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stu-dyingstudent · 3 months ago

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Sakura Haruno fic recs: ANBU

AHHHH!!!! I love ANBU fics, especially when they involve Sakura. It was such a cool concept, which was unfortunately never fully expanded upon. However, our lack of knowledge regarding the shadow corps allows for some really cool fic ideas since authors can take creative liberty on the structure and workings of the division.

In my opinion, Sakura had the most potential out of team 7 to join ANBU (at least more than Naruto). It's all about being discreet and efficient and although she wasn't strong during og, she possessed abilities that would be valuable for this. Her clever mind, chakra control, and genjutsu potential would've made her a good fit. Naruto was too flamboyant and Sasuke was too reckless and cocky, but this is just my take. However, with her new skill set from her training with Tsunade, I don't think she would be able to go down that path anymore.

Started: 2024.08.06

Last Updated: 2024.08.29

note: feel free to check out my master list which has a bunch of Sakura Haruno fic recs (all organized)!

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Masks by mads999 || ao3 || kakasaku || E || canon divergent || complete

1. Sakura's Inner is far more diabolical than anyone ever expected 2. Crows prove to be cruel mentors 3. Sakura comes to learn exactly how much she hates Kakashi (as well as how alike they are, in the most terrible of ways)

Kakashi is a hateful turd and Sakura is spiteful! I hate this ship and I'm not a big fan of Kakashi here, but boy is this fic good. One of the best character developments I've read for Sakura and she certainly becomes of force to be reconned with. The ANBU lore in Masks is absolutely phenomenal and I love the whole system that is put into place as it adds for some drama (lol). Also, can we talk about how awesome crow summons are????

Five Kingdoms for the Dead - Evil Is A Relative Term || ffn || M || canon divergence || complete

After the Forest of Death, Sakura comes to realize that being weak is no longer an option. However, she finds that change is sometimes painful and that truth doesn't always come easy. Luckily, she'll have some help along the way.

It's been a while since I've read Five Kingdoms for the Dead, but I just remember it being absolutely great! I'll be honest, I found a lot of the mind stuff pretty confusing at times, but it was still enjoyable. Also, some great characters are utilized in this fic such as Neji, Sai, and Itachi. Makes me really wish that we saw more of Sakura and Neji working together in Naruto since I think they compliment each other quite well.

Trials of Change - Espoiretreves || ao3 || gen || time travel AU || complete

Haruno Sakura made a promise. Looking in the eyes of her Shisou and the reanimated Hokage, she took on the most important mission of her life. Go back in time and try to prevent the 4th Shinobi War. Now, Sakura is back to her 5-year-old body, with all the knowledge and haunting memories of the future. She vows to keep her precious people safe and stop certain events from happening, without altering the timeline too much. The trials her emotions and logic put her through have her questioning her very existence, but for the sake of peace, she has to push forward. No matter what.

Trials of Change is actually apart of a time travel series and I have to say that it is probably one of the best of the genre! Now, Sakura is not in ANBU here, but she works very closely with team Ro (Kakashi's ANBU team) and it's a huge part of the story, so I'm choosing to count it anyway. I really adore all of the worldbuilding and backstories going on here in addition to the fact that there are breaks. Yes, the story keeps moving, but there are other things going on, like playdates, and not just Sakura trying to save the world. Also, if you love Shisui then definitely check this out since he has a huge role and his and Sakura's friendship is just so precious.

bite me and see, said the fly to the spider - MirrorImage003 || ao3 || itasaku || T || non-massacre AU || ongoing

In which Sakura is not initially a part of Team 7. In which she wears her failures like armor and brandishes her fears like her most trusted weapons. In which I do what hundreds of other authors have done before me, and rewrite Sakura's story. Non-massacre AU. Canon Divergent. Slow-burn.

After Sakura's first team, consisting of the graduating class's "expendables," dies, she joins team 7 and faces backlash along her shinobi journey. Sakura doesn't join ANBU until the later chapters so fair warning that there isn't too much content in that regards (unless it updates). Nonetheless, Sakura views ANBU as vital to her career as it offers her the highest clearance she can get. Gaining her opportunities for information her civilian-born status didn't allow her privy to.

The Sixth Shadow - thinknicht || ao3 || kakasaku || M || canon divergent - eventual time travel AU || ongoing

No one seemed to find it odd when little Haruno Sakura threw herself smack dab in front of a Chidori and Rasengan. Not even Kakashi stopped to wonder.(He really should have.)

The story of how Sakura came to be the sixth hogake despite all of the challenges thrown her way. I especially love Sakura's drive in addition to the political aspects. However, be warned that Kakashi is an absolute HATER (in the beginning), but he gets better! The Sixth Shadow is extremely long and I only just recently got to Sakura's introduction to ANBU, so I can't say too much in that regard.

Daughter of Fire - justjstuff || ao3 || kakasaku || E || canon divergence || incomplete (maybe ongoing)

Sakura got up and didn’t bother brushing the dirt from her dress. She had a feeling she was about to get even dirtier.She looked at the memorial stone one last time, memorizing the characters without even realizing she was doing it. It would serve from that moment on as a reminder of her determination. She wouldn’t let Naruto and Sasuke join the names carved on that stone.That was her nindo.

Sakura's growth throughout Daughter of Fire is great and realistic all while pointing out aspects from the original series which were flawed and dare I say misogynistic. I struggled a bit in the beginning to justify her abilities, but overall the story is really well done and the ANBU aspects are quite intriguing.

cut the head off the snake - itsthechocopuff || ao3 || T || time travel AU || complete

when eighteen-year-old, post-war Sakura is thrown back into her tiny, pre-Academy body, she makes a decision. she'd had a childhood once already, and this time, she's more interested in Not Dying when the inevitable shit hits the proverbial fan. so she will work harder, care less, kill more, and smile when she's done.and hey, if she ends up reviving an extinct nature transformation to attract the most corrupt, power-hungry man from her timeline, all the better for her, right?

Such a unique take on a time travel AU and Cut the Head Off the Snake executes it perfectly. Sakura decides that her first order of business is to infiltrate ROOT and that's exactly what she does. Sai, Shin, and Shisui are all great characters and team Ro is present as well. Very good!

Flowers - Idunmy || ao3 || E || kakasaku || canon divergence || ongoing

Flowers only bloom just before they wilt When Sakura loses her fight against Ino in her Chuunin exams, she questions her ability to ever become a kunoichi, too weak to protect herself, let alone her village One wrongful promotion later and Sakura gets a second chance in the shape of a mysterious new teacher who against all odds is willing to put her faith in a young girl with potential and a willingness to fight. Or- a fix-it inspired fic where Sakura grows to be the powerhouse she was destined to become.

Flowers is a newer series (which has recent updates) and I love it! Critiques are made towards the medical ninja training, which I believe needed to be discussed and it's refreshing to see. In most ANBU fics I've read, Sakura is immediately put onto the strongest team, but here it's a bit different. She begins on a demolition squad, which not only suits her skill set quite well, but is a realistic approach to how she would be introduced to the corps. Anyway, it's one of my favorite reads at the moment and I really like where the story is going.

names. - waterpllar || ao3 || T || gen || canon divergence || complete

There are no names or faces in ANBU. Everything is designed to be strictly formal, efficient and professional. A recently orphaned Sakura, however, learns that some regulations aren't meant to be followed, and finds a place in Team Ro after being shunned from her former teammates. (fic prompt from anon on tumblr: orphaned sakura in anbu with yamato, genma, and team ro.)

AHHHH poor Sakura. After her parents' death Sakura seeks Tsunade's help out of desperation to become useful. Under recommendation, Sakura's new goal is to make it into ANBU.

Equinox - FM_White || ao3 || itasaku || M || anbu AU || complete

ItaSaku (Post Uchiha Massacre) AU: Climbing through the ranks of Konoha, Sakura finds herself with the invitation to join ANBU and a chance to learn from one of the most renowned and legendary ninja in the world. Despite her efforts to grow stronger however, she finds the world isn't as black and white as it looks and that some truths are easier to hide than others.

I don't remember Equinox very well, but I love most works by this author sooo. Anyway, Itachi stays in Konoha and instead it's Sasuke that goes rougue. Sakura, Naruto, and Shikamaru are newly joined ANBU members and all placed on a team with Itachi and things go from there.

stars in our eyes as we dream of the heavens (the gods walk among us, sweet child, do not forget) - snickiebear || ao3 || kakasaku || T || age-swap AU || oneshot complete

“Kakashi-sensei,” Naruto whispered, staring at his teacher, horror plain on his face. “You’re married?” Lazily, Kakashi looked down at his gloveless hand where his ring rested, “It would appear so.”

Sakura is born in the same generation as Kakashi and turns out as a badass ANBU married to him. This is super wholesome as it's a lot of the two of them bonding with Kakashi's genin team (Sai makes three) in an effort to help them out. It's a series so you can read more of the events taking place prior to the fic.

Anachronistic Drift - Elesrea || ffn || gen || T || time travel AU || incomplete

Her plan was flawless. Save Shisui. Save the world. Time-travel, Sakura-centric AU

Sakura spends years training to be sent back in time and save the world from Sasuke. She isn't in ANBU, but rather poses as one in order to keep an anonymous status on her doings both in and out of the village.

Sakura - lilac haze || ffn/ao3 || M || minasaku || time travel AU || complete

AU. Non-Canon. Time Travel. Please see inside for full warnings. Cross posted on Ao3. On his deathbed he was granted eternal peace and place to rest for all of time. Of course that was not appealing to him. Ever unpredictable to the end he had a counter offer. One that the Sage had to consider. In which Sakura's going to have a rough time. A really rough time.

Sakura is probably one of my all time favorite fics because the emotions are just spectacular. The story is pretty heavy on ANBU and ROOT aspects, which I always enjoy, but I wouldn't say it's a major focus. However, there is an emphasis on the unfair treatment towards kunoichi. Anyway, the characterizations and storytelling are beautifully done. Please share this author some love.

Check TWs before hand!!

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Hope y'all enjoy these recs, and please feel free to send me some if you have any!!!! I really appreciate when you do :)

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yellowocaballero · 5 months ago

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“I’m afraid I must call you out of retirement for a final mission.”

Cold ice shot through Tobi’s chest. Fuck.

Did he know? He couldn’t. If he knew, he wouldn’t show it like this. His visit with T&I would be a lot less cheerful, that’s for sure. Was he prodding Tobi, watching for his reaction? Did Sarutobi honestly think he’d slip up? Tobi was incapable of slipping up. He couldn’t tell the truth with a kunai to his throat at this point.

“What sort of mission is it?” Tobi asked excitedly, ripping open the folder. He held the paper up and slowly mouthed the words on the page, fighting to get through the page. Look at him, he filled out his mission reports in crayon and could barely read. “Mission report…assignment duration, promotion or release…pay…oh, ew…assignment…jounin sensei…”

Tobi trailed off.

Distantly, he heard himself say, “Um. Maybe this is a mistake?”

As promised in last post. Kakashi & Obito roleswap. Barely. It's complicated. Please pay no attention to how many roleswaps I have written. Just ignore it. Do me a favor and do not think about it. OK? Thank you.

Snippet from a much longer, much messier document. This part was the very first part writiten and very much a proof of concept. I'm trying to figure out if I should overhaul the thing and turn this into an actual story, so let me know.

Short beginning scene of Tobito's Wild Ride under the cut.

“Tobi. Thank you for coming.”

Obviously, Tobi didn’t bow or kneel. That wasn’t the sort of person Tobi was. He just grinned broadly, waving so broadly that his body swayed with the motion. “Gramps! Hello! Wow, you’ve gotten old since I’ve seen you!”

Sarutobi chuckled, raising a pipe to his mouth. The pipe - either ‘I’m thinking hard’, ‘I want to pretend I’m thinking hard and giving due consideration to your idea when I don’t really care’, or ‘I’ve already decided and I’m pretending that you have a say in this’. What was the point of the last one? This was a literal military dictatorship. Tobi forgot how exhausting this man could be.

“It has been a while,” Sarutobi said indulgently. “Since…the T&I incident, I believe?”

Tobi giggled, high and childish. “Inoichi-san got sooo mad. But Tobi said he was real, real, real sorry, so I hope he’s not still mad…oh, no.” Tobi gasped, face falling in desolation. “Is Inoichi-san still mad at me? Oh, Tobi can go apologize again -”

“It’s water under the bridge.” Tobi exhaled gustily, wiping the back of his hand against his brow. It wasn’t his fault Inoichi hated him. Apparently his mind was absolutely impenetrable. Something about constant children’s lullabies just playing full blast in his head. Or songs regarding a specific time of day someplace in the world. “I have to apologize, Tobi. I always feel as if I should keep a better eye on you. There’s never enough time in the day for all of the people we care about. Please forgive me for my inattention to you.”

Manipulative old fuck. Tobi panicked, embarrassed by the attention and affection. He waved his hands quickly, almost jumping up and down. “Gramps! It’s okay! Tobi’s not lonely or sad! He still has Sasuke-chan! Sasuke-chan wasn’t brutally murdered, so Tobi’s A-OK!” Tobi had to tell himself that a lot. Every morning after a nightmare, which meant every morning period. “And I met a really nice old lady yesterday and helped her down the street. She gave me an apple sweet. It was delicious! So there’s nothing to forgive, Gramps!”

“I’m glad,” Sarutobi said warmly. Ugh. Tobi knew objectively that Minato-sensei had tried to imitate that tone, but he still liked to convince himself that Sarutobi was mimicking Minato-sensei. That was a good one, he’d have to use it. “Sasuke-kun is actually why I called you here today.”

That kid. Tobi sighed. “Tobi is sorry that Tobi cannot control Sasuke-chan. I’ve told him that punching Naruto-kun is bad, but he just doesn’t listen…”

“I’m sure you’ll find a method somehow.” Sarutobi pushed a thin file folder across the desk, and Tobi curiously stepped forward and picked it up. He’d know a file like that anywhere. It was a mission assignment folder. “I’m afraid I must call you out of retirement for a final mission.”

Cold ice shot through Tobi’s chest. Fuck.

How did Tobi feel about this? Tobi sure as hell knew how Obito felt - desperately wondering if a T&I visit was in his future. Tobi was scared of the missions, sure. But he was a five year old. How would a five year old react to these things?

Well. Tobi knew how he would have reacted. He would have sighed and rolled his eyes about yet another mission. Pretty impressive when you were burned out of your career at five years old. He blamed the two month graduation for years before he learned of Rin and Kakashi’s hell and eventually concluded that it could have been worse. At least Tobi was paid for his war zone.

“A mission?” Tobi gushed. He clenched on the folder far too tightly, like a child clutching a wheezing frog. “I’m going on missions again?” He jumped a little, his usual little show of excitement. Kept his energy up. “Does that mean Gramps isn’t mad at me anymore?”

Tobi carefully snuck a glance up from the folder, checking Sarutobi’s expression. Sarutobi’s face was impassive stone, as usual, but he looked a little worn too. “We were never angry with you.”

Tobi fully looked up, tilting his head and frowning. “Nuh-uh. Tobi remembers. Everybody was so mad at Tobi. Just because his hand slipped…it wasn’t Tobi’s fault.”

“We know,” Sarutobi said gently. “Minato didn’t retire you because he was angry with you. He was only looking out for you.”

Well, Tobi didn’t want to be out of fucking retirement. It was objectively insane to put him on any mission. Tobi had gotten sabotaging every attempt to make him a useful member of society down to a fucking art. He had a shitton of inheritance to blow and a nice long civilian life to blow it on. Maybe he was too stubborn about it - Iruka was definitely convinced that he was the second laziest person in the village and sabotaged his assigned jobs on purpose, which Tobi would have resented if it wasn’t absolutely true - but spite was important. Spite woke him up in the morning.

The only thing that helped him tolerate this stupid village was his hate for it. Ain’t that just the way.

Tobi trailed off.

Distantly, he heard himself say, “Um. Maybe this is a mistake?”

“Trust me. You’re hardly our first choice.” Finally, they agreed on something. “But you’re the only one in this village with a Sharingan, Tobi. You’re the only one who can teach Sasuke how to use his power.”

“Nuh-uh. Um. This is a mistake. Ha ha.” Tobi ripped the paper from the folder, crumpling it into a ball and tossing it over his shoulder. “Because, um, I can’t use my Sharingan. Did Gramps maybe forget that? Ha ha?”

“But you still remember how to use it. Even if you can’t use it yourself, you can still walk Sasuke-kun through using his.” Sarutobi eyed Tobi knowingly, the dim glowing embers of his pipe reflecting a soft light in his eyes. “You were once a genius with the Sharingan, Tobi. They said you were the best since Madara.”

Yeah! Yeah, they did say that, old man! That was the whole fucking problem!

Mention of the Sharingan or Tobi’s old talents always upset him, so this was a great springboard into nipping this in the bud. He’d throw a hissy fit if he had to. Tobi had killer hissy fits. That was how Sasuke was given a seat as head of house in the Clan Council. Tobi’s wail could pierce eardrums and Sasuke had deserved that fucking seat.

“Tobi doesn’t like the Sharingan anymore!” Tobi exclaimed. “Tobi wants to help Sasuke-chan, Gramps, cross Tobi’s heart! But Tobi doesn’t like the Sharingan and the Sharingan don’t like Tobi. And that’s just the truth.” Tobi crossed his arms, sniffling and scrunching his nose. “And don’t say what you’re gonna say. Tobi knows what’s up. Minato-sensei’s little boy is on that team too, isn’t he?”

He absolutely was. Tobi had speed-read the entire document while he was reading it out loud. But even the remnant of Obito’s genius was still considerable, and Tobi’s moments of keen insight were useful for pushing the enemy into a corner.

“I thought you might appreciate the chance to look after your sensei’s son,” Sarutobi said mildly, removing a silver lighter from his pocket. Engraved, a gift from Biwako. Was that on purpose? A mind game on Tobi, an unconscious memory on his part, or a purposeful evocation of a memory just for him? Was he trying to remind Tobi of something or corner Obito? Damn this man. “Help him like your sensei helped you.”

The really great thing about Tobi was that he could get away with saying this. It was only to the left of cathartic, but at least it was in the zone. “I’m not stupid, Gramps!” Tobi yelled. The ANBU in the corners twitched, but when Sarutobi’s fingernail clicked on the silver lighter they subsided. “You’re giving Minato-sensei and Kushina-neechan’s little baby and his fox to the last Sharingan because you want the Sharingan to eat the Fox! Why are you doing what you want when you know it won’t work? Tobi’s tried, he can’t - he can’t, Gramps.”

It wasn’t the sort of thing any self-respecting Uchiha would admit. Half of them would kill themselves if they lost their Sharingan. Uchiha Obito, whose Sharingan was the pride and joy of the clan - who was the Uchiha’s Uchiha before Itachi-kun was even a twinkle in his mother’s eye - would never abandon his one point of value.

And everybody knew how prideful the Uchiha were. There was no Uchiha alive who would pretend to be Tobi. Could you imagine? What Uchiha would humiliate themselves like this with a goofy smile on their face? A regular human being could barely do it. An Uchiha? Forget it. Impossible.

But Kushina-neechan’s favorite shinobi was always the most surprising of all. And Obito cared about that more than all the rest.

The only ninja who would have ferreted him out was Kakashi. Kakashi and his dopey, stupid smile. His ridiculous porn books and his clumsy pratfalls. His laziness, lateness, and utter underachiever lifestyle. Only Kakashi ever said those words, with a wink and a smile: a true shinobi looked underneath the underneath. So save your energy and watch the clouds with me, Uchiha-kun. No? Maybe next time…

The next time never came. Being a good Uchiha had always meant something, and the useless son of a disgraced clan meant nothing at all. Nothing to anybody but Minato and Kushina and Rin and Obito.

“You’re better than nothing.” In that second, Sarutobi really did look very tired. He didn’t look like he was lying at all. “You’re the best we have, Tobi.”

Tobi was silent. Sarutobi knew it wasn’t much of a compliment. Even somebody like Tobi would know that.

“As a favor to Sasuke-kun and Naruto-kun,” Sarutobi said, “and as a favor to me. Please give these children the help you can. Don’t worry - I’ll ask the other jounin to pitch in and help.”

Tobi lowered his voice, and he allowed his tone to grow a little more serious. “I’m not strong. I’m not good at molding chakra and I haven’t really fought anyone in a long time. I can’t protect the children.”

“We’ll be careful,” Sarutobi allowed. But there was something in his eye… “You may be rusty, but I doubt you’re out of the ring yet. Have a little faith in yourself.” The look in his eyes glinted and grew, and for the first time he stared right at Tobi. “You did hold your own against Uchiha Itachi.”

They stared at each other for a long second, two. A little too late, Tobi laughed and scrubbed the back of his neck. “Silly Gramps! I said a billion times. Tobi hid. I don’t think Itachi-kun thought it was worth it to kill me…I don’t think Itachi-kun ever thought I was a real Uchiha. But we’ve showed him, huh?” Tobi grinned, jabbing a finger at his chest. “Now there’s three whole Uchiha in the whole wide world! One third’s a serial killer, one third’s twelve, and one third is…drumroll please…Tobi! Konoha’s in good hands, ne?”

Tobi smiled at the man who ordered Uchiha Itachi to kill their entire family.

Sarutobi smiled back at the man who was currently pulling the most intricate and improbable lying campaign in a village of ninjas. In Obito’s defense, it was to save his own life. Sarutobi had murdered his family to - well, save the village, but Tobi didn’t have to like it.

“Thank you for accepting the mission. I trust you’ll do splendidly.”

“Uh. Tobi didn’t -”

“The children ought to be waiting for you in the schoolroom at 1000 hours. You ought to head over - I expect you’re already late.”

Tobi squealed, looking at the unwound watch on his wrist and slapping his head. “Oh no! I’m late, I’m late, I’m late! Bye, Gramps! You promise-promise to get back-up for Tobi, right?”

Pleasantly, Sarutobi said, “I would not trust you alone with those children, no.”

“Yay! Okay, gotta goooo!”

When he left Sarutobi’s office, he was about ten minutes late to his meeting with the children. By the time he arrived at the school he was over an hour late. Lost on the road of life and all that. It didn’t matter - venting about this ridiculousness to Kakashi was way more important than meeting the brats on time.

This would be a disaster. There was no way this would end well. Tobi was a brain damaged, traumatized moron who couldn’t use his one skill and who hadn’t been on active duty since he whoopsie-daisy’d his sword into his best friend’s heart. If Sarutobi didn’t keep up his promise and drag in the other jounin to take up his slack then he’d riot. Did he want Tobi to do work? Tobi? He had resigned from capitalism and the military industrial complex. Pulling him into this shit again - as if he hadn’t suffered enough -

As if Sasuke and Naruto hadn’t. Maybe one of Sarutobi’s stupid-ass motivations was because he knew that only Tobi would be nice to Sasuke and Naruto. Damn Naruto especially. For that, at least…if only as a favor to Minato-sensei…

To make up for it…maybe a little bit of real work would be the least he could do.

Ugh. Hopefully not that much.

Tobi finally touched down at the school, following the Academy hallways to Sasuke’s classroom by route memory. He dropped off Sasuke’s lunch a lot. It embarrassed him so much. It was classic.

Tobi walked into the classroom and allowed a large basket of glitter to fall on top of his head.

A peal of laughter squealed throughout the room, and Tobi opened his eyes to see Uzumaki Naruto clutching his sides and laughing his ass off. Quite rudely, Sasuke had his feet propped up on a desk. That third girl was sitting primly in her seat, terrified.

“What an idiot! Our new sensei actually fell for - wait.” Naruto straightened, squinting at Tobi. He yelled, jabbing a finger at him. “Hey! Number Two Ramen Fan! What the hell are you doing here?”

Sasuke almost fell out of his seat. He scrambled to his feet, panicked in his special Sasuke way - that was, eyes a little wider than usual. “Tobi? Did I forget my lunch?”

“Um?” Sakura Haruno hunched her shoulders in her seat, picking at the corner of a scroll. “Uchiha Obito’s our sensei. I thought you knew. Did you…not know?”

“Is this a joke?” Sasuke cried. “Who the hell thought this was funny? Tobi couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag! If they’re bullying us again, I swear to god I’ll strangle whoever -”

“Whoah,” Naruto cried, impressed. “Violent!”

“Everybody’s always bullying Tobi,” Sasuke snapped. “I’m an Uchiha. What sort of Uchiha would I be if I tolerated that?”

Glitter dripped down Tobi’s hair and sprinkled onto his clothing. He smiled, big and bright, and clapped his hands together. Sasuke was groaning, but Naruto and Sakura just leaned in closer - caught in a morbid curiosity, desperate to meet their own fate. Signed and sealed. “Tobi’s first impression of you all is…you’re so funny! Tobi likes you!”

The kids paled.

#my writing #i had to do a ton more research on the character (“ton”) since writing this so I think i might write him differently now #perhaps. perhaps.#anyway yes the conceit is “obito is uchiha genius who is faking brain damage on main for the most insane reasons”#he's not more normal than if he's a supervillain. frankly. worse.

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uchiwife · 8 months ago

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Ok guys, I need to talk to you about something!

Last year or so I had an idea for a time-travel fic with Kakasaku as the main pairing. I think this will sound familiar to some if you are or were on the Kakasaku discord because at the time I shared snippets and little teasers about this fic.

⇩

This is the first time I've written for this pairing. Although I adore them and consume a lot of Kakasaku fics, I've never written for them. Those who know my work will know that I write mainly Itasaku, Shisaku and occasionally Sasusaku.

The project is still in progress, albeit on hold, however, as I don't know when I'll be able to release this story, I first wanted to contextualize the idea and tell you a bit about it quickly and thus see if it's worth continuing to work on this fic in the future.

I was hoping to get some feedback, to see how the idea might be received. Although we writers write primarily for ourselves, I still find it interesting to have the opinion of my readers or future readers. If they like the idea, it's obvious that working on the story is all the more motivating, you know? And since it's my first time writing Kakasaku, I'm feeling a bit nervous.

So here's the general idea :

« Kakashi and Sakura found themselves back in their younger selves for some reason. The Kakashi and Sakura of the future are in an established relationship so imagine their horror when they realize where they are.

To keep up appearances, Sakura plays Sasuke's fangirls (albeit a little more moderately) and Kakashi scowls and rolls his eyes at every "sasuke-kun, you're soooo sTrOnG. Sasuke-kun is so cuuuuute, isn't he kakashi-sEnsEi?" and he's like "adorable." but with a deadpan face, you know? It just amuses Sakura to be able to annoy Kakashi because in their future lives, he likes to annoy her and miss a few of his medical appointments so it's a kind of payback.

And of course there's the fact that they won't have their daily routines as long as they're stuck in their current bodies. Well, especially for Sakura, because although Kakashi is a notorious pervert and a kinky person, doing anything while she looks like a 12-year-old is off-limits to him, and what's even more frustrating is that of course he still loves her since it's Sakura's mind that's in her 12-year-old body. But to be honest, Sakura agrees that she's just as frustrated, and can't see herself engaging in lewd activities in her pre-teen body.

And what's worse, she's experiencing her first period for the second time. Much to Kakashi's amusement.🐺🌸 »

To conclude, here are two questions I was asked about this fic and my answer:

Q: “But of course they slip every now and then? Like hand holding. Or Kakashi putting a hand around her waist out of reflex. Or not patting her head but her cheek (for being *so cheeky*) and it raises some brows.”

⤷

A: “Oh totally! And when he realizes it, he's panicked, like: "Minor, minor, illegal. Off limits. Prison. 12 years. take your hand off." and Sakura's kind of annoyed that she can't have her good-night kiss. Especially since she's living with her parents at 12. Sometimes Sakura even forgets the "sensei" when she addresses kakashi, which frankly, coming from Sasuke, would be fine in the sense that he's so casual, but Sakura? Sweet, rule-abiding Sakura? Naaah. Especially if she calls him "Kashi"”

Q: “Would they try to change things you think!?”

⤷

A: “Well, at first, I think they'll be trying to find a way back home. They're so confused about being here, they think it's a bad idea. Not to mention that it's really no fun for Sakura to be a 12-year-old when her man could be arrested and thrown in jail if they're caught while he's having one of those slips. Like touching her in a very familiar and intimate way that goes beyond the teacher/student relationship.

You also have to bear in mind that they are in a period of peace in their own timeline. After fighting, suffering and losing comrades and friends, in the 4GNW, they've earned a well-deserved peace.

But if they get stuck for a while, I think Sakura will come up with the idea. Kakashi will be much more cautious. It's not that he's completely reticent, but he's been through so much that he fears the changes they might make could lead to results far worse than those of their original timeline.

So Sakura would have to warm him up to the idea, but ultimately I think he knows it might be worth the risk if it means avoiding tragic events. When you know so much about the future, it's dangerous, but knowing what's going to happen and letting it happen is perhaps worse. Some things are inevitable, some deaths too, and Sakura will probably blame herself. Kakashi will have more perspective on the situation. But they'll be relying on each other; all the while trying to make their relationship work; which is going to be complicated given the age that currently separates them. But knowing Sakura and her fierce love for her loved ones, she won't let Kakashi run away or question their relationship. After all, it's not their timeline. And they'll find a way to get back together.”

#kakasaku #writing ideas #talking about my writing #kakashi x sakura #Sakura haruno x kakashi hatake #naruto fandom #itasaku #shisaku #multisaku #sakura haruno #future fic #naruto #kakashi hatake #uchiwife

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hegoeshardasfuck · 15 days ago

Text

too many and not enough

wordcount: 3K

tags: cockwarming, mild eye horror, kinktober, goretober, medical kink, femdom, mild blood, consensual but not safe or sane, eye implants

synopsis: maybe Sasuke gets off on Sakura cutting things open with a scalpel abnormal amounts, maybe he gets off on it even more when he's the subject of her experimentation

authors note: written for day 19 of kinktober/goretober!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/59884975

Maybe it was unethical.

Maybe it was twisted.

Maybe it was fucked up.

But sometimes you gotta push all that aside in the name of science.

That was Sakura's reasoning when a cooler full of eyes landed in her hands from her old teacher.

"Do what you want with them," Orochimaru said bluntly, "I don't want them in my office anymore."

Sakura nodded along eagerly, "Do you have any ideas?"

A sly smirk grew steadily on his face, "Ethical or unethical?"

"Either or," Sakura said. So many of her own were already running through her so fast. She could do so many things with a box of eyes, presumably fresh, they might even work if they're new enough. She hopes that they're new enough for that. She's been wanting to try embedding eyes into things for so long, she just never had the supplies available.

And now her old teacher, practically reading her mind, brings her a box of eyes. He shouldn't even be within the walls of Konohagakure anymore, Jiraiya and Tsunade alike doing their best to beat it into his skull that he wasn't allowed. But he kept sneaking back in to check in on his old student, to see if she's still upholding the mantle of his illegal experimentation.

Considering that he found her in his old blocked off catacombs, she was almost done rewiring the place with some assistance, he'd like to imagine that she is picking up where he left off.

Or maybe she's just refurbishing the place as is her right.

Either way he'd be happy with it.

Her body was never meant for him to inhabit, he just took her on as a student of ruthless medicinal jutsu's and bio-science. She held prowess that the village didn't want to recognize, so he taught her before being kicked out.

"See how many you can fit on an Uchiha," Orochimaru said, "Itachi, Shisui, and Sasuke remain."

"Shisui remains?" Sakura asked.

Orochimaru hummed. "Maybe he died when I wasn't looking."

"Yeah, I think he did."

"What a shame, he was such an interesting boy. He survived Aburame poison, maybe he really did kill himself in the end. I would've loved to cut him open."

"It would've been fun to see what let him live through it."

"But, truthfully, I merely hope you have fun doing what you want with these eyes- they're special."

Sakura lights up like a christmas tree, "Special?"

Orochimaru nodded, "Very, you'll see when you open the box. Now I really must be going, I'd like to avoid being Tsunade's punching bag if I can."

"Alright, I'll keep report of how the body reacts to the implants."

There's a small smile on Orochimaru's face, "Good, good."

-/-/-/-

Sasuke's been a part of his girlfriends experiments before.

They were all little things though.

He wasn't directly involved in them either, he usually just pissed in a cup or gave her some blood. He even let her look at his rinnegan once, remove it from the socket oh so tenderly and place it back once she was done. The process to put it back left him with a gnarly scar running from the corner of his eye to his temples.

But he loved her.

So it was fine.

Even if the woman he loved was definitely a mad scientist with extremely dubious ethicals, he found it undeniably hot when she vivisected someone. He doesn't even know why she did that actually. She just did one night. Walking home to find her with a stray shinobi out cold on the coffee table and deep incisions in their chest was beyond awkward.

It was hot though.

The way she looked with bloody gloves and a crazed grin on her face, the scalpel glinting in the yellow tinted living room light. Sasuke sat down beside her and just asked questions as she worked away on the poor bastard. Who is he to deny Sakura her hobbies, she lets him "spar" with Naruto every weekend so he'll let her kill criminals and take them apart for fun.

He hopes they're criminals at least.

If they aren't criminals he'll keep his mouth shut.

He's done some dubious things in his past, his girlfriend is allowed her fair share of morally dark gray activities.

In spite of his adamant approval of her sciences, he's still a little bit scared when he's told to strip down and take a seat on a chair vaguely akin to one in a dentistry office. His grip on the sides of the chair is tense, she had removed the arm rests and lowered it to almost be on the ground. The cool air of her infinite expanse of laboratories seeped into his skin, snake decals etched into the wall and slowly being painted over.

He knew she was taught by Orochimaru, he'd been here once or twice, and by far this was the most overhauled room. It went from run down and an easy to tear apart in case of the Hokage doing investigations to a room that looks sterile in every way. He didn't think that she had inherited her old teachers entire lair, every single hidden room and twisting path that lay inside was hers.

She could do whatever she wanted with them.

And she chose to continue doing twisted experimentation just like her old teacher did. He supposes that he did something similar when he picked up some medical work after Tsunade finished teaching him.

Sakura is smiling as she lays out her tray, tools are on top of it. He watches as they glint under the LED light, scalpels for the most part, pliers as well, and something that looks like a spoon. A very small spoon, but he thinks that's what it is that's resting right next to a syringe full of who knows what.

"So," Sasuke started with as Sakura turned to face him.

She stood high above him and the light kept him in her shadow, "Yes, Sasuke?" She crouched down to place her tray of tools on a stool next to the chair.

"What're we doing this time?" He asked. He tried his best not to let fear work it's way into his voice. He also tried to hide the excitement as well, and the faint hint of arousal.

Faint isn't the right word though.

Not his fault he kinks out a little bit on her running scans on him and taking his blood pressure.

He doesn't even know why he does.

But as she turns the scalpel on him he realizes really fast that he was feeling jealous and horny whenever he caught her cutting open random shinobi.

"Little things," Sakura said calmly as she tilted the scalpel over in the light, searching to make sure it wasn't gunked up. She placed it back down on the tray before standing to pull down the light closer.

"Little things usually don't require scalpels and pliers," Sasuke said.

"Well, I wanted it to be a surprise, but I thought you might look pretty with extra eyes."

"What?"

"None on your face of course," Sakura said, "I don't want to ruin your looks, I just want to see if they'll take for the most part."

"You're putting one of your eyes in me?" Sasuke's voice is strained with fear, arousal, and some form of endearment. How sweet. He wouldn't mind doing a trade, it'd be like wedding rings but far more visceral. He'd be interested in that one day if she ever wanted to.

Sakura held back a small snort of laughter, "Fuck no, not right now at least. My old teacher gave me a cooler full of eyes and I thought you might like some of them."

"Where are you gonna put them?" Sasuke asked as he watched her tie back her hair.

She shrugged, "Don't know, upper arm, you usually wear t-shirts."

"I don't have eye holes there," Sasuke said.

"What do you think the scalpels for?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke's heart fell into the pit of his stomach. Not really because of fear though, more because he didn't realize it sooner, "Oh."

"Don't worry though," Sakura said, her voice was sickly sweet, "I'll keep you distracted from the pain."

"With some anesthetic?" Sasuke asked.

"Well, yes, anesthetic, and to make up for the fact I'm cutting eye sockets into you I thought I'd ride you."

Pangs of want shoot through him at the idea.

But he represses it best he can despite the fact he's only in shorts, he ditched wearing undergarments.

"Won't that mess up your work if you're riding my dick?" Sasuke asked.

"That's why you're gonna stay still the entire time," Sakura said, "If you don't I might hit a vein, you wouldn't my shirt to get all messed up, would you?"

"I could buy you a new one."

"It's the principle, Sasuke."

"I know."

"Do you want me to ride you as I cut you open?" Sakura asked, voice a little bit less cold.

Sasuke nodded a bit faster then he meant to, "Of course I do." She can practically hear the fact he's salivating at the idea, he does a good job hiding it on his face but his voice betrays him.

-/-/-/-

Just as she said she would, Sakura rides him.

Well, she just sort of sits there. Straddling him and keeping him from bucking up into her with the fact she has a blade to his pectoral. The anesthetic was strong enough to leave him with only a dull sting as she cut open his skin and extracted the flesh to leave an eye sized crater.

"You're such a tease," Sasuke hissed as she leaned in, he tried not to moan at the slightest motion.

"I'll leave you begging once we're done with this," Sakura said as she raised the skin from the meat in the hopes it'd form some sort of eyelid. There's enough muscle in his chest that she can safely dig in deep enough without it risking his ribs.

Sasuke scoffed, "You better."

Sakura sat up straight and brushed down his bloodied chest of small chunks of flesh. With her scalpel placed to the side she stood up and Sasuke gasped because what the hell Sakura?

"Hey-!"

"Be a good boy and hold tight, I'll be back in a second," Sakura said as she walked over to the cooler of eyes.

Sasuke just whined. He was bold enough to raise a hand from where they lay limp at his side. His motions are slow and his eyes are on Sakura, back turned to him. The second his fingers have wrapped around his cock Sakura turns to face him.

"You know, I don't have to sit on your dick while I do this." In her hands she held a tray with a set of eyes. All of them were bright ruby red with varying amounts of magatama's looped around the pupil.

Sasuke raised his hands high in surrender.

"That's what I thought." She places down the tray and brackets him once more, knees on either side of his. The fact she can balance with so little of herself on the chair is impressive, her hands are raised to the headrest, gripping it on either side of his head. He stares up at her and she stares back, emerald matches purple and black, and he feels fear that easily blends with arousal. At this rate he wouldn't be shocked if they were the same to him.

She leans in to press a quick kiss to the corner of his lips.

Sasuke spoke quietly as she reared back, "Where'd you get my clans eyes from?"

Sakura shrugged. "I'll ask Orochimaru about his sources later."

"Do you know what belonged to who?" Sasuke asked.

Again, she shrugged. "They all look the same to me, none of them were fully labeled, they were just in sets with initials."

Sasuke nodded. "Were any labeled with U.M."

"Only one," Sakura said, "Why?"

"Those were my moms," Sasuke said quietly.

"Do you want hers now?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke shook his head. "I want you to give me hers if I burn out my current ones."

"I can do that for you, promise," Sakura said.

Sasuke pushed himself up off the chair just enough to press a kiss to the corner of Sakura's lips. "Love you."

A small smile came to Sakura's lips at the words. She raised a gloved and bloodied hand to cradle Sasuke's face, "Love you too."

"Now," Sasuke started with, "How many eyes are you putting in me?"

"Three," Sakura said calmly, "They're all about the same size."

"Are you gonna try and hook them up to my regular eyes?" Sasuke asked as he watched his girlfriend lower herself back down on his cock with ease. He breath caught just a bit as she did so.

"Connecting them to your ocular nerve would be so much work," Sakura drawled, she shifted her hips just a bit to get comfy where she sat.

Sasuke whined at the motions.

"Besides, if they're Sharingan's I think you'll be able to see out of them a little bit regardless of if they're integrated to your nervous system in full," Sakura answered with as she reached for an eye.

It was almost slippery in her grasp, and she didn't want to burst it by gripping too hard. Washing up the cytoplasm-esque fluids within eyes is such a hassle, it'd stain her shirt permanently. She dips it in a fluid first, she'd composed it of blood samples and the fluids she siphoned from the inside of Sasuke's eye socket when he let her inspect his rinnegan. He was out cold for most of that, he didn't even know she took cells and fluids from inside of it.

She struggles to hold open the wound she so exquisitely carved into his flesh with only one hand.

"Need a hand?" Sasuke asked. He sounded breathless really.

Sakura nodded, "I just need you to hold the upper lid."

He does exactly as told, and there's something about the act of peeling back his own flesh at Sakura's whim that makes his stomach twist with pleasure. He wouldn't be shocked if her implanting an eye into his flesh made him cum considering that this alone makes him err closer to the edge. It'd be downright debilitating if he did orgasm due to Sakura shoving an eye into his chest.

But fuck.

It very damn well might.

"Just, hold very still."

Sasuke does exactly as told, he even holds his breath as she holds the eye over the open wound. Her touches are so gentle that he can't register them with the anesthetic in place. She carefully slides the orb into place. It didn't actually want to go in though. Watching her try to prod it in was far more erotic than it should've been.

And when it does slide into place, securing itself and locking into his flesh with a sharp sting, he cums. A loud moan falls out of him and shock plays itself out on Sakura's face at the brief buck of his hips. Shame quickly coils up to replace the high of pleasure, bright red lays itself out on his face as the newly embedded eye twitches in place.

The shock quickly turns to a grin. "So you get off on it, no wonder you're so happy to be my guinea pig."

"And?" Sasuke snapped back, "You never said I couldn't."

"No, no, I'm not upset. It's a lot better to have someone eager to be part of my experiments," Sakura said, "There's a lot less laws I need to dodge."

Sasuke's lips quirked to a smile, "So you do kill innocent people."

"I never said whether or not they're innocent, I just said that the law doesn't like my methods of science," Sakura mused as she raised a hand to the eye on Sasuke's chest. It was like brand new, darting around the room dazed, in desperate search of where it was. She's shocked it can even do that, there shouldn't be enough of a consciousness left in the eye alone to do so. She glides the eyelids closed on it, Sasuke shuddered at the feeling.

"Don't worry, I won't tell," Sasuke said, it was more of a promise really. He'd never tattle on Sakura to the Hokage, even if the Hokage was his friend with many benefits. He wouldn't dare.

"And I won't let your little secret get out either," Sakura said.

-/-/-/-

The eyes take.

Sasuke can't see out of them, but Sakura was right, he doesn't look too bad with crimson embedded in his flesh.

She made sure to cut eyelids into the holes for each one so they aren't always open and drying out. It makes him a lot less likely to wake up, drag himself to the front of the mirror, and yelp because there are extra eyes on him. He's still getting used to it.

He's prodding at one embedded in his upper arm when Sakura walks out to get her morning coffee.

"Can you not finger yourself this early in the morning?" Sakura asked.

Sasuke goes red at the statement. "I'm not fingering myself."

"You're certainly doing something with yourself." Sakura gave an amused hum, "Do you like them?"

Sasuke nodded, "I love them."

"I thought you'd be more apprehensive around eyes, but I'm glad you let me," Sakura explained, "I still have a lot left, not sure what I'll do with them."

"You could always give me some more..." Sasuke left the notion open.

"If I keep adding eyes you'll have to wrap yourself in bandages."

Sasuke sighed. "Yeah. Just a thought."

"I'll find something else to put in you though," Sakura assured, "I don't know what yet, but I'll find some somewhat harmless experiments for you if you'd like me too."

Sasuke still isn't sure how he feels about the eagerness that sprouts inside of him. He smiled before speaking, "Sounds lovely."

#naruto smut #sakusasu #sasusaku #kinktober 2024 #writing #lemon #smut fanfiction #kinktober #smutfic

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missiriss · 1 year ago

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“Keeping it a secret” (2/2)

The second and the final part of SS fic, as well as my part for the 3rd day of SS Shoujo Week 2023. Enjoy and thank you for reading! ♥

Prompt: Misunderstandings Word count: 3111

Five weeks.

It’s been five weeks since they became a couple. For Sakura, that was the best time she’s ever had throughout high school so far. Exchanging glances when walking by each other on the corridor during the break, holding hands under the desk in class, or stealing Sasuke a kiss upon making sure no one is around. It all felt so exciting and new to her, yet she was certain that once she got to know this feeling, she would never want to let go of it. The chemistry in her brain was going wild every single time she was looking at him, filling her with energy and happiness. But now, something was different. Now, she could feel a shiver going through her body, when looking into his onyx eyes. They were cold as ever, and the silence between them started becoming uncomfortable.

“It sucks they managed to throw this party, right? I really wanted to go somewhere together…”, when she finally brought herself to speak, he didn’t seem to be bothered by it. Instead, he chose to start another topic.

“When did you tell Ino?”, the boy asked with a frown. When the female part of their class joined them on the beach, the blonde was giving him strange looks. Normally he would have thought that she is just weird, like most of the girls to his mind. But as if this wasn’t enough, speaking with Naruto, she even stressed that Sasuke would surely enjoy the party more with ladies around. Uzumaki might have shrugged it off, but he could never. He had no doubt that Yamanaka knew. And that, to be honest, really pissed him off, completely destroying the disposure he had to go on a small rendezvous.

“A week ago”, Sakura answered shyly, dropping her eyes to the ground. Ok. Now she understood it. Sasuke was mad with her, and she had to admit, she gave him a reason. It wasn’t like she wasn’t going to tell him! She was! But no time felt right, because every moment with him was perfect. “I’m sorry, it’s just that…”

“It’s just what?”, he interrupted her with a sigh. Uchiha crossed his arms, growing distant in her eyes, and even more so as he continued speaking. “It was your idea to keep it between us anyway. I’m making a fool out of myself trying to figure a way out of this party without spilling that we’re an item, and it turns out that probably half of the school already knows.”

“It’s only Ino, really!”, she responded immediately, folding her hands as if in prayer. “She promised to keep it a secret. I was going to tell you today anyway, I really was, Sasuke. I’m sorry.”

“Listen. I still don’t get the point of this whole thing with keeping it under wraps anyway. I went for it only because you wanted to. And now you’re telling whoever you like about it”, Sasuke said, still with an irritated look on his face. He just felt so disappointed. To him, this whole hiding thing felt rather tiring. He hated getting paranoid that someone might have noticed them holding hands, or going out together. Picking less crowded places, or the ones further away from their school felt like clear bullshit. Was it illegal for them to fall in love? No. Yet he was still doing it for her. And now it seemed that he unnecessarily bothered.

Sakura could see his point. But she also felt, that he was too strict on her. He knew how important Ino was to her, and that they’ve been doing almost everything together for years now. She was the first one Sakura conveyed her feelings for Sasuke to. He had to take it into consideration, especially that he wasn’t saint in this regard either.

“You didn’t consult it with me before telling Itachi”, she noticed, surprising him with her words.

“But it’s my brother! He would have found out sooner or later”, Sasuke defended himself. It hasn’t crossed his mind that she could have minded that. “You really don’t see any difference?”

“And I don’t have any siblings. You know I couldn’t tell my mom. She would give me no peace with her questions!”

“God, Sakura. You will have to tell your mom sooner or later anyway. And we’re going to have even more questions to answer now, when Ino for sure blabs out tonight.”

“She won’t”, she answered, averting her eyes from him. Was she feeling a qualm of guilt? Totally. But she wasn’t so happy with how fierce Sasuke was either. She trusted her best friend wouldn’t tell anyone. And the way he was questioning it, made her feel upset. “I promise you, really.”

Sasuke only exhaled heavily, as he started walking towards the rest with his hands in the pockets of his trousers. He didn’t feel like talking about it anymore, and he felt a need to cool his head down a little before he says something stupid.

“Anyway”, he only blurted out, leaving Sakura with a qualm of guilt growing within her.

Next two hours were the longest in her life. She could swear that time on a dentist’s chair was passing rapidly compared to this. Sasuke wouldn’t even look at her. Instead he was sticking to Naruto and some other boys, who were getting themselves slowly wasted. As expected, the speech that Guy gave them about responsibility earlier that day went in one ear, and out the other. Almost everyone had already at least one beer, apart from her — because the argument with her boyfriend completely spoiled her appetite, for drinks, food, and any more joy tonight.

But what’s worse, it weren't only boys following Sasuke around. A group of girls from some other school that was also staying in their hostel for a trip begged them to let them join the party. And that was when even Naruto stopped supporting the concept of all-male squad. At first they seemed quite flattered that he was trying to make sure they were having fun. However, once they clapped their eyes on young Uchiha, they wouldn’t leave him alone even for a second. And that infuriated Sakura.

Now sitting on one of many blankets on the ground, she was drawing something in sand with her finger, pretending she doesn’t see their goo-goo eyes, as they are trying to get his attention. She wanted to go to her room already, but Ino wouldn’t let her. Not before spill the bottle.

Speaking of the devil. Yamanaka now was standing next to the fire burning in the furnace with a vicious sparkles in her eyes. She wanted to get the party rolling, but that wasn’t the only thing. Sakura didn’t have to tell her for Ino to realise that something bad happened between her and Sasuke. Whatever this was, she was hoping the game will give them the opportunity to break the ice, and at least to talk with each other. And so, she went ahead with her plan.

But first, there was one thing they didn’t think through earlier. Number of people. Or rather how great it was. It wasn’t only their class and those girls here as a few students among of Guy joined them in the meantime. Because it was difficult to circle around the bottle in such a large group, they eventually decided to play a few different rounds, so that everyone could participate. Having finally divided them, Ino sat next to Sakura.

“No worries, Forehead. It will get fun now.” She clapped her back with a reassuring smile. “Sasuke is playing now too.”

For Haruno this wasn’t good information to receive. As much as she wanted to interact with him, she also knew that she won’t be able to relax now. Or at least she thought so. To her surprise, after a few spins she really started having fun. That was partly thanks to Ino who had modified the rules so that the game would be more interesting. Everyone pointed by the bottle thread was supposed to draw a task from a list she had prepared earlier.

“Lee, give me a number”, Ino said, glancing over at tasks she had in her phone.

“Yes! Twenty seven, please!”, he answered eagerly, as if he had the number prepared in his head for a little while before. Everyone could see he was already a little tipsy. He was well known for lacking abilities in holding his drink, that’s why it was even more surprising to see that the boys managed to convince him to break the promise given to Guy.

“Twenty seven, twenty se… Found it! Spin the bottle and say what you think about the person pointed!”, she drawled, giving him a wink.

Lee’s courage when he was under the influence had no limits. He spun the bottle with no fear, waiting to see who is the lucky person. Sakura didn’t really pay attention at that moment. She had her eyes fixed on Sasuke, sitting on the other side of the circle. He seemed rather bored, yet she could not stand the girls that took seats next to him. They fought for his attention relentlessly, even if he wasn’t giving it to him. And that was the only thing that made her stand it. He didn’t care about them. Why would she then?

“Sakura?” Someone’s voice took her out of her reverie. It was Ino. “Lee has to say something about you.”

Sakura brought herself to smile a little and nodded politely as a sign “please, do”. She needed to stop averting her eyes to Sasuke if she wanted to focus.

“I find Sakura the most beautiful girl I have ever seen and I wish she agreed to go out on a date with me!”, he claimed with his face all red — hard to say whether it was an effect that alcohol had on him or abashment.

In case of Sakura, that was certainly the latter. She could feel her cheeks getting hot, when she heard him speaking about her. She knew he had a crush on her last year, he confessed it in the middle of the corridor on their first day of school. But she was certain he got over it already long time ago, hence she didn’t see it coming. And probably neither did Sasuke, who gagged on the beer he was drinking, when he heard his words.

One… two… three… Breathe Sasuke, breathe… He was telling himself, to realise how pointless shits like that were in his case. This wasn’t calming him at all. Actually, quite the opposite. Anger was slowly building up in him. And that was what he hated the most about hiding their relationship. He couldn’t chime in. Instead, he had to look as his girlfriend tries to turn this guy down, unsure what words to use.

He was close to just stand up and leave this fucking party. Nothing was going as planned today. First preparations, then the argument with Sakura. That was enough for him to call it a bad day, but those girls following him around were making him feel like exploding any moment. On top of that, he totally didn’t feel like playing that stupid game, and now he had to listen to some tool hitting on his girl. Was there anything that could go worse today? Well. Sasuke was now soon to find out that indeed.

It was Sakura’s turn to pick the number. He was watching her carefully, as she was waiting for Ino to read the task. But before he got to hear what Yamanaka sets her, his attention was forced by someone sitting next to him. One of those girls was now resting her head on his shoulder.

“Get off of me”, he ground out.

“Oh, you’re so cold!”, she did as he asked, but then added. “That’s quite hot though, you know?”

He ignored her, and set his eyes back on Sakura. And that’s when their eyes met. She definitely saw what just happened, and she certainly wasn’t happy about it. But Lord, he wasn’t either! And based on her face it seemed to him she didn’t realise that.

Ino having noticed their exchange of looks, cleared her throat.

“I will reread the question… Sakura, your task is to spin the bottle and kiss the person pointed.”

And that was when he completely lost it. He stood up to everyone’s surprise, and just started walking towards the beach. He wasn’t going to listen to it anymore. He first had to hear someone confess to her, and now he had to look at her kissing some other jerk? This was so ridiculous. And yet, she dared to be making that face when that girl put her head on his shoulder as if it was his fault!

He was fuming. Literally fuming. He didn’t care anymore what others would think, whether they’d find out there was something going on between them or not. Sasuke was sure that with his today’s fortune the bottle was going to point on a guy. And Uchiha had to leave before he gets the lucky guy killed.

Wandering along the shore was as relaxing as it could be under such circumstances. He was calming down a little, but he could still feel his heart breaking out of its regular rhythm. His mind was flooded by different images, yet all of them contained his girl. His girl kissing someone else. Who did the bottle point on? Lee, Naruto? Or maybe Kiba? He didn’t know. And he didn’t want to know. But he still couldn’t stop thinking about it.

He finally decided to come to a stop. Sasuke knew he shouldn’t be getting too far away from the hostel, but he didn’t want to be going back either. So it seemed the most reasonable to sit by, and watch the sea.

To be honest, the sight was really beautiful. The stars on the night sky sparkled brightly, whilst the moon glade was trying to hypnotise him. That was the moment when the anger within him was just replaced by sadness and longing. He really wanted to share moments like that with Sakura tonight, and it played out as always. Shitty.

“Sasuke?”

He lifted his head, with a blank expression on his face. She was standing there.

She really couldn’t have gotten any worse task than that one. That she knew for sure. While she was thinking how to wiggle out of it, or how to calculate the bottle’s rotation perfectly so that it’d point on her boyfriend, he had already stood up and started walking away, ignoring Naruto calling him.

That pained her. He was leaving again, just like earlier today, and again, because of her. Now the qualm of guilt was truly consuming her. Without giving it much of a thought, she was now standing on both of her legs as well, to everyone’s surprise.

“You can ignore him, he was grumpy all day”, Kiba snorted, rolling his eyes. “Not sure what’s wrong with him today.”

But the thing is, she knew! And it was all her fault. She understood it already. And even more. She finally realised, how stupid it was to hide their relationship. Instead of having some good time with her boyfriend, she was focused on making sure no one finds out. And what for? She didn’t know herself anymore. However, she was convinced she needed to convey to him now, what she had learned today. Hoping it’s not too late.

“No, I… I’ll check on him. Sorry, please, continue without us”, she blurted out, and started following Sasuke’s steps slowly.

He was walking round shouldered, completely immersed in own thoughts. She wanted to approach him, but felt they both need to cool down. So she kept following his lead. When he finally sat on the sand, it seemed to be the high time for Sakura to reveal herself to him. And so she did.

“Sasuke?”, she started, and then their gazes met again. He seemed surprised, but not angry anymore. Actually, she could swear she saw a tinge of sadness in his eyes, and that pained her the most.

She then took a place next to him, while he was observing every step of hers.

“It’s really beautiful here”, she started, giving him a shy smile. Sakura wanted to first hear at least a word from him before she shares what she wanted to say. His voice, that would give her the courage.

“It is.”

“You know, Sasuke…”, she started, brushing her hair away from her face. “I’m really sorry for everything. This day, it’s my fault, I know about it. I apologise for earlier.”

He sighed, shaking his head. Like he cared about that argument. It was petty, and he wouldn’t be mad with her for long. It was this whole situation that was making him feel sick, nothing else. But as he was about to say something more, she interrupted him, putting a finger on his lips.

“Please, let me!”, she requested, and seeing him nod, she continued speaking. “I’m also sorry for asking you to hide our relationship. It was stupid. I just… I just really wanted to keep it just to ourselves, so that we could enjoy it together to its fullest… and forgot what was really important.”

Hearing it all, finally took a heavy burden off his heart. At least, most of it. They no longer were going to be back and forth on this topic. He no longer was going to have to hide with his feelings. He now was going to be able to do whatever he wanted, just like he should have been able at the very beginning. Yet, he still had to ask about something else.

“What… what about that task Ino gave you?”, he inquired, feeling as if he was signing his own death warrant. If she accepted it… He didn’t even want to think about it. However, Sakura seemed dumbfounded now.

“Task?”, she checked if she heard right. “Kissing somebody, you mean?”

He nodded again, feeling that time flows extremely slow now.

“Of course I didn’t accept it! Shannaro!”

Upon hearing that, Sasuke finally felt fully relieved. They were good. They were going to be good. And Sakura seemed to be the same way now, relaxed, maybe even touched a little.

“Just one thing”, he said, putting his hand on top of hers. He looked into her eyes. “No more secrets.”

“No more secrets”, Sakura confirmed teary-eyed, with a warm smile glued to her face. Seeing that, Uchiha had to do only one more thing. He sealed their promise with a kiss.

#sasusaku #sakuraharuno #sasuke uchiha #sasukeuchiha #sakura haruno #naruto #fanfiction

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the12thnightproject · 2 years ago

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Chapter 11: Puzzles -Shingen's POV... what does he really think about Katsu? And what will he do when he finds that pretty spy again?

Shingen x OC; Kenshin x MC (Mai)

Previous Chapter: here

Logline - Disguised as a boy, Katsuko finds herself working for Shingen, but her dangerous masquerade becomes difficult to sustain when she falls for the man with a fatal secret.

He’d been deep enough in sleep that the knocking barely registered on him, might even have been part of an unremembered dream, as was the swish when the door slid open, and the sound of Katsu’s feet, padding as lightly as a cat, to his desk. But those sounds in succession were enough to drag him into awareness and squint his eyes open for a brief moment as the young man propped a stack of messages on his desk, next to the puzzle that he still hadn’t solved.

Solved in time, rather. Shingen had been putting the puzzle back together every night, so that each time Katsu picked it up, he had to begin anew. It didn’t seem to frustrate him though, and whenever he restarted, he approached the puzzle with enthusiasm and an apparent strategy that Shingen knew would eventually prove successful. Perhaps, one of these afternoons, he would give Katsu more time to put it together, or more likely Katsu would solve the thing faster – he was getting closer each day. For now, watching his new messenger as he concentrated on finding the solution was proving to be an entertaining diversion.

There was a tactical brain in there. A tactician’s temperament? Maybe, maybe not. Katsu was certainly too impulsive, sometimes too quick to speak, too quick to sarcasm (which might be Yukimura’s influence). And of course, the young man was focused on the search for his brother, a search that after all these years, was likely to be futile.

Though it wouldn’t be a bad idea to have his mitsumono keep an eye out for Toshiie as well – once Katsu had an answer, one way or another, perhaps Shingen could help guide him in a direction that would allow him better use of his mind and instincts.

Katsu softly walked to the door, then possibly prompted by those instincts, turned and looked back at Shingen. He closed his eyes, keeping them shut until he heard the door slide closed a moment later.

“I suppose I imagine myself a teacher now,” he thought to himself. His old friend Kennyo would laugh at that idea, but maybe all that was needed to find teaching rewarding was to have a compelling pupil. It was similar to how he felt about guiding Yukimura from a rebellious teenager to the capable adult he had become … maybe these things would be part of his legacy.

Meanwhile, he had a viable plan for the unneeded courier whom he had basically taken on out of pity. You’re guilty of being impulsive from time to time as well, he told himself. The young man potentially could have been an enemy agent. But Sasuke had vouched for him, and Katsu had passed the tests that should have revealed him to be a spy, had that been the case. Instead, his somewhat rash decision had paid off by rewarding him with a messenger who was fast, reliable, and quick-witted.

Having dealt with – at least theoretically – Katsu’s future, Shingen turned his mind to the lovely spy he’d encountered last night. Who had sent her? And for what purpose? Not assassination – he’d taken a good long look to ensure she wasn’t hiding any weapons. Then a second look to confirm the first… and appreciate the view. When he’d first seen the little beauty, water droplets sluicing off her body, he’d momentarily thought she was indeed the mermaid he’d called her. Her feigned shriek of surprise had brought him back to his senses. None but a spy would have braved that cold water. Though the waterlogged nymph had obviously miscalculated just how cold that lake could be at night.

He’d decided to give her the opening she’d planned and teased her by stealing her blanket. He’d expected her to rush out of the water, plaster her body to his, then thank him for warming her, as she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his. Whoever had sent her was clearly aware of the reputation he’d carefully cultivated. Had the night gone as he’d anticipated, he would have lowered that body to the blanket, and enjoyed thoroughly exploring every inch of her, before sending her back to her master (whoever that may be), without the information she sought.

As recompense for refusing to satisfy any attempt to extract information from him, he would have physically satisfied her body’s needs. He’d envisioned her face flushed from pleasure, lips swollen from his kisses, and body humming with the aftermath of their play. It had promised to be a mutually enjoyable encounter.

That’s what ought to have happened.

He laughed at himself as he smoothed out the blanket she had left with him. Apparently, his spy had had a different agenda. Instead of seductive kisses from a practiced siren, he’d received a spirited bargaining session from a mischievous sprite. It had been, well, entertaining, to watch her try to outmaneuver him… until she’d actually outmaneuvered him.

She’d be back. Maybe he hadn’t gotten what he’d wanted from her, but neither had she received the information she’d sought. This had simply been her opening raid, in what likely would prove to be a longer battle. She would approach him again… if he didn’t find her first. Their next encounter would go more his way.

He eventually drifted back into sleep amidst plans for such an encounter.

“I really am moving like an old man this morning,” was his self-deprecating thought when he eventually hauled himself out of bed. It had been a late night, but he was used to late nights. This morning was… just a slow morning. That was all. He stretched, wincing at the familiar weight pressing on his chest and the ache in his joints, hoping that it didn’t herald a return to the cycle of illness and semi-recovery that had dogged the past few years. Perhaps he had simply moved wrong.

There was the sound of running feet outside, then a knock at the door.

“Yes?” He reached for his yukata then winced again as it fell to the floor, forcing him to bend to reach it.

“It’s Katsu.”

Alerted by a note of urgency in his messenger’s voice, Shingen said, “Enter.”

Katsu rushed in, skidded to a halt, blinked, and fixed his eyes on the wall behind Shingen. Shingen almost laughed at Katsu’s attempt at polite blindness, but he wouldn’t have rushed in without a good reason. Maybe that pretty spy had been found. He shrugged into the. “What is it? Did someone find her already?”

Katsu took a deep breath. He held out an arrow. “Someone just shot this over the wall at Mai.”

Damn it.

“Was she hurt?” Clearly, she hadn’t been seriously injured, or there were already be alarms clanging throughout Kasugayama. He took the arrow that Katsu was holding. No blood on it, so Mai was likely untouched. But the thought that someone wanted Mai dead… and the thought of what Kenshin would do…? His friend was not as broken these days. But much of that was due to Mai’s influence, and if something happened to her… Shingen didn’t want to contemplate the ensuing chain of events.

“No. Yoshimoto saved her life.” Katsu’s attention stayed firmly on the arrow. “We were on the back grounds, when it came over the wall. Yoshimoto pulled her out of the way and covered her with his body, and the arrow landed right where she had been standing. She refuses to tell Kenshin, but … Yoshimoto and I felt someone in authority needed to know.”

He had a feeling that Katsu and Yoshimoto had had to do some fast talking to get Mai to agree to even that. She tended to be oblivious sometimes to the danger of her position as Kenshin’s Lady.

He glanced down at the arrow his still had in his hands. Definitely not the type that his archers used, and not from the Kasugayama armory either. “This isn’t from the Kasugayama armory.”

Katsu pointed to the feathers on the shaft. “Sea eagle feathers are fairly easy to obtain around here, though.”

A good point, however, the arrowheads would have to be -

“I could go around to the blacksmiths in the area and see if anyone makes arrowheads like these,” Katsu echoed his thoughts.

It was a worthwhile plan. However, it could keep. “You can do that later.” He went to the desk for paper and a brush. “Can you draw?”

“Not at all.”

Shingen added that to his internal list of “things to teach Katsu.” He wasn’t much of an artist himself, but map making was a learnable skill. He sketched out a map of the archery grounds…. Perhaps only a semi learnable skill. Few people would look at that drawing and recognize the Kasugayama yard. “Show me where everyone was standing.”

Katsu joined him at the desk and drew little sticks with circles at the top – oh, was that supposed to be Yoshimoto (side squiggle to represent his queue) and Mai (long squiggles for hair) and Katsu (no squiggles)? He then added some circular squiggles above the wall. What were those? Trees?

Katsu had been correct. He could not draw at all. He took “teach Katsu to draw” off the mental list. Maybe Yoshimoto or Mai could make that attempt.

He leaned over Katsu and pointed to the odd squiggles. “The arrow came from there?”

Katsu’s posture was perfectly straight and still under his arm and his voice sounded uncharacteristically inflectionless. “Um. Around there, yeah. This one, probably.” He traced an invisible line across the ‘map’ toward the circle/sticks. “One of these trees had to be it. There’s a lot of cover – I climbed the wall, but he was gone when I got there. Or well hidden.”

Climbed the wall? Shingen glanced down at Katsu’s hands which had a broken nail, and a network of scrapes and scratches from the rough stones. He pictured Katsu scampering up the wall like a snow monkey, his face alive and intent upon solving another kind of puzzle. On the heels of that image came an unexpected surge of lust. He batted that thought away - he could not take advantage of Katsu’s trust in such a way.

His silence gone on too long - Katsu turned to look at him, his eyes curious, and suddenly conscious of his undressed state, Shingen stepped back and fastened his yukata. Absurd idea, he repeated to himself. It was simply residual feelings from last night’s unfinished encounter with the spy.

Katsu seemed to think his silence was indicative of disapproval. “I should have searched the woods. Now it’s too late. I’m sorry.” The tone was even more apologetic than the words.

“Don’t beat yourself up. I doubt he stuck around after that one shot. He was likely gone before you even got to the wall.” He patted Katsu on the shoulder, reminding himself that his role was of a mentor.

“I’ll go take a look around anyway,” Katsu said, clearly eager to get to work.

As Shingen ought to as well. This attempt on Mai was a far greater issue than either the search for an impish sprite or the unexpected attraction to his messenger. He followed Katsu “That’s a good idea – I’d like to do that as well, if you don’t mind showing me.”

Katsu gave him an odd look. “I don’t mind, but you might want to get dressed. Or at least put some outside sandals on.” It appeared that Katsu had already heard about the ground spike incident. The castle gossip network was nearly as efficient as his mitsumono.

“I’ll get Yoshimoto, since he might have seen something I didn’t, and meet you there.” Katsu practically flew out the door.

Shingen grabbed for the rest of his clothing. Outside there was a thump and a clatter that he ignored in favor dressing as quickly as his aching joints would allow.

Katsu and Yoshimoto seemed to be in agreement that the tree towering over the West side of the castle wall was the most likely source of the arrow. Glad that the short walk to the grounds had loosed up his stiff joints, Shingen knelt on the ground under the tree, even though the soft grass would not have retained any impression of the archer’s feet.

“Maybe we’ll be lucky and he snagged his clothing in the tree?” Katsu said.

Shingen looked over his shoulder to see Katsu prowling around the tree, and the next thing he knew, the young man was scrambling amongst the branches.

“Are you sure you didn’t steal that one from a troupe of acrobats?” Yoshimoto murmured.

Generally, it was best to ignore Yoshimoto when he slid into that too-bored-to-be-bothered by it tone, so Shingen let that go. “Katsu said we have you to thank for saving Mai’s life.”

Yoshimoto took out his fan, languidly waved it around. “Katsu yelled arrow, I grabbed Mai’s arm, Mai leaped to follow. One could say that all three of us had a part to play.”

“I’m pretty sure this is it. I can see the entire training field.” At the sound of Katsu’s voice he looked up to where Katsu was balanced on a thick branch that extended nearly to the top of the wall.

Because he trusted Katsu’s expertise in archery, Shingen asked, “How difficult would it be from where you are standing, to hit a moving target?”

“It’s doable. We weren’t moving around all that much. A heavier arrow, like the one we found, can travel further than where we were standing. I mean, it wouldn’t be the easiest, but any experienced archer could do it… Yoshimoto could you come up here and see if you agree?”

Yoshimoto was examining the painting on his fan. “No.”

His mental things-to-take-care-of list expanded to include, ‘do something about Yoshimoto.’ Something in the realm of finding his cousin a vocation beyond collecting pretty trinkets.

“You don’t think you could make that shot?” Katsu was still shading his eyes and looking toward the yard.

“Oh, I could probably make the shot. I could not, however, climb that tree.” Yoshimoto shuddered. “With the wind the way it was, though, do you think he was aiming for Mai, or you, or me?”

That was a question that Shingen had been pondering as well. Mai was the most obvious target of course, but perhaps Yoshimoto had angered someone, and who knew what sort of enemies Katsu had lurking in his past. However, there were easier ways to kill someone – maybe the archer didn’t care who he hit.

“Or he didn’t care which one of…” Katsu trailed off.

Again, Katsu was thinking along the same lines as Shingen. The shot may simply have been a message. “It’s possible it was meant as a threat to unsettle Ke- “

Katsu had let go of the trunk of the tree and was walking along the branch toward the castle wall, oblivious to the wind, and the way the branch dipped with his weight. “What the hell are you doing, Katsu?” The fool was going to get himself killed.

Then Katsu sprang up to grab a leaf from the branch above him, and Shingen felt his chest clutch in a way that had nothing to do with his illness.

“Damn. It’s just a leaf.”

Did he even realize how close he had come to falling? Maybe there was a tactical brain in there, but Katsu was missing a sense of self-preservation. “Get down from there!”

“Alright.” Katsu lowered himself to hang from the branch, then flung himself to the ground, flipping into a somersault at the bottom that made Shingen’s knees hurt in sympathy. There was that clutch in his chest again.

“Why cousin, you sounded practically paternal,” Yoshimoto said, as he fanned himself.

It might have sounded paternal, but it had felt… and whatever it was he felt drowned under a wave of anger at Katsu, who had no idea of the risk he had just taken.

“What were you saying?” he asked.

Startled into repeating the last thing he said, Shingen said, “Get down fr-“

“No, before that. Something about a threat?” Katsu wiped his hands on his kimono, seeming eager to get back to the puzzle. But Shingen couldn’t think about that at the moment. The image of Mai impaled on an arrow had been replaced by an image of Katsu splatting to the ground.

“I don’t recall. Your daredevil stunt knocked it right out of my head.” He raked his hands through his hair. “I thought you were going to fall to your death.”

“What? From that height?” Katsu looked back up at the tree, still blissfully unaware of the danger. “I didn’t, so-“

Had he ever been that young and brashly stupid? Surely not. Had even Yukimura’s teen years featured this sort of insane stunt? Shingen couldn’t remember.

“So…?” Yoshimoto prompted.

Katsu looked off in the distance, then shook his head. “It’s… I had a similar discussion with my brother on the last day that I saw him.”

So this headlong rushing into danger was part of Katsu’s personality. If that was the case, better to know now, before he wasted time training him. Katsu was clearly intelligent, but maybe he never would develop wisdom.

“If that is the case, then you ought to think long and hard before taking unnecessary risks with your life,” Shingen said. He couldn’t bring himself to say anything more. Instead, he headed back to the castle, away from the sight of a young man with all of his life ahead of him, and yet seemingly determined to waste it.

#tbt12 lies #ikemen sengoku #fanfiction #shingen takeda #ikesen shingen #throwback thursday #second helping #for turkey day #twelve lies i told shingen takeda

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hatredcurse · 1 year ago

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hana-akari | Sakura:

As much as Sakura missed her family, she didn’t seem to mind being trapped in the small room. Sasuke took care of her needs. There was a bathroom for her. But there was always that looming fear of whether or not Sasuke would grow tired of her. Not stop drinking from her when she tells him to. Just sucks her dry and dumps her body somewhere no one will find. The thought caused a cold shiver to roll up her spine every time. Sakura had grown to trust Sasuke over time. She’d like to think he wouldn’t just throw her away like trash. Though it couldn’t be ignored that she was but a weak human compared to him. Regardless of what he does, she will eventually die and the thought alone made her sad for some reason. Something inside her just didn’t want to leave his side. Like she had once before. Those dreams she keeps having about the two of them were getting more and more frequent and felt more and more real. She had to wonder if she knew him in a past life. Such a thought seemed so silly but as time went on, it started to feel all the more believable.

Curiously, she watched Sasuke fumble with the buckles that held the case close. Her lips parted to start making guesses but he cut her off quickly and revealed what was in the box before she could, “Well that’s not fun. You aren’t supposed to reveal what it is before I guess.” Sakura playfully huffed at him.

Sliding off the bed, her eyes widened at the sight of the two beautiful dresses presented before her. She gently reached out and plucked the sea foam dress from the box. Unfolding it, she held it against her body admiring it,

“This is so much nicer than the dress I had! This must have cost a fortune!” Sakura gasped, feeling the soft lace and the expensive fabric of the dress. It was completely amazing how he managed to get them the right size. She was a rather petite girl. Sakura doesn’t remember him ever measuring her. Was his eyes really that good that he could just judge her measurements? Perhaps it was a vampire thing. They were still a complete mystery to her. Sasuke kept things vague when discussing anything to do about vampires.

“Oh Sasuke, I love them! They’re so perfect! It’s so nice to have my own clothes again, rather than borrowing yours.” Not that she minded, just Sasuke’s clothes were huge on her. Having something of her own again was exciting.

“Wait here, let me put this on.”

She smiled excitedly, moving past Sasuke to the bathroom. It would have been too embarrassing to undress in front of him. Even if he’s already seen most of her body already. She wanted to keep some level of modesty.

Removing the shirt she had been wearing to cover herself, she pulled on the seafoam dress. It hugged her curves just right. She felt a bit like royalty. Sakura admired herself in the mirror wearing the dress. Her fingers brushed through her pink hair. Tidying it up to look good with the dress before she stepped out of the bathroom to present herself,

“Well? What do you think?” Sakura eagerly hoped that he liked the way she looked in the dress. Oddly enough, she wanted to look good for him. For him to find her attractive. She felt a bit silly about it.

The anxiety in Sasuke’s mind quelled at Sakura’s response. He secretly mourned the idea that Sakura would not enjoy the gift as much as he anticipated. Not that they were in poor taste nor in tailored with lackluster craftsmanship. Sasuke feared that a material gift could not possibly cover the service she has provided him.

It was a mental battle between right and wrongs here. The Uchiha, apex predators to primitive humans, kneeled to nothing and no one, and yet one of their many children fretted over a hunt. Sasuke should not find himself in debt to the Haruno nor should she expect anything more than servitude until her death day. But, proximity and the natural sympathies that sentient creatures harbored worked hard against the Uchiha in his vulnerable days, worming his non-beating heart from his chest to his sleeve.

“The money is nothing,” he said, immodestly. The Uchiha family was far beyond rich. Not considering that, spare coin can be found in feasts from rich victims.

“But—I’m glad you seem to like it.” A little unsure, given that confusing nature of aristocrats, but Sakura appeared elated with only just the two dresses that there was no mistake with her excitement.

Taking a seat on the bed the woman had previously risen, Sasuke fitted himself to the warmth left from her and allowed her the privacy of the other room. It was a pity that she could not present herself to fuller audience; one a more appropriate match for her enthusiasm. Sasuke felt that she was deserving of someone fit to be a companion of her. The source of this feeling unknown to him, as he has never experience such sentiments before for anyone else, not even himself. Especially not to a woman he could not, in right mind, consider anything more than finely-curated blood.

Preparing for his practiced shared vehemence, the vampire’s eyes locked on the woman’s, pupils growing wide. The door clicked open, revealing the Haruno in all her undeniable beauty. Her stature barely tall nor wide enough to fill the negative space in the doorframe with her elegance. A hard thrumming ring flushed his senses and visions of her, as suddenly his heart was in his throat. A heavy, resounding drum of blood pumping through all his veins in painful synchronicity.

Except— his flesh was barren of living blood and this human feeling was purely psychological. His body remained visibly still, mismatched eyes locked on her voluptuous features, as if he had the attention to ogle them. Within his mind, a succession of unfamiliar memories rushed through him scene-by-scene: a beautiful, pink-locked woman, her hands soft as flower petals locked in his rough ones. Her laughter unmistakable and joy contagious as she pulled him (or was it?) along a green spring edged by tall wild flowers. Scene cut— it was nighttime. The woman looked to him with those eyes searching to him for a response. His words were inaudible, the sound gouged from the world, replaced by humming cicada. Scene cut—

A cold, thick wetness poured over Sasuke’s thighs. When he came to his senses, he flicked his gaze downwards to notice his nails carving into his pants, through the threading, and into the skin. It was not obvious the blood beading at the serrated edges and he prayed to any God watching that Sakura did not notice either.

Clearing his throat, his flicked his tongue over his lips to grasp as a last minute compliment before his panic became obvious,” you look beautiful.” His subconscious knocked at the back of his head, as if it were saying forgetting something? “I’m glad that you like them. I was worried you’d find them rustic compared to what noble women favor these days.”

Forsaking his seated spot, Sasuke stood to join her, secretly wiping his hands against the short cloak on his shoulders. He was eager to leave this cold, vile feeling where he sat, as if he could walk of his skin as a new, unbothered person. For the first time, Sasuke held her with a gentleness; like a human. His hands sought her waist, cupping her thin figure at her handles (oh how he lamented his ill-preparedness to feed her properly). Fingertips wandered over the threading, drinking in the professionalism sewn into the seams and the way her body filled the shape as described. It incurred his hunger; both behind his teeth and from somewhere else— somewhere he elected to ignore.

“Would you like more like these or would you prefer something else next time?”

#Sasuke ic #Verse: For Whom the Bell Tolls (Vampire)

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iambilliejeanok · 3 years ago

Note

😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈

Billie Billie Billie hear me out,

I had a very hard time deciding what my wildest sexual shenanigan would be AND I think it is being gangbanged by the Uchiha fellas (Indra, Madara, Izuna, Obito, Shisui and Itachi - no Sasuke because he is such a son figure to me I just could not).

don't even know if you are still taking these requests but anyways let's pretend I am confessing at church not that I believe there's any value in it lmao

But just imagine all of them and their huge breeding kink, filling up all three holes of yours at once while they fight for dominance - Uchiha to me are very dominant, jealous and got that possessiveness of an alpha - and the privilege of filling up your pussy. Imagine how mixed up all the cum would be, you'd literally have no idea whose cum would be dripping out of you and later on being put inside of you again because it cannot go to waste. And if you get pregnant from the experience, because it would be almost impossible not to walk away with an Uchiha heir in your belly, what a nuisance, you could not even guess who is the child's father.

Lol I am done that's enough for a lifetime

😈COMING IN HOT AT NUMBER THREE.3😈

YES. This is what I like to see.

This is so good. The part about not knowing who’s cum is it is just 😩😮‍💨👌🏾. Wow. This is really sexy. Thank you so much @orochimaruscockslut💜

Oh and just so you know I might of twisted it a little because I got too horny in the middle of it…reader isn’t the only one squealing now😃😈😈😈😈😈😈😈

I’m sorry but I can’t write for Indra and Izuna. I tried to look them up but I still don’t really know anything about them so it would be very difficult for me to try express their personalities.

Warnings: 18+, gangbang, overstimulation , dacryphilia, breeding kink.

Image from Itachi Uchiha on Pinterest.

😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈😈

You could barely think,let alone remember how you ever even ended up in this situation. Your screaming was muffled by Itachi’s rock hard dick being shoved down your throat, you could barely breathe, Shisui who’s face you were sitting on, only worsening your situation. The pleasure was intense but manageable, Shisui bringing you to your second orgasm, your body jerking wildly as you squirted all over his face, his mouth vacuuming your sore nub and fingers inside of you still stimulating your g spot. It was unfair how Itachi would hold your face in his big hands, pushing himself deeper inside of you to cum down your throat, your thighs shivering as you drowned in the orgasm. The tears running down your cheeks was from the back to back orgasms, continuous stimulation and from chocking on Itachi’s impressive size. Itachi’s eyes rolled to back of his head, his hand keeping your nose firm on his pelvis, his balls pressing against your chin as he unleashed deep in your throat, your choking forcing the cum to blast out your nose💀💀💀(I’m sorry this part might of just destroyed the chemistry. I’m so dead rn omg.)

Anyways let’s get back into it😭💀

You were such a mess, your eyes red and teary, cheeks stained with tears and cum, drooling from Shisui still working on your sensitive pussy. You were half conscious, your mind empty with just these strong, beautiful men the only thing you could hear, see and breathe. Madara sat on a very comfortable, dark green, leather sofa in the living room they were fucking you in. His face showed no expression, simply watching Itachi and Shisui play with you, a big tent formed in his pants from a seeing your body shake, sweet cries still falling from your lips after Itachi pulled out of your mouth. Without Itachi’s support you fell forward, your arms barely catching you as you landed on them, Shisui still gripping on to your hips tight enough that despite your desperate attempts, you could not escape his torture. The pleasure went from feeling so intense and overwhelming to delicious and sweet as a third orgasm lined up for its turn. A hard smack landed on your ass, your clit feeling like it would explode as the next orgasm wrecked you. You’d never screamed this loud from just oral before, your frazzled state intensifying all the sensations you felt. The orgasm rippled through your body, pussy making such a mess all over Shisui’s face and neck. He was drenched and his dick was very hard. He loved this way too much to stop. Still eating you through this orgasm. You couldn’t find any words as you violently shook, full on crying, trying so hard to crawl away from him. “Aww you poor thing”, Obito teased, his voice deep from his arousal, siting on the couch next to Madara, patiently waiting his turn. To them you were their precious little play thing and they would use your body way past your limits, usually causing you to pass out every now and then. Tonight though you weren’t expecting any of them to be home. Not until tomorrow at least. So when they came in to find you reading one of your favourite books on the couch, Shisui immediately pounced on you, your muffled moans turning on all the men in the room, landing you in another intense situation. “Is Shisui making you feel so good baby?”, Obito asked, walking over to the three of you. Itachi cupped you chin in his hand, lifting you to look at him, a warm and damp towel gently wiping away the beautiful mess on your face, his Sharingan having long trapped you in a genjutsu so you could sit still for a good minute until he was done cleaning your face. He made sure you would experience the same pleasure in the genjutsu since you hadn’t earned your break yet. They were just all so merciless. “There you go beautiful”, he said, backing up to give Obito a turn, releasing you from the genjutsu and back to this intense reality. “Shisui. Enough”, Obito called, but Shisui was having way too much fun drowning in your juices. Obito practically ripped you off of him, peeling Shisui’s hands off of you in the process. Shisui growled, coming up to kneel on knee, his face and t shirt completely drenched. Itachi threw him a towel, heading to the bathroom to go and get more. “Wipe that grin off your face”, he said before disappearing around the corner. Shisui stood up, peeling his shirt off and working on cleaning your intoxicating juices off of him. “My sweet angel”, Obito cooed, carrying you to the large, dark green chaise. Madara stripping his clothes off to join Obito.

The comfort didn’t last too long, Obito gently placing you on the couch, your chest still heaving as you tried to catch your breath. Madara wanted to eat you out so bad, the view of Shisui laying under you making his mouth water. “Obito. Take her from the back. I want to taste her too”, he said, Obito pulling you on top of him as he sat on the chaise. “Alright. Just give me a minute”, he replied. He needed a ton of lube to enter you from the back so he formed a plan. Your back was turned towards his as he adjusted you to sit on his dick, rubbing it along your slippery pussy to get it as wet as possible, unintentionally stimulating you. You moaned out but he ignored you, you were still coming down from your previous orgasm so he assumed that’s why you whimpered as he got himself nice and wet in you juices, ready to penetrate your tight ass. You loved having both of them at the same time, even though you’d cry pretty quick from how deep and intense it was, the excitement making you even more wet. Obito immediately pushed the tip in, forcing a loud cry to part your lips. As Obito pushed himself deeper into you your hands landed on his thighs, only your toes managing to touch floor as your legs struggled to keep you up with Obito pulling you further down on him. The sexiest whimpers and whines left your mouth, trying to slow him down as you were having a particularly hard time managing his size. Of course this wasn’t the first time Obito fucked you like this, but the first few strokes were usually always the hardest for you, the stretch a little painful every time. Madara came around to your front, cupping your clean and warm cheek, his big hand taking up the entire side of your face. “You got it sweetheart”, he spoke, encouraging you to take more, but for some reason, tonight you couldn’t, whimpering even louder as Obito pushed deeper and deeper. How was he not all the way in yet. You felt the burn from his stretch. Growing a little impatient Madara placed a hand on you hip, helping Obito push further into you. You tried pushing Madara away. “Madara I need some time please”, you begged, your voice a little raspy and soft from screaming so much. Madara gave you that look that made you regret even opening your mouth. “Sweetheart. Sit down. All the way. Now”, he commanded. You didn’t know what he’d do if you didn’t immediately do what he told you, but you didn’t want to find out so you shut your eyes and let the handsome man behind you sink further into your tight hole. Obito had been softly groaning into your neck, enjoying the way you gripped around him. He was happy to be inside of you right now, placing gentle kisses on your neck as you moaned and cried in Madara’s face.

“There you go, good girl”, Madara praised, backing up to let Obito get comfortable on the chaise with you, Obito moving into a position that would work for Madara to eat you out. Itachi walked back into the room with some extra towels. Just in case anyone need them. As sexy as it was to look at you covered in their cum they still preferred to clean you up before the next person had their turn. Obito moved as close to the corner as possible spreading your legs wide for Madara to devour you while he’d easily bounce you on his cock. Shisui and Itachi came to watch, Shisui’s hand gripping your breasts to pinch your nipples while Itachi gave you soft head pats, both men’s eyes zeroed in on how Madara worked his tongue on your sweet pussy. He swirled your nicely swollen clit around his tongue, before dipping it into your puss, dragging it back up, repeating that in the slowest, most cruel way. Obito slowly bounced you on him, adjusting his hand so they were further down your thighs closer to your ass so he could get a better grip. Itachi and Shisui helping keep your legs pinned open for Madara. This teamwork would be the death of you. And it was sure as hell making the dream work, your eyes shut tight as loud and ragged moans lefts your open mouth, trying so hard to take Madara’s warm tongue, so strong yet gentle against your clit and inside of you, while Obito slowly sunk all the way into you before lifting you halfway up and pushing into you again. “Fuck your so fucking tight baby”, Obito groaned, the room filled with your loud cries, Obitoe’s low moans, Madara’s teasing moans and Itachi and Shisui’s praises. Obito began to pick up the pace, now desperate to cum inside of you, Madara following suite as he kept repeating the same actions, just faster and a little more rougher. The pleasure had quickly escalated from sweet and delicious to cruel and intense. The orgasm quickly creeping up on you, making you want to bury your hand in your lovers thick hair as you watched him work your pussy, his eyes never leaving yours, excitedly watching you reach your orgasm. You thighs shook in Itachi and Shisui’s hands, both men having to focus on keeping your legs open now, your toes painfully curling as you began jerking your hips. Obito had to hold you down, the orgasm quickly creeping up on you and making you extra tight forcing him to just bury himself deep inside of you and hold you down so he wouldn’t hurt you. You tightened around him so hard that all he could manage was focussing on not cumming. And that meant shutting his eyes so he could concentrate, but your high pitched screams were dismally failing him. He definitely wasn’t going to last throughout your orgasm at this point. To his surprise Madara dipped his fingers inside of you, roughly fingering you while softly sucking on your clit, your pussy starting to squirt everywhere as your orgasm came crashing down. It took an effort from everyone to keep you in place as you violently shook, the orgasm completely possessing you. You couldn’t sense anything around you. It was just you versus the intense pleasure you felt right now. Everything was just pleasure right now. That was your world and existence in this moment.

Madara finally pulled his fingers out of you, now softly sucking on your clit until you’d calm down, Obitos moans growing much louder behind you, your rectum milking him so hard his thighs were shivering a little. Quickly Madara stood up and pushed you back, Obito behind you also falling back in the chaise, his hands gripping so hard into you to brace himself for his coming orgasm, a loud cry that certainly didn’t come from you filled the room, everyone except you looking over at Obito. The man was practically squealing at this point, his thighs shivering like yours as he came so hard inside of you, filling you up with his hot cum, his moans only growing louder with every passing second, Itachi and Shisui were so confused. Obito was usually able to handle his orgasms way better than this. First Shisui looked down, a husky “ah fuck” coming from his lips, making Itachi look down to see what he was seeing. Madara was still peacefully devouring you, but his middle and index finger were far up Obito’s ass, roughly fingering the tight hole all lubed up with your juices forcing Obito to nearly scream out. The stimulation in his ass incredible, nevermind how your tight ass was milking so fucking good. Obito couldn’t see what was going on but he loved it, the overstimulation forcing him to shut his legs, but Shisui and Itachi didn’t allow that. You and Obito moaning and whimpering like the sexiest little sluts. Obito couldn’t take it any more “Madara!”, he barely managed to growl, Madara still mercilessly overstimulating the two of you. Obito was now crying like you, Madara’s other hand now fondling Obito’s balls while he still worked his tongue on you, shoving it in and out of you and sucking your clit all at once. Thankfully Shisui saved the two of you, his hand grabbing a fistful of Madara’s hair and yanking him off of the two you. Gently pulling you off of Obito to carry you in his arms, the cum inside of you dripping out as Shisui handled you. Itachi was genuinely surprised to see you hadn’t past out yet and just when you thought you were safe you cried out at the sudden intrusion in between your legs, Shisui’s pretty black eyes piercing yours as he roughly sunk into you, Itachi coming in behind you. When Shisui pulled out Itachi sunk further in, the two able to establish that rhythm as they fucked into you a little slow but hard. “P-pl-p nghuuhhh!!!!”, you babbled, unable to form words and only able to scream. Shisui held you up like this, trapped you so your movement was restricted, Itachi pulling your legs to rest on Shisui’s shoulders so you couldn’t even squirm away as the two gorgeous men fucked you so hard. Your hand buried itself into Shisui’s thick, black hair, trying to anchor yourself as the two men brought you to orgasm. “I know baby I know. It feels too good for you huh? You like how deep were fucking you right? Fuck you feel so good, I’m gonna fuck this little pussy of mine and fill you up with my cum”, he rambled, admiring how cute you were like this. He fell in love with you again, watching you barely manage to stay conscious. “You’re beautiful with all your holes stuffed baby. Why don’t you go ahead cum for us love”, Itachi spoke into your ear. They’re were hitting you so deep you couldn’t help but make another mess, drool falling from your plump lips, and your eyes rolling to a point where they hurt, your vision becoming starry before you passed out, your body still reacting even though you were long gone. Not after you came, Itachi came too, Shisui after, filling you with their cum. “My turn”, Madara spoke, loud and clear, directed towards Shisui. He took you from them, your body completely for him now. Even though you’d already passed out that never stopped any of these men from fucking fucking you back to consciousness. Madara pushed the cum dripping out of you right back in, fucking you on the soft leather couch. All these men couldn’t get enough of you. You were their little fuck toy and they would used you as often as they wanted.

#madara x y/n #madara x you #madara smut #madara x reader #madara uchiha #madara imagine #obito x y/n #obito smut #obito x reader #obito imagine #shisui x reader #shisui x y/n #shisui smut #shisui x you #shisui imagines #itachi smut #itachi imagines #itachi x reader

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bmo-galaxy · 3 years ago

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Okay but what if they kissed?

But just imagine that Naruto and Sasuke kiss at the end. An honest to god, square on the lips, absolutely intentional kiss. A kiss they choose, a kiss on purpose, a kiss that isn't comic relief or shock value. A kiss to explain what drove Naruto forward all these years. The kind of kiss that shows that even now, even after it all, they choose each other and came back to each other and never, ever forgot. A kiss that’s a promise and a fresh start.

Just imagine, if you will, for a moment that Sasuke tells him to shut up and Naruto peels himself from the rock, turning with fire in those blue eyes. The same way they burn before a fight, prepared and focused. Those blue eyes have always been Sasuke’s undoing, reflecting only the earnest truth. Every one of Naruto’s emotions is broadcast in those vast oceans. A strong, steady hand shoots out to fist in Sasuke’s shirt and raven is sure he's about to get headbutted again. Naruto wretches him up and leans real close and Sasuke is waiting for the crack and the pain. A pain that never comes.

The kiss isn't soft or sweet or sentimental. Its all sharp edges and teeth and desperation. A peak into Naruto’s soul, a glimpse at his pain, a taste of his anger. Just as quickly as it starts, the kiss is over. Naruto pulls away with a gasp, sapphire eyes fluttering open. All the fierceness and fury deflates from Naruto and the blonde’s shoulders sag. His fist is still gripping Sasuke’s shirt, but it loosens until it sits flat against the Uchiha’s chest, right over his heart. Eyes falling closed, Naruto basks in the steady beat against his palm. You’re alive, you’re alive, you’re alive and you’re here.

"You have no idea how long I've waited to do that," Naruto admits this in a husky whisper before he can stop himself. Disbelief colors his tone and the blonde shakes his head like he can't believe this is happening. “This is like a dream,” he continues, still quiet and heartfelt. A part of the blonde is embarrassed and wishes he would shut up, but Naruto is just too tired. Mind, body, soul; every bit of him is exhausted, but more than anything, Naruto is weak with relief. Leaving his tongue loose and his inhibitions lowered.

Sasuke struggles for words, struggles to breathe, struggles to understand. Where was the strike, the anger, the hatred for everything Sasuke has done? Why does Naruto look so fucking happy? Bloodied, mangled, black and blue and beaten. Sasuke will never apologize for his actions, standing by hatred for the Leaf and his dedication to his late brother. Naruto, though...

Naruto, who followed him to the ends of the earth. Naruto, who never gave up on him, even when everyone around him did. Naruto, who stood up to him over and over, proudly proclaiming to be his friend every single time. Naruto, who was prepared to lose his dream, his home, his life; and was prepared to do so smiling, just happy to have a future with Sasuke.

Why, Naruto? Sasuke implores silently, watching happy tears streak down the blonde’s cheeks. Why, why, why, why--

"Why?" Is all that Sasuke can think and all he can get past his lips. The one great mystery: why would someone like Naruto, now surrounded by love and praise, chase after Sasuke so relentlessly, the one person determined to cut their ties entirely? Naruto looks up at him with sparkling, vast blue eyes that don't hide anything. A clear, cloudless sky. Every corner of Naruto is laid bare in front of Sasuke, who resists the urge to turn away. Those damn blue eyes have always been Sasuke’s undoing, the one thing consistently able to shakes Sasuke’s resolve and fill him with yearning.

"Don't make me repeat myself, you know why," Naruto chuckles, bashful and blushing now. He scratches his cheek and glances away. "I figure that made it pretty obvious."

Sasuke almost smiles, almost relents his intense stare, because he does know. Far as he tried to run from the truth, he does know why Naruto did all of that. Just like he knows why he was never truly able to sever their connection. Sasuke needs to hear it though, needs to hear the truth he's known for years and years. Why would Naruto do any of it other than-- than-- than--

"Why, Naruto?" And the blonde can tell that the raven is asking about much more than the kiss. Sasuke is asking about everything and Naruto only has one answer for that question. Naruto’s flush darkens, the anticipation and passion and intensity in Sasuke’s gaze is setting the blonde on fire. A wild, uncontainable hope flares in the fox’s chest, seeing all of his own desires reflected in Sasuke’s eyes.

And Naruto would swallow thickly and say the three words he's always held in his heart, always believed in, always protected against anything.

"I love you," Naruto whispers and Sasuke’s heart stops, time stops, everything stops. There’s only Naruto and his burning sapphire eyes. "I love you, Sasuke. That’s why. That’s-- That’s always been why."

It’s the answer Sasuke expects and knows is coming but somehow still knocks the breath from the raven. There it is, the undeniable truth neither had ever uttered out loud. The truth Sasuke hid from. The truth Naruto never let disappear. Against all odds and by some miracle, Naruto loves him.

Naruto loves me, Naruto loves me, Naruto loves me.

"I love you," Sasuke says like a prayer, whispered on the edge of his breath. Uttering the confession makes him feel faintly lightheaded and a breathless chuckle slips from his lips. "I'm sorry it took so long."

Naruto laughs, high and clear and beautiful. A pure sound that kisses Sasuke’s ears and soothes his soul. For a second, in this moment, everything feels alright. Naruto punches his shoulder gently, a fond and affection gesture that’s nothing like the blows they traded an hour ago.

“I really must have rocked your shit for you to be apologizing to me,” the orange ninja teases, smiling brightly. Sasuke rolls his eyes at the comment, shaking his head slowly. Everything is different but nothing has changed. This is still comfortable, familiar, soothing. As if no time has passed at all.

“I’ll make one exception, don’t get used to it,” he needles back. Naruto copies his eyeroll and fights down a giggle. There’s a beat of silence, a moment to bask in the glow. Everything they need is here and even though wounds ache, neither is rushing to locate their comrades. They’ll find us eventually, they both think silently, content to enjoy their moment alone. Naruto scoots a little nearer and Sasuke leans a little closer. One shaking, hesitant arm reaches out to wrap around Sasuke’s waist. The raven haired nin stills initially, survival instinct telling him to run run run before he gets hurt, or overtaken, or killed.

Naruto doesn't hurt him though. Despite everything, in spite of everything, Naruto never hurts Sasuke. Naruto is safe, gentle warmth. Even his heaviest blows somehow felt like a fond caress. Naruto is just good, plain and simple. So, the raven relaxes into the embrace and wraps his arm around Naruto too. The embrace is awkward and sticky, both are covered in grime and sweat and blood, but they don't care. Trembling fingers cling desperately. Tear streaked faces press into necks and shoulders. Their last and first embrace, a new dawn breaking over them. Naruto’s mouth finds Sasuke’s ear and the blonde’s voice warms and deepens with all of his love and gratitude and relief.

"Welcome home, Sasuke."

A sob rises, rises, rises in Sasuke’s chest but he swallows hard to keep it down. It’s easy to remember the last person to say those words to him, easy to imagine his mother in the kitchen as he leaves for school. Everything has been darkness from that day, broken up by brief, startling moments of light. Moments with Naruto, working as a three man team and growing together. The dawn has broken and the warmth of Naruto’s sun is a beacon in the shadows, a breath of hope and fresh air after a long winter underground.

"I'm home," Sasuke replies because it’s true. Naruto is home. Not his first one, but certainly his last.

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ikeromantic · 3 years ago

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Delicious (NSFW edition)

A Mitsuhide Akechi fanfiction taking place at the end of Ch. 13 in the romantic route. Approx. 1700 words of Fluff and Spice! Some spoilers maybe?

First: Mitsuhide and the Maiden

Previous: Tears of Joy

There were three things in this world Mitsuhide enjoyed above all else. One of them was a hot bath, and one of them was teasing his little mouse. To have both in one place at the same time was decadent.

Right this moment, his little one was sinking into the hot water, her expression one of pure pleasure. Her eyes were closed, her lips parted, cheeks faintly pink. A sheen of sweat covered her brow from the steam. She looked . . . delicious.

Of course, she chose the moment he licked his lips to open her eyes. “Mitsuhide! You - you’re staring at me!” She crossed her arms over her chest.

“Little one, I’ve seen you naked several times now. Why are you suddenly shy?”

“I - you - I feel like a real mouse about to be eaten up by a very happy cat.”

“Kitsune,” Mitsuhide corrected.

She blinked. “What?”

“About to be eaten by a very happy kitsune.”

She giggled. “Yes, I guess that.”

“You have such a beautiful smile, my love.” He watched her expression shift from laughter to charmed surprise.

“I don’t know what to say when you say things like that.” She touched her face, where the bruise still discolored her skin. “Especially right now.”

Mitsuhide shook his head. “Silly little mouse. As if such a fading mark makes you any less.” He shrugged off his clothes and let them pool at his feet.

Whatever she had been about to say was reduced to a sharp exhale at his sudden nudity. Her eyes went wide as she tried to fix her gaze on a point somewhere above his chest.

“Is there something wrong?”

“N-no! No, of course not! You’re. Just. Naked. All the way. Naked.” She swallowed.

Mitsuhide grinned. “I did plan to bathe with you this time . . .” He *might* have posed himself to best display his . . . attributes. “Should I wait until you finish instead?”

She licked her lips and shook her head. “I - you - just get in and quit teasing me!”

“What fun would that be, little mouse?” He couldn’t remember the last time he’d smiled so wide his cheeks hurt. Perhaps never. He walked slowly to the edge of the tub, using his dancer’s grace to draw out the movement. It was worth every second to see the stain on her cheeks darken and the desire in her eyes grow.

He stepped into the wooden tub and sank down into the hot water. A little groan of pleasure escaped him as he felt the tension melt from his legs and back. “If there is a heaven, little mouse, this is in it.”

She smiled. “I wish I could introduce you to the baths in my time. And hot showers!”

“Mmm, perhaps one day. Your friend seemed to think these . . . warm-holes? Will come again.”

“Sasuke did say as much. I don’t know how sure he is though. I mean, what if we went to my time and got stuck? Or what if I went but it wouldn’t take you?” She chewed at her lip, anxious over all the possible things that could go wrong on such a trip.

It was too adorable, Mitsuhide thought, and put his arm around her. He pulled her next to him and placed a kiss on her head. “Don’t worry about things that are not problems. We have enough ahead of us.”

His little one laughed softly. “True enough. I’m sure Nobunaga and Hideyoshi will have plenty to say when we get home.”

“Yes, those two for certain. But I don’t want to talk about them tonight. Tonight . . . there is only you, and I.” Mitsuhide ran his hand down her back, glorying in her soft skin, and the way she leaned into his touch.

“Oh? Are we going to talk about us?” She batted her eyelashes at him.

He nodded. “We will. But first-” He settled his hands on her hips and lifted her around to sit in front of him. “Let’s enjoy our bath.” He cupped water in his hands and poured it over her hair, running his fingers through it. “I will start with the top of you, and work all the way to the bottom.”

She looked at him over her shoulder, smiling her little, wicked smile. “The bottom, hm?” And then she wiggled against him.

Mitsuhide couldn’t have held back the groan that burst from his lips, or the sharp intake of breath that followed. He’d been hard when he got into the bath, but now he felt as if he might burst. The sensation of her naked skin rubbing his cock was like fuel to his flame. And she knew it. She was smiling more widely now, fully aware of the effect she had on him.

“Oh . . . little one . . . you will pay for that,” he breathed.

“Looking forward to it,” she replied, spoiling the bravado a bit by swallowing nervously after.

Though it was sheer torment to keep her pressed against him, Mitsuhide held her there as he first rinsed her hair. Then he rubbed her skin with fragrant herbs, gently removing the dust of their travel.

It was hard enough to wash her back, but when he turned her around, she used the moment to wrap her legs around his waist. Positioning herself deliciously atop his erection. He ached to be inside her, and wondered if his little mouse had any idea how much self control it took him not to simply . . .

She was laughing softly. Her eyes were merry and her smile was brilliant.

“Wicked little mouse. If I were any other man -” he growled low in his throat, letting his frustration show.

She leaned forward until her nipples brushed the skin of his chest. “Mitsuhide. I want you. You don’t need to hold back with me.”

And then he was kissing her. It wasn’t what he’d planned. Wasn’t the seduction he’d wanted to perform, but gods . . . she tasted so sweet. And she felt like silk. Her slick, warm fingers stroked his chest, his hip. Curled around his shaft. He thought he would die from the pleasure of it as she slid her hand slowly up, and then down again. His body shuddered against her.

Two could play at that though. If she wanted to bring him to the brink . . . He grabbed her breast in one hand, teasing the nipple with his fingers. His other hand slid down between her legs. He could feel how much she wanted him just by the heat from her.

The sound she made when he stroked her sweet pearl was half-gasp, half moan. He smiled, watching the way she trembled as he slid the pad of his thumb over her cleft again. Not that it helped his own situation. Touching her was torture. Like the sound of dripping water when you were mad with thirst.

She gave a raw cry of pleasure as he slipped his fingers inside of her, clenching tight on him as if she would hold him there. “M-my god . . . M-mitsu . . . hide - I - I -”

He might have said something then, taunted her a little, but she stroked him again, and whatever words he had were lost. He wanted to bury himself in her, to make her cry his name until she was hoarse from it. His fingers slid into her again and again, but it wasn’t enough for either of them.

Gasping, he moved his hands to her hips and pulled her into position atop him.

“Ah-haha,” she gave a panting laugh. “Y-you d-didn’t beg me. Yet.” And then his little mouse - no! His little vixen - rubbed his cock between her legs, pressing him tight enough that he could feel her clench as if to pull him inside. She moaned as his shaft rubbed the hard pebble of her clit.

It was enough to drive him mad. This game she was playing . . . she wanted him to beg. Then for her, he would. “Please.” The word purred from his throat. “Please . . .” Low and hoarse and desperate.

She rose up, and then sank down onto his shaft. Her body shuddered and she let out a piercing cry of pleasure that went higher the deeper he went.

Mitsuhide was a proud man. He would have liked to draw this first time out - to ride her to completion several times before he found his own satisfaction. But the feel of her climaxing against him, the sound of her, the sight of her breasts . . . it was too much. After months of teasing himself with her, and taking no other woman to his bed, he couldn’t hold back.

“I love you,” she gasped, her hips rising and falling as she rode him.

He pulled her down to his lips, kissing her until their tremors subsided. “I love you too, little one,” he said when he could speak again. He felt so relaxed that he didn’t want to move. Not an inch. He liked having her perched on him, impaled. Her naked breasts floating in the hot water, brushing his chest. Her cheeks flushed. Her eyes on him, and only him.

“We waited way too long for this. Just. Mmmmm . . .” She smiled.

Mitsuhide stroked her cheek. “I wanted to wait. I wanted to be sure that . . . that you wanted this. Me.”

She shook her head. “You have no idea how sure I am.”

“I think I might,” he smiled. Then his expression turned serious. “When we get back to Azuchi, I plan to ask Nobunaga for the right to marry you. I will make you my wife. Officially. In name and title . . . if . . . if you are willing.”

“Are you asking me to marry you, Mitsuhide Akechi?” She wiggled her hips, which made him gasp involuntarily.

“I am.”

“Then yes. If you promise me we’ll make love like this every night.”

Mitsuhide kissed the tip of her nose. “I can’t promise you that.”

“What? Why not?”

He grinned. “Because I plan to make love to you in a thousand inventive ways. I plan to tease you until you beg for release. To pleasure you as an art form. One that I will master. This . . . tonight . . . this was only a beginning.”

“Mmmm, I think our beginning isn’t quite over,” she smiled. And she was right. He was ready for her again.

That night he began an intense study of this new art form. After the bath, they moved to the bench, then the desk and the wall, and finally . . .the futon. Spent, they fell asleep in each other’s arms just as the light of morning began to peek through the window. It wasn’t near enough to wake the exhausted lovers.

Next: Hero's Welcome

#ikemen sengoku #ikesen mitsuhide #mitsuhide akechi #otome guys #otome #fanfiction #fanfic #smut and fluff

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sassysaku · 3 years ago

Text

sasuke sighed and turned to look at their apartment. yes, after the fight against isshiki with naruto and his son, boruto, then later joined by kawaki, they were able to return home. but unfortunately, they also lost two of their most important things that helped them throughout the battle and also their earlier fights.

him, his famed rinnegan.

and naruto’s beloved fox, kurama.

without their powers, they didn’t know if they were still capable of protecting their beloved konoha. especially sasuke, since he had pledged to himself and his village that he would protect it even at the cost of his own life. just like his brother, itachi had done once.

while his thoughts were wandering, he failed to notice Sakura’s chakra.

“a-anata?” she asked him bewildered.

he suddenly looked to the direction of his wife’s voice and there she was, standing a few feet away from him. the wind blew his hair and when his wife saw his left eye, or rather the lack of it, with dried blood, she quickly rushed to him and started fussing over it.

“what happened to it?” although she had an idea what it was, she still asked. she tried not to show any worries but deep inside, she was anxious even though her husband had fought against another otsutsuki before.

“momoshiki manifested in boruto’s body.” he simply stated while looking down at her. he knew that she was trying to keep herself calm but as usual, her green eyes said otherwise.

“he… he did that,” although she wasn’t pertaining to boruto himself, she was still worrying that it might happen again and they wouldn’t be able to stop him. A frown suddenly appeared on her forehead. “you should be heading to the hospital.”

“tch, you know how I hated to stay there.” he retorted.

“but…” she stopped herself and sighed, already knowing her husband’s disdain for hospitals. “alright, I’ll heal you then. let’s go home.”

but before she could even turn, he suddenly grabbed her wrist and pulled her into a tight hug.

sakura went still for a moment. it wasn’t often that her husband showed his soft side to her. and to think that they were still outside their house made her blush because there was a faint possibility that some people may have noticed them.

“s-sasuke-kun?”

“I’m home."

she couldn’t help but smile at his words so, she also wrapped her arms around his body, keeping in mind his injuries.

“are you still in pain?” she asked him softly.

“ah, but I can manage."

she looked at him skeptically. “are you sure?”

He gazed down at her for a while before answering, “hn.”

“can we… go home now? you know, there might be someone looking at us right now and-”

he poked her forehead with his two fingers, much to her surprise and gave her a rare warm smile he only gave to his family.

“ah.”

she hadn’t recovered yet for what he did earlier and to add to her surprise, he held her hand in his own large and calloused hand while heading towards their apartment.

she couldn’t see his face but she could clearly see the blush on his ears. and with that, she suppressed a shy smile of her own.

end.

(a/n : because i was watching ep. 218 again and wanted to write something before the next episode is aired.)

#sasusaku #SasuSaku #boruto naruto next generations #because i felt like it #just because...

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aerialflight · 3 years ago

Text

Fic Rec (it's been too long and I read a whole lot of fics)

I've read so many fics these past couple of months and my need to share them to the world has seized me by the throat. Please enjoy and support these fanfic writers! They are the best. XD

[Naruto]

Nine-Tailed Foxes are Dead by RowlettLesbian

Ship: Shikamaru/Naruto

For Konoha, it's been one month since the preliminary Chunin exams. For Naruto, it's been six. And he wasn't in Konoha.

At the end of his ordeal, Naruto walks into the Chunin Exam finals without his left arm.

Shikamaru is very concerned. And, eventually, very precious to Naruto as they work together to solve the mysteries of Konoha and bring kindness to the Shinobi world, one adventure at a time.

(I would die for this fic. I know the summary sounds doom and gloom but IT'S NOT. This fic made me fucking cry, I don't think I've ever read a fic that characterized Naruto so right. He's so full of hope and love and develops into the best version of himself and I'm so HERE FOR IT. And it's not just Naruto, Shikamaru is absolutely amazing here along with Kakashi and surprise surprise Ino, I can't BELIEVE it took me this long to stumble across this fic. Also THE WORLDBUILDING IS TO DIE FOR!!! And the plot! Is! So! Interesting! Just, everything about this fic is just amazing so please PLEASE read this!!!)

The End of the Uchiha by RowlettLesbian

Ship: Naruto/Sasuke

“I promise, little electric spirit of this shrine,” he whispered into the soft dirt and fallen leaves, “I will never gain the eyes. I will never pass them on. And I will make sure the eyes end in my brother, so that they can’t hurt anybody anymore. I will be the last Uchiha, and see to the end of the Copy-Wheel Clan. Then all of the hatred here can stop, and my family can rest peacefully. I promise, little shrine.”

Sasuke is more than his brother thinks he is. He's more than any Uchiha has ever been. He will kill his brother, but it will not be vengeance.

It will be mercy.

(Same author as the one above, they are the gift that keeps on giving. Seriously, HOW did I NEVER FIND THESE FICS before now??? One of life's greatest mysteries. The author's sense of humor is so on point here along with the atmospheric writing that's so vivid in the mind. Their writing style is so recognizable to me now and makes me fall into the world they're creating, it's stunning. Sasuke here makes me want to hug him and the idea of him living like a feral ghibli character has me LIVING. Check the tags of the fic, all of it is true, hand to god. Please give all of the author's fics a shot, it's a rabbit hole I'm thankful I fell into!)

mil fantasmas (gritan en calma) by LegaciesandMemories

Post-Tsukuyomi, something in Uchiha Sasuke's mind shatters. The same night, Yamanaka Ino falls asleep and doesn't wake up for 15 days.

---

In which Ino and Sasuke both wake from the aftermath of the Uchiha Massacre with the ability to see ghosts, and no one is prepared for the fallout.

(This fic has arrested my curiosity and eagerness to know what will happen next. These poor kids need so many hugs and Ino is getting the spotlight she deserves. I am so excited for this fic and what it has in store! Please read! XD)

Lichtenberg Figures by Asteroid_Duck (JustThatOneGirl1815)

Name: Kakashi Hatake Rank: Jounin Status: Missing Nin Missing Since: June 15th, 271 AD Note: Flee on Sight . . . Haburashi looked his team in the eyes— three, fresh out of the Academy genin— and resolved to teach them as best as he could. And right now, his lesson was simple: “Stay. Away. From. Kakashi. Hatake.”

(Dimension travel fic with a slice of Kakashi being an absolute troll and dealing with the shitty hand he's been dealt with. Seriously, the man has the worst luck in all of Konoha. Also, the mystery of the other Kakashi's history has me leaning by the edge of my seat, I need to know.)

The Governess by Ysmirel

Ship: Kakashi/OFC

"“What,” he finally asked, “is so funny?”

Ibara bit her lower lip to keep the chuckles in, still smiling and making absolutely no effort to get more space between them, seemingly perfectly at ease within reach of a trained shinobi. Her self-control wasn't all that good, as she ended up snorting and was overcame once again by another fit of laughter. “I just- It's just-” She struggled to speak, trying to catch her breath and wiping away tears of mirth with the hand that wasn't still holding onto his vest. Finally, she looked him in the eye and said, with a smile that was all teeth and without a hint of her previous drunken stupor, “and who's going to believe you?”

As he stood there, stunned by her words and change in demeanor, he realized with dawning horror that she was right."

In which Kakashi finds himself at the other end of the troll shtick, and he doesn't appreciate it all that much.

(It's so hard to find self-insert fics with a fresh concept these days, especially in the naruto fandom. Not that I don't enjoy and devour a lot of self insert fics like it's going out of style, but it's just so nice to find something new and shiny and really damn good. I'm so pumped for this fic and how it's going to develop so please join me in rooting for this fic!)

half a league (until the valley of death) by SpectersShadow117

Kakashi can think of no reason for Sasuke's inexplicable and drastic change in behavior. He doesn't like the desperate, haunted gleam in his student's eyes, and he also doesn't like the nagging feeling that he's missing something very important. Aka: Future Sasuke goes to Past Sasuke and gives him a reality check with Specific Intentions, but as with most Uchiha, his methods leave much to be desired. (Featuring: Childhood trauma FTW, Konoha's shitty care of orphans, and absolutely no one having a fun time.)

(Sasuke wanting to change the future out of complete and utter spite has me LIVING. Sasuke is such a Mess here and the twist on the time travel premise is so good and the kid is so Traumatized and Desperate and Not Having A Good Time. Naruto and Sakura developing as better ninjas and Kakashi trying his best makes me want to scream. Also, how Sasuke thinks about Itachi makes me want to cackle. I am 100% down for this. I am rooting for this kid, go get them! XD)

[Harry Potter]

fruit loops in time (circle around me) by justprompts

Ships: Harry/Draco, Remus/Sirius

"This is Crabbe, and Goyle," the blonde boy says, pointing at the two boys next to him. "And I'm Malfoy, Draco Ma - "

Ron laughs, and Malfoy immediately bristles.

"Think my name's funny, do you?" Malfoy says, angrily. "No need to ask yours - "

"You're honestly so cute," Ron interrupts, yet again, shaking his head. "So tiny. And so angry, all the time. It's adorable."

Alternatively Ron Weasley, Time Traveller Extraordinaire, is stuck in the same seven year Hogwarts Loop, repeating the same thing over and over again. Naturally, he's so done with everything.

(This is the greatest hp fic I've ever read. I LOVE RON WEASLEY and by the time you read this fic SO WILL YOU!! This is the fic I WISH I have the ability to write. I read this entire fic aloud to my brother and we spent literal hours howling and talking about how utterly insane and incredible this fic is, it's amazing. This is hands down my favorite Ron Weasley. You Can Pry This Fic From My Cold Dead Fingers.)

[Boku no Hero Academia]

Kacchan's Cult by Ourliazo

Pro Hero Ground Zero is attacked, originally meant to be de-aged out of existence by a desperate villain but is instead launched into his 14-year-old self.

But Katsuki is a fucking pro so whatever, time to fuck up someone's day. And sure, maybe he's only one man, but that's why he conscripts the entirety of the UA student body into tearing down some criminal empires.

(It's time travel, crack, and Bakugou being his usual explody, competent self. What more in life do you want? Seriously though, please read. I'm obsessed with this fic and having a Good Time!)

Cleaning Crew; Teaching Kids to Value their Safety, for Fun and Profit by Reavv

Takenaka Hideo is a thirty-two year old, in mild desperation for money, who has just been hired as a new janitor for UA's support staff. He has a quirk that lets him find lost objects, a liaison with the police because of it, and desperate desire for competent co-workers.

Oh, and he's already lived a previous life, in a world where quirks and heroes didn't even exist.

Not a big deal, though. It's not like you ever see the janitor playing a big part in action movies. He's here to get paid, and that's it.

On the opposite side of the equation, class 1-A has to wonder at the new UA cryptid that always seems to show up when things are on fire, and who keeps trying to convince them to let the adults handle the fire extinguisher.

(A great deal of fun packed into one fic. That is how I title this fic and nothing will change my mind! Hideo just wants to quietly do his job and not get in the way. I Relate. Please read!)

Poltergeist by WriterGreenReads

Class 1-A is haunted.

Well, not really.

I AM dead, though.

World's friendliest poltergeist, at your service.

(I don't know how I got so sucked into OC fics, but I found some fantastic fics along the way so I have no regrets. The author really tries to push the premise and I just love all the interactions and dynamics that form as the fic gets further in. And the OC character and all the hijinks they get up to cracks me up! At the same time, it's pretty heartwarming and it's practically a friendships galore fic! Definitely recommend it!)

invincible by supercrunch for Engrin

Ship: Bakugou/Midoriya

This is the way the world works: the sun rises in the east. The strong come out on top. Bakugou Katsuki rockets through life like a comet and Midoriya Izuku stumbles after. If he believed in such things Katsuki would say it was written in the stars. That some god of war had looked at him and said this one. That he’d been passed along a line to get his blessings – genius, willpower, fearless ambition – and dropped off on earth.

Then, of course, there is the question of Deku. The spitfire runt. Deku, no matter what the world does to him, never stops hoping.

Until, of course, he eventually does.

(Katsuki broke him. Snapped him in half like a twig and now has to scramble to put Deku back together. “We can do this, Deku," he says slowly. "There are so many mysteries that never got put to bed. Criminals roaming around looking to hurt people and you and me, we can fix that.”

There’s a long pause. The comforter slips a little off Deku’s skinny shoulders and drowns him. “You mean like a team?”

In that split second, Katsuki makes a decision he’s never even considered. He swallows his pride. “Yeah, Deku. We’d be a team.”)

(If there was any other way canon could've gone, this is the story I would've wanted. It's perfect.)

Inadvertent Wilderness Therapy by Cacid

Following an unfortunate encounter with a teleporter on the last day of internships, Bakugou Katsuki and Hakamata Tsunagu spend some quality time in northern Canada.

In no particular order they will: build ugly survival shelters, stalk rabbits, run from polar bears, reflect on the chemical composition of trees, insult each other, and complain about krumholtz.

(THESE TWO. TOGETHER. IN THE WILDERNESS. IN FUCKING CANADA OF ALL PLACES. I still can't believe this fic actually exists and just how INVESTED I became in their relationship. Blue Jeanist instantly became my favorite ranked hero with this fic alone. HIS SENSE OF HUMOR IS TERRIBLE, I LOVE HIM SO MUCH FNIEWOPAF. BAKUGOU DOES TOO. IT'S FUCKING INCREDIBLE. *incoherent screeching into the wild*)

[Stranger Things]

Baci D'aria by RabbitDarling

“Love is worth the sum of itself, and nothing more.” ― Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic

Steve learned a lot at his Aunt's side before she passed but his favourite thing she taught him was baci d'aria; special little spells that you created from the heart and put into the food you shared.

In opening his heart and gifts to those around him Steve slowly finds himself a family in a way he never thought he'd get to experience. One by One he collects pre-teens to trail in his wake like ducklings and Steve can't even refute it by the time he realizes what has happened.

(This fic is so soft and Steve is just collecting people and winning them over with his magical food (literally). I am always a sucker for heartwarming, good for the soul fics so if you want to make yourself hungry and feel all warm and gooey inside, read this!)

(Don't Fear) The Reaper by TeaFourTwo

Ship: Steve/Billy

He looks down at the blood on his hands and on the floor and wonders why the memory hasn’t broken yet, why he isn’t back in Starcourt mall with control of his body again, wonders if he's even still alive at all. Is this hell then? Or perhaps purgatory? It certainly isn’t heaven, that’s for sure. None of this makes any sense…but then what's new—nothing in Billy’s life makes sense anymore.

Billy laughs then, loud and long and unhinged. It's the only sound in the whole house, and it bounces off the walls like a fucked up echo, like the world is laughing with him.

“Jesus christ you’re insane…” It’s Max’s voice and it’s shaking. It only makes Billy laugh harder, because Max has it all wrong. Billy isn’t crazy, it’s the rest of the world that’s insane.

Billy dies a hero of sorts. He wakes up back in his bed on Saturday morning, the third of November, 1984...nearly nine months earlier.

(Billy is stuck in a time loop and it's slowly driving him crazy. And the fic shows just how much influence Billy did have in the plot and how doomed the world is without him in it. Great character exploration with Billy's character and all the ways he's so messy and human. Definitely recommend it!)

[Knives Out]

The Road Less Traveled By by UisceOneLove

Ship: Marta/Ransom

If Harlan wants to leave Ransom to be on his own, fine. He'll show him just what Ransom Drysdale is capable of.

or, where Ransom chooses to prove his abilities through means of the non-homicidal variety and finds himself becoming exactly what Harlan was hoping he would.

(I found this fic out of sheer chance and god, Ransom is just, so fascinating to me as a character. Marta of course is the Best here and I will forever stan her. Seriously, this is such a good fic! Please read!)

[Haikyuu!!]

Sky Full of Stars by grilledsquids

The Hinatas are twins. They're practically identical.

But while Shouyou seeks out Karasuno's volleyball team to become the next Little Giant, Natsu is scouted to to play soccer for Shiratorizawa. While Shouyou sets his eyes on playing volleyball at the highest level possible, his sister wonders how much longer she can play soccer... and if it's worth it to keep going.

A Natsu-centric story featuring: Shiratorizawa VBC shenanigans, too many soccer OCs, mild teenage drama, a little bit of plot, and Semi Eita not knowing what a period is.

(It's just!! So cute and wholesome!!! The Shiratorizawa volleyball team is so fleshed out along with the OC characters for the girl's soccer team and I swear, it's been a long while since I've laughed this much at the sheer shenanigans that happen in a fic. It's surprisingly hard to find good gen fics in this fandom so finding this gem made me so happy! If you want a fic that brings a smile to your face, read this!!)

like water by speakingincode

Ship: Oikawa/Kageyama

“Oikawa,” Iwaizumi says, and when Tooru looks at him, he can read My best friend’s an idiot off the crease of his eyebrows. “Are you telling me you spent the last three years weirdly obsessed with Kageyama – I still remember the time you made us play him on a dumb whim, you know – and now you’re at his beck and call? Are you okay? What the hell is wrong with you?”

“I’m— I’m not at his beck and call! I said no last week. It’s… It’s like you said. I get bored easily. I saw him at the park a couple weeks after they played Nationals and called him a perfect little tyrant, and he pestered me into spending time with him after,” Tooru says. “I’m not a monster, Iwa-chan. If he wants the company of his cool, handsome ex-upperclassman that badly, who am I to begrudge him?”

Or: Oikawa doesn't know why Kageyama keeps asking to meet him on Saturdays. He also doesn't know why he keeps saying yes.

(The fact this fic is canon-compliant and covers post-canon too makes me want to shout to the heavens. Fucking incredible! One of the best Oikakage fics ever and it's a crime how it's not at the top of the ship tag. Please please read!!)

twist into your shape by kakkoweeb

Ship: Oikawa/Kageyama

The only thing better than sweets were sweets containing paper that told you whether your future would be good or bad--or in Kageyama and Oikawa's case, paper that somehow caused you to live inside each other's bodies.

(Everyone probably already read this fic but it needs to be said, you need to read this fic. How these two try and manage each other's lives and slowly start to care about one another is so beautiful and sincere and I am ready to wrestle anyone to the floor and comply them into reading this fic. Doesn't matter if you like the ship, you will become a fan if you read it, I promise. Please please read!!)

Take the Long Road Home by pepperfield

Ship: Kuroo/Sawamura

When Azumane Asahi goes missing before his engagement meeting with Kozume Kenma, what other option is there but for Daichi to impersonate his brother and fake his way through a first date with Asahi's fiance?

Okay, let's be realistic - there were probably at least four other options.

Unfortunately, Tetsurou couldn't come up with any of them either, so now he's here flirting with Kenma's future husband while trying to keep his web of deceit from collapsing.

It's going to be an eventful day.

(I got obsessed with this ship alongside Oikakage and SO WILL YOU. THE POTENTIAL. THE BANTER. THE FACT THEY'RE BOTH DORKS AND THE FIC HAS IDENTITY SHENANIGANS DANCING ALL OVER IT!! I had so much fun reading this and these two are MEANT TO BE FENIWPAF. If you don't see the potential of this ship, you will now.)

a misunderstanding a day keeps the boyfriend away by bartallen for betuls

Ship: Kuroo/Sawamura

Kuroo doesn’t fall in love hard and fast like many others do – he falls slowly, and very very softly. Most of the times he doesn’t even realise he’s in love with someone until it’s too late.

(Kuroo is the dumbest man alive and I've never related to someone so hard in my life. God help me.)

You like me. by roseknight

Ship: Daishou/Kuroo

Kuroo nearly lived a Daishou-free life, and sometimes he looked back and wondered how much better and how much worse that would've been.

(I didn't even know who Daishou was until I read this fic and now I can't unsee the potential this ship has. I'm a ruined woman and I regret NOTHING.)

Kings of the Road, Kings of the Universe by EzzyDean

Eight magical captains, one bus, an entire summer (and country) waiting for them.

What could possibly go wrong?

(The magic of friendship meets the magic of a summer road trip meets pure magic.)

(CAPTAIN SQUAD IS THE BEST SQUAD SOMEBODY PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SEND ME SOME CAPTAIN SQUAD FICS I AM SO IN LOVE WITH THIS SQUAD IT'S A PROBLEM AAAAHHHHHH!)

宿縁 : See You Soon by MissKiraBlue

Ship: Oikawa/Kageyama

Upon arriving at the train station of death, an impure soul is granted a second chance at life against his will. Reincarnating into the body of Kageyama Tobio, a 15-year-old boy who recently committed suicide. Tobio's soul will depart at death and the soul needs to slip in to replace it. If the soul's reformation succeeds, he’ll reenter the cycle of rebirth and regain the right to be reborn. He will have three months to accomplish this task.

“Even though you had enough of life,” the soul whispered into the void of the room, “you were still afraid to hurt your hands, Tobio.”

Afraid of giving himself a scar, if he survived.

He touched his pulse and grasped life and couldn’t help but pity Kageyama Tobio.

"You wanted to die and now I’m here making you live again," he whispered into the night.

(I'm not even exaggerating when I say out of all the fics in this entire goddamn, too long list, this is the fic I'm anticipating and heart eyeing the most. It's only starting, but I already cried on chapter fucking 2, the power of this fic, holy shit. The author also wrote the hq time loop Every Tomorrows series, which I have an undying love for and am full on praying for the day it updates, so you KNOW this fic will be just as good. (Anybody who hasn't read this series, where the hell have you been?? Read it!!) Just, everything about this fic hurts me and something in my chest just aches when I read this fic. Go into it blind with an open heart and I swear to you, it's going to change your life. I'm already calling it. Seriously though, please please read!)

[Crossover]

Learning to Fly by Asteroid_Duck (JustThatOneGirl1815)

Fandoms: Boku no Hero Academia, Naruto

The number three hero is a walking (well, flying) contradiction in every sense of the word. This includes his teaching skills. Why had Tokoyami agreed to this internship again? Oh right. He’d thought he was actually going to learn something. …….remind him to never be so optimistic again. . . . OR, Kakashi Hatake is reincarnated as the pro hero, Hawks. Tokoyami Fumikage suffers as a result.

(The reincarnation fic I never thought I needed and it's so good!! I've never really paid attention to Tokoyami and this fic sent me headfirst into loving him. Their dynamic is so interesting and I just love how their relationship develops. Also, Kakashi trolling the poor kid made me cackle, it's great! Definitely recommend it!)

Si Vis Pacem by athenoot

Fandoms: Boku no Hero Academia, John Wick

Everything has a price. That's what John has always known and will forever remember, even in death.

Which is pretty ironic considering his current circumstance.

Instead of a grown, scarred, weary body belonging to a man as cruel and broken as him, he's inhabiting a younger, smaller, unblemished one belonging to a child with strangely colored hair, and is living in what seems to be a superhuman society.

Well. May it never be said that John isn't a strategist. He can live with this. Maybe.

(Somewhere out there in the universe, he's certain he could hear the laughter of his enemies from beyond the grave.)

Or: John Wick is reincarnated as Midoriya Izuku. The world should probably watch its back.

(This should be one of the crackiest fics I've read in a while, but it's taken so seriously and I'm so HERE FOR THIS. John Wick being John Wick in a world of quirks and heroes is the GREATEST, honestly, he's so badass. Bakugou, I feel for you, you must be so fucking confused lol. Bakugou trying his best to be a good friend is one of the best things about this fic. Trust me, this fic will make your day, promise!)

A Girl's Mind is a Dangerous Place by clenastia

Fandoms: Naruto, Fairy Tail

Natsu wakes up in Sakura's body. It only gets worse from there. Also known as: In Which Natsu has No Idea what to do with Boobs.

(I binged this in two fucking days, I couldn't put it down. This fic reminded me why I liked fairy tail when I was younger and why Natsu is honestly such a great protagonist, god. And the fic does that thing, you know, the Thing where when two worlds collide, the characters struggle to acclimate and adapt to a completely another world with different rules and mindsets against their own. This fic is seriously one of the best when it comes to that aspect, it's incredible. I am going absolutely feral over here for this fic to update, I'm waiting in the wings, ready to pounce like a tiger, all the metaphors man. For the love of god, read this fic.)

Give me a landscape made of obstacles by Melise

Fandoms: Naruto, Natsume's Book of Friends

Kakashi Hatake isn’t who he says he is.

Because the truth is that he’s actually a youkai in disguise, a wolf spirit named Madara who stumbled across the Hatake clan during the Warring States Period. Intrigued by the shinobi he saw, he’d proposed a temporary alliance in which he would offer the clan protection in exchange for their teachings.

Decades later, Madara is surprised to find himself inadvertently summoned to Konoha by the last living member of the Hatake clan. Sakumo Hatake, who is mourning the recent deaths of his wife and stillborn child, doesn’t want to be alone anymore. So with his permission, Madara takes the place of Sakumo’s deceased son in order to watch over the last Hatake.

(Fusion in which the youkai of Natsume’s Book of Friends all exist in the Naruto world. No knowledge of Natsume’s Book of Friends required).

(Before this fic, I only had a very vague idea of what Natsume's Book of Friends was, and honestly, I still don't know much about it. But I didn't really need to know to get into this fic. I love the worldbuilding and the relationships Kakashi forms, both supernatural and mortal. I love how Kakashi's inhumane ways affect others around him, whether to stress them out or become used to the strange. You can go straight into this fic without knowing anything and absolutely still have a fantastic time. I definitely recommend this so please read!)

#Fanfiction #AO3 #Fic Rec #Fic Rec List #Naruto #Harry Potter #Boku no Hero Academia #Stranger Things #Knives Out #Haikyuu!!#Crossover #John Wick #Fairy Tail #Natsume's Book of Friends

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scarecrow-supremacy · 4 years ago

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A/N: Oookieee, so I decided to start writing a new fic bc I have great ideas for a story line. Yet I can’t bring myself I writing an actual beginning. Like I’ve already written some random chapters, but I can’t do anything with them because they don’t really make much sense without the context of the rest of the fic/my ideas. Like this chapters is where the romance/actual x reader gets into actual action. Hopefully you get the gist of what the plot is, and aren’t confused as hell from this part. Sorry if it’s a bit long, it’s around 4.8k-ish words. Enjoy 💜

Hatake Kakashi wasn't one to celebrate his birthday.

He simply thought that they were foolish excuses to let loose and party. To Kakashi, birthdays were no reason to be happy and celebrate. They were just reminders of how long he had endured the pain of living. Each year marked another without the people he once held close in his heart. His father, his sensei, his teammates, and (y/n)...

The day that (y/n) gone on that horrible mission was his special day. The mission he was supposed to go on, but (y/n) filled in for because she wanted him to go celebrate with Gai and the others. So much for having the day of joy...Kakashi thought to himself mournfully.

With a great sigh, he grabbed the last of his belonging, shoving them in his mission pack. He'd promised to take his students out of a group mission for the day, but it had been mostly for selfish reasons. Kakashi had hoped that this would take his mind off of the weight in his soul, yet knowing that his efforts would be futile. The loss would never leave him, it would always follow him like a darned shadow. It would forever haunt him. There was not letting go of the horrors of his past.

Slowly, Kakashi strolled to the gates of Konoha to meet his kids, shoving his hands in his pockets as he mumbled a little tune under his breath. The dark cloudy sky and drizzling rain seemed to mirror how he felt inside.

Drip, drop. Drop, drop. Drop, drop.

Each raindrop fell upon the dirt paths of the town, dampening Kakashi's Jonin uniform. If only he'd gone on that mission, if only he hadn't let (y/n) take his place. If only so many things that happened hadn't. If only he felt whole again. He could feel the heavyweight of guilt on his shoulders, spreading pain throughout his body. Sure, Team 7 filled the void, but they could only do so much. If there is one thing I wish for, it is that these kids will grow up to be happy.

A soft smile played upon Kakashi's face as he approached the three teens. "KAKASHI-SENSEI!" His hyperactive blonde student, Uzumaki Naruto, yelled at him, "YOU'RE LATE-TTEBAYO!" He raised his fist in anger. Sakura glared at both Kakashi and Naruto, slapping the boy's back to calm him down. Off to the side stood Sasuke, his hands in his pockets as he briefly kicked the dirt and pebbles around him to form his clan's symbol. "Usuratonkachi," he grumbled at the group. To be honest, Kakashi did feel a little guilty about keeping the kids waiting for him. They were being held back just because he was wallowing in self-pity. And Kakashi felt ashamed of that; ordering his mind to push his thoughts further to the back of his mind.

Kotetsu and Izumo, guards of the gates, turned to the team and smiled in greeting. "The gate opening mechanism is broken, so we have to manually open the gates," they explained. "Heading out yet again, eh?" Kotetsu chuckled. "I thought you lot just came back from a mission. Ya leaving so soon?" Izumo asked. Naruto pumped his hand into the air, "Yeah! Dattebayo! It's only a C rank, but it'll be fun-ttebayo!"

He's a lot like you, eh Obito, Kakashi's mind wandered as he looked up at the clouded sky, a drop of rain fell upon his nose and slid down his mask. If only you, Minato-sensei, and Rin were here to see us in action. You would be proud.

But what about (y/n)? Part of Kakashi was surprised that he didn't think of her immediately. Did he still believe that she could've been alive? After the Hokage had told him that he'd lost contact with (y/n), Kakashi didn't know what to think. It had been 3,650 days since she left. 3,589 since she was supposed to come back. And 3,529 days since they fully lost contact. What were the chances she'd come back, alive or injured? Kakashi wanted to believe that she was still alive. Was that realistic?

"She's gone, Kakashi! You need to understand that!" He flashed back to when Asuma, Gai, and Kurenai had tried to slap some sense into him. Well actually, Kurenai had slapped him. "Kakashi-sensei?" Sakura gently tugged his sleeve, straining her arm up so her red umbrella would also cover his head. "Are you okay? You've been spacing out a lot lately." She whispered as she looked up at him.

"I'm fine, Rin," Kakashi weakly smiled, "It's nothing that you should worry about." Sakura flashed him a questioning look, "Rin?" Sucking the air, Kakashi's whole body tensed up, "Sorry." He looked away, turning his attention to the bickering Sasuke and Naruto. "Just a little mix-up, Sakura." He put on a fake smile, breaking up the boy's fight. "Let's go, shall we?"

"Alright! Shanaroo!"

"Dattebayo!"

Kotetsu and Izumo went to open the gates but stopped to exchange worrisome glances. "Someone just knocked from the other side of the gates. Which is weird because our list says that we shouldn't be expecting anybody." Izumo knit his eyebrows together. Kotetsu, who had been looking through a glass which allowed him to see the incomer, hastily urging Izumo to help him. "ANBU!" He had barked at his partner, "Bleeding! Dying, wounds, whatever! They need medical attention!" That had caught Kakashi's attention, he got ready to act as the guards opened up the gates, heaving on the rusted hinges. Yet he was not mentally prepared for what awaited on the other side of the grand doors.

There she stood. Uniform torn, stained and ripped up. The wakizashi sword that was strapped to her hip was blunt and scratched, the sheath dented. Skin scratched and bruised, wounds dripping with blood and gore. A long x shaped cut on the inner side of her left thigh. Gasping and choking for air, she started to wobble, blood dribbling down her limbs and stomach. The rain continued to fall, now hard and heavy; burning and searing the wounds of the lady. Yet she still managed to keep her face from wavering In an instant, Kakashi recognized who the woman was based on her cracked porcelain ANBU mask. (y/n).... "Sakura! Go alert the hospital. And you two boys, clear the way for Sakura so she can get there. Quickly!" Kakashi ordered them as he took the heavily wounded woman in his arms. Anger and fear coursed through Kakashi's veins as his heart thumped erratically. He could feel (y/n)'s body twitch in pain. "Izumo, go let Hokage-sama know that Ibara-hime has returned." Kakashi let out one last demand before zipping off to follow his kids.

"Kakashi..." (y/n) mumbled out his name, "Kakashi..." she shakily rose her hands up to gently cup his masked cheeks. "What is it?" He whispered, gently rubbing her skin through a torn patch of her ripped uniform. "Happy birthday, Hatake..." She softly breathed, her tight grip of Kakashi's chest loosened as her eyes dropped closed. Please don't die, (y/n)... I've waited all the fucking years. You aren't leaving me again. A tear formed in Kakashi's eye, flying off with the rain as he bolted towards the hospital. Stay with me a bit longer, will you?

"My sensei will be here any second with an ANBU woman in need of immediate medical attention!" Kakashi heard Sakura's voice quiver as he barged into the hospital. "I'm here, kids. Go to Gai-sensei and stay with him until I'm back." He quickly barked, flashing all of the nurses who flowed into the room a nervous look. "Please, help her. I'm begging you." He pleaded with the staff uncharacteristically. I need her to live. Need. "We do what we can, sir." One of the medic-nin nodded, putting (y/n)'s unconscious body onto the stretcher. If (y/n) lives, that would be the best birthday gift ever.

Kakashi jogged after the nurses and doctors, peering into the emergency clinic room through the window. "I'm sorry, Sir, but you won't be able to visit the lady until all the major injuries have been cleaned up and treated." A male nurse out his hand in his shoulder from behind. "But..! Okay..." Kakashi let out a sigh, "Isn't there any paperwork that needs to be filled out?"

The nurse shook his head, "The Hokage has come and is speaking to one of my colleagues about it. Don't worry about it. You won't have to take care of any of that." He tried to reassure the angsty shinobi, "The woman is part of the ANBU ranks, right? Her mask is of the uniform." Kakashi nodded his head, biting his lip inside of his mask, "Yeah...she is... but it's kinda complicated." The nurse raised his eyebrow but just shrugged. "Can I speak with the Hokage?" The Hatake requested. "Come this way," the other man sighed, leading him away.

Kakashi let out a deep and long sigh as he held (y/n)'s scraped hand in his gloved ones. He had been told by the same nurse from before that (y/n) was in a decent state to accept visitors, yet was still unconscious. He could tell that the nurse was hiding something from him, but he was too worried about (y/n) to give it a second thought. Hesitantly, he brought her hand to his masked lips, gently pressing them against the fabric. "Ya know, (y/n). After you left, I decided to give those goddamn books a try. And you're right, they are addictive. Thanks for the gift," Kakashi sadly chuckled before pausing for a moment.

"Those books, they helped me a lot. They helped me get through my days, just like you told me."

"They also helped me realize something. They helped me realize that I don't hate you. I don't want to hate, and I never should've."

"I've realized that I was such a dick to you at the beginning and that it was all my fault that our relationship became how it was. I regret it... So when you wake up again, I just want to start over again. Maybe not entirely, but just so that we can leave all the hate behind us. How does that sound?"

Kakashi stared at the sleeping (y/n), her chest heaving up and how slowly and rhythmically. It hurt him to see her like that, her skin swollen in the places of the stitches and anointed bruises. "Listen, (y/n). I'd never been able to tell this to you while you're conscious, so I might as well let it out now. I...I love you." Kakashi rightly shut his uncovered eye. "After feeling your loss, my dumbass self finally realized how much you are worth. After they pass on, you and the others were all I had left. But then you also left me, that hurt like hell." His tone started to break.

"Lord Hokage told me about the whole fake-death move, and I was relieved that you weren't gone for good. And then we lost contact, everybody assumed the mission had been finished, and your squad sacrificed your lives for it. I couldn't let the fact that you could be a dead sink in. It didn't feel right. Gai, Asuma, and Kurenai tried to get me out of another depression cycle. Kurenai even went to the lengths of quite literally slapping some sense into me." Kakashi played with a loose strand of (y/n)'s (h/c) hair.

The muscles of (y/n)'s hand twitched ever so slightly. Kakashi's drooping head snapped up; he'd almost fallen asleep in the chair. "(y/n)?" He murmured as her eyes started to flutter, "(y/n)?"

(y/n) chapped lip parted ever so slowly, taking a big breath of air, her (e/c) eyes squinting. "Hatake..?" She shakily managed to mumbled, her voice hoarse and dry. She tried to prop herself up on the bed, but Kakashi eased her back into her resting position. "Rest, (y/n), you're not ready to stress yourself yet." Kakashi to her, "I'll be back with a nurse and some water for you, alright?" (y/n) opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She simply looked down and nodded.

Moments later, Kakashi came back with the nurse and water. "Here," he carefully put the cup to her lip, gently tipping the cup, "Good." He turned to the nurse, who seemed to be scribbling something down from the little monitor to his clipboard. Kakashi's eyes followed the cord attached to it, to the long x shaped hash in (y/n)'s inner left thigh. What worried Kakashi was the anxious look on the nurse's face.

"(l/n)-san, your vitals are doing alright, but you'll have to stay here for a night or two just so that we can keep an eye on something's that may need monitoring." He curtly nodded his head, "Lord Hokage wished to speak to you. So, sir, that means you may have to leave."

Kakashi tried to reason with the other man, but (y/n) reached to weakly squeeze his thigh. "It's okay, Hatake. You can just drop by later." (y/n) tried to smile. "Fine," Kakashi grumbled, leaving the room and letting Hiruzen in.

After what seemed like an eternity, Hiruzen came back out. "How's (y/n)?" Kakashi asked him impatiently. The Hokage put his hand on Kakashi's shoulder as if trying to soothe him, "She'll be better soon. Don't worry, alright." The silver-haired shinobi let out a small grunt, "I know that she'll get better with time. But what about now?"

Kakashi knew that Hiruzen loved (y/n) almost like a daughter, he cared about her deeply. Hence the elaborate cover-ups to protect (y/n) and her squad on the unconventionally lengthy mission. The Hatake could see the sadness that had tried to be tucked away in the Sarutobi's eyes. "The main concern of the moment is the poison in the gash on her left thigh. The medic-nins have tried to extract as much of it as possible, and try to find something that will counteract the effects." The elderly man explained to him. "Did they find an antidote?" Kakashi questioned.

"That is where the problem lies," Hiruzen explained, "There is a certain medicinal herb that is used alongside a jutsu to nullify the effects, as the poison has traces of chakra. We have a few medics on hand who support the skill to perform the jutsu, but we don't have the plant. Even so, that won't be a permanent cure." Kakashi knit his eyebrows together, "How would it not be a perfect cure? Plus, since there are traces of chakra, could we possibly track down the person who created the poison and make them fess up on the cure?" He questioned.

"Great thinking, but..." Hiruzen groaned, "(y/n) said that they performed a self-destruction jutsu just after striking her. He probably thought that it would be in their best interest to take their secrets to the grave with them." Kakashi cursed under his breath, "Fuck... This is terrible."

Hiruzen nodded in agreement, "No duh."

Kakashi's head shot up, "Uh?!"

The elder man's eyes widened, "Did I use the term correctly?! I'm trying to pick up on the phrases the kids are using these days..."

Kakashi gritted his teeth, "Right idea of the meaning, I guess. But the context and timing...wasn't quite fit." Looking ever so slightly dejected, "Oh...alright." Smoothening out the wrinkles in his robe and putting in his cob pipe, "Kakashi, if you are going to stay here with (y/n), could you at least pick up some good food. The food in the hospital canteen is quite bland." Kakashi nodded his head and obliged, only to be stopped in his tracks by Hiruzen.

"Kakashi, I'd like to ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"What caused your change in actions towards (y/n) change so much?"

"What do you mean?"

"I've observed you two whilst you were in the ANBU together, and you never got along that well. And suddenly you act so attached to her, Kakashi. You don't need to answer. It's just that as your leader, I want to understand what is going on in the heads of some of my most trusted people." Hiruzen explained to Kakashi, puffing out a cloud of smoke from his cob pipe.

Kakashi frowned from behind his mask, trying to figure out how to explain his change of feelings in a professional manner. "I think that after I was given the impression that she was gone, I noticed that I cared about her. It made me realize that I was wrong to not see how much she meant in my life." He tried, his voice fading off into a whisper. Hiruzen smiled and nodded, "You really are something else, Kakashi."

Kakashi silently strolled over to Ichiraku's to grab some takeout. The paper lanterns lit the nearly empty streets of Konoha, creating a soft and soothing ambiance. The smell of the rain and moisture still clung to the air, the dirt roads had muddy dampness to them. "Yo! Kakashi, my eternal rival!" A boisterous and friendly voice greeted the said man. "Hey, Gai," Kakashi responded, he noticed his students sitting alongside each other and gave them a quick wave and smile. Naruto and Lee were arguing about who'd get Sakura. Sakura insisted that Sasuke would come around in her favor. Sasuke was quietly eating his food. And Neji and Tenten were discussing a new sword they saw in the windowsill of a weaponry shop.

"I'll take two eggplant miso soups with brown rice noodles," Kakashi leaned over the counter space between Lee and Naruto to order his meal, also effectively stopping the argument. "Thanks, Ayame," he thanked the daughter of Teuchi, owner of the quaint place. "No problem, Kakashi-san!" She chirped.

"Kakashi?" Gai raised his brushy brow, "Your kids told me about what happened this morning..." Kakashi sighed and pulled him aside so that they were at a comfortable distance, "It was (y/n)..." he told his best friend, "She's back and in the hospital because she's not in good health at the moment. I just came here to pick up a meal for her." Kakashi watched as Gai's jaw dropped, "(Y/N) IS ALIVE!" He exclaimed a touch too loud for his eternal rival's taste, "CAN I MEET HER?!" Tears of youthful joy waterfalled down the jumpsuit-clad man's cheeks. "I'll see if you can come tomorrow, alright Gai." Gai smiled broadly, "This is very...unusual. Youthful, nonetheless!" He grinned.

Kakashi rubbed the back of his head and nodded, "I'm glad she's back..." he murmured barely loud enough for Gai to hear. Knowingly, Gai patted Kakashi's back. "Oh! Yeah! Happy birthday, my youthful rival!" He gently punched his comrade's shoulder. A smile formed on Kakashi's lips, "Thanks, Gai." He flashed his eccentric friend his signature close-eyed smile.

"I'll see you later."

"Bye, Kakashi! Have a good night!"

Knock knock, Kakashi rapt (y/n)'s door, "Can I come in?"

"Come in," (y/n) murmured, a small moan of pain escaping her lips, "Ouch..."

Kakashi quickly set the takeout on a little table, rushing to (y/n)'s side. He wrapped his arm tightly around her waist and helped her to the table. "I got us dinner because the food at the canteen isn't that good." He explained with a slight shrug. "Thanks, Hatake," a weak smile formed on her lips. The silvered-haired Jonin served them their meals. "Itadakimasu," they both mumbled.

Heavy tension filled the room as they ate in silence. (y/n) knew that Kakashi had his mask down, but didn't look up. "It's been a while..." Kakashi breathed, in hopes of hearing (y/n) speak, "Too long..." The kunoichi rested her forehead on her palm, "I- Yeah..." she mumbled, eyes growing classier by the second. So much for trying to start a conversation... Kakashi thought sadly as they resumed their meals without a word. The silence seemed to be killed him. Kami, it had been 10 goddamn years! 3650 days since he had gotten to talk to the woman. He missed her. Hell, he could even say that he missed all of their little spats. Hatake Kakashi missed everything about (y/n).

"I missed you..." was all Kakashi mumbled as he pushed his finished food away and pulled up his mask, "All these days, months, and years."

Hot tears slipped down (y/n)'s cheeks, forming a puddle on the table. "I-I came back be-because I didn't want-want to hurt you and the r-rest. Dying on passed down pain to the people who love you. I can't afford to c-carry the guilt of t-that." She mumbled shakily, "I promised to be back, a-and I held up the promise." Kakashi sadly smiled as he awkwardly reached under the table to gently caress (y/n)'s thigh.

"You care about others so much, but you should really take a moment to care about yourself, (y/n)." Kakashi scolded the injured kunoichi, "You had me scared for you; all those gashes and open wounds... You could've died," he knit his eyebrows together in worry. "Don't do that ever again."

(y/n)'s dull smile faltered as Kakashi spoke on, "Now you know how I felt when I saw you doing all those suicidal stunts back then on those missions. It was like you were in a hurry to die... I mean, I was too, but you did some seriously dumb shit," she giggled emptily. Kakashi sweat-dropped, "I see... I guess you are right..." (y/n) rolled her (e/c) eyes as the masked shinobi let out a drained sigh, "I'm always right, Hatake."

"Really, (l/n)? You've been through torturous pain, and you still act like a child." Kakashi groaned, "All these years..." (y/n) shot him a hard glare, "All these years and you still think you're in charge of me." He cast a confused look, "It's my duty to protect you, as a comrade." As a comrade... "I guess, but you're just annoying, Hatake," she huffed.

"I'm sorry about ruining your birthday with my arrival and stuff. I probably ruined your plans with those kids." (y/n) looked down, breaking the silence that had fallen upon them, "I could hear you guys through the gate; they seemed pumped about going out. I'm sorry, I didn't think about the flaws in my whole plan." Kakashi's head snapped up from its resting position on the table, "It's fine, they don't even know it's my birthday," he paused, "But you planned to come here? As in, today in particular. With all those injuries, (l/n), you should've just tried to take care of yourself. My birthday isn't as important as your health."

The (y/n) shook her head, "I was going to stay at a small village pretty far from here before finally coming home. I planned to just heal up there and see how things went from there. I even considered settling down there. But that just didn't feel right," (y/n) face set in a frown, "Once I realized that your birthday wasn't that far off, I decided that I couldn't stay and needed to come back. I doubted I would even live to be back. But here I am..." she said with a soft wince of pain. "It was terrible, I hated every second of it," Her (s/t) fingers made their way to the raw mark on her inner thigh, “I’d already lost so much; there was nothing for me to lose at that point.” Kakashi's face softened as he understood what she meant. (y/n) wasn't put in the mission alone, she had her team. They all must've been killed with time.

"Ouch!" (y/n) yelped as she let out a moan of pain, clenching the fabric of her hospital-issued pajama pants. “Shh..." Kakashi whispered into her ear, quickly leaning in to soothe her, "What's causing all this pain?" He asked with a frown as (y/n) bit her lip. "It's the thing in your thigh, right? Lord Hokage and the nurse told me a bit about it. But I still don't fully understand it and how it can't fully be cured."

(y/n) buried her face in her hands, "Oh..." She mumbled, "The poison can't de be removed because it's already been inside of me too long. And since it is laced with chakra, the properties of it aren't completely like normal poison." She blinked back the stinging agonizing tears in her eyes, "The herb that I need is just going to ease the effects in my body, whilst the jutsu will seal it from triggering anything that was layered in with the chakra." (y/n) explained. Kakashi could tell she was trying her hardest to keep her face straight, pushing back the pain and hurting inside. "The thing is–"

"What?" Kakashi asked the pained woman, his tone soft and soothing, "I can help if I know what's going on."

Warily, (y/n) agreed to speak on, "The place where the mission was stationed at was just underground of the nuke-nin outpost I was from. And the guy who poisonous me was one of the other kids' experiments were done on, along with me. He was a few years older than us, and his name was Hiroto Myoga. His parents were in owed debt to the rogues, they were forced into being test subjects until they died. Which left Hiroto in the nuke-nin's hands." She rubbed the temple of her head pushing away the images that sent a shiver down her spine, "Something similar had happened in the case of my parents and me. But unlike me, when the ANBU did the raid, Hiroto was snuck away just in time."

Kakashi's heart sank as he heard what she was telling him. (y/n) had never known much about her past, the damned curse seal had caused. “Since he was older than most of the other kids there, the nuke-nin's of the outpost decided that they needed to trust their information. It was all precautionary, just in case they were taken down. And that's just what happened. Hiroto was the one ordered to put memory restriction curse seals on us, the kids, before he fled to be underground, where the actual harm was being done. That meant that all this time Hiroto had been working in those old plans." (y/n) closed her eyes tightly, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

With a subtle groan, Kakashi supported (y/n) up from the chair and rested her in her cot. "Don't stress yourself, (y/n). You can just tell me later; it's getting late anyway." He told her. "It's fine, Hatake. Letting this out helps me feel better." She reassured him.

"The ANBU caught wind of suspicious activity in that area and decided to send out a squad to go check out. I overheard Danzō arguing with Lord Hokage about it, and got interested. It was really dumb, but I just wanted to go to learn more about what happened in my past. I learned, but that can with lots of twists and turns. 10 years of going undercover..." (y/n)'s (e/c) eyes met Kakashi's single uncovered black one, "It wasn't long before Hiroto became suspicious of us, slowly narrowing the group down till it was just me." (y/n) took a deep breath and continued, "After Hiroto killed himself in our final fight, my curse seal was lifted. That's how I suddenly was able to remember all of the past. All of it."

A pit formed in Kakashi's stomach as he watched (y/n) cry in silence. He wanted to help her feel better, he really did. But he was afraid that he'd make things worse; dealing with feelings just wasn't his thing. "I'm here for you, (l/n). We've been through so much together, you've helped me through it all," Kakashi tried to reassure her, "It's my turn to look after you. Please, just don't cry." He reached out his hand to brush a tear-off of her streaked cheeks.

“Are you okay with me staying here for the night?" Kakashi asked (y/n) as they sat at the bay window, looking down upon the empty moonlit streets of Konoha. The soft light cast down by the moon seemed to make everything look beautiful, serene, and at peace. "(l/n)?" He asked again, turning to look back at her. A gentle smile played on Kakashi's lips as he saw that she'd fallen asleep. (y/n) had been through so much throughout the day, she not only deserved to rest for a long time but also needed to. "Good night, (y/n)..." he carefully lifted the sleeping beauty and placed her on the cot. Sitting back at the bay seat, Kakashi took in a deep breath. "I love you."

She's finally back.

She's finally home.

190 notes · View notes

hnnyoongs · 3 years ago

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Rishi's Time Travel Fic Recs

im bored and my meta type thinking only ever comes right when im about to fall asleep so instead I'm going to recommend some of the best time travel fics out there for series I like because I'm a sucker for fix-its

I'm only gonna confine myself to 6 fics per fandom at most (3 completed & 3 ongoing) no time loops because I personally dont see that as time travel each fic has to be over 10k words and im not going to put doormat fics that haven't been updated in the past year on this list either

anyways buckle up it's gonna be a long ride boys

Naruto -

Complete

Sasuke's No Good Very Bad Teammates by GwendolynStacy

Info : gen, 74k words, author's tumblr @xxgwenstacyxx

Summary :

Naruto and Sakura have gone insane.

Or : Just after becoming Team 7 Naruto and Sakura go through a massive shift in personality, leaving Sasuke out of the loop and wondering what in the name of sanity could have happened to them. His only consolation is that Kakashi is just as weirded out as he is.

Thoughts : I'm usually not a fan of outsider POV time travel fics but this one is so good we as readers have a pretty good idea what's going on and it's extremely hilarious to see Sasuke be like wtf is going on just an overall very well written fic that will definitely give you giggles

Stumble by writer168

Info : gen, 285k words, rape/non-con warning

Summary :

Sakura wanted to die.

Sasori was fine with staying dead.

But it seemed fate had other plans for them, because when they both wake up younger with blood pulsing through their veins, they had to remember how to live again.

Thoughts: While not the darkest Time Travel fic I've read from Naruto, it's definitely up there and it's a rare sasori and sakura team up that doesn't end with romance for anyone who has a lot of time on their hands and doesnt mind reading graphic rape this fic is a must read

Mangekyou Sharingan by Wingwyrm

Info : gen, 60k words, rape/non-con warning

Summary :

Sasuke wanted to be able to use Tsukuyomi. He didn't realise how bad pretending to get the Mangekyō would affect the members of his family.

Thoughts : while it has another fic called Team Tensai tied to it, it's not needed to understand and enjoy this masterpiece even though it was written before canon ended causing certain things to get jossed the underlying darkness of this fic is something I have yet to see anyone replicate

Ongoing

Life as a Nukenin by JKblue

info : gen, 35k words

summary :

Kakashi wakes up in an alternate dimension .....shenanigans ensue

Thoughts : a lighthearted kakashi centric time travel fic where he's as confused as we are, it's amazing to see the author's growth in writing as time goes on and kakashi just going fuck it time to adopt every single child I find no idea why I'm a nukenin tho lmao

Time Waits for No Man by LaughingWombat

Info : gen, 87k words

Summary :

Rokudaime Kakashi finds himself back in time, and he is trying desperately not to change anything. After all, they finally achieved that elusive peace, and Kakashi won't give that up for some ghosts and old wounds. Yet things keep changing around him, and he doesn't know what to do.

Thoughts : while the fic is nearly done TECHNICALLY it's still ongoing so cut me some slack Kakashi having to choose between what is morally right and what would keep his future safe is amazing and team Minato cares so much about Kakashi here it's too cute

Trials of Change by Espoiretreves

Info : gen, 407k words, author's tumblr @espoir-et-reves

Summary :

Haruno Sakura made a promise. Looking in the eyes of her Shisou and the reanimated Hokage, she took on the most important mission of her life.

Go back in time and try to prevent the 4th Shinobi War.

Now, Sakura is back to her 5-year-old body, with all the knowledge and haunting memories of the future. She vows to keep her precious people safe and stop certain events from happening, without altering the timeline too much. The trials her emotions and logic puts her through have her questioning her very existance, but for the sake of peace she has to push forward. No matter what.

Thoughts: I hang onto this fic every week like a vulture, Sakura isn't out of character, she doesn't seem like a self insert and she's got such a strong bond with so many characters the story is multilayered and you genuinely feel like sakura's doing justice I hope to write a time travel fic like this some day

BNHA -

Complete

A Letter to Me by kiapet

Info : gen, 15k words

Summary :

Fourteen-year-old Bakugou Katsuki knows he’s destined to be a great hero someday. Midoriya Izuku dreams of the same, but struggles to get through each day in a world determined to push him down. But when the pair of middle schoolers are kidnapped by a villain with a time travel quirk, they are forced to confront a future neither of them could predict- and versions of themselves they never expected to become.

-Or-

Pro!Midoriya to Kid!Midoriya: You matter so much, and everything is going to be okay! Pro!Bakugou to Kid!Bakugou: Now listen here you little shit-

Thoughts : What can be said other than phew I love me some platonic!bkdk Not a soul sending back in time fic but a forward moving one where everyone is in separate bodies, meaning Katsuki can tell his younger self to go fuck himself just a good sweet read yk?

Ongoing

In Every Life by lucelafonde

Info : erasermight, 37k words

Summary :

After a freak accident, Aizawa suddenly finds himself many years in the past. Dealing with a young All Might who has no idea who he is, he has to find a way back to the present while going through the worst period of his life again: high school.

“Woah there!”

He heard a muffled voice behind him just as he keeled over backwards, still shaking from the shock that had hit him. Warm hands touched against his shoulders, steadying him before he could gracelessly flop to the ground. He couldn’t turn around to look, couldn’t see anything beyond what very clearly, very obviously wasn’t there.

In front of him in the distance, where the teacher’s dorms used to be, was nothing. Nothing but grass and trees. Nothing but part of the woods Shota remembered from his own time at U.A.

Thoughts : I recently stumbled onto this gem of an erasermight fic and OH LORD IM IN LOVE teenage Toshinori is an adorable bean and Shouta's inner commentary about how he's gonna strangle all might once he gets back to his own time is cracks me up

A Spanner in the Clockworks by All_five_pieces_of_Exodia

Info : gen, 132k words

Summary :

When Izuku wakes up in the forest not far from his home, he isn't prepared for what's about to come next. Izuku's never dealt with time travel, after all, but that seems to be the least of his worries. He's not in his own timeline, for one, and he may or may not have been missing for the past few months.

With the threat of a future only Izuku knows about, a strange missing persons case, everyone around him getting suspicious, and a quirk he shouldn't have, Izuku has his work cut out for him.

Thoughts : A must read for everyone Izuku's confusion of what the hell is going on and how do I hold myself together really leaks through to the reader and his inner voice is uncanny people like to act he's real dark or all sunshine and rainbows but this fic doesn't fuck him up like others tend to do

Where your love has always been enough (for me) by classicequinox

Info : enjirei, 65k words

Summary :

It's a dark coil of anger deep in the pit of his stomach, reminding him that he was the root, the catalyst, the trigger for their family's downward spiral. It did happen - he reminds himself harshly. He can't forget that, even if time has actually reset itself.

Todoroki Enji gets a second chance. It's up to him to see what he can do with it.

Thoughts : While the updates aren't weekly it's still consistently updated I love family healing stories most of all when it's the todoroki family the first chapter of enji's last action and then his actions to be better in the past are just ugh I love me some character development

DCMK -

Complete

Rank Yourself Last by viridiansky

Info : akam, 42k words

Summary :

Shuichi is certain that if he ever gave Bourbon the opportunity, he would be dead in minutes - if not seconds. Especially now that he's not just the man who killed Bourbon's best friend, but an Organization traitor as well.

Which is why he's rather confused when he finds Bourbon calmly sitting in Shuichi's hotel room, reading a book.

Thoughts : Shuichi's perspective on this whole ordeal is just confusion why is Bourbon doing this why why why but he's Shuichi so somehow you don't feel the pity you would with most characters anyways a very good akam fic AND AKEMI IS ALIVE OK ALL I NEED

Ongoing

Case File: Pandora & the Universe by OtAkU200LiOn

Info : gen, 13k words

Summary :

The former Kudo Shinichi, now Edogawa Conan, wished for only one thing. To stop that day from happening and to successfully take down the Black Org. But at what cost? his identity apparently.

Thoughts : while it hasn't been updated in a couple months it's the only ongoing one I've read and I had to offer something or it wouldn't feel right anyways it features a LOT of cute conan and I love to see pandora be used for weird supernatural shit like time travel yk?

HP -

Complete

Harry Potter and the Trip to the Past by Priya Ashok

Info : gen, 198k words

Summary :

19 years after the war with Voldemort Harry Potter is thrown 25 years into the past, arriving just before the start of his first year at Hogwarts.

Thoughts : one of the very first fanfics I ever read in my life and one I still hold dear to this day I loved seeing Harry and Severus work together especially when Harry isn't the one to approach him first about it a classic that everyone should take their time to read

To Recollect The Future by oliver.snape

Info : gen, 74k words

Summary :

Hindsight is 20/20, but when Harry's last steps into the forest set him back further than he'd ever thought, he never realised how grateful he'd be to have Snape there to help too.

Thoughts: I don't understand how this author can be so big brained they didn't prolong things they didn't do unnecessary drama the characters got everything quickly done time travel is always full of cliches but this .. this is so original utterly timeless

What is Right: Year One by Emma Lipardi

Info : gen, 87k words

Summary :

Harry finds himself making a decision to give it all up just to change what has happened. What he doesn't realize is that he gets a second chance to set it right.

Thoughts : while the sequel is unfinished to this day the first installment of the what is right series is brilliantly written showcasing a Ravenclaw!harry that we rarely see in fics his trauma directly shines through here but it's not overboard it's genuine

Ongoing

When Pigs Fly by BooksR4ever

Info : jeverus, 32k words

Summary :

Severus had always believed that romance wasn’t for him. Everyone else believed him to be filthy death eater scum, and he agreed, never fathoming the concept of someone liking him enough to actually pursue a relationship with him.

Until one fine day in sixth year, when he finds himself with a small, adorable child clinging to his right leg, calling him Papa.

Thoughts : I never really cared for Jeverus until very very recently and this was one of the first fics I decided to read it's very cute and I'm utterly in love with Harry plus Lily is such a good friend even if she isn't completely perfect the updates are slow though just so yk

FMAB -

Complete

Something about Nothing by RealityXIllusion

Info : gen, 12k words

Summary :

Tucker paid no price and transmuted his daughter. He paid the price and transmuted his mother. The difference was, Edward was a kid the first time around, he didn’t know just what he was doing. He knew it was taboo but that didn’t mean he knew the full extent to what performing human transmutation entailed. Or Edward gets a second chance and plans to do whatever it takes to make things right. He wasn't losing anyone this time around.

Thoughts : ok we all hate Shou Tucker I've only met like 3 bastards who think he's alright and they're all pieces of shit so I love seeing Edward go back and just be yk scheming and all jaded and ugh that's my boy right there Nina u poor bby

Ongoing

The Boy(s) Alchemist by SideBlog

Info : royai, 29k words

Summary :

In a desperate attempt to save Mustang's stupid life, Ed finds himself back at the stupid portal. What does it plan to take from him this time?

Or, Roy and Ed get stuck in the past and need to find their way back before things go very, very wrong.

Thoughts : The updates are pretty steady and the scary thing is that mustang is slowly losing his memory and we're here panicking with Ed about how fast they can go back it's also just nice to see Roy's childhood and his friendship? with Ed

I'm going to make another list later on because I realized oh shit I haven't read any time travel fics from AOT and there's probably a bunch from smaller fandoms that haven't crossed my mind yet

82 notes · View notes

anerdinallherglory · 4 years ago

Text

Approaching Sun (31)

Author’s Note: Surprise readers! I wanted to celebrate the start of Spring Break (a very much needed break) by posting an update sooner than I expected. Also, it’s double the length, too. It’s practically two chapters in one!

Thank you always to my loyal readers. If I do not get back to you, please know that I see every review, every comment, and every mention. I am grateful for all of you!

Also, I have had a few readers tell me of songs they associate with A.S. and I just think that is so cool, because I too, connect music to books and fanfics that I read. I’d like to make a list of all my readers’ songs that they think fit A.S. and share them on my next update as the “soundtrack” for this story. Please let me know yours in the comments or through message.

Pairing: SasuSaku

Previous Chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30

Chapter 31: Not Enough

Sakura spun the sword, adjusting it on her left forearm as she pivoted on her heel to bring it around her in another protective arc. The blackness that hovered before her again instantly shielded her enemies from view which could be considered both advantageous and disadvantageous for her.

For the first, Mako and Hisa immediately rushed forward, using the ninjutsu as a cloak. They crisscrossed her, one taking a swipe at her from the front right and the other coming from the left. When Hisa’s blade came from the right, Sakura’s first instinct was to dodge and strike her foe in the side with her fists as she passed. But with her chakra currently restricted, Sakura ducked, pushed up on the handle of her assault weapon with her forearm, and brought her own blade naturally to Hisa’s right flank as she redirected the attack. Sakura hissed in disappointment because the cut was interrupted when she retreated and the result was shallow, not slicing deep enough to incapacitate her. When Hisa took a step back, clutching her flank, Mako suddenly appeared like a breaching shark from the deep only inches before Sakura’s face. He kicked her, quite hard, and Sakura fell into the sand, her weapon tossed aside from the blow. She scrambled for it as Mako grabbed hold of her ankle. She kicked free of his hold, but he was upon he, knees straddling her, and Sakura had no choice but to turn and face him.

He cuffed her hands above her head, saying quietly, “Don’t make this difficult! You will lose your life if you continue to resist. They’ll kill you. Stop struggling!”

Sakura cursed herself for drinking that damn tea, because if she had chakra, she would headbutt his face so far back into his skull that the impact would instantly kill him. Hisa’s face suddenly appeared above Mako’s rights shoulder.

“Killing her is the only option. We don’t have time to hold her hostage,” she chastised Mako with venom in her voice. “We have to get back to base quickly with the news of her death.”

“We could use her. She’s too important to kill immediately.” Came Mako’s response as he sat down hard against her bucking legs.

“We don’t have time for this! The drug effects won’t last on her all the way back to Tanigakure!”

Perfect, Sakura thought. The confirmation she had been looking for. They were in fact the same party of ninja who had attacked her and Sasuke on their journey to Suna. Sakura still wasn’t entirely sure just how many belonged to their group.

“Reach in my pocket for the second dose. We will knock her back out if we have to!” came Mako’s reply, but it was too late. Sakura had been calling, calling, calling her chakra to her wrists this entire time and used that small amount of sudden strength to overpower Mako’s hold, swinging her arms quickly back down to her sides which caused Mako’s own arms to follow. His head hit the ground to the left of her neck and Sakura immediately rolled him, bestriding him the same way he had just held her.

Hisa didn’t hesitate a second as her weapon came swiping horizontally across Sakura’s back. Sakura predicted this and used Mako’s struggling momentum to once again roll him back on top of her. The blade bit into the flesh of his back and he screamed. In the same moment, Sakura used the last of her strength to wedge her knees between herself and Mako’s chest, shoving him out and back toward a surprised Hisa. They both fell tangled back into the shadowy mist, hitting sand somewhere out of sight.

Within seconds, Sakura scrambled toward the lost weapon and the sword she had dropped was within Sakura’s reach. But when she fisted the pommel, a foot stepped down on the blade. The black mist cleared to reveal the eyeless depths of the shadow demon above her.

“Enough of this,” he hissed. Shadows leaked from his eyes, down his face, and crawled down his chest, legs, and over the length of the weapon, icing Sakura’s fingers when they touched the handle. Sakura immediately recoiled in pain as her fingers turned a sickening black. She screamed, backing away from his advancing figure, hand tucked protectively in the crook between her arm and side.

Rage more than fear boiled beneath Sakura’s skin. What sick ninjutsu was this? It reminded her of a combination between Zabuza’s Hidden Mist technique and Shikamaru’s Shadow Control. But the damage was entirely unexpectedt, as if the shadows inside his body were made of a poisonous substance that bleached out the life of whatever it touched. This phantom before her controlled darkness directly, thickening what already existed in the air around them, and then leaking black chakra directly from his body which destroyed whatever came in contact with it. Like the shadows of death itself, Sakura was certain it had stollen all life from her immovable hand.

Sakura cursed and bolted to the left, seeking out the jagged rocks that she had created earlier. She had to test a theory. Sakura slowed as she clutched her hand, listening, keeping an eye on her feet at all times in fear of creeping black, knowing the phantom would pursue.

When his steps came closer, Sakura turned and faced him. A chakra-manipulated path cleared the darkness between them, allowing the two ninja to see each other in the surrounding haze. This confirmed one thing for Sakura: no one, including the ninja user himself, could see through the darkness he created. That was good to know.

Just one more thing then. She waited and the shade sneered as he approached. When he came withing a few feet away, shadows reached for her like grasping fingers. Just as she had seen Temari do all those years ago during the Chunin exams, Sakura backed away until the shadows stopped and retreated back into the skull of the demon who had projected them. She drew a line in the sand, confirming the distance of ten feet between them.

Ha. She thought to herself. Just like Shikamaru’s justsu then. Similarly, it had a limited reach, although it was much shorter than Shikamaru’s range and didn’t seem to be able to use the shadows in the air around it to lengthen or widen. It explained the purpose of the shadows in the air though; the phantom ninja needed to be in close range where individuals couldn’t see the approaching black tentacles of death.

Sakura scoffed. Apparently, this ninja couldn’t measure up to Shikamaru’s intelligence either, considering the fact that she had just figured out how his ninjutsu worked.

There was only one problem, though. Sakura was a close-combat shinobi as well, and her number one battle technique was her chakra enhanced strength. She needed a plan that would allow her to take a different approach.

She ran and her attacker pursued her, thickening the air before her but leaving the trail behind her completely clear.

Suddenly, Mako’s words from earlier came back to her, which gave Sakura an idea. It was the only thing Sakura could think of. She doubled back to where Mako and Hisa had been disposed. She followed the blood in the sand to the precipice of a jagged chunk of earth. When she came upon Mako, Sakura noted that Hisa was already gone, having abandoned him immediately. Hisa was probably blindly searching for Sakura among the shadow-cloaked mountains of ground and sand.

Sakura didn’t have much time. She placed her hand over Mako’s mouth so he wouldn’t scream and give away their location; not that it would do much good. If the phantom had room for a brain somewhere next to that pit of darkness in his skull, he would follow the blood as she had, or trace her tracks in the sand.

Mako, laying on his bloody back in the sand, shot his eyes open when Sakura’s hand pressed down hard on his mouth with her black hand. It was barely more than a useless appendage at this point, but with the help of her good hand, Sakura shoved her fingers in his mouth to silence him. He tried biting them, tearing into her blackened flesh. But Sakura couldn’t feel them at all, the deadening so complete that Sakura was afraid she would never regain use of it again.

With her free hand, Sakura searched Mako’s person. Her hand fisted triumphantly in his back pocket around something long and cylindrical. She pulled it free, praying frantically that it was what she theorized it to be. Bless you for being thorough and for telling me you had it, she thought to Mako as she surveyed the capped yellow injection tube. Whether it was Ashuwa or a second dose of whatever he had put in her tea, Sakura didn’t know. But whatever it was, Mako had revealed its purpose to Hisa which was to incapacitate her again once the current drug in her system stopped working.

Mako squirmed beneath her and Sakura contemplated killing him right then and there. But she just didn’t have time. Lucky bastard. She sprinted from him, the phantom stepping over the boulder in the same moment she darted from the concealed spot.

Did he see what she grabbed? Sakura wasn’t confident but couldn’t stop to try to interpret the eye-less facial expression the ninja wore. Remaining hopeful, she kept running.

Spotting a smaller set of tracks in the sand leaving the location, Sakura followed them, tracing them all the way to their source. When Sakura came upon Hisa, she almost collided with her directly, the blackened air only revealing her in the last second. Hisa didn’t even have a chance to react before Sakura uncapped the needle and dispensed a third of the dose into her neck, enough for her weight. The woman dropped to the ground and Sakura thanked Mako again for designing the perfect drug. Sakura didn’t estimate that she would remain unconscious for long, though, not having the full dose.

Sakura moved quickly. There was only a matter of minutes before the phantom caught up to her once again. Sakura quickly removed the cloak from Hisa’s shoulders and wrapped Hisa’s face covering around her own. She picked up Hisa’s small rapier from the ground.

She turned and walked toward the approaching footsteps, using the black at her back to her advantage this time, thankful for once that it would conceal Hisa’s body completely.

When she came into his view, the ninja balked, taken aback at her familiar presence. “Hisa?” came the hissing whisper. Sakura kept her head down long enough. Long enough to come parallel with him and turn the blade to relieve him of his head.

He ducked as Sakura knew he would. Dropping the shortsword, she came back toward his face with the hidden syringe in the same hand. Like with Hisa, she caught him in the neck with the needle neck, and his black sockets widened as she fully pressed in the plunger.

Deathly black shot out of his eye sockets, gripping her remaining hand with blackness as it traveled up her arm. She cried out in both pain and fury as the medicine injected into the demon’s skin. He screamed and she pulled away as he dropped to his knees.

His consciousness remained momentarily, and Sakura turned, arms limp and useless from damage like Orochimaru’s had been. Turning, Sakura found the sword she had dropped. Bending down, she gripped it between her teeth, the taste of metal and sand coating her tongue. It tasted so, so sweet in that second.

Like another mist demon she remembered, Zabuza Momochi, Sakura wielded the blade between her teeth and pivoted to face this monster who was solely responsible for torturing Isao, spreading hatred and pain, and most of all, underestimating her.

Sakura would never be weak enough that anyone without substance, anyone who couldn’t consider themselves subpar to a legendary Sanin, could dispose of her easily. She didn’t need abilities. She didn’t even need chakra to make it out triumphant in these futile attempts on her life.

“You will regret your choices,” the phantom hissed disorientated. “The next generation won’t be able to handle what is coming.”

Sakura began to advance toward him, ready to mimic Zabuza’s killing blows with a fang-wielded blade. When she reached him, she glared down at him, bloodlust in her veins.

“War is a good thing. Anger is a tool to be used. Vengeance is necessary to strengthen.”

Sakura gripped onto her own blood-bent mind, talking to herself as she looked at this man…beast…whatever he was. And as she had done with Satou, Sakura now too, thought of Sasuke. A person so wrapped in darkness that the darkness presented itself in his very nature.

“You, like everyone else, deserve mercy,” Sakura announced after she dropped the sword from her mouth. Sakura had once blamed herself for being too weak to kill Sasuke, but in this moment, Sakura had an enlightening clarification. When someone so vile deserves death and you can find it in yourself to drop your too-ready hand of justice and offer them a second chance—that is real strength. It’s what Naruto would have done. It’s what Sakura chose to do now.

The man slumped forward, eyes level with the blade that stuck up from the sand. “You will see one day that I am right,” he hissed in finality.

“You have us confused with one another,” she announced to the fading darkness that began to disintegrate into light, the final sign signaling his unconsciousness. Sakura could just make out the sunrise in the east and it was beautiful, pale, and rosy. Sakura pretended it was her victory banner. She also believed it was a sign of hope.

………………………………….

The second chakra pill worked another miracle. Sasuke felt replenished as he practically flew across the sand path in Isao’s memory. He had only run this fast a few times in his life and most recently, it was because of this same scenario. Kido, too, had kidnapped Sakura, and when Sasuke had found out, he had run.

Sasuke cursed himself now for his stupidity. His pride. His mission. He had left in anger and confusion after their kiss, left her alone in Suna despite his promise to never let this sort of thing happen again. Each step he took into the sand was echoed in his mind with an apology. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. He lost count of how many times he said it.

Chakra coursed through his limbs and Sasuke mentally prepared himself for war. Bones enveloped his body, ribs caging around him as he activated an incomplete Susanoo. Purple chakra radiated from him, a threatening beacon to the kidnappers he knew would be nearby.

Sasuke instantly recognized the projections of broken ground that penetrated up from the sand like a golden crown. Unlike in Isao’s shadowy memories, the morning light illuminated each pillar, revealing the sheer length and size of every new peak that Sakura had brought forth with her inhuman strength. Sasuke didn’t even think of concealing his presence; he didn’t need to. He charged into the center of the fray, looking about him everywhere.

He looked behind a few of the crags, eyes finally landing on an individual. Bloody, but not unconscious, Mako lay with his face projected to the sky. His eyes shot open when Sasuke placed a heavy foot on his chest. He wanted to light him up with his Amaterasu and let the flames devour him alive until the ninja was nothing more than the sand beneath him.

Mako groaned and Sasuke unsheathed his katana, stabbing into this ninja’s shoulder. Although he didn’t need to pin him to the ground, it felt good to watch Mako clutch at the blade near his collar bone. The medic ninja was still alive despite his blood loss, but Sasuke relished in the thought that he wouldn’t be for long. Gaara might be mad at him for this later, but Sasuke didn’t care.

“Where is she?” The Uchiha hissed as he sent electricity down the length of his blade into Mako’s chest muscles. He began to spasm.

“Stop!” Mako screamed in pain.

“It will stop when you answer!” he yelled back, losing control of his own emotions. He twisted the metal for emphasis.

“Sasuke, stop!” came a familiar voice and Sasuke’s dropped the blade in shock as Sakura threw her shoulder into him.

“I don’t have enough chakra to spare to heal any more wounds,” she reprimanded him as if she were talking to a patient.

Sasuke blinked in chastisement at the pink-haired woman standing whole before him. He instantly pulled her into his Susanoo, crushing her to his side as he extended the ribcage of the Susanoo to include her. He looked around warily as if he couldn’t quite believe there was no current threat to Sakura’s person. He finally spoke, both relief and annoyance edging his words. “You’re okay?! Where are the others?!”

“I’m fine!” she announced, face suddenly red in embarrassment at their close proximity. Sasuke didn’t notice it at first as he held her back at arm’s length to check her current state. His stomach dropped when he saw her dangling arms, blackened, charred, and bruised. One of them currently had a small halo of green around it and its color paled in comparison to the other.

“Who did this to you?” he rumbled lowly, flashing a red and purple glare back down at Mako, who whimpered pathetically from his wounds. Sakura pulled from his hand and moved in front of the Uchiha, cutting off his direction of blame.

“Not him,” she excused, and her defense thoroughly pissed Sasuke off. Whatever Mako’s role was in this, Sasuke was certain that he was to blame for all of it.

Sasuke did his best to swallow his murdering thirst, eyes landing back on her like a lifeline to his sanity. “Tell me what happened,” he ordered. It was the only words that he could force past his teeth.

“I will explain everything to you, but I need your help first.” She made to step away from him, but Sasuke prevented it. Careful not to aggravate her injuries by touching her arm, Sasuke grabbed her shirt on reflex instead, pulling her back into the safety of the Susanoo.

“It’s okay. We are safe.” she breathed, smiling at him for the first time since he had left her, which brought Sasuke back some soothing clarity of mind. “They are all incapacitated.”

Sasuke’s eyebrow shot up into his bangs. “All of them?”

“It’s insulting that you are surprised,” she nudged him with her shoulder, turning her shoulders to face Mako. She bent to medically assess his new stab wound.

“I wasn’t expecting,” he admitted, but then fell into silence at her targeted look. “I mean, I thought that you were drugged!”

“I am,” she announced, narrowing her eyes further. “But I don’t know how you know that.”

Sasuke cursed at his slip. He couldn’t tell her just yet about how he practically forced Isao to spill all the information earlier. Instead, he said half-truthfully, “I ran into the kid.”

“Isao?” Sakura’s face lit up. “He’s okay? He made it back?” She slumped into the sand at Mako’s side. She practically deflated as her concern for the boy evaporated. “Bless that child.”

Sasuke had to agree. If it weren’t for him, Sasuke wouldn’t have been able to find his teammate this quickly. Even though Sakura hadn’t really needed his help after all. How strange that felt for Sasuke, to not be needed in the ways that he had once been. It was an unexpected jolt to his mindset toward Sakura. She had proved her strength repeatedly to him and he continued to see her as someone to protect.

Before he could even offer an apology, Sakura motioned toward Mako’s body. “My arms are a little preoccupied at the moment. Do you mind flipping him?”

Sasuke’s thoughts instantly darkened at the mention of both her arms and Mako. “What for?”

“I need to look at his back. See how deep the wound is.”

“He doesn’t deserve your help,” he replied instantly, wishing for the ninja to suffer in the same ways he had made his friend.

“I remember a time when you didn’t either,” Sakura replied with a smiling voice, “but I helped you back then, too. Now flip him.”

Sasuke scoffed at her statement, stooped, and flipped the ninja on his stomach. Mako let out a pained groan and Sakura “tsked” at his blatant carelessness. He kneeled beside her, ready to be her hands despite how much he hated the thought of her trying to help him.

“It’s not as deep as I thought. Hold his flesh together,” she ordered and Sasuke did so as she summoned a small stream of chakra to the gray fingertips of her semi-healed hand. The small amount did not last long, but it was enough. Just enough to stop the bleeding.

“Why are you helping me?” Mako asked faintly into the sand, and Sasuke immediately responded for her.

“You don’t need to know, so just shut your mouth so I don’t have to hear your voice.”

Sakura nudged him for his harsh words. “You sure have a lot to say today.” And Sasuke blinked at her again in surprise. She was right; he was talking a lot…for him. He responded with another scoff.

Sakura answered Mako’s question despite Sasuke’s threat. “You believe in war. I believe in peace. We are stronger united than when we are divided. This is how I create peace.”

Sasuke wasn’t following entirely, but he knew that Sakura was referencing words that had been exchanged between them, and Sasuke recognized them as the poison from a mindset consumed in darkness.

Standing again, Sakura said, “The hard part is going to be getting them all back to Sunagakure.”

“What do you mean?” Sasuke asked.

“They’re drugged. Not all of them are dead. They’ll wake soon,” she clarified for him.

Sasuke didn’t even think before saying, “I can remedy that.”

She ignored him, continuing, “We might have to make a couple trips. How many can you carry?”

Sasuke didn’t even respond to that ridiculous notion. Instead, he activated his Rinnegan once more, feeding it with the chakra from the chakra pill. A spiral appeared before them, revealing the central red-dune dimension. Sakura didn’t even have time to protest before Sasuke was throwing Mako’s limp body inside the hole.

“What are you doing?” Sakura asked, confused and stunned by his actions.

“They can remain in this dimension until we make it back to Suna. They can’t flee inside. They have nowhere to go.”

Sakura nodded in understanding. “Good idea!” she praised him, obviously relieved she wasn’t going to have to try to carry anyone with her arms practically useless.

“I’ll take you to the others.”

A female kunoichi Sakura called Hisa was the second to be transported to Kaguya’s center dimension. Then a different sort of being Sasuke considered warily. He didn’t look to be human. Sakura explained that he had been the most dangerous of them all. Sakura believed him to be the ringleader, though she wasn’t sure how many group members he truly led. It was still a confusing web of connections.

Sakura left out the fact that this ninja must be the one to have damaged her arms, but no good would come from Sasuke demanding that she confirm that for him. The Uchiha made a mental note of it as he tossed the unconscious ninja inside, already contemplating on ways to make him talk.

“Is that all?” he asked.

“One more,” she replied, and she led Sasuke toward a small adobe house that he hadn’t noticed before. It was alone in the desert, one wall completely destroyed, revealing the building’s stark clay interior.

Just before they reached the ruins, Sakura stopped when they approached the body of a large man. Sasuke was surprised to find this man not just unconscious; he was dead.

“He hurt Isao,” she defended automatically, ashamed that death had been necessary.

But Sasuke didn’t need an explanation from her. If she wouldn’t have, Saskue was pretty sure that he would have killed him. “Let the sand have him,” he declared, but Sakura shook her head.

“He belongs with them. They must be able to bury and grieve to find peace. We don’t want to give them cause for any further resentment.”

Sasuke wanted to say “you can’t be serious,” but he didn’t feel like arguing, because no matter what Sasuke could come up with to say next, Sakura would still be right in the end. She had a bigger vision in mind that Sasuke couldn’t quite connect sometimes. He just knew that he would always trust her to do the right thing, even if it wasn’t sensible, or in most cases, not what Sasuke would have done.

“Fine,” he declared, opening the portal once more. His breathing became labored as he pushed the effects of the chakra pill. Like with the others, Sasuke dragged the man’s body into the portal.

Sasuke also stepped through, leaving the gateway open between realms. He directed his attention to Mako, ice already coating his next words.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t wander too far from this spot. The dimension is endless and not of our world. You will only lose yourself and die in this place.”

Mako swallowed deeply in fear as he watched Sasuke’s form from his stomach.

“On second thought,” Sasuke sneered under his breath. “Feel free.” The portal closed behind the Uchiha as he exited. He would deal with all of them later, he thought. He needed to get Sakura back to Sunagakure first.

………………………………

Sakura couldn’t help but whimper when her left arm wasn’t responding as quickly to her healing chakra. Her right hand—the very same one she had shoved into Mako’s mouth to keep him from screaming—had almost fully recovered as the medicine suppressing her chakra began to wear off and her healing abilities returned to her. Her left hand, however, was at first very numb, which Sakura knew was a very bad sign. But the longer she worked at healing, the more the pain began to intensify. It was almost unbearable, but Sakura was ultimately relieved at the burning sensation that indicated life. Sakura considered the differences between the two hands and all she could conclude was that distance must have had something to do with it since her right hand had a grabbed the blackened sword at his feet and her left had been near his face when she plunged the needle in his neck.

Sasuke supported her as they walked back to the Sand Village, though he suddenly seemed to her like he was the one that needed supporting. He stumbled in the sand and Sakura removed her good arm from his shoulders.

“I’m good. But are you okay?” she asked, noticing his strenuous breathing for the first time.

“Yes,” he fibbed, and Sakura knew it was a lie the minute he clutched his head to support it.

Redirecting her chakra back to her healed hand, Sakura immediately sought out Sasuke’s brow with her fingertips. He moaned with relief as green chakra lighted over it, but he instantly pushed her hand away. “Heal yourself.”

“What happened?” she responded, ignoring his demand. She found his forehead again. “There’s nothing I can do if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”

“I took two chakra pills. I’ll be fine though. I just need rest.” He removed her hand again.

Sakura inhaled sharply at the confession. “Why did you do that?”

“I had already depleted my chakra reserves when I found out you weren’t in the village. I panicked.”

“Overdosing on chakra pills is one thing,” she scolded, “but using them recklessly to overexert your Rinnegan is another. No matter how much chakra you have, you have limits with the Rinnegan.”

“It was my only choice,” he defended sharply, obviously masking his embarrassment with annoyance.

Sakura placed her glowing palm over his eyes, now certain of the source of his discomfort. Sasuke made to move her hand away once more, but she fussed like a mother when he tried. “Let me have my way, or we’ll be here longer.”

Sasuke released a small laugh that sounded like another scoff. Only Team 7 could tell the difference between Sasuke’s derisiveness and his sense of humor. Sakura couldn’t believe he had the energy to laugh. But then something changed in the air around them and Sasuke grew very serious as he inhaled—the type of inhale someone made before having something important to say.

Sasuke finally managed to grab her fingers and he tugged them away after Sakura was satisfied with his treatment. But he didn’t let go. Instead, he held them for a moment that suggested tenderness. It was different from how their hands had brushed so many times before, like how they rested them against each other as they watched Suna’s desert sunset. This time, it was more like how Sasuke had held her hand between them in the medicine preparation room.

Finally working up the courage, Sasuke looked down at her feet and said, “I’m sorry.”

Sakura stared at the firm hold his fingers had on hers in wonder. And the truly amazing part was that he stillwasn’t letting go. “For what?” she whispered, not knowing what else to say for fear of him moving away.

“For leaving you behind in Suna. For leaving in anger. For not being there and letting this happen.”

Sakura didn’t let him continue. “Sasuke,” she began, catching his guilty eyes with her own. “You don’t have to worry about me anymore. I hope I have proved that to you, today. Please don’t burden yourself with worry for me. I can carry my own burdens and some. You already have the weight of the world on your shoulders.”

Sasuke searched her eyes with his. Sakura knew this was a rare occasion. Not many people would see the Uchiha open, unguarded, with care etched in every feature of his expression.

“I’ve been thinking,” he said suddenly, still holding her fingers tightly, and Sakura felt the whole world suddenly still around them. Even the desert wind seemed to stop. Was this the Sasuke she had always known was inside, no matter how roughly he displayed himself to the world?

“I’m sorry for what happened,” Sakura interrupted, afraid for another impending denial of her feelings. She knew what was coming and she didn’t want this small moment to end. “I won’t do that again.”

He paused and Sakura wondered if he was unsettled by the open acknowledgement of her stollen kiss.

He sighed and Sakura’s stomach dropped. She felt him hesitate, saw it in his face. But he resolved himself, declaring, “I came to a conclusion while I was away, and I have to say this while I have the nerve.”

Sakura nodded, ready for disappointment. She was more afraid of what he would say next than she had ever felt going toe-to-toe with her enemies just moments ago.

“Can it be enough for us to care for one another?” he asked, desperation cloaked with mock annoyance on his breath. “Can it just be enough for us to be friends as long as we are in each other’s lives sometimes? Can it be enough for us to be united in the same goal?”

Sakura’s heart sank and unhappiness hit her like the wave she was expecting. Tears threatened to brim her eyelids, but Sakura swallowed them down. Would he ever not be this thickheaded and stubborn? Would he ever let them be what they could be? Whether or not Sakura was simply high on victory or if she was genuinely losing her meekness in Sasuke’s presence, Sakura wasn’t sure.

She removed her hand from his. “Is it enough for you?” she finally asked, taking a step away from him. But he caught her fingers again, pulling her back gently to face him.

“Is that a no?” he asked emotionlessly, but Sakura saw the struggle in his eyes.

“When the answer becomes ‘yes’ for you, I will accept it as mine as well.” She pulled away, firmly this time. He couldn’t respond. Sakura knew why: he wanted to put this on her; he was always putting it back on her, afraid “because of her,” hesitant “because of her.” These were his excuses, but Sakura wouldn’t give him an out this time. It was his turn to choose.

They both knew that it was far too late for Sasuke to pretend he didn’t love her in the same way that Sakura loved him. But Sakura had learned that people love in many ways and not all people wanted to express that love romantically. Kissing Sasuke had been a mistake. She hated to call it that, but it was the truth of it. She didn’t want to steal from him what he wasn’t ready to give—what he wasn’t at peace with. It was his turn; he now knew where she stood.

………………………………..

When they finally made it back to the Hidden Sand Village, Kankuro was there to intercept them just as Sasuke had expected he would. The puppet-wielding ninja was beside himself with worry at seeing Sakura’s injuries, insisting that Sakura promptly return to the hospital. Sakura had insisted she tend to her own wounds back in their lodgings so she could rest. She immediately requested to see Isao, but Kankuro insisted she get some rest first.

It wasn’t until Sasuke insisted that he have an audience with him and Gaara, that he left Sakura to her own desires. As they parted, Sasuke tried to say something or grab her eyes with his, but she didn’t look at him. Not even once. And Sasuke ran his hand exhaustedly through his hair. He couldn’t think about them right now. A conference with the Kazekage would be the perfect distraction.

Gaara, miraculously, had returned before he and Sakura had, and Sasuke wondered just how fast news could travel. Sasuke privately joked with himself that the desert shared its secrets with the Kazekage. The wind and sand must speak to him if he found out things so quickly. It was a hypothesis that could explain a lot at least.

Sasuke shook his head as he followed Kankuro into the Kazekage’s office. He must be getting delirious from the effects of the chakra pills.

“Sasuke,” came Gaara’s raspy acknowledgement when the Uchiha stepped into the room. Gaara was surprisingly alone, which relieved Sasuke. He thought he would have to face Gaara with the “support” of his council. It would be easier to speak of recent events if only Gaara and Kankuro were present.

Sasuke nodded respectfully despite his feelings of resentment toward the two men at the moment for having let Sakura be kidnapped under their watch. As a ninja that was a part of this unpredictable shinobi world, Sasuke knew his anger was unjustified, but he wanted to be mad at anyone and everyone right now. 99% of his own anger was directed at himself, because Sasuke knew that he was more responsible for what happened than the Kazekage and his brother were. The Kazekage had been trying to be proactive and prevent something like this from happening. It just didn’t turn out that way.

The Kazekage seemed to share Sasuke concern for discreetness, because he cloaked the room in sand as he had done the first day of Sasuke arrival. It filled every crevice, thickening to soundproof the room.

Sasuke opened the portal into Kaguya’s central dimension without further delay. He walked into the vortex, not surprised the group remained exactly where he had left them. The only difference was that they were conscious, a fact that slightly irked the Uchiha.

One by one, he grabbed each ninja, tossing them forward into the Kazekage’s domain. Hisa clutched at her dead counterpart, holding onto the deceased brute. Sasuke found grim satisfaction in Mako’s subdued, yielding persona. Being present before the Kazekage was far more terrifying than being stuck in a desolate dimension.

But the individual that held both Sasuke and the Kazekage’s attention was the wraith-like individual that bled darkness from a small spot on his neck. It was his only injury.

Gaara carefully considered him, crossing his arms and surveying him emotionlessly as he did most enemies that he regarded.

Darkness suddenly began to ooze from the man’s eye sockets and Sasuke’s temper suddenly flared. He looked to Gaara, and the ninja nodded his permission.

“Only demons don’t seem to know when they’re in the presence of other demons. Shall I show you hell?”

Sasuke’s eye suddenly began to bleed as he formed the tiger seal for fire release. “Amaterasu!”

The black flames clung to the phantom, incinerating what Sasuke realized was dark masses of sinewing, vaporized flesh. The phantom hissed. Then screamed, then began to plead for mercy. Hisa began to cry and Mako turned his face away from their leader.

Gaara came up beside Sasuke to speak to the wraith as he writhed. Sasuke released the Amaterasu and the flames receded.

The Kazekage crouched, an arm on his knee. “From one demon to another, I urge you to leave your shadows behind in hell and step out into the light. Only demons desire war. And war breeds more demons.”

Sasuke clutched his eye in silent suffering, and Gaara dismissed him. “I’ll handle the rest. I’ll let you know what we find out.”

Sasuke nodded, not waiting for any further excuses to depart. He had delivered them into the Kazekage’s care. But what those ninja didn’t know was that Sakura’s mercy held Sasuke more confined than it did the Kazekage, a demon just as he had said, whose territory had been breached.

……………………

Sakura was finishing binding her tender left hand in medical bandaging, using up the last of her burn solvent that she had created at Suna’s hospital, when Sasuke walked in.

He opened the door, caught her eyes with his, and tried to hide the bloody track down his face from her with his hand. She was on her feet instantly, pulling him to the bed that he had staked his claim on.

She felt his forehead and it was hot, too hot. He had done it this time. She sighed, summoning the small reserve of chakra behind the diamond mark on her forehead.

She expected Sasuke to scold her for using what little she had left on him, but he didn’t seem to notice in his extreme exhaustion. “Thank you,” he whispered, and Sakura retreated to fetch water for him.

He gulped it greedily and Sakura helped him shrug out of his outer layer of clothing. Sand fell from his hair and clothes in the same way hers had earlier. “I’m better now,” he whispered, the first words spoken between them since their disagreement in the desert.

Sakura nodded, making to move away, but he grabbed her hand for the third time that day.

“Don’t be angry,” he begged, his exhaustion making him suddenly careless to conceal his true intentions with fake displeasure and irritation.

“Why do you think I am angry?” she asked emotionlessly.

“I just want what’s best for you. I don’t want to hurt you,” he whispered in defeat. This side of Sasuke startled Sakura. He was becoming more undefended, open with emotions in a way she had never seen him before. Was it because he didn’t have anything to hide anymore? Was he past his denials and his pretending?

“I know,” she squeezed his hand back. “But your concerns are groundless.”

“Tell me how,” he pleaded.

She sat beside him on his bed, and he tilted his ear to her, never removing his hand from hers. She took a breath and told him the truth. Told him everything he needed to know. “I do not love you sacrificially, Sasuke. I do not choose you knowing that my life or happiness could be forfeit by doing so. I choose you because I can keep up with you. Because something like your absence wouldn’t be enough to determine my permanent happiness. I will choose to go on, content with only the thought that I know you are out there somewhere loving me if that is all that I have in the moment.”

She took a breath and continued before he could respond. “I am strong enough to handle whatever comes my way as a result of loving you. And I have absolutely no doubts in my feelings, my happiness, and what I am willing to compromise to be with the person I love most.”

Sakura reached tenderly to turn his face to hers and their eyes met. She touched his forehead in the same way he had done to her many times before. “That person is you,” she reassured him, offering him a sincere smile as she removed her hand from his forehead.

Then Sasuke leaned forward. Very close to her, and Sakura bit her lip to keep from reaching for his with her own. “Is all of that true?” he requested again, suddenly breathless. And Sakura knew later that it was just to be sure before what came next.

“Yes,” she breathed. And she didn’t have to reach for him, because he was suddenly reaching for her. His hand found her chin and Sakura waited for his choice. She waited for him to move. And he did.

“Then my answer is no; it’s not enough for me either.” When his lips carefully parted her own, Sakura knew without a doubt that he had decided to find some way possible for them, a path where he could choose her, too.

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