Before The Storm

The younger Sasuke crossed his arms and looked away first, “There are rules, not just anyone can become an Uchiha, or even wear our symbol on their back.”

With the same calmness as before, the elder Sasuke replies “When you’re the only one left, you can make your own rules.” The younger one huffs and leans away, annoyance clear in his features.

“You don’t deserve to be an Uchiha.”

“You don’t know enough to call yourself one either.”

Naruto jumps in between the both of them nervously, “Hey now! We just got rid of a bad guy, let’s all just chill!”

“Naruto is right,” chimes in the younger Sakura. “He’s not our enemy Sasuke-kun, he’s, well. He’s you! So, um-” her cheeks become rosier the older Sasuke keeps his attention on her. “Uh… What I mean is… um-” 

Kakashi cleared his throat, saving his poor student. “What Sakura-chan means is that we are all on the same side here. There’s no reason to fight amongst comrades. Right, Sakura-chan?”

The younger girl could only nod. 

The little Saskue, in turn, scoffed and looked away.

“Geez, y’know I’m starting to like your future self more, bastard. He doesn’t have a stick in his ass like others. Y’kno what I mean?” Naruto quipped.

Sakura could only sigh, unsure of what to do in the situation. Her stubborn husband refused to let her use any more chakra to heal his injuries, and the younger and even more stubborn version of him could only look at everyone in annoyance. This younger Sasuke still held tightly to his family teachings, it wasn’t long ago that he lost almost all his clan and he more than likely was unsure of his future after killing his brother. Seeing an adult version of himself, one at peace and expecting a family, probably conflicted with whatever future he had already accepted for himself.

Her husband then sighed, standing up and walking towards the entrance of the cave. He stopped at the threshold, giving his younger self a look, and then kept walking into the forest.

Sakura could easily read how much it bothered young Sasuke, to be called over by someone he didn’t recognize. The Uchihas have always been a silent family, when she was smaller she thought it was because they were very strict and serious, it’s only now she understands how deeply they feel their emotions and how a simple look can communicate better than words could in certain situations. 

‘Come’ her husband had told him with a look. 

The young Uchiha stood up, clenching his hands into fists and following with anger in his features. 

‘Fine’ he is replying. 

Naruto put his hands behind his head, a look that just said ‘you serious right now?’ in his face. “Man, so no matta’ his age he’ll always be a huge drama queen then, huh?” 

The younger kunoichi hit the back of his head again.

“OW! BUT IT'S TRUE! BELIEVE IT!” 

The younger Uchiha kept walking, hands inside his pockets, his frown never leaving his features. He stops at the base of one of the trees, looking above and seeing the man he’ll become in a far future, sitting on a branch and leaning against the trunk.

Only when he reaches the same branch does he finally acknowledge his presence, but he doesn’t break the silence.

So he does it first, “Did you kill him?”

“No.”

“So you ran away.” the young teen kept looking into the distance “You’re a coward.”

With the same calmness as before, the elder Uchiha answers “You have no real knowledge of what actually has happened. You won’t know until it becomes too late, and by then you will have a lot of blood in your hands.” he takes a pause and stands up at full length. “Whatever you plan on doing from now on, make sure it’s worth dying for, not a dying wish.”

At his advice, the younger of the two lowers his head. Anger not as overbearing as conflict is on his features. The older Sasuke lays a hand on his shoulder, “The people around you care deeply about you, hesitate before you make any huge choices by yourself.”

“...Did she always stay next to you?”

“No.”

“She left you?”

“I left her.” The younger of the two whipped his head at the statement, “She deserves better than what I can give her. Even so, she still wants to stay by my side.” 

“… You’re an idiot”

“And you’re too stubborn.” As he finished speaking, the Older Sasuke jumped off the branch. Seconds later the younger one landed next to him.

With a much more calm quietness, they walked back into the cave. From a distance, they could hear Naruto’s voice telling a story and the young Sakura enabling him with questions. The younger Uchiha sat as far as he could from the loudmouth, coincidentally being the spot next to Sakura,and telling him to ‘shut up, dead last.’, making the whiskered boy fuss about it and threaten him with a fight. Meanwhile, the older one took a seat next to his wife, leaning his tired body into hers. She gently placed a hand on the top of his head and smiled at his actions. 

Kakashi looked between the two different versions of his brooding student, ‘Whatever may be’ he thought to himself ‘Sasuke will always be Sasuke.’

They kept the campfire going for a while before deciding to turn in for the night, Kakashi taking the first shift and then rotating with the young Sasuke and so on. After a good sleep, the married couple will be going back to their own time and the current team 7 will continue to travel back to the village. 

A lot of questions were still lingering for the young kids, what the future was like, what cool things have happened and what can they avoid or cheats they should know. But figuring things out is the first step to becoming an adult, and that journey is one they have to take by themselves.

Once morning finally came they decided to share one last meal together. The young teammates on one side, the married couple on another and Kakashi in the middle. Thinking of what has been and what will happen, the possibilities of changing the trajectories of his young Genins’s life and the reality of accepting that he can’t prevent what has already happened for the couple that came from a not-so-distant future. 

It was a quiet and peaceful meal, even Naruto was quiet. As odd as the sight was. Everyone was hesitant to make the first move away from this makeshift group of past and future. As the one in charge, Kakashi decided to be the first one to advance after everyone finished packing.

“So then you’re on your way?” he asked the older couple.

The older Sasuke nodded, his wife gave Kakashi a smile “Yes. There’s no reason for us to stay here, we should get back to our time.”

With one swift movement of his visible hand, Sasuke opened a portal with his Rinnegan. The three young Gening looked in awe at the feat, Naruto pulled at his teammate’s sleeve “Your future self is seriously way cooler than you bastard.”  he said with genuine amazement.

The younger Sasuke slapped the back of his head with enough force to knock his blonde teammate to the ground, “Shut up. For all we know you’re still a dead last loser in the future too.” he growled.

The two Sakuras chuckled at the routine interaction, “Wanna know a secret, Naruto?” asks Sakura, “You grow up to be just as cool. And you end up with a lot more admirers in the future too.”

“YES! I KNEW IT! I KNEW PEOPLE WOULD FINALLY GET A BETTER TASTE IN MEN ONCE THE BASTARD STOPPED HOGGING THE LIGHT!” 

Another slap in the head follows

“OUCH! BUT IT’S TRUE!”

Another hearty laugh comes from the group, “One more thing,” interrupts the Older Sasuke, “You have to seal this memory Kakashi. My wife and I don’t have any memories of this happening, if we want to keep our future it must stay that way.”

“Oh? Aren’t you the one with the more powerful eye out of us, shouldn’t you be able to do it?”

Sasuke nods, a faint smile in his lips “You won’t mess with a seal you place on yourself.”

“Touche. Well, you guys go first.” With one more nod of the man and a bright smile from the woman, they pass over the portal. And soon after, Kakashi casts the seal.

Kakashi had a feeling that even with the seal, an imprint might remain in the subconscious, and he can only hope whatever advice his older and wiser cute little pink student gave these kids, it will stick in some parts of their subconscious. But for now, they needed to get back home safely. Him and his three cute little students.