A Shadow Darkly

IV

Sasuke kept his silence when Kakashi led him from the bath and to a supply closet for regulation jounin attire. The Uchiha felt like a dog, feeling humiliated about wearing this stupid collar. He figured Tsunade had the key to it – or even Naruto. Which meant he had to behave lest something along the lines of proper punishment happened to him.

At least he was given his privacy.

Everyone that crossed paths with Kakashi and his captive did a range of actions. Some swore, some averted their gaze. Others glared hate and others spat at Sasuke. And Kakashi did nothing. Even bound, Sasuke was dangerous and everyone knew it. It was just survival instinct. So they stayed away and Sasuke endured because it would only be a matter of time before someone got cocky enough to challenge the nukenin – and Sasuke would see this village painted red.

His musing was short-lived, however, when he noticed the ninja appearing, dressed in mourning black. They were walking I a long train, faces solemn, some of the younger ninja openly crying. They filed into a cemetery, a new addition to the village, Sasuke noticed, and wondered why such a thing existed – and found friends already there, waiting. Kakashi kept a firm hold on Sasuke’s shoulder, thumb digging into a pressure point as the silver-haired man guided him toward a group that was so familiar.

The Rookie Nine (sans Naruto for some reason) all watched Sasuke with a mix of emotions. Except for the girls, Sasuke gauged each male and made a silent challenge for which Kakashi pinched him for. Only by sheer determination alone did Sasuke keep from crying out in pain as a cruel thumb suddenly besieged his pressure point. Kakashi only relented when Sasuke stopped posturing. After, Sasuke spent his time studying his former friends out of the corner of his eye.

Sakura, Ino, and Hinata had filled out nicely. No longer possessive of their baby fat, they were less pretty and more beautiful, all filled with vibrant life. Nice tits, nice ass, probably a nice everything else, and look – long hair for a handhold. Sasuke fought down the grin of his libido if only to keep his captor from sensing his arousal. He also noticed the way Ino stood so close to Hinata – not quite touching, but close enough. Lovers? Well, didn’t Sasuke just hit the jackpot?

Of course, the nukenin knew better than that. One didn’t barge into an on going relationship unless invited. So he turned his attention to Sakura. She would be easy enough to seduce once Sasuke could go unchaperoned.

Once finished with his appraisal for the girls, Sasuke looked toward the boys. They too had grown up, thin frames (or not so thin, in Choji’s case) belying the strength they all possessed. Shikamaru stood close to Neji, discussing something in hushed tones and Sasuke took note of the wedding rings on their left hands. Married? To who? Sasuke chewed on his cheek a moment later as he shoved that information away for later review. Kiba and Shino were close – lovers , without a doubt. Kiba stood far too close to Shino, but deferred to him with the Aburame merely shifted. Choji held a conversation with the recently arrived Rock Lee, and suddenly was aware that he was surrounded by shinobi, who, when working together, could take him down with minimal losses.

Just as Sasuke was about to voice this fact to his keeper, the crowd hushed. All eyes turned then to a young genin who walked carefully measured steps carrying an urn. Preceding him was a kunoichi, carrying Iruka’s photograph. Sasuke remembered them – Konohamaru and Moegi, the brats that used to follow Naruto around.

Slowly, the mourners closed ranks after they’d passed, and pair stepped up carefully placed stairs to a stage Sasuke hadn’t noticed before. Sitting there was a decrepit old Council, Tsunade, Shizune, Naruto and –

Who the hell was that guy next to Naruto?

Sasuke didn’t remember this man at all. Long orange-blonde hair fell over broad and strong shoulders, some of the strands caught up in a twisted bun pinned by several senbon. Nails long enough to be knives were at the ends of long fingers, which scratched almost thoughtfully at a short goatee. Thin black lines slashed across his cheeks like Naruto’s whisker-scars, but they were hardly as defined.

Who was this man?

Tsunade rose, heads bowed, and the eulogy began. Sasuke studied his toes and the dirt beneath his feet, wishing he could get out of this stupid collar so he could access the Sharingan. That, at least, would amuse him while the stupid village mourned. Hours dragged by, hundreds of voices saying the same exact thing over and over. Sasuke was napping on his feet when a shout woke him abruptly enough that Kakashi dug his thumb into that pressure point once again.

Sasuke glared hard at Kakashi but said nothing, resettling himself to stare at the stage. What he saw there floored him. On the day Iruka’s ashes were interned in the earth, Naruto accepted the mangle of Hokage. Sasuke fought to keep his jaw from dropping in surprise and anger and hatred. Naruto, at twenty-four years old, had become the Rokudaime Hokage, the youngest Hokage in Konoha’s existence. Sasuke’s fist clenched and he felt his nails stick his skin, break it, until blood flowed.

No way was Naruto stronger than he!

Sasuke glanced to Kakashi, then back to the stage. Naruto would die. He had to die.

No one would be stronger than Sasuke.