Sasuke gets the truth Pt. 1

I was annoyed, not angry, at the end of the day, Sadako got to test out her new Blessing, Orochimaru lost a couple of squads worth of Shinobi, and no one from Wave got hurt, it was a good outcome.

And I was satisfied with the Blessing I had given her, it was basically gravity manipulation. Strong enough to make her do what I want Templars to do, they are supposed to be my answer to Jōnin, which was working, she had fought 4 of them at once and won without suffering any serious injuries.

But Sasuke helping Orochimaru fuel his torture machine and the implication that the snake fondler had set his sights on Wave left me in a bad mood.

The only reason I intervened and told Sadako to not kill him was because I felt pity for the kid.

And he was a kid, he was what? 14? 15? At that age, I was wasting my life away playing League of Legends, I could hardly blame him for making poor decisions.

Especially considering the whole fact that he was traumatized to hell and back because his older brother killed his whole family and clan, and then made Sasuke watch the whole thing on repeat for 3 days.

But that was little consolation when it was clear Orochimaru wanted to 'examine' some of my Blessings, whatever person he would have kidnapped would not live long.

Just because Sasuke did not pull the lever, doesn't mean he is innocent when he is the one tying the noose around someone's neck.

I was going to give one freebie, just because no one got hurt, except the Oto Shinobi, of course.

He looked like he was having trouble understanding the situation, so I guess I should start talking.

"I was going to say that I don't understand you, but I think I do."

I sat down in front of him, ignoring his hand tightening around the Kunai.

He glared at me even harder, you know, Sharingan are pretty intimidating in person.

But he didn't say anything, I sighed.

I waved my hand, purely for show, as Sasuke's wounds visibly healed.

Thank Me I didn't have to worry about DP for small shit like this, the days of having to worry about a measly 82 DP were long gone.

Anything below 4 digits was pocket change, I remember being excited that I got 42 DP after a full sermon, oh how times changed.

I ignored his baffled expression, he would get used to my bullshit eventually.

"The worst part is the dreams, in my opinion," I started softly. "Not the nightmares, you get used to those, I'm talking about the good ones, dreams where you are happy, where everything is fine."

Sasuke tight grip around his Kunai relaxed slightly, but his frown deepened.

"And then you wake up, and for a split second, it still seems real, everything is right with the world." I let out a bitter chuckle. "Then understanding sets in, and you realize none of it was real, your heart feels like it's being squeezed, your breath gets stuck in your throat, and for that moment, you just want to close your eyes again and go back to a better world."

He looked away from me, and there was an almost unnoticeable hitch in his breathing.

"You get used to the nightmares, you get used to waking up covered in cold sweat and drenched in fear, but no matter how much time passes, you can never quite get used to that hint of hope being snatched away by cold reality."

In some ways was glad I didn't need to sleep anymore.

We sat there in silence for a while.

"What do you want?" Sasuke finally spoke, his voice less tense, but still cold. "Why heal me? Who even are you?"

"In reverse order, I'm Ayumu, I healed you so we could talk without you having your ribs poking your lungs whenever you take a breath, and I wanted to talk."

My responses were straightforward and honest, and almost fully useless.

Sasuke let out an annoyed huff of air.

"You know what I mean, either actually tell me or go away."

Wow, rude.

"If you want better answers, ask better questions." I replied with amusement.

He was clearly annoyed at that.

"Why did that woman spare me?" He demanded.

"Because I asked her too, I didn't want her to kill you." I answered truthfully.

"Why?" He questioned suspiciously.

"I have a soft spot for you, I feel like you got dealt a very bad hand."

He scoffed at that. Did he not believe me? That hurts me right in my non-existent heart, I was a very honest person.

"Why did she listen to you?"

I was honestly confused by that question, Konoha and by extension Orochimaru had to have noticed the connection between the burned man who talked to Naruto and Sasuke that was called Ayumu and the now fairly famous Martyr Saint Ayumu, who was burned alive. I didn't even change my hair color or general appearance besides the golden eyes and the burns.

"Did... Did you miss the part where I'm considered a pretty big deal in The Land of Waves?" I questioned slowly. "I mean, everyone around here has heard my story."

Sasuke stared at me blankly, he opened his mouth, then closed it again.

"So you are actually the same Ayumu? Orochimaru thought you were a copycat since Kakashi verified that the real one died, and you never showed back up in the public eye." He paused for a second. "Did you fake your death?"

Oh yeah, I remember Kakashi rummaging through my grave, I hope his pillows were warm and slightly moist in the Summer.

"No, I actually am dead."

Sasuke stared at me, waiting for me to continue, I didn't.

I had to use exactly 0.6 DP to moisten my eyes, but he eventually lost the staring contest.

"Fine, whatever, what did you want to talk about?" He eventually said.

"I dislike choices made with incomplete information, especially if it leads to regret."

I let my demeanor shift into something much more serious, I wanted Sasuke to understand I was not joking around anymore.

"Do you want to learn the full truth of the Uchiha Massacre?"

I really hated the old trope of people learning the truth only after someone dies, if Sasuke wants to forgive Itachi? Fine. If Sasuke wants to kill him? Fine. I had no stake in that race.

But he was going to do it with full knowledge of what happened that night, from the Uchiha's marginalization due to Madara's crazy arc all the way to Danzo being a power hungry madman.

Sasuke stiffened.

"What truth?" He questioned slowly, his voice strained. I think a part of him did not want to hear anything, too scared to learn something that might shake the hatred that kept him going for so long.

But he didn't tell me to fuck off, which meant he would listen.

So, I started speaking.