Kakashi and his Raven part 2

Alright, you already know that I don’t want to write the Danzo fight, so we’ll move on to the post-Danzo fight stuff. This is the end.
Downer warning! It lightens up a bit though. I hope my two loyal reviewers don’t hate this ending, but if you’ve read some of my others, you should have come to suspect this kind of ending. “Unanticipated Reunions and Alliances” will have a happier ending, I promise.
As suggested by another reviewer, I might write and Ka/Sa/It later. “Amends” is almost like that. But I’ll consider a Ka/Sa just for you krito1389. ^_^

----------

One of Juugo’s little bird friends delivered the letter saying Sasuke had killed Danzo and they were in hiding, healing from the battle. Kakashi assumed Sasuke had used up too much chakra to even call one of his ninja cats so resorted to the bird.

Kakashi picked up the tress of black hair he’d harvested from Itachi. He caressed its smooth surface then ran his fingers through it. He remembered it warmer and more responsive as Itachi would move his head and the strands would pull gently from his weak grasp.

He heard Itachi moan in his memory. Itachi was arching off the bed with his head thrown back as Kakashi sucked him to release. Kakashi could taste him. He felt the ghost touch of Itachi’s hands as if he were pulling him toward the bed. Kakashi lay down and relived those memories.

Itachi’s skin glowed in the moonlight, shining as he began to sweat under Kakashi’s ministrations. His hair shimmered like the moon’s reflection on water. Itachi was perfection. But that face. The tear troughs under his eyes were like a brand from birth that he would never be happy. His eyes used to be rounder, more innocent despite the killing and fighting in ANBU and the illicit relationship they were having. They became narrower in those last few days before the slaughter. When they were reunited, his eyes were permanently narrow, never able to open to the innocent roundness of his youth. It saddened Kakashi then, but now the fact was like a stab in the heart.

Sasuke had inherited that doom of sadness.

But his thoughts went back to his luscious raven. Kakashi felt that lithe body against his and could smell him. Itachi straddled him and took him into his body. That tight warmth was too much even in his memory. Itachi’s long hair spilled over his shoulders and danced over his chest as he rode Kakashi’s hips. His black eyes smoldered and he opened them to look down at Kakashi. As he neared his release, his eyes turned bright red. He shut his eyes as he cam, moaning out ‘Sempai.’ Kakashi, both in his memory and real life, cam as well. Itachi lowered himself over him, tucking his head under Kakashi’s chin and murmured how much he loved him while Kakashi caressed that smooth, scarless back and hair. He could smell that hair. Leaves and fresh rain soaked dirt, like a breeze in forest.

He then saw the body as it was after the autopsy. Kakashi’s sadness turned to rage. He sat up, the muscles of his naked body shaking. He loved Itachi so much. Life was hard enough after he slaughtered his clan and ran off, but now that he was dead Kakashi found it hard to breathe sometimes. Why bother drawing another breathe if he couldn’t smell that breeze or inhale Itachi’s breath?

As if Itachi’s spirit was trying to calm him, he felt/remembered Itachi sitting behind him with a hand over his chest and an arm around his waist.

“Itachi.”

Itachi’s sculpted face lay on his shoulder. He could feel that hard cheekbone against his collarbone and the ghost of breath on his upper back.

Kakashi calmed, but otherwise he was not mollified. Itachi’s face pulled away as if he knew he could not comfort his lover.

“I can’t do it, Itachi. I love you too much.”

The memory of the arms around him fled. He shut his eyes. He knew it wasn’t Itachi’s ghost, just a memory.

Sasuke was living in a nightmare similar to his brother. He had to save him from it; he couldn’t leave Sasuke to suffer the way Itachi suffered. The way he was suffering.

Sasuke’s words were penetrating. The village had violated Itachi’s body and his honor. When he thought about the people outside laughing and smiling he remembered Sasuke’s words and saw Itachi’s carved body. He began to understand Sasuke’s resentment. Itachi chose Sasuke over the village and he was beginning to see Itachi over the village, Sasuke over the village.

Kakashi’s mind was made up. He set about writing a letter.

-----

Finally, Sasuke entered the gates of Konoha with his team in tow.

When Izumo and Kotetsu stopped them, he said, “Take us to the Hokage tower.” The pair did so.

Word had gotten ahead of them and Tsunade was waiting for them in her office. All four of them were aware of the number of ANBU around them, visible and invisible; they made no threatening gestures.

“Danzo is dead,” Sasuke stated. Tsunade took a breath. She seemed . . . relieved. “Very well. Have you come to turn yourself in?”

“Ha,” Sasuke said with great, but quiet, amusement. “I’ve come for the elders; those two old bats who advised the Third.”

“They’re dead.”

Sasuke was taken aback. Dead? “May I ask how?”

“Kakashi murdered them then killed himself.”

“Kakashi? He’s dead?” he asked as calmly as possible, not showing the distress in his chest.

“Yes. Fell on his own sword. I thought you would come; he left you message.” She tossed him an envelope addressed to him. It had been opened. He took out the page. “It’s blank,” Tsunade said. “But there must be something of meaning for you.”

Sasuke activated his Sharingan, the visible ANBU tensed, but Sasuke didn’t flinch or look away from the white page. Words appeared, visible only to his Sharingan.

Sasuke,
My father threw away his honor to protect his comrades and killed himself in shame. Your brother sacrificed his entire family, except for you, for the sake of the village, and sacrificed his honor for you. I feel compelled to follow their example.
You were my precious student. I saw so much of myself in you: a young genius, no family, arrogant, but with reason, cold, superior, holding yourself aloof from those you should have called friends, from those who loved you. You and I were very much alike, at least the younger me. You are like the son I will never have. I passed my Chidori only to you and you have taken it to levels I never dreamed; I’m very proud of you. But I wish you could have learned more from me, the lesson I tried to teach you that night, that revenge will leave you empty and alone, if not dead. I wish I, Naruto, and Sakura could have been your family. We tried. Perhaps not hard enough.
I loved your brother and swore to train you. I also swore to bring you home safely. So I took your revenge. I go to join your brother. Please don’t hold it against me. Find happiness, find some life beyond revenge, even if you must escape the village. Your brother and I have sacrificed everything for you, don’t waste it. Revive your clan and surround yourself with friends and a new family. Don’t end up alone like me. Alone.
I leave all my possessions to you and Naruto and Sakura. The three of you are the closest thing to family to me still living.
Forgive me, but this way the deaths of these two will not be on you and I can avenge your brother, my lover. Goodbye. Flee if you need to, but find happiness.
Hatake Kakashi
PS Stuck in the last volume of the Icha Icha series is a photograph I’m sure you’ll want to keep.

Sasuke’s Sharingan faded. He lowered the page, but did not raise his head.

“What do you have planned for me, Hokage?”

“Are you giving yourself up?”

“That all depends, doesn’t it?”

“Practical. You destroyed Orochimaru and Ota. You killed at several members of Akatsuki, including your brother. You killed Danzo, a dangerous man who plotted to destroy the village in order to take control of it. It doesn’t seem that you have done any harm to the village. If you surrender, I think a year of probation would be in order, then you can retake the chunnin exam and resume missions with Team Kaka—your old team.”

“And my companions? They will be free to go or stay, whatever they decide?”

Tsunade considered the trio flanking Sasuke. They were confused, but said nothing. “If they stay, they swear loyalty to Konoha and the Fire Country and they will also be put on probation. If they leave, it will be after some questioning, then they can go on their way.”

“We have your word?”

“You’ll stay?”

“As long as no harm comes to them and you stand by what you’ve said and have the authority to guarantee your promises.”

“You have my word. I couldn’t harm you anyway; Naruto and Sakura would kill me. Literally. You and your team will be safe and welcome, as far as I am concerned, in Konoha. I cannot speak for the entire village on this however. There will no doubt be those who will not trust you and even hate you.”

“I’m prepared.” Sasuke turned to his team. “You are free to decide for yourselves.”

“I have no where else to go,” Juugo said, “I will stay with you.”

“I also have no home to go back to,” Karin said. “I’ll remain here, with you.”

“Sorry, Sasuke,” Suigetsu said. “I’m got my own goals and my village wouldn’t like it if I turned traitor to Konoha. I wouldn’t fit in here anyway; you all are too soft around here.”

Sasuke nodded and returned his attention to Tsunade. “The three of us will stay. Let Suigetsu go.”

Tsunade nodded. “Welcome home.”

“But understand this: any harm befalls these three and I will take action.”

“Understood. We’ll prepare rooms here in the tower for you four. Get some rest and something to eat. Tomorrow you’ll all have to be debriefed, then Suigetsu may leave and the three of you can return to the Uchiha compound or find somewhere else to live.”

“I will return to the compound.” Juugo and Karin nodded.

“I don’t mean to separate you from your team, but can I have a private word with you, Sasuke? Everyone will wait just outside.” Sasuke nodded and the room cleared, even of ANBU. “What did Kakashi write?”

Sasuke just stared at her for several long moments, but he considered it payment for her leniency. He raised the paper, activated his Sharingan, and read it out loud in an emotionless voice, all except for the note about the photograph.

“What does he mean? About your brother?” Sasuke told her the whole truth. “That’s why you killed Danzo and Kakashi killed Homura and Koharu. Very well. It’s up to you: do you want to maintain the view the village has of your clan, or do you want the truth revealed? I can make an announcement that Itachi was on a secret mission for the village, as were you, but I would have to explain why your clan is dead. But you and your brother will be honored for your sacrifices.”

“There are those in this village who remember the Uchiha and did believe we summoned the Kyuubi to destroy the village. You might as well reveal the truth. I don’t know how much I could take of people speaking ill of my brother anyway. Tell them the truth.”

“Go and rest. I won’t tell Naruto or Sakura about your return until later, give you some time to rest.”

Sasuke nodded and turned to rejoin his team, but he stopped. “And Kakashi. Restore his honor as well.”

“I will.”

Sasuke left.

-----

Sasuke found himself in his childhood home once again. He forced himself to stomach it. He told Juugo and Karin to take the house next to his. The three of them worked together to repair the neglected buildings and clean them up.

Tsunade allowed him into Kakashi’s home to take what he wanted of his sensei’s possessions since he left everything to his team. There was nothing. Sasuke walked around and tried to see Kakashi in anything here, but he didn’t. To be honest, there was little here. Sasuke remembered that Kakashi used to live in a very small apartment, but he moved back to his family home at some point, probably when he started harboring Itachi.

Most of Kakashi’s things were in his bedroom. Sasuke’s heart sank. There were photographs of his teams, Minato’s and Team 7. He remembered the day the latter one was taken. He shoved that memory aside even as he felt the memory hand of Kakashi on his head. The photographs prompted him to look for the book Kakashi mentioned in the letter. He found the three books sitting on the bedside table. He sat on the bed and flipped through the third book and found the picture.

Sasuke didn’t think he could cry anymore, too jaded and too much beyond weeping. But he felt tears strike his hand. The two people he loved, his brother and surrogate father, smiling happily out of the photograph, both dead, both having essentially committed suicide, for him. He shut the book forcefully and clamped it shut with his hand. He wept hard. He fell over and curled on the bed holding the book to his chest and wept.

When Sasuke recovered he took a closer look around the room and found the black tress. He didn’t even need to see the red band to know it was Itachi’s. Sasuke thought it a slightly macabre memento, but he took it with him, more to keep anyone else from finding it than any other reason. He took the three books and three photographs, the one in the book and the two of Kakashi with his teams and, after straightening the bedclothes, he left.

Sasuke wasn’t aware when Tsunade made the announcement that he was back and revealed the ‘truth,’ such as it was, about he and his brother. She told everyone that Kakashi had died defending the elders from an Akatsuki assassin.

As soon as she was done speaking, Naruto and Sakura nearly attacked her, demanding to know where Sasuke was. She told them, and within minutes, they stood at the gates of the Uchiha compound. They stopped. This had been a forbidden place, believed to be haunted, and they had never entered it. Naruto slowly opened the gates.

Karin had sensed them and came outside, ready to defend herself and Sasuke. Juugo followed to defend Sasuke if needed. The two pairs stared at each other.

In some ways, these pairs reflected each other: the girls had hair of different shades of pink and the boys, spiky lighter colored hair, yellow and orange. The girls were excitable and in love with Sasuke, the boys also loved Sasuke, though their personalities were opposites.

“You’re Sasuke’s new team?” Sakura asked.

“We are,” Karin responded. “Who are you?”

“His old team,” Naruto answered. “Where is he?”

Sasuke came out of his home then, looking blankly at Naruto and Sakura. “I have nothing to say to the two of you. Please leave.” He retreated back into his home. Naruto and Sakura were too stunned to move for a moment.

“Sasuke,” Sakura called before Sasuke could shut the door. Karin stepped up to stop her. “I’m here by the Hokage’s order.”

Sasuke turned. “Let her come in. Naruto, go home.”

“But Sasuke—” Juugo and Karin stood in front of him.

Sasuke shut the door behind Sakura.

“Hurry this up,” Sasuke said.

Sakura looked around. Except for Sasuke’s sandals, the entryway was bare. The glimpse she had of the next room hinted that the entire house was barren. Sasuke probably threw everything that was left away, not wanting memories of his slaughtered family.

Sasuke was watching her intently so she forced herself to say something. “Lady Tsunade said you might not want to speak to us.”

“So? What business does she have with me?”

“She said that you won’t have to take the Chunnin exam again. But you will have to test to become a Jounin. You can start off as a Chunnin, you and your team.”

“Is that all?”

“Sasuke, you really don’t care about us anymore?”

“When did I?”

“I know you used to, at least a little.”

“I’m grateful for your help earlier, but I’ve lost pretty much everything I had left Sakura. I find my brother was not my enemy, he dies, and now Kakashi is dead. I want to be left alone.”

“When you’re ready, will you come to Naruto and I? You have to eventually leave this compound.”

“The Hokage has already implied Team Kakashi will be brought back together. But I have Juugo and Karin; I don’t know what the Hokage plans. I’m also on a year of probation; the three of us are. We will leave to get provisions, but that is all. You can leave.”

“Sasuke-kun.”

“I don’t love you; get that through your head! Now leave.”

“We’ve also lost Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke.” Sakura left.

“Sakura-chan?” Naruto asked at her expression.

“Let’s leave, Naruto.”

Once they were at the gates, Sasuke came out and leaned against the doorway. “What do you two think? Was it the right decision to stay here?”

“I don’t know,” Juugo said.

“Where else were we to go?”

“Karin, your feelings for me aside, do you want to stay here?”

“Well,” she started nervously, “it’s a nice village.”

Sasuke turned to lean his back on the doorframe. “I don’t know what I want.” Sasuke rubbed his face. “No, that’s not true. I know what I don’t want. I don’t want to be here. I don’t want to be around them. I don’t feel like I’ve come home. Do neither of you have any other family or friends?”

“None.”

“Everyone is dead,” Karin said. “And as Orochimaru’s jail keeper, I had no friends.”

“I’ll consider other options. Karin, I want you to seriously consider something.” Karin stood a little straighter, ready to do anything Sasuke asked her. “Examine your feelings for me; do you really love me?” She blushed, but kept her composure. “Many of the girls here acted like you do. I need to know if your feelings are really genuine. I don’t want an answer now, but I will want it soon.”

-----

Sakura came over once more alone. Sasuke came out to meet her, armed.

“Please, Sasuke, at least speak with Naruto. He’s done the most to bring you back and he cares about you more than anyone else. Speak with him. You’re not talking to him and Kakashi’s death has taken away all his normal cheer.”

“The fool should have let me go long ago. So should you.”

“You don’t care about us? What about Kakashi’s death? Don’t you—”

Sasuke pulled his sword and pointed it at her. “Kakashi’s death wasn’t my fault!”

“Why would it be?”

“Just leave me!”

“How did Kakashi die? I thought there was something wrong; it took Tsunade-sama a long time to announce his death. How’d he die? You know, don’t you?!”

“He died honorably. He died for the sake of his comrades, for his family. I will kill anyone who impugns his honor.”

“You do care about Kakashi-sensei. You care about us, don’t you?”

“Sakura. I will pay you the respect of not using my Sharingan to force you to leave. Don’t test my generosity beyond that. If you or Naruto come through those gates again, or anyone else, without official word from the Hokage, I will use these eyes. I’m sure Kakashi hinted at the horrors we Uchiha can create.”

Sakura saw the deadly seriousness in Sasuke’s eyes. She ran from him. His fury was a façade. His shoulders slumped and he sheathed his sword. Karin and Juugo were standing just in the doorway, watching. He approached them and sat against the house, put his head in his hands and wept. Karin dropped down to comfort him. He grabbed her, scaring her for a moment until she realized he was crying into her shoulder. She encapsulated him in her arms.

When Sasuke calmed, he told them, “We’ll leave. Kakashi suggest it in the letter he left for me. There’s nothing for me here. Your answer, Karin.”

She didn’t blush, she didn’t act like a gushing schoolgirl, she looked at him with warmth and said, “I love you, Sasuke.”

He nodded. “The three of us will leave tonight.”

-----

Naruto and Sakura hadn’t heard of or seen Sasuke for over a week. They tried to see him again despite his threats. The Uchiha compound seemed even more dismal and haunted than a week ago. No one came out of the houses as they had the last time.

Naruto broke into a run and burst into the house Sasuke had been living in. No sound. No decoration or anything beside basic furniture. Nothing. The next house. Nothing. The three of them were gone. Naruto hit the wall in frustration. He’d lost Sasuke again.

-----

Three young black haired boys walked on the road to Konoha. The two youngest, twins, bickered while the elder seemed to ignore them. Their clothes were dusty and they looked like they had traveled a long way. Heavier, warmer clothes were tied to their packs attesting to their coming from a colder climate.

They were stopped at the gates by an anonymous shinobi.

“Who are you boys?”

“We’re here to see the Hokage. Uzumaki Naruto is the Hokage right?”

“He is.”

“Good, that’s who we’re supposed to see.”

“You can’t just walk into the village and expect to see the Hokage.”

“But that what father told us to do. Or ask for Haruno Sakura.”

“Who’s your father? Who are you?”

Once of the younger boys proudly said, “Our father’s Uchiha Sasuke.”

“We were only supposed to tell the Hokage that,” the older boy said.

“He’s not letting us see him, is he?” the younger boy mumbled.

“Izuna,” he warned.

“Cool it ‘Tachi,” Izuna’s twin said.

“You’re Uchiha’s Sasuke’s children?”

“Yeah,” Izuna said. He turned to Itachi, “Told you it would help.”

“Can we see the Hokage now?” the twin said.

The shinobi turned and escorted them through the village.

“Hey, did Naruto marry Sakura? Father said he would.”

“Kiyoshi! I don’t think you should be talking about their Hokage that way.”

The shinobi answered anyway. “No, he married Hyuuga Hinata.”

“Then who did Sakura marry?”

“Izuna,” Itachi scolded softly.

“Rock Lee.”

“Father told us about him. He’ll be shocked to hear that.”

Itachi managed to keep his little brothers quiet the rest of the way. On being told that the children of Uchiha Sasuke were here to see him, Naruto had them brought into his office, but not before summoning a pair of ANBU guards.

The boys looked very much like Sasuke when he was young. Itachi had a much sharper face that Naruto attributed to his mother and only he had Sasuke’s duck butt hair. The other two boys had much more normal hair. The eldest appeared to be around ten, his brothers seven or eight.

“Lord Hokage,” Itachi said.

“Why are there so many people hiding around us?” Kiyoshi asked.

“Quiet,” Itachi hissed at him. “I am Uchiha Itachi, these are my brothers, Izuna and Kiyoshi. Our father sent us here to become shinobi.”

“Uchiha Sasuke.”

“Yes.”

“Who’s your mother?”

“Uchiha Karin.”

“So he married her. What about the big guy with orange hair?”

“Juugo? He’s with them.”

“He sent all his children here for training?”

“No. Our sister stayed. She wanted to stay home.”

“So did we,” the twins grumbled.

“Where did you come from?”

“All we’re allowed to say is from the north.”

“He sent his own children alone? Seems he’s as cruel as ever; even trained shinobi would have trouble traveling over that terrain.”

“We are trained. But he said if we wanted to be real shinobi, we’d have to come to a village, but only to Konoha. He said you would take us in and let us become shinobi.”

“After he betrayed and left us? Twice? He thinks he can send his children to us and we would trust them? Uchiha are not welcome here.”

The ANBU the boy’s sensed, using their mother’s talent, appeared around them. “Izuna!” Itachi cried.

Izuna pulled out a scroll and activated it faster than the ANBU could move. “Get down!” an older voice cried out from the cloud of smoke followed by the sound of a blade being pulled from a sheath. When the smoke cleared, the three boys were laying on the ground at the feet of a man dressed in black with a sword ready. His red eyes flew around to see the situation.

“Sasuke,” Naruto said.

“Yo,” Sasuke responded, but he did not lower his guard. His eyes darted to the eyes of every ANBU mask and pulled them each into his genjutsu, putting them into a deep sleep.

“Itachi, any I missed?” Sasuke asked his eldest son.

“No.”

“So that’s what that scroll does,” Izuna said in amazement.

“It’s a good thing I didn’t take too long in the shower,” he said with a smirk. His hair was still damp. “I’m guessing your answer is ‘no,’ Naruto.”

“It is. How can I trust sons of yours?”

Sasuke unrolled a scroll. “When you get back, tell your mother to summon me back in ten minutes.” Sasuke activated the scroll and the three boys disappeared.

“I’m disappointed, Naruto. I am glad to see you achieved your dream though. But I hoped you wouldn’t hold my children accountable for my sins. I never betrayed Konoha. The worse I ever did was kill Danzo and that was actually a great favor. Kakashi understood. It was he who suggested I leave; he understood how I felt better than anyone.”

“He was dead before you came home.”

“Home," Sasuke mused. "Ever since my clan was killed, I never felt like Konoha was my home. Kakashi wrote a letter to me before he died. I received it the night I returned. I kept a copy with me in case it came to this. Only the Sharingan could read the words on the original.” Sasuke tossed it to Naruto. “He was in love with my brother. Kakashi was the only family I felt I had left; my brother’s lover and my surrogate father. That damn fool killed himself for me. I think he also couldn’t live without Itachi. We both found it hard.”

Naruto read the letter in silence. When he finished, he considered it for a minute.

“I’m actually a little glad you don’t trust us Uchiha; I didn’t want to send my sons away, but they wanted to become real shinobi. We have trained them. We’ve not betrayed Konoha, we’ve just been defending out home village from bandits and missing-nins. I sent them alone so they could practice their teamwork and have the opportunity to use their skills, but I gave them that summoning scroll so that if their lives were in danger, I could save them.”

“I don’t think I can ever really forgive you. All I wanted was for you to come home.”

“Did you ever consider what would make me happy? Did you ever consider I wouldn’t be able to come back here? You may have felt this was where I belonged, but when lost my family, I lost any real connection to the village. Until I joined Team 7. You are my friend and Kakashi became like a father. I lost Kakashi and I . . . couldn’t face you anymore. I still don’t want to. You were not enough to tie me to Konoha. I also lost any desire to be a shinobi. I decided to take my new family, Karin and Juugo, and build a new life away from the history of the Uchiha and Konoha. Away from the shinobi world. But the Uchiha will remain friends of Konoha. I like my life now, Naruto. I didn’t like it here or with Orochimaru, or on the run.

“My time is about up. I’d appreciate it if you don’t come looking for me like you used to. Please don’t do anything to impugn Kakashi’s honor. Burn that letter when you’re done with it. Goodbye, my friend.”

A few seconds and Sasuke vanished from Naruto’s office.

Sasuke reappeared, not in his home, but in a quiet back ally in Konoha. Karin knew that he didn’t mean ten minutes; she would know that if their sons had summoned him to Konoha, he’d want more time than that. Ten minutes was merely a blind for Naruto.

The village had changed. The only Akatsuki Sasuke and his team had failed to kill was Pein and Konan. They had attacked. The village was completely rebuilt. Activating his Sharingan, Sasuke scanned the area for a familiar chakra. He wondered the back allies until he found it. He was able to leap up to the door of large apartment without being seen. He hesitated before knocking. He stood back from the door. He knew the person he sought was home and not alone.

Sakura nearly screamed when she saw Sasuke leaned back on the railing outside her door.

“Sasuke?”

“Yo.”

“Is it really you?”

“Yes.”

“But it’s been ten years. What are you doing here?”

“It’s been eleven years. Can I come in?”

Sakura stepped away to let Sasuke enter her home. Sasuke and Lee saw each other and went stiff: Lee feeling like he might have a fight for love on his hands, Sasuke afraid he would attack.

“I knew you didn’t marry Naruto since I didn’t feel you in the Hokage mansion, but . . .”

“Hinata confessed her feelings for Naruto when she stepped up to defend him from Pein. During the rebuilding he started to reciprocate. Lee won my heart about the same time.”

“I’m glad.”

Lee gestured for Sasuke to sit. “I don’t mean to sound rude,” Lee said, “but what are you doing here?”

Sasuke pulled his sword and sheath from his thin, black rope belt and sat.

“I sent my sons to Konoha to become Konoha shinobi. Naruto refused and was about to arrest them. I gave them a scroll to summon me in case of emergencies. They use it and I used a summoning scroll to send them home. I just left Naruto. He thinks I was summoned back home too. I was curious to see and hear what has changed.”

“So much had changed.”

“I heard about Pein. He and Konan were the only ones I failed to kill before I left. At least that was the end of Akatsuki. But tell me, is Naruto bitter over Kakashi and I?”

“Sometimes. No one wants to mention either of you. He’s not always like that. There’s so much that changed that there doesn’t seem to be much to say. What about you? You have children?”

Sasuke smiled. “Three boys and a girl, Itachi, Izuna, Kiyoshi, and Mikoto.”

“That girl, Karin?”

“Yeah. She stopped being annoying as soon as she didn’t feel she had to hide that she loved me anymore. Juugo lives with us. A good thing with four kids, live in babysitter.”

“Are you happy?”

“Yes. Are you?”

“Yes.”

“Good. If Naruto can get over me, all will be good. I want to give you this.” Sasuke gave Sakura a scroll. “If danger ever threatens the village again, a great danger, use this and we will come. It won’t summon us, but it will let us know we’re needed. The Uchiha will fight for Konoha.”

“Thank you.”

“If you never use it, give it to your children. My clan will always have a tie to Konoha. I don’t have a whole lot of time before Karin summons me home. I want to visit Kakashi’s grave.”

“I’ll take you there.”

“Lee, want to come along?”

“No, I’m not a member of Team 7 or Team Kakashi. Go on.”

“Goodbye, Lee. Take care of Sakura.”

“I will.”

Sasuke transformed into Lee to be able to walk the streets openly to the cemetery. Once alone in the cemetery, Sasuke let the disguise drop. The pair dropped to their knees and prayed at Kakashi’s grave. After a few minutes, Sasuke helped Sakura up.

“Time’s up. Goodbye, Sakura.”

“Goodbye, Sasuke. I’ll try to convince Naruto to forgive you so if you and your family come back, he’ll trust you.”

“Thank you.”

Sasuke vanished in a puff of smoke.

-----

Sasuke reappeared in front of his wife on their back porch.

“You alright?” she asked.

“Fine.”

“Turned on us, didn’t they?”

“Naruto is just bitter about the way we left. I gave Sakura the scroll and offered my prayers at Kakashi’s grave.”

“You told us ten minutes!” Kiyoshi accused.

“That was for Naruto’s benefit. You’re mother knew what I intended if you summoned me there. Go see Juugo; he’ll be happy to see you’re back and safe.”

The three boys did so. Sasuke sat down next to Karin who was still kneeling where she performed the summon.

“Everything’s changed. They both married other people. I was surprised.”

“Kiyoshi told me.”

“I’m glad we left.”

Sasuke’s attention was caught by movement in the trees. Karin wrinkled her nose and groaned. Suigetsu appeared.

“Hey, Sasuke, I got a line on another sword.”

“Skipping out on your village again? You’re welcome to the well.”

Suigetsu went over to the well. “Sanctioned this time. Come on, Sasuke. Bring the brats, they could use the experience. You can leave the—”

“You really want to insult my wife?”

“Whatever.” He pulled up a large bucket.

“Don’t drain it,” Karin yelled at him.

Eight year old Mikoto came out of the house. “Uncle Kappa!”

“Karin,” Suigetsu growled.

Karin turned to Sasuke with a smile. “Leave me the twins and the rest of you can go. Just be back before Kakashi’s born.”

-fin-