Grains of Golden Sand 1/?
Title: Grains of Golden Sand
Author: Ren Apple
Pairing: GaaSasu
Warning: Yaoi. Death. Mature Themes.
Rating: R
Word Length: 2280 words
Summary: He was ordered to betray the ones he loved most. Now, he must fight for what he has left.
A/N: Still not beta-ed but don’t hate me. I have totally re-edited this, and it took awhile. Chapter Three is coming! I have not forgotten, and with FU well… It actually has a beta going over it, that is why it hasn’t been updated either.
Chapter 1: Time Stands Still
Crates lay overturned, along with a haphazardly packed satchel hanging on the wall. His bed was unmade, but hours from now it would not matter.
His thoughts were a chaotic haze, weighing heavily upon his shoulders. Konoha had been his home, the only place he had ever felt safe. It was the village Hidden in the Leaves, and Sasuke missed it dearly.
Three years had past since, he had left Konoha to follow the last of the legendary Sannin, Orochimaru. Many believed in his desperation to become strong enough to avenge his clan, he would have willingly sacrificed his body and mind for power. However, it is not so.
On the Gondaime’s orders Uchiha Sasuke’s mission, as he had chosen to accept the arduous challenge was to infiltrate Otogakure under any means necessary. He was to draw no attention to himself and the obligatory operatives would be notified. Unfortunately this did not include the Sakura, Naruto, and Kakashi-sensei, the people he preferred to think of his adoptive family. The only people in his human deprived world, he had actually cared for rather than tolerated.
He sighed heavily, tearing through his scattered belongings. He had not brought much to Oto, and he would be leaving with even less. The exception the Kusanagi Orochimaru had presented to him on his arrival.
His thoughts scattered again. Would Sakura’s undying loyalty sustain the damage of these accusations against him? Could his brother and best friend Naruto, who had been injured during the accomplishing of his mission? He had punched a hole through his Naruto’s heart… literally at the Valley of the End. How could Naruto possibly forgive him? Would Kakashi? He couldn’t be sure. The perverted jounin was an enigma unto itself.
Sasuke clenched his fists tightly, blinking away the whirlwind of thoughts. He looked down at his hands, delicate and pale, Uchiha hands, where soft exterior belied the hidden strength. He brushed one through his hair, sighing.
Everything was going so fast, it seemed more than a few years had past since he had arrived in Otogakure. Where nothing was as it seemed. Pain and suffering of your fellow shinobi were an essential part of every day life. Only the strong could possibly survive. In his time here, Sasuke had witnessed many things no man or child should ever have to see. This world was not Konoha and it made him long for home.
He snapped at himself, this was not the time to face his regrets. Orochimaru’s malevolent chakra was quickly approaching his quarters.
The snake would be coming for his body now, and Sasuke had spent three years of his life preparing… training for this. Orochimaru was only a mere hundred meters away. Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, he thought.
Silently, the door opened. “Good evening, Sasuke-kun.”
Sasuke would not go without a fight. The Uchiha clan would be avenged. He had sworn to it.
He bowed politely. “Good evening, Orochimaru-sama.”
Orochimaru’s unnaturally long tongue licked around his pale lips. “It is time, Sasuke-kun.” He stalked towards Sasuke with a single minded intent. “I will grant you one wish.”
Fear and disgust were two of the main emotions he was feeling. He knew the Sannin could not grant his wish. “I wish to kill Itachi.”
A sincere expression made its way across Orochimaru’s face. “You don’t have to worry, Sasuke-kun. Your strong will to kill Itachi will remain within me. You will not lose everything.”
An ominous purple chakra began to rise from Orochimaru, and he smiled wickedly. “Is there anything else?”
Sasuke’s fingers itched to grab his Kusanagi.
“Well then, I will take your body.”
He quickly reached for his Kusanagi thrusting it in Orochimaru’s direction, standing ready to defend himself. Blue Chakra sparkled around his entire body as he channeled the Chidori Nagashi. In truth it most likely would not kill Orochimaru but it would cause temporary paralysis and give him a chance to strike the killing blow.
The dark purple chakra pulsed angrily and forcefully receded into Orochimaru, whose slitted eyes glared menacingly. “What are you doing, Sasuke-kun?”
“Do you think your Kakashi-sensei and your Naruto-kun would really accept you back Sasuke-kun?” He said, purring the honorific out on his tongue.
Sasuke glared and set his jaw.
“What about your precious Sakura-chan?”
“It is not about them, this is about me. And I will not be yours.” Sasuke rushed Orochimaru, his Kusanagi forward. “This is the end.”
The world swam becoming a series of blows and forbidden jutsus and suddenly before Sasuke could discern a change he became aware of the slick feel of Orochimaru’s inhuman tongue wrapping around his neck. His hands clenched tightly between the tongue and his neck, leaving Sasuke gasping for breath.
The Kusanagi lay forgotten on the floor. He could not suffocate! If he lost consciousness it would all be over. Everything he lived for, everyone who had died would mean nothing.
“No!” Sasuke screamed. Mangekyou Sharingan whirled to life, and in his shock Orochimaru released his tongue.
Sasuke’s eyes widened. This was his chance, probably his only chance to live. Pain surged through his eyes, but he could not close them. He stared into Orochimaru’s yellow eyes. “I am an avenger.”
The scene faded to black.
It has been told whatever Orochimaru saw in those eyes wrought screams of terror deafening they silenced the entire village of Oto. What happened next has been derived from Yakushi Kabuto, who was the only survivor of the massacre.
Moments before Orochimaru had fallen, Kabuto had finally decided to help his ailing master. The medic-nin had been watching the entire battle on his screen in the medical wing before coming to his leader’s aid. The information was unavailable as to why he waited until Orochimaru had been in dire need of assistance, but it is assumed the rift caused by the arrival of the Uchiha. Who had cultivated an extreme distrust and jealousy between the two.
Kabuto had preached his theory that there was a mole in Otogakure, which had been taken as paranoia by the Sannin. Unfortunately, as Orochimaru’s body fell to the ground his proof had finally been solidified, but it had been too little too late.
Kabuto had fought for his fallen leader till the last of is strength had faded and he was left broken and bleeding on the floor. He said there had been a craze in those Sharingan eyes that was undefeatable.
Sasuke had looked down at him mercilessly and said. “You will not die, Kabuto. For you alone must be the one who tells what has happened here tonight. Tonight there will be a cleansing of Sound.”
He had turned his back on Kabuto then. A stupid, callous mistake in any situation against an enemy shinobi, but Kabuto did nothing. He could do nothing. Neither of his legs were responding and his chakra was severely depleted. His chakra would not even kick start itself to begin healing the damage.
He watched in horrified shock as Sasuke severed Orochimaru’s left hand, the hand that carried his Akatsuki ring, from the rest of his body. He opened his mouth to protest, but Sasuke turned and left the room without a glance in his direction. Leaving Kabuto injured and bleeding on the blood stained floors.
Fires and screams blazed from every corner of Sound that night, as the Avenger rang out his justice. Not a soul realizes how much sound there is in silence. In later days this day would be known as the Otogakure Massacre, and in Sasuke’s mind the day the Uchihas lived again.
In the village of Konoha, the morning sun was just peaking through the trees as two ANBU squad members carried the unconscious body of white-haired Oto shinobi through the streets.
The Hokage sat at her desk with a grave expression upon her face. Reconnaissance had slowly been trickling in from the north eastern border of fire country for the last couple of hours. The information recovered plainly stating Otogakure had been obliterated. There were no survivors, until ANBU had discovered one injured party underneath the rubble, missing-nin Yakushi Kabuto.
As Hokage it was essential she discover the events that occurred the night before in Otogakure surrounding Orochimaru and the Uchiha boy. It had been he orders that sent him there, and if he was dead she needed to notify Kakashi. She had promised.
The door creaked, and Shizune walked in.
Their eyes met.
“Tsunade-sama. He is awake.” Shizune solemnly stated.
Citizens and shinobi alike stopped and stared as the Gondaime rushed through the streets followed discreetly by four ANBU shinobi and Shizune obediently following at her side. Even Naruto knew not to disturb her at this time. Though his eyes promised he would find out what was going on.
Tsunade stepped through the Hospital doors, and was instantly led to the traitorous ninja. Upon entering the room she immediately repeated his offenses. “Yakushi Kabuto. You are here by charged with high treason against Konohagakure on the following counts: aiding and abetting an enemy of Konohagakure; aiding and abetting a S-class criminal; the murder of countless nins belonging to the villages of Sunagakure, Konohagakure, Kumogakure, Takigakure and Amegakure; providing confidential information concerning Konohagakure to an enemy; espionage; conduct unbecoming of a shinobi; possession of jutsu forbidden by the laws of the village and the laws of shinobi; and defection from Konohagakure.”*
Kabuto blinked blearily at the Hokage and nodded indifferently. “Is that why you have come?”
She gave him a stern look. “No. I am allowing you the courtesy of knowing why have allowed ANBU to continue to restrain you to that bed. As a captured missing-nin you have no rights, and only by telling me what exactly what happened between the hours of 1600 and 0800 hours last night may you be allowed even a miniscule amount of leniency.”
Kabuto gave her a lazy smirk. “Is that all?”
Tsunade in the mood for none of his behavior gave him a debilitating glare and turned to leave.
Kabuto could see no benefits coming from his silence. “Alright, I will tell you!”
Tsunade stopped half way to the door, her back still facing him.
A hollow, dead laugh escaped from the injured shinobi. “Your Sasuke-kun killed them. He killed them all, Tsunade-sama!”
She turned around quickly and checked his face for dishonesty, her expression changing from anger to shock at finding none. How could it have been possible for a sixteen year old boy to slaughter an entire village of trained shinobi and one of the legendary Sannin? Could Itachi have done that? “Kabuto, where is the Uchiha now?” She asked urgently.
“How would I know you old hag?” He yelled as hysterical tears ran down his face. “He cut off his hand! He cut off Orochimaru-sama’s goddamn hand!”
Shizune, who had stood between the Hokage and Kabuto during the entire inquiry, pushed a calming green chakra into Kabuto. Slowly, relaxing his post-traumatic stressful emotions.
The Hokage thought carefully over what Sasuke’s next actions might be. It seemed clear to her that the boy would find a safe place to lie low until the controversy cooled, before returning to Konoha. Which meant the Uchiha would constantly be on the move. She was in alarm to uncover her limitability until he contacted her first. Suddenly a thought struck her, and she quickly left the room leaving Shizune and Kabuto unaccompanied.
Kabuto wiped his face, and pushed up his glasses. He pulled the blanket up to his chest, angrily. He still could not feel his legs. “Shizune-san, will I ever have the use of my legs?”
Pity was engulfed in the look she gave him, but he assumed she was not one to lie. She hadn’t seemed the type.
“In limited use, we are assuming yes. When you arrived the muscles and nerves were completely severed with chakra. And Tsunade-sama has used all the skills and resources at her disposal to reconnect the tendons, but she had very little to work with at the beginning.” Her expression turned sad, but her voice remained in that factual tone. “It is likely you will never have the range of motion as before but with physical therapy you might be able to walk again.”
His face turned ashen.
“This is just my opinion but the Uchiha did not permanently disable you, but he made sure you would never be a shinobi again.” She sighed. “I am sorry, Kabuto, truly.”
When Tsunade arrived at her office Naruto was already waiting outside. He jumped to his feet immediately when he caught sight of her approaching. “Tsunade baa-chan, what is going on?”
“Naruto, this is not the time!” Tsunade said, before closing her office door in Naruto’s face.
Naruto’s was stunned, but it only took him a moment to unfreeze from his shock and begin rapping his knuckles harshly on the door. “Tsunade baa-chan! Tsunade baa-chan! Open the door! Tsunade baa-chan!”
Footsteps sounded from behind him, “Naruto-kun! Be quiet. Tsunade-sama is very busy! She does not always have time for your shenanigans.” Shizune said, before yanking his ear between her fingers and dragging him out of the Hokage Tower. She threw him into the street. “And don’t come back till someone comes and gets you!”
He looked up at the tower angrily. Something big must have happened if Tsunade baa-chan was this upset. Even Shizune-san was feeling it. He couldn’t think of anything that could happened that would have caused this. Maybe the Ero-sennin knew. Yeah, he thought, the Ero-sennin had to know!
He got up, rubbing at his butt and headed to the onsen. Where he knew he could find the Ero-sennin.
*Taken from NayanRoo's "Illusion"