AN: Apologies for taking so long. This is the end of the introspection part from Sasuke's point of view. I'll move on to third person in the next parts.

Thank you for the alerts/favorites/reviews

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Chapter Summary:

We find out just exactly when Sasuke and Naruto have been thrown into.

Chapter Warnings:

Foul Language.

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Sasuke wants to laugh

Sasuke wants to laugh. Laugh, and laugh, and laugh until the tears that run down from his face are masked and covered by hysteria.

Too late. Sasuke laughs again. He's always too damn late.

So now, all Sasuke wants to do is run. Run and run and run until he catches up to traitorous brother, to kill him and ask why.

He stops for a moment, his brother may have killed his family, he may have arrived in the past (one fucking day) too late to save his family...but...he could kill Itachi now. He could kill him, and he would have his revenge...

You can't change the past, you know.

"Don't tell me what to do, if I want to, I will."

Okay fine. But you shouldn't. Things happen for a reason, Sasuke.

Naruto's voice is frustrated, and Sasuke takes no little pleasure in that.

It's too late, to save your family. They're already gone and Itachi has left.

This time the voice is blunt, kind in its cruelty. Sasuke can't help but resent Naruto for his understanding.

"Or your childhood. You can't save yourself here either."

...

Naruto is silent for a moment.

I can't...and I'm not sure I want to. Nor do I want to change what happened...happens. Whatever happened between us, to change the future means to change our...my friends. Maybe later I'll...we can try to change Konoha's future, before the war, before everything goes to hell...but right now, it's too late to change anything.

There is a distinct tang of irony and self-mocking in his mind, Sasuke notices as Naruto quiets.

Maybe I've had too many 'what-if' conversations with Ero-sennin. But, let the future play out, Sasuke. To change it now would be pointless. What use does the world have for two versions of two people in this same time and place?

Fuck that. Sasuke hisses, you said a 'second chance' Naruto. And where is it? Where is my second chance?

And here I though you were the genius. Your second chance, asshole, is time. Get stronger, you have the time, you have years worth of time. So when we get back to our time, you kill Itachi.

Sasuke chokes down the hysterical laughter. He's owed some hysteria, he thinks defiantly, he's been landed in the past with no way back but through time itself with his annoying best friend - ex... his mind whispers, ex friend -

If the dobe was going to send them back in time, the least he could was stop Itachi (Although...somehow, deep inside, Sasuke can't quite bring himself to feel too resentful. He wants to bring down Itachi, and owing Naruto that revenge leaves a bad taste in his mouth).

Stupid bastard, can't even have the decency to say 'Thanks'. Fine. Next time I spontaneously send us back in time I'll be sure to calibrate it to the precise time you want in the milli-billi-whatever-illionth of a second I have to think.

And the response is so...ludicrous that Sasuke's chest seems to lift in relief. Obnoxious, spontaneous, stupid Naruto he can deal with. But this new mature Naruto who seems to have invaded his mind and privacy? The whole idea is unsettling. Where did loud, obnoxious, and stupid Naruto go? Where had this adult...mature Naruto come from? This one who put consequence before action, thought before reacting.

Haha, Sasuke.

Sasuke wants nothing more then to punch the dobe's face (which he can't. Not without punching himself first, and even then it's doubtful the idiot would feel it anyway).

The mocking tones of Naruto's short barking laughter resonate in his mind.

He grew up. A pity you weren't there to see it.