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Description

    Things were going well for Sasuke Uchiha. One of the conspirators of the Uchiha Massacre was dead, and he knew who else was involved. Sure, the Sandiame was out of his reach, but if he heard right, the man was suffering for eternity. If he ever got bored, he could find a way to bring him back and torture him some more, but that was for another time.

            For now, he had to deal with an annoying harpy.

    He was about to skewer her when a rush of wind blew him off of his feet and spirit the annoying pinky out of his reach. It wasn’t much trouble righting himself, but the sheer amount of air displacement was staggering.

    Looking up, he saw Sakura in Naruto’s arms, setting her on her own feet.

    “You okay, Sakura?” he asked.

    She wordlessly nodded, strangely surprised about something. Naruto chuckled and turned to face the Uchiha.

    “Right, now then. It’s been a long time, Sasuke.”

            “What are you going on about? It’s hardly been a month.”

            Naruto smiled, as if amused with some secret joke. “Let me tell you, Sasuke, I have had one incredible journey to get to this point. I was almost worried I wouldn’t recognize how much things have changed. But, seeing you here shows me that some things can’t change, not even after twenty years.”

            The Uchiha took an involuntarily step back. The smile that Naruto was sporting was rapidly turning hollow and killing intent began to radiate off of him in a haze, water rippling out from his feet and cresting as the wind whipped around them.

            “Who are you?” Sasuke demanded

            “I am Naruto Uzumaki.” A puff of smoke signaled the dismissal of a disguise, Naruto’s teenage visage was replace by that of a fully grown man. “King of Rōran, husband to a beautiful queen, father of five incredible children, former shinobi of Konoha, and the man who will make you realize the folly of your actions.”

            Sasuke couldn’t contain his laughter. “So you abandoned that treacherous pit, too? Never thought you’d be one to turn traitor. That’s fine. You can wait until later after I’ve reduced it to a pit of ashes. Not even-”

            “Now hold up there,” Naruto interrupted. “I think you missed what I said. I said I’m going to show you the folly of your actions. Starting now. I have a promise to keep, you see.”

            A spiral formed next to Sasuke, depositing Tobi next to him.

            “I can’t allow you to do that,” Tobi said, gripping the young Uchiha’s shoulder.

            His eye flashed, preparing to spirit himself Sasuke away, when the spiral snapped shut, refusing to reopen. A Rasengan flew out, separating the two Uchiha.

            “Now where do you think you’re going?” Naruto asked, head tilting slightly to the side.

            “What?” Tobi gasped.

            “It’s amazing what can be accomplished with some crazy chakra reserves and the necessary means to channel it properly. And I had plenty of time to make it work.”

            Everyone looked down, a wide network of sealing arrays spreading out from Naruto’s feet, glowing along the water’s surface

            “Anyone within this field outside of myself is effectively paralyzed.” Naruto chuckled humorlessly. “So, Tobi, you got something you want to share with the class? No, it’s not Tobi, you’re calling yourself Madara, but that’s not your name either. You’re an Uchiha, so I imagine a bunch of you idolize him.”

            Sasuke could hear Madara’s teeth grind next to him.

            “I heard that someone was going about by that name, so I did some digging. Literally. Had his corpse burned, too; better to not have that sort of thing lying around.” Naruto chuckled. “So, Not-Madara, what is your real name, or did you discard it with all your wits?”

            The Tobi’s mask exploded, followed by his legs, dropping him into the shallows. Naruto had yet to move an inch towards the two renegades.

            “I’m sorry, did I break your concentration?”

            The face looking up was scarred, but obviously an Uchiha. He looked up, angry, then disappeared into a swirl. Watching Not-Madara vanish into thin air, Naruto gave an unconcerned shrug.

            “Eh, I’m sure Nagato and Konan have a good plan to deal with him.”

[TSR]

Meanwhile, in Amegakure…

    Obito Uchiha was beyond furious as he returned to base. It had taken far too much chakra to break out of that sealing array that the Jinchuriki had casually thrown down. He had been forced to replace both of his legs and his arm was still in the process of healing after being shattered by that Rasengan.

    Nothing had gone as expected, and he needed to get his thoughts in order and the damage to his body repaired while Nagato was still off wrecking Konoha and chasing down the survivors.

    While he was certain the brat could be captured, he needed to completely revise the strategy, and send someone to track down the Eight-Tails in the meantime. Losing Sasuke was a setback, but the boy was always meant to be an expendable weapon he would send after Konoha. Well, he had plenty of other patsies to work with. Once he Zetsu reported back on Rōran, he could solidify a course of action.

    “Tobi,” Pain said, an edge of anger etching his voice.

    Obito slowly turned to his “leader”. Nagato didn’t get angry, not like this. That his normally lifeless tone was showing anger at all was concerning. The Deva Path raised a hand.

    Oh, sh-!

    “Shinra Tensei!”

            When Obito had woken up this morning, getting blasted out the top of Pain’s tower via Shinra Tensei had not been in the plan. Racing face-first into a muddy lake, he realized he might have made a few miscalculations, something he began to reevaluate as he settled onto the surface, coughing out a mouthful of water.

    His erstwhile comrades were not inclined to give him the opportunity. Looking up, he could see Konan smirking savagely. All six Paths were present, surrounding his position. Realizing he had been dropped into a prepared kill-zone, Obito was certain that the next several minutes were going to suck.

    For whatever reason, Nagato had decided to betray him, laying patiently in wait for him to return. And since Pain was the face of the Akatsuki, the other members that were alive, few as they were, would not interfere in the fight.

            Before he could really think about talking the Rinnegan bearer down or retreating, Konan opened with a barrage of exploding tags.

[TSR]



    “Anyway, on to business,” Naruto said. Clearing his throat, he slipped into official tones. “Sasuke Uchiha, you have committed crimes against the state and have conspired with terrorist cells for the destabilization of every established nation. What say you in your defense?”

            “There’s no law that has any right to judge me,” Sasuke snarled. “Least of all you.”

            Naruto sighed. “Guilty it is, then. On behalf of Konoha, I’m here to deliver the judgment decided.”

            Sasuke growled, his Sharingan whirling. His hands were still free, so he could still defend himself.

    That notion died when Naruto waved his hand back, something like mini-Rasengans on each fingertip. A blast of wind swept out, slamming the Uchiha off his feet. Realizing his feet weren’t being anchored to the surface, Sasuke grinned savagely. His satisfaction was cut short.

    A flash of yellow deposited Naruto in front of him, his palm in mid-swing into the Uchiha’s stomach, lines of script traveling outward from the point of contact. Once again paralyzed, the sealing script wrapped around Sasuke, forcing him to his knees.

    Glaring impotently at Naruto, Sasuke tried setting him on fire with Ameratsu, but the infernal blond teleported out of view, then grabbed Sasuke by the back of his head, shoving it forward while his collar was pulled down.

    There was a brief pause, then a satisfied snort.

            “I see someone had the courtesy to remove the Cursed Seal for me,” Naruto said. “Good. I can move to the next order of business.”

    Sasuke couldn’t help but feel a touch of fear begin to sink in. Whether it was Naruto or not, this man was not going to pull punches.

    “I won’t kill you, Sasuke.” There was pity in his voice, but no regret. “But I’ll do the next best thing. I have a promise to keep, after all.”

    Sakura gasped, but couldn’t bring herself to move or speak under the killing intent Naruto was projecting.

            The king stood back up and jerked back Sasuke’s head, eyes turned skyward to see Naruto’s hand lower to his face. Righteous fury was quickly being eroded away by primal terror, which only redoubled when Sasuke realized his Sharingan wasn’t working anymore, his eyesight failing him, and Naruto’s hand continued its steady, agonizingly slow descent to his face.

    Blue eyes were deathly cold as Naruto rested his thumb on the young man’s forehead…

    And then all Sasuke Uchiha knew was pain.

[TSR]

    Sakura was still in shock when the deed was finally done. Naruto was carrying an unconscious Sasuke over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Kakashi rushed forward to reach his students, but shocked like he had seen a ghost.

            “He’s breathing. Kakashi,” Naruto announced. “No need to worry.”

            It was all Sakura could do not to break down and cry, right then and there. Naruto touched her shoulder in passing.

    “It’s over. We’re all going home.”

Description

    Things were going well for Sasuke Uchiha. One of the conspirators of the Uchiha Massacre was dead, and he knew who else was involved. Sure, the Sandiame was out of his reach, but if he heard right, the man was suffering for eternity. If he ever got bored, he could find a way to bring him back and torture him some more, but that was for another time.

            For now, he had to deal with an annoying harpy.

    He was about to skewer her when a rush of wind blew him off of his feet and spirit the annoying pinky out of his reach. It wasn’t much trouble righting himself, but the sheer amount of air displacement was staggering.

    Looking up, he saw Sakura in Naruto’s arms, setting her on her own feet.

    “You okay, Sakura?” he asked.

    She wordlessly nodded, strangely surprised about something. Naruto chuckled and turned to face the Uchiha.

    “Right, now then. It’s been a long time, Sasuke.”

            “What are you going on about? It’s hardly been a month.”

            Naruto smiled, as if amused with some secret joke. “Let me tell you, Sasuke, I have had one incredible journey to get to this point. I was almost worried I wouldn’t recognize how much things have changed. But, seeing you here shows me that some things can’t change, not even after twenty years.”

            The Uchiha took an involuntarily step back. The smile that Naruto was sporting was rapidly turning hollow and killing intent began to radiate off of him in a haze, water rippling out from his feet and cresting as the wind whipped around them.

            “Who are you?” Sasuke demanded

            “I am Naruto Uzumaki.” A puff of smoke signaled the dismissal of a disguise, Naruto’s teenage visage was replace by that of a fully grown man. “King of Rōran, husband to a beautiful queen, father of five incredible children, former shinobi of Konoha, and the man who will make you realize the folly of your actions.”

            Sasuke couldn’t contain his laughter. “So you abandoned that treacherous pit, too? Never thought you’d be one to turn traitor. That’s fine. You can wait until later after I’ve reduced it to a pit of ashes. Not even-”

            “Now hold up there,” Naruto interrupted. “I think you missed what I said. I said I’m going to show you the folly of your actions. Starting now. I have a promise to keep, you see.”

            A spiral formed next to Sasuke, depositing Tobi next to him.

            “I can’t allow you to do that,” Tobi said, gripping the young Uchiha’s shoulder.

            His eye flashed, preparing to spirit himself Sasuke away, when the spiral snapped shut, refusing to reopen. A Rasengan flew out, separating the two Uchiha.

            “Now where do you think you’re going?” Naruto asked, head tilting slightly to the side.

            “What?” Tobi gasped.

            “It’s amazing what can be accomplished with some crazy chakra reserves and the necessary means to channel it properly. And I had plenty of time to make it work.”

            Everyone looked down, a wide network of sealing arrays spreading out from Naruto’s feet, glowing along the water’s surface

            “Anyone within this field outside of myself is effectively paralyzed.” Naruto chuckled humorlessly. “So, Tobi, you got something you want to share with the class? No, it’s not Tobi, you’re calling yourself Madara, but that’s not your name either. You’re an Uchiha, so I imagine a bunch of you idolize him.”

            Sasuke could hear Madara’s teeth grind next to him.

            “I heard that someone was going about by that name, so I did some digging. Literally. Had his corpse burned, too; better to not have that sort of thing lying around.” Naruto chuckled. “So, Not-Madara, what is your real name, or did you discard it with all your wits?”

            The Tobi’s mask exploded, followed by his legs, dropping him into the shallows. Naruto had yet to move an inch towards the two renegades.

            “I’m sorry, did I break your concentration?”

            The face looking up was scarred, but obviously an Uchiha. He looked up, angry, then disappeared into a swirl. Watching Not-Madara vanish into thin air, Naruto gave an unconcerned shrug.

            “Eh, I’m sure Nagato and Konan have a good plan to deal with him.”

[TSR]

Meanwhile, in Amegakure…

    Obito Uchiha was beyond furious as he returned to base. It had taken far too much chakra to break out of that sealing array that the Jinchuriki had casually thrown down. He had been forced to replace both of his legs and his arm was still in the process of healing after being shattered by that Rasengan.

    Nothing had gone as expected, and he needed to get his thoughts in order and the damage to his body repaired while Nagato was still off wrecking Konoha and chasing down the survivors.

    While he was certain the brat could be captured, he needed to completely revise the strategy, and send someone to track down the Eight-Tails in the meantime. Losing Sasuke was a setback, but the boy was always meant to be an expendable weapon he would send after Konoha. Well, he had plenty of other patsies to work with. Once he Zetsu reported back on Rōran, he could solidify a course of action.

    “Tobi,” Pain said, an edge of anger etching his voice.

    Obito slowly turned to his “leader”. Nagato didn’t get angry, not like this. That his normally lifeless tone was showing anger at all was concerning. The Deva Path raised a hand.

    Oh, sh-!

    “Shinra Tensei!”

            When Obito had woken up this morning, getting blasted out the top of Pain’s tower via Shinra Tensei had not been in the plan. Racing face-first into a muddy lake, he realized he might have made a few miscalculations, something he began to reevaluate as he settled onto the surface, coughing out a mouthful of water.

    His erstwhile comrades were not inclined to give him the opportunity. Looking up, he could see Konan smirking savagely. All six Paths were present, surrounding his position. Realizing he had been dropped into a prepared kill-zone, Obito was certain that the next several minutes were going to suck.

    For whatever reason, Nagato had decided to betray him, laying patiently in wait for him to return. And since Pain was the face of the Akatsuki, the other members that were alive, few as they were, would not interfere in the fight.

            Before he could really think about talking the Rinnegan bearer down or retreating, Konan opened with a barrage of exploding tags.

[TSR]



    “Anyway, on to business,” Naruto said. Clearing his throat, he slipped into official tones. “Sasuke Uchiha, you have committed crimes against the state and have conspired with terrorist cells for the destabilization of every established nation. What say you in your defense?”

            “There’s no law that has any right to judge me,” Sasuke snarled. “Least of all you.”

            Naruto sighed. “Guilty it is, then. On behalf of Konoha, I’m here to deliver the judgment decided.”

            Sasuke growled, his Sharingan whirling. His hands were still free, so he could still defend himself.

    That notion died when Naruto waved his hand back, something like mini-Rasengans on each fingertip. A blast of wind swept out, slamming the Uchiha off his feet. Realizing his feet weren’t being anchored to the surface, Sasuke grinned savagely. His satisfaction was cut short.

    A flash of yellow deposited Naruto in front of him, his palm in mid-swing into the Uchiha’s stomach, lines of script traveling outward from the point of contact. Once again paralyzed, the sealing script wrapped around Sasuke, forcing him to his knees.

    Glaring impotently at Naruto, Sasuke tried setting him on fire with Ameratsu, but the infernal blond teleported out of view, then grabbed Sasuke by the back of his head, shoving it forward while his collar was pulled down.

    There was a brief pause, then a satisfied snort.

            “I see someone had the courtesy to remove the Cursed Seal for me,” Naruto said. “Good. I can move to the next order of business.”

    Sasuke couldn’t help but feel a touch of fear begin to sink in. Whether it was Naruto or not, this man was not going to pull punches.

    “I won’t kill you, Sasuke.” There was pity in his voice, but no regret. “But I’ll do the next best thing. I have a promise to keep, after all.”

    Sakura gasped, but couldn’t bring herself to move or speak under the killing intent Naruto was projecting.

            The king stood back up and jerked back Sasuke’s head, eyes turned skyward to see Naruto’s hand lower to his face. Righteous fury was quickly being eroded away by primal terror, which only redoubled when Sasuke realized his Sharingan wasn’t working anymore, his eyesight failing him, and Naruto’s hand continued its steady, agonizingly slow descent to his face.

    Blue eyes were deathly cold as Naruto rested his thumb on the young man’s forehead…

    And then all Sasuke Uchiha knew was pain.

[TSR]

    Sakura was still in shock when the deed was finally done. Naruto was carrying an unconscious Sasuke over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Kakashi rushed forward to reach his students, but shocked like he had seen a ghost.

            “He’s breathing. Kakashi,” Naruto announced. “No need to worry.”

            It was all Sakura could do not to break down and cry, right then and there. Naruto touched her shoulder in passing.

    “It’s over. We’re all going home.”