Hey there! First of all, thank you for reading my story.

This is a side story from my other fanfic "Phoenix Rising". You can read the main fanfic if you want to understand what's happening better, or you can stay in suspense until it is all revealed in the final chapter. It's up to you.

And yes. These are the same characters.

Warning: this might be a bit twisted, that's why I didn't write this on my main fic. Also spoilers for recent manga chapters.

This story is not yaoi. It focus on family love.

Awakening

目覚め (Mezame)

Sasuke was sitting on a gurney in Madara's lab, massaging his temples. The operation to transplant Itachi's eyes didn't take a long time and the effect of the anesthesia was about to end.

Despite having his eyes blindfolded by bandages, Sasuke felt Madara getting closer to him.

"You need to rest for a while," the older Uchiha said. "It will take a while before you adjust to the Mangekyō. Does it hurt? "

Sasuke touched the bandages with his right hand and placed his left hand on the cold metal gurney in the laboratory.

"No..." the young raven replied with a smirk. "It's perfect ... I can feel Itachi's power. I can feel myself getting stronger...! "

Madara nodded and opened the door of the lab. Following only sounds, Sasuke followed him through the corridors of the hideout and entered a small room. When Madara closed the door, Sasuke walked until he found the bed and lay down.

The young Uchiha smiled at the thought of revenge. Very soon it would all be over. After years of suffering, his clan would be avenged and Konoha would disappear from the face of the earth. There was no one who could defeat him, and when Naruto was out of the way, his goal would finally be achieved.

Thinking about his former teammate, Sasuke gritted his teeth. He hated him! He hated him almost as much as he hated Konoha! Naruto had stood in his way too many times and it was about time to get rid of him. The damn fool still believed that they were friends and companions... he still believed there was a bond between them.

Just thinking about it, Sasuke felt sick!

Uzumaki Naruto had been nothing but a hindrance with no worth or talent. Nonetheless, he was a threat to eradicate. And Sasuke could not wait to see him defeated and killed at his feet.

"Soon I'll never have to see your fucking face ever again Naruto," Sasuke whispered through clenched teeth. "I will finish what I should have done years ago... you will die at last."

Still smirking, Sasuke fell asleep.

A red light woke him.

Sasuke groaned and got up slowly, causing the sheet that covered him to slip, revealing his naked torso. Massaging his face, the Uchiha realized he had no bandages on.

Remembering what had happened; Sasuke got out of bed and looked around. He was in a decrepit little room, only furnished with a bed, a chair and a full length mirror. The red light that came from a small window was the setting of the sun.

Sasuke frowned as he realized that he was nude. He could have sworn that he had some pants on when he had gone to sleep. Who would have dared to touch him while he slept? Worse! Who had taken his clothes?

Still thinking about it, Sasuke approached the mirror. As expected, there was nothing different about him. He saw only his reflection: a 16 year old pale and raven haired young man.

That was it! He could see! His vision was completely restored!

Summoning his chakra, Sasuke activated his Sharingan. Shortly thereafter; it became the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. The operation had worked.

Satisfied, Sasuke deactivated the Sharingan and was surprised by the wave of pain and nausea that it pierced through his body, forcing him to sit in the chair, panting.

"I need to train it..." the Uchiha muttered, hoping that the pain would ease.

There were clothes at the door. Curious, Sasuke stood up and took the garments. He was angry at not seeing the symbol of his clan embroidered on the back of his shirt, but it would have to work for now. The young ninja dressed quickly and left the room.

The first thing he realized was that he was not in Madara's hideout anymore. He was in an abandoned cabin which was practically falling apart. Leaving the door he saw an unknown forest and mountains. There were no signs of Uchiha Madara or any other member of Akatsuki.

"Madara!" Sasuke called. "Come out! We need to talk. "

Silence.

"Madara! Where did you take me? "Sasuke insisted. "Cut the stupid games and show yourself!"

Sasuke kept waiting but nothing happened. He was still alone in a deserted hut in the middle of nowhere.

"Hmph. Never mind... Madara already served his purpose" Sasuke thought, jumping to the nearest tree branch. "With Itachi's eyes and powers, I'm powerful enough to destroy Konoha."

While jumping from tree to tree, Sasuke thought about what to do next. He would have to know where he was first. After getting some weapons and supplies, he would move on to Konoha.

And kill Naruto first.

Sasuke felt a presence, and stopped.

"Who's there?" he yelled to the trees. "Show yourself!"

Looking from one side to another, Sasuke saw someone emerge in the trunk of a tree not far from where he was standing. The man was tall and wore a black scarf that covered his face from his nose down. His blond hair waved in the breeze.

"Who are you?" Sasuke asked.

The blond man remained silent. Sasuke noticed that the ninja wore the symbol of Konoha in his Hitai-ate.

"Konoha, huh?" Sasuke teased with a sneer. "Very well. You shall be the first to suffer my revenge! "

Without warning, Sasuke jumped in the direction the ninja with his Chidori prepared for trespassing but the blond quickly moved and swerved, causing the Chidori to just cut the branch.

"Tsk" Sasuke muttered, returning to attack the blond man, but the latter was extremely agile and quick, avoiding all his attacks.

"Not bad" said Sasuke activating his Sharingan. "Consider yourself honored. I'll kill you using my clan's dojutsu."

However, even with the Sharingan, the blond ninja wasn't defeated. He deviated from all attacks and defended all the techniques that Sasuke used. Increasingly frustrated, Sasuke activated his new Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and invoked the Susanoo and threw arrows against the blond.

"Die! Why the hell don't you die?" Sasuke thought, furious for not getting the simple victory that he was expecting.

The blond man again avoided all attacks. It was as if he could foresee them.

"Who the hell are you?" Sasuke growled angrily.

The man remained silent. Determined to end that battle, Sasuke created a huge Amaterasu.

"DIE!" the raven growled, preparing to attack.

Suddenly, Sasuke stopped, causing the blond man to blink, confused. The Amaterasu was not fully formed and disappeared, like Susanoo.

Sasuke had never felt such pain in his life. It was like a thousand knives were stabbing his whole body. The young ninja grabbed his head, which ached as if it was about to explode.

"Ah... Ah... I... what...?" Sasuke mumbled before losing strength in his legs and fell on his knees.

"Sasuke!" someone shouted.

Sasuke felt that someone had grabbed him before he fell to the ground. Two arms grasped him by the chest and lay his head against an elbow. Although his vision was becoming increasingly blurred, Sasuke realized it had been the blond man who caught him, staring at him with his blue eyes full of concern.

"What...?" Sasuke muttered, as the headache became increasingly excruciating. "What's wrong with me?"

"Don't speak" the blond man said softly.

Sasuke raised his right hand and grabbed the scarf that covered the blond ninja's face, pulling it slowly.

"Who... Who are you?" Sasuke asked, losing consciousness.

When the scarf fell to the ground, Sasuke had already fainted.

There. What do think so far? It might sound confusing but it will make sense soon, I promise.

Do you know who the "blond man" is? ^_^

Feel free to review. I love to hear the readers opinions and sugestions so I can improve the story and get new ideas.