Sasuke's confession left a smile on Kakashi's face that he could not kill for hours. After Sasuke passed out and Kakashi checked his pulse, Kakashi started really moving them in, moving furniture and putting things in place rather than the piles Sasuke brought here.

The apartment Sasuke created in the cliff was far smaller than Madara's fortress. It was cozy. By the time Sasuke woke up, it was clean and felt like a home. The scowl on his face was totally normal in the mornings, so Kakashi couldn't gage him at all.

Sasuke had brought all their in-fortress food as well, so Kakashi offered him something to eat.

"Nah." Sasuke lay back down. "How long did I sleep?"

"Over a day. I didn't think the fight or chakra use was that bad."

"It wasn't. It's the relief. It's over, it's all over."

Kakashi came over and sat on the narrow strip of the bed next to Sasuke and looked at him. Sasuke was weeping silently.

Sasuke sniffed. "I'm so relieved. I've been waiting for this. Originally, I had planned that Konoha would be a smoldering ruin when I fled here, but I'm fine with this."

Kakashi rubbed Sasuke's clothed chest. "You had me worried; I thought you really wanted to die. I was trying to think of a way to save you. I wasn't going to let you run away to the afterlife."

"I was fine with dying—by your hand would be my preferred way of going—but it was never my plan."

"That's why you weren't afraid of being unguarded around me, even when I thought about killing you."

"Yeah. I could feel it and I wondered if you would really do it."

"I almost did. I'll let you wake up before I ask you what's going on. I've straightened up everything, but you might want to do your own decorating."

Sasuke's eyes were still releasing a torrent of tears, but he smiled. "You said I was your greatest triumph and disappointment. Are you proud of me?"

"Your power is unmatched. Yes, you've done a lot of bad things, but you didn't slaughter Konoha. I think you've finally outgrown revenge. I am proud of you."

"Itachi?"

"Yes, I think he's proud of you too. I'll get you some water."

Sasuke grabbed his wrist. "Stay."

"Alright." Kakashi crawled over him and lay down next to him and threaded his fingers with Sasuke's.

"I want you to know that what I said was true: I do love you."

"I knew you did, but I'm glad to finally hear it."

Sasuke sniffed again. "Are you sure you want to stay? They know I'm not dead; I'll be a target the rest of my life and so will you if you stay with me."

"You'd doubt me now? There's nothing more dangerous about staying now than before."

"But I'm giving you a choice now."

"For which I love you more. I'll stay."

"And now they know you chose to stay. Before they wanted to save you, now they will just want to kill you."

"I have nothing to return to. Even if I did, I'd rather stay with you."

"Do you have food ready?"

"No."

"Let's go to the cistern. I'll tell them down there about what happened. And I'll finally answer all your questions."

xxxxx

After a meal, Sasuke finally took Kakashi to meet Neko-baa with Tamaki in tow. Kakashi was stunned to see a half woman, half cat.

"So, you're the kitten's mate."

"Neko-baa," Sasuke whined.

"I assume something's happened since you transported so much down here and finally brought Kakashi-kun to meet me."

"I attacked Konoha, but didn't level it. They finally rallied and attacked the fortress so I abandoned the place. I'm finished. I've fled, I've capitulated. The shinobi world is free from me. I'm done. So I've promised to tell Kakashi everything and you probably want to know everything as well."

Neko-baa nodded.

All four of them and about twenty sentient cats got comfortable.

"You all know the story up to when I fought Itachi. When I confronted him, I confirmed that he wasn't the only one who slaughtered our family. He admitted Madara helped him kill them. There was no way after hearing that Madara also participated in the slaughter that I was going to happily assist him. Even after everything Madara had to say about Itachi and his motives when I woke after the fight, there was no way I was going to let Madara live. However, my anger at Konoha trumped my anger toward him and he had much to teach me. He used that anger to set me against Konoha. He only delayed his own death.

"Konoha had already been destroyed by Pain so I attacked the Kage conference and fought you, Kakashi. After that fight, when you and Naruto faced me, I asked Madara to give me Itachi's eyes.

"As I was recovering from having my eyes replaced with my brother's, my hatred grew stronger for the entire shinobi world. All I ever wanted was a happy life with my brother who I looked up to before that night. Ever after that he was my measuring stick.

"Then Zetzu started babbling as he checked my eyes. They were healed. He said that with me and Kabuto's undead army, the war should end quickly. My temper was sparked by the mention of Kabuto, but that was nothing compared to when he said, 'You and your brother, nothing can stop us.'

"My brother. Kabuto had brought my brother back from the dead to use as a soldier. I decided to test my new eyes. I killed that fucking bastard, Zetzu. My rage knew no bounds.

"I was hunting for Kabuto, to kill him, but I found Itachi instead. He tried to ignore me, but I wasn't going to let him. It turned out he was able to free himself from Kabuto's control and was looking for him as well. With the same aim, we fought Kabuto together. Itachi defeated him; I merely helped.

"We got to talk for a minute before Itachi released the Resurrection jutsu. I told him how angry I was and that I wanted to destroy Konoha and everything else for what they did to him. The more I remembered the kind brother I adored, the more my hatred grew.

"He didn't tell me not to do it. He didn't try to stop me. He just told me he would always love me, not matter what. I knew what I wanted was against his wishes, but he would never hate me for it. He could forgive me. Then he vanished along with all the those Kabuto had brought back.

"So I went to the battlefield. I had these new eyes but only a surface understanding of how to use them so I demanded Madara train me before we fought the allied shinobi forces. With the Sharingan and Tsukuyomi it didn't take long. Honestly, we were both tired and weakened from that, but he was eager and confidant and I was full of rage.

"As you know, I stabbed him in the back. I wanted him to know why. I whispered to him, 'I know you helped Itachi kill them. You were a fool to trust me.' He was of no further use to me. I gouged out his eyes so no one else could use them like you did with Obito's.

"My chest felt hollow. It was over. I was the last Uchiha and my revenge was complete. Sort of. The face of my kind, loving brother grew up in my mind's eye and I heard Madara's words: 'To him, your life was worth more than the village.' Rage and hatred filled the emptiness in my chest, burning away everything else. Konoha had taken my brother from me. The shinobi world took my brother from me. I let that rage I felt in the Land of Iron fill me again. But this time, I was more in control of it. Rather than being engulfed in the flame of insane rage, it was like a cloak.

"Honestly, before that day, I never killed anyone. Danzo killed himself and Orochimaru wasn't really dead. But it didn't bother me. I was just so angry.

"When I fled the battlefield using Kamui when my chakra got too low, I sought out my teammates, Juugo and Suigetsu. I asked them to guard me while I slept. Despite all the death I wrought, I slept well. I think it was because of them. I wondered if that was being around family was like. I remembered that security. I felt it before at the Okoshi Inn where I stayed with my team before I faced Itachi. I felt it before then. Not with Itachi or mother, but in the woods on a mission with Kakashi on watch and Naruto and Sakura sleeping near me. On that plateau with you as you trained me in the Chidori. With you, Kakashi."

Kakashi smiled.

"But that family I had with my last team would not last long. Juugo didn't want to kill and I didn't force him. I told him to go, just guard me for one night and then he could leave. I invited Suigetsu to join me in the slaughter.

"I returned to the battlefield and fought Naruto. I knew the faith everyone had in him and I wanted to show them how hopeless their situation was by defeating him. It wasn't hard to put him in a genjutsu.

"I really didn't know Tsunade, so killing her didn't hurt me. But killing Kage, who I blamed for this world that lead to my brother's martyrdom, felt sooo good. I never felt more alive. I knew death wouldn't make my brother happy, but I felt I was doing it for him. I knew it wouldn't give him peace, but I hoped it would give it to me. It sated me for a while, but it didn't fully sate my rage and bloodlust.

"I killed and I killed. No remorse, no pity.

"I decided to return to Madara's fortress that night since it was nicely located, had a prison, and it was the last place that was like a home to me. I tried to find a room that felt like my brother might have stayed there, but if he ever stayed there as part of Akatsuki, I couldn't find a trace of his presence. Madara, of course, had the best room so I took it over, but I burned all the bedding and the mattress. I didn't want to sleep in the old man's bed, so I used a bed roll in the throne room that first night.

"There were only a few small groups of shinobi looking for me the next day. That suited me fine since the constant high level of fighting was taking a toll.

"But then I faced you, Kakashi, of all people. I know my expression didn't change, but inside, I was a mess. My heart hurt seeing you. I thought that maybe if I killed you and Naruto and Sakura, then the last of my pain would die too. My conscience. I was also hurt that you were hunting me. You had tried to kill me before when I was out of my mind after fighting Danzo—I didn't really care then; I really was out of my mind—but then, when my thinking was far clearer, it hurt.

"I killed everyone who begged for mercy or tried to surrender, but looking down at you, so defeated and hopeless, I couldn't bring myself to strike. Seeing you give up like that . . . I was overwhelmed with a desire to touch you—just touch you, feel some sort of connection to you. I just couldn't kill you. So, I put you in the cells with Naruto and that other one.

"I was then alone in a field of corpses. Seeing you surrender actually brought some sanity back, sanity that I thought I was in control of. I found it harder to kill people after that. I guess you woke me from my rage. I told Suigetsu to start capturing shinobi. Someone needed to be sent back to their homelands to instill fear. Or so I told Suigetsu. Once all resistance was ended and the cells were filled, we returned to the fortress.

"I decided to stay in the fortress; it was a good place to rule from. I let my captives stew and I transformed the next day and went out to buy new bedding.

"After a good sleep, I went to Suna and Kiri and made deals with Gaara and Mei. They had seen what I'd done to the other three Kage and Gaara didn't have a tailed beast in him anymore, so they bowed to me. I let them remain Kage even though I wanted to kill them too. They were young, however, and weren't in power when my brother was martyred, so they weren't as much to blame.

"When I got back, I was looking for Suigetsu, and checked the prison as well. There, I found that many had killed themselves rather than face me. Suigetsu was relaxing in one of the natural pools under the fortress. I told him to bring you to my throne room. I have to say, it felt good to be sitting in such a symbol of power.

"I was surprised by my own relief that you hadn't committed suicide. I was honestly glad, relieved. You stirred more emotion in me than anyone else. Rather, you were the only one who stirred any emotion in me. When you honestly apologized and honored my brother, I truly loved you for it. I knew you meant it. In reality I hadn't demanded such a proclamation from anyone else yet. I did afterward and you were the only honest one. Sakura might have, had I given her the chance.

"However, you can't know the anger I felt at the very idea of your Sharingan. I have no family. There are no Uchiha left, just me. You bore the symbol of my clan, a symbol of family. It angered me. I was seriously tempted to take your eye, but the fact you were really going to do it, touched me. You obeyed me. You felt bad for me. You felt for me. You sympathized with me. You understood me. I decided to let you keep it; that was a bridge I wasn't prepared to burn. You possessed a symbol of my family and in you there was a potential for family. I couldn't destroy that. I knew I should have felt that connection more with Naruto—and I did at one point—but now it was you who made my heart bleed. Maybe it was just pity because you were defeated; Naruto was eternally optimistic and unbeaten, earning my scorn. He could be so happy despite everything. I didn't think I could ever be happy again. I hated him. But you . . . I didn't see any hope in you left for happiness. I sympathized with you. We would never be happy again. I liked scaring you too.

"As for making you Hokage, what I said was true: I wanted you to suffer at a job I know you'd loathe. I wanted you to feel isolated, like I felt. I wanted to share my pain and misery.

"What I did to you in exchange for Sakura's life, that was really caprice. I did want to degrade you. I loved you and that's why I felt so betrayed and liked subjugating you. But I loved you.

"But Sakura. I really did want to kill her. I hated her. She thought she could take away my pain. She thought she could make me happy. How? What did she understand of my pain? How could she make me happy? Sex? Her presence? Stupid kid's games? How did she think she could help me?! She had parents, friends, a village, everything I had lost! What did she know of pain? And then she took you from me. So I took you. I punished her by taking you, even if she didn't know. She was so useless. I hate her. She could never make anything right.

"I had some unresolved business with Konoha, one last piece of revenge. I set you all free to return home, but I went to Konoha ahead of you. I stood in the middle of the main street. They were still rebuilding and the city was lively despite already getting news from deserters and survivors about the slaughter I wrought. Those shinobi were suffering more from mental trauma than physical." Sasuke let a smirk out at that.

"As soon as I appeared, every armed shinobi pulled a weapon and civilians drew back. Yet, no one dared attack me. I ordered Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu brought out. They came out on their own, driven by the weight of their own sins. Every person I killed was on their heads. Every atrocity was their own. I told them to admit the truth to the village and they did. I had to swallow my grief as I heard them confess the truth about my family. And then I executed them. I discarded their heads in the forest; what was I going to do with the heads of two old bats?"

Sasuke had been somewhat worked up during his speech, but he relaxed now. "But at that point I had nothing left to accomplish. I sent Suigetsu to Kiri and just tired to figured out what to do now that I had no one."

"You knew about Suigetsu's defection," Kakashi said.

"Yes. I told him to cut his ties to me as soon as he returned to Kiri. I didn't want him tied to me. Let him be damned for his own actions, not mine. Let him earn it. All he ever wanted was to be the leader of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist.

"I needed time. I didn't know what to do anymore. I had no goals now that Itachi was dead and I had my revenge on everyone else. I was adrift. I just laid around and rested. I slept a lot. I felt that I still owed it to my clan to have children, but I didn't know if that was a good idea. I needed time to decide if I even wanted a future. I finally decided that no matter what, I would need to disappear; somehow I needed to be able to hide from the world which now wanted me dead.

"I remembered some Orochimaru's experiments. He was always looking for ways to hide, especially from Jiraiya with his Senjutsu. I took over that research. He'd made a lot of progress. I've been working all this time in order to hide. I just wanted to disappear.

"I also started to research how to make that summoning seal I gave you. I guess I should have researched it more, but it ended up being useful as is. The chakra blocking and absorbing glass took over a year to figure out. I made a bracelet out of it and wore that and gave it to the cats I used as spies so that no one would suspect we were anything but normal cats.

"I didn't bring you to live with me sooner because I wasn't finished shielding my laboratory with the glass. I sent you on that mission to get back what was stolen from me to get you out so I could install the false wall in the throne room without you knowing about it. That and I was still seething. I wasn't just angry with you, but with myself, the fact I could lose control like that and confess how much pain I was in.

"I was still angry and did research weapons and seals and I was going to use them on Konoha, but I finally decided against it. But they were made. The war is coming and I will side with the smaller nations. I'll give some of the weapons to them to defend themselves.

"Anyway, as angry as I've been with you and all the bad things I've done to you, I did always love you. I'm glad you've chosen to stay.

"Questions?" Sasuke finally finished.

"Not at the moment," Kakashi said.

Tamaki shook her head and Neko-baa just took a puff of her pipe.

"So, I've run to ground and I'll be trying to remain hidden for a time. I might still go help the Land of Rivers and Valleys and Tea and such, but I'm going to hide for the rest of my life most likely. I'm finished with the world."

"I guess I'm retired now too," Kakashi said. "What about your clan?"

"Let the war run its course first." Sasuke closed his eyes. He was still tired. Then again, this was probably more than Sasuke had ever said in a day or week.

"Let's go home, Sasuke," Kakashi said. "You look like you could sleep another day."

"Hai." Sasuke nodded to Neko-baa and then vanished. Kakashi fed chakra into the seal to follow him.

Kakashi smiled as Sasuke crawled back into bed like a cat. He intended to let Sasuke sleep and head outside for a few hours, but Sasuke stopped him.

"You succeeded, you know."

"What?"

"I had every intention of leveling Konoha and killing every man, woman, and child. I only stopped because of you. It was your home, a place you wanted to protect. You did protect Konoha. They may never know it, but you saved them all. You really were an excellent Hokage."

"Thank you."

"Wear the bracelet when you go out so they don't find us."

Kakashi smiled fondly at him. "Hai."

xxxxx

The war began. It was more like several small wars, like fires started by embers carried on the winds. Sasuke would have bet money Iwa would be the first to move, but Kakashi wouldn't have taken that bet. Neither Sasuke or Kakashi particularly liked Ame, but they disliked Iwa more; Konoha was at war with Iwa when Obito was killed. Sasuke felt some grim satisfaction when Iwa attacked Ame, starting the war.

It was only two months since they fled, but Sasuke was happy to have the excuse to fight. He didn't like the rain though.

This would be the first time they would really fight together. They had killed bandits side by side, they had done small missions for the smaller nations, but this was war. Sasuke was damn near giddy at the prospect. Kakashi was experienced and calm.

Dressed all in black, even their hair covered, no one could identify the pair unless they were in full light and close enough to see the black on black stitching of the Uchiha fan on their backs. Ame-nin knew these two were in charge though.

They'd been scouting the Iwa army along the border. Now they watched as Iwa's main force prepared to cross into Ame. Kakashi didn't like it. There was little cover and the numbers weren't great on their side. Sasuke smiled though.

Iwa advanced. A hundred shinobi ran across the border. Their footfalls set off explosion after explosion. Some had leapt over the traps, but a majority of the attacking shinobi died right there.

"Over confident," Sasuke sneered. "Just because they don't see any defense, they advance without thinking. What was it you told Naruto? 'You have to see underneath the underneath?' They should have looked underneath the dirt."

Kakashi wanted to roll his eyes, but he was focused on the enemy.

The shinobi who made it over the border were afraid to rejoin their comrades who were smart and scared enough not to advance. Sasuke whistled and the ground erupted in Ame-nin attacking the few Iwa-nin who were on the Ame side of the border.

"Shall we attack?" Sasuke asked Kakashi.

"I'd prefer if it were dark or/and there was more cover."

"The forests of the Fire Country spoiled you."

"You can attack if you want; you have Susanoo."

"No fun. We'll wait until dark. If they're still here, we'll attack."

But Iwa didn't want to wait. They released a hail storm of kunai into the ground to set off mines. But none went off. Foolishly believing that that meant all the mines had gone off, Iwa advanced again, ready to engage the hundred or so Ame-nin. Yet, the moment their chakra infused feet hit the dirt covering the mines, the mines went off. Sasuke smiled at his own cleverness. These were among the weapons he'd developed over the last few years, originally intended to wipe out Konoha. More than half the army was killed or wounded.

"Well, I'm bored."

"Sadist," Kakashi sighed.

"They're retreating. That's boring."

They stood from their cover, a rock amid the barren landscape. Iwa retreated, but one saw the pair all in black appear. The way the materialized and the way they stood revealed to the jounin that these two were in charge. He split off, three of his fellows following.

Sasuke smiled as he snatched a kunai from the air before it could touch his forehead.

"They don't wish to disappoint me," Sasuke said.

Kakashi sighed. "Have fun."

Sasuke leapt out to meet the team who carefully planted their feet where the mines had already gone off. He unsheathed his sword with a flourish. Kakashi sighed again. When did Sasuke turn into Naruto? The answer was simple: when he got bored. Kakashi sat on the rock and watched.

Really, against a single team, Sasuke didn't need anything special, but he hadn't been able to fight since he fought Naruto. Sasuke's sword sparked with blue and white light and even as he ran away, Kakashi could hear the chirping of a thousand birds. He had to smile. Through betrayal and battles and everything they went through in the last few years, Sasuke had not only mastered Chidori, he'd made it his primary technique, relying on it more than his own Uchiha gifts, and had taken it to heights Kakashi had never even dreamed. He never gave a thought to making it into senbon or running the current through his whole body. The Sharingan of course helped, but Kakashi had honestly given up once he mastered his own personal technique. Sasuke had mastered a new personal technique, but then kept creating more and more new techniques. His other master, Orochimaru, was all about collecting and creating jutsu, so it made sense. Kakashi was truly proud of the homicidal maniac. It was definitely wrong to be sighing over a man currently butchering a team of shinobi who couldn't know just how out of their depth they were.

A dozen Iwa shinobi noticed the light and sound of the Chidori.

Kakashi stood up. "I never thought I'd say it, but you're being too flashy, Sasuke," he said out loud even though Sasuke was too far away to him.

As Sasuke whirled, Kakashi crouched and fed chakra into the seal on his shoulder. He appeared under Sasuke's sword. Sasuke saw him as he rotated. He smirked. They finished off the first team and threw themselves at the new arrivals.

Despite these ninja having been his enemies a decade ago, Kakashi felt a pang fighting these people; he had been allied with them not long ago. It was worse that he recognized one of the new arrivals. He signaled to Sasuke that the short one was the most powerful.

Nine shinobi met them. Kakashi attacked and drew two of the men away, leaving the rest to Sasuke for the moment.

It was time to try some of Sasuke's Chidori techniques Sasuke taught him. As Kakashi used his kodachi to block a swipe with a kunai, Kakashi used Chidori Nagashi. The current ran through the kodachi and into the man's kunai, executing him, but not fatally. Sasuke eyed him as he spun to attack another man and smirked.

He stabbed the injured man as he turned to the second man and dealt with him with his sword and rejoined his lover.

Sasuke cut two down as they tried to attack Kakashi, leaving only one left. The man Kakashi had singled out wove signs for a wind nature jutsu. Sasuke summoned Kakashi out of the way just as his jutsu cut at the fabric covering Kakashi's distinctive hair.

The short man turned to see the white brush of hair.

"Hatake? So this one is the Uchiha?"

Sasuke was happy to pull the cloth from his head; the thing was hot once he started moving. The rain felt good after a fight.

The short man looked right into Kakashi's one uncovered eye. "Taiseki was my sempai."

"Who?"

"Your team killed him during the Third War. It must have been that damn Sharingan; he was a master of Meisaigakure no Jutsu, the Camouflage Jutsu."

"Yeah. He's the one who gave me this scar." Kakashi pulled his eye patch off. "You know, mentioning something like that isn't going to throw me, but it's not a good technique to keep you alive either."

"I think you're plenty upset."

"He's not the one you have to worry about upsetting." Sasuke was honestly angry. Though most of his power came from the Chidori the lost of Kakashi's eye perfected, this man was the kohai of the man who hurt his lover. "Your sempai hurt my sempai, I think we kohai should settle our sempai's score."

"I'm not really looking for revenge," Kakashi said, trying to ease Sasuke's fury. He was going to remind Sasuke that emotions would cloud his judgment, but then he remembered that Sasuke ran on emotion, on revenge. He saw the poetry of kohai versus kohai. That man was also the man who captured Rin. "Take him."

"I wasn't looking for your permission."

"Use your Sharingan and my Chidori. Avenge your cousin too."

Sasuke's eyes blazed, but he sheathed his sword. He grabbed his left wrist, activated the Chidori, and charged. The shorter man gave a battle cry and charged forward too. He vanished, but Sasuke's Sharingan saw him clearly. He didn't seem to understand that not only could Sasuke see his chakra, but he could see all his hand signs and changes in chakra nature. Not only that, but Sasuke had speed that surpassed Kakashi's.

The man made a fast series of signs, changed his nature to wind, and leapt up. Sasuke saw it all. Sasuke dove to slide under him and filled his lungs with fire nature chakra, using the Grand Fireball Jutsu while still holding the Chidori around his hand. The fire fed on the wind, creating an even bigger fireball that even Kakashi had to dodge. Before the man could recover, Sasuke was right in front of him and drove his sparking hand into the man's chest.

"Team Kakashi wins again." Sasuke let the man fall. "We've wasted enough time here. I'm sure several other entry points were attacked and at least a few had to have been breached."

"Hai."

They moved onto the next entry point.

xxxxx

The pair fought for Ame, Inaho, Taki, Kusa, Yuga, Yuki, Tani, and Shimo, but there were far too many villages and small nations to defend against villages with large armies. Even Sasuke's weapons couldn't keep them from falling. Sasuke and Kakashi did their best and Sasuke hurt the Great Shinobi Nations as much as he could, but almost all the villages fell after two years. Even Ame fell.

Kakashi was surprised how much the defeat of all the villages except Shimo and Taki hurt Sasuke. The war was essentially over once Tani admitted defeat. Sasuke and Kakashi had watched from the shadows as Tani surrendered. They returned to their home under the waterfall.

Kakashi was not as affected by their failure: he knew people on both sides and didn't really have an opinion on who should win. He just sided with Sasuke and relished being able to use his skills. He thought Sasuke just fought out of spite and the same desire to use his skills. Kakashi felt the effort was hopeless.

But when they got home, Sasuke sat on their bed and stared off into space with his sword leaning against his shoulder. Kakashi took a shower and left Sasuke alone. When he came back, naked, still toweling his hair, Sasuke hadn't moved. He was still in his combat gear except the mask and head cover he wore to hide his identity.

Kakashi threw his towel back into the bathroom and sat next to his lover. He threaded his fingers in Sasuke's hair and rubbed his scalp. Sasuke melted, let his head fall forward so that Kakashi could explore more of his scalp. After a few minutes, Sasuke leaned sideways into Kakashi.

"Okay?" Kakashi asked.

"Yeah. It just feels like I failed. I don't really have any stake in this war, but I wanted to help. I hate the large nations; I wanted to stop them. Doesn't matter anymore. At least I made this war more costly to them. Now what?"

"First, take a shower. Then start thinking about your clan. You said you'd think about it after the war."

Sasuke blew through his lips. "I don't want to be a father, not yet at least. But I will take a shower."

Kakashi slipped into boxers while Sasuke showered. He was longer than normal because of his distraction. He finally came out, clean and mostly dry.

"So, first thing done; want to suggest a different number two?" Sasuke asked.

Sasuke standing in the doorway completely nude gave Kakashi an idea. Long habit made Kakashi lean his book over his lower face where his mask usually was. He just stared at that beautiful body.

"Just standing here was not what I had in mind," Sasuke said.

Kakashi slid his book down his face revealing a cocky grin. He put his book on the nightstand and lift his ass to strip his boxers.

Sasuke crawled over to him and they kissed. Kakashi stroked Sasuke's bare chest until Sasuke pulled away to prepare himself. Kakashi watched Sasuke's cock harden in anticipation as he lubed and opened himself. Kakashi needed no other stimulation; he was ready when Sasuke repositioned himself and lowered his hips.

Sasuke rode him and leaned down with his hands next to Kakashi's chest. He ground down as Kakashi rolled his hips up rhythmically.

Kakashi ran his hand down Sasuke's side, his fingers caressing his back. He could feel some of the senbon scars. Each one could represent one of things that had damaged him: his father's inability to show affection or pride in him, a dozen for family remembers who Sasuke actually knew and grieved for, his brother's abandonment, the things Itachi said to him that night, Sakura who professed for him but could never understand him, the friendship with Naruto that was so close it hurt, Kakashi leaving him in that tree, his rape, learning the truth about his brother, the blood he soaked his hands in in the name of revenge, attacking Konoha . . .

Sasuke was the most feared man in the world, but he was just a damaged young man seeking a few minutes of distraction with his lover.

Sasuke leaned back and reached back with a hand on Kakashi's raised knee. He just wanted that release despite the stress on his thighs.

"Sasuke," Kakashi directed Sasuke's focus on him. "Want me to do it?"

Sasuke scowled in defeat and moved off Kakashi's body. Kakashi got behind Sasuke and took him from behind. He loved holding Sasuke close like this. It was also the best way to get deep in his lover. By now he knew how to please him and Sasuke lowered his head as pleasure ripped up his spine.

To think Kakashi used to believe Sasuke was unattainable. He was his alone. His body covered Sasuke's and he wrapped his arm around him and kissed his upper back. The other hand ventured down to rub the wet head of Sasuke's cock, coating his hand in precum and then gripped Sasuke. Making his hand a tight tunnel, he used his own thrusts to force Sasuke's cock through his fist. Sasuke almost chocked.

Kakashi sped up until he came inside him. He sped up his hand to finish Sasuke off. Sasuke snuggled right down into the mattress and pillow. Kakashi continued to lean over him. After a minute, he got out of bed to clean up; Sasuke seemed content to sleep on his own cum stains, but Kakashi freshened up before curling in next to him.

The roar of the waterfall around them wasn't loud; it was nice background to lull them to sleep.

Kakashi got up in the morning. They had no windows in their bedroom, but there was one behind the waterfall made of Sasuke's purple tinted chakra absorbing glass. With the bedroom door open, the outside light brightened up the room. He got up and dressed casually; he probably wasn't leaving the apartment anytime soon.

The world outside had changed drastically, but under the waterfall, Sasuke still slept like a cat, sometimes sleeping as long as he stayed awake. He woke up with a stretch and a snarl. Kakashi smiled at him from behind his mask. He truly loved the asshole. That pathetic beard was struggling on his cheeks and his eyes were dull with sleep, but he was absolutely beautiful to him. He didn't regret choosing Sasuke at all.

And yet, with the war over, they were jobless. They didn't rely on any money from the nations they helped; they mostly hunted for food or depended on Tamaki to feed them. The waterfall's water was fresh and their power came from a small waterwheel Sasuke hid in the waterfall.

It wasn't the lack of paying jobs that now concerned Kakashi, it was just the boredom they were suddenly faced with. What could two outlaw shinobi do in a post-war world? All mercenary jobs would go to legitimate shinobi villages. For now though, just hunting and keeping their skills up by training would have to fill their time. Bounty hunting seemed like the only option.

It was odd to Kakashi that days of peace would be unsatisfying. How terrible shinobi were; peace was not their element, it was the worst thing for them. How do shinobi exist in peaceful days?

xxxxx

The war against Madara had not been a typical war and Naruto had really only fought against Zetsu clones and undead. This war had pitted him against real people, some who he'd been allied with a few years before. He thought a lot about what Sasuke had said to him: But you feel tired too, don't you? Isn't loyalty to anything coming harder to you? Faith? Trust? The truth was, Sasuke was right. Naruto wasn't so idealistic anymore and he was tired. Losing Sasuke and Kakashi, Sakura's situation, having to kill real people for the first time . . . It took a toll on him. His eyes were darker and he grimly acknowledged that they were looking more and more like Sasuke's.

And then there were the whispers that people, even other Konoha shinobi, were disappointed that Sasuke didn't return. They whispered that his rule hadn't been so bad. It had been peaceful. Sasuke had been the one they had to fear.

The war was over, but the shinobi world had reverted back to the state it had been when he was kid and ninja missions were necessary again. But there were changes. Defeated villages were forced to bring their shinobi to the conquers' villages. Former enemy shinobi were among them; it was best to bring them under heel than let them remain segregated in their own villages. Distrust and paranoia were running rampant. Even Konoha had become a tense place.

Naruto took to long walks around the edges of the village when he was home; unknowingly adopting one of Sasuke's favorite pastimes. Having spoken with Itachi a few times, he always made a point of stopping at the memorial. He asked Itachi to forgive him for failing to save Sasuke.

One night, he saw a pair of visitors at the memorial, dressed all in black. Sasuke's duck butt hair was unmistakable as was Kakashi's white brush of hair. Kakashi was standing behind Sasuke as a guard while Sasuke communed with his brother.

Naruto created a clone that he sent into the village and then approached the memorial. He didn't try to hide his approach. Kakashi turned to look at him honestly unsure if Naruto intended to attack, raise the alarm, or just talk to them. Sasuke didn't acknowledge Naruto, he just kept silently talking to his brother. Naruto stopped a few paces away and waited for Sasuke to finish. Kakashi let his attention slide from Naruto when he didn't seemed to pose a threat.

Sasuke finally turned toward them. "Naruto."

"Sasuke."

Kakashi looked around, making sure no one else was watching.

"You were right," Naruto said. "You both were."

"I was in a position to see the war coming," Kakashi said.

"I was delaying it," Sasuke said.

"No, I mean about the other thing. I am finding it harder to be blindly loyal to Konoha. But you were right about the war too. I thought you'd come back to fight in the war."

"We did," Sasuke said with a half smile. "We fought in the shadows. We didn't change the course of the war, but we helped where we could. Not Konoha, of course."

Kakashi tensed. Someone was coming. He didn't fully relax when he saw pink hair.

"A full bloody reunion," Sasuke sneered.

Sakura stopped a few feet away, keeping the same distance Naruto was.

"I'm glad to see you're okay," Kakashi said to her. "I worried who might die in this war."

"I was worried about you too."

"You shouldn't worry about me."

Naruto looked between them in confusion. "Don't you care about—" Naruto began.

"Don't, Naruto," Sakura cut in.

Sasuke was completely uninterested. "We should go." He was slightly jealous. He may have Kakashi, but he didn't like his lover talking to his former lover.

Kakashi didn't look at Sakura, his eyes unfocused at the village behind her. "Was is a boy or a girl?" All three of them stared at him in shock. "I didn't know, but it's obvious from your words and tone."

"A boy."

"Haruno or Hatake?"

"Hatake. I named him Obito. Probably the most important lesson you gave us, and the first, was what he said about teamwork, right? I thought you'd approve."

"I do. Thank you. Maybe I'll teach him Chidori when he's older."

"If you live that long," Sasuke said.

Kakashi surprised the other two by rolling his eyes. They couldn't believe that Kakashi had no fear of Sasuke.

"Hn." Sasuke vanished.

"Sorry for not being able to help raise him." Kakashi vanished seconds later.

xxxxx

Kakashi appeared right in front of Sasuke, who looked annoyed that Kakashi always appeared right in his line of sight. Kakashi turned to see what Sasuke was looking at. A white haired two year old.

Lee was standing nearby, startled by Sasuke's arrival and then Kakashi's, but he didn't move to attack them. Kakashi didn't ask for or wait for permission, he went over to the crib and picked up the boy. Obito grabbed at the eye patch, knowing it didn't belong on normal people's faces. Kakashi let him grab and pull on it. The knot held fast and Obito grew frustrated, but before he could cry, Sasuke pulled the knot and the eye patch came off in Obito's hand. Kakashi kept his eye closed though, keeping his red Sharingan hidden from his son. The boy just stared at him as if he knew this man was special to him.

Kakashi pronounced his name to little Obito and the boy repeated it.

"Great, it's a parrot," Sasuke said.

Kakashi turned to him with his son in his arms. "That's your uncle Sasuke."

"Uncle?" Sasuke asked. "I have nothing to do with him."

"He's your grumpy uncle."

"I'm hungry." Sasuke turned to find something to eat.

"Ducky!"

Sasuke whirled to glare at the little boy. Obito shrank back a bit. Kakashi laughed. "Yep, that's your Uncle Ducky."

Sasuke looked about to cuss him out so Kakashi came over and started putting the boy in his arms.

"But—"

Kakashi manipulated Sasuke's arms to hold the kid properly. "Hold him for a minute, will ya?"

Obito grabbed one of Sasuke's bangs and tugged. Sasuke's scowl softened. "You're lucky Kakashi's your father or I'd feed you to a snake."

The boy was too young to understand the threat. He yanked again.

"Kakashi, take him before I behead him."

Kakashi smiled and took Obito from Sasuke.

Sasuke watched his lover with his son while Kakashi sat with him on the floor and the boy showed his toys to him like Kakashi was a new friend. Sasuke leaned back against the wall, only a little concerned about Lee's presence.

Sasuke stood straight up away from the wall when the front door opened and Sakura came in. Both Sasuke and Sakura froze and stared into each other's eyes, gauging the threat. Sasuke relaxed first.

"I'll leave you to get acquainted. You shouldn't stay too long," Sasuke said and then teleported away.

Obito started to fall asleep. Sakura came over and picked him up and put him back in his crib.

"Why didn't you tell me? I've seen you a few times since he was conceived."

"How do I just blurt out, 'I'm pregnant' or 'I've had your baby'?"

"I'm not mad."

She turned around. "Would you have left with him?"

"Yeah. I wouldn't have done anything different except visited."

"Why did you choose to stay with him and not come home? Naruto said he gave you a choice."

"Home? Even if I knew about Obito, I'm not trusted here. Sasuke, however, trusts me. In the time I lived with him I learned more about him, what happened to him after he left Konoha. I understand him. I couldn't leave him alone. I'm part of the reason he turned out like he did. I'll keep an eye on him. And I'll come visit. If you let me."

"Of course you can visit. He is your son."

Kakashi smiled warmly. "Thank you. I know you wouldn't have an abortion, but thank you for not giving him up or anything."

"He's my son too."

Kakashi got up and turned to Lee who had just stood back and watched the entire time. "Thank you for helping to raise him. And thank you for taking care of Sakura as well."

"You're welcome."

Kakashi summoned himself to Sasuke. Sasuke was sitting on their bed, waiting for him.

"I am sorry, Kakashi," Sasuke said. "I feel bad that I've kept you from your son."

"He must have been conceived the night before you replaced me as Hokage. I couldn't even raise a bunch of twelve year olds; I'm not sure I'd be a good father."

"I won't stop you from going to see him. I'm not that selfish."

"The war is pretty much over; what about your clan?"

Sasuke sighed. "If you doubt your fitness to be a father . . . Someday, maybe."

fin

That's the end. When Obito's a teenager and Naruto's Hokage, Konoha will use Obito to find where Kakashi and Sasuke are living. The three of them will be forced to flee and they'll retake the Land of Rivers from Suna and establish their own village. Sasuke will father children, with Tamaki. I really don't think there's enough there to write a sequel or even another chapter.