Meeting Team Ro
Sasuke was still alive so the seal worked! And to top it all of he wasn't even in the middle of a battlefield or the ocean! ( which very well could have happened after all his way of traveling to the past had no defined direction or place). Sasuke should have been relieved.
Yet, as he was looking around the nature- for he was deep in the middle of some woods- he wished he was absoloutely anywhere else.
Sasukes sensing skills still sucked after less than two months of practice. Yet he could umistakenly make out a chakra signature he had never conciously felt or looked for but that had been there for almost all his life and belonged to the person in his deepest nightmares, the person who ruined everything and killed everyone...
Itachi was near.
Sasuke wanted to cry, run, hide, yet he already knew all of this was ultimately useless.
Itachi had always been a genius, had always been better than him. There was no world in which his brother wouldn't find him after Sasuke had spread out his chakra in order to sense- which would have made him noticeable too.
No matter how old or what team Itachi was on right now, if there was an Uchiha outside Konhas walls that shouldn't be, he would investigate and find him.
Still. Sasuke was Sasuke. Giving up had never been in his vocabulary.
So he sunshinned away, over and over again, running away from the person he once held dear that was now just a part of his nightmares, memories and fears.
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Team Ro had completed another classified Mission outside Konoha and was on the way back when their youngest Member just stopped put of nowhere.
It didn't take long till the others took notice of that.
" Oi, Weasel, something wrong?" Hound, their captain inquired, voice sharp and emotionless.
" It's...weird. It feels like Sasuke is near. " Itachi said, matter of factly. " Maybe I just didn't sleep enough..." he drifted off.
" Otter, can you sense around?" Hound commanded.
It could very well be that Itachi was just missing his brother ( he often did, he was a little obsessed with the kid and not a nission went by when he didn't mention his kid-brother at least once) but if he wasn't it would be very worrying.
There was something going on between Konoha and the Uchiha, though Hound didn't know what. Loosing one of their heirs would definetly escalate things. And Itachi would never forgive himself if he didn't investigate the mere suspision that his brother was in danger ( Hound was under no illudions that the kid would losten and not run off anyways).
To top it all of they were near kumo- and both a uchiha being here and one being kidnapped by them would instigate another war.
" Captain there is indeed...an Uchiha presence there. Or more. It's a bit weird, like there are lots of tiny specks of chakra almost hugging one that is slightly different than them. And they are moving fast, away from us."
" Well, then team, looks like we cannot go home quiet yet. Pursue!"
" Yes, Captain."
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It was quite a chase. Even though they were anbu and could be super fast, the person running from them was fast too.
Throughout the chase Hound figured that the person they were pursuing was a ninja and if Itachis kid brother was there he at least wouldn't be alone.
After all, an academy student wouldn't know how to use chakra to enhance ones speed or how to even use the sunshin.
Still, the person Tenzo had eventually ensnared in a wood prison was just a boy- and exactly who Itachi had presumed to be, appereantly.
" Sasuke?" Itachi said disbelievingly, coming closer.
When the kid flinched away from him, trying to be emotionless- but Hound did notice that his eyes were red from crying and there was a lone, undried tear on his cheek, Itachi crouched down, took of his mask.
" Hey, it's just me, your brother. You are safe."
There was a choked, desperate laughing sound from the kid. " No, I'll never be safe. Especially not with you." The kid blurted out, very fast, his eyes spinning red with pure condemtion and hatred.
Then he slapped his hand in front of his mouth as if to prevent himself from saying anything more and glared.
The kid took a deep breath and removed his hand. " Anyways, what do you guys want from me?"
Itachi looked a mixture of absoloutely confused and worried.
But before he could say anything Hound spoke up.
" We discovered your signature on the way back from a mission. Your brother was worried so we investigated. Now how did you get here?"
Sasuke was silent.
" Sasuke we really need to do know that. Did anyone kidnap you or bring you here?" Itachi asked, still worried about his baby brother who was behaving unusual and who really should not be here. " And where do those clothes come from? I've only seen this coat at Aunt Keiko, did she give it to you?"
If Glares could kill Itachi would be dead.
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Sasuke didn't know how to proceed. He didn't want to tell them anything.
Anbu obeyed the Hokage without question- and the Hokage handn't even let him burn his peoples bodies. Had disobeyed at least one fundamental founding principal, a right that the uchiha had even when they dtill fought with the senju.
Danzo, the person with much influence who had his ear hsd also been after Uchiha land.
All of that combined with the gact that Itachi had killed everyone and was Anbu- which means that it could have been an order- meant that Sasuke could not trust anyone here. At all...
If he didn't talk here they would maybe torture him- but Sasuke was used to torture, albeit the mental mind only. He would prevail for his people, as he had done ever since the massacre two months ago. He needed to stay strong.
Trying to sound strong and not intimidated or scared, Sasuke spoke. " I'll tell father."
" What?" Itachi raised an eyebrow.
" I'll only tell father what happend."
" Kid." Hound butted in. " I don't think you understand what situation you are in right now.
Sasuke shrugged. " The worst you can do is torture me- I'm used to that. As long as I remain a mystery you won't kill me yet...probably. It's worth the shot."
He smiled. It was only a little fake. He knew very well that the situation he was in couldn't be much worse, that everyone herr could kill him with their fingertips and that he was playing a dangerous game.
Yet, he also knew he was right- him being here was too weird to be unadressed so they would investigate things.
" I won't let anyone torture you." Itachi protested.
Sasuke couldn't not laugh. It was too funny in a really disturbing way- the person who tortured him, slaughtered his people, made his life total agony and stripped away any kind of job he ever had, the person who had made him want to die, said he would never let anyone torture him.
" Aah. That was unpolite." Sasuke apologized after he had stopped laughing after a few minutes while everyone just sort of stared at him and Itachi and each other not knowing what to do.
"It's fine..." Hound aknowledged. " Looks like you are joining us on the way to Konoha then. Don't try to run, we'd catch you anyways and then you'd be carried by someone."
"...Fine." Sasuke agreed. " Will you let me out of this wood-thing then?" He didn't comment on his surprise about the existence of mokuton at this point in time - if it wasn't known it was likely a secret and it wasn't important for him.
" Yes." The person with the wood-jutsu- he wore a cat-mask- freed him.
" Thanks." Sasuke aknowledged with a nod.
" Can you keep up?" The Person with the dog-mask inquired.
" He can't he is just a kid..." Itachi butted in. " I can just carry him. " He offered.
Sasuke would rather die. " I can. "
" Good. If you can't somebody will carry you- we are already going to be a bit late because of this little detour, we shouldn't make it much longer."
Sasuke nodded grimly and after that there were no protests.
The anbu were fast ( though not as fast as they coukd be, Sasuke knew they had been faster when they pursued him) and Sasuke kept pace, even when his lungs were protesting and he had to draw on the artifact chakra. He ran until the earth swam and everything went back.
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" That took longer than I thought." Hound aknowledged,
glancing towards the passed-out kid.
" Why did we do this again?" Itachi asked grimly, his kid-brother protectively cradled in his arms. His glare was much like Sasukes, if Glares could kill, Hiund would be dead.
" To see if he had help with running away or not. Seeing as he could keep up with a slightly reduced pace and his legs are tiny, he could have easily been alone." Hound explained, again.
Anbu had dozens of Handsigns and his team had even more. Unbeknownst to the kid they had constructed this plan despite Itachis heavy protests. It was important. Now they could more or less outrule a nearby kidnapper.
The Team still didn't know what to make with the boy
But one thing was clear. He was definetly very different from what Itachi knew.
Itachi furrowed his eyes.
" Listen, you can complain all you want later..." Hound started but Itachi just shook his head.
" He is so light...lighter than when I carried him inside after he fell asleep in the training grounds a week ago. I just...wonder what happened to him."
" We'll know what happened once he is in Konoha." Cat answered.
" Yes, he said he'd talk to your Father after all. Sparrow agreed. " Plus there's also always the Yamanaka."
" He is too young for that." Itachi scowled, stroking the unconcious kids hair.
They were still running, now faster, and Itachi had insisted on carrying his brother.
" He might not have a choice. It's protocol..." Cat added.
" For shinobi. Sasuke is still in the academy, he is a civillian." Itachi insisted.
" That might not matter." Sparrow but in. " But I'm sure they'll be careful, after all, he is a heir to your family."
Gentle. The Yamanaka. Hah.
They could be but nothing changed the fact that if they did just read his mind it would be a huge invasion of privacy, a kind of violation only wished upon the enemy. They all knew that.
To change the topic, Hound spoke. " Did you already inquire what's going on with your clan and if they know anything about Sasuke being here?"
Itachi nodded. " Yeah. But it could take a few days before Sishuis crow reaches me."
" Good. Then for now we can just wait, go home and keep an eye on him. I think we should settle down for the night, it's getting dark."
It was painfully obvious that this was for Itachis benefit whi was steadily growing more exhausted and still refused to hand the boy over for anyone else.
They had gone through nights before and it wasn't that dark yet, the sun was just beginning to go down.
But nobody protested and so the Team set up camp.
Itachi put Sasuke on his own bedroll.
"We are taking three shifts.
Sparrow, Otter, you have the first shift. Cat, Itachi, you have the second. I'm taking the last. Any complaints?"
Hound asked.
" Wouldn't it be better to take five?" Otter inquired.
" Normally yes but someone needs to be aware of our surroundings and someone else needs to keep track of the kid." Hound relented.
This was easily accepted and people settled down.
Otter kindly lent Itachi his bedroll.
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When Sasuke woke up, he was laying on something soft.
He needed a moment to reorient himself and remembered.
The seal had worked and then- Itachi. They caught him. Anbu. Of course he wouldn't be able to outrun anbu.
But well, at least he wasn't dead yet.
He wanted to run, to disappear but he knew he couldn't. Normal teams kept watch, even the uchiha clan kept watch ( not that it helped them) so he would be instantly caught if he went away.
He would just have to face this situation and hope it wasn't Itachi keeping watch.
With that thought, Sasuke opened his eyes.
The sun was starting to rise up. He was laying on a bedroll and most of the other masked people were sleeping on some too, Including Itachi.
There was one person sitting there, surveying the environment- and him, Sasuke notes, as the man gazed at him.
Well. The anbu already knew he was not asleep anymore. No use pretending.
Sasuke sat up, moved from the bedroll to a huge stone, sat down and rumbled through his Coat-povkets until he found a mealbar and a bottle of water ( Seals were very practical for this.) Then he pulled out a whole tomato too, figuring he deserved a treat for not wholly loosing his mind.
But could he eat it? He was more than two months in the past, did that make the tomato over two months old? Or was it the freshest thing ever since it was from the future.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes, deep in thought.
He was interrupted by the dog-masked person.
" Maa...that tomato won't bite you. It's certainly unique to carry that around though."
Sasuke glared at him, struggling with how on earth he should respond to that. Eventually he settled for shrugging, biting into it -it probably wouldn't kill him- and, after he had eaten half of it, replying " Everyone needs a nice treat once in a while. Tomato's make living nicer." before eating the rest of it, wiping his mouth and taking a big gulp of water.
" So you don't normally like living?" The man inquired.
Sasuke in lieu of a better response shrugged. Anbu were elite shinobi. They would spot a lie a mile away.
" Didn't say that."
" You also didn't deny it." the Anbu pressed.
Sasuke fell silent. No matter what he'd say, the anbu would come to his own conclusions. He already had enough to deal with Itachi.
Instead, he pulled out a mealbar, ate it, threw the trash into his pockets, pulled out another tomato and ate it, again like it was an apple.
" You're eating it like it's candy." The man observed. Sasuke shrugged.
The morning before everyone woke up was peaceful. When they did not so much.
Mostly because Itachi walked towards him.
His voice was gentle when he squatted in front of him.
" Are you feeling better today Sasuke? "
Sasuke scowled. On order to try to not have a conversation he eventually " Hnned" when Itachi didn't move away.
" I'm glad." Itachi said. " You were talking in your sleep."
Sasuke shrugged. " Doesn't everyone?"
" Did you have a nightmare?" Itachi enquired.
Sasuke shook his head. " Memories."
Saying this might already be too much. But...before Itachi was a monster, Itachi was his beloved big brother. Sasuke didn't know what he was right now though...only that it couldn't be that many months before the Massacre. After all, Sasuke had grown a bit from five to six and Itachi hadn't made a comment about him being taler or enquired about that or anything. And Itachi was too much of a perfectionist not to notice that.
They fell into uncomfortable silence in which Itachi looked at Sasuke like he was trying to figure out a riddle while Sasuke did everything but look into his eyes.
They were in this little stare-down until the dog-mask interrupted them.
" Let’s head out for the day then. Kid, think you can keep up again?"
Sasuke nodded. " I can try."
Wether Itachi was a monster yet or not, Sasuke was uneasy in his presence and yet he knew without doubt that his brother would probably carry him if he said no. It made sense- he was the one that they thought Sasuke would trust, as his brother.
So they set out.
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When they finally took a small food break in the middle of small clearing somewhere - Sasuke still had no idea where they were and asking questions would just arise more questions in them, Sasuke pulled out another Tomato and bit into it.
" So that hasn't changed..." Itachi mumbled sounding almost fondly. Sasuke didn't know If he was pretending and already a monster or not.
"... How many tomatoes do you carry with you?" The dog-mask asked, astonished.
Sasuke thought for a moment. This...wasn't really valuable information. They hadn't searched him yet ( as far as he knew) so not replying would only maybe be suspicious.
" Twenty-seven." He answered shortly.
"...That's a lot." Otter stated the obvious.
" No. I wish I had more." Sasuke protested.
" Well...you can't only eat tomatoes." Itachi but in. " So it's probably best that you don't have more. You do need to eat other things too."
It was weird, really. Anytime Itachi showed a smother of kindness or care about him, Sasuke couldn't stop thinking if he was a monster or the brother he was before he became a monster. That made him simutaneously want to murder him, run away and cry into his arms. This was exhausting.
This Itachi didn't know about Sasukes feelings though.
Which meant that he should probably answer.
"...I do eat other things." Sasuke protested pulling out a meal bar- this one was coffe-flavored, sasuke liked it and eating it demonstratingly.
" You should eat more." Itachi pushed.
The anbu had all long since eaten their own food- also some kind fo high calorie chakra bars.
" This meal-bar is the kind dad uses, it doesn't really count as a meal, more like a snack."
Sasuke...hadn't ever quite thought about how many calories he was consuming and wether a meal-bar was enough or not, he had just eaten something, mostly two to three meal bars a day and maybe a bento or tomatoes if he had school so that his body wouldn't collapse and his stomach wouldn't growl ( that was annoying). Had he...not eaten enough a lot of times? Well it didn't matter now anyways.
" I ate tomatoes with it though." He retorted.
But his visible confusion must have been obvious.
" Sasuke have you just been eating one of those for a meal in the past week?" Itachi asked, sounding kind of worried ( which again set the monster yet or not debate in his head). In lieu of a response Sasuke shrugged.
Itachi sighed. " Just...eat one more, okay?" Sasuke didn't want to make a deal out of it, glad they had dropped the topic. It made him feel uncomfortable ro think about it.
So he just hnned and put another one- grape-flavored this time- into his mouth.
When they set up again, Sasuke managed to semi-keep pace, probably because the anbu were not going at top speed. But as soon as they made camp he fell asleep leaning on a tree.