• Dark Dawn •

Ep 37 - Core

(Arc 6 - Tracks - pt 3)
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Sasuke

Sasuke stood in front of the room where his 'sensei' had been resting. Yes, Orochimaru had been teaching him for two years now, but Sasuke didn't really care.

He had a lot more on his mind right now.

The lightning sparks came to life in his hands, resolve hardened, as Sasuke used his chidori as a projectile and launched it through the door. He could feel the resistance on the other end of the blade, and he knew that he hit his target.

A raspy voice came through the wall, the edge of mirth in the voice still ever present in the snake's speech. "Who is it?"

At that, Sasuke reached back, and sliced the door into pieces with a few swift movements.

From the remains of the door, he could see Orochimaru sitting on the bed in the room. He looked paler than usual, but he had been sickly recently, so it came as no surprise to Sasuke. The chidori blade was blocked with the two arms held up in defense by Orochimaru.

His voice rang out clear and emotionless. "You have taught me everything I needed to know." Sasuke pushed the chidori blade into the wall of the room. "And I will thank you for that."

The beads of sweat on Orochimaru's pale skin was evident, even from far away. "Well, that's an interesting way of saying thank you, Sasuke."

The sharigan materialized as the color of Sasuke's eyes shifted from its usual black into the blood-red. "I have things I have to do. You were just a convenience that happened to be there when I needed it."

In a flash of motion, the ravenhead was in front of Orochimaru, blade ready to strike.

Just before a moment of the impact, a small shadow appeared from inside Orochimaru's mouth and behind Sasuke.

This wasn't missed by the Sharigan as expected, and turning around revealed the long figure of a large white snake. Its scales were all made up of snakes, and the purple eye markings, almost a signature of Orochimaru was in plain view for Sasuke to see.

This sight brought a small smirk to Sasuke's face. Readying his blade and chidori sword, he addressed his former sensei. "You're a nuisance to my plans, and to the rest of the world. I'll kill you here right here and now." His face scrunched up in anger. "And I do not approve of the experimentation on humans. I was able to endure it for a few years, but that stops now."

The face of the snake scrunched up in anger. The head of the snake headed straight for Sasuke.

"Give me your body!"

Their fight didn't last for long.

-

"It looks like the medicine is useless now..." Kabuto murmured to himself, mixing the liquid in the testing vial. "It seems like we'll have no choice but to perform the Rebirth ritual today.

Kabuto smirked to himself. But I don't think Sasuke-kun will come along willingly.

Well, not even Sasuke-kun can oppose the ritual.

Kabuto had heard the sounds of battle coming from Lord Orochimari's quarters. He had rushed over the moment he had heard the crashing noises.

He had reached the doorway a bit after the noise had died down, crouching right next to the doorframe.

What he found there was not anything he was expecting.

Sasuke was standing in the middle of the room, and a large, white snake laid on the ground chopped into pieces. Blood was everywhere. Kabuto was used to seeing blood, so that didn't faze him.

It was the snake that made him stop in his tracks.

That's the shedding of the Great Snake! Does that mean the ritual is already over?

"Kabuto...huh."

Sasuke.

He stepped from behind the door frame. He couldn't tell which one it was. Sasuke's sharigan was active.

Sasuke stepped out of the room with his always soft, silent steps.

Kabuto made no move or tried to say anything.

Sasuke paid no attention to Kabuto.

"Just...which one are you exactly?"

Sasuke stopped in his tracks.

Then he turned around with a smirk present on his face. The Sharigan now deactivated.

"Which one do you think?"

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A few days later

Sasuke wore a black cloak as he sat in on a branch in the forest, hood down. He had been waiting for about ten minutes.

It was harder than he had thought to make contact with the infamous mercenary group. They were pretty secluded, with so many S-Class missing nin. It was a lucky stroke that Sasuke had managed to get the Akatsuki to agree to send one member to meet with him.

Because of the Akatsuki's newly acquired land, it was easier than usual to make contact with them. Otherwise, it would probably be harder to get a meeting place down.

But they are mercenaries for hire, so their clients must have their ways to make their requests.

Sasuke opted to use the most natural way to contact them; their request system.

It was more of asking for assistance through past clients. And Sasuke had one of them in his contact. Hashu.

He had asked the new town head to make a request in for him.

Hashu had agreed, and allowed Sasuke to take his Akatsuki's messenger crow.

Apparently that was the only way to contact them. Unless you meet up with them by chance or through indirect contacts to make appointments with messenger birds.

The ravenhead had sent in his request to meet yesterday, and was waiting at the location the Akatsuki had arranged to meet at. He was early, but it was better than being late at least.

These mercenaries were extremely strong as well. Sasuke was interested in seeing these people.

A gust of wind blew from behind him.

Well, speak of the devil.

Sasuke stood up to meet the arrivals.

They stopped at a respectable distance between both of them, typical instincts holding both parties from stepping any further than they already were. Just out of range of any tricks.

"My name is Sasuke. I assume you represent the Akatsuki." Sasuke said. Better to introduce himself before letting the other think he was an imminent threat.

The woman had purple hair, and a paper flower rested in her hair. Her cloak was imbedded with the red cloud that is often associated with the Akatsuki. Her face showed a small grimace when she heard his name.

"My name is Konan. I was told you wanted to meet with us for a job."

Sasuke caught the slight change in her demeanor when he had said his name.

"Is Yoake in the Akatsuki?" Might as well get straight to the point.

Konan didn't react this time. "Why do you ask?"

"Let me join. I want to see Naruto."

That initiated a response. Konan's eyes widened the slightest bit. But after a moment, she took a breath and schooled her expression into a careful neutrality.

"We don't have a Naruto."

Sasuke scoffed. There was no way that was true. He was almost a ninety percent certain that Naruto and Yoake was the same person.

"You can't lie to a friend his. I know who he is."

Konan's calculating gaze swept over Sasuke. "I know full well who you are. Sasuke Uchiha. You disappeared from your village two years ago, around the same time Yoake starting making his appearances."

Sasuke nodded in acknowledgement. "I was following the trail that he left behind. And there's this." He reached behind into the cloak and pulled out a scroll.

He could see that Konan tensed the slightest bit at the movement, but otherwise didn't take a step from her spot. He threw the scroll over at her. She caught it with east, and stared at the seal on the scroll. She made no attempt at opening or reading it.

Either would have been fine with Sasuke though. "Give that to 'Yoake'. I know he'll know who it is."

She stored the scroll away and nodded to Sasuke.

"I'll tell Yoake you're asking for him."

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I'm sorry if this is a shit chapter. I'm unsatisfied with how this chapter turned out.
I wish I could edit this more.

I hope you guys liked the drawing I made :') It's my way of saying sorry for such a late update. (like four hours late but still)

Thanks for reading this chapter, and get some proper rest. Drink some water and shit okay? :))

I go with the flow lmao

Word count : 1437 words

This story will be on a hiatus until Jan 25, sorry for the inconvenience!

Life is kinda more important rn and I'm struggling with it. I hope you guys understand.