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154Chapter 2

DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Naruto or any of it's characters. Kishimoto Masashi does. I do not make any type of profit from writing this fanfiction. This is strictly for my and my readers' pleasure. The Japanese language used in this fanfiction is translated by Google.

CLAIMER: I OWN Yami Uchiha. Do NOT steal.

RATED: R and is subject to change.

WARNING: This is going to be an YAOI/MALE+MALE story.

BETA READER: None; so there will be errors that I do not catch.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: The scenarios involved in this fanfiction are fictional. The main character may also strike readers as a Mary/Gary Sue. If this fact bothers you, turn back now. Construction criticism is welcomed. No flames.

"Speaking"

'Thinking'

HandSigning

~oOo~STORY START~oOo~

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Sandaime Hokage of Konohagakure, stared at the newly returned group with wide eyes and a frown. In front of him was a once member of ANBU who was thought to be KIA on a mission gone wrong. Hiruzen waved his hand, dismissing the group save the ravenette Uchiha who was still in a kneeling position in front of his desk.

"Rise, Uchiha Yami-san." Hiruzen ordered, his face going blank. "Tell me, if you have been alive all this time, why have you not returned to Konoha? That makes you a rogue ninja."

After I recovered from my injuries, I learned about the massacre. They said there were no survivors. Believing that I was the only one left of my clan, I lost my will to live. For the longest, I traveled searching for a reason to keep going. Yami signed; his pain showing in his eyes despite trying to hide it.

"Why sign? Can you not speak?" Hiruzen asked softly, honestly wanting to know.

With great reluctance, Yami took hold of his crimson sash and slipped it from around his waist. His black hanten shirt followed the crimson material to the floor. With quick hands, Yami unwrapped the white bandages from around his torso and lower face. Hiruzen's jaw fell at the sight of the gruesome pink scar that ran a jagged curve from the right side of Yami's torso between two ribs and up to his left cheek bone.

"How did you survive that?" Hiruzen whispered, knowing how fatal receiving such a wound was.

Yami shrugged, not understanding it either. He rewrapped his lower face and torso and replaced his hanten and sash before Hiruzen began talking again.

"Where is your hitai-ate?"

With the old couple that saved my life.

Hirzen smiled slightly before taking a black clothed hitai-ate from one of his desk drawers and setting it on top of a stack of papers.

"I understand why you did what you did. You are welcome to join back with the ranks, but your skills will have to be tested."

Sir, I have become a Sage in recent years and have not lacked in training despite my travels. I would like to maintain my Jonin status. Yami stated, causing Hiruzen to choke on the smoke of his pipe.

"With the Arachnids?" Hiruzen questioned, surprised.

Yami nodded as he tied his hitai-ate to the left side of his sash. Hiruzen smiled.

"Genin teams will be sorted in a few days. Would you like to take one on?" Hiruzen asked.

Charcoal black eyes widened slightly.

Are you sure that's best, Sir?

"I have an ANBU that I am forcing into retirement and I know that he will do his best to be lazy about teaching this particular team of genin that is if they pass his test. I want you to be co-leader if you want to."

Sir—

"Uchiha Sasuke will be on this team."

That shut Yami up quickly. With a tense nod, Yami agreed. Hiruzen's smile morphed into a grin.

"Good. You are dismissed. I am sure you wish to see your cousin and get your place cleaned up." Hiruzen voiced and Yami slowly walked out of the Hokage's tower.

~oOo~

Standing inside the Uchiha Clan compound felt strange yet comforting to Yami. He was anxious to see his young cousin, but he was nervous about how the boy would react to him. He calmly made his way to his house. He noted how wore the place looked on the outside from years of neglect and hoped that the inside fared better. Dust covered every surface with a thick layer and Yami was glad that his mouth and nose was covered. He signed.

'I think I'll hire some genin to clean the du—'

"What are you doing in here? This is Uchiha property." A harsh tone broke Yami from his thoughts.

He turned around to face the person he had sensed approaching. The boy was no older than twelve and was sporting a traditional Uchiha shirt with its high collar and clan symbol. White shorts and blue sandals completed his attire. Familiar charcoal black eyes glared threateningly at Yami, but he was too busy staring at the boy's unusual ducktail-like hair style.

Sasuke Yami signed, but the boy just took up a fighting stance.

Yami held up a finger, confusing the boy. Slipping his hand inside the hidden pocket of his hanten, Yami pulled out a single piece of paper and used a chakra tipped finger to write a message. He held it up for the boy to see.

"'Sasuke, I am Uchiha Yami, your cousin.'" Sasuke read aloud.

Uncertainty filled the boy and Yami could see it through his stance. He activated his Sharingan to prove it. Sasuke gasped, his body shaking. Yami deactivated his doujutsu, but stayed where he was. Sasuke's posture relaxed from a fighting stance, but Yami could see how tense the boy remained.

"You died during a mission. I went to your funeral…to everyone's…" Sasuke trailed off, his hands balling up at his sides as he glared down at the ground.

The rustling of paper caused the boy to look up.

"'An old couple saved me. Heard about massacre and thought I was the last. Lost the will to live. Traveled in search of a reason.'" Sasuke once again read the message out loud.

Sasuke fell to his knees, his hands bracing him from falling completely down. Kneeling down in front of him, Yami placed a hand on Sasuke's head in silent comfort.

~oOo~

After Sasuke had calmed down enough to gather himself up off of the dusty floor, he made Yami follow him to the main house and had him agree to stay with him with the excuse of Yami's house being unfit to live in. The two were currently sitting at the dining table about to eat the dinner Sasuke had cooked up. Given most of it contained tomatoes, Yami was not one to complain. He lifted his chopsticks to his mouth and caught Sasuke staring at him. Amusement lit up his eyes when he saw the boy's shoulders slump when the food phased through the wraps covering Yami's lips.

"How did you do that?" Sasuke wondered out loud.

Fuinjutsu. Yami signed.

Sasuke's brows furrowed. Seeing this, Yami took out another piece of paper.

"'Fuinjutsu.' You can't talk, can you?" Sasuke asked quietly.

Yami shook his head. It was not like he could not speak, it was just that he did not like to speak. The scar messed with his voice box and it causes his voice to be hoarse and cracks when he tries to talk. Dropping the subject, the two ate in silence.