Chapter Six

Life no longer possessed meaning.

I was given high status, celebrity status.

Was enrolled in Anbu. Took S-rank missions. Kakashi was not pleased. Tsunade was not pleased. Iruka was not pleased. Sakura was not pleased.

I was not pleased.

But it hardly mattered.

I became a tool. I worked for perfection. Made each kill more efficient than the last one. Molded myself into a perfect puppet, a puppet worthy of comparison to Sasori of the Sand. I killed without mercy. I became a machine.

But even my ruthlessness couldn't complete me.

Danzo took notice.

I went missing.

Or so the village was told.

Even Tsunade did not know.

I resided in underground chambers, chained to a wall and locked away in a cell, left to rot with the rest of the vermin.

Felt cleansed, then. Felt done, then.

But fate would not have it.

Kakashi found me.

Tracked down my scent and the feel of my chakra, corrosive and poisonous as it was.

Was freed. Danzo, persecuted and given the death penalty.

Was given freedom. Was given everything.

But I could not have Sasuke back. I could not have Haku back.

The reproachful glares of the villagers turned into passionate cries of admiration and hero-worship.

Felt sick.

Felt mad.

Felt the fury twist inside my gut and felt the darkness rear its ugly head.

Many times, I'd held back.

But no more.

Opened my eyes.

Opened my eyes and closed them again.

Too ugly.

The village was no more.

Only ashes and debris. Only shadows and memories.

Good.

Good.

"Sasuke, I always knew you were alone. In the beginning, I was glad, because I knew you were like me - I wanted to talk to you! And you answered my every question. We're both popular and all, so I decided that you would become my best friend. I didn't want to lose because I was called a loser all the time. Even when we became Team 7, I still thought this way. I always tried to lie but... but the truth is... I always wanted to be like you. I aspired to be like you. Because of that... I was glad that you wanted to fight me."