Sweet Dispositions

-Chapter 50-
Standstill

A million I'm sorry's sound off in his head. He hoped that they reach Hinata. Everything washed them away. She blinked faster. She blinked fast when she was about to cry. Her chest trembled a bit, she bit the inside of her cheek and her eyebrows weren't so smooth anymore.

His neck was cold. He doesn't think he deserves the scarf but maybe he needed it. His neck is really cold. And she's the ice queen once again.

This left him with a bitter taste in his mouth. He said the worst things with the best of intentions.

Damn it. He punched the wall and threw the necklace. It skidded across the hall.

It's a red diamond, extremely small and precious. It was expensive and he found the chain before the Uchiha houses burned down. The blood red reminded Sasuke of a live Uchiha eye. Hinata deserved to have one.

Has his idiocy put wool over his eyes? He doesn't know. Sasuke felt like he was justified to some extent.

Hinata called him a monster in a dark hole of sadness! She didn't want to marry him after the slightest fight. They never really fight. Just little spats here and there. How could they survive the serious stuff if they can't handle something like this?

It was big. He proposed- and panicked. Now that they're in this situation.

He said a lot of things that he regretted but not all of them were true. He just... wasn't ready for marriage. Maybe he should have listened to her. Talking when upset was a bad idea. It escalated everything.

He can't marry her because he could die at any moment. There's a huge difference between losing a husband and losing a boyfriend. He could spare her a lot by not getting too close. He loves her but it's good like this.

He kept on lying to her about everything. He will die. He can't hurt her more than he already has. Maybe admitting would have helped some. It would've.

Her love has been going on some six years and she probably has no plans to stop. And if she has that stubbornness in her when he's gone, he'll never forgive himself. He would admire her for that but be so angry.

In all of his brooding and pacing, he didn't notice a random woman staring at him with such blatant disapproval and disgust.

Temari looked at him with turquoise eyes. She never seemed mean, like what Shikamaru said, until now. Her kimono dress was a dull shade of purple. She had this weird cactus hairstyle.

Temari didn't look happy with him. She waited for an opening and looking at her just gave her it.

"What?" Sasuke sneered.

His voice echoed in the dim wooden hallway. Dark wood that shone with decorated hanging photos of all the important things to have happened in Konoha. It was all photographic evidence for glory.

Before, with Hinata, he only spotted the happy, satisfied men smiling at the camera in the separate photos. Now all he sees are the big noses, downturned brows and scowling faces.

Temari's heels clacked against the floor but were subdued by the carpet she stepped on.

She folded her arms, stopping two metres away from him. "You are really all that they've said, aren't you? A heartless killer of relationships. How could you say she wasn't a wife? That was worse than mere brutality."

Sasuke glared. "If you've come to lecture me, go waste your words on someone else."

"I'm not wasting my words, you idiot! You watched her leave?" Temari threw her arms up. "Why do you hate marriage? I know you want her. Why do you hate something that will give you happiness?"

"We're shinobi," Sasuke sighed.

It explained everything. They will literally all die if he wasn't careful. He doesn't want to think of the consequences because it's fatal.

"Possession is the beginning of loss, no matter who you take on, we'll all be gone." he finished.

"So?" Temari's voice held contempt. "I should just blow you out of Konoha. Maybe even the damn country!"

"We could die at any time and it seems like marriage is only good for wedding planners and divorce lawyers," he looked over at her then at the exit where Hinata left through.

The glass was still on the ground with the bruised but delicate flowers.

"You are so fickle. Don't you love her?" Temari asked nonchalantly.

All in all, yes. He just can't say he doesn't though Hinata is annoying.

"Yea-"

She punched his shoulder. "You are an ass! You could say it to one of the many people you dislike in this vast world but not her?" she hit him again.

It felt like a breeze. She couldn't give him any real damage. Not like what he did. Ah. He's starting to feel like shit. He fucked up... Fucked up.

Sasuke got out of the line of fire and looked away. "You're not important. With her... Anyway, there are consequences for those who are important."

"You don't even need to answer that question. I see it in your eyes. You're in love with her. Hinata wants to be the center of attention, be the prettiest one standing before the man of her dreams. To celebrate her love. Everyone would be there just for her and you. Get decorative. She set up her future. There's more than a certificate, a huge wedding- it's... it's more than you know." A reflective look passed over her angry expression. "Is it that you don't want to get married because you haven't found the right person-"

Sasuke interrupted her. "I found the right person. She's the right one. The one."

"Then why don't you act it?"

"I don't want to change anything!"

Temari stomped her foot. "I don't know how she has the patience to go in circles with your sorry ass! Much less a marriage!"

"Haven't you seen how marriages are done? An old-fashioned, religious thing that suffocates you and your budget. Why can't you just live with someone and be done with that? I don't need a public ceremony. I don't need the weird traditions either. It's just a label and I hate labels."

Temari rubbed her temples and closed her cold eyes. "Does Hinata care about religion? Does she pray, at all?"

Sasuke shook his head. She doesn't really pray.

"Haven't you lived with her for five years?"

He nodded. Why was she asking all of these questions?

"It wouldn't be any different than living together. She'll still annoy you in the same ways. She'll still make you happy and do whatever to help you. Apparently, Hinata hates crowds. You don't have to follow traditions and no one cares if you're married, take it from me..." she looked away.

"Did you want to get married?"

Temari looked at her hand, longing and weird. "It was political. All out of fear between the politicians of my village of Sunagakure and Konoha. We needed a better relationship for the exchanges of resources. We also needed mutual trust. I'm three years older than Shikamaeu but he acts like an old man, plays shogi and smokes all day."

"So it was fake?" he deduced. All marriages end up unhappy. Why the hell isn't she saying that?

"Kindly be kind, that's my sensei said then I liked him," Temari said firmly. "I admit, there was a leftover attraction from the times we met for diplomatic reasons. Sometimes, some get married out of love as well. And I'd like to believe the latter. I just wanted to honour him, the one I loved, for the rest of my life."

There are deep entanglements. It's ruinous but it's also what a lot of people want because it's just saying you're going to honour this person for the rest of your life. People tie hands and Temari makes it sounds like someone's making something really beautiful. Keeping their wild, desiring self in check and being given to another person in this dependency.

"Trust is a foreign concept but you trust her with your kids and your heart. You and Hinata already act like a married couple. Finances. Brushing your teeth together. Going grocery shopping, dancing in the aisles and pissing off the neighbours. She talked about you and how good of a person you were. I am not even convinced. You are pathetic!"

Sasuke ground his teeth and curled his fist. "You don't understand this. Why are you even talking to me? You aren't friends with Hinata. I can barely remember your name!"

"So what if my name isn't important? You just broke your future wife's heart over the doubts you seemed to harbour."

"Get out of my business, blondie," he said firmly.

"You know what, at least my guy was a man! Shikamaru married me. You won't even give Hinata a chance! Why would you call her needy and lie about all that you feel? If you're not truthful with her, who will handle you and keep up with all this madness? I understand we all have varying degrees of PTSD and-"

"The last person I said 'I love you' to died because of my brother. Anyone I love dies! If I even forgive myself, I don't deserve to live. I can't escape anything. I live with the pain I caused by the Uchiha massacre."

She sighed. "Don't focus on the dreams that didn't come true. The pain and those losses are not going away, honour that and accept it."

"What-"

"Get over it! Pain lives with you whether you know good or bad. Whether or not your whole clan died. Whether you love someone or not. You honour that pain."

"You can't tell me how to deal with grief!" Sasuke roared.

Temari folded her arms, squeezing tightly. Her black nails dug into her sleeves. She was unimpressed and still numb. "I was in your shoes. Get over the murder that comes with your shitty, dark family and past."

"You're being a bitch!"

"And you are a coward! Only cowards do not get what they want since they do not have the courage to get hurt," she yelled then lowered her voice to the monotone drawl. "Do you believe that Hinata can't hold herself? Or that you won't save her?"

"I won't be able to save her! From my life. It's dangerous. She can't endure me. I am destruction and decay." Sasuke finally admitted. Can anyone?

No sympathy happened to crash into her mossy wave-coloured eyes. "I survived Gaara. I endured a lot of bullshit. Trust me, we all endure."

"Don't compare us!" Sasuke shook his head. "You have no right."

Temari rolled her eyes and spoke in a quiet voice. Suddenly silent. "Don't act like you're the only victim. We all wrap trauma into a box and ship it off. Or we open it to conquer ourselves." she said with a small, tight tone.

"You've never lived through a massacre. Much less have your sibling do it."

"Ah. You really like to think you are the only one with problems." Temari laughed, her teeth white against the colour of her lips. "I've lived through more than you can count. My hopes. My aspirations as a kunoichi."

"That doesn't fucking count. That doesn't make you miserable." Sasuke grumbled.

Temari pointed to him and narrowed her eyes. "Misery isn't a competition. We're all suffering in the end, it doesn't matter who felt it or who got hit the hardest. We all had little massacres of our own."

"Why should I believe a word you say?"

Temari held up two fingers. "I have seen twice as many people get killed in the hands of my five-year-old brother in a day either in another village or mine. Gaara was addicted to blood and the gore and the screams when Shukaku awakened. It was like his wish come true to see the moon dipped in all the blood he shed."

Sasuke knew all of this. Gaara just... seemed so fucking composed and slow. He didn't seem like a murderer to Sasuke. He was awkward but he knew how to run a country with his somewhat impressive jutsu.

Temari deliberately slid back a mauve sleeve. A faint but long scar of pink against her tan skin jumped out. "Gaara gave me this when I tried to kiss him goodnight. He gave one to Kankukro too." she lowered her arm, hiding her cut. "All the other ones have healed. I lived with a curse for a while. I couldn't get what I wanted because of the nobles, the failing economy that hasn't changed even now and the threat of being assassinated for fun by my kid brother."

Damn.

"I was terrified of him for fourteen years of my life. Those that Gaara killed were my village people. They all were important. My surrogate family but they were all afraid of me because of the sand demon,

"I knew most of those who died. Many of them died on missions. I didn't know them but I knew Suna. They were dear family since Gaara's birth killed my mother, my father died and my uncle tried to kill Gaara... I know what it was like to lose people that are important to me and getting married when I am terrified of it," she sighed, "but I got married. I lost good people. I forgave him. I forgave myself for surviving when they didn't."

How? "How could you do something so selfish?"

"It isn't selfish. Saving yourself isn't selfish. Self-care isn't selfish." Temari sighed.

All of this frustrated his will. Marriage put high and costly obstacles in between them. They made a huge layer of embarrassment. Ah. This all sucked.

She looked down. "You weren't allowed to be yourself, a happy, strong child. You tortured someone else five minutes ago because you torture yourself every day. You can love yourself and the people you've lost and Hinata. All this needless pain because you want to marry her."

"What... What about-"

"Get over it. I'm not going to sugarcoat anything. It's. Needless. Pain."

No one has ever told me to just get over it. She's a bitch but I guess I'll take it? I dunno, Sasuke thought.

"You've never said if you liked being married to Shikamaru. Cigarette guy. Are you?" Sasuke asked.

She rocked on her heels. A reluctant smile on her lips. "I've always tried to get him to stop but I drink as much as him and we get drunk a lot. You can't train the love of your life to be better. They're not a dog. That's the person you're going to spend the rest of your life with. If she still thinks you're a good person, take it all. All of that. Be grateful she's always on your team."

Sasuke looked down. Hinata loved him. For some sick reason.

Temari shrugged. "If I can survive someone because I love them, doesn't mean she can't. Besides, you get to change. You decide to change. Will you ever change? 'Cause Gaara did. He's a Hokage with a village that depends on him. And maybe you'll never be okay and the survivor's guilt will eat away at your insides but you deserve happiness."

"I don't deserve something good like marriage. Everything else were plain ol' excuses. I'm not ready to deserve something good."

"When will you be? You have a beautiful woman, kids that adore you, loyal friends and the world at your spindly fingertips. You've accomplished that with all of your cracks and crevices."

Broken birds. They're all broken birds trying to fly.

She looked at her hands. "It's a choice to be broken. On the other hand, maybe we're broken so the light could get in?" she walked up to him then patted him on his shoulders.

Was... she grooming him? She was shorter but she brushed him off with a determined expression.

"Sasuke, go get a dick, stop feeling sorry for yourself and just get over it. I did. You can do it too." she looked at the fallen marigolds. "Clean up that mess too." Temari huffed with a sense of finality.

Sasuke scoffed, craning his neck to look at the bold, prickly blonde. "You're not my wife. Don't tell me what to do." Sasuke gnarled.

Temari petulantly stuck out her tongue. "You wish."

No. No, he doesn't. He looked off to the side, the bitter taste returning. He doesn't think he wanted to marry Hinata either.

"I want to give you advice. Just marry the right person. If you got sin inside of you, I've got survivor guilt, too. Then you don't have to be in that prison alone." Temari looked at him. "Change isn't always bad. Most of the time movement means progress."

She gave a small smile before turning away. He almost saw her go around the corner but one thing nagged him. Did she say she was happy? That she was in love?

"Are you happy? You've never answered that." Sasuke called out.

Temari turned back around. Her not so cold eyes wandered his face. "Just say you love her and that's how you get the girl. Loving someone doesn't mean their death sentence."

He frowned a bit. "That isn't a fucking answer."

"I know, Sasuke. I know." Temari's melancholy and steps waddled down the empty hallway. "Good luck."

One particular feeling passed through him. He looked for the discarded necklace.

That made him carefully scoop up the necklace and sigh a bit. If this were a ring, would she accept it? He should move forward with all of his breath.

He should.

  ¤¤¤

Sasuke has looked all over for her. He even asked around but everyone seemed to be in this state of astute panic. All the shinobi were on guard and were speaking to the kids in harsh, firm voices.

In the living room, near the table, Sasuke crouched down to look at his mildly panicked kids too.

Sasuke saw Benjiro and Taiyo, stoic and standing tall. Well, as tall as eight-year-olds could stand. Amarante clung onto his leg and Hiromitsu glared at Taiyo.

Taiyo smirked. "Just because I pushed you doesn't mean you won't forgive me. I'm still your brother."

Sasuke flicked Taiyo's forehead. "Don't push your siblings."

Taiyo held his forehead, scowling a bit.

Hiromitsu beamed. "Ha!"

Sasuke shifted to Hiromitsu. "Also, if someone- anyone hurts an Uchiha, push 'em back or use the good ol' sharingan on them, alright?"

Hiromitsu nodded but Sasuke looked at him for a moment. Hiromitsu does have the sharingan and the byakugan but he would never use it in combat. He's too gentle. Hiromitsu just doesn't like fighting. Sasuke accepted it but he wasn't sure if his shinobi society did.

Sasuke reached out and patted his son Hiromitsu's hair. Sometimes being gentle was better than being a reckless soldier.

The other little munchkins ran around as well. Why weren't the kids with their parents?

"Hime, where's your mother?" Sasuke asked.

Amarante shrugged, trembling a bit.

Sasuke scanned the surrounding area. Her chakra... signature and residue aren't even in the area. He doesn't know. She knows the first thing to do in dire situations like these is to remain calm and tell someone where you are. Why would she leave like this?! Was it because of him? He knows he isn't all... the prince charming and he can't appease her but she wouldn't just leave. He hated it but she still comes back even though he ruined her. He doesn't want to be... married but he doesn't want to be alone. It's just- argh. Fuck. Where was she?

Suddenly, Karui gave Sasuke a strange look. Accusing and confused. "Why are you still here?" her golden eyes quivered.

Sasuke didn't know how to answer the question. "Because... I want to? Why?" Sasuke scoffed.

She wet her lips and crossed her arms. "So, you don't care that there have been bombings and you'll not defend your country?"

Then it was Sasuke's turn to stare blankly and watch Karui. He got to his feet, tense and uneasy. "Bombings?"

She nodded twice. "Calculated explosions. Casualties off the charts and we're next." she coughed loudly. "So, what are you doing here?! All the other shinobi were deployed to different nations and you seem to not care."

Sasuke blinked. Bombings? Now the panic made sense. Shit. Shit. Shit. Where's Hinata?

"What do you mean there has been calculated explosions? Are there bombs in Konoha?"

"That's what Kakashi and Naruto want you to find out!" Karui looked around. "I needed help to heal those who have been affected. I-"

Where the hell was Hinata? She's fine. She's gotta be fine. Right?

Sasuke took off after smiling at his kids. He tapped them on their foreheads and they looked worried.

"Take care of them with your life, Karui!" he yelled.

"Sasuke! You can't just LEAVE!"

"Just do it. Mitsuyo will pick them up."

  ¤¤¤

Two hours later.

This. Is. Fucking. Awkward.

If Sasuke had any reason to never listen to Kakashi and his orders, he would have cashed them in right now. But Sasuke didn't, so he's here and feeling numb. Sasuke kicked at the red carpeting the hallway offered.

There were a series of explosions in all the major countries. Sunagakure wasn't hit.

Sasuke looked at Naruto, cross-armed and annoyed. They're waiting outside of the Kage's office.

Naruto doesn't have that shit-eating grin on his face and he wasn't worried. He seemed calm and controlled. Sasuke wasn't too miffed either. Everyone was in a panic, helping the patients that got hurt. People are getting deployed to different cities to help.

Sasuke and Naruto were just stewing here in this earthquake. It was like the earth was shaking and what could they do? Nothing.

"Where's Sakura?" Sasuke asked. Maybe Hinata sought out Sakura to work on patients.

Naruto shook his head. "Working. She's already on her way to Iwagakure since the most casualties occurred there."

Fucking dark. Most casualties?

"Hm."

A woman Sasuke wasn't interested in strutted past, nearly tripping with all of her papers. She cried out, almost hollering.

She looked at her fallen papers and back at Naruto. "And Naruto-sama just had to see that..." she face-palmed.

Sasuke would have laughed- that was so like Hinata. She dropped important things all the time.

Then he noticed how all of the stranger's steps were so fluid and intentional for a supposed clumsy person. Even her facial expressions were well-timed and perfectly attuned to Naruto.

"Oh- Ohta-chan. Did you get those files for Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto asked the passerby.

Sasuke stared at Ohta, confused when he got a good look. Ohta had shoulder-length brown hair, pleasantly round features, round eyes and a forgettable face. Perfect for being an undercover shinobi.

Ohta-chan seemed stressed out by the situation, really caring about Konoha. Yeah, whatever. Something was off about her. The rest of her outfit was plain with big frames that couldn't contain the mischief in her expressive, huge eyes.

"Yes, Mr. Uchiha-sama? Is there something on my face?" she got nervous and covered her face.

Sasuke leaned in, his nose inches away from hers. "You're strange, Oda-"

"It's Oh-ta. Ohta!" she corrected firmly.

"Who cares? You're really strange." Sasuke whispered. His stomach twisted when they made eye-contact.

"What? Do you think I'm suspicious? It's not like I'm hiding anything." Ohta said sincerely. No signs of dishonesty.

"Yeah! Stop bullying her," Naruto said.

"A dishonest person continues to lie." Sasuke hummed.

"Don't be rude, she's my trusted friend and Shizune-nee-san's assistant when she's outta here saving lives."

"Yeah. There's the difference between you and I. You trust everyone."

"You don't trust anybody. Even Hinata said something about that. You've got trust issues." Naruto hissed.

Hinata spoke to Naruto about Sasuke?! What the fuck was up with Hinata?

"Who dies quicker? The idiot who takes everyone's word for truth or the man who questions everything?" Sasuke shot back.

"Bah! I prefer to live in a world with good people who are inherently trustworthy." Naruto looked away. He was cheery and kind with Ohta. "Ohta-chan, get back to work. We need your expertise, alright?"

Ohta saluted Naruto, her glasses sliding down the bridge of her nose. "Yosh, okay, Hokage-sama!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. Why was he here, in this situation, with these two bimbos?

Naruto got sheepish and rubbed the back of his neck. "Er, I'm not Hokage yet."

"Well, in my heart you are," Ohta said, cheeks red.

Sasuke held back the vomit in his mouth. This is a scene from an office romance movie Hinata watched. He's ashamed to recognize it. Does... Ohta have a crush on this tool?

Naruto, a married man, melted at the subpar compliment from the subpar woman. "Aw, thanks."

Ohta sighed and looked at the rest of the fallen sheets. She collected them all except for the one Sasuke snatched out of her hands.

Watching the killing intent in her eyes, he realized just how calloused her hands were. She had worker's hands, much too hard for a woman who supposedly worked with papers and keyboards all day.

Sasuke crumpled up the piece of paper and tossed it down the hallway.

"What is this, fetch?" Ohta turned around, cheeks flushed. "You are such a jerk, Uchiha! I should kill you for that!"

"Sorry. My hand... slipped." Sasuke whispered, too much of a slant in his posture.

Hinata's necklace slid out of his pocket. It landed on the ground with a thump. Both Ohta and Sasuke made eye-contact as he scooped it up for safe keeping.

She wasn't meant to see it but she brought it up nonetheless. "Pretty. Is it for Hinata?" Ohta asked Sasuke.

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. Naruto shifted. "You know our Hinata-chan?" he asked, voicing Sasuke's question.

Sasuke glared at him. Our?

She turned to Sasuke. "You guys were on the news. You are a sexy couple with sexy jewelry." Ohta laughed. "Take care of it well, Mr. Uchiha-sama."

Sasuke heard a threat. Why did... he hear a threat? She scampered away. A whole veil of malevolence was lifted. He could suddenly breathe again.

"Our Hinata-chwan?" Sasuke asked testily.

Naruto rolled his eyes. "We're both her friends."

"We have four kids together," Sasuke added. Was there any point in reasoning with Naruto? "We live together."

Naruto shrugged. "Oi. Same thing."

Sasuke was surprised Naruto passed grade preschool. It wasn't the same thing.

Naruto looked at Sasuke sideways. "And to think Kakashi and I wanted you to be a supporting-Kage. You don't like people at all. She could've been your employee. You can't be rude to the people working under you! That's jus' plain cruel."

If Naruto wanted to complain about Sasuke's rudeness, he should join a support group or a line. Sasuke waved away Naruto's odd words. So Shikamaru wasn't lying. Hm. Sasuke still had bigger problems.

"How long have you known Ohta for?" Sasuke asked Naruto.

"We met six years ago when she was hired by Kakashi after a year if scouting for trusted assistants."

Did they not scout hard enough? She's strange... "What rank is she?"

"Chunin."

"From where?"

"I dunno. Why do you care?"

"No reason." Sasuke looked down the empty hallway. She's just suspiciously blending in with the mass with no personality. Every reason.

Twenty minutes passed without conversation.

Naruto sighed loudly in the background. "Can Hinata stay with the kids?" Naruto questioned.

Sasuke didn't answer.

Naruto flared his nostrils, continuing with a pause. "Where is Hinata? We have to get her in the hospital. Maybe she left alre-"

"Hinata would never leave without telling me," Sasuke snapped. "She would stay with the kids and find their father."

"But-"

"You know she's good for other things than taking care of kids or healing people. Che."

Naruto pointed a finger to him. "I wanted to know what happened to her. Temari said you both were talking before she ran out crying."

"That's none of your business!"

Flashes of anger coloured Naruto's accusing voice. "The bombings happened. I'm worried for her safety."

"Oh, that's rich. Safety? You care about her? What about all those times when you were kids and you ignored her?"

"I let her down gently. I was too busy with the Akatsuki and Kurama to be involved with anyone." Naruto narrowed his eyes.

"You were constantly involved with Sakura. You fucking hurt Hinata in deep ways that echo in my relationship now."

"You did the same stuff to Sakura and you act like I am the bad guy. Sasuke, I'm real tired of you doing that dog shit."

"I didn't love Sakura. Not the real love or whatever."

"Same goes for me and Hinata," Naruto said resolutely.

Sasuke sighed, huffing. Kami, talking about his feelings made him sick. Just sick.

"Then by any means, tell me- who the fuck is at fault? Who's the bad guy?" Sasuke demanded.

Naruto looked ahead. "I don't know, alright? I don't know."

"That's what you're good at, Naruto, not knowing."

"Why won't you just quit it?" Naruto squawked, throwing his fists up in the air. "You got Hinata, you got nice kids- why are you still angry at me for marrying the woman you don't love? You shouldn't care about this!"

Sasuke blinked.

Naruto said something that floored him.

Yeah, he was pissed that he didn't have an answer but also irritated that Naruto of all people identified this problem within him. Not even having a civil conversation in like nine years and Naruto could read his mind.

Tch. He didn't know why he cared.

"You-" Sasuke started.

Suddenly, the door opened and people walked past. Kakashi's audience shuffled away with grim expressions.

Kakashi looked stern and serious. He stood in the somewhat empty office, stressed and stationery.  "Come in, now," he said loudly.

Sasuke moved first and Naruto also tried to walk in at the same time. Sasuke glared at Naruto. Naruto did the same; none of them backing down. Both of them didn't fit in the doorway.

"What happened?" Naruto asked loudly, pushing past Sasuke.

Sasuke wanted to brush it off. He really wanted to but his patience was thin and Naruto is just the fucking last straw that breaks the camels back. Kakashi shook his head. Sasuke paused. Fine. He won't do anything.

Kakashi gestured for both Sasuke and Naruto to come to his desk. Like a blizzard, he pushed everything off of his desk in haste. They had signatures and other stamps.

"Tha-" Sasuke whispered.

"Sasuke, there are more important things to discuss," Kakashi said, lowly smoothening out the map. "It would be nice to care for others at this moment, more than ever."

Sasuke clenched his fist. What, was it insult Sasuke day? "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"I'm not sure where your loyalties lie. You do not cooperate with other shinobi who will be your comrade in arms. They will be the ones you must carry on your back and you deny most of them," Kakashi said seriously. "If you do not want to fight, stay behind us. You will become a burden if your indifference gets in the way."

Sasuke clenched his jaw. "That isn't how I treat life. I value life, protecting civilians is my duty. I want to work with shinobi in times of peril. If I get hurt, that means I wasn't strong enough."

Naruto nodded. "Kakashi- I want to fight too. Tell me whose ass I have to kick."

"That's the problem; we currently don't know." Kakashi looked at the map and pinned a thumbtack. "Around forty thousand people died instantly and about half that are critically injured in Iwagakure."

Sasuke didn't see that number being thrown around anymore; since the war, casualties have only stayed in the hundreds, not thousands.

"It was an ambush with simultaneous bombings, with strong hints of dynamite, nitroglycerine, and black powder. Most likely mostly primary chemical explosives were used and some fire users with the likes of prominent Uchiha. They struck the rural areas that devastated their crops and gave a shock to us. Its rural areas had the most damage but the populated areas had more casualties. Reports of the Tsuchikage's base being wrecked are coming in." Kakashi continued.

Not only are their lands conspicuously destroyed, but there are also no people to cultivate it. Naruto growled at the news. Sasuke simply shifted on his feet. Well fuck. He's used to genocides, organized death but not in Iwagakure. Why would anyone want to bomb the land of Iwagakure?

"It seems as though Kumogakure and Iwagakure were the only ones to bear victims. Many believe that Konoha is next. Our cryptologists are on the move to inspect every inch of Konoha for potentially targeted zones." Kakashi sighed when he looked at Naruto. Steam poured out of the blonde's ears.

"Why didn't they solve this?! There's all that carnage and we had the power to-" Naruto demanded.

Kakashi closed his eyes and slammed a fist on the desk. "Calm down, having a clear mind is essential for being Hokage, a leader to the people," Kakashi looked at Naruto with tranquil eyes but all of his limbs were infused with tension.

"Kakashi-sensei, those people are dead and it's the Hokage's job to take action, be hasty when people are killed by maniacs!" Naruto yelled.

Kakashi stood to his full height, instead of being hunched over the desk. "We didn't have any choice. From above, it was said the formation of the planted bombs was in a crown. The attacks from whoever attacked were systematic. We knew it was happening. We just didn't know where and when."

Naruto was about to kick up a storm.

"Another important thing to learn from this internship is that Kage can't always save everyone," Kakashi winced when he moved his shoulder. "Some people are as tenacious as cockroaches or as delicate as flowers. It can't be helped."

Naruto glared at the ground, struggling with the facts.

"What was your sign?" Sasuke asked.

Kakashi put another pamphlet on the table, between the three. The letter read; It now begins, Hokage. I will burn all the birthplace of the Uchiha and slit the throats of my enemies.

Sasuke... heard that from Hinata. Hiroki or whatever said that to her. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Naruto asked Kakashi.

"I receive threats like this all the time. Desperate moves from desperate villains who mean nothing but to cause harm. Normally, I like to pass on troubles that mean nothing." Kakashi said simply.

"What was so important about this one? We're wasting time focusing on the wrong matters." Naruto said quietly.

Kakashi cleared his throat. "It was given to me by Hanabi's fiance. I haven't had the chance to talk to him. Only twenty minutes before the attacks."

Sasuke looked down. Fuck. So Hinata wasn't just being super self-conscious. That guy was seriously shady.

"What is it, Sasuke?" Kakashi asked.

It's just that Hinata was on high alert with Hanabi's fiance. "I think that-"

Suddenly, the door was burst open. A red-face assumed secretary was there, a note in hand with tears streaming down her face.

"Ohta- we are in an important meeting," Kakashi said sternly.

Oh yeah. That's what Oda looked like. How peculiar.

"Hokage- pardon my rudeness-" Ohta panted, sobbing and taking deep breaths.

Naruto immediately went to her side. They seemed to know each other well enough to offer physical support. Naruto does trust too easily, unaware of the vagaries of human nature. Ohta took his support, practically leaning on him.

"What happened?" Naruto demanded.

"Oh! Naruto it's terrible. We have just received a new development on the bombings! Another series of bombs have been set off in Kumogakure..." Ohta cried.

"Those damn villains, who did this?" Naruto snarled to himself. "More casualties from Konoha! Our people were already there and now- damn it!"

Sasuke's blood boiled. That was his home for five years. He still cared about the people.

Ohta still seemed devastated. "It's a dark day for Kumogakure."

"What else is there?" Kakashi said.

Just then, a surgeon in a blue plastic gown and rubber gloves soaked in blood stood at the doorway. The glare of her glasses was stoic.

The feel of the air was suddenly sinister. Sasuke felt like more bad news was coming in.

"What... is it?" Kakashi asked again.

"A message from Kumogakure, the Raikage's left-hand men," the surgeon holding the phone said.

Another surgeon's calm, calculating voice came into the room from the phone. "It was a short surgery, simple even. The message became closer as we identified his body. He died in my arms. I apologize to the family and friends. The lady Raikage wanted to inform the sixth Hokage Kakashi and Hyuuga Hinata. I failed to protect him. I'm sorry."

Naruto stood taller. "Wai- who died?"

"It was the Raikage. The fourth Raikage has fallen due to his critical injuries."

Naruto cursed under his breath, relatively calm and tame for Naruto.

"My condolences... I called him for reinforcements..." Kakashi sighed. "This is not good in a time of war. What security measures need to be taken?"

"That is being processed right now. A draft of our battle plan will be faxed over in about ten minutes."

Everything went quiet for a moment like Sasuke didn't understand.

The Raikage died which was funny because that guy is-was... a tank. A real tank. A tank that drank tea with Hime and danced with Hinata. Taught Sasuke diplomacy and actually helped the boys with hunting, their lightning jutsu and taijutsu. His office... was the kids' playground and they sat on his weights.

A's obscenely large thousands of pounds weights that he bench-pressed casually. Who will lift those weights since their owner is... dead? What does it mean to be dead?

Dead. Dead. Dead, that word is foreign in Sasuke's mouth.

When... was the last time Sasuke grieved for anyone outside of the Uchiha family? You only... feel grief when someone dies. You know, A- died.

An electric jolt woke Sasuke up. "Wait- C, you bloody useless bastard." Sasuke whispered.

C paused, sounding confused. "Sasuke? My team and I worked hard to save him," his voice caught in his throat. "I'm sorry."

"Fuck you and your sorry! Why was he hit?"

C snarled into the speaker. "Your fellow DCA members bombed his office. Along with the city square. Darui wasn't injured. He is hereby the new Raikage."

Sauske shook with anger. "Why couldn't any of you idiots save him?! When primitive savages come together, they normally try to succeed. Why didn't you guys succeed? You're useless! Literally useless!"

C sucked in a breath. "Tell Hinata I'm sorry-"

"Don't be sorry, be better. How am I supposed to tell Hiromitsu? Benjiro was going to see him next summer." Sasuke shook his head. "What about... Hinata?" he growled.

"I can't be the one to tell her. I don't know what to say-"

A mountain couldn't kill A but a fucking bomb did? What the fuck?! What the fuck?

Sasuke wanted to tear apart the phone. Also somehow crush the windpipe of both C for letting A die and also kill A for dying himself.

Damn... he died just when they were getting along.

"This is a time of crises and he just died! Like that! Because of you and your mediocre skills," Sasuke said, walking towards the phone- to destroy C, the phone she doesn't know.

Ohta ran behind Kakashi and the doctor quivered in her shoes.

"Sasuke- get a grip of yourself," Naruto yelled. Naruto challenged Sasuke's strength. "Stop!"

"Sasuke- did you know A personally?" Kakashi asked, stern and calm. Unaffected.

Damn right. He protected Hinata and Sasuke in Kumo. He... He was- good for her. Even promoted her to jonin. He was a man Sasuke respected until C killed him. Sasuke just felt guilt and more guilt.

The last words Sasuke ever said was; "You're a terrible leader, man." Did Sasuke mean it? He didn't know. Fuck.

The Raikage died and now we stand around doing nothing! I'm basically a weapon that's locked up but is advantageous during war and after a war... Let me do something to the scum who bombed Kumogakure! Sasuke thought, his rinnegan pulsing.

"C- I'm coming to kill you!"

Both Ohta and the doctor jumped, her shaking wrist distorting the voice on the other side of the line. "Bye. I won't bother you." The sound of C hanging up brought up a new rage inside of Sasuke. The doctor left.

"Do you hear that... murmuring?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke needed to get out of his hold. Fuck. Fuck.

Naruto held Sasuke back. "Calm down, I'm angry too. If you continue like this, you'll bring the building down!"

"Shut up Naruto. You don't know anything about the old man!"

Why does he feel so angry? It's just A. Just. A-sama.

"Sasuke, this wasn't the fault of C or the Raikage- the blame falls on the people of the DCA," Kakashi said.

Sasuke burst out of Naruto's clutch and pushed him.

Sasuke needed to stop. Get a grip of himself. Hanabi's fiance gave Kakashi the letter. Hiroki was also the one who desired to slit his enemies' throats. Hinata wanted Sasuke to keep an eye on him. He was already a threat.

It's peculiar for Hyuuga to be against the Kage. Why didn't Kakashi patronize the boy? Just who is Hiroki? What is he hiding? Is Hanabi involved? He had to tell Hinata. What if she's involved in all of this nonsense?

Naruto pointed to the window, paling slightly. "I think we need to get the roof. Right now."

Sasuke couldn't hear anything but the blood rushing to his ears. Naruto was just being annoying. Kakashi didn't seem too alarmed and stared at the map.

"So both the Tsuchikage's headquarters and the Raikage's office got attacked for symbolic reasons..." Kakashi scanned his office. "Is place next?"

Ohta pushed away from the Kage. "The Raikage's dead, many have died and now we're fighting amongst ourselves-" Ohta began sobbing loudly, overexaggerated.

She was either faking or extraordinarily traumatized. This woman's cries gave him a chill rolling down his back. He immediately draw his sword because of how fickle and malicious she sounded.

Then the rounding of her screams began curving her voice into triumphant laughs.

She pulled something out of her left coat pocket- a walkie takie and said, "Master, all is in place. Someina has given up the information. The Raikage is slain. You may start the apocalypse."

She dropped the walkie-talkie and smashed it under her heel.

She let out a belly full of snarls and cheeky smiles. Sasuke held the woman in the rinnegan's grasp, her being held higher up in the air. She floated into his right arm, her neck in his fist.

Naruto's twitching, betrayed expression just intensified.

"Ohta... Oi, Ohta-" Naruto said, in a defensive position. "Why are you saying dumb shit? What's gotten into you?"

"She's a spy... Ohta was a spy. How many more are there?" Sasuke asked Ohta.

"There are thousands of pawns, thousands who are guns for hire. We look like you, we talk like you and we also hate all of you normal people. You are all monsters living in a world where nothing is good or equal. Children starve. People die. Shinobi kill. All because of chakra and their own ignorance."

"A war on chakra and ignorance? Is that even possible?" Naruto winced. "Snap outta this, Ohta!"

"Stop calling me Ohta," she whined. "I'm tired of this boring, white-tie look. I hated it here in Konoha where I couldn't look at my master, see all the pawns drag their feet. My number is 73117, I live in the final base 8. I am a servant to my master who I serve unto death. I give death for the DCA, I also live for the DCA."

"Who is the DCA?" Naruto demanded.

The last servant who introduced themselves like this was the pawn from the Hellion Fire attack. There are only eight bases. Somewhere.

"Who is your master?" Sasuke asked.

She smiled, lust and desire caught on her facial expression. "Of course he is the supreme God Akuma-oo-sama of the Sharingan." she squealed with joy. She didn't seem to mind that she was being chocked.

Her eyebrows had a natural arch to them and she was... a perfect liar. If you looked at her and looked away, you wouldn't remember her. Her body wasn't particularly big or small, she wasn't tall nor short. She was... perfect for infiltration for six years.

She looked like a perfect shinobi... and a perfect anarchist. Six years? Just how loyal was she? Most people broke down out of their role by this time due to psychological difficulties and identity crises.

Ohta trembled. "Oh, I'll never talk. However, my master has left a message for Uchiha Sasuke and the lovely Hokage. We are building a new world, inviting those who surrender to a new era where all is equal, all is perfect, all have dojutsu!"

"Dojutsu?" Sasuke twitched. What was that man doing? Why would he bomb all but Konoha?

Ohta blinked, her brown eyes pretty and wet. "Haven't you realized? Only you and my master have authentic sharingan. The rest are lost, beneath you. Akuma-sama promises all power and love. You would be Gods if you align yourself with him."

"You're mad. There is no way to replicate the sharingan."

"You don't know what my master is sincerely capable of," Ohta whispered.

"Ohta-" Naruto yelled.

She blew a kiss to Kakashi then winked at Naruto."You better go onto the roof. It tells you where the next bombs are." Ohta giggled.

"That's why Akuma always got ahead. The problem was not external but within the government." Kakashi growled. Kakashi looked at Naruto. "You know what to do."

"Go on, we'll protect Konoha and stop Ohta." Naruto nodded.

Kakashi charged forward, to get onto the roof.

Ohta grinned at Naruto. "I really do love you, Naruto, but a job is a job and a mission is a mission. I will find you in the new life. Forgive me by then, alright?"

Naruto's blue eyes were stormy. "Ohta-" he yelled as he charged.

"Become Hokage. Really," Ohta blinked at Naruto. She looked at Sasuke next. "You will be a problem down the line."

Two large swords impaled Sasuke's shoulder blades after she sprayed something into his eye-sand, poison, he didn't know. It was too fast to dodge. Too small to see.

It hurt. His sword cluttered to the ground.

She sliced through Sasuke's prosthetic arm, momentarily surprising him with- just how much blood flowed from a wound in mere seconds. She... got one of the big arteries, didn't she?

While Sasuke was faint and woozy, he instinctively covered his wound. He is losing control. Why? Why? He's so fired up and now he has no... chakra? Sasuke fell to his knees. She gave him another surgical cut on his other wrist.

From summoned portals, an endless supply of multiple swords came him. They cut through him, fierce and sharp. At first, he dodged some of them but he got weaker and weaker. He's losing too much blood. He was once again, a walking porcupine without the kunai embossing him.

Fuck. Any Naruto clone that helped couldn't withstand the speed and accuracy of her sword barrage.

Why couldn't Sasuke use his chakra?

She smiled. "There are chakra-taking seals from my former friend Kabuto. You are right on top of one of them. It's just too weak for the human eye to see."

She rummaged through his cloak and extracted Hinata's necklace.

"I told you to take care of it. My master would appreciate this fine jewelry. It would go well with her newfound lover's eyes," she whispered.

Ohta can't get away! She cannot escape!

She dodged, sidestepped and overpowered all of his clones. Brilliantly evading all of Naruto's attacks.

"I know the country's weaknesses. Even the strongest have weaknesses and I can manipulate them into my own favour!" she exclaimed.

Naruto himself then had trouble. She was an expert fighter, more than a chunin. The smoke was a perfect cover and clones were the easiest to kill.

Sasuke sat in a pool of his blood. He's like a fucking gem. A gem. Fuck. He tried to use his hands, his chakra- his sensei's paper but nothing worked. He sat in his clothes that were soaked in the blood that he kinda needed to survive.

Just when Naruto finally backed her against the wall, she had the most relaxed expression on her face. "This was fun now blood shall spill and Konoha shall burn. I've outlived my use." Ohta laughed and leaped gracefully.

She jumped over a vaping clone, using a blade to stab his skull. Using that flawless momentum, a crutch was formed as she slammed through the window with her left foot.

The glass was everywhere. It instantly made her a sliced tomato with blood and patches of skin leftover. Sasuke crawled to the window.

Naruto crashed through the wall, using his yellow glowing chakra as a third hand. He desperately tried to scoop the woman into his grasp but was too late.

Even the nine-tails cloak can't fix this.

Ohta the traitor burst, like a red water balloon onto the concrete down below. Many people shirked, as civilians have gathered outside to see what the ruckus was about.

Sasuke ran to the roof, ignoring the dizzy and the double vision. Kakashi and Naruto got there in moments. He got there, settling beside the Hokage and the future Kage. Someone's raspy voice filled the nighttime air. The wind whistled by like a runaway train.

Sasuke was- shocked at the scene in front of him. A large screen- made of nothing but genjutsu was put in front of him.

Fuck...

A mask, a black mask with two red lines across it was on the screen. He was hunched over, bored, on a throne. The throne was ornated with jade and gold and- skulls. Bunya Jimpachi (the one Sasuke hadn't seen since he was sure he killed him. He was a real cockroach) and another woman with red hair stood at his side.

He cleared his throat, disinterested and voice scratchy. "Greetings to all those who believed in the ways of shinobi, I am Akuma-oo-sama. I sympathize with those who didn't want the soft sound of gentle rolling in graves... The perfection of death and war. Have you been crying? Have you grieved? Have you called out for help?

"Haven't you noticed the steep decline of Konoha? The officials sent your loved ones to war. Your children become tools of madmen who shed nothing but blood. Your future has been compromised by those who only believe in the today. They lack the foresight to save your tomorrow,

"Their morals have been lost to the wind, justice was not served but given to the perpetrators with wealth, evil, women and power? I believe that a new world will create everlasting peace with a man who brings laughs, friendship, joy. Heaven and earth shall join together. All my creations will surpass those left behind. We shall rain divine, produce a true paradise with stable harmony,

"The proudest soldiers will flee in my presence, armies brought to their knees and nations will fall at the mention of our name. There are protests but this warped society doesn't need protests, it needs a rebellion... Never again will you be lost. From now on, you will be at our side. Forever the Death Chess Association, forever Akuma-oo-sama's. As long as I live, I swear myself to this throne until life is taken from me. No matter how small the voice in my new country is, I will not ignore it. These countries, they do not belong to anyone until I possess it. We all have the same problems. We are all no less than the trees and the stars. I shall come to your aid. I shall be your God..." he cleared his throat. "Along with my lovely bride Hinata."

Sasuke's heart stopped. Bride Hinata? Akuma... has taken... Hinata? He gulped. His vision was hazy. His legs were weak and his whole body trembled. The world got hot and he saw red. Flames laced with electricity in his fists. They cackled.

Akuma-oo-sama shifted in his seat. "Uchiha Sasuke... Ah, Uchiha Sasuke- you have a lovely woman, a girlfriend but she is not yours. She was just a close companion for the past years. I will take care of her. You will thank her for all the things she's given you. You will be going on my way. I have her now. A Hyuuga Queen fit for the throne beside me."

There were gasps and as if he could see the public's horrified reaction, he rolled his eyes.

Akuma-oo-sama nodded and explained, "For all those who do not know, yes, Hyuuga Hinata has been taken hostage by me aided by your Hyuuga ally Hiroki. For all those who know their names, I say that Kozakura and Sasuke Uchiha will have been the most affected for they're the cause of a death. The green-haired type of death."

Only one idiot he knew had green hair. What green-haired type of death?

"Ah. I will now show you a scene from your beloved's heart. Reize, if you will-"

The screen was distorted by the large, almost blinding lightning bolt that coloured Konoha. Sasuke's bolt. The image flickered and Akuma-oo-sama leaned forward in his seat, hands clenching the stone arm hands. He was restraining himself, it seemed.

"Uchiha Sasuke do not throw a tantrum. You will never be able to hurt me or find me for I will be a shadow until I am the glorious sun, ready to protect my people. The five nations will be mine. Mine. Hinata is mine too," he leaned over to the woman with red hair. "Show them where the lovely lies."

It changed back to displaying Hinata naked, jostling on some type of burlap blanket. She... was exposed, red seeping from her wound, her head wound. She's... laying beside someone.

Someone he knew. Someone he didn't think would die so soon. Beside Hinata laid Someina. Someina wasn't naked. No. It was her dark caramel skin was as pale as dusty leather. Both of them looked near death? No. Someina... was already dead. Needlessly. Hinata bled but Someina bled out.

Her eyes are white. Cheeks hollow. Feet not twitching.

Sasuke's whole body caught fire, his sharingan and rinnegan pulsing. The world became a dark tunnel, he couldn't see anything. His vision was dyed in red, all of the kunai lodged in his body melted like black magma.

He's doing nothing. He wanted to squeeze all of the blood out of that man. Tear him from limb to limb.

An odd ache, an odd sympathy, an odd remorse passed through him... The Raikage was killed. By bombs. By this useless bastard. Someina can't do anything either. She was killed. She didn't do anything, was innocent and now she was killed?

"Why have... you killed Someina and A?" Sasuke asked calmly, his rampant flames burning the top of the Hokage building.

His flames stretched out into the night air, making steam billow and hot gusts of air. Sasuke could barely contain himself. Wh- why would he kill Someina and take Hinata from him?

The building's concrete support was churning, breaking under the weight of his guilt and rage. Everyone around Sasuke died or gets hurt! That woman Temari doesn't know shit about how dangerous he really was.

All this chakra, all this remorse- fuck, it made him tired. He's crumbling. His vision's dimming. All these people are terrified. He... had to kill those witch chakra in their eyes.

"I had no use to keep Someina alive as Ikeda Someina didn't reveal any information about the scrolls whereabouts. A useless death for a useless person." Akuma-oo-sama tsked and sighed. "Kozakura... has taken something from me. I expect to get it back."

Sasuke floated gently in light drowsiness. Kakashi and Sasuke made eye-contact for one long, long second. Kakashi looked away, looked forward as Akuma watched the new situation unfold before him.

"How long?" Sasuke asked silently.

Kakashi sighed, jaw set.

"How long was she missing?" Sauske repeated with more of an edge. Someone was loud and yelling.

"Twenty hours."

Sasuke saw red. "Twenty hours of opportunities and you saw no reason to alarm me?" Sasuke's phalanges turned to paste in his fist. "Your inaction... made me lose two people. She... She was in your custody. You took her from me! My kids, Hinata, Mitsuyo! You took her!" Sasuke spat every word. "Scar died on your watch. Yours. You took her away despite...  Look at the consequences."

Sasuke used every word to walk over and come face to face with his... sensei? He didn't know.

"Why the fuck are you always late when people need you the most? You're are the most ineffective friend and Kage ever." Sasuke punched the man.

All of his grief, anger and confusion bled into the strike. Kakashi's body flew through three buildings as he fell into the ground.

"Sasuke! You bastard!" Naruto yelled. "We don't have time for this! You're supposed to be the smart one! Don't go 'round punching your comrades!"

Sasuke ignored him and Akuma's laughing.

Blood and time spilled from his palms. "I will extend the limit of my rage and power to kill you. Akuma-oo-sama, if you don't fall to hell, I will push you down. I will haunt you from above ground. I will incur a penalty and stop your political purge!" Sasuke's thunder crackled.

Akuma ignored Sasuke. "My loyal servants and pawns- show yourself. Be bold in the face of the new world, show yourself I order to be rewarded handsomely for your bravery, trust and resolution. Bow before my power. Kneel before me and let your loyalty reign supreme."

Some bowed immediately, their knees bloodied on the frozen ground. They are willing for him- even to get exposed? Really? Those bloody dumb traitors. There were so many.

After a few seconds of stark, hesitant silence, other civilians dropped to their knees. Sasuke knew it was out of fear. He just had no choice people... are fake. Faker than good Hokage.

Then, he sensed it. The person with the chakra strong enough- it was more than one person making the genjutsu screen. The people making the projection are mixed in with those who are kneeling. Damn it!

"Why won't you just die, Sasuke? You must cower and surrender when death smiles at you." Akuma commanded. "I will rule everything the sunlight touches. Killing you will release you from your misery. I will bestow mercy."

Sasuke had to make a decision before their glinting knives and gnarled features really start some shit.

"The sun sets. I will be the night. I exist in darkness and that will be my mercy." Sasuke whispered.

With all these idiots bowing, he had to choose. Choose. Someone better get up so they won't die. They- he has to. Naruto saw the tension in Sasuke's frail expression and just how much chakra he was using for this.

"Sasuke! Don't do it- leave it to Kakashi and the government." Naruto begged.

"We don't have time. I don't trust Kakashi. I'll end this-"

"Sasuke, are you hard of hearing? Don't fucking do it!" Naruto shouted. "DON'T KILL THEM!"

Sasuke blocked Naruto out and looked to the Akuma man. "I am not the kind of man to die when someone tells me to in the challenge for survival. When death smiles at you, you smile back and rip out its throat." Sasuke yelled. "Chidori senbon."

Cascade of liquid lightning careened through the streets with an inferno on its back. Striking those who bowed and healing those who didn't surrender to this evil. A Chidori senbon impaled their hearts. Indiscriminately. The decision was... done. He... finished this.

The genjutsu screen vanished.

He hit their eyes. The artificial sharingans were fried beyond use. The eyes of the others were decimated too.

He fell, slowly, and laid there. He's cold. So very cold. He lost control of his limbs as his blood was a pool back around him. Is this what it is to die?

Everything was muffled and even Naruto's cries weren't heard anymore. Nothing was loud. The carnage of broken buildings and fires. The men and women screaming. The gentle frost that stuck onto his face. It all became quiet. Like a forgotten cemetery, the world became silent.

He wanted to hold his kids and Hinata.

One

More

Time.

  ¤¤¤

The white light was odd in the total silence. He was adorned in scars, half-open wounds that were constant dull throbs. His wrists were completely healed, he laid on a cot with a salty breeze caressing his skin.

It smelled like wet hemp rope and humidity stuck to the back of his throat. He kind of understood. He died. Kind of anti-climatic, if you asked him.

He rarely dreamt and when he did, it was normally about the past. This didn't seem like a dream; the sunlight was too warm and he had his boots on.

He was in a shabby shack, near the oceanside, with the cold waves crashing on the shore. At least he came back to the ocean. Sun peeked through the loose, badly boarded up window.

Sasuke sat up, hissing at the pain too. He turned to the left, where he felt eyes on him. "I'm dead, aren't I?" Sasuke said, looking at his clean pants and shallow cuts.

"No. It's much too soon," A voice said.

As if nostalgia had a frequency, Sasuke heard her voice. Sasuke swallowed all of those good feelings. All of his pain went away. She... was... Wow.

"Mikoto-" Sasuke gulped, his eyes felt oddly dry and his throat had a frog. It burned like he had some good rum. The laughs on him, he's hallucinating of his mother- when the world was falling apart. It carved him apart.

"Hey, Sasuke-tan," she whispered. Mikoto looked willowy, worn and terribly emotional. Her clothes were white, her milky skin and black hair not so straight.

"Hey-" something got caught again and he coughed and looked away, "Oka-san..."

"Sasuke..."

Her eyes softened but she ran to him and he momentarily braced himself for a huge hug.

Instead, his mother began inspecting every inch of him, shrieking when she found something particularly gruesome. "Where are all these wounds from? Why haven't you treated them?"

"I keep myself in check," Sasuke said, ignoring her gawking.

He's always seen Hinata be critical of even the slightest wounds but this... this pampering felt nice. She even smelled like marigolds. She's overreacting. Sasuke hated when women overreact but she's overreacting in a good way. The mom way.

"Hn," Sasuke said, surrendering.

"You must have a wife now, you haven't shaved- you look sloppy."

Worrywart. He saw himself being like her when he was nervous. Lingering.

"I'm sorry." he whispered just like a kid who got caught stealing.

Just like that, Mikoto fell to her knees. She pulled him down with her and she cried. He felt so, so strange because he couldn't shed a tear. This didn't feel real. It did though.

"You're so lovely, so lovely. I wish I got to see you grow up. I'm happy I got the chance to meet you, again." Mikoto sobbed into his chest.

Finally, he got that kind, long-awaited hug.

Sasuke grabbed her thin elbows, everything was so soft, even her elbows. He steadied her a little, the sobs that erupted, her praises and apologies. He felt like the adult, comforting his mother. But she was here and that him feel solid.

He's been waiting for so long.

And now she was here. An ache filled him, his bones, his flesh and marrow.

The more he looked, the more he saw of his mother's personality. The books and flowers. Knives where decorating the walls. It kind of reminded him of her travels back to the kitchen, gliding gracefully and when she tied her charcoal-coloured hair up.

In the present, she reached down to his injured hand and kissed his knuckle. She always kissed his boo-boos when he was a kid to make it all better. Now, it's making him sad and watery for some reason.

Sasuke looked away as she patted his hand. "Where are we?" Sasuke asked, looking around.

"Why not... Why don't we stop worrying about that now?" she suggested, smiling. "Do you have a wife? Do I have grandchildren? Did that Sakura confess? She would always hide in our garden, did you know that?"

"Garden?" He tilted his head. "I don't remember that."

"It's my job to remember everything about you. Even when you mysteriously always fell into toilets!" Mikoto laughed pleasantly. "That garden girl sneezed around tomatoes or was it the chives or borage? I never knew, she looked cute, though."

"You wanted me to be with her?" Something in Sasuke broke. Mikoto nodded, eyes closed and eyelashes long. "Her?" Sasuke repeated.

Sasuke felt his stomach do a flip. He's forgotten how to lie to his parents. Other kids have a lifetime of practicing this. He had a childhood that he couldn't remember.

Sasuke ducked his head. "I found someone... else? She's just like you and uh, she's got some of your old jewellery." He was a man so he looked back into her eyes. He stopped hiding.

Mikoto hid her disappointment- or something, he didn't know then brightened up. "Is she kind?"

Sasuke nodded. It's the greatest mercy Hinata has if she's with an Uchiha.

Mikoto shook her head, smiling but austere. Playful. "She must have manners as good as my Sasuke boy."

Sasuke didn't have any manners. He cursed like hell too. In everything, he's a direct failure.

"I'm not nice," Sasuke admitted.

Flashes of him laughing at someone falling down the stairs in the Hokage tower hit him and when he spoke to Hinata came back. He shrunk under her micro gaze.

"Your father isn't too kind either," Mikoto tapped her chin. Under her nails there is blood. "Eleven years of marriage didn't do anything about that. You are perfect, don't worry."

She's just some shower of compliments for him... It's too much. "I think her love is too much. Way... too much." Sasuke sighed.

"You are worth it. You are worth a lot of it." Mikoto reached out and held his cheek. Tears wet her breathy laughs and voice. "Kami, I'm so proud of you."

"You don't even know what I've done." Sasuke looked away. Who I've killed or who I am, Sasuke continued forlornly.

"You'll find your way back. You're my son. Now my son, Tell me that I've taught you well. Tell me everything-"

"You haven't been watching?"

"I haven't been allowed to. Someone stops me. As long as we carry ties of anger with someone on earth, we remain."

Sasuke looked down. "Sorry-"

"It isn't you. You love me again,"  Mikoto nudged him. "It's a community of sharingan who bear grudges."

Community of sharingan? That made no sense. Sasuke was frowning and she gasped.

"Oh!" she covered her mouth, eyes darting across his face in alarm. "I wasn't supposed to say that! I'm so clumsy in the mouth!" she laughed, sighing.

He didn't know his mother was a blabbermouth. He wanted to know more. He never wanted it to end. He never... did. Sasuke felt another shocking revelation...

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"I don't want to leave you again," Sasuke whispered.

"Oh, but you must." Mikoto insisted. "Your father and I eventually run out of good stories and jokes to tell."

"Fugaku... is funny?" Sasuke asked, shocked.

Mikoto nodded. "It's an acquired taste but he makes me laugh. Laugh until my lungs gasp for breath for he has a clever tongue."

He looked at her for a moment. "Where's... father?" That word was like venom. Why does he keep on saying it?

"You... do not scorn him any longer?"

Sasuke tilted his head. "I remember hating you. You both. The disappointment of adulthood and frustration of parenting... doesn't make me think you weren't doing too bad of a job. You both... weren't too shabby."

She laughed. "Tell about your adventures." she paused then smiled slyly. "One half."

"One half?"

She hummed. "Tell me the rest when you meet with your father and I. In a really, really long time."

"Not yet."

"Not yet. There's a big part of me that wishes for that not yet to come even later than the future," she held her heart, "but alas I am here, to listen. So speak, all the bad and the good-looking everything in-between."

To be able to talk with his mother as if she weren't deceased and hold her small hand was nice. He looked at her then nodded.

We really do end up all together in the end, Sasuke thought.

"Huh? What was that?"

"Ah. Nothing... You want all the in-betweens, yeah?" Sasuke asked.

She nodded and he launched into the story of him.

His mother... only thought his father was funny because of her tendency to be light and bouncy. She also didn't like fish but she abandoned that. She also really adored him.

They moved out to the rocky shore and Sasuke talked and talked and talked. He wouldn't stop talking, he felt tired, too.

Talking to her was like coming home and clearing the table and talking about homework and washing his dishes and getting a bedtime story- and... being safe.

Having a family. Talking to her was like having a family again. His own blood, long nails, thick hair and crooked finger family.

He got his mom's hair, her eyes, her nose, her chin and her pale skin. He had Fugaku's face, cheekbones, ears, eyebrows and impeccable poker face. Family.

And that family allowed him to sleep, talking about some dull recipe. He made so many new memories about his mother. He didn't know anything private.

But please don't take my memories away... Let me keep them, die with laughs, die with happiness because of all these memories, Sasuke looked out into the ocean, praying a bit. He fucking hated praying but if Kami for once didn't hate him, his wish would come true.

  ¤¤¤

It didn't come true. His body was unable to stay and his heart was unwilling to leave. He said goodbye to a distant phantom. Again.

His dreams morphed into one about a normal, domesticated time with waking up with Hinata. That's probably when he felt closest to her.

Her cool breath, how she clenched his arm or body with her dear life and subconsciously chased his mind.

"Hinata- why are you still in bed, you got work and that brunch with Temari, right?" he asked aloud.

He reached out to find that it felt empty. No warmth. Some perfume lingered in his mind. He wanted to hold her, wanted to kiss her. Where was she this early in the morning? Why does she always drive him crazy?

In his head, he connected the dots. His right arm felt sawed off and reattached using an alligator. Sasuke woke up to the blinking of both Mitsuyo and Kokoro.

The room was a typical hospital but it was cramped and sunlight was too bright. It reminded him of heaven. He hated the stinging reality of all of his wounds. They burned. He felt the cuts on his shoulders.

"How long?" he hissed to Mitsuyo.

"Three days. They were going to put you in a cast." Mitsuyo laughed. "You don't deserve one after what you've done."

Sasuke looked away. He had no choice. He needed to kill the genjutsu user. Whoever were the genjutsu users.

Kokoro smiled weakly. "Hey champion, you woke up after grilling the street." Her eyes... had bags and she's been crying.

The gravity of the situation came down on him. Everyone he killed. Everyone Akuma killed. Everyone who died. Fuck. Fuck... He punched Kakashi.

"You are an enemy in the public. Turning on your own comrade mid-fight. Dumbass," Mitsuyo hissed.

"Did he survive?"

"With that little baby punch, of course. He is Kage for a reason." Mitsuyo hissed.

Sasuke pounded a fist. "He didn't tell anyone about anything! He's too cautious and useless-"

"He acted in the best interest. He knew you would react like this. Someina is clever- she knew how to escape from tight spots and go out into the world. The DCA swarmed Konoha for the past week, eh? She must have run into them when the DCA was in pursuit." Mitsuyo said calmly. "You surely knew this and still punch him anyway?"

He did. Sasuke looked away. "Whatever."

"Forgive him." Mitsuyo pleaded.

"No,"

"Forgive him!"

"No!"

"Then apologize," Mitsuyo's eyes glowed. "He did the right thing. Refrain from ignoring your years of history and guidance."

What guidance? Kakashi has done nothing for him. Now Someina, who stood by him and took his abuse is dead because Kakashi couldn't keep her under lock and key for more than two days.

"You just wanted someone to blame," Mitsuyo looked down. "I can handle my artifacts being stolen, my house being burned down but not this. Tears can't even contain my anger."

He looked at Mitsuyo, panicked. "Why haven't you cried?"

"Because Uchiha don't cry, we scream. Tears aren't in our anatomy," Mitsuyo said.

Kokoro sniffled. "I guess I'm not an Uchiha then," she said nasally.

"You're more of an Uchiha than others," Sasuke patted Kokoro's head.

Kokoro sighed.

"When did you guys come back from Suna?"

"Hours after the attack." Mitsuyo whispered.

He groaned, maneuvering himself through the pain. What else was he supposed to do? Hinata's taken from him, he has to go get her back.

If she had at least screamed, then he would have gotten to her at the slightest sound. He would've rushed down at the slightest sound.

But she didn't.

Her sweet stubborn ass with the summer glow probably didn't open her mouth? He thought of her, the way she felt, the way she sounded and the way he broke her heart.

What if Someina lived, would she be nagging Sasuke about not being safe? Would she stare with golden eyes? Would she yell?

Damn. Damn. Damn it.

"Hinata's gone. Someina's dead. Gotta go find them both. Take care of kids. Bye." Sasuke stood and came crumbling down.

Kokoro caught him. "You're heavy but I see it's all muscle."

"Shut up, you!" Mitsuyo snapped. Kokoro sighed. They both helped him back into bed. "You damn near lost most of your blood, sit down."

Sasuke laid down as Kokoro left the room.

"Where are the kids?" Sasuke nearly snapped.

"With Kaito. Sunagakure. Their marriage was cancelled. Half of their guests... weren't coming." Mitsuyo explained sadly. "Sungakure doesn't have any bombs... It's safe."

Sasuke nodded. That's good. That's good. "I don't trust Kaito."

"Well I do and I need to be here in Konoha. The kids can't see the carnage. Besides, it's good family bonding. They'll like it." she rolled her eyes. "Karin and Suigetsu- that whole... family thing is with them."

That made him even slightly more paranoid. Sasuke looked down, at his I.V cord. "Do they know... Hinata..." his tongue was sandpaper.

Her eyes got soft. "They think it's summer camp."

"But it's October. I have to be with her." Sasuke fought her. He sat up and ripped out the I.V

They began wrestling. Her strength versus Sasuke's strength. It was futile. He needed to move and she wanted him to stay.

"Mitsuyo- let me go." Sasuke snarled.

"No! No, you are not leaving this bed. I fixed your damn wounds too delicately to have all your two-hundred and sixty-seven stitches to be carelessly undone!"

"Mitsuyo-"

"Get back down." she grabbed ahold of his shoulders.

Sasuke jostled. She's inhumanely strong.

"I already lost one of my own! SIT DOWN!" Mitsuyo yelled, her nails digging into his biceps. "I lost her because she was standing in the wrong spot in the wrong time. You'll stay down or I'll kill you before the damn bastard Akuma does. So sit. Eat your damn pudding and shut up."

"I hate pudding!" Sasuke roared.

"And I hate that Someina's DEAD but I am still here!" Mitsuyo roared back.

Sasuke shoved her off and scoffed. Why... Why did he have to be like this? It hurt. It hurt so damn much.

She didn't cry but her nose was violently red, her eyes dull and a void of anything. She also was too pale and skinny.

"You alright? You look like crap." Sasuke growled.

"I'm much better than you, mummified bozu," she whispered hatefully. "Scooch over, I'm joining you in your coffin, alright? Drink to it." she picked up a bottle of rum.

"Why?"

"When friends die, we drink. When friends reunite, we drink. I drink and drink." she whispered. "Rum isn't too bad."

After an hour of Mitsuyo sitting on the bed and them looking at the ceiling, Sasuke reminisced. The ceiling was plain and dotted. She was drinking.

"I punched Kakashi and those with artificial sharingan. They're dead, right?" Sasuke whispered.

"Yeah. Akuma has achieved what Tsunade couldn't. I know only one made capable of playing medical God; Kabuto."

"I killed them." Sasuke's banged a fist on the bed. Fuck. Fuck!

Mitsuyo knocked his arm. "In my heart, I don't judge." Mitsuyo deflated.

"Why not? You should!"

"Have you killed thousands in a village for Konoha?"

Sasuke shook his head. "No."

"Then I do not judge." Mitsuyo sighed. "They weren't real Uchiha."

"You think so?" Sasuke asked, emotion breaking his voice.

Mitsuyo nodded. "All we have to do is atone or be kinder."

It was quiet as Sasuke's cuts were bleeding lines and he fought his demons. Mitsuyo wouldn't stop drinking all night.

"You're drinking my half, aren't you?" Sasuke asked. Mitsuyo nodded. "You're drinking Someina's half, right?"

Mitsuyo nodded again. Stiff. "Who else likes this crap?"

Sasuke looked at the ceiling. "Her. She liked the weirdest shit and they killed her."

His voice got louder and he had the urge to throw the building but- it wasn't a good time. He'll grieve later. He'll grieve later. He'll grieve sometime. Yes. Another time. Right now, Mitsuyo is sad about losing the child she's practically housed.

Mitsuyo nodded. "Just another tattoo I gotta add."

"What?"

Mitsuyo stuck out her tongue. "This is the tattoo from Danzo that I traced with a needle. I later got it inked." Mitsuyo nodded. She turned around and got off of the bed.

She exposed her back. Just under her lower back. It had tallies and tallies of lines. Little scars. There must have been more than a hundred.

"They're dead?" Sasuke gulped, lightheaded.

"Yeah..." She nodded and got back beside him. "Someina got annoyed of me a lot. I teased her too much."

Sasuke grunted. "I liked her green hair. I never told her. I should have." Sasuke looked at Mitsuyo.

"She loved you," Mitsuyo said angrily.

"In what way?" Sasuke winced.

"The good way. Stubbornness and pride and stupidity. She was a stupid, stupid girl." she jumped out of bed and threw down her rings and everything.

She messed up her hair and ripped the hem of her yukata. She's going crazy. It's best to ignore it. So he did.

"You loved her, yeah?" Sasuke asked, holding the bottle.

She huffed through her nostrils, pacing furiously. "Her sister loved her too. Just because of Orochimaru- gah! At least she's with her sisters."

Sasuke lifted the rum to his nose and sniffed it. Yep. Still putrid. "Can I?" he asked.

"Don't make me drink alone."

Sasuke nodded and swallowed a whole bunch. It wasn't a good idea but the alcohol numbed the pain a bit. "You got the right stuff."

"Yeah."

"What brand?"

"I don't know."

"Hm. Yes, it's good." Sasuke lied. It tasted like almonds, so that was kind of expected.

"Good." Mitsuyo snapped.

"Is it really?" Sasuke winced.

"No."

Sasuke watched her increasingly erratic behaviour. She was just itching to move her jaw. Get all out the things she's taken in and just go off.

"Go ahead. People are always screaming all the time. Then go on your way and wreak the best havoc. Scream until the lump that sits inside your throat bleeds and you feel again. I'll wait."

A demon-like cry filled with anxiety, worry and grief let loose. Sasuke slept while she screamed and cried. He wouldn't have had it any other way.

After that, she lingered at the door. "Kokoro and I will be in Suna. I will look. The kids will be safe with me. Try to kill the bastard, alright?" she looked over. "Don't hobble too much. Your wounds are fresh."

Sasuke nodded.

"Mitsuyo- see you." Sasuke said. The words had added weight for some reason.

She came over and squeezed his wrist so tightly, it hurt. "Don't let me lose you too. Hinata's gone and I don't know my other children."

"You won't."

She burned a mark on his skin. "This seal will disappear once you see me again and hold my hand. Under no circumstances will you die with it on, you understand me?"

Sasuke sighed at the surge of chakra.

"You understand me?" she almost cracked his wrist.

"Go away now. I want to be alone."

She nodded and left.

¤¤¤

Ten minutes of angrily hating God and whoever passed. Hinata was naked and unconscious! No one could help her. He's useless. He. He couldn't do anything.

He knew what he had to do. He's wearing pants since they brought it in his room. He ignored how beat up he was to make an escape plan.

Sasuke swallowed. He needed to get out of here. His wounds stung. He's alone. He didn't like being alone. Not... Not alone like this. He will find her. He will go on that journey.

He reminisced a little and started to walk where she was.

He got two feet until noticing the asshole at the door frame, being sly and pensive. Naruto was just watching Sasuke. How long has he been there? Why was he there anyway?

Naruto sighed. "I can't stop you, can I?"

Sasuke nodded cautiously. "Why?"

"I got somethin' important. Better than anyone's ramen flavours."

"Well cough it up or leave me the hell alone."

Naruto allowed Hinata's beautiful necklace to unfurl. The gold chain was the same and the necklace was polished.

"Where did you find it?" Sasuke asked.

"In Ohta before Ibiki got there. I hid it so they wouldn't take it. I even got the brain matter off of it." Naruto said so casually, Sasuke recoiled.

He tossed it over. Naruto was supposed to be mad about what Sasuke did before passing out.

"Kakashi isn't mad at you. It isn't his fault," he whispered.

Sasuke looked down. "Why have you come here?" Sasuke didn't want to examine his decisions.

"We should get beer and ramen," Naruto asked.

"We don't do that." Sasuke hissed.

"Maybe we should start." Naruto lifted a shoulder.

Sasuke looked at Naruto. The necklace was a peace offering. Sasuke did acknowledge the man looked through guts and brain matter to find it while dodging the swarming ANBU that hit the scene.

He could use some alcohol and he knew he wasn't recovering from this. He still hated hospitals.

He... felt the weight of the world here. He's regretting everything.

Flashes of the Raikage's death and Someina's consumed him. He needed a way to persevere. Some good rum or gin.

Then he will find Hinata. The pain would be numbed and he would be safely fed.

"You sure you could move with those wounds?" Naruto asked a few seconds later.

"I'll kick your ass if you make me stay in the hospital," Sasuke growled.

"I'm not gonna do that. I'm helping  you out."

"Unhand me. I don't need your help."

Sasuke after all did but he doesn't like confessing to that part. They sat under a ramen roof, ten or so minutes after hobbling too much. They were at a ramen stand. He ate nothing while Naruto was on his sixth bowl. He was a vacuum cleaner with an endless appetite. Quite disgusting.

"How unsightly," Sasuke commented drily.

Naruto slurped up the rest and Sasuke looked away. "You would eat this much of your favourite food. It's good!"

He wouldn't eat himself into obesity or obsession like Naruto always does.

"Did we get attacked while I was out?" Sasuke asked. The feel of the people was uneasy and ANBU were everywhere.

Naruto sighed. "We're trying to scope the area for any bombs. We haven't found any. There are messages from the DCA- every day, though."

"Huh?"

"Over the radio and it somehow hijacks all of the technology we have and plays it at full volume. It should go off right about now..."

Suddenly, a loud voice scraped through his eardrums. "The proudest soldiers will flee in my presence, armies brought to their knees and nations will fall at the mention of our name. There are protests but this warped society doesn't need protests, it needs a rebellion... Never again will you be lost. From now on, you will be at our side. Forever the Death Chess Association, forever Akuma-oo-sama's. As long as I live, I swear myself to this throne until life is taken from me. No matter how small the voice in my new country is, I will not ignore it. These countries, they do not belong to anyone until I possess it. We all have the same problems. We are all no less than the trees and the stars. I shall come to your aid. I shall be your God..." he cleared his throat. "Along with my lovely bride Hinata."

Everyone stopped and listened. Many others protested loudly. Many got angry with him. Sasuke did kill their people and punch their Kage.

"They hate me, don't they?" Sasuke asked, ignoring the crying civilians and the thrown food.

Naruto sighed and stuffed more noodles into his mouth. "Yeah."

He... understood.

"What of the aftermath of the attacks should I know about?" Sasuke asked.

"Eight thousand are injured. Two-hundred thousand dead. Mostly civilians." Naruto stared, his grip almost breaking the porcelain bowl. "The DCA will pay. Ohta already died though they were reconstructing her. The Yamanaka got some information but we're all just sitting ducks."

Naruto tried to pick up his chopsticks but they burst under the pressure. Some of the splinters landed near his ramen. Sasuke wished they landed inside of it.

"Six years of nothing and she goes and betrays us. Konoha. The Hokage. How could someone do that?"

"We live in a society of manipulation, Naruto. Akuma-oo-sama taking lives on such an astrological scale is the ultimate form of manipulation and power. People just give themselves to others and want this madness."

"Kakashi caught me up. Why didn't you guys stay in Konoha? We could have killed Akuma-oo-sama with Kakashi-sensei's resources, ANBU. I could have helped you."

"What's here? I don't trust the system enough with murder. Konoha doesn't have any limits."

"You gotta look on the bright side, none of this woulda happened if you guys just came back."

"It would have fixed nothing. Besides, why the hell should I listen to you? I'll never do what you tell me to-"

"I know so shut your damn mouth. Whenever we talk, we yell and I haven't forgiven you for taking Hinata and getting her involved in this-" he paused and swallowed the rest of his ramen broth. "We shouldn't fight. Not at a time like this."

Sasuke looked down. "Yeah, about... Ohta. Logic. Woosh. Your head."

"You didn't need to say it like that and be a dick. What happened to not fighting?!"

"I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. It needed to be said. You didn't take earlier action..."

"Like you would have identified her." Naruto scoffed.

Sasuke relented. "I don't know. I don't know if I could've but it would've helped if someone did something..."

"Some of the people you killed the other day just wanted to live. That's why they bowed." Naruto huffed.

Sasuke stiffened. "They were weak in the moment. And I needed to snub out the person with the genjutsu."

Naruto's blue eyes caught flame. "They weren't weak- they were scared. They knew full well that Akuma could deliver on his threats. Now they have you to worry about with your lightning bolts and Chidori. It was like a petting zoo and everyone went crazy and you killed them."

"Tch. The rebels are dead. We made sacrifices. Wasn't that what you wanted?" Sasuke snarled.

Naruto slammed his hands on the counter. It nearly ruined the table "I don't want any sacrifices-"

Sasuke snapped, "Then you can't make decisions. Any shinobi territory automatically becomes the land of hard choices. For someone to live, someone must die. That's the way this world works."

"That isn't what I meant. You shouldn't think like that either. I don't want there to be losses when there doesn't need to be. Those people didn't need to die, Sasuke!"

"I did what I was supposed to. If you can't make hard decisions then maybe you shouldn't be kage. Sacrifices for Konoha are what shinobi are."

Naruto challenged him with an angry expression. "I didn't want you to kill them! You go too far. All the time."

"A hero in a time of war is just a murderer to others but I saved hundreds of more lives. Do you know what they were doing? Those with the sharingan? They were going to summon flames. Flames and more explosions."

"Those who sacrifice and are willing to kill other but aren't willing to die for the people shouldn't be involved in this."

"Seems like you don't know who you're talking to. He ruined Hinata's Raikage, killed Someina and he took Hinata. I have every right to spill blood."

Naruto met Sasuke's dark expression. "I know he took... I know what he did and I want to kill him so badly, it's. Just..." Naruto looked at Sasuke. "Don't kill the way you used to. We can make it to the tomorrow, right? We have to."

Sasuke sighed into his bowl. He didn't know. He still kills when necessary, when he had a bad day, when there are good people... Maybe not so much. Where would the bitter compass of destiny lead him to ruin this time? Every day has another funeral, Sasuke probably missed the one for Someina and for the Raikage.

Naruto looked powerful. There's nothing Naruto could do but amass guilt and hatred. He's struggling.

Even so, Naruto still intended to fight. Why does Naruto get up when struggling like this is an eyesore? Sasuke knew this question could never be answered since he was twelve.

Why does he always forgive Sasuke? It made no sense.

Naruto looked at Sasuke. "Not all of them were innocent. That's what shinobi tell themselves, right?"

Sasuke looked away, basking in the sinister undertones of Naruto's words.

He was supposed to be the simple one, not cryptic.

Murder costed everything shinobi were. Sasuke didn't remember a time when he thought murder was inherently wrong.

Naruto nodded to himself. "Not everyone stays innocent in times like these. History is usually written with the blood of the innocent. We must find another way, alright? Together, we'll restore Konoha to a place you want to return to and come back to your friends. We could have ramen and beer all the time." he grinned brightly.

That was unrealistic and too casual. Even Naruto's casual words give true courage.

Is that what it means to be a leader? That light and confidence people search eternally for is in his hands. Maybe Sasuke didn't spare Naruto's life on a whim when he was younger. Maybe the sixteen-year-old Sasuke knew what he was staring at right now; true optimism in the form of man.

How could someone hold hope in both hands while killing others? Blood is everywhere. And, and Naruto overcame this odd standstill in a breeze. In a blip. Sasuke's tired of bitching 'bout his feelings. That isn't what men do.

"All the time, huh? Why would you want beer?" Sasuke scoffed.

Naruto's expression faltered and he seemed awkward. "Oi, I just thought-"

"Have you tried gin?" Sasuke asked.

Naruto tilted his head. "Gin?"

"Gin and tonic have saved more lives than the first Kage combined," Sasuke added. "It saved mine. We'll need it when we dethrone Akuma."

"You're giving me a string!"

Sasuke hesitated. "Don't say dumb shit and don't wimp out."

Naruto grinned. "Beer ain't so bad-"

"Shut up. You have no taste."

"Don't tell me to shut up. I have ramen to feast on," Naruto yelled.

"I rest my case." Sasuke whistled.

"You try to act so cool with your gin and tonic but ramen..."

It all faded while Sasuke zoned out. And Sasuke knew Naruto didn't keep grudges but he was still angry. Good for him. Growing up without someone like Naruto preaching about frienship and comradery was strange.

He's still missing Hinata and his kids but Naruto made Sasuke feel young. Feel, really... but. But this wasn't so bad to feel. Comradery. Nothing was solved. Nothing was fixed. They were at this odd standstill in this war. The oddest of them all.

¤¤¤

A/N- Ovidae here. Sorry for being gone. I kinda forgot about this, lol. School kicks my ass. Like always. I am not in grade ten anymore when I had time and freedom. However... this story is almost finished. About six chapters are left. I don't promise anything but it might be finished by january 10th. then we have the second story...