Main World, Konoha Village – Training Ground Seven, Dusk
"Hahh…"
Lying atop the familiar boulder he hadn't used in ages, Link felt all his tense, sore muscles finally loosen. Sweat trickled down, and the corners of his lips tugged into a strained smile.
Honestly, he'd first thought of spending time in a parallel world to train and build up his own strength. But in the month or so since, he'd hardly done any all-out training sessions.
He'd never felt secure enough.
All his life, he'd been short on a sense of safety: first worrying about Orochimaru's invasion, then about Pain attacking the village, then the Fourth Great Ninja War—and to gain autonomy over his fate, he'd forced himself to become a ninja.
But the parallel worlds were just too unsettling.
Returning to Konoha felt like coming home, allowing him to train until both mind and body were completely spent—until he lay on his old rock, drenched in sweat.
After escorting the adult "Team Seven Trio" around this main world, he sent them back home, then brought along Final-Chapter Sasuke (who volunteered to stay on guard against Kaguya).
But instead of going to the Second Parallel World to check on Utakata and Sasuke, or heading to the Nara or Sarutobi residences for dinner—or even sitting down with Tobirama to discuss which worlds the Funa-tsū could link to—he'd chosen to return alone to the training field. As he used to, he pushed himself to the absolute limit, then collapsed on the rock, panting.
Deep down, Link had always told himself he was just using others, that he had grand plans to eventually stand atop the "Heavenly Throne" as some invincible dictator. Everyone else was just a tool. Then he'd no longer have to feel sad if people dear to him left his life.
But in his idle chat with Final-Chapter Naruto back in that "Nine-Tails Rampage" timeline, he realized he'd failed at that.
He'd wound up treating those "tools" like actual friends.
He'd planned to quietly grow stronger, then return only once he was powerful enough. Yet he'd spent huge amounts of time chasing after a "Six Paths Naruto and Sasuke" for reinforcements—because he couldn't just turn his back on them. He did have something he wanted to protect. Contrary to what he'd told himself over and over—"Just treat everything as a stepping stone"—he'd been unable to do that.
He'd tried to model himself on Aizen but ended up more like Byakuya Kuchiki, or maybe Tōshirō Hitsugaya. (The reason—)
"Link."
Hearing his name, Link turned his head. Standing there in white clothing was the younger Uchiha Sasuke, one hand at his hip, the other carrying a neatly wrapped box. He looked over with a bright smile.
"You're back but didn't say anything. I brought you some sweets and dumplings. Utakata's waiting in the Second Parallel World for dinner, so I'm here to fetch you."
He spoke with all the easy energy of a normal teen. His old gloominess and introversion were gone, replaced by a youthful vibrance.
"I…" Link sat up, regarding his carefree friend. After a moment's hesitation, he made up his mind. It might cost him this friendship, but he couldn't keep burying the truth.
Looking grave, he said, "I'm sorry. I've been using all of you…"
He confessed to how he'd "used" everyone in the past. After finishing, he bowed his head, eyes fixed on the ground, half expecting Sasuke to storm off or blow up in anger.
"Oh."
Sasuke responded quietly, then said, "Well, in that case, you—haha…"
He broke off mid-sentence, unable to hold back laughter. Seeing Link's awkward expression, hearing him detail his so-called "manipulations," it was impossible not to crack up.
"Eh?" Link blinked in confusion.
Sasuke gave him a gentle look, his eyes curving in a crescent smile. "Don't worry. Even if that's how it started, we're all perfectly happy being 'used' by you."
"I-is that so?" Link murmured, unconvinced.
Stripping away the "Aizen persona" he'd pinned on himself, he realized he actually cared about bonds he once claimed to ignore.
Still suppressing his laughter, Sasuke said, "Sure, sure. Go take a shower, then let's head over to dinner. I've already got dessert ready." He waved the box in his hand and turned to leave, only to sense someone's stare. He turned to see a black-cloaked figure in the distance.
(So that's the grown-up version of me?)
Recalling the intel from earlier that day, young Sasuke's smile vanished, replaced by wariness toward this stranger.
Final-Chapter Sasuke glared coldly at "himself." He'd picked up on a familiar yet powerful chakra and came rushing over. This world's Sasuke wore such a carefree grin. Where was his hatred? The burden of the world he was supposed to shoulder?
Truthfully, upon discovering these parallel timelines, Final-Chapter Sasuke had wondered if he could somehow save the Uchiha clan, reshape his other self's life.
Yet seeing another version of himself living so happily ignited strange emotions deep in his heart, gnawing at him. He thought he'd long since put that past behind him, but it all came rushing back. Emotions roiled, and the Sharingan snapped open, locking eyes with the other Sasuke.
In the blink of an eye, they found themselves in a blank white genjutsu space.
Young Sasuke stood with arms at his sides, glaring at the intruder, quietly warning, "Stay away from Link."
He loathed the older man's scrutinizing look. Didn't like this adult version of "himself" at all.
Crack—
The illusion space shattered. Young Sasuke staggered slightly, reeling from the backfire. Even his typically unstoppable "Sharingan-based genjutsu" had been shattered in a single glance.
Indeed, that was a dangerous foe.
Final-Chapter Sasuke said nothing further and quietly vanished from sight.
"Man, that guy…" Link hadn't noticed the fleeting genjutsu clash. But seeing the two Sasukes' stare-down, he sighed. "His world doesn't have me in it. He's been cornered by Itachi and Obito all along, losing a lot, and only now ended up here."
In the Five Kage Summit arc, Sasuke had basically gone insane, discarding everything. Even after the Fourth War, he'd fallen into total darkness, trying to take on everything alone.
Naruto nearly gave his life, snapping him out of it. So in the end, Sasuke relented.
He was a pure Uchiha, shaped by love (for his brother) into madness, and by love (for his friend) saved from it. They changed only when faced with love. No help for it.
(No Link, huh?)
Young Sasuke frowned, recalling his own nightmares—waking up screaming in the early morning, curled on the bed with no tears left to cry, only a strangled, animal-like whimpering. A tiny pang tugged at him.
"I see." Though outwardly calm, inside he raised his guard to maximum. He forced a smile. "Anyway, let's go. Utakata's probably waiting."
Triggered emotions aside, he alone knew how radical or crazy an Uchiha shaped by that environment might be. Very possibly a madman.
(No way I'll let Link and that guy be alone…)
~~~
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