Chapter 34: Fate of the Uchiha Part I

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

"Hmm…."- Flashback

Chapter 34:

Fate of the Uchiha Part I

"So do you mind explaining this to me in more detail now?"

Jiraiya sighed as he scratched the back of his head, letting out a small yawn in the process. It was early in the morning. Too early for him. He was still in his sleeping clothes too. But why was he up? Because of the snappy Uchiha in front of him. Jiraiya didn't know why the kid couldn't learn to relax once in a while.

"You do realize that you just got back from Taki yesterday right?" Jiraiya asked as he leaned against the table in the middle of his apartment. "You need to know to take things slow sometimes, brat. Not only that, but don't you have the academy today? You sure you want to be missing that?"

Sasuke t'ched from his position next to the window, his arms crossed in front of him. Outside, birds were already chirping as more and more villagers began to get their day started.

"This isn't exactly something that can wait, Jiraiya. You do know what you have found, don't you?"

The academy thing really didn't matter. As far as the others were concerned, he had gone off on a small training break that Jiraiya had assigned to him since he was back in the village again. At least, that was what he had told his grandfather and the others before he had gone off to Taki. The academy had already been informed of it as well. And while his grandfather had seen him arrived yesterday, Sasuke already knew that he just had to say how Jiraiya wanted to go over some things before he let him go. It was perfect and a moot point, something that Jiraiya was already aware of too.

"I know," Jiraiya said with another sigh. "But I've been crunching my head around this since you were gone. In your time, this Pain individual was supposed to be a redhead right? And an Uzumaki?"

At Sasuke's nod, Jiraiya pointed at the Uchiha with a grin. "But! Uzu is still standing, unlike how you said that it wasn't supposed to be! And something that Uzu forbids is any of their clan members from having any sort of relationship with outsiders! Which means that this boy is not the same as the one that you know of in the future!"

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. It was a sound theory, really. Unfortunately, Sasuke wasn't the best judge for this. He had never met the man in person. All that he had learned from Kabuto was that he was an Uzumaki and thus had red hair. Naruto was probably the one to know the most since he had fought the supposed Akatsuki leader.

"Does he have red hair?"

Jiraiya paused here, scratching his cheek as he looked away from Sasuke's questioning stare.

"Well, does he?"

Another pause. "Yes."

Sasuke sighed. "Then I guess we can't rule my possibility out just yet then." But there was something else that was also making Sasuke curious right now. "Just why are you being stubborn about this?"

"I just don't like how you assume that everything will go as you say they will," Jiraiya answered, turning to look at Sasuke again. "So they happened during your time period. That doesn't mean that it will this time around. It's about having the freedom of choice. As long as that exists, it can't be certain that Nagato will walk the path that you say that he will."

So he was already giving up on his earlier objection…

Sasuke sighed again. This man really was Naruto's teacher all right. "I get where you're coming from. I really do. That's why I'm here, after all. Because I believe that destiny can be changed too. But that still doesn't mean that I can ignore this. He possess the Rinnegan for reasons that I don't even know. His eye is the most power dojutsu in existence. Sooner or later, people will be coming after him because of it. I'm only trying to make sure that he doesn't make the same mistake twice."

Jiraiya sighed as well. "Yeah, I understand. Sorry about my attitude. But I guess it's just hard for me to believe that one of my students will do all the things that you say he will."

Sasuke could definitely understand Jiraiya's problem with the situation. Not relate to it, of course. He had never had a student of his, after all. But he could understand how knowing just what your student would grow up to be wasn't aspiring news. Unfortunately, that was how life worked most of the time. It wasn't comforting or easy. Sasuke could attest to that himself. As such, he needed to make sure that whatever made Pain become the monster of his time didn't happen this time around. However, there was one problem with all of this. It was a problem that Jiraiya had pointed out. Just how could Nagato be outside of the village? And in Ame of all places. If he were an Uzumaki, he should be in Uzu. From what Sasuke had learned, the Uzumaki clan was strict in following the tradition of never mating with anyone from outside their clan. It was a tradition that his clan had as well. There had been a few exceptions here and there of course. But they were rare. And as far as Sasuke was concerned, the Uzumaki didn't allow that whatsoever, save for Uzumaki Mito of course. The only reason Naruto had been conceived as only half Uzumaki was because his clan had already been pretty much wiped out by the time his mother had been of that age. But now…..

'Ugh, this is a mess,' the Uchiha thought in slight frustration. This situation with Jiraiya's new pupil was really starting to be annoying as far as Sasuke was concerned.

"And?" Sasuke continued, making Jiraiya turn his attention to him again. "When are you returning to Ame again?"

"In a few weeks," was Jiraiya's answer. "I still want to keep an eye on Minato for a few weeks. But don't worry. I left them with a house and plenty of supplies until I go back."

"I think you've been neglecting Minato too much," Sasuke said with a small grin. "It seems like he was jealous when he found out you gave me a secret training program and not him." At least, that was what Kazuki had told him.

Jiraiya chuckled. "I know I probably am. But Minato is a genius. He grasps everything that I teach him in a matter of days. I know that I don't have to worry about him as much as I do with these kids. It's more of a sign of trust as far as I'm concerned."

Sasuke nodded. "I see. Well, I'm probably thinking about going to Ame with you."

Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Don't give me that look," Sasuke said. "You should have guessed that the moment that you told me about this boy. I want to meet him at least once just in case."

Jiraiya shrugged. "I don't mind really. But the last time that we traveled together, we unveiled a huge conspiracy, you know. One that shorten the last war. I wonder if anything that big will happen again this time….."

Sasuke t'ched. "Don't even joke about that. But Danzo has been too quiet for my tastes. Not only that, but we still have no idea where Madara is hiding. And whenever he shows up, nothing good can come out of it."

"The same goes foe Danzo really," Jiraiya simply said. "But you already agreed with sensei about not going on another murdering rampage. So behave."

Sasuke resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "I'm not a damn dog. But as long as that bastard doesn't plot anything else against Uzu or anyone in general, then I'll be silent."

Jiraiya looked at the Uchiha with a small grin. He had really changed all right. Going from everything that he had told him about his past actions, Jiraiya was certain that the old Sasuke would be in the middle of wiping every Kage off the face of the Earth. It wouldn't lead to anything good really. That was not the way that Jiraiya wanted for peace to come about. He wanted for it to be in a genuine way. As a shinobi, he was probably naive. But that was what his heart longed for the most. Shocking, really. When he was a kid, breasts were all that mattered to him. Ah, good times.

"Well, I guess I shouldn't worry about Uzu as much for the moment," Sasuke continued. "There's already an idiot there who can take good care of the place."

'Ah, Uzumaki Naruto,' Jiraiya thought with mixed feelings. He only knew of the boy because Sasuke had told him about the blond Uzumaki. But the fact that he was also one of his future students…it was weird, really. But at the very least, Jiraiya knew that he could find comfort in knowing that his future self had found someone to entrust his will to. That being said, he really wanted to meet the boy. But Uzu had changed these past few years. Even if he was an important Konoha shinobi as well as a student of the current Hokage, they would more than likely not grant him permission into the village. Hell, the fact that he was a Konoha shinobi was reason enough to not let him in as far as they were concerned. It was sad really. But it was something that he had no control over. Uzu had its own governing body, after all. Him meddling in wouldn't fix anything.

"I better get going then," Sasuke said as he began to make his way out of Jiraiya's apartment. "As much as I don't want to, I do have to return to the academy."

Jiraiya chuckled as he said, "If you really hate it so much, then you could have graduated early, you know. Even sensei asked you to."

Sasuke stopped by the door, his hands in his pockets. Without turning around, he said, "I know. But there are some people there that I also have to look after. I'll feel safer knowing that they're walking next to me instead of me already being far ahead of them."

Jiraiya smirked as the Uchiha walked out of the apartment, closing the door behind him.

'You really have gone soft, Sasuke.'

And it was a wonderful thing as far as Jiraiya was concerned.

Sasuke walked into the main hospital in Konoha with his hands in his pockets, his hair shadowing his eyes. This was the very same hospital in which he had stayed in when he had first arrived to this time period. It felt like such a long time ago now.

A few weeks had passed since he had had that conversation with Jiraiya. In that time, things had been calmed. He had attended classes like usual. He was having mixed feelings about that too. About two months remained until his class would take the graduation exam, determining whether or not they would become shinobi of Konoha. While Sasuke did feel that it was a waste of his time, some part of him couldn't help but find enjoyment in the time he had spent there with his new friends. They were an odd bunch for sure. But that was what made the whole experience that much more fun. So a part of him was going in while dreading the day that he would no longer be there. But at the same time, the Uchiha knew that he would still be alongside the friends that he had made there. So it wasn't a total lost.

But at the moment, the graduation exam wasn't something that he was worried about. No. His main focus at the moment was his grandfather, Uchiha Kenshin. Ever since he had returned from Taki, Sasuke had noticed that something had been off with the man. He didn't know what exactly. But when he had asked his grandfather about it, Kenshin had simply said that nothing was wrong. While some part of Sasuke didn't believe him, he had decided to stay quiet about the matter. If his grandfather wanted to confine in him, then he would. If not, then Sasuke wouldn't force him.

Now, though, as he made his way to the room where his grandfather was placed in after he had asked the front desk for directions, the young Uchiha was beginning to regret his decision about not pushing his grandfather for some answers.

But he put those thoughts aside for now as he knocked on the door. Hearing someone say "enter," Sasuke opened the door and walked in only to find the Sandaime already there with Kenshin currently asleep, his heartbeat displayed on one of the monitors.

"Good evening, Sasuke-kun," Sarutobi said with a small smile that didn't quite reach his eyes as Sasuke closed the door behind him. "How was the academy today?"

"Normal," was Sasuke's simple response as he walked to stand beside his grandfather's bed. "How is he?"

Sarutobi sighed as he shook his head. "For the moment, he's all right. The doctor said that he was lucky to be found by the servant as quickly as he did after he passed out. Otherwise, the situation would be much worse."

Sasuke didn't reply as he looked at his grandfather's sleeping face. "So this isn't life threatening?"

Sarutobi was silent for a few moments. Quickly getting his thoughts together, he replied, "It's uncertain for the moment. But it seems that this has to do with the injury that he sustained in the last war."

Sasuke looked at the Hokage with a calm look. "What injury?"

"So it seems like he didn't tell you about it," Sarutobi said in surprise. But knowing that Sasuke needed to know, he quickly added, "It happened a few months before you arrived. At the time, Kenshin was fighting in the front against Iwa under Sakumo's command. His…..wife was also there with him."

Sasuke's eyes widened at the information. He really had never heard about this before. "What?"

Sarutobi sighed. "Your grandmother was a stubborn woman, Sasuke-kun. Even though there was no need for her to join, she still insisted in following her husband. I had been hesitant about it. After all, she had resigned as a shinobi when your father came along. But she told me how she had kept herself in check the whole time. So I prepared a test for her, one which she passed with flying colors. Not seeing any problems and needing more capable shinobi as well, I approved her reinstatement. I still regret it to this day."

"What happened?"

"It was during an ambush," Sarutobi said with a bitter smile. "By this time, it seemed as if Onoki had switched tactics after having lost so many men. He pretty much switched to guerrilla warfare for about the last year of the war. And it was during one of these skirmishes where they managed to get the better of your grandfather and his unit. He was gravely injured with your grandmother sacrificing herself in order to buy some time for her comrades to escape. She died as a proper shinobi. But I know that that isn't any comforting at all. Since then, Kenshin was removed from active duty while he recovered until he decided to rejoin again. But it looks like it only made his past injury come back up again, this time much worse than before."

Sasuke's hands clenched into fists at his side. "What sort of injury is it?"

Before Sarutobi could answer, the door to the room was suddenly opened as none other than Senju Tsunade walked inside with a clipboard already in hand. She was wearing a tight short sleeved white shirt with a blue jacket over it, a light red skirt with mesh stockings underneath, and a pair of black shinobi sandals.

Sasuke recognized her in an instant.

"Tsunade!" Sarutobi exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"The doctor called me in," was her quick response as she walked over to the other side of Kenshin's bed, her eyes quickly scanning through the papers on the clipboard. "It looks like this is something they can't handle on their own."

"I see," Sarutobi said, really wishing that he could smoke right now. But the hospital had strict rules about that. Which simply meant that he couldn't. It was disappointing really. But understandable at the same time.

"You never should have let him return to active service, old man," Tsunade stated, all the while not taking her eyes away from the papers on the clipboard. "It looks like this is because of his chakra system that was damaged during the war."

"What do you mean?"

The blonde Senju looked up from the clipboard towards Sasuke who was looking at her with a serious look. Glancing at Sarutobi for a moment who simply nodded, she looked back at Sasuke while saying, "During the last war, his chakra system took heavy damage after he tried to activate a high level fire style jutsu while not having anymore chakra. His chakra network was pushed to its max, so when that happened, several points in the network suffered heavy damage. His lungs also took considerable damage after the fire jutsu misfired. They're not the problem right now, though."

Sasuke frowned, having already connected the dots. "So when he returned to active service again, his chakra network wasn't ready to handle that stress all over again. So the spots that had been healed before are acting up again along with additional ones?"

Tsunade nodded, giving Sasuke a look full of praise. "That's correct." She then gave Sarutobi a glare. "Why the hell did you allow him to return to the front after his accident?"

"He passed all the tests," Sarutobi answered with a heavy sigh. "He was pretty stubborn about the subject. And there was no reason for me to turn down his demand either. His chakra system was back in normal condition at the time. I never could have guessed that this would happen."

Tsunade sighed as she rubbed her forehead with her freed hand, feeling a headache coming.

"Can he be saved?"

Tsunade brought her attention back to Sasuke who was giving her a look filled with desperation. It did make her heart ache since, while not knowing what kind of relationship the two had, it was obvious that the old Uchiha was important for the boy. Not only that, but she could definitely relate to losing a loved one all right.

"I'm not certain yet," Tsunade answered honestly. But she then quickly added, "But there is no guarantee that he can't make it out of this yet either. I'll have to run a few tests just to be certain which spots in his chakra network are acting up this time. And then I'll see if I can do anything about it."

The part that she wasn't mentioning, though, was that the chakra network present in all of them was tricky and extremely delicate. Operations like this one weren't something that happened all too often. And in the ones that did occur, the chance of survival for the patient was less than twenty percent. The answer for that was simple: if they screwed anything up, the chakra in the patient's body could stop running and pretty much vanish. And that resulted in instant death. It was a delicate procedure for sure.

But it was something that Sasuke could already guess. So nodding, he bowed his head slightly as he said, "Thank you."

Sarutobi could sigh in sadness again, wondering why things could never be joyful for once.

Kazuki was not his usual self right now. It was something that Fugaku could spot a mile away as they walked back together to the Uchiha compound. Earlier, a messenger sent by the Hokage had informed him, Kazuki, and Sasuke how their father was hospitalized after he had been found passed out in their home. It wasn't something that they liked to hear everyday. Kazuki had wanted to head to the hospital in an instant, but Sasuke had managed to talk him out of it. Fugaku hadn't paid any attention as to how Sasuke had managed to do such a thing as, during that time, he had been lost in his own thoughts as well. So after classes had ended, Sasuke had gone on his own with the promise to find out everything that he could and then to tell them. It wasn't something that Fugaku agreed with since he wanted to be with his father at the moment. But the look Sasuke sent him before he had left told Fugaku more than words ever could. And that was to look out for Kazuki for now.

It was only because of that that Fugaku hadn't raised any complaints. After all, out of the three of them, Kazuki was taking all of this the worst since they had already lost their mother during the war. And, as much as Fugaku regretted it, his younger brother had been closer to her than he had been. So he had taken her death even worse than he had. And now their father too…..

"Oi, Uchiha….."

The two brothers stopped in their tracks to see Hyuuga Hiashi and his twin brother walking towards them while wearing their regular white colored battle kimonos. It was something that Kazuki usually liked to make fun of, saying how it, combined with their long hair, made them look like girls instead of boys. But Kazuki didn't utter a word as the two Hyuugas stopped in front of them.

"What do you want?" For once, it was Fugaku who was doing the talking.

"We heard about your father being in the hospital," Hiashi began, giving them a sad filled look for once. "I'm sorry. I hope he gets better."

Next to him, Hyuuga Hizashi nodded his head in agreement.

Surprise was too much of an understatement to describe what Fugaku currently felt. While he could have expected this from Hizashi, it was something of a miracle to hear those words from Hiashi. There had been a long rivalry between the Uchiha and the Hyuuga clans ever since the village was founded. And that rivalry was one that extended to even them. He and Hiashi were always competing in the academy while Hizashi simply hanged back and watched everything alongside Kazuki. Of course, Hiashi wanted to defeat Kazuki as well. But as he had said from the beginning, Fugaku was the weaker one of the two. So the Hyuuga boy felt that he should defeat Fugaku first before moving on to Kazuki. It was something that had pissed Fugaku to no end. But having self control, he hadn't said anything. But he had met the challenge head on. Not only that, but the Hiashi was also constantly frustrated with both Sasuke and Minato, wondering how they were even further away from him than Kazuki and Fugaku. That had only served to annoy Kazuki in which he had pretty much challenged Hiashi to a match and had mopped the floor with him. It had been embarrassing really, even to Fugaku. Why? Because he always had difficulty defeating Hiashi in their usual spars. And his younger brother had made it look easy. It was annoying as hell.

But none of that mattered right now as Kazuki simply walked past them without saying a word.

Saying his thanks respectfully, Fugaku quickly followed after his brother, all the while praying that their father got better.

It was already nighttime, but Sasuke's problems for the day weren't yet over. And how did the Uchiha knew this? Well, he was looking at an individual that only brought problems whenever he appeared.

"That's rude, you know," Hamura said as he stood before Sasuke inside the Uchiha's mind. The dead Otsutsuki could already tell what Sasuke was thinking, after all. It was obvious. "We did have a pleasant chat last time, did we not?"

Sasuke sighed as he glanced at his hand that was wrapped in white bandages. It was something that Hamura picked up on, which only made the man's eyes light up in amusement.

"So did you enjoy the new gifts that you received?"

Hearing the amusement in the man's voice made Sasuke t'ch as he focused back on him. "I find the annoyance at the lack of information you've given me overrides that."

Hamura raised an eyebrow. "Oh? So you're saying that, if you could, you would go back to being just how you were before in exchange for knowledge?"

"Knowledge is power," Sasuke stated. "The power that I have can only get me so far with the little knowledge that I have. I'm at a lost as to what I should do next. Last time I got lucky in figuring out a major conspiracy. But what of the rest?"

Hamura shook his head as he t'sked. "My brother told you about this from the beginning. We're only observers now, nothing more. You and Naruto are to do this on your own. If you didn't like that, then you could have refused."

Sasuke's hands clenched into fists. "Is this just a game for you?"

Hamura sighed. "And here I thought that you had matured. And yet, here you are, blaming others for every single thing."

Sasuke didn't reply as Hamura began to walk around him. "I know that your grandfather's condition is troubling you. He's someone you cherish, after all. It's only natural to feel frustration at knowing that there is nothing you can do for a love one. But at the same time, death is a natural part of human life. Everyone dies. Some sooner than others. But that is an unchanging fact. Even the man hailed as a god died as well. So why should your grandfather be any different?"

Sasuke's cold stare met Hamura's glare. For a moment, Hamura was certain that Sasuke would attack him until the Uchiha finally sighed, looking away just as Hamura stopped walking.

"I know. But I'm just angry at myself for not noticing earlier. For not doing something. For being so helpless." Bringing his bandaged hand up to his face, Sasuke chuckled bitterly as he said, "Even with all of this power that I have, I'm still so powerless."

Hamura sighed, realizing that he might have been a bit harsh before. What Sasuke was feeling was a natural thing, after all. "That's what it means to be human, Sasuke. Feeling helpless. Lost. Alone. That's everything that every single human being experiences at some point in their life. But the important part is to overcome it. Do you really believe that your grandfather would like to see you this way? When you've come so far already?"

Sasuke closed his eyes, realizing that he was being too hard on himself yet again. Looking back, it was something that he had done all throughout his life. And that had only left him walking down a path that was filled with bitterness and loneliness. Even so, Sasuke had learned to accept that part of his life. It had been his choice, after all. There was nothing more to do about it than to move on.

"Will he live?"

Hamura was silent for a few moments, knowing very well just what answer Sasuke wanted to hear. Unfortunately, he wasn't one to sugarcoat things. So shaking his head, he replied, "I don't know. I can't see the future, Sasuke. I only know of the past because I've seen it. Just like my brother has been watching this whole time. But even now, we don't know what will happen next. It could very well be the end of your quest."

Sasuke turned to look at him with wide eyes. "What did you say?"

Hamura t'ched, realizing that he might have said too much. "Don't worry about it. It's nothing that should cause you any concerns."

Before Sasuke could reply, chuckles ran throughout Sasuke's mind. But said Uchiha couldn't recognize whom they could belong to. Hamura, however…..

"Oi, what the hell are you doing here?"

Otsutsuki Nori appeared in Sasuke's mind with a small smile as he looked on between Hamura and Sasuke. "Oh, nothing. I've just decided to spice up this boring tale a bit."

Sasuke looked at Hamura with a raised eyebrow. "Who is he? And what's he doing here?"

Before Hamura could respond, Nori beat him to it as he bowed. "Oh, forgive me, Indra-kun. I had almost forgotten that we had yet to meet. But you may call me Nori, the last living Otsutsuki on this planet."

Sasuke narrowed his eyes, putting aside the Otsutsuki part for now. "Indra? I think you have me confused with someone else."

Amusement danced in Nori's eyes as he said, "Really now? And here I thought that Hamura had informed you of who you really are."

Sasuke h'mphed. "I don't care about this supposed lineage crap. I'm Uchiha Sasuke, not Otsutsuki Indra. That man died a long time ago. So don't call me that ever again."

Instead of being annoyed or at the very lest irritated by Sasuke's answer, Nori appeared to be even more amused than before. "Oh, really? It looks like Asura-kun has been influencing you a bit too much, Indra-kun."

Sasuke's sharingan flared to life in an instant. But before he could say or do anything, Hamura placed a hand on his shoulder, making him glance towards the man who was now standing next to him.

"I wouldn't do that. This guy is a lot tougher than he looks. Besides, he's not going to stop no matter what you do, so just let it be for now," Hamura said, never taking his eyes off Nori.

Sasuke t'ched as he refocused back on Nori, his sharingan disappearing. "So what do you want?"

Nori sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "Such rudeness. Really. I wonder what I've done to deserve this treatment."

Hamura let out a snort. "Oh, that's rich. Especially coming from you. But now answer the damn question. I thought you said that Sasuke didn't interest you."

Sasuke didn't know what to think about that statement really.

As for Nori, he shook his head. "Then you must have heard me wrong. Indra-kun does interest me. But he already understands my way of thinking unlike with Asura-kun. That's why I'll have fun breaking Asura-kun from his silly delusions and beliefs."

Not that was the first solid thing that Sasuke understood so far. And it went without saying that it only served to piss him off even more. "What are you planning on doing with Naruto?"

Nori hummed. "Nothing really. I'm just letting the world work its way. But I did say that I would spice this up a bit….."

Nori then laughed. "Oh my. I'm such a mysterious guy, aren't I?"

Sasuke took a step forward just as he activated his eternal mangekyo sharingan along with his rinnegan in his left eye. "I'm not in the mood for games at the moment."

If Nori was scared, he did a very fine job at hiding it as he chuckled. "But don't you want to hear what I have to say? I do have interesting information that should help you, Indra-kun."

Hamura narrowed his eyes at this. "Oi, you're not-"

"I think you should know by now that I'm not following Hagoromo's agenda," Nori cut in with a small frown. "I do not care what his reasons for bringing these two back to this time period are. I have my own plans. I suggest that you don't interfere, Hamura. Unlike you, I'm still alive. I can cause far more damage than you could imagine."

Now that only served to make Sasuke even more worried about this guy. Not only that, but he was seriously starting to become frustrated with the lack of questions being answered.

But Nori didn't waste any time as he turned his attention back to Sasuke. "Oh, don't worry, Indra-kun. I will let you on to some secrets Hamura doesn't want you to find out. Although in the end, it'll be pointless, even if you do decide to go and help."

"What are you talking about?"

Nori chuckled as he spread his arms out. "Why, this grand game of deception, of course! Although you seem to have forgotten the entire reason you came here to begin with. Why exactly is it that you've ignored Uchiha Obito? Isn't he to become the biggest threat in the future?"

"Obito is not a piece on the game board," Sasuke answered, deciding to humor the man a bit. "He's not even in the academy yet. There's nothing that I have to do in regards to him yet."

Nori's eyes lit up. "Ah, of course. You're much more interested in going with Asura-kun's master in order to find out more about this Nagato boy."

Sasuke paused here. "You know about that?" Just who was this guy?

Nori grinned. "But of course. Uzumaki Nagato…the one that's destined to be yet another pawn as the so-called leader of the Akatsuki. But I guess you know him better as Pain."

"So he really is….."

"Oh, he is the same one," Nori said with a chuckle. "Lady Fate has already spoken, after all."

Sasuke glanced at Hamura, his eternal and rinnegan still activated. "Did you already know about this?"

Hamura closed his eyes before he replied. "Yes."

"It looks like you were planning on giving him some hints," Nori said, making Sasuke turn to him again. "But that would be boring here. I think you should know more about the shackles of fate and how they can't be broken, Indra-kun."

Sasuke t'ched but didn't reply. Why? Because he did want the information. There was nothing he could do about that.

Nori chuckled, already knowing this. But this was all to make the game more interesting, after all. Nothing more than that.

"Now, where should I begin?"

Kazuki struggled to fight back the tears as he looked at the Uchiha stone tablet in front of him. His sharingan was also unconsciously activated at the moment. He had retreated here after Sasuke had arrived from the hospital with the news about their father. And what he had told them was anything but reassuring. This underground meeting place for the Uchiha was the only comforting place that he could be in at the moment. He had discovered it after he had followed his father along with some other Uchiha years back. But that memory only caused the pain in his heart to grow even more.

'Just why is this happening?' Kazuki thought to himself through the tears. 'First mom and now dad too…..just why!?'

It wasn't fair. The realization that he could very well lose his father in this next few days was a cruel thing. Especially since his mother wasn't here anymore either. So why? Why did he have to go through this? Why did he have to go through this pain? Just what was the point of it all? Was this what life was all about? Just constant pain over and over again? Lost after lost? Because that was how life looked to Kazuki at the moment. And that was why he was cursing that fact. This dark reality and its pointless existence.

"Good evening…"

Kazuki turned around in an instant, the strange voice reaching his ears. Looking towards the ground, Kazuki saw…..something sprouting from the ground, his two tomoe sharingan focusing on it. He didn't know how to describe it other than the fact that it was pure black. But when it started to emerge more and more from the ground, Kazuki could make out two orbs that resembled eyes. But then it actually sent him a grin that was full of malice.

"I have a proposition for you, my young Uchiha…."