#like losing his family and being forced to watch was a one-time event that Sasuke *actively* refuses to move on from

[coockie8]

Sorry just remembered like over ten years ago my sister tried to play Oppression Olympics™ between Sasuke and Neji, claiming Sasuke's had a harder life and like yeah his entire family was killed and his brother made him watch it and that sucks.

Neji's family literally owns him.

Look I don't want to compare them or anything, and having to watch your family die is, objectively awful, but being actively kept as a slave by your own family is also an objectively awful thing lol

[animeomegas]

Hi!!!, first, congratulations on 1000 followers!I wanted to ask you something, could you make a list of omegas that would have worse self esteem during pregnancy.if you can't don't worry, have a nice day and again congratulations.

(Hey, thank you so much for your congratulations!! Hmm, I’m sure I can make a little list~)

Warnings: Insecurities of all sorts, mentions of sex.

Insecure over appearance:

· Itachi – Itachi is worried about how skinny and sickly he is. He’s always been on the small side but pregnancy has stopped him being able to keep much food down, and so he just kept getting smaller and smaller. It’s a small insecurity at first, but he does find himself staring at his reflection and wondering if his mate finds him attractive. Itachi goes a long while without sex because of how sick he gets during pregnancy and after birth, and that feeds the insecurity that his alpha doesn’t find him attractive.

· Tamaki – He’s completely fine until he gets lost in a rabbit hole on some parenting and omega focused forums. He finds all these posts from other omegas about how their alphas don’t find them attractive anymore, and about how they’ve stopped having sex. Now, Tamaki is extremely sexually needy during his pregnancy, so he’s suddenly paralysed with fear. Has his alpha been forcing themselves this whole time? Have they just been doing it to please him without enjoying it themselves? He cries about it quite a bit until his alpha finds out and knocks a little bit of sense into him.

· Asmo – Asmo puts so much effort into his physical appearance. He’s very proud of it and he’s very reliant on his appearance to carry his self-esteem. So, a drastic change of any sort would be extremely distressing. He buys every cream and treatment imaginable to stop stretch marks, and acne etc. but things still change with his body. And because Asmo views his worth through looks, he assumes that his alpha does also. He tries to hide, to turn down sex, but of course, this alerts his alpha immediately to the fact that something is wrong. He never really gets over the insecurities while he’s still pregnant, but his alpha can minimise the effects with copious love and praise.

· Julian – He’s extremely insecure as it is, constantly questioning why his alpha finds him attractive at all but being pregnant adds enough layer on to the pre-existing insecurities. He always tries to reassure his alpha that they don’t have to touch him if they don’t want, that they should leave the room before he gets changed or when he’s bathing because they probably don’t want to see him like that. His insecurities run very deeply, just like Asmo’s, so they can’t be fixed, but they can be helped with lots of comfort and reassurance.

Insecure over abilities (e.g., being weak physically etc.):

· Sasuke – The fact that he can’t go on missions or train pisses him off. And as the months go by, he’s gaining weight and losing muscle definition and it freaks him out because he feels like he’s losing who he is which drops his self-esteem. Training has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. Just design some softer workout routines for him with a mednin and remind him that he can still practice throwing kunai before he loses his goddamn mind.

· Bakugou – The physical condition of his body changing isn’t that big of a deal for him. He has a very small tummy, especially considering he’s pregnant with twins, and he knows he can bounce back after the birth because he’s super dedicated to his physical routine. What he’s not so confident about is the slipping control he has over his quirk. He has (had) an iron clad control, and the random explosions while pregnant are so embarrassing. Not to mention the disruption that his quirk causes in his nest. He has to replace so many cushions which makes his instincts go wild because significant changes to an omega’s nest while pregnant is distressing. If his friends tease him about the loss of control, he gets genuinely mad about because it’s something of a sore spot.

· Jumin – Jumin tries to keep his life while pregnant as close to his life before being pregnant as possible and in many ways, he nails it. He buys copies of his favourite suits and has them tailored every other week to fit his growing stomach. He buys non-alcoholic wine and drinks it with a grimace. He schedules lots of massages to keep the aches and pains away, so he feels normal. But there is one thing that isn’t so easy to keep normal: his emotions. Now, this fits into this category rather than the one below because Jumin gets insecure about how his emotional control impacts his ability to work. His emotions had never impacted his career before, but now he can’t help but tear up when he gets overstressed, he can’t work long hours without getting lonely and wanting to go home, he can’t take business trips because he doesn’t want to leave his nest for too long. It makes him feel a little like he’s lost himself because these things are things he’s been doing with ease for his entire life. He’s quite irritated by it and it damages his self esteem somewhat.

Insecure emotionally (e.g., unsure about being a good parent etc.):

· Tamaki –Tamaki also makes it onto this category. His insecurities are very specific, but he worries about being a bad role model socially for his pup. If his alpha is very socially adept, I’m not sure he would worry as much, because he knows that his pup can learn from their other parent, but if Tamaki’s alpha is also a little shy or prefers not being around people, then he gets really worried about it. Him being so shy and anxious has really impacted his life and he really doesn’t want it to impact his pup in the same way. He really worries that he’ll be a bad influence in that regard. (but the prospect of an extremely extroverted child is an equally terrifying concept in a different way haha.)

· Lucifer – He is very worried about being a good parent because all he can focus on is the past times when he wasn’t a good older brother. I mean, Satan hates him, and that’s as close to a father/child bond that Lucifer has, so surely that must mean he’s not cut out to be a father? He’s not good at emotions or reasonable punishments or showing affection or… well, point is he doesn’t think he has what it takes to be a good parent, when all he’s ever had is a shitty father himself, and all he’s ever been, is a shitty older brother that drove his family apart.

· Levi – Levi is insecure about most things that have to do with himself, so it’s not surprising that he gets very insecure about being a good parent which drops his self-esteem to an all time low. He can’t even watch any anime that focuses too much on parent/child relationships because he can’t help but compare himself every time, and he works himself up into a mini panic. It’s difficult to calm Levi’s insecurities but his partner can help him somewhat.

· Hawks – Keigo is very insecure about his abilities to protect his pup. His has this conspiracy theory that the hero commission will try to kidnap his child. They were furious when they found out he was pregnant during the peak of his career and they pushed him heavily towards abortion. Keigo leaked the pregnancy news to the public to force the commission’s hands, but he’s still so paranoid that they’ll stage a 'tragic accident' for his pup to force him back into hero work, or try and kidnap and raise his pup as they raised him. He doesn’t have any proof, per se, but he’s terrified that he can’t protect his pup so he really doesn’t like to leave his alpha’s presence. When he’s close to his due date, he’s too insecure with all his conspiracy theories clouding his mind to even let his alpha shower by themselves.

· V – Jihyun sort of convinces himself that he’s cursed when it comes to looking after people (Rika, Saeyoung, Saeran), so he’s very upset by the prospect that he’ll probably fail at raising his child too. He originally says that he wants to give the pup up for adoption to save them, but eventually you talk him around and start working through his problems. He just doesn’t thing he’ll be a good role model. The longer he waits to have children after the more traumatic events of his life, the less these issues crop up.

Miscellaneous:

· Aizawa – Shouta gets insecure when people pay too much attention to him being pregnant. He doesn’t like people giving up their seats for him on public transport, he doesn’t like his students and colleagues asking invasive questions, he doesn’t like those awful shop attendants that try to shoehorn him into buying baby supplies he doesn’t need. He wishes people would just treat him normally. (and he absolutely starts to activate his quirk every time someone tries to touch his tummy without asking first.) But yeah, all the eyes and attention makes him super uncomfortable and it makes him overanalyse everything he does which does impact his self esteem.

· Light – Light has a very specific insecurities while pregnant which revolve around the fear that he’s lowering himself by carrying a pup. All his life he’s had people tell him that because he’s an omega, he should give up on all his dreams and have pups and stay home instead. It really doesn’t sit well with him that he’s doing what all those awful people told him to do (at least it feels that way to him). He feels ashamed and he hates it. He avoids everything stereotypical while pregnant. He’ll kick you in the face if you try to rub his feet, he does everything in his power to avoid giving in to cravings, and he doesn’t make a nest. It all takes a serious toll on his health but it would take one hell of a stubborn alpha to get him to bend on any of that. It puts a strain on the relationship.

[airashisakura]

For @ssskmonth Prompt used: Favorite food

Present

A/N: Major spoilers warnings for those who don’t follow Boruto Manga. After chapter 55 events.

Part 1

Part 2

FFN | AO3

Sarada scrunched her nose in irritation. The rice porridge she had been trying to cook didn’t taste right. Frustrated, she dropped the ladle on the granite slab. A few minutes before she had tasted it, and it lacked salt. She was so sure that she had sprinkled in the right amount, and now she couldn’t understand how that could ruin the taste.

I never have trouble with this recipe! She cried in frustration. And why is it happening TODAY of all days?

It was a simple recipe that she knew how to cook. Perhaps it was things around her that distracted her.

She twisted the knob of the burner with much more force than required, turning off the stove. She dropped the lid over the pot forcefully and cringed at the sharp metallic sound.

The start of the day had been good for her. Like every year, this birthday also started with the sight of her mother grinning widely. It was a bit too early, however.

Her mother had given her a squishing hug as she wished her birthday, and like every year, she giggled and returned her mother’s embrace. Everything around her could change, but maybe this routine never would.

Perhaps it could. She was no longer a child who hid behind her mother when she was afraid to face something. She had been on her fair share of missions and was beginning to grasp the essence of shinobi life. She was a kunoichi now, and she had confronted the death of her comrades. She had accepted this ugly truth, but watching her father recuperate had made things worse for her. Sitting beside her unconscious father in the hospital had almost given her a taste of what it felt like to lose someone close.

Trying not to concentrate on her thoughts, she padded towards the refrigerator. She tried to occupy her mind with how to fix the porridge. One thing she could do to balance the salt was to add more rice to porridge. She sighed in relief when she spotted a bowl of rice in one of the cabinets.

She turned on the stove again, adding the rice and water to adjust its consistency and let it boil.

She tapped her fingers on the granite slab, eyeing the bubbling water. With nothing to do at the moment, her mind wandered off to her teammate.

She reached for other ingredients and measured in each carefully. While she was stirring the porridge, she realised that with her team on suspension from missions, she hadn’t seen Boruto lately. Boruto seemed to be doing fine, but she had realised she was wrong when Shikadai pointed out that of all people, Boruto was the one who’d been affected most by the incident.

Maybe I’ll call him up, Sarada thought while she cracked eggs into a bowl.

However, she felt like he had been ignoring her, and decided not to call him while she gathered the chopsticks and started beating the eggs.

She had mixed feelings regarding Boruto. Although she understood it wasn’t Boruto’s fault at all, every time she saw her father’s injuries, she couldn’t control the anger that surfaced. She tried to shake off the feeling as she poured the beaten eggs into the porridge. She didn’t want to blame Boruto for what had happened.

After closing the lid on the pot again, she buried her face into her palms, leaning against the counter. She really hated this cycle — understanding Boruto’s helplessness and then ending up holding a grudge against him. No matter how hard she didn’t want to think about it, the thought of what havoc he might cause when he lost control of his body again dreaded her. She knew Boruto was now a potential threat. What if she had to do something in future herself?

She was too confused to think straight. With a sigh, she removed the lid to see if it was done. Satisfied with the consistency, she sprinkled in some spring onion and reached for a bowl to pour some for her father.

Sarada knocked lightly on the door, announcing her presence to her father. Although it had been routine for a few days, she waited till her father responded. A small smile adorned her face when she heard him ask her to come in.

She realized she rarely had any time with Sasuke like this. They usually trained together or ate dinner when he came back from his mission. She never had felt his day-to-day presence as such.

She pushed the door open. She tried to suppress her excitement, but she didn’t have to work hard when she saw her father reading a scroll.

“Didn’t mama tell you not to strain your eye?” Sarada asked him, pretending to be offended.

She kept the tray on the bed-side table and heard the scroll falling on the bed with a light thud.

Sarada fidgeted on her foot sheepishly, waiting for her father to wish her a happy birthday. She looked around the room, trying not to be obvious. The silence stretched, and it became a bit uncomfortable, so she asked him.

“How are you feeling today?”

"Better," Sasuke nodded, his voice as reserved as always.

Sarada adjusted her glasses, and scrutinized her father's face. He didn't look any better than he had the previous days. Although her mother assured her there was nothing to worry about, she sensed that her father wasn’t doing well.

She wasn't quite sure if her father was sad or if he really was better. Sometimes she was really amazed by how her mother managed to read behind her father’s stoic mask.

His long absence from her life made her sad because she knew Uchiha Sasuke only in two ways — one when he was happy and proud of her, and the other when he was indifferent and unattached with his surroundings. She didn’t know much about her father, and maybe her father didn’t know much about her.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked, patting his hand on the side beside him and gesturing for her to sit.

Sarada plopped on the bed beside him; and replied, “Boruto.”

He listened with a rapt attention as Sarada recounted her concerns and could only wonder when his little Sarada, who hardly could make coherent sentences when he had left for his mission, had grown up. He had missed so many years and so many things, he realized.

Sarada frowned when she asked him, “Papa, do you think anything is going to happen to Boruto?”

Sasuke knew what she was talking about, but didn’t interrupt her.

“Since he is a potential danger now,” she explained.

Sasuke sighed, closing his eyes, partly in relief and partly agitated. “Don’t worry about that. This isn’t the old Konoha. The present council doesn’t take any harsh measures.”

Sarada gave him a perplexed look, and Sasuke realised what he had said. However, he didn't falter, and waited for her next question.

“What about old Konoha?”

“A lot,” he paused and thought about whether to complete his sentence.

“About the old system.”

About that unforgivable system that ran on blood and filthy tricks.

“About the old councilors.”

About those insensitive bureaucrats who didn’t think twice before ordering a thirteen-year-old to butcher his own clan and family.

“And about our clan.”

About the family I once had.

Sarada was thrown off by his sudden straightforwardness. He had always measured the amount of information he fed her and had always dismissed her when she pried much about the clan and the doujutsu. She couldn’t help but feel a little awkward, and she didn’t know how to react until she noticed.

“The food,” she squeaked. Sarada touched the bowl and wailed, “Oh no! It turned cold.”

It reminded him of Sakura, and he smirked before he said, “Ah, but I can eat.”

“You sure? I can go and reheat if you say so,” Sarada said as she set a low table on the bed and placed the bowl there.

Sasuke nodded, and murmured, “Itadakimasu.”

He took a spoonful of porridge, and asked her, “Did you cook this?”

Sarada nodded eagerly. “Mama had to leave early for the hospital today, but it isn’t like mama’s, though,” she pouted. “I messed up while adding salt.”

“No, it’s fine,” Sasuke lied. The porridge was too watery with a lot of rice, and it tasted disbalanced.

He wondered again when his daughter had grown up so much. Although he knew they were shinobi and they were supposed to, he couldn’t shake off the image of the tiny girl born to them years ago, and the shiny big black orbs that had stared at him when he had held her in his arm for the first time.

Sasuke took a few more bites of food and decided to break the silence, “What do you want for your birthday?”

“Eh?” Sarada blushed, although she tried hard not to overreact.

So Papa remembered.

She grinned harder and nodded her head, saying, “Nothing. You being at home is more than enough for me.”

But when the words slipped, she realised perhaps her reply wasn’t apt. Some unfortunate events making him stay home wasn’t what she wanted.

“I didn’t mean that way,” she reprimanded herself. “This is the first time you’re home on my birthday and...”

She didn’t know how to explain further, looking at the ground.

As far as she could remember in her childhood, Sasuke had never been home for her birthdays except a few years during which she didn’t have a clear memory.

Sasuke again took a spoonful of porridge and said, “Aah,” and smiled lightly and added, “maybe training?”

“You know mama won’t be a bit happy about this?” Sarada deadpanned.

Sasuke scoffed and after a second, both were laughing.

It was the first time she had seen her father so unguarded. She had made many memories, spent precious time with her father, and learned a lot, but this Sasuke was an entirely new one to her. For that moment, she stopped blaming all the wrong things that had happened to her, to her father, and to her family and cherished the moment. Seeing him so casual, she decided to say something she had been thinking about.

“I’m sorry. I had always resented you because you couldn’t live with us. I wondered why you had to go on a mission for so long.”

Sasuke was a little taken aback at the moment. Years of sacrifice had created a large mass of guilt inside him. However, Sakura always supported him, but he knew he owed an apology from Sarada for his absence. He wasn’t sure how. Words weren't his way, and he was too overwhelmed to say anything after what her daughter said.

Sarada smiled widely, and added, “Thank you for protecting us, Papa”.

“Aah.”

(Since chapter 55 was released in March, I assumed it to be around Sarada's birthday)

Part 3

[daraanna]

Festival

When Sakura told him about the festival organized by Hokage to celebrate Konoha’s friendship with Kirikagure, he hadn't expected something like this. The whole thing was like a strange combination of a concert with a party and a barbecue. It was supposed to be made in the style that festivals are organized of the northern region of Water Country. He tried to escape, but as soon as they got there, his wife was kidnapped by Ino to the dance floor. In addition, his daughter was dragged by her friend to the buffet. Sasuke sat down on the bench and watched the rest from a safe distance. Yamanaka and Sakura really enjoyed themselves. Hinata and Naruto were dancing not far from them, although in the case of an idiot, dancing is too much to say. Temari and Shikadai looked much more representative than Hokage and his wife, even though Nara had an expression that clearly showed how troublesome the whole event was to him. Just like his son, who together with Inojin played some card game on one of the distant benches similar to the one on which he was sitting now. Choji was at the buffet until his wife forced him to dance. There were also three girls on the dance floor whom he knew as his daughter's friends. They danced in a small circle with Lee’s son and two boys he did not know. Boruto, who had apparently inherited his dancing skills from his mother was very popular among young kunoichi and civilian girls that came for the party. Sarada broke his deliberations as she sat down beside him with salad to eat.

-Chocho decided to teach Mitsuki how to dance ...

He looked at her, but the girl was busy separating the tomato slices from the rest of her food.

"And you don't want to join them?" He asked.

"Not really..." she replied shifting her plastic plate to him.

“Hn” he replied eating the tomatoes left by her. The head of the Uchiha family definitely understood that you might not like this type of activities. Besides, sitting next to her, he could keep an eye on the teenagers who were checking out his daughter.

They sat like that for a long time. Sarada kept staring at the dance floor while he gave a murderous glare to any boy, who wanted to approach their bench. Until Sakura came back to them. Involuntarily, all his attention shifted to her.

“Who's going to dance me?“ She asked, stretching her hands to both Uchihas, causing them a slight consternation ”I know that you want this~”

"Tch," he grunted, there was no way he could be acting like a fool in front of so many people. Fortunately, this time his wife amazing gift of persuasion lead his daughter on the dance floor. The young kunoichi seemed a little nervous at beginning, but soon she relaxed and danced to the cheerful music with her mother. He smiled gently seeing his two loved ones having a great time. However, he grimaced as soon as he saw the young Uzumaki asking his daughter to next dance. His parental instinct told him to intervene just as the music slowed down. Boruto may have been his trusted student, which did not mean that he would allow him to pick up his little peanut. However, before he managed to reach the middle of the dance floor, someone put his arm around his neck and pulled him against her body. Confused, he looked at his wife, whose face was so close to his.

“Sasuke-kun let's dance” she said in a sweet tone. He knew he was trapped. He was rarely able to deny her anything, but now he was on the mission to protect their child.

“Sakura ... I have to ...”

“Oh Anata, let them have some fun” it did not comfort him at all.

"They are 13 years old!" He gasped in disgust as he watched the idiot's son embrace Sarada around her waist.

"Exactly and I'm sure they won't do anything stupid," she said, grabbing his face, "Sasuke, look at me ..."

He looked at her green eyes, a soft smile, her hair was gathered in a loose bun. She looked lovely, as always.

“Hn.”

Sakura smiled wider and rested her head on his shoulder, and he embraced her with his only hand.

"Just relax and listen to the music" she whispered soothingly. He slowly began to relax, focusing on this moment he was spending with his wife, completely forgetting about the world around them.

.................................................. .............

She felt so awkward. Unfortunately, most of her interactions with Boruto lately have been terribly awkward. She wasn't sure when it started, they had been friends for as long as she could remember, but since when she began to be so aware of their every touch. Since when sight of his blue eyes made her heart beat like mad. Since when did he take over hers thoughts? At first she had no idea what was happening to her, but over time her mind found a terrifying explanation ... She was in love with her teammate. What’s worse, she thought that he noticed this, because he has recently acting really strange towards her. She couldn't let her stupid hormones destroy their  the most important friendship. Even though Boruto was annoying he was her best friend, she couldn't lose him.

“Thanks for the help. I thought they won’t leave me alone!” Hers thoughts were interrupted by his voice. He was right in front of her, his hands holding her waist, while she had no idea what to do with her hands on his shoulders.

"That's what teammates are for, right?" She smiled nervously. Her eyes fell on the group of girls glaring enviously in their direction. As the son of the Hokage, Boruto has always attracted attention. With his character, he made new friends easily, and being handsome, he also made his own fan club in the village. Civilian girls and students of the last grades of the academy, to the genins and younger chunins of their village. Sarada never paid much attention to her appearance. Her clothes needed to be comfortable and neat. She didn't think she was pretty or ugly. She thought she was average, but now she felt insecure. All these girls were really pretty, and she ... she wondered if he find her pretty... Tch... annoying ...

“Is everything okay? “she realized that she had been staring at his shirt for several seconds, and how stiff her whole body was “ I know that the music is a little bit boring, but maybe you want share with me another dance ?” he added, smiling in the same way he always did when he was cheering her up. She couldn't help but smile back.

"Are you sure your fans will allow it?" She teased. The boy just rolled his eyes.

"I should have asked you at the beginning, they are too aggressive ..." he said and she blushed. Even if it's stupid, his words made her happy. When the band started to play something faster, she relaxed a bit. To her surprise, Boruto was very good at dancing and she was able to predict his movements as good as when they fought together. She quickly forgot about her worries. They danced and fooled around. She didn't notice when one song turned into two and then three ... When the melody slowed down again, she wasn't sure how much they danced together. He hugged her waist, but this time they were even closer together. They were both out of breath, as after hard trending. Feeling more confident, she embraced his neck. Looking at him like that, she felt week. He looked so handsome in the suit. In addition, the pink shirt highlighted his blue eyes. Her attention finally caught his lips. She began to wonder what it would be like to kiss him. Their faces were centimetres apart, it would not be difficult to... Suddenly she felt strongly embarrassed by her own thoughts. To avoid doing something stupid (and to hide the flush on her face), she leaned her head against his shoulder, lightly tucking her face against his neck. They swayed slightly to the sounds of a quiet ballad, and although her heart was pounding, she felt wonderful. His presence always gave her a sense of security, he smelled of a combination of the scent of the sea with some cologne probably borrowed from his dad, and his body gave her a pleasant feeling of warmth that she could stay that way forever. However, before the song ended, the boy suddenly moved away from her. She looked at him confused, and he smiled and scratched his head nervously.

“ Aren't you thirsty? I saw a Bubble Tea booth here ... let's go ... “before she could answer, he grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the stalls behind the stage. She wasn't sure what to think about it.

.................................................

The situation was bad. He was sweaty and nervous and felt like he was about to pass out. That's not good way to impress a girl that you maybe have a crush on..

"Are you okay?", She asked when they reached the booth.

"Sure, of course, why are you asking?", He blurted out a little too quickly.

"Um ... You're still holding my hand" he get even more nervous, for two months now, he had been trying to invite her for date... like date date. The problem is that despite how intelligent, person she is. Sarada remained absolutely unaware of his attempts to flirt. The little fan club following him everywhere didn't help. The problem was also that the Uchiha did not seem to notice that she herself was attracting the attention of more and more men. It started after the chunin exam, when his classmates started to have a crush on her. At first it seemed silly to him, after all, it's not that she has changed somehow. However, he quickly began to be disturbed by the boys who were courting her. He felt some strange need to protect her from them. Only after a few months he did realize that he was jealous ...

“Do you want me to stop?” The girl was silent for a long time, and he thought that he would pass out.

"No ... it's okay ..." She replied without looking at him.

"So what for you?", He asked, looking at the blackboard with flavours.

“Black tea with kumquat and passion fruit boba.”

Hearing this, he ordered two drinks, mango and tapioca for himself. He then ignored Sarada's pout as he paid for both of them and the teasing smile the guy sent them. Even after they got their drinks, his friend didn't let go of his hand. It gave him courage.

“Let’s look for a place where we can clearly see the fireworks?”

“Hn. Something far from this crowd ...” she replied finishing her tea and throwing the cup into the trash can on the path leading into Senju Park. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was wearing a summer dress with spaghetti straps with a pleated skirt that ended just above her knee. It was red with a navy blue belt emphasizing her waist. She looked cute and beautiful, red was definitely her colour. However, as darkness fell, the temperature dropped sharply, and he was able to notice that her arms began to tremble. He took off his jacket and covered her shoulders with it.

“Well, who would have thought that you are a such gentleman ...” she teased.

"As always, of course," he replied, adoring her.

"You're sure you won't be cold," she asked, changing her tone to concerned. She always cared about others. It was one of things that make him love her. He still felt a little lost in his feelings, but he had to tell her before someone else do this before him.

"Sarada ..." he began, but suddenly they heard a loud sound. His friend, frightened, made a very not-ninja-like movement, bumping into him. Instinctively, he grabbed her by the waist and searched for the source of the noise to see colourful lights in the sky. They both burst out laughing, when they saw that they were scared of the fireworks. The colours began to light up the sky creating fantastic patterns. He looked back at her. She looked at the sky with a smile, colours shone in her black irises, giving her an almost mystic appearance. Their eyes met, and for the second time this evening he felt like a force was drawing him to her. Sarada, to his surprise, also moved closer. He wasn't sure which of them closed the gap between them. Their first kiss was soft, short, and rather clumsy, but it was also the greatest feeling of his life. When he opened his eyes, he saw her biting her lip with a slight flush on her face. He wanted to say something but heard someone's loud grunt. He felt himself freeze as he noticed purple-red eyes staring at him ...

.....................................

It was supposed to be a quiet dance party and it was like that until her husband and Naruto decided to compete in which of them is the best dancer. Unfortunately, despite their great efforts, none of them proved to be really gifted. All the competition only took their time and energy. They were supposed to go home after the fireworks, but Sarada was nowhere to be found and when they finally find them, they accidentally turned out to witness their daughter's first kiss. While Sakura herself found it cute, her husband didn't take it so easily. However, before he did something stupid, his daughter stood between him and Boruto, also with an active sharingan. It make Sasuke freeze. All he said was they were coming home.

Sarada answered him only with a short "Tch" but after saying goodbye to Uzumaki, she returned home with them. Unfortunately, she now had two pouted Uchihas in the house. Sarada immediately ran to her room, while her husband stayed downstairs in the kitchen complaining about protecting some innocent peanuts? She couldn't help but sigh. Tomorrow she would have to talk to them seriously.

................................

I’m not sure is it more Borusara fic or overprotective Papasuke fic, also I'm not sure if I broke the rules, I hope I didn’t^^’ Okay in the end I edited it, I just felt too guilty XD

Also I’m so happy to see so much Borusara content! This week is a true celebration of our favorite ship!

@borusaraweek2021

[nad-zeta]

HC Modern AU: Uesugi-Takeda force in Quarantine

Hey, there loves! So here is the other half of our lovable warlords spending time in quarantine! Hope yall enjoy it! and I hope everyone is staying safe!^o^ Also just side note i’ll start back up with writing everyones matchups on Monday! <3

Yukimura

The two of you were sitting together playing videogames when the news broke

Yuki got a text from Sasuke saying he should check the news!

You finished your game before switching over to the tv mode; on your flatscreen.

OOOOH shit, Yukimura low key freaks out and thinks this is the start of the zombie apocalypse (maybe you shouldn’t have introduced him to black ops zombie mode)

“hey, dummy, we better hit the shops before they get cleared out.”

Is shook when he arrives at the shop, and all the shelves are empty, like WTF

The two of you spend most of your time together, snuggled on the couch playing videogames, or watching YouTube videos.

Yukimura is a definite fitness fanatic so he spent a good 10 minutes pouting when he got a notification on his phone saying all gyms would be closed

That okay, at least I can go jogging around the……………*TV playing in the background* “during the lockdown period all jogging, running, walking dogs and cycling is forbidden, and anyone found outside on foot will be locked up.”

Cue Yuki low key having a small breakdown about losing his gains. You kiss his forehead and put on your favorite YouTube fitness video

“Just cause the gym is closed doesn’t mean you can work out, dummy.”

The two of you will often do some small exercises in the garden together to soak in that vitamin D and keep fit!

Yuki will spend half his time phoning Shingen pestering him about his health

You usually drag Yuki to the coach and big spoon cuddle him while you run your fingers through his hair. He can’t help but worry about all his friends. You wrap your arms around him and bring him out of his panicked state. When he calms down, he switches with you and now gently holds you, nuzzling into your neck, leaving a few small kisses. “Dummy, I’m supposed to be the one reassuring you that everything is okay.”

Kenshin

The two of you are cuddling surrounded by your army of fluffy bunnies when you see the news about the virus break

“some guy named Corona is waging war against the world? Never fear love, I will kill anything that tries to lay a finger on you.”

Explains to Kenshin, that it’s a virus and an invisible enemy

“I don’t care if it’s a biological war or a physical one, I’m gonna kill it.”

You giggle while snuggling closer to Kenshin, “silly bunny lord.”

Kenshin makes sure that the two of you are stocked up for the long hall.

He low key bought all the alcohol in the liquor stores, as well as all the plumps he could get his hands-on.

Came back, followed by a few more stray rabbits, guess we will just have to make them part of the family.

The two of you spend your time together playing all sorts of random board games, mainly strategy based ones to soothe his need to fight.

Connect to Yuki and the other via Call of Duty Black ops server. The two of you troll everyone of your friends for laughs. Also, if Kenshin can’t kill people in real life anymore, then killing people over a game is the next best thing

The two of you love cooking together, Kenshin will make his picked plums, and you will make some nutritious food for the two of you, cause you definitely can't live off of just pickled plums

It's no secret that the two of you love to cuddle up to each other, surrounded by your sweet little bun buns. Your favorite thing to do when you’re feeling anxious about the whole state of the world is to, lie together in your hammock. You usually rest your head on his chest while he soothingly pulls his fingers through your hair. The lulls you into a relaxing sleep while protecting you from all the dangers of the world seen or unseen

Shingen

The second the news breaks you are beyond freaked out; you look up at Shingen with so much worry and fear in your eyes

This is a deadly virus for those with a compromised immune system and Shingen fits that description perfectly.

You make a point of it to do as much research as possible to make sure you are prepared for anything and everything

He juts smile at his worried little goddess, saying that if his beloved angel is at his side protecting him, then nothing will be able to harm him

You insist on doing the grocery and supply runs; you are sure to buy a year’s supply worth of alcohol and sweets.

Awww dang all the liquor stores are sold out! This must be Kenshin’s doing. DARN THAT GOD OF WAR. Well at least you have your and Shingen’s precious candy

You buy sooo, many gloves, hand sanitizers, and masks.

Sasuke is kind enough to organize Shingen his very own oxygen machine and bring the two of your some multivitamins to help fend off any threat

Loves to watch movies together on the couch. Shingen will spontaneously get up when the music starts to play from the musical that you are watching. He will grab your hand and pull you up, while positioning his hand around your waist. He will then turn your lounge into a makeshift dance floor for the whole duration of the song.

You guys love to do carpentry together. Often the two of you can be found in the garage making random things. You would make birdhouses and feeders, and Shingen would make furniture for your house.

The two of you also, connect to the Black ops server with all your friends to find out how everyone is. Shingen gets scolded for 20min over the game by Yuki for not answering the phone every time he calls. Scolds him, even more, when he hears Shingen munching on sweets. The two of you just laugh at the young man while continuing to stuff your faces with sugar

You can’t help but be worried about Shingen's health! You watch him closely and make sure he takes his vitamins and meds to keep his health up. 

Of course, Shingen will see you be a bit anxious and pepper your face with kisses. “The only medicine I need is the healing kiss of my goddess.”

He will then start to tickle you so that he can see that beautiful smile back on your face. He really loves that dazzling smile of yours.

The two of you can often be found curled up together on the bed while Shingen rubs soothing circles on your back, whispering reassuring words in your ears.

Sasuke

This friendly neighborhood ninja knew what was up long before the news broke, he had heard some rumors from his fellow professors at the university

He makes sure to have your shared apartment adequately stocked up of the event.

Sasuke bought the two of you matching black masks. To lighten the mood, the two of you put on the masks and any black clothes you could find and start playing ninja hide and seek.

Sasuke wins after you spent 20 minutes looking for him with no luck of finding him. He appeared out from the shadow of the curtains, snaked his arms around your waist, and pulled you to him while kissing peppering your hair, neck, and cheeks with small little kisses. You could help but giggle at your sweet, lovable ninja

The two of you spent most of your time playing board games, videogames and doing random science experiments for fun.

Cause Sasuke is a university professor busy with his Ph.D., he spends most of his time researching and writing. You loved spending time with him while he would sit on the bed, typing up his dissertation. You would cuddle up next to him and read. He would occasionally drop a small kiss on the top of your head as a silent thank you for supporting him and keeping him company.

You and Sasuke loved to you play videogames with your friends; it helps soothe both your anxiety to hear the sound of their voices over the speakers of your tv. Both of you couldn’t help but laugh at your caring friend scolding Shingen over the mic for everyone to hear

You and Sasuke loved to go outside at night, spread your softest fluffiest blanket on the grass and lie together while looking up at the night sky. You were shocked that the sight of the sky. You hadn’t seen such a clear night sky since being back in the past. You could see an ocean of bright beautiful stars. Sasuke told you it was due to the atmosphere not being as polluted as it usually is due to everyone being forced to stay at home. You couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia

Both of you could often be found cuddled up together under the night sky, savoring the bright new sky that the two of you had not seen in a long while.

Kennyo

When the news broke the two of you were shook, you did a bunch of research to see precisely what this virus is and how to minimize the risk of getting infected.

You guys would watch the news every morning to keep up to date with the happenings

Kennyo immediately called all his friends to make sure they were staying safe and well; he especially called Shingen to make his old friend was doing okay with his compromised immune system

Kennyo went on the food run cause he couldn’t bear the thought of having his beloved exposed to the risk of the outside world

He came back from the shopping run with both his arms full of stray cats.

This sofi boy couldn’t help but rescue the poor cats from the streets.

Both of you spend the afternoon building each cat its own little new bed while also naming each new members of your family. You guys spend hours together playing with the cats.

The two of you would make up hampers with blankets, masks, vitamins, and food. Kennyo will always be a soft monk at heart and can’t help but want to give back to his community. 

The two of you drive around for hours and deliver these hampers to the less fortunate.

Kennyo was sad that the church had been closed, especially being this close to Easter.

You discovered that many priests actually filmed their own YouTube videos online, which the two of you now watch together.

Even during the time of the virus, your spirits are still lifted, the two of you love celebrating Easter, so you have made it your personal mission to gather up all the art supplies in your house and make Easter decorations. The two of you even painted all the rocks in your garden to look like colorful Easter eggs.

Kennyo knows that you still have a bit of anxiety regarding the virus and the mass panic of the world. So, he will build a little blanket and pillow fort with you. Once the fort is built, he will pull you down to rest your head on his lap while he gently pulls his fingers through the long strands of your hair. The two of you spend hours in the little fort you built yourselves just chatting and enjoying each other’s company. Kennyo will occasionally bend down and surprise you with a kiss on the nose when he sees the small crease from between your eyebrows from your overthinking mind

I hope ya guys enjoy it! And are staying safe and well! don't forget to wash your hands and stay fit and healthy during this time!

[firethatfox]

Posession Without Control

Summary:   

Books can be deceiving.  Words can be manipulative...if you let them.  Opening a book, brought Sakura's past back to life.  Only Sasori isn't alive and she isn't quite dead.  He isn't the puppet she knew him as and she is no longer the girl who had once earned his begrudging respect.  It's a different world for both of them.  

‘This is the book of the magician whose name can not be said. Once uttered you’re bound to the living and the dead. Take heed these words fair maiden your soul is most at risk. The Devil makes the bargain but the demon craves the kiss.’

“What’s this Ino?”  Sakura asked her friend, pulling a dusty book from the bottom of the last box in the Yamanaka family shrine.

“A book.”  Ino grins at her friend who rolls her eyes.

“Good pile or donate pile?”  Sakura asks, turning the book over in her hands to brush the dust off of the cover.

“Um, donate.  All the stuff in that box is old and useless.”  Ino doesn't even bother looking at the box her friend has in her hands.

“Are you sure, it looks kinda cool.  Old I mean.”  Sakura tries to open the book but it won’t open for her, how odd, there’s no seal or lock of any kind on it that she can tell.

“You can have it if you want, I know you like books more than men.”  Ino rolls her eyes at her friend who has refused every blind date for the last three years she has tried to set her up on.

“You don’t mind?”  Sakura looks down at the book again, it seems to vibrate in her hands.  It’s worn leather cover warm to the touch, thumping like a heartbeat.  “Huh?”

“Yeah yeah, you can have it, it’s all yours, I relinquish ownership of it to you Sakura Haruno as Ino Yamanaka of the clan Yamanaka head.”  Ino says with a mock flourish bowing low as both women erupt into giggles.

“Thanks Ino.”  Sakura tucks the book into her pouch, ignoring the small tingling sensation in her fingers where they ghosted the spine.  She would look at it later when she had more time.  Right now her and Ino had to finish cleaning out the shrine in the back of the Yamanaka compound.  Ino was being officially named the new clan head of the Yamanaka clan tomorrow afternoon.

The war was over and life moved on.  Sakura’s old sensei Hatake Kakashi was the Hokage and Uzumaki Naruto her old teammate was Hokage in training.  Uchiha Sasuke was off who knew where on solo missions for the village because he felt he needed to redeem himself for all the wrong he had caused.  Sakura agreed with that sentimentality all too well.

Many lives had been lost, including Ino’s father Inoichi, the former clan head of the Yamanaka.  The naming ceremony would be both a joyous and a sad event.  Another reminder of their profession, of their survival, their strength.  They had died so others could survive.  Sakura and Ino survived so others could be taught and carry on the will of fire that made Konoha what it was, had been and would be in the future.

Sakura smiled as she looked around the Yamanaka compound.  Ino’s family was smiling, they were here, they had lived.  Sakura didn’t know any family that hadn’t been touched by the war, in any nation, but they would endure...they were shinobi.

“That’s the last box.”  Ino smiled at a distant Yamanaka cousin, waved and pulled Sakura by the arm into the Yamanaka’s main house for tea.

“Thanks for your help Forehead.  It would have taken me forever to go through all of that old dusty junk.”  Ino stirred a little sugar into her tea before taking a sip and sighing dramatically.

“No problem Pig.  I’m going to head out though, I have a shift at the hospital tonight and I don’t want to be late.  Since Shisou retired she’s been at the hospital more.”  Sakura drank her tea quickly then hugged her friend goodbye.

Ten hours later, with the moon high in the sky, Sakura dragged her tired feet up the stairs to her little house at the far side of the village.  Tsunade had gifted it to her before retiring as Hokage for her war efforts and had helped Sakura furnish it.  Sakura’s parents had died in the war, many civilians had.  Tsunade had always been like a mother to Sakura and after the war, she had stepped fully into the role seamlessly.

The house was small but not cramped.  Sakura didn’t need a lot of space, it was just her after all.  Her books and scrolls took up most of the room.  Tenzo had lined the entire wall of her living room with bookshelves for her and had made her a small sitting porch along the back by the woods.  Kakashi had donated a whole set of Icha Icha to her already substantial library, claiming no library was complete without it.

Other odds and ends were given to her by friends and with the few purchases she had made herself, she had a very comfortable little home.  She was...happy.  She mourned her parents of course and the friends she had lost but she had also gained many more friends through the allied Shinobi Forces.  Now she had friends not only in Konoha but all over the five great nations.

Sakura set her pouch down on her kitchen counter and sighed.  It had been a long night.  The war was over but missions still came in, less dangerous ones since the ninja world was at peace but there were still injured to look after.

She hummed a gentle tune as she set her rice maker to cook and pulled some vegetables from her crisper.  A quick vegetable stir fry and then she would go to bed.  She had the day off tomorrow and planned on spending the day in her newly dug garden planting seeds and sectioning it off for medicinal herbs and flowers.

She didn’t need to get ready for the Yamanaka naming ceremony until early evening, she had all day to bask in fresh dirt, plants and sun.  She was really looking forward to it.

Sakura cut up the vegetables and set them to simmer in an inch of water while she rummaged through her pack.  Taking out the book Ino had given her she turned it over again in her hand, a strange tingling feeling coming over her.  Sakura licked her lips and frowned, how odd.  Sizzling from her stove top took her attention from the book, setting it down beside her pouch she moved to the stove and stirred in the oil.

Turning back around to look at the book she shook her head.  She was being silly.  Sakura laughed at herself out loud, she must be more tired than she thought.  Her rice cooker beeped and her vegetables were done so she pulled a bowl down from her cabinet and dished her rice and food out of her pan.  Sitting comfortably at her table she reached for the book.

As her fingers traced the sketching on the spine her fingers tingled again making her shiver.  No, she hadn’t imagined it.  With a quick look around her apartment, she felt so silly, she hesitantly opened the book.

‘This is the book of the magician whose name can not be said.  Once uttered you’re bound to the living and the dead.  Take heed these words fair maiden your soul is most at risk.  The Devil makes the bargain but the demon craves the kiss.’

Sakura’s eye brows rose to her hairline...what strange poetry.  She swallowed and took a bite of her food.  The tingling in her fingers had stopped, had it been a warning.  The words read like a warning, ‘take heed’, was a warning if she had ever read one before.

Sakura shut the cover of the book and turned it over looking at the back.  There was no writing there, nor on the cover.  She held the book up and sideways, no title on the spine either.  Sakura set the book down and opened it to the first page and re read the words.  Odd.  It definitely wasn’t like any book she had read before.  She was intrigued.  She turned the page.

‘To continue on you must be true in both heart and mind.  A clever demon the magician is, a challenge to the mind.  Be aware to beware you don’t lose your heart.  He will devour you, think before you start.’

“So many warnings, it’s like they don’t want you to read the book.”  Sakura giggled nervously to herself.

Sakura turned to the next page and froze.  

An ink drawing, no wait...Sakura brought the book closer to her eyes, it was...blood, dried blood.  Sakura sat back in her chair and looked at the picture before her that stretched across both of the pages.  It was dark, shadowed and hard to make out but she saw the outline of a man, with slender hands, and slender form sitting at a workbench.  His back was hunched but gracefully drawn and his eyes were...focused and intense as he worked over...what looked like a human arm…

Sakura gasped, he looked like...but that was impossible.  She laughed a nervous laugh to herself.

Sakura’s heart beat in her chest, it pulsed in time with the aching in her head.  She could feel a closeness, like the walls of her home were closing in on her.  She closed her eyes.  Flashes of red and amber lit up the dark behind her lids.  It’s a dream, just a nightmare, a panic attack because he looks like, but impossible...it’s impossible.  She tried to calm her breath.

“Impossible”  She gasped in shock, clutching her hand to her chest.  Gasping for air she pushed back from the table and stood up, her hands going to her head, her fingers glowed green as she pushed her healing chakra into her temples to soothe the aching pain.

After settling herself she reached down for her bowl of food, her eyes caught the picture of the book, still open, displayed before her widening eyes...the man...had moved.  He stood away from his work table, no longer sitting but looking...at her a small devious smirk on his lips, amber eyes glowing like the rising sun watching her every move.  Hair red, dark red like the blood that refused to pump through her veins, it felt like her heart had stopped.

Sakura knew his name, ‘Sasori’, she thought of the Puppet master she had fought and helped kill seven years ago, the pain in her chest shot through her from head to foot, burning her inner flesh, her heart...she felt like she was falling...falling, then nothing.

‘Sasori.’  His name flooded her senses as she closed her eyes, she could almost feel the damp cool air of the cave where he had died, she could almost hear the water of the river, a trickle of sweat ran down her back...fear, she was still afraid of him.

He had haunted her dreams, had been the catalyst of all of her nightmares even after the war and everything she had seen, nothing had scared her, like this man.  She looked back down at the pages of the open book where he watched her patiently, calmly as if he were...waiting for something.

The redhead stood at the edge of the page looking out at her, that same cold amber in his eyes, that same arrogant lift of his lips as he continued to smirk at her.  Thumbing back a lock of pastel pink hair from her eyes as she watched him watch her, she swallowed, her fingers running along the seam of the pages.  She watched as he pulled a kunai from his sleeve and ran it vertically up and down in front of himself through the ‘air’, she watched with wide eyes as the paper split and tore, then mended itself before her eyes, like flesh.

A mild look of disdain crossed his face and he ‘sigh’...was he trapped?  

“Ridiculous.”  Sakura said again as if to convince herself.

“You’re dead.”  Sakura glared at the small figure in the book.  “I killed you with Granny Chiyo, you’re dead.”

His hair fell over his eyes as he cocked his head to the side as if to say, “Am I?”

“Yes!”  Sakura grabbed the book and slammed it shut.  She could feel the leather warm in her hands, she could almost hear his arrogant aristocratic voie in her head.

“For now.”  He seemed to say to her through the pulsation in her hands.

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day Two Hundred Sixty-One: Place of Birth ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ] [ AO3 Link ]

His relationship with the place of his birth has long been...unsteady. When Uchiha Sasuke was a boy, Konoha just felt like...a village. He had no qualms with it, finding it - to his limited knowledge - to be a normal place for a boy such as himself to grow up. It was, of course, peppered with its own problems. Even at his young age, he knew vaguely of war, of the orphans it made, of the shinobi who lost their lives in its protection. But when one is grown in a place where such things are commonplace, it’s simply...normal. He had no reason to question it.

...nor did he question the treatment of his clan. For the most part, it went unnoticed. It wasn’t as if the Uchiha were openly glared at, spit on, or in any way mistreated by their fellow villagers. In all respects, they were like any other clan: attending the Academy, walking the streets, shopping, talking, living. But it did, at one point, strike him as odd, how...far back from the other clans they were: nestled into a rear corner of the village. But, given no reason to question it beyond the initial ponderings, he never much minded it.

Back then...he could never have dreamed all that went on in the background. Of how Konoha’s politics always seemed to leave the Uchiha at the bottom rung. Their subtle - and at times...not so subtle - mistreatment of one of their founding clans. The blatant bias when it came to new ordinances or positioning. How every Hokage had either been a Senju...or could be traced back to solid connections with a clan that not only ruled Konoha...but kept their old rivals under their heels.

The event only a few months after Sasuke’s birth - the unleashing of the Kyūbi - had been the final straw. The council, convinced of their guilt despite Fugaku’s pleading to believe they’d had nothing to do with it, began tightening the leash until the clan began to choke.

Fugaku never let this on to his younger son. It was Itachi and Itachi alone he burdened with the knowledge that the Uchiha had finally been made full pariahs, forever blamed for Konoha’s pitfalls, bearing the burden of Madara’s actions until it came to a head when the nine tailed fox was unleashed. Sasuke was left blissfully unaware...until the ripples caused by the failing negotiations between Fugaku and the council began to bleed through into their family.

The proud clan head refusing to back down and let his clan be treated as second class citizens. The suffering son pulled in two directions by his love of family, and his love of peace. With the apparent death of their cousin Shisui, the cracks in the dam began to widen. The rift between Itachi and their father deepened to a canyon. And eventually, Itachi made his choice...and ended the Uchiha save one.

Sasuke.

Being left in the empty, haunted corpse of his home, the ghosts of his family, left Sasuke feeling...hollow. It made him realize that home was only home...because his family had been there. Without them, Konoha was just...a place to stay.

And once it no longer served him to avenge the ones he loved and lost...he left it by the wayside. There were vague plans to return once all was said and done, but...his clan was gone.

...but then...he learned the truth. All that had been kept from him: by his village leaders, by his father, and by his brother. The reality of the lives of the Uchiha under the symbol of the leaf they’d helped build.

While he had grown detached from the place of his birth...Sasuke then wanted nothing more than to raze it to the ground. A place built upon the backs of his clansmen...and none more so than his brother. Such a place...enjoying peace while the gutters ran red with Uchiha blood...it did not deserve to exist.

He would destroy the Senju pillar of oppression...or die trying.

Of course, nothing is ever so simple. The war was quite the derailment to his plans...and even more so when it brought him face to face with the last person he ever expected to see again: Itachi. Their battle with Kabuto - and the subsequent telling of his truth - left Sasuke...unsure of where to go from there. The interview with the Hokage helped him reach yet another new decision...but in the end, even that failed to go through.

Naruto always had such a nasty habit of getting in his way...but it proved one thing to him. If he wanted to do this - really do this: bring justice to his clan - he couldn’t do so falling into the same trap they’d always fallen for.

Anger.

No...he’d have to do this the sensible way. Confront the council. Expose the truth. Clear out the shadows of Konoha’s underground, reveal his clan’s role in its successes...and finally earn justice against those who wronged them.

And ensure no one else would ever suffer the same fate.

Then, and only then, did he agree to return. Of course...it helped that, along the way, his brother was returned to him. And later, Shisui - having faked his death to evade his pursuers - brought their numbers up to three. It wasn’t the entire clan, as it should be...but it was more than Sasuke ever imagined after his brother’s death.

And then...there was the next generation. His niece and nephew were born within Konoha, the first new Uchiha in over a decade. And Sasuke would make sure that the place of their birth would never fall to the same shadows and secrecy of his own.

Nor would it for any children he himself chose to have. Of course...his hopes in that regard had mostly died. There was no one he’d ever felt romantically inclined toward. And with the attitude within Konoha still largely against him...he believed there would be no changing that.

Until...he became reacquainted with Hyūga Hinata.

Unlike most, her unique position granted her a kind of...understanding. Their childhoods shared more parallels than he’d ever cared to notice. Being second choice by their fathers and left to the wayside. Having genius brother figures with whom they held strained relations...only to lose them just as they reconciled. Both the second in line to their clan’s inheritance. And while Hinata’s clan was still alive and well, her position within hers meant the ability to have empathy: to put herself in his shoes. That perspective meant - along with their previous blank slate - that she was one of the few beyond his family to just treat him like...a person.

It was her help with the Hyūga that helped them rally the other clans into confronting the previous council, and ensuring that none of the other families of Konoha would ever face similar punishment for having the gall to seek what was owed them. And when the Hyūga became allies with their cousin clan, it was she who served as the mediator and voice of reason. Their circumstances led to more and more time spent together...and it was she who first volunteered when Sasuke proposed the combined Uchiha and Hyūga police force: to be the eyes that would watch the village from within, while Itachi and his ANBU would do so from the outside.

Though Hinata had never faced the same treatment by Konoha, she still struggled. Still understood - to a point - what Sasuke had gone through. And it was that understanding - that empathy, that kindness - that led to him falling rather haplessly in love with her. Yet another piece within Konoha that made it worthwhile to stay, and continue to improve with careful diligence. Only now...he would do so with her at his side.

The rest, as they say, is history

                                                           .oOo.

     I am...super tired, so I'll be brief @~@ Mostly just introspective rambling about Sasuke's changing relationship with the village in which he was born. ALAS sees the Uchiha massacre addressed and brought to justice, unlike canon. I couldn't do my boys dirty and leave that hanging. So at least things have a chance to get better...and they do. Just...not immediately, ahaha~      Anyway, I really need to get some sleep (I barely got this done OTL), so that's all from me tonight~ Thanks for reading.

[sasukeuchiha-eternalmangekyou]

~Curse Mark~

(Part 4) - (Part 5) - (Part 6)

Contents: -Orochimaru and Kabuto (Chunin Exams: Preliminaries Aftermath)

Orochimaru and Kabuto at the Hospital

“About Sasuke? I’m sorry, I don’t know much about that I’m afraid, but I wouldn’t worry too much.” ‘From here on, it’s up to you Sasuke.’ – Kakashi replying to Sakura’s concern (Episode 51: A Shadow in Darkness: Danger Approaches Sasuke)

Kakashi’s idealism formed around Sasuke’s capability of keeping the curse mark in check is unstable at best, but he’s done all he could physically do since this was about to become a mental challenge for his student to undertake. The overall result rests on the Uchiha’s shoulders, but if needed, Kakashi is there to steer him in the right direction, but there’s little he can accomplish when it’s up to Sasuke to locate where the line of revenge ends. Little is known pertaining to the mark’s capabilities and mounted influence. In turn leaving faith in Sasuke is all he can do.

I personally believe Anko and Sauske should’ve been introduced so she could explain more about who Orochimaru was and his typical intentions (because no one knew his plans at the time) instead of leaving the entire issue a morbid curiosity. She at least has experience with the curse mark and knows her former sensei rather well. It’d prove beneficial for Sasuke to realize someone else understands what he’s battling, trying to maintain a power he’d easily find necessary in the long run. But lacking information only gave more leverage for Orochimaru’s method. Although he originally came for Sasuke after Kakashi sealed the curse mark, his overconfidence got the better of him in that moment, and he didn’t bother attempting it. However, if Kakashi was willing to fight to protect Sasuke, the instance may have turned out differently.

“From now on, each of the Hidden Villages will clash with each other in a long and violent struggle. Even the Sound Village won’t escape that violence. And it’s your intention to be the trigger to that hostility by using Sasuke as a bullet. Isn’t that correct?” “You guess very well. So well that it’s a bit creepy in fact.” – Kabuto and Orochimaru (Episode 51: A Shadow in Darkness: Danger Approaches Sasuke)

This is basically the scene that sets up Orochimaru’s intention without fully stating how he plans to use Sasuke. But we get the general sense of his goal in wanting to bring about an era of war and antagonism among the villages including his own. As we find out later on when he’s fighting against the Third, Orochimaru prefers to be the one to set things in motion, not be on the sidelines. Which may as well have been his downfall considering the aftermath of that battle.

I’ve taken this quote to simply explain what Orochimaru was truly after once the collaborating steps fell into place. By utilizing the power of the Uchiha Clan’s bloodline and kekkei genkai, it would not only be an easy feat to bring about war, but also to learn/collect jutsu as he intended to further his capability and create new ones. We’ve seen the far extent of the sharingan’s proficiency and the continuous evolution, yet there’s more even Orochimaru isn’t aware of that lies dormant within the Uchiha lineage at that moment in time. We know he went after Itachi prior to targeting Sasuke due to him being the elder of the two remaining members and is exceptionally skilled at such a young age. Of course plans changed when Itachi proved too strong, so he set his sights on the younger, more vulnerable brother. Either way, he had his objectives set and stated.

Having Kabuto gather information during the exams provided insight on Sasuke’s preexisting skill set. However, capability with the curse mark was still unknown, which means he was taking a huge gamble when giving it to Sasuke in the first place. He could have died in the struggle and that would’ve left little option for the Sannin to consider.

“The curse mark that was given to him appears to have been sealed by Kakashi, but in any event, that is not my concern. While there is still some darkness left in his heart we must act and that’s why I want you to abduct him.” “It’s unusual for you to act so hastily, is it not?” “Perhaps, but there’s still a little something that’s troubling me. Sasuke is driven by revenge. He’s burning to bring down his older brother, Itachi, for what he did to their family. He won’t rest until he achieves that goal. And yet, when we fought each other even though he knew he couldn’t prevail against me he came at me without any fear of death. I didn’t think he’d be the type of person who’d be in such a hurry to die a meaningless death. According to your information, contact with that Nine Tailed one has altered Sasuke’s heart and mind so much so that Naruto now holds a certain influence over our Sasuke. The thing to do is to get Sasuke away from him immediately because then it will be so easy to make him mine forever.” – Orochimaru and Kabuto (Episode 51: A Shadow in Darkness: Danger Approaches Sasuke)

This part clashes with Orochimaru’s original plan he stated to Kakashi earlier, that sooner or later Sasuke would willingly come to him seeking power. Yet it is shown three times afterwards that Orochimaru is not prepared to take the chance. After Sasuke’s fight against Yoroi and Kakashi sealing the curse mark, he came for purpose of taking Sasuke but ultimately left as stated. Then we reach the point I’m at now where he decides to send Kabuto in to abduct him before outside influences reach Sasuke’s heart and overcome the darkness. And of course later when Orochimaru mentions to the Third that he was going to have Sasuke be taken during the middle of his strike against the Leaf.

Having Kabuto come in to take Sasuke rather than wait it out was all due to Naruto’s presence. Sasuke’s friendship with Naruto is considered, to me, the first and foremost method of saving Sasuke from himself which is known to be true by the end of the series. It’s widely known that Naruto manages to influence and change those he comes in contact with, simply by being his energetic, amiable self. Sasuke was spurred into action to fight Orochimaru in the Forest of Death and in the Preliminaries to tackle the spread of the curse mark purely by Naruto’s words. It’s not difficult to discern a deep level of friendship and rivalry push the two to better themselves. In turn, Orochimaru figured if he removed the source of light, only darkness would remain and eventually cripple the impracticable measures of happiness Sasuke already thought he had to this point (which he truly did gain but was later viewed as a negative). Bonds would morph into a weakness, a limiter holding him back, the anchor to his progression. Although the other two are overlooked, Sakura and Kakashi play their part in this too, but they are mistakenly not seen as noteworthy in Orochimaru’s concerns.

Orochimaru is well attuned to how such people can shift the tide of someone’s mindset. Having been friends with Jiraiya (since Masashi loves his parallels in the core teams) I’m sure he’s felt a similar thing in the past. He also knows the mind in general, being able to anticipate and calculate the way someone will counteract in situations. Like he said above, someone in Sasuke’s position shouldn’t be so willing to toss his life aside to die an aimless death when his focus is on living long enough to kill Itachi. And the Sannin was justified in his thinking due to Sasuke’s initial reluctance to fight in the beginning. However, he saw Naruto’s impact work twice.

He’s worried the darkness/hatred revenge offers isn’t enough to offset Naruto’s ability to change people. Like the whole sun and moon symbolism we see way later on during the war and Orochimaru’s later analysis with Boruto and Mitsuki. It’s clear to him, at that point, that obtaining Sasuke through force is the better solution. Not on lacking trust in the curse mark’s effects, or the seal Kakashi has given him, but on Naruto alone. I’m sure he assumes once Sasuke is away from all those swaying influences and is given the later proposal of power for his life, that he’d take it, having nothing else to lose. Clearly we don’t get to see this unfold or even the time skip in the canon verse, but it’d assumedly be the same result to him.

“I suppose brilliance can sometimes have its disadvantages. We failed to avoid Orochimaru’s watchful eye and it’s most unfortunate for the both of us.” ‘He’s so young, but the seeds of evil have already taken root just waiting to be exploited. He’ll be ripe for Orochimaru’s special ninjutsu.’ – Kabuto speaking to an unconscious Sasuke (Episode 51: A Shadow in Darkness: Danger Approaches Sasuke)

I bet Kabuto was contemplating on killing Sasuke after all, but in the end probably wouldn’t have done so. Knowing what we all know now about Kabuto’s origin and how he came to know Orochimaru, this quote actually makes a lot more sense than reading it will no background information.

Kabuto’s experience in medical ninjutsu and intelligence level was perfectly situated to obtain Orochimaru’s attention. He also felt at a loss when his mother forgot all about him, causing confusion and anger.

He’s taken note of Sasuke’s essential embedded evil that made the curse mark compatible in the first place. Ignoring the fillers later on circling around the Sound Four, I figured well beforehand that some kind of preexisting darkness had to be present within the host body to take on such malevolent chakra. Anko might have had something in her as well that allowed her to survive, but unfortunately we didn’t get any legit background on her time training with Orochimaru (again excluding the fillers).

Now I want to comment about Sasuke’s state during the recovery of receiving the seal. His eyes are covered and it appears as though his breathing is still sporadic due to him being hooked up to a machine. At first I wasn’t sure about the eyes being concealed, but I saw someone else comment (forever ago in a fanfiction author note) that perhaps his sharingan was activating. And I thought it was plausible due to fluctuating chakra control. Like the seal was trying to adjust and manage the curse mark while under duress of the seal, keeping Sasuke in an unconscious state once again.

‘If it turns out that someone as good as him is working for Orochimaru, I’ve got to work harder.’ – Kakashi referring to Kabuto (Episode 51: A Shadow in Darkness: Danger Approaches Sasuke)

This signifies when Kakashi needed to rethink his previous reliance on Sasuke’s will alone. If Orochimaru had powerful allies like Kabuto at his disposal, then anyone of them could be sent to abduct or persuade Sasuke to leave the village at any given moment. Kabuto was able to outwit and take out a group of ANBU, not something a typical ninja can manage. This was the turning point of when Kakashi decided to take more action and work harder to protect his student. In many cases it seems almost lacking on Kakashi’s end, but he has limitations set before him as well. Sasuke’s persistence pertaining to his own need to handle the situation was well received but not so much that Kakashi would leave him alone for extended periods of time. However, once the invasion went south for Orochimaru, Kakashi seemed more relaxed in the idea that no worrisome harm would immediately come.

It’s another reason why he takes to personally train Sasuke for the finals (also knowing he’s going against someone as dangerous and powerful as Gaara). By telling Naruto he had other matters to take care of and that he didn’t have time to deal with him, it wasn’t about playing favorites as Naruto assumed, but Sasuke’s life was at risk. This also implores Kakashi to begin more rigorous training for himself before beginning to train Sasuke once he’s able to leave (or chooses to leave) the hospital.

[noctitty]

So how would you personally improve ffxv if you could????

Ok bitch i’ve been thinking about this for a while so grab a snack this is long af.

I liked a lot of things about Final Fantasy XV but there are things in the story that i would change just to make the game flow better. Instead of making a movie and an anime i definitely feel like it should’ve been put in the actual game. The main quest itself is really short so i think it could’ve used these things just to add to it and to fix plot holes because the game does rely on you watching all these things when they should have put it in the game in the first place.

For starters a prologue chapter is around and i think if they put that in the game where you get to walk around the palace and talk to some Kingsglaive members and they even planted the seed of suspicion where you doubt Prompto’s parentage. Prompto mentions his parents to but he never sees them which kinda raises some questions for the audience so in chapter 13 it wouldn’t be out of nowhere when he finally confesses. It’s all about planting and then the payoff will come later.

Then Noctis goes and starts his road trip. This is where the Kingsglaive events come in where i think they could’ve made luna playable where she is escaping insomnia and you get to spend more time with her and see what she’s like when she’s not all about her duty and just let her personality shine through instead. Regis dies and we see that so when we go back to noctis we know shit he doesn’t so it causes tension and more urgency to things. Also as the game goes on we could’ve got the flashbacks from the brotherhood anime.

Then as the main story progresses i would’ve done more luna ony chapters where you just play as her going around trying to wake up the six kinda like in ninja storm 4 where sasuke and naruto have different routes that are happening at the same time to start with and then they come together. This would make Noctis and Luna meeting in Altissia much more of a huge moment. Also Luna would survive the leviathan fight. The cgi scene of her death was really pretty but you didn’t feel the amount of impact it should’ve because in the game you just don’t know her and it’s hard to relate to her and really feel her personality so i think her just being around more and being playable would’ve helped. In her childhood flashbacks all we see of her is explaining her role as oracle and we don’t actually see her and noctis just being kids and playing and just being friends which is why their relationship feels so forced.

There’s so many things they could’ve done with Luna in this game honestly. In the movie we see her manipulate a man to pretty much kill himself and it would’ve been cool to see more of that. Her manipulating the empire or they could’ve done a princess Leia where she leads a resistance and gets aranea on her team because she knows shit about the empire and fuck them up or fuck it idk after her illness gets even worse she starts to lose her sanity. They could’ve taken her character and done something so different with it and made it iconic and she would’ve earned her place on the roster of great ff female characters but right now it seems unlikely. Throughout the game we’re told how amazing Luna is but it means nothing if it isn’t shown.

Now let’s move on to Ardyn. I really liked where his character was going but i think there should’ve been a flashback about his rise and fall from grace just to make things clearer and see what he was like as a person before shit started to go down and because more Ardyn is always good. I also would’ve liked to have seen him actually manipulate the emperor and fucking with Ravus like the scammer he is.

I remember back when it was still Versus 13 there was a rumour that dreams and flashback would be playable which sadly never happened, i think that would’ve been really cool learning more about the royal family and more scenes with Regis. When Noctis took a 10 year long nap i would’ve like a kinda fucked up dream sequence kinda like the omen trailer expressing noctis’ fears and what could’ve happened and make it playable and then they can cut to Ardyn taking control of the world and wrecking it to raise the stakes even higher. Then when he wakes up he runs into Talcott and they go to hammerhead but i would probably spread his friends around the world of ruin so we spend more time there and definitely catch up with Iris and Aranea. Also Noctis could do some missions while he’s there and see how life is like now in the world of ruin. 

Other than that i would say make Ardyn have more the one form and just make the game more difficult in general and i think it would’ve been a solid FF but anyways these are just my thoughts. 

[recentanimenews]

THE GREAT CRUNCHYROLL NARUTO REWATCH Arrives at the Big Moment: Naruto vs. Sasuke in Episodes 126-132!

  Welcome back to the GREAT CRUNCHYROLL NARUTO REWATCH! I'm Nicole Mejias, and I'll be your host this week as we make our way through all 220 episodes of the original Naruto. Last week, we covered Episodes 120-126, where Gaara and the sand ninjas redeemed themselves and started kicking some major butt! Also, drunk Rock Lee!

This week, we’re passing the 100 episodes left mark by hitting episodes 127-133, and that means it is time for the showdown we’ve all been waiting for: Naruto vs. Sasuke! But first, Gaara has a few minor things to finish dealing with, but it seems like everyone’s favorite sandy boy will be fine. Sadly, this week’s batch ends right before the grand finale of Naruto vs. Sasuke, but we get through a lot of the emotional labor first before the big pay-off by seeing more of Sasuke and Itachi’s mysterious pasts.

Let’s not delay the big showdown any longer and find out what the Features Team thought!

Boy, that sure was an anti-climactic finish to the Gaara vs. Kimimaro fight. How did you feel about the way that resolved?

Paul: I didn't feel that Gaara vs. Kimimaro was anti-climatic, partly because the whole bone thing really creeped me out and I was ready for that to be over, but also because they spent time climbing inside Kimimaro's head-space, and he was ultimately such a tragic character. I'm a sucker for how Orochimaru keeps hoovering up all of the sad, queer ninja kids who don't belong in their original clans and Villages and creating a weird, evil Brady Bunch ninja family.

Kevin: The end of that fight is one of the few things in the entire franchise that disappointed me so much that it came back around to being memorable.

Danni: Honestly, having a character just up and die from an illness feels both so convenient and so subversive that I have to respect it.

Jared: It always kind of felt like that was going to be the inevitable end anyways, so I’m not too bothered by it. Although, I feel like with his ability, ripping out your spinal column and using it should be an ability that would ultimately end you, yet it’s just his illness.

David: The ending was so abrupt that I was surprised it was over well after the fact. Kimimaro has an interesting story but he got shortchanged by being the midboss before the most important fight in the whole first “part” of the show, I guess.

Joseph: I totally loved how it ended! I’m a sucker for subverting expectations like that. Considering all Kimimaro has gone through, it was more than appropriate to die like that on the spot during such a huge fight.

Noelle: I’m still surprised by it, to be completely honest. I could’ve gone for more of course, but there’s something about it that’s so abrupt that made it stick with me. Perfect timing for our heroes, but at the same time, fitting. I felt it worked.

Carolyn: I actually loved that ending. We don’t always need to have a big flashy violent showdown. He fought hard, his body couldn't take it. It’s different and refreshing. I’m a fan.

Kara: After Kimimaro literally pulled out his own spine I was kind of too dazed to register anything else.

Personally, I always found it interesting how other characters were far more interesting than Naruto and Sasuke at times, and I think the growth of Gaara is a great example of that. How do you feel about Gaara now vs. when he first showed up?

Paul: Before, Gaara was a psychopathic but adorable baby murder cinnamon roll, and I loved him. Now he's a sympathetic but adorable baby murder cinnamon roll, and I still love him, only in a slightly different way. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he continues to develop as a character.

Kevin: Well, they were supposed to be designed after Goku and Vegeta, so Naruto being the most boring one might just be an extra faithful homage. As for Gaara, I don’t dislike that he’s mellowed out and is willing to cooperate with people, but I wish that we saw more of a gradual change instead of him just suddenly not being murderous because Naruto’s greatest jutsu is friendship.

Danni: I really liked seeing Gaara act more sympathetic to those around him. I don’t think he’s more interesting than Naruto yet, but I’m looking forward to seeing more of him.

Jared: As someone who was definitely a detractor of him before his turn, I’m enjoying seeing how he’s taken to heart some of the stuff Naruto told him and even throwing it back in the face of Kimimaro. I’m curious to see if he continues to be ever brooding throughout or if that part of him changes or not.

David: He’s definitely more interesting now than he was previously. I particularly enjoyed the scene between him and Lee as they just sort of chilled together under a tree’s shade after the fight with Kimimaro was over.

Joseph: I like Gaara but I don’t necessarily think he’s any more interesting than Naruto is. It’s too early to tell how his character will evolve from here, but I like what they’re doing with him.

Noelle: Gaara is one of my top faves, so I’m not going to pretend I don’t have a bias here. I think Naruto’s still pretty great and I wouldn’t say Gaara is more engaging than he is, but Gaara’s really made some strides. He’s taken the lessons he’s been given and learned from them, and he is becoming more of a complete person as a result. Also, that doesn’t stop his potential in a fight at all. You go, Gaara.

Carolyn: I still feel like there was no character growth here. He just showed up. He wanted to kill Rock Lee not that long ago and there was zero resolution to that. They just join forces out of nowhere.

Kara: I’m not sure how I feel re: character growth. I mean obviously there was some, because he’s not rocking back and forth in a ball of sand whispering to his mother. So, you know, good for him, clearly got some stuff sorted out for himself. I’d be interested to see what happened while we were looking the other way, though. Naruto doesn’t exactly fear flashbacks, so I have a feeling we’ll find out at some point.

  Speaking of character growth, Rock Lee has certainly had an interesting arc in these past few episodes. It feels good to see him back, if a bit fast, but since we probably won’t see him for a while, how do you feel about Lee’s send off here?

Paul: Way back in the write-up for episodes 50–56, I proposed that Rock Lee is the Mick Foley of the Naruto universe, in that he's kind of a dork, everybody loves him, and he gets the ever-living tar beat out of him every time he shows up. I have to add an additional way that Rock's trajectory resembles Mick's pro-wrestling career: he loses–dramatically–in all of his most important matches. I'd honestly like to see him win something for a change.

Kevin: To be perfectly honestly, my first thought after seeing the question was “wait, did Lee get a send off?”, so that’s probably not a good sign.

Danni: That was a send off???

Jared: If there’s not a filler arc that’s just Rock Lee getting up to shenanigans, I’m going to be very disappointed.

David: Such is the fate of tertiary Naruto characters.

Joseph: Poor Rock Lee. I love him but this was his least memorable set of episodes in my opinion. I second the “that was a send off?” question.

Noelle: In terms of canonical material (filler not included) I know this is going to be the last we see of Lee for a while. And that’s such a shame–Lee’s a good kid, and I could always take more Rock Lee.

Carolyn: Yeah, I wasn’t aware that was a send off either. I would have just seen that as any other side character episode. They are there sometimes and sometimes they are not.

Kara: Wait, where’s he going? No one told me he was going anywhere. Shoot. Now I’m going to go back and watch his drunken fighting and appreciate it harder.

So, here we are. Naruto vs. Sasuke. The big culmination of the recovery arc is about to occur… and… flashbacks. So, how do we feel about the secrets of the Uchiha clan, the Mangekyo Sharingan, and Itachi after these revelations?

Paul: If I'm reading this correctly, in order to master the ultimate Sharingan technique of the Uchiha clan, you have to murder someone (or multiple someones) that you love dearly. I get that, very ninja-esque. I still don't understand what motivates Itachi to pursue that level of power. That bit about him “testing his vessel” was just gibberish to me. I did like how they changed up some details in Sasuke's flashbacks, implying that Itachi's techniques have the ability to alter people's memories.

Kevin: I am continuing to try to not spoil too much about future events, so for now I’ll stick with this: I like that that a lot of things are getting explored. The Uchiha’s role in the village, what the Mangekyo Sharingan is, some kind of motivation for Itachi killing the clan. It’s all neat and whether you like the answers or not, at least there’s an answer instead of everything completely unexplained for the entire show. That being said… don’t get too attached to most of it.

Danni: I continue to eagerly anticipate how they try to flip it so that Itachi was actually the good guy all along.

Jared: No wonder Sasuke has become the way he is, Itachi and his dad surely didn’t help things. Itachi’s drive to being out of his mind with the vessel talk seemed odd, but having that kind of constant pressure on you to be the best, especially at a young age can cause you to break in bad ways.

David: I actually thought the flashbacks did a lot to make Itachi look like one of the most intelligent and reasonable characters in the whole show, a real role model for Sasuke. Of course, Itachi doesn’t end up finding the results he wants fast enough by working within the system, so he ends up choosing to burn the system itself to the ground instead. His stated reasoning isn’t just odd, it’s also at odds with everything he said leading up to it. How can he justify all this carnage for the sake of power, when one of the core tenets of his ideology beforehand was how badly power and the pursuit of it messes people up? As of now anyway, he doesn’t, and that leads Sasuke to taking all the wrong lessons from his big brother. But maybe there’s more to the story than we’ve gotten so far.

Joseph: I found the past of the Uchiha clan interesting, but wasn’t a huge fan of the way they structured it. I’d rather have a couple solid episodes exploring the backstory than peppering it so much throughout the buildup to the fight that it impacts the pacing. There’s still a ton of mystery to Itachi to dig into, though.

Noelle: My other fave is Itachi, and I very clearly remember how these episodes went down and just how revelatory they were to me. The Itachi we see in the flashbacks, where you can tell Sasuke genuinely loves and admires, compared to the fallout we see now, what a difference. Growing up in the Uchiha clan is really not the best place to be, huh.

Carolyn: This week is very, very flashback heavy. Generally, we get some flashbacks intermingled with fighting. This feels like it leans on the flashbacks a lot. I do feel like they are trying to set it up to appear that Itachi was secretly a good guy and we got him all wrong like this show likes to do.

Kara: I was thinking to myself all through this how there are basically no ninja clans that don’t have drama. Then I remembered, well, this is a society devoted to training (and occasionally modifying your body in horrifying ways) toward a single purpose, of course it’s gonna be a mess every day. I actually didn’t mind the flashbacks being peppered throughout. That’s a thing I know the show does, and it’s an interesting way to slow-release info at just the right time for things to land meaning-wise. It explains a lot, I’ll say that.

So, something that always bothered me: I kind of feel like Sasuke is being a brat. How do you all feel about this development in Sasuke’s character? I never really found myself sympathetic to his personality change.  

Paul: I agree that Sasuke is being a brat, but to me that seems less like a drastic change in character and more like a natural evolution given his motivations and back-story. The desire for revenge has been eating him alive from the very beginning, and no matter how many people reach out to him, Sasuke can't see past his own pain and his own rage. I pity him and I want him to find a better path, and that's good character writing.

Kevin: He didn’t really have any kind of personality change. It’s more that he’s always been power hungry in order to kill Itachi, and now he’s seen that he’s nowhere near strong enough and so is desperate to grow even more quickly no matter the risks. It honestly makes a lot of sense, especially now that we know his backstory better. It’s just a shame that he perpetually sounds like he’s ignoring everyone and throwing a tantrum instead of telling people why he’s leaving and/or asking other people for help, since strength in numbers is still strength.

Danni: I don’t quite see him as a brat. If anything I fail to understand why he’s chosen Orochimaru’s path towards strength. Surpassing his brother means nothing if he does so with borrowed power. Itachi got where he is all on his own. Shouldn’t Sasuke do the same?

Jared: I don’t think he ever really changed out of his revenge obsession, but just got to a point where he figured Orochimaru’s plan would be his easiest path to getting the power to take on Itachi. Although it was interesting during the fight with Naruto where he basically had to keep pumping himself up and telling himself that there’s no turning back from this, as if he has to constantly say that or everything just breaks for him.

David: I take contention with both the idea that Sasuke’s personality has changed as well as the idea that this isn’t Sasuke’s last resort. In regards to the former, Sasuke was literally introduced with the idea of revenge as not just his main but his only motivator; every instance we see of him even confiding in his teammates like with the tree-climbing exercise was ultimately another step toward that goal and not much else. Evolving from that, it is only natural that Sasuke would be enticed by something like Orochimaru’s proposed “easy button” of sorts for power. He has been trying to do what Itachi could for essentially his whole life, even before he hated Itachi, as this week’s flashbacks show. However, he has never had the innate talent Itachi did; Itachi tried to teach him that this might not even be a thing he should care so much about, but that lesson got thrown out the window when Itachi made Sasuke hate him and forget all about it. I think what I’m getting at here is that Sasuke hasn’t changed almost at all so far, but if we step back and look at everything we’ve learned about him, he is simply more complicated than we used to think.

Joseph: It’s all really tragic, especially when we get hints of the potential for change within Sasuke. He’s clearly wrestling with the fact that he’s found friends yet he’s a freight train with a single destination. Anything in the way gets plowed through completely, and it’s just kind of sad. I will say I never saw Naruto and Sasuke’s relationship with the sometimes rose-tinted glasses the flashbacks give it, but such is life.

Noelle: Sasuke is 100% a brat, but at the same time, his mental gymnastic routine isn’t one that’s unfathomable for his character. He’s always stated that his driving force is vengeance, something that comes from a truly negative place as opposed to a positive one, so is it really that strange that he’d end up going to extremes? I don’t think so. The seed was always there, and now it’s exploded into the worst venue possible. It makes sense.

Carolyn: The more I rewatch the more I wonder why I liked Sasuke in the first place. He’s such a punk.

Kara: When Sasuke said that line about “I’m special, too,” I was like… that’s it, that’s the character arc. Naruto spent all this time grumbling about how much people like Sasuke, but then he turned that into a reason to get better. I can understand Sasuke’s background and damage based on his family, but this whole being mad because people are more interested in Naruto’s tummy-fox than in Sasuke is childish.

So, we don’t see what happens in the battle yet this week, but how do you all think it's going to go? Who do you have as the winner? And does it even matter who wins, since it may be the end of this friendship?

Paul: Judging by the episode for next week entitled “The Promise That Could Not Be Kept” which features a thumbnail of Naruto covered in bandages, I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Naruto gets his butt kicked. I wouldn't worry about the friendship ending. If Shonen Jump series have taught me anything, it's that yesterday's mortal enemies are tomorrow's super best friends.

Kevin: This is Naruto, the world will end before a friendship does. That being said, this is a battle where no matter the outcome, there is no winner. If Naruto takes Sasuke back to the village, it’ll only be by literally dragging him back. If Sasuke wins, Naruto fails everyone waiting for him to bring Sasuke back. If Kakashi intervenes, then the fight had basically no meaning since there is no actual conclusion. But if there is any conclusion, then one of them may well die (of course, we have a bit of clairvoyance on our side knowing that there are 90 more episodes and two sequel series with the name Naruto in the title, so the stakes are lowered a little).

Danni: My gut is telling me that Sasuke will get away in the end, but my brain is telling me that we have months of filler ahead of us and there’s no way Sasuke can just be gone for all of it. Do you really expect any of us to believe this friendship is over, though? Really???

Jared: I’m not really expecting a de facto winner to emerge here, but something to happen and Sasuke is able to continue on his path and Naruto goes the other way. Whether that’s by Kakashi interrupting the fight or they somehow double KO each other. It’s just weird to think as well because this is it before we go into fillerville and I don’t know how exactly you continue on from this type of encounter and leave out someone like Sasuke who’s going to have this brand new story and character arc.

Joseph: Whoever wins… WE win, because episode 133 was an all-timer and one of the most impressively animated fights of the series thus far. It’s a testament to Kishimoto’s character crafting just how emotional it all is, too. It really feels desperate and crucial.

Noelle: Siding with Joseph here- we, the audience are the true victors. I’m so excited to have this fight on my plate again.

Carolyn: Naruto has to win, right? I don’t think this is the end of their friendship, but maybe a super, duper, major strain on it.

Kara: Kakashi’s gonna drag both those dumb buttheads back to the village.

As always, what were the high and low points of this week’s batch?

Paul: My high point is the entirety of episode 133, where Naruto and Sasuke really lay into one another and the production values get cranked up to eleven. I especially liked that key beats in the fight, such as when Sasuke nearly burns Naruto to a crisp with his fire-breathing Jutsu, were played like horror movie beats rather than action movie ones. My low point was all of the recycled footage leading up to that point, as the extensive use of flashbacks often took me out of the moment.

Kevin: High - Naruto and Sasuke actually fighting in earnest. Not a specific moment, but the back and forth of each revealing new powers and giving the fight everything, even a better animation budget. Low - So, does the Leaf just not have law enforcement anymore? The Uchiha were the police force, and I don’t remember anyone ever mentioning the force in present day, nor mentioning the force being rebuilt after the Uchiha were wiped out. Maybe the Anbu took over, but that seems excessive and we would probably see a lot more cloaked figures in masks if that were the case.

Danni: The high point this week is easily the entire real fight between Naruto and Sasuke, no contest. The animation was stellar and my god the creative choreography in that fight was to die for. I could watch it over and over again. I want to say the low point was the multiple episodes of recap, but if that’s what it takes to get the amazing-looking fight we did, just lay the flashbacks on me, Pierrot.

Jared: High point is easily Naruto vs. Sasuke when it actually got going. It was phenomenal. Low point would probably be the constant tease to the fight with a bunch of flashbacks and what not, but in the end, it was well worth the wait.

David: My high point actually is the flashbacks, because of how much more interesting they made both Sasuke and Itachi, which is vital to making the entire conflict actually interesting. Low point is the suddenly deflated balloon that is the end of the Kimimaro fight. Poor dude.

Joseph: High point: Naruto vs. Sasuke for real in episode 133.

Low point: I think they could have condensed the flashbacks or structured them differently. It took me out of the buildup even though it was part of the buildup.

Noelle: High point, Sasuke’s backstory and how that resulted in a massive character breakdown. Also, Naruto vs Sasuke, give me that high-tier animation any day of the week. Low point, the pacing of the flashbacks, but that’s more of an arbitrary point. I really liked the content we got this week.

Carolyn: High point: Honestly that super surprising ending to Gaara’s fight. So original! Low point: Probably Sasuke’s jerk attitude. Chill out, man.

Kara: High point is the Naruto vs. Sasuke fight, as expected. Low point is Sasuke’s level-up lipstick. It’s not working for him. I’d have gone warmer tone.

  COUNTERS:

Ramen: 2 bowls Hokage: 0 Clones: 15 + 1 uncountable scene

  Total so far:

Bowls of Ramen: 44 bowls, 3 cups

“I'm Gonna be Hokage!”: 52

Shadow Clones Created: 367

  And that's everything for this week! Remember that you're always welcome to join us for this rewatch, especially if you haven't watched the original Naruto! Watch Naruto today!

  CATCH UP ON THE REWATCH!

Episodes 120-126: The Sand Siblings Return

Episodes 113-119: Operation Rescue Sasuke

Episodes 106-112: Sasuke Goes Rogue

Episodes 99-105: Trouble in the Land of Tea

Episodes 92-98: Clash of the Sannin

Episodes 85-91: A Life-Changing Decision

Episodes 78-84: The Fall of a Legend

Episodes 71-77: Sands of Sorrow

Episodes 64-70: Crashing the Chunin Exam

Episodes 57-63: Family Feud

Episodes 50-56: Rock Lee Rally

Episodes 43-49: The Gate

Episodes 36-42: Through the Woods

Episodes 29-35: Sakura Unleashed

Episodes 22-28: Chunin Exams Kickoff

Episodes 15-21: Leaving the Land of Waves

Episodes 8-14: Beginners' Battle

Episodes 1-7: I'm Gonna Be the Hokage!

  Here's our upcoming schedule:

- May 31st, NOELLE OGAWA will start us off on a journey back into the land of filler.

- June 7th, DAVID LYNN keeps us going as we get even deeper into filler.

- June 14th, PAUL CHAPMAN will detail in the depth of this sea of fillers.

  Thank you for joining us for the Great Crunchyroll Naruto Rewatch! Have a great weekend, and we'll see you all next time!

  Have anything to say about our thoughts on Episodes 127-133? Let us know in the comments! Don't forget, we're also accepting questions and comments for next week, so don't be shy and feel free to ask away!

  ----

Nicole is a features and a social video script writer for Crunchyroll. Known for punching dudes in Yakuza games on her Twitch channel while professing her love for Majima. She also has a blog, Figuratively Speaking. Follow her on Twitter: @ellyberries

  Do you love writing? Do you love anime? If you have an idea for a features story, pitch it to Crunchyroll Features!

By: news+feed@crunchyroll.com

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day Eighty-Nine: A Sudden Chill ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata ] [ SasuHina, pregnancy ] [ Verse: A Light Amongst Shadows ] [ AO3 Link ]

...it’s been getting worse.

Like everything that snowballs, it started small. People sneering, glowering, muttering just within earshot. Sasuke had hoped that it would end there. He’d been accustomed to being whispered about. Ever since his clan was wiped out, he’d been a subject of gossip.

Of course...this was different.

Dangerous.

And part of him knew when it began...it wouldn’t stop there.

The growth in bravery was slight. People knocking shoulders with him where he walked. Throwing things...though he was never hit. It took far more than that to even begin to scratch one like Uchiha Sasuke. Sometimes people would dare to yell insults. He wouldn’t even glance their way.

None of them were worth his time.

It wasn’t until it started affecting others that Sasuke began to feel real dread.

The first, oddly enough, was Hinata. The pair of them had become friends relatively quickly. Partly due to their clan alliance, but also due to Sasuke’s avoiding his teammates...which led to them dating. And left both him and the Hyūga as third and fourth wheels. She was one of the few who accepted his changes without bias or hard feelings. She, more than most...could understand what he was going through.

But he hadn’t expected a budding friendship to be enough to warrant her becoming a target. Suddenly she was getting dirty looks and coarse words thrown at her...and even tangible things.

That...made him angry.

And it also made him second guess branching out. He didn’t want his reputation - his clan’s reputation - soiling anyone else. It was bad enough Itachi’s family too received criticism.

Sins of the father.

But Hinata was quietly stubborn. She insisted they work together on the new police force...and they ended up partners. And eventually, they ended up dating.

After a long while, and a lengthy talk discussing the risks - irreparable risks - they agreed to get married.

And as they both knew it would, it continued: the harassment, the judgment, the hatred from those the most against the remaining Uchiha and their reputations.

With both wives now pregnant, Sasuke can’t help but feel even more paranoid than usual. Evidence has been mounting of an organized effort against them. And something in his gut tells him that they won’t stop to consider repercussions of attacking pregnant women.

Sadly...he’s right.

The first true strike against them comes against their supposed weakest point: Itachi’s wife and children. In broad daylight. In a crowded village thoroughfare. Thankfully she’s not nearly as weak as they assumed, and manages to stop the lone would-be assassin. A Hyūga officer detains them...but not before Sasuke himself gets to land a satisfying blow of his elbow to their temple.

He’s rarely been so furious.

Hinata, thankfully, is safe within the Hyūga compound at the time, still an active participant in her clan’s politics even with Hanabi as the upcoming clan head. But news travels quickly, and she wastes no time reuniting with her husband.

“What happened?”

“Someone attacked Itachi’s family. They’re safe - she stopped them. We’re waiting for T&I to come assist with the interrogation. Ino will be here soon.”

Looking only partly relieved, Hinata gives a soft sound of distress before collapsing into her husband’s arms. He accepts her gladly, one arm vice-like around her back as his rebuilt hand cradles the rear of her head.

But, to everyone’s shock...the interrogation goes horribly awry.

As Ino prepares to enter the assailant’s mind...they begin to convulse. Another medic is brought in, but it’s too late.

A cyanide capsule built into a false tooth.

Even Sasuke can hardly believe it. To think someone could be that desperate to remain silent.

Whatever they’re dealing with...it’s far more grave than he ever wanted to believe.

With the mind gone, all they have left to glean from is the body, and it tells them almost nothing. Whoever this was...they took all they could with them.

The brothers convene after, Shisui joining them and looking oddly grave. They stretch their intellects to the brink...but they just don’t have enough evidence to begin pointing fingers. Whoever is behind this attack - and likely others, like the threats carved into Itachi’s door weeks prior - is nothing to mess with.

The family enters a crisis mode. No one travels alone. No one leaves the compound unless absolutely necessary. Itachi gathers his most trusted ANBU officers to patrol their land and look for possible intruders. Itachi’s wife is escorted as she walks her children the Academy.

None of them can relax.

The tension nearly drives Sasuke mad. He isn’t a man of patience and lying in wait like his brother or his cousin. If something is wrong, he wants to confront it now. Get it over with! He doesn’t care how dangerous it is. Just let him tear the people threatening his family in half, and be done with it!

Having to just sit and wait is akin to torture.

Coming home after a shift (which, for the time being, is the manor as they all converge together to feel safe), Sasuke finds it unoccupied. Shisui, he knows, is out of the village with Kakashi. Itachi is working around the clock to hunt down their assailants.

...where are the women?

Panic.

At the very least, he can hope they’re together. But that doesn’t stop Sasuke from sprinting out of the house and onto rooftops in search of them. The twins - are the children with them? If Itachi’s ANBU aren’t watching them, he’s gonna -

There they are.

They’re stopped along the roadside, just the pair of them. But neither look panicked - the twins must be with someone else. The Hyūga, most likely. But that doesn’t explain what they’re doing.

They almost appear to be lightly bickering - the elder looks scolding, and Hinata stubborn as she keeps walking.

He’s almost upon them when Sasuke gets a sudden chill, like a cold finger run up his spine. While he’s not a sensor like Itachi’s wife, he almost seems to notice it the same moment she does. Like slow-motion, she turns to face the alleyway they’re passing. One arm reaches to shove Hinata behind her, the other lifting and summoning chakra.

It’s too slow…!

He’s too slow!

The barrier is only half-erected when the explosive tag goes off. Most of the blast is redirected back down the alley, some of it reaching up over the top of the chakra wall. Smoke and debris quickly fills the air alongside screams.

Sasuke’s blood runs cold. A simple fūton blows aside the curling black and grey plumes. Both buildings have suffered damage, a few people within them hurt...but none appear dead. Those on the street were mostly protected, Hinata fallen back on her rear from the concussion. Nearby, unconscious, is her sister-in-law.

Quickly assessing that Hinata’s gravest injuries are skinned palms, Sasuke can’t help a wary glance to her companion.

Itachi’s going to lose it.

Already ANBU begin looking her over before hauling her toward the hospital.

“...she…”

Looking back to his wife, Sasuke takes her hands, seeing her flinch at her wounds. “...are you all right?”

“...fine.” Her tone is light and airy, clearly shocked. “...she sensed the chakra of the tag when it triggered. Pushed...p-pushed me back. I, I couldn’t -”

“She’s going to be fine. Looks like she just got thrown back.”

“But she’s -?”

“They’ll take care of it. For now, I need to get you home.”

“Someone should be with her!”

“I’m sure Itachi’s already on his way. For right now, top priority is getting you someplace safe. Where are the twins?”

“With...with Neji and Tenten…”

“What were you doing out here, Hinata?”

There’s a long pause as she looks to her hands. “...I just...w-wanted to go shopping. Just for a bit. I’m so t-tired of being cooped up. I thought it would be fine. She told me, and I...I didn’t…”

“...it doesn’t matter now. What’s done is done. Come on...let’s get you home. I’ll clean and wrap your hands.” He’s no medinin, but he can do that much. “And promise me: don’t go anywhere unless it’s with me. She saved you this time, but -”

Guilt pulls at Hinata’s features. “...this is my fault…!”

“No. The only ones at fault here are the bastards doing this to us. And it’s not just us: they put civilians in harm’s way. Not you, not me...them.” Sasuke scowls, simply scooping her up as more ANBU and UHPF officers flood the scene. “...Kakashi won’t be able to avoid helping us now. Not when it’s affecting his villagers.”

“...we’re villagers, too…”

“...I know.”

...for now...

     Late, tired, blegh.      More progression in the ALAS verse of how the Uchiha (including those born and married in) are being affected by the overall clan reputation.      And it only gets worse from here :D      This isn't necessarily a canon event (the last bit, at least - the rest IS). Just more of a random possible happening at some point. Idk, I'm tired and had a very long day, so...this isn't the best. I had to wing a lot of it. But hey, a day done is a day done, right?      Hope you enjoyed, and thanks for reading~