For once Sakura did not follow him and try to get a date. The look he had cast her was frightening, she knew Sasuke had always been cold, to her and everyone else. But that look just now had been so filled with hate resentment that for the first time in her life Sakura had felt scared of her crush. She stared after where he had stalked off before slowly turning and making her way to her own house.
What happened to you, Sasuke-kun?
As Sasuke made his way into his clan compound he glared at everything in sight. All of it, this entire was a reminder of how his brother had killed his clan and how he was still not strong enough to avenge them. Every day he would look at this place, a place that was once so full of life, and was now a grave yard reminded him of his still constant failure. He used this place and the memories that came with it to fuel his hatred of Itachi. However, even after all this time, even though his hatred burned even more strongly than it ever had…
… It still wasn't enough.
It was like no matter what he did, he never got any stronger. Meanwhile Itachi was getting farther and farther away, and pretty soon he would never get his revenge.
Sasuke opened the door to his clan compound and made his way to the kitchen so he could grab a bite to eat before getting to back his training. However, when he came back from the kitchen he was shocked to find someone else in his house.
"Hello Sasuke-kun, it's been a while since we've last seen each other know?" Kabuto asked with a small smile.
"How did you get into my house?" Sasuke asked wearily, he was not sure what was going on but he remembered who this was. "Kabuto."
"You remembered my name," Kabuto gave a pleasant smile that seemed more mocking then anything. "I am so pleased to know you didn't forget me."
"You didn't answer the question," Sasuke ground out, his left hand went into his kunai pouch. Something was off here; he could feel something different about the white haired Genin before him. Some kind of change had come over him, and it was unsettling to Sasuke.
"Do you still desire power?" asked Kabuto, hiding his smile of victory when he saw Sasuke stiffen. "If you want, my master can give you power."
"Your master?" asked Sasuke, narrowing his eyes at who he thought was still just a Genin. "If your master trained someone as weak as you, then I doubt I need them."
He was stopped from saying anything further when Kabuto disappeared and reappeared at his side, fast enough that Sasuke had not even seen him, his smile still in place. "I assure I am far better than I let others believe." Kabuto turned away. "However, if you do not want Orochimaru-sama to help you with your goals of getting strong enough to kill your brother…"
"Wait!" Sasuke said as he Kabuto began to walk out of his house. When Orochimaru's right hand man stopped and turned around Sasuke started again. "He can offer me the power I want?"
"Of course," Kabuto smiled, it seemed his master was right, the boy could not think of anything other than power. "Orochimaru-sama has asked me to tell you that he is willing to train you, and give you all the power that Konoha has denied you."
"Why?" Sasuke asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"Who can say," Kabuto shrugged, "I can't speak for Orochimaru-sama, maybe you just remind him of himself, or perhaps he wants your help and is willing to give you what you want so he gets what he wants." There was no real need to beat around the bush with Sasuke, Kabuto would not tell him that Orochimaru wanted to possess his body but what he said was close enough to the truth. Orochimaru did want something from the boy after all.
"Even though my cursed seal has been sealed?" a hand went to Sasuke's neck, where the cursed seal could be seen, and the counter-seal around it clearly visible.
"Yes, I heard about that." Kabuto paused. "You're fortunate that your cursed seal is only in its first stage. Once we upgrade your seal to its stage two form, the other seal will be overpowered." When Sasuke did not say anything Kabuto began sinking into the ground again. "I'll give you a few days to think about it. If you wish for the power Orochimaru-sama can give you then come find me two miles outside of the north gate in one week."
Sasuke watched as the white haired traitor disappeared, his thoughts centered on the man's offer.
(One Week later…)
It was nearing the end of the week long time frame that Kabuto had given Sasuke. During that time the raven haired avenger had actually thought about what he wanted to do for a long time. Surprisingly, coming up with the answer was harder than he thought. Every time he had thought of taking up Orochimaru on his offer his mind would replay images of his time on Team Seven.
Even if he refused to admit it to anyone else but himself, he had more fun being on Team Seven than he had for several years. His time with Kakashi, Naruto and even Sakura had been more pleasant than he would care to let on. Team Seven had become something of a family to him.
In the end he had been forced to ask himself. What did he want in life? Did he want to stay here? In a place where he could be happy? A place where he had friends? Or at least as close to friends as was possible for him.
Or did he want to go to the person who could offer him power? Enough power to crush Itachi. Did he still want to go after his brother and avenge his clan?
He looked at the Team Seven photo on his desk. Kakashi was in the back, book noticeably absent and an eye smile on his face. Sakura was in the middle giving the camera the peace sign and had a rather large smile on her face. Naruto stood on her left, offering a small, content grin. And he was on the right, glaring at Naruto.
He stared at the picture has he thought about what decision he should make.
He placed the photo face down.
He grabbed his back pack.
And left…
…Because in the end, he was an avenger.
"Sasuke-kun."
Sasuke looked up to see Haruno Sakura standing in front of him, he should have known that she would know what he was up to, the girl had some kind of blood hound sense. "Why are you prowling around in the middle of the night?" he asked without stopping, passing her by as she stared at the ground.
.
.
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