#kushina’s garden

[hailuchiha]

Hey! Your blog is right up my alley and I love your writing? I saw something similar on a different blog, and I really wanted to see your take on it. Feel free to ignore if you don't want to write it 😿💔

Req: Itachi has a younger sister close to his age. When she's of age, Fugaku wants to teach Itachi his place and duty as Uchiha heir and has him breed his sister.

!! 18+ NSFW!!

!!MINORS DNI!!

!!ALL characters involved are 18+ NO MINOR CHARACTERS!!

incest; betrayal?; expectations; breeding; sibling incest; old customs; lineage; loss of virginity; first time; misogynistic behavior; impartial treatment; noncon; taboo

Know Your Place

While Fugaku was far less intense than some of the older generation clan heads, be it Uchiha or from other clans, he still had to uphold some practices, especially since all eyes were always on the Uchihas.

His beloved wife was loathe to put her precious children through that ritual, begging him to use his position as clan head to vote his children out of it. However, Fugaku was nothing if not dutiful. He would not show any bias towards his family. Ancient Konoha customs were especially sacred to the Uchiha and Senju, since they were the founder's blood.

After many fights and arguments, Mikoto had unhappily relented, seeing that she couldn't change her husband's mind. His heart ached for his wife as he could imagine where she was coming from. So, to spare her somewhat, he suggested she should go visit her friend the fated day and to even have a sleepover if possible.

While she had still not been happy about his decision and what would befall their children, she had thanked him for the suggestion, ever courteous, and went to sleep with her back turned towards him.

The fateful day finally came. Mikoto, despite being upset with her husband, had taken his suggestion and planned a date with Kushina to spend the whole day together and end it in a sleepover. She had already told Sasuke to come straight to Naruto's home with him after their training ended. If there was one silver lining in the situation, she figured it was that her baby would be spared the fates of his elder siblings.

Their daughter had come of age around a week ago. Fugaku knew what had to be done. And it had to be done today, with his wife safely out of the picture so as not to have to witness what needed to happen.

Sometime before noon, Fugaku came into the living room and called for both his eldest children in a booming voice. Itachi came first, coming in from where he'd been in the back garden, looking mildly curious. Fugaku gestured for him to wait, to which he obliged, knowing he'd find out whatever his father wanted once his sister came down.

His second born, and only daughter, tiptoed down the stairs, poking her head around the door to gauge the situation. She flinched upon seeing his intense expression and straightened up, quickly slinking into the room and sitting opposite him, beside Itachi.

"You're both old enough now," he got straight to business. "Itachi, you're my heir. You need to stake your claim. As for you," he fixed his daughter with a cold gaze. "You must ensure and strengthen his position. Your place is beside him."

She bit the inside of her cheek, looking towards Itachi for clarity, but he was staring in confusion at their father.

"I don't understand father," she said, trying to lower the intensity radiating off of both the men. "It's understood I'll make sure his position is strong... Why are you saying it like this?"

Fugaku breathed out through his nose, praying for patience to get through this. He kept his demeanor and tone harsh, knowing that was the most efficient way to get through this.

He barked at her to undress, that she was to do as she was told. That was her position. He ignored the angry, hurt tears welling in her eyes and kept his gaze focused on his son, whose fists were balled tightly on his lap.

Out of the corner of his eye, he could see his daughter looking to Itachi for help, but eventually realizing her older brother wouldn't take her side here. If the situation weren't so dire, he would have smiled in pride at his son's sense of loyalty. Fugaku knew how much Itachi adored his younger siblings, but to see that he would do whatever it takes for his clan and village made him proud.

His daughter slowly undressed, fighting back tears and looking forlorn. When she was completely bare, she folded her arms over her chest, trying futilely for some semblance of modesty. He could see the slight tremours in Itachi's arms as he fought for restraint.

Fugaku took a quick inspection of her folds, having her hold her cunt open, feet spread far apart. He nodded with satisfaction upon finding her virginity in tact. Now to move on to the next part.

Next, he had her lay on the low table in front of Itachi, barking at her to spread her legs and keep them open when she would start to close them, shaking from the absurdity of the situation.

Itachi hadn't moved an inch from his spot, still kneeling at his seat. He didn't meet Fugaku's eyes when the clan head turned towards him.

"Itachi," he called out sternly, although his voice was considerably free of the harshness he had used on his daughter. "You are to be the future leader of this clan. You must take her, and make sure to spill inside. She'll bear many children for you."

For a long moment, Fugaku feared his eldest won't obey. That this was where he'd draw the line and Fugaku would have to use stricter means. He fixed his son with a cold look, barely paying attention to his vulnerable daughter, who had hidden her face behind her hands. He let her hide for now.

Then, slowly, Itachi shifted, reaching out to grab the only item Fugaku had prepared for this occasion. He took the jar and opened it, dipping his fingers into the thick lubricant. Wordlessly, he brought the fingers to his sister's pink folds that were splayed uncomfortably in front of him. He didn't waste time in teasing or arousing pleasure, and simply got to work using his slick fingers to lubricate and open her up with quick motions as if sensing Fugaku's rising impatience.

The man pulled his daughter's trembling hands away from her face, revealing her teary eyes and conflicted expression. He wanted to give her a kind smile and comfort her, but he remembered his duty as a father and clan head were most important right now.

"Look at him," he said instead, words as stern as his eyes. "Don't bring your hands up again!"

Pleased with his work when her hands dropped to her sides on the tabletop, clenched into tight fists, Fugaku went behind Itachi who was lining up his manhood to his sister's prepared cunt. With a hand on his son's shoulder, Fugaku watched as his thick, engorged head breached his daughter's virgin entrance, telling him to keep pushing as she began to squirm.

He didn't comment when Itachi's hands went to her waist, holding her down as he spoke gentle words to calm his sister down and reassuring her that the pain would subside.

“Easy, love. Just a bit more… It’ll get better,” Itachi murmured against the skin of her neck before pressing a gentle kiss there.

With a few more thrusts, he was buried inside her, having successfully breached her cunt. Fugaku winced, having caught sight of the thin streaks of blood from her hymen coating the length of Itachi's fat cock as he pulled out to thrust back in, the red now pinkish from mixing with the white lubrication Itachi had used generously while preparing her. The clanhead patted his son on the back as he finally started to fuck his sister properly, seemingly having gotten over the inhibitions from earlier. Content in knowing that his work was done, Fugaku quietly exited the living room and retreated to his study.

As he leaned back in his chair and lit a cigar, he wished Mikoto would return home tonight instead of sleeping over at her friend's house after all. He was only human, and the past couple hours had aroused his need for his wife.

He blew out a ring of smoke, letting his eyes fall shut as the muffled sounds of his son breeding his daughter filtered through the thin walls to his office.

NOTE: edits and corrections may come along as i have time and notice them

[polyhexianbirb]

Kakashi smells like burning flesh, like the cool fresh air right before the storm.

Obito smells like burning Cedar wood. Later, as an adult, he smells more like pine and acorns, with the distant smell of smoke.

Sakura doesn’t smell like anything other than antiseptic. She smells of a hospital so strongly that nobody can doubt her place there. Perhaps before she smelt of strawberries and sunsets, but nobody remembers that.

Naruto smells like a freshly cut lawn. Sometimes, he smells like the Ramen he likes to eat so much, but mostly he smells of grass.

Sasuke smells like burning rubber, but also of a garden. The two smells co-exist and nobody could doubt their place.

Rin smelt like peonies. By now, she’ll smell rotton and musty. Kakashi doesn’t go check.

Kushina smelt like onions and jalapeños. She smelt like blood and salt on that night.

During the war, Minato smelt like rot. After Kannabi, Minato smelt like wildflowers and or dish soap. He never should’ve had to smell like rot again.

Kakashi cannot remember what Sakumo smelt like. He imagined he’d smell like safety.

[ace-4-fuck]

Things Entrusted to Gardens!Shikako

while traveling through all-the-worlds-without-her, shikako is going to encounter a bunch of people. sure, she's going to be treat her klepto heart and steal everything not nailed down sometimes, but some people are just going to give her things to.

here's the (on going) list:

A version of Kushina gives her a cook book: hand written recipes of every verity from all over the continent.

A Uchiha Obito who became Team 7's jonin sensei and outlived his own genin team wrote out instructions on everything to do with Kamui. He told Shikako to give it to any Bakashi who deserved it, and if another Uchiha objected they could come fight him.

Hatake Sakumo who didn't have a family told her to loot the Hatake compound for anything of use. She did. They left Konoha at the same time, Shikako to the dead wastes, Sakumo to a mission he would not return from.

Senju Tobirama makes her, her own sword of the thunder god. Its more like a knife then a sword, but she loves it the same.

Senju Nawaki gives her his grandfather's necklace. Its payment for the medical textbooks she offloads on him.

An elderly Aburame Shino gives her copies of the books his little sister wrote about her sensei. Shikako is appaled to find out there's multiple biographies out there about her.

[uchiwife]

[ No Uchiha Massacre AU.]

Characters: Haruno Sakura, Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Itachi, Sabaku no Gaara, etc. ( some characters will only be mentioned.)

Category: Epic friendship, romance, humor, fluff, unrequited love or is it?, angst, open ending.

WARNING(S):Sakura is not a reliable narrator. Her thoughts shouldn’t be taken at face value. They’re her own. She doesn't necessarily reflect what others think or reality.

Word count : 3,137k

a/n : English is not my mother tongue, so please excuse me for any mistakes I might commit in it. ꒱࿐♡ ˚.*ೃ

—

───── ❝ 五歳 ❞ ─────

───── ❝ 十二歳 ❞ ─────

───── ❝ 二十歳 ❞ ─────

In her childhood, Sakura remembered vividly spending hours in the Uchiha compound. She’d become best friends with the second heir of the clan. The youngest. She remembered running around his beautiful garden, admiring the koï and feeding them. She remembered admiring his mother's vegetable garden and the flower beds that could be found here and there.

Sasuke, the second Uchiha heir, along with their second blond best friend Naruto had grown up together so to speak. They’d done some stupid things together. First, they followed Naruto in his pranks, helped him to re-decorate the heads on the Hokage monument with paint. Naruto's mother, Kushina, had literally chased the three fleeing mini-thugs, yelling, with a ladle in her hand and threatening them with laundry duty of the entire Shinobi corps for a month. Thanks to Sakura's tactical intelligence and Sasuke's military intelligence, they’d managed to escape to what they called their secret tree house. They hid there to escape any punishment. Needless to say, their plan didn't work out so well.

The only comfort and pride that the three children felt in this memory was that it had taken 18 hours to find them. It was Sasuke's older brother and cousin who had found them.

They hadn't had a good day, or even a good week after that. They were punished, of course, but strangely enough they were praised for their teamwork. And they were only 5 or 6 years old at the time. Everyone was complimented on their skills. Even their escape was praised for what it was, even more so when they had managed to escape their "enemies".

Sakura always remembered fondly “des quatre cents coups” they had done in their childhood. That's why she had so many memories in the Uchiha district or in Naruto's house surrounded by his parents. Or her own.

But, today, she would have done anything to escape the complex.

She was currently in Sasuke's room. On his bed. The young man was polishing his Kusanagi, while Sakura was lying across the mattress, her head resting on one of Sasuke's thighs. He didn't seem to mind. He was used to it. He wasn't an overtly tactile person, but he was as open as one could be even more so with Team 7.

The pink-haired girl was desperate. Forgetting what she saw earlier was simply not possible. She had gone to find the first available person. Surprisingly, it had been Sasuke. Naruto was on a date with Hinata and Ino was on a mission with team 10. So her friends weren't what you would call "available." Of course Naruto would probably have dropped whatever he was doing to make sure his Sakura-chan was okay.

She’s like a sister to him. They’d all grown up together after all, but Sakura thought it was selfish to interrupt him while he was enjoying a moment with sweet Hinata. God knows it took that idiot a long time to ask the Hyuuga heiress out.

He had foolishly thought that he had no chance with the girl.

She snorted at the thought.

Idiot. If only he knew.

Hinata only had eyes for him. It was even before the academy. Now that they were together and happy, she wasn’t going to spoil their date.

Sasuke wasn't a bad choice anyway. She was actually very close to him. He knew things about her that even Ino didn't know ( And she prayed that the pig never found out because she might suddenly disappear.)

He hadn't questioned her when she’d snuck in through his bedroom window while he was polishing his Kunai. He had seen her puffy red eyes and she was wet from the rain : that had been enough for him to silently invite her into his den. He’d allowed her to borrow one of his old pants and a t-shirt that had become too small for him and she’d decided that a hot shower was in order. Sasuke let her be.

And here they are now :

Sakura on his bed, her head on his lap, a book on her stomach and him taking care of his Kusanagi. He knew she would talk when she felt ready. Sakura didn't like to be rushed. She liked to take the time to unravel her feelings so she could understand them better. And soon the Uchiha heard Sakura's voice. She spoke softly, but he could hear the notes of frustration, sadness and anger in her voice.

“ I can't believe he did that! I hate him so much!”

Sasuke closed his eyes and took a breath. Okay. Here we go again. He said nothing, listening, knowing anyway that Sakura was just going to vent whether he wanted it or not.

“No but can you believe that asshole!? Kissing that... that... Ugh. I can't even be upset with Hana-chan. She's really too cute. It's his fault anyway!”

At the familiar name, Sasuke looked up, arching his eyebrow.

“Hana? As in Hana Inuzuka? Kiba's older sister?”

Sakura huffed, annoyed.

“Yes! Now is not the time to drop your brain Sas’ke!”

Sasuke scowled and pinched the girl who yelped at the sudden gesture. She glared at him and then put her head back on his lap. God only knows what a comfortable couch he could be.

“You should be thankful that I haven't kicked you out yet.”

Ah that, Sakura scoffed:

“You love me way too much to kick me out and if you did I would probably rat you out to a) your mother because she loves me and b) your father because he loves me even more since I treated and cured your mom's disease a few years ago.”

The boy winced at the thought. He preferred not to have his mother on his back. So he gave in. For now. He too could blackmail Sakura and go complain to Mebuki-Obasan. The smartest of the Shinobi military corps knew better than to mess with one of the best Jônin cryptographers in Konoha's decryption unit. Sakura had not only taken after her mother's intelligence but also her fiery temper. He preferred not to interfere when these two women were in conflict

So he patiently listened to Sakura complain without having to ask which asshole she was talking about because he knew. Oh yes, he knew. Unfortunately.

“Go on.”

“Don't tell me what to do! Hm. What was I saying ? Oh yeah... Can you believe that asshole? Kissing Hana?! Of all people! When I go to tell Kiba that! Ha!”

“The fact that you think Kiba can beat him up is very cute. Delusional, but cute.”

“Shut up, you idiot! You're supposed to be on my side!”

“I'm not getting involved in your teenage melodrama. Besides what you're saying doesn't make sense. Why would he go and kiss Hana? He's never shown more than a friendly interest in her.”

“ I dunno, Sas’ke! Just ask your asshole of a brother! And anyway I thought it was Shisui who was interested in Hana!"

Sasuke snorted.

“Yeah when he was like 15. That sicko is hitting on Anko now according to the rumors. That guy has no sense of self preservation. It's a wonder how he survived all this time.”

Sakura stood up abruptly, grabbing him by the shoulders and luckily for her, he had already sheathed his Kusanagi.

“This is a serious matter! How do you want to coexist in a world where your brother is marrying a woman that isn’t me !? Think about your mother and yourself. You will be so devastated not to have me for a daughter-in-law and sister-in-law. I would hate to break your heart.”

Sasuke chuckled. CHUCKLED. That girl is crazy.

“Of all the people involved in this, I think you're the one who would really be heartbroken. Itachi has no reason to date Hana and I remind you that you already turned him down when he asked you to go to the spring festival with him a few years ago.”

Sakura frowned, tightening her grip on her best friend's sturdy form.

“It wasn't like that and you know it! Tsunade-Shishou had asked me to be Gaara's escort. Honestly I could hardly see myself refusing the Kazekage. Going with Gaara to the festival was diplomatic.”

“Straddling him in an intense make-out session was also a diplomatic tactic? Maybe you wanted to give him a taste of the sweets of Konoha?” He replied with a smirk on his lips.

Sakura blushed furiously and punched him, holding back her blow enough to do no real damage but hard enough to hurt.

“Shut the fuck up! We promised we'd never talk about it again!”

“You still naively think that Itachi doesn't know that you had a relationship with the Kage of Suna? It’s hilarious. It doesn't take a genius to do 1+1. Your missions to Suna and its borders were a little too frequent back then.”

“Like your brother is a virgin!”

“That's disgusting, Sakura. I don't need to know that.”

She huffed. Sure, Sakura and Gaara had had a three year relationship, but in her defense, she really didn't think Itachi cared about her back then. Hadn't he told her "not to waste time on him. He's so busy with his duties to Konoha and his clan." Only to see Izumi glued to his arm? Tch. Lying bastard. Her 15 year old self had been heartbroken. She had had a little crush on Itachi as a kid. He was so cool. But little Sakura chose instead to train to be a good Shinobi like her parents. So although she marveled at Itachi's prowess in the recesses of her mind and with Ino when she was creating flower crowns at the age of 5, she figured it would be wiser to pretend she didn't care about the older boy.

She had flirted and dated casually in her teens but her first time and first real relationship had been with Gaara. There had always been something she couldn't name between them, but she had ignored it in favor of her training. Even back in the Chuunin exam he had complimented her in a rather strange way. In fact his compliment sounded like a threat and with his icy green gaze she wondered if he didn't want to crush her with his sand.

Luckily for her Sasuke and Naruto had been there and had been suspicious and protective of her. And very rude if we want to be honest. At 12 years old these two idiots couldn't care less about being diplomatic at an international event that aimed to bring foreign countries together in its land. Thank goodness they had matured since then.

And look at her now! A beautiful young woman and an accomplished 20 year old shinobi who was getting upset because her not-so-secret crush was kissing the sister of one of her good friends. What a bastard! And to think that she thought things had changed. Needless to say, she was probably kidding herself.

Well, fuck him! If Uchiha Itachi couldn't see her value then it was his loss! I mean sure, they weren't a couple. So he hadn't cheated on her or anything, but she liked to think they were friends at least. Okay, a friend who desperately wanted to see him naked, but a friend and fellow ninja nonetheless.

Why was she so upset anyway? She dropped her forehead against Sasuke's shoulder, loosely wrapping her arms around his neck. She smelled his perfume. She liked the smell of her best friend, probably because it was similar to his brother's, it was comforting. The difference was that she didn't feel like tearing off Sasuke's clothes just by smelling his scent. The boy in question watched her, eyebrow raised. He noticed the change in her behavior. He could have pushed her away, but he was far too familiar with her proximity to be entirely offended by it. So he sighed and awkwardly patted her back, which made the girl chuckle.

“You really suck at comforting sad girls, Sasu-chan.”

He glared at her at the nickname, though she couldn't see it.

“My name’s Sa-su-ke.”

“Don't care. Let me cuddle you, Sasu-chan. I need affection from a handsome guy.”

He snorted, but made no move to dislodge her, if anything, he even made himself comfortable in his bed by lying down, his head resting on his pillow. Over the years, Sakura had had phases like this. And she always turned to Naruto or him. Naruto it wasn't really a problem, the jerk himself was a hugger. for him, it took longer to allow and be comfortable with this routine. But he had made an exception. Because it was Sakura and she and Team 7 were his second family.

His fingers ran absentmindedly through her pastel pink locks. Her hair was soft. One of the characteristics he found odd about Sakura. Her hair was always soft. Yet she wasn't so vain, but when he realized that her hair was silky at any time of the day he had finally asked her about it. She had simply answered that being a Shinobi didn’t prevent her from being a woman. And that being both was rather a lethal weapon. Especially in certain types of missions.

He preferred not to think about these missions. He knew that seduction missions existed, he'd probably done one or two in his career, but he'd never been a big fan of the process. He felt Sakura relax against him, her chakra much less agitated than it had been when she had come through his window two hours earlier.

“You should stop doing that Sakura.”

“Doing what?” She asked confused.

“Hurting yourself.”

“That's not what I'm doing. Your brother is simply sending mixed signals."

He frowned slightly, lips pursed.

“He's been stressed lately.”

“He seemed fine to me when his lips were on Hana's.” She couldn't help but retort bitterly and in return Sasuke sighed wearily.

“I overheard a conversation between my father, the Yondaime and the Godaime a few weeks ago. There’s tension between Iwa and Konoha. Lord Fourth said that if it continues like this they could reach a point where an open war could break out. The council and the Hokage would like to avoid the scenario of the third war to happen again. They started to talk about a political alliance. An archaic one if you ask me.”

Sakura was surprised, but not as surprised as she would have thought. She was aware of the political climate surrounding Konoha and the other countries, she was the fifth Hokage's apprentice after all, but to hear Sasuke confirm it was... wait. He’d said "political alliance?" She began to think, connecting the dots in her head to come to the most plausible conclusion. Her eyes widened.

“You mean...”

Sasuke nodded with a tense look, Confirming her fears.

“I'm afraid so. There’re rumors that Ônoki-sama's granddaughter would be in the lead. Now imagine what a political marriage would bring between the heir of a powerful clan and the direct granddaughter of the Tsuchikage.”

Sakura felt her stomach knot up. And judging by Sasuke's tone, he wasn't very happy about the news. She swallowed hard and looked down.

“Your father must not have liked it...”

“He was furious. For him it would mean sacrificing his heir. He would prefer that the incident that happened between Kumo and Konoha not happen again. They don't need another dôjutsu thief.”

“That doesn't make sense. Your brother is the heir of the Uchiha clan. A valuable asset to the village and asking him to marry a woman who...” She clenched her fists, “is throwing him into the lion's den.”

“It was common back then. They did it to create alliances. Just like Shodaime and Mito Uzumaki did, but their case is slightly different.”

“And... what does your brother think?”

Sasuke turned his onyx gaze on the young woman, gauging her with his eyes, gauging her possible reactions.

“He's not thrilled, but... he's Itachi. He will do as the Hokage commands. He's dedicated and loyal like that. He has the good of the village at heart."

Sakura felt tears tingle her eyes. A sense of loss invading her whole being.

“This is unfair...”

“The life of a shinobi rarely is. Nii-san will always do everything to protect and serve the village. That must be his will of fire. I don't believe he is devoted to anything other than that.”

With a small smile on her lip, Sakura raised her head and her gaze met his. She shook her head gently, cupping one of his cheeks.

“You’re wrong. There’s one thing your brother cherishes more than the village and more than anything else in this world.”

“What is it?” He asked, curious as to what could possibly be more important to Itachi than his duty to the village.

Sakura offered him one of her sweetest smiles. Her sea foam eyes held a deep affection. The kind she reserved only for the men of Team 7.

“You, Sasuke. Itachi will burn the world to the ground if it means you're safe.”

He stood speechless for a moment, his eyes wide. Him? Was he really...?

Unbeknownst to them, Itachi heard their discussion lurking in the shadows behind the door, leaning against the wall, arms crossed, his chakra signature suppressed, undetectable to anyone looking.

He was torn between many conflicting emotions. Some of them were incomprehensible to him. One of them was probably jealousy and he felt guilty about it.

He felt guilty for envying his little brother's closeness to this woman. But there was not much he could do about it. The bond between Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura was very strong. It’d always been. Not the kind that could be broken.

He closed his eyes, calming his heartbeat. Sakura was right. He did love Sasuke more than he loved Konoha, but then again she was missing something. She didn't know that there was another person who came very close to that feeling. The irony was that the second person was in the arms of the first.

They weren't doing anything wrong, he didn't think his brother and Sakura were engaged in that way, but Sasuke wasn't tactile with just anyone, it was rare. He would have liked to be one of ‘her boys’ too. In fact, there were many things he would have liked to be for Sakura over the years.

As he pulled away from the wall and away from the muffled laughter he could hear through the wall, Itachi wondered how happy he could be with Sakura if she agreed to be his wife.

More importantly, could he still be? Was it still time or was it too late?

A question he would consider later. For now, Shisui was waiting for him on their training ground and Uchiha Itachi was not known for being late.

───── ❝ 終わり。❞ ─────

Hey!🦋 I hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to comment, reblog and/or like. It's always nice to have even indirect interactions with you guys.✨ Even more to know that someone is reading my stories.

Thanks to those who have done so in my previous posts. I want you to know that I really appreciate it.🥹🥹💗

[depressedhatakekakashi]

One more idea on why Dai is so insistent on paying Kakashi back in beauty and the beast au:

After Dai is rescued and brought back to the castle, he wakes up wonders around and is amazed by all he finds, and eventually walks into the garden and finds a Rose bush (or maybe a different flower if you want) and sort of picks one thinking he'd being it back to Gai in his semi delusional/ sick/ pained state.

Then Kakashi comes out and is stressed for a multitude of reasons after seeing Dai casually pick one of his favorite flowers (like WHY IS THIS MAN OUT OF BED! You're at risk of hypothermia still! Also maybe seeing him casually picking a flower reminds him of all the "suitors" breaking his enchanted staff and thinking this man would do the same. Or maybe he's worried this is the man who will break his spell but he's SO OLD. Maybe he's mad because the rose reminds him of Tsunade and this curse she put on him to begin with!) And as such loses it on Dai and tells him to leave in the morning.

But Dai is no normal man. Sure he is freaked by the scary buffalo-wolf-man in a cape just yelled at him. And now the furniture is speaking to him, but then he learns some of the story from Rin who tended to him. Learned this young beast saved him and nursed him back to help. Someone might even mention how he's an orphan so all that tugs at Dai's heart strings and he REFUSES to leave before he makes things right for this kind beast that he accidentally wronged! He must make it up to him!

That next morning when Kakashi tries to make him leave he is already working on repairing the garden that has grown in disarray over the years, due to a lack of upkeep, and thanks Kakashi for his help! And promises that by next spring Kakashi will have the most beautiful garden FULL of Rose's to make up for the one he took! And that's a Maito Promise!!!

And Kakashi is just...super embarrassed and awkward and Dai refuses to leave! And starts to treat him like a normal person!!! (I wonder if he starts dad-ing him a little which makes Kakashi MORE awkward!) Whatever the case Dai will make it up to this kind furry by giving him back some happiness he accidentally took with that Rose!

This is all so sweet and really fits in with why Kakashi would snap and want Dai out when he JUST saved him.

I chose the forget-me-nots for Kakashi cuz they feel like a really good flower fit for him and maybe it was something his father planted after his mother’s death so it really means a lot to him and seeing Dai just pick one without permission really irks him.

But then instead of being afraid like other’s, Dai wanta to make things right. He wants to fix it, and he’s willing to do so at the risk of his own health

It’s REALLY awkward for Kakashi because he’s not sure how to feel about this random guy, but he’s also so nice and treats Kakashi like a normal person (and even, a little, a kid) instead of cowering from the ‘beast’. So Kakashi listens to his stories and genuinely finds him interesting (where as the village thinks Dai is useless and ‘crazy’)

So they’re both getting something from this. Dai has people who genuinly seem to care about him and want him to get better, but also want him around

Kakashi has the first real parental figure in his life since his father’s passing (Kushina never fit the role and she never wanted to take it from Yua, and Tsunade was always sort of in and out so she’s not a solid parental figure) and someone who’s not afraid of him

It’s a good week before Gai realizes his father is missing (the place he was going was three days ride away and his horse was also injured and brought back by Kakashi) and finally comes searching for him only to find him working away in a garden while he’s hacking up a lung

[senjutsunade]

~Blind Incandescence - Head Canons~

Crap Apartment HC’s:

Note: T's the hellhole once rented by Tsunade and Kushina, and later becomes the shitty sanctuary of Tsunade, Kakashi and Itachi.

♥ They only have warm water for a fixed amount of time, so showers have to be super quick. 

♥ They also need to run the water for a bit until it runs clear, since opening the taps results in rusty, copperish liquid instead of water.

♥ They are also all aware whenever someone else within the building takes a shower, since the old pipes rattle and shake like a runaway train on a track. They usually solve this by just increasing the volume of whatever game show they are currently absorbed in.

♥ They always receive someone else's mail and theirs gets delivered to the drug dealer neighbors next door.

♥ They have a rat infestation in the building, the scurrying of little paws can clearly be heard in the walls. It got better when Kakashi started to bring his dogs around.

♥ The cupboards creak when you open and close them, each door has their own distinct sound and personality at this point

♥ The lights flicker whenever it starts to rain, even if it’s just a light drizzle - problematic, faulty wiring alert.

♥ The window of the living room has a shit view of the next building’s roof and the window in the bathroom has an even shitier view of a brick-faced wall - no scenic vibes to be had.

♥ The neighboring apartment building is close enough that they can climb out the window and onto the roof and start a little vegetable garden that nobody wanted or asked for- the pigeons appreciate it though, much to Kakashi’s chagrin.

♥ The apartment is always relatively warm, despite having no working heating, it’s one of the only things the apartment has going for it- until summer hits, then it’s a sauna.

♥ The front door lock is faulty, they have to Russian Roulette whether or not the front door key will fit or not. Most of the time, a few aggressive jingles do the trick, sometimes it opens with a slam and a kick, though there are some rare occasions where they have to use the neighboring building’s elevator and roof to slink in through the window.

♥ The wallpaper is atrocious and hasn’t been updated in the last 30 years (everyday a new face/wild animal can be spotted in the nauseating swirls and patterns- to them it’s a habit to point out the new find by now. 

♥ If the wallpaper has not been updated in the last 30 years, the carpets and the fixtures and fittings have not been updated in the last 45 years.

____

@konohagakurekakashi & @uchihaa-itachi

[x-authorship-x]

Lmao the Kushina teaching Shisui post you reblogged made me laugh so much, can you imagine throwing in there the Obito is Shisui's brother thing and just watching as chaos unfolds? Who knows, maybe Kushina decided to teach Shisui because Obito one day brought him to training since he had no one to ask to babysit him and Kushina ended up staying around watching Team 7 train for shits and giggles and ends up basically babysitting Shisui (although he's a good kid, he knows to not stray to far and to keep himself out of possible harm while his brother's team trains) and she realizes how much potential this kid has and goes "You know what? You're mine now. Minato basically adopted your brother and the rest of the team, anyway!"

Gahzjqjdksd Obito is RAGING because Minato-sensei, Minato-sensei! Today Kushina-nee took Shisui-kun on a six hour food crawl and then showed him how to completely reconstruct a barrier seal to zap enemies like bugs and NOW she's got Shisui-kun braiding her hair whilst watching romcoms and brainstorming cool Jutsu naaaaaames?! Why aren't we this cool?!

Kakashi: that's because you're a dumb piece of shit and you lower the tone of every room you-

Rin: kakashi!

Obito: SAy iT agAIn?! SAY IT-

Minato: wait.. 🥺 noo...i wanna 🥺... Brush Kushina-chan's hair...😭 Talk about cool seal names...😩 Why...🥺

In the background: *an explosion destroys the garden they were supposed to be weeding, Minato is fined for damages, he's also blacklisted by this client*

[saturnssz]

Some stans absolutely do act like sn is still the majority, I was actually disappointed and confused that I kept running into so much ns lmaoo. They stay whining and complaining about girly naruto that straight women self insert into as if current ns isn't just that but reversed. Only thing is its probably less about being attracted to naruto and more wanting to be taken care of since thats what ns content centers around. The dynamic is always naruto somewhat taking care of or babying traumatized (quiet/fragile/subdued or tsundere supreme who refuses to ask for help) sasuke who takes up cooking/gardening or generally starts to act like a housewife.

There's sooo much content treating sasuke like a girl but for them it's justified because of the yin-yang dynamic. Ns stans draw for literally anything to make sasuke feminine but sn stans are still the cringe self insert devils. Can you imagine sn stans using boruto and sarada as proof for who's "the girl" in the relationship.

Idk which editor or whoever called sasuke the heroine but they've done irreparable damage, and that one shot manga mario or something too. Then there's posts saying sasuke is naruto's kushina and taking jabs at "Naruto self inserts" saying the popular naruto-kushina sasuke-minato isn't the way kishimoto sees it as if them and kishimoto know eachother.

I stumble upon ns fics sometimes and their descriptions of naruto as some (insert masculine adjective), sweaty, rough etc etc is so.. 😭 I've never read sn fics where sasuke is described like that. Don't even get me started on the way they draw him in fanart sometimes where naruto is broad and thick while sasuke is slim with the thinnest waist. If you follow ns stans you'd think sasuke was this sassy dainty twink or hinata 2.0. It's like they're so caught up in the symbolism and couple comments from creators they forget there's more to the characters and start pushing them into boxes, mainly the masculine/feminine active/passive ones.

Sorry for the long rant I've just seen too much 😭

Anon! If you're seeing this answer please follow me or send me a message you're so fucking funny. And you're right. Not gonna over it again cause I explained myself to other anons. But it's totally true, this is the state this shipping fandom is in and I want no part in it. I got like, most of them blocked by now and I dont regret it lol!! A bunch of hypocrites. It feels like now that I've spoken out a lot of people feel the same way so it makes me feel as if I know what I'm talking about 😭 I ain't the only one seeing this shit lmao. Like lemme see what you're seeing, cause I ain't seeing it unless I go look for post in 2014. And you're right about the fics too. Modern ones always make sure to point out that they're both pretty. Like he's ethereal, but they get it sorta way. At this point, they're what they fear and vilify those who like sasunaru more. They won't ever shut up about us, too, like they're still in 2010....youre like almost 30 move on. Oh the irony...

And on top of that, that dumbass "kushina parallel" gotta be one of my biggest peeves. NO READING COMPREHENSION. Take off the shipping googles for the n*rus*su stans and see that Naruto IS compared to his mother. Like what the hell?? 😭 They both have the dattebayo tick, they're both firey, outgoing and strong in their own right. Minato, his fucking dad outright states, "wow, you look a lot like your mother!" Does he have to have red hair to make it ANY more apparent? And I don't like naruhina, more dislike/neutral, but even in that boruto illustration Naruto was the one MIMICKING his mother while Hinata was Minato. Like ain't no way you despise the thought so much you start making up things. No, that does not mean he's super femme now, just that he takes after his mother in personality and looks. He's his mother, sasuke...idk. he doesn't fit Minato in my opinion LOL. You done got me heated, one of my most hated posts omg 😭 went on a tangent sorry about that

[sixtymillionoverdueideas]

👶for Naruto and Kyosuke cause you have me indulged with the ship at the moment lol //twinuchiha

//okay!!! :)))

Name: Sagisō (鷺草) Uchiha-Uzumaki-Namikaze;;; Name meaning the white egret flower,, an orchid,,,.

Gender: Male

Appearance: With long, silky hair that falls to their elbows,,, Sagisō would have sandy-coloured that resembled Temari's more than Minato or Naruto's brighter yellow-blonde;;;. Sagisō would frequently tie part of his hair back with itself,, or with a white ribbon... Sagisō would have Naruto's eyes,,, set in Kyosuke's eye-shape,,.

Personality: Quiet, steady, and one of the "common-sense"-ers of the children lol,,,.

What do they like? Reading, gardening, ranged fighting (ie. crossbows,, senbon,, "sniper's work" kind of fighting...), mango juice...

What do they dislike? Arguments,, insects,, (sorry Shino-oji-san,,,;;;), melee fighting,,,,

Who are the godparents? Hinata,, of course,, as his "Auntie";;; also Gaara as "Kaze-san/Sabaku-oji"...

Anything special about them? If he unlock his sharingan beyond the three tomoes the sharingan will go a pretty broken purple from the red and blue of their eye mixing,,,.

What are their talents? Senbon, if Haku's alive he could be their second coming,, the Uchiha traditional fan-style,,,.

Who do they resemble of their parents ( appearance) ? A mix but a lot of the inherent Uchiha-elegant/graceful features are present in his face, in his form but with a muted colouration reminiscent of Naruto's heritage,,,.

Who do they resemble of their parents ( personality ) ? Kyosuke mainly,,,.

A headcanon: Sagisō and Ajikaku would be the closest as friends out of their generation,,,.

Their future: Any children Sagisō chooses to have will have a strong resemblance to Kushina or Minato,,, just like miniatures of them,,,.

Faceclaim: 

[kikotapasando]

Tim Multidisiplinario un biaha mas ayera nochi a tene kòntròl den vários establesimentu i restorant rònt Kòrsou.

Anto no bin bisa nada kuenti a-higieniko i chines/asiatiko etc paso ayera nochi restorant nan di nòmber i reputashon a keda SERA pa situashon a-higieniko den nan kushina. A sera: Floresia Bar & Restaurant Pa situashon a-higieniko Rose Garden Restaurant Situashon a-higieniko den nan kushina. Ribs Factory Situashon a-higieniko den kushina De Fles Sera pa inkumplimentu i situashon a-higieniko den su…

[the-letter-horror-lover]

~TBC~

Chapter 3: Episode 3

Chapter Text

Episode 3

The chestnut haired butler frantically chased after the runaway cart as it sped through the Uchiha manor. The effeminate looking man managed to grab hold of it, but only to give it more momentum and cause it to go faster. The cart crashed into the dining hall doors, but the heavy wood planks did not halt its progress one bit. Instead, the heavily laden cart forced its way past the doors and into the large room, stopping only after hitting the shaggy haired gardener. The tea pot, which was filled to the brim, slid off the cart and spilled onto Kiba’s shirt.

“Ai-ai-ai,” the brunet teen yelled, “Hot, hot, hot!!”

“I’m really sorry!” said the clumsy butler, grabbing one of the napkins on the dining table, however in his haste, he snatched the table cloth as well. “Let me get that for you!” The table cloth slid off the table taking all of the young master’s breakfast with it, which Sasuke had been in the middle of eating.

The raven haired boy gave the slightly taller brunet an angry glare before letting out an exasperated sigh. “Why’d you even bother to let that baka stay for, un?” the cook, Deidara, whispered. “He’s completely useless, un!”

“And you’re not?” the Uchiha lord shot back. There had been more times than he had fingers and toes when the tall blond blew up the manor’s kitchen. “Though I didn’t think it’d be this bad,” he added as he remembered his favorite aunt’s request.

Flsahsback

“Sasuke sweetie,” Aunt Kushina began, “I have a teeny weeny problem. You see, Naruto’s totally inept. So could you have Gaara teach him or something? Would you do that for your dear Auntie, pwetty pwease?”

End of Flashback

The fourteen year old sighed again. “I really thought that Gaara’d be the only one who’d be inconvenienced, not the whole household,” Sasuke continued, turning his attention back to the now totally ashamed brunet, the other servants giving Naruto angry glares of their own.

“I’m… I’m really sorry everyone, believe it!” apologized Naruto, subconsciously picking up on his mistress’ favorite catch phrase and bowing low as he could. “I really don’t know what I can do to make it up to you. I really don’t!” He sat miserably on the plush carpeting, trying his hardest to think of something, anything, to make up for his ineptitude. “I know I’m not that bright and I always screw up. Maybe I’m just not cut out to be a butler.”

He then brought out a dinner knife and pointed the blade towards his throat. “Maybe it’s just best if I died!” the brunet cried, “That way I’ll never be in anyone’s way again!”

“O-Oi! Just hold on there, un!” Deidara yelled in utter shock. True Naruto was the worst butler ever, but that didn’t mean he had to kill himself for making a mess of the master’s meal.

“Naruto,” Gaara said, placing one gloved hand on the chestnut haired butler’s shoulder and giving him a slight smile in amusement, “You don’t need to do that.”

“G-Gaara…” Naruto said awestruck at the redhead’s kind words and gesture. Such an occurrence was rare where he was from for there was always someone yelling at and scolding him.

“You’d make an even bigger mess don’t you think? It would take forever to get the blood and food stains out.”

“Y-You’re so right, Gaara!” the brunet beamed, his depression fading rapidly. “You’re such a nice guy!”

“Gaara…” started the cook.

“Nice?” finished Kiba, shaking his head in confusion along with his fellow servants.

“Don’t tell me,” Gaara started picking up the teapot and examining what was left of the contents. “you intended to give Master Sasuke such inferior tea.” The demonic butler then began giving the instructions on properly brewing tea, which Deidara, Kiba and Hinata were vigorously writing down, while making another pot of tea. Naruto, however, wasn’t really paying attention to what was being said, for he was so much in awe of the Uchiha lord’s butler. Gaara always seemed to exude an aura of completely confident elegance in everything he did. Oh how the black and orange clad brunet wished he could be more like him.

“Oh yes,” the redheaded butler said, remembering a very important task his master needed to see to personally. “It is almost time, bocchan. The carriage should be at the front by now.”

“Hn,” the raven haired boy said, taking a quick sip of the freshly made tea. “Whatever.”

“As for the rest of you,” the demon butler said turning to the servants. “This place had better be spotless when I get back. Why don’t you just sit there and relax Naruto,” he continued, noticing that the other butler hadn’t moved from his spot on the floor. “You’ll cause less trouble that way. Or if you’re still intent on committing suicide,” he added as an afterthought, smirking devilishly. “Please do it outside and try not to make a huge mess.”

“Gee Gaara! You’re the best!” Naruto said bouncing happily in an enormous effort not to glomp the slightly taller redhead.

***********************************

“Get yer papah here!” the newsboy called as the young nobleman and his butler entered the cane maker’s. “Prostitute mysteriously murdered!”

“Well, hello there, young man,” the old shopkeeper said upon noticing he had a customer. “Running an errand for you father are we?”

“No actually, the redheaded butler replied, handing a slip of paper to the older man. “My master is here on his own business. We were informed that that particular order has arrived.

The shopkeeper adjusted his glasses before looking at the paper. “So you’re the one who requested that,” he said grabbing a can that had been lying nearby and used it to hook onto a drawer and pull it open. He then carefully lifted out the expertly crafted stick and handed to the red haired man. “I was wondering who’d want such a short stick. To think that a mere child…”

He was abruptly cut off by the child’s sized cane’s end being pointed directly between his eyes. “Excellent craftsmanship,” Gaara said looking down the length of the walking stick, “Not a single bend or warp anywhere.” The butler placed a large pouch of coins on the counter before lowering the child’s cane and exiting the shop with his young lord. “Keep the change,” he called as they strode through the door.

The poor man, however, heard none of it, still in shock at what had just happened. AS soon as the door shut, he fainted.

*************************************************

“What a pain,” griped Sasuke as he and Gaara started down the shop lined street to where they left the carriage. “How anyone could break a walking stick is beyond me. That freakish strength of Kiba’s is such a nuisance.”

“Yes,” the taller man replied with a smirk, “What a shame you had to go through all that fuss. You haven’t grown an inch in all these years.” The boy glared at him, but the demon ignored it, used to his master’s indignation at cracks and comments about his size and age. Sasuke really did despise being short for his age – even that useless imbecile Naruto was unusually short for his own age but he was taller than Sasuke!

“We shouldn’t tarry too long, bocchan,” Gaara remarked, “I am still uncertain it’s wise to leave Naruto by himself or if he is going to work out at all.”

The Uchiha lord silently nodded to show he’d been listening as he watched a young boy similar to his age and station fuss over the toys displayed in a shop window to his doting mother. A tiny, almost imperceptible, wistful smile came to Sasuke’s face as he recalled doing the same with his own mother, the now late Lady Mikoto. The smile grew upon seeing that the toys were those from his company’s latest line. Naturally, his toys would be the ones to bring the biggest smiles to children’s faces.

*************************************************

“The Fan-Fan Toy Company?” Naruto asked as he happily started clipping away at the hedges with a large pair of shears. “They’re that company who makes toys and candy right? They’ve really grown the past three years. I bet Master Sasuke’s got such an awesome mansion because the company’s doing so well don’t you think?” he asked the cook who was lounging on the grass nearby.

“Actually, the place’s been around for two years, un,” replied Deidara.

“Really? It looks like it’s been around for years, but not the creepy, scary, over grown kinda for years, but the lived in, well kept kind.”

“Of course it would,” Asuma said from behind the chestnut haired butler, startling him. “That was the young master’s intention. It was built to his exact specifications as a complete duplicate of the last Uchiha manor. Right down to the cracks in the pillars and squeaks in the floor boards.

“What do you mean duplicate, Asuma-san?” queried the brunet.

“The old Uchiha manor was completely destroyed in a fire three years ago. It was an enormous loss for those of us who’ve been living and working there.”

“Gee, that’s too bad. But what about the kid’s… I mean Master Sasuke’s parents? Don’t tell me they…”

“I must press upon you not to repeat what I’m about to say to anyone,” the former Uchiha steward said solemnly.

“I won’t tell a soul!” Naruto vowed, pausing in his pruning.

“Even though the public has been told that the young master’s parents perished in the blaze; that is not exactly the case. The late Lord and Lady Uchiha were murdered and then those who did it set the manor to burn to cover up the deed.”

“That poor kid!” Naruto cried, wiping furiously at his eyes. He himself may not remember his own parents – they had died such a long time ago – but he could sympathize with the young lord. “He’s got to be missing them something fierce. D-Does he know… what happened to them?”

Before the older man could reply, Hinata who’d been enjoying a nice lunch break with Deidara and Kiba gave a shriek. Both Asuma and Naruto turned to ask her what was the matter. The violet haired maid frantically pointed behind the orange and black clad butler with a trembling hand.

The butler whirled around to see that the hedge he’d been working on was now in the shape of a skull. In fact, all the hedges he’d done previously were skulls! But that wasn’t the full extent of the damage. Every single plant that Naruto had pruned – which was practically the entire garden – was in the same shape. Everywhere they looked, there were green grinning skulls! The once lovely and elegant Uchiha garden had taken on a rather morbid feel thanks to the brunet’s absentmindedness.

“That sure is a lot of skulls,” Kiba said, pointing out the obvious.

“Oh no! Not again!” bemoaned the black and orange clad man. Naruto ran to the nearest tree and immediately attempted to hang himself as an apology. The three servants rushed to stop him.

However, before they could, a pair of hands yanked the ladder from under the brunet, causing the noose around his neck to tighten. Hinata fainted while Deidara and Kiba gave out a pair of loud gasps. It was thanks to the gardener’s tremendous strength that Naruto was saved, just as he was beginning to turn blue.

*******************************************************

“You must be tired, young master,” Gaara said, approaching the manor’s front doors. “Tea will be ready shortly.”

Sasuke gave a shriek upon entering the front hall. Hundred’s of multicolored streamers hung everywhere from the ceiling and upper railings. Every single object had a frilly pink bow attached to it – even the bloody doorknobs! There were also hundreds of cutesy stuffed animals littered the place along with other hideously girlish things. The entire interior of the Uchiha mansion looked like a dentist’s dream come true with all the sugary sweet décor. But to the master of the house, it was his worst nightmare next to the ordeal of three years prior. The raven haired boy could feel a vein threatening to burst in his forehead.

“Just what happened in here?!” the redheaded butler asked, his shock and disgust equal to his master’s. His teal eyes narrowed dangerously. If a certain brunet idiot was responsible for this, Naruto would most certainly get his wish to die, however, it’d be very slow and very, oh so very painful.

“Gaara-sama!” Sasuke’s three bumbling servants cried, running into the hall and clutching onto the redheaded butler for dear life. Poor Kiba was wearing a pair of rabbit ears while Deidara had a bib and baby bonnet. Hinata had apparently escaped the current lunacy that latched itself to the Uchiha household.

“Why are you dressed like that?!” demanded the demonic butler.

“She’s nuts I tell you, un!” answered the cook.

“A total nutcase!” added the gardener.

“Who’s a nutcase?” parroted Sasuke, trying his hardest to avert his eyes from all the horrid cuteness and pink. The frantic servants could only point toward an open door. Scowling, the master of Uchiha manor, stormed over to the door and shoved it further inward. The room inside, which happened to be the salon, had been given the same treatment as the main hall. However, he didn’t have the time to be outraged for upon entering, the sight of Naruto hanging from the ceiling with a rope around his neck and a bright orange young girl’s bonnet on his head.

“Just what do you think you’re doing, dobe?” the young lord demanded.

“Dying of shame, Master Sasuke, believe it!” replied the mortified butler.

“Gaara.”

“Right away sir.” The demon then promptly cut the other butler from the ceiling.

Suddenly there was a very high pitched squeal and a pink blur sped past the redhead. “Saaaaasuke-kuuuuuuun!!” the blur cried as it latched itself onto the boy. “I’ve missed you sooooo much!!”

“S-Sakura. I should have known,” the fourteen year old said as he tried to worm his way out of the pink haired girl’s death grip.

“How many times have I told you to call me Saku-chan!” chided the girl, still refusing to let him go. “Oh, you’re as handsome as ever!” she continued to gush, “I just go weak in the knees looking at you!”

“Lady Sakura,” interrupted Gaara, keeping a firm grip on the back of Naruto’s waist coat.

The pink haired bubble head that had presently invaded Sasuke’s home, finally released the fourteen year old lord to give the butler a polite curtsy. “Hello Gaara,” she said warmly totally oblivious to the man’s loathing of her and her inconsiderate actions of showing up uninvited and unwanted. “You’re looking well. Oh, why’d you take him down?” she whined.

“He was clashing with your excellent décor too much, my lady,” the demon replied, with a mock smile.

“Hmm. Maybe you’re right, but still doesn’t it look lovely? Right Antoinette?” They all turned to see who she was talking to and saw Asuma sitting comfortably on one of the salon’s couches, a bright yellow wig of curls upon his head. “Oh I almost forgot! This is for you, Gaara!”

The pink haired menace of the current Uchiha clan head promptly placed a frilly bonnet of bright pink with white and yellow flowers and matching ribbon upon the red haired butler’s head before he could even blink. “You’re always wearing that ugly old red all the time so that’ll be a nice change for one,” she added, approving her handiwork, once the ribbon had been properly tied under his chin.

“How kind of you to go through so much trouble for a lowly servant,” Gaara said, pouring on the charm as thickly as he could. Inside, however, he was secretly plotting the vapid girl’s torturous demise and longed for his master to give the order, which he would fulfill wholeheartedly. “You are much too kind, my lady.”

“Glad to see you like it,” beamed the air-headed female.

“Why are you here, Sakura?” Sasuke demanded, “Aunt Tsubaki couldn’t have let you come alone.”

“I know,” she said giggling mischievously, “I snuck out, ‘cause I wanted to see you.” She then immediately re-attached herself onto the boy, much like a leech.

“Hey Gaara,” Naruto whispered, “Just who is that crazy brat?”

“That ‘crazy brat’ is Lady Sakura Haruno and you will refer to her as such,” the demonic butler warned. He may not like the idiotic female, but he did believe in proper etiquette no matter how someone irked you. “She is the young master’s fiancée.”

“H-His fiancée?!” the shorter butler and Uchiha servants cried in unison, “HER?!”

“What would you expect?” Gaara chided, “She is the daughter of a noble just as my lord is the son of nobles. It is common practice that nobles marry other nobles. Especially if they wish to avoid the scandal of being seen with someone of a more vulgar class.”

“Ne, Sasuke-kun,” squealed Sakura, “Since we’ve got the dreary old mansion prettied up, why not throw a ball to celebrate?”

The raven haired boy blanched at that. He hated balls with an undying passion. Not lonely did he think them to be useless and frivolous wastes of time and money, but the main and most important reason why he loathed balls so much was – he couldn’t dance if his life and very soul depended on it.

“Oh! It’ll be so much fun!” the pinkette went on squealing, usually oblivious to her cousin and fiancé’s discomfort. “We’ll dance all night long! You’ll be my escort and of course you’ll wear the outfit I picked. Oh! It’ll be sooooooo good on you!”

“J-Just a minute, Sakura!” protested the raven haired lord, fighting against the urge to personally throw the squealing female out.

“You’re coming with me!” Sakura said, grabbing hold of what was left of the rope around Naruto’s neck and dragged him out of the salon. “I haven’t finished with your makeover.” The poor brunet butler choked and gasped for air as he was pulled through the mansion.

“Great,” Sasuke grumbled, “She never listens to a thing I have to say.”

***************************************************************

“Bocchan,” Gaara said, cutting the tomato sandwiches into fours. “It’d be best to just do what Lady Sakura wants.”

“Just give her tea or something then get her out of here,” the fourteen year old grumbled from behind his study desk, his head pressed against the cool polished surface.

“I’m afraid not,” the redhead replied, serving the sandwiches. “You know as well as I do, that she’ll never listen to reason.”

“I know that Gaara!” he snapped. “But we don’t have time to deal with her nonsense.”

“Be as that may,” Gaara said, pouring the tea – a plain Japanese green blend this time, “But you really can’t refuse Lady Sakura all the time. You’ll have to dance with her eventually. Maybe not here, but at some other soiree or your wedding perhaps.”

Sasuke blanched once more at the mention of his still far off wedding day to that annoying pink haired harridan. “What?” the boy asked a few moments later upon feeling the demon’s stare on him.

“Tell me master,” Gaara queried, “Why is it that I’ve never seen you dance? Surely you must know how to by now.” Sasuke refused to answer his butler; instead he began to go over the various business correspondences. “So that’s how it is,” the taller redhead sated, smirking slightly at the teen’s obvious embarrassment. “You don’t know how.”

“Hn,” snorted Sasuke, “I’ve got a company to run, plus there’s the Hokage’s work as well. I just don’t have the time to waste on stupid parties.”

Being the fastidious demon that he was, Gaara wasn’t going to allow his master to shame himself, the Uchiha family name or his reputation as an Uchiha butler. He marched over to the desk and snatched the stack of papers out of the boy’s hands then snatched away his favorite tomato sandwiches.

The young lord as about to protest and demand the man to return his snack at once, but Gaara didn’t give him the chance. “Young master,” he scolded, “Parties and other social gatherings are just as important as your work. In fact, they’re vital for obtaining and keeping contact with business associates and other members of society.” Sasuke desperately tried to grab at the food, but the butler kept it just out of reach of his child sized arms. “Noblemen, no, every gentleman must have at the very least some basic dancing skills. If you keep refusing invitations like you do, the Uchiha family reputation will suffer greatly.”

“Hn. Fine,” Sasuke grumbled, still eying the sandwiches. “I’ll let her have her stupid ball. Now go find me a teacher, Kurenai-sensei or Shizune-sensei will do.”

“We don’t have the time, bocchan,” Gaara said, replacing the food back in front of the boy. “But if you’d let me,” the demon continued smiling mischievously, “I could teach you.”

“Out of the question!” the fourteen-year-old protested, “There’s no way I’m letting a man teach me. Besides, do you even know how?”

“I’ve been told the waltz is my best dance,” replied the demonic butler rather smugly, “And of course, I’ve been a guest at many palaces from time to time, especially the Wind daimyo’s.” Sasuke stared at the redheaded demon servant in shock. Sure he’d known that Gaara had had many contracts before him, but to have been invited to royal balls and such, that was certainly not what he’d expected to hear.

***********************************************************

“Shall we start then?” the demonic butler said once Sasuke had finished his snack and stood before the taller butler. “You’ll be leading of course, so be sure to start on your heel. Also make sure you have your hand on the lady’s back, like this.” Gaara grabbed Sasuke’s right hand and placed it at the demon’s hip, guiding it as far around his waist it could go. He then took hold of the blushing boy’s left hand with his right and placed his free hand upon Sasuke’s shoulder. “We don’t have any music at the moment, so for now, just count to yourself – one, two, three… one, two, three.”

The two attempted to dance across the study floor, Sasuke stepping on the demon’s feet every few steps or so. It went on for a few more beats then the butler let out a disappointed sigh upon having the boy trip and cling to him. “I should have known you’d have no skills whatsoever,” he remarked, “Bocchan, you simply most not cling onto your partner like that.”

Sasuke jumped back, blushing profusely before sputtering out a hasty “You’re too tall!”

“But what’s more important,” Gaara said, ignoring his master’s protest, “You’ve got to wipe that depressing look off your face,” he scolded, grabbing hold of the fourteen-year-old’s cheeks and tried to get his young charge to smile. “The ladies will be insulted if you don’t smile. If you must, then pretend it’s fun.”

The shorter brunet growled and lashed out at the demon, punching him squarely in the jaw as well as slapping his hands away. “Leave me alone!” he yelled. Gaara had a totally shocked look on his face. Sure his master has struck him on several occasions before over the past three years, but not to such intensity as this.

“Bocchan…” Gaara tried, barely managing to hide the shock and hurt; he’d only been teasing him in fun after all.

“It’s impossible for me to smile,” Sasuke said turning away, “I’ve forgotten how, so I can’t even pretend to have fun if I wanted,” he added, toying with the blue stoned ring he always wore since that day, “Not now, not ever.”

The demon looked at the young charge with an unreadable expression on his face.

*******************************************************

“Please kill me now,” moaned the brunet as he stood before the mirror. Reflected back at him was a girl in a pale blue party dress. A matching ribbon was tied snuggly around her neck while her spiky chestnut brown hair was adorned with a light blue bow with pink roses. Poor Naruto had never been so humiliated.

Deidara laid a sympathetic hand on the brunet’s shoulder. “Might as well grin and bear it, un,” he said morosely. The Uchiha chef was feeling his own desire for death. His beautiful – to him at least – blond hair had been dyed bright orange and curled. He had been forced into a girl’s sailor style school uniform that was white with neon pink trimming. In fact, he and Naruto weren’t the only ones made to wear ridiculous outfits for Lady Sakura’s ‘ball.’

Poor Kiba was wearing a French maid’s outfit with cat ears, tail, and paws. The former Uchiha steward, Asuma, was dressed like a daimyo’s wife or daughter. The only one to be safe from the madness was Hinata for the pink haired lunatic of a girl deemed the Uchiha maid already cute enough as it was.

“Really! If I’ve gotta wear a stupid dress,” complained the inept butler, “Why can’t it be a hot little orange number?!”

“That’s why ya wanna die?!” growled Kiba in disbelief.

“Yeah! It’s too damned girly, believe it! And this color’s so washed out it’s almost white! There’s no way I’m wearing this wedding dress! That’s it! I’m leaving right now! Goodbye cruel world!”

The mortified butler dashed over to one of the upper windows in the main hall and opened it. He planted one foot on his sill and prepared to plunge himself to his doom. “Y-You’re not gonna stop me?” he asked the other men. Asuma, Kiba, and Deidara just stared at him, waiting for the drama queen of a brunet to finish his little performance.

Meanwhile, the source of all their suffering was admiring herself in front of another hall mirror as Hinata helped her with the final touches on her red ball gown and hair. “Blue is sooo Sasuke’s color!” Sakura squealed, “I can’t wait to see him in that outfit tonight. He’ll look sooooo handsome! Now about those ridiculous glasses of yours.”

The pink haired nightmare that was Sasuke Uchiha’s fiancée, turned to face the maid. The violet haired girl started to back away. “I-I-I’m sorry, my lady, but I-I-I-I n-n-need these g-g-glasses t-to see,” she stammered. Not only did the Uchiha maid need those thick lensed spectacles, they were a very precious gift from her dear employer. They were the first gift she’d ever gotten in all her life and wouldn’t part with them for all the world.

“Nonsense!” protested Sakura, “You don’t need silly old glasses to see when you’re having fun at a ball! Now give me them!” the vapid noble advanced on her and made several attempts to grab at Hinata’s glasses only to force the maid up against a wall. She smirked, seeing she had her prey trapped and made to grab at her girl’s glasses again.

“Sakura,” Sasuke said from atop of the stairs. He was dressed in a royal blue child’s suit with a darker blue waistcoat underneath the jacket. A red rose had been placed in one of the button holes for a bit of effect and contrast. “That’s enough. Leave Hinata be.”

“Saaaaaaasuke-kuuuuuuuuun!” squealed the pink haired monster as Sakura rushed over to her intended and began to whirl him around. “You look so sooooooo handsome! I knew that outfit would be absolutely perfect for you!” she spun the Uchiha lord around a few more times before finally noticing something wasn’t quite right with what the fourteen-year-old was wearing.

“Sasuke,” she said icily, her spring green eyes narrowing dangerously, “Where’s the ring I got to go with the outfit?!”

“Why should it matter?” he quipped, “The ring I have on matches doesn’t it?” True enough, the stone in the ring on his index finger was the exact same shade of blue as his suit.

“No. It. Doesn’t!!!!” she screamed, then started bawling and going off into a tirade of how much trouble it was for her to find the perfect man’s accessory and how he was being a cruel, cruel person for refusing such a glamorous and special gift.

“Look Sakura,” Sasuke began in an attempt to diffuse the rapidly deteriorating situation, “About this ring, it’s…”

He never got to finish what it was he wanted to explain for his pink haired fiancée whirled on him and rushed at him, all smiles now. “Fooled you!” she jeered, knocking the boy down onto the steps then snatched the ring right off his finger. “Hmph. this one’s so hideous and it’s way too big for you. Now you’ll have to wear my ring. Besides it’ll fit you much better anyway.”

“Give that back!” the head of the Uchiha clan commanded. His tone of voice was so full of barely veiled anger that everyone except for Sakura and Gaara let out gasps of utter shock. None of them had ever seen the young lord so distraught especially over something so trivial as a ring. “Give me the ring now, Sakura.” He held out his hand toward the girl, his coal black eye glaring at her with an aura of sheer anger and annoyance.

“S-Sasuke-kun…” she stuttered, looking away from her fiancé’s angry form. “Y-You don’t have to be so angry. It’s just a stupid ring! In fact, I hate this ugly thing! You can have your stupid ring then!” She then raised her hand over her head and flung the ring at the raven haired boy’s feet with all her might, causing it to smash to bits upon hitting the tiled floor.

The fourteen-year-old’s eye widened in sheer and utter fury. He charged at his cousin and fiancée, hand raised in readiness to slap the vapid girl silly. Just as he was about to strike the now whimpering and cringing girl, his wrist was grabbed, thus preventing any further bad blood between the two.

Sasuke whirled, ready to strike at whoever dared to get in his way. Before him stood Gaara, a reproachful look upon the redheaded butler’s face. “Bocchan,” he said, in a voice that belied his displeasure. “Don’t forget the walking stick we had so much trouble getting.” He then placed the cane into both of the boy’s hands, making sure he wouldn’t use it as a club.

“While Sasuke was desperately trying to calm himself down and catch his breath, the demon butler stepped between him and the sobbing Sakura, further protecting both children – Sasuke from himself and the pinkette from her cousin’s wrath.

“You must forgive my lord, Lady Sakura,” Gaara said bowing, “But that ring was extremely precious to him. It was a family heirloom that has been worn by the Uchiha clan head for generations; a one of a kind item. That is why he got so angry.”

“I-I never knew,” sniffled the girl, “that it was so important to him. And now… and now I’ve totally destroyed it.”

Sasuke picked up the broken shards and calmly walked past her. “S-Sasuke-kun, I…” The boy ignored her, instead he chucked the fragments as far out the open window that Naruto had forgotten to close. Once again, those gathered gasped in shock at the fourteen-year-old’s actions.

“Why did you do that for?!” asked Sakura, rushing over to him, but it was too late, the shattered ring was nowhere in sight on the grounds below.

“Doesn’t matter,” Sasuke said coldly. “It was only an old piece of junk. Whether or not I wore that ring or not,” he went on, turning to face his servants, “I am still the head of the Uchiha clan. That is one thing that will never change.” Gaara couldn’t help but stare at his master in awe. No matter how long he’d been living, humans always seemed to find a way to surprise the demon.

“Sakura,” the young lord said going over to his once again sobbing fiancée. “Are you planning on crying all night?”

“G-G-Gomen,” she managed to squeeze out.

“You’re a mess,” he said taking out a handkerchief and began to wipe at the prominent tear streaks running down her cheeks. “And you call yourself a lady. I don’t dance with ladies who have snot all over their faces and red, puffy, eyes.”

“D-Dance?” she sniffled again, “Y-You still want too…”

Just then, the red haired demon appeared at the main hall’s landing and started playing a lively waltz on a viola he’d apparently snuck off to fetch.

“S-Sugoi yo!” cried Hinata, awed by the Uchiha butler’s amazing repertoire of skills.

“What can’t he do?” Kiba huffed, jealous that he had only two talents, albeit not very useful ones, abnormal, inhuman strength and an affinity for animals.

“Hey let me help!” Naruto cried and rushed over to stand next to the redhead, making sure not to trip over his dress. Once in place, he began singing a wordless tune that matched the demon’s melody perfectly. Gaara lifted one non-existent eyebrow in amazement, not even once pausing or skipping a single beat. An almost imperceptible smile crept onto the taller butler’s face, pleased that the normally useless and inept brunet hadn’t missed a single beat. Yes, indeed humans were surprising creatures.

“T-The idiot can sing, un?!” cried a flabbergasted Deidara.

Now that the two cousins had successfully made up, they agreed to forget the whole ordeal over the ring and danced the evening away, the Uchiha servants joining in the revelry.

************************************************************

“Don’t worry, I’ll get her home,” Naruto said as Deidara laid a sleeping Sakura into Aunt Kushina’s carriage.

“You sure?” Gaara asked, not to sure about leaving his master’s betrothed with such an inept and overly dramatic fool of a butler.

“Yep. I may not look it most of the time, but I can be deadly efficient, believe it! I’ve gotta thank you, Gaara. I’ve learnt a lot about being a butler!” He grabbed the red haired man in a bear hug before placing a quick peck on the demon’s cheek, causing the slightly taller butler to clear his throat in embarrassment. “Ya know,” the brunet continued, “people say that when you’re about to die, your whole life flashes before you. Well, when that happens to me – don’t worry I’m not about to kill myself this time – I’m gonna make sure that I remember the time I spent here today or your kindness to me, Gaara.”

“Funny that,” the demonic butler quipped, eyeing the now peppy brunet butler with suspicion. Something was currently off with the man, though Gaara wasn’t able to figure out what exactly it was. “you’d be the one to say something like that.”

“Y-Y-Yes,” piped Hinata, “N-N-Naruto-san w-w-wasn’t very g-god at d-dying w-was he?” Asuma agreed with her buy giving a chuckle. The spiky haired man gave a sheepish chuckle of his own before hopping onto the driver’s seat and waved as he started down the driveway.

******************************************************************

“What a pain it’s been,” Sasuke said as Gaara helped him prepare for bed. “I’m glad that’s done and over with.”

“You did appear to be having fun, though, bocchan,” remarked the butler.

“Don’t,” snapped the boy, “It’s not like you to play the fool, Gaara.”

“Oh? Are you so sure about that?” he retorted, “I know how much that ring meant to you. Yet you still threw it away and put on that little act for her ladyship.”

Sasuke let out a gasp as he felt something being placed on his index finger. Glancing down, he saw a blue stoned ring – the very ring he had so vehemently discarded. It was now completely whole again as if the day’s events had never occurred at all. He stared at the demon in undisguised awe and gratitude.

Gaara couldn’t help the Cheshire grin that appeared on his face. “Now bocchan,” he said, “did you really think a butler of my caliber to be incapable of doing such a simple task as repairing a ring for my master? How foolish of you. You really need to treat it better; it’s seen so much these many years.”

“You’re right,” the fourteen-year-old agreed, “It’s seen the death of many an Uchiha. My grandfather, my father, and one day it will be witness to my own end. It’s heard each and every single dying scream of the Uchiha clan. Even now, when I close my eyes, I can hear them as well. That’s why I threw it away. I thought if I did that, the screaming would stop. You’re right Gaara, you’re not the fool here. I am.”

Once again, the demonic butler gazed at his young change with an unreadable expression on his face. “It’s getting late, sir,” he said a few moments later as he tucked the boy in, “You should sleep, bocchan, not unless you wish to make yourself ill. Oyasumi nasai, my lord.” He then picked up the candelabra and began to make his way to the master bedroom’s door.

“Gaara,” Sasuke called from the bed, lying on his side now, “Stay. Until I’m asleep at least.”

The redheaded demon paused before the door. “Showing weakness before me now are we?” he teased.

“It’s an order,” the boy replied.

Gaara returned to the bedside, placing the candelabra back in its proper spot on the night stand. “As you wish, master,” he said, kneeling down at the boy’s side, “I shall ever be at your side, bocchan, to the very end.”

Sasuke said nothing as he rolled over onto his other side, a tiny relieved smile upon his face.

~TBC~

Chapter 4: Episode 4

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Episode 4

“I can’t stand this,” the raven haired fourteen-year-old grumbled as his slightly taller demon butler opened the front door to the Uchiha heir’s town house located in the immediate suburbs of Konohagakure. “Konoha has too many people.”

“Be as that may, my lord,” Gaara replied, “you know full well that it’s tradition for nobles to spend the summer in the city.”

“Stupid waste of time,” the boy quipped as they began moving through the large house.

“Still, getting away from the manor is a nice change for once,” the demon continued, “We’ll be away from those four at the very least.” ‘Those four’ being the extremely inept Uchiha servants – Kiba, Deidara, and Hinata plus the semi retired steward Asuma. “Just think of the peace and quiet we’ll be able to have.”

“That does sound nice,” Sasuke said, stopping in front of the upstairs drawing room. Gaara, being the superb butler that he prided himself to be immediately opened the expertly polished double doors.

Black and teal eyes narrowed in disgust and annoyance at the sight before them. The drawing room was a mess. Items were strewn about everywhere along with several of the young master’s china.

“Now where the bloody hell do they keep the tea?” the culprit – Sasuke’s aunt Kushina – pondered as she began to rummage through the secretary desk against one wall. As usual, the red headed woman was dressed head to foot in bright scarlet.

Crouched on the floor in a corner at the opposite side of the room and looking into a Ming vase was Lee. Naruto, Lady Kushina’s inept butler was on the floor as well, looking underneath the sofa. “I must apologize Madam,” the Chinese teen said forlornly, “I can’t seem to locate any tea anywhere.”

“Don’t be so silly!” Kushina giggled, glancing toward her companion, “Of course they wouldn’t keep tea in that! Believe it!” She gave an exasperated shout and tossed an empty inkwell from the desk after checking it.

“Auntie?! Lee?! Just what are you doing here?!” demanded the Uchiha lord, annoyed that the promise of peace and quiet had been shattered.

“Oh! You’re here early Sasuke sweetie!” the woman squealed before rushing to give her nephew a crushing bear hug. Sasuke briefly struggled, but stoically endured his aunt’s enthusiastic affection.

“If you’re here, then that means…” Lee began to think vigorously, trying to remember why the head of the Uchiha clan was in the city so late into the summer migration season.

“The Hokage’s dog has new prey to hunt,” Kushina supplied slyly. The fourteen-year-old said nothing, only glared at them with an unreadable expression on his face.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“There’s been another brutal murder in the slums,” Sasuke stated once they’ve all been seated and served the tea ‘Madame Red’ had been so desperately searching for. “Another whore. Normally, the Hokage would let the police handle this, but the level of brutality in these crimes is not normal nor is it like anything before.”

“The latest victim was someone named Meimi Nishizawa,” Gaara contributed, “It has been said that an unusual type of blade had been used. She’d been torn to pieces and was barely recognizable.”

“Due to such horrific methods, the murderer has been given a nickname,” the boy resumed, “’Kyuubi’, or the ‘nine-tailed fox’, after the demon that had attacked Konoha during the time of the fourth Hokage.”

“Quite a scary name,” the redheaded woman muttered darkly. She, like every citizen of Fire Country knew the tales of the demon fox’s supposed violent and cruel actions of so many years ago.

“Indeed,” parroted Lee.

“That is why I’m here now,” their host explained, “I rushed to Konoha so I could look into this personally.”

“That is very admirable, youthful friend,” the Chinese teen began, rising from his seat, “But are you sure you can handle such a gruesome crime scene?”

“Why do you ask?” the raven haired boy challenged.

“As your most knowledgeable butler stated moments ago, the poor woman was torn apart. And of course, there’d be the noisome(1) remains. Her blood and entrails splattered all over the place. I’ve heard tales of grown men going utterly mad at such terrible sights.” Lee then crossed the distance between the two and placed one callused hand on the boy’s cheek before going on. “I would hardly think one as young as you could…”

Sasuke glared at the taller teen, slapping the hand away, “I am the head of the Uchiha clan,” he ground out through clenched teeth, “and in the Hokage’s service. Stop being so stupid and asking doltish questions.”

“Please forgive me,” apologized Lee, “You are absolutely correct. I should not be doubting you, your lordship.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Iruka Umino stood in the archway leading to ‘Kyuubi’s’ latest bloodbath, going over his stack of notes and making sure none of the more curious members of the gathering crowd attempted to get a better look and thus disturb any evidence at the scene. “Sorry young man,” the plain clothed detective said upon noticing the raven haired boy followed by a redheaded butler approaching him. “This is no place for a child. Now why don’t you run along?”

“I’m here to see the victim,” Sasuke announced, glaring at the man authoritatively. He was getting rather perturbed at this latest obstacle to his investigation as well as the detective’s obviously patronizing manner.

“Now look here son, I’m not quite sure you know what’s going on here. Someone’s been hurt very badly and…”

“Umino!” called a silver haired man as he approached from further past the archway, getting the detective’s attention. Mizuki’s eyes narrowed upon spying the boy standing imperiously before his subordinate. “So Lord Uchiha has decided to grace us with his presence has he?” the police commissioner said, barely managing to hide the sneering tone in his voice. “Just what are you doing here, boy?”

“Um… Sir Mizuki, you know this child?” Iruka inquired, stunned. How would the head of Fire Country’s Leaf Guard know such a well dressed – and obviously high ranked – child?

“I’m here to help. Why else do you think I’m here?” shot the fourteen-year-old, ignoring the confused detective and produced a scroll with the Hokage’s personal seal on it. Iruka’s eyes bugged out upon recognizing the seal. Just who was this kid?! “It seems certain parties believe you’re taking too long.”

The silver haired man gritted his teeth, but said nothing – he wasn’t stupid enough to risk angering their ruler and thus losing his job or worse, his life. Sasuke then promptly snatched the stack of papers from the still dazed and confused Iruka who then began to sputter futilely.

“Still haven’t found any useful clues yet, I see,” the boy noted as he glanced through the case files, making sure Gaara could see them as well in case his own sharp eye missed anything.

Mizuki quickly seized the stack of papers back before either of them could learn too much. However, unbeknownst to the commissioner, the red haired demon had already memorized all the pertinent details on each and every sheet. “Well if certain… parties would let us do our job, we’d be more than capable of solving this in a timely manner. And on our own, I’ll add!” he hissed.

“Is that so?” Sasuke parried, “Then I’ll leave you to it then, gentlemen. Come Gaara.”

“Of course, sir.” With that, the Uchiha heir and his butler strode away from the still sputtering detective and his rather annoyed superior.

“So what now, sweetie?” Lady Kushina asked once her nephew had joined her and Lee amongst the still growing crowd of curious onlookers.

“We go see someone who can actually help us.”

“Surely not…” Lee gasped.

“Could there be anyone else?” the fourteen-year-old interrupted smugly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few minutes later found the motley group standing in one of the ‘nicer’ neighborhoods of Konoha’s slum districts before an undertaker’s shop of all places. “Ano… where are we again?” Lee inquired, staring at the coffins and blank headstones on display outside.

“You. Don’t. Know?!” Kushina all but screamed, “Then why the bloody hell did you act as if you knew where we were going?!”

“A family ‘acquaintance’ runs this particular establishment,” Gaara explained.

“This is the best place for answers considering slum crimes,” the raven haired Uchiha lord disclosed, opening the door and stepping into the darkened shop. Coffins and various items of a funereal nature were scattered about. Some of the morbid boxes were in various states of completion.

“I thought I’d be seeing you soon,” a voice chirped from further within the funeral parlor. Suddenly, one of the coffins leaning against the walls slid open to reveal a young man his late twenties to early thirties. He had messy silver hair and was dressed in traditional funeral robes, his equally black hat askew, hiding one eye, the lower half of his face also obscured by a thick dark gray scarf. Tucked into the robes’ sash was a small bright orange book.

The group – with the exception of the Uchiha lord and demon butler – let out shrieks and shouts of surprise at he unexpected appearance. Poor Naruto – who had tagged along with his mistress – had almost fainted from the fright, landing on his rear several feet away from the strange man.

“Let me guess,” the man known only as ‘The Undertaker’ queried, his only visible eye an upside down ‘U’, “You’re here to finally be fitted for one of my coffins.”

“Of course not!” declared Sasuke, used to the eccentric man’s behavior, “I’m…”

The mortician placed a single half gloved finger on the boy’s lips, effectively silencing him. “No need,” he said, “I already know. All too well, you might say. My latest ‘customer’ was a bit… unique shall we say. No worries though, she looks much better than ever thanks to me.”

“The details, if you don’t mind,” requested the fourteen-year-old, getting right to the point.

“Ah I get it now!” the Chinese teen piped, “Your being an undertaker is only a cover. Name your price.”

The silver haired man’s eye narrowed dangerously at Lee. “If it’s the Hokage’s money you think I’m after, you’re dead wrong. I’ve no need for that. I get more than enough almost every day.” He then moved quicker than any of those present could follow and grasped onto Sasuke’s supper arms. “Please, Lord, I know you have it!” he shamelessly begged, “Let me have it and I’ll tell you whatever you want!”

“It seems there’s no other choice,” the demonic butler said, snatching his young charge from the still pleading mortician. “If everyone were to please wait outside,” Gaara said quickly ushering the group from the shop.

“You know what to do,” the Uchiha lord ordered before closing the door, receiving a curt nod from the redhead.

A few moments later, maniacal laughter could be heard from inside the funeral parlor. It was so loud that it shook the shop’s huge sign right off the building’s front façade. The door shortly opened and a smug looking Gaara greeted them. “He’ll talk now, my lord,” said the butler allowing the rest of the group to pass.

The Undertaker lay sprawled across one of his coffins, sill giggling and drooling. Clutched tightly in hi spasming hand was a shiny, new, bright orange book.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once their host had recovered from receiving his ‘payment’ and had served everyone his signature bone shaped cookies and tea – using beakers as the pot and cups – he got down to business.

“I’ve been noticing a certain pattern with my ‘customers’ as of late,” he stated, playing with a cookie, “They’ve been employing my services a bit… lacking.”

“Lacking?” repeated Gaara.

“Yes. They arrive with a certain part missing – that most important organ that allows a lady to bear children. As messy as our ‘Kyuubi’s’ been, that specific part is always expertly removed.”

“’Kyuubi’ committed these murders on streets where people were sure to pass by,” the demon added, “An amateur would certainly have a hard time with doing such precise surgical work without screwing it up in such limited time.”

“Exactly what I was thinking Mr. Butler,” agreed the silver haired man, going over to stand behind Sasuke. “You see,” he began, wrapping an arm around the boy’s shoulders. “’Kyuubi’ slits her throat.” He dragged a semi-gloved finger across Sasuke’s neck while placing his other hand on his abdomen. “Then he rips her open right here.” The mortician continued rubbing the Uchiha head’s stomach, “and pulls out that most precious part right out. Such vicious killers like our Kyuubi won’t stop until you make them. So my little guard dog can you out fox the fox?”

“The honor of my clan is at stake here,” Sasuke replied, glaring at the Undertaker. He didn’t particularly like being used as a visual aid. “I’ll get rid of whatever threat the Hokage commands me to. By ANY means necessary.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Thanks to the Undertaker’s information, we can narrow down the suspects,” the fourteen-year-old said as they rode the Uchiha’s carriage which was being driven by Naruto at the moment. It seemed to be the only thing the extremely inept butler didn’t mess up.

“First we weed out those who don’t have the skills for precise surgical work, meaning those within the upper class,” Gaara commenced, “then focus on those that do, excluding those with airtight alibis of course. Now since only specific part of their anatomy was taken from each victim, I would assume that ‘Kyuubi’ has some sort of connection to the occult. That would mean we yet again exclude certain others and concentrate on those with the necessary medical skills and association with the occult.”

“Well that leaves me out,” Madame Red remarked nonchalantly, “I may have enough experience and skill to do what Kyuubi did, but I certainly don’t have any interest or connection to any occult stuff. Believe it!”

“That much is true, my lady,” the redheaded butler acknowledged.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Kushina went on, missing the scrutinizing look Gaara had been giving her, “The summer season’s almost over and Sasuke-kun’s gong to have to get his bum in gear before people start going back to the country, taking their doctors with them.”

“My sentiments exactly, Madam,” Gaara agreed, a Cheshire grin on his handsome face.

“But such a task would be impossible,” Lee protested, “Given the amount of nobles in this fair city. Not to mention the medical practitioners of good standing, they all would have left and cleaned up after themselves before his lordship has made any progress.”

“On the contrary,” the demon said, the cryptic grin not once leaving his face as he opened the door of the still moving carriage. “What kind of butler do you think I am? I shall start your list of suspects at once, my lord.” Sasuke gave a short nod, not bothering to look at the man. With that, Gaara leapt from the carriage, shocking Kushina, Lee, and Naruto – who very nearly lost control of the horses upon witnessing his fellow butler’s rather dramatic exit. The Uchiha lord just smiled, the grin on his face mimicking his butler’s as the boy shut the door.

“Don’t worry,” Sasuke said, returning to his seat, “Gaara is more than capable of handling things. Let’s go home. I’d like a cup of tea.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Welcome back, minna(2),” the redheaded butler greeted, bowing as Lee opened the townhouse’s door for Sasuke. Kushina’s eyes bugged out upon seeing Gaara standing before them. It had only been twenty minutes since the demonic servant had leapt from the Uchiha’s carriage. “I’ve been waiting for you,” he said, rather enjoying the woman’s shock. “Your tea is ready for you in the upstairs drawing room.”

His young master nodded sharply, handing his silk top hat to the taller redhead before making his way upstairs.

“Now just a minute!” his aunt shouted, stepping up to face her fellow redhead. “Why are you here?! I thought you were going to…”

“Already finished, my lady,” the demon interjected, grinning that smug Chishire grin again.

“Don’t you dare lie to me, buster!” Kushina bellowed, “There’s NO bloody way you could have a viable list already! Believe it!”

“But I do, madam,” Gaara countered, producing three enormous scrolls, all bearing the Uchiha seal.

“Suuuuuuuuure you do Gaara,” drawled the skeptical woman, “No one could be that good or that fast. Not even you.”

“Forgive me, but I beg to differ, my lady,” he continued. Gaara then broke open one of the scrolls, the roll of parchment unfurling down to the floor into a puddle. The demonic servant began to read off the names of suspects, listing each person’s alibi.

Sasuke paused at the top of the first set of stairs to give his aunt an equally smug smirk of his own. The raven haired boy knew full well of his ‘butler’s’ exceptional talents.

The poor woman could only stare wide eyed and slack jawed as Gaara continued on and on. Lee and Naruto gave the Uchiha butler awed stares of their own, the chestnut haired butler’s admiration of his colleague rising tenfold. He’d never seen anything like this man.

“From what I have discovered,” Gaara started, dropping the last of the scrolls, “I was able to reduce our list of suspects down to a single individual.

“You can’t be just a butler,” but in Madame Red, visibly impressed. “You’ve gotta be from ANBU or maybe some kinda ex-samurai of some daimyo. Believe it!”

“I assure you, Lady Kushina,” the demonic redhead replied, smiling his trademark Cheshire grin, “I am merely one hell of a butler.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“The Viscount Kuchinawa(3), or Lord Orochimaru, has a medical degree from Konohagure University, but has never shown any interest in starting a practice,” Gaara commenced, adjusting his glasses slightly as he and the others rode in Sasuke’s carriage – once again being driven by Naruto.

“As of late, he has been holding soirees at his home here in Konoha. However, these parties are only a camouflage for secret gatherings of a few select friends and intimates.”

“I’ve heard he’s shown interest in the occult lately,” Madame Red added.

“So you’re saying,” Lee piped, “ is that he’s having all these parties to disguise his most unyouthful activities of ritual sacrifices and other such fowl things involving those unfortunate women.”

“This is last soiree of the summer season,” Sasuke said as the carriage stopped at a large mansion on the very edge of the other side of the city from the Uchiha townhouse. “which means we can’t mess this up. It’s our only chance at apprehending ‘Kyuubi’.”

The boy allowed the valets to help him from the carriage, scowling at his smirking butler. The Uchiha heir had been forced to wear a dress of all things! Not only that, but an uber frilly PINK monster that required the sheer hell and torture of a whale bone corset and hoop skirt. Sasuke’s hair was expertly tucked into a pigtailed wig that matched his raven locks perfectly. An equally monstrously pink and frilly had sat crookedly on his head, tastefully obscuring is usually covered right eye along with the wig’s bangs.

“Sasuke, you’ll be my niece,” Lady Kushina whispered as they were escorted into the viscount’s mansion. The vivacious woman had chosen an off shoulder gown of blood red and a large black hat with at matching red ribbon. A white feather boa had been flirtatiously draped around her waist and elbows. “And Gaara, you’re Sasuke’s tutor.”

“Why do I have to be your niece?! the boy hissed back furiously.

“Because I’ve always wanted a girl,” Kushina whispered back merrily.

“I don’t believe this!” the Uchiha lord grumbled.

“Do you want Lord Orochimaru to know you’re an Uchiha?!” the boy’s aunt warned, “And besides, my sources tell me that Viscount Kuchinawa is a known collector of pretty and unusual things. You’re certainly pretty enough to catch his eye. Not to mention you’re sure unusual as well, believe it! So don’t we want to catch his eye or not?”

“You did tell our ‘friend’ the Undertaker ‘by ANY means necessary’ did you not, my lord?” Gaara included slyly. The demon was definitely enjoying his young master’s discomfort immensely.

“Tch.”

“First we have to locate the viscount,” the demon butler began, leading Sasuke further into the partying throng, leaving Kushina and Lee to fend for themselves.

“At least I don’t have to worry about Sakura being here. I’d die of sheer humiliation if she’d ever saw me like this,” the Uchiha lord griped.

“Oh your dress is sooooooo cyuuuuute!” came an all too familiar squeal, causing the old saying ‘speak of the devil, and he’ll show up’ to come to the boy’s mind.

‘I-I’m just hearing things,’ he muttered to himself, ‘there’s no way she’d be here!’

“Everyone’s dresses are just too lovely!”

Sasuke froze in utter terror. There was no mistaking that annoying, squealing voice this time. He shakingly took a glance over his shoulder and sure enough, there stood his nightmarish pink haired cousin in all her frilly glory. “S-S-S-Sakura?!” he stammered lowly, quickly whipping his head away from the hyper, squealing pink terror.

“Now sir, I mean young miss,” Gaara whispered, quickly correcting himself and remembering he had a new part to play at the moment. It was extremely rare the demon to slip up like that, but he, like his young charge, hadn’t been told that Sasuke’s cousin and fiancée would be in attendance at the viscount’s final ball of the season. “You must calm down, let’s go before she sees…”

“Oh now that’s the cyuuuuuutest dress ever!” the pink haired girl cried upon spotting Sasuke’s retreating back.

Gaara swiftly lead his ‘mistress’ even further away from Sakura, both managing to give the squealing girl the slip by hiding behind one of the enormous multi-tiered cakes scattered throughout the mansion.

“Forgive me mistress,” the demonic redhead apologized, fully in character now, “I truly did not think Lady Sakura would be attending tonight.”

“If she’d seen my face…”

“The name of Uchiha would be forever ruined beyond repair for generations to come,” finished Gaara.

“We’d better go back to auntie.” The redheaded butler nodded and began to follow him.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Lady Kushina was seated on an enormous plush chair, laughing uproariously and having the time of her life. A bevy of young men were surrounding her like moths to a flame.

‘Looks like she’s enjoying herself,’ Sasuke huffed silently.

“There you are!” came Sakura’s dreaded squeal.

The raven haired boy once again started to panic, but Gaara, being the exceptional butler that he was, quickly dragged the Uchiha heir away yet again, stopping only to tell one of the many hired caterers to give the pink haired nightmare a drink, thus effectively distracting the persistent female.

“Why do I always have these things happen to me?” Sasuke grumbled, panting as he and the demon made it safely to a terrace.

“Oh my!” came a woman’s voice from inside, “Lord Kuchinawa is as handsome as ever!”

“That long black hair of his looks as soft as a raven’s wing!” remarked another.

Upon hearing them, the Uchiha heir and his demonic servant moved from the terrace and back into the mansion. A tall, pale skinned man was chatting with a small group of guests. He was dressed in a finely tailored kimono of creams and lavenders.

“That’s him,” whispered Sasuke, “That’s Lord Orochimaru. Let’s get this over with.” Just as they were about to go over and ‘greet’ their host, the hired orchestra began to play, causing guests to swarm into the large room which appeared to be the viscount’s dance hall. The dancing couples made it virtually impossible to get near the pale man without disturbing anyone.

“Tch,” cursed the boy. “We’ll never get close enough to him at this rate.”

“It seems we’ll have to dance our way through this,” Gaara said rather calmly, spotting their target at the far end of the hall near a pair of stairs.

“D-Dance?! In public?! With you?!” sputtered his young master.

“You already know I’m an accomplished dancer,” Gaara replied, smirking as he grasped Sasuke’s wrist. He wasn’t about to give the boy a chance to protest any further. “And besides that, young miss, social etiquette allows a lady to dance with her tutor while at such a public gathering as this.”

“Must we?” Sasuke complained. How he absolutely loathed dancing!

Gaara said nothing, he simply grinned and grabbed hold of the Uchiha lord’s waist and began to lead him into a waltz. Thanks to the demon’s graceful skills at dancing, the two of them managed to dance across the crowded hall without stumbling or bumping into anyone. Sasuke dropped down to his knees and began panting again once they’d reached the other side.

“Now, now,” chided the demon as he helped him to stand, “Surely one dance couldn’t have tired you out already, young miss.”

Before the fourteen-year-old could launch a rather scathing retort, they were startled by the sound of someone clapping. Turning around the Uchiha lord came face to face with Viscount Kuchinawa. “That was simply exquisite,” their host praised, giving the disguised boy an appraising gaze. “Your dancing reminded me of a little robin fluttering about, young lady.”

Whether the creepy looking man was buying the disguise or not, Sasuke couldn’t tell and their target was obviously not going to show any signs in either direction. Even so the man’s golden eyes were seriously starting to unnerve him.

“Shall I fetch you a drink, my lady?” Gaara inquired then promptly leaving before the boy could reply or order him to stay.

“G-Good evening, Lord Kuchinawa,” Sasuke stammered, actually remembering to curtsy and disguise his voice by raising the pitch as high as he could, making it sound what he hoped to be girlish.

“Enjoying the party,” Orochimaru asked, taking the fourteen-year-old’s gloved hand and kissing it, “Little Robin?”

“Yes,” replied the boy, pouring on as much feminine charm as he could, remembering to bat his eyes like his aunt drilled into him, “It’s lovely, but I’ve been waiting to speak to you all evening night.”

“Is that so?” the serpentine man inquired again, seeming to fall for the raven haired boy’s act.

“I’m done with just dancing and eating.”

“My, my. You’re quite the spoiled princess aren’t you?” Orochimaru remarked, placing an arm around Sasuke’s waist. “You want something more entertaining is that it?” The older man’s hand slipped further down the Uchiha heir’s hip.

‘You can do this, Sasuke,’ the Uchiha head told himself silently, ‘After Gaara’s torturous etiquette lessons and auntie’s crash course in finishing school – not mention being forced into this hellish contraption – this should be a piece of cake!’

“There are other amusements?” the boy queried, “I’d be ever so happy to see them.”

“Anything for my lovely Little Robin,” the viscount murmured grasping Sasuke’s chin.

‘I’m going to kill him when this is over! The perverted snake!’

“What did you have in mind, my lord?” Sasuke asked, continuing the coquettish act. ‘I have until the end of this song to find out what he’s up to,’ he inwardly noted having finally noticed that the band had started another waltz while he’d been talking with the snake of a man. He quickly gave a glance at the dancing couples and spotted a certain pink head and frilly red gown. ‘Oh no! If Sakura comes over here…’

“Are you sure you wish to know, my dear little bird?”

“Of course! I simply must know, my Lord Kuchinawa.”

“Hmm, I don’t know,” hesitated Orochimaru, “You do look to be rather young.”

“Don’t tease me like this, my lord. I’m a lady not a little child.”

The music stopped and Sasuke glanced back at the crowd to see his cousin starting to make her way towards them. ‘I’m done for!’ he silently moaned, certain his life would be over in a manner of seconds.

“Why so distracted, my lovely butterfly?” the serpentine noble asked, taking hold of the boy’s chin once more to bring his attention back onto him.

“I-It’s nothing,” Sassuke stammered, praying desperately that his cousin would find something else to hold her interest.

As in answer to the boy’s silent begging, Gaara swooped down between Sasuke and his rapidly approaching pink harridan, bearing a large cabinet like box. The demon’s handsome face was hidden by a party mask.

“Now if you’ll all gather ‘round,” the redhead announced as he rose to his feet. “This evening’s magic show is about to commence.”

The guests who had remained to wait for the next number circled the mysterious man, eager for the latest bit of entertainment. Sakura – effectively distracted once more, gave out an awed gasp of excitement. She loved parlor tricks.

‘Thank goodness,’ the raven haired Uchiha sighed inwardly, ‘My reputation’s saved.’

“You there!” Gaara called, pointing at Lee who’d been fanning Kushina up to then, “I am in need of an assistant.”

“Certainly!” chirped the Chinese teen, smiling widely, “I am always ready to assist those in need.” He promptly lost the large bamboo fan and rushed to the demon’s side.

“How odd,” Orochimaru mused, eyeing the redhead suspiciously, “I’m sure I didn’t ask for any illusionists”

Seizing the chance his demonic butler had just given him, Sasuke turned back to the viscount. “Lord Orochimaru,” he entreated, pulling out all the stops on this one moment, “Must we stay for this? I’ve no interest in parlor tricks. I find them boring and quite frankly, rather passé.”

“Of course, my dear Little Robin,” the snakish nobleman replied, causing Sasuke to inwardly flinch in disgust at the older man’s leering. The two promptly left the dance hall, Orochimaru leading the way up the stairs and deeper into the mansion.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile with Gaara…

“You’ll observe that this is but an ordinary box,” the demon began, addressing the audience, “No hidden tricks or false panels anywhere.” He then knocked on all sides of the cabinet like box, even the top and bottom. “Once I step inside this box, my assistant shall wrap these chains,” he gestured to a sizeable amount of chains and padlocks nearby, “around the box and lock them. After that, run these swords,” he made a sweeping bow to pick up a sword from another large pile opposite the chains, “straight through like so.”

The redhead ran the sword through the box with a flourish then promptly pulled it back out and dropping it back onto its pile. Sakura, along with several other ladies let out gasps of concern, fearful for the seemingly handsome performer’s safety.

“Fear not ladies,” Gaara declared, hamming it up. How he adored playing on a woman’s emotions, “I shall be completely unharmed. For unlike those other mountebanks, my performances are those of true magic.” Without further ado, the demonic butler stepped into the box, closing the doors after him.

Lee eagerly then began wrapping and locking the chains into place until there was absolutely no possibility of escape. “Here goes!” the black haired ‘assistant’ muttered, grasping one of the swords. He then leapt straight up onto the top of the cabinet and plunged the weapon all the way to the hilt.

The entire audience let out shouts of sheer terror, for such a blow most definitely would be one hundred percent fatal! Almost all the women fainted, believing they’d just been witness to a murder. Lee ignored them and continued to plunge sword after sword into the box at lightning speed until the box resembled a cactus.

Once the Chinese teen had finished, the chains shattered mere seconds afterwards. The doors promptly swung open to reveal a smiling and completely unscathed Gaara, not a single hair was out of place. The audience cheered wholeheartedly as the demon stepped from the box, cries of ‘true magic’ rippled through the crowd.

“Wow Gaara!” cheered Lady Kushina, “That was really something! Amazing even, believe it!”

“Yes!” piped Lee, “I had begun to worry I had done you serious harm, my friend.”

“It did hurt a bit,” whispered the demon, “I wasn’t expecting you to aim for my head first. I’m just glad it was me in there and not someone else. Otherwise, they’d most certainly be dead.”

“At any rate Gaara, what exactly was the secret behind such a marvelous illusion? How did you manage to escape harm?”

Before the demonic redhead could answer, Lady Kushina grabbed Lee. “You didn’t know?! And you still used all those swords?!” she bellowed, throttling him.

Gaara turned to them before going in search of his ‘mistress’ “As I told everyone here,” he said, giving his customary Cheshire grin once more, “there was no trick, simply magic?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“I assure you, my lovely butterfly,” Orochimaru said, opening the door for his guest, “that you’ll find this place to be so much more amusing.” A cloud of strange smelling perfume hit them “I certainly do,” the serpentine smile seeming to increase in width with each step they took.

As Sasuke ventured further into the dark and smoky room at the bottom of a hidden staircase, he felt himself start to wobble upon his feet. ‘This stench… it’s overpowering,’ he thought. Suddenly, he slumped against the door, unable to support his own weight anymore. He’d failed to notice when the viscount had shut it, thus blocking off the only visible route of escape. The Uchiha heir silently cursed his stupidity for letting Gaara go off to who knows where as his vision rapidly blurred and his mind finding it hard to concentrate long enough to summon the demon.

“Already enjoying yourself, I see,” Orochimaru taunted, the snakish grin reaching from ear to ear at the boy’s drugged stupor, “my dear, Little Robin.”

~TBC~

Notes:

A/N:

(1) Noisome – odorous (blame my current obsession with H.P. Lovecraft for this one folks, he loves to use words like this)

(2) Minna – everyone

(3) kuchinawa – old word for snake (I think this is what should have been Orochi-sama’s clan name if Kishimoto sensei had given him one)

Episode 5

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Episode 5

He awoke to utter darkness. Refusing to let the fear that was starting to gnaw at his mind to get any further hold, Sasuke took a deep breath and began taking stock of his current situation.

He could feel cold iron bars at his back, so that probably meant he was in a cage. Again. The raven haired boy desperately bit the inside of his cheek, refusing to let the memories of that time two years ago force him into one of his panic attacks. For once he gave a grateful mental sigh that a blindfold had been tied around his head and therefore was unable to see the bars.

Next he noticed both his wrists and ankles were tied tightly, but not enough to cut off circulation. Also he was still wearing that hideous pink monstrosity he’d been forced into mere hours ago. Sasuke’d never admit it, but the Uchiha lord was extremely grateful the perverted snake of a man hadn’t removed the dress. He had wanted that frilly hellish contraption off, but not he wasn’t that desperate.

“And finally,” came Orochimaru’s hissing voice from somewhere in the dark. “What you’ve all been waiting for. Our star of the night, our crowning jewel.” There was a swishing sound of something being uncovered, his prison most likely.

Sasuke inwardly snarled at the awed gasps from the gathered crowd. ‘When I get out of here, I’ll show what it means to gape at an Uchiha like a piece of meat,’ the fourteen-year-old silently vowed.

“She’d be a lovely decoration, don’t you think?” Viscount Kuchinawa continued. “I’m certain she’d make a sweet little pet for one of you. That is if you’d prefer to keep her whole and healthy of course. Though, should you desire to sell off her parts, those of you who are discerning collectors would appreciate that her eyes are two different colors. That alone should add to the value of this lovely’s attraction.

‘So Orochimaru’s secret parties are black market auctions,’ Sasuke mused, fighting against the fear and anger he was feeling. Fear of being sold to some disgusting old pervert like the Viscount; fear of being killed before he’d gotten his revenge; and anger at being talked about and put on display as if he mattered no more than a slab of meat or some useless decorative bauble. ‘He’s been selling the missing organs this way. So that’s what he’s been up to.’

“The bidding shall now start,” the snake like man stated.

The raven haired boy startled slightly as he felt someone untying his blindfold. He began to tune out the Viscount’s voice as the perverted noble started calling out bids. “Gaara,” the fourteen-year-old nobleman whispered softly, “Get your lazy ass over here this instant.”

Within milliseconds of uttering that command, all of the candles scattered about the attic room went out at once as if a giant’s breath had simply snuffed them out.

“W-What’s going on?” demanded a flustered Orochimaru. The Uchiha lord simply sat in the cage as screams and sounds of bodies hitting the floor ensued. Just as suddenly, the candles back to life, revealing a completely spotless and untouched red haired demon.

“Honestly young master,” Gaara said exasperatedly, brushing off imaginary dust off his pristine gloves. “It seems you’re only good for one thing – getting yourself kidnapped. Such a shame.”

Sasuke glared at his demonic servant. “As long as you and I are under contract, you’ll tail me wherever I go regardless. Whether you like it or not. Am I right, Gaara?”

“Such a contract as ours,” the taller redhead said, approaching the cage, “Is sealed with a mark a demon places on their prey. The more noticeable the mark,” he added giving the boy’s glowing red eye a cursory glance, “the tighter the bond between demon and prey. The demon must serve…”

“While the prey can never escape,” finished Sasuke, the contract mark placed within his right eye slowly beginning to dim down to its usual faint glow.

“That is so,” Gaara replied, bending the thick iron bars as easily as if they were toothpicks. “Where you go, I go. Until the very end.” He then started untying his master’s arms and legs. “Should I die in this mortal form, I will still be with you in the very depths of Hell itself. This is how we demons differ from you humans.” The redheaded demon gingerly scooped up the boy, cradling him as if he were the finest Bru doll. “We do not lie.”

“Hn. Good. You are never to lie to me, no matter what, is that clear?”

“Crystal, my lord.”

“So I assume we’ve solved the ‘Kyuubi’ case. I expected it to be a bit harder,” the boy griped as they strolled past Orochimaru’s unconscious body. They’d leave the rest for the police to sort things out.

“We’d best hurry before Sir Mizuki and his men show up.” The demon’s master gave a noncommittal ‘hn’ then Gaara slightly tightened his hold before leaping out the attic window and onto the roof.

Upon hearing a strange noise, a certain pink haired girl rushed to the terrace balcony looked to the roof above to see…

Nothing.

“That’s odd,” Lady Sakura murmured rubbing her now sleepy eyes, “I was sure I heard something on the roof.”

Sasuke let out a sigh of relief, grateful Gaara had been quick enough to hide them on the other side of the dormer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day…

“’Kyuubi’ strikes again?!” Lee gasped as he read the latest post out loud.

“Guess that means you were wrong about Orochimaru,” Lady Kushina remarked, sipping her tea.

Across from the other side of the drawing room, Gaara’s teal eyes narrowed dangerously at the red headed woman as he silently hovered by his little master.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“This is hardly the time for games,” Sasuke ground out as he moved a piece along the shogi board.

“Sasuke, sweetie,” his aunt chided, making a counter move, “it’s not healthy to obsess over it. And besides, what good will it do? It won’t help this awful case get solved. Just leave it to Gaara.”

“He’s just a shogi piece,” shot the raven haired lord, moving another piece. “I may be the one moving him by giving orders, but Gaara’s no ordinary pawn. He can move as many spaces he needs. Like this.” He then took one of his knights and knocked Kushina’s rook off the board.

“Hey!” the redheaded woman protested, half jumping form her seat and almost upsetting the board in the process. Her nephew had just made an illegal move. “That’s against the rules!” she huffed before sitting back down and moving another piece.

“It was,” Sasuke agreed smugly, “But we both know that real life isn’t a game, Auntie. There’s always a knight who’ll go against the rules and pawns who’ll switch sides. Ignore that, and it’s checkmate.” He then took his second knight and placed it in front of her vulnerable king. He continued to smirk, knowing he’d just won their little game.

“Sasuke sweetie…” Lady Kushina began grimly, disliking how her adopted nephew had become so jaded and guarded. He had been such a sweet and happy little boy. What had happened to him two years ago after his parents’ murder when he went missing… she had to force herself not to think of that. If whatever it was made the boy like this, then it was better that she didn’t know. “Surely you don’t have to do this. Can’t someone else be the Hokage’s watch dog? My dear friend Mikoto, your mother, couldn’t have possibly wanted this for you. You don’t have to be the one to avenge your parents sweetie.”

The fourteen year old took a sip of tea before answering his aunt, his only visible eye staring at her just as grimly. “Revenge is a funny thing, Aunt Kushina, it can’t bring back dead nor can it give them happiness,” he replied, absently playing with his father’s ring upon his thumb. “As for your question, I didn’t become head of the Uchiha clan or the Hokage’s guard dog for my parents. I did it because I wanted to, not because anyone else thought I should.” There was a palpable silence fro several more moments before the Uchiha heir continued. “I want to find those scum responsible for my parents’ deaths. I want to find them and make them suffer exactly as I have. The same pain, the same humiliation.”

“Oh sweetie!” cried Lady Kushina, rising from her chair, “My poor sweet boy! I still remember how tiny you were when you were born,” she said, rushing to his side. She wanted to scoop the boy into her arms and snatch him away from this hellish life he’d made for himself; snatch him away and hide him where none could find and do him any further harm. Hokage be damned!

“I remember,” she started again, placing a hand on her nephew’s raven head, “saying to myself, ‘no matter what, I must protect him, believe it!’ I can’t have children of my own now, so I came to see you as my own precious little boy. So I’m begging you, Sasuke. Quit this. Thell that old hag of a Hokage to find another fool to do her dirty work.”

The raven haired boy stared at his aunt in shock for the space of a few seconds then angrily slapped the comforting hand away. “I chose this,” he snapped, “and it’s still my choice, not yours, not Gaara’s, not even the Hokage’s. I don’t regret becoming her guard dog so please don’t you dare baby me Aunt Kushina.”

That last statement had been the unspoken command to drop it. Kushina respectfully obeyed that command, but still did not like that the boy was so determined in this matter. She could only pray that he didn’t wind up like his parents one day. Policing the country’s underbelly was no job for a child. How could someone who adamantly championed for the rights of children be so hypocritical by allowing her nephew to engage in such dangerous business? The red haired woman had lost what little respect she had left for the Hokage the moment she’d learned of Sasuke’s ‘duties’.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few minutes later found Madame Red at the Uchiha manor’s main entrance. She had no more desire to finish their game of shogi and it was getting rather late anyway. “Thank you,” she said as Gaara helped her into her favorite red trench coat.

“Ma’am,” was the redheaded butler’s reply.

“Promise me, Gaara,” the taller redhead said sternly, “promise me you’ll never leave that boy’s side. This world is much too dangerous fro a child like him. Don’t you ever let him lose himself.”

The demonic servant gave her a rueful smile. It was not in his nature to have feelings for his prey, but somehow this small lost lamb of a boy had grown on him over the past two years. The thought of his young master losing sight of himself along the path he’d chosen for himself left a bad aftertaste. He surprised the woman by getting down onto one knee and placing one hand upon his heart. “You have my solemn promise, my lady,” he began, “I shall be with the young master till the very end.”

Kushina was utterly stunned by this man’s actions and profession of loyalty to her nephew. She had been so busy staring at Gaara in awe and newfound respect that she jumped when the front door opened.

Standing outside with an umbrella over him was Naruto, a black cloak with orange trimming hiding his butler’s uniform. His mistress’s carriage was parked directly at the bottom of the steps, waiting for her whenever she was ready to leave. “I’m here to pick you up, my lady,” stated the chestnut haired butler.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“So?” the boy asked as his demonic butler entered the bedroom after knocking.

“I keep coming to the same conclusion no matter how I look at it,” Gaara stated, glancing through his files on the ‘Kyuubi’ case once more.

“Viscount Kuchinawa didn’t kill that girl yesterday.”

“Correct, young master. Nor could have any of those at the party.”

“It would be humanly impossible for anyone to move so quickly,” the Uchiha lord said, rubbing at his tired eyes. “Tomorrow we’ll…” He gave a gasp as what he had just said sunk into his fatigued mind. “It was you, Gaara.” It was more of question than a statement.

The demon gave his master an amused Cheshire grin, “You know very well I didn’t do these messy crimes, young master,” he mockingly chided, “A demon never lies.” Sasuke looked away, trying his best not to seem sheepish let alone ashamed for even thinking such a thing about his butler. Gaara continued to smirk, enjoying the boy’s embarrassment before getting back to the matter at hand.

“Now given all the data we’ve gathered, the only human suspect is Viscount Kuchinawa.”

“Alright Gaara, spit it out!” demanded the fourteen year old, “What are you not telling me? I know you know something and you’re hiding it from me!”

The red haired demon refused to answer right away, instead choosing to keep the Chishire grin upon his handsome face. “I only act upon those orders you yourself give me directly,” he stated, “and since I am ‘one hell of a butler’, I follow them to the letter.” Sasuke growled, mismatched eyes blazing in fury at the demon. The redhead certainly knew how to find loopholes in every single order he’d been given. There’d be no answers from him tonight.

“With but a few simple words, my lord,” Gaara continued, “I can either become your knight or your pawn. Now, young master, put me into check.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next night, the Uchiha heir and his demonic butler stood in a slum alley by the only entrance to the residence of one Michiru Kanzaka. As to prevent any suspicion upon them, the fourteen year old nobleman had donned children’s clothing of a commoner while Gaara being the creature he was, simply wore a blood red trench coat, a shade darker than the one Madame Red usually wore when visiting.

“You sure this is the right place?” the boy asked, tugging slightly at the collar of the plain shirt he wore under the vest. The coarse fabric was itching him something fierce and he was unused to such inferior material touching his pale skin.

“Yes my lord,” was the demon’s emotionless reply.

“You know,” Sasuke began, leaning against the wall, “I’ve noticed something. These murdered women had something in common other than their… profession.”

“The most beautiful, glossy, black hair,” muttered Gaara.

“I just don’t understand why ‘Kyuubi’ had to kill them all.”

“So loveable, it’s sinful,” the demon continued to mutter.

“Another thing is I…”

“So soft… so very soft.”

A vein began popping on the Uchiha lord’s forehead as he turned to face his servant. “How dare you ignore me when I’m talking to you!” he exclaimed in frustration.

His butler was currently crouched on the cobblestoned ground, a small black cat cradled in his arms. “Forgive me, young master,” Gaara apologized, the feline meowing happily as the demon continued to dote on her. “But she’s so lovely and soft.” He then went to rub his cheek against the cat’s causing her to purr.

Sasuke was about to launch another tirade at the demon while stifling the sneezes forcing their way out of his nose – he was allergic to the infernal things – when a woman’s scream pierced the air.

“What the…?!” Sasuke glowered at the demon, who was now leaping into action. The cat had jumped out of his arms upon the earsplitting sound. “They snuck by us! No thanks to your goofing around!” The raven haired lord then dashed down the alley. Gaara chased after his master in a vain attempt to prevent him from seeing he was dead certain had happened. Lee was absolutely correct in that matter. A crime scene of such a nature as ‘Kyuubi’s’ was something no child should even be exposed to.

Sasuke immediately shoved the faded and peeling door open upon reaching Kanzaka’s hovel of a room. A single drop of red splashed on his face and the boy stood frozen at the gruesome sight before him. Michiru Kanzaka laid lifeless on the dirty floor, her corpse torn to pieces and a gaping hole was in what one could only assume was her abdomen.

“Don’t look anymore!” commanded Gaara, snatching the child away from the nauseating view, quickly covering Sasuke’s uncovered eye. Said fourteen-year-old gasped and panted a few moments before promptly spilling the contents of his stomach. That had been his first corpse and he was already wishing he’d never have to see anything even remotely like it again. How could anyone like Mizuki handle things like this without losing their sanity, let alone their dinners?

“Quite the mess you’ve made of things,” Gaara called as it began to rain, “Kyuubi… no, Naruto Uzumaki.”

Lady Kushina’s butler stepped from the shadows inside the run down home, Kanzaka’s blood all over his body and uniform.

“H-Hey!” the other butler stammered, “Y-You’ve got it all mixed up, believe it! I heard her scream and ran right over, but…”

“Drop the act, Naruto,” Gaara snarled, “You’ve lost. It’s over. You know, this is the first time I’ve run into someone like you here in the ningenkai*. That was quite the ‘dead last’ act, you almost had even me fooled.”

“Really,” the revealed murderer chirped, “That really means a lot!” he grinned, a set of demonic looking fangs making themselves known. He yanked off the orange ribbon holding back his now bloody hair. “I’m an actor ya know, a darned good one too, believe it!” He ran his hand through his unbound hair. The long chestnut locks instantly fell off just above his shoulders and lightened until they were a blinding sunshine yellow and rather spiky. His skin which had been pale, yet a shade darker than Sasuke’s, quickly turned to a light caramel tan color and three whisker like marks appeared on each of his cheeks, giving him a bit of a foxy appearance.

[ace-4-fuck]

various verses in the garden!verse

So. Shikako is traveling from the temple of Jashin to Konoha to the Dead Wastes. Over abd over again. Sometimes there's immedite clues she's not home yet, so she skips the Konoha stop. Before she sends a shikako to everywhere there isn't a shikako there's a lot of things she could run into. These are just some ideas I haven't seen done yet, feel free to use them as you'd like.

Uzumaki Kushina whose been kidnapped by Kumo nin and Namikaze Minato is chasing them. Fallowing chakra trails is more efficient then fallowing trails of hair.

That one kumo nin actually made it out of the village with little Hinata. He won't make it past shikako.

Kabuto is infiltrating the local hidden village for ROOT. shikako has to walk past him and not panic.

The deaths of Senju Nawaki and the rest of his genin team happen during one of the early wars. Running into explosions is preventable.

Shikako v. The sage of six paths and his brother. A nice meeting or a fight? That depends on how they take the perversions of their teachings.

shikako and baby biju. She'll need a camera. After all the hell she goes through, shikako deserves evidence kurama likes chin skritches, that ibosu is the best, and that the one tail was a cry baby.

The corpse princess is the baddest thing in the multiverse. The senju and uchiha clans during the waring clan peroid? Not so much.

The first time minato tried to help her. She just helped prevent his sons kidnapping, his wifes death, his death. He can look at a seal for her. But what she did is beyond him.

Shikako cant go to a world with a shikako in it. This worlds shikako just died.

shikako v warring clan era nara. Shikako sends the clan head so far into the black ameago has to take over early.

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Obito for the ask game pls

one aspect about them i love

That he was the person that was willing to stand up and tell Kakashi when he was wrong/when he was being thick headed.

Also the whole toby persona. Go dude get that childish personality out in the best way!

one aspect i wish more people understood about them

He wanted to save Kakashi.

He wanted Kakashi to survive to see the dream world.

No matter how many times he tried to tell himself and everyone around him that he hated Kakashi, he did not. He could not because he saw how much the world as it was was hurting Kakashi. Obito didn’t do everything he did just for Rin, her and Kakashi were his breaking point. If he blamed Kakashi he would have killed him while he was laying on the ground unconscious.

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have about this character

Obito still helps old ladies cross the street. He’s trying to ‘save’ the world, he still likes being kind sometimes even if it feels pointless

He actually mourned for Kisame’s death he just couldn’t show it. Given a chance he would have cried and apologized because it was him who sent Kisame on his last mission

one character i love seeing them interact with

Sakura. I loved their scenes together and how he just sort of immediately trusted her and was willing to work with her even though they had just been enemies (he could have easily been adversarial to everyone except Kakashi)

one character i wish they would interact with/interact with more

Minato :) Kakashi got a chance to talk to Obito about why no matter what happened he kept fighting for a better world. They had an opportunity to find a place of understanding and companionship.

Minato didn’t only fail Kakashi, he failed Obito and Rin as well and Obito deserved to be angry about that and throw some of the blame his way for being the adult allowing Children to do missions on their own

one (or more) headcanon(s) i have that involve them and one other character

Obito used to thank kushina for the yummy bento boxes by bringing her flower’s every ince in a while. A gift picked from his grandmother’s garden. She would laugh later and tell Minato that his student clearly had a crush on her (joking of course) and that he was so sweet. Made Minato feel a lil jelouse more than once XD

[bopeepwritingsheep]

Ghostly Garden - Part 2

Sasuke soon learns that everyone has ghosts--Most people don’t have half a clan’s worth the way that he does, but some definitely have more than others.

Nearly every ninja has at least one, sometimes he can recognize them as Konoha-nin by their headbands, but other times they are distinctly not Konoha-nin. The ones with more foreign nin are usually older jounin, ones with bingo book pages he remembers from class. He pointedly does not make eye contact with those particular ghosts, it’s better they don’t realize what he can see.

His own ghosts know, the members of the clan who linger in his glorified graveyard of a clan district. It’s a hodgepodge of who’s left, with seemingly no rhyme or reason to who stayed and who moved on. Sasuke’s parents moved on, according to Uzume-ba, and Sasuke hates it but maybe he understands a little bit. If he could leave a world where Itachi-nii could do something so awful, maybe he would too.

Moving on is supposed to be nice, or at least some of the ghosts think so, Uzume says it’s overrated and that the ones fishing for it just can’t handle the reality they’ve been saddled with. She doesn’t say it in a mean way, but in the stern way that she sometimes talked in when Sasuke asked her for help with training. Uzume didn’t spend all of her time around Sasuke, she mostly just showed up at night to check on him before he went to sleep. Sasuke didn’t pry, that she came at all was a small blessing he wasn’t going to risk losing.

Mami-ba is the one with him most often, even if she splits her time between him and some of the younger ghosts--she didn’t really let him spend much time around them yet. Tenjin didn’t actually understand he was dead, just that father was gone and so were the majority of the children from his parent’s orphanage.

Mami-ba was trying to acclimate him slowly, but once he was calmer she assured Sasuke he could come and visit. He still wasn’t sure if he wanted to, he’d seen Youko-nee once, wandering around the district and screaming for Noa-nee and Kukuri-nee until she’d broken down crying. Sasuke had trudged over and set a hand on her shoulder, he knew what that grief felt like.

He could touch the ghosts but it didn’t feel like touching a person, it felt almost like pushing against a balloon. Not quite solid but still there, kind of like how he felt most of the time.

Lots of other children at the academy have a ghost, including those in his class, and learning that makes him sit a little easier. Even if no one else can see their’s everyone in Konoha is haunted, it helps him believe they’re actually real. Because maybe he could make up the Uchiha but making up ghosts for his classmates? He doesn’t think he’s creative enough for that.

Naruto’s ghost is especially lively, they have the same face in a way that Sasuke is inclined to believe the ghost much be a family member. Even glowing softly in the ethereal way that all ghosts seem to do, she’s somehow vibrant instead of desaturated like so many Uchiha ghosts. Sasuke wonders if she died on her own terms, to be so content to follow after a scampering brat like Naruto with such a smile on her face.

Ino’s ghost is a surprise, especially because Sasuke has met Ino’s mom before but the way this woman watches Ino, gently brushes hair out of her face during tests and gently nudges her towards greener patches of flowers during recess she must be a mother. They look similar enough, in the clan way, but he can’t be certain beyond his gut feeling.

Hinata’s ghost is absolutely her mother, and Sasuke knows this because he went to her funeral, along with the rest of the Uchiha head family. She looks just as fragile in unlife as she did in death, but the sickly pallor that had taken to her skin was evened out in the ethereal light. She rarely touched Hinata, perhaps a holdover from life when he had heard of the Hyuuga Matriarch was kept in quarantine and only saw her children from a distance. Still, she dropped flowers on Hinata’s desk when no one was looking, and returned toys lost during recess to other children’s cubbies.

So many ghosts are mothers, there are fathers too, and a smaller number of older children he guesses must be siblings. He tries very hard not to think about those things. His parents are resting, it’s better for them to have moved to wherever ghosts go when they’ve finished in the mortal realm. His brother certainly haunts him, but not in the way these children have and that’s for the best, it has to be.

Nara Shikako has the most bizarre ghost Sasuke has ever seen, and he’s seen practically half a village-worth. It’s a young woman who stands in her shadow, who is her shadow the way she mirrors all of Shikako’s movements. She doesn’t even look that much like Shikako, but all her mannerisms and expressions are identical. It’s a little unnerving but it seems like every day Shikako and her shadow are a little closer, the shadow’s appearance taking on a little more of Shikako’s.

He thinks to himself that it must be a Nara thing, and ignores the fact that Shikamaru’s shadow holds no such ghosts.

[jacksgreysays]

shikako's guide to deliquency & milatary insurrection, shikako+mikoto, 28) things you said but not out loud

Shikako Nara’s Guide To Delinquency and Military Insurrection, 28) things you said but not out loud

The girl is from the future. The future of a different dimension, she is quick to clarify, before going into a somewhat rambling and convoluted explanation of paradoxes and time travel.

Kushina, for all that she graduated from the Academy dead last, seems to pick it up immediately nodding along and asking questions about fuinjutsu techniques and something called causal stability conditions and relativistic spacetime. Hizashi doesn’t understand anymore than Mikoto, thankfully, but he appears to be content to just accept it as fact.

“She isn’t ROOT,” he dismisses with an affable shrug–a statement they had already confirmed by seeing the pile of corpses the girl had left behind, “And she looks… familiar enough that I’m certain she is also telling the truth.”

Mikoto frowns, “Just because she’s telling the truth doesn’t mean we can automatically trust her. ROOT soldiers is one thing, killing Danzo is another.”

Hizashi raises an eyebrow at her, “We don’t exactly have the luxury to turn away allies, even if she might not be as skilled as she claims.”

Mikoto bites back a surly response, surely no one could be as skilled as the girl claims, settling instead for a suspicious stare. Precaution as much as indulging her paranoia–the stare from an Uchiha is equivalent to an unsheathed blade from anyone else.

But she ends up not needing it, at least for the following days they travel with the girl, headed toward Land of Rain. The girl–Shikabane, she introduces herself with a resigned sigh–tells them what she knows of the organization called Akatsuki the current ruling force of the Land of Rain and how they, too, had a grudge against Danzo. How they, at least in the dimension she came from, welcomed missing nin–especially those formerly from Konoha. How they were led by an Uzumaki.

But she cautions them about their awful deeds. Their worrying ambition. “They went after the jinchuuriki,” she says, mindfully not looking at any of them. Still, Mikoto and her teammates exchange glances, “But they can’t go out of order, so you should be safe for a while… and hopefully the common goal of killing Danzo will be enough to divert their attentions.

“And plus,” Shikabane continues, as if she weren’t giving back and forth warning and reassurances, “Danzo did more to cause war and suffering than any other single person in history so that, at least, is in line with their original dream.”

“Have you worked with them before?” Hizashi asks.

Shikabane hesitates, “Not… this particular iteration, no.”

Mikoto asks, “Have you fought against them?”

“Yes,” Shikabane answers without pause. “My teammate was the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi,” she says, again, very deliberately not looking in Kushina’s direction. Just as well, a conflicted expression blooming on her face.

In contrast to Mikoto or Hizashi–jaded by the clan systems as they were–Kushina had always wanted family. But the only reason for the Kyuubi to be transferred between vessels would be if the previous jinchuuriki were unable to contain it…

Still, Kushina was never one for shying away from something and so rather than continuing the somewhat worrying description of their new possible allies, Shikabane dutifully answers questions about Kushina’s successor–her son, Naruto–with as sparse details as she can get away with.

But not sparse enough.

“Who is Sasuke?” Mikoto interrupts as Shikabane is in the middle of an anecdote about her genin team.

Shikabane blinks, “He’s… your son.”

Mikoto can’t help the grimace that invokes, the idea that she had capitulated to the clan elders’ demands in some other life. Another thought crosses her mind and, with trepidation, she asks, “He’s not–was he the Uchiha clan heir?”

Bemused, Shikabane shakes her head slowly, “… No. Sasuke was never clan heir.”

Good, Mikoto thinks, at least that other version of her hadn’t fallen so far. Much easier to think she might have found someone she actually wanted to be with rather than end up brood mare for Fugaku Uchiha.

~

A/N: WELL. This certainly jumped around in places. I don’t think I had a real concrete idea about what exactly I wanted the things Shikako doesn’t say out loud to be, so I kind of just sprinkled a lot of different options in there.

[velvetgoldminecherry]

Kakashi Week day 7: Ink

Tintenherz

Kakashi would have laughed if someone had told him the value ink would have in his life.

It sounded ridiculous. Ink? From all the things he could consider valuable, something to full his heart with memories, he was attached to ink?

Kakashi would’ve tought so, but Kakashi had believed many things in life that he never though were posible, and the surprises he had were countless.

As he sat with a cup of tea, looking out over the koi pond at the renovated Hatake Complex illuminated by the rays of the afternoon sun, painting with red and gold, Kakashi found himself wondering how something like so simple like the ink had become so important in his life.

His first memory related to ink took him to the same place where he was currently sitting many years ago, where a silver-haired man gently guided his little son's hand, helping him with the traces of the parchment that, once was ready, he was taken to a special place in the garden, where a small circle of violets harmoniously decorated a small tomb.

-Honey, Kakashi has wrote you a letter -Sakumo had whispered, looking at his two-year old boy laughing and talking abour stuff only he understood.

Kakashi learned how to write quikly. When he arrived at the Academy, his handwriting was far superior to that of his peers, even many of his teachers.

Then he made his first mission report, the only D-rank mission he'd done in his entire life (at least before becoming Jounin sensei). Kakashi remembered the pride he felt when he presented his scroll to the Hokage, but he remembered with even more pride, the face moved to tears by his father, who had hung the scroll in the living room of his house, next to the family photos (for little Kakashi's dismay). For a week, Sakumo didn't talk about anything other than how his little boy had grown so fast.

The ink that ran down his hands and stained his fingers after writing his father's death certificate at the age of six, is ​​one of the many things that Kakashi has not been able to erase. It's one of the many things that still boggles his mind on bad days. Since then Kakashi only saw death and pain in the ink that ran through the white scrolls, ruining their purity. Because at that time he began to be sent on espionage missions, related to the war that was beginning to take shape. And when he became part of Team 7, Minato sensei made possible things that back then, Kakashi considered impossible. One of those things were erasing his trauma related to ink.

Minato knew that his younger student needed bigger challenges, so he and Kushina began teaching Kakashi the principles of Uzumaki Fuinjutsu. Although Kakashi never became a master, he got the necessary foundations to have an advantage in battle. But more importantly, all those hours spent watching the ink form beautiful and complex patterns on the paper stopped Kakashi from bleeding from his knuckles, trying to clean the ink stains from his clothes.

It was the ink that forced him to accept having lost Obito and murdered Rin, the one that impregnated his body forever, when he was marked to join the ANBU, the one that placed him in the Bingo book with the cruelest names ever. could imagine.

It was the ink staining Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke's hands after completing their first mission as a team that warmed his heart and made him turn back to get up. It was the ink that filled the bingo book with Sasuke's name, the one that made him swear to protect Naruto and Sakura to the end, the one that made him promise to pay off his debt to them and to Sasuke.

Sai's brush ink was what allowed him to establish a bond with the ROOT boy and begin to consider him part of his family, when Kakashi decided to pass on all the Fuinjutsu that Minato and Kushina had taught him.

The ink on each parchment was the one that constantly reminded him of the filthiest of the world he lived in, the one that made him aware that he was alive, with each mission report he wrote. But it was also the ink that showed him the most beautiful and passionate side of life with Jiraiya's books, of which very few knew the beautiful love story behind the dubious cover. It was the ink that built the cards he exchanged with Gai all his life, so they could always have each other if one of them died in battle.

And more importantly, thought Kakashi looking at the Koi pond, while he felt the warmth of a body sitting next to him and drawing his uncovered face to meet sweet and warm lips, it was the ink with which he chose that parchment that he jealously guarded in his nightstand drawer that made him and Gai partners for life.

Here, next to Gai, with the fulfilled promise of a world without wars, he thought that he had never felt like this, that if he had to pick up the pen to write "The End" in the story of his life, he would have done so with taste.

He was the happiest man in the world.

He was exactly were he wanted to be.

@kakashiweek