【OPEN 】 - I ғɪɢᴜʀᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʀᴇ ᴀʟʟ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ʙᴀᴅly ᴏғғ...

[fortheclan]

No one ever bothered to question what it was like being the leader of a clan. No one ever stopped and scrutinized how much trouble the responsibilities could be. To be the head of the most feared clan made him inherently a force to be feared. His people depended on his strength but in the end of the day, Fugaku had no one to turn to but his wife.

He had known something was amiss, he had expected something to happen before the coup took place but he hadn't expected his own son to be the hand of justice that would inherently stop an action Fugaku knew was not very sane. That would be quite a surprise to many: Fugaku didn't want the village. Not even his son would ever hear him utter those words, no would. A leader was loyal to his people, even if it meant putting his own reasons aside. The founding fathers of this village

The Uchiha had always been known for their temper, instinctive jump to quick conclusions, and their thirst for blood. The war; he knew, had not quenched his people even if it had made him tired and sick. He hadn't laughed or smiled since the days before the wars and yet he could never do away with it. As a leader, he had to listen to his people. They chose this fate, who was he to say otherwise? The thought of a coup wasn't partially insane, but after so many deaths of their previous battles, hadn't they learned their lesson? His own anger was set aside and because of this affair his own sons had been thrown into the fray. He had died in a pool of his own blood without honor. The last thing that crossed his mind was what life his sons would live after Itachi condemned his own name. He was always such a brave boy. His downfall would certainly be that he had too much of a heart.

Fugaku never bothered to think about where he was heading after his death, he all ready knew. All that blood on his hands, he was heading to hell more than likely. Amazingly he came to standing over a cliff, the breeze rustling his uniform without a single trace of blood. He inhaled, bringing his hands to rest on his hips.

"Some eternal damnation."

Comments

[beforethedarkness]

Older, jaded, and yet still with the foolishness of youth did Sasuke stand, having gone to market to pick up something for home. He had just been fingering the wallet in his pocket, contemplating the list of things he needed when he stopped cold, suddenly forgetting how to breathe in the face of what was in front of him. Or rather, who was in front of him.

It was the same feeling, the same gut reaction he had as that night. Before him, standing tall and alive - not as tall as he remembered, but still intimidating - was the man he always wanted to acknowledge him. For him to see Sasuke's strength as it was, rather than as a pale comparison to his brother. He still hadn't gotten all of his answers, but at the moment they were the furthest things from his mind.

His errand, his life, what the road ahead was were all meaningless in the face of that man. Quietly, oh so quietly, the single acknowledgement and near-questioning of his existence fell from Sasuke's lips, for the boy was once more unsure of whether he was truly awake anymore or caught in an eternal dream, "Father."

[fortheclan]

There was a strange influx in chakra as Fugaku turned his head and landed his glance on the strange boy. It took Fugaku a moment to realize who he was, that hair of his was ever so recognizable.

"Sasuke?" He muttered, eyebrows raised and eyes wide. How could this be, what was Sasuke doing here!?

By the looks of him he had aged but still, wasn't Itachi supposed to be taking care of him? Some damned good work. He gritted his teeth and frowned.

"You're not supposed to be here."

[beforethedarkness]

"None of us are," He spoke without thinking, blinking at the man before him and unsure of what else he could say. It really was him. Like he had been with his mother, the boy was completely and utterly dumb-founded, unsure of how to react. But unlike with his mother, he didn't approach any further than he already had, standing a fair few feet away from him.

He hadn't expected this, somehow. To meet his father again... He wasn't only that, he was the head of the very clan he had been trying to avenge. It was almost as if he had forgotten how to breathe, with how light-headed and dizzy he was starting to feel.

[fortheclan]

Sasuke's reaction to him was strange, the boy and him had never had quite a sound relationship, but it was way too late to think about that now. There were other more dire matters to assess.

"Explain. Where are we." Because this most certainly wasn't hell, that much was certain.

[beforethedarkness]

He took another few moments just remembering that his lungs needed air before he glanced away from Fugaku, more than a little unsure when he started to speak again, "I've heard that it's called Michi no Sato. I haven't been able to find a way back to Konoha, or even find where we are relative to Hi no Kuni."

There was pause before his next words, and with how shaky his tone was and just what his words were, it would be evident why, "It... You're not the first I've seen. Mother is here too."

[proudofmybaby]

She'd forgotten to tell Sasuke one of the things she wanted to get while he was out, so she'd left the house to the others to go after him. She could get it herself and meet up.

This idea only went partially to plan as while she did have a bag in hand with the items she'd come after, when she found Sasuke he didn't look like he'd gotten particularly far with his end of the shopping trip. It wasn't until she got closer that she realized he wasn't alone, and her steps took her to stand beside her boy.

Her hands dropped to his shoulders in a bid to jar him back into breathing properly as her gaze went to her husband. "Fugaku. Have you been here long?"

[itachi_san]

Itachi struggled to believe that he wasn't trapped in a genjutsu. The man on the edge of the cliff looked exactly like his father... a man he once killed... almost seven years ago... It was impossible. Absolutely impossible. But here he was, looking as he did on the day that he died.

Itachi, on the other hand, had aged well beyond his years during that time. The mangekyo had taken much of his sight. Illness had conquered most of his body. The massacre had long since sullied his soul. He was nothing like the boy he once was. And in the cloak of the enemy, he was probably an unrecognizable threat. It would be best if he made himself scarce.

But when the familiar man turned toward him, he couldn't move. All he could do was stare back with sharingan eyes.

[fortheclan]

He knew he would meet his son eventually, but to see him look so young, well, he couldn't help but feel sorry for Itachi. All of that sacrifice and he was no older than when he had left him. At least Fugaku didn't think so. He stood there stern as always before moving a hand to brush away at some hair.

"You dare look at me with those eyes, Itachi?" How disrespectful. Did he still think him an enemy? Fugaku didn't bother to activate his eyes. He didn't do it the day he offered his own head to his son, he wouldn't do it now.

[itachi_san]

The twenty-year-old Itachi heard his father's words, and felt them as though he were a child again. His gaze fell to the ground, but he did not deactivate his eyes.

"Forgive me. I meant no disrespect." he bowed slightly. His voice was quiet, reserved, as it always was. He hesitated, but eventually explained himself. "Without them... I can barely see."

[fortheclan]

His sons mannerisms and actions gave him more information than he could previously denote. His gaze never left his oldest son as he scrutinized him.

"Your sight has deteriorated." Such things in their clan were common, of course. There were many who had suffered the same fate but only those that had over-exerted themselves had met with such a fate. Emotions were always Itachi's downfall, Fugaku knew this from the start. "You must have been busy after my death."

The Uchiha took a few steps forward, stopping just steps from his son.

"You don't look so well either."

[itachi_san]

For years, the telltale cloak did much to hide his gradually worsening condition. At the very least, it kept anyone from getting close enough to find out. But it was impossible to hide now, face to face with the father he both loved and killed.

Itachi's skin was pale. His hair was dull and limp. The lines on his face gave it a more sunken appearance, making him look even thinner than he was.

"I have been watching over Sasuke... and the village. From within the Akatsuki." he replied softly. His breathing was labored as he spoke, but he tried to hide it. "That is, until I found myself here."

[smallstepstopower]

He didn't know why he felt the urge to come up to the cliff so often, but he suspected it had to do with the desire to understand the overlaying Genjutsu that partially hid the village. Still, he was a bit surprised to actually see someone he recognized up there this time, even if the man looked far, far older than last time he'd seen him.

After all, the man was only a few years his junior not... old.

"Uchiha, you aged -horribly- didn't you?"

[fortheclan]

Perhaps it was Irony that had dragged Orochimaru to him, after all traitors always attracted traitors. How unfortunately, however, to see such a young face. Fugaku turned and frowned. It was infuriating to think he would someday be considered of that snakes same level.

"Aged? That's a difference of opinion." He crossed his arms. "Still hunting the young for your immortality, I see." Pathetic.

[smallstepstopower]

The words got a rather irritated look as he crossed his arms. "I see I'm going to have this conversation with every person I meet here. -I- am -twenty six-, have never defected from Konoha, have never killed sensei, and haven't taken up kidnapping. Are there any other crimes I haven't committed I should inform you of my having not done?"

[fortheclan]

"What the hell do you expect, a prize?"

Who the hell did this punk think he was talking to, giving him sass. So Orochimaru claimed to be younger than he was, whatever. Every sinner had their own red ledger to atone for and every snake always found a whole to. That was not any of Fugaku's business, as an announced 'traitor' of Konoha. Hell had to be big enough for two people, the Uchiha would just make it a point to avoid him.

"Get out of my way." And he started walking. This peaceful stop was tainted now.

"You're making no sense."

[smallstepstopower]

He twitched a little, eyes narrowing. "And you're being about as tractable as expected. Well, you'll see on your own then. Have fun getting to know the locals Uchiha-san. But take care not to alienate everyone who might help you here."

He didn't move, but neither did he follow. He had better things to do with his time.

[shunshinoshishi]

Hadn't learned their lesson, indeed... It was something he had to constantly ask himself. He didn't see why one could not walk the middle path without having to choose.

But seeing Fugaku now, standing by that cliff, Shisui dared not admit that, for a fleeting moment, he felt the urge to push the man over the edge.

"It's not as bad as it should be." Shisui didn't inherit the legacy of hatred, but this encounter certainly stirred up something new... Something a lot like resentment.