I Alone Am The Exception!

Chapter 29: Sasuke's a Mystery

Sasuke sighed as he stood before the Six-Tails, Saiken, with an annoyed look on his face. Why was he so annoyed? Well... that's because of the person who had landed right next to him. "What the hell are you doing here, Itachi?" Sasuke growled.

He still hadn't forgiven his older brother for putting the one he viewed as his real brother damn near into a coffin. Which was understandable, considering how much Sasuke looked up and cared about Naruto and the impact he has had on his life.

Itachi sighed, "I'm here to help you, little brother. While Naruto may have placed his faith in you to deal with this, you still might need someone here to help you regardless." Itachi said.

Sasuke glared up at him as his Mangekyo Sharingan formed and he turned to the Tailed Beast before them. "Don't need your help, older brother." Sasuke spat out 'older brother' as if it were something gross. He then leaped forward as his Full-Body Susanoo came to life around him. It wasn't a Perfect Susanoo just yet, but he could bring it out to this level without too much need for concern.

This Susanoo of his had four arms, two with swords and one with a crossbow and the final one with a shield. It also glowed silver.

Sasuke's eyes glowed as he looked up at the massive form of the Tailed Beast. Amaterasu came to life on his crossbow and was shaped into an arrow before he fired it off at Saiken.

Sasuke charged forward and reflected the Tailed Beast Bomb fired on him right back at the Tailed Beast with his shield.

As Sasuke fought, he couldn't help himself as he thought back to his past.

...

Sasuke looked up in fear as he held onto his mother, watching as Naruto stood in front of him, standing the thin line of life and death for Sasuke and his mother at the hands of Itachi himself.

Naruto narrowed his eyes at Itachi, who stood menacingly over his father's dead body, his Mangekyo Sharingan gleaming with power.

The elements swirled around Naruto as flames threatened to swallow the house whole.

At that moment, upon seeing the boy who he used to look down on to stand up for him and save him and his mother, he vowed in his heart to do his best to help Naruto Uzumaki.

...

Sasuke smiled as he watched his mother make dinner, now being eight years old. Since the Uchiha Massacre, and thanks to Naruto's efforts, they found themselves in a safe and healthy environment. Mikoto has since then tried her absolute best to step in and actually show Sasuke love and kindness instead of constantly giving him the cold shoulder like she used to. In other words, she started taking her job as his mother seriously.

Mikoto wasn't doing it because she felt forced to, but rather she realized how quickly one could lose those they love. Her last living family and clan member, her son, needed her and she didn't regret finally trying to show him the kindness she robbed of him for the better half of seven years.

Naruto stood next to Mikoto as he bickered with her about how to make the chicken they had prepared a few nights ago. "Quit putting salt into everything like a white mom from America! Look! I got you a whole pantry of seasoning and herbs. Use them!" Naruto raged as moved the delicious chicken sitting on a metal tray away from Mikoto who was laughing maniacally trying to add salt to the chicken.

Sasuke laughed his ass off at the scene. Although he had a somewhat strained relationship with his mother, Naruto seemed to be the cohesive bond between them that allowed them to just be themselves and have fun. He just radiated this aura of lovability to him.

Sasuke came up to them and joined them in the fun, grabbing some syrup and trying to pour it onto the food. Naruto gave him a shocked look that made him laugh more as Naruto resorted to using Boogie-Woogie to protect his sacred dish.