[Village of Senzai--Northwestern Border of the Land of Claw]
Sasuke adjusted the edge of his beanie, tugging it lower to hide the distinctive black spikes of hair beneath. It was an annoyingly necessary precaution; just the thought of Sakura spotting him from afar and gleefully shouting "Hedgehog!" made him shiver. Even after all this time, the memory of her playful taunts from their genin days had a troubling way of lingering.
Suigetsu raised an eyebrow, noticing Sasuke's slight discomfort. "That hat really necessary?"
"Better safe than sorry," Sasuke replied flatly, pulling the hood of his jacket tighter. Beneath its unassuming exterior, the garment concealed dagger, wire, and other tools Kabuto had thoughtfully sewn into its lining-perfect for someone trying to stay unnoticed.
"You worried someone's going to recognize you out here in the sticks?" Suigetsu asked skeptically, casually leaning on his blade.
"Fame has its downsides," Sasuke replied evenly, glancing toward the dim glow of lanterns flickering in the distant village. "Come on. The longer we stay exposed, the higher the risk."
He started forward silently, melting into the shadows of the surrounding forest. Suigetsu sighed dramatically before following, adjusting the heft of his sword.
As they approached, the modest village revealed itself beneath the fading light. Humble wooden buildings, worn and patched, showed obvious signs of long-term neglect under Kumogakure's oppressive authority. Even from afar, Sasuke could feel the palpable air of suffering clinging to the place, mixed with a barely-contained defiance simmering beneath.
They stopped at the edge of town, just outside the dim ring of lamplight illuminating a small tavern-its doors open, spilling out muffled voices and whispered conversations. Sasuke adjusted his beanie once more, quietly scanning the area for sentries or spies.
Suigetsu tilted his head thoughtfully. "They don't seem very alert. Strange, considering how fiercely they've been oppressed."
"They're alert," Sasuke corrected quietly. "They're just more afraid of what's inside than what's out here."
"How do you figure that?"
Sasuke began moving again, stepping forward confidently. "When fear turns inward, vigilance against outsiders slips."
The tavern's conversations fell quiet the moment Sasuke and Suigetsu stepped inside, suspicious eyes locking onto them instantly. Sasuke paid them no attention, casually finding a seat near the back wall. He moved smoothly, subtly adjusting his jacket as he sat, the concealed dagger pressing reassuringly against his ribs. Suigetsu took a nearby seat, sword propped carelessly beside him.
A weathered bartender cautiously approached their table, wary eyes flickering across Sasuke's concealed features. "Travelers or troublemakers?" he asked bluntly.
Sasuke tilted his head slightly, shadowed eyes watching carefully. "Depends. Which one are you more afraid of?"
The bartender hesitated briefly before sighing deeply. "Around here, we've got enough of both."
Sasuke leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows lightly on the table. "Then maybe you can answer something for me."
"What do you want?" The bartender stiffened slightly.
"Just information," Sasuke replied softly, his tone disarmingly gentle. "Why is Kumogakure suddenly tightening its grip on this village?"
The bartender hesitated again, visibly uneasy. His gaze shifted toward the other patrons, who had grown deathly quiet, clearly listening despite attempts at pretending otherwise.
"Look," he said finally, voice lowering. "We don't talk openly about this. They've got ears everywhere."
Sasuke's expression remained calm beneath his hood. "Then tell me this-why is fear more important than freedom here?"
The bartender stiffened, his jaw clenched tightly. "You don't understand. Every time we resist, they retaliate. Villagers disappear. Supplies dwindle. Every act of defiance just makes things worse."
Suigetsu sighed impatiently, about to comment, but Sasuke raised a subtle hand, silencing him.
"Yet," Sasuke pressed gently, "oppression persists only if fear outweighs hope. So, tell me-what exactly is it that Kumogakure fears from you? A small village like this hardly seems a genuine threat."
The bartender's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "And why does that matter to outsiders?"
"Because," Sasuke replied steadily, "if Kumo is afraid, it means you possess something valuable. Something worth hiding, worth controlling. Something they're desperate to keep others from finding out."
The silence stretched until a soft voice broke it from the corner. A woman sat there, lean and composed, her fingers fidgeting absently with a frayed thread on her sleeve. Her gaze was sharp-not aged, but sharpened by hardship and the weight of responsibility.
"They fear what we know," she said simply.
Sasuke turned slightly, eyes locking onto hers. "And what is it do you know...miss?"
The woman regarded him quietly, her gaze penetrating, searching beneath Sasuke's lowered hood and cap, sensing deeper intentions. Finally, her expression softened, as if deciding he was worth the truth
"Keiko," she said quietly, offering no family name. "I was a seamstress once. Now I sew something else."
Her voice lowered.
"This village guards something old. Something ancient. Records and ruins deep beneath our soil," she began softly. "There are scrolls, tablets-we keep them secret. They tell of things even shinobi have forgotten. Things Kumo desires desperately."
Sasuke nodded slowly, leaning closer. "Information powerful enough that Kumo fears rebellion if it spreads?"
"More than rebellion," the woman replied grimly. "The truth hidden here could challenge their rule, maybe even the balance of all shinobi villages. They keep us oppressed to ensure nobody discovers it. Even our own people have started to forget the truth."
"Yet knowledge," Sasuke said softly, voice resonating with certainty, "is like water-it inevitably finds a way to flow."
Keiko gave a tired, bitter smile-the kind worn by someone who'd spent too long trying to protect something fragile. "You speak beautifully, stranger, but words alone won't free us."
"You're right," Sasuke conceded gently, pulling back slightly, adjusting his jacket. Beneath its fabric, his fingers lightly brushed the concealed dagger. "Words are merely the beginning."
Suigetsu shifted in his seat, eyes narrowing with newfound understanding. He glanced meaningfully at Sasuke. "So, what's our next move?"
Sasuke straightened, adjusting his hood-a subtle gesture concealing his slight tension. "Now we ask the right questions to Kumogakure itself, and we'll see if their answers align."
"And if they don't answer?" Suigetsu prompted knowingly, repeating their earlier conversation.
Sasuke rose from the table gracefully, leaving a few coins as thanks. "Then we make sure their silence tells us exactly what we need."
As Sasuke turned toward the door, he hesitated briefly, glancing back at the woman. "Sorry I haven't introduced myself," he paused "call me Sasuke, and I promise you this: your truths will not remain hidden much longer."
The woman nodded quietly, her eyes filled with cautious hope. "Then I wish you luck, Sasuke-kun."
Stepping back out into the dark, Sasuke pulled his hood tight again, walking briskly toward the edge of town. Suigetsu followed close behind, his expression intrigued.
"You really think whatever they've hidden is worth all this trouble?" Suigetsu asked quietly.
Sasuke's voice was soft, determined. "Anything powerful enough to terrify Kumo is exactly the kind of truth we need."
He drew his hood lower, letting it cast his face in shadow as he moved swiftly into the darkness-ready for the dance that lay ahead.
---
[Hidden Ruins beneath Senzai Village - Land of Claw]
Darkness enveloped them as Sasuke descended carefully down the hidden staircase beneath the village's old shrine, each footstep echoing softly against ancient stone. Beside him, Suigetsu moved cautiously, his usually playful expression turned serious by the oppressive atmosphere surrounding them.
"This place gives me the creeps," Suigetsu murmured softly, eyes darting around the narrow passage. "Orochimaru really knows how to pick his targets."
Sasuke paused slightly, voice quiet but firm. "He didn't pick this one-I did."
Suigetsu raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? So all those late nights pouring through Orochimaru's old archives weren't his idea?"
"Indirectly," Sasuke admitted quietly, continuing their descent. "Orochimaru's notes hinted about ancient knowledge buried here-secrets powerful enough to unsettle the major villages, especially Kumogakure."
"So he's aware we're here and just doesn't care?" Suigetsu whispered, incredulous.
"Exactly," Sasuke said quietly, stepping around a pile of crumbling stones without breaking stride. "He probably thinks my questions are amusing. A harmless distraction."
He glanced ahead, voice dropping lower.
"But this was never about him. It's about something bigger... and far more personal."
Suigetsu glanced at him, eyes flickering with surprise-but he knew better than to ask. He let the silence hang, trailing after Sasuke without a word.
They emerged into a larger chamber, their lanterns illuminating worn carvings and faded inscriptions on every surface. At the far end stood a massive stone tablet covered in dust and moss, yet still radiating a quiet authority.
Sasuke approached carefully, tracing faint inscriptions with a gloved hand. The electrostatic material of his fingerless gloves tingled slightly as he brushed dirt away, fingers pausing over unfamiliar symbols etched deep into the rock.
Suigetsu leaned over slightly, trying to get a better look without getting too close. "Can you read it?"
Sasuke didn't answer immediately. His eyes stayed fixed on the carved script, brow furrowed in concentration.
"Some of it," he murmured. "Fragments. Words I've seen before in old texts... but most of it's fractured."
His fingers hovered over one of the etched lines without touching it.
"It mentions something called 'Void Release.' But it's vague. Could be a technique. Could be something else entirely."
Suigetsu shot him a sideways glance. "Sounds ominous."
Sasuke's expression remained cold, voice dropping lower.
"The context's broken. But this term-it keeps showing up in very few records tied to Akatsuki cult's origin. Their so-called god."
He exhaled quietly, almost to himself.
"Whoever carved this didn't want to explain. Just to leave pieces scattered."
Suigetsu watched him carefully, brow furrowing. He opened his mouth like he wanted to ask something but thought better of it.
Suigetsu whistled softly. "Void Release? Never heard of it. But it sounds important-maybe even dangerous."
"That's why Kumogakure is afraid," Sasuke murmured, voice barely audible as he stepped back, deep in thought. "These scrolls and inscriptions hold answers to questions the great villages don't want asked."
He slowly moved toward another set of carvings, his expression turning reflective. "Information like this can upend nations. Whoever controls it, controls the entire narrative of shinobi history."
Suigetsu crossed his arms skeptically. "And you think we should control it?"
"No," Sasuke said, shaking his head slightly, eyes serious beneath the edge of his beanie. "Information controlled by a single hand becomes oppression. Our role isn't to control-it's to liberate it, spread it, make sure it reaches people who've been denied the truth for far too long."
Suigetsu chuckled quietly. "You've turned into quite the revolutionary, Sasuke. Think you'll still be amused when the shinobi world declares you their public enemy?"
Sasuke allowed himself a faint smirk, eyes gleaming with determination. "They're already afraid of what I might become. Better to live as a danger than die quietly as their pawn."
A noise echoed suddenly down the staircase behind them, sharp footsteps ringing loudly.
Suigetsu grabbed his sword instinctively. "Looks like the villagers might've told Kumogakure we're down here."
"Not unexpected," Sasuke replied calmly, adjusting his hood again. "Knowledge rarely stays secret for long."
Suigetsu's expression darkened slightly. "Then how do we handle this?"
Sasuke turned toward the approaching footsteps, Sharingan active, eyes steady. Chakra gathered fluidly into the electrostatic weave of his gloves, small arcs of controlled Chidori crackling between his fingertips. "We make sure the truth escapes-even if we have to carve a path ourselves."
Suigetsu grinned broadly, shifting into a ready stance. "Now you're speaking my language."
Before he could move, Sasuke spoke evenly without looking at him. "Don't kill them. Knock them out."
Suigetsu blinked, surprised. "What, you going soft on me now?"
Sasuke's eyes remained cold, focused on the approaching footsteps.
"It's not our place to decide who lives or dies. Not tonight."
He glanced sideways, voice dropping lower. "We're here to find the truth-not to silence anyone before they can speak."
Suigetsu snorted, rolling his shoulders. "You're gonna make a terrible warlord one day, you know that?"
Sasuke didn't reply. His eyes had already turned back toward the enemy, while his thoughts briefly flickering to Orochimaru's cryptic notes hidden away in dark, forgotten scrolls-hints that had led him here, but never explicitly commanded it. He'd chosen this path, driven by his own hunger for answers, for liberation, and for truth.
The approaching footsteps grew louder, quicker. Sasuke lowered his stance, breath steady, heart calm.
The first of Kumogakure's shinobi appeared at the chamber's entrance, eyes widening briefly in recognition. Sasuke's voice was cool, composed-almost curious:
"Tell me-what exactly is it you fear so deeply?"
---
The first shinobi lunged forward without answering, weapon drawn and chakra blazing around him. Sasuke moved swiftly, sidestepping fluidly as he channeled chakra into his fingertips. The electrostatic fabric of his gloves crackled to life, sparking brightly as he jabbed his hand precisely into his attacker's shoulder.
A sharp flash of lightning burst forth, the shinobi spasming violently before crumpling to the ground unconscious.
"Guess they weren't in a conversational mood," Suigetsu remarked, meeting the next wave of shinobi with his broadside of his blade. The clash of steel filled the stone chamber as sparks flew in chaotic arcs.
Sasuke calmly adjusted his beanie, keeping his face in shadow. He moved methodically-never wasting movements, never losing composure. Every strike was calculated, every chakra-infused tap left his enemies twitching and stunned, dropping swiftly to the ancient stone floor.
"Just a question!" Sasuke called, voice calm but resonant over the chaos. "What exactly is it about this knowledge that terrifies Kumogakure so deeply? Surely you know what you're fighting to protect."
Another shinobi charged, eyes narrowed defiantly. "We're protecting order-peace! You outsiders understand nothing!" He swung violently with a blade shimmering with lightning chakra.
Sasuke deflected the strike smoothly with his dagger, hidden until now within his jacket sleeve. The attacker stumbled, thrown off balance. Sasuke seized the opening, delivering another precise shock with his fingertips, leaving the shinobi collapsed, muscles twitching erratically.
"Peace built on ignorance is fragile," Sasuke replied coolly, shaking sparks from his fingers. "Knowledge withheld isn't peace-it's tyranny."
"Save the philosophy!" Suigetsu shouted, locked in fierce combat, deflecting powerful strikes from a larger shinobi wielding dual weapons. He laughed sharply, teeth flashing in the dim lantern-light. "You're starting to sound preachy, Sasuke."
Sasuke allowed himself a brief smile, pivoting to evade another chakra-enhanced strike from behind. He countered swiftly, pressing his palm lightly against the attacker's chest, releasing a powerful but carefully controlled burst of chidori. The man collapsed silently.
"Fine, let's stick to practicality," Sasuke replied evenly. "The scrolls and tablets in this chamber-why does Kumogakure want them destroyed?"
One shinobi hesitated, momentarily stunned by Sasuke's calm inquiry. His guard faltered. Sasuke seized the opportunity instantly, incapacitating him with a quick, chakra-infused strike to the neck, dropping him without serious injury.
"Tell me!" Sasuke commanded, voice calm yet unyielding, facing the last remaining attacker directly. "What truths are so dangerous they must be erased from history?"
The shinobi faltered briefly, eyes flickering uncertainly between Sasuke and the fallen. Finally, he spat bitterly, voice filled with contempt and fear. "Knowledge contained here is forbidden for good reason!"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Yet your village wants it erased rather than guarded. Why?Tell me!" Sasuke commanded, voice calm yet unyielding, facing the last remaining attacker directly. "What truths are so dangerous they must be erased from history?"
The shinobi faltered briefly, eyes flickering uncertainly between Sasuke and his fallen comrades. Finally, frustration and confusion colored his voice. "We don't know! We're just foot soldiers-we follow orders. We're told to erase everything. Whatever's down here, it scares even the higher-ups. What the hell is it anyway?"
Sasuke regarded him silently, disappointment flickering subtly beneath his composed expression. "Ignorance again," he murmured quietly, almost regretfully.
The shinobi lunged once more, desperation making him reckless. Sasuke sidestepped effortlessly, tapping him swiftly on the side. Chidori crackled sharply, sending the attacker sprawling unconscious to the stone floor.
Suigetsu stepped forward cautiously, glancing at Sasuke with mild curiosity. "Guess that was a bust. You get anything useful?"
"Enough," Sasuke replied thoughtfully, eyes narrowing as he turned to the ancient inscriptions. "They follow orders blindly, destroying knowledge without question. They don't need to understand what they fear to be controlled by it. For now, that itself is information."
Suigetsu sheathed his sword with an amused smirk. "You always manage to twist even failure into insight, Sasuke."
Sasuke adjusted his hood once more, shadows concealing his quiet resolve. "There's no such thing as failure-only more questions."
---
[Senzai Village Outskirts - Land of Claw]
They emerged from the underground ruins into a chill, moonlit night, the cold air refreshing against Sasuke's skin after the oppressive dampness below. The village was quiet again, though Sasuke could sense cautious eyes watching from behind closed shutters and locked doors. He adjusted his hood again, instinctively hiding his features deeper beneath it.
Suigetsu stretched casually, rolling his shoulders as he inhaled deeply. "Finally. Air that doesn't smell like ancient death."
Sasuke ignored him for the moment, gaze fixed thoughtfully toward the horizon. The scattered lights of the oppressed village flickered dimly beneath a pale moon, whispering of secrets still hidden within.
"Are we really leaving everything we found down there for Kumogakure to reclaim?" Suigetsu asked skeptically. "Seems risky, doesn't it?"
Sasuke shook his head slowly, eyes distant but resolute. "They won't destroy it immediately-not until they're certain no one else knows it exists. We've disturbed their secrecy, but we haven't yet forced their hand."
Suigetsu frowned, clearly puzzled. "Then what was the point? We fought for information just to leave it behind?"
Sasuke turned slightly, adjusting the sleeves of his jacket, the concealed Dagger shifting reassuringly against his wrist. "The point was confirmation. Kumogakure's reaction, their panic-those are clearer answers than the scrolls themselves."
"You're talking in riddles again," Suigetsu sighed, shaking his head. "So, what now?"
Sasuke began walking away from the village slowly, Suigetsu quickly falling in step beside him. "We watch carefully," he said quietly, glancing toward the stars overhead. "Kumogakure will move swiftly to silence this place. Their next steps will show precisely how vulnerable they are-and what lengths they'll go to hide their secrets."
"You're baiting them?" Suigetsu asked, intrigued. "And if their next move includes sending someone stronger-like an ANBU?"
"Then they risk exposing more weaknesses," Sasuke replied steadily, his tone chillingly calm. "Every move they make leaves a trail. Every reaction tells me more about the game board."
A brief silence fell between them as they walked, the path stretching quietly ahead beneath moonlit shadows. After a while, Suigetsu spoke again, tone softer and more reflective:
"You really think this 'truth' of yours can change anything? I mean, people are used to being kept in the dark. It's safer."
"Comfort isn't the same as freedom," Sasuke answered quietly, his voice heavy with subdued conviction. "The truth can't be hidden forever. It always finds a crack, an opening. All it needs is someone willing to force it out into the light."
Suigetsu laughed softly, shaking his head. "I still don't know if you're a genius or insane. Maybe both."
"Does it matter?" Sasuke asked calmly, pulling the cap down slightly as a chill ran through him. "As long as we succeed."
Suigetsu shrugged lightly. "I suppose not."
They reached the outskirts of the village when Sasuke slowed, stopping mid-step. A flicker of realization crossed his face.
"Shit..." he muttered.
Suigetsu glanced back. "What now? Don't tell me you forgot something."
Sasuke exhaled quietly, lifting one hand to scratch the side of his face with a single finger - a small, almost self-conscious gesture. "Yeah...even geniuses slip up sometimes," he said dryly. "We probably shouldn't leave a bunch of unconscious Kumo shinobi lying in front of an ancient, hidden chamber."
Suigetsu smirked broadly, clearly enjoying the moment. "Oh, good. For a second, I thought you were actually getting sloppy."
Sasuke shot him a sidelong glance, his smile becoming faintly sarcastic. "Don't get used to it."
Suigetsu chuckled, amused at the brief slip of composure. "No promises."
---
A short while later, they had carefully arranged the subdued shinobi in the village square, weapons neatly stacked beside them-a deliberate and unmistakable message. Sasuke watched silently from the shadows as villagers cautiously emerged, confusion and tension rippling visibly through the small crowd.
Suigetsu folded his arms, glancing sideways at Sasuke with quiet amusement. "Think Kumo will actually understand your little 'message'?"
Sasuke tilted his head slightly, the brim of his cap shadowing a subtle, sarcastic smile. "If not, they're even less intelligent than I gave them credit for."
Suigetsu chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "You know, sometimes your sense of humor worries me."
Sasuke allowed himself a quiet, genuine chuckle. "Only sometimes? I must be losing my edge."
"Or I'm finally adjusting to your strange brand of charm," Suigetsu replied lightly, rolling his eyes.
Sasuke's faint smile faded gradually, expression shifting into careful thought once more. "They'll respond swiftly and harshly. Kumogakure won't tolerate being embarrassed. They'll send someone ruthless, efficient-a specialist known to leave no traces."
"Anyone specific come to mind?" Suigetsu questioned cautiously.
Sasuke shook his head slightly, tone serious but genuinely uncertain. "Only whispers. One operative comes to mind when subtlety and silence are priorities-someone called 'Black Fox.' No real name, no face-just a reputation for leaving no survivors and fewer clues."
Suigetsu scoffed lightly. "Sounds delightful. But... Black Fox-that's a Leaf thing, right?"
Sasuke glanced at him briefly, then nodded. "Yeah. Hidden Leaf's little secret."
Suigetsu raised a brow, half-grinning. "Didn't peg Konoha for that kind of subtlety. Thought they preferred loudmouth heroes and fireworks."
Sasuke's mouth tugged into something resembling a smirk. "Consider him their gift to the world. A gesture of goodwill... if you're the type who appreciates shadows and clean executions."
Suigetsu gave a low whistle. "Charming."
"Undoubtedly," Sasuke murmured softly, tugging his hood, shadows deepening across his face. "But that's exactly why it's valuable. Every action Kumogakure takes now will tell us more about what they're trying to hide."
Suigetsu grinned slowly, intrigued. "Then I suppose we should prepare for a fox hunt."
"Something like that," Sasuke replied quietly, lips quirking briefly into a thoughtful smirk. He glanced once more toward the village, a tense curiosity briefly flickering in his gaze.
Whoever was behind Black Fox's mask, Sasuke knew he'd soon learn more than Kumogakure intended to reveal. And perhaps-though it was only a distant, fleeting thought-he might find something familiar behind the shadows of secrecy.
Without another word, Sasuke turned smoothly into the darkness, silently preparing himself for the coming storm.