Autho's note (August 3rd)

WARNING : the story sucks.

Im not trying to be self loathing or whatever, the story (especially the begining) sucks ass. It was written two years ago, abandoned, then refound just a few months back. The plot is not the best and the writing style at the beginning is not my writing style now.

I love the characters however, so I will continue to write this.

: :

We will not change the past

"So you'll be going back home?" Juugo asked, though he already knew the answer.

Sasuke drew in a breath of the fresh air, not polluted by smoke from fires or the stench of dead bodies. Being a Shinobi like himself, targeted at every point in time and going on S-rank missions like it were a hobby, meant that the air  he breathed was not always as clean as he wished it could be. It meant his clothes were not always as neat as he would like. It meant he did not look himself in the mirror and see someone worth loving, or worth saving.

Or even someome worth a shot at redemption.

"I've been running long enough."

But it had happened. And he was going home to face the people he had once tried to ruin.

Though a tiny part of him wished to stay.

We will not alter the road

Juugo nodded, unable to argue with him. Whatever Sasuke desired, he'd agree with him and support him, wouldn't he? But even with that, Juugo had other comrades. Comrades who were willing to do literally anything for him, comrades who he was abandoning to go live with people who pretended to understand half of his heart.

Konoha was filled with good-natured, righteous people, but Juugo knew those people lacked basic understanding of suffering and hatred. They lived in shelter for all their history, taking from smaller nations to expand their empire and live more comfortably in their green hometown. They did not know what it meant to go against the norm, to hate the authority, to be stripped of their comfort and thrown into a harsh reality.

They did not know what it meant to seek the truth.

What it meant to be Uchiha Sasuke.

Juugo knew, that although Sasuke would find happiness there, he wouldn't be able to truly be himself, to truly be free. The village would constrict him like they did for so many others.

And yet, Sasuke chose Konoha over Team Taka.

It irked him, but how could he blame him? It was his first home after all.

Still, though it was his first home, it was also the harbour of many evils. Sasuke wanted to protect the village...but did the villagers trust him? Would there be any instances where they'd stab him in the back? Could they accept both the Sasuke in the darkness and the Sasuke who was pulled into the light?

Juugo wasn't sure.

There are different directions

This was why he had to test his jutsu out as soon as possible. Not for him, but for Sasuke.

As well as Karin.

The girl had gotten the shortest end of the stick. The love of her life was married to her pregnant best friend; her Uzumaki lineage was never noticed by Konoha and they never offered her any sort of help; and she had given up on finding peace with herself and rather spent all her days in her lab, buried in work.

Was that a life Juugo wanted for his comrade? His friend?

"See you around, then", Juugo bid his comrade farewell. Sasuke nodded, tearing his eyes away from the horizon and turning his back on Juugo.

Below them, the ocean cried.

"Tell Karin and Suigestu I said goodbye"

"Alright."

::

Different destinations

The next part of the jutsu required both his blood and the blood of the person he was taking with him. At first, he didn't know whether to pick Suigestu or Karin, but then he realised after seeing Karin cry for Sasuke, that she needed this more than the shark boy.

Of course, Suigestu was sad too, but not as sad as Karin.

Speak of the devil, Karin walked right into his room, not caring to knock. When was the last time they knocked on each other's door? Karin had seen him naked so many times and he had seen her naked too, so there wasn't really much to hide.

"What the damn hell are you doing?", she deadpanned. His room was dark, the only bright thing being the symbol on the ground, a kanji sign Karin had never seen before. Was it a secret symbol? If so, then he was likely performing a forbidden jutsu, and any forbidden jutsu involving blood involved sealing. But what was he trying to seal?

The kanji did not look like a seal symbol, and it was glowing. So perhaps it was not a seal but a transportation jutsu. Or a strange combination of both.

Karin blinked. She wondered if she should just quietly walk out and shut the door slowly.

"Karin, cut yourself", Karin stared at him like he had gone insane.

"Is this some sort of magic sadistic kink?" her eye twitched. Slowly, she inched towards the door.

Juugo only blinked at her, "Karin, please trust me on this. Grab a kunai and cut whatever part of your body, but make sure it bleeds out."

There was a moment of silence of Karin staring at her comrade, trying to decipher him. Juugo, expression ever-so blank and never wavering, did not show any clues of what he was trying to do.

Then Karin relented and nodded, pulling out her kunai.

He was her comrade, her friend. She trusted him.

The blood dripped down her arm and fell to the floor. It stung, but nothing compared to any pain she had felt before. She gazed at him, awaiting his next command.

"Pour your blood on the symbol."

Karin obeyed his order. Crismon coloured the white kanji red, and the glow looked more menancing. He weaved signs. Karin recognized a few, but most were to quick to judge. She wondered just what sort of jutsu he was trying to perform.

So we will only change your compass

And her eyes widened once a shock ran through her veins. Karin's body shook, her blood ran backwards, heart beating abnormally fast. She cried out, gripping her hair harshly like it would subdue the pain. Her head felt like it was ripping into two, and overall, every thing hurt.

Your decision

She couldn't even think properly, nor could she move. Juugo felt the pain too, but having expected it, endured more than Karin. He wished he'd have warned her first, because the screams coming from her were close to inhumane.

Shit! Karin cursed.

Fire.

Fire.

We will lead you to an alternate universe

Fire.

Everything's on fire.

And like someone had put it out, it came to a stop. Her skin was no longer burning, but her head still pounding as her heart. She felt a strange sensation surging through her, but she wasn't sure what it was.

And you will begin a new life

Karin looked around in a daze, head spinning, and fell to the ground.

What the hell... she thought as she dozed off.

Her dreams usually were snips of her subconscious deep desires, like Sasuke, killing a man whom she hated, hurting those who had hurt Sasuke, making the Hidden Leaf suffer... and when she woke up, she usually forgot them.

So she was surprised to wake up and still remember how she tortured Danzo in her dream. It horrified her a little, but the bigger part of her was just happy she got to castrate him.

"Wakey wakey, Karin chan", she knew that annoying voice...it was Suigestu. When she got up she was gearing to slap his stupid face and tell him to shut the damn hell up, but she froze when she saw Sasuke casually standing at her bedroom door.

"S-Sasuke?"

"You went to Juugo's room and fainted...I'm not sure what you saw", Suigestu shivered, "but anyways, you feeling better now?"

He sounds kind of compassionate...

She slapped him hard.

"Don't talk to me with that sweet tone! It's creepy as hell", she shouted. Of course Suigestu turned to water when she hit him, as a matter of defence.

"Geez, so much for caring." he mumbled.

"Caring doesn't suit you. You have more of a fuck boy persona."

He blinked, "F-fuck boy?! Why you-"

"You two are always so loud", Karin stopped messing with Suigestu when she heard Sasuke's voice. So he wasn't an illusion after all.

Karin's gaze averted to him. She clenched her fist. Why are you still here? You should be on your way with Sakura.

Seeing him only made her heart hurt.

"By the way, Sasuke..." she took a deep breath. Suigestu wondered if she was planning on confessing her undying love for him.

...

"AREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO BE AT HOME WITH YOUR DAMN WIFE?!"

Sasuke blinked, "What?"

Juugo inwardly face palmed. I suppose I should have explained the plan to her before performing the jutsu.

"My wife?" Sasuke was confused.

"Yes! Your goddamn wife! You know, pink hair, fucking pregnant for your child, the woman who you're supposed to be spending the rest of your life with?!"

Sasuke blinked once again. Is she talking about Sakura?

A part of him wanted to laugh.

She didn't mean to raise her voice, but her emotions had gotten the best of her.

Suigestu stared at his friend,"When did you tell her you were leaving? Why didn't you tell the rest of us? What wife? Sakura? Why are you even-"

"I never said I was leaving, and I do not have a wife. Sakura and I are not even a couple. Karin, are you sure you're okay?"

Karin's eyes widened.

No, I'm not okay! You said you were leaving. You told the three of us you wanted to go back home with Sakura! Why are you guys pretending? Is this some sort of joke? Am I still dreaming? What the fuck is going on?!

Karin didn't get it. She watched Sasuke and Sakura act all lovey dovey around her, and even though it hurt her to the core, she supported them and befriended Sakura. How can he say he isn't with Sakura?

Wait...

She looked at Juugo.

A new future, where...

Where am I?

"Karin", Juugo spoke up, "You seem lost. Perhaps you had a bad dream. Do rest up. Sasuke, Suigestu, we should leave her to rest."

They left the room, leaving Karin still in a state of shock.

So Sasuke's staying with us? What about Sakura? And Naruto. And everyone else who fought hard to bring him back to the village? Is he really staying? What does he mean Sakura and him aren't a couple? She's fucking pregnant for him!

Juugo what the fuck did you do? Where did you take me to? Is this some sort of Eye of the Moon Plan?

She groaned, "What the hell is happening?"

::

"Sasuke wanted to check in on you, but I told him I'd do it instead", Juugo walked in and sat on Karin's bed.

She sat up, her back resting against her pillow, "Oh..."

It was time for interrogation.

She stared at him, "I know you had something to do with this entire... situation. Spill. What was that jutsu?"

Juugo didn't falter, "Well, first off, this isn't our universe."

"What?! Then where the hell are we-"

"Don't interrupt. That jutsu I performed created an entirely new universe alternate to the one we once were in. Right now, we're still existing in our actual universe, so basically you can call this jutsu the Mirror Universe or something. I created an entirely new world, exactly similar to the one we were once in. But in this world, Sasuke chooses to stay with us. Not only is this for you, it is also to test the theories I have."

"So Sasuke's not married to Sakura?"

"No."

"Then what about her? Is she okay?"

Juugo almost wanted to slap Karin. Why can't you for once stop giving a damn about other people and think about your own happiness?

"She's out there doing whatever. Karin, this is a universe where Sasuke is here with you. Use it to your advantage."

...you will rectify your past

face your demons

and live a new future

::

Update (June 2019) : i never fucking explained how the hell Juugo even made a new universe lol

Idk how he did :)

It's a mystery :)

Reminder that this was written 3 years ago aka is not an accurate representation of my writing pls