Author's note: Volume 1 is officially finished. You can find it on my p atreon, there will be things you didn't expect. But well, I'll post the next chapter when we get to 50 power stones.
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"AHHHHH!"
Behind that door, was Orochimaru, suffering from the curse that Sarutobi Hiruzen, the third Hokage, left him before departing this world. The pain was unbearable, little by little, his arms began to rot, pieces of skin falling off as if they were scales, leaving a large pool of blood strewn on the floor.
Kabuto, who was outside the room where Orochimaru was, adjusted his glasses and sighed. This situation was stressing him out a bit. If this continued like this, Orochimaru's plan would have to be delayed for a long time, there was no choice, he had to hurry this up.
However, making such a hasty move after having faced Tsunade, Jiraiya and Naruto, would be utter stupidity, Konoha right now is guarded around the clock, though his security is still somewhat lax for the ninja he has at his disposal.
"Coming through, Orochimaru-sama."
Kabuto opened the door while holding a tray of different medicines.
Likewise, Orochimaru, while lying on a bed, looked up and his eyes glowed like those of a snake being pointed at with a torch.
"Kabuto..."
The expression on his face only showed the pain he was feeling at that very moment. He gritted his teeth hard, the sheets were stained with blood, and although he had bandages covering his wounds, they were easily torn, as if his blood was acid.
"I brought your medications, please, I suggest you take all of them."
"This crap is no good, Kabuto, it has no effect, the pain only increases!"
"There's nothing I can do about it-"
"Ahhhh! Shut up, bring the Sound Four before me! Hurry up..."
"But, Orochimaru-sama, I don't think that's-"
"That... that's something that's no longer important. Now, hurry up..."
Orochimaru looked at Kabuto, his eyes glittered slightly in the light of the candle by his bedside. His hair covered part of his face and some beads of sweat ran down his forehead.
"Ha~ I understand..."
He closed his eyes and sighed. He quickly left the room closing the door. After that, he looked at a single place.
***
A few minutes passed. Kabuto stood in the doorway, looking at Orochimaru while adjusting his glasses.
"The time has come. Go to Konoha and bring Toru and Sasuke to me. If you fail to bring Toru, you must not fail to bring Sasuke, that is an order."
Orochimaru gritted his teeth, resisting the pain that tormented him.
In front of him, four shadows of varying sizes appeared. One woman and three men.
"As you command, Orochimaru-sama."
The four mysterious figures nodded their heads and then left the room. This caused, even though he felt excruciating pain, a small sinister smile to show on his mouth.
Kabuto looked at this and could only remain silent.
'Kimimaro is no longer fit to be Orochimaru-sama's soul vessel... Now all that's left is for those four to bring one of those two. Toru... I always saw something interesting in you, and the daggers you use give you away clearly, it's a pity no one noticed. As for Sasuke, he also has a great potential, he improves faster than it seems... now it only remains to wait' He closed the door of the room and went to his small laboratory, where the one who answers to the name of "Kimimaro" is located
-In Konoha-
Only a day passed since he saw Ino and Hinata. He left the place without saying anything, so the least he could do was apologize. Still, his justification for it was that he had been overthinking things. All this happened since he read those documents.
'Now that I remember... Ino changed her clothes. She looked good, but I was thinking about so many things that I forgot she was there. The same thing happened with Hinata. I really should apologize...'
Closing his eyes and letting out a sigh that seemed to last an eternity, Toru opened the door to his house.
She felt that her thoughts were disturbing her teammates, so she tried to act as normal as possible, so she could apologize properly.
'Who should I look for first?'
Toru put on his cloak as he left the house and looked in all directions to make sure no spies were watching him. Strange as it sounds, and to Toru's good fortune, there were no spies today, so he won't be being watched.
This will allow him to go quietly through the village.
'Wilting like a flower, huh...'
Old Shou's words were still in Toru's mind. It made him think things through more carefully, think about what he saw in those documents.
***
The people of Konoha seemed more animated than usual or he just didn't feel right, so the animated attitude of the people made him uncomfortable.
He has walked for a few minutes, trying to think of some apology, something that doesn't sound empty and unrepentant. He had to admit that his accuracy the day before was horrible, he didn't even dare to apologize before he left, he just disappeared, vanishing into thin air.
'My head hurts from thinking. This doesn't happen to me that often, but I guess since I got my memories back, my brain has been a little tired from taking in so much information. I'm still a child in the eyes of others, I think of myself that way too'.
I raise my head and look up at the sky.
'My family... my mother, my father... I guess I had a less difficult life in this world. At least I had a mother who did treat me like a real son. My father, on the other hand... he wasn't such a good father, at least that's what I think. Ha~ it's not worth remembering all that, my clan, my family no longer exists, we were betrayed by the village we worked so hard to protect...' He lowered his gaze and sighed. Although he was trying not to think so much about what he saw that night, it was hard, after all....
"Toru?"
"Toru-kun?"
While he was deep in the world of his thoughts, two voices were heard. Two girls, sounding a little surprised.
"...Hinata... Ino..."
Toru still didn't feel ready to be in front of them again. He completely forgot that he was thinking of an apology, only then he can feel at ease, at least he thought so.
"We were going to visit you. I was really worried, yesterday you left without saying anything."
"Feeling better already, Toru-kun?"
Seeing these two girls being so worried about him made him understand that it wasn't worth it to relive things from the past. Now that he knew the truth behind what happened that night five years ago, he might feel a little more at ease... right? No, that won't happen. There were interesting names in those documents, this was one of the reasons why he was so thoughtful these last few days.
Still, so that these two pretty girls wouldn't feel bad about that guy with the gloomy look, Toru could find a way to apologize.
"Yes, I feel better. I'm sorry for acting like that yesterday, I had... a lot of things to think about. They were just casual problems, so I feel better already. But I feel bad for leaving them like that yesterday, so how about we go for a little walk?"
Toru smiled slightly, making Hinata and Ino feel better after seeing this boy in such a sad state.
"Well, if that's what you want. There's no other choice."
"I'm going too..."
Hinata and Ino clung to Toru's arms. The latter looked at them curiously, as he didn't understand how these two girls could act like this while standing in front of him.
As I understood, women hate that other women besides them are close to the guy they like, but here is that little detail, yesterday when Toru disappeared, Hinata invited Ino to her house.
When Ino was about to return home, Hinata asked her a question, which Ino answered seriously.
***
"Ino-san! You... are you dating Toru-kun?"
She was quite surprised to see that Hinata had asked something like that, it was then that she realized why she felt watched the night she confessed her feelings to Toru.
"No, he rejected me, did you leave before you heard his answer?"
Hinata's eyes widened.
'Did she know I was there...?'
Well, Ino didn't know anything, she only had her suspicions, but seeing Hinata's reaction, she realized many things.
'You'll be my rival, huh...'
'Hinata... if you like Toru too, rest assured that I won't give up, since my love for him is greater. I will fight until I conquer his heart, I know you will do the same. So, no matter who wins this battle, in the end, will you still be my friend?"
The gentle smile on Ino's face made Hinata feel calm. Now she understood how she felt.
They both love the same boy, they've been friends since they were chosen to be on team 11. This was going to be difficult, but still....
"Thank you..."
***
People were looking at Toru, well, it was a normal thing. If you have two girls glued to your arms it's normal for people around you to look at you while asking each other strange questions.
"He's a lucky bastard."
"He's just a kid and he already has two girls..."
"I'm out of here."
Different men's comments were heard. Toru sighed wearily because of this, for he couldn't imagine that his attempt to apologize had ended in this.
In the end, a few hours passed. This date between two girls and a guy was about to end, it was already a little over half a day.
The sun was at its highest point, the strong breeze made the leaves of the trees move from one side to the other, causing a sound very similar to that of a sheet of paper being crumpled with one hand.
This small group of three was in that old park near the ninja academy, which after so long, was empty, without any noise that could disturb the peace, nothing that could ruin the end of that date.
"Toru!"
But the end of this date was interrupted by someone.
'Sasuke...'
-A little while ago, Konoha hospital-'
Days had passed since he was healed by the ninja healing powers of the Legendary Sannin, Tsunade, who was now the new Hokage of Konoha.
In this last time, he was overthinking things. Ever since Itachi used the Tsukuyomi on him, he couldn't get those images out of his head.
'Toru was crying...'
Just like him, who suffered greatly from the loss of his parents, Toru had the same fate. It was Itachi who showed him that scene.
Toru was holding his mother in his arms, tears were falling one after another, mixing with the blood on his hands.
All the blood covered the paper walls and the moonlight came through the door, slightly illuminating Toru's face.
Sasuke opened his eyes unable to believe what he had seen.
As the tears came out, his eyes lit up in a strange blue color like the sky. The pupil changed its shape, showing a black X in the iris. It was at that moment that Toru obtained his dojutsu, however, not even he knew he had that ability until a few months ago.
Sasuke remembered that clearly, as if he had been present at that moment.
The hatred, the sadness, everything that drove Sasuke to become strong, that was something Toru had as well.
However, right now that he had just faced Naruto, he understood that it wasn't just Toru who was strong. They had all overcome him.
His hatred was not enough, he needed more hatred, only then could he avenge the death of his clan and the clan of his childhood friend, whom he considered a brother.
'I... What am I doing?'
He looked at his hand and clenched his fist tightly. He lost to Naruto, but if he could defeat Toru, that would mean that this defeat was just a lucky thing for Naruto.
Then, he took one last look at that water container, which had been destroyed by Naruto's Rasengan and went in search of his childhood friend.
-In the present, in a park somewhere in Konoha.
Toru recognized this person at once. His childhood friend suddenly appeared, he looked like he had just come out of the hospital, as he was wearing the same dark blue shirt with the gray pants he wore when he was recovering from his injuries.
He had a frustrated expression on his face.
He felt humiliated... he felt weak, someone pathetic without enough hatred. All of this filled his mind as he made his way here.
Naruto started out as a mediocre ninja, but now, that mediocre ninja had surpassed the prodigy of the Uchiha clan, Sasuke.
"Sasuke-kun, why are you here?"
Still clinging to Toru's arm, Ino felt curious and asked a question. But Sasuke didn't answer and approached Toru.
He looked him in the eyes and Toru did the same.
Hinata and Ino understood that this was something they shouldn't get involved in, but something they had to see. So they let Toru go and let him handle this.
"Sasuke, you should go back to the hospital. Naruto and Sakura must be worried" He closed his eyes and sighed.
"Fight..."
"Hm...?"
"Fight with me..."
Sasuke looked Toru in the eyes and the crimson glow of the Sharingan showed. At the same time, as if his eyes reacted to that boy's Sharingan, the Shigan in Toru's eyes activated, thus, showing the cold blue light of death in his eyes.
"Can't I refuse?" Toru was direct with his words, he kept his face expressionless and his glowing eyes gaze.
"Are you a coward?"
"I'm not, I just think it's a waste of time. You know the result..."
He already knew the outcome of this fight without even starting. Sasuke would only humiliate himself, there was no reason to fight. Still... he also saw something in Sasuke that looked familiar.
He felt as if the same darkness that troubled him these past few days was treating Sasuke's soul. In his eyes he saw hatred and frustration.
"I don't care about that..."
"Tell me, are you sure about this?"
The light in his eyes intensified.
"I am..."
"Then... so be it."
Toru closed his eyes, to seconds later walk a few meters forward, standing in front of Sasuke.
He looked at his childhood friend, and adopted his fighting stance.
Hinata and Ino could barely understand what was happening. But of one thing they were sure, this had something to do with Toru's attitude the day before.
And they weren't entirely wrong, since this was related to Sasuke, to the people of the Uchiha clan.
'I don't understand why they're going to fight. Sasuke and Toru are friends, right? I don't get it'
'Will Toru-kun be okay fighting Sasuke-san...? He apologized this morning, could it be because he knew this was going to happen?'
Before this duel begins, Hinata and Ino questioned themselves a bit. Even though Toru said he had some casual problems, they didn't believe at all that something like this was casual, at least they interpreted it that way.
"Fine, I won't use my daggers. Now, come here, don't you want to fight?"
"Tch..."
Sasuke checked his tongue. Almost instantly, he disappeared into thin air, arriving in front of Toru in less than a second.
However, he didn't move from the spot he was in.
"Too slow..."
*Bam!
Toru's knee hit hard into Sasuke's stomach, who was left processing what had happened. It only took a second for Toru to deliver the first blow without even moving from where he was.
This forced Sasuke to move back a few meters to think of something.
But...
"No time to rest."
Toru appeared behind Sasuke, charging a paw straight for his head, but his Sharingan gave a small twist, showing Sasuke the way around this.
He placed his arms in front of his face, blocking the strong blow.
"Maybe you already knew this jutsu?"
Sasuke opened his eyes and Toru clasped his hands together, performing the necessary seals for that jutsu.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu."
A small cloud of smoke appeared off to the side, revealing Toru's clone, which placed his hands on the ground, propelling himself and delivering an upward kick that lifted Sasuke off the ground.
'Why...? I don't understand' Sasuke thought.
Being in the air, he closed his eyes and performed the hand positions at a superhuman speed, after that, he looked down, where Toru was and....
"Katōn: Gōkakyū no Jutsu [Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu]"
He clasped his hands together in front of his mouth and blew. Instantly, a large fireball came out as if Sasuke's breath had turned into fire. Toru responded to this attack with something that shocked him.
"Fūton: Toppa [Wind Style: Break]"
Toru connected the seals quickly and inhaled a big breath of air.
"Ino-san, down!"
Hinata realized the danger, so she threw herself to the ground pulling Ino's hand.
At the same time, just inches away, as the fireball was about to incinerate Toru, the latter exhaled a large gust of air, which mixed with the fireball, resulting in an explosion two meters in diameter.
Due to the recoil of his jutsu, Toru was pushed backwards, making his legs unable to support himself well, but he managed to keep his balance, returning his gaze forward, where the explosion left a small cloud of smoke.
"¡¿?!"
"Toru!"
Sasuke appeared through the small cloud of smoke and managed to connect a punch to Toru's face, right on the right cheek. This made Toru look in the opposite direction, but....
The light in Toru's eyes intensified, he looked straight into Sasuke's eyes.
It was then that Toru completely disappeared without a trace.
'Where is he?'
Sasuke looked in every possible direction, but he couldn't find anything. It was as if Toru had disappeared completely.
"Where did he go?"
"Toru-kun?"
Hinata and Ino also lost sight of Toru out of sight, but it was obvious this was going to happen, Toru always does that weird move.
"Katōn: Hōsenka no Jutsu [Fire Style: Flames of the Phoenix]"
Sasuke looked up. There was Toru, but his eyes widened when he recognized the jutsu his childhood friend was going to use.
'Shit!'
By the time he realized it, it was too late. Small fireballs began to fall like rain.
Sasuke tried to dodge the fireballs, but there were so many that it was extremely difficult to move without getting hit by one of them.
*Boom!
A fireball managed to hit him, causing him to fall to the ground hitting his own face with the latter.
'Why, why, why, why, WHY, WHY, WHY!"
Again he was being defeated. He looked pathetic lying on the ground, unable to get up.
'It's still not enough!"
He got up from the ground and looked at Toru, who was standing in front of him, with the same expression as always. This made his anger rise, he no longer had control over himself. Now, he wants to kill Toru.
So, again he went on the attack, as fast as he could. He tried to punch him in the face, but he easily dodged it. Again and again, he tried to hit him using his legs, his fists, nothing worked, he was superior, he was stronger.
"Ahhhh!"
He screamed loudly as he tried to control his anger. He clenched his fists tightly, and then his Sharingan swirled inside his eye.
*Bam! Boom! Bam! *
The sound of the blows could be heard all over the place.
So fast, one after another. It was hard to see them if they were moving at an abnormal speed. Hinata could barely follow them with her Byakugan. Ino, on the other hand, was worried, as this fight was getting too wild.
*Boom!!!
A double punch from both parties. Toru's fist was in Sasuke's face and vice versa. They both recoiled a little, however, Toru looked at him as if he hadn't received any damage.
Sasuke opened his eyes and clenched his teeth tightly. He realized that all this time... Toru had been holding back, he could tell by the simple fact that his childhood friend had not yet used the ninjutsu he used against Gaara.
'You're underestimating me... Toru, you were always like that!'
Kneeling on the ground, Sasuke looked down at his own hands.
At the same time, Toru stood back, a few feet away.
'This is not right. I must end this as quickly as possible."
Toru sighed. This fight was destroying Sasuke inside. There was no choice but to leave this as it is.
But...
A bright light illuminated the whole place
Blue as the sky, pure electricity.
The sound of a thousand birds was heard.
Toru watched in silence.
'Sasuke... you have let yourself be consumed by the darkness.'
His childhood friend, that boy who used to smile when he saw his brother coming home from work, has completely disappeared.
Now only that boy who held his arm tightly is left, while the Chidori glowed illuminating everything.
Toru sighed again. Hinata and Ino opened their eyes seeing this.
Toru's arms began to glow, this was the only talent of the Asahi clan, Imbuing....
"Toru!"
Sasuke lunged forward charging the Chidori in his right hand. Toru closed his eyes for a moment and then also launched himself into the attack.
"Chidori! [Bird Thousand]!"
"Kamikaze! [Divine explosion]"
*Boom!
A loud explosion shook everything around them and then, the result of this fight showed itself. Sasuke shot out against a tree, hitting his back and causing a thud. At the same time, standing in front of him, Toru's arms glowed with the light of Shakuton.
"Toru!"
"Toru-kun!"
Hinata and Ino quickly approached Toru, but stopped when they realized that there was smoke coming out of this boy's arms, after all, Toru is not immune to his own Kekkei Genkai, which had burned his arms, just a little.
"Damn..."
Sasuke tried to stand up, but it was difficult.
Just at the instant their hands were about to collide, Sasuke could see that the light on Toru's arms became dim for a moment, as if he had lowered the intensity of his jutsu.
"Ino... Hinata, you can go home. We'll see you tomorrow."
"Uh? But-"
"It's okay, I'll take care of this."
Seeing the expression Toru had on his face, Hinata and Ino couldn't refuse.
"Alright... then tomorrow, I'll see you tomorrow."
Ino smiled, she felt that she didn't drink leave, she felt that she should stay together with him. She had a bad feeling, so did Hinata, who moved closer, placing her head on Toru's chest.
"See you tomorrow..."
She looked up and met his eyes. She clung to Toru, but then, sighed and walked away with regular steps.
Ino stayed for a moment, but then decided to leave as well.
This left Toru and Sasuke alone.
This bright blue-eyed boy looked at them. Sasuke was lying on the ground, clenching his fists tightly as he tried to hide his emotions, which were about to explode.
***
It was getting dusk, the sky turned that mystical and calm golden color as always. Camping to this sunset, a warm breeze made her hair dance to the rhythm of the latter.
'Sasuke... the road you're going on is full of stones...'
Sitting on a tree branch, Toru felt tired. He had just defeated Sasuke, he held back until the end so as not to hurt him too much. He won the victory, but when he wanted to help Sasuke, Sasuke shouted at him to leave. Even so, Toru stayed in that place, until Sasuke decided to leave.
And now, he was sitting on the branch of a tree near the place where he faced him.
'Ha~ more trouble' He said when he saw four shadows in front of him.
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