Still Sasuke POV~

I was up and running as soon as Shikamaru was out of sight.

Orochimaru? What about him? His hideout?

I grit my teeth. Shikamaru intentionally let that little detail slip, knowing I'd be curious. He wouldn't do that unless he wanted me to respond in some way. 

In the beginning, I had mixed feelings about Orochimaru. But now?

I hate that snake bastard.

I never liked him, honestly. He was a source of power for me. It was a simple exchange: he gives me strength, I give him a new skin-suit or whatever shit when the time came. But after endless days, weeks, hell, even months of thinking I grew to resent that I depended on that asshat for power.

If I was going to be powerful, I wasn't going to cheat. I would still kill Itachi, get my revenge, but I would do it my own way, not through his fucking manipulation. 

Naruto himself had said it, after all. If I gave in to the temptations of the curse mark, I'm weak. It didn't fully make sense to me for a long time, but he turned out to be right.

I was weak. Blind. So, so easily influenced that I was disgusted with myself for falling for it.

And there was no way in fucking hell that I was going to let that filthy serpent get away with it.

I arrived at the Hokage tower, careful not to seem to desperate. After all, I couldn't let them know why I was here just yet. No doubt Shikamaru was already inside. If I recall, Kakashi should still be here too.

After taking a deep breath and composing myself, I settled my face into its usual unbreakable scowl and walked in.

It looked almost like happenstance that I walked in to the Hokage office (without knocking, obviously, I'm not that kind of person) and happened to overhear Tsunade telling Kakashi about Orochimaru's hideout.

"Orochimaru?"

They both turned, mixed expressions on their faces. Frustration, concern, other things I didn't bother to decipher. 

"Sasuke. What are you doing here?"

I frowned at them both. "What were you saying about Orochimaru?"

They both glanced at each other, then back at me. Tsunade started,"It isn't anything that concerns you-"

"What do you mean it doesn't concern me?" I shot back, a sudden surge of anger erupting from within me.

Tsunade sighed, muttering something suspiciously similar to, "This brat" and said, "We located a possible location of one of Orochimaru's hideouts."

I blinked, surprised. "What?"

"You heard me, gaki. We might have found Orochimaru's hideout. And before you get all excited, no, you're not going."

The anticipation that I didn't know I was feeling deflated at that moment. "Why not?"

They didn't answer. One look was all I needed to confirm what they were thinking.

They don't trust me. 

After all this time, they don't trust me.

I wanted to be mad. I wanted to resent them for it. I wanted nothing more than to feel some sort of anger at this situation.

But I couldn't. All I felt was the sting of something painful, deep in my heart. A mind-numbing clench in my chest that coiled tightly in the back of my throat.

I felt betrayed.

My thoughts drifted to Naruto, his face popping up in my head before anything else.

This is how he felt. His whole fucking life.

Well, shit.

I wanted to say something, but I didn't out of fear that the most I could manage was a weak little squeak.

My carefully crafted poker face was falling apart, just as Naruto's couldn't stay in one piece forever. The realization of the truth was only now hitting me.

They don't trust me.

They never did.

What am I to them?

And, the one that baffled me for so many years;

Why do I care so much?

It was painful, this feeling it reminded me of that night, seeing Itachi's face after he -

I shook my head, trying hastily to keep my expression as blank as possible. Kakashi was watching me carefully, the Hokage as well. Suddenly, I heard.

"I don't see why he can't."

Every single train of thought in my brain came to a halt.

I glanced up. Kakashi just shrugged. "You are part of my team, aren't you? You have every right to go on this mission."

I could only stare as Tsunade gave Kakashi a look that he returned without waver, a silent conversation happening between the two of them. Tsunade then just sighed and waved me out.

"Go away, brat. We're still discussing the accuracy of this report and team arrangements. We'll call you back once we're sure."

I just blinked and left without a word. I didn't know what to say, with my head whirling as it as. But Tsunade's response, it wasn't a no.

It wasn't a no.

Naruto POV~

'Isobu!'

"ISOBU. STOP IGNORING US LIL BITCH."

Another rumbling voice rose up in my consciousness, "Okay, okay. Jeez, Kurama."

Kurama just huffed. I smiled slightly. It took a little while, but Kabuto and the boy had gone. I listened in from the bushes, only managing to catch Kabuto call him Yukimaru, assuming that was the kid's name.

'Uh, you know like a shit ton of people are coming after you? I wouldn't be surprised if all the Hidden villages, the Akatsuki, Orochimaru, and that random guy we walked past all show up at this lake within the week.'

I heard Isobu scoff, "Wow, kid. You sure get cocky when you're not looking directly at me."

I pouted, 'I'm not being cocky. I'm just sayin.'

"Whatever you say kid."

"Shut up, you damned turtle."

"Why are you so mean, Kurama?"

'Anyways!' I clapped my hands together in an attempt to stop their squabbling, 'We need to decide. Isobu, there's a chance that if you move somewhere else, sneakily, you can slip by right under their noses and escape without getting caught. Or, you can stay here and act as a lure to get our enemies here so we can defeat them, despite not being sure if we even can defeat them. It doesn't matter if you don't want to, it's not like Kurama's going to come and beat you up if you refuse, but we need your answer in order to plan ahead.'

Isobu snorted, "I'm not running away from a bunch of puny humans. I'm staying right here. Do what you want."

Kurama huffed, "You just know that I'm here to save your ass if they get you. And you better not slack off and take this easy, shithead."

Isobu spluttered, "I am not, stupid fox! Show a little gratitude. I am a big key in your super plan, after all!"

"Hardly."

I sighed and dragged a hand down my face. So much for stopping their squabbling. Ah, well, this was a given when it came to the Tailed Beasts apparently.

It was kind of endearing, anyways, hearing them bicker like this.

Two indignant voice shouted into my head, "I HEARD THAT."

Kakashi POV~

"Are you absolutely sure about this?" Tsunade asked, her caramel eyes boring into me dangerously.

I sighed and leaned back against the far wall, trying not to feel pinned by her gaze, "Sasuke is not the same revenge-driven boy he once was. I will be there, along with several others, so there is no need to worry about him attempting to go rogue again. Besides," I ran a hand through my hair, "I don't know exactly what the two of them spoke about, but I'm 100% sure Naruto gave him a firm talking-to during his last days in the village. He's changed since then, and I doubt he'd try going to Orochimaru again now."

The Hokage's eyes softened slightly at the mention of Naruto, but her tone didn't waver, "If you really aren't worried, then I let it happen. It's been three years. Let's see how strong his resolve is."

I huffed a laugh, "I have no doubt his resolve is strong. He's always been like that. Always doing what he set out to do."

It broke my heart, seeing Sasuke's face after being told he couldn't go on the mission. His normally blank expression had fallen, revealing a twist of emotions that wrenched the knife in my chest. I knew that look all too well. 

He felt backstabbed by the very people he should be trusting. 

Sasuke, no matter what he did, would always be one of my students. I wasn't willing to destroy that, no matter how doubtful anyone else is about him. 

Tsunade dragged a tired hand down her face, "The council is going to kill me."

I just shrugged. "So, team formations?"

She nodded, "You will be the temporary leader of Team 8 in place of Kurenai. They are a team of true trackers, so they'll be quite helpful. Since stealth is of the utmost importance, we can't send in too many of you at once." she leaned back, "So, I was thinking having your team on standby, near the area, while you and team 8 check it out."

I considered this. "Hm. That sounds good. But who will be in charge of my team while we're doing that?"

"Ahem. That would be me."

I didn't look towards the voice, "Tenzo. I was wondering what you were doing there."

Tenzo cleared his throat, "Ah, well, please don't call me that in front of the others. My name will be Yamato for this mission."

I nodded. I noticed Tenzo, for all his ANBU-trained moves, relax slightly at that. I couldn't help the amused twitch of my lips. He was always overly respectful towards me. 

"Tsunade-sama, may I ask why we're appointing an ANBU to assist in leading the teams? No offense, Tenzo."

Tsunade just nodded while Tenzo muttered a "none taken."

She leaned forward, clasping her hands in front of her and meeting my gaze knowingly. "You already know why, Kakashi. You're a smart man. But I'll explain anyways, just to make things clear: there is a very high chance Naruto will be in the area. If that is the case, Yamato's wood style will be helpful in catching him."

I nodded, deflating slightly at her words. She noticed, but didn't comment on it. After all, no matter our personal feelings, the village came first. Letting Naruto run amuck, noticeably at least, was not something we could afford to do at the moment, especially with all the shit the other Hidden villages were giving us recently.

Tsunade sighed, closing her eyes, "Danzo has also insisted that Sai be a part of this as well. I will warn both of you to keep an eye on him, since no doubt you are already suspicious of his true intentions." she reopened her eyes and locked me in her gaze, "Be careful, the both of you. This is a risky mission, even riskier than it seems on the outside."

Tenzo and I didn't need to look at each other to know we were in agreement. Once we both nodded our affirmation, Tsunade waved us out. Tenzo, shooting me a respectful bow (I could imagine him saying something along the lines of 'you will always be my  captain' if I even attempted to stop him) promptly ran off with a whoosh of air. I sighed and made my way out the window.

"See you later, Hokage-sama."

I leapt out before waiting for a response, hearing a faint "USE THE GODDAMN DOOR" in the distance.