Before they knew it, they were back at Konoha.
Konoha…
The last time Akashi was there, he didn’t have time to look around, but now that he had, he found himself staring at a village that never changed. Still the same old Konoha.
The Village Hidden in the Leaves.
The wind blew as it always did, gently tousling his hair and cooling his skin down. He didn’t expect anything else.
_
Unfortunately, Sasuke and he weren’t allowed to attend the mass funeral that was held that day. Instead, they were locked up in prison cells, separated by a, seemingly, thin wall as multiple seals marred their almost nude bodies.
Really, Akashi did expect something like that to happen. They had killed Danzo, one of the elders, and interrupted a Kage meeting, which led to them fighting the said Kage. Still… Being in the same cell as that time didn’t bring Akashi any comfort… Not at all.
Sasuke had said that they needed to talk, yet he made no move to start the much needed conversation.
“Akashi.” A woman’s voice rang out through his cell.
The said boy glanced to the side and saw the door had been opened. Seems like the seals were blocking not only his chakra, but also his chakra sensing abilities, “Tsunade.” He greeted the woman, voice as flat as the floor beneath their feet.
“You look like you’re doing well… How is prison life treating you?” She stepped closer, her heels clicking against the cold ground.
Shrugging his shoulders, Akashi leaned his head back, “Oh, you know, these six hours have been marvellous.” He peeked one eye open and glanced at her.
“You’re still as sarcastic as ever… I guess that’ll never change, will it?” Her honey-brown eyes stared into his own, violet ones, and Akashi remained quiet, “Why did you help with the war?” There it was, the real reason she came to visit him.
She wanted the reason.
“Wouldn’t you want to know that?” He sighed out and looked away, “It’s funny you’re even asking me that, where’s the little mind digger you used on me before, eh?”
“The funeral ended an hour ago.” Oh…? So Inoichi had died in the war?
“My condolences, he seemed to have been a fine ninja,” Tsunade didn’t react to his words, “So what? You don’t have any more mind diggers in stock? Didn’t the father teach his daughter anything?”
Tsunade furrowed her brows, “Ino?” She asked, looking at him.
“Did he have another daughter?” He sarcastically replied, blinking his eyes, “Yes, Ino.”
“You, why are you making that suggestion? Didn’t you hate me after everything?” Her expression shifted to confusion and Akashi bit back a laugh at that.
“Maybe then, now? It’s just a strong feeling of dislike… It’s not like I have anything to hide from you and it’s not like you weren’t going to use her on me already,” he watched as Tsunade’s eyes widened at his words, “Really? Do you think I’m dumb? You’d never believe my words alone, you need someone or something to confirm what I say.”
The woman closed her eyes and took a deep breath, “Bring her in!” She yelled and two pairs of footsteps neared the room, before two people walked in. There she was, Ino, along with an ANBU.
“Hokage.” Ino bowed and the ANBU behind her turned around, promptly disappearing.
“Ino, I leave the rest to you,” Tsunade walked towards the girl and placed a hand on her shoulder, “There’s no need to worry, he can’t do anything.” She assured the clearly nervous girl, before she walked out and closed the door behind herself, leaving the two of them in the dimly lit room.
Ino warily watched as Akashi stood still, before her eyes trailed down to his shoulder. He knew what she was looking at, “Don’t worry, I don’t bite… Unless you want me to.” He grinned at her.
“It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other like this… You joined the ANBU and I rarely even saw you.” Her voice was so soft that he almost didn’t hear her speak.
“You’ve grown out of your fangirl phase, I suppose?” He ignored her previous words. For a moment, she seemed surprised that he even mentioned the past.
“I… Yeah. It’s no use chasing after someone who’s no longer available, you know?” Hearing that, Akashi sent her a raised-brows-look, “I talked with Sakura. She mentioned you and Sasuke… I couldn’t help but catch on.”
Of course it was Sakura.
“My condolences for your loss,” he noticed her body trembled as soon as the words left his lips, “Your father was a ninja ready to sacrifice everything for the sake of the village, even his own morality.”
Her lips opened, but nothing except a quiet, ‘huh?’ left them.
“The jutsu you’re about to use on me, Inoichi had already used it on me before… For weeks.” The more he spoke, the more her eyes widened, as if she was shocked at the revelation.
“What?” She mumbled out.
“You didn’t know? Oh well, it’s all in the past now.” The door slammed shut, before he could even see the expression she made.
Seems like she really didn’t know… Had it come as a shock to find that out? Or was the mention of her father more influential than what Akashi revealed? The girl was mourning and Tsunade still decided to send her to him…
The woman didn’t change.
_
Days passed and Sasuke hadn’t said anything.
Days passed and only then did Ino return. She held a new-found determination in her pale eyes. But, somehow, she held the same look her father had all that time ago.
The same kind of pain.
“This is going to hurt.” She warned him, palm reaching towards his forehead.
“I know.” He replied.
The pain in her eyes worsened and the world around Akashi went dark as her palm settled against his skin.
_
To say that it repeated for days would be an understatement.
The process had taken weeks, maybe even a whole month, before Tsunade finally stopped it.
She had found out his answer along with all the thoughts he had. Those little thoughts which told him to end it all that day on the battlefield, under the giant wings of the Susano’o.
Hagoromo’s words of fate. His choices. His feelings. His decisions.
She had found out everything.
But, was it enough? Would she still see him as a threat? One needed to be kept under lock and key? Isolated from the rest of the world?
That was the real question… Was it enough?
_
“Akashi!” Naruto’s excited voice called out as the blond burst into the room… and stopped in his tracks, “Akashi?” The said boy could only imagine how he looked to him.
Hands tied around his back, legs tied to the chair’s legs and his skin bare.
“Did Tsunade finally allow you to visit?” Akashi raised his head to look at him.
“What happened to you? What did she do?” Naruto stepped closer, kneeling in front of him a moment later, and placed his hands atop Akashi’s knees, “You look like you haven’t slept in… in…” He trailed off.
“Weeks? You would be correct.” Akashi finished his sentence.
“Tsunade has ordered your release, I’ve come to get you,” Naruto slowly, and gently, took off the seals from Akashi’s body, “We’re going home.” Akashi’s hands were released and the first thing he did was reach forward.
“Home sounds… nice.” He mumbled into Naruto’s collar, closing his eyes in the process.
“Yeah, it does.” Naruto replied, untying the rope around Akashi’s legs.
“Where’s Sasuke?” Since Akashi hadn’t let go, Naruto was forced to stand up with an armful of Akashi. It was tough to keep his balance, but once he straightened up, it wasn’t that hard.
“He was moved from the cell next to yours to another one.” Now that Naruto had said that, Akashi could notice it.
Sasuke’s chakra was far away from where they were.
“I see…” Akashi leaned back, letting his feet touch the ground. His hand was grabbed and Naruto started pulling him out of the cell.
“Let’s go, we need to get you some clothes.” Akashi didn’t struggle, nor was he planning on doing that.
Naruto’s hand was warm.
_
After a successful clothes change (), the two of them made their way towards Naruto’s… apartment. As soon as the building came in view, a wave of nostalgia hit Akashi so hard, he had to stop in his tracks.
“Akashi?” Naruto also stopped, worry etched clear on his features, “Is something the matter?”
The said boy remained silent, looking at the ground below his feet, “Are visits open for Sasuke?” His voice sounded rough, even to himself, but he pushed on, “I need to speak with him.”
Naruto grimaced, remembering Tsunade’s words. Under no circumstances was he to let Akashi out of his sight, that was the only condition in Akashi’s early release. Naruto had begged Tsunade to allow it.
If his brother wished to speak to Sasuke, they would probably want to do so in private, which isn’t a good idea. Still… Even Naruto knew that Akashi’s and Sasuke’s relationship was a strained and complicated one, “Akashi, listen…” The blond trailed off, warily looking at his brother, “He’s off limits.”
“Naruto… I need to speak with him.” The redhead repeated his words, not taking his eyes off the ground.
“I understand that, but it isn’t my decision to make,” Akashi’s fist clenched by his side, but he said nothing to argue back, “This isn’t easy for me either… I want us all to get along again, but until Granny decides otherwise, we can’t act against her.”
Akashi knew that already, but it still… it still didn’t make him feel better.
He wanted to see him.
He wanted to speak with him.
Was that too much to ask?
“Come, let’s go home, it’s getting dark.” A hand took his own and Akashi was pulled away.
Home…
_
The apartment was almost the same as it was before.
“I… I didn’t touch your side of the bedroom.” Naruto spoke up, looking away from him.
Walking forward, Akashi was met with the room’s closed door. Placing his hand atop it, he pushed it open and the inside was revealed to him. Just as Naruto had said, his part of the bedroom was still the same as then. Nothing was moved or changed. Akashi’s eyes were immediately drawn towards the bedside table.
A framed photograph stood there, facing him.
It was their first team photo. A smiling Kakashi was looking at the camera with his hands atop both Sasuke’s and Naruto’s heads. The former was looking away while the latter was glaring at him. In between them stood an annoyed-looking Akashi who was staring straight into the camera. Right in front of him was a smiling Sakura, who was bending her knees so Akashi wouldn’t get blocked.
It was as if it was yesterday that they took the photo.
“We grew up, didn’t we?” Naruto asked from behind him and the only thing Akashi could do was nod.
They had grown up. No longer the little kids they once were.
They were already seventeen… Five years… Five years had passed since that photo was taken. Five whole years. Where had the time went? Where had their years went?
“Too fast… We grew up too fast,” he whispered, hand reaching towards the photo. Before he could touch it, he pulled his hand back, as his teeth grit together, “Too goddamn fast.”
They stood still in the middle of the room, both looking at their younger selves.
_
Days passed and Akashi had already noticed that Naruto had been looking at him, not letting him out of his sight. He found it a little bit unnerving to be constantly observed. It had seemed weird to him that he was set free while Sasuke was left in prison… Naruto must have had something to do with that.
_
Even more days passed and Akashi did the same thing every day.
Wake up, eat, go out.
Train, talk with Kurama, eat with Naruto.
He was accompanying Naruto every day to the academy, since the blond had wanted to study so he could become a Jounin.
Repeat.
His days just kept being repeated.
Do you hate it that much? Kurama spoke up.
Hate? I don’t hate it, I dislike it.
Is there a difference?
Hmm… I hated Danzo, so I killed him… I dislike Tsunade, but I didn’t kill her.
Nice comparison, little one.
Thanks, big guy.
Please don’t call me that again.
Why not, big guy?
Akashi…
Fine, I won’t.
Their conversation ended there and Akashi quietly sat by Naruto’s side as the blond struggled with whatever he was doing, “Do you need help?” Naruto quickly turned to him with his eyes literally pleading.
“Please do, I have no idea what I’m doing.” He admitted, causing a small laugh to escape Akashi.
“Typical… Move over.” Naruto did as asked and Akashi leaned over his papers. Well… At least it won’t be hard to teach him, Akashi already knew most of it back from the academy… Seems like Naruto didn’t…
For the next few hours, their time was spent in comfortable atmosphere.
_
When Iruka peeked his head through the door, he felt a smile tug at his lips at the sight. Naruto was leaned back onto the chair, mouth open as soft snores left him. Meanwhile, Akashi had his head laid onto Naruto’s shoulder, a content expression on his face.
Iruka slowly stepped out, being careful not to wake them up.
It would be a pity.
_
Akashi had enough of the current situation. Neither Tsunade nor Kakashi had come to talk with him after he got out and it was bothering him. Why hadn’t they come? Why wasn’t he allowed to see Sasuke?
So, he did the only thing he could to escape Naruto’s watchful eye.
Flying Thunder God.
He activated the jutsu and found himself in the middle of the Hokage office, the seal which marred the desk was still there.
“Akashi?!” Tsunade exclaimed, sitting up in surprise, “What are you doing here? Where’s Naruto?” Akashi shrugged his shoulders as he stood still, “I told him not to let you out of his sight!” Ah, so he was correct.
“Really? You thought I wouldn’t be able to escape him?” At the sound of his voice, the blonde blinked, before an unusual expression took place on her face, “Oh? Were you worried I was going to leave Konoha again?”
Her jaw flexed.
Bingo.
“Don’t worry about that, I could have left a hundred times already and none of you would have noticed.” He stepped closer, finger dragging along the desk’s edge.
“Why didn’t you then? Didn’t this place cause you pain? Didn’t you hate it?” She asked, pushing at all the wrong buttons. If she was trying to get him mad, it wasn’t working.
“You see… Right here in Konoha, you have something of mine,” he glanced up at her, “And I’m not leaving without it.” Her brows furrowed as she stared at him. It was as if she had no idea what or who he was talking about. It took her a few moments to realise what he was saying.
“Sasuke? You’re not leaving because Sasuke is still here?” Her baffled tone filled the office.
“Correct, by the way, now that you’ve mentioned him, I want to see him.” His palm rested on the desk, fingers lazily tapping atop the wood.
“Denied. He’s under heavy surveillance, no visitors allowed.” He was immediately shoot down. She didn’t even think about it, that much was obvious.
Taking his hand off the desk, he straightened up, light eyes narrowing in her direction, “I bear no ill will towards you… Don’t make me change my mind.”
Taken aback, Tsunade went silent for a few moments, “Are… Are you threatening me?” That was the only thing she could get out. The only words she could say out loud.
Closing his eyes, Akashi lowered his head, “Please… Tsunade… I just want to talk with him.” He said it in a voice so soft, it sounded like a whisper. The words were barely heard.
But they were heard.
Akashi had never begged Tsunade nor did he ever think he would. But, here he was, praying that she would agree.
“Fine,” his head snapped in her direction, “He’s in a secluded prison, you can pinpoint his location by yourself, Kakashi is already there.” She said, moving back to sit down.
Raising a hand in a hand-sign, it took no more than a few seconds to find Sasuke, “Thank you.” Tsunade’s eyes widened, but when she glanced at him, he was already gone, leaving nothing behind.
He said ‘thank you’.
The boy had actually thanked her.
She blinked, feeling an unexpected stinging sensation in her eyes. She clenched them shut, leaning her forehead onto her hands. She forced the tears down, not letting them fall. Her heart throbbed inside her chest.
“Really… I’ve been such an idiot.” Her shoulders trembled as the first tear fell.
Maybe it was time for her to retire.
_
Akashi reached the prison not long after he left the Hokage Tower and went inside. There were no guards and he sensed only two chakra signals from inside.
Sasuke’s and Kakashi’s.
Slowly walking towards the room in which they were in, Akashi stopped as he heard their voices.
“And? Is that it? You’re going to leave?” That was Kakashi… Which meant…
“I can’t stay here anymore… I want to go out into the world… I want to learn about it.” Sasuke answered, voice a little tense.
“What about Naruto? What about Sakura… What about Akashi?” Kakashi questioned, his chakra spiking in all directions. He was angry. He was sad. He was content.
Everything.
“They will understand, you know they will.” Sasuke mumbled out, as if it was hard for him to get the words out.
Kakashi chuckled and Akashi could only imagine him shaking his head, “Those two maybe, but Akashi…? We both know what he’s like… How he’s like,” there was a brief moment of silence, “He doesn’t want to stay here… This place holds too many bad memories and there’s no way for him to erase them.”
“I know.” There was a loud scraping sound as if something was pushed back.
“Then why?! Why do you insist on leaving him again?! We’ve all let him down, me the most! I know that! But you… The two of you finally have a chance for something, why do you not wish to try?” Kakashi yelled and his words progressively got softer.
“I’m bad for him,” Sasuke answered softly, “Even though he is something which I crave, I’m bad for him… I’d rather crave and not have him, than hurt him again.”
“If you leave you’ll just hurt him again.” Kakashi whispered loud enough for Akashi to catch on.
“He and I are differ-!” Sasuke started, but was interrupted.
“You are not! Do you know what he told me once you left Konoha those four years ago?” Kakashi questioned, receiving no reply, “He said there was nothing holding you here, there was nothing for you to return to. He said that everyone had something which held them in Konoha, he had Naruto, Naruto had his dream of becoming Hokage and that even I had someone I cared about,” he stopped for a moment, “When I told him you had the memories of your clan, he told me that I no longer had a dream and that you did. Your will to accomplish your dream became stronger than the memories which tied you to this place,” Sasuke remained silent, “He said he had no right to stop you… He said he let you walk the path you chose even if it diverged from his own.”
It was so quiet that Akashi could hear their breathing.
“Are you willing to let go of someone who understood you more than anyone else? Are you willing to let him walk away from you? Are you willing to let him walk another path, one that diverges from your own?” After each second, after each question, Akashi felt Sasuke’s chakra spike. It spiked and spiked and spiked, until Akashi felt what he was feeling.
Everything.
“No.” The boy’s answer resounded through the dimly lit room.
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