159 The Flight - 5

Night had fallen and Sasuke sulked in a forested area, unwilling to return home while his mind was still full of turbulent thoughts.

'Revenge. Sakura and Kakashi have to make such a fuss of it, but how could they really understand? Everyone was taken from me. I can't just accept their lives were taken from them and not do anything to avenge them…'

He sat very still on a high tree branch of an oak, his eyes lit with memories of his past. It wasn't within his power to so easily forgive or forget. There had been times earlier in his life in which he had considered forgoing his revenge on Itachi completely. Once he had even felt that starting his clan anew would be so much more fulfilling and that forgetting Itachi and leaving him to rot in his own hatred would be enough.

But he knew he couldn't live that way with a new family of his own; always looking over his shoulder for his older brother, being afraid that he would one day return and destroy what he worked so hard for. It wasn't worth the risk.

His first priority was killing Itachi. There was no other way he'd be able to live in peace.

'Happiness can wait.'

A rustle of leaves signaled incoming ninja and Sasuke raised his eyes, watching as three shinobi landed on branches surrounding him. Their headbands were of Sound shinobi so he didn't have to guess on who was responsible for sending them.

"Who are you guys?" He questioned, putting up his guard.

The ninja in front of him had six arms, not something one could overlook easily, "Kidomaru of the Eastern Gate."

Next to Kidomaru a pale ninja spoke, "Sakon of the Western Gate."

The remaining ninja was a girl with a very irritable expression, "Tayuya of the Northern Gate."

The three Oto shinobi leapt in unison after that, racing around Sasuke with remarkable speed. Kidomaru aimed a roundhouse kick for the Uchiha and was surprised when Sasuke countered, leaping over his back and then hurled him into Sakon behind him, crushing them against the trunk of the tree.

They crashed into each other and Tayuya being knocked away in a similar fashion. Sasuke paused, waiting for the dust to clear and saw they had substituted themselves.

Across from the oak the three sound ninja stood observing him from a balcony. Sasuke glanced over at them with narrowed eyes, "I'm in a bad mood right now." He warned, "I'm not holding back if you want a fight."

"Don't talk big, weakling." Sakon smirked at him, "I'll play the 'do re mi fa so la ti do' for you to break your ribs!"

Sasuke leapt from the tree without hesitation and Sakon met him with a flying kick. The Uchiha prodigy avoided the attack and drew out a wire, tangling Sakon's leg and then slipped the string between the floorboards of the overhang.

Sakon hit the boards with a thud, unable to move being ensnared. He blocked Sasuke's kick and the following punches, deciding it would be prudent to fight back, "Let's hear some good sounds…"

Before Sasuke could land his final hit Sakon knocked him back with a blast of sound, "Do!"

The Uchiha stumbled, stunned by the attack, 'What-?'

"Re!" Sakon sent him flying through the air with another blast of sound, sending him back against the oak with a painful crash.

While Sasuke fidgeted against the trunk of the tree, Sakon droned on in boredom, "Your bones have a low tone…let's hear a higher pitched sound! How about it?"

Sasuke ignored him, noticing Kidomaru's surprise attack and leapt away to avoid it. The spider-like ninja spat a mouthful of webs at him that latched on to his arms and swung him over to Tayuya, who kicked him back in the direction of Sakon who stood in wait.

"Next will be the 'mi fa so' combination…" Sakon left an opening while he attacked Sasuke and the young Uchiha countered, kicking him into the air.

Sakon was confounded as Sasuke proceeded with a round of vicious hits, sending him back downwards, as he recalled his match with Lee, "Shi Shi Rendan!"

He sent his foe crashing down to the balcony and Sasuke backed away, trying to catch his breath. He hadn't expected Sakon to be able to stand after such an attack, but the sound nin stood up with hardly a scratch on him, much to the Uchiha's astonishment.

A fierce punch toppled Sasuke over and Sakon lifted the shorter boy by his ankle into the air, watching him in amusement, "Why would Orochimaru-sama want a weakling like this? Kimimaro would've been a better choice…"

Sasuke looked at Sakon and tried to focus, his head spinning from being upside-down.

"As long as you stay in this shitty village, you'll be no stronger than anyone else!" Sakon went on, smirking, "You can't improve in a place like this."

Tayuya landed nearby on the balcony, "Come with us. That way, Orochimaru-sama will give you powers."

Sasuke felt a stab of pain hit his curse mark and he flinched, trying to ignore her as she continued, "It's pointless for us to force a person like you to come. We were told you must decide for yourself."

Kidomaru waited from his perch in the oak, "Orochimaru-sama sure gave us a troublesome job@ So Sasuke, what do you say?"

Sasuke remained silent.

"Are you coming or not?" Sakon barked impatiently, tossing Sasuke into a wall, !So hesitant! I feel like killing him right here!"

Sasuke glared up at the three Oto nin, "Try it…"

As he called upon the power of the cursed seal, black markings began to slither down his neck and arms. He abruptly launched himself at Sakon, not caring if his assault was reckless.

Sakon knocked him back with little effort and it was then Sasuke could see that he too had a cursed mark appearing over his skin, "You're not the only one Orochimaru-sama likes, you know," He chuckled, "You shouldn't be using the cursed seal so carelessly. It seems you lack control over it."

Sasuke stared at the sound ninja, acknowledging the fact that he was at a great disadvantage.

"If you stay in the released state for too long the seal will eventually consume your entire body," Sakon explained it, "It appears you're still in the first stage, so the speed at which it spreads is slow. But once it completely takes over your body you will lose yourself forever."

"In return for gaining power through the cursed seal you will be under Orochimaru-sama's control," Tayuya added, "We have no freedom. If you intend to gain something, you must first throw something away."

An empty look weaved its way across Sasuke's features and Tayuya sneered down at him, "What is your purpose? Is it to stay in this joyful village and lick each other's wounds? And then forget all about Uchiha Itachi?"

Sasuke's eyes grew wide at the mentioning of the name.

"Don't forget what your purpose is!" Sakon concluded, his pale form glimmering in the moonlight, "This village is only a shackle. You should break free from such worthless bonds. Then you can gain even greater power."

Sasuke, against his better judgment, had heeded every word they had spoken. Before leaving, Sakon called back to him, "Do not forget your purpose!"

The Oto nin faded into the night and Sasuke fixed his gaze on the moon, deciding to consider the invitation.