Hopelessly

Personal rant about the manga:

[Spoiler alert for the manga (and therefore the anime too)]

I really wish I had known about Tobi’s real identity before I started writing this story! God, do you know the kind of additional mental torment I could have put Kakashi through?! So, yeah. I had suspicions about who Tobi was and I was sort of right. I thought about the white Zetsu-like skin on parts of his body we’ve already seen and I thought that could explain how he’s alive after that cave-in. And of course that black Uchiha hair. I was still stunned. Poor Kakashi. There might have to be a whole story written about Kakashi’s dealing with that information. Gaww! I could have Sasuke tell Kakashi the truth in this story, but at this point Kakashi’s reaction wouldn’t fit in this story. Anyway, at the time I’m writing this (August 29, 2012) we just see his face. He said before that he got that eye at Kannabi Bridge. Maybe that’s just Obito’s body and not his soul. ? I mean, no reaction at all—that I could tell—from seeing Kakashi before this? It puzzles me. And it seems wrong for Obito to fight his former sensei like that and why did he want to destroy the Uchiha and Konoha? I guess Itachi never knew the truth because he seemed certain it was Madara and told Sasuke that and didn’t change it when he came back from the dead. My theory—if it really is Obito, body and soul—is that Zetsu, a creation of Madara’s that was roaming around, found the dying Obito and healed him. Somehow he became embittered against Konoha at least. Why the Uchiha? Maybe he wasn’t, he just wanted Konoha destroyed. Sigh. Okay, I’ve geeked out enough here. We’ll see which of my theories are right in the next few chapters. But I bet we’re going to move to Sasuke or Madara at this point. Kishimoto is as evil as I am at that kind of thing. But I bet the animators are having a field day with 599; a whole episode—if not two—going over Obito’s entire life. We’ll get a lot of Kakashi in there, so I will never complain. Actually, at the thought, I’m doing an internal happy dance. Okay, now I’m through.  Anyway, it was also interesting how the entire chapter right up until the end was silent. That is, no dialog. But why is Naruto so shocked? He’s never seen Obito and we don’t know if Kakashi ever told any of them the story of how he got that Sharingan. I always assume in my stories that he never said a word. And it’s chapter 599! Save a major moment like that for chapter 600! No, you know what, it’s going to be a Omake like thing next, like Kakashi Gaiden was. *Assuming the Naruto-Thinking-Too-Hard position* Hmmm. Okay, I’m really done this time.

 

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Sasuke kept Kakashi home for the next week, practically not letting him out of the bedroom so that he would heal. Kakashi liked to think that if their lives were a little more normal—and Sasuke wasn’t an evil bastard—Sasuke’d be serving him breakfast in bed and maybe even feeding him. Guilt brought out a slightly nurturing side. Very slight. In fact he did nothing but order Kakashi not to leave the fortress and he brought Kakashi food. But Kakashi could daydream about him being more nurturing. It was better than when he was thinking how like being in prison this was. He was bored to tears. Or at least to hanging half off the bed upside down brushing the floor with his hair.



Sasuke was still working at a feverish pace to finish his work before Naruto came to kill him. They were a sorry pair: one injured and the other one exhausted. If Naruto chose now to attack, he would easily be victorious. Sasuke had bags under his eyes when he came back. Kakashi was sure that if Naruto didn’t kill him, working like this would.



“You’re going out on a mission tomorrow,” Sasuke said. “It’s an easy thing, shouldn’t be a problem for you.”



“Finally letting me out jail?” Kakashi sat up on the bed.



Sasuke glared at him. “It’s an easy assignment, but you’ll be gone a week. The Land of Rivers doesn’t have a man to spare; Suna’s been scouting their border and they have most of their shinobi there to give the illusion they’re stronger than they are. Their Diaymo needs to be protected though.”



“Understood.”



“I don’t think he’s in danger, but you might get an opportunity to fight. Don’t overdo it.” Kakashi smiled at that. Be careful.



“Before you go though,” Sasuke took off his shirt, “I want to make sure you don’t get tempted.”



“I’d be scared shitless of you finding out, which you could easily with this damn seal.”



“I would flay you alive and do even worse to the other. You take the lead, I’m tired.”



“That seems to be your new normal: tired and horny.”



“I’ll be able to rest when I’m finished.”



“Then you’ll go back to being evil and horny?”



Sasuke came over and grabbed Kakashi by the hair to being them nose to nose. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” What scared Kakashi the most was that Sasuke’s eyes weren’t the least bit playful; they’d become hard. “You called it rape, but you loved it from the start.” Sasuke’s eyes turned back to normal and let go of his hair. “But I’m far too tired; I want you to take control. I’ll be evil later.”



Damn, he was good actor; he was now back to his tried, apathetic self he’s been for the last few months. Sasuke straightened and continued stripping. They were both wearing their civilian clothes and were quickly naked. Sasuke flopped onto his back. “We won’t see each other for a while; make it worth it.”



Kakashi loved the unimpressed smart ass. Kakashi leaned over him and kissed him. He started off with a gentle, dry handjob while he explored Sasuke’s mouth. He didn’t need to break the kiss to reach for the lube and apply a generous amount to Sasuke’s erection, letting it drip down between his thighs. Kakashi resumed the handjob, using more pressure now, threatening to bring Sasuke off early.



Before that could happen, Kakashi’s fingers followed the trail of lube to Sasuke’s entrance. He teased that ring of muscle as it eased open more from lust than from Kakashi’s ministrations. Kakashi was getting used to that, but it still made him angry that Sasuke was that used to being taken. Kakashi cursed Orochimaru to even deeper hells than he had before. He wanted to find himself in hell when he died just to be able to hunt that pale snake bastard down and be his torment for the rest of eternity. Only Sasuke’s moan of desire brought Kakashi back to the present, his mouth having been on autopilot while he was imagining what he’d to the pale bastard in hell. He returned his attention to the pale bastard beneath him.



Sasuke had moaned to get Kakashi to hurry up and mount him. Kakashi understood and lubed himself up to enter him. Sasuke’s body accepted him gratefully. Sasuke lifted his hips to meet Kakashi’s and pulled at his body. The spoiled control freak could not let go, had to urge Kakashi to fuck him harder even though he told Kakashi to take control. That gave Kakashi an idea.



Kakashi pulled almost all the way out and with his lips an inch from Sasuke’s. “You told me to take control; you mine for the night? Let me do what I want?”



Sasuke opened his eyes, a little concerned what Kakashi meant by that—and by stopping. “As long as what you want includes you fucking me through at least two orgasms.”



“That’s included.”



Sasuke nodded.



Kakashi pulled out and moved down to Sasuke’s cock. Sasuke wanted to object, so ready to cum from being fucked in the ass, but he’d agreed and he would let Kakashi have his way. Anyway, what man would say no to a blowjob?



However, he would be regretting it soon. Kakashi started with just the head, swirling his tongue around it, sucking, and stabbing the slit with his tongue, tasting the precum that was already leaking from the handjob and fucking. His tight lips then traveled down Sasuke’s hard length, his tongue writhing in the wake of his lower lip. Sasuke loved the feeling of the head of his cock push against Kakashi’s soft palate. Kakashi moved so that he could swallow his entire length. Then he started humming. He’d never done that before. Sasuke didn’t recognize the tune and at this point he couldn’t care less what it was.



He was so close. He was sighing and even let out a moan. But it was the whisper of his name that made Kakashi smile around the cock in his mouth.



Sasuke was ready to shoot. So close. So close. Then he felt a hand grab the base of his cock, but that mouth didn’t stop.



“Fuck!” Sasuke groaned and writhed. “Kakashi.” This time it was a growl, not a sigh.



Kakashi pulled off. “Whatever I want. My chest and leg still hurt.” He didn’t wait for a response, just took Sasuke’s cock back into his mouth, letting it slide over the inside of his cheek. Then he started sucking and bobbing quickly up and down while purposely making lewd sucking sounds. Fuck it was sexy; it was torture to Sasuke not cum. Kakashi stopped to lick Sasuke’s full balls.



Then Kakashi stopped mouthing his balls and even released Sasuke’s cock, but he quickly grabbed both of Sasuke’s wrists, pinning them above his head, and even pinned his thighs to the bed with his legs, keeping Sasuke from bringing himself off. Sasuke looked up into his eye and growled.



“You are far too used to getting your own way. You’re a spoiled brat who throws a fit when you don’t get what you want. For once, let go. You can fuck the shit out of me afterward. Stay.”



Kakashi let go of Sasuke’s wrists and kissed him briefly. He went back to Sasuke’s hips and licked his cock slowly, just enough to feel good, but not enough to make him shoot. Then he eased two fingers into Sasuke’s lubed hole. He didn’t go deep enough to prod his prostate, just enough that Sasuke enjoyed the feeling of being penetrated. He sucked and teased just the tip of Sasuke’s cock until he was close again, then he pulled away.



“Bastard,” Sasuke breathed.



“Honestly, I didn’t mind the ribs and sternum, but the collarbone and leg I resent.”



“Fuck. I thought I was the vengeful one. It’s been over a fucking week.”



Kakashi looked up at him with affection. Then he took the head back in his mouth and used his hand to jack Sasuke quickly. Sasuke downright growled at him.



“I’m going to fuck the shit out of you.”



Kakashi came up with a smack of his lips. “Promises, promises.” He pressed his thumb against the base of Sasuke’s cock to keep him from cumming and mouthed his balls.



“Son of a bitch,” Sasuke snarled. “If you don’t make me cum soon, I’ll kick your ass twice as hard as that night.”



“Don’t you meant ‘let?’” Kakashi squeezed Sasuke’s scrotum tight and ran his teeth lightly over them.



Sasuke hissed. “When did you become an evil bitch?”



“Collarbone.”



“Just fuck me already.”



“I’d make you suck me off right now, but you enjoy that too fucking much.”



“I promise not to jack off,” Sasuke said seductively.



“I think you could cum with a cock down your throat.” Kakashi took him balls deep in three quick thrusts.



“Fuck. Like you don’t love it too.”



Kakashi rose. “Not as much as you.” He now focused on the head, licking the precum right from the slit. Then he brought his hand back into it, stroking him as he teased the head with his tongue. He moaned, vibrating his lips around the edge of the head and the tongue in his slit.



“Please, Kakashi. Please, fuck me.”



Kakashi pulled away and Sasuke was relieved, believing that mean he was finally going to fuck him, but Kakashi came back up to kiss him, again restraining his wrists and thighs. Sasuke was all teeth by this point. Kakashi gave up on that and switched to his nipples.



“Fuck me, already. I’m sorry about breaking your fucking collarbone, alright?!”



Kakashi came up to look him in the eye. “Was that so hard?”



“I apologized a week ago! You are in so much fucking trouble.”



“I think I’ll survive it.”



“I don’t think I like your newfound confidence.”



“I think you do. You could have kept me cowed if you wanted to.”



Kakashi released Sasuke and finally reentered him. Sasuke let his whole body move as Kakashi fucked him for a while then he dug his heels into the mattress near his ass, his knees practically pressed into the mattress as well, doing anything to get Kakashi deeper.



“Come on, fuck me.” Sasuke growled the most guttural growl Kakashi had heard from him. He continued to swear between groans and the occasional growl of frustration when Kakashi slowed down and changed his angle of attack.



Kakashi grabbed hold of a nipple and twisted it. Sasuke cried out and Kakashi hit his prostate directly and Sasuke lost it. Rather than a sustained cry, Sasuke let out several short cries as he cam on Kakashi’s torso. He cam hard and sunk into the bed. Kakashi had been holding back and he cam inside Sasuke’s body with relief. It had been as trying for him as it was for Sasuke.



“I hate you,” Sasuke breathed, but there was nothing behind those words; Sasuke’s face was lax and his eyes blurry and hooded with afterglow.



“You said two,” Kakashi said, “ready for another round?”



“No. I think that’s all I had.”



Kakashi smirked. “But you made me promise two.”



Sasuke glared at him. Kakashi’s smirk turned into a smile; he was content to stop for the night. As he lay down beside Sasuke, Sasuke gently hit him with the back of a limp hand. “I’ll get my revenge when you come home.”



Kakashi lay down. “That is what you’re best at.”



“Is it?”



“The sex is pretty good too.”



“I knew you loved it. You know, you beat the shit out of me too, when I teased you about your father. It was the same thing.”



“True. Did I ever apologize?”



“No need. That, I deserved.” Sasuke was quiet for a while and then hummed. “I think we both enjoy being fucked for the same reason: we feel nothing but nihilism and despair. We have no pleasures in our lives, nothing but self pity. That becomes our pleasure and being used by someone else feeds that feeling of worthlessness and despair. And it feels so fucking good too, doesn’t it?”



“You accuse me of thinking too much during sex.”



“You think too much period. You’re the one who asked why I like being fucked.”



Kakashi turned onto his side. He could see his lover’s face in the dim light that they left on to decrease the strain on their Sharingan’s being in pure darkness when they woke up especially with Sasuke’s constant fatigue. “That was weeks ago. You’ve been thinking about it all this time?” Kakashi laughed. Sasuke pouted and Kakashi was reminded of him doing the same thing several years ago. He laughed again. “You haven’t really changed at all. I’ve been grieving for the boy you once were all this time, but I realize that you’re still the same. When were you happy? When were you not consumed with revenge? When weren’t you a misanthropic, smirking, arrogant pain in the ass? You haven’t changed, you just grew up.”



Sasuke thought about that, surprisingly not taking any offense. “Maybe you’re right. Except I don’t want to try anymore. I tried to have friends and live a normal life with you all in Konoha. I’ve given up.”



“So have I. I prefer it here.”



Sasuke was silent for a while. “I’m going to sleep, do the same; I’m transporting you to the Land of Rivers as soon as I wake up.” Sasuke pulled the blanket out from under him and curled up underneath. Kakashi smiled at him before joining him.



-----



Sasuke’s month was inaccurate; the month passed and Sasuke was still busy. Two months. He was looking beleaguered when Kakashi came back from a another stint, a straight two weeks of doing other people’s work. Actually, Kakashi didn’t see him for two days after he came home. He forced himself to sleep light as he would on a mission, but Sasuke didn’t show up. The fortress kitchen was stocked, though it was apparent Sasuke had been coming here for food once in a while. Kakashi was tempted to use the seal despite Sasuke’s warnings only to use it in an emergency.



Finally, Sasuke dragged in looking like a corpse. Kakashi got up and pulled Sasuke into bed. Sasuke was out in moments, but not before grabbing onto Kakashi. Whatever Sasuke had been doing had finally sapped all his strength and energy.



Kakashi didn’t leave his side for a full day as Sasuke slept harder than Kakashi had observed before. He was as cranky as ever when he finally woke up. He just sat up and squinted in the near dark. Kakashi didn’t wake up until Sasuke flung the blanket off his body and went into the bathroom. Kakashi turned over to get a few more minutes while Sasuke was at his grumpiest.



He got up a little while later and found Sasuke soaking in the ofuro.



“You still look dead,” Kakashi said.



“I finished. Just need to move things. Naruto can attack whenever he likes now.”



“Are you sure he’ll attack? He said he still wanted to save you when I spoke to him.”



“He has no choice. Even if he doesn’t, I’ll make sure he will; it’s essential to my plan.”



“You won’t kill him, will you?”



“That depends on him.”



The day Sasuke answered all his questions . . . Sasuke will declare his undying love for him before that happens.



Kakashi took a shower. Sasuke was still soaking when he finished.



Still wet, Kakashi crouched behind Sasuke and ruffled the damp black hair. “What now?”



Sasuke blindly put a hand against Kakashi’s face over his shoulder. “We wait.” Sasuke’s hand felt good on his bare cheek. He gently grabbed Sasuke’s wrist and held it still so he could kiss his palm.



“Naruto has several more weeks, if not months, to recover,” Kakashi said.



“I’ll come out with you. Kurohoshi will let me know when Naruto is well enough to consider attacking. I’ve been cooped up too long without fighting.”



“You did a fine job of fighting me and those other two.” Sasuke’s hand grew heavy as he let it drop, but Kakashi held it. “I’d love to fight alongside you again.” He kissed Sasuke’s hair.



“Join me.”



“Huh?”



“Water’s still hot.”



“There’s too much water.”



“That’s why there’s a drain in the floor.”



It was a large, luxurious ofuro. Kakashi was still undressed so he slipped into the water and Sasuke nuzzled up next to him. The water was still hot and felt wonderful.



“Maybe we can go to a hot spring,” Kakashi said. “There are plenty in the smaller nations.”



“Hn.” Kakashi took that as a yes.



-----



That night Sasuke decided he wanted to make up for the two weeks of separation. During the ‘day’ Sasuke ate like a horse and lounged around. It was just like old times as Kakashi saw him before he was brought here permanently. Whatever Sasuke had been doing was obviously taxing on the normally active Uchiha to lower him to this level of sloth.



Now he just wanted sex. After the full day of rest and food, Sasuke got a little of his fire back. Only now did the absurdity of having his taller, older sensei sprawled underneath him as he fucked him occur to Sasuke.



It had been a while since Sasuke took the lead, but he’d lost none of his skill. He wasn’t interested in anything but getting off; no kissing, no caresses, just fucking Kakashi. They were nearly face to face.



Sasuke started talking while he thrusts into Kakashi’s body, showing where his mind was. “Hate them. Hate them.”



“I do,” Kakashi sighed, not having to ask to whom Sasuke was referring.



Sasuke let out a pleased growl. “This is almost as good as revenge itself.”



What worried Kakashi about that statement was that Sasuke got an orgasmic high from revenge. “I’d rather you just keep fucking me that get anymore revenge.”



Sasuke smirked and looked down at him. “Not yet. A little more time.”



Kakashi couldn’t argue or ask once again what he was planning because Sasuke stepped up his attack on his body. His eyes rolled back as his prostate was bombarded. His mind went blank. It had been while. Then he felt hot breath on this neck then lips and finally teeth latching onto his neck. The jolt of pain and the sudden release of endorphins made his spine tingle. Without conscious thought, his hand came up to hold Sasuke there by the back of his neck. Sasuke bit harder and sucked at the skin between his jaws.



The force of the bite was putting pressure on Kakashi’s blood vessels; he started to feel lightheaded. As he was getting closer to passing out—and doing nothing whatsoever to stop Sasuke—his grip on Sasuke’s neck slackened and Sasuke knew to stop. He pulled away and to Kakashi it felt like his skin clung to his teeth for a moment. Sasuke kissed him and Kakashi could discern the metallic taste of his own blood against Sasuke’s natural spice.



To reach the taller man’s neck, Sasuke had pretty much curled up Kakashi’s body; now he eased back a bit and braced his forearms on the bed and used that as leverage to fuck him good and hard with quick thrusts and slow withdrawals.



Kakashi didn’t even think of holding back. For whatever reason—the time since Sasuke had topped, the two weeks since they had sex at all, or maybe it was just that good—Kakashi just wanted to cum and cum hard. Sasuke also was of no mind to wait. As soon as Kakashi’s body clamped down around him, Sasuke gave a final thrust and released inside him. Sasuke sank down on Kakashi’s body, laying his head on Kakashi’s chest. Kakashi brought both hands to Sasuke’s hair, one lay on in his hair and the other petted and finger combed the duckbutt.



“I won’t be satisfied with that,” Sasuke mumbled.



“Fuck, I could be.”



Kakashi felt Sasuke’s mouth open to say something else, but he remained silent.



It took a few minutes for them to regain their breaths and their bodies to recover. Kakashi loved this, laying here with Sasuke laying on top of him while they both relished the afterglow.



Sasuke finally pulled himself up. “Turn over,” he said. Even tired and post-orgasmic, Sasuke’s even tone sounded commanding. Kakashi obeyed, Sasuke slipping off his body as he moved.



Once on his knees, Kakashi laid his face down in the pillow, still content to enjoy the post-coital bliss. Kakashi had spread his knees apart so his body was closer to the mattress. Sasuke moved over him and started tracing the six thin white lines on Kakashi’s back that he’d given him. He gently raked his fingernails over them and remembered that night clearly. The scars reminded him that he owned Kakashi and that gave him a thrill of power and lust.



Kakashi was also reminded of that night. How far they had come since then. Sasuke had been crueler, but Kakashi considered that the low point.



Sasuke bent over him and licked at the scars and ran his lips over them. The scars themselves had no feeling, but the skin around them did. His mouth and even his breath on his back felt good.



That feeling of power reenergized Sasuke. He fingered Kakashi again, just feeling his hot slick insides and lightly nipped at his ass cheek. The massage of his anal ring was almost as effective as forcibly stretching. Sasuke replaced his fingers with his cock, sliding it smoothly all the way in. He then slid his fingers in Kakashi’s hair to grab a good handful of hair to gently pull him back like a bow being strung. Sasuke leaned forward so his cheek was pressed beside Kakashi’s borrowed eye. Sasuke used his teeth to grabbed the strap of the eye patch and pull it up; it slid from the other side of Kakashi’s head and ended up somewhere in his hair. Sasuke kissed the skin between his eye and hair and then licked at the scared eyelid. Unlike the first time, Kakashi didn’t try to shy away; he let Sasuke do as he pleased.



Sasuke licked and nipped at the top of his ear then down the edge to suck at his earlobe. His mouth descended to Kakashi’s neck, scraping his teeth over the skin and then licking at it. He let go of Kakashi’s hair and Kakashi’s spine straightened a little, but he held himself up to remain close to Sasuke.



Sasuke gave a few shallow thrusts and then stopped again, leaning forward to hold his body against Kakashi’s. Sasuke used his weight to press Kakashi down so that their backs were horizontal.



“Tell me what you want,” Sasuke ordered.



“You, anything you want to do.”



“Even open up your back again and lap at your blood?”



“Yes, anything.”



“Tell me you me to fuck you.”



“I do. Please fuck me, Sasuke.”



Sasuke didn’t, but he brought his clean fingers to Kakashi’s lips. Kakashi opened them, but Sasuke just caressed his sensitive lips. It wasn’t so much arousing as it just felt good. After a minute, Kakashi captured a finger gently between his lips and sucked on it. Sasuke pressed a second against his lips which he opened for it. He sucked them in deep and played his tongue over and around them. Sasuke started rock his hips into Kakashi’s body as he sucked his fingers.



It was actually Sasuke who couldn’t take anymore. He pulled his fingers away to grab Kakashi’s side and started to fuck him hard. Kakashi muttered his lover’s name and he pushed back into Sasuke’s thrusts.



“Come on, sensei, beg for it. You know you love it.”



“Fuck me harder, Sasuke, please. Cum inside me.”



That sent a surge of pleasure through Sasuke; he finally heard the words he desired so many months ago. But he fought his orgasm, wanting to feel Kakashi blow first. He reached down to feel Kakashi’s erection. He gripped the solid piece of flesh just to feel its hardness. He slowly started jacking him.



“Cum for me, show me how much you love being fucked by me.”



That hand and that voice was all he needed. With another thrust to his prostate it felt like his cum could have hit the ceiling if he were on his back. Sasuke let himself go just after Kakashi.



Kakashi moved forcing Sasuke to disengage as Kakashi rolled onto his back. He pulled Sasuke to him and kissed him.



“I’m yours forever, Sasuke,” he whispered. They looked at each other throw slitted eyes.



“Of course you are,” Sasuke said. But Sasuke was the one who curled up next to his lover as he fell asleep.



-----



Meanwhile in Konoha, Naruto was as much focused on what Sasuke had done as he was on retraining his body.



It was raining when Sasuke arrived on the battlefield. Madara was facing off with Naruto, Bee, Kakashi, and Gai. Of course his former teammates froze when Sasuke appeared at Madara’s side.



“Madara, you’re worse than Orochimaru,” Sasuke said. “You’ve neglected my training.”



“You don’t need it to defeat them,” Madara said, wanting to get on with it and capture the eight and nine tails right now then go and recapture the bijuu Naruto had released.



Sasuke turned his back on Madara’s opponents and began walking away.



“What are you doing?” Madara demanded.



“If you do not teach me what the Eternal Mangekyo can do, then I’m finished with you.”



Madara growled and transported them both away. It only took an hour for Madara to train Sasuke with his Sharingan, but by the time they returned, the situation was much worse. The two Jinchuriki and two Jounin were now backed up by thousands of shinobi.



Madara was unreadable under his mask, but Sasuke smirked. Sasuke drew his sword which seemed like a ridiculous gesture when faced with odds like these. But he turned and murdered Madara, blindsiding him with his sword glowing with chakra. Madara fell dead to the ground. Sasuke used the tip of his sword to remove his mask and stabbed both his eyes to prevent anyone from taking them.



The shared sigh of relief from the thousands of shinobi was audible and should have sent a breeze in Sasuke’s direction. Naruto was on the point of running up to his friend, but Susanoo grew up around Sasuke. The aura coming off of him was so cold and dark the scant sunlight coming through the rainclouds seemed to flee the battlefield.



Susanoo began firing arrows at the army facing him then Sasuke followed up with countless lethal jutsu, charging into the shinobi ranks as untouchable as death itself.



Naruto and Bee’s chakra was too depleted and many other shinobi were also too tired or injured to even think about attacking. You either ran or you died. By the time Sasuke ran out of chakra, there was nothing on the battlefield but him and corpses.



Sasuke used Madara’s time/space jutsu to find Suigetsu and Juugo to guard him while he slept and replenished his chakra. The Shinobi Army fell back to rest, heal, and regroup, but several scouts fell to Sasuke’s guards that night.



Of course Naruto wanted to fight Sasuke alone.



The next morning, Naruto, backed by Killer Bee, Kakashi, and Sakura came back to the battlefield with the rest of the army waiting at a distance. All the Kage were there as well, waiting in the wings in case Naruto needed them.



The fight was short. Once Sasuke made eye contact, Naruto fell. Killer Bee was not far behind. Naruto was unconscious after that. Yamato had to tell him the rest, thought it wasn’t from first hand experience.



Seeing Naruto fall, Tsunade stepped up to attack. Sasuke dealt with her with glee. He threw her body down the slight hill they fought on. Shizune screamed and lunged toward Sasuke, but Kakashi grabbed her hauled her back. Then Sasuke killed Onoki and A who had nearly killed him at the Kage conference with as much pleasure. Three Kage in one day: so many were frightened and/or disheartened that they fled. Sasuke dealt with any who tried to attack him and he killed some of those who ran. Suigetsu was there as well, killing as he saw fit.



On the third day, Kakashi was leading one of the last units against Sasuke. Sasuke could not regenerate chakra quickly enough to continue using his high level jutsu over three days and he was using far more taijutsu and lower level ninjutsu at this point. Kakashi and his men had hoped Sasuke would slow down or lose enough power for them to kill.



Half of Kakashi’s unit was dead, many of the survivors were running. Kakashi also lost heart; he let his exhaustion take him down after only being able to land one hit, a kick that Sasuke blocked with his arms before getting in his own kick that pushed Kakashi away so that Sasuke could deal with other attackers. It was over. Sasuke killed the last of those who didn’t run and found only Kakashi still alive and not a half mile away, but he wasn’t fighting, just sitting there on his knees. Sasuke walked up with his sword lowered.



“Not going to fight me?” Sasuke asked.



“I surrender, Sasuke.”



A few had begged Sasuke to spare them, a few had tried to surrender, but Sasuke had killed them all. Staring down at his former sensei, Sasuke couldn’t do it.



Sasuke had already put Naruto and Bee in cells he’d found in Madara’s fortress with chakra suppressing bars; he transported Kakashi to one of those. After that he found it harder to just slaughter those who surrendered. He even ordered bloodthirsty Suigetsu to spare any who surrendered, but left it to his own discretion.



Finally, the battlefield was empty; no one dared stand against Sasuke. He struck deals with the remaining Kage and began dealing with the prisoners. He was incredibly bored but enjoyed making the Konoha shinobi bow before him, especially his former sensei. He eventually sent his captives home.



But that wasn’t all.



Sasuke arrived in Konoha a day after he released his captives, arriving before them. Many raised weapons, but they hesitated to attack; survivors had returned to tell them of the slaughter the Uchiha had wrought among them.



“Bring me the elders Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu,” Sasuke ordered the people who had been caught off guard by his arrival in the middle of the village. No one moved. “The Will of Fire, eh? Even if it means dying, not one of you will sell out a comrade. How noble. And so untrue. This village, its elders, condemned one of its own clans to death. Itachi was ordered as member of ANBU to wipe out his own family. Do you still believe in the honor of Konoha, in the Will of Fire? The wrath I held for Itachi I now hold for this village and it’s increased a thousand fold. Hand over Mitokado and Utatane and I’ll spare the rest of you.”



Still no one moved. Some were shocked to hear the truth about the Uchiha, but many couldn’t believe it. Finally, Mitokado and Utatane came out on their own.



“Confirm it, tell the truth and I’ll spare your rotten village,” Sasuke said to them. They complied, adding the reason they wanted the Uchiha clan destroyed and the reason the Uchiha wanted to rebel as well. The full story was now out in the open.



Sasuke looked pacified, but they knew he wouldn’t be content with that. “Get on your knees.” Mitokado and Utatane did so, knowing why. Sasuke cut their heads off with one swing of his katana.



Their heads were found later, discarded in the forest. Sasuke didn’t need trophies.



Then Naruto was told about Kakashi’s time as Hokage, how brutal Sasuke was with him, but also how prosperous Kakashi had made the village. Then Sasuke replaced him and took him away and the old fears about Kakashi’s loyalty came back.



“Sasuke was always Kakashi-sensei’s favorite,” Naruto said when Yamato was finished telling him everything. “But he wanted to kill him before I had really resigned myself to it. Kakashi wouldn’t choose Sasuke over Konoha.”



“They’re far too close,” Yamato said sadly. “Kakashi was able to grab Sasuke without Sasuke reacting, like he knew Kakashi was no threat. Kakashi said that Sasuke would have attacked him if he had any killing intent, but we all know a shinobi of Kakashi’s caliber can suppress that aura. Kakashi can kill Sasuke whenever he wishes, but he chooses not to. Kakashi was a friend, but I can’t trust him anymore. I don’t think Pakkun does either.”



“Pakkun?”



“I spoke to Pakkun after that incident with the graffiti on Itachi’s monument; he was trying to remain loyal to Kakashi, holding something back, but the way he spoke . . . Like he was disappointed. I know how painful it will be, but you can’t trust Kakashi anymore.



“But before Sasuke took him away, Kakashi did say that he believed Sasuke feared you. Once you’re well enough, I think you should lead a team to that fortress and fight Sasuke again. With Sasuke gone, I think we could trust Kakashi again and bring him home.”



“Sakura’s in love with him, isn’t she?”



Yamato didn’t want to tell Naruto about that, but he’d figured it out by Sakura’s behavior whenever Kakashi was mentioned. “Yes. They became lovers after they came home from Sasuke’s prison. Sakura’s not lost to you though, if Kakashi can’t be trusted, he can’t come home.”



That didn’t make Naruto feel any better. There was also the unspoken possibility that Kakashi might need to be killed to get to Sasuke. He’d been standing and acting as a bodyguard in that cherry orchard.



The world had turned upside down while Naruto was asleep. For the first time, he thought he truly understood why Jiraiya and Tsunade had left the village to wonder.



-----



They didn’t go to a hot spring. Rather they found themselves sleeping in a forest clearing on the bedrolls Kakashi hated so much. As much as he hated them, he loved sleeping under the stars.



Sasuke had summoned one of his cats to patrol and put out the fire on such a warm night. Kakashi could hear the small black cat jumping around in the trees being a normal nocturnal cat. He had confidence in these cats however; she would alert them to danger even while she was pouncing after crickets.



Sasuke fell asleep easily after a day of killing off a group of rouges who were terrorizing a small village a few miles outside of Ame. Sasuke could have transported them home, but he decided to carry out the entire mission like it was old times: bathing in a river and camping out in the forest.



Sasuke was finally getting back to himself—though Kakashi wondered if that was a good thing. However, he had developed more of an urge to show off. He always wanted to show up Naruto, but now he liked to add more unnecessary flourishes with his sword. He was enjoying himself. Or showing off to his lover.



Kakashi was just drifting off when Sasuke stood up. Kakashi didn’t think anything of it assuming nature was calling and he shut his eyes again and felt sleep tugging at him.



But Sasuke fell to his knees next to him and fell forward to use Kakashi’s chest as a pillow. It was so hard to remember that this was the most feared and despised man in the shinobi world. Kakashi gave his hair a kiss.



Kakashi did adore Sasuke, but he feared what would happen now that Sasuke had finished his work. The entire world might come crashing down as soon Naruto came for them. He would stay by Sasuke nevertheless.



-----



“Naruto, I want you to kill Sasuke.” Naruto was a little surprised. Sakura had just appeared in his open kitchen window and announced her demand as Naruto was moving a spoon of instant ramen to him mouth. She slipped into his apartment and the whole situation reminded Naruto of Kakashi.



He put his spoon back into the disposable cup. “I’ve spoken with Yamato about what happened after Sasuke knocked me out. It seems like I won’t have a choice. But I really don’t want to kill him, Sakura-chan.”



“You have to. There is nothing left of the boy we knew. That’s not your old friend and rival, that’s . . . it’s a stranger wearing Sasuke’s face. Was there anything familiar about him the last few times you met? There’s nothing left of the person I loved except the face. And even then . . . I just want the bastard dead.” There was sadness and venom mixed in her voice. “After what he put us all through, what he’s putting Kakashi through . . . I know he’s being cruel to him; he was all this time. To save Kakashi, you have to kill Sasuke.”



Naruto thought about that and he wasn’t so sure he wanted to save Kakashi; Kakashi was a stranger to him now too. So was Sakura. She had grown up, become a fully fledged adult, she’d been all but married. She was a woman now. And she no longer cared about Sasuke at all? Why did everyone and everything have to change on him like this? Maybe if he could see Sasuke once more. Maybe there was something, some hope . . . But what then? He could never come home, not to Konoha or any of the villages. Death was probably the best option. If there was some conscience left in Sasuke, he must be in pain and nothing would ever erase the guilt. Like Itachi. Sasuke was better off dead and at peace.



But he wasn’t sure he wanted Kakashi to come back. Sure, there was a little jealousy, but it was really that he felt like he didn’t know the man anymore and couldn’t trust him. He asked the same question everyone else did: whose side was Kakashi really on? His village or his favorite student?



Kakashi had only let his grief over Sasuke show twice in front of Naruto. Not long before Naruto left with Jiraiya, while he was still in the hospital after his fight with Sasuke, Kakashi had come into his hospital room—via the window of course. He was normal at first, asking how Naruto was doing, but as they spoke, Naruto see his posture looked defeated and his one eye was so sad.



“What did Sasuke say?” he asked.



“He said a lot, but all he wants is revenge. He said he was wasting his time here and that Orochimaru will give him the power he needs to kill his brother and that’s all he wants. He said I couldn’t understand because I never had parents or siblings or any family, so I couldn’t understand what it felt like to lose them. But losing Sasuke must feel like that, right? I told him being around him is what I imagine having a brother is like. I told him Orochimaru just wanted his body as a vessel so he could be immortal, but Sasuke said he didn’t care, that he would give his body willingly if he could kill his brother. I couldn’t stop him. Sasuke wouldn’t listen. But he did say, that he had to kill his best friend in order to gain some sort of power to fight his brother. He said I was his best friend. That hurt even more. But he didn’t kill me.”



Kakashi’s eye seemed to look deep within. He looked even more defeated. Naruto knew Sasuke was his favorite. Even if it was because Sasuke had lightning nature—something which Naruto still didn’t understand at the time—Kakashi had only taken Sasuke under his wing, left Naruto to Ebisu and eventually Jiraiya. That had hurt.



“Jiraiya told me he’ll be taking you with him as soon as you’re healed. Sakura has asked to study under Tsunade to become a medical-nin.” Maybe that’s why Kakashi looked so sad; he didn’t just lose Sasuke, he was losing his entire team. “You’ll all be trained by the Sanin. I’m proud of your progress Naruto, more than Sakura and Sasuke’s. You’ll become a great shinobi one day.”



And he left. Naruto didn’t see him again for three years.



It was while Kakashi and Yamato were training him in wind natured chakra that Kakashi left his grief show again. Yamato was off getting some supplies since they were staying out on this training ground all the time now so Naruto could develop fast enough to catch up with Sasuke.



For once, Kakashi laid his Ich-Ich book aside and was just staring at the sky in the direction of Orochimaru’s last lair.



“Was there nothing familiar about Sasuke when you saw him?” Kakashi asked out of the blue.



“Huh?”



“When you saw Sasuke, did he not show any emotion at seeing you?”



“Not really. I almost felt like he didn’t recognize us, but he did, he said our names. He asked if you were there, but Yamato said you weren’t.”



“How did he react?”



“He didn’t.”



Kakashi’s body sagged.



“I think he was a little surprised that you weren’t there,” Naruto added.



“Do you think he really would have killed you?”



“Yeah. He tried to kill all of us. I think he really would have if Orochimaru hadn’t stopped him. Orochimaru believed he would have.”



“Did he use Chidori against you?”



“Not the one he used before. His whole body was covered in it. It wasn’t just a lightning jutsu, it chirped like yours. It blew us all away and electrocuted us. His sword had it too. He used it to break out of Yamato’s wood prison.”



Kakashi’s head sunk to his chest. “I’ve only really failed three times in my life. I couldn’t save my two best friends and I could save Sasuke. I should never have taught him the Chidori. I thought that would be power enough to make him stay. I was wrong. I was still a child when they died, but even though I’m wiser now, I still lost Sasuke.”



Naruto thought Kakashi looked more depressed than he or Sakura ever did at losing Sasuke. Naruto had been a little jealous then too. Why couldn’t Sasuke realize how much he meant to them? He was loved here. He had a best friend, a girlfriend, and a father figure here waiting for him. Why was Itachi so much more important? Even after Jiraiya died, Naruto couldn’t fully understand the intensity of Sasuke’s vindictiveness. Now he knew it was because he never loved Pein the way Sasuke loved Itachi. It was that love that fed his rage. And, in the end, Sasuke was unwilling to replace his family.



Kakashi always loved Sasuke more than Naruto and Sakura, Naruto knew that. Right now, that made him distrust Kakashi. Naruto wondered what he himself would do to have Sasuke back. Would he betray the village if it meant being by his side again? He couldn’t answer that, he really couldn’t. If he could be with Sasuke again like things had never changed, he might sacrifice anything. Had Kakashi decided that too?



Naruto nodded to Sakura. Yes, he would kill Sasuke, but he didn’t particularly want to save Kakashi. Kakashi would probably try to protect Sasuke. But what if he was wrong, what if Kakashi really was a prisoner? Okay, maybe he was more jealous than he thought; he didn’t want Kakashi to come home to Sakura. But if Kakashi didn’t try to defend Sasuke, he would bring him home. The code of Konoha and all that.



Sakura jolted him out of his thoughts. “I want to go with you.”



“Huh?”



“When you go to kill Sasuke, I want to come with you. As much as it may hurt, I want to see him dead, I have to see it. There’s still part of me that loves him and need that closure. You have to kill him; you’re the only one capable of it. Kakashi’s tried, the Kage have tried, only you could do it and I have to be there.”



There was no persuading her; she wasn’t a thirteen year old girl without any specific skills who could be left while the boys went after Sasuke anymore. “If Yamato says it’s okay.”



“Thank you. You won’t try to save him, will you?”



“He can’t be saved after what he’s done,” Naruto repeated the refrain. “I still have some retraining to do and I need to work with Kurama a bit more then we’ll go after Sasuke and bring Kakashi home.”



-----



The paper bombs and scrolls were placed. Sasuke crouched in an ally chewing on a large soldier pill. He’d been here for the last hour waiting for the cats to finish placing their share. They were finally finished. He raised one hand in front of his face to make the hand sign, but his right hand came up more slowly and stopped half way. He’d been crouching there watching the people of Konoha go about their afternoon. Not all of them were shinobi. They were happy. Or at least they were going about their lives more happily than Sasuke did. He couldn’t do it.



He needed a walk. Sasuke transformed and just wondered aimlessly, battling the conflicting feelings in his chest. He rarely came to Konoha and didn’t know the layout very well beside the restaurant district. He found himself at the edge of the village and the graveyard and the memorial stone. He walked up to the stone and absently started reading the names there. Few he recognized, but there were Hokage and other famous names. Alone, he let the transformation drop.



He came to Obito’s name. Uchiha Obito – Yondamie Namikaze Minato and little later, Rin. Kakashi’s team. It suddenly hit him that this was his home. It wasn’t so much the Uchiha name being on the stone—Obito’s wasn’t the first—but the names of Kakashi’s team. What was he doing? He shook himself out of that thought. Itachi, mother, father, auntie . . . That was what he was doing.



Sasuke continued to read. He came to the end. The Uchiha Clan - Uchiha Itachi Sasuke just stared for a while. He reached out and touched the letters, running his fingers along the length of the two inscriptions. He felt something on his cheek and raised a hand to swat at an insect, but he paused when he felt moisture there. Sasuke sank to his knees and leaned his head against his brother’s name, feeling the inscription press into his skin, marking his forehead. He wouldn’t let himself audibly sob, but he knelt there and cried.



He transformed again and walked back into the village. He was walking among the shops and noticed an older woman sweeping in front of her store. It was déjà vu. He remembered that fateful day walking to school and meeting his aunt—really a cousin—sweeping in front of her store in the Uchiha district.



What he was about to do was the same that Itachi did, just on a larger scale. Who would he miss or not be able to bring himself to kill, how many more versions of himself would he create? That was what he wanted, wasn’t it? To make these people feel the pain he felt? It suddenly just didn’t seem worth it. These people really didn’t matter. Sure they had their happiness at the expense of his own, of his brother’s, of his entire family, but they didn’t ask for it. But they knew it now. Sasuke wondered if that knowledge weighed on any of them, that the village had purchased their peace and happiness at such a price, that their happiness had led to slaughter Sasuke had wrought.



He couldn’t approach the woman who reminded him of his aunt, so he turned to a male shopkeeper across the way.



“Excuse me, I’ve just returned for a long mission and I’m a bit lost. What happened while I was away?”



An hour later, all the explosive tags and scrolls were gone.



-----



Sasuke returned that night looking more haggard than he did when he finished his mysterious work. Sasuke closed the door and just stared at Kakashi for a minute.



Kakashi had been doing most of the domestic chores since he came here and was now putting the laundry away. He stopped when he heard Sasuke come in. He noticed his eyes seemed red.



“Something wrong?” Kakashi asked.



Sasuke shook his head absently and didn’t even take any clothes off before crawling into bed. Kakashi lowered the lights and got into bed too, wearing just light civilian clothes anyway. He put his arm around Sasuke and nuzzled the back of his hair with his nose.



“Just let me sleep,” Sasuke said.



“I will.” Kakashi tightened his arm around him and felt Sasuke drift off.