Just cold, like the hard floor beneath his body.

Sudden anger surged through him, feeling the injustice of it all. And it just rose further and further with every passing second.

Why? 

He asked to no one in particular as he fisted his hands tightly, ignoring the prickle of pain igniting in his palm.

Why? 

He asked to everyone he ever knew as he scrunched up his face in angry snarl, gritted his teeth so hard they might crunch.

Why?

He snarled to himself as he lifted his knuckle fisted hand up and slammed it down on the pavement with no restraint.

WHY?

He ignored the pain and agony as he punched the ground again and felt his knuckles break and blood ooze out.

Why did it have to happen like this?

Wasn't it enough, that I have to suffer through this wretched life again.

Or I haven't atoned for my sins enough yet.

"No" He shook and discarded the thought as quickly as it entered his mind. His throat was scratchy and his voice barely made out of his mouth as a small whimper.

I cannot let my emotions cloud my judgements and sentiments yet again.

The past has ran it's course. And the only thing I can do is look ahead.

With a renewed vigour and a thought that he cannot continue with this mindset, he turned himself upside after much complaints from his body.

He closed his eyelids- he cannot let more dirt settle inside - and took few regulated air through the nose with much restrictions to calm his emotions and mind.

Although this is not the ideal position for him to meditate, but as long as he can concentrate, he will go ahead. He only has to calm his mind, control his emotions and recalibrate his mindset onto current circumstance.

The still air is beneficial, but the silence is not. The silence is the most scathing to him. After all, it is where the unspoken words are heard.

He wishes he was standing beneath a rain, the sound of the pelting water droplets soothing his ears. Lulling him into a sense of calmness he never reached with all the gruesome tasks he carried out all his life. Or simply let the voices of the forest wash over him, drown out all his inner voices and the ever constant screams of his countless victims.

That is the nearest he will probably ever get to serendipity, after all.

Drip

The sound of a droplet hitting the ground broke him out of his trance and he immediately frowned. 

Probably blood from his bruised hand.

Although he cannot bring himself to regret his action, it has become a priority to deal with.

He can feel the liquids on his hand, but because of gravity, he cannot differentiate which was from his mouth and which was from his knuckles.

Bringing his left hand to the other was quite the challenge and he resisted the slight anxiety that threatened to creep through him when he missed the first couple of times, but he pushed through and finally clasped his other hand which was shaking slightly with shock and pain. 

Touching his knuckles, he suppressed a wince as he felt through the bits of uneven open skin to assess the damage.

He wasn't as proficient as a med nin, but he knew enough basic medical skills to heal and survive without a professional. And had enough chakra control to advance a few of his healing jutsu. But that was before his chakra control started deteriorating due to his illness- which unfortunately for him, is still prevailing in his body.

Accessing his chakra took quite an effort. He frowned as he realised his chakra reserves were basically shot up. And would take quite a lot to even be enough to heal his hand.

He could technically force it, but he refrained from putting anymore strain on his chakra as it could pose more risk to his health. 

That was not the desirable outcome for him. It seems his body is in the exact state as he died after his battle with Sasuke.

So basic first aid would have to be applied, which would be quite impossible as he is at a severe disadvantage of not being able to see.

He mourns for his loss. His eyes that he was so proud of, yet simultaneously hated what it represented-

Fear and Loss

He breathed out.

And what is a Shinobi without their eyes, and who is an Uchiha without their Sharingan?

Utterly Nothing. A Burden

Is this.. how Shisui felt moments before his death?

He decided not to ponder for an answer. He would drown in the sea of answers he would find.

Chapter Text

One never realises the true value of something until they've lost it.'

With that thought in mind, he threw a stone to the left and held up an arm before his face just incase it bounces back.

He heard the stone hitting the ground.

Picking another stone, he repeated his actions, instead on the right this time, careful to maintain the same momentum and arc.

The sound it made was different than before.

Wall in about 10-12 metres in the right. Feels some kind of open area.

Cannot yet determine the way out based on air movement and sound alone.

He made an effort to stand up but failed, his knees and joints unable to muster up enough strength, but soon he got himself in a squatting position out of sheer will and grit and placed his hands on the ground for support and continued to get up on his two legs.

His legs shook with the effort, but he grit through it and managed to get up.

He scoffed at the inability of his body to stay upright without wobbling on the spot. His body and mind felt incredibly light and low on energy.

It seemed he would keel over at any point.

What a nuisance. He grimaced in irritation.

Placing one foot behind another he quickly stumbled his way to the predetermined path, keeping his arms in front of him as he reached the wall and made solid contact with his hands before his legs give in and he could fall down.

He released the breath at successfully reaching and then sliding down against the wall.

Anticipating the ground, he put arms beneath his body and with a thud he sat down. He let his right leg flat on the ground, as he bent the other knee upwards and placed his arm carefully over it for support.

Got to be careful I don't worsen my condition. He grimaced in pain.

Replenishing energy and chakra after I get out of this.. place should be my priority.

A pungent foul scent of his body odour invaded his senses and he twitched his nose.

I also need to find a water body to cleanse mys- The war.

His eyelids fluttered open in remembrance.

What happened in the war?

Sasuke.. what.. happened to Sasuke?

Anxious thoughts filled him, but determined to find out his brother's whereabouts and his well-being, he got rid of all distractions.

I need to assess the situation at the foremost. 

Although gathering information could prove to be tricky.

He'll have to risk himself in the open and in turn risk detection by others. And in this state he can't say he could lay low for long. With almost non existent chakra he could be spotted by a mere civilian and he would be none the wiser.

He understands the need to be extra vigilant, as to everyone's knowledge, he's dead.

And being found out will mean mean chaos, and instant death.

Although, he wouldn't say that he's against the idea, but would atleast like to know and reassure himself of his brother's well-being first.

Did Naruto fullfill his promise and bring Sasuke back to the light from the darkness he plunged his brother into?

He has faith in both Sasuke and Naruto that they will prevail.

He lost his hope in his clan long ago with their choice, but now he will prevail in his hope in his brother. He will not lose it.

Atleast that way.. it'll ease the guilt and regret that's been eating away at him for years.

And then... if Sasuke's well and truly embraced the light.. perhaps he wouldn't mind embracing the dark again.

He continues his ragged and shaky breathing and regularly tries to cough out the blockage he feels in his oesophagus.

Idly he wonders if the war is over and if they won?

Will this pave way forward to achieve peace?

Will his, and in turn Nagato's and Konan's true dream would ever come alive?

He still remembers the day he and Konan went on a mission as partners in his early days of him joining Akatsuki when he hasn't been assigned a permanent partner yet. 

It was a tough mission to accomplish even for his standards. 

It was also his first mission with Konan.

*Flashback*

"Do you want to strategize or want to handle the target on your own?" Konan asked besides him.

Is this mission a test to measure my powers? Gauge my battle abilities? 

I'm sure Madara has already filled them in.

Or perhaps they want to see me in action with their own eyes.

"I'd like to take on him first, get a feel." He contemplated how to word his thoughts. 

"It helps that this is going to be a direct confrontation away from prying eyes. After gauging his strengths and weaknesses I'll go on the offence. If you feel you need to intervene, just give me a heads up"

"Very well. What are your strengths?" 'and weaknesses'

She didn't made any inkling to that, but he heard the curiosity in her.

He narrowed his eyes infinitesimally.

She could simply hang back and watch me battle and make analysis based on my performance. What is she playing at?

It seems more likely this is to test my team work and my loyalties.  

Whether or not I can be trusted or kept on a leash. He scoffed internally.

It wouldn't be surprising if Madara will be watching too, or present for my report.

"Sharingan Genjutsu, Shuriken jutsu, Katon jutsu" he made sure to be keep his voice void of any suspicions.

"Shuriken jutsu" She spoke with soft words.

"What are your eyes truly capable of?" She turned her head towards him.

"I've heard tales of the terror Sharingan can wreck onto the battlefield. It will be a privilege to watch and fight side by side of someone who possesses these eyes in action."

That solidifies one of my suspicions.

"Ofcourse" she continued after a pause as she looked ahead. "But even those eyes are nothing against Pain sama"

He lost his interest in the conversation, and she could tell that. And besides, it was time he concentrated on his mission.

"I'll do my best to show exactly what I'm capable of"

*Timeskip after the battle*

"That jutsu you used.."

He regards her with caution, yet maintaining his calmness and continued his walk alongside her.

He doesn't know if he should share his trump cards, his Mangekyo abilities with her, but after careful consideration he decided to take a gamble.

Hopefully, it'll get her to answer some of his questions in return.

"The Mangekyo Sharingan" he replied tersely, causing her to look at him.

He morphed his eyes into the advanced form. "Pinnacle of the Uchiha clan's Doujutsu."

She continued to hold his gaze  unflinchingly with nothing but curiosity, despite knowing he could severely damage her with one command, if not kill her.

Not knowing if she was that confident in her abilities, or had suicidal tendencies, he simply morphed his eyes back into base Sharingan as they continued their journey back to the base.

He could see she wasn't sated with what he provided, so he continued what he read from the archives and what he learnt on his own.

"The ones to awaken this eyes gain specific abilities after certain conditions are met, which answers according to the user's need at the time."

A pause.

"In the left one-" he tapped just beneath his left eye "- which I used against Nahime, I gained Tsukuyomi, where I control everything. Time and space warps according to my needs."

"In the right, Amaterasu, the ever lasting flames that burns everything, even fire"

He gave her time to let the information settle in.

"Are you sure you want these abilities to be known?" Konan asked.

"Just because one knows about it, doesn't mean they'll be able to stop me." He shrugged. 

It was true. He doesn't know his limits yet.

A while passed before Itachi decides to prod for his questions.

"Konan san, Can I speak my mind?"

"What do you wish to say"

"I'm curious.. so to speak. The services we offer to other nations is not solely for accumulating funds for our organization is it?

The emergence of Akatsuki creates power instability and imbalance between the villages that they used to enjoy. We do not have any allegiance to any of them."

"Very astute for someone your age." Her eyes narrowed.

"Hmm" he merely hummed.

"We aim to get rid of the current shinobi system altogether and create a new one."

"What would be the point of that?" He is genuinely intrigued by that.

She was taking her time to answer his question it seems.

"Despair. Hatred. Vengeance." She started with solemn voice.

"The shinobi world brings nothing but pain and misery. The so called stability those five great nation savour, is built upon destruction and sacrifice of smaller villages like ours."

He understands it now that she says it. Being loyal to one village means holding no regard for the well-being of other villages or their people.

That brings distaste to his mouth.

It is a fresh perspective that he didn't think he'd needed after being so deep in his loyalty to his village.

"We shall bring peace to the world by carrying out our justice and see to it that no one will die an unnecessary death."

He can resonate with her sentiment. 

Perhaps she experienced war and bloodshed then, with Ame being used as a battlefield in the previous wars.

But it seems their ideals are.. warped. Twisted. Courtesy of their loss of hope.

It's so easy to imagine himself in her position.

But her last statement gives him a pause.

Unnecessary deaths. Sacrifices then, for the sake of their goal. 

Will it be us? Doing away with us after they reach their goal? It wouldn't be the first time he's heard of the tactic being used.

He mentally catalogues it for later.

"Peace." The word sounding almost foreign to him despite his goal of attaining it. "Something like that.. is it even achievable with people like us?"

He doesn't think so. At the end of the day, they are all shinobi. Killers. 

Bloodshed cannot ever achieve peace.

Despite his actions to preserve any semblance of it for Konoha, hoping that he has averted a major war from erupting..

He knows it in his bones it did absolutely nothing worthwhile.

He just pushed the looming crisis onto a later date for now. And his current company, other colleagues included, are the proof of that.

He can already hear the rumblings of something massive arriving.

He clenches his fists. Was his clan's sacrifice meant nothing then? His mother, father, Shisui, Izumi, Sasuke... his aunts and uncles and cousins.. Their sacrifice meant nothing?

"Yes" her firm voice brings him out of his thoughts. She held utmost belief in her vision. "For too long we've hoped that world would come to their senses and cease the bloodshed. But the time has come where force is absolutely necessary. We're doing this for them."

"Not everyone will agree" he puts it just because.

"They won't. But they already lost their chance to act. Some sacrifices have to be made to achieve peace."

He didn't say much after that. It gives him some vague idea atleast. Whatever it is, it is bound to be nothing but ominous.

Should I... Yes. Time to take the last and possibly biggest gamble of the day.

This could go either way. He needs to be ready if this does goes sour.

He made some back up Genjutsu in case if needed to be activated in a snap.

She looked over, scrutinizing him with her eyes. No doubt feeling his chakra waver for a split moment.

"And what if yours and his goals do not align."

They both stopped in the way, facing each other.

His shoulder tense, Sharingan blazing for any and every micro movement or chakra, his arms ready to shoot rapid fire kunai with hand signs for shadow clone to create distance after weaving a Genjutsu in an instant if needed.

She knows exactly who I'm talking about. She catches on quickly.

He sensed her chakra flutter for a bare moment before she got it back under control like nothing happened. Perhaps he caught her off gaurd. Perhaps she initiated her jutsu. He will wait.

Despite that, she was calm, looked regal in that robe. Her paper fluttering over her whole body and he tensed again.

"I see." Her voice was clipped, a bit tense.

"If he tries anything.. I'll deal with him personally." And her words were spoken with such certainty, with such belief, he believed it.

He got rid of the kunai, dispelled the Genjutsu weaved into the air and relaxed. (Although he still didn't disable his Sharingan. And he doubt he will trust anyone to ever turn it off.)

He nodded, acquiesced with her answer. And just like that they both got into stride and continued ahead as if they weren't readying for a battle.

Although he heard the threat for himself sharp and clear, if he tries something, he'll have to deal with her too.

"I like you Itachi, you're intelligent. Don't gamble your life on such petty threats. Instead provide your abilities to our cause, and we'll see to it that you'll have exactly what you need"

He doubts that.

"Hai"

*Timeskip*

"Why did you kill your clan? You don't seem like someone who'd kill just because you snapped." Her piercing gaze swept over him, judging.

"I was wondering when you'd ask" He was. It's not everyday that a prodigious 13 year old snaps and kills his own kin bare his brother. People are bound to be interested. Curious.

"Although, I'm grateful that you atleast had the decency to ask me instead of believing rumours and hearsays like others do."

Konan raised an eyebrow in return for his cheek, but did not say anything. He did get a slight upturn of her lips. He'll take that.

"There is a saying, 'A sword is only as good as it's handler'" he starts. 

He knows how to manipulate his actions with articulate words that people would have no choice but to accept it.

"I was molded into a perfect weapon ever since I was born.

And as expected I turned out to be perfect. I was everything they needed and wanted.

But they turned greedy, in turn making me too strong and sharp for them to handle.

And soon enough, all the restrictions placed on me in the name of responsibilities both by the clan and the village were severely limiting my potential.

So I judged them not to be worthy of me. I rejected them and decided to take control of my own destiny by carving my own path out of their blood."

He let the warning hang in the end too.

If he judges this organisation to be a waste of his time, he'll leave, but not without destroying everything first.

And judging by the nod he recieved, she understood it perfectly.

But he also remembers her previous threats. He lips turns in a wry smile.

Casually threatening each other. I didn't think I'll like the thrill of it so much.

Perhaps I'm being too carefree.

He hopes she reports this to Pain and Madara. Ofcourse, it was counter intuitive to his promise to Madara and his goal to keep an eye on them if they ever become a threat, but sometimes, bluffing and a thinly veiled threat go a long way.

Although, he prefers direct confrontations most.

*Flashback ends*

And that was also the day he found Akatsuki's goal. Much as misguided their actions behind it was.

Peace

From the first moment he stepped in the organisation, he knew his peace and their peace meant entirely different no matter his actions- which led him to the organisation in the first place.

He was... Disappointed so to speak. He expected much more. It could have been much more.

Although no matter how much he tried to give credit to Nagato for his raw power and his control over the mythical Rinnegan and his firm ideals... he really couldn't. Not fully. Not when he found out what was really going on.

He was so drowned in hatred, he couldn't even see when he was being played all along.

He still isn't sure how much was his own plan, and how much was Madara scheming for his own gain.

But after meeting Nagato again.. it seems catching jinchurikis was all Madara's idea.

Or whoever was impersonating as Madara his brain provided.

And Konan? She was not one to be trifled with.

She was staunch. Resolute. Unwavering. 

Always speaking with authority that only battle hardened shinobi have.

He knew if he let his gaurd down around her even once, she was capable of outright devouring him.

But she was too loyal to Nagato to really do anything worthwhile in his opinion.

He reckons if Nagato and Konan had stood by their initial ideals despite other's meddling, perhaps they would have achieved it.

But who is he to judge them, he too couldn't exactly stay loyal to his ide-

"Caw caw" he snapped out of his musings by the familiar yet distinct sound.

"Yatagerasu?" He asked bewildered as he faced towards the direction the sound was originating from. 

He was surprised to say the least. Because the last time he saw him, he burnt him with Amaterasu.

Chapter Text

Bad News!

Couple days ago my mobile ended up dead, out of nowhere, without a chance of me to salvage any data from it.

I Iost all the notes which contained ideas and topics I would divulge into related to this story, which was equivalent to 12-15 chapters, easily.

I'll try to remember those ideas again ofcourse, but I know I won't be able to, hardly a few of them if i'm being honest. I've been collecting and harbouring ideas for months before I even decided to start writing this story

So, what i'm meaning to say that this story will take a massive hit in terms of quality and time it takes to update regularly.

Hope you understand, I'll still try my best though, regardless of this.

Chapter Text

Yet another Author Note for you to share stuff with everyone.

I have been having new ideas for Itachi centric fanfics. Mostly it's similar to this, like the whole premise would be how would this particular Itachi with all the ghosts of his past ingrained into his soul settle down in another world, where things are better than here, like no uchiha massacre, his life is better, his relationship with his family is infinitely better, shisui is alive. You know, his ideal world and all.

But I won't be writing it those ofcourse, it seems too daunting a task for me to explore all the range of emotions and feelings he might get to experience and feel.

The other is simply a Modern AU where I give him the best life, explore his career, his social life, his romantic life, and also his day to day life.

Another one that's stuck into my mind is what if Akatsuki was formed during the peak of Madara and Hashirama and in turn Uchiha and Senju rivalry.

There were many, many clans at the time, all in constant war with each other (not just Uchiha and the Senju) all over the shinobi world. Taking sides, backstabbing the other, many enemies, competing for the contracts/clients and all.

The akatsuki members have their own reasons to join just like before. Some are tired of the war, of the bloodshed, and all the disparity it brings. Some want to usher a new era of peace, some want to pass their time, some like the security it brings, some like the money (lol everyone knows who I am talking about here)

They're like 'You want war, I'll show you the real meaning of war' and stuff.

Like all the members are there as were before except for Orochimaru.

And no Kaguya stuff. No black zetsu.

Obito has joined as Tobi, because he wants to protect his identity from the Uchiha clan and not to be roped into the war after he lost his lover in the war. He grew bitter of the world. He has both his eyes and MS.

Nagato and Konan still lost Yahiko. It was then Nagato lost hope in Yahiko's dream of bringing peace through understanding each other and decides to do stuff his way, he'll force the peace onto the world.

Itachi was involved in the front lines but after losing Shisui on the field, he questions the meaning of war and gets depressed and all. And decides he does not want to partake in a meaningless fights/war and aims to end it. Obito contacts him and makes him an offer to join which he accepts. He does not suffer any illness. He takes shisui's eyes so no one else could.

There is white zetsu, but no black zetsu.

They first try to build their reputation, network and clientele. Get funds rolling it. Get established. But their main end goal remains the same, to get rid of all fighting and wars.

They believe there is no right or wrong in war. So whenever they see a fight/war going on, they come and destroy everyone involved without any discrimination of right and wrong. Hoping to send a message to everyone.

Ofcourse I thought more than that, but this is the gist of it.

And please don't take this idea from me. I might decide to write it one day. Just wanted to share with everyone.

Now onto the current story.

So I'm ready to continue this story now. I have to say I got a bit down on losing all the notes. I lost all the urge to continue. But now I think I'm getting back to continue this so hopefully I'll be updating this one soon.

See y'all soon. Thanks for showing patience and being understanding this past days.

Chapter Text

A figure stood in a forest in his black cloak fluttering in the wind. Several red and white patterns could be seen etched onto the cloak. He flared his chakra minutely in a certain pattern.

Moments later, a black bird silently landed on his outstretched arm, claws wrapped around his arm for support, cocking it's head to the side with the same red imposing eye as the young man boring into the figure.

"I have a mission for you" the same cold, detached tone as always. It never liked it.

The crow rearranges itself on his arm so it can look at him with it's own eye and glare at him. It found out very soon it cannot fix a glare with the other eye. And even then it is futile in front of him.

But it is irritated. It does not want to leave. They may not speak or understand all intricacies, but they're still intelligent creatures. It knows what's going to happen next.

The figure showed no emotion and kept his face blank, although inwardly he chuckled slightly at the behaviour. He couldn't help but find it endearing.

"This is your last mission"

A sharp sting erupted in his arm followed by a hoarse "Kraaaaw" from the crow. It's glared intensified.

He could hear clear indignation and protest, combined with scarce traces of warning in it.

He scrunched his eyebrows at the reaction as he felt blood ooze of his hand slowly where it dig it's claws.

He knows that it knows he cannot afford to lose or use any more chakra. He will need every last bit of it. And performing healing consumes a bit more chakra than other ninjutsu.

So why...?

He Mangekyo'd his eyes and squinted to see less blurrily.

Ah!

Now that the blur of fog has become tiniest bit apparant, he can make out certain cues. It got a wry smile from him.

The downside of thinking logically and having total control over your emotions (or being totally detached from them in his case) is that it takes a while to realise when it comes to this matters.

He brought his other arm to gently caress it's head and neck with his knuckles, and lastly bringing it beneath it's beak, where he knows it likes the most.

"It's been 16 years hasn't it?" It doesn't like the tone. It hates that. It doesn't want to part ways just yet.

"Kraww" it bobbed it's head the other way. Perhaps seeing that eye will bring him to his senses it hopes.

A ghost of a smile passed through his lips.

But it was wiped off a moment later as he sensed the person of interest in the outer edges of his sensing abilities.

It was dejected to see that blank look settle on his face again, but relented in the end, knowing the moment was over. And it knew what he was asking of him was seemingly of more value to him than his own life.

"I am programming Shisui's eye." He tone was controlled, clipped. The bird acquiesced easily, presenting the eye and it turns into its advanced form.

He made a few hand signs and placed his hand on its head and let his chakra mingle with Shisui's. After a while he was finished.

I have instigated and inspired Sasuke in a way that I thought would give him a drive and an aim to conquer. But simultaneously, I overlooked numerous vital aspects, which changed the circumstances which led to this fateful day.

He loathes himself for his actions. He not only went against everything Shisui asked of him, went against his clan, killed them all in cold blood, but also broke his father's last wish, decieved his brother, sowed the seed of hatred deep inside Sasuke that has grown so potent that it drew him to such lengths.

Personally, he feels they are his worst crimes, forever carved deep inside his soul, despite the few henious one's he committed since joining Akatsuki.

But it is too late to change things now and he knows it. And his already fragile body does nothing to aid him either.

Perhaps, his death would give Sasuke a way to burn all hatred inside of him. Give him a sense of closure. Finality.

Even you don't believe that yourself. His mind provides. Else you wouldn't be doing this. He dismisses the train of thought entirely.

He needs to show him what Mangekyo are truly capable of. The downside to it. Make sure Sasuke takes his eyes.

There is so much untapped potential in Sasuke. It pains him to know he wouldn't get to see him grow even further.

But there's also the need to keep Madara away from Sasuke.

He fears Madara scheming and getting Sasuke involved. He is not that of a fool to wash his hands off another set of Sharingan.

He has a planned a gift for Madara if he ever came for Sasuke ofcourse.

But if Madara does succeed...

"It will activate once it comes into contact with my eyes. I sense that it would be beneficial to have you as back-up." He continued after contemplating in his thoughts.

"Although, hopefully.. it wouldn't come to that." He whispered to himself as he looked to the sky. It looked the barest of blues to him covered by all the greens and browns of the trees.

"Make sure to erase your traces after the genjutsu has been casted. Shisui's eye is still dangerous" He says looking straight at it. It bobs his head up and down in acceptance.

"Start your own journey after this." He paused. "See where it leads you." That's all he could say at the end.

He so desperately wanted to say 'Keep an eye on Sasuke from time to time' but kept his mouth shut. Its not it's job. Its his.

He looked in the direction where the chakra has grown nearer and nearer to him.

The Kyuubi Jinchuriki. Uzumaki Naruto.

The one person stubborn enough to still see Sasuke as salvageable apart from him. Always risking his own life for him.

He made signs for a shadow clone and nodded to his clone when it popped into existence besides him.

The crow looked at him for the last time, hoping to get this moments permanently etched into its memories with the Sharingan.

It then flew away with the clone, both knowing it's the end of their partnership.

None of them shed a tear despite that. They knew it was coming since that fateful night. They didn't need to prepare.

They both didn't care much for each other beyond conventional summon and a summoner relationship.

It knew because he didn't show much emotions with other crows.

They all selected him because of his nature.

He kept them around because they were intelligent, crafty and useful.

It knew that he only kept it besides him all the time because it has his best friend's eye. It can be useful where other ravens cannot. He cannot afford to lose the eye and it knows it.

But even if they both felt sadness linger in them for a brief moment, they dismissed it entirely.

They both still have important job to do.

"Kraww" the shriek was the first thing he heard after coming back to his senses.

The sudden loss of vision after the end of Genjutsu was disorienting. It threw him in a spiral of anxiety and as a result, his breathing turned heavy. But he managed to get his bearings by clamping his hands on his knees and mentally reassuring himself.

He laid his head back on the wall and breathed out.

"Hmm" he responded.

It cast a genjutsu using Shisui's eye. No wonder it even fooled me.

He could sense the crow due to their connection as it flew towards him, but it was not needed for longer as it settled down on his arm which laid outstretched on his knee just as before. He can almost feel the piercing gaze of his summon at him.

"Kra" it was the familiarity that allowed him to sense the bewilderment from it's tone. He feels it must be from seeing him alive again, or the state of him.

"Later" he dismissed it's inquisition. The crow made a noise of displeasure at that, but he ignored that, he was growing desperate. "How did events unfold ensuing my departure?" He asked, his throat dry with anticipation of various scenarios spinning in his head.

Yatagerasu jabbed at his arm with it's beak few times with intent to communicate. As he uncoveres the codes, he breathes in sharply.

'Moon' 'Bright' 'Genjutsu'

His body went rigid when he understood- Infinite Tsukuyomi!

The name in itself bears of its malevolent nature. It makes his hairs on his back raise straight up.

He only heard the term 'Infinite Tsukuyomi' from Kabuto when he was spilling the plans Madara wanted to enact upon the world. He didn't think much about it at that time. But he should've.

The name itself gives him a few ideas of the nature of the jutsu. A Sharingan induced, similar to his own. But it seems more powerful, and something incomprehensible in it's sheer size.

He doubts he could've resisted such a jutsu.

But then a different fear gripped him- what if Sasuke's trapped in it. 

No! He refused his own mind telling him that this Jutsu is way bigger than anything any shinobi has endured or will ever experience.

No. Every Jutsu has a weakness. Sasuke may be rash, but he is intelligent. Resilient.

I have to believe in him.

I have to.

..

Because, What other choice do I have?

Yatagerasu continued his jabbing, which prompted him to snap his attention back to his summon and he was glad for that.

'Over' 'quick'

He released the breath he didn't know he held. He knows what that implies. The enemy wouldn't just undo their jutsu after everything.

'It's over'

His chest felt lighter, as if a great weight has been lifted off of him.

'It's over.'

Sheer relief passes through him and his body sags against the wall. After everything, it's finally over.

He could feel Yatagerasu perch on his shoulder, caressing his watered cheeks. Surprised, he brought his hand carefully to his cheeks and yes, he was shedding tears. But he didn't bring himself to wipe them.

Are they of relief? He asks himself. Or joy? Or sadness? He doesn't have an answer.

'It's finally over'

Although he is confused, why does he feel sad. The war is over right. He should be happy.

A new red dawn has arrived right.

So then why does he feel the need to cry? To mourn?