Eye for an Eye

Impressed was Sasuke when Naruto revealed that he picked up a few hints that Mizuki last visited the Sand Village. In addition to his slight sunburn, there were also grains of sand stuck on his bandana. Even the Uchiha let it slip in the heat of his anger. Howsoever Naruto calmed his fox and noticed this detail despite weeks of fatigue and tiresome lurking, he was truly impressed.

It was nightfall when the two Leaf shinobi reached the walls of the Wind nation. As unexpected as their visit was, there was also a strange commotion inside the village.

As Naruto approached first, the usual entrance guards were no where in sight. It was even more unsettling when Sasuke casually passed through the gates with no interference or questioning.

But answers awaited them as they set foot into the eerily cold village.

A sudden explosion boomed from the left and then the right. Sasuke whipped his head just in time to see a cloud of sand playing tag with a white bird-like object flying through the sky. Then another explosion sounded.

"Gaara!" Naruto yelled as he turned to see his fellow jinchuriki fall from the sky.

He bolted to where the Kazekage fell while Sasuke snatched out his katana and dashed for the explosion ninja. It didn't take long to locate either of them.

It was almost impossible to understand the scene unfolding before their eyes.

A single ninja wiped out one of the strongest ninja in the Five Lands.

"What do you want with Gaara?" Naruto shouted as he protectively held onto the unconscious redhead.

The intruder obviously did not enjoy the unforeseen disruption to his mission. It was supposed to be and easy get-go. Now another jinchuriki appeared.

"Deidara Deidara," he hummed. "It could have been two jinchurikis with one stone, but I already blew it," he sighed shaking his head. "Guess I'll just have to throw more bombs."

Sasuke followed the robed man with his Sharingan in disgust. He still had no idea what these outcasts were planning, but either way, it was not good.

"Ohohoho, baby Uchicha is so scared he's frozen in shock," Deidara taunted as he flew over with his white bird.

The black coat and red clouds—the Akatsuki.

Naruto glanced worriedly at his leaf counterpart. Sasuke was indeed frozen in place. But there was no need for concern.

There was a sly smirk sitting on his face. It couldn't have been any more convenient.

"I was just looking for you guys. Thanks for cutting the chase short," Sasuke retorted before vanishing and reappearing next to the Akatsuki member.

The blonde Akatsuki's hand warned him just in time so that he successfully dodged a slit to his neck. In the process, however, he tumbled off his flying object. Naruto took the chance to launch a Rasengan at the unsuspecting ninja in free fall.

After taking the immensely powered chakra attack, Deidara found himself meeting eyes with a dangerous pair of crimson eyes.

"Damn."

He knew it. Locking eyes with an Uchiha is indeed Hell. Genjutsu users were definitely a pain in the …

If he had more chakra, there might've been a chance to break loose, but at his current gauge, he was in a bind. And so he entered Sasuke Uchiha's special tailored endless Tsukiyomi.

Anyone watching knew it was a horrific experience.

Gaara was once again returning to his senses and even he pitied the trapped ninja. Sasuke was still grinning wildly as he contemplated what torture technique to try next. It was the perfect time…to meet an opponent who wouldn't die too easily…to vent out his pent up anger from withholding against Mizuki.

Deidara broke down in shivers, unable to control his own body as he experienced death and revival, followed by a more gruesome death and so on. He was at his limits. Otherwise, he wouldn't have muttered countless times to just let him die for real.

"Little brother," a soothingly terrifying voice rang with familiarity. "When have you learned to be so cruel?"

And it was this exact feeling that turned Sasuke on.

"To think I'm finally learning," Sasuke uttered under his breath. He was still trying his best to contain the curdling feeling of reuniting with his rogue brother—the one he was bounded by blood, whether he liked it or not.

"Sasuke…" Itachi's age old voice called. The older Uchiha stole a glance at the trapped Deidara whose life would be positively endangered if stuck in the trance any longer. "Let him go."

"Not a chance."

Itachi eyed menacingly at his younger brother. When did he learn to talk back like that? So not cute.

"In fact," Sasuke paused to make sure Itachi received each word before continuing, "after I kill him, you're next. And when that's over, everything would go back in place."

Yes. After he killed the first Akatsuki, he'd kill another one. Then take the pair of Sharingan and trade it to Orochimaru and finally retrieve mother.

[Mother…hang on just a while longer.]

"I didn't come to fight you, Sasuke." Itachi continued before allowing enough time for his brother to complain, "It seems there's something more important at hand."

Sasuke snorted. Itachi thought that was even more not cute. What the world's cruelty does to a person is undesirably disturbing. His little brother used to be the sweetest thing that walked the planet. How things have changed.

"I don't care what you came for, but I was here waiting. And today, I plan to take a pair of Sharingan or give up my own."