The First and Last Visit

Sasuke, along with hundreds of other people was present at the funeral. Only a handful of people showed any emotions.

'Wow... They're really heartless, aren't they? Not even a tear for my brethren'

On that day Sasuke realized how unimportant their existence was to the village, he had always thought the citizens held great respect for them...but now.

Sasuke softly gazed at his mother's grave. He remembered her warm smile, her loving hands that made food for him every day, a person that actually spend some time with him.

He gripped his chest, tears threatening to burst.

'It really hurts'

All the whelmed-up emotions that were shut down inside slowly took shape in the form of tears, Sasuke never imagined in his life that he would feel such pain.

'Everyone turned their back on us'

Sasuke sobbed, anger flaring within him. But he bore, he knew it would only result bad for him if he got worked up.

'Mother... Just wait, your son will make them all pay...all of them who ignored us. Who made us outcasts of the Village'

A seed of hatred was planted in his heart. Sasuke's heart grew darker, his thoughts filled with nothing but hate for the deserved ones.

'I'm sorry that I can't avenge you now, Mother. But I give you my word, as long as I live, I'll train, train till I'll be the strongest

Sasuke fueled his anger, his hatred to his ambition, the flames inside his heart blazing like a phoenix's.

'I'll put them all to rest... Today, I'll begin, Project: Requiem'

Thus, the path was set, a goal was fixed, and an avenger was born. A Calamity's rise and a Village's fall.

***

The sun was setting, Sasuke alone stood in front of his mother's grave, all of the others leaving one after another.

The sunset, and the moon arose. Sasuke will never visit this grave again, so he made the most out of it.

*Step*

Sasuke heard footsteps behind him, and after a few minutes, a cloaked individual stood beside him, looking at a grave like him.

He brought white flowers from inside his cloak, he placed them on the grave.

"A tragedy, huh"

The person spoke, Sasuke looked at the bright blue moon, enjoying his last stay.

"Yeah... All of them are gone"

He muttered, not bothering to glance at the cloaked person beside him.

"...Are you sad?"

"I guess"

Sasuke tried to keep the conversation as brief as possible, the cloaked person understood this and started to walk away.

"I hope we meet once again... Sasuke Uchiha"

The person said so before blending in with the fog, no trace of him was left. Sasuke took a glance at the grave on which the person put his flowers on.

"Rin Nohara"

He mumbled, reading the name of the grave.

'Shortly died after the battle of The Great Kannabi Bridge... by her teammate?'

Sasuke wondered, was this murderer able to escape? afterall, betrayal was not something tolerated by the Village, unless if the action helped the Village.

'All kinds of things happen, huh?'

'So even your teammates can betray you... I see, I should never blindly trust anyone. A world where even your allies betray... What a cruel reality it is'

With a deep, rigged sigh, he took one last glance at his Mother's grave before walking back to his apartment.

'Farewell... my beloved Mother'

***

"Mm~"

The sunlight woke Sasuke, he got up and completed the morning necessities. He wore a white half-sleeved T-Shirt with black pants.

Putting on his side-bag, he went toward the Academy. Upon reaching the entrance, he saw several people giving him a look of pity.

Sasuke's eyes twitched, but chose not to bother. He went towards his class and entered it.

Whispers and mumbles filled the room, most of the kids looking at him with either pity or in sympathy.

He went toward his seat and sat beside Ino. The blonde girl was worried sick about him.

"Sasuke..."

"I'm fine, Ino"

Sasuke said, reluctant to look her in the eye. Although Ino didn't buy it, she chose to keep silent, not wanting him to feel uncomfortable around her.

The silence inside the classroom was broken by a pink-haired girl's shout.

"Sasuke-Kun, are you okay!?"

Sakura asked, ignoring the blonde sitting next to Sasuke. Even though the girl knew Sasuke liked Ino more than her, she didn't want to give up.

"What happened?"

Naruto asked, completely ignorant of the situation in hand. Sasuke just gazed at him, not angry nor irritated.

"My family's dead"

He spoke, making the gloomy Naruto widen his eyes in shock.

"A-All of 'em?"

"Yeah"

Ino knew Sasuke was saddened but didn't show it, she kept silent as the discussion went on.

"Move, you dumb Naruto! Let me sit beside Sasuke"

"Can you just leave?"

Sakura was taken aback by the sudden question Sasuke asked, he has never spoken to her like that... more like he didn't ever speak to her.

'I know she's being considerate... But I'm not in the mood to collect sympathy from others'

"W-What do you mean, S-Sasuke-Kun"

"I mean... I don't like you"

Sasuke chose to cut off the root before it expanded. It would only hurt the girl further if he lied to her, speaking the truth then and there was the right choice for him.

"Huh?"

She looked at Sasuke, her eyes' light becoming dimmer every passing second.

'I don't like you'

The words chanted in her mind. She felt something snap, inside her heart. Her eyes hollow, hands shaking.

"R-Right...I'll go"

She smiled before walking out of the classroom, her face hidden behind her palm.

'He didn't have to be so honest'

Ino thought. It was inevitable, she knew. But seeing as her past best friend was heartbroken, she felt a little sad.

"She was bound to know it, Ino"

Sasuke said, sighing. He looked at her, eyes soft and smile warm. Her mood instantly changed as she saw Sasuke showing some positive emotions.

"Mhm"

She nodded with a smile of her own, totally forgetting about her friend's state.

Naruto kept silent, not wanting to be a third wheel.

From the back row, a dark blue-haired girl with White eyes looked at Sasuke and Ino.

She then shifted her gaze at the Blonde sitting on the same bench as them.

'Maybe I should make the first move'

She was inspired by Ino, who was boldly talking and chatting with her love interest.

Her face grew a little red as she imagined Naruto and Her in Sasuke and Ino's positions.

***

A/N: Power stones... I need them... to survive.