After that, the days went by and everything was like a blur to Akashi. The month passed by and no words came from the Nine-Tails. There was no mocking tone, no promise of pain and death. Just… silence. It made things more peaceful inside Akashi’s head, he had no need to worry about getting used again, no worries about him being made to kill someone.
Naruto spent time with Jiraiya, learning some ‘secret technique’ as he liked to call it, and Akashi wasted time in the library, further honing his skills as a medic and as a sensor. Naruto spent 70% of his time with Jiraiya, the other 30% being used to sleep and eat, and Akashi spent 70% of his time in the library, the other 30% the same as Naruto.
He found a dusty old book about sensors, which was buried deep under the other, newer ones. It was written during the reign of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and it contained old ways of mastering one’s sensory powers. It explained it in a much more detailed way than the other books Akashi read, and it helped him master his sensing even more.
He was confident enough to say he could probably find someone who was a mile away, but he needed to completely focus on doing that task. He also found some books which explained things about Nature Transformations, the five main elements. Fire, Water, Earth, Lightning and Wind. If a person’s element is Fire, he can use Fire Techniques on a much higher level.
He needed to discuss this with Kakashi, because Akashi didn’t know his element. The only reason he used the Wind Release: Air Current Wild Dance, was because he could blind his enemies and sense them with his sensory abilities.
He had wished to visit Sasuke, but once he got to the hospital, he was gone, and no one knew where he was. He also couldn’t find Kakashi, no matter how much he searched for his Chakra, he wasn’t in the village. That seemed suspicious to him, the fact that both of them were missing before the final exams, but he shook it off.
And so came the day of the final exam. Akashi hadn’t seen Naruto in the morning, for once, he woke up later than the blond, or Naruto just got up too early to begin with. After making himself a small breakfast and eating it, he left his apartment, planning to waste some time before the matches begin. His plan to do nothing was interrupted when a masked Anbu appeared in front of him.
“Do you need something?” He asked, already knowing he won’t like the answer he’s going to get. The Anbu said nothing except a quiet ‘follow me’. Sighing, Akashi quietly trailed after him. Not surprisingly, he was led to the Hokage Tower and straight to the Hokage’s Office. The Anbu opened up the door and left without another word. “Thank you!” Akashi yelled after him, not receiving a response in return.
Nonchalantly walking in, he shook his head in disappointment. “Those Anbu of yours have no manners”. The Hokage laughed, amused, before he stood up. “You seem to be feeling better?” Sarutobi asked, briefly taken aback at Akashi’s behavior. The last time they really spoke, they ended their conversation on bad terms, but now, the boy looked like a huge burden was taken off his shoulders.
“I’m feeling peachy”. Akashi looked around and stuffed his hands in his pockets. Whistling, he glanced back at the Hokage. “Your Anbu are not here, what, you wanna talk about something?” Sarutobi’s expression hardened, in turn making Akashi’s brows furrow. “That’s a scary expression, what’s going on?” He walked over to a couch, which was settled against a wall, and sat down.
The Hokage cleared his throat and put his arms behind his back. “A little birdy told me you eavesdropped on a secret conversation”. Akashi suddenly found the ceiling very interesting. “Akashi…”. The Hokage sighed and took a seat beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. The hand was roughly shaken off, making Sarutobi’s insides twist in discomfort.
“Yeah, I eavesdropped, because nobody wanted to tell me anything!” He stood up and started pacing around the office. “For heaven’s sake! I didn’t know my mother’s name! What was I supposed to do? Just accept what you told me? They died on the night I was born? That’s it? Nothing else?!” Sarutobi closed his eyes for a moment, before he, too, stood up.
“I’m sorry, I wanted to prot-“. Akashi stormed up to him, eyes lit aflame by an emotion he couldn’t control. “Protect me? Protect Naruto?! From what?! What is so dangerous that we need protection from?!” The Hokage took a careful step back, expression twisting in sorrow. He can’t tell him yet. It’s too soon, it’s too dangerous, especially with the situation that’s going on right now.
“That’s right, just stay silent, don’t say anything, don’t do anything, just like always”. Sarutobi flinched back as if burnt. He really messed up. The boy in front of him, with eyes filled with unshed tears, stood tall, unflinching. “You haven’t changed at all from when I was little. Still ignorant, still not noticing how I feel”. Sarutobi’s heart throbbed in pain as Akashi’s voice broke at the last word.
The tears spilled down, staining those spotless, porcelain cheeks, slipping down his small chin and onto the ground beneath his lithe frame. In that moment, Sarutobi realized, this was a young boy, not even aged 13 yet. He shouldn’t have worries like this, he shouldn’t be crying like this, but he is, because of him. Because of the mistakes he made from the beginning.
“Akashi, I can’t tell you, I’m sorry, I promised her, I promised I was going to take care of you, of Naru-“. It was futile, a humorless laugh echoed from in front of him and as he looked at the boy, really looked at him, he could see. He saw how tired Akashi was, how weakened he was. Those violet eyes, held the same look she had on that fateful night, almost 13 years ago.
Total acceptance, surrender… resignation.
It was like a trip down memory lane, her pale face flashed right in front of his eyes and her last words echoed through his mind. “Please take care of them”. He tried, he really, really, tried. It wasn’t enough. He knew it wasn’t enough. He tried his best, but sometimes, our best isn’t enough.
“Where were you when we were ostracized from the others? When we were hated and humiliated in the middle of the street? Where were you when we were almost beaten to death?” Akashi harshly wiped the tears from his cheeks, nails scratching across the skin, leaving red marks in their place.
“Even now, you have nothing to say?” The pain inside him was too much, and seeing that the old man wasn’t going to say anything, he decided. This was it. He wasn’t going to try with him anymore, it was useless like this.
“From the beginning it was always Naruto and I, seems like it will be like that till the end”. Without another word, Akashi turned around and walked away from him. The Hokage could do nothing to stop him. The door closed with a harsh bang, cracking the frame that was around it.
That’s exactly how Akashi felt.
Cracked.
_
He ignored everything on his way out of the tower. The exams weren’t starting for a while, so he had enough time to cool off before he went there. He didn’t know what to do. Was he wrong to blame the Third? He didn’t understand the situation at all. Was there really a reason for all the secrecy? Gritting his teeth, he stormed through the streets, unaware of the glares which were directed at him.
Too caught up in his own mind, he didn’t notice the person in front. Their bodies collided and he was sent flying back. His backside met the ground with a painful thud. Hissing out loud, he glared up at the person. “Watch where you’re going!” He growled out, even though it was his fault to begin with. The boy in front of him started furiously apologizing and he offered him a hand.
Slapping it away, Akashi got to his feet and swiped the dust of his pants. “I’m so sorry! I wasn’t watching where I was going!” Akashi scoffed at his words. “Obviously”. The other boy cracked a nervous smile, ebony black hair a direct contrast to his pearly white teeth. Shaking his head, Akashi continued on his way, but a hand gripped his wrist. “Can I make it up to you?” Whipping around, Akashi narrowed his eyes at him.
“There’s no need for that, goodbye”. He ripped out his hand from the boy’s grasp and walked away, completely ignoring the hurt look in his mossy green eyes.
_
He reached the Hokage Mountain and climbed atop the First Hokage’s head, plopping onto the cold ground. Now that he was here, it made him think. The First Hokage created this village in hope for peace, peace between totally different people, but it backfired on him. The person he trusted most turned their back on him and their battle ended in bloodshed.
Is that really the fate of mankind? Constant wars, constant bloodshed, constant betrayal? For what? Power? Wealth? How did things end up like that? What started all of that? Better yet, who started all of that? There must have been a person who made all of this, one who started all of life. One who was the cause of all the pain and death. Thinking about it now, it’s no use, there was nothing he could do after all.
This is the fate of humanity.
_
He was snapped out of his nap when a Chakra signal entered his sensory space. He sat up in a hurry, looking around to try and pinpoint the location of the person. The Chakra was familiar, but he hadn’t sensed it in a while so he couldn’t really figure out who it was. He could only guess.
His guess turned out to be correct when the person appeared in front of him. “Who would have thought I’d meet you here?” The black haired boy scoffed at his words. “I could say the same to you”. He answered back. Akashi shook his head and laid back down, looking up at the bright sky above.
“I couldn’t find you at the hospital, where were you?” He asked, closing his eyes as the wind swept over him. That felt nice, the cold breeze. He noticed the boy came closer to him. He cracked one eye open and looked at him. That turtleneck he always wore shifted because of the wind, exposing the sealed mark on his neck.
His legs were dangling off the edge of the cliff, and his hands were supporting him as he was leaning back. He looked tired, as if he hadn’t slept for a while. “With Kakashi”. Hearing his answer, Akashi closed his eye and relaxed. “No wonder I couldn’t sense him, let me guess, you were training outside the village?” A simple ‘hn’ was his answer and Akashi huffed out a laugh.
“Still as talkative as ever”. This time, he didn’t answer. Sighing, Akashi sat up and shifted over to him, joining him as their legs hung from the side. “Is there something bothering you?” He asked, looking at the Uchiha from the side. He noticed he clenched his jaw. Something was bothering him. He shook his head, but Akashi didn’t believe that one bit. “I’m all ears if you need to dump your worries on me”. He leaned closer to him, a small smile on his face.
Sasuke glanced at him, before a heavy breath escaped his lips. “Why are you so noisy all of the time?” Akashi was momentarily taken aback at that, before a grin overtook his features. “That’s how I am, if you don’t like it, you know where the door is”. Comically, he pointed down, a silly smile on his face.
Sasuke exhaled a sharp breath, before he coughed into his fist, masking the laugh. “I heard that!” Akashi poked him in the cheek, and Sasuke pushed his hand away while shaking his head. “You heard nothing”. He pointed a finger at him, a threatening expression on his face, even though both of them knew there was no real threat there.
Akashi made a motion of zipping his lips up and locking them. He threw the key away and tilted his head, a shit-eating grin on his face. Sasuke looked at him and the only thought in his head was ‘what an idiot’. He shook his head and leaned back, gently lowering himself so he was lying on his back. Akashi remained where he was. “I… I thought about my clan”. He reluctantly admitted, an unsure expression on his face.
Akashi didn’t expect that. Sasuke always seemed like the kind who never spoke about their feelings, always keeping everything locked tightly inside. It seemed that he found Akashi trustful enough to tell him that. He knew Sasuke wouldn’t have said something like this to Naruto or Kakashi, God forbid Sakura. He leaned his head back and looked at the lying boy.
He was sad and lost. Akashi had no idea about how he was feeling. He had a clan, a family and it was harshly taken away from him… by his older brother nonetheless. He really can’t imagine what it’s like to go to a home, one which was once filled with a great amount of people, but now deserted and left empty. “I can only imagine how that makes you feel”. He dropped his head down and looked at the village beneath their feet.
He heard a scoff come from behind him. “I don’t need your pity”. Akashi let out an audible wince at his words and turned back to him. “That wasn’t my intention”. Sasuke sat up and raised his brows. “Then what was?” He asked, and honestly, Akashi didn’t know what to tell him. Thoughts raked through his mind, before he settled on one.
“I just didn’t know what to say and I didn’t want to keep quiet, that would make it seem like I wasn’t even listening”. Sasuke blinked and looked away. “You’re awfully honest”. Akashi snorted and tapped at the ground. “We all have our flaws”. He said and picked at a pebble which was stuck. He felt Sasuke shift from behind him, and the boy settled back next to him.
“I don’t find that a flaw”. There was a sudden shift in the air around them and Akashi’s heart skipped a beat inside his chest, before it returned to normal. Akashi furrowed his brows and looked at the Uchiha next to him. He wasn’t looking at him, but ahead, at the village.
“Your parents…”. Sasuke started, slightly trailing off at the end. “… do you miss them?” The wind around them grew harsh as he finished his question. Akashi was forcefully brought back to reality. He… “I can’t miss something I never had”. His tone turned cold, but it didn’t matter, it was the truth. His fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into the soft skin.
There were no more words between them, only silence and the blowing of the wind.
They sat there for seconds, minutes? Akashi didn’t really know. The boy next to him stood up and shook the dirt from his shorts. Akashi remained seated, until a hand appeared in front of his face. He glanced up, but Sasuke wasn’t looking at him. Holding back a laugh, he took the hand which was offered to him and got pulled up.
He underestimated Sasuke’s strength and… that stupid rock. His ankle twisted to the side and he stumbled atop of the other boy. The two of them let out a yelp in sync and crashed into the hard ground. Groans left their lips as their bodies knocked into each other, digging bone into bone. Sasuke’s hand poked Akashi’s eye and Akashi’s knee hit Sasuke’s hip.
“Ouch, ouch! Watch it!” Akashi growled out as Sasuke shifted away and accidentally kneed his rib. “Stop moving, you’re slipping!” Sasuke hissed at him and grabbed his shoulder to keep him from rolling off the First Hokage’s head. “Who’s fault is that?!” Akashi argued back, trying and failing to keep himself still. Sasuke clicked his tongue at him and shook his head. “Yours!” He countered, fully knowing it was the redheads fault.
“It’s not my fault the stupid rock was there!” Not giving up, Akashi successfully rolled away from him, once more underestimating things. His left side slipped off the side and he grabbed the wall with his right hand. He focused Chakra, but he didn’t concentrate enough. His hand was blasted away because he used too much and he was thrown away from safe ground.
He spun around and when his body was swung and slammed into the side of the mountain, he let out an audible ‘ouch’. Blinking his eyes open, not even noticing he closed them, he looked up. Sasuke was frowning at him whilst holding his ankle, feet glued to the side with Chakra. Akashi nervously laughed and did a peace sign. Sasuke pulled him up until Akashi could grab the side and pull himself up.
“You’re a life saver… literally”. He said once he was sure he was safe. “You’re an idiot!”. Sasuke bit back, a finger pointed in his direction. Akashi scoffed and crossed his arms. “I was gonna be fine!” He waved him off, nonchalance radiating from his body. When he heard no further argument from the other boy, Akashi peered at him. This time, the Uchiha was staring straight at him.
“What is it? Do I have something on my face?” Akashi wiped at his cheek and brought his hand back, looking at it. “I sometimes wonder how you survived up til now”. Akashi snorted at his words, before he stroke a stupid pose. “It’s because of my charisma!” Sasuke stuffed his hands inside his pockets. “Really? It seems to me you have the charisma of a dying squirrel”. The redhead burst out laughing at that.
That obnoxious laughter of his so similar, yet so different from Naruto’s.
The more he looked at him, the more did he see the differences between him and Naruto. It was a wonder the two of them were twins. One so set on becoming Hokage, to prove himself to others. The other just wanting to survive in this world alongside his twin. Before, when their teams were announced, he was so annoyed that he got on a team with them.
But… looking at it now, he was glad he did.
AN: If you have any questions about the story, feel free to message me.
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